Chapter 14

"What sort of interesting conversation?" Jo asked.

"Robyn was practically begging Shane to stop hanging around his work after hours," Claire said. "I could tell from the tone of her voice she wasn't happy."

"Wasn't happy," Jo echoed.

"Reading between the lines, she thought he was fraternizing with the other employees."

"Was…is Robyn a jealous person?" Delta asked.

"I would have to say yes. She's always on her phone texting. I think she was texting Barr, like she was keeping tabs on him."

"So maybe she took him out in a jealous fit of rage," Jo theorized.

"I hope not." Claire blinked rapidly. "I don't like the thought of having a killer as an employee."

"What about her husband?"

"Glen was moving on. At least that's the impression I got from Robyn," Claire said.

"Is there anything else about her or them that sticks out in your mind?"

"No, Jo. Robyn is a good worker. She always shows up on time. Yes, her personal life seems rough and now, with Barr dead, she's in even rougher shape, but I would hire her again."

They began making small talk and chatted until a customer arrived. Jo and Delta excused themselves.

Back outside, Jo's eyes drifted toward her brother's theater across the street. The double entrance doors were open. "Someone is over at the theater. I wouldn't mind popping in and saying ‘hi' to Miles if he's there."

"Lead the way."

The women crossed the street, passing by Tool Time Hardware store and another business before reaching Divine Dinner Theater.

"Hello? Miles?" Jo caught a flash of movement near the ticket booth and her brother appeared. "Hey, Jo."

"Delta and I were in town running an errand and noticed the doors were open, so we thought we would swing by. We stopped by Claire's antique shop. She mentioned how busy the downtown area is."

"It's great," Miles grinned. "Business is booming. We've been packing them in every Friday, Saturday and Sunday."

"I'm glad to hear it. I'll have to bring the residents by one of these days for a dinner matinee."

"We would love to have you." Miles leaned an elbow on the counter. "How are your businesses doing?"

Jo gave a thumbs up. "We have two new residents who are settling in."

"Sherry mentioned Leah's working over at Dave Kilwin's farm. I heard the supervisor died. Someone took him out."

Jo briefly filled him in. "Unfortunately, Leah is on the investigator's radar."

"Leah?" Miles' brows drew together.

"Because the guy wrote her up."

"And she has a previous criminal record," he guessed.

"Her record definitely isn't helping the situation, so Delta and I decided to come into town and do a little digging around. It seems Mr. Barr may have had his share of enemies."

"And girlfriends. He had a reputation," Miles said. "He hit on Sherry once."

"Seriously?" Jo's brows shot up. "She didn't mention it when we were over there for lunch."

"She doesn't like to worry you. Besides, Sherry can handle herself."

"So, Barr was married. His wife ended up leaving him. He was running around with Robyn Colburne and was even hitting on Sherry," Jo said. "He hit on Leah too."

"What's the saying? ‘Chasing anything in a skirt.'"

Ping. Miles' cell phone chimed. "I've been waiting for this call."

"We won't keep you." Jo gave her brother a quick hug. "You and Sherry need to come over for dinner one night. We would love to have you."

"And I would love to partake of some of Delta's delicious dishes." Miles smacked his lips and winked at Delta. "Just let me know."

"There's always room for you at our table." Delta followed Jo out of the theater. "Well?"

"I was hoping we could narrow down the number of suspects, but now we have even more."

Back at the farm, Jo added Robyn Colburne to her growing list. She knew Glen in passing, had casually chatted with him when he delivered the mail or when she had to sign for something.

He struck her as a nice guy. Maybe he snapped. Maybe his marriage was falling apart and he found out about Robyn's affair. He confronted Shane Barr and killed him in a fit of rage.

Or maybe it was Robyn Colburne. Claire mentioned the woman seemed to keep tabs on Shane Barr. Maybe she became jealous, confronted him at the farm and killed him.

Or it could have been one of the farm's employees. Dave Kilwin had even said he should've gotten rid of him because the employees didn't like the man.

Jo meandered out of the house and into the mercantile. Raylene stood behind the cash register ringing up purchases.

Carli and Courtney were near the dressing rooms helping customers. Jo continued walking, making her way to the bakeshop where Laverne was boxing up a customer's order. Kelli stood on the other side stocking the display cases.

"How is business?"

"The baked goods are flying off the shelves. Delta's cookies and cream raspberry dream bars have already sold out," Kelli said. "Customers are still coming in asking if we have more."

"Wonderful. That's music to my ears."

Laverne nodded toward the mercantile at the other end of the building. "Raylene's been training the new residents all morning. I still don't know how Carli can work without talking."

Jo followed Laverne's gaze and studied the woman's body language. Although her lips weren't moving, it appeared she was communicating with a customer as they passed clothes back and forth. "She seems to be managing."

"I guess we all have our crutch."

"Yes, we certainly do," Jo pointedly agreed. "Including you."

Laverne ignored the comment. "I've been watching her. Those psychology classes I took sure come in handy, especially when I run across an interesting individual."

Jo pressed her palms together, curious to get Laverne's take. "What are you seeing when you look at Carli and her sister?"

"Courtney is running the show. Of course, you don't have to have knowledge of psychology to see that. She's happy running the show and Carli is content to let her," Laverne said. "There's something else I'm noticing."

"What?"

Laverne started to say something and stopped.

"What do you see?"

"It only happened once. A customer came up behind Carli and spooked her. I thought she was going to hit the ground."

"She's easily startled," Jo said.

"I saw it too," Kelli said. "She seems kinda jumpy."

"You both made an interesting observation." A customer arrived, and Jo slipped out of the bakeshop. She circled around the barns, checking on Egglina and Henrietta.

While she walked, Jo mulled over what Laverne and Kelli had observed. Maybe something had happened in Carli's past that instilled a deep set of fear in her, a fear of others. The fact she startled easily was a clue.

Jo found Gary near the edge of the field alone and fiddling with the rototiller. "Hey, Gary."

"Afternoon, Jo."

"You were able to get the rototiller running again?"

"Yep. I had to drain the old gas and put some new in."

Jo glanced around. "No one is working with you today?"

"Michelle was on the schedule, but I didn't really need her. Sometimes I work better by myself, especially when I have a lot on my mind."

"About Leah."

"Yeah. I miss having her around. I guess I'm kinda feeling sorry for myself. Don't get me wrong, I want her to get on with her life and working for Dave Kilwin will give her the experience she needs from being employed by a larger establishment," Gary said. "Jase seems to have taken a liking to her."

"Jase and Leah are close to the same age. Wouldn't that be something?" Jo asked. "Leah takes a job and finds a boyfriend."

Gary tapped the side of his forehead. "They're both on the same page, with similar interests and plans. I'm no matchmaker, but I wouldn't be surprised to hear about a blossoming romance."

"But first, we have to figure out who murdered Shane Barr," Jo said.

"Yep. Dave borrowed one of our plows. I figured I could swing by there to pick it up and see how Leah's doing."

She touched his arm. "You're a great guy, Gary. Leah loves you, adores you. If nothing else, this tragic death is a reminder she has someone on her side. Justice will prevail."

Jo left, her own words echoing in her ears. Would justice prevail or would Detective Vine settle his sights on Leah, thinking he had a solid case?

Motive? Check. Barr had written her up only hours earlier.

Opportunity? Check. She was there at the time of his attack, with no one around to corroborate her story.

An uneasiness settled over her. Jo had been involved in more than her share of situations, when Sherry was a suspect and even Gary. But this one was different. She wasn't directly involved, and it was frustrating to realize her hands were tied.

*****

The dinner hour rolled around and the residents and staff gathered at the table. Jo waited until they prayed over their food to ask how everyone's day had gone.

"Nash taught me how to change the lawn mower's spark plugs," Michelle said.

"You have one up on me. I have no idea how to change spark plugs," Jo said. "I noticed business was brisk in the mercantile and bakeshop. How were sales?"

"Great," Raylene said. "We were selling springtime merchandise like gangbusters. Everyone is looking forward to the warmer weather."

"I am too," Jo said. "Gary is getting ready to start planting, which means it's right around the corner."

"Those chickens have been making a racket all day long," Laverne grumbled. "Every time I walk by the coop, they cluck at me."

"The solution is simple," Delta said. "You don't like them. They don't like you. Stay away from their coop."

Laverne muttered something unintelligible under her breath.

"What did you say?" Delta asked.

"Carli loves the chickens," Courtney said.

Carli reached for her flip pad. I can care for them, she scribbled before turning it so everyone could see.

"Problem solved." Laverne dusted her hands. "Let Carli handle the chickens."

"Are you sure?" Jo asked. "They need regular care."

Carli nodded.

"I'll show her around the shed, where the feed is and everything she'll need after dinner," Gary said. "Tomorrow morning, we'll go over their feeding."

Courtney grimaced. "I was hoping to work in the kitchen."

"You can work with me," Delta said. "I'll have plenty to keep you busy."

"But Carli…"

Jo cut in. "Carli can train with Gary. You can train with Delta. As I explained before, you'll be rotating and working in different areas each day."

"But Carli might need me."

"Carli will be fine." Jo turned to the woman. "Do you want to be trained in how to care for the chickens?"

Carli used the end of her marker to point to the "yes" on her notepad.

"Then it's settled. You work separately starting tomorrow."

Courtney picked at the food on her plate, refusing to take part in the rest of the dinner conversation.

Interestingly enough, Carli was the opposite. She "chatted" using her pad of paper. It was as if someone flipped the switch and Carli became engaged.

Dinner ended, and Gary invited Carli to join him to go over the evening care routine for the chickens.

Courtney reluctantly trudged along after them, and Nash pulled Jo off to the side. "That was an interesting turn of events."

"Courtney isn't happy with her sister going off on her own," Jo whispered. "Did you see the way Carli lit up? She was over there scribbling like crazy. We might break through to her sooner than I thought."

"If you can keep Courtney in check," Nash said. "Seems to me there's some sort of power struggle going on. She controls her sister by making sure she's nonverbal."

"Let's just say it was an enlightening meal."

Jo, along with Nash, Delta and the remaining residents, worked quickly to get the kitchen shipshape, the dishwasher loaded, and the leftovers stored in the fridge.

The sun had set and the outdoor temperature dropped. There was only a slight breeze, creating a light chill.

Jo followed the residents out onto the porch, where they lingered to chat about the following day's schedule.

"I ran into Miles today. Who would be interested in an afternoon dinner matinee at the theater?"

All hands shot up.

"Perfect. I'll plan a trip soon, probably for a Sunday. We can close early and enjoy an afternoon off together." Jo watched out of the corner of her eye as Laverne quietly slipped away.

She waltzed across the driveway and headed toward the chicken coop.

Jo wasn't the only one who noticed.

"Now what is that woman up to?" Delta placed a hand on her hip and shook her head. "As much as she whines and cries about those darned chickens, she sure can't stay away from them."

"If Gary let them out, Henrietta will chase after her," Jo said. "She should know better. I think she wants them to attack her so she can try to convince me to get rid of them." With a look of determination in her eye, Jo strode across the driveway, following after her troublesome resident.

She was halfway there when Laverne, Carli, and Courtney, with Gary hot on their heels and a look of terror in his eyes, came barreling toward her. "Run!"