Birds of a Feather (An Agnes Barton Senior Sleuth Mystery Book 9)

by Madison Johns

  Katherine ran a hand through her hair. “I’ll have to take a shower first.”

  “We’ll wait,” Eleanor said.

  Fifteen minutes later, Katherine looked refreshed. She was dressed in a jogging outfit with a matching pink and gray jacket. Before we left I asked, “Was your daughter dating Donald?”

  “Donald seemed to like Mary, but there’s no way that Janice would let that happen.”

  “What makes you think that?”

  “Mary mentioned that Janice had told her that Donald was her boyfriend. That they were just keeping it quiet for the sake of the club. Bird watching was the most important thing to them.”

  I pulled out the pictures we found in one of the wrecks. “Does this look like Mary and Donald were only friends?”

  She took the picture from me. “I’m not so sure now, but young people these days aren’t like I was when I was younger. I was sure they were just friends and my Mary never told me otherwise.”

  “Did both of them seem happy?” Eleanor asked.

  “I’m not sure what you mean by that.”

  “You don’t think Donald or your daughter would intentionally run into a tree, do you?”

  “Eleanor,” I said. “There’s no evidence of that.”

  “It’s a reasonable question, if you ask me.”

  “It’s okay. I’ve been asked that by the police so it’s nothing new, but there’s no way my daughter would do that. We were very close and she could have gotten an apartment of her own if she wanted, like most kids do, but she stayed here with me.”

  “That was good of her,” Eleanor said. “Did she have a job?”

  “Yes, she worked part time at Walmart.” She stifled a sob. “She knows how hard it’s been for me since her father died.”

  I really could understand her pain of losing a husband. “Let’s get going before the Coffee Mill closes.”

  I led the way to the car and we arrived at the Garden View Coffee Mill not long after. Before you even went into the yellow painted Coffee Mill, you could see why it was named Garden View. Flowers and assorted plants were all around the coffee shop. I had to rush in the door since if I inhaled too much of the fragrances from the flowers outside, I’d have an attack. The scents made it too hard to breathe.

  Two young ladies immediately greeted us and I stared at the chalkboard that had the drink menu printed on it, with another board displaying the flavor of the day and daily specials.

  I pulled out the picture of Donald and Mary. “Have you seen these two in here before?” I asked.

  The smiles faded from their faces. “Gosh, we’re so sorry, Mrs. Watkins. We really liked Mary and Donald.”

  “They were such a cute couple.”

  “So, they were dating?”

  “Well, yes. I thought Mrs. Watkins already knew that.”

  “I didn’t actually. I must have been blind not to see it.”

  “Don’t beat yourself up,” Eleanor said. “She must have had a reason not to tell you, like not wanting Janice to find out if she already was telling Mary that she was the one dating Donald.”

  “Have you ever heard of them talking about anyone threatening them, or causing problems?” I asked the girls at the counter.

  “No. They just met here when Donald’s mother was at the doctor’s office,” one of the girls replied.

  “Did you happen to notice if they met here or came together?”

  “It was their meeting spot.”

  I smiled. “And I don’t suppose you noticed if Donald drove his mother’s car here? It’s just that his mother claimed he wasn’t allowed to drive her car.”

  “Oh, yes. I saw him on a few occasions when I was taking out the trash,” the other girls said.

  “Apparently Donald’s mother hasn’t been totally truthful to us about her son driving her car.”

  “I was wondering why he’d borrow June Crawford’s car,” Eleanor said.

  “June does that sometimes, just as long as her car is returned when she says. Otherwise she claims she’ll report it stolen,” another girl said.

  “That explains things. Thanks ladies.”

  “I’d like a coffee black,” Eleanor said. “I can’t wait to taste your special blend.”

  “Chia tea latte for me.”

  “And make mine a hot tea,” Katherine said.

  Our drinks were made and I paid for them, wandering over to a table and enjoyed the ambience and fragrances of the coffee blends and the smell of the sweet treats that were in a glass case for purchase. I took a sip of my latte and smiled in delight as my taste buds danced in my mouth. “I think this is better than I get at Diversions.”

  “Don’t tell them that.” Eleanor smiled.

  “The people at Diversions or here?”

  The crowd was abuzz when an older man came racing inside. “June Crawford and Mrs. Patterson were almost in a wreck last night,” he exclaimed to the girl working the counter.

  “Are you sure? I thought her car was in a wreck?” I asked.

  “Not her car, in Mrs. Patterson’s. It happened on that legendary Plank Road in Tawas.”

  “Legendary?” asked a woman near us. “Are you sure, Harold?”

  “Yes. There’s been two accidents within days and now our favorite senior in town nearly lost her life there, too. Someone needs to do something.”

  “We’re trying to,” I announced. “Are you aware of anyone in a red truck driving erratically or causing driving problems?”

  “It’s a GMC, I thought,” Eleanor said.

  “Perhaps we need to widen our scope.”

  “I haven’t heard of any problems like that,” the man admitted.

  “Can you take me home, now?” Katherine said.

  “I’m sorry,” the man said. “I didn’t see you sitting there. I’d be happy to run you home. If you ladies are really trying to find out if someone ran those young people off the road, you better get a move on. It sounds like whoever it was has no indication of stopping.”

  I nodded as I stood and thanked both Katherine and Harold for the information. We then hopped back in the car and went over to June’s house.

  It wasn’t long before we were walking toward the house and June waved from where she was sitting on the picnic table with Mrs. Patterson, a crowd gathered around them.

  “Head on home,” June told the crowd. “We have important business to discuss with these ladies.”

  We waited until the crowd dispersed and then Eleanor and I joined them at the table, even though I only sat sideways since I just knew I’d be having quite the time getting back off the bench.

  “So, I hear you ladies had some problems on Plank Road last night.”

  “Did we ever,” June said. “And to think someone actually wanted us dead, like those poor kids.”

  “How do you know it had anything to do with that?”

  “It might be because I received a phone call and I was asked to meet the person at the scene of the accident.”

  “Who asked you to do that?”

  “A mystery man.”

  “And you never thought that odd?”

  “Actually I didn’t at the time, but I sure do now.”

  I tried to put this together in my head. Why would anyone want to harm little old June? “Is there any reason you think anyone would want you dead?”

  “No!” June shouted. “Me and Mrs. Patterson are well liked in the community.”

  “It might not have anything to do with the people of Oscoda. I can’t help but wonder why you were lured out there.”

  “Did you happen to know anything about Donald and Mary that nobody else knew?”

  June shook her head sadly. “I guess it doesn’t matter now, but Donald borrowed my car to take Mary out on a date, once.”

  “Date?” I asked. “I thought they were only friends.”

  Mrs. Patterson laughed. “That was just not true, but they told us that they had to keep it quiet, that someone would give them grief about it if they wer
e found out.”

  “Janice?”

  “They told us it was Donald’s mother.”

  “Are you sure it was Clara?”

  “Yes, that’s what Donald said.”

  That made no sense to me. “And you didn’t recognize the voice of who called you?”

  “Sorry, but no, I didn’t. I wish I could tell you more.”

  “That truck got behind us and tailgated my car for a mile or two, before he smacked right into us,” Mrs. Patterson said. “I tried to outrun him, but he hit the corner of my car and I nearly lost control.”

  “How were you able to get away?” I asked.

  “Well, I don’t know how Mrs. Patterson managed to keep her car on the road,” June said. “When our car didn’t go off the road, Mrs. Patterson managed to pull ahead of him, but he was back on our tail.”

  “My car skidded out of control, but at the last minute I managed to get the car to go straight and the truck disappeared,” Mrs. Patterson said.

  “What do you think happened to make him pull off your tail?”

  “There were lights coming in the opposite direction,” June exclaimed. “And it was a good thing, too.”

  “At what point did the truck disappear?”

  “Not long after I regained control of my car,” Mrs. Patterson said.

  “Did you call the police and report this?”

  “Yes, but I don’t think the deputy believed us.”

  “I see. Now, that is strange. Do you know the deputy’s name?”

  They shook their heads. “If I did, I’d report his reluctance to take us seriously to Sheriff Peterson. I’ve never been treated like a confused, elderly lady before,” June admitted.

  “Do you have any connection to Donald and Mary that you think might have led to their death?”

  “I can’t imagine anyone doing something that awful to either of them,” June admitted.

  “And you didn’t have any secrets between yourselves?” Eleanor asked.

  June frowned and shook her head. “Now, why would two-twenty-year-olds share a secret with an old lady like me?”

  “Well, you know for certain they were dating,” I suggested.

  “Yes, but it’s hardly any dirty little secret.”

  “I never said it was.”

  “She’s just trying to understand why someone would want you all dead,” Eleanor explained.

  “It’s obvious someone thinks you know more than you might.”

  “I certainly can’t think who.”

  “That goes double for me,” Mrs. Patterson said.

  “Can we see your car?”

  “Sure, I was just about ready to take it to the garage for an estimate.”

  June and Mrs. Patterson led the way over to the garage and when the door was opened, I was shocked at the damage. Both of her taillights were all broken out and I assumed would match what was on the side of the road. The back of her car was dented in, with flecks of red paint on it. Both of the back corner panels were also damaged to the point that I was shocked a deputy would have let this one go. It was obvious something happened to this car.

  “Is it okay if I call the sheriff out here? I believe he needs to see the damage on your car.”

  “Please do. That’s what we had tried to do.”

  I called the sheriff, who told me he’d come right over, and when I hung up, June brought out a pitcher of lemonade and poured us a glass. It was very refreshing, even if it was loaded with alcohol, and I think Eleanor thought so, too, since she nursed hers with a slight smile.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Peterson rolled into the driveway and we left the benches to meet him as he walked toward us. “Where’s the car?”

  June showed him where it was parked and he asked her to back it out. Once Mrs. Patterson did, the sheriff’s eyes widened as he asked, “What happened to your car?”

  “I told you, sheriff.”

  “I’d rather hear it from the ladies, if you don’t mind.”

  “We were asked to come out to Plank Road by a mystery man last night,” June exclaimed. “And when we did, smash,” she explained, with a slap of her hands.

  “I don’t know how I was able to stay on the road,” Mrs. Patterson added.

  “That’s the part I don’t understand. How is it that you were able to not crash your car when two younger people lost their lives on that very road?”

  “I have more experience, for one. I’m not a twenty-year-old, you know.”

  “Tell him what else you used to do, Mrs. Patterson,” June coaxed her. “You know, when you were younger.”

  “I hardly have the time to hear the story of your life.”

  “Sheriff Peterson, I’ll have you know I don’t appreciate your attitude. Now, can Mrs. Patterson tell her story or not?”

  “Sure go ahead. I’m listening.” He rolled his eyes.

  “I used to drive in a demolition derby at a fair, or I should say fairs. It was a very unlady-like thing, but I wanted to prove to my father I was better than any son he wished he had.”

  “He let you do that?” I asked, astonished.

  “Yes. After a while, he got a real kick out of me winning over the men. Even if some of the promoters tried to stop me from entering. But my dad had a way to convince them and it’s not like they wanted to admit they were afraid that a woman would show up the men.”

  “Mrs. Patterson has led a quite extraordinary life,” June said.

  “Let’s get back to what happened on Plank Road,” Peterson tried to redirect them. “Did you call 9-1-1?”

  “Yes.”

  “And the deputy who showed up didn’t do anything for you?”

  “Of course not. The deputy refused to file a report. He even accused us of making it up after we ran off the road.”

  “I thought you said you weren’t run off the road?”

  “We weren’t, but we were off the shoulder of the road.”

  “Did he happen to mention how you then got your car back on the road?”

  “No, he didn’t,” June said.

  “Was the deputy young or old?”

  “Young with blond hair. He told us he had to hurry home, that he had to work first thing this morning.”

  “Sounds like Deputy Ellis to me,” I insisted.

  “Let’s not get too hasty until I sort this out.”

  “He stopped when he saw us pulled over on Plank Road,” I informed him.

  “Why were you there?”

  “I had a hunch to check out the area since the birdwatchers went missing.”

  “How did the search of the marsh go?” Eleanor asked.

  “They got themselves stuck in the mud. The two men were found trying to get the car out and Janice apparently found her way back into town, since her brother reported she was back, safe and sound.”

  I frowned. And to think I thought their disappearance might mean something to our case. Not that I wanted them to be in harm’s way.

  “I thought you came out here to talk to us about what happened on Plank Road?” June asked.

  “I did, but Agnes has a way of distracting me.”

  “You think we’d lie about something like this?” June asked.

  “I never said you did. I’m just trying to get the facts straight.”

  “We did find broken pieces of tail lights on Plank Road,” I said. “And there were two more sets of skid marks.”

  “I’ll check on that for sure and find out who was on duty last night.” Peterson walked away and back to his car, presumably to check on the information.

  “I wonder if Deputy Ellis really was on duty last night?” I mused out loud.

  “I don’t know enough about that deputy to know if he’d be crooked or not. Possibly a little lazy,” Eleanor suggested.

  I pulled Eleanor away from the ladies for a moment. “Do you believe they called the police last night?”

  “They said they did.”

  “I wonder.”

  “You aren’t calling th
ose ladies liars, are you?”

  “No. I guess I’m looking at every possible avenue. What kind of deputy wouldn’t file a report with a car that damaged?”

  “Especially when two accidents happened in that same stretch of road.”

  Peterson walked over to us. “There wasn’t any report filed about anything suspicious happening on Plank Road, including a car nearly run off the road.”

  “Which deputy was on duty last night?”

  “Deputy Ellis, but please let me handle this. I can’t have you accusing my deputy of wrongdoing.” He made way back to Mrs. Patterson’s car and took a closer look. “I’ll have a wrecker pick up your car, Mrs. Patterson, so we can check it for evidence and I’ll be checking out Plank Road to substantiate your story. I really wish a report had been filed in this case.”

  “Oh, great,” June whined. “Now we’re out of a car, again.”

  “Why did you tell the police your car was stolen, June, if you loaned your car to Donald?”

  “He knows the rules. You can borrow my car, but you have to have it in my driveway come morning or I’ll report it stolen.”

  “That’s not what I’d call a case of a stolen car,” Peterson said. “And I hope you don’t plan to do that in the future.”

  “Probably won’t be able to, if I get dumped from my insurance company again. I certainly can’t be driving around with no insurance.”

  “So, you’re a little accident prone?” I asked.

  “Only when I’m behind the wheel.”

  “Which is why I usually drive,” Mrs. Patterson said.

  “You two sound just like us,” I said. “But I thought you told us you didn’t have a license?”

  “She’s right, June,” Mrs. Patterson said. “You don’t have a license to drive anymore.”

  “That’s never stopped me before.” She then looked over at the sheriff. “Er, or I meant, you’re right, I don’t drive anymore.”

  “I’ll be waiting on the wrecker,” Peterson said. He went back to his car and came back, taking the information from Mrs. Patterson.

  We didn’t have to wait long before a wrecker pulled in with Jimmy driving. He backed it up and hopped out to hook it up.

  “I thought you had the day off, Jimmy,” I said.

  “I did, but there wasn’t anymore wreckers free, so I took the call.”