“Exactly, that’s why it shouldn’t be based on attraction or current health. That goes away.”
“You need to meet my parents,” I said, and pushed back from the table. “Remember the stars that Alexander and Dominica had in their eyes? My parents still have them after thirty-five years of marriage. I have to tell you, Toby, I believe in that.”
“I’m still not convinced. You said there was another event you were planning?”
“Yes, please come. We’ll meet again after and continue this conversation.” I reached into my bag. “I bought these poppers for when he says yes.” I put a handful of colorful exploding confetti poppers on the table.
Toby picked one up. “Are those fireworks?”
“No, they are not fireworks, per se. I did the research to find ones that are permissible inside the theater. But they do have a pretty good pop. Want to try one?”
Toby shook his head. “No, thanks. I’ll wait.”
“Okay.” I pulled them off the table and stuck them in the pockets of my jacket. “Listen, I need to go. I want to see a friend. I expect to see you at Mary’s thing, okay? I really think you’ll get it with more exposure.” I patted his hand. “You’re a nice guy, Toby. You deserve stars in your eyes.”
I gathered up my tote bag and coffee and waved good-bye. I wanted to see Vidalia. Since I had heard that Thad was arrested, I wanted to know how she was. Did she agree with the detective? Was she relived to have Thad in jail or was she still worried about the killer being out there? Besides, I never did like Vidalia’s explanation of the third coffee being for her mom. Something was off about the entire thing and I needed to figure out what.
Old Blue was parked on the side of the road just down from the coffee shop. Instead of driving, I decided to walk and gauge the time and distance between the coffee shop and Bridal Dreams. I put more money in the meter and checked the time on my phone. I had to figure Vidalia was slower than me since she would have been carrying a coffee tray and she is shorter than me with a smaller stride.
I leisurely strolled the five blocks to the front of the shop and checked my watch. It was a ten-minute walk. I studied the building for a moment. Maybe it would be a good idea to walk back to the coffee shop and average the time.
It occurred to me that the baristas might know something about that day. Of course, Detective Murphy told me not to bother talking to them. I had to assume he probably already interviewed them, but I couldn’t shake the thought of that third cup.
I walked back into the coffee shop. Toby was gone and most of the people who had stopped in were gone as well. I walked up to the counter. “Hi.”
“Need another latte?” the barista asked. He was lanky with a full head of floppy blond hair. His blue eyes sparkled with youth and energy.
“No, um, actually, I was wondering if you know Vidalia or Eva Svetkovska.”
“Sure, Vidalia comes in here all the time,” He said. “Too bad about Eva, She was a nice lady. Makes you think more about safety, though, when something like that happens in your neighborhood.”
“I know, right? I just walked to the shop and back and I felt safe. Is this area known for crime?”
“Oh, no,” he said, and wiped down the counter with a bar rag. “Never had any crime before Eva’s death.”
“Were you working that day?”
“Yeah, I work here most afternoons during the week,” he said. “We’re small. There are a couple of girls on the morning shift, me on the afternoon, and the boss man comes and goes. I remember serving Vidalia that day. She was happy, chatty. I forget what we talked about but I remember she was in a good mood.”
“I’m the one who found Eva,” I said. “I’m Pepper Pomeroy.”
“Hi, Pepper. Sam,” he said, and pointed at his name tag. “Finding Eva like that must have been a bad experience. Did you know her?”
“No, my sister is getting married and we had an appointment. When no one was around when we got there, I went looking.”
“Oh, you must have been the appointment that Vidalia said she was running late for when she ordered her take-home coffees.”
“I think so, no one else was there but us—my sister, my mom, and me. When Vidalia came in, she was carrying three cups of coffee. Do you remember her ordering three? Was that normal?”
“Yeah, I remember,” he said, and leaned his elbow on the glass case containing baked goods and yogurt. “Their order is almost always the same—one large coffee, black, and one large coffee with cream. It almost never varies.” He paused. “Unless they’re expecting company. Once in a while Vidalia orders a large café mocha like she did that day.”
“Huh, she said that the extra coffee was for Eva because she likes two sometimes.”
He squinted his eyes and scowled. “No, that’s not right. Eva likes her coffee black. There’s no way she would want a café mocha.”
“She must have gotten mixed up,” I said thoughtfully. “It must have been quite a shock to find out your mother was murdered in the alley while you were out getting coffee.”
“Yeah,” he agreed, and shook his head. “Heck of a thing. Would make anyone mix things up, I guess.”
“Anyway, thanks for the info.” I straightened.
“No problem, you’ve been in here a few times,” he said, and grinned. “I like to find out more about my customers. Keeps things personal and real.”
I blushed at his warm gaze. “Right. Coffee’s great here. Thanks for the chat.”
“See you soon, Pepper.”
I left the coffee shop and strolled back toward Bridal Dreams. Vidalia lied about the coffee. Why? She didn’t seem like a person who would murder her mother. Was she protecting someone? I didn’t think she would try to protect Thad. So why lie about the coffee?
Maybe the murderer wasn’t Thad at all. In that case there was a serious injustice being done. I really needed to talk to Vidalia. Maybe if I pushed her, she would at least confirm that she lied about the coffee.
As I headed out of the parking lot, I noticed that an alley ran behind the coffee shop. Was that another way to get to the bridal shop? I followed the alley and saw that I could get to the bridal shop from its alley. I turned on my heel and walked back to the coffee shop via the alley. There were several unmarked buildings in this area, with nothing more than an address and dark windows. You could practically get from the coffee shop to the bridal shop without being seen.
That was a wild thought. I bet anyone who lived or worked in the area knew about taking the back way. In fact, Detective Murphy had said that Thad had admitted to running through the alley after he stole the things from the bridal shop.
Still, I just couldn’t see Thad murdering anyone, let alone Eva. He didn’t seem strong enough either physically or mentally. I walked the area a few more times and realized it was faster to take the alleys. So why did Vidalia come back the street way? I mean, wouldn’t she have cut through the alley if she knew she was running late?
Did she know something? Was Vidalia careful to come in through the front door so she wouldn’t see anyone in the alley? It was getting dark and I really needed to go in and see if Vidalia had time to answer some questions. There was no way I was going to wait for my next dress fitting three weeks from now.
I turned on my heel and headed back toward the alley’s opening. After seeing the bolt on the back door, I was pretty certain Vidalia wouldn’t open it to a knock when it was getting dark. That meant I had to go in through the front door.
Anton stepped out of the back of one of the dark-doored buildings. “What’s going on, Pepper?” he asked. “What are you looking for?”
“I’m sorry.” I paused mid-step, embarrassed that he had seen me in the alley.
“You’ve been walking the alley for the last half hour,” he said. “Why?”
Okay, it was downright creepy that he had been watching
me and I hadn’t even known it. Wait, he could see me through the darkened windows. That meant he might have seen someone besides Thad in the alley the day Eva was killed.
“Is this the back of your furniture shop?” I asked.
“Yes.” His gaze darkened.
“So you really are just down from Bridal Dreams,” I muttered. “You could have seen whoever was in the alley that day.”
“What are you thinking, Pepper?” His look turned eerily deadly.
Reality hit me like ice water down my spine and I couldn’t stop the words from spilling out of my mouth. “Oh, my goodness, you killed Eva, didn’t you?”
Chapter 22
Anton jumped forward and grabbed me. I kicked and yelled, but he wrapped his big hand around my mouth and I struggled to breathe as he dragged me into the back of the furniture restoration shop. The smell of varnish was so intense it made my eyes water and nearly took my breath away.
I kept struggling, but Anton was strong. He pushed me into a chair and leaned in close to my ear. “You can scream all you want, no one can hear you. The buildings on either side of me are empty.”
When he took his hand off my mouth, I screamed anyway and pushed to my feet. He smacked me hard, making my eyes water, and shoved me back into the chair.
“Why did you kill Eva?” I said to distract myself from the pain. “What did she do to you?”
He pulled up a chair across from mine. “I did not hate her, if that is what you imagine. As mother-in-laws go, she was fine.”
“Then why?”
“Eva was not firm enough with her son. Vlad is lazy and no good, and yet Eva kept giving him money. Vidalia works hard—very hard. She saw nothing from her mother. Eva kept saying Vidalia didn’t need anything.” He sat down. “But you see, it is not the need for money. It is recognition of how hard my wife and I work.”
“But Eva gave Vidalia sole ownership of the bridal shop, isn’t that recognition?” I asked as I noticed my surroundings. There were several work benches with chairs on top in various stages of repair. The strong smell of varnish emanated from a nearby table that appeared to be freshly coated. Tools were scattered about. I noted several that might help me should I make my move.
“That is where she crossed the line.” Anton spit on the floor beside him. “Eva had been talking about how she felt guilty for not giving Vladimir one last chance to redeem himself—by letting him share in the workload of the shop.” He sneered. “As if the lazy brother would actually do the work. I knew he would ruin it all. All the work my wife has put into the shop. I urged my wife to speak to her mother. Eva kept talking about making the change to her will and said she had to do it, that it was the right thing.”
“Vidalia didn’t talk to her mother about it, did she? And you couldn’t let Eva change her will, could you?” I said. “You couldn’t let Vidalia lose half the shop to Vlad’s wasteful ways.”
“No, I could not let that happen. A man looks out for his wife.”
“Why didn’t you just talk to her?”
“I had finally convinced Vidalia to speak to her mother. I wanted to be there to ensure my wife did not back down. Eva was a strong personality. Vidalia respected her mother. It was difficult for her to push for what she deserved.”
“That’s why Vidalia had the third coffee,” I said, putting things together. “You were supposed to meet with her that day.”
“Yes, after your appointment,” he said. “But I couldn’t wait. I had a bad feeling that Vidalia would back down, again. I knew Theresa was out that day. When Vidalia went to get coffee, I stopped at the bridal shop to see Eva. I intended to scare her a bit, before Vidalia returned. I wanted to make sure she knew that there would be consequences if she didn’t listen to my wife.” He paused, dragged in a heavy breath, and stood. “But Eva said she would call the police because I had threatened her.” He started to pace. “Worse, she said she would tell Vidalia. I couldn’t let her do that. I couldn’t lose my wife and all we’d worked for.” I could tell from his body language that he was getting worked up and that frightened me. I kept one eye on Anton and another looking for a way out before things went very bad.
“Why did you have to kill her?” I pushed. My body started to shake from fear. I put my hands in my jacket pockets to hide the trembling and realized that I had the poppers in my pocket.
He grabbed a roll of metallic duct tape from the top of one of the work benches and walked toward me, his manner suddenly cold and purposeful. “I grabbed her to shake some sense into her, but she fought back. I had taken the knife to scare her, but she went too far. I couldn’t have it. I refused to let her ruin everything.”
“So you killed her,” I said, and watched his emotionless approach.
“And now I will kill you, to save everything. It is not that I wish you harm, Pepper Pomeroy, but I cannot let you ruin things.”
When he leaned toward me and ripped the tape from the roll, I pulled a popper out and broke it, pushing the explosive streamer into his face.
He shouted and put his hand over his eyes. I didn’t waste a moment. Anton stood between me and the back door, so I headed toward the front of the shop. The place was a typical workshop with band saws, workbenches, and tools everywhere. There were pieces of furniture in various stages of repair scattered about. My panicked mind grew frustrated at the obstacle course.
I pushed aside a chair, skirted around a table, and headed toward the front door. Anton recovered quickly. I could feel him right behind me. My heart pounded. My eyes were focused on my escape.
Do not look back. If you look back, you waste time. It was the biggest mistake movie heroines made. I shoved chairs and end tables behind me, hoping they would slow him down.
“Stop!” Anton shouted.
It felt like forever, but I battled my way to the front door. I could feel his breath on the back of my neck. I grabbed the handle, but the door was locked with a bolt. My hands shook as I struggled to unbolt the door.
“You won’t get away,” I heard him say. His voice was so close.
There was a cast iron coatrack near the door. I grabbed it and shoved it at him. Then I threw open the bolt and ran out screaming. “Fire!”
My brain remembered the weirdest things and I kept shouting. “Help! Fire!” I had read somewhere once that people respond to shouts of Fire! better than to someone yelling Help me!
There was a couple at the end of the block who turned at the sound of my shouting. “Call the police,” I begged. “Call the fire department.”
I looked behind me. Anton was steps away. I sprinted toward the couple.
“There is no fire,” he shouted to the couple. “She is crazy. Do not listen to her.”
I got behind the young man and held on to him. “Please help.”
Thankfully the young guy, who was a nice sturdy size, blocked Anton from grabbing me.
“Dude, whatever is going on here, stop. I’m not going to let you get to this girl,” the young man said.
“I’ve got 911 on the line,” the girl he was with chimed in. She stepped behind both me and the man she was with and put the phone to her ear. “Yes, we are at 345 Brocton. We need police now!” Her eyes went straight to Anton. “Yes, I feel as if I’m in danger.”
Anton stopped short. “This is none of your business,” he said to the couple, his gaze shifting from one to the other. I could see him trying to figure out how to get to me.
My instinct was to run, but I knew if I left the couple, Anton might be able to outrun me. If I stayed here, it meant he was really close, but I had witnesses.
“I’m making it my business,” the young man said, and crossed his arms over his chest and stood with his feet spread wide. “Clearly, she does not want you to touch her.”
“What’s going on?” A second man came out of the shop we were in front of. “Is everything okay?”
> “It’s fine,” Anton said.
“There’s a fire,” the woman said. I smiled at her. Her blue eyes sparkled with intelligence as she continued to stay on the line with the 911 operator. “I’ve called 911.”
“There is no fire,” Anton said, his gaze wild. “This is none of your business. Pepper, come with me.”
“No!” I said, and grabbed the back of the young man’s shirt and hung on. “He killed Eva.” I pointed at Anton.
Sirens could be heard in the distance. Anton panicked and ran off. The young man started after him so I let go. The shopkeeper ran after the man and Anton. The young woman and I watched as they disappeared into the nearest alley.
Shaking, my knees gave way and I sat down hard. Two police cars screamed to a halt beside us. The fire marshal was not far behind. The first two policemen got out of their cars and raced off in the direction of the men. The young woman squatted next to me.
“Are you okay?” she asked. “Are you hurt?”
“No, no, I’m not hurt.” I shook my head. “He scared me.”
“My name is Amanda,” she said. “I’ll stay with you. Is there anyone I can call?”
I managed to get my phone out of my pocket, but my hands shook too hard to dial. “Here,” I handed her my phone. “Please call my parents. They are listed under my emergency numbers.”
She quickly flipped through my phone to the emergency contact numbers and dialed my mom. Amanda put the phone on speaker and handed it to me as soon as it started to ring.
“Thanks,” I said.
The second set of policemen approached, followed by the fire marshal. “What happened?” the first cop asked.
“Hello?” my mom answered her phone.
“Hi, Mom,” I said as the young girl stood and stepped to the side to explain why she had called 911. “I need you and Dad to come down to Bridal Dreams.”
“What’s the matter?” Mom asked, and her tone was troubled so I knew I did not sound good.
“Thad didn’t kill Eva. Anton did.”
Bodice of Evidence Page 18