Case of the Secret Life

by L C Lang

  I sat down on my chair. Then I pulled out my notepad and turned on my computer. Next, I got out a legal pad and pen. With the notepad open to the notes I had written, I went into my background program and searched for Benton Williams here in town. Two hits came up. One by one, I began going through each listing.

  The first listing showed when Benton purchased the building where his hardware store is located. He bought the property fifteen years ago. I haven’t been to the hardware store yet, but I might need to now. Not only see what the store has, but also to talk to the man who works there. If Benton made a will, then it is logical that Hannah will now own the store. Whether she will actually run it, I have no idea. Still, maybe the man who works in the store can give me more information about Benton Williams. So, I wrote the hardware store name on the legal pad, the address and Joe’s name.

  Then I had a thought. When it comes to murder, usually the victim knows his attacker. Was that the case here too? After Hannah’s blow-up in the diner, I will have to start a suspects list. I got out a notepad and wrote suspects on the top of the page. Hannah will be the first name on the list. Of course, as short as she is there is no way she could have moved him after she killed him. A dead body is heavier and harder to maneuver. No way would she have been able to do it alone. She would have needed help. Then again, she has three friends to help her if she decided that he had cheated on her long enough. I wrote her name down on the list.

  Then I checked on the residence. No mortgage, so they own the house. For now, there is no reason to write down the address. The last thing I want to do is to go to Hannah’s house.

  So far, I only have Hannah’s name on the suspects list. Although, I am sure that will change once I get out on the road. My biggest question was where Benton went when he was going on his so-called fishing trips. Who can I ask? Hannah would be one person, but I am not going that route. For now, I think my biggest source of information is going to be the man who works in the hardware store. Maybe Roxie knows more about him too.

  I printed out the information on the hardware store. Then I printed off a page I made up that is good for initial information. Next, I got out an empty file folder, put in the pages of notes I had made inside and the information on the hardware store, then I slid the file into the front of my file drawer.

  Tomorrow, I am going to stop at the hardware store and see what I can find out from the manager. Hopefully, he will have information to tell me.

  CHAPTER 7

  By ten o’clock the next morning, I was ready to go. Instead of my purse, I am taking a canvas messenger bag. It is packed and ready to go. I grabbed my keys and my bag, and then headed to the garage. I got in my Cherokee, pulled out, making sure the garage door closed. Then I took off for my first interview. I have no idea how much Joe knows, but I have to ask. Right now, I am desperate for clues.

  Took me ten minutes to get to the store. I finally found a parking place a block down and got out, flipping the strap of my messenger bag over my shoulder. Then I headed for the hardware store.

  I opened the door and stepped inside. A bell dinged when the door opened. I looked around. The store is large, maybe forty feet wide and sixty feet long. From what I had found online, it is the only hardware store in town and it looked like it had everything anyone would need. I began walking the isles, seeing what they had and making a mental list of what I might need in the future. I will definitely have to come back.

  While I walked around the store, I looked for the manager or anyone else who worked here. So far, I am not seeing anyone, which is strange because I am sure the bell ringing when the door opened would have someone come to see who came into the store.

  By the time I got to the back of the store, I heard voices. Two voices and one of them is a female. And she is giggling. When I got to the back of the store, I saw a small alcove set back into the wall. I stood in front of the alcove and saw who the voices belonged to. I folded my arms across my chest and looked at them. The young man and woman are getting hot and heavy, intently kissing, with their hands going everywhere on each other. Time to have some fun.

  “So, this is what you do instead of working?” I asked.

  The couple moved apart so quickly their wrinkled clothes did not retain go back to their original state for several seconds. About that time, an older man came in from the back door, with a set of papers in his hand.

  “What is going on?” he asked looking at me.

  “I don’t know which one of these two works for you, but you might want to curb their extra curricular activities during working hours,” I said.

  The man looked into the alcove and glared at the young man. The young woman took another step back from the young man, backing into the wall, a look of fear on her face. Not to mention her face turned a bright red.

  “What have I told you about this?” the man demanded.

  “I..I..I am sorry, Joe,” the young man stuttered. “It won’t happen again.”

  The young girl, who looked to be about sixteen years old and picked up her purse from off the floor. Then she rushed around me and ran to the front door. A moment later, the bell rang on the door and she left. I shook my head. Parents need to lecture their kids on how to curb their hormones. I sure never did something like this when I was their age. At least not in a hardware store anyway.

  “Jeremy, go stack the order we just got in and put them on the shelves where they belong in the back room,” the man said sternly. “I don’t care that you are the mayor’s son, you only have one more chance before I fire you. Unless your girlfriend is in the store to buy something, I do not want to see her in here again with you. Do you understand?” The man’s voice had gotten demanding and louder.

  The young man, who looked to be about eighteen years old, stood with his head hung down. He nodded. Then he quietly walked around the man and went into the back room.

  The man watched Jeremy leave and then he blew out his breath. “I am sorry about that. I am Joe Millhouse. How can I help you?”

  I nodded, trying to stifle a giggle. “I am new to this town and wanted to see what you have here. Are you the owner of the store?” I knew he wasn’t, but I had to work my way into what I wanted to ask him.

  Joe shook his head. “No, I am not the owner. At least not at the moment. Unfortunately, the owner died. His name is Benton Williams and he willed the store to me, so I just have to wait until they probate his will and then it will be officially mine. Right now, I am the manager.”

  Does Hannah know this? If not, more than likely she will go on another rampage when she finds out. “Sorry to hear about the owner. Have you worked here long?”

  Joe nodded. “Yes, I have. Fourteen years. I have known Benton since we were kids. A year after he opened the store, he came to me and asked if I could help in the store. I had gotten hurt in a factory job I had, so that news came at a good time. I have worked here ever since then. Although, the last few years I have been here more than Benton has.”

  I nodded. “I see.” And I did understand that too. It was just as I heard, but the news that Benton willed the store to him came as a surprise. “I heard he went fishing a lot.”

  Joe laughed and shook his head. “Yeah, you could call it fishing. If you call going to Optical Illusions in Indianapolis to find girls to hit on because that is where he went fishing.” He had used two fingers do make quotes around fishing. “Who knows how many other places he went to that he did not tell me about.”

  Yea. Now I have more information that I can work with. I have no idea what this Optical Illusion’s is, but I will find out when I get home. Time to leave. It is also time for lunch.

  “Well. You have a nice store here. I am finding there will be some repairs I will have to do on the house I just inherited, so I will definitely be back.”

  “Whose house did you inherit?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at me.

  “Sadie Miller’s. She had a tea room at the side of her house.”

  Joe nodded, with his face
relaxing. “I know that house. My wife and I have gone to the tea room in the past. We were sorry when Sadie closed it. Are you going to open the tea room again?”

  I thought Joe looked hopeful that I would open the tea room, but I shook my head. “Sorry, but no I am not. Although, my grandmother sure wanted me to try some of the blends of tea she got in when I was younger.”

  “Yes, she did have a lot of blends. I think my wife and I tried most of them.”

  I nodded. “Yes, she did have a good business. I think I was in my upper teenage years when she quit. It just got to be too much for her at her age. Oh well, maybe someday someone will open another one here in town.”

  Joe nodded. “Sure hope so. Well, if there is anything I can get you that we don’t have in the store, just let me know. I can order whatever you need.”

  “I will do that. Thank you.”

  We said goodbye and I walked out the door. I quickly walked to my Cherokee and got inside. Then I got out my notepad and made some notes on what Joe had told met. Joe seemed excited that he would be getting the hardware store soon. Does that make him a suspect? I will have to research him too, now that I have his last name. And I have to find out what kind of business Optical Illusions is and where it is located in Indianapolis. Now, it is time for lunch. Hopefully, Roxie has more gossip that she can share with me.

  Fifteen minutes later, I walked into the diner. The first thing I did was to look for Hannah Williams and her friends. I did not want a repeat of yesterday. Even though it was getting busier, neither Hannah nor her friends are here. I blew out my breath and then looked for an empty table or booth. I saw an empty booth and headed for it.

  I put my messenger bag on the seat and sat down. I will have to go home and work on the new information I found when I finish eating. I just hope Roxie has some more information. Then I remembered I have a new account. I will have to see if the CEO emailed me the list of the employee’s names and if he paid half the bill as he promised to do. Then I will have to begin working on it. It is going be a big job, but I was glad for it and for the extra money that I will make.

  A few moments later, Cindy came over with my drink, sitting it on the table. I hadn’t ordered yet, but she had remembered what I like to drink.

  “What can I get you today?” Cindy asked, also laying down a menu.

  I glanced at the menu and decided to order the same thing I had ordered yesterday. A double Cheeseburger meal. Cindy wrote it down, thanked me and then took the menu I handed back to her. Then she walked away.

  While I waited, I sat pondering my conversation with Joe. He had worked with Benton for most of the time the store was open. At what point did Benton decide to will the store to Joe? Joe knew about Benton’s going to Indianapolis to find women. More than likely, he just did not want to find someone to talk to more than his wife, but to do something more intimate. Did Joe finally have enough of working the store alone and decide to get rid of Benton, just so he can get complete ownership of the store? Joe seemed comfortable about running the store. Guess he had been for a while. This is something I will have to consider.

  Just then, someone sat down across from me. I looked up to see that it was Detective Donovan again. He may be a good-looking man, but right now he is not happy.

  I took a deep breath. “To what do I owe this visit, Detective Donovan?”

  “I went to your house, but you weren’t there.”

  I nodded. “That’s right. I had some errands to run. How did you know I was here?”

  “I saw your truck.”

  “Okay. What did you need to talk to me about this time?”

  He blew out his breath. He was just about to say what is going on, when Cindy brought my meal. She sat the plate in front of me. Then she looked at Detective Donovan.

  “Would you like your usual today?” Cindy asked.

  Detective Donovan shook his head. “No. I can’t stay today.”

  Cindy nodded, laid down my bill and then walked away.

  “Well, this must be something important if you turn down lunch.”

  “That is not funny,” he said.

  “I didn’t think so. So what is the problem?”

  “I have gotten a complaint about you.”

  Well, this is a surprise. Then I remembered what had happened yesterday. No, this is not a surprise. I nodded. “Let me guess. Hannah Williams made the complaint. And she told you I pointed a gun at her, which I did not.”

  “How did you know that?”

  Was he kidding? I was sure Hannah had told him, but it depends on where she thought this event took place. “I don’t know what Hannah told you, but let me tell you my side of the story. Hannah and her friends came over to my house yesterday afternoon and pounded on my door. I knew they were at the door, so, yes, I got my gun because she threatened me yesterday and I tucked in the back of my jeans. She threatened me again, so I pulled out my gun and pointed it up. At no time did I ever point it at her and my gun was not even loaded.”

  “Do you have a permit for the gun?”

  I nodded. “Of course I do.” I got in a side pocket of my messenger bag and pulled out my permit. Then I showed it to him.

  Detective Donovan read it and then looked up at me. “This gives your address as Indianapolis.”

  “Yes, I know. That is on my list of things to do to change the address.” Darn. I forgot about my gun permit. Better get the address on my concealed carry license and my bonding updated too. Three more things I have to do. “What did she tell you?”

  “Not what you said happened. She said you approached her with your gun aimed at her.”

  I shook my head. “No, I did not approach her. Hannah and her friends came to my front door. That woman is a piece of work. I can almost understand why her husband cheated on her.”

  He nodded. “I think I can too. Sorry about this. Hannah was adamant that I arrest you.”

  “So, do you believe my side of the story?” At least he had better believe me.

  “Yes. After what happened in here yesterday, I do believe you.” He paused a moment. “Why do you have a gun?”

  I sucked in my breath. I had gotten away with not answering his question about what kind of work I do at home. Can I still get away with it now? I can only hope.

  “When I went to college, I took criminal justice courses because my original thought was to be a police officer like my father used to be. I also learned to shoot and when I passed my tests, I was certified and got a permit to own a gun. I have kept up with practicing shooting my gun at a gun range, even though I did not become a police officer.”

  He nodded. “Do you have your gun with you?”

  I shook my head. “No, I don’t. And before you ask, I also have a concealed carry permit.”

  Detective Donovan blew out his breath. “I may have to put you back on the suspects list, seeing that Benton Williams was shot to death.”

  This is getting worse. I narrowed my eyes at him. “I had never seen that man before I found him in the shed. I told you the same thing the day I found Benton Williams. Besides, I would only shoot at someone who is shooting at me. He was already dead when I found him.”

  He nodded. “Okay. Well, I need to get going.” He stood up and then looked intently at me. “If at all possible, stay away from Hannah Williams.”

  I nodded. “Don’t worry, I will. And I certainly hope you told her to stay away from me.”

  Detective Donovan nodded again and then walked out the door. I shook my head and began eating my lunch. The man was infuriating, but not half as bad as Hannah Williams. Right now, I trust Hannah and her friends about as much as I would trust a rattlesnake. Actually, I think I would trust the snake more.

  A few minutes later, I was almost finished eating when Roxie came over to my booth and sat down. She looked ragged and the lunch hour hadn’t officially begun yet.

  “Rough day already?” I asked.

  Roxie nodded. “Yes. You are not going to believe what I heard this morning
.”

  “About me I suppose?”

  She nodded again. “Hannah and her friends were in here about an hour ago for their regular coffee meeting. She said, in a voice loud enough for the whole place to hear, that you came after her with a gun. Did you?”

  I shook my head. “No, I did not. That woman is delusional. Yes, I have gun, but her and her friends came pounding on the front door of my house. I saw them before I got to the door, so I took my gun with me and tucked in the back of my jeans. She threatened me, so I pulled out my gun and pointed it up. She said she was going to tell the police I pointed a gun at her, but I did not do that. My gun was not even loaded, but she did not notice that. I just used it as a threat to stay away from me. I also told her I have security camera’s that were taping her and I would take the tape to the police if her and her friends did not leave. The friends left, but Hannah had one more threat, telling me that she wasn’t finished with me yet, and then she walked away.”

  Roxie put her hand over her mouth as she burst out laughing. “I had to go over to Hannah and tell her that if she didn’t quit badmouthing my customers, her and her friends were no longer welcome in my restaurant.”

  I shook my head. “I bet that went over well.”

  “They all stood up and walked out the door. Personally, I don’t care if they never come back. But, she is always been like this. Although, not this loud.” She paused a moment. “Why do you have a gun?”

  I paused a moment, debating whether to tell her or not. I had to give Roxie credit, she had stood up for me and I appreciated that. She was becoming a friend, which made me glad I have one more friend. Finally, I relented.

  “If I tell you something, do you promise not to tell anyone? And I mean no one, including your husband.”

  Roxie nodded. “Of course, I won’t tell anyone. I may listen to gossip, but I don’t spread it around. Not much anyway.”

  I scooted my plate aside, placed my arms on the table and leaned forward. Then I whispered, “I am a private investigator.”

  Roxie’s mouth dropped open. “Really?”

  I nodded. “Yes. I worked with my father, who was a detective in the police department in Indianapolis for many years. He retired from the force after a gunshot injury. Then he became a private investigator for several years. I wanted to be a cop, so when I went to college I took criminal investigation courses. When I graduated, my father talked me into working with him. I was good with computer investigations and he hated that part. He helped me get my license and I went out on cases with him. He finally decided a month ago, after an especially difficult case, it was time to retire. So, he and my mom moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where several of their friends had moved. And I moved here.”