This case was an all-around tragedy. If anything, good came out of it, a family found each other. But still, Angeline and Judge Houston had essentially lost any time they could have spent together as father and daughter. All because June wanted to make a few thousand extra dollars, selling a house no one wanted to buy. It made my head hurt. And my heart.
Angeline nodded at the judge’s words and brought him back into another hug. We all watched as they cried and held on to one another. Judge Houston just kept apologizing and Angeline told him it wasn’t his fault.
When the police came in, they found the two of them still in their hug and, in order to take him into custody, they were forced to break apart. I didn’t know what kind of future the two of them had, but I could only hope it got better from there.
Epilogue
The Following Day
Ashley was released immediately after Judge Houston confessed. I’d had just enough time to grab Shortbread and rush over to the jail to make sure she saw a couple of friendly faces when she came out of the Sherriff’s station.
I gave her the biggest hug that I could muster, squeezing until she begged me to stop. I took her to her home and she teared up. I confess, I got a little teary-eyed as well.
The next day, Ashley, Shortbread and I were having coffee at Ted’s. She wanted to thank me for everything I’d done.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to stop thanking you. You got me out of jail, Kari. Jail!”
I knew I would have to get used to gratefulness, but I was never great at taking a compliment.
“You were incarcerated for nearly a week on bogus charges, Ash. Not exactly exemplary lawyering on my part. Still, I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I didn’t get you out of there.”
That moment when I’d thought it was all lost, I’d never felt such despair. Failing Ashley like that, it would have been more than failing a client. I’d have been failing a friend. My best friend, actually.
“Naw,” she drawled. “You went above and beyond, and I want you to know that I appreciate you.”
She had grabbed both of my hands and looked directly into my eyes. That was the moment when I truly knew that Shortbread and I would move into Ashley’s house.
Ted had chosen that moment to come over and he slid a chair out. Before sitting down, he asked, “I hope I’m not interrupting anything?”
Ashley turned her gaze to him but kept her light grip on my hands.
“No. I was just telling the amazing Kari how much I appreciate her.”
Ted laughed and sat down. The café was back to its normal self. There were about three other customers at that moment, which was why Ted could take a sit with Ashley and me.
“Well, that’s sweet of you, Ashley.”
He patted on the her back and she let go of my hands to give him a little hug.
“Don’t think I forgot about you, Ted. Kari told me all about how the two of you spent hours digging through Cooter’s dump to try and find that spray can and then you didn’t even find it!”
That was a moment I’d rather forget, but Ashley was fascinated by the lengths that I went to. Mainly, she loved the trash dump part.
“Thank you for reminding me, Ashley. I’ve almost got the smell out of my clothes.” Ted wiggled his eyebrows and Ashley giggled, slapping his arm lightly.
Looking at Ted and Ashley and, obviously, Shortbread, I thought to myself that I’d made some real friends. Back when Ashley first walked into my office, I was focused on my work, but kind of lonely. Now, I had work and friends.
“What about you Kari?” Ted asked. “Still riding the wave of your big win?”
Winning Ashley’s case was a huge confidence booster and not just in myself. The partners in the firm saw how much I was willing to put in and they were starting to trust me with more work. I was still assigned to the local beat, but I felt like I had their trust and that was huge.
“A little bit, but I can’t for too long. There’s always more work to do.”
It had only been one day, and I hadn’t gotten any new folders from Tammy, yet. But I had no intention of slacking off.
“Well, just be careful. Every Tom, Dick, and Harriet will be coming in claiming innocence and looking for you.”
I had to admit, I got lucky with my first client. Not that I didn’t put in the legwork, but she turned out to be an actual innocent person. The downside to working in the legal business was not everyone you represented would be squeaky clean and sweet like Ashley, but that didn’t scare me away. If I had this worry, I would have dropped out of law school long ago.
“Let them come. It’ll be good for business.”
I tried to sound all nonchalant like a big-shot lawyer, but it came out more like a toddler bragging, probably because I said it around the croissant in my mouth. We all burst out laughing.
Things got serious for a minute when Ted brought up Judge Houston. “What’ll happen to the judge?”
After his confession, the whole town was abuzz. Most of the town had liked Judge Houston. He had been married, but he was a widower and he and his late wife never had any kids, so many people felt sympathy for his whole situation.
Unsurprisingly, barely anyone liked June. Not to say anyone wanted her brutally murdered, but sympathy for her had lessened. I still wasn’t sure how I felt about the whole thing. I had gone from right and wrong, black and white to full-spectrum technicolor. Every new fact led to another perspective that complicated things.
“He’ll probably go to jail for the rest of his life. With the confession, he can avoid the death sentence, though. But the whole framing another person won’t sit well. I only wished things could have ended up differently for him.”
I was mad at him for trying to have Ashley take the fall for his crime, but I also really felt for the guy. I was going to be sorting through my feelings for a while.
Ted said: “I still can’t believe any of it. Houston was always so nice. It was just so unexpected.”
I’d been hearing that a lot lately. Even after being here for such a short time, I too was surprised that he ended up being the culprit, but those were the facts.
“It was a crime of passion,” Ashley offered. “Given the right circumstances anyone could do something like that. It’s more common than people realize.”
“I hope this case hasn’t soured you to our little country town,” Ted said, looking at me with those eyes.
I almost laughed. “Not at all, Theodore. I just got here.”
“Well, good. I’m glad you still like Appleton. It would be a shame to lose a lady like you.”
This time I blushed. Ashley’s eyes went wide watching the two of us interact. I hadn’t really told her about Ted and me. Was there anything to tell?
“Anyway, I guess I have to keep good on my end of the bargain.”
I tilted my head, not sure what he was talking about. “What does that mean?”
“I have to take you out to dinner. It’s my gentlemanly duty.”
Oh, my goodness. I had completely forgotten Ted had promised me dinner after I got Ashley out of jail. And Ashley is out of jail.
I moved my eyes to her and she was drinking in the conversation with much amusement.
“Don’t drag me into this,” she laughed. “I’m just trying to keep up.”
“Well, Theodore, today, I’m afraid Ashley and Shortbread and I have some plans. We’re going to the drive-in theater outside Charlotte after we finish up here. But I’ll let you know what my schedule is like.” I smiled.
I didn’t want to come right out and agree to dinner. I kind of liked the way Ted and I had this back and forth.
I picked myself and Shortbread up and Ashley followed. I just stood there, not quite wanting to leave, but knowing it was time to go.
Ashley, reading my mood, offered, “I’ll take Shorty here to the car. Don’t be too long.”
She left the café. Ted finally stood up.
“So, you’ll let me know
if you have some free time coming up?”
I nodded. I could find some free time.
I said goodbye and told myself to text him later. Getting into the car with Ashley and Shortbread, I realized that life in Appleton was going to be pretty sweet, after all.
While what happened was sad, it wasn’t anything that I hadn’t become accustomed to from simply reading headlines, working in law or living in the city. People are a lot more similar than different in good ways and bad.
Maybe a lot more had been swept under the rug in Appleton. Maybe some of it needed to come out. It’s just a fact: no matter where you go, people have secrets.
Thing is, I love uncovering secrets.
THE END
Succulent Southern Recipe
Ashley’s Baked Fried Chicken
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 T salt
1 T black pepper
1 T paprika
1 T dry mustard
1 T chile powder (my addition to the family recipe)
1 ½ tsp thyme
3 eggs
3 lbs chicken, any cut, skinless/boneless ok (if you must)
Oil (or butter) for frying
Optional ingredients:
1 T cayenne (for those who like it HOT)
1 quart of buttermilk
If you have time and want to do it the way Mama does, soak the chicken cuts in buttermilk for at least one hour and up to eight hours.
When you’re ready to cook, preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Mix the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Whisk the eggs in a medium-sized mixing bowl and whisk them well, but don’t let it get frothy.
First, dredge the chicken through the flour and seasoning mixture. Then, dip the chicken pieces, thoroughly, in the whisked egg. Then, dredge through the flour mixture once more. After this, transfer each piece to a baking pan or plate.
Add enough of your favorite oil, butter, or a combination of the two, to fill a large skillet about a ¼-inch deep. Mama uses a 60-year old cast-iron skillet that that her grandmother got as a wedding present––but any deep, 12-inch frying pan should do. Heat that pan over medium-high heat until it is very hot.
Working in batches, fry the chicken until browned, 4-5 minutes per side with bone in, or 2-3 minutes per side for boneless. Place all that beautiful fried chicken onto a well-greased baking sheet or pan and finish it off in the oven, about 8 to 10 minutes at 400 degrees.
You’ll never eat fast food fried chicken again!
Thank you for reading and for your support. If you liked this book, please leave a review. I welcome any feedback or reader emails at [email protected].
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Here is your free excerpt of Miss Sylvia’s Stolen Bible, which is the Prequel to Miss June’s Judgment in the Kari Jacobs Lawyer Sleuth Cozy Mystery series. If you want to know more about what happened to Kari before she came to Appleton— and how she got Shortbread!— be sure to check it out.
Your Sneak Peek of
Miss Sylvia’s Stolen Bible
Chapter 1
Oh, man. It was just my luck that my car would break down right here. One hour away from arriving at my destination, after all this time spent on an otherwise incident-free drive.
I was on my way to Appleton, North Carolina all the way from San Francisco, California. The drive was long, very long, but necessary. I just had to get out of there and I knew the change would do me good. That was what I was telling myself to feel better about all the physical and emotional labor I was putting into this move, some might say flight, across the country.
Travelling by air wasn’t an option because shipping all of my worldly possessions would have been way too expensive and plane tickets don’t come cheap when you’re out of a job. I’d looked into all the possible methods of getting from point A to point B and driving was the least expensive.
I didn’t have the kind of money that would allow me to easily move such a long way. I’d graduated from law school with the mountain of debt that implies, but I had a plum associate’s position at a top Bay Area law firm and a ten year plan to pay it all back. Two years later, I’m not only out of a job but I’m also blacklisted apparently. In three months of trying, I couldn’t even get an interview anywhere near San Francisco.
I’m still not sure what happened but I have a suspicion and, if I’m correct, it’s my own fault. Curiosity can kill both cats and careers, it seems.
Anyway, life comes with many, many bills and mine were piling up. So, it seemed like a Godsend when a tiny little law firm, Winston, Yancey & Philpot, from a microscopic little town, Appleton, in North Carolina, called me with a job offer. My Aunt Octavia, whom many know as Judge Jacobs, had an association with the firm going back to the 1980s and, I suspected, cajoled them into giving me a job.
Aunt Tavey and I were once very close, but she became reclusive for some reason and I hadn’t seen her since I graduated from law school over two years ago. I missed her a lot but I suppose it was nice to know she was still looking out for me.
So, my car was stuffed to the brim and my body was contorted just so I could actually drive my car. It was a wholly uncomfortable experience, but I was making it work… sort of. Also, my phone wasn’t getting the greatest service, so I had to use a physical map to navigate. Like the ones you see dads pull out in those old movies when the family was going on a road trip and they didn’t want to ask for directions––yeah, that kind of map. It was exhausting.
America has so many roads but, like a game of Plinko, I just wanted to navigate down a few of them to the prize.
I had the map spread out on the seat next to me. Or I should say it was on top of the stuff on the seat next to me. I was trying to figure out my exact location. I was mildly confident that my finger was tracing the right line. The road that I was going down was super narrow and covered with trees. There were so many trees. Visibility was at a minimum, so I wasn’t going as fast as I could have been.
I hadn’t seen another car in a while, but I didn’t want to find myself in an accident either, so better safe than sorry. I was pretty sure I was only an hour or so from Appleton. It was a little hard to tell from a piece of paper, but I was doing my best estimations.
As the trip progressed, I was getting less and less frustrated.
I had some downbeat tunes streaming from my iPod through the car speakers and I was starting to feel a little better about my skills as a navigator. This was my first time using a map to get around, so the fact that I appeared to be on the right track was encouraging.
This would be something fun to brag about at my next law school reunion. Everyone had made fun of me for moving to such a small law firm in what they thought amounted to the middle of nowhere. All my friends were sure I’d get so lost I’d end up in Alaska, but I was about to prove them wrong.
My happiness high was going strong until the illusion had to be shattered by my car shaking. It was very freaky having my car trembling like that, but that didn’t stop me from attempting to keep moving forward. I gripped the steering wheel, trying to see if there was anything I could do to salvage any of this because if I had to drive the rest of the way while rocking back and forth a little, I would.
But I knew my feeble attempts were just me floundering from the get-go. After about one more mile, I was forced to pull over to the side of the road because the car had gone kaput. Complete and total failure. Whether it was done for the next hour or the rest of its life, at that very moment, it wasn’t going anywhere.
I got out of my car and I knew there was nothing I could do. I gave my car a quick skim, walking around it like I’d seen people do in the movies, but that wasn’t going to get anything done.
I’d seen a mechanic before leaving San Francisco and they’d told me that I was really risking it,
driving a car like mine so far––and by a car like mine they meant as old as the day is long––but I didn’t have much of a choice. If I could have bought a new car first, I would have done it, but that’s not the way my cookie crumbled. My cookie was a car older than me whose best days were far behind.
I paced back and forth for a few seconds, secretly hoping this problem would fix itself, but when no magical genie popped out of thin air, I took it upon myself to find a solution.
I dug my phone out from my pocket just to see if there had been any update on my getting service, but it seemed even worse out here. Zero bars! Zilch. Absolutely no service. I held it up as high as I could, but that was futile. I debated climbing a tree but with my luck, I’d get stuck up there and still have no service.
I knew I should have called the phone company before moving. ‘I could take care of it when I arrived,’ I thought. ‘It won’t be a big deal,’ I said to myself. Ugh! I was stuck here, and it was my fault. I couldn’t call anyone and I couldn’t fix the problem myself. My options were running out, along with my daylight.
Tired and beginning to wonder if it was time to get scared, I looked around and noticed some lights in the distance. I squinted to see if I could figure exactly what I was looking at, but it was too far away. They were arrayed in a way that suggested a house, which, hopefully, meant people. Since there was nothing else for me to do, I decided to head in that direction. I looked down the road one last time, just to see if there was a random passerby, but no such luck.
Walking off into the darkness seemed to be my only viable option.
I went into my car and I grabbed my bag out of the front seat, looking at all my things before reluctantly leaving them behind. I was taking the bare necessities, keeping the baggage light for my little trip. I began walking without looking back because I knew I would just turn back around and waste more time debating the merits of leaving all my stuff on the side of the road.
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