by Paty Jager
Ryan handed his coat and her jacket to Miranda.
“Will you be having wine tonight?” she asked.
“Not for me. Shandra?” Ryan settled onto the chair opposite her.
“I have to drive. Not tonight, but I’d love a cup of hot green tea.”
“Coffee, please,” Ryan said, smiling at their hostess.
Miranda hustled off with the coats and their beverage order.
Ryan studied Shandra. He was surprised to see her on a first name basis with the hostess of the restaurant. He’d thought of her as a hermit, working up at her studio and only coming down to civilization when she had to retrieve supplies.
“I’m glad you brought me here. I’m learning another side of you.”
She smiled. “I like people.” She scanned the restaurant. “Especially genuine people. The Adducis are so warm and caring. It’s hard not to like them.”
Miranda arrived with their drinks. “Have you looked at the menu?”
“No, we haven’t.” Ryan picked up the menu from the table and asked, “What’s good here?”
“Everything.” Shandra didn’t even open the menu. “Why don’t you give us whatever the special is?”
“Very good choice. It is Poppa’s special dish.” Miranda hurried back to the kitchen.
Ryan put the menu down. “You didn’t even ask her what it was. How do you know we’ll like it?”
“I have yet to eat something here I didn’t like.” Shandra dunked the tea bag in her tea twice then peered across the table at him. “I’ve been in town learning more about the Randals.”
His good mood slipped a notch. Even though deep down he knew her wanting to have dinner with him was a way to talk to him about Randal’s murder, he’d hoped she hadn’t been investigating.
“That doesn’t surprise me.” He sipped his coffee. “Who have you been talking to?”
“Ruthie, Naomi and Ted, and then I ran into Cecily in Peggy’s Hair Salon.” She held her tea cup to her lips and blew across the top.
“You had a hair appointment at the same time as Cecily?” He found that hard to believe.
“No. I saw her enter the salon, and I followed and had my hair trimmed.”
“You didn’t get your money’s worth, it’s uneven.” He’d noticed the jagged edges when he’d walked down the hall toward her at the station.
She humphed. “That’s another story. I’ll have to straighten it out myself tonight.”
“What information did you collect?” Ryan didn’t want to encourage her involvement but he’d learned from previous murders in Huckleberry, there was no way to stop her. If he knew what she knew and who she talked with, he had a better chance of keeping her from harm.
“Neither Ruthie nor Ted and Naomi think Vivian killed J.W. Though Ruthie doesn’t really know her that well. However, she’s heard June talking about J.W. and Vivian.” She tapped her chin with a long finger. “With what you told me about June and J.W., I’m wondering if Miss Complainer could have knocked off J.W. when he refused to leave his wife. Maybe she was hoping to become the next Mrs. J.W. Randal.”
“But what about her husband? Red.” Ryan enjoyed hearing how Shandra’s brain operated. It was out of the box and different from his own analytical approach to life and his job.
“I’m thinking June’s attempt to get a divorce backfired from your comment Red knows about the baby and was trying to ruin J.W. financially. He’d never give up June from the sounds of things.”
“Following that logic, June should have shot Red.” Ryan smiled at the narrowing of Shandra’s golden eyes.
“That’s true. I think we can rule out June. The first person she’d have to get rid of would have been her husband. But what if she and Red planned for her to get pregnant by J.W. hoping to collect money to keep it quiet?” Her eyes lit up at her newfound reasoning.
“Then why would Red try to ruin J.W. financially?”
Ryan leaned back, ending the conversation as the hostess delivered their salads. “Thank you.”
Shandra stabbed at the lettuce. “Why would June be going in the back door of the clinic? Do you think she is hiding the pregnancy? If so, why? Her husband knows. Anyone would think it is Red’s baby.”
“I don’t know. I might be able to check on that tomorrow. What did you learn from Cecily?” Ryan started on his salad. His mouth watered at the freshness of the greens and the herbs in the dressing. One thing he’d learned about Shandra, she did have a talent for knowing good food.
“Cicely didn’t care for her uncle. She made the comment he put his hands down every woman’s pants. You could tell it upset her.” Shandra held a forkful of salad between her mouth and the plate.
“Takagi told me he witnessed J.W. being handsie with Cecily behind the house.”
She set the fork down forcefully. “I don’t think it was consensual. There was too much disgust on her face when she said it.” She shoved the salad to the middle of the table. “Might be a good idea to look into other women he came on to.”
“This topic is ruining your appetite. Let’s change the subject.” Ryan finished his salad and placed her plate on top of his. “Have you decided on your clothing for Conor’s wedding?”
“Yes. Why do you care?” She smiled.
“I’d like to buy you a corsage but need to know what color would go with your clothing.” He hadn’t been as excited to take a girl or woman on a date since his junior prom.
“That’s sweet! But I don’t want to be thought of as part of the family.” Her gaze dropped to the table cloth were she fiddled with her silverware.
“Why not? I’m the best man so it would only be fitting for you to be considered part of the wedding party.” He didn’t like her feeling she shouldn’t be included. She was his date and his mother and sisters would never forgive him if he didn’t include Shandra in all the wedding activities, including the rehearsal dinner the night before. A small thing he hadn’t mentioned to her yet.
“You are very open minded, and I’m sure your family is too, but I was taught from an early age to keep my Nez Perce side hidden and not to get too familiar with people. My mother constantly told me you don’t know how people will really act until it’s too late.” She raised her chin and peered into his eyes. “You don’t care about my heritage, but if someone in your family does, I don’t want to ruin your day with your family.”
Ryan reached across the table palm up. Hesitantly, she placed her hand in his. “If I bring you to the wedding and introduce you as my friend, everyone in my family will include you and every man at the wedding will wish they were me.” He squeezed her hand. “You’ll be surprised to see you won’t be the only Native American there. I told you about my friend in school. His brother was good friends with Conor.”
Miranda returned with their meal. One whiff and Ryan’s stomach gurgled with happiness.
“Poppa’s chicken cacciatore. Enjoy.” Miranda took away the salad plates and disappeared.
“This looks delicious.” He shoved his fork into the dish and spun the utensil, capturing the pasta.
“I’m wearing a colorful tunic and brown leggings. You said the wedding was outside and casual.” She took a bite of the dish. Her eyes closed.
He understood her reverence to the food. His mother had never made anything this good. “I’m glad you suggested this place. It beats burgers.”
They finished their meal with small talk.
Miranda arrived carrying two small plates with a thinly-layered dessert. “These are on the house.”
“I love tiramisu!” Shandra said, licking her lips as Miranda placed a dessert in front of her.
Ryan locked that away for future reference. “I don’t believe I’ve had this before.” He dipped his fork into the fluffy dessert and savored the bite. “Wow. This is good.”
They finished the desserts along with another cup of coffee and tea.
Miranda was bringing their coats to them when raised voices floated back to their corner.
Chapter Fourteen
Shandra recognized the voices that were arguing loudly. She glanced over her shoulder at Ryan as he helped her on with her coat. “Recognize the voices?”
He nodded and led her toward the front of the restaurant.
Red and June Hasting sat at a table not far from the door. Both had stormy faces and their arms crossed. Obviously they’d come to a standoff about something.
“Do we say hello?” Shandra asked.
Ryan didn’t answer, merely walked over to the table. “Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Hasting. Are you celebrating something?”
The two couldn’t have missed the innuendo in his comment.
Red shoved up from the table. “What are you insinuating?”
“Nothing. This is a nice restaurant with a lovely atmosphere. Just the kind of place to go for a celebration. That’s all.” He grasped Shandra’s hand, leading her out of the building.
“What was that all about?” Shandra asked, as Ryan led her across the street and around the corner.
He stopped. “I just want to see what they do now.”
“They had food sitting on the table. They’ll eat.” She pulled her jacket around her tighter and peeked around his shoulder.
Ryan put an arm around her, drawing her close to him as they both watched the Hastings through the restaurant window.
June wasn’t eating. She shoved her plate to the middle of the table and hurried toward the restrooms. Red threw his napkin onto his plate and stared after her.
Shandra pushed closer to Ryan to stave off the cold settling over the town. “She’s taking a long time in the restroom.”
“Too long.” Ryan rubbed his hand up and down her arm.
“Do you think she went out the back to avoid a confrontation with her husband?” Shandra could see the timid woman doing just that.
June didn’t return after ten minutes. Red went to the restrooms and returned within minutes. He grabbed their coats from the backs of their chairs and shoved out the front doors.
“Come on. Let’s see if June left the pickup by the clinic.” Ryan captured her hand, and they turned to walk down Second Street.
Someone stepped out of the alley that ran behind the businesses alongside Rigatoni’s.
“That has to be June,” Shandra whispered and hastened her steps.
“Not too fast. We don’t want to scare her. Act natural.” Ryan slowed their pace and walked along as if they were on a stroll.
June reached the pickup and dug in her purse for her keys.
An old jeep revved up the street and screeched to a halt beside the pickup. The door flung open and Red emerged. He shook June’s coat at her as he approached.
“We need to do something.” Shandra’s stomach churned with worry for the woman.
“If he gets physical I will. I need to see if his professed love is true.” Ryan leaned into the shadow of a building, drawing her with him.
“I can’t believe you won’t talk to me about this!” Red advanced on June but only held her coat out to her.
“There’s nothing to talk about. I made a mistake. I’m taking care of the mistake.” June’s flat tone scared Shandra more than Red’s aggressiveness. It was as if she’d given up on life.
“What do you mean taking care of the mistake?” Red looked across the street. “Why are you parked near the clinic? You said you were meeting your sister this afternoon.” He stared at his wife. “Did you meet her here? Why didn’t you bring me to your doctor’s appointment?”
“Because I didn’t want you to know about it. Red, I can’t have this baby. Not now.” June dropped her face into her hands and started crying. Her shoulders shook.
Shandra’s heart went out to the woman.
“What do you mean you can’t have the baby? You’ve wanted a baby since we first married.” Red stepped forward, his arms extended as if to take her into them.
June backed away. “I slept with another man. I thought I loved him and he loved me. I can’t be your wife, and I can’t take care of a baby on my own. I made an appointment to have a—a…”
“No! I won’t have you take a life. You’ll regret it. You won’t be able to live with a decision like that.” Red did take her in his arms this time. He held his wife as she cried.
Shandra tugged on Ryan’s sleeve. “I think this is something we shouldn’t have seen.”
He nodded and followed her back to Huckleberry Street.
“Where are you parked?” Ryan asked, his tone somber.
“By Ruthie’s.” She wrapped her arms around her body. “My mother was pregnant with me before she married Daddy. When he found out he insisted they marry.”
“You say that like it’s a puzzle.” Ryan put an arm around her shoulders.
“Mother never told me that little detail. I learned it from Phil Seeton, the old man who rodeoed with my father.” Phil had told her other things that had kept her awake nights and searching the internet.
“I’m glad your mother didn’t contemplate what it sounds like June Hasting is.” Ryan kissed her temple.
“I’m not so sure she wouldn’t have aborted me if Daddy hadn’t stepped in. I’m the cause of her being married to an Indian and suffering ridicule for five years.” Shandra shivered. She wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or the realization her mother might have ended her life to keep from being married to her father.
“You need to go home and get a good night’s sleep. I have more suspects to visit with tomorrow.” Ryan stopped beside her Jeep.
“Who?” She needed to take her mind off the image of June that shifted into her mother.
“Todd Smith, who helped Randal set-up the wildlife cameras, and Melvin Clower, the Fish and Game officer who handled the arrests and paperwork on the illegal tag infractions.” Ryan held out his hand for her keys.
She handed them over. “What about Cecily’s accusations about J.W. putting his hands down any female’s pants? And his attention to her? You going to look into others he might have been sleeping with?”
Ryan unlocked her door, handed her the keys, and helped her into the driver’s seat. “I’ll check that out if other names come up. Right now, no one else has been linked to J.W.
“I also have to go through the SD cards from the wildlife cameras and see if I can find out which one is missing. The killer may still have it or tried to take it to a pawn shop.” Ryan placed a hand on her cheek. “Don’t dwell on the past. I see a bright, happy future for you.”
Staring into his eyes, she could see a happy future too, but her curiosity about the past needed to be satisfied.
She put her hand over his. “I’ll only dwell on what will heal my heart. Good-night.” She grasped his hand, squeezed, and let him go. Closing the vehicle door, she blew him a kiss and started up the Jeep. Ryan stood in the street watching her until she drove out of town.
The drive home only brought up more questions. The one that nagged at her the most was Cecily’s disgust of her uncle. If he’d made a pass at her, did he have a penchant for younger girls? How do I find out if he’s had contact with other young girls?
All the lights were blazing as she pulled up to her house. Sheba bounded out from behind the barn. Proving she’d been keeping Lil company. Thankful for Lil, she walked up a well-lit walkway and into a warm, bright house.
Now that she no longer had to drive, she headed to the kitchen and poured a glass of wine. Sheba stretched out in front of the couch.
“This is where you think I should drink my wine?” she asked, hitting the remote and turning on the gas fireplace. Shandra settled onto the couch and tried to think of something other than the troubling thoughts that had hounded her on the drive.
The warmth and wine made her eyelids heavy. She drifted into a dream.
“Ella, what are you doing here?” she questioned her grandmother. The old woman beckoned her closer. They were in the forest, hidden behind a large pine tree. Peeking around the trunk of the tree, Shandra watched a man wi
th his back to her, open what looked like a camera and put the SD card in an electronic tablet. The man swore, yanked the SD card out of the tablet, and smashed it into the ground. He replaced the camera and stormed off. “Who is he, Ella?” she asked. But her grandmother was gone. The spot where he’d stomped on the SD card had a light shining down on it. She wasn’t familiar with the area. But could tell it wasn’t where Ryan claimed the body had been shot.
Chapter Fifteen
Ryan spent the next morning playing phone tag to make appointments with Todd Smith and Melvin Clower. While he was on the phone, Deputy Speaks arrived at the police station.
“Did you find anything interesting at the murder site?” Ryan asked, leaning back in the chair and taking a sip of the coffee Hazel had placed beside the keyboard fifteen minutes earlier.
“We found the bullet in a tree about thirty feet from the shell casing. Thirty-aught-six. Like Rickman said.” Speaks pulled up a chair.
Hazel appeared with a cup of coffee for him and heated up Ryan’s.
“Thanks Hazel. You don’t need to wait on us,” Ryan said.
“It’s the only way I can eavesdrop.” The woman winked and went back to her station.
Ryan laughed. Speaks just stared at the woman.
“She won’t tell anyone what we say. She’s my encyclopedia of the people who live in Huckleberry.” Ryan picked up the report Speaks set on the desk.
He read through the preliminary report. “You found evidence of three different-sized footprints?” Ryan set the report down. “All male?”
“Hard to tell. They were all hiking-type boots. Three different sizes. One could have been a woman with a big foot or a man with a small foot.” Speaks took a sip of the coffee. “Not bad.”
“Just don’t take any the chief offers you.” Ryan clicked off the male suspects in his mind. So far none of them had smallish feet. “Did they match one set to the deceased?”
“Yes. We never did find a camera.” Speaks grabbed the cell phone in his breast pocket, glanced at the number, and stood. “I need to take this.”