Emma sliced her sandwich, then paused. “Ruby’s, huh? Is this a bribe?”
“You could call it that. Actually, no. It was Randall’s idea. To meet there, I mean. And, well, to ask if you’d snitch.”
“Is this because your picture was in the paper this morning? And you and Randall are on the hot seat?”
Molly leaned against the tile counter and blew out her breath. “You could say that.”
“Sure. I’ll tell you everything.” Emma kissed Molly on the forehead. “I was going to anyway. There’s something screwy about that family.”
“Screwy? Like how?”
“Well, no one cried or felt bad about Mr. Jessop being dead. They just yelled about Michelle’s brother arriving late to the party and that he hadn’t given his grandfather a hug when he showed up. And how Nicky, that’s Michelle’s brother, had gone over to see his other grandfather first when he got back from Davis. A bunch of family stuff, you know? Oh, and that his grades were slipping, and if he didn’t get his act together, he was going to be pulled from school and put to work in the vineyard picking grapes. Oh, and the publicity for the winery was going to be bad and could hurt sales. That kind of stuff.”
Molly threw her hands up. “Not even one tear? Not from Mrs. Jessop either?”
“I didn’t see one. She was more worried about the television people and the shame to her family. And what people would think.”
“Randall’s right. You never know about people, huh?” Molly snatched the half sandwich on Emma’s plate and said, “That looks good.” Taking a bite, she grinned, “You don’t mind, do you? I’ll eat it on the way down.”
Molly unlocked the shop door, removed the sign, headed for the storage room, and lit a forbidden cigarette. She was amazed she’d only smoked two all day. Considering what was going on, that was quite an achievement. She pulled the can of air freshener off the shelf and had it handy in case a customer came in. She’d barely had a chance to take two drags when she heard the bell over the door ring. She quickly put the cigarette out and returned to the sales floor.
A woman was standing in front of her desk. She was dressed in an expensive teal wool running suit, the type Molly had only seen in Europe. Molly took a deep breath, hoping this wasn’t another angry Carmelite here to tell her to get out of Dodge City. It was hard to tell for sure, but Molly guessed the woman to be in her early fifties. Her light brown hair, cut just below her ears, framed a square face with a high forehead. “Hello, welcome to Treasures,” Molly said. “Please feel free to browse.” She smiled. “If I can be of help, just let me know.”
“Are you Molly Doyle?” she asked. When Molly nodded, the woman said, “May I sit down?”
Molly moved to her desk and pulled out a chair. “Of course, are you okay? Can I get you something? Water or coffee?”
“No...no, I’m fine. I...I just need to talk to you.” The woman waited for Molly to sit, then said, “I’m Susan Jessop, Todd’s wife.”
Molly’s mouth fell open.
“Yes, I can see you’re a bit surprised. But then, imagine how I feel?”
Molly tried not to sputter. “Uh, well, yes... I mean his...his death—”
“I’m not talking about that. I mean to learn he has another wife. Well, actually, she’s not legal. Only I am.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Molly finally managed.
“There’s isn’t much you can say, is there? Todd evidently fooled me and this woman who claims to be his wife. I won’t pretend to be a grieving widow because frankly, I’m not.”
“But why are you here, talking to me? You should be seeing the sheriff and telling him. And your attorney.”
“I’ll see them later. My first priority is you. I saw your picture in the paper this morning, and I read about you. I want to hire you to help me.”
Molly tried not to laugh. “Hire me? I’m an antiques dealer. How am I supposed to help you? Forgive me, but I don’t sell antique coffins. ”
Susan Jessop smiled. “I hadn’t thought about that. But even that would be more than he deserved. You helped solve some murder cases here, and I need you to find Todd’s killer. I’d like to congratulate him.”
Molly couldn’t have stopped her laugh even if she’d tried to. “You’ve got to be joking! Those...those were...well, something I fell into. I’m not a sleuth. Really, I’m not. In fact, I’m a genuine coward, and I leave my light on at night. You need to hire a pro, but first you need to see the sheriff.” Still in shock, Molly had no idea what to say but knew it was important to keep her talking. Since Randall was bent on beating Reynolds to the punch, she might be able to pick up something important.
When Susan began to rise, Molly said, “Wait! Uh, tell me more. Let me see if I can point you in the right direction. I mean, after you’ve talked to the sheriff. I do know a private investigator who might be able to help you. I’m...I’m really shellshocked here. I’m doing a decorating job for Carla Jessop, and well, you might say I am a bit involved.”
Susan Jessop sat back and said, “I imagine you’re wondering how I didn’t know what was going on? Todd’s absences?”
“Well, yes. That’s a good place to start.”
“I knew he had an apartment in Carmel but not that home in the Highlands. That was another surprise. It must have been bought with her money, not ours. I’d have known. The story he gave me was that he was setting up a consortium to purchase a winery here. He’d lost out on one in Sonoma and was bitter about that. So, his many trips here were expected.”
“How long have you been married?” Molly asked.
“Five years. Todd worked for my husband and me in our software company in San Jose. He was our marketing director. When Chuck died, Todd was an enormous help, and well, it progressed from there. At his urging, I sold the company and put up the seed money for a winery.”
“That’s quite a change,” Molly said. “I mean, going from software to wine.”
“I didn’t mind selling,” Susan Jessop said. “Chuck and I didn’t have children, so there was no reason not to sell. I was tired of working. When Todd became involved in meetings and tours to find a winery, I traveled. It wasn’t long before I suspected he was playing around. I hired a private detective, and I have proof he was involved with someone. In fact, I told him weeks ago that I knew about the affair. I told him to end it, or I’d divorce him. Well, he didn’t. We had a row the morning before he was killed. I was yelling and he was laughing at me. I told him I didn’t appreciate being laughed at when I was paying the bills. I came down here Sunday to tell him I’d already filed divorce papers. He wasn’t at the apartment. And then Sunday night, I saw the news.”
Molly was itching to call Randall. She wondered how long she could keep Susan talking. “I’m confused,” Molly said. “Todd has been married to Carla for three years! Weren’t you suspicious about how long it’s taken to find a winery to buy?”
“Suspicious? No. It takes time to find the right company. Todd was always very thorough. I just can’t see though how he managed to supposedly marry this Carla woman and keep us both in the dark. And what really upsets me is, that damn private detective I hired never found it out! Unless he was holding that information back and planning to prolong his investigation so he could hit me up for more money. I’ll worry about him later.”
Trying on her best Barbara Walters look and sympathetic voice, Molly crossed her arms on her desk and asked, “But Susan, surely you must have suspected something. There just aren’t that many wineries here in Monterey County to spend three years looking at them. Do you have any idea who might have wanted Todd dead?”
“Besides me? No, not really. I’m sure there is a long line of candidates. That’s where you come in. I want to know all about this woman he’s supposedly married to. You’re working for her. Tell me about her.”
Molly was impressed by how easily Susan Jessop had put her in a corner. She’d been up front with her information and now expected Molly to do the same. But then, Molly wondered if this woman was really who she said she was. She might even be one of those tabloid reporters, making up some crazy story to get her to reveal what she knew about Carla Jessop. “Forgive me, Susan, but do you have any proof of who you say you are?”
Susan Jessop laughed. “Oh, you are clever, aren’t you?” She pulled out her wallet and handed Molly her driver’s license and two credit cards. “Will that do?”
Molly looked over the DMV card, then the credit cards. “But you might be his sister, instead of a wife,” she said. “Even if that were true, I can’t blame you for wanting to get to the bottom of this, but so does the law, and I really think you should see them first.”
Susan Jessop took back the cards, carefully placed them in her wallet, and rose. “I appreciate your caution. Tell you what. I’ll see the sheriff, then I’ll be back. Have that private investigator’s name and number ready for me.”
“I’ll do that. In fact, I’m having dinner with him tonight. I’ll let him know you’re interested.”
Susan Jessop moved to the door, then stopped. “You have a lovely shop. I like Carmel. I should have visited with Todd.” She laughed then. “Wouldn’t that have thrown a kink in the works? I might just buy a place here. I’m sure I’ll want to redecorate.”
Molly ignored the bone Susan Jessop threw, and let it fall on the desk without a reply.
The minute she was out the door, Molly called Randall. “You won’t believe who just came in the shop! Todd Jessop’s wife. The real one!”
When Randall didn’t comment, Molly thought she’d lost the connection. “Hello? You still there?”
“Clarify that, please.”
“Okay, but don’t interrupt. If you do, I might forget something.” She filled him in on what she hoped was every single word, down to Susan Jessop’s body language and facial expressions. “I think that’s about it. I’m sure she’s real. Her clothes are too expensive for a reporter. And she has a driver’s license and two credit cards with her name on them.”
“Okay, I’ll fill Loomis in. If she comes back, don’t talk to her about Carla.”
“I don’t plan to. In fact, I think I did a good job skirting that.”
“Okay, see you at Ruby’s. I gotta go.”
“Wait! Have you talked to Lucero today? Anything new?”
“Yeah. He gave me the name of an attorney for you.”
“I didn’t need to know that,” Molly said.
Chapter 17
MOLLY AND EMMA walked into Ruby’s just steps behind Randall and Loomis. Randall asked for the big booth in the back. Molly could tell he wasn’t in one of his better moods. She nudged Emma and whispered, “A quick hug for both of them, and that’s it. I don’t think Randall is very cheery right now.”
“Gotcha.” After a hello hug to both men, Emma scooted into the center of the large booth. She picked up a menu and pretended to read it.
“Great to have you back home, Loomis,” Molly said. “Catch any fish?”
Almost as tall as Molly, but twice as round as Randall, balding with a gray fringe of curly hair crowning his ears, and a walking advertisement for Ralph Lauren, Loomis said, “Fish? Fishing expedition is more like it. I was on a case with an old fishing buddy.”
“Something got lost in the translation, I guess,” Randall said. “So shoot me.”
Molly laughed. “Isn’t he cute? Maybe after we’ve given Ruby our order he might be in a better mood.”
“I’m in a good mood. I’m just thinking. I filled Loomis in on everything, so let’s give him a chance to run it through his computer brain before we start yacking. Then Emma can tell us about what was going on at the ranch.”
As usual, they ordered enough food to feed a small army and were surprised when it arrived. Everyone’s laughter helped ease some of the stress continuing to build in Molly.
Randall offered Emma the plate of spring rolls. “I don’t want you to think you’re being a snitch, okay? We’ve got a situation where any bit of information can help us understand the dynamics of—”
“I know,” Emma quickly said. She helped herself, then passed the spring rolls on to Loomis. “I look at my information as a contribution to the investigation, even though you’re not authorized to perform one.”
Randall’s eyes popped open. “Excuse me? I happen to be a law enforcement officer who is obligated to extend any and all courtesies and leads to my counterparts in the criminal justice community. It is within my purview to question and elicit the cooperation of any and all persons who might be able to provide said information.”
“Gulp,” Emma said.
Neither Molly nor Loomis thought laughter was appropriate at the moment. The exchange was funny, but considering Randall’s method of delivery, Molly wasn’t sure whether he was serious or pulling Emma’s leg. Emma’s first comment was a bit smart-mouth, and for all they knew, Randall could be demonstrating a lesson in humility. Molly kept quiet. Emma had to learn sooner or later there were some borders one did not cross.
“Now that we’ve got that clear, you can just sit on what you have to say until we finish dinner,” Randall said.
Emma’s face was a bright shade of pink. “I’m sorry. I was just trying to sound grown up. It came out wrong, I guess.”