The handkerchief had been turningslow circles in my mind since I woke up, and four hours into the morning rush it still hadn’t stopped.
I’d burned my thumb on the kettle at one point and hadn’t noticed until Carly pointed at the red mark and handed me a wet cloth.I’d shortchanged a tourist couple from Georgia by two dollars, caught it, apologized, and then given them the wrong change a second time.A woman I’d never seen before with sun-pink shoulders, and carrying a tote bag printed with flip-flops, ordered a lavender Earl Grey, and I’d made her chamomile without thinking and had to start over.
The shop was full, the tables were full, and the line at the counter was four or five deep.And there was no one but the weather to blame.Gone was the sun and heat, and in its place was a summer storm that had blown in a half hour before and cleared the beaches, forcing tourists to find the closest shelter.
Audrey was running the register.Carly was working the floor.Chowder was on his cushion in a striped sailor hoodie, pretending to take a nap while keeping an eye on everyone.And I was behind the counter making specialty tea and coffee on autopilot while my mind was somewhere else entirely.
It all came back to a single embroidered J in blue thread on white linen.It should have narrowed things down.Instead, it had done the opposite.
I set a plate of scones on the counter harder than I meant to and reminded myself that suspicion wasn’t evidence.Dash had said that.I’d been repeating it since five in the morning like a hymn I didn’t quite believe.
A loud crack of thunder vibrated the windows just as the bell above the door chimed.I couldn’t help the smile that came across my face.
Dash had his sunglasses pushed up on his head, and he was in full uniform, though he wore a police official rain jacket in hi-vis yellow.He scanned the room, a reflex so ingrained he probably didn’t realize he did it, and then his eyes found mine and he came to the counter.
“I like that dress,” he said, moving to the side so not to interrupt the traffic flow to the counter.
I’d picked a bright yellow, empire-waist dress with cap sleeves and white polka dots, thinking I needed something sunny to hide the bags under my eyes from the late nights I’d been keeping.I was glad to see it was working.
“It’s crazy in here,” I said.“You want coffee?”
“It’s crazy out there too,” he said.“Just plain and black.You’d be surprised how many people we’re still having to clear out of the water.”
“I’m not surprised at all,” I said, putting his coffee in a to-go cup.“They’re people after all.”
He waited until there was a lull in traffic and said, “I called James this morning.”
I changed out filters and disposed of tea leaves.“And?”
“He’s agreed to meet with us.I told him we had a few more questions about things we’ve uncovered.”
“Genevieve should be here in the next hour to take my place.I’ll be ready.”
“I’ll pick you up here,” he said.
“Thanks for the coffee,” he said.And then he winked.“And for letting me look at you.Brightened my day.”
I was still smiling and thinking about him when the phone rang.
“Perfect Steep,” I said.“This is Mabel.”
“Mabel, this is Josephine.I hope I’m not interrupting.”
I looked at the full tea shop and said, “Not at all.How are you this morning?”
“Restless,” she said.“I feel like a trapped cat in a cage with this rain.I’d like to be out in the gardens.I always find gardening a comfort in difficult times.I’ve heard through the grapevine that you’ve been very busy.I’m glad to hear it.More than anyone else ever did, and for that I’m grateful.”
“We’re finding out quite a bit of new information.”I hesitated, wondering how much to tell her, and decided to keep things vague for the time being.“We have some more interviews coming up this afternoon.”
“Good, good,” she said.
“I’m actually glad you called,” I said.“We’ve been through all of the boxes you and James gave us.There was a handkerchief tucked in with Henry’s things.White linen, with a monogrammed J in blue thread.Lila Mae remembered seeing it the morning she found him in the study.”I picked up a cloth and ran it along the counter.“Does that sound familiar to you at all?”
The pause on her end was long enough that I wondered if we’d been disconnected.
“That whole period is like reading through water,” she said finally.“I don’t recall finding one.And it doesn’t sound like mine.My handkerchiefs have always been cream thread on cream linen.I’ve kept them the same since my wedding trousseau.”
“Okay,” I said.“Most of this job is process of elimination.”
