by Tim Myers
I turned to Lillian. “That’s not fair. I missed it completely. Pam and Cam. Can you believe that?”
“Dear, I’d believe anything. I was tutoring at the grade school before you were born, and there was set of twins in attendance. You’re not going to believe me, but their legal names were Snook and Rook. Since then, nothing has surprised me.” She glanced at her watch, then said, “Should we tackle that last name on our list before lunch or after?”
My stomach rumbled. “Why don’t we grab something quick so we can get back to the shop?” I added, “I’m not reneging on the bet. You choose the place and I’ll pick up the check.”
She pretended to think about it a moment, then said, “Since Darby’s is closed for lunch and The Chateau is on the other side of town, why don’t we go to The Lunch Box?” Darby’s and The Chateau were two fanciest places in all of Rebel Forge, while The Lunch Box was a local hangout where construction workers and doctors ate side by side.
“I think I can afford that,” I said as I drove to the diner. The parking lot was nearly full, but I managed to squeeze my Gremlin in between two SUVs.
The Lunch Box was hopping, but I spotted two stools together on the continuous roping bar. Then were no conventional tables inside, just a serpentine ribbon of counter and stools with a single break for Savannah Jones to whisk in and out from the kitchen with trays of food. Her daughter Charlie helped too, and Savannah’s husband Pete worked the grill in back. In all the years I’d been going there, I hadn’t heard Pete say more than a dozen words altogether, but Savannah and Charlie more than made up for it. As we walked to our seats, Savannah said, “Look at that, the Shane ladies are playing hooky. Jennifer, I thought you had a new business to run.”
“We still have to eat, Savannah. Everybody knows your hot dogs are the best in this corner of the state.”
Savannah laughed as only she could, loud enough to shake the rafters and even interrupt some of the conversations going on around the pit. “You folks need to listen to her. She speaks the truth.”
As we slid onto our stools, Savannah put two sweet teas in front of us, mine with lemon and Lillian’s without. “What if I’ve changed my mind and want lemon today?” my aunt asked her.
“Did you?” Savannah asked simply. Lillian smiled. “No, of course not. I was just wondering what you’d do.”
“I’d say you’re sour enough as it is.” The two had been friends since grade school, and they loved nothing more in the world than to tease each other about anything they could find. Lillian said, “Yes, you’d probably be right.” Savannah stepped closer. “Lillian, are you all right?”
“I’m fine, why?”
“Woman, in all the years I’ve known you, you’ve never let me get away with a zinger like that.” Lillian just smiled, then said, “I believe I’ll have my usual house salad, and Jennifer would like a hot dog all the way.”
Savannah walked back to Pete to give him the order instead of shouting it like she usually did. I whispered, “What was that all about?”
“I just wanted to see what Savannah would do if I went limp on her. You have to admit, it’s got her rattled, doesn’t it?”
“Now Lillian, play nice with your friends.” My aunt frowned at me, then said, “If I must.” In a few minutes, a subdued Savannah brought us our food. “There you go.”
Lillian stared down at her plate and pointed to the salad. “This isn’t right.”
“It’s just like you always have it,” Savannah said. “What’s wrong with it?”
“It’s missing something. I believe I’ll have a hot dog with my salad today,” she said. “Why don’t you throw a couple of lemons on the side while you’re at it, and be sure to get one for yourself, too.”
Savannah whooped with laughter, though I didn’t think my aunt was all that funny. There were so many inside jokes between the two of them that I rarely understood the humor in their exchanges. “You serious about that dog?” Savannah asked. “What do you think?” Lillian said as she had her first bite of salad.
“I think that last shred of sanity you were hanging on to just broke.”
Lillian grinned. “You may be right.”
As we ate, I saw that Charlie looked just as bewildered as I was by the conversation.
We were just about finished when Grady Farrar walked in. As he took the stool beside me, I asked, “When did you start leaving the hardware for lunch?”
“Shh,” he said with a smile, “I don’t want Martha to know I’m goofing off. I had to make a delivery to Betty Olmsted’s place, and this was right on my way.” I took a sip of tea, then said, “Betty Olmsted’s house is on the other side of town. Grady, you had to pass your hardware store to get over here.”
“Well, I was out making the delivery in the truck anyway,” he said.
Charlie approached him and asked, “What would you like, Mr. Farrar?”
“I’d like you to start calling me Grady,” he said.
“I wish I could, but it’s awfully hard.”
“Let me tell you what’s hard, young lady. I may look like an old man, but inside I’m still in my twenties. Can you imagine what it does to my spirit to haw a pretty young lady like you call me mister?”
Charlie smiled brightly, and I could swear I saw the hint of a blush on her cheeks. “Okay, if it will make you feel better. What would you like to eat, Grady?” Savannah was walking past and swatted her daughter with the bar towel in her hand. “Girl, I raised you better than that. You speak to Mr. Farrar with respect.”
Grady said, “Now Savannah, I asked her to call me Grady. Demanded it, in fact. Shoo, woman, we’re having a conversation here.”
I felt a chilled hush fall over the place. Nobody, not even her husband Pete, challenged Savannah in her restaurant. I stopped in mid-bite, waiting to see what would happen. Savannah’s eyes narrowed for a second, then she started laughing. “You quit flirting with may little baby, you hear me?”
Grady looked shocked by the accusation. “Why, she’s young enough to be my granddaughter. I was just being friendly.”
“I’m pulling your leg, you old coot. Now quit jabbering and tell Charlie what you want to eat.” After he ordered, I said, “You’re taking a real chance sniping at Savannah that way.”
“Not as much as you’d think. I used to chase that girl out of my orchard every weekend for stealing apples.”
I couldn’t imagine Charlie being that bold. “I can’t believe Charlie would ever do that.”
“I’m not talking about Charlie; I mean Savannah.” He looked at me a second, then said, “It looks like I’m not the only one playing hooky. Why aren’t you at your shop?”
“I’m running an errand for business, too,” I said. I had the invitations in my purse, and I had asked Donna about them, so it wasn’t a complete lie. “And who’s running things while you’re gone?”
“I shut the place down,” I admitted. Grady took a sip of coffee, then said, “I’m not trying to tell you how to run your business, Jennifer, but you can’t sell anything if you’re not there.” How could I tell him that there was something more important at the moment than selling handmade cards? My life was on the line, and the threats were getting more direct. I was afraid if I didn’t unmask the killer soon, there wouldn’t be anyone around to run my shop ever again.
I patted his hand. “Thanks, I appreciate your advice.”
“But you’re saying, ‘Mind your own business, old man’? Is that it?”
I swiveled slightly on my stool. “I wouldn’t have used those exact words.”
“But the sentiment is the same. I understand, and of course you’re right.” He leaned forward so he could make eye contact with Lillian. “You’re pretty quiet down there,” he said.
“I’m sorry, were you talking to me? I was lost in thought.” Grady grinned. “Good for you.”
Lillian said, “They might think you’re amusing, but I don’t.”
He shrugged. “Hey, every rose needs a thorn.” We wer
e nearly ready to leave when Grady asked, “Is something going on with you, Jennifer?”
“What do you mean?” I asked, hoping that the grapevine around town hadn’t gotten hold of my connection with the murder. I knew tongues had started wagging as soon as Tina’s body had been discovered, but I’d hoped to avoid any connection to it, at least until Bradford found the killer.
“Well, I don’t mean to be nosy, but I was walking past your place this morning on my daily routine and I saw a deputy sitting in his truck watching your apartment. At least I had to figure it was you he was keeping an eye on.”
“Did you happen to see which deputy it was?”
“It was Wayne Davidson.”
“Are you sure?”
He looked at me a second before answering. “There’s no mistaking his vehicle, or his profile. What’s going on, kiddo?”
I thought about telling him the truth, but even whispering anything in The Lunch Box was a guarantee that before I got back to my shop, all of Rebel Forge would know about it. Blast it all, if my brother was going to have his men watch me, they were going to have to be more discreet about it. “I think he’s sweet on me,” I said, that being the first thing that popped into my head.
“Well now, who could blame him? Do you have a young man at the moment?”
That was absolutely a conversation I was going to avoid. “Well, I had my heart set on an older man, but he’s married.”
Grady looked serious. “Jennifer, I’m not your father, but I must say, it’s bad news whenever you get involved with a married man.” I couldn’t take his somber demeanor. I wrapped my arm in his and said, “Then I’d better move before people notice us.”
“Us? What?” He started to stammer when he caught my grin. “Jennifer Shane, you are incorrigible.”
“Gosh, I sure hope so,” I said. Lillian said, “If we’re through here, we really should be going.” She grabbed her purse, and I put a hand on it. “This is my treat, remember?”
“I won’t fight you for the check, dear. I just planned get the tip.”
“You can plan all you want, but if a single penny leaves that purse, you’re in trouble. Do you understand?”
Lillian shrugged. “I offered; you refused. The case is closed as far as I’m concerned. Thank you for lunch.”
“You’re most welcome,” I said. As I left a tip and grabbed the bill, I said, “Have a nice lunch, Grady.”
“Thanks, it was good seeing you.”
“And you.”
I paid Savannah, then Lillian and I left the restaurant. “So what should we do now?” I asked. “Well, what are our options?” “We could go back to the shop, or we could tackle Beth Anderson. She’s the last-minute substitute maid of honor. I was torn between my desire to talk to Beth and my need to be at my card shop. I wouldn’t have felt nearly as guilty if Lillian had stayed behind, but that wasn’t fair to my aunt, either. I knew she wanted to be out tracking down clues just as much as I did.
“It’s your decision. Jennifer,” she said. “I’ll do whatever you’d like.”
“Including going back to the shop and reopening while I talk to Beth Anderson?”
Lillian shook her head. “Anything but that,” she said. “Whither thou goest and all that.”
“I’m getting awfully tired of having people watch me day and night,” I said.
“Then you’re just going to have to learn to deal with it,” Lillian said in a stern voice. “As long as this murderer is loose, someone needs to be with you all times.”
“Then let’s go talk to Beth,” I said. “The sooner we resolve this, the better.”
Chapter 15
As we drove to Beth Anderson’s house, Lillian asked, “Do you really believe she killed Tina just so she could be the maid of honor?”
“I don’t know what to believe,” I said. “But I do know I’d like to talk to her.”
When we got to the address, I parked in front. “Is there any chance I could get you to wait here?”
“Not a single one,” she said. “Let’s go see what Beth has to say for herself.”
I knocked on the outside door of the apartment and rang the bell, but there was no answer. I was about give up when the door next to hers opened and an older woman reached out for her newspaper. I wondered how late she’d been up the night before if she is still in her bathrobe after lunch. “You looking for Bethie?” she asked us.
“We are. Is she home?”
“Did she come to the door when you pounded on it, Einstein?”
Lillian said, “There’s no reason to be rude. We were just asking.”
The woman appeared to be contrite. “Listen, I’m sorry I snapped at you. I’ve got the monkey’s own hangover, and I feel like I’m going to die.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, not meaning a word of it. “Do you know where we might find her?”
She scratched her left ear, then said, “I bet she’s at work.”
We waited for her to supply the name of Beth’s employer, but she started to close the door, so I had I shout to catch her attention. “Where does she work?”
“Easy,” the woman said, holding her head in her hands with the paper tucked under one arm. “She works at Hurley’s over on King Street.”
“Thanks,” I said, and we started to go.
The woman called out, “Hang on a second. Do you happen to know how to cure a hangover?”
Lillian said, “I have the perfect cure.”
“Come on, give it to me. I’m dying here.”
“Don’t drink so much the next time you go out,” Lillian said.
“Thanks for nothing,” the woman said, and slammed her door. This was immediately followed by a string of profanities from the other side.
As we got into the car, I said, “That was cruel. I know you take a nip now and then yourself.”
“I admit that I don’t have a problem with the occasional tipple,” she said. “But she asked, didn’t she?
“You’re one tough broad, aren’t you?” I said with a smile.
“It’s so sweet of you to notice. I assume we’re going to Hurley’s.”
“I need to talk to Beth before she talks to anybody else we’ve interviewed. It’s a shame she wasn’t home.”
Lillian nodded. “I know. How are we going to make sure she has a complete set of earrings?”
“I’m sure well think of something,” I said as I drove back toward my shop. King Street is close to Oakmont Avenue, so I decided to park in my usual spot so we could walk over, then back to Custom Card Creations. Maybe I’d be able to finish my interviews and fit in a sale or two at the shop before the day was a complete wash. Then I remembered the two sets of invitations I’d committed myself to making. It looked like I was going to have to put in some heavy-duty overtime if I was going to meet my commitments in the next few days. Well, I’d hoped I’d be busy. I just hadn’t planned on helping my brother solve a murder while I was starting a brand-new business. On the plus side, I didn’t have any romantic entanglements to slow me down. On the downside, I didn’t have any romantic entanglements to slow me down. I was fine without a boyfriend, but I had to admit that it usually made the sky a little bluer and the air a little crisper when there was a new love in my life.
Wayne was not an option. Not only had Corrine’s story creeped me out, but the man himself was starting to bother me. As Lillian and I walked over to Hurley’s, I grabbed my cell phone and called Bradford. I’d forgotten to turn it on that morning, and there were messages waiting, but they’d have to stay there until I was ready for them.
“Where have you been?” my brother shouted the second he heard my voice. “I’ve been working,” I said. “Not at your shop. I’ve been by twice. We’ve been worried sick about you.”
“Don’t tell me who the ‘we’ is. You’ve talked to Sara Lynn?”
Bradford let out a puff of air. “You’re kidding, right? She came by your shop to talk to you and found it locked up. I had to go search your apartme
nt and I’ve got my guys looking for that Gremlin of yours.”
“Well, you can call off the dogs. They must not be very good. I haven’t exactly been hiding.” He snapped, “Then where have you been?”
“I’m not sure I want to answer that. I don’t like your tone of voice.”
Lillian kept tugging on my arm so I’d move the phone enough for her to listen, but I had enough to worry about without letting my aunt eavesdrop on the conversation.
In a calmer voice, he said, “Listen, I’m glad you’re okay, but you can’t blame us for being worried, not with what happened last night.”
I started to waver in my resolve. After all, as irritating as their behavior was at that moment, my brother and sister loved me. “I’ve been talking to members of the wedding party.”
“About what?” he asked suspiciously.
“About the wedding invitations, if you must know.” Okay, again it was a half-truth, but at the moment a half the truth was better than none of it. At least this was the position I was taking.
“That’s fine, but from here on out, keep your cell phone turned on, would you? And call Sara Lynn. She’s going nuts.”
I hung up, and before I could dial my sister’s number, Lillian asked, “Do I even need to ask what that was about?”
“I’m guessing you got enough of the gist of it from my end.”
Lillian shrugged. “They have a right to be worried. You never got around to telling him why you we calling him in the first place.”
“Well, he was so upset, I didn’t want to bring it up.” Lillian wouldn’t let it go at that. “So what were you going to talk to him about?”
“I was going to ask him to assign someone else to guard me if he’s bound and determined to have me followed.”
“You don’t trust Wayne Davidson,” she said as we waited to cross King Street to Hurley’s.
“There’s something about him that really makes me uncomfortable,” I admitted.
“Surely you can’t think he’s the murderer. Jennifer, Tina told you it was a woman there with her.”
“That’s true,” I said, “but he still gives me the creeps.”