by Emmie Lyn
Hitch grabbed my hand and squeezed it tight, forcing me to look at him. He clamped his lips together and gave me a quick head shake. I guess our business venture was supposed to stay secret.
Mick’s eyebrows shot out of sight under his mop. He crossed his arms and leaned his long, angular frame against his SUV. “I can’t wait to hear those details. I mean, I heard you were just canned from your job, and you already have a business venture in place? Does it have anything to do with… oh… I don’t know… Nine Pine Nursery?”
“Really, Mick,” Tilly said, “it’s not any of your business, so how about you let us get on with ours.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Tilly. A rich guy from New York had his eye on the nursery. Now, he’s dead. And, what a coincidence that Mr. Hitchner is back in town putting up the money to buy the nursery that, just so happens, used to be in Sunny’s family.” He paused, taking a good long look at each of us. “Putting all that together, does make your business my business. Let’s go, Sunny.”
“But—”
His glare shut me up.
“Jasper’s coming with me,” I said. That was not negotiable.
Mick led me inside the building attached to the greenhouse. My building now, I thought with some satisfaction even though I was inside for all the wrong reasons. I could totally imagine transforming it into a snazzy spot to serve crazy shakes and little sweet cakes.
Mick pointed to a chair and said, “Sit.”
A pathetic mew caught my attention. Under my chair was the cutest, most adorable, but terrified kitty I’d ever seen. Well, to be honest, all kittens are adorable. Ignoring Mick, I reached down and scooped the soft fur ball into my arms. “Where’d you come from?”
Jasper nosed the kitten who batted back at the monster. The kitty settled in my arms and purred as I massaged behind her ears. My brain took a giant leap. This place could also house stray kittens. I wondered what Princess Muffin, my gray tabby kitty, would think of that idea before I even considered what Hitch would have to say. If we were going to be partners, that meant I had as much to say about what we did with this place as he did. I smiled at this vision of shakes, cakes, and kitties.
“Sunny!” Mick leaned right in my face and lowered his voice. “Wipe that grin off your face. You’re in a heap of trouble. What were you and the victim talking about just before he was killed?”
I looked into the kitty’s blue eyes hoping she had some answers for me.
“Sunny?” Mick touched my arm.
I jumped. What the heck was happening?
3
The noise suddenly ratcheted up several decibels in this place. Whoops. This post and beam building of rough-cut pine belonged to Hitch and me now, I reminded myself. Our building was getting crowded. Three state policemen entered the space and headed straight toward Police Chief Bullock.
Mick stood at attention when he spotted them. He gave me a serious look I couldn’t decipher and said, “I’ll be back.”
“This is our investigation now,” one of the state policemen said. That would be the tallest, leanest, and meanest-sounding of the three.
I walked around the perimeter of the room unnoticed by the law enforcement conference going on. I didn’t see any signs the kitty had a home in the corner, a snug nest with her mother or bowls of water or food anywhere. My guess is she was a stray.
Lucky for me that all attention was on this new power trip unfolding just a few feet away. If the Pineville Police weren’t in charge, this was my cue to sneak out. After a quick look at the policemen arguing and finger-pointing behind my oak counter, which needed a sanding, I noticed, and a coat of polyurethane to bring it back to life, I made my move.
Without further ado, and mustering all the confidence I possessed, I tucked my new kitty into my sweatshirt pocket, snapped my fingers at Jasper, and skirted around the edge of the room and out the door.
I expected to hear Mick’s booming voice ordering me to stop, but apparently, my luck had changed. No one even batted an eye in my direction.
My new kitty didn’t complain about her unconventional hiding spot, which gave me an idea. “How about the name Stash?” I asked Jasper as soon as we were out in the sunshine and fresh air.
“Who are you talking to?” Hitch stepped out from the shadow of the overhang on our new building, scaring me right out of my sneakers. Almost. “Come on,” he said. Not waiting for a response, he looped his arm through mine and more or less dragged me straight toward Tilly’s VW bug.
Hitch opened the passenger door for me. “I’ll follow you two to Tilly’s house.”
I pointed to Jasper and pulled Stash out of my pocket. “Four.” I corrected him.
“Four what?”
“Four of us—Tilly and me, plus Jasper and Stash.”
His face softened as he looked at Stash with an, “Aww,” and fluffed her soft fur. “How on earth did you add to your menagerie while you were with Mick?” Hitch shook his head. “Never mind. We’ll talk at Tilly’s house.”
Cats just happened to be one of Hitch’s soft spots. He’d never be able to say no to my cat shelter idea.
“I’m not sure I like what’s going on in your head right now, Sunny. You have that look that tells me you’ve got a plan which usually leads to trouble.”
“You’ll love it,” I answered and tipped the seat forward for Jasper to squeeze into the back. “Trust me,” I added with a big grin.
“Love what?” Tilly asked when I’d settled on the passenger seat with my newest family member.
“Meet Stash!” I held up my blue-eyed, velvet-soft, gray and white kitty. “She’s going to help us solve the murder of,” I looked at Tilly, “what was his name?” I didn’t really believe she’d help, but the idea was appealing.
“Harry Jenson.” Tilly, a strong, take-no-prisoners kind of woman, spit the name out like it was toxic. I realized she knew something about the guy, which didn’t sit well with her. In a big way.
“Who is Harry Jenson?” I asked, cuddling Stash under my chin and enjoying the ticklish purring vibration. “Don’t think I didn’t notice the glance you and Hitch shared.”
“It’s complicated,” Tilly said, staring straight ahead. “For now, I suppose all you need to know is that Hitch worked for him in New York until their relationship took a turn for the worst and that’s why Hitch is back here in Pineville. Well, that and he missed you.” She peeked at me, the key in her hand, her foot on the brake, but I pretended not to notice.
Hitch was back because he missed me? He’d have to earn back my friendship. And buying Nine Pine Nursery for me wouldn’t do it. Money couldn’t buy my love. It was a step in the right direction, though.
“You’re grinning, Sunny.”
“Wouldn’t you grin too if you had this soft fur ball nestled under your chin?” Great avoidance, I told myself proudly. “See what I mean.” I held Stash on Tilly’s shoulder so she could hear Stash’s motor and feel the kitten’s whiskers tickle her neck.
Tilly smiled and leaned into Stash’s softness. “Okay, you made your point,” she said as she put the key in the ignition and started the VW. “But try not to push Hitch out of your life just because he moved away to follow his dream in NYC.”
Getting her beloved bug out into traffic without a hitch, pardon the pun, took her attention for a moment. Once she had her baby purring in fourth gear away from the nursery, she said, “He’s gonna need help from both of us now. Don’t think for a second that Officer Mick Walker isn’t going to try to pin this murder on him. Even though the state police arrived to take over the investigation, Mick will figure out a way to weasel into the investigation. He always does.”
“I thought Mick was looking for a different job. Out of law enforcement?”
“My sources told me, with Hitch back in town, Mick’s not going anywhere.”
Great. Just when I thought Mick would be out of my life, I had to keep avoiding his overbearing toxic presence. Mick Walker was a bully and knew exactly how to
play the system to get what he wanted. He’d made it plain that he wanted me but that would never happen.
Hitch arrived home and landed in a mess.
4
Hitch’s metallic blue Camaro, his pride and joy, was already parked outside of Tilly’s small ranch house when we arrived on Cobbler Lane.
“How’d he beat us here?” I asked. “Wasn’t he behind us the whole way?”
Tilly chuckled. “You were too busy cooing to that new ball of fur you found. I saw him cut through the abandoned road and leave a cloud of dust behind. I hope he didn’t rip off his exhaust system on that unused bumpy cow path.”
I reached for Tilly’s arm, preventing her from sliding out before I could ask her a question. “Tell me, Tilly, why is Hitch really back in town?”
She dropped her head, not looking at me. “It’s complicated. There’s a lot Hitch made me promise not to tell you.” Finally, with great effort, she met my gaze. “What I can say is that coming back to Pineville is where he needs to be right now. If this new business venture pans out, he’ll be here to stay.”
“That’s a big if, isn’t it?” I said with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Tilly placed her rough, sun-spotted hand over mine. “I won’t lie and tell you that you two will live happily ever after, but if something is important, you have to fight for it.” She squeezed my hand. “Come on, step one is to be patient until Hitch is ready to tell you what happened in New York.”
The only thing left to do, was open the door and face whatever waited. Jasper happily jumped out of Tilly’s cramped back seat and headed across the street to my house.
“Jasper. This way,” I called to her with no luck. “Here.” I handed Stash to Tilly. “Something’s up with Jasper. Get some coffee going, and I’ll be right over.”
“Don’t expect scones with that coffee, Sunny. Or anything else for that matter. You know that I can barely cook to save my life, and baking? Not in my skill set.”
“You don’t need to remind me. I ended up in the ER with salmonella poisoning after I ate one of your brownies from a mix. I still haven’t figured out how that could even happen. I’ll bring something over from my house.” I jogged to catch up to Jasper who was already headed around the side of my house to the back door where I’d installed a giant doggy door for her. She was no dummy.
Jasper disappeared inside.
I fished around in my pocket for my key. Nothing. I even pulled it inside out. Still nothing. Why, at this moment, when everything was already topsy-turvy, did I lose my key?
I looked at Jasper’s doggy door. At least it was the extra-large size. I sighed, dropped onto my hands and knees and pushed the flap open. “Jasper? Everything okay in there?” I called with my head inside and my rear end still outside.
A big slobbery tongue swiped my face.
Laughter erupted behind me.
Seriously? Someone caught me in this compromising position? I scooched backwards to see who I was up against.
“Is this what you need?” Hitch dangled a key from one finger after I stood up. “Found it at Tilly’s house.”
“Actually, it’s part of my daily exercise routine, keeps me flexible.” I certainly wasn’t giving him the satisfaction of commenting on whether my rear fit through the doggy door or not. It would if it had to.
“If you say so, Sunny.” Hitch didn’t even try to hide his smirk as he unlocked my door and held his hand out for me to go inside first. “Tilly asked me to check that everything was okay over here. Does she know about your... exercise routine? I’d say that this gives a new twist to the downward dog yoga position.”
I ignored him and put my shoulder bag on the counter before I said something stupid and shoved my foot farther down my throat. Instead, I changed the subject and put Hitch on the spot. “What happened in New York?”
Hitch leaned against my kitchen sink and stared out the window into my backyard. “It’s complicated.”
“Yeah, that’s what Tilly told me. Since you don’t want to be honest with me, I’ll make up my own story of what happened. How does this sound?”
I heard the snippiness in my voice, but Hitch had no right to come waltzing back into my life like everything was smelling like roses. In fact, everything was inside out and upside down. “That guy, Harry, came to Pineville looking for you and now he’s dead. Mick will put you at the top of the suspect list and do whatever he can to put you in jail because Officer Mick Walker wants you out of my life. Well?”
Hitch turned around and stared at the floor. “That’s not exactly what’s going on except for the part about Mick wanting me out of your life. I think you hit that nail on the head,” he said sounding defeated.
Okay. Hitch was hurting. Tilly said he needed our help. I couldn’t turn my back on him, especially when he sounded so vulnerable. I was a sap for a guy showing me his emotions.
I moved next to him and took his hand in both of mine. “Level with me… please.”
Hitch inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. “I worked for Harry in New York. During a shootout, I got hit and left my job with a big insurance payoff.”
“Shot?” my heart almost stopped. “No one told me.”
“That’s the way I wanted it. When I decided to come back here, I didn’t want your pity. I want your friendship, Sunny.” He raised his head. His green eyes pleaded with me.
“Right. I’m not the pitying type, you big dork.” I grinned and punched Hitch’s arm. He flinched.
“It’s not healed yet. If you have to punch me again, hit my other arm, okay?”
“You got shot in your arm?”
“Just one.”
And there I saw it—Hitch’s grin that melted my heart. The tension between us, gone, our old, easygoing relationship, back.
“But, I’m still confused why Harry came to Pineville. He told me he was interested in buying Nine Pine Nursery. Was that for real?”
“Let’s sit down, Sunny. This story has several parts.”
I led him into my living room where Jasper was sprawled on the floor with Princess Muffin attacking her big fluffy tail.
“Sunny? You have kittens everywhere I turn? Are there more?”
“Well, I do have an idea for our business venture, but first I want to hear the rest of the details about you.” I leveled my best serious glare at him. “No changing the subject.”
Hitch scooped up Princess Muffin and settled his lanky frame on my couch and tucked her in the crook of his arm. “What’s her name?” he asked.
“Hitch? Nice try but get back to the shooting details, and then I’ll tell you her name.”
“Harry shot me.”
That was the last thing I expected to hear and probably the worst answer considering the situation we’d just left behind us.
How long before that incident caught up with Hitch?
5
“Harry shot you?” was all I managed to say.
My kitchen door slammed, and I heard footsteps approaching. “What happened to the two of you?” Tilly shouted. “Did you forget about me and my coffee?”
“Does she know?” I whispered to Hitch.
He nodded.
“Oh,” Tilly said after she took one look at what had to be our glum expressions. She set the coffee carafe on my little side table. “Here, I brought some magic to cheer you up.” She pulled Stash out of her pocket. “This little puffball has been sleeping in here since you handed her to me.”
“Poor thing.” I took her in my arms and stroked her soft fur. She rewarded me with a satisfied purr, a magic spell that instantly made me feel better. “She must have been terrified in that big empty abandoned building.”
Stash stood on all fours, arched her back, and jumped off my lap, curling up between Jasper’s big front paws. Jasper sniffed the tiny kitten and wagged her tail, which made Princess Muffin jump out of Hitch’s arm and pounce again.
“Well, look at that—Jasper, the kitten whisperer. Stash and Jasper are best frien
ds already. Jasper can be the nanny in our new Kitty Castle.” From Hitch’s raised eyebrows, I remembered that I hadn’t shared my plan with him yet. “There’s plenty of room for your orchids and my shakes and cakes plus kitties.”
“I’ll get the mugs while you two sort this out.” Tilly snorted on her way to the kitchen. For once, she didn’t add her two cents worth to the conversation.
Hitch leaned back and stretched both arms along the back of the couch. He cocked his head. “Please. Fill me in on this Kitty Castle idea of yours, Sunny. I can’t wait to hear the details.”
I pointed at him. “Not yet, Hitch. First, the rest about you getting shot.” My voice sounded shrill even to my own ears.
Tilly returned with three mugs, setting them down next to the coffee with a thud. “It’s about time you finally told her. Now, help yourselves. I’m Sunny’s neighbor not her maid.”
I loved the no-nonsense way Tilly had about her. Hitch, on the other hand, looked like he felt a little outnumbered. The coffee aroma overwhelmed my already buzzing nerves, so I passed on coffee and only filled two mugs.
Tilly helped herself to one, asking, “Any idea why Harry came to Pineville?”
“I’ve got a theory,” Hitch said, ignoring the other mug of coffee. “When I was working for him, I mentioned Pineville. To my surprise, he said he had a friend who lived here. If he ever left New York, he said he’d look at moving to Pineville. After the shooting, he said he was done with the city. He was ready to find someplace quiet, off the beaten trail, where he could enjoy his plant obsession without the worry of another break-in.”
“Who’s the friend?” Tilly asked, sliding to the edge of her wooden rocker.
“At the time, I didn’t ask him who it was.” Hitch scooped up Princess Muffin and gave me an eyebrow wiggle. “Your turn, Sunny. What’s the name of this piece of fluff?”
He still hadn’t told me much about the shooting, but I’d get it out of him sooner or later. I could play this game, too. “That is the stunning Princess Muffin. Tilly’s friend, Nan, who lives in Glendale brought over a litter of kittens. I had the toughest time picking only one, but Jasper helped. She bonded immediately with this cutie-patootie. Now, no more distractions, Hitch. Back to your story. Why did Harry shoot you?”