Death by Tea (26 page)

I just sat there, unsure what to say. I'd been hoping Sara might have recognized one of the women in the book, if she hadn't killed David, but I wasn't about to show it to her again, let alone ask. I was beginning to wonder if any of this had anything to do with David's love life at all, or even his secret life. Could something else have been the cause of his death, something that was sitting right in front of me this entire time that I was too blind to see?

“Now,” Sara said, drawing me out of my ruminations. “I do believe you should go. I have things to do.” She opened her book and pointedly looked away.

I rose. “Thank you for your time.” It came out flat, but I couldn't manage much more. I felt as if everything I'd known about the case was wrong, that I'd been following the wrong carrot this entire time. If that was the case, I had to reevaluate everything I knew, or at least what I'd thought I'd known.

And if it wasn't one of David's scorned lovers who had killed him, then it had to be someone here, someone I'd met. Whether it was one of the Cherry Valley people, one of the Pine Hills book club members, or someone else entirely, it wouldn't matter. I had to solve this thing soon, because if I didn't, Officer John Buchannan would make sure I was the one who would take the fall.

28

All of the chairs in Death by Coffee were taken. People stood along the walls, talking amongst themselves. Paul Dalton was sitting at a table with his mom, Chief Dalton, and surprisingly Officer John Buchannan. Every now and again, I'd catch one of them looking my way. I pointedly ignored them.

The box with the photographs and David's fake IDs was sitting under the seat in my car. I didn't want to bring it inside, not with all of these people here, but I did want to give it to the chief before the day was out. I didn't have an excuse lined up, but I was tired of holding on to it. The stress was wearing on me and I'd only had the box for half a day.

Besides, the store was busier than it had ever been. Everyone was ordering coffee and cookies. Lena was working as fast as she could behind the counter while I carried the coffees out to the customers, taking their orders and money so they wouldn't have to stand in line, which would have only gotten in the way of the doors. Doors, I might add, that were even now opening to let in a flood of new customers.

“Have you seen Mike?” Vicki asked on her way past with a pair of coffees in hand.

“Not yet.” I glanced at the clock. He was already fifteen minutes late. I was worried I'd scared him off by my questions. As much as I didn't like the idea of his stealing from me, I didn't like the idea of working through the insanity without him.

The bookstore part of the store was closed to the general public, meaning it was much calmer and quieter. Only the book club members were up there, each in their own little group on either side of the stairs. A podium had been set up at the top of the steps, and currently no one was standing there.

Everyone had been talking about the book club competition, telling me how excited they were about it, and yet I never quite grasped how big the thing was. I mean, how could you ever take something like this seriously?

And yet it appeared as if half the town was trying to pack into Death by Coffee. On my way past the stairs, I'd heard Jimmy mention that he thought changing venues was a bad idea and had proof that it was now. I had to agree. The library was a lot bigger than my little coffee shop, and people wouldn't be running me ragged gathering orders. Next time, they weren't having it here.

I turned and just about ran into Will's chest. I gasped and stepped back, not sure whether I was happy to see him. Paul was sitting nearby, and I was afraid of what he'd think if he saw us together.

“Will!” I said, deciding I was happy he was there. “I didn't know you were here.”

“I almost didn't come.” He looked away. There was something in his eye that made me instantly nervous.

“Why? Is something wrong?”

He looked at me and a sad smile crossed his lips. It was the kind of smile that was usually followed up with bad news. “I didn't realize you were seeing other men when we talked before.”

My eyes widened. “Other men?” Did he know about Paul? It was only one date! “What other men?”

“I saw you with someone at the Banyon Tree. The way he looked at you . . .” He shrugged. “I didn't mean to encroach.”

“You aren't encroaching!”

“Krissy!” I turned to look at the counter where Vicki was pointing at a pair of waiting coffee cups.

“One sec!” I turned to explain that there was nothing between Dan and me, but somehow Will had vanished back into the crowd without my noticing.

“Great,” I grumbled, turning to the counter. It would figure that I'd blow my chance with yet another man, and this time I hadn't done anything to deserve it.

As I was heading back to grab the pair of cappuccinos that Vicki left waiting, the doors opened and Mike Green walked in. He wasn't dressed for work, but rather looked as if he were going on a camping trip. He had a backpack thrown over one shoulder and a ball cap turned backward on his head. He scanned the crowd, seemingly surprised by how many people were crammed into such a small space, before his gaze landed on me. He hurried over and held out a folded piece of paper.

“What's this?” I asked, taking it from him.

“My resignation.”

“What?” I flipped open the page. The note was handwritten and signed by Mike in his slanted, nearly indecipherable scrawl. I didn't bother reading it. I folded the page and then quickly shoved it into my pocket. “You can't do this to me.”

“Sorry, man.” He shrugged and handed me his key. “I can't take the insanity.”

Great. The busiest day in the history of Death by Coffee and one of my employees was up and quitting on me. That was just my luck.

“Is there anything I can do to convince you to stay for at least today?”

Mike glanced toward where Lena was watching from behind the counter. His eyes narrowed just a tiny bit, and it hit me. It had nothing to do with the work or the crazy stuff that seemed to happen around me. This whole thing had to do with what Lena had said about him, her accusation that he was stealing. Whether he was doing it or not, I desperately needed him to stay.

“I can pay you double.”

Mike seemed to consider it before shaking his head. “Sorry.” He turned and walked out.

“Well, that's just lovely.” I stared after him a moment before a polite clearing of the throat reminded me of the cappuccinos on the counter. I snatched them up and hurried across the packed room to deliver them.

It had been busy like this since the time I'd shown up. Between setting up for the event and serving customers, I'd barely had two seconds of my own to string thoughts together. I was afraid that after tonight, my brain would be too fried to even consider who might have killed David. And once the event was done, the Cherry Valley people would be gone, back home to their own lives. My list of people I could interrogate would instantly drop, leaving me with nothing to go on. Once that happened, nothing would stop Buchannan from taking me in, this time on murder charges. I'm sure he could find some sort of evidence that he could get to stick. I could almost see the anticipation dripping from him from clear across the room.

Well, it was either that or sweat. With so many people packed inside the small space, the temperature was indeed rising.

Another twenty minutes passed. I was running back and forth, barely cognizant of what I was doing anymore. I was about to throw in the towel and go find someplace to die in peace when Rita stepped up to the podium. All orders ceased as everyone's eyes turned toward the stairs. I handed off the last of the coffees and then collapsed against the counter. It was the only thing keeping me from passing out onto the floor.

“Welcome to the tenth annual Cherry and Pine Book Club Book Talk!” There was a polite round of applause, despite the awkward name. Rita's chin rose as she basked in it as if she'd just won Wimbledon. “I'm glad you all could make it,” she said once the applause died down. “This year is special. Not only are we reading
Murder in Lovetown,
but we are also holding the book talk in the author's very own store!” More applause.

I rolled my eyes. My dad might have helped get us started, but this wasn't his place. Of course, trying to tell that to Rita would be just about as effective as trying to tell a cat not to shed on your best cashmere sweater.

Rita continued talking, but I tuned her out. Instead, I allowed my gaze to rove over the book club members, wondering if one of them could be sitting there, thinking they'd gotten away with murder.

Georgina and Andi were sitting next to each other, hands politely folded in their laps as they listened to Rita's speech. Beside them, Jimmy and Cindy sat with clasped hands, seemingly over their earlier spat. None of them seemed like a likely culprit. Jealousy? Sure. What man wouldn't be jealous if his wife were taken with another man? But nothing had happened between Cindy and David, and I was pretty sure it never would have. I think Jimmy always knew that, so why bother killing the man?

No, it didn't make sense. I couldn't see a single Pine Hills group member as the killer, and that included Rita.

I turned my gaze to the Cherry Valley team.

Albert was sitting closest to the podium, glowering. His hair was plastered to his head, further revealing that receding hairline he so desperately tried to hide. He glared at Rita as if she was the bane of his existence. His fists were clenched, as was his jaw. Now, that was a man I could see killing someone, despite his smallish frame. But to kill someone in his own group? If he'd found out about David's past, then perhaps he might have gotten angry. But to kill him for it when it didn't affect the group? I just didn't see it. As long as David was doing what Albert wanted him to do, I was sure he would have let it slide.

Beside Albert were Orville and Vivian. They sat close together, like they wanted to hold hands but were afraid the other wouldn't approve. It was almost cute. There was no way either of them could be involved. It would be like accusing someone's grandparents of murder.

And then my eyes fell onto the last two members of the Cherry Valley book club. Sara sat with her head slightly bent, as if overcome with tears. One hand was pressed to her mouth. The other was being clasped by Dan Jacobson. He was leaning in close to her, whispering into her ear. His right arm was draped across her shoulder, and as I watched, he would squeeze every few seconds, as if in reassurance.

And that's when it clicked.

Dan had once been a part of the book club. He'd spent a lot of time with Sara, discussing books and probably other interests they had in common. Over time, he grew to care about her, to maybe even love her.

And then David happened.

The man who pretended to be British, just so he could impress rich women, bed them, and then steal their money. Dan gets pushed out of not just Sara's life but the book club itself. He has to be jealous, has to be angry. But would that be enough to kill?

Probably not. But what if he were to learn about David's other life? He might have found out where David lived, followed him one night, and then snuck into his house, just like I did. He could have found the book with the other women pictured inside. He could have realized that David was doing the exact same thing to Sara, could have hated the idea of seeing her placed beside those other women.

That, I believed, might be enough to make a man angry enough to commit murder.

I still wasn't sure how he managed to get inside Death by Coffee that night, but it hardly mattered. Looking at them up there, cuddling close, like two lovers finally meeting again after years apart, I knew.

Dan Jacobson had killed David Smith.

I hardly realized I was moving until Rita paused in the middle of her speech to look at me. My foot hit the first step, causing her to frown and cock her head to the side.

“Is there something you needed, dear?”

I ignored her. I walked up the stairs, excitement growing. The entire room had grown silent as I interrupted the proceedings. Dan shifted uncomfortably in his seat, saw me staring, and moved away from Sara as if being close to her was an admission of guilt.

In a way, it was.

I stepped up to the podium, forcing Rita aside, and turned to the room.

Everyone's eyes were on me, including the three police officers sitting at one of the tables. Buchannan looked amused, whereas Chief Dalton and Officer Dalton looked concerned. I gave Paul the slightest of nods, telling him silently that I had this. I was going to shock them all and once more prove my worth
and
my innocence. I checked for Will's face among the crowd, but I didn't see him. If I wanted anyone to see this, it was him. Maybe then he'd realize I'd been talking to Dan not because I was interested in him but because I was trying to solve a murder.

“I'm sorry to interrupt,” I said. My voice rang out over the crowd so loudly, I winced. Lena and Vicki were standing by the counter, looking at me as if I'd lost my mind. I nodded toward the door, eyebrows raised. Lena seemed to understand. She walked over to it and took up position there. No one was going to get in or out unless they ran over her. She might be small, but she was scrappy. I didn't pity anyone who dismissed her out of hand.

“This is most irregular,” Rita complained. Once again, I ignored her.

“I have something to say.” I cleared my throat, which was thumping in time with my heart, making my words vibrate. With everyone staring at me, I felt as if I were standing under a spotlight on a stage somewhere.

“Well, get on with it,” Albert barked from his seat. He was clearly impatient to get this whole thing over with. I didn't blame him. From the start, the odds were stacked against him.

“As you all know, a man died here recently. Murdered.” I let the word hang in the air a moment, worried that reminding the public of what happened here might have adverse effects on business, before going on. “We knew him as David Smith. Other people knew him as Caleb Jenkins, among many other names.”

Paul stood, eyes going wide. I'd clearly shocked him. Good. The man needed a jolt.

I turned slightly so I could see Sara and Dan. “I imagine some of you already knew this. And because of it, you learned about his past, which was . . . unsavory.” I grimaced, thinking of all of those women he'd taken advantage of. “And when you realized he was moving in on a woman you cared about, you snapped.”

Dan looked around as if thinking I was directing my comments to someone else. After a moment, realization dawned and he rose angrily from his seat. “You have no idea what you are talking about.”

“Don't I?” I asked, savoring the moment. This was when I would tell the entire room what I'd deduced. Dan would crack, would admit to everything. Paul would arrest him, and once Dan was safely behind bars, he would come to me, begging for my forgiveness. I'd give it, of course.