Kari Lee Townsend - Sunny Meadows 04 - Perish in the Palm (8 page)

“Me, something stupid? Of course not.” I laughed a little too loudly. “Why would you even think such a thing?”

“You seriously have to ask?” he sputtered.

“You do your job, honey.” I patted his chest. “And let me do mine.”

I left him with the rake as I made my way back to the house with him shouting, “That’s what I’m afraid of,” from behind me.

I smiled warmly. He knew me so well, because that was exactly what I was going to do. My job. Peirce’s reading had said he was going to come into money and the inn was going to be put on the map. I somehow felt guilty for Peirce dying, even though I knew I had nothing to do with it. I might not have been able to save him, but I could certainly help save his business. Besides, ever since giving him that reading, one thought kept rolling through my brain. I knew I wouldn’t rest until I found out what it meant.

The secret lies within the walls of the inn.

“
D
o you think this is a good idea?” Zoe asked as we stepped out of Jo’s suburban.

Jo always drove when we went somewhere together because Jo liked being in control of everything in her life, which was especially important at the moment since it was obvious she felt like her world was spinning out of control. It was Monday night and Sean was manning the bar, trying to make Jo happy. He might be a devil, but no one could deny he was an amazing friend. Meanwhile Cole was home dog-sitting Biff, cleaning the house, and basically doing anything he could to get back in her good graces.

“Good idea or not, we’re doing it.” Jo zipped up her fleece over her rapidly thickening middle. “I need to get out of the house before I throw up or kill my husband. You’re avoiding Sean and having to
talk
to him seriously for once, so don’t even try to deny it. And Sunny needs to stay out of trouble and let Mitch do his job. What better way to do that than to see if we can solve a good mystery that has nothing to do with murder. It has to do with the future. Nothing dangerous about that.”

“Thank you both for being with me. I feel really bad that Mr. Theodore died and I wasn’t able to help him.” I shivered over the quickly dropping evening temperature. As I tightened my fringed sweater coat, I wished I had put a pair of socks and boots on instead of sandals. I tended to be impulsive, which did not serve me well when planning a mission—something I vowed to work on and soon. Focusing on the task at hand instead of my freezing toes, I added, “If I can just figure out what his reading meant, then maybe I can help save his inn.”

“While you’re at it, maybe you can figure out what I’m supposed to do about Sean,” Zoe grumbled, not looking cold at all in her sensible yet stylish wool coat. “Actually, never mind. You guys are friends with him, so I highly doubt you could remain impartial.”

She started walking toward the Divine Inspiration Inn that looked deceivingly normal now that all traces of the wedding and murder had been removed. The crime scene had already been investigated, and Peirce had been cremated in a private ceremony. Loyal workers still wandered about the grounds. The only thing missing were the guests.

“Yeah we’re friend with Sean, but you’re family.” Jo draped her arm over Zoe’s shoulders. “I adore Sean, but I love you. I would never steer you wrong. You have my word on that. Right now men don’t rank very high on my list.”

“Well, I’m no expert when it comes to love.” I snorted. “Just look at Mitch and me. We don’t do anything the normal way. I’m not even sure exactly where we stand right now. But I do know that Cole loves you, Jo. He might be afraid, but you know he’s crazy about you and he will make an amazing father. Just look at how he is with Biff.”

“I know that, but still, I’m not through with making him suffer after what he did to me.” Jo raised her chin a notch. “Blame it on the hormones, but I figure I’m entitled to a little revenge. I only plan to get married once and you only get one wedding night and honeymoon. He ruined that. I’ll come around eventually, it’s how we do things. And then he will spend the rest of our lives making it up to me.” She winked.

“You’re so bad,” I said half laughing. “And, Zoe, you really are lucky. Sean might be a lover of all women, but he’s never fallen for a single one until you. I always knew once he met the right woman, he would be a goner. He would hang up his roving ways and be the most loyal, doting man on the planet. He’ll treat you like gold if you just give him a chance, I promise.” At least Sean couldn’t say I didn’t try. The rest was up to him.

“Maybe.” She looked hopeful yet doubtful at the same time. “But I’m with Jo. I deserve a little payback, and that boy deserves to beg. I don’t think any woman has
ever
said no to him regarding anything. I have been saving myself for a special man. If he wants to be that man, he’s going to have to earn it.” She snapped her spine straight, and the family resemblance between her and Jo was suddenly crystal clear. “Speaking of earning it, don’t you think Detective Stone has proven he’s worthy to be the man in your life?”
“Absolutely,” I answered easily. “The problem is getting him to say he loves me and ask me to marry him again. I never should have said let’s take things slow because now I’m afraid he will never propose.”

“Who says he has to be the one to propose?” Jo asked.

I blinked, and my heart did a funny little flip. “I don’t know,” I finally responded. “I wouldn’t have a clue where to begin, and I tend to make a disaster of pretty much everything. You really think I should do it?” I chewed my bottom lip as the idea took root and nestled in my belly where it began to grow and blossom and push my doubts aside.

“Why not? You’re a modern, free-thinking woman. If anyone can pull it off, you can.” Zoe beamed.

A slow grin spread across my face. “You guys are right, darn it.” I felt excitement and nervousness battle within me. “I’m going to do it. I am going to propose to Mitch just as soon we clear my mother’s name. I want the moment to be perfect with no distractions or worries hanging over our heads.”

“Then let’s get this show on the road, ladies.” Jo knocked on the door to the inn. It had remained locked since Linda had shut her doors.

The door swung open and Sally Clark the crisply starched elderly maid stood ramrod straight and eyed us warily. “May I help you?”

“Is Mrs. Theodore home? We would like to have a word with her.” I smiled.

Ms. Clark did
not
smile back.

“You already did just the other day.” She started to close the door in my face, but Jo stuck her foot in the way.

“Well, I didn’t.” Jo stood to her full Amazon height, and the maid’s eyes widened a fraction.

“We’ll be happy to wait here while you go ask her,” Zoe said. “And please let her know I have a business proposition for her.”

Ms. Clark nodded once, then closed the door in our faces with success this time, but only because Jo allowed it.

“You have a business proposition?” I asked.

“Well,
we
do, but I thought she might take us more seriously if the idea came from me. No offense, but she doesn’t seem to like you or your business.” Zoe shrugged.

“None taken,” I said easily. I was used to people not taking my profession seriously. “I’m all for anything that will get us inside.”

Five minutes later the door opened. “Follow me,” Ms. Clark said.

We followed her into the dining room where Pierre Desjardins the chef was trying to get Linda Theodore to eat something. She looked like she’d been crying. He backed away, appearing defeated. When he spotted us, he blinked in surprise and then a little wariness, but other than that his features were a mask of charming civility. He bowed a bit at the waist, looking dashing and debonair with his black slicked back hair, and then he left the room with the tray of food still in his hands. Jo nearly swooned over the delish aromas of beef and burgundy wine and spices wafting by. I had to grab her arm to keep her from running after him.

Frank Lalone the maintenance man stopped by and whispered something in Linda’s ear. She frowned and then shook her head yes. He nodded, gave her shoulder a quick pat, and left the room.

“Have a seat, ladies.” Mrs. Theodore held a full glass of wine in her hand. It didn’t look like the first one she’d had. “Ms. Clark mentioned something about a business proposition? I’m open to anything at this point.”

“I heard about what happened with Mr. Theodore’s accountant. I’m so sorry,” I said as we all sat.

“I should have known something like this would happen. Peirce was always way too trusting of Brice. I knew we were having financial problems, but nothing to this extent. I had no idea our money was all gone. I don’t even get to keep the life insurance policy. It’s not fair. It will take a miracle for me not to lose my home. I hate Peirce. I’m glad he’s dead.” Her voice hitched.

Jo raised an auburn brow at me.

“I’m sure you don’t mean that, Mrs. Theodore,” Zoe chimed in.

“Hell yes I do,” she said with venom. “I’d gladly sell this place and move on. I never wanted it in the first place, but I need something to live off of. Since the murder, I will be lucky to get enough to break even. How am I supposed to live after that? I don’t have any skills, and I’m too young to retire. For now I need to keep this place running.”

“That’s where we come in,” I said.

“Ah, yes, the business proposition.” Mrs. Theodore looked at Zoe. “Perhaps you want to book another party?”

“Actually,
we
had something else in mind.” I smiled encouragingly.

Mrs. Theodore frowned. “I’m listening.”

“Well, the way I see it, we only have one choice. We have to find out what my reading for your husband meant. If we can do that, then I am certain we can find the money he was to come into.”

“Are you kidding me?” The widow gaped. “You came all the way here to chase some hocus pocus pipe dream?”

“I understand it’s hard to believe in what I do, but if you could just give me a chance, I would—”

“It’s a bunch of nonsense, is what it is,” she spat. “We’ll never find the money, if there’s even money to be found. Especially if the key is in the past.”

“Listen, toots,” Jo snapped back and slapped the table with her palm. “My back hurts, my feet hurt, and that wine smell is making me nauseous. You don’t want to mess with a hormonal pregnant woman, trust me. You need us and we need you. End of story. If it will help, let Sunny read you and then you’ll see. If you believe after that, then you let us worry about finding the money. What do you say?”

There was a long pause.

“You’re on,” Mrs. Theodore finally agreed with a smirk.

“Gee, no pressure, Jo.” I glared at Jo, and she shrugged while wearing a
whoops
expression.

“Just do your thing, Sunny. You’ll be great.” Zoe smiled wide, but even she looked nervous.

“Here goes nothin’,” I said, and for the first time ever, I doubted my own ability.

***

Ten minutes later we had moved into the living room to the exact spot where I had given Peirce his reading. Only this time his widow Linda sat next to me on the couch. I knew she was a non-believer and the odds were stacked against me from the get-go, but I had to give it a try. I owed Peirce that much. I dimmed the lights, lit some candles, and had the staff put on some soft new-age music in the background in hopes of relaxing Linda as well as myself.

“Are you ready to begin?” I asked.

She shrugged. “Sure, I guess. I mean what else do I have to lose? Besides it’s going to be fun proving you’re a fraud.” She sneered.

Great
. I might be psychic, but I wasn’t a miracle worker, and if she wasn’t open at least a little bit, I feared this reading was going to be a disaster. I was a professional. I could do this. I just had to remind myself I was in control.

“Okay, then.” Sucking in a deep breath and exhaling slowly, I took her dominant hand in mine and turned it over so her palm faced up. I studied the lines and located the four major ones. Tracing the horizontal line from her pinkie to her index finger, I said, “Here is the Heart Line.” Tracing the horizontal line below the Heart Line, I said, “And here is the Head Line.” Moving on to the vertical line near the thumb that traveled in a downward arc toward the wrist, I continued. “Here is the Life Line.” I searched the rest of her palm. “Let’s see, it looks like you don’t have a Fate Line.”

She raised a brow and gave me a look that said,
How convenient
.

“Don’t worry, not everyone has a Fate Line.” I smiled reassuringly, refusing to let her rattle me. “It won’t affect anything. I can still do the reading.”

“Trust me, I’m not worried, Miss Meadows,” she said dryly. “Let’s just get this farce over with.”

Jo looked like she really wanted to say something, but she knew me well enough to know not to speak during one of my readings. It disrupted the mood and the flow of energy. Zoe followed Jo’s lead, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t feel their anger on my behalf. That alone warmed my heart and gave me strength.

“As you wish.” I focused on the task at hand, tuning everything else out and studying her palm closely. “Let’s start with the Heart Line which indicates a person’s emotional stability. It doesn’t take a psychic to see your emotions are in complete turmoil with the death of your husband and the financial crisis of your business.”

“Gee, ya think.” She snorted.

“It can also indicate depression and the cardiac health of a person as well as a person’s romantic perspectives. A certain degree of depression is to be expected, but I don’t see anything to indicate an unhealthy heart. I’m feeling a strong pull toward your romantic perspectives, though. Maybe your future will be filled with new hope and a new love.” I glanced up at her encouragingly, but her face paled. My brows drew together as I restudied her palm and suddenly my psychic ability kicked in.

Everything around me narrowed to tunnel vision like it always did when I fell into a trancelike state. “I’m outside in the garden,” I said out loud and smiled. “He’s here. I can feel him behind me. My rock. This is our special place. I knew he would come. He wraps his arms around me and I feel safe, loved, wanted. I can get through anything as long as he’s by my side. He kisses my neck and a warm familiarity engulfs me like I’ve known him for a long time. My eyes flutter closed as he turns me around and kisses me deeply. It’s not the first time, and I want him more than ever. When he pulls away, I smile tenderly as I start to open my eyes so I can look into his and see—”

“Enough!” Mrs. Theodore barked.

I blinked, startled, and came out of my trance. Our eyes met. No words were necessary in the silent conversation that passed between us. She knew that I knew that this man wasn’t her husband, and she now
believed
no matter what she might say. I could see it in her eyes even though I was pretty sure she would deny it all.

“But don’t you want to know who you are going to fall in love with?” Zoe asked. “It’s so romantic.”

“My husband just died.” The widow’s face grew flushed. “I’m not going to fall in love with anyone anytime soon.”