Love Can Be Murder

Tower, as it was being called. And more surprisingly, Sheena had handed over all the documentation on the assets that Deke had hidden during the property settlement.
    Penny squinted. As it turned out, she and Sheena had more in common that she ever would’ve guessed. Maybe the possibility existed she and the woman would become friends. Then she tucked her tongue into her cheek.
    Nah.
    The only glitch in the case was Allyson Davis hadn’t given up other members of the "club," so for now, she and Dr. Troy Archambault were the only people charged, and Troy had abjectly denied knowledge of the cadaver enterprise that was being run out of his family's former home. Jodi Reynolds and the other woman, Giselle Taylor, related unspeakable acts on up to a dozen people they had been held with and who had subsequently "disappeared." Penny wondered if Mona was somehow involved, but she would leave the rest of the detective work to the police. Still, it was odd that Mona had withdrawn her opposition to Penny's garden.
    Jimmy Scaggs had been freed, and the last Penny heard, Henry would be well enough by next year to hunt the bumper crop of black truffles Jimmy was expecting. Diane Davidson had taken care of Henry while Jimmy had been incarcerated, and the couple had been seen around town together. Admittedly, they seemed like a good fit.
    Although what did Penny know about relationships?
    "So, who made the Deke voodoo doll?" Marie asked, breaking into her thoughts.
    "We may never know." Although Penny had someone in mind.
    Guy walked through the showroom wearing a John Deere ball cap and a camouflage shirt, a la Jimmy Scaggs. But the look was somehow compromised by the pink iPod clipped to his military belt.
    "Some mysteries will never be solved," Marie muttered.
    Penny smiled. "Did you hear that Gloria Dalton is moving to Mojo?"
    "Your divorce attorney?"
    "She's decided to turn down the D.A.'s job offer and take over Deke's practice."
    "Think she can make it in a small town?"
    "We'll see."
    "Guess we'll be getting a new chief of police."
    "Looks like it," Penny said, shuddering. Allyson Davis's depravity was almost inconceivable.
    "Are you going to sell your story?" Marie asked. "You are the bravest person I know, boss."
    Penny scoffed. "Save your admiration for the cops and investigators who search for missing persons. I just happened to be in the right garden at the right time."
    "Speaking of investigators," Marie said in a singsong voice, "have you seen B.J.?"
    Penny's heart gave a little tug every time she heard his name. "Not since the day of the bust at the museum." It had been traumatic for both of them. Emotions had been running high...too high for any rational conversation. "I've talked to him on the phone a couple of times. He's very busy with all the sudden attention his agency is getting."
    "He looks like that and he's filthy rich," Marie said dreamily. "He's too good to be true."
    "Kind of like Kirk?" Penny asked, taking a sip from her glass.
    Marie suddenly seemed fascinated by her cuticles. "Kind of."
    The door chime sounded and Jules walked in, seemingly light on her feet this morning, swinging her walking stick.
    "Good morning, Jules," they said in unison.
    "Bonjour , ladies," Jules sang, her voice strong. "I came for my morning elixir."
    "Coming right up," Marie said.
    "How are you doing this morning?" Penny asked.
    "Right as rain," the old woman said. "How about you?"
    Penny thought about it, then nodded. "I'm good, actually."
    Jules pointed her finger. "Take care of your unfinished business and you'll feel better."
    Marie looked at Penny and lifted her eyebrows.
    Penny leaned into the counter. "Jules, you wouldn't happen to know anything about a voodoo doll made in the likeness of my ex-husband, would you?"
    Jules pursed her wrinkled mouth and shook her head. "Not me."
    "Or a little red toy car?"
    "Nope."
    "Someone breaking into my apartment to clean?"
    "Nope."
    "A snake in my bed?"
    "Nope." The old woman shook a gnarled finger. "But I warned you about a serpent being underfoot."
    Penny frowned. "What about Deke's coffin falling?"
    "Nope."
    "Hm," Penny said, studying the woman intently. "I guess it was all just coincidence."
    "Nothing is coincidence," Jules said. "Things happen because you want them to happen—"
    "Or because they need to happen," Penny finished.
    "Right," Jules said with an emphatic nod.
    Penny narrowed her eyes. Need to happen...like when she hadn't taken the hint of letting the crumpled toy