Tangerine Morning: Jezzica's Story (Serenity Cove Series) (16 page)

“Tasha and Lauren helped. When we put the rug back down it’ll add just the right mixture of texture and colors—sets the stage for the books.”

“I like the nostalgic symbol of having the same rug Anne used for story time. The exact one we sat on as children, listening to her read. I want to add a few vintage toys to this section.” Jezzica swung toward the door as Tasha rushed back into the shop like a summer storm.

“Aunt Jezz, you’ll never believe what I just learned.”

“Do tell.” Jezzica smiled and couldn’t wait to hear what had lit the animated lights in her niece’s eyes.

“Julia’s selling the coffee and pastry shop.”

Jezzica shrugged, puzzled by her nieces apparent excitement. “I know. She’s going to work at the inn, with Abby.”

“I want to buy it.” Tasha announced, initiating a more grownup voice.

Catylen straightened up. “What are you talking about? You need to finish college.”

“I’ll finish my classes online. This isn’t a whim. I wanted my own coffee shop before I even started college.”

Lauren moved next to her sister. “It’s true, Tasha wanted her own coffee shop even back in high school, and I for one think it’s great.”

“Don’t encourage her, Lauren. What will your father say?” Catylen shook her head.

“He gave up the right to have a say, as far as I’m concerned.” The light dimmed in Tasha’s eyes.

“The problems between your father and I have nothing to do with his being your father. He’s always been an exceptional dad.”

“You’re right, Mom. But Lauren and I still need a little space.” She paused as Lauren nodded in agreement.

“The coffee shop is what I really want. We could have an archway between the bookshop and coffee shop.”

Jezzica picked up the vision. “The shops would flow into each other.”

“Like some of the big bookstores back home.” Lauren walked to the wall facing Julia’s shop. “How hard would it be to remove this wall?”

“Wait.” Catylen raised her voice. “College is important.”

“Many of the students have decided to go the online route.”

“I’m going to talk to Julia. I would like to move forward with Tasha’s idea, and if she decides to finish her classes online and run her own business, then it’s hers.” Jezzica hesitated, and nodded to Catylen. “Only if you’re in agreement, of course.”

“Okay, but Tasha, slow down and weigh all of your options. I don’t want you having regrets later.”

“Even at the dorm, I make lattes and I’m forever coming up with new flavors. Imagine, living in Serenity Cove and starting my own business.”

“First of all, you’re over twenty-one and don’t need my permission or your father’s. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t going to voice an opinion.”

Jezzica adjusted the hem of her shirt over her jeans. “In the meantime, I’m going to talk to Julia, before someone else decides to make her an offer. Caty, come on and go with me.”

“Aunt Jezz, is it alright if Lauren and I go, too? After all—”

“Of course, I’m sorry, I wasn’t trying to steal your idea. I only wanted to make sure the option remains open.”

The four marched into the coffee and pastry shop on a united mission. Even Catylen, if her look of determination was any indication, had somewhere between the two shops taken up the cause.

“Hey, Julia.” Jezzica eased onto a stool at the counter. Catylen took the seat next to her and Tasha and Lauren sat on opposite sides.

Julia strolled over in her easygoing style with a dishtowel slung over her shoulder. “I must be losing it. Wasn’t Tasha just here picking up pastries and coffee? Don’t tell me you’re back for more already.”

“We need to talk to you. I want to make an offer on your business.” Jezzica stretched higher on the stool.

“It’s about time you figured out that if you removed the dividing wall, the two shops would make a great combo—just like the chain stores in the larger cities.” Julia picked up the coffee carafe and tossed a look Catylen’s way as she filled each of their mugs. “I’m also selling my house next door. Thought you might like to know.”

Jezzica crinkled her nose and threw Julia a look. “You never mentioned anything about combining the businesses.”

Julia shrugged. “Some things a body needs to figure out for themselves.” Julia raised her coffee mug in the air. “Shall we toast the deal?”

Jezzica raised her cup and the other three followed her lead. “Isn’t this a little premature? We haven’t settled on a price.”

“It’s a done deal from where I’m standing.” She gently touched her mug to the four others and took a sip. “That seals it. Now, I figured whoever bought the shop would turn it into a fancy latte shop—if they had any business sense. If you’re not of the mind to bake pastries—I’m willing to supply the shop with fresh baked goods every morning. That is, except Sundays. When I accepted Abby’s offer, I told her from now on, I don’t work on Sundays. If you plan to be open, you’ll need to stock up early.”

“If we’re not doing the baking on the premises, we’ll remove the big ovens and redesign the shop.” Tasha beamed with excitement.

Jezzica studied her niece. And unless she misread Tasha, it was a done deal in more ways than one. Jezzica had never anticipated when she decided to move to Serenity Cove that her sister and nieces would choose to follow. She hoped it was a good move, and that the bookshop and now the coffee shop were destined for success or she just might be leading the parade back to April Springs.

Chapter Twenty-five
 

Zack sliced open the flap of an envelope from Internal Affairs.
Effective immediately, you are relieved of duty until further notice, pending an investigation of the alleged charges of inflicting grievous bodily harm, resulting in the death of one of the suspects, during the arrest process of the following suspects: Gary Lane, Porter Gallagher, and Vincent Faraday. Please turn in your badge and weapon to your commanding officer.
The contents delivered the same impact as being punched in the gut.

He crumbled the letter without finishing it and held the phone to his ear until Logan answered. “We have a problem. What’s your ETA?”

“Ten minutes.”

“I’ll be waiting.” Zack paced back and forth in his office.
Was he at risk of losing his career?
He dashed to the coffee room, filled his cup and took it outside. Their conversation needed to be confidential—at least for now.

Logan zoomed into the parking lot of the station and Zack signaled him to stop and jumped into the passenger seat, thrusting the letter toward him.

A quick flash of anger reddened Logan’s face. “I’ll check my messages. Why wasn’t I notified first?” Logan unlocked his office door, and began searching through his mail. He found the dreaded official-looking envelope and ripped into it. “I need to confiscate your badge and gun.” He waited as Zack unstrapped his gun and removed his badge, tossing both items on the desk.

Logan placed them in his lower desk drawer and locked it. “We’ll get to the bottom of this. Until then, looks like you get your vacation time after all.”

Zack slumped in the chair in front of Logan’s desk. He didn’t find anything humorous at the moment.

Logan scrubbed his hand across his face. “You have time to take a run with me to Mariner Bay PD?”

“I suddenly have an abundance of time.” Zack exhaled heavily.

“I’ll call Ralph en route. He’s been around a lot of years and not much goes on in this general territory without his knowledge.”

“Isn’t this beyond the normal inquiry after a suspect is shot?”

“Right now, we need to find out what kind of muscle is behind these alleged charges. I’ve seen innocent officers fall hard if the wrong people are out to get them.” Logan drove through the covered bridge, which marked the halfway point between the two towns.

Two hours later, Logan eased the truck into Big Al’s parking lot, the café where Ralph agreed to meet. The sheriff had arrived before them, and leaned on his patrol car waiting. “Hey, Ralph.” Zack rushed over and shook his former superior’s hand.

Ralph nodded to Logan. “What’s going down? If we need privacy, it’s better to talk out here.”

Zack listened as Logan summed up the contents of the two letters before handing them to Ralph.

“This is the first I’ve heard about a formal investigation. The scuttlebutt hasn’t made the rounds.” Ralph shook his head. “I’ll put some feelers out, see what I come up with.”

“Thanks, Ralph. This screams of revenge or payback.”

“That’d be my take. First we find out who we’re dealing with, then map out a plan.”

Logan offered his hand to the sheriff. “Appreciate it.”

Ralph shook Logan’s hand, and turned to Zack. “You’re one of the best. We’ll get to the bottom of this.” He climbed back into his patrol car and rolled down his window. “Could be an outside source putting pressure on someone. I’ll do a little fact finding in that direction, too.” His tires kicked up gravel as he sped away.

Zack leaned back in the passenger seat, as Logan shifted the truck into gear and headed back to Serenity Cove. Zack searched his memory for clues, rehashing past cases. He’d exhausted his list by the time Logan maneuvered back into the station’s lot. “Thanks, man. You could’ve just taken my badge and left me to the sharks.”

“That I couldn’t do. Go home and I’ll keep you updated.”

“See you later.” Zack got out and swung into his own truck.

He considered canceling his dinner date with Jezzica. He wasn’t going to be in any fun frame of mind until this was over—one way or the other. All the legal ramifications aside, killing had never been easy for Zack to file away in the recesses of his brain.

He pulled into the church’s parking lot and went in search of Pastor Jim. He found him in his office and let out a forceful breath.

“Zack.” Pastor Jim rose and shook his hand. “What brings you here?”

Zack twirled his hat in his hands and started his story, then paused.

Pastor Jim came around his desk and put a hand on Zack’s shoulder. “Let’s go walk the grounds and talk.”

“I stand to lose my career.”

“Care to elaborate?” Pastor Jim pushed his hands into the pockets of his faded jeans in an easy Max Lucado style.

“The picture of the criminal lying there bleeding keeps replaying over and over in my mind. He was a ruthless killer—still that doesn’t make being responsible for his final breath any easier.”

They walked along in silence for a few minutes. “There’s more. One of the suspects tried to attack Jezzica. I wanted to take him out with my bare hands. To be truthful, I’m not sure what I might’ve done if Logan hadn’t stopped me.”

“Did you go beyond the scope of your sworn responsibility to serve and protect?”

“No. These were hard-core criminals.”

“Could you have aimed differently and only wounded him?”

“It’s doubtful. These situations tend to go down fast.”

“It’s not up to me to judge you, but it seems you were called to a crime in progress and did your job.”

Pastor Jim led Zack to a bench and they both sat. “Let’s pray.”

Unable to find words, Zack absorbed the pastor’s prayers. Pastor Jim once again put his hand on his shoulder. “We’ve asked God to reveal His truth to you. Go in peace.” Pastor Jim sighed. “Keep praying. He’s always ready to direct our steps and lead us closer to Him. He’ll give you the answers you seek.”

Zack stood and shook the minister’s hands. “Thanks.”

“That’s what I’m here for. See you on Sunday.” Pastor Jim headed toward his office.

Zack sat back down on the bench. The pastor’s prayer had struck a chord with him. He bowed his head and prayed for forgiveness and for direction with his life. “I want my life to be pleasing to you, Father.” He lifted his chin and stared, not really looking at anything.

“Hi.” Catylen sat on the bench next to him.

“Hey, Caty. What brings you here?”

“A meeting with Dr. Ellie.” She checked her phone. “I’m a few minutes early.”

“How’s Jezzica?” He stretched his legs out, crossing his ankles.

“She’s going full speed to get the shop open and it seems to be helping her cope.” The look in Catylen’s eyes softened. “How’re you doing?”