Parfaits and Paramours Read online

“I thought you already did that.”

  “Not very well, apparently,” Adam cursed. “My men found a key in a gym bag.”

  “A key?” Jenny was puzzled.

  “Let me finish,” Adam said. “Luckily, I was familiar with the key. It opens a locker in the local bank. You will never guess what we found.”

  Jenny waited for Adam to go on.

  “A bunch of jewelry,” Adam said. “A really expensive string of pearls, a diamond necklace and some emerald earrings.”

  “Where did they come from?” Jenny asked.

  “That’s what I would like to know,” Adam spat. “The boy maintains they belong to him.”

  “Can I see these jewels?” Jenny asked.

  Adam pulled out his phone and showed her some pictures. Jenny had a good eye for jewelry.

  “If these are real, they cost a pretty bundle.”

  “We got a jeweler to check them out,” Adam told her. “These are the real deal.”

  “Do you think these jewels belong to Kelly?” Jenny asked Adam.

  “We thought of that,” Adam said. “It seems Kelly was wearing some fine jewels at the party. And she was still wearing them when she drowned.”

  “That means she wasn’t killed for money,” Jenny said.

  Adam was looking frustrated. Jenny convinced him to stay back and have lunch.

  “Don’t go after that boy, Jenny,” Adam warned her when he left. “Let the police do their job.”

  “See you later tonight,” Jenny said, heading back to the kitchen.

  Heather’s mouth dropped open when Jenny told her about the jewels in Enrique’s locker.

  “Who do you think they belong to?”

  “Kelly, Ada and Megan are the only women involved here,” Jenny said thoughtfully. “Surely Ada wouldn’t give away her jewels to the pool boy?”

  “Kelly’s our best bet,” Heather said. “But how do we find out if these jewels belonged to her?”

  “We can ask Brandon,” Jenny suggested. “Or what about that roommate of hers? That girl we met in the city?”

  “Excellent idea,” Heather approved. “Did you get her phone number?”

  “I don’t think Adam will send me those jewelry photos,” Jenny reasoned. “What am I going to say to this girl?”

  “Just talk to her,” Heather said. “She might recognize the jewels from their description.”

  As it turned out, the girl was very familiar with Kelly’s jewels.

  “I borrowed those emeralds once,” she told Jenny. “Kelly was pretty cool about letting us girls borrow her stuff. She said it was meant to be shown off.”

  Jenny asked her about the pearls and the diamonds. The girl had borrowed them too.

  “Any idea where Kelly keeps them?”

  “She took all her bling with her,” the friend confirmed. “Said she couldn’t get married without her favorite pieces.”

  Jenny hung up the phone and looked at Heather.

  “How did Enrique get his hands on Kelly’s jewels?” she wondered.

  “Let’s go ask him,” Heather said, jumping down from the kitchen table.

  “Adam kind of warned me not to go and see Enrique,” Jenny said meekly.

  “What if Enrique comes to see you?” Heather asked, a broad smile lighting up her face.

  “Wishful thinking?” Jenny asked.

  Heather turned her around and pointed at a spot in the café’s dining room. Enrique sat at a table near the window, wringing his hands.

  “Are you here for lunch?” Jenny asked a few moments later.

  Enrique looked resigned.

  “Yes, please. I’ll eat whatever you have on hand.”

  Jenny brought out a sandwich bursting with plump, deep fried shrimp. She placed it on the table and sat down before Enrique. She let him eat a few bites.

  “Why did Kelly give you her jewelry?”

  Enrique’s eyes popped open. He swallowed a mouthful in haste and looked about to bolt.

  “Don’t even think about lying again,” Jenny warned. “I know about the stuff they found in your locker. I am sure you got it from Kelly.”

  “Can you keep this between us?” Enrique urged.

  “Depends on what you are going to tell me,” Jenny said sternly. “Out with it.”

  Enrique leaned forward and spoke softly.

  “I was blackmailing Kelly. I saw her kissing that cousin of hers, what’s his name? Bunky or something like that.”

  “Binkie,” Jenny corrected automatically.

  “Yeah, him,” Enrique nodded. “I threatened to tell Brandon.”

  “What else did you do?” Jenny asked. “Did you push her into the pool?”

  Enrique looked alarmed.

  “I had nothing to do with that. You have to believe me.”

  “You lied to us before,” Jenny pointed out.

  “Kelly had agreed to pay me a lot more,” Enrique said. “The jewels were just a down payment. Why would I kill my golden goose?”

  Chapter 16

  The Magnolias gathered for their mid-morning coffee break. Betty Sue and Heather had called ahead saying they would be late because Betty Sue needed to go to the bank. Jenny was pouring the coffee when they came in, Betty Sue looking flustered and red in the face.

  “I know what I saw,” Betty Sue Morse said indignantly.

  She was so distressed she had set her knitting aside. Betty Sue rarely did that.

  “Calm down, Grandma,” Heather said, stroking her back. “We need to watch your blood pressure.”

  “Leave me alone, girl!” Betty Sue cried, flinging off Heather’s hand. “How could she!”

  “Take a deep breath, Betty Sue,” Star said, “and start at the beginning.”

  “Ada Newbury was kissing a man,” Betty Sue said again.

  “Go Julius!” Star chortled. “So their romance is still going strong.”

  Julius Newbury was Ada’s husband.

  “She wasn’t kissing Julius,” Betty Sue said, her chest heaving. “I never saw the man before.”

  Jenny laughed. Molly and Star joined her.

  “Did you see her too?” Jenny asked Heather.

  “I wasn’t paying attention,” Heather said.

  “You must be mistaken, Betty Sue,” Jenny said. “Ada’s well into her seventies. I don’t see her having an affair at this age.”

  Star added her opinion.

  “Forget her age. I can’t imagine Ada Newbury developing an affection for anyone.”

  “It was Ada alright,” Betty Sue persisted. “She was driving that fancy car of hers. The man was sitting next to her. They were parked in that little alley behind the bank.”

  “Kissing a man in broad daylight, that too in the heart of the town?” Star frowned. “That doesn’t sound like Ada.”

  “Can you describe the man, Grandma?” Heather asked.

  Betty Sue thought for a few seconds and shook her head.

  “I was too shocked to notice.”

  “The only strange man I have seen around Ada is that golf coach of hers,” Heather said. “You don’t think she’s carrying on with him?”

  “Zac Gordon?” Jenny asked incredulously. “He’s half her age.”

  “It’s not impossible,” Heather said.

  Heather had recently been in love with a much older man. She didn’t believe age was a barrier for true love.

  “It’s her private business, I guess,” Jenny said.

  “But she’s cheating on her husband,” Betty Sue protested.

  “Let them handle it, Betty Sue,” Star said diplomatically. “Why should we interfere?”

  None of the women really believed that Ada Newbury could be involved with a mere golf pro.

  Jason Stone walked down the boardwalk carrying the baby in a carrier. The ladies hailed him and Jenny invited him for a cup of coffee. Heather, Jenny and Molly took turns holding the baby, smiling and blowing kisses at her as she gurgled and smiled.

  “When is Emily spending the day with us?
” Jenny asked Jason.

  “You’re always busy at the café,” Jason pointed out. “When do you have the time to take care of my girl?”

  “How about Sunday?” Jenny asked. “Spend the day with us. We can have a barbecue in the evening.”

  She invited the Magnolias for the barbecue. Jason told them how he had set up a crib in his office for Emily.

  “I still need to go to the city sometimes though,” he said gloomily. “I hate leaving Emily.”

  Jenny marveled at how easily Jason had stepped into the role of a father. She couldn’t imagine Adam doing that. But she had to concede he had raised two daughters on his own after his wife passed away. Then she chided herself for comparing the two men. It wasn’t fair to either of them.

  The day passed in a blur. Jenny stayed busy making lunch and preparing for the next day. She walked to the seafood market on her way home.

  Chris Williams greeted her with a big smile. He and Molly were seeing each other. Chris moonlighted as a part-time realtor and was a kind hearted young man.

  “How are you doing, Jenny?” he asked, wrapping up her usual order of whitefish fillets and shrimp.

  Jenny chatted with him for a while before heading back.

  Jenny and her aunt had a quiet dinner at home. Jenny had pan grilled the fish and made a salad. She put on her sneakers after some time and went for a walk on the beach. A yellow Labrador ran up to her, his tail wagging and put his paws on her chest.

  “Tank!” Jenny exclaimed happily, fondling the dog.

  She pulled a ball out of her pocket and threw it in the distance.

  Adam walked up to her, leaning on his cane. He didn’t look very happy.

  “You look tired,” Jenny murmured. “Have you had dinner? I saved a plate for you.”

  “I’m not hungry,” Adam snapped.

  They walked away from the house, Adam unwilling to say a word. Jenny let him brood for a while.

  “Do you ever listen to me?” he burst out suddenly. “What am I going to do with you, Jenny?”

  “What have I done now?” Jenny asked, her hands on her hips.

  “I told you to stay away from that pool boy.”

  “He came to the café. I didn’t go looking for him.”

  “What did you talk about?” Adam demanded. “Tell me everything right now.”

  Jenny told Adam how Enrique had been blackmailing Kelly.

  “And I bet he didn’t stop there.”

  “I don’t think he is involved in Kelly’s murder,” Jenny said. “He had a lot to gain by keeping her alive.”

  Adam held Jenny’s arms and shook her.

  “You need to be more careful, Jenny,” he cried. “There’s a killer on the loose.”

  “Why are you so upset, Adam?” Jenny asked. “Has something else happened?”

  Adam looked grim when he gave Jenny the news.

  “Paul Briggs is dead.”

  “Binkie’s dead?” Jenny echoed.

  “They found him in his room at the country club,” Adam reported. “Don’t know why he was still hanging around town.”

  “What happened to him?” Jenny asked.

  “Don’t know for sure. My guess is he was poisoned.”

  “Who would do that?”

  “Isn’t that the big question?” Adam growled. “Until we catch the culprit, everyone is under suspicion.”

  “What does anyone gain by killing Binkie?”

  Adam shrugged. They turned around and walked back to Seaview. Jenny barely slept a wink before it was time to get up and go to the café.

  Brandon Newbury turned up at the Boardwalk Café for breakfast. Jenny was surprised when she saw him standing in line.

  “Chocolate chip muffin?” she asked. “My treat.”

  “Can I talk to you?” Brandon pleaded.

  Jenny led him out to the deck. A brisk wind whipped her hair against her face. She shivered a bit as she waited for Brandon to speak up.

  “A cold front’s coming in,” Brandon began.

  “Are you here to talk about the weather?” Jenny asked impatiently.

  She had a mountain of work waiting for her in the kitchen.

  “Did you hear about Binkie?” he asked.

  Jenny nodded affirmatively.

  “The police think I did it.”

  Jenny sat down at a table and motioned Brandon to do the same.

  “What did you have against him?”

  “He wasn’t Kelly’s cousin,” Brandon explained. “He was her lover. The police think I wanted revenge.”

  “Did you?” Jenny asked simply.

  Brandon ran a hand through his hair. His blue eyes looked troubled as he stared beseechingly at Jenny.

  “I never had a clue,” he said. “At least not at first. Binkie was so friendly. He was a guy’s guy, you know. He was the only family Kelly had, or so I thought. Then I saw them together. I got the shock of my life.”

  “You had no idea?”

  “I knew Kelly was up to something,” Brandon admitted. “I thought maybe she was just having a last fling. But I never guessed she was carrying on with Binkie.”

  “Do you know what their plan was?” Jenny asked.

  “My grandma told me,” Brandon said. “I still can’t believe it.”

  “Anyone in your position would feel cheated. You might have decided to get revenge.”

  “I couldn’t stand the sight of him,” Brandon admitted. “But I didn’t do anything to hurt him. You have to believe me.”

  “Can you tell me anything about him?” Jenny asked. “What did he do in the city?”

  “Binkie was between jobs,” Brandon told Jenny. “As far as I know he didn’t seem concerned about it.”

  Jenny didn’t want to make any tall promises.

  “Nothing about this business makes any sense,” she told Brandon. “I’m not sure if I’ll be able to help you.”

  “You are close to the sheriff, aren’t you?” Brandon said. “At least put in a good word for me.”

  Jenny felt her temper flare.

  “I don’t interfere in Adam’s work.”

  Brandon knew when to shut up. He implored Jenny to help him in any way she could. Jenny was relieved when he left.

  The Magnolias came in for their daily ritual. None of them said anything much. The news of Binkie’s death had spread through town. People were beginning to look worried. They huddled together and talked in soft voices, blaming the police for inaction.

  Jenny was too distracted to cook anything elaborate for lunch. She made her strawberry chicken salad and added in some freshly picked basil for flavor. She packed a lunch basket and headed to the police station, hoping to get the latest scoop.

  Adam greeted her with a scowl.

  “Thanks for getting lunch,” he said. “I’m sorry I won’t be able to join you.”

  “I can go back to the café and eat on my own,” Jenny said meekly. “Actually, I might look in on the baby. I need something to cheer me up.”

  Adam gave in, just as Jenny had expected.

  “You can eat here,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Just make sure you don’t talk shop.”

  “We don’t have to talk at all,” Jenny said.

  Adam ate half his sandwich in a couple of bites. Jenny took one dainty bite and chewed slowly. The phone on Adam’s desk trilled, shattering the silence.

  Adam picked up the receiver and listened. His face turned darker with every passing second. He slammed the phone down after a while and muttered something under his breath.

  “Bad news?” Jenny asked sympathetically.

  Adam stuffed the remaining sandwich in his mouth, refusing to answer Jenny. She could sense he was bursting to tell her something. He guzzled the lemonade Jenny had brought along and looked at her.

  “A witness has come forward. Brandon Newbury was seen at the country club two nights ago.”

  “So he spent time at his club,” Jenny shrugged. “No big deal.”

  “He was seen skulking
around Binkie’s room,” Adam thundered.

  “How do you know this witness is telling the truth?” Jenny demanded.

  “It’s my job to determine that,” Adam said. “Lunch is over.”

  Jenny took the hint and picked up her basket. She walked back to the café, trying to guess who might have called the police against Brandon. Did someone in town have a grudge against him?

  Ada Newbury was waiting for Jenny at the Boardwalk Café.

  “Where have you been?” she complained. “I have been waiting for an hour.”

  “How can I help you, Mrs. Newbury?” Jenny asked, ignoring the old woman’s outburst.

  “My Brandon’s in trouble,” Ada sobbed. “That poor boy! Please say you will help him. I will pay you anything you want.”

  “It’s not that easy,” Jenny said, trying to be honest. “Nothing about this affair has made any sense.”

  “You know my Brandon works for a senator?” Ada asked. “He has big aspirations. Who was this Binkie? A good-for-nothing loafer. Why would my Brandon risk his life’s work over someone like that?”

  A tear rolled down Ada’s rheumy eyes. Jenny felt sorry for her. She decided not to mention the witness.

  “Calm down, Mrs. Newbury,” she consoled. “If Brandon’s innocent, he has nothing to worry about.”

  Jenny wasn’t sure he was. Brandon had motive and opportunity and it was going to be difficult to prove he was completely free of blame.

  Chapter 17

  Jenny smoothed her hands over her golf dress, gazing at herself in the mirror. She hoped it wasn’t hopelessly out of fashion. She didn’t want to look out of place.

  Jenny needed an excuse to go scout around the country club. She had decided to take advantage of Zac Gordon’s offer. She had called him the previous day and set up a lesson with him.

  “Are you sure they will let me in?” she had joked.

  Zac had boasted about the clout he wielded at the club.

  “The golf course is my domain. Don’t worry about a thing.”

  Two hours later, Jenny stood on the green, ready to tee off. Zac Gordon had painstakingly given her some directions, and attempted to correct her posture.

  Jenny found out her game wasn’t too rusty after all. She chatted with Zac as they traversed the famous course.

  “This place is beautiful,” Jenny breathed. “Do you like working here?”