Serving Up Suspects

by Emmie Lyn

  Sue Ellen crossed her arms. “Oh, really? I need to check something.”

  AJ blocked our way. “It’ll have to wait.”

  I moved next to Sue Ellen. “She thinks something else may have been stolen.”

  “We went over everything yesterday. Now you remember something?” His eyes narrowed, showing his annoyance.

  “It was because Dani asked me questions about when Rudy visited me a month ago. I wasn’t thinking about this particular coin yesterday after the shock of everything else.”

  “All right. I’ll go inside with you. But don’t touch anything.”

  AJ moved out of the way. I picked up Pip lessening the possibility of her causing trouble. The marble tiled entryway led straight into the massive room where Judith had been found. If someone had come to the front door, there was a small chance that they might have been able to see her inside, along with glimpses of Sue Ellen’s other treasures.

  Sue Ellen made a beeline to her glass-topped case. Her jaw fell. Her hand reached toward the cover, but AJ stopped her before she touched the latch. “I said not to touch anything.”

  “Look right there.” Sue Ellen’s finger jabbed above the glass. “I didn’t notice that empty space yesterday, but that’s where the coin should be that Rudy gushed about when he was here a month ago.”

  “How could you miss a missing coin? Aren’t these valuable?” The disgust in AJ’s voice was unmistakable.

  Sue Ellen blinked several times. Her whole body slumped. Tears threatened to spill from the edges of her eyes. “For me, they reminded me of my father.” Her voice came out barely above a whisper. “I don’t care about the monetary value; it’s the memories. When I was a kid, I’d sit on my father’s lap, and he’d tell me stories about these coins. It was our bonding time.” She dabbed at her eyes with the hem of her silk blouse.

  After a quick pat on Sue Ellen’s back in a mediocre attempt to console her, AJ asked. “You think Rudy stole it?”

  Sue Ellen shrugged. “I don’t know. As far as I can remember, Rudy was the only person to show any interest in it.”

  Maggie barged into the house. “Sue Ellen? I got your message to meet you here. What’s going on?”

  AJ glared at the intruder. “How’d you get past the policeman at the front door?”

  With a wide smile, Maggie nodded at AJ. “Hello, Detective Crenshaw. Dani. There wasn’t anyone at the door. This is Sue Ellen’s house and she asked me to meet her here.”

  “Thank you for coming so quickly, Maggie.” Sue Ellen grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her closer to the glass case, ignoring AJ’s glare. She pointed to the empty space. “A coin is missing.”

  One of Maggie’s eyebrows ticked up. “And?”

  “And…you all are done in here.” AJ herded us toward the front door like we were errant sheep. “We’ve already dusted for prints and I’ll make a note that Rudy showed interest in that missing coin.”

  “Rudy?” Maggie blurted out. “You think Rudy stole the coin yesterday?”

  “There is no evidence of that at this point. Sue Ellen only notified us of this additional missing piece of evidence.” AJ fixed his steely glare on Sue Ellen. “I have to wonder why you didn’t notice it yesterday.”

  “Don’t mind him, Sue Ellen.” Maggie pulled her away from AJ. “He’s just trying to do his job.”

  “Yes, Ms. Marshall, I’m glad you’re aware of what I do.” With that comment hurled angrily at Maggie, AJ slammed the door behind us.

  Maggie chuckled. “Don’t you love his spunk?” she said, apparently finding AJ’s anger amusing instead of intimidating.

  We made our way to our cars in silence. All of us except Pip who showed her enthusiasm for Sue Ellen’s gardens with a quick run around the paths.

  Sue Ellen stamped her frustration on the cobblestone walkway. I focused on that missing coin. Who stole it?

  I listed the possibilities in my head—Rudy. Johnny Wilker when he snooped around after delivering the champagne. The flower delivery person who hadn’t been identified yet. Or, what about Alice Cross who stuck her nose into everyone’s business? Did she know how to get into Sue Ellen’s house, or just snoop on those who did? Or, was it Judith herself? Or, someone else?

  “Dani?” Maggie touched my arm. “Your ears are practically steaming. What’s going through that clever head of yours?”

  I paused with my hand on the driver side door of the MG. “Sue Ellen, do you have any photos of that missing coin? Or background information? Do you think it’s possible that whoever murdered Judith left the gold coin hidden in that book as a distraction and the real goal was the coin you just discovered is missing?”

  Sue Ellen posed with her finger to her lip for a moment. “I suppose I do have photos somewhere but,” she glanced toward her house. “With that tiger AJ guarding everything, I don’t know when I’ll be able to get back inside to find anything.”

  Maggie tucked her loose t-shirt back into the tiny waistband of her jeans. She was a bit mussed from her busy day and she’d talked off her lip-gloss, but she still looked gorgeous. “You have to remember, Sue Ellen,” she said, “that AJ puts on that killer persona to create a wall between his emotions and performing his job properly. Don’t let it distract you,” She opened the door of the Caddy for Sue Ellen. “Where are we going now?”

  I said, sliding into my front seat, “I have to get back to the diner and help Rose finish up the desserts for tomorrow night. You two need to go to the library and do some research about valuable coins and see if anything jogs Sue Ellen’s memory. I’ll meet you there as soon as I can.”

  Sue Ellen’s face lit up. “The library. Of course. Maggie and I will get started on that research. I’m sure I’ll find something.” She slid behind the wheel of her red chariot, out of her funk now that she had a task to focus on. “We make a great team, don’t we, Maggie? Let’s go. Follow me.”

  “Come on, Pip. Maybe we’ll get those desserts done without any more interruptions.”

  Pip wagged her tail and jumped onto the passenger seat, placing her paws on the dash, with her look that told me she was ready for anything. I was too, with my feisty dog at my side.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Luckily for me, Rose had the whoopie pies assembled and packed. She did leave the odd piece on the counter to remind me of my thievery. Rows and rows of lemon donut holes cooled on a rack next to the boxes of brownies.

  “You made a quick exit with Sue Ellen,” she said. “Did she uncover anything new?” She handed me a lemon donut hole still warm from the oven. “You’d better try this and make sure they pass your taste test.”

  I grinned. “That’s the best part of baking, right?” I opened a bottle of iced tea to go with it and savored a few sips before I answered Rose. “Sue Ellen did discover something—a missing coin that interested Rudy on his last visit to her house.”

  Rose leaned her hip against the counter. “He was in town before this weekend? Interesting. Let me guess. He weaseled his way into this job with flattery and charm so he could return and steal from Sue Ellen. And you think he murdered Judith when he stole the coin?”

  I pulled a sheet of paper toweling from the role to wipe the sugar from my mouth. “That’s one explanation,” I said, licking the last bit of lemony goodness from my lips before swiping my face and tossing the towel in the trash. “But the problem is, Sue Ellen doesn’t know when it went missing. She’s not even sure what coin it was, just that a spot in her glass case is empty now. Someone could have stolen it between Rudy’s last visit a month ago and just now when she noticed it was gone. And, if Rudy did steal it, his fingerprints would be on that case from his last visit.”

  I shook my head, wondering if I could talk Rose out of another donut hole. “I don’t know, Rose. All I’m sure about is that there’s more than meets the eye here.” Exasperated, I threw my arms out. “And then Maggie showed up, walked into Sue Ellen’s house like she owned the place which really ticked AJ off.”

  Rose h
owled. She saw humor where others saw drama. “How is it going between Maggie and AJ?” she asked. “They’re more like two pieces of flint creating sparks for a bonfire than two peas in a pod.”

  I snorted, almost shooting my tea out through my nose. “That’s the best description of those two that I’ve heard yet, Rose. Maggie seems to find it all so amusing, while AJ looks like he’s ready to pull his weapon and shoot her in the foot to teach her a lesson.”

  “Is that what you call love these days?” Rose grinned. “I know I’m ancient, but that seems more like caveman behavior than the way your grandfather courted me.”

  With no more donut holes on the horizon, I had to satisfy myself with a long drink of my iced tea. Maybe it helped me see some things more clearly. Like AJ and Maggie. “Between two ultra-competitive, gun-toting crime busters,” I said, “maybe it’s normal.” To each his own, I thought as I set my tea on the counter. Time for me to get a move on. “If you’re all set here, Rose, I told Sue Ellen and Maggie I’d meet them at the library to see if they’re getting anywhere with their coin research. I’d love to get that behind me so I’m one step closer to relaxing after this exhausting day.”

  “Go ahead, then,” Rose said. She took a quick look at the timer. “I’d come with you, but I have to wait for this last batch to come out of the oven. You can fill me in when you get home. Oh, Dani, I almost forgot. I’ve decided to make a quick visit and see my old friend, Alice Cross, before I head back to Sea Breeze.”

  “Sue Ellen’s neighbor?” This seemed to have come out of the blue. “I didn’t know she was your friend.”

  “Don’t go assuming you know everything about me, Danielle Rose. I like to keep a few surprises up my sleeve.”

  “Right. I don’t suppose this visit has anything to do with picking her brain about what she saw out that big picture window of hers, does it?”

  Rose placed her hand on her chest like I’d just accused her of a terrible act. “I told her I’d stop by with some goodies and she sounded delighted. If she shares some information while we’re visiting … all the better.”

  I sniffed the delicious aroma in the diner. “Is your bribe in the oven?”

  “Lemon raspberry squares, if you must know. I had lemons left over from making the donut holes, so I decided to use them up. Once they cool, a drizzle of chocolate over the top and, voilà, an irresistible taste sensation.”

  “I want one right now.” My sweet tooth was throbbing for a sample.

  “I have an idea. Check on Sue Ellen at the library. She if she found anything, and then meet me at Alice’s house. I’ll bring plenty and you can have a lemon raspberry square if Alice doesn’t eat them all. But don’t invite Sue Ellen along, Alice isn’t a big fan of her loud, in-your-face manner.”

  “Good to know.” I wrapped my arms around Rose. “I hit the lottery when I got you for a grandmother—beautiful, clever, and the best baker I know.”

  “Don’t get all mushy on me now, Dani. And don’t take too long at the library or the squares will be gone.” She squeezed me extra tight before she let go. “You are my sun, moon, and stars forever and ever,” she whispered in my ear so softly it sounded like a sweet lullaby.

  I slid into the MG with Pip as my co-pilot and we headed to the library.

  I found Sue Ellen pacing out front when I pulled up. Her red-clad legs chewed up the walkway at the bottom of the steps until she spotted my car and she stopped me, waving enthusiastically. “Finally. We’ve found something,” she said as she leaned into my car window.

  “Okay, let me find a place to park?”

  “Hurry up, Maggie found something that’s quite interesting.”

  As I followed Sue Ellen up the library steps a few minutes later to the big main doors, I made sure not to catch my toe and trip. That’s all I’d need to end an already unpleasant couple of days. Pip leaped ahead with no apparent concerns.

  Sue Ellen hit the button to open the automatic door with her hip and we entered the cool library. Like a tour guide, she took my elbow and led the way to find Maggie.

  “We have the big reception room for the auction tomorrow night. It’s not quite as much room as in my house, but it will have to do. People can wander into other rooms, too.” She turned into a spacious, high-ceilinged room. “Here we are. I’ve already been able to set up a lot since the library is closed until the auction. What do you think?”

  Long tables with white linen tablecloths anchored one wall with the quilt hanging above.

  I stepped back so I could take in the beautiful scene created from pieces of vibrant fabric—intricate and representative of Misty Harbor. The quilt was a show-stopper. “Amazing, Sue Ellen. It’s such a shame that Judith isn’t here to relish in the fruits of her labor.”

  “Judith spent hours designing it to show Misty Harbor in all its glory. I especially love how Blueberry Bay seems to shimmer in the sunshine.” Sue Ellen pointed to the shoreline at the bottom of the quilt. “I think she used iridescent thread to outline the waves. Just stunning.”

  We stood side by side quietly admiring the quilt. It had too much detail to take it all in at once. It would take several viewings, and an investment of time that would reap rewards in tranquility and beauty. Finally, I pulled myself away from the mesmerizing scene and turned back to the tables. “Will Detective Crenshaw let you move the flower arrangements from your house over here?” I asked.

  Sue Ellen rolled her eyes. “I got the okay after I pulled out all the stops and charmed him with my personality.” Her lips curled into a grin. “And then I got on my knees and shamelessly begged. It worked. I’ll move them tomorrow.”

  “You two will be best forever friends before long, Sue Ellen,” I joked.

  Sue Ellen’s jaw dropped. “I don’t think so.” She leaned close to my ear. “I asked Maggie what she sees in that man.”

  “Oh yeah? What did she say?”

  “She loves a challenge.”

  We both laughed.

  “What are you two gossiping about over there?” Rudy joined us in front of the quilt. “I was hoping to find you here, Sue Ellen. So, this is the venue?” He turned around and took in the large room undergoing a transformation for the event. “I like it,” he decided after a few moments of speculation. He framed the scene with his hands and viewed the room as if he were looking through a camera lens.

  “Yeah. This will work great. I’m heading back to the Blueberry Bay Inn for the night. See you tomorrow?”

  “Bright and early, Rudy,” Sue Ellen said.

  He stopped for a moment to chat. “I heard you mention Maggie and AJ. Are they a couple? Coulda fooled me by the way they act toward each other. Never mind, I don’t even want to know the details.” Rudy didn’t wait around for a reply. He blew an air kiss to Sue Ellen, absently waved, and left.

  “What about Maggie and AJ?”

  I turned around quickly at the sound of the sultry voice. “Geesh. Do you always sneak up on people, Maggie?”

  She sauntered over to us and slipped her tote bag off her shoulder. “It helps me find out stuff. What were you two saying about me?” She stood with a hand on her hip and lifted an eyebrow, demanding an answer. Her mouth twitched and the corners of her eyes crinkled as she tried to keep her serious look from dissolving.

  “Oh, Maggie. I told Dani how you said you love a challenge. And I don’t think anyone here will disagree that AJ is all that and more.”

  After that comment, Maggie’s face broke into a big grin. “He is, isn’t he? But I think he’s starting to come around.”

  “Really? You think that the angrier he gets at you is a good sign?” I asked in disbelief.

  Maggie shrugged. “It’s worked for me before. Something’s got to get through his defenses, and I think I spied the beginnings of a crack. Just a tiny one, but still.”

  I was skeptical about her wishful thinking, but I wasn’t going to burst her bubble. “I’ve got to get going. I’m meeting Rose,” I said and quickly stopped myself from re
vealing our plan.

  “Wait,” Sue Ellen held my arm. “You have to see what Maggie found.”

  Right. I almost forgot the whole reason for coming to the library. “Just tell me. What did you find?”

  Maggie lost her playful expression, transforming her face to an all-business persona. She glanced around and lowered her voice. “The missing coin? Extremely rare. Sue Ellen had a 1975 Roosevelt dime worth over a quarter million dollars.”

  Sue Ellen pantomimed fanning herself from the shock. “Can you believe it? I never knew a little dime that wasn’t even all that old could possibly be worth so much. All I remember is that it was special to my father so he must have known what he had in that case. He put it off to one side where it didn’t even take up the center spot so no one would notice it, I guess.”

  “That. Is. Crazy,” were the only words I managed to utter.

  “I know, right?” Sue Ellen said.

  “Who else ever showed any interest?” Maggie asked Sue Ellen.

  “Oh, lots of people looked at the coins, but I can’t remember anyone expressing as much interest in that little old thing as Rudy did.”

  “Maybe he told someone else about it,” I said. “It seems like the kind of thing someone would brag about seeing if they’re in the coin collecting world.”

  “Oh dear,” Sue Ellen’s hand covered her mouth. “I never thought about that possibility.”

  “Do you think Judith decided, at the last minute, to hide some coins in that hollowed out book to get them out of view during the auction? Someone came in, saw what she was doing and wham, killed her, rolled her up in the rug, and walked off with the most valuable coin in your collection, hoping you’d never notice,” Maggie said.

  Tears welled in Sue Ellen’s eyes. “Killed over a little dime? How terribly tragic.”

  “Now, you have to figure out who was in your house and knew the value of that little dime,” I said. “That knowledge should narrow the suspect pool down.”