Killer Green Tomatoes

by Lynn Cahoon

  “Oh, I signed us up to work the mission kitchen next month. It’s a Wednesday, so I thought we’d bring the whole team and give them a full-service dinner.” Felicia put her head on the table and kept talking. “They invite all the local restaurants to volunteer, but I guess it’s hard to get them to agree.”

  “Who have you been talking to?” Angie sipped on a bottle of water. She wanted coffee but thought the caffeine might make her too jittery to sleep when she got home.

  “This guy, Taylor. He’s super cute and he works at the mission. He makes virtually nothing, but he says he doesn’t need the money. Trust fund baby, I suspect.”

  “Are you dating him?” Now Angie was curious. She hadn’t heard anything about a Taylor in the months since they’d moved from California.

  Felicia sat up and glanced at Angie. “Maybe.”

  “Way to commit.” She stood and stretched. “And I don’t need a lecture about black pots and pans. I’m heading home. I’ll see you tomorrow for breakfast?”

  “Sounds like heaven. Since I don’t have a wingman for tonight, I’m heading upstairs to a long, hot bath.” She glanced out toward the street. “I know Heather’s death had nothing to do with me, but ever since she was killed, I’m having trouble walking around alone at night. I keep hearing sounds, but when I turn around, no one’s there. Probably just my imagination, right?”

  “Do me a favor, don’t use the alley as a shortcut until Sheriff Brown finds this guy.” Angie stifled a yawn. “You want me to stay a while? Or drop you somewhere?”

  “No.” Felicia rolled her shoulders. “I think once I get out of the bath I’m going to have to pour myself into bed. My muscles are all tight. Good thing I have a massage scheduled on Monday.”

  “We’ll have fun tomorrow celebrating Mrs. Potter’s last day at Casa Turner. I’m looking forward to getting my house back. It’s like living with a house mom again.” Angie glanced around the dining room as she grabbed her tote. “It’s turning out to be pretty special, isn’t it?”

  “I think so. And our guests leave happy. I’ve been giving them all survey cards with their bill, and the comments for the most part have been amazing. We have some server issues, but I’ll deal with those in our next staff meeting.”

  “Bring them tomorrow and we can skim them for possible marketing quotes.” Angie gave her friend a quick hug. “I’ve got to go or I will be sleeping on your couch.”

  Felicia followed her to the back door and stood in the light of the kitchen while Angie unlocked and started her car. As she pulled out of the lot, she waved at Felicia and waited for her to shut the door after her. She hated that her friend was feeling unsafe in the apartment. Maybe Angie should invite her to move into the farmhouse. They might be out in the boondocks, but she had Dom for protection.

  She turned the music up loud and slowly drove out of town, speeding up as soon as she saw the city limits sign. All she wanted tonight was a hot shower and maybe a cup of cocoa.

  When she got to the house, she was surprised to see all the lights on and Ian’s car still in the driveway. Entering the kitchen, she saw Ian sitting at the table, drinking tea. “Good evening. Was your evening uneventful?”

  “Not really.” She started the hot chocolate as she told him about the complainer as well as Stephen and Kendra coming in. “I think there’s a leak in our computer system, or they just lucked out by talking to someone who found a random empty reservation.”

  “But she said someone called her? Wouldn’t that have been Felicia?” He added more sugar to his cup and stirred the tea.

  “She says she didn’t call anyone. See, it’s weird.” She sat down at the table and sipped on the hot chocolate. “Anyway, we’ll figure it out. Why are you still here? You and Mrs. Potter have a game of Monopoly going?”

  “I’m better at card games. They might be called different names here in the States, but I can do a smart game of Go Fish.” He shook his head. “No, I stayed until she calmed down. I swear after Erica called, she was inconsolable. She thinks the girl is looking around for a home to place her in. She says the Mexico trip is all a scam.”

  “Erica wouldn’t do that.” Angie sighed as she lifted her cup and took a sip. “But I can see how it’s tempting. The woman is a handful. She’s either washing things that don’t need washed or rearranging my kitchen.”

  “I’m sure she’s only trying to be helpful.” He scratched Dom behind the ear as the dog planted himself on the floor between him and Angie. “Anyway, since you’re home to oversee, I’ll be heading back to town. She went to bed about an hour ago, but I just didn’t feel right leaving her alone. And I fed Precious and Mabel before we went to dinner. So your chores are done.”

  “I appreciate it.” She smiled. “Keep taking care of me and I’ll have to start paying you for your time.”

  “No need. The pleasure of your company is more than payment enough.” He stood and gave her a kiss. “Can we change breakfast to dinner on Tuesday? I’ve got some things I need to handle with the board.”

  “Definitely.” She watched as he dumped out his teacup, ran water through it, and then gently placed it in the dishwasher. “I’ll be glad when life slows down a bit.”

  “Me too. But I’m not counting on it for a long time.”

  Angie stood at the back door and watched him leave. Then she locked the door and started walking through the house, checking other doors and turning off lights. The television was on but the sound muted. A news story from earlier questioned when the Treasure Valley was going to get rain. The local anchorwoman had been on the same news channel since Angie was in high school. Her blond hair was showing signs of gray and she had laugh lines now, but her smile was the same, warm and welcoming. Things didn’t change quickly around here. And that was one reason she was glad to be back.

  * * * *

  “She’s still not awake?” Angie looked up as Felicia came back into the kitchen. Angie had been up since seven. Felicia had arrived just before eight. And Mrs. Potter was still locked in her room.

  Felicia shrugged. “I knocked and told her breakfast was ready. She said she was getting dressed.”

  “I wonder what she’s getting ready for? We’re not really the dress for breakfast crowd.” Angie poured huckleberry syrup over a waffle and added a dollop of whipped cream. “Bacon?”

  “Yes, please.” Felicia refilled the coffee cups and poured three glasses of orange juice. “So do you know what Erica really said?”

  “No, and I’ve tried to call her three times. Mrs. Potter has me worried.” Angie sat a plate in front of Felicia, then glanced down the hallway to check for Mrs. Potter. “I hate to eat before she comes to the table, but I’m starving.”

  “Make her a plate and put it in the oven. I’m starving too. I’m always this way after a service.” Felicia chatted on about the number of covers they did last night. Then she paused and grabbed her purse. After digging around for a few minutes, she pulled out an envelope that she handed Angie. “I forgot you wanted to see these.”

  Angie dumped the survey cards on the table in front of her and started going through them. The ones with just ratings she put into two piles. Good and not so good. The good pile was way larger than the other one. She also had a pile of cards where people had added comments. Those she studied more carefully.

  “You shouldn’t work at the table.”

  Mrs. Potter’s voice behind her made Angie jump. She quickly stood up, grabbed the breakfast plate out of the oven, and sat it on the table. “Can I pour you some coffee?”

  Mrs. Potter moved around her and sat with her purse on her lap. She was dressed in a cotton shirtdress that looked like she’d purchased it in the seventies. “Coffee would be nice, but we don’t have a lot of time. Sunday school starts at nine.”

  Angie poured the coffee, then sank into her chair. Hopefully, she asked. “Is Delores coming to get you?”
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  “Delores isn’t able to drive until she gets that gout settled down in her right foot.” Mrs. Potter sipped her orange juice. “I’m sure Erica told you I teach the retired women’s class every Sunday.”

  Angie searched her memory about the conversation she’d had when Erica had asked her big favor. No, nothing was mentioned about having to escort the woman to church services. “Not that I can recall, but I can run you into town and then come get you when you’re ready. No worries.”

  “I’m afraid I might be a bit under the weather. It would be more helpful if you’d just stay. There’s a young adult group that both of you girls would enjoy. Plenty of single men in that class every Sunday, just waiting to have the Lord match them up with their soul mate.” She cut into her waffle. “Of course, you two need to change clothes. You can’t really be thinking of going to church in shorts, are you?”

  “Actually, I’m heading into Boise this morning right after breakfast.” Felicia didn’t look up at Angie, not even when she felt the sharp kick under the table. “You and Angie go and say a prayer for me.”

  “It doesn’t quite work that way, dear. You are in charge of your own salvation.” Mrs. Potter took a bite of the waffle.

  If only that was true. Angie closed her eyes and then focused on her food. Even though she didn’t feel hungry anymore, she knew after the three hours she’d be stuck in church, she’d be starving. So she kept eating. “Too bad you’re not going to be able to go with us, Felicia.”

  “Yeah, I’m all broken up about it.” Felicia polished off her breakfast, then took her plate to the sink and mirrored the actions that Ian had done just a few hours ago. “Guess I better head out. I’m meeting up with the man who is sponsoring our Rescue Mission night. Time to finalize dates. At least I’m doing the Lord’s work, feeding the poor.”

  “That’s very nice of you.” Mrs. Potter beamed at her. “I’m sure I’ll see you next week, then?”

  Angie snorted. Both women turned and looked at her. “Sorry, allergies.”

  Mrs. Potter hurried them all out of the house and into their cars. Angie barely had time to pour a cup of coffee into a travel mug for the drive before she was shooed out of the kitchen. She wished she’d put on different sandals as she remembered the ones she’d grabbed when she was sent upstairs to change pinched her feet. At least the dress fit and, from what she could tell, didn’t have a huckleberry syrup stain from the uncleaned breakfast table. If she was lucky, Mrs. Potter would have mercy on her and not make her go to the drive-in for lunch after services broke up.

  Driving into town, the car had been quiet. Finally, Angie turned down the music and asked the question she’d been wanting to ask since last night. “What did Erica say when she called you?”

  Mrs. Potter pulled a tissue out of her patent leather purse and snapped it shut. “She said she had missed their transport into town and she might not make her flight.”

  Angie waited for the rest of the story. When it didn’t come, she glanced quickly over to the woman next to her. “That’s all? She missed her transport from the resort into town? You don’t even know if she is going to miss her plane or if she’ll be home as planned tomorrow at noon.”

  “If you want to continue the charade, fine. You’re right. Erica might still be home on Monday at noon.” Mrs. Potter dabbed the tissue at dry eyes. “But we both know the real story.”

  “What real story?” She turned left on the road into town and slowed down.

  Mrs. Potter didn’t say anything until Angie had parked at the church. Then she turned toward her as she was unbuckling her seat belt. “My granddaughter is looking for a home for me where I won’t be so much trouble to her.”

  Angie reached for Mrs. Potter’s hand. “You know that’s not true.”

  The woman paused in her flight to get out of the car. She held her Bible in one hand, like it was a shield against her body. “No, Angie. I know it is true.”

  As she slammed the door and carefully walked across the paved lot into church, Angie watched her. She greeted people as she walked, finally settling with a group of women who seemed to be about her age. Angie recognized the taller woman in the group. Mrs. Eisenhower, the woman who had called her a copycat and accused her of stealing her recipe. The day just kept getting better.

  Angie closed her eyes and wondered how long she could stay out here in the car without someone coming to get her.

  A knock on the window told her it wouldn’t be that long.

  She opened her eyes and stared at Ian.

  He opened the door for her and held out a hand. “Come inside. The air-conditioning is on and I think you’ll like my class.”

  “Get out. You teach a Sunday school class?” She snuck a quick glance at him as they walked into the church. He didn’t look like he was teasing.

  “You look like I just admitted I was a petty thief or bank robber.” He held the door open. “I enjoy the class. We’re researching Acts right now, mostly focusing on history and trying to nail down some of the actual places the stories took place.”

  “I thought the Bible was full of morality tales, not history.” She followed him down the stairs into the basement where he opened the door to a room set up with a round table and ten chairs. A coffeepot sat on a table under the window, and there was a plate of cookies next to it.

  “Not always.” He nodded to the coffee. “May I pour you a cup? I guess it’s early in our relationship to start talking about beliefs, but you were the one sitting all forlorn in the parking lot.”

  “I wasn’t alone.” She took the cup he offered and sat in one of the chairs. “Mrs. Potter kind of pushed me into bringing her and staying. She said she might need a ride home sooner rather than later.”

  “You fell for that?” He sat next to her. “The woman is as strong as an ox, and her memory is better than mine.”

  “Yeah, I realized once I got here that I’d been played.” Angie sipped her coffee.

  A striking blonde in a summer dress strolled into the room. “Oh, Ian, I brought you your favorite cookie.” She held out a plate with what looked like store-bought chocolate chip. She frowned when she saw the other cookies on the table. “I guess I’m too late.”

  “Katherine, this is Angie, my girlfriend.” Ian took the plate of cookies and set it on the sideboard. “Angie, Katherine is one of my students.”

  Angie wondered if Ian even knew that the woman wanted to be more than just a Sunday school student, but she decided to take the high road. She stood and held out a hand. “Katherine, so nice to meet you.”

  “I didn’t realize Ian had a girlfriend.” The woman narrowed her eyes and studied Angie. “Are you the one who opened that restaurant down the street?”

  “Guilty as charged. The County Seat is mine. Well, mine and my best friend’s brainchild. Have you been in yet?”

  “No, I’ve been a little busy.”

  People started coming in and Ian greeted them all. Finally, the chairs were all filled and each person had a Bible open in front of them. Since Ian had brought several, he opened one to the page they were discussing and put it in front of Angie.

  Angie tried to pay attention, but something about Katherine kept bothering her. She knew she hadn’t met her before, but something about the woman seemed familiar. Like she knew of her without knowing her. She pulled out a notebook and started making notes about her appearance. Maybe Felicia had talked about her.

  Ian nodded supportively, and Angie felt a twinge of guilt since he must have assumed she was taking notes about the class. Honestly, she wasn’t quite sure she knew what they were talking about. She hadn’t been in this church since she’d left Nona’s for college. Yes, she’d been raised in the religion, but she didn’t think of herself as religious.

  When the class was over, they closed up the room, turned off the coffeepot, and threw away the empty plates that had held the cookies
. Store bought or not, the group devoured both sets as they talked. They went upstairs and Katherine was talking to a man. She grabbed his arm and laughed, flirting hard. And it was with that gesture that Angie realized why Katherine looked familiar. She looked just like the description Barb had given to her of the woman who had been Javier’s one-night stand. She had a sprinkle of star tattoos on her forearm, just like Javier had told Estebe. If Angie was right, she was the only person who could prove to the sheriff that Javier hadn’t been in that alley killing Heather.

  Chapter 15

  “What do you know about Katherine?” Angie leaned close so she could lower her voice. She kept her eyes on the woman just in case.

  Ian looked at her in surprise. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous. I never dated her.”

  “No, I’m not jealous. I think she might be the woman who was with Javier the night Heather was killed.” She pulled Ian into a corner where they could watch Katherine and the man. Thinking fast, she pulled her cell phone out of her purse and snapped a picture. Even if Javier couldn’t identify her, maybe someone else could. Like Barb. “What’s her last name?”

  “Let me think. We don’t use last names a lot, but if I recall, she works at a marketing firm in Boise. She offered to do a free campaign for the River Vista Farmers Market next year.” He pulled out his wallet. “Hold on, I’ve got her card.”

  Angie grabbed it out of his hand and stared. “Katherine Elliot?”

  “Why do you think that’s the girl with Javier? I don’t think I’ve ever heard her mention him or anyone she dated, for that matter.” He frowned. “Which seems a little odd, now that I think about it. We have several single members of the class, and they’re always talking about a date or, more likely, a disappointment.”

  “Maybe she didn’t want you to get the wrong idea. She was clearly hot for teacher.” Angie tucked her phone and the business card into her purse. “Anyway, I’ll go show the picture to Barb tomorrow and see if she’s our girl. Then I’ll let your friend Allen talk to her. I don’t think she likes me much.”