by Lynn Cahoon
He polished off the dip before he answered. “Apparently only when you apply for a job. He missed the mandatory testing that’s now in place for bank managers when they promote. The man was a smart player. Probably why he stayed at the smaller bank instead of trying to advance. He didn’t want to risk being tested now.”
I thought about what Greg had told me as our chowders arrived. After taking my first spoonful, I asked, “So he took it to have better sex?”
Greg’s grin widened. “I wondered if you caught that. Sherry was all about the wild sex she and Kent were having. She let a few tidbits slip out the last time we talked.”
Sherry. It always came back to her. “Trying to make you jealous?”
He shrugged. “I guess so. I told her you used to be a gymnast.”
That made me laugh. “You didn’t.”
He held his hand up in the air. “Swear to God, I did.” Greg chuckled. “She suddenly had to be somewhere else.”
“You are so bad.” The closest thing I’d ever done that remotely resembled gymnastics was a section in ninth grade P.E. And I was pretty sure I only passed the test because the teacher knew I was trying. My mother used to call me Grace, not because it was my middle name, but because I was klutzy.
“She deserved it.” Greg dug in to his dinner. “I get tired of her dogging on you all the time. Just because you and her are night and day, doesn’t mean she’s the better choice.”
My lips curved into a smile, and I mentally blessed Greg for standing up for me. Then his words echoed in my head. “Wait, she dogs me? What, does she think she’s all that?”
He patted my hand. “I knew that would get you riled up. Sherry just doesn’t understand why anyone, especially me, would choose you instead of her.” He pulled my hand to his lips. “But she doesn’t have to understand. I love you and that’s the only important thing you need to remember.”
“You can be smooth, Mr. King.” I paused, considering telling him about Kent and his kissing partner. In the end, I decided I didn’t want to make him think about the case. That bit of information could wait. The rest of the meal we talked about our upcoming trip to Napa Valley. The weekend at the end of April would be our first getaway together as a couple. Justin and Amy had raved about the bed-and-breakfast they’d stayed at last fall, showing us the hundreds of pictures they’d taken as they explored the wine country. Topping their experience would be hard, but Greg and I were willing to give it the college try.
After dinner, he drove us over to Bakerstown Funeral Home, where the county coroner, Doc Ames, had his office so he could keep an eye on his business even while he performed the random autopsies required in our quiet area. When we pulled into the parking lot, two women stood at the front door, a harried Doc Ames standing in the middle. I could hear the shouting through the closed windows and over Toby Keith on the stereo.
Greg leaned forward as he parked the truck and turned off the engine. “What the hell?”
“Is that Sherry?” I couldn’t believe the woman was even intruding on our minidate. What would she be doing at the funeral home? Unless she was there about Kent. But who was she yelling at?
I watched Sherry poke the other woman with a long red fingernail. The woman grabbed her hand and twisted. I felt rather than saw Greg jump out of the truck. A rush of wind as Superhero King ran to save his ex-wife. That’s not fair, I chided myself. He was a police officer and this was a disturbance. Besides, Doc Ames looked terrified. I could see his mouth moving as he tried to calm the two down. He had a very soothing manner, but I guess Sherry and the other woman didn’t want to be soothed. I unbuckled my seat belt and followed Greg to the circus.
By the time I got there, Greg had Sherry with her arms trapped behind her. Doc Ames held the other woman by one arm, and they had increased the distance between the two to avoid accidental physical contact. Or well-placed kick. I couldn’t help it. I pulled out my cell and snapped a picture. Darla would love this.
“Jill, stop it.” Greg’s voice was firm.
I slipped the phone back into my pocket. “Sorry, too good to pass up.”
Sherry’s burning gaze moved from her original target to me. “If you even consider showing that to anyone, I’ll sue you.”
“I’m scared,” I muttered. I wanted to pull out my cell, snap a photo of the crazed look on the woman’s face, and post it to the Business-to-Business webpage. I could title the post, “See our newest shop owner in her customer service finest.” I pushed the demon inside me away, but I was sure it wasn’t gone.
“Jill? Do you want to wait in the truck?” Greg gave me the look, the one that asked, Why are you stooping to her level?
Sherry smirked and relaxed her body into Greg’s, just so I could see her wielding her physical prowess. I wanted to smack her and my hands weren’t being held back by either of the two men. I took a deep breath and called on my better side to stop me. I wasn’t sure it would work, but I knew I didn’t want to be banished to the truck.
“That woman has no right to be here. She wasn’t married to Kent,” the unnamed woman shrieked at Doc Ames. “This is a family matter.”
Sherry’s eyes widened and I saw her jolt forward, forgetting that Greg was holding her back. “You weren’t married to him anymore. He never even talked about you.”
“Idiot. He told me all about you and the game he was playing on you. Have you checked your business account lately? Or do you really think your investments are doing that well, just because Kent said so?” The woman’s voice was ice-cold. Which made me shiver, her words taking on a seriousness that made me worry about Sherry, just a bit. Then she opened her mouth again.
“Kent wouldn’t do that. He loved me,” Sherry screeched. She turned her head and pleaded to Greg, “Make her go away. She shouldn’t be here.”
“Sherry, you need to go home. Let me figure this out with Doc Ames and I’ll call you when we’re done,” Greg said in his calming cop tone.
“You won’t tell her anything,” the other woman said. “This is my business, not hers.”
“Now Mrs. Paine, please calm down and come inside with me. We’ll talk about Mr. Paine’s wishes and see if we can work out some sort of compromise.” Doc Ames gently pulled the woman closer to the front door and away from Sherry.
“I know his wishes,” Sherry yelled. “You should be talking to me, not her.”
As Doc Ames and the woman, now identified as at least a sometime Mrs. Paine, disappeared into the home, Sherry actually snorted.
Greg released her arms and pointed to the pink Mercedes sports car sitting in the parking lot. “I’m serious, Sherry, go home.”
Sherry straightened her Chanel suit and glared at me. “I don’t know what you’re doing here. You always seem to be where you’re not wanted.”
“Sherry,” Greg warned.
She fluffed her long blond hair and actually purred at Greg. “I’ll be waiting for your call.” Then, as she passed by me, she whispered, “Don’t think you’re going to keep him. He’ll always come home.”
My eyes widened, and I glanced at Greg, who just shook his head.
He came and stood by me as we watched her drive away. “Typical Sherry, can’t just leave, has to leave a wake of destruction in her path. You okay?”
“I’m fine. She doesn’t get to me,” I lied. I still wanted to slap the chick silly, but at least Greg had stood up for me. Now I was more curious about the woman inside. I nodded to the building. “Did you know Kent was married?”
“Divorced. But I haven’t been able to reach her for questioning.” He looked thoughtfully at the door. “I guess this afternoon is as good of a time as any.”
“I’ll come in with you. After that, I could use a cold drink.” I held the door open for Greg, who stood watching me. “What, did you really think that I was going to go wait in the truck? Sherry might listen to you, but I’m my own woman.”
He chuckled. “Even when it gets you in trouble.” He didn’t even form it into a question,
just motioned me into the cool building. “But you aren’t coming in the office. You don’t need to be part of the investigation.”
Shrugging, I pulled a book out of my purse. “I came prepared. I never know where our excursions will wind up. So I brought reading material.” I’d actually been excited to read this last long-awaited installment in a popular paranormal series. My pre-orders for the book had been unbelievable. I’d tried to get an advance reading copy, but my sales rep hadn’t been able to hold one for me.
Even with all that built-up excitement to start reading, it took a while for me to settle into one of the plush couches in the Bakerstown Funeral Home’s front parlor. Especially since the opulent waiting area was right outside Doc Ames’s office. And surprisingly, the walls were pretty thin. I could hear Greg’s voice as he asked the woman questions, but most of the words were garbled. I did find out her first name was Cheryl. The name rang a distant bell. Had she visited the shop? I made an effort to call customers by their first name if I saw a driver’s license or a credit card, just to add that personal touch. But I didn’t remember seeing the woman before. So that couldn’t be it.
Finally I gave up trying to decipher the noise into any human language. I opened the cover of the book, put my feet up, and within pages, was returned to the world the author had built for me in the last installment. It felt like coming home. Or revisiting a favorite travel destination.
I didn’t notice the woman standing in front of me until she spoke.
“That woman’s trouble. She thinks she can wrap a man around her finger and use him for anything she wants. For a while, she wanted Kent, and now it looks like she’s out to get your man back in her claws. Don’t let her kill him, too.” Tears flowed down Cheryl Paine’s cheeks as she stared at me.
“You think Sherry killed Kent?” Cheryl’s words had surprised me, not because I liked Sherry, but because I didn’t think she’d stoop that low just to control the male of the species. Besides, what would be in it for her?
“I know she did. The woman thought she’d be named in Kent’s will, but he never removed me. I’m still the beneficiary, and there’s nothing she can do about it.”
With that declaration, Cheryl Paine marched out of the building, letting the door slam behind her.
“Sounds like motive to me.” Greg watched the door thoughtfully.
I tucked my book back in my bag, reluctant to leave the author’s world. I stepped toward Greg, “Yeah, but for which one? Cheryl or Sherry?”
He put his hand on my back and led me through the door and out into the sunshine. Time to return to South Cove. “Both.”
CHAPTER 10
Greg leaned on my porch railing, watching me unlock the front door. “I can get into the house all by myself.” I dug in another section of my purse for my key ring. “I’ve been doing it for years now.”
“How many times have I come over to unlock your door after a run this spring?” His voice was warm, comforting, and hearing him, I could just see the self-satisfied smirk flowing over his features. We rarely fought, not true smack down, hurt your feelings fights. But when we did, it was usually because one or more of us thought ours was the only way. Or we insisted on some sort of crazy superiority over something, like who was the better keeper of the keys. A contest Greg would always win. The man was a security fanatic.
I felt the teddy bear fob that was part of the key chain and pulled the mass of metal out of the bottom of my purse. I held it up for him to see. “I told you I would be fine.”
“Maybe I like to spend time with you?” His lips curved into a crooked smile, drawing me toward him. Then his phone rang and killed the moment.
Greg glanced at the display before answering the call. “Yes, Tim?”
I watched him as cop mode took over and he listened carefully to the deputy’s voice. I turned the key in the lock and left the door open so he could come in after he’d finished the call. Emma sniffed at my feet in greeting, then ran to the back door, ready to run the yard. As I passed through the living room, I glanced over at my sofa and saw the couch cushions were still intact. I poured a glass of iced tea and sat down at the table, my to-do notebook in hand. Time to plan the rest of my weekend. Jackie had my shift at the coffee shop tomorrow, so I had two whole days with nothing to do. I made a quick grocery list and was just finishing up when Greg appeared in the kitchen doorway. “You want steaks tomorrow evening, or should we order Chinese?”
He shook his head. “Let’s not plan anything definite. I’m not sure where this investigation with Kent’s going.” He held up the phone. “I’ve got to go meet with the bank auditors. They’re camped out in my office and won’t leave, according to Tim. I guess now is as good of time as any.”
“Do you know what they want to discuss?” I tapped my pen on the notebook. “Maybe someone from the bank killed Kent and they know why?”
Greg laughed. “Seriously, who do you think at the bank could be a murderer? John, the janitor? I guess he’s a possibility, he carries Mace, but he’s over seventy.”
“You don’t have to be so sarcastic. There’s a chance it was someone at the bank, okay, maybe not John, but one of the clerks. Kent was a horndog, maybe he scorned the wrong woman.” I chewed on my bottom lip. This was a most excellent train of thought. “Maybe the redhead killed him.”
His phone beeped with an incoming text, and as he read the message, I could see his attention shift. “Crap, I’ve got to get downtown.” He walked over and kissed me on the top of the head. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Tomorrow?” I squeezed his hand and then let it fall to his side. “If you’re coming for dinner, I’ll walk into town and get Sadie’s Chocolate Temptation Pie for dessert.”
“You are pure evil.” He waved, turning toward the driveway. I heard the truck start up and Emma whined at the door.
“I miss him, too, girl.” I let my dog in, and she settled near my feet while I finished my list of projects. That done, I made plans for a light dinner and refilled my glass of iced tea. Then I took the paperback out of my purse and Emma and I went out to the back porch to relax.
Later, I started working down my list of chores, feeling just a bit sorry for myself. It wasn’t like we always spent Saturdays together, but sometimes, I just wanted a little more. I’d just put a load in the washer when a knock sounded at the door. Maybe his meeting with the bank examiners had been shorter than expected. Of course, he’d only been gone an hour. The only way that was Greg at the door was if the meeting had been postponed and the auditors were already out of town. My luck didn’t run that good.
I pulled the door open without looking out the window to see who it was, a habit that drove Greg crazy. I kept explaining we lived in a small town. He kept saying I lived on the edge next to the heavily traveled Highway One. Anyone could be at the door. He had a point. One that I just ignored.
Emma whined at the visitor, Aunt Jackie. She and my dog had a love/hate relationship. Emma loved my aunt, my aunt claimed to hate my dog. Yet at times, I’d see her stroking Emma’s head.
Aunt Jackie was dressed in a coral pantsuit, pearls at the neck and sensible but cute walking shoes. She thrust a box from the shop into my hands. “White chocolate macadamia nut cookies. Sadie’s been experimenting.”
I opened the box, the smell of fresh baked cookies filling my senses. “Yum, did we buy some for the shop?”
“I told her to leave me a sample and I’d let her know next week.” Jackie smiled. “We have three dozen, which should sell nicely tomorrow.”
“Seriously, you have got to stop playing hardball with Sadie. She’s our primary dessert supplier. I’d hate to have to go into Bakerstown more often.” I followed my aunt into my kitchen, where she’d already started a pot of coffee. “Besides, she’s a friend.”
“Can’t let friendship affect business. Sadie knows what she’s doing. She’d be a fool to stop trying new things.” Jackie sat at the table, Emma lying quickly at her feet, her nose inches away from my
aunt’s shoes.
I decided I’d talk to Sadie next week and make sure she charged us for the “sample” when she did her weekly order. Changing the subject, I joined my aunt at the table, opening the box of cookies and offering her one. “So, what’s up?”
She waved away the box and watched as I took a cookie and set the box down in the middle of the table, within reaching distance. I thought I saw regret in her eyes as she eyed the box. “Just checking in. Rumor mill says that Kent was still married and that’s why Sherry killed him. Is that what Greg thinks?”
I brushed the cookie crumbs off my lips before I spoke. South Cove’s small-town rumor mill was where I got my best intel. Especially since my aunt was plugged in to the main source. I wondered not for the first time where she found out her gossip. Maybe Mary? More likely Josh; that man would do anything for my aunt, including asking the inappropriate questions.
“You know, there are two subjects that are taboo between Greg and me. One of them is open investigations. And the other is Sherry.” I polished off the cookie and thought about a second one, but got up to pour a couple of cups of coffee from the just-brewed pot instead. “I did meet the former Mrs. Paine this afternoon at the funeral home. She and Sherry were ready to kill each other, and would have if they’d had real weapons. I’m just glad neither one of them had guns.”
Aunt Jackie took the coffee and leaned forward. Her eyes sparkled. “What were they fighting about?”
I shuddered a bit. “Kent’s funeral arrangements.” I took a sip of the dark brew. “Can you imagine anyone wanting that chore?”
She stared at me hard. “It’s an honor, not a chore. You wouldn’t have let some stranger handle Miss Emily’s requests, would you?”
My friend had died less than a year ago, but for the first few days after her death, I’d hoped for someone, anyone, to take over the planning. I hadn’t wanted to make a mistake. Luckily, Sadie Michaels had stepped in, and with Doc Ames’s help, my friend had been sent off to her final resting place without a hitch. As long as you didn’t talk about the unfortunate will-reading incident. Or the fact that her relatives tried to kill me. Shaking those memories away, I put on a customer service smile. “I guess you’re right. But who does get the honor? Current girlfriend or ex-wife? Seems like a dilemma.”