Murder at Pawprint Creek

by Cindy Bell

  “I’m sorry to hear that.” Nikki reached down to give the dogs a quick pet. “I know this area could really use it.”

  “Yes, it could.” Jean glanced over her shoulder in the direction of her property. “I run a small flower farm. I supply many of the local florists. But not for much longer.”

  “What do you mean?” Nikki met her eyes.

  “Never mind that. I need to talk to you about something.” Jean crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes.

  The sudden shift in her demeanor made Nikki a little wary.

  “Is something wrong?”

  “Is something wrong?” Jean snapped, her voice raised as she continued. “Yes, absolutely there’s something wrong. I just had a visit from that Detective Spade. Detective!” She pushed some air between her lips and shook her head. “That boy wouldn’t know how to solve a crime if he was the criminal himself!”

  “Oh? I had a visit from him, too.” Nikki frowned, then studied Jean. “He has to investigate Rocky’s death. I mean, that’s not so terrible is it? You wouldn’t want a murderer on the loose.”

  “Sure, it is. It’s absolutely terrible.” Jean balled her hands into fists at her sides. “At least the way he went about it is. He came into my house, and acted like a madman.”

  “A madman?” Nikki raised an eyebrow as she recalled Detective Spade’s generally calm exterior. He was intense, yes, but he didn’t seem like a madman. “What did he do to you?”

  “He asked me all of these questions. He kept pestering me. He wouldn’t leave anything alone. I told him I had nothing to say, and he continued to push as if he was trying to get me to confess!” Jean grimaced. “He was absolutely relentless.”

  “I’m so sorry to hear that.” Nikki narrowed her eyes. “He shouldn’t have treated you that way.” As she studied the woman, she couldn’t help but wonder if she did have something to confess.

  “Exactly. What have I ever done to deserve being treated like that?” Jean sighed as she looked back at the creek. “Honestly, I thought with Rocky gone we would finally have some peace around here. But I guess not. I guess he’s found a way to cause chaos even from beyond the grave.” She pursed her lips.

  “Jean.” Nikki swallowed hard to hold back the disgust she felt for the woman’s comment. No, she didn’t know Rocky, she’d never met him, but she was certain he had a long life left to live. She couldn’t imagine being relieved that someone was dead.

  “I know, I’m horrible.” Jean threw her hands up into the air. “Go on, you can tell me just how horrible I am. I don’t care. Rocky was not a good person. And no, I don’t think anyone deserves to be murdered, but don’t expect me to cry crocodile tears over a man who wanted to see us all ruined!”

  “Did your farm suffer from the dam that Rocky built, too?” She searched the woman’s eyes. “Is that why you think you won’t have it much longer?”

  “Rocky made sure of that. The day he moved in I brought him cookies, can you believe that?” Jean laughed, a maniacal sound that made the woman appear even more deranged. “I brought the man who would help destroy me and everything I’ve worked so hard for, cookies!”

  “That was kind of you, Jean. You’re a good neighbor.” Nikki held on to the dogs’ leashes as they wound around her feet, made nervous by the tone of Jean’s voice. Had that good neighbor murdered Rocky? “Do you sell your flowers at the farmers market?”

  “Once a week.” Jean frowned. “Well, until last month when I had to stop because I didn’t have enough to offer and still fill the orders of my regular customers. I’m losing money left and right.”

  “I’m so sorry to hear that.” Nikki shook her head. “I hope this drought ends soon.”

  “So do I.” Jean sighed.

  “I’d better get these dogs home. They’ve had a busy day.” Nikki guided them back towards the path that led to the house.

  “Nikki!” Jean called out to her before she could get very far.

  “Yes?” She looked over her shoulder at her.

  “Take good care of them. Jackson adores them. He’s one of the last good men, you know.” She shot her a brief smile, then crossed over the tree limb.

  All through the night Nikki was plagued with thoughts of Rocky, and Jackson. If Jean was right and Jackson was one of the last good men, then why did he look so guilty? Nikki could only imagine how the detective would react if he knew that she knew so much about Jackson. She drifted off to sleep, uncertain whether to believe that Jackson was innocent or guilty.

  When Nikki woke the next morning, the dogs were more than ready for a walk. She imagined that Jackson had taken them on walks quite often. Once they were out the door they were greeted by a wide, blue summer sky, with not the slightest hint of rain. The town was alive with activity. She was surprised to see so many smiles and waves in her direction as she walked past with the pugs. Despite the tragedy the day before, everyone in the town still seemed to be warm and welcoming. She wasn’t sure if she would be that way with a stranger after something terrible happened. She tended to look at things very logically, and to her someone who showed up out of the blue on the same day that a local resident was murdered would throw up red flags. But then, her teachers had always called her inquisitive. She could never rest until her questions were fully answered. She’d actually been sent to the principal’s office once for not accepting the teacher’s answer to one of her questions. It wasn’t that she was being disrespectful, she simply needed to know. Her entire life she had been a seeker, she was never satisfied with just a simple answer. She needed to understand the reasoning behind it.

  At that moment, Nikki was extremely curious about Rocky. Why would he be so brazen as to steal water from all of his neighbors? Why move to a new town and then set out to destroy it? It seemed very strange to her. Perhaps if she could figure out his motive she would be able to discover some truth about why he had been killed. The best way to find out more, she decided, was to make her way through the farmers market. She knew that people loved to gather together and talk, if not gossip. She would either overhear something, or someone might just want to talk her ear off about things. As she browsed through a few stalls she did hear some conversations pertaining to Rocky’s death, but nothing more than shock and musings about what might have happened to him. If anyone knew who did it, they certainly weren’t saying.

  The first stop Nikki made was at a stall that was selling fresh fruit juice. A tall woman with short, spiky, auburn hair was talking to two burly men at the back of the stall. Nikki noticed that the men looked almost identical, with short, black hair, white t-shirts and jeans. However, one of the men was considerably taller than the other. The woman turned to Nikki as she walked up to the counter.

  “Good morning,” the woman called out with a smile. “I won’t be too long. Help yourself to some fresh pear juice.” She gestured to some paper cups and a jug at the end of the counter.

  “Thank you,” Nikki said as the woman turned back to the men she had been talking to. Nikki poured herself some juice and took a sip. It tasted sweet and fresh. She finished it then looked towards the woman. Nikki wanted to thank her again, but she was engrossed in conversation with the two men and she didn’t want to interrupt her. She continued along the stalls.

  When Nikki paused at another stall she noticed that the man who ran it was staring off into the distance. He didn’t smile at her when she walked up, it was as if he didn’t even notice her. She cleared her throat as she picked up a jar of the honey on the table and looked it over.

  “Hello there.” His attention finally shifted to her. “You’re a new face.” His lips spread into a wide smile as sweet as she imagined his honey would be.

  “Yes, I’m just visiting.” She smiled in return as she offered her hand. “Nikki Green.”

  “Nikki.” He nodded as he met her eyes. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Phil Ferra. I run a honey farm.” He gestured to his apron which had the details of the farm, then laughed as he saw the two pugs playing at
her feet. “What beautiful dogs you have.”

  “Oh thanks, but they’re not mine. I’m just watching them while their owner is away. Jackson Nule, do you know him?” Nikki guided the dogs away from the table, so they wouldn’t knock over any of the jars stacked on top of it.

  “Oh Jackson, yes, of course I know him. I thought I recognized these little pups. I didn’t know Jackson was away, though.” Phil furrowed a brow. “He didn’t say anything to me about it.”

  “I am not sure what the purpose of his trip is.” Nikki shrugged then set the bottle in her hand back down. “This is all made on your farm?”

  “Oh yes, absolutely.” Phil smiled as he handed her a small paper cup with honey in it. “Go on try it. It’s the best honey you’ve ever tasted, I guarantee it.”

  “Mm, thanks.” Nikki grinned, then took the tiny plastic spoon out of the cup and licked some honey off it. It melted on her tongue. “Oh yes, that is delicious. I’ll take a jar.”

  “Wonderful. I’ll wrap that up for you.” Phil turned away to get a paper bag as she dug in her purse for some cash. After the exchange, she noticed that Phil’s smile faded back into a dazed expression. She guessed, like the rest of the town, he was thinking about what happened the day before.

  “I noticed a lot of police activity here, yesterday. Is everything okay now?” Nikki tightened her grasp on the dogs’ leashes as they tried to chase after a squirrel that ran through the farmers market.

  “I’m not sure that it’s okay.” Phil sighed. “Can it ever be okay after someone’s life is taken? But I guess back to normal would be a better way to put it.”

  “Yes, you’re right. I’m sorry, I don’t know exactly what happened.” Nikki wanted to know his perspective on what had happened, maybe she would find out more that way.

  “Oh, you didn’t hear? A man was killed. He owns a restaurant around here. Rocky’s Farm Kitchen. He was pretty well-known in the area. But you know, I don’t think too many people are sad to see him go.” He glanced down the aisle of booths, then back to her. “Still, someone being killed is a reason for everyone to be concerned.”

  “Yes, it is.” Nikki frowned as she studied him. “Wasn’t there anyone in this town that might miss him?”

  “Uh.” Phil rubbed his hand along the scruff that sprouted from the curve of his chin. “Maybe his sous chef, Shawn. But Shawn doesn’t live in town, he just works in the restaurant. Sorry, it sounds cold I know, but Rocky caused a lot of trouble for a lot of people.”

  “It’s all right, I understand.” Nikki accepted her change from him and the paper bag containing the jar of honey. “Thanks for the honey.”

  “Anytime.” Phil smiled. “I hope you can still enjoy your visit here.”

  “I’m sure I will.” Nikki waved to him, then led the dogs away from the booth. It still left her unsettled to think that so many people actually seemed relieved by Rocky’s death. She decided she needed to find out just how terrible a person this man really was. As she continued along the booths, she noticed that the sweet taste of the honey still lingered in her mouth. The dogs seemed eager to have a drink as well. She found a shady spot and pulled out her supplies from her backpack. She set down a collapsible bowl for them, then filled it with a bottle of water she had with her. As she cracked open her own bottle, she watched the people of Pawprint Creek walk past. Yes, this had once been a peaceful town, and she hoped that it soon would be again.

  Chapter 5

  Nikki placed a call to Hannah while the dogs lapped up some water from their bowl.

  “Hey, Nikki. What are you up to today?”

  “Would you like to meet me for lunch?” Nikki swept her gaze over the town square as the beautiful day drew more people outside.

  “Sure. At the diner?”

  “No, I was thinking we should eat at Rocky’s Farm Kitchen.” She braced herself for her friend’s reaction.

  “Okay. But don’t you think it might be a little weird, considering?” Hannah sounded hesitant.

  “I get what you’re saying, but the restaurant might not be open much longer, and I’m curious about it. So, what do you think? Do you want to join me?”

  “Sure. I can be there in about an hour.”

  “Great, that will give me enough time to get the puppies home. Something tells me Rocky’s Farm Kitchen is not pet friendly.” Nikki shot a guilty smile in the direction of the pugs.

  “No, certainly not. It’s quite upmarket. I’ve only eaten there a few times, but each time I got the impression that it wasn’t ‘Hannah friendly’, either.” She laughed.

  “Oh, I’m sure that’s not true, who would turn down a chance to be around someone as wonderful as you?”

  “Aw, you’re so sweet. I’ll be there soon.”

  “See you then.” Nikki hung up the phone, then picked up the dogs’ empty bowl. “All right, guys, how about a jog back to the parking lot?” She smiled as they gazed up at her with their eager eyes. “All right fine, let’s call it a race!” She wanted to have enough time to change and get her thoughts together before she headed out to the restaurant. The farmers market stretched out quite far, and they’d walked the length of it.

  Nikki laughed as the dogs took off at a run and tugged her a few steps forward. She broke into a run to keep up with them, and soon they were almost to the parking lot. Despite everything on her mind, she laughed even more when the dogs nipped and growled at each other, as if they were both trying to be the first one to make it to the car. She willed herself to feel as free and joyful as the two dogs demonstrated. At their fast pace it was actually hard for her to keep up. She was so focused on the run that she didn’t notice a dip in the sidewalk. When her foot struck it, she stumbled, and the paper bag that contained the jar of honey went flying. She heard it shatter as it hit the ground.

  “Oh no!” She frowned as she kept the dogs close. Luckily, the broken glass didn’t tear through the bag. She scooped up the sticky mess and tossed it into a nearby trashcan. Disappointed, she considered going back to buy some more, but she didn’t want to be late to meet Hannah. She decided she would buy more when she had the chance.

  The dogs piled into the car, eager for a rest. On the drive home, Nikki’s thoughts spun once more. Someone had to know the truth about Rocky’s death. But who? Was it really possible that no one heard a fight, no one had witnessed the attack? Or did this town follow a mind-your-own-business policy? Once at the house, she settled the dogs in with some lunch, then quickly showered and changed into some fresh clothes as the run had left her covered in sweat. After their meal she took them for a quick walk around the property. As she walked between some peach trees, she thought about what it would be like to own such a beautiful piece of land. Back home in Dahlia, she lived in a small apartment. She liked it just fine, but she dreamed of one day having a place like this, somewhere big enough to serve as an animal rescue or training center, or maybe both. She wasn’t sure the exact direction she was headed in, but she knew it would be to a wide-open piece of land like this. She would love it.

  A more sobering thought floated through her mind as she imagined what it would be like to lose a property she loved so much. As the sensation of heartbreak flooded through her she felt a flash of anger. Yes, she could understand how so many people were angry with Rocky. Was he aware of the terrible things he was doing? She had to believe that he was, at least to a degree. Which meant he was a very cruel person. To move into a town with the intention of ruining it was pretty awful. But could that really have been all there was to Rocky?

  In her experience she had never met a person that didn’t have some kind of redeeming quality. She doubted that Rocky was the exception to that rule, despite the opinions of every person she had met so far. There had to be something good about him. She just needed to talk to the right person to find out. Someone who worked with him on a regular basis, someone who probably knew him well and might even have cared about him. The only person that she knew of that might fit that bill was Shawn, the sous
chef at Rocky’s Farm Kitchen. She suspected that the best way to get to know him better was a face-to-face meeting. If anyone had anything good to say about Rocky she guessed it would be him.

  Once the dogs were content in the living room, she headed out the door. As she drove towards Rocky’s Farm Kitchen, she tried to imagine what it would have been like for Rocky to arrive in this small town for the first time. Did he see it for how beautiful it was, or did he only notice how vulnerable it was? She shivered at the thought of someone being so conniving. She hated to even consider it, but maybe there was some truth to the idea that the town was better off now that Rocky was gone. Even if it was, an unsolved murder would cause its residents to never feel safe again.

  When Nikki arrived at the restaurant, she spotted Hannah’s car already in the parking lot. Nikki wasn’t late, but she knew her friend always made an effort to be early or at the very least on time. She parked her car near Hannah’s, then headed inside.

  “Over here, Nikki!” Hannah waved her hand through the air from the table near the window where she sat. None of the other patrons around her seemed to mind, but Nikki guessed that the establishment was used to a bit more decorum.

  “Hi.” Nikki grinned as she sat down across from her. “Thanks for meeting me.”

  “I have to admit, it feels so strange being here.” Hannah winced as she looked over at the other diners in the restaurant. “I’m surprised so many people are here.”

  “They probably enjoy the food and want to have it while they still can.” Nikki considered the options on the menu, then looked across the table at Hannah. “Is there anything here that you would recommend?”

  “Oh yes, the local produce tasting plate, and then you’ll have enough room for honey baked peaches with homemade vanilla ice cream. It’s so good. It melts in your mouth, the peaches are so sweet and the ice cream is creamy, but not too creamy.” Hannah sighed, clearly reliving a delicious memory.