Murder on Wheels (5 page)

“Mr. Vice President, right?” I was sure that had been his title. “Are you setting up a new hidey-hole?”

His lips pressed together for a slight second. If I hadn't been looking right at him, I would have missed it. “Now, you know I can't release information about possible geocache sites.” He stepped closer and nodded to Emma. “Beautiful retriever. Is she papered? I have a friend who has a stud a few towns over.”

“Emma's not old enough to breed.” I rubbed one of her ears, and she scooted closer to my leg, all the while keeping an eye on Taylor. “I'm not sure if I want her to have babies at all.”

“You're missing out. Raising dogs is a gold mine. My buddy lives off the money he makes. Of course, he's got several bitches.” Taylor reached toward Emma. “She'd be a fine breeder.”

Emma growled deep in her throat, and Taylor jerked his hand back.

“Sorry, I've never seen her react this way to anyone.” I put my hand on Emma's head, trying to comfort her while I kept a tight hold on her leash. She didn't like Taylor, not one bit.

He stepped back two big steps and held up his hands in surrender. “I get it. She's protective and that's a good thing. You never know what can happen to a woman all alone on a stretch of beach like this.”

A chill went down my spine as I thought about Kacey and her solitary walk. I pointed to the crime scene tape. “You're right about that. One of our newest town residents was killed right there.”

He studied the area where I'd pointed. “No. Seriously? That's awful.” He glanced at his watch and whistled. “I didn't realize it was this late. I'm supposed to be picking my date up in thirty minutes and I'm an hour away from her house. I hope she doesn't mind waiting.”

I watched Taylor sprint toward the beach parking lot and then looked at the crime scene one more time. Kacey hadn't deserved this. Turning and picking up my stride to finish my run, a thought stopped me in my tracks. I glanced at the lot, but the sound of an engine confirmed Taylor's exit. He'd known Kacey. She was the reason he was never elected president of that club. And now she was gone. I wondered if the coincidence had occurred to Greg. At least there was one person besides Sadie who wasn't upset that Kacey was out of the picture.

I ran the rest of the way, chewing on that thought. Taylor at least had a reason for wanting Kacey gone. But was that strong enough to want her dead? I could just hear Greg now if I tried to tell him.

“Stay out of the investigation, Jill.” I lowered my voice and Emma turned her head, questioning my baritone. It was
not
the best impression in the world.

When I got home, I went to my office and got a new notebook. I opened it to the first page and wrote two words: “
Kacey Austin
.” My murder investigation book had begun, and I sat at my desk, filling in the pieces I knew and listing off the questions I had. The questions page was bigger.

Greg isn't going to like this.
I closed the notebook and put it in the top shelf of the desk. Turning to close the door, I stopped and looked at my reflection in a mirror I'd hung on the office wall. “He doesn't have to know.”

I heard my good side chuckling as I left the office.

W
hen Greg was on a case, I typically didn't see him for days at a time. When I heard a knock on my door, I closed the travel log I'd been reading and checked the time on the banister clock. Almost nine. Peeking out the window, I saw Greg's truck in the drive so I opened the door. He leaned against the door frame, all Cary Grant and Matt Dillon rolled into one. I couldn't help myself. I sighed.

He chuckled and opened the screen, letting himself in, and then pulled me into a hug. “Glad to know I still have some effect over you.” I felt his breath in my hair and he squeezed just a little tighter. “This was just what I needed after today.”

I looked up into his eyes and saw the worry he carried. “You want to talk? I'll try not to pester you with questions.”

He put his arm around my waist and walked me into the kitchen, kicking shut the front door behind us. “Let's sit for a minute. Do you have something cold to drink? Non-alcoholic?”

I snagged two sodas from the fridge and set them on the table. I plated three of the brownies I'd brought home from my visit to Sadie's that morning and put the plate in front of Greg, who inhaled, then mimicked my sigh. “Sure, the food gets that response.” I sat and opened my soda, taking a sip before I spoke again. “You don't really suspect Sadie of anything, do you?”

“Sadie? No. But maybe someone was trying to help. Someone who just happened to be home this last weekend?” Greg didn't meet my eyes as he spoke.

I stared at him, understanding his implication. I'd even thought the same thing for a few seconds. “That's impossible. Nick's a good kid.”

“Unless it protected his mother. Then the kid would do anything.” Greg set the brownie down and ran a hand through his sandy blond hair. Dark circles were starting under his eyes, and I knew he still had to go back to the station for a while.

I shook my head. “No way. Nick wouldn't hurt a fly. Not even to help his mother.” I took a sip of my soda. “I guess if she was being mugged or something in front of him, then maybe. But breaking in to the food truck? And don't even suggest he could have killed Kacey.”

“I'm not suggesting anything. I just find it interesting that the weekend the truck gets broken into, Nick's home from college. Not to mention that Sadie's recipes were returned to her in the dead of the night. You remember how he helped that girl break into The Castle, maybe he was thinking this could help his mom?” Greg rolled his head in a large circle, then opened his eyes and smiled at me. “Even if I agree with you, I've got to question him. It's my job.”

Realization hit me as I broke off a piece of brownie and popped it into my mouth. As I chewed, the heavenly chocolate flavor didn't brighten my mood. I pointed my index finger at him. “You want me to tell Sadie.”

“Tomorrow morning after I'm on my way to Stanford. I don't want her going all tiger mom on me and keep me from talking to Nick.” Greg rubbed his face. “I know she'll want to know he's all right after I talk to him. I'd call her, but she doesn't trust me much right now.”

“If I play messenger, she might not trust me ever again.” I knew Greg had to talk to Nick, and, additionally, I knew I should be the one to tell Sadie. She deserved to know as soon as possible rather than getting a call from her kid or worse, the school, reporting Nick's arrest.

My cell rang, the display showing Bill Sullivan, owner/operator of South Cove Bed-and-Breakfast, city council member, and chairman of the Business-to-Business group. I frowned. It wasn't like him to call this late just to chat. I put on a smile I didn't feel from the interruption and clicked on the phone. “What's going on, Bill? Is Mary all right?” Mary was his wife and my aunt's BFF. The pair were the Thelma and Louise of the South Cove set.

“Mary's great, thanks for asking.” Bill's voice wavered on the cell. “The council has ordered an emergency meeting. The mayor has a project he's rolling out for South Cove.”

“When?” Next week would be hard to pull together. Maybe I'd be lucky, and they wouldn't want to meet for two weeks.

“Great, I'm glad you're on board. The meeting will be tomorrow at ten. Can we still hold it at your shop? I don't expect you to close for the period, so we'll just have to watch for the random customers.” Apparently he'd taken my single-word question as agreement, if not full-fledged approval. All I'd wanted was to find out a day and time to see if it was possible to pull together.

When I hung up, I realized Bill had set in motion the emergency protocol the council had put in place if the town was attacked by a wave of invading aliens, or even just the occasionally drunk driver. The phone chain had been started, and I'd have at least ten business owners in my shop tomorrow expecting coffee and a dessert. I stared at Greg. “I'm hosting a Business-to-Business meeting tomorrow, per special directive. Do you know anything about this?”

“No, I swear. Look, I'm running on fumes.” He stood and drained the soda out of his can and put it into the recycling bin. “You think about what I asked you. I'm heading back to the station and sleeping for a couple of hours. Then I'll drive up to Stanford so I'm there first thing in the morning.”

“I'll tell her.” I stood from the table and put my hand in his as we walked toward the front door. “I can't let her find out from someone else.”

Greg kissed me at the door, and as he left, I watched him walk toward his truck. Typically, the role of lead detective for South Cove fit Greg like a glove. Tonight it looked like he was dragging a ball and chain.

I called Sasha and asked her to work my shift tomorrow so I could focus on the meeting. Whatever the mayor and council had planned, I had a feeling it wouldn't be an easy sell. I e-mailed a quick order of three dozen brownies to Sadie, knowing she was already probably asleep. And if she wasn't, I really didn't want to call her and risk blurting out Greg's mission to go question her son.

I closed up the house and trudged up to my bedroom, where I lay in the dark, not sleeping and thinking about how things had gotten all jumbled around. Sadie and Nick were solid people. No way would they do anything that even approached the line to illegal. And yet, the recipes were back in her possession.

 

The morning commuter rush over, Sasha helped me move tables to get ready. I'd called Aunt Jackie that morning to let her know about the impromptu meeting, but as usual, the news had already reached her.

“I'll be down at nine thirty. Did you call in Sasha or Toby?” I could hear my aunt lowering the volume on her television; she loved her morning talk shows.

“Sasha's already here.” I wanted to say,
Duh, I already thought of that
, but I didn't think my aunt would appreciate my sass this morning.

“Be sure to make a fresh pot of coffee and fill the carafes before people start arriving.” She hung up the phone before I could respond.

I put the receiver down. “I wish I would have thought of that.”

Sasha wiped down the last carafe filled with fresh coffee. “Thought of what?”

“Jackie wants to make sure we have coffee available.” I waved my hand at the tables set up for the meeting with coffee, cups, and a couple of plates of Sadie's brownies. She'd called that morning to tell me she would bring extras to the meeting when she came.

“She likes to make sure the t's are crossed and the i's are dotted. That's for sure. She reminds me of my grandmother. That woman runs a tight ship.” I thought that was one comparison Sasha should keep to herself. Even though my aunt had ignored her last birthday, the woman was pushing her seventies—and didn't like to be reminded of it. Sasha glanced around the shop. She leaned under the counter and pulled out a novel. “You think I'll have some time to finish reading this? My after-school group meets this afternoon, and I'd like to be done before they come in.”

Sasha had taken over our teen and young adult book clubs as part of her duties. She'd also redesigned our website and put in an online ordering system for both coffee drinks and books. Sales were increasing daily as customers found out about the service. I was going to have to increase her salary soon just to make sure we kept her around.

“I'm sure you'll have plenty of time during the meeting. If you don't fall asleep from boredom.” I considered my upcoming conversation with Sadie. “Why don't you just stay on the clock through Toby's shift, that way you can be ready.”

“You sure? I hate to have you pay me for just reading.” Sasha ducked her head. “I could run home after Toby gets here and then drive back.”

Her reaction surprised me a bit. There were lots of times when the job was really all about reading, when the walk-ins dwindled down to nothing. “No need to waste gas or your time. Besides, if he gets busy, you'll be here to help.”

She shrugged. Before I could ask her if there was a problem, Bill and Mary arrived, followed by Sadie and Josh. The Business-to-Business regulars were starting to show up. I made a mental note to talk to Sasha later and went to greet the new arrivals.

Ten minutes later, the table was filled with committee members and Bill was calling the meeting to order. “Thanks, everyone, for coming on such short notice.” Bill shot a look at Mayor Baylor, who was sitting next to him and ignoring his pointed look. “The council felt that we needed to act on the mayor's special committee request as soon as possible, so I guess I'll turn the floor over to Marvin and he can fill you in on the new project.”

Bill sat down and Mayor Baylor stood. This time it was Bill's turn to ignore the glare from our mayor, probably due to the use of his first name rather than his title. “Thank you,
Bill
, for arranging this get-together.” Mayor Baylor smiled down on the rest of us.

Uh-oh, we're in trouble now
. I felt tingles all over the top of my head. The last time Mayor Baylor had shown up at a meeting with a special request, he'd put his wife, Tina, in charge of our holiday planning. Which was a disaster before she dropped the ball and Mary picked it up at the last minute.

“You all know California is in the middle of a drought. Even with the large body of water just a few miles from this very spot, freshwater is in short supply. So South Cove is going to do its part in helping our lovely state make it through this natural disaster.” Mayor Baylor glanced around the table. “I know our local businesses are more than willing to assist in this worthwhile cause.”

Josh Thomas, owner of Antiques by Thomas, and Aunt Jackie's boyfriend, even though I don't think she'd ever used the term, interrupted the mayor's monologue. “My business doesn't use a lot of water”—Josh shot a look at me—“not like a coffee shop. So why am I here?”

I sat forward, ready to tell him that he didn't need to be here, now or ever, but my aunt put her hand on my arm. I pressed my lips together to hold back the comment and leaned back in my chair.

Mayor Baylor answered the question. “The council has given approval for a special committee dedicated to holding businesses and residents accountable for their excess water usage. We were hoping, Mr. Thomas, that individuals like you would step up and be a part of the solution rather than just griping about the problem. Can I put your name down as a volunteer?”

Josh's face burned red, but he nodded.

My aunt raised her hand. “I'll join the committee, as well.” She patted my arm in some sort of
there, there
gesture. I was less than reassured since my aunt had wanted us to stop serving water to our customers.

A third member joined the committee. Harrold Snider, the owner of The Train Station, put up his hand. “I guess I should be carrying my weight as the newest member of this group. I'll be part of the committee, too.”

Thank God for rationality, I thought as Mayor Baylor beamed at the model train store owner.

“So glad to see you participating.” He glanced around the table, and when no one else said anything, he nodded. “I'll assign Amy as the city's representative to the committee, and she'll drop off the reading material the state sent us on water conservation. Can I expect a starting report in two weeks?”

Harrold, Josh, and Aunt Jackie all nodded. “Looks like we've got some work ahead of us,” Harrold said. “Why don't you all come over to The Train Station after the meeting and we'll set up some times to get together? Maybe Amy can join us?”

“Perfect,” Aunt Jackie said. Her voice was a little too bright, causing me to look over at her. She blushed and poured herself more coffee.

Harrold looked at Josh, who shrugged. “I guess that will be okay.” Josh never went against what Jackie said. At least not in public.

“As long as she's not away from the phones too long, you may ask Miss Newman to attend your meeting today.” The mayor looked at his phone. “I'll be in the office until two.”

He then turned the floor back over to Bill, who looked at me. “I believe that completes our business for the meeting? Jill, we can count this as our February meeting, correct?”

I thought of all the agenda items in my file and realized that most of them were from one person, Josh. I tried to keep my grin from taking over my entire face when I answered. “Of course, I'll move the other items off until March.”

“But—” Josh protested.

Bill slammed down the gavel. “Then the Business-to-Business meeting is adjourned. Make sure you send your agenda items to Jill a week prior to the March meeting.”

Chairs pushed back from the table and people filled their to-go cups with the last of the free coffee. Brownies disappeared into napkins, and in less than five minutes, the shop was empty except for six people. Sasha, who sat reading behind the counter. Me. Sadie. And the new committee.