The Body in the Gravel

by Judi Lynn

  When she reached Henry’s parking lot, every space was filled, so she had to park on the back street. The aromas coming from the kitchen made her mouth water. Barbecued ribs was a standard Thursday night special, but she was in the mood for their filet sandwich with fries. She passed Olivia’s car on her way inside. Her sister, who kept close tabs on her weight, usually ordered fish or a salad for supper.

  Olivia surprised her tonight and went with the ribs, a baked potato, and coleslaw. “I didn’t have time for anything but a snack for lunch. The salon was crazy busy.”

  They sipped their wine and made small talk until their food arrived. It got even quieter after that. When their hunger wasn’t quite as sharp, Jazzi said, “You told me at the time, but how did you meet Thane? It doesn’t seem like you two would hang out at the same places.”

  Olivia smiled. “A friend of mine dragged me to a TinCaps game. Baseball isn’t my thing, but she swore the food and drinks at the stadium were worth the trip, and there was going to be fireworks at the end. Thane went with a friend, too, and his seat was next to mine. He spilled popcorn all over me when he was trying to slide past people to get to it, and he apologized over and over again until it struck my funny bone and I started to laugh.”

  “Did that hurt his feelings?”

  “No, it loosened things up. We ended up talking through most of the game, then all four of us went out for drinks after the fireworks. Dave and Shari are still together, too. We play cards with them once a month.”

  “A happy ending.” Jazzi smiled. “How long had it been since Thane lost Walker before he met you?”

  “A year. I nabbed him at the right time. He was a mess when he talked about Walker. Then we got together, and four months later, his lease was up, so I invited him to move into my apartment. When my lease was up, we bought our house.”

  Jazzi rolled her eyes. “You’d have won over Thane even if Walker never left town.”

  Olivia pursed her lips, looking thoughtful. “I don’t know about that. Both of those guys like to fish and camp out. They hunt. In winter, they bowl and shoot pool. They were happy with the buddy system, but I took one look at Thane, and I decided to snag him in a weak moment. Now he’s happy I did.”

  Jazzi stared. “I always thought Thane chased you, not the other way around. I mean, tons of guys were after you.”

  Olivia wrinkled her nose. “Thane just looked like a solid guy, you know. Someone you could depend on. He’s not gorgeous, like your Ansel, but I love his crooked nose and long chin. Did you know Walker’s the one who broke Thane’s nose? They were playing basketball and Walker’s elbow connected with Thane’s cartilage.”

  “Ugh.”

  “Yeah, Thane said it hurt like heck.”

  “How’s Walker doing? Is it hard for him to get back into the groove of the cement company?”

  Olivia gnawed the meat off the last rib. She wasn’t kidding when she said she was hungry. “He helped run the business for so long, he said it fell right into place for him, but Darby didn’t keep track of things, so he’s still trying to sort everything out. I’m glad he’s back in River Bluffs. One of the reasons he left is that he was so ashamed of himself for losing his temper and punching someone when he was mad. He said it scared him that he’d lost control like that.”

  “It would be hard to keep your cool when Darby kept needling you.” Jazzi took the last bite of her sandwich and reached for another fry.

  “We weren’t raised to take any guff from anyone,” Olivia said. “If we punched someone, they deserved it.”

  Jazzi glanced outside the big windows at the front of the restaurant. Almost dark. The days were getting shorter. She drained the last of the wine from her glass.

  When the waitress brought them each their check, Olivia grinned. “I’ve been thinking. You and Ansel bought a house, and Thane wanted a house. You’re getting married in less than a month. You remember that, don’t you? I still haven’t seen a wedding dress. But wouldn’t it be nice if Thane got the itch to get married soon?”

  Jazzi paid for her meal and left a generous tip. “I didn’t think you wanted to get married. I thought you were happy living with Thane.”

  “That’s what I tell him. I’m hoping he’ll be like Ansel and the less I push marriage, the more he wants it.”

  “And if that doesn’t work?”

  “I’ll drug him and use hypnosis to get him to the altar.”

  Jazzi laughed. Her sister always had a plan.

  Chapter 14

  When Jazzi padded downstairs on Friday morning, Ansel had coffee and pumpernickel toast waiting for her. She had a thing for pumpernickel with cherry preserves. She glanced at his empty place. “Not hungry?”

  “I shouldn’t have eaten the whole sausage roll I ordered last night. The thing was huge.”

  “You could have brought home a corner for me. You didn’t have to eat it all.” She’d craved one ever since he’d first mentioned it.

  He grinned. “But I did have to. It was delicious.”

  “Well, then, no wonder.” Inky came to sit beside her foot. Where Inky went, so did Marmalade. She bent down to pet them before finishing her breakfast, then went to make sandwiches to pack in the cooler. When Inky smelled deli ham, he came running, stretching to place his paws on her knee. His meow was a strident demand. Her black cat believed he was entitled. Marmalade stared up at her hopefully. Jazzi tore off small pieces to toss to them. When George saw that, he sauntered over, too. She never favored the cats over George, so she tossed him a few. While Ansel filled the two thermoses, she filled the pet bowls with dry food and tossed two bags of chips into the cooler.

  “Ready?” Ansel called for George and headed to the door.

  Jazzi followed. On the drive to Southwood Park, she asked, “Did you have fun with Thane and Walker last night? We were both tired enough when we got home, we didn’t talk much. Maybe we were talked out.”

  Ansel grimaced. “We did all right, but Walker was pretty upset. Gaff called his mom and talked to her and her new husband yesterday. He considers them suspects since Darby called Rose.”

  A cat ran in front of the van, and Ansel braked. Jazzi watched it streak across the street to a front porch, where it scratched at the door. She let out a shaky breath. She hated running over any animal, but a pet was worse. Once her nerves calmed, she returned to their conversation. “Why did Gaff question the new husband? Gene didn’t even know Darby.”

  “Because Walker says he’s really protective of Rose. He’d do anything for her.”

  “Ah, so if Darby upset Rose, he might go have a word with him.”

  Ansel nodded. “Walker’s mom and Gene both vouched for the other one being home that Monday night, but they would, wouldn’t they? So they’re still on Gaff’s list. He even asked the local authorities there to ask around to verify that Rose and Gene were home that night. That bothered Walker.”

  “Pretty much anybody who knew Darby is a suspect right now unless they have a solid alibi. It’s not like this killer planned things out. The crime screams that someone lost his temper and hit him with a shovel. Whoever it was probably didn’t even mean to kill him.”

  Ansel slowed and turned into Southwood Park. Jerod was digging in the back of his pickup when they parked behind him. “Hey, cuz!” he called. “You don’t have a pair of spare work gloves, do you?”

  She opened the back of Ansel’s van and tossed him some. Tugging them on as they walked to the house, he patted his leg for George to follow them. The pug made it to the back deck and huffed as he lay down. After depositing the cooler and thermoses in the kitchen, they got busy on the garage’s siding. When it was done, Jazzi stepped back to get a good look at it. “It looks great, a good match to the house.”

  Jerod glanced from the garage to the three-story, yellow-brick home. “The exterior of the house doesn’t need a lot, but I think it woul
d look better with a more impressive entrance.”

  Ansel raised an eyebrow. “We didn’t plan for that, but the front stoop isn’t much to brag about. The roof covers the door, and that’s about it. The two benches facing each other seat only one person on each side. What have you got in mind?”

  “The back deck came out so nice, I thought we could make the porch longer and deeper. Two rocking chairs could go on one side and a porch swing on the other, with a roof over everything.”

  Ansel narrowed his eyes, envisioning it. “It would take more time, but I think we have enough materials to make it work. It would be a cheap way to add curb appeal.”

  “Then let’s do it.” Jerod reached for the circular saw to cut through the pillars that held up the small, peaked roof. Ansel grabbed a crowbar to lift stair treads off the steps. Jazzi went for the wheelbarrow.

  It didn’t take long to rip off the porch and throw all the debris in the dumpster. Then they got busy, measuring for Jerod’s new plan. Once again, they started with a base, laid a new floor, and put up new pillars. Once the roof was on, Jazzi again walked far enough away to see how everything looked. She shook her head.

  “The pillars look too small, out of proportion, and they’re too rustic. We need to cover them and add molding to make them more elegant.” Jazzi glanced at the long windows. “We should add shutters, too.”

  Jerod and Ansel came to stand beside her. Jerod rubbed his chin. “Yup, you’re right. That’s an easy fix. The pillars are strong enough; they do the job. We just need to box them out. I can stop to buy molding later to finish them.”

  They broke for a late lunch before they put tin on the roof’s plywood. They used the same red tin they used on the garage. It went a lot faster than shingles. They voted to stay later than usual to get the work done. By the time they finished staining the wood, Jazzi’s back ached, and she was getting grumpy.

  “Are we still on for Saturday?” Jerod asked as Ansel carried George to the van. The pug was worn out from watching them.

  “Ten o’clock,” Jazzi answered.

  Jerod rubbed the back of his neck. “Let’s make it ten-thirty. Franny and the kids are going to want a slow start tomorrow.”

  “I won’t argue with that.” Jazzi liked slow starts on Saturdays, too.

  Jerod handed her the work gloves she’d loaned him, but she shook her head. “Keep them. I have more.”

  He made a face. “Good, because I have a feeling Franny borrowed mine to clean out the garden and forgot to put them back.”

  Franny might not be much of a cook, but she kept a huge garden and froze enough fruits and vegetables to see them through the winter. Come to think of it, Jerod’s wife loved almost anything that involved working outside.

  Ansel gently put George on the back seat and gave Jerod a wave good-bye. Jazzi rode shotgun, and they started for home. He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. “We didn’t go anywhere last Friday, and I’m in the mood to eat out. What do you say?”

  “After your sausage roll last night?”

  He gave her a dirty look. “Eating with Thane and Walker isn’t the same as a date. I’d like to take you somewhere tonight.”

  “Do I need to dress up?”

  “Nothing fancy as long as it’s tight.”

  She laughed. “Your favorite jeans?”

  “And a low-cut blouse.”

  “I can manage that.” She’d bought more sexy items for her wardrobe since Ansel had moved in with her.

  They didn’t hurry when they got home. They played with the cats and fed all three animals before they took their showers and got ready to leave.

  When George saw them in their “go out” clothes, he pouted, but the pug was one spoiled dog. He’d live. So would the cats. It was her and Ansel’s night to have fun. No talk about house projects. No chats about Darby and murder. Just eating and flirting and getting in the mood.

  Chapter 15

  When Jazzi and Ansel walked into TGI Fridays, Jazzi’s friend Leesa stood up at a nearby table and waved to them. “Over here!” she called.

  So much for date night, but Jazzi had hung out with Leesa since high school, and Ansel liked her and her husband. They were part of their Friday-night crowd.

  “Didn’t expect to see you two here.” Leesa beamed as they seated themselves. “What have you been up to?”

  Ansel gave a wicked grin. “Jazzi is working another murder case with Detective Gaff.”

  “No, not another one!” Leesa turned to Jazzi, who hurriedly explained.

  Leesa’s husband, Brett, shook his head. “I hope Gaff’s paying you to help with his investigation.”

  “I’m doing it as a favor to Thane.”

  Brett stared her down. “You’re too freakin’ nice. You need to start telling people no. You run a business. Your time is money.”

  Jazzi didn’t argue with him. Brett was a financial analyst and tended to be more aggressive than most of the people she knew. It had taken her a while to get used to him. He and Leesa balanced each other out. Leesa tended to be quiet and studious. Probably why she was an English lit prof.

  Ansel bumped his knee against Jazzi’s, his way of showing support, and changed the subject. “So, is Riley mastering trigonometry yet?”

  Leesa laughed. Riley was their two-year-old son, and she was always bragging about how smart he was. “Not yet. Give him another month.”

  Brett jumped in with, “He has learned how to remove the lid from his sippy cup, though, and then he dumps his drink all over the floor.”

  “He gets time-outs for that,” Leesa said. “Let’s hope he learns what’s acceptable and what’s not.”

  The conversation turned to kids and jobs. Jazzi was listening to Leesa tell about Riley finding the lipstick in her purse when she saw Earl being led to a table. He was with a trim, silver-haired woman. Once seated, they leaned across the table to hold hands. Jazzi sighed. She remembered that Earl was divorced and lived alone. Neither he nor the woman looked young. They must have finally found romance.

  The waiter brought the food to their table, and Jazzi didn’t think about Earl anymore. They all dug in. When the waiter returned a little later with second glasses of wine, Earl glanced in her direction and noticed her. Jazzi nodded a hello, and he looked shocked. He grabbed the woman’s hand and tried to yank her to her feet, motioning to her to leave.

  What the heck? Maybe the woman was someone else’s wife, and Earl felt guilty.

  He leaned to talk to her, and the woman looked over at Jazzi. She frowned, then leaned in to have a serious discussion with Earl. Only then did Earl seem to calm down. Odd. Why would Earl care if Jazzi saw him? She didn’t know who the woman was, so what did it matter?

  Leesa interrupted her thoughts. “Did I tell you that I’m only teaching three classes this year? I wanted to spend more time with Riley.”

  “That’s great!” Jazzi was happy for her.

  Leesa took a sip of wine. “Every time I turn around, he’s grown more and he’s doing new things. I don’t want to miss out.”

  Brett gave his wife an indulgent smile. “If we’re going to have a second child, we need to get started, or it will be forever before you work full-time again.”

  Leesa raised her eyebrows. “My parents are keeping Riley overnight. No time like the present.”

  Ansel chuckled. “Would you guys like some alone time?”

  Leesa blushed all the way to her hairline. “We have to eat first. We’ll need energy and stamina.”

  Brett gawked. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

  Jazzi could tell her friend had already thought this through and decided they were overdue to make baby two.

  At Leesa’s steady gaze, Brett blinked, surprised. “Okay, then, let’s skip dessert.”

  Leesa’s green eyes sparkled. “Clean your plate.”

 
Jazzi watched them both dig in. Ten minutes later, Leesa’s pasta primavera was gone, and Brett’s filet mignon was history.

  Brett waved the waiter over, paid the bill, then pushed to his feet. “Will you excuse us?”

  Ansel grinned. “Good luck.”

  Jazzi couldn’t help but chuckle. When she watched them go, she noticed that Earl and the woman he was with had gone, too. A lone Styrofoam box sat on the table. They must have packed up their dinners and left without one.

  Ansel placed his hand over hers. “Are you in a hurry?”

  “Not me. We have plenty of time.” He could take that however he wanted to. And his question could have had a few different meanings.

  He leaned back in his chair and stretched out his long legs. A waitress stopped passing out food to stare at him, then quickly recovered, and finished serving the table. Yeah, Ansel was that hot, especially when he smiled the way he was now. “I think we should go for broke and order another drink and dessert.”

  “I like the way you think.”

  He motioned for the waiter. Once they ordered and were alone, he grew serious. “You have everything planned for our wedding reception—the food, the drinks, decorations. But you still haven’t bought a dress. That’s not a Freudian slip, is it? Did I rush you too much?”

  She shook her head. “Things just got busy, that’s all. I was going to go shopping with Mom and Olivia after work some night, but then Darby got killed, and Thane’s a suspect, and I’ve been going with Gaff on interviews. I’d go on Saturday, but Mom and Olivia work at the salon, and we’re working on Jerod’s basement. Most places are closed on Sunday. And anyway, we have our family meal then.”

  “You’re sure that’s all?” A trace of worry tinged his voice. “You’re looking forward to getting married?”

  She pursed her lips. “I’ve probably put off standing in front of a mirror, trying on dresses. You know I’m horrible at shopping, and I worry I’ll buy something that makes me look terrible…”