All She Wrote

by Tonya Kappes

  “Who told you that?” she asked gruffly and folded her arms across her thin body. “It wasn’t Florence’s plan or her family’s.”

  “Are you talking about Courtney?” I questioned.

  “Mmhmmm. That poor girl. Florence loved her so much. The night Florence was killed by Zeke Grey, she called me in a tizzy saying Zeke wasn’t like she thought he was and he was demanding. I told her now that he had a ring on that finger, a ring Florence had bought herself, that he’d be a different man.” She lifted her finger and shook it at me. “So you be glad you ain’t bothered with Mac Tabor right now. Someone who can go from you to that thing”—she was referring to Lucy Drake—“ain’t worth a pot to piss in. You hear me?”

  There was nothing like getting a good talking-to from Cora Elizabeth Lewis at ten in the morning, on a Monday at that.

  “I guess I don’t understand why Florence would agree to marry Zeke? He has no money.” I still didn’t get a clear reason.

  “No, but he had clout in this town. He might’ve been broke, but he had status. Not like Florence’s status.” She leaned back in the old chair, and the plastic groaned as her bottom pinched through the holes of the seat. “You’re too young to see it, but it’s still pretty much a man’s world here in Sugar Creek Gap. Florence always complained about how she was the only woman on all them boards, and when it came time for her to take over after she’d done her time, the men on the board would vote against her. They had no problem taking her money for various functions and charities, not to mention how she was able to raise money. So if I was a bettin’ woman, to which I am not because I am a standing member of the Sugar Creek Gap Baptist Church, but if I was, I’d say Florence married him to get him on the boards of some of these businesses so she could get him president and leave a legacy.” Cora’s eyes lowered. “That was one thing Florence wanted before she left this earth. Leave a legacy.”

  I smiled when she mentioned church only because poor old Cora Elizabeth had no idea how the congregation did carry on with their gambling nights and drinking. In old times, the church had a different set of rules, but those rules no longer applied. Which made me wonder if everything she’d told me was just her old mind’s observations. One way to find out…knock on Zeke Grey’s door.

  “Why, Bernadette Butler. Me and you is in some boat, ain’t we? Both having lost love in the same week.” He opened the screen door. “You and Buster come on in if you got a minute.”

  “Are you sure? We don’t want to intrude.” I’d already taken a step inside and begun to intrude without him even answering me. “But I would like to give my condolences about Florence. I didn’t get to talk to you in church because everyone was around you.” I put my hand on his arm. “You gave a nice speech.”

  “You know Florence. It probably wasn’t good enough, and if she’d known that she was going to die, I imagine she’d have left her own speech for me to read to the church.” Even though he tried to make light of the situation, I could see her death had taken a little light from him.

  “You must have been pretty special for her to marry you,” I teased then winked, watching him pat Buster.

  There was a visible difference in his personality between before Buster and I walked in and now. It had to be Zeke patting Buster. The relaxing feeling that came with loving on a fur baby held so much good. I could see why therapy animals were all the rage. Instant results were created, and I could see how much calmer Zeke had become just from his few minutes with Buster.

  “I don’t know about that. She did call me an old curmudgeon.” His words made me laugh out loud. “Awww. There’s that beautiful smile that I thought might be lost because of your heartache.”

  “I don’t have any heartache. I’m about to have a grandbaby, and my heart will be full with her.” I sighed.

  “Her?” He jerked up with a big grin. “A girl?”

  “Oh, I have no idea. I just say her.” Was that a subconscious thing? Was it possible that deep down, I wanted Grady to have a little girl?

  “You probably got some instinct. Don’t they call that woman instinct? At least that’s what Florence called it.” He really was a very handsome older man. I could see why Florence and all the Front Porch Ladies took a liking to him.

  “Who knows.” I dropped the bag off my shoulder and dug down deep to get his mail. “You know, I found her niece standing over top of her.”

  “Yes. I hate that. Florence loved Courtney, and it just breaks my heart to think that poor girl’s life is just not her own.” He took his mail and quickly took out all the envelopes that were probably cards of condolences. He gestured for me to follow him back to the kitchen, where he had mail, casseroles, plastic containers of various food from the women in the community, as well as some legal document that had Tim Crouse’s logo on the top.

  “What do you mean?” I asked and shook my head no when he silently offered me a cup of coffee. We sat down at his table, and Buster curled up on the cold linoleum floor.

  “Courtney moved here to keep up with Florence but was really looking forward to teaching her sewing skills to the students at the school. She said a couple of month ago when she called Florence to tell her she was coming that she’d taken on a project for the family charity. Something about sewing blankets for the kids or something. Florence would’ve been able to explain better.” His mind appeared to be occupied with something else as he shuffled the papers around on the table. “Say, have you been by the courthouse yet?”

  “No. I thought I’d bring Buster for a nice walk since it’d rained all day Saturday and he needed some exercise. Right now it’s perfect weather for him compared to later today. But downtown is my next stop. Why do you ask?”

  “I don’t feel much like getting out of the house, and Florence wanted me to sign some papers about the will being changed over to me.” He looked up at me. “I know she wanted to pay off my debts. I’m assuming you’ve heard. The whole town has.”

  “It’s none of my business, Zeke.” I didn’t want him to feel any more ashamed than he already did, but it still made me wonder if he did, in fact, kill Florence for her money.

  “Well, I don’t care what the rumors are out there. I’m not taking a cent from Florence. I’m not signing them papers. What was hers is hers. I know she wanted to help me out, and it wasn’t easy getting her to agree to marry me. I’m not sure if you noticed, but I’m not a young whippersnapper anymore.” He laughed. A little bit of spark made some color appear in his cheeks. “But she did. She said it was on one condition.”

  “What was that?” I was all ears.

  “That I run for bank president against Alvie Franklin.”

  “Tiffany’s dad?” My jaw dropped.

  “Mhhmmm. Them two didn’t get along at all.”

  “Do you know why?” I asked.

  “I’m not sure, but I do know that he stopped by Florence’s after Florence went out to see Courtney on the night of her murder. He insisted he talk to her, and I told him she wasn’t there.” He shook his head. “I’m telling you right now. I can see where that girl of his got her temper. From her daddy.”

  “Why didn’t you go with Florence to see Courtney?” I was beating around the bush to see if he’d followed Florence and killed her.

  “You want to know the truth?” he asked.

  “Want to know the truth?” There was a squawk from the all-seasons room located behind the kitchen.

  “Blue Belle, now I’ve got company,” Zeke hollered out.

  “Keep up with your end of the deal.” The bird sounded like Florence.

  “Gosh. I wish he didn’t sound exactly like her.” His head dropped.

  “I’ll expose you for all you are!” Blue Belle sounded like Zeke.

  “Dang bird.” He laughed. “My parrot repeats everything I say, or anything anyone says, for that matter, and just meshes conversations together.”

  “Wait.” It dawned on me. “Did you and Florence live here after you got married?”

  �
�Gosh no. She’d never live here. Look around. She hated Blue Belle. Who is very good at telling everyone my gambling conversation. Which is why I didn’t go with Florence.”

  “I’m not following.” Buster got up and started to dance around the kitchen, telling me it was time to go. But I wanted to hear what Zeke was telling me.

  “The night Florence was murdered, I knew there was a big online poker game. Florence didn’t know. She and Courtney hadn’t left things good that afternoon, and she insisted on making it right with Courtney. When Alvie showed up during that rain, I could see he was angry. I should’ve stopped him, but I told him where Florence had gone. To see her niece.” Zeke’s eyes dipped. The deep frown lines deepened more.

  Buster was so good at sensing people’s feelings. He trotted over to Zeke and nuzzled his head on Zeke’s leg to initiate a few rubs.

  “While she was gone, I gambled all I had left to my name away. I thought I could win some back because I was feeling lucky. Florence Gaines had married me. I was the luckiest man in Sugar Creek Gap, and I knew it was going to transfer online.”

  He took a few deep breaths, and I could tell he was trying to collect himself.

  “Florence would’ve been upset if she knew I didn’t go because I was gambling,” he finally said in a whisper. “I don’t want her money. I don’t need it.”

  “Zeke, I’m going to be honest with you.” I began to tell him how I had suspected he killed Florence and how I’d even told Angela about me hearing him and Florence fighting.

  He laughed so hard when he realized I’d overheard a conversation Blue Belle was having with herself in the various voice tones she had in her repertoire.

  “I’m so sorry.” I felt terrible.

  “Don’t worry about it. People around here love old Blue Belle. The neighborhood is young people, you know, and their kids love her. Florence didn’t, and I even found Blue Belle a home with one of the young’uns down the street. I’m still going to give Blue Belle to them because I’m not getting any younger, and Blue Belle can live for thirty more years.” He rubbed his head. “Besides, she’s starting to get on my nerves. Only one woman I was willing to put up with for the rest of my life here on this earth, and that was Florence Gaines.”

  “Well, I hope you have some way to prove you gambled the night of Florence’s murder.” I knew it was only a matter of time before Angela pulled him in for questioning after letting him grieve.

  “Oh yeah. They can trace all my activity online.” He picked up a few of the papers when he saw me throw my bag strap back on my shoulder. “Do you mind taking these papers to Tim Crouse on your route? I don’t want them lying around unsigned. You never know if someone would forge my signature.”

  I agreed and took them.

  “Can I ask you who you think killed Florence?” I stopped on his porch after I walked out. I had a second to hear his answer while Buster darted around, sniffing to find a spot to do his business.

  “If I had another twenty to my name, I’d put it on Alvie Franklin. That man wasn’t happy about his daughter not getting the scholarship. People do things for their kids that they wouldn’t do for others. You should know that. You’d lay your life down for Grady to have his dream fulfilled.” His brows rose. “Am I right?”

  Chapter 14

  Zeke Grey was righter than he’d ever know. I’d done everything I could do for Grady after his father had died. I didn’t want him to miss out on a single thing, and maybe that was why I was so willing to jump into a relationship with Mac Tabor.

  Grady loved Mac just like a second dad, and I loved seeing them together. If I really thought hard about the past year with Mac, most of my memories were with him and Grady. Whenever Mac and I did spend time together, it was generally with Grady.

  As much as I wanted to think that I knew Mac Tabor as a boyfriend, I didn’t. We never let ourselves explore a life of just the two of us.

  Was that why I wasn’t able to move our relationship further at this time? There was something that was holding me back.

  That was what had filled my head all the way around my third loop. Forget how Buster stole the show and how cute it was. Mac Tabor had broken up with me without breaking up with me. That made me mad.

  I hurried back to the post office with Buster in tow, knowing I could grab the second loop and get Mac’s mail delivered while he’d be out for his usual afternoon business meetings. My stomach was growling, and I needed a jolt of sugar. And there was only one place to go.

  Pie In The Face.

  “You’re a good boy.” Iris stood behind the bakery counter, finishing up the rush of the lunch crowd. She talked to Buster and gave him a few of the special animal biscuits she makes for her clients’ fur babies.

  “No wonder we love coming here,” I teased. I couldn’t help but eyeball all the cupcakes and cookies. I especially loved her gingerbread men cookies with the red glitter sprinkles.

  She walked over to the door where she kept a bowl of water for all her four-legged clients. “What? You’ve been using me all these years to be your best friend? Good! Because I’m using you to take the graduation cake to the community center.”

  “That’s another reason I stopped by. Alvie Franklin needs to be added to our list of suspects.” I watched Iris wipe her hands off before she looked at me for clarification. “We need to take Zeke off, and Courtney.”

  “Not Julia?” Iris asked something I’d been trying to forget all day.

  “Not yet.” I let out a long sigh. “I’m not sure what is going on, but I texted Grady this morning and haven’t heard a word.” There was some worry because I hadn’t heard from him.

  Every morning, every day, there was some sort of “good morning” or “how are you this morning” text between us.

  “That’s odd.” Iris pointed to Buster.

  “He’ll be fine,” I assured her, knowing she was asking without asking if Buster would be okay next to the door that was designated for the fur clients since the Health Department didn’t let them back in her kitchen.

  I followed her back and continued to tell her how I wondered if Grady was upset with me snooping around and how I should know better than to think Julia had killed Florence.

  “Hopefully that’s not the case.” Iris grabbed the bag of icing and used her steady hand to write on the fancy cake. “It’s summer. I bet they are sleeping in and just enjoying this gorgeous day.”

  “Maybe.” I eased down on the chair and put my mailbag on the floor. I couldn’t help but look at Iris’s big whiteboard where we’d played detective a few nights ago. “We sure thought we had it figured out.”

  “Tell me what you know.” She stood up and took a step back to look at her creation before she hunched over to finish off the inscription on the cake.

  I also took the opportunity to text Angela what I was telling Iris since she’d asked me to keep my eyes and ears peeled for anything about the case.

  “The argument I heard between Zeke and Florence wasn’t them. It was Zeke’s bird, Blue Belle, repeating various conversation. She can sound like me better than me.” I laughed.

  “Did you type that to Angela?” Iris cackled.

  “No, just telling you how the bird mocked me while I was there.” I went back to my phone and brought it up to my mouth for the text to talk. “Florence left her house to go make up with Courtney. While she was gone, Zeke hopped online to play in what he called his last poker game. It can be traced, which proves he was home the entire time like he said. But Alvie Franklin stopped by Florence’s during the storm, and he was demanding to see her. He was upset about Tiffany not winning the scholarship. Zeke told Alvie that Florence had gone to see her niece and she’d be back shortly, but Alvie didn’t wait. He said he was going to find her.”

  “Then he did it.” Iris was convinced.

  “He had motive, anything for his daughter,” I spouted out, “and money, because we know they can’t afford to send her to college. I’m not even sure if they’d qualify to
cosign for a parent loan?”

  “And I wouldn’t be a best friend if I didn’t let you have the honors of delivering this big graduation cake to Tiffany Franklin’s.” Iris always knew how to cheer me up.

  She knew that when she’d asked me this morning if I minded delivering the cake to the community center that it would be the perfect opportunity to be slightly nosy. “And from what you just told me, Angela might want to see if there’s any gossip there.”

  “What about Tiffany’s mom when she asks me why I’m delivering the cake?” It wasn’t unusual for me to deliver or even help Iris bake.

  Actually, Iris and I made cakes weekly before she opened Pie in the Face. She was well-known around town for her expertise in the baking department and had made many occasional cakes for folks. Most of the cakes were baked on Sundays in the farmhouse kitchen before Sunday supper, but now that she’d opened her shop and I had a full-time job, she’d hire someone to deliver or do it herself, leaving me with few-and-far-between favors.

  “Tell them the truth. You were delivering the mail.” She shrugged and gave me the perfect reason to help.

  “Perfect timing too.” I groaned. “Mac has all his business meetings in the afternoon, which makes it perfect for me to deliver all his mail to his office and completely bypass his house and not see him.”

  “About that.” Iris rolled her eyes. “You can’t turn a hoochie mama into a housewife. Me and you both know Mac loved how you were when you were married to Richard. You cooked, cleaned, gardened, and kept yourself up, and Lucy Drake ain’t gonna do none of that.”

  My phone buzzed.

  “It’s Grady.” Excited, I answered the phone.

  “Mom, I don’t want you to be alarmed.” Well…when your child calls you and tells you they don’t want you to be alarmed, you immediately become alarmed.

  My palms began to sweat. My mind raced. Had Julia been arrested? Was the baby okay?