Death of a Coupon Clipper (12 page)
Read Death of a Coupon Clipper Online
Authors: Lee Hollis
Chapter 20
When Hayley arrived at the office the following morning, she didn’t waste any time
before sitting down and attacking her in-box. She had let things pile up the past
few days, and was determined to catch up this morning before Sal arrived and began
shouting orders and asking why Hayley’s tasks were not getting done. She knew she
had some extra time because it was snowing again, and the weather forecast was predicting
six inches. That kind of rough weather always slowed Sal down.
before sitting down and attacking her in-box. She had let things pile up the past
few days, and was determined to catch up this morning before Sal arrived and began
shouting orders and asking why Hayley’s tasks were not getting done. She knew she
had some extra time because it was snowing again, and the weather forecast was predicting
six inches. That kind of rough weather always slowed Sal down.
Hayley shuffled through the papers, prioritizing what needed to be accomplished first.
There were the subscription requests, the real estate listings, the local movie-theater
schedule. Not to mention her column. She hadn’t even started writing it yet, since
most of her free time was being taken up by Candace’s murder investigation. One crumpled-up
piece of paper tumbled out of the stack and landed on her desk. She picked it up and
was about to toss it in the trash, but a little voice inside her head told her to
stop. At least take two seconds to make sure she wasn’t throwing out an important
document.
There were the subscription requests, the real estate listings, the local movie-theater
schedule. Not to mention her column. She hadn’t even started writing it yet, since
most of her free time was being taken up by Candace’s murder investigation. One crumpled-up
piece of paper tumbled out of the stack and landed on her desk. She picked it up and
was about to toss it in the trash, but a little voice inside her head told her to
stop. At least take two seconds to make sure she wasn’t throwing out an important
document.
Hayley unfurled the crumpled paper. There was a message written in red crayon, like
a child’s scribbling, and it said,
I know who killed Candace Culpepper
.
a child’s scribbling, and it said,
I know who killed Candace Culpepper
.
Hayley sat there, in a complete state of utter disbelief. Questions were swirling
about in her head:
Who could have written this? When did he or she slip it into my in-box? And, most
important, who
did
kill Candace Culpepper?
about in her head:
Who could have written this? When did he or she slip it into my in-box? And, most
important, who
did
kill Candace Culpepper?
Hayley had been the last to leave the office yesterday and had locked the front door
behind her. The door was unlocked when she arrived this morning, so someone else on
staff had to be in the building.
behind her. The door was unlocked when she arrived this morning, so someone else on
staff had to be in the building.
Right on cue she heard a familiar cough and a disgusting phlegmy clearing of the throat.
Bruce was already at his desk.
“Bruce, is that you back there?”
“Yeah. Coffee ready yet?”
Of course he didn’t think to make it himself.
“When did you get here?” Hayley said, flipping on the coffeemaker.
“About seven-thirty. Why?”
“Did you hear anyone come in the office?”
“Yeah, about fifteen minutes ago. I thought it was you, but then I thought to myself,
‘Wait, Bruce. It’s only seven forty-five. When has Hayley ever been early? What is
this, an alternate universe?’ So I just went back to Words With Friends. They finally
repaired my computer.”
‘Wait, Bruce. It’s only seven forty-five. When has Hayley ever been early? What is
this, an alternate universe?’ So I just went back to Words With Friends. They finally
repaired my computer.”
“You didn’t come out to see who it was?”
“No.”
Why even ask? That would involve Bruce actually getting up from his desk and having
to walk the few feet to the front office.
to walk the few feet to the front office.
Hayley couldn’t take her eyes off the note left in her in-box. Either a kid with sloppy
penmanship wrote the note or someone was trying to disguise his or her handwriting.
penmanship wrote the note or someone was trying to disguise his or her handwriting.
The door opened and a petite blond woman, with a curvaceous figure and a million-dollar
smile, bounced in. She was wearing skintight pink ski pants and a baby blue down coat.
Matching earmuffs kept her head warm, and blond curls were piled high above her head.
She also sported a very expensive-looking white cashmere Hermès scarf. She was stunningly
gorgeous; and if Bruce had any idea what this babe looked like, he’d get his butt
out of his chair and into the front office.
smile, bounced in. She was wearing skintight pink ski pants and a baby blue down coat.
Matching earmuffs kept her head warm, and blond curls were piled high above her head.
She also sported a very expensive-looking white cashmere Hermès scarf. She was stunningly
gorgeous; and if Bruce had any idea what this babe looked like, he’d get his butt
out of his chair and into the front office.
“May I help you?” Hayley asked, folding the note up and stuffing it in the front pocket
of her pants.
of her pants.
“Yes, I’m here to renew my subscription,” the sexpot said. “I usually do it online,
but I had to come up here anyway.”
but I had to come up here anyway.”
“What a time to come to Maine,” Hayley said, opening her drawer and rummaging through
it for the paper’s subscription forms.
it for the paper’s subscription forms.
“Well, I didn’t have much of a choice. Family emergency,” she said, never wiping off
her big, toothy smile. “Are you Hayley Powell?”
her big, toothy smile. “Are you Hayley Powell?”
“Yes, I am.”
“You’re the only reason I get this paper. I’m not much of a reader, except for those
Fifty Shades of Whatever Color
it is, because I love a lot of sex in my books, but I absolutely adore your column!
I never miss it!”
Fifty Shades of Whatever Color
it is, because I love a lot of sex in my books, but I absolutely adore your column!
I never miss it!”
“Are you an amateur chef like me?”
“Oh, honey, I don’t cook. Hell, if I even tried boiling water, they’d probably have
to call the fire department. But I
am
a drinker. And I have tried every one of your delicious cocktail recipes. Talk about
taking off the edge!”
to call the fire department. But I
am
a drinker. And I have tried every one of your delicious cocktail recipes. Talk about
taking off the edge!”
“Well, I’m glad you like them,” Hayley said, tearing a form off the pad and handing
it to the woman. “Just fill out your name and address. We accept checks and credit
cards and, of course, cash.”
it to the woman. “Just fill out your name and address. We accept checks and credit
cards and, of course, cash.”
The woman sighed, frowned for a split second at the prospect of having to write anything
down, but then dutifully began scratching out her name on the top of the paper.
down, but then dutifully began scratching out her name on the top of the paper.
“So you mentioned a family emergency? Did you grow up here?”
“Oh, yes, I spent my whole childhood here. Went to the local high school. But I got
out of here the day I turned eighteen. Bummed around Florida for a while, waitressing
in a bunch of dive bars, before finally landing a decent job in Charlotte, waiting
tables at T.G.I. Friday’s.”
out of here the day I turned eighteen. Bummed around Florida for a while, waitressing
in a bunch of dive bars, before finally landing a decent job in Charlotte, waiting
tables at T.G.I. Friday’s.”
A waitress at T.G.I. Friday’s who can afford a Hermès scarf? Someone was definitely
living beyond her means.
living beyond her means.
“I’ve lived here my whole life. I’m surprised you don’t look familiar.”
“Well, that’s because I’m so much younger than you. I was probably something like
seven years old when you graduated from MDI High School,” she said, cackling.
seven years old when you graduated from MDI High School,” she said, cackling.
Hayley suddenly liked her a lot less.
The woman unzipped her baby blue down jacket. “See? I’ve got boobs now!”
She finished jotting down her information and handed the subscription form to Hayley,
who took one look at the name and gasped.
who took one look at the name and gasped.
“Cassidy Culpepper? You’re Candace’s sister?”
“Yes, much younger sister. Did you know Candace?”
“Of course. She was in my class.”
“Really? Wow. I pegged you for much older.”
Now Hayley actively hated this woman.
But she kept her cool.
Cassidy was writing out a check for the subscription renewal.
“So, are you here for the funeral, Cassidy?”
“Yeah, I guess. They haven’t really nailed down a day yet, and I don’t really want
to hang around here and freeze my ass off, so I’m pushing for just going with a memorial.
Then we can just store the body on ice and worry about the burial when the ground
thaws next spring.”
to hang around here and freeze my ass off, so I’m pushing for just going with a memorial.
Then we can just store the body on ice and worry about the burial when the ground
thaws next spring.”
What a loving, caring sister.
Not.
“I see,” Hayley said as Cassidy tore the check out of her checkbook and handed it
to her. “You must be pretty upset, given the circumstances of her death. That’s pretty
tough to deal with.”
to her. “You must be pretty upset, given the circumstances of her death. That’s pretty
tough to deal with.”
“What circumstances? Oh, you mean the fact somebody stabbed her? Yeah, freaky, right?
Glad I wasn’t up here visiting her at the time. It could’ve been me. But we weren’t
exactly on speaking terms, so the odds of that happening were pretty slim. Thank you,
Jesus!”
Glad I wasn’t up here visiting her at the time. It could’ve been me. But we weren’t
exactly on speaking terms, so the odds of that happening were pretty slim. Thank you,
Jesus!”
“So you’re heading back down South soon?” Hayley asked, just going through the motions
now of carrying on a conversation.
now of carrying on a conversation.
“That depends on how fast the lawyers can settle the estate,” Cassidy said, zipping
up her down jacket.
up her down jacket.
“‘Lawyers’? You mean it’s going to take more than one?”
“Well, yes, everybody knows just how loaded Candace was.”
“‘Loaded’? Candace had money?”
“Uh . . . duh . . . at least a couple of million. I thought you said you knew her.”
“We weren’t that close.”
“We had a rich uncle who died about three years ago. He was a boring-ass playwright
who wrote some piece of crap that made a mint on Broadway. I met him, like, twice,
when I was a kid. He’d talk about the theater and these actors I never heard of. I
mean, come on, it’s not like he was palling around with Justin Timberlake! He took
to Candace, though, and when he died, he left her part of his fortune. I raised holy
hell! How dare he stiff
me
? He actually wrote in his will that I wasn’t responsible enough to be in charge of
that kind of money. Can you believe that?”
who wrote some piece of crap that made a mint on Broadway. I met him, like, twice,
when I was a kid. He’d talk about the theater and these actors I never heard of. I
mean, come on, it’s not like he was palling around with Justin Timberlake! He took
to Candace, though, and when he died, he left her part of his fortune. I raised holy
hell! How dare he stiff
me
? He actually wrote in his will that I wasn’t responsible enough to be in charge of
that kind of money. Can you believe that?”
Yes. Hayley could believe that.
But she kept her mouth shut.
“Well, of course, as Candace’s only living relative, I’m in
her
will. So that artsy-fartsy dead uncle of mine is probably rolling over in his grave,
now that I am finally going to get my hands on his precious money.”
her
will. So that artsy-fartsy dead uncle of mine is probably rolling over in his grave,
now that I am finally going to get my hands on his precious money.”
Cassidy laughed heartily, but then she let it fade as it dawned on her that she was
probably talking too much. “Anyway, I have to go pick out a casket. I’m sure the funeral
director is going to pressure me into buying one with all the bells and whistles—dark
mahogany, brass rails, and all that crap—but if there’s a pine box I can get my hands
on, I’m going with that!”
probably talking too much. “Anyway, I have to go pick out a casket. I’m sure the funeral
director is going to pressure me into buying one with all the bells and whistles—dark
mahogany, brass rails, and all that crap—but if there’s a pine box I can get my hands
on, I’m going with that!”
“I’m just so surprised Candace was wealthy. I mean, she worked double shifts at the
hospital and then was making extra cash as a private nurse for Edgar Hollingsworth,”
Hayley said. “I actually thought she was having financial troubles.”
hospital and then was making extra cash as a private nurse for Edgar Hollingsworth,”
Hayley said. “I actually thought she was having financial troubles.”
“Hell no! She didn’t do the nursing thing for the money,” Cassidy said. “That’s just
what she told people so they wouldn’t come by her house, begging her for a loan. She
was one of those annoying ‘bleeding hearts’ who just liked helping people to heal.”
what she told people so they wouldn’t come by her house, begging her for a loan. She
was one of those annoying ‘bleeding hearts’ who just liked helping people to heal.”
She put “bleeding hearts” in finger quotes.
“Utter waste of time, if you ask me,” Cassidy said, shaking her head. Then that million-dollar
smile came back. “Can’t wait to try your jalapeno margarita!”
smile came back. “Can’t wait to try your jalapeno margarita!”
And with that, Cassidy Culpepper breezed out the door, leaving a slack-jawed Hayley
sitting at her desk with a crumpled-up note in her pocket from someone claiming to
know who killed Cassidy’s sister, Candace.
sitting at her desk with a crumpled-up note in her pocket from someone claiming to
know who killed Cassidy’s sister, Candace.
Island Food & Spirits by Hayley Powell
I have a long-standing tradition of monthly girl outings with my two BFFs, Liddy and
Mona. It’s a wonderful way to stay connected when our lies get too busy. We rotate
choosing an activity, and the one rule is the other two can’t complain, even if it’s
something like ice fishing. Mona actually picked that this past January: a full day
starting at the crack of dawn, drilling holes in the frozen Eagle Lake, where Mona
had an ice tent in order to get in some good early-morning fishing. I was game. Liddy
was another story. First of all, she never got up before ten, so she made it very
clear she would call us on her cell phone from the landing so one of us could swing
by on Mona’s four-wheeler and pick her up.
Mona. It’s a wonderful way to stay connected when our lies get too busy. We rotate
choosing an activity, and the one rule is the other two can’t complain, even if it’s
something like ice fishing. Mona actually picked that this past January: a full day
starting at the crack of dawn, drilling holes in the frozen Eagle Lake, where Mona
had an ice tent in order to get in some good early-morning fishing. I was game. Liddy
was another story. First of all, she never got up before ten, so she made it very
clear she would call us on her cell phone from the landing so one of us could swing
by on Mona’s four-wheeler and pick her up.
Part of the fun of ice fishing is riding around the lake, visiting other people outside
their tents, and grabbing a quick cocktail and a bit of gossip. Mona and I arrived
at the lake and unloaded the four-wheeler from the back of her truck down a ramp,
and then attached the sled to it so we could haul all our food and fishing gear out
to her ice tent. Mona grumbled about how we had enough food to feed her large family
for a week, even though we were only going to be on the lake for five or six hours.
I didn’t care, because I have never been one to skimp on food. Better to have too
much than not enough! As a rule, I keep snacks in my car, even for a quick twenty-minute
trip to Ellsworth, just in case I get stuck in summer traffic.
their tents, and grabbing a quick cocktail and a bit of gossip. Mona and I arrived
at the lake and unloaded the four-wheeler from the back of her truck down a ramp,
and then attached the sled to it so we could haul all our food and fishing gear out
to her ice tent. Mona grumbled about how we had enough food to feed her large family
for a week, even though we were only going to be on the lake for five or six hours.
I didn’t care, because I have never been one to skimp on food. Better to have too
much than not enough! As a rule, I keep snacks in my car, even for a quick twenty-minute
trip to Ellsworth, just in case I get stuck in summer traffic.
Mona wasted no time after we arrived at the tent in the middle of the lake, grabbing
the ice auger off the front of the four-wheeler, drilling holes through the ice, and
baiting and setting the tip-ups of the fishing lines. I was in charge of unloading
the gear and starting the fire in the woodstove, to take the chill out of the tent.
Then I started preparing our breakfast sandwiches by placing a cast-iron pan on top
of the woodstove so I could get the bacon sizzling in the pan. I grabbed a couple
of eggs and slices of cheese, and buttered a couple of English muffins to toast in
the pan. By the time Mona finished drilling, I had a nice, hot breakfast ready, with
two steaming mugs of coffee from the thermos. Mona ran into the tent excited, because
the first tip-up she set already had a flag and a nice-size trout on it, so we already
had a head start on that evening’s dinner.
the ice auger off the front of the four-wheeler, drilling holes through the ice, and
baiting and setting the tip-ups of the fishing lines. I was in charge of unloading
the gear and starting the fire in the woodstove, to take the chill out of the tent.
Then I started preparing our breakfast sandwiches by placing a cast-iron pan on top
of the woodstove so I could get the bacon sizzling in the pan. I grabbed a couple
of eggs and slices of cheese, and buttered a couple of English muffins to toast in
the pan. By the time Mona finished drilling, I had a nice, hot breakfast ready, with
two steaming mugs of coffee from the thermos. Mona ran into the tent excited, because
the first tip-up she set already had a flag and a nice-size trout on it, so we already
had a head start on that evening’s dinner.
As we chowed down on our sandwiches and commented on how quiet it was on the lake,
suddenly out of the blue we heard a howling noise, like some wild animal. We dropped
our half-eaten breakfast sandwiches on the floor and jumped up to look out the window
of the ice tent.
suddenly out of the blue we heard a howling noise, like some wild animal. We dropped
our half-eaten breakfast sandwiches on the floor and jumped up to look out the window
of the ice tent.
“Oh, my God, what the hell is that?” Mona yelled.
Running across the ice was what looked like a large, possibly rabid wild animal, with
dark, shaggy fur. At first, we thought it was an injured coyote; but as it got closer,
we began to fear it might be one very mean and hungry Maine black bear drawn to our
ice tent by the smell of the cooked bacon!
dark, shaggy fur. At first, we thought it was an injured coyote; but as it got closer,
we began to fear it might be one very mean and hungry Maine black bear drawn to our
ice tent by the smell of the cooked bacon!
Mona ran and got her handgun and started loading it.
“What are you doing with a gun? Were you planning on shooting the fish?” I screamed.
But, secretly, I was relieved Mona was a proud card-carrying member of the NRA, because
a gun was just what we needed at this moment to defend ourselves.
a gun was just what we needed at this moment to defend ourselves.
Mona was out the door of the tent in a flash. I just stood there with my mouth hanging
open, which is always how I look when someone snaps a picture of me with his camera.
open, which is always how I look when someone snaps a picture of me with his camera.
Mona was bellowing at the top of her lungs as she raced straight toward the shaggy
beast and then fired her pistol in the air, once, as a warning. All of a sudden the
monster stopped dead in its tracks and raised its hands, or paws, in the air.
beast and then fired her pistol in the air, once, as a warning. All of a sudden the
monster stopped dead in its tracks and raised its hands, or paws, in the air.
I heard Mona yell, “You damn fool!” just as I raced out of the tent in time to see
Liddy, arms in the air, wearing the thickest fur coat I had ever seen in my life.
She was shaking in her boots from fright. Once Mona put her gun down, Liddy started
screaming about how Mona had almost killed her, and Mona was yelling that Liddy shouldn’t
dress up like a wild animal. That really upset Liddy because she had spent a fortune
on that very expensive fancy coat during one of her New York shopping sprees.
Liddy, arms in the air, wearing the thickest fur coat I had ever seen in my life.
She was shaking in her boots from fright. Once Mona put her gun down, Liddy started
screaming about how Mona had almost killed her, and Mona was yelling that Liddy shouldn’t
dress up like a wild animal. That really upset Liddy because she had spent a fortune
on that very expensive fancy coat during one of her New York shopping sprees.
Liddy explained that she had tried calling me for a ride. However, because of the
cell phone’s spotty reception in the middle of Eagle Lake, her call went straight
to my voicemail. She decided to start walking across the ice. Then, halfway to the
tent, she received a distressing call from one of her clients, who wanted to back
out of a pending escrow. She was shouting because of the bad phone connection and
the gusty wind. That’s when she realized someone was shooting at her!
cell phone’s spotty reception in the middle of Eagle Lake, her call went straight
to my voicemail. She decided to start walking across the ice. Then, halfway to the
tent, she received a distressing call from one of her clients, who wanted to back
out of a pending escrow. She was shouting because of the bad phone connection and
the gusty wind. That’s when she realized someone was shooting at her!
Luckily, Liddy brought some of her famous bourbon cocktails, which Mona loves, so
all was ultimately forgiven. And we caught enough fish to head over to Liddy’s house
at the end of the day for an evening of cocktails, a tasty trout dinner, as well as
some BFF quality time, a winning combination in the cold, dark days of winter.
all was ultimately forgiven. And we caught enough fish to head over to Liddy’s house
at the end of the day for an evening of cocktails, a tasty trout dinner, as well as
some BFF quality time, a winning combination in the cold, dark days of winter.
The best part of this week’s budget-friendly recipe is that we caught the fish, which
didn’t cost us a dime, and foraged through Liddy’s cupboards and fridge for the ingredients
so this one was a win-win! But before you sit down for dinner, you have to start with
one of Liddy’s Bourbon Chai Toddies! They are to die for, which Liddy almost did today!
didn’t cost us a dime, and foraged through Liddy’s cupboards and fridge for the ingredients
so this one was a win-win! But before you sit down for dinner, you have to start with
one of Liddy’s Bourbon Chai Toddies! They are to die for, which Liddy almost did today!
Bourbon Chai Toddy
Ingredients
1 ounce Maker’s Mark
½ ounce Cointreau
1 ounce freshly prepared hot chai tea
Splash of bitter
Honey, to taste
½ ounce Cointreau
1 ounce freshly prepared hot chai tea
Splash of bitter
Honey, to taste
Prepare your hot chai tea according to directions and measure one ounce in a tall
glass. Add the remaining ingredients and stir well. If you like, garnish with an orange
twist. Yum!
glass. Add the remaining ingredients and stir well. If you like, garnish with an orange
twist. Yum!
Easy and Delicious Lake Trout Recipe
Ingredients
1 fillet lake trout
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 lemon
2 to 3 shallots, minced
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 sprig of dill
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 lemon
2 to 3 shallots, minced
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 sprig of dill
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking pan with parchment paper. Wash and
pat your fillet dry. Finely mince shallots. Slice the lemon. Pour olive oil over both
sides of the fillet. Place lemon slices on parchment paper. Place your fillet on top
of the lemon slices, then top the fillet with the shallots, herbs, and fresh ground
pepper. Bake for 20 minutes and then dig in!
pat your fillet dry. Finely mince shallots. Slice the lemon. Pour olive oil over both
sides of the fillet. Place lemon slices on parchment paper. Place your fillet on top
of the lemon slices, then top the fillet with the shallots, herbs, and fresh ground
pepper. Bake for 20 minutes and then dig in!
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