Caught Dead to Write, page 12
“That’s what happens when you go exploring in the barn at midnight.” Shauna shook a finger at her friend. “What were you thinking? If Seth hadn’t been there…”
“Nothing was going to happen. Stephen didn’t kill his wife. I’m sure of it. And since I didn’t and Uncle Pete has no other suspects, this case just might not ever be solved.” She took another bite of the sandwich before continuing. “This whole thing has to be about her job at Covington or maybe the clandestine meets she was having every Tuesday and Thursday when Stephen was out of town. I still think she was having an affair.”
“I do too, but a letter and four digits isn’t a lot to go on to figure out who she was seeing. But I believe that she must have been seeing more than one person.” Shauna refilled her coffee and leaned against the counter. “I wonder if she had any friends at Covington who might talk to you.”
“I’m a little person non gratis over there right now. Especially since I laid down the gauntlet with the dean yesterday.” Cat took another bite of the sandwich. “This is really good.”
“Thanks, I think. The way you scarfed it down, I don’t think you’ve eaten in months,” Shauna teased. “What about your friend from the English department? She still teaches at Covington, right?”
“Actually, no, they moved to Denver when she got offered a position with a new school. I think she wanted the fresh start. But she might know something about Harriet. Good call.” Cat glanced at the clock. “I’ll phone later today after I get some words in. I’ve got to go. The group should be waiting for me at the front door.”
Shauna nodded toward the kitchen door. “Sounds like they’re moving that way. Let me know if you’re still hungry when you get home.”
“Sadly, I’m always hungry. Which reminds me, I need to get back on the treadmill starting Sunday before none of my clothes fit.” She moved toward the kitchen door. “See you soon.”
“Watch for cars and look both ways,” Shauna called after her as she walked out into the hallway.
Deek stood near the living room door, watching the stairs. She surprised him by walking out of the kitchen. “Oh, there you are. I was expecting you to come down from your office.”
“The words are going to have to wait.” Cat nodded toward the front door. “Time to get this show on the road.”
“Before we leave, I wanted to make sure Stephen apologized. I mean, he told me he was going to do it, but sometimes he seems to be a little stubborn.” Deek held up his hand. “I know, not my monkey or my circus, but he’s a good guy. It’s hard to be positive and upbeat when he’s got so much going on, but he has moments.”
“You’re right, it’s not your business.” Cat paused before continuing, letting the words set in for Deek. “However, I can see you’re serious, so yes, Stephen apologized. We’re good.”
Deek nodded but Cat could see the relief on his face. “I know I get too involved with people, but when I see their auras changing, I know they need some intervention. Otherwise, things can go bad.”
“You read auras?” Cat had never met anyone who had that talent. Or, maybe she should say, who said they had that talent. She wasn’t sure she was a believer in all the mystical stuff, but Deek seemed pretty normal. Well, besides his blond cornrows. “What do you mean, they can change? Are you saying someone can be normal or happy and then change to be a serial killer or something?”
“Maybe not that dramatic, but yeah, I’ve seen people’s auras change and they’ve also changed their personalities. Maybe that’s what I’m really seeing, is a person’s personality.” He nodded to the group. “Everyone over there is excited for the field trip. Including Dalton who you would think might be a little bored since he lives here.”
“Well, we better get this show on the road then.” Cat wasn’t sure she really believed in Deek’s gift, but as long as he wasn’t hurting anyone or himself, she didn’t see the harm in it. Besides, it might give him a different viewpoint to write from. And, as she moved everyone out of the house and toward the bookstore, she wondered if one of Tori’s sorority friends might have the same talent. Which would give her an insight into the coven without being a member or actual witch.
She started a mental character sketch of this new addition to the books as they made their way to the bookstore. You never knew what was going to turn on a bright and shiny for an author. When they arrived at the bookstore, several of Tammy’s writer group members were already there.
They were gathered around a table where a bunch of pictures were spread out. Cat greeted Tammy at the counter and pointed over where now both sets of writers were gathering. “What’s going on?”
“I made copies of the best of the pictures I took at the party. I had anyone who had a camera send me their picture too. There’re two sets. Those—” she nodded to where the group had gathered— “and an extra copy for you and your writers. Please make sure they go through them before they leave Sunday and take what they want. Deek’s in quite a few. He was very popular with our female members.”
Cat laughed as she tucked the envelope into her pocket. “Thanks for doing this. I’ll say goodbye to my group and get out of your hair.”
“No problem. You know I love talking about books and bookselling. I’m just glad I didn’t have to pack up all my writer books and drag them to your house. My arms thank you.” Tammy called out and told the group to gather over in the area where she’d set up chairs. Cat knew the bookstore held their author events in the same general area, expanding or contracting as needed due to the size of the crowd.
“Hey, Warm Springs Writers? If you’re wondering, Tammy got us a copy of all the pictures you saw on the table just now. I’ll set them out in the living room on the back table and you can take what you want.” Cat turned to Tammy. “Big thanks to Tammy and the bookstore for sponsoring this session and co-sponsoring the party. We need to do it again sometime.”
“Definitely.” Tammy gave Cat a hug and then went to stand by the lectern. “So welcome to my home away from home. I know as writers, you get the lure of a bookstore. I was born to the business as my parents owned the place before I took it over a few years ago.”
Cat left the bookstore and stepped out into the chilly day. The smell of snow was in the air. Hopefully any storms would hold off until after Seth got back from Denver. The first snow of the season tended to be deep and luscious but caused the roads to be a little dicey until the snowplows and trucks got used to cleaning off the major roads. She’d check the weather report for the next few days when she got home. Or at least, after she got some words down on this new character and the chapter she wanted to write about how Tori found out about her friend’s hidden talent.
When she got home, Shauna handed her a plate with a second sandwich. “Are you eating here or…”
Cat pointed at the door. “I had a brainstorm while walking the group to the bookstore. I need to get some of this down before the muse abandons me.”
“Go play with your imaginary friends. I’ve got work to do anyway.” Shauna turned back to the counter.
Cat pulled the envelope with the pictures out of her pocket. “Before I forget, can you set up a table in the living room to put these on? Tammy did a second copy of the pictures of the party. I’d like to have the guests take most of them home.”
“Sure, but I’m pulling some for our marketing packet. I’ll snap a picture of the ones I want then have Tammy send us the digital files. This was a fun idea. I should have thought of it.” Shauna opened the envelope and started going through the snaps. “Oh, no. Do you want me to pull any of the pictures with Harriet?”
“You may want to send a copy to Uncle Pete, but otherwise, go ahead and leave them. They might be the last picture Stephen has of him and his wife.” Cat paused at the doorway.
Shauna nodded, then added, “I just hope they aren’t fighting in all of them.”
“You and me both.” Cat left the warm, inviting kitchen and headed upstairs to work. Her office was her sanctuary and she tried not to let worries go through that door. At least worries that weren’t about the books. She had enough of them to keep herself busy there. She didn’t need every day or retreat worries following her inside what should be her writing cave.
She turned on the computer, found her document and started writing, making hand-written notes in her series notebook in pen when she made decisions like character names and descriptions. It helped keep her organized and she didn’t have to remember decisions she’d already made.
Cat closed out the files about three. She hadn’t stopped for lunch and she was starving again. She stood and stretched. Shauna had stocked her mini fridge with granola bars and sodas so she just pulled from there when she needed something. Especially on days where the writing was flowing, like today.
She went down to the kitchen and had put a bowl of soup in the microwave and was waiting for it to warm up when she remembered the pictures. She wanted to see them before the writers took their favorites. She grabbed a soda and headed into the living room.
She sorted through the pictures, setting aside one of her and Shauna as well as one with her and Seth. She was almost finished when another one caught her eye. A woman in a zombie outfit with her hair sticking out. Shauna had the description down correctly. The zombie stood with her arm around a man in an old-fashioned safari outfit. He was looking at her and laughing as the woman took an attack position obviously for the camera. She didn’t recognize the woman, but she did recognize the man. It was Professor Todd Lancaster. She’d seen him in the crowd that night, but hadn’t taken the time to go visit. He must have seen the flyer that she’d put up on the announcement board in the teachers lounge.
But who was the woman in the zombie outfit?
She stood looking through the pictures again, trying to see if there were any others showing either Professor Lancaster or the woman. She’d gathered three total when the writers showed up from wherever they’d been. They poured into the living room and gathered around her.
“These are so cool!” Pixie held up one of her in the sprite costume. “I’m blowing this one up for my wall.”
“Egomaniacal much?” Cari teased as she went through the photos.
Cat held up the picture of Lancaster and the zombie woman. “Did anyone talk to either of these people at the party?”
Stephen stepped over, a picture of him and Harriet in his hand. Somehow the photographer had caught them in a happy moment. They were laughing and Stephen was looking at her, the love apparent on his face. “That’s Todd and Jessi Lancaster. I figured you knew him since he came and talked Tuesday. Maybe you didn’t recognize him in his costume.”
“I saw Todd, but I’ve never met his wife.” Cat looked around the group. No one else had responded to the picture. “Does she work at the college?”
“She’s in administration. Something about student aid?” He pulled the picture closer. “I always thought they were a cute couple. I tried to get Harriet to set up some double dates, but she didn’t want to have to make small talk with someone who did numbers for a living.”
“Oh.” Cat wasn’t sure how to respond.
Stephen grimaced. “I know, it makes her sound snobby. And she was, but I still loved her. I guess I didn’t care as long as she didn’t mind making small talk with me.”
“You love who you love.” Cat nodded to the picture in his hand. “You have a nice memory there.”
He smiled as he held it closer to see it again. “We look happy. I’m going to get if framed. It will be a lovely reminder of the good times. Which there were many.”
Cat watched as he walked away. Then she called out to the group. “Okay, we’ll start the last session tonight at six thirty. Here’s the plan for the next couple of days. We’ll talk about the retreat tonight. What worked for you, what didn’t. Things like that. Then we’ll do a few rounds of word sprints. Update your word count on the board no later than three pm tomorrow and then the winner will be announced at our dinner Saturday night. We’ll leave at five to get to the restaurant. It’s upscale Mexican flavors and casual dress but you can dress up or down. It’s date night around here so you’ll see people wearing all sorts of outfits.”
Pixie giggled and bounced a bit. “I’ve got the perfect dress. Maybe I’ll meet a cowboy who will come rescue me in California and bring me back to live on his ranch.”
“I think that’s called kidnapping nowadays,” Cari said and the room broke into laughter.
The group had bonded. Even with a murder, or maybe because of one. But Cat was thankful either way. Part of the magic of the retreat was making new writer friends. If they took this path on to being their career, they would need some people they could trust. And laugh with.
She headed into the kitchen to see if Shauna had already sent some of the pictures to Uncle Pete. Cat had three more to send.
Shauna was mixing a batch of brownies when Cat entered the kitchen. And from the smell, she already had one batch in the oven. “Hey, I was just about to come up and see if you were coming down or not. I heard the guests come in the front.”
“They are in looking over the pictures. I was in there when they arrived.” Cat laid the three pictures of Todd Lancaster and his wife on the table. “Did you see these?”
“Hold on a second.” Shauna poured the batter into the oiled pan and put the bowl in the sink, turning on the water to fill it. She dried her hands on a towel and stepped closer to the table. “That’s the zombie I saw with Todd. It’s his wife, right? Are they from Tammy’s writers’ group?”
“No, I think Todd saw the flyer and he brought his wife as a plus one.” Cat sank into a chair. “We need to send these to Uncle Pete as well.”
“Yeah, our friend Todd is showing up all over the place. And I’m not sure, but maybe those zombie clothes were what Harriet was found in.” Cat took her phone out and snapped pictures of each photo, then sent the group in a text to her uncle. “I’ll let the professionals figure that one out.”
They talked for a few minutes, then Cat’s phone rang.
“Why is the professor who claims you killed Harriet at your party with a zombie?” Uncle Pete asked.
“Our Professor Lancaster brought his wife to the party,” Cat responded, then saw Shauna’s frown. “I left an invite on the bulletin board at the school for all the English department professors. I didn’t expect anyone to really come. I just want them to know we were having a party and be jealous.”
“Sometimes I think you ask to be in hot water all the time.” Uncle Pete sighed. “Thanks for sending these. Now we have a reason to go back and talk to more people. I like having an active investigation with more people than my niece in the suspect pool.”
He hung up the phone leaving her to wrestle with that last statement. He hadn’t let her ask if those were the clothes that Harriet was found in.
Shauna turned off her buzzer and took the first batch of brownies out. “What did he say?”
There were so many answers for that, but Cat kept it simple. “He said thank you.”
14
The group gathered early in the living room. When Cat came out of the kitchen with Seth at six, they were already there, talking. He nodded to the doorway. “Do you need to go? Sam will understand if you can’t stop by and rub his tummy tonight.”
Cat laughed as she opened the door to the west wing. “They’re just spending some last quality time together. They don’t need me for a few minutes. Besides, I miss my Sambo.”
The dog must have heard her voice because he came running to greet her. With a quick, “sit,” from Seth, Sam responded, plopping on his butt right in front of Cat. His tail sped back and forth on the floor.
Seth laughed as Cat reached down to pet him. “As you can see, I no longer have to sweep or vacuum. I just let Sam do the work. Come on, Sam, let Cat in so we can go out to the deck. I think it’s warm enough this afternoon for that.”
Cat followed Seth and Sam to the back door off the kitchen. “It won’t be for long. Do you have a coat?”
He grabbed a parka off the railing where several coats hung. “Here you go. And yes, as soon as the sun sets at six fifteen, it’s going to start cooling down.”
“I think we’re going to get snow early next week,” Cat said after they got outside. She’d sat on one of the deck chairs, but Seth was standing and throwing a ball to Sam, over and over.
“I heard that too. Hopefully we’ll get these guys out of here and flying back to always sunny California.” He took the ball that Sam had dropped at his feet and threw it again. “I wonder what couples talk about in California when they’re fighting. It can’t be the weather. It would be a really short conversation.”
Cat laughed as she turned to look at him. “I think it’s going to be sunny today. No rain in the forecast.”
“Yeah, we sure could use some rain.” Seth followed her lead. “Maybe next week.”
“Maybe that’s why they have marriage counseling, to give couples a common topic,” Cat added.
“Common as in how much we both hate this counselor?” Seth threw the ball again, then came over and sat down. “Monday, we can grab some takeout for lunch, then go park at the trailhead and talk.”
She nodded but then smiled. “If it doesn’t snow.”
“My truck has four-wheel drive.” Seth clicked his fingers when Sam brought the ball again. Sam lay on the deck, the ball still in his mouth. “If the weather is horrible, we’ll have lunch with Shauna then come over to this wing and talk. I love you, Cat. That’s not going to change.”
Tears stung her eyes. “I just can’t start this. I have a meeting in a few minutes.”
“I know and I don’t want you to look like a racoon, so stop crying.” When she chuckled, he nodded to the sun going behind the mountain. “Just sit and take in that view. We’re lucky people to be able to live here. You have to count your blessings every day.”
Seth was right; the view was breathtaking and worth the few minutes it took out of her busy day. She needed to do this more. “We need to order a hot tub and set it right here.”
