by Sophie Sharp
“My clients!” Aunt Molly yelled, making Mia jump. “I have to cancel them.”
Mia was startled. “You never cancel appointments.”
Aunt Molly pulled her car into the truck lot and slammed on the brakes. She turned to Mia. “Our lives depend on this, Mia. Maybe not literally, but my business, your future, my marriage. Our normal way of life depends on us handing over the killer and putting this all behind us. But I admit, it doesn’t feel good to cancel for the first time ever.”
“Agreed.”
“So,” said Aunt Molly, getting out of the car and marching to Glam Van with such determination that Mia had to jog-walk to keep up with her. “I’ll call our clients and reschedule their appointments. You update the situation board with everything we know. Let’s put on a pro show for Detective Moat.”
It looked like the feisty was back.
Detective Liam Moat knocked on Glam Van’s door exactly sixty minutes after Molly had called him. Mia caught herself unconsciously patting down her hair and straightening her clothes, as if she was preparing to greet a first date. Aunt Molly gave her a reassuring nod and Mia opened the door.
“Miss Casey,” Detective Moat said, giving her a curt nod. “Molly. To what do I owe the pleasure of this invitation?”
“We have information,” blurted Mia. So much for the pro show.
Detective Moat’s face puckered as if he’d taken a bite of Uncle Doug’s sour lemon tart. “Miss Casey, I am running a murder investigation here and while I always appreciate any concrete leads—”
Mia cut him off. She was sick to death of his holier-than-though attitude. She was half-tempted to say, “Fine, then don’t take our information,” but that would have been petulant, and Aunt Molly wouldn’t be able to keep her promise to Uncle Doug. If this was a first sleuthing date, Mia intended to have Detective Mean Goat begging for more.
“Detective Moat, we have information that I believe you are going to find very useful. If you’ll please follow me, we won’t take more than ten minutes of your valuable time.” She hoped the snark she felt didn’t come through. Either way, the detective sighed and followed her and Aunt Molly to the back of the bus where the situation board waited.
But once there, Mia wished she and Aunt Molly had thought about how small the space would be with Detective Moat in it.
Mia caught Aunt Molly’s eye as she turned to point at the situation board. Her aunt gave her an encouraging nod that barely helped Mia’s waning confidence. Mean Goat was a tough audience and he wasn’t going to make this easy on her. And did he have to smell so good?
She thought about her mother. Lacy was the epitome of grace and confidence in public, but Mia was one of the few people who knew what it sometimes took to get Lacy out of the house. She had a little ritual she performed in front of the huge floor-length mirror by their front door. Lacy would mutter a chant, almost like Mia’s sage cleansing chant, blink like she was casting a silent spell, and transform before Mia’s eyes into Lacy Casey, darling of the small screen. Never in her life had Mia wanted to be anything like her mother, but she borrowed a drop of Lacy’s chutzpah now.
“Per your request,” Mia said, turning in the tight space and flashing Detective Moat with a confident smile, “a list of owners I remember selling my mermaid sea glass jewelry to.” She handed him a handwritten copy of the list. “You’ll see I’ve taken the liberty of noting those necklaces that have been visually accounted for.”
Detective Moat took the list. His blue eyes narrowed as he scanned the names, but he gave no hint of being impressed. Mia remembered now that Lacy had played a spunky lawyer in a TV show. She’d worn a signature ivory suit and high heels that clicked across the courtroom in every episode, but she’d looked like a woman to be reckoned with. Just like Mia was now. Okay, so the show had been cancelled after one season, but Mia wasn’t going to let that slow her down.
“You’ll note that the list includes only one person who cannot account for the whereabouts of her necklace. Nell.”
Moat squinted hard at the list. Did he need glasses? Oh, that would be so typical of him to be too vain to wear them. Mia’s confidence grew a notch.
“We believe that Veronica Corsello was blackmailing certain members of our community,” Mia went on, offering the stack of doctored photographs to him.
“Well, we know that already,” Moat said.
Mia smiled. “Good for you. But we know she was blackmailing truck owners as a means to take over their lot. But we now believe Veronica was using emotional blackmail to sway the vote.”
Moat shifted in his chair. Mia wasn’t sure if he was uncomfortable in the salon chair or with what she was trying to tell him. “Veronica Corsello had certain personal information about a high-ranking member of our community. She was attempting to use that information to get what she wanted.”
Moat glanced at his watch. “Miss Casey, I appreciate the courtroom drama here, but if you could get to your point.”
Mia’s face flushed. “Fine,” she said. So much for the poise. “Nell is having an affair with a younger man.”
“Nell?” said Moat.
“A much younger man,” chimed in Aunt Molly.
“Veronica Corsello found out and used it against Nell to influence her vote.”
“We have a witness who saw Corsello and Nell arguing at a conference,” Aunt Molly said. “And the mayor confirmed that it was right after that conference that Nell changed her stance and convinced him to do the same if the time came that the Harrisons would sell.”
“And Nell lied to us about the nature of her business with the, um, younger man,” Mia said. “We saw them in a very unbusinesslike embrace.”
“But Nell insisted they were working on a special project,” Aunt Molly added truthfully.
“Only she wasn’t paying him for his so-called work,” Mia said. “At least not in money.”
“And the mayor knew nothing about any special project,” Aunt Molly said. “In fact, it’s much worse.” Aunt Molly took over the show briefly to explain the mayor’s concerns and recent puzzling interactions with Nell and his last discussion with Veronica. “We have two witnesses who saw Nell near the lot when everyone assumed she was at Opal May’s funeral,” Aunt Molly said and handed Moat the funeral book.
“Which gives her the means,” Mia said.
“And Nell is the one person on that list who cannot account for her necklace.”
“Wait, wait, wait,” said Moat, holding up his hands to slow them down. “You’re saying you believe Nell Jackson killed Veronica Corsello?”
“Exactly,” said Mia and Aunt Molly together.
“O-kaaay,” he said. “Lay it on me.”
“Veronica had the dirt on Nell about her affair. She threatened to expose Nell if she didn’t back Corsello’s plan when the time was right,” said Mia.
“Forgive me, but that doesn’t sound much like grounds for blackmail,” said Moat.
“He’s practically young enough to be her son,” spat Mia, no longer able to keep the venom from her voice. “Nell intends to be mayor someday.”
Moat shrugged. “Okay, I can see how Nell might want to keep that quiet.”
“Corsello used Photoshop to make incriminating photos to blackmail the truck owners. She knew everyone would be at Opal May’s funeral, so she chose that time to plant the photos,” said Aunt Molly. “We think she was on the way to drop something at Glam Van when Nell confronted her.”
Mia clenched her fists in demonstration. “We think they struggled and Veronica grabbed at the necklace Nell was wearing.”
“When I cut Nell’s hair later that morning, she gasped and reached for her neck. I thought it was a reaction to her haircut, but when we realized she was the only one who couldn’t show us her necklace, we knew she must have realized at that moment that it was gone.”
“And Nell tried to tell Aunt Molly that the mayor and Veronica had something fishy going on. Something about a safe room.”
“We k
now about that,” said Moat.
“You do?” Aunt Molly asked.
Moat nodded. “We also know the mayor had seen her there the night before.” Moat met each of them in the eye. “I must admit you make a compelling case, and much of what you say adds up with what our investigation has uncovered.”
Mia caught Aunt Molly’s eye and they exchanged sly congratulatory smiles.
“This man you say Nell was seeing. Is it someone we know?”
Mia’s heart dropped. “Damion Cullen,” she said.
“Your shifty boyfriend?” Moat asked.
“He is not shifty,” said Mia, but without conviction. Moat had been right. Damion was shifty, and untrustworthy, and a liar and a cheat. Moat had the decency to let it drop.
“Are you willing to put all this in writing?” Moat asked.
“Yes,” said Aunt Molly.
“Yes,” said Mia.
“Okay, then get yourselves down to the station and make your statements.” He shook their hands as if all they’d done was make a deal, and without so much as a thanks, he left.
“Did he believe us?” Mia asked.
“I guess so,” Aunt Molly said.
For the first time in days, Mia felt a small glow of triumph.
But just a half hour later at the station, Mia hesitated, her pen hovering over the signature line of her statement about Nell. Seeing it in writing suddenly made it all real. She liked Nell. Nell always said how much she loved San Cosmas and how she’d do anything for the city that had treated her so well. Mia had admired that, but she hadn’t known then that “anything” also included murder. Nell just didn’t seem the type. But, Mia reminded herself, Damion hadn’t seemed the type to have a blatant affair with an older woman and then lie about it to her face. So that didn’t say much for her intuition. She wondered now if Damion had any idea that his secret lover was also a secret murderer.
The door of the conference room opened and in swaggered Detective Moat, looking like he’d just won first place in the Best Cop in the World contest.
“Well, ladies,” he said, giving them a wry smile. “Looks like you were right.”
“Nell confessed?” Aunt Molly asked, beaming at Mia.
“We brought her in for questioning and she admitted to leaving Opal May’s funeral early. She also admits to confronting Veronica Corsello at the truck lot.”
“So Veronica was blackmailing Nell?” Mia asked.
“It appears that way, although Nell won’t confirm that it was related to the lot sale.”
Aunt Molly threw Mia a confused glance, but Moat had more to say.
“Nell confessed to fighting with Ms. Corsello. She confirmed the necklace we found is hers and she believes she lost it during the tussle.”
Mia grinned at Aunt Molly. “You were right.”
“The only slight sticking point we have is that Nell insists she did not kill Ms. Corsello.”
“Not intentionally,” Mia said.
“Not at all, according to Nell,” said Moat. “She insists Ms. Corsello was still yelling obscenities at her when Nell left the scene.”
“Do you believe her?” Mia asked.
“It doesn’t look good for Nell, I’m afraid. We intend to charge Nell with the murder of Veronica Corsello,” Moat said.
Mia gasped and Aunt Molly covered her mouth. It wasn’t until then that Mia realized they had both been hoping Nell was innocent, that she and Aunt Molly had it all wrong. “Poor Nell,” Mia said.
Moat raised an eyebrow, as if to say, You’re kidding me, right? Instead, he asked Mia to sign her statement and thanked them for their time an effort. “We appreciate all you’ve done,” Moat said, “but now I need to ask you to step aside while we wrap up the case.”
Mia signed her name, her hand shaking slightly. Aunt Molly put an arm around her shoulder and gave her an encouraging hug. It was just what Mia needed.
“And ladies,” Moat said as they reached the door. “I’m serious about leaving this to us now. You could have put yourselves in serious danger and Goldie would never have forgiven me if anything happened to you.” He glanced at Mia too. “Either of you.”
Mia couldn’t believe it. Perhaps Mean Goat did have a kind bone in his body after all.
She was suddenly exhausted, and even Aunt Molly looked as if she could do with a taste of her own medicine and an hour or two at Glam Van. They trudged to the main doors of the SCPD, looking like they’d just dragged themselves across the Sahara Desert.
“I’d suggest we celebrate, only I need to talk to my hubby first. And I’m not too happy that it’s Nell.”
“Movie and an early night are all I have in mind anyway,” Mia said.
Aunt Molly laughed. “That actually sounds so good. I’m glad it’s over. I just wish it hadn’t been Nell.”
“Me too,” said Mia. “Now we can go back to our normal lives.”
“Yes,” said Aunt Molly. “Back to the way things were. I hope. Your Uncle Doug still needs to forgive me.”
Mia was just about to reach for the main door when it flew open and in strode Damion. Behind him was the man who had bought the necklace at Glam Van and the woman she’d seen hug Damion that same day.
“You,” Damion spat, jabbing a finger at Mia. “Are you to blame for this?”
“Me?” Mia said, both shocked and affronted. “I think, Damion, that I am the last person to blame for this.” She was practically a hero.
Still, Mia felt her voice waver. How dare Damion blame her? He was the one having the sordid fling with a killer. He was the one who had lied and lied and lied. All those nights he’d had to leave to work on his “project.” And now she knew that his project had been Nell. What a nerve he had to accuse her.
She felt Aunt Molly’s arm tighten around her shoulder as she guided Mia through the exit. But as soon as they were outside, Mia was overcome with a wave of sadness. It wasn’t her fault, none of it was, and yet she hated to see Damion so devastated. Clearly, he cared about Nell.
Well, thought Mia, his new friends can take care of him now … whoever they are.
She glanced back through the police station door. The man and the woman flanked Damion, their arms around him. Whoever they were, Mia had the feeling they were far from simply friends.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Molly hadn’t expected Doug to let her off the hook easily, but she thought he’d at least give her, or Mia, an atta girl when he heard they’d helped find the murderer. It proved that while they may have taken risks, they were necessary risks. A murderer was off the street, and innocents such as Mia, Asil, and Anthony wouldn’t be taking the blame. Her husband, San Cosmas, and her clients, might not appreciate this fact right now, but justice was justice. Nell was crying her innocence, even as Moat had said, “It doesn’t look good.”
Doug was unimpressed.
“But, honey,” Molly said, “at least Mia is no longer a suspect—”
He interrupted her. “Be honest, Molly; she never really was.”
He had a point. Now. “But it wasn’t that simple. I was right to get involved to clear Mia’s name. And once it started, we couldn’t stop. Asil and Anthony, especially, were looking guilty too. My hands were tied. All the truckies were being blackmailed. We would have been next.”
She glanced at her niece. Poor Mia was standing, watching them argue like a deer caught in the headlights.
“Maybe we should talk about this later,” Molly said.
“Absolutely not,” Doug said. “When it’s convenient for the two of you, you want Mia to be treated like an adult. Well, now’s a good time for me to treat you both like adults.”
Molly rankled at both—as if she wasn’t an adult.
“You could have gotten yourselves killed. You hear me? Killed. And have you thought about how the town will feel about Nell being charged?”
Molly frowned. “I expect they’ll be relieved. It doesn’t matter who it is, it matters what she is.”
He scoffed. “Oh reall
y? This town loves Nell, Molly. And she will be innocent until proven guilty, even in this household. Would you have wanted Mia treated any other way? What if some ‘amateur sleuth’—”
Honestly? He had used air quotes?
“—had gotten involved, determined to point the finger at Mia? Or Asil? Or Anthony? Isn’t that kind of what Veronica Corsello was trying to do by blackmailing people? To have them falsely accused?”
When he put it like that, it didn’t feel like such a victory. Felt pretty crappy actually.
“This is going to get far uglier before it’s over. You two ‘adults’—”
Air quotes again?
“—are on your own for the night. I’m going to softball and I’ll eat with the guys. They appreciate being part of a team.”
Ouch. She’d gotten the message: Marriage was supposed to be a team too.
Molly and Mia stared at each other shocked as Doug grabbed his mitt and left. Molly couldn’t remember the last time he hadn’t made dinner for her.
Through her sadness, Molly consoled herself. While she didn’t feel much like celebrating, she was happy that the truckies’ and Mia’s lives were back to normal. Not to mention her own. Kind of. Glam Van could stay put, at least for now. The blackmailing was over. The truckies were safe. All except Anthony, but he did the crime and it was up to Jocelyn how he did the time. Kind of like Doug would do with her; but she knew he loved her, and she loved him. She wouldn’t betray him again, so it was time to move forward. Only time would allow her to prove to Doug that she wouldn’t go rogue again. She was on Team Locks from now on. All of this upheaval and change had disrupted her happily-ever-after married life. That was Veronica’s fault too.
In the meantime, she and Mia needed to eat and have an adult moment, even if Doug disagreed. Mia had said she was tired and just wanted to go and cuddle with Henri, but Molly persuaded her to join her at Murphy’s Irish Pub. They’d never had a beer together, but maybe tonight was a night of firsts. They were adults.