Murder as Sticky as Jam Read online

Mona knew her friend and knew how to read her emotions like a book, she replied, “Vicki, what’s wrong?”

  Vicki glanced from Mona to the double-boiler than back again. “Mona there’s something I need to tell you. I didn’t think about the shop opening back up, not so soon anyway. With the investigation still open and—”

  “Hey wait a minute,” Mona said. “You’re making a batch of lip balm, and it’s not for the Coupon Clippers ... Have you found a way to sell it, did you open an online shop?”

  “No, not an online shop,” Vicki said. She hesitated, chewing on her lip.

  Mona took a step back from. “Don’t tell me...” Mona’s stomach tightened into a knot as the thought hit her. “It’s Alexander, right? What, are you going to go back to selling at his shop?”

  Vicki looked down at the floor and said, “Well, I need money, Mona. I can’t not sell my products. My financial reserves are drying up, and if I can’t make some cash soon, I might have to look at going back to my old job.”

  Vicki’s face was suddenly strained with stress. She’d been a lawyer for a few years after graduating college and Mona knew that Vicki had hated every moment of it. She still remembered the night they decided Vicki would quit her day job and make honey products, and she’d make jam.

  It’d been that evening the dream of Jammin’ Honey had been born, but without the financial wherewithal to open a shop, they’d decided to gain some entrepreneurial experience selling their product at Alexander’s Wine and Cheese shop, As You Slice It.

  Mona tried to make sense of what was happening, to put together the pieces. “But, Vicki, don’t you remember how little he paid us. He was giving us pennies on the dollar of every product he moved.”

  “I know,” Vicki said quickly, a rosy blush coloring her cheeks. “But he promised it wouldn’t be like that this time.”

  Anger boiled up in Mona’s chest, “Vicki. How could you believe him? Don’t you see he’s trying to manipulate you!”

  “That’s not true!” Vicki said, her cheeks going from rosy to red in anger. “We’re dating now, and he wouldn’t treat me like that.”

  Mona took a breath. “Look, I know he has you under his Svengali spell right now, but don’t you find it suspicious that he suddenly developed an overwhelming interest in you after the fire—when your honey products were available once more?”

  Vicki loudly disagreed, “That’s not true. We’ve always flirted. He asked me out way back when, but I didn’t want to date him while working for him.”

  Mona huffed impatiently. “And now look! You’re dating and working for him!”

  The expression on Vicki’s face turned from angry to tortured, and Mona suddenly regretted pushing her friend so hard.

  She hugged Vicki. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to see you get hurt is all. I hope everything works out with you and Alexander, honestly.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Mona left Vicki’s house, feeling crushed. She had an awful premonition that things between Vicki and Alexander wouldn’t end well.

  The man is a snake.

  Mona knew from helping him with the bookkeeping at As You Slice It, that the only reason his shop was ever profitable was because of Vicki’s honey and her own jam.

  But Mona feared that if she pressed the issue, she would only succeed in alienating her friend. For now, it seemed better to let things sit.

  She drove home, with the radio off and window rolled up, the joy and happiness she felt earlier in the afternoon gone. Clouds bloomed on the horizon, and the wind buffeted her car about.

  A summer squall is on the way. I better get home fast.

  Once at home, Mona sorted through the mail that she’d abandoned on the kitchen table when she left to see Vicki. Ripping through the bills, she gave each of them a cursory glance as she thought about Vicki. This experience with the fire and Collin’s death had proved to be full of revelations.

  She learned that Lacey and Collin’s picture-perfect marriage was on the rocks, and that Collin suffered from PTSD in silence. She discovered that Leo and Lacey’s relationship wasn’t as ideal as she had imagined, that the town thought she was a homewrecker and that Vicki was now hopelessly in love with a hustler.

  The fact that her cousin Stewart still resented her for Aunt Cecelia’s loan wasn’t exactly a revelation, but the fact that he may have tried to kill her was definitely news.

  A flash of lightening and the distant sound of thunder warned her that the summer thunderstorm was imminent. As the wind howled through the pine trees, Mona thought again of her vulnerability at home alone.

  She shrugged it off with a shiver and tore through the pile of mail. She saw a check she recognized fall out of a plain white envelope. The check was the very one she wrote to Lacey for the catering job. Mona hadn’t canceled the job and with the insurance check on the way, she still needed a caterer in the future.

  Examining the envelope, she saw no note or letter.

  Lacey. What a drama queen.

  Although Mona didn’t care for Lacey, she wasn’t expecting Lacey to have time to pull any shenanigans while she was supposed to be in mourning for her dead husband. As a professional courtesy, Lacey should have sent a note of apology or explanation.

  Why am I letting this woman get to me? I don’t even like her.

  Mona realized that she didn’t want to do business with Lacey, but she concluded that canceling the job should have been her decision.

  After all, I’m the customer!

  Realizing that it was less about Lacey and more about principle, she reached for her phone and called Lacey.

  I’m going to let her have it!

  But when she got Lacey’s voicemail, she decided it was probably better to visit Lacey at the bakery instead of leave an anger-fueled voicemail.

  With a loud crash of thunder and a bright flash of lightening, Mona’s lights went out. Sitting in the dark with only her cell phone illuminating her small kitchen, Mona said to herself, “Is that mother nature’s way of telling me to go to bed?”

  Yawning, she checked the locks on the windows and doors, and walked down the hallway to her bedroom.

  <><><>

  The next morning, Mona was at the Bakery bright and early. She walked in and asked to see Lacey, half expecting to be told by the teenage girl, Savanna, behind the counter that she wasn’t there and wouldn’t be back for several weeks.

  It’s only a few days since Collin’s death, maybe Lacey is taking some time off.

  Instead, Mona was surprised to find that Lacey was at the Bakery.

  Mona waited patiently for Lacey, as she thought about what she would say to her.

  There’s really no point in starting a fight. I’ll still need a caterer when I rebuild Jammin’ Honey, and Lacey is the only gluten-free shop in town.

  A little voice in Mona’s head reminded her that Lacey was the woman responsible for spreading lies and gossip about her around town.

  Mona tried to tell the little voice to pipe down!

  Even still, she felt anger building as she watched a familiar pretty woman, impeccably dressed walk out of the kitchen.

  Lacey looked at Mona, and the tension between the two women was palpable. Lacey broke from her usual pleasant façade and said, “I don’t have time for this,’ as she turned to walk back into the kitchen.

  Mona caught up with her as she moved behind the counter, much to the surprise of Savanna, who, like the line of customers, watched the drama unfold in front of their eyes.

  “You don’t have time for this, or for me?”

  “What do you want? I’m busy.”

  “You sent back my check, why? I’m the customer, and I still need a caterer when my shop opens up.”

  “Are you crazy, I wouldn’t cater an event for you if you were the last paying customer in Magnolia Falls.”

  “Thanks Lacey, way to be professional,” Mona said, doing her best to tone done the irate pitch of her voice.

  “You’re one to talk, you think I d
on’t know what you have been saying about me, prying into my personal life and my marriage to Collin. You were implying that I was responsible for his death, admit it!” Lacey screamed as the bakery became eerily quiet.

  “Don’t play victim with me, Lacey. You have hated me our whole lives, and you have done everything in your power to ruin my name, spreading rumors about me that I had an affair with your husband. You would love that, wouldn’t you? You would love to ruin my name and make yourself look like a victim, that is all you are good at, playing sweet, innocent and now, a victim.”

  “How do I know you and he weren’t seeing each other, he was found dead at your shop, in your warehouse.”

  “How convenient that you called me, insisting that I leave my shop to come here so you could kill the man, was that the plan, to kill him and let me take the blame?” Mona screamed as years of frustration poured out of her.

  “You’re crazy! Collin was my husband, why would I kill him?” Lacey asked as she stepped toward Mona.

  “I don’t know, maybe because Leo came back to town, you never got over him, did you? He left you and you couldn’t handle that, not used to rejection are you little miss cheerleader?”

  “How dare you say he left me. You don’t know what you are talking about. If you don’t leave right now, I’ll call the cops.”

  “Go ahead, I don’t care. I ought to sue you for slander and defamation of character, so please pick up the phone and call them.”

  “I’m warning you, you always thought you were smarter than everyone, better than all of us. I guess you aren’t so high and mighty now, are you? I heard your best friend has abandoned you.” Lacey let out a shrill manic laugh. “She’s going back to As You Slice It, and just so it can really burn in your craw, I’m supplying bread for the tasting station. Real bread, not that gluten-free cardboard you and Stephanie are so fond of.”

  Before Mona could respond, Lacey turned and asked Savanna, “Is there anything I’ve forgotten?”

  Savanna gave Lacey a crooked grin, “And Lacey, oh, yes. The tasting station at As You Slice It will feature jam.”

  Mona’s hands began to shake in anger and she stuttered. “Wh...what?”

  Lacey smiled wickedly. “Uh, how shall I say it? A very special blackberry ginger jam, with just the right about of cardamom and cloves.”

  Mona’s stomach burned as if she’d just been punched in the gut. “My recipes,” she whispered. “You stole my recipes!”

  Lacey laughed. “Prove it.”

  For the first time in Mona’s life, she actually wanted to strangle another human being. Fury blazed in her heart, and her hands twitched to wrap around Lacey’s scrawny neck.

  “You’re...you’re a...” Mona was suddenly aware of the small crowd of people that had front row seats to the confrontation that had been brewing for years. In her mind, she could imagine the front-page headline of the next day’s paper reading Pretty Local Widow Verbally Assaulted by Bitter Adulteress and Local Arsonist.

  Mona held her tongue and rushed out of the bakery. She dashed to her car and sped away.

  Where do I go? I have nowhere to go!

  As if on autopilot, she drove directly toward the ruins of her shop. Parking the car in the alley way, she took a few minutes to catch her breath. Stepping out into the sunlight, she ducked under the police tape and walked through the remains of Jammin’ Honey. Taking a critical look at the wreckage, she wondered how long it would take to rebuild it and if it was even worth it.

  How did Lacey get my recipes?

  Mona choked back tears as she walked through the sad remnants of her kitchen and into the shop where the fire damage was minimal. Looking at the beams and walls that were still intact, she wondered if it would be worth it to try to rebuild it.

  Would I be better off to take the money and leave town, start over somewhere new?

  Knowing that her reputation was forever sullied by baseless accusations of felonies and adultery, Mona was frustrated and conflicted about what to do, walking to the pavement in front of the wreckage of her shop, she was consumed with indecision until a bright yellow flyer caught her eye.

  Taped to the window of the nearby candy shop, Mona was drawn to the flyer that reminded her of flyers that she had once designed for Alexander’s As You Slice It. As she drew closer to the flyer, she was certain that it was her old flyer design slightly updated. The flyer announced a gala grand reception at his shop, showcasing some new wines, an assortment of cheeses and announcing a partnership to bring an exclusive line of artisanal honey products and handcrafted jams to the people of Magnolia Falls.

  Mona fumed as she tore down the flyer.

  Walking back to her car, she stopped once more to gaze at what was left of Jammin’ Honey.

  Maybe it would be easier to walk away?

  Chapter Thirteen

  Any thoughts of leaving Magnolia Falls evaporated when her phone rang, and the caller I.D. showed Leo.

  “Hi,” she said, breathlessly, hoping she didn’t sound too eager.

  “Hey, sorry to bother you,” he said.

  “Believe me when I say, a call from you is never a bother!” Mona giggled.

  Leo chuckled, and the sound sent a shockwave through Mona’s body.

  God, I love this man!

  “I’m calling because I wanted to let you know I brought Stewart in for questioning.”

  “Oh? You did? And?”

  “I don’t want to offend you or anything. I know he’s family, but—”

  Mona laughed. “Go ahead. You won’t offend me.”

  “I don’t think he has enough brain cells to orchestrate a fire at your shop and then tamper with your stove. Besides that, he has a pretty air-tight alibi for the fire.”

  “What’s that?” Mona asked.

  “He was out gambling that morning. Pulled an all-nighter with some local deadbeat who vouched for him.”

  “You take the word of a deadbeat?”

  “No. But they videotaped their bender and posted it on Youtube. They’ve all been arrested for the gambling and illegal dope consumption.”

  “Geez,” Mona said.

  “Yeah. So, his buddies are pretty irate. I’d say Stu has a target on his back now. But, you know, like I said, he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed.”

  “Thank you for checking it out, Officer.”

  “My pleasure, my lady.”

  Ask me out, ask me out, ask me out!

  “How are you holding up?”

  Mona bit her lip, she certainly didn’t want to tell Leo about the face-off with Lacey, instead she said, “I’m okay. Just trying to figure out if I still have a business if Vicki goes back to selling her honey at As You Slice It.”

  Leo groaned. “I told her not to do that! But you know Mona, it’s nothing personal. She needs the money.”

  Mona pressed her lips together to keep from arguing with him.

  What good would that do?

  “Hey,” he said. “What about the reception thing? I think they’re having a tasting on Friday.”

  Oh my Lord. No, no, no! Don’t ask me to go with you.

  “Want to be my date?”

  Why! Why, why, why?

  After all the years of hoping and praying he’d finally asked her out, but it was to go a reception that she’d rather die than attend.

  “Mona? Are you there?”

  “I ... uh ... I ...” Mona stuttered and wanted to kick herself.

  “I’m sorry,” Leo said, his voice sounding strained. “I thought ... you know. I thought ... Well, never mind. We can go as friends.”

  “No, no. Please. It’s not that. I’d love to—”

  A shrill beep interrupted their call and Mona stared at the phone.

  “Sorry, Mona. Dispatch is trying to get through to me. I’ll talk to you later.”

  He hung up so abruptly Mona was left momentarily stunned.

  I’m an idiot, she moaned.

  <><><>

  For several days after the sh
owdown at the bakery, Mona dreaded answering her phone. The town rumor mill was in full force, and Mrs. Fletcher wouldn’t stop calling. Mona didn’t want to speak with her, not after Lacey accused of her of prying into her marriage. It wasn’t difficult for Mona to conclude who had told Lacey about her inquiries.

  When Mona did pick up the phone, she was subjected to being berated by her family members for Leo questioning Stewart. To Mona’s dismay, she soon discovered that all her cousins rallied around Stewart believing her to be an arsonist. An aunt on her mother’s side had even gone so far as to accuse her of cheating Stewart out of the loan and now trying to pin the arson of the shop on him.

  Mona’s nerves were raw, and she felt completely alone. Her best friend was basically MIA love-shaking with Alexander the traitor, her cousins had abandoned her, and the entire town thought the worst of her. Leo hadn’t called her since she’d turned down his offer to go the reception with him and then the fact, that Lacey somehow had gotten hold of Mona’s recipe was the crushing blow.

  Mona holed up in her house for days, eating junk food, and binge watching an entire eight mind-numbing seasons of Zombie in Hollywood.

  Finally, the Friday of the reception rolled around, and Mona stewed about attending. She decided and un-decided so many times that she made herself dizzy.

  The phone rang, but Mona didn’t recognize the caller I.D. She picked it up cautiously and was pleasantly surprised to hear Stephanie Tyndall on the other end.

  “Hey there. I was just calling to check up on you,” Stephanie said. “I read in the paper about your argument with Lacey, and I wanted to let you know you’re not alone.”

  Mona grimaced. “There was another article about me?”

  Lacey laughed. “Oh, sorry! I thought you knew.”

  “What did it say this time?”

  “The usual garbage. It said you made a grieving widow cry at her bakery.”

  “Ugh. She didn’t cry! And to the tell truth, she doesn’t seem all that grieving to me!”

  “I know,” Lacey agreed. “I think she’s more relieved that Colin’s gone, than anything.”

  Mona fumed all over again to think of that day at the bakery. “I might have gotten a little shrill with her, but she deserves it. She stole my jam recipes!”