Murder on Wheels (6 page)

“We could just talk here,” Josh mumbled, looking at Aunt Jackie.

She shook her head. “I believe a short walk over to The Train Station would do us good. Maybe we should order lunch from Lille's and extend our meeting so we can start planning?”

“I need to open the shop.” Josh looked at Jackie like she was talking treason.

Aunt Jackie pulled her Burberry trench coat on over her peacock blue pantsuit and picked up her purse. She turned to look back at Sasha, who tucked the book away under the counter. “I'll be back in time for my shift.”

Sasha nodded her head quickly, looking like a deer caught in the headlights.

“We'll be fine. Take all the time you need,” I said, trying to divert my aunt's attention away from Sasha.

The three walked out of the shop and the rest of us started moving tables back into their regular places. “Josh didn't look too happy,” Sadie observed as she wiped down a table I'd just moved.

“He doesn't like sharing Aunt Jackie with anyone.” I put chairs around the table and moved to the next one. “And he's totally paranoid she's going to find someone better than him.”

“Are they dating?” Sadie watched out the window as the trio made their way to Harrold's shop. “I didn't think Jackie was interested in that type of relationship with him.”

“She's not sure about what she wants. Josh, well, he's still trying.” I lifted another table and carried it to a place right in front of the window. I watched my aunt walk away, sandwiched between the oversized Josh and the tall Harrold. For a minute, seeing Harrold from the back next to my aunt, I remembered my uncle Ted. He was just about Harrold's height. The memory made me smile. They'd had a perfect marriage. One I hoped to mirror someday.

Sadie grabbed her purse. “Looks like the shop's back together. I guess I'd better head home. I've got Lille's order to finish.”

“Hold on, I'll walk with you.” I went to the back room and got my own purse. I paused when I walked by Sasha. “If you need help before Toby shows, just give me a call.”

Sadie waited by the door. “I'm the opposite direction of your house. I don't really need an escort.”

I pushed the door open. “I need to talk to you about something.”

She followed me as we crossed Main Street, no cars coming from either side. “What's going on? You're making me nervous.”

I slowed down, not sure how exactly to approach the subject. “Greg wanted me to tell you something.”

“Please don't tell me he really believes I could have done something to Kacey. I feel bad for the girl, despite my past relationship with Austin.” Sadie put her hand on my arm, slowing my progress. “You don't believe I could do something like that, right?”

“Of course, I mean, I don't think Greg thinks you're a murderer either, but he had to—” My words were interrupted by Sadie's phone chime.

She took her phone out of her purse and held up a hand. “Hold on, it's Nick.”

My heart sank. I was too late. “Sadie, listen to me,” but she'd already answered the call and put her hand up to stop my words.

“Hey, honey, how's school going?” She leaned against the side of The Glass Slipper. The glass shop was closed for the day. Typically the owner, Marie Jones, only opened the shop on weekends and the nights when she held classes. Wednesdays, the place was deserted.

I watched Sadie's face as she listened to Nick, who was probably telling her what I had been about to say. That Greg had come to question him about his activities that weekend and where he'd been when the food truck was vandalized.

“So, you're okay? He didn't take you into custody or anything, did he?”

I heard Nick's laugh from where I stood.

Sadie shook her head. “Fine, but next time, tell Mr. King that you're not talking to him about anything without an adult being present.”

She clicked off the phone. “I take it you knew?”

“That's what I was trying to tell you. Greg went up this morning to make sure Nick wasn't involved in the food truck incident.” I sagged into a bench on the sidewalk. I decided not to point out the fact since Nick was over eighteen, he really was an adult himself. “Is he okay?”

She nodded. “He thinks it's funny. The good news is, he has an airtight alibi for Monday night as he was with his debate team, including his professor, getting ready for their first event this weekend. And yes, your boyfriend talked to Mr. Allen and verified his story. Which probably makes Nick look like a criminal or something.”

“I'm sure Greg was discreet.” I took in Sadie's erect posture and clipped words. She was furious.

“I don't want to talk about this anymore. And I don't need an escort home. You've delivered the message, a little late, but I know now.” Sadie turned toward home.

“Sadie, come have lunch with me, we'll talk,” I called after her. Food could fix anything, including hurt feelings. At least that was my mantra.

“No, thank you.”

I watched Sadie walk away and hoped that she'd be able to forgive. Even though I hadn't done anything, apparently since I hadn't told her immediately, I was as bad as Greg in her mind.

The good news was, Nick was in the clear. The bad news was, I might have lost a friend in the process.

I turned and walked home, hoping the sun would break through the clouds and lift the gray from the day if not from my mood.

T
hursday's shift was quiet, but I wasn't able to lose myself in the novel I'd been reading. I picked up several of the new release advance copies our sales rep had dropped off, but nothing kept my attention. I kept thinking about Sadie and the scene from yesterday.

I took out the laptop and spent the next few hours reviewing the accounting. Usually Aunt Jackie had to badger me into approving the last week's figures, but today, the numbers stopped my racing mind and gave me something to think about other than Sadie.

“I can't believe you've already approved the book order.” Aunt Jackie stood over me as I sat on the couch. I'd moved from accounting to book buying and had probably spent my budget for the entire quarter already. “What's gotten into you?”

“I'm worried about Sadie.” I blurted the statement out before I could think about my aunt's reaction.

Instead of the lecture about staying out of Greg's investigations that I'd expected, my aunt sat on the couch next to me. “She'll be fine. It's unfortunate that Kacey had to die so unexpectedly, but you and I both know Greg won't be able to charge Sadie with the murder because she didn't do it.” She patted my hand. “You really need to have more faith in the justice system.”

“People are falsely accused and convicted all the time.” I decided not to share the fact that Sadie's recipes had mysteriously appeared on her doorstep with my aunt. No need to add fuel to the gossip fodder already running through town. “I do trust Greg. I just feel bad that Sadie has to go through this.”

“I understand.” My aunt sat in silence next to me. Finally, she turned toward me. “I need you to cover my shift on Friday. I asked Sasha and Toby but they both already have plans.”

“And you know I don't have plans since Greg will be unavailable due to the investigation.” I shrugged. “Sure, I haven't worked an evening shift for a while. I'm probably getting rusty.”

“Perfect.” She stood and headed toward the back of the shop.

“Hey,” I called after her. “What's going on? Is Josh taking you to the city for dinner?”

Aunt Jackie froze midstride and turned back, studying my face. Then she checked out the empty store to make sure no one was in earshot. She came closer, then whispered, “You can't tell anyone.”

“I can't tell anyone what?” Now I was intrigued. “Don't tell me you and Mary are breaking and entering again? What is it this time? A shady art dealer?”

She pressed her lips together. “No.” She framed the word with her mouth. “I'm not doing
anything
illegal.”

“Okay, now you have to tell me. What's up?” I closed the laptop and focused on my aunt.

She took a big dramatic sigh. “If you must know, Harrold and I are going to the city for dinner and drinks to talk about the water conservation committee.”

“Without Josh or Amy?” I got it now. My aunt was going on a date.

She turned beet red. “Fine, it's a date. But don't go getting all ‘what about Josh' with me. I never said our relationship was exclusive.”

“I wasn't even thinking about questioning you on that subject.” Okay, so maybe I had been, but I liked Harrold. He and Aunt Jackie would make a nice pair. I did feel sorry for Josh though. In a weird way.

“Just cover my shift and keep your mouth shut on my business.” My aunt looked at me, waiting for a response. When I didn't say anything, she blurted, “What?”

“You didn't say please.” I heard the bell over the door ring and saw Toby walk in for his shift.

“Please,” Aunt Jackie whispered.

I stood and put the laptop under my arm. “Your wish is my command.”

“Uh-oh.” Toby smiled as he walked toward us. “Your aunt must have conned you into covering her shift.”

“Yep.” I smiled back at him. “And since I'm working tomorrow, I need to get home and take a run into Bakerstown to the Pet Palace. Emma's almost out of dog food.”

My aunt mouthed the words “
thank you”
before disappearing behind the office door toward her apartment upstairs.

Toby watched her go. “I felt bad saying no, but Elisa set up this dinner thing and she's been pretty adamant that I need to be there. I even had to have Tim cover my police shift. I hate leaving Greg so shorthanded during an active investigation.”

“Sometimes people have to come first. I'm sure Elisa must have something very important planned.” I left the front of the shop and put the laptop on the office desk. Grabbing my purse, I decided to stop by City Hall and see if Amy wanted to get an early lunch. Okay, really I wanted to see what had happened between my aunt and Harrold at the water conservation meeting. So sue me.

Toby was making fresh coffee when I returned to the front of the shop. He drummed his fingers on the counter, waiting for the pot to brew. I studied him as he tossed an empty cup from hand to hand, his attention elsewhere. “What's up with you? Don't tell me you're still worried about taking tomorrow night off? Greg will understand.”

He shook his head. “That's not what I'm worried about.” His attention moved to the group of women who were getting out of a large van and walking toward the door. “I wonder what Elisa wants to talk about that's so important.”

Our conversation ended as the women entered the shop and rushed to the counter to order. Toby's girls, as I called them, were students at the local cosmetology school down the highway toward Bakerstown. There were a lot of coffee shops or restaurants closer where they could take their study breaks, but only one that had the sexy police deputy–slash–barista working the counter. I put a hand on his arm. “Call me or Jackie if you get swamped.”

Amy was balancing a pencil on her upper lip when I opened the door. She dropped the pencil and reached for the phone that hadn't rung. When she saw it was me, she hung up the receiver. “Crap, you scared me.”

“You alone here?” I glanced around the empty waiting room and through Mayor Baylor's open office door.

“He's been gone all morning but he keeps calling to give me one more thing to handle.” Amy yawned and stretched her arms. “I guess I should be happy for the distractions. Besides the water conservation committee, the office has been dead all month.”

Bingo, there was my opening. “Can I buy you lunch? I'd love to hear about the meeting.”

Amy pulled her purse out of her desk along with a B
ACK IN AN
H
OUR
sign. She turned off her computer and went over to shut and lock the mayor's office door. “You don't have to buy. I'd give my firstborn to get out of here today.”

“You don't have any kids,” I reminded her as we walked out into the courtyard.

Amy turned toward me, flashing her outdoor smile. “Haven't you ever heard of a figure of speech?” She leaned her head back and stretched out her arms. “I love sunny winter days.”

The weather had been beautiful, except the longer we went without rain, the more serious the area's drought problem got. “So, tell me about the meeting. Did they come up with any good ideas?”

Amy narrowed her eyes as we approached the diner. Lille's Thursday's lunch specials were written on a chalkboard set up on the sidewalk. Meat loaf plate and a spring chicken salad. Even the soup of the day sounded amazing—chicken tortilla. She held the door open for me. “Why are you so interested in water conservation? I thought you were going to slip under the table when Marvin was looking for volunteers.”

I slid into our favorite booth, and as I unwrapped the silverware from the paper napkin, I kept my head down. “Believe me, I have no interest in serving on the committee.”

“Then, why would you . . .” Amy stared at me. “I knew something was going on. I could feel it. Jackie and Harrold?”

Carrie tapped menus on the table. “You two know what you want? Or do you need these?”

I pushed one of the menus toward Amy. As I opened the other one, I focused on Carrie, giving her my best innocent smile. “We'll need a few minutes.”

“Seriously, you have to spill, I can't believe the two of them would . . .” Amy took a breath and I kicked her under the table. “Ouch.” Amy leaned down and rubbed her leg.

“Keep your secrets. It's not like I won't find out soon anyway. This is a small town, remember?” Carrie waved at a couple coming in the door. “Just let me know when you're ready to order. I can't stand all this drama.”

I watched her walk away, then turned to Amy, who was staring at me like I had seven heads. “You can't say anything. Aunt Jackie will think I told you.”

“But you didn't, I guessed.” Amy flipped her pixie cut behind her ears. “Wow, I never would have seen that coming.”

“You and me both, sister.” I tried to focus on the menu. My aunt and her love life had surprised me from the moment she'd decided to move into town to
help
me with the store. I turned to the page describing the salads and told myself to be happy with my choices. The pep talk wasn't working.

Amy gasped, pulling the menu away from my eyes with one finger. Even though Amy surfed more weekends than not, her nails still were pretty and polished, something I hadn't done in years. “Does Josh know?”

I shook my head. “I don't think so. She swore me to secrecy about their date tomorrow night. I'm covering her shift.” I guess my version of keeping a secret meant I didn't take an ad out in the local paper or post the information on my Facebook page. Although I had thought about announcing I would be working in case any of my regulars wanted to stop by and keep me from being totally bored. Friday evenings often got a lot of date traffic, both from the local teenagers and from the day tourists who just wanted to get away on a date night. But not during dead season. Not for the first time, I thought about adding music to the mix by hiring a local band hoping to make it big by playing just the right gig where they'd be discovered. I pointed my finger at my friend. “Don't tell anyone.”

Amy leaned forward in the booth. “Do you want to know what happened?”

I leaned over just as I heard Carrie clear her throat.

“Are you ladies ready to order?” Carrie sounded tired. “Or should I come back at a better time. Like Christmas?”

“Sorry.” I listed off my salad order and watched as Amy struggled to make her food decision before Carrie turned toward her. I think she just panicked when Carrie looked at her.

“I'll have the meat loaf platter.” Amy held out her menu. “So how are you feeling?”

Carrie leaned against the table. “You can say it, I look worn out. My doctor thinks I might have a gluten allergy. I totally laughed at him, but I was planning to try to clean up my diet before Austin's wife died. You never know when your ticket's going to be drawn, so it's better to live life to the fullest.”

I'd never met anyone with a gluten allergy before and now, in a week, I'd talked to two people. “What are the symptoms? Tiredness? Is that all?”

“Migraines, mood swings, digestive issues, the symptoms run the gamut. Even if I am allergic, I'm not as severe as some people. My doctor said he has patients who can go into anaphylactic shock if they eat something with wheat, barley, or rye.” Carrie eyed the menu. “Aren't you sorry you asked?”

When she left the table, Amy leaned closer. “Are you feeling all right?”

“I'm fine. I was just interested. Did you know that Kacey had a severe wheat allergy? She told me about it when we were talking about the food truck.” I sipped my water and wondered exactly how Kacey had died. Greg had been less than forthcoming about the cause of death, but that could have been because of Sadie and her possible involvement. Or
im
possible involvement, to be exact.

“The day we went to lunch we talked about her health. She was really limited as to what she could order on the menu. I don't think she kept her condition a secret from anyone.” Amy studied me. “You don't think that's how she died, do you? What does Greg say?”

“Nothing. Which makes me think there is something fishy about her death. If it was an accident, he would have already closed the case and wouldn't have questioned Nick.” My eyes widened as I clamped my mouth shut. I hadn't meant to tell anyone, even Amy, about that part.

“You're kidding me? Greg thought pure-as-snow Nick could have murdered someone?” Amy shook her head in disbelief. “I think your boyfriend is grasping at straws.”

We paused as another server dropped off our iced teas. I lowered my voice. “You can't say I told you this, but Sadie got a notebook left on her doorstep with all the recipes Austin had conned out of her when they were dating. And Kacey had notes on the pages on how to turn them gluten-free.” I shrugged and took the paper sleeve off my straw. “At least I assume it was Kacey's handwriting. Austin is a Class A jerk. I bet Kacey didn't even know where the recipes came from.”

“I don't think he actually hurt Sadie intentionally.” Amy crossed her arms. “You're making it sound like the only reason he was dating her was to get ahold of her recipes. That's cold, man.”

I put my hands up in mock surrender. “All I know is, the notebook was on Sadie's doorstep. Someone had left it there in the middle of the night. So Greg had to make sure that Nick didn't break into the food truck to steal back his mom's recipes. That's all.”

Our food arrived and we ate in silence for a few minutes, each one lost in her own thoughts. Or at least I was. Amy had rented the second-floor apartment from Austin for years. She probably knew him better than anyone else in South Cove. The man was a mystery. He never talked about his past or people he knew. I'd never even suspected he and Kacey had been married and separated.