Page 31 of Merry Murder Season
“Sometimes everyone needs a break. You might get more sales, sure, but even God rested once a week,” Beth responded to my musing. “Or did you expect an answer? I can keep my mouth shut if you need some quiet.”
“Never. Soon you’ll be off teaching undergrads and I’ll be walking by myself with no one to talk to at all.” I thought about what she’d said. “I always wonder how much is enough. Greg and I are doing good. The house is paid for, so our salaries pay our living costs and give us money to travel and play. We’re even putting money away into retirement funds. So is me opening another day serving my pocketbook or just my need to be busy?”
Beth grabbed my elbow and steered us around a group of octogenarians who were slowing down our progress. She let gowhen we were around the group and then laughed at my reaction. “Sorry, I’m around Amanda too much,” she said. “That woman wouldn’t pass someone unless her pants were on fire.
“Okay, fine, you’ve caught me. I’m also wondering what my life would look like without meaningful work. Jim wants me to what, stay home and clean? Or worse, get hooked on soap operas? I need to work to keep my mind active.”
“I’m supposed to tell you to call him, by the way. Greg’s worried he’ll waste his money coming out to see if you’re okay.” I didn’t meet Beth’s gaze. “Don’t killthe messenger.”
“I’ll call him while you go in to see Greg. I can watchEmma for you.”
I shrugged as we passed by the almost empty motorcycle parking lot set up in front of Chip’s Bar. There were several three-wheelers and an older couple climbed off their bikes and smiled at us as we walked by. Chip and Lille’s insistence on an exemption to the town driving ban for motorcycles was at least being used, if not by the types they’d set it up for. “I’m not your babysitter. I’m just passingon a message.”
Beth changed the subject. “I don’t understand why there’s a separate parking lot for motorcycles. Especially one past the barriers blocking off the street.” She waved at the woman, who was now takingoff her helmet.
“I’m not sure about the reasoning, but the mayor and council were already on the edge of being tarred and feathered by the business community. This exception almost pushed them over the edge.” Emma got stuck on a scent near an art gallery and I paused to let her explore. Which put the slow group in front of us again. Beth rolled her eyes as she took in the street, which had been filled with people.
“I guess having the street closed makes the foot traffic easier.” She stepped over to the jewelry shop window.
It was Matty Leaven’s shop, and according to her signs, she didn’t open until ten. The place looked closed down. She took the jewelry out of the windows at night, not wanting someone to be tempted to break in and see what they could grab.
“I guess if the baubles are out of sight, no one’s tempted?” Beth walked back to where Emma was now waiting for us to continue our walk. She stopped and picked up a patch from the lawn and held it up to me. “One of the Demon Dogs has lost their tag. Will they kick them out for not being properly decorated?”
I giggled at the idea. “We can stop by Diamond Lille’s on the way back and drop it off with her. She can give it to Dom.”
“Men and their associations. Jim’s just as bad with the church group he goes to. They have breakfast together once a week, I think mostly to grumble about their wives. I bet these guys spend their weekends riding their motorcycles on the coastal road. I’d do it all the time if I rode a bike. And lived here,” she added, a wistful tone to her voice.
I looked over at her, but I didn’t have time to dig into that emotion. We’d arrived at the station and Greg was just coming out. He smiled in surprise as he turned away from heading to the parking lot to join us. “Hey, what’s going on?”
“We have a gift for you.” I pulled the journal out of my tote. I explained our early morning visit from Carrie and Chris and what she thought the journal meant. “She also has some personal items that she kept. We can talk about those later, but I asked her notto burn them.”
He looked up from the journal. “Personal items.Like pictures?”
“How did you know? Or was that a guess?” Myface felt hot.
“Honey, let’s just say if it’s something the surviving member of the couple wants to burn, it’s usually letters or pictures. I was heading into Bakerstown, but I’ll swing by Chris’s house first. Thanks for bringing this.” He knelt and rubbed Emma’s head, bringing her into a hug. “And were you guarding the humans as they walked thejournal to me?”
“She was too busy sniffing all the smells to be a good guard dog.” Beth teased her andgave her a rub.
Greg noticed the patch in her hand. “Don’t tell me you’re buying a bike and joining our motorcycle club. Jimwill kill me.”
“No, I found this in front of that jewelry store. I didn’t even get a good look at the pretty things. They’d put everything up for the night,” Beth admitted. She handed him the patch. “It would look good on my pink puffer though, don’t you think?”
“The jewelry store is being cautious now. Of course, it’s an example of closing the barn door after the cow got out.” When he saw our confused look, he added, “They had a break-in on Thanksgiving. A lot of their high-end stuffwas targeted.”
I felt blindsided. “I hadn’t heard about that. Why weren’t you called out?”
“I was called out. Toby and I went for a few minutes, but then the Bakerstown guys showed up and handled it. I was off for the weekend, as was all of my staff. The mayor was upset at the extra cost, but the council approved it. When I got back to work, we had the murder to deal with. I thought I told you this. It’s one of the reasons I’ve basically been sleeping at the station.” He rubbed his chin where a five-o’clock shadow was showing through. “I’m running home for a shower and shave before heading out. I came in early todo paperwork.”
“Oh, Deek thought he heard it was a domestic disturbance.” I realized I hadn’t followed up when Greg came back so early. I’d been lost in the whole Thanksgivingholiday thing.
Beth’s phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and sighed. “It’s Jim. I needed to call him anyway. I’ll be overon that bench.”
As she walked away, Greg looked at the patch. Then he held it up on his police shirt. “We should get new city patches for our uniforms. Whatdo you think?”
“I think you need more sleep. Are you sure you want to drive to Bakerstown alone?” I rubbed his arm and Emma leaned against his leg. She missed him when he was on a case.And I worried.
“I’ll be fine after a shower. Did you guys leave me any breakfast?” He tucked the patch into his pocket.
