Ginny Gold - Early Bird Café 05 - Smashed Potatoes and Gravy (10 page)

Kori thought she might have lost Dani in the time it had taken her to get in her car but she soon saw her double back up Main Street. Kori pulled onto the street behind her and followed her away from the center of town.

Ibis sat in the back seat, seeming to know something exciting was happening, or thinking they were heading to Nora’s house where she’d get to play with Milo and Otis.

Kori continued following Dani, having no idea where she might be going. She wasn’t even sure Dani knew where she was going. It seemed like she was driving in circles or trying not to be followed. Kori kept her distance, and kept Dani in her sights.

Finally, Dani pulled into a driveway that Kori recognized. They were at Lou McKay’s house on Cardinal Drive. But the black SUV with Michigan plates that she’d seen earlier in the week was now gone.

Kori passed Lou’s driveway and pulled into another one further down the street. She didn’t want Dani to think she’d been followed and this made it look like Kori lived in the area. She wasn’t so far away that she couldn’t see Dani get out of the car and look around.
Kori ducked and hoped she hadn’t been spotted.

Too many questions were going through Kori’s mind to think clearly. Had she and Zach been right about Michael? Was Dani here to clear her dad’s name?
Could she be planting evidence while Victor was gone from the house?

Once Kori could think straight again,
she backed out of the driveway and parked on the street. Then she pulled out her phone and called Zach on his cell phone, hoping he was finished with Michael and was available to answer. She knew he wouldn’t want her following anyone, especially someone who was related to the most likely murderer.

“Kori, I was just about to call you,” Zach said after just one ring.

His greeting threw her off her train of thought and she paused before responding. “Oh? About what?”

“I wanted to let you know that Michael confessed.” Kori could hear happiness in Zach’s voice.
It must make his job easier when there was a confession rather than having to prove in court that the suspect was guilty.

“That’s great.”

Kori sat in silence for a moment, watching Dani enter Lou’s house down the street.

“What’s up with you? Why’d you call?” Zach finally asked.

“Oh. Right. Um. Well. I’m down the street from Lou’s house and I’m watching Michael Gordon’s daughter walk into it.”

“You’re where?” Zach asked, panic replacing the earlier happiness.

“Lou McKay’s house is being broken into by Michael Gordon’s daughter. Right now. As we speak.”

“Don’t go anywhere, I’ll be right there.”

Zach hung up and Kori put her phone down without taking her eyes off of Lou’s house. Dani hadn’t emerged and it looked like there was no activity. Kori considered her options and knew that Zach’s advice was for the best. She should stay put.

But what if she just walked by with Ibis on the leash? Dani would recognize her for sure. But she wouldn’t know Kori didn’t live around here. Unless Jenna had told her. Dani had spent plenty of time in the café this week for that to have come up.

She decided to take her chances. Ibis needed a walk anyway. She could lie and tell Dani that her mom lived in the neighborhood. That sounded believable to Kori.

“Come on, Ibis,” Kori coaxed, then opened the back door for Ibis to jump out. Kori grabbed her collar before she had a chance to run off and clipped the leash to it.
She slipped a plastic bag into her pocket to clean up after Ibis and then headed down the street.

Every driveway seemed to have at least one car parked in it, many had more. Kori thought about how many eyes might have seen Dani walk into Lou’s house. Being a holiday week meant more people were home, but also that more people were visiting. Dani could easily be assumed to be family of Lou’s here to deal with his belongings after his death. His
murder
Kori reminded herself.

As she approached Lou’s house, Kori didn’t notice any movement inside.
She knew Zach would be there within minutes and she shouldn’t go inside. But she almost couldn’t help herself. She started walking toward the door and Ibis seemed to pick up Dani’s scent. Her fur ruffled as soon as her nose was to the sidewalk and a low growl escaped her throat.

“Shh,” Kori said to her dog. But Ibis didn’t listen. She let out a bark and Kori
ran as fast as her legs would carry her back to her car, dragging Ibis behind her who wanted to stay and check out what was happening in the house.

Kori’s breathing was coming fast and she wasn’t sure if she’d been spotted. Dani hadn’t come out of the house, but Kori worried about her safety now. She wondered what was taking Zach so long.

Finally, two cop cars drove up and blocked Dani’s car into the driveway. Zach and Lani got out of one car, two more officers from the other. Kori was glad Zach hadn’t come alone.

The four officers approached the front door as Kori sat in her car and watched. She didn’t think Zach had even seen her yet.

Kori heard the first officer yell through the closed front door, letting anyone inside know that they were surrounded. Then the other three officers ran around to block any other exits. Kori couldn’t see the back of the house but she hoped that Dani hadn’t escaped through another door.

It felt like an eternity before another move was made and the front door was kicked in. Kori assumed that all doors were opened at the same time so Dani had nowhere to go. But only moments later, four officers returned to the front path without Dani in their custody.

Where could she have gone?
Kori wondered. She hoped that her presence before the cops had arrived hadn’t given away that she was being followed but Kori had a suspicion that was exactly what had happened.

Zach must have spotted Kori’s car on the side of the road because she watched him approach her and he didn’t look happy. She was glad she was dating him so he couldn’t
get too mad.

Kori rolled down her window and
he leaned on the door. “You’re sure you saw Dani go into Lou’s house?” Zach asked.

Kori nodded, a little bit afraid of sounding too defensive if she opened her mouth and tried to talk.

“Why did you follow her?” he asked.

Kori took a deep breath before answering. “She had breakfast at the café and she just seemed a little too relaxed knowing that you had her dad for questioning. And then I saw her get into the same car that I’ve seen twice this week speeding down Main Street at four in the morning.”

“Wait … you what? Tell me about this car. When did you see it?” Zach asked, pulling a note pad from his back pocket and flipping to a clean page. He pulled a pen from his breast pocket and was ready to write down what she said.

“Monday morning just after four. I saw a black SUV speed down Main Street. I think it was Victor.” Kori pulled out her phone. “Here, I took a picture of the license plate of the SUV that used to be parked at Lou’s house. And then a few minutes later that red car there,” she pointed to Dani’s car, “sped down the street.”

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Zach asked.

“I didn’t know it was important. I hadn’t put all the pieces together yet so I hadn’t realized they were even connected. But if Michael confessed, then why are you trying to find Dani now?”

Zach smiled. “His story has a few too many holes in it. I think he confessed to protect his daughter. Do you think she saw you?”

Kori shrugged, wondering if there was anyone she’d go to prison to protect. “I don’t know.”

“Did you get out of your car?”

Kori nodded. “I had to walk Ibis. She was going crazy. Oh! I know how to find Dani!”

Zach looked at her skeptically but finally asked her to explain.

“Ibis went crazy when we walked by Lou’s house—”

“You walked by his house just now? When Dani was in there?”

“Yeah, but hear me out. Ibis wanted to go after her. Here,” Kori opened her door and made a move to open Ibis’ so she could put her leash on. “Take Ibis. She’ll follow Dani’s trail and you can arrest her.”

“You know, this might just work,” Zach said quietly, taking the offered leash and leading Ibis back toward Lou’s house. “But don’t go anywhere. Actually, on second thought. Go to the station. If Dani knew you were involved and she gets to you first, I’ll never forgive myself.”

Kori knew he was right, and this time she actually listened to him.

***

Kori hated the police station. Even when she wasn’t in trouble. She really wanted Zach to be here because she knew how to prove Dani was guilty even without having Dani present and giving a confession. And Lani Silver was even out of the office. She’d have to talk to someone who didn’t know her as well.

“Kori Cooke?” a man’s voice said to her back and she stood up from her chair and turned around.

“Evan?” she asked. She’d gone to school with him but didn’t know he was a cop. “How long have you been working here?”

“Longer than I’d care to admit. I keep trying to get a transfer but apparently I’m irreplaceable. I think really they just can’t get anyone to move to Hermit Cove.”

“I’m surprised I didn’t know you were working here.”

“Me too. I guess Zach doesn’t talk about work much.” Evan smirked.

“Not the people so much,” Kori agreed. “But I’m glad you’re here. I can prove Michael is innocent and it’s his daughter you want.”

Evan raised an eyebrow at her. “Dani Clark? That’s who they’re looking for right now, huh?”

“Yeah. Did you find prints on the murder weapon that you couldn’t match?”

His eyebrow went even higher. “How’d you know? Maybe you can replace me.”

“Hah. I don’t think Zach would let me. I think they’re Dani’s fingerprints and I have her coffee mug at The Early Bird Café that you could match them to. But Zach sent me here because he thinks I’m in danger.”

“Well, let’s go get that mug.”

Kori followed Evan to the parking lot and got in the passenger seat of a police cruiser.

“It’s not every day that I let someone ride shotgun out of uniform.”

“I bet I could find a uniform that would fit me if that’ll make you more comfortable,” Kori joked.

Evan smiled, started the car and turned on the siren.

“We don’t really need that, do we?” Kori didn’t want to be seen in the police car. It could raise plenty of questions given how many investigations she’d bee
n involved in since the summer.

Evan turned it off and parked in front of the café, which they could have walked to
instead.

Kori led the way and unlocked the front door. She headed straight to the cash register where Dani’s mug was still sitting, untouched. Kori reached to pick it up but Evan stopped her. He had already put gloves on and grabbed her forearm just before she put her fingerprints all over the mug.

“I touched it earlier,” she said, realizing what she’d almost done.

“I hope we find two clear prints then,” Evan said, picking up the mug carefully and placing it in an evidence bag. “Anything else that can be helpful here?”

Kori shook her head and they returned to the police car.

“So you and Zach, huh?” Evan said as he drove. “I wondered if he’d ever land you. You know he had a crush on since he was like ten years old?”

Kori smiled. She did know that. “Yup, me and Zach,” she said, looking at Evan. She wondered if he was hitting on her.

“What about Nora? She dating anyone?” Nope, he wasn’t hitting on her, he was just trying to find out about her best friend.

Kori laughed. “Not that I know of. I’ll put in a good word for you.”

Evan chuckled and parked back in the parking lot in front of the police station. They didn’t say another word as Kori followed him inside, where she came face to face with Dani Clark, in handcuffs.

“Didn’t think the shy, stuttering girl could pull off a murder, did you?” Dani sneered in Kori’s direction.

Kori was dumbstruck. It had all been an act? She had to admit, Dani’s cover had worked. For a while anyway.

“I might have to get Ibis’ help more often,” Zach said, handing the leash back to Kori. “You were right about her; Ibis just wanted to take Dani out. That’s a good dog you have.”

“I know
she’s a good dog. I can’t believe you hadn’t figured it out yet. You’ve known her as long as I have.”

“It was just reinforced.”

There was a brief moment of silence as Kori considered what to ask about Dani. She wanted to know if they had enough evidence to keep her. She hoped the coffee mug would help. Kori didn’t feel safe knowing Dani might be out looking for her.

“So, four o’clock then
?” Zach said before Kori could ask any questions. “I have a murder suspect to process. Don’t worry, she’s not going anywhere,” he added, reading the expression of worry on Kori’s face. She breathed a sigh of relief.

“Yeah, four o’clock then. You’re picking me up?”

“Yup.”

Kori waved and brought Ibis outside to her car. “For saving the day, I think you deserve a play date at Nora’s. What do you think?”

Ibis barked and nearly ran to the car. Kori had to hold the leash tightly to make sure she didn’t run off.

They drove past the café and out to Nora’s farm on the farthest edge of Hermit Cove. Kori hadn’t spent enough time with Nora this week and it would be the perfect time to catch her up on everything that had happened.

She found Nora in the kitchen washing lots of greens and root vegetables, probably from one of the last harvests of her outside garden. Nora looked up in surprise and asked, “What are you doing here? Don’t you have a date with Zach?”

Kori smiled. “Not yet. I thought I’d tell you all about the murder suspect Ibis caught this afternoon.”

Nora put down the leeks she had been carefully washing and made a move to get two mugs. “That calls for a warm drink I think. Hot chocolate?”

“Only if there’s some peppermint schnapps in there.”

Nora laughed and nodded. “I think I can make that happen.”

Then they sat on the couch and Kori relived the last few days’ excitement.

***

At four, Kori was cleaned up, changed and ready to go. Ibis was still at Nora’s and might even spend the night there. She deserved plenty of time with her dog friends, and Kori wasn’t sure she’d be coming home after their volunteering.

Zach arrived in stained jeans and an old flannel shirt and Kori suddenly felt overdressed in freshly washed clothes. “You’ll be the best looking volunteer there,” Zach said, smiling. Apparently he thought she was overdressed too.

Kori wasn’t sure how to respond so she waited until they were in the car and then started grilling Zach about Dani. “Did she confess?” she asked excitedly.

Zach shook his head. “But we have plenty of evidence to convict her.”

“Were her prints on the murder weapon?”

“Yup. And even some of her DNA. She must have cut herself on that branch. So that’s a good start.”

Kori was glad that it looked like an open and shut case. But she still had more questions. “What about Victor? Why was he in town?”

“Dani had made several calls to him. It looks like she’d gotten him to come to Hermit Cove so she could frame him. She even got him to come out to the crime scene early Monday morning.”

“But then why didn’t he call it in?” Kori asked, confused about why Jenna had been the one to find him if Victor already knew he was dead.

“There was too much evidence against him so he was worried he’d be convicted. At least that’s his story. But the surveillance of him at the Cove Inn sealed his innocence.”

“And what about Michael, Dani’s dad? Why’d he confess?”

Zach chuckled. “It’s amazing what a father will do for his daughter. He was trying to protect Dani. He hadn’t even planned to come to Hermit Cove this week. But when he realized what Dani was up to he changed his plans and came at the last minute.” Zach pulled into the food bank parking lot and parked. “Thanks for getting to the bottom of this, but please break this habit you’ve created for yourself.”

Kori nodded. “I’ll do my best.”

***

Saturday morning, Kori woke slowly with a smile on her face. She’d thoroughly enjoyed the previous evening with Zach and today was another big day for her family. She had some work to do in the morning for her mother’s wedding, but it would be much more relaxed than the rest of the week had been.

She waited until she felt Zach stir beside her and then she got up to make him breakfast. She was in his kitchen, which was even more stocked than her own. Not more than the café where she spent most of her time, but she didn’t have nearly as many cooking utensils at home.

She made
coffee, and when it was brewing Zach made his way downstairs.

“How am I supposed to make you breakfast in bed if you get up?” Kori asked.

“I’d rather eat here with you than in bed where I’ll probably make a mess. What do I smell?” he asked, looking around the kitchen to try to find the source of the breakfast scents.

“Popovers. And I made a blueberry sauce. Your freezer has so much good stuff in there. I might have to come over here every day just to eat breakfast. Or dinner.”

“You’re always welcome. Don’t you have cheesecake cupcakes to make for your mom’s wedding?”

Kori nodded. “But I thought we could eat breakfast first. We don’t have to be at her house until five so there’s plenty of time.”

“Great. Because I had plans of my own with you this morning.” Zach wrapped his arms around Kori’s back and kissed her. She couldn’t wait to find out what those plans were.

Hours later, they arrived at Gale’s house to a crowd. Kori had baked enough desserts for thirty guests
as she had promised, but there had to be more than that packed into Gale’s small house. Her heart sank. The worst feeling for her was when there wasn’t enough food to go around.

Jan must have
noticed the panicked look on Kori’s face because she immediately came over and took the desserts from her. “Don’t worry, I brought some desserts too. There will be plenty.”

Kori was relieved. Then she saw the table with all the food and knew
that Jan was right. No one would go hungry.

“Where’s my mom?” she asked Jan.

“Upstairs. She’ll be coming down any minute. I have to go turn on the music. That’s her cue. I’m marrying them, can you believe it?”

Kori couldn’t.
Her mom hadn’t really told her any other details about the wedding, mostly because it had been a crazy week for Kori and she hadn’t asked. So she was glad that her mom’s best friend was part of the ceremony since Kori felt a little like she’d dropped the ball.

Moments later, with music announcing Gale’s arrival,
she and Lucas made their way down the stairs and into the living room where everyone was gathered. There were not enough seats, so many people were standing, but there were smiles all around.

Gale looked the happiest Kori had ever seen her. She was wearing a long
blue flowing dress and she looked very elegant. It wasn’t the traditional white, but there was nothing traditional about this wedding.

Jan was standing in front of the fireplace
and Lucas paused where Kori and Jay were standing. Gale hugged them both and then returned to Lucas’ side and they stood with Jan. Kori took hold of Zach’s hand and was thankful he was with her to share this moment with her mother.

Before the music stopped playing, Jay leaned over and whispered to Kori, “I didn’t think you’d have time to get her a gift, so I took the liberty and put both of our names on my present.”

Kori turned to him and smiled gratefully. He was right, she hadn’t had time to think about that this week. “What did we get her?” she asked.

“A set of throw pillows.”

Kori was impressed. She didn’t know her brother had it in him to think ahead like that, or to go into a home goods store.

“They say ‘Mr. Right’ and ‘
Mrs. Always Right,’” he added.

Kori had to stifle the laugh that nearly escaped her just as the music stopped. It ended up coming out sounding like a cough and she hoped her mother didn’t
hear. She knew Jay couldn’t have just gotten them
any
throw pillows. He’d have to get the ones that teased their mom. The gift was perfect.

The ceremony was quick and Kori suddenly found herself thinking about her own wedding. She was finally with someone she could see a future with and she wondered if she would have something as simple as her mom’s wedding or if she would be more traditional. She didn’t have answers to those questions, and she didn’t need them today. She just hoped that she’d figure it out by the time the day came.