Caked in Murder

by Gretchen Allen

  “Well then. That does sound like quite the show,” Yvette agreed. “I can’t believe Monica and Della would act that way.”

  “I think Monica was fine until Della blurted out that she thought Janet was lucky to be gone, so she didn’t have to deal with Monica anymore. When it escalated from arguing about activities to arguing about murder, everything went haywire. I think they all forgot what it was that they were even yelling about after a while. I went outside after Joey asked them both to leave and overheard what they were saying in the parking lot.”

  “Of course you did,” Yvette laughed. “Well… tell me!”

  “They continued their screaming match, but this time it was about who killed Janet. They were each blaming one another until Della said that Monica didn’t have enough sense to do something like that without getting caught so it was probably Eddie, ‘Janet’s poor husband’, that was responsible.”

  “Oh, my gosh. I can’t believe all of this happened here. Were we busy?” Yvette felt terrible that her customers had to listen to such nonsense from a group of grown women.

  “Not really. There were a few people inside, but they were all locals so at least they already know how these things go. After they started accusing Eddie of murdering his wife, I went over and told them they had to leave the property entirely. He’s a good man, and I felt bad for him,” Vanessa said, leaning against the wall.

  Yvette stopped to think for a minute. She’d heard several times now that Eddie was the person people thought was most likely to kill Janet. Every time Yvette had heard that, she’d ignored it because she simply didn’t agree. Maybe she’d been wrong. While she’d always considered herself a pretty good judge of character and had even pointed out that it didn’t make sense for Eddie to suddenly decide to kill his wife, it did make sense that the build-up of her treating him badly for the last thirty some-odd years was a good enough reason to cause him to be angry enough to decide that he’d finally had enough.

  “Hey, Yvette. Amelia is out front for you,” Joey said, coming into the stockroom.

  “Okay, tell her I’ll be right out,” she told Joey before returning her thoughts to Vanessa. “Thanks for taking care of everything for me. I appreciate all you guys do around here. I have to go see Amelia. For all I know she’s here to tell me someone else is a suspect in Janet’s death. I can’t believe how many people didn’t get along with her.” Yvette shook her head and smiled at Vanessa before leaving the room.

  13

  Yvette had woken up extra early that morning, planning on taking a stroll around town. The weather was gorgeous, and she wanted to take advantage of it while she had the chance. Deciding that she wanted her first stop to be at Stafford’s Country Store for an apple fritter and a coffee, she tucked her phone and her keys into the pocket of her lightweight jacket and headed out the door. Not even halfway up the street, she noticed Tom’s CableCom van sitting in the parking lot of a nearby apartment building. She had no desire to talk to him, so she quickly crossed the street and took a back road to town.

  Stopping in front of the country store, Yvette saw Amelia headed in her direction. “Hey, girl. Fancy meetin’ you here.”

  “Needed my fritter this morning, I’ve got meetings all day,” Amelia said.

  “Great minds.” Yvette laughed. “That’s why I’m here, too.”

  The women went into the store together, picking out the two best looking apple fritters on display. It wasn’t long before they found themselves having to wait in line to pay for their items. Stafford’s was by far the busiest store in all of Heritage and deservedly so.

  “Where’s your car?” Amelia asked when they got back outside.

  “I’m walking. I needed to clear my head, and it’s so nice out.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Amelia huffed.

  “Jeez. What’s wrong with taking a walk?” Yvette asked, looking at her friend like she was crazy.

  “Not you. Look over there,” she said, pointing up the street. “A cable van. I bet it’s Tom. Ugh, he’s so weird. I can’t believe I ever went out with him.”

  “I just saw him a few minutes ago by my house too. Honestly, he’s a little weird, but I think he’s harmless,” Yvette said, taking a large bite of her fritter.

  “Not me. I’m outta here. He’s coming this way and I refuse to see him.” Amelia waved to Yvette as she dashed to her car.

  Figuring she didn’t have much to worry about, Yvette finished her fritter before continuing on her walk. Coming up to where Whittaker’s Steakhouse sat, Yvette noticed that the Now Hiring sign was no longer perched in the window. A hint of sadness spreading over her, she kept going, trying to brush away any thoughts of Nate. They’d had a good time together the past couple of days, but he was going home soon, and she was trying not to get her hopes up. Yvette stopped for a moment to decide which direction she wanted to go next, back through downtown to see Colleen at the Dandelion Boutique or around Cottage and Pine to see if her parents were home. Once again, she noticed Tom’s van heading down the road toward her. Unfortunately, unless she ducked into the woods, or started running, both of which would be ridiculous, she’d have no choice but to talk to him.

  Tom slowed his van down as he pulled up closer to Yvette, rolling his window down. “Morning, Yvette.”

  “Hi, Tom,” she greeted him.

  “I haven’t seen you around lately. How are things?” he asked.

  “Really? I’ve seen you three times already this morning,” Yvette said, not being able to control herself.

  “You have? Where?”

  “Once by my house, once downtown, and here we are again,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “Have you been following me?” Tom joked.

  “Come on.” She rolled her eyes. “I could ask you the same thing.”

  “What’s that mean?”

  “You’ve been following Amelia around all week and now it seems like you’re doing the same thing to me. Although, I’m not sure why,” Yvette pointed out.

  “Oh, I dunno. Maybe because I’m a cable guy? I’ve been working overtime this week because the other technician that works this area is on vacation. I drive for a living just as much as I fix cable. It makes sense you’d see me in several places. I go to houses and businesses all day long,” Tom said, defending himself.

  “Oh.” Yvette looked down at her feet.

  “Yeahhhh. I sure was wrong about everyone in this town. I thought I found a place to call home but apparently, everybody here thinks I’m some kinda nutjob. Sorry I stopped to talk to you. Have a good day,” Tom said before driving away.

  Well, I feel like a real jerk. Yvette said to herself. Poor Tom.

  Wanting to go to Amelia’s office to explain to her what had just happened, Yvette made her way back to town. Once she reached the Visitor’s Center, she almost decided not to go inside. If Amelia wanted to stay away from Tom, maybe it was best that she not say anything at all.

  “What are you doing here?” Amelia asked, shutting the door of the building behind her.

  Yvette dove into the conversation she’d just had with Tom and hoped that Amelia felt just as relieved as she had. Knowing that Tom wasn’t a bad guy had to ease her mind a little.

  “Sorry to bother you at work, but I just wanted you to know what he said.”

  “It’s fine. I have to head out for a lunch meeting, but I did want to tell you about Mark.” Amelia beamed.

  “What about him?”

  “We were up talking all night last night. He told me that he asked you for your help and that he still cared about me. Everything is so good right now. I’ve missed him so much and I told him that the “grand gesture” he was looking to give me was something that he had already done. He cared enough to ask my best friend for help. He cared enough to make sure I was safe. It feels so good to know that he feels the same way about me as I do him.” Amelia’s smile was getting bigger as she spoke.

  “I’m so happy for you! Sometimes a little time
away is all you need.” Yvette gave her friend a big hug.

  “I gotta go. I’m already running late. I’ll call you later!” Amelia said, running down the steps, and skipping all the way to her car.

  Shaking her head at her friend, Yvette couldn’t help but smile. Amelia and Mark had a second chance at love and she was thrilled for both of them that they’d decided to take it.

  14

  Need any help?” Yvette asked Vanessa when she saw her carrying a tray with four sundaes on it.

  “Can you follow behind me and take them off the tray for me?”

  “Absolutely! I’m right behind ya.”

  Yvette and Vanessa walked through the dining room and out the side door that led to the outdoor eating area. Yvette was surprised to see Monica and Della sitting at the table near where they were headed to drop off the sundaes. After helping Vanessa, Yvette said her hellos to a few people before stopping at Monica and Della’s table.

  “Ladies. I’m hoping the two of you will be conducting yourselves like adults while you’re here,” Yvette said, looking between the two of them.

  “You heard about that, huh?” Monica asked.

  “Of course she did. Yvette, we are both so sorry for how we acted, right, Monica?” Della said, speaking for the both of them as if they were long-lost friends.

  “Thanks for apologizing. I see you two are getting along better now?”

  “Much better! We got to talking about Janet and realized that she may have been the reason for a lot of the issues within the association. I was considering bringing up the idea to Amelia that we co-chair the branch,” Della explained.

  “I see. Well I’m glad you are working things out, even if something terrible had to happen in order for it to get this way,” Yvette said, frowning.

  “Certainly no one deserved to die over this. Have you heard? Eddie’s being held at the police department. He’s been there at least twenty-four hours,” Monica whispered.

  “Wow! I hadn’t heard that at all. I can’t believe it.” Yvette was stunned.

  “I guess he’s not officially been arrested or anything yet, but they are holding him for something,” Monica explained. “I’m glad they got it figured out. Do you have any idea how steamed I was when the police came knocking on my door trying to question me? I was barely in town the day of the murder. I had to visit my niece in the hospital in Merryville. Gosh, I was so upset. Going around blaming innocent people.” Monica shook her head.

  “Oh, jeez. I had no idea about any of that. Thanks for letting me know,” Yvette told the women.

  “If you ask me, I thought it was Eddie the whole time. No way can one man listen to that for over thirty years and not go off the deep end,” Della said matter-of-factly.

  “I always thought Eddie was a decent guy. I’d never have expected him,” Yvette said honestly. “I better get going, though. I hate to leave my staff to do all the work when I stand around chit-chatting.”

  “Thanks again for being so understanding,” Monica said before Yvette left the table.

  * * *

  “I’m glad you stopped in,” Yvette told Nate.

  “I’ve been in town all this time and realized I had only been here once, and I never even got to eat anything that day.”

  Yvette thought back to the day he was referring to. She was thankful that her mom was no longer part of the investigation but still felt bad for Eddie. Something was telling her that it wasn’t him who killed Janet.

  “Hellllo. Earth to Yvette,” Nate said, waving a hand in front of her face.

  “Sorry. I’m in another world,” Yvette said, sitting down.

  “What’s up? Is something wrong?” he asked.

  “Eddie is being held at the police station for killing Janet and I don’t think it was him.”

  “Okay. You’re good at this. Who do you think it was?”

  “That’s the problem. I have no idea. I don’t think it was Eddie and obviously, it wasn’t my mom or Amelia. That leaves Monica, who has an alibi, and then, Della.”

  “There you have it. Della. Do you think it was her?” Nate tilted his head.

  “I don’t see how she could have done it. She wasn’t at the Town Hall at all that day, so I guess she could have had the time to do it. But, on the other hand, she wasn’t at the Town Hall, so she had no idea if Eddie was there or how long he’d be gone from home. Plus, how would she have gotten inside? I highly doubt Janet would have invited her in for milk and cookies.”

  “This is a tough one. I wonder if…”

  “Milk and cookies!” Yvette interrupted him.

  “Is that some newfangled way to swear?” Nate asked.

  Letting out a little giggle, Yvette explained. “No. When I was at the Town Hall the day they were passing out the maps, I met Tom for the first time. He’d been chatting with Janet and Eddie when Amelia brought me over to introduce us. Janet was whining about Amelia and Tom knowing one another and was droning on about how Tom stayed and had milk and cookies with her.”

  “Why was he at her house to begin with?”

  “He’s a cable guy. He was there fixing something for them.”

  “So now you think Tom killed Janet? That’s a bit of a reach isn’t it?” Nate asked, twisting his face.

  “Maybe he did it because he thought Janet was the one giving Amelia a hard time. Up until recently, we thought it was her. He seems to really like Amelia so maybe he was protecting her?” Yvette shrugged, knowing she really was reaching.

  “Protecting a girl you went on one date with?”

  “You’re right. I don’t know anymore.” Yvette rubbed her temples.

  “Wait. I’ve heard so much information about this I can’t keep it straight. Did someone say that Eddie found the window open when he got home and found Janet?”

  “That’s right! I forgot all about that. I wonder if that’s how whoever did it got inside?” Yvette slid her chair back, making a move to stand up.

  “It makes sense. So, now we can assume they got in through the window but that means they’d have to have kept their windows unlocked or Janet let whoever it was inside, and they left through the window.”

  “What you mean to say is… we still know nothing.” Yvette got up and went to grab two water bottles from the drink cooler.

  “My turn to reach. What if Tom left the window open the day he was at their house fixing things? Then he let himself back in the following day and killed Janet all in the name of love?”

  Yvette rolled her eyes. “I mean, I can’t judge your crazy ideas when I have them too, but like you said before, it makes no sense Tom would kill someone he barely knew, for a woman he just met.”

  “I give up. Can’t we just Tom and Della? Or tell my dad so he can ask them?” Nate questioned.

  “Are you crazy!? I’d be the next body if your dad knew about this! You can’t tell him!” Yvette exclaimed, slamming her water down on the table a little too eagerly, sending water splashing all over.

  “Whoa. Okay then. I’ll keep my mouth shut.” Nate chuckled.

  “I guess I can talk to Della about it. Talking to Tom isn’t ever gonna happen after I basically accused him of stalking me.”

  “You’re gonna get yourself in trouble one day.” Nate shook his head. “Are you sure it’s a good idea to talk to her since, in all reality, she’s the most likely out of the two of them to have killed Janet?”

  “I’m gonna find out,” Yvette stood up again. “Are you coming with me or do I have to do this alone?” she asked.

  “Fine, fine.” Nate hesitated a moment before getting up and following Yvette to her office, so she could grab her keys.

  15

  What are the chances?” Nate asked when they came up on Tom’s work van sitting on the side of the road under the shade of a large maple tree.

  “Pretty slim but I do believe everything happens for a reason. We went to see Della, and she wasn’t at work or at home, but we came across Tom. Maybe that means he’s the one we were sup
posed to be talking to this whole time,” Yvette said, pulling her SUV up right behind where Tom was parked.

  “I knew you were following me,” Tom said when he popped his head out from the back of his van.

  “I’m sorry about that. I was rude, and that wasn’t fair. You had an explanation and it made perfect sense,” Yvette apologized.

  “I get it. What are you two doing here? Got cable problems?” he joked.

  “No, actually we wanted to talk to you about Janet,” Yvette said. “Do you have a few minutes?”

  “Yeah. I don’t have another job for a half hour. I’m just parked here looking for my splicing knife. I haven’t been able to find it for days. The next job I have requires it and it’s nowhere to be found,” he said, throwing his hands up.

  “I think you can get one pretty cheap at the hardware store,” Nate offered.

  “I know it sounds weird but I’ve had this same one since I started with the company. I’m a little superstitious.” Tom shrugged. “So, what do you want to talk about?”

  “Did you kill her?” Nate blurted.

  “NATE!” Yvette gasped.

  “We’re on the side of a public road. Now is the best time to ask. If he thinks about hurting us, he would have to think again since there are people around.”

  “You two are crazy.” Tom turned his back on them and went back inside his van.

  “Tom. They said Eddie found the window open in Janet’s bedroom. You very well could have left it open with plans to go back in and kill her,” Yvette pointed out.

  “And what reason would I have to do that?” Tom’s stopped his search and slowly turned to them, his face pale.

  “Amelia?” Nate asked.

  “I killed Janet why? Because Amelia asked me to? That’s ridiculous. And why would you be here saying your best friend had something to do with this? What kind of person are you?” Tom yelled.

  “That’s not what we’re saying. The fact of the matter is that the window was left open, and you had the chance to make that happen,” Yvette said.