by Sharon Pape
Jaye bit into the cake with a little groan of pleasure as powdered sugar eluded the napkin and rained down on her lap. “If we have to continue this stakeout much longer, I won’t be able to squeeze into any of my clothes.”
The dismissal bell rang while they were still eating, so they shoved the buns back in the bag, but not before the console of Daniel’s car received a good dusting of sugar. Ten minutes passed with no sign of Jeremy or Kelly. The buses had all left, as had most of the cars waiting at the curb and half the vehicles in the parking lot. The Newirths’ silver SUV was still there, parked in the same row as always. Sooner or later one of them was bound to leave the school and claim it.
Another five minutes passed before Jeremy walked out of the building and over to his car. He climbed in, started the engine and put it in gear. He wasn’t waiting for anyone. “This is it,” Jaye said, jumping out of the car. The two women ran into the parking lot, reaching the driveway seconds before Jeremy. If it had been earlier, they would have been dodging other cars like crazy. Jeremy had done them a favor by being late.
When he saw them running straight at him, waving their arms, he braked sharply and waited for them to come up alongside him. He lowered his window, wearing an expression that was somewhere between curious and concerned. “Let me just pull to the side so I’m not blocking the exit,” he said.
Jaye and Sierra waited while he parked haphazardly across several spots and jumped down from the SUV. “Is something wrong?” he asked, covering the distance to them in a few long strides. “Do you need help?”
Sierra shook her head. “Actually, we wanted to talk to you.”
“Why didn’t you just call?”
“To be honest, we wanted to talk to you alone,” Jaye said. She and Sierra had gone over it a dozen times. There was no politically correct, candy-coated way to say they didn’t want his wife around. This was the make-or-break moment. He would either tell them off and leave in a huff or stay out of curiosity to hear what they had to say.
His brow had lowered over his eyes, which didn’t bode well. “You sound like those detectives,” he said with an unpleasant curl to his lips. “They’re the law, so I had to put up with their insinuations, but I don’t have to put up with it from the two of you.” He started to turn away.
Jaye was nonplussed by his reaction. Jeremy had something of a backbone after all. He didn’t need his puppeteer in order to make a decision or stand his ground. “Please don’t get me wrong,” Jaye said, switching to crisis-control mode. “Kelly’s wonderful, and she has a sparkling, vivacious personality.”
Jeremy stopped in his tracks as if reassessing the situation.
“Which is a great gift,” Sierra quickly added. “She outshines all of us. But every personality type has its advantages, and it’s often the quietest people who are the most observant or the deepest thinkers. We just wanted to hear your thoughts about the case.”
He turned back to them with a wary expression.
“The truth is we’re in the same boat as you and Kelly,” Jaye said. “We’re all suspects in the murder. The cops want to isolate us, turn us against one another. Instead, we should be banding together to help each other.” It sounded great, if you didn’t think too hard about it. The plan was to keep up the chatter before he figured out they were playing him.
“Jaye and I only have each other to support our alibis,” Sierra said. “Tourists make up such a large percentage of our business, it would be close to impossible to track down all the ones who visited our shops that particular day and expect them to remember at exactly what time they saw us at work. I doubt any of them are even still in town.” There were a lot of holes in what she said, but Jeremy had no way of knowing that. “You and Kelly are in a much better position, right?” she asked as if she sincerely wished that was the case.
Jeremy didn’t answer immediately. He was clearly trying to sort out his thoughts before speaking.
Jaye had no intentions of giving him time for that. “You’re both in the school building for, what—six, seven hours a day? That should definitely help with your alibi. I mean, there are dozens of students who would notice if you weren’t there. Of course,” she murmured as an afterthought, “you get out at two thirty most days. I guess that does leave a big chunk of time you had to account for too.” She and Sierra fell silent, hoping he’d feel obliged to speak.
“Uh, yeah,” he mumbled tentatively. “Same as you, we were home alone after school that day.” Okay, the Newirths had opportunity as well as motive.
“It stinks when they try to pit you against the people you care about most in the world,” Sierra said. “I mean, how do you betray someone you love?”
“Neither of us has had a decent night’s sleep since all this started,” Jaye continued. “It’s obvious the cops are trying to scare us, isolate us from one another until someone breaks.”
“We didn’t kill Peggy,” Sierra said evenly, “and I’m sure you guys didn’t kill her either.” She let the words just hang there in the air.
“No way,” Jeremy said, studying the cuticle on his left index finger as if it required his immediate attention.
“I feel so bad for Kelly,” Sierra said with a sympathetic sigh. “If someone ever hurt or stole my Frosty, I think I’d be capable of murder.” Tears popped up in her eyes on cue, a handy ability she’d discovered back in college drama class.
“I’m sure it was just as awful for Jeremy,” Jaye added, as if she were sticking up for him. Of course, she was actually saying that he was just as likely as his wife to kill whoever was behind Hershey’s disappearance. But on the surface it sounded a whole lot more supportive than accusatory.
Jeremy looked up at them, his misery written plainly on his face. “I loved that big, goofy dog.”
Sierra shook her head. “I understand. There are times you just can’t sit idly by and watch people who are guilty get away scot-free. Especially when it couldn’t be clearer who’s to blame.”
“But I’m sure deciding to take justice into your own hands is hard,” Jeremy said.
And we all know who helps you out with decisions, Jaye thought. She stole a sidelong glance at her friend, who gave her the slightest of nods. They’d gotten more from him then they’d expected. If they kept at it, they’d only succeed in scaring him off.
“We should let you get going,” Jaye said.
“Yeah, I need to get home,” Jeremy said without much enthusiasm.
“If you ever feel the need to talk . . .” Sierra gave his arm a little squeeze of reassurance. “And let’s keep each other informed.”
As they walked out of the lot, Jaye glanced back over her shoulder. Jeremy was still standing where they’d left him, as if he’d become rooted to the macadam.
Chapter 20
Daniel was setting up bridge chairs in the alcove at the back of Crystal Clear. He’d already moved the small bookshelf that usually occupied part of that space. Even so, there was barely room to fit the dozen chairs. It was the first Friday of May, which meant it was time for one of Jaye’s minilectures on crystals and gemstones. She’d wanted to postpone the lecture until the investigation was over, but neither Daniel nor Sierra would hear of it. “You made me go right on baking after we found Peggy’s body,” Sierra had said, “and you were right. We need as much normalcy in our lives as possible right now, and we need to show the world that we have nothing to be worried about.” Since Jaye could hardly take issue with her own arguments, she’d shut her mouth and concentrated on getting through the evening’s festivities.
While Daniel was moving furniture, she was going around the shop selecting specimens of raw amethyst to use in her lecture along with jewelry showcasing the finished crystal. Amethyst had been on her mind a lot lately, no doubt because of the ring she’d been accused of stealing from her competitor. Although she’d had an iron-clad alibi,
Brock and Anastos seemed reluctant to accept her innocence. Maybe they figured if they threw enough accusations at her, one of them would eventually stick.
“I still can’t believe how close you came to being caught in Peggy’s house,” Daniel said, joining her at one of the display cases, where she was trying to decide which of the necklaces to include in the program.
She shrugged. “All’s well that—”
“Don’t give me that phony bravado. You were courting trouble, and you were just lucky to get away with it.”
She looked up at him, fluttered her eyelids and put her hand to her heart. “I do declare, I love it when a man takes charge,” she said breathlessly. “My little heart goes all pitty-pat.”
Daniel started laughing. “You are so bad.”
She held the necklaces out to him. “Which one?” she asked, dropping the Scarlett O’Hara bit.
“This one,” he said pointing to the piece that was a deeper purple. “You do realize that if anyone’s interested in buying amethyst, they can just walk around the shop and look at your whole inventory.”
“Of course, but I’ve learned a thing or two about marketing since I opened the shop. At a lecture like this, it helps to catch the buyers’ eyes with specific pieces, or they don’t always get interested in buying, especially the men.”
“Men can sure be a handful,” Daniel said dryly, “so I’ll leave you to it. I’m sure there’s something I’ve forgotten to move around.”
Jaye made her final selections and brought them up to the small table he’d placed in front of the chairs for that purpose. While it was still quiet, she took a minute to look around the shop—her shop. When she’d rented the space, she’d had no idea how much pride she would take in owning a business and how much joy she’d have working with the crystals and the tourists from all over the world who came in to learn about them. Sometimes before opening for the day, she’d pause like this to appreciate the way the stones sparkled in their glass display cases. When the sun shone in at the right angle, the shop had an almost magical glow to it.
She was still standing there when the bells on the door jingled to announce Bryn’s return. She hurried in, cheeks rosy from the evening chill. “Got the milk. Do you want me to start the coffee before I leave?”
“That’s okay,” Jaye said. “I’ve got it. You’ll be late for your shift at Finnegan’s.”
“Uncle Quinn doesn’t mind. And if he did, he’d have to deal with my mom. She loves coming to your lectures, and she knows you need the help.” Bryn put the milk on the card table that Daniel had set up behind the chairs.
“Not a problem tonight. Jaye’s got me to boss around,” Daniel said with a wink, which didn’t save him from a friendly jab in the ribs courtesy of Jaye’s elbow.
“I have no idea how I managed without her,” she said after Bryn left. “She picks things up so fast, and she’s always a pleasure to have around.”
“I read somewhere that a luxury becomes a necessity after a month.”
Jaye laughed. “Then I’d better not treat myself to anymore luxuries or I’ll be—” She was interrupted by the thump of someone kicking the door. Before either of them could react, the owner of the foot shouted, “Open up! Open up!” Daniel reached the door first, and the moment he opened it, Sierra thrust a large tray of cupcakes at him. With one hand now free, she was able to rescue the second tray before it did a swan dive onto the ground.
“They’re gorgeous,” Jaye said, taking the second tray from her.
Sierra beamed. “Aren’t they? I put a triple chocolate one away for you, before the hordes grab them all. I really outdid myself this time.”
“Ever try baking some humble pie?” Daniel asked.
“Eat one of the cupcakes and then tell me who needs to be humble,” Sierra challenged him.
“Deal. But any cupcake judging will have to wait,” he said, setting the tray on the table. “I need to talk to you both before anyone else gets here.”
Jaye put the other tray down beside the first. “Sounds serious.”
“It might be. I finally got a straight answer out of my mother. At least, I think it’s a straight answer.”
“About how they reacted to the photos of Raffles?” Jaye had almost given up on ever finding out why Kyah and Doli Joe had seemed so taken aback.
“Yeah. Apparently my great-grandmother used to tell stories about a strange catlike animal that roamed the area when she was a little girl.”
Goose bumps flashed across Jaye’s skin. “I’m not sure I like hearing that,” she said, crossing her arms against her chest as if to warm herself.
“That’s how it hit me too. I mean, has Raffles been around that long? Or are there others like her? And if she’s not the result of a onetime genetic mutation, where did she and the other one come from and how have they gone undetected all this time?”
“Exactly!” Jaye said. “Instead of finally getting some answers, we now have more questions.”
“Did your mom say anything else?” Sierra asked.
“Yeah, there’s something she wants to show me the next time I’m up there.”
“And yet another mystery,” Jaye said. “There are only so many mysteries I can juggle in my head and keep my sanity. We should get back up there, and soon.” The instant the words left her mouth, she realized she was being too pushy. Kyah wanted her son to come; she hadn’t said anything about bringing Jaye again. “I mean you should get up there soon,” she amended quickly, searching his face to see if she’d crossed some invisible line. He could be downright inscrutable at times. But this wasn’t one of them.
Daniel was grinning at her. “We should definitely make the trip soon.”
“But maybe your mom wants to spend some time alone with you.”
“She would have made it clear if that’s what she wanted. My mother’s never been afraid to say what’s on her mind. Besides, I think this has to do with Raffles, and she knows Raffles adopted you.”
“Doesn’t anyone want to know what happened with the photo of Adam Grayson?” Sierra asked. She’d started brewing the coffee while they were talking and was clearly ready for her turn to speak.
“Of course,” Jaye said. The prospect of finding out more about Raffles was tantalizing, but it didn’t come close to priority one—solving Peggy’s murder.
“Well, since we don’t want anyone around here seeing it just yet, I took it up to a camera store in Flagstaff. The manager there promised to work on it himself. Unfortunately, he couldn’t promise to restore all the details that were lost where the paper cracked, but he did say there are computer programs that should be able to help in the process.”
“Whatever he can do with it will be better than what we have now,” Jaye said. “How long?”
He’s going to get to it as soon as he finishes up the work that he’s already scheduled. First come, first served and all that. I was tempted to tell him it was an emergency and that our freedom was hanging in the balance, but I didn’t want to tweak his curiosity too much.”
Daniel helped himself to a cherry that had fallen onto the tray from one of the cupcakes. “Gourmet baker and private investigator all in one day—you’re quite the Renaissance woman.”
Sierra tossed her head and stuck her chin up in the air like a queen among the peasants. “I’m all that and so much more,” she said regally. But she could only act the part for a second before dissolving into laughter along with her friends.
“Sounds like the party started without us,” said Esther Hinklemeyer as she and her sister stepped inside the shop.
“Nonsense,” said Edith. “It’s never a party without us!”
***
Cal Anastos walked into the shop near the end of Jaye’s lecture. A ripple of whispers spread through the little audience when they saw who the latecomer was. T
he rosiness disappeared from Sierra’s cheeks, and she flashed Jaye a troubled look. Standing up there in view of everyone, Jaye didn’t have the luxury of coming apart at the seams. She clamped down on her emotions the way she’d learned to by her third foster home and held on to her composure, but it wasn’t easy. She acknowledged the detective’s presence with a nod of her head and tried not to think about why he was there. Or why he was alone. Where was Brock? Was he waiting outside the back door in case she and Sierra made a run for it? So much for not thinking about it. In spite of the turmoil going on in her head, her voice remained calm as she thanked everyone for attending and invited them to enjoy the coffee and cupcakes. Then she made her way over to Anastos, who was waiting to one side of the door. Standing there alone without his partner, he looked odd to Jaye, as if a part of him had been amputated.
Daniel, who’d been leaning against the main display case near the front of the store, didn’t budge. Jaye knew he was staying there for moral support, and she was grateful for it.
“Can I help you, detective?” she asked as cordially as she could manage.
Sierra joined them. “Cal,” she said stiffly.
“Sierra,” he replied in kind. A stranger would never have believed the two had been casual friends. But that was before Peggy was bumped off and the world turned upside down.
“Nice little event,” he said to Jaye. “I’ve heard folks talking about it.”
“Thanks, but I suspect that’s not why you’re here,” she said, in no mood for the small talk. The way her heart was pounding, observing the niceties of social etiquette could qualify as cruel and unusual punishment.
“You’re right; it’s not,” he said lowering his voice. “I wanted to let you know that the missing amethyst ring was found in the owner’s shop today.”
“Really? Well . . . great.” Jaye was both dazed and relieved as her emotions spun a fast one eighty. “Where did they find it?”
“It apparently fell behind a display case.”
Or a certain animal brought it back and tossed it there. If that was the case, Raffles understood a lot more English then she let on. Jaye realized she might never know for sure. If it had been the not-a-cat, she would have taken something else in trade. Of course, something as ordinary as a pen or a paper clip would probably go unnoticed.