Murder by Nature (Organic Tropical Mystery Series)

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Murder by Nature (Organic Tropical Mystery Series) Page 2

by Lynn Ambers


  I took up two booth spaces so we could fit all the veggies, fruits, tropical trees, and plants we had to sell. Sophie and George usually work one side of the booth and Heidi and Mitch work the other side. David and I rotate between the two little groups.

  I grabbed some of the last boxes of fruits and veg from the stock. The summer heat was still hanging around, but I breathed in the warm sea air with pleasure. I walked over to our portable stereo and turned up the classical music to add a little ambience to our booth and to sooth my nerves.

  The crew and I were rushing around helping customers and straightening the goods. Smiling to the next customer I put my hand out to take the bags of veggies in their hands to give to Sophie.

  Chapter Four

  “I have come to pick-up my order,” said a lady with a floppy sun hat a little while later.

  “Yes of course, what is the name?” I said.

  “Mrs. Bonsworth,” she said.

  “Is that your car?” I said pointing to the large pink SUV that squeezed into the pick-up area.

  “Yes, that’s my pink SUV, “she said proudly. Our booth has two designated parking spots nearby to load people’s cars with our nursery items and large orders. I also sell larger organic trees and potted flowering plants.

  “Okay, I’ll have one of the guys load your SUV. That is a great color,” I said referring to her pink car.

  “Thank you. My husband and I just love your booth. The vegetables are always so fresh, so delicious. The flowers always make our condo so much cozier. We come down for the winter from New York, you know to get away from that harsh winter and city people.”

  “New York, I love that city. We are awfully glad you enjoy the stuff we grow,” I said turning to Mitch. “Mitch, this is Mrs. Bonsworth, those bromeliads, birds of paradise, and the mini palm tree are hers over there, along with the two bags of fruits and veggies.” She smiled and nodded and walked towards her things. Mitch picked up everything and followed her to her SUV.

  The town was bustling again for season. The summer was slow. We did not have a market during the summer. There just were not enough people around to make it worth everyone’s while.

  I wondered if I was going to make a dent in my debt’s with today’s sales. The day had gone well, but you never can tell until you counted the money. This was only one day, and I had a lot more bills than one day were going to handle.

  I looked around to see what was left to sell and started thinking about the wrap-up for the day. We had to give main street back to the city for the afternoon and night crowd.

  Chapter Five

  I looked at my phone. I got a text from Mathew asking if I needed any help closing and was I ready for the boat this afternoon. Mathew, the sheriff was the only guy in my life now.

  We did many things together. Romance was not one of them since an incident that happened in high school, to make it simple, I chose my ex over Mathew. Mathew was crushed and would not talk to me for an exceedingly long time. We eventually made up and have been good friends ever since. Yes, he is good looking. Yes, he is available. I am still grieving a bit from my break-up.

  I texted back if it was okay to go on the boat tomorrow. I was exhausted and promised Angela I was going to go to yoga with her a week ago. I had forgotten. I apologized. I let him know I was psyched to go on the boat tomorrow.

  He texted me back and said that he totally understood and was fine with going tomorrow. Mathew was a good guy.

  I looked up from my cellphone. I heard arguing coming from somewhere. I looked around and found the source in the parking lot. Blake and Valerie were in each other’s face talking with scrunched faces of anger. They were both heated and aggressive. Their behavior was not at all the same behavior they were displaying earlier.

  Blake grabbed Valerie’s arm. She looked at him like a bull ready to charge. Valerie yanked her arm away from him and said something before walking away to her car. Blake just stared at her with a scowl on his face. He then quickly walked towards his truck and punched the side of it.

  Blake got into his truck and drove away. I did not like his aggressive behavior. Even though Valerie was an annoying person, nobody needed to suffer from any violence from anyone especially, Blake Dalefort. I did not think of him as the violent type.

  Sometimes the most shy or nice person can be hiding something, though I thought. Blake was the preppy private school type and was usually genuinely nice to everyone minus snobbery here and there. His treatment of Valerie seemed outside of his character.

  I turned my attention back to the booth. I was still bothered by what I just saw. I thought Valerie’s behavior was strange and then Blake’s too. Something must be up. I figured I’d mention it to Mathew.

  Mathew had been with the Marina Bay Police Station for ten years so far. He got in when he was twenty. He went into the police academy in Miami right after high school. I wondered if he knew anything about Blake’s anger or what was going on with those two.

  Market sales were still going strong, and I joined in the weighing and paying again. I looked around while helping the customers spoke with David about our plan to start breaking down and getting out of there. It was the weekend after all.

  I checked my phone, again. It was 12:30. The market ended at 1:00 so everything could be cleaned up and prepared for the downtown evening activities. I glanced at the tables and saw that lots of the veggies and fruits were gone. There was still a line of people buying what was left.

  “Do you want me to start loading what is left of the palms?” David said. The two registers and scales were being used so those of us who were not helping the line had to start cleaning up. I looked at my watch and nodded my head.

  Heidi and Mitch, started to get the empty boxes onto the truck. I walked over to Sophia at the register.

  “The season has gotten off to a good start,” she said and handed me one of the money bags. I felt the weight in my hands and tilted my head.

  “Feels pretty good, I hope this gets us back on track at the farm.” We both smiled. I got the bank bag from the other register.

  “I’m running to the bank,” I told Sophie. I will be right back. Call me if you need me.”

  “Okay boss,” she said.

  I jumped into my car, turned on the radio to one of my favorite songs on one of the five keys radio station and headed to the bank.

  Chapter Six

  Marina Key is just a few miles south of Bluemorada in the Florida Keys. If you are driving down US 11 to go to famous Key Rest, the southernmost key, you would never know Marina Key existed unless you turned off mile marker 73 at the sun-bleached sign that reads Marina Key.

  If you drive a hop, skip, and a jump from US 11 You will be on our little key headed for downtown Marina Key. Us 11 and the string of keys run east to west from Miami. We are located a little more than a quarter of the way to Key Rest. The first thing you see on Marina Key is trees. Then you see the fences of my farm on both sides of the road since the farm is on both sides. Just past my farm some residences pop up and then our charming tropical town begins.

  Marina’s main street is about a mile long. The town is filled with just the kind of shops you want to find in a tropical seaside town. We also have cafes, a wine bar, the bakery, two art galleries, and other stores and a couple fine dining restaurants and watering hole dives. Everyone in the town works hard to make this a quaint place to visit and live. Tourists are our livelihood, and we roll out the tropical green carpet for them every season.

  I pulled up to our local branch of Leeward Bank. I drove through and made my way to the business deposit slot. No one was behind me. I looked at the slip Sophia prepared for me and then confirmed by counting the cash. I filled out the slip the rest of the way, sealed the bag and placed it in the slot. At least that would keep me afloat until the next market. It just was not going to get me out of hot water yet.

  Less and less cash is used every year I have noticed. The credit and debit cards are taking over. This is f
ine by me. I am not keen on going to the bank all the time. One can’t complain too much about where or how the money comes if it comes.

  My phone rang. I pulled forward to an empty space in the bank parking lot.

  “Hi there,” I said.

  “Hi farm girl, how’d it go today? Mathew said.

  “Great. I did about the same as the first day last year,” I said.

  “Is that going to help?” he said.

  “It is a start. I am at the bank right now and about to get on the road to go back.”

  “Oh, okay. Then I will see you tomorrow at about 10:30 at the boat?”

  “10:30 pm sounds perfect. I apologize again for the mix-up. I can bring some shrimp salad sandwiches for lunch and some salmon for the grill.”

  “No problem, sounds amazing and I’ll bring the wine and beer,” he said.

  “Okay, I can’t wait to get out on the water and go for a swim,” I said.

  “Oh, me too. It’s been a difficult week dealing with the lost children of the tourists and the town squabbles,” he said.

  “Oh yeah, you’ve got a tough life enforcing the law here in Marina Key,” I said.

  “Hey, I do a lot for this town.”

  “I know you do, calm down. I am just kidding. I’ll see you at 10:30.”

  “Okay see you at 10:30 in the morning.” I pressed the red hang up button on the phone screen and kept driving slowly through town. I could feel the sea breeze on my face and the radio was playing a classical soft rock song I could chill to.

  I waited for the cars going slow down on main street. I saw Blake’s big truck passing the opposite way from the Marina where his boat was docked. He was on the phone yelling at someone. I would have figured he left already for the day’s fishing trip.

  I thought about the way Blake treated Valerie in the parking lot and thought I need to remember to say something to Mathew. Maybe he knew something or could keep an eye out. I hoped Valerie was not in any kind of danger from Blake.

  I made my right turn towards the market. I drove past our small library. A lot of us are book enthusiasts in town. Although our tablets, cell phones and computers are endless digital books in our hand, some of us still love the feeling of a lightweight paperback we can drop in our beach bag. It is nice to read a book at the beach and not worry about losing a bunch of money because a couple grains of sand find their way into the electronics and break them. The smell of a book always has been one of the best smells I know

  I got back to the booth. Sophie helped the last people who wanted to get their organic vegetables and fruits for the week. I usually store the leftovers in the cooler and bring it to the Clearing Rehab Center early in the week. I give a talk on Monday’s about good nutrition and hobbies as ways to help sustain sobriety after alcohol and drug abuse recovery on the outside once the rehabbers get out.

  The rehab wanted flowers on their float in the parade for Marina fest. I was more than happy to supply the flowers and plants for the float. I probably should tell them I can’t give way the flowers under my current financial situation, but I will make it happen no matter what. I think the float will be big letters reading “Sobriety”.

  It might seem weird to have a sobriety float in a festival where the town is drinking a lot. The float helps raise money for the rehab and it gives the rehabbers something to do. The reality is the sober people live in a world where many people drink. We all must live together.

  We have our booth break-down system to a science. We were done in 45 mins. The leftovers were binned up and placed in the truck, the tables were clean, the registers, remaining supplies, and anything were packed up and ready to go.

  I turned to the crew. “Thank you, guys for a great morning. Thank for all your hard work. Lucky us it is harvest time. I will see everybody bright and early Monday morning. Everyone, have a great Sunday!” Shouts of thanks and byes came from the crew.

  Chapter Seven

  “Are you on your way?” Angela said.

  “Yes, I am, the yoga matt is in the car. I’m turning out of my driveway,” I said.

  Angela and I go to Yoga class at Buddha Yoga three times a week. Three times is about all we can squeeze in our schedule. The teacher, Sunny, was good about letting us know if our posture was off. Shea has a soothing voice and is very yoga fit. Yoga class was also a great way to keep up with the town gossip.

  I drove into the parking lot of Buddha Yoga. As usual it was not easy to find a spot. The parking lot was not excessively big. Sunny Sol started Buddha Yoga about eight years ago. She is an African American twenty-nine-year-old who stuck around Marina Key after high school and decided to make a go of a yoga studio after commuting to Miami for training.

  Her body is amazing. She makes an amazing teacher, because not only is she experienced, but we would all love to achieve the fitness she has achieved. I am thankful she is here to offset the pastries we buy from Valerie’s bakery.

  Sunny’s mom runs one of the art galleries in town and her father is a supervisor for the electric company for the entire keys area. They are a nice couple. They are always doing good things for the town. Both sit on several boards for the keys agendas and own a nice house on one of the canals on the east side of the key. Their first house near town is what Sunny turned into the yoga studio.

  The house was gutted on the inside to serve the yoga class purposes. When you walk in the front there is a desk where we sign in. Further in is the room with the large wood floor where we have class. There is also a little yoga gift shop in the building, but you enter through a different door. Sunny did not want the class to be interrupted by shoppers and vice versa.

  Everybody is welcomed to come to the class. The house is right on the way into town. Tourists are encouraged to come to class and stretch. Sunny and her husband, Leon, who she met in France are the teachers. The two of them rotate classes five days a week.

  “Did you see whose car is in the parking lot?” Angela called to me while standing at the side of her car. I look around and to see the red Range Rover, which happened to be my dream car.

  “Ah yes, Ms. Valerie,” I said.

  “I can’t wait to see what outfit she has on today,” Angela said. I laughed.

  “Now Angela be nice,” I said. We walked into the room and noticed Mrs. Dalefort in the middle of the room. She was a big lady, but she got her yoga on. Angela and I took our places near the window in the back just in case we need to leave.

  Mr. Rolly was in the front of the room talking with Valerie of course. Mr. Rolly owned Rolly Cafe in town. He said he liked to stay in shape. He was quite the ladies’ man. We were sure he came for the scenery.

  The drool could be seen from a mile away on his lips when he was talking to Valerie. Valerie had her push-up sports bra on that shot her cleavage to the moon. Mr. Rolly would look down every other word when talking with Valerie. She twirled her hair in amusement at the attention. Mrs. Shen, the hardware store’s owner’s wife moved from her spot looking quite annoyed by the two.

  I noticed Mrs. Dalefort glaring at Valerie. No wonder as Mr. Rolly was a married man. Angela and I took a few moments stretching and getting ready for the start of the class.

  “Felicity,” said a voice from behind me. I whipped around. It was Valerie.

  “Hi Valerie, how are you today?” I said.

  “I ‘m good. I just wanted to come over and apologize for being so short and rude at the market. I’m just going through some things, and I didn’t mean to take it out on you. I really am sorry,” Valerie said.

  “Wow, Valerie that’s nice of you,” I said a bit shocked. “I understand. Being a woman and business owner had its fair share of stresses. I appreciate the apology. Is everything okay. Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “Oh no, no no,” she said. “I am fine, just stress.”

  “Okay, but if you need help or anything, you can just ask,” I said. I put up my arms to give her a hug and she did the same. We pulled back and she said, “Thanks.”<
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  “Hi Angela, how’s the shop? “Valerie said to Angela.

  “Oh, you know busy,” Angela said. I looked at Angela hoping she would be nice.

  “Great, okay well nice to see you two.” Valerie walked back to her spot. Angela and I looked at each other in surprise.

  “Namaste, everyone,” Sunny said.

  “Namaste,” we repeated.

  “Okay let’s start with the mountain pose. Breathe in,” Sunny continued.

  We all raised our hands to the sky. We proceeded to run through all the basic poses. We shifted from downward dog through to the crow pose which most of us could not do, but we tried.

  Sunny circulated around the room helping us with our positions and reminding us to breathe. We went for about forty-five minutes of class doing different poses. When class ended, we thanked Sunny.

  When class finished, Angela and I walked into the store so Angela could get some candles and essential oils for her home. We walked out into the parking lot when we heard a commotion.

  “And stay away from my husband or else I will shove your face in one of your batter mixes, “Mrs. Dalefort yelled at Valerie, “You understand floosy. You leave the husbands in this town alone.”

  “Well maybe if you would take better care of yourselves, your husbands wouldn’t so desperately want to be with someone else,” Valerie yelled back.

  “So, you admit you’ve been with my husband, you whore,” Mrs. Dalefort yelled back. Her face looked like a tiger ready to tear Valerie apart.

  “Oh no, of course not. I wouldn’t want to hurt your perfect marriage,” Valerie yelled back.

  “If I were you,” Mrs. Dalefort said, “I’d get in your car and drive away before I come and run your face over with my Mercedes.” Angela and I walked over to the two ladies.

 

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