Summer Reading is Killing Me (Phee Jefferson Book 2) (17 page)

CHAPTER THIRTY Five

My alarm went off at six a.m. I groaned and reached
over blindly to turn it off. Missing the lever on the top, it skittered off the
nightstand and on to the floor. It’s jangling bells caused it to move across
the floor like a clock on crack. I rolled over and reached down to push the off
switch. Antiques were great most of the time, but this morning was not one of
them. I’d give up one of my precious cups of coffee for a snooze button right
now. I swung my feet over the side of the bed and slipped on my hot pink bunny
slippers with the white fuzzy tails. I scuffed my way to the front door to grab
the newspaper. As I opened the door a shrill wailing emanated from my house.
Crud! I’d forgotten to turn off the alarm. I punched in the numbers and the
ungodly noise finally stopped. I scurried out to grab the paper before my
neighbors realized it was me waking them up at the crack of dawn.

The car was still there, and a man sat in the
front seat reading a newspaper. Who the heck was sitting in my neighborhood
watching us? Enough was enough. I squared my shoulders and marched across the
street. I rapped my knuckles on the window startling him. He put the paper down
and rolled down the window.

“Excuse me, but who are you and why are you
sitting across the street from my house? If you want to talk to me or take
pictures of me or whatever you bottom-feeding reporters do, just do it and get
out of here!” A flush of anger burned across my cheeks. The paparazzi were
worse than a pack of hyenas after an injured antelope. They had some nerve
coming to my home.

“Sorry, Miss Jefferson. I didn’t mean to upset
you. Mr.
Ziegfried
assigned me to watch your house
and make sure nothing happened. Orders are orders.”

Flustered, I said, “Anthony asked you to watch
over me? Can you get him on the phone for me, please? I want to see why in the
world he wants someone guarding my house.”

The man pulled a cell phone from the inside pocket
of his coat and punched in a number. A moment later, I could hear a voice
answer. He handed the phone to me. “Anthony, it’s
Phee
.
What in the world is this guy doing sitting outside of my house?”

“Sorry,
Phee
. I knew
you’d say no if I asked you. Tessa sneaking around your house the other night
made me uneasy. The Senator and I talked. We both felt it best if we had
someone keep an eye on your place at night. If nothing else, it keeps the
paparazzi from venturing into your neighborhood. The good thing is that most of
them have moved onto greener pastures and newer stories. Miller’s Cove should
be free of the press by the weekend,” Anthony said.

“I really don’t think I need a bodyguard, but it
was nice of you to worry about me,” I said. “Am I allowed to offer him a cup of
coffee? I probably gave him a heart attack when I knocked on the car window. I
need to give him some kind of peace offering.”

“It’s fine. He can head back to the cabin and grab
some sleep if you’re heading to work. I figure you’ll be safe in a building
full of ankle biters and their parents.”

“Hey, those ankle biters are some of my biggest
fans!” I protested.

“As president of your fan club, I’m more than
happy to welcome them aboard,” Anthony joked. “Seriously though, be careful.
Saul will be back tonight to watch the house.”

“I don’t need a babysitter,” I argued.

“Please let me do this for at least another day or
two, okay?”

I hesitated and then gave in. “Alright. I feel
like I should wear an ear bud and have men in dark suits walk next to me.”

“Someday soon, I hope the Senator will be that
guy. The White House is in his sights, and I hope to be there with him when he
reaches his goal. This business with
Elody
has set
him back emotionally, and he’s lost some of his drive. I think once they catch
the killer, he’ll climb back to the top.”

“I’m a believer. I thoroughly enjoyed my evening
with him. I’d never had the chance to sit down and discuss things with a
politician. Senator Campbell seems to be more than just smoke and mirrors. I
hope he can recover from this latest personal tragedy,” I said.

“He will. I’ll check on you later,
Phee
. Sorry about the scare,” Anthony said and disconnected.
I handed the phone back to Saul.

“Can I bring you a cup of coffee to make up for
you being stuck with
Phee
duty?”

“Ma’am, it would make my morning.”

“I’ll be back in a jiffy. Cream and sugar?”

“Black is fine. A cup of coffee will hit the spot.
I still need to drive home, and it’s been a long night.” He stifled a yawn.

I turned and hurried back into the house. I saw
Mrs. Lassiter had peeked through her curtains to watch me. I waved to her, and
she pulled her head back quickly. I’m sure she thought it unseemly to be out in
the street wearing shorty pajamas with kittens and bunny slippers. I started a
pot of coffee and dug around in my cupboards for a to-go cup. When the pot gave
a final
berrup
 and finished
perking, I poured a cup and took it out to Saul. He thanked me and said he
would see me later this evening. I headed back inside to get ready for work.

Once I arrived at the library, the hours flew. At
story hour, moms who stayed at the lake for the summer brought their toddlers
for a welcome reprieve. They sat in the corner gossiping quietly amongst
themselves while I taught their toddlers how to go on a bear hunt. On
Thursdays, I did two story hours. The afternoon group was smaller, but more
active than the morning crowd, so I spent more time wrangling active three-year
olds back to the children’s area. At four thirty, I dropped into my office
chair exhausted.

“This is why I only want two children,” Wade
declared. “Watching you run after so many kids made me tired. Two kids, a dog
and a big tree in the backyard to build a treehouse. The ultimate nirvana for a
guy like me.”

“Sounds perfect. Does this nirvana include my
sister?” I asked.

“I hope so. I’ve been testing the waters. So far
she hasn’t run screaming, but she also shies away from talking about any type
of commitment. I’m leaving it alone for now. When the time is right, she’ll let
me know.” Wade shrugged his shoulders. “In the meantime, I’ll keep drafting my
plans for the ultimate tree fort.”

“You’re a wise man, Wade. Give Juliet time. She’s
getting there, but you’re the first guy who hasn’t bored her or scared her away
after three months. I have a feeling she’ll realize what a catch you are and
reel you in like a two hundred pound catfish,” I said.

“I’m a slim and trim one eighty. I’ve been
watching my girlish figure.” Wade ran his hands down his sides like he had
curves. “Don’t hate me. Just appreciate me.”

I rolled my eyes and laughed. “I’m going to turn
off the computers and start shutting this place down. I’m worn out, and I have a
standing date with your girlfriend tonight.”

“I’ll close up if you want to get going. You look
like you need a break after today.”

“I’ll take you up on that offer. See you
tomorrow,” I said as I grabbed my purse from my desk drawer.

Fifteen minutes later, I was home with my feet
propped up and a glass of iced tea in my hand. Juliet called and asked me to
pick Shawna and her up at her apartment. Willow had begged off of joining us
due to a headache. I told her I’d pick them up at six, and we’d head to Mimi’s
for dinner. In the meantime, I decided to write down a list of everything we’d
learned about
Elody’s
death and see if I could
connect all the dots to prove once and for all who had killed her.

Chapter Thirty Six

I pulled up in front of the antique store at a few
minutes before six. Juliet rented the small apartment above the store. She
stuck her head out the window and gave me a quick wave. A moment later, she and
Shawna climbed into Velma, and we were off to Mimi’s for dinner.

Since we arrived early, the dining room wasn’t
crowded. Tessa sat at a small table in the corner by herself. I asked the
hostess to seat us nearby. She must have arrived right before us because she
was still looking at the menu. I planned to keep my eyes on her.

“How are things going, Shawna?” I asked. I noticed
Shawna made an effort to appear fashionable for our night out. She looked nice
with her hair pulled up in a high ponytail and a bit of makeup on her cheeks
and eyes.

“I’m okay. Packing up my stuff to head back to the
university tomorrow. With
Elody’s
case going nowhere,
there’s no reason for me to stay. I’ve got more research to do and need access
to the university library,” Shawna said. “Thanks for inviting me along. I
needed a break from the crickets and critters down at the lake. Communing with
nature outside of a lab isn’t really my thing.”

“In honor of our newly-formed friendship, I made
you something,” Juliet announced. She reached into her bag and pulled out a hot
pink mask.

I groaned and protested, “Don’t do it, Shawna.
Step away from my sister and her crazy ideas!”

Shawna looked puzzled, but she took the mask from
Juliet. “What in the world is this?”

“My sister being a weirdo,” I said.

“I’m not a weirdo!” Juliet protested. “I’m
inducting Shawna into our crime-fighting team. Every team member needs an
official mask.” She proceeded to tell Shawna about my attempt to fight book
crime last year and my bedazzled ski mask. By the time she was done telling the
tale, we were all laughing hysterically. My sister did have a gift for comedy.

“I proudly accept my mask and will wear it
whenever I fight crime,” Shawna declared. She looked at it. “What’s with the
‘S’?”

“It stands for Super Scientist,” Juliet said.
“Mine has a ‘Y’ for yogi and
Phee’s
has an ‘L’ for
librarian.”

“Glad I have an ‘S’ and not an ‘L’,” Shawna said.
She held up her fingers in the shape of an ‘L’ to her forehead. “We all know
what this means.”

“Ha
ha
. I didn’t at the
time. I guess I’m not hip to middle school lingo,” I said.

We ordered our dinner and spent the evening
chatting about everything but
Elody’s
murder. Shawna
grew more animated throughout the evening, and I was glad we’d invited her to
join us. We finished dinner, and I excused myself to go to the ladies room
before we headed back to my house to watch a movie. As I made my way back to
the table, I passed Tessa. I overheard her whispering angrily to someone on her
cell phone. I squatted down to fix the shoelaces of my
Keds
and leaned in to listen.

“Jay, you’re being paranoid, but I suppose you’re
right. We’ll need to get ahold of that last painting if we’re going to pull
this off,” Tessa whispered. “I’ll pick you up in a half hour. Be ready.” She
snapped the phone shut and noticed I was nearby. Her venomous glare made me
finish fumbling with my shoe and scurry back to our table.

“I just overheard Tessa talking to Jay on her
phone. They’re planning another theft. We need to follow her,” I said in a low
voice. “Be casual and act like we’re heading off to my house to watch movies.”

We stood up and made our way towards the exit. “I
can’t wait to watch an old black and white movie,” Juliet said in a loud voice.
“I love Cary Grant. I want to butter him like a biscuit and eat him with a side
of honey.”

“Cool it with the bad acting,
Juls
.
I said casual, not crazy,” I hissed. Shawna snorted and clapped her hand over
her mouth to keep from laughing.

We climbed into Velma and waited for Tessa to
leave. A few minutes later, she exited the restaurant and climbed in to a dark
Mercedes. Gunning the engine, she squealed out of the parking lot and shot down
the street. I started Velma and followed behind her. Velma wasn’t a sports van,
so we chugged slowly along keeping several blocks behind Tessa. I wasn’t
worried. I knew where she was going.

“I wonder what painting they plan to steal?”
Juliet mused. “I thought every single one of
Elody’s
paintings had already been snatched.”

“Not all of them. I know exactly where she’s
going,” I said with a grim smile. “The Senator has one painting of
Elody’s
left hanging in his den. I bet that’s what they
plan to steal.”

“They’d have to be crazy to try to break into the
Senator’s cabin,” Shawna said.

“I’m sure they’ve got some kind of scheme cooked up.
Jay and Tessa might clean up well, but their criminal ways always come out,” I
said.

I pulled over to the side of the road and put
Velma in park. Turning towards Shawna and Juliet, I said, “It’s decision time.
Do we go to Jay’s cabin or do we head to the Senator’s?”

“I vote the Senator’s place,” Juliet said. “It’s
the only place left with a painting. They’ve stolen the ones from Shawna’s
cabin and the ones from the gallery. We’ve got one chance to catch them in the
act. I say onward, Jeeves!”

“Shouldn’t we call the police and let them handle
this?” Shawna piped up from the back seat. “What are three chicks in a van
going to do to stop them? Jay’s kind of scary, too.”

“What are we going to tell the police? We think
they’re going to break into the Senator’s and steal a painting of an unknown
artist? Who’s going to believe us? What if we’re wrong?” I asked. “You can stay
in the van and keep watch if you’d like, but I’m tired of sitting on the
sidelines and living through my books. I say on to the Senator’s.”

“You’re right. Let’s do it.
Elody
was my only friend and I owe her. To the Senator’s!” Shawna cheered and pumped
her fist in the air.

I maneuvered Velma back onto the road and towards
the lake. Fifteen minutes later, I slowed to a crawl and killed Velma’s
headlights as I eased to a stop about a hundred yards from the Senator’s cabin.
Several lights were on and I could see someone on the back porch. We sat in
silence and watched.

We didn’t have to wait long before Jay’s dark SUV
zipped past us and pulled in front of the cabin. Jay got out and knocked on the
front door. Senator Campbell answered and invited Jay inside. The door closed
behind them.

“It doesn’t seem like Jay’s planning to steal
anything,” Juliet whispered. “Maybe he plans on conking the Senator on the head
and making off with the painting. Of course, that wouldn’t be too smart.”

“Wait,” I hissed back. I could see the Senator and
Jay walk out onto the back deck. The stillness of the night and the lake
carried their voices up the hill to where we sat. Although I couldn’t make out
all the words, Jay seemed to be asking for the Senator’s help in setting up
some kind of fund in
Elody’s
name. I shook my head. I
couldn’t be hearing him right.

“Who’s that?” Shawna pointed towards the cabin. A
dark figure had exited the back seat of Jay’s car and slunk towards the cabin.
The shadow eased the cabin door open and slipped inside. In the brief flash of
light before the door closed quietly behind her, I saw Tessa’s face.

“We’ve got to get down there and warn the
Senator!” Juliet exclaimed.

“You’re right. Hand me my mask,” I demanded.
Juliet reached into her bag and pulled out my hot pink mask. I slipped it on
over my strawberry red curls and stuck my cell phone into my pocket.

“I’m coming with you,” Juliet said. She slipped
her mask on, too. “Shawna, if we’re not back in fifteen minutes, call the
police. Tell them someone’s trying to rob the Senator, and you thought you
heard shots. That’ll make sure they hurry and get down here.”

“Alright,” Shawna said, nerves making her voice
shake. “Be careful.” 

Juliet and I snuck down the hill towards the
cabin. We slipped behind trees and once we got near the house, we dropped to
our knees and crawled the remaining few feet until we were directly underneath
the deck.

“Senator, I understand your reservations about
working with me considering my past, but I’ve turned my life around. I’m an
honest person trying to hone my artistic craft through painting and acting.
Setting up a grant in
Elody’s
name to fund other young
artists would honor her memory. I’ve got a friend who has set up and managed
other memorial grants. She’s willing to help us,” Jay said, his voice taking on
a wheedling tone. He might be suave around women, but around an alpha male like
the Senator, he reverted to the mangy cur he was.

“I’m not interested in forming any kind of
alliance or partnership with you at all, Jay. Not after what you put my
daughter through,” Senator Campbell replied.

I touched Juliet on her shoulder. Using hand
motions, I indicated I was going to peek in the windows to see where Tessa was.
Juliet nodded her understanding. I eased away from the deck and inched myself
along the side of the cabin, pressing my body tightly against the walls to
avoid being spotted. Once I made it to the living room window, I stood on my
tiptoes to peer through the window. I watched Tessa reach up and slowly take
the painting from the wall and head for the front door. I had to stop her. I
moved as swift and silent as a jungle panther towards the corner of the cabin.
Once there, I peeked around the corner. Tessa eased the door of the cabin open
and slipped outside with the painting clutched under her arm. She moved towards
the SUV and popped open the back door.

“Stop right there, Tessa,” I said in the most
authoritative voice I could muster. “Put your hands up and back away from the
car.”

Tessa set the painting in the back of the car and
stepped away from the car. She turned and pointed a gun straight at me. “Take
off the stupid mask.”

I pulled the mask from my head, and my curls
tumbled down around my shoulder. I dropped it to the ground. “Tessa, you don’t
have to do this.” 

“What do we have here? A nosy little librarian who
doesn’t know when to leave things alone. I’ve had about all I can stand of this
backwater town and interfering busybodies,” Tessa spat.

“The gig is up, and the police are on their way.
You might as well give yourself up. You’ll get a slap on the wrist for the art
thefts. If you testify against Jay, I’m sure they’ll cut a deal. The police are
more interested in a murder than the theft of a few cheap paintings,” I said in
a calm voice.

“You’ve got this all figured out, don’t you, Nosy
Parker?” Tessa gave a nasty laugh. “Jay’s just a
putz
with more gambling debts and bad habits than he can afford. The one talent he
has is seducing stupid women. That man could charm the crown off Queen
Elizabeth herself.”

“He didn’t kill
Elody
?”

“Of course not, but he makes a great fall guy,
doesn’t he? A few articles hinting at abuse. A stray paintbrush left at the
scene. Poor, stupid Jay. I’ll send him cigarette money while he waits on death
row.”

“Why did you do all this?” I asked, trying to keep
her talking.

 “I got stuck covering the club scene with
all those trust fund
Barbies
. I didn’t crawl my way
out of the peanut fields of Arkansas to bow to the rich and shallow. I happened
to see
Elody
painting one day and realized she
actually had talent. Not that she cared or used it. Poor
Elody
.
Can’t finish her paintings because her mommy died of cancer,” Tessa mocked. “I
have a friend who collects art. I showed him a picture I’d snapped of
Elody’s
work and he went crazy. He offered me a finder’s
fee of ten thousand dollars if I introduced him to the artist.”

“You set her up, didn’t you?” I said, shocked at the
manipulative skills of this woman. I wanted to hear the rest, but I kept my
eyes trained on the gun pointed at me. I hoped she didn’t have an itchy trigger
finger.

“It was like shooting fish in a barrel,” Tessa
said. “I needed money and those stupid club kids made it so darn easy. I’d run
into my childhood buddy, Jay, a few years ago and we’d kept in touch. Fate was
looking out for me. He worked in a shop painting murals on motorcycles for
wannabe yuppie bikers. I cleaned him up and bought him a new wardrobe. He
“bumped” into
Elody
when she was drunk at one of her
nightclub jaunts. Jay kicked in his famous charm. A month later,
Elody
was caught – hook, line and sinker. Jay convinced her
he needed help to get his career started. She didn’t give a rat’s ass about her
art since her mom died. She’d paint the pieces. Jay would add a few odd daubs
of paint, then put his name on them. All I had to do was make sure he was
“discovered” and the money started rolling in.
Elody
didn’t have any money since Daddy had cut her purse strings, so she didn’t
complain. I got my cut and everything was great until Jay got stupid and hit
Elody
. The gig was up. No paintings, no sales, no money.
Elody
gets a bug up her butt and pulls a disappearing act.”

“But I still don’t understand why you killed her,”
I said, stalling for time. Surely Shawna had called the police. I just needed
to keep Tessa talking until they got here.

“
Elody
threatened to
expose Jay as a fraud. Do you realize his paintings sell for well over ten
thousand dollars apiece? That’s a drop in the bucket for someone with
Elody’s
trust fund, but it was a huge bonus for someone
living on a measly reporter’s salary. I still have a couple of paintings held
back as an insurance policy. They’d be worthless if word got out that Jay was a
fake. She made the mistake of telling Jay her plan to come clean. She wanted to
paint and “honor her inner woman” or some such crap. If you ask me, she missed
daddy’s money. Selling her paintings would be the only way she could eat if Senator
Campbell didn’t loosen the purse strings.
Elody
didn’t even realize her relationship with Jay was a scam from start to finish.
I’ve worked too hard to have it all come tumbling down because of some spoiled
rich girl. I waited until she was alone in the park and shot her. She never
even realized what was coming. She thought I was trying to get her picture for
some tabloid. ‘Tessa, why can’t you leave me alone. Find some other celebrity
to stalk.’ Waa
waa
,” Tessa imitated
Elody’s
words. “I wish I had her tough life as a poor
little rich girl. The only thing my daddy ever taught me was how to drive fast
and think even faster. My mama died when I was only three years old. I never
had even a half a chance at a good life.
Elody
had
everything handed to her, and she spit on it like a spoiled toddler. She didn’t
deserve the talent she had. I just wanted one little break in life.”