“You two going to stick around now that Reggie’s gone?” Sam asked.
“We thought we’d help with the trees until we’re shut down or told to leave.”
“Why?”
“Like I said, we knew each other. Reggie was a friend. Sort of.”
“You care if we look in the shed?” Sam said as he started walking that direction. I followed behind.
“Sure. Go ahead.”
Joel and Patricia followed behind me.
The shed was almost empty. There were two axes locked in place with a cross bar against a wall and one flocking gun, loaded (as far as I could tell, given my limited understanding of flocking guns) with a can of flocking spray. Two short stools were against a side wall, but those few items were all that was there. Sam gave the small space a quick once-over and I silently wondered why we hadn’t looked in it earlier.
Sam wrote down the address that Joel gave him for where they were staying but Joel added that they truly wouldn’t be around for long. I suspected that was a recent decision. Sam didn’t tell them not to leave town, but to stay in touch if they did, just in case he had more questions about their “friendship” with Reggie Stuckey.
They were thrilled and relieved to see us go, though they both tried to hide it.
As we drove away again, I said, “Why didn’t we check the shed earlier?”
“I knew what was in there a couple days ago. The other officers looked inside and included an item inventory in their report. I should have taken another look on my own probably, but the reason I asked Joel was simply to see his reaction. He didn’t seem to mind us looking, which made me think he hadn’t hidden anything in there.”
“Like what?”
“I have no idea.”
“What do you think of them?”
“I think they’re up to no good, but I’m not sure murder is a part of that ‘no good.’ They’re staying around so they can make some money. It’s a cash business, I’m assuming, and without Reggie around, their cut of the cash just got bigger.”
“They’re stealing. Sort of?”
“No doubt in my mind. I also think Patricia’s been in Reggie’s garage more than she admitted to, though I don’t know why or who she didn’t want to know she’d been there—us or her husband.”
“Could she be the mystery ‘girl’ who was working for Reggie?”
“Maybe. I really need to better analyze the phone and fax records. I also need to know more about the Archers. I’ll do some research. Also, I suppose that will be one of the questions I ask Evelyn.”
“Oh yeah, the lead I fleshed out for you.”
Sam laughed. “Yes, that one.”
He dropped me at my truck, but offered to take me with him to talk to the real estate agent, which is where he was planning to go after he dropped the computer and the file at the station.
I wanted to go with him, but farmers’ market duty called. I had customers who’d be looking for their orders and other customers who’d be looking for me and my other jams and jellies.
I did manage to get one more kiss out of him before we parted ways, though.
I liked it when he multitasked.
Seventeen
“You are popular today,” Linda said as she peered around our common tent wall when I came through the back. “You should leave me some jars. I’m happy to take care of customers if you’re busy.”
We all looked after each other’s businesses; it wasn’t a burden. Usually. But I felt like I’d stretched everyone’s goodwill over the last year or so. Linda especially would never say I was taking advantage, but I wanted to be sensitive to it.
“Thanks. I think I can catch up today and we’ll see where it goes from there. I’m still a little surprised by how well everything’s selling.”
Linda smiled. “Me, too, and I love it. Believe it or not, my pie sales have gone way up. People are coming to Bailey’s just for the jalapeño-mint jelly, Becca; I got the juicy spot next to you. My cranberry cream pie is flying out of here. So thanks.”
Leave it to Linda to know exactly what to say to make me feel better.
“I didn’t know you had cranberry cream pie! I’ll be buying one of those today.”
“Deal. I’ll put your name on one.”
Pumpkin cream and cranberry cream. Sam and I would be set for dessert for the next few days.
Sam and I. The growing line of customers outside my stall didn’t give me much time to ponder how quickly I’d begun thinking in terms of “Sam and I” or “me and Sam.” But I knew it had happened quickly, and the concept was continually gaining favor in my mind.