by Leena Clover
Molly and Chris stayed for a while and then said goodbye. Molly had cooked a pot roast and they were both looking forward to a cozy dinner at home.
Heather took her leave next.
“Don’t worry about Emily,” she told Jason. “Her Auntie Heather will look after her until you get back.”
Jason had switched to water after one beer.
“I just want to talk to Jenny for a bit,” he said. “I’m right behind you.”
“Why don’t we walk to the Bayview Inn?” Jenny suggested some time later. “We can talk on the way and I can say hello to Emily.”
“What’s really bothering you, Jenny?” Jason’s voice was full of concern as he peered at Jenny in the dark.
The waning moon was a thin sliver and the inky sky was studded with stars. Jenny still couldn’t help marveling at them. She had barely noticed them when she lived in the city. Now she reveled in the beauty that surrounded her, right from the thundering ocean right outside her house to her lush garden.
“When will you stop worrying about me, Jason?” she asked softly.
“Never,” Jason declared vehemently.
He made no attempt to hide his fervor. For the first time, Jenny wondered if she had chosen the wrong man.
“Adam’s a cad,” Jason exclaimed, as if reading her mind. “Is he really so busy?”
“He’s taking a week off after the wedding,” Jenny said meekly. “We are going to drive north to Maine, to Acadia National Park. I have never been there.”
“At least he’s planning a honeymoon,” Jason conceded.
“He can’t shirk his responsibilities,” Jenny said staunchly. “Being sheriff comes with its own burden.”
“Speaking of which … does he know about this man in the car?”
“Adam doesn’t exactly swap notes with me, Jason. You should know that by now.”
“Maybe you should tell him.”
“You think this man is important? He could just have been a tourist, asking for directions.”
“Don’t forget the third set of prints,” Jason reminded her.
“That’s a long shot,” Jenny said, turning around to face Jason. “And how are we ever going to locate this guy? We don’t even know his name.”
“I suppose you can’t ask your customers if they saw a fancy red car?” Jason joked.
“If you ask me, that car is long gone. So are any tourists who might have been in town around that time.”
“You’re right, Jenny,” Jason nodded. “I’m just grasping at straws. Ocean is still the prime suspect. Funnily enough, he doesn’t seem to be too bothered about it.”
They reached the Bayview Inn and Jason rushed in to gather his daughter in his arms. Jenny wanted to hold her next. She cuddled the baby and breathed in her special baby smell. Emily grabbed her hair and pulled hard.
“Stop that, Emily,” Jason said in a stern voice, trying to pry her fingers apart.
“She’s a feisty one,” Betty Sue laughed, looking up from her knitting. “She’s going to lead everyone a merry dance.”
Jason put Emily in her carrier and said goodbye to the ladies.
“I didn’t expect you to be here,” Jenny said to her aunt.
“Betty Sue was craving my lasagna,” Star explained. “So I made a pan and brought it over. We are eating here tonight. Is that okay with you, honey?”
“No complaints from me,” Jenny laughed, “as long as I have a couple of slices of your special lasagna.”
“You better eat up,” Heather said purposefully. “We have our work cut out after that.”
“More wedding chores?” Jenny groaned. “Can’t we have a night off, Heather?”
“Not tonight,” Heather said firmly. “We need to finalize the invitations. You need to send ‘save the date’ cards at the very least.”
“You sound like a sadist,” Jenny said viciously. “You get some perverse pleasure from all this, don’t you?”
Heather’s eyes filled up.
“Am I being too hard on you?”
Jenny rushed to console her friend.
“You are the best wedding planner a girl could possibly have, Heather.”
“Come on, you two,” Star called out. “Dinner’s getting cold.”
“Let’s look at the designs you shortlisted after we eat,” Jenny promised Heather.
Jenny pushed all thoughts of Tyler from her head and went in to have dinner with her friends.
Chapter 12
The stifling heat of the summer had finally receded. The lower humidity put a smile on everyone’s face. The Magnolias sat on the deck of the Boardwalk Café, sipping iced coffee and trying out Jenny’s latest batch of truffles.
“White chocolate and orange liquer,” Heather moaned in pleasure. “This is my favorite so far.”
Molly shook her head.
“I think orange works better with dark chocolate.”
“I am making both,” Jenny told them. “People either love white chocolate or don’t. It’s mostly butter, though. Not as healthy.”
Betty Sue looked up from her knitting and peered at the beach.
“I thought I heard that woman,” she muttered.
Betty Sue seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to Barb Norton. Barb and Mandy came up the beach, looking flustered.
“What’s up, Barb?” Star asked. “You look like a child who’s lost his favorite toy.”
“Ladies,” Barb said heavily, collapsing in a chair. “We have a crisis on our hands.”
“Someone else is contesting the elections?” Heather asked.
“This is about the fall fest,” Mandy corrected her. “You remember that 80s band that was going to headline our concert?”
The Magnolias nodded with varying degrees of interest.
“They pulled out,” Mandy said grimly.
“Wait a minute,” Star said. “Does Barb know about this?”
“Of course I know,” Barb said. “Why do you think I’m here?”
“Why does Barb know and I don’t, Mandy?” Star roared. “I am the head of the fall festival committee. Anything goes wrong with the festival, you come to me first.”
Mandy stared at Star, her mouth hanging open.
“Stop acting like a child, Star,” Barb snapped. “How does it matter who she goes to? She did the right thing coming to me.”
“No she didn’t,” Star said stoutly. “You handed me the reigns of the festival committee. Or have you forgotten already?”
“Yes, yes,” Barb said impatiently. “We all know who’s running the show. But aren’t you missing the point, Star?”
“Stop this nonsense, you two,” Betty Sue spoke up. “You can figure out who comes first later. We have a problem on our hands.”
“Didn’t you have a contract with that group?” Heather asked Mandy. “I thought you take care of things like that.”
Mandy shook her head.
“We were in the process of doing that. It appears that this band is going on tour with someone. It’s a much more lucrative deal for them than a small town festival.”
“So what?” Star grumbled. “They just abandoned us?”
“They have apologized,” Mandy offered. “The lead singer says he is really sorry he has to pull out at short notice.”
“A fat lot of good that’s going to do us,” Betty Sue said with a frown.
“You should have come to me first,” Star said to Mandy. “Why don’t I try talking to him once?”
“You think I haven’t done that?” Barb asked. “It’s no use. They know where the real money is. They are not coming here.”
“Who asked you to butt in, Barb?” Star argued again. “Why don’t you stick to the election?”
Betty Sue rapped the table with her hand.
“Stop beating a dead horse, Star, and shut up! Mandy, tell us what happens now.”
“The concert is already sold out,” Mandy said, reading something off her smart phone. “People from the surrounding states bought ti
ckets because everyone wanted to hear this guy sing.”
“So what now?” Molly echoed.
“We either cancel the concert and refund the tickets …”
“Can we really do that?” Jenny asked.
“The tickets were sold online so yeah, it’s possible,” Mandy nodded. “But it’s not desirable. It gives the festival a bad name. And it will mean we won’t reach any of our fund raising goals.”
“Do we have any other option?” Star asked, finally looking beyond her perceived insult.
“We need to get someone else,” Mandy said with a shrug. “Someone as famous as Ace Boulevard.”
“Good luck with that,” Heather muttered.
“What are the chances?” Jenny asked.
“Slim,” Mandy said frankly. “It’s short notice and most of these singers have full calendars.”
“Looks like you have your work cut out then, young lady,” Betty Sue said imperiously. “Start looking for a new artist for our concert.”
Everyone pitched in with suggestions about what Mandy could do next. Barb settled down a bit after sampling some of Jenny’s chocolates. The two women finally left, Barb spouting a steady set of instructions and Mandy bobbing her head up and down as she noted them all down.
“The nerve of that woman,” Star fumed as soon as Barb was out of earshot. “She wants it all.”
“Enough already, Star,” Betty Sue said. “Think about how to salvage the festival.”
“What about some local band?” Jenny suggested. “I am sure they will be happy to get the exposure.”
“They will,” Heather said sarcastically, “but the people who bought the tickets won’t. They are coming here to listen to a star, don’t forget that.”
Jason Stone hailed them from the boardwalk. He was hurrying along, pushing Emily’s stroller.
“What’s the matter, Jason?” Jenny cried when she noted his anxious expression.
“The police have arrested Ocean.”
The women bombarded him with questions. Jason held up his hand.
“It’s not entirely unexpected. I need to go bail him out. Can one of you look after Emily?”
“We need to prep for lunch,” Star reminded Jenny.
“I can stay back and help watch the baby,” Heather assured Jason.
Jason looked relieved. He promised to keep them posted and hurried off toward the police station.
“Ocean is that bearded fellow, right?” Betty Sue asked. “He sure looks like a thug.”
“Looks can be deceiving, Grandma,” Heather said, dangling a set of keys before Emily. “Ocean is harmless.”
“I say he’s a thug,” Betty Sue maintained.
“We don’t have a lot of suspects,” Jenny mused. “Ocean is the most obvious because he had a fight with Tyler.”
“But Tyler was the one who pushed Ocean, remember?” Heather said. “We saw it with our own eyes.”
They went back and forth over it for a while. Molly left to go back to her desk at the library and Betty Sue went back to the inn, pleading exhaustion. Heather took the baby back into the kitchen with Jenny and Star.
Jenny added fresh pesto to rotini pasta and tossed it with some finely diced olives and peppers. Jason arrived as the lunch rush was winding down.
“They let him go for now,” he said, wringing a hand through his hair. “He is going to be their top suspect until he can prove he found that guitar on the beach.”
“How is he taking it?” Jenny asked.
“Ask him yourself,” Jason said. “I invited him here for lunch.”
Ocean arrived and sat at a table on the deck. He ate the crab sandwich Jenny placed before him with relish.
“I suppose you are sorry you ever set foot in this town,” Jenny said.
“We can’t predict what’s around the corner,” Ocean said with a shrug. “It could have happened anywhere.”
“What made you come to Pelican Cove?” Heather asked. “We are so off the beaten track.”
“I was driving north from Georgia,” Ocean told them. “Someone mentioned this scenic route via the Chesapeake. I thought I would check it out.”
“There are plenty other towns along the Eastern Shore,” Jenny prompted. “Why this one?”
“Why do we do anything?” Ocean drawled. “It just happened.”
“Are troubadours always confrontational?” Heather asked. “Why didn’t you leave when you found Tyler was already here?”
Ocean flashed a toothy smile.
“I fell in love with this town. It’s become my muse. I have written some really good songs since coming here.”
“Isn’t there a troubadour code?” Jason asked, drawn into the conversation. “I remember reading about it when I did some research for the case.”
“It’s more of a guideline,” Ocean dismissed.
“That doesn’t sound right,” Jason said with a frown. “In fact, I distinctly remember that troubadours are like a close knit family. They look out for each other.”
Heather was tapping some keys on her phone. She looked up and waited impatiently for Jason to stop talking.
“I just did some quick research,” she burst out. “There’s a nationwide group where you can register yourself. And there is an active database that lists who is playing in which town. A troubadour is supposed to check the status before he enters a town.”
“We don’t know if Tyler used that database,” Jenny pointed out.
“But he did,” Heather cried. “He is listed here as the official troubadour of Pelican Cove. That means no one else is allowed to play their music here.”
Jenny put her hands on her hips and stared at Ocean with raised eyebrows.
“I don’t follow all that crap,” he muttered. “Isn’t there enough external influence in our life? The government dictates how we should live and how much tax we should pay. Now some unseen, unknown group is telling me where I can play my tunes?”
“So you knew you were barging in on Tyler’s territory,” Jenny summed up. “You just didn’t care.”
Ocean gave one of his habitual shrugs.
“Tyler didn’t need the money. He had a big trust fund to fall back on. Unlike the rest of us.”
“How do you know about Tyler’s trust fund?” Jenny asked suddenly.
She thought hard, trying to remember. Had they discussed Tyler’s background with Ocean?
Ocean struggled to his feet.
“I need to make a move. Already lost a few good hours of work today.”
“You are hiding something,” Heather said suddenly. “How did you know how rich Tyler was?”
“Can’t say,” he said, scratching his beard. “Must have heard it somewhere.”
“I advise you to come clean, man,” Jason said, speaking softly for Emily’s sake.
She had fallen asleep after he fed and burped her.
“I am beginning to think you knew Tyler before coming here,” Jenny said, taking a shot in the dark. “Admit it.”
“No, I didn’t,” Ocean said.
“You are not telling us the whole truth,” Jenny insisted. “How did you know Tyler came from a rich family?”
“Jenny will find out sooner or later,” Heather warned. “She is good at ferreting out secrets.”
“What happens when the police find out?” Jason asked Ocean. “You will be in more trouble than you are now. I need to know the truth if I am to defend you.”
“Okay, okay,” Ocean said, holding up his hands. “Give me a minute.”
Ocean scratched his head and stared out at the waves for some time. He gave a deep sigh and started talking.
“I was paid to come here,” he began.
“What?” Jenny and Heather echoed.
“I was playing my music in the Shenandoah valley when this rich dude came up to me. He placed a big bundle of cash in my hand.”
“What did he want?” Jenny asked.
“Who was he?” Heather asked at the same time.
“This
man said he was Tyler’s uncle. Apparently, Tyler was supposed to run a fancy business. This dude didn’t want him playing his guitar on the street.”
“Did he ask you to harm Tyler?” Jenny narrowed her eyes.
“Not exactly,” Ocean said with a shake of his head. “I was supposed to come here and make life hell for him.”
“Did he say why?” Jason asked.
“Guess he wanted Tyler to give up this gig and go home.”
“And you thought you could make him leave?”
“I thought it was a piece of cake,” Ocean said. “I reckoned all I had to do was dog his steps. It was easy too. Turned out he had a really short temper. I thought he would pack up his guitar and hit the road.”
“But he didn’t leave, did he?” Jenny asked.
“No,” Ocean nodded. “The kid had spunk.”
“How far were you willing to go, Ocean?” Heather asked. “Did you sell your soul for a bit of money?”
Ocean looked disturbed.
“I just wanted the kid to go home. I didn’t harm a hair on his head, honest.”
Chapter 13
It was another busy day at the Boardwalk Café. Jenny had flipped dozens of blueberry pancakes, the special of the day. The parfaits were almost gone and she had run through four trays of banana nut muffins. Jenny was glad breakfast was almost over.
Heather came bouncing in, her face red with excitement. Jenny could tell she was bursting to share some news.
“Good Morning,” Jenny greeted her with a smile. “What’s got you all hot and bothered, my friend?”
“You’ll never guess who just checked into the Bayview Inn,” Heather beamed.
She grabbed Jenny by the arms and spun her around in a circle.
“Who?” Jenny asked, playing along.
“Bobby Joe Tucker!” Heather exclaimed.
Her eyes widened as she waited for Jenny to respond suitably.
“Should that name mean something to me?” Jenny asked drily.
“You have never heard of Bobby Joe Tucker?” Heather sucked in a breath as she stared at Jenny in disbelief. “Have you been living under a rock?”
“Apparently,” Jenny laughed. “So who is this guy? Some old flame?”
“I wish,” Heather sighed. “Bobby Joe is a top country singer. His latest single ‘You are my everything’ is top of the charts.”