by Holly Quinn
“Stable. Hopefully he’ll be out of the hospital soon. But that’s all I’m sharing. Patient confidentiality.” She zipped her lips with her fingers and flicked an imaginary key. “I like the fundraiser idea though. Nice thought. I bet the kids from the high school would get involved too.”
Sammy took a deep breath and tried to word her question in a way that wouldn’t make Heidi zip her lips again. She was about to dive into dangerous waters.
“After the game, I hung out at the Sweet Tooth with Liam Nash,” she said carefully.
“Ohhh … Do tell! Am I detecting a love connection?” Heidi’s eyelashes flitted like a butterfly. “This could be so fun! I imagine double dates already! Yes! Yes! Yes!” she clapped her hands like an overgrown teenager.
As to not shut down Heidi’s enthusiasm she pacified her a bit, saying, “I’m not sure.” If she could lead her a little bit down the trail, Heidi would open up like a flower.
“I think you like-y our new detective. This is exciting. I’m glad you asked me to come over. Big news!” Heidi playfully punched Sammy on the arm.
Sammy smiled. “Well, he did confide in me about something.”
“Oooh, yeah? What’s that?” Heidi moved in close like a co-conspirator.
Sammy lowered her voice. “Miles Danbury?”
“Oh, I know. Can you believe it? I’m surprised the detective shared that with you. He must really like you.” She grinned as she crossed her arms and rested them on her sizable chest.
So … her cousin was privy to information, just as Sammy thought. “We have to do something.” She grasped Heidi by the arm and shook it as if to wake her up from a coma. “Heidi! I know that man. He couldn’t hurt a fly.” She pointed to his hand-carved birdhouses that hung on a rack. “He feeds nature, he doesn’t destroy it. He’s humble and gentle and an absolute sweetheart of a man.”
Heidi looked over both shoulders before confiding. “They have evidence.”
“Like what?” Sammy’s eyes centered on her cousin, giving her full attention.
“His fingerprints were on the coffee cup. The police took a DNA swab when they brought him in for questioning. Sammy, the DNA is a match. Miles then invoked his Miranda rights and remained silent. How do you explain that?”
Sammy felt taken aback. She studied Heidi for a moment. She knew Tim told her more than she was sharing. Treading carefully would be her best option.
“So? He brought a coffee over and panicked when he saw her on the floor? People don’t all respond to trauma in the same way. Heck, it stunned me, finding her like that!”
“Do you know that for sure?” Heidi’s eyes narrowed.
“No.” Sammy waited silently hoping her cousin would spill more information. It seemed to be working as Heidi interjected more details before Sammy had a chance to speak.
“They have more than just the coffee cup.”
“What? Come on now.” Sammy threw her hands in the air in disgust. “What more could they possibly have?”
Heidi breathed deep. “Tim’s going to kill me. Never mind Ingrid, I’m going to be next for sharing confidential information.” She put an imaginary dagger to her throat and cut across.
“I won’t tell a soul. I promise,” Sammy held up scout fingers. “Liam didn’t share what they had on the guy. I was just so shocked at the accusation! Miles Danbury? Honestly, I sat stunned like a bird that just hit a window. Please, Heidi, tell me so I can let this go. I have a few other suspects in my mind, and if I can just put all this behind me, I’ll feel so much better. Just please help me understand … Why him?”
“You are supposed to stay out of it.” Heidi pointed her finger at Sammy.
“Maybe you can help me if you share with me why Miles is their guy? Maybe then I can let my S.H.E. mind sleep and let this go. But I can’t if you don’t tell me,” Sammy pressed, adding a hint of guilt for pressure.
Heidi huffed. “It has to do with Miles losing his job a few years back.”
This confused Sammy. “What does that have to do with Ingrid? She’s was new to Heartsford and, to my knowledge, didn’t really know Miles.”
Heidi must have noticed a customer enter the store because she swiftly led Sammy by the arm toward the office for complete privacy.
“I swear if you tell anyone you heard this from me I’ll have your hide.” She warned with a finger. “My relationship with Tim is on the line here.” Heidi cautioned with words sharp and eyes stern.
Sammy waited.
“Miles Danbury used to work for Hanson Brothers Construction. Remember them? They travel the entire state of Wisconsin to follow the workload. They were on the job about thirty miles from here in another town, I can’t remember the name of it. Doesn’t matter. Anyhow … Just happened to be where Ingrid was living in a new condominium complex.” She took a breath before continuing. “So, they were working one morning … Pretty early in the day and I guess, as the story goes, they were disturbing Ingrid when building more units across the parking lot. You know how she loved to complain. Well, she called OSHA on the job to run an emergency safety inspection on the contractors. They were ill-prepared, and someone had to take the hit. The Hanson brothers certainly weren’t going to, so they blamed Miles … which cost him a job.”
Sammy let the information sink in. “The Heartsford Police think that Miles killed Ingrid as revenge for losing his job?”
Heidi shrugged. “I guess.”
“Here’s the problem, though. Why would Miles do a hit-and-run on the coach? You have to think the two crimes are related. I don’t believe in coincidences.” Sammy shuffled papers off the side of the office desk and sat on the corner, resting her chin on a closed fist.
“Not necessarily. Maybe it is just a coincidence? Maybe it’s two separate unrelated crimes? It’s possible.”
“Come on, Heidi. Seriously? Do you really believe that?” Sammy leaped from the desk.
Heidi leaned up against the doorjamb, resting the full weight of her body on one arm. “You know what I don’t understand?”
“What’s that?”
“How you’re getting me sucked into this investigation.” Heidi shook her head in disgust. “I’m trying to get you to stay out of it, and now my mind is spinning on the subject.”
Sammy smiled. “I think it’s time for some S.H.E. don’t you?” her eyes twinkled and danced at the thought.
Heidi quickly stood at attention, obviously seeing something outside of Sammy’s field of vision. “Oh, hey, Carter! Nice to see you this morning! Heard you were on top of your game the other night. Sorry I didn’t get a chance to say congratulations at the hospital.”
The teen smiled at Heidi and then squeezed past her and entered the office. “Just clocking in. I’m going to work on finishing that box of soap I almost tripped on as I was walking in the store. How does that sound?”
“Perfect. Thanks.” Sammy nodded. “Oh, while you’re working on that. I want you to help me think of a fundraiser idea we can do for Coach. To help with some of the medical costs. What do you think of a brat-fry outside the storefront during Spring Fling? Would the basketball team cook if I provide the grill and brats?”
“That’s a great idea!” The teen lit up. “Yeah, I like that better than a car wash. We do a lot of those for school. I’ll brainstorm who can come from the team while I’m working on the display.” Carter smiled. “Love it.”
“Awesome.” Sammy patted him on the back as he turned to leave the office.
After the teen had exited, Heidi pointed two fingers at her eyes and then back at Sammy. “I’m watching you, girl. Don’t get in over your head.” She slumped her shoulders. “I’m going home to bed. Hope I can sleep now with everything you filled my mind with. Thanks a lot,” she added.
“Yeah, good idea. You go home and get some sleep. I’ll have to find a way to talk to Tim or maybe Liam Nash. Do you know when they were going to make the arrest?”
“They want to make sure they have all their ducks in a row. They’re
waiting until tomorrow. They know the news is going to hit the town pretty hard, so they want to strategize the damage control.”
“Okay, I’m on it.” Sammy moved over to her cousin and gave her a light push out the office door. “Get out of here. Go get some sleep.”
Heidi leaned in for a hug, and Sammy stopped her. “Get those hospital germs away from me.” She thrust her lightly away, squished her face, and then grinned. She watched as Heidi reached up to ruffle Carter’s hair on her way out the front door.
After checking her email, Sammy strolled over to Carter who had the empty soap box in one hand, heading directly for the storeroom. She trailed behind him until he dropped the box to the floor.
“Do you want to check out the display?” Carter gestured a long arm out the storeroom door.
“Nah, I trust you did an excellent job,” Sammy said. “I need to talk to you about something else I think we’ve both been avoiding.”
Carter interjected, placing an open hand up to stop her. “Before you say anything, I don’t want to forget. Thanks again for the birthday card,” he said sincerely. “The loaded Visa that you stuck inside is going to come in real handy. I’ve already decided what I’m going to do with the money.”
“And what’s that?”
“I’m using it for stuff I want for my dorm room. I still don’t know which college yet. But either way, I still need to get a bunch of stuff for next year. So, thanks again.”
Sammy was going to miss this boy. He sure was the nicest kid. “You are so welcome.” She switched gears. “Which is actually what I want to talk about.” Sammy stuck her head out of the door to see if they had any customers. One was lazily meandering through the merchandise not needing immediate attention. She turned her attention back to Carter. “I’m thinking of hiring someone else to work here at the store. Ellie comes in from time to time for emergencies, but with you going off to college next year, I think I want to start training someone soon. But I don’t want you to feel pushed out by me moving forward. I’m just trying to free you up for whatever you need. Okay?”
The teen looked down at his oversized feet and slumped his shoulders.
“What’s wrong?” Sammy was surprised at his reaction. She thought he’d be happy to have the freedom of fewer hours.
Carter slowly lifted his head to meet her eyes. “I don’t know.” He took a breath to steady himself before speaking. “Giving up working here is like losing Kate all over again.”
Suddenly, Sammy understood. “Oh, Carter.” She could feel the wave of grief swiftly washing over both of them.
“As stupid as it sounds, sometimes I think I’m going to look up and see her here. And sometimes, even when I don’t see her, I feel her here.” He shook his head and then ran a hand over his growing buzz cut.
Sammy nodded. “I get it.”
“I know you do. That’s why I don’t know what I would have done without you, Sammy.” Carter’s eyes began to fill, and he sucked it back, refusing to let his emotions overtake him. He moved outside the storeroom, slammed open the back door leading to the parking lot, and stepped outside into the fresh air.
Sammy didn’t follow him. She respected the private time she knew he needed.
Chapter Fifteen
After another night of restless slumber, Sammy woke early the next morning to a misty, gray day. She rolled over and groaned. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept well. She thought the crappy weather seemed appropriate though, as she showered and dressed in a simple black dress for Ingrid’s memorial service. She wondered when she had last worn heels as she squeezed her toes into an uncomfortable two-inch pump. Yes, they accentuated her legs, causing her calf muscle to bubble. But, in her opinion, it definitely wasn’t worth the pain. She kneeled on both legs and tossed random shoes from the closet floor searching for an alternative but came up empty. She sat back on her heels in frustration. Her only other formal wear consisted of a pair of beige dress slacks and a white blouse, certainly nothing suitable for a funeral. Nothing else fit properly. But she refused to take all the blame for an ill-fitting wardrobe. She also blamed Marilyn and the stupid Sweet Tooth. She needed to stay far away from the bakery evidently or else replace her entire closet, for which she really didn’t have the funds.
Sammy resigned herself to wearing the heels and stood on two uncooperative feet as she searched her jewelry box for something simple to finish the look. As she was digging deep, her doorbell rang. She pitched out of the heels, moved to the nearby window, and flung it open. After jutting her head outside into the misty fog, she saw Heidi standing on the front concrete slab.
She rounded her hands and then hollered. “Grab the key from under the fake rock.”
Heidi looked up to the second-floor window. “I thought you were ready?” She lifted her arms in disgust and then threw them on her hips. “By the way … why don’t you announce free entrance to your house to the entire neighborhood!”
“Just grab the key, will ya please?” Sammy slammed the damp window shut and returned to the jewelry hunt. In no time at all, she heard the jiggle of the lock and Heidi bounding up the stairs. Bara must have heard too as she heard Heidi calming the dog. “It’s just me, pup.”
Bara galloped into the bedroom first with a flustered Heidi trailing behind. “We’re going to be late. Where’s Ellie?”
Sammy waved her off. “She’s minding the store for me. Carter’s going to the service to support Coach, so I had no one else to cover the store. Believe me, Ellie was more than happy to skip the funeral. She didn’t really know Ingrid anyway.”
“Nor did I. But here I am.” She flung out her famous jazz hands.
“Yes, and you look amazing as always.” Sammy eyed Heidi in a dark fitted dress that gave her a figure like she had just stepped off the runway. “Look at me, I feel like a stuffed sausage in this dress. I’m bursting at the seams. Literally!” Sammy sucked in a breath to have more room, but less than a moment later, as she exhaled, she felt restricted yet again.
“Here,” Heidi removed the set of pearls that hung from Sammy’s hand. “Lose these. You need something with sparkle.”
“Heidi. It’s a funeral. Seriously? Who cares?”
Her cousin instantly plucked a beaded necklace from the jewelry box and placed it around Sammy’s neck and clasped it. “That’s better,” Heidi said as she adjusted the round pendant to sit correctly on Sammy’s neck.
“What about earrings?”
“Here, these hoops should do it.” Heidi handed her a pair of large silver earrings.
“Hoops?”
“Yes. I think Liam Nash is going to be there. I want you to look your best.” Heidi batted her eyelashes. “I can’t wait to see you two together.” She puckered her lips as if she was going to kiss the air.
“Really? What makes you think he’d go to Ingrid’s funeral?”
“I can’t believe you would ask me that. With all your amateur investigative skills,” Heidi said in jest. “The police always go to the funerals of their victims.”
Sammy reached into her closet and tossed her cousin a navy blue baseball hat, which Heidi caught at the last possible second before it hit the wood floor.
“Speaking of amateur investigative skills…”
“What are you doing? I can’t wear a hat.”
“Flip it over.”
Heidi turned the hat so the brim was facing her. The letters S.H.E. embroidered in white stood out and her rosy painted lips curled upward in a smile. “OMG … You kept this? After all these years??” She laughed heartily with one hand on her stomach to ease the pain from the hilarity. Heidi tossed the hat back to her cousin to be rehung in the closet.
“What? You don’t still have yours? I’m offended.” Sammy laughed.
“I can’t believe you still have it!” Heidi turned on her heel toward the door, “Come on, you goof. We’re already late.” She gestured her head toward the door.
Sammy clumsily made her way across the bedroom, winci
ng with each step after placing the heels back on her feet.
Heidi turned as she heard the complaining sounds reverberating from her cousin. “We need to get you out more often. No offense, but you’re starting to act like an old lady.”
* * *
The memorial was being held at an intimate Congregational church on the edge of town. Aside a long manure-covered field, a small white building with a golden cross jutted out unexpectantly. The smell of the field permeated Heidi’s car despite the closed windows. Sammy fanned a hand in front of her face to rid the air of the scent.
“I hope it doesn’t smell this bad in the church. It’s revolting.”
Heidi laughed. “The smell doesn’t bother me. As a matter of fact, I sort of like it … It reminds me of home.”
Heidi’s parents had raised her on a nearby farm where they cultivated mostly corn and soy beans. Although they did have a few animals, the eggs and meat were mostly for family consumption or the farmers market. Most of the girls’ S.H.E. games had taken place on the farm. The nearby chicken coop and barns scattered throughout the property had given them ample places for hide and seek when Ellie and Sammy had come to visit. Sammy had especially loved when her aunt would have the three collect boundless amounts of cherries from the trees for the gobs of cherry pies, cobblers, and jams she would make in the summer months for the state fair. Heidi, in her younger years, had won several ribbons with her mother’s prize-winning recipes. Sammy held these memories of a treasured childhood with her sister and cousin close to her heart. Five years ago, Heidi’s parents had sold the farm and now spent most of their retirement time living as snowbirds in Arizona, just a few miles from Sammy’s parents.
As they pulled into the parking lot, Sammy noticed the tiny lot was nearing capacity and, rather than squeeze in, Heidi decided to retreat and park alongside the road. At that moment, Sammy committed to buying a new pair of shoes for future occasions such as these. The long walk in heels would certainly not be fun. She stepped out of the car, narrowly escaping the large puddles that sat stagnant on the blacktop. The church’s parking lot was gravel filled. To cross it, the cousins had to tiptoe to the front entrance without digging their heels in the moist stones. Heidi moved more spryly than Sammy and made it to the door in record time.