Football is Murder (Bee's Bakehouse Cozy Mysteries Book 4) (Bee's Bakehouse Mysteries) (17 page)
Read Football is Murder (Bee's Bakehouse Cozy Mysteries Book 4) (Bee's Bakehouse Mysteries) Online
Authors: Kathy Cranston
Yeah, it’s time for a vacation alright,
Jessie thought, though she didn’t dare say that aloud.
“Hey, Aunt Bee?”
“Hey, Jessie?”
“Mel’s been asking me a lot about Chad. Is there something going on there?”
Bee rolled her eyes.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means,” Bee said. “That you consistently surprise me with your total lack of observation skills. I can’t believe Charles is actually pushing you to get your private investigator’s license.”
“That’s a little harsh, don’t you think?”
Bee dropped the plate she was holding on the counter and placed her hand on Jessie’s shoulder. “I think you’re the only person in Springdale,” she said slowly, as if she was speaking to a child, “who hasn’t seen it.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Julia. And Chad.”
Jessie shook her head. “No. They’ve only met once. How could you possibly make a call like that?”
Bee’s eyes twinkled. “I’m telling you.”
Jessie shrugged. “If they are, then good for them. But I’m sure Julia would have said something if they’d gotten together.”
“Oh they’re not together,” Bee said, shaking her head and plastering an innocent look on her face.
Jessie frowned. “Then what are you talking about.”
Bee tapped the side of her nose. “I’ll try not to gloat when it turns out that I’m right.”
Chapter 20
“Morning, ladies,” Chief Daly said, whistling as he entered the café.
Jessie grinned. She hadn’t seen much of the chief in the past couple of weeks. He’d been working flat out running Springdale PD and helping Rockfield PD.
“Hi, Chief,” Julia smiled.
Jessie stood up quickly. “What can I get you?”
He waved her off. “No, I’m fine, Jessie. I’m not sticking around. Too much work to get through.”
Jessie wavered. “You sure? It’s no problem. I’ll make you a coffee to go and that way you’re not stuck drinking that awful stuff in your office.”
“Okay,” he nodded.
Jessie rushed behind the counter and fished the milk from the fridge underneath. “How is it? Any developments?”
“Well, that’s one of the reasons I stopped by,” he said cryptically.
“Oh yeah?”
“They’ve dropped all charges against Chad. I thought you’d like to know.”
Jessie froze. “Really? But I thought that was unlikely because he’d committed a crime.”
“We thought so,” Chief Daly agreed. “But the judge took into consideration Chad’s testimony against Coach Williams and Marvin Scott. He was the only one who could fill in all of the blanks.”
Jessie grinned. “That’s great news. I’m pleased for him. Something tells me he’s been allowed to keep his home?” She didn’t want to mention Melanie’s home buying intentions.
Chief Daly nodded. “Ah, yes. Your cousin made him an offer. But he’s grown attached to the place.”
Jessie’s eyes widened in astonishment. How was it that everybody in town knew what everybody else was doing—except for her?
“She asked me to approach him about it,” the chief explained, obviously seeing her confusion.
“So he’s free and clear?”
The chief nodded. “Yes. And thanks to a deal with a magazine, he’s not going to need to worry about his debts anymore.”
“Great,” Jessie beamed. “I haven’t seen him around much. I’m looking forward to thanking him again.
* * *
Sure enough, the black SUV was sitting outside the garage when Jessie walked past on the way home from work. She glanced down at Toby.
“I don’t think he’ll appreciate you dashing around his white rugs,” she smiled.
Toby whined, as if he’d sensed he was about to be left home alone. Melanie was meeting with Candi at her office to discuss the home she had now set her heart on.
“Come on boy,” Jessie coaxed. “You won’t be alone for long. I just want to go say hi and drop over these cookies.”
She had brought a half-batch of leftover cookies home in anticipation of Chad’s homecoming. She shook her head and opened the door. Toby stared up at her, refusing to budge.
“Come on now,” she whispered, gently tugging his leash. “We’ll go for a walk later. And we can stop by and visit Clarice.”
He darted inside, leaving Jessie staring after him wondering if he had understood what she’d said. It had certainly seemed like it.
She closed the door and rushed across the street.
Nerves rose up inside her as she walked up the driveway to her neighbor’s home. She had tried to interrogate him in his own home. He had saved her life shortly after. It wasn’t exactly a normal neighborly relationship.
She rang the doorbell and turned around, wondering if she should run away while she still had time.
The door swung open. She held up the tray of cookies.
“I’m sorry I thought you were trying to kill me.”
He stared at her for a couple of moments before his face broke into a wide grin. “You weren’t to know. Come on in, Jessie.”
She stepped inside, looking around. It was as tidy as it had been before. “Chief Daly told me the news. I’m so happy for you. It’s good to have you back.”
He grinned. “It’s good to be back. I… ah…” he shrugged sheepishly. “Court-ordered rehab for my addiction.”
Jessie winced. “I’m sorry. Sounds painful.”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s actually the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Helped me work through not just the gambling but also my guilt about Johnny.”
“I’m glad,” Jessie said again.
And she meant it. She couldn’t help but notice the change in him. He was a different man to the gruff, stressed one whom she’d first met.
“Thanks,” he said, going to the counter.
“You got a coffee maker,” she said, staring around. “And a juicer.”
“Yeah,” he shrugged. “And proper plates and silverware. Figure I’ll have a lot more time now I’m off the team.”
Jessie winced.
“Don’t feel awkward. It’s my fault. I could have told them no.”
“All the same…”
He waved his hand. “It’s fine. Listen, thank you for persisting. I was so wrapped up in my addiction that I let these horrible things happen around me. If it wasn’t for your investigating, they’d probably still be loose, thinking they were above the law.”
“Cookie?” Jessie asked, holding out the box.
He reached over and grabbed one. “I could get used to this.”
Jessie grinned. “Good. Hey, we’re having French week at the café soon. You should come along.”
He nodded enthusiastically and looked her right in the eye. “Will your friend be there?”
“Which friend?” Jessie asked.
“You know, blond. Tall. Always smiling.”
“Julia?”
He nodded. “That’s her.”
Jessie shook her head in disbelief. “I didn’t think you guys even knew each other.”
“We’ve bumped into each other around town,” he said, shrugging. “Just a handful of times.”
So Aunt Bee was right after all
, Jessie thought.
I don’t know how she does it.
“Sure, she’ll be there,” Jessie smiled, looking around. The sun was flooding through the French doors. She frowned. “Will you stick around, even… you know… being off the team?”
He nodded. “You know what? I’m not sure if you were trying to charm me into confessing that day you came over with that mouthwatering chili? But one thing you said was true. There’s something about this place that just sucks you in.”
“Oh I’ve found that out too,” she grinned. “Springdale has a way of getting under your skin and staying there. I spent twenty years daydreaming about moving here. What will you do?”
He shrugged and picked up the coffee pot. “I don’t know yet. Maybe open a sports bar? A diner. We’ll see.”
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