by Неизвестный
“Be right there,” Luna muttered and wandered into the bathroom. She splashed water over her face and brushed her teeth. After gargling with mouthwash, she slowly descended the stairs and strolled into the quiet tearoom. Customers relaxed on the porch, enjoying their refreshments and the sunshine. A warm breeze added to their comfort. A couple sitting at a corner table gazed at one another and sipped tea, oblivious to those around them. Sheriff Tiddler conversed with Annie and Dilly while he waited for Luna’s attention.
“Luna.” He dipped his hat covered head.
“Sheriff, what can I do for you?”
“We’ve made an arrest in the murder of Thomas Devere, and I wanted to bring you up to speed.”
Her heart pounded as she chewed on her lip, unable to utter a sound. When she motioned toward the rear porch, he nodded to the two women and left them to get back to work. Luna settled in one of the wicker chairs while the sheriff leaned against the rail. She glanced at his waistline and considered he’d eaten one too many cupcakes for his own good, but said nothing.
“We got a phone tip last night which produced enough evidence to prove to the satisfaction of the Swanscott Police Department that Arvi Gribblederd was the killer,” Sheriff Tiddler announced, as though he was at a media event.
Luna gasped out loud and nearly jumped from the chair in surprise. In the far reaches of the universe, she would never have considered Arvi a killer. He just didn’t seem to have the nerve it took to slam someone in the head with a blunt instrument. He also didn’t strike her as the type of person to drug an old woman either. No, it would take someone of a tougher caliber than what he was made of to resort to those tactics.
“You’re joking.”
“Nope, it’s true. We haven’t broken him and gotten a confession yet, but—” He sucked in a deep satisfied breath. “—we will, you can take my word for it.”
“Are you certain you have the right man, Sheriff Tiddler?” Luna tucked her nervous hands into the pockets of her shorts.
“Like I said, it’s only a matter of time before he confesses.”
Nodding, Luna sank further into the wicker chair and thanked him for sharing the news.
“I’ll be sure to tell Devin when he returns later today.”
“Do that and I’d like a couple cupcakes to go if you don’t mind, Luna.” He smiled and saliva nearly dribbled down his chin.
Disgust at his piggery sent Luna’s stomach roiling, but she pasted a sweet smile onto her lips and said he should tell Dilly to package them for him.
The sheriff nodded, and Luna watched him amble through the door. She heard his voice as he spoke to Dilly. With a sigh, she tried to reconcile Arvi Gribblederd with the murder of Thomas, but couldn’t make the connection. She shook her head and heaved a sigh before she slumped against the cushioned chair.
The sound of footsteps caught her attention. Annie poked her head out the door.
“You got a minute, Luna? I could use a hand in here.”
“Sure, I’ll be right there.”
Luna heaved out of the chair and entered the building. The tearoom was empty and tables lay in disarray. Luna wondered if the two women had listened at the door instead of cleaning the room. She glanced at Annie, whose eyes dipped toward the floor, and knew that her assumption of eavesdropping was correct.
“Let’s get this place back together. There are still a couple hours before closing time,” Luna remarked dryly.
Both women bustled around the room. One filled trays with used dishes and teapots while the other swept crumbs into the crumb catcher. Luna worked alongside them adjusting flower vases and setting the room to rights. Trash bags heaped up in the hallway, and Luna dragged them to the barrels located in a square wooden trash bin holder painted with floral designs. She secured the cover tightly on the cans and dropped the lid of the holder over them to shield the receptacles from view.
She returned to the galley kitchen in time to find her helpers sipping tea and eating sandwiches from the refrigerator. Dilly and Annie took turns bringing lunch each day, and each woman shared what was brought with the other. Luna sniffed the air and realized they ate cucumber sandwiches.
Dilly offered one, and Luna wolfed it down like a starving waif. “Thanks Dill. This is great. I didn’t realize I was so hungry,” Luna commented around the mouthful of sandwich.
“You need to eat more than cupcakes, Luna. It isn’t healthy eating all that sugary stuff,” Dilly warned.
Her warning passed Luna by, since she rarely ate more than one cupcake per day, if there happened to be any left over. She simply didn’t take time to make lunch for herself and ran on breakfast alone for most of the workday. Before she’d met Devin, a light supper was all she managed before she crashed for the night.
A smile hovered on Annie’s lips as she regarded Luna. She knew Luna didn’t indulge herself, but kept quiet about it. Instead, she asked about Sheriff Tiddler’s news.
“What did Henry want?”
“You know darn right well, Annie Brimmer, and so do you, Dilly Perkins. I know you listened at the door. Why, it’s nothing that I wouldn’t have done in your shoes,” Luna said with a giggle.
“You knew we were there?” Dilly asked in surprise.
Annie guffawed and elbowed the woman good-naturedly. “Of course she knew. She never missed a beat when she came in and saw the tea room hadn’t been cleared.”
“So, Henry’s positive Arvi is gonna confess?” Dilly wanted to know.
“That’s what he said, but I’m not so sure.”
“What bothers you about it, Luna?” Dilly asked.
“For one thing, I don’t think Arvi has that kind of meanness in him to kill anyone. He may be mean-spirited, but I think it’s all show,” Luna said as she chewed the last tidbit of her bread crust.
Annie nodded in agreement, but Dilly’s chin came up in defiance.
“If Henry thinks he’s got the right man, then he should know. After all, he was a Boston policeman for all those years and oughta know a bad guy when he sees one.”
Unwilling to argue the point, Luna gave a slight nod and said Dilly was probably right. Annie opened her mouth, but Luna spoke before she had a chance to voice her opinion.
“Thanks for your help in the gift shop today, Annie. I would have been hard pressed to take care of all that.” Her meaning wasn’t lost on Annie.
Her head bobbed up and down in agreement. Annie said, “You know I don’t mind.”
Both she and Luna knew of what they spoke, leaving Dilly to make of it what she would. Pensker had rattled Luna’s nerves, and she was thankful Annie had intervened.
The food gone, Luna’s stomach stopped rumbling. She whipped a jug of iced tea from the refrigerator and poured it over ice cubes and lemon slices for the three of them. They downed the beverage just as another slew of customers rolled into the parking lot behind Devin.
Chapter 24
The week moved into the weekend without incident, and Luna finally had a day off. Having explained to Devin the sheriff’s visit and his words of wisdom on forcing a confession from Arvi, Luna waited restlessly to hear if the confession had actually taken place. To her surprise, and she was sure it was much to Sheriff Tiddler’s dismay, there wasn’t enough evidence for the state attorneys to hold Arvi on a murder charge, and he was set free.
Devin had agreed when she’d mentioned she thought the sheriff had the wrong man. Devin’s head buried in paperwork for Ida Gregory, Luna made the cupcakes, ran her business and ordered supplies as though she lived alone. Devin occasionally wandered to bed, but their hours were erratic and he often fell asleep at the desk in the office.
“You’re fairly occupied with those papers these days, aren’t you?” Luna asked, while wondering if there was another reason for his lack of attention.
He leaned back and sighed as he stretched. “I’m sorry for ignoring you. It’s just that I want to disprove Ida’s guilt before she has a demand for more money. This guy is draining
her accounts, and she’ll be broke if it keeps up. Each request is much larger than the one before. He’s up to a half million dollars, so far.”
Luna’s brows hiked as she regarded Devin’s stern face. A half million dollars was a lot of money, more than an average person ever saw in one shot. Her own accounts hefty, Luna considered how quickly they could be depleted if she were ever blackmailed in such a manner.
“I understand, but when you stare at something too long you lose perspective. Maybe you need to switch your interest for a while, and then look at the accounts with fresh eyes.”
He laughed as he stared at her. “Is that what you call a seduction technique?”
“For sure, faerie lord.” She grasped his hand and led him up the stairs. When the loft door swung open, Riddles scrambled past. Luna chuckled, sidestepping the beast as he hurried off to prowl the lower level of the building.
Luna lay wrapped in Devin’s arms after their wild passion subsided. She felt his heartbeat against her shoulder and listened to his even breathing. His skin warmed hers and it felt right to have him beside her. She smiled into the darkness and thanked her lucky stars for having found a man who loved her for her quirky self.
Dancing her fingers along his skin, she felt Devin’s muscles contract. “Are you ready for round two, or are you interested in talking?”
“No talk, just sex, faerie lord,” Luna responded. She pressed her lips to his and kissed him deeply as her passion resurfaced.
The phone shrilled several times before Devin reached over and answered it with a groggy, muffled hello. He gave a start and came to full attention.
“I’ll be over shortly. Don’t answer it. Just wait for me, Ida.” Devin’s stern voice brought Luna fully awake.
“I take it Ida got a text message from the blackmailer?” Luna asked, propping herself up by her elbows and squinting at the bright sunlight shining through the windows.
“Early this morning,” Devin muttered. “I have to go over there, right now.”
“Well, wait for me. I’m going.”
“I would rather you didn’t, Luna.”
“Forget it, I’m going,” Luna said. “You don’t seem to realize I have a serious stake in the matter. All of the events are connected, I’m positive of it.”
“Then meet me downstairs. I’ll make some coffee while you get ready.” He rose, slipped on his jeans and a shirt, and hustled down the stairs, using the restroom on the lower level to freshen up.
The fresh smell of perked coffee filled the air as Luna dumped cat crunchies into one cat bowl and poured fresh water in the other. She rumbled down the stairs and grasped the steaming travel mug as though it were a lifeline.
“Mmm, this is delicious,” Luna said and smiled up at Devin’s handsome face. “I’m ready to go, if you are.”
“Let’s be off, then.” Devin slipped into his sneakers and strode out the door, waiting for Luna to check the lock after she closed up.
Within minutes, they parked under the portico of Ida’s home and ran up the steps. Rudy swung the door open, stepping aside with a slight bow to Devin and a nod to Luna as they entered the foyer.
“Mrs. Gregory is expecting you. She’s in the East Room.” He motioned toward it and watched as they hurried past him, leaving him standing at the door.
Never having been in this end of the house, Luna gazed in fascination at huge paintings, suspended from wires and hanging on the walls. Oriental carpet runners covered the hallway floors and, every now and then, a tapestry filled a wall. Impressed by the beauty of it all, she lagged behind as Devin strode forward without a glance at the trappings.
He turned at the door of a sunny room and waited for Luna to catch up. They entered together and found Ida sitting at the sunlit table, staring out over the ocean view.
“Ida,” Devin said, “let me see the message.” He held his hand out and she listlessly placed the phone in his palm. Devin read the text and offered the small instrument to Luna, who scanned the message.
He said, “So, you have two days to come up with a million dollars. Does this asshole think you have a bank vault in the basement? It takes more than two days to gather that much money, especially in cash.”
Ida stared at him for a long moment. “You’re right of course,” she said. “I don’t know where to begin dissolving assets to come up with it, and it will take some time even if I start this very minute. What should I do?” Her eyes beseeched him.
“We’ll think of something, don’t worry.” He squeezed her shoulder lightly and sat down across from her.
“Can I get you some breakfast or more coffee?” Ida glanced at the travel mugs they carried.
“No, thanks. We’re all set.” Devin gave Luna a brief look before he turned his gaze toward the ocean.
“Luckily, the drop point is the same. That gives us a break. I checked it out the other day after I went to the home improvement center in town. I have an idea how to stake out the drop off point and run interference with the pick-up.”
Ida snapped to attention, interested as Devin explained his thoughts. She nodded now and then.
Luna listened to the two of them make plans, her mind racing forward to the drop. Would Devin allow her to attend, or would he move into protective mode and block her from participating?
She weighed the danger and figured she might be better off not going. The thought of his danger worried her.
As though he’d picked the thought from her mind, Devin glanced and her and said, “Forget it, Luna. Not this time.”
“You’re right. I’ll stay behind at the shop while you make your move.” She smiled as another thought entered her head. “If you need the pixies, just call them and they’ll rally round.”
“Just what I don’t need is pixie interference,” Devin said with one brow raised and a smirk on his face.
With a heavily laden tray, Rudy entered the room and set out plates of fresh fruit, scones, clotted cream and a pot of jam. Steam rose from the spout of the silver coffeepot as he placed it in the center of the table along with cream and sugar. He gave Ida a brief nod and said he’d be in the kitchen should she need anything more.
When he disappeared from view, Devin asked, “Is he always so solicitous, Ida?”
“He takes good care of me, and I pay him extremely well for it. Rudy never needs instruction on what to do, he simply does it. A rare jewel, he is,” Ida said with a forced smile.
“Mmm, yes, well…” Devin stopped, broke apart a scone, and spooned thick strawberry jam onto it.
Ida stared at him. “You still think he’s the man you’re looking for, don’t you?”
“I do, but I can’t prove it. I don’t dare mention it to the sheriff because he’ll ask a bunch of questions that have no answers yet.”
The older woman nodded and thoughtfully sipped fresh coffee Luna had poured into her cup.
“The sheriff didn’t manage a confession from Arvi, did he?” Ida asked.
“That’s what I heard,” Devin said with a sneer. “I know that man is innocent of murder, not much else mind you, but murder? He’s not the killer.”
“I thought as much,” Ida agreed. “Sheriff Tiddler can be overbearing at times, and because he’s been an officer for so long, he’s certain he’s never mistaken.”
Luna smiled at the idea of Henry Tiddler’s surprise at realizing he wasn’t always correct. His ego surpassed that of anyone she knew, even Thomas when he’d been his most unbearable.
Devin glanced at her and asked, “What’s so funny?”
“Imagine the sheriff’s face should he ever realize he was wrong about something? He is quite a bear when it comes to his mindset.”
Ida smiled for the first time all morning. “You are a rare gem, Luna Devere. You find humor when life is at its darkest. I’m so glad you’ll be marrying Devin.”
She cast a glance around the room and then pressed a number into the cellphone. “Could you come into the East Room for a moment?” Ida asked. She didn’t
wait for an answer, but disconnected the call.
Moments later, Rudy entered the room and stood attentively before her, a questioning look on his face.
“Yes, madam, you called?”
“Please get my black case from the dresser upstairs. You know which one.”
With a nod, the man withdrew, returning within moments. A black velvet rectangular case, three inches thick and eight inches long, rested in his hands. He placed it on the table and inquired if that would be all.
Ida nodded. The trio watched him disappear from view on silent feet. Pulling the case forward, Ida worked the fastener combination with her fingertips. When the lock clicked, she lifted the lid and stared inside for a moment, her fingers touching whatever lay within.
Devin glanced at Luna and smiled. She returned the look, curious over what the case contained.
Lifting a piece of jewelry from the interior of the case, Ida handed a lovely winged creature to Luna.
“This is a pre-wedding gift for you. I hope you will care for her much the way I have all these years. She is precious and was given to me by my mother upon my engagement, just as it was handed down through the years from mother to daughter on the promise of their nuptials.”
Gasping, Luna held the lovely faerie in her hand. Sunlight glittered over the diamonds, giving them a blue hue. She hugged it to her with murmured thanks. The faerie resembled the blue faerie from the meadow behind Faerie Cake Junction.
“It is my pleasure.” Ida perused the remaining gems in the case and turned it toward Devin.
“Take these to my jeweler in Portland, his name is Trumble. I’m sure you remember him. He’ll give you a fair price for them. This will be the beginning of the end of my payoffs. I refuse to become a pauper, but if you think we can catch this villain, then I will part with these treasures in order to do so.”
“Ida, think carefully about this,” Devin warned. “You’re sure this is how you want to proceed?”