by Emmie Lyn
Hitch rubbed his arm as his eyes glazed over, obviously going back in time. Princess Muffin provided a calming backdrop of purrs while Hitch transported himself back to the shooting scene in New York City.
“Harry said it was an accident, which tells me that anyone that careless shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near a gun.” He picked up the mug of coffee and sipped, still lost in his memory.
He finally continued. “I was on duty the night of the break-in when we heard a noise in Harry’s special plant room just before midnight. I rushed in first since the whole reason I was there was to protect his orchid collection and some centuries old valuable bonsai plant. He claimed it was worth more than I’d ever earn in a lifetime. I had everything under control—the intruder in my crosshairs—but Harry,” Hitch spit out the name angrily, “fired from behind me, hitting my arm. The bone got nicked and the muscle is still weak and sore. The intruder escaped.”
I looked at his arm, covered by a long-sleeve t-shirt and had the horrid thought that maybe today, Harry got exactly what he deserved—a type of justice. But who delivered that death penalty?
“I know what you’re thinking, Sunny,” Hitch said, interrupting my thoughts. “He got what he deserved. Part of me agrees with that, but now I’ll never get closure about why he pulled the trigger when he did.” He drained his mug and lifted one shoulder. “It is what it is. Now, I have to be sure Officer Walker doesn’t figure out how to tie me to Harry’s death.”
“What could he have on you, Hitch?” Tilly asked as if this was one ridiculous worry. “Sure, you were at the auction, but so were about fifty other people, including Sunny and me. Mick would have to find someone who saw you near Harry.”
I was thinking in a different direction. “Who was that intruder? Maybe he or she followed Harry here to Pineville to finish unfinished business.”
“The intruder wore a mask. All I know is the person was shorter than me, maybe five feet seven or eight, wore white sneakers and black clothes. Not much to go on. That person had planned a theft, not murder. And, the white sneakers make me think the person wasn’t a seasoned burglar.”
I stood up and stretched all the kinks out. “That leaves the people at the auction. Where were you standing?” I asked Hitch. “Did you see Harry with anyone?”
He wouldn’t look at me.
“You did see him, didn’t you?”
Hitch nodded and grimaced. “Yeah, I saw him standing next to you. When he was alone, I let him know exactly what I thought of him and told him to get out of town.”
Oh boy, that wasn’t what I wanted to hear. Who else overheard that argument? I wondered.
6
Someone pounded on my front door, and all three of us turned as one. Jasper barked loud enough to rattle the windows. The kitties charged for safety under the couch.
“Who is it?” I asked Tilly who had the best view to the street.
“It looks like a couple of the state policemen that we saw after Harry was killed. Hitch, go in the kitchen. This is Sunny’s house, so they aren’t looking for you. I’ll stay here with Sunny.” She grinned at us. “I’m just a little old lady with no memory and not much common sense.”
I opened the door a crack. “Yes?”
“Ms. Shaw? I’m Detective Marsh and this is Detective Cooper.” They both flipped open their badges for me to see. “Can we come in?”
“As long as you don’t mind my dog.” It was all I could do to hold Jasper from pushing her big head between me and the door opening.
When I pulled the door open far enough for them to come inside, the policemen’s eyes popped open wider than their shiny badges. “A dog?” Detective Marsh squeaked.
Jasper barked, letting them know that’s exactly what she was plus she’d added a little extra warning in her woof.
Detective Cooper walked right in and let Jasper sniff his hand. Great. Now they’d know she was all bark and no bite.
“Sunny, honey. I need help in the bathroom,” Tilly said. When I turned to look at her she had her knees together as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “Right now.”
“Uh…” I looked at the detectives. “Sorry. I’ll be right back.”
With Tilly leaning on me, we hobbled down the hall to the bathroom. I slammed the door closed. “What the heck are you doing?”
“Letting them know you have your hands full. They’ll be in and out of your hair in two shakes of a wet towel.”
I flushed the toilet in case they were listening and helped Tilly back to the rocking chair by the front window. She muttered to herself the whole time. It was all I could do to keep from kicking her in the shins to be quiet. I wasn’t sure she was helping at all.
The two detectives stood right inside the door with Jasper sitting watch in front of them.
“We’ll only take a minute of your time, Ms. Shaw,” Detective Cooper said. “Did you know Harry Jenson?”
“No,” I answered.
“But you were seen standing with him and talking to him before the final bid at the Nine Pine Nursery auction. How do you explain that?” He cocked his head and looked down at me.
“Easy. He spoke to me, and I answered. That’s what polite people do in Pineville. Then he walked away.” I stared right at Detective Cooper letting him know he didn’t intimidate me in the least. It would have been intimidating if I actually had something to hide, but I didn’t.
“What exactly did he say to you?”
I put my finger over my lips like I had to think long and hard about that. “Well, not much really. He said he was hoping to buy Nine Pine Nursery, but I beat his bid.”
Princess Muffin, curious now that the barking had stopped, jumped on Jasper’s tail, distracting me from the seriousness of the situation.
Tilly said, “Do I know you two handsome men? Would you like to come back for dinner? You could bring me some nice Chinese take-out.”
“I’m sorry, Ma’am. What’s your name?” Detective Cooper asked.
“Tilly. It’s my nickname. I never liked my real name much.” She continued to rock like a maniac.
“And were you at the auction this morning?”
“The auction. Was I, Sunny?”
“Yes, Tilly. You came with Jasper, remember?”
Tilly’s eyes lit up. “That’s right. That nice man Harry told me I have pretty eyes.” Tilly fluttered her eyelashes at the detectives. “Don’t I, Detective?”
I almost threw up.
Detective Marsh jabbed Detective Cooper in the side. “Thanks for your time, ladies.” Then Detective Marsh handed me his card. “If you remember anything else, please give me a call. Anything at all, you never know what could be important.”
They turned to leave but apparently Tilly hadn’t finished having fun with them.
“Wait. I just remembered something. That man you just asked about? I think I might have seen him talking to Maxine Salter.”
“Did you or didn’t you?” Detective Marsh asked with more than a touch of irritation in his voice.
“Yes, I did. I’m sure of it.” Tilly tapped her head. “This old memory isn’t what it used to be, but I know Maxine and she had on her I-mean-business outfit of hot pink with her purple hat. When she wears that, you can be sure that she’s out and about ready to accomplish something. She had that poor man almost backed into the woods at the edge of the parking lot. I don’t know if they were talking or arguing but there was a lot of finger pointing going on. Does that help?” She even fluttered her eyelashes again.
“It might. Thank you again. We’ll let ourselves out.” Detective Marsh opened the door and was out before Tilly had a chance to come up with any more of her observations.
The police car hadn’t even driven off when Hitch came out of the kitchen. “Did you just make that up, Tilly?”
“Of course not. Maxine definitely had on her hot pink outfit and that hideous purple hat she always wears for important occasions.” She leaned close to the window and waved.
&n
bsp; I couldn’t believe it!
“What about the other part? You didn’t tell us that before,” Hitch said. “Was she really arguing with Harry?”
“I didn’t tell you because you never asked me what I saw. Not like those two handsome detectives did. Yes. Maxine was talking to Harry at the edge of the parking lot. I might have exaggerated a bit about the finger waving part, but I don’t think they’ll arrest me for that.”
Hitch shook his head. I wasn’t sure if he was about to laugh or walk out. He didn’t do either. Instead, he sat down and finished his coffee.
“What on earth does Maxine have to do with this Harry guy?” I was beginning to feel like this whole tangled mess was connected somehow but I couldn’t see any logical explanation.
“Maxine is the president of the orchid society here in Pineville,” Hitch said. “With Harry’s orchid collection, it makes perfect sense that he would talk to her.”
“Don’t forget, Maxine was the first one to find his body,” Tilly said, so excited she was bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“You think she killed him?”
“I don’t know but I’ll put money down that she knows something,” Tilly said, ready to charge forward after information.
I agreed, but what did Maxine know?
7
“Slow down a minute, you two,” Hitch said, pulling the emergency brake on our rush to the front door. “We need a plan. If we all go charging over to Maxine’s house, she’ll be suspicious. I think I should go since I have orchid collecting in common with her.”
“And, you worked for Harry, so you have that in common, too,” I said. “Although, you might not want to play that card yet.”
“Whatever,” Tilly said with a flap of her hand. “I’m taking my coffee carafe back to my house while you two do your little dance around the suspect pole.”
I looked at Hitch and raised my eyebrows. “What’s that supposed to mean?” I whispered.
He shrugged.
Tilly opened the door. “Well, look at who just showed up at my house for a visit.”
“Maxine?” both Hitch and I blurted out.
“No. She’d rather die than set foot in the same room with me. My friend from Misty Harbor, Sue Ellen Baer is walking to my front door. And, it looks like she has a handsome man with her. Toodle-oo you two. I’ve got to meet that hunk on her arm.”
I grabbed Hitch’s arm, the good one, and pulled him outside. “We have to stay with Tilly before she does something impulsive like barge in on Maxine and accuse her of murder.”
Jasper trotted along with us, but the kittens watched from the windowsill.
Tilly jogged across the street and hollered, “Sue Ellen!” She waved her arms to get her friend’s attention, in case the screech wasn’t enough.
Sue Ellen, dressed in a red flowery dress, turned and a big grin spread across her face. She waved. “I was afraid I wouldn’t find you here. Is this a bad time for a visit, Tilly?”
“Not at all.” “Who’s your handsome friend?”
The man smiled and stuck his hand out. “Conrad Coleman. Pleased to meet you. Sue Ellen has told me so much about her beautiful friend.” Conrad kissed Tilly’s outstretched hand.
“Oh, please,” she giggled. Even from half-way across the street, I saw pink travel straight up her neck to the tips of her ears.
When Hitch and I caught up, I offered my hand in a no-nonsense manner. “Sunny Shaw, Tilly’s neighbor, and this is my friend, Ty Hitchner.”
Conrad shook my hand. No kiss, thank goodness. Then, after a slight pause, he shook Hitch’s hand.
Sue Ellen leaned close to Tilly and whispered like they were a couple of teenagers discussing some sort of naughty deed. “I heard there’s been some excitement in your town. If I know you, Tilly Morris, you’ll have more details than anyone else.”
“Well, maybe a few more.” Tilly looked up and down the street.
Was she checking that the coast was clear?
She wrapped her arm around Sue Ellen’s shoulders. “Let’s go inside. We’ve already had a visit from the state police and there’s no sense in rousing their suspicion from a gathering out here.”
“Oh, you make this sound so cloak and dagger-like. Are you involved?” Sue Ellen giggled as Tilly led her inside.
“After you,” Hitch said and took up the rear behind Conrad and me.
“So,” Tilly said, unloading her carafe on me to deal with. “What brings you to Pineville, Sue Ellen? I hope it’s not just the murder.”
Sue Ellen sat in Tilly’s comfy recliner and popped the footrest up. “Don’t be silly. Didn’t you get my message?”
I glanced at Tilly’s answering machine. The tell-tale red light flashed so I hit the play button. Sue Ellen’s voice rang out. “Coming with my friend, Conrad, who has some business to take care of in Pineville. Hope to see you, too, my dear.”
Sue Ellen held her hands out. “And, here we are. Conrad’s the contractor I told you about. You said you wanted to do a bathroom remodel. He’d love to take a look and give you a quote.
While Tilly and Sue Ellen chatted, Hitch pulled me aside. “Listen, Sunny. This is a good time for us to get out of here and visit Maxine. What do you think?”
“You want me to come with you?”
“I think it’s less intimidating if we go together as a couple of friends looking for some orchid info. I mean, we’ve got the old nursery now, so we can use that as a starting point.”
“Okay. I like it. How about Jasper? Bring her or leave her here with Tilly?”
“Leave her here.”
I nodded. “Hey, Tilly? Since your friends are here, Hitch and I are going to do some business planning. We can catch up with you later.”
A flash of something—annoyance?—passed over her face. She hated being left out, but she couldn’t very well abandon her friend who’d just shown up out of the blue.
“Before you go,” Tilly said, “Sue Ellen says Conrad is one of the best contractors around. Keep him in mind when you make your plans for your remodeling.”
Conrad smiled broadly and handed me his business card. “Yes, please give me a call. From the little bit I’ve already heard, I’d be honored to have the chance to help you transform that old nursery into a shiny new business.”
I slipped his card into my pocket. “Of course. We’d love to hear your thoughts once we have more details hammered out. Right, Hitch?”
“Sure,” he said with little enthusiasm. Whatever. It was a business decision we both had to make together.
On our drive, I asked Hitch, “When do you want to get started with some real planning for our new business venture?” I mean, ideas were flying around in my head like a hungry school of sharks—crazy shake combos, sweet and pretty cakes, and of course, the Kitty Castle.
“I thought you’d never ask. How about after we talk to Maxine? Then, you can tell me all your ideas. I only have one requirement.”
“Which is?”
“That’s easy. I get to sample all your creations.”
He looked at me with his irresistible grin and I knew I was in big trouble.
8
Hitch turned into a driveway that led to a rambling modernized farmhouse—red metal roof, wraparound porch, and a cobblestone path to the front door. Blueberry Bay glistened through the trees in the distance. The manicured lawn surrounded a shallow pool with a leaping dolphin statue in the center. It all reeked of more money than I’d ever see in several lifetimes. Even after my great-aunt’s inheritance arrived.
“We’re just going to knock on her door?” I asked Hitch. “This place looks like it’s guarded by someone ready to send us packing, don’t you think?”
He laughed but stroked my cheek reassuringly. “She won’t bite. I know Maxine. She’s exactly like Harry. More money than they know what to do with, but they’re still human with flaws and desires like the rest of us.”
“Flaws?” I leaned away from Hitch, aghast. “What are mine?”
> “Yours are more like cute blemishes that just make your whole package more appealing.” He tapped my chin affectionately.
His smile made my heart thump at double speed. I pushed the car door open to escape this conversation before I spontaneously burst into flames.
“Just let me do the talking.” Hitch looked at me over the roof of his Camaro. “I’ll pour on my love of orchids and invite her to host the next orchid society meeting.”
“What do you know about the orchid society?” He raised an eyebrow, so I knew he was concocting a story on the spot. “You’re making this up as you go along, aren’t you?”
He hitched the collar of his polo shirt, a move that always made me a little weak in the knees. “Let me finish,” he said in his teasing way. “As I was saying, I’ll invite her to host a meeting of the society, which I’m about to join, at our new and remodeled Orchid Extravaganza.”
I’d started up the walk to the heavy front door of Maxine’s house but that stopped me in my tracks. “Orchid Extravaganza? That’s the name you’ve chosen?” I nodded, liking the sound of it. “That works.”
“For now,” Hitch said sounding more confident in this scheme than I was. “Anyway, our goal today is to get inside to see her collection. Trust me. She’ll invite us in.”
I had my doubts, but we’d see how well Hitch’s charm worked.
As we followed the cobblestone path to the front door, the lush mix of pink and white roses climbing up the porch balustrades released a heady aroma that had me swooning. The layers of heirloom blossoms belonged on a design magazine cover and had me salivating with envy.
Hitch nudged me and pointed to the entryway. “There’s her guard dog you were so worried about.” A big stone dog sat to one side of the front door with a basket of purple petunias flowing over the sides. “I guess you don’t have to worry about Maxine threatening us after all.”