by Leena Clover
Jenny’s ears turned red.
“How’s your love life, Heather?” she shot back. “Been on any dates recently”?
“I bet she’s lost count,” Betty Sue snapped.
Jenny heard a shout and saw Molly waving at them from the boardwalk. Heather and Jenny watched mystified as she scrambled over the café steps.
“What’s the matter, Molls?” Heather asked while Molly caught her breath.
“Haven’t you heard?” Molly panted. “It’s all over town.”
“Sit down, girl,” Betty Sue ordered. “Get her some water, Jenny.”
Jenny obliged and went in to get some water.
Molly’s face was blotchy from the exertion. She dabbed at it with a paper napkin and drained the glass of water Jenny offered her.
“Someone died.”
“Who?” all the women screamed in unison.
“Anyone we know?” Betty Sue asked with a quiver.
Molly shook her head in denial.
“Must be a tourist, I think.”
“How did you find out?” Star asked. “We’ve been here for a while but we didn’t hear anything.”
“It’s Mrs. Daft,” Molly explained. “That nosy old lady who is my neighbor. She’s been renting her spare room by the week.”
“Serves her right,” Betty Sue muttered. “She should have thought twice before taking a stranger into her home.”
Jenny suppressed a giggle. Betty Sue ran the Bayview Inn. She took strangers into her home every day.
“No, no,” Molly corrected her. “The woman is fine. And it’s not a room in her house. It’s a room over her garage.”
“You’re not making sense, Molls,” Heather said, tapping some keys on her phone.
“She rented the room to a tourist,” Molly began again. “Some guy. They found him dead this morning. An ambulance arrived along with some cop cars just as I was leaving for work. I know because it’s right across the street.”
“What happened to the poor guy?” Star asked.
Molly shrugged. “No idea.”
A familiar voice called out to them from the boardwalk.
“Yooohooo …”
Barb Norton came up the steps, dragging Dale behind her.
“Good Morning,” she greeted them. “I think we have it. Dale’s come up with the best fund raising idea.”
The Magnolias smiled at her politely. None of them mentioned the dead man.
“What about all the ideas we suggested at the committee meeting?” Star demanded. “Didn’t any of them meet with your approval?”
“There were some really good ideas,” Dale said. “But they are not scalable. Barb told me the amount you need to raise. It’s quite a challenge.”
“Are we just supposed to accept what he came up with?” Star persisted.
“We are having another meeting of the Save our Library Committee,” Barb said patiently. “Dale will have a presentation ready. He’s really good at those.”
“The people of Pelican Cove can decide if my idea is worthy enough,” Dale added.
“That’s really kind of you, Dale,” Jenny said with a smile.
She could see Heather shaking with laughter, her back to them.
“Dale has been a Godsend for the library in his town. They are working on an expansion plan as we speak. I’m hoping he can work the same magic for us.”
“We look forward to the meeting, Barb,” Star said grudgingly.
“I have to get back to work,” Dale said. “I took a few hours off this morning. Guess who’s working late tonight?”
The ladies held off until Barb was out of sight.
“Where does she find these people?” Heather said with a laugh.
“Forget Barb Norton,” Betty Sue said impatiently. “We need to find out more about this dead man.”
“How do you propose we do that, Betty Sue?” Star asked.
“Send Jenny to the police station,” Betty Sue beamed. “Talk to that young man of yours, Jenny.”
“Have you met Adam?” Jenny asked with a roll of her eyes. “He’s not going to tell me jack. He’ll puff up like a balloon and tell me to stop getting into police business.”
“So what?” Heather asked impishly. “You manage to get around him every time.”
Petunia cleared her throat and widened her eyes. The ladies hadn’t noticed the man who was standing beside them on the deck, leaning on his cane.
“Adam!” Jenny exclaimed. “What brings you here?”
“An early lunch,” he said, glowering at Heather. “I need to go into the city.”
“Does it have anything to do with that dead man?” Betty Sue asked.
Adam sighed.
“Yes, Betty Sue. And I can’t tell you anything else.”
“Why not?” she thundered. “We have a right to know what’s happening in our town.”
Jenny came to Adam’s rescue.
“Let’s go get your lunch.”
Adam followed Jenny into the café.
“What will you have?” she asked him. “Oyster po’boy or the Autumn Chicken Salad Sandwich?”
“I’ll go with the chicken today,” Adam told her.
His eyes had circles under their eyes. Jenny surmised he hadn’t slept well. Adam didn’t like being dependent on pain pills. Sometimes he chose to bear the pain. It took a visible toll on his body.
“Are you doing your exercises like the therapist told you?” Jenny asked.
“Stop treating me like a child, Jenny,” he snapped.
“You know your leg starts hurting if you skip the exercises,” Jenny persisted.
“Do you want to announce my private business to the whole world?” Adam yelled at her.
Jenny took a step back and held up her hands.
“No need to be nasty.”
She packed Adam’s sandwich in a small bag and added a large cup of coffee. She tossed in two packets of cookies and a muffin, just in case he wanted a snack later.
“Can you tell me who died?” she asked, handing over the bag.
Adam struggled with his answer.
“We haven’t released any information yet. The news is already spreading through town though.”
“Is it going to stop the tourists from coming here?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Molly said the man was a tourist. Won’t it put a damper on business?”
“He wasn’t your regular tourist,” Adam said reluctantly. “More like a drifter.”
“What’s his name?” Jenny asked. “Have you seen him around?”
Adam tapped his foot impatiently and leaned forward.
“You know him,” he said. “We found a wallet with his driver’s license and a couple of credit cards. His name was Keith Bennet.”
“Keith?” Jenny exclaimed. “What happened to him?”
“Can’t say yet,” Adam said, tight lipped. “You’re the only person I know who talked to him.”
He pulled out his phone and started tapping on it. He thrust it in Jenny’s face.
“That’s the guy, right?”
Jenny realized she was looking at a dead body. She shrank back involuntarily.
“That’s him,” she said with a gulp.
“I have to get going,” Adam said. “I guess you’ll be talking to the ladies about this.”
“Drive safe,” Jenny called out after him. “Don’t forget your pills.”
Jenny’s feet wobbled a bit as she went out on the deck. The Magnolias were getting ready to leave.
“Hold on a minute, Betty Sue.”
“What’s the matter, sweetie?” Star asked with concern.
“Are you feeling alright?” Petunia clucked.
“I’m fine,” Jenny assured them. “It’s that dead guy. I found out who he is. Or was.”
“Who?” Five voices chorused.
“Keith Bennet. He came to the café a couple of times. I talked to him.”
“You poor girl,” Star said, stroking Jenny’s ba
ck. “Did he seem ill?”
Jenny shook her head and swallowed a lump. She looked at Betty Sue, uncertain how to break the news.
“He was Lily’s son.”
Betty Sue sat down with a thud.
“Lily’s son? I didn’t know he was in town. What was he doing here?”
“Who’s Lily again?” Heather asked.
She had put her phone down on the table for once.
“Lily Davis,” Molly reminded her. “Betty Sue’s best friend?”
“Oh!” Heather nodded. “That dame who abandoned her kids and ran away.”
“That’s the one,” Betty Sue said stonily.
Molly pinched Heather and shut her up before she said anything more.
“What was he doing here?” Betty Sue asked Jenny.
“He said he was taking a vacation. He always wanted to come back here.”
“Why after all these years?” Molly asked.
“I think it had something to do with Seaview,” Jenny confessed. “He kept asking me all kinds of questions about the house.”
“He must be nostalgic,” Star said.
“I offered to take him there,” Jenny told them. “He warned me. He told me the place was jinxed. Nothing good would come from living there.”
“That old crap?” Star asked, incensed. “How dare he!”
“He called himself the heir. Said he had a stake in Seaview.”
“But you bought the place, didn’t you?” Petunia asked with a frown. “Did he really own the house?”
Jenny shook her head.
“I have proof. And Jason did the paperwork. Keith was just trying to make trouble.”
“He won’t be doing any more of that, poor guy,” Molly said.
“What about his family?” Betty Sue asked hopefully. “Did he say where he lived? Did he mention his mother?”
“He did,” Jenny nodded. “He told me she was a great cook.”
“Oh,” Betty Sue murmured. She seemed disappointed. “Lily created magic in the kitchen. Just like you, Jenny.”
“Let’s go, Grandma,” Heather urged. “I need to do some housekeeping before that couple checks in later today.”
“Tootsie must be hungry,” Betty Sue said suddenly.
She dropped her knitting in her bag and struggled to her feet. Her face had turned ashen. Jenny felt worried about her.
“How about some lemonade before you go, Betty Sue?” she asked. “Just a couple of sips?”
“I’m fine, girl!” Betty Sue’s voice trembled. “I’ve buried more loved ones than I can remember.”
Star stayed behind, assuring Jenny she wasn’t busy. Jenny and Petunia worked in tandem and assembled a platter of chicken sandwiches. Jenny started frying oysters.
“The hungry hordes will be here soon,” Petunia chirped. “Do we have enough cookies for dessert?”
Jenny nodded as she transferred a basket full of crispy oysters to a paper lined tray.
“What happened to that guy?” Star asked Jenny. “How did he die?”
“Adam didn’t say.”
“Seems kind of suspicious, huh?”
“You think so?” Jenny asked, whirling around to face her aunt. “He was about my age, I guess.”
“A healthy young man,” Star repeated. “Did he look ill?”
Jenny thought for a moment while she dredged a bunch of oysters.
“Not really. But he looked scruffy. He wasn’t normal.”
“Poor guy,” Star sighed. “What else did he say to you?”
“He told me his grandpa planted our garden,” Jenny said sadly.
“Luke’s men are setting up the fountain today,” Star reminded her. “Are you going home early?”
“I want to,” Jenny said hesitantly.
“Why don’t you go on then?” Star said. “Petunia and I can take care of the lunch crowd.”
“Eat before you go, Jenny,” Petunia told her.
Jenny sat at the small kitchen table and took a bite of her chicken sandwich. A single thought nagged her as she remembered the photo Adam had shown her. Why had Keith really come to Pelican Cove?
Chapter 9
Jason Stone sat in his office, working through a big stack of files. Jenny knocked on his door tentatively.
“Can I come in?”
Jason’s face lit up.
“Jenny! Please say you are here to save me from this.”
“You need to get a paralegal,” Jenny told him. “Or a secretary at least.”
“I want to manage on my own as much as I can,” Jason explained. “Never mind that. You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
“This is not a social call,” Jenny warned him.
“How can I help you?” Jason asked seriously.
“Did you hear about the dead man?”
“I heard some buzz,” he nodded. “But I don’t know much.”
“Do you remember Keith? Lily’s son?”
“Keith Bennet? Vaguely. Why?”
“It was him.”
Jason’s eyebrows shot up.
“What are you saying, Jenny? The dead guy was Keith Bennet? What was he doing here in town? And how do you know him?”
“He was here on vacation.”
“Again, how do you know that?”
“He came to the café a couple of times,” Jenny told him. “We talked.”
“He’s been absconding for a long time.”
“He kept talking about Seaview and his grandpa – old man Davis. Said he was an heir and Seaview belonged to him.”
“You have nothing to worry about,” Jason assured her. “You own it clear. No one can ask you to leave.”
“I told him that,” Jenny nodded. “I even offered to let him look around.”
“How did he die?”
“You’ll have to ask Adam. He’s not volunteering any information.”
Jason opened a small refrigerator tucked in an alcove and pulled out two bottles of juice. He offered one to Jenny.
“So Keith Bennet comes back to Pelican Cove after twenty five years and now he’s gone. It’s almost as if he came here to die.”
“I had the same thought,” Jenny said glumly. “He warned me about Seaview. Said nothing good would come of living there.”
“Wait. You don’t seriously believe that?”
“I moved in, didn’t I?”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“I don’t know, Jason. A lot of bad things happened in that house.”
“That was a long time ago.”
“What about Keith?”
“You don’t even know how he died. I think you’re letting the talk get to you.”
“What did you mean earlier when you said he was absconding?”
“Keith was right about being an heir,” Jason sighed. “Roy and Lily were the old man’s direct descendants. Their kids were next in line to inherit. That’s Ricky and Keith.”
“So Keith didn’t know Seaview we being sold?”
“Ann Davis was listed as the sole owner. When you expressed an interest in the house, I tracked her down. She told me Keith had an equal stake in the house.”
“That was nice of her.”
“I thought so too,” Jason agreed. “We tried to track Keith down. It seems he didn’t stick around in one place for long.”
“He doesn’t have a family?”
“Lily’s husband, his father, is still alive. He’s in a senior home in Texas.”
“How did you convince Ann?”
“Ricky tried to track Keith down. We even placed an ad in the paper, asking him to get in touch. But like I said, he was nowhere to be found.”
“He must have got wind of it somehow.”
“I guess,” Jason speculated. “Ann told me she would split the money with Keith whenever he turned up.”
“Maybe he didn’t want to sell,” Jenny mused. “It sounded like he had an emotional attachment to the house.”
“He had plenty of time to come back here and liv
e at Seaview,” Jason said, shaking his head. “For whatever reason, he chose not to. You shouldn’t worry about it, Jenny.”
“I need to get a dress for that law dinner,” Jenny said, changing the subject.
“You look beautiful in anything,” Jason said sincerely.
“I don’t want people to talk behind your back. I know how those dinners work. The women gossip about who was wearing what for weeks after.”
“Let them,” Jason said loyally. “I care about you, sweet Jenny, not some catty women I may never meet again.”
Jenny had a smile on her face as she walked to the seafood market. Jason always made her happy.
Chris Williams was stacking some cans when Jenny walked in.
“Hey Jenny,” he greeted her. “Got a minute?”
“Sure, Chris. What’s on your mind?”
A troubled expression flitted over his face.
“I am thinking of taking Molly to the Steakhouse.”
The Steakhouse was the only formal restaurant in Pelican Cove. It was reserved for special occasions. Jenny realized Chris was taking a big step.
“Do you think she is ready?” he asked.
Molly had confessed her feelings to Jenny a few weeks ago. She had admired Chris from a distance ever since high school. She had been infatuated with him for a long time. Jenny was sure Molly was ready to date Chris seriously.
“I think so, Chris,” Jenny smiled. “When are you going to ask her?”
Chris rubbed his hands and looked uncertain.
“Tonight. I hope she doesn’t say no. This will be our first official date.”
“What about Heather?” Jenny asked shrewdly.
“What about her?” Chris shrugged. “Heather and I will always be friends. But I need to get on with my life. Molly and I click. Who would’ve thunk, huh?”
“You are all dear to me, Chris,” Jenny said sincerely. “All three of you. I hope you find the happiness you deserve.”
Jenny grilled fish and tossed a salad for dinner. The kitchen at Seaview had been completely renovated. Jenny had double ovens and granite countertops with a large center island for doing her prep.
“Do you want to sit out on the patio?” Star asked. “It’s a bit chilly out there.”
Jenny opted to eat inside. The patio had a clear view of the spot where they had found Mrs. Bones. Jenny found she wasn’t ready to sit out there yet.