We all looked at one another. I wasn’t sure about the others, but I was too afraid to ask what that conversation meant. It was Tita Rosie who finally spoke up. “Jonathan? Is that . . . Did something happen?”
He studied the group for a moment, his hesitation signaling that bad news was coming. But I still wasn’t prepared for what he was about to tell us.
“Oskar Weinman is dead. Suicide, apparently. His wife had stopped by the house to pick up the divorce papers and found the body. There’s a note, too. Confessing to Rob Thompson’s death.”
He flinched, as if anticipating a barrage of questions or hysteria, but he’d managed to shock us all to silence. What a feat.
“I can’t believe it,” Bernadette said. “So it’s over?”
Detective Park shrugged. “Like I said, guess everything’s wrapped up nice and neat now.”
“You don’t believe this was a suicide?” I asked.
“Hard to say without inspecting the crime scene. But I’m off the case now.” He tried to smile. “And so life in Shady Palms moves on. Now we can all focus on what’s really important, like the Founder’s Day Festival. If you’ll excuse me, ladies.”
He left without looking back, even after Tita Rosie called after him.
“Is it bad that I’m kind of relieved things wrapped up so nice and neat?” Bernadette asked, voicing what I was thinking. “I mean, I really wish that things had turned out differently. But now I can finally feel safe and not have to check my car for a killer hiding in the backseat.”
Ninang June moved to comfort her daughter. “He’s just acting like that because he wasn’t the one to solve the case. And I’m sure he’s upset about the loss of another life. You shouldn’t feel guilty about our community being safe again. Closing this case is good for all of us.”
The other aunties all nodded their heads, and even Lola Flor agreed. “You girls are all safe. That’s what matters right now. Anything that happens after this is not our business. Best to get back to work.”
And that was that. We still had Rob’s memorial to get through the next day, not to mention dress rehearsals later in the week, but still, we were in the home stretch. Thank goodness the Founder’s Day Festival was less than a week away. I couldn’t wait to put this all behind us.
Chapter Twenty-one
I have to give it to Beth, she really knows how to put together a memorial service,” Ninang June said, looking around the large viewing room at the Johannsen Funeral Home. Noticing my and my aunt’s looks, she said, “What? You never know what to expect with rich people. I thought it’d be flashy and full of important people giving boring speeches, but everything is tasteful, and with the right touch of solemn. She used local restaurants to cater instead of some fancy big-city chef, had Lila’s cafe provide the drinks, insisted on people donating to the Shady Palms Agricultural Grant Foundation instead of giving flowers, and even managed to keep Mayor Gunderson’s speech under five minutes. Very impressive.”
She actually reached out to rub the tablecloth and nodded her approval at the quality of the linen. I shook my head as she also tapped on the cups to see if they were real glass, but had to admit she had a point. The Thompsons were known for being ostentatious, and Beth had kept Rob’s importance on display with the photo wall of his various achievements, a thick, leather-bound program that detailed his life and legacy, and a speech from the mayor. But she’d been respectful to the town’s more middle-class sensibilities by keeping the decorations high quality yet understated and hiring local people to handle everything. She even kept our pompous, long-winded mayor in check, which was reason enough to raise a glass in her direction.
Beth had been talking to Mr. Acevedo, but that gesture caught her eye and she extricated herself from the conversation to come join us. Jae had been by her side for much of the day—not enough to be scandalous but doting enough to draw attention. It didn’t help that they were both quite striking and easily drew your eye—Beth had her beauty and confidence, Jae the handsomeness and warmth he wore so effortlessly. They really would make a beautiful couple and I tried to ignore what seeing them together did to my heart.
“Hello, everyone, how’s it going?” Beth paused and let out a tinkling little laugh. “I almost asked if you were having a good time. This feels like a Thompson family cocktail party, with all the required social niceties.” She smoothed the skirt of her black, tailored crepe sheath dress before fixing the smile back on her face.