by Lyndsey Cole
Annie chuckled. “Thanks for the warning.”
As Annie walked into the sunny living room, she was happy to see Roxy lying on the rug with the kids scratching her tummy and squealing with delight when Roxy’s leg twitched in the air.
“Shall I put all this on the coffee table?” she asked Emily.
“Yeah, sorry.” Emily snatched the papers and kids’ toys to clear a space for the pie and plates.
Kirk was studying some ledgers at an old roll top desk. “Hello Kirk. I’m Annie Fisher. I’m not sure if you remember me.”
Kirk finally tore his eyes away from his papers to acknowledge Annie. “Are you the one who found Dad yesterday?”
Annie nodded, catching the frown on Kirk’s face.
“Thank you for that. I wish he would come to his senses and sell this farm. If you hadn’t found him when you did, well, who knows what might have happened to him.”
Annie sat in a wing back chair. “I understand your concern, but isn’t it important that your dad is happy doing what he’s doing?”
“Annie, that’s what I keep telling Kirk.” Peter set the tray with tea next to the pie. “Now, let’s help ourselves to this blackberry pie and vanilla ice cream. Come on kids. I brought treats for Roxy too. You can each give her one of these dog bones. Annie told me it was Roxy that saved me.”
Kirk turned his chair around facing the others. “Do you think Hazel will still sell the land to that condo developer now that Robbie’s dead?”
A shadow crossed Peter’s face. “Time will tell.”
Chapter 9
Peter and Kirk argued over the future of Hayworth Farm which made Annie uncomfortable. At her first chance, she offered to take the kids for a walk with Roxy. Emily sighed a grateful thanks for the break and Annie happily herded the kids out the door.
She grabbed her camera, never missing an opportunity for some candid photos, knowing the kids would be perfect subjects in the berry rows.
Logan ran ahead following Roxy, and Ariel stuck her little hand into Annie’s. She stopped every few feet to examine a rock or pick a blade of grass to show Annie. Once they found a thornless blackberry bush loaded with berries, Ariel let go of Annie’s hand to fill her mouth with juicy blackberries. Roxy stayed close to Annie, and Logan never strayed more than a few feet from the dog.
Annie snapped photos of the two kids eating berries and she even caught Roxy daintily nibbling berries for herself. Kids outside, exploring and having fun, made for interesting photo opportunities and a new idea for another show. After the kids’ faces were stained purple from the berries, Annie got them headed back toward the house.
“Can you and Roxy come back and play with us again?” Logan asked Annie with his big brown eyes filled with hope.
She rubbed his head. “How long will you be staying here on the farm?”
“We’re staying for the fireworks. I love it here. Grandpa usually takes me in the tractor and I help him move the bucket up and down.”
“That sounds like fun. I’ll tell you what, if I have a chance, I’ll bring Roxy back and we’ll take another walk.”
“Yippee!”
Logan ran to the house with Ariel trying to keep up but she fell and skinned her knee on a rock. Annie picked up the screaming girl who wrapped her arms around Annie’s neck and buried her wet face against Annie’s chest. She sobbed uncontrollably the rest of the way to the house. After a kiss from her mom and a fancy band aid, the scrape was forgotten.
Peter accompanied Annie out to her car. “Sorry for Kirk’s sullen attitude. He’s never been able to understand what I love about the land. Logan is the one I have to keep everything for. He loves it here.”
Annie nodded. “Yes. He told me and I promised to come back and take them for another walk. Let Emily know that Roxy and I will be in the dog parade on Saturday and the kids can help me if she says it’s okay.”
“Great idea. I’m sure she’ll be all for that.”
Annie paused with her hand on the door handle. “By the way, I forgot to ask you. What happened yesterday?” She was curious if his story varied from what Tyler told her.
“I’m trying some new fertilizer on a few bushes. It was an experimental sample and I didn’t realize how strong the fumes would be. I guess the smell overpowered me.”
Annie dug the toe of her sneaker in the dirt. “What’s going to happen with Robbie’s land now?”
“That’s the million dollar question, I suppose. Hazel is tough to talk to, living in that fantasy world of hers. It’s anyone’s guess what she’ll do without Robbie bullying her around.”
“I’ve heard the land is valuable. Do you think she’ll sell it?”
Peter shrugged. “Probably, but I hope it isn’t to that sleazy developer.”
Peter’s foreman arrived on the tractor pulling a trailer filled with containers of blackberries.
“Perfect timing. I’ll buy another load of blackberries for the café while I’m here.”
Peter and the foreman loaded up Annie’s car. Roxy jumped into the back seat and they were on their way. When Annie pulled out of Peter’s driveway, she decided to head down the road to Robbie Benson’s house before heading home. Since she was so close she wanted to pop in to see Hazel to give her condolences, at least that’s what she told herself she was doing.
Annie saw the Benson’s white farmhouse set back from the road when she turned into the driveway. A fancy black car was parked at the side of the house and Annie pulled her Subaru in next to it. When she slid out of the driver’s seat, she heard someone pounding on the front door.
“Hazel. I know you’re in there. You have to talk to me sooner or later.”
Annie hesitated, wondering who was yelling for Hazel. As she took a few steps closer, a face turned in her direction.
“Hi Annie. Any idea where Hazel might be?” Luke Carbone asked in a sugary voice.
She felt her skin prickle at his sudden change of tone. What was he doing here?
“No. I was nearby and dropped in to check on her. Why are you here?”
His eyes darkened. “Don’t start in on me. I have every right to be here. Robbie and I had an agreement and I want to make sure Hazel is going to honor it.”
“You’re not giving her any time to grieve, are you?” Annie bristled at his attitude. “What was this agreement?”
Luke walked past Annie to his car, ignoring her question. “Tell Hazel I’ll be back. I intend to own this land no matter what it takes.”
Annie’s mouth fell open as she watched the dust fly up behind his disappearing car.
The sound of a door opening behind Annie made her look back toward the house. Hazel Benson stood on the front step staring beyond Annie.
“Good. He’s gone. Would you like to come in?” Hazel asked in a voice so quiet Annie barely heard her.
Annie stood for a few seconds, wondering what she was thinking coming here alone. This place gave her the creeps. “Do you mind if my dog comes with me?”
A small smile broke the corner of Hazel’s mouth. “That’s fine.” She disappeared inside leaving the door open where she had just been.
By the time Annie and Roxy walked inside, Annie heard water running and the clink of glass to her right. She followed the sound, stepping into a bright kitchen.
As she looked around, Annie was surprised to see a kitchen straight out of the fifties. Everything was spotless and tidy but obviously had never been updated over the years. Roxy’s toenails clicked on the pale green vinyl floor. Hazel stood in front of gleaming white metal cabinets. She motioned for Annie to sit at the small white table piled high with stacks of books, probably the newest items in the kitchen.
“Would you like a glass of water?” Hazel asked as she put two glasses on the table.
Roxy sat next to Annie, leaning on her leg. “Thank you. I was at Peter Hayworth’s farm and decided to stop in to see how you’re doing. It must be quite a shock for you.”
Hazel sipped her water, staring at Ann
ie with unwavering eyes. “He was a bully my whole life. Someone did me a huge favor.”
One hand went to Annie’s mouth and the other settled on Roxy’s head. Her gaze left Hazel’s piercing stare. “You think it was murder?”
“The police chief stopped in earlier after he got the autopsy report. He said it was an insulin overdose.”
“Maybe Robbie injected himself? Made a mistake?”
“Maybe, but he hated needles and rarely injected the insulin himself. I gave him his shot before I got ready to go out for a walk. Before Stacey Jordan arrived.”
A small piece of the mystery fell into place adding to what Stacey told Annie. “Do you think Stacey gave him another shot? Couldn’t it be an accident?”
Hazel shrugged. “I suppose so. It’s a moot point now. He’s dead and I finally have my freedom.”
Annie’s head was swirling. Hazel didn’t show one tiny bit of remorse or sadness. How could Hazel be so cold-hearted about her brother’s death?
A beautiful orange cat with green eyes jumped into Hazel’s lap, keeping her eyes on Roxy the whole time. Annie thought it looked like the cat she pulled from the blackberry bush when she found Peter unconscious.
Hazel stroked the cat and she settled in her lap, purring contentedly. “Where have you been?”
Annie set her glass on the table, getting ready to leave. Hazel seemed to have floated off into her own world.
“He was arguing with someone.”
“Excuse me?” Annie was startled by Hazel’s words.
“Robbie. He was arguing with someone before he died.”
“Do you know who it was?”
“It sounded like Peter. I heard him say, ‘Did she sign it yet?’ Then I left when I heard the door slam.”
“Where did you go?”
“I hate confrontation so I went for a walk in the fields. That’s why I wasn’t here when Stacey came.”
“What do you know about Luke Carbone? He told me he had some sort of agreement with Robbie about the land.”
“Robbie was planning to sell all our land to Luke for a condo development even though he knew I didn’t agree with the plan.” She continued to stroke the cat. “Robbie didn’t care what I wanted.”
“What will you do now?”
“Keep it of course. Robbie couldn’t have died at a better time. He was going to sign the papers yesterday. That’s probably why he bought the blackberry pie. Too bad he never got to celebrate with a piece. It was his favorite.”
Chapter 10
Annie’s blood ran cold. Hazel sat so calmly talking about her brother’s death and eating pie. The sound of a clock tick-tocking in the background made her dizzy.
“Who knew about his plans?”
“I don’t know, Robbie probably blabbed it to everyone that would listen to him.”
Annie stood up and took her glass to the sink. “Thanks for the water. I’ve taken up enough of your time. I’ll let myself out.”
“I like your dog.”
“Roxy?”
“Yes. She’s well behaved. I would like to get a dog now. Robbie would never let me have one. Could you help me find one like yours?”
“I guess so. Have you ever been to the Second Chance Animal Shelter? That’s where Roxy came from.”
“No. Will you take me?”
“Now?”
“If you don’t mind.”
“Well, okay. It’s almost closing time but you could take a look.”
There was nothing normal about Hazel, Annie realized. She was more like a child than a middle aged woman. Was she capable of murdering her brother? If she did murder him, she had plenty of good reasons. Maybe she could plead insanity.
They walked out to Annie’s car. “Do you want to follow me?”
“How?”
“Don’t you have a car?”
“I suppose Robbie’s car is mine now but I don’t know how to drive. I get around with my bike.”
“All right then, hop in.” What am I getting myself into, Annie wondered, as Hazel walked to her car.
Hazel sat staring out the window, humming. Annie decided that Hazel must be used to spending hours on end by herself.
“Stacey told me you’re an author.”
“Yes.”
“I’d like to read one of your books if you have extra copies.”
“Okay.”
Annie left it at that. It was pointless to try to engage her in a conversation. Hazel offered information when she was ready.
“Here we are. Roxy can stay in the car.”
Annie opened the door to the shelter and let Hazel enter first. Karen’s head popped up from the mountain of papers on her desk.
“Annie. How nice to see you. Where’s Roxy?”
“She’s waiting in the car. This is Hazel Benson. She’s thinking about adopting a dog.”
Hazel interrupted. “One like Roxy.”
Karen waved her hand toward the door to the back room. “You know your way around, Annie. Go on in and take a look.”
Hazel walked from one kennel to the next, starting on the left and stopping to study each dog with her head tilted sideways. When she got halfway back up the right side, she stopped and pointed. “That’s the one.”
Annie looked at the small brown dog with sad eyes. She didn’t jump around and bark like all the others, she sat and the tip of her tail wagged a tiny bit. Her brown eyes were irresistible.
Hazel pulled the information card out of the slot. “Her name is Zoe. She’s perfect.”
“Don’t you want to take her out of the kennel and see how she behaves?”
“Can I do that?”
“Sure. I’ll slip a leash on her and we’ll take her outside.”
Zoe calmly trotted from the kennel and waited for Annie to attach the leash. “Here you go.” Annie handed the leash to Hazel and led the way outside.
Hazel walked around the fenced yard with Zoe at her side. After she finished one loop, she stopped next to Annie with a big smile on her face. “Can I bring her home?”
“Let’s go talk to Karen.” Annie wasn’t sure it was a good idea, but then again, maybe no one else would come in to adopt Zoe.
Annie explained the situation to Karen who agreed to let Hazel adopt Zoe with the condition that Annie help Hazel get all the necessary supplies she would need for Zoe.
Hazel picked Zoe up and carried her out to the car, keeping her in her lap. Annie stopped at the Black Cat Café to unload the blackberries before going to the farm store for dog food, a bed, a collar, leash and a couple of toys for Zoe.
“Okay then, I’ll bring you and Zoe home now.”
Out of the blue, Hazel said, “I think that nasty man killed Robbie.”
Annie had almost forgotten about the murder. Being with Hazel was filled with surprises and this latest statement brought her back full circle. “What man?”
“The man that was pounding on the door just before you arrived. The man who wants my land,” she answered, never taking her eyes from the passing scenery.
“Do you mean Luke Carbone?” Annie glanced sideways at Hazel.
Hazel nodded.
“Do you think that’s who Robbie was arguing with yesterday morning?”
“He stopped by almost every day but I never actually saw him yesterday.”
“Why would he kill Robbie if Robbie was planning to sell him the land? Now he has to deal with you, and you don’t want to sell.”
“Robbie needed me to sign the papers too. We owned the land together. I refused to sign.”
“That still doesn’t make any sense to me. If he was planning to kill anyone, wouldn’t it be easier to kill you? Get you out of the way?” Annie turned into Hazel’s driveway.
“That would be too obvious. Mr. Carbone probably assumed I would have to sell the land without Robbie around to take care of me. He must have thought I would be desperate for money.”
“I didn’t think of that. How will you support yourself?”
Hazel t
urned her head to face Annie. “My books. I don’t need to sell the land. Robbie always resented the fact that I was supporting us. He wanted his own money.”
Annie was stunned by this newest revelation.
“He wanted to control me but he could never stop my writing or the income would end.” Hazel laughed.
Annie stopped in front of Hazel’s house next to a red Honda. “Were you expecting someone?”
A frown appeared on Hazel’s face. “You need to leave.”
“Not yet. I promised Karen I’d help you get Zoe settled. That’s why she let you bring her home today.”
Annie slid out her side of the car and let Roxy jump out of the back seat. Hazel sat in the car stroking Zoe who was wiggling and whining to get out and play with Roxy.
Annie walked around the car and opened the door. “What’s the matter? Is there someone here you’re afraid of?”
Hazel shook her head. The sound of a door opening made Annie turn around to see a twentyish year old woman standing on the front step. She had a big smile, a long brown braid of hair and blue eyes that pierced straight into Annie. The face seemed familiar.
“Come on Hazel, at least let Zoe out. I’m bringing the food and bed inside.”
Hazel grabbed Annie’s wrist allowing Zoe to wiggle free and she dashed around the yard with Roxy. In a voice barely audible, Hazel said, “That’s my daughter, Jillian.”
“Oh. Is it a problem that she’s here?”
“No. I guess not anymore. I forgot for a second that Robbie isn’t around to keep her away now. That’s how he tried to put pressure on me to sign the sale papers. Sign or never see Jillian again.” Hazel finally stood up.
Annie tried to read the expression on Hazel’s face. “Can I meet her?”
By then, Jillian was approaching the car. “Mom, are you all right?”
Hazel nodded. “You heard about Robbie, then?”
“That’s why I’m here. He can’t keep us apart anymore.”
Annie held her hand out to Jillian. “Hi, my name is Annie Fisher.” Looking from Jillian to Hazel she saw the same piercing blue eyes. Eyes that gave the impression of seeing more than you could imagine.