Eat, Drink, and Be Scary (A Ravenmist Whodunit Paranormal Cozy Mystery Book 1)

by Olivia Jaymes

  I was fine with it but I wasn’t comping that meal. He could pay like every other customer.

  “I’m trying. Seriously, what have you heard?”

  I settled into the chair next to him, digging into my lunch. The aroma of tomatoes and garlic made my stomach growl and I realized it had been hours since I’d last eaten.

  “I haven’t heard anything. I’ve been working all morning. I did see Lorna and Adam eating lunch on the way in here. She doesn’t look upset. Did she get a better alibi?”

  Because her original one was a big, fat lie. The sheriff just didn’t know it.

  “No, but then no one seems to have a decent alibi in this group. Everybody was sleeping, which makes logical sense but it doesn’t make for a great alibi.”

  I took a big bite of my lasagna. So delicious. “So what did they say?”

  I didn’t think he’d answer, although he’d said that the grapevine would be buzzing already.

  “Why should I tell you?”

  “Maybe because you’re sitting in my kitchen eating my food. Clearly, you came here for a reason.”

  “I might just have been hungry.”

  “Then you could have gone to Daisy’s.”

  “She keeps wanting to read my palm.”

  “She’s psychic.”

  “How charming. Too bad she can’t tell that I don’t want my fortune told.”

  Garrett was a laugh a minute. Bet he wasn’t much fun at parties.

  “So are you going to tell me or not? I could go ask Daisy or someone else but then I might get the wrong story. The rumor mill isn’t much for getting the details right, Sheriff.”

  Wadding up the paper napkin, Garrett tucked it under the edge of his now empty plate. “I kind of did come here on purpose.”

  Victory tasted sweet. I would have done a lap around the kitchen to thunderous applause and inspiring music but we were in the middle of the lunch rush. Perhaps later.

  “You wanted my opinion.”

  “I did not want your opinion.”

  “Then why are you here?”

  “Lunch.”

  “You’re done. You can leave at any time.”

  Except that I didn’t want him to. I wanted him to talk.

  “For an innkeeper you’re lousy at hospitality.”

  “You’re not a guest.”

  “What did you do before this? Let me guess… you worked at the DMV. You’ve got the personality for it. I bet you were employee of the month more than once.”

  “I was a senior researcher for a financial institution.”

  “Sounds fancy.”

  “It was boring but it paid well. I’m extremely detail-oriented. Now are you going to tell me what they said or do I have to torture it out of you?”

  Barking with laughter at the mere idea, Garrett grinned. “Torture? How do you plan to do that?”

  “I’ll eat a slice of deep dish apple pie right in front of you but I won’t let them serve you any.”

  His smile faded. “You wouldn’t.”

  “I would.”

  I already knew that he loved my pastry chef’s apple pie. Just last week he’d scarfed down a gigantic slice in record time. I’d never seen anything like it before.

  “With ice cream?”

  “You bet. I’d heat it up and have ice cream. Two scoops.”

  “No, I mean I want ice cream with it. If I’m going to spill the beans I’m going to need compensation.”

  I ran my gaze up and down, from his toes to his forehead. He was a good-looking man. But ornery.

  “You’ll ruin your girlish figure.”

  “I’ll take my chances.”

  “Don’t move. I’ll get your pie and then you’ll talk. Right, Garrett?”

  “Right. Two scoops.” He paused before continuing. “And Tedi? Call me Jack.”

  “Are we becoming friends?”

  “Worse things could happen. As weird as you are, you’re the most sane person in this crazy town.”

  What a sweet talker. I’d take it as a compliment because I think he meant it as one. In a backhanded sort of way.

  “Friends,” I repeated, pondering what that might be like. “I guess we could try it.”

  The idea suddenly didn’t seem so far-fetched.

  He shoved the last mouthful of apple-goodness into his mouth and closed his eyes in what appeared to be a food heaven euphoria.

  “So Lorna didn’t have much more to say?”

  “No, she admitted that she and Roger are having an affair but she claims that she and Jerome had an understanding. Sort of an open marriage kind of thing. He had his dalliances and she had hers. They weren’t going to divorce over it. She said she had no reason to kill her husband.”

  “Did they have a prenup? That would be reason to kill him.”

  “They did, which makes her claim a stretch of imagination. As far as I’m concerned, she’s still a suspect. But not my strongest one.”

  “Wagner?”

  Garrett – no, Jack – had already said that the two men had argued because Wagner accused Jerome of stealing from the consulting company they both owned. Jerome denied it but Wagner had threatened to go to the police. Money was a powerful motive for murder and the businessman didn’t have a strong alibi. Like so many others, he’d been asleep in his hotel room in Travistown. No witnesses.

  “Angela.”

  That I hadn’t expected. She had the weakest motive from what I could see, but then I wasn’t an experienced cop.

  “Angela? How is she your strongest suspect?”

  “Wagner said that Jerome talked about her quite a bit. How he was stringing her along with promises to leave Lorna but he wasn’t planning on doing it. Then he said that Jerome was thinking about ending things since she was getting clingy. He might even have done it. Wagner wasn’t sure.”

  “They looked pretty chummy the night of the festival.”

  “They certainly did,” Jack agreed. “But from that distance we couldn’t tell if he was kissing her or she was kissing him. Just how mutual that clinch was is up in the air.”

  “He came here to Ravenmist,” I pointed out. “He must have wanted to see her.”

  “Or he wanted her to see him with his wife. According to Wagner, Jerome wasn’t a nice guy. He was a real jerk and he wouldn’t put it past his partner to be that vindictive.”

  “And yet he still shared a business with him. Lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas,” I quoted, remembering my mother saying the very same thing when I was younger.

  Jack smiled and shook his head. “I haven’t heard that in years but it’s true. If Jerome was stealing it shouldn’t have come as a shock.”

  “Where does that leave Adam, Roger, and Cherie? Are they cleared?”

  “I don’t have any reason to suspect them,” Jack shrugged taking the last bite of the fast-melting ice cream. “Do you know something I don’t?”

  I did but it didn’t have anything to do with those three. I wanted to tell him about Lorna not being in bed but I still didn’t know how. At the moment it was going to have to be enough that she was still under suspicion.

  “I just wondered,” I said instead. “Did you know Roger and Cherie are looking for a house in town? They made an offer on my parents’ place but it was too low.”

  The gossip train must not stop in front of the police station. I’d surprised the sheriff. Go me.

  “They are? I had no idea.” His expression softened. “I heard about your parents. I’m sorry to hear about their marriage.”

  “I just want them to be happy,” I said automatically. Because I did. But I still wasn’t thrilled by how they were going about it. “I’m just surprised Roger and Cherie want to put down roots in a community where one of their good friends was brutally murdered. Seems strange to me.”

  “It wouldn’t be my first choice, but if Bergstrom was anything at all like how he’s been described by everyone who knew him they might not care that he’s dead.”

  “So w
hat now?”

  “After all of that food? A nap would be nice.”

  Jack could be charming. Interesting. Did I dare trust him enough to be friends?

  “Seriously, you can’t take a nap with a killer on the loose.”

  “No, I can’t, which is a shame. I need to talk to Angela again now that I’ve talked to Wagner. See what she has to say.”

  “Is this how police work usually goes? You just keep talking to people until someone confesses or the crime lab gives you a clue?”

  Laughing, Jack pushed his empty plate away. “I guess that’s how it might look from the outside but I can assure you there is quite a bit going on in the background. Lorna’s prenup, Bergstrom’s business, Angela’s phone and text messages. I’m putting together a puzzle. One piece at a time.”

  I’d never liked jigsaw puzzles when I was a kid but later as a researcher I’d learned that puzzles could be fun. But this one? It was a real killer. Too many suspects and few clues. Jack had his hands full trying to crack this case.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Roger and Cherie Mullaney were standing in the middle of the living room of the house that Angela had insisted I look at. She’d decided that it was “perfect” for me and I had to admit she might be right. She had great taste in houses. This one was an adorable three-bedroom Craftsman with tons of curb appeal.

  But I wasn’t all that fond of the furnishings if the Mullaneys came with the house.

  With an evil grin, Roger put his arm around Cherie. “Looks like we might have some competition for this one, honey. We didn’t realize you were looking for a house too, Tedi.”

  “I’m looking for more privacy than I get at the inn.”

  Cherie nodded sympathetically. “I can imagine that must be exhausting, being on call twenty-hour hours a day.”

  “It’s not that bad and I’m used to it.” I trailed my fingers down the edge of a bookcase that banked the fireplace. “But I’m thinking about a change.”

  “It’s a lovely home,” Cherie enthused, her gaze running around the room. “But we were hoping for a bigger yard. I like to garden. Your parents’ home was perfect.”

  Were they planning on putting in a higher offer? I didn’t ask. I’d grown up in a family where we didn’t talk about money. It had been drilled into us that it was gauche and rude. It was hard enough talking to Angela about it and she was a professional.

  “It is a great house,” I agreed. “But a lot of maintenance for something that large.”

  “We’d hire someone to do that,” Cherie dismissed. “The back yard is perfect for a huge garden and maybe a pool.”

  A pool? They wanted to put in a pool? That was my childhood dream but my parents had only laughed and told me it wasn’t practical. We could only use it a few months a year. Maybe Roger and Cherie could adopt me. How did they feel about ponies and a carousel?

  Roger shook Angela’s hand. “Thank you for showing us the house. We’ll give it some serious thought.”

  “I think it could be a great second home for you.”

  The couple said their goodbyes and exited the house, leaving me with Angela. I wanted to know what she was thinking after being questioned by Garre – no, Jack, this morning. I was going to need to get used to that. We were friends now.

  Angela waved out of the front window as the Mullaneys drove away. “Such a nice couple. But I think they’d be happier in your family’s home. I think this house is better for you, Tedi.”

  Then she’d make two commissions.

  “Did you know Roger Mullaney before the weekend?” I asked, checking out the built-in cabinets in the dining room. They were amazing. I didn’t need a house but I kind of wanted this one already.

  “At the festival,” Angela said. “He seemed okay. Typical city person. Now what do you think of these built-in bookshelves?”

  The workmanship was top notch. I would know, too, as my dad liked to refinish old furniture as a hobby. He would love this house. If I didn’t buy it, he might be interested in it since he and Mom were going to sell theirs.

  Divorce. I ruthlessly pushed it from my brain, not ready to deal with it yet. My mother had always loved Scarlett O’Hara so I’d take a page out of her book and think about it tomorrow.

  The master bedroom was huge and the closets were even a decent size. The kitchen had been renovated recently, and although I wasn’t the biggest fan of stainless steel – fingerprints, folks – I had to admit the house was as Angela had promised…perfect.

  “You met Roger at the festival? Since he was such a good friend of Jerome Bergstrom’s I thought you might have met him before.”

  I had to focus and remember why I was here. I was blinded by marble countertops and a steam shower.

  “No, I don’t think so. Jerome and I liked to stay in when I was in the city.”

  The laundry room was a little small but I couldn’t have everything I wanted. “How did you meet him?”

  I wasn’t all that sly or stealthy. Angela had to realize she was being pumped for information but she must have really wanted to make this sale because she didn’t call me on my terrible sleuthing skills.

  “At a friend’s cocktail party. Her boyfriend had some business dealings with Jerome.” Her expression grew sad, her lips drooping down. “He was really wonderful to me.”

  “He seemed a little…abrasive.”

  “He could be but with me he was a teddy bear.”

  As hard as I might try, I couldn’t imagine Jerome as a teddy bear. Not even close. I opened my mouth to ask another question but Angela was still talking.

  “His wife killed him.” She slapped the top of the kitchen counter, making a loud sound in the quiet. “I know she did. She hated Jerome and treated him terribly. She only married him for his money. I’m shocked they stayed together as long as they did, frankly. Jerry told me some stories from their marriage and let me tell you, Tedi, she’s a horrible woman. She definitely did it.”

  “Do you have any evidence of it? If so, I hope you told the sheriff.”

  “I told him all of the things that Jerry told me but the sheriff said that it was hearsay and not admissible in court.”

  This was my chance.

  “Did it go okay? When you talked to the sheriff?”

  “It was fine. He asked about our relationship and what Jerry promised me. I told him the truth. He asked if he could see our emails and texts and I said absolutely he could. I have nothing to hide.”

  “What about William Wagner?”

  Angela shrugged. “What about him? From what Jerry told me his partner is always screaming about something. Overemotional is how he described him.”

  “So you don’t think he killed Jerome?”

  “No,” Angela said firmly. “Lorna definitely did it. For the money. If Wagner killed Jerry, what would he gain? Nothing. No, it was Lorna.”

  As quickly as Angela had turned serious she brightened up, her smile blinding. “So what do you think of the house? It’s perfect, isn’t it?”

  “I have to admit it is.”

  I didn’t need a house. Did I? This place was everything I’d ever wanted in a home and then some.

  “Should I draw up an offer?”

  “Give me a little time to take all of this in.” It was moving a little too fast for me. “I didn’t think you’d find one this quickly.”

  Or at all. I’d given Angela the pickiest criteria I could so that it wouldn’t be bizarre when I gave up house hunting in defeat.

  “Okay, but don’t wait too long. A gem like this is going to be scooped up fast. Roger and Cherie are interested and the price is right. You don’t want to miss out.”

  I didn’t but I also didn’t want to jump into anything without looking first. It was a big decision. Plus, there was Terrence to think about.

  He was the ghost in my life, and I didn’t want him to be lonely.

  “Terrence,” I called when I entered my bedroom. “Are you around? Can you hear me?”

  I tossed
my purse on the bed and stuck my head into the open walk-in closet. I never closed the door anymore. It felt rude. I figured he could close it if he wanted a little privacy.

  Speaking of privacy… I’d taken to getting dressed in the en suite bathroom. The horse might be out of the barn but it made me feel better.

  “Of course, I can hear you. I’m dead, not deaf.”

  “I wasn’t sure. You might have gone somewhere.”

  “Where would I go?” Terrence still hadn’t shown himself but I had hopes that eventually he would trust me enough. “I don’t know anyone but you.”

  “I don’t know. Maybe you could cruise around town and see what’s going on. I know you like to people watch.”

  “There’s people here.”

  This didn’t bode well for talking him into leaving the inn.

  “You don’t ever want to see how the town looks now? It’s grown but I bet it’s still the same in many ways.”

  “I like it here.”

  Sighing, I set the chair in front of the door again. Terrence didn’t want to go into the light and he didn’t want to leave my closet.

  “What if you had a better home? With your own room? Wouldn’t you like that?”

  There was silence and I waited, holding my breath for his answer.

  “I don’t know,” he replied, slowly appearing in front of me along with a chilly breeze that ran over my skin. He was younger than I’d imagined, perhaps around eighteen or nineteen. His dark hair was clipped short and he was dressed in trousers and a white button-down shirt. A surge of happiness ran through my veins at his appearance. He’d actually showed himself. To me. And yes, I did feel darn special right at the moment. “Would there be people there, too?”

  Don’t make a big deal out of it. Act natural.

  “Well…not like here.”

  The house was in a quiet area by design. With a sinking heart, I realized that Terrence wouldn’t like it. He wouldn’t have anyone to watch but maybe a few deer and some squirrels in the backyard.

  “Why would I want to leave here? It’s great here. I have everything I need.”

  There was more silence and I decided to table the discussion. If I hadn’t made up my mind there was no point in upsetting Terrence.