Death Bee Comes Her

by Nancy CoCo

  “So, what do you need from me?” she asked. “Isn’t there someone else you can bug?”

  I ignored her dig. “No, actually, you are the best person for this. You see, the police took almost a third of my inventory when they searched my shop and home. I know you have beeswax candles in your shop.”

  “I do and they are locally made.”

  Her pause was brimming with the insinuation that her candles were better than mine. I let it go. “Wonderful,” I said and brightened my expression. “You see, with Halloweentown this week, I know we’ll have a nice tourist rush.”

  “Yes,” she agreed. “I was preparing today’s costume when you knocked on my door. My shop opens at eleven.” She looked at her watch as if to rush me.

  “So does mine,” I said. “I’ll make this brief. I was wondering if I could sell some of your candles in my shop. My inventory is low and I don’t want bare shelves. We are on opposite ends of Main Street. If I could put your candles on my shelves, I could put up a sign and drive more people to your shop. It is a winning situation all the way around. You get more shelf space and good advertising and I get to keep my shop open with shelves that look full.”

  She sipped her coffee and studied me.

  “I suppose I could share a few of my candles. But you must let me brand the shelf you use.”

  “Wonderful,” I said and sent her a reassuring smile. “Perfect. Thank you.”

  “Is that all you wanted?”

  “I understand you and Agnes were close. I’m sorry for your loss.”

  “We weren’t that close,” she said and drank her coffee. “In fact, Agnes was quite upset with me before she died.”

  “Oh, really? I thought you featured her things in your shop. I assumed you were best friends.”

  “Far from it,” she said. “Frankly I’m glad the old biddy is gone. Don’t tell the cops that, though. She was so controlling that she would come into my store and tell me how to showcase her things as if she was the star of my show, for goodness’ sakes.”

  “If you didn’t like that why didn’t you tell her?”

  “She threatened to have Bernie put an ugly piece of sculpture in front of my store. When he was mayor he could have done just that. Why do you think that awful metal creature was placed in front of Hank Worthington’s men’s clothing shop? Hank and Bernie didn’t get along.”

  “How was Bernie able to keep his job as mayor if he intimidated people?”

  “He had some high-paying supporters who made sure that his competition looked bad. In return he gave his supporters clout in the town and along the coast. That’s how the Seaside Hotel got zoned and built. That terrible monstrosity doesn’t even go with the charm of the town. But no matter, it’s a done deal now.”

  “I had no idea,” I said.

  “You wouldn’t. You’ve only been a business owner for what, a year? I was wagering you wouldn’t make it this long.”

  “I did, though. I’ll celebrate my second anniversary in May of next year.”

  “If you last that long,” she said.

  I blinked. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, you’re already in trouble if you have to come here and ask me for help.”

  “Oh, right.”

  “Don’t take it personally,” she said, reaching over to pat my hand. “Main Street businesses are cutthroat. It’s prime property during tourist season. I’m surprised you got your place at all. I suppose because it is just off Main, you got a good price.”

  “Aunt Eloise helped me secure the lease.”

  “Your aunt is a strong woman.”

  “She is,” I agreed and stood. “I need to get back and get dressed for the shop opening. You can send your candles over anytime. I live above the shop so I’ll be there. Porsche and I will ensure they are branded to your standards. Thanks for helping.”

  “It will be an interesting co-marketing experience.” She stood as well and walked me to the door. “Are you going to stop selling candles?”

  “Oh, no,” I said and slipped on my shoes. “Mine aren’t as good as yours, of course,” I flattered her. “But I make them because beeswax is so pretty in candles. Don’t you think?”

  “It is,” she said and opened the door. “It has a nice melting point.”

  I stepped outside “Bye, Linda.”

  “See you soon,” she said as she watched me walk away. I wasn’t sure how productive the visit was, but it was interesting. If Linda was the killer, then I was inviting her into my home, which was probably not a smart idea. Still, if she poisoned any more of my things, she would implicate herself, since we were co-marketing. It could work out in my favor.

  * * *

  Halloweentown was a tradition on the Oregon coast. It was fun to have showings of the films around Halloween. People loved to dress up and bring their kids around to trick or treat. I had made salted honey caramels for treats.

  My blue-checkered dress and white apron with red-sequined pumps gave away my costume pretty quickly. Especially since I carried Everett in a basket. To punk it up a bit, I created zombie makeup for my face.

  “You look smashing, darling,” said Porsche. She was dressed in a long black Morticia costume from the old Addams Family television show.

  “You aren’t so bad yourself,” I said and gave her a wolf whistle.

  “You know us girls,” she said. “We love to show off our figures at Halloween.”

  The shop was all decked out in orange and black with tiny skulls and witches’ cauldrons. The front window was ringed in glowing bats, and we had a steaming Crock-Pot of mulled cider at the door. Instead of bells, the door cackled every time someone walked in.

  Costumed people roamed the streets as we unlocked the shop and put up our open sign. Porsche stood at the door and gave away candy as the little kids came in and shouted, “Trick or treat!”

  “Oh, trick, please,” Porsche said.

  A little boy in a puppy costume studied her. “You’re supposed to give me candy when I say that.”

  “You mean I can’t choose trick?” she asked.

  “No tricks,” he said. “Only candy.”

  “Well, if you insist.” She put a piece of candy in his orange plastic pumpkin. “But next time think up a fun trick for me. Okay?”

  “Okay,” he said.

  At first most of the visitors were kids and their parents looking for candy. But after a while, the crowd began to shop. I didn’t mind the kids and their parents not shopping as it was still good publicity. People got to come in and see what we sold in the shop. I knew from experience that they would come back around later to purchase something they saw.

  The beehive was also a nice draw. Kids found the bees scary and fascinating at the same time.

  It was after 4 p.m. when the door cackled and a tall man with broad shoulders walked in. I recognized him immediately. “Conrad? Conrad Hassel?” Conrad was a guy I’d gone to college with. I’d had a huge crush on him, but he was dating another girl so I never let him know.

  “Well, if it isn’t my old friend, Wren.” He gave me a bear hug. The man was a serious heartthrob of muscle and blond hair with a movie-star grin. “How are you?”

  “Good. I didn’t know you were in Oregon—”

  “Moved to Portland last spring to work as COO of a software service company. Man, you look good.”

  “Oh, thanks.” I felt the heat of a blush and then realized I was wearing zombie makeup. “How can you tell in my costume?”

  “If you look that good in zombie makeup, then you must be really hot in regular makeup.”

  I blinked at him. Was that a pickup line or did he really mean it? “Thanks, what brings you to Oceanview?”

  “I’ve got a buddy who wants to start a whale-watching business. He knows about whales and boats and I know about business. So I came over to check it out. Funny how everyone here is in costume. Halloween isn’t until Saturday.”

  “It’s the Halloweentown celebration,” I said. “It’s an
entire week of Halloween and you are out of costume.”

  “Well, then I’ll need to get one.” He looked around. “This place is great.”

  “Thanks.”

  He studied the beehive. “Is this your store?”

  “Yes, it is,” I said. “I’ve been open about eighteen months.”

  “You were always good with business concepts.” He turned and studied me. “Need an investor?”

  “No, thanks,” I said and smiled. “I want to prove I can do this on my own.”

  “Then let me take you out to dinner.”

  “I—”

  “She’ll go,” Porsche said. “I’ve got the store covered.”

  “Porsche!”

  “Go,” she encouraged. Then she stage-whispered, “It isn’t every day a handsome man shows up and asks you to dinner.”

  “Stop,” I said and my cheeks felt hotter. “Are you sure?” I asked Conrad.

  “I couldn’t be more sure,” he said.

  “Now?”

  “Yes, now! I don’t mind taking a zombie out to dinner. I know this nice pub that has been smoking brisket all day and they make a mean sandwich.”

  “Okay,” I said. “I’ll get my purse.”

  “I thought that was your purse,” Conrad said and looked down at the basket.

  “No, this is my cat.” I opened the top of the basket and Everett opened a sleepy eye and looked at me grumpily.

  “Nice.”

  “Porsche, will you watch Everett?”

  “Sure,” she said, her gaze focused on what was going on.

  I put the basket down on the counter and ran upstairs, got my purse and stopped to check my reflection in the mirror. I guess the black and white and slightly green tone of the makeup wasn’t an altogether bad look.

  Hurrying down the stairs, I reached the bottom to see Conrad standing there and my mouth became dry. He looked gorgeous—like the actor who played Thor.

  “Let’s go,” he said and cocked his arm. I put my arm through it and waved goodbye to Porsche. Everett watched from the counter as if something was happening that he’d never seen before. Probably because he’d never seen it before.

  Out on the street I felt as if everyone was watching us. It was a strange feeling. I tried to ignore it. But Oceanview was a small town and small-town people noticed everything and liked to comment. I guess I’d hear about it tomorrow.

  He opened the door to the Four Horsemen Pub. Inside it smelled like smoked meat and IPAs.

  “Welcome,” the host said. “Table for two?”

  “Yes,” we both said at the same time and then laughed.

  “I’ve got a quiet seat back here.” He took us to the back of the building. Tall booths closed in the customers as if each table was in its own secret room. The host put the menus on each side of the table and I took the side that looked toward the back. I know some guys liked to have their backs to the wall so they could see the entrance. I wondered if Conrad was one of those guys.

  “If it’s okay with you, I’ll order us both the smoked brisket,” Conrad said.

  “I’m in,” I agreed. His eyes were so blue and his hair blond with a touch of red. “So you’re thinking about investing in a whale-watching business?”

  “I know there are several already,” he said. “So another in the mix will be hard to be successful. That’s why I’m here, I’m trying to figure out an angle that will bring people to us.”

  “Have you come up with any?”

  “Well, maybe a secret cove or private picnic island adventure.”

  “I’m not sure there is any place on the coast that’s secret.”

  “We’ll see,” he said. “Maybe I shouldn’t go into the business. Tell me, if you weren’t running your honey business, what business would you be in?”

  “Probably a pet store or a florist shop.” I thought for a moment. “Actually, definitely a pet store.”

  “There isn’t one in Oceanview?”

  “No, we have to go to Astoria or Beaverton, which is closer to you.”

  “Well, then pet shop it is,” he said. The waiter brought us our drinks and brisket.

  The rest of the time went by quickly as we caught up on all that had happened since college. I had taken a year to learn about bees and the bee craft. Then another year to apprentice beekeeping. Then another to earn enough money to stock my shop. Then finally time to create my inventory.

  Meanwhile Conrad had gone straight to San Jose and gotten involved in a start-up that went viral. Now he was an angel investor. I teased him that he should be one of the guys on Shark Tank. “Don’t I wish,” he said.

  We walked back to the shop. Darkness had fallen and the streets were quiet. A few high school kids in costumes were running around—up to no good, I’m sure.

  “So,” Conrad said as we hit the door of the shop. “Can I call you?”

  “Yes,” I said and gave him my number. We hugged and I watched him walk away. The date had been so much fun. I felt light and happy. It was nice to be out with a man who made my heart go zing just by looking at him. Maybe things were looking up for me.

  Strawberry Honey Lip Balm

  ½ cup coconut oil

  ¼ cup beeswax

  1½ tablespoons honey

  1 teaspoon strawberry extract

  Heat coconut oil, beeswax, and honey over low heat until melted. Remove from heat and add extract. Stir until blended. Pour into twelve half-ounce tins and let sit to cool. (Note: Any extract will work, so if you like vanilla and honey that would work as well.)

  Chapter 10

  The next day I was dressed as the Tin Man. Of course, I had to put my zombie spin on the costume. Silver face makeup and dark circles around my eyes created the Undead Tin Man look. Porsche arrived at the shop dressed like Wednesday Addams, complete with long dark braids. Five minutes before we opened, Linda knocked at the door dressed as Queen Elizabeth. She carried a carton of candles.

  “Well, this is a surprise,” Porsche said.

  “No, we were expecting her,” I said and opened the door. “Linda, thanks for coming by and adding to my inventory. I realized last night that we didn’t discuss commission.”

  “I’ll give you ten percent and if I see an uptick in sales due to the candles being here, then we can negotiate a higher percentage.”

  “Great,” I said.

  Porsche rolled her eyes behind Linda.

  “Where do you want them?” Linda asked.

  “I’ve got a lighted shelf right here.” I took her to the right-hand corner of the shop. The glass shelves on the wall had lighting underneath to make anything on them stand out.

  “I can set them up,” I said and tried to take the carton.

  “Oh, no,” Linda said and wrenched it away from me. “My goods, my setup.”

  I raised my hand in the air like a stickup victim. “Works for me. I’ll just go over to the counter and finish opening. Let me know if you need me for anything.”

  “I’ll be fine. I was selling candles when you were still in diapers,” Linda grumbled.

  Porsche pretended to dust the shelves on the other side of the room with a feather duster. She gave me a look.

  “I’ll tell you later,” I mouthed and went over to Everett, who sat on the counter. I stroked his thick fur.

  We watched as Linda carefully arranged the shelf with her candles and sign.

  “All right, girls,” she said as she walked over with her empty box. “I think you’re going to see my candles go faster than your things, but if you want to co-market, so be it.”

  “Thank you so much,” I said.

  Linda left and Porsche turned to me. “What the heck?”

  “We think that Linda might have killed Agnes and is framing me because we compete in candles.”

  “So you invited her in?”

  “Yes,” I said. “If she poisons anything else of mine, well, we can say her things might be just as contaminated.”

  “Oh, brilliant.”

&n
bsp; “Besides,” I went on, “I needed extra inventory. The shipment of new supplies doesn’t come in until tomorrow.”

  “Have you heard anything more from your lawyer on getting your stuff back?”

  “I haven’t,” I said. “I’m kind of afraid to find out what happens next.”

  “You should probably keep an eye on that.”

  “Aunt Eloise also thinks Officer Hampton is sweet on me and might be trying to keep me out of trouble.”

  “I told you,” she said. “Besides, he should be looking after you. You’re innocent.”

  “Of course I am,” I said. “But I’m sure he’s getting pressured to arrest someone in the case. I haven’t seen our reporter friend around in a few days.”

  “Maybe she’s on to someone else,” Porsche said. “You should call her.”

  “I will,” I said. “But it’s time to open the doors. I can see the kids walking down the sidewalk.”

  We opened the doors and handed out candy to the kids in costumes who were trick or treating. By noon the crowd had slowed, so I went up to my office and called Alicia.

  “This is Alicia,” she said.

  “Hey, it’s Wren. How is the investigation into Agnes’s murder going?” I asked.

  “It’s sort of stalled out,” she said. “I haven’t heard a peep in days. The medical examiner is busy with the autopsy and not all of the labs have come back. At least that’s what the cops are saying. Why? Do you know something?”

  “We should meet for tea this afternoon.”

  “Sounds good. How about the Tree House Tea House at three?”

  “I’ll be there,” I said and hung up. Talking to Alicia was tricky. I didn’t want to give up too much of what I knew. Just enough that she could run down that path with her connections.

  I went downstairs to find somewhat of a crowd in the store. I loved a good rush—especially on a Monday. It meant we were going to make a profit for the day.

  “Aren’t these candles from the candle shop?” a woman asked.

  “Yes,” I said. “We’re co-marketing. I also have some beautiful all-natural beeswax ones here. They melt very nicely.” I showed her the candles I’d made the other night.