Pecan Pies and Homicides (8 page)

Carefully easing Chewy off her lap, Ella Mae showered and dressed for church. The familiar hymns and rituals of the late morning service always calmed her. And while her mind often wandered during the sermon, it didn't today. The minister seemed to be looking right at her as he spoke of beginning the new year with honesty. “Be truthful to others and to yourself.” He gazed down at the congregants from the pulpit. “Speak the truth in your heart before you speak with your voice.”

Thinking of how often she lied to Hugh, Ella Mae shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She preferred to focus on more pleasant memories, like having him next to her in bed or the way he devoured six pieces of bacon. Smiling, she looked down, feigning great interest in the announcements listed on the back of the worship program.

The sermon went on longer than usual and Ella Mae's thoughts turned to the winter carnival. She'd attended the carnival as a girl, and had always enjoyed herself immensely. But she hadn't liked chili when she was young and she knew that the spicy entrée often upset the stomachs of the elderly townsfolk. Ella Mae needed to create an attractive alternative to chili, a menu that would appeal to people of all ages.

It would be nice to do without forks
, she mused silently as the minister began the Scripture reading. Taking a pencil from her handbag, she began to write notes next to the list of those in need of special prayers.
Cheeseburger pie for the kids. Mini shepherd's pie for the adults. Desserts: Mini maple pecan pies. Warm apple caramel hand pies. Piecrust cookies in the shape of mittens?

Her vision of the charming display of cookie cutters she'd seen the last time she'd visited the restaurant supply company in Atlanta was interrupted by a burst of organ music. The congregation rose to sing the final hymn and Ella Mae hurriedly riffled the pages of her hymnal in hopes of catching up before the first verse was over. When she found the page, she didn't join in, but simply listened as the voices of her neighbors rose to the vaulted ceiling. The sun streamed in through the stained glass and painted rainbows across the pews. For a moment, the room was as warm and colorful as a spring day.

Several people stopped Ella Mae on the way out, hoping to learn what she had on the menu for the upcoming week.

“I'll let you in on a secret,” she said with an enigmatic smile. “The pies will make you feel so relaxed and content that you'll swear you've spent a week on a Caribbean cruise instead of an hour in my shop. Bring your friends. Grab a coworker. You don't want to miss out.”

Ella Mae was thrilled to hear people talk about eating at The Charmed Pie Shoppe. They made lunch and tea dates or promised to meet for breakfast and then rushed to their cars, eager to escape the winter wind.

As for Ella Mae, she went home, fixed herself some lunch, and spent the afternoon creating the specials for the following week. “A winter vegetable tart,” she said while examining an old issue of
Bon Appétit
magazine. “And another with potatoes, ham, caramelized onions, and Taleggio cheese. And to round off the savory selections, a nice chicken tortilla pie.” She focused on desserts next and then double-checked her shopping list. She was trying to remember if she had enough buttermilk on hand when she heard the sound of a car coming down the driveway.

Chewy was on his feet and barking before Ella Mae could cap her pen. She looked out the picture window to see a yellow Camaro pulling alongside her pink Jeep. A woman got out, briefly glanced around, and strode purposefully toward the cottage. Ella Mae met her at the door.

“You must be Jenny,” she said, smiling and extending her hand.

The other woman was in her late twenties but had the wary, watchful eyes of a much older woman. She took Ella Mae's hand and shook it heartily, and then squatted in front of Chewy. “Who's this handsome fellow?”

“That's Charleston Chew. Chewy for short. He's all bark, no bite. But look out, he'll try to lick you to death.” As if to prove her point, Chewy covered Jenny's outstretched fingers with a series of wet, slobbery kisses.

“I love your place.” She pointed at Partridge Hill. “Are you seriously offering
that
house to a bunch of strangers?”

“I prefer to think of all of you as friends I've yet to make,” Ella Mae said. “Come on in. Would you like some coffee?”

Jenny laughed. “No, thanks. Can't stand the stuff. I'm a sweet tea drinker.”

Ella Mae opened her refrigerator. “I always have a pitcher ready.” She poured two glasses and asked Jenny to take a seat.

Clearly too restless to sit, Jenny took her glass and paced around the small kitchen and living room. “I quit my job today,” she said. “The owner is closing shop in two weeks, so I figured I might as well spend some time in Havenwood. To be honest, you seem too good to be true, but I guess I just don't trust anyone anymore. But I'll try. I really appreciate what you're doing for us.”

Ella Mae took Jenny's empty glass and put it in the sink. “Before we make any plans, I need to take you to the grove. I have to make sure you're not a Shadow Child.”

Jenny threw back her head and laughed. The sound was low and throaty. “Me? An assassin?” She raised her arms. “My cardio boxing sessions must really be paying off.”

“I'm afraid I'm serious,” Ella Mae said. “We need to trust each other if this is going to work.”

“Fine by me.” Jenny moved to the door and then hesitated. “That's where you found Eira, isn't it?”

Ella Mae nodded.

“I know it sounds stupid, but can we stop somewhere first? I'd like to get her some flowers. When she and I said good-bye last week, I had no idea it would be the last time we'd talk.” Jenny's voice wavered.

Acting on instinct, Ella Mae took Jenny's hand and held it. “She seemed happy at the party Friday night. She danced. She was amazing. Radiant.”

“Tell me everything,” Jenny said, blinking back tears. “Please.”

“I will. Right down to the smallest detail. Let's head to the grove and then we can come back here and spend the evening figuring out how to honor Eira's last wish.”

Jenny zipped her leather jacket and stepped outside. “Okay, I'm ready. For all of it.”

She's tough
, Ella Mae thought.
Good. Havenwood could always use another strong woman.

“You remind me of someone,” she told Jenny as they drove away from Partridge Hill. “Her name is Reba. She and I work together.”

Jenny, who'd been studying the scenery, glanced at Ella Mae. “Speaking of work, could you use any help at the pie shop? I know how to brew a mean cup of coffee. And when I touch people, they get a little zing of energy. It's my put-a-skip-in-your-step superpower.”

Ella Mae grinned. “Get Reba's blessing and you're hired.”

“Can she be bribed?” Jenny asked.

“We'll pick up a jumbo pack of Twizzlers while we're at the store. Give her those, and you'll be on her good side right from the start.”

• • •

Later, after Jenny had laid a wreath made of lilies and dried lavender on the spot where Eira had lain, Ella Mae led her into the grove. Ella Mae hung back as Jenny paid respects to the Lady of the Ash and tried to mask her sorrow when her mother didn't speak to her. Jenny was a keen observer, and once they were back in the car, she turned to Ella Mae and said, “I guess we've both lost people.”

Ella Mae nodded but chose not to elaborate. She didn't know Jenny, and until she did, it was better not to tell her about how she intended to set her mother free. However, the two women talked about other things, and by the time they returned to Partridge Hill and Ella Mae finished giving Jenny a tour of the house, she knew that Jenny had an older brother named Aiden, had recently broken up with a long-term boyfriend, and had always lived in Oak Knoll. She loved junk food and maintained her athletic figure by lifting weights and spending an hour a day attacking the punching bag suspended from the ceiling in her garage.

Reba arrived in time to overhear Jenny describing her exercise routine. “I like a girl with a mean right hook,” she said, giving Jenny the once-over.

“And I like a woman who can't live without a certain kind of candy.” Jenny smiled and offered Reba the Twizzlers.

Reba put down the grocery bags she'd been carrying and shook Jenny's hand. “You're not in the clear yet, but this is a good beginnin'. Why don't you come into the kitchen and help me make supper? Ella Mae's aunt Verena will be here in thirty minutes and if we don't have food waitin' on the table, things could get ugly.”

“I'm not much of a cook, but I can take orders,” Jenny said. “Give me a job.”

Ella Mae had her set the table and chop vegetables for the salad. The three women sipped Syrah and chitchatted as they worked, moving around one another in the kitchen like dancers following a choreographed routine. By the time Reba's turkey Tetrazzini was done baking and Ella Mae's aunts arrived, it felt as if Jenny had been with them for years.

After introducing Jenny to her aunts, Ella Mae said, “Not only is she new to Havenwood, but she's the newest employee at The Charmed Pie Shoppe.”

“How
wonderful
!” Sissy exclaimed and enfolded Jenny in her arms. “We're so sorry about Eira. I really wanted to meet her. And I would have loved to have seen her dance.”

Jenny thanked Sissy and received another hug from Dee. Verena was impatient to talk business, so as the women sat down to eat, she asked Jenny to tell them all about the magical folk from Oak Knoll who wished to move to Havenwood.

“Do you think the arsonist could be among this group?” Verena twirled noodles around on her fork, but Ella Mae knew her aunt was on alert. She would immediately know if Jenny told a lie. “Can you be certain that we're not inviting a murderer to live among us?”

“There's already a killer in Havenwood,” Jenny said darkly. “Someone killed Eira. She didn't walk up that path with the intention of freezing to death. For the first time in many months, she was hopeful. About living here and . . .”

Ella Mae gave Jenny a nod of encouragement. “Go on.”

Jenny was clearly reluctant to continue, but she knew she had no choice. “I guess you can't take all your secrets to the grave,” she murmured. “Eira was pregnant.” Jenny paused and took a long swallow of wine. “With Barric's baby. She didn't expect Robert to be around when the kid was born. She said that it was only a matter of time before he was punished again and then she'd be free.”

The rest of the women exchanged befuddled glances.

“Punished?” Dee asked. “For what crime?”

“Robert Morgan was in perfect health before he and Eira got married,” Jenny said. “He was paralyzed from the waist down after bragging about his abilities. To those
not
of our kind.”

There was a collective gasp of shock from around the table.

“Why would he do something so stupid?” Reba wanted to know.

“For money. For power,” Jenny said. “There was a ton of competition to land some A-list client and Robert needed an edge. Eira told me that it was a multimillion-dollar deal, and since no one had been punished in years, Robert didn't think anything too horrible would happen to him. That man has such an incredible ego.” She frowned in disgust. “Even after he lost his magic and was wheelchair-bound, he boasted that the pain and the physical sacrifice was worth the seven-figure payoff.”

“What a
fool
,” Sissy whispered, aghast. “He's lucky to be alive.”

“Why did Eira marry him, Jenny?” Ella Mae asked. “He sounds like a monster.”

Jenny pushed her plate away. “He is. And if he's moving to Havenwood, it's because he must believe that he's found people sympathetic to his cause—people interested in enacting radical changes. Robert wants to
purify
our kind. At Oak Knoll, he was trying to convince the Elders to excommunicate all those with gifts he considered unworthy. He wanted to cut these folks off from the renewal ceremonies until their magic withered and died, leaving only the rich and well bred retaining their powers. As ludicrous as his vision sounds, he had plenty of support.”

Ella Mae felt a prickle of unease. “Robert Morgan seems to be quite cozy with the Gaynors. This sounds like an agenda they've sought for decades.”

“Well, isn't this just fabulous?” Reba muttered. “Another snake to add to Havenwood's viper pit.”

Verena banged her fist against the table. “We are LeFayes! Adelaide is the Lady of the Ash! That makes us the first family of Havenwood. Not the Gaynors. And certainly not Robert Morgan. He's nothing but an interloper!”

Putting a hand on her aunt's arm to calm her, Ella Mae looked at Jenny. “Morgan was punished before your grove was burned, wasn't he?”

When Jenny nodded, Sissy sucked in a sharp breath. “That means he can't be the arsonist. He couldn't have gotten inside the grove to start the fire.”

“No,” Jenny said. “I admit that whoever destroyed our grove might be one of the people hoping to move here. The arsonist could also have already relocated to another town. Personally, I'm more concerned with finding Eira's killer. And I know that her husband had something to do with it. He must have found out about Barric or the baby.”

“We have several serious issues to tackle,” Ella Mae said to Jenny. “And I can't address any of them without you. When can you move into Partridge Hill?”

Jenny hesitated. “It depends. I can't leave Miss Lulu behind and I'm not sure if she's welcome here.”

“Miss Lulu?”

“She's a Schipperke,” Jenny said.

Ella Mae was puzzled. “Excuse me?”

“That's a type of dog breed,” Dee said to her niece. “Miss Lulu is small and black with foxlike features. I'd guess that she's also smart, joyful, very active, and occasionally too willful.”