Lola was still busy bartering and haggling, as she phrased it. Raine had clients so Lacey and I were alone for lunch. Naturally, I had to take her to my favorite lunch spot, Layers.
Lacey stopped to admire the restaurant. "This place is so cute, and it's tucked nicely inside a wall of tulip poplars, one of my favorite trees."
"It's definitely a local favorite." I opened the door.
Lacey took a whiff. "Wow, pastrami, onions, pickles, it's like walking into a big city deli. Something tells me I'm going to have a hard time deciding."
I stopped short and looked at her. "Uh oh, I should have probably warned you about the indecision fever that overtakes people if they don't walk in already knowing what they're going to order. For instance, I've already prepared my brain to accept that today is Richard Burton day, roast beef and gouda on pumpernickel. And I will stick with that plan or risk spending the entire day here."
"Hmm, that actually sounds delicious." Lacey nodded emphatically. "I will go with the Richard Burton too. I love that the food is named after movie stars. I'll bet that's one of the reasons for indecision fever. People want to pick their Hollywood favorites along with the perfectly layered confection."
Ballard waved from behind the counter. "Sit anywhere. I'll be right with you."
I waved back to the owner and led Lacey to my favorite table, next to the front window. Ballard came over with menus and silverware. "Ballard, this is my friend Lacey. She's visiting from Port Danby."
"Welcome to Firefly Junction and Layers. I hope you enjoy your stay and just let me know when you decide." I was about to let her know that we had already decided on two Burtons when I saw Lacey staring with wide, glassy eyes at the menu choices.
I smiled up at Ballard. "We'll let you know, thanks."
Lacey looked up as Ballard walked away. "My original decision to have the Richard Burton is fine," she said unconvincingly as her finger moved down the menu. "Although, the Lauren Bacall, turkey and avocado on a croissant, sounds good too." She sat up straight. "Oh wow, what about the William Holden? I haven't had bologna on anything since I was a kid." She pulled her riveted gaze briefly from the menu. "My mom used to put a slice on white bread, you know that doughy kind that has absolutely no nutritional value. Then, she'd plop a spoonful of sweet pickle relish on it. So tasty on a hot summer day with a glass of lemonade." She lightly slapped the table. "That's it. My trip down memory lane has made me nostalgic for my childhood. I'm getting the William Holden."
"Great and Ballard makes a delicious blueberry lemonade. I highly recommend it. And might I also commend you on making what I consider to be a lightning fast decision in this place."
"Thank you but I'm more surprised than you. I think it was my little head trip back to the good ole days of summer and bologna sandwiches." Lacey pushed the menu a few inches away but her lashes kept fluttering down as she tried to sneak a few more glances.
I rested back against the vinyl seat. "So we have a few connections between Wanda and the murder. She obviously uses a lot of sage."
"Yes, I can still smell it on my hair and clothes." Lacey took a sniff of her shoulder and crinkled her nose. "I might have to burn this sweater. It's an intrusive smell that might never come out. Not that I mind it. It's pleasant enough and at the same time—it's intrusive. When I think about it, I'm not sure which side I fall on when it comes to sage. However, I do like it in my mom's turkey stuffing." Her brows squeezed together. "I'm sure stuck on my mom and memories today. I guess I'm feeling a little homesick being away from my house and my cat and crow and . . . James. Gosh, can't believe I just listed them in that order."
I chuckled. "I'm right there with you. Boyfriends are important but pets—well—they're irreplaceable. Newman and Redford are smiling at me the second I wake up and they are just as happy to smile when I'm climbing into bed. They never criticize or get angry or tell me I'm doing something wrong. They're pretty much my most perfect companions. Although, Newman's spitty ball on my pillow puts him just a hair beneath his buddy, Redford."
"I love their names. In fact, I was sort of thinking about getting the Paul Newman." She put her finger on the menu. "I love hummus and avocado." She bit her lip and her eyes were flitting up and down the shiny laminated menu. "Now you've done it with your clever dog names. I'm rethinking my order."
"Yep, you've caught indecision fever," I said. "May I once again remind you about the Richard Burton. It's delicious and filling and it's only been married to Elizabeth Taylor twice." I tossed in the wit at the end hoping to pull her from her feverish perusal of the menu.
"That's right. They did marry twice, didn't they? Didn't he buy her a diamond that was like the size of a Volkswagen?"
"He did, which is I guess why she decided to give it another go."
Ballard returned. "I gave you a little extra time since this is Lacey's first lunch here at Layers. Were you able to whittle down the choices?"
"Just when I think I've zeroed in on one sandwich, another one grabs my attention." Lacey flipped the menu over with confidence. "But I've decided. I'd like the Hepburn."
Ballard nodded. "Katherine or Audrey?"
Lacey had a fleeting look of fear. "Kath-er-ine?" she said hesitantly.
"That's the melted havarti on marble rye. The Audrey has radish slices, arugula and our homemade ricotta."
Lacey picked up the menu to hand off. "The Katherine." As Ballard reached for the menu, Lacey held onto it and a short tug of war followed. "Did you say homemade ricotta?"
"Yes and we top it all off with flakes of sea salt." Ballard always knew how to seal the deal. She knew the torturous indecision that came with her marvelous menu.
"Then it's the Audrey Hepburn. Final answer." Lacey released the menu and relaxed back with a sigh as if she had just finished an impossible challenge. Which she technically had.
"Aside from the sage," I started our investigation conversation again, "we did see yellow roses in Wanda's front yard. Since they were so overgrown, it would be easy to see how a rug being carried out the front walk might have picked up a spare flower."
"True." Lacey put her napkin on her lap. "But if Minnie and Wanda weren't friends, why would Minnie have been in Wanda's house? It doesn't sound like she would have dropped by for tea or trading recipes."
"Good point. Unless, of course, Minnie showed up to confront Wanda about trying to take over as high priestess. An argument might have caused Wanda to lose it so—"
"So she picked up a pillow and held it against Minnie's face?" Lacey shook her head. "The way she died makes this whole thing much harder. No murder weapon and no sign of an attack or violence. It was as if Minnie was just sleeping peacefully in bed when someone walked in and pushed a pillow over her."
I snapped my fingers. "You are brilliant. I've been trying to visualize just how it happened. That's the only thing that makes sense. But why would she be in bed in the middle of the day?"
"A nap?" Lacey suggested. "I know I love a good nap occasionally."
"Yes, me too. There's one more thing that has me baffled. How did Minnie end up wrapped in her shop rug?" I asked. "It means the killer had to go to the store, steal the rug, and stage the vandalism scene we just left. Seems like a lot of trouble if they killed her at home."
"True. According to movies and television, the easiest way to move a body without being noticed is to wrap it in a rug. The lumps and bumps don't show and none of the limbs can fall loose. That's just a theory, by the way."
"It's a good theory. The rug was chosen because if Minnie's body was moved during the middle of the day, the killer had to make it look as if they were just moving a rolled up rug." I sat back. "I feel a little lost. How about you?"
"Yes. The evidence is scant and sort of all over the place. Maybe we should focus on suspects. Wanda might have been deflecting attention from her own bad personal relationship with the victim but she did mention other people who disliked Minnie."
I sat forward. "Minnie's estranged twin sister lives nearby. Maybe our journalistic team should head over there to ask for details to include in our story."
"That's just what I was thinking," Lacey said.
I couldn't hold back a smile. "I don't know about you but this is twice as much fun with someone equally excited about murder."
"Once again—agreed."