Chapter 30

 

Most of the town was at Sheila Grayson’s funeral the next day.

“If someone unraveled Sheila’s bookmark on purpose,” Thea told Rachel on their drive over, “or sent someone to do it, if you look at peoples’ auras when they go up to the coffin, maybe theirs will change a little. Guilt or worry. It might show, don’t you think?”

“I’ll try,” Rachel said.

Melissa went up with Les, and Rachel said, “Nothing for Melissa, but Les’s aura is fluctuating with nervous energy. It was doing that the last time I saw him, too.”

Thea frowned. “I can’t picture Les hurting anyone.”

“He feels guilty or nervous about something,” Rachel said.

“And Melissa’s fine?”

“It’s hard to explain, because most reds are warm and sensual, but Melissa’s aura is a deep, dark scarlet--selfish and cold. But steady.”

When Melissa passed their pew, though, and glanced at Thea, Rachel said, “Whoa! That brought some darts of bright red. There’s some energy when she looks at you.”

Cynthia entered the old church, saw them, and came to sit with them. “Toby wanted to come, but I wouldn’t let him miss school for a funeral. He liked Sheila, though. She used to invite him up on her porch and give him lemonade.”

“Everyone liked Sheila,” Rachel said. “I’ve never known a kinder person.”

Cynthia’s face suddenly went blank, and she quickly turned her head. Thea twisted to see who’d entered the church and saw Randall Raker strolling down the aisle. As usual, Cynthia’s ex exuded wealth and confidence.

“Now, he has an interesting aura,” Rachel whispered. “It doesn’t glow. It roils. All shades of red. Talk about a power personality.”

Thea watched him go to the casket, narrow his eyes, and study Sheila Grayson. “Any changes?” she asked.

“More energy. There’s something going on there,” Rachel said.

Cynthia leaned closer to say, “That’s because nothing makes Randall happier than money, and he’s going to make a small fortune on Sheila’s death. He’s probably counting the dollar signs up there.”

“Why would Sheila’s death help Randall?” Thea asked.

“Because Sheila doesn’t have any heirs. Her son died in Vietnam, and her husband’s been gone a long time. Randall’s selling her old Victorian to some big chain that’s been trying to get a toe into Emerald Hills for a long time. He won’t make tons of money on that--all of Sheila’s money goes to charities--but rumor is, if Randall got the chain this, he’d handle the rest of their real estate deals.”

“But why would a big chain want to run a tea shop?” Rachel asked. “What will happen to the Bickersons? I like them. We supply them with their scones.”

“There won’t be a tea shop. Randall’s given them thirty days to move out. The chain’s making Sheila’s old Victorian into a bed and breakfast.”

“But that’s horrible. They’re doing really well.”

Cynthia made a face. “Like Randall cares. He’s making a fat percentage off the sale with more sales to come. That’s all that matters to him.”

“Where will the tea shop go?” Rachel asked.

Cynthia shrugged. “I can’t think of any openings in town. That’s why Randall got so many brownie points for landing this deal. Everything else is taken.”

A moment later, the young couple who ran the tea shop entered the church, and everyone grew quiet. Leesa Bikerson raised her chin slightly as they walked to the casket. Samuel slid an arm around her shoulders. Leesa pressed her lips tightly together when they paid their respects to Sheila. Both refused to look in Randall’s direction.

“Sheila was really fond of them,” Rachel said. “She wouldn’t like it that they’re being booted out of her house.”

That made Thea think. “How did Randall get the right to sell the house, anyway?”

“The bank uses him when there’s an estate sale. The sad thing is, Sheila had asked her lawyer to draw up papers to will the Bickersons the first floor of her house to use for their tea shop. That way, when she died, they’d still be safe, but she died before she signed the papers.”

Thea thought about what Aggie had told her--to look for the person who benefited from the deaths.

Someone cleared his voice at the end of their pew. They lifted their heads to see Randall smiling down at them.

“I’ve heard that two heads are better than one, but three? It must be an interesting discussion.”

Cynthia stiffened. “Hello, Randall.”

“No Toby? I thought he’d be here.”

“It’s the end of school. He had two tests today.”

“That’s my boy, business first, pleasure later.”

Cynthia’s lips went thin when Randall declared “That’s my boy.”

Randall’s gaze turned to Thea. “I’ve heard interesting rumors about you lately.”

“Good, I like to keep the town talking.”

“You’ve outdone yourself this time. I’ve heard everything from stories of your cavorting with ghosts to tales of your studio being invaded.”

“All true.”

“Really? How interesting.” His gaze narrowed as he studied her. “Are we all at risk?”

“Not any more.”

His eyebrow raised. “I’m relieved to hear that.”

“Are you?”

Their eyes met, and Thea was determined not to be the first to look away. Randall broke first and glanced at the pew with Melissa and Les. “I need to talk to Les about a few things. Nice seeing you.”

Thea watched his back as he walked away. Tall, trim, and tan, but somehow he gave off a deadly vibe.

The funeral started a short while later. Thea was relieved when it was over. The minister had given many happy memories of Sheila, and the ceremony was as uplifting as a funeral could be, but it was two losses too close together. Thea hoped she wouldn’t have to attend another funeral for a long time.

As the three women left the church, Les Smith came to talk to them. “Melissa’s busy talking golf with Randall. They won’t miss me.”

Thea smiled at him. “You look especially happy for a man at a funeral.”

He grinned. “Sorry. I’ll miss Sheila. She was a special lady, but I’m planning a trip to Hilton Head, and I can’t stop thinking about it.”

Cynthia’s eyes went wide. “I can’t remember the last time you left the winery. You haven’t had a vacation in years.”

“I know, but I have a new manager now, Lindsay Newland, and I could take a world cruise and come back and the winery would still be fine. She’s the best help I’ve ever had.”

“How long are you going to be gone?” Cynthia asked.

“As long as I want.”

“I bet Melissa’s already packing.”

“She’s not coming,” Les said.

“Not coming?” Rachel couldn’t hide her surprise.

“We’ve decided to take separate vacations this year. Melissa wants to go to Miami to hit the nightclubs and shop. I want to golf and fish. That’s about my speed these days.”

“You’ve earned it,” Thea said. “You’ve put a lot of work into building the winery.”

Les nodded. “Ethel would be proud if she were still alive.”

“Ethel was proud of everything you did,” Thea said.

Les’s face clouded. “I wonder what she’d think of me now.”

Cynthia laid a hand on his arm. “She loved you. She’d want you to be happy.”

“She was a woman of high standards. Maybe God took her so that she wouldn’t have to know.” With those enigmatic words, he said, “Gotta go. Melissa’s looking my way. Can’t fraternize with the enemy too long.”

The enemy. Thea realized that for Melissa, that’s exactly what she was.