AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I gather the new owner of her parents’ house? I think? The dress was in a trunk in the attic all of those years and when they bought the house, they found the dress and sold it to the shop.”
“That makes sense. It was a beautiful dress. Janet didn’t believe in superstition. She wanted me to see the dress, so the day before, she modeled it for me. Now, I wish she hadn’t. Maybe that would have…” The guilt was heavy in his voice, but it sounded like survivor’s guilt more than anything.
“Saved her? I doubt it. But you’re right. The dress is beautiful, and if you didn’t know someone was murdered in it, you wouldn’t think twice about selling it to a consignment shop. I had no clue when I bought it that Janet was still attached to it. I was too excited about the dress to notice.” I nibbled on another tea cake, suddenly appreciating Sirus’s extraordinary pastry skills. It was the best cake I’d ever tasted, and I’d eatena lotof cake.
“You’re getting married, then?” Sirus asked.
“Yes, my second time and, I hope, the last. We’re getting married on the Solstice—Yule.” I picked up another one of the tea cakes, this one chocolate raspberry. “You said that you made these, right?”
“Congratulations, and yes. I make all the pastries for the tea shop.” He gave me a gentle smile and I suddenly realized I was comfortable around him. In no way did he have the feel of a killer, though I tried to keep what Millie had said in mind.
“Ask him about his wedding day to Janet,” Millie said.
I cleared my throat. “I’d like to talk to you about maybe…making my wedding cake? Do you do that?”
He laughed. “I can, and yes—I do take custom orders. I’m honored you like my cakes enough to ask.”
I smiled at him. “They’re delicious.” Pausing, I tried to segue into Millie’s question. “So, about Janet. Nobody ever found out who killed her? I looked her up to make sure she was who she claimed to be. You’d be surprised by how often spirits lie.”
Sirus paused, worrying his bottom lip. “No, there’s never been a break in the case. They investigated all of us—myself included, of course. They always start with the partner. I didn’t mind. I felt that I owed it to her to let them check out whatever they wanted.” He gave me a long look. “Did she by any chance tell you who killed her?”
I held his gaze. “No, she doesn’t know. Whoever it was attacked her from behind. I know it’s been a long time, but do you have any idea of who might have wanted her dead?”
After a moment, he shook his head. “I’ve thought about that day over and over, all through the years. I know that one of her bridesmaids was pissed, but they couldn’t find any evidence that the girl had anything to do with Janet’s death. And my late wife, Candy, was the stripper at my bachelor’s party. She threatened to tell everybody—including Janet—that she’d given me a blow job. I paid her off. I was young and stupid.” He hung his head. “I regret that moment every day. Even though Candy was really a lovely person.”
“What about any jilted lovers? Anyone jealous of her?”
He shrugged. “Janet and I were together for five years, since she was eighteen. Before that, she didn’t really have any serious boyfriends. And my slip was the stupidity with Candy. I know it’s no excuse, but I was drunk off my ass that night.”
“Janet doesn’t know about Candy, from what I can tell.” I found myself believing him.
“Good. Please don’t tell her. I wouldn’t want her to spend…well…her afterlife knowing I fucked up like that.” He shifted, frowning. “In case you’re wondering, and in case the cops are listening through that wire you’re wearing—”
“What?” I stiffened. How the hell did he know?
“You wouldn’t come here without talking to the cops first. You’re smart—when you called, I did some research on you. You’re not the only one who knows how to use a search engine. You’re pretty impressive, January. Your talents are numerous.” He grinned. “I don’t care, really. I’ve got nothing to hide.”
“I… I…” I wasn’t sure what to say.
“As I said, it’s all right. And if you want to know why—how—I ended up marrying the stripper, when she found out that Janet died, she sent me a card expressing her sympathy and apologizing for being an ass. I wrote her a thank-you note. She sent flowers and a donation to Janet’s favorite charity. I think she felt guilty. I wrote to thank her again.”
“How did you get together?”
“Two months later I ran into her at a bar. She had given up stripping and was working as a bartender instead. We started talking. A few months after that, we went out. In November 1967, we got married. She was actually a sweetheart. She insisted on keeping Janet’s picture on the mantel over the fireplace. It helped me heal some of my guilt that I wasn’t there for Janet when the chips were down. I’ve never forgiven myself for not being able to protect her.”
I cleared my throat. “How did Candy die? You said you think she killed herself?”
“She was hit by a car. But there was no way she could have missed seeing it coming, and yet she darted out in front of it. I found out later she had been diagnosed with a brain tumor that morning. So either the tumor was affecting her behavior, or she couldn’t face the future and deliberately killed herself. I couldn’t take it. Everything felt so bleak, I left. I moved to France for a while, went to the Cordon Bleu. I dated but never let myself fall in love. Eventually, I realized I was homesick and I returned twenty years to the day after I left.”
I nodded. “And you met Violet…”
“She’s a gentle soul, but she’s resilient. She and I worked like hell to open this tea shop. It’s our child, you might say.” He ducked his head. “Violet’s a puma shifter, too. Candy and Janet were human. I guess I felt like humans are too fragile to be around me. I felt like a jinx.”
“I think we’ve heard enough,” Millie said into my ear. I could hear in her voice that she was feeling the same thing I was.
“Thank you for talking to me, Sirus. Do you want me to tell Janet hello for you? Or…” Sometimes it was easier to let things remain in the past. But I wanted to let him make the decision.
He thought it over. “If she asks about me, go ahead and tell her that I had nothing but wonderful things to say about her. Don’t tell her about Candy, please, but if you want, you can mention Violet.” He stood. “I take it this interview is over?”
