Chapter 12
Smiley’s Diner had gone all out for the holidays.
The decorations were a wild mix of green, gold, and far too many hints of teal.
Interesting choice. The air smelled of coffee, butter, and frying bacon, with a touch of citrus cleaner that didn’t quite hide the scent of maple syrup baked into the walls.
I stepped inside, shaking off the rain, and moved to the counter where Tessa was refilling mugs. “What’s up with all the teal accents?” I asked, eyeing the teal ribbon wrapped around a pumpkin centerpiece. Pumpkins in March? Sure.
She rolled her eyes, handing off a steaming plate to a customer. “Mert wanted to use all the decorations. I barely kept him from pulling out the Christmas ones.”
“But why teal?”
She tugged on the tie of her apron. “He likes teal.”
Tessa looked tired but sharp in jeans and a white T-shirt with her hair up in a messy bun that somehow still appeared deliberate. “Seriously, he’s in a much better mood now that he’s feeling healthy again after the heart attack, so I try not to argue. I think the teal adds a little something.”
“The pumpkins are unique,” I admitted.
She chuckled. “I take it you’re meeting Nana?”
“I really am.” I looked around, spotting our grandmother in a booth by the far window, sitting across from our mom. “Can you join us?”
“I can’t. I’m crazy busy today.” Tessa reached for a rag and wiped the counter in brisk circles. “I don’t know why, but people get hungry around all holidays, not just the food ones.”
“It’s the beginning of spring,” I said. “Folks want to be out and about even though it’s raining.”
Outside, the sky was the color of old pewter, rain streaking down the glass in silver threads. “It’s nice to have the snow gone,” I added, “and to see a blue sky once in a while.”
Tessa angled her neck toward the window. “Not today, though. Today’s just gray and rainy.”
I wrapped my hands around the warm edge of the counter. “It is, and it makes me want to curl up with a cup of coffee and a good book.”
“What’s going on with Nana’s case?” she asked, her voice softening.
“Nothing good.” I patted her arm and headed for the booth. My boots squeaked slightly on the tile floor as I made my way past a row of occupied tables.
“Hello, sweetheart,” my mom said as I reached them. She scooted over to make room. She really favored Nana with the same green eyes, reddish-blond hair, and mischievous expressions that always made them look like they were planning something. Tessa had inherited it too, which wasn’t fair.
I slid into the booth with a sigh.
“What was that for?” Mom asked.
“That was a heavy sigh.” Nana leaned over to pat my hand. Her nails were painted shamrock green, of course. “Honey, you can’t take life so seriously.”
“Seriously? Who, me?” I teased, smiling just as Tessa arrived with a sparkling water and set it in front of me. I’d quit soda weeks ago, but sparkling water made me feel oddly sophisticated, like I was managing adulthood, one bubble at a time.
“Want a lime?” Tessa asked.
“No, I’m good. Thanks.” I could tell she was already running on fumes.
Nana smiled up at her. “Are you sure you can’t join us?”
“Oh, Nana, I wish I could,” she said, her shoulders dropping for half a second. “We’re just swamped right now. If I get a break, I’ll come sit down.”
Nana gave her a warm smile. “All right, sweetheart. We’ll be here.”
Tessa hurried off toward the kitchen, the clatter of plates and hum of conversation swelling behind her.
I idly wondered if Mom had any inkling that my two grandmothers had met up at the diner in Silverville. Something told me she didn’t. Best to keep it that way. The wrath of one grandmother was bad enough; two could end civilizations.
“We already ordered,” Nana said. “Moira and I weren’t sure when you were going to get here.”
“That’s fine,” I said, glancing toward the counter. “Tessa will pick something good for me.” She always did. “So, Nana, we need to talk about your case.” I glanced at my mom.
“Oh, please,” Nana said, rolling her pretty green eyes. “You can say whatever you want in front of Moira.”
“I know,” I said, lowering my voice, “but that negates attorney-client privilege. Mom can be subpoenaed for anything she hears.”
My mom sighed, sliding out of the booth. “That’s okay, sweetheart. I’ll go sit at the counter until our food’s ready. Maybe I’ll help your sister. She’s way too busy.”
I stood so she could pass, then retook her seat, guilt edging the back of my throat.
“Anna, you don’t make up the law.” Nana gave me that pointed look she’d perfected over the years. “Stop feeling guilty.”
“Thanks, Nana.” My heart warmed. “Okay, this is kind of difficult.”
“Just spit it out, honey.” Her brogue thickened again.
“We have CCTV footage, which are camera recordings from the courthouse,” I began carefully. “It shows someone in a leprechaun outfit leaving the back of your shop a few hours before the pie tasting contest.”
Nana blinked. “Well, that’s good. Excellent. So we can figure out who it was.”
“The thing is…” I leaned in, lowering my voice. “The person was wearing your costume.”
She tilted her head, frowning. “Excuse me?”
“The person wore your leprechaun costume, Nana. I recognized it. It had the O’Shea logo on the vest.”
She shook her head. “It couldn’t have been mine. Mine is in the closet where it always is.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I looked at it just this morning because I’ll need it on Saturday. It hasn’t gone anywhere.”
I sat back, exhaling. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
She pursed her lips. “Then it must not have been my costume.”
“The person looks like a woman.”
“Interesting.” She tapped a manicured finger against her lips, her eyes narrowing in thought. “I wonder who would want to set me up?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “Set you up and hurt Gloria at the same time. Is there anybody who doesn’t like both of you?”
Puzzlement crossed Nana’s features. “Why would someone dislike me?”
“I have no idea,” I said honestly, though my gut told me someone out there clearly did. “But obviously, you have an enemy somewhere.”
“Well,” she said, straightening in her seat, “I can’t think of anyone. However, Gloria has quite a few. You know she cheats at bridge, don’t you?”
I bit back a laugh. “I did not know that.”
“Also golf. Total sandbagger.” Nana shook her head. “I’d need at least a full ream of paper to write down her enemies.”
I fought the urge to grind my palm into my eye.
This headache was going to take me out. I’d grabbed a couple of ibuprofen before leaving the office, but they hadn’t kicked in yet.
I took a deep breath and forced my thoughts back on track.
“Can you think of anybody who might dislike both of you? Because that would be really convenient right now.”
“Not really.”
I blinked once, my stomach aching with the next question. “What about Nonna?” I knew Nonna didn’t set up Nana, but the prosecutor might try to create some sort of scenario that hurt both of my grandmothers, so I had to ask.
“Nonna and Gloria definitely don’t like each other,” Nana said easily. “However, Nonna adores me.”
I was somewhat surprised she didn’t choke on that statement. I stared at her blandly. “Nana, I know it’s taboo to discuss it in our family, which I’m getting tired of, but you and Nonna are not friends. You do not get along.”
“We get along just fine, dear.” Her smile was too bright. “There’s nothing wrong between us.”
“Would you please tell me what the problem was?”
Her eyes widened. “There was no problem.” Her voice had that Stepford cheer that would’ve made any 1950s housewife proud. There was no getting past her.
“Okay, fine.” I set my glass down. “Will you at least ask around town? Maybe talk to Bampa and see if there’s anyone who might have a beef with both you and Gloria?
Also, could you give me a list of everyone involved in the pie contests for, say, the last ten years? Any sore losers, any runners-up?”
“Of course,” she said easily. “Do you think the sabotaged pie was connected to the dynamite and the theft at my store?”
I took another sip. “Aiden doesn’t, and I think his logic is sound.” I hesitated. “I need to tell you that Brad Backleboff might pursue a criminal case against you.”
“A criminal case?” Her voice shot up an octave. “I’m not a criminal.”
“I’m aware of that, and I agree.” I glanced at my sparkling water. “But he offered a plea deal.”
Her head jerked. “I will not take any sort of plea deal.”
I smiled. “That’s what I thought. But I’m supposed to tell you.”
The bell over the door jingled, and I glanced up as two people walked inside and strode by our table. My brain stalled for half a second.
Brad Backleboff gave a half bow to my grandmother as he passed, then kept walking. Brooke Walton followed close behind him, giving me a brief look before sliding into a booth farther down the row by the window.
“I think he’s a shyster,” Nana said casually, stirring her coffee.
“Yeah, but what is he doing with Brooke Walton?” I asked.
Nana turned, glanced back toward them, then faced me again. “Well, they’re both single. He’s mid-thirties, she’s mid-twenties, which is too far apart, I think.”
“She’s Gloria’s niece,” I said.
“Yes. She grew up in the Naperville area and moved to Montana about a year ago. She spends a lot of time with her aunt.” Nana glanced over her shoulder. “She’s a pretty girl, isn’t she?”
I angled my neck to get a better look. “Are they dating?”
“Well…” Nana looked off, considering. “I’ve seen them together in Silverville quite a few times.
Never holding hands or anything, but out to dinner and such.
They make a fine-looking couple, though I don’t like him very much.
Of course, that could be because he tried to charge your sister with murder and now he’s charging me with something ridiculous. ”
“Yeah,” I murmured, still watching the pair. The two of them looked too comfortable, like this wasn’t a new thing. I leaned forward. “You know she’s been dating Clark too.”