Claret and Present Danger, page 12
Cordelia picked up where I’d left off. “And the poison could have been administered before the show.”
“I wish I knew precisely when and how he’d been poisoned,” I said. “But since I don’t, I’m adding Collette to my suspect list. Maybe she poisoned Ozzie before the show started, while she was still fuming, and it took a while to take effect.” Something else occurred to me. “Maybe she even hoped to frame Minerva for the crime.”
“Kill two birds with one stone?”
“It’s possible.” I turned that over in my mind. “Collette probably knew that Minerva has a stash of natural remedies.”
“Was that common knowledge among the people who work for the faire?” Cordelia asked.
“I think so, and I can probably find out for sure.” That would likely take only a question or two directed at the right person. Flint perhaps. Or Rachael. They were both aware of Minerva’s herb collection and might know if it was common knowledge.
We arrived at the big tank of water, where about a dozen people stood admiring the two swimming mermaids. One wore an iridescent purple tail, and the other mermaid’s tail shimmered with shades of green and pink. I wondered which one was Jasmine. Maybe neither, if there were more than two mermaids working different swimming shifts. Tilly could have told me, but she must have already moved on to another part of the faire. She wasn’t anywhere in sight.
I hadn’t asked her if she had a pass to get into the faire legitimately. It wouldn’t have surprised me if she didn’t, since she seemed to have a habit of sneaking into the various shows without a ticket. I wondered if her mom knew what she was up to. Tilly seemed to roam freely, and I’d never seen her in the company of an adult, or anyone for that matter. I filed those thoughts away for another time.
“Wow.” Cordelia moved closer to the tank for a better view. “They really do look like mermaids.”
I had to agree that the fake tails were quite convincing. The only crack in the illusion was caused by the fact that the women had to swim frequently through the tunnel and out of sight, no doubt to breathe in some oxygen.
Some of the other onlookers were posing for photos with the mermaids in the background, so Cordelia and I did the same.
“I’m really regretting wearing this costume now,” Cordelia said once we’d taken each other’s photos. “I’m sweltering.”
“Do you want to get a cold drink?” I asked. “Or would you rather head home?”
“I guess I should go home and change into something cooler before I faint, but maybe we can grab drinks to take with us?”
“That sounds like a good idea.” Although I was feeling only slightly hotter than pleasantly warm, I was getting thirsty. I didn’t envy Cordelia in her long-sleeved dress. She looked amazing, but her face was flushed, and she reminded me of a wilting flower.
We purchased frozen lemonades from a vendor near the gates and then left the park, walking in the shade whenever possible.
“Will you be at the writers’ group meeting tomorrow night?” I asked Cordelia as we reached Creekside Road.
I’d started out hosting book clubs at the Inkwell, but after I’d realized that we had some aspiring writers in town, I’d helped create a writers’ group that could meet at the pub too. Cordelia had been working on her first novel for the past few months, a gothic mystery. As curious as I was to know more about her book, she hadn’t shared many details with me yet.
“I’ll definitely be there,” she said. “I’m hoping to finish up another chapter tonight. Then I have only a few left to go.”
“I’m so impressed that you’ve nearly written an entire book,” I told her. “What’s the reception been like with the group?”
Cordelia stared down at the cold drink in her hands. “I haven’t actually shared any of it with the other group members yet.”
“None of it?”
She shook her head and took a long drink of her lemonade. “I’m too nervous. What if they hate it?”
“I’m sure they wouldn’t hate it. Everyone in the group seems supportive of each other, don’t they?” That was what I’d heard from the other members.
“They’re all great,” Cordelia confirmed. “But up until a couple of months ago, I’d never even told anyone I was writing a book. The thought of actually sharing my words is terrifying.”
“If you want to share with just one person to start, I’d love to read it.”
“Thanks, Sadie. I’m not sure I’m brave enough yet, but if I get there, you’ll be the first to know.”
“With you being a mystery writer, you might have a better chance of figuring out who killed Ozzie than I do.”
Cordelia’s blue eyes widened. “No way! I’m not brave enough to go around digging up clues like you do.”
“You mean you’re not nosey enough to snoop into things that aren’t any of your business,” I said.
“I didn’t mean that!” She looked horrified by the thought of me thinking she had.
I put an arm around her and gave her a squeeze. “Relax. I know you didn’t. But I really am nosey. I can’t deny it.”
“Well, it served you, and others, well in the past,” she said. “I’m sure it will do the same for Damien.”
“I hope you’re right about that.”
Chapter 18
That afternoon I was relaxing in my lounge chair out on the lawn, reading a cozy mystery by Christin Brecher and sipping an Evil Stepmother mocktail, when I heard Shontelle call out, “Hey, Sadie!”
I looked up from my book to see her coming across the footbridge, Kiandra running ahead of her.
“This is a nice surprise.” I set my book aside and pushed my sunglasses up on my head.
“I was hoping you might be free for a chat,” Shontelle said.
“You have good timing. I was at the faire with Cordelia this morning, and I’m heading over to Grayson’s later, but my afternoon is all free.”
“Sadie, watch this!” Kiandra called out. She executed a perfect one-handed cartwheel on the grass.
“Nice!”
Kiandra did another cartwheel and then spotted Wimsey on one of the barrels by the front door to the pub. She cartwheeled her way over to see him.
“Can I get you something to drink?” I asked Shontelle.
She eyed my glass. “Sure. I’ll have what you’re having. Evil Stepmother, right?”
“Yes, the mocktail version. What about you, Kiandra? Would you like something to drink?”
She glanced up from petting Wimsey. “Yes, please! Could I have A Midsummer Night’s Cream?”
“That’s basically dessert in a glass,” Shontelle said.
Kiandra’s smile was almost as bright as the sun. “Exactly.”
“Sadie might not have all the ingredients ready for that one.”
“I do,” I assured Shontelle. “I’m happy to make one if it’s okay with you.”
“Please, Mom,” Kiandra pleaded.
“All right,” Shontelle said, relenting. “But don’t be asking me for ice cream on the way home, then.”
“I won’t.” Kiandra’s smile turned cheeky. “I’ll wait until we’re at home.”
I laughed as Shontelle rolled her eyes. I grabbed my half-full glass, and the three of us headed inside. Wimsey stayed put on his barrel. It took only a minute to mix up Shontelle’s mocktail with sour mix, white grape juice, and ginger ale. Then I moved on to Kiandra’s drink, A Midsummer Night’s Cream. It was one of my most recent creations. Made with crushed strawberries, cream of coconut, lime juice, and whipped cream, the alcohol-free drink had white and red layers and tasted divine.
Once we all had drinks in hand, we returned to the sunshine. Kiandra plopped herself down on the grass with her drink, and Wimsey wandered over to join her. I pulled up another chair for Shontelle, and we sat down far enough away from Kiandra that we could chat privately while still keeping an eye on her.
“Is there anything in particular you want to chat about?” I asked Shontelle, suspecting that the answer was yes.
She took a sip of her drink before responding. “You and Grayson.”
“What about me and Grayson?”
She arched an eyebrow at me. “I’ve heard rumors.”
“Oh no.” I rolled my eyes heavenward. “What are people saying about us now? Or do I really want to know?” This wasn’t the first time Grayson and I had been the subject of rumors in Shady Creek.
“I won’t tell you exactly what was said, because I don’t want to be responsible for you murdering Vera Anderson.”
I groaned. “If it’s Vera Anderson spreading the rumors, there’s no way she’s saying good things.”
Vera was one of my least favorite people in Shady Creek. She seemed to delight in giving me bad news and in judging anyone who wasn’t a friend of hers.
“She saw you walking home from Grayson’s place one morning last week.”
“Of course she did,” I said with a sigh. It was just my luck that Vera Anderson had seen me.
“She assumed you’d spent the night there.” Shontelle watched me over the rim of her glass as she took a sip of her cocktail.
“I did. On the couch.”
Shontelle tried to suppress a smile. “Cozy.”
“By myself,” I rushed to clarify. “I fell asleep while we were watching a movie, and Grayson didn’t have the heart to wake me. That’s all there was to it.”
“In that case, I don’t have to be mad at you for leaving me to hear about it through the grapevine,” Shontelle said. “I knew there was a chance that Vera had things wrong.”
“What else did she say about me?” I asked, against my better judgment.
“I don’t want you getting arrested for murder, remember?”
“It was really that bad?” I wondered if I’d need to get myself a stronger drink after hearing the answer.
“Let’s just say she used the word ‘scandalous.’ ”
“Seriously? We’re not living in Victorian times. What does it matter if I do or don’t spend the night at my boyfriend’s place?”
“It doesn’t. And don’t worry about it,” Shontelle said. “It’s Vera, after all.”
“Does she spread rumors about you and Eldon, or are you spared because Eldon’s her nephew?”
“Eldon might be spared, but I’m not. Last week I heard she’d called me a gold digger.”
I nearly spit out the sip I’d taken from my drink. “What? Eldon’s not exactly rich.” I realized I didn’t know that for sure. “Is he?”
“No. He lives off his salary as a police officer. But I doubt Vera would think any woman was good enough for her nephew, even though she doesn’t get along with her sister, Eldon’s mother.”
“That woman,” I said with a shake of my head. “How is Eldon these days? Anything I should know about the two of you before I hear it through the grapevine?”
“He’s good, but he’s been busy lately.”
“Right,” I said. “Of course he has, with the murder investigation.”
“And to answer your other question, no. We’re still taking things slow.” Shontelle’s gaze drifted over to Kiandra, who was now hunting through the grass, possibly for a four-leaf clover.
I knew Shontelle worried about letting a man too far into her life too soon because she had Kiandra to consider. I had the same worries, but for different reasons. After getting hurt by my last boyfriend, I wanted to tread carefully when it came to giving away a piece of my heart. The problem was that my heart wasn’t always on the same page as my head.
“Has Eldon said anything to you about the case against Damien?” I asked.
“No. He doesn’t talk much about work. I told him that you and I believe Damien is innocent.”
“I’m glad you believe that too. What did Eldon have to say about that?”
“Not much.” She eyed me suspiciously. “Are you hoping for a chance to grill him?”
“Would that be a waste of time?”
“I’m pretty sure it would be.”
“I figured as much.” I finished off my drink and leaned back in my chair. “Did you have a good time catching up with Rachael?”
“We had a good chat. I hope she doesn’t lose her job. She loves working at the faire, and she’s been through so much already.”
“I overheard her say her mom passed away.”
Shontelle swirled the remains of her drink in her glass. “And her mom was the only family she had left. She lost her dad and sister in a car accident when she was still in high school.”
“That’s awful.”
“She told me the people who work at the faire have become like a family to her,” Shontelle said. “Now Ozzie’s murder could cause her to lose them as well.”
My heart ached for Rachael. “Hopefully, it won’t come to that.”
“She did mention that her bosses are a little happier now that the police have arrested someone for the murder.”
I frowned at that. “The wrong person.”
“Unfortunately. Do you have any idea who the real killer is yet?”
“I’m still thinking Minerva, but I’ve got other suspects.” I filled her in on everything I’d found out since I’d last talked with her.
“You’ll figure it out,” Shontelle said with confidence once I’d finished.
“I wish I could believe that as strongly as you do, but I’m going to keep trying. Maybe Grayson and I can put our heads together tonight and see if we can figure things out.”
Shontelle smiled. “If the two of you have your heads together, I doubt you’ll be doing much talking. Or thinking.”
“Hey!”
“Am I wrong?” she asked, still smiling.
“Maybe not,” I conceded, my cheeks getting warm.
My phone buzzed. I snatched it up, hoping I’d received a text message from Charlotte, updating me on Damien’s situation.
When I accessed my messages, I saw that I had a new one from Damien himself. I smiled when I read it.
“Good news?” Shontelle asked.
“Not the best news, but yes, it’s good,” I said with a hint of relief. “Damien’s out on bail.”
Chapter 19
I couldn’t help myself. I asked Damien if it would be all right for me to stop by his place for a short while. He said yes, so after Shontelle and Kiandra left to go home, I hopped in my car. I didn’t have a whole lot of time to spare before I was supposed to go over to Grayson’s house, but I figured I could squeeze in a quick trip across town.
When I pulled into Damien’s driveway, he stepped out the front door onto the porch. At first, I thought he didn’t appear any the worse for wear after his time locked up, but when I climbed the porch steps and got closer to him, I realized he looked exhausted. There were dark rings beneath his eyes and more lines on his face than I remembered. I second-guessed my decision to come by and disturb him, but I was there now, so I simply resolved not to take up much of his time.
“It’s good to see you,” I said when I joined him on the porch. “How are you doing?”
“I’m fine. Glad to be back home with my daughters.” He held the front door open for me. “Come on in.”
As I followed him into the house, I wondered how fine he could really be, considering his situation. Damien wasn’t one to complain or share much in the way of feelings, though, so I wasn’t going to press for a different answer.
“Can I get you anything?” Damien asked when I reached the living room.
“No, thank you,” I said. “I won’t stay long.”
I could hear voices coming from the kitchen at the back of the house.
“My sister-in-law has been a godsend.” Damien took a seat in an armchair and gestured for me to sit down too. “She’s baking with the girls at the moment.”
I settled on one end of the couch. “I’m glad you had a family member nearby who was able to come help out.” I decided to get straight to the point of the reason for my visit. “I’m trying to figure out who killed Ozzie, because I know it wasn’t you. Is there anything you can think of that might help me?”
“Sadie, I don’t want you getting into any kind of trouble for my sake.”
“I don’t plan to get into trouble.” I knew full well that most of the trouble I did get into wasn’t planned, but I wasn’t going to bring that up. “I’m going to keep trying to solve the case until your name is cleared, so there’s no point arguing with me about it.”
The barest hint of a smile tugged at one corner of Damien’s mouth. “I guess I shouldn’t have expected anything different. Thank you, Sadie. But you need to promise me that you’ll be careful.”
“I promise.”
He seemed satisfied. “I don’t think there’s anything I can tell you that will help my case. I met Ozzie only once, briefly. I don’t know anything about him or why anyone would want to kill him, unless it was because he was a sleaze and a lowlife.”
“That could have been the reason.” I didn’t know why I’d hoped that Damien would have information that would help me clear him. I tried not to let my disappointment show. “How strong is the case against you?”
Damien ran a hand down his face. “They’ve got the plant, and they know about my confrontation with Ozzie. Plus, they’ve got witnesses who not only saw me punch him but also heard me threaten him.”
“You threatened him?” That definitely wasn’t good. “What did you say, exactly?” I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.
“I told him that if he ever went near my daughter again, I’d kill him.”
My heart sank.
“I know,” he said, reading my expression. “That might have been the nail in my coffin.”
“Don’t say that.” I couldn’t bear to think it could be true. “Why would the police think you acted on that threat later? Ozzie never did go near Charlotte again, did he?”
Damien didn’t answer.
It wasn’t hard to interpret his silence. “He did?”
“Charlotte went back to the faire. It turns out she was there when I had my confrontation with Ozzie. I didn’t know that at the time. Ozzie saw her with her friends. He whistled at them and made some comments. It must have happened right after I left the fairgrounds.”
