by Leena Clover
Tank came bounding up to her and held up his paw. He had stopped cowering when he met her. Jenny thought that was a good sign. Either his condition was improving or he had stopped thinking of her as a threat.
Two tall girls came running, calling out Tank’s name. His tail wagged as he ran back to them. The girls were a mirror image of each other. Two pairs of cobalt blue eyes stared back at Jenny and smiled.
“Looks like he knows you,” one of them said. “He’s a bit wary of strangers.”
“Tank and I are friends,” Jenny nodded.
Jenny craned her neck and saw Adam limping up behind the girls.
“Hello Jenny! Have you met the twins?”
“Are these your girls?” Jenny asked, astounded.
None of her friends had mentioned Adam’s kids before.
“They are so precious.”
She turned and looked at them.
“Do you live here in town? How come I haven’t seen you before?”
“Not anymore,” one of the girls said, “although this is our home. We are at college now, in Charlottesville.”
“We go to the University of Virginia,” the other one said. “It’s just four hours by road.”
“Not close enough,” Adam grumbled. “They are here to spend some time with their old man.”
“Is it Spring Break already?” Jenny asked.
She had hoped her son Nick would come visit her during his break.
“Not yet,” one of the twins said. “But we’re going to Cancun for Spring Break. We thought we would come visit Dad before that.”
Jenny invited them all in for a drink.
“Thanks Jenny,” Adam said. “But we’ve got a tub of popcorn and a movie waiting for us at home. Maybe some other time.”
“I have a son about your age,” Jenny told the girls. “You should meet him when he visits.”
“We’ll spend some time here in the summer,” the twins said.
Jenny walked on until she began feeling drowsy. She hoped the next day would provide some new information.
Betty Sue Morse reclined in the back seat of Jenny’s car, holding Tootsie in her lap. She stroked Tootsie’s fur and spoke to her in a soft voice.
“Will Ada be fine with Tootsie?” Jenny asked worriedly.
Ada Newbury seemed to have a problem with everyone.
“Tootsie seems a bit depressed today,” Betty Sue said. “How could I leave her on her own?”
“Ada likes Tootsie,” Heather assured Jenny. “She was born on the Newbury estate. Ada was devoted to her mother.”
“So Tootsie has a better pedigree than I do,” Jenny said with a laugh.
Heather let out a snort that turned into full blown laughter.
“You never mentioned Adam Hopkins has kids?” Jenny asked Heather. “I ran into the twins last night.”
“Just the twins?” Betty Sue asked.
“Adam was with them,” Jenny admitted.
“You’re calling him Adam now, are you?” Betty Sue teased.
“His wife passed a few years ago,” Heather said. “Adam raised the girls on his own since then. They are in college now.”
“They are pretty,” Jenny said.
“Not as pretty as their mother,” Betty Sue said from the back seat. “She was beautiful. Adam’s had a hard time, what with his war wounds and losing his wife.”
“He seems tough,” Jenny said.
“All the Survivors are tough. His ancestors came off the ‘Bella, didn’t they?”
“The ‘Bella is the ship that sank in these parts, right?” Jenny asked. “I know a bit about it.”
The road had curved up as they neared the Newbury estate.
“We’re almost there,” Betty Sue said, leaning forward. “Let me do the talking.”
Betty Sue spoke imperiously to the security guard at the gates. He frowned at Jenny but let them in.
“I didn’t know you were bringing guests,” Ada said when she entered the parlor the maid had shown them into.
Tootsie looked up when she heard Ada’s voice. Ada Newbury’s face broke into a smile when she spotted the black poodle.
“Look who’s here, Julius. Come here, Toots. Come give us a kiss.”
Tootsie jumped down from Betty Sue’s lap and ran to Ada. She scooped her up and allowed her to lick her face. Ada plopped down in a chair, holding Tootsie in her arms.
The little poodle’s presence had softened her up. Jenny crossed her fingers and hoped her good mood would continue.
Julius Newbury entered the room and sat in a chair next to Ada. He was his usual cheery self. He greeted the ladies and offered them tea. A maid brought out a tea service with tiny cucumber sandwiches and cakes.
“Not as good as yours, I’m afraid,” Julius said to Jenny. He leaned toward her and whispered dramatically. “Don’t tell our cook I said that.”
Jenny let the older man speak, biding her time. After ten minutes of inconsequential chatter, she decided to take the plunge.
“Have you recovered from the shock, Mr. Newbury?”
“What was that?” Ada raised her voice.
“The shock of having a man murdered in your home, of course,” Jenny said.
“My dear, we don’t talk about such indelicate matters at tea,” Ada pronounced with a sniff. “And that man was found somewhere on the beach, not in our home as you put it.”
“But we heard he was found on your property,” Jenny said, acting ignorant.
“You’re right,” Julius said. “We own a large parcel of land here. Most of the beach around here belongs to us.”
“Julius!” Ada hissed.
Her gaze hardened as she looked at Jenny.
“Why are you here, Miss King?”
“We needed a ride,” Betty Sue spoke up, “and Jenny wanted some feedback from you about the party. So we brought her along.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I hardly tasted any of your confections,” Ada said, sounding anything but sorry.
“I did,” Julius said, ignoring his wife’s glare. “And they were all lip smacking. Delicious!”
He kissed his fingers and made a smacking sound as he said that.
“Can I count on your recommendation?” Jenny asked eagerly.
“Absolutely!” Julius said.
Ada Newbury wasn’t looking too pleased.
“Did you know that man?” Jenny asked. “The police still don’t know his name.”
“There were plenty of people on our beach that day,” Ada dismissed.
Jenny pulled out the picture she carried everywhere.
“Why don’t you just take a peep? Maybe you have seen him somewhere?”
Julius Newbury glanced at the picture and shook his head.
“Take that away,” Ada ordered. “And stop talking about that incident.”
“You mean the murder, don’t you?” Jenny said. “This man practically died on your doorstep. Aren’t you even a little bit curious about who he was or why he was here?”
Ada’s ears turned red. She was beginning to look apoplectic.
Heather stood up and pulled Jenny to her feet.
“Jenny needs to visit the powder room. Come, Jenny, I’ll take you there.”
“But…”
“Just go,” Betty Sue hissed.
Heather rushed out of the room with Jenny and paused in the foyer.
“Do you want to get us thrown out of here?” she panted.
She walked down another hallway and entered a room at the end.
A wizened old woman looked up and smiled when she saw them. She wore a chef’s hat and a white apron covered her ample midsection. She was stirring some pots on the stove. A couple of uniformed maids chopped vegetables at a center island.
“Heather!” the woman said, holding out her arms. “You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
“How are you, Cook?” Heather said, hugging her back.
“This is Jenny,” she said, turning toward her friend. “She wants to ask yo
u something about that man they found.”
Cook made the sign of the cross.
“Don’t let Madam hear you. We have been forbidden to talk about it.”
Jenny almost shoved the man’s picture in Cook’s face.
“Please. Have you seen this man before?”
Cook looked at the picture for a minute and shook her head.
“Can’t say I have.”
She handed it over to the two girls prepping the food.
“How about you, girls?”
They looked over the picture eagerly but shook their heads.
“How many more people work here?” Jenny asked. “We already talked to one other person.”
The door opened and another girl in a maid’s uniform came in. They had not met her before.
“Come and take a look at this picture,” Cook said to the new girl. “Have you seen him before?”
The girl rolled her eyes and barely glanced at the picture Jenny was holding out.
“No…” she said in a bored tone.
“Look again, girl,” Cook said sharply. “No need to be sassy.”
The girl picked up the picture again, opening her mouth to speak before she took a glance. Her eyes widened a bit and she brought the paper closer, going in for a second look. She wavered a moment, then made up her mind.
“I’ve seen this guy,” she nodded.
“Where?” Jenny and Heather said together.
“He was here a few nights ago.”
“On the beach?” Jenny asked.
The girl shook her head.
“He was in the parlor with the master. I served them myself.”
“Are you sure?” Heather asked. “Take a closer look.”
The girl squared her shoulders and folded her arms.
“I’ve looked twice, haven’t I? It was him alright.”
“What were they talking about?” Jenny asked.
“How would I know?” the girl asked belligerently. “You think I hide behind doors and eavesdrop?”
Jenny thanked the girl and the rest of the women in the kitchen.
“Let’s go, Jenny,” Heather urged. “We’ve been gone long enough.”
Cook tapped Heather on the shoulder as they turned to leave.
“Have you met him yet?”
Chapter 12
Jenny took a sip from her cup of tea. It was tepid. She was sure Ada Newbury would not ask for a fresh pot.
She was back in the parlor, sitting next to Betty Sue on a chintz covered sofa. A bead of perspiration lined Betty Sue’s upper lip and her breath sounded labored. Jenny looked around the room and wondered what had happened in their absence.
A tall, stout man sat in a chair, staring into the fireplace. His shock of white hair hinted at his advanced years, as did his craggy face. Jenny peered at him, trying to guess where he had come from.
“How are you, Grandpa Robert?” Heather asked, stooping down to hug the man.
His face broke into a smile as he looked at Heather.
“Doing good, munchkin,” he said, hugging her back. “I didn’t know you were coming for tea.”
“Betty Sue’s come with a posse,” Ada said.
“Have you met Grandma?” Heather asked the old man.
She looked at Betty Sue inquiringly.
“She hasn’t said much,” the man said. “Nothing new about that.”
Betty Sue crushed the hem of her dress in her fingers and smiled hesitantly.
“You are looking well, Robert,” she said.
“This is my friend Jenny,” Heather told the old man, pointing toward Jenny. “She’s new in town.”
The man called Robert nodded at Jenny but didn’t say anything. Jenny was itching to show him the picture of the dead man. Betty Sue nudged her before she could do anything.
“We have to leave,” Betty Sue Morse said.
She struggled to her feet and swayed. Jenny sprang up and took her arm.
“Robert, Julius…see you later,” Betty Sue said.
They walked out of the parlor, Tootsie trotting behind them.
“Why don’t you send Tootsie for a sleepover?” Ada Newbury called out.
Heather promised they would fix a date.
Jenny helped Betty Sue get in the back seat. Her face was red as a ripe tomato. She pulled out a lace handkerchief from her bag and dabbed her face with it.
“Are you okay, Grandma?” Heather asked with a frown.
“This is why I didn’t want to come,” Betty Sue muttered.
“Did something happen?” Jenny asked, mystified. “What’s wrong?”
“Get in and start driving,” Betty Sue ordered. “I want to get away from here as soon as possible.”
Heather bit her lip and tried to hide a smile. No one spoke on the way back to town. Jenny pulled up outside the Boardwalk Café and they went in.
“You’re back!” Petunia exclaimed when she saw them. “How was it?”
“Robert was there,” Betty Sue hissed.
Jenny led them out on the deck and they sat at their favorite table, taking in the view of the boardwalk and the beach. The tide was coming in and Jenny let herself relax, smiling as the frothy waves battered the beach and receded with force.
“Are you feeling better now, Grandma?” Heather asked gently.
Petunia came out with a tray loaded with a fresh pot of coffee and some cupcakes. She set it down and sat next to Betty Sue, patting her on the back.
“Have a cupcake,” she said knowingly. “You’ll feel better.”
“Who was that man?” Jenny asked. “And why did you call him Grandpa, Heather?”
“He is my grandfather,” Heather said softly.
She tipped her head toward Betty Sue.
“I don’t understand,” Jenny said densely. “Is he a relative? Why is he visiting the Newburys?”
Betty Sue expelled a big breath and closed her eyes.
“Robert is my husband, Jenny. Robert Newbury.”
Jenny remembered her aunt telling her how Betty Sue had kept her name after marriage.
“So you married a Newbury? I didn’t know that.”
“Julius is Robert’s younger brother,” Betty Sue said. “Robert and I stopped living together years ago.”
Jenny didn’t dare ask why.
“Grandpa Robert is my father’s father,” Heather elaborated.
“So you’re actually a Newbury…” Jenny said, connecting the dots.
“She has Morse blood,” Betty Sue said. “And Newbury blood too, I guess.”
“Grandma still gets hot and bothered every time she sees her husband,” Heather teased.
“Hush, girl,” Betty Sue chided. “We should get going. There’s a couple checking in this evening.”
“Wait a minute,” Jenny called out. “Don’t you want to talk about what we found out, Heather?”
“Oh yes, I almost forgot.”
Heather looked at Betty Sue and Petunia.
“They are doing it again.”
“What have they done now?” Betty Sue asked grimly.
“One of the maids said the dead man was having drinks with Julius.”
Jenny was feeling left out. She hastened to explain.
“I showed him the picture, Petunia. He looked at it, really looked at it. But he said nothing.”
“He lied to us,” Heather said unnecessarily.
“Looks like they are up to their old tricks,” Betty Sue smiled mirthlessly.
“You should stay out of this, Jenny,” Petunia said. “The Newburys are powerful people. Who knows how or why they knew that man.”
“But they must know who he is,” Jenny cried. “Isn’t that what we want to find out?”
“Leave it to the cops,” Heather said.
“Are you protecting them because they are your relatives?” Jenny asked.
“Ada Newbury is no relation of mine,” Betty Sue said. “But you don’t know how evil she can be, girl. Don’t get into their business.”
&
nbsp; Betty Sue and Heather left after that, leaving Jenny gaping after them.
“Have you heard from my aunt today?” she asked Petunia.
“Star’s gone to the seafood market,” Petunia told her. “She will stop here on her way back.”
“Do you think the Newburys are involved in the murder?” Jenny asked her.
“They are not criminals, Jenny. Well, not exactly. Julius could be lying to hide something silly. Or he’s just following Ada’s orders.”
“Why wouldn’t they own up to knowing that man?”
“To avoid scandal, of course,” Petunia said.
“That sounds silly,” Jenny said angrily. “If the maid saw him in the house, I am sure someone else must have seen him too. What about the security guy at the gate?”
“You could be right,” Petunia said meekly. “But you won’t get a word out of any of them. They won’t dare go against Ada’s orders.”
“What about the police though? Surely they can’t lie to the police?”
“Why don’t you talk to the sheriff about this?” Petunia asked, a gleam lighting up her eyes. “Tomorrow morning sounds good. I hear he’s left for the day.”
“How would you know that?” Jenny sighed.
“He came here to grab a sandwich,” Petunia said. “Told me he had a doctor’s appointment at 4 PM. It’s way past that now.”
Jenny spied Star coming up the steps of the café. She held up a bag.
“Got some fresh rockfish for us, sweetie. You ready to go home?”
Jenny was glad to see Star looking a bit upbeat. She had been moping ever since the police had ransacked her gallery.
“Can I help you prep something for tomorrow?” Jenny asked Petunia.
“It’s all under control,” the older woman assured her. “Why don’t you go on home? I’ll see you tomorrow at six, bright and early.”
Jenny felt exhausted all of a sudden. She was glad she wasn’t walking home. Captain Charlie called out to them as they were getting in the car.
“Had your chicken sandwich for lunch, Jenny,” he said, smacking his lips. “I can’t wait to get another one tomorrow.”
“I think I finally found something,” Jenny told her aunt as she drove slowly across town.
The mail van crossed them and Kevin gave them his usual salute.
Jenny told her aunt about her visit to the Newbury estate.
“Betty Sue still cares about Robert,” Star said, “even though they stopped living together a long time ago.”