1 Depth of Field (5 page)

“Do you feel like you made the right decision?”

“That remains to be seen.” He shrugged and headed for the door. “After all, I have a murder to solve.”

“Will you leave if you don’t solve it?”

He flashed that smile I was coming to enjoy, but a little voice in my head told me he still loved his ex-wife. I knew better than to care about a man who wasn’t available. I had learned that the hard way.

“Failure isn’t acceptable. Good night, Makayla.”

“Good night, Spencer.”

And he was gone.

* * * *

Pounding in my head started as soon as I grew closer to consciousness. My eardrums pulsed, my head throbbed, and it seemed like the room vibrated. No, wait, that was just Talia. This time her music was worse, louder, and more grating. I couldn’t understand why she felt the need to drive me crazy when she had been considerate when I moved in. Unless I was already losing my marbles, Talia had cranked her videos as high as they would go. Now, peeping through one eye at my bedside clock to check the time, I regretted not allowing Spencer to reprimand Talia.

Enough was enough. I thrust aside my sheet and swung my feet to the floor. After throwing on a robe made of terry cloth, which I used only for that time of the month when the need for comfort skyrocketed, I left my apartment and charged up the stairs to the second floor.

I banged on Talia’s door. “Talia?”

No answer. I banged again and called her name. Still nothing. Worry stirred in me, and I began to wonder if the murderer had struck again. Talia was also very old. Perhaps she was in trouble and needed help. What should I do? Should I call the apartment manager or Spencer? The sheriff was out. He might have given me his personal cell phone number, but if I overreacted to this situation and called him, well, I’d look like a fool. I didn’t want to do nothing either.

As I stood there debating, the door leading to the street opened, and Brandon appeared. He looked up and spotted me then hesitated, holding a couple packages. Was I suspected now of hanging out waiting to nose through other people’s deliveries?

“Hello, Brandon,” I called. “I was trying to reach Talia, but she’s not answering. I’m starting to get a little worried.”

Brandon opened his mouth to answer, but Talia’s door banged open, and there appeared the tiny old woman, dressed from her headband to her slippered feet in shades of purple. “Brandon, there you are!” Talia declared. “You’re on time for once! Oh, good morning, Makayla. You really should take more care when you dress in the morning.”

I let out a tiny squeak of annoyance because at that moment, it was all I could manage. Outrage muted me. She knew I was at the door and ignored me. In fact, I suspected, she never would have come to the door at all had she not heard me speak to Brandon. Unless Talia’s ears were supersonic, she had probably been right behind the door the whole time.

I tried to see beyond her into her apartment while she stood out on the landing. A room divider set a few feet back from the entrance blocked the entire apartment from view, except for a small square of what looked like a throw rug set atop the wall-to-wall carpet. The bright pink design of the rug was indecipherable from my angle.

“Oh good, these are what I was waiting for,” Talia said. “Ollie will love them.”

All kinds of bad thoughts popped into my head, but I dismissed them.

I turned to face Talia as she tapped the electronic screen of the device Brandon held as she signed her name. When I met the younger man’s eyes, curiosity gleamed back at me. So he wondered, too, but he said nothing.

“Talia, your music woke me up this morning,” I complained when she gathered her boxes, one under each arm. “Please, can you keep it down until a reasonable hour?”

“Well I saw that the sheriff was gone when I woke up this morning,” she said with too much cheer in her voice. “I assumed you were awake, dear. I didn’t figure you might be too tired and need a little longer to sleep in.”

My jaw hit the floor, and Brandon’s face exploded with color. He pivoted on his heel and jetted for the door. “Wait!” I screamed after him, embarrassed. I ran down the steps, stumbling as I went and out to the street. Brandon’s long legs had taken him to his delivery truck and he was just slamming the door closed and firing up the engine when I reached it. My hand poised to knock on the sliding door, I halted and thought about what I felt I needed to say to him.

Now granted I was from New York, a highly populated city with tons of promiscuous and even just free-spirited people. There was nothing wrong with a man and a woman in this day and age choosing to sleep together when they had met recently or later when they had gotten to know each other. As consenting adults, who cared? The problem was the culture of Briney Creek. Everyone knew everyone else and their business. So while I believed in my viewpoint of sexuality, it did not translate to me wanting every citizen in Briney Creek talking about the day after I was suspected of murder, I had slept with the sheriff. The whole idea smacked of using my body to get out of trouble. Number one, I didn’t have that type of body, and two, it affronted both the sheriff’s integrity and mine.

Through the little window in the door, Brandon stared back at me as I looked at him. I came to the understanding that we had both overreacted to Talia’s meanness. He’d run as if he’d learned a secret that could get him killed, and I had chased after him as if I would do it. If anyone should be punished, it should that darn Talia, but I would give her a piece of mind when I walked back inside. I recalled that Brandon wouldn’t even discuss with me about the company name he might have seen on Talia’s packages. That had to do with not getting fired, but I believed he would keep his mouth shut about the sheriff. At least some people around here knew how to keep secrets.

The situation settled in my mind, I gave Brandon a wave and headed inside. No need to start any new rumors with the way I was dressed in my bare feet, hair a mess, teeth unbrushed, and engulfed in a bear of a robe. As I tiptoed over fallen branches on the sidewalk, I considered what Spencer would think of me if he saw me now.
“You look fine to me,”
he had said, and there had been a lot of meaning in those simple words.

Inside the apartment building, blessed silence reigned. I marched up to the second floor and banged on Talia’s door. This time she had to hear me. I waited, fairly vibrating in anger. She didn’t so much as stir, and when I pressed an ear to the door, I got nothing. I drew in a deep breath.

“Talia, if you can hear me, I will thank you not to spread false rumors about me and the sheriff.” The longer I spoke, the more my cheeks burned. “He didn’t stay the night at my apartment. I barely know him.”

The door popped open, and Talia’s crumpled, wrinkly face appeared. “I know that, dear! I’m not an idiot.”

I opened my mouth to respond, and the door clicked closed. I clenched my fists at my sides and grumbled. A sound behind me caught my attention, and I turned around.

“Hello? Hello? Is anyone there?” came the muffled voice of the neighbor opposite. I threw up my hands in defeat and stomped back down to my apartment. A donut with extra sprinkles or loads of glaze was what I needed, and the strongest cup of coffee Frank could produce.

After I had showered, brushed my teeth, and yanked a brush angrily through my tangled hair, I applied light makeup and dressed in a delicate peach blouse and a pair of slacks rather than jeans. I slipped my feet into pumps and prepared to leave the apartment. Only when I sat behind the wheel of my car did I realize that I had unconsciously dressed with the intention of visiting the sheriff that morning. I wouldn’t admit it to Talia under any circumstances, but if I did want to see Spencer on a personal level, I needed my name to be cleared first. What better way to make sure that happened then to be of assistance in his investigation? To sweeten the deal, I might even bring him some donuts and a cup of coffee. I didn’t know if he drank it, but it couldn’t hurt my cause. Good. The decision made, I started my car and headed out of the parking lot toward Main. Makayla Rose was a woman of action, and I would grab opportunity by the horns.

Chapter Five

I arrived at The Donut Hole at my usual time to find a line out the door. People stood around on the sidewalk chitchatting amongst themselves, but the small restaurant didn’t serve customers on the sidewalk. For one thing the “walk” wasn’t a walk at all but a lot for parking, just enough to slip in to grab a coffee and donut and to be on your way. I had heard Peony dreamed of setting up tables outside, but Frank didn’t feel it was safe, so the idea was scratched. Today, from what I could see as I stretched above the crowd, there just wasn’t any room to get inside.

“Is something going on?” I asked the person nearest me, a teenager with sloppy, dark hair that probably hadn’t seen a comb that morning. I had seen him visit with Inna previously. He had graduated the year before.

Randall, the teenager, turned annoyed eyes to me. “Frank asked me to come in and help out this morning since Inna has school, but I can’t even get in the door. I think they all just want to talk about the murder, and this is the best place to do it.”

He shrugged, and I looked back at him dumbfounded.

“I could be sleeping,” he complained. Must be nice to be young and have no responsibilities.

Slipping my cell phone from my purse, I said, “Maybe if we call…”

“What good will that do if they can’t hear over this racket?”

I raised an eyebrow at him, and he coughed to clear his throat, probably remembering that he bordered on rudeness. The line rang on the other end and I waited, a long time. On the fifth ring I began to think maybe he was right. Then Peony’s harassed voice came on the line. She sounded more haggard than usual. “The Donut Hole, Peony Trevor speaking. I’m sorry we’re not offering deliveries today. How else may I help you?”

They made deliveries? How hadn’t I known that? I’d have to keep it in mind. “Peony, this is Makayla. I have Randall outside, and he can’t get in. I understand Frank hired him for the morning to replace Inna.”

“Randall!” she shrieked, and I pulled the phone away from my ear, wincing. “We need him. I’m on the way!”

This was the most emotion I had ever seen, or rather heard, in the woman. I smiled at Randall and disconnected the call. “She’ll be right out.” The boy thanked me politely this time, and I waved a hand. I had every intention of following the two of them inside. My sneaking suspicion was that this knot of people were the usual in and outers. They formed a sort of line out of habit. I might have a better chance of finding a spot inside the restaurant like us regulars who sit and have a chat for a while. My thinking might have been wishful, but I would give it a try, especially since I wanted to show up at the sheriff’s office with something to negotiate with.

I kept my gaze locked on the entrance to the restaurant, expecting to see Peony at any moment. To my surprise, she appeared at the side of the building in the alley. She waved to us and signaled for us to follow her. I shuffled behind Randall, and she hesitated. “You’re coming too, Makayla?”

“If you don’t mind,” I begged. “I promise I won’t get in the way. I’ll rush right through your back area to the restaurant. I’m not trying to get ahead of anyone. I’ll wait my turn.”

She gave me a skeptical look, which I took exception to. I was not so addicted to my daily donuts I would resort to forgetting my manners. Randall must have guessed my thoughts and snorted.

“Okay, come on,” Peony said, and I followed her.

The noise level in the restaurant outmatched the hubbub outside. Every table was crammed full with customers, and friends stood alongside many talking to the occupants. My hopes of finding a tiny little spot were dashed as even the counter was overcrowded. Elbows poked against sides as some of the more determined patrons squeezed in to shout an order to no one in particular. Two more young people worked in a blur behind the counter, and Frank hobbled back and forth before the stove, deep-frying as many donuts as he could to meet the demand. Were they all really here because of the murder?

“I think the bank manager did it,” someone said next to me, and I turned to find one of the elderly ladies who usually occupied a corner booth. Her pale blue eyes were bright with excitement.

“Excuse me?” I inquired, thinking she spoke to me.

A group of people to the old woman’s right began a sharp debate over her comment, and the little woman cackled with delight. She winked at me and moved along with the empty tray she carried. As I watched, she approached the counter. A space opened for her, and new donuts and more coffee were placed on the tray. Magical, I thought, and then recalled Talia was usually one of this group, Talia who was engaged to Ollie. Ollie, who knew everyone’s business. Guess it didn’t do to displease the ladies.

I scanned the establishment, and my gaze stumbled upon Ollie himself. He stood at the elderly ladies’ table with Talia’s friends. I had no doubt Talia would be along shortly. While I watched them, Ollie met my gaze and nodded with a toothy smile. I returned his greeting and continued scanning the room. The place was a regular who’s who in Briney Creek what with Ollie, Talia, the ladies, Frank and Peony Trevor, and even the Brinlees, Inna’s parents. John liked running his gym next door to The Donut Hole for those feeling guilty about indulging to make it right with a jog around the indoor track. However, by his own admission, he did not approve of dumping junk into his temple, the name to which he always referred to his body.

“This is some turnout,” Ollie said, appearing out of nowhere at my elbow.

“It’s not exactly a party, Ollie.”

He pretended not to understand my meaning, but the smile never left his face. The awful thing was having fun. “It’s not? Well, you can’t expect less than this, Makayla, when we haven’t had a murder in almost twenty-five years.”

Now that answered a question I had had. They were all gossiping about it nonstop. I’d thought it would have calmed down by now. Ollie tugged my sleeve. He practically bounced in excitement. If the wrinkles in his face and hands weren’t so prominent along with the gappy smile and balding head, I might have thought he was a child. “Look over there,” he demanded, and I followed his rudely pointing finger.

On the opposite side of the room, through a narrow, shifting lane, I spotted Louisa Strombeck and Pattie Lane occupying a table. Their heads were lowered, and they spoke in obvious whispers even though I was too far to hear what they might be saying. At that moment, Louisa happened to look up and catch Ollie pointing. She glared, her hands balling into fists atop the table and lips disappearing in her anger. Ollie seemed oblivious to the fact that someone among the people we came across every day had committed murder, and he could be pointing at her right now.

I reached out to grab his hand, but he moved out of reach and let the crowd swallow him up. After he was gone, Louisa kept staring at me. I recalled my mission and refused to let her intimidate me. As I took a step in her direction, a shrill, angry voice caught my attention. I stood on tiptoe above the swelling line leading out the door. “Get out of my way!”

A bottle blonde head appeared sitting atop a petite, beautiful woman. I realized I had seen her a few times before but never put together her name until one of the women in the line touched her arm. “Susan, I’m sorry for your loss.”

Susan seemed to remember that she was supposed to be the grieving widow. Some of the vehemence left her face, and she nodded at the woman. I waited for a tissue to appear from nowhere in her hand and for her to dab dry eyes, but she didn’t go that far. Thank goodness. Still, Susan Aston seemed out of place in the Hole. In fact, she shrank from allowing others to touch her, as if she might catch a disease from us commoners.

Pattie Lane arrived to take her arm to lead her from the crowd, and I did my best to get in closer so I could hear any exchange. Susan offered Pattie a sour look but she didn’t pull away from Pattie’s touch.

“Why did you want to meet in this god awful place?” Susan demanded. “And so early. I don’t like getting up before noon.”

“Don’t complain,” Pattie told her, weariness in her tone, a hard feat when both of them raised their voices to be heard above the noise. “I wanted donuts. I didn’t think we would run into this, and you didn’t answer your cell phone. Plus, Louisa said she has to get in to work early.”

“Don’t want to keep
Louisa
waiting,” Susan snapped, rolling her eyes.

I tried to follow them, but found it impossible unless I wanted to step into the small area open right next to their table. That might be a little obvious. From my vantage point, I took in the ladies. All with perfect hair, and why not if Louisa used her talents for its upkeep. They were each of an age, maybe mid-thirties. In a small town like this, they had probably grown up together and knew each other well. Yet, from the way they treated each other—Susan and Louisa more so than Pattie—if they were friends it might be more because of proximity than anything else.

“For you.” Frank hobbled before me, leaning heavily on his cane. He held a plate of two beautiful glazed donuts, and my mouth watered.

“I haven’t ordered yet.”

He grinned, making the scar that had cut away most of his right eyebrow shift position. This was an odd phenomenon I found fascinating. “To thank you for bringing Randall,” he said. “I was getting desperate.”

Although he said he’d been desperate, there was genuine delight in his expression, and it puzzled me. I couldn’t hold back asking, “You’re thrilled with all this craziness, Frank.”

“Of course. All it took was murder.”

I blinked in confusion. My blood going ice cold. “What?”

He burst out laughing and waggled a thick finger at me. “You’re easy, Makayla. Look around you.” He gestured. “My family’s here.”

At first I thought he meant the citizens were all considered family, but no, he indicated Peony. She’d taken a break from serving to give her baby a bottle. Frank practically glowed with happiness.

“Not just them,” he continued. “Alvin Aston dying was a terrible thing, but look at all my customers. I can pay the mortgage this month.”

“Did you know Alvin well?”

He shrugged. “He was an arrogant bastard just like his wife.”

His sentiment took me by surprise, but I said nothing.

“By now, you’ve heard the rumors. Everybody knows I was having financial trouble. Alvin controlled my loan. Now he’s gone, a lot of customers are coming in. It might not last, but for now…”

Frank stopped talking and thrust the plate into my hand. He maneuvered with awkward movements through the crowd and soon slapped a beefy hand on the back of one of his friends. They laughed loud and gestured dramatically as they talked. I bit into my first donut and sighed. Warm from the fryer, moist and enchanting, it soothed me with its sugary goodness. By the time the last bite disappeared down my gullet, I recalled I had decided to have my donuts in the afternoon rather than the morning, so I could continue to visit with Inna now that she had changed her hours to then. Well, I could always come anyway and not eat donuts, I thought, but who was I kidding. The cinnamon and sugar hung in the air, almost like an invisible net waiting to engulf me and force my mouth open to eat. I mean, I
wish
I could blame it on force.

Accepting that I had no hope unless I figured out a better strategy, I approached the counter again. This time, I was able to catch Peony’s attention as she had finished feeding the baby. I put in my order for a dozen assorted donuts and two large cups of coffee. Then I braved the trek to Susan Aston and company’s table. I didn’t really think they would tell me anything, but it was worth a try.

Considering what Talia had told me of Alvin, as I approached I studied each woman in turn. Pattie wasn’t as attractive as the other two by modern media’s standards. While her hair appeared to be kept up by a stylist’s talents, the curls didn’t quite hold, and anyone with half an eye could see she had little body in it. Still, the style suited her oval face, but with an uneven skin tone and dull eyes, she seemed to pale next to the more vibrant Louisa and Susan. Did one of these women have an affair with Alvin and Susan found out? Thinking that Susan killed her husband for cheating just didn’t ring as a move she would make. From the little I’d seen of her attitude and what I had heard, I didn’t think so.

Louisa? With the level of malice she displayed to me and others, maybe. She too behaved with a superior attitude I found annoying. Then there was Pattie, quiet, unassuming Pattie. Where did she fit in with the other two? Why did they even tolerate her? I almost laughed out loud as I drew up to the table. Who other than Pattie could put up with Louisa and Susan? Even the mean girls needed friends.

“Good morning, ladies,” I greeted them and offered my best smile. Susan and Louisa glared, and Pattie tried for a smile but failed. Her lips moved as if she said hello, but I couldn’t hear her above the noise. I had no idea how to lead in to what I wanted to know, so I took the most obvious tactic. “Susan, I know we haven’t met, but I wanted to offer my condolences on your loss. I didn’t know Alvin really—”

“Fine,” Susan interrupted. “You said your piece. We’re busy.”

“Susan,” Pattie chastised her. “Enough! You can’t treat everyone like that.”

“Why can’t I?” Susan demanded. “
I’m
the one who lost my husband.”

The emphasis wasn’t missed on the other two women, I noticed. Both Pattie and Louisa’s eyes were red-rimmed, obviously from crying. Yet, Susan’s were clear and hate-filled. She actually despised the women she sat with for their love of her husband. For an instant, I felt sorry for her. Susan should have been his darling. In fact, she looked like the type, small-boned, ethereal, wide blue eyes and a glorious head of blonde hair. Still, Alvin had strayed. No doubt about it.