I was positively sick by the time Andrew had driven over the last of the ruts and my insides felt like scrambled eggs. We came back onto Plank Road just on the other side of the accident. The mangled car had been hauled away by a wrecker and there was no sign of police anywhere. The roadblock wasn’t even still in place. I was very baffled, now. Didn’t the sheriff believe this was more than an accident?
“Wow, this accident sure cleaned up fast,” Eleanor observed.
“I know, and I, for one, would like to know why. We found shell casings in the woods near where the accident happened,” I told Andrew.
“And a footprint, don’t forget, Agnes,” Eleanor added.
“So you think someone shot the man in the car?” Andrew asked.
“We’re not sure. The car was wrapped around a tree and I’m not sure if the victim was shot or not.”
“And you most likely won’t know unless Trooper Sales lets something slip.”
“Do you think that’s possible?” Eleanor asked. “It wouldn’t take more than a minute to go ask him.”
“He’s on duty still, remember? He was called in early when the accident happened.”
I could feel Eleanor’s breath on the back of my neck when she asked, “Do you think … that we might be jumping the gun, Agnes?”
“I’m not sure, Eleanor, but wouldn’t you like to know if the man was shot before the accident?”
“How would we know for sure if he was shot before or after? From where we found the shells, if he was shot his car would have crashed further up the road, not right there.”
This is why I love Eleanor so much. “Good point, Eleanor, but with skid marks from two cars on the pavement, perhaps he was forced off the road and then shot.”
“I was thinking that, too.”
“You’re both jumping the gun now. You don’t even know if he was shot at all,” Andrew reminded us. “So, where are we off to, now?”
“It’s getting late now since we didn’t get moving until afternoon, but I’d like to head over to Diversions Tea House. I have a taste for a chia tea.”
“Sounds great to me,” Andrew said.
Andrew drove into East Tawas and it was packed with the festival starting tomorrow. Newman Street had pedestrians crowding the sidewalks, checking out the unique shops and crossing the streets, causing even more of a traffic backup.
Andrew found a parking spot in the parking lot behind the business district and soon we were out of the car and walking toward the teahouse. Music and loud voices echoed out of Barnacle Bills, which was the place to be for good food and drinks. Perhaps another time.
I led the way into Diversions, which had new owners. Wendy, the girl at the counter, greeted us. “Would you like your regular, Agnes?”
“Yes, a chia tea.”
“Make that two chia,” Eleanor said.
“I’d like a bubble tea, strawberry,” Wilson said, shuffling over to a table.
“Espresso for me, please,” Andrew said. “For some reason, I think it’s going to be a long day.”
I gave him a look as he paid, while our drinks were being assembled. Andrew and I then carried the beverages over to the table where Eleanor had joined Wilson.
We sat and I inhaled the chia fragrance before checking out the shop. There were customers a-plenty today, most of whom wore binoculars around their necks, but at one table they had large bags at each of their feet.
“Why you staring at those bird watchers over there?” Eleanor asked.
“Which one would that be? Plenty of people in here are wearing binoculars.”
“The ones sitting at that table right there,” she pointed out. “What do you think they have in those bags?”
“Not sure, but it might be cameras. I imagine some people come to the Birding Festival to take photos of a variety of warblers.”
“Those bags are too big for cameras, Agnes.”
“Not if they’re professionals with a variety of lenses.”
“Really?” Wilson groaned. “Why don’t you go over there and strike up a conversation with them? You’re both giving me a headache.”
“Wilson,” Andrew said. “Are you trying to get yourself a well-earned position on the couch tonight?”
“Aww, my Peaches would never do that. She knows that it aggravates my old war injury.”
Eleanor rolled her eyes. “War injury? I thought you told me you shot yourself in the leg when you were younger?”
I snickered. “Now that’s some fish tale.”
“Have you ever been shot before, Agnes?” Wilson asked.
I had to think for a minute before I said, “I’ve been shot at, does that count?”
“Well, I’ve been shot before,” Eleanor said. “Or at least, I think I have been. My memory isn’t the best these days.”
“Seems pretty good when it comes to cases,” Andrew observed from over his espresso.
I pulled Eleanor away so she wouldn’t make a hasty retort. We couldn’t be arguing with the men. Who else will bail us out of jail?
Eleanor whipped back a strand of her dyed blonde hair and strode over to the table containing the trio with the bags that we had observed.
“Hello there,” Eleanor greeted them. “I couldn’t help but notice the binoculars you’re wearing. Are you here for the Birding Festival?”
“Of course, isn’t everyone?” a young man said.
“Do you have cameras in your bags?” Eleanor asked. “I couldn’t help but notice how large they are.”
The young woman made a face at the man next to her. “No, we’re here on a secret mission for the government. It seems that one of the bird watchers is an international spy from Russia.”
“Yes, and they’re here to steal warblers,” the third man said.
“Oh, really?” Eleanor asked with widened eyes.
“Of course not,” I sputtered. “They’re making fun of us. Everyone knows if they actually worked for the government, they wouldn’t be flapping off at the mouth about it.”
“Duh,” the woman said.
I had a mind to give that woman a good smack. But I was a little too slow on the upswing. Before I could fully react, Eleanor had reached over and pulled the woman up and across the table, letting her somersault to the floor.
“Eleanor, you know better than to attack the tourists.”
“Oops,” she said.
The woman jumped up, wide eyes and all. “I’m calling the cops. That’s assault.”
“No, it’s not. I never hit you,” Eleanor said innocently. “I barely laid my hands on you.”
I looked around and said, “Now, did anyone see either of us strike this woman?”
The customers murmured among themselves and shook their heads. “See.” Eleanor smirked. “No witnesses at all.”
“We saw the fat one grab Janice by the neck,” said one of the young men at the table.
“You tell them, Aaron,” the young woman replied. “Call the cops, Darin.”
Eleanor’s face was completely red as she cussed up a storm, sputtering words that I didn’t even think she knew. “Why, you no good—”
“Eleanor is not any fatter than most of our friends.”
“Agnes Barton Hart, how could you.”
“I was just joking and I think you’re a healthy weight, seriously, I do. Why are you listening to these fools? We could come up with a better story about why we were in town than that we work for the government. We’re creative like that,” I informed them.
Darin proceeded to call the cops and Eleanor and I went back to our table to wait until the police arrived. Never in a million years did I believe we’d be actually placed under arrest. We’ve done much worse, and besides that, Janice wasn’t even hurt.
“Let me guess, you couldn’t help yourselves,” Andrew said.
“Why are you blaming me, Andrew? I never laid a hand on her, but I really wanted to. Making fun of us like that, it was so uncalled for.”
“Oh, I don’t know. You we
nt over there poking your nose in their business for no good reason.”
“I just wanted to know if they had cameras in their bags, is all.”
“What did you think they had in them, rifles to go along with your accident scenario?”
“Actually I never thought about that. Do you really think so?”
Andrew slapped his head with a palm. “What do you think, Wilson?”
“That woman should never have spoken about my Peaches like that. They just don’t know who they were messing with.”
“Y-Yes,” Eleanor said, wiping back a tear. “I know I’m plus sized, but that’s no reason to go insulting me like that.”
Deputy Greenleaf walked into the teahouse and Eleanor and I told him how he really wasn’t needed.
“I’ll be the judge of that. Where is the victim?”
“Janice Saco is the name and I’m pressing charges against the two of them. They nearly choked me to death.”
“Choked?” Eleanor said. “This story is getting deeper all the time.”
“What did happen?”
“We were just asking them if they were here for the festival and they insulted Eleanor for no reason. I think they’re troublemakers,” I said.
The deputy studied Eleanor now. “Did you choke the woman?”
“No, and you can ask anyone in here. I never laid a hand on that woman.”
“Well, you actually kinda did pull her to the floor,” said the owner from behind the counter. “But it was not a choking from my viewpoint.”
“She only gave Janice here a trip to the floor,” I said. “Janice doesn’t even have a mark on her.”
Greenleaf scratched his head and asked, “Are you sure you want to have them arrested? It won’t bode well for you in town, they’re well liked in Tawas.”
I kept wondering why the deputy kept saying “we” when I had never struck anyone, but I’d go along with it since I wasn’t about to let Eleanor go to jail alone.
The three birdies gave it some thought as they huddled together and Janice said, “I’m pressing charges on the both of them for harassment.”
“Harassment, now?” I asked.
“Yes, you came over to our table bothering us about what we had in our bags when it’s none of your concern.”
“If I put these two in jail every time they questioned somebody, we wouldn’t have time to do anything else,” Sheriff Peterson said from the door. I hadn’t even seen him walk in, but obviously he was standing there the whole time. “Anyone see either of these senior-aged ladies choke this young lady?”
“No, those younger folks were poking fun at them and everyone in town knows that’s not the way to go with Eleanor and Agnes,” said the girl behind the counter.
“And it’s a crime to file a false police report. The sheriff here has more important things to do,” I insisted. “I’m sure Eleanor didn’t mean to yank you out of your seat, but it’s not very nice to call her fat when she’s just pleasantly plump, like most people of our age bracket.”
“It’s like when she called me fat, I saw red and don’t even remember pulling her to the floor,” Eleanor admitted.
“So we can all agree that’s all Eleanor did?” Peterson asked Janice.
She gulped when Peterson stared her down as he approached the table. “If she apologizes, I’ll let it drop,” Janice finally agreed reluctantly.
“Fine, I’m sorry I pulled you out of your chair and across the table where you landed on the floor for calling me fat,” Eleanor said with a smug look. “And that’s all I have to say about the matter.”
“That’s probably the best you’ll get out of her,” Peterson said. “How about accepting the apology? I’m sure you have better things to do than come out to the sheriff’s department and fill out a lengthy report.”
“And you’ll most likely have to wait a few hours before the sheriff will get to you,” Deputy Greenleaf said. “We were heading back to file an accident report.”
I smiled. What I’m sure about is that Peterson didn’t want us in his office, today of all days.
“Fine, but if I they ever do something like that to me again, I’ll press charges for sure.”
Instead of going back to our table, I followed the sheriff outside. “Thanks again, Peterson. You certainly wrapped up that accident scene fast. I expected you to investigate further.”
Peterson sighed, turning to me and whispering into my ear, “It was your run of the mill accidents. Surely not worthy of your investigative skills, so give it a rest.”
I nodded at him. “Have a nice rest of your day, sheriff, but I had hoped you could have asked Janice and her friends what they have in their large bags.”
“Look, I have no reason to do a search like that.”
“You can simply ask them.”
“The Birding Festival starts tomorrow, I’m sure it’s only cameras and related equipment.”
“Can’t you use the Patriot Act to warrant a search?”
“That’s not even what the Patriot Act is for. Have a good day, Agnes.”
I stood there staring at the sheriff’s departure and Andrew handed me my now-cold chai as he had left the teahouse, along with Eleanor and Wilson.
A young man sporting a blond buzz cut stopped us. “I’m really sorry about my sister. Janice can be a little abrasive, but I promise that I’ll talk to her about how she speaks to people.”
“Fat chance she’ll ever change,” Eleanor said.
“Perhaps we shouldn’t have gone over to their table.”
“Don’t blame yourself. Janice had no business speaking to you that way. I’m glad she came to her senses and didn’t press charges. I’d hate to see someone your age sent to jail.”
“Thanks,” I said. “Who are you?”
“I’m Janice’s brother Brian, but don’t hold that against me.” He laughed.
“I didn’t see you sitting with your sister.”
“Oh, no. I’m not exactly a birdwatcher, instead I tag along to make sure Janice doesn’t get into any trouble.”
“Now that sounds like a full-time job.”
“It can be. I better get back inside before she slips away from me.”
We thanked Brian and walked back to the LX.
“Can we go home now?” Andrew asked.
“Not yet. I thought we could run past the scene of where the accident was. Peterson told me it was just an accident, but I can’t stop myself from believing that the accident was not one of your run-of-the-mill, wrapped-around-a-tree incidents,” I said. “Too bad we don’t know who the victim was.”
“Stuart told you he’d run the plate for us, remember?” Eleanor said.
“Yes, and he won’t be doing that until tomorrow. He said he’ll tell you when he comes over for breakfast, remember?” Andrew reminded me.
“So after inspecting the crime scene, I’m willing to go along home.”
“Accident scene, you mean. What proof do you have that it was anything more?”
I sighed, making my way back to the LX, waiting on the others. I just couldn’t believe that the “accident” was really just an accident. Could it be that we were barking up the wrong tree?
Chapter Four
Andrew drove back up Plank Road and pulled over the side of the road. Before I moved out of the LX, a raccoon appeared from the leafy overgrowth with three more following in a line. And they disappeared into the woods on the other side.
“Aww, so cute. Did you see, Eleanor?”
“I sure did,” she said, as she followed me out of the vehicle and instead of searching the woods, I backtracked over to the other side of the road where there were several pieces of metal from the wreck. The tree had been severely injured, but it was sturdy enough that it didn’t budge.
“I don’t see any shell casings here,” Eleanor said.
“I can’t think that you would. If you remember, we found the shell casings in the woods behind the wreck.” I walked through the ditch and back to where the casings
had been found. The footprints hadn’t been disturbed. “The sheriff never even casted these footprints.”
“Probably not, since he believes it was just an accident. I’m sure he’d know if the man suffered a gunshot wound.”
“Good point, Eleanor.” I followed a line from the direction of where the footprints were facing and crossed the street, examining the trees.
“What are you looking for?”
“A slug in a tree. You know, in case they weren’t able to strike the car before the accident. I can’t imagine they’d want to risk shooting the driver after the accident.”
Eleanor and I fingered the trunks of the trees before I found where something had ripped apart the bark of one of the trees. I pushed my finger into the tree and worked out a slug with the help of a branch that I found on the ground. “Look what I found, Eleanor.”
“I found one, too.”
We retrieved that one, too, and searched for the third, which we found in the side of another tree. “Looks like we found the missing slugs from the three shell casings.”
“I just don’t get it,” Eleanor said, with a puzzled look.
“Don’t get what?”
“How can we be sure that whoever those shell casings belonged to meant to shoot at that car?”
“I guess we won’t know, but it just made sense to me.”
“And if they intended to hit the occupant of that car, they’re a horrible shot.”
“I can agree with that, too,” I said. “We’ll talk to the sheriff about what we found, all the same. We need to figure out if these slugs and the car accident have anything to do with one another.”
We sat back inside the LX and I turned up the air conditioning and told Andrew what we had found.
“That’s interesting, but what does that prove?”
“Nothing, but it has to mean something. I’d like to head off to the sheriff’s department to tell the sheriff what we found. He might be able to figure out if it means anything.”
“Are you kidding me?” Wilson shouted. “I want to go home.”
“I’ll take you home and join you there, Wilson, while the women do their investigating. I just hope it won’t take all night.”
Birds of a Feather (An Agnes Barton Senior Sleuth Mystery Book 9) Page 3