I put the phone down, smiling to myself. Mama. I liked when he called me that. I had no idea why, but it was affectionate and kind of sexy at the same time. Was that possible?
Clearly I needed to get out more.
Following his instructions, I rejoined the conversation, discovering that the group had skipped right over the murder book and gone straight to discussing the real-life murder that had rocked our town.
“Are you sure we should be talking about this?” Callie peered around the empty bar. “It feels wrong.”
“Will deserves justice,” Nora argued.
The group erupted with overlapping theories and stories.
I looked from person to person as people speculated, sadness and frustration coursing through me. I hadn’t known Will, but I’d met his mother a few times and couldn’t help but imagine her pain. And the violence? In our town? I couldn’t?—
“They say he was dating someone who worked at Sugar Moon.”
That caught my attention. If it were true, it was news to me. I didn’t know everyone, but I knew most of my fellow employees.
I scanned through a mental list of folks he could have been involved with.
“He was recently hired on there too. To make deliveries.”
Also news to me.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Louisa was involved,” Nora sneered. “That woman is corrupt.”
Marty shook his head and sighed. “My mom can’t stand her. She thinks she’s better than everyone.”
“Guys,” I said, uncomfortable with the way they were badmouthing my boss. Louisa Meyers, who owned Sugar Moon, could be prickly and difficult, but to be branded a villain in town? That didn’t seem warranted.
“She could have hurt Will,” Frankie muttered. “I wouldn’t put it past her.”
I glared at my friend. “How many times have you actually spoken to her? Let’s put the pitchforks down.”
“Didn’t Will date a girl from Birch Hollow when he was in high school?” Tony asked.
Nora cocked a brow. “Have you been eavesdropping from the pizza counter again?”
“It’s called listening with intention,” Tony snapped back, his head held high.
Frankie stood over us, two plates of appetizers in her hands. “Evie is right. We shouldn’t be spreading rumors. His family is grieving.”
Relief hit me. She may not have liked Louisa, but at least she had sympathy for Will’s loved ones.
It had been months since he was found dead, and there still hadn’t been an arrest. I didn’t understand why the police hadn’t done anything.
Nina, who was sitting at the end of the table Snapchatting or whatever the youths did these days, looked up. “It’s not just a rumor,” she told her sister. “And according to Caleb, he and Will had been arguing about it.”
Frankie went rigid, a small gasp escaping her.
Caleb was their brother, who I gathered had been in and out of town over the years, but had been back and working here recently.
“Were they friends?” Ruby asked.
Nina nodded. “Yeah, for a long time. Will helped Caleb a lot when he…” She trailed off.
We all knew what she was talking about. Even me, the relative newcomer. Caleb’s struggles with mental health had been alluded to over the years, but I’d never asked Frankie about it directly.
Right now, my friend was glaring at her sister. “Drop it,” she barked. With that, she turned around and headed back to the bar.
