by Lynn Cahoon
Jackie had divided the flyers up into packets of fifty, probably so she could monitor how many we actually handed out versus the number of sales we had that day. You didn’t mess with her marketing plans or you never heard the end of it.
Toby’s arrival came at the same time as a tour bus stop, so my six-hour shift turned into seven before the traffic slowed enough for me to leave. We’d had several customers return to the line with books after getting their coffee. I’d sold more books today than I had in one shift ever. The flyer appeared to be working, at least in the short run. Jackie would be ecstatic, even though when she’d started working with me, she’d suggested we’d do away with the book side of the business entirely. Now you would have thought the section had been her brainchild. I had to admit, she knew her marketing stuff.
As I took off my apron, loud voices near the front of the shop drew my attention.
“Look, you’re cute and all, but really, you couldn’t have thought I was serious? I mean, look at me.” Lisa Brewer ran her hands up and down the front of her body, showing off her assets. “With all this, I don’t have to date high school boys for real.”
Nick Michaels look stunned. “But you said—”
Lisa laughed and shrugged. “I needed a ride into the city. You had a car. Mystery solved.” Her attention was diverted to the street where a motorcycle was double-parked in front of the store. The rider, sans helmet this time and wearing a doo rag with a skull hand-painted on the front, revved the engine, obviously his idea of knocking on his date’s door. “Sorry, Reno’s here. I’ve got to go.”
“Lisa, wait …” Nick grabbed at her arm, but she twisted away before he could catch her.
She stopped and turned back, kissing him on the lips, then wiping her lipstick stain off his face. I saw her glance out the window to see if Reno was watching. He was, and even at the distance where I stood, I could see his face darken.
“Toby,” I called in a hushed voice. I felt him standing behind me before I heard his words. A habit he’d come to perfect in the last few months. Why was drama always happening here in this peaceful shop?
“I’m watching.” Toby’s response was as quiet as my call had been. Even the customers seemed to be holding their breath, waiting to see how this love triangle would end. I hoped it wasn’t with a dying Nick calling out for his love from the black-and-white tile of my coffee shop’s floor.
But Lisa seemed to be done playing both men and smiled at Nick. His face beamed with hope at what he thought the kiss had meant. The hope disappeared with her next words. “Thanks for everything. Maybe we can hook up again.”
And with that, she flounced out of the shop, her miniskirt flowing in the light wind outside. She climbed on the back of the motorcycle, put her fake cowboy boots on the foot holds, and wrapped her arms around Reno’s stomach. A stomach that I would bet boasted a six-pack once you stripped off his rider leathers. I could see the attraction—who didn’t love the bad boy? But my heart ached for Nick.
He stood at the glass window and watched the couple leave. As they started up the street, Reno gave him a little wave to add insult to the injury.
Toby tossed his towel on the counter. “Poor kid. I’d like to murder that jerk and I don’t even know him. I’m going to go talk to Nick.”
I sighed and put back on my apron.
“You don’t have to stay.” Toby paused, looking at me, probably realizing my shift had ended a while ago.
“You can take over when you get back. I don’t think this will be a quick chat.” I smiled and nodded to the phone. “I’ve got some orders to finish up anyway. You think I should call his mom to give her a CliffsNotes version?”
Toby nodded. “Nick won’t like it, but he knows he lives in a small town. South Cove isn’t the place where you can have something like this not get back to your mom. Man, I’d hate to be in the locker room next week. Those guys are going to give him such grief.”
I watched as Toby put his hand on the boy’s back, then the two of them walked out of the shop. I’d noticed men weren’t usually the ones to sit and talk about a problem. They did things, then the talk got mixed around in the doing. Give me a group of giggling girls crowded on a sofa any day. At least the words got said, eventually.
I waited for them to walk out of eyesight, then picked up the phone. When the other end picked up, I said, “Sadie, Nick’s got a problem.”
Thirty minutes later, Toby returned and put his apron on, pouring himself a cup of coffee. I gave him a pointed stare.
“What?” He pretended to be focused on how many pieces of cheesecake were cut and ready in the display case.
I blew out a breath. “How is Nick?”
Toby stopped rearranging the case and leaned against the counter, his arms crossed over his chest. “Frankly, I’m worried. He wouldn’t tell me everything, but he let it slip Lisa talked him into doing things he knew were wrong. What that means? I’m not sure.”
My heart stopped for a second. “You don’t think Nick had anything to do with Craig’s murder, do you?”
Toby shook his head. “That’s the thing, I don’t see him doing something illegal for any girl, but he wouldn’t tell me what he did. I guess me being a cop doesn’t make me the best one to confide your secrets to.”
“You have to tell Greg.” I stated the obvious, the words coming out before I realized.
Toby swung a clean towel over his shoulder and then took a sip of coffee. “I know.”
We ended the conversation there, and finally, two hours late, I started walking home. I stopped in at Diamond Lille’s, ordered a turkey Reuben to go, and then slowly made my way to the house. Any thought of Greg showing up with a movie later had been dashed with the incident with Nick and Lisa.
And if there had been something worse than breaking into The Castle grounds for an after-school party, Sadie would make Nick do the right thing and confess. There wouldn’t be any hiding behind lawyers. Nick would tell the police everything. I hoped his good sense had kept him from ruining a perfectly good life.
When I reached the house, I set my sandwich on the table, let Emma out, and picked up the phone. The kid needed a friend.
“Jimmy Marcum’s office,” a cheery receptionist answered.
A few hours later, my phone rang. I didn’t even look at the display. Greg would be hot because I hired Jimmy. I might as well face the music.
“Grab your purse and come with me.” Aunt Jackie’s voice surprised me.
I turned off the television. “Where are you?”
“In your driveway. Come on, I found out where Craig’s crate is stored.”
I stood and opened the front door. My aunt waved at me from her open window. “Come on,” she said into the phone.
I held up a finger, then let Emma outside, tucked my camera into my purse, and locked up the house.
When we’d reached the highway, I asked, “So, who told you about Craig’s crate?”
“Brenda was in the shop last night.” Jackie whipped the sedan around a slow-moving truck that had been going the speed limit. I gripped the door handle. “The girl talks up a blue streak when you let her.”
I watched out the window, thinking about how calm the ocean looked today, knowing under the smooth surface a whole ’nother world existed. Just like small towns. “I’m thinking it’s probably locked.”
“There’s a hidden key, according to Brenda. Or at least there was one. She kept one just in case so she didn’t have to drive back to South Cove if she forgot to grab Craig’s when he sent her for items.” Jackie grinned. “People like to tell me things. They think I’m like a bartender, advice central.”
We listened to Jackie’s all-Sinatra, all-the-time station, and by the time we’d arrived, even I was feeling mellow. Frank could do that to a girl. We parked near the harbor and headed toward the docks. Shipping containers sat in a fenced area, a guard station at the gate. I raised an eyebrow, but Jackie approached the security guard without any hesitation.
> “Crate four-five-nine. We’ll be fast.” She smiled and waved at me. “Or we will be if my niece will stop dawdling. You’d think she’d never visited a shipping yard before.”
“Sounds like you know where you’re going, then.” The security guard tapped his baseball cap and then went back into his shed. I heard the televised voices of sports announcers talking about the upcoming baseball game that evening.
“You are amazing,” I whispered as we got out of hearing distance.
Jackie grinned at me. “Look like you’re supposed to be somewhere, and everyone leaves you alone. How do you think I get into all the best parties, by invite?”
I was learning more and more about my aunt. Some things I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.
Finally we found the correct crate. Jackie looked around the dusty metal container as long as a long-haul truck body. She picked up several rocks, abandoning them one after another, then slid a key out of the bottom of the last one. “And you doubted me.”
We unlocked the door, and I cringed at the loud creak. Jackie pulled a flashlight out of her Dooney & Bourke tote. She clicked it on and the beam illuminated the dark crate. Piles of furniture, tapestries, and oil paintings in frames. Antiques. Just like you’d expect to find in a collector’s crate.
Walking through the narrow walkway, I reached out to touch a tapestry, only to have my hand slapped. “Don’t touch. Fingerprints!”
I glanced around the crate. “I don’t see anything here that shouldn’t be here.”
Jackie sighed. “Me, either.” She shined the light onto the ceiling. Nothing. “I guess I thought maybe this was the clue.”
“It was a good thought.” I heard voices outside the crate. “We better go before your security guard realizes we’re not at crate four-five-nine.”
Jackie relocked the crate, hid the key in the rock, and as we walked toward the gate, seemed thoughtful. She looked at me. “I just can’t figure out why someone would want Craig dead.”
“Besides the obvious, you mean.” I turned and saw the fake rock still in my aunt’s hand. “You probably should leave that here.”
She glanced down at her hand. “Oh, I hadn’t realized.” She turned, but I stopped her.
“I’ll take it back. Meet you in the car.” I grabbed the rock with my sweatshirt. “Fingerprints, right?”
“Just hurry. I need to get back and relieve Toby.” Jackie turned back to the car, and I watched her for a few seconds. She seemed so disappointed that the idea hadn’t brought any new information. But it was one more place we’d checked. Soon the mystery had to be solved. I walked back to the crate, but heard voices before I turned the corner.
“He had a fake rock somewhere around here, I know it.” Ray Stewart stood, yanking on the lock we’d just clicked. A big man stood near him.
“Maybe you took it so you could come back later,” the man growled.
Panic made Ray’s eyes widen, and I almost felt bad for the man. Almost. It was nice seeing the bully get what he gave. “I promise, Sarge, I wouldn’t do that.”
I stepped back away from the crate and sprinted to the car. Even though Jackie and I hadn’t seen it, the clue had to be in the crate. We’d come back this weekend and search the items from top to bottom with gloves. I tucked the fake rock into my purse and made my way to Jackie’s car.
“Let’s get out of here,” I said, glancing over my shoulder to make sure I hadn’t been seen.
We’d found the reason for Craig’s death, we just didn’t know what we were looking for. Yet.
CHAPTER 16
Greg picked me up right at five-thirty Friday evening, his usual jeans and uniform shirt replaced with black jeans and a button-down shirt, collar open to show a touch of his tanned chest. I opened the door and motioned him in. “I can’t find my black clutch.”
I turned back to sprint back upstairs when I felt him grab my arm and swing me into his arms. He held me close, one hand on the low of my back and the other sweeping my hair off my neck. Then he kissed me, long, hard, and sweet. I leaned into the kiss, smelling the freshly showered skin, the scent of his soap still lingering.
“Wow,” I breathed when he let me go. I felt his gaze drop and then rise again to meet my own. I was glad I’d chosen the black dress with the V neckline. It clung to my curves without being too slutty. Sometimes that was a fine line.
“You sure we have to chaperone?” He smoothed back a curl that had fallen into my face.
I touched his cheek. “She’d kill me if I let her go alone. Although it might be worth the trouble.”
He smiled. And the slow, sexy smile almost changed my mind. “We haven’t had a lot of time together the last few weeks. It’s too bad we have to spend the little time we do with your aunt and her star-crossed lover.”
“Don’t let her hear you say that. She’s livid she even has to go. Something about prostitution being illegal.” I nodded to the stairs. “So can I go get my purse?”
Greg crossed the room, flipped on the television, and sank into the couch. “Just don’t take too long. We still have to pick up your aunt and drive into the city. Josh made the reservations for seven.”
“If I don’t find it in a few minutes, I’ll bring a different one.” I kissed him on top of the head and started up the stairs.
“Why don’t you use the one you can find?” he called after me.
Emma followed me up the stairs and stood watching as I dug on the top of the shelves. “He doesn’t understand girls, now, does he?”
Emma cocked her head as she watched. I think maybe she agreed with Greg. Ten minutes later, I had the right purse, finished the makeup painting and jewelry selection, and was ready to go. I padded back down the stairs barefoot, my pumps in my hand.
“Ready.”
There was no answer from the couch. I could see the back of Greg’s head, but he didn’t turn. I spun around to show him the final product, pulling on the last shoe as I started the turn. “Greg?”
Still no answer. Then I heard a gentle snore. I couldn’t believe he’d fallen asleep. I stomped over to the front of the couch and shook his arm. “Greg, wake up!”
All of a sudden I felt myself being pulled onto his lap. He pushed back my curly hair, set in a wild, untamed look, and kissed me again. This time, I didn’t even question the contact, I just enjoyed.
He peered at me and finally slapped me on the butt. “Seriously, you have to stop kissing me. We’re going to be late picking up your aunt.”
“Hey, buddy, you started it.” I laughed and stood, pulling him to his feet.
“Not the story I’m telling.” Greg whistled to Emma. “Okay if I put her in the back?”
“Perfect. She’d hate to be locked up all evening while we’re gone.” I walked around closing windows and was waiting at the front door when Greg returned. He took my keys and locked the dead bolt as we left the house. I scanned the sky, but it seemed cloudless. We might just have a nice evening in store.
Jackie was waiting on the sidewalk when we pulled up in my new car. She glanced at Greg in the driver’s seat as she slipped into the back. “I guess I should be thankful I’m not riding in the back of the truck.”
Greg flashed her a grin. “Well, my other car is the police cruiser and Toby’s using that tonight. But I guess we can track him down and trade if you want. I think he’d love chasing down speeders in Jill’s new ride.”
I slapped his arm. “You are not letting Toby drive my new car.” I glanced at my aunt. “Sorry, I guess I should have considered passengers when I bought a new car.”
Jackie shook her head. “Stop treating me like an old lady. I can climb into the back as easily as either of you.”
Wait, hadn’t she just complained? I glanced at Greg to see if I was the only one who saw the irony. I wasn’t. He bit his lip, then headed the Jeep down the highway. I keyed the address into the GPS system and leaned back, willing to let Greg drive and the mechanical female voice I called Dora do the navigating.
&nb
sp; We were on the highway when Greg said, “So Jimmy Marcum stopped in the station when we were questioning Nick last night.”
My heart stopped for a beat or two. “Oh?” I stared out the window, not able to look Greg’s way.
“Yeah, he said he’d been hired to represent the kid, but funny thing, neither Sadie nor Nick had called him.” I could see Greg through the reflection in the window glass, staring straight ahead, not looking at me.
The car got quiet. Finally I saw him turn and look at me. “You know anything about that?”
“Would you be mad if I said yes?” I didn’t want to turn.
“Oh my God. Would you two talk directly? Jill, tell him you called Jimmy. Greg, get off her back for it. She was trying to protect the kid.” Aunt Jackie leaned forward. “How do you guys ever have a conversation? This seems more like a dance.”
“Aunt Jackie.” I glared at her.
She glared back, her stare hard, and then she nodded at Greg.
“Fine. I called Jimmy. I knew Sadie wouldn’t hesitate to have him admit to anything if it was the truth. And he needed someone who knew the law on his side. Truth or not.” I settled back in the seat and crossed my arms.
Greg took one look at me and laughed. “I knew it was you. You’re the only person in town who has Jimmy on speed-dial.”
He didn’t sound mad. I pushed for more information. “Tell me Nick didn’t kill Craig.”
“Nick didn’t kill Craig.” Greg turned off the highway following Dora’s instructions.
I turned in the seat to look at him. “Seriously? But Toby said Nick was upset over what he did for Lisa. What did he do?”