Putting the ledger aside, Connie pulled out the pad of white-lined paper containing a to-do list. It was dated May twelfth, but there was no year. There were only a few items on the list - pick Victoria up at 5:00 PM, reorganize the storage area, call Mickey. Mickey must refer to Mickey Miranda, the shop's landlord.
The fourth and last item on the list read, "Confront accountant with findings." What did that mean? Could that be connected to the hand-written accounting ledger? Could there be a connection between a possible confrontation with her accountant and Natasha's disappearance?
Connie took a deep breath to stop her mind from jumping ahead and reminded herself that it could all be perfectly innocent.
Lastly, Connie pulled out the diary and ran her hands across the soft, brown leather. She scanned through a few entries and quickly realized it was personal, rather than work-related. She fished her phone out of the pocket of her blue jean capris and checked the time. She had to head home shortly to prepare for company, so she wouldn't have the time to read through it all, especially since she would have to turn it over to the police.
Connie decided she had better call the police sooner rather than later. After all, if she had just discovered information that could help find Natasha, she shouldn't sit on it, not even until the next morning. But she also wanted to take a closer look. After all, she was now spending her days in the same shop Natasha had leased and would soon be in daily contact with the same people Natasha had known. Perhaps this proximity to her routine would provide her with some type of insight or perspective on Natasha's whereabouts. It couldn't hurt to at least be aware.
So, Connie snapped pictures of the to-do list and of each page of the financial ledger and journal to study them later, then placed everything back in the box.
Her first call was to her friend Elyse Miller to get some preliminary information. Elyse was the realtor who helped her get a great deal on this shop and had also quickly become a good friend. After explaining what she found, Elyse informed Connie that it was indeed last summer when Natasha went missing and that Victoria was her then-two-year-old daughter. That explained why the to-do list said to pick up Victoria at 5:00 PM.
Elyse's husband, Josh, a police detective, had taken the day off and was with Elyse. He encouraged Connie to turn in the evidence as soon as possible to his colleague, Detective Zach Hughes. He and Zach were the only two investigative officers in the Sapphire Beach Police Department, and Zach had been the lead detective on the case last summer. Josh said they had exhausted all leads and were currently working on other cases.
Connie's heart sank at the idea of calling Zach. There had been some chemistry between them just before she left Sapphire Beach a few months ago, and she didn't really want this to be the first time she saw him again - sweaty and dusty from a day of cleaning. But she pushed aside her vanity and placed the call. In about fifteen minutes, Zach was in her shop.
"Welcome back, Connie," he said with a warm smile.
"Thanks, Zach. It's great to see you. I promise to have a little reunion party for everyone once I get settled in." Tonight’s get-together was just for the girls.
"How did everything go back in Boston?"
"Pretty smoothly. Thanks for the postcards." Zach had sent her a couple of different postcards depicting sea, sand, and palm trees.
"Just a little something to remind you of Sapphire Beach in case you were having second thoughts about moving here," he said with a playful smile.
"No second thoughts. I'm feeling really good about the decision." Although it had been tough leaving her parents, her sister, and her twin niece and nephew, Connie felt a deep peace surrounding her decision. This was the right next step.
Connie led Zach over to the checkout counter, where she had brought the box for easy access. "Here it is. I found it hidden beneath some loose floorboards in the storage room." Then she brought him out back to show him the spot where she discovered it. Zach pulled up the boards and reached his hand around, until he appeared satisfied that there was nothing else hiding underneath.
"I understand Natasha went missing sometime last summer."
"June of last year," Zach said, as they went back to the counter. "We conducted an investigation but weren't able to get too far. She left her two-year-old daughter with a friend, saying she just needed some time to think, and then never came back. It appears she just took off. Your landlord was furious that she skipped out on her lease."
"Did she have any reason to run away?"
"Some people suspected drugs were involved, but we didn't find any solid evidence that she was using."
Connie's heart sank at the thought of a little girl who would grow up not only without her mother, but without any answers, as well.
"I have to get back to the station, but hopefully I'll see you soon," Zach said, flashing her a smile as he left with the box.
Before going home, Connie took one last look around the shop, and a wave of excitement washed over her. She could envision exactly what it would look like this time tomorrow, after the furniture arrived. Her dream was quickly becoming a reality, and she couldn’t be happier.
After locking up, Connie drove her silver Jetta back to Palm Paradise, the condominium building she now called home, and rode the elevator to the seventh floor.
Her whole body relaxed when she stepped into the exquisite condo perched above the white sandy beach and sparkling blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico. What a blessing. Her eyes still welled up whenever she thought about her aunt's generosity in leaving her the condo.
Working for a non-profit, it had taken Connie years of saving and living frugally to be able to afford the small condo outside of Boston that she had been proud to call home for the past six years. It wasn't that Connie ever had a single regret about her choice of work, but the fact remained that, without her aunt's generosity, Just Jewelry never would have been possible.
Ginger, her aunt's Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, whom Connie unofficially inherited along with the condo, interrupted her thoughts with an enthusiastic greeting. Connie bent down to give her four-legged friend a little love. Her heart went out to the poor little dog who had been cooped up all week while she readied the shop for furniture.
"One more day, sweet girl, and then you can start coming to work with me." Ginger looked up and wagged her tail as if she understood.
With a little time before company was due to arrive, Connie took Ginger for a walk down Sapphire Beach Boulevard, then put dinner in the oven and got ready for company.
Grace lived in the apartment next door, so she arrived first, followed by her daughter Stephanie and Elyse.
"Aunt Gertrude wanted to come, but she had already made plans," Elyse said. Gertrude was Elyse's great aunt, who also lived in Palm Paradise. "That woman has a better social life than I do."
"You and me both," Connie said, laughing. "It's so wonderful to be together again after a hectic few months." She had seen Grace and Elyse a number of times this week, but it was her first time seeing Stephanie since January.
"I love the personal touches you added to this place," Elyse said, looking around the apartment.
Connie had kept her aunt's furniture, since she had phenomenal taste, and Connie's had mainly been handed down from her parents, but she had brought and shipped many of her personal items. Connie's own pictures now decorated the walls, and beautifully carved statues, made from Kenyan wood, as well as handwoven baskets, were scattered throughout the apartment. She also brought a few plants when she drove down, in addition to purchasing others native to the tropics, lending a Floridian feel to her new home.
She even had her favorite herbs growing in pots on the balcony - basil, rosemary, parsley, and, of course, mint for her iced tea. She couldn't wait to bring the mint into the shop.
It was starting to feel more like Connie's home than her aunt's, but not so much so that she couldn't still feel Concetta at every turn. The comforting mix of old and new made her heart smile.
The wo
men settled onto the couch with a glass of wine and a caprese salad, made with fresh basil from one of her new plants. It didn't take long to catch up on one another's lives. Then they moved to the dining table to enjoy their meal, where the conversation eventually rolled around to Natasha and her mysterious disappearance.
"How old was she?" Connie asked, slipping her hands into oven mitts and placing a pan of baked ziti on the table next to the salad. Her question wasn't addressed to anyone in particular. "Zach said that she went missing last June."
"I think she was in her late twenties," Grace said. "I met her a couple of times when I did a little shopping in her boutique. Her baby girl was with her one of the times. I remember how she doted over that little girl. It’s hard to imagine she would just up and leave her behind. But I guess that goes to show that you never quite know what's going on with someone."
"Not to change the subject, but you saw Zach already?" Stephanie said, leaning forward and wearing a big smile. "What's going on there, anything worth sharing?"
Connie could tell that nothing was going to get past these women. “I did see him, but it’s not what you think. I called him, because I found some objects hidden in the shop that might be connected to Natasha's disappearance." Connie described the items she found under the loose floorboards. "I didn't have a chance to go through everything, but I snapped pictures."
"I didn't hear that," Elyse said, taking another serving of pasta. Back in January, Josh had clearly expressed his feelings about anyone sticking their nose into police business. And they weren't favorable.
"You've only been back a few days, and you're already playing detective?" Grace said, shaking her head in disapproval. "Promise me you'll be careful, Connie. You almost got yourself killed looking into those murders back in January."
"I promise," Connie said, making a cross over her heart.
"By the way," Elyse said, trying to suppress a smile. "Zach's a great guy. Josh speaks highly of him, in case you're wondering."
Connie could feel her cheeks getting warm. "I'll keep that in mind."
After a wonderful evening of reconnecting with one another, her guests left. While Connie loaded the dishwasher, her mind drifted toward Natasha. When she finished cleaning, she emailed herself the photos of the items she had found and printed them out from her computer before settling onto her couch to read them.
The ledger didn't reveal much, since she had nothing to compare it to, except that, if it was correct, Natasha's business had been bringing in a steady profit. She certainly didn't run away to escape financial problems.
Next, she looked at the diary. It took about a half-hour to skim it in its entirety, but there was one passage that she found herself rereading.
As my daughter sleeps peacefully in her pack 'n play, her golden curls resting on her chubby face, I can't help but smile. I know I did the right thing. Her perfect little face tells me so. She is my whole life, and her name fits her perfectly. Victoria. She will rise victoriously over the life that I escaped. She will not be influenced by it, and it will have no power over her. Victoria will be successful and strong, and, above all, she will know she is loved. When I think of how happy she is, growing up free and joyful in Sapphire Beach, I know I got us out of there just in time, and I don't regret doing what I had to do to escape.
Connie stared out through the glass slider and into the darkness of the night sky. This didn't sound like someone about to abandon her daughter. What exactly happened to this woman, who, much like Connie, was just trying to follow her dream?
Chapter 3
After a night of tossing, turning, and strange dreams, Connie's eyes opened on Friday morning before the alarm on her phone was set to wake her. It took her a minute to remember that today was move-in day.
After a quick shower and an English muffin with peanut butter, she threw on a comfortable sundress and brought Ginger for walk. She took the time to enjoy a mug of breakfast tea before loading her car with some necessary items and heading straight to the storage unit, where she had arranged to meet the movers at 8:00 AM. Grace was planning to be in the shop when she arrived with the movers.
Connie had packed her car with a doggie bed for Ginger, along with extra food and water bowls and some chew toys, so she could have a spot all set up and ready for Ginger the next day. She also packed a couple of mint plants for all the iced tea she would be drinking, especially during those scorching summer days that would soon be upon them.
Two men, who introduced themselves as Kyle and Alex, arrived right on time in a truck that had the words "Big and Burley Movers" printed across the sides. Despite the fact that they appeared small and scrawny, rather than big and burley, they made quick work of emptying the storage unit.
Connie followed the Big and Burley boys to the store and had to laugh when she saw Grace fluttering around the shop, wiping surfaces that were already clean and singing her heart out. She smiled at the thought of how pleased Aunt Concetta would be knowing Grace had become such an important part of her life. In moments like these, it was as if she were standing right next to her, enjoying the scene every bit as much as Connie was.
The overstuffed red sofa was the first item off the truck. Connie directed Kyle and Alex to place it on the left side of the store toward the front where, along with a coffee table, two armchairs, and an area rug, it would create a comfortable seating area.
The long table and newly upholstered chairs, courtesy of Grace's handiwork, went on the other side of the store, in a large nook off to the right of the checkout area. Connie could already envision herself seated at the solid oak table, creating an array of jewelry pieces or guiding her future students as they worked on their own creations. As soon as the store was up and running, Connie's first plan of action was to begin holding jewelry-making classes for people of all levels.
Next, Connie had the movers place the dentistry cabinet, where she would store beads that she wanted easily accessible, near the table, and pile the boxes in the center of the store, around the checkout area.
By 11:00, everything was unloaded and set in place. Connie had even set up Ginger's little home-away-from-home outside the storage room at the back of the shop, where she would be both out of the way and within Connie's line of vision from the checkout counter.
Connie still had to unpack the boxes, set up and price her product, and hang some pictures and mirrors, but she could see the light at the end of the tunnel. The move had gone smoothly, except for a few nicks and scratches on the wall that resulted from some missteps on the part of the movers. But she wasn't worried about it, since she still had time to add it to the punch list for Steve and Brittany.
After the movers left, Connie and Grace took a seat on the sofa, where they could both take in the entire store and see the sidewalks and street through the large picture windows that comprised much of the front wall of the shop.
"The store looks beautiful," Grace said with a broad smile. "Congratulations again, honey."
Connie was so excited she could barely sit still. "To celebrate, I'm going to pick us up an early lunch at that sandwich shop down the street. I've been wanting to check it out."
Just as Connie stood up to grab her purse, her landlord, Mickey Miranda, entered the shop. His silver-gray hair was combed back on the sides, and his bronze skin gave away how much time he spent on the beach. He wore navy swim trunks and a white tank top with a beach towel hanging around his neck.
"Hey, Mickey," Connie said, using all her strength not to break into the 1980s song "Mickey" by Toni Basil.
"Hi, Connie," he said, joining her and Grace in the seating area. "I was on the beach this morning and saw the moving truck. I wanted to stop by and see if you needed anything."
"Thanks, but I think we're in good shape. While you're here, though, I'd like to introduce you to Grace Jenkins. She will be working with me in the store."
"It looks fantastic," Mickey said after shaking Grace's hand. "You should easily be ready for your grand opening. I
t's two weeks away, right?"
"Yes, two weeks from tomorrow. I hope you'll tell your friends about it and stop by."
"I'll give that job to my wife," he said. "She has the gift of gab, if you know what I mean. We're both thrilled to have this space rented out again after everything that happened."
"We were just talking about the previous owner last night." Connie decided not to mention the items she found under the floorboards.
Mickey shook his head and bit his lower lip. "Yes, that was such a tragedy."
"I can't help but wonder why she just up and left," Connie said. "Hopefully she's out there safe somewhere."
Mickey let out a nervous chuckle. "Well, by breaking the terms of her lease, even if she came back, the shop would still be yours, so don't you worry about that."
"Um, that's not what I meant," Connie said, a little surprised at his callousness toward his previous tenant who could possibly be in danger. Or worse. "It just seems strange that she would just leave her child behind like that. What do you suppose happened?"
Mickey sat down on one of the armchairs and let out a deep breath. "It's true, she loved that little girl, but I guess drugs make people do strange things," he said with a shrug. "Victoria's father, Jordan Sugrue, came by a couple of weeks before she went missing. He was concerned for his daughter. He claimed that Natasha had a history of drug use, and he had reason to believe she might be using again. He asked me to keep an eye on her and call him if I saw anything suspicious."
"Did you? See anything suspicious, I mean?" Connie asked.
Mickey tugged at the beach towel around his neck. "I popped in regularly but didn't notice anything unusual. Except for one night, after the store closed, when I found a drug needle in the shrubs out back. She was a little late with the rent on a few occasions before her disappearance, but business always looked pretty steady to me. Who knows? Maybe she was using her profits for drugs."
Sapphire Beach Cozy Mystery Collection Page 13