When I arrive, Brittany is at the front counter, busy inputting inventory to sell online. I set my laptop beside her. Hopefully it’ll go faster once Brittany hooks up her scanner. Cooper is happy to see me and runs across the store for a cuddle.
“Hey. Everything go okay?”
Brittany lifts her head. “Yeah. Except did you see the weird hole in the window?”
“I’ll have to file an insurance claim.” I join her at the counter. “Luckily, it’s not too big.”
Brittany nods. “I’m going to go in the back. It’s easier than hauling the books out here.”
“Okay.” After Brittany is gone, I pull up the security files on the computer that’s also our cash register. The files are all stored in the cloud, so I find the night Chad died and watch Brittany setting out the glasses by the front door.
Dylan was right: the quality is weak, and the images show up in sporadic bursts. The camera doesn’t pick up the whole store. Absent is the little dining area near the back, and only the central part of the bookstore is seen.
Now that I know Chad had been spraying so many people’s gardens in the area with a deadly poison, I’m even more curious about the mystery customer who was near Crystal and Chad during their argument. What if the man found out what Chad had been up to? Maybe the unknown customer had a similar reaction to mine when he found out, but took his rage to a higher level?
What I’d missed when Chad had come for book club that night was that he held an energy drink in a slender can. Then there’s a big gap in the footage, and the open can is sitting on top of a low bookshelf while he argues with Crystal, and the mystery customer browses nearby. After another gap in the footage, the can is gone. And so are Crystal, Chad, and the customer.
Dylan told me to stop sleuthing, but now I have to know if he found that can and if that’s how the poison was administered. Could the stranger have spiked his drink? If the unknown man had ever been in my mom’s store before, he’d know most everyone takes advantage of the free coffee. What if Customer X brought something along hoping to poison Chad’s drink?
I pick up my cell and tap Dylan’s number. Buttering him up a bit before I go for the kill shot and ask about the can is my plan. When he answers, I say, “You were right. I’m taking your advice and getting new cameras. And I think I will take you up on your offer to help me tonight. I’ll even feed you dinner first. I’m making chicken parm.” Dylan used to beg me to make that for him. And he’s actually had training in searching for things, so he could come in handy.
Dead air fills my ear for a good five seconds before he says, “Skip it. If I can answer your questions, I will, but no guarantees.”
He’s on to my plan.
“What gave me away?”
“You led with ‘you were right.’ I can’t recall you ever saying that to me.”
“Maybe that’s because listening wasn’t your strongest attribute when we were together? You probably missed it.”
He chuckles. “That must be it. What do you want to know?”
“Did you ever find the energy drink can Chad carried in with him?”
Dylan is quiet for a moment. “We searched for it but came up empty.”
Wow. “That’s the equivalent of a smoking gun, right?”
“It’s a piece of the puzzle.”
A missing piece. “I don’t get how anyone could have sneaked it out. You guys searched all of us and went through our things.”
“All we know for sure is the can disappears in the footage, and so do all three people. Crystal or the customer could’ve carried it out with them. Or Chad could’ve carried it to the dining area with him. Anything could’ve happened in that large time gap in the recording.”
“True. Have you asked people about the can?”
He sighs. “Of course, I have.”
“You didn’t ask me.”
“Yes, I did. Late that same night, I had to wake you because you were the last one left to interview. You answered all my questions and then fell right back to sleep on the couch. Now who’s the bad listener?”
I do tend to talk in my sleep. My sister used to ask me where my candy stash was while I was asleep. Evidently, the sleeping version of me always tells the truth, so I lost a lot of candy. And I never remembered the conversations afterward. “What other questions did you ask me?”
“You don’t want to know. They might have been personal.” I can hear by his voice that he’s smiling.
He’s just teasing me. I hope. “Do you have access to a facial recognition database you could run the customer through?”
A loud grunt fills my ear. “Do you want to know why I don’t try to tell you how to cook?”
I know where this is going. “Okay, I get it. You’re on it. I should let you get back to work.”
“Thank you. Want me to bring a bottle of Chianti tonight? Or two?”
Chianti and Dylan are a combination that I used to find hard to resist. “Better stick with one. But this isn’t a date. Just so we’re clear.”
“It can’t be a date because I’m not allowed to date suspects.”
“You can only have dinner with them?”
“It’s a known interrogation technique. Lure them with good food, then ply them with lots of wine to lower inhibitions. Maybe flirt a little to rattle the subject. Then, while under my charming spell, she accidentally confesses, and I slap on the cuffs. Works every time.”
That’s so ridiculous, I can’t help but laugh. “See you at six. If Wade is still there, it’ll be fun to watch you try your charming interrogation technique on him.”
“I’ll bring my cuffs just in case either of you decides to confess. Or in case you’d like me to show you another charming way the cuffs can be used.”
Probably best to ignore the fun-with-cuffs comment. “Bye, Sheriff.” I’d forgotten how amiable Dylan can be when he puts his mind to it. No more than two glasses of wine for me tonight for sure. Got to keep those inhibitions just where they are.
As I disconnect the call, Brittany says, “You always say he’s annoying. So why are you grinning like a loon? And having dinner with him?”
I quickly school my features. “He said something funny, that’s why. And I plan to ply him with wine at dinner, so he’ll tell me what he knows so far. What do you need?”
Brittany says to Cooper, “You’ll have to tell me who plied what out of who tomorrow, buddy.”
“Out of whom. Did you find something there?” I point to the book in her hand, hoping to change the subject.
“I did.” Brittany’s black-colored lips form a big smile. “This old Lee Child book just sold online for $105. We have five of the same editions, but ours are in better shape. And there’s a whole lot more like this back there. Let’s ask at least $120.”
“I agree. Do it.” This could be just what we need to keep the doors open until I can get the restaurant operational.
The front door swings open, and Madge hurries in. She must’ve spilled on her cat sweater and had to change it. The new one is a shade of green I associate with that emoji of someone about to lose their lunch. To each their own. “Hey, Madge.”
“Hi there. Guess who Dylan has pulled into an interview? And she’s bawling.”
“No idea.” I shut down my security footage and switch back to cash-register mode.
“Julie. And just before she arrived, Sam was grumbling that his eyes were about to fall out of his head for looking at so many banking records.”
It’s Saturday afternoon, not even forty-eight hours since Chad died. I can understand why Julie is still crying if she had feelings for him. “I didn’t know you worked weekends.”
“I don’t usually, but Dylan needs all his deputies working on Chad’s case, so I’m covering for Sam this weekend. Dylan and his men take turns taking the evening calls. We don’t get many.”
“Can you tell who they think killed Chad?”
“No. But…” Madge leans closer. “When I asked Sam if he thought we were
all going to be working overtime next week too, he said it looked that way because more than a few people might have a motive. So naturally I asked if I was one of those people, and Sam shook his head. Thankfully. He said the murder weapon was adding a lot more complications.”
The alleged DDT. “Who have you seen them call into the station?”
Madge holds up a hand to tick off fingers. “Yesterday, it was the Admiral and Wade. Which makes sense because they both ran to help Chad. And today, Crystal and Julie. Dylan made me take a break while they’re interviewing Julie. Said he’d text me when I can come back. He’s never done that before.”
Dylan’s probably on to Madge’s gossipy ways. “What do you know about Julie?”
“Let’s see.” Madge leans against the counter and plops her chin into her hand. “She’s a single mother who lives with her mom because Julie lost everything in her recent divorce. She’s worked at the grocery store for a few months now but mentioned she’d been looking for a better job. Said she couldn’t always afford to buy the books we discuss at book club, but enjoyed hearing about them anyway.”
“Makes sense.” Maybe that’s why Julie wasn’t prepared for the book discussions like the Admiral had said. “Crystal I knew from school, but what’s been going on with her lately?”
“Dylan had to go to her house more than once for domestic disturbances when she was dating Chad. Oh, and I was behind Crystal in the grocery store a few weeks ago. She was in line at Julie’s register. When Julie picked up a pregnancy test off the belt and swiped it, she says to Crystal she hadn’t realized Crystal was dating anyone. And who’s the lucky guy.”
Uh-oh. So maybe Crystal asking Chad to do the right thing had been about a baby.
Madge continues, “So Crystal gets this weird grin on her face and says she still sees Chad and leaves. When I loaded my groceries on the belt, Julie looked like she’d seen a ghost. It was like Crystal had done that to upset her because it was obvious Chad was interested in Julie whenever we saw them together at book club. I shared all this with Dylan, just in case it’d matter.”
I lean my elbows on the counter too. “So now we have two possibly scorned women, or Crystal just did that in the grocery store to be a jerk. She did some mean things to me in high school too over a guy.” Dylan was that guy, but Madge didn’t need to know that. She hadn’t been around when we were in school. “Do you think we should skip book club next week? Out of respect for Chad?”
“Up to you.” Madge shrugs as she digs out her phone and reads the screen. “Dylan says I can come back, so I have to go. Let me know what you decide to do about the meeting.”
“I will. See you.” Just when it looks like we can eliminate one of my four key suspects, something new comes to light. What if Julie and Crystal worked together out of revenge on cheating Chad? Crystal distracts Chad while Julie makes him a plate of food complete with the poison Crystal knows Chad has. I read DDT is odorless and colorless, so it’d be easy enough to hide in food or a drink. Wade and Julie both helped themselves to food right before the yarn thing with Madge happened.
I hope Dylan’s not on call tonight so he can drink enough wine to loosen his tongue. Mainly because I can’t tell if he’s worried about my safety because he’s just being Dylan, or if he suspects someone might be looking for the things my mother has hidden. I intend to ask him that later.
I’m just pulling the chicken parm from my oven when Wade appears in my kitchen, so I say, “Hi there. Staying for dinner tonight?”
Cooper sees Wade and slips under the nook’s table. I’ve read online that goldendoodles are extra sensitive, and they have long memories. Time should help.
“Thanks, but not tonight.” Wade walks to the sink and pours himself a glass of water. “Got a softball game.”
“Good luck.” I throw the garlic bread into the oven next.
“Hey. Do we have book club next week?” Wade reaches in his back pocket and grabs the yellow booklet I’d seen earlier. “I need to do some studying up if we do.”
When he opens the book, I see it’s a publication like I used in high school to get through the classics in literature. The pages state all the essential themes and subtext in books. Teachers called that cheating, but this is just book club, I guess.
I point to the pamphlet. “So, you don’t read the books either? Just like Chad and Julie never did?”
“It was to impress Julie. At first.” Wade’s cheeks color as he holds up the booklet. “I started reading these or going online to research the books so Julie would think I’m smart like the others. Then I found out she’d started dating Chad, so it didn’t matter anymore. Bro code and all. These books really help, though, especially the printed ones. They seem to dig a little deeper than a google search, so I just kept it up. I’ve actually read a few of the books. Although one a week can be too much.”
I couldn’t read one a week either. “Then why go to the meetings if you hadn’t read the book?”
He shrugs. “It’s free beer. And my friends were there too, so why not? Not a lot to do around here.”
“Yeah. I guess. See you on Monday?” I’m hoping he takes the day off tomorrow so that I can have the house all to myself for a change.
“Bright and early.” He lifts a hand and starts toward the swinging door, but then stops. “Do you think Gage could write my check a little early this month? I want to buy a new suit for Chad’s funeral. Out of respect. You know?”
That sends a pang to my heart. “If it’s okay with Gage, I’m fine with that.”
“Great.” Wade runs a hand through his shaggy blond hair. “Maybe I’ll even get a haircut too, while I’m at it. His mom is always after me to wear it shorter.”
I’d forgotten that Wade had lived with Chad’s family senior year because his parents had died in a car accident. “I think that’d be a nice gesture.”
“Thanks, Sawyer. I really appreciate it.”
“You bet.” After Wade leaves, I start on the salad. When the swinging door opens again, I look up and it’s Dylan. Right on time. He’s wearing jeans and a fitted dark green button-down shirt, with his gun holstered in a shoulder strap. He looks as handsome in civilian clothes as he does in his uniform.
He says, “Saw Wade on the porch. Glad he isn’t joining us. For a change.” He holds up his hands filled with Chianti. “Brought two. Just in case it’s a long night.” Cooper’s at Dylan’s feet, waiting for his new best friend to greet him.
My new mantra echoes in my head. Only two glasses. No matter what. “The opener is in that drawer over there.” I point and then go back to chopping tomatoes. “Do you always come to a friendly dinner armed?”
“When there’s a murderer on the loose, I do. Hi, Cooper.” He sets the bottles down and then gives Cooper a generous rub. After he opens one of the bottles to breathe, he says, “Can I ask you a favor?”
“Maybe.” I finish tossing the salad and set it on the kitchen table, all the while telling myself it’s not weird to have dinner alone with Dylan. Family has always surrounded us since our breakup.
He sits and starts playing with the salt and pepper shakers again. “Since you’ve decided to upgrade your cameras, would you mind if I called in a favor from Ed and got them installed in time for you to have book club again next Thursday?”
“I wasn’t sure I’d have book club next week.” I pull the garlic bread from the oven and set it on the table too. “Still, getting the cameras in early would be great. Especially until we find whatever my mom hid. And to catch people hitting golf balls through my windows.”
“Yeah.” He nods. “That too. We didn’t get any prints off the ball, so the sooner, the better. John told me you’d stopped by the clubhouse earlier.”
I smile weakly. “Yep. So why are you so interested in having book club next week?”
Dylan rolls his eyes at my evasion. “So that I can observe people’s behavior.”
I pour our wine, grab the chicken, then sit across from him. “So, you don’
t think it’s the mystery customer or Crystal but one of the book club members who killed Chad?”
“It could still be the mystery customer. Or Crystal.” Dylan dishes up a plate and hands it to me. “If that customer comes in again, I’d like a better picture of his face. Don’t confront him though. Call me as soon as you can after he leaves.”
“Okay.” I take a big bite of chicken parm as I absorb this. The warm cheesy red sauce sings in my mouth and almost distracts me. So I switch to the buttery, crisp garlic bread instead. And that’s darn good too. I didn’t eat lunch, and I’m starving. “Maybe the customer needs to return to the scene of the crime and all?”
“Something like that. This is amazing, Sawyer.”
“Thanks.” He’s almost done with his first helping of chicken and spaghetti. He eats like someone is going to take his food away. Maybe that’s from his military days in the field.
I stab some salad with my fork just to feel like I’m eating something green and healthy too. “What about motive? Who in book club has any?”
Dylan takes a long drink from his wineglass. He must not be on call tonight.
After he sets the glass down, he says, “If we assume that the secret of your hidden items is out, then everyone, except you, has a motive. If the secret isn’t out, then we still have four with motives if we include the mystery customer.”
I do the math and guess that Madge and the Admiral aren’t included in scenario two. “I can see Crystal and Julie, but even Wade? He and Chad were best friends.”
Dylan shrugs. “Motive doesn’t make people guilty. It just opens the door to possibilities.”
“Ah.” We eat in comfortable silence for a few more minutes as I consider that statement. The wine Dylan brought is good and relaxes me a bit, but my mind is still swirling with questions. “How long before we get conclusive lab results on Chad’s death?”
“Soon. Once we handed over the container of DDT from Chad’s shed, things picked up considerably. Between you and me, though, DDT isn’t what killed him. Chad’s death happened too fast. He was poisoned with something else, but I don’t want that to get out.”
Plotting for Murder (Cozy Mystery Bookshop Series Book 1) Page 8