"Do you remember him ever wearing a black Fletcher Canyon Fair t-shirt?" Mom asked.
"No."
"But when Christy found the body, she said he was wearing a black, fair t-shirt and dark khakis. Even his hair was wet. Christy didn't notice it, because he always wore his hair greased, but the khakis being dark tipped me off." Mom turned to me. "Were they dark because they were wet?"
I didn't even have to close my eyes. The image of Wayne's body flashed back into my mind. "Yes, they definitely were darker because of water. I even noticed some droplets of water on the desk when I touched him, but I jumped back when I touched his shoulder."
"What did you think the water was?" Wenling asked.
"I didn't really think. It all felt so creepy. His cold, clammy body and then the water. I thought it was some kind of dead body juice or something."
"Dead body juice," Wenling repeated. "That's so gross. No wonder you jumped away."
A collective "ew" swept through the group.
"But who did it?" Carol asked.
"Austin," Mom said. "It's probably why this is still left here when it's normally shipped with the other smaller stuff. He wants to destroy this dunk tank or wash off his prints."
"But my prints are on the tank, because I work with it all the time," Austin's voice said from behind the group.
We all turned around. Everyone froze except Mom. She walked through the group toward Austin stopping a yard from him.
"Finding Wayne Bogg's prints inside the tank will be of interest to the police," Mom said.
Austin looked around. "You really think he died in there?" he asked.
"Yes, I do," Mom said. "Why did you kill him?"
Austin shook his head. "I didn't."
"Was it because he fired you?" Mom asked.
"I wasn't fired. He left me off the schedule and almost burned down your town without me to take care of things. Hannah brought me back."
Mom didn't say anything. All of us remained still and stared at Austin. It was hard to think of him as a killer.
Austin shook his head no. "I didn't do it."
"You were refilling the tank the next morning. You said it was for safety reasons, but the tank leaked from Wayne pressing against the glass," Mom said.
"No," Austin said shaking his head some more.
"Then there won't be any evidence," Mom said.
Austin's eyes shot to the tank.
"No, there won't be," he said as pulled a hammer out of his pocket as rushed by Mom. He wanted to destroy the tank.
Mom grabbed him by the back of his shirt. He turned to Mom and raised his hand that held the hammer.
"Mom!" I yelled as I rushed over to her.
"Oh no you don't," Dar said as she grabbed Austin's raised arm.
"I don't want to hurt anybody. Just let me go," he said.
"Drop the hammer," I yelled and stomped on his foot—a move I instantly regretted.
The pain from the foot stomping made him thrash around more violently. Dar struggled to hold him. The ladies swarmed around us.
"I'll get him to drop it," Mom said. She reached under his arm and tickled him.
"Don't do that!" he yelled.
"Why are you ticklish?" Wenling asked tickling his side.
"Stop it!" he yelled, but his voice already had the telltale lilt of someone on the brink of giggling.
"Tickle, tickle," Mom said as she continued.
Austin's voice jumped an octave as he pleaded for them to stop. I reached over and grabbed the hammer from his hand.
That's when DC arrived. He made his way through the crowd that had gathered around us. A police car arrived.
"Is this our killer?" DC asked Mom.
"Yup," Mom said. "He drowned Wayne Boggs in the dunk tank."
Austin gave up struggling. DC made the arrest.
"The autopsy isn't back yet, but I'll let them know to look for signs of drowning," DC answered.
"That's a good idea," Jerri said. "Coroners don't always look for drowning when the body isn’t found near a body of water."
DC shook his head. "I appreciate your input, but I need to remind everyone to let the police take it from here." He gave his usual spiel warning us amateur sleuths against getting involved in fighting crime, but he wasn't too stern about it.
"This is the best book club ever!" Carol said as Austin was put into the back of the police car.
We all decided to head over to The Lucky Dragon. No one wanted to go home.
Solving a murder smack in the middle of Main Street revved the town's rumor engine into high gear. Within the hour, The Lucky Dragon bustled with business. Everyone wanted to get the details about what happened including news of my engagement.
After holding court in the main dining room for a half hour to set the story of the day, Mom, Wenling, Dar-Dar, and I retired to our regular booth in the back of the restaurant. The rest of the Nancy Drew Crew ate at the surrounding tables and traded stories. Photos were taken. Social media accounts were updated with the latest news.
I could tell from the way Mom and Wenling craned their necks that something was going on behind me. Dar and I both turned to see what had snagged their attention.
"Is that a news van?" Dar asked.
"Looks like it's the same one from the other day," Mom said.
Dar's expression turned pleading.
"You stopped the killer from hitting Jo in the face with that hammer," Wenling said. "I think they'll want to talk to you."
"Can I?" Dar asked.
"Of course," Mom and I both said.
Dar made "scoot" motions at me so I would stand and let him out of the booth. I saw Al standing on the sidewalk also hoping to get some time on television. The female reporter that flirted with DC stepped out of the van.
"Should we go out?" Wenling asked.
"You can if you want," Mom said. "I've been on TV enough."
"I don't want to go either," I said.
Jennifer, Wenling's daughter, came up to our table. Wenling stiffened.
"Looks like you made it another record night," she said.
"Such good business. You've been running the place so well even with me being gone so much," Wenling said, but she her voice and expression didn't seem to match her words of praise. Jennifer seemed too excited to notice.
"I didn't understand it at first, but now I really do," Jennifer said.
Wenling looked up at her daughter with a questioning look.
"The crime solving," Jennifer answered. "I knew it was fun and you enjoyed it, but now I see how great it is for business. The way you always have a discount for the San Fernando Readers." Jennifer leaned in closer and whispered. "They've eaten two meals here just today." She continued in her regular voice. "When you were away in the Philippines, people still came here to take pictures and be where you guys solved crimes. Do you think we should make souvenirs or something?"
Wenling beamed. "That was my plan all along," she said. "I'll have something made special that they can only get here. I'll call some friends in China to get a good price."
"Awesome," Jennifer said and headed back to the kitchen.
"You thought she didn't need you," Mom said after Jennifer was gone.
Wenling looked at the table. "This restaurant has been a big part of my life," she said. "It was sad to think that I wasn't needed here anymore."
"You're needed," Mom said. "And not just by the restaurant. By me."
"And me," I said.
"Besides," Mom added. "Everyone has a part to play. You remember what the director said back when we were extras."
"Yeah, but I like to be a star in my own life."
"Everyone is the star of their own life," Mom said.
"Then I'm going to go on TV. Promote my restaurant," Wenling said motioning for Mom to slide over and let her out. Mom scooted, and Wenling dashed away to join Dar-Dar and the mayor.
I got up and sat next to Mom so I could watch through the window.
"What did
the director say, Mom?"
"Don't count your lines. Make your performance count. Every part is important."
"That's nice," I said.
"It's corny," Mom said, "but it's true."
We laughed and sat in comfortable silence sipping coffee and watching the scene outside the window.
I glanced down at my new engagement ring and realized that my role in life was going to change. But I didn't worry like I usually did. Mom was right. We all had a part to play, and my part was here with Mom, DC, and all of our friends in Fletcher Canyon. Like Mom said, it's corny, but it's true.
A Note from the Author (and her mom)
"It's been a long time since I made this," Real Mom said as she sliced the mango for our cake. She's living in Florida with her new husband. I just got back from visiting her, and I finally got the recipe. Mom had never written it down.
Book One of this series, Mango Cake and Murder, was named after one of my favorite desserts I'd had while living the Philippines with Mom. But we'd bought it at Sans Rival Bakery and the Red Ribbon Bakery in town. It was too hot to turn on the oven.
But I've finally got the recipe. It's posted on my website at http://christymurphy.com complete with photos of Real Mom baking it.
Like my fictional counterpart, I'm not much of a cook, but I'm learning. There are two new series in the works and a new podcast of short stories and essays coming soon.
Thank you for reading.
Mom says hello!
Love,
Christy
Sign up for Mom and Christy's Mysteries Club to find out when the next book comes out and to get free books, bonus content, and more!
http://christymurphy.com
Also by Christy Murphy
Mango Cake and Murder
Apple Pies and Alibis
Milkshakes and Murder
Mocha and Murder
Coconuts and Crooks
Honey Buns and Homicide
Marshmallows and Murder Page 9