“And the only time they could have put it there would have likely been immediately after the accident, right?” That was from Kimberly. The kids might have left, but she’d sat firm.
“Exactly,” Gray said, nodding to her. “And that means that not only were they on the scene, but they had reason to want to make people think Ashley had been drinking heavier than what she had.”
I refolded the paper and handed it back. Yes, I intended to bring this to Orville’s attention, but there were a ton of places I could get my hands on that same article. “You make a good point.”
“So now you know why I don’t think it was an accident. I’m waiting for your reason.”
Taking a deep breath, I thought about it. As much as Gray seemed a really nice guy, I just didn’t know him well enough to have a good comfort level with spelling everything out for him. But before I could quite figure out how to handle that part of things, Kimberly beat me to it. Turns out, she didn’t have a problem with it at all.
“We’re kind of thinking it has to do with her rich daddy’s last will. We found it in an old desk that Opal bought at an estate sale. I haven’t seen the will, but chances are good he left her something. Maybe a lot.”
His eyes came over to me. “She did say that she was in town to reconcile with her dad. But according to Ashley, she hadn’t had any luck with that. Sounds like you know something I don’t.”
Kimberley opened her mouth again, but I glared at her until she shut it. I was beginning to see the intelligence of the ‘need to know’ stuff that Orville was always throwing my way. “I think maybe we do. However, until the sheriff has a chance to really look into this, I don’t think we should be sharing that with anyone.” I smiled at him. “Please don’t take that the wrong way. I appreciate your help. And please know that I’ll do everything in my power to see that the truth comes out. All of it.”
Gray stared at his hands for a minute, then slowly nodded. “I guess I can see the sense in that. And if you give me your word you’ll keep looking into it, then that’s really all I can ask. But as far as getting help from the sheriff?” He gave a bitter laugh. “Good luck with that one.”
I arched an eyebrow at him. “I don’t believe we are talking about the same sheriff here. You most likely dealt with Sheriff Menard, didn’t you?”
His brow furrowed. “Well, yeah, he is the sheriff last time I checked.”
My smile was grim, but there. “He’s your sheriff, not mine, thank the Goddess. You crossed a county line on your way here on that motorcycle of yours. You’re in Sheriff Taylor’s jurisdiction now.” I hesitated. “In fact, he might want to hear from you, now that I’ve thought about it. Cut out the middle man—or woman in this case—and get this straight from you.”
“But the accident happened in my county. What, exactly, can your sheriff do to help?”
“It would appear that Ashley’s accident might be tied up with a case that Sheriff Taylor is working on. Jurisdictional lines get a little easier to cross when that’s the case.”
For the first time, there seemed to be a glimmer of hope in his eyes. “And he would be willing to do that?”
“Just between us, mind you, but he already is.”
Gray swallowed and smiled. “Now that’s something that does my heart good to hear.” He looked around him at my quaint and somewhat humble home. “You know, Opal Ravenswind? You’re nothing like I imagined at all.”
I gave him a nasty grin. “Oh, I probably am. It’s just that so far, you’ve stayed on my good side.” I tilted my head at him. “For the record, that’s the side that it’s safest to be on.”
He laughed. Not exactly the reaction I was going for. “Somehow, I don’t doubt that for a minute.” Then he turned to Kimberly. “Just so you know, I learn from my past mistakes. Would you like to go to dinner sometime? When I have a night off, that is?”
Kimberly’s smile gave her answer away even before she said yes.
I’d definitely be giving Amie a call. I didn’t want Kimberly to get hurt.
Chapter 17
Before he left, Gray asked for permission to say goodbye to Mason. The man was making all the right moves. That kind of had me worried. He could just be a really great guy that I’d lucked into finding and bringing home to Kimberly. If that was the case, well, then... good, I guess.
But he could also be a trickster out to play us both for fools. My heart and intuition really didn’t think that was the case, but better to be safe now than sorry later.
We’d barely seen his motorcycle pull out onto the main road before my cell phone went off. Wind’s Crossing Sheriff’s Department flashed on the screen. He was still at the office.
“Hey, Orville. Got the whole thing wrapped up yet?”
“I wish. But I do have copies of everything, and I’m at the point that I might be willing to share. As long as you agree that the sharing goes both ways. I’m really wanting to hear about that possible grandchild right about now.”
“I have more for you too.”
“What the... I just left you what, an hour ago? And you already have more? How the devil are you doing this woman?”
I grinned into the phone. “Not by magic, if that’s what you’re asking. Good, solid investigation techniques. I might be missing the boat by not joining Amie in her new career. I seem to have a knack for it.”
“Oh Lord. That is so not what I need right now.”
Kind of figured that would be his response. He wasn’t all that happy about Amie going into that field. Me? I was sure he would be more than a little unhappy about it. Probably become downright vocal. But he knew me. And he knew how much my little shop meant to me too.
“So, how we going to do this? Throw in a dinner?”
“Well, we do gotta eat anyway, right? Might as well eat together and kill two birds with a single stone.” He paused. “Don’t suppose you’d be willing to host this one? Maybe do the cooking too? I knew you’ve had a rough week, but I’m thinking mine just might top it. I’m tired, Opal.” Another pause. “Or we could go out if you aren’t up to cooking either.”
We could, but then we’d have to worry about our conversation being overheard. Maude and the Fontaines were big draws in Wind’s Crossing. Money usually is.
“I can cook, Orville. Any requests? As long as the request involves either chicken or pork chops, I’m good. I was wavering between those two tonight. Your choice.”
“Any chance of getting that chicken fried?”
The strong, healthy woman in me wanted to remind him that frying chicken wasn’t the healthiest way to cook it. But the man had just been through a hard week. Mostly on account of me and my shop. One night of fried goodness shouldn’t hurt him too much.
“Just this once, I say the chances are pretty darn good.”
“Around five work for you? And is there anything you need me to bring?”
I did a quick rundown of my pantry and fridge in my mind. “Not that I can think of, Orville, just bring yourself and your appetite and you should be good.”
“That I can do.” And he hung up. Once again, before I’d decided as to whether or not I should bring the L-word into my farewell.
At this rate, I might never have to say it.
AT FIVE MINUTES TO five, the chicken was on a plate layered with paper towels to soak up as much of the grease as possible before consumption. I had to at least do what I could to make it healthier.
Nancy had helped me, practically making the mashed potatoes all by herself. Mason, as usual, had disappeared when the kitchen work started. Now that the aroma was filling the house, and the chores were done, he was back and reaching for a drumstick.
Nancy smacked his hand away. “We have company coming. Be nice.”
“Gray?”
“No,” I told him. “Sheriff Taylor. Now go upstairs and wash up. We’ll be ready to eat in a few.”
Even as I said the words, I heard Orville’s car coming down the drive. I called up to Kim as I made my way t
o the door. “Dinner’s ready, Kimberly. Come on down and eat.”
My eyes widened when I opened the door and saw Orville standing there with a bright bouquet of daisies and colored baby’s breath. I glanced over my shoulder to see if Kimberly had made it down yet.
“You’re going to have to loosen up a little, Opal. I’m sure that Kimberly knows you and I are more than just casual friends. And even if she doesn’t, it’s not a sin to bring flowers in payment for a good home-cooked meal, you know. In fact, if one isn’t bringing wine, it’s kind of a custom.”
I wasn’t so sure about that, but I took the flowers all the same. He knew me well enough to know that I much preferred daisies to roses any day of the week. I was just that kind of country gal.
“If you say so.” I took the flowers and went to grab a vase from the kitchen to put them in water. They would look mighty pretty as a table centerpiece for the night. Make it look a lot more festive, if I did say so myself.
Orville followed me on the way to the kitchen, passing Nancy on the way. Her hands were full of plates, and she was trying to keep the silverware on the top plate from sliding off. He grabbed the top plate off the stack just in the nick of time.
“Thanks, sheriff!” Nancy giggled. “Guess I should have made two trips, huh?”
“Probably, but I get it. You should see me carrying in bags after a trip to the grocery store. My neighbors probably think I’m crazy. But it works out most of the time and saves steps too.”
He sat the silverware down on the table and then started following Nancy around the table, placing the flatware beside each plate as she laid it down. They were done in next to no time.
“Man, that smells good,” Kimberly said, coming in behind me. “I can’t remember the last time I had homemade fried chicken.”
“Yes, well, it’s a rare thing that I make such an unhealthy dinner. You can thank the sheriff for it tonight. It was his request.”
He grinned. “No thanks required. I’m willing to share the spoils of my victory.” He paused. “Although I’m betting it will be a while before Opal leaves herself so open as to dinner requests.”
There was no sense in even trying to deny that. My man knew me too well. He was right. It would be quite some time indeed. But that didn’t mean that I’d never make him fried chicken ever again. Now that I knew it was a favorite, I’d simply save it for special occasions.
I kind of expected Orville to take the other end of the table from me, but he didn’t. Instead, he sat down in the chair right next to me. Kimberly took the other side, after getting baby Pearl situated in her bouncy seat on the floor between us with one of her favorite eye-catching toys. The older kids sat at the end of the table. They left the seat opposite me empty.
Mason looked at all the food, and then at the empty seat. “Too bad we couldn’t have invited Gray over to eat with us. There’s plenty of food.”
Kimberly immediately gave a little blush, and Orville looked from Mason, to her, and finally to me. “And who is Gray?”
“The bartender at that bar out between here and Golden Daze Bed and Breakfast.”
He directed an arched eyebrow at me. “Are you saying that Opal Ravenswind went into a bar?”
That earned a grunt. “Sounds kind of like the start to a bad joke doesn’t it? An old witch walked into a bar...”
“For the record, I would never, ever call you an old witch.”
I lifted one shoulder. “Whether you would or wouldn’t doesn’t really matter. I’m old enough, Goddess help me, to have grandchildren at any time. I’m no maiden any longer.” Actually, I was well on my way to crone-hood. Funny thing was, I was okay with that. Really.
But it helped my mood more than a little to know that Orville didn’t think the same. If there was one person on the face of the earth that I wouldn’t want to consider me an old witch, it would be him.
Before I could open my mouth to change the subject to something ever so much more interesting than my age, Kimberly beat me to it.
“So, sheriff, how’s the investigation on the shop... um... break-ins going? Any leads?”
He shook his head. “Afraid not.” He glanced at the younger ones at the end of the table. Only so much we could say in front of them.
Didn’t want the nightmares to start up again, now did we?
“The good news is, I don’t think we have to worry about any more break-ins. At least that’s one small plus in all of this. That and the fact that all they seemed to be interested in was that blasted desk.”
I’d say that I wished I’d never bought the darn thing, but that wouldn’t be true. Even if owning it had brought me a world of annoyance and misfortune. If the desk had gone to someone else, we might never have found out about Ashley. I’m a firm believer in getting justice. For me, for others, for perfect strangers that have ceased to walk the plane of the earth... didn’t matter. Justice was worth a bit of annoyance and the cost of a new door.
“Well, that’s something.” Kimberly turned to me. “Do you plan to open Monday?”
I glanced at the sheriff. “Actually, I was kind of thinking of staying closed for a few more days. Once the sheriff and his people are finished in the back room, I’ll need to get in to clean up all that... broken wood.” I smiled at the kids. “Don’t want anyone getting splinters.”
Nancy nodded sagely. I knew that she knew full well it wasn’t the wood I was worried about getting cleaned up. I also knew that the girl was more adult than kid most of the time. Something I was working hard to correct. I wanted her to have a childhood. Even if it was a shortened one.
“Cool. Maybe we could come up with a fun outing for the kids or something?”
“Actually, I was kind of thinking we might go to the Golden Daze Bed and Breakfast tomorrow night. They have a pretty good setup for kids, and it would give us a bit of a mini-vacation.”
Kimberly’s eyes widened. “A night at the bed and breakfast? Count me in. I’ve heard that Callie’s Kitchen serves the best hot breakfast around here. Never been in my price range to check out. Now I think I can manage it.”
I shook my head. “The trip would be my treat, dear. There’s a little girl there that is kind of lonely. I think the kids would do her a world of good.”
That got Orville’s full attention. I had known it would.
“Is this the child you alluded to this morning?”
“That would be the one, yes. Care to join us? That’s assuming that she has a couple of rooms open. I’ll have to call her to be sure.”
“Pretty sure this time of year, vacancies won’t be a problem.” Orville thought for a minute, staring at me the entire time. “You know, I think I might just be able to swing it. If I can get Opie to agree to cover for me for my Sunday night shift. And since he owes me, that shouldn’t be a problem.”
Then he looked over at Kimberly. “Unless me going would be awkward for you? If it is, just say the word.”
She laughed. “Not awkward at all, sheriff. In fact, if we get two rooms, how would you feel about going boy slash girl in them?”
Orville glanced at Mason. “What do you say, Champ? Willing to room with me?”
Mason nodded excitedly. “You bet!” Then he got a calculating look in his eye. “How big are the rooms?”
“No, we aren’t inviting Gray. It’s far too soon for that,” Kimberly said. “We have to get to know him a little better before we ask him for an overnight visit.”
She was blushing to beat the band. I tried to hide my smile, but it was a losing battle. “So to answer your previous question a little better, Orville. Gray isn’t just the bartender at the local pub. He’s also a bit of a magician, something that Mason here has recently taken quite an interest in.”
Nancy giggled. “And he’s hot, too.”
Orville’s eyebrows shot up. “A hot magician? Wow, now I want to meet this guy.”
“I’m sure you will.” In fact, I was fairly certain that Gray was about to become a regular visitor to the farm
house. Once I had him thoroughly vetted by Amie, of course. I wasn’t willing to take a chance with my family’s safety, no matter how hot the man was. Or how mesmerizing that easy smile of his might be. Safety first.
I just hoped that Kimberly was of the same mindset as me.
The first plate of chicken was pretty much done. Yes, we’d been eating while talking. How uncivilized Lily would think us right now. Mixing a bit of business with pleasure. Not her kind of thing. But my house, my rules.
After retrieving the second platter of chicken from the kitchen, I gave Orville a pointed look. “Now, for what I really want to know. I think I’ve been patient enough. Did you find out anything from those pictures and video of Ashley’s car?”
He took a deep breath and gave a brief nod. “I did. The left rear bumper had a brush with something purple.”
I sucked in a deep breath of my own.
“And yes, I checked in with the rental place. Not that he wanted to talk to me again. I will be checking in there more often, I think. But I digress. Good old Brady says that car was in perfect shape before he rented it out. That means that purple scuff happened some time while it was in her possession.”
Yeah, like the very night she took that dive off the road and down the hill into that tree. A hard enough smack to the rear bumper would sure cause something like that to happen.
And wouldn’t you know it? Maude had the only purple car in town that I knew of.
Chapter 18
Once we had all the work talk out of the way, I excused myself long enough to call Callie and make the reservations. She seemed conflicted as to whether or not to be pleased that we were coming. Especially when I mentioned the sheriff would be accompanying me.
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