Teaberry Total Eclipse

by R A Wallace

  “Don’t tell me you’re on their side with this?”

  Megan smiled gently. “No, and you showed them they were wrong anyway. This is all old news. Why would you care what they thought back in the day?”

  “I don’t know,” Erica began pacing again. “I mean, I don’t. That’s not the problem. It’s Jimmy.”

  Megan tried to remember what she could of the gruff older man. It wasn’t much, other than a vague feeling that she hadn’t cared for him.

  “I never understood why you liked him.”

  Erica stopped pacing again. “He was my partner.”

  “Yeah, but still. He never seemed to like you.”

  Erica frowned. “What do you mean?”

  Megan shrugged. “I don’t know. I can’t think of anything specific. He was just always so stiff around you.”

  Erica wondered why she’d been the only one to not notice. “Well, it turns out you were right. His son told me that Jimmy was one of the guys who wanted me out of here.”

  Megan stood and walked around the table. “Again, water under the bridge. You showed them all. You’re a great cop. Don’t let it mess with you now.”

  “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Thanks.” Erica looked at Megan closely. She looked good. “How are you doing with your pregnancy?”

  Megan grimaced. “I have good days and bad days.”

  “Try the teaberry tea. It seemed to work,” Erica suggested.

  “Yeah, I’ve made several adjustments to my diet. There are some foods I can’t tolerate at all. How are things going now that you’re back to work?”

  Erica took a deep breath. “I’m coping, you know? I don’t know that anything else would have compelled me to get back to work as much as this case with Jimmy.”

  “He might not have been a particularly nice man, but maybe in this case he was helpful,” Megan pointed out.

  Erica considered it. “Actually, I learned a lot from Jimmy. Finding out that they all wanted to be rid of me was like a gut punch, but it’s not going to change how I felt about Jimmy. Whether he intended it or not, I’m a better cop now because of him.”

  “Then that’s the part of Jimmy you should hold in your memory.”

  Erica saw Rhys through the glass in the door. “Looks like he’s here.”

  Megan took her seat again and waited while Erica spoke with Rhys in the hall. He came into the room a few minutes later.

  “You were right, it was definitely a diamond.” Rhys took a seat at the table across from Megan. “There were also some rubies, emeralds, and sapphires.”

  “It would be an awfully big coincidence that the attempted break-ins occurred around the time Ethan got the telescope,” Megan said more to herself.

  Rhys agreed. “Even bigger that Tom and Caro bought the telescope and her house was broken into first.”

  “What do you think the chances are that the murder and the break-ins are tied together?”

  “Pretty good, actually.” He couldn’t believe there was any way possible they weren’t connected.

  “Casey mentioned that you were checking out a possibility the kids at school might have had something to do with the break-ins.” Megan wondered if they were still checking on that angle.

  Rhys made a face. “It didn’t feel right and still doesn’t, but we’ll continue to look into it just in case. In the meantime, though, we’re also going to focus on the telescope.”

  Megan wondered if that meant Ethan wouldn’t be getting his birthday present back any time soon.

  “What can you tell me about the break-ins?”

  Rhys looked at her speculatively. “Does this mean you’re going to try to solve it, like one of your puzzles?”

  Megan gave an apologetic look. “Blame Tom.”

  Personally, Rhys couldn’t blame the man. If anyone tried breaking in when Bella was home alone, he would be trying anything and everything to protect her also. Technically, Bella was never really home alone. Ham and Joni Givens, the elderly couple that owned the house, were there in the house and Bella spent much of her time downstairs with them until Ava got home from work.

  “We don’t have much. In both cases out at the farm, whoever it was parked out on the road. We found the footprints leading from the road to the house and back again.”

  “They didn’t get a look at the car?” Megan knew it would have been fairly dark by that time.

  Rhys made a face indicating no. “We were hoping the dog got a piece of him but there haven’t been any reports of anyone being treated for a bite.” He wondered if Ava would agree to a dog.

  Megan narrowed her eyes at Rhys. “What are the chances I could get a list of the people who attended the estate sale where Tom and Caro bought the telescope?”

  Rhys smiled. “Erica warned me you would ask when she left the room.”

  Of course, she did. Megan smiled back. She was pretty sure she knew of another way. It wouldn’t be as good as having the whole list, but it just might get her started.

  “Can you tell me if anyone else on the list has had a break-in since the estate sale?”

  “Not that we have found, no. We don’t have a complete list, though. The auctioneers didn’t keep track of everyone who was there. We only have a list of the people who bought something and paid with credit card or check.”

  Megan considered it for a moment then decided to switch topics.

  “What can you tell me about Jimmy’s death?”

  She hadn’t wanted to question Erica about the man after their discussion regarding Jimmy and his old cronies. She wasn’t at all surprised to hear that Jimmy had wanted Erica fired.

  Rhys had already asked Erica how much information he was allowed to give Megan. “Not much. Looks like the owners left Jimmy there around eight or so. He probably fell asleep for a bit but no one knows why he was outside that late at night. They wondered if it was because of the eclipse but the son doesn’t think that Jimmy would have been interested in it.”

  “So, he was either out there because he heard something or simply because he wanted to check on things before he went to sleep for real. If that’s the case, maybe he surprised whoever killed him and they hadn’t meant to do it,” Megan said mostly to herself. She focused on Rhys again. “Was anything in the house disturbed?”

  “Not that they could tell.” Rhys thought about Caro’s house. “Definitely not like Caro Delacroix’s place. They tossed her house.”

  “Maybe the killer wasn’t expecting to find anyone there,” Megan guessed.

  “Maybe.” Rhys stood. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

  Megan smiled. She knew Erica told him to say that.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Jennifer sat at her desk staring at the computer monitor. No matter how hard she tried, she had trouble focusing on the work she knew she needed to complete. Instead, her mind kept returning to Jim. A noise in the outer office interrupted her thoughts. She went out to see who was there, her foolish heart hoping to see Jim, but found Megan instead.

  “Hey. What brings you in?” Jennifer leaned against the door frame.

  “It’s a long shot, but I decided to take the chance and see if you knew who was handling the estate of Lilith Henderson.”

  “I am, actually. I guess I should have expected you since the security guard was killed there.” Jennifer’s eyes darted past Megan through the front windows of her office.

  “I’m sure there isn’t much you can tell me. Again, just a long shot.”

  “Not about the will, no. The heirs did give me a tour of the house before the estate sale began.”

  “I haven’t been out there.” Megan watched as Jennifer’s eyes returned to the front windows.

  “It’s a large place. I can’t imagine living there by myself.”

  “Did you know Mrs. Henderson?”

  “No. I inherited her as a client from my former partner when he retired.”

  Megan thought back. “I can’t ever remember seeing her in town.”

  “I
understand from her children that she never left the house.” A movement outside on the sidewalk caught Jennifer’s eye.

  “Agoraphobia?” Megan wondered out loud.

  “I honestly don’t know. Her children didn’t mention that. They just basically said that she led a boring life and never wanted any excitement. She didn’t want to go anywhere, or see other people, or ever really change her daily routine. No one visited her, other than her children, and she didn’t want anyone except her children to visit her. She basically shut herself away from life.”

  Interesting, Megan thought. She loved her farm but couldn’t imagine staying there her whole life or avoid interacting with anyone else. She liked visiting her family and friends. “Are you okay?”

  Jennifer’s eyes shot back to Megan. “Sure, why?”

  “You keep looking outside. Are you expecting someone?”

  Jennifer’s shoulders drooped. “No, I’m just being an idiot. I keep hoping to see Jim and there’s no reason to expect he would just happen by.”

  “Oh.” Megan didn’t want to pry, but Jennifer looked upset. “Want to talk about it?”

  Jennifer made a face. “You would think at my age I wouldn’t be acting like this. It’s just, it seems like he’s distant lately.” She made another face. “That’s not quite right. More like, secretive.”

  “Did you ask him about it?”

  Jennifer sighed and crossed her arms in front of her. “No, and you’re right. I need to stop acting like an idiot and face the problem. Whatever it is.”

  ***

  Everything had been put back to its original place. The house looked exactly the same way it had before the break-in. Caro wondered when her peace of mind would return as well. It hadn’t happened so far. She closed her book and set it on the end table.

  Tom noticed her movement. “Finish it?”

  “Not yet. I’m having trouble focusing on the story.” She smiled to show it wasn’t important. “Maybe a cup of tea would help.”

  “I can get it,” Tom offered.

  She knew they were both trying too hard. She wanted to pretend that everything was fine. He knew it wasn’t and wanted to do whatever he could to make it fine again for her. Each was doing it to make it easier for the other and neither was willing to admit it. The doorbell interrupted their odd contest of wills.

  Caro stood when she heard Megan’s voice as the young girl followed Tom back to the living room.

  “Megan, how nice of you to drop by,” Caro said warmly.

  Megan held up a bag. “I brought some Zucchini Huckleberry bread.”

  “Perfect. We were just talking about making some tea.”

  “I can take that,” Tom offered as he reached for the bag Megan was carrying.

  Caro smiled as Tom took the bread from Megan and headed toward the kitchen. She gestured to a chair.

  “How is it you can make your zucchini bread in winter?” Caro asked.

  “I freeze everything as it becomes ripe in the summer, even the zucchini. I shred it and measure it out into the amounts I need for different recipes,” Megan explained.

  “I wish I had thought of that years ago. It would have been nicer to spread the bounty out that way throughout the year.” Caro clasped her hands in her lap.

  Megan’s eyes dropped to Caro’s hands. “How are you doing?”

  Caro glanced toward the kitchen. “Is it that obvious.”

  Megan raised her eyebrows briefly and smiled.

  Caro sighed. “Yes, I suppose it is. It must be why that dear man is hovering over me no matter how many times I tell him I’m fine.”

  “Having someone come into your home like that…”

  Caro nodded. “Is frightening, yes. When you’re young, you think you’re invincible. It’s only as you get older that you begin to understand how precious people are, and how much you would miss them if anything happened to them.” Her eyes drifted toward the kitchen again.

  “I think I’m beginning to understand a bit of that now that we’re expecting.”

  Caro’s eyes flew to Megan. “Yes, I dare say you are. And, we have a new security system here now. There’s no real need for us to worry. Don’t let me put maudlin ideas into your head. This is a time for you to be happy.”

  Tom returned carrying a tray. “Why is Megan happy?”

  “She’s going to have a baby,” Caro reminded him.

  Tom set the tray down on the coffee table and turned toward Megan. “That’s right, I’d heard that. About time.”

  “Tom.” Caro chuckled. “Mind your manners.”

  Tom set a tea cup next to Caro. “I made decaf. I figured it was better for us and Megan.”

  “Thanks,” Megan said as she took a cup from Tom.

  “I sliced the bread so you can help yourselves. I won’t lie, I ate three pieces in the kitchen.” Tom turned to Caro. “I always loved her zucchini bread.”

  “The secret is in the huckleberries,” Megan said with a smile.

  “So, now that we’re settled, tell me about the jewels you found.” Tom took a seat next to Caro on the couch.

  “I just came from the police station. They confirmed that the largest stone was a diamond. It really was pretty impressive but so were the other jewels. I’m sure they’ll be here to ask you more questions soon.”

  Tom nodded. “No doubt. What made you think to look for anything inside the telescope?”

  Megan explained that the telescope wasn’t working.

  Tom shared a look with Caro. “Ethan never said a thing.”

  “I’m sure he didn’t want to hurt our feelings that it didn’t work,” Caro said.

  “He was hoping he could figure it out on his own,” Megan agreed.

  “Do the police think this has anything to do with the death at the estate?” Tom asked.

  “It would have to be quite a coincidence for it not to,” Megan pointed out.

  “Agreed,” Caro murmured.

  “There also hasn’t been any indication of other break-ins aside from yours here and out at the farm. The police are still following up on that, but so far they haven’t found any.”

  “What do you think that means?” Tom asked.

  “Well, one possibility is that the would-be thief was only looking for one thing and knew that you had it,” Megan explained.

  Caro caught on quickly. “They were looking for the telescope we bought.”

  Tom caught on also. “When they didn’t find it here, they went out to the farm.”

  “They never successfully got into the house there because of Cooper. That’s why they kept trying,” Megan finished her theory.

  Maybe that meant they have no reason to return here, Caro thought. She felt the tension in her neck relax a bit.

  “What can we do to help?” Caro asked Megan.

  “Did you interact with Jimmy Garcia at all?” Megan asked.

  “We did, actually. I knew him, you know,” Tom said.

  Megan figured he would have. “He was, what, around five years older than you?”

  Tom nodded. “About that. I can’t say that I knew him well, but we spoke for a few minutes when Caro and I were at the estate sale.”

  “He insisted on helping us carry the telescope to the car,” Caro said.

  “We tried to talk him out of it.” Tom shook his head.

  “It was obvious that he was tired and having trouble getting around,” Caro explained to Megan. “We didn’t want him to bother with it, but he insisted.”

  “We gave him the lightest part to carry,” Tom said as he reached for another piece of zucchini bread.

  “But I still worried about him,” Caro added.

  “I can’t get a list of the people who were there that day from the police. I was wondering if you could tell me who else you saw there?”

  ***

  Vince put the lasagna into the oven and set the timer. It wasn’t something he’d had to do when he was younger, but it helped to remind him not to leave anything in too long now.
He finished cleaning up the kitchen and then went back to his home office to go through the mail he had received. It was that time of the year and Vince loved it. He’d received at least a half a dozen seed catalogs today. When he’d worked for the postal service, he’d dreaded any time of year that meant an increased number of catalogs to deliver. But now that he was on the receiving end and didn’t have to deliver them, he enjoyed every one of them.

  He sat down and read through each one slowly, contemplating which new plants he might try in his garden in the upcoming summer. He had his staples, of course. The plants that he always grew each year. They were the tried and true favorites. Still, it was nice to experiment with a few extras, just to see how they turned out.

  Once he made it through the catalogs, he went over to his computer. He checked his email and smiled when he saw the response from his friend in Scotland. He didn’t agree with the move, but he dutifully stood and walked over to his new chess set. Taking the piece his friend had chosen, he made the move as instructed. Then he stood back and examined his options. Perhaps his friend had been trickier than he’d first thought. He’d have to think about his next move carefully. The doorbell interrupted his concentration.

  “Megan, come in.” After taking her coat, Vince led her back to his office. “What brings you by? You aren’t working on another puzzle, are you?”

  Megan took a seat across from Vince then explained Tom’s request and what she knew so far.

  “Tom and Caro said that they saw you there at the estate sale.”

  Tom gestured toward his chess set. “I was and found this beauty.”

  Megan had noticed the chess set when she’d entered the room. “It is very nice.”

  “Perhaps I should check for diamonds in the compartments,” Vince wondered out loud as he stood.

  “Stranger things have happened, I guess.” Megan also stood and walked over to the table where Vince was now opening the drawers in the sides of the chess board that held the pieces when they weren’t in use.

  “I should have seen anything else that might have been in there when I first took the pieces out, but…” Vince checked the last drawer. “Nope, no jewels.”