Fatal Footsteps

by Brenda Donelan

  “My date tonight wasn’t all talk and smooching. I asked Adam some questions about Tim, and he was very forthcoming. He said Tim was determined to take over the farm when he graduated college and that he and Pam argued about it last week,” Jasmine reported.

  “Really? What else did he have to say?”

  “He doesn’t think Tim started the fire or even knew about it. Adam thinks Tim was lured out of the house by Pam. Adam called her that night to tell her Tim had been knocked out, so she was aware of his head injury. She might have seen this as the perfect time to do away with her brother and keep the farm for herself, but do you really think Pam is that evil?” Jasmine asked. “It would take a heartless person to kill their own sibling, don’t you think?”

  “Yeah, it would. But Blanche is convinced Pam killed her cousin, Billy, and when I told her about Tim’s death, she immediately suspected Pam. Plus, you just said Adam thinks Pam lured Tim away from the house the night he hit his head. Maybe she’s responsible for the fire,” Marlee said.

  “Could Pam actually kill Tim and hide his body in the shed, and then act like nothing happened?” Jasmine arched her eyebrow, her skepticism evident.

  “We just don’t know. She might be somebody who seems perfectly normal on the outside, but in reality, she’s a cold-blooded killer. And I’m not going to rest until I figure out what happened.”

  When I think back, there were plenty of people who would benefit from my death. And not just my family.

  Chapter 21

  Jasmine and Marlee collapsed on a pile of blankets on the floor in their dorm room. Both were fully clothed, including their coats. They were both out within seconds. Marlee didn’t even hear the phone ring. Jasmine shook her shoulder and mumbled something incoherent.

  “What?” Marlee sat up and grabbed the phone receiver that Jasmine held in her direction.

  “Can you pick me up at the station? I’m off duty now,” Barry said, fatigue creeping into his voice.

  “On my way,” Marlee said, already on her feet and ready to go.

  She gave a brief explanation to Jasmine, who was already back asleep. Marlee picked Barry up and told him everything that occurred with Jasmine’s date with Adam and her own conversation with Pam. Plus, she relayed Jasmine’s comments to her. Barry didn’t have anything new to report. The main theory at the police station remained the same: Tim wandered out to the family farm, delirious from being knocked out, became confused, and froze to death.

  “The results from Tim’s autopsy should be in tomorrow, even though it’s a Sunday,” Barry reported as he dropped Marlee off in front of her dorm. “I’ll let you know what I hear about it.”

  The next morning came way too soon, as Marlee found herself still dressed and clad in her winter coat lying on the floor. Jasmine had migrated to her lofted bed where she snored softly. A wind-up alarm clock rang, but neither roommate could locate the offending gadget.

  “Did you set the alarm?” Marlee growled. She wasn’t a morning person to begin with, and her lack of sleep these past few days had turned her into a major grump.

  “No, did you?” Jasmine snarled back. If not cheerful in the morning, at least Jasmine was sociable, but the lack of sleep was catching up to her too.

  After Jasmine found the alarm clock, she silenced it and threw it against her pillow. “I don’t know how it got turned on,” she grumbled as she fell back asleep. It was nearly one o’clock in the afternoon when they woke again.

  “Shit! We missed class!” Jasmine shouted, slithering out of bed.

  “Isn’t it Saturday?” Marlee asked, hoping, but not sure.

  “Well, it’s too late now to go to class.” Jasmine poked her head out the door and asked someone in the hallway who confirmed that it was indeed the weekend.

  “Hallelujah!” Marlee yelled, even though she wasn’t particularly religious.

  A knock on the door preceded the unlocked door being flung open. “Wakey-wakey!” called out Kristie as she stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips. “What do you think you’re going to accomplish if you stay in bed all day?”

  Jasmine and Marlee exchanged looks. They both wanted to punch their dorm neighbor in the face, even though it wasn’t her fault that she hadn’t been kept up to date on their investigative efforts. “Hey, Kristie,” Jasmine said.

  “Have you two been avoiding me lately?” Kristie seemed hurt that her friends hadn’t been including her in activities. If she only knew the nature of the activities her dorm neighbors had been involved in.

  “No, we’ve just been really busy,” Marlee said. “How about you? Have you been avoiding us? We knocked on your door a couple times to see if you wanted to hang out.” She thought turning the tables might get Kristie off track, even if it was a lie.

  “No! I guess I’ve been busy too. We haven’t even had a chance to talk about Tim DeWitt’s death. Can you believe there have been two student deaths in the past week and that we knew them both?” Kristie shuddered as she spoke.

  “It’s horrible,” Jasmine said, glancing at Marlee for guidance on how much to share. They were obligated to keep their alliance with Barry Stevens a secret, but the sources of all the bits and pieces of information they received via the police department were murky at best.

  “Have you heard anything on what caused his death, Kristie?” Marlee asked.

  “No, just that he was found frozen out in the country somewhere. That’s another odd thing, both Beth and Tim were found frozen to death.”

  “You’re right. There’s just too much going on to comprehend,” Jasmine agreed.

  “Why were you two sleeping so late? And why are you dressed and wearing coats?” Kristie asked.

  “We didn’t want to say anything to anybody just yet. We thought we would wait and see if anyone noticed. For the past couple weeks, we’ve been getting up really early and going to the gym to work out. When we got back this morning, we were both really cold and tired so we stretched out to rest for a bit and overslept.” Marlee could feel her neck and face growing hot as she spun the lie to her friend.

  “Yeah,” Jasmine chimed in. “And we’re entering a body-building contest in April.”

  Kristie and Marlee both turned to stare at Jasmine. “Um, okay,” Kristie finally uttered, suppressing a laugh. Marlee gave Jasmine a death glare so she wouldn’t try to improvise any more of the story. A body-building competition was an unrealistic explanation for why the two roommates had been so busy. Neither possessed the physique that would be favorable to extreme muscle building, especially within the next two months. Jasmine was tall and willowy with almost no body fat. Marlee was short and stout with a doughy middle.

  When she couldn’t take it anymore, Kristie finally gave a chuckle and said, “Well, I better let you two get back to pumping iron. Let me know when the competition is held, and I’ll be there to cheer you on.”

  After they heard Kristie’s door close next door, Marlee whispered, “What the hell were you thinking, Jazz? You’re terrible at lying!”

  “I was just trying to add in some detail to your story. Besides, how believable is it that we’re getting up early to go to the gym? That doesn’t seem like a story anyone would believe.”

  “Sooner or later, we’ll have to tell Kristie that we backed out of the body-building competition. Let me handle the excuse for that, okay?” Marlee was afraid Jasmine would dig them into a bigger hole with one of her ever-expanding stories.

  Before long, they were able to laugh at their feeble attempt at throwing their friend off the real story. The wall phone interrupted their laughter as they took turns striking different muscle woman poses.

  Marlee answered the phone and listened without saying much. When she hung up, there was plenty to report to her roommate. “That was Barry. Tim’s autopsy is finished, and they think the cause of death was from a head injury. But get this, the medical examiner doesn’t think the injury that killed him is from the fall down the stairs. There was another head injury more on t
he top of his head. And it looks like it was intentional rather than accidental.”

  “Intentional? So, what does this mean?” Jasmine asked.

  “It means the death is being ruled as suspicious, and the police are now looking for Tim’s killer.” The news came as a shock to both roommates, and they sat down on the floor.

  “Somebody actually killed Tim? It wasn’t an accident? Somebody wanted Tim to die?” Jasmine was in shock and could not wrap her mind around the facts.

  “It’s horrible that Tim is dead, but now to find out that somebody killed him…” Marlee let the sentence hang as she struggled to find words.

  Taking a deep breath, Jasmine crossed her legs and lifted herself up off the floor. “Do the police have any suspects?”

  “None that Barry knew of. He’ll do some asking around today about Pam’s involvement in Billy’s death. At this point, we don’t know if the story Blanche told has any factual basis or if she’s just some weird old cat lady who likes to spread gossip,” Marlee said.

  Jasmine strode over to Marlee’s bed and retrieved the notebook on Beth and Tim’s deaths from under the mattress. “Let’s update the notebook.” Jasmine, who was usually the one to fall apart, was composed and focused on the task at hand. Marlee on the other hand, had a spinning head and a mind racing for answers.

  Upon updating the information in the notebook, Marlee ripped a page out of the notebook and wrote MOTIVES at the top. “In order to figure out who did it, maybe we need to determine why someone would kill Tim.”

  “Good idea. I think money is a typical motive,” Jasmine said.

  “Yes, that’s always a consideration. Revenge is another one,” Marlee reported, thinking back to her criminology class and their discussion on why people kill.

  “I think love could be a factor too.”

  “How so?” Marlee asked, puzzled as to why someone would kill another person if they truly loved them.

  “It could be because of betrayal. A wife comes home and finds her husband in bed with the babysitter. The wife flips out and kills them both because she loved the husband and hated the babysitter.”

  Marlee jotted down Jasmine’s contribution. “Maybe Tim had something that someone else wanted or he had information someone didn’t want him to make public. I think Pam killing her brother to keep the farm might fit in here.”

  “What about Tim’s roommates? What might be their motivation for killing him? I’m not saying any of them did it, but if one or more of them did, why?

  “Hmmm,” Marlee said as she chewed on the end of the pencil. “Any of the above reasons, I suppose. It might have to do with the fire. Tim knew who set it and why, and the killer was afraid he would turn them in.”

  “Other than one or more of the roommates killing Tim because of the fire or Pam killing him to keep the farm to herself, who else would want him dead?” Jasmine queried.

  “No one that I can think of. I think the Pam theory and the roommate theory are both a bit of a stretch. Since the coroner ruled the death suspicious and not a homicide, maybe someone struck Tim with an object, not meaning to kill him. It would still be homicide, but it wouldn’t fall under first-degree murder.” The more Marlee thought about Tim’s death, the more confused she became.

  “Did Tim or his family have a lot of money?” Jasmine asked.

  “I don’t think so. I’d say they were middle-class just based on their homes, cars, and clothes. Why?”

  “Maybe somebody was blackmailing Tim, and when he didn’t pay they killed him,” Jasmine suggested.

  “Do you even know what blackmail is?” Marlee was skeptical that her roommate knew half the terms she threw around.

  “It has something to do with money. I know that much,” Jasmine sniffed, peeved that she’d been called out.

  “Here’s an example,” Marlee said, getting ready to repeat what she learned in class earlier in the semester. “I steal fifty dollars from Kristie, and you find out about it, and you threaten to tell Kristie or turn me in to the cops if I don’t pay you half to keep quiet.”

  “Can you think of anything Tim would’ve done that could be used against him by a blackmailer?”

  “No, unless he cheated on a test and somebody found out. Even so, I have a hard time believing someone would kill another person over that,” Marlee said.

  “So unless some other motive comes to the surface, our most likely suspects are Tim’s roommates and his sister,” Jasmine said.

  “I guess so. The one thing I know for sure is that we need to start all over questioning each of them.” Marlee called Barry and arranged to borrow his car again that night while he was on duty.

  “Who do you want to talk to?” Barry asked.

  “Jazz and I are going to talk to Tim’s roommates and Pam. Right now, we think those are the most likely culprits, although I sort of doubt any of them killed Tim. At least I don’t think they intentionally killed him,” Marlee said.

  “You two need to realize that this case is dangerous. Tim was killed. He didn’t just die from exposure to the cold. Keep in mind that whoever wanted Tim dead doesn’t want to be found out. They will go to whatever lengths necessary to remain in the clear. If you and Jasmine question the wrong people, they may do away with both of you.” Barry was stern in his lecture and Marlee took offense. She didn’t need some guy taking a paternalistic role in a misguided attempt at protecting them. She just wanted updated information on the case and unlimited use of Barry’s car.

  Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Marlee said, “You’re not trying to tell me what do, are you, Barry?”

  He broke out into laughter. “As if anyone could tell you what to do. Look, I’m not trying to control you. I just want you and Jasmine to be aware of the potential danger, especially since the guy Jasmine went on a date with last night is charged with attempted rape.”

  “I’m not letting her out of my sight if they go out again,” Marlee said.

  “What do you mean? Is she thinking of seeing him again? Didn’t you tell her about his rape charge?” Barry was livid.

  “I told her, and I’m sure she won’t go out with him again. I just meant that after last night, I’m keeping an eye on Jasmine no matter who she dates.” Marlee wasn’t sure if Barry would buy her backtracking excuse, but he didn’t challenge her.

  They ended their conversation with the agreement that Barry would pick up Marlee and Jasmine at their dorm and then turn his car over to them after he was dropped off at the police station. After showers and a change of clothing, the roommates walked over to the Student Union for some food. Both were starving, and they heaped their trays with pasta, French fries, grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, and chocolate cake.

  After eating like pigs, Jasmine and Marlee waddled back to their dorm room and loafed around until Barry came to pick them up. “I want you two to be careful,” Barry said before getting out of the car and turning the wheel over to Marlee. “I’m serious. If anything happened, I don’t think I could live with it.”

  “Easy on the drama,” Marlee teased. “We won’t do anything reckless. And we’ll call in to leave a message for you here and there.” Barry nodded, although his face was lined with worry. He knew damned well they would do whatever they pleased, regardless of the danger level.

  “What should we do first?” Jasmine asked.

  Marlee glanced at her watch. It was nearing five o’clock, and even though the campus library didn’t close for several more hours, she thought Blanche might be off duty soon. Before they went inside, Marlee had a firm chat with Jasmine. “You’re a shitty liar, so don’t try to spin a yarn. Just go along with what I say and don’t add anything.”

  Jasmine nodded her assent, but she was anything but happy about it. She had been nearly as involved in this matter as her roommate, yet Marlee seemed to think she was the lead detective on the case. She had to admit that she was a horrible liar, so Marlee did have a point.

  Blanche was just walking out of the back exit fro
m the library when Marlee and Jasmine spotted her from the parking lot. Marlee jogged up and reintroduced herself to Blanche, who had cooled off since their last talk. “Can we take you out for a beer or a cup of coffee?” Marlee asked.

  “Sure,” said Blanche, her eyes growing wide with glee. “Where should we go?” The wheels in Blanche’s head were turning as she thought about the various choices.

  “How about the Student Union?” Marlee asked, remembering that she was low on cash and had a meal card. “Unless you want a beer.”

  They agreed on the Student Union, and Marlee waived Jasmine over from the car and made introductions. “I was telling my roommate here about our conversation. We just had a couple other things to ask you about Tim.”

  “I’ll tell you what I know, but you probably won’t believe me. The cops thought I was lying when I told them about Pam killing Billy. Everyone just wants to stick their heads in the sand,” Blanche said with a touch of bitterness.

  “We want to hear everything you have to say,” Jasmine said, assuring Blanche that they were on her side.

  They settled in at the Student Union with hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls for each of them. “Pam could lie her way out of anything,” Blanche said as she chewed her roll. “She puts on a good show and has everyone fooled.”

  “Did you like Pam when you first met her?” Marlee inquired.

  “I sure did. She was nice, friendly, and seemed like the type of person everyone would want as a friend or in their family. My husband, Art, was fooled by Pam too, until Billy died. He thought she knew more about Billy’s death than she let on. Of course, Tim always maintained that Pam shook the ladder Billy was standing on and caused him to fall and break his neck. I wasn’t around during any of this, mind you. Art and Lola were in the process of getting divorced when Billy died, but no one in the family knew it. They had to stay together for a bit after his death for appearances,” Blanche said, stopping for another bite of cinnamon roll.