Charlotte knew where this was going. It was becoming clear that the person Burt wanted her to meet was Emmy. She also made note of the fact the last time someone had said they’d be great friends, it didn’t turn out that way. Gabby Raye had seemed to think she and Charlotte would get along splendidly, but as it turned out, Gabby Raye’s love for Christmas was not nearly enough to make Charlotte like her.
“I’m always up for new friends,” Charlotte said, taking a gallon of milk from the cooler.
“I’ll get you her number when we get back to the car. Her name is Emmy. She’s a great lady, just like you.”
Charlotte wasn’t so sure that they were just alike, but she wasn’t one to judge before she knew for sure. Having her work cut out for her, Charlotte now had to add one more thing to her task list. Bake cookies, deliver them to Norm and see what she could find out about the reason Kira was at Hannah’s in the first place. Find out where Franco lived, visit him and find out why he was fired, and then force herself to talk to Emmy. This house-sitting job had sure turned out to be much more than she’d planned on. Suddenly, being back in the city working at Claus Creations seemed like much less work.
Chapter 14
“I’d like to point out that you said you were going to come get your bowl, and you did not come back to get your bowl.”
“Hello, Stewart,” Charlotte said, taking the bowl from him. “I apologize if I inconvenienced you at all.”
Charlotte was trying hard not to show her amusement.
“I suppose it’s alright. I believe you’ve been through the wringer. A mighty fine welcome to Partridge Point, eh?” Stewart commented. His face was in a scowl, despite his attempt at kindness. His hands were in his pockets, and his furry ear flap hat tied together his grumpy old man look very well.
“It’s been an adventure. Would you like to come in?” Charlotte asked her temporary neighbor.
“I don’t do that. I’m not like all the other people that live around here walking in and out of each other’s house like it’s no big deal. Weird, if you ask me.” Stewart rocked back and forth on his heels.
“How about we stay out here and talk, then?” Charlotte suggested.
“I suppose.”
“Would you like to sit?” Charlotte asked, unable to stop her laughter.
“I’d rather not stand,” Stewart said, finding himself a chair.
The snow hadn’t started to fall yet, but the air was brisk and the wind was harsh. Charlotte wanted to hear more about what Stewart had to say so she knew she’d have to put up with it.
“Why did you say you didn’t want to come inside?
“I just told you that.” Stewart sighed. “My ex-wife had memory issues, too. I understand. I’ll repeat myself. I don’t want to come inside because I don’t know you. I have no reason to enter your home, especially when it’s not even really your home.”
Charlotte considered getting up and gathering some of the leftover snow from the last snowfall and throwing it at Stewart. “Okay. You said everyone goes inside everyone else’s house around here. What did you mean by that?”
“Ian and his buddies are in and out of this house all the time. I’m pretty sure the entire neighborhood has a key. Then there’s Miss Sutton. She just leaves her place unlocked. She told me once when I saw her in the post office parking lot to let myself in and borrow some stamps from her. I was late to arrive and the post office was closed already. The offer was nice, but it made much more sense that I wait until morning to come back and get stamps and mail my letters. Sometimes young people just don’t make any sense,” Stewart scoffed, shaking his head at the thought.
“Have you seen anyone go in Hannah’s house recently?” Charlotte asked.
“Miss Snow. She’s in there often. Polite girl, a bit too chatty for me. I saw the cookie lady in there once too, uhh. Emery? Emmelda? I can’t recall her name. She’s not very memorable if you ask me. Then there’s Ian, and I suppose I’ve seen that Kira Dade in there a time or two. Once with her husband. Poor soul does all her bidding. I’m sure there are plenty more, but that’s all I’ve got for now. Do you have more of that soup?”
“One thing at a time, Stewart. Is it Emmy you are thinking of?” Charlotte asked.
“Sounds right. Mother of the boyfriend.”
Stewart was helpful, but obviously out of the loop. “Are you saying that all the people you listed have been at Hannah’s recently?”
“Are you fishing for clues about the murder?” Stewart asked, matter-of-factly.
Charlotte gasped. “You caught on. Listen, if all of those people were in her house recently, that means they all had the opportunity to get the knife that was used to kill Kira. I have to admit that I already had a few of these names on my list, but you just confirmed it for me. Stewart, did you see anything suspicious?”
“The Snow girl always looked cold when she came around, in some sort of exercise gear. That’s suspicious to me, since it’s way too cold out for that lately. Ian’s gone. A fancy looking man came around every day, but that’s not out of the ordinary. I believe he works with Miss Sutton.”
“What about Emmy, Kira and Norm?” Charlotte asked, wondering if Stewart was being so difficult on purpose.
“Emmy… Umm, I think she came by one day last week or so. The other two, they came over the following day. I heard them blabbering on about cookies. I don’t see why that whole cookie party is such a big deal. People can’t enjoy cookies that much.”
“Personally, I think cookies are great. Can you excuse me for a moment?” Charlotte went inside, carrying the bowl with her and returning with a plate of cookies.
“You brought me cookies?” Stewart raised a brow. “Are you a witch? How did you know I’d mention cookies?”
“Yes. I’m a witch, but don’t tell anyone.” Charlotte snickered. “They are all for you, and they are on a disposable plate, so you don’t have to worry about me forgetting to take it back.”
“I’ll wash the plate and reuse it actually, but that was a good thought on your part. Maybe you will change my mind about the cookies. You don’t even have to try to trick me into taking them this time.” Stewart narrowed his eyes, looking at Charlotte. “I’m going to leave now. Thank you for talking with me. It wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be.”
“Thanks?” Charlotte replied, taking it as a compliment, at least coming from Stewart, it sounded that way. “Let me know what you think of the cookies.”
Charlotte watched Stewart as he moseyed away. He took his time, looking at the decorations that she’d put out, shaking his head as he passed. Even though Stewart had taken up her time that she was going to spend going to talk to Franco, she was glad that he stopped by. She still had time to go to Norm’s that night, but decided that she might try to take Burt’s advice and give Emmy a call. She’d go to Norm’s in the morning. Seeing him in the daylight sounded like a better idea, anyway.
Charlotte used the landline at Ian’s to call Emmy. She didn’t really want the woman to have her personal phone number. She hoped Burt had given her Emmy’s cellphone number and not her house number. There was a chance that Teddy would answer that phone, and Charlotte didn’t want to talk to him. Not until she spoke to his mother, at least.
“Kline residence,” Emmy said cheerfully answering the call.
“Hello, Emmy. This is Charlotte Claus.”
“Oh. Hello,” she replied, her tone changing. “What can I do for you?”
After explaining to Emmy about Burt’s suggestion they be friends, Charlotte paused, waiting for Emmy’s take on the idea.
“Burt’s a good man. I’m thinking you and I started out well, but then ended up on the wrong foot. I like you, Charlotte, but I’m not sure now is the time to start a friendship. Between the upcoming holidays, Teddy being in town, and everything going on with Hannah, it’s probably better off that we keep our distance.”
“I think the holidays are a fine time to make friends. Emmy, would you be willing to tell me
why you dislike Hannah so much?” Charlotte asked, hoping for the truth. Teddy had filled her in, but his perspective might be different.
“She made my son leave. She broke his heart and he couldn’t take the pain, so he left.” Emmy hissed. “I’m just glad it happened before he went through with proposing to her.”
Charlotte didn’t know the real reason behind anything relating to Teddy and Hannah, but she had to ask, “did you ever consider that there might be another reason?”
“Like what?” Emmy clicked her tongue.
“I don’t know, but maybe you should have a conversation with Teddy about it. You know he doesn’t believe Hannah could have killed Kira, and I think you need to take that into consideration. From what I gather, they were together a long time and very close. You should talk to your son.”
Emmy sighed. “Maybe you’re right. He’s been so upset with me lately. I was bitter, and holding a grudge. Now my son is here for the first time in over a year and will barely say two words to me unless it’s pass the potatoes.”
“Being open and having a conversation with someone can go a long way. I hope it works out, Emmy. I really mean that. If you reconsider and want to be friends, I’ll be ready and waiting. I think Burt had the right idea about us.”
“Thanks for the call, Charlotte,” Emmy said, hanging up the phone.
Charlotte knew it was just a gut feeling, but she didn’t think that Emmy’s grudge against Hannah would cause her to kill Kira at Hannah’s house just to frame her. There were too many parts that didn’t fit in order to make that plausible. Plus, Teddy would have known that his mother wasn’t at home when he left the house to bring Charlotte the cookies. They only had one car, and Teddy had it at Charlotte’s. Emmy wasn’t the killer, Charlotte was almost positive of that. Making friends with her sounded like a much better idea than accusing her of murder, anyway.
Charlotte cleaned up the house, settled in for the night and went to bed early. She had a busy day ahead of her.
Chapter 15
Charlotte had a change of heart at the last minute. She’d packed up Hannah’s car with several trays of cookies and headed for Franco’s house instead of Norm’s. She parked in the street, seeing that he lived in a duplex and didn’t want to take someone else’s spot. After a few knocks on the door with no answer, Charlotte called out to Franco. She could hear his TV blaring from the inside of his apartment.
“Why are you hereeeee,” Franco groaned, opening the door. “Oh, Charlotte. It’s you.”
Charlotte was brought back to the night she first met Hannah, only this was much worse. Franco’s hair was going out in every direction, he hadn’t shaved in at least a few days, and the bathrobe he was wearing was rattier than the old loafers he had on his feet.
“Franco. Are you okay?” Charlotte asked, immediately feeling concerned for the young man.
“I’ve been better. I’d invite you in, but my house looks worse than I do.”
“I didn’t come here to see the house, I came here to see the person that lives in it.” Charlotte had come for a specific reason, but it looked like Franco needed a friend more than he needed to be there for Charlotte while she went on a wild goose chase looking for Kira’s killer.
“Fine. Come in,” Franco agreed, stepping back. “You heard I was fired, I assume?”
“Yes. I was very sorry to hear about that. What happened?” Charlotte asked.
“Someone found out that I was still helping Hannah and didn’t like it. I thought they’d just suspend me or something, but no… that monster Gabby Raye has the final say. How she ended up taking over for Hannah is beyond me.”
“How did they find out?”
“Beats me. It could have been anyone around this evil town. I have half a mind to think it was her twit of an ex.” Franco flopped down on his couch. Charlotte wondered if that’s where he’d been sitting for the last who knows how many days. As she sat, she could see the crumbs fly everywhere.
“Teddy?”
“Yeah? Why wouldn’t it be him? Gabby Raye is the worst person I’ve ever met in my life, but she’s no killer. Think about it, Teddy comes back after all this time, shows up at your house which just happens to be right next to Hannah’s, on the night Kira is killed. He lures her there, kills her, drops some cookies off to you like Prince Charming, then takes off leaving Hannah to deal with the mess, just like he did the last time he left. Who do you think was there to pick up the pieces of her broken heart?” Franco was fuming.
“Wow,” Charlotte said, easing into a chair.
“Prince Charming, like I said. No one ever considered him. Meanwhile, I just sit alone in my house all day eating bon-bons, and watching old game shows, mulling over all the different reasons behind Kira’s murder.”
“I thought it was Norm, to be completely honest with you, and I hate to think that Teddy might be responsible, but it makes sense. He leaves, comes back a year later, bitter than ever, kills someone to frame his ex. It fits.” Charlotte didn’t mention how eerily well it fit, since Teddy had been so positive that someone had framed Hannah. He’d played a good role. So good, that Charlotte had overlooked him entirely.
“I considered him myself, too but couldn’t come up with a reason he’d have been at Hannah’s.” Franco pulled a chip from the cushion next to him, putting it in his mouth.
“What if they came to Hannah’s together?” Charlotte asked, doing her best not to gag. “Or what if Norm killed Kira because she talked him out of running for mayor? I know Kira had a thing for Teddy, and if she wanted to please him, she might have talked Norm out of running, so Hannah had a better chance of winning. If she made Teddy happy, by making his girlfriend’s life easier…”
“What kind of messy situation is that? It makes no sense. Norm didn’t want to run for mayor. I’d have certainly known about that.” Franco furrowed his eyebrows, looking annoyed. “Who told you this?”
“Teddy,” Charlotte said, cringing. “Like you said, I didn’t consider him, so he and I had several conversations about the murder. He told me a lot of different things.”
“Oh? Like what? I hope he didn’t do anything to try to confuse you. You’re the only one in town that doesn’t know him, so it probably worked out well that you were here. He could play the good guy to Hannah’s friend, so you’d go back and tell her how great he is.”
“If he’s the killer, I think he will be caught. We all agree that it wasn’t Hannah, and I think the police are more than capable enough of figuring out who the responsible party is.”
“If they are even still investigating. It’s a pretty open and shut case. Her house, her knife, her prints. Poor Hannah.”
“Could we tell the police about Teddy?” Charlotte asked.
“I can’t. I lost my good name. No one trusts me anymore. I live in my bathrobe that I’ve had since 1999, and I eat food from directly off my couch. My life as I knew it is over. Oooveeeer.” Franco put his hand across his forehead, and laid flat on his couch.
Charlotte couldn’t pretend she didn’t enjoy his theatrics, even at a time like this when things were hard, Franco was so outrageous that she had a hard time hiding her reaction.
“Well, I could be the one that goes to the police. I’m just a sweet old lady.” Charlotte laughed. “They have no reason not to at least listen to what I have to say. I should tell you, though. The real reason I came here was to let you know that I was going to talk to Norm. Until now, I truly believed that he was the killer, and I wanted someone that I trusted to know where I was going to be just in case it went badly. I wonder if I should still go?”
Franco flung his arm off the side of the couch, and looked at Charlotte. “You can obviously do whatever you want. You have good instincts, and you seem to care about Hannah. Maybe I’m wrong and it was Norm, maybe it was you, heck, maybe I killed her myself. I don’t know anything anymore, I’m just Mr. jobless, pathetic, food-covered, Franco. That’s my name now, I’d say I’d legally change it, but I’m not even suppo
sed to go to the town office anymore, so I can’t. What a terrible life this turned out to be,” Franco wailed, starting his dramatics again.
“Would you like some cookies?” Charlotte asked, trying to snap Franco out of his mood.
He jumped up. “Cookies. Why, yes. I’d love some cookies. Do you happen to have any spare pants in your car? Mine aren’t fitting me so well anymore.”
Charlotte thought Franco looked like he could use something more than cookies. Maybe a long nap, or a vacation. He was on edge, and losing his mind, and his living room had more food in it than a grocery store aisle.
“I don’t have pants, but someone told me once that cookies at Christmas time don’t have any calories,” Charlotte joked.
“That sounds true. I like your style. Bring on the cookies!” Franco finally gave a smile.
Charlotte went out to her car, took the largest plate of cookies she could find from the stack in her backseat, and went back to inside Franco’s.
“They look delicious. So, did you decide? Are you going to Norm’s? Do you need me to be a lookout? Wait, we could have a stake out.”
Charlotte put her hand on Franco’s shoulder. “I may go see Norm, yes. But I don’t think I need a lookout, and I definitely don’t think we need to have a stakeout. I’m going to drop off some cookies at his house and just talk for a bit. Nothing more. Right after that, I think I’ll go to the police and tell them about Teddy. That is, unless I find out that it was Norm and not Teddy. Oh, boy, maybe I do need a lookout. What if it really was Norm? Maybe I shouldn’t go.”
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