by Cindy Bell
“I wonder if she ever even got to speak to him.” Nikki couldn’t imagine the shock that Chelsea must have experienced when she made the discovery.
“I believe she did, but I’m not sure exactly what happened.” Macy finished her last sip of tea, then looked across the table at Nikki. “You know, she liked you a lot.”
“She did?” Nikki frowned. “It seems like I didn’t know her very well.”
“She wasn’t the easiest person to get to know. It took a little digging.” Macy stood up from the table, then placed her hand on Nikki’s shoulder. “Let me know if you need anything, Nikki.”
“Thanks, you too.” Nikki gave her hand a light squeeze.
Macy offered her a sad smile before she walked away.
Nikki stared down into the remaining tea in her cup. Her mind swirled with the revelations that Macy had just shared. Chelsea was the daughter of the district attorney, and she had a husband who might have wanted her dead. Rick Parker had been in his position for ages, it seemed to her. He had a wife, and two children who were younger than Chelsea. She guessed that he would have done absolutely anything to prevent the truth about Chelsea from getting out. Was it possible that he had never known that Chelsea existed? Even if he didn’t, the court of public opinion would not go easy on him, not when he ran for office on the platform of a traditional family man. With more frustration than comfort she left the café. She had to pick up a few things from the pet store. The dog she was pet sitting needed special treats for her sensitive stomach, and she planned to restock some of her own supplies. As she walked towards the shop, she noticed a familiar car pull into the parking lot of the café. Quinn parked the car, then stepped out quickly to catch up with her.
“Hey, Nikki!”
“Hey, Quinn. I mean, Detective.”
“Quinn is fine.” He pulled out his tablet. “I was hoping I’d run into you. I have a few more questions.”
“I think I’ve already answered all of them.” Nikki raised an eyebrow.
“You were a close friend so—”
“Not that close, apparently.” She frowned. “Even though I didn’t know her for long, I thought I knew quite a bit about her, but I’m learning that she kept a lot from me. There are a few things you should know, though.”
“I’m sorry. Sometimes we find out more than we would like to know about people after they pass away.” He glanced up from his tablet. “But that doesn’t mean you weren’t friends. So, what is it that you have to tell me?”
Nikki took a deep breath, uncertain as to whether she should pass on the information. If word got out it could still cause quite a flap throughout town, and she wasn’t sure that she wanted to be responsible for that. But Quinn’s words reminded her that she had her friend to think about. Whether or not it caused chaos in the town, Chelsea deserved to have someone fighting for her.
“Nikki?” His eyes swept over her. “You can trust me.”
In that moment she believed that she could. Perhaps, she could trust him more than anyone else in town. Trusting him had certainly paid off once.
“I’ve heard a rumor, it’s one that I can’t prove, but the source is fairly trustworthy. Chelsea moved here about a year ago for a reason. She told me she was trying to find leads on who her father might be. She was raised by her mother, who passed away a few years ago. The only thing she ever told Chelsea about her father was that he lived here in Dahlia. That’s why she came to the area originally, she wanted to find him and landed up moving here. I had no idea that she thought she found him, though.” She shifted from one foot to the other and ran her palms across her jeans.
“What is it, Nikki?” Quinn met her eyes. “If it can help with the case, I need to know.”
“The rumor is that Rick Parker is her father.” She frowned. “Like I said, I don’t know how true it is. But I thought that you should know.”
“Rick Parker?” He raised an eyebrow. “He’s been married for centuries.”
“It sure seems that way.” Nikki crossed her arms. “He’s very well-known, and well-loved around here. If word gets out, there will be a lot of fallout. I know you’re a new detective and—”
“I’m going to stop you right there.” Quinn slid his tablet into his pocket and looked her straight in the eyes. “Nothing intimidates me. If Rick Parker had something to do with this, I will make sure that he faces the consequences for it.”
“That’s reassuring.” Nikki held his gaze and sensed honesty behind his determination. “That’s not all. Apparently, Betty Middleson, Linda and Bill’s niece—”
“Ah yes, I know about her. I just left the Middleson residence.” He tapped his tablet. “Do you know Chelsea’s husband, Mike? I haven’t been able to locate him.”
“No. I just found out about him from Chelsea’s friend, Macy. I didn’t even know she had a husband.”
“Okay.” He looked at her with a hint of skepticism.
“If there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know.”
“I will. Thanks for the new information. I’ll get right on it.” He started to turn away, then looked back at her. “I hope you’ll update me on anything else you find out.”
“I will.” Nikki shot him a brief smile, then headed back towards the shop.
If Rick Parker had killed Chelsea to keep the scandal of his affair with her mother from getting out, then he deserved to be taken down, no matter what his position was. She just hoped that Quinn was really brave enough to do it.
As Quinn disappeared into the café, she turned her attention back to the task at hand. She approached one of her other favorite places, ‘Pets ‘n Things’. There were always new animals to greet, and some innovation to make her life much easier. Nikki stepped inside and waited for the calm to wash over her. But the sensation didn’t arrive, she felt too uneasy about Chelsea’s murder. As she noticed the bright lights, and the crowded shelves, a wave of dizziness washed over her.
Nikki tried to relax and focus on the supplies she had to pick up as she headed down the different aisles. However, her mind was muddled by the conversation she had with Quinn. What if he didn’t take her seriously? Did he think she was just trying to spread rumors? He said nothing would stop him from solving the crime, but what if he lost his job for questioning the district attorney?
As she moved through the store, familiar scents settled her down some. She enjoyed shopping for animals even though she didn’t have one yet. She hoped that by the next year she’d have enough for the down payment on the piece of property she had her eye on. Then she could have dogs, cats, even goats if she wanted to. She wasn’t sure about the goats just yet, but the dogs and cats sounded pretty good. She hoped to eventually set up an animal rescue shelter and maybe even a training center on the property. As she browsed the shelves she heard some voices drift from the other aisle.
“Did you hear about Chelsea? She stole that painting job from Betty.” A woman spoke in a hushed tone.
“Stole it? How do you steal a job?” The second woman laughed. “Sounds more like sour grapes to me.”
“No, it’s true. She blackmailed the Middlesons into giving her the job. Apparently, she had something on them.”
“Like what? The Middlesons are untouchable.”
“No one’s untouchable in this town.” The first woman snapped. “Especially, not the Middlesons. I’ve heard rumors about them for years.”
“Rumors aren’t always true, Donna. You should be careful what you say around here. If someone gets wind of you spreading rumors about a family with that kind of influence, you’ll be the one that’s out of a job.”
“Oh, you need to relax, Candace, I’m just telling you what I heard. Besides, people like that aren’t the least bit concerned about people like me.”
“Well, then you shouldn’t be concerned about them. They live in a whole different world, and honestly I don’t think it’s one that I would want to live in.”
Nikki froze as she heard the two women approach the aisl
e she stood in. Would they know that she had heard every word they said? She bolted to the next aisle before they could catch sight of her. Chelsea and blackmail? That seemed impossible to her. But the truth was, she didn’t know much about her. Not only did she not know the things she’d recently found out about her, she didn’t know about her history, where she had lived before she came to Dahlia, or what she used to do. Perhaps she had more enemies than she realized. Nikki gathered a few items and carried them to the register. As she walked up she instantly recognized the woman in front of her at the register. It was Betty Middleson.
“Lily needs her treats, what am I going to do without them?”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Middleson.” The clerk shook her head. “We are out of stock for at least a week.”
“A week. What am I going to do now?” She huffed and then turned on her heel and walked straight past Nikki without even noticing her.
“Nikki, how are you today?” The young woman behind the register smiled slightly as Nikki walked towards her, but she could see the stress in her expression from her encounter with Betty.
“I’m okay, Mandy. How are you? She didn’t look happy.”
“She wanted treats for her Pomeranian. You know, the ones for fresh breath that you buy?” Mandy nodded. “But we are out of stock and we can’t get any for a while.”
“Well, that’s not your fault.” Nikki smiled. “I hope she didn’t upset you too much.”
“Oh no, thank you. I’m used to the demands of our wealthy customers in the area, they just want the best for their pets, really.”
After chatting to Mandy for a while about their new range of pet food and then checking out, Nikki stepped outside onto the sidewalk. As she began to walk towards her car, she noticed Betty step out of the arts and crafts store beside the pet shop. She had a few paint supplies in her hands. As Betty walked past, Nikki noticed that she had a pronounced scratch along her left cheek. She hadn’t noticed it at the pet shop because Betty was facing the other way. Did Betty get that scratch when she killed Chelsea?
Chelsea was a wisp of a woman, and Betty looked fairly strong. In her mind’s eye Betty overpowered Chelsea without much of a struggle. But Chelsea scratched her along her cheek as she went down. She saw the image play through her mind.
“Why didn’t you call for help?” She whispered the question as she reached her car. “Calvin was right across the street.”
Nikki tucked her bags into the back seat of her car, then settled in the driver’s seat. Even before she turned the key she knew where she would go. A few minutes later she parked behind Quinn’s car, not far from the area of the hedge that was still surrounded by yellow tape. She knew he might find it strange that she was there, but she didn’t care about that at the moment. All she cared about was figuring out why Chelsea hadn’t been able to draw the attention of anyone when she needed help the most.
Quinn glanced up at the sound of her footsteps.
“Nikki, what are you doing here?” He squinted against the sunlight that flowed over her shoulder.
“I just needed to come back here.” She took a deep breath of the warm air. “It just doesn’t make sense to me.”
“What doesn’t?” His voice softened some as he studied her.
“She was here, right here. Why didn’t anyone hear anything?” Nikki glanced over her shoulder to the sidewalk that she walked every day. “It’s such a quiet area. How could no one hear anything?”
“She was killed somewhere else and then dragged behind the hedge. What I’m not sure about is where or why.” He scratched the curve of his chin as he looked back down at his tablet. “It feels like a road to nowhere. Her purse and phone are missing.”
“And her camera?” Nikki’s eyes widened as she glanced around the area. “You didn’t find it, did you? She always had it with her when she came out here.”
“No, we haven’t found it.” He shook his head. “I keep going back over everything, but there’s nothing to point me towards the actual crime scene.”
“You’ll find it.”
“Soon, I hope.”
Nikki started to walk away. If Chelsea wasn’t killed behind the hedge, then where was she killed? Why wouldn’t she have called for help, or let someone know that she was not going to be at her usual spot? Where was her phone? Her purse? Her stomach twisted as she reviewed the possibilities. If only she’d been there a few minutes earlier, maybe everything would have been different, maybe Chelsea would still be alive.
Chapter 6
After Nikki left the crime scene she returned to her apartment, packed up her overnight bag, then headed back to the same neighborhood she had just left. When she arrived at the Whitter house she noticed that Quinn’s car was no longer at the crime scene. The yellow tape flapped in the wind. It was garish against the green landscape and surrounded by magnificent homes.
As she knocked on the door, it swung open, and Mrs. Whitter greeted her with a nervous smile. She was a petite woman, who looked more frail each time Nikki saw her. Despite her looks, she had quite a spunky personality, and Nikki could spend hours listening to her stories.
“I’m sorry I’m a little late.” Nikki stepped inside and pulled out a treat to offer Princess.
“It’s okay.” Mrs. Whitter frowned as she looked at her. “I heard about what happened today. I’m honestly surprised that you even came tonight.”
“I couldn’t just sit at home. I feel terrible about what happened to Chelsea, but staring at the same four walls wouldn’t have made anything better. I know you don’t get to spend time with your sister that much, and Princess always has a way of cheering me up.” Nikki smiled as the Chihuahua nibbled at her palm. “She’s looking so beautiful today.”
“Do you like the new collar?” Mrs. Whitter smiled. “I thought maybe it was a bit much, but nothing but the best for my little Princess, I say.”
“She looks beautiful. So sparkly.” Nikki laughed as she stroked the dog behind her ear. “I think she likes it. She looks so proud.”
“I think she does, too.” Mrs. Whitter patted the top of her head. “Oh baby, I hate leaving you behind. I know that Nikki will take good care of you.”
“Yes, I will, I promise.” Nikki set her bag down on the chair near the door.
“Good. Because I’m a little nervous about the neighbors.” Mrs. Whitter clasped her hands. “Something is going on at the Barrandoahs.”
“Really? They have a guard at their gate.” Nikki glanced back out through the front door in the direction of the mansion. It was too far away for her to see the front.
“Yes, I know. But the guardhouse is at the front of the house. Lately, I’ve been seeing all kinds of activity over there, late at night. Cars coming and going, even flashlights bouncing up and down. I have no idea what they are up to, but I’m sure it’s against the unofficial neighborhood rules.” Mrs. Whitter clucked her tongue. “Some people just have no class even if they have plenty of money.”
“Right.” Nikki raised an eyebrow as she looked back at her. “How late at night have you been seeing this? You could always report it to the police.”
“Oh, about eight, sometimes seven-thirty.” She frowned. “Well past dark of course. No one should be doing anything at that time of night.”
“Ah.” Nikki smiled some. “Well, Mrs. Whitter, that’s not very late for some people. Maybe they just like to spend time in their backyard in the evening?”
“I know, I do know that.” Mrs. Whitter sighed, then shook her head. “But this just feels so wrong to me. And it upsets poor Princess. She will get so excited that she pees everywhere.” She rolled her eyes. “I keep telling her not to let them bother her, but she’s just too nervous to listen. I hope she doesn’t do the same thing for you tonight.”
“It’s okay if she does, I’ll make sure that it gets cleaned up. You just go and try to have a nice time with your sister. Princess and I will be just fine here. Won’t we, sweetheart?” She scooped her up into her arms. “Give Mom
my her kisses.”
“Oh yes, please do.” Mrs. Whitter puckered up and let the dog lick her lips and cheeks. “Don’t worry, baby, I’ll be back soon.”
“I’ll take good care of her.” Nikki smiled as she gently pulled the dog away. “Princess wants you to go and have some fun.”
“Ugh, if only my sister wasn’t allergic to dogs.” Mrs. Whitter waved her hands with frustration, gave Princess one more kiss, then headed for the door.
The driver of the taxi that waited outside waved to Mrs. Whitter with a smile. He was the same driver she always used, and he made an extra effort to open the door for her and tuck her bags safely in the trunk. He waved to Nikki as she stood in the doorway.
“Bye, Nikki. Bye, Princess.” He chuckled as the dog barked at him, then got into the driver’s seat.
“Bye, Fred.” Nikki smiled and waved Princess’ paw at the taxi as it drove away. Caught up in the sweetness of the moment, Nikki almost forgot what happened that morning, until she caught sight of the bright yellow tape as it fluttered and snapped in the breeze.
After Nikki closed and locked the door, she returned to the living room and set Princess down on her favorite cushion. It was still a bit early for Princess’ evening meal, so Nikki settled on the couch and tried to relax. Since she was so close to the crime scene she was tempted to go out for a brief walk and check things out. But it was already getting dark, and Princess didn’t like going for walks in the evening. Occasionally, Nikki would walk her in the mornings when Mrs. Whitter wasn’t available. Princess often paraded around the backyard for a little bit, and usually preferred to be carried. She could leave her alone for a bit, Mrs. Whitter didn’t mind that, but she needed to get her settled first.
Nikki’s thoughts shifted back to Mrs. Whitter’s concerns about the neighbors. It wasn’t unusual for her to be a little paranoid. She had once called her quite upset because she was sure that the cable guy intended to steal Princess. Nikki talked her through it, and eventually she agreed that the man was just being friendly. But this was different. This sounded like a pattern. What were the neighbors up to? She worried about Mrs. Whitter because she was in her seventies, and anything that upset her seemed to have an impact on her health. Maybe she could at least figure out what was happening next door.