“Yeah, thanks.”
“You were inside the whole time,” Paul said. “So you’re out.”
“Alright.” Missy nodded. She knew what she had to do. “I’ll talk to Alison tomorrow.”
“What about Ruby?”
“No way. I don’t think she could have physically done it. Plus, she was inside with me for half the time.”
“I see what you mean,” Paul said. “But people can surprise you sometimes. Take it from me. I’ve been in this business for a long time.”
“How long exactly?” Missy asked.
“About five years.”
Missy couldn’t take it.
Chapter Twenty-Three
When Missy got home, she walked on tired, extremely sore legs to the front door. Absently, she opened the mailbox by the front door and pulled out today’s bills and inevitable junk mail. Missy sorted through it inside, closing the front door behind her.
She trashed the junk mail in the trash bin in the kitchen, put the bills aside, and was about to throw the last piece away but stopped short.
It was a blank envelope.
Flipping it over, she found that it was also unsealed.
Missy opened the envelope. There was one sheet of paper in it, folded in thirds. Anticipation building, Missy knew this had to be about the murder. She unfolded the paper. There were typewritten words on it, only a few sentences:
Stop investigating. Your friend did this. I saw her heading to talk to Anne outside. The only reason I’m not coming forward is because I didn’t see it actually happen, and if Noreen gets acquitted, I don’t want Noreen coming after me. We both know what she’ll do to me if she thinks I talked to the police…
The note was unsigned, of course. Missy held it in her hands and stood still in her kitchen for a long time. She read the note a few times but didn’t the words didn’t reveal anything about the author. It was just a warning.
Missy went into the living room and sat in her armchair. Cody must have sensed something was wrong. The dog got up from her favorite spot by the vent where the heat came into the living room and sat next to her. The dog leaned into her leg. Missy patted her head.
“Noreen is in serious trouble,” Missy said.
The dog licked her hand.
“Thanks, girl.”
Cody thumped her tail.
“I don’t know what to do.” Missy put her head back against the chair and closed her eyes. “I just don’t know what to do. All the evidence points to Noreen…”
Cody leaned into her some more. She ruffled the dog’s fur.
***
Missy went upstairs for bed an hour later. She’d spent that time trying to figure out how to approach Alison. There was no subtle way to question the woman, so she really had to come at her head-on, which wasn’t ideal. Alison would likely just clam up the moment Missy challenged her.
The only other person Missy could question would be Ruby. As much as she didn’t think Ruby could have killed Anne Baxter, she really had to talk to her. If things went badly for Noreen, Missy would never be able to forgive herself for leaving any stones unturned. So tomorrow she’d go see Ruby and ask some difficult questions. She had no choice.
Missy laid down in bed. She was tired but her mind was racing so she couldn’t fall asleep. Picking up her Kindle from the nightstand, she went back to the book they’d been reading for Book Club. She was about halfway through. At this rate, Book Club was probably done and Missy couldn’t see them meeting next week. But she was the type to finish a book, even when it was just okay.
Missy read for awhile, enjoying the story and finding herself in agreement with Noreen. It was a good book and it didn’t matter that it was self-published. She’d read many worse novels that had come out through traditional channels.
Finally, her brain calmed down and Missy turned out the light.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“I didn’t want to keep this from you,” Missy said.
Tyler watched her with a neutral expression from behind his desk. The precinct was busy this morning, no doubt all this activity was related to Noreen’s arrest and the formal charges. Lee had called Missy earlier to let her know he’d be at the courtroom at nine and he’d urged her to be there for her friend. Missy assured him she’d go. She had to see Noreen, even if it was only for a few minutes.
Missy reached into her purse and pulled out the blank envelope. “This was in my mail yesterday.”
She held it out for him to see. Tyler immediately perked up. Pulling open a drawer in his desk, he produced a latex glove and snapped a pair onto his hands. He took the envelope from her carefully and put it on his desk. Teasing the flap open, he extracted the note and unfolded it on his desk. He read it a few times before looking up at her.
“Why didn’t you call me last night?” he asked.
Truthfully, she’d thought about keeping it from him. Noreen had enough going against her already, and honestly, handing this note over to him felt like a betrayal of sorts to her best friend.
“It was late, Tyler. And I wasn’t thinking.”
He nodded. “You weren’t going to turn this over, were you?”
Missy said nothing.
He nodded again. “I know it doesn’t feel like it, but you did the right thing, Missy.”
“You’re right. It doesn’t feel like the right thing.”
He stood. “I’m sorry, Melissa, but I need to get this to the prosecuting attorney right away. They’re about to…”
His voice trailed off, and they both looked away from each other.
Missy’s whole body was tensed. Nothing made sense…and a bigger part of her than she cared to admit was wondering if Noreen was really guilty.
“Tyler, just tell me why Richard couldn’t have done this.”
Tyler almost snapped off an answer, but he stopped short. He took a moment to collect himself. “He has an alibi, Melissa. That’s all I can tell you.”
“What about Trudy’s husband?” She knew she was grasping at straws. “Anne interfered with their contract to buy that land and…”
Tyler said nothing. Instead of talking, he came around the desk. At first, she didn’t know what he was doing, but then his strong arms were around her.
“I’m sorry, Missy.”
He hugged her with his whole body. She felt the press of him against her, and she hugged him back. Missy choked back her tears as he rubbed her back.
When he spoke again, his voice was thick. “God, I’m so sorry, Missy. I hate this too. You have to know that I hate this too.”
“Yes.” She heard it in his voice. He was a good man, just doing his job, as much as he hated it. “Yes, I know.”
“I’m going to the courthouse. I assume you are too?”
She nodded, her face pressed up against his shoulder. How many times had they stood like this in high school? Hugging forever, pressing against each other…
“Let’s go,” he said.
***
They took separate cars because Missy wanted to go straight to Books and Crannies when she was done. She was going to be late to open, but she didn’t care. Given how little customer traffic she’d gotten yesterday, she didn’t expect a huge wave of people to be waiting for her.
The courthouse was crowded. Missy saw Ellen Stein there, notepad in hand, assuming her erstwhile role of local reporter. There were also other reporters there from the county papers.
Missy walked up as far up as she could in the courtroom. Lee Greenberg smiled when he saw her. He offered his hand but instead of shaking it, she reached across the bar and hugged him.
“Please,” was all she could say.
“I’ll do everything I can, Miss.”
She let him go and saw Tyler handing the envelope to the prosecuting attorney, a middle-aged man she didn’t know. He and Tyler exchanged hushed words for a minute, and the attorney looked at the note. His eyes bugged and when he was done reading it, he motioned at Lee.
Lee sauntered o
ver with his usual swagger. Missy sat down, watching Lee’s expression. It never changed, not even when the prosecuting attorney passed him the note. Lee read it and handed it back dismissively. She couldn’t hear what he said to the other lawyer, but assumed he was making some kind of argument about how the note was meaningless.
Before he could ask her about it, the judge came in and the bailiff ordered everybody to rise. The courtroom was packed, and the judge took her chair behind the desk. She had thick glasses and obviously dyed hair. Missy had never met her before but could tell she was pushing seventy.
“Okay, please have a seat.” The judge looked at the bailiff to her left. “Let’s bring in the accused.”
The uniformed man opened another door, and Noreen appeared in bright orange garb from head to toe. Her handcuffs and chains clinked as she entered the courtroom, being escorted by two guards.
Missy couldn’t stop the tears. She rose and waved, like Noreen wouldn’t be able to see her sitting in the front row. Her friend’s hair was a knotted mess and there were big bags under her eyes like she hadn’t slept since being arrested. She smiled sadly at Missy. There was no chance for them to talk. The two guards sat her down next to Lee, and the judge began the proceedings.
There wasn’t much to it. The judge read off the charges, asked Noreen if she understood what was happening. Noreen mumbled yes, in a sad, weak voice Missy had never heard before. The judge nodded and went on. The lawyers talked for a few moments and answered the judge’s procedural questions. Then the judge changed gears.
“How does the defendant plead?”
Lee Greenberg and Noreen stood. “Not guilty, Your Honor.”
“Very well. My docket is clear and I want to start picking a jury next week. Any final motions?”
“Your Honor.” Lee stood. “I’d like to make a motion for bail.”
“Denied.” The judge looked down from the bench with hostile eyes. “This is a murder trial so your client is an obvious flight risk, Mr. Greenberg.”
“But Your Honor—”
“Your objection is noted for the record. Is there any other business?”
Neither lawyer said anything.
The judge banged her gavel. “We’re adjourned until Monday morning at nine.”
“All rise!” the bailiff ordered.
Missy stood along with everybody else as the judge left her bench. The guards moved forward to collect Noreen. Missy leaned over the bar and reached out.
“Noreen!”
Her friend turned around. Tears streaked her face. Her bottom lip was quivering. Pushy reporters shouted questions at her as the guards urged her to move.
“Wait!” Missy shouted.
“It’s okay, Missy,” Noreen said. “I know you tried. I appreciate it, and I love you.”
“Noreen!”
The guards ushered Noreen out of the courtroom. Missy sank back down into the bench where she’d been sitting.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Now Missy was really late opening the bookstore, but she didn’t care. She was totally numb. Watching Noreen being shuffled off like that…it had broken her heart.
Lee stepped in front of her. “Come with me.”
Missy followed him mindlessly out of the courtroom, down the hall, and into one of the conference rooms that attorneys used to speak to their clients privately.
Paul I.S. Gold was waiting for them in there.
“Hey, Missy.” At least Paul had picked up on her mood and spared her from his romantic advances. “Sorry to hear about Noreen.”
“Thanks, Paul.”
Lee closed the door behind them and they sat around a small table. “Okay, Paul, give us the updates.”
Paul grimaced. “Bad news. Richard has an alibi.”
“How?” Missy wanted to bang her head against the table.
“He plays Warcraft.”
Missy didn’t even know what that meant. “What?”
“It’s a video game. A massive, massive online game where hundreds if not thousands of people can play against each other at the same time from the comfort of their own homes. Richard was logged on all night.”
“That doesn’t mean he was playing,” Missy said.
Paul nodded. “He plays with a team. He was in constant communication with them. They actually wear headsets while they’re playing so they can talk in real-time. I confirmed it with the people he was playing with.”
Missy shook her head. She had no idea how Paul had managed to confirm all this so quickly, but one thing she did know: she couldn’t take any more bad news.
“There’s more.”
Missy groaned.
“What?” Lee asked. Whatever it was, he hadn’t heard about it yet.
Paul folded his arms. “I know the judge’s clerk. We actually go way back. Trudy Shaw and her husband sued Anne, as you both know.”
“Right,” Lee said.
“There was a settlement out of court.”
Missy sat forward. “Anne paid them?”
Paul shrugged. “Settlements are usually confidential, so that’s why Trudy probably never brought it up. But by virtue of the fact there was some kind of settlement, it means Anne paid them something, or gave them something, because they were the ones who brought the suit.”
Lee cursed. “Long story short, Anne probably paid them off. Trudy and her husband were made whole, which means they have no motive to kill her years later for missing out on a real estate opportunity.”
“So that leaves Ruby and Alison,” Missy said.
Lee stood and began pacing. “We pick a jury on Monday. I can’t drag that out forever. This trial probably starts Wednesday at the latest and it’s over by Friday. Once we start, the DA won’t take a deal. Hell, I’ll be amazed if I can get him to take a deal right now, especially with the note you received last night.”
“Note? What note?” Paul asked.
Missy just sat there, quietly. She couldn’t speak. Lee brought Paul up to speed.
“If we’re going to clear Noreen, we need to do it today or tomorrow at the latest. Once the wheels are in motion…” Lee’s voice trailed off.
They sat in silence for a moment. Finally, Missy sat up.
“Okay, it’s either Ruby or Alison.”
Both men nodded, but there wasn’t much conviction in the gesture. She knew what they were really thinking. They believed Noreen was guilty.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Missy was an hour late to Books and Crannies. To her surprise, three women were waiting on the two benches outside the store.
“Your sign says you open at ten on Saturdays,” one of them said. She was white-haired and stooped and carrying a bag of used books. Missy had seen this movie before. Brett paid fifty cents for used books, no doubt this woman would take umbrage at the price when she tried to trade them in.
“Sorry,” was all Missy could manage. She unlocked the door and let them inside.
She slumped behind the desk. For a few minutes, she just sat there, not moving, not thinking, while the three women browsed. She wished she’d brought Cody with her today for company. The only thing she had brought was her Kindle, not that she’d be able to read much today.
It was either Ruby or Alison. Missy doubted it was Ruby, so she decided to focus on Alison first. She took out her cell phone and found the woman’s number in her contacts. She called it, having no idea what she was going to say.
“Hey, Missy,” Alison answered. “Sorry to hear about Noreen.”
Missy didn’t even address that statement. “I need to talk to you. Can I come over for lunch?”
Alison hesitated. “No. You can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because I won’t be home for lunch.” Alison’s voice was testy. “I’m working. What do you want?”
Missy didn’t know what to say. “I wanted to talk to you about the other night.”
“Not giving up, are you?”
“If it was your best friend, would you?”
“Actually, I would give up especially if I knew she was guilty. At that point, she wouldn’t be my best friend anymore.”
“Noreen’s not guilty,” Missy said.
“Keep saying it, you almost sound like you believe it.”
Missy wanted to reach through the phone and punch Alison. “When do you get off work?”
“Early, and then I’m going out, so don’t even bother, Missy. I’m done talking to you.”
“Noreen didn’t do this, and everybody else has an alibi.” Missy left out the part that Ruby didn’t have an alibi.
“Then why haven’t the actual police arrested me?”
Missy didn’t have an answer for that. “I know about you and Anne.”
It was a complete shot in the dark. As far as Missy knew, Alison and Anne had exactly zero connections. But if Alison was guilty, then that meant there was something. Missy wished she could see the woman’s reaction.
“Nice try, Missy. Goodbye.”
Alison hung up.
***
Two hours later, Missy was staring at nothing. Her first three customers were the only of the day so far. She’d thought of driving over to where Alison worked as a tech in the dentist’s office. But Alison wasn’t going to talk to her. And even if Alison did, what would Missy say? She had nothing to go on. Absolutely nothing.
When in doubt, call Mom.
“Hello, dear. I’m so sorry to hear about Noreen.”
“Yeah.” Missy sighed. “I’ve totally let her down.”
“Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“You always take the world on your shoulders, Missy. You have a big heart, too big sometimes and this is one of those times. It isn’t your fault that Noreen is in jail.”
“Forget jail, Mom. She’s about to go to prison. For a long time.”
“Which isn’t your fault. I’m sure you’ve done everything you can.”
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