by Lyndsey Cole
“What is it?” Annie asked.
Danny glanced around the café. “Not in here.” Annie’s curiosity was piqued. Danny was usually a man of few words and he obviously had something weighing on his conscience. Maybe he needed some advice about Leona. Their relationship seemed to be going well, but after all, Leona was a bit unpredictable.
She followed Danny outside to the deck overlooking Heron Lake. The sun was finally bright and out from behind the clouds with no longer any hint of the gloomy start to the day. They walked to the edge of the deck, away from the chatting tourists enjoying the scenery and a delicious treat from the café.
Danny put his Red Sox baseball cap on to shade his eyes. “That man?”
“Which man, Danny?” The hairs on Annie’s arm prickled.
“The one found in the lake this morning. I heard him arguing with someone last night,” he said, barely above a whisper.
Annie leaned as close as possible. “What did you hear?”
“I’ll be a dead man if anyone finds out about this. Those were his exact words. My blood ran cold when he said it but I never believed he would be dead in the morning. Annie, am I in trouble for not telling the police last night?”
Annie patted Danny’s arm. “No. Of course not. Do you know who he was talking to?”
Danny shook his head. “I was making sure all the boats were securely tied to the dock and he was in the shadows with someone. I couldn’t see the other person.”
“Where were you?”
“His house, the giant new place across the lake.” He pointed to a monstrosity with a glass covered wall facing the water, directly across from the Black Cat Café. “John and Katherine Holland bought it a few weeks ago. This was their big moving in party. John Holland hired me to help his guests with the boats.”
“Don’t worry Danny. It certainly doesn’t prove that person killed him.”
Danny visibly relaxed. “Thanks. I don’t want to get involved in a murder investigation.”
Annie finished her coffee. “How’s it going with Leona?”
Danny smiled and blushed. “She’s great.”
“Are you coming to the opening tonight?”
“Of course. We wouldn’t miss it for the world. Do you need help with anything?”
Annie laughed. “Just my nerves.”
She patted Danny’s arm and walked back inside.
“Hey,” Leona called. “What were you and Danny cooking up? You know I don’t like surprises.”
“Just a friendly chat, nothing to do with you. Are the desserts ready for tonight?”
“Yup, I’ve got fruit tarts, mini cheesecake cupcakes, chocolate covered fruit and your mom is picking up a selection of cheese and crackers and the champagne. What time should we bring everything over?”
“Let’s set up at six.”
“Perfect. I’ll have to check back and forth here to make sure the girls have the ice cream window under control.”
Bree added her two cents. “Don’t worry, Leona, we’ll be fine.”
Leona looked at Annie and rolled her eyes. “I’ve heard that before.”
Annie grabbed a chocolate covered strawberry on her way out the door. In the hallway, she stopped to admire the beautiful sign Danny made for her gallery. Fisher Fine Art Gallery in gold lettering on a rectangular piece of oak. The corners were cut on a diagonal and the letters were framed with a gold line. Simple and elegant. She felt proud and nervous at the same time. Maybe Martha was right, she needed a thicker skin. As long as she was happy with her work, that’s all that mattered.
Martha was busy hanging Annie’s photographs and arranging the other art work. The show was featuring Annie’s photography but Martha had a couple of art quilts hanging that also reflected the theme of Catfish Cove. Jake, the potter, made beautiful bowls with the earth and water colors of the area. Everything was priced for sale and she hoped to draw in a lot of people who were in town for Labor Day Weekend.
Camilla arrived right behind Annie. Martha took one look at her and rushed over. “What’s wrong?”
Camilla’s eyes were rimmed with red, her face was all splotchy and her normally perfect medium blonde bob was tangled and messy.
“My friend’s husband was murdered. I’m scared.”
Chapter 3
Annie was more than slightly annoyed with Camilla’s drama. In the few weeks Camilla worked for Annie, it didn’t take her long to see how Camilla came across as someone who liked to be the center of attention. Maybe that’s what annoyed Annie so much, Camilla’s constant need to be in a crowd of people. Even if that crowd was only three.
Martha gently took Camilla’s arm. “Come back to the office and sit down.” Martha got Camilla comfortable on a chair and poured her a cup of tea. “Okay, honey, tell us what’s going on.”
Camilla dabbed her eyes with a lacy handkerchief. “It’s all so confusing.”
Martha pulled another chair close to Camilla and patted her arm. “How about you start at the beginning. Who is your friend?”
Annie leaned in the doorway, watching. She saw Camilla’s eyes dart around the room as she wiped her nose.
With wide teary eyes, she looked at Martha. “Katherine. Katherine Holland. We’ve been friends forever. Well, not that long, but she and I hit it off instantly and she was my soul mate. You know what I mean?”
“Yes, of course, dear. How did you meet Katherine?”
Annie smiled to herself. Martha was good. Extremely good. She was comforting Camilla but slowly digging for information. She would have to use this for a lesson on craftiness and patience.
Camilla sipped her tea with her little finger pointing out. “Let’s see. It was about two years ago, a bit after I graduated from art school. Katherine’s husband, John,” she looked up at Martha, “he’s who was murdered. Anyway, he was looking for a jewelry designer and I applied for the job.”
Annie’s patience ran out. “Camilla, I want to get to the bottom of this as much as anyone, but I have an opening tonight and we need to get back to work.”
Camilla stuttered. “Oh, of course. I actually came in today to tell you I won’t be much help this afternoon, I’m afraid. With all that has happened, I want to be with Katherine. Do you mind if I leave?”
Annie gritted her teeth behind her smile. “No, not at all. I completely understand your grief.”
Camilla put her cup on the desk and stood up, looking around the office. “I left a bag here yesterday. Did someone move it? A zippered blue canvas bag, about this big.” She held her hands about a foot apart making a square shape.
Annie shrugged and Martha shook her head.
“Oh dear, I need to find it.” Camilla poked behind some boxes but came up empty handed.
Martha put her hand on Camilla’s back. “Don’t worry. I’m sure it will turn up. With all the activity getting ready for the opening, it could be anywhere.”
Panic flashed across Camilla’s eyes. “You don’t understand. I have to find it now.”
Martha gently guided her out of the office. “I’ll call you if we find it. Now, you go home and rest. This is such a terrible ordeal for you.”
“But—” Camilla started to protest.
“No buts, we’ll call.” Martha firmly steered Camilla out of the Fisher Fine Art Gallery.
Martha waited in the doorway until Camilla left the Cove’s Corner building. “Okay, Annie, we’ve got a name and a blue bag. Now we have work to do.”
Annie’s mouth fell open. “You have the bag?”
Martha grinned. “Yup. And you won’t believe what’s in it.”
Annie’s hand went to her forehead. “I don’t want to know. Not yet anyway. I need to focus on the opening.”
Martha shrugged. “That’s fine. It’s safe and sound in my house. Now, let’s get these last photographs up. My granddaughter, Amber, will be here soon to do an article on you and the gallery for the Catfish Cove Chronicle.”
They worked together quietly, getting the last phot
ographs hung. Martha stepped back to get some perspective. “Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. These photographs bring the lake, downtown and even Peter Hayworth’s fruit farm alive. You know which one is my favorite?”
Annie studied her photos. “The one I took at the Fourth of July with Jason leading the dog parade.”
“Yes! I love it. That photo captures all that is the best of Catfish Cove. Colorful, a fun activity, kids and dogs. What more could you want?”
“Yeah. And Jason looks way too handsome in that Uncle Sam costume. That’s my favorite too.” Annie let herself smile. “They do tell a story, don’t they? That was my goal.”
“And you were worried that no one would like your work.” Martha put her arm around Annie’s waist. “Come on. I know it’s early still but how about you and I have a tiny glass of champagne to celebrate.”
“You are a bad influence, Martha Taylor.” Annie winked. “But I love it.”
Martha chuckled. “That’s exactly what Harry tells me too. Isn’t he lucky?”
They walked into the office. “Have you talked to him yet about Bob?”
Martha waved her hand in dismissal. “Not yet. Men,” she muttered to herself under her breath. “I’m determined to figure out a solution before Saturday night, or else.”
“Or else what? Would you cancel the wedding instead of come in between Bob and Harry?” Annie asked.
“If I play my cards right, I won’t have to make that choice,” she said as she poured the champagne. “Here, to a successful opening tonight and an even more successful gallery.”
“Kind of early to be drinking, isn’t it?”
Martha and Annie twisted around to see Amber laughing at them.
Annie held her hand up. “No photos of this please.” She finished her champagne and the three women went into the gallery.
“Any pre-wedding jitters grandma?” Amber asked.
“Ha. At my age? You’ve got to be kidding. The only problem I see is if one of us drops dead of a heart attack before Saturday night,” Martha joked. “Now, you’re here about Annie, not me.”
“Right. I think several photos will be the most effective on the front page of the paper. There’s already been an article about the opening so this is more about the gallery in general. Annie, you stand next to your photographs. Perfect.” Amber snapped away, some with Annie and some close ups of the photographs.
“Okay. Grandma, how about you stand next to your quilts. Great.” She took some more photos of the pottery. “Come take a look at what I got.”
Amber scrolled back through the photos while Annie and Martha nodded their approval.
“I have room for four photos and a little blurb about the gallery but I have that all ready from my last visit.” She dropped her camera into her bag. “So, you two can get back to your celebration.”
“Before you go, can I ask you a question?” Annie said.
“Sure. If I can ask you a question, too.”
Annie nodded. “Tell us what you know about John and Katherine Holland?”
Amber leaned her shoulder against the door frame of the office, resting her weight on one leg.”
“They had a big bash last night at their huge, new lake house.” Amber smiled. “Your employee Camilla Rockwell was there too and the police are looking for her. Something to do with a murder.”
“Is Camilla a suspect?” both Annie and Martha blurted out.
Amber shrugged. “I suppose everyone at the party will be questioned, but the best I can tell, John Holland’s wife, Katherine, and his vice president at Gold N Silver, Matt Austin, are getting the most scrutiny. I haven’t gotten much information beyond that yet and the new detective in town is just about impossible to work with.”
“Detective Cranky?” Annie said with disgust.
Amber’s eyebrows shot up. “Cranky? Are you kidding?” she asked through her laughter.
“Actually, her name is Crank, but when I crossed paths with her, she immediately became Detective Cranky.”
Amber laughed. “I’ll be sure not to add your observation to my article. Now it’s my turn. You found the body?”
“How did you hear that already?”
“Nothing stays secret in this town for long but the police chief wouldn’t give me any details. So, give me the scoop.”
Annie sucked in air, filling her lungs. “I was walking on the Lake Trail with my dog and he was floating at the edge of the water. Face down. That’s all I know.”
“What was he wearing?”
“A dark blue sports jacket and leather shoes. He certainly wasn’t dressed for an early morning hike around the lake.”
“No, it sounds more like a late night swim after a big party.” Amber tapped info into her iPad. “Thanks for that. Let me know if you remember anything else. I’ll get out of your hair so you two can get back to your private celebration.”
Annie looked around her gallery after Amber left. “You did a wonderful job getting everything displayed, Martha.” She checked the time. “Leona is coming at six with the food so I think I’ll head home for a shower.”
Before they made it out the door, Detective Crank sauntered inside. “Going somewhere?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact,” Annie said.
“I’m looking for your employee, Camilla Rockwell. I have a few questions to ask her.”
Martha busied herself arranging pottery that was already arranged while Annie answered Cranky’s questions.
“She went home.”
Detective Crank took a small notebook from her pocket. “What time did she leave?”
“About an hour, maybe an hour and a half, ago.”
“How was she acting?”
Annie crossed her arms over her chest. She wasn’t fond of Camilla but she just plain didn’t like Detective Cranky. “She was upset.”
“Interesting. Did she tell you why?”
“She said her best friend’s husband was murdered.”
Cranky jotted down more notes. “And did she say who that friend was?”
“I think you already know the answer to that question, don’t you?” Annie felt her blood start to boil but knew she wasn’t doing herself any favors by being a smart aleck to the new detective.
Cranky leaned right up close into Annie’s face. “What are you hiding, Ms. Fisher?”
Annie stepped back. “What?”
“You’re being very defensive. What are you hiding?”
Martha stood next to Annie and tried to calm the tension. “Annie’s quite stressed about her photography opening tonight. She’s had a busy few days.”
Cranky glared at Martha. “And you are . . .?”
“Martha Taylor.” She crossed her arms over her chest too.
“For your sake, I hope you aren’t involved in hiding anything,” Cranky said as she looked first at Annie, then at Martha before leaving.
Annie pulled Martha back to the office. “What was she talking about?”
Martha shrugged. “I haven’t got the faintest idea.”
“I don’t believe you. You think that blue canvas bag is connected to this murder somehow, don’t you?”
Martha grabbed Annie’s arm. “It’s connected to something fishy, that’s for sure.” She lowered her voice to barely a whisper. “The bag’s full of money.”
“And you took it? Are you crazy?” Annie blurted out.
“Isn’t it exciting?”
“No. Someone was murdered. If it’s connected, we’re in big trouble.”
Chapter 4
Annie stood under the hot water in her shower thinking she never wanted to get out. She didn’t want to be the center of attention at the gallery opening. She didn’t want to know any more about John Holland, or his wife, Katherine. And she especially didn’t want to be dragged into the trouble that was most certainly brewing around the bag of money Martha found. If she hadn’t been sucked in with Camilla’s résumé, she wouldn’t have one shred of association with this unfolding mess. Except, of cou
rse, the part about finding the body.
She leaned her head back, closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation of water pounding on her and running down her body. It helped dull the throbbing in her head. Until she heard her front door open and close.
She tensed but she didn’t hear Roxy bark and she let herself smile. Maybe Jason got away from his job earlier than he expected and wanted to surprise her. He told her he would try his hardest to make it to the opening but he didn’t promise to be there. With Jason by her side, at least the opening would be easier.
Annie turned off the water, dried off and wrapped a towel around herself and another around her hair. She poked her head around the bathroom door, already feeling her body tingle, but it wasn’t Jason waiting for her.
She pulled the towel tighter. “Tyler. What are you doing here? How dare you let yourself in!”
Tyler stood just inside the front door. “You should lock your door. Roxy didn’t even bark when I opened it.”
“She knows you.” Roxy was comfortably curled up on the couch without a care in the world.
Annie slammed the bathroom door and pulled on shorts and a t-shirt. That would have to do until Tyler left and she had time to dress properly for the night. With any luck, maybe he got the message and was already gone. One could hope.
Unfortunately, when Annie finally walked into her living room, Tyler was still standing in the exact same spot, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
“I need to talk to you.”
Annie waited.
“Okay then. Detective Crank talked to Camilla.” One of his eyebrows went up. “Camilla left something in your shop. She thinks it has gone missing.”
“What is this something you’re looking for?”
“A bag. A blue canvas bag. Have you seen it?”
“No.” Annie answered without hesitation. It wasn’t a lie since, technically, she didn’t see the bag even though Martha told her about it.
“Don’t you want to think about it before you answer? It could be a key piece in the murder investigation. Hiding evidence is a crime.” Tyler crossed his arms over his chest.