by Gina LaManna
“Do you need his number?”
He gave a quick smile. “Oh, no. I’ve got him on speed dial.”
I laughed. “Even I don’t have him on speed dial, yet.”
“It’s weird, isn’t it?” Ryan asked. “Your ex-boyfriend and your current boyfriend working together.”
“He was investigating you for murder,” I said. “I’m not sure that’s working together.”
Ryan flashed me a smile. “I think he’s coming around to the idea that I might not have done it. Probably thanks to you. I do owe you one, Jenna.”
“You don’t owe me anything,” I said. “It was the right thing to do.”
“You and Cooper deserve one another, you know that?”
I waited for the other shoe to drop, but it never did.
Ryan cleared his throat. “He’s a good guy. You deserve to have a good guy.”
“Thanks, Ryan,” I said. “You deserve a nice woman, too. I’m sure you’ll find the right one.”
He left. I hesitated in the storeroom after he’d gone. When I looked up, I was startled to find my mom in the doorway, a soft look on her face.
“Your ex?” she asked quietly. “Are you okay?”
“Everything’s fine,” I told her. “Better than ever, actually.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” My mom leaned in and kissed me on the forehead. “It’s nice what you’re doing for him.”
“Helps the store, too,” I said. “It’s not entirely selfless.”
“That’s not why you’re doing it. We both know it.” She winked. “But it certainly doesn’t hurt. By the way, have you tried a cookie? Almond poppyseed. Delish.”
“I’ve got to get back to the dressing rooms,” I said. “People are waiting for me. But I suppose one cookie never killed anyone.”
Chapter 21
I spent the rest of the afternoon and well into the evening at my mother’s shop. My mom and Allie were the busiest they’d ever been, rushing around the store and organizing, folding, straightening. As shelves began to empty, they retreated to the backroom where they rummaged through new deliveries and old, digging through everything they could find to keep the shelves stocked.
Filming resumed around 8 p.m. I remained at the store, grabbing a few last items to bring with me to the trailer for future scenes. My mother sat flopped on an old armchair in the corner, her eyes closed and a blissful smile on her face. Allie was sitting behind the cash register, doing some napkin math on the sales they’d made that day.
“I don’t think I did this right.” Allie squinted down at the sheet of paper. “I think you made more today than you made all last year.”
My mother’s eyes remained closed, but her face went pinched. “That can’t be right.”
I sidled over to Allie and took a quick glance at her math. I sorted through the receipts.
“She’s right,” I told my mother. “It’s a ballpark guess, but it’s definitely more than you made all last year.”
“Last year was a low year.” My mother sat up and opened her eyes. “Do you know what this means?”
“Yes, actually,” I said. “It means you can get a computer and use a digital calendar and a way to print your receipts out without writing them all by hand. And for Pete’s sake, get rid of your AOL account.”
“I can fix the lock on the door,” my mother blurted.
“The lock on your door is broken?” I stared at her. “Don’t you think you should’ve gotten that fixed awhile back?”
She shrugged. “It’s Blueberry Lake. We trust one another here.”
“You do realize there have been three murders since I moved home.”
“Bad luck,” my mom reasoned. “Anyway, nobody wants to steal things from me.”
“People obviously want what you have,” I said, “judging by your sales today. Speaking of, when you buy that computer, get your website up. Like, yesterday. Because if this movie gets sold, you’ll have a credit at the end. People might want to make online purchases.”
“How do they do that?” my mother asked. “Don’t they want to try things on first?”
I rolled my eyes. Allie put her hand on my wrist.
“I’ll take care of it,” she whispered. “Leave it to me. I’m pretty much a technology genius.”
“Okay, then,” I said. “She’s lucky to have you.”
“Allie, you get a bonus,” my mother said, overhearing the last part. “For your years of service.”
“I’ve worked here part time for a year,” Allie whispered. “Do you think I should tell her that?”
“Just take the bonus.” I clapped Allie on the back. “You’ve earned it. Thanks for your help today, guys. I’ve got to get back to work. I’ve got plans tonight.”
“With Cooper?” My mom seemed even more thrilled with that idea than the idea that she’d made enough money in one day to keep her business afloat for a full year.
“Unfortunately, no,” I said. “Sorry to disappoint you.”
“It’s not with Ryan, is it?” She looked warily at me. “I see the way he looks at you. He’s bummed he let you go, that one. While I totally agree that he made an awful mistake letting you go, if he gets between you and Cooper, I might just have to take matters into my own hands.”
“Please don’t,” I said. “If we have any more death threats, the FBI’s going to set up shop here.”
“Now, that’s interesting,” Allie said. “I always thought I’d make an excellent federal agent. I already have the boots for it. And lots of FBI agents are pretty attractive. Couldn’t you see me cozied up to a sexy fed?”
“I’m going to let you two sort through that one,” I said. “I really do have to go.”
“Oh no you don’t,” Allie said. “You have a date tonight, and it’s not with Cooper. Spill the beans. Where are you going?”
“Nowhere,” I hedged.
“Is it a stakeout?”
“What?”
“A stakeout,” Allie repeated. “Who are you spying on?”
“Don’t spy on people, Jenna,” my mother said. “It’s not very nice.”
“I shouldn’t have said anything,” I groaned.
“I’m coming with you.” Allie walked around the register. “Are you okay to close up tonight, Bea? I plan on being a bodyguard for your daughter.”
My mother nodded seriously. “I’ll give you a double bonus if you keep her out of trouble.”
“Mom,” I said. “I’m right here.”
Allie gently patted my shoulder. “And I’ll be right here all night long. Where to?”
“Fine,” I said. “If you insist, then you can follow me to the trailer. And while you’re at it, take this suitcase full of accessories that I’m borrowing for the shoot, please.”
Allie and I made a quick stop at the set and unloaded our products in the trailer. Cassidy was currently on set, touching up Ethel’s face. I spotted Kyle, barking orders to the extras again. He looked like he was at his wit’s end. I wondered if Cooper had been called to the scene yet. I also wondered what Cooper was up to and realized with a jolt of surprise that I’d barely talked to him all day.
“I’ll be right back,” I said to Allie, who was currently layering various-sized pearls around her neck. “I have to make a quick phone call.”
“Tell Cooper hello,” she said, pursing her lips and blowing kisses to herself in the mirror. “I’ll try not to eavesdrop.”
“How did you—”
“You’re dating him. Not too hard to puzzle together those pieces.”
I escaped from my trailer and headed into the darkness away from the set. Once I was out of range of Allie’s eavesdropping capabilities, I dialed Cooper.
“I was hoping it was you,” Cooper said upon answer. “Definitely the best phone call I’ve had all day.”
“How high is that bar?”
“I got called about Angela Dewey’s cat who had run away. A light bulb went out in Mrs. Beasley’s shop, and she was wondering if I could repl
ace it. Ethel Louise Schroeder escaped—twice. It’s been a day.”
“Not to mention your little visit with Emma and a chat with Ryan.”
Cooper waited a beat. “Yeah.”
“It’s fine,” I said. “I understand that you can’t tell me everything about your job just because we’re dating.”
Cooper heaved out a huge sigh of relief. “I’m glad to hear it. I was a little worried you were going to ask.”
“Of course not,” I said. “But what if I didn’t ask everything about your job? Just a little bit about your job? For example, you don’t have to update me on Ethel Louise Schroeder or Angela Dewey or even Mrs. Beasley. What if you just updated me on Emma Lou?”
Cooper sounded amused. “Nice try. Thanks for understanding. But you know, you can ask Emma Lou yourself if you’d like. Aren’t you on set? She should be there, too.”
“Fine,” I said. “I don’t really need to talk to her, anyway. Ryan came to Something Old this evening, and we talked about the case. He told me he came clean to you, and I’m assuming that’s why you pulled Emma in for questioning.”
I lilted up at the end, making it more of a question than a statement, but Cooper didn’t bite. He just kept quiet.
“Fine,” I said again. “I understand. Really. Did Ryan call you again? And talk to you about Kyle? I really think you need to keep an eye on the director.”
“I really wish you didn’t find out things about the case before I did.”
“Well, if you’d dated the main suspect, then maybe you’d have the inside scoop also.”
“I’ll leave that title to you. Anyway, I’m about to wrap things up here. I’m just finishing some paperwork at the station, and then I was going to go home and grab some takeout. Interested?”
“It does sound tempting...”
“Why don’t you say yes?”
I glanced back at my trailer. “I actually have some plans.”
“Are you working?”
“Not exactly,” I said. “I’m on set now. I’ll be here for a while, and then Allie and I are hanging out.”
“What pair of shoes is she wearing?”
“Excuse me?”
“What pair of shoes does she have on her feet?”
“Um, boots,” I said. “Black ones. I could tell you the brand, but I think it’d be lost on you. Okay, they’re Kelley Johnson boots.”
“The ones with the little spiky things on them?”
“Now you’re just scaring me.”
“Those are her crime-solving boots.” Cooper heaved out a huge sigh. “She always wears them when she comes into the station to tell me she thinks the feds have bugged her house.”
“You say that as if it’s happened more than once.”
“Try three times a week for the last six months.”
“Yikes.”
“All I’m saying is that when she’s wearing those boots, I know she’s not up to anything good. And if you have plans to hang out with her...” Cooper waited, but when I didn’t help him out, he sighed again. “C’mon, Jenna. I’m a detective. What are you guys up to tonight? A stakeout?”
“I’m starting to think I’m not very good at stakeouts,” I said. “Already two people have caught me preparing for the event, and I haven’t even started yet.”
“Then maybe you should just cancel it.”
“How can I cancel it now? Allie’s got her crime-solving boots on. She’d be crushed.”
“Uh-huh. Who are you staking out?”
“Well, I thought it might be interesting to sit at the Blueberry Lake Inn,” I said. “Someone was sneaking away with Tennison there.”
“So? What if it was Emma Lou?”
“It might be,” I said. “But why wouldn’t she have told us?”
“I’m not entirely sure how this stakeout would help us with the case,” he said. “Tennison’s dead. The person probably wouldn’t be there anymore.”
I quickly filled in Cooper on the state of the sparkly button.
“Now you’re roping in Ellen Louise Schroeder to help with your crime solving? Leave the poor girl alone. She’s in high school.”
“She offered to help, sorta,” I said. “And anyway, it was the right thing to do. Returning the button to its owner. It just had the side effect of letting us know that someone is, in fact, returning to that room. I have to see who it is and why. Why they’re not staying at the hotel.”
“Even if you do, that doesn’t prove anything.”
“No, but it gives us a direction to look in,” I said. “This case is getting so complicated that some days it feels like we’ve got no leads. Other days, it seems like everyone had the means and the motive to get Tennison dead.”
Cooper expelled another breath. “I can’t talk you out of it?”
“We’re just going to sit in our car,” I said. “Maybe munch on a few cookies. Keep an eye on the inn in case someone comes in or out. That’s all! It’s hardly dangerous.”
“I’ve heard that one before. From you, ironically.”
“I promise, Cooper. If it makes you feel better, I’ll call you when we’re done and headed home. Now, I really do have to get going. They’re about to wrap up on shooting for the night, and we have to get in place before Kyle releases everyone. Just in case it’s someone from the set sneaking away.”
“Sure,” Cooper said. “I can’t help but think it’ll be a waste of time.”
“I appreciate the enthusiasm.”
“I hope it’s a waste of time,” Cooper said. “What’s the alternative? You find something? Jenna, I don’t want you coming close to a murderer. Not even a murder suspect. I care about you. The last thing I want is to see you in danger.”
“That’s sweet.”
“So I hope you sit there and get a cramp in your leg. I hope your ass goes numb, and you get hungry and a little cold. I hope you don’t find anything,” Cooper said. “And then about half an hour into your stakeout, I’d just like you to picture me sitting at home with some nice Chinese takeout for consumption. A movie on the television. Possibly another foot rub.”
I groaned. “I might just have to cancel that stakeout.”
“Think about it.”
Cooper clicked off. The man knew how to leave a girl wanting. Greasy food and a foot rub? I was just about to return to the trailer and let Allie know we had a change of plans when Kyle called cut and announced they’d be picking up where they’d left off tomorrow night. He sounded exhausted.
Then I had the best idea I had all day. I rushed back to the trailer and grabbed Allie. We rushed to her car and hurried to the Blueberry Lake Inn where she tucked the car into a dark corner of the parking lot behind the only other car in the whole lot.
“Let’s go, let’s go,” I said, drumming against my legs.
“Relax,” Allie said. “You know how stakeouts go. We could be here all night.”
“I’ve got half an hour,” I said. “Cooper’s got food waiting for me.”
“Food.” Allie side-eyed me. “Uh-huh.”
“Honestly!”
“Sure,” Allie said with an eye roll. “Then it’s a good thing there’s someone coming already. You might just make it in time for some grub after all.”
Chapter 22
Allie was correct. There was a car approaching the inn. As it got nearer, however, I groaned. I knew that vehicle.
It was a truck, and it was Cooper’s truck. He navigated it to the opposite end of the parking lot and turned the lights and engine off. He gave a pleasant nod in our direction.
I picked up my phone and rang him. “Excuse me, but what are you doing here?”
“I was worried about you,” Cooper said. “Thought I might as well come and eat my dinner here. There’s nothing on TV that was interesting to me.”
“I told you he wasn’t interested in watching TV,” Allie said. “I don’t think he’s that interested in that takeout, either.”
At that moment, however, Cooper flipped open a box of Chin
ese. It was visible across the parking lot. I watched, drooling, as he lifted chopsticks to his mouth and took a delicious-looking bite.
“I’m pretty hungry,” I muttered, forgetting that I was still holding my phone.
“Let the stakeout go,” Cooper said. “Come on by my place. Or your place. Hell, we can sit in the bed of my truck for all I care right here.”
“That would scare people away,” I said, though I couldn’t take my eyes off his food. “That looks pretty good.”
“Mmm.”
“Forget it, I’m convinced,” Allie said. “Let’s set up shop in the bed of his truck.”
Cooper choked. I was pretty certain Allie hadn’t been invited on the date, but I couldn’t bear to tell her that. Not that it mattered because we’d already committed this much—there was no going back now. I was planning on staying here until someone from Los Angeles drove to this hotel, or until morning. Whichever came first.
“I’ve got to let you go,” I said as my stomach growled. “I can’t handle this much teasing.”
I hung up to the sound of Cooper’s laugh. It did make me want to go over there, sit next to him, maybe even hold his hand while we ate takeout and watched the hotel. But I’d never ditch Allie like that, and that wasn’t even the point. The point was that we were trying to figure out who had killed Tennison, and I truly believed this hotel room held a link to his death.
“There’s someone!” Allie pointed at the inn. “Someone’s coming out.”
She was right. I set my phone down and tore my eyes from Cooper and his Chinese food. The door to the inn was opening, and a flash of light spilled out from the inside. I held my breath as we waited to see who would emerge.
We didn’t have long to wait before Harriet Louise Schroeder emerged from her own building.
She gave a smile and a wave in Cooper’s direction before turning and making her way toward me and Allie.
She rapped on the window. I rolled it down.
“Got a cookie in there for me?” she asked, eyeing our stash. “What’re you doing here, ladies?”
“Um—” I looked to Allie who was quickly fumbling with the cookies, trying to offer some to Harriet.