by Tonya Kappes
“What about Juanita?” I asked.
“I don’t even know who that is. I just know that when I saw my dad the other day, I froze. I came here to see my mom and I ended up spending the night in one of their guest rooms and I’ve been here ever since.” He made an alibi for himself.
“Can the women here vouch for you?” I asked.
“Yes. The day of the Christmas lighting, I spent all day here. I’d told Camey I’d go to the lighting with her and I was running late because I was driving from here. I’d not anticipated the amount of time it’d take. So when I got her, we went to the park and that’s when. . .” he gulped.
“Your dad was found under the tree.” I finished his sentence.
“Apparently.” He brushed the back of his hand along his eyes. “The nurses said that my dad came every single Sunday and stayed with Mom. He even brought her groceries. He paid her expenses here on time every single month and last month when it went up, he didn’t bat an eye. But he stopped coming.”
“And that’s why you killed him.” I snapped and pointed.
“No. I was waiting to see if he came today since I know he recognized me the other day. If he was going to show up, we’d all be in the same room and I was going to ask for his forgiveness. If he didn’t show up, I was going to go back to Honey Springs and find him. I was actually going to go back to Cocoon because I’d left my only photo of my mom on the bedside table.” His hands dug into his pockets.
“This one?” I pulled it out of my purse and handed it to him.
All the secrets I’d learned about Otis over the past few days were answered in just a few seconds.
“Who killed my dad?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” I muttered and watched as his emotional reaction to the photo made me turn away. “But I’ll go with you to see Spencer.”
“So this is cleared up and I’m going to go on into work early?” Ricky asked, making sure.
“Yes.” I nodded. “But Ricky, if the police come looking for me, write down his license plate and remember his face.”
True to his words and about twenty minutes later, Spencer Shepard was staring at us and not in a happy way.
“How on earth do you happen to stay one step ahead of me?” Spencer didn’t pay any attention to Walker. He sat on the corner of the desk with one foot on the floor and the other dangling down. His hands rested on his thighs.
“I don’t know. I guess I stumble upon things. I bribe people with food and coffee.” I shook my head and snuggled my jacket closer to my chest.
“Go over this one more time.” Spencer pushed up from the desk and walked around to sit in his chair while Walker and I took a seat.
“When I saw Walker and Otis’s response to each other, I felt something in my gut telling me that something strange was going on between them. Then when Walker disappeared after the tree lighting and from Honey Springs, I thought it was strange. It was the photo of his mom that he left behind that clued me in on who he was once I got to the nursing home.” It all seemed to add up to me.
“You got to the nursing home because you somehow found the Uber driver that knew Otis’s schedule.” Spencer lowered his head.
Then I went into the full explanation about the secrets Otis had kept and the money he’d withdrawn from the bank.
“And people just tell you these things?” His brows furrowed.
“Yes. I’ve seen it.” Walker nodded. “And I’ve not known her long.”
“And your alibi will check out?” Spencer asked Walker.
“Yes, sir.” Walker picked up the piece of paper that Spencer had given us when we walked into the station that had the estimated time of death and Walker had told him where he’d been.
While Spencer talked to us, he’d had his men run Walker’s alibi through and it came back clear.
“Do you have any suspects?” Walker asked. “I know I don’t have the right to play grieving son, but I do want to see the killer brought to justice.”
“Where will you be staying?” Spencer asked Walker.
“Now that all this has come about, I’ll go get the room back at Cocoon. I live in Tennessee, but this is more important than going back home.” He reached in his front pocket and took out his phone. “I need to call my babysitter.”
“You have a family?” I asked and then got a little mad about his flirting with Camey.
“Granddaughter. I got custody of my granddaughter. Amelia.” He showed me the front of his phone. There was a little girl with long brown hair and freckles.
“She looks like. . .” I gasped.
“Dad.” He nodded. “Yep. Please excuse me.”
Walker walked out of the room and left an uncomfortable silence between Spencer and me.
“I know I said I was going to stop, but I just.” I stopped talking when he put his hand in the air for me to hush.
“Yeah, yeah. The lawyer in you.” He smiled. “Now what?”
“You’re asking me?” I asked in surprise.
“You seem to know more than a roomful of men who’ve been trained to do this for a living.” He smiled. It was his way of a truce.
“I’m not sure. I wondered if Juanita had been jealous of my aunt Maxi. And I knew they’d been broken up and had gotten back together. But I just can’t see Juanita having the strength to strangle him and transport his body. You could be right. Maybe there’s a disgruntled client.” I took my phone out of my purse and pulled up the photo I’d taken of Otis’s client list. “I’m assuming you went through these people?”
“Yes. We went through his entire database. Nothing adds up.” He stood back up and walked around the desk. “Let’s just hope something breaks.”
“I’m sad that Otis kept his family a secret,” I said and walked out of Spencer’s office.
“It’s a shame that he felt he needed to do that.” Spencer’s subtle look at Walker didn’t go unnoticed by me. In fact, in law school, reading people had become my best skill. I wasn’t convinced Spencer believed Walker all that much.
There was only one thing for me to do and that was keep Walker tight by my side while I dug a little bit deeper into Otis’s past.
“Sir, there’s an urgent call for you.” One of the other officers got Spencer’s attention.
Spencer walked over to the desk and took the phone call. Slowly his head lifted up and his eyes focused on me. There was a frightened look on his face that’d I’d never seen.
“Roxy,” Spencer put the phone down on the receiver. “Your cabin is on fire.”
Fourteen
“No, no, no.” I buried my head in my hands when I stood in front of the cabin. The entire roof was on fire and smoke was billowing out the windows. “Pepper.”
I melted on the ground after the fire fighters told me that I couldn’t go inside and retrieve anything, even my beloved dog.
“Roxy!” Patrick’s voice came from behind me. “Roxy!”
I jumped up and looked at him, Sassy and Pepper running toward me.
“You had Pepper?” Tears flowed down my face when I went to pick up my fur-baby. Pepper licked and licked my face clean.
“Yeah. Your aunt Maxi told me you were off on some wild goose chase and when I came to see if you were home, I grabbed Pepper. I didn’t bother texting you because I figured if you found something out, you’d call me.” He snuggled me and Pepper closer.
“Hey Bud,” Patrick grabbed the fire chief when he walked by. “Do you know what happened?”
“Looks like electrical fire from the live Christmas tree.” He looked at me. “I doubt insurance will pay for all this.”
“As long as she’s safe and so is Pepper, life is good.” Patrick held me tighter. When Bud walked off, Patrick said, “I told you to unplug the tree.”
“I did. I swear it was off.” I couldn’t look at the cabin even though they’d put out the flames. The roof was smoldering.
“It doesn’t look like a total loss,” Bud said coming back around with an ax. “But
I’ll leave that determination to the fire inspector. He’ll be here in a few.”
“Thanks, Bud.” I wanted him to know my appreciation.
Patrick put the dogs back in the car and retrieved a blanket for me. The snow had really started falling and actually sticking to the grass and streets. The night had fallen and we were still waiting for the inspector.
The entire town had come out to see what was going on. Aunt Maxi insisted I stay at her home while Mom demanded I stay with her. But I chose to stay with Patrick.
“Are you okay?” Patrick asked and brought me out a cup of hot tea as I stood on his porch and looked out at Lake Honey Springs.
The stars made a beautiful design on the water along with the moon that made me feel calm and relaxed.
“I’m fine,” I said and gratefully took the warm drink. “Thank you.”
“It’s your sleepy tea. I thought you might need to wind down a little.” He leaned on the railing. “See it’s meant for you to move on in with me.”
“Not before we get married.” I took a sip.
“Then we are going to the Justice of the Peace tomorrow because I’ve got to keep you safe.” His voice was stern.
“Safe?” I shook my head.
“Spencer just called me while I was making your tea.” His voice got my attention. “He said that someone set fire to your house.”
“Someone?” My head was trying to figure out what he was saying. “As in arson?”
“That’s exactly what I mean.” He ran his finger long my cheek and moved the strand of black curly hair that found its way out of my ponytail.
“This is great!” I wasn’t going to let someone bully me. “Not that my house burnt down, because I know you can rebuild it, but the fact that I’ve stepped on someone’s toes because I’ve gotten a little too close to figuring out who killed Otis.”
“I told Spencer that I’d make sure you’d stay out of it.” He wasn’t budging. “I’m not kidding. I lost you for ten years. I’m not losing you forever.”
“I’m fine.” I assured him, though my oh crap meter was going off.
“Roxy, I’m not joking. This had got to stop. You’ve got to stop. Let Spencer and the department do their job.” There was a tear in his eye. “I’m begging you to please stop for us.” He blinked and looked at the door.
Sassy and Pepper were looking out at us.
“I have no idea what I’d do if something happened to you,” his voice cracked. He dragged me closer to him and his face snuggled into my neck. “I love you so much and this is no joke.”
We held each other for a few moments until our lips found each other.
“I love you too.” I put the cup down and wrapped both arms around him.
He picked me up and took me inside the warmth of our forever home.
Fifteen
It was a long night. I reached over several times to make sure Patrick was still there and I wasn’t alone. It was nice and reassuring to have him there. The idea that someone had set my house on fire started to seep into my soul and a clear revelation that I did need to stop snooping around.
Instead of crying and wallowing in my fear, I decided to get up and head on over to the coffeehouse. No matter what, The Bean Hive still had to open.
I left Sassy, Pepper and Patrick asleep. They were dead to the world. The roads were a little touchy and I’d taken my time to make sure I got there safe. I found myself looking in my rear-view mirror and watching over my shoulder in case someone was following me. The roads were empty. But the front of my shop had a visitor.
“Walker?” I walked up with my key in my hand and unlocked the door. “What are you doing here so early?”
“I couldn’t sleep. I took a walk and this is where I ended up.” He gestured to Odd Ink.
“Come on in and I’ll get us a cup of coffee.” I flipped on the lights.
“Do you want me to plug in your tree?” he asked.
“Felix is in there.” I hung up my coat and flipped on the switches of the coffee pots. This was when I was most grateful for the closing rituals of setting the coffee up the night before. “I’m actually glad you’re here. In fact,” I walked over to the tree and parted the limbs. “You were the only person he really likes and I’d gone to Cocoon to get you to come here and get him out.”
Walker looked into the tree and reached in.
“He’s coming out at night and eating and the litter box has been used.” I smiled when he pulled Felix out. “You don’t happen to want to adopt a cat for Amelia do you?”
“I think I can find room for him in my car.” He rubbed down the feline. Felix purred so loud.
“Seriously?” I asked when I was half joking with him.
Felix jumped out of his arms and headed toward the food bowl. I took the opportunity to refill it and make sure he had fresh water.
“Yeah. Why not? Amelia will love him.” We stood there watching Felix devour his food. “How are you this morning?”
“I found out that someone torched my cabin. It wasn’t by accident.” I reached behind the tree and plugged in the lights. “It’s such a pretty tree.”
“This whole town is pretty.” Walker walked over to the fireplace. “Do you want me to get this going?”
“That’d be great. I’ve got to go turn my ovens on.” I pushed through the swinging kitchen door and turned on the ovens on the way to the freezer where I needed to retrieve the cookies, muffins, and other goodies I made for the week.
The Soul Harvest Chicken soup was in the refrigerator. I went ahead and got it out because some of the morning clients liked to take a bowl to go for their lunch.
“The coffee beeped,” Walker stuck his head in the kitchen. “Do you mind if I grab a cup?”
“Sure and get me a cup while you’re at it.” I quickly finished up and went to join him.
The sweet surprise of Felix curled into Walker’s lap where he was sitting on the couch made me really happy.
“Do you think Camey would let me take this little guy back to the hotel until after the funeral?” he asked.
“I’m sure if you wink at her, she’ll let you do whatever you want.” I took the first sip of my coffee and it was so what I needed.
“She’s a pretty neat gal.” He didn’t make eye contact with me, but I really think he was smitten with her. “Anyways, thanks for trying to figure out what happened to my dad, but you need to stop looking into it.”
“You’re right. But Otis was a great guy. I’m sorry your relationship was strained.” I felt it necessary to apologize to him. “When is the funeral?”
“Christmas Eve is in three days and Amelia is expecting Santa to come. I figured I’d do a little memorial tomorrow before I head home.” He paused. “I can’t leave my mom here alone.”
“I understand. My mom and I had a really strained relationship until a few months ago. I can’t imagine not having her here now.” Not that my situation was the same, but I felt he could benefit from knowing that. “Are you going to move her to Tennessee?”
“When I talked to the doctor, they told me that any more moves could really set her back. She recognizes me at moments and if those moments are all I’ve got, I’ll take it. Plus,” he paused and then looked up at me, “I’d like Amelia to know her even if for a little bit.”
“What are you saying?” I asked.
“I’m going to move to Honey Springs after the holidays.” He rolled his eyes and laughed. “I’m a little late, but it’s not too late for me and Amelia. Besides,” he ran his hand along Felix’s back. “This town has really grown on me.”
The bell over the door dinged.
“Lordy bee, I figured you were already here.” Aunt Maxi shook her silver hair and the snowflakes fell to the ground. “Thank God you’re still alive.”
“Let me get you a cup of coffee.” I greeted her and took her purse after giving her a hug. “You remember meeting Walker yesterday.”
“Hi-do.” She nodded but not without giving hi
m the side eye. “What are you doing here so early with my niece who’s engaged to Patrick Cane?”
“I’m well aware and I’m excited to bring this little guy home to my granddaughter.” He was going to handle Aunt Maxi without me stepping in and she was used to that. “Then when Amelia and I move here after Christmas, then I’m sure we’ll be spending a lot of time right here on this couch.”
“You’re moving here?” she questioned.
“He’s Otis Peavler’s son.” It was time to let Aunt Maxi in on who Walker was because last night she was too busy being nosy about the cabin fire to worry about the new guy.
“Son?” She reared back and looked him over. “Does Juanita know?”
Aunt Maxi’s mind worked like my mind and I knew in her mind she wondered if Juanita killed Otis because of this sudden news.
“I’ve not met her yet, but I did call her yesterday. I’m planning on having my father’s memorial tomorrow before I head back to play Santa for Amelia and I’d like her to be part of it.” He took another drink of his coffee and ignored Aunt Maxi’s assessing of him.
“Where’s your mama?” She had no boundaries.
“She’s in a nursing home in Lexington and moving here will be better for all of us.” He continued to play it cool while Aunt Maxi drilled him with questions. “You do know that the women in the community really like to put on a funeral spread.”
“I’ve heard.” He nodded and put Felix on the ground so he could freshen up his coffee.
“I’d appreciate it if you’d let me gather up some of the girls and take care of the food.” She looked over at me.
“I’m more than happy to offer the coffee.” I smiled.
“I don’t know what you’re offering but I’ll offer some desserts,” Emily walked through the door with a big smile on her face. “Because my dad said that I could rent the space next door.”