Sweetness and Light (A Sweet Cove Mystery Book 5)

by J A Whiting

  Angie’s phone buzzed with another text and she flicked her eyes to the screen. “The groom, Nelson Rider, is accompanying the Senator.”

  ***

  Ellie and Angie changed clothes so they wouldn’t look like wrecks when they met the Senator and the bridegroom. They thought they’d better warn Bethany about the impending visit by the men, so they both carried some treats into the jewelry shop.

  “How are things going?” Ellie smiled and placed a tray with iced tea, sparkling water, and two glasses on the table.

  “We thought you might like some refreshments.” Angie put the glass plate of different squares and mini Danish next to the beverage tray.

  “We’re just looking at the sketches and going over design possibilities.” Jenna turned to her client. “Would you like something to drink?”

  Bethany, leaning over the sketches, requested some sparkling water.

  “I just had a text from the resort.” Angie poured the water. “Your father and fiancé are on their way over here.”

  Bethany’s head jerked up and her face hardened. With her hands on the table, she pushed out of her seat with force. Ramming her hand into her blazer pocket, she retrieved her car keys which she shoved at Angie. “Move my car around the block.” Bethany turned to the door that led to the wraparound porch. “Don’t tell them I was here. Can I go out this door?” Not waiting for an answer, she bolted for the exit.

  Jenna stood and pointed. “Go through the trees at the back of the yard. You’ll come out in the next yard. Our friend lives there. Cut over to the street.”

  Bethany was gone in a flash.

  “Quick. Move the car.” Ellie gave Angie a gentle push to the door.

  Angie took off through the exit and ran to Bethany’s car in the driveway.

  No one knew why there was such a rush to cover for Bethany, but the girls were caught up by the urgency and fell in to help. Jumping into the driver’s seat of the Porsche and backing it out to the street, Angie wondered why on earth anyone would run away from her fiancé.

  Chapter 3

  After delivering the car to Bethany on the next street over, Angie walked home and opened the door to Jenna’s shop. The room was empty so she headed down the hallway to the foyer. Hearing voices coming from the sunroom, she went in that direction and saw Ellie chatting with Senator Winston and a young man who Angie assumed was Nelson Rider, the fiancé.

  Ellie looked relieved when she spotted her sister entering the room. “This is my sister, Angie.”

  The two men, wearing what looked like expensive fitted suits, stood and shook hands with the newcomer.

  The sunroom had three walls of glass with long, wide windows that opened to let in the breeze. The walls were cream and three pale mocha sofas were positioned in a U-shape around a blonde wooden coffee table. Plants with deep green foliage stood here and there around the room in ceramic pots.

  Angie sat down on one of the empty sofas and noticed the cats sitting on the glass side table in the far corner of the room. They were scowling at the guests.

  “We’re just going over some details for the wedding.” Ellie informed her sister with one raised eyebrow which clued Angie in that something was odd.

  “Is Bethany here?” Angie asked innocently knowing full well that the young woman had just escaped.

  “No, it’s just the two gentlemen.” Ellie smiled sweetly. She had a notebook balanced on one knee and held a silver pen.

  Angie decided to question the men and turned to them with a pleasant smile on her face. “Shouldn’t you wait for the bride’s input?”

  Nelson Rider gave what the sisters would classify as a fake smile. His teeth were blazing white and perfectly aligned. “That isn’t necessary.” His sandy-blonde hair was cut close to his head. He gave the impression of a body full of suppressed energy, as if, at the least provocation, he would rise and go outside to run a marathon.

  Everything about this guy was perfect. His haircut. Posture. Clothing, well-made and perfectly tailored. His manners. His diction. Angie wondered if he ever perspired, or tripped, or misspoke. She thought he seemed like a spring that was wound too tight.

  “But,” Angie persisted. “The bride is usually a big part of a wedding.”

  “Bethany likes what I like.” Nelson was still smiling.

  “Do you like what she likes?” Angie asked. She wondered if Bethany was always bending to Nelson’s wishes while Nelson made all the decisions without considering her wants or feelings.

  Nelson looked confused.

  “You’re the baker, correct?” Senator Winston inquired. He leaned back against the sofa like he owned the place. One arm lay across the sofa back in a wide, relaxed gesture.

  Angie nodded.

  “I’d like to see some examples of cakes you’ve created. Then we can choose what we like and discuss flavors.”

  Angie bristled. “I’ll need your daughter’s preferences before finalizing things.”

  The Senator pooh-poohed that comment. “Bethany will be absolutely fine with whatever Nelson and I choose.”

  Angie scowled and was about to respond when Ellie piped up. “I think it best if we wait to continue when Bethany can join us. We can all meet together very soon to finish up the details.”

  The men were about to protest, but Ellie stood up and took a few steps towards the doorway. “I have another client now,” she lied. “You have my number. Give me a call to arrange a time when everyone is available.” She gestured towards the front of the house and the men reluctantly got up and headed for the Victorian’s front door.

  When Ellie shut it after the men, she wheeled towards Angie. “They hardly even mentioned Bethany. It’s like they’re creating some show or spectacle and she is only to play a part.”

  Euclid and Circe sat on the bottom step of the staircase. Euclid released a low hiss from deep in his throat and Circe emitted a growl.

  Ellie’s face was flushed and her arms flailed as she gestured animatedly. “I don’t think I can work with them.”

  Jenna heard her younger sister ranting and came into the foyer to find out what was happening. The girls relayed the strangeness of the brief meeting.

  “Well, that’s as odd as the bride scooting out the door when her dear fiancé is about to show up.” Jenna narrowed her eyes. “What do you think is going on here?”

  The three of them headed for the family room with the cats tailing after them. Ellie started up a new rant as they walked into the room. Jenna and Angie took seats on the sofa just as Courtney came in from the back door of the house. “What’s cookin’?”

  “Plenty.” Ellie paced around the family room as she complained about Senator Winston and Nelson Rider and relayed how Bethany ran through the backyard to leave the house before the men showed up.

  Courtney’s eyes went wide listening to what went on during the meetings. “I wasn’t expecting this.”

  “Ellie doesn’t want to work with them.” Jenna stretched out on the sofa and put her legs over Angie’s lap.

  Courtney sat in the easy chair and tucked her legs up under herself. “I don’t agree. What does it matter to us if they’re nuts or weird or whatever. It’s business. People at the wedding might like what we do and hire us for another event. One thing can lead to another. I’d be happy to make candy for the Winston wedding. If their strange behavior works for them, then what do we care?”

  Ellie stopped her hurried pacing from one side of the room to the other and stared at Courtney.

  “The voice of reason.” Jenna chuckled.

  Ellie plopped onto the opposite sofa. Her brow furrowed. “I guess you’re right.”

  “Okay. That’s settled.” Courtney got up. “Let’s make dinner.” She headed for the kitchen.

  “Bah.” Jenna pushed herself up and followed her sister, muttering. “I thought we were going to sit for a while.”

  Mr. Finch sat at the kitchen table with a cup of tea, reading the newspaper. Even though Finch was living in his own ho
use now, he was an adopted member of the Roseland family, coming and going as he pleased and often eating his meals with the sisters. He looked up when the girls came in.

  “Did you pick out some furniture this afternoon?” Angie asked.

  “Indeed, I did. Miss Betty and I visited the store in West Cove and I picked out some things for the living room, a dining room set, and a bedroom set. I am quite happy with my choices. The new things will be delivered later in the week. In due time, I will furnish the upstairs rooms, but there’s no rush.”

  “I can’t wait to see what you bought.” Courtney smiled at Finch.

  “I saw the strangest thing this afternoon.” Finch adjusted his eyeglasses. “A young woman, blonde, quite attractive, came running through the wooded area between our two houses. I wondered if you were chasing your bed and breakfast guests away from the premises.”

  Angie grinned. “That was Bethany Winston. She escaped from a meeting with Jenna.” She gave her sister a mock questioning look. “Maybe Bethany didn’t like anything she saw in your shop?”

  Jenna ignored Angie’s comment and clarified for Mr. Finch what had happened.

  “How very odd.” The man tilted his head in a questioning posture. Circe jumped on his lap and curled up. Finch scratched her cheek. “It seems clear that Ms. Winston is not very fond of her fiancé.”

  Ellie sat down across from Finch. “Then why do you think she is marrying him?”

  “There could be a number of reasons.” The older man’s forehead creased. “There probably aren’t many men of such means. The Winstons must have a very small social circle of families of their position and wealth. It could be that Ms. Winston does not wish to marry outside of that circle. Maybe she has known the young man since she was a small girl and they get along, but she really doesn’t love him. It could be a marriage of convenience for both of them, two very powerful families joining together.”

  “That’s sad.” Ellie frowned.

  “Maybe it isn’t.” Courtney lifted the lid on the crockpot and checked the simmering meat, and then she went to wash lettuce at the sink. “Maybe it’s just what super rich people do.”

  “Then I’m glad I’m not wealthy.” Ellie’s eyes clouded. She got up, left the kitchen, and walked to the dining room to set the table.

  “I wish I was wealthy.” Courtney ladled the beef stew from the crock pot into a blue and white serving bowl. “I prefer love and money.”

  Chapter 4

  Courtney snuggled in the easy chair with Euclid who lay next to her sound asleep with his head hanging off the seat cushion. Ellie sat on the loveseat with Circe curled in her lap. Angie was supposed to be watching the movie, but she’d dozed off. Jenna sat with Angie on the sofa and because the air conditioner was going full blast, she pulled a blanket over her lap rather than turn it down because the cool air felt so good.

  Just as an important scene from the film was playing on the screen, Euclid bolted up and let out a hiss, waking Angie and causing the other girls to jump. Circe stared at the orange cat and then she cocked her head focusing on the sound that had alerted Euclid.

  The doorbell rang and everyone startled.

  “Who could this be?” Ellie didn’t want to go to the door because she was wearing old shorts and a faded t-shirt. “It’s eleven at night. It can’t be one of the B and B guests. I gave everyone the code to the front door.”

  Angie lifted her head from the sofa, looking disoriented. She blinked and rubbed her eyes.

  “It must be someone who forgot the code. Again.” Jenna pushed the blanket to one side and stood up. “I’ll go see.” She hurried down the hall to the foyer.

  The cats were on full alert. They jumped down and followed Jenna into the hall and raced her to the front door. The bell rang again.

  “I’m coming, for Pete’s sake.” Jenna muttered under her breath before swinging the front door open.

  Bethany Winston stood under the porch light, her platinum hair glowing from the illumination. Taking a glance over her shoulder to the dark street, she hurried into the Victorian without being invited to enter. “I need to speak with you and your sisters.”

  Jenna started, “It’s really not a good time….”

  Bethany cut her off. “It’s very important. I’ll try to take only a bit of your evening.”

  Jenna thought, the evening is already over, it’s night now, but she didn’t say so.

  Circe and Euclid watched warily from the staircase, listening.

  “Um.” Jenna looked down the hallway. “We’re relaxing in the family room. We’re not really presentable for guests.”

  Bethany moved her hand dismissively. “I don’t care what you look like. I just want to talk.” Her big, brown eyes looked hopefully at Jenna. “It’s important.”

  Jenna stifled a sigh from escaping from her throat. “Why don’t you have a seat in the living room for a few minutes. Let me go tell my sisters that you’re here.” She walked down the hallway and into the family room.

  Angie was still stretched out on the sofa and had her eyes closed. Ellie and Courtney were focused on the movie that was playing on the television.

  Ellie didn’t move her eyes from the screen. “Who was it?”

  “Bethany Winston.”

  The television watchers turned towards Jenna.

  “She’s in the living room. She needs to talk to us, she says it’s important.”

  Angie groaned without opening her eyes. “You three go.”

  “Really? She’s here so late.” Courtney stood up, her face bright with interest. “What’s it about?”

  Jenna shrugged and turned back to the hall. “Let’s go find out. You too, Angie.”

  “Bah.” Angie muttered and swung her legs off the sofa.

  When the four girls were at the threshold of the living room, Bethany jumped up from her seat. Her words tumbled out in a rush. “Thank you for seeing me. I apologize for running off like that earlier today. There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

  Everyone sat down. The cats watched the woman from their position in front of the fireplace. Ellie hoped that this intrusion into their free time wasn’t about some small wedding detail that could wait until tomorrow.

  Bethany seemed to be struggling with what to say. She fidgeted on the sofa and her expression was tight and tense.

  “What would you like to speak with us about?” Angie gave a small encouraging smile trying to prompt her.

  Bethany exhaled loudly. “I don’t know where to start.”

  “What’s bothering you?” Jenna asked.

  “Many things.” The platinum blonde shook her head, and then made eye contact with the four sisters. “I read about you in the newspapers. I need your help.”

  Angie groaned inwardly. In her head, she cursed the news outlets. The very words that Bethany had just uttered had preceded a development in the sisters’ last murder case. Angie braced herself.

  Bethany went on. “I have a friend.”

  The girls waited for more.

  “He and I have been friends since grade school.” Bethany clasped her hands in her lap. Her brow furrowed. “I’m very worried about him.”

  “What seems to be the trouble?” Jenna leaned slightly forward.

  “He is going to be my “Man of Honor” or “Best Man” or whatever words would be appropriate for a bride to have a male friend as her “Maid of Honor.”

  Ellie bristled, but remained quiet, annoyed that semantics was the cause of this late night visit. She wondered why the appropriate term to use for the man standing up for Bethany at her wedding couldn’t be discussed during the day.

  Bethany eyes watered. “Something happened. His life has been threatened.”

  “Just because he’s going to be your Best Man?” Ellie gaped.

  “No.” The young woman shook her head. “I don’t know. That can’t be the whole reason. I need you to figure this out.”

  Angie swallowed. “Have the police been told about the threat?�
�

  Bethany sighed and shook her head. “We haven’t told anyone.”

  “Why not?” Jenna’s eyes narrowed.

  “We don’t want any unnecessary publicity.”

  “But if the threat is real….” Courtney said.

  “That’s why I’m coming to you first. If you can’t find any clues, then we’ll go to the police.”

  “How was the threat presented?” Angie questioned.

  “My friend has received several letters, two in the mail and one on his doorstep. There are cut up letters from a magazine that spell out the message, just like in a movie.” She wrung her hands.

  “When did the first one arrive?” Jenna asked.

  “Four weeks ago.”

  “Was your wedding date common knowledge then?” Courtney tried to make a connection between the timing of the threats and what might have precipitated the warning letters.

  “The first letter arrived just prior to when our save-the-date announcements went out.”

  “What did the letter say?” Ellie looked like she didn’t really want to know.

  Bethany cleared her throat. “It said, ‘I know you love Bethany. Enjoy your last days on Earth.’”

  Four pairs of eyes widened. Ellie covered her mouth with her hand.

  “Is that true? Does he love you?” Courtney sat up straighter, intrigued by a possible love triangle.

  Bethany gave a slight nod and looked at the floor. “And I love him,” she said softly.

  After a full minute of silence, Angie stood up slowly. “Let’s have some tea and something to eat. Why don’t we move to the family room where it’s more private, in case other guests show up and want to use these rooms?”

  “Do you have any wine?” Bethany asked. Her face was pale and she looked a little shaky.

  Just as everyone stood up to follow Angie to the hall, some B and B guests opened the front door and entered. They greeted the group as they passed each other and the guests moved to the buffet table in the dining room to sample the evening treats and sit around the table and chat. Angie was glad they’d decided to move to a quieter room in order to talk openly. Once settled in the family room with tea and wine and some shortbread wedges, the questions started up again.