Murder and Salutations (Book 3 in the Cardmaking Mysteries)

by Tim Myers

  To my surprise, Lillian answered the telephone.

  “I’m really glad you stayed there last night,” I said, wondering how my aunt’s manner would be toward me this morning after our harsh exchange last night.

  “Jennifer, how lovely to hear from you. How is your wrist?”

  “It’s good,” I said, relieved my aunt had chosen to ignore what had happened. I’d been out of line with my comment, but then she’d made a few herself over the years, so I figured I was just catching up. Still, I’d have to watch what I said around her until the sting wore off. “Listen, I wanted to let you know that you can come in late if you want to. I’d be happy to open the shop by myself.”

  I knew that morning wasn’t my aunt’s favorite time of day, and I wanted to make the offer in recompense for the night before.

  “Nonsense. Sara Lynn and I are commuting to work together this morning. I’m going to drop her off at the scrapbooking store, and then I’ll be at the card shop.”

  “That’s wonderful,” I said. I wasn’t sure how Lillian had managed to convince Sara Lynn to carpool, but I was glad she had.

  “I’ll see you soon, then.”

  After I hung up, I gave Oggie and Nash their morning meal, then headed out the door. My wrist throbbed as I touched the handrail. At least I didn’t have to carry anything bigger than my purse. Then I remembered that I had to move soon, and I wondered how in the world I would manage it with a tender wrist.

  When I got to my Gremlin, I was surprised to see Bradford sitting beside it in his squad car. “I thought you already left.”

  “I did,” he said, “but I decided to come back. I’m taking you to work today.”

  “Bradford, don’t be silly. I’m perfectly capable of driving myself to work and back.”

  “I know, but if something happens to you when I’m not around, Lillian, Sara Lynn and Cindy are going to take turns killing me. Come on. Get in.”

  I wanted to fight him on it. After all, I cherished my independence. I also realized that I’d feel better sitting beside Bradford in his squad car than I would all alone in my Gremlin. “Okay, but you’ll have to pick me up after work, too.”

  “I’d be delighted,” he said. Bradford let me off in front of Custom Card Creations, and just as I opened the front door for business, Lillian came in behind me.

  Before I could say a word, she said, “Jennifer, we need to talk about what happened last night.”

  Oh, no, one of the two conversations I wanted to avoid more than anything in the world was about to happen. “I’m so sorry about the way I spoke to you. I was under stress—not that it’s any excuse.”

  “What on earth are you talking about?”

  I looked at her to see if she was joking, but she was dead serious. “I called you selfish and ordered you around last night. Surely you haven’t forgotten that.”

  “Jennifer, you’re much too sensitive. I don’t recall you being harsh.”

  Fine. If that was how she chose to recall it, I wasn’t about to set her straight. “Then what do we need to discuss?”

  “Sara Lynn wants to see you immediately. She’s still sitting in my car, as a matter of fact.”

  “What’s so important?”

  “She wants to talk to you about her husband, of course. It took every ounce of energy I had last night to convince her that you needed your rest. She kept demanding to talk to you. Do you mind speaking with her?”

  “Lillian, I understand completely. I’ll be right back.”

  “Take your time,” she said. “I’ll open the shop. In fact, why don’t you two take a drive while you talk?” She stunned me by handing me the keys to her precious Mustang.

  “Are you serious?”

  “Of course I am,” she said.

  “Thanks.” I left before she could change her mind. Lillian had been fanatical about keeping her last car to herself, and I gave up all hope of ever driving one when she’d had to buy a brand-new one.

  As I got into the driver’s seat, Sara Lynn asked, “What are you doing? I don’t want to go anywhere. I want to talk.”

  “Lillian gave me the keys. I’m not about to pass this up. She said you wanted to talk. So talk.” I started the car and pulled out, just narrowly avoiding a bread truck. He blared his horn at me, and I saw Lillian’s head pop up in the front window. I waved at her and drove off, knowing without a doubt that this was the first and last time I’d ever get the chance to drive one of her cars. My wrist was tender as I held the wheel, but I managed fine.

  Sara Lynn asked me, “What happened at the restaurant?”

  “Are you telling me our dear brother didn’t tell you a thing last night?” It was just like him, avoiding conflict where he could, when it came to Sara Lynn and me.

  “I want to hear your version,” Sara Lynn said. “I’ve heard Bradford’s account, but now I want it all straight from you.”

  She had that right, after all.

  After I shared every bit of what I could remember, Sara Lynn asked, “Who was he talking about? Did you get any hint of who he had in mind?”

  I shook my head. “He wouldn’t say, and I knew better than to push him on it. Do you want to know the truth? I honestly think he was more worried about your reaction to him taking your emergency fund than he was about someone trying to kill him. He loves you, Sara Lynn.”

  “Of course he does,” she snapped. “That’s why I don’t understand how foolish he was with Eliza.”

  “Do you think you’ll ever be able to forgive him?” I asked softly. I knew how much my sister believed in loyalty, and Bailey had crossed a line that was hard to forget or erase.

  “I’m trying, believe me. I still love him. That’s why he’s driving me so crazy. I don’t know what to do.”

  I wanted to pat her shoulder, to offer her a hug or something, but if I wrecked Lillian’s car, she’d have my hide for a seat cover in her next Mustang. “Can I do anything to help?”

  “I’m afraid no one can,” she said. “Thank you for asking, though.”

  “I’m here if you need me,” I said.

  After a few moments, my sister said, “Actually, there is one thing you can do for me, Jennifer.”

  “What’s that? Just name it.”

  “Find out who really killed Eliza Glade,” she said. “That’s the only way I’m ever going to be able to work this out with Bailey.”

  “I’m trying,” I said.

  “Then try harder. Would you mind taking me to Forever Memories? I need to be among my favorite things right now.”

  “I understand completely,” I said as I headed for her store. I found great comfort in my card-making supplies, and realized it would be the same for Sara Lynn.

  I pulled up in front of her shop, and she leaned in and said, “You’ve got to help Bradford find out who did this.”

  “I promise, I’ll do my best,” I said. But as I drove down Oakmont to Custom Card Creations, I couldn’t imagine what I could do that I hadn’t already tried. One thing was certain: whoever had shot at Bailey and me must have suspected that now I knew his secret, too. That meant that I’d have to be especially careful if I didn’t want my name on the hit list as well. I had a strong feeling that if I found out who killed Eliza, I’d know who took those shots last night.

  Chapter 10

  Lillian was standing by the window, peering outside, when I drove up and parked in front of the shop. Before I could get out, she was there beside me. Her gaze scanned the paint job as I joined her and handed her the keys.

  “That’s one sweet ride,” I said, grinning at her.

  “Jennifer, you nearly gave me a heart attack.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “That bread truck,” she said, nearly shouting.

  “You’re kidding. Lillian, he was the one who nearly hit me. Besides, it wasn’t that close a call.”

  “You were near enough to smell his breath,” she said.

  “Would you forget about your car? It’s fine.�
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  She calmed down long enough to ask, “How’s Sara Lynn?”

  “She’s pretty upset,” I said. “She made me promise to find out who killed Eliza Glade, as if we haven’t been trying to figure that out all along, anyway.”

  “Then we need to redouble our efforts,” Lillian said. “And we will, just as soon as you take care of something else.”

  “What’s that?” I asked, looking around the store. “Is there a customer I’m missing?”

  “No, but we did have a visitor while you were gone.

  Greg Langston was here, and he was determined to talk to you.”

  “Well, I’m not ready to talk to him,” I said. One confrontation this morning was one too many, as far as I was concerned. Greg was just going to have to wait.

  “Jennifer, you need to tie up this loose end so we can work without distraction,” she said.

  The bad thing was that I knew she was right. “Fine. I won’t be gone long.”

  “I won’t hold you to that,” Lillian said.

  “Trust me, what I’ve got to say can be handled in thirty seconds.”

  “It’s not your opening statement I’m worried about,” Lillian said. “It’s his rebuttal.”

  “He’s not talking me into anything else,” I said. “I promise.”

  “Jennifer, you know how I feel about people making promises they can’t keep.”

  “Just watch me.”

  I left the card shop and walked down to Greg’s pottery store. If Greg wanted to talk to me, he was going to get more than he’d bargained for.

  He was with a customer when I walked in. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that he’d planned it that way just to defuse my temper. I didn’t care how irrational that sounded, even in my head. I wasn’t in the mood to have anyone cross me, including my own subconscious.

  The customer finally left, clutching two of Greg’s kiln salamanders like they were made of gold. Greg took the partially melted and twisted triangular cones used to gauge the temperature in his kiln, added a few features like legs and a face, glazed them, then retailed them to the public as small knickknacks. “I sell more of those than I have any right to, especially since they’re basically free to create. Jennifer, I honestly tried to get to you last night, but your family wouldn’t let me near you. I’m so happy you’re all right.” He gestured toward my wrist tenderly. “Are you all right? Were you scared?”

  “What? No. Yes, of course I was. Listen, we need to talk.”

  “I came by your shop a little while ago,” he said, “but your aunt told me that you were with Sara Lynn. How’s she holding up?”

  I shook my head. “Greg, right now we’re talking about us. You and me, for the last time there will ever be a you and me. Last night was the biggest summation of our relationship that there could ever be. Anybody who thinks God or Fate or whatever Supreme Being they believe in doesn’t have a sense of humor is insane. We can’t even have a farewell dinner without it being interrupted by gunplay. If that’s not a sign, what is?”

  Greg stared at me a few seconds, then said, “I believe it was a sign, too. Just not the same one you think.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I don’t think we should have ever broken up,” he said, his words coming out in a rush. “Think about it, Jennifer. There’s a reason we didn’t finish this between us.”

  “Yeah, some lunatic took a couple of shots at me.” My voice was shriller than I liked, but I couldn’t help it. “Greg, we don’t belong together, not anymore. I loved you at one time, I’ve never denied it, but there’s no future in this relationship for either one of us.”

  He stepped closer than I would have liked, but I didn’t back away. “Jennifer, look into my eyes and tell me you don’t still love me.”

  I felt his presence, a strong aura that made my knees go weak. “It’s no use,” I said, but even I was aware of the lack of conviction in my voice. “I can’t do this.”

  “You’re right,” he said, stepping even closer. “There’s no use fighting it anymore.”

  It would have been easy enough to turn my cheek as he started to kiss me. I’d done it enough times in the past to be an expert at it. But I didn’t even move, I’m sorry to say. Ten seconds into the kiss, I’d forgotten why I’d come there in the first place. I’d also forgotten my name and my birthday. Wow. I was about ready to give in completely, regardless of the consequences, when Greg’s front door opened. As he pulled away from me, I caught a glimpse of Stephanie’s back as she ran back out the door.

  And then Greg gave me the only real answer I’d been expecting all along. If he was really interested in being with me, he would have at least said something to me before he raced out after her. Instead, all I heard were his pleas to Stephanie to stop. He didn’t even look back at me as he bolted down the street after her.

  I shook my head, trying to wipe the images I’d been entertaining out of my mind. At last I knew that whatever Greg and I had shared was finally dead. It still stung as I saw him race through traffic to catch the woman he loved. More than a little part of me was sad that I wasn’t the one for him, though I knew in my head that he wasn’t the one for me, either. There was no denying we had a physical pull between us, but that was all it was, and I refused to try to build anything more solid on just that. I needed more, and to be fair, I was sure that Greg did, too. It was finally time to move on.

  I couldn’t exactly lock his shop up, since I didn’t have a key, but I did the next best thing. I flipped his sign to the closed position, then turned off all the lights. It would have to do until he got back. Waiting there for him was out of the question. I just hoped he understood what had transpired between us as clearly as I had.

  I walked back into the card shop and Lillian was about to say something when she must have caught the look on my face. Without a word, she stepped up to me and wrapped me in her embrace. No doubt we looked ridiculous, with me towering over her and trying to bury my head in her shoulder, but I didn’t care. I let my tears out, and the ferocity of the outburst startled me. After I’d cried for a few minutes, I pulled away. “Wow, I haven’t cried like that in ages.”

  “You were past due,” Lillian said. “I gather it didn’t go as smoothly as you’d hoped.”

  “It was awful,” I said, dabbing at my eyes with a Kleenex. “He kissed me.”

  “Was it really that bad?” Lillian asked, obviously surprised by the admission.

  “No, that’s the point. It was so good it curled my toes.”

  “So what’s the awful part?”

  “Stephanie caught us, and he ran after her without saying a word to me. It’s over. It probably has been for a long time—I’ve known that in my head—but my heart’s just catching up with the fact.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Lillian said. “Give it some time, and you’ll feel better. Would you like to go home early today?”

  “No, thanks,” I said. “As a matter of fact, I’d like something to throw myself into. Like a murder investigation.”

  “Jennifer, are you certain that’s what you want to do?”

  “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” I said. “Let’s get started.”

  Lillian got out our whiteboard and erased the day’s specials we’d tried last week. Every day we’d offered a different discount on something, and it hadn’t been worth the time it had taken to come up with the specials. Perhaps it would work when we had more foot traffic in the store, but it was a bust this time of year.

  I took a soft cloth and erased the board so we could start fresh. I replicated the listings we’d done on her mirror at home a few nights ago.

  “Do we have anything new to add?” I asked as I studied it.

  “I’m not sure how the shooting fits in, or Bailey’s mysterious stalker,” Lillian said.

  “I’m not, either. So who do we tackle first?”

  She tapped the board under Addie’s name. “Why don’t we look at motives? She gets the shop.
That’s got to be worth a fortune. Is greed a big enough motive?”

  “You’d better believe it,” I said and wrote that single word under her name. I wished I had a green marker to write it in, but our St. Patrick’s Day blowout had turned into a flop, and I’d killed the marker in the process.

  “So how about the others?” I asked as I studied the list.

  Lillian took a red marker and wrote love under Luke Penwright’s name. “And the others?” I said, gesturing to Polly Blackburn and Kaye Jansen. “I’ve got it,” I said as I wrote envy down for them.

  Lillian studied the list, then said, “We’re covering our share of the seven deadly sins, aren’t we?”

  “One of them is usually behind every murder, wouldn’t you say?”

  “It’s always a good place to start,” she said.

  I tapped the closed marker on my chin. “There’s something that’s been bothering me. Bailey said something about another man in Eliza’s life, and I don’t think he was talking about her ex-husband. Could this mystery man have killed her when he found out about Bailey?”

  “It’s possible, but who do we put down?”

  I made a big black X on the board, and wrote love under it. Lillian studied the addition, then said, “So let me get this straight. We know that one of these people probably killed Eliza, including our mysterious stranger. And we think we know the motive, but it’s a multiple choice question instead of a true or false exam. Does that about sum it up?”

  I threw the marker down. “It’s hopeless, isn’t it?”

  “I wouldn’t say that,” Lillian said. “But we do have a way to go before we make anyone the least bit nervous.”

  “So what do you suggest?”

  Lillian thought about it, and so did I. Finally, she said, “If we can eliminate one of our suspects because of logistics, we might finally get somewhere.”

  “Gotcha. I’ll talk to Kaye and Polly to see if they’ve got alibis.”

  “Jennifer, I can do it.”

  “Honestly, I don’t much feel like being around here right now,” I said. I was afraid Greg would come back, and I didn’t want to talk to him until he had a chance to get his emotions in check. “Please?”