Picnics, Pies and Lies

by Cindy Bell

  “Oh, I can’t resist.” Ally laughed and pulled off a bit of food for Peaches. Then she held out her palm to Arnold, with a larger portion. Arnold snorted and nuzzled her hand until all of the food was gone.

  As Ally finished her own food, she began to discuss the case out loud. It was a habit she had, and she hoped that it would lead to a new idea.

  “So, Josh is in his canoe. He has no idea that anyone is out to get him. Or if he did, he didn’t show any signs of being afraid. He’s on the water. An arrow is fired from the riverbank at some point, and it strikes him. I think we can be pretty certain at this point that it was most likely an intentional attack. Since none of the other canoeists were near him at the time of the strike, it couldn’t have been intended for one of them. He was clearly targeted. Which means, that someone, somewhere had a motive. All we have to do to find the killer, is figure out who had a motive. The only problem with that, is that the killer is going to try to hide that information. So what is the next step?” She set her plate on the coffee table and stood up to pace. Peaches jumped down from the couch and paced right along with her. Once in a while this could lead to a dangerous collision, but Peaches had learned to be more careful over time. “I guess, if Billy is the main suspect, then he is the one I need to speak to next. But why would he want to talk to me?” She considered her options. Then she decided to find out what she could about Billy. Just going up to his door and knocking was not going to be effective. She needed a good excuse to have a decent amount of time to speak with him.

  Ally settled in front of her computer and began digging into whatever she could find out about Billy. It wasn’t too hard to discover who his friends were and what he was up to. He had most of his activities, including where he ate and photos of what he was eating, documented across a few different social media platforms. She was able to put together that he had a regular Tuesday lunch at the local diner. Although he hadn’t stated that he would be there tomorrow, she could assume that he most likely would be.

  By the time she went to bed, she had a plan in her mind for the next day. She could only hope that it would lead to good information, instead of a dead end.

  Chapter 8

  Early the next morning, Charlotte gathered the trays she needed to return to Anita. Luke had been kind enough to bring them to her when the crime scene was finally released. Out of courtesy she would normally give Anita a call before heading over, especially so early, but she wanted to catch her off-guard. It seemed to her that if she did have a relationship with Billy’s father, then she would be the most likely person to know why he did not leave anything to his son. When Charlotte knocked on the door, she had to set the trays down against the front of the house. As she bent to pick them back up, the door swung open.

  “Oh Charlotte, let me get those!” Anita huffed. “You shouldn’t have carried them all this way. I would have come out to the driveway to get them.”

  “It’s fine. Honestly, I had hoped we might share a cup of coffee. If you’re not too busy, that is.”

  “Not at all, come on in.” She waddled a bit with the trays, then headed back through the door.

  Charlotte followed in after her. Once inside, she noticed a placard over a bench that politely requested all shoes be removed. It was a fairly common request in Blue River, as the ground could get quite muddy during the rainy season, and most homes had wall to wall carpeting that no one wanted to ruin. As she slipped her shoes off by the door, she stepped down into a wet patch of carpet. She raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say a word. Still, the entire bottom of her sock was wet as she followed after Anita.

  “You would be shocked by how many people have come to visit me since the picnic. I find it a little amusing. I guess they think I must know something about the murder since I was so close to the McArtles.” Anita gestured to a small dinette table with two chairs. “Have a seat, I’ll make us some fresh coffee.”

  A hint of guilt rippled through Charlotte as she sat down. She knew that was the very reason that she was there. But hopefully her intentions were more pure. She was trying to solve the crime, not get a good piece of gossip.

  “Times like these can bring out the worst in people.” Charlotte shook her head. “I hope it hasn’t bothered you too much.”

  “No, not at all. Actually, it has rekindled some friendships. It’s amazing how easy it is to lose touch with people, even people that live in the same town.” Anita glanced over her shoulder. “Cream? Sugar?”

  “Just cream, please. Thanks.” Charlotte smiled. “Well, at least we had a few customers yesterday. I thought perhaps we were going to go another day with no one leaving their houses.”

  “Yes, that was quite a scare. I was a bit nervous to go out, I’ll admit.” Anita grabbed two coffee mugs from the cabinet and set them down on the counter. “But I like my daily bike ride too much to miss it.”

  “Oh, I understand.” Charlotte grabbed her purse and checked her phone. She’d received a message from Ally that she’d opened the shop, and to wish her luck with the conversation.

  “How is Ally doing? I know she can be a little sensitive about these things.” She began to prepare the coffee.

  Her words made Charlotte’s eyebrows shoot up, but she covered the expression with a short laugh.

  “She’s fine. She’s a tough girl.”

  “She has to be, to be with that Luke Elm.”

  “You’re not fond of him?” Charlotte sat back as Anita set a mug down in front of her. “Thank you so much.”

  “Sure.” She settled across from her with her own mug. “It’s not so much that I’m not fond of him. It’s just that he always seems so serious. I guess with his work, he has to be. But I always pictured Ally with someone lighter, you know, the free spirit type.”

  “To be honest, so did I. But she and Luke get along really well.” Charlotte blew on the surface of her coffee. “There were a few times when I thought she and Billy might hit it off, even though he’s a little younger.”

  “Billy?” Anita almost spit out her coffee. “Oh, trust me, you wouldn’t want that to happen.”

  “No? Why not? He seems like a good, young man.” Charlotte studied her curiously.

  “He has a good heart all right, but he’s very lazy. If you give him five dollars he’ll either lose it, have it swindled out of his pocket, or invest it in a business about to shut its doors. He has no common sense, that one.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry, you probably think I’m being harsh, but it’s the truth. He never could put two and two together and come up with four, if you know what I mean.”

  “After losing his mother, I guess things were probably pretty hard for him.” Charlotte took a sip of her coffee and did her best to keep her tone casual.

  “Yes, that’s true. He took her loss hard. I know he regretted not apologizing to her. We talk now and then.” Her grip tightened on the coffee mug. “And yes, I’ve heard the rumors. I know that the arrow that killed Josh was one of Billy’s.”

  “Oh my.” Charlotte’s cheeks burned. “I didn’t realize, I’m sorry.”

  “Uh huh.” Anita stared at her over the top of her mug as she took another sip of coffee. “Well, don’t worry about any of that. Billy made his bow and arrows himself and was very proud of the craftsmanship, so I think that’s why he always loaned them out to people. I’m sure it’s just some mistake. He’d have no interest in hurting Josh.”

  “What was Billy’s father like? I feel like I knew Karen pretty well, but I barely ever spoke to him.”

  “He was a hard man.” Anita’s expression darkened for just a moment. “Especially on Billy. Karen always regretted not leaving him.”

  “Really?” Charlotte’s eyes widened. “I had no idea that they weren’t happy.”

  “He practically kept her as a prisoner the last few years. He claimed it was because she was ill, but I don’t think that was the truth. I think he just wanted to control her. He got something out of that.” Anita shuddered. “A strange, and unpleasant
man. That’s why I’ve always been so forgiving of Billy. He had it rough.”

  “Yes, he did.” Charlotte took the last sip of her coffee, then set her mug down. “It’s been so nice to catch up with you.”

  “Yes, I’ve enjoyed it, too.” Anita smiled. “I hope we can do it again sometime. I was thinking that we should have the picnic in a week or two. The spirit of our town needs to be resilient, not to give in to violence.”

  “That’s a great idea. Ally and I would be happy to bring chocolates and pie again, and if there’s anything else that’s needed, just let me know.”

  “I’ll do that.” Anita walked her to the door. “I’ll keep the trays out for you.” She laughed as she reached the door. Charlotte purposely avoided the wet spot on the carpet as she tugged her shoes back on. When Anita stepped to the side, she grimaced.

  “Oh dear, I forgot about that spot. I have some clean up to do. That cat!” She shook her head. “Sometimes I wonder if he’s worth all of the work.”

  “They do make wonderful companions.”

  “Yes, when they don’t have hairballs.” Anita laughed. “Bye, Charlotte.”

  “Bye, Anita. Good luck with the kitty.” Charlotte stepped out onto the porch. Her heart fluttered as she walked away. Did Anita know why she was really there? It seemed to her that she acted a little suspicious of her intentions. But that one moment was worth it. The moment that her expression changed when she thought of Billy’s father. That pretty much proved to her that they hadn’t had an affair. It appeared as if she despised the man in a way that would never lend itself to romance. So why had he left her almost everything? Had Anita found some way to alter the paperwork after his death? She hated to think it, but she knew it might be possible. Charlotte pushed the thought aside as she headed back to the shop.

  * * *

  When Charlotte arrived at the shop, Ally was just finishing up with a customer. The morning had been fairly busy, and it was quickly approaching lunchtime.

  “Hi, Mee-Maw.” Ally gave her a quick hug as she stepped behind the counter. “How did your morning go?”

  “I had a very nice cup of coffee with Anita.” Charlotte lowered her voice, as the customer was still headed out the door. “And found out some interesting tidbits.”

  As she filled Ally in on what they had discussed, Ally’s expression shifted from intrigued to confused.

  “So, she knows that Billy is a suspect, but there’s no doubt in her mind that he’s innocent?”

  “She said there wasn’t, but then she implied that he’s rather gullible, without any common sense. I don’t know. To be honest the entire conversation left me more uncertain about things than when I arrived there. However, I do think it’s strange that she inherited just about everything.”

  “Yes, me too.” Ally glanced at the clock. “Do you mind if I step out for a bit? I think I know where Billy is going to be for lunch, and I’d like to see if I can talk to him.”

  “Just be careful, love. Maybe Anita doesn’t think he’s a murderer, but I’d trust Luke’s instincts over hers in a second.” Charlotte began to add chocolate to the sample trays. “I’m sure Mrs. Bing, Mrs. Cale, and Mrs. White will be along soon for more treats.”

  “Tell them I say hi.” She kissed her grandmother’s cheek, then hurried out to the parking lot.

  * * *

  When Ally reached the diner, she noticed there was a bit of a commotion outside. Four people were knotted up near the entrance. Their body language communicated that they were not pleased. As Ally approached the door, she listened in to their conversation.

  “Can you believe he has the nerve to show up here?”

  “He should be ashamed of himself. He should be in jail!”

  “Even if he’s not guilty, he should have more courtesy. No one can eat comfortably near him.”

  “Someone ought to set him straight.”

  Ally lingered by the door for a moment. If things were going to turn violent she wanted some warning. But the four people split apart and headed for their cars. It was clear that some people had made up their minds about Billy. It made her wonder if she might be taking a bigger risk than she anticipated by trying to join him for lunch. She pulled open the door and heard Billy’s voice almost right away.

  “I’m sorry, I know no one wants to eat while I’m here. I just want my lunch, and then I’ll be on my way.”

  “Don’t worry about that, Billy.” The waitress shook her head. “Innocent until proven guilty, that’s what I always say.”

  “Gee, thanks.” Billy sighed. Ally saw his shoulders slump as she approached.

  “Billy? How are you?” She paused beside the table.

  “What do you care, Ally?” He squinted at her.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, Mee-Maw is friends with Anita, I know she’s very worried about you.” Her heart pounded as she wondered if he’d buy that story.

  “Oh sure, I bet she is.” He rolled his eyes. “It’s all right, I’m fine, I’m just the local outcast now.”

  “I don’t think you’re an outcast. In fact, if you wouldn’t mind, could I join you? I’m starving, but I hate to eat alone.” Ally rested her hand on one of the empty chairs.

  “I guess.” Billy shrugged. “I usually have somebody with me, too, but not today. No one would answer my calls.”

  “Thanks. I’m really sorry for your loss, by the way.”

  “My loss?” He stared up at her. “I barely knew the guy.”

  “There was a charity that you and Josh were involved in together. Wasn’t there?” She smiled as she sat down at the table with him. “I think that’s so amazing that two young men were interested in something like that.”

  “It wasn’t exactly an interest.” He scrunched up his nose with disgust. “My mom made me take part in it, and for some reason she wanted Josh to be a part of it, too. She was determined that we would be friends. I don’t think I could even consider him blood related, he’s such a distant relative, but for some reason she seized on the idea that we would make great friends and tried to push us together.”

  “You have no idea why?” Ally pursed her lips for a moment. “There must have been something behind it.”

  “I can guess.” He sighed and sat back in his chair. “She thought he was a good influence. I was just getting involved with some kids that weren’t the best crowd. I think she thought Josh would pull me out of all of that. But he was always such a dork. We had nothing in common. While we worked at the charity, we barely spoke two words to each other.”

  “That must have been awkward.” Ally cringed.

  “It was.” Billy chuckled. “But I didn’t have a choice. I had to do what she asked.” A shadow crossed his features. “I gave my mom such a hard time. I wish I’d just spent a little more time with her before she died.” He rubbed a hand across his eyes, then pushed his plate back. “I can’t eat this. Look, I know what everyone’s saying about me. What the cops are saying about me. But I didn’t do this. I’m a screw up, sure. But I’m not a killer.”

  “Sometimes people make stupid decisions. They’re not killers, but they just get so angry, or so frustrated, that they make one bad decision, and it leads to something tragic.” She tried to meet his eyes. The tension in his facial features became more pronounced with every word she spoke. “Your parents left you with nothing, and they left him with something? Why?”

  “You don’t think I ask myself that?” He slammed his fist down on the table. The plate jumped, and his fork slid off the edge to clatter onto the table. The sound seemed to disturb him as he grimaced. “My mom never would have stood for this. My dad, he hated me. Wanted nothing to do with me after she died. But still, I thought that he would at least leave me my fair share. But no, he didn’t.” He shrugged. “What can you do?”

  “Maybe, file a lawsuit?” Ally eyed him closely. He was tentatively allowing her to probe deeper than she should have been able to. But at any second he might decide she’d gotten far too nosy, and the entire conversation
would come to a screeching halt.

  “Well, you know about that, too?” He laughed. “Are you sure you’re not some kind of detective, now?”

  “No, I just run the chocolate shop.” Ally grinned. “But I do hear a lot of things while I’m working there. So, you did file a lawsuit?” She held on to his amusement and hoped that she would be able to draw a little more information out of him.

  “Yes. My lawyer told me that was my only option to try to get some of the money back. He said I could claim that Josh had strong-armed my father into leaving him some money, and that it would be up to a judge to decide if I could get the property back, or force him to sell it.”

  “What about Anita? You didn’t try to go after her inheritance?” Ally watched as he picked up his fork and drew his plate back towards him. She wondered what she might have said that restored his appetite.

  “Aunt Anita’s? No way. She took care of my mother the whole time she was sick. She earned that inheritance. That’s why my dad agreed to leave it to her. Plus, I know if I need anything, I can turn to her. That’s another reason why it’s ridiculous that the cops think I was involved. I didn’t need to kill Josh for any reason. My life is just fine.”

  Ally decided not to mention the rumored affair between his father and Anita. She didn’t want to make him uncomfortable. Besides, her grandmother indicated that she didn’t believe there was one.

  “It’s just so hard for people to understand, since the information has been leaked that it was your arrow.”

  “I know, I know.” Billy rubbed his hand across his face and groaned. “That’s what is going to get me behind bars. But I told the police, someone stole my bow and arrows the morning of the picnic. I didn’t report it because I didn’t think it was a big deal. Sometimes my friends borrow them. But someone actually broke in and took them. I figured it was just someone playing a prank. I should have reported it straight away, but I didn’t want to waste the police’s time. Of course, now it just sounds like I’m lying.”