Raspberry Revenge (2 page)

Chapter 4

A
fter a moment of silence,
Grace asked me, “What was that all about, Suzanne?” just as Momma walked back into the room carrying a tray loaded with three mugs of hot chocolate.

“I might as well tell you both at once, but it’s not supposed to go beyond this room. Are we agreed?”

“I understand. I’ll wait in the kitchen,” Momma said as she put the tray down and turned to leave.

“Don’t you want to know what Jake just told me?”

“Not if I can’t share the news with my husband,” Momma said. “Go on. Tell Grace about it. It’s fine.”

“Okay, I’m going to make an executive decision. You may tell Phillip, but ask him not to say anything to anyone else,” I said, hoping that the circle of news didn’t extend any further.

“I can do that,” Momma said as she grabbed a mug and settled in on a nearby chair.

“Someone called in a tip about George,” I said. “He was seen leaving town in a hurry not long before I found Harley’s body.”

“That doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s responsible for the murder,” Momma said.

“I know that, and more importantly, so does Jake. It doesn’t help matters though, does it?”

“The question is what are we going to do about it?” Grace asked me.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Suzanne, even if George has a perfectly reasonable explanation for running away, he’s still going to look guilty until Harley Boggess’s real killer is found.”

“Are you saying that we should start investigating the murder even before Jake finds George?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Grace said.

I looked at Momma, expecting her to disapprove. Instead, I saw that she was nodding. “She’s right, Suzanne. Even the appearance of guilt is going to ruin George’s chances of ever being reelected again.”

“Momma, there’s a great deal more at stake than an election here,” I reminded her.

“I fully realize that, but George’s political life is extremely important to him. We need to find Harley’s killer before folks accept the fact, whether it’s true or not, that George is a killer and that he can’t be trusted.”

“We?” I asked her.

“Why not? I’ve helped you before. Why shouldn’t the three of us work together on this? After all, I knew Harley better than either one of you, and I have access to more people who associated with him than you two ever would, if you’ll forgive me for saying it. You both need me on this case, Suzanne.”

I wished that I could tell her that she was wrong, but I knew in my heart that she wasn’t. Harley had been a businessman who moved in my mother’s circles. Many of those folks wouldn’t talk to Grace or me unless my mother was involved as well. I turned to Grace. “What do you think?”

“It’s your call, but as far as I’m concerned, we can use all of the help we can get on this one.”

Momma nodded. “Then it’s settled. The three of us are going to solve this case together.”

“What is your husband going to think about us doing this?” I asked my mother.

“You let me worry about that. More importantly, what is
yours
going to think?” she countered.

“Jake might not be happy about it, but he’ll find a way to live with it,” I answered.

“As will my husband,” Momma said.

Grace grinned. “Don’t look at me. Stephen already knows that I’m going to do what pleases me; as a matter of fact, I think that’s one of the things he loves most about me.”

“Why wouldn’t he?” Momma asked as she smiled at Grace. “You’re quite a loveable young lady.”

“Okay then, it’s settled. It’s the three of us against one cold-blooded killer,” I said.

“The poor soul doesn’t stand a chance,” Momma said.

“Let’s hope you’re right,” I answered.

I’d worked with Momma before, though Grace was usually my sole partner in my investigations. When we’d first started digging into murder, George had helped us, but he wasn’t in any position to offer assistance on this particular case, even if we did manage to track him down. Momma, Grace, and I had never worked together on a murder case, and I wasn’t sure how it was going to go.

There was only one way to find out, though.

It was time to start looking into Harley Boggess’s murder.

I just hoped that George showed up sooner rather than later.

We had enough complications to deal with as it was.

“So, where shall we start?” Momma asked us once we got settled in.

“First we need to gather information,” I said.

“About?”

“Harley Boggess’s life and times,” I answered. “We need to know who disliked him enough to kill him, and we have to start from scratch.”

“Not necessarily,” Momma replied.

“Dot, do you know something we don’t?” Grace asked her.

“I’ve done business with Harley enough to know some things about him that others may not be privy to,” Momma answered.

“Such as?” I asked.

“For one thing, he and his business partner have been talking about dissolving their association for the past two months,” she answered. “From what I understand, there’s a good bit of acrimony there.”

“If they’ve been threatening to break up their partnership for months, then why kill him now?” Grace asked.

“The word out in the business world is that Curtis Daniels was getting fed up with the delaying tactics; Harley was dragging his feet, trying to extort more than his share of what their company was really worth.”

“How did you hear about that?” I asked her. “I haven’t heard anything about it.”

“It could be because we travel in different circles, Suzanne.”

“I get it. I know the common man, and you’re more acquainted with the elite of April Springs, is that it?” I didn’t much care for the implication. After all, my customers came in all shapes, sizes, colors, and socioeconomic levels.

“Don’t take offense. One is no better or worse than the other. It’s simply that the groups we have dealings with on a regular basis are different. If you don’t mind, I’d like to speak with Curtis myself.”

“Sure, but not alone, though,” I said forcefully. “That’s one of our hard-and-fast rules, Momma. Unless it has to be done solo, and I mean that’s the
only
way we get the information, we work in teams.”

“Very well. You both may go with me, as long as I’m allowed to do the majority of the talking.”

Momma was being herself, taking over at the slightest opportunity, but I had to stop that before we got in too deep. “Sorry, but you don’t get to make the rules here, Momma. We have to decide what’s best together.”

“I wasn’t trying to steamroll either one of you,” she said, and then she chuckled softly. “Well, perhaps that’s not entirely true, but I see your point. We’ll go together.”

“Sorry, but that’s not going to work, either,” Grace said reluctantly.

I was nearly as surprised as Momma was by the statement. “Grace, are you quitting just because there are three of us?”

“Of course not. I just know that some folks feel reticent about speaking with us when there are only two people asking questions. How do you think they’ll react if there are three of us?”

“What are we going to do?” I asked, seeing her point immediately.

“I suppose I can drop out of the group if it will make your investigation easier,” Momma said magnanimously.

“You can’t. We need you,” I told her, and then I turned to Grace. “What do you suggest?”

“We divide and conquer,” Grace replied.

“I meant what I said when I just told Momma that I don’t like the idea of any of us working alone,” I reminded her.

“Neither do I. When Dot gets a lead, you two can pursue it. When it’s someone we come up with, the two of us ask questions. It means that you’ll be there every step of the way, but it’s the only way I see this working.”

I nodded. It made perfect sense, but I was still glad that I wasn’t the one who had suggested it. It meant that I was in the middle of every part of our investigation, which was exactly where I wanted to be, but by its very nature, the arrangement meant that Momma and Grace would each see only parts of the whole puzzle.

“Suzanne, I think that’s perfect, but you’re going to need to make a concerted effort in keeping us both informed,” Momma said.

“I can do that,” I said. “So, who do we tackle first?” I wasn’t about to make one of them sit on the sidelines. They were going to have to work that out between themselves.

“I’m still free to make some telephone calls by myself, am I not?” Momma asked.

“Of course,” I said.

“Then I will stay here and reach out to a few folks who might have the information we’re looking for. In the meantime, you two girls can go out and see what the word is on the street.”

“We’re not exactly going to poll random people about who might have killed Harley,” I said.

“I wasn’t being literal,” she said. “Now, shoo, you two. Shall we meet back here in an hour?”

“Let’s make it ninety minutes,” I said.

“And at the Boxcar Grill,” Grace added. “What can I say? I know I’ll be hungry by then.”

“Very well,” Momma said. “Now off you go.”

Grace and I were out on my front porch when I turned and asked her, “Are we being railroaded here?”

“Your mother has a strong personality,” Grace replied with a smile. “That explains where you must have gotten it.”

I laughed. “I’d smack you if it weren’t true. So, who do we go after first?”

“I don’t care, but the first thing I’m going to do is go home and change. I’m not wearing a suit during these interviews.”

“I don’t know,” I said as I pretended to appraise her outfit. “You kind of class our team up.”

“I believe we’ll still be classy enough even after I change,” she said.

“Then let’s go. By the way, we’re walking, if you don’t mind.”

“The entire time?” she asked with a frown.

“No, just to your place, and then to the donut shop, since I left my Jeep there earlier.”

“I can do that,” Grace said.

Chapter 5

“T
here. That’s much better,” Grace
said after she came out of her bedroom, now changed into slacks and a nice blouse.

“I know that you have at least
one
pair of blue jeans,” I said, “but I rarely see you wear them.”

“I’m saving them for a special occasion,” she answered with a smile. “Let’s go start sleuthing.”

“I’m ready if you are,” I said. As we walked around the bend of the road from her home to the donut shop, we had to go right past Gabby Williams’s gently used clothing shop. None of my clothes would have been suitable candidates for ReNEWed, but I had a hunch that everything of Grace’s would be welcomed with open arms. Gabby was gruff and easily offended, but she was also one of the best sources of information in all of April Springs. We didn’t even have to drive to her store, since it was just past my shop on the way to the town square. I shivered a little when I thought about that building where I’d found Harley’s body, but I suppressed it just as quickly. I knew that I’d probably have trouble sleeping that night, but I wasn’t about to let the images haunt my waking hours.

As I walked past Donut Hearts, Grace asked, “Suzanne, are you lost? Your Jeep is parked in back, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but we don’t have to drive to where I want to go first.”

Grace’s smile wavered a bit. “We’re going to speak with Gabby, aren’t we?”

“I thought you two had worked out your differences?” I asked her. In fact, I’d been there to witness it, and if the peace that had been brokered was now gone, I wasn’t aware of it.

“No, we’re fine. I just don’t see any reason to push my luck with her.”

“You’re kidding, right? I constantly stay in the woman’s doghouse, but does that keep me from pressing her for answers when I need them?”

“You’re a special case,” she said.

“How so?”

“I don’t know, but for some reason, Gabby seems to really like you.”

“If that’s affection, I’d hate to see animosity,” I said as I approached her door.

“I can tell you from firsthand experience that it’s ugly, that’s for sure,” Grace answered.

I stopped at the door, ready to turn the handle and go inside, when I noticed a sign displayed prominently in the window. “THE SHOP WILL BE CLOSED ALL DAY TODAY. COME BACK TOMORROW.”

I gestured to the glass where it was taped. “I didn’t even know she was leaving town.”

“I didn’t, either. When do you think she’ll be back?”

I looked at Grace oddly and then back at the sign again. “Tomorrow,” I said as I tapped out the word with my knuckle.

“Sure, but when did she put it up? It’s pretty clever, actually. It leaves her free to return whenever she’d like. If it was first posted yesterday, one might assume that she’s coming back sometime today, but if it just went up, then we’ve lost one of our best sources in town for the next twenty-four hours.”

“I doubt that you’re really all that unhappy about it,” I said.

“Don’t be so sure. Gabby’s useful,” Grace said. “I never denied that. So, if we can’t use her as a resource, who do we speak with in her place?”

I was trying to come up with an answer when I heard my name being called from down the street. I looked over to see Christine Hargraves, my friend and Emily’s mother, approaching.

“Hi, Christine,” I said when she got to us.

“Hello. Hi, Grace.” Christine had clothes covered in a dry-cleaning bag in her arms, and when she looked at Gabby’s sign, she frowned. “Where could she be?”

“Did you have an appointment with her to resell those things?” I asked her.

“No, but I just assumed that she’d be here. I brought some of my nicer things by a few days ago, but she wouldn’t even look at them until I had them dry-cleaned first. Can you imagine that?”

“From Gabby, I have no problem believing it. How are Emily and the guys doing?” The guys in question were her three stuffed animals she’d had since she’d been a little girl. Not only was her business named for them, Two Cows and a Moose, but they were prominently displayed in the newsstand as well. Emily often dressed them up in costumes, and I had to admire her business acumen. A great many folks came by just to see what they were wearing at the moment.

“They’re all perfect,” she said with a grin. “Have you been by the shop lately?”

“No, not for a while,” I admitted. “What are they wearing?”

“She’s dressed all three of them up as snowmen! I suppose I should say two snow cows and a snow moose, to be proper. They’re so adorable in their costumes. I don’t know where she gets her creative streak. It’s certainly not from her father or me.” She looked at me for a second before she asked, “Were you looking for Gabby, too?”

“I thought I’d take a chance and try her,” I said.

“To talk or to shop?” Christine asked us.

“Would both be an answer that suited you?” Grace asked with a grin.

“I know the two of you. You’re looking into Harley Boggess’s murder together, aren’t you?”

I simply shrugged, but as I did, Grace nodded enthusiastically as she replied in the affirmative.

Christine looked pleased. “I thought as much. Actually, I might be able to help you.”

“You?” I asked. “I wasn’t aware that you even knew Harley.”

“In passing, but that’s not particularly relevant. I was out taking a stroll alone a few nights ago while my husband was home building one of his model planes, and I happened to spot Harley having an argument under the town clock.”

“Who was he arguing with?” Grace and I asked nearly simultaneously.

“Ordinarily I wouldn’t say anything, since I detest gossip, but this might be significant, so I’ll make an exception this once.”

She was clearly reluctant to talk, and I knew that I couldn’t compel her to if she didn’t want to. Jake and his fellow officers had ways to make people talk to them, but all that Grace and I had were our friendly faces and willing ears. It was enough more times than not, but it didn’t always work.

“Don’t worry, Christine. We’ll keep whatever you tell us in confidence,” Grace said.

“If we can,” I added.

“I understand,” she said as she nodded. “I’m probably just being silly making such a big fuss out of it. It might be easily explained away.”

“Then let’s do that person the service of allowing them the opportunity,” I said gently. “Otherwise, we’ll always assume the worst.”

“I never thought of it that way,” Christine said, and after a few brief nods, she added, “Harley was having a rather testy conversation with Nathaniel Bloom. I doubt that either man even noticed me, but I surely noticed them.”

“Did you happen to hear what they were arguing about?” I asked her.

“I couldn’t tell, but both men were deadly serious,” she replied. “I shouldn’t have used that expression, but you know what I mean.”

“Was there anything physical about their confrontation?” Grace asked her.

“What do you mean, did anyone throw a punch? Not that I could tell. I just saw them for less than a minute as I crossed the street in front of the newspaper building. Honestly, I was embarrassed for them both, and I didn’t want them to know that I was even there.”

“Thank you for telling us about it,” I said.

“Of course. As I said, I’m sure that it was nothing.” She glanced at the sign again, and then she said, “Well, I suppose I should take these things back home until Gabby returns. Good-bye, ladies.”

After we said our farewells, Grace asked me, “What do you make of that?”

“It sounds like we need to speak with Nathaniel Bloom,” I said as I glanced at my watch. “If we’re lucky, he’ll still be in his office.” Nathaniel not only served on the city council with Harley, but his office was in the same general area just off Viewmont Avenue, the road that led to Union Square. “Let’s go see if we can find him,” I said as Grace and I turned and headed for my Jeep.

I agreed with her about riding instead of walking. The office was definitely too far to make it on foot if we had any hope of meeting Momma in time.