by C Farren
“She faked being ill to get her son to go home?” Keegan asked.
“Possibly,” said Wren. “Maybe.”
Keegan’s cellphone rang. He sighed and answered it. He listened for twenty seconds or more before hanging up. He sighed in annoyance.
“That was Chelsea,” said Keegan. “She wants me to arrest Lenny.”
“She’s persistent, I’ll give her that,” said Wren.
“I have no reason to arrest him, though it would be nice to talk to him again.”
She didn’t know what to say to him. Keegan and Lenny had been ripped apart by tragic circumstance, but there was always the possibility that a happy ending awaited them anyway. Right?
I think Keegan needs an angel more than I do at the moment.
“What do you still feel for him?” Wren asked bluntly.
“I love him,” Keegan admitted.
“Then you have to be with him. There’s no other answer.”
“So much has happened. We’re both so different now. It couldn’t possibly work.”
“You’ll never know if you don’t at least try. Do you really want to end up as a lonely old spinster like me?”
He grinned and said, “You’re not going to end up as a spinster.”
Wren couldn’t disagree with him more. She already was a spinster. No amount of bad dates and flirting with pansexual drag queens would change that. She’d had the love of her life and it had ended in catastrophe. There wasn’t anything more for her.
Then why is thinking about Benedict making me feel... happy?
“I better get into work before dad phones me up to complain,” said Keegan, standing up. “And you have your work to do.”
She nodded, knowing exactly what she had to do. A member of Delia’s family had murdered her. She only had to find out which one.
FIONA WAS WAITING FOR Wren in the Metropolitan when she arrived. The angel was sweeping up plaster dust left behind from Bill’s wall smashing job yesterday. She was whistling some old-time tune and seemed inordinately happy. She was wearing a hat she’d made from the white napkins they had in the place.
I thought we’d run out of napkins?
“Why are you so jolly?” Wren asked. She wasn’t trying to be sarcastic, she was just curious.
“It’s just the season, that’s all,” said Fiona. “A time for miracles, a time for mince pies, a time for giving.” She did a little dance, moving the sweeping brush around like a dance partner. “A time for not being grumpy.”
Wren watched Gracie enter from the back room. She ran over to her, rubbed around her legs, and then jumped on the counter. She was asleep within minutes.
“Wasn’t Great-Grandfather Jewish?” said Wren.
“I converted to Judaism, yes, but we still celebrated Christmas,” Fiona explained. “We also celebrated Hanukkah as well, though Joe wasn’t very religious by any means. It was a very busy December.”
Fiona didn’t talk about her great-grandfather much, and she preferred not to pry. There were some issues there.
“Grandpa Harold married Wilma, who was agnostic,” Wren told her. “I think that was the end of our family’s Jewish traditions.”
Fiona looked desolate for a moment. Wren wanted to hug her, but knew she needed this time for herself.
“He died in his sleep,” said Wren. “It was very peaceful. There wasn’t any pain.”
“I sometimes visit his grave.” Fiona continued sweeping. “But I try not to think too much about him. I’m not sure I could cope.” She stopped and looked at Wren. “One day I’m going to ask for the full story.”
“I’ll tell you everything.”
An hour later Uncle Camden came into the coffee shop. He had Aunt Jenny and Reba with him. The two women were carrying various shopping bags and were bundled up in faux fur coats to keep out the winter chill.
“Any chance you could make us some black coffees?” Reba asked.
“Sure thing,” said Wren. “Sit down.”
They sat down at a table. Fiona watched them carefully, giving them the occasional smile, as Wren brewed the coffee. She could only make black coffees for now. There was no point in buying milk until the day she opened properly. It would only go to waste.
“How’s the head?” Fiona asked casually, still sweeping.
“It’s still very sore, but healing very nicely,” Camden answered.
“The doctors say it’s a miracle,” Reba said. “Maybe Dad has super healing powers and nobody knew it? I would’ve stayed in Hawaii if I knew he was going to be okay.”
Jenny looked sour as she said, “It’s nothing to be amused about. Your father almost died.”
Wren wanted to tell her to shut up. Trust Aunt Jenny not to see the light side of all this. Her husband had survived a serious brain injury and was now healing perfectly. She should be overjoyed. Then again, Wren supposed she had a right to be grumpy. Who wouldn’t be a little upset if their husband had almost died?
Wren served the coffee, working around Gracie, who stretched out on the counter. She was getting in the way and no matter how many times she was told to move the cat stayed where she was.
“Am I going to have to lock you in the house?” Wren demanded.
Gracie pawed at her playfully and meowed.
“There better not be cat hairs in my coffee,” Jenny complained.
Wren gritted her teeth and brought her aunt and uncle their coffees. Reba was busy with Fiona, inspecting the newly revealed stage area. Her cousin seemed very excited.
“I do stand-up occasionally in the city,” said Reba. “I could do a routine if you want.”
“People actually think you’re funny?” said Wren.
“I have a dry sense of humor that some people appreciate.”
Wren nodded, agreeing with her. “You’re on. You’ll be my first act when I’ve finished sorting this place out.”
Jenny groaned and took a sip of her coffee. Wren suspected this was a sore subject between mother and daughter. She didn’t want to interfere, but Reba seemed happy.
“Did any of you go to Delia’s memorial service yesterday?” Wren asked.
Jenny and Camden looked at each other, and then back at Wren.
“It was family only,” said Camden. “We didn’t want to intrude.”
“Since when were you two not family?” Reba demanded. “You’ve been friends with Delia your whole life. You almost married the woman, Dad.”
Jenny said grumpily, “We just didn’t feel like going.”
Something was going on here other than Camden’s brush with death. Jenny would never open up, she wasn’t the type. Her uncle, however, was a different matter entirely. He loved to talk, especially when he was having trouble with his wife.
“Uncle Camden, can you have a quick look at the books for me?” Wren asked. “I want your expert eye. I know you’re a math whiz.”
Camden grinned. He liked being helpful. “Sure thing.”
“They’re in the back office,” said Wren. Jenny gave her a disgruntled look. “We won’t be long Aunt Jenny.”
She led her uncle into the back room. When the door was shut behind them Wren went in for the kill.
“What’s really going on?” Wren demanded.
“What do you mean?” Camden asked. “Where are the books?”
“I lied about that. You know I’m perfectly good with math. Something happened between you and Aunt Jenny and the Rickards and it has nothing to do with your almost marriage to Delia the Delightful.”
Camden shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Wren sat on the edge of the desk and crossed her arms. She could be very demanding when she wanted to be.
“Are you investigating her murder?” Camden inquired.
Wren nodded. “Lenny asked me.”
“Then you’re not going to give in until I tell you, are you?”
Wren shook her head.
Camden sighed and sat down. “It’s not a long story, not really
. Something happened a week ago when I was trying on Wick’s Santa Claus costume at Delia’s house.” He started to blush. “She tried to kiss me.”
Wren hadn’t been expecting this.
Are all the old folk in this town getting it on?
“What did you do?” Wren asked.
“I rebuffed her of course!” Camden exclaimed. “I love Jenny. I’ve never loved anybody else but Jenny. I take my wedding vows very seriously.”
“You didn’t do anything to lead her on?”
“She was like a wild animal. One moment I was putting on my fake beard and the next she had her hand on my crotch and her lips on my nose. I felt violated. When I pushed her away, she went insane and told me she was going to tell everyone that I tried it on with her, that I was still in love with her after all this time.” He grimaced. “As if. I got away from that creature once. I’d never go back.”
“This is getting a lot more serious than a simple kiss. What else happened?”
Gracie was clawing at the door, trying to get in. Wren became concerned now. The cat was following her everywhere. Was something wrong with her?
“She said if I didn’t give her five thousand dollars then she’d ruin my marriage and my reputation in the town.” Camden seemed distraught now. He was pulling at his hair, an affectation she’d seen both her father and Fiona do. It was very annoying. “I had to give her what she wanted, but then Jenny caught me trying to transfer money from our bank account, and so I told her the truth.”
“And Jenny beat Delia up?” said Wren, hoping it was true.
He shook his head. “She marched off to see Delia, and I went with her. They had a sort of fight, but Delia wasn’t swayed. We had to pay her.”
Wren suddenly wished she’d never asked. Now both her aunt and uncle had a motive for killing Delia. She couldn’t see either one of them stabbing her, but it was a possibility she had to look into. Nobody was off limits.
“We didn’t kill her,” Camden insisted.
“I trust you,” Wren assured him. “But you’ve got to know how this looks. You and Aunt Jenny both have a motive now.”
“On the day of the crash she acted like nothing was wrong between us,” said Camden. That seemed to annoy him. “I’m surprised Jenny didn’t punch her. I wouldn’t’ve blamed her if she did.” Wren was about to open her mouth when he added, “Jenny isn’t a murderer either. You know her better than that.”
Wren nodded. While she didn’t think she knew Aunt Jenny all that well, despite living in the same town together all their lives, she knew her well enough to know she couldn’t kill in cold blood. Jenny was icy, yes, but she could be caring too. She loved her family.
Did she love her family enough to murder someone?
“Do the police know any of this?” Wren asked.
“No,” said Camden. “I’d like it if you could keep this between us.”
“Are you sure? Maybe Sheriff Fisher could get you your money back.”
“Jenny and I don’t want the town knowing our business.”
She smiled and kissed her uncle on the cheek. “Fine. I promise.”
Breaking a promise would mean betraying her uncle, but Wren knew that one day she might have to inform Sheriff Fisher of the blackmail. She only hoped her uncle would do the decent thing and tell him first.
Chapter 13
Ever since Fiona had set her eyes on Bill the previous day, she hadn’t been able to get him out of her mind. She even found herself thinking of him when she went to the bathroom. It was silly. He wasn’t that attractive, just a little handsome, a little rugged. Sure, he had a nice fluffy beard. It would probably be really silky if she were to run her fingers through it. Maybe he had nice eyes, like emeralds. She supposed his smile was cute.
He's too tall. I got neck ache just looking into his eyes.
She blushed and sat down. She realized she’d been sweeping the same spot for almost five minutes while she thought about Bill. That was unlike her. She didn’t daydream or lollygaggle. She didn’t go stir crazy over a man.
“You have the look of someone in lust,” Reba commented.
Camden and Wren were in the back talking. Fiona knew she’d taken him away from Jenny’s watchful gaze so she could interrogate him.
“I don’t do lust,” said Fiona. “My late husband was the love of my life and that’s how it’s going to stay.”
“I thought your husband ran off to become a monk?” Jenny asked.
Damn! I forgot about the lie we’d told everyone.
“It feels like he’s dead,” said Fiona. “And I still love him.”
“Is there any chance he might come back?” probed Reba.
Fiona looked down at her hand, at the finger where her wedding ring used to be. There wasn’t even a tan line to show it had even been there. When she’d become an angel all her old scars had vanished. She’d loved the tiny little scar she had on her left calf. It reminded her of the time she’d fallen off her bike and her father had comforted her. He hadn’t been a very emotional man, but seeing his daughter crying and in pain had brought something out in him. That was the day she knew her father loved her despite his drinking and his physical abuse of her mother. He later died of the Spanish flu. She still missed him.
“I wish I could be so smitten,” Reba admitted. “I find it hard to connect with anyone. Why do you think I eventually decided to have my twins by artificial insemination?”
Fiona looked at her blankly. She had no idea what that meant.
“She bought some sperm from a shop,” added Jenny dryly.
Reba stared daggers at her mother. “You love the twins. Stop being weird.”
Fiona almost choked on her own saliva. She’d never heard anything so odd in all her life, and she’d seen two angels fighting over who owned a dodo while flying over Golden. Why would anyone buy sperm? Who was the original donor? Why did they donate their seed in the first place? How did any of this even work?
The modern world is so strange.
“What if he asks me out?” Fiona asked them. “What should I say?”
“What do you want to say?” said Reba.
Fiona didn’t know. She wanted to say yes. She knew she should say yes. But it would dishonor her husband. She would have to lie to Bill. She could never tell him what she really was. And how could she have a relationship with someone built entirely on a lie? It wasn’t fair on him.
“You think too much,” Jenny complained. “Stop thinking and just do something. You’ll feel better that way.”
It wouldn’t hurt to just have a little fun, would it? She didn’t have to fall in love with Bill. They could go on a few dates, have some nice meals, go to the cinema. It didn’t have to be anything serious.
But eventually I’ll have to leave, and I’ll break his heart.
She couldn’t do it to him. Bill seemed like a decent man. She couldn’t break him.
Camden and Fiona came back in, Gracie the cat hot on their heels. Fiona breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t fancy talking about her love life a moment longer.
“Why is your cat following you everywhere?” Jenny asked.
Reba smiled. “Do you remember when our old cat, Pusster, used to follow you around like that? She was pregnant.”
Fiona stopped dead and looked down at the cat.
“She is getting a bit podgy,” Wren commented.
“Has she been spayed?” Reba asked.
Wren picked up Gracie and said, “No. She hasn’t been spayed.”
Fiona didn’t know where to look.
Chapter 14
Gracie was the perfect angel as Everett gave her the once over. She didn’t even make a noise when he inspected her bottom. This wasn’t like her. She hated going to the vets. The last time they’d been here she drew blood from Everett’s arm.
“Is she okay?” Wren asked, desperate for information. “Is she dying?”
Everett smiled and started pulling his rubber gloves off. “She’s perfectly fine. I’d s
ay she’s about thirty days pregnant, about half way through. I want to give her an ultrasound to make sure.”
“I should’ve had her spayed,” said Wren. “It’s just the thought of denying her the ability to have children made me feel like a monster.”
Everett nodded, but she could tell he thought she was an idiot. He didn’t understand. How could Wren deny another living being the ability to give life when she’d had it taken from her?
“I thought you’d be taking some time off,” said Wren. Everett was sitting at his desk, typing Gracie’s details into a computer. “I would’ve.”
“I like to work,” said Everett, gaze on the computer monitor.
There was a woman’s coat on the back of his chair. She was sure she’d seen that coat somewhere before. It certainly didn’t belong to his wife.
“Do you know what’s being done about the toy store?” asked Wren.
“They’re going to demolish the rest of the building,” Everett explained. “I think I’ll rebuild after that and turn it into something my mother hated, a weed dispensary or something.” He laughed bitterly. “She’d hate that.”
He didn’t say it jokingly. He sounded like he really wanted to stomp on his mother’s legacy. Things must have been really bad between them.
“There,” Everett declared, standing up. “I’ve updated Gracie’s details. I’ve booked her in for tomorrow morning to have an ultrasound.”
Wren watched as Gracie made her own way back into her cat basket. She’d never done that before. Pregnancy must be making her behave.
“What did your mother do that made you hate her so much?” Wren asked.
He studied her for a moment before replying. “That woman ruined my life. I’m glad she’s dead. I just wish her precious toy store had crushed her instead.” He watched her with amusement as she digested this. “I didn’t kill her. I thought about it quite often, especially lately after her last heinous act, but someone got to her first. I congratulate that person. Now my mother can go back to where she belongs; Hell.”