The afternoon layer of clouds had disintegrated, leaving behind a blue fall sky. So when Ryder asked if I'd take a few more herbs down to the Corner Market, I was happy to oblige. Apparently, the sage had been a big seller for people making their Thanksgiving lists.
Ryder loaded up the little red wagon we used to pull half-off plants out onto the sidewalk with newly potted sage. The scent of sage could occasionally be too musty, almost skunk-like to my sensitive nose, but the fresh, leafy plants Ryder had placed in small red pots reminded me of my mom's holiday cooking. I pulled on my coat, grabbed the wagon handle and headed out on my sage delivery mission.
With the cloud cover gone, the temperature had dropped significantly. My nose and ears were instantly cold. I stopped to lift up the hood on my coat, and as I did, my gaze inadvertently floated in the direction of Kate's shop, Mod Frock. Her sidewalk chalkboard announcing the day's deals and the small rack she rolled out to go with the deals had been put away. The sidewalk in front of her shop was empty.
My wagon rattled and wobbled behind me as I circled it around and headed to Kate's store. There was a sign in the window that said 'closed for the rest of the day' and the shop was dark. It wasn't terribly surprising. I was certain this whole thing had hit her hard. First, she learned Lionel was seeing another woman, then the man ended up dead. It was a lot to absorb. I was sure Briggs would quickly determine that Kate had nothing to do with Lionel's death. She had motive and witnesses did see her car at the murder scene, but it was still too crazy to even consider that Kate had killed Lionel.
I turned the wagon around again, never an easy feat with a wagon filled with potted plants, then headed toward the market. It was cold enough that I walked most of the way with my face down to avoid making my eyes water from the chill. My downward gaze served a purpose in more than one way. I was also able to keep better track of cracks, ruts and other obstacles along the way, thus keeping my wagon from pitching sideways and spilling the breakable clay pots.
I knew, by the scent of onions in the air, that I was passing Franki's Diner. I reached the corner where Harbor Lane made a turn to become Pickford Way. I looked up just long enough to make sure it was safe to cross, then carefully rolled my wagon down the sloped sidewalk and crossed over to the Corner Market. I was still keeping my face out of the bitter cold when I nearly collided with a customer leaving the store. The woman gasped and dropped her paper bag. A few of the oranges rolled free.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. I was looking down to avoid the cold," I huffed as I ran after two of the oranges. I plucked them up and turned back to the woman. It was my turn to gasp. The woman I'd seen on the boat, the pink cocktail drinker, straightened from picking up her fallen bag. She was wearing large, dark sunglasses and a short leather coat trimmed with fur.
She grabbed the oranges from my hand and stuck them in the bag. She glanced nervously around as if she was worried someone was following her, then she took off on shiny blue high heels without a word.
"Again, I'm very sorry," I called to her, but she never turned back around.
I walked into the market. My head momentarily swirled from the onslaught of aromas, everything from spicy sausage and ham that the owners Tom and Gigi Upton sliced paper thin behind the deli counter to the sweet citrus scent wafting from the mountain of glossy, dimpled oranges sitting in the front bin of the produce aisle. Our freshly potted herbs had been neatly arranged around a rustic wicker basket overflowing with butternut squash, pumpkins and chestnuts still in their smooth, mahogany shells.
"Hello, Lacey, thanks for bringing those." Gigi was wearing a sweater with a colorful turkey. She'd pulled on black shoes that had big silver buckles in perfectly Pilgrim fashion. "People have been buying up the sage like crazy."
I helped her carry the sage over to the window display.
"I was keeping my face down to avoid the cold," I said, "and I sort of collided, actually it was a near miss, with your last customer. She wasn't very willing to accept my profound apology."
Gigi moved a few of the thyme plants around and pushed the new pots into place. "Yes, she's sort of an odd bird. She's been in here twice this week and is rather unfriendly. Not sure if I've ever even gotten a hello out of her. Today, she seemed anxious or worried about something. I know she's staying on one of the boats in the marina."
"Yes, I've seen her on a boat called Funtasy." We finished putting the last pots on the shelf.
"Have you seen Kate today?" I asked. "I noticed she closed up shop early."
Gigi tapped her chin. "Hmm, not sure. Hey, Tom," she called toward the back of the store.
Tom appeared with a matching turkey sweater, but instead of shiny buckle shoes, he was wearing a Pilgrim hat. It suited him. He was pushing a rolling cart piled high with butter leaf and romaine lettuce. "Hello, Lacey. Everyone loves your herbs."
"That's wonderful, only I have to give all the credit to Ryder because it was all his idea."
"Tom, have you seen Kate today? Lacey said she closed up her shop early."
Tom thought about it, then shook his head. "Can't say I have."
Gigi turned to me. "I hope she's all right. It's not like her to close up early. Tom and I have been so busy getting the store ready for the holidays, we've been sort of out of the loop. However, I did hear someone say Kate had a new boyfriend."
"That's hardly news," Tom muttered, not really intending for us to hear.
Gigi frowned at him. "Anyhow, I hope she's not sick."
"I'm sure she's fine. I'll see you later. Just give us a ring if you want any more herbs."
"Will do. Bye, Lacey."