Creeps, Cache, & Corpses, page 11
Ryker’s eyes grew small and daggerlike before gesturing to his friends. They turned around and scrambled back the way they’d come.
“Thank you, Sheriff.”
“Need me to come up there and make my request in person?” he yelled.
“No. I think they received your message loud and clear.”
The sheriff hung up as Galen eyed the space they’d vacated. “I don’t trust those guys,” he grumbled.
“You and me both. And if they hadn’t been sneaking out, I would’ve thought they’d been allowed to leave and never called the sheriff. I wonder why. I thought they were here for the week.”
Unless they had something to do with Edith’s death.
There was no love lost between Ryker and Edith, but what history could they have had? They hadn’t acted like they’d met before. Or had they?
By the time we doled out the packages to the appropriate rooms, the dogs expressed a need to get outside, Galen’s stomach growled, and Carlee yawned. I hooked the dog pack over my shoulder and so I wouldn’t be held responsible for an exhausted shopper or a starving jock collapsing on my watch, I sent Carlee to rest, and Galen and I detoured to the kitchen to locate enough calories to positively adjust his blood sugar. He pocketed an apple, a banana, and unwrapped a protein bar. I nabbed another kolache, and after scanning the many-paged instruction manual, determined which buttons to push on the NASA-influenced control panel of the nuclear beverage machine to make two cups of hot cocoa.
I interrupted the steady stream of steaming chocolate with a heaping tablespoon of miniature marshmallows and handed the first mug to Galen. “Can’t have you fading away.”
He chuckled and popped the last bite of protein bar into his mouth. “Good thinking.”
I dug in our dog pack, tossed Galen a fabric frisbee, and pointed to the exit.
Galen wiped away the last few crumbs. “I’ll take this job any day rather than intrude on that final shopping sprint,” he said, playing keep-away from Renegade.
We accompanied the dogs out the rear door, around the side of the house, and stopped abruptly when we heard irate voices directly above us. The tails of sheer, white lacy curtains fluttered in and out of the narrow opening beneath the window sash.
“You’re in charge. Edith’s no longer here. Surely Nicki can help out, especially since you’re planning to offer dinner on top of breakfast fixings. You can’t expect me to do it all myself.”
Galen threw the frisbee, and Maverick successfully retrieved it.
“If you can’t do it, Lauren, I’ll get someone who can.” The edge to Reggie’s words made me cringe.
Galen tossed the toy again. Renegade fetched it and dropped it at his feet.
“I know what goes on around here,” Lauren responded icily. “You’d do well to reflect on what I can contribute.”
Galen and I stepped quietly away from the conversation toward the playful pups but couldn’t fail to hear Lauren’s cutting remarks.
“We’ll provide a tasty supper, and Nicki will assist,” Lauren said with unexpected authority. “She can still remain in the background if you’d like. How many can we expect?”
Papers shuffled and Reggie said, “The four guys here for the beer festival—”
“Ugh. When are they leaving?” I could almost see Lauren shudder.
“They’re paid up until Friday, at more than double the regular rate, I might add. They seemed desperate to be here and—”
“So you milked it for all you could. Is that why Edith allowed them to stay?”
“Among other things. The family is here until Friday as well. They are expecting two more adults tomorrow, so plan for fifteen.”
We edged down the hill, but the sound continued to travel, and Lauren said, “It’s short notice so tonight we’ll have chili, tomorrow, a soup. After that, we’ll see what there’s time for. And Reggie, I expect to be well compensated.”
“We just opened. Realize, I have a long way to go before I break even.”
“I’d consider a small share in the business. That would provide me with more incentive to do my job well.”
Footsteps clomped out the front door. The dogs stood still, and a rumble started deep down in Maverick’s throat. He bolted, followed by Renegade, and we chased them around the corner of the inn.
Ryker and his friends traipsed down the cement steps, monitoring the movement of my intuitive canines. Ryker held up empty hands, but his glare could have singed my nose. I entwined my fingers in Renegade’s collar as she barked, flopping back and forth behind her friend. Maverick stood at attention and eyed the group.
A Range Rover slid to a halt behind Ryker’s car. The door opened, and Willy slithered from the front seat. Ryker sneered but ended the staring contest with a “Hey, Will-yum.” He and his three friends climbed into their red car and roared away from the curb.
The library window came down with a thud and Galen turned to me with knitted brows. I probably reflected similar questions on my face, but only until I laughed and pointed at the white marshmallow froth on Galen’s upper lip.
He licked what he could reach and wiped off the rest with the back of his hand. “Better?”
Before I could finish nodding, the back door banged, and I flinched.
TWENTY-ONE
Lauren marched to the carriage house at the edge of the property. Minutes later a garage door growled open, and a blue sports car thundered down the drive.
Galen jerked his head. “Whoa. There are some big bucks in that car.”
I looked up at him. “Why?”
“That’s a newer Mustang. I didn’t catch the model but—”
“But it’s not a cheap set of wheels.”
I vowed to pay better attention to car makes and models.
Galen’s eyebrows shot up at the same time we heard a horn honk from the street below. Renegade and Maverick had already descended the slope, ready for their meet-and-greet. The girls bounced from Jane’s SUV and raced the dogs, toting a minimum number of packages, crisscrossing, and zigzagging across the patchy yard.
Jane pressed her key fob and the locks chirped. She beamed.
“Your trip was successful?”
“Kindra and Patricia bought a leather valise for their mother. It was on sale at seventy-five percent off. I found the most adorable light blue sweater for Carlee. It’s so soft and it will make her even more huggable. How is she?” Movement caught her eye, and she looked up.
Carlee trudged onto the porch, and she waved. Her face had paled even more, but she tacked on a huge smile. The girls dashed to her side, squealing with delight, and dragged her inside.
“I found the funniest T-shirt for Drew, and ta-da,” said Jane. She handed me a gold-foil bag.
I squinted and bit back a smile. “For me? Why? It’s not my birthday.”
“Because I can.” Generous-to-a-fault Jane never held back when it came to spending money. She learned from a pro. Her dad owned Sapphire Skies, an aviation company that catered to the flying needs of those who could afford to go anywhere at any time. “Go ahead. Open it,” she urged. Her shoulders rose to her ears. She folded her hands together and fluttered her fingertips in front of her lips.
“You really didn’t have to.” I carefully peeled aside the crinkly gold tissue paper to reveal a small rectangular wooden box. I lifted it from the bag and examined the five stock photos held in place by ornate frames on the cuboid. I turned the block over in my hands and searched for the latch to open each frame. “A hexahedron.”
“A what? Katie, you’re scaring me.” She gave me an incredulous look and laughed. “It’s a puzzle box.” She squealed, giddy, as we meandered up the hill. “You have to solve the clues on the bottom to figure out how to open it to get the old pictures out and new ones back in. This was the last one in the shop, and because they lost the instructions, I got it for a song.”
“You don’t know how to open it either?”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
Jane held the heavy front door, and I stepped through, continuing to study the three-dimensional enigma. I was so lost examining the top, bottom, and sides I nearly dismissed a text ding on my phone.
Thinking of you. I hope you’re having fun but not as much fun as we would have had in Sonoma.
Not a chance. Jane took the kids shopping today.
I chuckled at the laughing and crying emoji Pete used in answer, followed by a heart. I replied in kind and sighed.
Jane peered over my shoulder. “Say hi to Pete,” she sang before hauling shopping bags up the stairs.
Jane says hi.
Hi Jane. Back to work. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.
I hope you’re bored.
As long as I was in the throes of texting, I sent one to Dad.
How are the slopes?
When he didn’t respond, I figured they had good skiing conditions after all, or they’d found something equally riveting to do. The fireplace sounds of snapping and popping caught my ear. I meandered into the living room and sent a text to Ida.
How’s your cousin?
She responded immediately.
Doing well. We’re catching up and talking over family history. There’s so much I never knew or have forgotten!
In my mind, I echoed her sentiment.
When will you be returning to Columbia?
My cousin might not need me as long as she first thought. She has a FRIEND coming.
Male?
Yup. You know, my cousin says I’m finally acting my age. I’m not sure if that means I’m acting more mature or less. Have I changed much since you moved in?
Nope. I think you’re always charming.
I’ll probably be back by the end of this week or early next. How are Carlee and CJ?
As well as can be expected. Carlee’s grandparents are coming tomorrow for the memorial. Fingers crossed.
Even though we’d been busy, I missed my everyday connection with Dad and Ida, and I couldn’t wait to hear all the stories during our first dinner at home. She made the best everything. I flopped into an upholstered chair, tucked my phone away, and focused on the puzzle box.
Jane popped her head in and said, “I’ll get us a snack from the kitchen.” I was pretty sure Jane left the room while I concentrated on the box, studying the faces.
The numbered patterns of squiggles and lines on the bottom panel suggested an order with which to begin. The first instruction arrow gave a direction, so I skimmed my finger along the edges of the box and across the surface, pressing lightly. A corner brace moved. I slid it up and away, but it required another step. I rotated the edge piece one hundred eighty degrees and two very short shims retracted, freeing the glass. After learning the trick to open the first frame, the rest followed in short order.
I returned the pieces to their original positions, re-creating the box, and placed it on the mantel. I couldn’t wait to substitute my own images, and I had loads with which to fill it. Sunlight warmed the fragrant yellow blossoms of the flowers in the front window. By the time Jane reentered the living room with a tray carrying a plate of giant chocolate cookies and glasses of milk, I’d deadheaded the flowers and accumulated a pile of wilted blooms. “Moved on from the puzzle already? Don’t give up. You’ll get it.”
I simply smiled.
Jane interrupted my reverie. “Do you think we should answer the door?”
I became aware of the hammering which should have elicited a response from Reggie or Lauren or the mysterious Nicki, but no one appeared.
“I suppose it’s either us or the door will fall off its hinges.”
We approached the door together. Jane furrowed her brow when the pounding sounded even more frenetic and challenging. She shrugged and pulled on the knob.
A familiar little woman barreled in, shoving between us. She pulled the two sides of the shabby dark fur coat together and it nearly swallowed her whole. “I demand to know where Willy Zasko is hiding out.” Her beady eyes shot daggers as she glared back and forth between Jane and me.
Jane shrugged.
“What good are you then? You should be fired.”
“We don’t work here. We’re guests.”
The woman turned up her nose. “Then I’ll just wait here for him.” She observed the grandfather clock. “That can’t be correct.” She hiked her sleeve past her wrist to check the time on her watch and grumbled. “I need privacy.” She darted into the dining room and crashed the doors together.
Jane’s face squinched as though smelling something putrid. “Ugh. What a revolting woman.”
As we retreated to the living room, I whispered, “That’s the woman I spotted yelling at Willy Zasko at the restaurant Saturday evening. I saw them again …” I faltered, but I’d already said too much. “Today when I drove out to the park.”
Jane tilted her head. “Katie, what were you thinking? You went there by yourself?”
“Not exactly. Maverick rode shotgun.”
“Very funny. And you saw that odious woman out there? And Zasko too?” Thank goodness a buzz from her phone distracted her. A call from Drew would be most welcome now, but by the huge brown eyes and tight frown on her face, it had to be someone else.
“Who is it?”
“It’s her.” Jane sounded panicked. “It’s the photographer, Kimber Leigh.”
“Go ahead. Answer it.”
She punched accept and stammered, “H-h-ello?”
Clipped harsh sounds emanated from Jane’s phone. She nodded her head. I rolled my two fingers in front of my lips, urging her to talk; no one would hear a head bob. The tension on her face eased a tiny bit and she began her one-syllable replies. I headed for the archway, but she cinched my arm, nails biting into my elbow. I patted her hand and her pleading look relaxed. At the same time, I began to hear sounds repeating, stuttering just out of sync. Her panicked look returned as I stepped toward the doorway. I put up my hand; my five fingered signal for wait shifted to one finger for hold on. I mouthed, “Be right back.”
TWENTY-TWO
I put my ear to the dining room door. Like ripping off a band aid, I yanked it open, revealing the crabby little woman crouched behind the table. She raised a fist and narrowed her eyes but continued carping at the phone on the table and scribbling notes. An unmistakable voice responded. Jane turned when she heard her reverberating self. She pulled her phone from her ear and stared across the foyer.
Kimber Leigh continued to yell into the speaker. “Well? What have you decided? I don’t have all day.”
Jane took tentative steps across the foyer, cocking her head as realization set in. The chime on the grandfather clock echoed. “You’re Kimber Leigh?”
The woman glared at us. “I’m on a private call.”
“With me.” Jane held up her phone. “You’re not at all what I was expecting.”
Kimber Leigh registered understanding and pointedly disconnected. “What of it? You’re not what I was expecting either.” She folded her hands atop her notebook. “I’ll have to check my openings, and I’ll give you three possible dates for this wedding.”
Jane shook her head. “How do I know you’re really Kimber Leigh?”
“You contacted me. Who else would I be?” The woman crossed her arms over her chest.
Jane fiddled with her phone. “The photo of Kimber Leigh on the website is definitely not you.”
“I am most certainly Kimber Leigh.”
Jane turned the screen. “This isn’t you, so how do I know any of the photos are real. I imagine the entire website is a hoax.” Jane shook her head. “You’re a fraud.”
Kimber Leigh slammed her hands down on the table. Jane and I jumped. “Find someone else to take your lousy wedding photos then.”
Jane raised her chin. “I’ll just do that.”
“You won’t find someone nearly as talented as I am. Look at my reviews.”
“They can be faked too.”
“And don’t ask for a refund.” Kimber Leigh sneered, exposing crooked, yellow teeth.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” A sardonic smile crept across Jane’s lips, and her eyes twinkled. She raised her phone and snapped a photo of the sourpuss who glared at her. “The internet is a tremendous tool. I want to make certain my review is out there with all the rest. You won’t take anyone else for this rollercoaster ride.”
Kimber Leigh stammered. “You can’t do that.”
“Oh, but I can. Here’s a bit of our exchange.” She played back a portion of their conversation and batted her lovely, long eyelashes, but her dark brown eyes burned with fire.
Kimber Leigh shrank in the chair. “You’ll get your refund, but it’ll take a while for me to scrape together the funds.”
Before Jane could respond, the door from the kitchen crashed into the wall behind Kimber Leigh, and Reggie barged in with a fresh pitcher of berry-studded water. “I thought I heard voices. What can I get you ladies?” The smile on his face fell as he looked from Kimber Leigh to Jane and back to Kimber Leigh. “Kimberly, what are you doing here? What’s going on?”
Kimberly?
“Where’s Willy?” Some of her bravado returned. “I need to speak to him immediately.”
“I don’t know where he is.” Reggie set the pitcher on the sideboard. “And I don’t take orders from you.”
“You’d better find him and tell him I require his presence. When and where are they reading the will?”
Reggie’s face flushed, and his jaw turned white. “That’s none of your concern.”
“You’re wrong there. Re. Gin. Ald. Edith and Willy were partners, and I never signed the divorce papers. Me and Willy? We’re still hitched. He’s an attorney. He understands these things, and now it seems he’s afraid to talk to me.”
With their attention diverted, Jane and I inched our way toward the exit. The closer we got the faster we moved.
Something in Reggie’s voice changed. “I’ll be sure to give Willy your message, Kimberly. Meanwhile, may I interest you in a glass of ice-cold berry water?” For some reason, his placating tone grated on my nerves. I turned and bolted. Jane scampered next to me.
