“Yes, of course. No one needs to know what’s going on with the investigation. We don’t want to put ourselves at unnecessary risk, so on and so forth.”
Matthew furrowed his brow. “You could take this a little more seriously, Belle.”
She huffed. “I am taking this seriously. I’m the one that suggested we trap the killer, but no. You two don’t want to do that.”
I raised my hand like a child in school. “Uh, I’m with them on this one. Sorry.”
She pouted. “Traitor.”
“If that’s what you think, I’m fine with that.”
“There’s a safe way to do this, and we’re doing it that way. We’ve already had two people killed. I’m not going to lose anyone else, no matter who it is,” Dylan said.
“I just think we could end this faster if we had a different plan,” she said.
“We don’t have a plan,” Matthew said. “In fact, there is no we in this. There is a Bramblett County Sheriff’s Office, and there is you and Lily, but there isn’t a we when it comes to a plan. You’re doing what the sheriff’s office asks because your other option is jail time.”
He had this authoritative tone to his voice, a booming, strong tone that made me want to stand up straighter and say yes, sir. It bordered on militaristic, and it impressed me. “Belle, he’s right. We have to do what they say, so no funny business, okay?”
She held her hands up in surrender. “No funny business from me, I promise. I think this is wrong, but hey, I’m a real estate agent, not a cop, and I don’t watch a whole lot of crime TV, so clearly, I don’t know what I’m talking about.”
Matthew caught my eye, and I whispered, “She’ll be fine. She’s just scared.”
“I heard that,” she said.
“I made sure you did.”
“Our guys from Atlanta will be at your office in a few hours. Can I have the code to give them to let them in?” Dylan asked.
“The code’s easy. It’s our street address. We haven’t changed it since we got the new keypad lock last month,” Belle said.
Dylan lectured us on how dangerous that was.
“Hey, blame her, not me. I keep telling her we need to change it. She keeps forgetting.”
“It’s true. I do, but I promise, we’ll do it after class today.”
The guys left in their department registered vehicles, making sure we saw the two deputies assigned to us hanging out nearby, and Belle and I headed out for our day. I walked Bo and then dropped him off at daycare and drove to Millie’s to pick up the breakfast order for class, though I had to have Millie reduce the order again since Heather definitely wouldn’t be there.
“Such a shame,” Millie said.
I pushed back a tear developing in the corner of my right eye. “I still can’t believe it.”
“Such a talented artist, that girl. May she rest in peace.” Ellie Jean appeared behind me and rested her hand on my shoulder. “How’re you holding up sweetie?”
“I’m okay, Ellie Jean. A little shaken up, but life goes on and it’s best to let it, you know? I think she’d want that.”
“I’m sure she would.”
Millie hollered toward the kitchen. “Someone bring me out one of those scones I just took out of the oven, right quick. I got someone that could use a little pick me up.” She pulled one of her pink Millie’s Café treat boxes from under the counter and put it together. “I just made some new scones. You’ll love ‘em. Fresh batch, right out of the oven, too. You seeing Belle today? I’ll give you one for her, too. Nothing’s better at healing a wounded heart than a sweet treat. And I’ll tell you a secret, it’s got chocolate in it.”
My mouth watered. “There’s definitely something to say for chocolate healing a broken heart, so I will definitely take you up on the offer, and for Belle, too.” I dug in my bag for my wallet. “How much do I owe you?”
“Oh, sweetie, don’t you dare try and pay me a dime, you hear? I’d be insulted, and you don’t want to insult the woman that makes your coffee and sweet tea every morning. Why, I might just give you decaf one morning for revenge.” She winked at me, and I laughed.
“You sure, Millie? I don’t mind paying for it.”
“’Course I’m sure, honey. That’s what we do here, you know that.” She handed me the bag and the other items for the class. “You sure you got all this?”
“I think so.”
“Ellie Jean, you might could help her with that tumbler, right?”
“Was planning on it, Millie. Once you get me my coffee, that is.”
She poured her a cup, added some sugar and cream, topped it with a lid and handed it to her. “It’s on me since you’re helping our Lilybit here.”
“Thank you, darlin’.”
Ellie Jean and I walked to the library and talked about what happened to Heather.
I asked her how she’d already heard. “It’s not even nine o’clock.”
“People talk in Bramblett County Georgia, honey, and word travels fast. There’s a site online that lets you listen to dispatch calls and such all over the country. If your county or city is on the system, all you have to do is tune in, and you can hear everything going on.” She held open the library door for me. “Haven’t you noticed the size of the crowds at all the recent tragedies? You know why that’s happening, don’t you?”
“Because it’s Bramblett County, and it’s always happened here.”
“Yes, it’s always happened here, but that’s not why. It’s because of the Internet and on account of that website that lets us all listen to the dispatch center for the county.” The door closed behind us, and Ellie Jean put her own items on the main desk inside. “Why, I’ve even downloaded the app to my cellular phone. We’ve got a Facebook page and everything. Once word gets put on there, you can’t stop it from spreading like wildfire.”
What website?”
“Goodness, if you young people didn’t spend so much time taking those self-portraits, you might know what’s going on in the world. It’s called broadcastify, and it’s got all kinds of dispatches from all over the country. You ought to check it out.”
I did feel a little out of the loop and a tad scolded by Ellie Jean, but I hadn’t taken a selfie in God only knew how long, so I had that going for me. I wondered if Dylan knew about the website? “I’ll definitely check it out.”
She set the items down in the conference room. I thanked her for her help, and she asked if she could sit in with us sometime later that day. “I’ve got an appointment to run to right quick, but I’d love to talk to you about listing my house. I’m thinking about buying me one of those condos on the Redbecker property. Figured I could use a lesson or two on cutting the clutter prior to putting my place up for sale.”
“Oh, that would be wonderful. I’d love to help you with listing your place when you’re ready.”
“I might just take you up on that. Maybe you could come by and check it out? Tell me what I need to do to get it ready?”
“I’m sure we can make arrangements for that. How about we set something up in the next day or two?” I set the new class paperwork out for the three remaining students, even though I wasn’t sure any would show up. “I just want to finish up the class and catch up with some things at the office before I add anything to my schedule.”
“Sounds like a plan. Now let me get moving, and I’ll be back in a bit. My assistant is good, but she never opens the way I like, so I want to make sure some things are attended to before I leave.”
Belle came in a few minutes later, dropped her things on the conference room table and gave me a strange look.
I returned the look and asked, “What?”
“Wait for it.”
A wobbly Caroline came in hanging onto William’s arm. He must have dressed her because even though we lived in a small county a lot of the city folk referred to as redneck, Caroline Abernathy would never be seen in public in a pair of faded, ripped blue jeans—and not the kind currently in fashion—and a T
aylor Swift t-shirt. Never.
I held out my arms, worried she might fall on me. “Uh, is she alright?”
Belle leaned against the table and watched. The corner of her upper lip raised up in a snarl; a dead giveaway to her displeasure. Belle never did well at hiding her emotions.
William set Caroline in a chair. Actually, he dumped her in the chair. She landed with a thud, sliding down the back of it in a boneless, jelly-like mess. “She will be in about thirty minutes or so.” He pressed the palm of his hand into his forehead. “Listen, I hate to do this to you, but I…I got work to do. I can’t babysit her right now, and I know it’s a lot to ask, but can you guys watch her? She’s all tore up about Heather, and I didn’t want to leave her alone. I promise she’ll be okay in a bit, once the meds clear her system.” He glanced down at her. “And that…that can’t be much longer, I don’t think. My ma, she gave them to her late last night, but they’ve got to wear off soon.”
“What in the devil’s carnation is wrong with that child?” Henrietta made her grand entrance spouting off, sans filter, as always.
Her sidekick followed on her tail. “She’s been partyin’ till the cows come home, and I don’t think they made it home just yet.”
“Ladies, I’m not sure you’re aware of what happened to one of our classmates last night, but—”
Henrietta interrupted me. “’Course, we’re aware. We’re old, but we ain’t dead. Besides, I’m dating me a volunteer paramedic. I got connections.”
Belle raised her right eyebrow and glanced my direction.
“You’re dating Billy Ray?” I pointed to Bonnie. “I thought you were dating him?”
“I was. We switched.”
Henrietta stuck out her womanly parts and wiggled them. The effect was wasted in her orange and green potato sack styled dress, but I got the point. “I was a bit too much woman for Old Man Goodson.”
Belle choked but covered it with a cough.
“And Billy Ray didn’t see my finer points,” Bonnie said.
I was afraid to ask what finer points she meant.
“And what are those?” Belle asked.
Ack. I should have known she’d go there.
“Sweetie, some things a lady doesn’t discuss in public.”
Thank you, Lord.
Henrietta laughed. “Don’t let her fool ya. I got me those same finer points. She just likes to pretend hers are better.”
William took that as his cue to leave. Frankly, I wished I could have done the same thing. “Okay, so we’re good?”
Even though I thought Caroline might have murdered two people, in that moment I honestly just worried about my friend. I sat next to her. “Caroline, are you okay?”
“Hey.” She dragged the long a sound when she spoke. “I’m good, Lily. So good.” She raised her right hand to my face and dragged her fingers down my cheek. “You’re so pretty. Do you know how pretty you are?”
William interrupted our bonding moment. “I’ll be back to pick her up when y’all are done, unless you can drop her off after?”
Belle stepped in. “We’ll handle your wife. You go do what you gotta do. Cover your tracks or whatever.”
The harshness in Belle’s tone was a figurative slap across William’s face that left an embarrassing red mark draped across his ego. His eyes hardened, and his lips steeled into a straight line. When he caught me watching him, his face went blank.
“We got her, William. Don’t worry,” I said, hoping to ease the sting of Belle’s words.
His expression softened when he looked at me. “Thanks, Lily. I appreciate it.” He left the conference room.
I glared at Belle. “Can you step outside for a moment, please?”
She returned my glare with equal furor. “Right.”
Henrietta clapped. “Oooh wee. This is gettin’ good.”
Bonnie clapped, too. “There’s gone be a cat fight.”
Both ladies, already sitting in their chairs, heaved themselves up and once they’d caught their balance, moved toward the door.
I rubbed the back of my neck. “There’s no cat fight coming. We’re just going to chat for a moment.” It was true, but it didn’t mean we weren’t a bit annoyed with each other.
We stepped into the hallway. I closed the conference room door and held up my finger just as Belle opened her mouth to speak. I waited a few seconds and then quickly opened the door and both Henrietta and Bonnie fell down in the process. I knew they’d be there, ears shoved against the hollowed wood trying to snoop in on our discussion. Belle laughed, and it eased the tension building between us.
I’d almost reached my limit. It had been a long few days. “Come on you two, haven’t you ever had a stressful situation in your lives?”
They both scoped out the floor, refusing to make eye contact with me as if they’d been scolded, but at least they nodded.
“We’ve just lost two of our friends and both in tragic ways. Would you mind giving us just a minute or two to work through some things together?”
Bonnie glanced at Henrietta. “You’d be a hot mess if someone knocked me off.”
“I sure would, but I bet you’d be carted off to the looney bin if it was me in that trunk.”
“Not if Billy Ray was doing the carting. He’d probably take me back to his place for a little fun first.”
“Oh, darlin’, he’d be such a mess himself, he’d be lying in the ambulance next to you.”
They walked back into the conference room, and I shut the door behind them. I hugged my friend. “Are you okay?” I knew when Belle stressed, the stress came out in a few different ways, and one of them was anger. I wiped a tear from her face.
“Part of me wants to tie Caroline up and get her to admit what she’s done, but the other part of me sees her in there like that, and I just can’t imagine her being capable of killing Savannah or Heather, you know?”
“I know.”
“And then of course, there’s William. Letting his mother drug his wife up like that and then bringing her here and dumping her in that conference room like she’s a bag of books for donation? Makes him look more like a heartless killer than her, that’s for sure.”
“He seemed genuinely concerned and definitely stressed. I was surprised, actually, and he didn’t give me an attitude.”
“Well, he gave me one. I had half a mind to tell him what I really think of him.”
I thanked God she hadn’t. “We have to do what Dylan and Matthew said. We can’t jeopardize the investigation.”
She played with her long, dark hair. “I know. It’s just hard. I’m conflicted.”
“Trust me, I’m there, too.” I fixed her hair for her. “This is going to be over soon and then our lives will be back to normal, I’m sure of it.”
“By normal, do you mean you’ll straighten things out with Dylan?”
I looked away. “I don’t know if that’s possible, but we’ll see. That’s all I can say right now.” I hugged her again. “Now, can we go and pretend everything is fine and dandy and let Henrietta and Bonnie amuse us some more? I could really use the laughs.”
“They are hysterical, aren’t they?”
“Very much so.”
* * *
Caroline came out of her drug induced fog sometime over that next hour, and Ellie Jean did eventually stop into the class and sit a spell. Since the class lacked consistency from the start, we reviewed the previous lessons in more detail than expected, and I used other client photos and various websites to provide detailed examples. I decided viewing photos of the Armstrong’s home was inappropriate and in poor taste.
Once Caroline’s brain cleared, nice Caroline disappeared, and ugly Caroline showed up. During a quick break, we checked the Internet to see what kind of drugs would cause agitation when a person came off them. The sites said that Caroline’s attitude wasn’t unusual, but I still wondered if the ugliness was due to the drugs or the fact that she was a cold blooded killer.
Before class st
arted I leaned more toward William as the killer, but after seeing his palpable concern for his wife, and watching Caroline behave with such nastiness, I questioned that thought.
“Great.” I clicked the Internet off on my laptop. “We still aren’t any closer to knowing if she did it or not.”
“Did what?” Caroline asked.
I hoped she wasn’t behind us while we’d Googled about the drugs. “Someone sent me, well, Bo really, one of those monthly dog boxes, and I think it was my mom, but I’m not sure.” I’d just committed a double sin. Not only had I lied, but I lied about my mother. I instantly regretted it, and I prayed God would understand and forgive me. I knew my mother wouldn’t, so I also vowed never to speak of it, even with Belle.
“I told her it probably was,” Belle said.
“Well, of course it was. That woman has coddled you since the day she gave birth to you.” The minute the words came out of her mouth her hand flew up and tried to stuff them back in. “Oh, heavens, I am so sorry. I don’t know what’s come over me lately. I am so sassy, and I don’t mean it.”
“It’s ‘cause you got that drug addiction,” Bonnie said.
“Emm hmm,” Henrietta added. “My Uncle Cornelius—we called him Cornie for short—he had himself a liking for moonshine. Too much of a liking, let me tell you, and when he ran out, that man was meaner than a snake. He got so ugly, the whole town stopped serving him. One night, he just couldn’t take it no more, and he done shot everyone dead.”
Bonnie threw her hand up in the air. “Now don’t you believe a thing Henrietta says. If that woman’s mouth is open, you can bet she’s lying.”
Belle smirked. “I’ve never heard anything about the whole town being shot dead.”
“That’s ‘cause it wasn’t this town. It was up yonder.” She pointed behind her. “North of us.”
She’d pointed south.
Belle pointed where Henrietta had and winked at me. “Up north where?”
“Houston Beech.”
“I’ve never even heard of Houston Beech,” I said.
“That’s because my Uncle gone and shot the whole town dead.”
Bonnie rolled her eyes.
Belle and I both laughed, and she whispered, “I’m pretty sure my daddy told me a similar story about his great uncle once, just a different town name.”
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