From Beer to Eternity Page 10

  “Vivi gave her more than one chance. She let her pay the money back. Things were okay for a couple of months, and then it happened again. She tried to blame me. But after the third time, Vivi said no more.”

  “Did Vivi press charges?” I asked.

  Joaquín shook his head. “I thought she should have after the second time. But the heritage owners are a tight-knit group.” He paused. “Maybe too close.”

  What did he mean by that? “But Elwell didn’t own one of the heritage businesses, so he wasn’t really part of that group.”

  “They’ve all known one another since they were in diapers. And their parents knew each other too. Anyway, Vivi wouldn’t press charges and just let her go. Didn’t fall for the crying, begging, apology routine that last time.”

  “I’m surprised Elwell hung out here after that. Wasn’t he mad?” Or maybe that’s why Elwell came in here wearing the armadillo shell. To make Vivi mad, or to interfere with her business. Like I’d thought earlier, it made some people uncomfortable enough to leave.

  “Not that you could tell.”

  “Why do you think she was stealing the money?” Honestly, I was making good money in tips, and Joaquín made even more. A person could make a fairly decent living working here. Although the cost of living was high.

  “I’m not sure. Her boyfriend is trouble. Always in trouble.”

  “Was she using?” I asked. If her boyfriend was trouble and she needed money, drug use could be a common thread.

  Joaquín paused again like he was weighing how much to tell me. “Not on the job that I could tell. And I watched her close, because Vivi didn’t need those kinds of problems. Maybe recreationally.”

  We finished cleaning up.

  “Let’s get out of here,” Joaquín said.

  “Okay. I need to get some groceries.” I didn’t mention I’d be stopping by another heritage business to do a little more nosing around.

  * * *

  I walked into Russo’s Grocery Store at ten still pondering the fact that Elwell’s daughter worked for Vivi until she was caught stealing money. Maybe that was why Elwell and Vivi had been arguing. Although in my opinion he should have been thanking her, not mad at her. Vivi had given Ivy a lot of chances and hadn’t pressed charges. Who could be mad at that?

  “Hey, you’re the little gal who’s working for Vivi.” The man was one of the regulars at the Sea Glass. He had a big hook nose and a belly that stretched the limits of his shirt.

  He stood in the canned food aisle. I walked over to him. “Yes, sir.” Wow, that came out more naturally than when I’d said it to Deputy Biffle. Although Boone had “Yes, ma’amed” and “No, sired” everyone he talked to, even when we were in college. So maybe that was why it was getting easier for me to use it. I stuck out my hand. “I’m Chloe Jackson. I need to buy some groceries.”

  “Kind of figured that, because you came to my grocery store.” He shook my hand. “I’m Fred Russo. And you have come to the right place.”

  That’s almost exactly what Ralph had said to the people in front of me when I rode the Redneck Rollercoaster. But Fred had a drawl longer than a ten-foot alligator. Every word seemed to have at least four syllables. “I moved into a place and need to stock up on some food.”

  “Finding somewhere to live this time of year isn’t easy. More tourists coming all the time. Great for business, but tough to find affordable housing.”

  “That’s the truth.”

  “Where’d you end up?”

  I weighed telling him the truth. But I was here for information, so maybe giving some first would soften him up. “Vivi is letting me stay in Boone’s cottage.” He hid a quick, surprised look as best he could. What the heck was that about? “You seem surprised,” I said.

  “I am. Never was much good at hiding things. My wife said it was my best quality. Of course, she left me five years ago, so who knows.” He shook his head. “I was afraid Vivi was going to make a shrine out of that place. She loved him like a redneck loves his truck. He was the last of Vivi’s line. He was supposed to take on the Sea Glass someday.”

  I knew Boone’s mom died when he was a senior in high school. She was an only child, as was he.

  Fred shook his head slowly. “It was devastating to Vivi more because she lost her precious boy, but I’m sure what will happen to the Sea Glass weighs on her too. It must mean Vivi’s doing okay if she’s letting you live there. I’m glad.”

  “Boone was a dear friend. We met at college orientation and hit it off.”

  Fred sighed. “Vivi’s dream was for him to start a family in that little cottage, then eventually, he could have the big house and Vivi would retire to the cottage. All down the drain now.” He glanced down at his feet and then shrugged.

  My heart broke a little bit at that thought. My brain was wondering where the big house was and just how big it was.

  “How was Vivi doing when you left the Sea Glass?” Fred asked.

  “You probably know better than I do how she’s doing,” I said. “You guys are all so close.” I wasn’t bold enough to ask outright if he knew why someone would kill Elwell. “Elwell seemed like a nice guy to me.”

  Fred started shelving cans of black-eyed peas. “He was. He came in here a lot to buy things. Even though he could have saved some money shopping elsewhere. It’s hard to compete with the big chain grocery stores. All I can do is provide the highest-quality items I can and encourage people to shop local. You didn’t answer my question about how Vivi is doing.”

  “It’s hard to tell, but Vivi was working in the kitchen when I left.”

  “Sounds like Vivi. Always moving forward.”

  “I hope she’s okay. It worries me that the sheriff’s deputies have questioned her a couple of times.”

  “That’s bad business that he was killed out behind the Sea Glass with one of Vivi’s channel knives. Her fingerprints were all over it.”

  Oh no. “It was Vivi’s channel knife? How do you know?”

  He slapped a hand to the side of his head. “That ex-wife I mentioned? She’s a dispatcher and knows what’s going on. Please don’t pass that on. Me and my big mouth. That’s another thing she didn’t like.”

  “I don’t have anyone to tell.” That wasn’t entirely true, but I had to say something to cover all the thoughts I was processing

  “Is your ex Delores?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Now, what can I help you find?” Fred asked.

  Well, that was an abrupt change of subject. Maybe he just wanted me out of here so he could get back to work. Or maybe he regretted telling me about the channel knife. “I’ll just wander, if that’s okay.” The place wasn’t that much bigger than the Sea Glass. Not like the big grocery stores in Destin.

  “Holler if there’s something you’re looking for you can’t find. Fish market’s in the back. Fresh Gulf shrimp’s discounted at the end of the day. We’ll be closin’ up in about twenty minutes.”

  “Okay, thanks. I’ll hurry.” Fifteen minutes later, I pushed my cart up to the register. There were three registers and only one was open. I looked around for Fred to say goodbye after my groceries were bagged and I had paid, but I didn’t see him. A few minutes later, I was headed back to Boone’s house. I couldn’t stop thinking that Fred knew about the channel knife. Did he know because Delores had told him or was it because he had killed Elwell?

  CHAPTER 16

  I unpacked shrimp, garlic, butter, olive oil, pasta, spices, and some other necessities. I’d missed my morning run, so I decided to go now, before I fixed anything to eat. Even though it was dark out, the moon was shining on the sand, so it was light enough to head out. I pulled running clothes from one of my suitcases, which all remained full. Unpacking felt like settling into a life I wasn’t sure I wanted. The suitcases represented freedom. Besides, once Vivi got everything straightened away with Elwell’s murder and coped with Boone’s death, I wouldn’t be needed here anymore.

  After changing, I crossed the porch and sto
pped when I realized there was already a new screened door. Wow, Ann worked fast. She’d fixed the old door, and added sturdy new hinges and a new lock. The keys hung inside on the lock. I locked the door behind me and set out on the sand, running away from the Sea Glass for the first time.

  It was high tide and I couldn’t find any firm sand to run on, but I pressed on anyway. I passed the area of pine trees and then came to a series of houses. Most looked like they’d been here awhile. An occasional new monstrosity jutted above the others, which were two stories at most. Wide verandas faced the Gulf on most of the houses. Fans whirred on them, and people sat out on the porches even at ten thirty at night.

  I hadn’t gone far when I turned back. Running in the soft sand took more energy than I had. A trail of silver led across water so flat it looked like you could walk across it to the rising moon. Back at the house, I took a quick shower and started cooking. I liked to cook. I just never had much time to do it. After I got water boiling in a pot and added the pasta, I peeled and deveined the shrimp—the worst part of the whole thing as far as I was concerned. Next came sautéing shrimp in garlic, olive oil, and butter. Little smells better than garlic cooking. When the pasta was done, I drained it, added it to the pan with the shrimp, and tossed it altogether. I sprinkled on some red pepper flakes and chopped a ripe tomato to finish the dish.

  I took a plateful out to the porch, along with a glass of ice-cold chardonnay. My pasta was delicious and I dug in with gusto, but I didn’t have anyone to share it with. No friends to invite over or to laugh with. I had to admit I was lonely. I missed my weekly trivia nights with my fellow librarians. Our team rocked and we were hard to beat. The thought made me smile.

  Going back out on the town held no appeal and I didn’t want to sit around feeling sorry for myself, so I video called my parents. I decided not to mention Elwell’s murder. Mom’s smiling face popped up on my screen.

  “Chloe, we were just talking about you. How are you, love?”

  “I’m settling in. Where are you two?” Six months ago, my parents had shocked my brothers and me by putting their stuff in storage, renting their house, and setting out in an RV to locations unknown. My parents were the only people I’d told why I was really down here.

  “We got to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, just yesterday,” my mom said. My father popped into view behind my mom’s shoulder. “We plan to stay for at least a month. The air is so refreshing.”

  “If you can’t take the heat down there, come visit for a few days,” Dad said. “We plan to go rafting on the Yampa River.”

  I perked up, picturing the roll and pitch of the raft as it flew down the river. Of course, this time of year most of the snow would have already melted and the river might be calmer. “That sounds like fun.”

  I’d already visited them once a few months ago and had slept on the table that converted into a bed. A horribly uncomfortable bed. “I’d love to, but work is busy.” I didn’t want to tell them about the murder or they might pack up and come get me. Or worse, send one of my brothers.

  “Do you like it, honey?” Mom asked.

  “It’s interesting. Drunk people aren’t all that different from the toddlers at the library.”

  My parents laughed. “Where are you staying?” they asked at the same time. The two of them thought so much alike that they often said the same thing in unison. Or the same thing at separate times if you were trying to pull the old if-one-says-no-ask-the-other trick as a kid.

  I’d told them that I’d been staying in a hotel the last time we had talked. “Vivi gave me the keys to a cottage Boone stayed in when he was here.”

  “That was nice of her,” my dad said.

  “It is. Let me show you around.” I walked around the place with the phone out so they could see my new abode. “Wait until you see the view.” I went out on the screened porch, opened the door, and walked out, turning a full circle. Even though it was dark the moon was still providing enough light to get the idea. After they oohed and ahhed, I took them into the bedroom I was using.

  “You haven’t unpacked yet, Chloe,” Mom said.

  My mom was a bit of a neat freak. She would never live out of a suitcase for ten plus days. “I’ve been busy. It’s next on my list.”

  “The neighbor just knocked on our door, dear,” my dad said. “We’re having cocktails with them. Hey, do you have any new drinks we should try?”

  “Not yet.” Heck, maybe I should try to invent something. That would be fun. “Take care. Love you.”

  “You too, sweetheart,” they said together. My parents were full of terms of endearment.

  * * *

  I stood staring at the closet doors. Up to this point, the thought of seeing Boone’s clothes had kept me from even looking inside. But my mom was right, it was time to unpack. I flung the doors open and found nothing. It was empty, with a row of nice wooden hangers dangling on a rod. I hung a few things and then moved to the dresser. It was empty too. Boone hadn’t lived here full time—he had lived in Chicago—but if this place was his, I would have expected to find some of his things here. I filled the drawers with my clothes, the combination of sadness and regret wafting around like a spirit as I did. Someone must have cleaned out the cottage before I got the keys.

  I pictured Vivi doing it and thought about how sad she must have been. There’d been a week or so between the official notification that Boone’s body had been found and when his body was returned to the States. Maybe she’d cleaned the house out then, or maybe after the funeral, when she accepted there was no chance of Boone ever returning. I opened the top drawer of the nightstand next to the bed. It hadn’t been cleaned out.

  A comb and a pair of Boone’s reading glasses remained. He hated wearing the glasses—vanity’s name isn’t always woman. There were also two paperbacks—a thriller and a cozy mystery. Boone had been an avid reader. We used to trade books all the time. I pulled out the drawer further and spotted an upside-down, framed photograph, which I picked up and flipped over. It was a picture of Boone and me. One I’d never seen before. We were standing by Lake Michigan. My head was thrown back with laughter and Boone was looking at me.

  I made a funny, choking noise as I realized the expression on his face was almost identical to the way Wade had looked at Vivi earlier today. Tender. Loving. He loved me. I ran a finger over his face. “How could I have been so stupid?” I asked the photo. “You loved me. Not as a friend like you always said, but really loved me.”

  I’d been engaged for two years, until last year. Boone had never said anything negative about my fiancé, but they had only tolerated each other. Never the friends I had hoped they’d be. I’d gradually realized I had way more fun with Boone than my fiancé, and had broken it off. There had been a reason I’d put off setting a date, planning the wedding. I always told my fiancé I was too busy, but deep down, perhaps I knew how Boone felt. Maybe, given time, I would have fallen for Boone instead of thinking of him as a sidekick. My best buddy. But now we’d never have that chance. I set the photo on the nightstand and fell asleep on top of the covers, looking at Boone.

  * * *

  My phone buzzing with a text alert woke me up at seven. It was from Vivi. This was a first. She sent me the address of a lawyer in Emerald Cove and told me to meet her there at ten. As I threw on my running clothes, I wondered what the heck that was about. Was I in some kind of trouble too? Would I have to testify for or against Vivi? The argument I’d overheard was damning, but how would anyone even know I’d heard it? I certainly hadn’t mentioned it to anyone, although it had been weighing on me. Had Vivi told someone that I’d heard? She knew I was in the building at the time. I hit the sand and decided to quit worrying. Ten o’clock would come soon enough.

  * * *

  This was no ordinary lawyer’s office. It was more beach shack than building and didn’t seem like it could withstand a decent wind. Surfboards lined the wall behind the table that passed for a desk. A lamp that was a hula girl holding a pineap
ple-shaped lampshade sat on one corner of the table, a huge conch shell on the other. The gray-headed, shaggy-haired lawyer wore cargo shorts and a button-down shirt printed with sailboats. I recognized him from seeing him at the Sea Glass. He was Buford’s card-playing buddy. I hoped I hid my shock.

  He stood when I walked in and reached out to shake my hand. “I’m Ed Ashford, and you, of course, are Chloe.”

  “It’s nice to see you again, Mr. Ashford.” I wouldn’t ever have guessed he was a lawyer from seeing him at the bar.

  “Please, call me Ed.”

  “Okay.” I perched on the chair on the left side of the desk. Vivi sat on the chair on the right in pink capris, white, high-heeled sandals, and a shirt with tiny cocktails glasses on it. She’d barely glanced at me when she came in. I still didn’t know why I was here.

  Ed put on a pair of reading glasses and looked over them at Vivi and me. “So, Boone’s will—”

  “Boone’s will?” I asked.

  “Yes,” he said. “Why did you think you were here?”

  I didn’t think I should say. That I thought this was about Vivi being questioned by the deputies. “I wasn’t sure.”

  “You didn’t tell her the purpose of the meeting?” Ed looked at Vivi.

  She leaned forward. “Can you get on with it, please? I have a business to run.”

  “Sure. Basically, this leaves Chloe the house you deeded Boone, Vivi, and all its belongings. Plus his boat.”

  I almost fell off my chair. “What—”

  Ed ignored me. He shifted in his chair, looked over his glasses at Vivi, and then back down at his paper. “And Boone has divided his half of the Sea Glass between the two of you.”

  CHAPTER 17

  Vivi shoved out of her chair and looked down at Ed. She turned and stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind her. It rattled the entire shack.

  Boone owned half the Sea Glass. That phrase was whirling faster than a new blender through my brain. We’d been so close. How could he not have ever told me this? Especially on the night I agreed to come down here.