Ice Coffee Corruption, page 12
This letter could be the key to everything. If Jennifer had discovered this secret, it might explain why she was so stressed and why someone wanted to silence her.
As we walked, Dana continued, “Jennifer was planning to reveal Arley at the big spa employee meeting. She thought it would be a big surprise for Aiken. I didn’t think it was a good idea, because a couple of weeks ago, I heard Jennifer telling Aiken how he needed to meet his son now that Prudence Thorne had passed.”
“As in died?” I asked.
“Yes. I overheard Jennifer on the phone with someone. From what I gathered, it was Prudence Thorne. Jennifer had her on speaker in the office, and I heard Prudence tell Jennifer the reason she sent the letter was because Arley was an only child and Prudence never married. She had no family, and she was living on borrowed time…” Dana’s voice drifted off.
Both of us knew what “borrowed time” meant.
Pepper dragged me back along the boardwalk that led to the Bean Hive, sniffing every single post along the way.
“Prudence wanted Jennifer and Aiken to give him a family. She also revealed to Jennifer that she told Arley of his father and Arley had sought him out.” Dana looked off into the distance, her eyes filled with tears.
“I’m sorry you are having to go through this.” I paused, offering her some space to do the same, but she kept talking.
“Aiken wouldn’t hear of it. He told Jennifer he didn’t want to know Arley and wasn’t going to go on a letter about some one-night stand he’d had when he was younger. But Jennifer insisted they meet him. Aiken refused it.” Dana stopped shy of the Bean Hive to finish her story, clearly not wanting to go in. The way her eyes flicked toward the coffeehouse’s windows made me think she feared someone might see us talking.
“The last thing he said was what made me want to come forward with the information,” Dana said. “He told Jennifer that Arley was never to be spoken of again and that he would make sure she took it to her grave.”
My eyes widened. Those were the last words I thought I’d hear from her mouth.
“Do you know if Arley ever met up with Jennifer?” I asked.
Dana blinked a few times, her gaze shifting to the ground.
“Jennifer got in touch with him through an email, the one provided in the letter from Prudence.” Her eyes shifted to the jacket pocket in which I had tucked the letter. “She told him about a cabin they’d purchased here in Honey Springs. She and Aiken were fixing it up as a rental for tourists, but she didn’t take any reservations. She had me drive there and sent me a business card with a handwritten note on the back to meet her at the pier on the boardwalk at noon with the date on it.”
“I found that at the scene.” My voice cracked at the realization that Arley was possibly the killer and the one Deputy had chased.
“Can you tell me how I can get to the cabin?” I asked.
“That’s an issue.” She pinched her lips together, looking even more anxious. “It’s only by boat. And Jennifer had purchased a boat for the rental.”
“Thank you, Dana,” I said sincerely, knowing I had to get in touch with Mom. I needed to get to that cabin.
I patted my jacket’s pocket. “This is really important. I’ll make sure the sheriff gets this.”
Dana looked relieved. “Just be careful, Roxy. There are a lot of secrets in that family, and not everyone wants them to come out.”
“I will. And thank you for trusting me with this.” I nodded and watched Dana slip back into the crowd. She blended in as she walked away.
I knew I had to find Arley and piece together what really happened to Jennifer. This letter could be the breakthrough I needed.
Back inside the coffeehouse, Bunny was busy with customers, but she glanced up as we entered, her eyes questioning.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
I nodded, unclipping Pepper’s leash.
“Yeah, just got some new information. We’re one step closer to finding out the truth.” Just saying that out loud made it feel more real.
Than ever.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Back in the kitchen of the Bean Hive, Bunny and I stood at the workstation looking at the murder board, adding the latest details and trying to piece together the puzzle of Jennifer Armstrong’s murder.
“I called my mom and left her a message to call me back,” I said, pinning up Prudence Thorne’s letter.
“Good. Maybe she can help us with the cabin situation.” Bunny nodded, her brow furrowed in concentration.
I took a step back and surveyed the board.
"All right, let's go through what we have so far." My eyes scanned the evidence before me.
“Let’s start with Aiken Armstrong,” Bunny suggested, tapping the photo of Jennifer’s husband. “He’s our top suspect.”
“Right,” I agreed. “Aiken is ambitious and driven, and he has a lot to lose if the secret about his love child comes out. He was clearly angry this morning, and he’s been acting suspiciously.”
“Not to mention his threatening behavior towards you,” Bunny added, her tone serious. “He’s definitely hiding something.”
I nodded, jotting down a few notes. “And then there’s Arley Heatman. We need to find him and figure out his connection to all of this.”
She crossed her arms, looking deep in thought. “If Jennifer found out about him and wanted to introduce him to Aiken, that could have upset Aiken enough to do something drastic.”
I glanced at the section of the board dedicated to Arley. “And if Arley was at the pier to meet Jennifer, that makes him a potential suspect too. We need to track him down.”
“We can’t forget Kirk,” Bunny said, pointing at the photo of my ex-husband. “He was involved with Jennifer and the resort. There could be more to his connection with her.”
“True,” I agreed. “But we need more concrete evidence to link him directly to the murder.”
“And Dana,” Bunny added. “She’s nervous and secretive, but she gave us crucial information. We need to keep an eye on her too.”
As I pinned up the new notes we’d made, I felt a sense of progress. “All right, so Aiken’s motive is protecting his business and reputation. Arley’s motive could be anger and frustration over being kept a secret. And Kirk… we need to dig deeper into his relationship with Jennifer.”
Bunny nodded, writing more notes. “What about the knife? Spencer said it had the same serrated edges as the one used on Jennifer.”
“Right,” I said, turning and looking at the board. “That’s another piece of evidence we need to follow up on. And there’s Jennifer’s phone. Spencer said they’re analyzing it.”
Just then, my phone rang, startling both of us. I quickly pulled it out and saw my mom’s name on the screen.
“Hey, Mom,” I answered.
“Roxy, it’s the same cabin,” she said without preamble. “The one you were asking about. And I’ve got a little dinghy tied up at the marina if you want to go check it out.”
I felt a surge of excitement and urgency. “Thanks, Mom. That’s perfect. I’ll head over there soon.”
After hanging up, I turned to Bunny, my heart racing. “It’s the same cabin. And Mom has a dinghy we can use to get there.”
Bunny’s eyes widened.
“Well, what are you waiting for? Go.” She pointed for me to leave the Bean Hive.
“Go where?” Aunt Maxi caught the tail end of our conversation as she walked through the swinging door.
“I’ll tell you on the way,” I said, knowing Aunt Maxi would be a great companion.
I picked up a very sharp knife from the kitchen island.
“We might need protection,” I said, holding it up in the air. The blade glinted in the light of the kitchen.
“We better get a move on, then.” Aunt Maxi hustled on over to the door. Her hair stuck up all over like she’d just gotten out of bed, but I knew better.
That was her usual look. Only today, she seemed to have on three different shades of orange eyeshadow, scarecrow earrings, and a bracelet to match. She also wore a patchwork skirt that hung down to her ankles and some sort of cowboy boots. I wasn’t sure if she was trying to be a rodeo clown or if the strangeness of her look was intentional.
Either way, I kept my mouth shut. Maybe her appearance would throw off Arley if he was where I thought he would be.
As we approached the marina, I couldn’t help but chuckle when I saw Mom’s dinghy tied up at the dock. It was a sturdy little boat, no more than twelve feet long, and it had seen its fair share of adventures. The flat-bottomed hull was made of weathered fiberglass, its once-bright-blue paint now faded and chipped in places, revealing patches of white underneath.
The dinghy had a simple, open design with no frills or fancy features. Two wooden seats, worn smooth from years of use, stretched across the width of the boat. A small outboard motor was mounted at the stern, its metallic surface gleaming under the early morning light, promising a reliable ride across the lake.
I noticed the oarlocks on the sides, though the oars were neatly tucked away. I had full intention of using the small power motor.
The boat bobbed gently in the water, tied securely to the dock with a thick, weather-beaten rope. Although the dinghy wasn’t much to look at, it was exactly what we needed for our little undercover operation.
I looked over at Aunt Maxi and pointed for her to get into the boat. She adjusted her scarecrow earrings, a determined look on her face.
As she approached the edge of the dock, the dinghy bobbed up and down, making the stride between the dock and the boat a bit tricky.
“Whoa, nellie!” Aunt Maxi exclaimed, clutching her patchwork skirt with one hand while reaching out for the boat with the other. “This thing’s got more bounce than a bullfrog on a hot skillet!”
I held on to the rope, trying to steady the dinghy as best as I could. “Just take it slow, Aunt Maxi. I've got you.”
She gave me a determined look and, with a deep breath, took a cautious step forward. The boat dipped slightly, but she managed to plant one foot inside.
“Well, color me pumpkin and call me pie,” she huffed, finally making it into the boat with a triumphant grin. “I didn't think I was gonna make it there for a second.”
Big Bib was waiting nearby, a grin of his own spreading across his face as he saw us approach.
“Now, where do you two think you’re going in that at this time of day?” he asked, appearing to be joking.
“I need to head out to the Armstrong cabin.” I held the rope tight and tried not to look at his face, which had turned from jocular to serious.
“In that?” he asked. A boatful of folks was waiting for him on the ferry. “I thought you were just going to pop over to the festival or something.”
He pointed at the Friendsgiving Harvest Festival only a few feet away.
“Nope, she and I are going undercover.” Aunt Maxi nodded and perched up on the bench seat in the little boat. “Sneak up on them real quiet-like.”
“One problem.” I gnawed my lip, the lines between my brows deepening. “I have no clue where it is.”
“There’s no lights on this.” Big Bib pointed at the boat and then looked at his old watch with the broken glass. “It’s gonna get dark soon. It gets darker out on the lake than on the shore because of the trees in the forest.”
“We will be fine,” I assured him. “Do you know where the cabin is?”
He sighed, huffed, and puffed.
But he gave in.
Big Bib scratched his head as he looked at the dinghy. The slow shake of his head spoke volumes about his disapproval.
“Now, you’ll want to head out from the marina and keep to the right,” he began, pointing in the direction we needed to go. “Stay close to the shoreline, and you’ll pass the Cocoon Hotel. You’ll be able to see the Friendsgiving Harvest Festival from the water. Just follow the beach until you see a small cove; that’s where the cabin is.”
I nodded, trying to memorize his directions.
“Got it. Go right from the marina, pass the Cocoon Hotel, and look for the cove,” I repeated.
“Exactly,” he said, nodding. “You be careful, now. That lake can get choppy.”
“We will,” I promised, with a final nod to Big Bib. He gave us a hard push as I started up the motor, which was really a little troll motor.
I couldn’t help but admire the view. The shoreline was alive with the sights and sounds of the Friendsgiving Harvest Festival.
From the lake, the festival looked like a scene from a postcard. The hotel was draped in twinkling lights, and the colorful tents and booths bustled with activity. Children laughed and ran around, their faces painted with whimsical designs, while families gathered around tables where I knew they were decorating pumpkins and making scarecrows.
Festivalgoers waved at us from the beach. Of course, Aunt Maxi had to draw even more attention to us by waving back with both arms over her head.
By doing that, she got Patrick’s attention.
He came out from underneath the Bean Hive pop-up with his hands in the air as if he were gesturing to say, What on earth are you doing?
“Uh-oh.” Aunt Maxi turned back to look at me. “You’ve done it now.”
My phone rang from my jacket pocket before I could even say anything to her.
With one hand guiding the tiny boat, I used the other to take my phone out.
The call was from Patrick.
“Hey, Patrick,” I answered, trying to sound nonchalant.
“What on earth are you doing, Roxy?” he asked, his voice a mix of concern and exasperation. “Or do I not want to know?”
“I found out Aiken has a love child who’s staying at their cabin here on Lake Honey Springs. I need to see if I can find any more clues,” I said, glancing at Aunt Maxi, who was gripping the sides of the boat as it gently rocked.
The silence on Patrick’s end told me he was trying to process what to say to me.
“And I took Aunt Maxi to help. She can say we are here to welcome him or something,” I said, making up something that sounded like a genuinely good cover.
The sun was starting to set.
Patrick sighed.
“I’ve got Aunt Maxi with me,” I replied, trying to reassure him.
“That’s what worries me,” he said, a hint of a smile in his voice. “I’ll be watching to see when you’re on your way back. Call me if you need anything.”
“I will,” I promised. “We’ll be fine.”
“Be safe, Roxy,” he said, knowing he couldn’t say much. Aunt Maxi and I were already out here and almost past the festival where he could see us.
But the smells of caramel apples and roasted nuts drifted over the water, trailing behind us. The gentle hum of music floated across the waves, adding to the festive atmosphere. We could see people strolling along the boardwalk, sipping on steaming mugs of hot cider and chatting with friends. The whole scene was a beautiful blend of autumn colors and joyful celebration.
Aunt Maxi was all twisted around, looking over her shoulder at the edge of the boat, waving to a group of kids who pointed at us excitedly as they ran along the shore to follow us.
“Look at them, Roxy. They’re having the time of their lives.”
I smiled, feeling a pang of nostalgia. “Yeah, it’s magical, isn’t it?”
We passed the Cocoon Hotel, its lights reflecting off the water in a dazzling display. The hotel’s guests were out on the balconies, enjoying the festival from above. The shoreline was dotted with bonfires, where groups of people were gathered, roasting marshmallows and telling stories.
“Almost there,” Aunt Maxi said, her voice soft in the stillness. “Exactly what are you going to do once we get there?”
As we approached the cove Big Bib had mentioned, the noise from the festival started to fade, replaced by the quiet lapping of the water against the boat. The trees along the shore were tall and imposing, their bare branches reached out.
I took a deep breath, considering the best way to explain everything.
“Okay, let me fill you in. Remember Dana, the Armstrongs’ cook? She came to see me at the coffeehouse earlier today.”
Aunt Maxi nodded, causing her scarecrow earrings to bob. “Yes, I remember. Sweet woman, very nervous.”
“Right,” I agreed, steadying the boat as it bobbed gently on the water. “Dana told me something important. She and Jennifer had found a letter from a woman named Prudence Thorne. The letter revealed that Prudence had a son with Aiken thirty years ago, but she never told him.”
Aunt Maxi’s eyes widened in surprise. “A love child?”
“Exactly,” I confirmed. “The son’s name is Arley Heatman, the same name as the man Jennifer made the resort reservation for. Prudence passed away recently, and she wanted Aiken to know about Arley. Jennifer was trying to arrange a meeting between them, but Aiken refused.”
“And you think this Arley might be involved in Jennifer’s murder?” Aunt Maxi sounded serious.
“It’s possible,” I said. “Jennifer was planning to reveal Arley at the spa’s big employee meeting. She thought it would be a big surprise for Aiken. Dana said Jennifer had contacted Arley and asked him to meet her at the pier. That note I found at the scene had to be meant for him.”
Aunt Maxi nodded, processing the information. “So, what’s the plan?”
“We need to see if Arley is at the cabin and find out what he knows,” I explained. “If he’s there, he might have more information about what happened to Jennifer. But we need to be careful. If he’s the killer, we don’t want to tip him off.”
The shoreline grew darker as we approached the cove. I cut the small motor, slid the oars from their spot, and handed one to Aunt Maxi.
“We’ll paddle in quietly from here,” I told her.
Aunt Maxi took the oar, her grip steady despite the slight tremor in her hands.
“All right, let’s do this.” She gave a hard nod.
We paddled silently into the cove, the water around us rippling gently with each stroke.
