“Georgina?” Sawyer pulled me to a standing position.
“Yes, oh, I’m sooo sorry to bump into you.” My eyes lowered to the folder, which lay open on the ground. I bent over to help him retrieve the papers and picked up a stapled copy with the words LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT printed across the top.
When I stood with it in my hand, I saw Mathew farther down the sidewalk. He had a firm grasp on Phyllis’s arm. He was steering her toward us.
“What is the meaning of this?” Phyllis was trying to pull away from Mathew, but he wouldn’t release her.
I held up the will. “What’s this? Something from the mayor’s office?” My voice dripped with accusation.
Phyllis pulled back as if she’d been slapped.
Sawyer lunged forward and tried to grab the paper. “That’s mine. It’s none of your business.”
Mathew blocked him. “It is when Phyllis stole it from the mayor’s office. Everything in that office is evidence. I’ve already called Detective Rawls.”
Phyllis screeched and turned to Sawyer. “See, I told you it was a bad idea. I didn’t want to get involved!”
“Shut up!” Sawyer reached for the papers. I held them back.
“I’m not going to jail for you.” Phyllis continued screaming. Sawyer stopped reaching and stood with his hands balled into fists.
Mathew tried to calm Phyllis down. I turned to Sawyer. “So, you did kill your father after all?”
Sawyer’s mouth opened and closed. “No. I loved my father.” His face had gone pale.
“Then why did you have Phyllis steal this file for you?” I waved it in front of his face.
Sawyer clamped his lips together. Seeing that I wasn’t going to back down, he sputtered, “It’s the only copy of my father’s will, and the police won’t let me into the office to get it. We can’t finalize anything without this will. My father didn’t keep a copy at home or with the lawyer. He felt his office was the only safe place in this town. I asked Phyllis to get it because she’s the only one who knew where he kept it. She didn’t touch anything else in the office, right?” He looked at her, and she nodded.
I sighed, and Mathew released his grip. I held the will up to the light so I could read the first few lines. It was definitely Mayor Dalton’s will.
“I think that sounds plausible,” Mathew answered, but his eyes were on mine. “We can leave it up to Detective Rawls. He’s looking for Phyllis right now.”
Phyllis actually hissed at him. “I can’t believe you, Pastor. Why don’t you and Nancy Drew stay out of my business? I didn’t think giving this poor man his father’s will was wrong.”
Mathew tilted his head. “I’m sure you thought you were doing what’s best, and you can explain that to the detective. We didn’t want to get you in trouble, but remember, Georgina’s tea shoppe is still shut down. The longer it takes for the police to discover who the murderer is, the worse things could be for her business.”
With a hand on her hip, Phyllis asked, “How did you know I had the folder?” She was looking at me, but Mathew answered.
“I saw you coming out of city hall carrying a file. I felt it looked suspicious,” he explained.
Phyllis straightened up and pulled at the bottom of her coat. In a rude tone, she said, “I’m sure you thought you were doing the right thing. But now the suspicion of the mayor’s death will be focused on Sawyer or me, and the true culprit has even more time to get away.”
I had to agree with Phyllis, but Mathew had already started the wheels in motion when he called Detective Rawls.
I faced Mathew and placed my hand on his arm. “Is there anything we can do?”
He shook his head. “Phyllis and Sawyer will have to explain things to Rawls. We did what seemed necessary.” I could see the regret in his eyes.
Just then, a police car pulled into the parking lot nearby. The door opened, and Detective Rawls unfolded from the front seat. Mathew stepped away from me and moved closer to Sawyer. In a forced whisper, he encouraged the young man, “Just face this thing head on, Sawyer. That’s the best way to handle it.”
Sawyer’s shoulders drooped. “Yes, Pastor.” He turned and made his way toward Rawls. Phyllis swung her head back and forth as if looking for an escape, then gave me one last long glare and scurried to catch up with Sawyer.
“They’d never turn themselves in if they were the murderers.” My voice trembled from all the excitement. “I think they would’ve run.”
“I only hope Detective Rawls isn’t too upset with them and believes their story,” Mathew added.
I shivered, and Mathew put an arm around me and pulled me close to his chest.
“Are you cold?”
“No, but I think the whole episode with Phyllis and Sawyer frightened me. I’ll be fine in a few minutes.” It was true, but I still turned my head and laid it on Mathew’s chest for several seconds.
In the distance, we heard Robert Casey’s voice booming over the sound system, doing the countdown. At zero, the area was flooded with sparkling lights from the Christmas tree. It was breathtaking even from where we were standing.
There was a long moment of awed silence throughout the entire park, which was finally interrupted by Robert Casey’s voice. “This tree lighting is in honor of our beloved and missed Mayor Dalton. I’m sure he would want this festival to be the best one ever, so please continue to enjoy yourselves.”
This was followed by a round of applause, and then the crowd began to meander away from the tree. Mathew and I walked back to the Tea by the Sea booth. There was nothing more for either of us to say. I picked up a basket and handed it to the next customer with a forced smile on my face.
Mathew slipped away, and I didn’t see him again until it was time for him to take me home. Even then, the ride was silent.
“Georgina, all you were supposed to do was sell baskets and help save the tea shoppe’s reputation, not get more involved in this murder.” Gran’s voice raged through the phone, which was sitting on my lap set to speaker. I was resting on my couch in a sweatshirt and a pair of fluffy pajama pants, staring at the powder-puff-looking house slippers on my feet.
After the festival, Mathew had brought me straight home. I took a quick shower and slipped into my favorite lounging clothes. I even indulged in a cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows in an attempt to warm myself all the way through. I knew Gran would want to know how well we did selling the baskets, but I knew I also had to tell her about the incident with Phyllis and Sawyer before someone else did. That set her off on a twenty-minute rampage.
By the time she allowed me to hang up, I was utterly exhausted. I turned off the Christmas tree lights, trudged to my bedroom, and flung myself onto the bed. After a quick prayer, with the promise of a more in-depth one in the morning, I was soon in a dreamless sleep.
Gentle flakes were falling from the sky when Mathew picked me up the next day. I didn’t think it would accumulate, but it would mean a cold festival day. At the last minute, I grabbed the bag with the boots I’d bought for Helen Cranz. Perhaps I’d try to take them to her sometime during the day.
We hadn’t heard anything from Detective Rawls after he took Sawyer and Phyllis away the previous night. Knowing the man’s stoic attitude, we probably never would. I only hoped he hadn’t arrested either of them.
Mathew dropped me off near the booth then went to park his truck. I was looking forward to a pleasant day and planned to avoid thinking about the mayor’s murder and suspects for the whole day. The Bible Study Ladies were already at the booth. When I slipped behind the counter, Charlotte handed me a cup of steaming coffee, and Florence tied the Victorian apron around my waist.
“I like my coffee black, but I put some of that caramel stuff you young people like in it.” Charlotte guffawed.
“Charlotte, it’s pretty cold out today. Are you sure you should be here?” I didn’t think she was bundled up very well for a seventy-eight-year-old woman. In fact, it probably wasn’t good for any of the Bible Study Ladies.
Charlotte waved a hand as if swooshing away a fly. “Don’t you worry about me. I’ve lived here for the past twenty years. I’m used to the cold. You, on the other hand, are looking blue around the lips. Are you going to be warm enough to hand out baskets all day?”
I shivered and took a long sip of the hot coffee. “I’ll be okay.” I tried to sound convincing, but my cheeks were saying otherwise. At least my toes were warm. Gran’s suggestion for new boots had been a great idea, even if I’d had the same idea on the same day. I looked at the brown bag beneath the counter. Helen Cranz needed boots, and I didn’t want to wait any longer to give them to her.
“Good morning, Georgina.” The words interrupted my thoughts. I lifted my head and met Don Johnson’s eyes. He gave a huge grin. “Yep, it’s me.”
“Don, how good to see you.” I smiled. “Stop by for some of our delicious scones?”
He eyed the baskets. “My preference is your petit fours.” He actually had the gall to chuckle.
“Um, we thought, well, with the mayor’s death, we thought it best to put the petit fours on the back burner for now. Perhaps bring them back for Valentine’s Day.”
He leaned closer to look over the baskets. “Probably a wise call.” He straightened and looked at me. “So, I’ve decided to go ahead and run for mayor after all. Even if there isn’t another candidate, I still have to win fair and square. Do you think Tea by the Sea will be able to cater a campaign event?”
I was surprised by his request but wasn’t about to pass up what was sure to be a large order for the shop. “I’m sure we can do that. Why don’t you let us know how many people you expect, and we can write up a proposal.”
He shook my hand. “I want to tell you, I appreciate how you and Pastor visited me the other day. It helped me get a new perspective on the situation.”
I grinned. “I’m just glad to see you smiling.”
After a few more pleasantries, Don strolled away. I watched as he disappeared in the crowd.
It seemed that everyone was getting over the mayor’s death and moving on with their lives. I still couldn’t see Sawyer, Don Johnson, or Robert Casey as the murderer, nor could I imagine Phyllis going to such extremes. However, Sawyer may have wanted his inheritance early, Robert Casey was getting to act as mayor, which, although he’d denied it before, could still have been something to make him want to kill the mayor for, and Don Johnson was going to become the next mayor without any competition.
I rubbed my temples, wondering if this murder would ever be solved. Since beginning our investigation, Mathew and I had decided all of our suspects were innocent, but I just reminded myself of how at least three of them could still be guilty.
Mathew appeared suddenly, interrupting my thoughts.
“Sold many baskets today?”
“It’s been slow so far, but last night we sold almost half the baskets. I’m wondering if I’ll need to make a few more before this thing is over. I’ll call Gran later and ask if she has any more supplies.”
“I think the ladies can handle the morning crowd. Would you like to stroll through the festival grounds with me? You didn’t get to see much last night.” He put his hand lightly on my shoulder. I could feel a warmth spread through me.
“Sure, that would be nice.” After a word to Charlotte, I stepped out from behind the booth and placed my hand in the crook of his arm. We began walking. Almost every business in Sea Side was represented. Many were giving out small incentive gifts or flyers. Only a few were selling their merchandise, but overall, I could see our baskets were probably the best.
“I called Detective Rawls this morning. He wasn’t happy to hear from me, but he did tell me he didn’t arrest Phyllis or Sawyer. Nothing else in the mayor’s office had been disturbed, so for now he believes they were just after the will.”
I sat down on a bench and looked up at Mathew. “I’m surprised Sawyer was worried about it. I’m sure he gets everything.”
Mathew shook his head. “I’m not too sure about that. The mayor was pretty upset Sawyer wouldn’t live with him and behave like a good citizen. He may have cut Sawyer out of the will. If that’s the case, then Sawyer won’t have any say over Dalton’s estate.”
I glanced at my gloved hand and picked a few pieces of fluff off my fingers. “I hope he didn’t cut his son out of the will. Sawyer really loved his dad. He said he just wanted his father to behave like a father, but if Sawyer thought he was still the beneficiary of the will, he may have decided to kill his father.”
Mathew lowered his head. “I hope not.”
Several flakes landed on my gloves. It was getting a bit colder out, which reminded me I wanted to take the new boots to Helen Cranz, so Mathew escorted me back to the booth.
“Want me to drive you to Helen’s?” Mathew took my hand in his.
“Yes, I’d like that. I don’t know where she lives though.”
“I’ll look it up.” Mathew pulled out his cell phone and pressed a few buttons. “She lives in the Sunset Apartments.”
I wasn’t surprised. She’d told us she lived close to city hall. I wondered how the apartment project would affect her. From what I’d heard, the mayor had offered new housing to everyone so Helen would benefit from that, I thought.