Digging Up Daisy, page 3
As her mind struggled to make sense of the situation, the hearty bush suddenly came loose, as if Kinsley were a dentist removing a tooth with a pair of forceps. She dropped the shovel and pulled at what was left of the root ball with a hearty tug.
“Hey, Kinsley!”
She was so preoccupied with her own thoughts that the sound of her name startled her. She dropped the root ball, sat back on her heels, and threw her soiled hands to her chest.
“Oh, Kins, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to startle you!” Kinsley’s best friend, Becca, stood awkwardly on her tiptoes trying to avoid digging her high-heeled shoes into the earth. Her hair, the color of velvety black petunias, was tied in a messy bun atop her head, but she still looked completely put together in a gray suit jacket, cream-colored silky blouse, and pencil skirt.
“No, it’s not you, it’s me. I’m so distracted with yanking this bush, I didn’t see you coming. Sorry to be so jumpy.” Kinsley recovered as she wiped the soil from her shirt and jeans and stood to greet her friend. She didn’t dare reach for a hug, though, as she eyed Becca’s work attire again. The suit looked expensive.
Becca must have noticed Kinsley’s eyes pinballing the ground. “You certainly are a little distracted today, aren’t you? Everything okay?”
Kinsley appreciated her friend’s concern, but she wasn’t ready to share. Instead, she redirected the conversation and gave her full attention to Becca. “Don’t you look lovely today. New client? Or did you have a hot lunch date? Please tell!”
Becca nodded. “Uh-huh, thanks.” She smiled, showing gleaming, recently whitened teeth. Then she looked down at her pencil skirt and plucked off a random piece of lint before smoothing the skirt with her hand. “Tilly said you were out here working, and I just thought I’d catch you for a moment.”
“Wait. So, which is it? A date? Or a client? Who’s got you looking all gussied up? Don’t try and dodge the question. Inquiring minds want to know.” Kinsley knew she was overreaching by getting chatty about Becca’s latest lover, but the change of subject was warranted. Getting her best friend involved in what she’d recently unearthed would only compound the problem and drag Becca into the mess she now found herself in.
“A client.”
“Ah, I was hoping you had a second date with that hot guy from the gym. What’s his name? Jordy something or other? Has he called you back?” Kinsley removed her gardening gloves, tucked them into her back pocket, and then smoothed the hair off her face that had fallen away from her braid, yet again.
“Nope. And I’m not holding my breath. Thanks for bringing that up, though. It sure is nice to know I’m being ignored. I guess I’ll have to find a new gym now, on top of everything else.” Becca rolled her eyes and laughed.
“So . . . what brings you over? I’m surprised you didn’t just shoot me a text.”
“I was in the neighborhood, and I needed to ask you a favor.”
“Well, I was hoping for sexy gossip to break up my workday, but I guess we’re not discussing fun stuff right now,” Kinsley teased. “What’s up?”
“Hey, I’m totally up for discussing fun stuff. Speaking of . . . What’s going on with you and Pete?” Becca shot back with an accusing finger.
Kinsley wasn’t in the mood to discuss Pete right now, either. That conversation—a never-ending loop. She waved a hand of dismissal. “Oh no, we’re not going there. I’d much rather hear about your shenanigans with men than chase after my own right now. Especially with everything I’ve got going on around here. I’m swamped. The last thing I have time for is dating.” Kinsley’s eyes zoomed back to where the root ball lay waiting to be tossed into the compost pile. “In fact, I really need to get back to work. Not trying to be rude, but my week is full. Overbooked, to be honest.” She placed the back of her hand to her forehead and held it there as if suddenly totally overwhelmed.
“Okay, okay, I don’t mean to scare you off by mentioning Pete’s name.” Becca grinned. “I know you’re super busy, and I’m sorry to interrupt you. I wouldn’t stop over to bother you if I didn’t really need something.” Becca’s voice softened, and she tilted to one side on her tiptoes and almost lost her balance as she attempted to stop her high heel from sinking farther and deeper into the earth.
Kinsley reached out a hand to help Becca balance. “Yeah, sure, no problem. Anything for you, my dear. Now. Whaddya need?”
Becca paused before the words tumbled out of her mouth. “I might need your landscaping services. I’m hoping you have time and can squeeze me in. Pretty please? With sugar on top?” Becca put praying hands together and waited.
“Me? For what?” Kinsley removed her gloves from her back pocket, gave them a little shake, and put them back on.
“I just left a listing appointment with the Wilcoxes. You know the Wilcoxes? They own that oceanfront estate down the cliff walk?” She waved her hand as if to show the home was far to the left from where they stood. “Over on the marina side. They’re thinking of selling, and as you know, summer is the optimal time for oceanfront property to go.” Becca grinned. “I told them I’d stage the house with fresh florals right up until we’re in escrow. I think they really liked the idea of the added special touch.” Her golden eyes, the color of sunflower centers, danced with excitement. “Have you seen that house? It’s a mansion! And that close to the marina? Can you imagine the buyers I would meet? I really hope I get this listing.” She crossed her fingers. “They’re interviewing two other Realtors and then they said they’d be in touch.” It was obvious Kinsley’s best friend was giddy with excitement.
“Yes, I’ve seen it, and it’s a beautiful home. That would be terrific for you. What a commission if you land it! I really hope you get this one, Becca,” Kinsley said, encouraging her friend with a nod.
“I was going to send over a floral thank-you as a reminder of what we could provide. So . . . if you could help me pick out some lavish flowers that would speak to the exclusive clientele? That’s your sweet spot. What do you say? Will you help me with the floral staging, too, if I get the listing? I couldn’t possibly find anyone else that tops your work. I mean, look at this place.” It was then her eyes left Kinsley’s and Becca scanned the yard, smiling.
Kinsley hoped she wouldn’t ask what was recently buried not far beneath their own two feet. She felt a sudden rush of heat to her cheeks.
She shook her head as if to recalibrate her brain.
“Pleeeeze? If I get it . . . will you? Pleeezzze?” Becca sounded like a child at a grocery store, begging for candy. “Even if I don’t get it, I’m still planning to send over a bouquet . . . it’s professional and the right thing to do.”
Kinsley hated to commit to anything else right now. But if it came to Becca needing something, she knew she would cave. “Of course you’ll get the listing. I have complete faith that you will. And when you do, I’ll certainly be there for you.”
“You’re the best!” Becca clapped her hands with excitement.
“I have just the right the array of flowers we could use . . . we’ll make use of what’s currently in season. It’ll be beautiful, I promise.”
“Oh, get those creative juices flowing, girl. This listing could potentially catapult my career!” Becca grinned and then pumped a fist high in the air.
Kinsley knew it wasn’t easy for Becca to land the elite houses on a listing appointment. Most of her listings tended to be on the outskirts of town, or outside of Harborside altogether, mostly in the $300K range. Not like the million-dollar properties and mansions she hoped would one day fill her portfolio and client list. She’d tried on many occasions, but unfortunately the sellers had gone with a competitive Realtor—one who seemed to hold all the million-dollar listings in the area in his tightly buttoned pocket.
“Thank you so much for your willingness to do this, with everything else you’ve got going on. I really do appreciate it, hon.” Becca reached out to touch her arm in gratitude.
“You bet. You’d do the same for me.” Kinsley nodded, with a smile. “You’ve always been there for me when I needed you, ever since we met in swim class. Boy, we’re really getting old, aren’t we?” She grinned. “I wouldn’t even be here if you hadn’t saved me from drowning on more than one occasion,” she said, teasing.
Becca shook her head and laughed. “If it wasn’t for my water wings, we both would’ve drowned!”
“Good times, good times,” Kinsley cajoled, and warmly reflected on the memory they’d shared and the beginnings of a lasting friendship.
“Since we’ve always been there for each other, can I share something else with you that’s really bothering me?” Becca’s smile faded, and she turned serious. “Honestly, before my listing appointment, I really was hoping for some good news. I need this commission now more than ever. The last twenty-four hours have been rough going.” Becca hung her head and shook it slowly.
“Oh no.” Kinsley reached out for her friend. “What did I miss?”
Normally the two spoke every evening on the phone and kept up to date on the highs and lows of their day. Last night, however, Kinsley was beat, and they opted to catch up later. Now she wished she’d taken the time, as obviously something of great significance was bothering her best friend.
Suddenly the two were interrupted by the sound of conversation floating across the yard, carried over to them by the west wind. Kinsley assumed the Maine Gazette reporter must’ve arrived.
“Is that who I think it is?” Becca squinted, as if to get a better visual. Then her eyes grew wide like saucers, and she nudged Kinsley with her elbow. “Yeah! It is! Oh . . . MY . . . word! That’s the guy from channel four news!”
“What?” Kinsley’s head snapped in the direction of a man holding a microphone, and a camera man lagging not too far behind. Both were heading swiftly in their direction.
“What in the world?” Kinsley uttered. Her blood pressure was beginning to show signs of an uptick. She needed to contain herself, and quickly.
“Do you have any idea what they are doing here?” Becca leaned in, conspiratorially.
“No . . . I have no idea.” Kinsley’s stomach lurched. Yep, her blood pressure was officially rising. “Aunt Tilly mentioned someone was coming from the Maine Gazette for an interview. Not a reporter from the six o’clock news.”
And not just any news reporter, but the one who broke the Cinderella story the previous night.
Kinsley’s eyes darted to the newly compacted earth, to be sure nothing was peeking from the soil, and then back toward the men traipsing rapidly toward them, and sucked in a breath.
“Hey, here’s your chance to meet a new guy . . . literally coming in your direction . . . dropped not far from your front doorstep . . .” Becca said out of the side of her mouth, and then subconsciously smoothed her skirt again. “I hear he’s single . . . Don’t blow it,” she sang softly.
Kinsley swatted her friend with the back of her hand.
Where on earth was Aunt Tilly?
Finally, the two men were standing in front of them, and the one with the microphone switched hands and then jutted out his right one in greeting. Kinsley accepted his warm hand in hers.
“Roy Maxton, channel four news. Great to meet you.” He pumped her hand like he was rapidly filling an old-fashioned water pump; hearty and strong. “I’m guessing you’re Kinsley?” His eyes moved between the two women, and it didn’t go unnoticed that he’d done a quick once-over of Becca before meeting Kinsley’s eyes once again.
Kinsley must’ve looked like a deer in the headlights, because Roy added. “Your aunt Matilda is inside with the Maine Gazette. She told me I could find you out here digging in the yard. Let me explain why I’m here. I have an insider colleague over at the newspaper who suggested a quick piece on the Walk Inns, and I thought, what a terrific idea! The station is looking for more local feel-good stories. So here I am!” He leaned back and held out his arms dramatically. “I hear you’re the one who handles the majority of the landscapes for these homes up and down the coast in preparation for the big event. How about an interview?” he said with a wide smile. Roy’s auburn hair, the color of changing leaves in autumn, was full but hung neatly over his ears, and it looked as if he was wearing makeup. Kinsley couldn’t help but study him. He wore more makeup than she did. Her style always leaned more to the natural. But then again, she wasn’t a local television celebrity who needed to be camera-ready.
“Well? How about it?” he prompted.
“You want to interview me now?” Kinsley looked down at her soiled knees.
“Bad timing?”
“You think?” The words spilled sarcastically out of her mouth before she had a chance to retrieve them. It wasn’t her attire or the lack of her own makeup that was the real issue, though. Kinsley’s eyes lasered toward the loose earth. She hoped she’d done a decent job covering the shoe.
Becca held her lips with her fingers and slowly shook her head, as if to nudge her friend to lose the sarcasm.
Apparently, her comment had come out way more abrupt than she’d meant it to.
Roy reached into his black blazer pocket and flipped out a business card and held it between two fingers. “Give me a call when you’re ready, okay? The sooner, the better, though, as the event is coming up fast, which is why I took the initiative. I won’t do that again,” he promised her.
The thing was, Kinsley was concerned about bringing needless attention to the Salty Breeze Inn. She wrestled with it, though, as it would be tremendous marketing for the inn, especially if he held the interview directly in front of it. In fact, her aunt was probably the one who pushed the idea to hold the interview right away anyhow, before the station would have a chance to change its mind.
“I suppose I could go and get cleaned up a bit, if you give me a minute,” Kinsley said with hesitation.
“Hey, I understand. How about this. Why don’t I go and grab lunch, and we’ll meet you back here after?” Roy pushed, as his eyes confirmed the idea with the cameraman.
Kinsley gave an internal sigh of relief. “That sounds perfect. I’ll meet you back here in say . . . an hour? And listen, I’m terribly sorry for my initial reaction, you just caught me off guard, and I have so much to do to prepare for this event.” She hoped her comment brought the tension between them down a notch, but she could feel it rising in her shoulders, nonetheless.
Disregarding her apology, Roy patted the cameraman on the shoulder and then turned back to face her and said, “We’ll be back.” Then Roy and the cameraman turned on their heels and walked back in the direction of the inn.
“Wowza,” Becca finally said when the two were out of earshot. “I can’t believe you’re going to be on TV. How exciting!”
“Yeah, thrilling,” Kinsley said with far less enthusiasm.
“What’s wrong? Camera-shy?” Becca nudged. “This will be great exposure, for Tilly, too, since it sounds like they’re conducting the interview here. This is great publicity for the Salty Breeze. Your aunt is gonna be thrilled!” Becca said with a smile. After a moment her smile faded, though, and she added, “I should’ve asked Roy after the introductions . . . when I had the chance.”
“Asked him what, exactly?”
“If he’s heard of any updates regarding the Cinderella killer while he was hanging around the news station. Since he was the one who broke the story on the news last night, he might know more.”
Kinsley’s stomach flip-flopped. “Why on earth would you ask him about that?” She placed her hands firmly on her hips and waited. “That would be a horrible thing to bring up!”
“Remember how a few days ago, I told you I was meeting a new client this afternoon?” Becca waited, and then she continued to prompt Kinsley’s memory with a roll of the hand and adding, “The gal who potentially had deep pockets and was looking for oceanside property?”
“Yeah, I remember. I don’t know what any of that has to do with this, though?” Kinsley sighed with relief as the two men stepped over the threshold and disappeared into the inn.
“Did she cancel on you?”
“No. Worse.”
Kinsley waited for what seemed like an uncomfortably long pause and then she heard Becca’s words echo hollowly in her ears.
“She’s dead.”
Chapter 4
Wait. What? Hang on a second. What do you mean ‘she’s dead’?” Kinsley’s eyes narrowed in on Becca and she held her breath waiting for a response. A response she dreaded to hear come out of her best friend’s mouth.
“The gal who the police found. The one the broadcasters have been referring to as ‘the Cinderella murder.’ ” Becca held up her fingers in air quotes.
Kinsley nodded and, with a sick feeling in her stomach, waited.
“Yeah, um, that just happened to be my new client. Her name’s Daisy Davis.”
“Oh no. Really?”
“Yeah, really. I didn’t get a chance to tell you, because after I got your text last night, I figured you needed rest. I didn’t think it would be fair to keep you up all night with that kind of news. Personally, I had to take a Benadryl to knock me out, I was so upset about it.” Becca shuddered.
“This can’t be happening—” Kinsley massaged her neck with her fingers before continuing. She almost blew the secret but stopped herself.
“What can’t be happening?”
