Killer Comfort Food

by Lynn Cahoon

  “They scare me now, and you’re just talking about them.” Angie pointed to the next house. “Is that where we’re going?”

  “Okay, eagle eye, you’re spot-on.” Felicia flipped down her mirror and glanced at her hair. She dug in her purse and found a tube of lipstick. “Let’s go see the show.”

  “Do you think she’ll be honest with us?”

  “Honest, yes. But if she thinks she knows something that might be worth trading, I don’t think she’ll tell us. We’ll have to play her game.” She fluffed her hair, then studied Angie. “I’m glad that I’ve already explained what a creative soul you are. They won’t be expecting much.”

  “What do you mean about that?” Angie glanced down at the clean pair of jeans and BSU sweatshirt hoodie that she’d put on that morning. She watched Felicia get out of the car and start walking toward the house, ignoring Angie’s question. “Felicia? Come back and explain!”

  Felicia stopped about halfway to the door and waved at Angie to catch up. Angie turned off the engine and grabbed her tote. “Whatever,” she mumbled.

  “We’ll talk later,” Felicia said when Angie caught up. “Let’s go play.”

  “I’m not sure I want to.” Angie glanced at the oversized house. “How many kids do these people have?”

  “None, why?” Felicia rang the doorbell.

  “I can’t believe only two people live here.”

  Felicia laughed. “This is a small house in a neighborhood of big homes.

  The door opened, and a tiny older woman with short gray hair dressed in a black suit opened the door. “May I help you?”

  “Felicia Williams and Angie Turner to see Holly Otter? She’s expecting us.” Felicia smiled at the woman who must have been the Otters’ version of a butler or a personal assistant.

  “Oh my. I’m Hester Smith. I’m so honored to meet you.” The woman smiled broadly and held the door open wider. “Of course, Mrs. Otter is excited to meet you, as well. Please come inside. I have to say, I’m a little bit of a fan girl for both of you due to the County Seat. I’d eat there every night if I could.”

  “We appreciate your business. Next time you’re in, let your server know, and I’ll step out of the kitchen.” Angie followed Felicia inside the large marble foyer. A wide staircase ran the length of the back of the room and ended on a balcony that must have led to the bedrooms. “What a lovely home.”

  “Mrs. Otter just finished redecorating this year. The furniture is all special-ordered from New York, and the floors were all replaced or refurbished. It really is quite lovely.” The woman spun toward the left and the open doorway. “She’ll meet you in the parlor. May I get you some refreshments? Some coffee or sparkling water?”

  “I’m fine.” Angie glanced at Felicia, who shook her head. “This room is beautiful, as well.”

  “I’m so glad you like it,” a woman’s voice came from another doorway. “I wasn’t quite sure about the color, but it works with the fireplace quite nicely.”

  Angie watched as a tall blonde strode into the room. Her hair shimmered with highlights, and she wore an all-white pants-and-blouse combo. Something Angie would never even try to pull off. If Dom didn’t jump on her, or Precious, she’d drip something on the white canvas. But it looked amazing on this woman. “Holly Otter? I’m Angie Turner, and this is my partner…”

  “You don’t have to introduce our Felicia. She’s the joy of the yoga group. And I hear you are stepping in to help with the Winter Cotillion. Although I hope everything is done. Susan left quite a hole in the planning committee when she left.” Holly stepped closer and gave Felicia air-kisses. She reached out a hand to Angie, but her shake was weak and her hand, cold.

  Angie tried not to let her first impression show on her face. “So sorry to bother you at this time, Holly, but I’m doing a bit of legwork for our local sheriff. He’s so busy with the new murder, he hasn’t had time to tie up any loose ends around Susan’s disappearance. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?”

  “Of course not. Anything I can do to help find Susan, I’m willing to pitch in. Although I didn’t think real police units liked amateurs messing with their investigations.”

  The look Felicia shot Angie was one of pure gotcha. But this wasn’t her first dialogue war. She smiled at her friend. “Oh, you’d be surprised at what all they contract out now. I swear, property taxes are being carved out from under our town by the silliest things. It makes any city office hard to run on such a lean budget. And I just like to be helpful. Do you mind if we sit?”

  Holly motioned them to the couch while she perched on a full-white accent chair. “This is so exciting. What can I tell you?”

  “When was the last time you saw Susan?” Angie got out a small notebook and prepared to take at least a few notes. Holly Otter might be focused on decorating, but Angie didn’t think any detail got past her. Not a one.

  “Well, aren’t you the direct one.” Holly smiled at Felicia like they shared a secret. “I know why I know you.”

  “The County Seat, I’m the head chef.”

  Holly shook her head. “No, I mean, yes, I know that. But you’re the one with the land that’s going to be part of the soybean plant project. That’s going to be such a boon to the local economy. When you get your payout, you should definitely call me. I’ll have Vance’s administrative assistant set up a meeting for you. You’ll love what he can do for your money.”

  “I’m not sure I’ll need a financial advisor, but I’ll keep Vance in mind. Now, when was the last time you saw Susan?” Angie let her face go blank, hoping that Holly wouldn’t see the anger that the assumption she’d sell her farm to the soybean people had brought up.

  “She came to the November planning meeting. She had all the plans done, and the committee just had to approve them. Of course, we made small tweaks, but mostly, she got the party she wanted. It was a bit juvenile, but that was Susan. She loved nostalgia.” Holly took the glass of sparkling water the other woman had brought in and took a sip, setting the glass down on the coffee table. The woman picked it up and put a coaster under it. Holly’s eyes narrowed for a moment, then the emotion was gone. “You can leave us, Hester. I’m sure you have some work to attend to.”

  After Hester had left the room, Holly sighed. “She tries so hard, but she just doesn’t have the demeanor to be a true assistant. But my husband adores her, and I don’t have to worry about anything happening, if you get my drift.”

  Felicia nodded, keeping her face serious.

  Angie glanced at the two women, who seemed to be talking in code. She wondered how anyone could work for someone like this. Someone this… She couldn’t even come up with an appropriate word. All the words running through her head seemed mean and spiteful. And besides, Angie didn’t know Holly at all. And she wasn’t going to make a snap judgment, no matter how much she wanted to. “Now, about Susan?”

  “Oh yes. Anyway, she was at the meeting. Then we all went to lunch. Afterwards, we went to the winery for drinks. I came home about five as we had dinner reservations. I suspect she went home, as well.” She leaned toward Felicia. “Are you still dating that amazing Basque chef? You probably already know he’s got a ton of money stashed away in both cash and real estate. Vance says his portfolio is being totally mismanaged. You really should come over some night with your man and we’ll get him set up with a new advisor.”

  “I think Estebe manages his own money. Of course, I don’t really know because we never talk about the financial side of life. The man is so romantic, I can’t get him to stop doing sweet things for me to have even one serious talk.” Felicia turned her head away from Holly and winked at Angie.

  Yeah, this was going to be an interesting discussion. Angie sat back to watch the games between the two women continue.

  Chapter 7

  “So that was a complete waste of time,” Angie grumbled as she drove back t
o River Vista to drop off Felicia.

  Felicia shook her head. “I’m not sure that’s true.”

  “What did you hear besides Holly wants Estebe to invest with her husband?” Now Angie was curious.

  “Well, for one thing, if she knew that much about Estebe, she knew what was going on with Jon and his financial life anyway. And yet she said she didn’t know anything about Susan and Jon’s life,” Felicia explained.

  “Because she would have looked at the friendship as a way to get her husband a new client. Man, that’s cold.” Angie shook her head and watched the road. “Are all your yoga friends like that?”

  “Not all of them, but it’s a common problem. They call it networking. I call it being sleazy.” Felicia tapped her fingers on the door frame. “Either Jon wasn’t doing so well as a lawyer, or he was doing well but had a bigger financial firm involved in his money. She would have played it softer with Susan if that was the case. You never know when an opportunity would come up that would benefit her husband.”

  “What if he was still up and coming in the law firm? He made good money, but not great. Not like Holly and her husband,” Angie added to the picture.

  Felicia nodded. “That would be another reason for Holly to be friendly with Susan. Just in case. But it still doesn’t give us anything to help find Susan.”

  “I know. I wanted her to say, ‘Oh, Susan’s just avoiding Jon, here’s the Mexican resort she’s staying at under the name Alicia Sims.’” Angie laughed as she slowed the car down to meet the city limit’s new speed limits sign. “One mystery solved.”

  “You’re too much of an optimist at times.” Felicia flipped through her phone. “Look, I’ve got a few more contacts in my phone of the ladies who lunch with us. I can see if I can get any new information. It’s only natural since I’m stepping into her place for the cotillion. I’ve got a meeting tomorrow. You’re coming, right?”

  “I’ve already told Ian he’s my date next Saturday. How fancy do we need to dress?” She glanced at the restaurant. “With both you and me out, there’s no way I can let Estebe off to escort you.”

  “No problem. I’ve got a guy who will take me with no strings attached. He’s off the dating market right now, but he doesn’t want the others to know. They’re big on matchmaking.” She put her phone in her purse. “And it’s black tie. So, formal. Do you need a dress?”

  “I’ve got that black one I wore to that New Year’s Eve party in San Francisco. I’m fine.” She took out her phone and texted Ian. “Hopefully Ian has a tux, or we’re going to have to rent one and charge the police station for the costs. Undercover work costs money.”

  “Spies are us.” Felicia got out of the car and leaned back inside. “I’ll call you if I get anything. You heading home for a while?”

  “I was going to see if you wanted to go into town and grab some lunch, but I forgot and now we’re here. I guess I’ll warm up some soup at home before I come in for the dinner service. Dom will appreciate seeing me for a bit.” She waved at her friend and backed out of the parking lot. As she drove by the Red Eye, she felt a pang of sadness. She wasn’t doing anything to help find Barb’s Sunny. Of course, it wasn’t her fault that every lead she followed seemed to be a dead end. Holly knew more than what she was saying. That had been crystal clear when she’d sent Hester out of the room. She’d let Felicia do some digging and let her mind play with what she knew so far.

  Her phone rang just before she arrived home. She didn’t recognize the number, but she always picked up on days when the restaurant was open. She didn’t want to miss a call from a sick employee and not get them replaced. “This is Angie.”

  “Miss Turner, I need a favor.” A familiar male voice came out of the car’s speaker. One Angie couldn’t quite place.

  “I’m sorry, who is this?” She turned the car south onto the highway that would take her home.

  “My apologies, it’s been a strange week. I assumed, but yes, I guess I overstepped. This is Jon Ansley. I was wondering if you could meet me tonight after you finish your service. There’s something in my wife’s belongings I’d like to show you.”

  Angie hesitated. She wanted to talk to him, but… “I’m sorry, Mr. Ansley, I’m working until late tonight, and I don’t make a habit of going to a stranger’s home in the middle of the night.”

  “Then maybe you’d feel more comfortable coming tomorrow? And you can bring a friend or two. I really think I need someone else to see this, because it’s not making any sense to me.” He hesitated. “Please?”

  Angie shook her head. It might be a trap. Going to his house would be stupid. But there was something she heard in his voice. A pleading for help. “I’ll come by tomorrow. What time?”

  “Doesn’t matter to me. I don’t have a job to go to, remember?” He laughed; the sound hard. “And as I’m finding out, you can have anything delivered. Food, alcohol, dog treats. I might not ever leave the house again.”

  When he hung up, Angie called Ian. She would have asked Felicia to come along, just to avoid the lecture Angie was going to get, but Felicia had a cotillion meeting tomorrow. Maybe, between the two visits, someone might tell them where they could find Susan.

  “Let me get this straight. You want to go talk to the guy who’s trying to buy your house out from underneath you and is suspected in killing his wife, just because he asked ‘pretty please’?” Ian didn’t sound convinced.

  “When you put it like that, it does sound a little crazy, right?” Angie tried to make a joke out of the request. “Seriously, Ian, I’m going. But I’d feel a lot better and safer if you’d come with me. I’d take Dom, but Timber will be there and I don’t want there to be a fight.”

  “And you’re not expecting one between your boyfriend, who loves you, and this piece of scum, who’s messing with your life?”

  Angie hadn’t thought of it that way. Ian was always the turn-the-other-cheek guy. She softened her tone, wondering if it was too much of an ask. “Okay, I get your point. If you don’t think you can be civil, then yeah, you shouldn’t come. Maybe I can get Estebe to come with me. At least I’d feel safe with the big guy there.”

  “Look, I didn’t say I wasn’t going to go with you. I just want you to understand what you’re doing. I know my uncle doesn’t think Jon killed his wife, but he likes everyone.”

  Angie laughed. “Your uncle doesn’t like anyone, and he typically makes snap judgments on people until they prove him wrong. So, if he says Jon’s not a killer, I feel a lot safer.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. I just want you to be safe.” He sighed. “I thought this dance was this weekend?”

  “You’re just hoping it conflicts. It’s next Saturday. And by the way, the dance is formal. Do you have a tux?” Angie glanced at her watch. Almost noon, so she’d have time to eat and play with Dom for a while before she had to drive back into River Vista.

  “Yes. You’re making a lot of dates for us lately. I think I need to give you access to my online calendar. That way you can fill in wherever you want.” He chuckled. “Not that I mind, but what’s going on between you and Aunt Maggie? You two seem chummy lately.”

  “She wanted to talk about Bleak.” Angie didn’t mention the fact that his aunt hadn’t wanted her to tell anyone about the talk. “She’s worried, but I think Bleak’s just going through some normal teenage things. She’s got a lot on her plate. She works, goes to school full-time, has this trial with her aunt coming up. It’s a lot for a sixteen-year-old. I couldn’t have worked as many hours when I was in school. I had other activities that took up too much time.”

  “Like hanging out with the bad boys?”

  “Close enough. I put my grandmother through hell.” She paused, thinking. “Did you know I found my mom’s diary from when she was in school? All I can say is my Nona was a saint. She must have earned wings raising my mom and then me, for her entry to heaven.”


  “I don’t believe it works that way, but I’ll give you the benefit of your own theology,” he said. “We’re starting a study session on angels next Sunday if you want to attend my Bible study class.”

  “I’m not sure I want to know what scripture says about the cute little cherubs that Nona collected. I hear some of the angel corps was a little more fire than love and wish granting.”

  “You’re thinking of a fairy godmother. And yes, your image of angels would be blown away.” A bell sounded on his side of the line. “Someone’s here. I’ll pick you up tomorrow at ten. You’re buying me lunch for this favor.”

  “Sounds great.” She paused. “Thanks, Ian.”

  “No problem. See you tomorrow.”

  When she got home, Dom was sleeping on his bed. He hadn’t even gotten up when the car pulled into the driveway.

  She pulled some soup out of the freezer and put it in the microwave to thaw. Then she grabbed Dom’s leash. He had two. One they used around the farm. The other one was his walking lead. He glanced up at the walking lead and sniffed, but let her put on the around-the-house lead.

  “I have to go to work this afternoon.” She rubbed his ears while she explained. “At least you get to go out to visit Precious and Mabel with me.”

  A snort made her laugh. Dom didn’t really like the goat. She moved too fast for him, and it made him jumpy just to watch her. Besides, having Precious around took some of Angie’s time. And Dom didn’t like sharing.

  They refilled the water dishes, and Angie fed the barn crew and made sure their water wasn’t frozen over. Then they ambled back to the front porch. The mailman paused at her mailbox out by the road, and Angie waved at him. Then she put Dom back in the house before she went walking out to the street. She didn’t want Dom thinking he could go this way. Not at all. When they visited Mrs. Potter across the street, she made sure to put his walking leash on, and they took a walk after the visit to solidify the idea. Dom wasn’t allowed to go off the property without Angie by his side. Or at least she hoped it was set in his brain that way.