Peril for Your Thoughts (Mind Reader Mystery) (5 page)

Great, he’d left his detective personality at work and his Nikos one under the gazebo, choosing to don Nik the nice guy instead.
So
not what I needed right now if I was going to have a chance at all of staying strong.

I smoothed my chignon and smiled pleasantly. “I’m fine, Detective. I’m used to this behavior. I told you my family was unique. The question is, How are
you
?”

He studied me for a moment, and then a slightly sad smile crossed his face, as though he wished we could start over. “And I told
you
my family is just as crazy. I meant: How are you with everything that’s happened to Jaz?”

“Oh.” My shoulders slumped a bit. “We’re okay for now, but she’ll go stir crazy if her shop is closed for long. Not to mention she’s a little shocked and upset. She might not have known Darrin that well, but still … he died in her store while she was right upstairs. I have her making a list of any possible enemies that she might have. We have to start somewhere.”

Nik slid his thumbs out of his pockets, and his eyes narrowed as Detective Stevens came back on duty. “Why?”

“What do you mean why?” I frowned. “Why on earth not?”

“Because you’re not a detective.”

I stiffened my spine and crossed my arms in front of me. “Apparently, neither are you. Why aren’t you out investigating?”

“Because it’s Sunday. And everyone deserves a day off. And my mother’s in town. And missing church was not an option. You of all people should know that, and why the hell am I explaining myself to you?” He scowled, pure frustration written all over his handsome face.

“Jaz doesn’t get a day off, does she? She’s looking at twenty years to life if we don’t catch this guy. That’s why.”

“Let me make myself perfectly clear. There is no
we
, Kalli. You are way too close to her to be of any help. Not to mention that if she truly is innocent, then there’s a killer on the loose. You could be in danger. So could she, for that matter.”

“What about you? She’s your landlady, for crying out loud. I might not be Sherlock Holmes, but I’m pretty sure I can deduce that’s a conflict of interest or something?” I gave him a smug look.

“And Detective Matheson is her ex-lover. I’m pretty sure that means I’m the better man for the job in a police department this small.” He smirked, but then blew out a large breath and rubbed the back of his neck before adding calmly, “Look, we both want the same thing here: to get to the truth. All I’m asking is that you cooperate.”

“Well, what do you suggest I do?” I put my hands on my hips and glared at him.

He mimicked my movements and I jumped back, nearly having a heart attack at his nearness. “Stay away from this case, and let me do my job,” he said with a growl.

I huffed.

He grunted.

And Frona screamed for all she was worth as someone finally caught her.

Later that night, we were having unusually warm spring weather so Jaz and I sat on our back deck. When the house was divided, she’d had the fenced-in backyard divided as well, along with two decks put on. Detective Stevens was nowhere in sight and neither was his beast of a dog, Wolfgang, thank goodness. His yard was a mess already, and he’d barely moved in.

My Calico cat, Priscilla, leapt on top of the railing and stretched out, staring over the perfectly groomed yard and landscaping. The snow had melted early this year. Flowers hadn’t bloomed yet, but the promise of their glorious splendor was in the air. I adored spring when everything was fresh and new and … clean.

Jaz still wore her track suit, and quite frankly still looked like a hot mess, but I’d convinced her to have her favorite toddy to help her relax. I’d fixed her a Bahama Mama while I sipped on a crisp glass of chardonnay. Usually Jaz was the strong one, pulling me out of my funk. It felt so strange to reverse our roles, but I knew she needed me. No matter how uncomfortable, I would do whatever it took to clear her name.

“So … how was your day?” I asked tentatively.

“Awful,” she responded, leaning back in her lounge chair and crossing her legs before her. “I can’t stand not being busy. I don’t know how people who don’t work manage their days without going crazy.”

“You need to keep busy. Find a hobby. Focus on something.” I paused for a second to let my words sink in, and then I asked, “Any luck on making a list of suspects? Who would like to see you get into trouble and suffer?”

She snorted. “Pretty much everyone in town.”

“Well, that narrows it down,” I said dryly, then adopted a no-nonsense tone like the one she had used plenty of times on me. “Jaz, if you honestly want to get your life back, you have to get serious about this.”

“I know.” She sighed. “I just needed a little pity party.” She pulled a folded up sheet of paper from her pocket and opened it fully. “For starters, Maria Danza hates me.”

“You mean the pastry chef across the street from your shop?”

“One and the same.”

“What did you do?”

“Remember the carpenter, Johnny Hogan, I hooked up with six months ago?”

“Yeah, the one who split this house in two? Why?”

“Well, he kinda sorta was her boyfriend.”

“What?” I slapped my forehead with my palm. “Oh, no, Jaz … tell me you didn’t.”

She winced. “I did. Several times in fact. What can I say? I’m a sucker for muscles, and the things he could do with those big hands were—”

“Jazlyn, honestly!” I puckered my face. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I knew you would disapprove, just like you are now.”

I relaxed my features and adopted a nonjudgmental tone. “It doesn’t matter what I think, you need to tell me everything if we are going to stand a chance of solving this case.”

“Okay, but in my defense, they were having trouble before I came along. Maria grew up in this town, just like you. While Johnny was an outsider, same as me.”

Jaz had purposely chosen a small town to start fresh and put her name on the map, knowing her mother would never step foot there. Johnny, on the other hand,
was
small town.

“Maria and Johnny were complete opposites, but she was the first person he met, and they formed a special bond, kind of like you and me,” Jaz continued. “They would have been better off remaining best friends, but he had to go and ruin it by sleeping with her and giving her hope for something more. Unlike you and most definitely like me, he has a hungry appetite, so to speak. It was only a matter of time before Maria’s pastry cakes wouldn’t be spicy enough for him. I can’t help it he prefers hot tamales.”

“Oh my.” I fanned my cheeks.

“Oh yeah. And it gets better. I knew it was wrong, and you know that I can’t stay with anyone for too long. I wanted to do the right thing and get them back together. But when I tried to break it off, Johnny wouldn’t accept no.”

“Oh wow.” I pressed my lips together.

“Mmmhmmm.” She cleared her throat. “I can feel you judging me.”

“I didn’t say a word.” She was right. We were best friends. She didn’t need a gift to read my mind. I smiled brightly, then quickly added, “Moving on. Let’s talk this out. Maria could have had a grudge against you and killed Darrin out of desperation. If she framed you for murder, then you would be out of the way in prison, and Johnny would get over you and come back to her.”

“That sounds like a legitimate possibility.” Jaz stared up into the sky, pondering my words.

“On the other hand, if Johnny couldn’t accept no, then maybe
he
killed Darrin out of heartbreak. Maybe he thought if he couldn’t have you, then no one could.”

“I never considered that.”

“Trust me. I’ve seen your exes in action. You leave a lasting impression on them, making that a definite possibility.”

“I can’t help it I’m so memorable.” She fluttered her lashes.

I shook my head with a grin, knowing that keeping things light was her defense mechanism. “What else do you have?”

“Well, there’s also Anastasia Stewart.”

“You mean the owner of Vixen?”

“Exactly. My one and only competition for your lingerie line. Before I added you, she was the only game in town. When I sold everything else except lingerie, she acted like my best friend. But the minute I added Kalli’s Originals, she turned into a she-devil.”

“Oh, my gosh. She could have killed Darrin out of greed. She had to know if you take the fall, then Full Disclosure will fold, and she will be the only game in town once more. She probably thinks I’d work for her, even though I’ve turned her down every time she’s made the offer. Is she really that greedy?”

“And then some. She was angry that you went with me and not her.”

“Like there was ever any choice.” I scoffed. “So is that it? Johnny, Maria, and Anastasia?”

Jaz frowned and bit her bottom lip. “Well, there is one more? It’s probably crazy, but it is a possibility.”

“Who?”

“Boomer.”

My jaw fell open until I finally sputtered, “Nik’s partner? But he’s a cop.”

“Exactly. He would know how to get away with murder and make me look guilty. He could have killed Darrin for revenge. I think he’s trying to punish me for humiliating him.”

“But you two broke up a year ago. Don’t you think he’s moved on by now?”

“You’ve seen the way he acts around me. He’s so bitter and angry still, and he hasn’t dated since. Every time I date someone new, it gets worse.”

I thought about that for a minute. “He’s handsome enough in his own way, but he wasn’t your typical type of guy. Yet you two seemed so serious for a while. And didn’t you date for nine months?”

“That was the problem.” Jaz looked sad for a fleeting moment, but then her stubborn side won the battle. She downed the rest of her drink before saying, “Boomer had to go and get serious on me. He
wasn’t
my usual type. That’s what I liked about him. He knew where we stood right up front, but he thought I would change my mind over time. Big lesson learned there: stick with my type.”

“Would getting serious really be all that bad? He seemed great back then.”

“He was great. The problem was me. Men are fun to play with but a whole lot of work to keep. My father was so needy, but my mother was a free spirit like me. Always off to some model gig while he stayed home with me and worked at the bank. He acted content and happy and never held her back, but I could see what it did to him. Boomer looked at me with the same puppy-dog eyes, and I just couldn’t put him through that. I might not be off on some photo shoot, but we both know it would only be a matter of time before my eyes would wander. So I ended it before either of us could get hurt. I just don’t want a serious relationship.” She nailed me with a pointed stare. “Do you?”

“Touché.” I held up my glass of wine and then took a dainty sip. “Wandering wouldn’t be the problem for me. Intimacy would.” I shuddered. “And his beast would always come between us.”

“And that’s a bad thing how?” Her lips twisted into a mischievous grin.

“I meant his dog, and you know it.” I stood up and pulled my sweater tighter around me. “It’s getting chilly,” I said, even though I knew my face was fire red. “We should probably go in.”

“You’re right, but in a minute.” She stood beside me and we leaned over the deck rail, looking out into the yard. I was planning my vegetable and herb gardens, and maybe some olives and grapes—all organic, of course—when she spoke again. “I’m sick of my own house already. Now that we have some suspects, what do we do next?”

I used a page from Detective Steven’s book. “
We
don’t do anything. You stay far away from this case and keep out of any more trouble.”

Jaz scowled. “I can’t sit here and do nothing, Kalli.”

“We have to eat, right? I will get us some pastries in the morning and have a chat with one Maria Danza for you. We’ll start there.”

“Why do you get to have all the fun? It’s not fair.”

“Trust me. Watching you two go at it would not be fun, or helpful to solve this case. I’m doing this for your own good.”

“Fine, but I’ll tell you one thing. I need some kind of excitement soon, or I’m never going to survive.” She began to pace, so I turned around to face her and leaned back against the railing. She might act all nonchalant like Darrin’s death was tragic but didn’t really affect her. Except I knew her better. She might not want a serious relationship, but she had a heart. It bothered her that she was the last woman he had been with, and essentially in the same room with him when he had died.

“It’s okay to be sad, Jaz. It’s normal.”

A flash of emotion crossed over her face, but then she let out a small laugh. “I’m fine. Besides, I’ve never been normal. You of all people should know that.”

I chose my words carefully. “All your excitement has done lately is get you into trouble. I know you don’t like to hear it, but I think a little boring would do you some good.”

At first she looked taken aback, but then some birds flew out of the bushes in our yard and startled me. She stared off at them for a moment, her eyes widening a fraction, until she looked back at me all calm and innocent. “I think you’re right. It’s time I left the excitement to you. It’s like you said. I’m doing this for your own good.” She stepped through the screen door, but closed it before I could follow.

“What exactly does that mean?” I asked, standing up straight and frowning at her.

“You’ll see,” she said with a cat-ate-the-canary grin, sounding like her old self for the first time since the murder, and then turned the lock with a foreboding click.

Ten minutes later, after relentless knocking to no avail, I was about to gather Prissy and head around front. That’s when I heard the snuffing and snorting behind me.

Miss Priss’s white fluffy hair stood on end, and she bolted to her feet. With eyes wide, she stared at something across the yard, and I was afraid to look. Swallowing hard, I ignored my crawling skin and turned in that direction. I was still terrified but relieved to see that Wolfgang was on the other side of the fence in Detective Steven’s side of the yard. Nik chose that moment to wander out on his deck in jeans and a sweatshirt with a beer in his hand. The dog jogged over to him, whined, and then pawed at the door.

“For the last time, boy. No more treats. Now, go do your business.” He glanced to the side and spotted me, smiled a pleasant smile, and held up his beer in greeting. I smiled weakly back and gave him a small wave. My gaze darted to the sliding glass door, and I choked on my own breath. Jaz had made popcorn, refilled her drink, and was sitting contentedly in a chair, thoroughly enjoying the show.

I gave her an evil look and was about to walk around to the front of the house to get inside that way when Nik spoke.

“Nice evening, isn’t it?” he said.

It was
, I thought, but responded, “It sure is, but I think I’ve had enough.”

And that was all it took for Wolfgang to notice my presence. He bolted to the fence, looking over the top while still on all four paws, wagging his tail and whining pathetically. His tongue hung out and dripped saliva while I tried desperately not to gag. I didn’t care how clean they said a dog’s mouth was, that could
not
be sanitary.

“He likes you,” Nikos said with a knowing smirk.

I couldn’t say the same, so I simply said, “Mmmm, does he? That’s nice. Well, it’s getting late. I’d better head inside.”

Prissy hissed, and Wolfgang froze. His tail stopped wagging, his tongue stopped flopping, and his adoring eyes narrowed with a look that said,
Mine
! He let out one loud bark, stood on his hind legs, and leaned on the fence. It didn’t take much for that sucker to fall to the ground, and for all hell to break loose.

I screamed as the beast charged into my yard.

Nik jumped over the deck railing and bolted after him.

Prissy let out a yowl and headed for the nearest tree.

“Wolf, heel!” Nik yelled, but the St. Bernard ignored him, blocking Prissy’s escape route.

She shot across the yard in another direction, and he gave chase once more. Nik ran after him, slipping and sliding on the slick grass wet from the recent rain as the dog kept evading him by mere inches. Meanwhile, I ran after Nik and followed Prissy. I almost caught her when she let out one more hiss and bolted up the tree to safety. Relief swept through me until I heard the whine again.