Chapter 9
Before she could become too lost in thought, Charlotte entered the dining room with a tray of cucumber sandwiches plated elegantly on a serving tray. She then walked back into the kitchen and returned with plates and a pitcher of what appeared to be iced tea. It was honey-colored red and looked absolutely refreshing with slices of lemon wedged into the liquid between ice cubes. Charlotte sat that down on the table before them, and made one final trip to the kitchen, returning with two margarita glasses, only there was no alcohol in them. Instead, she piled the glasses high with sorbet, which was frozen solid. It was bright yellow and appeared to have an airy texture to it, both creamy and chilly at the same time. Betty was impressed with her presentation and smiled broadly when she returned and began plating their sandwiches and pouring their respected beverages.
“Wow. This all looks amazing, Charlotte. Thank you, I appreciate it.”
“Oh, no thanks needed. I’d wanted to make these all month. To me, nothing says late summer like cucumber sandwiches. I’m not from this area originally. My parents moved here to get away from the humidity for health reasons. We moved when I was a child, but I can still remember having those in the summers.”
“Well, they most certainly are delicious.” Betty popped a square into her mouth and chewed happily, savoring the taste of the sauce also, which added to the flavor of the vegetable but didn’t obscure it completely. She would have to get the recipe from Charlotte when she began her own culinary journey. “So tell me, Charlotte, if I’m not asking too much, who was the young lady that was murdered?”
“Hanna Davis was known in town to be Kevin Parker’s girlfriend. People suspected she was pregnant with his baby. No one could substantiate those claims, however.” Charlotte’s eyes glistened and sparkled as she sped up her rate of speech, yet dropped her voice. “Some people even think she may have been pregnant with another man’s baby.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, but no one is talking. It’s like they say though, where there’s smoke, there’s fire, my money’s on her being a cheater, but I have my reasons for suspecting it.”
“Hmm. Well, that’s all interesting, but what does this have to do with the Cornerstone? Remember, I don’t know anything about these people, I’m an outsider.”
“Oh, just because you’re an outsider right now doesn’t mean you’re exempt from the gossip. “
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, honey… so far, you’re in a conspiracy. You killed the Davis girl to get close to Kevin Parker so you can eventually buy a winery from his mother.”
“Haha. That’s preposterous. I don’t know even know who those people are. Besides, if I wanted a winery, I would have purchased one of those. Who are these Parkers anyway?”
Charlotte finished her sandwich and hastily downed her iced tea before scooting the sorbet in front of her. She took a mouthful and made an audible sound of approval, then continued. “They’re easily the most affluent family in town. They come from very old money and have a lineage in the wine business. They own several vineyards along the coast and produce the highest quality reds and whites. I don’t know much about wine, but there are people in this area who live for it. They study the texture and color of each bottle with intensity. “
“Yes, I’ve heard some people go completely bonkers for it. I’ll have a glass occasionally, but I really don’t know that much about its origins or history.”
“That’s me too. Anyway, when Mr. Parker, Joseph, died recently, it’s unclear who in the family inherited the fortune. It was his grandfather who passed on his wealth and all of the properties onto him to manage. Joseph did so spectacularly and doubled his profits within the first year of taking ownership and becoming more hands-on with the business aspect of a few key wineries in the area. He somehow increased production and also went on a hiring spree. The town owes most of its employment to the Parkers. Each year the Cornerstone throws a town social, and the Parkers are always in attendance. Well, I should say they were in attendance… I don’t know what’s going to happen now. “
Betty digested the information that Charlotte had provided her with as she slurped the last bit of her sorbet, taking the time to lick the last remnants from her lips. She was quite pleased with the dessert. “Charlotte, I must say that was impeccable. Could you do this on a larger scale?”
“Of course, Betty. I live for a grand production.”
“Haha! Well, that’s great. You’ll be getting to show off here soon, hopefully. So this town social is a pretty big deal here, isn’t it?”
“Yes. It’s stepped in tradition. Even the most reclusive affluent people in the town make the extra effort to have their drivers bring them to the event.”
“Okay then, it’s settled.”
“What is?”
Betty arched an eyebrow at Charlotte and shared a confidential grin with her. “If it’s a party the people want, they shall have a party. We’ll continue the tradition of the social…but only after the renovation of the Cornerstone is completed. Now let’s head to the kitchen.”
“What for?”
“Well, I need you to make me a list. I have a meeting with Tyler, our new interior designer, in a few minutes. I want to know what you need to bring some life back into the kitchen and dining room, though I strongly suggest we get rid of these hideous fake flowers, what do you think?”
“I think I like you very much, Betty. We’re going to be good friends.”
“I certainly hope so.”
After taking stock of the kitchen and dining room and making several notes on her phone, she received a message from Tyler. “Come to the front door of your fine establishment, and you’ll find a surprise.”
“I’ll be right there.”
While looking at her phone, she happened to notice the time, the inventory, and of course, her gossip session with Betty had taken far longer than she had hoped. It was nearing two o'clock, and she knew that Beaux Jacques would be awake soon, padding through the house, frowning knowing Betty hadn’t returned home yet.
Betty walked to the front door and noticed that Stephen was standing by the desk, attentive to his job. She smiled to herself. At least it appeared that the majority of the staff were happy with her leadership thus far and were approving of the changes she wanted to make. She walked through the front door to find Tyler standing outside. In his hands, he held a dozen orange-colored lilies in a vase. “Hi, Betty! It’s good to see you. I brought you a little surprise. It’s midday. Pick me up if you will.”
“Oh, how nice! Thank you, Tyler, they’re lovely. I appreciate that! Come on in.”
She took the flowers from him and accepted a loose hug from the man, who was dressed impeccably as always. He took off his sunglasses upon entering and gave a low whistle. “Oh, Betty, I forgot just how big this place is. I also forgot just how drab it feels too. Ugh, gives me goosebumps. I’m definitely glad you called, but it’s going to be a huge undertaking to get this place, not feeling like a funeral parlor, pun intended.”
Betty chuckled at his comment and walked with him back to her office, where she deposited the flowers on the desk. “I think together we can come up with something great, though.”
“Well, if you’ve got the money, I’ve certainly got the time. My boyfriend has been an old fuddy-duddy here lately and refuses to do anything in the evenings but sit on the couch and watch Nettime. I think if I don’t have this project to occupy me, I’d very well lose my mind.”
“Well, there’s certainly enough here to keep any designer busy for months. I have a bit of a breakdown of what I’m generally looking for in each room, but of course, I’m flexible as I trust your creative vision.”
“Well, alright then! I was thinking that we go super classy, I’m talking like 1930s Hollywood Academy Awards. What do you think?”
“I think that will be a nice theme to shoot for, though it may not work in some of the rooms. Let’s just keep that general idea and get started.”
“So, which room did you want to start with first?”
“Oh… have you met Charlie? Charlie needs to go first and foremost. I can’t concentrate on anything with his sad brown moose eyes looking down at me.”
“Haha! Noted. We’ll move Charlie first thing in the morning. Do you care in particular what happens to the old things?”
“No. I’ve planned far enough ahead so that supplies and new furnishings will be covered by my budget. So I’m not looking to get any type of return on any of the things we get rid of. Recycle them in you can. Feel free to donate them to charity if you can. It would be nice if anything that could be used by someone to be given away.”
“Sounds like my type of woman. Sigh, it’s a shame I’m already taken, or I’d make you a lovely wife.”
“Haha! Oh, Tyler, you’re too funny. I have to say I need a laugh. It’s been a hard first day, especially with all the deputies still feeling the need to hang around here. There’s nothing more that could be discovered. After all, the murder of that girl was outside, not anywhere in the property.”
“Oh, really?! Do tell, Betty.”
“Sigh…well the newspaper did get it right, I did find the body of the woman that was murdered. What they didn’t report though was the victim. From my understanding, her name was Hanna Davis. I’m assuming she’s from an affluent family in the city.”
“Sit down and tell me more.”
“Well, there’s nothing more really to tell. I found the body, the Sheriff tried arresting me, and my faithful desk clerk stopped him. That’s really all that happened.”
“Hanna Davis. Wow. That surprises me. It’s a sad story there.”
“Sad, how?”
“I’m sorry, I forget that you’re a transplant in our fair community. I didn’t know the girl was Hanna Davis. The last thing I heard about her is she was going steady with Kevin Parker, the son of Rebecca and Joseph Parker. The only thing you need to know about them is they own this town. Literally, there’s not a home or business that doesn’t have some Parker money invested in it. In fact, everyone assumed the Cornerstone would just be acquired by the Parkers until you entered the picture and surprised everyone. That’s why everyone was shocked; you were the new owner.”
“I see, so old money then?”
“Oh my yes, very old. Joseph’s great-great-grandfather planted the first grapevine in the county. The rest, as they say, is history. I see why the murder could be scandalous, though.”
“Why’s that?”
“Well, what most people don’t know is that Joseph Parker was at times a selfish man. He wasn’t always the handsome philanthropist that graced the front of the lifestyle and social pages in the paper. I visited there once, just on a consult for a secondary bathroom that Mrs. Parker wanted to have refinished. She opened the door to me, and we chatted a few moments. The next thing I knew, I was outside after merely glancing in the bathroom. Apparently, Joseph thought the space was fine the way it was. Or at least, that’s what Mrs. Parker had the kindness to say. She nervously wrung her hands in the doorway while I could hear his cursing and raging upstairs. I realized then that their marriage wasn’t always as easy as it seemed in appearances.”
“Wow. I guess it is true that you never really know what goes on behind closed doors. I still don’t understand where Hanna fits in all of this.”
“Poor thing, I still can’t believe it, she was so young. Joseph Parker had a son, Kevin. Everyone assumed Kevin would inherit the family fortune after his father passed. It’s still unclear though who really has control of the estates. I do know, however, that the rumors circulated that Kevin and Hanna were pregnant. I really don’t see Kevin putting his legacy in jeopardy, fathering a child with a woman beneath his social standing, but who knows?”
“Beneath his social standing?”
“Oh, yes. You’ll learn that soon enough, Betty. This town is clearly divided up among the have and have nots. It’s as classist as a Downton Abby episode without the good humor. The women in this town, well, they can be outright catty at times.”
“The ones I’ve met seem pretty nice.”
“Go to the Beauty Spot on any given Sunday, and you’ll see. Some of the wealthiest gather there after church to talk about the other people they saw in the church that day. It’s a study in cultural anthropology.”
“Haha! Well, I just may have to go visit soon. It’s been a long time since I’ve taken any efforts with mine, clearly. Maybe it’s time for a change.”
“You mean get rid of your messy bun?”
“Maybe.”
“Oh no…and here we are doing classic Hollywood. Who’s going to be my Audrey Hepburn now?”
“I’ll get you a wig for Charlie, here.”
Tyler rubbed his forehead in mock pain and sighed out of exasperation. “Oh, Betty you are going to work my nerves for this entire project, I see.”
“I genuinely hope so. What kind of cutthroat businesswoman would I be if I didn’t?”
“Good point.”
They continued their meeting and agreed that her office would be the first room completed. The following day, unless, of course, the city’s finest were going to be in that room, everything would be moved out for the remodel. With that detail planned, Betty grabbed her work bag and nodded at Stephen before she left. His replacement would be there shortly, and she wanted to make sure that everything was okay before she went home to Beaux Jacques. “Thank you for all of your help today, Stephen. You can leave as soon as your relief arrives. Just let him know that it’s still okay to give the officers access to anything they need. We will cooperate with their investigation as much as possible.”
“Okay, Betty.”
Betty smiled at Stephen and walked out to her car. She rolled the windows down and laid her head back against the seat for a moment. The joys of business ownership had yet to give her a relaxing, stress-free work environment, but Betty still trusted in her decision to step away from her legal career. Before she could start the car, she remembered the flowers that Tyler had left. She didn’t mention them to anyone and wanted to make sure they had enough water to survive through the night. She hastily got back out of the car and crossed through some of the shrubberies to get to her destination quicker. She then nodded at Stephen, who didn’t notice her while he was scanning the sports section of the paper. She managed to get in and out quickly, started her car, and went home to a very unhappy canine companion.
When she turned the lock in the door, she found Beaux Jacques laying in the hallway right in front of the door with his head against the hardwood. He didn’t even bother wagging his tail when she entered. He merely huffed at her presence and laid back down once more. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Beaux! I know I promised I’d be home early, but I had this meeting with our new designer, and all of the staff had many concerns they wanted to bring to my attention.”
The giant boxer merely grumbled and huffed once more at her story. “Okay, fine. I know what will cheer you up. Let me get changed, and how about me and you go for a ride on the freeway and get frozen yogurt, huh? You like the freebie vanilla ones you always seem to get.”
Beaux Jacques raised an eyebrow skeptically and watched Betty make her way down the hallway. When she cried out in surprise, he woofed aggressively and padded off to find Betty standing with her shoes off, looking dumbfounded. “Oh no, Beaux. It looks like we may have to go on a detour before we get that frozen yogurt.”