Page 36 of Merry Murder Season
“Just like clockwork. He’s been calling every fifteen minutes since I left the bookstore. He needs to get a life.” She answered the call and asked, “Is Amanda okay?”
From the response to the answer, I assumed she was and Jim was just pushing Beth’s buttons. “I told you I’d call after the book club. I didn’t tell you I’d call the minute I left the bookstore. You needto stop this.”
I watched as Beth climbed the stairs to her room. I turned on the television and plugged in the electric kettle to heat water for herbal tea. Then I turned the television on to a cooking show and grabbed my laptop to email Judith.
I’d be here to talk if Beth came back downstairs. If not, I was going to talk to Greg and tell him to call Jim and tell him to back off or Beth might just be in our guest room for a lot longer thanwe’d expected.
I finished my email, then put the laptop away and cuddled on the couch with Emma. I wasn’t going to think about Dom and his connection to Beth. At least not today. She had enough people questioning every step she took. She didn’t need a friend to do it too.
* * *
Beth had come downstairs after talking to Jim, and we’d drunk tea and watched two episodes of a cooking show until she caught me sleeping through thefinal judgment.
The next morning, Greg was up and downstairs when I came down. I glanced around. “Is Bethstill asleep?”
“As far as I know. Why?” He set his phone down andfocused on me.
I poured a cup of coffee. “Jim’s driving her crazy and, I’m afraid, away from him. You need to tell him to cool it.”
Greg drank some coffee. “Have you ever tried to tell Jim anything? I’ll call him today and mention that he’s driving his fiancée over the edge but I can’t promise it will do anything. He loves her and he’s scared.”
“But not scared enough to give her what she needs?” I held up my hand. “Not my circus, not my rodeo, but if he drives Beth away? I’ll never forgive him. Having Amanda and Beth around is the best part of hosting your family. I don’t think I could deal with a new girlfriend. Especially if she’s as dull as he wants Beth to be.”
“Elizabeth, Jim’s first wife, wasn’t dull. She was bright, funny, and sharp. She just wanted a family and to be a full-time wifeand mother. She made the best cookies. Sherry hated her.” He smiled at the memory. “I think you would have liked her.”
“If you say so.” I drank more coffee and watched Greg. “So how’s your investigation going? Lille says Dom didn’t do it, and the more I see of him around town and at book club, the more I agree with her.”
“So if someone talks your book language, they probably won’t kill anyone?” He chuckled. “Should I ask to see every suspect’shome library?”
“I don’t think it would hurt. At worst, you’ll get to know them a little better.” I shrugged. “Why do they have libraries in prison? Kane Matthews wasn’t a great guy but he had a great library. There has to bea correlation.”
“I’ll have Esmeralda dig up any relevant studies.” He glanced at his watch. “So the talk with Deek went well afterthe book club?”
“He’s just freaking out about this first release. He wants everything to be perfect. With Beth here this week, she can fill in for Toby and maybe I’ll have someone hired later today. Evie is sending a couple of friends over to interview. Judith is working the afternoon shift and has sent me her free days to add her to the schedule.” I stood and grabbed two cookies out of the jar that Beth had filled with the cookies she’d baked yesterday morning. I put one on a napkin and handed it to Greg. “Be sure to tell Jim that if he doesn’t get his act together, I’m more than willing to find room for Beth here. She’d have to talk Bakerstown University into giving her the same deal Omaha is giving her, but I bet there would be somewhere close that would match or exceed what they’re offering. And I’d have a part-time barista and partner in crime.”
“You mean that figuratively, right? The partner in crime thing. Because if the two of you are investigating my case, I’ll put her on the plane to Nebraska today.” Greg took a bite of the cookie. “Well, maybe I’ll put an ankle monitor on one of you and keep Beth around. These cookies are amazing.”
“I know!”
Footsteps on the stairs made us look up. Beth was standing there laughing at us. “I love both of you so much, but I’ve got to go back. At least by January. Maybe if Jim freezes a little, his heart will warm up and grow.”
“Like that Christmas cartoon. But I don’t think the green monster froze. I think he was overcome by love.” I held up what was left of the cookie. “Like I am for your baking. You could work with Sadie here too. It’s not just the bookstore, but I’d have to fight her for you.”
Beth came and filled a cup of coffee and refilled both Greg’s and mine. “I’d love to stay another week and talk to Dom more about his sister, but I think Jim would explode and that would make Amanda sad.”
“What about Dom’s sister?” Greg asked, keepinghis tone bland.
“She was killed by a cult because they wouldn’t let her eat. She was diabetic. So she went off her medications as an act of faith, in their words, and they started starving her. They told her that God would save her if she was worthy.” Beth pulled another cookie out of the bin. “My God knows I’m his child, so how couldn’t I be worthy!”
“You have an excellent take on the whole idea of self-confidence.” I loved having Beth around. She was always positive.
“I didn’t realize Dom’s sister was in a cult. Who told you that?” Greg was being nonchalant, but I could tell he was curious. “And whendid it happen?”
“Dom told me. He walked me home last night from the book club but I think he first mentioned it while we were having dinner and he stopped by our table. I’m always interested in the firsthand family stories around cults. They tell you a lot more than the written accounts do. It must have been twenty years ago now, don’t you think, Jill? I was planning on running to the library to see if I could find some information before I meet with Sadie this afternoon. Then I’m helping Deek with the evening shift. So I’ll be home late, Dad.”
I snickered as Greg shook his head and added, “I swear, you two are going to give me aheart attack.”
“Dom said he was in high school. I got the impression she was a little older, but not much. He’s changing up the bar he runs into a bar and grill. I guess Lille’s been helping him with the menu and stuff.” I wanted to change the subject. As I talked, I didn’t meet Greg’s eyes. I might not have been investigating, but I’d found out a lot about one of his prime suspects. And my observations were making Dom look less and less guilty. Then there was the thing about Dom walking Beth home. I lowered my voice. “I told you that Jim needs to get hisact together.”
