Spiced and Iced (A Callie's Kitchen Mystery Book 2) Page 19

  Fleetingly, Callie wondered if anyone would talk about what items they’d seen her perusing. Why was she even debating about it? Of course somebody would talk. This was Crystal Bay, after all. Well, at least they wouldn’t know she’d been researching Melody Cartwright.

  With a chuckle she wondered what types of books would Bev might have waiting for her on her next library visit.

  * * *

  Despite a text to Sands telling him that she had some new, “delicate” information, Callie couldn’t find time to visit him personally before heading to work the next day. Instead, she found herself overwhelmed with the business of getting ready for Melody Cartwright’s launch party.

  Callie felt like she was in a daze as she rolled out cookie dough, cleaned pans and packed up ready-made meals for customers. She wasn’t one to judge people for what they’d done in the past. What was dawning on her, with chilling reality, was that if someone knew that Melody had led a previously very different life, then that might affect Melody’s squeaky clean image. Being on the brink of success, someone might very well want to kill in order to keep this information from the general public.

  Anyone with a computer could put two and two together about Sandy Madison and Melody. However, it wasn’t an obvious connection to make. You would probably have to be pointed in that direction in the first place. It appeared that Melody had worked very hard to change her name, identity and image – and so far it had worked. Who did it benefit to unveil her?

  Callie knew she should just focus on the book launch, her cooking and the surprising – and welcome – uptick in customers she was currently experiencing at Callie’s Kitchen. But she couldn’t. Images of the sultry visage of Melody/Sandy were interrupting her thoughts.

  She’d even asked Max if he’d heard anything about Sandy Madison, the model, moving into the Crystal Bay area and he’d blushed to the tips of his spiky hair. “No way, Callie,” he’d said. “I have no idea.” He gave her a pleading look. “Can we please close out that topic – forever?”

  Callie had agreed. However, as she stirred soup, rolled dough and took food in and out of the oven, her brain churned with questions. She sighed as she put the last batch of paxemathia in the oven for Melody’s launch. As soon as it came out of the oven, she was going on a brief field trip to Earl’s antique shop to see if they knew who had purchased the magazines. It could have been an innocent collector or it could have been the person who sent the note to Melody. In any case, it was worth checking.

  Piper was taking pictures of Callie’s bakery case when she emerged from the kitchen thirty minutes later, her Greek spiced biscotti cooling on a rack. A delicious scent of butter and anise wafted from the cookies and Callie almost stopped to take one, but she had no time to waste. When Piper saw Callie looking at her, she smiled and said simply “Instagram.” Well, at least Piper was taking her job seriously. It seemed to be working, too, judging from the amount of customers in the shop.

  “I won’t be long,” she called to Max and Piper, biting her lip. She promised herself she’d only be gone ten minutes.

  Earl wasn’t in his usual spot behind the register when Callie walked into the large, slightly dusty antique store, but Ginger and a petite, dark-haired woman were chatting animatedly. They stopped talking when they saw Callie, but when Ginger recognized her, she greeted her warmly.

  “Hi there, Callie. How are things?”

  “Pretty good, you know. Busy,” Callie answered, uncertain how to begin. Might as well just come out with it, she decided. “You know those magazines I called about the other day?” She noticed that Ginger was suddenly all ears.

  “Sure do. But hon, we sold out of them. I heard Earl telling you on the phone.”

  “I know. That’s not what I came for. I wondered if the person who sold the magazines is working today – or when I can find them. I…uh, have a question for them.”

  The petite woman standing next to Ginger had been diligently listening to Callie speak, and now she smiled broadly.

  “That was me, toots,” the woman said. “Name’s Elsa. I sold the magazines. What kind of question do you have? If you’re looking for more of the same – though I don’t know why you would be –” at this, Callie felt her face turn pink – “you might want to try a store in Milwaukee. Or even the Internet, though it pains me to say it. They’re going to put us right out of business one of these days.”

  “No, I just wondered if you remember who you sold the magazines to.”

  “I remember all right,” the woman said, frowning. “But I don’t know her name. She was kind of tall, not sure about her age. At my age, everybody looks young to me.”

  “It was a she? You’re sure of that?”

  Elsa looked at Callie in amazement. “Darling, I may be getting up in years, but I’m not addled. Of course I know it was a woman!” she exclaimed, glancing at Ginger, who only shrugged.

  “Sorry,” Callie muttered. “I was just checking. What about this: Did she wear glasses?” Callie asked. “Or have long dark hair?”

  “She had glasses on, but I couldn’t see her eyes. She had sunglasses on and she kept ‘em on. Also, she had on a ski hat and most of her hair was hidden in it. I only remember because it was a cold day, everybody was bundled up. She was wearing a heavy coat and pants with boots. She looked like a lot of people around here.” The woman squinted at Callie. “You know her?”

  “I don’t know,” Callie admitted. She felt a little bit defeated. She’d been sure she could uncover answers by finding out who had bought the magazines. The description of the buyer could have been Melody, but based on Elsa’s description, it could also have been dozens of women in town.

  Time was ticking away, baking was awaiting Callie and anyway, Ginger and Elsa were looking at her like she was a kook. “Thanks for answering my questions,” Callie said. “I’d better get back to work.”

  “Suit yourself,” said Elsa, shrugging, but Ginger smiled and pulled a book out from under the counter. She handed it to Callie. “Here’s that vintage Betty Crocker that Earl found for you, hon,” she said. “That’ll be $15.”

  * * *

  Callie trudged back through the snow, feeling childish pleasure in stomping into slushy mud puddles. A weak sun tried to peek through the overcast skies. If her shop wasn’t too packed when she returned, she realized it was time to clue in Sands on what she’d learned about Melody. This time she wasn’t taking any chances – she’d speak to him in person.

  “Where is everybody?” she asked Max, who was wiping crumbs off the countertop near the register. “It was packed in here a few minutes ago.”

  “We got them all taken care of, boss. It’s a lot easier with Piper here to help.” Callie surveyed the remaining few who were sipping coffees and eating loukoumades or who were staring into the refrigerator cases, looking for meals.

  “All right, then I’ve got to go somewhere. I’ll be back in twenty minutes, tops. When the paxemathia are cool, I’ll box them up. Just leave them where they are for now.” She paused. “I’m sorry to keep going in and out of here. It’s just that what I have to do can’t wait.”

  “No problem,” Max assured her. “I’ll do it for you now.”

  “Thank you,” Callie said gratefully. “Back in twenty minutes,” she repeated. But Max had already turned to ring up a customer with a carton of Greek stew in her hands. He gave Callie a wave and she dashed out the door to her car.

  The short trip to the Crystal Bay Police Station seemed to last an eternity. Sands usually returned to his desk to complete paperwork in the afternoon and Callie prayed that’s where he was now. She should have called, she fretted, but with the distant way he was acting, would he even have agreed to see her? Better to make a surprise visit.

  Callie fluffed her wavy hair into a better semblance of order as she walked into the warm building. It smelled like coffee and paper. She asked to see Sands, saying she was a ‘friend.’ The officer behind the reception desk showed no visible reaction, and C
allie was relieved. She’d hate to think she and Sands were a topic of gossip at the police station, even though, she told herself truthfully, they probably were. Everybody knew her at the station after the Drew scandal.

  Minutes dragged by and Callie debated heading back to work but just then, she heard the familiar voice of Sands and she whirled around. “This is a surprise,” he said, raising one eyebrow in the sardonic gesture he had. “How are you? Everything okay?” he asked in a softer tone.

  “Yes, of course,” Callie said, looking into his hazel eyes. They were warm and gentle as always. Maybe she’d imagined him being distant. After all, the man was trying to solve a murder.

  Well so am I, she thought. She squared her shoulders. “I’m here to talk about the text I sent to you. Can we go and talk somewhere less public?”

  “Yes, yes, of course.” He took her by the elbow and started leading her back to his office. “You caught me at a good time. I just got back.”

  “Investigating?” she asked, hoping for some good information.

  “Always,” was all he said, smiling down at her. She sighed in frustration. Of course he wouldn’t share more details.

  When they were seated, Callie carefully averting her eyes from the picture of his young daughter that Sands kept on his desk, he suddenly appeared stern. “What’s this delicate matter you have to talk about?”

  “You know Melody Cartwright from the English Country Inn? It seems that she’s been living a double life. She used to be known as ‘Sandy Madison.’” Callie sat back and waited for Sands to make the connection.

  But he only looked puzzled and Callie was amused at herself for being relieved that he didn’t know the name.

  “Fine, I’ll bite. Who is ‘Sandy Madison?’” he asked.

  “That was the name Melody Cartwright used when she was a nude centerfold model in a men’s magazine in the ‘90s!”

  Sands tried to hide a smirk but didn’t succeed. “Callie, my dear. What have you been up to? Nude model – Melody Cartwright?”

  “I know it sounds funny, but just hear me out,” Callie said.

  “All right.” Sands assumed a serious expression. “You’ve got my interest, that’s for certain. What have you learned?”

  Callie took a deep breath and told Sands everything, from the envelope she’d found, to the discussion with Max, that led her to the antique mall and finally, to the online auction site selling the magazines.

  “And you’re sure this is really Melody Cartwright?” Sands looked skeptical. “The tea and cookbook lady?”

  “Yes!” Callie exclaimed. “She changed her hair color and maybe her nose. But the Sandy Madison picture looked like Melody, no question! I looked her up again on a library computer – it looked like the same person to me.”

  “I think I know where you’re going with this,” Sands observed drily. “You think that perhaps Melody would kill to keep her identity secret – and that perhaps, Natalie, being a coworker, found out?”

  “The thought did occur to me,” Callie admitted. “However, it may have nothing to do with Natalie’s death. I just thought you should know about it. What do you think?”

  “I think this is an interesting piece of the puzzle,” Sands said. “And I’m glad you told me. I’m not sure what it means, but I will find out.”

  Callie exhaled loudly. “Melody seems like such a nice person,” she said, suddenly uncertain of her decision to cast aspersions on the woman. Still, she was glad to have passed this burdensome knowledge onto a detective. She knew that Sands would be thorough, but discreet. “On a completely different note, Bix and Samantha broke up.”

  “Oh, really?” Sands replied. “His loss, I guess. A good woman is hard to find.” He smiled at Callie and she was suddenly emboldened to speak.

  “If that’s true, why do I get the feeling you’re being a bit distant with me lately? Aren’t I a ‘good woman’?” she blurted. Why did I say that? she thought. For a second, she considered bolting out the door.

  Sands face suddenly grew serious once again. “Callie,” he said. “I didn’t know you’d noticed how I’ve…seemed lately.” He sighed, deeply, and Callie grew alarmed. “But of course, you’d notice. You do tend to notice things. Hence, your visit today.” He smiled weakly at her.

  “So you have been feeling differently,” Callie said. She sat back in her chair feeling drained, then stared at her lap. She should have kept her big mouth shut.

  Sands took her hand in his. “I have been a bit of a prat, lately. Sorry,” he said, as she looked up, unfamiliar with the term. “UK word for well, ‘jerk’ would be the nicer term.”

  “You haven’t been,” she protested. “I didn’t mean that.”

  “No, it’s all right. I’ve been struggling a bit and it’s not your fault. Well, maybe it is, but not in the way that you might think. When you had that car accident, it brought back a lot of bad memories for me.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “My daughter was killed in a car accident. That’s how she died, Callie. I never told you because I just didn’t want to think about it.”

  “You mean…” Callie couldn’t finish. One of Sands’ mysteries had just been solved – and it was heartbreaking. “I’m so sorry,” she murmured, stunned. She got up and walked over to him. “I wish I’d known.” She put her hand on his arm and squeezed, unsure of what to say or do.

  “Thank you,” he said quietly. He took her hand and held it briefly. “I do care about you, you know. It’s all maybe just … a little overwhelming for me.”

  “Of course it is,” Callie said, tears making her eyes sting. “I’m glad you told me. What a secret to keep.”

  Sands sighed. “Yes, it’s been difficult but I…well, I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Life goes on, but I find that it’s best now if I take one day at a time.”

  Maybe Sands was feeling overwhelmed because he was realizing that he just didn’t want to be in a relationship and become vulnerable again after all he’d been through. She couldn’t say she blamed him, but it was still painful.

  The combination of the news she’d just heard and the prospect of losing him suddenly flooded her with sadness. She didn’t want Sands to see it – if she was feeling this way, what must he be feeling? With all the strength she had in her, she kept her face and voice composed.

  “I should let you get back to work,” she said quietly and Sands nodded his head.

  Having recovered from his show of emotion, Sands, ever the gentleman, saw her to the door. “I’ll check into the Melody Cartwright situation,” he said, trying to smile. “And thanks for letting me know.”

  As Callie walked back to her car, hunched inside her heavy coat against the biting cold and brisk wind from the bay, she realized he hadn’t said he wanted to see her again or that he would call her, as he usually did. The tears that burned her eyes weren’t just from the wind.

  Twenty Two

  “Callie, we need more coffee!” called Max. Callie was already fumbling with her large coffee urn and she grumbled under her breath as she spilled coffee grounds onto the floor. Melody’s book launch was buzzing in the front of her shop and so far, so good, despite Callie’s misgivings about Melody at this point. She hadn’t heard any more about her previous identity from Sands and she didn’t know if this was a good sign, or a bad one.

  “On the way, Max!” she called. The enticing beverage varieties from Tea for Two were still flowing, but a lot of the book launch attendees were clamoring for coffee instead of tea, especially the men. Callie could sympathize. It was only by virtue of several cups of coffee that she was still standing at all. It had been another nearly sleepless night as she tossed and turned, thinking about not just Sands, but Natalie’s murder. The killer was still out there.

  Still, the show must go on and Melody’s book launch appeared to be a hit. Sands had said he’d stop by – but that was before yesterday’s tense interaction. Callie hoped he’d make an appearance, if for nothing else than to get
a better look at Melody Cartwright aka “Sandy Madison.”

  Carefully maneuvering through the double doors with another platter of gingerbread cakes, Callie set down the treats and took a surreptitious look around her shop. Fortunately, none of her inner turmoil was reflected here. It looked like a picture of holiday cheer with its white Christmas lights and warm, homey decorations.

  Groups of book launch attendees were chattering away in groups and eating the delicious foods she and Melody had provided. Max was wearing a Santa hat perched jauntily atop his spiky hair and his tattoos were covered up by a bright green sweater with a reindeer design. A gift from Piper?

  Piper, meanwhile, was wearing a white cardigan sweater with puffed sleeves, and a red and white polka dotted wool skirt. She looked like The Elf on the Shelf, but in a charming way. Callie was amused and gratified that her employees were embracing the Christmas spirit for the launch.

  Along with plenty of under-eye concealer and some bright red lipstick to give her face a little color, Callie had let her long, wavy dark hair hang loose, with a red poinsettia pin holding one side back behind her ear. A red sweater, black slim-fitting pants and a retro Christmas apron from Earl’s antique shop completed her look.

  As Callie surveyed the room, she sighed a bit with relief that she and her co-workers had been able to pull it all off. She smiled as Christy, Tea for Two proprietor, walked up to her, a cookie in hand.

  “It all seems to be going well,” Christy remarked. “Melody looks happy.”

  “She does, doesn’t she?” Melody, though beautifully outfitted in a winter white sweater dress, her sleek dark hair pulled back in its signature bun, appeared a bit preoccupied as she chatted with the guests, posed for pictures and signed copies of her book.

  Callie turned to Christy, unwilling to share her observations about Melody. “You’ve been a big help. We should team up again sometime.”