Bright New Murder: A Plain Jane Mystery Read online

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, places, and incidents are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons either living or dead is completely coincidental

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  Bright New Murder: A Plain Jane Mystery

  Proverbs 31 House LLC

  Copyright 2013 by Traci Tyne Hilton

  All rights reserved

  Cover Design by Andrew Rothery

  Cover Photo by ariwasabi

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  Table of Contents

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  18

  1

  Jane Adler sat on the cold, wet hood of Isaac’s car. She leaned away from him, her arms crossed. Their spot on the top of Mount Scott gave them a good view of the city lights. The day’s light rain had turned to softly falling snow as night fell.

  She was damp, cold, and beyond irritated with her boyfriend.

  “If you keep changing your degree, you’ll never finish school.” The vein in Isaac’s temple throbbed, and he flexed his jaw.

  “Again: I have not changed my degree. And I’ll still graduate this spring even with the extra classes.” Jane exhaled slowly. Isaac had only been home a week, and they had already had this argument four times.

  “You’ve changed your degree twice since I met you.” Isaac leaned back on his elbows. “It’s like you don’t want to finish.”

  “You’re exaggerating, and it’s not fair. I finished Bible school and I started a bachelor’s degree in business. That is not the same thing as changing my degree.”

  “And now criminal science.”

  “Yes. I added a couple of criminal science classes to my schedule. As well as French. It’s more work, but I’ll get it all done.”

  Isaac leaned over to bump shoulders with Jane. “See, that’s the thing. You don’t even speak the language. How are you going to be a detective in Montreal?”

  Jane didn’t answer. She couldn’t say what she was really thinking—that she hoped she wouldn’t ever be a detective in Montreal.

  “Talk to me, Jane.”

  “Why? You only hear what you want to hear.”

  “Just help me understand why you’re making it harder to finish. Are you trying to come up with reasons to stay here? To not move to Canada with me?”

  “You may not stay there forever.”

  Isaac leaned over and brushed her cheek with his lips. “I hope I do. It’s my dream job.” His voice was a low, sexy rumble in his throat.

  She pushed him away. “Don’t kiss me while we’re fighting.”

  “I haven’t seen you since August.” He tried to set his hand on her knee, but she moved a little. All of his little caresses and kisses were making the inevitable harder for her.

  “You saw me yesterday.”

  “And we had this same fight yesterday.” Isaac turned her gently by the chin and kissed her lips.

  Jane froze, a hairsbreadth from his closed eyes and slightly parted mouth. “Then quit bringing it up.”

  Isaac pulled a small square box out of the pocket of his ski jacket. He set it on the hood of the car, right between them. “I keep bringing it up, because I have something to ask you.”

  Jane stared at the box.

  The box.

  The box she had been waiting to see since his last visit home. The box she had been dreaming of since she fell for him at first sight, a year and a half ago. The box every Christian girl hopes to get before she turns twenty-three.

  Jane stared at the box and felt sick to her stomach.

  “Jane…I want you to marry me. Move to Montreal this spring. Be a professor’s wife. Don’t ever worry about cleaning, or detecting, or anything ever again. Make Montreal your mission field.” He opened the box and held it out to her.

  One large diamond, with a swirl of smaller diamonds cascading away from it, down both sides of the ring.

  “Say yes.” He stroked the back of her head with his strong fingers and pulled her close, his forehead bumping hers. He went for the kiss, but hesitated—a pause that gave Jane the chance she needed to act.

  She pushed him away and slid off of the car. “I’m not a prize—not another set of letters to add after your name, Isaac.”

  “What? What is wrong with you this week?” Isaac held the ring out to her and cocked an eyebrow.

  “Nothing is wrong with me. I’m doing fine. I’m working hard to follow my dream and make a difference in the world.” She took a deep breath. “What’s wrong with us? That’s the real question. Neither of us seem willing to admit the obvious.” She stopped. She had to say it, but it felt like something smashed into her heart. “This is not meant to be.” She was too mad to cry, but her whole body shook. Right now, at this moment, she should be slipping that diamond ring on her finger and kissing her fiancé. The man she loved. Not yelling at him. Not…breaking up.

  “What do you mean this isn’t meant to be?” He shoved the ring forward. “It’s right here. I’m asking you to marry me. We’ll go have adventures in French Canada. You can keep doing the career student thing. What don’t you like about this?”

  “That!” The word felt like a knife in her throat. “That’s what I don’t like! I’m not doing a ‘career student’ thing. I’ve been a key player in successfully solving two murder investigations, and I want to do more of it. I plan on cleaning houses and solving murders for as long as I can, but it’s like you don’t believe me.”

  “You wanted to be a missionary too, and you’re not doing that anymore.” His cocky voice made Jane want to punch him in the face.

  “Who says I’m not going to be a missionary?”

  “You just did. You said you’re going to be a detective.”

  “Right now. I’m going to be a detective right now.”

  “And for as long as you can. You just said that, Jane. You don’t know yourself very well at all, do you?”

  “Well, if I don’t know myself, then I have no business getting married and moving across the continent, do I? I say no. No. No. I’m turning down your proposal.” She clamped her jaw shut and stared at him.

  His mouth bobbed open. He shoved the ring box into his pocket. “Fine.”

  “Fine.” She eyed the lone bus stop on top of the hill. Right next to the cemetery. “And I’m taking the bus home.”

  “Now you’re just being stupid. Jane.”

  Jane yanked her wallet out of her purse. “Don’t call.” The bus was lumbering up the hill, so she didn’t run for it. She didn’t want to look like a child, but she did stomp away as fast as she could.

  She waited with her back to Isaac.

  Merry Christmas to me.

  ***

  The rank odor of dirty people in the overheated bus combined with her heartache made Jane’s gut burn.

  After two transfers and an hour and a half of travel, Jane made it the four miles from the hilltop to her apartment. She shoved the door open like it was Isaac and she was pushing him away again. She dropped her purse and her coat in the doorway and threw herself on the couch.

  “Look what the cat dragged in!” Jake was sprawled in front of the plug-in electric fireplace. “Trouble in paradise?”

  “Shut up.” Jane buried her face in a feather pillow. She pressed against it until she couldn’t breathe, then she pulled away and punched it.


  “Whoa,” Jake said. “That’s real trouble in paradise.”

  Gemma padded into the room. She was decked out in leggings and an oversized, hipster ugly Christmas sweater.

  Jane stared at it. The image of a cat batting at a tangle of Christmas lights made her want to punch something again, so she hit the pillow a few more times.

  “Hey Jane, want some cocoa?”

  “Shh. Don’t talk to Jane. She’s mad,” Jake whispered.

  “Oh, go home, Jake!” Jane threw the pillow at him. She rolled over and laid her arm across her face.

  “What’s the matter with her?” Gemma asked.

  “Boy trouble, I assume.”

  Jane curled up like a baby.

  “What happened, Jane, didn’t he propose?” Gemma rattled in the kitchen, but Jane pressed her arms over her ears.

  “Was he going to propose?” Jake raked his hand through his hair. “The plot thickens.”

  Every word Jake said was like a tap on the head with a ball-peen hammer. Jane wanted to throw more things at him, but she didn’t have anything else.

  “Was the ring cheap?” Gemma asked.

  “He does seem like the kind of guy who would buy a cheap ring, doesn’t he?”

  Jane squeezed her eyes shut. She had to say something, if only to get them to shut up. “It looked like a very expensive ring.”

  “But then, it would to you,” Jake said. “You’re not used to real quality.”

  Gemma squealed, the sound piercing Jane’s skull like a drill.

  “Don’t get too excited, she didn’t say yes.”

  Jane opened her eyes again. Jake was staring at her, his cheeks slightly flushed, and if she had to bet, she’d say his eyes hinted at actual sympathy.

  “What? Never!” Gemma perched on the edge of the couch and stroked Jane’s hair.

  Jane brushed her hand away.

  “She turned him down because the ring was cheap.” Jake leaned back again. His face turned brilliant red.

  Jane narrowed her eyes. What was his game? He was…embarrassed about his jokes?

  “Isaac is her soul mate, Jake. She would never turn him down.”

  “Soul mate or not, she kicked him to the curb on Christmas night.” Jake looked away. “And it was about time.”

  “What happened, Jane? Don’t leave us in the dark like this!” Gemma slid onto the seat, and Jane’s hair.

  “Ouch.” Jane pulled on her hair to free herself.

  “It hurts now, like taking off a Band-Aid, but the fresh air will make it heal. That’s what my mom always said.” Jake was still talking nonsense, but he was staring out the window now, not looking at anyone.

  “Shush, Jakey. Let her talk.”

  “Please. Don’t call me ‘Jakey.’” He groaned and flopped onto his back. “Anything but ‘Jakey.’”

  “We talked about the future and he, he just doesn’t…” She choked on a sob. Her shoulders shook and hot tears rolled down her cheeks. She couldn’t say it. Not yet. Because maybe it was just for tonight. Maybe Isaac would see that he was wrong and come apologize. Maybe he did respect and appreciate what she was trying to do.

  “He doesn’t love you.” Jake cleared his throat.

  “He thinks he loves me.” Jane wiped her cheeks with her sleeve. “But you’re right, I don’t believe he really does. He loves the idea of me, but not the actual me.”

  “And that’s not good enough. A husband is supposed to love his wife more than himself. Love her enough to lay his life down for her like Christ laying his life down for us.” Jake didn’t look away from the window. His voice was a bit husky, almost sincere sounding.

  A little sigh escaped from Gemma’s slightly parted lips. She stared at Jake with big, moony cow eyes.

  Jane sniffled, and held her sleeve to her nose. No point in being ladylike around Jake and Gemma. “You two should go out and let me be miserable. I don’t need to ruin this night for you.”

  Gemma’s cheeks flushed a pretty pink. “It is an exciting night.”

  Jane tried to smile. “I am ruining it. This should be your chance to celebrate all of the hard work. Tomorrow is a big day…”

  Gemma slid into her black wool coat.

  “It’s Christmas night. What are you guys doing hanging out here anyway? Go take Gemma out somewhere nice, Jake. Celebrate everything you guys have accomplished. Make a real date of it without me tagging along.”

  Jake didn’t move. “Sorry. I kissed dating goodbye. You know that.”

  “Celebrate anyway.”

  “We’ll celebrate after the event. We may have done a lot of work getting ready for the fundraiser, but the real work is all tomorrow.” Jake remained perfectly still, as though he were frozen to the rug. “If you’re not up to it though, Jane, please be honest. We don’t need some sad sack coming around and ruining our fun.”

  The last hint of sympathy had disappeared from his voice, and it hurt a little. If Gemma and Jake had to stay, flaunting their happy flirtation in front of her, at least they could continue to baby her feelings a little. She flopped back onto the couch. “I’d rather supervise takedown and cleanup of the big fundraiser than stick around this joint by myself.”

  “That’s a good girl, Janey.” Jake’s unpredictability seemed to be in full swing again, as his voice cracked when he said her name.

  She appreciated it.

  2

  The evening was dark, like all Portland evenings in winter. Thick pewter clouds that had made a perpetual dusk of the day spewed sleet across the town, making this Boxing Day possibly the ugliest day of the year.

  Just perfect.

  Jane sat on a stool by the window and watched the sleet slide down the glass in slushy sheets. This was no night for smoothies. But it was too late to worry about that now. Yo-Heaven, the frozen-yogurt smoothie empire Jake had inherited when his father died, was sponsoring a fundraiser for Helping Hands Early Education Center, so smoothies it was. Jake was revealing his New Year’s Cookie–flavored smoothies at this evening’s event, but…Jane sighed. That would hardly be enough to bring people out in this weather.

  She turned her back on the window. The doors were opening in just twenty minutes and everyone was still rushing around, though the place looked perfect to Jane. The Shonley Center had moved them to the smaller banquet room at the last minute. The bad news was that it meant they were stuck at the back of a long, empty hallway. The good news was the room was much smaller, so the event would feel like a success even if it failed to meet their projections.

  Jane jumped off the stool and wandered into the kitchen. Technically, she didn’t have to work until she directed the volunteers during teardown, but helping was better than sitting.

  “Hey, Jane. Any word from Isaac?” Gemma licked the spatula she was holding.

  “Shut up, Gemma, jeeze.” Phoebe Crawford rolled her eyes. “Jane, toss me that towel.”

  Jane tossed the towel.

  Phoebe rolled it up and smacked Gemma.

  “Oh, he’ll call. It doesn’t matter what you think. He cannot live without her.”

  Jake walked past with a tray full of smoothie samples. He didn’t say a word, but winked as he pushed open the door into the banquet room.

  “He’s not the only one.” Phoebe hefted a big steel bowl onto her hip and carried it away.

  “I wish you’d stop asking me about him. I don’t know if he’ll call or not. He’s kind of…I don’t know how to put it.”

  “Sullen? Pouty? Brokenhearted?”

  “He’s the strong, silent type. He might never call again.” Jane traced the faux granite design of the laminate counter with her fingertip. “And that’s fine, too. It’s not like I’m going to take him back or anything. This was the right decision for us.”

  “You say that now, but wait until New Year’s Eve. You’ll change your tune by New Year’s.”

  “Phoebe…do you need a hand with anything?” Jane called out.

  “Yeah, out front. Go ask Jake. He’s got a
huge list to do in the next few minutes.”

  A tuxedo-clad server pushed his way past Jane.

  “Never mind that.” Gemma tossed her spatula in a bowl. “You stay here and start washing up. Might as well get some of it done beforehand. I can go help Jake.”

  Jane carried the bowl to the sink. Gemma was right. It wouldn’t hurt to get some of the washing done in advance. And she preferred to leave Gemma and Jake to each other. Two birds with one stone.

  “You’re a dope,” Phoebe said. “Why dump Coach Isaac? Is there a hotter man in this town?”

  “He’s not in this town. Well, he is, but not for long.”

  “Yeah, that. He does have a lame job. I mean, how much money can a professor really make?”

  Jane curled her lip up in disgust. It wasn’t about the money, or lack of money, or even the location. It was about the lack of…respect.

  It was about the lack of mutual respect. She had as little interest in being a supportive college wife as he had in being the husband of a private detective, or missionary, or…

  That was the other problem. He couldn’t see that her two dreams were just as important as his one. But the mutual part, yes, she was as much to blame as he was. She liked having a boyfriend…a handsome, important boyfriend. It had made a good change from no boyfriend at all. But, when it came down to brass tacks and diamond rings…

  A sob was working its way up from her heart. She squeezed her eyes shut and held her breath for a minute. Lack of mutual respect aside, she couldn’t imagine him not calling today. And not coming by this evening, and not cradling her in his arms so she could rest her head on his shoulder while they watched TV, their fingers laced together, him nuzzling her ear. She turned on the hot water and took a deep breath. He was very nice to have around, but that wasn’t the same thing as being the one she was supposed to marry.