Football is Murder (Bee's Bakehouse Cozy Mysteries Book 4) (Bee's Bakehouse Mysteries) (3 page)

“When? For how long?” Jessie asked, rounding on Bee.

“She doesn’t know yet.”

“When did you find out?”

Bee grinned. “I just got off the phone with her.”

“That’s such good news, Aunt Bee. I can’t wait to see her! Wow, this is an incentive to get my new house in order.”

Bee shook her head. “She can stay with me.”

“What’s going on?” Tania asked, bustling in the door.

“Remember my cousin Melanie?”

Tania shook her head blankly.

“She doesn’t,” Bee said. “She wasn’t even born when you two used to terrorize me during the summers.”

Jessie rolled her eyes. “My cousin Melanie is coming to visit, apparently. We’re just arguing over where she’s going to stay.”

Tania sighed. “You two are always arguing over silly little things.”

Bee grinned at Jessie. “Of course we are. The days would be very long if we didn’t have a little drama.”

Jessie nodded. “We’re not fighting for real. Believe it or not, I enjoy her banter.”

“How long is she here for?” Tania asked, wriggling out of her apron.

Bee shook her head. “I don’t know. However long she could take off work, I expect.”

“That’s a shame,” Tania said, making her way to the door. “Because she could take over here after I’m gone.”

Jessie stared after her. She hadn’t thought of that. What a dream it would be: working all day with two of her favorite people in the world. She missed Melanie so much—they were more like sisters than cousins.

But she knew she needed to get real. Melanie wasn’t going to give up her high-flying job and come live in Springdale. There was no way she’d be subject to the same kind of mid-life crisis that Jessie had gone through.

Bee seemed to read her mind. “It’s a nice fantasy, all the same. Isn’t it?”

Jessie nodded wistfully. “It is. Imagine the fun we’d have? It’d be like being kids again.”

* * *

Jessie opened the door of her new home and guided Toby inside. She was exhausted and giving serious thought to going to bed just as soon as she had fed Toby.

“Come on, boy,” she whispered, closing the door.

She happened to glance across the street as it closed and something caught her eye. Something orange and black. She wandered into the kitchen and began to rummage in the boxes that were still stacked on the counter. They had unpacked most of her utensils, but she still had to find a place for everything and unpack the boxes of food.

To her relief, she found one last tin of dog food, which meant she wouldn’t have to go back to the store that day. She opened it and tipped the contents into Toby’s bowl. Then she filled his water bowl and went to her bedroom to kick off her shoes and change into her sweats.

She shrugged off her clothes with a sense of relief. It had been a long time since she’d had a night out that ended after ten even though she was only thirty-seven, but that’s what this felt like—like she’d been out dancing until the early hours.

Something else was playing on her mind too. That flash of black and orange in the distance. It was like there was an association to be made, but her exhausted mind was failing to make the connection. What was it? She went back to the kitchen and rummaged in the boxes for something she could eat herself. She tried to steer clear of junk food, but the only other option was to go hungry. She shuffled to the couch with a box of crackers and sat down, hand hovering over the TV remote.

“What is it?” she whispered.

It was driving her crazy, the thought that there was something she should know.

Maybe it’s the fact that I’m exhausted
, she thought, flicking on the TV.

A moment later, it was all clear. The news report was leading with the story of Johnny Cooper’s murder. Unfortunately, the media had gotten hold of the story just as Chief Daly had feared they would. She turned up the volume and stared open-mouthed.

To the right of the anchor, a photograph had appeared. Jessie had recognized the name, but seeing his face brought it all back. She had spent many evenings listening to her ex-husband, Roger, and his drunken friends chanting Johnny’s name. His striking green eyes and blond hair were incredibly familiar now she looked at them.

So was his uniform. The team logo was just visible in the photo—the unmistakable black raven. As were the team colors. Orange and black. Just like she’d seen in the flesh not so long ago.

She shook her head. That didn’t mean anything, of course. Roger and all his friends had Ravens shirts. They’d worn them for every game even when they were watching at home. She was sure there were thousands of supporters with shirts just like Johnny’s. That might not even have been what she’d seen. After all, she’d been several feet away. It could have been a different black and orange shirt. But that didn’t matter.

She had recognized him in the same vague way she’d recognized Johnny Cooper’s name. And she knew now where she’d seen him before. She shivered and got up to check the doors and windows were locked. She hoped she wouldn’t see that black SUV in the driveway across the street.

Chapter 4

“Jessie, please tell me that’s not the smell of burning sugar.”

Jessie started and stared down at the pot in front of her. The pot she was supposed to be stirring. Instead, it was bubbling unattended and the sugar was beginning to burn. She didn’t know how she hadn’t noticed the smell. She pulled it off the stove and rushed to the sink, dumping the whole thing inside. She knew from past experience that there was no point in even trying to get the congealed mess out of the bottom.

“I’ll replace the pot,” she sighed.

“We’ll be short on caramel for the cupcakes now,” Bee said, hands on hips. “Honestly, Jessie. I don’t know what’s gotten into you today.”

Jessie shook her head. She had tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. Every time she drifted off, she jerked away convinced she was in danger. Now she felt delirious.

“Any sign of the chief today?” she asked.

Bee pursed her lips. “I spoke to him first thing. The poor man has been dragged right into this mess over in Rockfield. The media got their hands on the story. Honestly. I don’t know how they can live with themselves. Charles says that far from helping, the media involvement just makes their job more difficult by stoking fear in the community.”

Jessie bit her lip and wondered if that was what had happened to her. Was she being paranoid? Did that explain her behavior the night before where she, a grown woman of thirty-seven, had been frightened out of her wits and had kept her bedside lamp on all night?

Bee’s eyes narrowed. “What’s up with you, girl? You’re acting weirdly.”

Jessie shook her head. As much as she didn’t want to gossip, she also didn’t want to spend another sleepless night wondering about how dangerous her neighbor really was.

She sighed. “You’re going to think I’m crazy.”

Bee rolled her eyes. “
Think
? I already know that for a fact.”

Jessie couldn’t help but smile. There was something about Bee’s gruff honesty that always made her feel better, no matter the problem at hand.

“Okay,” she said, leaning on the counter. “You know how Chief Daly is investigating this murder? Of that football player over in Rockfield?”

Aunt Bee nodded.

“Well, Roger used to support that team. When I saw Johnny Cooper on the news last night, I recognized him. Roger used to watch football all the time. I guess some of it went in even though I paid very little attention. Anyway, there was something niggling me about my new neighbor.”

“The handsome one?”

Jessie shivered. She had long since stopped thinking of him in that way. “The one who ignored me the other day, yes. Aunt Bee, I was right. I realized it last night. He was a team mate of Johnny Cooper’s. I’m certain of it. I recognized him from when Roger used to watch Ravens games.”

Aunt Bee frowned. “What are you saying, Jessie?”

Jessie shook her head. She wasn’t sure exactly what she was saying. It didn’t help that she’d slept poorly two nights in a row. “The night before last, I fell asleep on the couch after you left. I was so tired from the move.”

Bee looked non-plussed—Jessie told herself to hurry up and get to the point.

“I woke up at two in the morning because Toby was barking like crazy.” She leaned closer, even though it was only the two of them in the kitchen. “Aunt Bee, it was my new neighbor’s headlights that woke him. At two in the morning. Then Toby woke again at four. I looked out just in time to see his taillights go off.”

Bee frowned. “What are you saying, Jessie?”

Jessie shrugged. “I don’t know. But it’s been bugging me. There’s nothing to do around here at that time.”

“There are those bars in Rockfield and Glenvale. They stay open all night.”

Jessie shook her head. “On the weekend maybe. But not during the week. Definitely not until two in the morning.”

Bee nodded slowly. “Okay. Why don’t you give Charles a call? Tell his this.”

“I don’t know,” Jessie said slowly. “I just… what if it’s not relevant? I don’t want to go slinging accusations at the guy.”

“You wouldn’t be. It might help Charles to know that Johnny Cooper had an acquaintance over here.”

* * *

Jessie mulled it over for the rest of the day. Finally, the prospect of another sleepless night made her mind up for her. Once they had closed Bee’s Bakehouse for the day, she went in the back and called the chief.

He answered on the second ring, but his voice sounded weary.

“Jessie.”

“Chief. You don’t sound so good.”

“Nah,” he sighed. “I’m fine. This whole thing is a mess. Glad it’s not in my town.”

“What’s going on?”

“Ah,” he said, clearing his throat. “We’ve got the Rockfield mayor and the Chief of Police at each other’s throats. They seem more interested in coming across well on TV than they do in solving the case.”

“About that,” Jessie whispered. “How’s it going? Are there any obvious suspects?”

He cleared his throat again. “Jessie, I’ll be back there around seven. I’ll fill you in then.” He paused. “I take it you’ve had a change of heart about assisting?”

She paused. She hadn’t wanted to get involved. Like the chief said, it was different when something happened away from your own town. But the link to her neighbor changed everything. She sure as hell didn’t want to spend another night tossing and turning and wondering about his involvement.

“Yes. Yes I’m in.”

* * *

“This is a nice little place,” Chief Daly said after he’d done a full circuit of her new home.

Jessie nodded. Somehow she felt safer with somebody else in the house. An armed chief of police sure seemed safer than her playful pug, who was more likely to lick a home invader than he was to attack.

“Chief, there’s something I need to talk to you about. It’s the reason I changed my mind about getting involved with the case.”

He looked at her curiously but said nothing as he made his way to the couch. Ordinarily, Jessie would have justified her strange furniture choice and told him that she fully intended to get it recovered. Now, though, she just wanted to get this out in the open.

“It’s the guy who moved in across the street,” she said quickly. “I thought I knew him from somewhere, but it was only when I saw Johnny on the news that I remembered. He plays for the Ravens too.”

Chief Daly tilted his head to one side. “I wasn’t aware.”

“You weren’t?” Jessie shook her head as she thought about it. “I guess the first time I saw anybody there was the day I moved in. There were moving trucks passing through town for weeks, but I only saw the owner a couple days ago.” She omitted the part about him ignoring her—it wasn’t relevant now.

The chief nodded. “Ah, yes. I’d heard somebody had purchased the property, but I didn’t know who. And I don’t drive past here much. Well, I didn’t until now. I’m sure I’ll be spending a lot more time on this street.”

Jessie sighed with relief. “Oh yeah? Well of course you’re welcome anytime for cake and coffee.”

He waved his hand. “Thank you, Jessie. But I meant patrol. I’m just waiting for your aunt to have a quiet word in my ear and ask me to drive past here once a shift.”

Jessie smiled. “She does that?”

“Oh, you’d better believe it. I should get that woman a badge. She’s always in my ear about something. And she’s usually right, too.”

“I can believe that,” Jessie said, fidgeting with her sleeve. “Look, Chief. That’s not the only weird thing. The night of the murder, I saw him leave in his car at two in the morning and return at four. Does that… seem strange?”

He shrugged. “I guess it would be—if you hadn’t told me the guy is a football player too. Johnny had been out at a nightclub that evening. Well—that night and into the following morning. It’s possible your neighbor could have been there too.”

The thought cheered Jessie. Maybe she was just being paranoid after all. Just because her social life had been relatively non-existent for the past several months, didn’t mean everybody else was the same.

“All the same,” Chief Daly said. “I’d like to speak to him. If he was there, he might know something.”

“Who do you think did it, Chief?” Jessie asked, turning and glancing at the living room window before she could stop herself.

She wanted so much for him to tell her he had a suspect, but he simply shook his head.

“I’m afraid I’m flummoxed by this one, Jessie. The more I look at the case files, the more I wonder how anyone could have a motive for killing this guy. He was happily married. He mentored younger players. His coach has only good things to say about him.”

Jessie shook her head. She was intrigued now and that went beyond suspicion of her neighbor. “Really? There must be something. Why else would someone have wanted to kill him?”

Chief Daly grinned. “That’s the spirit, Jessie. I knew you’d change your mind.”

Jessie opened her mouth to object. She stopped. Now that she was almost settled in her new home, she needed something to occupy her mind in the evenings while she got used to living by herself. Otherwise, she’d be wide awake in the middle of the night.