Body Bags & Blarney (3 page)

“I might only be saying
this because I have cabin fever, but would you feel better if I came along to
the meeting with you?” Joshua asked.

“Are you kidding?”

“Not at all.”

Vivienne leaned forward
and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Absolutely I’d feel better.”

“Then I’ll come.” He
kissed her neck. “But only because Cayuga Cove’s most beautiful woman is
supposed to be on the committee.”

They embraced, which
finally forced Tommy Cat to jump down from the sofa and join Sammy under the
table.

CHAPTER THREE

Inside the community room
of the Cayuga Cove Library, librarian Harriet Nettles had decorated the space
with bright green shamrocks, rainbows, pots of gold, and dancing leprechauns.
 
Vivienne sat in the second row of folding
chairs facing the small podium where Father William was busy going over his
talking points for the meeting. Kathy carefully set her expensive Coach purse
down on an empty chair to her immediate left to keep a seat open for Joshua.
Vivienne smiled inwardly, knowing very well that Kathy was happy to have as
much attention drawn to her new purse as possible.

“What do you think of this
little bauble?” Kathy asked softly above the general murmur of the assembling
crowd, flashing a striking new ring in her field of vision.

Vivienne admired the
stunningly gorgeous new piece of jewelry resting on Kathy’s right hand. Three
beautiful, round, prong-set emerald gemstones were surrounded by glistening
white diamonds all on a sterling silver band. “It’s breathtaking.”

“Isn’t it, though?” Kathy
extended her arm outward to catch the overhead fluorescent lighting better.
“You can hardly even tell these are a complete fake.”

“Really?” Vivienne pulled
her hand closer and marveled at the craftsmanship. “I am very impressed. Did
you find that at Meeker’s?”

“Raymond Meeker only
wishes his store carried something like this.” Kathy shook her head. “Besides,
he’d rather cut off his right arm than sell something that isn’t the real
deal.”

“Or charge a king’s ransom
for.” Vivienne added. Although Meeker Jewelers was expensive, it was the only
fine jewelry store in town. His business thrived on men who needed to buy
expensive tokens for their loved ones and their mutual detest at having to
drive an hour to shop for a better deal somewhere else. It was a comfortable
monopoly that provided him and his family with one of the more stately homes in
Cayuga Cove. “I give up.” Vivienne shrugged. “Where did you find it?”
 

“Faux Real Jewelers.”
Kathy replied. “They specialize in high quality costume jewelry.”

“Is that a new store up at
the Prime Outlets?”

“No, they’re a company
from Florida whose line I am going to start carrying in the store next month.”
Kathy smiled. “After her visit to see her grandmother, Alexis told me all about
how she modeled the jewelry during a fashion show.”

“You’re talking about
Alexis Warner who waits tables at Clara’s?” Vivienne grimaced. “I mean, the
young woman who lavishes attention on the men who leave big tips but ignores
the women customers.”

“Yes, Vivienne.” Kathy
lowered her voice. “Don’t talk too loud, I don’t want her to get miffed and
ruin this deal for me.”

“She’s not here.” Vivienne
added. “So, you can relax.”

“She’s in the library with
a stack of books and some slick looking boyfriend.” Kathy whispered. “But I
don’t think they’re getting much homework done.”

“Oh, to be young again.”
Vivienne sighed.

Kathy raised an eyebrow in
response. “Speak for yourself.”

“We’re in our prime. The
world is our oyster. Does that sound better?”

“Yes.” Kathy elbowed her.
“I’ll just eliminate the sarcasm from your tone.”

“Naturally.” Vivienne
whispered back. “So what does that hoity-toity college girl have to do with
your business exactly?”

“As I was saying,” Kathy
continued, “Alexis gave me the contact info about this exciting new business
she modeled jewelry for. After checking out all the details, I think it’s going
to be a great money maker.”

“So it’s all on the up and
up?”

Kathy shrugged. “I had to
sign a contract that no other competing items could be sold in the store.”

“I can understand that.”
Vivienne nodded.

“I also paid a five
hundred dollar fee to be an exclusive dealer for this region.”

Vivienne’s jaw dropped.
“What?”

“I know it sounds
expensive, but this was an option that I choose to enact myself. I am now the
only authorized dealer in a one hundred mile radius of Cayuga Cove. No one else
will be able to sell the product line.” Kathy gushed. “I also get my business
listed in their exclusive directory with a direct link to my shop for online
sales. With any luck, it will pay for itself many times over.”

“Well, you know best what
it could do for your business.” Vivienne conceded. “I hope it all works out.”

“They sent a demo display case
of the jewelry line for me to use in the store to build up excitement until the
stock arrives next month.” Kathy finished.

“Have you thought about
having a little preview party and inviting some of your more frequent
customers?” Vivienne asked.

“That’s not a bad idea.”
Kathy grinned. “I’ll ask Alexis if she’ll model again.”

“Mother used to sell
gourmet cookware and gadgets years ago. You know, way-overpriced stuff you
mostly didn’t need, but people bought it anyway.” Vivienne reminisced. “She
didn’t strike it rich, but she made a little extra cash and even got some free
products out of the deal.”

“You’re right.” Kathy
agreed. “After you’ve eaten the food, had a glass or two of wine, you feel
obligated to a least buy something from the hostess for all the trouble she
went to.”

“I have three pricey egg
separators in my kitchen drawer that proves just how effective that tactic is.”
Vivienne groaned.

“How does a Mardi Gras
themed preview party on Friday night sound?” Kathy asked.

“Will four days be enough time
to plan it?”

“Sure.” Kathy scanned the
crowd for familiar faces. “I might even start with word of mouth invites right
here.”

Vivienne shook her head.
“But even if you mailed the invitations out tonight…”

“Oh Vivienne, who mails
invitations like that anymore?” Kathy sighed. “I’ll create an event on Social
Butterfly and invite everyone online.”

“Does that really work?”
Vivienne wondered.

“Well, people are rather
lazy about actually RSVP’ing to an online event, but most will just show up
anyway.”

“I see.” Vivienne raised
an eyebrow. “Are you going to have refreshments?”

“If Suzette Powell can
give me a good deal?” Kathy baited her hook with a grin.

“Her king cake comes from
a box mix.” Vivienne protested.

“Exactly.” Kathy teased.
“So, when can I schedule a consultation with Cayuga Cove’s most delicious
bakery?”

“How does tomorrow sound?”

“How about tonight after
the meeting?” Kathy asked.

Vivienne shook her head.
Kathy was one of those people who just couldn’t wait for anything. When the
idea formed in her head, it was a break-neck race to get it into tangible form
as soon as possible, if not sooner. “Well, I suppose we could do it at my house
tonight.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t think of
inconveniencing you at home.” Kathy interrupted. “We’ll do it at the store
tonight so you can see all the demo jewelry.”

“It’s no bother to have it
at my house.” Vivienne continued.

“Nonsense.” Kathy cut her
off just as Joshua arrived. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Hello ladies. Is this
seat taken?” He smiled and pointed at the leather purse doubling as a place
holder.

Kathy pulled her purse out
of the way and vacated the center seat. “I insist on having a handsome deputy
between us.”

Joshua stepped beside her
and took his seat between Vivienne and Kathy just as Father William approached
the podium to start the meeting.

“Good evening.” Father
William’s voice was weak, as the microphone wasn’t yet turned on. There was a
sound of scuffling from the rear of the room as Harriet fiddled with the power
cords to remedy the situation. A bald man dressed in a nice business suit
approached her and from his hands gestures it was obvious he was offering some
kind of much-needed assistance.

“This instills
confidence.” Kathy whispered to Joshua and Vivienne.

Vivienne shook her head
and stifled a chuckle.

Father William looked out
at the crowd of assembled residents and used his best sermon voice to command
attention. “The Lord works in mysterious ways, but I think even he would get
headaches from modern electronics.” He joked.

The crowd reacted with
laughter and a few seconds later the sound of feedback let everyone know that
the bald man helping Harriet had found the right power cord to plug in. “Ah,
much better.” Father William’s voice crackled through the speakers. “Thank you,
Harriet.”

Harriet gave him a weak
smile. “It was all this very nice gentleman.” She motioned to the bald man
beside her. He waved meekly and returned to his seat.

“Who’s that?” Kathy asked
Vivienne.

“I don’t know.” Vivienne
shrugged. “Maybe one of the vendors coming from Syracuse?”

“He’s kind of handsome.”
Kathy whispered back. “I’ve never dated a bald guy before.”

Vivienne poked her gently.
“You’re incorrigible.”

“That better mean
agelessly beautiful.” Kathy giggled back.

Father William adjusted
the microphone and continued. “Now, I appreciate the time and energy you all
wish to give to make this year’s ‘Luck of the Irish Carnival’ the most
wonderful one yet. In order for that to happen, we need to assign various
positions to ensure everything goes smoothly.” He gestured to the crowd.
“First, I would like to welcome Mayor Cassandra Pembroke to the podium.”

Cassandra, dressed in a
smart navy-blue two-piece business suit, jumped up from the front row and
approached Father William. She clutched a paper in her right hand as she stood
at the podium. “I am pleased to present the Luck of the Irish Carnival planning
committee with a permit to allow the closure of Main Street for Saturday and
Sunday, March 15
^th
and 16
^th
during the posted operating
hours.”

The assembled group
responded with applause as Father William accepted the permit from the Mayor.
They posed for a photograph from a reporter for the Cayuga Tribune and then
Father William assumed the podium once more. “With the official permits now in
place, we are set to nominate group leaders for the festivities.”

“I nominate myself to save
the souls of those local residents who give in to the debauchery of alcohol and
lewd behavior.” A rather loud voice echoed from the back of the room.

Father William squinted from
the podium. “Whom, may I ask, is addressing the podium?”

“Seamus Kilpatrick.” The
voice returned. “I’m the interim Pastor at Shoreline Baptist Church here in
town.”

Father William nodded.
“Pastor Kilpatrick, I welcome your input at this meeting but we must follow the
agenda to ensure we stay on time tonight.”

Seamus Kilpatrick walked
slowly up the center aisle, between the rows of audience members. He was about
six feet tall, with a full head of chestnut brown hair that was parted in a
conservatively short style. Dressed casually, in a thick brown fisherman’s
sweater pulled over a stiff-collared white shirt that was tucked neatly into a
pair of dark brown pants. The heels of his tasseled leather loafers clopped
slowly along the tiled floor as he held tight to a Bible in his hands. “The
Lord’s agenda should come first always, wouldn’t you agree Father William?”

“As much as I would
welcome a religious discourse, I don’t feel that now is the appropriate time to
do so.” Father William tried to politely pull the meeting back on track.

“What’s going on?” Kathy
nudged Joshua with concern.

“I’m not sure.” Joshua
replied. “But I don’t have a good feeling about this.” He pulled out his cell
phone. “I’m calling the station to send some backup just in case.”

“Good idea.” Kathy agreed
as Joshua spoke softly to the Sheriff’s office dispatch officer.

Vivienne knew Pastor
Kilpatrick all too well. It had been only a few months ago that she had
encountered him after the incident that landed Nathaniel and Tristan in the
hospital during the holidays. She remained silent, pivoting herself to get a
better look as he slowly walked up the aisle toward the podium.

“You see, I had a
spiritual calling to come to Cayuga Cove. At first, it was merely to visit my
dear sister who had been brutally run down by a malicious driver. But as she
recovered, praise God, I started to feel something else. A need to address the
evil that is threatening to consume this town and all the good folk who dwell
here.”

“Pastor Kilpatrick, this
is not the time or place to engage in this conversation.” Father William
glanced in Joshua’s direction. “We should remain on topic.”

“You said earlier that
‘the Lord works in mysterious ways’ and you are absolutely right about that,
Father William.” Seamus continued. “But Satan is real, and he works in the most
obvious ways possible. He is the king of deception, of making the easy way look
like the right way. He preys upon our human failings to give up and follow the
herd without asking ‘is this the right thing to do’. He slithers into the minds
of our youth through violent television programs and movies. Through the
salacious lyrics of popular music. Through the consumption of illegal drugs and
alcohol, the very things this town is about to celebrate by holding a carnival
in a few weeks.”