Laughing, he pulled it from the fridge and handed it to her.
She took a bite of the eggs and closed her eyes. “Did you put cheddar in this?”
“Yep.”
“Tastes great.” She gestured with her fork. “You can cook for me anytime.”
“It would be my honor.” He leaned against the sink and took a sip of his wine.
Jenny finished her plate. “What happened with you and Dad? I thought you were having dinner with him?”
“He needed to get back, and I was still hungry.”
She raised an eyebrow. “I heard you had a fight at Fiorella’s. I’m guessing you didn’t even eat.” She scanned the kitchen. “I guess that means you didn’t bring home any cannoli.”
“Sorry, kid. And I’m not even going to ask how you knew we had a fight.”
She looked smug. “I know all.” Her face darkened. “Was it the usual, or is it something I need to be worried about?”
“Nothing you need to worry about. Your dad and I still love you.” I kissed her cheek.
“Well if you didn’t bring me cannoli, what else do we have for dessert?”
“You could look.” She just stared at me. “Off the top of my head, we have ice cream in here and muffins and cinnamon rolls in the freezer outside.” I opened the pantry door. “And we have some store-bought cookies.”
“Tough choice.” She elbowed me out of the way and grabbed the chocolate chunk pecan cookies. “Maybe not so tough after all.” She poured a glass of milk.
Rob asked, “You’re not planning to take that whole bag upstairs, are you?”
She smiled. “No, of course not.” Taking two cookies out, she laid them on a napkin and then exited with the rest of the bag and her milk. Laughter echoed up the stairway.
Rob frowned. “Could she spare them?”
I laughed. “Eat those, and if you want more, I have another bag in the back.”
He smiled and popped one of the cookies in his mouth. “You know, these aren’t half bad.” He ate the second one and looked at me expectantly.
I sighed and rummaged through the pantry. Successful, I held up the bag.
Rob ripped it open and downed another cookie. He stared out the window. Then he backed up and turned off the kitchen light.
“What are you doing?”
He pointed toward the alley running between my house and Andy’s. I caught sight of Andy as he ducked into one of the shadows past Drew’s back porch lights. He looked like he was dressed to blend into the darkness. “Where do you think he’s going?”
.
Chapter 23
Swiping a dust rag around the living room the next morning, I took care to return all the Santas to their previous positions. Next, I began the mindless task of vacuuming, running it back and forth across the rug. It pinged as it picked up dead needles from the tree. Then a low moan rose over the roar of the vacuum, ending with a high-pitched squeal. Great. Need to shop for a new vacuum. Just what I want to spend my money on. I bent over the canister and tried to figure out where the noise was coming from. I jumped when Jenny clasped me on the shoulder.
She switched off the machine. “Mom, it’s the police, not the vacuum. They’re at Dad’s again.”
We rushed to the bay window just in time to see Drew being led out of the house in handcuffs. “What on earth?”
Jenny dove for the phone and pressed it into my hand. “You have to call his lawyer.”
Looking over at the refrigerator for her card, I moaned. “Darn. I gave her card to Melissa.”
Jenny pulled out her phone and googled the firm. She read the number to me, and I called Kendall. “Drew was arrested!”
“Not surprising. I heard about his threats last night. It’s not exactly the low profile I advised him to take. I’ll meet him at the station.”
“Please let me know what happened.”
“I’ll call to give you an update later today.” She hung up.
Jenny clung to me. “What’s going on, Mom?”
I rubbed her shoulder. “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”
Rob rushed in the back door. “Did you hear?”
“Yes, they just took Drew away. I guess making a public threat is a violation of parole.”
He panted. “Not about Drew. About Susan.” Jenny and I gave him blank expressions. He grabbed my hand. “She’s been killed. And it looks like it was the same person who killed Amanda.”
Jenny paled, swaying like a willow in the wind. Rob raced over to catch her just as she started to sink to the ground. He put her in a chair.
I bent over her. “Put your head between your knees and breathe. You’ll be okay in a minute. You’ve just had a terrible shock.”
I rubbed her back. After a few minutes, she raised her head. “I’m feeling better now.” Still looking pale, she tried to stand and then sank back down.
I turned to Rob. “Can you make her some hot chocolate? I have some instant in the cupboard, so you just have to nuke some water. Put an extra teaspoon of sugar in it.”
He bustled around the kitchen and brought over a steaming mug piled high with whipped cream. Jenny lifted her head, taking a sip. Color returning to her face, she sat back.
I said, “Try to take a little more, honey.”
She complied. “Maybe some marshmallows would help.”
Relieved, I gave a short laugh. Rob retrieved them and handed her the bag. She dropped in a handful and took another sip. “Much better.”
Rob sat. I mouthed, “Thank you.”
She finished the hot chocolate and stood, both of us gripping her arms. Impatient, she shook us off. “I feel better now.” She took a few trial steps. “Thanks. I’m going up to my room.”
I frowned. “I’ll go with you.”
“I’m not ten. I can go up to my room by myself.”
“I’ll just see you up the stairs. You’ve had a shock, and I don’t want you tumbling down.”
She rolled her eyes. “If it will make you feel better.”
I needed to jog to keep up with her as she raced up the stairs. Reaching her door, she looked back over her shoulder. “Told you.” She shut the door, and her music filled the air, the dull thud of the downbeat echoing through the hall, causing the floor to vibrate.
I returned to Rob. He asked, “Is she okay?”
Nodding, I poured two cups of coffee and sat at the counter. “Tell me everything you know.”
He leaned against the sink. “She was killed sometime last night. Similar to Amanda, one gunshot wound. She was found just inside her door, as if she answered it and whoever was there shot her.”
I frowned. “That looks bad for Drew.”
Rob came around the counter and rubbed my back. “It certainly does.”
“How was she found so quickly?”
“She was supposed to be volunteering at the church for the rummage sale.”
“And?”
“Drew’s threats were the talk of the sale. When she didn’t show up on time to help set up, the police were called. Her door was ajar, so the police entered and found her.”
“Wow.” The mug clanged as I misjudged the distance to the counter. Jerking up, I walked over to the window and stared out. Arms folded across my chest, I faced Rob. “Hear me out.”
“Of course.”
“Everyone in town knew about his threat last night. That means it would be a perfect chance for whoever killed Amanda to murder Susan. The killer would know Drew would be charged.”
Rob stared at me in disbelief. “That’s pretty convoluted. What possible motive would someone have to kill both of them?”
“To cement the fact that Drew was the killer.” I threw my hands up in the air. “I don’t know. It just looks bad for him.” I stared at the counter. “And I know something that makes it look even worse.”
Rob raised his eyebrow. “What could possibly make this worse?”
“After the church debacle between Drew and Susan, she went to Jay. She told
him and the Feds that she’d be willing to testify against him.”
Rob’s eyes widened. “And now she won’t be able to.”
I nodded and put my head down on the counter.
He rubbed my back and tilted my face toward his. “You’re going to have to prepare yourself. Jay could be right. Drew may be the killer.”
✽ ✽ ✽
Later that evening, Drew’s lawyer called. “They’re holding him without the possibility of bail. I’ll be preparing for trial on both counts.”
“What can I do to help?”
“Pray.”
I hung up the phone and crept upstairs. As I pressed open the door to Jenny’s room, the hall light glanced off her face. She was sound asleep. Tears flowed as I blew her a kiss and softly closed the door.
Unable to sleep, I pulled out an old photo album. Jenny must have been around five. Drew and I looked so young, so innocent. I laughed at the picture of Jenny with her face pressed against the goldfish bowl. Poor Goldie. Her life ended way too soon, a victim of overfeeding. As my finger caressed the picture, I remembered Drew conducting a funeral for Goldie as we buried her in the backyard, even picking out solemn music for Jenny’s procession with the shoebox-encased body. He was so kind then, and we were so in love. What happened?
I put the album down and paced. Drew probably did it. No, Philip or Andy must have done it. I stopped in my tracks to make a vow. Tomorrow I’m going to dig further. I need to know who killed Amanda and Susan. The clock chimed two. Swallowing a sleeping pill, I lay back down, my eyes squeezed shut and teeth clenched. Must relax.
My phone dinged. Flinging out my arms, I tried to grab it but knocked my lamp off the end table. It teetered for a moment but then fell to the floor with an impressive crash. My door banged open, and the cats ran out.
Jenny stood there, eyes wide. “Mom, what happened?”
I yawned. “I knocked over my lamp.”
She came around the side of the bed. “It’s a goner.”
Leaning over and viewing the carnage, I nodded.
Jenny hopped into bed. “Scooch over. It’s cold out.”
I complied, and she yanked the covers over herself, hogging them. “Hey.”
She laughed. “You snooze, you lose.” Relenting, she gave me some. “Why did you knock the lamp over?”
“I heard a text come in.”
“From whom?”
“I don’t know.” I gestured for her to hand me my phone. She glanced at it. “It’s from your boyfriend. He wants to know if you want to go to the ten-thirty Mass.”
I groaned. “It’s only seven.” I texted back, “Fine.” I burrowed more deeply under the covers. Shutting my eyes and hovering at the edge of sleep, I was yanked back to consciousness by the poke of a sharp fingernail. “Ow.”
“Wake up, Mom. I want to talk.”
I pried one eye open to find Jenny staring at me. Sighing, I put two pillows behind me and sat up. “What would you like to talk about?”
“Dad. What else?”
“What would you like to know?”
She winced. “You don’t think he did it, do you?”
I touched her face. “I really hope he didn’t. But things don’t look good right now for him.”
She nodded slowly. “When are they going to let him out on bail?”
“They’re not. I spoke with his lawyer last night, and she said he’ll be in until the trial.”
Jenny put her head on my shoulder. My pajama top soon became sodden. I stroked her golden hair. “I can’t promise you that everything is going to be okay, but he has a good lawyer. She’s well respected. It’s going to take time, though.”
She broke away and sat up. “Dad will miss Christmas. He’ll be in jail again. Just like the last four years.”
“I know.” I put my arm around her and pulled her to me. Her snuffling finally gave way to light snoring as the ceiling fan continued its slow revolution above the bed. Feeling pins and needles in my arm, I gently maneuvered it out, replacing it with a small pillow. Murmuring in her sleep, Jenny turned over. I got out of bed and padded downstairs.
Coffee maker on, I fed the cats and toasted myself a bagel. I made my way into the living room. Setting my food and mug down, I plugged in the tree and flicked on the fireplace. As I sat, I pulled the afghan around me and took a bite of the bagel. The clock chimed nine. Need to think about a shower.
Jenny shook my shoulder. “Weren’t you going to meet Mr. Jenson for the ten-thirty?”
I stretched. “I must have dozed off. What time is it?”
“Ten. You left your phone in bed. He texted to find out if you wanted to have breakfast after church.”
Screeching, I leapt off the couch. “Text him. Tell him I’ll be late and will meet him inside.”
Running upstairs, I took a quick sink bath and threw some mascara on. I dashed into my clothes and was back downstairs in twenty minutes.
Jenny smiled from her prone position on the couch. “A new world’s record.”
I threw a pillow at her. “You better be planning on going to the noon Mass.” She nodded as I raced out the door.
The choir was on the first hymn as I eased myself into the seat next to Rob. He looked at me with a question in his eyes.
I whispered, “Don’t ask.”
Finally calming down halfway through the homily, my eye was caught by a couple sitting a few rows in front of us. I elbowed Rob and said out of the corner of my mouth, “Philip and Lauren Stamper.” I nodded in their direction.
Rob’s eyes widened. “They must be back together.”
At the end of Mass, I saw them ahead of us in the vestibule talking to Father Tom. I nodded at Rob. “Let’s try to catch up with them.”
Rob ducked into the next pew and moved from the clogged center aisle to one of the side aisles. I followed. We emerged in the vestibule just as Philip and Lauren were saying goodbye to Father Tom.
Rob waved at Philip. “Wait up.”
Philip and Lauren smiled, stopping by the door. Rob joined them. “Merry and I were just going for breakfast. We’d like to have you join us.”
Lauren looked at Philip, and he nodded. “That sounds great. Golden Skillet in ten minutes?”
“We’ll see you there.”
Philip clasped Lauren’s hand and held the car door for her.
I said, “I wonder when they got back together.”
Lauren and Philip stood in front of the restaurant when we pulled in. When we joined them, Philip explained, “We were out here enjoying the sunshine.”
Rob nodded. “I know. The sun is such an iffy proposition. It seems like it disappears in winter, only to come back in spring.”
Smiling in agreement, Lauren and I led the way into the restaurant. The host sat us right away, and we ordered soon after.
I put my napkin on my lap. “I stopped at Tempting Treasures on my way to work the other day. I was surprised how fast the construction is going.”
Lauren gave me a strained smile. “It doesn’t seem that fast to me. The noise makes conversations with my clients difficult.” Relaxing, she sat back. “I shouldn’t complain. I can’t wait for them to be done. Ed’s cooking will drive people to my door. Right now I don’t have to give directions to my office. I just say follow the noise.”
“When are they going to be done?”
“Andy told me about three more weeks. They might have finished sooner, but the Christmas holiday will slow things down.”
I played with my silverware. “I’m surprised Andy wanted to start before Christmas. It seems like he would want to maximize sales by beginning in January.”
“I asked him about that. He said that the construction is a draw. People in this town are so nosy they’re checking out progress several times a week. He’s now keeping hard hats by the door and said this has been one of his busiest Christmases. He’s keeping one section of the store closed off from the construction that has items most likely to sell during the holidays.”
&n
bsp; Rob said, “I guess Amanda’s death ended up being good for their business.”
Philip gasped, and Lauren rubbed his shoulder. Rob said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t think about how difficult this discussion would be for you.”
Philip sipped his coffee. “That’s okay. Everyone knows that Amanda dumped me. I’m just glad my blinders were taken off so that I could come back to this lovely lady here.” He cupped Lauren’s face and gave her a quick kiss on her cheek.
Beaming, Lauren kissed his hand. “That’s right. I don’t want to be insensitive, but Amanda’s gone and I’m happy to see people moving on with their lives. Especially this handsome fellow.” She leaned closer to Philip.
I smiled. “So what have you two been up to lately?”
Lauren said, “Philip had a dental emergency Friday night. I just love hearing him talk about work. It’s so fascinating.”
I started to raise my eyebrows. I quickly lowered them when I realized she was serious. Yuck.
Rob stirred his coffee. “Really? Who had the emergency?”
“I can’t say. Patient confidentiality rules, you know.”
Rob nodded. “So you were gone all night?”
“Till the wee hours anyway. Why?”
“No reason. I just thought I saw you over by the supermarket around ten.”
Philip’s head popped up as if the crank had been turned on a jack-in-the-box. “Couldn’t have been me.”
Lauren stroked his hand. “Anyway, I was home alone. It gave me a chance to watch Casablanca. Have you ever seen it?”
I smiled, and Rob said, “It’s one of our favorites.” I blushed and knocked over my coffee cup while reaching for the salt.
The coffee traveled quickly toward Lauren. Rob and I grabbed extra napkins from the waiter station, dumping them in the coffee’s path. “I’m so sorry, Lauren. I think the adrenaline is kicking in, what with Susan’s death.”
Lauren jumped up. “Susan is dead?”
I nodded. “You didn’t hear? It happened sometime Friday night.”
Philip frowned. “Such a shame. She works for you, right?”
I shook my head. “No. Not now. She did in the past.”
Lauren sank back onto her chair. “It’s just such a shock. I spoke with her Thursday. She was so excited about moving in with Drew.” She clapped her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry, Merry. That’s probably a sore subject for you.”
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