Tea Cups and Carnage (23 page)

She’d looked so hard at her leash this morning, I’d thought it would levitate off the hook and float into my hands. When I’d told her tomorrow, she’d stomped off to her kitchen bed and turned her head away from me. Don’t tell me animals don’t understand what we’re saying.

The morning was still cool and besides the cars parked around Coffee, Books, and More, the street was deserted. The lights were already on at Antiques by Thomas and Kyle was sweeping the sidewalk in front of the store.

“Morning Kyle,” I called out as I turned the opposite way.

“Morning, Miss Gardner,” he called back, a lilt to his voice. He had changed so much from the angry boy that Josh had accepted as an intern last year; now he was a happy young man who loved antiques as much as his portly boss. We’d had four interns that had stayed around town after the work program had ended last year. Kyle, Sasha, Matt, and Mindy, who worked for Marie Jones over at The Glass Slipper. Of course, Matt had turned into more than just an employee for Darla. The two of them had been dating since January.

For being one of the mayor’s harebrained ideas, the work program had been successful in at least a few lives.

As I entered the gym, I noticed for the second class in a row, Greg and Tim were noticeably absent. This didn’t look good for Kathi. When investigations got hot, Greg was totally focused on his job, working almost 24/7. Well, 24/6, now that he’d implemented No-Guilt-Sunday to bring at least some balance to his life.

Amy waved me over and we started stretching before class. When she thought the instructor was out of earshot, she leaned closer. “Did you hear about Kathi? Can you believe it?”

I tried not to confirm or deny anything Greg told me in confidence but this was Amy. “Seriously, no. When Greg mentioned needing to talk to her I told him it was impossible.”

“Well, word is that the DA’s ready to charge her. Something about some argument they had before she left Texas. I guess she told him he wasn’t her boss and she’d see him dead before he could force her into something she didn’t want to do.” Amy looked over at the drill sergeant we had hired for a workout instructor and when she saw him looking our way, she shrugged. “Maybe we can do lunch?”

He started walking toward us and I mumbled my response. “Perfect.” Then I started in on the 100x5 program he had us start out with. Jumping jacks was the first of the five and it ended with an energetic round of burpees. I never finished the warmup before the real class started. Maybe someday, but I doubted it.

* * * *

At Lille’s, Amy filled me in on the gossip she’d heard from Esmeralda. John had indeed decided to charge our newest business owner with the murder of her cousin. He was talking to the judge this afternoon about the specific charges. From what Amy said, manslaughter was off the table, but maybe she’d be able to have a lesser charge if she admitted her guilt and it was a crime of passion.

“What’s Kathi saying?”

Amy shrugged. “She’s hired an attorney who apparently told her to keep her mouth shut. The lawyer thinks there’s not enough evidence for her to even be charged.”

“You’re the best. How do you hear all this?” I ate a few French fries and decided to focus on the fish instead.

Amy paused before taking a bite of her double cheeseburger. “I deliver the coffee. Most people don’t even see me when I’m there.”

“Isn’t that the truth,” Carrie appeared with a pitcher to refill our iced tea. “You wouldn’t believe all the stuff I hear just because people think I’m invisible. Heck, sometimes I feel like I am.”

“You’re not invisible.” I said, even though I hadn’t seen her walk up.

She eyed my plate. “And you’re not eating. What’s wrong?”

I looked guilty at the plate. “I hate my workout.”

Amy burst out laughing and Carrie joined in. When they were done, I shrugged. “What, it’s true.”

“Then do something else. Life’s too short.” Carrie put her hands up in surrender. “You don’t have to listen to me. I’m just trying to help.”

I watched her walk away and nodded. “Carrie’s right. I’m going back to running with Emma. I love doing things together, but can we do something besides the workout class?”

“Like long walks on the beach or geocaching?” Amy held up a hand. “Okay, not that last one. I don’t want Justin to get the bug again. I just got him off the habit.”

We made an agreement to get together next week in the evening but we didn’t make plans on what to do yet. Instead, we agreed we’d both bring a few ideas on things we’d wanted to try or do and then we’d make a schedule for the next month. “So next week, it is a long walk on the beach while we talk, right?”

Amy giggled. “I was kind of being funny, but I think it’s a great idea.”

Walking out of the restaurant, I felt lighter than I had since Amy and I had fought earlier in the year. We were starting to get past the everyone-be-nice phase and back to the casual friendship I enjoyed.

She turned to go back to work, and I turned the other way, toward my house. When I turned around, a woman blocked my path and from the look on her face, she wanted me dead.

“Lille,” I croaked out, my voice sounding shaky. “You scared me.”

Her hands on her hips, she nodded. “Good. You need to be scared. So why are you digging up my past?”

Confusion came over me then, I got it. Harrold must have mentioned our conversation. “I’m not. I mean, Harrold happened to mention the time Agnes and you were making wedding decorations when he saw all the craft stuff I bought for the library event on Friday. I didn’t mean to pry, but it shocked me. I didn’t realize you had ever. . .” I stopped talking since Lille’s face had turned an even brighter shade of red. It was going to happen. I would be banned from the only place to eat in town. Just as soon as Lille said her next words.

Instead of the you’re-out-of-here proclamation, her next words were soft, almost tender. “Look, neither Sadie or Nick know about me and I’d like to keep it that way. He made a choice and he was happy. And so were they until he died. I’d rather they have their own memories.”

“I would never tell Sadie.” I thought about my declaration and nodded. It was true. This was something in Sadie’s late husband’s past and had nothing to do with the man she knew. Besides, it wasn’t my story to tell. If Lille wanted to keep it quiet, that’s the way it would be. “I think it would only hurt her, and she’s been hurt enough lately.”

Lille nodded, a sad smile on her lips. “She has gone through the ringer lately.” She stared out into the western sky. “Nick looks just like his father did at that age. We went to school together, high school sweethearts, I guess. But when he met Sadie, he knew he’d found his soulmate.”

“But he was yours.” I said the words Lille wouldn’t, or maybe couldn’t. “So that’s why you have been keeping an eye out on Nick.”

“And helping him with college.” Now the grin was bigger. “Now that is something you can never tell your friend. I know you’ve sponsored a few people in school yourself with that money the old lady left you. Well, I had my own inheritance, so once he decided on a school, I called the financial aid office and told them I’d do a scholarship for the kid. The good news is they keep me generally informed of his grades and anything extracurricular amazing. I made a certain grade point a condition of the scholarship, so I hear from them each quarter.”

I stood there, shocked. This was the last thing I’d thought I’d hear from the bad boy-loving restaurant owner.

Lille took a deep breath. “Harrold didn’t even know all that. I felt kind of silly, watching the kid all these years, wondering what our children would have looked like if we’d had any.” She looked at me. “So now we share a secret. One you can’t even tell Miss Surfer about.”

I knew she was talking about Amy and I nodded. “No one would believe me anyway.”

Now Lille’s grin widened and she nodded. “I know, right? Who would believe that I have a soft side? Especially one for Nick Michaels, my former dish boy.”

I watched her walk back into the diner, her step lighter than it had been in years. Telling someone your secret could do that to a person. And now, I helped her carry it.

By the time I reached home, I was drained. I pulled out my laptop and checked my email. Nothing important unless I was interested in getting a Russian bride, a no-credit-needed loan, or to hook up with single men in my area. Not only was I getting junk mail at the shop and my home mailbox, my email inbox was filled with the stuff.

I was about to turn off the laptop and grab the book I’d been reading, when I thought about Robert Marshall. I grabbed my notebook and wrote the name in the page under Kathi Corbin. Then I implemented my ultra-scientific modern investigation technique. I looked him up on Facebook.

Twenty minutes later, I’d found Bobby Marshall, who listed his status as engaged . On Kathi’s page, there was no mention of the happy event. Either Kathi hadn’t been on Facebook for a while, too busy making wedding plans, or she was ignoring his status. Bobby was from the same little town in Texas and owned the local service station Fill-er-Up. He only listed one organization he was a part of: The Porkers, a local motorcycle club. And when I looked at the pictures of him on his pride and joy Harley, I knew I’d found the guy who’d run down Aunt Jackie.

I dialed Greg’s cell and got voice mail. I hung up and called the police station. Esmeralda answered.

“Hey, is Greg there? I need to talk to him.” I just hoped she wouldn’t ask why, I didn’t want to admit to everyone I was sleuthing, just my boyfriend. And this piece of information was more about my aunt than the murder he was investigating.

“He’s here, but it’s kind of a mad house. They’re dealing with some things.” Esmeralda paused. “You okay? Do I need to send out one of the boys?”

“No, I’m good. I just needed to talk to him about that motorcycle rider who’s been terrorizing South Cove. I think I know who it is.” I was about to tell her to have Greg call me when she lowered her voice and started talking.

“Good. We don’t need more drama here. I mean, can you believe it? We finally have a suspect in that man’s murder and now we have two? Of course, John’s pulling his hair out and the fact that the other one turned herself in in some Texas town is making it worse.”

“Wait, Ivy said she killed Darryl? Why?” Now I didn’t care what Esmeralda thought, I just wanted to know the story.

A chuckle came over the line. “Yeah, I thought you’d react to that. Apparently when John gave Greg the okay to arrest Kathi, a call came in from the sheriff in that town they’re from. He said Ivy walked in and told him she’d killed Darryl with Kathi’s gun so it would look like Kathi did it.”

“And so she ruined the perfect plan by confessing as soon as her sister was arrested?” I sank back into the sofa. “This makes no sense at all.”

“Tell me about it.” She paused, talking to someone in the lobby. “Sorry, I’ve got to go. I’ll give Greg your message.”

Emma sat near my feet watching me talk on the phone. She had been sleeping in the kitchen so I must have woken her up with my call. “That family is loco crazy.” I rubbed her head and gave her a kiss on the nose. “Want to go outside while I make us some dinner?”

She wagged her tail, then followed me into the kitchen. I opened a can of soup and made a quick grilled cheese sandwich for dinner. Sitting at the kitchen table, I stared at the notebook with the clues from Darryl’s murder I’d carefully written out. Ivy killing him made as much sense as Kathi. And I didn’t know if it was possible anyway with the fact they’d both been at the winery with us that night. Something wasn’t adding up, besides Kathi’s so-called engagement. I decided I’d stop by my neighbor’s shop first thing in the morning. If she was out of jail by then.

* * * *

Greg was waiting for me when I arrived at the store Wednesday morning. He gave me a kiss, then took my keys and opened the shop. I followed him inside.

“What are you doing here?” I flipped on the lights and turned the sign over to OPEN. “Esmeralda made it sound like you’d be stuck at work for months straightening out all the mess.”

Greg tossed my keys onto the counter and sat at the barstool. “That’s why I’m here. I had to get out of there before I shot someone.” He pointed to the delayed timed coffeepot. “You got any of the good stuff ready?”

“We just opened the doors, what do you think?” I went around the counter, washed my hands and slipped on an apron. Then I poured him a large cup and brought over his favorite creamer for him to use to ruin the lovely dark brew. “Just kidding. I get regulars waiting at the door, so we have a pot set to brew just before we open.”

Greg sipped his coffee, then his gaze returned to me. “Wait, what exactly did Esmeralda tell you?”

I shrugged. “More than she should have, I’m sure. So did you charge Kathi or Ivy?”

“Neither.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Ivy’s being extradited as we speak and should be delivered to the station around five. We’re keeping Kathi in holding until I get a chance to talk to Ivy. The sisters are playing some sort of game here and I’m going to find out what it’s all about.”

“I can’t believe either would kill someone. Even someone in their family.” I started the second pot, using hazelnut coffee. The smell filled the shop and my stomach growled in appreciation.

“Don’t you mean especially someone in their family?” Greg pointed to a lone chocolate cheesecake slice. “Grab me one of those and I’ll share it with you.”

“With that family, I mean even. I swear I’ve never met two people who are more different than those two sisters. I can’t figure out why Ivy would confess to something she didn’t do. Can you?”

“I have my suspicions. Of course, if I’m right, then Kathi’s back on the hook for Darryl’s murder.” He took a bite of the cheesecake. “Neither option smells quite right.”

“So did Esmeralda tell you I think I know who the motorcycle guy is? The one that ran Aunt Jackie down?” I took my own fork full of the dessert and decided to call it breakfast.

He wiped his mouth on a napkin. “She actually fell, but I agree, it was the guy’s fault.”

“Anyway, I think it’s Bobby Marshall. He says he’s engaged to Kathi. And he’s been paying for Ivy’s room over at The Castle.”