by J A Whiting
Harris frowned. “Mel Watts?”
“Yes.” Nicole made eye contact with the man. “We got in touch with him. We wondered if he might have any information about Rose. Like I said, we’re concerned about her. Could she be in any danger?”
“Danger?” Harris swallowed. “What kind of danger?”
Claire said, “We have no idea, but it seems strange that Rose would abandon her business and completely ignore our pre-offer to buy her out. Have the police talked to you?”
Harris’s face seemed to lose its color. “Police? Why? For what reason? Why would they want to talk to me?”
“About Rose,” Nicole told the man. “About what’s going on with her.”
“I don’t know anything.” Harris vigorously shook his head.
“Does Rose have a friend we could contact?” Claire asked.
“Ah, maybe you could talk to Beverly at the store.” Harris started to walk away. “I need to see to some things. Good luck with your entry.”
When the man had disappeared into the crowd, Claire turned to Nicole about the employee who was set to buy the boutiques before Rose backed out. “Somehow, I don’t think Beverly is going to be able to help us.”
Nicole gave her friend a look. “No, especially since Rose isn’t her favorite person at the moment, and more importantly, Beverly seems to have left town in a rage.”
Robby came over to them. “How did it go? Did you charm Mr. Harris into telling you anything?”
Claire sighed. “We didn’t.”
“Why is he so nervous talking about Rose?” Nicole raised an eyebrow. “A few times, I thought he was about to jump out of his skin.”
“Are we suspicious of him?” Robby glanced into the crowd of people that Harris had disappeared into.
Claire said, “Right now, we’re suspicious of everyone.”
19
The votes had been tallied and the stage had been set up for the dessert category awards announcement with each of the twelve desserts displayed on its own, separate table. The bakers and assistants stood in a line along the back of the stage and the four festival organizers, including Ricky Harris, stood together to the side. Harris wouldn’t make eye contact with Claire or Nicole.
Claire saw Tony, Tessa, and Augustus sitting on a bench at the periphery of the crowd. The Corgis rested in the grass in front of them. The friends waved encouragingly from their seat.
Nicole reached for Claire’s and Robby’s hands and squeezed them so tightly Robby complained. “If you still want me to work for you after today, you’re going to have to allow blood to flow into my hand.”
“Sorry.” Nicole had been around to look at the desserts she was competing against and reported to her friends that she had absolutely no chance. She’d seen some of the bakers walking around curiously looking at the other entries and when Nicole saw two of them she groaned. The husband and wife team who had won the past few years were entered again this year. “Why don’t those two give someone else a chance? There’s no way we can beat them. No way.”
Robby mockingly praised her for being so optimistic.
Claire could feel Nicole shaking next to her.
“Our only chance at a medal is for third place and that’s a long shot.” Nicole sucked in a deep breath. “I’m never entering a contest again. Never. Don’t ever try to make me.”
Claire grinned, but said nothing.
The three celebrity judges, two men and a woman, took the stage to loud applause from the huge crowd gathered in front of the platform. The woman, perky and energetic, took the microphone and addressed the people telling them how difficult it was to choose, how wonderful all the desserts were, and on and on.
Nicole whispered, “Let’s get this over with.”
The gleaming wooden boxes containing huge medals were carried onto the stage and placed on a table with red, white, and blue skirting around it. One of the male judges opened a box and removed a shining, bronze medal with a two-inch red, white, and blue ribbon on it.
The band did a drum roll as the woman ceremoniously held the results card up, waited several seconds to draw out the suspense, and then announced the third place winner. It wasn’t Nicole’s chocolate shop.
Nicole’s shoulders drooped.
The people from the winning bakery stepped forward to accept the award and the male judge placed the ribboned medal over one person’s neck promising that the other baker would also receive a medal at the close of the day. The third-place winners shook hands with the organizers, posed for pictures, and then took their places back in the line of contestants.
The second place medal was announced and the procedure was repeated.
“Oh, well, maybe next year,” Nicole sighed.
Claire smiled and said softly, “A few minutes ago, you told us never to allow you to enter another contest.”
Nicole squeezed Claire’s hand. “My competitive juices have just kicked in.”
When the first place, grand prize medal was awarded to the husband and wife team, the perky woman judge spoke loudly into the microphone before the crowd could disperse. “Hold on, everyone. For the first time in five years of the food festival, we have a tie for the first place grand prize. Our other grand prize winner is….” She let the words hang in the air for maximum drama. “From a North End shop … Chocolate Dreams, Nicole Summers, Claire Rollins, and Robby Evans!”
Nicole yipped with surprise and as Robby and Claire stepped forward, a loud smash was heard. Claire glanced back to see Nicole passed out on the middle of the stage.
The crowd’s loud applause was replaced with a collective gasp as people on the stage dashed to Nicole’s side. Emergency medical personnel rushed up onstage to assist the fallen woman.
“She knows how to milk it, doesn’t she?” Robby winked at Claire knowing nothing serious was wrong with his boss.
Claire’s concern evaporated when she saw Nicole’s eyes flutter open. “She is going to be mortified when she realizes she just fainted in front of hundreds of people.”
“She is clever,” Robby said. “Guess who will get top billing in the news reports of the winners?”
In a few minutes, Nicole was on her feet … shaky feet, but upright at least. Robby and Claire each held an arm and maneuvered their friend to the awards’ table to accept the gold medal. Claire noticed Ian standing at the front of the crowd and he waved and returned her smile.
Tears gathered in Nicole’s eyes as the judge gently placed the award over her head and around her neck. The three chocolate shop bakers turned for pictures and to shake hands with the organizers. Claire was behind Nicole and Robby and she sucked in a breath as she reached for Ricky Harris’s extended hand.
“Congratulations,” he told her.
She thanked him and headed for the stairs behind her friends to exit the stage.
When Claire held Harris’s hand, she felt something very much like what she’d sensed from Mel Watts when she met with him in his office. Harris knew more about Rose than he was telling them.
Claire, Nicole, and Robby found their friends and the dogs and gathered around a table in the shade to cluck over Nicole’s fainting spell.
“I feel so foolish.” Nicole pressed her face into her palms.
After some good-natured kidding from Robby and Ian, she broke into giggles and had to admit that dropping unconscious to the stage floor would garner her some extra attention which she hoped would bring more notice to the chocolate shop.
“Great,” Robby groaned and looked over at Claire. “Now the shop will get busier and we’ll have to work harder, but I’ll still get the same pay.”
“Maybe we should mutiny,” Claire laughed.
The group bought some appetizers of barbecue chicken wings, nachos, chicken strips, stir-fried rice, and stuffed mushrooms and they all feasted on the delights. Tony raised a cup of ginger ale and made a toast to the three successful contestants as the others lifted their soft drink and water containers in celebration. After an hour
of chat, Tony, Tessa, and Augustus prepared to walk back to Tessa’s car with the Corgis for the ride home.
Tessa leaned close to Claire. “How are things going on this case?”
Claire gave her the condensed version of what they’d learned so far.
“A number of suspects yet no clear feeling who the guilty party is.” Tessa frowned.
“I get sensations from people, but they’re all jumbled up and I can’t sort out what it all means.”
Tessa smiled. “You will. Let’s talk soon. If you need some assistance, perhaps we can call on Maxwell again.” Maxwell, an older man who was a friend of Tessa’s, was a mysterious figure to Claire. The man had shown up outside a building where a death had occurred and reassured Claire that she was on the right track in her investigation.
“That might be very helpful,” Claire said. “At the moment, I’m stumped.”
When Tessa, Tony, Augustus, and the dogs went to their car, Ian got up from his seat and asked Claire to stroll around with him. Nicole told her to go ahead for a walk. “Robby and I will load the bakery supplies into the van. Then we’ll go meet the organizers to pick up the additional medals for you and Robby. Meet in an hour or so?”
As Ian and Claire strolled the brick walkway along the harbor, a warm breeze floated over their skin. Ian raved about Chocolate Dreams winning the dessert contest.
“Co-won,” Claire corrected with a smile.
“You three won the grand prize.” Ian’s eyes sparkled. “A co-win doesn’t diminish the accomplishment. The shop will be buzzing with new customers now.”
“Nicole better hire one of those applicants she’s interviewed or we won’t be able to handle the business.” Claire let out a chuckle. “Customers will also come in just to see the woman who passed out when she found out she won.”
“She’ll never live that down.”
The two bought ice cream cones from a vendor and continued their stroll.
“I know you have something to tell me,” Claire said.
Ian looked sideways at the attractive blond next to him. “How do you know that?”
Claire gave the detective a sly look. “I can sense things.” If he only knew, she thought.
“There is some security footage of Michael Burton and Rose Smith walking together in the financial district.”
Claire’s eyes widened. “How did you ever find that film? Do you check every security camera in town whenever something happens?”
“It was pure luck.” Ian licked his ice cream before it melted and ran down his wrist. “Officers were looking at tape for another case and noticed Burton.”
“Where were they?”
“Not far from Burton’s firm.”
“Do they look like they’re friendly with one another?”
“You mean like dating?” Ian asked. “No, they aren’t holding hands, they’re not close together. It looks more like two work colleagues walking together.”
“Well, it discredits Michael’s claim that he didn’t know Rose well.” Claire bit into her cone.
“Right. We’re looking into the relationship.” Ian glanced at Claire. “We’re also trying to locate Rose. So far, no luck.”
“She sent emails to her employees. Can you narrow down her whereabouts by looking at the computer’s internet address?”
“We’d need a warrant to do that. We can’t get a warrant based on the fact we think someone might be in danger.”
“Do you think she’s in danger?” Claire studied Ian’s face.
“It’s possible.”
“It’s why she’s hiding somewhere.” Claire nodded. “Rose thinks she’s in danger because Ashley got killed. She thinks she was the intended target.”
Ian kidded with Claire. “Is this something you’re sensing?”
She looked directly into his eyes and told him the truth without him realizing it. “Yes.”
They stopped by the water and sat on a bench to watch the boats in the harbor.
“Is Rose accessing her bank accounts?” Claire asked.
The corner of Ian’s mouth turned up. “You know I can’t tell you that.”
“I’m going to guess that she is.”
Ian remained silent as he worked on his ice cream.
“Can you tell me who’s being considered as a suspect?”
“Nope.”
“We talked to the husband today.”
Ian shifted his eyes to Claire.
“I don’t think he’s being up front with us. I think he’s withholding information.”
“He might value his privacy.”
“He might, but he seemed nervous talking about Rose.” Claire shifted to face Ian. “Why would he be nervous?”
“Being nervous doesn’t make the man guilty. People don’t like to be put on the spot. He wasn’t expecting to be asked questions about his wife. It made him uncomfortable.”
Claire rested against the bench back. “Maybe he has more serious reasons to be nervous.”
“Innocent until proven guilty,” Ian reminded her.
“Trust no one,” Claire countered.
“What about the benefit of the doubt?”
“You’re a cop, you don’t believe in the benefit of the doubt. And I’m suspicious, so neither do I.”
“You don’t mean that,” Ian said.
Claire sighed. “I’ve recently discovered that the world can be a nasty place … with terrible monsters in it.”
Ian’s kind eyes held Claire’s. “It can also be a wonderful place, with even more wonderful people in it.”
Claire’s skin tingled as a flutter rushed through her veins and she had to hold herself back from resting her head gently against Ian’s shoulder.
20
Claire took the elevator to the third floor and walked down the hall to the law office. She’d talked to Nicole at the chocolate shop about the need to find a friend of Rose Smith and decided to visit the receptionist they’d met in the law office next to Rose’s office. After the shop closed for the day, Nicole was being interviewed by a news reporter about the win at the food festival so Claire was on her own.
The closer she got to the door of the law office, the harder her heart pounded and she didn’t understand her apprehension. When she entered the reception area, she was glad to see the same woman sitting at her desk.
The receptionist, Abby Wilcox, glanced up and a wide smile spread over her face. “Oh, hi.”
“Hi.” Claire greeted her. “I was in a while ago asking about Rose.”
“Sure. I remember. Where’s your friend, the designer?”
Claire felt badly that they’d had to make up a story about Nicole being a designer. “She had a meeting this afternoon.”
Abby nodded and then her face clouded. “I haven’t seen Rose at all. I asked in the shop downstairs and they said she had to leave town for an emergency.”
“I heard that, too.”
“I don’t know….” Abby’s face screwed up in thought.
“What do you mean?”
“What emergency would Rose have to tend to?”
Claire cocked her in head in question.
“Rose’s parents have passed away. She doesn’t have any brothers or sisters. She told me she has no close relatives.” Abby leaned forward. “Her husband lives here in the city. What kind of an emergency would Rose have to take care of?” Abby seemed to be expecting an answer from Claire.
“What about a friend?” Claire asked. “She might have gone to see a friend.”
Abby bit her lower lip. “Rose doesn’t really have any close friends.”
“No one?”
“She has a friend who lives in Belgium. The woman was here a couple of months ago for a visit. Recently, Rose told me her friend was doing well so the emergency can’t be about her.” She gave a shake of the head. “I don’t think Rose went to Belgium. She would have told me.”
Claire was getting the distinct impression that Abby was closer to Rose than she’d let on during
the first visit. “Have you heard from Rose? An email? A text?”
Abby’s expression changed for a millisecond and then she said, “No, I haven’t heard a word.”
“I’m trying to get in touch with Rose. I came by to ask you if you knew of a friend I could contact. From what you said, I guess there isn’t anyone in the city who would know anything?”
“I can’t think of anyone.” Abby’s voice was soft.
Claire couldn’t keep a sigh from slipping from her throat. She decided to come clean with the young woman. “Abby, I haven’t exactly been upfront with you.”
The receptionist stiffened.
“My friend, Nicole, isn’t a designer. She runs a chocolate shop in the North End.”
“Wait,” Abby said. “She’s the one who fainted at the food festival, right? I heard about it on the news. I thought she looked familiar.”
“Nicole was on the news?”
“Yeah, last night.” Abby gave Claire a look. “Why did you tell me she was a designer?”
“We need to talk to Rose. We can’t find her. We’re worried about her so we made up a story about wanting to meet with her and we thought it might seem legitimate if Nicole was a designer. I apologize.”
Abby’s face took on an expression of apprehension. “What was the real reason you wanted to see Rose?”
Claire took in a deep breath. “It’s kind of a long story. Could we talk when you get out of work? Go to a coffee shop?”
Abby seemed be thinking it over. “You can talk to me now. Attorney Milliken is gone for the day. I’m the only one here.” She gestured to the chair in the corner. “Pull up a seat.”
Sitting across from the young woman, Claire began the tale. “I work with Nicole at the chocolate shop. I was walking to work early one morning and I saw a car pulled to the side of the lane. Something about its position and well, I don’t know exactly, but I knew something was wrong. I moved closer so I could get a look inside. The window was open. The woman was dead. I found out later that her name was Ashley Smith.”
“You found her?” Abby’s eyes were wide.
“Nicole and I believe it was a case of mistaken identity.” Claire went on to tell Abby how she ran into Rose one night at the crime scene. “Rose told me her legal name. I think Rose knows that she was the intended target.”