Girls' Night Out Murder (Ryli Sinclair 2) (3 page)

“Are you two lazy twits gonna sleep the day away? We’re
ready to rock and roll!”

I groaned and tried to roll over on my side. Unfortunately,
Aunt Shirley was sitting on my blanket so that wasn’t happening. Realizing it
was useless to fight, I sighed and opened my eyes.

“What?” I snapped. Usually I’m a morning person…just not
when I’m with Aunt Shirley.

“Can you two please quiet down,” Paige moaned from her bed.

“C’mon.” Aunt Shirley patted my shoulder twice. “You’ve got
about twenty minutes and then we’re leaving for the store. We’ve already had
breakfast. You two will have to hope for free samples at the grocery store.”

“Oh, goody…mystery samples for breakfast,” I grumbled.

The ride to the grocery store was thankfully quiet. Mom and Bea
decided to stay back so they could start on the list of food they wanted solely
for the day of the wedding. Our job was to pick up supplies and food to last the
week. I guess Mom and Bea didn’t trust us enough to get food for the
wedding…not that I could blame them. I didn’t exactly have the cooking gene.
That seemed to have slipped through my DNA somehow.

Believe it or not, the grocery store in Cavern Beach is
twice the size of the one we have in Granville. Since the towns are comparable
in size, I guess the fact Cavern Beach sits on one of the largest lakes in
Missouri makes it a necessity.

“Should we split up so this goes faster?” Mindy asked as we
walked through the entrance of the store.

“I know what I want,” Aunt Shirley said, making a beeline
for the liquor department.

I grabbed ahold of her sleeve. “Get back here. You’re not
getting out of shopping that easily.”

“What? I’m an old woman. I can’t be running around this big
ole store getting lots of groceries. My hip will start hurting, my mind will —”

“Forget it,” I sighed. “Not worth it, anyway. The three of
us will get food, you get your booze.”

“Well, if you’re sure…” Aunt Shirley took off like her ass
was on fire—so much for her bad hip. She grabbed a cart, plopped her oversized
purse down, and practically skipped to the booze aisle.

We watched in horror as she knocked over a preteen kid who’d
had the audacity to accidentally block access to the entrance of the liquor
section.

“I’m a little worried about the amount of alcohol your aunt
is drinking,” Paige said.

Mindy chuckled. “Oh, I suspect she’s been that way forever.
She’s just used to hiding it. Now she doesn’t feel she has to.”

Shaking my head at her childish antics, we quickly divvied up
the grocery list and went our separate ways. Since the girls know I don’t cook,
they decided they’d get the filler stuff, and I’d get the important things like
meat. Steak, chicken, fish…that I could handle.

I picked up enough meat to get us through the next four days,
then made my way over to the liquor department where I figured Aunt Shirley was
still browsing. I should have known browsing was too soft a word. Her cart was
filled with bottles of vanilla, orange, cranberry, and peppermint vodka. There
was even a bottle of Fireball Whiskey thrown in.

“I’m going to do all holiday jello shots. A cranberry, a peppermint,
and Fireball for the cinnamon!” my aunt exclaimed with glee.

“That seems like a lot of bottles.”

“I’m doing this for two nights,” Aunt Shirley said. “I’ll
make some up tonight and we can have them tomorrow night. Then we can decide
what we like, and I can make them up for the bachelorette party on Friday night.”

She was so excited about the prospect of contributing that I
didn’t want to hurt her feelings. I also had a feeling this could be very
dangerous for a group of ladies that didn’t typically shoot jello shots.

“There y’all are,” Paige said. “Mindy is still getting some
items, but I thought I’d try and find you guys and see if we are about ready to
check out.” Paige peered into Aunt Shirley’s cart and shuddered.

“Get ready to party, girl!” Aunt Shirley cackled.

Paige looked at me with fear.
      

“Oh, my gosh! Ryli? Paige? Is it really you?”

Paige and I turned around. My eyes widened when I recognized
the face behind the voice. “Julie Crider?”

Julie laughed and nodded as she reached over and hugged us
both. She looked good after all these years. She was still a little on the
plump side, just like she’d been all throughout middle and high school. But
somehow the extra weight worked on her. She had thick, dark hair cut into
layers that fell down her back and curled at the ends. Her pouty lips were
painted a deep red, and her eye shadow was subtle enough you hardly noticed she
had any on. The black slacks and red angora sweater hugged her in all the right
places. She looked stunning, even though it was only ten-thirty on a Tuesday
morning.

Feeling self-conscious, I smoothed my hands over my hair.
I’d hurriedly pulled it into a ponytail before leaving the house. The fact I’d
just thrown on sweats didn’t help matters, either. I felt dowdy next to her.

“Yep, it’s me,” she said as she backed away from hugging Paige.
“I can’t believe this. What are you guys doing here?”

“Paige and Matt are getting married this weekend at the lake
house,” I said.

Julie squealed. About four heads turned around to stare at
us. Oblivious to the scene she was causing, Julie continued, “I always thought
you two would end up together. I remember chasing him around the lake when we
were kids. This is just so amazing!”

“It was a long time coming, that’s for sure,” Paige agreed.

I noticed my Aunt Shirley tapping her toe and giving me a questioning
look. “Julie, this is my aunt, Shirley. Aunt Shirley, Julie was just one of the
many girls Paige and I hung out with during the summers we came down here.”

Aunt Shirley stuck her hand out. “Nice to meet you, dear.”

Julie shook Aunt Shirley’s hand then peered down into her
cart. “Looks like you guys are going to be doing some celebrating.”

I closed my eyes. Not only had I gotten caught looking like
I’d just rolled out of bed, but now she was going to think we were a bunch of boozehounds.

“Having a bachelorette party for Paige here on Friday
night,” Aunt Shirley said. “Why don’t you stop by? You girls can catch up.”

Why hadn’t I thought
of that?

“Oh, yes. Please say you’ll come!” Paige gushed.

“That sounds like fun, thanks! You know a couple of the
other girls are still in town, right?”

I knew Susie Shoeman was back in town, because she was going
to help Paige with her wedding cake. But I didn’t realize some of the other
girls might still be around. I’d never seen any of them around town when I’d journey
down to the lake house.

“They are?” Paige said.

Julie nodded. “Yes, Susie is back in town. She bought a
little bakery that’s located more downtown.”

“She’s making our wedding cake,” Paige said. “When Matt and
I knew we wanted to be married here, we looked up bakeries, and I saw her name.
Personally, I couldn’t believe she came back here after—”

Paige cut herself off. No one said a word. Well, except for
Aunt Shirley.

“After what?” she demanded.

I peeked over at Julie. She was chewing on her lower lip.
“It happened during the school year, so all the summer kids had gone home,”
Julie said. “It was our senior year. One night there was a fire, and her parents
were trapped inside and died. She and her older sister, Jolene, were able to
get out…but her parents didn’t make it. There were always rumors and
speculation about how the fire started, but nothing could ever be proven.”

I knew most of this story. I remember Mom telling Paige and
me when she got the news all those years ago. There’d been a fire and Susie’s
parents had died, yet no one knew how it happened. I didn’t know about the other
rumors.

“What rumors?” Aunt Shirley asked.

Julie looked over her shoulder to make sure no one was
listening. Paige and I did the same. Leaning in Julie told us, “You know Jolene
had had a long history of trouble. Drugs, boys, drinking…the typical teenage
stuff. The last few times, though, since she was technically an adult at
nineteen, she ended up doing a couple months in jail. She’d just been released
and was back in the home for a day or two when the fire broke out. Earlier that
night the police had been called out to the house because of a domestic
disturbance. When the police arrived, they realized it was Jolene causing the
problem. They left with a warning to her…and that’s the last time anyone saw
the parents alive. A few hours later the house burned to the ground and Jolene
and Susie’s parents were dead.”

Wow!

“What happened to Susie and Jolene?” I suddenly felt guilty
for never having thought of them after all this time.

“Jolene went crazy after a few years and they committed her
to a psychiatric hospital for about five years,” Julie said softly, chewing on
her lower lip. “The truth is, Jolene always blamed me a little for what
happened after the fire. I don’t know why, but for some reason Jolene thought I
told the police she set the fire. And then when Susie came to live with me and
my family after the fire, Jolene really seemed to hate me.”

“I’m so sorry,” Paige said, caressing Julie’s arm.

“Thank you.”
Julie nibbled on her lower lip, like she was deciding what else to
say. “
When Jolene finally got out of the mental hospital, she came back
here to live. I’m not sure why. She lives in the trailer park on the outskirts
of town, and pretty much does whatever she can to survive, ya know?” Julie’s
face turned bright red, and I realized exactly what she was saying.

“And what happened to Susie?” Paige asked softly.

“She actually stayed with me and my family until she
graduated. By that time the estate was settled and she received a settlement
and her family’s insurance money. So she just up and moved away. Can’t say as I
blame her any. I’d probably want to put this place behind me, too. But then out
of the blue last year she came back to town and opened up her bakery. It’s been
doing great, too!”

“I’m so glad I hired her to do my cake,” Paige said. “We
have an appointment tomorrow morning with her to finalize everything. I can’t
wait to see her.”

“Who else is in town we used to run with?” I asked.

Julie glanced up at the ceiling. “Well, let’s see. There’s
Whitney Lark. She’s now a realtor like me. She works for a different office,
though. Oh, and Debbie Sanders. Well, Debbie Lancaster now. She married Mark
Lancaster, and they have three little kids. I think that’s about all of the old
gang that’s left in town.”

Aunt Shirley tapped me with her cart. “You should invite the
rest of these girls to the bachelorette party. We’ll have plenty of jello
shooters.”

Like that’s the part
I’m worried about.

“I have numbers for both Whitney and Debbie. I can give them
a call for you if you like,” Julie volunteered.

“This will definitely round out my bachelorette party,”
Paige said.

“Okay,” I agreed. “Let’s do it. We’ll ask Susie tomorrow
when we see her for our appointment.”

Julie clapped her hands in excitement. “Well, I should run.
I actually just dropped by to pick up a bottle of wine for tonight. I have a
showing right up until my date tonight, so I figured I’d better run in now and
get it,” Julie said shyly.

I noticed her pink cheeks and asked, “So who is this someone
special?”

Julie ducked her head and hid behind her hair for a second.
When she looked back up I could see a sparkle in her eyes. “We’ve been seeing
each other for a couple months now. He’s
very
busy with his work, so getting together can be kind of difficult.
Actually,” Julie’s breath hitched, “you kinda know him. It’s your neighbor, Jim
Cleary.”

“Jim?” I exclaimed. “That’s so cool! I actually haven’t
talked with him since summer when I was up last.”

Julie smiled shyly. “Well, I’d seen him around, of course. And
we’ve had a few deals together with houses, but he’s so handsome and charming,
and kind of a big-wig right now…I never thought he’d give me a second glance.”

“That’s so romantic,” Paige sighed.

“You’re getting married in a few days,” Aunt Shirley
grumbled. “You think everything’s romantic.”

Julie laughed. “He’s really busy right now, believe it or
not. Even winter can’t slow him down. Not only are people from Missouri asking
him to build their houses out here on the lake, but also people from other
states. I’m telling you…he’s really going places. I know it sounds silly, but it’s
true. They like his easy-going manner and his honesty. Well, that and the fact
the man can build amazing houses.”

Paige leaned over and hugged her. “I’m so happy for you,
Julie. I really am.”

Julie laughed. “I’m so glad I ran into you all. I’ll
definitely call the other girls and invite them over Friday night. Around
seven, you think?”

“Sounds great,” I said.

“Here’s my number, in case you need it,” Julie said, handing
me her business card before rushing off to pay for her wine.

“There you guys are,” Mindy said as she pulled her cart next
to mine.

“You done?” Aunt Shirley demanded. “Because my hip is
getting stiff from all this standing around.”

“Actually, Paige and I have yet to eat breakfast. I believe
that guy over there is handing out wine-infused ice cream. I’m thinking that
will be our breakfast.”

“I didn’t say it was hurting
that
bad,” Aunt Shirley said. “I could probably go for some boozy
ice cream.”

I rolled my eyes. “I had no doubt.”

For the record, free samples at this grocery store didn’t
suck at all.

As I pulled the Falcon into our shared driveway, I was
surprised to see Jim’s truck parked outside his house. I figured as busy as
both Mom and Julie said he’s been I wouldn’t have a chance to say hi.

Aunt Shirley let out a little cat whistle. “Look at that yummy
treat,” she said, patting her short, white hair into place.

I looked over to see Jim leaning against his truck, his back
to us. Aunt Shirley was ogling his butt.

“Nice,” I said sarcastically. I popped the trunk to carry in
groceries.

Paige and Mindy laughed as they gathered up sacks and walked
into the house. Aunt Shirley was moving more slowly so she could still ogle. I
decided the rest of the food could wait and started walking the sixty yards to Jim’s
truck.

“I understand your deadline. Now, listen to me say once
again there’s nothing I can do right now,” Jim said. He raked his hands through
his light brown hair. “My hands are tied. If the materials aren’t in, they
simply aren’t in. I can’t produce them out of thin air.”

Uh-oh, sounds like a
pissed off customer
.

I didn’t want to seem like I was eavesdropping, so I tried
hanging back a little. Unfortunately, between the lake and open field, it made
for some great acoustics. I started hearing the conversation in my driveway.

Jim chose that time to turn around. His face went from shock
to delight at seeing me. He gave me a tight smile and held up a finger. Luckily
it was a nice finger.

Turning his back to me once again, I heard him say, “You’ll
want to think twice before you threaten me again. I’m doing everything I can to
keep this project on course. Don’t push me.” With that he hung up and turned
around.

“Ryli,” he said smiling. “Long time no see.”

Garrett is always complaining I don’t know when to just mind
my own business, but I had to ask. “Is everything okay?” I gestured toward the
phone still in his hand.

“Oh, yeah.” He dropped the phone into the front pocket of
his flannel shirt. “My secretary, Amber Leigh, got an order mixed up and some
of my supplies are a little late. It’s no big deal.”

“So you have an office here and another one in town?” I
asked.

“Yeah. When I first started up, there was no need for an
office in town. But now that things have taken off like they have, this,” he
said, pointing to his Morton building, “is my sanctuary.”

He flashed me his pearly whites, and I almost swooned. I
know, I know…I have Garrett, but there’s something very charismatic about Jim.

We’d taken a small detour on the way back from the grocery
store and saw a few of the houses he was building in a new subdivision on the
other side of town. They were remarkable…and expensive by the looks of them.
I’d say they started out at three hundred fifty thousand dollars just for the
basic house.

“What bring you guys down here? I’ve never really known you
to do a family Christmas at the lake house.”

“That’s why I wanted to drop by. We’re here for a wedding!”
I exclaimed.

He laughed. “Yours?”

“Heavens no!” I said. “Matt and Paige are finally getting
married New Year’s Eve.”

His grin was contagious and I found myself grinning and
tearing up all at the same time. “That’s fantastic. Glad it finally happened. I
know those two have been circling that fence for a while.”

“This is true. Anyway, I wanted to let you know all the
girls came down early to do wedding prep stuff, and maybe have a little
bachelorette party for Paige.”

Jim wiggled his eyebrows. “You don’t say. You asking me to
do some stripping for you?”

I burst out laughing as he moved his hips from side to side,
grinning at me. “Well, as tempting as that is, I was just going to invite you
over for the wedding.”

He placed his hand over his heart. “You wound me. I’ll have
you know I’m pretty good at bustin’ some moves.”

“I have no doubt.” We stood there a second smiling at each
other as a few snowflakes started falling around us. I decided now was the
perfect time to snoop a little. “By the way, I ran into Julie today at the
grocery store. Seems she was buying some wine for a date she was having
tonight.”

Jim’s green eyes twinkled back at me. “Is that so?
Hmm…wonder who that beauty is seeing?”

I swatted him on the arm. “Bring her, too. She’s coming by
Friday night for the bachelorette party, but an invitation to the wedding would
sound a whole lot better coming from you and not me.”

“Is that so?”

“Yep. Proven fact…girls like to be asked to weddings by guys.”

“Then in that case considered her invited. What time?”

“It’s pretty relaxed. Probably around two o’clock. I’m
hoping the weather stays this nice and I can take pictures outside. So once
that’s done, we’ll start with the ceremony and celebration afterward. Mom and Bea
are doing all the cooking and baking, of course. Except for the cake. Susie
Shoeman is doing the cake.”

Jim nodded his head. “Susie’s bakery is amazing,” he said. “I
helped her when she first came to town and wanted to renovate her store. Now I
pop in at least once a week for a treat.”

“I’m so glad she was able to put her past behind her and
come back to town. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for her.”

Jim frowned. “I know it’s hard for her. You heard her sister
still lives here? Came back to town once she got out of the psychiatric
hospital she was in for all those years.” He shook his head. “I don’t know how Susie
holds it together. I’m not one to gossip, but…”

Oh, but I am!

“But what?” I said, hoping for nonchalance.

Jim hesitated. “Well, let’s just say Jolene doesn’t exactly
have the most pristine of reputations. And there’s rumors of drugs.” Jim
stomped his boots on the ground, shaking off some of the snow that had gathered.
“That’s why I try to go out of my way and make sure I stop by Susie’s bakery
every chance I get. I want to make sure she feels welcome.”

You’re a good man,
Jim.

“I love it when Jim lets us stop by there.” A young boy of about
eighteen exited Jim’s shop carrying two large, yellow halogen work lights. The
easy way he carried the heavy objects, it was obvious he didn’t need any help.

Jim reached out anyway and helped him set the lights in the
back of his truck. “You just like the girl that works there on Saturday
mornings,” Jim chuckled.

The boy’s face turned red. He blew his sandy blonde hair out
of his eyes and smiled shyly at me.

“This here is Josh, my after-school and weekend helper,” Jim
said.

Josh reached over and shook my hand. Nice, strong grip.
“Nice to meet you. That your house over there?” he said, pointing with his
thumb at our place.

“Sure is.”

“I’ve always loved the symmetrical deck and natural lighting
you get from the windows,” he said.

I shot Jim a look. What kind of high school kid talks this
way?

“Josh here is strong
and
smart. I’m showing him the ropes on the contractor’s side of things. But he’ll
be leaving in the fall for college. Majoring in architecture,” Jim said
proudly.

Josh ducked his head and shuffled his feet in the snow,
obviously embarrassed by Jim’s praise.

Jim slammed the tailgate closed on his truck. “Well, I
suppose we should get going. We’re hopefully going to finish up on a house
tonight before my date. An out-of-town couple who’ve been pretty anxious for me
to finish.”

Josh chuckled. “Anxious is putting it mildly.”

You don’t say?

“And I should get the groceries inside. Aunt Shirley is on a
mission to make sure we’re drunk every day this week.”

Jim threw back his head and laughed. “Your aunt is definitely
one of a kind.” He looked over at our lake house and grinned. “Speaking of…isn’t
that her right now?”

Afraid of what I’d see, I slowly turned to look. Suppressing
a groan, I watched as an obviously freezing Aunt Shirley sashayed to the end of
the wrap-around porch in leopard print high-heeled boots. She looked like she’d
just escaped from the zoo. We all pretended not to notice when she slipped on a
slick spot of frozen snow and almost toppled on her ass, which caused her
leopard print mini skirt to ride dangerously high on her thigh. Righting
herself, she started waving her hands in a nice friendly manner. “Hey, Jim.
Good to see you,” she yelled over coyly. “Don’t you look handsome today.”

Jim waved back and whispered, “Is your aunt wearing a
leopard print mini skirt
and
leopard
print high-heeled boots in the dead of winter?”

“Don’t ask…just go with it.”

Jim chuckled and gave Aunt Shirley a big wave.