Chapter 16
Oysters & Babies
Shane held the phone out from his ear a few inches but could still hear Frankie shout.
"Two days?" Frankie said. "You dodged my calls and texts for two days! You do realize we're paying for a crew to be down there? Every day you don't appear on camera I'm losing money."
"Frankie, I get that you're mad—" Shane tried.
"Mad? No, I'm not mad. I'm confused. I gave you a homerun. Dave Fever fell in our laps and then Nathan Dass winds up murdered in the same picture-perfect fall town when you're already there less than two weeks later. It's the biggest opportunity for our show and you are throwing it away. Explain that to me."
Shane's stomach spun. He hated confrontation at all, and pushing back against Frankie when he was in this state was akin to doing a jig in front of a bull. "Frankie, I'm on it, but there are things you don't know. I took a GoPro up to Dave's brother's property outside of town. We think he and the mayor are pushing these cult rumors to force someone to sell their land. We believe, and I'm working on getting the confession, that they killed Nathan Dass and are trying to pin it on the ghost of Dave Fever."
He smiled, it’s so ridiculous that it actually sounds like great TV.
Frankie didn't sound as pleased as Shane. "Why didn't you show up to the appointment I made at the morgue for you to see Nathan Dass' body?"
Confused at the pivot Shane asked, "Why would I need to? I saw the raw footage Gary had from that morning and read the coroner's report. Throat slit. End of story. But anyway, I'll—"
Frankie interrupted, his voice low pitched and quiet, which was never a good sign. "Shane. I pitched this show. Me. I know what sells. And I know what isn't selling lately. The show has gone stale and we're losing viewers with every episode. So what I need you to do is to get on the goddamn camera and just go where I tell you. Got it?"
"No," Shane shot back. It was likely the first time Shane had ever said that word to him. Frankie was his agent, later a friend of sorts. They'd known each other for a decade and he was at almost all of Emily’s birthday parties. But ever since Frankie invested in the show to become one of the producers, he'd morphed into someone else who felt like he could push Shane around.
Shane continued as Frankie took a large inhale on the other line, likely ready to shout obscenities. "No. I am not going to the morgue to film a ridiculous camera shot over a body bag when we know someone slit his throat. I'm going to solve this murder case. Then we'll film a documentary-style episode. And that's the shape of any future work I want to do together."
"Listen to me, moron," Frankie said. "You were a nobody before me, and without me, you're just some dumb blonde past his prime. Don't make me come there and—"
"And what?" Shane laughed. "Frankie, I may be blonde and getting old, but I know you. You're all bluster. You always have been. I'll get Gary and the crew lined up after I get this confession and then we'll let the viewers decide if I'm wrong."
"If you think—"
He hung up before Frankie could say anything more.
"Soooo, that sounded fun." Emily said, standing in the doorway. She joined him outside on the porch.
"Sorry kid. Thought you wouldn't be able to hear that conversation if I was out here," Shane replied. He sat next to her on the double swing and put an arm around her. "Frankie is all talk. And he's always mad. This is nothing new."
"Will he fire you?"
Shane shrugged, realizing then that he didn't care one way or the other. "He could cut the show. I'm sorry, I know how much that would bother you."
Emily laughed. There was a two-year span where she was mortified every time someone realized her dad had a reality TV show. She even refused to eat in restaurants in some parts of LA because he'd get recognized.
"I think you're doing a good job on Nathan Dass' case. Even if it doesn't make it on TV, putting that atrocious mayor and her henchman behind bars is a good thing," she said.
Shane used his long legs to sway them and said, "Thanks, Buttercup. That means a lot to me." He kissed the top of her head. "What do you think of Hinnewatcha?"
"Honestly? I like it. I know I messed up sneaking out, but I really like Danny and his friends. They're genuine and not glued to their phones all the time. And, say what you want about small towns, but this one is obnoxiously cute."
Shane asked, "Would you want to live here?"
"Would you?" Emily countered.
"I think so. I'm tired of LA, Buttercup. I'm tired of acting. And of pretending. We could sell the house and pay all cash for something here. We'd have plenty leftover while I figure out another career." He couldn’t deny that a particular local barista occupied his every other thought either.
She nodded. "I'm glad you said that. I'd love to live here. And the Old Man isn't so bad. Besides," she said, standing up. "I heard there might be a need for a new realtor in town. If you could sell some of the B.S. lines you did on your show, you can easily sell a house."
He mocked gaped and the pair of them laughed. She said from the doorway, "Chop, chop. If you're going to woo Clarissa into a fake date, you need to shower. You're looking rough."
Shane saluted her, and texted Maria on his way inside.
Meet me for a drink tonight?
***
The cell phone ping forced Maria to pause her favorite garden therapy–ripping up weeds–long enough to read the text from Shane. She smiled, and gave another silent thanks for her mother getting Isa out of the house. And thank you Tia Camila for getting Mama out as well.
She thought through all the reasons why she shouldn't invite Shane over, but ended up telling him to come to her place later before all those nags in her head made her see reason. It's not a date. It's just two friends having a glass of wine together.
Maria felt lighter than she had in weeks, maybe years even. She didn't kid herself, she knew it was because the man that she’d dreaded seeing a week ago had somehow become someone she had to see again. He skipped through her mind, popping up in her thought process throughout the day. I don't want him to fall in love with me. I just want him as a friend. She began raking up the area where her new greenhouse would go. Liar.
Somehow in the span of a handful of conversations, she'd gone from seeing Shane as an adversary to believing he was the type of someone she wanted to wake up to. No more falling for saviors, Maria. They always disappoint.
She heard Levi Madison's voice before she saw him. He'd walked out the back of Cindy and Evelyn's home next door and joined the old couple on their patio. He was in plainclothes, and balanced a tray of oysters and grilling tools that he delivered to Cindy. She couldn't make out what he was saying, but he tipped his head back, laughing.
Evelyn waved hello and shouted over, "Maria! Come over! We're grilling oysters on the fire."
Her partner, Cindy, added over her shoulder, "Bring a glass with you. We're in a battle to see who will break down and do the dishes first, and I promise it won't be me!"
Maria chuckled and wiped the dirt off her jeans. She ducked inside just long enough to wash her hands and grab the plastic champagne flute from her windowsill that she kept for occasions just like this. Almost as soon as she stepped over the low fence, Evelyn embraced her, gripping her in her iconic bear hug: tight, warm, and long enough that Maria leaned into Evelyn's wiry gray hair. Their French bulldogs, Puddles and Pickles, ran circles around their feet, barking. Pickles wore a tutu today.
Levi nodded his hello as Cindy poured the champagne. Cindy & Evelyn were rarely seen without a bottle, and it was an unspoken rule that all champagne had a splash of OJ before noon and a splash of gin, lemon, and a sugar cube after dark. The sun hovered over the horizon, not quite ready to set, so it was just classic bubbles for their impromptu patio party.
The four toasted over the open fire. "What are we toasting to?" Maria asked, wondering again at how Levi seemed to be the couple's favorite Hinnewatchan after Isa.
"Halloween?" Eveyln suggested.
"Proper fall day?" Levi added, clearly at ease with the older couple.
Cindy looked pointedly at Maria and Levi and said, "To new beginnings."
Ahhh. Cindy is in matchmaker mode, Maria realized. She gave a tight smile, wondering how to diffuse the awkwardness threatening their toast.
Levi beat her to it. "Ignore her, Maria. Cindy and Evie have tried to play matchmaker with any single woman over the age of 18 and under 60 in this town. It was only a matter of time."
Cindy made a face at Levi, prompting Maria to laugh. Cindy clicked the tongs in Levi's direction. "Careful there, Chief. We're quickly running out of options so I may need to up that age ceiling. I heard the Book Club is looking for a new recruit, maybe I sign you up?"
"You wouldn't dare," Levi said. "Evie, please try to talk reason with your wife. I've told her a hundred times I'm not interested in dating right now." He looked over to Maria, "No offense, Maria."
"It's perfect. She's a window, you're a widower. You both live here and you're both attractive," Cindy said.
Evelyn laughed, “You mean ‘widow and widower,’ love. I don’t think Maria is a pane of glass.”
Cindy giggled and poured more champagne. “True. But you two would make great babies.”
"There are no more babies coming out of me. I'm one and done," Maria said. She had no idea Levi was married before, let alone a widower. She wondered at what else she didn't know about the man.
Cindy pursed her lips, clearly shelving her efforts for a later time when Maria could be worn down. Evelyn pulled out their mismatched plates and the four of them hovered over the fire, eating oysters straight off the grill and chatting about Cindy and Evelyn's latest travels.
The oysters were all but polished off when they finally sat down in the rickety Adirondacks, Maria's hands sticky from the mignonette and butter. Evelyn reached over and patted her knee to ask, "Do you have a date set for the funeral?"
She didn't look at Levi, but felt his eyes on her nonetheless. "I haven't talked to Greg in a little while. He keeps wanting to push it."
Evelyn's sky blue eyes softened, and she asked, "But what do you want?"
Maria blew a curl that had come loose from her ponytail and answered honestly, "I want it to be done."
Cindy, louder than she was a few champagnes before, "Yea, but what's with all the rumors that someone messed with his body? Cate said someone had black salt and cilantro or rosemary all over him at the morgue."
Evelyn swatted Cindy to stop talking, and Maria glanced over. Levi watched her, assessing.
She thought back to the conversation she'd had with the Bolles that morning and tried to school her features. Her mother always claimed she looked like a fish when she lied, which just meant Maria had no idea what to do with her lips. She fanned herself, and pushed back from the fire that now felt too hot.
"I have no idea what that is," she lied.
When she said her goodbyes though a short while later, Levi said, "I'll walk you home. I need to bring you up to speed on a couple things."
She nodded, dreading whatever he needed to say that couldn't be said in front of Cindy and Evelyn.
"Maria," he said, once they'd walked to the far edge of Cindy and Evelyn's yard. "I didn't want this to get out, but I found something disturbing that I was hoping you could shed some light on."
She had one leg over the low wooden fence and all but fell over at his statement. Breathe, Maria. There are a lot of weird things going on in Hinnewatcha now.
She ignored the hand he hovered out to her help over the fence. "OK. What is it?"
"Do you know if your late husband ever strayed?"
Maria laughed, her breath coalescing in the cooling October air. "Dave wasn't exactly the best husband, Levi. I never thought he was cheating, but I wouldn't put it past him. What did you find out?"
"Well, I don't want to badmouth a dead man," he started.
"He can't hear you," she replied, and then reminded herself she needed to lay off badmouthing him as well. The police didn't need to know she had ample reasons to want Dave gone.
Levi put his hands in his coat pockets, his stance wide as he faced her. "We got an anonymous tip from the county commissioner's office. Someone dropped off several printed pages of emails exchanged between the Mayor's office and among the board of commissioners. It appears that Clarissa Baker is aggressively pursuing a rezoning case for a property she is trying to purchase from the Jones family."
"Huh," Maria said, busying herself with picking off imaginary lint from her sweater.
Levi crossed his arms. "You don't seem surprised."
Maria blew out a breath. I can't lie worth a damn, and we're going to need his help soon enough. "So you know how I called the cops last night to meet us at Dan's Diesel?" She continued at his nod. "Shane's daughter told us a few things Danny Jones said that made us think Clarissa is bullying the family into selling their land for a lowball price. It wouldn't surprise me that she was using her weight as Mayor to steamroll the rezoning approval."
Levi didn't say anything, but used his usual long pauses to force the other person to say more.
It always worked on Maria.
She spoke in a rush, wincing at the freak out that would inevitably follow. "And, I might have gone to Greg Fever's farm to look around for those missing pills you mentioned."
He threw his hands up in the air. "Are you kidding me? Do you know how dangerous Greg Fever is when he feels cornered? Not to mention breaking and entering is illegal and I'm a cop."
"I know."
"Damnit, Maria. The same man you think is stalking you is living on Greg's farm. Did you know that?"
"Yeah we ran into him. Well, he didn't see us but we saw him when he came home and he almost caught us. Do you know who he is yet?"
He didn't hesitate. "Who is 'we'?"
Maria hoped her weak smile would calm him down. "Want to come inside for a cup of tea?"
"Not until you tell me what bonehead also thinks breaking and entering is a great idea," Levi said, scowling.
She rubbed her hands over her arms in the cooling temperatures and he caught the movement. He threw his hands back in the air and huffed, "OK fine. Inside. But no tea until we have this conversation."
He held open her back door that led to her tiny kitchen. She patted his shoulder as she walked in and said, "You're a good man, Levi Madison."
"Uh-huh. We'll see about that. Now out with it."
She relayed everything she and Shane learned, starting with the heavy breathing sounds in the woods, and the backpack of herbs and salt the kids found at Burial Rock, though she left out the Raising details for obvious reasons. She finished explaining how Shane got the speaker from under Greg's bed as the tea kettle whined.
Levi took everything in, unspeaking. He raised his eyebrows once but it happened so fast Maria couldn't be sure. He finally spoke. "Are you positive it was Clarissa Baker that left Greg's farm the next day?"
"Definitely. I saw her stupid sticker on the back of her SUV."
"You do realize that I can't use any of that in a search warrant? And I should charge you both with breaking and entering. I only told you about the pills so you would look in your own house. Not so you would go hunting for them at that psychopath's property in the middle of the woods." He pointed at her with his "I saw that" mug that depicted Jesus popping out at an angle. "No more sleuthing, Maria. Promise me you'll let us do the police work."
Someone knocked on the front door as it opened.
"Maria?" Shane called out. "I tried calling first, figured you might be out back."
"I'm in the kitchen—" she said, but he interrupted her before she could say anything else.
His back was turned to them as he shrugged off his coat. "Clarissa will be singing her confession this time tomorrow night. Tell me..." Shane trailed off as he turned and registered Levi's presence.
Levi crossed his arms and Maria winced again. "Shane, you probably ought to come in here."
"Oh. Hiya Chief Madison, I was just about to call you to discuss a few things my team has uncovered."
"Uh-huh. Maria, can you make a bit more tea? I have a feeling you guys are going to need it for the discussion we're about to have about law and order."
"Eh, might be time to switch back to wine," she said.