They went inside and shut the door.
Walking into the kitchen, they were shocked to see Chad Finch pointing a gun at them.
He stood in front of the counter and motioned them to sit down. “You interfering…” words failed him. BevAnne stood in front of Alex to protect her, but Chad waved his gun at them and said “Sit.”
They sat.
Alex knew Taylor called Detective Riordan. She didn’t know why Chad was here and not in jail. At the least he should have been questioned the way she and BevAnne had been.
Was Detective Riordan a friend of Knox’s, willing to look the other way when his friend’s son killed? The good old boy network had done that in the bad old days, and who was to say didn’t still?
Steam rose from the blueberries, and one popped. Chad whirled around at the sound, not understanding it came from the pan on the stove. With his attention off her, Alex stood up and grabbed the ladle lying on the counter. It wasn’t super heavy, but Alex whipped the bowl end of it into Chad’s temple and he crashed to the floor, unconscious.
BevAnne took butcher’s twine and wrapped it around his hands, knees, and ankles before he came to. After he was trussed up and secured, Alex called Taylor Ryan and 911.
BevAnne turned the stove off and moved the blueberries to a back burner. Having blueberries bubble up over the pan onto the stove was a moment of comic relief they didn’t need right now.
It was only minutes before sirens came down the street and into the driveway, echoing the morning the ambulance came for Nana Jean.
Alex had a feeling of déjà vu, and was grateful to see Taylor Ryan’s face among the sea of law enforcement.
“Don’t say anything, Alex,” Taylor said. “BevAnne, we’ll get this straightened out. Both of you come with me.”
The gun on the floor was recovered and taken for evidence. Chad was examined by EMTs who took him away on a gurney, accompanied by a police officer and sheriff’s deputy.
Detective Riordan strolled into the kitchen and said, “Well, now, looks like I’ve got you both for assault.”
Taylor Ryan looked at Alex and BevAnne, and they both closed their mouths. They would let Taylor speak for them.
“I see two women who defended themselves from a man with a gun who broke into their house. Would you care to explain how Chad Finch came to this house, with a gun, and threatened Alex and BevAnne?”
Red crept up Detective Riordan’s neck and face until he looked like he would pop. He glared at Taylor, Alex, and BevAnne, and strode out of the kitchen. A Citrus Beach police officer and another sheriff’s deputy were careful not to look at each other, but it looked to Alex like they were trying not to laugh.
“Do you have somewhere you can stay for the next couple of days?” Taylor asked.
Alex smiled. “We’ll figure it out.”
Chapter 7
The small suite at the Citrus Beach Hotel and Spa was spacious enough for two, and cozy enough for Alex and BevAnne to feel comfortable.
Taylor Ryan kept them up to date with Chad Finch’s arrest and the details she’d been able to find out.
Chad was not knowledgeable about finances. He thought insurance money was paid immediately, and killed his mother. Knox and Chad needed the money for the development deal with BD Construction.
Knox suspected Chad poisoned the tea when Detective Riordan called him and shared the stupid story Alex told him, that Chad bought the hibiscus tea Knox gave to Jean.
Knox was horrified, and questioned Chad. Chad didn’t admit anything, but knew from what Knox said that Alex had evidence that he bought the tea.
Detective Riordan was encouraged to retire. His reluctance to investigate a friend, when the evidence pointed to him, and his antipathy towards Alex and BevAnne, were reasons why he was encouraged to put in his papers. It was suggested to him that if he decided not to retire, an investigation would likely show he put two women in harm’s way.
Taylor Ryan came to visit them with an unexpected offer.
“Knox Finch wondered if you might be interested in buying the Beach Tea Shop building back, and the rest of the Citrus Beach Shoppes. The publicity about Chad and the murders of his mother and Jean Powell have ended the deal with BD Construction. They’ve decided to develop in a different town. With his wife gone and Chad in jail, Knox wants to get out of Citrus Beach.”
Alex and BevAnne looked at each other. “I’d need to talk this over with my sisters,” Alex said. “I’m in if they are.”
BevAnne smiled. “I’m in if you three are.” She looked at Taylor. “Can we let you know tomorrow?”
“Sure, that’s reasonable.” Taylor hugged both women good-bye. “It’s been interesting getting to know you both. Let me know what your answer is.”
Alex called Dani and Chelsea. The conference call was full of laughter and tears, and at the end they made a decision.
Alex called Taylor Ryan. “We’re in. Talk to Knox, see what the terms of the deal are. If we like them, we’ll buy the Citrus Beach Shoppes.”
“All right, I’ll take care of it. By the way, you’ve been given the all-clear to go back into Beach Tea Shop. You might want to take a cleaning crew. The construction in the rest of the buildings just stopped, and there’s debris everywhere.”
“Thanks for letting us know. We’ll go now.” Alex ended the call and made plans with BevAnne to meet a cleaning crew at Beach Tea Shop.
The Beach Tea Shop stood in an oasis of dirt and destruction. The four other buildings were reduced to rubble, and construction trucks filled the parking lot. Alex and BevAnne arrived in time to see the first whack of a wrecking ball hit the wall of Beach Tea Shop.
Apparently Knox hadn’t stopped the construction crew, with Chad’s troubles on his mind.
Alex and BevAnne ran to the cab of the truck with the wrecking ball.
“Stop,” they screamed.
The startled operator turned to them, the wrecking ball swinging on the end of the chain inches away from hitting the wall again.
“Stop, please,” Alex said. “We’re buying the Citrus Beach Shoppes. Knox Finch should be calling you to tell you that.”
“Lady, until I get that word, I’m doing what my boss says.” The operator turned away to resume wrecking.
Alex said, “He won’t thank you for doing that if he’s not getting paid, and he won’t be. Not by me, and not by Knox Finch.”
The man stopped. “I’ll take a break until this gets sorted out, how does that sound?” He stepped down and walked away.
Alex called the number on the side of the truck. She explained the situation to the owner of the company, who said he would call Knox Finch to verify her story.
He called back to say Knox Finch confirmed everything, and he’d be pulling his men off the job.
Alex thanked him and ended the call.
She and BevAnne walked into the Beach Tea Shop and gazed at the mess. The wrecking ball had added to the mess from the initial search Detective Riordan instigated. The side wall caved in where the wrecking ball hit it. Everything on that wall was on the floor from the impact. Glasses lay in shards on the floor and on tables. Silverware and linens were all over the floor.
The cleaning crew came in at that moment and looked. They looked as horrified as Alex felt.
She felt a bubble of laughter rise up and didn’t try to hold it back. With everything that had happened, she still took the opportunity to laugh at the absurdity of life.
She had her sisters. They all had BevAnne.
Beach Tea Shop would rise from the wreckage.
Recipes and Crafts
If you would like to receive recipes and crafts found in this story, go to Bit.ly/DyingforTeaTimeBonus or click the blue link. This file is provided through BookFunnel and you can choose how you want the file downloaded. You will also have the option to subscribe to my email list.
Dying for High Tea
The adventures continue in Dying for High Tea, Beach Tea Shop Cozy Mystery #2 – rele
ase date July 23, 2019. Buy now by clicking the link.
Still reeling from their beloved grandmother's death, sisters Dani, Chelsea, and Alex Powell are homeless after a fire. Living with BevAnne Wexler while the house undergoes repairs, they are shocked to find they are suspected of arson.
Determined to find out who burned their house and why, the Powell sisters continue renovations at Beach Tea Shop. Pouring tea and serving treats is an unexpected way to pick up clues, but they will do what they need to in order to clear their names.
Was the fire related to Nana Jean's death? Is it a case of mistaken (house) identity? The Powell sisters are determined to stay out of hot water and find the perpetrator.
About the Author
Linda Gordon Hengerer is the author of the Beach Tea Shop mystery series, and several non-fiction books on football, how to fold fitted sheets, and wine pairings. 2019 releases include the novella Dying for Tea Time, and Death Dances a Tango, the first novel in the new Death Dances Ballroom Dance Mystery series.
A New Jersey native transplanted to Florida, she enjoys winters with sun and sand instead of snow and freezing temperatures. Many years of working in corporate America have made her grateful for her writing time.
Visit her at LindaGordonHengerer.com to find out about new releases. Subscribe to her newsletter and get two recipes, plus exclusive content and sneak peeks at what she’s working on.
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