Sweet Taffy and the Marshmallow Murder: Sweet Taffy Cozy Mysteries Book #2
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“Cara deserves to know the truth.”
“I know.” He pushed his tears back into their ducts.
“When I met you both that first day, I thought you really were in love.’
Noel ran his hand through his hair. “You’re young yet. Love changes as you get older. It’s different. There’s disappointments, history…I can’t really explain it.”
“Could you and Cara start over? Try again. I mean, what if—” She could bring it up hypothetically, couldn’t she? Or very indirectly? “Why did you and Cara decide not to have children?
Noel leaned back against the white couch. “I already had Tyler. One child was enough for me.
“So it was your idea more than hers?”
“Maybe, but she was fine with it.”
“But what if she wanted to have a baby one day? You’re not too old. And now, with Tyler gone…”
Noel looked down at his hands. Every time Tyler’s name was mentioned, his shoulders drooped a little more.
“I don’t know if I could go through it again emotionally. Now that I’ve lost one child, I’d always fear…” He shook his head. “No, I could never choose that again. And it doesn’t matter anyway. I can’t.”
His final words seemed so final. “What do you mean?”
“Physically. I can’t. I had a vasectomy when Tyler was eight.”
Taffy nearly choked on her own gasp. Noel must have interpreted the reaction as a lack of understanding, because he lifted his fingers and made a scissoring motion. “Snipped.”
Taffy blinked, coughed, and tried to recover her wits. “Does Cara know that?”
Noel shook his head. “She didn’t want kids. Said she couldn’t have them anyway. Though she might have said that to reassure me. But no, she doesn’t know. It wasn’t something I ever felt a need to bring up. If she pushed to have a baby now, like you’re suggesting she might, I guess I’d have to break the news to her, but I think she’d get over it. It would probably be more like a whim anyway, knowing her.”
Taffy was beginning to think he didn’t know Cara that well at all, and Cara really didn’t know him either. And Taffy was beginning to wonder if she knew Cara very well herself.
Taffy excused herself quickly even though Noel said Cara would probably be back soon. She told him she’d come back later.
“Are you going to tell her, Taffy?” Noel said at the door.
“No, but you need to.”
He nodded once, his face serious.
Taffy left. She did need to talk to Cara. Eventually.
If Cara was pregnant, and it wasn’t Noel’s baby, then whose was it? Had she gone a few rounds on the green with someone else but still really believed it was Noel’s? Or she just wanted everyone else to believe it? Had Cara told her the truth about anything?
As Taffy drove by the police station, she was overcome with guilt. She should go in and tell Maria everything, and she was tempted to, but something held her back. Did any of this family drama have to do with Tyler’s death? Maybe. Maybe not. Taffy didn’t want to tell Maria until she was sure.
So Taffy drove by the hairdresser. The Lexus was parked out front. Through the window, Taffy could see Cara getting her blowout. She was smiling at the male hairstylist. Was she flirting with him? She laughed and touched his arm.
Taffy realized she didn’t trust Cara anymore. She kept driving.
Then she turned around and pulled into the parking lot of the police station.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
When Taffy walked in to the station, Zoe was sorting papers at the front counter. “Maria’s not here. She’s out with Malcolm right now.”
“Can I talk to Lucy?”
Zoe pointed. “She’s over there writing up a vandalism report.”
Taffy walked over to Lucy’s desk. “More vandalism?
“It’s the same team that hit the resort the other week.”
“Team? Can’t it just be one person?”
“When you look at the pattern and the scope of the graphic and think about how quick they have to be to do the damage between security sweeps, it starts to look like one person couldn’t do it all alone. “
Taffy tried to take an interest as she looked over some of Lucy’s photos. “Very observant of you.”
“Even one so-called ‘artist’ usually has a spotter.”
Taffy nodded. “Yeah. Interesting.”
Lucy tucked the photos back into a file with her report. “I’m guessing you didn’t come down here to look at graffiti snapshots?”
“True.” Taffy smiled. “You were the one who searched Tyler’s room and checked his computer, right?”
“Guilty as charged.” Lucy leaned forward. “I don’t usually get to make cracks like that with the public, but I figure you’re practically one of us now.”
Taffy appreciated Lucy’s trust. “Maria said you also got some emails from Todd’s computer?”
“He gave us the file on a USB stick. I have a copied version if you want to look” She handed Taffy a flash drive. “You can use Zoe’s laptop over there.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ve got the IT guy retrieving some overwritten files from Tyler’s hard drive—a bunch had been deleted recently—but he’s not done with that yet.”
“Will you keep me in the loop on that, too?”
“Okey-dokey.”
Taffy explained one other thing she needed. Lucy said she’d be able to get right on it.
“I’m also looking for any information you can find about any credit card or banking information relating to Cara Bradford. There might be something on Tyler’s computer about that.”
“I remember seeing some statement printouts in his room, in his sock drawer of all places. I noted it down in the report, but I didn’t take the papers out of his room. I’ll look for the files he might have printed when I look for the other stuff you asked for.”
“Thanks, Lucy. I appreciate your help.”
She also appreciated being told where to look in Tyler’s room. She wondered if the papers were still there. There was a yoga class tonight. Maybe she’d call up Cara to see if she wanted a ride.
~
Later that day, on the way to yoga class, Taffy pulled up in front of the Bradfords’ house. She was hoping she’d get an opportunity to take a peek in Tyler’s room, but when Cara opened the door, she was all ready to go. Taffy turned back to the car, trying to think of another way to get a look in Tyler’s room, when Cara stopped and said, “You know, I should go pee again. I’m always having to pee these days. That’s part of being pregnant, isn’t it?” She turned back to the house and headed down the hall to the powder room by the kitchen.
Taffy followed her and said, “Mind if I go, too?”
Cara called over her shoulder, “You can wait for me or use one of the bathrooms upstairs.”
That’s all Taffy needed. She slipped off her shoes and bounded upstairs.
She snuck into Tyler’s room, went straight for his bureau, and started digging in his sock drawer, where Lucy said she’s seen the papers. At the back and flat to the bottom, she felt a thin sheaf of papers. She pulled them out. Printouts of two credit card statements and one bank account statement. Even better, some handwritten notes scribbled in the margins—cash amounts and other numbers that just might be passwords. Taffy tucked the papers under the back of her shirt and secured them in the band of her yoga pants. She only intended to borrow them. She’d put them right back when she was done. This was one way to assuage her doubts about Cara. Or clarify her suspicions.
When she heard the toilet flush downstairs, she scurried back to the hall. She was at the threshold of Tyler’s room when Cara came up the stairs. Cara gave Taffy a curious look. Standing at the edge of the doorframe, Taffy pointed into Tyler’s room. “I just popped in to have a look. He has quite a collection of baseball posters.”
Cara joined her and looked into the room. “Noel can’t bear to step foot in this room now. Doesn’t really bot
her me though.” She stepped past Taffy into the room and surveyed the rock posters on the walls. “I think it will make a great baby’s room, don’t you? Clean it out, repaint, get the whole layette thing.”
“Don’t you think Noel would want—”
“To use a different room? Probably. But when we bought this house I always imagined this to be a kid’s room—even though we weren’t planning to have kids—so when Tyler came to live with us, Noel put him in here, but I think he would have been happier in the guest room downstairs with its own entrance. That’s every teen’s dream, isn’t it? Total freedom and no accountability?” Cara frowned at the room. “Noel spoiled Tyler, but I won’t let that happen with our baby.”
“Cara…” Taffy started out tentatively. There was no easy way to put this.
“Hold on. I’m grabbing a headband. Then we should hurry so we’re not late.” She dashed to the master bedroom. Taffy tucked the pages more firmly into her waistband. She really didn’t want to ask Cara who the baby’s real father might be, but she knew she had to bring it up if she wanted to quell her new doubts about Cara.
When they were nearly at Lula’s, Taffy finally worked up the courage to ask her burning question.
“Cara, I know you’re super excited about this baby, but do you think there’s any chance, oh, I don’t know…any possibility that…” There was no way to tell how Cara might react to this question.
“Go on,” Cara said, smiling encouragingly, as Taffy parked the car on the street. “Any possibility of what?”
Taffy turned the car off. She just had to spit it out. “That the baby isn’t Noel’s?”
There, she’d said it.
Cara’s smile faded, and she blinked. A thin, dark cloud seemed to race across her features, but it passed so quickly Taffy had to doubt whether she’d seen it at all. Then Cara laughed, high and light and with such convincing innocence that it seemed to carry immediate forgiveness for the affronting suggestion in its sweet mirth.
“Oh, Taffy. What do you take me for? Some sort of hustler? It’s like I told you. We tried and tried and then one day—boom, the flint sparked and the fire of life was lit.” Cara laid a hand on her tummy, lightly caressing the area around her navel. Taffy watched her.
“So you’ll tell him soon?”
Cara nodded. “Yes.”
“What if he doesn’t take it well?”
“I know it will take some getting used to, but… He’ll come around.”
“And you’re really sure it’s his?” Taffy didn’t want to be the one to tell her Noel was infertile, but, as a friend, she also didn’t want Cara walking into an awkward situation blindly.
“Why in the world do you keep saying that? Of course it is. If it wasn’t, that would mean it was someone else’s, and, as my good friend, are you really insinuating I’d do that?” She batted her eyelashes playfully.
Taffy held her gaze. “I don’t know. Would you?”
Cara laughed lightly. “I admit I’ve had my flirtations on some of my golf promo tours, but those are hardly anything. This baby is Noel’s. I’m certain of it.” But she didn’t look Taffy in the eye when she said it. Maybe she just wanted to believe it was true. She wanted to believe in her version of happily ever after. It was not Taffy’s place to burst her bubble. At least not yet.
“How come you never told me about the cabin?”
Cara gave her a quizzical look. “Noel’s family cabin? I can’t see why it would come up.”
“Have you been there recently?”
“No, why?”
“Do you think Tyler might have gone there the night he died?”
Cara thought about it for a moment. “No. He wouldn’t. He hated the place.”
“But you like it? Noel said you were thinking of fixing it up.”
She laughed. “I’d have to if I was going to like it. It’s mouse infested and musty.” She wrinkled up her nose. “When were you and Noel talking about such things?”
“Earlier today. I stopped by to see you.”
Cara nodded and then stopped. “But you knew I was getting my hair done.”
“Yeah. I forgot.”
“Oh.” Cara’s smiled had faded. She opened the passenger door. “Now let’s not miss Lula’s class. And remember, you’re still the only one who knows—so when I don’t do the headstand, don’t you go blurting my secret, okay? I promise I’ll tell Noel on the weekend. Todd’s leaving tomorrow, and Shannon will be out of the picture by the next day.”
It seemed she really didn’t know about the snip. And she didn’t suspect. It was going to come as a tough blow when she finally told Noel about the baby and when he told her about his affair and the vasectomy. Maybe Cara had gotten herself knocked up by one of her golfing buddies or someone from the spa she frequented in San Diego. Maybe she just didn’t want to admit it to Taffy.
When Taffy retrieved her yoga mat from the trunk, she tucked the papers from Tyler’s room under the mat that covered the spare tire. She’d decipher them later, at home, and then make some pretense to slip them back into place in the next few days.
She closed the trunk, feeling uncomfortable with these seeds of doubt sprouting up around her new friend. She followed Cara inside.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
The next morning, Taffy’s first job was to deal with her real job. Ellie had been calling and texting the last two days, and Taffy knew she’d been neglecting her work duties lately. She’d let an investigation take over her life. Again. So she had promised Ellie and Aubin she’d come to work first thing today. They both wanted to talk to her about their ideas for the Fourth of July parade. But on the way up the bluff road leading to the factory, Taffy was preoccupied with her growing doubts about Cara.
She’d had a brief look through those credit card statements. Tyler’s notes scribbled along the edges had given her all the info she’d needed to hack into Cara’s online account. Taffy had a sinking feeling that she’d done something illegal, or at least legally questionable, but so far she hadn’t found anything too incriminating. At least she didn’t think so. There was one detail niggling at her that she wanted to run by Maria and Lucy. She wondered how long it would take for Lucy’s IT guy to double-check Tyler’s computer. Maybe she should just call Lucy to find out. She pressed a couple of buttons on her car phone.
When Lucy answered, she sounded as preoccupied as Taffy and like she was driving in a car as well.
“If you’re calling about that extra info, our IT guy is still working on it—turn here, Malcolm—It should be ready soon. He said he’s finding some interesting stuff though.”
“Can you ask him to also look up—”
“There, Malcolm!—Sorry, Taffy, gotta go. Bringing in Rex Gifford for questioning.”
“What?!”
But Lucy had already hung up.
Taffy pulled a U turn. She’d apologize to Ellie later.
By the time Taffy got to the police station, Rex was already there with Lucy.
Taffy couldn’t help feeling triumphant. “So you finally have enough evidence to bring him in?”
“Yeah. For vandalism.”
Taffy’s heart sank.
“He’s behind all the hits at the resort, downtown, Mo’s Diner, and even his own summer cottage.”
Rex grinned. “That was to make you think I didn’t do it. Smart, huh?”
Lucy raised an eyebrow. “Not smart enough. We caught you on tape, Mr. Gifford. The newsstand across from Mo’s has a small security camera.” Lucy looked at Taffy to explain. “Apparently he’s got a thing for spyware. Who knew?” She turned back to Rex. “You’ll have to go before a judge. Might get sent down to juvey.”
Rex crossed his arms and tried to look smug. “I think the judge and my grandfather are friends. I’m sure they can work something out.”
Lucy ignored him and turned back to Taffy. “And guess who his accomplice is?”
“Monica?”
Lucy looked a little disappointed that Taffy had fig
ured it out on her own. But the rattling sound in Monica’s backpack had finally registered in Taffy’s brain. The strange shaking noise had been a spray-paint can.
“She did most of it, actually,” Rex said. “I just went along for the ride.”
“Don’t believe it for a minute,” Taffy said.
“Just ask Monica,” Rex said. “She’ll tell you that’s the way it was. It was all her.”
“I think she’s done protecting you, Rex.”
He looked at Taffy as if checking if she was bluffing. She noticed an inkling of worry in his handsome brown eyes. He looked down at his shoelaces. “My lawyer will be here any minute.”
“But what about the baggies full of pills?” Taffy asked Lucy.
“Still denies they were his. Says they must have been planted.”
“Oh great. Now the vandal’s implying he was framed?”
Rex held up his hands in innocent supplication. “I didn’t do it.”
“Yes, you did.”
“Actually, he most likely didn’t.”
Lucy and Taffy turned around to see Maria just stepping out of Chief Green’s office and closing the door behind her. “It’s actually possible he was framed.”
“See, I told you.” That smug smile was back.
Taffy set her hands on her hips and protested. “You said the drug dealer from the Salem bar confirmed he’d bought pills from him.”
At that, Rex’s expression shifted to sheepish.
“But not those pills, apparently, and not the ones that Tyler ingested.”
Now Rex looked triumphant. “See, I told you, but Blondie here didn’t believe me.”
“Pipe down, Mr. Gifford,” Lucy said. “We’ve got you on vandalism and enough complaints about drugs to get you in serious trouble.”
He crossed his arms. “I’m not saying another word until my lawyer gets here.”