Detective Charles showed up in less than thirty minutes with a bunch of officers. He and his officers huddled in the closet for several minutes. Then he and the others left with the tapes. He told me he’d be back after chatting with a few people. Four hours later, just Detective Charles returned to the shop. While we waited, I matched the list of everything that was supposed to still be in inventory that I’d seen in Mark’s apartment. I handed him a copy of the list. “If Mark didn’t kill Matty, he was at least stealing from him. All of these items should still be on the show room floor.”

  “We’ll let you go through the apartment as soon as crime scene gets done with it. It might take a while for you to get everything back, but at least you’ll have a full list.” He nodded to the cups on the table. “Mind if I have some coffee? I think it’s going to be a long night. And thanks for checking out most of our list. You saved me a ton of time.”

  Nic nodded to a chair at the table. “Have a seat. I’ll get the coffee. So do you think Mark’s the killer?”

  “Killer and thief apparently. I got a call from the station a few minutes ago. Sarah Stiner came in and confessed to cooking the books. Her story is that Mark told her he was going to kill the old man, but she didn’t believe him. Until it happened.”

  “I don’t understand, why would she confess?” I watched as the detective sipped his coffee.

  “Now that’s the weird part. Stiner said Harry told her she had to confess if she wanted to sleep at night.” Detective Charles watched as we exchanged glances. “Do either of you know who Harry is? I’d like to talk to him.”

  10

  I decided to move out of the hotel and back into the family compound a few days after Harry pushed Sarah into doing the right thing. Nic hired me to redecorate and update the house. It’s hard taking a fresh eye to the home where we grew up together, but on the other hand, after being away for a while, it feels like a fresh canvas. And having a paying project gives me time to hire staff at the store since Matty’s prior employees were facing charges. At least the real ones.

  Well, except one. With Bubba’s help, I’ve updated an apartment for Kirk in the building. I talked to a social worker who had been keeping an eye out on him for awhile and Mrs. Cameron assured me that Kirk wasn’t violent. He’d come home from a war and didn’t fit into his family life anymore. So he left. And then his issues got worse.

  Someone had built an apartment years ago on the first floor at the back of the building. Maybe it had been for the shop owner or a maintenance man. It was perfect for Kirk. It has a door directly to the alley. He has a place bigger than a locker to store his things and an actual bed to sleep in. Nic brought over a television and a recliner and updated the kitchen appliances. Kirk should be fine, but I’ll check in with him from time to time. After all, at least today, he’s my only real employee.

  Even with me moving home, Nic’s insisted on keeping my bodyguard nearby, so Bubba’s been helping me with the remodel. It’s above and beyond his ‘job duties’ but he seems to be having fun. Today I’m reviewing the job applications that have come in with the hiring service. And drinking coffee in the kitchen with Annamae.

  A knock on the kitchen door marks Bubba’s arrival, but today, he’s not alone. An older woman with short grey hair cut in a bob and bright blue eyes follows him into the kitchen. I closed my laptop.

  “Eddie Cayce, this is my mom, Heather King. Mom, this is my boss, Ms. Cayce. Mom would like to talk to you about one of your sales openings.” He took the cup of coffee Annamae had gotten up to give to him. “If this is a bad time, she can come back.”

  “Call me Eddie. It’s not a bad time at all,” I stood and reached out my hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. King. Your son has been a lifesaver here, not just as my security guy, he really has an eye for design as well. Have a seat. Can I get you some coffee?”

  “Call me Heather, and I’d love some coffee.”

  Annamae had already poured a cup and set it in front of Heather. “Cream or sugar? These two like it black but we can serve it however you’d like.”

  “Black is fine with me. I like to taste my coffee.” She smiled at Annamae. “Thank you so much.”

  “Tell me about you. I know you raised a strong and polite son, so you’ve already got my attention.” I turned a page in my notebook and wrote down her name and Bubba’s mom under it.

  “Beauregard always was a joy and a delight. He was an Eagle Scout at fifteen. Of course, I bribed him and said if he didn’t get his Eagle, he couldn’t take drivers ed until he was seventeen.” She tucked her Kate Spade purse on her lap and put her hands on the table, touching the coffee cup, but not taking a drink.

  “I didn’t know that” I said, then my eyes widened. I turned to Bubba whose face was beet red. “Wait, your name is Beauregard?”

  “Don’t even. There’s a reason I’ve always gone by Bubba even though it makes me sound like I have a fourth-grade education, instead of being a college graduate.” He sipped his coffee. “And Mom, this interview is about you, not a walk down memory lane for my childhood. So no mention of Peggy Sue Majors or the time I broke the toilet tank cover.”

  I laughed and turned back to Heather. “He’s right, of course. I need to know more about you, but now I’m really curious.”

  “We’ll do coffee one day without my private son,” Heather promised. She handed me a small notebook. “I went to college for design, but when I met Beauregard’s father, I became a stay-at-home wife and mother. My job was to keep the house and throw parties, at least until I had a child. I kept up with the design trends and remodeled the house often. My husband indulged me with whatever I wanted, except having outside employment. Hank’s been gone now about two years and I’ve been puttering around that big house by myself for too long. I’ve brought pictures of the house and the redesigns I did over the years. I was a frequent customer of Goldstein Antiques and Matty kept me on his new inventory list So I’m aware of what you have in stock. Or I was.”

  I opened the notebook while she was talking. Her first page was a resume, mostly highlighting her college experience but also she had taken several classes through the years in different subjects, including New Orleans history and even some art history classes. Then I turned the pages and got lost in the pictures. She’d done an amazing job of taking a space and making it pop. I could tell the areas she designed for entertaining and the more family areas. I smiled when I saw what must have been Bubba’s or maybe one of his brothers’ bedroom change over the years from a nursery, to a baseball themed kids room, to a teen’s room, and then more of generic male bedroom, but with family touches. Like a bat and ball she’d put in a memory box with his uniform. I looked up and smiled.

  “I can bring more pictures if you need them. I also helped several of my friends redecorate over the years.” She twisted the cup in her hand. She still hadn’t taken a sip.

  “There’s no need. This is just what I need. It won’t just be a sales job. I plan on providing design services for local residents as well. If we have what they need, that’s great, but we’ll be shopping the other stores for items as well as suggesting new furniture when appropriate.” I’d been thinking about what I wanted to highlight with my business for several weeks now that I owned the antiques store. “I don’t just want to be known as a pricey antique store. I want us to help make people happy in their homes.”

  “It sounds perfect. I wouldn’t need much of a salary. I was well taken care of in the estate.” Heather rattled on.

  I saw Bubba close his eyes. He was thinking the same thing I was; Heather was horrible at negotiating. It was her first job interview from what she’d told me. I smiled at him when he looked over at me, trying to convey that I wasn’t going to screw over his mom. “Heather, if I hire you, I’ll pay you what you’re worth. And you should never expect less.”

  Her face went blank for a second. Then she nodded and sipped her coffee for the first time. “I guess you can tell I’m a little nervous. Honestly, I really want the job. Beau, I mean, Bubba has been telling me what you’re doing and frankly, I’m a little jealous. I can do a good job for you, I promise. Even without a work history.”

  “Well, that’s all I can ask for, right?” I closed my notebook and stood. “You’re hired. I’ll have to get all the paperwork at the shop so we’ll meet there tomorrow at eight. We’ll talk about money, benefits, and hours then. I’d like to open the shop at least for appointments only in the next week or so. But let me show you our first project.”

  She stood and dropped her purse on the floor, forgetting it was sitting on her lap. “Seriously? I’m hired? You don’t need background checks or references?”

  “You have a reference sitting here. Bubba wouldn’t have brought you to meet me if he didn’t think you could do it.” I waited for her to get her purse. “Do you have a notebook in there? Or a phone to take pictures of the rooms?”

  After Heather left for the day, I went out to the front porch to review more applications. One employee was amazing. Two would be better. And if I wanted to have some regular open hours, I needed at least four. And a CPA or a business office manager. I had a lot to do if I wanted Goldstein Antiques up and going by the end of the month.

  Bubba came up and set a glass of sweet tea on my table. Then he leaned against the railing watching me. “Thank you for taking her seriously. She’s been trying to get up the nerve to come talk to you for the last week. She’s redone that notebook’s pictures at least three times.”

  “Your bedroom was cute.” I sipped my tea, watching him. “And she’s the perfect employee, even without a work history. She’s just what I needed. Do you have any friends in the same boat?”

  “Actually, that was Bobby’s bedroom. Mine was football themed.” He laughed and shook his head. “I don’t know anyone who loves design like my mom. But I’m sure she might have some referrals if you ask her.”

  “I’ll do that tomorrow.” Setting the glass down, I exhaled. “I’ve got a long list of things to do and I keep adding to it. Opening this business is going to take a while.”

  “All you have to do is what you can do right now. Don’t worry about everything but keep putting things on your list to get better. That’s what my dad always said. You don’t have to be perfect today, but you need to do the work to be better tomorrow.”

  I watched a blue jay land on the tree near the porch. “I like that motto. I might steal it.”

  He studied me for a long minute. “After Nic reassigns me, I’d like to talk with you about something.”

  “You want to come work with me and your mom?” I teased watching his face for indicators of what the subject might be.

  He shook his head and stood up. “I have a job. We’ll talk later. I’m going to walk the perimeter, unless you need something.”

  “No, I’m good.” I watched for a while as he stepped off the porch and went around the west side of the house. My mind pressed on the question, what did he want to talk about? I could only think of one thing, he wanted to ask me out on a date. My stomach clenched a little as I thought about the way he looked in that suit. And the way his bright blue eyes watched me. Was I ready for a relationship after breaking up with David? Probably not, but I could be ready for coffee.

  And that’s all I needed today. Or whenever Beauregard King stopped being my bodyguard. I was ready for coffee.

  I sipped my tea and went back to finding a few people to interview tomorrow. My new life in New Orleans was beginning to pull together. I’d lost my grandmother, and Aunt Franny, at least for now, but I’d gained something I hadn’t known I’d been looking for. A place to call home.

  A chuckle came from the wicker couch on the other side of the deck, but when I looked over, my grandmother was disappearing. “I love you Grandma. Thanks for bringing me back home.”

  A faint, “You’re welcome,” echoed on the deck, then the sound, like her apparition was gone as well.

  Time to get to work.

  MORE CAHOON FUN?

  Want more Lynn Cahoon cozy mysteries? Check out my website at www.lynncahoon.com and sign up for my newsletter to stay up on the fun.

  * * *

  A MEDIUM HOMECOMING – A Haunted Life cozy mystery - Book 2 – releases wide in February 2023

  * * *

  Eddie Cayce has come home to New Orleans. Good or bad, she’s made her bed and now she has to sleep in it, like her mama always said. Even though she loves the town where she grew up, the gift she’d been given from her late grandmother was causing problems. Major problems.

  * * *

  Her aunt isn't talking to her. Eddie’s talent is turned up to the equivalent of a million-watt light bulb. Walking down the street from her newly purchased antique store, she has to dodge questions and demands from the newly and not so dearly departed.

  * * *

  When her marketing associate, Tessa Hunt, dies unexpectedly, her ghost demands that Eddie find her killer, Eddie agrees to make some calls. Now if she could just keep Tessa from pushing her bad marketing tactics from beyond the grave.

  * * *

  All Eddie wants is a little piece and quiet so she can run her new business and find the perfect house. Is that too much to ask? Apparently, the answer is yes, at least in New Orleans.

  LEGAL BITS

  A Medium Fate. A Haunted Life Mystery by Lynn Cahoon

  This story was previously published in short story format in the anthology – DEADLY SOUTHERN CHARM, Casey’s Treasures, 2019

  * * *

  Published by Lynn Cahoon

  www.lynncahoon.com

  Copyright © 2022 Lynn Cahoon

  * * *

  All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permissions contact: Lynn@LynnCahoon.com

  * * *

  Cover by Cozy Cover Designs,

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  Also by Lynn Cahoon

  Cat Latimer Mysteries

  A Killer Christmas Wish

  Caught Dead to Write

  Body in the Book Drop

  The Haunted Life Cozy Mystery series

  A Medium Fate

  Watch for more at Lynn Cahoon’s site.

 

 

  Lynn Cahoon, A Medium Fate: the Haunted Life Cozy Mystery series, #1

 

 

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