Death Waxed Over (Book 3 in the Candlemaking Mysteries) (24 page)

I jumped all over that. “Then he’s in town
after all?”

Jubal looked startled by the notion.
“Goodness no, he’s still in South America. I suppose I should have
said we won’t have any contact with each other again. Now if you’ll
excuse me, I need to wade through this paperwork the attorney has
saddled me with.”

I started working in the front of the store
and made my way toward the back, marking down quantities of each
item there. Without Eve’s sheets, I’d have been there three days,
despite the low inventory level. As I worked, I glanced over at
Jubal and felt sorry for him. He was studying a sheaf of legal
documents, and I noticed he was nervously rubbing the bridge of his
nose with one finger. I wouldn’t trade places with him for all the
money in the world. He caught me studying him, so I shot him a
quick smile and got back to my work.

By 10
p.m
., I had the lion’s share of the
work wrapped up. All that was left was what was in his storeroom.
“Jubal, do you have a second?”

He marked his place in the document he was
studying and said, “Certainly, Harrison, what can I do for
you?”

“
I just have the storeroom
to do, but I was wondering if you might have a Coke or something
around.”

He said, “My goodness, here you’re working
late doing me a favor and I’ve completely ignored my duties as a
host. Let me run down to the convenience store and get you
something to drink. Are you hungry, too? I could order takeout and
bring it back here.”

My stomach rumbled, but I said, “No, I’m
fine. Something to drink would be great.”

“
Nonsense, I insist. Do you
know anything about this place called Slice of Heaven? I confess
I’ve been meaning to try it, but I never seem to have the time. I’m
starving myself.”

I finally admitted, “A pizza would be great.
I’ll go pick it up, though.”

“
No, you keep working. You
call it in and I’ll go pick it up.”

I grabbed his telephone and dialed April
May’s number. One of her waitresses answered, and I placed my
order.

After I hung up the telephone, I said,
“It’ll be ready in twenty minutes.”

“
My, that’s fast
service.”

“
The owner prides herself on
it. Be sure to tell them it’s for me, I want credit for the
order.”

“
I’m paying cash, Harrison.
There’s no need to use your credit account with them.”

I smiled. “No, that’s not it. I appreciate
you buying, but the owner has a policy that for every ten pizzas
you order, you get to request an old song for the jukebox.”

“
I’d heard about that, but I
thought it was some kind of joke. What’s this proprietress
named?”

“
April May, if you can
believe it. You need to meet her before you leave Micah’s Ridge.
She’s worth the trip herself.”

“
I’ll be sure to ask for her
by name,” Jubal said. “Lock up after me, if you will. I’d hate to
have a customer barge in on you while you’re working.”

“
That’s a good idea. Thanks
for doing this.”

“
No sir, you’re the one who
deserves my thanks. You’ve helped a great deal. By this time
tomorrow, Micah’s Ridge will be a fading memory. No offense,” he
added hastily.

“
None taken,” I said. “I’m
sure this hasn’t been easy on you.”

“
Let’s just say it will be a
chapter I’m ready to close and leave it at that, shall
we?”

After he was gone, I went back to my
inventory, but my neck was stiff from bending over and peering at
the shelves. I decided to walk around and stretch until Jubal came
back with our late dinner. Maybe after I ate, I’d be in a better
position to finish up and go home. As I walked around the shop, I
wondered if Markum had managed to get more out of Runion than I
had. I didn’t want to admit it, but the big man could be persuasive
when he put his mind to it. I still thought he was going after the
wrong man, but I could be mistaken. If Hans were somewhere in town,
surely he’d show up at the candleshop before Jubal left for good.
How could he stay away? I glanced at the papers Jubal had been
reading and saw that he’d been going over sale documents for the
building. So Hans had him doing the preliminary work for selling
the candleshop. The man had no end of nerve, and I didn’t blame
Jubal a bit for wanting to get out of there.

There was a tap on the door that startled
me, and I saw Jubal outside, a pizza box in one hand and a six-pack
of Cokes in the other. I let him in and he put it all down on the
sales counter. “Thank you, Harrison. It was too awkward fishing for
my keys. Did you finish yet?” he asked, glancing down at the papers
he’d left.

“
No, I just thought I’d take
a break.” I pointed to the papers and said, “I didn’t mean to be
nosy. I was just stretching. I can’t believe Hans has the gall to
have you handle the sale of the building, too.”

Jubal laughed. “He wanted me to do more than
that. He actually expected me to stay here for the next month until
everything was wrapped up. I told him he didn’t have enough money
in his bank account to convince me to do that.”

I grinned. “Good for you.” I took a slice of
pizza and put it on one of the plates. “So, what are your plans
now?”

“
Well, as I told you when I
first moved here, I was just getting set to enjoy my retirement
when Gretel called. I believe I’m going to revert to my previous
plan and start traveling.”

I took one of the Cokes and took a healthy
swallow, then said, “Any place in particular you have in mind?”

“
I’ve always wanted to visit
the Florida Keys. There’s a place called Big Pine Key that has the
smallest deer in the world. There’s just something about that idea
that appeals to me.”

I nodded and said, “I’ve heard all about the
key deer. One of my customers, an artist named Ruby Hall, used to
live down there. She adored them.”

He ate a bite, then said, “It’s the first of
many travels I have in mind.”

I took another bite, then asked, “Did you
meet April when you picked up the pizza?”

“
I did. If anything, you
undersold her. She’s quite an impressive woman, isn’t
she?”

I laughed. “That’s a good word to describe
her. What did she say when you told her I wanted credit for the
pizza?”

“
At first she refused, but
then I saw she was just kidding. She also asked me to remind you
about your selection. So it really is true, isn’t it?”

“
Scout’s honor,” I said,
finishing off another piece of pizza. “That was great, but I’d
better get back to work if we’re going to get out of here by
midnight.”

Jubal pushed his own plate away. “I’m full,
too. That was wonderful, though.”

“
It’s good the next day for
breakfast too,” I said.

“
By all means, take it home
with you, then.”

“
I might just take you up on
that,” I said as I retrieved my list and got back to work. I was
getting a second wind, so I finished up in less than an
hour.

Jubal was dozing in his chair, and I coughed
twice to wake him up. He looked disoriented for a second, then
said, “I must have drifted off. Sorry I haven’t been much
help.”

“
Hey, you got the pizza,
remember?” I tapped my list and added, “It’s not going to be as
much as I’d hoped. I can tell you that right now.”

If he was disappointed, he hid it well. “To
be honest with you, Harrison, I’d give it to you if it meant
getting me out of here any sooner. Whatever you pay me will be my
mad money for the first part of my trip. I’m in excellent financial
shape, so don’t worry about paying too much.”

“
Man, I’ve heard of reverse
salesmanship, but you take it to a new level.”

He smiled. “It’s not that. I’m just happy
Hans won’t get his hands on this. I would ask one favor,
though.”

“
Anything,” I said as I
gathered up my sheets.

“
I’d like cash, if you don’t
mind. I never got around to opening an account around here, and
I’ll convert whatever you give me into traveler’s checks at the
first opportunity.”

“
I can do that. I’ll swing
by the bank before I come here.” I wasn’t sure about the exact
total, but even if I gave him what the supplies cost, I knew I had
enough in my personal account. It wasn’t that I was all that well
off, but I’d managed to save a little since taking over River’s
Edge, and I’d be able to pay myself back as we needed the supplies
for the candleshop.

I looked at the pizza box and said, “Are you
sure you don’t want this?”

“
Be my guest. I’d just have
to throw out what’s left if you didn’t take it.”

I picked it up and said, “We don’t want that
to happen, do we? I’ll see you tomorrow, Jubal.”

“
Before noon, if you can
make it.”

“
I’ll do my best. I can’t
imagine it being a problem, but if an emergency comes up, I’ll call
you. We should be able to load everything here into the back of the
truck.”

We left the shop together, and I wished him
a pleasant evening. He’d picked up regular Cokes, and I was used to
the caffeine-free variety. I’d had two as I’d worked, and I was so
wired up I doubted I’d be getting to sleep anytime soon. I thought
about driving around some before going back to my apartment, and I
soon found myself driving to Becka Lane’s place. I’d heard she was
out of the hospital, and knowing Becka, she’d be stubbornly
ensconced in her apartment instead of heading for the safety of her
sister’s place. I knew if her hours were anything like they used to
be, she’d still be up. Though I didn’t want her to get the wrong
idea, I did feel I should check up on her.

I could see as drove up that there was a
light on in her apartment. I knocked twice, and was about ready to
give up when she opened the door. Becka was usually dressed
stylishly in the latest fashions, but tonight she wore an old
sweatshirt and faded jeans. She’d never looked prettier, in my
opinion, but I knew better than to tell her that.

“
Harrison, what a pleasant
surprise. What brings you out here?”

“
I was in the neighborhood,
so I thought I’d take a chance and show up unannounced. I thought
you were going to your sister’s place.”

“
I’m not letting anybody
scare me away from my own apartment.” She added, “I’m a mess, but
you’re welcome to come in if you’d like.” Becka tried to smooth out
her hair, but it was hard with one hand in a cast.

I stepped inside and she bolted the door
behind me.

“
Are you comfortable being
here by yourself?” I asked.

“
I’m fine, but I still have
the feeling somebody’s watching me. It’s really eerie, you
know?”

“
I can’t imagine. How are
you feeling otherwise?”

“
I’ve been better but
there’s hope in sight.” She winced as she moved to the
couch.

“
Did they give you anything
for the pain?”

She nodded and pointed to a pair of pill
bottles on the counter. “They did, but I’m trying to wait for
bedtime before I take them. I’ve always been deathly afraid of
pills.”

How well I knew that. When we’d been dating,
I could remember Becka not even liking to take aspirin, so I knew
if she was taking something for the pain, it had to be more intense
than she was letting on. “Why don’t you take one now, and I’ll stay
until you get drowsy,” I said.

“
Would you? That would be so
sweet.”

She retrieved one pill, swallowed some water
to chase it, then said, “They recommend two pills at a time, but
I’m getting by on one.” She came back to the couch and said, “It’s
been a crazy week, hasn’t it? How’s your life been?”

“
You mean besides being
accused of murder in the newspaper? I’ve had a dandy time,” I said
with a smile.

“
You’re too funny,
Harrison.” Before long she began to yawn. “I’m getting sleepy,” she
said. “Those pills are pretty strong. I can’t imagine taking
two.”

“
Can you stay awake long
enough to deadbolt your door after I’m gone?”

“
I will. I promise,” she
said.

I had a sudden impulse. “Becka, would you
like me to stay here tonight? I could sleep on the couch.”

“
Don’t be silly, I’m fine.
Now go before I get too groggy to lock the door.”

I started for the door, and she leaned
forward to give me a gentle peck on the cheek. “Thanks for stopping
by,” she said.

I went back to my truck and headed home. I
was halfway there when I realized my wallet wasn’t where it should
have been. It must have fallen out of my pocket. I pulled the truck
over at a used car lot and used their parking lot lights to search
the floor of the cab. No luck. I’d either left it at Becka’s place
or Jubal’s shop, and since I didn’t know where Jubal lived, I
headed back to Becka’s. I only hoped she hadn’t fallen completely
under the drug’s spell.

Someone had taken my spot in front of her
building, so I parked in the visitors’ area and walked back toward
Becka’s. I was nearly at her unit when I saw something moving in
the bushes in front of her place.

Was it an errant reflection of discarded
trash, or was there something more ominous about its presence? I
knew I was probably being paranoid, but after what Becka had been
through, I didn’t want to take any chances. For a moment I
considered circling around the bushes and coming at the stranger
from behind, but I quickly vetoed that notion. I stopped before I
could be spotted and thought about what I should do. Then I
realized I should find a telephone and call Morton. Let him take
care of it. After all, it was his job, not mine.