As soon as Sean walked in the door, Ashley burst into laughter. Then she thrust out her hand.
“Stop right there! You look like a flour bag exploded on you!” she said.
Sean had a big grin on his face.
“I should be upset, but it’s too funny. Your mom insisted on climbing up to get a big bowl from a top shelf, and just as I was yelling out ‘no!’ she grabbed it. It was full of flour for my next batch of scones. It spilled all over her head and then on me.”
“Why was a big open bowl full of flour on a top shelf?” Ashley exclaimed.
“I left it there for just two minutes. I was standing with the bowl in my hand and climbed up to get a smaller bowl and set it down while I looked for things. Big lesson learned.”
“Well go shower ‘cause mom wants us to pick up takeout on the way over, and…” Ashley trailed off when she saw that Sean was already down the hallway on the way to the bathroom.
Ashley laughed to herself as she got ready to go to her parents. As soon as Sean was ready, they headed out and picked up the food on the way over. It smelled wonderful in the car.
Ashley smiled at Sean. “Oh wow, that smells amazing. And no cooking or cleanup for a change!”
“Right,” Sean said. “Good thing too. I’m tired.”
“But at least you’re clean now,” she said.
When they arrived, Burt was at the door. “It’s great you two got take out. Your mom is still in the shower washing off flour from all over her. Something about an accident at the bakery?”
Sean explained what had happened which set off laughter from everyone all over again. When April got into the kitchen, Ashley had already set the table and plated up the food.
“Just in time to eat, mom. And now, we get to hear your side of the story!” Ashley said.
“Oh, honey, I’m sure you heard all there is to hear. I must say, I never expected to find a huge bowl of flour just sitting on a top shelf!” April said.
They passed around the plates of food and everyone talked about Burt’s upcoming birthday. Ashley asked him what he wanted.
“No presents!” Burt looked at Ashley and April. “I just want all my favorite homemade foods for dinner. No calorie counting!” Then he looked at Sean. “And a homemade apple pie.”
“Okay, Dad, done!” Ashley said. “Make a list for mom and I’ll come over and we’ll cook for you together.”
“And I’ll bring the pie from the bakery,” Sean said. “And ice cream too?”
“You need to ask, son?” Burt said.
“Actually, we already bought something for you. Thought we could take it out for a spin next weekend.” Sean pulled out a large box and set it on the table.
Burt peered at it.
“Open it!” Ashley said.
Burt peeled open the paper and stared for a few minutes.
“Dear, what is it?” April asked impatiently.
Burt kept staring at the box. “Now what am I supposed to do with this?” he snorted.
“It will be a blast! We can take it to the fields and fly it!” Sean said.
April jumped up and ran over to see what was in the box. “A drone? What’s he going to do with a drone?”
Burt stared at her. “That’s what I just said!”
“Look, Dad, it’s going to be fun. I’ll show you how to work it and you’ll never look back,” Sean said.
“Yeah, Dad, takes you into the twenty-first century,” Ashley said.
“Well thank you both,” Burt said. “Guess we can give it a try.” Then he looked at Sean wistfully. “But I thought you liked fishing together.”
“I love fishing with you!” Sean said. “I thought this would be fun to try together too.”
Sean went on to explain how the drone worked while Ashley and April cleaned the table and washed up.
“It’s from both of us, but it was really Sean’s idea,” Ashley said. “I hope Dad gets into it.”
“Well if he does, fine, and if he doesn’t, Sean can still play with it,” April said.
“Yeah, but Sean wants to really do it with Dad. Something for them to bond over. Helps to make up for never bonding with his own Dad.”
“I know, honey. But his mom did a good job raising him. He’s turned out as good as anyone could be.”
“Yes. But he wants to make up for all the years his dad was gone. And this is just another opportunity to be a kid again with a father like figure.”
“I understand,” April said. She put her hand on Ashley’s shoulder. “It’s so wonderful how well they get along.”
Ashley turned to the living room where she saw Sean standing over her father holding the drone and excitedly whizzing it around with his hand.
Just like a kid, she thought. It’s never too late for healing and redemption.
***
When Ashley and Sean left to go back home that night, their bellies were stuffed with a good meal and Sean had a big smile on his face.
“I think your Dad is going to love that drone,” he said.
“I’m sure he will, but remember, it might take him awhile to get used to it. And don’t forget to still go fishing with him, or he’ll be hurt.”
“I will. We’ve already talked about going to Lake Tom. And I’ll bring the drone too. Maybe we can do some of that after fishing.”
Ashley smiled to herself. Whatever her Dad and Sean did was fine with her. The most important thing was that they enjoyed each other’s company. It made her happy to think about it. Her eyes started to flutter as Sean drove on. She couldn’t understand why she was so sleepy. It wasn’t that late.
“Ash, what’s that?” Sean asked.
“What’s what?” she asked. They were near the town park, and most everything was in shadow now.
“That,” he pointed.
Ashley squinted into the dark where he was pointing and there was a tall lopsided effigy of a male figure. It looked like it was made out of the crudest of materials and that it could fall over at any minute.
“Drive slowly,” she said.
He slowed the car down and they peered at the ‘effigy’ as they got closer. It looked as if it was made of paper mache or some such material. It had a grotesque smile on its face and held a sign that said “Carlson did it” and “No one ever knew.”
“What the—?” Sean started to say.
“Look!” Ashley said.
She pointed to a man running out from behind the effigy and off through the park. They only saw him for a few seconds before he disappeared into the tree line. The flimsy contraption shook in the evening breeze, and then toppled over. The sign had fallen face down on the ground. Ashley wanted to run out and pick it up, but didn’t dare with the man lurking around the park.
“Let’s go,” she said. “You never know what that could be about.”
“I don’t think it’s a big deal, do you? Probably just some prank,” Sean said.
***
Ashley and Sean got home soon afterwards and Sean headed straight down the hall.
“Bedtime! So tired,” he said.
Ashley plopped on the couch. “You go ahead. I’m going to watch some TV. Be in later.”
“Okay, but don’t be up too late.”
He went to the bathroom and washed his face and brushed his teeth, then got into bed and promptly fell asleep as soon as he turned off the light and hit the pillow. Ashley channel surfed for a movie until she came across the local TV station’s late-night news banner.
“Man found dead on mountain trail is identified as Jon Carlson, a former resident of Comfortville who went missing forty years ago. The police are still trying to assess why he was back in the area and where he has been all this time. Mr. Carlson apparently died of a heart attack possibly brought on by exertion. We will bring you the results of the full autopsy soon,” a news anchor said.
Ashley sat up from the couch. Hadn’t the sign on that statue said “Carlson did it?” she thought. Could it be the same Carlson? And what was it t
hat he did?
Ashley mused about it as she got ready for bed. She’d follow up on it tomorrow.
***
Sean left extra early in the morning. He was providing 300 donuts to the Policeman’s Appreciation Breakfast. Detective Thompson and the Comfortville Police Department had offered to pay him but he refused.
A month ago when he took that order from Thompson, Ashley had applauded Sean’s decision to not be reimbursed.
“I understand Sean,” Ashley had said. “Everyone there has done so much for us.”
“Well, that’s not exactly how Thompson put it,” Sean had said.
“What did he say?” she asked.
Sean laughed. “He said that the reason he thinks I’m not charging them is because everyone had to put up with you!”
Ashley had done a mock eye roll. “Really? Well just wait till I see him again!”
Ashley smiled at the memory of it, then winced. Her stomach was bothering her again. It had started a few days ago. Stomach flu? Or was it something she’d eaten in the last few days?
Charlie went into the bedroom and jumped on top of Ashley with a loud yowl.
“Okay, your highness, getting up,” she groaned.
She fed him and Susie Q, then put Charlie’s harness on for a walk. He trotted out the door and motored down the street.
They ran into Mary, her friend that used to live in her old apartment complex. What a surprise to see her on this part of town.
“Hi, Mary! It’s so great to see you!” Ashley exclaimed.
They embraced and Charlie started to purr at the sight of an old friend.
“And you!” Mary said. “And you too dear Charlie.” Mary bent down and petted him.
“What are you up to these days?” Ashley said. “I’m sorry I’ve been so lax about staying in touch. Life has been a whirlwind.”
Mary smiled. “No worries, dear. I’ve heard about all your exploits. And I’m sorry I missed your wedding. But as I told you, my cousin was very ill and I needed to stay at her home and take care of her longer than I thought.”
“Oh, I understand. We do what we have to. Why don’t you come by sometime and we’ll have tea and I’ll show you the wedding photos?”
“Sounds lovely!” Mary said. “How about in a few weeks? I should be caught up on everything after all my time away.”
“Perfect,” Ashley said. “Give me a call as soon as you know your schedule. See you again soon!” She waved as they started to walk down the street.
Mary called out to her. “Oh, Ashley dear, just wanted to let you know something about that body they found up on the mountain trail. The man was suspected of being involved in a murder many years ago. But they never had conclusive evidence, and he disappeared out of state. If you get entangled again with Detective Thompson on anything, remember that. And don’t look where it seems obvious. Look underground. I see tunnels. I don’t know why. But look for tunnels.” Mary waved and walked to her car.
Ashley watched her drive away. As usual, she was left dumbfounded. She hadn’t had Mary’s input in anything for quite some time, but she knew that Mary was always right. Whoever might have outright scoffed at her premonitions, to those who awkwardly smiled when she brought up Mary, it didn’t matter to Ashley. She had found her old friend to generally be spot on. She began to think of tunnels as she continued to walk Charlie.
It sounds creepy, she thought. I’m not going to even dwell on it a minute more right now, though.
Charlie took off fast and scooted up a tree. He turned around to look at her as if to say, “I’d climb to the top if it wasn’t for that leash!”
Just as he resignedly clawed his way back down, an older lady came out of her front door and stood on the porch. She wiped her brow and stared at Charlie.
“That’s quite a cat. Has he always walked on the leash?” she said.
“Yes, since he was a kitten.” Ashley had never seen the woman before.
“Long ago, I used to have a cat that did that too. Until that snake killed him,” the old woman said.
“Oooo, that’s terrible,” Ashley said. “I’ve never heard of a snake killing a cat around here.”
“You’re thinking of a regular snake that crawls on the ground,” the woman said. “I’m thinking of a two legged snake who drove a car and purposely ran over my cat. His name is Carlson. Or I should say, was Carlson. And he finally got what was coming to him.” She turned and started to walk back in her door and waved at Ashley. “Have a good day!”
Ashley thought about what Mary and the strange woman had said as she walked Charlie back to their apartment. So Carlson was a suspect in a decades old murder. But he left town and nothing was solved? Then he turns up dead apparently from a heart attack hiking the ridge outside of town. Why was he even up there? Why wouldn’t he have stayed away if he was a suspect? What about the man who put up the effigy accusing him the other night? And why did Carlson run over that lady’s cat? Maybe there was more bad blood between him and other townsfolk. Pieces of a bigger puzzle.
I’ll call Detective Thompson and tell him about these things, she thought.
A Shakespeare quote from Hamlet came to Ashley’s mind. “It puzzles the will.”
***
Charlie headed straight for the kitchen for more food after his walk.
“Nice try,” Ashley said. “Here’s a few nibbles only.”
Then she sat down to work on more menus. She typed out “lay the steak on a plate, then add butter and a quarter of a cup of port wine in a hot pan, then stir….”
Suddenly she hit a new tab on her laptop and immediately started to type “Jon Carlson, 73, died of heart attack? Used to live in Comfortville, left. Where to? Why was he gone 40 years? Who did he know?”
Okay, the ball was rolling in her head now. Ashley sighed. But it was time to get back to work. Those catering menus weren’t going to write themselves.
Chapter Four
Ashley packed her car for her dinner catering job. It was a lovely day, the air was chilly, but sunny. She wrapped her scarf closer around her neck against the strong breeze. Lara had called and said she’d meet her there with Will. It promised to be a nice event. Ashley was excited about it.
Her cell rang three times before she answered it. She was so busy she hadn’t heard it. It was Detective Nate Thompson.
“Ashley, can you come in? Really important,” Thompson said.
“Sorry, Nate, on my way to a catering event. Can I see you tomorrow?” Ashley asked.
“Guess it will have to wait till then,” he said.
“Bad news?” she asked.
“Don’t know yet. Something came up about that guy Carlson that was found on the trail.”
“Let me guess. It wasn’t a heart attack that killed him,” she said.
“I’m not thinking it is. Autopsy should be back tomorrow. And an old case against him is being re-opened as there might be DNA evidence now to tie him into that old murder.”
“What do you know about that murder?” she asked.
“I’m having to come up to speed on it now. Happened long before I got here,” he said.
“So, do you need me?” she asked.
“Yes. This time I’m asking for your help,” he said.
“You mean as opposed to me just butting in?” she laughed.
“Yeah, might as well ask now since you’ll put yourself in there later anyway.”
“Good move,” she said.
“Got some good news too,” he said.
“I’m listening,” she responded.
“I got engaged this weekend,” he said.
“Oh wow!” she yelled. She kept screaming her excitement into the phone.
“As soon as you stop yelling, I’d like to ask you something,” Thompson said.
“Go ahead!” she yelled again.
“Would you cater our wedding reception? We couldn’t think of a better caterer to ask.”
“OMG, I’d love to!”
“L
ove the enthusiasm, Ashley, but can you dial down the volume?”
“Yes, yes, yes, gotta run, let’s talk later. This will be so fun!”
“And Ashley?” he said.
“Yeah?” she asked.
“Keep the news I just told you about Carlson and the old case being re-opened quiet for now. We don’t want more information released until tomorrow at the earliest.”
Ashley was still too excited from the news of Nate’s engagement to think of much else at the moment. “Yes, of course! “Bye!”
After she hung up, she texted Sean the happy news about Nate. Sean texted back a smiley face emoji and she grinned to herself.
How fun was this going to be? she thought. Her friendship with Nate came out of an annoying relationship, and now here they were, celebrating Thompson’s next chapter in his life.
It was all good. This seemed like a culmination of sorts. She felt so happy about it.
Sean then texted her with his recent news: Going droning with Dad and Uncle George this weekend.
Ashley smiled to herself. Burt loved it when Sean called him ‘Dad’ and his brother, George, ‘Uncle.’ For Sean, it was a dream come true. He had two good men in his life now, and along with Ashley, April, and his mom, Patricia, he was ecstatic with his new family. It was a very special feeling. So many good families found each other—it wasn’t always your birth family that was there for you.
She texted him back: Sounds like fun! Don’t crash the drone, LOL.
***
When Ashley got to her client’s house, Lara was just pulling up with Will. He jumped out of the car and ran up to Ashley and enveloped her in a big hug.
“Hey, Ashley! Good to see you again!” He stood back and grinned down at her.
Ashley looked at him and thought to herself that he must’ve grown two feet since she last saw him.
“Whoa! Are you tall enough?” she said.
Lara came up beside them and laughed. “Yeah, hopefully he has stopped growing; he keeps hitting his head on my doorframes!”
Ashley Crane Cozy Mystery Boxed Set Page 75