by Jessica Beck
We took our places, and I glanced at the fourth name. It said “Forrest” in a fine cursive hand. “Will your son be joining us?”
“That was the original plan, but I’ve changed my mind. I’d like a little time to speak with the two of you first. We can chat while we eat.” She reached beside her plate and picked up a small brass bell. After she rang it once, a woman in a maid’s uniform came in with two plates full of what looked like duck, as well as a sautéed vegetable medley and wild rice. After the woman served us, she returned with Mrs. Pinerush’s fare, a different meal altogether.
She must have noticed my glance at her plate. “I’m afraid that I can no longer eat the food you are having, but I hope that you enjoy it.”
“I love duck,” Grace said.
I just nodded. I couldn’t say that I was all that fond of it, but I reminded myself that we weren’t there to eat. Well, not just to eat. If this was what it took for Mrs. Pinerush to open up to us, I was willing to eat just about anything but snails. Rich folks could call them escargots all they wanted; I knew what they really were.
As I took my first bite, I was amazed by just how good it was. The duck I’d had before wasn’t anywhere close to this in quality and I couldn’t wait for my second bite.
“This is delicious, Mrs. Pinerush,” I said.
“Please call me Anne.”
I couldn’t see that happening, but I nodded my acknowledgment anyway.
“First off, I must apologize for my behavior yesterday,” she said.
I looked at her quizzically. “Funny, but I don’t remember anything that you need to apologize for.”
“That’s gracious of you, but I was rude. Shock does that to me, especially as I get older. James really was like a son to me, and the fact that he felt free to rebel against my wishes endeared him that much more to me. I detest a sycophant, especially if we’re related.”
Was that last crack aimed at Forrest? It had to be.
What Mrs. Pinerush, or Anne, had just said went against what I’d ever heard about her relationship with James, and out of respect for my old friend I couldn’t see letting her claim otherwise. “Pardon me for saying so, but that’s not the way I’ve heard it. You had James locked up in a mental institution. It doesn’t sound to me as though you two were as close as you claim.”
Her face darkened, and I wondered if we were about to be thrown out. Just in case, I stabbed another piece of that magnificent duck and gobbled it up.
Anne said curtly, “That was an unfortunate incident that we don’t discuss here.”
She might not, but I hadn’t agreed to avoid the topic. “Sorry, but exactly whose feelings are you trying to save here? Call it what you will, but as far as I’m concerned, it was a monstrous thing to do,” I said. I couldn’t help myself; I just blurted it out.
Anne Pinerush was about to explode, I could see it in her eyes, but she finally managed to calm herself enough to speak. “I was under a physician’s care at the time, and the decision was made without my knowledge or consent. The moment I heard what happened, I ordered him to be released immediately.”
“Are you telling us that Forrest did it without your blessing?” Grace asked.
“I’m sad to say that it’s true. I was livid, and James was so angry he never spoke to me again. I tried telling him that I’d had nothing to do with it, but from that moment on, he turned his back on his entire family. He was, for all intents and purposes, alone in the world after that.”
“There you’re wrong,” I said. “There were a great many folks in April Springs who liked him, and a few of us even loved him.”
She took that in, and then said, “If only I could believe it was true.”
“She’s not lying,” Grace said.
Anne turned back to me and asked, “Were you perhaps one of those people who loved my nephew, Suzanne?”
“We were friends; just friends.”
“There is no such thing as being ‘just friends,’” she replied. “Every friend is a valuable jewel.”
“I believe that as well,” I said. “You don’t have to worry about James’s life after he left here. He was happy doing what he loved. The man was so passionate about blacksmithing that you couldn’t help catching some of his fever for it.”
“He was truly that good at it?” Anne asked tentatively.
“I have several of his pieces myself. He was outstanding,” I confirmed.
“Thank you for that.”
She was a little more receptive, so I asked, “Is that why you sent Thomas Oak to April Springs? To check up on James, and how he lived his life after he left here?”
She looked startled by the news. “What are you talking about? I’m afraid that you’ve lost me.”
“Are you saying that you don’t know the man?” Grace asked.
“Of course I know him. He works for the family’s interests. But what was he doing in April Springs?”
“I sent him,” Forrest said as he walked into the room. How long had he been lurking there listening to our conversation?
“Forrest, I told you that I wanted some privacy.” There was a hint of steel in Anne’s voice, and Forrest flinched a little.
“I know what you said, Mother, but I feel I need to be here to protect your interests.”
“Are you sure you’re not just looking out for your own?” I asked.
He started to snap out a reply, but then quickly checked himself. “I can assure you that I had the best intentions.”
“Just like when you had James committed to the mental ward, right?”
“I was afraid for his personal safety. He was acting irrationally, and I didn’t want him to hurt himself. I make no excuses for doing what I thought was best.”
“Again, was it for his sake, or the family interests?” I asked.
“I won’t stand here and let you insult me,” Forrest said.
“Since you weren’t invited,” Anne said coolly, “it might be better if you’d do as I asked in the first place and leave us to our dinner and conversation.”
“Yes, Mother,” he said, and then started out of the room.
She let him get one step away from the door when she said, “One moment, Forrest. Is it true that you sent Oak to April Springs to dig into what happened to James?”
“It is,” he said, clearly prepared for another tongue-lashing. “I felt it was our duty, and I take full responsibility for the action.”
“I’m not scolding you. It was the right thing to do. Well done.”
He nearly beamed from the praise. “Thank you.”
“Now, leave us.”
The smile dimmed, though it was not completely extinguished as he left us.
Once he was gone, she turned to me and said, “I will instruct Mr. Oak to pass on to you any information he discovers about what happened to James.”
“He’s going to tell the police, too, right?” I asked.
“Ultimately, but the first call he makes will be to you.”
“Why tell us anything?” Grace asked, doing her best to look innocent.
Anne wasn’t pleased by her question. “Come now, just because I’m old doesn’t mean that I’m a fool of any sort. I have other sources in April Springs who have informed me that the two of you are quite the crime fighters.”
“We may have been involved in a case or two in the past,” I admitted.
“And now you’re looking into James’s death as well. Don’t bother denying it.”
“I wasn’t about to,” I said as I looked her straight in the eye. “I would do it for any of my friends.”
“As much as I respect your altruistic motivation, may I add a little sweetener to the pot?”
“I’m not sure what you mean,” I said.
“If you are able to solve James’s murder, I will make sure that you are rewarded financially. I can assure you that it will be quite handsome.”
“Thank you,” I said, “but we respectfully decline.”
She was cle
arly not a woman who was used to being rebuffed. “May I ask why not?”
“You may. We do this because we feel compelled to. Our motivation stems from loyalty, not the desire for money.”
“Why can’t it be both?” she asked.
“Because it would taint what we’re doing. We’re strictly amateurs, Anne, and we make no guarantees. All we can do is promise to do our best to find your nephew’s killer. We don’t need anything else to push us on.”
She paused. “I admit that I don’t quite know what to make of that. Everyone in my circle is motivated by the acquisition of wealth.”
“Hey, we don’t turn over our regular salaries to charity,” I said.
“But this is different,” Grace added. “Suzanne is right. This is a matter of helping a friend who can no longer protect himself. It’s the best way we know how to say a proper good-bye. Oh, some folks in town have been looking at Suzanne suspiciously because she and James had a rather public disagreement on the day he died, but that was the kind of friendship they had. He was a volatile guy at times, and Suzanne has been known to spout off on occasion herself.”
“But you never do,” I said with a grin.
“Maybe, but still not as often as you fly off the handle.”
“Very well,” Anne said. “I believe I’m beginning to understand. If there is anything I can do to help your investigation, either through Mr. Oak or my own devices, please don’t hesitate to contact me.”
We both agreed, and then Anne said, “Now please, finish your meals. I’ve ordered Chef to prepare a rather sumptuous dessert. I hope you’ve saved room.”
I’d eaten nearly everything on my plate, but I nodded anyway. I’d find a way to sample some of the treat she had in store for us, and if I gained a pound or two in the process, I’d just cut back on my treats at home for the next few weeks.
I had an inkling that it would be worth it.
THE CHERRY BOMB BOMB
If you’ve been paying close attention throughout this series, you’ll realize that I’ve been honest about the recipes that don’t turn out anywhere as good as I’d hoped. I’ve been known to go through several versions of one until I get it just right for the books, but this one keeps eluding me. So, in honor of my tradition of including one bad recipe per book, I present my own version of the Cherry Bombs that Suzanne makes at Donut Hearts. Hey, I never claimed to be as good a donutmaker as she is! Make this one at your own risk! I wanted cherry extract instead of vanilla, but either my grocer doesn’t carry it, or they don’t even make it. The last time I made these I was out of cherry Kool-Aid as well, and I think that might give it just the kick it now lacks. Feel free to improve on this if you want to, but don’t tell me about it. I’m retiring this recipe forever.
INGREDIENTS
Mixed
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• ¼ cup whole milk
• ¼ cup Cheerwine (or other cherry-flavored soda)
• ½ stick (4 tablespoons) butter, creamed
• 2 tablespoons sugar, white granulated
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 8 maraschino cherries, diced
• 1 packet Cherry Kool-Aid (.13 oz.), optional
Sifted
• ½ cup flour, unbleached all-purpose
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• Dash of salt
INSTRUCTIONS
In one bowl, cream the butter, then add milk, Cheerwine, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and diced cherries. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing well until you have a smooth consistency.
Using a cookie scoop, drop walnut-sized portions of batter into small muffin tins or your donut maker, and bake at 365 degrees F for 9 to 11 minutes, or until golden brown.
Yield: 8–12 small donut holes
CHAPTER 11
Dessert was everything that had been promised, and as we were leaving the manor, Grace and I searched for Harry in vain. Why hadn’t he met us outside as he’d promised? While it was reassuring to know that Anne Pinerush was on our side now, I still would have liked to speak to Harry to see if he could confirm what she’d told us at dinner. I had the feeling he’d know if Anne was telling us the truth, or if she was revising her personal history now that James was gone.
I spoke softly as I called his name. I would have liked to shout, but Stephen was still standing by the door, supposedly to make sure we made our way to the car safely. Why did I get the impression that he was spying on us? “Harry? Are you there?”
“Come on,” Grace said. “We need to go.”
I reached for the door handle of her car and felt something else there. What was it? When I looked closer, I saw that it was a folded piece of paper. I tucked it into my hand and got inside the car.
After Grace was off the grounds, I said, “Pull over a second.”
When she did, I turned on the dome light and read the note.
I’m at the café. Come by after you leave the manor. Harry.
“What is that?” Grace asked me.
“Harry left us a note after all. How do you feel about driving over to the café?”
“Don’t even mention food to me. I’m stuffed,” she said.
“He didn’t ask us out to eat. We’re looking for more information, remember? I’m probably going to have sweet tea, anyway,” I said.
“I could probably handle that,” she said.
As we drove into town, I asked her, “Do you believe everything that Anne told us tonight?”
“She was an entirely different woman than the last time we saw her, wasn’t she?”
“Maybe she’s really telling us the truth,” I said.
“It’s possible, but I want to see if Harry’s version agrees with hers before I make up my mind,” Grace said.
“My thoughts exactly.”
“I wonder what else Harry might have to tell us?”
As we neared the café, I said, “I don’t know, but I think we’re about to find out.”
After we parked, Grace and I started for the front door when I heard someone calling my name.
Harry stepped into the light. “I’m over here.”
“Why are you lurking around in the dark like that?” I asked as we approached him. “Are you trying to give us both heart attacks?”
“Sorry, but one of Forrest’s spies is inside eating. I can’t afford to let him see me meeting with the two of you.”
“Is it really all that bad?” I asked as Harry led us to a picnic table tucked away in the shadows, no doubt set up for folks who enjoyed eating outside during the daytime.
“I can’t afford to lose my job, so why take any chances that I don’t need to?” he asked. “Don’t worry; we should be safe over here.”
“What’s up? I was surprised to get your note and not find you waiting outside for us,” I said.
“I would have if I could, but things are escalating around the manor, and I have to watch my step. I had to see you, though. I just found out something that you need to know,” he said. “There’s a guy named Benny who maintains the cars at the manor, and he drives Mrs. Pinerush into town occasionally. I’ve been hanging around the garage some lately to see if he knew anything.”
“They actually have a full-time driver on staff?” I asked.
“Oh, yes. Anyway, Benny was changing the oil in Forrest’s car today while I was over there getting gas for my riding mower, and he was staring hard at one of the logbooks. Mrs. Pinerush insists that she knows every mile put on those vehicles since the last chauffeur took her fleet out for joyrides whenever he had a chance. I asked Benny what was wrong when he kept staring at the records, and he told me that he’d just checked the totals from three days ago when he rotated the tires, and the mileages didn’t add up to the entries.”
“Explain why that puzzled him,” Grace said.
“Well, Forrest put down that he went into Pinerush for a handful of business meetings, and Benny said
there was no way he put that much mileage on his car just doing that. I had an idea, so I asked him for an exact mileage difference from what Forrest claimed and what he actually drove.”
“How did you explain your curiosity to Benny?” I asked. I didn’t want Harry to take any chances on our account.
“I told him that I loved math puzzles, which is actually kind of the truth. Anyway, he gave me the numbers and I pretended to be ignorant about what they might mean. The second I left, I got out my road atlas and figured out that Forrest drove just enough extra miles to get to April Springs and back sometime in the last three days.”
“So, he could have driven there and killed James without anyone knowing about it,” I said.
“Maybe,” Harry said, “but we shouldn’t jump to conclusions. He could just as easily have driven to Rock Barn, or even Charlotte. We don’t know that he visited your town.”
“Maybe not, but he had a pretty compelling reason to come if he thought he was protecting the family fortune,” I said.
Harry stood up from the bench. “Make what you will of it, but it was something I thought you should know.”
He started to go when I called out, “Hold up. We have a question for you before you leave.”
Harry turned. “What is it?”
“Was Anne really ill when James was committed to the mental ward? I mean bedridden, not a cold or something less incapacitating.”
He thought about it, and then said, “As a matter of fact, she was pretty sick around that time. Why do you ask?”
“She claims that Forrest had James committed without her knowledge or approval. What’s your memory of the situation?”
He rubbed his chin for a full minute before he spoke. “I can’t exactly say why I feel this way, but at the time, I got the impression that she didn’t oppose it. Whether it was because she was sick or not, I couldn’t say.”
That killed some of Anne’s credibility for me. I wasn’t ready to accept what Harry said at face value, though. “Think hard. Why would you say that? Did you hear her say something to that effect?”