Nipped in the Bud (8 page)
I often had other business to take care of, and Hazel worked hard even when unsupervised. Like today, she was already at work replenishing stock by carefully picking through packets and then hanging the seeds on the display pegs. I watched as she found one of my favorite bean varieties. I could almost feel the snappy texture and taste the nutty flavor of the beans. Would I be a free woman to plant them this year?
I let out a long sigh at my inability to get a handle on my emotions and walked toward Hazel.
“Who is Paige Turner?” Mr. T called from his daytime cage behind the checkout counter.
“Who is Mr. T?” I yelled back in his
Jeopardy
format.
“
Don’t give me no
back talk,” he said, mimicking the real Mr. T. Freer to move about in the larger cage, he hopped from his swing to a limb and bobbed his head.
“Crazy bird.
Don’t know why I bring you up here with me,” Hazel said with affection then dropped the packets and came forward in a rush of energy. She flung out one arm.
What was she doing?
Awkwardly, she slipped the taut arm around my shoulders and squeezed hard. “I can’t believe what people are saying. How could they think you killed that man?”
Her hug sent tears pricking at my eyes. If Hazel Grimes thought I needed a hug and was willing to step out of her comfort zone to give me one, I was in trouble. I extricated myself before I moved on to crying like an infant and went to the register to set down my bag.
Willing the tears to dry up, I stared at the auto shop counter-top with names engraved in the wood by previous customers. Hundreds of names decorated the stained oak from who knew how many years. On her first day at work, Hazel had whipped out a pocketknife, scratched her name in a tiny space in the corner, and offered to do mine as well. Shocked that I had hired a woman who carried a knife, I refused. Now as I looked at the concern in her eyes, I wished I had let her carve away and engrave my name next to hers for posterity.
“I appreciate your support.” I rubbed my finger over her name.
“Means a lot to me.”
She tromped across the polished concrete. Her footfalls reverberated from the high ceiling, sounding like an advancing army.
Cali
, a stray calico cat that had adopted us, shot out from a favorite hiding place in the corner and ran for the side door.
Hazel opened the door and let her out. “Well, I’m not
gonna
stop there. The police chief called.
Asked me to come in after work.
I’m
gonna
tell him that you were here, with me, all day.”
My jaw dropped open from the offer. Much as I wanted to accept, I couldn’t let her do that. “You can’t lie for me, Hazel.”
“Shoot.” She waved a hand as if she lied under oath every day. “It’s the least I can do for you. People around here don’t have any idea what a great person you are. Not only did you give me a job when everybody else looked down on my clothes and manners, you pay me far more than you need to.”
Hoping to lighten the mood that was feeling oppressive, I laughed. “I guess I’ll have to cut your salary then.”
She crossed her arms. “I’m serious, Paige. You trust me. Leave me in charge. Let me help run the business. That’s
more’n
anyone else has done in my whole life. I won’t see you go to jail.
Even if I have to lie.”
“I don’t want you to lie.”
Her eyes tightened, surprising me with the intensity I saw burning.
“Fine.
I’ll do what you say, but I have to help look for the real killer.
Already told Zeke not to expect me to make his supper every night, in case something comes up.
He didn’t like it, but I don’t care. He can get his own supper for once.”
I had no idea how to respond. In fact, I was a little unsettled by her unbridled display of devotion. Hazel wasn’t the brightest bulb in the garden when it came to detecting subtleties underlying many conversations, and I didn’t want her to get into trouble over me. I patted her shoulder. “Just be careful you don’t get Mitch mad at you. He has a nasty bite.”
“I pity the fool,” Mr. T said, and I laughed at his timing while pitying Mitch for his upcoming meeting with my defender.
Heading for my office, I wound through stacks of small clay pots and the newer lightweight containers. A smile tugged at my lips over the fierce independence Hazel demonstrated. Nearing sixty, she was blossoming like a third-year perennial. I strolled past the
french
doors leading to display gardens. In mini-beds, I’d planted every plant I sold, so my customers could see them in a real garden setting. Today, azaleas and rhododendrons swarmed with riotous color, and the perennials
peeked
their first greenery above the heavily composted soil from a winter sleep.
In the back of the first service bay used for teaching Saturday gardening classes, I’d set up a small café with wrought iron seating. My customers could relax, browse through catalogs and magazines, and sip the finest of coffee. Wrapped up in my own problems, I reached the coffee counter before I spotted Lisa sitting at one of the tables.
“Hey,” I said and pumped coffee into a mug. “Hazel didn’t tell me you were here.”
“She’s too worried about you to think straight. I don’t know what you did to earn her loyalty, but I’ll never cross you again for fear you’ll sic her on me.”
“She’s my new secret weapon.” Cup in hand, I crossed the room to join her. “I think I might have just
sicced
her on Mitch.”
She closed the
Fine Gardening
magazine and peered at me with tired eyes. “Speaking of Mitch, anything new since last night?”
I sat across from her. “No. Our meeting is still scheduled for
. If all goes well, I’ll be back here to give Hazel her lunch break.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“Really?
You think
Mitch’ll
be finished grilling you by lunchtime?”
I gawked at her. My best friend thought I was going to jail. She might be dressed like a debutante at a garden party, in her cute linen
capris
and sleeveless top, but she sure knew how to speak plainly when she wanted to. Her blunt assessment of the situation revived my stubborn thoughts of doom along with the beginning of tears. “I don’t know when I’ll get back. I better get Teri to relieve Hazel in case I end up in jail.”
“Oh,
wait.
. .what jail? No, I didn’t mean
that
. Perry says it’ll probably take until Friday before they finish with the forensics. Mitch can’t do anything official until then. I just meant that Mitch probably won’t let you go quickly today.” She pulled a tissue from the large navy mom tote that accompanied her most places and handed it to me.
Whew, that was better—her explanation
and
not wiping my nose like she might with the twins. But what did she know? Did she really understand what was at stake? Unfortunately, I did. The tears really kicked in.
I sniffled and wiped. “Do you realize what we’re talking about?
My freedom.
I could go to jail for something I didn’t do, just because I can’t prove where I was.”
“Hey, stop or you’re
gonna
make me cry. Besides, you’ll get through this.”
I peered at the tin-covered ceiling and kept my head up until the tears stopped. Or maybe the force of gravity pushed them back in. “I don’t know, Lisa,” I said in a blubbery voice. “I don’t think I’m strong enough.”
“That’s what I thought when Ben died. But I made it, didn’t I? God got me through it.”
“Yeah, well, your faith has always been stronger than mine.”
“Not always. Not until Ben died. That’s when I figured out nothing in life was in my control.
Nothing
.
I was in the same place you’re at right now. No way
you can
handle this alone. Don’t waste any energy trying. Let God take you through it.”
“Says you,” I snapped. She’d pushed my button.
Control.
I could control this. Adam was coming, and together we’d succeed. After a final swipe with the tissue, I pushed back my chair and stood. “I have the best attorney and a few ideas to follow up on. When I get back from the meeting, I’m going to investigate and find out who did this.”
Lisa rose, empty cup in hand. “Good for you. You need to think positively and move forward. All I’m saying is remember who’s in charge along the way.”
I peered at Lisa, her face open and vulnerable. She meant well, meant to help, but the last thing I could do now was sit back and let God take the wheel. I had to act.
“Paige,” Adam called from around the corner.
“What’s he doing here so early?” Lisa stifled a yawn.
I shrugged. “He was supposed to meet me at the studio after the show.”
She shoved me toward the back. “Well, go clean up. You don’t want him to see you with mascara running down your face.”
I laughed at her decorum. “He’s a criminal lawyer, Lisa. I’m sure he’s seen far worse.”
“Yeah, but as you so clearly pointed out last night, he’s an available man. And you’re still very much single, in case you forgot.”
I groaned. What was with this sudden attempt at match-making? No matter. I planned on cleaning up. Not to impress Adam. No, I needed to present a strong front when I walked down the street and met with Mitch later.
In the tiny bathroom, I called Teri to relieve Hazel then repaired my makeup and straightened my plain white blouse. Straightening out my life? That was something else altogether. I could survive the unfounded accusations and figure out who killed Bud, I just needed a break. One that Adam was most likely to aid me with.
When I returned to the fragrant bay and spotted him, he was huddled with Lisa at the table so deep in conversation they didn’t notice me cross the room. Today Adam wore khaki pants, polished loafers and an olive green dress shirt under a corduroy vest. One corner of his collar sat on top of the vest, the other was tucked under. My fingers itched to adjust one of them, but that was too forward, even for me. So I waited and stared at the pair until he looked up and grinned.
“Something wrong with me?”
He sat up and preened like a showy hibiscus blossom.
He asked for it. I came forward, a playful grin in place, and slipped the hidden collar point free. “Not anymore.”
Lisa scowled. “Please, Paige, don’t start with this again today.”
I gave her a quizzical look. “Weren’t you the one who just reminded me that we’re both single?”
“Paige.” Lisa’s hand flew up. “Don’t you ever know when to keep what I tell you to yourself?”
“If I did, how long would it be before I found another opportunity to ask Adam if he was in a
relationship?
” Lisa freaked. Adam and I laughed. “Besides, when I came out here, you two couldn’t look any guiltier than if I actually caught you with your hands in the cookie jar.”
“We were just talking about the meeting with Mitch.” Lisa’s tone was all defensive.
“And your expressions say I’m sunk.” I took the chair to Lisa’s left.
Adam locked gazes with me. “I’m not, by the way. In a relationship, that is.”
“Good to know.” I smiled. “I’m surprised to see you this early.”
“I thought we could talk before your show. Maybe set a plan so when we meet with the chief we’re both on the same page.”
“I like the sound of both of us on the same page.” I grinned at him, and he returned it with a high-wattage smile of his own.
“Focus, you two.”
Lisa tapped her watch.
“Show time.
Twenty minutes.”
Adam turned fully toward me. “Now that I’ve had a chance to think about this, it seems as if our only course of defense is to produce evidence of someone else’s guilt.”
Could he get
more lawyerly
than that? Actually, I found it kind of cute and had a hard time not reverting to our previous topic. “I’m all for coming up with another suspect for Mitch to pick on.”
“Have you thought of anyone who might have killed
Picklemann
?” Adam asked.
“No, but I have two thoughts to follow up on.” I cringed as I realized I’d admitted to having only two thoughts. “The first one is to check out who was wearing white yesterday.” I looked at Lisa. “Remember I saw something white in the park from my apartment?”
“Yeah, but, Paige, you can’t check with everyone in town to see who wore something white yesterday. And if the killer really did dress that way, do you think they’d admit it?”
I shrugged.
“Probably not.
Charlie had on his white pharmacy coat. He also argued with Bud and threatened him, so we need to at least put him on our follow-up list.”
Adam nodded.
“Makes sense.
You said two thoughts?”
“Right.
The obvious suspect in many murders is the spouse. I saw Rachel
Picklemann
near the park around
yesterday, so we should look at her.”
“I can’t imagine that,” Lisa said. “Bud treated her like a princess. Gave her everything she wanted. Most importantly, he put up with her selfishness. Why would she want to kill him?”