He swallowed his tea. “You know you might be inviting her killer to your home, right?”
“Yes, but just think, I’d have everyone together from the cook-off. It might be the only way to get everyone in one place.”
“It could work, but it could be dangerous. I will only approve if I can be here to watch over things.”
“I figured you would say that. You can come as my date. Maybe then people won’t think you’re there to find a murderer.”
He tilted his head. “I can live with that.” He smiled the smile that stilled her heart.
She waited then asked. “Don’t you have news for me?”
“Oh, yes, right. We got the tests back from the pots of chili and from the fingerprints on the pots from the school. Both are a no. No trace of peanuts in the chili and no prints on the pots. The ladies at the cafeteria regularly wear gloves so that explains why their prints are missing. The killer must have been extremely careful or have worn gloves too. They must have added the crushed peanuts to the serving bowls. The good news is, we can rule out your bowl because she would not have died instantly after taking one bite. And even though she may have been experiencing some symptoms, she might not have thought anything of it. She had a reaction earlier in the day to something she was allergic to, but not so far as being anaphylactic. My guess is she still thought she was suffering a little from her morning reaction. Her mother told us about the morning episode. It wasn’t peanuts or she would have been in almost the same boat. Epi pens don’t always work when the allergic reaction is severe.”
Willow jumped up and down. “I’m in the clear. For sure?”
“Yeah, we pretty much ruled you out. Turns out your story matches your photos on Facebook and we could only assume that you would never have been taunting her if you knew your winning chili might have been in jeopardy. What most people thought convicted you, actually cleared you.”
“I didn’t think you did the social media thing.” She smirked.
He laughed. “For you I made a special exception. Besides, the guys at work are the ones who were checking out your page. They just showed me the posts.”
The sun was long past setting and the evening was getting quite brisk. Steve stood up and stretched. “You think you’ll be okay with her tonight? You’ll have to get to the store and get her a bed and more food tomorrow. Do you have time for that?”
She pet the adorable puppy next to her. “I’ll make time. Of course when word gets around that I’m cleared I might be busier than expected. I wouldn’t complain though. I’ll run out early tomorrow morning.” Willow followed his example and stood then stretched. “I think it’s time to turn in.”
Steve looked like he wanted to kiss her then thought better of it. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Save a slice of banana bread for me.”
She watched him get in his truck and drive around the circular drive way.
She brought the dog in the house, locked the door and headed for her bed. She didn’t experience a single bad dream or any tossing and turning. And she stayed extra warm all night. She awoke to a lick in the face. “I guess I won’t be needing a bed for you, now will I?” She laughed and held her dog close.
Chapter 8
Willow invited Clover for a ride and took off early for the pet store in the city. Embry had the day off and had come at the very questionable hour of 7 am. She wanted to meet her new “sister” and contribute to shopping for the new dog. She sat up front and discussed the progress of the case.
“Mom, I discovered a little bit of information. Apparently Beau Lovett and Delonda Posey were going to open a restaurant together. It was going to be one of these all natural, fresh, organic trendy places and the whole idea dissolved before it ever got off the ground due to Delonda changing her mind constantly. Apparently, it was Beau who put up the biggest portion of the investment. He lost everything. Every dime he put into it and she came out of it unscathed. To the say the least, he was furious. He has a very good motive for revenge.”
“I would say that puts Beau at the top of our suspect list.” She immediately started yelling at the guy behind her. “You idiot. Get off the road!” Willow gave the guy in the pickup truck who almost cut her off a dirty look. “Did you see that guy? He was so cutting me off in my own lane.”
Embry gave her a look. “Uh, Mom. He was in his lane. There are two turn lanes here. You actually were cutting him off.”
Willow looked over her shoulder at the guy who was now giving her plenty of space. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, Mom. I’m sure. This is why you don’t live in the city. You’d never survive.”
“Huh. Imagine that. Two turn lanes. I didn’t see the sign for two.”
“It was there, Mom. You just missed it.”
“Good thing my windows were up and he couldn’t hear me. I’d have to apologize.”
Embry just shook her head. “Perhaps you ought to consider placing orders online and having them delivered at the house. It might be easier on everyone.”
“You can do that?”
“Mom, welcome to the 21st century. Yeah, you can do that.”
“Even dog food?”
“Even hamburger meat.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously!”
“I’m going to have to look into that.”
Willow pulled into a parking place in front of the pet store. “You ready?”
“With you, Mom. I’m not sure I’ll ever be completely ready.”
Willow added toys and bones to her cart as well as some treats, a collar, a leash, and a new water and food dish so she could return Beth’s. She went ahead and purchased a doggie bed. Even though she had a sneaking suspicion Clover would be sleeping with her every night. She could always use it in the living room.
Willow glanced at her daughter. “You feel like taking a little detour?”
“To where?”
“Let’s go snoop around Delonda’s place. See if we can figure anything out.”
“As in breaking and entering?”
“No, as in hoping someone is there to let us in so you can “pretend to go to the bathroom while I keep the person occupied while you are snooping” entering. More like that kind of entering.”
Embry sighed. “Okay, let’s give it a shot.”
Willow had done her homework and knew exactly where she was going. They picked up a pie as a token offering then stood on the front porch, knocking. Finally, after several doorbell rings and several fairly hard knocks, an older woman answered the door.
“You sure are in a hurry. Got to give us older folks a little time to get to the door. We could be doing our bizness and not in a place to answer. You hearin’ me girl? You know my meaning?” She held open the door then led them inside.
“Yeah, I got it. Thanks.” That was one image she would have a hard time replacing. She lifted the pie up. “I got you a pie.”
The woman took the pie from her and placed it on the dining room table with the other dozen or so pies. “How many pies does one old woman need?” As if remembering her manners she said. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I know you didn’t come here to bring me no pie. What do you want?”
Willow paused. “Want?”
“On with it, Honey. You think I don’t recognize you from those videos of you with my baby. For all I know you’re the one who put her in the ground. Now, out with it. What do you want?”
“I just wanted to ask you a few questions. About Delonda.”
“Ask away. Everyone else has.”
Embry spoke up. “May I use your restroom?”
The woman shook her head in exasperation. “It’s down the hall to the left. But, like I already told you. I was doing my bizness ‘fore you got here and it ain’t pretty in there. Trust me.”
Embry felt an involuntary shudder and suppressed an urge to throw up. “Thanks for the warning.” She headed down the hallway and ma
de a point of opening and closing the bathroom door. She peeked in the other two rooms and found what must have been Delonda’s bedroom. She trusted her mother to keep the old woman busy while she snooped.
Willow continued with her questioning. “Do you know if Delonda received any threats as of late?”
“Honey, Delonda received threats on a regular basis. She wasn’t very popular. I don’t know why people even listened to that trash she put out on that computer.”
“Does anyone stand out, like they meant to harm her?”
The woman put her hand on her chin. “Hmm, let me think. Anyone who has ever owned a restaurant would have been out to get her. Anyone who had a cooking show. A food based bizness, like a bakery or a coffee shop. She has taken down food columnists, even critics. Or heck, even a catering bizness. I remember this one little gal opened this café with catering and Delonda trash talked her so bad nobody went back. She lost her bizness. She was none too happy, I’ll tell you that. But there were so many. Too many to count.”
“Do you remember who that woman was?”
“No, I don’t. She was some little white girl. I do know that.”
Willow rolled her eyes. That accounted for more than a quarter of the city’s population.
“Don’t you roll your eyes at me, Missy. I’m too old for that nonsense. Besides, all you people look the same to me.”
Did she really just say that? Willow hoped Embry would hurry up. She had to get out of this house. For being so successful in the food world, Delonda sure lived in a rundown neighborhood. Willow wondered about that.
“Ms. Posey, did you stand to benefit from Delonda’s demise?”
“Demise? That’s a bit too fancy of a word for me. Are you asking me if I got some money from her being murdered? Is that what you’re asking? Do you think I killed her for a little bit of life insurance money? Or a little bit of money in the bank?”
“No, Ma’am. That’s not what I’m asking.”
“You sure sounded like you were asking me that.”
Willow heard her daughter approach. “Mom, my stomach isn’t feeling too great. Are you almost done?”
Willow stood up. “Yes, let’s get you home.”
She turned to Ms. Posey. “Perhaps we can discuss this another time.”
She nodded. “Perhaps.”
Willow and Embry opened the front door to leave as Chief Grice was raising his hand to knock.
“You two again. Let me guess. Still looking for clues?”
Willow nodded. She had been with him the evening before and never mentioned her plans for visiting Delonda’s mother.
He lowered his voice. “Did you find anything?”
To this, Willow shook her head no. “A few leads to check up on. She seems to remember some white lady who was really mad at Delonda. But, since we all look alike, she can’t remember who the white lady is.”
He pulled her aside. “Why are you constantly one step ahead of me?”
“Because I don’t have to fill out paperwork?” She shrugged her shoulders and smiled.
The chief knocked on the front door as Willow and Embry drove away.
Willow sighed a breath of relief. “I’m so glad you came out when you did. I thought I was going to get pummeled with her cane. She clearly didn’t like us.” Clover, who was anxiously waiting for them, gave Willow a lick on the cheek. “Did you have a good nap, Girl?” She glanced at her daughter sitting in the passenger seat. “Did you find anything?”
“Of course I did. Wait until you see what I got. I’m not sure if her mother will miss it, but I found a whole file of people she had done an exposé on. A whole file, mom. The dirt on everyone.” She looked at her mother. “And just wait ‘till you see who is on that list.”
Chapter 9
Willow called Steve on her way home.
“Are you driving and talking on your cell phone?”
“Why, is that illegal here?”
He laughed. “No, it’s not. I just wondered.”
“You’re on speaker. Say hi to Embry—and Clover.”
“Hi, Embry. Hi, Clover. I thought you had to work this morning. I stopped in the shop for my banana bread and you weren’t there. Now I know the real reason you weren’t at work. So, tell me what you found. I know you found something.”
“I didn’t lie. I didn’t find anything. But Embry did. She just told me as we were driving away. We’re on our way back now. Janie covered for me so I could run a couple of errands. Meet me there when you finish up with Ms. Posey and I’ll show you what I have.”
“It sounds serious. I can do that.”
“Good. Your second piece of bread is on me.”
“Well, I should tell you, Janie told me the first piece was on you. You might want to charge me for the second.”
Willow laughed. “She knows me well. I have a soft spot for law enforcement.”
“All law enforcement?”
“Yep. All the boys in blue.”
“I’m not sure how I feel about that.”
“Just call it thankfulness.”
Both of them were interrupted from a firm throat clearing.
“Oh yeah, you’re on speaker and Embry’s listening in. Oops.”
He laughed. “Good thing she can’t see the color of my face.”
Embry joined in. “I can still hear the red in your voice. That’s good enough, trust me.”
All three laughed.
Willow pulled up in front of the shop in record time. Clover had to do her business and Embry offered to walk her. She promised she would come in when she saw the Chief pull up.
Janie had a long line of customers. What a joy to Willow’s eyes. This is what she needed. Steve promised he would get the word out she had been cleared. And he had done as promised. Her customers were returning in droves. She washed her hands then hurried behind the counter to help fill orders. By the time she was finished both Embry and Steve were sitting at an empty table waiting for her.
“Looks like you won’t have any excuse to leave any time soon.” He gifted her with that dimple.
She nodded. “And for that, I’m so very thankful. Here is a thank you present.” She placed a warm piece of chocolate chip banana bread in front of him, along with a cup of coffee.
“Why thank you. I can’t get enough of this stuff. It’s great.”
“It’s my grandmother’s recipe. I inherited all her recipes. I’m having fun trying them out. Most of them have been delicious. Want to come over for dinner tomorrow evening and be my guinea pig?”
“I would love to be your taste tester. What are we having?”
“I think I shall keep it a surprise.”
“You have no idea, do you?”
She laughed. “Not a clue. But, I will think of something.”
“Are you two ready to look at this list? Gosh. I’m thinking I’m still in high school.”
Steve got serious. “Oh, yeah, you had something to show me. I’m assuming it is this list?”
Willow gave Embry a swift kick and Embry scowled.
“Okay, let’s see this list.”
The list of names seemed almost like a personal vendetta. Steve glanced over the list then had to ask. “Where did you get this?”
Willow flinched. “Do you really want to know?”
“I’m not sure I do but you better tell me anyway.”
“As you know one of our errands today was visiting Delonda’s house. Which meant visiting her mother. They lived together. Which you also know since you were there too.”
“And she gave you this list? That was awful nice of her.”
This time Willow grimaced. “Well, not quite.”
He narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean, not quite?”
“Well, while I questioned her, Embry searched Delonda’s room.”
Steve shook his head. “So, you took this without her permission.”
Willow nodded. “Yep, that about su
ms it up.”
“You know this evidence can’t be used now, right?”
“We’ll just have to get the goods on the killer another way. At least we have a list of names to go by. This helps a lot.”
He agreed.
They looked at the names and some of them took the trio quite by surprise. Janie even found a moment to look over Willow’s shoulder. All three of the ladies gasped when they saw Annabelle’s name on the list. Willow saw it first. “Annabelle? What food business was she in?”
Embry filled her in. “Look at Delonda’s notes. Annabelle made candy. Turns out she particularly liked making fudge. Delonda took her down and hard. Look at this. This says her chocolate was grainy. Her fudge didn’t have enough flavor. Her cooking conditions weren’t sanitary. And her business skills were lacking. She overcharged. She even cheated people by tipping her scales. So far, from everything we have learned, a lot of Delonda’s accusations were nothing more than hearsay and gossip. She was lucky she didn’t get sued.”
Willow agreed. “I’d say.”
Janie gasped. “You guys. I found another name on this list. You’re not gonna believe who it is.”
Just then the bell above the door chimed. Molly walked in and waved to Willow. She held up a piece of paper.
Willow waved. “I best go get the list she made for me for Saturday’s cook-off. It’s going to be interesting to see who all comes. I hope everyone does.”
Janie grabbed her arm and showed her the name. Willow was confused. Molly? On Delonda’s list? Then it dawned on her. Molly had told her about her café closing down. Molly was the little white woman Ms. Posey spoke of. The one who lost everything.
Willow dismissed the idea. Molly wouldn’t hurt a fly. She was timid and allowed herself to be intimidated by people like Annabelle. She didn’t have murder in her. No way.
Willow sat down opposite Molly. “You made the list. Thank you.”
“I did. Sugar, I’m still not sure this is such a great idea.” Molly was still questioning whether or not having the cook-off was too soon.
“I think it’s going to go great. We could open up my shop and sell tickets to the town people. We could still make up some of that investment you lost out on.”
Molly’s eyes lit up. “Really? You’d be willing to do that? For me?”
“I don’t see why not. We have the space. People can mill about outside and eat their chili. There is a few picnic tables outside and we can set up some banquet tables for more seating and there’s the park across the street. I would think it would work, don’t you?”