by Lynn Cahoon
“You’re here, aren’t you?” I closed the door and flipped the locks. A habit Greg had forced on me with his multiple lectures about living right off a major highway alone. I’d never really had a problem, but the more I heard from him about breakins up and down the coastline, the more comfortable I felt with keeping the house locked.
My aunt headed to the kitchen, pausing at the laundry door. “Oh, I didn’t realize you were out of decent clothes to wear. You really should do laundry more often.”
I watched her beeline to the coffeepot and pour a cup. Then she pulled out a bag of cookies from her oversized tote and arranged them on one of my good plates. She walked both back to the table.
“I like my outfit. I’m not out of clean clothes, but I’ve got a lot of work to do today.” I eyed a cookie but went to fill my own cup instead. I went to the table, grabbed what looked like an oatmeal-raisin cookie, and pointed it at her. “So, now that you’re done insulting me, what did I need to see?”
She pulled out a newspaper and opened it to the middle. She folded the paper so I could see the article. “This.”
The headline read, Out-of-the-Way Diner Evokes Classic Memories. Underneath the headline was a small picture of the tourist guy. “No way. Evan McCurdy, food critic.” I grinned. “I saw him yesterday at dinner with Greg and asked him if he liked the book he bought.”
“You stopped by his table?” My aunt looked surprised.
Now I could feel the heat rise in my face. “No. Actually, I chased him down in the lobby as he was leaving. I think he thought I knew he was doing an undercover diner visit. When I asked him about the book, he seemed relieved.”
“He probably thought you were going to out him.” My aunt took a sip of her coffee. “What did Greg say when you ran off?”
“Actually, he followed me.” Now I really felt like a fool. “I think he thought something was wrong. Then he caught me talking to this guy. I don’t know what Greg imagined.”
“I suppose he’s used to you and your need to know everything right now.” My aunt pointed at the article. “That’s not all I wanted you to see. Read the review.”
I started reading. This must have been the competition Carrie had mentioned that Lille thought was going to blast the diner into popularity. The tourist guy—Evan—I corrected myself, mentioned the contest and that even though Diamond Lille’s had been a strong contender, there was just a lot of competition in the area. He ended the piece with a nice overview of South Cove’s offering as a Sunday getaway or a staycation destination. I pointed to the last paragraph. “He mentions how cute and customer-friendly Coffee, Books, and More, the local bookstore–slash–coffee shop is.”
“I wonder if he wrote that before or after you ran him down yesterday at that diner?” My aunt dug in her purse. “Anyway, when I went down to the shop to grab these cookies, this was on the fax machine.”
I took the pages and saw on the cover, it had the county courthouse number. “What is this?”
My aunt took a cookie and broke it in half before taking a bite. “I think that is called a clue. Read the attachment Madeline sent.”
I read over the cover where she apologized for missing the attachment on my last visit to the records department. Then I read the rest. By the time I was done, my thoughts were racing.
“Interesting, right?” My aunt watched me over the top of her cup.
“This changes everything. I think this might just lead us to who killed Sandra.” I thumbed through the pages. “It says here Bakerstown Public Relations had an exclusive option to purchase Promote Your Brand for thirty days. And as of last Friday, they were exercising the option.”
“If I were Greg, I’d want to talk to that husband again. Maybe he was trying to sell the business and run away with Rachel.”
I shook my head. “Michael has an alibi. He was drinking with Adam at the winery. And seeing him at the meeting with the California Mission Society, I don’t think he could do it. He seemed heartbroken to lose her.”
“Except when he was taking the other woman to lunch, remember?” My aunt shook her finger at me. “Don’t let his puppy dog eyes fool you. The man offed his wife to be with his mistress. Oldest story ever told.”
“If Michael was selling this place, all we have to do is give the owner”—I scanned down the papers to the named parties—“Thomas Brown, a call to see who he was dealing with on the sale.”
“Then we turn it over to Greg?”
I nodded. “Then we turn it over to Greg.”
I grabbed my laptop and searched for Bakerstown Public Relations. You would think there wouldn’t be enough business for two PR firms in town. Maybe that was why this guy wanted to buy out Sandra and Michael. Except from what I knew, Promote Your Event mostly worked with agencies on onetime events and annual conventions. I guess they’d carved out a niche for themselves. A very profitable niche, from their annual reports.
I found the website and wrote down the number. When I dialed it on my cell, I got a recorded message telling me that the office would be open at ten. I hung up the phone and looked at the clock. “We’ve got just under three hours before the place opens.”
“Should we drive in to talk to him?” My aunt grabbed for her purse.
I scanned the website for a physical address. “We can’t until the mattress arrives. The delivery is scheduled between eight and noon.” When I found the address, I wrote it in my notebook. “Interesting. This office is in the same building and on the same floor as Promote Your Event.”
“Maybe that’s how they approached Michael to sell.” My aunt set her purse down again. “So what am I going to do until after ten, when we can call this guy?”
“You could work on the books for the shop.” Last year when my aunt had taken over the bookkeeping for Coffee, Books, and More, she’d also networked my computer with both hers and the one at the shop. That way, we could work at home or in the shop on the accounting and supply ordering. I had a dedicated desktop that I only used for shop business in my office. Well, plus a little pinning of pictures of coffee drinks, books, and dessert treats to the shop’s Pinterest board. Okay, a lot of pinning.
“I do hope you’ve dusted lately in your office.” My aunt took her cup to the pot and refilled. “You know I’m allergic.”
“Knock yourself out. You know where the cleaning supplies are. I’m heading upstairs to make sure there’s a path to the guest room for the mattress guys.” I loved my aunt, truly, but sometimes, she knew just the right thing to say that would jerk my chain. Besides, who had time to dust anymore? Probably the same people who ironed. I wasn’t even sure where my iron was or whether I still owned one.
The truck with the mattress arrived at nine thirty. By the time the guys had wrestled the mattress through the living room and up the stairs, where it promptly got stuck in the hallway, it was after ten. We had to back it down the stairs, get one of the guys in the bedroom, and then retry the move. This time it worked, and we knew how to get the box springs in the room. I was beginning to rethink my plans for the third bedroom. I’d wanted to set up a home gym, but how would we get the equipment up the narrow stairs? I had a shed out on the property, maybe I should think of using that area.
“Lady, I know I shouldn’t say this, but I hope you take your next mattress purchase elsewhere.” The young man wiped the sweat from his forehead.
The other guy, older, shook his head, slapping the other guy on his arm. “Jake’s just lazy. You don’t worry about it. We can get anything you purchase up these stairs, no problem.”
The younger guy grinned. “Whatever, man. I’m not the one who looks like he’s going to have a heart attack.”
“Would you like a bottle of water?” I agreed with Jake. The older man looked pale and drawn.
He nodded. “That would be nice. I’ll have Superman here drive us to the next stop.”
I grabbed a couple of bottles of water out of the fridge and bagged up two cookies from the plate on the table. I met the g
uys on the front porch as they gathered up their tools. “Here you are. Cookies are from Coffee, Books, and More in town. I own the shop and would love to treat the two of you to a coffee someday.”
“My girlfriend loves that place. She’s always making me take her there on Saturdays.” Jake grinned. “I don’t mind though. We tend to hang out on the beach afterward and man, she looks good in her bikini.”
“You are a dog.” The older man chuckled. He turned to me. “You are very kind. Maybe my wife and I will come visit someday.”
As I watched the truck drive away, my aunt came up behind me. “I swear, you build the customer base one person at a time. How did you know that they would even be interested in visiting the shop?”
I closed the door and turned toward her. “Are you kidding? He wore a wedding ring so there was a chance his wife might enjoy a visit. And the kid? Well, South Cove is for lovers. It’s our new log line. What do you think?”
“I hate it.” My aunt handed me my cell, excitement pouring out of her body like a kid on Christmas Eve. “Call the PR guy.”
I hit redial and when the answering machine picked up, it was the same message. But this time, I listened all the way through. “Closed for lunch at one.” I glanced at the clock. We’d just missed him. I set my phone on the coffee table and nodded upstairs. “I’ll get sheets on that bed and then come down and make soup and salad for lunch. What do you think?”
My aunt twisted her head to stretch her neck. “I think I’ll go back to working on the accounts. Call me when it’s ready.”
I switched out a load of laundry and let Emma into the house before I went upstairs. She bounded around, looking for the men whom she’d known were in her house. “Too late, baby.” I rubbed under her chin. “The delivery guys have already left.”
She ignored my information and ran upstairs in front of me to keep me safe. When she saw the mattress settled on the bed frame, she sniffed the length of the bed, looking for any sign that the interlopers were still around. I got the sheets out of the linen closet and covered the new mattress. I threw on an old comforter I’d had in the closet, as well. I had to admit, the room was starting to look good. But by the time I was done, it would be as amazing as one of the theme rooms over at South Cove Bed-and-Breakfast.
As the soup thawed in the microwave, I made a final list of what I needed to buy for the new room. I didn’t have a lot of sleepover guests, besides my aunt, but when I did, I’d be ready for them.
By the time we’d finished our green salad with grilled chicken slices and a tomato bisque soup, the clock showed two-oh-five. I grabbed the phone and hit redial. “Third time’s a charm,” I whispered as the phone rang. But I’d spoken too soon. I got the answering machine again. This time I left a message, leaving both my name and the store name. At least he might think it was a call on a possible job, which could get our phone call returned faster. My aunt sank into the chair.
“I’m beat. I’m heading back to the apartment and soaking in a tub filled with hot water and bubbles. I might even open a bottle of wine and have cheese and crackers for dinner.” She kissed me on the cheek. “Are you going to spend the last few hours of your vacation relaxing? Or do you have another project?”
“I’m done. Well, except for laundry. I think I’m going to curl up on the couch and read until my stomach growls. Thanks for coming by today.” I walked her toward the door.
“You sound like you really mean that.” My aunt smiled softly and patted my hair. “I like spending time with you.”
As she walked out the door, my phone rang.
CHAPTER 20
Amy’s voice boomed through the speaker. “Girl, where are you? I thought we were meeting at Lille’s for a late lunch.”
I squeezed my eyes together. My aunt waved and walked out to her car. “I guess you won’t be relaxing after all.”
“Hey, I totally forgot. I’ll be there in ten.” I looked down at my dirty shorts and shirt. I’d have to change and I really should shower. “Make it fifteen.”
“Fine, but hurry up. I’ve already snagged us a booth, but the place is hopping and Carrie keeps asking if I’d rather sit at the counter.”
“I’ll hurry.” I closed the door and ran upstairs, discarding clothes as I ran. I pulled my hair back with a clip and jumped in the shower to lather up and rinse off. My hair would have to be okay the way it was. When I toweled off, I glanced through what was clean and left in my dresser. I had a choice between a Halloween bad witch costume and a pair of old capris and a Heart tank I’d gotten at a concert too many years ago to remember.
I hurried Emma out to the yard, hoping coyotes didn’t really hang out during the day, and had to stop and fill her water and food dishes before I left. I slipped on a pair of walking shoes and locked up the house. I glanced at my phone. Amy had called eight minutes ago. If I walked fast, I might even make the fifteen I’d promised.
It was twenty, and when I walked in, the diner was buzzing. Every table was crowded, mostly with people I didn’t know. The counter even had most of the stools taken. I glanced around the crowd and saw Amy waving toward me. Lille was standing in front of the booth. When she turned around to see who Amy was waving at, her face hardened.
“I should have known she was waiting for you. Do you realize the faster I can turn a table here, the more people I can serve? Or did that nugget of information never make it into your fancy law degree?” Lille snarled.
“Sorry. My fault. I didn’t remember about our date.” I quickly looked at the menu. Since I’d just eaten, most of this meal would be put into a to-go box for dinner. “How about the fried chicken dinner?”
“Do I look like your server? I’ll let Carrie know you’re ready, finally.” Lille turned toward the kitchen, then spun back around. “And tell your boyfriend to leave Mick alone. Just because he rides a bike doesn’t make him a criminal.”
“Greg interviewed your boyfriend?” I set the menu down and rapid-fired my questions. “Do you know why? Was it about Sandra’s murder?”
“Like I’m going to tell you anything?” Lille sneered. “But no, Miss Have-to-Know-It-All, it wasn’t about the murder. Of course, you’d love that. You’re always trying to send my guys to jail, aren’t you?”
“Only if they deserve it.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them, and as I slapped my hand over my mouth, Lille stepped closer, fire in her eyes. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that.”
“Of course you did. I’m watching you. Everyone might think you’re sweet and innocent, but I know better.” This time she did leave the table.
“Boy, that was risky. You know she’s kicked people out of here for life just because she got mad at them, right?” Amy’s eyes were wide and she looked a little scared.
“Then we’d just have to eat up the highway at Mel’s,” I muttered, looking through the menu to see what I wanted for dinner. Not that I wouldn’t end up ordering the chicken, I just wanted to check out my options now that I had a little time.
Amy’s nose curled. “I hate that place. It smells like cigarette smoke.”
“No one’s smoked in there in years.” Mel’s used to be a biker hangout on the coastal highway, but when the old man Mel had died, his daughter had reopened as a sandwich shop. The bikers, used to heavier food at cheaper prices, had moved down the highway to a new bar and grill.
Amy pushed a lock of hair back behind her ears. “I don’t care, it still reeks.”
Carrie stopped by our table, her grin wide. “You two know how to cheat death, that’s all I got to say.”
“She still mad?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
“Honey, she’s going to be spitting nails every time your name is mentioned for months now.” Carrie positioned her pen to the order pad. “So, what can I get you for your last meal?”
Amy raised her eyebrows in an I told you so gesture.
“Oh man, don’t tell me we got banned.” I peeked around Carrie at the hostess station where Lille
stood, glaring our way.
Carrie chuckled. “Nah, I’m just messing with you. What can I get started before she really does ban you for taking too much of my time.” A bell sounded in the kitchen. “I’ve got food up.”
We gave her our orders and then settled back into the booth. “You were almost on my bad list for the year.” Amy pulled out her phone. “Along with the mayor, who’s been riding my butt about some report we have to get done for the council meeting. Now, mind you, they don’t meet for almost three weeks, but Marvin wants this report compiled and on his desk by Friday. The man is impossible.”
“Maybe it will take him that long to understand what you said in the report.”
Amy giggled. “You’re probably spot-on there. So, how has your vacation been? I thought I might hear from you yesterday.”
I explained the remodeling fiasco, along with Adam’s kind of kidnapping or attack I’d suffered on Saturday. I finished the week’s report with one additional line: “And then Aunt Jackie’s in a mood, so we’ve kind of been investigating Sandra’s murder.”
Amy shook her head. “Seriously? You were attacked and you’re complaining about stripping a bed frame? Did he hurt you? What did he want?”
“Beats me. For some reason, he thought Sandra had given me something that would prove who he really was. I tried to tell him I’d only met the chick once.” I sipped on my iced tea. “Besides, stripping that bed frame was a real pain.”
“You are something else. No wonder Greg worries about you.” Amy read a text on her phone and then texted a short answer back. “I wonder if Sandra called you something else, instead of using your name. Like my friend from South Cove. Maybe that’s why he thought it was you.”
I nodded to the phone. “You need to go?” I didn’t want her to get in trouble with her boss. My mind drifted to her words. My friend from South Cove.
“No way. I had to take a late lunch anyway, Marvin can just cool his jets.” Amy picked up her milk shake. “Besides, this is the first shake I’ve had in two weeks. I’m not letting a report get in the way of enjoying one of Lille’s shakes. I swear, she makes the best shakes in fifty miles.”