Mixing Up Murder

by Emmie Lyn

  I yanked the door open, hoping to catch her by surprise and reverse any advantage she thought she might have over us. When her knuckles hit air, she tipped forward, almost into my arms but caught herself on the doorframe.

  “Oh, hello, Rhonda. So nice to see you,” I smiled deciding the best strategy was to kill her with kindness. I waited for Lily and Pip to slip past us before I pulled the door closed, effectively blocking the interior from Rhonda’s snooping eyes.

  Rhonda grabbed Lily’s hand. “I want to apologize to you. I think I took my frustration with Ray out on you, but maybe we could work on building a positive relationship?”

  “Now that I’m your boss?” Lily said. I swallowed a laugh as she got straight to the heart of the matter.

  “Sure, that’s part of it but I think I can help you with the business. I want to help you.” Rhonda tucked her hair behind her ears, and I was almost blinded by two brilliant sparkles.

  “Your ear is better?” I asked. Did I have to cross her off the suspect list now?

  Rhonda touched her ear and twirled the diamond star that had been missing the last time I saw her. “Yes. Finally. So, Lily, what do you say?”

  “I have a lot of questions, but I don’t see any reason why we can’t work on smoothing out our differences. First things first, though. I’m planning a reception at Rose’s house after Ray’s funeral, so, let your parents know, okay?”

  “Certainly. They’ll appreciate that, Lily.”

  I tugged on Lily’s arm. “I’m taking Lily over to talk to Frank and Nick about last minute details. Gotta go!”

  Lily climbed into the MG and made room for Pip, who didn’t seem to mind in the least. “Why do I have to go with you and not take my own car?” she said when I jumped in the driver’s seat and turned the key.

  “It’s all I could think of to get away from Rhonda. You aren’t forgiving her just like that, are you?”

  Lily jutted her chin out and stared straight ahead.

  “You are. I can tell. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you, Lil. Once a snake, always a snake.”

  “I think you’re wrong this time. She was always competing with Ray and now she doesn’t have to. I believe people can change.”

  Lily couldn’t help it. She always saw the best in people even if there was no best. “Right, like Ray changed?” I mumbled that comment but I’m positive she heard me. I hoped I was wrong about Rhonda for Lily’s sake, but I wasn’t going to bet on this one.

  I turned into the funeral home parking lot, and for the sake of a better spot, I pulled in behind the hearse. Hopefully it didn’t have to pick up a body anytime soon.

  With no more than one foot inside the door, Frank spotted us and gestured for us to follow him to his office. He mostly ignored me but hovered over Lily. “Nice to see you, have a seat. How are you doing, Lily?”

  “As well as can be expected,” she said with a little flutter of her eyelashes.

  Safe answer with so many hidden meanings. “Frank. You found your earring,” I said when he rubbed the glittery star.

  He smiled. “Actually.” He leaned toward us and lowered his voice. “I was lucky to get my hands on the last pair at Creative Designs but please don’t tell Rhonda. She was furious when she found out I lost it. Somehow, I misplaced the one I was wearing and its mate. Kind of embarrassing since I’m not usually so careless.” He shrugged. “I guess I’ve been too distracted with everything that was going on.”

  “Oh, I know what you mean,” I said. “The fake funeral, buying this building, and then Ray murdered … so much all at once.”

  “You know about the building?” he asked with genuine confusion on his face. “Ray didn’t want anyone to know until after the closing. As a matter of fact, the closing was supposed to be after the fake funeral. Right, Lily?”

  I looked at my best friend and couldn’t help but have a sinking feeling in my gut that she’d kept yet another secret from me. “You knew all along, Lil?”

  With her eyes drilling a hole into Frank, she said to me, “Frank’s lying. I didn’t know anything about a closing. I told you I didn’t sign that sales agreement.” Lily’s voice was cold, hard, and angry.

  “You didn’t sign it?” Frank asked. I couldn’t tell if his surprised look was genuine or good acting. “Ray said you finally agreed to sell to us when we agreed to have the fake funeral. He said it was all your idea to have that silly affair to kick off your reconciliation. Then, you stormed out. I have to say, you made a lot of people unhappy when you didn’t follow the plan.”

  Lily stood up and stomped right over to Frank and stuck her finger in his face. “You have it all wrong. Ray planned that funeral. Ray forged my signature. And Ray…I don’t know.” Her hands flew in the air in a gesture of frustration.

  “Got himself killed?” I filled in for her.

  “This certainly is a giant tangled web of deception.” Frank stood up and backed away from Lily. “What are we going to do?” His hands trembled a little before he steadied them on the back of a chair. “How about I get us all a drink and we can try to relax and sort this out? There’s some delicious blueberry cordial in Nick’s office. It adds a nice kick when added to carbonated water. I’ll ask him to bring it in.”

  “No…no thanks, Frank. I just remembered that Lily has an appointment with…the florist. I’ve got to get her over there right now.” I picked up Pip, grabbed Lily’s arm, and backed out of his office.

  “What’s going on, Dani?” Lily whispered as I dragged her down the hall and outside.

  “Get in the car,” I ordered.

  Once we were locked inside, I called the police department and asked for Detective Crenshaw. Lily stared at me like I had three heads, but she didn’t say anything.

  It felt like hours before I heard a voice. “Speaking.”

  “It’s Dani. Meet me at the funeral home.”

  “What? Why are you whispering?”

  “Just meet me here at the funeral home, AJ, and hurry!” I hung up but clung to the phone like it might be a lifeline. If AJ didn’t arrive shortly, it probably would be.

  “Dani?” Lily implored. “What is going on? Did Ray’s ghost return and tell you who murdered him? Or are you falling apart because of the stress?”

  Lily was trying to make a joke, but her forehead was etched with worry lines.

  “I know who killed Ray, Lil. I know who did it.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel. “Come on AJ. Hurry up,” I muttered.

  Nick walked out the side door toward the hearse and saw he was blocked. He walked toward my window with murder in his eyes. Pip jumped from Lily’s lap to mine, scratched at the window and barked ferociously. “Good girl, Pip.”

  Nick banged on the window. “Move your car. I have to leave.”

  I shrugged and held my hands out. “Sorry, Nick. It won’t start. I left the lights on and the battery’s dead.” I felt Lily staring at me. At this point, she had to be beyond confused.

  Nick paced in front of my car.

  I kept looking in my rear-view mirror wondering if Nick would jump in a different vehicle and take off.

  At last, AJ’s car pulled in behind the MG. I got out, looked at Nick, smiled, and signaled him to give me a minute before I met AJ. He slid out of his SUV and I quickly said, “I need a jump.”

  I think I saw steam come out of his ears. “I’m not a road service person, Dani.” He stomped to the back to his car, I guess to get his jumper cables, with me on his tail.

  I glanced over my shoulder, relieved that Nick was occupied on his phone. “Nick is the killer,” I whispered.

  AJ stiffened and whispered back. “What? Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely. He stole a bottle of blueberry cordial from the diner, AJ. I had five bottles left before Ray was murdered and today there were only four. Frank said Nick had a bottle in his office. And, he had a blue stain on the cuff of his shirt. The only way Nick could have a bottle of my cordial
is if he stole it after he killed Ray. Plus, he knew Frank lost an earring. I think he planted it at the diner after he killed Ray.” I had to pause and take a breath after all that.

  “Your battery isn’t dead?”

  “No, of course it isn’t! I was trying to keep Nick here until you arrived.”

  “Good thinking, Dani.” He smiled and patted my shoulder before he approached Nick.

  I sagged against his car. Lily got out of the MG, and Pip leaped through the open door. She charged right at Nick, clamped onto his pant leg and growled and pulled with all her ten pounds of fury.

  “Get your dog off me, Dani. What’s wrong with her?” Nick screeched.

  I rushed over and tried to wrestle Pip away from Nick. She twisted and threw her head from side to side, tugging like a maniac on Nick’s pant leg, never letting go until it ripped, sending me backwards. But I managed to hang on to Pip.

  “My pants!” Nick yelled, full of outrage.

  “Your leg.” I pointed as I stared at the last bit of evidence that AJ would need to arrest Nick.

  “She bit me,” he screamed.

  AJ bent down. “There’s no blood. That didn’t just happen.”

  “You’re right about that, AJ, because Pip didn’t bite him today. Right, Nick? She bit you when she was trying to defend Ray, when you killed him, when you planted Frank’s earring in the diner, and when you stole my blueberry cordial.” I blurted out all the pieces of this mixed up murder. “Why?”

  Bits of spittle formed at the edge of Nick’s mouth. His eyes blazed with rage. I could see excuses trying to push through the frustration on his face, but finally he blurted out in a stream of anger, “They were trying to push me out of the business,” his words full of defensiveness as though that would justify murder.

  “Frank and Rhonda had it all figured out. They tried to keep everything secret from me, but I heard their whispers when they thought they were alone. Frank had that deal to buy the building all wrapped up. Where would that leave me?”

  He covered his face with his hands, and it sounded like he was sobbing, but if he was going after pity from me, he missed by a mile.

  “Yes, I followed Ray,” he admitted. “But only to talk him out of that sale. He laughed at me and tried to push me away. I really don’t know what happened, but something snapped inside.” Still on the ground, he looked up at AJ. “I had to defend myself.” He exhaled and his whole body seemed to shrink as if he just realized he’d confessed to murder. “Frank’s earring must have fallen out of my pocket when I struggled with Ray.”

  “Why did you take the blueberry cordial?” A silly question, but I had to know.

  He shrugged and fiddled with his cuff with the incriminating blue stain. “The cabinet door was open and with the mess all around, those jars of blue caught my eye. It was just an impulse. Who would miss it?”

  Who indeed? And who was I to think I’d ever be able to understand someone else’s motives.

  I hugged Pip until she yelped, but I didn’t dare let her loose. Instead, I put her back in the MG, while AJ got Nick in the back of his SUV. Before he left, he walked over to me. “I’ll need all the information from you again. You put it all together because of the blueberry cordial, huh? That must be some powerful stuff. I’d love a sample.”

  “Come to Sea Breeze after Ray’s funeral. We’ll be toasting his final send off with my blueberry cordial. I think that’s fitting, don’t you?”

  AJ laughed. “You’re something else, Danielle Mackenzie.”

  Hadn’t I heard that before?

  The Little Dog Diner had to close indefinitely while Rose planned the renovations, I made the most of my unexpected free time enjoying her patio. We had discussed the positives and negatives of my moving in with her and mutually agreed that Sea Breeze would be my home, at least until the diner was renovated and open for business again. If things worked out? Maybe longer. Pip didn’t complain as long as I took her for walks on the beach every day so she could chase the seagulls and snap at the waves to her heart’s content.

  Ava and Marty had returned to their luxury apartment in New York City, so I didn’t have to worry about Pip attacking the crazy yoga-lady during our beach meanderings.

  I contemplated the past several weeks while I sat on the patio, as a warm gentle breeze ruffled my curls and a colony of gulls rested on one leg at the water’s edge.

  One problem had sorted itself out while I procrastinated. Lily decided to remain at the Little Dog Diner. She and Rhonda came to an agreement with the real estate business after Lily realized it wasn’t her cup of tea.

  My head fell against the back of the chair and I closed my eyes. The sun warmed my face as I drifted off into a place where crashing waves and squawking birds filled me with nature’s special brand of music.

  “Can I join you?”

  My eyes popped open. Blinded by the bright sunshine, I lifted my hand to shade my eyes. “Luke? Your back?”

  “I’m back, Dani. Back in Misty Harbor for good this time.” He had a few more wrinkles than I remembered from a few short weeks ago. I would let him talk about all he’d been through when he was ready. For now, I hoped he could relax and enjoy the view with me.

  I patted the chair next to me knowing I had a big foolish grin from one ear to the other. “Sit down. We’ll share a refreshing drink to toast your return.” Filling two glasses from the pitcher on the small round table between us, I handed Luke a glass of half blueberry cordial and half lemonade and tapped my glass against his. “Welcome back.”

  He took a sip. “This is delicious.” He sipped more. “It goes down too easily. What is this blend of bubbly blue beverage?”

  I laughed. “It’s my blueberry cordial made with berries from your farm mixed with lemonade. Very easy to make and easier to drink. I’m sure you could sell it at your farm stand faster than I could make it. Or,” I smiled shyly, “in your bed and breakfast if you go that route.”

  “I’ll need to sample a few more glasses before committing to that project.” He held his glass out for seconds. I think his grin matched mine. I’d take that as a sign he was beginning to heal from his loss.

  Sitting here looking at Blueberry Bay, and knowing I’d never find a more beautiful spot anywhere made my heart sing with happiness. This was an essential constant in my life that I couldn’t live without.

  “Thanks for stopping by, Luke.”

  “Thanks for being my friend, Dani.”

  “No problem.”

  I was beyond thrilled to have Luke back in my life.

  What’s Next?

  As it turns out quilting is the deadly new fad people are just dying to try… And here I thought the annual quilt auction would be a boring way to spend an evening!

  One big murder in my tiny hometown was more than I ever wanted to see, but now the death toll has risen to two. Eek!

  Hey, at least I’ve got my favorite ten-pound bundle of mischief at my side for good. My Jack Russell buddy, Pip, and I are experienced amateur detectives now and we’re more than ready to put another tough case to bed.

  The problem is that the murder victim had no known enemies, which begs the question: Who would actually want her dead? For this tricky catering gig, it looks like we’ll be serving up suspects instead of dessert. Can we catch the killer in time to save the fundraiser… and maybe even some lives along the way?

  Get your copy here!

  https://sweetpromisepress.com/Serving

  SNEAK PEEK: Serving Up Suspects

  The Little Dog Diner sparkled in the early morning sun when I parked my MG in front.

  It wasn’t only the bright white siding and red trim on the outside that made it stand out. Rose Mackenzie, my grandma, had remodeled the inside with new chrome stools at the shiny counter, and red booths along the side. She had spared no expense when she hired Luke Sinclair—blueberry farmer wrapped in carpenter gear and, yes, I had a soft spot for him.

  Luke pulled off the transformation flawlessly. He had a t
ouch for making everything tasteful and charming. Judging by the stream of customers, the locals and tourists of Misty Harbor, Maine, agreed.

  When I hurried inside the door to start my shift, I quickly glanced in the decorative oval mirror, Luke’s last handcrafted touch.

  A stranger caught my attention in the reflection. This early in the morning usually brought in the regulars, so this guy stood out like a shark out of water.

  “Dani!” Lily Lemay, my best friend since forever, called from behind the counter. “A little help over here? Please?”

  At the sound of my name, I took one last fleeting glance at the stranger’s dark, eerily penetrating image in the mirror. He caught me looking at him, and the corners of his mouth turned up, sending shivers tingling along my spine. Definitely not in a good way.

  With a quick fluff of my out of control auburn curls, as if that was why I had looked in the mirror to begin with, I stiffened my shoulders, grabbed a blue apron covered with bright red images of lobsters, and joined Lily behind the counter.

  I sidled up to her and whispered so only she could hear, “Who is that guy?”

  “I have no idea, but I wish he’d leave,” she said, the stress of serving the early morning rush evident in the sharp tone she sent his way. “He’s been sitting there ever since I put up the Open sign, sipping on that same cup of black coffee the whole time.” She flicked her long blonde braid over her shoulder and glanced at the stranger.

  “He smiled at me,” I said, sorting the pastries in the glass-fronted case beneath the register.

  “Okay. Creepy.” Lily’s lips turned down in distaste.

  The diner door opened, ringing the overhead bell and announcing the arrival of new customers.

  “Thank goodness,” Lily said, pulling on thick, quilted mitts, “more regulars. He’ll get lost in the crowd.” She opened the oven and pulled out a tray of brownies.