Cover Story (14 page)

“Do you find it easy to get drunk on words?” “So easy that, to tell you the truth, I am seldom perfectly sober.”

GAUDY NIGHT
—DOROTHY L. SAYERS

“I
know what you said, Mark, but I thought maybe Dana-Lynn would tell me something she might be afraid to tell you male police authority figures. It makes sense that she would know something, don't you think?” Lizzie asked as Mark handed her an iced tea.

They were sitting out on his patio with Patchett wandering around the backyard, enjoying the sights and smells of the mid August evening.

“I do have female officers on staff and I do ask them to take over if I ever sense some reluctance like that. We're paid to do that, Lizzie. You're not and it could be dangerous.”

Mark leaned back, clasped his hands behind his head and stretched his long legs in front of him. His black T-shirt hugged his chest; his jeans fit comfortably. Lizzie watched him from the corner of her eye, not wanting to turn and face him in what would be an obvious exercise in ogling. But she was enjoying the view. She could smell the fragrant crimson honeysuckle growing at the side of the house, and the stars dancing in the twilight provided a good view as well.

“You surely don't think I was in any danger from Dana-Lynn?”

“It's unlikely. But if someone, namely the killer, is feeling threatened seeing you running around town asking questions, he might just make you stop. Now I, on the other hand, may be able to coerce you into backing off.” He leaned toward her from his Adirondack chair and kissed her.

Her whole body felt tingly but she wasn't going to be that easy. He'd have to give her a few answers along with the kisses, in order for her to stop sleuthing.

“That was nice,” she murmured, “but I do have a question for you.”

Mark pulled away and groaned. “I guess you might as well ask it or we'll just sit here and look at the stars all night.”

Lizzie smiled in the dark. “Well, I was wondering if it's possible all that counterfeiting could have been going on at Riverwell Press without Orwell Rivers knowing about it?”

Mark didn't answer right away. “No, it's not likely that would happen. Rivers would have been involved to some degree, probably totally.”

“And, would it be just as likely that Bob was not a part of this ring?”

“Yes, that's also highly likely, and before you ask, I am working hard at finding evidence that proves that. I do not believe he was part of the counterfeiting scheme. However, there's still the matter of murder.”

“Why is the FBI so keen to pin it on him?”

“I shouldn't even be talking to you about this, Lizzie. But, I know you won't leave it alone until we have this discussion. Bob had motive and that's what they're focusing on.”

“What motive? Not that bit about paying his sister's mortgage loan?”

“How do you know about that? I guess I shouldn't be surprised. That does count as a motive, Lizzie, whether you like it or not. He said he'd take care of it yet he doesn't, or didn't, have the money. Counterfeit money is found in his house. A tidy deposit of real, non-counterfeit money was made into his account. And, let's not forget, there was a dead man with counterfeit money found on his property.”

“A deposit?”

“Uh-huh. Bob says he has no idea where the money came from. And it could have been deposited by someone else, but he'd have to know the account number.”

“But Bob's being framed, don't you see?”

“Oh, Lizzie, Lizzie. What am I going to do with you?” Mark turned so he was facing her. “I think you're probably right but it doesn't matter what you or I think. It's what the proof says that counts with the FBI.”

“But you're not going to let them do something stupid like arrest him?”

“I'm working hard to find me a murderer and maybe that person will unravel the rest of it.”

Lizzie leaned forward and gave Mark a big kiss. “I'm so glad to hear that.”

Mark smiled. “Maybe we should move inside?”

“I think that would be an excellent idea.”

Patchett came running over as Mark stood. “Uh, after his walk, that is.”

Mark stretched and yawned.

“Why don't I take him around the block and you can go inside? Put on something comfortable,” she added in a suggestive voice.

He chuckled. “You're on.” He squeezed her shoulder as he went to get the leash.

“By the way, how's it going with your new roommate and all?” Mark asked, stifling a yawn.

Lizzie shrugged. “Fine. Although now that you mention it, I'm not sure where she is tonight. I haven't really come to grips with how nosy I should be about her movements. I hope she's left me a message somewhere.”
If not, then what?

Lizzie hooked Patchett up and coaxed him to follow her. The dog stood for a couple of minutes watching the door after Mark went inside and then finally decided to go along with Lizzie. She kept coaxing him the entire time. “Go now, Patchett. Here's a good spot, boy. Pee, Patchett, pee. That's it, give it a good sniff. Good spot, right?”

Finally, the dog cooperated and they headed back to Mark's. Inside the kitchen, she added a handful of treats to his dish, replenished the water bowl then walked to the bedroom. Just before switching on the overhead light, she heard the soft snoring and saw Mark illuminated by the light of the moon shining through the window. He was in bed, under the covers, propped up against the two pillows. She tiptoed over and gave him a kiss on the forehead then left.

This case was really taking its toll.

• • •

L
izzie spent the next morning in her office at home sorting through a box of files she'd brought home at the end of the school year. As usual, she'd put off sorting and filing, something she'd meant to do right away at the start of the summer vacation, and now that there were just two weeks until school started again, she knew she had to get serious about it. She planned to sort them into a pile for filing, a pile for discarding, and the final stack would be material she'd need again this school term.

She heard Andie eventually get up and make sounds like her day was in gear. Lizzie yelled out what she was doing as she pulled open a drawer in the three-drawer file cabinet. She realized right away she'd have to sort through and possibly discard the oldest files. That or buy another file cabinet. Maybe a better suggestion would be boxing the oldest year or two of files, after giving them a quick read through and pulling anything that might still be relevant or recyclable, and then stash the others in filing boxes.

She looked around the room and envisioned her new decorating scheme—boxes in every corner. Maybe she could stack them, stick a tablecloth on them and use them as end tables. Too bad she didn't have a basement or a garage. Although Paige and Brad did have both. Maybe with some room to spare. She reached for the phone and stopped herself before dialing. A phone call would lead to something else, maybe a visit or at the very least a long call. That would be great work avoidance. Not now. She'd sort first, then phone.

Lizzie sighed as she sat in the middle of the floor and opened the box closest to her. She'd need to empty it first before clearing out the drawers. Andie popped her head in the room after grabbing a quick breakfast and said she'd be out on the patio with her computer.

Shortly after, the phone brought Lizzie out of her stupor. She reached for it, groaning as she knocked over one stack of books.

It was Sally-Jo wanting to get together with her and Molly to finalize some details of the book launch. Lizzie looked around at the mess on the floor. She did need a break and later that afternoon she could tackle it afresh.

“It's okay by me. Is Molly free?” she asked.

“She is and she's expecting us for lunch. Does that work for you?”

“It's a reprieve from getting organized for back-to-you-know-what.”

“Don't remind me,” Sally-Jo said in mock despair. “I have to have my year's work plan in to the principal by Monday. I can't believe the summer's over already. Where did it go?”

“I think, for you, it went into renovating your living room. It's just too bad you didn't take any time to get away.”

“If I admitted to a vacation, my folks would have demanded why I had no time to visit them for a week. This has been a good cover for me. I wouldn't mind sneaking away to a spa weekend, though, before we get too immersed.”

“You and Jacob?”

Sally-Jo let out an unladylike snort. “Hardly the spa type. No, I meant you and me. Think you could swing it?”

It sounded like a great idea. Lizzie hadn't been to even a day spa in quite some time and she did love to be pampered. “I'm in. Any suggestions?”

“Not yet but I'll come up with some. So, see you at noon?”

“For sure.”

Lizzie gave Molly a quick call to say she might have Andie along and then looked at the clock on the wall after they'd hung up. That gave her less than an hour. She boxed the stack of old files she'd been going through, wrote out sticky notes tagging the various piles and closed the door behind her. No way she'd let the cats loose in there. Piles of accidents just waiting to happen.

• • •

L
izzie swallowed the last mouthful of gazpacho and sat back with a sigh. “That was totally delicious, Molly.”

“Well, it was easy to whip up. I'm so glad you girls came over today. We have so much to talk about. I'm getting fairly excited about the launch. I can imagine how Teensy's feeling. In fact, I suggested she might like to join us. She's at the hairdresser right now but will be over later. I hope that's all right.”

“Of course,” Sally-Jo said. “We should get her input since it's her event. I should have thought of that.” She leaned over and helped herself to another piece of cornbread and swatted at a bee that had been heading for the same piece.

“I think we'll go ahead and finish off the planning. I'm not sure when Teensy will arrive.” Molly suggested. “I'll just take these dishes inside. Are y'all finished?”

The three of them nodded and Andie jumped up out of the garden chair to help her. Andie came back outside with a fresh pitcher of iced tea and Molly held another plate of pecan chocolate chip cookies.

“Now, what about the menu, Sally-Jo?” Molly asked.

“I have it here. I went through the menu from Herbs, Spice & Everything that you gave me, Molly. I hope you'll like what I'm suggesting. It's all finger foods: tuna-apple mini melts, stuffed mushrooms with pecans, endive with scallops and curry, crab cakes with creole mustard and for a light dessert, fresh fruit skewers. What do y'all think?”

Just thinking about it made Lizzie's mouth water and she'd only just finished eating. “Sounds perfect to me,” she said.

“Did you have some chocolate in there for treats?” Andie asked hopefully.

“Of course,” Sally-Jo said, laughing. “How about chocolate-coated cake balls?

“Super cool!”

“I think it's a good idea to have it catered, Molly, and then you'll be able to enjoy the launch rather than worry about the food,” Lizzie agreed.

“I couldn't agree more.” Molly stood and started moving around the patio. “I thought the food tables could go along here and the bar at that end, much like the setup for that garden party I had for the literacy students last fall.” She looked at each of them and they nodded.

“Good,” she said and walked toward the large willow tree at the right of the stone patio. “And right here, framed by these lovely branches, we'll place the signing table for Teensy to bask in the attention.”

“I sure do like the sound of that,” squealed Teensy as she rounded the corner of the house. “Hi, y'all. Sorry I'm late. Do y'all like my new coif?”

She did a slow twirl so they all were able to have a good look. The turquoise background of her midlength Grecian-style Lycra dress emphasized the large yellow butterflies as well as her many natural curves. In fact, many of the butterflies looked ready to take flight as she moved across the patio.

“My goodness, Teensy. Did you walk through a butterfly conservatory?” Molly asked and smiled to soften the words.

“Looks like it, doesn't it? I plan to make a statement now that I'm back here in Ashton Corners.”

“And what would that be?” Molly asked.

“I'm back in town, folks . . . Take cover!”

They all burst out laughing as Teensy paraded around the edge of the patio. She stopped in front of Sally-Jo. “Sally-Jo. It's a pleasure to meet you, sugar. Now aren't you just the cutest little thing—that short red hair and you being so petite.” Sally-Jo's cheeks matched the color of her hair. “Now, just call me Teensy. That's been all I've been answering to for too many years.”

“And you are?” She reached out to touch Andie's arm.

“I'm Andie Mason, ma'am.”

“Ah, yes, Andrea. I've heard all about you. So nice to meet you, child.”

Before Andie could answer, Teensy went on. “Now y'all may wonder at my name. It's really Theodora Kathleen, but the girls started calling me Teensy way back in grade school and it stuck with me. See, even then I was more full-bodied than the others. They were all jealous of me. Why even back then, the boys were all hankering after me. I mean, just take a gander at Molly here.”

Molly grimaced.

“She was always thin as a reed in a swamp. Hasn't filled out much over the years. Tall. No boobs.” Teensy chuckled. “It's a good thing she's such a wonderful-hearted person or she'd have nothing to attract the men.”

Lizzie tried to hide her smile, so Molly wouldn't notice. Andie's mouth hung open. Sally-Jo looked from one to the other of the women.

“Huh,” said Molly. “That's one version of the story.”