by Emily Selby
She stood and walked to her office door.
'So stop, because you're doing it wrong, woman. This is not possible. I know Michael very well. It must've been a mistake.'
Katie opened the door quietly, but no one noticed her. Chris, pacing the room in civilian clothes, continued to mumble something about making a huge mistake. Celia was standing in the middle of the room, her face pale, looking close to tears.
'What's going on?' Katie said.
Celia looked at her pleadingly, opening her arms in a desperate gesture.
'Chris?' Katie turned to face him.
'What?' He stopped and glared at her.
'Why are you shouting? I can't work. Poor Celia–look at her.'
'It's her,' Chris fired back, and returned to his pacing. 'She's not doing her job properly.'
'I am,' Celia called. 'Have you considered you might be biased?'
'Me? Biased? I was a police officer when you were still running around in nappies.'
'I'm not questioning your professional capacity,' Celia said her voice trembling. 'I'm simply trying to say that Michael is your friend. And of course, you will defend your friend.'
'What happened with Michael? Anything to do with that break-in?' Katie addressed Chris.
Chris glared at Celia. 'Ask her,' he said through clenched teeth.
'I have just come back from Michael's office,' Celia sighed. 'I found two empty vials of phenobarbital there.' Celia held up a clear plastic evidence bag.
'Phenobarbital? Where did I hear that name?' Katie tried to cast her mind back.
'The guy on the roof was killed using this drug,' Celia prompted. The silence that followed was so thick Katie could have sliced it with a knife. She folded her arms. Michael Bower?
'Were these in his office?'
'No. We found them in the flower bed by the entrance.'
'Where anyone could have easily planted them,' Chris added.
'Exactly. This could have been the main reason why we found them only today.'
'So why are you dragging Michael into the case?' Chris demanded, curling his fingers into fists.
'I think I'll leave that decision to Inspector Heaton,' Celia said calmly. 'I'd better send this evidence to the forensic team,' she added and walked out of the room.
'Michael's got nothing to do with this thing,' Chris called out at the closed door. He shoved his fists into his jeans pockets and walked out of the staff room without looking at Katie.
Katie stood in the middle of the room for a couple of minutes, breathing slowly. She was confused. Chris shouting at Celia? Michael being implicated in Zac Greenberg's murder? Michelle was right to insist they added Michael to their suspect list. But did Michael really have a reason to kill Zac, or steal the ring, or even-implicate Katie? And with Michael coming into the picture, would Kevin be released?
She wanted nothing more than to chat with someone who could help her see these things clearer. Maybe Jack?
But Jack was out of the office all morning.
Just as Katie was getting ready to go home at the end of her busy morning, Celia popped her head around the door.
'I thought you might want to know this,' she said wiggling her eyebrows. 'Good news! Kevin Webb is being released.'
Katie's heart made a little flip.
'That's what I hoped!' She clasped her hands together. 'What changed Jack's mind about him?'
'Lack of clear forensics and now, the new evidence, I suppose.'
'New evidence against Michael?'
Celia shrugged. 'Maybe it's against Michael, maybe not.' She sighed. 'But it looks as though someone has planted the vials while Kevin was in the cells.'
'Kevin might have had an accomplice.'
'Good thinking! I see you’re becoming suspicious of everyone and everything. Inspector Heaton didn't have enough evidence against Kevin anyway. The guy just refused to do a job for Zac. There was some shouting between them but nothing more.'
'What about Kevin's alibi?'
'It was pretty shady. Apparently, he was out with his mates drinking. There were all too drunk to remember any of the details. But a lot of people don't have ironclad alibis.'
'Any fingerprints on the vials?'
'It's too early to be sure, but apparently there are a few glove prints.'
'What are glove prints?'
'Prints left by someone wearing gloves.'
'I thought the point of wearing gloves was not to leave any prints,' Katie asked, surprised.
'It's not always the case. Even with gloves on, a person can leave prints, and these days, it may be enough to identify who it was.'
'It looks like this crime was committed by a smart criminal,' Katie commented and thought back to Barry's comment about Zac being too stupid to conceive a burglary plan. He might have guts to do it, but not the brains. Whoever was at work here, was smart. Smarter than Kevin, she had to admit, no matter how much she liked her friend. Probably as smart as Michael. Michael was a successful businessman, he must have devised and executed many plans. Plus, didn't he have a law degree? His two older children were both at university, one finishing law, the other studying architecture. Did Michael have the brains to plan a crime like this? Very likely. Did he have the guts to commit it? Katie wasn't sure. What if Chris was right? After all, he knew his friend...
'Is Chris in yet?' she asked.
Celia shook her head. 'He's not due in until after lunchtime.' She folded her arms. 'I think he seriously should consider keeping away from this case. I need to talk to Inspector Lumley about it.'
'Chris would be devastated,' Katie said thoughtfully. Chris was a great guy, reliable and trustworthy. He was a great friend, which was why Katie expected him to keep away from the investigation. He should just stay Michael's friend.
'What's Michael saying about the vials?' Katie asked
'He denies any knowledge of them. He also denies any knowledge of Zac, which I tend to believe. Zac and Michael belong in two different worlds.'
Katie agreed.
'I think Inspector Heaton will drop this trail,' Celia said.
'What about that break-in? Do you think it might have been to incriminate Michael?'
'No. Michael says that some old documents have gone missing. He can't say exactly which ones or how many. He needs to check his records.'
'Oh well, just another mystery,' Katie said trying to sound light.
Celia gave a sharp laugh.
'Yeah, just another day in Sunnyvale.'
13
Michelle's house was dark and empty when Katie arrived. A quick phone call explained everything. Michelle and the kids were all still staying at her in-laws’ and Kevin had joined them.
'Katie, you're more than welcome to stay at our place as long as you want,' Michelle said. 'Do you need anything?'
Katie reassured her she had everything she needed. 'I've got my last cleaning gig at Willow Park tonight. I'd better make the most of it.'
'Are you thinking of working with them longer term?'
'Not sure. The team is great, and I wouldn't have to worry about finding customers. But commercial cleaning isn't really my cup of tea. Plus, I'd have to work shifts. Being a single mom doesn't fit in with it.'
'So, what can you do?'
'I've left ads around town offering cleaning and home help. But I haven't had much interest so far,' Katie said with a heavy heart. 'But to be honest, I haven't paid much attention to it lately.'
'I think young families on the new housing estate may need cleaning and domestic help.'
'It would make sense, wouldn't it? I'd better go and check if my ads are still posted.'
Katie ended the call. She’d drop by the new shopping centre and check if her little ads were still on the notice board, and put a new ad up if needed. Next week she would be back to her part-time job and part-time wage. Even with the child support money from Barry, it was still quite tight for the two of them, as Katie was paying off an old loan Barry had taken out in her name. And if she really want
ed to find a better place to live, she needed to start saving. Katie prepared a little note offering her cleaning and home help services. And then she rang Julia.
'I'm fine, mum,' Julia said in the way that made Katie doubt it.
'Hope you’re not too bored. Are you still with grandma?'
'Yes. But it's boring. I wish I had my computer. When will our house be available?'
'Hopefully soon, darling,' Katie said not feeling all that hopeful. 'I'm going to check on it tomorrow. On another note, how about you and grandma go to the library?'
'That's a great idea! I'll talk to her straight away.'
With an afternoon snack in form of another sandwich and a bunch of ads in her handbag, Katie left for Willow Park. She drove through town. When driving by the community centre she noticed a light on in the crafts room.
'Who is that?' Katie muttered and pulled into the car park.
She climbed out of the car and looked through the window. Indeed, there was someone there, leaning over the workbench in the far corner of the room. The silhouette didn’t look familiar. Katie pushed the handle and the door opened.
'Hello?' Katie called out
The tall slim figure turned around. 'Oh, it's you. You give me such a fright,' Sofia said.
'Oh, hello, Sofia. What are you doing here? Where did you get the key?'
'I'm working on my new jewellery project,' Sofia said flicking her dark curls back over a shoulder. 'I told you I was very keen to work on it. This machine is just sitting here gathering dust. At least someone is using it now.' She gave a sharp laugh. 'You should be thanking me otherwise this will all rust.'
Katie's heart accelerated. A wave of adrenaline rushed over her. What the heck was going on here?
'Where did you get the key from? I didn't quite catch it.'
'I've walked in. I wanted to use the room, and nobody was using it. You told me other people use it outside the normal hours.'
'Yes, we do have an agreement that our members can use the crafts room when they need it. But you have to go through one of the three people who have the keys to get the key first.'
'As I said,' Sofia said frostily not looking at Katie, 'the door was unlocked. What's the big deal? I'm not stealing anything.'
Katie sucked in a long breath. What's the big deal? Maybe there wasn't any big deal at all? She had to get the facts right.
'Are you saying the door was open?'
'By the looks of it.' Sophia gave that sharp laugh again. A bead of cold sweat formed on Katie's lip. She wiped it with the back of her hand.
'If you care about your possessions in here, you need to make sure the door is locked properly, or get a better lock,' Sophia said, staring at Katie.
'So, you didn't have the key,' Katie half-asked half-stated.
'I didn't need the key,' Sophia replied. 'The door was unlocked. You need a better lock. You should be grateful it was me and not a thief. Although, I don't think there's anything valuable in here. Certainly, I am not going to steal anything. I just want to use the machine. Are you okay with that? I talked to the president last night. I paid the dues. She confirmed that members could use the room outside the meeting hours.'
Katie stepped back. She held her breath. Sofia's comments were okay on the surface. The door was unlocked - maybe Miriam forgot to lock it properly the night before, maybe someone else used the room this morning and left it like that. Sofia just wanted to use a machine no one else had used for ages. Assuming Sofia was a club member and discussed the use of the room with Miriam, it was only fair. But something about the way Sofia delivered her comments made Katie uncomfortable. She'd check with Miriam if Sofia was telling the truth.
Katie counted to three exhaling slowly. It eased the dizziness a little.
'You should have got the key from one of us. Have you told anyone the door was unlocked?'
'No, I haven't. I don't know your customs. Look, I had a spare couple of hours after work. I've had a stressful day. I just wanted to have a look at the room on my way home. The door happened to be unlocked. My intentions are completely honourable,' Sofia said holding her hands in front of her with the palms open. 'I'm sorry about that. I am not intending to steal anything. I just want to do a little work with the machine.'
Katie steadied her breath.
'I'll talk to Miriam about the lock,' she said weakly. It was hard to disagree with Sofia's arguments, but a doubt settled in her. She had to talk to Miriam. 'Okay,' she said reluctantly. 'Since you are already here, stay here. But please still lock the door after you finished.'
'I told you I don't have the key.'
'I'll leave you mine,' Katie offered. I can pick it up from you on my way from work tonight. Will you be at home?'
'I don't know. I have something to do.'
'Can you leave it with your mum?'
'I suppose I could, but Mum may be having a nap when you come.'
The Parkers weren't the easiest to catch.
'Okay, here's another idea,' Katie said calmly. 'How about you put the key through Dorothy's letterbox? I'm popping to see her on my way back from work.'
A grimace of displeasure flashed across Sophia's beautiful face. The corners of her mouth dropped, as if she’d swallowed something bitter.
'I suppose I could do that,' she said. 'Is this kosher enough?'
Katie took the key from her handbag and left it on the table.
'Yes. Thank you. I just wanted to have a look at what you were doing. If you don't mind?'
Sofia put her hands on her hips. She flicked her hair back again.
'It's a secret,' she said with a smile but a hint of threat in her voice. But Katie had already made a couple of steps closer. Two pieces of jewellery shimmered in the light of the bulb over the polishing machine. She reached out to touch one of them, but Sofia's was faster. Her hand covered the items in one smooth motion.
'Don't touch,' Sofia said, a sharp hint of anxiety turning her voice into the shrill again. 'It's a secret. I don't want anyone to know.'
The shrill notes made Katie jump back. Her backside hit the table and knocked off Sofia's handbag, which landed on the floor and its content spilled out.
'Look what you’ve done!' Sophia called out, flapping her hands.
Katie clutched the edge of the table behind her back. She shuddered and dropped to one knee to pick up the items. She grabbed the first thing she could reach. In one small jump, like a tigress, Sofia was beside her.
'Don't touch, please.'
'I'm sorry,' Katie said, keeping her voice steady. Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. She felt anxious and threatened at the same time. Her legs ached, keen to get her out of the room as soon as possible. 'I just wanted to help.'
'No problem. I'll do it. You go,' Sofia said, her voice now calmer. 'Sorry, I don't like people going through my stuff.'
Katie climbed to her feet, her thighs trembling like jelly. She leant on the table.
'The phone,' Sophia said.
'What?'
'You're holding my phone. Can you give it back to me?' Sofia repeated calmly but firmly.
Katie looked at her hand. Indeed, she was still holding what she'd picked off the floor. She put the phone on the table. Now, she had to get out of here. She glanced at the table. A doubt that grew at the back of her mind nagged her. The key! She shouldn't leave the key.
Katie grabbed it from the table. She curled her fingers into fists and pulled her elbows tightly to her chest. Feeling steadier now, she said as calmly as she could:
'I actually prefer to lock the room myself. I don't want anyone uninvited rummaging through our stuff. I'll swing by after you finish to make sure the door is secured. How long will you be?'
Sofia's face flinched. 'Keep an eye on your property - that's my best policy,' she said and bared her teeth in a smile that gave Katie creeps. 'I should be finished by 8 pm. I can text you before I put everything away. That'll give you a few minutes warning.'
Katie gulped. 'Good idea,' she said and
pulled one of her little ads from her handbag. 'Here's my number.' She put the flyer on the table. 'Thanks,' she croaked without looking at Sofia and strode to the door. She grabbed the handle with the same desire as a person dying off dehydration would grab a glass of water. She hurried back to her car breathing heavily. On one hand, Katie was fuming, feeling Sofia pushed too far and broke some rules. On the other hand, Sofia's explanation made sense and, apart from the strange fear about anyone touching her stuff, she was okay. She’d even been apologetic about her behaviour. Katie felt guilty about attacking her. She had to talk to Miriam about changing the locks. And maybe also Chris or Celia?
Yes. First thing tomorrow morning.
14
The first person Katie noticed on arriving at work the following morning was Jack.
She considered telling him about the events of the previous night. Even though the crafts room looked intact when Katie swung by to lock it, she still felt uncomfortable about what happened with Sofia. The machine and all the parts were cleaned and neatly covered with the cloth, and there was no sign of anything missing. Maybe Sofia did just want to work on her project? She had been tired and stressed from work. She had a stressful job after all. Katie understood the effects of pressure.
On the other hand, she felt uncomfortable about the situation. And Jack didn't look super-busy. Katie grabbed the opportunity and tried her favourite opening line.
'A coffee?' she asked. Jack lifted his head from above the paperwork.
He smiled at her. 'How about I make some for both of us?'
'That'll be nice.'
He crossed to the coffee machine.
'You're in early,' she said, trying to sound casual.
She wondered how he had been doing since they last spoke, and if he had a chance to consider her suspect list.
'My dad is staying with his brother for a few days. I have nothing to do at home. The house seems empty without him. To be honest, I find it difficult. I'm happy to be kept busy,' he replied while preparing the brew.
'Sure, we're keeping you busy with lots of dead bodies,' Katie said in a desperate attempt to lighten the mood.