Authors: Sarah Biglow
Pains and Penalties: (A Geeks and Things Cozy Mystery Novella #1) (Geeks and Things Cozy Mysteries)
PAINS AND PENALTIES (A GEEKS AND THINGS MYSTERY) Copyright © 2016 by Sarah Biglow.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Edited by Ken Marrow, M.A.
Cover Design by: Ana Grigoriu
Published by Sarah Biglow: March 2016
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Kalina Greystone was standing behind the counter bent over a tablet double checking inventory when her nephew, AJ, appeared in the doorway to what used to be the stockroom, a box of comics in his arms. She was converting it into a gaming space and mini theater. "This was all that was left, Aunt K."
Setting the tablet aside, she gave him a grateful smile. "I'll take those."
He handed the box over and she settled it below the counter on the top shelf. It contained all of the unclaimed new arrivals for her customers. It still amazed her that she could call them
her
customers. She had no doubt they'd be in soon enough to claim their comic fix. AJ peered at the tablet and pointed to the paper file sitting next to it. "What are you doing?"
"Going digital. Your grandpa kept paper ledgers of everyone's orders and what we had in stock. I just finished transferring everything to the tablet so we can move some of the old files to your mom's basement." She motioned to the counter space that had until three months ago housed a clumsy, old-fashioned cash register. "And thanks to Square, we can do all of our business on the tablet, too. Send e-receipts, the whole thing."
"Damn, you really are going high tech. Guess that fancy MBA really paid off."
"Don't swear." She nudged his shoulder. "We still have a cash drawer, obviously, but it will be easier to reconcile at the end of the day."
AJ stepped behind the counter and pulled her into an unexpected hug. She returned the gesture if a little awkwardly. "What was that for?"
He shrugged one shoulder and didn't meet her gaze. "Nothing. Just missed you is all. Mom's glad you're back. Even if she doesn't say it."
"I missed you guys, too." Kalina often wondered if the relatively small age difference—18 years—between her and AJ made him see her as more of a friend than an authority figure. Still, she couldn't deny she liked hanging out with him. "And I know she's happy she didn't have to take over the business. Now go make sure we have everything ready for the booth at the fair."
Before they could continue their conversation, the front door opened and the tiny bell tinkled to announce the customer's entrance. AJ disappeared back through the game room and Kalina turned to greet the first patron of the day. Usually Saturdays were busy, especially in the morning, but today was the exception. Everyone was heading down to the waterfront for the annual Solstice Fair to kick off the start of summer. People from neighboring towns came out to the little town of Ellesworth, Massachusetts to enjoy arguably the best homemade baked goods on the southern coast of the state and generally indulge in silly carnival games. A familiar face greeted her and warmth crept up her neck. Christian Harper.
"Hi." Her mouth went dry at the sight of him. They hadn't really spoken in the last fifteen years. Not since they'd ended their three-year relationship in high school. But he looked just the same with his bright blue eyes—the kind a girl could get lost in without trying—and slightly messy brown hair.
"Hey, Kal. How are you?"
Kalina coughed a time or two to find her voice. "Good. Busy... Well, I mean not at this particular moment with the fair today but..." She rambled when she was nervous. Taking a breath, she collected herself. "Can I help you with something, Officer?" Last she’d heard he had joined the police department out of college.
Chris smiled, his eyes crinkling around the corners. "Actually, it’s Detective now.” He tapped the top of his detective’s shield. “And I was looking for some T-shirts for my nephews. They're big into superheroes these days."
"Nephews?" Kalina buried her face in her hands. How had she forgotten? "Of course. How old are they now?"
"Jackson is eight and Benji is ten."
She looked around the shop. The wall that normally housed the T-shirt selection was bare. "Well, we have some but we are taking them down to the fair. We have a booth."
"Well, if you don't mind the company, I'll go down with you. We can catch up."
"Sure. Let me just let AJ know he can head down and start setting up."
She was about to text him when AJ stuck his head in through the front door. "We're all set. Everything's in the car."
Kalina retrieved the locked cash box her father had kept for the fair from its spot on the back shelf. Holding it up, she gave it a shake. "You forgot this."
"I thought you said we were going digital?"
"Some things are tradition. Besides, you know all the proceeds from today go to the Wounded Warrior charity."
Her nephew rolled his eyes but grabbed the box and gestured for her to hand over the car keys. She arched a brow and nodded in Chris’s direction. “I don’t think so.” She turned to Chris. “Want a ride?”
“Love one.”
AJ led the small procession out of the shop. Kalina paused long enough to lock the front door—habits from her time living in the city—and climbed into the driver seat. Chris slid into the passenger and AJ settled in the back amidst the boxes of merchandise up for sale.
The trip down to the waterfront was brief and quiet. Apparently, ‘catching up’ didn’t involve talking in front of a fifteen-year-old boy. Ten minutes later, Kalina’s car was empty and the small booth with a “Geeks and Things” banner was laden with boxes. AJ wandered off in search of his friends, leaving the grown-ups to handle unpacking.
“I thought he was supposed to be helping you,” Chris said as he laid out some new comics.
She waved dismissively in the direction he’d gone. “He’ll be back. We’re splitting our time so I figure he can get in on some rides before the lines get too long. What superheroes are the boys into?”
Chris scratched his chin. “Jack likes Hulk. And I’m pretty sure Benji mentioned something about Rocket Raccoon.”
She rifled through a box of shirts. “So … detective, huh? Congrats.”
“Thanks. I owe a lot to Captain Cahill. He trained me since I joined the force.”
“I bet.” She nodded toward his badge. “You working today?” She out a couple of kids’ smalls and held them up for his approval.
He gave her a thumbs up on both. “Sort of. But my shift doesn’t start until later this afternoon.” He smiled again and Kalina’s legs went weak. “You know, Kal, I was honestly surprised to hear you’d come back to town.”
She tugged at a few strands of loose, red curls. Could she admit to him she hadn’t entirely wanted to? Would that make her sound like an awful daughter? “Well, Dad left the place to me in the will. I couldn’t just leave it to wither away. He raised me on comics. It’s in my blood.”
“I’m sorry about your dad’s passing by the way.”
Her chest tightened for a moment at the thought of her father’s death. “Thanks. We knew he had heart trouble so the last heart attack wasn’t a huge surprise. But it means a lot that you care.”
More familiar faces passed by. Some waved or nodded in their direction. Kalina waved back. Despite not having wanted to come home, a part of her was happy to be back. She missed being a part of such a small community. She stowed the cash box behind a pile of old video games and leaned forward on the edge of the table. “So, you aren’t on duty for a while. You want to check out the judging for the pastries?”
“Absolutely. How much do I owe you for the shirts?”
Kalina started to say they were free but caught herself. “Five bucks each.”
He handed over a twenty dollar bill but waved her off when she made a move to open the cash box. “Consider the rest a donation.”
“Thanks.”
AJ appeared from the crowd and ducked into the booth. His cheeks were flushed and he wore a dopey grin. The wrist band on his left hand signaled he’d been on the roller coaster and likely the Ferris wheel already.
“We’ll be back. We’re just going to check out the baking contest,” Kalina said and patted her nephew on the shoulder.
The fairgrounds bustled with people stopping by vendors on both sides of the promenade, buying everything from handmade picture frames to tote bags with hand-painted waterscapes. The pastry judging tent sat at the far end of the promenade. They always did the judging early on to encourage people to buy the winning sweets. It was never that much of a real competition. Mrs. Margaret Grant always won for her blueberry and raspberry scones. It had been that way since Kalina was a little girl. Usually, Mrs. Agatha Davies also won for her European sponge cake with lemon drizzle. Kalina walked with purpose towards the judging tent until she felt a hand squeeze lightly on her wrist.
“Sorry,” she said when she saw Chris slowing her down. “I guess I still have some city habits to break.”
“It’s okay. You just don’t need to be in such a hurry. You know they announce the winners over the loudspeaker.”
She smiled sheepishly and fell into step beside him. The sun peeked out from behind a thin layer of cloud cover, highlighting thin veins of gold in Chris’s hair. For a moment she remembered them as two high school kids who thought they were in love. But that time was past. They weren’t kids anymore, maybe friends but nothing more. “So, did you ever settle down?”
“Nope. Still a bachelor. I guess I just never found the right girl. What about you?”
She shook her head. “There was a guy in college but … it didn’t end well.”
They reached the judging tent and found both Mrs. Davies and Mrs. Grant sitting behind their respective entries. Kalina bent down to place an order for Mrs. Grant’s scones and noticed another set of scones down the table manned by Andrea Nevins. She’d been a couple years ahead of Kalina and Chris in school. At the far end of the table, Captain Cahill stood beside someone Kalina didn’t recognize.
“Who is that?” She pointed at the woman.
“That’s Leslie Mayfield, Dan’s fiancée. She teaches at the elementary school. Benji is in her class.”
They moved down the table and Chris placed an order for Leslie’s apple tarts. “Good luck.”
Leslie tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, not so subtly flashing her engagement ring, and smiled big. She turned to Kalina and offered her non-bejeweled hand. “Hi, I don’t think we’ve met.”
“I’m Kalina Greystone.” They shook hands briefly. “My father used to own Geeks and Things up on Main Street. I moved back to run the store after he died.”
“Oh, right, of course.”
Dan leaned in and kissed Leslie on the cheek. “I think they’re about to start the judging.”
Kalina and Chris moved back into the crowd while the judges sampled the various sweets, concurring in low whispers and making notes on their clipboards. The town took the contest very seriously. Tension rose amongst the crowd as they awaited the announcement. At the far end of the table Mrs. Davies sat with her hands folded in her lap. Mrs. Grant shot Andrea annoyed looks as the judges handed the winning votes to the announcer, Theodore Maxwell. He cleared his throat and held the microphone too close to his mouth.
“We have the results of the baking contest. Remember, you can put an order in at any time to purchase the winning pastries. All proceeds go to the Wounded Warrior charity.”
The feedback on the speakers squealed and Kalina covered her ears along with many of the people watching. Theo held the mic further from his mouth and studied the first scrap of paper. “The winner for best fruit tart goes to Ms. Leslie Mayfield.”
Cheers went up from the crowd and Leslie grinned and waved. Captain Cahill let out a loud whistle, making his fiancée blush. He darted up to the stage and placed a huge bouquet in her arms. Theo waved his hand for quiet and the crowd settled down. “Best sponge cake, of course, goes to Mrs. Agatha Davies.” The crowd’s response was a little more subdued as Agatha stood up and took a little bow. Kalina noted the older woman’s cheeks were a bit flushed but she assumed it was just due to the excitement of yet another blue ribbon for her mantle. Beside Agatha, Mrs. Grant already had her hands on the armrest, ready to push herself up to accept the blue ribbon for her scones.
“And finally, the winner for the best scones is…” Theo stopped and turned to the judges. They nodded in unison and he faced the growing throng, clearing his throat as he did so. “The winner is Ms. Andrea Nevins.”
A hush fell over the crowd. Mrs. Grant jumped from her seat and marched toward the judges before Andrea could accept the ribbon. Chris stood beside Kalina, mouth agape as the older woman leaned in close enough to Theo’s microphone that her tirade carried across the fairgrounds.
“This is unacceptable. My scones were far better than hers.”
Andrea paled and dabbed her eyes before hurrying off the stage clutching the ribbon to her chest. A few members in the crowd patted her on the back and her older brother broke from the group to wrap an arm around her shoulders, leading her away.
“Mrs. Grant, please. This is just a friendly competition,” Theo said, trying to yank the microphone out of her reach.
She wasn’t having any of it. She waggled a finger at the judges, summoning them forward. “You three had better explain yourselves.”
From behind her, Mrs. Davies shuffled forward and tried to tug Mrs. Grant away but had no luck.
“It’s not that your scones weren’t good, Mrs. Grant. It’s just … Andy’s were better this year,” one of the judges said.
People began to disperse, no longer interested in seeing Mrs. Grant lose her temper with the judges. Kalina nudged Chris in the ribs and nodded back towards the booth. “I should probably head back to make sure AJ is doing okay.” She looked at her watch. “Besides, he’s probably looking for an early lunch.”
“No problem.”
They walked side by side back down the promenade. Kalina made a mental note to stop by some of the booths near the end of the day to pick up some early Christmas presents for her sister and mother. The Geeks and Things booth came into view and she couldn’t keep a smile from tugging at the corners of her lips. A small group of kids clamored around the table, picking up action figures and T-shirts. Money changed hands rapidly and AJ gave her a double thumbs up when he spotted her.
“Well, I’ll leave you to hawking your wares,” Chris said.
“Enjoy the rest of the fair.” She waved and slid in behind the table next to her nephew.
He blew out a breath. “Thank God you’re back. It’s been super nuts. I’m starving.”
Kalina chuckled. “Yes, yes. Go get food. Bring me back a fried dough. Extra cinnamon sugar.”
He gave her a salute and raced out of the booth and toward the refreshment tent. Kalina settled into the metal chair behind the table and waited for people passing by to stop. She didn’t have to wait long before Leslie appeared with her big smile plastered to her lips. She’d pinned the ribbon to her blouse. The bouquet was nowhere to be seen.
“Congrats again on your win,” Kalina said.
“Thanks. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you before. I guess I’m not all that good with faces unless they are my students.”
“No worries. I left town for a while after high school. Big city dreams. Earned my business degree and worked in Boston for a few years. But I guess my heart was always back here in town.” Kalina glanced around for Captain Cahill. “Where’s your fiancé?”
“Oh, getting some drinks from the refreshment tent. We’re going to celebrate. Did you want to buy some fruit tarts?”
“Sure. I’d love to.”
Their conversation died instantly when a high-pitched shriek went up from the direction of the food. Another scream followed it. Leaving cash box and merchandise untended, Kalina took off at a sprint. Thoughts of AJ spurred her forward. Leslie stood frozen in front of the booth for thirty seconds before she followed suit. Kalina arrived at the tent to find people bunched together in a semi-circle around one of the tables. Wheezing and choking noises echoed from within the middle of group and Kalina shoved her way to the front. AJ bent over a writhing Mrs. Davies. She lay on the ground, one hand pressed to her stomach, the other gripped around her throat. She’d already started to lose color in her cheeks. AJ looked up, his facial features contorted into a mask of helpless terror, and he said, “I think she’s dead.”