The Locked Room

by Marti Talbott

  “Sounds like a good plan to me.”

  The Sherriff was interrupted when his personal phone began to play, “bad boy, bad boy, what’cha gonna do...” Love that song,” the sheriff said just before he answered.

  “Sheriff, its Margo Allen. Steven says a local lawyer named Phillips demanded Colette sell the house and the restaurant to him. We think Paige might have hired him. Colette refused to sell and he was enraged by the time he left.”

  “I see,” said the sheriff. “Maybe I’ll have a little talk with Phillips.”

  “Is that wise?” Margo asked. “If Paige hired him, he might call her and we don’t want to scare her away.”

  “True. Keep me updated. By the way, do you remember a detective Tucker?”

  “Very well.”

  “He’s here and will help us watch the house.”

  Margo exhaled her relief, “That is good news. Give him my best, will you?”

  “I’ll do that.”

  LARRY PHILLIPS WAS still hot by the time he made it back to his office. He marched in, set his briefcase on his desk and by doing so, knocked over half a cup of cold coffee. He didn’t care.

  His wife did. Sharon left the reception desk, grabbed some paper towels and went to clean up the mess, “What is wrong with you?”

  “I’ve been cheated, that’s what’s wrong.”

  “Cheated how?”

  “Not now, Sharon,” he growled as he took the roll of paper towels out of her hand.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  Phillips gritted his teeth. “I said, not now!”

  “Fine,” she shot back. “You have messages, but I don’t suppose you want those now either.”

  “From who?”

  “Some woman. She wouldn’t give her name or tell me what she wanted. She just said if you don’t call her soon, the deal if off.”

  Sharon walked to the door and then turned back, “What deal?”

  Phillips already had his phone in his hand and simply shooed his wife out with his other hand. He waited to dial the last number until she closed his office door. He tried to explain but the woman he knew at Mary Martin didn’t want to hear his excuses. “I’m doing the best I can,” he softly said so his wife couldn’t hear.

  “You’re best doesn’t seem to be...”

  “She says she’s not going to sell either the house or the restaurant.”

  “His wife?”

  “Wife? No, his daughter.”

  “Daughter?” Paige asked. “How old is his daughter”

  “I don’t know, she’s just a kid.”

  “Doesn’t she have a guardian or a relative you can talk to?”

  “Not that I know of. Her mother took off a few years ago.”

  Paige was fast losing her temper and raised her voice. “I thought you said this was going to be a breeze.”

  “I thought it would be. I’ll try again tomorrow.”

  There was a long pause on the other end before Paige said, “You’ve already wasted two days. Forget it. I’ll have to take care of this myself.”

  An instant later, the line went dead. A distraught Larry Phillips repeatedly ran his shaky hand through the top of his hair. Buying the house and the restaurant, and then tearing both apart piece by piece should have been easy. “Stupid girl,” he moaned, “Stupid, stupid Colette.” He abruptly shoved his chair back, got up, left his office and headed for the front door.

  “Where are you going?” Sharon asked.

  “I need a drink,” he muttered as he slammed the door closed behind him.

  “You need a drink?” she moaned. “I’m the one who has to work for you and live with you!”

  MORE FRENZIED THAN she had been in a long time, Paige Fowler hurried to her bedroom, cast off her lounging gown, and put on her dark blue business suit. She went to the bathroom, put makeup on, brushed her bleached blonde hair, and then grabbed blue shoes out of the closet. She got one shoe on, hobbled to her computer while putting on the other shoe. Paige found what she was looking for on the internet and printed out a map showing the fastest way to get from Montrose, Colorado, to Lost Bell. It showed a back way on a paved two-lane highway that would take her less than two hours to get there. It was much faster than going west to Grand Junction and then east again into the mountains.

  Paige fowler quickly packed an overnight bag, grabbed her purse, and found her keys. She locked the house door behind her, got in her car and started off. “Mr. Larry Phillips – I could kill you for forcing me to do this,” she muttered.

  THE NEXT KNOCK ON COLETTE’S door came just after she and Ben finished washing the dishes. That morning she dreaded seeing the man at the door, but now he was someone she wanted to see – the tow truck driver. “Mr. Jefferies, come in. Tell me the total and I’ll write a check. You will take a check, won’t you?”

  “From you? Sure, Colette.” He stepped inside, reached in the pocket of his overalls and handed her two cards. “I found these under the seat. They must have fallen out of his billfold. There were some pictures too, but they were ruined, so I threw them away.”

  “Pictures? All of me, probably.”

  “To be honest, I couldn’t tell who the people were.”

  Colette decided she didn’t want to know how they got ruined. “Thanks, Mr. Jefferies. I appreciate your concern. How much?”

  “Well, I can sell some of the parts off the car, but hauling it out of the canyon and...”

  “I know you won’t cheat me, just tell me how much.”

  “Three hundred?”

  “How about four, just for returning his cards and coming all the way here to give them to me.” She could tell he was pleased, went to get her purse, pulled out the book and sat at the table to write the first check on her new checking account.

  “I’m sorry about your dad,” Mr. Jefferies said as he took it, folded the check and put it in his shirt pocket. “I liked Dave, everyone did.”

  “Thank you.” She walked him to the door, pulled the screen door closed after he left and went back to the table. “Everyone liked him except me,” she said to Ben. “Why was that?”

  “Because with you he was strict, overbearing, overprotective, and secretive.”

  She slowly smiled. “Thanks, I needed to be reminded.” She picked her father’s keys up off the table, chose the one she wanted and handed the key ring to Ben. “Mind taking it off for me? I never can manage to do that without pinching a finger.”

  “No problem.” He worked the key off the ring, handed it to her and watched her put it in her pocket.

  “I’m thinking of buying a car. What do you recommend?”

  BEFORE BEN COULD ANSWER, Emma Rose knocked and then came in. “Artie is right behind me. He parked behind your truck so we can’t escape.”

  Artie didn’t even bother to knock, he walked in, let the screen slam and then stopped dead still. “Emma Rose gets more gorgeous every day. Don’t you agree?”

  “Don’t you have a house to sell or something?” Emma Rose asked him.

  “Nope, I came to take you to the castle.”

  “Now?” Emma Rose asked, finding a seat at the table.

  “Why not now?” Artie asked.

  “Because Miss Bouchard and I have business to discuss.” She turned her attention to Colette. “Are you serious about the restaurant.”

  “More than serious. It’ll be fun now that I can afford it.”

  “Excellent!” Emma Rose said. “Okay, so now I don’t hate you anymore.”

  “Finally,” Colette giggled. “I’d love to see the castle again.”

  “So would I,” said Ben. “I might not be back before someone buys it. This could be our last chance to break in.”

  “Well...” Emma Rose hesitated. “I don’t know. It’s probably creepy even in the daytime.”

  Artie squared his shoulders and flexed bicep muscles that were not that impressive. “Fear not, my fair maiden, I shall protect you from any and all ghosts...unless of course, there
are more than two. Then Ben will have to protect us all.”

  “Don’t I always?” Ben scoffed.

  “What else are men good for?” Emma Rose asked Ben.

  “Don’t answer that,” said Artie. “It’s a trap!”

  Colette laughed. “Are you guys hungry? I forgot to offer you some lunch.”

  Artie wrinkled his brow. “Little girl, lunch was three hours ago.”

  “Oh.” She got up and motioned for Emma Rose to follow her upstairs. “Come with me. If we’re going to the castle, I want to change clothes.”

  When they got to the top of the stairs, Colette remembered, dug her father’s key to the restaurant back out of her pocket, and handed it to Emma Rose. “For you, and may you always be happy there.”

  “You’re serious, aren’t you?” she asked following Colette into her bedroom.

  “Of course I am. I don’t know the first thing about all this, but I can’t sell it until I get the title changed over. After that, I’ll sell it to you.”

  “I still can’t get a loan.”

  “It will be a private loan.”

  Emma Rose frowned, “Colette, that’s not a good idea. I finally have you back and money turns even the best of friendships into nightmares.”

  “You think you should just work for me?”

  “No, I think I should rent the place from you until we see how it goes.”

  “Okay, I hereby grant you three months’ free rent. After that, it’s ten dollars a month and I expect to get paid promptly on the first.” She chose blue jeans, slipped out of her shorts and put them on.”

  Emma Rose took a deep breath and slowly released it. “I have missed you.”

  Colette sat on the edge of the bed and started to put on her tennis shoes. “I have a question.”

  “Which is?”

  “Promise to tell me the truth?”

  “Of course. What?”

  Colette paused to find just the right words. “Do you still love Ben?”

  Emma Rose finally sat down beside her. “The truth is, Ben will always be my first love, but I don’t love him the way I thought I did when we were kids. I discovered that falling in love with Ronnie was the real deal and not at all the way I felt about Ben.” Emma Rose heaved a sad sigh. “Now I know love is not only blind, it’s stupid.”

  “I am so sorry it didn’t work out.”

  “Thanks. Marriages don’t last long these days anyway. It’s the way of the world I guess.”

  “You don’t mean you will never marry again, do you?”

  “No, I’ll marry Artie someday.”

  Colette was truly shocked. “Really?”

  “Why not, he has a job, he’s fun to be with, and after you and Ben leave, Artie and I will be left all alone to hold this town together.”

  “Ben asked me to marry him.”

  “I thought he might. Artie and I talked half the night about it and I think Ben really does love you.”

  “Maybe, but I’ve been thinking I want to stay here. It’s going to take a while to get all of Dad’s affairs in order, and I really don’t want to be alone somewhere in the world while Ben is out to sea.”

  “I would love it if you stayed. One thing though, if Artie asks you to a high school play, say no.”

  Colette laughed out loud. “Believe me, I’ve learned that lesson.”

  From the bottom of the stairs, Artie shouted, “Hey, what are you two doing up there?”

  PAIGE MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN to Lost Bell a lot sooner is she hadn’t run out of gas. That’s the one thing she forgot to do before she left Montrose. Fortunately, she had insurance that offered roadside assistance. She called, told them where she was and when they didn’t arrive after half an hour, she called again. She kept calling, until at last, a tow truck arrived. By then she was so furious she could hardly speak. He brought her just enough gas to get to the nearest gas station, and after she called him and his service a few choice names, she drove off.

  ARTIE HELD THE FRONT car door for Emma Rose, waited until she got in, and then hurried around to the driver’s seat.

  “Nice car,” Ben said opening the back door for Colette.

  “Wait,” Colette said. She completely forgot about the painters and went around to the side of the house. “Guys, I’m going to be gone for a few hours. I left the door unlocked so if you need anything, help yourself. There are more cold drinks in the fridge, and they are all yours.”

  “Thanks,” said Steven. “We’ll be gone when you come back, but we’ll be here tomorrow.” He ignored the pitiful expression on Oliver’s face.

  “Great.” She took a moment to survey the paint job. “Good work, you two – not that I would know the difference.” Colette grinned and hurried back to her friends.

  “Buckle up,” Artie commanded. “I don’t want sheriff dad to see me breaking the law, not here anyway.” As they pulled away, he said, “I hope they finish the house soon. It’s still red on the side I can see from my house.”

  “Well,” Emma Rose started, “Maybe if you didn’t live with your parents...”

  “I don’t intend to after you marry me,” Artie protested.

  “That again?” Emma Rose moaned.

  “I told you I wasn’t taking no for an answer. You just need a little more persuading.” Artie slowly drove down Main Street, and then started up the mountain. “By the way, Colette, Dad said they fixed the guardrail yesterday.”

  “Good,” Colette breathed. “I’ll be glad not to have to see it again.”

  “I don’t want to see where he went off either,” Emma Rose agreed. “Colette thinks she might stay in town for a while.”

  “Lightning,” Colette whispered to Ben. “She’s never known a secret in her life.”

  “Oh, was that supposed to be a secret?” Emma Rose asked. “You didn’t tell me that.”

  “This car is far too quiet,” Ben whispered back. “She can hear every word.”

  “Brand new right off the lot,” said Artie. “Dad said if I’m going to be a bigshot real-estate mogul, I should look the part.”

  “He bought it for you?” Emma Rose asked.

  “Sort of,” Artie answered.

  “What is sort of supposed to mean? Either he bought it or you did,” Emma Rose argued.

  “Details, Emma Rose, you always want the details.”

  “Yes I do.”

  “Let’s just say we both signed the papers.”

  “He co-signed,” said Emma Rose. “Why didn’t you just say that?”

  In the back seat, Ben and Colette enjoyed the banter and while the two up front were busy talking, Ben held his hand out to Colette. She looked at his hand, at the hopeful light in his eyes, and then at his hand again. This was different than all the playful times she took his hand to insist he go somewhere with her. She thought about what taking his hand would imply, tried to think what might be wrong with the idea, couldn’t think of a thing, and slipped her hand into his. The pleased look in his expression thrilled her and if someone were to ask her what Artie and Emma Rose were talking about up front, she wouldn’t have been able to tell them.

  Colette hadn’t realized how much she missed her friends, especially Ben. She remembered going with his parents to watch him get on the train in Glenwood Springs, and madly waving goodbye as the train began to move. He was off to join the Navy, and when his mother started to cry, so did she. Colette cried for most of that day and didn’t really realize why until just now.

  Her hand was in the hand of a man that made her go weak in the knees. For years she wouldn’t let herself admit she was in love with him, but there was no denying it now. Colette’s next thought was about her father. She was starting to miss him finally. What would old jawbone say if he knew how she felt about Ben, she wondered. He seemed to like Ben. At least he never said he didn’t, and her father never held back when he didn’t approve of someone. Dave even liked Artie on most days – a little less than Ben, perhaps, but if she had chosen Artie, she didn’t think her fathe
r would have objected.

  Her dad must have planned for her to get married someday. Why else would he buy a wedding dress? Of course, now he wouldn’t be there to walk her down...” Colette bit her lower lip, and turned to look out the window before she burst into tears in front of everyone. She had to think of something else, so she thought about Ben and someday being his wife.

  COLETTE AND HER FRIENDS hadn’t been gone long before Steven and Oliver put the lids on the paint cans, put their brushes to soak in a pail of water, took off their white overalls and went in the house. While Steven washed his hands in the kitchen sink, Oliver pulled two sodas out of the fridge, opened one, set the other one on the counter, and drank half of his. As soon as Steven was finished, he too went to wash the paint off his hands. There was more paint on his hands than on Steven’s, he noticed, but he was not surprised.

  Steven sipped his soda, checked his messages and frowned.

  “Still not speaking to you?” Oliver asked.

  “She’s out getting a quicky divorce. I don’t think you can get one in Rapid City, but who knows?” Steven moaned.

  Oliver went back to the living room. “Interesting how Davet lived. It’s a big house for just two people, but the location is great. He probably walked to work and back most days.”

  Steven followed Oliver to the living room and sat down. “You call your folks yet?”

  “No need, Mom is used to my being more or less irresponsible when it comes to keeping in touch.” Oliver answered. “How many houses did you have to paint, to work your way through college.”

  Steven chuckled, “Two.”

  “What? Only two?

  “I fell off a ladder painting the second one, broke my leg and that was the end of my house painting career.”

  “You dog, you made me think you were an expert.”

  “You didn’t hear me actually say that, did you?”

  “I guess not,” Oliver admitted.