“Yes,” Willow said. “That’s what we were wondering.”
“Technically your twice-ex-husband,” Wednesday added.
“I didn’t think of him as my ex anymore,” Isla said, playing with the ring on her finger. “He really was a good man. And I’m wearing the ring now as a sign that I’ve forgiven Lee for his indiscretions.”
Willow was about to pursue this topic some more, but a look of absolute hatred came over Isla’s face. Isla ignored the smoothie that she had left on the counter and ripped Willow’s drink out of her hand. Willow wondered what she had done to upset her, but she soon realized that the rage was directed at someone behind her.
She turned and saw a young blonde woman emerging from the massage room. The woman locked eyes with Isla as she spat, “What are you doing here?”
Isla marched closer to her and threw the smoothie at the blonde’s head. The woman dodged away from it. However, in her haste to move, she knocked down a wooden sign saying “Namaste.” Willow realized that both women had lost their inner peace, and it could translate into an all-out brawl.
Luckily the owner of the studio and the masseuse came out right away to handle the situation. Willow was glad that she didn’t have to try and get in the middle of the two angry women. They were being persuaded to move away from one another when Wednesday nudged her sister.
“Let’s go.”
As they left the studio, Willow had to ask, “What just happened?”
“The other woman who came out from a massage? Well, she was the other woman in Lee Hunter’s life.”
“Really?” Willow asked, looking back to the studio.
Wednesday nodded. “That’s the rumor around town, and it definitely looks like Isla believes it. Tiffany was Lee Hunter’s assistant.”
“And mistress.”
“I’ll pass the word on to Dad about what happened here,” Wednesday said.
“Good idea. There was a lot of rage there,” Willow said. “I can’t believe she threw a smoothie at her. My smoothie!”
“She probably should have gotten more napkins.”
The sisters laughed. But Willow had something more serious than a spilled smoothie on her mind. It was entirely possible that they had just found two more suspects for Lee Hunter’s murder.
7
Willow was digging through boxes in her new garage to see what supplies she had for her business. She had opened a box full of dog treats, which had Telescope making a racket.
“Sorry, Tele, they’re not all for you,” Willow said. “Even though you’ve been a very good boy.”
Tele barked a response and pawed the ground.
“But that doesn’t mean you get an entire box of treats,” she responded.
She gave one to her dog and then continued going through her supplies. She had woken up in the morning with a great idea, and it looked like she just might have the materials to follow through with it.
The 5K that Lee Hunter was orchestrating was still going forward, and it would be a great way to introduce her business to the community. Her brochures and flyers had arrived. Combined with the specialty dog treats that Telescope was a fan of, it would be easy to set up a booth with the other vendors at the event and advertise her business. She just needed to see if they still had space available.
She planned on heading over to the town square where they were setting up that afternoon. She just wanted to make sure that she would be ready if they agreed to let her join. The only thing she had left to look for was a table.
She groaned as she discovered that the folding table she owned had a broken leg. Then, getting an idea, she headed towards her pantry. Telescope was at her heels.
“Griffin?”
He turned around, taking a break from his measurements to talk to her.
“Do you think you could help me fix a folding table?”
“I’d have to see how much damage was done to it, but usually tables are easy to fix,” he said, rolling up his sleeves.
Willow couldn’t help noticing how fit his forearms were. She forced her attention away from them.
“Thanks. I don’t know for sure that I’ll need it, but it’s good to know it could be repaired. I’ll just need it if I get to be a vendor at the 5K.”
Griffin put his notebook into his pocket roughly. “Lee’s 5K?”
“Well, it’s the community 5K, isn’t it?”
“But he planned it. No. I can’t help you. I don’t want to do anything to support one of Lee’s ventures. I’m boycotting the 5K and everything involved in it. Even table fixing.”
Willow thought that he recognized that at least the tail end of what he said was ridiculous, but she wasn’t sure that he understood the depth of his foolishness.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” she asked.
“I’m fine with fixing your table, but not for one of his events.”
“I meant are you sure it’s a good idea to be boycotting it and letting everyone know you didn’t like Lee Hunter. You are a suspect in his murder. Maybe this isn’t the best tactic to get your name off the suspect list.”
Griffin just huffed and excused himself to get back to work. She saw him grab a hammer on his way out and soon heard banging.
She looked down at her dog.
“Keep an eye on him, will you? I don’t want him taking out his frustration on our floors.”
Telescope nodded dutifully.
Willow arrived at the center of town where they were setting up for the 5K. It was going to be an impressive event. Volunteers were setting up flags and banners to mark the runners’ course. There was seating for the audience, so they could cheer on the athletes in comfort, and there were areas that were marked for refreshments. What Willow found most exciting were the tents being set up for vendors. It looked like a large area, so they might be able to squeeze her in.
She walked through the setup, and she started to see people she recognized. She was glad that she was looking professional today in a suit jacket over a colorful blouse. Because she was here asking about her business, she would also have a handy topic of conversation to bring up if she needed to chitchat.
She asked the people hanging flags along the racers’ route who was in charge of the event, but they weren’t completely sure who had taken over after “poor Lee Hunter’s” death. Willow hadn’t considered that this could be a possibility. If no one was placed in charge yet, then she was wasting her afternoon looking for permission to join. Luckily, she ran into the town librarian who seemed to know what was going on. After reminiscing about how Willow had read nearly every mystery book in the library before “she ran away to school and then never returned,” the woman told her that a man named Ronald was in charge. She pointed him out. Willow thanked her and promised to come in and check out a book sometime soon.
She intercepted Ronald before he could head to another established vendor.
“Are you Ronald? Are you in charge?”
“Yes. Ronald Bray.” He had a receding hairline and an extremely nice suit. He held out his hand and Willow shook it.
“I’m Willow Wells.”
He didn’t have any reaction to her name, and she decided that he must be from out of town. Even people she didn’t know in town usually knew that the Wells were related to the police chief. She also assumed by now that people would have heard that she was the one who found Lee Hunter’s body. The locals would all know that piece of gossip. Willow wondered how he had come to be in charge of the event.
“What can I do for you?” he asked cordially.
“Well, I was hoping that you might still have vendor space available. I’m opening a dog gym soon, and I’d love to have a table to explain it to people. I can train dogs, whether it’s for a dog show competition or just so they understand their humans better. And I provide a space where dogs can exercise and socialize, just like people do when they go to their gyms.”
“That sounds like a fascinating business,” Ronald said. “And I’m sure peop
le who run the 5K would love to know about it. They might be health conscious about their pets too. Or just want something fun for them to do.”
“I have brochures and signs and some tasty dog treats. I could get a table too.”
“I think we can probably fit you in,” he said. “Let me check with Cassy. She’s been handling the vendor tents.”
He led her over to one of the tents where a woman with a clipboard was sitting. He was all set to introduce them, but it turned out to be unnecessary.
Cassy dropped her clipboard and ran over to Willow, hugging her.
“Willow Wells!”
Willow tried to catch her breath and remember who the hugger was. The memory clicked, and she recognized Cassy Cahill from school. They had been lab partners on several projects, but Cassy had used the time by the Bunsen burners for gossiping. She still wore her copper hair the same way she used to and was still covered in freckles.
“Willow, you haven’t grown at all. You’re still the same tiny little thing.”
“It’s good to see you, Cassy,” Willow said, trying to actually mean it after being squished so hard. She looked for Ronald, but he had already walked away.
“I heard you were back in town. Well, first I heard you were around because of poor Edna. We all loved her. And then I heard that you might be back-back. That you were moving home permanently? You inherited Edna’s house, didn’t you? I wasn’t sure if that was true or not. But then I thought it was true because of another rumor. Did you really find a body in the backyard?”
Willow nodded. She knew that the locals would have heard the story by now. She might as well have them spread the truth instead of rumors – as long as nothing she said could interfere with the investigation.
“I did,” Willow said. “I didn’t know it at the time, but it was Lee Hunter. He had been murdered and buried.”
“Oh, my goodness. That’s the worst thing I’ve ever heard,” Cassy said, though she seemed to be delighting in the firsthand details. “Was it bloody?”
“Honestly, I saw a hand and called the police. And now the detectives are working hard to find the person responsible,” Willow said, choosing to leave Griffin out of her story. She didn’t want him added to any of Cassy’s gossip when he was already the prime suspect in the crime.
“If anyone can figure it out, Chief Wells can,” Cassy said. “Are you going to help him solve the case? You were always solving things in high school.”
“Well, high school was a long time ago,” Willow said, not wanting to get dragged down in the memories.
“The only mystery you couldn’t solve was why Chet Ravensbaum didn’t want to date me,” Cassy said, laughing a little too loudly at her joke.
“I’m actually trying to focus on my business now,” Willow said, not sure if she should have laughed or not. “I came here to see if you had any more vendor space.”
“Oh. That might be a tight squeeze. We actually have a lot of vendors this year, but I’ll see if I can juggle some people around.”
“I’d really appreciate it.”
“I’ll try. For you, Willow. But it is really crowded already. Lee got a lot of vendors to join this year. It’s such a shame what happened to him. I just can’t believe he was murdered.”
“Me neither,” Willow agreed. “But I am glad that this 5K is able to continue in his absence.”
“Yeah,” Cassy said, hugging her clipboard. “Ronald has been great about running things.”
“What’s his relationship in all this?” Willow asked.
“Well, he’s new to town and…” Cassy trailed off and cocked her head. “I can’t believe she’s here.”
“What?” Willow asked, turning to see who Cassy was talking about. She recognized the woman from the yoga studio, though she looked much calmer than the last time she had seen her. It was Tiffany, and she’d just waltzed over to the nearest vendor tent. She had an exercise bag swung over one arm and appeared to be looking for someone.
Cassy ushered Willow closer and held her clipboard up so they could gossip in private.
“Do you know who that is?”
“Her name is Tiffany, isn’t it?” Willow asked. “She was Lee’s assistant.”
“Not only his assistant,” Cassy said, conspiratorially.
“I might have heard that she was the other woman,” Willow admitted. She was interested in learning this information about the victim’s love life, but she was feeling silly discussing this behind a clipboard.
“That’s putting it mildly,” Cassy said with a laugh. “Lee and Tiffany were having an affair for years and years – about as long as she’s been his assistant. And that includes during all of Lee’s second marriage to Isla.”
Willow looked back towards Tiffany, and Cassy shook her clipboard at her. “Hey, is that really why you’re here?”
“What?” Willow asked.
Cassy took a step away and asked her suspiciously, “Are you here to spy on Tiffany?”
“I didn’t know she’d be here. And why would I be spying on her?”
“Because she probably killed Lee. That’s why I can’t believe she’s showing her face here.”
Tiffany had walked away, but Cassy glared at where she had been.
“Why do you think she killed him?” Willow asked.
“It probably wasn’t something she planned, but I bet she did it out of anger. One of those crimes of passion.”
“She was angry about being the other woman?” Willow asked. “But why now? If it’s been going on for so long?”
“I thought everyone knew,” Cassy said, staring at her like she was crazy. “Because she’s pregnant.”
“Tiffany is pregnant?”
“You didn’t know?” Cassy asked.
“No. I didn’t,” Willow said, shaking her head.
But now she wanted to know more about it. If Tiffany was pregnant with Lee’s child and he wasn't supportive, she might have a major motive for murder.
8
Prenatal Yoga was an unexpected class for Willow. She stood awkwardly to the side as she watched women with baby bumps of all sizes move around the studio. Several were still chatting about their cravings and the healthiest additions to mix into their smoothies for the baby’s development. Other women had already shuffled into the room where the class would take place.
Willow felt like an imposter being in the room. She wasn’t pregnant and didn’t have any plans to become so. It didn’t seem like it was in the cards for her anytime soon. The only man in her life right now was Tele.
If that wasn’t enough to make her feel awkward about being surrounded by happy moms-to-be, her real reason for sneaking into the class was to spy on somebody. But, she told herself, it was for the greater good. She needed to determine if Tiffany had a motive for murder. Willow wanted this case solved – for the victim, for Griffin, and for her business.
She had made a deal with herself that she would only go inside if she saw Tiffany go in. She’d seen Tiffany with an exercise bag at the 5K setup and assumed that she was going to go to a class later. Willow had scoured the schedule at the studio and the only class that night was prenatal yoga.
She was starting to think that she’d made leaps in her assumptions and should find a way to bow out gracefully. Maybe she would get a smoothie and pretend that was her reason for coming inside. After all, her last smoothie had been used as a projectile.
She was about to make her getaway when she saw the person the smoothie had been directed at. Tiffany’s blonde curls bounced into the room. The other woman looked distracted as she set her yoga mat up in the class.
Willow threw her yoga mat over her shoulder and walked into the room. It looked like she would be taking the class after all.
Willow hadn’t been sure that she believed Cassy about the pregnancy. Her high school friend had seemed a little too keen on gossip. However, it was hard to dispute the facts. Tiffany was definitely in the prenatal class. She didn’t have a large baby bump, but t
here were women of all sizes and at different points in their pregnancy in the room. And what were the odds that there were two non-pregnant women in the class?
Willow laid her mat on the floor close to Tiffany, so she could keep an eye on her. Tiffany was already beginning to stretch, and Willow decided to do the same. She didn’t want any of the other women asking about her due date or selection of baby names.
The instructor entered the room and Willow was glad that she didn’t know her from the classes that she planned to take regularly. If anyone recognized Willow later, her plan was to say that she joined the class by mistake. She hoped, however, that this wouldn’t be a mistake at all, at least so far as her real goal of getting more details about Tiffany’s pregnancy
The instructor greeted them with her hands together in Prayer Mudra and told them what a special journey they were on. She told them how wonderful it was that they made it to the mat that day to practice and that the benefits of the movement would be good for mother and child.
Willow felt more like a fraud. However, as she took a deep breath with the rest of the class, she decided that she needed to let her feelings of awkwardness go. She was here, and she had a mission.
Though they were supposed to keep their eyes closed during the opening breathing exercise, Willow squinted through one to look at Tiffany. She was following the instructor’s guidance and breathing deeply.
Willow didn’t know Tiffany, but she sensed that the other woman was feeling downbeat. She wasn’t as cheerful as the other ladies in the class. Willow wondered if her mood had to do with the murder. Maybe Tiffany was sad that Lee was gone, or maybe she was concerned about being caught for her crime. Perhaps she was wondering if she was going to have her baby in jail.
The instructor began to lead them in some movements designed to open the hips and Willow smiled. The class was shaping up to be more of a traditional yoga class than she thought it would be. There was a focus on centering yourself and on hip openers, which Willow admitted she could use.
Home is Where the Bark Is Page 6