by Mary Ellis
After another hour and four more interviews, Jill thought her head might crack wide open. She paid their tab and dragged Michael out the door to their waiting Uber. Jill had had enough of loud bars and louder patrons competing for attention. All she wanted was her soft bed, two aspirins, and a soothing cup of peppermint tea.
A steady rain drummed against the window as Jill climbed out of bed on Friday. It would be a good day to stay indoors and visit another Louisville distillery. Michael was all for the idea, even though his morning headache rivaled hers from last night’s noise.
After a pancake breakfast at a coffee shop around the corner, Jill climbed behind the wheel and drove four blocks to the visitor center of one of the national brands. Along with a busload of tourists, they watched a video in the theatre and wandered around distillation mockups in the display room. Since they would never learn interesting tidbits at generic presentations, Jill drove to the outskirts of town to the real distillery, which bustled with activity at midday.
After waiting nearly two hours for the next tour, Michael bought their tickets and they joined the throng. Since this was the fourth distillery Jill had observed, besides having distant cousins who made moonshine in the hills, there wasn’t much new to be learned. Proprietary recipes were closely guarded secrets, so tours never included the subtle nuances in process which made bourbons unique. Michael videotaped what they allowed him to, while Jill jotted down the sights, sounds, and smells of the production plant. In the tasting room, she recorded a few amusing comments made by tourists.
After they drove back to the hotel, Michael went to the fitness room to work out, while Jill stretched out on her bed for a nap. Three hours later, the phone on the bedside table jarred her awake. ‘Hello?’ she mumbled into her cell.
‘Jill? Alexis Scott. Oh, goodness, did I wake you?’
‘Yeah, but I’m glad you did. I laid down for a short nap and slept for hours. Thanks.’ Jill scraped her palms down her face.
‘I can’t tell you how good a nap sounds right now. I just spent the entire day with my mother, finalizing details for Dad’s funeral, along with the luncheon afterwards. Mom was furious that the urn will be empty during the service. As though a single mourner in the congregation will know or care about that!’
Jill paced across her room to the window, which had a wonderful view of the parking lot. ‘It sounds like you got through it OK. I’m proud of you.’
‘I was shaky in the morning, but Rose annoyed me so often and so badly, I rallied to the cause. Who knew that rage trumps sorrow in a battle of emotions?’
Jill turned up the AC to perk her up. ‘I’ll keep that in mind for the future. Where are you now?’
‘Back at my apartment. I just received news that I want to share, but I don’t want to do it here or on the phone. I know how crazy this must sound, but I don’t trust my mother. She might have bugged this place or tapped my phone.’
‘You’re joking, right?’
‘I’m not, but I hope I’m exaggerating Mom’s capabilities.’ Alexis took a sip of something. ‘I know you need to spend time with your partner, but could you possibly meet me for dinner? I have news I can’t share with anyone but you.’
It didn’t take an Einstein protégé to guess Alexis’s news. ‘I just spent the entire day with Michael. First we had breakfast, then spent hours in a visitor center, and finally toured the production plant of one of your competitors. He wore me out. Enough time with Michael.’
She laughed. ‘So you’ll meet me?’
‘Wild horses couldn’t keep me away. Tell me the time and the place and I’ll be there.’ Jill tried to sound as dramatic as possible.
Alexis rattled off the name and address of a restaurant. ‘Thanks, Jill. I’m very grateful. See you at six.’
Jill splashed cold water on her face and redid her make-up. After changing out of the outfit she’d slept in, she grabbed her purse and strode through the living room. ‘I’m taking the car tonight, Erickson. You can walk, take a bus, or have food delivered for your supper.’
Michael glanced up from the TV. ‘On a special errand for the Bourbon Queen? Why doesn’t Alexis pick you up in her BMW convertible?’
Jill narrowed her eyes into a glare. ‘Be a good boy while Mommy’s gone and don’t make a mess.’ With that, Jill stomped out the door. But she hadn’t even left the parking garage when her phone rang.
‘Hello, Magic Man,’ she drawled after noticing the screen. ‘Are you on the long and winding road from Lorraine?’
‘Yep, almost back to Derby City and I can’t wait to see you!’
‘Lovely, but we have one tiny fly in the ointment. Since I didn’t know when you’d be back, I promised my new best friend I’d have dinner with her. She has news that can’t wait until tomorrow.’
All Jill heard was silence on the other end. Then Nick asked, ‘Is your new BFF Alexis Scott?’
‘One and the same.’
More silence. Jill thought she heard him let out a deep breath before he said, ‘I probably should’ve mentioned this before, but one or the other of us was always in a hurry on the phone. I knew Alexis in college. We both went to the University of Kentucky at the same time.’
‘Splendid. Since you two already know each other, there’s no reason you can’t join us. Alexis might appreciate a professional lawman’s opinion. Off the record, of course. We’re dining at Maxwell’s at six o’clock.’
There was another significant silence on the other end.
‘What’s up, Nick? Are you mad about sharing me for part of the evening?’
‘No, but if Miss Scott has news to share, she might not want anyone else around. Why don’t you stop by my apartment after dinner? You still haven’t seen my incredible décor yet.’
‘I’d love to, but I insist you join us for dessert. By then she will have revealed her news and I would love to introduce my new boyfriend to your old college acquaintance. What a small world.’
‘Indeed, it is,’ he murmured. ‘If you insist, I’ll stop by around seven thirty.’
A wave of unease swept through her, but Jill had no time to figure out the complexities of the male mind. Instead she set the GPS for Maxwell’s and arrived right on time. After the hostess led Jill to a booth in a corner, far from other diners, Alexis jumped up to hug her.
‘Forgive this cloak-and-dagger stuff, but my parents have tons of friends. You never know who might be listening in.’
‘Eavesdropping seems to be a favorite hobby in this town.’ Jill slid into the booth across from her.
‘You catch on quickly.’ Alexis waved her hand and a waiter materialized with a wine list and menus. ‘I believe you like wine, so please select your favorite.’ She handed the list to Jill.
Jill passed the list back. ‘I’m not much of a drinker at all, but I’ll have one glass of whichever one you pick.’
‘Maxwell’s specialty is beef, so I’ll order a bottle of red. Why don’t we select our food to minimize interruptions later?’
Jill gave her order to the waiter, then folded her hands on the table. ‘All right, enough drama. Tell me your news.’
‘I heard from Dad’s doctor who was contacted by the medical examiner this afternoon. Although certain signs might indicate a heart attack, the M.E. also found a small puncture wound behind Dad’s left ear similar to those made by a hypodermic needle, hence the call to his doctor. Dad didn’t have diabetes or any medical condition requiring injections. The M.E. has sent a blood sample and the contents of his stomach to the lab for a full tox screen.’ Alexis met her gaze. ‘I did a little research, Jill. There are several drugs that mimic a heart attack when ingested or injected.’
‘When will they have the results?’
‘Since tomorrow is Saturday, maybe not until Monday. The M.E. will contact the police and the homicide department.’
‘With your father’s funeral tomorrow, it’s probably best you don’t know.’ Jill leaned back as their waiter poured the wine.
&nbs
p; Alexis considered this. ‘You’re probably right. Otherwise I might demand an alibi from everyone who shows up at the service.’
Jill reached for Alexis’s hand. ‘Tomorrow will be hard enough. You should concentrate on saying goodbye to your father. They’ll be plenty of time to seek the truth later.’
‘You’re right. I will see that Dad gets the send-off he deserves. Too bad you couldn’t have met him.’ Alexis took a sip of water. ‘He was a good father. He always made time for me, despite his responsibilities at Parker Estate.’
‘How long had he been the master distiller?’
‘Not long, maybe eighteen months. My grandfather, Robert Parker II, had to step down because of health concerns. Since no one thought I was ready, including me, my dad took the helm.’
‘Don’t you have any brothers or sisters?’
The corners of her mouth turned down. ‘Unfortunately, no. And most of my friends from high school and college followed their dreams away from Louisville. That’s why I’m glad you and Michael are coming to the memorial service. I’m eager to meet your partner at long last.’
‘At least one of your pals from long ago hasn’t left town.’ Jill picked up her fork as salads were placed in front of them.
‘Really, who would that be?’
‘Nick Harris. He’s a state investigator now assigned to post number four. He’s on his way back from visiting Lorraine.’
‘Yes,’ she drawled, blinking several times. ‘I remember he came from a small town in Nelson County. You said you were from Chicago. How do you know Nick?’
‘We met a few weeks ago when he came to Roseville to investigate the murder at Black Creek Distillery. We got off to a rocky start because Nick considered me a suspect for a while.’ Jill wiggled her eyebrows. ‘But once he ruled me out as a murderer, we found we had many things in common.’
‘Are you two dating?’ Alexis asked, picking up her wineglass.
‘We are as much as our schedules will allow. He was called to Lorraine for a possible issue with his mother.’
‘Julie …’ Alexis murmured.
‘Wow, good memory! I’ll say the same thing I said to him earlier – small world.’ Jill took a bite of salad.
‘You talked to Nick today?’
‘Yes, he called me while driving back to Louisville. I asked him to join us for dessert, since we’d be done discussing your news by then. Won’t it be nice to see an old acquaintance?’
‘Yes, it will, but we better start eating.’ Alexis dug into her salad as though she hadn’t eaten in days. When their steaks arrived, Alexis continued to devour food at a ridiculous pace.
Jill couldn’t remain silent for another moment. ‘Slow down, girl, before you choke to death.’
Blushing, Alexis met her eye. ‘Sorry, that must have appeared very rude.’
‘Rude? No, but it does seem like you’re trying to finish your food quickly so you can leave and avoid seeing your old friend. Did you and Nick have a falling out?’
Alexis wiped her mouth with a napkin. ‘Not really, but if I hurried and left, you two could have some time alone.’
‘Too late to worry about that,’ Jill said, grinning. ‘Nick Harris is headed our way.’ She waved him over, then tapped the side of her face with her finger.
‘Hi, Jill.’ Nick kissed Jill’s cheek and sat down between the two women. ‘Nice to see again, Alexis.’
‘Is it?’ she asked. ‘I would think after the horrible way we broke up you’d never want to lay eyes on me again.’
Nick paused as the waiter delivered a third wine glass. ‘College was a long time ago. I’m not holding any grudge or resentment toward you.’ He picked up the glass as soon as it was filled. ‘I’m sorry to hear about your father.’
‘That’s nice of you to say. Dad always liked you, Nick. It was my mom and grandparents who …’ Alexis let the rest of her sentence hang in the air, unspoken.
Jill’s head swiveled back and forth as though watching a tennis match. ‘Holy cow,’ she muttered, scrambling to her feet. ‘I sure didn’t see this one coming. I’ll let you two catch up in private.’
‘Please, Jill, sit down,’ Nick pleaded.
‘You haven’t finished your dinner yet.’ Alexis stated the obvious.
Jill pointed her index finger at the plate. ‘That overpriced steak is too rare for my liking. I’ll stop for a burger on my way home.’ Feeling on the verge of tears, she marched from the restaurant with her head held high.
FIVE
Jill had almost reached her car when Nick grabbed her arm.
‘Wait up, Jill. I told you I knew Alexis in college.’ He held her by both shoulders.
‘There’s a big difference between knowing someone and being sweethearts.’ She tried to pull away but he held tightly.
‘Just let me explain.’
‘There’s nothing to explain. I get the picture. You were college sweethearts until someone in Alexis’s family intervened and broke you up. My money’s on Mommy Dearest. Rose Parker Scott would scare off Dracula himself. How am I doing so far?’
Nick tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. ‘Alexis and I dated in college for almost a year. When her parents found out, her mother freaked. Rose wanted her daughter to marry a doctor or a lawyer, certainly not someone who aspired to a career in law enforcement.’
Jill stepped back. ‘The Alexis I know wouldn’t have allowed anyone to tell her who to love.’
‘That’s just it – Alexis and I were just really good friends. We enjoyed the same things, so we spent more and more time together. In many ways we were going through the motions, living up to the expectations of being a couple. But we were never in love with each other. If Rose would’ve just stayed out of it, we would’ve come to that realization on our own and parted as friends. Unfortunately, I got into an ugly confrontation with her parents, and horrible things were said on both sides.’ Nick’s face filled with pain. ‘I’m sure Alexis is as embarrassed and uncomfortable to see me as I am her.’
Jill placed one hand on a hip. ‘I gotta admit, neither of you seemed overjoyed to reconnect.’
‘That’s putting it mildly.’ Nick forced a smile. ‘But I’m glad you’re helping her through this. Truly, I am. Alexis doesn’t make friends easily, and with a mother like Rose she needs all the support she can get.’
‘So I’m not worming my way into a love triangle?’
‘On my honor, you are not.’ Nick lifted his hand as though testifying in court. ‘My heart belongs to someone, but it’s not Alexis Scott.’
‘Is it some red-haired siren you met in the third grade? I want no surprises when I visit Lorraine.’ Both hands now rested on Jill’s hips.
Nick shook his head. ‘The only redhead I remember hated my guts. Something to do with sticking a worm down her shirt.’
‘All right, Harris. You and I are still tight.’
Nick slipped an arm around her waist. ‘Since I ruined your dinner, let me buy you a burger. I’m starving. All this romantic drama worked up an appetite.’
Jill laughed. ‘Sounds good, but first I’m going back inside to tell Alexis I overreacted. Like you said, she needs friends right now, not a jealous woman defending her territory.’
‘Have I been reduced to a territory?’ he asked, smirking.
‘Live with it. That could’ve ended so much worse.’
‘I’ll wait here, but ask her if I can come with you to the funeral.’
Jill waved, indicating she’d heard. Inside she found Alexis still at the table, staring into space.
She flinched with surprise as Jill approached. ‘Jill, I don’t know why I didn’t tell you about Nick before he arrived. I am so sorry.’
Jill lifted her palms. ‘No apology necessary. I’m the one who behaved badly. The last thing you need right now is a jealous female overreacting to the past.’
Alexis threw both arms around her and hugged her. ‘Nick is the past. I swear it.’
‘That’s what he said too, but he
would like to come to your dad’s funeral if it’s OK.’
‘It is with me, if it’s OK with you.’
Jill extracted herself from the embrace. ‘Are we going to dance around, politically correct, from now on?’
‘You could pull out a handful of my hair first.’ Alexis sat back down.
‘No, instead I’m going to stay while you finish your expensive supper. Then I’ll let Nick buy me a burger and fries.’
Alexis swallowed a bite of steak. ‘I’m glad Nick will be at the funeral since he’s a state cop.’
‘He has no jurisdiction here, but he will keep his eyes open.’ Jill finished the wine in her glass. ‘All right, Nick, Michael and I will meet you at St Andrew’s Episcopal Church on Woodbourne at ten. That way if you faint you’ll have at least three people to catch you.’
Alexis cut another piece of cold steak. ‘I’m not the fainting type, but I’m glad you’ll be there, that you’ll all be there. Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome. But next time we meet for dinner, let me pick the place. I prefer my food cooked before serving.’
Nick took Jill to his favorite burger joint, famous only with the locals. They feasted on burgers and fries with malt vinegar, then split a chocolate shake. Jill didn’t stop until she thought her stomach might explode, but Nick finished all of his and picked at what she left.
‘What are you grinning about, Harris?’ she asked.
‘I finally figured out who you reminded me of, temperament-wise.’
Jill pondered, then brandished her fork like a weapon. ‘No way. How could I possibly be like Alexis? She grew up on an estate. I grew up in a small three-bedroom bungalow in the Chicago burbs.’
‘Wealth doesn’t define a person. Money might influence the clothes you wear or the type of car you drive, but it does not determine your heart and soul.’
Jill pulled over the milkshake. ‘Well said, Sigmund Freud. I think Alexis has a big heart too. That’s why if someone had killed her father, I want to help her find the murderer.’
‘I’ll assist as much as I can, as long as I fly under the radar. If you need me, I’ll take a few more vacation days next week.’