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  “Well, I don’t know,” Conrad grinned impishly, “but I can tell you’re irked about it.”

  “Yes, I am.” Cora huffed. “I don’t like to be taken. And I don’t like to think others are either. I think I’m going down there and having a little talk with Miss Ivy.”

  “Now, Cora Mae. Don’t go doing that just yet. Maybe it was the company, a bad bottle. Don’t jump to conclusions. Let’s give her another chance before we slap the cuffs on.” Conrad laughed at his own jab and then saw Cora’s expression. She didn’t appreciate being teased.

  “Maybe I’ll just tell Saucy about it. Then I’ll send him over to you to file a report,” Cora said jabbing her finger in the air to point at Conrad. Cora said it jokingly, but she meant it. “I’ll give her another chance. I’ll buy another bottle and we’ll see, but if it’s bad too, I won’t let it go unaddressed.”

  Conrad turned in his seat to look out the doorway towards Amanda’s office. “Mandy, can you come in here?”

  “Sure, Chief. How can I help you?”

  “Cora’s telling me about the oils. How do you know they aren’t what they say they should be?”

  Amanda explained her testing procedure again.

  “I don’t understand,” Conrad said frowning. “These are oils. Shouldn’t oil be oily?”

  “Essential oils are a plant product and they will evaporate quickly if you put a drop on a piece of paper. If they are diluted with a carrier oil that oil will leave a spot on the paper. It won’t go away. That’s how my college roommate taught me to test the quality of oils I bought. She knew a lot about them. I’ve done it many times, and it seems to be true. My lavender disappears. Miss Ivy’s lavender doesn’t. Plus, we can tell a difference in how strong the smell is and how long it lasts.”

  “True.” Cora nodded and pointed a finger at Conrad. “The reason you smelled this all the way in the lobby is because Amanda brought it from home. We’ve been doing this every day since the day I bought them and no one has even noticed outside of her office.”

  “So, it’s not just one bottle? It’s like this with all of them?”

  “I haven’t opened all of them yet,” Amanda said. “I could test them all for you though.”

  “You do that, Mandy.” Conrad lifted his foot to rest his ankle across his knee. “I’ll bring mine by and you can test it, too. Then we’ll see what we got.”

  “Ok, Chief,” Amanda said as she left the office, pulling Cora’s door shut behind her.

  Walking back to her desk, she saw Bryan walking out the front door. He didn’t look back, and he didn’t see her. She knew it was pay day, and she had been watching for him all morning. Her heart sunk at the missed opportunity. Unless it snowed, she wouldn’t have another chance to see him for two weeks.

  “So, Connie, what brings you by?” Cora said after they decided to wait on Amanda’s test results. She was going to reserve judgment for a short time.

  “Just stopped in on my way out. I was here to tell Jimmy Kole about some damage to a street sign so he could get someone to check on it. I just noticed it when I was driving around today. I guess someone hit it.”

  “Are you doing patrol now?”

  “I’ve been doing a little this last week or so.”

  “You must be looking for someone,” Cora said with a suggestive lilt in her voice. Conrad didn’t patrol unless he had a good reason.

  “That guy I saw before we went to Ivy’s last week, I’ve been keeping an eye out for him.”

  “She didn’t even mention him when we were there. What is it you think he’s done?”

  “Roy tried to run his tags, and they were doctored up. He’s not a good character, and I’d like to know what he’s up to if he’s here in Spicetown.”

  “Hmm,” Cora hummed. “I wonder if Denise knows him?”

  “I don’t know but he drives an old white truck and we’re keeping an eye out for it.”

  “I’ll let you know if I see him,” Cora said as she turned her desk lamp off.

  “You do that. I’m getting a little tired of looking for white trucks.” Conrad puffed. “You’d be amazed at how many there are here in town.”

  “That reminds me,” Cora said when her mind connected to the sight of a white truck. “I saw Saucy last week, and he was coming out of the alley that runs behind Fennel Street. I was headed down Clove to go around the block to Louise’s and he just walked out. I asked Louise about it. She said she saw him going back there, too. Is there something going on down that alley?”

  “Not that I know about.” Conrad looked up at the ceiling in thought. “It’s just a through-way for the trash truck to collect behind the businesses. Not much room back there to do anything but drive through it I don’t think. Maybe he’s taking a shortcut?” Conrad remember then that Wink had seen a white truck down that alley on New Year’s Eve. Maybe that was Saucy, too.

  “I think there’s a lot more to Saucy than I know,” Cora said, glancing at the clock. It was time for the City Hall doors to be locked.

  “I’ve been thinking the same thing.” Conrad rose from his chair. “I’m heading over to Ole’ Thyme Italian for something to eat. Do you want to join me?” It was time to explore a few issues he’d uncovered about Saucy and get an unbiased, civilian take on things.

  “Yes, I was just thinking about that too.” Cora clicked her computer mouse to log off and opened her drawer for her bag.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Amanda locked the City Hall doors and waited for the customers inside to complete their business so she could let them out. If she didn’t do that, people would just keep coming in. She waved at Cora and Conrad as they walked out the back entrance and she watched the last visitor leave. Once the doors were locked for the final time, Amanda turned to walk back to her office and shut down her computer.

  “Hey, Mandy,” Laura called out from the front desk. “Did you see Bryan when he was here?”

  Amanda walked over to the counter to Laura’s station and saw the other girls packing up their stuff to leave. Laura was logging off her computer too. “No, I guess I missed him.”

  “Well, he looked in your office and asked if you were around. I didn’t know where you were.”

  “I was probably in the mayor’s office,” Amanda said trying to rein in her disappointment. “He was in to pick up his check?”

  “Yeah, and he asked a bunch of questions about business licenses.” Laura pulled her purse from her desk drawer.

  “Why? He lives in the county. He doesn’t have to be licensed in Spicetown.”

  “I know, but he was asking about Ivy’s Oils & Organics. He wanted to know if she could sell edible stuff with her license or if she had to do something special to be able to do that.”

  “Did he say why he was asking?” Amanda asked. Why would Bryan care about that? Was he taking care of Denise’s business now too?

  “Didn’t say.” Laura shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe he wants to sell more stuff there. I think he’s got some stuff of his already in there. I heard him talking to Carrie about it a few weeks ago. Plants or something—I didn’t really pay close attention. Didn’t he mention that to you?”

  “No, I don’t know, maybe he did.” Amanda hadn’t learned much of anything about him from their date because she didn’t let him talk.

  “Are you guys going out again?” Laura walked around the counter.

  “I don’t know that either.” Amanda headed back to her office to lock up as Laura called out a goodbye from the back hallway.

  §

  “So, let me get this straight.” Cora leaned back in her chair to take a deep breath. She had eaten too much and her clothes were binding. So much for the healthy New Year, but the ravioli had been excellent. “Saucy looked you right in the eye and lied to you. I mean that’s what you’re saying here.”

  “Well, yes,” Conrad said as he stirred his coffee. “He said he returned home around 7:00 after eating dinner here. It was just a few minutes before midnight and his t
ruck hood was warm. He lied to me. I don’t know if he was the one Wink saw in the alley or not.”

  The waitress brought Cora a small pot of hot water for her tea and she pushed her tea bag into her cup after thanking her.

  “Do you think Saucy has taken a part-time job somewhere? Louise thought he might be working for one of the businesses on Fennel Street. Do the workers park back there in the alley?”

  “Not usually. There’s really not room. Sometimes I see a delivery truck in or out but it’s not an employee parking area. I’m still stymied by the essential oil speech he gave me. I don’t think we know what Saucy’s up to, but he’s up to something.”

  “Louise told me his sister, June, cooks dinner for him every Wednesday evening. They used to be estranged when Saucy was married, but they’re apparently on good terms now.”

  “Saucy told me he always eats here every Tuesday evening. Maybe he goes out every night.”

  “Maybe,” Cora said concentrating. “June’s husband died a few years back and Louise also said June was having financial problems. She’s selling furniture and doing alterations. Saucy could be trying to help June out and doesn’t want anybody to know.”

  “I could use someone to let out my waistband about now.” Conrad chuckled as he shifted his belt buckle.

  Cora smiled and nodded in agreement.

  “When Amanda told me about the oils being fake, my first, well― my second thought was that I should tell Saucy. He knows so much about them, but maybe he’s working for Denise.”

  “Maybe.” Conrad shook his head to let the waitress know he didn’t need anything else. “But why did Denise call him Mr. Salzman when he entered that day? I remember just because it struck me oddly. It reminded me that she was new to town.”

  “We’ve covered a lot of maybes,” Cora said smiling.

  “Indeed, we have.” Conrad stretched his back out by sitting forward in his chair as he pushed his cup away. “Maybe,” Conrad said with exaggerated slowness, “we need to fill in some of these holes.”

  After they quarreled about the check, they left with a plan. Cora would find out if he was working somewhere. Conrad would keep an eye on his garage and his movements.

  §

  Throughout the week, Amanda tested all the products Cora purchased from Ivy’s Oils & Organics and found only one of them to be pure. Conrad had dropped off his bottle of cypress essential oil Cora had given him that day. It had been purchased separately and was not in the boxed set she had received with the diffuser. It had a different brand on the label and it did pass her white paper purity test. She decided it was time for her to go shopping.

  During her lunch hour, she walked down to pick up a sandwich and stopped in Ivy’s Oils & Organics with her coupon in hand. Her mother had given her one of the coupons left at the front desk of her shop because she thought Amanda might want to shop there. She specifically wanted to see what brands Denise carried and buy a few of them to test. It was always possible that Denise didn’t know what she was selling.

  As the bell over the door jingled, Denise moved a box from the counter down to the floor. “Welcome to Ivy’s!”

  Amanda nodded and smiled. Although she had been reading up on essential oils since this issue arose, she decided in that instant to play the novice and see what Denise had to say.

  “Hi,” Amanda said with a meek smile. “I was hoping you could help me. I was given an oil diffuser as a gift and I need some essential oils for it.”

  “Oh, what a wonderful gift,” Denise said enthusiastically. “I know we can find something you will love. Did it come with oils?”

  “Yes, but just a couple of bottles. I didn’t like the menthol smelling one. I used the lavender though.”

  “That was probably eucalyptus,” Denise said. “It’s very strong. Sounds like you would like something more soothing. Feel free to open the test bottles and try anything you see. You might like a citrus scent like these over here.” Denise led her to a tester to try. “Do you plan to try other things with the oils? You know there are a lot of products you can make and different uses for essential oils, aside from just scenting the oil.”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Amanda said cautiously. “What do you recommend?”

  “Well, I’m sure you buy personal products that you could make instead and have them all contain the scent you prefer. You know the scents have healing powers. Some are good as topical treatments too.”

  “No, I didn’t know that.”

  “Oh, yes. If you need help sleeping or have headaches. There are oils that will help.”

  “No, no problems really. I just like to have it smelling nice.”

  “Well, then we just need to find something that pleases you. You know we can mix the oils and make something just right for you.”

  Denise opened lots of different testers for Amanda to try to isolated three she liked most. Taking the three testers to the counter, she showed Amanda how to mix them together until they got the blend she preferred.

  “Are these oils different?” Amanda point to the bottles on the lower shelves that matched the brand label on the Chief’s cypress oil.

  “Oh, no,” Denise said, shaking her head. “They are just a different company. All the oils here are 100% pure therapeutic grade.”

  “I’ll take these three,” Amanda said, pointing at the testers on the counter. “But since the mixture takes twice as much lavender, I think I’ll need the larger bottle.” Amanda pointed at the oils on the lower shelf that offered a large size. “Will this brand smell the same as these testers?”

  “Certainly,” Denise said as Amanda added the bottle to the counter and presented her coupon. “Oh, do you go to Louise’s Beauty Shop? I left those there and hoped someone would use them.”

  “Yes, my mom…”

  “See on the back there is a recipe. There are a lot of things you use your oils for so they can be a part of your every day life. A lot of people think they can’t make something like this, but even if you just buy unscented products, you can always add your special scent to them.”

  “These little plants,” Amanda said fondling the velvety leaf of a sage plant that was sitting beside the credit card machine, “They are so cute.”

  “Aren’t they? They smell lovely, too,” Denise said as Amanda leaned forward to try to breathe in the scent despite all the many competing aromas in the store. “That’s a sage plant. They come from the Stotlar Tree Farm north of town. There are several sitting around the store. Sage is made into an essential oil too.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, but most people want the little plants so they have fresh sage for cooking, I think. He’s planning to try drying some herbs and maybe I’ll have them available in the store if you’re interested.”

  “Well, thank you,” Amanda said as Denise handed her a receipt. “I’ve got to get back to work.”

  “Thank you and come back when you need more.” Denise waved as Amanda reached for the door, “or when you want to try a new scent.”

  “I will,” Amanda assured her as she pulled the chiming door shut behind her and darted across the street to the Caraway Café to pick up her sandwich order. As she came out of the café to walk back to work with her lunch in a brown bag, she saw Bryan Stotlar walking into Ivy’s Oils & Organics with a box in his hands. She had missed him again by just minutes.

  Maybe that was for the best.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Hey, Denise,” Bryan said as the entrance bells jingled over his head. “I just brought these in to drop off. The lady that you spoke to earlier this week is stopping in to pick them up.”

  “Oh, okay.” Denise peered into the box. “While you’re here, let me give you what you’ve made.” She handed him an envelope where she saved the money received on his plants, less her commission. “I’m sorry I had to call. What should I tell folks if they ask again?”

  “That was fine. You can give them my number. I don’t mind. I don’t open until March, but I�
��m happy to bring in something if someone needs it.”

  “That’s good. I’ll do that. Have you started on the herbs yet?”

  “I’ve started drying them, yes. I don’t have any ready yet though. I did check with City Hall and there shouldn’t be any conflict with your license if you’d like to put some in the store.”

  “Oh, that’s great,” Denise said over her ringing phone. “I think they’d be a good addition.”

  “I’ll let you know.” Bryan placed the extra plants he’d brought around the store as she answered her phone. He felt the soil in each pot to ensure they were not too dry as he waited a moment to see if Denise’s call was going to be short.

  He didn’t mean to eavesdrop but he couldn’t help but hear her conversation.

  “Not now, Harvey… Yes, tonight… I’ll call you.”

  As Denise hung up the phone, Bryan waved goodbye and opened the door. “Call if you need anything,” he said after the door jingled.

  “I will. Thanks,” Denise yelled as he walked out into the cold. The wind was blowing fiercely, and he tucked the flaps of his coat closed over his chest. He needed to check the weather and see if snow was coming.

  “Mandy, I’ll be up on the second floor if you need me,” Cora hollered out her office door as she gathered her papers and files together for her meeting. She was rushed as usual and brushed cracker crumbs from her skirt as she stood. There had been no time for lunch and she had eaten peanut butter crackers she found in her desk drawer to hold her over.

  “Okay,” Amanda said as Cora entered her outer office.

  “Glad to see someone got lunch,” Cora said. “I’m going to be starving before this is over. Maybe I should take some water.”