Prologue to Murder

by Lauren Elliott

  Her hand flung out to the side and smacked across his stomach. “What?”

  “Look, there’s Gloria by the shed. Who’s that she’s speaking with?”

  “I’m guessing by his white hard hat and that utility company truck parked over there”—he pointed to the library parking lot—“that he works for the utility company.”

  “I can see that, but why is he here?”

  “Not everything’s a mystery. Maybe they needed an extra power boost for all the lights they’re hanging.”

  “Could be.” She bit her lip. “Hi, Gloria.” She smiled, sliding up beside her. “Power trouble?”

  The utility worker tipped his helmet and turned toward the shed door.

  “Hi, Addie.” Gloria put her hand on her arm. “I’m not sure. There seems to have been a power surge, and I called them in to inspect. I’d hate to think we’re overloading anything.”

  “What happened?”

  “Well,” she said, juggling Pippi under her arm, “we started to set up about ten. You know, after the restaurants closed, so as not to interfere with their businesses. When I came at nine to set up the volunteer station down in the hospital parking lot, there was a weird humming sound, and I noticed flashing coming from the library, so I walked down to investigate. We hadn’t started plugging anything in yet, so I didn’t know what to make of it.” Pippi squirmed excitedly under her arm, yelping to get to Addie. “Looks like you’ve made a friend, Addie,” she laughed.

  Addie patted the small dog. “I guess I have.”

  “That makes me feel better,” said Simon from behind her. He grinned at her scowl. “Well, you know, the whole witch thing,” he chuckled. “Do dogs take to witches like that?” He patted Pippi’s head, and she snapped at his hand.

  “Maybe I’m not the one who should be questioned about my past life?” Addie rolled her eyes and gave the little fur ball another well-deserved pet.

  “I’m sorry, Doctor. She’s usually so friendly to everyone.” Gloria wagged her fingers in Pippi’s face, scolding her. “Now you say you’re sorry, Pippi.” She held the dog up, thrusting her in Simon’s face.

  “Maybe she just senses the hospital smell on me and thinks I’m a vet.” He took the growling dog from her. He caressed Pippi and stroked her head. In no time, Pippi settled into the crook of his arm, panting. She eyed Addie with a look that screamed, Look at my new friend, and her puppy face appeared to be smiling.

  Addie chuckled and locked gazes with Simon. “They are so human sometimes, aren’t they?” Realizing she’d been staring, she cleared her throat. “So, Gloria, what did the utility guy find?”

  “He didn’t arrive until just now. It seems there was a power problem out on the road to the Smuggler’s Den earlier, and they were working out there, so it took a while to respond here. So I don’t really know. But I did run into Dorothy, and she said”—Gloria leaned in close to Addie and whispered—“the night that June disappeared, she saw exactly the same thing happening a little while after the book club meeting ended and most of us had left.”

  “Interesting. Did they figure out then what caused it?”

  “No, but they did report it as a power surge, and Dorothy thinks tonight it’s just all the lights being hung that have overloaded the circuits.”

  “Did you tell her this was before the volunteers started working?”

  “I tried, but she saw Jeanie and was off and running.” Gloria looked at the workers on the street and in the park. “There’s so much to do. I think we’ll be here all night by the looks of it.” She clucked her tongue. “I guess I’d better wait here though and see what the power company says. I certainly hope we don’t have to shut down. It would ruin the festival.”

  “I’m sure it’ll be fine.” Simon handed Pippi back to Gloria.

  “Yes . . . why don’t Simon and I stay here and wait for them to finish their inspection, then we can report back to you.”

  “That would be wonderful. Thank you so much, both of you.”

  Addie elbowed Simon. “Yes.” He jerked and smiled at Gloria. “We’ll wait here.”

  “Excellent.” She headed off, shouting orders at a volunteer hanging lights around the pavilion behind the police station.

  Simon crossed his arms. “Now what?”

  She glanced sideways at him. “Now we wait to see what they say.”

  “Addie.” Serena ran toward her across the library parking lot. “I didn’t expect to see you here. Hi, Simon.” She waved and reached them, her breath coming in short bursts. “I can’t believe the volunteer turnout this year. I guess people are buzzing about the festival though, since the ghost walk is going to end with a bang this year.”

  Addie glanced at the utility shed and shivered. “Let’s hope it’s not an actual bang.”

  Serena frowned and then looked at Simon, who shrugged his shoulders. Paige ran over, grinning at them. “Addie, glad you could make it.”

  “Why is everyone so shocked that I came? This is my town, too.”

  “Not shocked,” said Serena, “just surprised. I saw Simon’s name on the volunteer list, but didn’t see your name. I figured this wasn’t your kind of thing.”

  “What, helping out in my community?”

  Serena looked at Simon, and then at Addie. “Helping your community, really? Okay, whatever you say.”

  Addie glanced sideways at Simon, who was grinning like a cat who’d just swallowed a bird. “I’ll have you know we are on special assignment, sanctioned by Gloria.”

  Serena slid in beside Addie and whispered in her ear. “It’s just that we all know you, and I’m pretty sure hanging lights isn’t on your agenda tonight.” Serena nudged her friend and laughed.

  “Darn, there’s my mom by the pavilion.” Paige moaned. “I’d better hide, or she’ll start grilling me about you again, and why I didn’t take the job with Lacey.” She turned to go.

  “Wait, Paige.” Addie stepped toward her. “I know this in none of my business, but . . .”

  “Yes?”

  She looked back at Simon, then at Paige. “What was your mother’s maiden name?”

  “What? Why?”

  “Just curious. I’ve been reading up on the history of families in Greyborne Harbor. You know, ones that are mentioned in June’s book. And your mother seems to be so well established. I was only wondering if Stringer was one of the founding families.”

  Simon coughed and cleared his throat behind her.

  “No, my dad was from Boston. Her name was Davenport.”

  “Really?” Addie’s mouth twitched.

  “Yes, Lacey’s my cousin. Her father was my mother’s brother.”

  Addie didn’t say anything. Serena stabbed her elbow into Addie’s side. “Thanks.” Addie spoke as normally as possible. “I was just curious.”

  “Yeah, because she’s family, Mom thinks I should have jumped at the chance to work for her and Serena.” She bit her lip. “Okay, well this is me hiding from my mother like a naughty ten-year-old.” She ran toward Main Street.

  “I thought you were going to be discreet about finding out Martha’s name?” Simon said, stepping up beside her.

  “Well,” she said, shrugging her shoulders, “I thought I was being . . . discreet.”

  “Real smooth. There wasn’t exactly a lead-up to it in natural conversation.” He shook his head. “You’re like a dog with a bone, aren’t you?”

  “That’s exactly what I was thinking.” Serena spun around, looking at her. “What difference does it make what Martha’s last name was?”

  “She thinks she has a curse on her incanted by the Davenports some three hundred years ago.” Simon rolled his eyes at Serena.

  “Well . . . don’t you find it even a wee bit interesting that Martha took an instant dislike to me when I introduced myself the first day I opened, and since then, she’s gone out of her way to spread gossip and discredit me around town? This confirms that she is a Davenport.” She stuck her tongue out at Simon, mocking him.
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br />   “You’re too much.” Serena smirked. “I think this whole Founder’s Day thing has gone to your head. First, it’s pirates and treasure, now it’s witches and curses—what’s next, ghosts?”

  “Hey, you know I’m onto something.” She looked from one tentative face to the other. “I have a method to my madness.”

  “Madness is right,” Simon chuckled.

  “It’s that madness that I love.” Serena wrapped her arms around Addie’s neck and hugged her.

  Addie looked at Simon over Serena’s head. He grinned, then his eyes flickered behind her and she spun around, facing the utility worker. “Hi. So what did you find?”

  “Where’s Gloria, the woman who called in the power surge complaint?”

  “She’s busy right now with the volunteers, but she left us here to wait for you so we can report back to her.”

  He looked at the three expectant faces and frowned. “I really can’t . . .” He shuffled from one booted foot to the other.

  “Look, I’ve got to go anyway. I left Mildred with the ladder and a string of lights in front of the library and told her I’d be right back. If I don’t show up soon, there’ll be another catfight tonight.”

  “A catfight?” Addie looked at Serena.

  “Yeah, Dorothy and Jeanie just had a huge argument in the middle of Main Street.”

  “Did you hear what it was about?”

  “No. I think it’s because people are just tired, and it’s late, and there’s still so much work to do.” She looked at the utility worker. “You’re not going to shut us down, are you?”

  “That’s not for me to say.”

  Serena shrugged. “Okay then, I guess we’ll keep at it until we hear otherwise. See you later, I hope.”

  Addie jumped when Marc’s voice boomed from behind her. “Hi, Jim. You wanted to see me?”

  “Hi, Chief. Yes, we need to talk.” Jim motioned with his head for Marc to follow him.

  Addie stepped in behind the two as they headed toward the shed. Jim stopped and looked at her.

  “That’s okay. She’s cleared.” Marc motioned to Simon. “And this is the county coroner, he’s”—Marc coughed—“part of the team, too, apparently.”

  “We found something interesting with the main electrical panel and in the tunnel. Actually, it’s probably easier if I show you.” Jim headed onto the platform that led to the ladder-like stairs.

  The trio followed close on his heels and descended into the main utility chamber. Jim walked over to the wall-sized electrical box and pointed. “See, the cover appears to have been pried open, and more than once, I’d say, by the look of these faint scrapes. They’re hard to see in this light—that may be why they’ve never been reported before.” He shone his flashlight directly on the area he’d indicated. “See them now?”

  Marc leaned forward, eyed the dent and scratch marks along the access panel door, and nodded. Addie took out her cell phone and began snapping pictures.

  “What else?” Marc looked at Jim. “You said you found something in the tunnel?”

  “Yeah, that’s where I found another mystery. Follow me.” He led them down the utility corridor past where the library would be and stopped at what Addie surmised to be under the police station. “See?” He pointed to an industrial extension cord. “That’s not one of ours. It’s one that can easily be picked up from any hardware store.”

  Marc stood back and rocked on his heels, scrutinizing the cord as Addie took another picture. “And what’s at the other end?”

  “Nothing. It goes for about another hundred feet or so, then nothing. Just the female plug end.”

  Addie surveyed the tunnel, her eyes following the length of the cord. “So, someone was working down here, packed up in a hurry, and forgot a section of their extension cord?”

  Jim shrugged. “I guess. I can’t think what else it’s doing here, and if they were piggybacking off the main box, it would be the reason for the power surge and flashing lights.”

  “What’s at the far end?” She looked at him.

  “Just a dead end at the ramp up to the hospital.”

  “A ramp? No stairs?”

  “No, the hospital used to use it as a loading ramp for heavy equipment, CAT scan machines and stuff, but they have an actual loading dock now. The old utility elevator up to the street has been closed off for years. Although, there’s still a diesel forklift parked against the back wall.”

  “What’s on the other side of the wall?” She looked at him, then to Marc.

  “Nothing. It’s just a brick wall.”

  “Addie,” Marc said, frowning at her, “what are you thinking?”

  She ignored him and turned back to Jim. “Can you show us?”

  “Yeah, come on.”

  Marc groaned.

  Addie snapped a photo of the far end of the extension cord and followed Jim as he continued up the wide hallway toward the hospital. When they reached the ramp leading up to the hospital basement, Addie inspected the steel access door and eyed the old, rusted forklift stored against the dead-end wall beside the ramp. She surveyed the cement tunnel floor and walked to the side of the lift, then nodded and went back to the three men watching her, questions filling their eyes.

  “I think we’d better move that forklift away from the wall and see what’s hiding behind it,” she announced.

  Jim was the first to speak. “It hasn’t been moved for years. I don’t even know if there’s still a key to start it up so we could.”

  Marc’s gaze flicked from the forklift to her. “What are you thinking?”

  She crossed her arms and met the skeptical look in his eyes. “It’s been moved, recently, and regularly, I’d say. You can tell by the marks etched into the cement floor, not to mention the trail of disturbed dust around it.”

  Simon looked up at the ceiling of the tunnel. “Where was the big rock located from here?”

  Marc scanned the corridor and followed Simon’s gaze to the ceiling. “Probably right above us.”

  Simon pressed his lips tight and glanced sideways at Addie.

  Addie looked up, then looked over at the brick wall behind the forklift. “Marc, can we talk about my theories now?”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  It didn’t take long before the tunnel was filled with crime scene investigators. Addie had to dodge more than one officer snapping pictures and dusting for prints. “Hey, Chief,” Jerry called from the front of the forklift, “come look at this.”

  “What do you have?” Marc crouched down beside him, looking at the front frame.

  “These marks on here, see? It looks like a winch has been attached.”

  Marc scanned the markings and looked behind him, then at the frame again. “I guess that explains how the forklift was moved.” He stood up, brushing dust off his trousers. “Okay, we’re going to have to get this out of here.”

  “Want me to get the winch from the SWAT truck?” Jerry stood up.

  “No, the forklift isn’t that big. I think we’ve got enough manpower now to drag it out.”

  Jerry called for assistance, and soon six officers had the antiquated forklift pulled away from the wall. Addie stood on tiptoes to see past them, her eyes set on the brickwork behind it. “Look.”

  Simon whistled. Marc shook his head. “I don’t know how you do that.”

  “What?” She looked up at him.

  He shook his head again and walked toward the gaping hole in the brick wall. “You must be a witch or something,” he muttered.

  Simon stifled a laugh. “Told you.”

  “What are you talking about?” She slid up beside Marc.

  “You have this uncanny way of knowing what’s going on before there’s any proof.” He gave her a sidelong glance. “Okay, Jerry, Dave, take a look and see what we’ve found.”

  The two officers pulled out their flashlights and crawled through the three-by-three-foot opening in the wall. Jerry’s head popped out of the hole. “Chief, you’d better come see thi
s.”

  Marc flipped on his flashlight and entered. Addie turned on her phone light and followed close behind him. Marc stopped halfway through and glanced back at her, frowning. She smiled demurely at him. He grunted, held out his hand, and assisted her to her feet on the other side. Jim and Simon followed closely behind. She shone her light across the dirt walls to the earthen ceiling and stopped. “Jim, there’s old lumber boards across this portion. What’s above them?”

  He shone his light up at the cavern roof and squinted in the dim light.

  “There definitely appears to have been recent visitors in here,” Jerry said behind her. “Here, Chief, these boot marks in the dust cover every inch of this cave.”

  A rumbling sound from above sent chunks of earth falling to the cavern floor. They all flinched and looked up. “My best guess,” said Jim, “is we’re right under the new loading dock. It’s not safe in here. A truck backing into the dock is disturbing the ground and—” A piece of dirt thudded off his hard hat.

  “Okay, everyone, back to the main corridor as fast as you can. Jerry, you make some footprint molds. Everyone else don’t disturb the ground any more than we have. Let’s go, now.”

  “But, Marc—” Addie turned toward him.

  “No buts. We can’t risk a cave-in or contaminating the evidence any more than we already have before Jerry gets the plaster molds or we’ll lose them under this falling dirt.”

  Her shoulders slumped, but she obeyed orders, and they crawled back through the brick wall opening. She dusted herself off and looked at Marc as he climbed out. “I needed more time in there. How can I make certain that it’s a pirate hideout?”

  His eyes bored into hers. “That’s your problem, Addie. You have the instincts, but not the wherewithal to know when you’re in danger, which makes you even more dangerous to yourself,” he snapped, turned away and crouched down in the opening. “Jerry. You done yet?”

  “Almost, give me a minute.”

  “Hurry, I don’t want this to cave in on you.”

  “I doubt that would happen,” she said over Marc’s head. “It’s been here for a few hundred years already and—”