Kari Lee Townsend - Sunny Meadows 04 - Perish in the Palm

by Kari Lee Townsend

  “I can only imagine,” Mitch said. “Unfortunately, it can’t be helped. Apologies to your girlfriend. There’s still a killer on the loose, Dude.”

  “Speaking of that, any idea when we can go home, Detective?” Wendy asked. “At this rate I’m not certain I’ll have a job at the bakery much longer if I don’t get back soon.”

  “Hopefully not much longer, Ms. Statham.” He tipped his head. “Apologies to your family as well.”

  “My children are grown and my husband is away, so I don’t mind. I’m more worried about my job than anything else.”

  “Blame it on my mother. I’m sure she can fix it. At least you’re getting some work around here,” I said sympathetically. “I’m curious. What does Mrs. Theodore want from you both?”

  “She wants me to make a treasure themed cake, if you can believe it.” Wendy smiled while shaking her head.

  “And I’m spinning the tunes at the party.” Jason winked.

  “Party?” Mitch looked at me.

  I shrugged. “When in Rome … if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em … yadda yadda yadda. She’s a business woman with an inn to save. I’m sure she’s trying to capitalize on the craziness going on around here instead of fighting it.”

  “That’s one word for it,” Wendy said. “You two have a good day. If you’ll excuse me, I have a cake to try to make. I’m not a miracle worker, but I always try to give people what they deserve. That poor woman deserves a lot after her husband was taken from her so senselessly.” Wendy tsked.

  “Amen to that,” Jason said. He didn’t come out and say it, but it was clear he—like the rest of the town—blamed that on my mother as well.

  And I couldn’t blame them. My mother had made herself look guilty in arguing with Peirce and threatening him and being just plain difficult. And I was beginning to worry that this time she’d gone too far and put herself in a situation she couldn’t get out of.

  “I’m sure you both will do a great job,” I said.

  “Granny Gert hooked me up with a fully stocked kitchen at her cooking class. She’s a gem, that woman. Between her contacts and your mother’s referrals, I might not need a job to go back to.” She looked at her watch. “Guess I’d better get started. It’s a good thing Mrs. Theodore is my only client at the moment. She wants this for tomorrow.”

  “Hey, wait up.” Jason followed Wendy, no doubt networking her to death.

  “Linda’s husband’s barely cold in the ground, and she’s already having parties.” Mitch shook his head and knocked on her door. “She sure doesn’t act like any mourning widow I’ve ever seen.”

  A few minutes went by with no sound coming from the other side. I wondered if she was going to answer. Finally, she opened the door, stepping back with a surprised expression on her face.

  “Detective Stone? Miss Meadows?” She eyed us warily. “Is there something I can help you with?”

  “We would like a minute of your time, if that would be all right.” Mitch stood tall, with shoulders straight and hands clasped behind his back. Feet spread shoulder-width apart, even I had to admit he looked intimidating.

  “But I already answered both of your questions.” Her gaze darted between the two of us, and then down the hall, making me wonder what or who she was looking for.

  “Some new information has come to light.” I spoke with an easy, friendly tone, trying to put her at ease. “May we come in?”

  She stepped back and held the door open. Detective Stone walked inside and sat in a chair across from her desk. I took the seat beside him.

  “Am I in trouble?” Linda sat in the chair behind her desk, straightening her calendar, rearranging her pens, fidgeting.

  “That remains to be seen.” Mitch pulled out a pad of paper and pen. He had a no-nonsense serious expression on his face, screaming interrogation time. The funny thing is he wasn’t even trying for intimidating. That was just his nature, which was exactly why he needed me as a consultant, whether he wanted to admit it or not.

  “Mrs. Theodore, we don’t want to alarm you.” I shot Mitch an I’ve-got-this look.

  He just arched a brow, waited a beat, and then sat back.

  “Ronald Winters paid me a visit yesterday,” I continued.

  Linda’s jaw fell open as she inhaled deeply. “You know his name?”

  “I know many things,” I said with a calm, sympathetic tone before dropping a few bombs. “I know Pierre Desjardins is the man you’re having an affair with.” I held up my hand when she looked ready to deny it. “I also know he convinced you to take out the life insurance policy on your husband.”

  “And your husband just happened to die soon after,” Detective Stone added, then nodded for me to keep going after I sent him a sharp look.

  “Pierre didn’t kill my husband and neither did I,” Linda said vehemently.

  “We’re not saying you did,” I quickly added.

  “How do you know all this?” A deep V formed between her eyebrows. Her body language was once again defensive and on edge, thanks to Mitch.

  I hesitated, taking a moment to think about my response. I didn’t want to say I was eavesdropping outside her office, so I said instead, “I saw and heard things, giving me undisputable proof.”

  “Ohhh.” Her eyes widened. I didn’t lie, I just let her assume I meant I’d seen and heard things psychically, which was true in part.

  “Mrs. Theodore.” I gentled my tone. “If Ronald Winters was your husband’s partner and they had a falling out, why on earth would you want to sell to him?”

  Her shoulders wilted, and she looked defeated. “At first I didn’t know Ron was the anonymous buyer. Mr. Benedict contacted me, apologizing profusely and saying he wanted to make up for everything he’d done. He said he’d gotten involved in something he never should have and couldn’t find his way out. I was desperate, so I said yes. Until I found out who the buyer was. When I tried to get out of the deal, Ron wouldn’t let me.”

  “If you hadn’t signed yet, how could he stop you?” Mitch frowned.

  Linda’s face paled. “Ronald Winters is a very powerful man, capable of things you can’t even imagine.”

  I reached across the desk and squeezed her hand. “If you tell us what you know, maybe we can help protect you.”

  She pulled her hand out from under mine and paused for a long moment, then seemed to make up her mind. “Ronald Winters is behind the bad deal Brice was involved in. He set the whole thing up.”

  My jaw fell open. “You’re kidding?”

  “Hardly,” she ground out. “Brice is a fool. He had stars in his eyes and thought he could help Peirce and make some money for himself in the process. So he took the money and invested it without Peirce knowing. He knew my husband wouldn’t go along with a deal that was questionable in any way, but he thought it sounded good. He just had no clue Ronald Winters was behind it all. Brice never dealt with him at first. He dealt with his partner.”

  “I’m guessing Ronald was looking to ruin your husband as payback.” Mitch made some notes in his notebook.

  Linda stared out the window. “We had all been so close once, but Peirce grew jealous of Ron’s success. Of always being less than him. Peirce brought Ron into running the inn because he knew he could help him be successful, but then my husband forced him out just as soon as he could and never felt bad about it.”

  “Wow,” was all I could say.

  I’d had no idea Peirce could be that cold. Then again there were probably a lot of things about the people in my small town that would shock me. It made a person realize that you never really knew someone completely. I couldn’t help but glance at Mitch, who looked at me curiously, but then Mrs. Theodore started speaking again.

  “Ronald had been devastated.” Linda looked down at her hands. “I felt bad, but what could I do? Peirce wouldn’t listen to me.” She looked at me. “I just had no idea how much it would change Ronald. He never got over it. I think he’s been planning Peirce’s ruin for a long time.”


  “Do you think Ronald Winters killed your husband?” Mitch asked.

  “I don’t know. There was a time I would argue that was impossible, but the man I’ve dealt with lately isn’t the same man I once knew. He set up the shady deal, got Brice to go along with it, and then took everything from Peirce. Like I said, Brice had no clue Ronald was behind it all either. He’d always dealt with his Ronald’s partner. Once the deal went south and Brice lost everything of Peirce’s, Ronald came forward and revealed himself.”

  “Why didn’t Brice go to the police?” I asked.

  “He was afraid of Ronald. Ron made it clear that going to the police was a bad idea. He’d set the whole thing up on purpose so that Peirce would be vulnerable and would have no choice but to sell to him. Peirce refused, even though we were in trouble financially. Ron even had his heavy hitter partner rough him up, but Peirce still held out. I think he would rather die than sell to Ronald.”

  “That explains the threatening phone calls.” Mitch jotted down more notes.

  “Peirce tried to keep the whole thing a secret from me, but I’m no fool. I knew something was wrong. After my husband died, I tried to stop the insanity by agreeing to the deal. I finally got it out of Brice who the anonymous buyer was, but by then it was too late.”

  “What about Drew Cummings the IRS guy? Wasn’t he helping Brice?” I asked. “Maybe he can help you, too.”

  Linda laughed harshly. “Drew Cummings? Oh, he’d like to help me, all right. Straight into an early grave.”

  Mitch’s ears perked up. “What do you mean?”

  “You don’t get it, do you, Detective Stone?”

  “I think I’m starting to. Drew Cummings isn’t really IRS is he?”

  “No.” She looked us both in the eye, and I could see the very real fear she felt. It was the same fear Brice Benedict had shown. Finally, she answered, “He’s Ronald Winters heavy hitting partner, and I don’t think he’s finished yet.”

  ***

  “I can’t believe they did this to him,” I said from Brice Benedict’s hospital room later that afternoon.

  “We can’t prove it was Ronald Winters or Drew Cummings that did this,” Mitch said, looking down at Brice who lay in an unconscious heap clinging to life.

  “You know as well as I do that they are guilty.” Anger surged through me on his behalf. “I told him we could help him. We could keep him safe.”

  “And I would have tried had he come to me, but he didn’t, Sunny.” Mitch squeezed my hand. “There’s nothing we could have done.”

  “We can do something now.” I turned to him. “We can stop them from doing this to anyone else.”

  “I have Detective Fuller looking for them now.”

  “I never should have told Winters that I saw him with Drew and Brice in the café and that Brice had later told me he was trying to help Linda out of her financial troubles with an anonymous buyer.” I fought back tears, feeling terrible for my role in this mess. “I could see it in Ronald’s eyes. He didn’t believe that Brice had kept his secret and he probably wondered what else he’d told me. I’m sure that’s what they were trying to beat out of him.”

  “Or stop him from saying anything more,” Mitch pointed out.

  “I should have told you everything so you could go after him yesterday. Instead I let you stay home and take care of me.” I rubbed my throbbing temples. “Maybe we could have stopped this, Mitch.”

  “Sunny, listen to me.” He took my shoulders and made me look at him. “People like that will find a way no matter what we do. Quit beating yourself up, okay?”

  I nodded, but then my eyes sprang wide as I thought of something else. “What about Mrs. Theodore?”

  “I’ve already put an officer at her place. Besides, Winters isn’t stupid. He has to know we’ve discovered what happened to Benedict by now. He isn’t likely to go anywhere near the inn anytime soon.”

  “We have to catch him, Mitch. If he’s capable of this, then it stands to reason he’s capable of murder.”

  “We’ll get him. We always do.” His phone rang and he looked at me as he answered. “Any news?” His lips flattened into a straight line as he listened. “Keep me posted if anything else turns up.” He hung up.

  “Well?”

  “That was Fuller.” Mitch scrubbed a hand over his face and then through his hair. “Winters and Cummings both skipped town this morning.”

  My heart sank. “What are we going to do?”

  He thought about that for a moment, and then said with resolve, “Not give up hope. I have connections in other towns.” He started to pace. “Hell, I have connections in other states. I’ll make some calls. We’ll find them.”

  “What am I supposed to do?”

  “Your job.” He looked me straight in the eye and said words I never thought I would hear. “See if you can get a read on Winters.”

  “Yes sir, partner.” I smiled slowly, and he just shook his head, but the corner of one lip tipped up ever so slightly. Finally, after almost a year, he was beginning to take me seriously. “What am I looking for?”

  “I don’t really know,” he said honestly. “Just let me know if you find anything at all. And Tink?”

  “Yes?”

  “Try not to make more of a mess than usual.”

  And he’s back. “Aye aye, Detective Grumpy Pants.”

  Chapter 22

  “What are you two doing here?” I asked Jo and Zoe Friday morning at Divine Inspiration after locking my car. They had pulled into the parking lot just seconds behind me.

  I had figured if Ronald Winters and Peirce Theodore had grown up together, then chances were they had spent a lot of their time here at the inn since Divine Inspiration had been in Peirce’s family for generations. It seemed as likely a place as any to get a reading. I had already tried the gloves with no success, not to mention, I wanted to prove to Mitch he was right in asking for my help. And still another part of me needed to check on Linda and make sure she was all right.

  “Following you,” Zoe said as if that was the most natural comment in the world.

  “Your mother called,” Jo added by way of explanation.

  “Of course she called you two.” I rolled my eyes.

  “Because she was worried about you,” Jo explained with a meaningful tone.

  “Oh.” That got my attention. She hadn’t called to check up on them for once. She had called to check up on me. A warmth I couldn’t deny spread through me.

  “Your mother said Granny Gert told her you were here,” Zoe clarified.

  “Which still doesn’t explain what you two are doing here.” I crossed my arms over my chest and waited.

  “I have the morning off.” Jo shrugged.

  “Me too.” Zoe grinned.

  “Did you really think we were going to let you have all the fun?” Jo snorted. “I’ve been dying to go treasure hunting ever since I first heard about the map.”

  “I’m not here to treasure hunt.” I tried to bite back my frustration because I knew they just wanted to help, but this was too important to me. I needed to remain serious and focused and do my job. “I am here to work. I am trying to pick up something about Ronald Winters.”

  “Who?” Zoe and Jo asked simultaneously.

  I took a moment to fill them both in on everything.

  “Wow, that’s crazy,” Jo said.

  “So you can both go home now and tell my mother I’m fine.”

  “Not a chance,” Zoe said. “We’re here, we’re dressed appropriately this time, and we’re ready for an adventure.”

  “And,” Jo held up her hand before I could protest, “we’re your friends. You guys were there for me when I had a temporary moment of insanity.”

  “And me when I nearly died of mortification,” Zoe added.

  “It’s time we return the favor. Enough said.” Jo swiped her hand through the air as if slamming down a gavel, ending the discussion.

  “What favor, dying of mortification?” I ask
ed, trying to be funny. “I’ve got that covered on a daily basis all by my little lonesome.”

  “Nice try,” Zoe said.

  “We’re not going anywhere,” Jo seconded.

  The Amazon Twins stood with arms crossed and feet spread wide apart, in perfectly appropriate fall hiking gear. I couldn’t move them if I tried.

  “Okay.” I eyed their outfits of sweaters, jeans, and boots. “Out of curiosity, how did you know to dress for the outdoors?”

  “We already searched the entire inn, so I’m guessing we’ll either end up in the secret tunnel or the woods. Either way, I’m all about comfort these days,” Jo responded.

  “I see you’re wearing shoes now.” Zoe pointed to my feet.

  “I guess I’m all about accepting my fate these days,” I replied. “Summer’s over and there’s a killer on the loose. Let’s go see if we can do something about it.”

  “Sounds like a plan, Boss.” Jo grinned.

  “Forget Charlie’s Angels. I feel like Indiana Jones just sent us on a mission.” Zoe giggled.

  Jo laughed, and I groaned, thinking of Mitch’s last words to me. Try not to make too much of a mess this time, Tink.

  If he only knew….

  ***

  Hours later, after checking in with the police Mitch had placed at the inn for protection and making sure everyone was safe, we’d searched the grounds for clues with no luck. It didn’t help that people were everywhere. Frank and Sally had their hands full, but there was one place I knew the guests weren’t allowed. The tunnels.

  “Come on.” I peeked around the corner into the kitchen. “The coast is clear.” Pierre was gone, probably somewhere with Linda.

  I darted through his space, careful not to touch a thing. Jo and Zoe followed closely. With one last look around, I opened the door to the root cellar and motioned them through. They quickly made their way down the stairs. I had just stepped inside and closed the door, when I heard Pierre come back into the kitchen. I held a finger to my lips in a shhhhh gesture for Jo and Zoe to freeze. We heard some humming, slicing, dicing, and cooking. Sally came in and said something about the lunch crowd. Pierre cursed but finally complied.