Chapter Twenty-Seven
Annie tweaked the design she had up on her screen. A new rock-climbing company had hired her to create their logo and do all of the branding. It was a fun challenge to create just the right look for a brand-new company.
She pulled up her blog, her fingers hesitating over the keyboard. Taking a deep breath, she started typing.
It is with great regret that I’ve decided to postpone my turn for the Evening of Murder. I’ve reached out to Jamilla, who ran our fantastic For the Love of Murder in February. She’s going to pick up where I left off. Personal reasons are pulling me out of this one, and for that, I apologize.
She added a few details, ignoring the pang of regret. When she pressed Post, she felt like a feather tied to a rock. Something light weighted down by something she couldn’t shake. This was for the best. There’d be other events. When she wasn’t a suspect herself.
Giving herself a short break, she went to check the cats. Not for the first time, she wondered if she should bring them indoors. The way the kittens slept on top of each other, a tangle of paws and fur, made her smile. Shelby lifted her head when Annie crouched down.
Annie took a minute to stare, then said quietly to the cat, “You did really good.”
Shelby made a small murmur of agreement. Standing, Annie pulled her phone out to text Ben, to ask about moving them. Before she pulled up her text messages, her phone rang.
Sliding a hand over her screen when she saw her mom’s number, she reminded herself to play it cool. They had absolutely no need to find out about Gill’s death.
As the connection froze a second, she realized she’d actually managed a mental break from thinking about it all day. Once she got done with this call, she’d go back to it.
Her mother’s face flashed on the screen. “There you are.”
“Hi, Mom,” Annie said, overcome with emotion she tried to keep in check. They were clearly docked somewhere. Annie saw the wall of a building, heard the clatter of dinnerware and voices. She glanced at the cats once more before leaving the garage and heading into the house.
“Annie, are you okay?” Her father pressed his cheek to her mother’s so they could share the screen.
If they’d just move it back a bit, they wouldn’t have to smoosh.
“Of course. I miss you guys.”
“Not for long,” her father said. “We’re coming home.”
“What?” Annie didn’t mean to shout the word.
“The police phoned us. They said you’re wanted for murder. What on earth is going on?” Tears dotted her mother’s cheeks.
Annie groaned. So much for not telling them.
After grabbing a can of cola and getting settled in the deep cushioned chair in their living room, Annie walked her parents through the events of the last two weeks, consistently steering them away from the topic they both wanted to discuss. Every time they veered back to Gill, she assured them the police were about as capable of solving the mystery as Shelby. When they asked who Shelby was, Annie took satisfaction in knowing they hadn’t just moved the cat in without saying a word.
“So, we have Gill’s cat and kittens living in our garage, his daughter is next door, and he’s dead. My word, honey, I think you’ve drummed up more drama in two weeks than the town has seen in the last decade.” Her father’s voice was somewhere between amused and stressed.
“It’s not my fault, Dad. But while we’re on the topic of me living here, it would have been nice to know I was immediately being signed up for muffin duty, coffee shop visits, and prescription detail.”
“It’s good for you, sweetie. Gets you socializing more. Besides, you took over our home—it makes sense,” her mother said. “Of course, if you don’t want to do any of those things, all you need to do is talk to Margie.”
Annie started to respond with her thoughts on how well that would go over with the captain of their complex when she had a thought. Her parents would know details about each of their neighbors.
“Any chance you think Margie or any of the others have enough of a temper to get rid of Gill?”
Her mother’s small gasp made her wince. She didn’t mean to throw it out there like that. “Sorry, Mom.”
“You think someone in the complex did this?” Her father’s skepticism was loud and clear despite what sounded like a party atmosphere in the background.
“I don’t, Dad. I just know it wasn’t me. Everyone has their secrets. Ginger says they were sleeping together, Margie showed up out of nowhere, and Raj couldn’t say the man’s name without fuming.”
“None of those things make someone a murderer.” Her dad wasn’t wrong.
“I think you should leave the detecting to the detectives, Annie. This isn’t a game or one of those shows you love. This could be quite dangerous.”
She hadn’t even told her mother she was digging. “I have my doubts about the detectives’ ability to…detect. I’m just thinking about the puzzle piece of it all to keep my mind busy and off of thoughts of the actual body.”
“I’m so sorry you had to see something like that, honey.” Her dad’s tough voice came across emotional.
She really missed them. But not enough for them to come home. “You guys can’t come home. We had a deal. I don’t have anywhere to live.”
“But you need us,” her mother countered.
“Always. But that doesn’t mean you need to come home. Please. I promise I’ll contact you if I need you.”
She waited, biting her bottom lip, knowing that whatever choice they made, they wouldn’t necessarily be swayed by her.
“Fine. As long as you promise.” Her dad’s tone softened.
A promise meant something in their house. It should always mean something, but in a fast-paced, technological world where options were constantly evolving or changing, they didn’t always get seen through. Annie never said promise if she thought she couldn’t meet the obligation.
They talked for a few more minutes before Annie said goodbye. She tried returning to her work, but there was too much energy coursing through her.
Deciding fresh air could cure all, Annie left the house, ready to explore a different piece of town. She wanted to see where Ben worked. He might be the only person she could run her Margie-and-Joseph worries by. Margie was always in the right place at the exact right moment. And her face when she’d seen the photo? Surely Ben caught that.
She also wanted to bring him a thank-you for all of the help and support he’d given her since she arrived. Deciding nothing said thanks better than delicious food, she stopped at the bakery she’d passed over the day before.
More than Cake was an adorable store that reminded Annie of something from another era. The décor could have been inspired by the malt shops of the fifties. The wide windows were filled with a delicious collection of display desserts. She wasn’t sure if those ones were edible or for show, but she certainly hoped they sold what she saw there. She wanted one of each.
She pushed open the brightly painted red door to be greeted with a plethora of delicious scents. Vanilla, cinnamon, and chocolate were the strongest.
“Welcome to More than Cake,” a short, pleasant-looking woman said. She wore her gray hair in a bun. Her rounded face showed the lines of a life well lived and enjoyed. “I’m Hazel. I own and run the place. What’s your name?”
Smiling, Annie reached out her hand as Hazel came around the long display case counter. “Annie Abbott.”
“Ahh, yes. You’re John and Amanda’s girl. They were so excited about that trip. Are they doing well? Have you heard from them? I can’t imagine living at sea for a year. Of course, I’ve never been outside Rainbow Falls, so that’s not saying much. Terrible thing with Gill. Are you holding up okay, dear?”
Trying not to show her surprise at the onslaught of words, Annie nodded. “They’re doing well, and yes, I’m okay. I just hope they find whoever killed him sooner rather than later.”
Hazel smoothed down her red-and-white apron. “That might take some time. Especially if they’re making a list of people who didn’t like that man. He was some kind of mean—I’ll tell you that. Not like his business partner. There’s a good man. How those two came to work together is beyond my imagination.”
Huh. Annie wondered how well Hazel knew Conway. Mira seemed pretty certain her dad’s business partner was not worthy of Hazel’s praise. “I’ve never met Mr. Leese. I heard about him from Gill’s daughter.”
“Oh. That poor girl. I should take some goodies to her and her mom. They must be hurting something awful. Doesn’t matter what we all thought, he mattered to them. Look at me rambling like I’ve never had a customer before. What can I get you, Annie?”
She went back behind the counter, giving Annie a few minutes to decide. The display case was full of cream-filled delights; old-fashioned donuts; ginormous cookies; and, of course, cupcakes. The tartlets caught her gaze, but she didn’t know what Ben liked. She ended up going with what Hazel called the Rainbow Assortment Pack.
“The funeral is tomorrow. I’m wondering who they have catering it. I thought Bethany might ask me to, but I know she’s hurt. She may not be taking care of things for the service or the wake, but I sure hope it isn’t all falling on Mira. She’s had enough heartache, that one.”
Annie left the adorable shop with a bag full of goodness and a head full of questions. Hazel had made her wonder so many things. At the top of the list was Mira’s heartache. What was that all about? More importantly, did it have anything to do with a fallout Gill had mentioned? That had to be who he was referring to when he said Bethany had poisoned her thinking.
“I’ll bring her something tonight and see if she needs anything,” Annie muttered to herself. She couldn’t imagine what the young woman was going through.