“We saw Mallory and Timmy at a store in town. She had Timmy with her and she seemed so happy.” Petunia wiped a tear away. “Noah and I won’t rest until we find out who murdered Mallory.”
“Is there any way I can help you?”
“Do you have a photo of Mallory and Mary?”
“Yes. There’s one hanging over the fireplace.”
Petunia and Noah walked over and admired the photo. “Which one is Mallory?” Petunia asked.
“Mallory is on the right.”
“They’re identical twins?” Noah asked with a nod.
“Yes, and I’ve gotten them mixed up myself. Mateo told me he could barely tell them apart when they’re together.”
Petunia sighed. Braden was quite right; both Mary and Mallory strongly resembled one another, more so than any identical twins Petunia had ever seen.
“Mateo might have thought Mallory was Mary. We’ll be sure to tell the sheriff about this,” Noah said. “Do you have Mateo’s address?”
Braden jotted down Mateo’s address. “Mateo came here looking for Mary, but I wouldn’t answer the door. But then he showed up at my office. He was livid that Mary had left town. I had hoped he wouldn’t find her.”
“But you didn’t know Mary and Mallory both went to Lake Forest?”
“I shouldn’t have let Mallory go, but it was so important to her to see her grandmother.”
“It’s not your fault.” Petunia said. “Again, we’re very sorry for your loss.”
“What if you’re wrong and Mallory is still alive?”
“I really wish I was,” Petunia said.
Petunia and Noah left.
“I don’t think we should have been the ones to have told Braden that Mallory is dead,” Noah said.
“It sort of slipped out. But we both know Mallory is dead.”
“It’s quite normal that Braden would be in denial. It’s apparent he loved Mallory.”
“We’ll make certain that Pinkerton has the police in Grand Rapids have a family member present when Braden is given the news.” Petunia felt like her heart was being squeezed. She had never been more remorseful than she was right now. It broke her heart to see the pain in Braden’s eyes.
“I didn’t want to be right,” Petunia began. “I only hope that Mary didn’t contact Mateo and tell him where to find Mallory.”
“Mary certainly needs to answer some hard questions,” Noah said. “But let’s catch up with Mateo before we head back to Lake Forest.”
Noah pulled into a long driveway of a newer home that seemed larger than a family of three would need. They approached the door and knocked. Noah rang the doorbell with a shrug. A maid opened the door, wiping her hands on a pristine white apron. “Mr. Ricci still isn’t home.”
“How do you know why we’re here?” Petunia asked.
“Because the police were here earlier.”
“Is that because of the murder in Lake Forest?” Noah asked.
“They didn’t tell me why they were here, but it’s a normal occurrence with his associations.”
“Where did Mateo go?” Noah asked.
“He only said he had business out of town.”
“And it didn’t involve looking for his wife Mary?”
“I hope not. I’m glad Mary left with Timmy.”
“There was a murder in Lake Forest that might involve Mateo,” Noah said. “Do you think he’s capable of murder?”
Her face paled. “Please tell me he didn’t murder Mary.”
“He might have.”
“Is Timmy okay?”
“He’s not here?”
“I would know if he was. He’s a very inquisitive child. But I’m positive Mary took him with her. I helped her pack the car.”
Noah handed the maid a business card. “Call me if Mateo comes home.”
“Or if he brings Timmy back with him,” Petunia said with a forced smile.
The maid nodded with a weak smile and closed the door.
“Do you think she’s telling up the truth? That Mateo isn’t home,” Petunia asked.
“If he’s the man people are making him out to be, he’d be the first to answer door.”
“Which means only one thing: He might still be in Lake Forest.”
Petunia pursed her lips with thoughts about the elves bouncing in her mind. She pulled down her hat. She could still feel the elf ears, although they did seem smaller today. Or it might be wishful thinking on her part. She couldn’t hide them from Noah forever. What if he leaned in for a kiss? He often stroked her hair over her ears when he kissed her, which hadn’t happened in a week. She rather enjoyed Noah’s kisses, but she was content with their relationship the way it was. If only Aunt Maxine wouldn’t continue to make comments about marriage. Noah didn’t seem to mind. He had a good sense of humor, which Petunia most certainly needed in a boyfriend. She had her secrets, but there were so many things Petunia wanted to share with Noah. Elf ears topped the list.
“I think it’s time we share our suspicions about Mateo with Pinkerton,” Noah said.
“Should we tell him our suspicions about Mary’s hand in her sister’s death too?”
“Let’s hold off on that. We have to find Lucy first.”
“And if we don’t?”
“We’ll confront Mary.”
Petunia frowned. “We might need backup from Sheriff Pinkerton. At this point we don’t know what Mary is capable of.”
“I can’t see her wishing her sister dead unless she hoped Mateo would think Mary is dead instead of Mallory. But she must know Mallory’s body would be identified, which Braden said hasn’t happened yet.”
“Mary didn’t think things through.”
Noah and Petunia strolled into the sheriff’s department, catching the sheriff on the way out.
“You’re leaving for the day?” Petunia asked.
“No, I’m joining the state police for a news conference. We need the public’s help to find Timmy.”
“He hasn’t been found yet?” Petunia asked, her shoulders slumping.
“I wish I had better news. Did you catch up with Mallory’s boyfriend Braden yet?”
“That’s what we’re here to talk to you about.”
“Petunia let it slip that Mallory’s dead,” Noah said.
Pinkerton’s brow wrinkled. “I’ll have to call the police in Grand Rapids later to check up on him.”
“Did you know Mallory has a twin?”
“That’s news to me.”
“Her name is Mary. Noah and I suspect Mary was posing as Mallory when she showed up at Lucy’s house.”
“Lucy should know the difference between her granddaughters.”
“They’re identical twins.”
“If Lucy hasn’t seen them in years it makes sense,” Noah added. “Mary has an estranged husband that she escaped from.”
Petunia’s brow knitted. “His name is Mateo Ricci. He wasn’t home when we dropped by his house. Even his maid didn’t have anything good to say about him. She was concerned about Timmy too.”
“So you think he’s in town?” Pinkerton asked.
“I’m positive he’s in town,” Noah said. “Especially with Timmy missing.”
“I’d better check to see if he has priors so we know who we’re looking for. If he was that horrible to his wife, he might have a domestic assault on his record.”
“A photo would help all of us because we don’t know what he looks like,” Petunia said. “He doesn’t sound like a man we should confront.”
“I’ll check the database right now.”
Noah and Petunia followed Pinkerton into his office where he checked the police database. “He’s here,” Pinkerton said. “Convicted felon for domestic assault of a previous girlfriend. He served three years for the aggravated factors of the victim’s injuries.”
“I wonder if Mary knew about Mateo’s past before she married him?” Petunia asked.
“I doubt it,” Noah said. “It probably came out after,
when he began to physically abuse her.”
“It’s a normal pattern seen with abusers,” Pinkerton agreed. “I’ll send his photo to you Noah, but if you spot him call me immediately.”
Petunia frowned when Noah exchanged phone numbers with the sheriff. Why was she excluded? She was just as capable as Noah. She wasn’t a delicate flower.
“If Mateo is here in Lake Forest it might not be for long,” Petunia said. “He’ll take Timmy back home with him.”
“Unless he hasn’t found the boy yet either,” Pinkerton said.
“He already has his son if he killed Mallory. He probably didn’t even realize it wasn’t Mary because Mallory had the boy with her,” Petunia countered.
Noah and Petunia left. Noah handed her his phone and she examined Mateo’s photo carefully. He had a muscular build, bald head and dark brown eyes.
“He certainly looks menacing.”
“Nobody smiles in mug shots or prison photos.” Noah said grimly.
“Point taken.”
“Do you need to stop home before we head to Lucy’s?” Noah asked.
“For what?”
“To collect Pansy. I’ve always thought of him as our third wheel.” Noah laughed.
If only he knew.
“No, I’m good.”
16
It was dark when Noah parked at Mystical Remedies. They walked along the street and then cut through yards until they were in Lucy’s backyard. Petunia sighed as snow found its way over the tops of her boots.
Noah yanked Petunia down as a light came on in the kitchen.
Petunia motioned to the storm shelter entry, where a broom was shoved through the handles so it couldn’t be opened from the inside. They huddled in the cold until the kitchen light flickered off.
Noah carefully removed the broom handle and they slipped through the doors. He turned on his small flashlight as he and Petunia nearly tripped down the slippery steps. Thankfully Noah had a hold of Petunia’s coat.
Petunia nodded once they were standing in the basement. She hugged herself. It was freezing. Petunia hoped Lucy wasn’t tied up down here. She was too old to survive these temperatures for long.
Noah pulled Petunia against his side as they continued to search for Lucy. Petunia jumped at the roar of the furnace kicking on. The laundry faucet steadily dripped, although there wasn’t a washer of dryer in the basement. Lucy had the appliances moved upstairs. You didn’t have to be old to appreciate having the appliances on the first floor.
Lucy’s Michigan basement was damp and cold. The aroma of dirt and mildew drifted into Petunia’s nostrils and she pressed a finger under her nose as she felt a sneeze coming on. She didn’t dare sneeze or bubbles would fill the basement, and what if they drifted upstairs ... they’d be caught.
They approached nearer to the stairs. Shelves filled with glass jars lined one wall. Petunia wrenched out of Noah’s grip.
“What are you doing?” Noah whispered.
“What’s in those jars?”
“I’d say canned vegetables, why?”
“You’re probably right.”
“I know it’s creepy wandering around in this basement, but I’m here to protect you.”
Petunia’s heart swelled at his words.
“Lucy’s not down here,” Petunia finally said.
The basement door opened and a light flickered on as heavy footsteps descended the stairs. Noah barely had time to grab Petunia and pull her behind the furnace to hide before the sound of a woman whistling echoed in the basement.
Petunia peeked out to see Lucy.
“Lucy?” Petunia asked.
Lucy screamed and dropped a jar of tomatoes that shattered at her feet. “Petunia Patterson! What are you doing in my basement?”
“Looking for you. Noah and I thought you were tied up down here.”
“Come out, Noah,” Lucy said. “You’re busted.”
Noah walked out from behind the furnace with raised arms. “I’m sorry, but Petunia was positive you were missing.”
“Let’s go upstairs and you can explain what’s going on inside that head of yours, Miss Patterson.”
Petunia knew she was in big trouble. Lucy had never referred to her as Miss Patterson. She hurried up the stairs so relieved to see Lucy. Petunia might have done something desperate if Lucy’s granddaughter had harmed her. She always thought of Lucy as a surrogate grandmother.
Noah and Petunia followed Lucy into the kitchen.
Lucy drained grease from a skillet of simmering ground beef and then placed it in a larger pot. “Can one of you be a dear and grab me a jar of canned tomatoes. I seemed to have dropped one in the basement.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Noah said sheepishly. “We didn’t mean to startle you.”
When Noah left the kitchen Lucy shook a wooden spoon at Petunia. “You two are most peculiar of late. Creeping around in my basement.”
Petunia’s hand massaged her growling stomach. “What are you making?”
“Don’t try to change the subject, Petunia. What gave you the idea that I was missing?”
“Mary told me you weren’t home when I stopped by. She was acting strange.”
“You mean Mallory. Mary isn’t here.”
“I found Mallory’s body on the grounds of the country club.”
“That’s impossible,” Lucy countered.
“You’d be a big help if you could identify her body.”
“That’s simply ridiculous! Mallory is staying with me,” Lucy rubbed her eyes. “Mallory has a boyfriend already? She just filed for divorce from that hulk.”
Noah returned with the jar of tomatoes and opened it for Lucy.
The color drained from her face. “Or was that Mary who was married? I keep forgetting.”
“Please have a seat, Lucy,” Petunia pleaded with her.
“Very well.” Lucy sat, instructing Noah to put the remaining ingredients into the chili.
“When I came over earlier I came across your photo album on the floor. And when I righted it ... there was a photo of two little girls who looked identical. Mary told me that it was a photo of her cousins, Pepper and Ginger, who live in Ohio. But I believe it’s Mallory and Mary.”
“I wish you would quit calling Mallory Mary. It’s becoming tiresome.” She frowned. “How did you come up with Mary’s name?”
“Aunt Maxine told us that your son Robert had twins named Mallory and Mary and that you hadn’t seen them since they were children.”
“That’s true. Yes, Mary and Mallory are twins.”
“An uncanny resemblance of one another,” Noah said. “I wouldn’t be able to tell them apart.”
Lucy pushed up from the table. “Are you suggesting I can’t tell the difference between my granddaughters?”
“We’re not trying to upset you,” Petunia quickly said. “But if you haven’t seen them since they were children … .”
“There is one way of telling the difference,” Lucy said. “Mallory wears a raven necklace. She left it in the bathroom the other day ... so you see, Mallory is the one staying with me.”
Noah frowned. “We found a pendant at the crime scene with the initials M.W.”
“It proves one of your granddaughters is in the morgue.” Petunia said it as gently as she could.
“That’s impossible, and I’ll go down there to prove it,” Lucy said.
Noah shut the stove off and met Lucy in the living room. They were putting on their coats when the door swung open and Mary walked in, her eyes widening. “What’s going on here, grandmother?”
“Petunia and Noah are suggesting that Mallory is in the morgue.”
“We’re going down there to prove it,” Petunia said with a cocked brow, defying Mary to counter the claim.
“Right now? On Christmas Eve?”
“Come along, Mallory. Petunia seems insistent that you or your sister Mary is in the morgue.”
“Mary’s dead?” Mary’s lip quivered, although her eyes didn’t
water up in the least.
“That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” Lucy said.
Petunia called Sheriff Pinkerton and asked him to meet them at the morgue.
Pinkerton nodded grimly at Lucy as he led them into the morgue. Petunia hugged herself at the chill of the room. A spotless autopsy table was centered in the room. One wall contained five stainless steel doors. The sheriff began to open the door in the center, sighing in relief when a man with hair the same color of the white scrubs he wore joined them.
“I’m so happy that a member of the family has finally come to identify the body,” the man said.
“This is Dr. Hughes from Bear Paw,” Pinkerton introduced. “We don’t have need of a full-time coroner here, so he covers our town when it’s necessary.”
Dr. Hughes forced a slight smile and nod as he pulled out the drawer.
“Can we please get over this?” Lucy asked, sniffling.
Dr. Hughes folded the sheet down to expose only Mallory’s face.
Lucy pressed a hand to her heart and Pinkerton prevented her from collapsing. “That’s Mallory. I’m sure of it.” Lucy gasped. “How did she die?”
“She died from hypothermia,” Dr. Hughes said.
“Grandmother, you must mean it’s Mary,” Mary offered.
“No. I know it’s Mallory.”
“How can you be sure?” Petunia asked.
Lucy held back her tears and said, “Mallory has a scar along her hairline. She received the injury at my house when she was only three.”
Pinkerton took a look and nodded. “So it’s definite now.”
“How could she have died from hypothermia here in Lake Forest?” Lucy asked.
Dr. Hughes frowned. “Based upon the condition of her clothing and the body, she fell through the ice.”
“That’s impossible,” Noah said. “Lake Forest has been frozen solid for a month now.”
“Did you check for holes in the ice big enough on the lake for someone to fall through?” Petunia asked Pinkerton.
“We did, and there weren’t any. But that doesn’t mean she didn’t fall through ice somewhere else. Like the river. It never freezes solid in some places because of the current.”
“Don’t you think you should get back out there and search for Timmy,” Petunia asked. “He might be in the woods somewhere.”
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