“So, Super Sleuth, now that we’ve solved the Halpern case,” Herc said, “how do you plan to let Val solve it for us?”
“Huh? What?” I asked as I sipped a skinny latte at a local coffee shop, not Dawson’s Deli. I wasn’t quite ready to pay Chuck a visit. Besides, this had to be a short stop before heading back to the department to tie up those loose ends we’d just discussed. We both needed to recharge before tackling the fun part of the job.
“Remember what one of us promised the captain?”
“Refresh my memory, since you’re dying to do so.”
“Watkins wants us to let Val think she helped us solve the case. He felt bad when he didn’t support her when she objected to your helping with the case. He thought that would help her save face.”
I buried my face in my hands. I’d totally forgotten about that suggestion as we’d gotten further into the case. “You’re right. What do we do?”
“We? You’re the one who couldn’t just walk away from the needy man. You had to give him a way to get back in her good graces. You really want this guy as your new son-in-law.”
“No, I don’t. Well, not necessarily. He just seemed so … pathetic … at the time. I had to say something. Could you at least help me come up with a plan?”
“Whatever we do, we have to come up with something fast before she hears from anyone else that we’ve caught the killer.”
I came out of my seat. “Ryder! I’ve got to catch him if it isn’t too late.”
I got my pal on speed dial within a minute. “Hi. Don’t say anything if you’re around Val. Are you?”
“No, I’m with my attorney trying to determine if I’m liable for that young woman’s death, since she was able to get into my presumably locked property.”
“Oh, Ryder, I’m sorry. I thought you’d been completely cleared.”
“We think so, since everything was locked up. She either had an old key or she found the one we leave for subs who get there early.”
I explained the reason for my call and asked him to give me half an hour before he headed back to the restaurant and he agreed.
“You plugged that hole. Now what?” Herc asked.
“Now I call Val and invent some question to ask her that will turn out to be my key to solving the case.”
“And that question would be …”
“Give me a minute. I need more caffeine to come up with something.”
“That all you need?”
“That’s all I have.” I ran through the sequential progression of the case in my head. I had to ask for her opinion about something, a detail that led us to the murderer. The boyfriend in Atlanta, the visit to the prison, the real estate scam. Back up. Real estate.
I called Val. “Hi. Got a question for you.”
“Anything to take my mind off the argument going on in the other room.”
I didn’t want to know. But I’d dumped the project on her. She deserved my support. “Argument? What’s going on?”
“It’s Chuck and that wine consultant. He’s losing patience with her continued questioning in order to establish the kind of wine bar he wants. He doesn’t understand why she can’t just write up a report and put everything in his head on paper.”
“Keep your distance. I’ll try to finish this case as soon as I can so I can get back there and help referee. Which is why I’m calling. In your days as bank loan manager or even since then in operating our business, did you ever run into a local businessman by the name of Randall Trent?”
“As in Trent Realty and Trent Corporation? Never met the guy, but I’ve heard about him. Not the most upstanding of entrepreneurs. Sketchy reputation, but nothing’s ever been pinned on him. Does that help?”
“Yes, yes, it does. Look, hang in there another day or so. I’ll be back soon.”
“Decided to follow the real estate theme, huh?” Herc said once I signed off.
“First and best thing I could think of. Time to report to the captain, both officially and personally.”
Watkins was delighted when I called him. “I’d already heard you got the killer, complete with a recorded confession, both now and years ago. Good job, Rowena. And Herc, too. As for letting Valerie think she helped solve the mystery, brilliant. She’ll be so pleased to know her consultative service led you to the murderer. Thanks.”
“That was weird,” I told Herc once I finished my call to Watkins.
“Weird, how?”
“Maybe I was expecting a stronger attagirl from him. He was very pleasant and positive and thanked me for involving Val, but it just came across flat.”
“Did you catch him in the middle of meeting?”
“No, or he would’ve offered to call me back. While I’m still in detective mode, I’d say he and Valerie had already worked out their differences, but he was too polite to tell me.”
Herc chuckled. “The boss has always been a man of action. He might not have been able to wait for us to solve the case and fell on his sword apologizing to Val.”
“Remind me of this incident in the days ahead if this romance continues to bloom,” I said. “Don’t let me get pulled into playing mediator again.”
“More like fairy godmother, if you ask me.”
“On to the easy part, then. Writing up our case report.”
Confirmations came in the next day. Trent’s DNA matched the DNA that had been found under Lila’s nails. Scratches that had been covered up by shirt collars were found on his neck. And the best result of all was the conversation Bradley had recorded years ago where Trent not only admitted his guilt in the scam but also threatened Halpern and his family should Halpern tell anyone else. Since in Florida it’s illegal to record a conversation with another party unless they agree to it, the tape wouldn’t hold up in court. But for our purposes, it confirmed Bradley Halpern’s innocence. After all these years, his name was cleared. Lila’s belief in her dad made that possible. Now Kyle and his family could begin living their lives free from Trent’s threats.
Now that we knew just how far Trent had gone to save his own neck while racking up a fortune, I began to wonder if the man’s influence hadn’t somehow found its way to the Parole Board. It would explain why Halpern’s petitions for parole had been turned down so many times. If that was true, the man deserved more than the murder charge he was now facing.
Though she lost her life attempting to clear her father’s name, Lila Halpern was a hero. Though selling a renovated house where a murder had recently taken place might prove problematic for Ryder, I hoped he would seize the opportunity to memorialize her courage and persistence.
The following day, I cautiously approached the restaurant. I couldn’t wait to be a home renovator again, but I wasn’t sure who had survived the Great Wine Bar Battle.
“Welcome back,” Ryder called, emerging from the main dining room. “Your timing is right on. The mechanicals and plumbing are done. At least until your boyfriend makes up his mind about his precious wine bar.”
“He’s no longer my boyfriend,” I said, feeling the need to clarify the situation, at least to Ryder. “And he still hasn’t acted on the wine bar?”
“Nope. I’m starting to believe he just likes hassling that nice Varney woman.”
“Nice, huh?”
“She’s way younger than me, Ro.”
“So?”
“So I’m still waiting to find my brother or sister. That’s enough personal stuff for now.”
That was his kind way of reminding me I’d been remiss tracking down his sibling. Surely he appreciated that I’d been tied up the last several days tracking down the guy who killed a woman in his reno. How soon they forget.
“Are they around today?” I asked, steeling myself for any further confrontations.
“No. She left him with a list of questions he’s supposed to answer before she’ll move ahead with her recommendations. Dawson is back at his deli today. Val’s going over the plans in the back room that will eventually be the manager’s office.”
“Look who’s back,” my daughter said when I caught up with her. “Congratulations. As much as I hated to lose you here, I knew you’d figure out who murdered her in no time at all. That’s why you called me, isn’t it? To check whether your hunch about Trent held water?”
“You were a big help, Val. One could say you solved the case when you confirmed our suspicions about the man.” I was laying it on thick, but I felt I owed it to the captain.
She returned a mysterious smile. “Thank you, but you don’t have to pretend any longer for my sake. Jim told me he’d boxed you and Herc into helping him make amends with me by letting me think I’d solved the case. He couldn’t wait until you wrapped the case to apologize for not supporting me, especially in front of your people.”
“I never should’ve agreed to be part of his plan. I didn’t like snowing you, as much as I hoped you and Jim would get past that incident.”
“I really like him, Mom, even though we’ve only known each other a brief while. Even when I was feeling the most betrayed, I knew I’d forgive him soon.”
“I like him too, especially when he’s not my boss. Just so you take your time and make sure whatever you feel for each other is real.” Was I sounding too motherly? Too bad. That was my job, and she was my only child.
“Now that we’ve discussed my love life, how about yours?” she asked.
“I’m not sure such a thing still exists,” I told her. My words emerged with more regret than I realized I felt until then.
“Of course there’s still a fire between the two of you. You’re just both so stubborn. If you keep on the path you’ve gotten yourselves onto, that fire will eventually burn out. Surely you don’t want that to happen?”
I knew the answer to that sooner than I thought I would. “No. I want Chuck back in my life. But not at the total expense of my pride.”
“Then you have to find a way to bend your pride at least a little bit to make it easier for him.”
“But that’s what caused this current parting of the ways. Chuck using his charm to make things easier for himself.”
“What about you? Chuck may offer that fabulous smile more often than he should, but don’t you come on strong with your views and opinions a little too often?”
Where was she going with this? “Are you saying I’m opinionated?”
“Well?”
“I’m a modern-day woman, Valerie. I have to demonstrate strong opinions in order to be heard.”
“Just sayin’, Mom. Think about it. That’s all. Meanwhile, we have a restaurant to finish. It’s your turn to take the lead. As soon as Chuck knows we’ve reached this point, he’ll be underfoot more than a hungry puppy. It’s your time to shine. Not just with the interior design but the way you deal with the owner.”
That said, the two of us buckled down to work. I spent an hour just reviewing the layout of the booths and tables. To save money, I’d convinced Chuck to retain as much of the furniture inventory as possible by sending it off to a local concern to refurbish it. It was time to check on their progress. Meanwhile, before we could bring the tables and booths back, the walls and flooring had to be finished. I should run his earlier selections by Chuck one more time just to make sure they were still his choices. Did I really want to take the chance?
“Rowena! Good to see you again,” Chuck said as I took a seat at one of the three customer tables at Dawson’s Deli. “I hear congratulations are in order. You and Morgan caught your culprit. A local businessman, no less.”
“A crooked local businessman who coerced another man to take the rap for his crimes for over fifteen years and killed the man’s daughter when she tried prove her dad’s innocence. But thanks.”
“You’re back on the job then? The reno of my restaurant?”
“That’s why I’m here. We need to finalize the interior furnishings before we proceed.”
He offered a dejected look. “And here I thought you’d come just to see me again. It’s been a while.”
“I’ve missed you too, Chuck.”
His eyes sought mine. “Does that mean you forgive me?”
“There was nothing ever to forgive. We just saw some things differently.”
“Then you’ve changed your views?” he asked hopefully.
“No, but I asked myself how our different perspectives mattered in the overall scheme of things. Our relationship won out..”
He settled into the chair opposite mine. “Then I can smile at you as much as I want? In whatever way I want?”
“Yes, but I reserve the right to inform you whenever that smile thing gets out of control. Okay?”
“Definitely.” To drive home our bargain, he favored me with a brand-new smile I’d never seen from him before, a combination of appreciation, agreement and lust. It took my breath away. “To celebrate, I have a new coffee from Kona called ‘Hawaiian Mist.’ You’re the first to try it.”
“I’m honored.”
He excused himself long enough to fix two mugs and return with them. “Brought you a couple sugar wafers also.”
“How thoughtful.”
I sipped my coffee. Not bad. It had a certain citrusy, flowery sweetness to it. When I finished my cookies, he set down his coffee and leaned forward. “Now that we’ve gotten through the preliminaries, how are you, really?”
He caught me off guard. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“When you said you’ve missed me, what was it you missed? Surely not my charms; we’ve been through that. Or my smile. Nor my coffee or my pastries, even though they’re the best, but you can find them elsewhere. Could it possibly be my company?” His voice was a soft, mellow caress.
The look in his eyes warned me this wasn’t just banter. The man was asking a serious question. Total honesty was called for. But was I ready to be totally honest?
“I like being with you, Chuck. You challenge me mentally and you’re good for my spirit. It’s only been days since we argued, but since then I’ve felt some of the light was missing from my life.”
He took my hand. I resisted the urge to check whether we were alone in the deli. Frankly, at this moment, I didn’t care. “I’m falling for you, Rowena Summerfield. If that scares you or turns you off, tell me now while I can still regain some of my faculties.”
“I’m not ready to use the L-word yet, Chuck. Can you deal with that?”
“As long as you’re not writing off the possibility,” he said, squeezing my hand.
“Oh, no. I’m looking forward to that day,” I said, surprising myself with the hope just saying it made me feel.
He leaned over and kissed me. Sweetly, tenderly but in the most romantic way I’ve ever experienced.
After we eventually pulled away from each other, we sat there a bit, just taking in the other’s essence. Finally, Chuck broke the spell. “As for the restaurant, I haven’t changed my mind about my original choices, unless you think there’s a better way to go?”
“I’m fine with the wall covering you selected and the luxury vinyl flooring. I just wanted to give you one more chance to change your mind.”
“It must seem like I’ve been doing a lot of that lately,” he said. “Sorry. Guess I’ve been frustrated with how things have been going between us. I’m glad we’ve got our feelings out in the open now. I trust you and Val and Ryder to finish things up the way we’ve discussed. I’ll try to stay out of your way from here on as long as we can see each other at night more often?”
“I’d like that. Let’s do better.”
“About the wine bar?” he said.
“And things were going so well.”
He laughed. “I’ve been a jerk about that, and I’m sorry I’ve bugged you.”
“Was it a just a ploy to see me?”
“Actually, I really do like the idea even though Lorna thinks it’s more the idea of a relaxing place for the community to gather that I like. You were very wise to suggest I hire someone like her to help me refine that idea. I’m busy filling out the questionnaire she gave me so that she can offer a proposal. For now, you don’t need to worry about it, other than to plan for an entrance from the restaurant along the south wall.”
“Do you still want the restaurant?” I asked him.
“You think I’ve lost interest? Or that I was just dabbling?”
“Well, have you? Were you?”
He gave my questions some thought. “Yes, I do. I haven’t figured out yet how I want to manage it. I’ll need to find someone I can trust. But like my idea of the wine bar, I like giving back to the community.”
“I didn’t realize that’s how you felt. I like your idea.”
He took my hand. “It’s good we agree on something again.”
The Sandpiper opened its doors two months later. Chuck asked me to co-host with him the night of the soft open, and I was all too happy to oblige so I could personally receive patrons’ compliments and possibly encourage new business. Plus, it was a great excuse for a new dress. My closet overflowed with pantsuits, slacks and blazers for business meetings and battered work shirts, pants and shorts for work sessions. Up until now, there’d been little need for cocktail dresses.
I hadn’t realized how much fun it would be to greet and shake hands with friends, associates and other interested parties in the community. Even Herc showed up, despite his feelings about Chuck. “Now that we’ve successfully solved the Halpern case, I’ve been thinking again about the idea of retirement, Ro.”
“Really? Have you come to a decision?”
“I picked up the papers the other day.”
I couldn’t imagine Herc retired. Even when he went to the North Woods to fish and clear his brain after the case before the Halpern thing, he only stayed there a short time. “I had to retire, if you recall. On disability. You’re still a vital, healthy man.”
“Best time to go. When I can leave in style.”
“Let’s talk before you turn in your papers, okay?”
“We’ll see. Sometimes it’s best to go with your instincts.”
He didn’t remain to argue the point longer. Maybe I’d have a chance to convince him to reevaluate his plans when we ate together in a little while. He, along with Val and Jim, Ryder and Amanda, would sit in the special larger corner booth Chuck had permanently reserved for us and our invited guests.
“We did good, didn’t we, Mom?” Val asked, taking Herc’s place. Like I needed to confirm the success of our efforts. The soft beige of the walls, light luxury vinyl tile flooring and walnut of the booths, tables and chairs set off by blue cushions and stark white linen tablecloths gave the restaurant a look of casual elegance, just what Chuck had been aiming for. Framed photos of The Sandpiper in its earlier days along with a portrait of the original owner hung in the entrance, reminding patrons of the establishment’s proud history.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Chuck added. “And now, thanks to your mom’s contacts, we have a world-class chef in Kyle Halpern.”
“Don’t forget his wife, Vicki,” I said. “With the arrival of little baby Lila, she’ll be able to assume her duties as sous chef as soon as the baby is a little older.”
Now that they no longer had to worry about Trent’s threats, Kyle and Vicki were free to leave the corporation, which they’d done readily, especially when, at my suggestion, Chuck came calling with a very lucrative employment offer. Everyone’s win.
“Who is that incredible-looking man talking to the maître d'?” Amanda asked, having stepped up to us, her eyes directed ten feet away at the reservation desk.
“I thought you’d found your one-and-only through that dating service,” I replied, continually impressed with the younger woman’s staying power when man-hunting.
“That? It’s history. They can’t seem to find the appropriate match for me. So? Who is he?”
I didn’t have to give away personal information about Chuck’s staff, but who knew? Maybe our new manager might be exactly who Amanda needed. “His name is Shane Bolton. He used to manage Lombardi’s over in Serendipity Springs, but apparently things broke off with the woman he’d been seeing the last few years and he was looking for a new challenge.”
Chuck shot me a look. Yeah, I probably had said a little too much about Shane. Now that I was paying more attention to the young man, I noticed what may have caught Amanda’s eye: He was in his early thirties (not too young for her), just under six feet, with short-cut sandy hair. I took a moment before greeting our next guest, Ryder, to observe Amanda’s man-chasing in action. She really could be quite eye-catching when she set her mind to it.
I turned back to Ryder and shook his hand eagerly. “We did it, my friend, with large thanks to you and your construction skills.”
He glanced around before replying. “It was your design skills that did it. I wasn’t so sure when you picked that off-white wallpaper with brown speckles, but it really does remind me of the sandpipers over on the ocean.”
He gazed at me expectantly. Right. He was hoping for an update on our search for his sibling. “If you can hang around a bit longer, I’ve got some information for you.”
“You found them?”
“Her. Give me some time to finish greeting our guests, and I’ll fill you in about her. We put you at our private booth back there in the corner. But in the meantime, think about this, big brother. I think I’ve found you a twenty-eight-year-old sister, Meredith Lynley.”
“Meredith? That’s a lovely name. Where does she live?”
“I’ll tell you more later,” I replied. I nodded my head at the remaining guests in line.
“Oh, right. Thanks, Ro. I can’t wait to hear more.”
The next person in line was Lorna Varney, business attire replaced by a tight-fitting burgundy cocktail dress.
“Good to see you again, Rowena,” she said, taking my hand. “Has Chuck told you we’ve settled on a preliminary plan for his wine bar?”
“Only that he settled on a name for the place, Piper’s Wine Bar. Nice tie-in.”
“We’ve decided to start out small and gradually add to the inventory,” Chuck said. “Lorna will help me select at least three price points for the major reds and whites, and we’ll track those for six months or more to determine what customers like. We’ll expand what’s going over well once that data is collected.”
“Chuck likes the idea of sponsoring the best of local wineries,” she said, “but we’ll approach that phase slowly, eventually holding wine tastings coupled with offerings from his deli.”
Chuck seemed quite pleased with what they’d accomplished. “Lorna has agreed to continue on as my consultant. As soon as you guys draw up plans for the addition to the building, we’ll get started on permits and inventory. And of course, I want you to design the interior, Ro.”
I was both excited and apprehensive at the prospect. Chuck had talked about a bar that encouraged everyday visits from the community, not just special events. Pinning him down on that vision could be difficult. Hopefully Lorna would help him get more specific by the time I got involved. From their mutual enthusiasm, it was clear this project wasn’t going away. I’d have to make peace with that.
The line of guests continued a bit longer. The next man in line was Sterling Kuhl, the former owner who had gone bankrupt trying to do the reno on his own with no experience. “You’ve worked a miracle here, Dawson. I can’t believe this is the same place I once owned.”
“We can thank Rowena and her crew at Nailed It Home Renos for that,” Chuck replied, introducing us at the same time.
“Mrs. Summerfield, it’s great to see you again. I didn’t realize you dabbled in home renovation besides solving homicides.”
“I’m a former homicide detective who got called back to help with that case. Home renovation is my real love these days.”
“Well-placed love, if I say so myself. My father would be so proud.” Kuhl turned to Chuck. “Good luck with this new venture, Dawson. But from the looks of things tonight, you won’t need luck. You’ve got this well under control.”
As soon as Kuhl moved on, Vicki Halpern was at Chuck’s side. “Kyle sent me out here to tell you things are just about ready in the kitchen. He wanted to thank you both once again for bringing us on here.”
“Our pleasure,” Chuck told her. “Can’t wait to taste Kyle’s new take on beef bourguignon.”
As the line came to an end, Chuck turned to me and took my hand. “Thanks for acting as my hostess. You have no idea how satisfying it’s been having you by my side.”
I squeezed his hand. “I rather liked it myself.”
“Ready to do it again?”
His question threw me. “Host a party together? I asked.
“That, too, although I was thinking more in terms of working together again.”
“Haven’t you got enough to juggle right now?”
“Me? Never! I’ve got a very able man in Bolton to handle things here. What do we do for our next project?”
“Our? Project? What on earth are you talking about?”
“You’re the detective. You tell me.”
Dear Reader,
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This is my second cozy mystery series. I’ve also written nine books in the Mah Jongg Mystery series. You can learn more about them and also the eleven contemporary romances I’ve published on my website, www.barbarabarrettbooks.com.
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