“You’re right, Burt. I’ve learned that over the years, too,” Kelly said as various faces danced through her memory. “I remember the first time I met Jayleen. I was in Bellevue Canyon with Jennifer, and we were at Vickie Claymore’s ranch. She’d been murdered a few days before, and there were no clues as to who could have done it. Then this other woman roars up the hill in her pickup truck, jumps out, and stalks over to Jennifer and me and starts cussing a blue streak, as Aunt Helen would say.” Kelly laughed. “That was my introduction to Jayleen Swinson.”
Burt guffawed. “That is one hundred percent undiluted Jayleen,” he said when he could speak. He flipped through his notepad again. “Bridget’s brother, William, doesn’t live in Colorado anymore, she said. He moved away years ago. He lives in Wyoming now and drives down to visit her every couple of months and more in the fall for bird hunting. She gave him the handgun a few weeks ago when he last visited, along with all the paperwork on the purchase. She said she bought it from one of the firearms dealers on Mulberry Street before you get to the interstate. She can’t remember the name.”
“Well, there are several firearms vendors out there, along with lots of other stores and small strip malls,” Kelly said, picturing that stretch of the commercial street right before the main north-south interstate bisected the road. “Colorado has gained a ton of new residents since I moved here years ago.”
“That’s for sure,” Burt continued. “Changing the subject back to Julie, the only detail that’s still missing in Julie’s suicide death is where she got the gun. Somehow, I can’t picture Julie going into a sporting goods store and trying out handguns. So I’m betting she bought it at one of those large sportsmen exhibitions that come around every six months. Those shows are filled with hunters and sportsmen of all kinds plus families who love to go camping and enjoy outdoor recreation. Rifles, shotguns, and handguns are sold right alongside camping equipment and outdoor cookstoves at those big exhibitions.”
“Yes, I remember . . .” Kelly said, recalling the various outdoors and hunting shows she’d attended in Northern Colorado over the years. “That makes much more sense. Julie wouldn’t hesitate to go to one of those shows. They’re family oriented.” Another thought occurred to Kelly. “Do those shows keep the same kind of records regular stores that sell guns and rifles do?”
“Oh yes, they’re required to by law. There’s a receipt of purchase with each sale, and one copy goes to the state, one to the customer, and one to the vendor.”
“Well, that makes it easier. Has Dan checked the state records yet?”
Burt nodded. “Yes, and there’s no record of a nine millimeter handgun being sold these last six months. That was the first segment of records Dan reviewed, and that means either the gun was sold earlier than six months ago, which means Dan will have to go through a heck of a lot more records.”
Kelly screwed up her face. “That will be tedious work for sure.”
“Yes, it will be, and Dan certainly doesn’t have spare time to spend checking old computer files. But there is another possibility.”
“What’s that?”
“It could be that the gun show vendor simply hasn’t filed the paperwork yet on his firearms sales these last six months.” Burt gave a little shrug. “We’ll simply have to wait and see.”
Nineteen
The following Monday morning
“Everything’s looking good so far on these monthly reports, Arthur,” Kelly said to her longtime client on the phone. “Of course, if you’ve got a surprise purchase in store, then I’ll have to revise my statement.”
Arthur Housemann chuckled. “No, no surprise purchases this month, Kelly. But you know, when you say things like that, it gives me ideas.”
“Yes, I know that well, Arthur. So just keep me apprised so I won’t be too surprised.” She deliberately emphasized the last word, knowing it would amuse Housemann since it was a rhyme.
“Oh Lord, you win, Kelly. I have no quick retort to your rhyme,” he said with a laugh again.
“I lucked out this time,” Kelly teased. “I’ll email these reports right away. Let me know if you have any questions.”
“Will do, Kelly. Take care.” His phone line clicked off.
Kelly relaxed into the café patio chair and glanced up at the clear blue sky above. Colorado Blue, Kelly called it. She reached for her large mug of iced coffee and drank deeply. She’d need more caffeine to stay on task with the accounts when there was so much natural beauty tempting her to enjoy.
She’d just started entering expenses into the many accounting spreadsheet columns on her laptop screen when she glimpsed Burt walking her way along the curving flagstone path in the café garden.
“Hey, Kelly. Is this a good time for you to take a break from all those numbers?” Burt asked as he approached closer.
“For you, Burt, always.” Kelly gave him a big smile. “Besides, I secretly love distractions when I’m working outside.”
“Good, because I’ve got one for you.” He pulled out the patio chair across the table from Kelly and sank into it.
“I got a phone message this morning from Dan. Police finally have a copy of the vendor receipt for the gun purchase at the Outdoor and Sportsmen Show. I wasn’t able to actually talk to Dan himself, because he’s busy with an active case. But his message said he’d call me after they’ve run the information through all their records, now that they’ve finally gotten registration info on the gun itself.”
“Okay, keep me posted,” Kelly said. “I can’t imagine there’s going to be anything weird turning up.”
“You never know, Kelly. Sometimes a pistol has had multiple owners,” Burt said.
Kelly pondered that for a few seconds. “It makes you wonder how many owners might not be legal. Maybe they didn’t buy it from a licensed firearms dealer, and what if they used the gun in a crime? Like robbery, for example.”
“Well, in that case, the gun would be out of circulation entirely, because it would be part of a crime scene and it would be confiscated. So it would not even be available to the general population.”
“I figured that,” Kelly ventured. “But I wanted to check. I know I can run anything past you, Burt.”
“You sure can, Kelly, and I will definitely let you know when I hear anything from Dan.”
* * *
• • •
“I see the darker clouds chased you inside,” Jennifer said as Kelly walked into the café and claimed her favorite small table in the back of the alcove.
“Yes, it’s been a daily occurrence lately. The sky changed from blue to gray in a minute, and I spotted an angry-looking dark cloud coming over the mountains.”
“How can a cloud look angry?” Candace asked as she poured iced coffee into a glass.
“That’s a good question,” Jennifer said with a smile. “Kelly can be relied upon to come up with strange ideas for the rest of us to figure out. Isn’t that right, Eduardo?”
Eduardo glanced over his shoulder with a big smile. “You can bet on it, Jennifer. Crazy Kelly has a crazy mind.” Jennifer, Eduardo, and assistant grill cook Larry all laughed out loud at that.
“Okay, now I’m being ganged up on,” Kelly teased with a grin. “I just came inside to escape the coming showers, and now I have to put up with insults.”
“Awwwww, poor Kelly,” Jennifer teased as she started loading the full lunch plates from the top of the grill counter.
Just then, Larry turned from the grill where he was busily flipping grilled cheese sandwiches. “Hey, Jennifer, Pete told Eduardo and me that we’d be doing all the food for Cassie and Eric for their wedding celebration. That’s what Pete called it. A celebration. Pete told us everyone wanted grilled steak and seafood, and some salads.”
“That’s right. We’re keeping it simple,” Jennifer said.
“Great. I was just wondering if they w
ould like me to make a wedding cake, too. I love to decorate cakes. My mother was a baker in a specialty store, and she made great cakes.”
“Wow, Larry,” Jennifer said, eyes wide with surprise. “I’m sure Cassie and Eric would love a wedding cake. That’s sweet of you to ask.”
Larry beamed. “I just love cakes, that’s all.” Then he looked over at Eduardo. “Unless you want to make the cake, Eduardo. I don’t want to step on anybody’s toes here. I’m the new guy.”
Eduardo glanced over his shoulder with a grin. “No problem, Larry. I don’t have the patience to make cakes. Neither does Pete. That’s why he makes all those pies. So go to it. I am happiest at the grill.”
“Wow!” Larry exclaimed, clearly delighted. “Okay. I’ll start checking my mom’s old cookbooks. See what some of her favorites were. Jennifer, would you please ask Cassie and Eric what their preferred flavors are? Chocolate, strawberry, pineapple, lemon. Oh . . . and when are they scheduling the ceremony?”
Jennifer shifted the lunch plate–laden tray on her shoulder. “Well, we don’t exactly know when Cassie and Eric want to schedule it. But I’ll ask them. They’re both working Mondays through Fridays throughout the entire summer. Saving money like squirrels.”
“Hey, that’s one of Carl’s old sayings,” Kelly teased. Jennifer, Larry, and Eduardo all laughed.
“Both of them are working hard to save the money they’ll need for all those college expenses this coming school year,” Jennifer continued. “Tuition, fees, books, apartment rent, all that stuff, and they hope to have something left over for a long weekend honeymoon.”
A big smile formed on Larry’s thin face. “Wow . . . those two kids sure have good heads on their shoulders.”
“They sure do,” Eduardo said with a nod.
“And speaking of shoulders, let me deliver this load,” Jennifer said as she walked back into the main part of the café.
“What kids are we talking about?” Bridget asked as she walked toward the grill counter, coffeepot in hand.
“Cassie and Eric,” Larry answered as he peeled paper wrappings from perfectly formed hamburgers and placed them on the grill.
Kelly could smell the sizzle of grilling burgers. “Oh boy. There’s that deadly burger smell again. I’d better try one of those summer soups before I give in to Burger Temptation again.”
“We’ve got creamy tomato with Parmesan cheese,” Bridget said, glancing toward Kelly. “And garden vegetable soup. Which would you like?” She’d already picked up her order pad.
“Um, I think I’ll have that creamy tomato with Parmesan,” Kelly answered. “I know it’s a winter soup, but it’s my favorite all year round.”
“You know, I remember that was Julie’s favorite soup, too,” Larry said over his shoulder.
There was a slightly wistful tone in Larry’s voice, Kelly noticed. Then, from the corner of her eye, she caught Bridget look over at Larry with a harsh expression. For just a couple of seconds. It was so unexpected that Kelly took notice. To her surprise, Eduardo also glanced over at Bridget for a split second before returning his attention to the grill.
That’s curious, Kelly thought to herself, and she made a mental note to ask Eduardo about it. Kelly’s instinct had given her a jab, and she’d learned long ago to always pay attention to those little jabs. Her instinct had picked up on something.
“Bridget, your orders are up,” Eduardo said as he set several plates on the grill counter. “I think these are for the garden patio.”
“Thanks,” Bridget said as she started loading lunch plates on her tray. Once the tray was full, Bridget headed into the café.
Kelly didn’t waste a minute. She left her seat in the alcove and hurried over to the grill counter. “Eduardo, can I ask you a question?” she said as she leaned over the grill.
“Sure, Kelly. Anything,” Eduardo answered as he flipped melted grilled cheese sandwiches.
“I just noticed Bridget give Larry a really funny look a few minutes ago when he mentioned Julie, and I noticed you looking over at Bridget later in a funny way. Now, you know how I pick up on things. What’s going on?”
Larry glanced over at Kelly for a second, then back to the grill.
“Now Larry just gave me a look. What’s up with that?”
Larry turned to give Kelly a half smile. “Kelly doesn’t miss much, does she, Eduardo?”
Eduardo gave a sigh. “No. Kelly doesn’t miss a thing.”
“Okay, that sounds like there was something going on between Bridget and Julie. What was it?”
“All I can tell you, Kelly, is Bridget didn’t like Julie. She was always sharp with her. Even though Julie had been working here longer.”
“Sharp with Julie? But why?” Kelly asked. “Julie was a sweet soul. I never saw her argue with anyone. Did you see something, Larry?”
Larry flipped a couple of burgers before speaking. “Not inside the café, but I did see the two of them outside one morning when I’d gotten here early.” Larry paused and pressed on the sizzling hamburgers. “I saw Bridget standing over by Julie’s car, and it sounded like she was yelling at Julie. Julie was just sitting there, not saying anything. I ignored it and started prepping the grill.”
Eduardo didn’t say a word, Kelly noticed. He kept his attention fixed on the grilled cheese sandwiches. Kelly watched the cheese melt into golden yellow as Eduardo’s spatula tended them. Finally, Kelly had to ask.
“Eduardo, do you have any idea why Bridget would be yelling at Julie early one morning?”
Eduardo let out another long sigh as he tended the sandwiches. “Maybe,” he said at last. “But don’t let Bridget know I told you, okay?”
“Sure, Eduardo. I promise,” Kelly answered, surprised by his request.
Eduardo scanned the café then turned to Kelly. “The guy that Julie was dating and planned to marry was Andy, and he had dated Bridget the year before he met Julie. But he left Bridget as soon as he met Julie. Apparently, Bridget never got over Andy leaving her. Especially since she knew Julie from school. I only know all this because I was standing right there when Julie told Jennifer one morning.”
“Wow,” Larry said as he glanced over at Eduardo. “That sounds like one of those TV dramas.”
“Yeah, it does,” Kelly had to admit. Then she spotted Bridget enter the café again, empty tray in hand. “Here comes Bridget.” Raising her voice, Kelly said, “Tell me where the coffeepot is and I’ll pour it myself. Today is requiring more caffeine than usual.”
“I’ve got it,” Candace announced as she walked up to the counter. “I’ll bring it right over.”
“Thanks a bunch, Candace,” Kelly said as she scurried back to her alcove table.
Candace walked over with a full pot of black coffee. Eduardo’s Black Gold. Kelly figured she wasn’t kidding when she’d said this morning required more caffeine than usual.
She slipped her cell phone out of her bag and scrolled down the directory to Burt’s name and number and clicked on it. After listening to several rings and then hearing Burt’s recorded voice come on, Kelly lowered her own voice and left a message asking Burt to call her.
Just then, two more customers walked into the alcove section of the café. That reminded Kelly that she needed to return to her accounting spreadsheets. Plus, those spreadsheets would also distract her from waiting for Burt to call.
“Bridget, your soup order is up,” Larry called out as he placed a plate with a large soup bowl on top.
Perfect timing, Kelly thought, as her stomach growled. Her breakfast had been lighter than usual. All thoughts of waiting spreadsheets were chased away by more immediate concerns like food.
Bridget walked over to her table. “Here you go, Kelly. Let me know if there’s anything else you want,” she said as she set the plate in front of Kelly.
“Will do, Bridget. Thanks a lot,” K
elly said, sniffing the delectable soup aroma wafting up from the bowl. She tasted it and savored, treating herself to one of the café’s specialties. After several minutes of tasting and savoring, Kelly finished off the soup then looked up to see Lisa enter the café from the corridor.
Lisa’s face lit up with a smile. “Hi, Kelly. I was hoping I’d see you.”
“Hey there, Lisa,” Kelly said, pushing the empty soup bowl aside. “You are looking good, girl. Much better than the last time we saw each other, I might add.” She gestured for Lisa to sit down.
“Well, I have to admit that I really do feel a whole lot better. I’m sleeping better, too. Of course, Greg is still plying me with all sorts of delicious food.” She laughed softly. “And ice cream, of course. He’s such a sweetie.”
“Better not let him hear you call him that,” Kelly teased. “Greg cultivates that tough-guy image. Plus, it’s a perfect foil for Marty.”
“You’re right. We’ll be sure not to say it anywhere near the two of them.”
Both Kelly and Lisa laughed, picturing Marty and Greg.
Twenty
“Are we going to have the Gang at our house tonight?” Steve asked as he stood beside the kitchen counter.
Kelly nodded then took a big drink of hot coffee. Caffeine. She needed caffeine. Her brain wasn’t completely awake yet this morning.
“Yes. I’ve already checked, and Eric and Cassie will be on duty at Megan and Marty’s by six forty-five tonight,” Kelly said. “So you can drop Jack off with them then hustle back here. I’ll be slicing the pizzas and will need your help. Marty won’t even wait for us to say ‘chow time’ before grabbing two or three slices.”
“You’d think both Cassie and Eric would be tired of seeing the kids all week and then on a Saturday night, too,” Steve said, staring into the kitchen.
Dyeing Up Loose Ends Page 18