by Jenny Kales
Where was her phone? Groggily, Callie searched the seat next to her for her purse, but the phone wasn’t in it. It was probably on the floor of the car. Now what?
Koukla whimpered and her little dog’s distress galvanized Callie. She reached back into her purse and felt around for a pen or nail file. Bingo! Even better – she’d discovered a pair of nail scissors. She jammed them into the air bag and a whoosh of stale air rushed out at her. Coughing, she waited for the air bags to deflate, before being able to reach down and feel around the seats for her phone.
After a panicked search, she found it wedged into the side pocket of the passenger door, where it had apparently fallen as the car toppled into the ditch.
Her fingers shook as she dialed Sands’ number. He didn’t answer right away and her heart started to pound. She’d have to give up and dial 911. In fact, that’s what she should have done in the first place.
She was just about to disconnect the call when he answered: “Sands.”
Hearing his familiar voice caused a wave of relief to wash over Callie. “It’s me. I’m, uh…in a ditch. With Koukla. Someone just ran me off the road.”
She heard his sharp intake of breath and his words tumbled out. “Are you hurt? Where’s Olivia? What about the dog? Where are you?”
“I’m just a few blocks from home, near Lake Shore. I was at my dad’s and don’t worry, Olivia is still at his house.” Callie felt sobs starting in the back of her throat, she was so relieved that he’d taken her call. “I’m stuck in my car and I’m worried about Koukla. She seems okay, but we had a pretty rough ride down into the ditch. And get this,” she croaked. “Somebody got out of the car and was looking at me. I…couldn’t see who it was. They just looked at me and then drove off.”
Sands tone was steely. “I’m calling for an ambulance. In the meantime, a patrol car will be there soon. I’m on my way right now. ” She heard him giving orders on a different phone, probably an office line. Callie squirmed, trying to get comfortable. She was relieved that help was on the way, though embarrassed at the fact that she’d had to call for rescue. Coupled with that unwelcome emotion was shame at the fact that she realized what a mistake she’d made in not reporting the incident when an SUV had nearly swerved into her car.
Her woozy head starting to clear, Callie thought it was possible that the large vehicle that had run her off the road tonight was the same one that had almost swerved into her a couple of days earlier. She tried and failed to call up any image of the car that had run her off the road, save the blinding blast of headlights that had filled her window right before she crashed.
Was the driver trying to run her off the road deliberately? Or was her terrifying, jolting near-rollover just an accident?
* * *
Red lights flashing gave Callie a headache as she warmed herself under a blanket in the back of an ambulance, Koukla snuggled next to her. A tow truck had removed her car from the ditch.
Miraculously, Callie had only a few bruises and scratches, though her face felt swollen where the air bags had smashed into it. The paramedics determined that she didn’t appear to have any serious damage or a concussion, and one of them had even given the dog once-over. Koukla seemed to be fine, but they suggested that Callie take her to the vet for a check-up as soon as possible.
“Callie,” Sands said, sitting next to her in the ambulance and putting his arm around her. She’d already given her statement about the incident to the officer on patrol and had been waiting for Sands to join her. “So you think the car that sideswiped you belongs to Mrs. Dayton,” he asked. “Any idea as to why?”
Callie flushed, but decided the best thing to do was to come clean. “I didn’t get a look at this car. But the other night, a woman driving a big white SUV almost swerved into me as I sat parked at the curb. I didn’t say anything about it – I should have.” Sands nodded, and murmured. “Don’t worry about it. Too late now.”
“In any case,” Callie continued her tale, determined to tell what she knew. “I’m pretty sure it was Mrs. Dayton – Lexy’s mother. Natalie told me while we were setting up for the bridal shower that the Daytons tended to be excitable – they get into fights. So I’m thinking that if it was Mrs. Dayton, maybe she was upset about something and distracted. Combine that with the slippery roads and – bam!”
“So you think the person in the car tonight was Mrs. Dayton as well?” Sands delivered the line as a statement, clearly not trying to influence her answer.
“I don’t know. It might have been but I didn’t see the other car – or driver – clearly enough. Sorry. And goodness knows that anyone could be driving erratically, especially in the holiday season, and with this weather.” She frowned and touched her jaw, wincing. “I wish that I’d gotten a better look.”
“You’re not seriously injured, that’s the main thing.” Sands was saying all the right things, but to Callie’s foggy mind, he seemed distant. His chin was set in a firm line and his voice never wavered from its smooth intonations, but he seemed preoccupied.
Sands stood up, letting a rush of cold air into the warm pocket his body heat had created under the blanket. “We’ll sort out your car. For now, someone will give you a ride home if you don’t feel like you need to go to the hospital.” He peered at her closely. “You sure you don’t want a complete check-up?”
“Nah, I’ll go to the doctor if I start feeling sick or seeing double – or anything else. But wait a second. You said ‘someone?’ will give me a ride home. Not you?”
Sands looked at her with a gaze she couldn’t read. Or maybe it was just her head was still so fuzzy. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. Of course I’ll drive you home. Let me wrap things up here and we’ll get you back in your warm, safe house.”
It sounded good to Callie. Sands still seemed a bit reserved, though concerned for her health as he made sure she was safely in the car, Koukla in her arms. “I’m sorry I can’t stay for a bit,” he apologized. “But we’re working late tonight on the Underwood murder. “
“I understand. Speaking of that, I’d like to share some things I’ve learned about Bix Buckman. Also, some odd details have come to light regarding The Daytons and Nick Hawkins, the long-suffering fiancé.”
“How have you obtained all of this information?” Sands wanted to know.
“Oh, here and there. Don’t worry – it’s all in the course of a day’s work, nothing out of the ordinary. I see and hear a lot of stuff just working in town all day.”
“Right,” Sands said with a sigh. “Well, what do you have for me?”
“Bix Buckman has some kind of money dispute with The Elkhorn Supper Club. I can’t believe I forgot to tell you. He and the owner nearly got into fisticuffs the night of Natalie’s murder. I was there with Sam – she was simultaneously trying to cheer me up – and anxious to watch Bix perform with his band. My dad of all people broke up the fight.”
“I can believe it,” Sands said. “What else?”
“Well, you know how we ran into Bix and Piper? She swears they’re not involved romantically and told me that the reason they were at the pub the other night is because she’s doing social media freelance marketing for him. Also, she thinks somebody was following her the other night at Crystal Bay College and wanted a bodyguard.”
“That’s interesting. Did she report it?” Sands looked stern.
“I don’t think so,” Callie answered. “She said that the person ran away when a bunch of students suddenly appeared in the parking lot.”
“Do you believe her?”
Callie answered truthfully, glad that he wanted her gut feeling on the matter. “I do. She and Max appear to be awfully close. It’s just that Bix seems like the type to prey on women – based on everything else we’ve heard.”
“All right, Bix has a temper and he tends to bother women who don’t reciprocate his romantic attentions. And maybe he plans to ‘make a move’ on Piper. You never know. Not a good look, I agree. Now, what’s this about the Daytons
and Nick Hawkins?”
Callie shared how she and Max had witnessed the couple fighting in front of her shop and how she’d taken Lexy for tea to talk things through while Max entertained Nick. She told him how Lexy thought Nick was in love with Natalie and how she’d seen Mrs. Dayton just sitting in her car, taking it all in and not making a move to stop the couple from their loud, public argument. She also mentioned Max’s assessment of Nick.
“This is interesting, to be sure,” Sands said slowly. “Good to know. But a money dispute and a couple having an argument don’t give me enough to act upon right now. Still, I’ll have them all questioned again. Let’s see if it shakes any of them up a bit.”
They pulled up to her house, dark but for the porch light. She hadn’t had time to string Christmas lights on the evergreens this year, although a festive wreath adorned her front door.
Sands walked Callie to up the walkway and apologized again for not being able to stay. “Please call me if you need anything,” he said, kissing her on the cheek.
“I will,” Callie agreed, but he made no move to hug or embrace her like he usually did. She cocked her head at him.
“Are you sure you’re all right? You seem, I don’t know, down or something.”
He hesitated before answering. “It’s just this case. I’m all worn out. You take care of yourself and I’ll check in with you soon.” He smiled at her, but his eyes didn’t reflect much warmth.
“Thanks,” Callie said, deciding she’d had enough drama for one night. Whatever was bothering him, he wasn’t talking – yet. Hugging Koukla tightly against the cold, she hurried inside and shut the door, closing it perhaps more firmly than was really necessary.
Thirteen
Callie was moving stiffly around her kitchen the next morning, Saturday, still shaken by the car accident, not to mention Sands’ oddly distant behavior, when the doorbell rang.
“Hi Mom,” Olivia said, breezing in the door. “Pappou just dropped me off.”
“Is he still here?” Callie asked.
“I don’t know,” Olivia shrugged. “Probably. He wasn’t sure if you were home and he said he wouldn’t leave until I got in safely.” She snuggled Koukla in her arms. The dog looked perfectly fine, but Callie had already made an appointment at the vet’s office for later that day. “What happened to your face?” Olivia asked, but Callie was already moving towards her front door, ready to confront George.
He sat in his truck, the plumes of exhaust white in the frosty morning air. Callie waved to him, wrapped her arms around herself and ran outside in her fleece slippers, carefully maneuvering around the icy patches on her front walkway. She scurried over to the driver side of George’s car and he promptly rolled down his window. She could feel his car heater going full blast and the all-news talk radio station he listened to during the day was turned up to high volume.
“Kalimera. Good morning, Calliope –” George began, but then he noticed her jaw and he stopped short.
“Kalimera, Dad. I had a little fender bender,” Callie said, thinking it best not to tell him that the car had nearly been hit by another vehicle twice the size of hers. “My car is at the shop right now but doesn’t appear to be seriously damaged – and neither am I.”
“Calliope! Are you sure you’re all right?” George started to get out of the car, but Callie held up her hands in protest.
“I’m fine. Really. I’ll get a ride to work today. Olivia is going to a friend’s house for the afternoon and then she’s going to Viv’s.”
“If you’re sure? But your jaw – it looks swollen.”
“My airbags deployed,” Callie explained, starting to shiver without her coat. “One of the bags must have hit me in face, but it probably looks worse than it feels. Look Dad, thanks again for having Olivia over. I promise to give you a call later.” She kissed his cheek and started walking back to the house. At the door she turned around and waved to her father, who hesitated before waving back. He gunned his motor, backed up the truck and slowly drove away.
Happy that she’d avoided a major confrontation about careful driving and icy roads, Callie went to join her daughter.
“How was your sleepover?” she asked.
“Great!” Olivia was lying on the sofa, with her legs stretched out in front of her and Koukla lying in a similar position right alongside of her. “Sweetie is so nice. She let me eat koulourakia for breakfast.”
“She did?” Callie answered. “Did you eat anything, say, slightly more healthful?”
“Pappou made a feta cheese omelet.” Olivia sighed and sat up. “I guess I’d better change my clothes – aren’t you supposed to drop me at Grandma’s in a bit?”
“Yes, and I’m going to ask her for a ride to work. Why don’t you come in and get some food for you and Grandma to have for dinner. Then she won’t have to cook.”
“Can I pick it out?” asked Olivia.
“Of course. Within reason,” Callie said with a smile.
“OK. But just once I’m going to have an all-cookie meal.”
Callie laughed and kissed her daughter’s cheek before the 10-year-old raced up the stairs as only 10-year-olds can do. Feeling slightly more energized, she made her way slowly into the kitchen for another fortifying cup of coffee and then called her grandmother.
Viv took the news of the accident somewhat similarly to George, but she calmed down when Callie explained that she seemed to be unharmed.
“Of course I’ll drive you, dear. And I’ll take Koukla to the vet while you’re at work. You’ve been through enough.”
“No, no, Grandma. I can take her.”
“Nonsense. I’ll take her and Olivia will help me.”
“Olivia’s going to a friend’s house later.”
“Oh that’s right. Well, I’ll just ask Sweetie. She’s at loose ends if what she said last night is any indication.”
“Grandma, you’re the best. Thank you! But dinner is on me – I told Olivia to pick up some food when you drop me off.”
* * *
Viv showed up in her champagne-colored SUV ahead of schedule and Callie packed both her daughter and dog in the car. She shuddered as she remembered the last time she’d strapped Koukla’s kennel into the car – she was sincerely relieved that the dog seemed unhurt but would feel even better with a clean bill of health from the vet. Bless Viv’s heart for taking care of that appointment.
The trio – well, quartet, if you counted Koukla – enjoyed each other’s company on the way to work, and Callie was able to forget the unsettling events of the previous evening. And for once, Viv didn’t mention the murder. Callie’s grandmother stayed in the warm car with Koukla, while Olivia ran into Callie’s Kitchen with her mother in search of a ready-to-eat dinner. She finally settled on Callie’s special five-cheese mac-and-cheese – the top was sprinkled with a little feta – and a Greek salad. Some giant-sized chocolate chip cookies rounded out the kid-friendly meal.
Olivia kissed her mother goodbye. “Be good for Grandma. And don’t forget to mind your manners at your friend’s house.”
“I know. Please and thank you!”
“You got it.” She watched Olivia skip out into the snow with her goodies and then turned to her work for the day.
Max wasn’t in until later, so Callie served some customers and then got to work on a few of her most pressing baking tasks. Gingerbread cookies and gingerbread cake dripping with a thick, lemony white icing were two of her best-sellers at Christmas, so she decided to get to work on the cookie dough first, before baking the cake.
The sweet, spicy and buttery smells of gingerbread baking permeated her shop within the next half an hour. Bit by bit, Garden Street’s holiday shoppers were drawn in by the delicious smells and soon Callie’s Kitchen was filled with people buying baked goods and choosing lunches and meals to take home.
With the soft sound of holiday music playing in the background, the cheerful sounds of a busy cash register and the soft, happy buzz of conversation all around her, C
allie felt like she was witnessing an example of a Christmas miracle. A few months ago, when her business was in danger of being shut down, she couldn’t have imagined this scene. Maybe people were still stress-eating or following the herd instinct, in search of comfort or at least, comfort food. However, at least for this brief time, it didn’t appear that Natalie’s unsolved murder was a topic of conversation inside of her shop and for that, Callie was exceedingly grateful.
Filled with a little bit of renewed Christmas cheer, Callie was only slightly startled to see Melody Cartwright and Kayla walk in. Both of them were bundled from head to toe in the bulky outerwear required by the cold and snow. She waited as they stomped off their boots and unwound their scarves, which were pulled up well over their faces in the bitter cold.
“Hi there,” Callie greeted them. “It’s nice to see you both. What can I do for you today?”
“Kayla and I bumped into each other while Christmas shopping, so I thought it would be nice to talk about what you could serve at my book launch.” Melody’s cheeks were pink and her eyes sparkled as she talked about her upcoming book.
Christmas shopping. Callie felt a pang of guilt. She hadn’t even started her shopping yet and had absolutely no clue what to buy for Sands. It had to be just right – not too sappy and yet, not too casual. Though with the way he was behaving recently, she wondered if he would welcome a gift from her.
“Sounds good,” she told Melody, tearing her thoughts away from her personal problems. “Do you have an advanced copy of your book with you? I’m happy to make any of the recipes in it – and as a bonus, I’ll offer one or two Callie’s Kitchen specialties.”
“As a matter of fact, I do,” Melody answered, handing Callie a thin book with a glossy cover. It read “Teatime with Melody: A Guide to a Harmonious Tea Party.” Catchy. Pictured on the cover was a stunning photo of Melody in a pink sweater and pearls, seated at a beautiful table filled with tea pots, tea accessories, little sandwiches, cookies and cakes.