“You’re never going to leave, are you?”
“Not me,” she said. “Unless I meet a Prince who sweeps me off my feet.” She blushed, a bit of her usual shyness rushing back. “It’s a joke. I know I won’t meet anyone any time soon.”
“Don’t say that,” Olivia replied, brusquely. “You’re a natural beauty and a wonderful person. I don’t know what I’d do without you. When I first came to Chester, I was determined to start fresh and forget about the past, but it was so difficult. I spent a lot of time really upset.” Perhaps it was Christopher’s grief which had brought out this side of her, or the need to talk about how she’d felt back then. “Crying, if I have to admit it. And you three really helped pull me out of that sadness.”
Alvira slipped her arm through Olivia’s, then rested her head on her shoulder. “We’re glad to be your friends and your assistants.”
The suburban sounds – someone started a mower somewhere down the street – enveloped them and Olivia finally settled. Her mood lifted.
“This is the reason I petitioned the mayor to put benches on every sidewalk,” a man said.
They both jumped and looked up at him.
“You’re on my front lawn.” The corners of his eyes wrinkled with mirth, though.
Olivia struggled upright and Alvira followed her lead.
“Sorry,” Olivia said. “We needed to take a quick rest before we left for work.”
“That’s called loitering, you know,” the man replied.
Olivia focused on him properly and took in the messy hair, the loose cotton t-shirt with a Polo sign on the chest. Preppy. “Apologies. Olivia Cloud,” she said. “We were here delivering some chocolates and the, uh, the heat got to us.”
“Mike Cox,” he said, and shook her hand. One firm shake, then let go immediately. “Did the mope tire you out?”
“Pardon?”
“I saw you came out of Robin’s house,” he said. “He’s been moping around for the past day or two. Can practically feel the waves of sorrow from his windows.” Mike snorted and tucked his hands in his pockets.
“You don’t know what happened?”
“Oh, I know. His girlfriend died. Tina,” Mike said. “I just think – no, never mind. I’ve said too much.” He eyed them as if he’d remembered that he’d never met them before.
“It’s all right,” Olivia said. “You can tell us. We’re just the delivery gals.” She internally grimaced at that. According to Tina, she wasn’t as close to a ‘gal’ as she was to a grandmother.
Mike worried his bottom lip, then shrugged. “I guess. There’s no harm in a bit of gossip. Everyone seems to be a gossip around here, so why not join in, right?”
“Right.”
“A few nights ago, maybe three, I heard a commotion next door,” Mike said. “I was out back, see? I got a new grill and I figured I’d try it out. I threw a few patties on, went inside to get some spices, and when I came out, that was when I heard it.”
“Heard what?” Olivia asked.
“The yelling. Tina and Christopher having an argument,” Mike said. “I believe they’d only been living together a week at that point. I remember all the boxes out front and the noise. Anyway, Tina screamed at him that he wouldn’t hold her back.”
“Hold her back?”
“Yeah. I didn’t try to eavesdrop, all right? They were just so loud. I could hear them over the meat cooking for heaven’s sake. And they were furious with each other. Tina screamed that, and Christopher must’ve broken something because there was a huge crash.”
“Wow. What did you do?”
“I ran over there,” Mike said, and brushed the hem of his shirt. “I was worried that he’d hurt her or someone needed medical attention. But when I got there, everything was quiet. Tina opened the door, cheeks red and eyes all puffy like she’d been crying for days, and told me everything was fine. They’d dropped a cup.”
“A cup,” Olivia said, in a monotone.
“That was the best excuse she could come up with, I guess. I didn’t believe it either.” Mike shifted in his shoes. “I’m not into spreading rumors or speculating, but I think it’s strange.”
“What is?”
“That they had that argument not three days ago and now Tina’s dead.” Mike gave an exaggerated shudder and peered at his neighbor’s house. “I hope the police find who did it soon. I didn’t move to Chester for this type of excitement.”
“You and me both,” Olivia replied.
CHAPTER SEVEN
J ake twirled his fork through the spaghetti absently, far off despite the warm atmosphere in the Italian restaurant that was just down the road from the Block-A-Choc Shoppe. He lifted the fork and ate, then put it down with a clatter, barely heard over the pop music that jived through the speakers.
Happy families surrounded their table, all eating or talking, breaking into raucous laughter. The theme in here was Italy; green, red, and white, along with the delicious scent of balsamic vinaigrette and garlic.
Olivia loved that he’d chosen this place for their date, but not that he was preoccupied with heaven-knew-what while they were on it. “Jake?”
He didn’t hear her, but scooped up another forkful of spaghetti and sauce and deposited it into his mouth. He chewed slowly, and scratched the bridge of his nose with the side of the fork’s handle.
“Jake?”
“Huh?”
“You know, if you’d have preferred to eat alone, you should’ve told me. We could’ve rescheduled if you weren’t in the mood for company.”
“What? No,” Jake said, and put down his fork again. He grabbed a napkin and dabbed his lips, but missed the spot of sauce at the corner of his mouth. “No, no. I want to be here with you, Olivia. I’m sorry, it’s just this business with Keane at the police station. They’re understaffed now that he’s been suspended and there’s a rumor they’re bringing in a detective from upstate.”
“That’s good.”
Jake shrugged. “We’ll see.” An ominous note to his voice. Goodness, what had gotten into everyone this week? If it wasn’t unadulterated tears and begging, it was rumors or out-of-character concern.
Fair enough, Jake Morgan was usually cautious. “You’re on the case again, right?”
“Yes,” he said, “they brought me in as a consultant after Keane was kicked off, but no one likes it. I take it you’re interested in the case?”
“Is that even a question?” Olivia chuckled, but sobered right away. “I found Tina’s body. I didn’t know her well, but it feels…serendipitous in the worst possible way. Like I was meant to find her, perhaps to give her the justice she deserves afterward.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” Jake muttered.
“What?” Olivia halted, hand halfway to the garlic bread basket. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m just tense about everything and I shouldn’t take it out on you. You’re the best help I’ll have on the case, especially now that the cops are short staffed. Not that Keane was great or anything.”
“Better than nothing, though,” Olivia said, barely placated by the apology. Jake had been nothing but supportive of late. The change in attitude disconcerted her.
“You want the details?” Jake asked, and scooted to the edge of his seat. He leaned his elbow on the table beside the half-eaten spaghetti bolognaise.
“Only if you want to give them to me.” She always needed more information, but if Jake thought she was nothing but a menace then she’d find that information elsewhere.
“Blunt force trauma was the official cause of death,” he said. “But I’m sure you gathered that from what you saw. And someone gained entry to the building through the back door.”
“How could you tell?”
“The lock was broken off. They think it was because there are surveillance cameras in the front of the center. The killer followed a route which wasn’t documented by any cameras.”
Olivia let that
one sink in. She sat back and folded her arms. “So the killer must’ve been familiar with the fitness center to have known where the cameras were and how to avoid them.”
“That’s the theory. They took fingerprints but haven’t heard anything back about who they belong to yet,” Jake said, then spread his arms. “And that’s it, basically. That’s all I know. Or rather, all the cops know at this point.”
“Well, interesting, I guess.” She hadn’t known about the back door entrance or the cameras. “Are you checking out anyone in particular?”
“They’ve got me on Fat Joe Kristin at the moment. I don’t know what other leads they’re following.”
“Why not? Surely, if you’re involved in the investigation –”
“I think some of Keane’s paranoia rubbed off on Detective Willis,” Jake said, and sighed. “He doesn’t trust me. And he shouldn’t since I just told you everything I know about an ongoing investigation.”
“We’re partners,” Olivia said, and smiled at him. “This is what we do.”
“Yes, but they don’t know that, and if they did, I’d be booted to the curb before you could say obstruction of justice.”
Olivia took his hand and stroked it in both of hers. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to put pressure on you to do anything you don’t want to. I just want to help.”
“I know. And I trust your instincts implicitly or I wouldn’t tell you any of this,” he said. “Don’t worry, Cloud, I’m on your side.”
It was good to hear, but it made her stomach twist. She had landed Jake in trouble before and it hadn’t felt good at all. She cared about him, even if they weren’t technically a couple, yet.
Good heavens, why did things have to get serious so fast? Why couldn’t they slow down and enjoy their time together instead of putting pressure on the relationship to be more than what it was already?
“Olivia?”
“Huh?”
“You haven’t touched your cannelloni,” he said.
“Sorry, just thinking about the case.” She grabbed a slice of garlic bread from the basket, bit into it, and enjoyed the buttery richness, the softness of the bread, and the tang of the garlic. The food was great, the company was better, and she could allow herself one night of enjoyment regardless of the questions that popped into her mind every other minute.
Was it Fat Joe?
Was it Christopher?
And how had they known about the back door and the routes to follow in the fitness center?
CHAPTER EIGHT
T he morning after her date, Olivia couldn’t shake the discomfort of last night or yesterday afternoon. For heaven’s sake, everyone in Chester was up in arms about Tina’s death. Everywhere she turned there was someone gossiping about it. Even her own A’s couldn’t get enough.
Perhaps, it was because Keane couldn’t investigate. Now the good folks of the town had something to worry about. Without a lead detective to solve the mystery, a killer remained on the loose and in their midst.
Olivia adjusted her grip on the end of Dodger’s lead and stretched her neck. Dodgy dragged to go faster, panting from excitement rather than effort.
“Easy boy,” she said, and patted the Labrador’s back. “You’re working yourself up.”
Dodger gave an enthusiastic bark and strained even harder.
They headed toward the park, the scent of spring in the air and the pleasant sounds of birds chirping in the trees drawing them ever onward. Olivia couldn’t enjoy the ambience though, not with the case on her mind and Jake’s strange behavior the night before.
He’d hugged her goodbye in front of the store instead of coming in for coffee, and not a sign of a kiss on the cheek, even. Very unlike him. It confused her that one week he could profess his undying love and the next seemingly avoid contact with her.
Sure, she could be a little distant, but at least she was consistent in that.
Dodger barked and whined – the entrance to the park had appeared.
“All right, almost there,” Olivia said, and lifted her thoughts from the morose and into the present.
Her assistants had practically chased her from the store and insisted she take the morning off. Dodger had been itching to get out after a rash of storms the previous week. This was the perfect opportunity for a little sunshine and relaxation.
She’d work on the relaxation part.
Olivia led Dodger between the park gates and over to the line of trees near the open playground. She sat down on one of the benches, then let her dog off of his leash. He bounded through the grass and let out a few happy yips.
He raced back in no time and skidded to a halt in front of her.
“All right, all right,” she said, and rooted around in her handbag, bringing out a tennis ball. “Here you go, Dodgy pie.” She threw it and he scooted off, kicking up clods of grass and dirt.
Olivia’s shoulders finally eased and the tension seeped from her bit by bit. This wasn’t so bad at all. It was a lovely break from the bustle of the store, and the frantic worry over Tina’s death.
Dodger sprinted back with the ball in his mouth, then dropped it at her feet. She picked it up gingerly, picking around the slippery bits, then threw it for him again. And off he went.
If only life could be as simple as it was for her doggy sweetheart.
Olivia’s phone erupted with a shrill tinkle in her handbag. She sighed and brought it out, then frowned at the unknown number on the screen. Who could it be? Jake wouldn’t call her with his number hidden.
“Hello?”
“Is that Olivia? Olivia Cloud?”
Well, it certainly wasn’t Bond, James Bond. “Yes, to whom am I speaking?” She asked.
“This is Lulu Jessop,” she said. “I saw you in the fitness center the other day. After – well, after the police started acting like my Joe would ever hurt a woman.” Her voice grew rough as rocks.
“I remember you,” Olivia replied.
An awkward silence and Dodger chose that moment to return for another toss of the tennis ball. Olivia swept it up, grimaced at the clamminess, then chucked it for her boy again. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“Yes,” Lulu said, and cleared her throat. “I – I know they want to lock up my Joe, but he hasn’t done anything wrong. There’s a man that keeps coming to see us. He’s not a policeman but he asks lots of questions.”
Jake. It had to be the private investigator. He’d done his job as the cops had expected of him and followed through on a lead. That probably wouldn’t sit well with Lulu, though.
“The authorities are doing everything they can to catch the person who murdered Tina.”
“Tina,” Lulu spat out her name. “The woman was a plague when she was alive, and now that she’s gone it’s even worse. Look, I don’t care if they find the killer. I just want them to stay away from my boyfriend. That Tina drove him to distraction with all her diets and instructions. Joe was hardly ever home thanks to her, and now that he is and he can finally relax, he’s being harassed by idiots with badges.”
Olivia bristled. “They’re not idiots, Miss Jessop. They’re just doing their jobs.”
“Whatever. I didn’t call to ask you your opinion, only to beg you for help. I know that you’re the woman who does investigations in town. Everyone talks about all the murders you helped solve.”
The bristling transformed into downright humiliation. The townsfolk spoke about her? She couldn’t imagine all of what they said was pleasant. “I don’t know what you want me to do.” She settled for that.
“I want you to clear Joe’s name. He doesn’t deserve this stress. He’s hardly eaten since Tina died. I think the shock of seeing the woman’s body like that…” Tina trailed off into a whisper, then huffed a sigh. “Trust her to go ahead and get murdered and make life uncomfortable for everyone else.”
That was no way to speak about a dead woman. “Miss Jessop, I can’t interfere in an ongoing investigation. If I hear anything that might exonerate
Joe of their suspicions, I’ll surely report it.” But she wouldn’t go out of her way to clear Joe’s name when she wasn’t entirely convinced that he hadn’t committed the murder in the first place.
It was entirely too much of a coincidence that he’d been there when Tina had been murdered. That he’d crashed in mere minutes after Olivia had found her body.
“Is that all you can do? Really? That’s all?” Lulu’s voice careened upward in pitch. “He’s in danger!”
“I’m sorry, Miss Jessop. I have to stick within the bounds of the law. Have a good day.” She hung up before Lulu could bully her into it.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t help, it was that she didn’t want to. She didn’t trust that Lulu’s motives were pure. Something about her and Fat Joe scratched at the back of Olivia’s mind and brought suspicion from the murk.
Did Lulu Jessop have something to hide?
CHAPTER NINE
L ulu hadn’t meant to do it, but she’d lit a fire under Olivia – under the bit that may or may not have gotten a little too big due to snacking on late night chocolates. She finished up in the park with Dodger, hurried to the store, then took him up the back stairs and into her home. He padded straight to his water and food bowls in the kitchen.
Olivia left him there, closed up behind herself, and headed out. The assistants wouldn’t expect her back any time soon, and if they realized she’d dropped Dodger and left again, they wouldn’t mind either.
The walk to the Chester Fitness Center was enough exercise to tide her over for a box of chocolates. She climbed the stairs and entered the reception area, breathing a little harder than she should’ve been.
Yeah, it was definitely time to cut back on the sweets.
“Miss Cloud,” a woman said.
Ah, it was Vanessa. She rose behind the reception desk and waved her over.
“Morning,” Olivia said, and met her at the front. “How are you today?”
“I’m all right.” But Vanessa shimmied her shoulders as if she couldn’t shake an itch. “The mood is a bit, how do I put it?”
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