Murder and Salutations (15 page)

“
Then you think Bailey’s dead, too,” she said in a muted voice.

“
I think no such thing,” I said forcefully. “Bailey was fine the last time I saw him, and I don’t have any reason to believe that anything has changed, and neither do you.”

Sara Lynn stared off into space, then said, “I always thought it was sheer delusion when people said they knew when their loved ones died, but I don’t anymore.”

Chris answered the phone nearby, and said, “Jennifer, it’s for you.”

Sara Lynn fought to find a smile. “Now you’re getting calls at my shop?”

“
They probably want to ask me if I’m ever going back to mine,” I said as I took the telephone.

“
Jennifer Shane,” I said.

“
Jen, this is Savannah. You asked me about Eliza earlier, and I kind of cut you off. Since then I’ve been doing a little digging of my own.”

“
Savannah, how on earth did you know where to find me?”

“
It was Lillian’s idea to try there,” she said, laughing. “Turns out that aunt of yours knows you pretty well.”

I saw my brother’s police cruiser pull up outside. The second I saw his face, I knew something bad had happened. “Savannah, can I call you back later? Something just came up.”

“
That would be fine,” she said as she hung up. “But don’t forget. I think this might be important.”

As I placed the telephone back in its base, Bradford walked in and headed straight for Sara Lynn. He whispered something to her, and I saw her collapse. It was a good thing Bradford was ready for her fall. He caught her in his arms, and started back for the break room without missing a step.

“
Bradford, what happened?”

“
We identified the body at Whispering Oak,” he said

“
It was Bailey, wasn’t it?” Why had I blurted it out? Sara Lynn’s prediction had spooked me, but that didn’t mean I had to say it.

He frowned at me. “Now how in the world did you know that, Jennifer?”

“
I didn’t,” I said as I pointed to our sister. “But she did. Sara Lynn just told me she knew that he died last night.”

As Bradford laid her gently on the couch in back, he said, “You know I don’t give any credence to that kind of thing.”

“
But she was right, wasn’t she?”

He looked down at her. “It wasn’t that hard a conclusion to jump to, given what’s been going on around here lately.” Bradford knelt down beside Sara Lynn and said, “Sis, can you hear me?”

Her eyelids fluttered, and she came fully awake. “What happened?”

“
You fainted,” I said over Bradford’s shoulder. “But you’re going to be fine.”

“
Then it’s true? He really is dead?”

“
I’m afraid he is,” Bradford said. “We’d haw known sooner, but there was a holdup with the dental records.”

Sara Lynn started to get up, but Bradford put a hand on her shoulder. “Just keep still and collect yours breath before you try to stand.”

“
Nonsense,” she said. “I don’t mind if you help me, but I won’t let you hold me down. Do you understand me?”

He shrugged. “Whatever you say. Jennifer’s going to take you home now. Where are your car keys?”

“
I will not be handled,” she lashed out at him, “no matter how good your intentions are. I’m not going anywhere. This is where I belong.”

“
You’ve lost it, woman. It’s okay to show your emotions. Your husband just died.”

“
Don’t you think I know that? I may never go back to that house. Every way I turn I’ll see a memory of our lives together. What on earth makes you think I want that? I’m staying right here, Bradford, and you’re going to have to arrest me to get me to leave.”

I touched my brother’s shoulder lightly. “I can stay here with her.”

“
You’ll do no such thing,” Sara Lynn said. “You have a store of your own to take care of. I’m warning you two right now, I won’t be coddled. I’ve got Chris and Nancy. I’ll be fine.”

“
Suit yourself,” Bradford said. “I just thought you should know as soon as possible.”

Sara Lynn sat up, and beckoned for him to join her. As he did, she kissed him on the cheek. “I know all you do for me is out of love, but just being there for me is what I need right now. I’ll call if I need you, okay?”

He looked at her steadily, then said, “Okay. Sara Lynn, I’m truly sorry for your loss.”

“
He wasn’t the best husband in the world—not nearly as good a one as I’d thought, evidently—but I loved him more than I could imagine.” She caught my glance, and though I didn’t mean to voice my disapproval for the callous way she was handling her husband’s death, something must have shown on my face.

“
You don’t approve of my behavior, do you, Jennifer?”

I jerked my gaze to the floor. “It’s not up to me to approve or disapprove,” I said.

“
You’re right, it’s not,” she said with the same bite she’d used on our brother earlier. “If I let myself accept what happened, I’m afraid of what I might do. I have to deal with this, in my own time and my own way. All I ask is that you support me through it.”

“
I would never dream of doing anything else,” I said.

“
That’s fine, then. You both have jobs to do, so I suggest you get back to them.”

Bradford and I started to walk out when Sara Lynn called, “Bradford, I have one question for you now.”

“
Anything,” he said.

“
Was it painful for him?”

I looked at my sister and saw a crack in her tough façade. I personally didn’t know how she was managing as well as she was.

“
No. One blow to the back of the head, with a shovel most likely. The coroner said it killed him instantly.”

“
Then there’s that to take comfort in,” Sara Lynn said.

“
There is that,” Bradford agreed, and the two of us I walked out of the break room.

“
I’m staying,” I said once we were out of sight. “I don’t care what she says.”

“
Jennifer, the worst thing in the world you can do right now is go against her wishes. You heard her. She’ll call if she needs either one of us.”

“
We can’t just leave her here,” I said, tears coming to my eyes unbidden.

“
We have to,” he said as he walked me outside. “You don’t remember Fluff, do you?”

“
No, but I’ve heard you two talk about her enough so I feel like I knew her, too. She was your cat, wasn’t she?”

He shook his head. “He was Sara Lynn’s. He just tolerated the rest of us. Just before you were born, Fluff ran in front of a car. Poor thing didn’t stand a chance. It nearly killed me, but Sara Lynn barely shed a tear. I thought she had a soul made of ice, until I Found her outside two weeks later weeping silently over Fluffs grave. It took her a long time to come to grips with losing him, and until she did, she didn’t shed a tear that I could see. Imagine how much worse this is going to be. The fact that Bailey was cheating in her in the end doesn’t make it easier. It just makes it worse.”

“
How’s that?” I asked.

“
She wants to be mad at him, and who in the world could blame her, but she can’t, because he’s gone now and she’ll never get the chance to make up with him. That’s a lot to ask anybody to bear, wouldn’t you say?”

“
I guess you’re right,” I said. “I still wish there was something I could do.”

“
Until she asks for our help, you’ll just do more harm than good if you try to interfere. Are you going back to the card shop? I’d be happy to give you a ride.”

“
No, thanks. I think I’ll walk. I’ve got a lot on my mind.”

“
Okay, but if you need me, I’m just a phone call away.”

After he was gone, I walked back to the card shop. Poor Bailey. I hoped the coroner was right. He’d been a fool to jeopardize his marriage with Sara Lynn for a fling with Eliza, but that didn’t make him evil. He’d stuck by my sister in sickness and in health, and as far as I knew, he’d only strayed once. It didn’t justify what he’d done, but he hadn’t deserved to die for the mistake. I found myself wondering if Bradford suspected Sara Lynn at all in her husband’s death. After all, he and his lover had both been murdered. What, other conclusion could Bradford reach? Sara Lynn was one of the few people who knew Whispering Oak was going to be empty last night as well. I didn’t care what Bradford thought, though. I couldn’t imagine any circumstances that would turn my sister into a murderer.

So if my theory was right, which was a stretch—even I was willing to admit that—that meant the killer only had one loose end to tie up.

Me.

Chapter 13

‘
Did Savannah find you?” Lillian asked as I walked back into the card shop. “Jennifer, what’s wrong?” My face must have given me away.

“
Bailey’s dead,” I said, not meaning to just blurt it out. “It was his body they found in the house.”

Lillian nodded. “Sara Lynn suspected as much, but I told her she was being paranoid.” My aunt looked at me sharply. “Your sister must be devastated. So why are you here?”

“
She didn’t want me,” I said, letting myself cry. Honestly, sometimes I could be such a girl.

“
There, there, it’s all right,” Lillian said as she stroked my back. “It’s nothing against you. Your sister always was one to stand strong. No doubt she threw Bradford out, too.”

“
She did,” I admitted as I pulled away and dabbed at my tears. “I can’t believe Bailey’s dead.”

“
You can’t? I’ve been slamming the man since I found out about his affair, and now I have all of that bad karma to live with.” She patted my hand. “When your sister needs you, she’ll let you know, and when that happens, drop everything and go to her. That’s the best thing you can do for her.”

“
That’s what Bradford said,” I admitted. “But it’s hard. I don’t much feel like working today.”

“
Jennifer, aren’t you worried about your own safety?”

I shrugged. “So you’ve come to the same conclusion w I have. I’m the last target standing.”

Lillian shivered. “What a wicked way to phrase it.”

“
It is a little too vivid, isn’t it?” I admitted.

“
So what do we do?”

“
I’m more determined than ever to find out who killed Bailey and Eliza,” I said. “I’ll never believe the murders aren’t related.”

“
Neither will I,” she said. “Did you have any luck earlier?”

“
Just in making half the town mad at me.” I recounted what had happened with Addie, Kaye and Luke.

“
My, you are leaving a wide band of hostility in your wake, aren’t you? If one of them didn’t want to see you come to harm before, they certainly do now.”

“
It’s a gift, really,” I said. I suddenly remembered putting Savannah off, so I grabbed the phone. “I need to make a quick call,” I said.

“
Be my guest. It’s your shop,” she said.

Savannah came on the line. “I’m so sorry about Bailey. I just heard. Could I speak with your sister?”

It was tough admitting that I’d bailed on her, but I really had no choice. Savannah was understanding though. “Everybody deals with tragedy in their own way. When my grandfather died, my grandmother wouldn’t cry for weeks. All she’d do was iron. When she ran out of clothes and sheets, that woman ironed towels, and even my daddy’s socks. She’ll come around. All she needs is time.”

“
I wanted to apologize for being so rude earlier. You had something to tell me.”

“
I’m not sure if it amounts to all that much, now that I’ve had some time to think about it,” Savannah said.

“
Why don’t you tell me, and I can judge for myself?”

“
I suppose that’s the best way to handle it, but I hate passing rumors along, especially when they might not be true.”

“
Savannah, I can’t promise I won’t tell Lillian, and Bradford if I have to, but I can say I won’t breathe a word of it idly.”

“
I know you won’t. Now I’ve made such a fuss about it you’ll be sure to think I’ve lost my mind.”

I waited, and a few seconds later, she said, “Okay, it’s not much, but here goes. Pete and I were looking for our table at the banquet, and we saw someone take one of the letter openers from our table. At first I thought it was just some petty theft, but with what happened to Eliza, I’m beginning to wonder if it was more than that.”

“
Who was it?” I asked.

“
A fellow who comes into the restaurant now and then. He’s not a member of the chamber, so it kind of surprised me to see him there. Who knows? Maybe he walked in off the street and wanted a souvenir. Though with his kind of money, it would surprise me.”

“
Savannah, I’ve known you my entire life, and I’ve never known you to beat around the bush like this. Do you even know the man’s name?”

“
Of course I do,” she said curtly. “There’s another reason I don’t want to say. It’s because of that best friend of yours.”

“
Gail? What does she have to do with this?” And then I knew. “You saw Reggie Bloom take the letter opener, didn’t you?”

“
So you already know,” she said.

“
Not until a second ago. Thanks.”

“
Jennifer, be careful.”

“
You know it,” I said as I hung up.

“
Reggie Bloom?” Lillian asked. “What’s he got to do with this?”

I held up a hand. “Give me a second.” I started mulling over the possibilities that my new landlord’s son could have been mixed up in the murder. I knew he’d looked familiar when I’d met him at dinner, but I hadn’t been able to place him. Had I seen him at the banquet myself and not realized it? Gail had complained that she thought Reggie had been seeing another woman, and on the dock Bailey had told me that he thought Eliza was involved with someone else, too.

“
Okay, I may be nuts, but listen to this.” I told Lillian what I was thinking, and she followed my reasoning every step of the way.

“
Call your brother,” she said. “He needs to know about this.”

“
Do you honestly think we have enough to go to him?”

Lillian frowned. “Jennifer, Bradford can question him, can’t he? What harm will that do?”

“
What if I’m wrong?” I said. “Reggie’s going to hate me.”

“
But what if you’re right,” Lillian replied. “You may be living on the grounds with a murderer. If anything happens to you, and we didn’t tell Bradford, he’ll kill me, so call your brother for my sake if not yours.”

I picked up the telephone and dialed Bradford number. When he answered, I said, “Do you have s minute to talk?”

“
Sure, I was just about to take a break, and I’m in my office. Do you want to come over?” He was in City Hall at the other end of Oakmont, a short stroll from my business.

“
Okay, I’ll be there in two minutes.”

“
Hang on a second. You know what? It’s a pretty day. Why don’t I walk over there? Do you have any coffee on?”

“
You know it.” I said.

“
Then I’ll see you in a minute or two.”

After he hung up, I started having second thoughts. “Lillian, this is a mistake. I shouldn’t have called him.”

“
So blame me for having the overactive imagination.”

The door chimed, and I looked over to see who was coming in. Bradford must have sprinted to get there that fast. It was a customer, though, a welcome relief. She looked at a few cards, then asked. “Do you have anything edgier than these?”

“
What did you have in mind?” I asked.

“
I’m looking for something with some bite. My husband just told me he’s leaving me for a younger woman, and I’d like to show him my disgust with a card. I figured, why not? They make cards for everything else.”

Lillian smiled at the woman. “I’ve got just the card for you. In fact, I made it myself.” As she led our customer to her selection of acerbic cards, Bradford walked in.

“
Where’s that coffee?” he said, then lowered his voice when he saw we had a customer.

“
It’s in back,” I said as I led him to our storeroom that also served as a handy place for our breaks.

I poured him a cup, and one for me as well. He sipped it, then said, “That’s great. Now what’s up?”

“
I’m not sure I should have called you,” I admitted. “I’m starting to feel silly about it.”

“
What’s it concerning?”

“
Everything that’s been happening in town the past few days,” I said.

“
Sis, if you have any ideas, I’ll take them. This isn’t for the general public, but I’m not doing too well. I know there’s got to be a common link here, but I can’t find it. If I don’t come up with something soon, I’m going to have to call the state police, and I hate having to do that.”

“
Okay, but remember, this is just theory.” I recounted Savannah’s story about the letter opener, then told him my suspicions linking Reggie Bloom to Eliza. “It’s not much, is it?” he asked after he stared at his coffee for a few seconds.

“
I’m sorry I called you,” I said. “I guess I’m just grasping at straws.”

“
Sometimes that’s the only way to find what you’re, looking for,” Bradford said. “I’ll have to be careful when I talk to him. His family’s got money, and that means influence.”

“
Forget I said anything, Bradford.” He shook his head. “A lead’s a lead, Sis. It won’t cost a thing to question him.” He took one last sip,
then said, “Thanks for the coffee.”

Before I could stop him, he was gone. Should I have kept my suspicions to myself? The way my imagination could run on overdrive, I’d be suspecting Pete next.

Lillian was ringing up a sale, and I could see that the woman had bought one of nearly every card my aunt offered. The woman was smiling as she looked at me. “These are wonderful. You should get them into every card shop in the country.”

“
Tell her that,” I said, gesturing toward Lillian, “She’s talented, isn’t she?”

“
With just the right twisted mind,” the woman agreed.

Lillian shrugged. “It’s a gift. Thanks for coming by.”

“
Thank you,” she said, and then to everyone’s surprise, she hugged Lillian before leaving.

“
That was something,” Lillian said, after the woman had gone.

“
She’s right, you know. Your cards would sell just about anywhere.”

Lillian looked pleased, though she said, “You’ve been working with the glue too much lately; the vapors have gone to your head. What did your brother say?”

“
He’s going to talk to Reggie,” I said.

“
Wouldn’t you love to be privy to that conversation?”

I straightened the bags under the counter as I said, “Not particularly. The man’s not that fond of me now. Wait until Bradford talks to him.”

“
Jennifer, do you have any ideas about what we should do now?”

“
We could always make some new cards. How’s the inventory in your section?”

She said, “Let me check.”

I walked over to Lillian’s corner, and after she went through the racks, she said, “We’ve been selling more of these than I thought. I need to come up with some new cards.”

“
That’s fine, but don’t forget, you should replace the ones you’re selling, too. After all, they’re your most popular cards.”

She looked hesitant, and I asked, “Is something wrong?”

“
I have so much fun coming up with each card, but it’s halved every time I have to do the same one again. It gets tedious, doesn’t it?”

“
It can,” I admitted. “Mass production is a lot different from the initial creative process, but we can’t sell them if they’re not on the racks. Come on, I’ll help you.”

“
With the themes?” she asked.

“
Oh, no, we’ll leave that up to you. What I can do is help you make replacements for the cards you’ve sold. I know it may seem a bit morbid working when the world’s falling down all around us, but to be honest with you, I think it might just take my mind off what’s been happening lately.”

“
Then by all means, let’s make some cards.”

I got out the stock and started folding cards while Lillian picked several of her cards that were running low. As I worked to replicate them, I couldn’t help but laugh at some of the sentiments. After all, who could resist opening a card that said, “Dinosaurs, Pet Rocks and Drive-Ins” on the outside? Inside it, Lillian had written in a fine hand, “They’re All Gone. Why Aren’t You?”—a dry message expressed so cheerfully.
We worked on several different cards, waiting on customers now and then. By closing time, we’d managed to restock most of her section.

“
Any plans tonight, Jennifer?” Lillian asked.

“
No, I’m going to stay home and hang out with Oggie and Nash. I’ve missed the rascals lately. How about you?”

“
Another evening, another beau,” she said, waving
her hand in the air. “It can be difficult finding the right man in this town.”