Black Beans & Vice

by J. B. Stanley

  “Do not add thunder god vine to my spaghetti sauce. Got it!” James joked. “Seriously though, this is fascinating. And I honestly think death by thunder god vine sounds more dignified than death by defibrillator.”

  Roslyn leaned forward and replaced the tea box on the shelf. Because her raised arm obscured her face, James was unable to witness her reaction. When she turned to him again, she looked bewildered. “I’m not sure I understand.”

  “I don’t think I was supposed to say anything about Ned Woodman’s case. That just slipped out.” He put on his best expression of chagrin. “I’m not very good at keeping secrets. But neither was Ned, I guess. The authorities believe he had a girlfriend and that she’s sitting pretty with all that money Ned stole from the town.”

  Something flashed in Roslyn’s eyes, but it happened so swiftly that James wasn’t certain he’d seen anything after all. He blinked and Roslyn was now shaking her head, her face full of sympathy. “His poor wife. It’s bad enough that she’s lost her husband, but now to have to endure public humiliation too. I feel terrible for her.”

  The words sounded genuine and James decided that he’d grilled the friendly holistic healer enough. He purchased the products Roslyn had recommended, though he doubted he would ever use them. He’d been lying about Eliot’s cold and couldn’t help but feel a slight distrust of Roslyn’s products. James didn’t plan on giving anything to his son that wasn’t approved by the FDA.

  When he stepped outside into the warm evening, he found Bennett lounging on a nearby bench, engrossed in the latest edition of the World Almanac.

  “Planning another Jeopardy! appearance?” James quipped.

  “Nope, but I’ll never get tired of learnin’ new facts.” Bennett folded down a page corner and closed the book. Seeing the look of horror on his friend’s face, he quickly folded the page flat again. “Jeez, man! It’s not like I killed somebody!” he protested, thumping on the fat paperback. “And neither did the yoga lady. That woman’s one of those happy-all-the-time types. Not a mean word to say about anybody. She was a stay-at-home mama until hubby gave her the money to open her own studio. Says all her dreams have come true. We can cross her off the list. What about the medicine woman?”

  James shook his head. “Roslyn Rhodes doesn’t seem like she has anything to hide. Like your yoga lady, she’s found her place in life.” He hesitated. “It’s just that when I mentioned Ned’s having a girlfriend, I thought her eyes turned strange. But it happened so quickly that I’m not sure I really saw anything.”

  “Go with your gut, man. She could be sneakin’ that heart shocking machine out the back door as we speak.”

  Though Bennett was partially jesting, a wave of doubt assailed James. “Can you stick around to see if she comes out of the office looking worried or, like you said, carrying a large box? I’ve got to meet with Harmony.”

  “Will do,” his friend agreed. “Gillian’s gonna be jibber-jabbin’ with the needle lady all evenin’ long anyhow. Why do you think I brought this book?”

  Inside A Better State of Mind, Skye was humming as she watered the houseplants. She welcomed James with her customary grace and warmth, and then apologized, saying that Harmony’s current appointment was running a little late and that he’d have to wait a bit.

  “No problem.” James settled into the chair nearest her desk and began to small talk with Skye about Lennon, her passion for running, and how had she ended up working for Harmony. They were interrupted once by a customer looking to purchase a gift certificate for his wife.

  “She wants to quit smoking. Let me tell you—after living with that smell for eleven years, I’d do anything to help her stop!” he exclaimed, passing Skye a credit card.

  Once the satisfied customer had gone, James used the subject of gift certificates as a segue for a discussion on birthday presents. He told Skye about the mailbox shaped like a stack of books that Scott and Francis had carved for him. He really wanted to find out whether she’d received Fern’s lovely photographs so he could let his new employee know that another person had been delighted with her work. “How about you? Do you have a birthday coming up soon?”

  Skye shook her head. “Mine was last month. Lennon got me a fantastic pair of running shoes. They’re so light I barely feel them on my feet.”

  “Cool.” James moved off to pour himself a glass of water, but his mind was spinning. If the prints weren’t for Skye, why did Lennon pretend they were?

  He didn’t have the opportunity to ponder the question any further because Harmony and a pretty female client entered the reception area. The hypnotherapist bid her previous client goodbye and then smiled at James. “Come on back,” she said.

  Before he could settle into the recliner, his phone chirped, signaling the receipt of a text message. James had never sent a text message in his life and wasn’t sure if he knew how to read an incoming message. Luckily, the words appeared on the screen as soon as he opened the phone.

  “This is from Lucy,” he explained to Harmony. “I don’t think we should start the session as it’s bound to be interrupted.”

  Harmony gazed at him quizzically. “Oh?”

  “She and her fellow officers are on the way here. Apparently, they’ve got a search warrant for every cottage in the Village.”

  “Does this have something to do with Mr. Woodman’s death?” Harmony asked, the picture of calm curiosity.

  James nodded. “And possibly Tia Royale’s as well.” If he’d expected to provoke a dramatic reaction by bringing up the dead woman’s name, he was to remain disappointed. In fact, Harmony never broke eye contact. She stared at him with a concerned, but distinctly untroubled gaze.

  “I’m afraid I don’t understand,” she confessed.

  It was time to pull out all the stops. “Ned Woodman and Tia Royale were probably killed by the same person. The investigating deputies believe this individual may have some connection to the Wellness Village.” He paused. “I can’t say anything else. All I know is they’re on the hunt for a very specific object.”

  Again, Harmony appeared unfazed by the knowledge that her office was about to be invaded by members of the Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Department. Extending her hand, she indicated James should follow her to the reception room. “We’ll have to reschedule your appointment and I guess I should have Skye cancel the rest of tonight’s clients. This way, we can be available to assist the deputies in whatever manner possible.”

  If that woman’s hiding something, then she’s a master of concealment, James thought. In truth, he was relieved that Harmony seemed above suspicion.

  Later, after a pair of brown Sheriff’s Department cruisers had disgorged six deputies bearing copies of the search warrant, Lucy met with the rest of the supper club members to get their take on the Wellness Village employees and business owners.

  “The background checks were useless,” she informed her friends. “Some moving violations, a shoplifting charge that was later dropped, and a few people who were late paying their taxes here and there. That’s it. Not a single red flag on our end.”

  The supper club members gave Lucy summaries of their casual interrogations. After James shared his experience questioning Roslyn, Bennett added that no one had entered or exited her cottage since he’d been watching her front door.

  “Each house has a back door,” Sullie pointed out, having just returned from examining the perimeter of the complex. “It’s where the dumpsters are located and probably where they get their deliveries.” He looked at Lucy. “The trash has already been picked up. The bins are totally empty. If there was any evidence in those things, it’s sittin’ in a heap at the landfill now.”

  Lucy scowled. “Seems like Roslyn would be more likely to kill someone with one of her thousand herbs than with a defibrillator, but we’ll search her cottage first. I want to see what’s behind that locked door James mentioned. Thanks for doing your best to flush out the perp, everyone. I’ll let you know if we find anything interesting.
”

  She and Sullie hustled off. James noticed a sulky Deputy Donovan waiting for instructions and couldn’t help but smile. The combative redhead didn’t dare start trading insults with Lucy when Sullie was around. Donovan might look like a bulldog, but Sullie still towered over his fellow officer and was a solid mass of muscle. James cast an envious glance at the snug fit of Sullie’s uniform shirt and then hastened out to the parking lot. He still had one more errand to complete before heading home for dinner.

  A half hour later, James left the local jewelry shop with a small bag containing a pair of gold wedding bands nestled inside red velvet boxes. As he waited for the clerk to shine the bands until they twinkled, he strolled over to the coffee shop next door and ordered an iced white chocolate mocha latte. Taking a sip, the jolt of sugar covering his tongue and washing over his teeth shocked him. It had been so long since he’d ordered such a sweet treat that he was unprepared for how unbalanced it tasted. It was, amazingly, too sweet.

  James knew that he should stop sipping the cold coffee drink then and there, but he’d paid four dollars for the thing and couldn’t make himself throw it out. Slowly, as he became distracted examining and paying for the rings, he grew accustomed to the taste. By the time he crossed the street and headed in the direction of the public parking lot, the plastic cup was empty.

  Irritated with himself, James chucked the cup into a nearby garbage can from several feet away and was surprised when someone applauded his successful shot.

  “He shoots and he scores! Would you like to coach our JV basketball team next year?” James turned to see Luis Chavez grinning widely at him. “They didn’t exactly have a winning record this past season.”

  James reached out and shook the principal’s hand. Lindy’s boyfriend was good-looking and charismatic with dark, intelligent eyes and a ready smile. James hid the bag from the jewelry store behind his back and fell into stride next to Luis. Together, the two public servants headed toward the parking lot. “School’s almost out for the summer,” James said as they walked. “Do you have any big plans?”

  “Besides shipping my mama back to Mexico?” Luis laughed loudly. “Always. I’m a man filled with big plans.” And before James could ask him to elaborate, Luis dug around in his pocket and pulled out a handful of tickets. “I was going to drop these by the library, but now that I’ve bumped into you there’s no need. These are tickets for our musical this Friday night. I’m asking you, as a special favor, to come to our play with your family, staff, and all of Lindy’s supper club friends. Can you do that for me?”

  His curiosity piqued to its highest level, James accepted the tickets. “Is this some kind of special performance?”

  “Absolutely!” Luis clapped James heartily on the back. “It’s at my school, after all! And, it’s Shakespeare. A musical version of Much Ado About Nothing. I promise that it will be the most memorable dramatic performance this town has ever seen.”

  James raised his brows. “In that case, I wouldn’t dream of missing it.”

  Luis waved and took off in the opposite direction. Even though his pace was brisk, the light timbre of the song he started to sing drifted through the warm air and seemed to hover about the sidewalk. It was like the pleasant scent left behind by a woman’s perfume. James smiled. He couldn’t hear any of the song’s words, but he recognized the emotion underlying the tone: Luis Chavez was singing about love.

  The official search of the Wellness Village proved fruitless. Lucy found Roslyn quietly filling out paperwork in her office and, after taking a cursory glance at the proffered search warrant, the holistic healer was more than happy to unlock the supply closet in which she kept organic medicines chilled in a small refrigerator.

  “I’ve never met a bunch of people so eager to help after I’ve informed them that we plan to rifle through every inch of their stuff,” Lucy informed James as he shelved books in the new release section. She pointed at a James Patterson hardcover. “Does this guy ever sleep? Seems like he churns a book out every six months.”

  “There are some critics who would agree with your choice of verb.” James handed Lucy two tickets to the Blue Ridge High production of Much Ado About Nothing. “I’ve been told by Principal Chavez that attendance is mandatory. Are you bringing Sullie?”

  Lucy shrugged. “I don’t think plays are his thing, but he’s got another reason to be there.”

  Perplexed, James was about to ask Lucy to clarify her statement when Fern finished assisting a patron and joined them in front of the display. “You wanted to ask me something, Professor?”

  “Actually, I did,” Lucy answered with a friendly smile. “Don’t mind the uniform. This isn’t official. I’m just trying to satisfy my own curiosity about something.”

  Fern visibly relaxed. “For a second there, I thought you were here to scold me for parking in the loading zone in front of Quincy’s Whimsies, but I swear I was only helping Willow with a delivery.”

  Lucy laughed. “I try to leave the dispensing of parking tickets to Deputy Donovan. Nothing perks him up like a row of cars with tickets stuck under their wiper blades. No, I wanted to ask you about the photographs Lennon purchased. Can you describe the prints and repeat the conversation for me?”

  “Sure.” Fern pointed at the computer behind the reference desk. “It’s easier for me to show you the photos online. My boyfriend created a gorgeous website for me.”

  Curious, James followed the two women behind the counter, leaving Francis to man the circulation desk. Scott was busy in the tech corner and was likely to be there for some time, considering Mrs. Withers was back with a tote bag full of Beanie Babies and a digital camera.

  “I’m ready to sell these on eBay!” she’d announced upon entering the library and grabbed James by the elbow.

  Scott had witnessed the encounter and had quickly intervened. “I can show her the ropes, Professor. Francis and I have been on eBay since the dawn of online trading. I know a trick or two to get Mrs. Withers the best price possible.”

  As the pair sat down in front of a computer, Mrs. Withers reached over and ruffled Scott’s hair. “You’re such a nice boy. I’m mighty glad I baked up a batch of my homemade peanut butter brownies for you and your sweet brother. I know the both of you go outta your way to help us old coots and we sure do appreciate it. Besides, someone needs to put a bit of meat on your bones! When are you gonna find a good girl to cook for you?”

  “Oh, I’ve found the girl, Mrs. Withers,” Scott declared happily. “And she might not be a whiz in the kitchen, but she is a shining star in every other way!”

  Returning his focus to the present, James turned away from the tech corner and peered over Lucy’s shoulder just as Fern was pointing at some images on the computer screen. Fern’s website was beautifully designed. The background was a soft, moss green framed by her photograph of a purple rhododendron flower. Fern clicked on the thumbnails showing more close-ups of plant parts.

  “I took these shots when I was working as a part-time park ranger,” Fern explained. “All of these plants grow wild throughout Virginia.”

  “How many photos did Lennon buy?” Lucy inquired.

  “Ten,” Fern said. “They were all framed prints costing one fifty apiece. It was the biggest paycheck I’ve ever gotten for my photographs. Actually, it wasn’t a check. Lennon paid me in cash.”

  Lucy drew back and rubbed her chin. “That’s fifteen hundred dollars—a big chunk of change for the Wellness Village maintenance man. And he said the photographs were a gift for his girlfriend?”

  “Yes. He was really excited about giving them to her.” Fern searched Lucy’s face. “Why would he pretend to be buying the prints for her birthday when he really wasn’t? Unless,” her lips scrunched up in thought, “he has more than one girlfriend.”

  “Unfortunately, two-timing’s not against the law.” Lucy thanked Fern and saluted James. “Food for thought,” she whispered to him. “I think I need to look a little closer at Lennon’s spending h
abits. See you at the play.” She moved a few steps away and then paused. Walking back to the desk she added, “We haven’t stopped driving by your house. I may be nose-deep in this case, but I haven’t forgotten about Kenneth.”

  Neither had James. In fact, his dreams the previous night had been tormented by hundreds of sinister crows. Reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, the feathered assailants gathered on tree branches, telephone wires, and on the roof of Eliot’s tree house. They squawked and ruffled their black feathers, but never took their dark eyes off James’ bedroom window. He knew they were only waiting for a signal, but from what or whom he couldn’t tell. It was as if their master remained hidden in the shadows of the distant trees, waiting and watching.

  “James!” Jane had finally shaken him awake. “If you don’t stop thrashing around, I’m going to be black and blue by dawn!”

  Despite his anxiety, the workweek passed without incident. No one in the Henry household received strange letters and there were no dead birds left on the property. By the time Friday rolled around, James was immersed in thoughts of his upcoming marriage ceremony. It was to be performed by the justice of the peace that very afternoon. Their marriage license had arrived by mail on Wednesday and Jane had wasted no time in securing the last available spot in the JP’s schedule.

  “It’ll be tight,” she told James Wednesday evening. “We need to be ready by five-thirty. Our marriage officiate, whose name is Frank Love (if you can believe that), says we’ll be man and wife by six o’clock. Then we need to eat dinner and high-tail it to the school by seven.”

  “Our first appearance wearing our wedding rings,” James mused and then asked, “What are your thoughts regarding our vows?”

  Jane, who had been stirring spaghetti sauce at the time, stood still. “I believe we should write our own. We went by the book last time. Let’s make this ceremony really personal. Oh, and I forgot to tell you. We’re getting married right here, in our house.”