Summer Reading is Killing Me

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE

Sheriff Dawes arrived and took charge of the situation. The mayor pulled up a few minutes later. Mayor James declared the celebration cancelled until further notice. I left after Mark took my statement and headed to my parents’ to drop Watson off for his play date with their dog, Hamlet. I told them about finding the body and reassured them repeatedly that I would be careful. I promised to see them the next morning for breakfast and to retrieve Watson.

Word spread like wildfire through town that the mayor canceled the Founder’s Day Celebration due to the discovery of a dead body in the park. As I drove back into town and passed the park, I slowed to a halt due to the first traffic jam ever seen in Miller’s Cove. People gawked as EMTs removed the body to transport it by ambulance to the coroner’s office in Burlington. By the time I made it to Nellie Jo’s for a cup of coffee, the place buzzed with speculation on the victim’s identity and who murdered her.

“ I overheard it was some la dee da gal from the cabins on the lake,” Nellie Jo gossiped as I ordered my coffee and scone. Nellie’s deep Southern drawl hadn’t faded despite all her years living in Miller’s Cove. “Why, I bet you anything it was some kind of love triangle. Rich folks always cheat on each other. They cheat on their taxes, too.”

“ I didn’t recognize her as anyone from around here,” I confided. I leaned across the counter and lowered my voice, “She was young and pretty with long, blonde hair.”

“ You saw her?” Nellie’s eyes widened. She handed me my coffee and blueberry scone.

“ I was setting up tables for our book sale when I found her,” I told Nellie in a conspiratorial whisper. “She was under the giant oak tree with all the initials carved in it.”

“ Golly day! I’m just glad you didn’t run into the killer down there! You’ve been through enough after last year with that Davis woman. Speaking of which…” Nellie pointed her chin. I turned and saw Grant Davis walk in the door. I made a point of avoiding him since his mom tried to kill me. He had stopped by the hospital after the attack, but my family refused to let him in to see me. Since then, we stayed away from each other. I couldn’t dodge him here in the small café though.

“ I can tell him he’s not welcome,” Nellie offered. She stepped out from behind the counter to intercept Grant.

I felt torn between letting Nellie protect me and confronting the situation with Grant. “No, it’s okay. I can handle it.” I sighed and carried my cup and plate over to a small table by the window. Grant had lost both his parents - one to death and one to insanity. He had his own demons to contend with, and I felt a momentary twinge of sympathy for him.

“ Phee, can I talk to you?” Grant stood in front of me. His handsome face was gaunt, and his clothes hung on his already slim frame. His mother’s crimes and subsequent committal to a mental institution had taken its toll on him. It wasn’t his fault his mother killed three people, but the sight of him brought the horror of the day with Shari rushing back. I felt sick to my stomach and shoved the scone across the table.

“ Ummm… I guess.” I refused to meet his eyes. I stared at my cup as I struggled to control my emotions. My hands shook as I lifted my coffee to take a sip. The coffee shop had buzzed with gossip when I arrived, but now it was strangely quiet. Nellie Jo wiped the clean table next to me and tried to appear uninterested.

“ Phee, I’m sorry. I miss your friendship. Please tell me how to fix things between us,” Grant pleaded. He reached out to touch my shoulder, but I flinched. He dropped his hand and sighed.

“ Grant, we’re friends, but right now I can’t separate you from your mom. Why can’t you comprehend that? I can’t see you without reliving that horrible day. I almost died!” I stared blindly ahead blinking away tears.

“ I understand. I wish I could turn back the clock. I spotted you in here and had the crazy idea to ask you to watch the early movie tonight at the theater. We can sit next to each other, share Jujubes and slushies, and try to remember what it feels like to be best friends again,” Grant said. “We don’t have to talk and you can’t see my face in the dark. It was stupid. I’m sorry I bothered you.” He turned to leave.

I sorted through my emotions. Grant was the same guy he’d always been. He was still the guy who picked me up in his old Dodge Dart and wasted our teenage afternoons cruising with the windows down and the music blaring. “Okay. I’ll go.”

Grant stopped and turned around to make sure he hadn’t misunderstood. “Pick you up at six? Jujubes and slushies are on me.” A hint of the old Grant emerged.

“ Sounds good. See you then,” I said. Grant gave me a smile and left.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Nellie rushed up to my table and laid a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “Are you okay, Phee? You look mighty piqued. You should’ve let me kick him out of here.”

“ I’m fine, Nellie. It’s just hard seeing him. Now we’ve got another murder in Miller’s Cove, and once again, I’m in the thick of it. Juliet says bad luck comes in threes, so I’ve certainly met my quota,” I said. I lifted my cup to my lips and took a sip. “If it weren’t for your good coffee and scones, I’d be a nervous wreck.” I patted Nellie’s hand to reassure her that I was okay.

“ You mark my words. This latest murder was about love and money. When a pretty, rich girl gets murdered, a man is probably involved and money is at the heart of it,” Nellie predicted.