by Tonya Kappes
“Can we talk in your office?” I asked when I felt the receptionist trying to listen. Though her head was down, her eyes were piercing from under her brows.
“Absolutely.” He lowered his hand towards my back and the other towards the hall he came from. He looked at the receptionist.
“The first conference room on the right is open.” She nodded with a smile.
“Thank you, Debra,” he said and gently touched my back. “This way.” He offered a smile.
“Thanks for fitting me in. Debra said you were booked.” I walked beside him down the hall and entered the room on the right. I took a seat in the first leather chair along the long conference table. Norman sat down across from me.
“Can I get you something to drink?” He asked.
“No, thank you. I’ve got to get back to the campground. Today is the Summer Sizzler party. You should stop by,” I suggested.
“Thank you, but I am swamped.” He folded his hands together and set them on top of the table. “Is something wrong with Fifi?” He asked again.
“Actually, no. She’s having a good time. Getting in a lot of play time and dirty paws.” I thought he’d love to hear that she was happy.
“That’s not good. She is a show dog from a line of elite breeding. She needs to be on her strict schedule. I told Tammy Jo this wasn’t a good idea when she insisted you take her.” There was an edge of anger in his tone. The muscles spasmed furiously in his jaw. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“She’s fine. I’m actually not here to talk about her. I’m here to ask you about the watch.” I watched him ease back in the chair, unfolding his hands and placing each one on the arms of the chair. “The 2.2-million-dollar watch.”
“I’m aware of the watch you’re talking about. Unfortunately, the watch has been stolen and Detective Sharp is working on that. Unless,” He sat up again, “You know where it is.”
“I have no idea. I’m trying to help Ava Cox and Tammy Jo with her case.” I was lying through my teeth, though I did risk Norman going to ask her about it. “Tammy Jo said that she caught Camille stealing it. Do you really think she was stealing it?”
“I have no idea what the dog nanny was doing with it. All I know is the day you stopped by to clean, she called me and Detective Sharp to come over. She was frantic. She said to us that she’d caught Camille with the watch and since she was hosting the KKA, she wanted extra security.” So that was why she wanted security.
“I’m assuming you have the insurance policy for the watch.” I leaned forward, propping my elbows up on the table.
“Yes. I hold all of Tammy Jo’s policies.” He nodded.
“What policies does she have?” I asked. His eyes narrowed. “I’m trying to figure out what she had in case someone is blackmailing her or had Camille working for them. See,” I scooted to the edge of the chair. “I went back the morning of the murder to get the money Tammy Jo owed me for cleaning. When I got there, the front door was cracked open and I found Tammy Jo on the back porch.”
“Okay,” he hesitated. “That’s not unusual for her to be on the back porch.”
“It wasn’t that, it was the two wine glasses and plate of cheese that caught my eye. I know one of the glasses belonged to Tammy Jo because of the specific color of lipstick.” I didn’t go into detail how in my previous life, I’d spent a lot of money on different lipsticks and knew my colors. “The other wineglass had a bright orange lipstick stain. When I asked Tammy Jo about it, she was a little fidgety. I think she’s hiding something. Protecting someone.”
“Really?” He sat back up. “You asked her about it?”
“Yes.” Dang. I shouldn’t have said that because I didn’t technically have clearance to talk to her. “I was cleaning the police station today and I took some time to visit with her. She looks good.” Lied again. “She saw the photos of Fifi and she was happy to see her. Do you think someone for the KKA knew the watch was what kept Fifi on her schedule and stole it because they have a dog they want to take the top breeding spot?”
This was a conspiracy theory I’d just pulled out of my you-know-what, but it sounded pretty valid.
“Interesting.” He stared off over my shoulder as though he were pondering my theory. “You’re saying they don’t care about the price tag.”
“Right? I mean, it’s insured, so no real loss on Tammy Jo’s part.” Suddenly, I felt a little over my head and wondered if I should just go back to see Hank at the department to let him know my thoughts. “She’ll get some of the money back, right?”
He nodded.
“Can I see the policy? I’d like to get a watch to help with Fifi. You know, off her schedule and all might hurt her if we wait too long.” I did want to get my hands on the policy and see exactly how much it was insured for.
My stomach took a quick turn and it soured when I remembered what Camille had told me about Tammy Jo mortgaging her house, so she could get Fifi cloned for the breeding DNA.
It was the first time I wondered if Tammy Jo had done something with the watch. Was she seeing the writing on the wall that Fifi wasn’t going to have a litter? Got desperate and did something with the watch? Did Camille know?
“I’m sorry. I can’t let you see anything without my client’s permission.” He pushed himself up to stand. “I’m sure if Detective Hank wants to see them, he’ll get the proper paperwork from my client.” He walked over to the door.
It was an obvious cue that my time with him was over.
“Thank you for your time. I’ll be sure to try to keep Fifi from the lake. She is itching to jump in.” I smiled, hiding the frustration that was bubbling up inside of me.
There was something Norman and Tammy Jo were hiding. When I needed some answers, I knew the gals at The Laundry Club would at least send me in the right direction. Since it was next door to Norman’s insurance agency, it was the perfect time to stop by.
I swung open the door to the laundromat and let the cool breeze of the air conditioner flood over me.
“I predict a big bowl of water with suds bubbling over is in your future.” Queenie French sat at the card table to the right of the front door of The Laundry Club. Her hand was waving over the fake glass globe, making her red headband lose its grip and her hair fell into her eyes. “I heard about Fifi Bentley staying with you.” She raised a brow.
“Gosh.” I sat down in the seat next to her, letting out an exhausted sigh. “I can’t believe that Tammy Jo thinks I can care for that dog. Do you know that she’s mortgaged her house to have the dog’s DNA cloned?”
It was something I couldn’t wrap my head around.
“Oh, dear.” Queenie pushed the headband back up in place. “I’d heard she’d gone crazy since Harrison had divorced her.”
“Divorced her? Wha. . .whaa…” I’d suddenly became tongue tied.
Queenie’ chin tilted down to her chest, the lines in her forehead creased, her eyes widened, and her chin tilted to the left. It appeared she was trying to figure out what I was saying.
I gulped and heaved in a big breath of air. My brain needed oxygen. Was Harrison involved in this? I couldn’t make a complete thought.
“He’s dead now.” Queenie shrugged.
“Oh my God, Queenie.” I put my hand up to my chest. “You nearly gave me a heart attack. I’d already figured him alive and he was the one who stole his own watch.”
“Stole a watch?” She was all sorts of confused. “Does this call for a pot of coffee?” She jumped up. There wasn’t a better time for a cup of coffee. Even in the Indian Summer heat.
Queenie busied herself with the coffeepot and talked to the customers near the coffee station. I overheard her telling them to help themselves to the coffee, puzzles, books, or change the television channel.
“Make yourself at home,” her voice echoed across the laundromat.
I was trying to figure out why Tammy Jo had told me the office was that of her deceased husband. I guess he was dead, but she clearly left
out the part of the divorced issue. That made my suspect list even bigger. Was he remarried? Did he have children? If so, did they think they should get the pocket watch? It was, after all, 2.2 million dollars. And if that wasn’t enough to kill for, I wasn’t sure what was.
There was no time to have coffee. I was already late for the Summer Sizzler party and Dottie would be mad, but I knew how to soften her up. Gossip. If anyone in Normal knew anything about Tammy Jo and Harrison Bentley’s divorce, it’d be her. She was like the CEO of gossip around here.
“Queenie,” I called over to her. “I’ve completely lost track of time. Dottie will kill me if I miss any more of the party.” I waved when she shooed me out the door.
THIRTEEN
Happy Trials Campground had cars lined up from the entrance to the office. The sounds of a bluegrass band echoed off the mountains in the Daniel Boone National Forest. When I got closer, I pulled the Ford up to the office. There were so many people walking around the campground, I didn’t want to drive the car all the way around to my camper, dodging campers.
Ken and Magdalene Heidelman were standing near the storage units. I headed over there to welcome them back and make sure he’d gotten the paperwork for the new insurance policy for a pool for the campground. I knew it would cost a lot of money, but I felt like it would add a great deal of value to Happy Trails.
“Are you here for a while?” I asked when I walked up to them.
“We are going to be here for a couple of weeks.” Magdalene tugged at the ends of her short blonde hair. She was in her mid-sixties. The other hand gripped the handle of a bucket with some cleaning supplies in it. “I told Ken that he needed to get out of that office.”
“I’m fine, but now that we are here, I’m glad she insisted.” He winked and rubbed his hand down his wife’s back. They were such a sweet couple.
“We’re getting our golf cart out.” She handed him a set of keys to unlock the storage unit.
“If you need anything, please let me know.” I watched Ken lift the door. He and Magdalene worked like a well-oiled machine. He had his duties and she had hers.
Before she let him start the golf cart, she used a few wipes to clean off the seat and sprayed some glass cleaner on the windshield.
“Did you get the pool paperwork I faxed you?” I asked Ken after he pulled the cart out of the storage unit and while Magdalene busied herself with locking the unit back up.
“Pool?” Norman Pettleman came around the corner. Ken and I both looked at him. “Mae. Ken.” He shook Ken’s hand. “You’re putting in a pool? That’s costly.”
“I think it’ll add a nice touch to the campground. If my client wants a pool, it’s my job to help get it insured.” Ken looked at me and smiled. “It’ll be fine.”
“I’m sure you will.” Norman turned to me. “I’m here to check on Fifi before I go see Tammy Jo.”
“She’s been great.” I wasn’t about to tell him that I didn’t feed her the yucky food that was in her bag. “Would you like to see her?”
“That’d be great.” He clasped his hands behind his back and swiveled his body towards Ken. “It was good seeing you, Ken. Let’s grab a beer while you’re in town.”
“Sounds good. I’d like to get your take on the new insurance plan for the condos they’ve put in place.” The two talked shop. When I realized they were going to be a minute, I excused myself, but not without telling Norman, I’d be right back.
There were still cars entering the campground for the Summer Sizzler party and it tickled me to death that these monthly gatherings were becoming more and more popular.
“Where have you been?” Dottie Swaggert ran out of the office. She put her hands on her hips, shifting her weight from side to side with a big scowl on her face. “Bobby Ray has plugged up his toilet and I’m not fixing it. Henry is too busy with doing what I need him to do today while this Summer Sizzler is going on.”
“I had to clean the police station for Betts this morning. I’ll go take a look at it.” I put my hand to my eyes to shield them from the sun so I could get a better look at the band when I heard the sound of a woman. “Blue Edith and the Adolescent Farm Boys?” I looked at Edith.
“She might look old and have tinted blue hair, but she’s good and cheap.” Her tensed jaw melted. “Everyone is having a good time. All the campers have different foods to offer. Ty has the hog going near the dock. Before I forget, I gave Ty the extra set of keys to your camper so the boys could play with Fifi.”
She pointed to the lake where Fifi was running between the two boys as they threw the beach ball to each other. She was yipping and jumping in delight. This was probably the best time the poor girl ever had.
“Speaking of Fifi. I wanted to ask you about Tammy Jo Bentley and her deceased husband. I mean, I thought she was married to him when he died but apparently she wasn’t.”
I thought for sure I’d opened the flood gate for Dottie to yammer on and on about it, but she sat there, stone faced, looking at me. The office door opened and a beautiful blonde woman walked out. Her blonde hair was straight and polished. Definitely not from a bottle. She had salon and spa written all over her Tory Burch orange outfit and double T orange sandals to match, leaving my stomach in a jealous twinge.
“Dottie, the phone was ringing and I answered it. I took a message for a reservation and left it on your desk.” Her crystal blue eyes looked at me and she smiled. The orange on her lips perfectly matched her outfit. Yeah. She had money. “Hi, you must be Mae West.” She stuck her hand out. “I’m Nicki Swaggert.”
“Nicki Swagg….” There I went again. Tongue tied. I should’ve recognized those eyes from Ty’s yearbook. I gulped. “Ty’s Nicki Swaggert?” I couldn’t stop my mind from releasing the words from my mouth and I suddenly felt dizzy.
“Oh, Ty.” She even had a cute laugh that made me sick and feel ridiculous. “That was so long ago, but I do have to say that I’m looking forward to catching up with him over a drink.”
“A drink?” My mouth dried. My vision narrowed and I felt my hands fist at my side. “So you don’t live in Normal?”
“No. I live in Atlanta. I’m a doctor.” Of course you are, I thought as I was imagining running her over with my camper. It wasn’t nice. I knew that, but I couldn’t help it. “I’m only here to visit since my mother is in trouble.”
“Your mother?” I looked at Dottie. “Are you in trouble?”
“Oh, gosh.” Nicki put her delicate and lovely hand on Dottie’s arm. “She’s like a mother to me, but Dottie is my stepmother. She made my father so happy.”
“Who is your mother?” I blinked rapidly, suddenly needing to know everything about Nicki, including this drink date with Ty.
“Tammy Jo Bentley is my mother and I understand that she trusted you with my precious little sister.” She winked and smiled, her teeth twinkling they were such a bright white.
“You!” I gasped. “Orange lipstick and wine glass.”
How on earth had I not put the two together when she walked out of the office a while ago.
“I think the sun is getting to Mae.” Dottie grabbed me by the elbow and walked me towards
the office. “You need air conditioning.”
“Wait.” I stopped moving. “You went to visit your mom the day Camille Braun was found murdered.”
“Yes. I was actually just driving through town and now that Camille has turned up dead, I guess I need to stay here and see what’s going to happen with mother.” Nicki’s lashes fluttered. I leaned in a little closer to see if those were fake. Nope. No chance. My stomach pinged again.
“Can I see you in the office for a second? Alone.” I looked at Dottie and didn’t wait for her to answer me.
“Are you okay?” Dottie shut the door behind her.
“No. I. Am. Not.” I jutted my pointed finger towards the door. “You didn’t tell me that you were married to Tammy Jo’s ex-husband and that Nicki Swaggert was your stepdaughter.”
“You ne
ver asked,” she said in a calm voice. “Harrison and I aren’t proud that we fell in love at the end of his marriage.”
“But when I moved here, you told me you didn’t have any money and all the money you had was stolen from my ex-husband,” I reminded her about how I even gave her money.
“Tammy Jo had her own money. The only thing Harrison had was that stupid pocket watch that he let Tammy Jo train the dog with. He agreed to let her will it to the dog, never figuring he was going to die first. There wasn’t a stipulation in the will about the watch upon his death. Since he let Tammy Jo have everything in their divorce, she gets the watch after Fifi dies.” Dottie sucked in a deep breath. “Fifi is going to outlive all of us.” She turned her head to look out the window towards the lake. “Oh, no!”
I looked out the window. Timmy Randal had Fifi on her leash. He was bent over laughing at the brown and white pug and Fifi playing. At closer inspection, they weren’t playing. They were doing something that God never intended for a pug and a poodle to do.
“No!” I bolted out the door of the office and ran as fast as I could towards Timmy. “Stop!” I screamed and flailed my arms over my head like a madwoman. Somewhere along the way, I lost my hair band and my long curly hair sprang out from my head. I could only imagine what I looked like because Blue Edith and the Adolescent Farm Boys stopped playing and everyone turned around to look at me.
“They were just playing,” Timmy said and started to cry. The two dogs pulled away and Fifi growled at the pug.
“Who does this dog belong to?” I asked with a stiff upper lip, trying not to cry.
“Rosco is our dog.” Ethel of Blue Edith and the Adolescent Farm Boys had come off the stage. “What happened?”
“Are you Ethel of the Smelly Dog?” I pinched my eyes shut in hopes she wasn’t but it was becoming very clear almost everyone I knew in Normal had more than one job. Ethel Biddle was probably no different.
“I sure am. Do you have a dog?” She reached down and patted Rosco. He snorted, grunted, and then farted. Just like a man after doing what he’d just done.