by Leena Clover
Molly sat on the café’s deck with a frown on her face, surrounded by the Magnolias.
“This is great news,” Star was saying. “Why haven’t you told us before?”
“A baby,” Betty Sue said softly, her needles clacking as she knit a blue colored scarf. “That’s exactly what we need.”
“Ask her if she has told Chris yet though?” Heather interrupted. “What does he feel about this?”
“I talked to Chris,” Molly told them.
“And?” Four voices chorused.
“He wants to get married right away.”
“Excellent,” Star boomed.
Jenny added her congratulations.
“I knew that boy would do the right thing,” Betty Sue thundered.
“But I don’t want to,” Molly burst out. “At least, not this way.”
“What do you mean, Molls?” Jenny asked.
“I have been married before,” Molly reminded them. “It turned out to be a mistake. I don’t want to get carried away this time.”
“You love Chris, don’t you?” Heather asked suspiciously.
“Of course I do,” Molly said vigorously. “But does he love me enough?”
“What nonsense!” Star exclaimed. “I’ve seen how that boy looks at you.”
“You already met the parents,” Heather reminded her.
“I don’t want a shotgun wedding,” Molly said, warding them off. “This way, I am forcing his hand. I will never know if Chris really loves me. Or rather, if he loves me enough.”
Jenny guessed what Molly was trying to say.
“There are no secrets between us, Molly,” she said. “I think it’s best if you clear the air.”
Star and Betty Sue gave each other a knowing look.
“What’s going on?” Heather asked, mystified.
“Molly thinks Chris might still have feelings for you,” Jenny said flatly.
“What?” Heather asked, wide eyed. “That’s ridiculous.”
Heather and Chris had been a couple for several years. Everyone knew they had an understanding. A year ago, Heather had decided to date other people. She paraded one guy after another before Chris. He had decided Heather wasn’t coming back. He fell in love with Molly, Heather’s gentle, soft spoken friend.
“I know he still cares about you,” Molly persisted. “And he worries about you.”
“Chris and I have known each other since third grade,” Heather said. “I hope we will always be close. But he’s not in love with me now, Molly. Trust me.”
Jenny noticed how Heather avoided saying anything about her own feelings.
“He’s very excited,” Molly finally said with a smile. “He insists on going with me to the doctor.”
“Chris will make a wonderful father,” Jenny assured her. “Don’t overanalyze things, Molly.”
“I guess I’m being silly,” Molly said grudgingly. “I’m lucky to have him.”
“She’s already getting emotional,” Star cackled. “She’ll be puking her guts out in a few days.”
“I didn’t have any morning sickness at all,” Betty Sue shared. “Don’t worry, Molly. We’ll take care of you.”
“I know you will,” Molly said tearfully. “You’re the best friends a girl could ask for.”
They huddled together for a group hug. Star voiced what everyone was thinking.
“I can’t believe she’s gone.”
“She’s alive in our heart,” Betty Sue sniffed. She blew her nose in a lace handkerchief and looked at Jenny. “Do you have any suspects at all?”
Jenny looked beaten.
“Every person I talk to seems to have an alibi.”
“What about that boy who goes around wearing that ridiculous hat?”
“Vinny? He inherits millions. But he was home in New Jersey the day Petunia was shot.”
“Don’t these people hire hitmen?” Star said.
“That’s true. But I don’t think Vinny had anything to do with it.”
“You’re not crushing after this mobster, are you?” Heather giggled.
Jenny silenced her with a glare.
“I think Peter Wilson could have done it.”
“That car mechanic?” Star asked. “All those times I took my car to him, I never knew he was in the mafia.”
“Peter Wilson was meeting Petunia that morning,” Jenny reminded them. “He knew exactly where she was going to be at a certain time.”
“What’s his alibi?”
“He was in the hospital with a sick child. I suppose he could have crept out for a few minutes. But Adam is sure he was there all the time.”
“What about that couple staying at our inn?” Heather asked.
“Laura Bellini,” Jenny nodded. “She was here to ask Petunia for money. I don’t trust that woman.”
“Is that all you have done until now?” Betty Sue complained. “What about finding someone who was on the beach that day?”
“I did talk to some beach walkers,” Jenny said. “They couldn’t tell me much. But this guy in the parking lot sounds more promising. I am going to follow up that lead.”
A familiar voice trilled in the background.
“Yooohooo …” Barb Norton called out, puffing up the café steps.
“Why are you here, Barb?” Star asked curtly.
“We need funds for the aerial spraying of the town,” Barb wheezed. “Surely you heard that at yesterday’s meeting?”
“Go on,” Betty Sue said reluctantly.
“I have an idea. We are going to impose fines on people who have standing water or ponds on their properties. They have directly contributed to the mosquito menace. So they should be the ones who have to pay.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Betty Sue cried. “You can’t fine people just because they haven’t cleaned out their gutters.”
“I can,” Barb beamed. “I went through town regulations. And I found the legal loophole which allows me to levy those fines.”
“People are not going to like it,” Heather said.
“You are one of those people,” Barb said maliciously. “That lily pond you have is a breeding ground for the deadliest mosquitoes.”
“Can’t you raise money any other way?” Jenny asked.
“I’m glad you asked,” Barb said. “I am thinking of a bake sale. I will need your help with that.”
“I’m already stretched thin, Barb,” Jenny protested. “I don’t think I can contribute much this time.”
“We’ll see about that,” Barb said.
She stood up and pointed a finger at Betty Sue.
“My volunteers are printing up notices as we speak. You have three days to pay the fine. Otherwise you will have to pay double.”
“What …” Betty Sue sputtered. “You’re out of control, Barb!”
Barb Norton gave them a jaunty wave and walked down the beach.
“She’s going to come to a sticky end one of these days,” Star said. “Mark my words.”
“I’m not paying any atrocious fines,” Betty Sue declared. “I don’t care what Barb says.”
The Magnolias dispersed after that.
Star insisted on staying back to help Jenny. A man came into the café an hour later. Star was at the counter.
“Can I help you?”
“I’m looking for someone,” he mumbled. “A lady told me I could come here for lunch.”
Jenny came out of the kitchen just then. She recognized the man who had been reading in the parking lot.
“I got this,” she told her aunt.
She greeted the man and showed him to a table. She was back with a big bowl of chicken noodle soup.
“Grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch today,” she told him. “Is that okay?”
The man nodded, looking hungrily at the soup. He picked up his spoon and began eating. Jenny kept an eye on him. She was back with a hot crispy sandwich oozing melted cheese.
“You’re a good cook,” the man told her. “This soup is just like
the one my grandma used to make. She always had soup on the stove in the fall.”
“I’ll pack some more for you,” Jenny said.
“I remembered something,” the man said suddenly.
“Is this about the man you saw in the parking lot?” Jenny asked eagerly.
“No. But it’s about the car. It had a big dent on one side. And some kind of sticker on the back window.”
“Good catch,” Jenny beamed. “That’s a huge help. Thanks so much.”
The man blushed.
“Someone told me the woman who died was your friend. Just trying to help.”
“I appreciate it,” Jenny said. “You are welcome here anytime.”
Jenny handed him a brown paper bag when he got up to leave. She had added a container of soup and some muffins from that morning. She hoped he would get at least one more meal out of it.
Jenny had just turned her back to go into the kitchen when a familiar voice called out to her.
“Jason!” she exclaimed in delight. “I was going to call you.”
“My 2 PM cancelled,” he said. “Thought I would enjoy a leisurely lunch at my favorite café.”
Star came out and hugged Jason.
“Jenny hasn’t eaten yet either. Why don’t you two sit out on deck? I’ll get your lunch.”
“You’re looking chipper today,” Jenny observed as they ate their soup.
Jason shrugged.
“It’s a beautiful day and we are lucky to be alive and kicking.”
Jason had been dealing with a bad breakup. Jenny realized he was finally coming out of his shell.
“Ready to put on your sleuthing cap?” she asked.
“Bring it on,” Jason nodded.
Jenny told him about the man in the parking lot and what he had seen.
“We need to figure out where that car went,” Jason said thoughtfully. “Why don’t we go to the parking lot after lunch?”
They drove down Main Street in Jason’s fancy car. Jenny relaxed in the heated seats. She had forgotten how comfortable they could be.
Jason made a right first. It took them back toward the Boardwalk Café. Jason drove past the cluster of stores. The road wound across town for a mile before ending in a cluster of homes. They were expensive properties right on the water with their own private docks. Jason and Jenny could see a boat tied to many of them.
“This is a dead end,” Jason said. “Let’s go the other way.”
They turned around and drove past the parking lot. The road stretched on for a couple of miles and eventually merged on the bridge that connected the island to the main shore.
“What about those lanes we saw?” Jenny asked, referring to a couple of turnoffs they had encountered.
Jason obliged her by driving down the lanes. Both of them were deserted and ended in a small clearing of sorts.
“Looks like he drove out of town,” Jason mused.
“How can you be so sure?”
“I’m just speculating, Jenny,” Jason admitted. “He couldn’t have gone back into town. He could have gone into one of those lanes to hide. But why would he do that? He would want to get out of town as soon as possible.”
“If only someone saw where that car went …”
“We can check security cameras,” Jason told her. “They might have recorded the car driving by.”
“I spoke to some store owners around the café,” Jenny told him. “None of them have cameras.”
“The Newburys have cameras,” Jason said suddenly. “Remember that warehouse we passed? It belongs to them.”
“Will they give us access?” Jenny asked.
“They can’t refuse,” Jason said.
He pulled up at the warehouse a few minutes later. The security guy on duty recognized him. Jenny explained what they were looking for.
“I can’t give you access without getting approval,” he said.
“We just want to look,” Jenny told him. “If we find something, I will go talk to Julius Newbury myself.”
Jenny and Jason squashed into the cramped security office and waited for the man to pull up the relevant footage. There had been no cars on the road that morning.
“How is that possible?” Jenny wailed. “Where did the car go?”
“He could have parked the car in the woods and walked somewhere,” Jason suggested. “He’s had plenty of time since then to go back and move the car.”
“We are never going to find him,” Jenny said in a defeated voice.
“We can’t do more than this, Jenny,” Jason reasoned. “Let the police handle it.”
“I told Adam about this,” Jenny said soberly. “He ticked me off.”
“So we’ll talk to him again. My gut tells me this car is important, Jenny. We need to find it anyhow.”
Chapter 11
Jenny finished serving breakfast at the Boardwalk Café and walked to the police station with her fingers crossed. She wanted to get an update from Adam. She had no idea how forthcoming he would be. It all depended on his mood.
“Anything new?” she asked, taking a seat before him.
Adam was struggling with a bottle of pain pills. Jenny unscrewed the bottle and handed him two pills.
“Nothing much to share,” Adam told her. “At least, nothing I care to tell you, Jenny.”
“How kind,” Jenny said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
“You can leave now.”
“Not so fast, Adam. Have you run a background check on Charles Bellini?”
“The other son? He’s a middle school teacher. Teaches English and history, I think.”
“And his wife?”
“What about her?”
“Does she have a job? What does she do?”
Adam hesitated.
“We haven’t given her much importance.”
“Maybe you should,” Jenny told him. “She’s devious. She stayed at the Bayview Inn under an assumed name.”
“Who told you that?” Adam asked.
“Heather did. And Laura Bellini told me so herself.”
“When was this?”
“She was right here the day Petunia died,” Jenny said triumphantly. “What do you think of that?”
Adam leaned forward with interest.
“I did not know that. Good work, Jenny.”
“I guess we have Heather to thank for the heads up.”
Jenny told Adam about her conversation with Laura Bellini.
“If she had anything to hide, she wouldn’t have come back here,” Adam mused.
“She could be stupid,” Jenny offered. “Or overconfident.”
“You don’t like her, I guess.”
“She said some nasty things about Petunia.”
“You can’t let that cloud your judgment,” Adam advised. “Laura as a person is not on trial here.”
“You’re right, I guess,” Jenny admitted.
“Am I seeing you later tonight?” Adam asked. “Tank misses you.”
Tank was Adam’s yellow Labrador. He had traveled with Adam on his various deployments. Tank and Jenny had taken a shine to each other. When Jenny’s husband had cruelly retained custody of her own aging dog, she had been heartbroken. Tank had filled the void a bit.
“I miss him too. Why don’t you let him visit? Let him stay at Seaview for a few days. Star and I would love to pamper him a bit.”
“I’m sure he will love that,” Adam smiled.
Neither of them talked about Adam coming to stay. Adam had spent a few months at Seaview when his own home was being renovated. He wanted Jenny to move in with him after that but she had refused to leave her home. Jenny didn’t know how they would ever move past that issue.
“You are sure the police have made no progress?” Jenny wheedled. “Why don’t you throw me some scraps, Adam?”
“You’re relentless, aren’t you?” Adam shook his head in wonder.
“I plan to badger you until you give up and spill the beans.”
Adam gave a deep
sigh and leaned back in his chair.
“We might have something,” Adam said reluctantly. “Most people have talked about a white guy wearing a hooded jacket. He was seen around the beach.”
“Where on the beach?” Jenny pounced.
“Near the bench,” Adam admitted.
“What else? Did they notice the color of his hair? Anything else?”
“There wasn’t much light so it’s hard to say. They did mention seeing some kind of picture on the back of the jacket.”
“You mean like a logo?”
“A drawing or a graphic of some kind. This is where it gets distorted. One person says it looked like a skull. Another said it looked like a big bird.”
“An eagle?” Jenny asked thoughtfully.
“More like a turkey.”
“What else?”
“We have been looking around for a man wearing that jacket.”
“What if he was a tourist?” Jenny asked with a frown. “He must be long gone.”
“Question is, what was this guy doing on the beach so early in the morning.”
“Could he be the one who got into the car and drove away?”
“No idea, Jenny,” Adam said.
He banged a fist on the table, looking frustrated.
“I knew Petunia longer than you, Jenny. You think I don’t want to find out what happened to her? I’m doing everything I can to find her killer.”
Jenny patted his hand.
“I know you’re good at your job, Adam. I trust you.”
Jenny dragged herself back to the café. Star was stirring a big pot of soup for lunch.
“How’s the chili?” Jenny asked.
“Just yum,” Star said, tasting some with a spoon. “I measured out the ingredients for the corn bread.”
“I’m going to start mixing it,” Jenny said. “Let me grab a cup of coffee first.”
“Are you going to add jalapenos?”
Jenny nodded, thinking of her son Nick.
“Nicky loves my jalapeno cornbread,” she said wistfully. “He’s been eating it since he was six. He never complained about the heat.”
Jenny rubbed a tiny gold heart shaped charm hanging around her neck on a chain. Her son Nick had gifted her a charm every year for Mother’s Day. She wore them around her neck now, close to her heart. They provided the only tangible connection she had with her child.