by Molly Dox
“Yeah, I always felt safe. These days I don’t know who to trust.” Charlotte agreed.
Annie leaned back against the sofa and handed off her crust to Pip. “Who do you think did it?”
“Hard to say,” Charlotte started, “but I think the mayor had the most to gain from it. I mean, I’m not flat out accusing the guy, I’m just saying, the sympathetic vote, and it was no secret they were always fighting. Plus, he had his own affair going on.”
“True. Yet, I don’t know. I can’t help but wonder…” she trailed off. Leaning forward, Annie slipped another slice of pizza on her plate.
“What?”
“Well, what about Gretchen? What if she was involved? She was attached to both men, but I’m not sure how it would truly benefit her, and I just don’t think she’s a murderer. The thing is that my mind keeps going back to her for some reason.” Annie finished her thought.
“Does she even know how to shoot a gun? She might have had access to it, living with the chief and all.” Charlotte wasn’t sure.
Annie agreed. “Right, that’s true. But Mayor Millbourne, when I said something to him on the beach, he did give off a weird vibe. I swear I saw no emotion that day, though he was emotional today. Could it have been a show?”
“What if there’s somebody else? Someone we haven’t even thought of? I heard the rumblings about blackmail. Is there any truth to that?” It was a good question.
“Oh, oh, yes! That came up at the news conference thing. It turns out more than one person was blackmailed. All three of them were. I don’t think they meant to talk about it, but it sort of came out as they were fighting amongst themselves. So, somebody has dirt on all three of them? Who could we be forgetting? Who knows everyone and always has the latest scoop?” Annie was perplexed by it all.
They said it together. “Mrs. Bushmiller.”
“But you don’t think…” Annie trailed off.
“No. She might be nosy and a pain at times, but she’s not a murderer.” Charlotte finally decided it couldn’t be her. But if not her, who else would want to stir things up for the police chief and the mayor? Who was brazen enough to poke the two big names in town? And why was the police chief’s wife blackmailed too? What was going on?
Chapter 11
Annie couldn’t sleep. Her mind circled bits of information and the earlier news conference. Why would he come out in public to do that? And why did the news crew need to be there? It was almost like he was making a spectacle of himself on purpose. Sure, sure, he was trying to clear his name, but to say those things directly in front of your wife? Something felt off.
After tossing and turning too many times, Annie climbed out of bed and headed downstairs. Pip followed behind her, a bit groggy, but where Annie went, Pip went. The dog sat at the door. With a yawn, she opened the door for the dog, letting her go outside. Squeak startled. The cat was sleeping on her step.
“Fine. Just come inside.” Annie shook her head. It seemed the cat had adopted her whether she liked it or not. Squeak scuttled into the kitchen and then the living room, taking up residence on her sofa.
Annie grabbed a bottle of water and a couple of antacids. She regretted that last slice of pizza she had. Her belly felt bloated. Lately, she’d been eating a few more bites of this and that. Her clothes told her that she’d gained a few more pounds back. Mad at herself for getting slack with her eating again, she vowed to watch more closely. After tonight. She reached into the fridge and grabbed a snack. She would start tomorrow. Annie sighed. If she wasn’t careful she’d put the weight back on that she worked so hard to get off.
Unable to sleep, she bundled up and headed out for a walk. She loved seeing the moon over the ocean. The calm of the waves helped her zone out.
Letting the cold, night sand squish through her toes, she headed to the harder packed sand near the water. It was way too cold to get her feet wet, but it was easier to walk on the harder sand. Lost in thought, she wandered the shoreline, enjoying the crisp air and the bright moon. At least it wasn’t windy, which made it more comfortable this time of year.
She didn’t expect to find a drunken Mayor Millbourne sitting in the sand a few block lengths down from where she started. He was sitting, with his arms wrapped around his legs, muttering to himself.
“Mayor Millbourne?” Annie questioned. “Are you okay?”
“My career is over. I’ll lose my position,” he mumbled. “I never should have slept with Gretchen.”
“Are you okay?” Something was off. He stood, a little wobbly, and then started pacing. Annie realized he was drunk. “Do you need help?”
“It’s too late for help,” he slurred. “I was going places. I was going to run for office. Be a governor, and move on from there. Because of my clouded judgment, sleeping with the wrong woman, I’m a laughing stock.”
Annie didn’t know whether to stay and talk to him or leave him be. He didn’t seem to know what he wanted or needed either.
“My biggest contributors won’t answer my calls. I tried to patch things up, but nobody will talk to me. My wife is dead.” He dropped his head, his sadness coming through. “Somebody killed my wife. I loved her. I know we had our problems. And I shouldn’t have had an affair, but I didn’t want her to die.”
Annie stood looking at the man, not sure what to say. She knew he was talking to himself as much as anyone else. He finally sat back down after pacing a bit. Sighing, Annie sat down beside him. The man had a lot to say. He needed to talk.
“I’m a bad person,” he said, realizing Annie was offering an ear. It didn’t really matter who was sitting there. “I shouldn’t have done it. It’s my fault she’s dead.” And so the confession started. “I knew she wasn’t happy. I didn’t care. I was an idiot. I could only see my own goals. She was an accessary. She loved being the mayor’s wife, doing parties, being recognized, and things like that. She wasn’t going to leave me. It was a free ride and a good life. We stopped having sex. We were like strangers living together some days. I did love her, just not the way I used to.”
Annie sat quietly through his confession.
“And then Gretchen came onto me. I was taken back at first, but she slid her hand up my thigh under a table one night at a dinner party. The four of us went out; we were friendly, but not the best of friends. In politics and higher positions, nobody is truly your friend. We all want something from each other. My ego. I’m a man. I’m not proud. Anyway, she was the aggressor, but once I got involved, the rush of a secret affair put some pep in my step. I was feeling good. I started working out again. I was taking care of myself. I was a fool. I didn’t know my wife would end up dead.”
He didn’t do it. Annie knew. He might have been a less than stellar husband, but he didn’t kill his wife. After more rambling, the mayor got silent. Annie chimed in. “Can I walk you home and make sure you get back safely?”
“You’re a good kid. I’ll be okay. I’m going to sit here a little longer.” He muttered, and started talking to himself again.
Annie stood. There was nothing else she could do for him. He’d have to struggle with the demons in his head. She looked at him one more time and felt torn. He wasn’t her responsibility, and yet leaving him there alone in the middle of the night on the beach didn’t feel right. He was unstable. Annie sat back down. She’d wait him out. When he was finally ready to go home, she made sure he got there safely.
Annie was exhausted by the time she got home. Her walk on the beach turned into two hours with the mayor. On getting back home, she dropped into bed. Sleep was no longer an issue.
Chapter 12
As the weeks passed, and nobody was any closer to solving the case of Sharon Millbourne’s killer, people were getting antsy. There was a murderer amongst the town’s community. What if they struck again? They’d since let Chief Wylie go. While the gun was his, there was no other evidence he was the person who pulled the trigger. His name was still mud and his reputation ruined. If Mayor Millbourne didn’t do it, and they didn’t think Chi
ef Wylie did it, was it somebody else completely? What about Gretchen? Was she a suspect? Would the crime go unsolved?
Annie knew it was best not to get involved, but something was bugging her. She kept coming back to Gretchen. She was attached to all of the people involved. She was having an affair with the mayor, her husband was having an affair, and she wasn’t exactly fond of Sharon. But did she have a motive? Could it have been jealousy? Did she know about her husband’s affair? Did she want Mayor Millbourne for her own? Or was Annie completely off base. Was Gretchen an innocent victim in all of this? She was blackmailed too. Who would have blackmailed all of them? It just seemed odd. Annie couldn’t place anybody else in the group, tying them together.
With Gretchen’s next hair appointment coming up, she decided to drop a few subtle comments and watch Gretchen’s reaction. She’d have to be careful not to give herself away. Annie knew she should let go and not get involved, but lately, it was all she could think about. She’d be thrilled when the busier season rolled around. She had too much time on her hands in the off-season. It wasn’t just a murder, but blackmail too. It was like a big puzzle, and trying to fit the pieces gave her something to do.
When Gretchen walked in, Annie greeted her as always. She was a little on edge, knowing she was going to push the woman’s boundaries a little bit. It might end up being the stupidest thing she ever did. It’s not like she could afford to lose a client, but the drive to know the truth was getting bigger. Would Gretchen give up any information? Or would her lips be sealed? And what about her husband? After the public revelation of his affair, she said she’d file for divorce. Would she be putting the moves on Mayor Millbourne, wanting to fill the now empty gap in his life?
“How are you doing?” Annie asked, and then followed up with her usual. “What would you like done today?”
“I’m thinking of going shorter,” the woman answered, “but I’m a little nervous. What do you think? And I’d like to add a glaze to pump up the shine in my hair. We haven’t done that in a while.”
“Well, there are two ways to go shorter. You can go to the length you want now, or you can do it in stages. We can go a little shorter and then take a little more off each time. Are you looking for a dramatic change, or something more subtle?” Annie quizzed.
“I’ve had enough drama in my life,” she said, laughing at her own joke. “I’m just ready for a change. With everything coming out about Sharon and my husband, the stress of his arrest, and now filing for divorce…” she trailed off. “I’m tired. I just need something different. Obviously what I have going on now wasn’t enough to keep my husband’s interest.”
Annie noticed that she didn’t mention the part about her affair with the mayor. She couldn’t see her own faults, only his. Or maybe she could, but chose not to drag her dirt through the mud in front of Annie.
“I saw Alex,” Gretchen started. “He looks good.”
It was like throwing salt in the wound. Was it necessary? Or did she do it on purpose? Annie held her tongue. “Good to hear it.” That was a lie. She wished he was miserable. She was still bitter over the fact that he was marrying her sister. Maybe they were already married. He said they were going to fly off to Vegas. Not that she cared. It was more the betrayal.
“I hope you don’t mind that I’m using their practice for my divorce. They’re the best on the island.”
“Not at all…why would I mind?” She hated him, hated their past, hated that he was marrying her sister, and hated that his practice thrived while her business was pinching pennies. Bitter? Absolutely.
“Anyway, I intend on taking my husband on a bumpy ride. He’ll never forget what he did to me. Sharon Millbourne, please,” she said, shaking her head.
When Sharon’s name came up, Annie took advantage of the situation. “Has there been any news on that case?” She’d need to tread carefully.
“Well, they had the man, but they let him go. I mean, they had the smoking gun and everything.” She had an ax to grind.
“Didn’t it come out that he was blackmailed or something? Why would he blackmail himself?” Annie wanted to get a feel for her reactions.
“Who knows why that man does anything? I mean, Sharon, of all people.” She laughed with a snort. “He deserved what he got, and so did she. I mean, hello, he was married. It’s not like he was single. She didn’t care that she was hurting me.” How convenient for her to forget she was doing the same exact thing.
Annie clucked her tongue. “Right. And what about you? Did you ever find out who blackmailed you? Do you think it was the same person that blackmailed all of you? I didn’t even realize you’d all been blackmailed until it was leaked. That must have been scary!” Annie watched Gretchen’s eyes in the mirror.
“I just want to forget the entire thing, to be honest. I’ll be happy when it’s all just a bad memory.” She paused, and then added. “Besides, nothing came of the blackmail. It ended up being an empty threat.”
“Hmm, that’s interesting,” Annie said.
“Anyway, I’m about done with this topic. The sooner I put it behind me, the better off. I’ll be a happily divorced woman and then Jeff and I can be together like we wanted.” She sucked in, realizing she added the last statement.
Annie caught Gretchen’s eyes in the mirror. The moment moved in slow motion as the woman was finishing her statement.
“I mean, well, whatever. It’s not like it’s a complete secret that we planned to be together one day.” She tried to recover, but the words kept coming. “What I mean is, when we found out about Sharon and my husband, we planned to leave our spouses. Who wants to stay with a cheater?” She was rambling now.
“You and Mayor Millbourne?” Annie knew, but played dumb.
Her eyes locked on Annie’s via the mirror. “You ask a lot of questions. I just came for a haircut.”
“Right.” She couldn’t move. She swallowed hard and aimed to push one of Gretchen’s buttons. “Well, I guess it all works out. With Sharon out of the way, he’s all yours.”
“What are you insinuating?” Gretchen stood up and glared at Annie in the mirror.
Before either knew what was happening, adrenaline got the better of them. Gretchen grabbed for Annie’s scissors that were sitting in front of her, and turned around to stab Annie. As she held them up, her arm coming down, Annie leaned out of the way just in time. Gretchen came after her.
“You’re trouble,” Gretchen seethed. “I’ve already taken out one woman; I guess you’ll be number two.” Swinging her arm toward Annie again, she blocked her from the desk where the phone was.
Annie wouldn’t be able to call 9-1-1. If she turned to run, she wouldn’t be able to see her. She was better off seeing where the crazed woman was.
They did a dance, each taking a step, this way or that. Gretchen lunged for Annie. Annie cried out. When the door bells jingled, they both turned. It all happened so fast. Mrs. Bushmiller tackled Gretchen when she realized what was happening and knocked her to the floor. The scissors slipped from her hands and glided across the floor. Annie helped Mrs. Bushmiller up. Gretchen scrambled to try to get up, but this time Annie tackled her. “Call for help, Mrs. Bushmiller!”
Mrs. Bushmiller was stuck. Crying out in pain, she couldn’t move. Her hands wrapped over her hip. She tried to limp toward the desk, but the pain was too much.
The women scuffled. Annie closed her eyes and clung onto Gretchen as tight as she could. At least she wouldn’t get away. She focused all her energy on wrapping the woman up, tangling her between her arms and legs, so she couldn’t escape.
“Mrs. Bushmiller, please. I need your help,” Annie called out.
The woman yelped as she moved, taking one tiny step at a time. It felt like ages to Annie. By the time she heard Mrs. Bushmiller’s voice on the phone, she didn’t think her arms and legs would hold up any longer. Clinging to the woman, Gretchen was fighting her tooth and nail.
The sirens blared in the distance and then grew closer. “Freeze
,” the police finally yelled as they rushed into the shop.
“She did it,” Annie got out. “She killed Sharon Millbourne.”
“She’s lying.” Sharon said, now frozen in place with a gun pointed at them both.
“Ladies, slowly, disengage and stand up.” Officer Frisco guided their separation. LuAnn stood by his side, her handcuffs ready.
“I’m sorry,” she said, as she cuffed Annie.
“We’re going to bring you both to the station for questioning,” the police officer stated. Frisco cuffed Gretchen and led her out to his car.
An ambulance and paramedic arrived to help Mrs. Bushmiller. She broke her hip in the tackle. Annie realized in that moment, the gossipy, neighbor that was a pain had saved her life. She’d never been more grateful for Mrs. Bushmiller than she was in that instant.
Locking up the shop, she let LuAnn lead her to the police car. Embarrassed about everything that happened, but relieved that she’d found some information that might have solved the crime, Annie sighed. Of course, LuAnn would never look at her the same way. She hoped they could still be friends. Annie liked the woman.
Chapter 13
As soon as Annie was released, she went straight to the hospital. Mrs. Bushmiller saved her life. She was heavily medicated and scheduled to be operated on shortly.
“Mitzi,” she said. “Can you watch over her?”
“Of course,” Annie said.
“I don’t know where they put my things, but there’s a spare key under the flower pot by the door,” she instructed.
“I’ll bring her to my house until you’re able to go home. Do you need anything else?” Annie felt protective of her, a warmth radiating through her. “You saved my life. I don’t know how to thank you enough.”
The woman laughed, thanks to the medication soothing her pain. “Who knew an old lady could move like that? It’s weird…I didn’t even think, it was automatic.”