The Sweet Taste of Murder: An Angel Lake Mystery (9 page)

“Is that Frank?”

Brad shook his head. “Too short to be Frank.”

“Sylvia?”

“Looks a mite thin to be Sylvia.”

The two looked at each other. Between them, Brad’s cell phone began angry vibrations.

“Hello?” He frowned at whatever was being said. “Great. I’ll be right down.”

His fingers flew over the keyboard, and then he turned to Elise. “Just sent that loop to myself, and I’ll get the surveillance company to send the rest. Next, I’ll go to the convenience store and check out their video footage too. It’s from the wrong angle, but you never know. There’s got to be more footage of this guy somewhere.”

Brad touched her arm. “Listen, you need to be safe. Don’t tell anyone what you saw here today. It could get back to the wrong person. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Don’t worry about me. I always follow the number one rule in investigating, Detective Carter. Don’t get hurt.” But she knew right away who she was going to tell.

CHAPTER 15

A
fter they had separated from the car dealership, Elise texted Lavina asking her to come over that afternoon. In the meantime, she’d gathered Frodo, Horace, and Winnie and finished out her run.

When she arrived home, Lavina was already parked in her driveway waiting for her. As Elise unlocked the front door, words flew out of Lavina’s mouth like she was trying out to be an auctioneer. “I’m so glad you called. I’ve been dying to talk to you. I’ve really made a mess of things now. I really did. Oh, hello cat. New?”

“That’s Max. Down, Max. Down. He’s worse than a dog.”

Lavina ran the tips of her nails along his back with the barest touch. The cat stared at her with adoration. “Well, he seems to like me.” She looked at her black pants with a frown.

“I’ll keep him off of you. Max come here, already.” Elise scooped the orange up and sat with him on her lap. He sprang from her and stalked off unhappily. “So, what’s going on?”

“You first. No, never mind, me first. I can hardly stand it. Oh! The mess I’m in! So, I ran into a young lady we both know.”

Elise waited, not even able to hazard a guess.

“Sylvia. Oh, Elise! I think she might be working with me at Sweet Sandwiches. And, she may be moving in!”

Elise’s jaw dropped. Lavina, despite some hardships growing up, was never known to share. There was a good reason why Elise had her own place now instead of bunking in with her best friend. “How on earth did you let that happen?”

“I couldn’t help it. My mouth just went and said it before I could stop it.”

“For crying out loud, Lavina. Don’t say things like, “my mouth” like it’s some crazed preschooler at its first Easter egg hunt who just found the stash of eggs. You’re the one who controls it.”

“Well, there it is. Apparently, I’m going to have a new roommate.” She looked imploringly at Elise. “Help.”

“What exactly did you say?”

“I said that she wasn’t alone, and if I could help in any way with a job or a place to stay to let me know.”

“And what did she say back?”

Lavina fiddled with the cuff on her blouse. “She said she’d let me know if she needed anything.”

“Well, that hardly sounds like she’s ready to move in. You supported her. I wouldn’t worry yet. But next time, pause before you blurt.” Elise relaxed back in the couch.

“That’s a good word.” Lavina grabbed her phone. “I’m tweeting that.”

“So, now I have a secret. Today, I saw a suspect on the surveillance tape at the car dealership.” Thrill shot through her at the memory. She grabbed the dog brush from the side table and began running it through Frodo’s fur.

Lavina made a face. “You have to do that here?”

Elise eyed the hair floating in the air that Lavina made a show of fanning away. “You’re right. Let’s go outside.” She called the dogs who followed her obediently.

Although small, the backyard was filled with bright sprays of color. Orange lilies bobbed in clusters. A spindly plum tree had lost its flowers and was now decorated with hard green fruits. Purple irises lined the back fence.

Lavina stared hard at the weathered picnic bench before she gingerly settled herself upon it. She slid her sunglasses onto her face. “You viewed surveillance tape? Oh, you and Brad—”

Elise patted Frodo’s back end to get him to sit. The dog smiled at her with tongue lolling. “You like this don’t you,” she murmured, before addressing her friend by holding out her ring finger. “Quit trying to ship me off. It didn’t work in high school, and it sure as heck isn’t going to be something now.”

“Pfft.” Lavina was not impressed. “I don’t see a ring on it.”

“Yeah, but it’s going to be a long, long while before I’m even ready to think about it again.”

Lavina smirked behind her sunglasses. “Oh, you’re thinking.” She leaned forward and gave Elise a hard look. “Speaking of thinking, have you thought about Botox?”

“Botox? I’m talking about a guy I saw on video the same day Cameron was killed!”

“Never too early to do preventive care,” Lavina chided. She appraised her friend with a critical eye. “Something you should really be thinking about.”

“Oh my gosh, Lavina. Only you could turn a murder suspect discussion into a beauty tip session.”

“I’m just saying you’re not getting any younger,” Lavina said drolly. She looked at her nails. “So, tell me what you saw.”

Elise frowned. “Admittedly, it’s not very impressive. A tall man with a wide-brimmed hat pulled low. Long jacket. Glasses.”

“Any suspects?”

Winnie nosed up under Elise’s legs. She gave her a friendly scratch then turned back to grooming Frodo. “Maybe. Nothing really solid.”

“Well, I have a thought. Have you considered Mr. Davis? He wears glasses and long coats.”

“He’s paralyzed.”

“No, I don’t think he is. We’d never heard a diagnosis, just that he’d been badly hurt in the accident. I always thought that he was playing possum.”

“He does have the motive.”

“Because, if he can really walk, that’s quite deceitful.”

Elise shrugged. “It’s not against the law to be able to walk. But one thing has been running through my mind.”

“What’s that?”

“I’m worried it could be Sylvia. The person was tall, but she could have accomplished that with heels. And she has the most to gain. ” Elise ran the brush through the dog’s thick fur a few more times. Still deep in thought, she cleaned the brush.

Lavina straightened on the bench. “I hardly think that’s the case. I can’t imagine how a woman could make herself look like a man. And why would she want to implicate Mr. Davis anyway? He’s the one known to wear glasses. No. It had to be him. Either that or some other man.”

“Well, I don’t know. You couldn’t really make out any facial features. It really could have been anyone.”

“If he could have been anyone, then he might as well be no one, and you should just throw that clue out. Honestly, it had to be him because it’s too coincidental. Has it ever been ascertained that he was at the therapy place on the day of Cameron’s death?”

Elise shook her head.

“Exactly. And, why was he at the funeral? Probably to gloat. My, oh my. It’s so hot out here, it feels like there’s nothing but a screen door between here and hell.” Lavina fumbled through her purse, pulled out a pamphlet and waved it in front of her face. “Are you almost done, sweet pea? I really can’t take a second more of this.”

“How can you be so hot when you’re always taking vacations to Tahiti with Mr. G?”

“Why, Elise.” Lavina’s bottom lip curved ever so slightly into a smile. “Those vacations are fueled by many martinis, king size beds, and air conditioning. All of which could be yours if you would just take proper care of yourself.” She snapped the paper shut and returned it to her purse. “Now let’s go inside. I’m tired of the sun and haven’t brought my sunhat.” She inspected a freckle on her arm. “I do need to brush up on my tan, though. Speaking of Tahiti, don’t forget about our cruise in a couple of months.”

“We can’t go. You might miss the reading of the will.”

Lavina sighed. “That man has caused me nothing but trouble. Even in death! I don’t care about the will. In fact, I hope he leaves me nothing.”

“It doesn’t work that way. No matter what, the kids and the wife split it 50/50 according to state law.”

“Well, la-di-da. I guess I’ll let my tax consultant deal with it.”

“You’re pretty relaxed about the possibility of inheriting a million dollars. If you need help spending it, let me know. In fact, I think you better consider me as one of your charity cases.”

Lavina stood up, hands scrunched together. Elise had thought her last comment would’ve made her laugh, but instead Lavina looked as if she might cry. “Honestly, I just want to be left alone about it. I can’t wait until this whole thing is over.” She walked into the house.

Elise watched her leave with concern. Frodo bumped her hand as his tail thumped against the flagstones. “You ready to go in, too? Just look at all this hair. I think there’s enough for another dog, you funny boy.” Frodo pranced excitedly. Winnie and Horace joined the bouncing. All three knew a treat was in store since the grooming was over. “All right, let’s go in check on Lavina. Maybe, I’ll suggest we go shopping for a new bathing suit. That should cheer her up.”

The dogs scampered ahead of her up the stairs and pressed themselves against the screen door. Elise hurried, afraid the dogs might push the screen in.

But deep inside she was worried, very worried. What other secrets was her friend keeping?

CHAPTER 16

E
lise sat straight up in bed gasping. She had that dream again. The dream where the train smashed into the car.

Loud, screaming, tearing metal. And the side of the road was lined with vases of flowers.

But, finally, she knew what she’d been reminded of at the nail salon.

Sitting on the desk had been one of those vases filled with the same flowers.

She leaned over to the end table and reached for a pad of paper, quickly scribbling…. “Call nail salon tomorrow and check where they came from.” She looked at the words for a moment. Was the sender the same one who sent them to the funeral? She thought about the stalks of bell-shaped flowers. They’d also been the same ones she’d seen at Mrs. Campbell’s house. Why choose those flowers?

Puzzled, she set the pad down and lay back in bed. It might be a long night.

The next morning, Elise woke up like a live wire and nearly sprang out of bed. The urgency to call the salon energized her more than any cup of coffee ever had. She glanced at the Fitbit and groaned. Seven thirty. Way too early for the salon to be open.

She padded out into the kitchen and added water to her coffeemaker. Max had followed her from her room and now meowed by her feet. He arched his back to stretch. Elise quickly stepped away from him. She knew what his next move was—to stand up against her hip and poke his claws in. “For a vagabond, you sure aren’t very patient for your food.”

She found his canned cat food and pulled off the lid. “Last can, hmmm.”

He looked away from it when she set it down, seemingly disinterested. “Yeah, whatever.” Elise ignored him and poured herself some coffee. As soon as her back was turned, the cat sauntered over to the can. Elise watched him from the corner of her eye. He sniffed the food. Elise smiled. “Caught you!” He immediately blinked huge green eyes at her and began grooming his tail.

Elise laughed and took her mug to the window seat. This was her favorite part of the old house. A bed of bookshelves topped with a thickly padded white cushion made the base of the seat. Directly outside the window grew a cherry plum tree. She curled up on the cushion and balanced her mug on top of her leg.

Who was the figure in the video just before Cameron died? The thing most apparent to her was that the man hadn’t been headed in the direction Cameron’s Mercedes had been found, or from it either. Instead, the figure looked as though he were headed for the side door by the financing office.

And, if not Mr. Davis, then who? Frank had a similar body type to the figure, but he had produced a movie ticket stub for that exact time. And someone in the theater had vouched that they had seen him. But why was he gone for those twenty minutes? Was that really enough time to get to the dealership and back?

Tall, thin, and a hat. Lavina was right. It could have been anyone.

Elise checked her Fitbit for the time again and decided to get her run in. The morning was cool, and she had nothing better to do. She quickly dressed in her yoga pants and tank, then slid on the armband to hold her phone. “I feel like I should be in a James Bond movie with all this gear on,” she told Max, who britted back at her. “All right, I won’t forget. Cat food.” After swooping her hair into a ponytail, she locked up and was off.

This morning, her run took her up the Old Farm Road, an older part of town. This was where Sylvia had once lived with Frank. She jogged past house after house, all built the same economical way—tiny two stories with four concrete steps leading to the same front door. Some were fenced in with chain link. Tall grass wove in between the links where they were in no danger of getting mowed. In one spot, a stalk of blue flowers braided itself in amongst the grass. Elise slowed her steps to look.

It was a different color, but it was the same flowers that had been at the funeral and the same ones at the nail salon. She pulled a blossom off and tucked it in the band of her shorts. It’d be smashed, but maybe she could still identify it when she got home.

She ran a finger under the Fitbit to loosen it and checked the time. Eight thirty. Just enough time to jog over to the salon and cool down on their entryway.

At promptly nine o’clock, Ada walked over to the salon’s window and flipped the sign to OPEN. Dressed in her usual pink smock, she had a big smile as she opened the door. “Come in! You have an appointment?”

Elise still felt flushed from her run. “No, not today. I have a funny question, and I was in the neighborhood so I thought I’d just stop by and ask.” Her eyes burned at the strong smell of acetone that still lingered in the air.

Ada waved her in. “You like some water?”