The Secret Ingredient to Murder, page 12
“I’d settle for a reprieve from murder,” Rick sighed. “Is there anything else you can tell me?”
“That’s all I can think of. Please, don’t tell Alex I told you about her delivery gig.”
“No problem. I’ll keep it a secret. But, just so I know, are there any other stores besides Howie’s Collectibles that she’s delivering for?”
“Traci at the Bee’s Knees is the only other one I know of. But your daughter is quite the hustler. It wouldn’t surprise me if she’s talked a few other merchants into the same sort of thing.”
Rick left The Rusty Nail and headed for the Bee’s Knees. He’d wanted to talk with Traci, anyway. He wouldn’t let on that he knew about Alex making deliveries, but the mention of the shop had given him an idea about how he might find the mystery woman from the Seaside Cove Inn. This town had a heck of a gossip mill, so why not make the most of it?
The familiarity of Seaside Cove’s tree-lined streets comforted Rick as he walked the few blocks to the downtown. The vibrant foliage whispered of untold stories as a cool breeze rustled the leaves above. He wandered down the sidewalk and once stopped to watch a squirrel dart up a tree.
Soon enough, the quaint and colorful storefronts of Main Street were in front of him. The stores, once dual-purpose buildings with storefronts downstairs and residences upstairs, were now strictly commercial. The Bee’s Knees was nestled between Scoops & Scones and Isabelle’s Pet Shoppe.
The cheerful yellow and blue color scheme of the Bee’s Knees fit in perfectly with the rest of the brightly painted downtown. While it was possible Traci would levy a barrage of questions at him, he felt confident he could fend off most of them. He climbed the stairs and walked past the display of candles and knickknacks. The soft tinkling of a door chime announced his arrival.
A warm, inviting aura that was as comforting as it was captivating greeted Rick. The air was perfumed with an irresistible blend of fragrances, from the sweet allure of vanilla to the refreshing zest of citrus. After exchanging greetings with Traci, Rick launched into one of his reasons for being there.
“Traci, I’m looking for someone. Has Adam mentioned a woman with dark hair who seems to like tank tops and jeans?”
“No, and he’d better not!” Traci shot back playfully. She winked and laughed. “Actually, I haven’t seen my fiancé since last night. He was so exhausted that he dropped me at home and went back to his place. Is this woman part of the case?”
“She’s been seen in two locations now. The first sighting was near Tyler Winkle’s home—the house that was burglarized. And the other sighting was at the Seaside Cove Inn near the room of our murder victim.”
Traci’s eyes widened. “Showing up like that’s pretty odd, right? Tank top and jeans, you say? That’s a pretty popular way for tourists to dress, but are you talking about the woman Old Biddy Maynard is calling a tramp?”
“The same one,” Rick said, holding back a smile at the questions forming in his head. Did he have a nickname, too? As for Mrs. Maynard, of course, she’d talked. His interview with her had probably been the highlight of her week. Maybe the year. “I didn’t realize you were friends with Mrs. Maynard.”
“I’m not. I heard it from Francine, our illustrious mayor and chief gossip,” Traci smirked. She laughed, then began to sing softly, “The wheels of the mill go round and round, round and round.”
“Enough!” Rick shook his head and failed at trying to keep a straight face.
“Believe it or not, Adam started the whole thing,” Traci continued, her eyes twinkling with mirth. “We were casually discussing the local gossip mill, and he suddenly started making jokes about it. You know Adam, he can be a natural comedian when he’s not being serious. And before I knew it, he was singing that old nursery rhyme.”
“With a twist. Odd, I’ve never known Adam to be very funny.”
Traci giggled. “Well, to be fair, you’ve never been in a bubble bath with him, either. I hope.”
Rick cleared his throat. “Uh…no. Never have, never will. But our police chief likes to inject a bit of humor into the mundane, huh? I’ll have to keep that in mind.”
Traci cast a glance at Rick, her laughter subsiding. “On a serious note, if that’s the woman you’re talking about, it’s possible she was here in my shop.”
“Could be. What can you tell me about her?”
“She bought a vanilla-scented candle. And she paid cash. Oh, wait. She had a bag from Bound to Please. There was only one book in the bag, so that’s where she put the candle.”
“Looks like I’m headed to the bookstore next. Thanks, Traci.”
“Rick, do keep me posted about this woman. If she’s causing trouble around here, it’s something we all should be wary of.”
“Will do. And please, Traci, you do the same. Let me or Adam know if you see her again.”
As Rick descended the stairs, he thought about his last words to Traci. That was how they’d find this woman. Get the entire town looking for her. She wouldn’t stand a chance. Not against this town’s gossip mill.
24
Alex
The antique clock on the wall fills the room with its soft tick-tock, tick-tock as I set the table, laying out the silverware just the way Mom likes it. My dad’s gonna be here any minute. That’s what we’re hoping, anyway. Mom still hasn’t heard from him, and neither have I.
After a few minutes, we agree that he’s gonna be late. We try not to let the disappointment bring us down, but without him here, it feels like there’s a shadow over everything. Even the white tiled backsplash doesn’t seem as bright now.
When we’re sitting down for dinner at the island in the kitchen, Mom says, “I hate it when your dad is late like this. I worry about him.”
I push a piece of sauteed zucchini across my plate. I don’t wanna talk about downer stuff now. It’s only gonna make us both miss my dad more. “At least you got Baby Jack’s bath done early.”
“I know. How was your day, Sweetie?”
“Good. Hey, Mom, what do you think of Mr. Rhymes?”
“He’s a nice man. Why do you ask?”
I shrug. “No reason. Just curious.”
She puts her fork down and gives me the Mom stare. “Alex, you’re never ‘just curious.’ What are you up to?”
“Oh, nothing.”
“Don’t try and stonewall me, young lady. I know you, and you’re planning something.”
There’s kind of a long silence while I try to think of ways out of this. I messed up by saying anything. But I was thinking of asking her opinion anyway. So what the heck? Why not just throw it out there? “I think Miss Redmond would be a good match for Mr. Rhymes.”
Mom picks up her fork and pops a carrot into her mouth. As she chews, I can practically see the wheels turning. “Where is this coming from, Alex?”
I hesitate and fiddle with the hem of my cloth napkin before I look at her. “I just think they’d be good together.”
She sighs again, this time, softly, and sets down her fork. The glow from the overhead lights makes her look kind of worried. Her voice is gentle but firm when she says, “Alex, it’s not our place to interfere in other people’s lives, especially when one of the people is one of your teachers.”
Baby Jack gurgles from his high chair. He’s got no clue as to what we’re talking about, but his innocence is a nice distraction. Mom’s words hang over my head like smoke, clouding my thoughts and tugging at my emotions. In a way, she’s right. I never thought about how bad things might get for me in school if it turns out I’m wrong about her and Barrington Rhymes. And what if he dumped her? I’d feel awful. A knot of disappointment forms in my stomach. In a way, I know Mom’s right. What if I mess this up? But what if I make two people happy?
“Mom, I had it right with you and Daddy. Look at how good that worked out!”
“You’ve got me there, Sweetie. I truly do love your father. And you. But just because you got lucky once doesn’t mean you can predict the same outcome for other people. Even if it feels like it would be a good match, it’s not up to us.”
I let out a slow breath and mumble my agreement, but then I confess. “I’ve already got a meeting set up.”
“You what?” Mom’s jaw drops as she gapes at me.
“Well, I kinda asked Mr. Rhymes to go grocery shopping with me tomorrow.”
Mom shakes her head. “Is that when Miss Redmond goes?”
“Yeah. She said she stops at the market on her way home from work.”
“Alex, I really do think you’re making a mistake. But I’m also sure you’re convinced you know best, so I’m not going to belabor the point. However, don’t be surprised if this backfires on you.”
Talk about a downer. All I can say is that Operation Green Smoothie better go smoothly! We get quiet for a while and eat our dinner. Finally, Mom breaks the silence.
“Alex, I’ve been wanting to talk to you about Veronica.”
Uh oh. Now what?
“I’m concerned about the age difference between the two of you. I’m also worried about you becoming involved with a crowd that’s too old for you.”
“It’s not like that at all. I thought Veronica was nice at first, and it was cool having someone her age pay attention to me, but she’s super selfish, and I don’t even know if I like her anymore. The only reason I’m still hanging out with her is because Chief Cunningham wants me to get him information. Plus, you suggested I write a story about her and her uncle for the Cove Talkers Newsletter.”
“Actually, I’ve changed my mind. I think you should stay clear of both Veronica and her uncle.”
I shrug. “But I promised Chief Cunningham I’d get information on them.” And if Veronica’s right about Gideon Styles killing her mother, this could be an epic story. “Mom, I’m just pretending to be friends with her. I don’t want to be her real friend.”
“Sweetie, real friend or not, these people worry me.”
“I’ll be careful.”
“You always say that.” She gets a worried look on her face when she says, “Okay. I don’t want to be telling you who you can and can’t see, but I think we should talk to your dad. Maybe there’s some middle ground. I know Adam doesn’t want to put you in danger, so maybe we can come up with a plan that keeps you safe, and you both get what you want. Just be honest with me. Let me know when you’re going to see her. Okay?”
Staring at the last of my veggies, I know she’s right. “Okay. I get it. Some of the kids at school are saying the only reason she started being nice to me is ‘cause she wanted me to find something she could use against her uncle.”
“That’s cold, but I can see there’s something else bothering you. Come on, Sweetie. Tell me the truth. What’s really going on?”
I blow out a short breath. “It’s gonna sound lame, but she’s bossy.”
“You mean she tells you what to do?”
“Yeah. It’s like she’s my actual boss, and I’m supposed to do whatever she wants. When we were at the marina, she chased me off ‘cause she was gonna meet her boyfriend. I’m not even sure he really is.” My shoulders slump as I realize how much better my life would be if I wasn’t dealing with Veronica and her drama.
“Do you want me or your dad to talk to Adam? We could tell him you’re no longer comfortable hanging out with her.”
The words pop out of my mouth before I can even think of what to say. “No!” If I don’t do this, then Chief Cunningham might not want my help in the future. I don’t want him to think I’m just a big baby. “I can handle it. It won’t be that much longer anyway.”
“You do what you think is right,” she says finally. “But remember, if this becomes too much and you don’t want to continue, all you have to do is say the word.”
Right. What? That I’m afraid? I can just hear the mean kids at school chanting—Alex is a chicken. That is totally not happening.
25
Rick
Rick took the most direct route to the entrance of Bound to Please, a mad dash between cars across the street. The sun, which now hung low in the sky, cast a golden glow on the front of what had become an instant favorite of his when it opened a few months earlier. The first time he’d been in the charming bookstore, he’d fallen in love. The only problem was that each trip to the store resulted in another in-depth conversation about books with the shop’s owner, Arthur Bennett.
The soft tinkle of a vintage brass bell combined with the comforting scent of paper and ink greeted Rick. The faint notes of sea salt carried in on the coastal breeze blended seamlessly with the bookish fragrance. A smile crept onto Rick’s face as he breathed in the mixture. As usual, Arthur Bennett sat behind the counter, his full attention taken up by a book.
“Hey Arthur,” Rick called out, his voice echoing lightly in the cozy space.
Arthur looked up, his round spectacles sliding down his nose. His hazel eyes twinkled with warmth. “Ah, Rick! Just the man I was hoping to see.”
Of course. Arthur probably had about a dozen new books for the library at the B&B. Unfortunately for Arthur, today was not a day to be buying books. Rick approached the counter and tried to sound official. “I’m not here to make a purchase. I’m here on police business.”
“Oh? Well, we can talk about that in a minute.” Arthur’s eyes danced with excitement. “I’ve just received a first edition of Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. Thought you might be interested.”
Despite his mental preparations, the news sparked Rick’s interest. He always had been a sucker for good literature first editions. Inwardly, he groaned. “You know me too well, Arthur.” He extended his hand for the book.
As Rick gently inspected the cover, the binding, and the pages, Arthur prattled on about tourists and how they didn’t appreciate good books the way they used to. “Nobody has time to enjoy these treasures the way they should. Most of them have the attention span of a gnat. They flit in, and they’re gone before they even look around.”
“I hear you, Arthur. That’s one reason I like to keep adding to our library at the B&B. When they’re in that environment, many people seem to disconnect from all the craziness of their everyday lives.”
Arthur smiled knowingly. “I’m glad you understand what I mean. You should keep up the good work of spreading literature around. It’s important for people to have time and space to slow down and appreciate the beauty of a story. Do you want me to bag that one up for you?”
Rick took another look at the book in his hands. He liked Hemingway, and the thought of having a first edition in his collection appealed to him. He reached for his wallet. “This isn’t going in the B&B’s library, though. This is going in my office.”
“I’ve heard Captain Jack had quite the collection. Didn’t he?”
“He did. Right now, I’m helping Adam on a murder investigation, but I’m sure I’ll find time to read this once the case is over.”
Arthur smiled, rang up the sale, and bagged the book. As he returned it to Rick, he thanked him for his purchase.
“Now, let’s get to the reason I came in here. I’m trying to find a woman who bought something from you. She had dark hair and was probably wearing a tank top and jeans.”
Arthur’s eyes glazed over as he absently pushed up his round glasses. “Ah, yes. I remember her. She bought a copy of The Sun Also Rises.”
“She bought a classic? That’s not what I would have expected.”
Arthur sat up straight and shook his head vigorously. “It wasn’t just any copy. We’re talking about an early printing of the Charles Scribner’s Sons edition with an introduction by Henry Seidel Canby!”
Rick cursed himself for his lack of tact. Everyone knew about Arthur’s passion for rare and collectible books. Clearly, he was excited about the book he’d sold to this mysterious woman. Even more surprising was that this woman might not only be a burglar but also a collector of rare books.
“Did you talk to her for long?” asked Rick.
Arthur shook his head. “No, not really. Why are you looking for her?”
“She may have information relating to the murder case I’m working on.”
Arthur pulled back and gripped the countertop to steady himself. “You don’t think she’s the killer, do you?”
“Right now, we’re just trying to compile a list of people who had contact with the victim, and this woman is on that list.”
“I’d like to help, but I don’t know her name or what room she’s staying in at the Inn,” he said.
“Wait. How do you know she’s staying at the Inn?”
“She made a comment about how dingy the rooms are. I knew she wasn’t talking about your place. I’ve heard the B&B’s rooms are quite immaculate. She seemed like the kind of person who would appreciate the nice touches you have. Quite honestly, it surprised me when I learned she wasn’t staying at your B&B.”
Rick quickly paused and mentally rewound what Arthur had just said. He asked, “How do you know she’d appreciate those touches?”
“It was her jewelry. It looked very high-end.”
Interesting observation, thought Rick. There was only one problem. Arthur was a bookworm, not a jewelry expert. “Can you tell me anything else about her? Anything at all?”
Arthur looked lost in thought as he tapped his jaw with his finger. After a few seconds, he said, “She had a very distinct perfume. It smelled like lilacs.”
Rick smiled. Now, finally, he was getting somewhere. Perfume might not seem like much, but it provided another detail. He might find this mystery woman yet. “Thanks, Arthur. You’ve been a big help. I’ve got what I need.”
“Good luck finding her,” Arthur said as he reached for his book. When his fingers touched the cover, a smile spread across his face, and he seemed to disconnect from the physical world in favor of a fictional one.
As Rick stepped outside, he spotted Traci locking up across the street. He quickly decided to talk to her again and made another dash across the street between cars. He caught her at the base of the stairs to the shop.
