by Jessica Beck
I may not have been willing to separate them, but clearly Buford had no such compunction. The man was braver than I would have ever given him credit for as he stepped between the two angry women, putting himself directly in harm’s way. “Ladies, you both need to take a deep breath and settle down.”
“She needs to leave!” Noreen snapped.
“You first,” Vivian countered.
“If you don’t back off, and I mean right now, you’re both about to be thrown out of here,” Buford said as he pointed to an approaching security guard.
It was time to act. I grabbed Vivian’s arm and said, “Let’s go outside and take a deep breath of fresh air. What do you say?”
“I don’t have to go anywhere,” she said reluctantly.
“Would a donut help?” I asked, reaching for the box.
Buford looked troubled by my maneuver. Had he honestly thought they were all for him? If he had, he was sadly mistaken.
“I don’t know. Maybe,” she said reluctantly. “But I’m not leaving for good,” she snapped over her shoulder at Noreen.
“That’s what you think,” Noreen said, returning fire.
“We’ll be right back,” I told Jake. I didn’t want to leave Noreen and Buford alone, and besides, I had a hunch that Vivian might speak with me a little easier if he weren’t around. Jake took it in stride, staying behind while I walked Vivian out the door.
Once we were outside, I offered her a donut. She looked over the remaining selection, and then she shook her head. “I changed my mind. No offense, but I don’t want one.”
I tried not to take the rejection personally. “You don’t have to eat one, then,” I said. “What was Noreen talking about in there?”
“The woman lives in a world full of her own delusions. She has a way of getting under my skin that drives me crazy.”
Along with the rest of April Springs, I said to myself. “Was Van right, though?”
“About me cheating on him? No way. I thought we had something good, and then he dumped me for somebody else. It was an excuse, plain and simple, only I wasn’t going to take it. I was going to win him back, no matter the cost, but now this happens, and I might lose him forever.”
Her determination was a little frightening in its intensity. “Do you know who he was seeing?”
“You’d better believe it! I caught them together!”
“Who was it?” I asked.
“Gabby Williams. What a tramp.”
I had heard Gabby referred to by a dozen different names over the years, but “tramp” had never been one of them. So that was why she’d fought so hard to win Grace’s makeover at the silent auction. She’d been trying to impress Van. “What does Gabby have to say about it?” I asked, having a hard time thinking of my friend as some kind of temptress.
“She claimed that Van pursued her while he was dating me, but she didn’t know that we were still together. The joke was on her, though. Van was breaking up with her last night if he ever got the chance so he could get back together with me,” Vivian said triumphantly.
“Did Gabby know that?” I asked, wondering if Vivian had just given my friend a motive for murder.
“How should I know? Van said he was going to tell her after the auction last night. Ask him when he wakes up. Don’t ask Gabby, though. She’ll probably just lie about it.”
“If he wakes up,” I said, not thinking about how it must have sounded.
For just a moment, Vivian’s façade cracked a little. “Is it really that bad?”
“When George and I found him, it didn’t look good,” I admitted.
“I can’t lose him,” Vivian said, grabbing my arm so hard that it hurt. “I won’t.”
“I’m afraid now all we can do is wait,” I said. “Vivian, do you have any idea who might have attacked him?”
She looked exasperated by my question. “It could be anyone. Van made his share of enemies around town, including your good friend, George Morris.”
“The mayor claims that he’s innocent,” I said.
“What else would he say?” she asked me pointedly. “You don’t think he’s actually going to confess to the attack, do you?”
“When was the last time you saw Van?” I asked, trying to get her focus off my friend.
“During the silent auction,” she admitted. “We were talking about our plans to get back together when Buford called him on his cell phone.”
“What was the call about?”
“Who knows? It was probably just another made-up emergency to do with the town council. Buford thinks of himself as Van’s right hand, and he’s always stirring something up, as if Van doesn’t have enough on his plate dealing with the mayor.”
“What about Bob Casto?” I asked her.
“What about him?” Vivian asked in return.
“How bad were things between the two of them?”
“Well, Bob was getting ready to sue Van, if that tells you anything,” Vivian said.
“Sue him? Over what?”
“What do you think? Bob did some sneaky things behind Van’s back over the years, and when Van found out about them, he was furious. There was a payment that Van controlled, and Bob was supposed to get half of it. Van held up the money until he could get a proper account of what Bob had been up to toward the end of their partnership, so Casto decided to take him to court, if you can believe that!”
Jake came out at that moment, motioning frantically to me. I wasn’t nearly finished with Vivian yet, but it looked urgent. “Hang on. I’ll be right back,” I said.
“What’s going on?” I asked Jake.
“It’s Van. Apparently he’s awake.”
Vivian overheard our conversation. “He’s awake? I have to see him!” she shouted as she brushed past us and headed inside.
“Sorry about that, Suzanne, but I thought you’d want to know,” Jake said.
“You did the right thing,” I replied.
As we moved back inside, Jake asked me softly, “Did you learn anything new?”
“A bunch,” I said. “Apparently Van was dating Gabby Williams, but he was planning on breaking up with her last night to be with Vivian again.”
Jake whistled softly. “It would take a man braver than me to break up with that woman. She must have been furious.”
I didn’t like the way that was starting to sound. “Remember, we have only Vivian’s word that was the case.”
“I understand, but we still have to pursue it.”
“Of course. Also, apparently Bob Casto was cheating Van toward the end of their partnership, but Bob was the one suing Van for nonpayment of assets he felt belonged to him.”
“Wow, Van has a real knack for making enemies, doesn’t he?” Jake asked.
“More than I ever imagined. I don’t like it, but we’re going to need to speak with Gabby about this.”
“I agree, but let’s see what’s going on with Van first,” Jake said. “Our entire investigation might be moot if he can identify his attacker.”
We hurried toward Van’s room, where he’d evidently been transferred while I’d been talking to Vivian. From what Jake told me, the orderly had banged his bed on a wall during the move, and it had been enough to bring Van out of his unconscious state. I wondered if the technique was something they would start trying with other patients.
We couldn’t get in. That privilege was reserved for Noreen, and Noreen only, as his only close kin. As we all waited outside, there was a tenseness in the air that only multiplied when Chief Grant came hurrying in. “I just got the call. Where is he?”
I pointed to Van’s room, and Chief Grant nodded his thanks as he barged straight in. I heard Noreen protest, but it was quickly silenced. The chief was getting that air of command about him that didn’t allow dissent.
I heard more voices inside,
and then Noreen came out, her face red with anger. “They threw me out. Can you believe it?”
“Is it true? Is Van really awake?” I asked her.
“He’s groggy, and he doesn’t remember much about the last twenty-four hours, but yes, he’s awake, no thanks to whoever tried to kill him.” She said that last bit glaring at Vivian, who, for once, refused to rise to the bait.
“Then it’s just a matter of time before he names his attacker,” I said.
That caused several odd looks among those waiting for news. Why weren’t they all happier about that fact? Could it be that one of them had been the one wielding the trophy, and they were about to be named by the victim?
Ten minutes later, the chief came out alone. He turned to Noreen as he said, “You can go back in.”
“It’s about time,” she said abruptly as she brushed past him.
“You’re only going to be able to stay for a few minutes,” Chief Grant told her. “He needs his rest.”
“What did he say to you?” Noreen asked as she pivoted and glared at him. “Did he name his attacker?”
“Just go see your brother,” the chief said with a sigh.
Noreen frowned, but ultimately, she did as she was told.
After she was gone, the rest of us surrounded the police chief. “What did he say? Who did it? Is it finally over? Are you going to arrest someone for the attack?” He was pelted with questions, but he clearly wasn’t in the mood to supply any answers.
“Folks, I’m sorry to refuse you all, but I’m not about to answer questions in the middle of an ongoing investigation.”
No one liked it, but there was really nothing any of us could do about it. As the chief started to go, Jake said, “Hold up a second, Chief.” As my husband caught up with his one-time protégé, he shot me a look that told me that this time, I was the one who wasn’t welcome to the party. Fair enough. He was right. There would be a much better chance that the chief would speak with him if I didn’t tag along, and after all, turnabout was only fair play.
While I waited for Jake and the chief to have their conversation, I turned back to Buford, who was scowling as he busily typed away on his phone. “Trouble?” I asked him.
“Not really. I suspect that the mayor is going to try to push something through with Van laid up, but I’m not about to let that happen.”
“I doubt that’s true,” I said. I couldn’t imagine George taking advantage of the situation like that.
“Well, doubt all you want to, but it’s what Van or I would do if the roles were reversed, and I’m going to be ready, just in case.”
“You don’t much care for George, do you?” I asked. “Are you still smarting about losing the election to him?” George had defeated Buford pretty soundly in the most recent general election, though Buford had at least retained his seat on the council.
“It’s all politics,” Buford said with a shrug. “You win some, and you lose some.”
“You’re still third in line for the throne though, aren’t you?” I asked.
Buford looked at me with a scowl. “What are you talking about?”
“I remember my April Springs civics lessons from high school,” I said. “We don’t have an assistant mayor around here. If George can’t serve, then Van takes his place. If Van can’t, you’re next in line based on seniority, aren’t you?”
“It’s not going to come to that,” Buford said dismissively. “Besides, who in their right mind would even want that job? It’s gotten George Morris nothing but grief since he first took office. I was nuts to run myself, and you can take my word for it, it’s never going to happen again.”
At that point, Buford’s cell phone rang. After glancing at the caller ID, he said, “Sorry. I have to take this call.”
As Buford held a whispered consultation with whoever was on the other end of the line, I had to wonder why anyone would take the small-town political infighting so seriously when a man’s life had so recently been at risk?
Jake came back and motioned toward me. “Feel like taking a drive, Suzanne?” he asked me.
“Should we really just leave when Van is finally awake? Did the chief say who might have attacked him?”
“Noreen wasn’t lying when she said that Van couldn’t remember a thing about the assault. The doctor told Chief Grant that it was some kind of amnesia, probably temporary, and that most likely, he’ll recall it sooner or later.”
“That makes him a danger to his attacker, doesn’t it?” I asked, concerned that whoever had hit the councilman might try to come back and finish the job.
“I told the chief the same thing. He’s going to post one of his men as a guard in front of Van’s door, at least as long as he’s in the hospital. In the meantime, we need to continue with our investigation. Do you feel like paying Bob Casto a visit?”
“That sounds good to me,” I said as we headed for my Jeep. I was glad that we had another dozen donuts stashed away there. It would probably take at least that many treats to get Bob to speak with us. As I drove, I asked Jake, “How did you get the police chief to tell you all of that?”
Jake shrugged. “I had to tell him everything we’d uncovered so far first, including Gabby’s possible involvement in the case. Sorry about that, but it was the only way he’d give up what was going on with Van.”
“Gabby’s a big girl,” I said, “but maybe we should give her a heads up before we go off in search of Bob Casto.”
“Sounds good to me,” Jake said. “Would you like some company when you talk to her?” he added, clearly reluctant to even make the suggestion.
I had to laugh. “Thanks, but we both know that’s a hollow offer. She’s not going to want to talk to me about her love life, let alone include you in the conversation.”
“Then I’ll make myself scarce while you two chat,” Jake said with a gentle smile.
“I appreciate it, but don’t wander off too far. I might need backup if things get ugly.”
“Suzanne, how can you possibly believe that it will be anything other than ugly?”
“You’re right, but let me have the fantasy at least as long as it takes me to drive to ReNEWed, okay?”
“Okay,” Jake agreed.
As I drove the few short miles to Gabby’s store, I realized that by the time we got there, she’d be opening her doors to the public.
I couldn’t even use the time of day as an excuse.
Like it or not, Gabby Williams and I were about to have a very uncomfortable conversation that neither one of us was going to enjoy.
Chapter 6
“I’m not open yet,” Gabby called out with her back to me as I walked into ReNEWed. Even though her inventory was gently used, most of the clothes Gabby carried were out of my league, though I’d bought things from time to time from her in the past.
“That’s fine, because I’m not here to shop,” I told her as a store mannequin glared down at me. It was almost as though the dummy knew that the clothes on its back were well beyond my budget.
“Hello, Suzanne,” Gabby said as she turned to face me. She’d clearly been crying, and unfortunately, I was most likely about to make it worse.
“I’m so sorry about Van,” I said, trying to muster every bit of sympathy I could for my friend. I’d been reluctant to call her that not that long ago, but I’d realized lately that we were indeed friends, no matter how odd that fact struck me most of the time.
“Did he die?” Gabby asked, sobbing openly now. “I never even had the chance to say good-bye to him.”
“No. He’s not dead. In fact, he woke up less than an hour ago,” I explained.
Gabby’s tears turned into fury, which was now directed straight at me. “Suzanne, I don’t know what kind of sick game you’re playing, but I don’t appreciate it.”
“I’m not playing any games at all,” I explained quic
kly. I’d wanted to be smoother about bringing up her recently ended relationship with Van, but that ship had clearly sailed. “I heard that you two were dating, so I knew you’d be upset about what happened to him.”
“Who told you about that?” Gabby asked me, the fire still burning brightly in her stare.
“Does it matter? It’s true, isn’t it? I also heard that he dumped you last night,” I said, blurting out the words without even giving them too much thought. If I weighed and considered every word that I said to Gabby, I knew that I’d lose my nerve, and I needed to know what was going on, even if it riled her up a little.
Or a lot, as the case might be.
“He would never dump me!” she exclaimed. “We are in love.”
“Really? How long have you two been going out?” I asked her.
“Time doesn’t matter when you know it’s right,” she said just a tad too defensively for my taste. Anyone else, at least anyone with the slightest bit of common sense, would have dropped it right there.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t in any position to do that.
“Gabby, enough with the histrionics. I need to know what happened. I’m sorry to be so blunt, but I have to know what’s going on. You want Jake and me to find his attacker, don’t you?”
“Of course I do,” Gabby said meekly. “I really should go to him.” There wasn’t a great deal of conviction in her voice, and I suspected that they had split up indeed, despite her earlier denial.
“Why don’t we have a little chat first?” I asked. “Noreen is guarding his hospital room door pretty closely, so I’m not sure you’d be able to get in even if you tried to pay him a visit.”
“I suppose Vivian is there as well,” Gabby said, the darkness in her expression deepening.
“She’s not standing by the door, if that’s what you’re asking. As a matter of fact, Noreen tried to run her out of the building.”
Gabby smiled at that, if only for a moment. “I would expect nothing less of her. Suzanne, tell me the truth. Is he going to recover?”
“They don’t know yet. The thing is, he doesn’t remember who attacked him, so Jake and I are digging into what happened.”