by V. M. Burns
Joe started to object, but Red held up a hand. “However, I could stay here a few nights and keep an eye on things, on my own time. If you have a spare blanket, I can make sure you ladies are safe until Joe returns, at least.” A red flush went up the back of his neck. “You could say I was an old family friend.”
Stephanie and I exchanged a glance. For some reason, I found it hard to keep from giggling. Perhaps my Sex on the Beach was stronger than normal.
“Would your wife be okay with you staying here?” I asked as casually as possible.
“I’m not married, so that won’t be a problem.”
“Good.” I took another sip of my drink. After a few seconds, I nodded. “I think that can be arranged. I can put you upstairs in the spare room.”
We worked out a few last-minute details, and then Red left to go home and pack a bag. I gave Joe a hug and made a discreet exit to the bedroom with Aggie, who’d had enough of hanging out outside and made her displeasure known.
Stephanie and the golden retriever took Joe and Turbo to the airport. I ordered pizza and made another drink. I took advantage of the time to change the linens in the room Joe and Turbo had used. I put fresh towels in the bathroom and made sure everything was ready for the next guest. By the time Stephanie returned, I was at ease.
Stephanie’s eyes were red, and her raccoon eyes indicated she’d shed a few tears on the drive home. When she got home, she declined food and went to her room with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia Ice Cream and a spoon.
Red arrived a few hours later. I showed him around. He’d brought a duffel bag and said he didn’t need anything. He’d eaten before he came back.
With nothing left to do, I went to my room and spent time sending text messages to Dixie, updating her on the latest developments. I didn’t want her to be shocked if she saw a strange man at the house. Her response was something along the lines of I seemed to have picked up quite a few men in my short time in Chattanooga. Despite the smile her teasing caused, I denied all allegations.
The next morning was Saturday. I rose early and threw on sweats. I needed to cut my grass. However, Red was already awake and in the kitchen, preparing breakfast.
“What is that glorious smell?” I asked.
“Bacon, eggs, hash browns, and French toast.” He smiled. “I took the liberty of checking with Joe last night, and he assured me you both would enjoy a hearty breakfast and that no one had any food allergies or dietary restrictions.”
“Nope. We’re all carnivores in this house, although I’m not fond of oysters.”
“Neither am I.”
Red immediately rose two points in my estimation.
“Is that coffee?”
His brow furled. “I should have asked what you’d like to eat, but I didn’t want to wake you. I hope this is okay.”
“Yes, it’s fine.”
He smiled and handed me a cup of steaming-hot coffee. “I hope you don’t mind that I made myself at home. I ran to the market first thing this morning. I figured cooking was the least I could do to repay your hospitality.”
“What are you talking about? I should be cooking for you. You’re the one who’s being inconvenienced. We really do appreciate your staying, although I hate to inconvenience you simply to babysit.” I sipped my coffee.
He smiled. “I don’t mind.”
I tried to stop salivating over the wonderful smells. “You must like cooking.”
“I do. Most people think bachelors can’t cook, but I enjoy it.”
Stephanie came out of her bedroom in sweatpants. Her hair looked as though she had just awoken and had a hornet’s nest on her head. “Oh my God, that smells amazing.” She took a big whiff. “Please tell me there’s enough for three?”
Red smiled and nodded. “Coffee?”
“Yes, please.” She perched on the bar stool next to me.
Red took plates out of the cabinet and divided the food between us.
The golden retriever sat beside Stephanie patiently, but Aggie stood on her hind legs and whimpered.
I was about to get down to let her out when Red held up a hand.
“I can let them outside.” He picked Aggie up and gave her a scratch behind her ears, which made her leg jiggle, and she looked at him with adoring eyes. He looked at the golden. “Come on, boy.”
The golden took one look at Stephanie and then got up and followed Red outside. The room was open, with a large bank of windows at the back, which allowed us a clear view to the back deck. We watched as Red stood on the deck and waited as the dogs went down the stairs.
“This is delicious.” Stephanie shoveled food in her mouth.
“Hmmm. I know.”
“A man who can cook is a wonderful thing,” she said in between bites. “He may not be rich like your fancy Hopewell suitor.”
I snorted. “If I never see Freemont Hopewell again, it will be alright with me.”
Stephanie paused, fork midway to her mouth, and stared. “I can’t wait to hear what happened.”
An explanation would have to wait. Red came back inside with the two dogs.
“You’re an excellent cook. Where’d you learn to cook like this?” I asked.
“Thank you. I would tell you, but then I might have to kill you.” He laughed.
“Don’t tell me the TBI trained you to cook?” I stared.
He took a sip of coffee. “Actually, my mom taught me. I have five older sisters, so I learned a lot of things other boys my age never learned.”
“Five sisters? Are you the only boy?” I asked.
He nodded. “Guilty.”
We ate in companionable silence for a few minutes. Eventually, I rose and picked up my plate.
“You looked like you were going out earlier.” Red took the plate from me. “Why don’t you let me take that?”
“Oh no. You cooked. The least I can do is clean up. Besides, I’m just going to load the dishwasher. Although”—I looked around—“the kitchen looks pretty clean.”
He took the plate and, with a flourish, loaded it into the dishwasher. “I clean as I go. That way, you’re not left with a mess at the end.”
“Wow. Tell me why you’re single?” Stephanie teased.
He turned his head away to hide a smile, and I noticed a red mark on the back of his neck. When he turned around again, he shrugged. “It’s hard to find time to date in my line of work.”
Stephanie looked into her coffee cup. “I can understand that.”
After an awkward silence, I headed to the garage door. “I was going to mow the grass.”
“Would you like some help?” Red eagerly asked.
“I can’t have you doing all of my chores,” I joked.
“I don’t mind. In fact, I like to stay busy.”
“Why don’t you let him help, Mom?” Stephanie turned so her back was to Red and mouthed, He’s so cute to me. “You know what they say.”
“What?” I asked.
“Many hands make light work.” She raised an eyebrow and grinned.
“Well, if you’re sure. You can mow, and I can edge—or vice versa.”
Red grabbed his jacket, hurried around the counter, and followed me into the garage.
I pointed out the lawn mower and grabbed the edger, a broom, and a package of large lawn and garden bags, while Red checked the oil and filled the mower with gasoline from a container. When we were done, we got to work. Red mowed while I edged. Even though the weather in Tennessee was a lot nicer than in Indiana, the lawn was yellow. I asked if he thought we needed to fertilize.
“No, the grass is just dormant for the winter. It’ll be green in the spring and summer months. Actually, this lawn looks pretty healthy. It’s just a bit neglected.”
We finished quickly.
“Most Southerners aren’t that concerned ab
out mowing in the winter. The grass is dormant and doesn’t grow very much, but you seemed adamant about mowing. What’s up?”
The grass may not grow in the winter, but I wasn’t taking any chances it had grown above the required length since I’d moved in. No point in aggravating my grumpy neighbor more than I already had. I went through the long story of how Theodore Livingston measures grass to make sure it fits the restrictive covenant as we returned the equipment to the garage. I glanced at Red as I finished. I might not be very good at reading the face of a professional law enforcer, but I was pretty sure I saw a look of admiration in his eyes, which made me feel warm and fuzzy.
He asked a few questions about my crackpot neighbor, which I answered to the best of my ability.
“This is a nice subdivision. How about we clean up a bit, and then you can give me a tour? It’ll help me get the lay of the land.”
“I must look horrible.” I wiped my forehead and saw the trail of grass clippings I was leaving in my wake.
“Not at all. However, I know I could use a shower and thought you might want one too.”
In the house, I peeled off my sticky clothes, tossed them in the laundry basket, and then hopped into the shower. The water was hot and felt wonderful. I washed my hair and allowed the warm water to remove the kinks of the past week. I must have been in the shower too long because after a while, I saw a little black nose move my shower curtain and peek inside.
I smiled at Aggie and used my hand to flick water on her, which caused her to quickly step back.
I dried my hair and dressed in jeans and a bright red shirt, which looked good with my skin tone. Normally, I didn’t wear makeup on Saturdays, but today I put on the basics. When I was done, I went into the living room, where Red was sitting on the sofa reading a Rex Stout novel he must have brought with him.
“You like Rex Stout?”
He nodded and closed his book. “I like his Nero Wolfe novels. I rarely get time to read for pleasure, but one of my sisters sent it for my birthday.”
I got Aggie’s leash and a few plastic bags, and we headed outside. “I love mysteries. I like Rex Stout, but I’m pretty partial to British historic cozy mysteries. I love Agatha Christie.”
“That explains it.” He pointed at Aggie.
“Guilty.” I smiled.
We walked in a companionable silence for a bit. I showed him the gazebo, and then we walked to the area where Aggie had found my landlord.
Whether from curiosity or force of habit, Red stopped and went into the wooded area and looked around. Aggie wanted to go with him, but I refused to let her, and we waited on the nearby park bench until he came out.
“Find anything?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t expect to, but I was curious how far the woods went back and if there was any chance the murderer could have gotten in from any other way or if he had to come through the subdivision.”
“Well?”
He shook his head. “No other way inside.”
“Great.”
We walked around the back of the neighborhood and talked about mysteries and our favorite authors. He was intelligent and well read. He knew his mysteries. However, Rex Stout was the only author we both liked. I preferred traditional whodunits, while he, not surprisingly, preferred thrillers with more gore and forensic data. We still managed to have a good debate. The time went quickly as we talked, with few stops for Aggie to take care of business or for cleanup, which Red felt was his duty, despite the fact that she was my dog. We were so engrossed in our conversation, I didn’t even notice when Carol Lynn Hargrove approached until she was standing right in front of me.
“Oh hi, Carol Lynn. I didn’t see—”
“I don’t know how you managed it, but I’m going to fight it.”
“Fight what? What are you talking about?”
Carol Lynn’s face was red. “Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about, you...you...murderer.” She ran down the street.
I stared after her for several seconds and then turned to Red. “I wonder what that was about? She can’t possibly believe I had anything to do with my landlord’s murder.”
He shrugged. “Who was she?”
I explained what I knew about Carol Lynn Hargrove, and even though I hadn’t intended to, I found myself telling him what I suspected about Carol Lynn and the neighborhood association president, Jackson Phillips.
He listened quietly, asking a few clarifying questions, but I didn’t have many answers. Eventually, I shook off the encounter, and we continued our walk. We rounded the corner by the association clubhouse building, the site of my humiliation.
“What happened here?”
“What makes you think something happened?”
“Body language. You looked at the building and blushed. Then you avoided looking at it. You turned your body away from it. Most of the walk, I’ve been on the outside.” He leaned close and whispered, “Which is how Southern gentlemen were trained to always walk—on the outside—but you just moved to the outside. And, even though you’re obviously right-handed, you transferred Aggie’s leash into your left hand.”
I stopped and stared. “Wow. You’re good.”
He made a quick bow. “I am a highly trained professional. I get paid to notice things.”
I stopped and stared. I moved back to the inside, closer to the building, and made a production of transferring Aggie’s leash to my right hand. “Okay, I’ll tell you about my day of shame.” I shared the events from the association meeting and my run-in with Theodore Livingston. When I was finished, I glanced at Red.
He looked straight ahead; however, after a few seconds, the corners of his lips twitched. Eventually, he burst out laughing.
“That’s not funny.”
He nodded his head. “Yes, it is. You actually hit him?”
“I’m ashamed to say I did.”
He glanced at me closely, and heat rose up my neck. “You are a woman with many talents.”
I walked faster. “Come on. You might as well get the full tour.” I walked into the community building. It was dark, but the sun shone through the large windows and made the area light and bright.
Behind the building was the neighborhood pool. There was a gate that all the residents had a key card to unlock. This was the first time I’d been to the pool area, so I walked around to get a closer look. The pool was closed, but someone had unstacked one of the lounge chairs and was lying out in the sun. Initially, I thought it was an overzealous sunbather. Despite the fact that it was winter, the temperature was in the sixties, and it was a nice day. However, closer inspection showed me the person lying out was fully clothed and completely uninterested in getting sun.
Aggie grew tense, and her bark deepened. She growled, and the hair on my arms stood up.
Red hesitated a moment, reached into the back of his pants, and pulled out his gun. He motioned for me to stay and then walked over to the lounger. He reached down and felt for a pulse. After a few seconds he stood up. “You better call nine-one-one. He’s dead.”
Chapter 12
If I thought Officer Lewis had looked suspicious the first time I found a dead body, I was mistaken. That look was nothing compared to the side glances he shot my way today. He looked as though he thought I was a serial killer and responsible for every recent murder in the state of Tennessee. Thankfully, I had been in the presence of Red most of the day. I hated to admit it, but having a TBI agent as an alibi was a big help.
Similar to the previous exercise, the police, several crime-scene investigators, and a myriad of other folks showed up. Instead of waiting on a bench outside this time, I sat on the comfortable sofa in the community building, sipping hot tea. After about an hour, Stephanie and the golden retriever showed up, and not long afterward, Dixie arrived. Officer Lewis reluctantly authorized them to wait with me. Red shot me
a questioning look, and I held up my cell phone. “Nine-one-one wasn’t the only call I made.”
“Who is it this time?” Stephanie flopped down on the sofa next to me.
“Theodore Livingston.”
Dixie shuddered. “Good Lord.” She dropped into a chair next to the sofa. “How did it happen?”
I shrugged. “Fortunately, Red was there, and he went over and checked his pulse.”
“Red?” She craned her neck to look at the group of law-enforcement officials swarming the pool area. “Which one is he?”
I glanced around. “The one in the jeans with the black turtleneck,” I whispered. “And the scar.”
She took a good, long look and then turned and gave me a thumbs-up. “He’s cute.”
Heat rushed up my neck, and I took a sip of tea. “I barely know the man. He’s only here because he’s a friend of Joe’s, and Joe was concerned about Stephanie.”
Stephanie patted my hand. “Mom, you really are naïve.”
I turned to face her. “What are you talking about?”
“He is a friend of Joe’s, but he’s not exactly concerned about me. He’s spent the entire day with you.”
I thought about that and forced myself not to smile. “You can’t think he’s interested in me?”
Stephanie patted my hand again. “He fixed breakfast, cut the grass, and then spent over an hour walking around the subdivision with you. I haven’t seen him for more than thirty minutes while I ate breakfast.” She laughed. “I think it’s safe to say his interest lies elsewhere.”
I paused and thought about what she’d said.
“Chattanooga certainly looks like it’s going to be good for your love life,” Dixie joked.
“Well, things didn’t work out so well with Freemont Hopewell.”
“I didn’t know you knew Freemont Hopewell.” Red was behind the sofa, and I jumped.
“Oh my God, you scared me.” I turned around. “How long have you been standing there?”
He grinned. “Long enough.”
Dixie stood up and extended her hand. “Hi. I’m Dixie Jefferson, Lilly’s friend.”