Honeysuckle Homicide (Trash-to-Treasure Crafting Mystery) (17 page)

Claire Ann and I continued to watch her. I stepped closer to the counter so that we could talk without her hearing us. “She’s up to something,” I whispered.

“Well, she’d better not try anything crazy while she’s in here. I won’t put up with it,” Claire Ann said.

“We should just ignore her,” I said. “I can’t stop looking at her though.”

Claire Ann snorted. “Me either.”

“I wonder what she’ll do when she has to pay for the items.”

“I guess we’ll find out soon enough.” Claire Ann stood from the stool that she’d been sitting on.

Doreen stood in front of the cereal aisle for what seemed like forever. I wanted her to hurry up and get out of there. She was making me uneasy. I would have just left, but I didn’t want to leave Claire Ann alone to deal with her. Plus, I wanted to know what Doreen might say. She would probably accuse me of treating her poor son badly. Talk about a mama’s boy. I’
d never forget the fact that she tried to climb in the car with Ross and me the night we left for our honeymoon.

Finally after a few more trips up and down the aisles Doreen approached the counter. She still hadn’t acknowledged us. She placed her items on the counter and waited for Claire Ann to ring them up.

Claire Ann looked at me and I shrugged. She might as well take the woman’s money and let her leave. For once Doreen wasn’t speaking to me, and I was beyond happy about it. If she never spoke to me again I would be the happiest woman in the world.

Claire Ann checked out the items and gave Doreen her total due. Doreen pulled the money from her purse and handed it to Claire Ann. She still hadn’t uttered a word. Claire Ann handed her the change
and Doreen grabbed the bags. She weaved around me without looking at me. I was sure she watched me out of the corner of her eyes.

I wondered what she would have done if I’d spoken with her. She probably would have continued to ignore me. I had nothing to say to her so I didn’t test that theory. Claire Ann stared in shock because I knew she’d never seen Doreen quiet before.

I’d never seen her that quiet either. Heck, she’d had her teeth worked on while I’d been married to Ross and she still talked through most of that procedure.

Claire Ann and I watched her open the door and walk out. For a moment we stood
, shocked into silence.

“I don’t know what to say,” I said when she’d disappeared from view.

“I’ve never seen her not speak before. Maybe she had laryngitis.” Claire Ann sat on the stool again.

“She had to have something totally wrong for her not to speak.”

After staring at the door waiting for Doreen to pop back in and yell at me, I turned to face Claire Ann.

“That woman is strange.” Claire Ann shook her head. “Thank goodness she’s your
ex
-mother-in-law now.”

“Yes, I’m glad. Now I don’t have to listen to her ask why my hair looks as if it has a rat’s nest in it every Thanksgiving.”

As I walked toward the counter I noticed a card on the floor. Doreen must have dropped something out of her purse. I wasn’t about to run out there and return it to her. I’d stick it in the mail, but I wouldn’t deliver it in person.

I reached down and picked it up. When I turned it over I was shocked at what I saw. The name on the front of the card was Darcy Parish. It was one of her business cards. Claire Ann must have noticed the expression on my face.

“What is it?” she asked.

I met her stare. “It’s Darcy Parish’s business card.”

“How did that get here?” She leaned closer across the counter.

“I think it fell out of Doreen’s purse. It wasn’t here a minute ago. I know because I was standing right here. I had no idea she even knew Darcy.”

Claire Ann quirked a brow.

“Why would she have it?” I asked. “Maybe she killed Darcy.” My eyes widened.

Claire Ann shrugged. “You know she’s crazy. Anything is possible.”

“Yeah, but why would she want to kill Darcy
? And if she killed her did she kill Luke too? She wouldn’t have let her son go to jail for that.”

Claire Ann tapped her finger against the counter. “Yeah, but she would have let
you
go to jail for it. Maybe that was why Ross was there—he was trying to cover up the murder for his mother.”

“Or vice versa,” I said.

Claire Ann nodded. “They could have been in on it together for sure.”

I shook my head. “I still say Ross had nothing to do with it. He’s an idiot, but I really don’t think he would ever murder anyone. One thing is for sure though, I need to find out what Doreen knows about the murders. I have to find out why she had Darcy’s card.”

“That will require you having to talk with Doreen,” Claire Ann said.

I groaned. “Don’t remind me.”

It might be especially hard now that apparently Doreen was giving me the silent treatment. For once she wasn’t talking to me and now I was going to try to make her talk.

“Okay, I have to go.” I waved over my shoulder.

“I’ll call you,” Claire Ann called out.

After leaving the supermarket, I figured I’d pick up a bite to eat. With all the stress I really didn’t feel like cooking, so I decided to splurge on something from that new little cafe. I passed my car and headed
toward the Grits and Gravy Bistro. As I approached the door, the waitress from the other day spotted me. I remembered her name was Nicole.

“You do like this place, huh?”
she asked.

I smiled. “The food is good and that means I don’t have to cook.”

Nicole was leaning against the building. “I’m waitin’ for my ride.”

I was glad that I had run into her before she left. I’d wanted to talk with her since that first day when I’d been in with Kent. I wasn’t sure how to approach the topic. Although I was sure most everyone in town was talking about it. That was if they weren’t talking about me.

I leaned against the building beside her. “So do you like working at the restaurant?”

Nicole
smiled. “It’s a job. We do get all the food we want, so that’s a nice perk.”

I nodded. “That would be nice.”

I tapped my foot against the ground. She was probably wondering why I was hanging around.

“So that day we were in was the day of the murder
,” I blurted out.

She studied my face and then said, “Yes, it was. That was when we saw Luke having a disagreement with Julian.”

“So what do you think happened?” I asked.

She shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

I noticed that Nicole was watching someone behind me. When I turned around to look I spotted Connie walking our way. I groaned. If she heard it she didn’t say anything. Maybe she was friends with Connie.

There was no time for me to hide or escape into the bistro.
Nicole waved at Connie and I knew that she would stop to talk with us. I would have to find a way to excuse myself right away. Connie stepped in front of us.

“Hello, dear,” Connie said to
Nicole.

“I’m sorry
, I don’t know your name,” Nicole said, looking at me.

“Oh, this is Raelynn Pendleton,” Connie answered.

“So you two already know each other?” Nicole asked.

I forced a smile. “Yes, we do.”

“Listen, I am sorry I didn’t meet you the other day,” Connie said to Nicole.

“That’s perfectly all right. It would have been an awkward spot to meet anyone since that was the time they found poor Darcy murdered.”
Nicole shook her head.

Connie looked over at me. It was as
if she knew what I was thinking. She had been in the area when Darcy had been murdered just like she had when Luke had been killed. Connie’s look was making me uncomfortable. As much as I wanted to stay for their conversation, I wanted to get away from Connie. I felt as if she was reading my mind. She gave me the creeps.

“Well, I’ll call you soon,” Connie said.

Nicole smiled. “Yes, please do. We’ll set up another time.”

Connie stared at me for a moment before she turned and walked away. I was glad she was gone. But now I had to ask the woman what that had been about
. It was none of my business, but I wasn’t about to let that stop me.

“Wow, so you were supposed to meet Connie in front of Darcy’s office that day?” I asked
, trying to sound casual.

“Yes, crazy, huh?”
Nicole said.

“Was there a reason why you were meeting there?”

Nicole paused and then said, “You know, I think Connie may have had a meeting with Darcy.”

I nodded. “Oh, I guess that makes sense. It’s odd how that was the same time as the murder.”

She frowned. “Yes, I guess it is a coincidence.”

Nicole
continued to stare at me. I thought she’d made the connection I was trying to make in my mind.

“Are you suspicious of Connie?” she asked.

I tried to act nonchalant. “I have no idea. Do you think she did it?”

She paused and then said, “Connie? No. She wouldn’t do something like that.”

The waitress grew silent again and I figured I wouldn’t get any more details from her. After saying goodbye, I went inside the café and ordered pimento cheese with pita wedges and a side of sweet potato fries. Instead of taking the food home like I’d planned I decided to just eat there. I was one of only two customers, so it was relaxing and quiet. When I exited the restaurant, the waitress was gone.

As
I neared my Mustang, I spotted Connie coming my way. Unfortunately, our eyes met and there was nowhere for me to get away from her. She knew that I’d seen her. I refused to talk with someone who thought that I was a killer. She marched in my direction. I turned toward my car and acted as if I hadn’t seen her making her way toward me. I moved around to the car door and jumped in.

“Raelynn, I want to talk with you,” she called out.

I pulled away from the curb and punched the gas pedal. I didn’t look over at her. I knew that probably made her furious.

What would I do now? I hadn’t gotten any closer to finding out who had murdered Luke or Darcy. All I’d discovered was that I was the one under suspicion. I knew some people had looked at me because Doreen
had told them I was guilty, but I had no idea Connie was doing it too. That made me furious. How dare she talk about me like that? I had to calm down because being upset wasn’t going to help me at all.

Claire Ann was still working so I decided to pop back in and see her for a moment. It
was a good excuse to pick up a few items. My muffin baking supplies were diminishing and I never knew when a guest might show up at the inn. Muffins were now my breakfast specialty. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but I still felt I could make Honeysuckle Hotel a success.

I parked the Mustang in the lot and headed for the entrance.
As I approached the supermarket, I spotted two people who I didn’t want to see again. Shouldn’t they be getting ready for their wedding? I thought about turning around or finding a place to hide, but it was too late. They’d already seen me. Ross threw his hand up in a wave and Charity offered a half-hearted smile. She didn’t seem as friendly as before.

I forced myself to smile and wave back. Why was I even being nice to this man? He’d threatened to blackmail me and label me as a murder suspect. I should tell him to take a jump off the nearest bridge.

The happy couple stood beside Charity’s car, watching me. It looked as if there was no way I could get past without talking to them.

“How’s it going, Rae?” Ross aske
d with his smooth Southern drawl when I approached.

Charity tossed her hand up in a little wave.

“You all are shopping, huh?” I had no idea what else to say.

“
Charity’s going to make breakfast for all of us in the morning.” Ross showed off his cheesy grin.

I assumed that meant Ross and his parents.

I quirked an eyebrow. “That’s good. Sounds like fun.”

I hoped that I didn’t sound too sarcastic. I couldn’t imagine cooking for Doreen. She would complain about the way someone boiled water.
The more I thought about it, the more I couldn’t hold my question in any longer. I just had to ask about the driver’s license. Sure Charity could lie, but I’d like to think I would be able to see through her fibs.

“Charity, I found something of yours. It’s at my house.”

Her eyes widened. “Did I leave something behind?”

“
You could say that. I found your driver’s license in the bushes outside under my bedroom window.” I watched her face for a reaction.

Her mouth dropped.
“How did it end up there?”

“
You tell me?” I placed my hands on my hips.

“
It sounds like you are accusing me of something.” A line formed between her pretty blue eyes.

“Maybe it sounds
like I am accusing you because I am accusing you of something.” I stared at her, not about to back down. “You were at my house last night. I heard you and when I went outside I saw you. You were messing around the bushes. When I looked I found your driver’s license. Actually, the sheriff found it because I had no choice but call him.”