Distortion Control (A Makayla Rose Mystery Book 3) (4 page)

I chuckled. “Yeah, I don’t see Spencer doing that. He’s too stubborn and independent.”

“See how I was robbed of being the heroic big brother?”

My interest perked up, and I set my own menu aside, knowing what I would order. “Do tell, Ash. You’re saying Spencer was always the way he is now?”

“Headstrong and independent? Yes. Uptight and overly moral? Not always.”

“What do you mean?”

He offered a knowing grin at my interest, and I tried to tone it down. Spencer had never spoken much about himself. Getting him to open up was too much of a chore, and I hadn’t tried very hard because if we weren’t going anywhere in our relationship, then it would lead to hurt. I had thought I was protecting myself, but now I wondered. He occupied my mind much more, and the plan to date again had been waylaid by Spencer’s trouble. I felt as if I were in a holding pattern, and fixing it meant finding the murderer. Will someone tell me how my love life got tied up with a homicide and kidnapping?

“Let’s order first,” Ash suggested.

We did so, and Ash decided on the roasted chicken with herbs, truffles, and béchamel sauce. He added a side of soup and a beer. I went with the braised pork and gratin potatoes
and a diet cola. Ash eyed my drink choice and suggested something harder. I declined with the excuse that I needed to get back to the studio and didn’t want to be too mellow to focus on the detail-oriented work.

Ash cut a huge bite of his chicken
and seemed to enjoy the flavor. After he chewed, wiped his mouth, and swallowed, he explained. “Spencer wasn’t such goody two shoes when he was a kid. In fact, we used to get into all kinds of trouble.”

“Let me guess, you as the ‘heroic big brother’ led him into these scrapes?”

“How cruel to think the worst of me, Makayla.”

I raised my eyebrows at him, and he laughed.

“Well, yes, but that’s beside the point. One particular time, we took it into our heads to shoplift.”

I gasped.

“He was eight. I was eleven. Living in the town we did, everyone knew our family, especially our mom, who was a judge.”

My mouth fell open. “A judge! You’re kidding me?”

“No, law enforcement is a family affair,” he said. “When we were caught, we didn’t go to jail.”

“Well that’s good, isn’t it?”

“Jail might have been preferable.”

I laughed. “How so?”

“The storeowner called our mom. Of course she had the phone number on speed dial.”

“Of course,” I agreed.

“I heard she walked out in the middle of court. Probably not, but it makes for a more dramatic retelling among the elderly crowd.”

I glanced over to Talia and company, knowing just what he meant.

“She skinned us both right there in the middle of the store for everyone to see. Worse, a couple of my school friends were there. Believe me, I didn’t live it down for a long time.”

“Poor thing,” I teased. “Did it get you on the right path?”

He wiggled his eyebrows. “Do I seem like I’m on the right path now?”

“Well, you’re a policeman.”

“A real live detective.” He winked. I think he wanted to impress me with his badge. Sorry, Charlie, I’d been around my fair share of men in uniform, both in Briney Creek and in New York. I wouldn’t tell him my experiences included being on the
wrong
side of the law, too. In fact, it was a miracle I had given Spencer a chance. Then again, those Norwood eyes…

“What about Spencer?” I couldn’t resist asking. “Did the experience scare him straight?”

“Did it ever. I couldn’t bribe him to get into trouble with me. Hence, I was denied the chance to be the heroic big brother.” Ash leaned away from the table and rested his arm over the back of his chair. “I suspect I was the model for him of what
not
to be.”

“I doubt that. I’m sure Spencer looked up to you for your courage and strength.”

“Says the woman who wouldn’t get it.”

I smirked. “Are you going to beat your chest and declare ‘we’re men, Makayla!’?”

He laughed. “Something like that.”

I finished most of my food and pushed the tray away before taking a long sip from my straw. Ash’s gaze never wavered from mine. “So the moral of the story is, my brother is not a murderer. It’s not in him.”

“You believe that because of something that happened when he was eight?”

“Among other things,” he asserted. “He’s uptight and far too moral.”

“Hmm, I’m inclined to agree.”

In an instant, Ash’s expression shifted from mildly curious to calculating. He narrowed his gaze as he studied my face, making goose bumps pop out on my skin. While he had been joking nonstop and flirting with me since I met him, at that moment, I could see the detective in him.

“You’re speaking from experience,” he said. “What did you do to cross my brother’s moral code?”

My jaw relaxed, but I quickly clacked my teeth together and ducked my head. Ash was an astute man. I couldn’t hide that I had indeed done what I shouldn’t have, but I wouldn’t be guilted or shocked into revealing what it was.

The truth was I had crossed Spencer once before and stood in the way of his capturing a murderer. I had my reasons, but at the time, all Spencer saw was the law. He couldn’t see how my heart broke for Inna. She was like another sister, one I couldn’t bear to lose. One day I hoped to see Inna again, but for now it was enough to know she was free. That’s all I wished for her anyway.

Ash slapped the table, bringing me out of my reverie. “Since it appears you’re not going to tell me what’s on your mind, Ms. Rose, I guess we need to discuss how I’m going to find the real murderer.”

“Not you,” I insisted, “
me
. You can help me by using your influence.”

Amusement transformed his face, but he nodded for me to continue. I didn’t know him very well, and I would not leave Spencer’s freedom up to his cavalier actions. Ash had already admitted he came from an influential household. I had no way of knowing if his position as a detective was handed to him as a judge’s son. I knew from seeing Spencer every day that he knew his job and was dedicated to it.

“My influence?” He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “If you’re thinking I can get the police to release Spencer based on who we are, you’re wrong.”

“Already tried it?”

His lip curled, and he seemed to bite back a smile. “Let’s just say, my mother’s influence passed when she did, and if this were Virginia, maybe. Being North Carolina and with the severity of the charges, it might take a bit more time.”

“You’re right. I apologize,” I said. “But I was thinking in terms of getting
me
access to Spencer.”

“You?”

“Yes, if we can talk to him and run by him whatever we learn, we can coordinate our efforts.”

“Beauty and brains.”

I glared.

“My brother won’t like me involved, Makayla.”

I raised my chin. “Well, he can get over it. This is serious, and it could mean the difference between his freedom and him spending the rest of his life behind bars. What about a lawyer?”

“That I can arrange. He’s probably been given access to a public defender.” While he spoke, Ash dug inside his shirt pocket and brought out a business card. He had let me make suggestions already knowing he had taken steps ahead of me. The knowledge that he’d done so both irritated me and bolstered my confidence in his ability. That is, until I looked at the card.

“This is Paul Jacobs.” I was already shaking my head no, recalling how Paul had been tossed in jail after punching Spencer in the jaw. “They have history. There’s no way Paul will represent Spencer or that Spencer will accept him.”

Ash took the check from the waiter and removed his wallet from his back pocket. I searched my purse for a twenty to cover my half of the bill. He ignored my money and handed a credit card to the waiter. No amount of cajoling would make him accept my offering, and I sighed and thanked him.

Ash stood up. “Let’s hope you’re wrong, Makayla, and that Spencer is desperate to take what help he gets because I’ve already hired Jacobs. I guess we’ll see soon enough.”

Just great.

Chapter Four

My cell phone woke me early the next morning. I did my best to ignore it, but the person—inconsiderate and just plain rude to my irritable and not yet fully awakened mind—kept calling back over and over. I had spent much of the night before worrying about Spencer and the case. Time seemed to be slipping by while Spencer sat in a jail cell. Meanwhile, Paul’s schedule didn’t allow for him to meet with us right away. I believed he just wanted to get a little of his own back for his disagreement with Spencer. This did not ingratiate me to the man in the least.

When my phone rang a fourth time, I decided it must be important and dug my way out of the covers. Of course gravity snatched the annoying thing from my bumbling fingers, and I had to chase after it on the floor to find it was Edna calling.

“Hello?” I grunted into the phone when I answered at last. My voice sounded thick to my own ears.

“Makayla, is that you?”

I frowned. Okay, my voice was thick, but it wasn’t unrecognizable, and she did dial my number. Wow, was I not the best in the morning. I climbed off the floor and sat on the side of the bed while trying to reign in my irritability.

“It’s me, Edna, but it’s a little early,” I almost whined. “Is everything all right?”

“No.”

I sobered in a hurry, and all sleep disappeared from my foggy mind. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Talia, dear. She’s had a bit of a scare.” Now that I was more alert, I heard the fear in Edna’s tone, and it worried me.

“A scare? What do you mean? Is she okay?” My words tumbled out one after another, but the pain tightening my chest had less to do with Talia and more to do with Edna. I adored Edna. She was the grandmother I never knew. As a human being, I cared for the welfare of my neighbors, including Talia, but I didn’t like the sound in Edna’s voice. She wasn’t getting any younger. Talia was Edna’s close friend, and despite how self-centered Talia was, Edna cared deeply for her.

“She’s in the hospital. They’re running tests,” Edna explained. “Can you come down?”

“Of course. I’ll be right there.”

I rang off and dressed as fast as I could. Within twenty minutes, I was in my car after coaxing it to start and heading down the road toward the only hospital in Briney Creek. When I pulled onto the lot, my stomach tightened. I had spent way too much time in this place and hadn’t expected to be back so soon after my ordeal. Reminding myself that this wasn’t about me, I parked and climbed out of the car. By the time, I had been given directions to where to find Talia, I was not the first to arrive.

Talia Johnston, the seventy-something drama queen, sat up in a hospital bed surrounded by Ollie, Edna, and the two other elderly women in her entourage. David had come and Peony. I paused in the doorway, taking in the shock of white hair standing straight up on Talia’s head and the pink in her cheeks. Granted the rest of her skin seemed much paler than usual, and I detected a more pronounced tremor in the hand she raised to her head. Overall, she didn’t appear to be a death’s door.

“Should so many people be in here?” I queried as I walked into the room. “How are you, Talia?”

Talia turned sharp eyes in my direction. “Well, if I was dead, you would miss it, wouldn’t you?”

“Your friends are all here. That’s what’s important.” I had not included myself in the friendship group, and she noticed. Thin lips compressed, and she crossed her hands atop the covers in a great imitation of the pitiful invalid.

“Talia has had a mild heart attack, Makayla,” Edna said. “You shouldn’t tease her, dear. We are lucky to have her still with us.”

“You’re right, Edna. I’m sorry.” I moved closer to the bed and gave Talia a brief hug. She preened. After I was done giving Talia the attention she craved, I turned to Edna, who appeared almost as pale. I hugged her with more genuine concern, and Edna patted my arm. When our gazes met, I was relieved to find her calmer.

“I was so scared,” she whispered. “Any time something like this happens, I panic. I don’t want anything to happen to my friends, but it also reminds me my time may be shorter than I think.”

“Don’t say that,” I insisted, feeling my own chest tighten. “You’ll be around for many more years.”

“I called you all here,” Talia announced over my conversation. Edna and I fell silent. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms to hear what Talia had to say. Ollie stood closest to Talia as her fiancé and waited with obvious bated breath for her words, as did Talia’s two other friends. Edna raised an eyebrow with skepticism radiating from her being.

“For attention?” I muttered under my breath in answer to her words. Talia glared at me. Nothing wrong with her hearing at least, although that surprised me with the way she blasted music on a daily basis.

“I called you here,” she said again, “because I just couldn’t wait. With my delicate health in the balance, making the most of every day is important.”

Delicate health? She had to be joking. I longed to see the doctor’s report. Surely, if it was that dire, she wouldn’t have been allowed the number of visitors that crowded her room. Even still, it was probably against hospital policy for the amount of visitors that stood around Talia. We were talking about Talia, of course, and she tended to get what she wanted by hook or by crook.

Talia reached for Ollie’s hand, and the poor old guy turned beet red from his neck to his glistening bald scalp. He ducked his head, staring down at the bed as if he found it fascinating. Talia had no such bout of shyness. She met every gaze with her chin high and a superior glint in her eyes. “I’ve decided to have the wedding on Valentine’s Day, and Peony’s bakery will cater it.”

This announcement was met with silence. For my part, I was shocked that she would decide this apparently without Ollie’s input. He appeared just as blank as I assumed everyone else was. Let me say that we all knew Talia and Ollie were engaged and intending to get married. She had already arranged with me to do their photos, and in true Talia fashion had informed me that I needed to do a good job because her dress would be risqué.

Now when you’re able to draw a breath from the thought of Talia Johnston in a revealing gown—I wasn’t convinced she meant it, mind you—you will also note that Peony’s bakery was in the middle of a renovation with a grand reopening scheduled for Valentine’s Day.

I leaned around Edna to catch a glimpse of Peony and found her mouth agape and eyes wide. Peony on the best of days appeared frazzled. Running a business and handling a new baby was a lot for a woman to take on, especially now being a single mom. Then Talia drops this ridiculous bomb without even talking to the caterer?

“Talia, there is no way Peony can handle your wedding with her reopening scheduled the same day,” I scolded her. “And from the look on Peony’s face, you never even talked to her about it. You should be ashamed.”

“Why should I be ashamed?” Talia snapped. “It’s my big day.”

“It’s Peony’s big day too,” I countered.

Talia glared at me. “Makayla, this has nothing to do with you. I think Peony can speak for herself.”

All eyes swiveled to Peony, who paled all the more. She raised a thin hand to her frizzy hair and pushed it back from her forehead. “It’s a tall order with all I have to do, Talia.”

Talia’s eyebrows crashed low. “You don’t even have to do the cooking! All I need is the sweets and the cake. Edna can do it, can’t you, Edna?”

“I—” Edna began.

I grabbed hold of Edna’s arm and linked mine with hers. “How about the day after, or better yet, a week later?”

Talia ignored me and focused on Edna. “
Ollie
would love it if you would do this for us, wouldn’t you, Ollie?” She bumped his arm, and he glanced up for the first time.

Edna stared at Ollie. He looked at Edna then away. “It’s a little inconvenient, Talia. You should have talked to me first.”

“Good for you, Ollie,” I cheered and got a scowl for my pains. “Stand up to her.”

He straightened his back. Ollie mostly didn’t care about anything except his work and doing a good job. He loved to gossip, and he left Talia to do whatever she wanted. However, with all of her drama, he didn’t let her bully him.

“Sooner or later is okay, Talia. It’s just a ceremony after all. It’s not like I’m some young buck and you’re—”

“Ollie Sandstone, don’t you say it,” Talia grumped, apparently insulted. “You’re an old goat, but I’m still raring to go. I still got my looks about me, too.”

David chuckled and snapped his fingers. “You tell him, girlfriend.”

I shook my head and groaned. “Don’t encourage her.”

At last, Edna spoke. “I’m sure I can handle it, Peony dear, if you’d like me to. Plus, my stove at home is commercial quality. I can make everything there and stay out of your way.”

“I for one still think it’s unnecessary. You shouldn’t let Talia bully you, Edna.”

She smiled at me. “It touches my heart that you’re worried about me, sweetie, but this is what I love. Plus, making a wedding cake, well that’s the most amazing thing I could ever imagine doing.”

David snorted. “Until you’ve made it to Talia’s specifications, and she changes her mind a dozen times.”

“I beg your pardon?” Talia said.

No one looked at Talia, but we all waited for Peony’s decision. All the time I had known Peony, she had been under the thumb of her husband, subject to his whims and decisions. I of course had known little of this until he was removed from the picture. The fact that Peony was redesigning her bakery and even changing much of its focus said a lot about the woman and her vision. She had been suppressed a long time, but with my little interactions with her, I saw strength there too, more so maybe because of the baby.

“I appreciate your business, Talia,” Peony began in her quiet, serious tone. “Like Edna said, it would be a great boon for her and my business to make a wedding cake.”

Talia beamed, but I noted a bit of darkness around her eyes. She was growing tired.

“However,” Peony continued, “it’s inconsiderate of you to choose the very day I’m reopening to have your wedding. You knew my date for weeks now, and you didn’t ask me about it. You announced it. So, even if I’m spiting myself, my answer is no, thank you.”

Gasps rose all around the room, and my mouth fell open.

“Well,” David said. “She’s got spunk.”

I agreed.

Edna protested, and I knew her motivation was mainly because she wanted so much to please Ollie. Talia knew it too and had been counting on it, but Peony was Edna’s new boss, and if she said no, it was no. I assumed Edna could do the job on the side, but something told me Talia wouldn’t view Edna making the cake as a favor and not officially the same way.

“If you’re going to be difficult,” Talia snapped, “then I can take my business elsewhere.”

“Talia,” Ollie protested.

Peony smiled. “You’re welcome to do that. I hope you feel better soon, Talia.”

With that, Peony spun away and left the room. Edna bustled forward, hands fluttering. “Don’t you worry, Talia. I’ll talk to her. I’m too excited to let go of the idea of making your cake. Why I see pink flowers made of spun sugar decorating it, and—”

“Don’t bother, Edna. I’m not sure Peony’s little shop is good enough anyway.”

The hurt on Edna’s face made me step forward. “You’re holding the reception in the basement of the church, Talia, following afternoon bingo. Peony’s bakery is the best in Briney Creek, and you know it. You’re just angry because this little court session didn’t go in your favor.”

Talia’s complexion turned splotchy. I wrapped an arm about Edna’s shoulders and tugged her toward the door. She resisted, but at last stumbled along with me. I stopped near the exit.

“Now when you’re ready to stop behaving like a child and more like your age, I’m sure Peony will be open to negotiations. I hope you feel better, too. Get some rest.”

My retreat signaled to everyone else to leave, and we all filed into the hallway. I looked toward David, hoping to get a word, but with a quick hello and good-bye, he was on his way with an excuse that he had to get back to his jewelry store. Our friendship hadn’t returned to normal since I learned he had been involved with Inna’s boyfriend, but I didn’t believe I held it against him. In theory, I understood the weaknesses of the heart. That didn’t change the fact that David and I were awkward with each other, and unless one of us did something to change it, things would continue that way.

Turning to Edna, I gave her another hug. “Don’t let Talia get to you, sweetie. She’s always looking to manipulate others around her. Trust me, she will give in and let Peony handle the wedding order.”

Edna harrumphed. “She’s stubborn, Makayla. She will do all she can to get someone else.”

“There is no one else. At least no one she would want. She faces potential embarrassment, and if I know Talia, she wants to look more important than she is. Peony’s bakery is the answer.”

Edna pouted. “I hope you’re right.”

“I am,” I assured her. “While we’re on the subject, has Peony decided on a new name? I know she didn’t want to keep calling her bakery The Donut Hole because it didn’t have the sophistication she was looking for when she decided to handle special orders.”