“Hi, Katie.” Jordan sounded breathless and annoyed.
She inwardly groaned. “Hi, Jordan.” What now? Has there been another miscommunication about the Harvest Festival party? She was beginning to regret spearheading the entire event.
“I know you’ve got help at the Alley, which is why I’m calling you. It’s Ann,” Jordan continued. “She fell here in the bakery and it looks like she broke her wrist.”
“Oh, no!” Katie cried, berating herself for thinking he was calling with something as trivial as a Harvest Festival party complaint.
“I hate to ask, but would you mind coming over and waiting for a customer who’s picking up a birthday cake just before closing so I can take Ann to the ER?”
“Of course,” she said. “I’m on my way there now.”
To save time, Katie retrieved her car which she’d parked behind the vendors’ lounge and drove across the Square, parking it near the bakery’s entrance. Ann sat at a table near the front of the shop with an ice bag on her right wrist, her face was contorted with pain. She tried—but failed—to smile as Katie entered.
“Oh, Ann, I’m so sorry,” Katie said.
“She slipped in some coffee that a customer spilled,” Jordan said angrily. “Not only did the person not clean up the mess, but they also didn’t tell either of us so we could take care of it. For goodness sake, if a customer had fallen, we’d be facing a lawsuit right now!”
Ann and Katie shared a glance.
“Honey, why don’t we ask Katie if she minds taking me to the emergency room?” Ann asked. “That way, you can be here when Mrs. Logan comes in for the cake…you know, in case she has questions or something.” She gave Katie a desperate look.
“Uh, sure,” Katie said. “That’s a great idea. I’ll take Ann on to the ER, and you can join us as soon as your customer is taken care of.”
“Are you sure it won’t be too much trouble?” Jordan asked.
“Hundred percent.” With that, Katie put a comforting arm around Ann’s shoulders, then helped her to her feet and led her to her car.
“Don’t forget your purse,” Jordan said, and went to grab it from the backroom.
Meanwhile, Katie buckled Ann’s seat belt for her. “I appreciate your driving me. Poor Jordan is my rock, but he tends to fall apart during an emergency, and he handles it by ranting and raving. I’m glad I won’t have to listen to that all the way to the hospital.”
“He’s probably using his anger to cover his concern,” Katie said, with a smile. “I know he’s worried sick.”
Ann nodded. “He’ll be all right once he gets to the hospital and sees that I’m going to live.”
Katie closed the door and got in the driver’s side just as Jordan returned with Ann’s purse.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can, honey,” he said through Katie’s open window.
Ann gave him a nod, and Katie fired up the engine. In no time at all, they were on their way to the hospital in nearby Greece.
Upon their arrival at the hospital, Katie steered toward the circular drive in front of the ER’s drop-off zone. “I’ll stop the car and get a wheelchair for you,” Katie said.
“Nonsense. It’s my wrist, not my legs.” Ann nodded toward the seat belt. “If you could just undo this thing….”
“Okay.”
The ER’s lot wasn’t full and Katie found a space near the front and parked. She yanked the keys from the ignition. “Stay put until I come around and get you.” Katie unfastened her seat belt, got out of the car, and rushed around to the passenger side. She opened the door and gingerly helped Ann from the car. They walked through the double sets of doors and into the waiting area where they were greeted by a security guard.
“I think my friend has broken her wrist,” Katie explained.
The guard handed her two Day-Glo green visitor stickers. “Check-in is straight ahead,” he said and nodded in the appropriate direction.
“Thank you.”
Katie steered Ann to a chair in the waiting area, and Ann fumbled in her purse to come up with her driver’s license and insurance card, pressing them into Katie’s hand. “Thanks.”
Approaching the reception desk, Katie’s stomach did a swan dive. Erikka’s sister, Erryn, sat behind the counter in front of a computer. Would she behave professionally or blow a fuse as she had at the antique store?
“Excuse me, I need to—”
Erryn looked up from her keyboard, her expression changing from passive to angry in a heartbeat. “What are you doing here?” she interrupted. “You can’t harass me at my job. Get out of here before I call the guard over.”
“I brought my friend here,” Katie said evenly. “She has a broken wrist and needs to be seen immediately.”
Erryn narrowed her eyes at Katie before scanning the waiting room and seeing Ann sitting on one of the blue plastic chairs still holding the ice bag around her wrist. Erryn let out a breath. “Fine. Name, ID, and insurance information,” she barked.
“Ann Tanner. Believe me—I had no idea you worked here.”
“Really? You didn’t see it on social media?” Erryn hissed. “Andy told me you saw my sonogram and recognized it as the one Erikka used to prank him. That’s why I immediately blocked you. My life is none of your business.”
Through gritted teeth, Katie said, “I only looked at your page to see if your sister might have had a stalker or something—I want to find out who killed her.”
Erryn lifted her chin defiantly. “Then look in a mirror.”
“Do you honestly believe that?” Katie asked.
“All I know is that my sister told me you’d do anything to hang onto Andy, even though you knew it was her he was in love with.”
“Then Erikka was either delusional, or Andy was lying to us both,” Katie said. “But right now, I only care about my friend getting to see a doctor as soon as possible. Delay her treatment, and I’ll report you.”
“I’d never do that to a patient to spite you or anyone else,” Erryn said, snatching the cards from Katie’s hand and going back to work. It took her just a minute or two to input the information before handing the cards back. “Have a seat. You’ll be called as soon as someone is available to see your friend.”
“Thank you,” Katie said sweetly and returned to Ann’s side, taking a seat. “It shouldn’t be long.”
“It seemed a little tense up there,” Ann said, her eyes wide. “Anything wrong?”
“No. I was merely making sure they don’t dawdle getting you in to see a doctor.”
Ann managed a half-smile. “And I thought Jordan was a pit bull.”
Within minutes, Ann was called back to see one of the ER physicians. As Katie remained in the waiting room, she thought about everything Erryn had said. How weird was it that Erryn had known about—and allowed—Erikka to use her sonogram to announce a fake pregnancy? Of course, Erryn called it a prank, but Katie didn’t believe it. She was convinced Erikka intended to use the news to persuade Andy to leave Katie for her.
It made her blood boil to know that Andy told Erryn she recognized the sonogram from Erryn’s social media page. Why on earth would he do that? Why would he even be in touch with Erikka’s sister? Andy’s relationship with Erikka had obviously been more involved than he’d initially let on, but had he told the woman he loved her? Had he been lying to both of them, stringing them both along?
Still, other than the night Katie had stayed with Ray’s daughters, she and Andy hadn’t spent many nights apart. Had he spent the ones without her with Erikka? Erikka had to have been the aggressor in the pursuit of a long-term relationship with Andy, but did he meekly accept her pursuit? Yes, he admitted sleeping with her; but according to Brady, Erikka wasn’t sitting at home pining for Andy, either. Katie took that to mean that Andy hadn’t made Erikka any promises. The woman had simply plotted and waited.
As much as she hated to do it, Katie was going to have to talk to Andy again. If nothing else, he owed it to her to go on Erryn’s so
cial media page to download and enlarge that photograph to help identify the mystery man.
And to think, the entire situation really was all Katie’s fault. She thought she was doing a kind thing by introducing Erikka to Andy after his assistant manager had quit. The woman had been broke and needed a job, and Katie had come to the rescue. As repayment, Erikka had deliberately come between Katie and Andy. And now her death might land Katie in jail!
A pale and concerned Jordan arrived at the ER waiting room. Katie rushed to him.
“Where is she?” he asked, his expression tense.
“In one of the treatment rooms. I’m sure they’ll take you right to her. She led him back to the reception desk. They waited, and one of the nurses came to take him to Ann.
“Will you give me an update?”
“Sure,” he said. “Just give me a few minutes.”
Katie watched as Jordan accompanied the nurse, noticing that Erryn kept flashing her a nasty glare every so often.
Ten minutes later, Jordan returned with a report. “They took an x-ray, and it’s broken all right.” He let out a heavy breath. “She might need surgery. I don’t know how we’re going to keep the bakery going without her. She could be out of work for up to two months. We’ve got Halloween and Thanksgiving coming up, and they’re always a busy time of year for us.”
“How’s Ann taking it?”
Jordan shrugged. “Like a trooper. They’ve splinted her wrist and the nurse is looking up the name and address of the orthopedist so we can make a follow-up appointment. He’ll decide her course of treatment.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Katie asked.
Jordan shook his head. “We’ll have to hire someone.”
“I could ask one of my girls at Tealicious if she needs some extra hours. That might tide you over for a few days until you can find someone.”
“Thanks, Katie. I’d appreciate that.”
“When do you think they’ll release Ann?”
“Any time now. They already phoned in a prescription at the pharmacy down the road. The one in McKinlay Mill is already closed. I think I’ll pick up a container of chocolate cookies-and-cream ice cream. It’s her favorite,” he said, his voice dipping.
Katie patted his arm. “You’re a good guy, Jordan.”
“And I’ve got the best wife and partner in the world,” he said, his voice breaking. He sniffed and seemed to shake himself. “I’d better get back to Ann. Thanks for bringing her here. You’re a good friend, Katie.”
She said nothing and watched as he returned to the big automatic door that led to the treatment rooms.
Yeah, Katie was everybody’s friend. But when it came to lovers, they always seemed to take advantage of her good nature. Was there an invisible kick me sign on her back?
Maybe.
Feeling more than a little depressed, Katie turned and headed for the exit.
After leaving Ann in Jordan’s care, Katie headed back to McKinlay Mill. As she drove, she reflected on the care and concern Jordan showed toward his wife. She knew the couple had been married for over thirty years and had opened their bakery and café nearly ten years before. It had been a struggle at first, but now that business had improved for all the merchants on Victoria Square, they could probably handle the strain of hiring additional help while Ann recuperated.
Katie thought about Jordan’s expression as he told her about Ann’s favorite ice cream and wondered if she’d ever have someone care for her the way those two cared for each other. Andy had cared about her at one time…hadn’t he? Now she was no longer sure. These days, she was uncertain about every aspect of their relationship. Had everything they’d shared been a sham?
As she passed Andy’s house, she noticed his truck was in the driveway. He should have been at the pizzeria. Had he left one of the boys in charge? Was he too grief-stricken, still mourning the loss of his beloved Erikka?
Hesitating for only a moment, Katie pulled into his driveway. The house had originally belonged to Andy’s parents. He’d taken it over when they’d become snowbirds, splitting their time between their summer cottage on Lake Ontario and a condo in Florida. He hadn’t done a lot of updating to the place, although from time to time he spoke of doing some renovations. He kept saying he was waiting for him and Katie to make it “official.” And, yet, he’d never asked her to marry him. He’d never even asked her to move in with him. Looking back, she could see he’d always held some part of himself back. Admittedly, so had she. Maybe they’d both known all along that things simply weren’t right between them.
As she sat in the car contemplating the house and feeling herself deflating, Andy suddenly appeared at her driver’s side door.
“Are you all right, Sunshine?”
Katie stepped out to her car. Having no good answer to his question, she simply said, “We need to talk.”
“Of course.” He held out a hand to escort her to the house, but when she didn’t take it, he let it drop to his side.
Once inside, Katie bypassed the living room’s couch and took the armchair to further underscore the fact that she hadn’t come to rekindle their relationship. In case he didn’t take the hint, she began with, “I’m not here to make up. After all that’s happened, we’ll never get back together.”
Andy started to speak, but she held up her hand.
“Please let me finish.”
He nodded.
“I have to let go of my hurt and anger toward you and concentrate on taking care of myself. That starts with finding out who killed Erikka, and I need your help to do that.”
“You know I’ll do anything to prove to you that I didn’t hurt her.” He sat on the edge of the couch closest to her. “Hell, I even offered to confess to throw Schuler off your trail,” he reminded her.
“Yeah, and we decided that more lies were not going to solve this murder,” she answered tartly. “But, hopefully, the truth will. I know you’re friends with Erikka’s sister, Erryn, on social media.”
He shifted his gaze. “Yeah. I might’ve inadvertently misled Erikka into thinking that she and I might have had a future together if things ever went south between you and me.”
Katie glared at him and waited. He had more to tell her, and she’d found the silent treatment was the best way to get Andy to talk. She just had to wait him out.
It didn’t take long.
Andy slapped his knees, got up, and started pacing. “Okay, I wanted a backup, all right? You kept getting closer and closer to Ray Davenport, and then you hired that GQ model of a chef to run Tealicious. Things were strained between us and—”
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” Katie said evenly. “None of it does. Maybe one day we can move past your betrayal enough to consider each other friends, but right now I see no point in rehashing what was done or what should have been done or—”
Andy dropped to his knees in front of her chair, his eyes beseeching. “Katie, please, I still love you. What can I do to prove it?”
She hadn’t gone there to debate. She’d come for one purpose. “Please go onto Erryn’s Facebook page and download a photo for me. There’s someone in one of her posts who looks familiar, and I want a better look.”
“Sure thing.” He got up, retrieved his laptop, and set it on the coffee table. Sitting back down on the couch, he revved up the computer and opened his social media account. “What the—?”
Moving behind the sofa to look over Andy’s shoulder, Katie saw that her visit had been in vain. Now Andy, too, had been blocked from Erryn’s page.
Chapter 25
“Well, that was unexpected,” Andy muttered, staring at his news feed.
“Why’s that?” Katie asked.
“Because I thought we were—”
“Real friends?”
Andy didn’t answer.
“Just how well do you know Erikka’s family?” she pressed.
Again, Andy seemed to retreat into himself. “I’ve met them a few times—at the shop.”
/>
Katie glared at him. Sure. They drove all the way to Victoria Square when there were scores of pizzerias between Fairport, Greece, and McKinlay Mill. Katie stood. “I’d better be going.”
“Wait,” Andy said, and reached for her arm. She shrugged him off and headed for the door.
When she got to her car, Katie saw Andy watching her from behind the screen door.
She got in, started the car, and pulled out of the driveway without a backward glance.
So, he wanted a backup in Erikka in case things didn’t work out with her. He was allowed to have a friendship—and apparently a very close one—with Erikka, but she couldn’t be friends with Ray, a man old enough to be mistaken for her father, and the chef she employed at Tealicious? Talk about a double standard. Katie had remained faithful when Andy….
But then she remembered the kiss she’d shared with Ray and a cloud of self-doubt descended upon her.
Katie gave herself a mental shake. She had other things to think about. Like the meeting with the criminal defense attorney the next morning. She’d done some research and his billable hours could put her in the poor house.
Yes, she had a lot of other, more important things to think about besides Andy Rust.
Katie spent the rest of the evening finishing her unpacking, but since she’d pared down her possessions before the move, it didn’t take all that long. She avoided the computer and even turned off her phone. She didn’t want to be in contact with the world at large. If someone needed her, they could knock on her door.
She pulled down her Murphy bed, turned on the TV, found a chick-flick, and promptly fell asleep. Waking hours later, she found two hungry cats staring at her while the tube droned on and on. She fed the felines and went to bed, but after napping found it hard to fall asleep, and when she finally dozed off, she dreamed of handcuffs being snapped around her wrists.
It was light when Katie rolled over in bed, took a deep breath, and looked up at the ceiling. She was glad Artisans Alley was closed on Monday, so she didn’t have to explain her absence that morning. She was both apprehensive and relieved about her appointment with J.P. Trammel, the criminal attorney. Della headbutted her chin—as if Katie needed to be reminded that the most important thing in the world was feeding the cats.
A Murderous Misconception Page 16