by Emmie Lyn
“Are you meeting Conrad this morning?” She handed me an energy bar and pumped her arms in sync with her pace.
“That’s the plan.” I picked up speed to keep Jasper away from my neighbor’s prize flower bed next to the sidewalk. I didn’t see Violet peeking out her window, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t watching us. She had a fifth sense that told her exactly when Jasper was within ten feet of her precious blooms.
Jasper stopped, sniffed at the edge of the garden, and then wagged her tail. She looked at me with her tongue hanging out and what seemed to be a smile across her open mouth. I think she was telling me that she was having a bit of fun and not to worry. We moved on. I sighed and bit into my energy bar.
“Did you tell Hitch that Conrad is meeting you at the nursery?” Tilly asked.
Honestly, I hadn’t let myself go down that path yet. Personally, I was okay with hearing his proposal, but the tension between Conrad and Hitch was a tad more than subtle. Whatever the trouble was between the two of them, I didn’t want it affecting our business.
“Maybe I should cancel,” I said to Tilly. We turned at the corner where a path took us through more dog-friendly terrain. I relaxed my tight hold on the leash, giving Jasper more slack and she began to sniff around.
“The way I see it,” Tilly said, “no harm in hearing the guy out. Sue Ellen vouches for him. Says he does great work. Why are you having second thoughts?”
I kicked a small rock along in front of me. “Didn’t you feel the tension when Hitch first met Conrad? He doesn’t like the guy, and I trust his instincts.”
Tilly pulled me to a stop and forced me to look at her. “You know I love Hitch, but he doesn’t trust anyone when he first meets them. It’s his nature. He’s suspicious before he lets his guard down. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, but you have to follow your own instincts, Sunny. Otherwise, he’ll be running the show at your new business. This is the first test. Take charge of it.”
Tilly had a point. I tightened the elastic on the end of my braid. “Tell me something,” I said, wanting an answer to a question that had been bugging me since the whole auction thing went down. “Why does Hitch want me as his business partner? He could do it on his own and hire help.”
Tilly stopped in the middle of the path. “You have to ask?” She shook her head like the answer was too obvious for words.
“Indulge me.” I needed to know.
“Okay, Sunny. Here’s the thing that everyone seems to see but you. Listen carefully. You’re smart, hard-working, clever, and once you make up your mind, you never quit.” Tilly emphasized each point with a raised finger. “Oh, and did I say having a free supply of your cakes should be number one on the list?”
“Hitch told you all that?” I was feeling embarrassed from all the compliments. Just a little, though. Who doesn’t like to hear some praise once in a while?
“Honey? He doesn’t have to tell me what I already know. You have to act like you’re in charge, and then everything will fall into place.”
I wished it was that easy. Nothing ever fell into place in my experience. At least not before lots of other problems were dealt with first.
We rounded the last leg of our walk. Unexpectedly, I saw Gina pacing back and forth in front of my house with her phone glued to her ear. Determination or frustration lined her face. It was hard to tell the difference.
She looked up. “Oh, thank goodness. I didn’t know where else to look for you,” she said with an urgency that piqued my curiosity. She tucked her phone in her bag.
“Gina? What’s wrong?” I felt Tilly look at me, but she held her tongue.
Jasper pulled loose from my grip and charged toward the distraught woman.
Gina bent down to my girl. “Hello, there. I bet you don’t have a mean bone in that giant body of yours, do you?” She cradled Jasper’s head with both hands as she spoke, relaxing slightly from the distraction.
“I can tell that you know dogs,” I said as Jasper lapped up all the attention.
“Yeah, I wish I lived in a place where I could have my own. Someday,” she said wistfully. "Listen. I heard Maxine say that you bought that old nursery. Can I put in a job application?”
“Did Maxine fire you?” Jasper sat and leaned against Gina’s leg. She braced herself just in time before getting knocked over from the sudden weight.
With fidgety hands, she smoothed her uniform. “No. Not yet but the stress of worrying when she will is killing me. I’d like to know I have an escape plan.”
Tilly put her arm around Gina’s shoulder. “Is it really that bad? I know Maxine is, well, difficult, but you have a stellar reputation.”
“It’s all the other things in my life right now. I’ve been late a few times, and she read me the riot act about it.”
Gina had such a look of abject terror on her face that I had to put my arm around her too, for fear she’d break out in tears. “Gina, I’ll keep you in mind, but Hitch and I haven’t even finalized our business plans yet. I don’t know when we’ll be hiring any help.” I wanted to add, I’d love to hire you, but again, this was a decision that both Hitch and I needed to make together.
I pulled away and her face fell like a deflating balloon. “You and Hitch are partners? I didn’t know that. Not that it makes a difference,” she quickly added. “I just thought… oh, never mind, it doesn’t matter. I have to get to work. Those plants don’t water themselves.” She started to walk toward her car. In addition to her other problems, it looked like it was on its last legs.
“Gina. Wait,” I shouted to her back.
She stopped and turned around, not looking much better.
“Do you know a Conrad Coleman? I heard he’s Maxine’s friend.”
“Oh yeah. I see him a lot. Maxine always brings him into the plant conservatory when he visits. As a matter of fact, he came a couple of days ago, right after I got to work, with a big box of chocolates for Maxine.” Gina held up her hands to show the size. “Of course, Maxine said she couldn’t possibly eat any, and then she devoured four.” Gina rolled her eyes.
She looked at me, then at Tilly like she wasn’t sure she should continue. She stepped closer to us and lowered her voice. “Don’t hold this against me.”
“Of course not.” My heart pounded with anticipation.
“When I’m watering and dusting, Maxine treats me like I’m invisible. I suppose her guests do, too. So, while she sits and chats and stuffs her face with chocolate, it’s impossible not to pay attention. When Conrad was there, it sounded like they were planning something.”
“Like what? Planning something could mean anything from a surprise party to—”
“Well,” Gina interrupted, “they mentioned that guy Harry like he was already out of the picture. It made my ears really perk up. They were discussing what to do with his plants.” She glanced at her wrist like she was checking the time. “Oh, right, I forgot my watch. I’ve got to go.”
She drove off with squealing tires, a cloud of blue smoke from her exhaust, and unanswered questions swirling in my head.
I looked at Tilly. “Hitch’s instinct about Conrad was right after all,” I said, glad that it meant I was right, too.
“Maybe,” Tilly said. “But it still doesn’t hurt to hear his proposal.”
She had a good point. Plus, we could pick his brain.
13
I parked next to Hitch’s Camaro and spotted a group gathering in the far corner of the parking lot. No surprise there. The state police hovered over the spot where Harry’s body was found.
Officer Walker, sneering and swaggering as usual, made his way to our car.
“What are you two up to?” he said in a tone that grated on my nerves. His stance said he was expecting an argument. Maybe, even eager for one. Even with a toothpick in his mouth, he managed to sip from his cardboard cup of coffee, eyeing me as if I were a criminal or something.
“Morning, Mick,” I said as Hitch and I got out of our cars. Somehow I dredged up a fr
iendly tone. I hoped it threw him off his game enough to get the upper hand. I slung my bag over my shoulder ready for business.
“Maybe you forgot, but Hitch and I own this property now.”
Jasper sniffed around, oblivious to my conversation.
“Yup,” Hitch said with a smirk he reserved for people on his do-not-like list. “The papers are all signed and filed, so,” he spread his arms wide, “here we are, ready to get to work.”
“Did you clear it with them?” Mick nodded toward the state police with a less than approving gesture.
Hitch shot him a victory smile. “Sure did. So, if you don’t mind,” Hitch pushed past Mick, “You can find Sunny and me inside discussing our plans for Shakes and Cakes.”
I walked right past Mick, ignoring his icy glare, and followed Hitch. Mick’s expression hid nothing. I knew he was furious to be on the outside of the investigation looking in. Served him right. He’d been removed as the chief bully in Pineville. But he’d still try to make trouble. I was sure of that.
“What do you think?” Hitch asked as soon as we walked inside our new building. “This will work, right?”
I walked slowly around the interior, checking empty display racks and built-in shelves. I wiped my finger over the scuffs and scratches in the wooden oak counter.
“Hmm,” I agreed, wiping a layer of dust off my hands on a clean-ish rag I found under the counter. “Nothing a good sanding couldn’t bring back to life. Same with the wood floor.”
All in all, Hitch was right. This building had plenty of space for a food prep area and several table and chair groupings.
“Conrad is stopping by to hear our needs for remodeling,” I said without looking at Hitch. I needed him to know this before Conrad showed up.
Hitch found a couple of stools and made himself comfortable at the counter. “Perfect,” he said with a twinkle stirring in his green eyes.
“You aren’t going to argue with me about this?” His reaction stunned me, to say the least. Or was it a lack of reaction? I paced up and down to work off my confusion.
“Well, the way I see it,” he said. He propped his elbows on the counter as if he had to brace himself for his explanation. “Since Conrad and Maxine are friends, and Maxine wanted Harry to buy this place, they’d already discussed possible renovations. We’d be stupid not to piggyback on their ideas. It doesn’t mean we have to hire him, though. I just want us to be clear on that.”
“Okay,” I said warily. I got the warning, but I stared at Hitch wondering if he was toying with me and would have a good laugh at my expense.
“But you can’t stand the guy,” I stuttered.
“Sit down, Sunny.” He patted the stool next to him. “You’re absolutely right about my feelings for that guy. Something just doesn’t feel right, but that’s no reason to avoid him. I think it’s much smarter to keep someone like Conrad close so we can keep an eye on him until we figure out what he’s up to.”
Hitch inched the stool a bit closer to me. I took the hint and sat down and gave him my full attention. “Gina was at my house this morning,” I said.
He swiveled to face me. His knees bumped my thigh, distracting me. “Is that a fact? And what did she want?”
I pulled myself away from his intense gaze and said, “A job.”
Now, a big deep belly laugh filled the building, bouncing around the mostly empty space.
“Sorry.” He wiped his eyes as he got his laugh under control. “I suppose it’s not a laughing matter to Gina, but we don’t even have a business yet. What kind of job does she think we can offer her?”
“It’s her backup plan. The more interesting part of our conversation was about Maxine and Conrad.”
“Oh? Did she hear something while she was working?” Hitch leaned toward me, completely focused.
“She told me that she heard them discussing what to do with Harry’s plants… a couple of days ago… like he was already out of the picture before he was murdered. Those two are up to something.”
Hitch smiled and patted my knee. “I knew we’d make the best team, Sunny.”
Was he talking about business partners or working together on this murder investigation? I was about to ask when a tiny mew-mew sound pulled my attention to the far corner of the building.
“More kitties?” My heart raced as I jumped off the stool. I stopped to listen, then tip-toed closer with each pathetic cry.
I felt Hitch’s warm hand on my back as he followed right behind me until we reached the corner. No kitties and no more mews. I looked at Hitch, confused and worried.
“What now?” I asked, hoping he had a good idea. Because I had nothing.
He crouched on the floor and reached under a built-in shelf, sweeping his hand from side to side. When he looked up at me, he shook his head, and my heart plummeted.
Then scratching sounded in the back of the cabinet. Hitch had checked there, but he tried again, stretching to the very back. “Ahhh,” he said, and pulled a piece of molding loose.
“I feel something moving behind this.”
I could see his arm tremble and then he pulled back. “Ouch, it bit me.”
He laughed and four kittens tumbled out. Four chubby soft balls of fluff mewed and blinked in the bright light shining through a window.
“Oh, Hitch, this is a sign.” I jumped up and searched the space until I found a basket lying nearby. I raced back to Hitch who was trying to corral the kitties. One by one he rescued them from climbing up to his shoulders and placed them in the basket. Now down on his hands and knees, Hitch stuck his head inside the opening. I heard a muffled chuckle before he stood up and brushed his hands off.
“Clever kitties. Come and take a look.”
I started to crouch down but he pulled me away from that spot and through the glass door that led into the greenhouse. I followed him to a corner where he carefully moved some pots and dead plants to one side. Someone had made a cozy nest out of an old sweatshirt. Mama cat, ignoring us, reaching into a hole with one paw.
I rushed back for the basket of kittens. As soon as I placed it in her protected corner, she sniffed, then licked each kitty. Satisfied that they were all safe and sound, she climbed into the basket with her family and settled around them.
My hand covered my heart at this tender show of motherly love.
“Maybe your Kitty Castle should be the first project on our agenda, Sunny.” Hitch’s smile filled me with a new respect for this passionate friend of mine. Anyone who put animals, especially ones in need, ahead of his own agenda, was a keeper.
Without thinking, I stretched on my tippy toes, put a hand on each side of his face, and kissed him. It was a spontaneous act of thanks.
“These kitties are the sign that we’re on the right path,” I said.
Hitch pulled me close. “I love how you think.” His voice, low and filled with passion, filled me with worry.
“Sunny?” Conrad’s deep voice called.
I pulled away from Hitch, thankful for the interruption.
Conrad peeked around the glass door. “Oh, there you two are. We brought coffee and doughnuts.” He held up a bag from A Donut a Day, the local donut shop with the best donuts anywhere, in my opinion.
We? I silently sent my question to Hitch, and he answered with raised eyebrows.
Maxine appeared behind Conrad. Like the day before, every hair was in place, and her cream jacket and pants reeked of money.
This was an interesting development. I thought. Why were they both here?
14
Hitch placed his hand on the small of my back and gently pushed me forward. “Smile, Sunshine,” he whispered. “If we want information, we need them to be nice and relaxed.”
“Maxine, it’s great to see you again,” Hitch said, walking around me and giving her a peck on her cheek. “I apologize for my behavior yesterday. Forgive me?”
I almost choked at his performance but smiled instead, not that Maxine even made a cursory glance in my direction.
I understood what Gina said about feeling invisible around her.
“Seeing Harry’s bonsai in your house threw me for a loop.” Hitch took her arm and led her to the stool at the counter. “You know I worked for him, don’t you?”
“Yes,” Maxine answered, her eyes flitting from corner to corner. “As a matter of fact, Harry asked me if I knew you, seeing as you and I are from the same town. I gave you a stellar recommendation,” She waved her hand around our new building like the queen from her balcony.
“Anyway, apology accepted… if you agree to let me have our annual orchid society meeting here. It’s perfect!”
“We’re turning this space into a Shakes and Cakes Shop,” I said before Maxine had any more time to woo Hitch to her plan. She could play her flirty game with him all she wanted, but she had to deal with me, too. And now was as good a time as any to let her understand that she couldn’t just waltz in and ignore me.
She twitched one eyebrow up. “Sounds quaint.”
I didn’t expect her to be a regular patron after that polite insult. No loss.
Hitch moved swiftly, pulling two stools up to the counter so we could join Maxine and Conrad. He even managed to send me a conspiratorial wink behind her back.
Conrad slid the coffees across to us then opened his bag of pastries. A sweet aroma wafted straight to my salivary glands. My favorite—cinnamon and sugar-coated donut holes—practically jumped into my mouth.
“You were saying?” he asked as he handed me a napkin with two of the delicious treats. “About your plans?”
Maxine scowled and clenched her jaw. Apparently losing the center of attention seemed to give her indigestion.
“We can discuss the Orchid Society’s needs later,” Hitch said with a diplomatic nod toward Maxine. “First, we have to get our business up and running.”
“And, at the top of our list is building our Kitty Castle,” I said.
As if on cue, Jasper walked in carrying the tiniest of the four kittens gently by the nape of its neck. She placed the kitten on Maxine’s lap. Was Jasper testing these newcomers?