Chapter 24

 

My aunt hustled after me and climbed into the passenger seat. “What’s going on with you?”

I turned on the ignition and pulled into traffic. Adam, on foot, was moving in the direction of Flora’s shop.

“Jenna, speak to me. You’re perspiring.”

“I could be wrong, but I think Adam’s granddaughter might actually be Jake’s granddaughter.”

While searching for a parking spot, I told the story about Jake and Amelia and how she’d run out on him after he’d beaten up his sister’s boyfriend. “What if Amelia was pregnant with Jake’s child at the time?”

“Why wouldn’t she tell him?”

“Because she didn’t want her child to have a felon as a father.”

“Except Jake didn’t go to prison for assault,” my aunt reasoned.

“She didn’t know that, and by the time she had resettled, in San Francisco I imagine, she’d met a man who was well established with a bright future ahead of him.”

“Adam Kittridge.” My aunt nodded. “Yes, that makes sense and would justify why she kept silent all that time, if that’s what she did.”

“What if Adam found out the truth recently? It’s possible his wife revealed something on her deathbed. A dying person might confess an age-old secret. What if he meant to kill Jake to keep that secret?” I drummed the steering wheel. “Did you hear what Adam said at the cleaner’s as Emmett was leaving? He said it was a shame to see a man humiliated. What if he didn’t mean Emmett? What if he meant himself?”

“Questioning the paternity of his child might explain the 23 and Me search he was doing.”

“How do you know he was doing a search?”

My aunt swiveled in the passenger seat. “The envelope that the clerk pulled from Adam’s jacket had the company’s distinctive pink-and-green logo on it. I noticed because I’ve been interested in learning more about our ancestors.”

“That gives Adam a clear motive to want Jake dead. If he were eliminated, there would be no evidence. Who would think to do a DNA test? Adam definitely could have mistaken Geoffrey for Jake, since they’d never—” I gasped. “The glitter.”

“What about it?”

“The star the killer used on Geoffrey was covered with glitter. Raquel said glitter is everywhere in her house, and Tina said glitter sticks to everything. Glitter was clinging to the items the clerk removed from Adam’s pockets at the cleaner’s. If the police could match the star’s glitter to what might have stuck to his things—”

“Have the police asked him his alibi for that night?”

“Probably not. He has no overt reason to be a person of interest. But, curiously, he told me it the other day.”

“Why?”

“I asked him a question. One thing led to another.”

“You take too many risks.”

“I didn’t ask him about his alibi. Keller told him about a rumor and . . .” I flapped a hand. “It’ll take too long to explain. Looking back at that encounter, however, something had sounded off about it, like he’d rehearsed it. Why did he feel the need to tell me?” A notion hit me. “Aha! I get why he suggested Gran go to the police with evidence about Raquel.”

“I’m not following.”

“Gran was chatting with Adam and told him I had a sensibility about previous murders. He suggested she tell the police about Raquel wanting the stamp to divert suspicion from himself.”

My aunt shook her head, still not comprehending. “Wasn’t he out of town when Jake was poisoned?”

“He could have lied about that.”

On the opposite side of the street, a green MG, circa the late 1930s, was pulling out of a parking spot. I made a U-turn and veered into it. Thunder rumbled overhead. Mild rain splattered the windshield—not enough to scare a bird, but enough to put everyone in town on alert for the storm that was about to come.

“Aunt Vera, call the police while I delay Adam.”

“Jenna, sweetheart”—she reached over the console and gripped my wrist—“please don’t put yourself in harm’s way. Let’s call the police together. Adam will be shopping for a bit. A policeman will arrive before he leaves.”

I pulled free. “What if he changes his mind and doesn’t make a purchase? Or he realizes we saw those items from his jacket and, knowing we’re on to him, decides to kidnap his granddaughter and disappear?”

“Jenna—”

“I’ve got to keep him in sight until the police show up.”

“Dear, if you go in, he’ll figure out you followed him.”

“I’ll come up with a good cover story. Promise.”

Aunt Vera released me, knowing there was no stopping me.

I slipped inside Home Sweet Home and spotted Adam where I’d expected, at the rear of the store near the snow globes. Drawing in a deep calming breath—there were plenty of people browsing the holiday wares who could help if Adam chose to run—I ambled in that direction. I passed Flora, whose cheeks were glowing with excitement from the activity in the shop, and weaved between a fake Christmas tree decked out with miniature antique vehicles and another dripping with crystal icicles. I sidled around the display of Olivia’s quilts and a baker’s rack filled with a number of vintage cast-iron nutcrackers.

“That’s beautiful,” I said to Adam as I drew near, indicating the globe he was holding that featured a little girl kneeling in a red dress. She was blowing snow off her hands. “She reminds me of your granddaughter.”

Adam’s eyes narrowed. “What are you doing here?”

Better to get out in front of this one, I thought, and forced a genial laugh. “Before you think I’m following you, I’m not. You inspired me to buy a snow globe for our display window. I’m looking for an antique car one. Flora must have ordered a few. You know about the antique car parade that will occur the day before Christmas, don’t you?” To convince him of my quest, I began to inspect the snow globes. “We have lots of festivals in Crystal Cove, as you must be learning by now. You went to the a cappella festival last Wednesday night. You listened to my niece sing.”

“And stomp. What was the song they sang?” He snapped his fingers. “Oh, right. ‘Same Old Lang Syne.’ One of my wife’s favorites.”

The notion that had bothered me before ticked at the back of my mind. His answers sounded pat and practiced. I recalled how Raquel had recited hymns she’d supposedly heard the choir sing at church. Was Adam doing the same? He could have gleaned the information from a festival program, or he could have heard others chatting about Lacy’s group stomping to the Fogelberg song. It had been unique.

Testing him, I said, “The clogs and Irish outfits Nothing but Treble wore were really something, weren’t they?”

“Yes, they were.”

I cheered inwardly. He didn’t have a clue that they’d worn black getups and boots. His alibi was bogus.

He set down the snow globe with the girl and picked up a second one filled with penguins. “This is perfect. Amy loves these little guys.”

“Because she wants to protect them from global warming?”

“Good memory.”

I picked up a globe similar to the one I’d previously purchased with the snow-dusted classic truck inside. “What do you think of this one?”

“Nice.” Adam reached into his pocket, pulled out an orange packet of gum, and popped a piece into his mouth.

My insides lurched. It was Nicorette, a nicotine-based gum, typically chewed to help a person stop smoking. Adam had told me that he’d wanted to become an inventor until his father steered him in another direction. Most likely, an inventor couldn’t extract nicotine from gum, but he might know how to do so with cigarettes.

“I’d better get going,” he said, pivoting to leave.

“Adam, wait. Do you have a picture of you and your granddaughter when you went for ice cream in the city? You said you took selfies. I’d love to see the two of you together.”

He hesitated. “I accidentally erased it.”

Exactly as I’d expected. He’d lied about going to the city that day. He must have been the ruddy-cheeked Santa who helped Tina distribute the punch.

“What’s going on, Jenna?” His voice could have cut diamonds. “Why the twenty questions?”

Flora scurried to us. “Is everything okay?” She must have sensed conflict because she was all smiles—the ultimate peacemaker. “Adam, don’t tell me you want the snow globe Jenna’s holding. I have more.”

He threw her a caustic look. She recoiled, clearly thrown by his aggression.

Adam turned back to me. “Why don’t you tell Flora what you’re doing?”

“I’m admiring a snow globe.” I jiggled it. Snow billowed up and fell to the surface.

“No, you’re grilling me.” He aimed a finger at me. “As if you’re trying to solve a crime.”

I flashed on the night I’d run into Adam and Gran at the festival. Had he worried that I was close to solving Geoffrey’s murder and tried to scare me off by hanging a black wreath on my door?

Adam heaved the penguin snow globe into his other hand like a pitcher trying to get the feel of a baseball. Would he bash me upside the head like he had Geoffrey? I held a globe, as well, but I was no baseball player. Frisbee was my forte.

I glanced at the door of the shop. No police yet. Dang. I set the snow globe down and seized a cast-iron nutcracker from a shelf. When playing baseball, carry a bat.

“What do you think you know, Jenna?” Adam asked with silver-tongued ease.

“I don’t think you went to San Francisco the day we had the Santa party. I think you came dressed as Santa, and you poisoned Jake and Tito.”

“Oh, dear,” Flora sputtered.

“I also think you lied about being at the festival the night Geoffrey died. My niece and her group were wearing black jeans and boots; no clogs, no Irish costumes.”

Adam shifted feet.

“I believe you went to Jake Chapman’s house with the intention of killing Jake but you mistakenly killed his friend. When you realized your error, you tried again. At the party. You created a concoction of nicotine and, using a syringe, inserted the poison into the shot glasses. You took the tray of drinks from my assistant and gave one to Tito as well as Jake.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Tina is talking to the police sketch artist right now,” I lied. “I’m sure your eyes will give you away.” I held his gaze. My ability to remain neutral had made me a good negotiator at Taylor & Squibb.

Adam squared his shoulders. “Honestly, Jenna, why would I want Jake dead? Purchasing a house in probate can be messy.”

“Out of rage. Your son isn’t yours, is he? He’s Jake’s son. That’s why you initiated a 23 and Me search.”

“Heavens.” Flora placed a hand on her chest.

“Your granddaughter has many of the same physical traits as Jake,” I went on. “Did your wife confess as she lay dying? Did you feel humiliated?”

Adams eyes grew steely, which I took as a yes.

“Did your wife threaten to tell him? Did you intend to kill Jake so you could erase all trace of him, and then, to gloat, occupy his home?”

Adam growled and hurled the penguin-themed snow globe at me.

In the nick of time, I raised the nutcracker. The snow globe smacked into it and fell into a basket of crystal ornaments. My hand vibrated from the impact.

Customers gasped.

Adam turned to flee.

“Jenna!” Flora yelled.

She threw me one end of a quilt. I dropped the nutcracker and caught a corner. Together we raced after Adam, hurled the quilt over him, and yanked him to the floor. He struggled to get free. We pinned the quilt with our knees.

Seconds later, my aunt appeared with Cinnamon and Deputy Appleby. The crowd backed away.

“What’s going on, Jenna?” Cinnamon demanded.

Adam’s head shot free of the quilt. “Don’t believe a thing she says, Chief Pritchett.”

Cinnamon gave me the evil eye.

I didn’t flinch. I was getting accustomed to her ominous looks. Quickly, I explained my theory. “Check his pockets. You’ll find the 23 and Me letter. And now, if it’s all right with you, I’d like to touch base with Dad and bring him up to speed.”