“Could Mallory have been blackmailing some of these men?”
“Now you’re getting on board.”
“Mom even came up with the year Mallory went out with them.”
“Not as precise as she wanted it to be, but close enough to start asking questions of said date. I believe that would fall into the category of old-fashioned police work.”
Lando pressed a kiss to her lips. “I would’ve gotten around to digging into Mallory’s personal life at some point, but this makes it so much easier. Thank you.”
“No problem. Like I said, it’s self-serving. Maybe when you go poking into her personal life, Louise will cut me some slack and keep her trap shut. Are you aware that yesterday she told sweet little Angela Fisher that I’m a witch who can put spells on people? Angela came into the store and asked me to conjure up a potion to get even with Tristan Phillips for calling her a bad name. Angela’s twelve. Louise keeps telling anyone she sees that I’m a witch. And yes, you heard right. That’s with a W not a B, a B I could live with, but labeling me a witch is just nuts. She’s ruining my business.”
“I plan on having a talk with her about that.”
“It won’t do any good, Lando. Louise will deny everything and blame it on her friends, who obviously have a grudge against me. I don’t care for myself. I just don’t want to have to let Lianne go.”
“Are things that bad?”
“Not yet. That’s why I’m trying not to reach that point.”
“I thought the online website had increased sales?”
“It has. Twofold. Just not enough to cover overhead and expenses in the long run. Look, Lianne isn’t going anywhere if I can help it. I just need to increase walk-in traffic. The sad part is I can’t even count on people I’ve known for most of my life to help me out on that score.”
With his good arm, he took her hand. “We’ll think of something to turn things around.”
“Are you going to work today?”
“Sure. Why wouldn’t I?” He grabbed her around the waist. “You have something better planned?”
“I wish. Unfortunately, I have to go make decadent chocolate delicacies that no one wants to buy. I can give them away for free, but when they’re for sale…”
“It’s gonna work out, Gemma. I swear it will.”
“We should probably put some effort into picking out the songs for the playlist for Saturday night. I wanted to run a couple by you by Whitehorse.” She reached over and unlocked her iPhone, scanned the music library until she found what she wanted. “Canadian band, husband and wife singing duo. She has a great voice. He rocks guitar.”
The rhythm and vocals for the song “Emerald Isle” filled the kitchen.
“I like.”
“I thought you might.”
“I’ll get the band on board for a rehearsal Friday night.”
“Is that enough time?”
“A couple of run-throughs and we should be fine. We aren’t exactly playing the Hollywood Bowl.” Checking his watch, he drained his coffee cup. “I need to take care of some stuff before getting to work.”
“Will you be okay?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Be careful out there, Quickdraw. Try staying out of the line of fire.”
He kissed her with an intensity he hadn’t felt since he was eighteen, making it last as long as he could before he had to go. “I’m always careful, don’t cha know.” He ran a thumb down her jaw. “Promise me you’ll stop worrying about Louise.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because it’s past time I did my job.”
To make good on that promise his first stop was Claude Mayweather’s ranch-style house.
For such a pretty summer morning it was a shame to start his workday off in such a fiery mood, but it couldn’t be helped. Fact was, it was way overdue.
Peanut started barking before Claude ever opened the door.
“Hey, Chief, what’s up?”
“I’m gonna ask you straight out and I want the truth. Did Louise tell you who she thought killed her daughter?”
Claude shuffled his feet and dropped his eyes before clearing his throat. “She thinks Gemma Channing did it, told me so within the first few minutes after you told her Mallory was dead.”
“And did she ask you to make sure everyone else thought so, too?”
Claude nodded. “Well, sure. Gemma’s the one who found the body. You tried to alibi her. Seems you’ve been compromised, Chief.”
“No, I haven’t, Claude. And that’s what’s pissing me off, that you think I have. Gemma didn’t murder Mallory. I have the forensic evidence to back that statement up. You push me on this and I guarantee I’ll push back. Hard. Stop the negative crap, Claude. Today. It ends today. Are we clear?”
“Gemma didn’t murder Mallory?”
“No.”
“Louise is wrong?”
“How many ways do I need to say it, Claude?”
“Okay, okay. I’ll keep my mouth shut from now on out.”
“You’d better tell the rest to keep their remarks to themselves as well. Or do I need to make my next stop Janet Delgado’s place?”
“No, no, I’ll take care of Janet.”
“Good. I’m on my way to see Louise now. But if I have to come back here, Claude, I’m digging into your little group…digging into motive, putting you guys at the top of my suspect list because now I have to start wondering why you’re spreading these malicious lies. Is it to cover up for someone in your group? See where I’m going with this?”
Claude’s face turned white. “Yes, sir. I mean, no, no need to do that, Chief. I’ll end this smear campaign now. I promise.”
“You do that.”
The Rawlins home was two blocks over. Lando pulled up to the curb and walked up to the little stoop. Holly answered the door still wearing her robe. “Is Louise here?”
“She’s planning Mallory’s funeral. Can I give her a message?”
“I’m not going anywhere, Ms. Dowell, not until I talk to Louise. I understand this is a difficult time for both of you, but…I need to straighten some things out. Today. Now.”
“Let him in, Holly,” Louise said from the end of the hallway. “What is it you want, Chief?”
Lando stepped into the foyer and didn’t waste time getting to the point. “I want you to stop telling people that I’m covering for Gemma. You know it isn’t true. I also want you to stop building a case against her. Stop spreading these vicious lies. Don’t deny you’re using your friends to do it either because I know better and I have proof. I’ve spoken to Claude.”
“What if I am? I can’t stop people from talking. Claude, too. And you can’t do anything about it either.”
“I can. And I will. You keep this up and you can look for another job. Over the years, you’ve racked up a list of complaints against yourself as long as my arm. This is an official warning. If you don’t knock off these ugly things you’re telling people about Gemma, if you don’t put an end to it today, you’re gone.”
“You can’t fire me over that, I’ll go straight to the mayor. Fleet will reinstate me.”
“Go ahead. Contact him. You have a very short memory, Louise. Fleet’s one of those people who’ve been after me for years to get rid of you because of your abrasive attitude. And don’t even try to get away with this crap by pushing it off on your sister, or anyone else. I know what you’re trying to do. What I don’t know is why. Maybe this is more than your hatred for Gemma. But I’ll get to the bottom of it, eventually, even if it takes me into next week. For starters, I just spoke to Claude and he’s calling Janet. Keep accusing Gemma, and I’ll continue down the line with all your other friends until I’ve uncovered your real reason, the real point to all these accusations. You end this today or you’re done working for Coyote Wells PD.”
“Fine. But the truth will come out. And when it does, Gemma will go down.”
“The truth? I’m not sure you’d recognize it. I have e
vidence from Jeff Tuttle that rules Gemma out completely. She was with me when Mallory was killed. I told you that Monday morning and you refused to believe it then. But you know what I think, Louise? I think you’re afraid of the truth. You’re afraid of the real story coming out why your daughter was killed. You know everything Mallory was into and you’re afraid if you don’t divide the town now you’ll face public ridicule this time around. It’ll be so embarrassing for you that you’ll have to take drastic steps to save your reputation. Instead, you’d rather take the lead and blame Gemma than deal with the truth.”
Louise slumped down on the bench in the entryway. “You’d really fire me?”
“Yeah. I would. But not to protect Gemma or anyone else. Ever since I took over this job from Caulfield, you’ve been an outspoken critic of mine. Didn’t think I knew about that, did you? I’ve known it from the start, every lousy thing you’ve ever accused me of, or Payce or Jimmy or Dale, people have confronted me about it wherever I go in town. We’re seven years into this, Louise, and our relationship is barely tolerable. From eight in the morning until you leave at five, you’re a drain on department morale. I’m done looking the other way. I should’ve let you go seven years ago. But now when I look at you I see what I’ve been reluctant to see. There’s something sinister about you, Louise, something off. It finally hit me this morning. If you’re that unwilling to hear the truth about what really happened to your daughter that you’d make something up just to hurt someone else you’ve never liked, then I don’t need you in my department. Not now. Not ever.”
“So is that it? After working there for almost thirty-four years---I started when I was twenty---you won’t give me another chance?”
“Would it do any good?” Lando asked. “Don’t pretend I haven’t asked you every year at review time to change your attitude. Where did it get me? You flew out of my office in a rage, headed to Thackery’s Pub down at the wharf, and began to bitch and moan about how badly you’d been treated. You thought all those times I wouldn’t find out? Nothing much happens here that doesn’t get back to me one way or another. You and I both know this is nothing new. So don’t pretend it is. I ignored it and that’s on me. So here we are at the crossroads. Maybe it’s time for you to walk away on your own, with your pension intact, and on your own terms. Otherwise, I’ll put in the termination paperwork this afternoon.”
Louise began to sob, “I’m sorry. I was just so upset about Mallory. She was my whole world. I lashed out at Gemma because she was still alive, and Mallory was gone.”
Lando ran with the fake tears and turned it around on his dispatcher. “Sounds like you really are messed up. You should probably go see Dr. Rennick, the county shrink, before you retire. In fact, I insist on it.”
“So you’re forcing me out the door.”
“This is your out, Louise. I suggest you take it. Retire and I won’t fire you. It’s your choice.”
Lando glanced at Holly as he turned to leave. “Try talking some sense into your sister and see if you can convince her to keep her big mouth shut until I get to the bottom of this investigation. Do you think you can handle that?”
Speechless, Holly Dowell simply nodded.
“Great. Go finish your plans for the funeral.”
8
Even though a few new customers had found the shop---Dr. Song had stopped in twice to replenish chocolates at the behest of her staff---by the end of the week Gemma could tell Louise’s tactics had already taken their toll. Some of Gemma’s regulars were keeping their distance.
“I hope you don’t have to lay me off,” Lianne lamented.
The statement made Gemma bobble the bowl she held. It was one thing to admit defeat to Lando, quite another to admit it to Lianne. These days, it wasn’t in her nature to give up. “I won’t do that. No need to worry.”
“How can you not? We haven’t had a customer all day.”
“Then we’ll do something else,” Gemma said, trying to remain upbeat. She caught sight of Vince Ballard walking toward the shop. “Ah, see. Here comes the winemaker now. Maybe he’ll buy out the store. I’ll go into sales mode and get him to buy our entire line of truffles for his tasting room.”
“Ugh. I don’t like that guy. Do you mind if I duck into the backroom while he’s here? Maybe take my break early?”
Gemma snickered. “Sure. Go ahead. Abandon me in my hour of need. Coward.”
“Yep,” Lianne muttered as she barely managed to dash into the storeroom before the bell jingled above the door.
“Hey, Mr. Ballard. How’s it going?” Gemma called out. “Haven’t seen much of you lately.”
“I’ve been meaning to drop by. I never thanked you for finding out what happened to Collette, Marnie, and Marissa. I admit I certainly underestimated you.”
“I underestimated myself and bounced back. Besides, by now you’re bound to have heard some of the rumors floating around town. From Louise Rawlins. She thinks I killed Mallory. So far, she’s winning the gossip mill. Customers have been scarce around here. Empty shop. Aren’t you afraid I might put a spell on you or worse, put something sinister in the chocolate?”
Vince took a seat on one of the stools and reached into his pocket, pulled out a hundred-dollar bill and placed it on the stainless-steel counter. “You should hear what Louise says about me behind my back. That woman’s gums have been flapping ever since I moved here. Once I bought the vineyard and started my business she called me every name in the book. Tried to run me out of town more times than I can count. Never could admit to the fact that her daughter is a genuine nut job and a wannabe felon. So you know what I say to people who listen to that kind of BS?”
“What?”
“Stick it where the sun don’t shine ’cause you don’t need their business. Now be a dear and give me two dozen of those strawberry-filled white chocolate drops and two dozen of those white chocolate truffles covered with macadamia nuts. Both go great with the tawny port I bottled last winter. You should come by some time and try a sample.”
She didn’t care if he did take it the wrong way, Gemma stretched her arms out and wrapped them around the man’s neck. “Thank you, Mr. Ballard. I needed to hear that today, not to mention, I appreciate your business.”
He chuckled and patted her arm. “That’s another thing. You need to start calling me Vince.”
“I can do that, Vince.”
“What’s going on here?” Paloma said from the doorway, rapping her cane hard on the floor. “Cut that out, you two! Do I have to be the one to tell Lando his girl has a yen for this washed-up old winemaker?”
Vince laughed. “Get on in here, you old sot, you troublemaker, you. Where’ve you been keeping yourself? Won’t even invite me to supper anymore. My feelings are hurt.”
Paloma took a seat at one of the tables. “Trying to stop missing Marissa so much and having a lousy time of it. How about you?”
“Same here. Life just isn’t the same at the vineyard without Collette. Every morning when I pull into the lot I still expect to see her car there. And when I unlock the office door, I expect to see her sitting at her desk. Crazy, but I miss her something fierce.”
Paloma stretched out her legs, letting her cane dangle on the back of the chair. “Have you found anyone to take her place?”
“No one can take Collette’s place,” Vince admitted. “Although I have gone through the motions and interviewed a few people. So far, I haven’t found anyone who’s the right fit.”
So much sadness all around, Gemma decided. “You two need a refreshing chocolate soda. It won’t completely take away the blues, but it will fix what ails you on a warm summer day. What do you say?”
“I’ll fix them,” Lianne called out from the hallway, fanning her face. “That storeroom is mighty hot this time of day. Putting away all those supplies got to me.”
Gemma chuckled as she boxed up Vince’s order. “I shouldn’t have sent you back there in this warm weather in the first place,” she cracked, doing her b
est to keep a straight face.
Lianne rolled her eyes and looked out at Vince and Paloma. “I did volunteer to rearrange the storeroom.”
“What are you two prattling on about back there?” Paloma demanded. “Lianne’s not the only one who’s burning up in here. It wouldn’t hurt to turn up the AC a notch. Your customers are sweltering.”
“I wouldn’t want that,” Gemma piped up as she scooted over to adjust the thermostat. “It has been unseasonably warm along the coast this summer.”
“Two chocolate sodas will help with that,” Lianne crooned from behind the counter as she got busy.
Vince turned his attention to Lianne. “How are you holding up since Collette died?”
Lianne nodded toward Gemma. “This one’s helped me tremendously the last few months. Without her, I might’ve fallen apart completely.”
“It’s mutual,” Gemma stated. “Lianne came into my life at just the right moment. I guess we both needed a shoulder to cry on. In fact, I’ll fix two more sodas and we can all sit down and console each other.”
They passed the next hour laughing and talking---even reminiscing about Collette---so that by the time Vince left, he seemed in better spirits.
“I might’ve misjudged Vince,” Lianne admitted as she cleaned up the table. “I might’ve been doing the same thing with him that Louise is doing to you.”
“Same here. I’m ashamed to say there was a time I did think he murdered Collette and Marnie, maybe even Gram.” While Vince had left in a better mood, Gemma noticed a lingering sadness in Paloma’s eyes as if she wasn’t even listening to the chatter anymore. “What’s going on with you? Is everything okay?”
“I’m old and cranky, that’s what’s wrong,” the elderly woman huffed out in a desolate sigh. “Did you ever…I don’t know…think to ask me more about your father, more than you have?”
“I didn’t think you wanted me to.”
“Why on earth not? Aren’t you even the least bit curious about him? What he loved? How he spent his time? He wasn’t just a serial cheater, you know. He had some good points. He was a hard worker, a stand-up guy to his friends, a loyal person who would do anything for anybody.”
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