Two Bites Too Many

by Debra H. Goldstein

  “I didn’t have a choice. I tried working through Anne first, but she was impossible to deal with. Then I realized Lance was an easy target. All it took was a little flattery and a few dinners and it was easy to plant questions in his mind that made him ask for information or take an action that delayed something being on the agenda for a week or two.”

  Sarah moved her hand a little more. She needed to keep Thomas talking. “It sounds like a good system, but what happened?”

  “Bailey made a mistake.”

  “What?”

  Thomas paced in front of her. She kept working on her hands.

  “He denied loans to your sister and Cliff. Bailey’s deals were tied to accounting entries made at certain times during the month based upon his constant turnover of funds. Not knowing the family histories, he didn’t realize your sister and my brother were the wrong ones to turn down to keep the pipeline going. Those two, plus a construction loan that wasn’t granted elsewhere, quickly resulted in him not having enough money in the account before the month’s closing date.”

  He stopped pacing and stood in front of her. One hand was almost loose, but it needed another few wiggles, which she couldn’t do if he was staring at her.

  “But couldn’t he temporarily transfer money from some other account?”

  “Maybe, but he was scared. Eloise had already raised reconciliation questions, but Lance was too busy to address them. When Cliff and your mother confronted Lance and he reviewed the applications, he realized something was off. He called Bailey at city hall on his cell and told him to hurry back. We ran into each other in the alley as I was about to knock and sneak in to say a quick ‘Hi’ to Lance. Lance let us both in, but I didn’t stay because it was obvious Lance wanted to talk to Bailey.”

  “And you went through the lobby?

  “Yes.”

  “Where was Eloise?”

  “I don’t know. She wasn’t at her desk when I came out of Lance’s office. I left the bank right after I made my deposit and didn’t look for her again.”

  What he said made sense. It fit with Eloise having left her desk but seeing him at the teller’s counter. Thomas turned away from her and she tugged at her hand. It gave. She kept her hands close together. “When did you learn Lance was dead?”

  “At the same time as you. Two plus two added up to Bailey probably being the last person in there before your mother found Lance.”

  “But why didn’t you say anything to anyone?”

  “I couldn’t. Bailey threatened if I went to the police or talked to Harlan, he’d take the hotel away from me. I went along with him because he assured me he’d make everything right financially for both of us, including forgiving my loan.”

  “He was going to use the money we raised for the animal shelter?”

  “No. Jane, the one who once was in business with your sister and Marcus, came to him for prefinancing authorization because she wanted to be able to buy a Main Street property to open a restaurant if the zoning changed. Bailey figured if we sold her my uncle’s house and he, instead of the bank, did the financing, he could use her down payment to reconcile all the bank accounts. Only problem was my uncle didn’t want to sell when I broached it or even scared him with my car.”

  “You were the one who almost hit him on the night of the planning meeting?”

  “Sarah, I never got close enough to hit him. I only wanted to scare Uncle George so Cliff and I could work on him about moving out. I was desperate. Bailey said it was now or never to close the deal.”

  “What about at the church? Did you hit your uncle to scare him then, too?”

  “That wasn’t me. It was Bailey. You’ve got to believe me. I had no idea he’d hurt Uncle George.”

  “And today?” She nodded toward where Bailey lay, while she eased her other hand out of the cord.

  “Once I realized he’d skimmed off the top of the shelter’s money and might be trying to use that, I called him when I knew Cliff was staying longer at the hospital and asked him to meet me here and talk it all out. I urged him to return the shelter’s money. He refused. One thing led to another and, as you know, I struck him with the figurine.”

  “I believe you. Why don’t you let me go and we’ll call the police? I’ll tell them I saw the fight and you had to defend yourself.”

  He gazed into her eyes. “It’s too late for that. You’d always know the truth.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

  The hair on Sarah’s neck prickled. Her hopes of talking Thomas out of doing anything drastic were quickly fading. “I promise. I won’t say anything.”

  “That’s a promise you can’t keep. You’re a nice girl. It will eat at you and eventually come out. I can’t take that chance.”

  She tried to keep him talking, but he didn’t take the bait. Instead, he went over to Bailey and used his handkerchief to pick the figurine up from the floor. He wiped it clean and then, wrapped in his handkerchief, carried it to where she sat. She didn’t know what to do. If she lunged at him, he’d strike her with the figurine and if she sat still, but he grabbed her again, he’d see her loose hands.

  She nodded toward Bailey. “What about him?”

  Thomas turned his head for a moment, and she pressed her hands closer together so if he pulled her arm, she could keep them from coming apart. “It’s a shame. They’re going to think you got a lucky hit in and killed him.”

  She sat up straight and calmly stared him in the eyes. “No one is ever going to believe I killed him.”

  “You’re right. Especially if you’re here to tell them.” He glanced around the cabin. “Considering how hard Cliff worked on this place, it’s a shame it’s going to burn with Bailey and you in it.”

  “What?”

  “With all his toys, there’s plenty of tinder and gasoline around here. It isn’t going to be too difficult to start a fire.”

  “Fire only works in books. I don’t think that’s the way to go here.”

  He laughed. “I always said you were spunky. And what, in your opinion, is the way to go?”

  Sarah stalled. She looked out the window, hoping the view of the bluff and water would give her an idea or at least a final moment of peace. What she saw almost made her gasp. Cliff was standing on the porch. Sarah turned her head away from the window, hoping Thomas wouldn’t look in that direction, but she spoke as loudly as she could. “Well, I’m a cook of convenience. I never try to make a dish from scratch by myself. I always get help. I think you’re in the same position.”

  “I don’t know what you’re saying.”

  “Only that going it alone doesn’t usually work well. Remember that night we had the planning meeting, I was going to whip up brownies from a mix, but Marcus and Jacob made those delicious cookies and petits fours while Emily and Grace worked together on the puffs. What I served was far better than if I’d tried to do it alone.”

  Sarah was afraid to look toward the window, but she hoped Cliff had heard her meandering thoughts and specific message to call for help through the open door.

  “That’s it. Get on the floor.”

  When Sarah didn’t move, Thomas reached for her hair again. As he bent toward her, Cliff burst through the door and knocked his brother away from Sarah. Thomas twisted free and swung at his brother. Cliff took the punch and staggered sideways. When Thomas went to swing at him again, Sarah lunged forward, using her hands and body weight to topple the leg he was braced on out from under him. She fell in a heap on the ground. Thomas stumbled and tripped over Bailey. Cliff charged and pinned his brother as a siren was heard in the distance.

  Sarah smiled. Not only did Cliff listen well, he was a pretty good guy.

  CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

  On Tuesday night, the “Closed for Special Party” sign on the Southwind Pub’s door said it all. It was truly a celebration in so many ways. The party buffet, which Marcus and Emily, cooking together again, had put out was fantastic. Not only did it feature all the foods on the pub menu but also a few
main dishes from their proposed fine-dining establishment. Once the city council had agreed on a replacement, who most of the members believed understood Lance’s vision for Wheaton, it had voted five to four in favor of rezoning. Its newest member, Eloise, had been the swing vote allowing the restaurant in the big house to become a reality. Unfortunately, Jane was opening a competing restaurant in Mr. Rogers’s house.

  Cliff had brought them this news when he stopped by the office to check on Sarah and tell them Jane was buying his uncle’s house. Apparently, even though Mr. Rogers was ashamed and believed Thomas should serve time, he also felt he owed it to his late sister to make sure Thomas had legal representation. Selling the house was the only way he could afford to do that for his nephew and still have enough money to take care of himself.

  Because Maybelle visited him daily, Sarah knew the doctors had made Mr. Rogers understand that once he was released from the rehab center, an independent living apartment would be easier to maneuver than the big house. He’d balked at their recommendation until Maybelle suggested, and Sarah agreed, that Sarah would keep Fluffy, so he could visit her whenever he wanted. So far, RahRah was ignoring but tolerating Fluffy’s presence.

  When Mr. Rogers contacted Jane, she’d jumped at the chance to make an offer without a realtor involved. With the bank approving her financing, a no-brainer with the nice payout she’d received from Marcus and Emily for her ownership piece of the original Southwind, her opening a restaurant right across Main Street was a done deal.

  Sarah waited for the waiter to serve her glass of wine and Harlan’s scotch. She took a sip of her pinot grigio. “What will happen to the Howellian now, Harlan?”

  “It will be foreclosed on by the bank and sold. Some chain will probably take it over and run it well. Unless, of course, Marcus and Emily want to make a go of it.”

  Sarah held her wine and watched her sister and Marcus working the room, together. “Not them. It may become competition for them again in the future, but they’ll take that on, under whatever it’s rebranded. If they never hear the name Howellian again, it won’t be too soon.”

  Harlan lifted his glass and clinked it against hers. “I’ll drink to that. Too bad they can’t relax tonight and enjoy this more.”

  “Believe me, they are enjoying every moment of this evening.” After all, for Marcus and Emily, this was fun but also their livelihood.

  Sarah also was delighted to see her mother smiling. Not being Chief Gerard’s top suspect agreed with Maybelle. She and Eloise had their heads together at a table planning something. One thing that came out of the horror of the past few weeks was the friendship between the two. Sarah wondered if her mother would loosen Eloise up or if Eloise would figure out a way to tame her mother’s impulses.

  “Harlan, I want to say thank you to you, too. You’ve really been there for my family and me.”

  It was Sarah who blushed when Harlan acknowledged her appreciation. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m here for you.”

  For Sarah, this party was a celebration of life. She couldn’t believe how far she’d come since her divorce. Not only was she comfortable living in the carriage house and working for Harlan, able to say she had enough money in the bank to be secure and, if she wanted, take some college classes; but, free from the rat, she had three great guys in her life: Harlan, Cliff, and RahRah.

  RECIPES

  SARAH’S SWEET POTATO PUFFS THE CONVENIENT WAY

  1 teaspoon brown sugar

  ½ teaspoon chili powder

  ¼ teaspoon cumin

  ¼ teaspoon salt

  Dash or two of cayenne depending on your love of spice

  1 20-ounce bag sweet potato puffs

  Preheat the oven to 400° F.

  Mix the brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, salt, and cayenne together.

  After spraying a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray, empty the bag of frozen sweet potato puffs on it. Lightly spray the puffs with the nonstick cooking spray and then sprinkle them with the spice mixture. Toss the puffs until well-coated with the spices and bake 20–22 minutes. Voilà!

  Makes 4 small servings.

  CLASSIC WINE SPRITZER

  Classic wine spritzers mix chilled wine, ice, and either club soda or sparkling water. Chill wine 30 minutes to one hour. Place ice (small pieces are preferred to large cubes) into glass. Depending upon strength desired, add three to six ounces of white wine. Fill remainder of glass with club soda or sparkling water. Garnish with lemon or lime slice, if desired.

  HOWELLIAN CATNIP

  This drink uses a dash of chilled white wine (fruity preferred), ½ cup ice, and the remainder of the glass is filled with chilled Sprite, 7UP, or any type of lemon-lime soda. The Howellian Catnip also has a touch of food coloring (optional). It gets its name because it barely contains a taste of wine. (Although having only a nip of wine makes the Howellian Catnip an economically savvy drink, it should not be served to children.)