by Lynn Cahoon
I rolled over to find the other side of the bed empty. And if Greg had come home, I’d bet he slept on the couch so he wouldn’t disturb me. Emma was sitting on the floor watching me. That was my second clue that we were alone. Emma would have been downstairs, sleeping with Greg. The dog knew I moved around too much in my sleep, so she preferred Greg’s more still night moves. Or nonmoves.
I glanced at the clock. If we made it short, we could get in a run before I had to be at the shop. Running in the morning was cool and gave me time to wake up and think about things that were bothering me. Today, I needed both. I grabbed my running gear, and in less than five minutes, Emma and I were out the door.
The sun was just beginning to come up over the mountains and the beach had that prelight morning glow about it. No one seemed to be on the beach, so I unhooked Emma’s leash as soon as we hit the sand. She ran to the waves to chase off the seagulls that were looking for their breakfast in the wake and I started running.
By the time we were running back to the parking lot, we were not alone on the beach. An older couple walked near the shoreline, stopping every so often to pick up and sometimes discard a washed-up shell. But they were headed away from us, so I didn’t worry about Emma with them. A man stepped off the parking lot steps and headed straight toward us. He was dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts, and as we got closer, I noticed Emma’s excitement. I reached down to hook up her leash.
“Leave her off.” Harrold called to me. “I haven’t seen my girl for a while.”
With that, Emma took off to meet up with Harrold. When she reached him, she sat with a wide grin on her face, her tail making sweeping motions on the sand. I caught up with them and put a hand on her back, hoping she wouldn’t jump on him and knock him over. The man was old enough that I worried about him falling. “Hey. You’re out early.”
“I stopped by your house for coffee, but I didn’t get an answer, so I thought I’d take a chance you might be here.” He reached over and kissed my cheek. “How are you?”
“I’m good,” I lied. It didn’t do any good to share with him my concerns about my aunt. Not until she figured out that Harrold was the best thing that had ever happened to her. Or, at least, the best thing after my uncle died. “We thought we’d get a run in before I headed in to open the shop.”
“I don’t think you’re telling me the whole truth.” He studied my face, concern showing in his eyes. “I don’t remember the last time I saw those dark circles under your eyes, but I’ll let your statement stand. At least for now. I was wondering if you’d gotten a date set for your aunt to be out of the apartment. Well, out of South Cove would be better. The woman does have a knack of showing up right at the wrong time.”
I laughed. Harrold did know my aunt well. But I’d forgotten about his request yesterday when I’d talked to Mary. My aunt owed me for worrying me to death. “Sorry, I haven’t gotten that done yet. I will this weekend.”
He stroked Emma’s head, then straightened and locked his gaze with mine. “You would tell me if something was going on, right?”
“Right now, I’m just trying to figure out what is going on.” I placed my hand on his arm. “You know Aunt Jackie. She always wants to handle things on her own. I promise, as soon as I can, I’ll fill you in.”
He sighed and looked out over the ocean. “I guess that will have to do. I love your aunt. She needs to know that there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her. Or you, for that matter.”
I put my arm around his waist as we walked back to the parking lot, where his little electric car was parked. “We’ll get through this. I know she loves you, Harrold. We just have to get her to understand that we’re here to help, not to get in her way.”
“Hopefully, the patio remodel will help. At least if it doesn’t, she’ll have to think about me every evening as she watches the sun set.”
I paused at the car. “You’re tricky, you know that?”
“I have to be. I’m trying to woo back your cynical aunt.” He rubbed Emma’s head one more time, then got into the car. “Try for next Saturday. I’ve got all the parts ready, and my son is coming in that weekend to help.”
“I’ll try.” I wasn’t convinced that I could convince my aunt to take a girls’ day with Mary, even though I knew she needed one. She wanted to figure out who had been impersonating my uncle just as badly as I did. Maybe even more. I just hoped Greg or I figured it out before she did. My aunt didn’t take being tricked very well. “I’ll call you as soon as it’s set up.”
“I’m counting on you.” He started up the car and headed back to his shop, The Train Station.
As I watched him disappear, I looked at Emma. “I think we’re in over our heads with this one, don’t you?”
Emma woofed, but I think she was talking about the rabbit on the edge of the parking lot and not my dilemma. But I could have been wrong. We headed back to the house so I could get ready for work. With today being Saturday, I didn’t think the Senior Project would be open, so I wasn’t sure how much of my snooping list I could get done before Monday. But I could put a bug in Mary’s ear about the girls’ day next weekend.
Deek showed up two hours early and set up a computer on one of the tables. “Hope you don’t mind. I have a paper due Monday and I’m not getting anything done at Mom’s. She’s having back-to-back readings until after Halloween. Some of those people are so weird.”
“You could get your own place, you know.” I poured him a coffee and walked it over to the table. “You’re a working man now.”
“With what you pay? I’d be lucky if I could afford a tent site at one of the RV campgrounds. Besides, Mom’s is usually okay. It’s just during the fall that it gets really too much. Well, and the holidays. People come out of the woodwork to talk to their loved ones during any holiday.” He opened his computer. “Besides, I have first dibs on Kyle’s apartment when he marries that girl of his. Apparently, her grandmother left her a house up above Bakerstown within walking distance of the beach. I’m watching her too, just in case Kyle gets stupid and she dumps him.”
“You are such a good friend,” I said with a laugh as I watched a pair of teenagers enter and run toward the bookshelves. “You may want to work in the back. Some of your book club members are here.”
“No probs. They know if I have my computer up, I’m off-limits. We are very clear on the boundaries. Besides, they just want to be early to get the good seats for book club. We’re talking about a fantasy/time-travel book this month. They were the ones to choose the book.” He glanced down at the Word document that just came up.
“Work. Sorry to have bothered you.”
He held up the coffee. “You didn’t. You brought sustenance. Besides, I wanted to ask if your aunt was okay. She came down last night and helped me close. I told her I had it, but she seemed like she needed something to do, so I let her tell me what to do.”
“That’s her favorite pastime.” I leaned on one of the chairs, getting closer. “She’s fine. Someone has been playing pranks on her and we’re trying to find out who.”
Deek held up his hands. “Don’t look at me. I like a practical joke as much as the next guy, but your aunt is too classy for me to even attempt one. Besides, I wouldn’t want to get payback from her.”
I laughed and started to step away. “Work hard. If you need more time, I can stay late and watch the shop.”
He reached out for my arm and stopped me from leaving. “Does this have anything to do with the death certificate you had me get? That’s cold. You shouldn’t mess with a person’s grief.”
Since this was coming from the kid of a woman who made a living talking to the dead, I had to assume that Deek at least thought his mom’s power or talent was real. Even if I didn’t. “Yes, someone has been calling, saying he’s her dead husband.” A thought occurred to me. “Hey, your mom doesn’t know of any scammers who would do somethi
ng like that, does she?”
His eyes darted away from looking directly at me. “Not that I know of, but I can ask. She knew some people when she was a kid.”
“Were she and Esmeralda friends back then?” I didn’t want to call Esmeralda out, but if there was another source for this information, maybe this was a path to an answer?
He shrugged. “Look, she doesn’t like to talk about those times. And the two of them never talk about the past. The only thing I know is Mom refused to pay a dime of my college costs if I went to a Louisiana school. Not just one in New Orleans. That’s weird, right?”
Because I knew Esmeralda grew up there, maybe that wasn’t as weird as Deek thought. “Don’t worry about it. But if you could ask her, I’d appreciate it.”
“Of course.” He sipped his coffee, and I could feel his gaze on my back as I walked over to the bookshelves to check on the new customers. But Deek had been right. They were just browsing and waiting for the book club meeting at three.
My aunt came down just before I left. She was Deek’s backup when he started the meeting. I hadn’t expected to see her, but it was a good time to ask her about next Saturday.
“Jill, you really need to refill the dessert case before you leave on Saturdays. Deek has enough on his plate with the book clubs to have to bother about making sure we have enough food displayed.” She started counting the desserts.
“If you would notice, I’m still here and have thirty minutes before my shift ends.” I pointed to the clock. “That’s more than enough time for me to refill the dessert case.”
She set down the pen and paper. “Sorry, you’re right. I’ve been off my game for months. Last night I almost forgot to reset the coffee for this morning, but Deek handled it nicely. Maybe I’m just getting too old for this job.”
Not looking at her, I laughed. “The day you retire is the day I’m going to have to close the store. You know more about this place than anyone else, including me. By the way, Mary said something about calling you for a day in the city next week. Do you need me to cover your shift?”
I felt the stare on my back, but I refused to turn to look at her. That would show weakness, and that was the worst thing you could do in front of my aunt. I counted out the brownies on the bottom shelf and waited.
“I don’t think we made plans yet.”
I shrugged and took my pad, heading to the back office. “Well, let me know. Greg’s busy with this murder, so I don’t have anything else to do anyway.”
I hoped she’d take the bait, but I couldn’t be sure. Not for a few days.
Chapter 10
Sundays were typically really laid-back at the shop. Regulars didn’t show up until nine, if they were on their way to church, or ten, if they were skipping the service. Today, I was glad about the slowness because it gave me time to think about the Aunt Jackie issue. Deek had asked me to cover the early shift, so I’d canceled brunch with Amy. Besides, I didn’t want to report on how many of the table decorations I’d finished. Especially because the answer was none.
Darla came in right after I opened. She sat at the counter and, after ordering her favorite large mocha with whipped cream, took out her notebook. “So tell me what you’ve found out about the crime.”
Shock registered on my face, but I quickly turned away and poured myself a cup of coffee. I didn’t think anyone would know about this, well, except the police and Esmeralda and now Deek. How had Darla found out?
“Come on, sit down and spill. You know something about the murder. I can see it in your reaction.” Darla patted the stool next to her. “Your boyfriend has been unusually quiet on this one.”
“Oh, the murder.” My shoulders drooped and I went around the counter, glad the shop was empty. I sat and sipped before answering her. “It was Paula’s boyfriend. Paula was the woman who came to talk to us about keeping seniors safe at the last business-to-business meeting. Remember?”
“I knew that much.” Darla stared at me. “Why did you seem relieved when you realized I was talking about the murder? What else is going on?”
I shrugged. I’d already given away too much. Darla could have been a top-ranked journalist if her folks hadn’t died and left her the winery to run. Now, she treated the roving-reporter job for the South Cove Gazette as a fun hobby. “Nothing that I know.”
“I doubt that, but one investigation at a time. I already knew Ben was the victim. From what I’ve learned about him, the guy was a saint. He volunteered a lot of time at the Senior Project.” Darla flipped back through her notes. “Everyone loved him.”
“I thought he was a jerk to Paula. I saw him on his phone at Diamond Lille’s and he’d just left her at the table to pay the bill. Of course, she didn’t leave the diner until he’d finished his call. I tend to give Greg space for his phone calls, but at least he comes back in to get me. Ben just rapped on the window.” I watched as a lone customer walked past the shop and wondered if my “Open” sign was plugged in.
“Wow, you’re the first one to say he was a jerk. Even his girlfriend, Paula, sang his praises. Maybe you misunderstood what was going on?”
“Maybe.” But after working with abused women for way too long when I was an attorney, I’d seen the signs before. Paula was too aware of his location at all times. Even when she was trying to eat. And I hadn’t imagined the tears in her eyes when she sat alone at the table. “So, what else did you need to know?”
“That’s all you’ve got?” Darla lifted her hand to my forehead. “I can’t believe it; are you sick?”
“No, I’m fine. Why are you being so weird?” I pushed her hand away.
Darla closed her notebook. “It’s been over two days. I’d figured you would have a suspect in mind and already be working on a way to get him to confess.”
“Not my job.” I held out my hand and circled it toward the shop. “I’m busy keeping the lights on here. Greg’s the one you want to talk to.”
Now Darla just looked confused. “You’re going to sit right there and tell me to my face that you have no idea what happened to Ben Penn?”
“Not a clue.” My gaze went outside the front door, where two people were staring into the shop. They saw my attention, and with a sheepish grin, pushed the door open. “And here’s my first customer.”
“Second.”
“What?” I looked down at her and saw her own grin.
“I’m your first customer; they are your second.” She drained the cup and then stood. “Don’t think I’m going to forget this. I’ll be back as soon as I get my story filed. Then you can tell me what has you so distracted.”
Darn it, Darla was right. I’d been so busy with what was happening to my aunt, I hadn’t even thought about Ben. Had Greg really questioned Paula about the murder? That girl wouldn’t hurt a fly, especially when the fly was her boyfriend. She’d been head over heels for the guy, even if I couldn’t figure out why. After getting the few customers who’d walked in after Darla left situated, I pulled out my laptop.
Deek would be in at two to run the Baby Boomer Bibliophiles book group he’d developed. It was my aunt’s women’s fiction idea, but amped up, and the women loved Deek. As well as his choices. This month they were reading a book about women serial killers. Next month was a trilogy of cozy mysteries focused around Halloween. The subjects seemed to change with the season and the whims of their leader. He’d given me a list of the next six months’ book choices for all his groups and I was pleasantly surprised at the variety.
Starting in November, they’d have to move their book club meeting to Tuesday night. We closed down the store on Sundays and Mondays for the winter. Even though we never got a true winter here, like in the northern states, tourist traffic started slowing after October. I didn’t mind an off day, but my aunt had tracked our sales over three years and her numbers had convinced me we should take advantage of winter hours. I cut back my own hours
during the winter as well, so my staff could still get the hours they needed. What can I say? I’m generous. Cutting hours also gave me a lot of time to travel and read. Which might seem selfish, but really, it’s all for the shop. At least that’s my story.
Setting down my coffee cup, I started researching Mr. Ben Penn, formerly of South Cove. After a few unsuccessful searches, I went into the listing of local residents the city had provided to businesses for marketing purposes. The resident had to agree to receive the materials, but most did because they were part of the business community too. A lot of our business owners lived in our little town. I looked up the address I’d gotten from Greg when he’d mentioned that Paula and Ben had lived in town. But from what I could see, Paula was the only one on the lease.
Why had Ben been so invisible? I would bet that Paula had all the utilities in her name, just like on the lease. Residents got parking stickers for their cars so the police wouldn’t tow or ticket them for parking too long in a residential area. When the beach parking lot filled up, I had a line of cars parked down the narrow street in front of my house. Even with the “No Parking” signs. Toby and Tim loved handing out tickets on weekends because it was so easy to pick up one violation after another.
I emailed Amy at her work account and asked what the parking records showed for Paula’s address. Hopefully, she wouldn’t mention the question to Greg. He must have been happy to have me working on something else and out of his investigation. And I really wasn’t involved. I was just researching.
Tomorrow was going to be a busy day. I had to go to the Senior Project, and talk to Amy. Good thing I didn’t have to work my shift at the coffee shop; we were out of dog food, so I was going to have to make a trip into Bakerstown for groceries.