Full Bloom Page 4

  “Yeah,” Ivy nodded. “That’s such a crime of passion. She seems -- well -- rather dispassionate.”

  Kate sighed. “I don’t know. I honestly don’t. But it definitely is a possibility. If anyone had a motive to kill Chuck, she sure did.” She sank back in her chair and jotted something on her legal pad.

  “Okay, anyone else at all you can think of who could get past the dogs?” Ivy asked.

  “Not that I know of,” Kate replied.

  Holly tapped her pad with her pen. “So these three suspects all could have had opportunity. We don’t know if any of them has an alibi. And the cleaver was in the kitchen, so whoever got in had the means. What about motive?”

  “Well, I don’t think Tommy had a motive, that’s for sure,” Kate said.

  “Then why has he disappeared?” Holly shot Kate a penetrating glance.

  “Can you blame him?” Kate pounded the side of her chair with a clenched fist. “Bascom’s got his sights set on him. What else could he do?”

  “It does make him look guilty,” Ivy grimaced apologetically.

  Kate shook her head from side to side, jutting out her chin. “He has no motive.”

  “But Flo definitely does. And maybe Chuck caught Boyd stealing.”

  Ivy sighed, “But Bascom would argue the same about Tommy.”

  Holly threw her pad on the coffee table. “What’s the point of this? I mean, no matter what, there’s nothing we can do.”

  Kate leaned her head on the back of her chair and sighed. “I guess you’re right. There is no point.”

  “Okay, then,” Ivy said, laying her pad and pen down. “Kate, didn’t you say there’s a diner in Jacksonville that serves homemade pies?” Holly and Kate exchanged a glance, turned and stared at her silently.

  “What?” Ivy said, bending her arms at the elbow and turning her hands palms up. “We have to eat.”

  10 NIGHT VISITORS

  Ferocious barking pierced the night air. Holly jumped up in bed, her heart pounding. Lucky ran out of the bedroom, her nails clicking as she flew down the back stairs. Holly glanced at the clock. 2:24 AM. She pulled on her sneakers and dashed out into the hall just in time to hear footsteps descending the staircase.

  “Kate!” she called out, but received no answer.

  Ivy came out of her room, clutching her robe. “What’s going on?”

  “Don’t know, but it can’t be good.” Holly headed down the steps, Ivy right behind her.

  The kitchen light was on and the back door open. The sisters scurried out on the porch just in time to see Kate walking up the driveway, a broom slung over her shoulder. In the glow of the porch light they could see the three dogs feverishly sniffing around Chuck’s house.

  “Are you crazy?” Holly asked. “You ran out here in the dark by yourself with a broom for protection?”

  Kate shrugged. “The dogs were with me.”

  “Oh, Kate!” Ivy grabbed her by the arm. “A man was killed here two nights ago. What were you thinking?”

  Kate lowered her head. “I guess I wasn’t.” Looking back up, she smiled. “The good news is we scared off whoever it was.”

  “C’mon.” Holly shook her head grabbing Kate by the other arm. “Let’s get back inside.” She turned and whistled. Lucky, Amy and Winston came running.

  In the kitchen, Holly glared at Kate as she took the broom from her and propped it against the wall. “Call the police.”

  Kate sank in a chair and frowned. “Is that really necessary?”

  Ivy grabbed the phone. “I’ll do it,” she said and dialed 911.

  As Ivy placed the call, Holly turned to Kate. “Did you see anyone?”

  “No. As soon as I flipped on the porch light, I heard an engine start. The dogs flew out the door in front of me and by the time I got to the end of the driveway, all I saw were red tail lights turning the corner at the bottom of the hill.”

  Ivy hung up. “They said they’ll send someone over.” Sitting down beside Kate, she exhaled loudly. “I still can’t believe you went out there.”

  “Well, what was I supposed to do?” Kate asked, a sheepish expression on her face.

  Ivy shook her head. “Flip on the lights, let the dogs out and call the police. That’s what.”

  “It could have just been a wild animal,” Kate said. “Up here you don’t call the police every time your dogs bark.”

  “Oh, that’s just great!” Holly stretched her neck forward. “And the broom would have been a big help against a bear or a mountain lion.”

  Before Kate could reply, Lucky growled and went to the door at the sound of a car coming up the driveway, Amy and Winston following. Holly peered out the window. “You’re in luck. The deputy’s by himself.”

  Kate got up and opened the door. The dogs ran out and circled the young policeman, who stood still and let them sniff. “It’s okay,” Kate called to the dogs. “C’mon in, Jason.”

  Inside the kitchen, the deputy removed his hat.

  “I don’t think you met my friends when you were here the other day -- Holly and Ivy Donnelly. This is Officer Jason Bascom,” Kate said making brief eye contact with Holly as she said the deputy’s last name.

  Nodding at the sisters, the policeman asked, “What happened?”

  Kate recounted the events of the evening starting with the barking dogs, ending with the tail lights.

  Looking out the window towards Chuck’s house, the deputy said, “No lights on over there. That’s a problem. We’ll call Mrs. Dwyer tomorrow and recommend she leave some lights on.” Turning back to Kate, he continued. “In the meantime, Ms. Farmer, I suggest you call us if the dogs raise a fuss. Don’t go outside by yourself.”

  Holly and Ivy both turned and smiled at Kate. Suddenly, the dogs started to bark at the sound of another vehicle coming up the drive. Officer Bascom turned to look through the screen. Gently, he pushed the dogs away from the door and stepped outside.

  Holly went to the window. “It’s the sheriff.”

  Kate and Ivy watched from the door as the sheriff, not in uniform, stood talking to the younger Bascom.

  “Is the deputy Bascom’s son?” Holly asked.

  “His nephew,” Kate replied.

  “Uh-oh. Here he comes.” Holly moved away from the window.

  “Ms. Farmer, may I come in?” the sheriff asked through the screen.

  Kate stood up. “Of course.”

  Stepping inside, the elder Bascom nodded at Holly and Ivy. “Evening, ladies.” Turning to Kate, he said, “Jason told me what happened. Says you didn’t get to see the vehicle.”

  “That’s right,” Kate replied. “Just tail lights.”

  The older man sighed and bit his lip. “Still no sign of Tommy Cranston?”

  Kate stared at him for a moment, her jawline twitching. “No,” she finally replied, the single word chilling the room.

  “Just asking,” the sheriff said, lowering his gaze.

  Kate raised her chin. “Did you talk to Boyd Leggett like Flo asked?”

  It was the sheriff’s turn to stare at Kate. “No,” he returned icily.

  “Sheriff,” Holly intervened, breaking up the staring duel. “The other day you said that Tommy could have gotten into Chuck’s without the dogs’ barking. Tonight the dogs went wild when whoever it was pulled up next door.”

  “Oh, yes, Sheriff.” Ivy nodded, smiling warmly at him. “They scared us half to death. We’re glad Officer Bascom came so quickly.” Standing up she said, “We’re sorry to get you out in the middle of the night. Can I put on some coffee?”

  The sheriff’s icy coating melted under Ivy’s gaze. “Kind of you to offer, Ms. Donnelly, but no thank you. Wouldn’t want to put you to any trouble.” Turning back to Kate, his smile faded, but his expression had relaxed. “We’ll talk to Flo tomorrow about how to secure her place. In the meantime, you do like Jason said. Those dogs raise hell, you call us and stay inside. I don’t need another crime scene to investigate.”

  Kate just nodded. r />
  Bascom turned and opened the door. Over his shoulder, he said, “Lock this door behind me.”

  Holly closed the inner door and turned the bolt lock. Grabbing the broom, she turned grinning. “So glad you didn’t argue that you were armed.”

  “Very funny.” Kate sneered.

  “Don’t tease, Holly,” Ivy admonished. “But really, Kate, I agree. No more running out into the night.”

  Kate’s shoulders sagged. “I guess that was stupid. Thank you both for stepping in when things got a little tense there.” Laughing, she looked at Holly. “I enjoyed it when you used Bascom’s own argument about the dogs’ barking to shoot down his Tommy Cranston theory.” Tilting her head to the side, she said, “I know I didn’t see anybody out there before, but I feel pretty sure it was Boyd.”

  Holly sighed. “The only problem is the dogs didn’t bark at Boyd earlier today. If it was him, why did they bark tonight?”

  “Oh, yeah.” Kate frowned.

  “Well, if he was accompanied by someone the dogs didn’t know, they’d bark, wouldn’t they?” Ivy offered.

  “That’s right,” Kate straightened up.

  “But the same can be said about Tommy then,” Holly countered.

  Kate shook her head. “I’m going to bed. I just can’t think about this anymore.”

  As they heard Kate mount the stairs, Holly turned to Ivy. “Listen, I think…”

  “Yes,” Ivy said.

  “What are you saying ‘yes’ to? I haven’t even asked anything yet.”

  Ivy smiled. “You think we should not go home tomorrow -- that we should stay here until they catch whoever murdered Chuck. You were going to ask me, if that’s okay with me. Right?”

  “Right.” Holly nodded and the two headed upstairs to bed.

  11 BENNY

  “Good morning.” Holly raised her coffee mug in a toast as she stepped out onto the porch. “Looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day.”

  “For you maybe.” Kate frowned, looking up from the newspaper. You’re going home.”

  Holly grinned. “Oh, that’s right. We didn’t get to tell you last night. We decided to stay a few more days -- if that’s alright with you.”

  Kate’s eyes widened. “Are you kidding? Of course, that’s alright with me. I’d be happy if you two stayed the rest of the summer.”

  Holly just smiled, sank down into the cushions of the loveseat and took a sip of coffee.

  “I can’t tell you what a relief this is.” Kate folded the paper and leaned back in her chair. “I felt rather fearless running outside last night, but when I woke up this morning I realized how foolhardy that was. Then I remembered you and Ivy were leaving today and…”

  “You really didn’t think we’d leave you here alone -- especially after last night.”

  Kate groaned. “Ivy’s going to hate me. I’m sure you guys had plans for this week.”

  “Relax. Ivy’s the one who suggested it before I even asked.”

  “Suggested what?” Ivy asked through the screen door.

  “I just told Kate we’re staying.”

  “Of course.” Ivy opened the door, balancing a dessert plate bearing a blueberry muffin on top of her mug. “Is that Flo’s car?” she asked looking out to the road, where a grey Kia was approaching.

  “Yep, that’s her,” Kate replied.

  Flo’s Kia spit gravel as it climbed the drive. The car came to a halt and the two doors on the passenger side opened. A woman with tightly-permed grey hair and a much younger woman got out. Flo’s door opened and she hoisted herself out of the car. Looking towards the porch she waved and all three women headed across Kate’s lawn.

  “I heard you girls had some excitement last night,” Flo chuckled as she mounted the porch steps.

  Kate wrinkled her nose “Excitement is not the word I’d use, but I guess you could say that.”

  Flo smirked, then pointed with her thumb to the woman beside her. “This is my friend, Barbara and her daughter, Ashley. She’s the computer whiz.” Dressed in Daisy Duke denim shorts, her brown, curly hair tied up in a high ponytail, Ashley smiled and waved. Barbara just nodded.

  “Nice to meet you,” Kate said. “These are my friends, Holly and Ivy.”

  “Are you twins?” Ashley asked.

  Holly shook her head and Ivy replied, laughing, “No, just sisters.”

  “Don’t they look alike, Ma?” Barbara again just nodded in reply.

  “Enough with the chit-chat,” Flo cut in. “We got to get started over there.” Flo raised her chin in the direction of the house next door. “There’s a boatload of stuff to go through. You know, Chuck could never throw anything away.” She shook her head then turned back to Kate. “Don’t worry about a repeat of last night. I’m working on something.”

  “Such as?” Kate asked.

  Grabbing the bannister rail Flo started down the steps, “I called my sister to see if her son Benny will stay over. I’ll let you know what he says."

  “Okay.” Kate said. She watched as the three women crossed the lawn and entered the house.

  “Do you know this Benny?” Holly asked.

  Kate grimaced and shook her head.

  Ivy picked up her muffin, staring at it appreciatively. “Anybody in the house is better than nobody.”

  “I agree.” Holly nodded.

  “We’ll see.” Kate pursed her lips. “We’ll see.”

  ***************

  “Gin!” Ivy grinned as she laid down her cards.

  “That makes three games in a row.” Kate threw her hand down in disgust. “Great!” she said as one of the cards blew off the table and out into the yard.

  “I warned you. She’s a card shark.” Holly said tapping the screen of her Kindle. She snuggled into the chaise cushions as Kate scurried across the porch and down the steps to retrieve the card.

  As Kate returned to the porch, Lucky sat up and growled. The sound of an engine grew louder and both Winston and Amy stood up and stared out to the road. All three dogs began to bark as a gleaming black Chevrolet Silverado pulled into the driveway next door.

  Kate turned and called to the dogs. “It’s okay. It’s okay.”

  The dogs stopped barking, but stood on alert as a tall, young man with his black hair tied in a man-bun got out of the driver side and waved. Chains linked to his leather belt jangled as he moved. A leather vest topped a white T-shirt, revealing arms completely covered in tattoos.

  Kate waved back as the passenger-side door opened. A much larger man got out of the car, his caramel-color, bald head glistening in the sunlight. When he turned, Kate bit her lip to keep from gasping. The left side of his face was covered in a tattoo designed to look like an eye patch. Kate smiled lamely as the two men headed to the back door of Chuck’s house.

  “C’mon, you three.” Kate called to the dogs and mounted the steps. She stood silently, facing Holly and Ivy, her wide eyes unblinking.

  “Benny?” Holly grimaced.

  Kate just lowered her head in reply, her shoulders sagging.

  12 TOLD YOU SO

  “Don’t jump to conclusions,” Ivy said as Kate sank onto a wicker chair. “Remember, you can’t judge a book by its cover.”

  “Besides,” Holly added, a droll expression on her face, “their appearance alone may be enough to keep looters at bay.”

  Kate glared at Holly. “Very funny.”

  “Oh, come on,” Holly snickered. “Tell me you don’t think this is amusing.”

  “We’ll see how amusing you think this is tonight when we can’t get any sleep because our new neighbors invite a few friends over.”

  “That could be fun,” Holly said, fighting back a belly laugh.

  “Stop it,” Ivy said. “You’re not helping.” She turned to Kate. “I’m serious about not judging these guys until you meet them. Once when I was driving, I ended up in a ditch trying to go around a car that was broken down.” She moved to the edge of her seat. “Two scary looking men on motorcycles stopped a
nd got my car back on the road in no time. Before I could reach in my handbag to get some money to give them, they were back on their bikes, driving down the road.” Ivy gazed dreamily across the yard at the truck parked next door. “I guess you could call that a life-altering experience.”

  “You never told me about that,” Holly said.

  Ivy sniffed. “You think you’re the only one who can keep things to herself?”

  “Here we go again,” Kate said, sighing and shaking her head.

  “Sorry. This isn’t about us.” Holly faced Kate. “Seriously, though, just wait and see. After all, that may not even be Benny. That might just be two guys who came over to buy something.”

  Next door the sound of a screen door slamming caused all three women to look in that direction. Flo and the two men were headed across the lawn. Kate stood up to greet them as the dogs jumped off the porch and surrounded the approaching threesome. The fellow sporting the man-bun bent down. “Hiya, Winston. How you doin’, boy?”

  Amy stood watching. Lucky came up behind the man with the eye-patch tattoo. He stood still as she sniffed and moved in front of him. Slowly, he lowered his upturned hand. She licked it, looked up at him, then turned and walked back to the porch.

  Reaching the bottom of the porch steps, Flo tilted her head and pointed with her thumb. “Kate, this is Benny. He and his friend here are going to be staying over for a couple a nights.”

  Benny stepped forward and extended his hand. “Hi, Kate. Aunt Flo told us what happened last night.”

  He smiled as he shook her hand. “Don’t you worry. Me and Razor here, we won’t let nothin’ happen.”

  Kate forced a smile, glancing from Benny to the somber Razor, who gave a slight nod of affirmation. “Well -- uh -- that’s reassuring,” she said. “Oh. These are my friends Holly and Ivy. They’ll be here with me a few nights, too.”

  “Okay, then. I just didn’t want you to come out later and attack these guys with a broom.” Flo snorted as she turned and headed back across the lawn.

  Benny grinned. “Yeah, we heard about that. Like I said, you don’t need to worry. We’re gonna nip this thing in the butt, right, Razor?”