Murder and Salutations (17 page)

I wanted to tweak Reggie, Addie and Luke with the same statement, but my growling stomach insisted I take care of it first, so I headed back to the card shop to get Lillian.

When I walked in the door, one of my suspects was already there, and from the look on Reggie’s face, he wasn’t any happier to see me than I was to lay eyes on him.

“
There you are,” he snapped at me.

“
Hi, Reggie. Did you come to buy a card?” My sweetness was purely artificial, and we both knew it.

“
I came here to tell you to leave my mother alone.”

“
Is that an order? Because in case you didn’t realize it, you don’t get to tell me what to do.” I saw Lillian smile at that, but I had to stay focused on Reggie.

“
I’m warning you,” he said gravely.

I never got to find out what he was warning me about, because Gail walked in the shop just then. She looked confused to see Reggie there, but it only took her a heartbeat to catch up. “There you are,” she said. “I thought you were meeting me at the square.”

“
I am,” Reggie snapped. “There was something I had to take care of first.”

Gail looked at him, then shifted her gaze to me. “Has he been bothering you again?”

“
We were just talking,” I said. The last thing I wanted to do was come between Gail and her boyfriend.

“
Jennifer Shane, I asked you a question. Don’t make me repeat myself. What did he say?”

I kept silent, so Lillian piped up happily, “He just threatened her, actually. He demanded that Jennifer stay away from his mother, and when she refused, he was getting ready to push her, but you walked in first.”

Gail looked at me for confirmation, and I nodded unhappily.

Then she turned to Reggie. “That’s it, we’re through.”

“
What are you talking about?”

“
You can’t threaten my best friend and expect me to forget about it. I won’t date a man who doesn’t respect women.”

He wanted to say something, I could see it in his eyes, but finally he threw up his hands and said, “Forget it. You’re not worth this kind of trouble, anyway.”

After he was gone, I saw Gail sag a little. I put my arm around her and said, “He wasn’t worth it.”

“
I know,” she said, “but I had hopes.”

“
We all do, dear,” Lillian said. “Now why don’t I treat you ladies to lunch?”

“
It’s my turn to pay,” I protested.

Gail said, “I should be the one picking up the check. I knew he was wrong for me, but I needed you two with me to break up with him. That should earn you each a free lunch, at the very least.”

“
Why don’t we all go dutch?” I asked. “That way everyone gets to buy.”

They both laughed, and the solemn mood was broken. It wasn’t until we got to The Lunch Box that I realized I hadn’t had a chance to confront Reggie about being with Bailey at the banquet. It would have to wait until another time, but not until he cooled down first. I didn’t have that much time.

We found three stools together near the window in the serpentine ribbon of seats. The Lunch Box was hopping, with Savannah ruling over the counters, and Pete grilling in back. Savannah came over as soon as we sat down. “Hello, ladies. Oh, and hi, Lillian.” The two of them had been friends forever, and they’d cut their pleasantries to acerbic jabs, though I knew they were as close as sisters.

We were all surprised when Lillian replied, “You’re looking fit today. Have you lost weight?”

Savannah’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe a pound or two. Why?”

“
Why not? How’d you like to lose another one?”

“
Go on,” Savannah said. “I’m listening.”

“
If you’ll round up three glasses of tea, I’ll tell you.”

Savannah returned in no time and put the glasses in front of us. Lillian took a sip, then leaned forward. “Okay, here goes. Exercise more, and eat less.”

Savannah whooped with laughter, though I thought the humor was a little lacking. “I was getting worried about you, but I can see you’re just as mean as ever

“
Does a snake jog in tennis shoes?” Lillian asked her.

“
He does if he’s running a marathon,” Savanna said as she walked away.

Gail looked at me and raised her eyebrows in question. “Don’t worry, I don’t get much the two of they say, either. They’ve known each other so long they have their own code.”

She shrugged. “Like the time we went to that movie?”

“
Popcorn’s cheaper than glue,” we both said in unison. A man in front of us kept repeating that phrase until an usher had to physically remove him from the theatre, and Gail and I had adopted his catchphrase as our own.

Lillian asked, “What are you two nattering away
about?”

“
I guess you had to be there,” I said. Maybe Gail and I were developing a code of our own. “Excuse me, I’ll be right back.” I’d been facing the door, and I could swear I’d seen Addie walk in the restaurant before turning away. “Hey, wait a second,” I said as I rushed out after her. She ducked into a car parked at the side of the restaurant, and I was shocked when I realized that Luke was driving. I tapped on the window before they could escape, and she reluctantly rolled the window down.

“
What do you want?”

“
I didn’t know you two were dating,” I said.

“
Don’t be ridiculous. But even if we were, it wouldn’t be any of your business,” Addie said.

I looked over at Luke. “Boy, when you decide to stay, you really move back in, don’t you? How long has this been going on?”

He got out of the car, and I suddenly realized how stupid I’d been confronting him like that without anyone backing me up. As I edged back to the entrance, he said, “I want to talk to you.”

“
I don’t have anything to say to you,” I said.

“
That didn’t stop you at the gas station, did it?” I looked around for help, but I was all alone. “Trying to leave made you look guilty,” I said. If I was I going to get bashed, I might as well deserve it.

Instead of pressing me, he said, “I would never hurt Eliza. And neither would Addie.”

“
How long have you two been going out?”

“
We aren’t dating,” he snapped, then looked back at Addie.

“
So what are you two doing out together?” He kicked at the dirt, then said, “We’re doing the same thing you are. We’re trying to figure out who killed Eliza. Is that so hard for you to believe? You’re not going to like our number-one suspect. It’s your sister.”

“
You’ve lost your mind,” I said. Why did it surprise me that someone else was trying to solve the case besides Lillian and me? It wasn’t like we had some right to meddle in other people’s lives. But I didn’t have to like the fact that Luke and Addie suspected my sister. “So what’s your proof?”

“
You’re kidding, right? If she weren’t your sister, you’d be all over her right now. Her husband was cheating on her with Eliza, and then he turns up dead, too? If Sara Lynn wasn’t the sheriff’s sister, she’d be in jail right now. The whole town thinks so.”

“
Maybe my brother knows something you don’t,” I said.

“
What’s that?”

“
The fact that Sara Lynn is innocent.”

Luke shook his head. “They all say that, don’t they?” He took another step toward me, and hissed, “It’s time you got what you deserved.”

I was ready to run for the front of the restaurant when the back door opened and Pete came out with a bucket of hot grease. I’d never been so happy to see the man in my life.

“
Jennifer, your friends were wondering where you got to,” he said as he stared at Luke.

“
I was just chatting, but I’m finished now.” I didn’t even wait to see what Luke’s reaction was. Addie had waited in the car, but she’d been watching us the entire time, no doubt taking in every word.

“
Then I suspect you should get back to them,” Pete said.

Without a word, Luke got into the car and drove off.

“
Thanks,” I said. “I’d kiss you, but Savannah would swat me with a rolling pin.”

“
Might just be worth it for both of us,” Pete said with a wicked grin on his face.

To his surprise, I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “That was perfect timing,” I said.

His face reddened slightly. “Go on, get back in there.” I couldn’t tell if he was pleased by my kiss, or just embarrassed. Maybe it was a combination of both.

I went back inside and took my seat.

“
You were gone, so we ordered for you,” Gail said:

“
You’re getting barbeque,” Lillian added.

“
Great. Here I was having trouble deciding, and you two step in and save the day.”

Lillian looked at me for a few seconds. “Where were you?”

“
I ran into Luke and Addie out in the parking lot. It turns out they’re looking into the murders, too.”

Lillian snorted. “What do they expect to find that we won’t? Amateurs.”

“
That’s what we are,” I said as I took a sip of tea.

“
Jennifer, we’ve helped the police from time to time in the past. I think that gives us standing, don’t you?”

I didn’t know how to answer that, and looked over at Gail, who was grinning as she hung on every word. “What are you smiling about?”

“
You two are more entertaining than daytime television.”

I was saved from replying by our food order arriving. Savannah slid plates in front of Lillian and Gail, but left before giving me anything. “Hey, where’s mine?” Savannah turned around. “Did you say something?”

“
I was just wondering where my food was,” I said. She got close enough for me to smell her perfume.

“
Did you kiss my man?” Was she serious? I’d just been thanking a guy I’d known my entire life. “Yes, ma’am, I admit it. He did me a favor, and I thanked him politely.”

“
Where did you kiss him?” she asked, to “By the side of the restaurant,” I answered.

It was touch and go for a second, then Savannah whooped with laughter. “Lillian, she’s more like you than you’re willing to admit.”

“
You take that back,” I said, smiling.

“
I won’t do it,” Savannah said as she retrieved my plate from Pete’s window.

I stuck my tongue out at him. “Tattletale.” He ducked back, as if he was worried I’d hurl one of the tiny hush puppies at him. They were light, crisp and golden, and I wouldn’t have willingly given one up for the president.

As we ate, Lillian asked, “So what do you make of our crime-busting competition? Did they say who they suspect?”

I mumbled, hoping she would let it slide, but should have known better. “Jennifer, I can’t understand you with a mouthful of food.”

“
Really?” I said as I put another forkful of barbecued pork in my mouth.

Gail said, “She doesn’t want to say in here.”

“
Really? I had no clue that was what she was doing.” Lillian leaned toward me and added, “They suspect Sara Lynn, don’t they?”

I nodded. “You really can’t blame them.”

“
Of course I can,” Lillian said, ignoring her salad completely. “Jennifer, it’s time we put an end to this.

“
I’m trying,” I said. “If you have any more ideas, I’m willing to hear them out.”

Gail looked at us both, then asked, “Do you two really think you can solve a case that Bradford can’t? I hate to say it, but that’s kind of arrogant of you, isn’t it?”

“
You have no idea,” I admitted. “The thing is, he’s
got rules he has to follow, and we just keep poking our noses into other people’s lives until we find out what we’re looking for.”

“
Isn’t that dangerous?”

“
It can be,” I said, “but that’s just a part of it. What matters is that the truth comes out, one way or another.”

Gail shook her head. “I don’t know how you do it.”

“
The same way we do everything else,” Lillian said “With panache and great flair. Now, if you two are finished, we all have work to do.”

Back at the card shop, Gail said, “Thanks for everything.”

“
We didn’t do anything,” I said.

“
You did more than you could know. I just hope I didn’t make your life harder than it has to be, breaking up with Reggie like that.”

“
Believe me, I’ll be fine.”

After she was gone, Lillian said, “Now what do we do to stir things up? I’m ready for some action.”