On the Lamb

by Tina Kashian

Lucy spotted a movement from the corner of her eye. A man in a dark suit walked toward the sisters. He was heavyset with thick brown hair and sideburns. The two sisters jumped apart when they spotted him.

  Rhonda waved the man forward. “Noah, we were just catching up.” She placed a hand on his arm, her blood-red fingernails curling like talons on his sleeve.

  Noah’s brow furrowed in concern as he looked at Melanie. “You okay, Melanie? I know Gilbert was your landlord.”

  “Oh, I’m fine. It was just a shock,” Melanie said, her voice unsteady.

  “I had a long conversation with the wife. Sophia seems to be taking it hard,” Noah said.

  At the mention of Sophia, Melanie froze, and her gaze darted to her sister.

  Rhonda’s lips curled in a smile as she looked up at her husband like nothing untoward had occurred. “Noah, why don’t you pull up the car, and I’ll meet you?”

  “Of course.” Noah placed a kiss on his wife’s cheek and departed.

  Melanie’s expression turned into one of pure disgust as she looked at her sister. “He has a right to know. You had no problem coming to me for money when you couldn’t make Gilbert’s outrageous interest payments.”

  Rhonda planted her hands on her hips and faced her sister. “You offered to help me, remember? How should I know you’d put yourself behind on your own rent and Gilbert would come knocking on your door? His death serves your purposes as well as mine.”

  “You’re such a bitch.”

  “Oh, please. You hated Gilbert.”

  “I didn’t hate him.”

  “No? Not enough to kill him?”

  Melanie glowered at her sister. “Get away from me. I never want to see you again.” She spun on her heel and headed in the opposite direction.

  A Lexus pulled up at the front of the parking lot. Noah was in the driver’s seat. With a huff, Rhonda turned and walked to her husband.

  Lucy let out a held-in breath. “That was disturbing. In order to pay off her online gambling debts, Rhonda had borrowed money from Gilbert.”

  Katie whistled. “Of all people.”

  “And when Rhonda couldn’t pay, she went to Melanie.”

  It was clear that Melanie was furious with her sister. And Rhonda had kept her gambling problem and debts secret from her husband, Noah.

  “Melanie asked me to help find Gilbert’s real killer,” Lucy said. “My gut kept telling me that Melanie was keeping a secret, but I couldn’t imagine what she was hiding.”

  “Both Melanie and Rhonda had their own reasons for disliking Gilbert. By helping Rhonda, Melanie had also inadvertently taken on her sister’s debts. Do you think Melanie killed him?” Katie asked.

  Lucy hesitated as the awful thought that her friend may have murdered Gilbert in cold blood settled in her mind. “I don’t know anymore. But I’m sure she didn’t tell Detective Clemmons everything we just learned when she was called in for questioning. If she did, she might not be walking around free today.”

  Katie rubbed her chin with her thumb and forefinger. “We’re missing something important.”

  “What?” Lucy asked.

  “Do you think Sophia knew about Gilbert’s side business as a moneylender?

  It was a good question. They were married, and one could assume that Sophia knew about her husband’s moneylending, but what if she didn’t? They were in the middle of a heated divorce. “Maybe Sophia discovered her husband was hiding income on top of everything else and she went crazy?” Lucy said. “She could have lost her temper and killed him in a rage. It’s a public beach. Anyone could have snuck near the bonfire that night.”

  “Except she claims she wasn’t on the beach and that she was at Mac’s Irish Pub and has a rock-solid alibi. Do you believe Sophia?”

  Lucy’s didn’t hesitate. “No, but I plan on finding out tonight.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Lucy flipped the switch of the restaurant’s ten-gallon commercial coffee urn to brew. Within minutes, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee made her mouth water. But what she really craved was one of Lola Stewart’s steamed cappuccinos. Her father went to Lola’s Coffee Shop every morning for coffee and conversation. Her mother often complained about her father’s caffeine habit, but Lucy made a mental note to go to Lola’s soon.

  “Are you ready for our date tonight?”

  Lucy turned to find Azad leaning on the kitchen’s long, stainless-steel prep counter, his arms folded across his broad chest. He grinned, and the tempting cleft in his chin made her want to press a kiss there. He looked confident and sexy in his chef’s coat.

  What was it about a competent male in the kitchen?

  Her mother religiously watched Cooking Kurt, the handsome celebrity chef on the cooking channel. Lucy had never understood her mother’s fascination until she’d seen Azad chop vegetables with lightning speed, his muscles flexing beneath his coat with every stroke of his chef’s knife.

  Lucy swallowed hard and stepped away from the urn, all thoughts of coffee fleeing from her head. “Is a local band playing?” The last time he’d taken her to Mac’s Irish Pub, the Beach Bums had performed.

  “Not tonight. I thought we could sit by the bar, share a drink, and talk.”

  “That sounds nice.”

  They closed the restaurant half an hour early that night so that they could both go home and dress for their evening out. The bar was beach casual, but Lucy took care with her appearance and wore a pale pink sundress and wedge sandals. Her dark curls were loose down her back.

  Azad arrived at her apartment in jeans and a white button-down shirt with shirtsleeves rolled up in a casual manner. His hair was still damp and a dark lock rakishly fell across his forehead. He looked like a pirate.

  “You look amazing,” he said.

  A zing traveled down her spine. “You look nice yourself.”

  He tucked her arm in his and escorted her to his truck. The pub was only five blocks away and she could hear the music and the crowd when they pulled into the parking lot. The pub was a local favorite and featured a large selection of microbrews and classic beers on tap, as well as a good selection of wines, some from the local winery in Cape May.

  He held open the door and Lucy stepped inside the pub. The smell of beer and fried bar food wafted to her. A long, mahogany bar, its surface polished but nicked from years of use, ran the length of one wall. The place was crowded with locals and others Lucy recognized as bikers from the motorcycle festival. Men and women sat at tables, drinking beer and watching a Phillies game on a large-screen television above the bar.

  Azad pulled out stools from the bar, and Lucy and he each took one.

  A gum-chewing barmaid slid cardboard coasters advertising domestic beers before them. “Hi, Lucy!”

  “Hi, Candace. How’s Brandon?”

  “He just started as a freshman in high school this year.”

  “Wow! Already?”

  “I can’t believe my baby boy is so big,” Candace said with a wide grin.

  Candace had graduated from high school with Katie and Lucy. She’d also become pregnant her senior year and dropped out. It was a shock to all the students. But Candace had decided to keep the baby and had finished her high school degree at night school. She’d worked at Mac’s Irish Pub all through that time and had made her way up from waitress to bartender to assistant manager. Mac McCabe depended on Candace.

  Candace turned her attention to Azad. “Hey, Azad. How’s the cooking?”

  “Good. You should stop by tomorrow night. It’s shish kebab night.”

  “I wouldn’t miss it. Now, what can I get you two?”

  They ordered two beers on tap. As they waited for Candace to pour their beers, several men walked by and slapped Azad on the back in greeting. Two others waved at him from their tables. Azad waved back.

  It seemed as if almost everyone in town knew Azad. It was something she’d gotten used to since returning home. The small-town camaraderie had bothered her in the beginning, but she’d com
e to appreciate the townsfolk and the way people felt close to one another.

  Candace delivered their beers, and Azad held out his glass to Lucy. “To a nice night out with my favorite lady.”

  “To a fun night out with my favorite chef.” Lucy tapped her glass to his.

  They sipped their beers, and she felt a ripple of excitement at the admiration in his dark eyes.

  “I hope to expand the menu to include gluten-free options. What do you think?” he asked.

  Lucy cocked her head to the side and regarded him. “I think that’s a great idea.” Lucy knew that more and more people were trying a gluten-free diet, whether it was due to having food allergies or wanting a healthier lifestyle. Many restaurants were offering gluten-free dishes.

  “And Raffi?” Azad asked.

  She tapped her foot on the barstool as she considered her father’s opinion on the matter. “We have to get it past him, but I’m the new manager now, remember?”

  Azad just smiled. “I know, but does he?”

  Lucy rolled her eyes. Her father was stubborn, but this was different. How could he complain about expanding the menu with Azad as the head chef? It’s not like they were asking him to install new, stainless-steel shelving in the storage room or changing their inventory process from manual to electronic. The only possible cost would be to print new menus to include a gluten-free section. No biggie in Lucy’s opinion.

  “I’ll talk to him.” She gifted him with a big smile. “My dad shouldn’t complain. Customers love your food. I get compliments for the chef all the time.”

  Azad grinned. “Just don’t tell your mother.”

  Angela was even more stubborn, and sensitive when it came to her cooking. She loved Azad like a son, something she kept reminding Lucy of at every chance, but she was territorial about her cooking. It was like insulting her firstborn, only worse.

  As the night progressed, Lucy enjoyed her drinks and the company even more. They had a long history together and they reminisced about their teenage and college years. They were both careful not to mention their breakup after college. Back then, she’d thought they were headed toward marriage, but Azad wasn’t ready. He’d broken her heart, but now that she’d returned home and was older and wiser, she knew it had been for the best. If she’d followed her parents’ wishes and married Azad straight out of college, she wouldn’t have graduated from law school, wouldn’t have worked in a Philadelphia firm for eight years, and wouldn’t have gained the education or experience to know what she really wanted out of life. She would have stayed home, had children, and worked in the restaurant. She may or may not have been fulfilled. But she certainly wouldn’t have the wisdom to solve murders.

  Now, she truly knew what she wanted out of life. She was happy here and fulfilled as the manager of Kebab Kitchen. And most surprising of all, she was excited to be back with Azad.

  Life had gone full circle, but not without a few bumps in the road along the way.

  These thoughts led Lucy to thinking about the other reason she was here tonight: to confirm Sophia’s alibi the night of Gilbert’s murder.

  Candace showed up just in time, and they ordered two more beers on tap. Lucy ran her finger down the frosty mug. “Hey, Candace, is Mac around tonight?”

  Candace popped a bubble. “Sure thing. Give me a minute and I’ll fetch him for you.” She sidled down the bar to serve another customer.

  Azad gave her a curious look. “Why do you want to know if Mac MacCabe’s in the house?”

  Lucy experienced a moment of trepidation. “No reason.”

  “Hmm. I know that expression. You and Katie have decided to fully embrace this murder investigation, haven’t you?”

  Her stomach tightened at his serious expression. Azad had said he’d understood her inquisitive nature, but she knew he worried about her, too. She could lie and dismiss his concerns. It would be a lot easier. But lying was no basis for a relationship, and they were in a relationship.

  “Spill it,” he said.

  Still, she hesitated, not sure how he would respond. She stiffened her spine and her resolve. If he cared for her—truly cared—he would understand. “I’m helping out a friend.”

  “When you say ‘friend,’ do you mean Melanie Haven?”

  She sighed. He was much more perceptive than she thought. “How do you know?”

  “It was her taffy, wasn’t it? The way Gilbert was killed was explained in the paper in detail.”

  No doubt. As soon as the police made an official statement, Stan Slade would report it in the Town News.

  “You’re right. Katie and I want to help Melanie,” Lucy admitted. “But she’s not who I want to ask Mac about. I want to ask him about the victim’s wife, Sophia Lubinski.”

  Azad’s brow furrowed. “What does Gilbert’s wife have to do with Mac MacCabe?”

  “Sophia claims she was at the pub the night of the bonfire and has an alibi for the murder. I want to know if Mac remembers seeing Sophia that night.”

  Azad tapped his fingers on the bar. “Why didn’t you just say so?”

  She looked down. “Because I know how you feel about me and Katie asking questions. You worry.”

  Azad placed a finger beneath her chin and raised her eyes to his. “Like I said before, I also know you, and that’s why I like you. Let me help out.”

  Could he surprise her any more? He was turning out to be a considerate and supportive boyfriend. He’d helped her by picking up a screwdriver and installing the stainless-steel shelving in the storage room when she’d thought it would take months. He’d helped her by quitting his fancy Atlantic City sous chef job and taking on the position of full-time chef at Kebab Kitchen. He’d helped her by showing her people can change when they wanted to.

  Now he was helping her question someone who might have important information about Gilbert’s murder.

  She wanted to kiss him.

  He lowered his hand and winked at her. “If you keep looking at me that way, I’ll forget about talking to Mac and pick you up and carry you out of here.”

  Oh my. That didn’t sound so bad.

  “I hear you’re asking for me?”

  Lucy dragged her gaze away from Azad’s to find Mac McCabe standing behind the bar. Tall and well-built, his brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail and held by a leather string.

  “Hey, Mac,” Azad said. “We wanted to ask you something. Do you remember the night Gilbert Lubinski was killed?”

  “I do. It was a busy night here. I was shocked to learn of it the next day. Poor guy was killed right on the beach. Bad for business.”

  “Do you know Gilbert’s wife, Sophia?” Lucy asked.

  “Yup. Strange thing is, she was here that night. I’ll never forget it. It was the first time we had a long chat. She was talking to me about weird stuff.”

  “What do you mean by weird stuff?” Lucy asked.

  “Stuff I don’t normally talk about with my customers, and that’s saying something, because I talk a lot behind this bar. At first, I thought she must have been drunk, but she was nursing her Jack and Coke. No, she was just in the mood to talk about her dreams of moving away from the Jersey shore to pursue a modeling career in New York City.”

  “She never mentioned her husband?” Azad asked.

  “Only that she was going through a nasty divorce,” Mac said.

  Sophia wanted to be a model. Was there a chance Gilbert had vetoed her dreams and she longed to get rid of him? “Do you know what time she was here?” Lucy asked.

  “All night. She walked in here around seven o’clock and stayed until closing at two in the morning,” Mac said. “Come to think of it, she sat on the same barstool you’re sitting on now.”

  Disappointment felt like a heavy anchor in Lucy’s stomach. If Sophia was here all night bemoaning her modeling dreams to Mac, she couldn’t have killed Gilbert. Sophia’s alibi was airtight.

  “Thanks,” Lucy said.

  Mac wiped down the bar, then walked away to talk w
ith another customer a few stools away.

  “Did you get what you needed?” Azad asked.

  “I did, but it doesn’t help. I really thought Sophia was responsible for Gilbert’s murder, but her alibi is solid.”

  Sadly, everything kept leading back to Melanie.

  Melanie and her saltwater taffy.

  * * *

  After another beer, Lucy needed to make a quick trip to the ladies’ room.

  “I’ll be right back,” she told Azad as she slipped off her barstool.

  As she waded through the crowded bar toward her destination, she passed a group at the pool table in the rear of the bar. Others gathered around tables or stood talking and laughing with friends.

  The restrooms were located just outside the back storage room. Lucy had once glimpsed inside the room to see cases of beer and alcohol and wine bottles. She spotted the sign for the ladies’ room—a female stick figure with a skirt—when a voice called out.

  “Lucy, wait!”

  Lucy spun around to see Candace rushing forward, her face red.

  “There’s something I want to tell you and I couldn’t do it out there,” Candace said, breathing heavily and glancing back to the pub room.

  Lucy’s heart raced. “What’s wrong?”

  Candace shook her head. “Nothing serious. I heard you asking Mac about Sophia.”

  Lucy’s pulse started to pound a bit more, this time with excitement rather than fear. “What about her?”

  Candace brushed her hands on her apron pockets. “Sophia was at the bar the night of Gilbert’s murder.”

  Lucy listened with rising dismay. Had Candace chased her down only to confirm Sophia’s alibi?

  “But not for the entire night,” Candace added.

  “What do you mean?” Lucy asked. “Mac said he saw her and spoke with her.”

  “He did. But Mac didn’t tend the bar the entire night. I did. At one point, I was in the storage room fetching a case of beer when I saw Sophia scoot out the back door. She never saw me. Sophia was gone for about thirty minutes, then returned and stayed until closing at two in the morning.”

  Thirty minutes.

  Mac’s Irish Pub was only a two-block walk to the beach. It was enough time to leave the pub, rush to the beach, lure Gilbert aside, and kill him.