by Judi Lynn
She could live with that. “You did such a good job, you get to pick the movie tonight. Anything you want.”
“Even horror?”
“If you hold me during the scary parts.”
His grin grew wider. “Oh, babe, it’s horror for sure if you’re going to cling to me.”
She went to him and stood on tiptoe to deliver a kiss. “Thanks for chasing them off. I’ve got to get the salmon seasoned now, though, before I grill it.”
He tipped her chin up. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed you’re cooking all my favorites.”
“You know what they say: the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”
“You’d have me with cold meat sandwiches.” He lowered his head and gave her a long, serious kiss that made her bones melt. “Warn me before you fall asleep tonight. I have plans for you.”
How lucky could a girl get? She swatted his butt as he went to climb the stairs to shower. She went to the kitchen and decided they’d eat fish or seafood every third night if it made Ansel happy.
She was carrying in the grilled salmon when Jerod, Franny, and kids arrived. Ansel, six-five of squeaky clean, led them into the kitchen and got Jerod a beer. Franny decided on iced tea, and the kids went to the cooler to choose their sodas. The doorbell rang again, and in under ten minutes, the kitchen was so full, it was hard to hear yourself think.
Ansel and Jerod helped Jazzi lay out food on the kitchen island, and everyone came to dish up, buffet style. Olivia and Thane talked about the house they’d found. They were going to take Jazzi, Jerod, and Ansel to see it Tuesday night. Samantha said she and Gran had driven to Salamonie Reservoir to have a picnic with one of Samantha’s old friends and that Gran had enjoyed hiking one of the park trails.
Jazzi glanced at Gran. Her gaze was clear and lucid. If only her mind were in as good of shape as her body.
George plopped himself at Ansel’s feet and shamelessly begged. Jazzi was surprised that the pug had a thing for salmon. And pasta. He even liked summer squash. The only thing he didn’t want were raw tomatoes.
Mom told them she was looking forward to having Monday off. Dad had to work, so she was going to a day spa with her next-door neighbor. When you got those two women together, they could think of all kinds of ways to have fun. Uncle Eli and his wife were putting in a new fire pit at their house. Everyone had things to talk about. The meal lasted longer than usual and it was back to being filled with gossip and fun. The only people who thought about Lynda and Noah were Jazzi and Ansel, and a large part of that was because Tim and Katherine had intruded on their Sunday.
When everyone left and they’d finished cleanup, Ansel took Jazzi’s hand and led her into the living room. They watched sports, as usual, and then he rented a movie that she’d sworn she’d never be brave enough to watch. But cuddled next to Ansel on the couch, with George curled on their feet, the scary parts weren’t as scary.
After the movie, Ansel led her upstairs. “The best antidote to fear is lots of heavy breathing and making love.”
“Really?” She’d never heard that before.
He grinned. “Come on. I’ll show you.”
And he did. And he was right. They’d have to watch more scary movies so that he’d chase her fears away often.
Chapter 39
On Monday, Ansel stayed home to work on the pond while Jazzi and Jerod went to the house on Lake to start ripping down walls.
“I can finish up here today,” Ansel told them. “Save something for me to do tomorrow.”
Jazzi rolled her eyes. This house needed a lot more than cosmetic fix-ups. They’d be at it a while. Jerod drove today. Usually, they met at the job site, but her cousin couldn’t wait to see how the pond turned out, so he volunteered to drive her back. She grabbed a cooler full of sandwiches and Jerod grabbed the one she’d filled with cold drinks, and off they went.
They decided to gut the entire upstairs. Armed with sledge hammers, they got busy. Walls crashed down and the toilet and sink got tossed into the dumpster. They were scraping the popcorn ceilings smooth when Jazzi’s cell phone buzzed. She looked at the ID and frowned. “Wade Draper,” she told Jerod.
He nodded for her to go downstairs to take the call.
Once it was quiet, Jazzi said, “Sorry. We’re gutting a house. I needed to find someplace where I could hear you.”
Saws and hammers sounded in the background on Wade’s end, but he must be in a private spot. His connection was clear. “Detective Gaff called me today. He wants to interview me again. I was wondering if you’d come with him. He makes me nervous. I know you’re not my friend, but it’s nice to have a regular person there, you know? I’d ask Will, but he’d think I was guilty of whatever Gaff thinks I did, and I’m not. Will you come?”
“When is it?”
“Quitting time, three thirty.”
“Ask Gaff to pick me up on Lake Avenue.” She gave him the address. “I didn’t drive my truck today. He might even have to drive me home.”
“If he won’t, I will. I know you’re doing me a favor.”
After he hung up, Jazzi looked at her cell for a minute before returning it to her jeans pocket. It was sad that he called her instead of asking his brother. But after meeting Wade’s family, she understood.
She worked with Jerod until Gaff yelled upstairs at them. “Hey, is Jazzi ready to go?”
Jerod came to the top of stairs and yelled down, “Are you taking her home?”
“Yeah, no problem.”
“Then I’m quitting here for the day to go see how Ansel’s doing. He might be done by now.”
She and Jerod locked up and walked out together. He got in his truck, and Jazzi climbed into Gaff’s car to head downtown. They waited in the parking lot until Wade finished work and came to see them.
“Picnic table?” Wade asked.
It felt like a broiler outside, but they followed him to the same spot in Headwaters Park. Wade sat down opposite them and fidgeted. “What is it this time?”
Gaff explained about the Modelo beer can Jazzi had found in the shed. “Your fingerprints are on it.”
Wade frowned. “In the shed? I never looked inside it.”
“You didn’t do any yard work to get the house ready for the renter?” Gaff asked.
“I mowed, but the riding mower was in the garage. That’s all we did.”
“Do you still have a key for the shed?”
Wade nodded. “Will gave his keys to the lawyer when we sold the house. I forgot to bring mine.”
Gaff went on. “The beer can was close to the shovel that someone used to bury Noah.”
Wade’s face drained of color. “I never saw that shovel.”
“Your brother had an alibi for January seventeenth, the day Noah was murdered. Do you?”
Wade hung his head. “I left work early that day. I know that looks bad, but you can ask my mentor at AA. I met with him that day for the first time. I was tired of messing up because of my drinking.”
Jazzi couldn’t hide her surprise. “You didn’t tell your brother?”
Wade looked embarrassed. “Will wouldn’t believe I can kick the habit. He’d make it worse, nagging me every time he thought I might mess up. Mom and Dad both think I’m a lost cause, too. I decided I’d do better on my own. None of them have even noticed I haven’t had a drink in months.”
Jazzi sat, stunned for a moment, then reached for his hand. “That’s their loss, but I’m proud of you.”
He blinked. “Thank you. Anyway, here’s Doug’s number. You can call and ask him about that day. I was with him. I was scared. I wasn’t sure I could do it, and he talked me through the panic.”
Gaff grinned.
What was so funny? Jazzi hadn’t found Wade’s explanations amusing. “What is it?”
“Someone went out of his way to pin Noah’s
murder on Wade. He had no idea he had an alibi. He’s going to be really disappointed.”
It was Wade’s turn to stare. “You think someone tried to set me up?”
Gaff nodded. “I don’t think it. I know it. I’ll check your alibi, but someone’s getting nervous, and to save his own skin, he was willing to throw you under the bus.”
Wade fidgeted more. He glanced at Jazzi, confused. She thought about the night George went to the window and barked. “I think they planted the beer can on Friday night.” She explained why.
Gaff jotted the time in his notepad. He looked at Wade. “Where do you keep your key to the shed?”
Wade pulled his keyring out of his pocket and pointed to it.
“What were you doing at two Friday morning?”
“Sleeping. Will and I were working overtime on Saturday.”
“So you stayed in the motel in town?”
Wade caught his gist and shook his head. “You’re going in the wrong direction. It’s not Will. He’s my brother. He pushes me to do better.”
Did he? Jazzi wasn’t so sure. It sounded to her like Will went out of his way to make himself look good by making Wade look bad.
“Did anyone else have a key to Cal’s shed?” Gaff asked.
“Only my parents and the renter.”
“Your parents?” That surprised Jazzi.
“Mom was coming into town and Cal used to have two beautiful Chinese vases that he filled with flowers and put on each side of his front door. Mom wanted them, so I made her a copy of the key. Dad wanted to look through stuff, too. Cal only bought high-quality things.”
Between the renter and Katherine and Tim, none of those things were left. Jazzi remembered seeing the Chinese pots on Katherine’s front stoop. Before she could edit herself, she blurted, “Would your mom throw you under the bus?”
Wade didn’t answer right away. Finally, he said, “I hope not.”
But he couldn’t be sure. No one should have to worry about that with his own mother.
“Your father?” Gaff asked.
Wade didn’t hesitate. “Probably. If he was worried you’d look at Will, he’d point at me. Will’s the one who’s going to help him start a business.”
That was even worse. Jazzi wondered how Wade turned out as nice as he had.
Before they left, Gaff said, “You’re still a suspect, but only one of them. And if your mentor remembers he met with you on January seventeenth, you’re almost out of the running.”
“Good, I’m starting to get myself together again. I don’t want to mess that up.”
Jazzi felt so sorry for him, she went to hug him. “Hang in there, and if you ever just want someone to talk to or you’d like a free home-cooked meal, give me a call.”
He narrowed his eyes, studying her. “You mean that, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
He thought a minute. “I might take you up on your offer.”
“Good, you’ll like my boyfriend. He’s a contractor. You’ll have a lot in common.”
When she climbed into Gaff’s car, and he turned on the air conditioner, she leaned closer to the vents to cool off. It was supposed to rain tomorrow, and the temperatures would drop, but today was a muggy mess. She and Jerod were working inside the house on Lake, so rain wouldn’t slow them down. Bring it on!
Gaff pulled into traffic to drive her home. “That kid got a bum deal with his family.”
“If he were smart, he’d move to River Bluffs, find an apartment, and get away from them.”
“I have another thing I can check on now,” Gaff told her. “Since your shed was broken into, I can check to see where people were at two am. They’ll lie to me, but I might be able to check stoplight videos if there are any in the area. I can ask around.”
“Sounds like a long shot.”
He smiled. “It is, but that’s what we do. Detectives are always looking for the needle in the haystack.”
“I hope you find it.”
In a short time, Gaff turned onto her street and pulled into her drive. “Thanks for coming with me today. It helped Wade.”
“I’m glad. I like him.” With a wave, she went into the house. Ansel was waiting for her. He looked smug.
“The pond’s done. I’ve already moved all the dirt to rim it and give us some privacy. A crew came to get the bulldozer, and it’s supposed to rain tomorrow. It can gather in the bottom.”
“Want to celebrate?” she asked.
He opened the refrigerator and took out two lobster tails and two filet mignons. “I already thought of that.”
“Holy crap.” He was in a good mood.
“Come here.” He wrapped his arms around her and picked her up off the floor, then whirled her in a circle. George barked excitedly. “We’re settled in. We’re perfect together and our home is perfect, too.”
She laughed. “You’re not going to want to leave here. Some girl’s going to have to work really hard to win you.”
“I’m not leaving. I have everything I want: my dream home, a pond, and you. They’ll have to carry me out in a pine box.”
She wanted to believe him. He meant what he said right now. But he’d just broken up with Emily. She was his rebound girl. The odds of success for rebounds was lower than low. But she’d enjoy this while she could. If she had her way, he’d stay forever.
Chapter 40
A thunderstorm swept into town before Jazzi’s alarm went off. Lightning flashed. The sky rumbled, but George slept through it. Jazzi’s mom’s dogs went frantic when they heard thunder, but not the pug. It took a lot to disturb his inner peace. At first, the rain pummeled everything, flattening flowers, and Jazzi worried about all of her new plants, but eventually it eased to a nice, heavy drizzle before she and Ansel left the house.
Instead of opening their umbrellas, Ansel lifted George, and they ran to the garage. Only damp, they clamored into the van. Windshield wipers kept a steady rhythm on their drive to Lake Avenue. Ansel parked at the curb, and they dashed to the front porch. Jerod had left the door open for them.
“I’m down here!” he called when they entered the house. Ansel held George close to carry him down the basement steps.
Today, they were putting new support posts in the basement. They carefully jacked up the floorboards and got started. They were sliding a new post into place when Gaff called.
Jerod sighed. “Again?”
“He probably checked out Wade’s alibi,” Jazzi said. “I hope Gaff’s crossing him off his list.”
She walked a short distance away to take the call. Gaff got right down to business. “Wade’s mentor, Doug, kept a record of meeting with him on the twenty-seventh. I’d like to go in person to let Wade know, and I’d like to question Will again. Care to come with me?”
Jazzi muffled a groan. Will didn’t bring out the best in her. “Do you think it will help?”
“Yes, you bring up things that move the conversation in the right direction.”
She glanced at Ansel and he nodded for her to go. “When do you need me?”
“I can pick you up in fifteen minutes.”
That soon? Jerod and Ansel had wrestled the support pole in the right position. They could wait on the next one until she got back. “Sure, I’ll be ready.”
When she hung up, Jerod said, “Let me guess. He needs you now.”
“Sorry.” She felt bad, leaving them in the middle of a big job.
Jerod grimaced. “Hey, whatever leads to finding the guy who killed Noah is okay with me.”
That made her feel better. That’s how she’d look at it, too. She helped them bolt the post into the metal frame that held it in place, then went upstairs and walked onto the porch to wait for Gaff. The rain had gotten a little heavier again, so she grabbed her umbrella to run to the curb when Gaff pulled up.
�
�It’s been so long since we’ve had a gray day, I’m enjoying it,” he said as she got settled.
She was, too. “Ansel can’t wait to see if the pond will hold water. He’s hoping the skies open and flood us.”
Gaff laughed. “He built a pretty big pond. It’s going to take a lot of water to fill it.”
“That’s why he’s getting a well dug near it. This rain won’t be enough.”
It was a short drive into town. Thunder crashed and rolled while they walked into the building where Will and Wade worked. The supervisor saw them and nodded to the second floor. “Wade said to watch for you.”
With a short salute, Gaff headed to the stairs. They found Wade in a different loft this time. He was installing a garbage disposal.
“I have good news,” Gaff told him. “Your mentor confirmed your alibi.”
He backed out from under the sink to turn to them. He really was a good-looking guy. And he seemed nice. His steady girlfriend might have ditched him, but when he was ready, he wouldn’t have trouble finding someone else.
He gave a grateful smile. “Thanks for taking the time to tell me. I didn’t know if Doug wrote down our appointment or not.”
Gaff looked around the large, open space. “I was hoping to talk to Will, too.”
“He’ll be here soon. We told him you were on your way.”
They made small talk for another ten minutes before Will walked into the room. He shook his head in apology. “Sorry, but I had to run to the lighting shop. It only delivered one of the sconces for me to wire in the bedroom. I needed its match.”
Gaff’s expression shifted. “Does that happen often?”
“Not usually, but once in a while the shop gets the order wrong.”
Gaff looked at Wade. “Does that happen to you?”
“Once in a while the plumbing shop leaves out a fixture or an elbow joint.”
“Do you have to sign out when you go?”
Wade’s brows dipped in a worried frown. “No, we just tell the supervisor. He knows the drill.” He paused. “What are you getting at? Are you hinting I killed Noah before I went to see Doug?”