Eve Lloyd’s A Deadline Cozy Mystery Box Set 2

by Sonia Parin

Eve shook her head. “Someone needs to stay here with Mira and Florence.”

  Brushing his hands across his face, David gave a long-suffering sigh. “I feel I should contact Jack and let him know what you’re getting up to.”

  Jack would have her in handcuffs and locked up until the police found the killer. Grinning, Eve patted him on the shoulder. “Wait a while. If I’m not back in an hour, then feel free to call him. I’m only going to walk around. I promise I won’t break in or get caught in the act of sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong.” She grinned. “I think that just about covers all possibilities.”

  “I’m sure you’ll find a loophole,” David said under his breath.

  * * *

  Thinking she would feel safer in the car, Eve changed her mind about walking to Jamie’s house and, instead, decided to drive there. As she drove, she made a mental note to swing by a store and pick up some groceries. Otherwise, if Mira asked where she’d been, she wouldn’t have a cover story.

  She checked for traffic, waited a few seconds for a cyclist to pedal his way past and then made a turn, driving at a sedate pace and soaking in the charm of the small coastal town. If she ever moved away from the island, she decided she wouldn’t go further than a coastal town where she could enjoy the lovely sea breeze, the views and—

  Her cell phone rang. Glancing at the screen, she knew David had been busy ratting her out. Eve scooped in a breath and answered. “Jill.”

  “You’re about to tell me you’re on your way home,” Jill said in her no-nonsense tone.

  Eve imagined Jill rolling her eyes as she said, “Did you know you’re getting really bossy? If we nip it in the bud now, I think we’ll catch the affliction in time before it takes a hold of you.”

  Ignoring her, Jill said, “David just called me.”

  Why am I not surprised? Eve mouthed.

  “Please explain why you left the safety of the house to venture out on your own.”

  “I’m not on my own. I have you. If anything happens to me, I promise I’ll scream. Then you can hang up and call for help. However, since I’m only driving to the store, I really don’t see any reason to worry.”

  Jill harrumphed. “What’s come over you? You left here saying you wanted to spend a day playing at being a tourist and now you’ve thrown yourself right in the middle of a murder investigation.”

  Eve didn’t bother defending herself. In fact, she hadn’t given the circumstances she found herself in any thought. At least, she didn’t think she had. She only knew she had nothing to do with the murder case. Certainly not directly. Well, not really. She didn’t know the victim. Her involvement so far had been nothing but coincidental, and the fact Mira knew Florence from way back… Well, that too was pure coincidence.

  “Jill, you sound concerned. I’m so lucky to have someone like you watching my back.” When Jill didn’t respond, Eve added, “It’s your turn to say how lucky you are to know me.”

  It took Jill several seconds to burst out laughing. “How can you treat this so lightly?”

  “I think Florence’s attitude has rubbed off on me.”

  “She’s taking advantage of you,” Jill warned. “Of course, she’s not going to worry. You’re there to take care of business. It’s your neck on the line.”

  “What do you want me to do? I’ve already suggested she return to the inn with us, but she won’t hear of it.”

  Jill groaned. “You want to drag her problems to the island. Good thinking, Eve.”

  Eve considered telling Jill about the intruder she’d seen the night before but then thought better of it. It would only make Jill more determined to get her back to the island.

  “Where are we going?” Jill asked.

  Smiling, Eve took the next turn and leaned in to look at the house numbers. All the houses looked well cared for with trimmed hedges, pretty gardens and freshly painted fences. She saw a couple of people walk by with their dogs and children playing in the yards. Call her naïve, but Eve still liked to think these were good, wholesome signs of a safe neighborhood.

  When she reached Jamie Woodridge’s house, she slowed down. The front yard had a maple tree but no flower beds. She couldn’t see any furniture on the front porch and the curtains were drawn. Where’s the trust? Eve silently wondered and mentally heard Jill remark how inconsiderate the owners were to thwart her attempts to snoop around.

  “Eve, where are we going?” Jill asked again.

  “We?”

  “Yes, I have no intention of hanging up until you are safely back at the house.”

  “Fine. We’re going to the store because I need to shop for groceries. Florence only has a few staples in her cupboards and since common sense and badgering has failed to convince her to return with us, I thought I might try to entice her with food.”

  Jill snorted. “After what you told me about her, you might have better luck offering her an open bar.”

  “How about I call you back later.” Eve needed to park the car and have a look around Jamie Woodridge’s house. With any luck, she might find a window had been left open.

  “Call me back?” Jill exclaimed. “That would defeat the purpose of this call.”

  “Purpose?” Eve asked innocently.

  “To keep you out of trouble. I’m willing to bet anything you are nowhere near a store.”

  Eve grumbled under her breath. “When did you become so suspicious?”

  “When? Let me think. Oh, yes. The moment I met you. You’ve opened my eyes and for that I’m grateful. I’ve now left my days of naïveté behind. I know you, Eve Lloyd. You’re up to no good.”

  Eve felt a rush of heat rise up to her cheeks. When had she become so predictable? Shaking her head, she decided Jill couldn’t possibly know everything about her. Surely, she still had a few good surprises left in her. “As a matter of fact, I am right on the main street. I just have to find a place to park the car.”

  “All right. Take your time.”

  “Are you calling my bluff?” Eve asked. Lifting her chin in defiance, she drove on and turned back toward the main street in search of a store.

  “Me? What about you? Are you bluffing?”

  Eve bobbed her head from side to side. “Don’t you have guests to look after?”

  Jill lowered her voice, “They’ve been taken care of.”

  “Could you say that again without sounding so evil? I’m picturing you twirling a mustache and savoring your evil deed. Remember, we’re trying to avoid attracting the wrong customers to the inn.”

  Eve heard the squawk of seagulls in the background and assumed Jill had stepped outside to give her dogs, Mischief and Mr. Magoo, some fresh air.

  “If you must know, I gave your guests a picnic lunch and sent them off on a walking tour of the island. They’re having a picnic at the lighthouse.”

  Eve tapped her finger on the steering wheel. When she spoke, her tone filled with accusation, “That’s where the artist met his end. You’ve sent my guests off on a murder walking tour.”

  Jill hummed under her breath. “I’m sorry, I missed that. The dogs are barking. What did you say?”

  “I don’t hear them barking.”

  “How could you possibly hear them? They’re splashing around in the water and I’m in the back porch.”

  Eve slowed down and seeing a parking spot, aimed for it. “Exactly what did you pack in their picnic basket?” It took some cajoling to get Jill to spill the beans.

  “I might have included some donuts,” Jill murmured.

  The murder weapon. “And?”

  “And Josh might have gone along with them as a tour guide,” Jill added. “He needs practice playing the role of detective. You know I’m trying to encourage him to improve himself and to go for a promotion.”

  “How exactly is he getting in the practice?”

  “I might have suggested he pose as the leading detective in the investigation. He knows the case inside and out so he can paint a gruesome picture for your guests. It’s w
hat they came here for. I figured we could at least cash in on their morbid curiosity.”

  Eve groaned. How long would it take for word to spread? If they catered to the whims of one guest, soon people would be queuing up to take the special tour. Eve imagined busloads of thrill seekers coming to the island and trampling over all the murder sites. “Are you by any chance charging them extra?”

  Jill gave her a muffled response.

  “I didn’t get that.”

  Jill’s voice hitched and Eve thought she heard a thump suggesting Jill had stomped her foot on the floor. “It’s all right for you. You’ve gone off on your trip and left me behind to deal with your obnoxious guests. They’re determined to get the full package deal. Now they’ve worn me down. Where’s the harm in giving them what they want? You should play to your strengths.”

  Eve’s mouth gaped open. “Are you suggesting I excel at attracting murder and mayhem just because someone happened to be murdered on the island?”

  Jill fell silent.

  The silence stretched.

  They’d had this discussion too many times for Eve to even try to plead ignorance. “Okay. Maybe more than one person has been murdered on the island, but I can’t be held responsible. I didn’t pull the trigger or throw the knife or poison the fish.” She waited for Jill’s response. “Jill? Are you there?” Eve looked at the screen. Jill had hung up. “What a drama queen,” Eve murmured. “Making a big deal out of nothing.” At least now she could get back on track and leave the grocery shopping for later.

  Her cell phone beeped. “I guess I spoke too soon.” Looking at the screen, she saw it wasn’t a call. “Really? You want to live chat?”

  “Hello.” Jill gave her a huge grin. “Pan the cell phone around. I want to see where you are.”

  “Jill, I had no idea you had trust issues.”

  “I trust Josh to do as he’s told. You, on the other hand… Oh, that’s an interesting looking store.”

  Eve grabbed her handbag and slid out of the SUV. “I’m here to get some groceries, Jill. Please don’t side-track me.”

  “Fine. Just keep the cell phone steady so I can see where we’re going.”

  “The reception here isn’t very good,” Eve warned. “We might be disconnected at any time.”

  “Oh, nonsense. I can see you clearly. Now point the cell phone in the other direction.”

  Eve pursed her lips and drew her eyebrows down. “In case you can’t read my expression, I’m annoyed.”

  Jill laughed. “Only because I thwarted your plans to get up to no good. So, what are you going to cook for Florence?”

  “I’m not sure. I’ll have to match the food to her drink of choice. Bourbon or champagne.”

  “You can’t go wrong with steak and salad,” Jill suggested. “Although, in my opinion, you should cook something elaborate.”

  “Why would I want to do that?”

  Jill hummed. “Because it’ll keep your mind engaged on cooking. I’m sure you don’t want to be side-tracked. Okay, hop to it. Grab a basket.”

  Instead of focusing on what she would cook, as Eve strode along the aisles, she kept a close eye on the other shoppers. Any one of them could be the killer. The thought struck Eve like a lightning bolt. Eve made eye contact with a man in a suit. Probably shopping for his dinner, Eve thought. Seeing a wedding ring on his finger she decided his wife had sent him on an errand.

  “Fresh fruit goes nicely with champagne,” Jill said. “You could get a selection. Are those blueberries I see?”

  “I’ve never heard you sound so cheerful about fruit,” Eve said, her tone distracted as she watched a man in his thirties scanning the aisles. His brows were drawn down and he had the perplexed look Eve had when she had to get something from a hardware store or a store she wasn’t familiar with. When she saw him raking his fingers through his hair, she decided he definitely didn’t look comfortable.

  “Right out of his element,” Eve murmured.

  “Eve, you just walked right past the fruit. Have you put anything in your basket?”

  “I thought we were still deciding what I should get.”

  “Watch out!” Jill called out.

  Still distracted by the man, Eve collided with a shopping cart. “Sorry,” she said to the startled woman and, still distracted, she swung around to catch site of the suspicious man. “Lost him.”

  “Who?”

  “Huh? Oh, strawberries. Here we go.” Eve loaded up her basket, multi-tasking her way along the aisles by simultaneously making her selections and keeping an eye on the customers she encountered.

  “This is the hardware section. Why are we here?”

  “They sell kitchen supplies too and we’re looking for a garlic press. You could be an extra pair of eyes.” Eve turned the cell phone toward the shelves. “Do you see anything unusual?” Eve asked as she wondered what the man had been looking for.

  She studied the shelves. Everything appeared to be in its place and all the shelves were fully stocked, without a single item out of place. People had a tendency to rummage and return items to the wrong place so Eve had no way of knowing what the man had been looking for. “This is nuts.” Eve swung away and decided she should stick to cooking and leave the crime solving to the professionals.

  “Hang on,” Jill said. “Go back.”

  “Did you spot the garlic press?”

  “No, but I saw something else. On the bottom shelf.”

  As Eve looked down, she made sure she pointed her cell phone too. “The spanners?”

  “No, next to the spanners. The pry bars.”

  Eve looked at a box with a neat stack of pry bars. “What about it?”

  “There’s one missing. See, there’s a gap. I’m guessing you wanted to know what that man had purchased. I think it might have been the pry bar.”

  Eve bit the edge of her lip. “Our minds are clearly traveling in opposite directions. I told you I was looking for a garlic press.”

  “Eve? Could you point the cell phone at yourself, please? I want to look at you.”

  “Why?”

  “Because when you fib you have a habit of biting the edge of your lip.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Eve waited until they were on their way again to ask, “I didn’t even know what I was looking for. How did you notice the pry bars?”

  Jill snorted. “Because I’m synced in to your odd behavior. You kept looking at a man on the other aisle and, when you did, you tilted the cell phone. I could see you weren’t looking for fresh strawberries.”

  “He’s not the only one I looked at,” Eve grumbled.

  “That’s right. You also spent some time studying a man in a suit. He wore a wedding ring so I assume he was running an errand for his wife. The woman you bumped into had a shopping list. Nothing suspicious about that so you didn’t pay much attention to her.” Jill laughed. “Hey, I’m getting really good at this.”

  “He might have purchased… nails. We can’t know for sure.”

  “In case you’re wondering,” Jill said, “I just rolled my eyes. I heard you ask the store clerk.”

  “What?”

  “You whispered, but I still heard you. By the way, top marks for making up a story about helping him decide between the pry bar and a hammer and wanting to know what he’d ended up getting.”

  “Maybe you should join the police,” Eve suggested, her tone heavy with sarcasm.

  “Admit it, you’re determined to sniff something out and beat the detective in charge of the investigation to it.”

  “Am not.”

  “Are too.”

  “Fine. Whatever. Aren’t you the least bit intrigued? What if he turns out to be a person of interest? He could be at the victim’s house right now, using his new pry bar to break in.”

  “Did you actually believe you’d walk into a store and bump into the killer?” Jill asked.

  “Anything is possible. This is a small town. Did anyone even bother to question the neighbors? Someone
must have seen or heard something.”

  “Perhaps you should call the detective in charge and ask him. He might have forgotten to report back to you.”

  Eve ignored the jab. “How do we even know he’s taking this seriously? I bet they don’t even have the manpower to carry out a proper investigation.”

  Jill sighed. “I’m only concerned about you staying safe. Also, news about your involvement in this murder is bound to reach the island. It’ll be another black mark against you. You always promise to keep your nose clean and yet you somehow manage to land right in the thick of it.”

  Eve had only wanted to spend a day being a tourist. She hadn’t set out to become involved in a murder investigation. “Remind me to never take a vacation again.”

  “I’ve heard you say that before.”

  “Perhaps I should open another business in town.” Eve whistled one of her cook’s favorite tunes. It seemed like an eternity since she’d owned her own Manhattan restaurant. Before coming to the island to live with her aunt, Eve had never run into any trouble. Her days had run strictly by the clock and had started at five in the morning so she could hit the markets for the freshest produce. She’d always been the first to arrive at the restaurant. This had been her favorite time. Enjoying the relative peace and quiet, she would plan her entire day in her mind, seeing her creations walking out of the kitchen. Her days had always ended with a sigh of satisfaction at a job well done. Her life had been predictable and she’d enjoyed every moment of it.

  “Another job? I didn’t hear that,” Jill said.

  “It makes sense. The busier I am, the less time I’ll have to dabble in crime.”

  “There’s a different picture forming in my mind,” Jill hummed. “I see you spreading your wings and conquering new murder and mayhem territory. I assume you’ll want to stick to what you know, so I can see you setting up a catering service. Oh, yes. Plenty of scope there to find dead bodies.”

  Eve sunk low in her seat. “Maybe I want to write. Mira suggested I’d be good at it.”

  “Did she specify the genre?” Jill asked.

  Choosing to be evasive, Eve said, “I don’t recall.”