A Caffeinated Crunch: A Cozy Mystery (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book 2) (7 page)

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Authors: Constance Barker

BOOK: A Caffeinated Crunch: A Cozy Mystery (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book 2)

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“I’m sorry Lucille,” I stammered. “We had wanted to ask you something, right?”

Jules nodded. “Yes…we thought you were back here.”

Lucille began walking toward us. In one hand she held the dress and the other a pair of scissors. Jules moved closer to me as Lucille advanced upon on us.

“What did you put in your purse Lily?” Lucille asked. “I saw you shove something in it when I caught you two back here.”

“It was nothing Lucille.” My heart hammered in my chest and I couldn’t take my eyes off those scissors.

“Girls, don’t lie to me. What’s going on? You’re not stealing from me are you?”

I shook my head. “No Lucille, we would never do that!” I looked at Jules and then pulled the paper out of my purse. Lucille looked at the paper and the picture of the piece of torn cloth. She then looked beyond us on the counter where the torn scarf lay. We watched as Lucille seemed to age before our eyes. She turned and laid the dress down on a table, and to my relief, the scissors as well.

Lucille, looking very weary, sat down in a chair. I could feel my heart starting to slow down, but I wasn’t prepared for what I was about to hear.

Lucille looked down at the floor. “I was going to turn myself in tomorrow morning. I just wanted a few days of normalcy before doing so.”

Jules and I stood stock still as we listened to Lucille’s story. She sighed then looked at us with tired eyes. “I’ve been seeing Carl Jefferies for well on six months. I knew he was married, but he told me his wife was ill and that’s why he couldn’t leave her yet. But that she wasn’t long for this world and soon we’d be together. I, like a fool, believed him. Six months is a while, but I know how some sick people can linger on and I thought that was what was happening in this case. He was such a charmer too, but I guess most con men are.”

My heart went from racing from fear to slowly breaking for these women Jefferies had taken advantage of.

“He’d send me flowers, we’d go on picnics, and sometimes we’d rendouvous out of town. He’d say his wife’s sister was in town to take care of her during those times. Like a fool I believed him, or maybe in the back of mind I knew, but just didn’t care. And then he started asking for money.”

Oh crap, not the money again! “At first it was $50 and $100, and then it became $5000 and $10,000.” Lucille shook her head. “He said he’d been diagnosed with some rare disease, I can’t even remember the name of it, and that he couldn’t afford the medication. He even cried that without it he’d be dead in a year.”

Lucille looked at us. “I believed him. So I kept giving him more and more of my money. All told, it was $100,000.”

“Oh Lucille,” I said. “I’m so sorry he did that to you.”

Lucille shook her head. “I did it to myself. No one held a gun to my head.”

“But you were coming from a place of trying to help someone,” Jules countered. “He was coming from a place of deceit.”

“I know,” Lucille said. “But it doesn’t give me the right to do what I did.”

I steeled myself for what was to come.

“The other day when you two were in the shop I overheard what you said about Mildred. That she had been seeing Carl, and that he took advantage of her as well. That was a shock and I stewed on it all that night and the next day. I didn’t call Carl as he told me he’d be taking his wife to see several doctors the next few days. So all I could do was sit and think. The more I thought, the angrier I became. Then I just decided to forget it and go with my friends to the fundraiser. You can imagine my surprise to see Carl come in with his very healthy wife!”

“I was flabbergasted, but I couldn’t show it. I watched him and his wife through most of the dinner. Then I saw Mildred get up and walk out. I decided to follow her and see if we could talk. I went to the ladies room, but couldn’t find her, so I thought I’d go outside for some air. That’s when I saw her and Carl having an argument. I hid behind some of the golf carts so they wouldn’t see me, but close enough to hear. He was proclaiming his undying love for her and that she couldn’t leave him now. Mildred was crying and telling him to get away from her. He continued to tell her she was the only one he loved. The more I listened, the angrier I became. I felt a rage boil up inside of me, taking over my entire body. I felt weak so I sat down in one of the golf carts as I listened to his empty promises. The same empty promises he told me over the last six months as he drained my bank account. My head swirled and my heart raced. Anger was the only thing I could feel, from the top of my head to my toes. I reveled in it…it was my friend. But anger and rage are just as deceiving as he was. It was not my friend…the rage was only using me to a fateful end. I watched as Mildred tore herself away from him and headed back into the rec center, leaving Carl in the middle of the parking lot. I looked down and by some miracle the keys were in the ignition of the golf cart I was sitting in. I no longer had control. It was like I was outside of my body watching someone else take over. I turned the key and the golf cart came alive. I pulled out of the parking space and hit the gas. Carl had his back to me and was looking down, I think at his cell phone. He turned at the last second, likely hearing the golf cart speeding up behind him. I wasn‘t sure at that moment if he knew I was behind the wheel. His mouth dropped open right before we hit.”

“The golf cart careened over him and I hit the brakes, stopping just a few feet from him. I heard him moan and then he said, “You bitch, you broke my arm. I’m going to sue you for this!”

“He was going to sue me…he’d taken almost everything I had…my money, my dignity, my heart. The rage took over again. I put the golf cart in reverse and back I went, then forward, then back until I couldn’t hear a sound coming from his rotton mouth. Then I jumped out of the golf cart and felt my scarf tug around my neck. At first I thought he’d somehow gotten up and was strangling me, then I noticed the end of the scarf was stuck under the seat. I yanked on it and it remained stuck. I gave it another pull and I heard a ripping noise, but the scarf came free. I then rushed to the ladies room to gain my composure. That’s when I heard the screams and I knew why. I sat down in the ladies room as women came and went talking about the scene outside. It’s very surreal to hear people talking about something and knowing you are the cause of it.”

Lucille sighed. “I knew at that moment I should turn myself in. As I continued to sit there, I decided I wanted a few more days in my shop and home first. Then I would confess and take my lumps. You girls just beat me to it.”

Jules went to get Lucille a glass of water and I walked outside and called Eli who was talking with Mildred. I told the station it was urgent and they patched me straight through. He came out immediately and arrested Lucille, but he didn’t put the handcuffs on her as he marched her to the police squad car. At least she was able to keep a modecum of dignity as she said goodbye to her home and boutique.

The next day at the Coffee Cabana the entire town was abuzz. The morning paper announced that Lucille had confessed to the murder of Carl Jefferies. Harvey laid the newspaper out on the table in front of him as Miss Pickles sat curled in his lap. I noticed Essie kept her distance while the cat didn’t bother Hildie one bit. Toe came in and sat down with Harvey.

“I never would have guessed Lucille was capable of such a thing,” Harvey said as he stroked Miss Pickles’ head.

Essie walked over to freshen Harvey and Toe’s coffee. Miss Pickles raised her head and watched Essie waringly. “Harvey, if that cat bites or scratches me I’m booting it into next week.”

Harvey gently pushed Miss Pickles’ head back down. “Oh she wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

Essie rolled her eyes and sat the coffee pot back on its burner. “You never know about us women Harvey. We tend to come unhinged if we’re wronged.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” Toe said as he gave Essie a mischievous grin. “Well, now I know why Lucille turned me down for a date a few months ago.”

Essie’s eyes narrowed. I leaned over and whispered, “That’s one you don’t have to worry about.”

Essie turned on me and whispered loudly, “Who said I’m worried about how many women Toe dates.” With that she stormed to the back. I smiled to myself as I watched our customers in this small town of Sweet Home. I was sorry what happened to Lucille and Mildred and whoever else Jefferies conned. He didn’t deserve being killed, but then he played with fire. You play with a woman’s emotions and her bank account, you better be ready for whatever fate has in store for you. Fortunately for Lucille, the prosecutor was willing to lower the charge to voluntary manslaughter and she received 15 years, or 10 with good behavior.

The morning was slowing down and I watched as Toe, Hildie and Harvey talked about the happenings in this small town. Suddenly the phone rang. When I picked up I recognized Eli’s voice. “I hope we’re still on for Saturday night.”

Sounds good to me.

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