SWEET MYSTERY
(Under The Moonlight, Book 3)
MaryAnn Kempher
Chapter One
It was a gray and bleak morning, even for late November—the kind that made you want to pull the covers back up over your head and ignore the alarm clock. Jack Harney stood outside his apartment building, blowing on his hands and shifting from one foot to the other as he waited for his friend Curt Noble to pick him up. They were going to see yet another office building, to judge the space that might end up being their future detective agency. Real estate in Reno wasn’t cheap, and every building they’d seen seemed to be in a crummier neighborhood than the last.
Curt pulled up, and Jack got into his truck. While Jack wasn’t a huge guy, at five feet ten inches and almost 200 pounds, he wasn’t puny, either. Curt was at least six feet two inches and, Jack speculated, probably 250 pounds. On more than one occasion he’d been jokingly compared to a refrigerator. Between the two of them, the whole front seat was nearly taken up, though it was meant to fit three people.
“Did you get your hair cut?” asked Curt.
Jack reached up and ran his hand across the top of his head. His sandy blonde hair was extra-short, cut military style. “Yep…the other day,” he answered.
“Good,” said Curt. “You were beginning to look like a hippie.”
After they’d been driving a few minutes, Jack looked over at Curt. “So listen,” he said, “I have this get-together to go to next Friday. I thought you might want to go with me.”
“What kind of get-together?”
“Some guys I worked with when I was still a detective with the Reno PD are meeting up. Mostly I’m just a good excuse for them to get together; they’d all probably be at the bar with or without me. I thought you might want to go, too. Grab a few beers. They’ll be women there.” Jack smiled. “Maybe we’ll both get lucky.”
Curt laughed. “Ah, my weak spot. You went right for it.”
“So what do you think?”
“Sure…why not,” Curt said.
“Where’d you find the place we’re going, anyway?” Jack asked.
“I saw it advertised on Craig’s List.”
“Well, that was lucky,” said Jack. But when they stopped in front of what he assumed was their destination, he wasn’t feeling so lucky anymore.
“I know the neighborhood isn’t the greatest,” said Curt.
Jack tilted his head. “That’s an understatement.”
Like an old woman in a worn dress, he could tell the neighborhood had once been beautiful, but the years and hard times had worn her down.
“It’s all we can afford, Jack,” Curt said. “If we’re serious about opening our own PI office, this is where it will have to be…at least until we have more money.”
Jack sighed and opened his door. He and Curt stood in front of the truck and looked at the building. It was red brick with two stories. The front was made up of two large windows, separated by a door: the one on their left was covered with newspapers; the other was extensively decorated, like a candy cottage from a fairy tale. The store was brightly lit and seemed oddly out of place in the rundown neighborhood.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Jack had sensed the arrival of someone aside from him and Curt, but his mind was busy calculating the costs of rent and electricity compared to the small savings still in his bank account. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again, Jack,” the visitor said. “Are you here to arrest me?”
The question startled him. He looked toward the voice of a woman he recognized right away. She was short, plump and looked to be about sixty-three years old, with fluffy white cotton candy hair. “Ms. Albright?” Jack asked.
“In the flesh,” she answered, smiling happily. A few months earlier, Jack had been head of security on a cruise ship. Nene Albright had been a passenger, but she was the last person he expected to see here.
“It’s very nice to see you again, Ms. Albright,” Jack said. And it was. She and her sister Gaga had been the source of a few headaches while on the cruise, but they were easy to like.
“Do I look any different?” she asked, spreading her arms and twisting from side to side.
Jack wasn’t sure how to answer. She looked the same to him: small, round, and adorable—kind of like a chubby baby, but with wrinkles.
When he didn’t answer right away, Nene said, “I’m on a diet. I’ve lost three pounds since the cruise.”
Jack’s eyes met Curt’s over Nene’s head. The corners of Jack’s mouth twitched. He nodded. “Hmm…three pounds? Well, that’s great. Good for you.” Jack looked between the decorated window and Nene. “So this store…is it yours?”
Nene nodded. “Mine and Gaga’s.”
“It’s very sweet,” Jack told her.
“Thank you.”
Nene couldn’t hide the awe on her face as she looked at Curt. He was tall and large-framed, but his chubby cheeks and smiling blue eyes were reassuring and friendly. “And who’s this?” she asked, her eyes twinkling.
“Ms. Albright,” Jack said, “I’d like to introduce my friend and colleague, Curt Noble. Curt, this is Nene Albright.”
Nene’s cheeks grew rosy, and she smiled shyly.
Curt nodded at her. “Ma’am.”
“Aren’t you working on the cruise ship Forever anymore?” Nene asked.
“No, ma’am,” Jack answered. “That had been a temporary position, as a favor for Curt.”
Nene chuckled, then said, “That was some favor.”
Both Jack and Curt smiled.
“So,” said Jack. “You and your sister own a candy store?”
“Yes,” said Nene. “Candy and baked goods. Nearly twenty years now.” She watched as Jack looked at the surrounding buildings, then back at the candy store. “I know what you’re thinking,” she said, “but this used to be a much nicer neighborhood. It’s gone downhill over the last five years or so.”
“Why do you stay?” asked Jack.
“Because this location has something we haven’t found anywhere else.”
Jack smiled. “What would that be?”
Nene smiled back. “Rent control. Hasn’t gone up since 1995 and won’t anytime soon.”
Curt pointed to the side of a nearby building that was covered in graffiti. “Gangs?” he asked.
“Sure,” answered Nene, “but they don’t bother us.”
Jack and Curt followed Nene into the building. She made an immediate right, passed through another door and entered her store. It was like walking into a child’s dream come true. On the left was a large glass display case; the top shelf held a grand selection of donuts—some round with sprinkles, others long and filled, nearly exploding with Bavarian cream or jelly filling. The second and third shelves held pastries, brownies, and cookies, both chocolate chip and sugar. On the back and far walls were large tubes filled with different kinds of candy: taffy, gum drops, chocolate kisses, and gummy bears. Next to those were shelves filled with candy bars, cotton candy, and lollipops.
“I hope you don’t mind me asking, but why exactly do the gangs leave you alone?” Jack asked.
“Because all the kids in this neighborhood grew up with their mothers bringing them into this store, even the ones in gangs now. I’ve had the most dangerous-looking kids—the ones you’d really wonder about if they approached you on the street—come in here and they treat me and my sister like we’re they’re mothers.” She thought for a second. “I guess because we kind of are, in a way. They call me Ms. Nene.”
“What do they call your sister?” asked Jack.
“Ma’am,” she answered, smiling.
Just then, a tall, slim woman with short, curly gray hair and a cross look on her face walked out of the back office.
“Gaga,” Nene said. “Looks who’s here!”
Gaga looked at Jack, her eyes widening. “Hello, Ms. Albright,” Jack said. “It’s very nice to see you again. This is my partner, Curt Noble.” Curt tipped his head.
“No, no,” said Nene. “I’m sure he’s not here for anything like that.”
Curt laughed, and Jack smiled.
Gaga put the lid on a large jar and set it under the counter. “So…why are you here then?”
“Curt and I are thinking of taking the space across the hall,” Jack told her. “We’re opening a private investigators office.”
Both ladies nodded. “Well,” said Gaga, “we can be your first clients.”
Nene made a tsk sound. “Really, Gaga,” she said disapprovingly.
“Why…what’s going on?” asked Curt.
“We’ve been robbed again and again…that’s all.” Gaga said, sounding edgy. “No big deal or anything.”
“Oh, jeez,” Nene said. She didn’t appreciate her sister’s sarcasm. She turned to Jack and Curt. “In addition to renting the store, we live in an apartment upstairs. On a few occasions, we’ve come downstairs and found bags open and candy missing. I’d hardly call that being robbed.” She thought about it as she spoke. “Well, I suppose it is, technically. But it’s hardly as bad as Gaga makes it sound.”
Before Jack or Curt could weigh in, they heard a strange, high-pitched sound.
“Yep! Yep! Yep!”
Nene noticed their puzzled expressions. “Oh, that’s just Boris.”
Just then, an old man appeared at the door. He was slightly bent over, holding a cane in one hand and a leash in the other. The leash was attached to a tiny, hyperactive dog.
“Yep! Yep! Yep!”
“And that’s Mr. Bryan,” Nene said.
“I must be hearing things,” Curt said. “Because I could have sworn I heard that dog talk.”
“That’s just his bark,” explained Nene. “Watch this. Boris, would you like a piece of candy?”
The small dog jumped up and down excitedly. “Yep! Yep! Yep!”
“Would you like to go on a walk?” she asked.
“Yep! Yep! Yep!”
“Are you a huge pain in the butt?” interrupted Gaga.
“Yep! Yep! Yep!”
Everyone laughed.
“Mr. Bryan,” Nene said, “these two men are going to rent the space across the hall there.”
The old man put his hand to his ear. “Huh?”
Nene spoke louder. “I said, these two men are going to rent the space across the hall.”
Mr. Bryan nodded and left.
Curt looked out the window and watched Mr. Bryan and Boris as they walked out the front door. “Cute dog,” he said.
“He’s a menace,” said Gaga. “His constant yepping is driving me crazy.”
“Oh, you’re such a sour puss,” said Nene.
Jack walked to the door, looked across the hall at the closed door then turned around. “Does Mr. Bryan live here too?”
“Yes,” answered Nene, “across from Gaga and me, but he hasn’t been here long…maybe four months or so.”
Jack looked out the large front window and watched as a car pulled into the lot and parked next to Curt’s truck. A man got out. “We’re supposed to meet the landlord,” he said.
“Maybe that’s him,” Curt offered.
Nene and Gaga looked out the window.
“That’s definitely him,” said Gaga, her lip curling in distaste.
A few moments later, they heard the front door open. The man appeared, tall with long, thin legs and arms. His shoes were pointy, and his hair slicked back with some sort of pomade. Jack was reminded of a spider…a daddy longlegs, to be specific. The man nodded to Nene. She looked away uncomfortably. Then he nodded to Gaga, who rolled her eyes at him.
“Excuse me,” Jack said. “Are you Victor Burch?”
“Yes,” the man answered briskly. “Are you Curt Noble?”
Curt stepped forward. Victor looked up at him and took a step backward.
“I’m Curt Noble, actually,” he said. “This is my colleague, Jack Harney.”
“Well, gentlemen,” Victor said. “Right this way.”
***
It didn’t take long to see that the space was perfectly suited for Jack and Curt’s needs. The only thing left to discuss was the rent.
“I couldn’t help but notice,” Jack began, “that the neighborhood is a little…well, run down, to be honest. I have to wonder if you aren’t charging a bit too much.”
“I assure you, I’m not,” Victor said. “The neighborhood may no longer be what it used to, but if you take the space now, you’ll be getting a deal on the rent. In a few months, if it’s not already rented, I’ll be charging more.”
“Really?” said Curt. “Why’s that?”
“The city recently announced plans to put some serious money into this area. They’ve already started a few blocks from here. The property values are going to go way up very soon.”
This was news to Jack and Curt. They were glad to hear it. If the city revitalized the area, it could mean more people…which meant more potential customers.
Jack looked over Mr. Burch’s shoulder at Curt. Curt nodded.
“To be honest,” said Mr. Burch, “the owner would rather leave this space empty until the city is done. I guess he must need the money.”
“Could you excuse us for just a moment?” asked Jack.
“Of course,” said Mr. Burch. “I’ll just be outside.”
Jack waited until he could see Mr. Burch through the window. “What do you think?” he asked Curt.
“I’m a pretty good judge of character,” Curt answered, “and I don’t like that guy. He seems a little slick to me, like he’d throw out his own mother if it would make him an extra buck.”
“Yeah,” said Jack. “I get that same vibe. But he’s probably right. We can’t beat the rent.”
Curt considered it. “Okay,” he agreed. “Let’s do it.”
“We’re really doing this?” said Jack.
Curt smiled brightly. “Looks like it.”
They walked outside and found their new landlord. “Mr. Burch,” Jack said, “you have yourself some new tenants. We’d like to move in right away, if we could.”
“Fabulous,” said Mr. Burch, pulling out some paperwork. “You can start moving in tomorrow. Now, if I could just get rid of Hansel and Gretel across the hall, but they’re like gum on my shoe.”
Jack ignored the comment. He could easily understand why Nene and Gaga Albright wouldn’t want to give up a rent controlled space…but he could also see things from Burch’s perspective. For now, at least, he was stuck with the Albright sisters.
Chapter Two
Standing by the office door on Tuesday morning, Jack pointed to the far wall. “Just put that over there,” he said to the oversized man holding one end of a large mahogany desk. The man’s partner held the other side.
It had only been a few days since they’d signed the lease, but they’d been back to the office quite a few times and were almost completely moved in. They’d already paid the landlord his rent for the next six months. It was important that they get some cases, and quick.
Curt was outside overseeing the painter as he put the finishing touches of the glass. Harney and Noble Detective Agency, it read, No case too big; no case too small. A little cheesy, Jack thought, but effective—and true.
Jack was trying to stay positive, but it wasn’t easy.
The movers had placed his desk on one side of the room and Curt’s desk on the other. He would have liked to have sat right in front of the window, but that didn’t seem fair. So instead, the window was on his right, and Curt’s left.
He looked around. It may not have been a modern or sleek space, but it was definitely functional. The floors were carpeted in practical beige, and between the bright overhead lights and the window, the space was well-lit. Overall, it wasn’t a bad-looking room.
Jack could hear chatter from across the hall. The candy store ha
d opened, and he had to resist the urge to go for a visit. It wouldn’t do him well to get into the habit of visiting every day…not if he wanted to stay in relatively good shape. He didn’t want to end up looking like Nene Albright—or worse, like a soft version of Curt. He smiled at the thought.
He’d noticed that the candy store always had people coming or going, both kids and adults. Hopefully, one of the adults would have a cheating husband or wife, or something else that would need their detective skills.
“Good morning, Jack,” said a sing-song voice. Jack smiled at Nene Albright, standing in the doorway. “I brought you something.”
Jack groaned to himself. He couldn’t be strong if she was going to bring the candy to him.
When she turned around, he thought for a second she was leaving. Then he saw her round bottom backing into the room. She was dragging a large potted plant. If Jack had to guess, he had put Nene’s height at about five feet four inches; the plant was taller than that by three inches or more, with a base at least three feet around.
He rushed over to help her. “What’s this?” he asked.
“This is from Gaga and me,” Nene answered. “We thought it would look good in here.”
Jack pulled the plant over to a corner near the entrance. “That was very nice of you—thank you. And please thank your sister for us, too. I just hope it survives Curt and me. Neither one of us has much of a green thumb.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that,” Nene told him. “I picked one that doesn’t need a lot of attention. Just remember to water it once or twice a week. And if it starts to look sad, you can ask Mr. O’Bryan from upstairs for some advice. He used to own a nursery, so he knows all about plants and flowers.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Nene looked down at a large frame on Jack’s desk. “What’s this?” she asked, reading the document beneath the glass. “A degree in Criminal Justice? Impressive!”
Jack picked up the frame. “I was going to put it on the wall,” he said. “I thought if clients saw that I have a degree, it might inspire confidence. Too much, do you think?”
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