Gelato with a Side of Murder

by Meredith Potts

  “I’ll bet,” David said.

  “Not just over Justin, but this shop as well. You see, Delilah and Harmony used to be business partners here.” Saffron grimaced. “As you can imagine, things got rather messy at the shop recently.”

  I took a deep breath. “There’s an understatement for you. Talk about a scandal of cosmic proportions.”

  “I know, right?” Saffron said.

  “That scandal aside, I have a few more questions for you,” David said.

  “Such as?” Saffron said.

  “Can you think of anyone else who would have a reason to want Delilah dead?” David said.

  Saffron became pensive for a moment then shook her head. “No.”

  “All right, then,” David said. “How about you? Did you and Delilah get along well?”

  “Yes. We got along just fine,” Saffron said.

  “So you two didn’t have any problems?” David asked.

  “No,” Saffron said. “Why are you asking me these questions?”

  “It’s all just standard procedure. For example, for my report, I need to know where you were last night. Can you please tell me?” David said.

  “Sure. I was at home,” Saffron said.

  “Doing what?” David said.

  “A number of things,” Saffron said. “I made dinner, took a bath, and then did some reading before heading off to bed.”

  “Were you alone the entire time?” David said.

  “Why does that matter?” Saffron asked.

  “Please just answer the question,” David said.

  “Yes. I was alone,” Saffron said. A pained expression came to her face. “Are we done here? This has been a really traumatizing morning.”

  “I understand,” David said. “Thank you for your time. You are free to leave.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Saffron had certainly given David and me plenty of information to work with. We decided to pay Justin O’Keefe a visit first. Justin was a trim-bodied, long-haired, fifty-two-year-old yoga instructor who had blue eyes and a full beard.

  David and I approached him at his yoga studio. Shortly after introducing ourselves, David revealed to Justin that Delilah had been murdered. Justin got choked up as he heard the news.

  “Poor Delilah. I hope you find the person who did this to her,” Justin said.

  “That’s the plan,” David said.

  I spoke up. “That’s actually why we’re here.”

  Justin’s nose scrunched. “I don’t understand.”

  “We were wondering if you could help us,” David said.

  “I’d love to, but I don’t see how I could be of any assistance,” Justin said.

  I folded my arms. “Really?”

  Justin nodded. “Yeah. I mean, I don’t know anything about what happened to her. I didn’t even realize she was dead until you just told me.”

  “We just figured that you might be able to help us because you were her husband and you probably knew her better than anyone,” I said.

  “Oh. Right. Of course,” Justin said.

  “So, was Delilah having problems with anyone?” I asked.

  “Uh, let me think—”

  I interrupted Justin. “How about Delilah’s sister?”

  “Yeah. I suppose you could talk to Harmony,” Justin said.

  “You seem a little reticent about that suggestion. Why is that? Are you worried that we’ll find out that you cheated on your wife with Harmony? Because we already know about that,” I said.

  “Just like we know that Delilah had filed for divorce,” David added.

  A look of outrage came to Justin’s face. “Hey, wait a minute. What’s the big idea?”

  “We already told you. We’re trying to find Delilah’s killer,” David said.

  Justin’s eyebrows rose. “So what, you think that I might have had something to do with it?”

  “I can’t rule that possibility out,” David said.

  “Well, I can assure you, that’s not the case,” Justin said.

  “I’m afraid that I’m going to need more than just your assurance,” David said.

  “Look. I get it. The significant other always becomes a suspect in a murder case. And it doesn’t help that Delilah and I were about to get a divorce,” Justin said.

  “It sure doesn’t,” David replied.

  “But you’re just wasting your time suspecting me,” Justin said.

  “Why is that?” David said.

  “Simple,” Justin said. “I had no reason to want Delilah dead.”

  “Mr. O’Keefe, you said it yourself. You two were about to get a divorce,” David replied.

  “True, but that was her idea. I didn’t want to divorce her,” Justin said.

  “Really?” David asked.

  Justin nodded. “Absolutely. If it were up to me, we’d still be together.”

  “Did you tell her that you wanted to stay married?” David asked.

  “Many times,” Justin said.

  “And yet she still decided to go through with the divorce?” David said.

  Justin sighed. “Unfortunately.”

  “Mr. O’Keefe, you do realize that you’re just building a stronger case against yourself, don’t you?” David said.

  A puzzled look came to Justin’s face. “What are you talking about?”

  “The fact that your wife refused to take you back despite your desperate pleading is a very strong motive for committing murder,” David said.

  “Except that I didn’t kill her,” Justin said.

  “Like I said before, I can’t just take your word for that,” David replied.

  “Why aren’t you listening to me? I’m clean,” Justin said. “How can I prove to you that I’m innocent?”

  “You can start by telling us where you were last night,” David said.

  “Simple. I was at home reading,” Justin said.

  “I take it that you were alone then,” David said.

  “Why does that matter?” Justin asked.

  “Because your story is only as believable as my ability to verify it,” David said.

  “I can tell you what book I was reading. It was this wonderful story about forgiveness—” Justin began to say.

  David held his hand up. “Save your breath. You either have someone who can verify your alibi or you don’t. Now, were you alone?”

  Justin took a deep breath and remained silent.

  “Mr. O’Keefe,” David said.

  “Yes. I was alone. But I’m telling you the truth,” Justin said.

  “That part still remains to be seen,” David said.

  Chapter Fifteen

  After spending a few more minutes unsuccessfully trying to get additional information out of Justin, David and I finally gave up and headed over to Harmony Reardon’s place on Cove Drive. We pulled up in front of the blue Victorian-style house and knocked on her front door but received no answer. If her purple station wagon wasn’t parked in the driveway, I might have believed that she wasn’t home. Instead, I wondered if she was trying to ignore us.

  David gave the door a few more knocks, but Harmony still didn’t answer. Before leaving, we decided to head around back. That was when we spotted the curvy, round-faced, wavy brown-haired, fifty-year-old doing yoga in the backyard.

  Harmony stopped in the middle of a pose when she spotted us. David flashed his badge at her, introduced himself, and then revealed the news about Delilah’s death.

  I watched Harmony’s reaction closely. She appeared to be genuinely broken up by the news. Although, it could have just been an act.

  Like all the other suspects David and I had spoken with, Harmony claimed not to have had anything to do with Delilah’s death.

  From there, David asked Harmony about her whereabouts last night. Amazingly enough, she provided an alibi for the time of her sister’s murder.

  David stepped aside and called Harmony’s friend, Julie Monroe, in an attempt to verify the alibi.

  A few minutes later,
David returned with a stern look on his face.

  “Can I get back to my yoga now?” Harmony asked.

  David shook his head. “Not quite.”

  “Why not?” Harmony said.

  “Ms. Reardon, do you want to tell me where you really were last night between nine and ten o’clock?” David asked.

  Harmony’s eyebrows knitted. “What are you talking about? I already explained to you where I was.”

  “Yes,” David said. “Unfortunately, your alibi isn’t nearly as solid as you seem to think it is.”

  “Wait. Julie didn’t confirm that I was at the restaurant? Because I was,” Harmony said.

  “She verified that you were at the restaurant, all right,” David said.

  Harmony’s forehead wrinkled. “Then what’s the problem?”

  “You said you left the restaurant around ten. Your friend Julie, however, told me that you left around nine,” David said. “That’s right around the time of the murder. In addition, the restaurant is only a few blocks away from your sister’s crystal shop.”

  “This is all a big mistake. I think Julie got the time mixed up,” Harmony said.

  “I’m more inclined to believe your friend than you. Now, will you please tell me where you really were between nine and ten?” David asked.

  “Look. Regardless of the time, when I left the restaurant, I just drove home and headed off to bed,” Harmony said.

  “Is there anyone who can verify that?” David said.

  Harmony raised her voice. “I didn’t kill my sister. And I’m offended that you would accuse me of doing so.”

  “Ms. Reardon, I haven’t accused you of anything. I’m just asking you questions. Now please answer me,” David said.

  “I was alone,” Harmony said. “But I had nothing to do with Delilah’s death.”

  “I really want to believe you, but you need to give me a reason to,” David said.

  “She was my sister. My own flesh and blood,” Harmony said.

  “Yes, the same sister who you betrayed by sleeping with her husband,” David said.

  Harmony fell silent.

  “That’s right. We know what you did,” David said.

  “I had a moment of weakness. I admit that,” Harmony said.

  “Just one moment?” David asked.

  Harmony nodded. “Justin and I only slept together once.”

  “You can try to downplay it all you want, but once was enough to tear your sister’s marriage apart,” David said.

  “It was also enough to create a huge rift between you and your sister,” I said.

  “Which I am eternally sorry for. Don’t you see? I didn’t want my sister dead. What I wanted more than anything was for her to forgive me,” Harmony said.

  “Maybe she’s dead because she refused to forgive you under any circumstances,” David said. “Because she wouldn’t let the past die.”

  Harmony shook her head. “No. You’re just making wild speculations now.”

  “Tell me I’m wrong. Tell me that your sister was willing to forgive you. She certainly wasn’t willing to forgive Justin,” David said.

  “For the last time, I didn’t want Delilah dead,” Harmony said.

  “Fine. If you didn’t do it, then who did? Justin?” David asked.

  “No. I don’t believe he would do that,” Harmony said.

  “Why not? He had the most to lose. Delilah was about to take him to the cleaners in divorce court,” David said.

  “Justin isn’t a killer,” Harmony said.

  “What makes you say that?” David asked.

  “Because I know him,” Harmony said.

  “Or maybe you just don’t want to believe that he’s a killer because you still have feelings for him,” David said.

  “You know who you should talk to is Ziggy Hummel,” Harmony said.

  “Really, Ms. Reardon? Why don’t you be more obvious about trying to change the subject?” David asked. “Admit it. You still have feelings for Justin.”

  Harmony shrugged. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “It might have everything to do with this. Especially since Justin was determined to try to get back together with his estranged wife instead of reciprocating the feelings that you have for him,” David said.

  “There you go, making crazy speculations again,” Harmony said. “Why don’t you leave me alone and go talk to Ziggy Hummel?”

  I squinted. “There’s that name again. Fine. I’ll bite. Why should we talk to Ziggy?”

  “Because Delilah fired him the other day,” Harmony said.

  My eyebrows rose. “Do you know why?”

  “She caught him trying to perform a dark ritual,” Harmony said.

  “What kind of dark ritual?” I said.

  “He was preparing to perform a hex on Justin,” Harmony said.

  “Delilah’s estranged husband?” I asked.

  Harmony nodded.

  “Why would Ziggy do that?” I asked.

  “Because Ziggy has a crush on Delilah, and he believed that Justin should be punished for breaking Delilah’s heart,” Harmony said.

  David’s face strained. “Wait. I’m confused. If Ziggy was willing to do all that for Delilah, then why did she fire him?”

  “Delilah was a strong believer in surrounding every situation in a positive light. Dark rituals were strictly forbidden in her shop. By trying to perform one, Ziggy crossed a sacred line,” Harmony said.

  David stared Harmony down. “That’s all very interesting, and we will investigate it further, but none of that changes our suspicions about you.”

  “You can be as suspicious of me as you want. The fact is, I had nothing to do with Delilah’s murder. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to be able to mourn my sister’s death in peace,” Harmony said.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Ziggy Hummel was a trim-bodied, forty-one-year-old man who had long, stringy brown hair, hazel eyes, and a goatee. When David and I arrived at his redbrick rental townhome, he was sitting under a tree in the front yard, strumming a guitar.

  At first, he didn’t put up any resistance to answering our questions. But when we got to the heart of the interview, his demeanor began to change.

  “Mr. Hummel, I’d like to know where you were last night,” David said.

  Ziggy tensed up. “Why do you want to know that?”

  David folded his arms. “I’m the one asking the questions here. Now will you please answer?”

  Ziggy’s nose wrinkled. “I just don’t know why that’s relevant.”

  “It’s standard procedure during a case like this. I ask everyone that question,” David said.

  “You say that, but you’re giving off a much different vibe than you were a few seconds ago,” Ziggy replied.

  David groaned. “Mr. Hummel, it’s a very simple question. Can you please not make things so complicated?”

  “All right, man. Chill out. There’s no reason to get all bent out of shape. I was doing some meditating last night.”

  “Where?”

  “Here. I went really deep. It was transcendent.”

  “Were you alone?” David asked.

  “Well, yeah. Of course. You can only go that deep when you’re by yourself,” Ziggy said.

  David gave him a wary look. “Uh-huh.”

  “You know what it’s like when you’re meditating. You’re just trying to get as close as you can to enlightenment.”

  “I’ll have to take your word for that,” David said.

  “Wait. You don’t meditate?” Ziggy asked.

  “I’m the one conducting this interview,” David said.

  “Because if you’ve never tried transcendental meditation, you really should. It will change your life.”

  “Mr. Hummel, there are some important questions that I need to ask you. Can we please get to them?”

  “Man, it’s crazy how tense you are. You know what would help you with that?”

  “I’m going to stop you right
there.”

  “Right. You have questions for me. So what else do you want to know?”

  “To start, I can’t help but wonder how you manage to be so laid back when you were just fired from your job a few days ago.”

  “If you had completed five different meditation sessions in the last seventy-two hours, you would be calm as well.”

  “So you aren’t holding a grudge about getting booted from your job, then?” David asked.

  Ziggy shook his head. “No. If anything, I owe Delilah a debt of gratitude.”

  David’s nose crinkled. “How do you figure?”

  “I was in a dark place, but she showed me the light.”

  “By firing you?”

  “Sometimes drastic measures are required to make someone see what is truly important.”

  David gave him a wary look. “Uh-huh.”

  “Besides, working at the crystal shop was never my true calling. Now that I have been freed from the shackles of hourly labor, I can pour my passion into creating my music.”

  I held my pointer finger up. “Speaking of hourly labor, let’s go back to why you were fired. You said you were in a dark place.”

  “I would prefer not to revisit that storm cloud in my past,” Ziggy said.

  “I’ll bet. Especially since you were trying to put a hex on Delilah’s estranged husband,” I said.

  “Why must we discuss this?” Ziggy said.

  “I think that’s pretty obvious. You clearly had strong feelings for Delilah. But she didn’t feel the same way about you, did she?” I said.

  Ziggy fidgeted. “I’m not comfortable with the direction of this conversation.”

  “Because she didn’t have feelings for you?” I said.

  “I don’t know where you got the idea that I was romantically interested in Delilah,” Ziggy said.

  “How about the fact that you were willing to perform a hex on her husband?” I said.

  “Justin is a dark shadow of a human being with a lump of coal for a soul. He broke Delilah’s heart. If anyone deserved to be hexed, it was him,” Ziggy said.

  “Ziggy, you’re just proving my point now,” I said.

  “Say I did care for Delilah romantically. That would only make me more broken up by her death,” Ziggy said.