by Amy Andersen
Marion smiled and tilted her head at Glenn. Here she had been so worried about not being enough for him and he was stressed about his own roots. She squeezed his hand and let it go.
“I like you, Glenn. I think you’re a great guy. But, you’re right, the law is important to me. So,” she paused, suddenly uncertain about the whole situation, “I guess …”
He leaned forward, waiting. “You guess what?”
“I guess I need to think about it.”
Chapter 7
“Dearly beloved,” the priest began, addressing the crowd all in black, “we are gathered here to remember our friend, our son, our community member, Fred Hendrickson. Fred was known to all as a loving, concerned individual and to his lovely fiancé Julie as a devoted partner. Let us keep in mind …”
Marion stood next to Glenn and watched the proceedings from behind a large pair of sunglasses. Her black dress whipped around in the wind and she had to put her hands on the skirt to keep it from billowing up. She looked around the crowd and was struck by just how sad everyone was. Fred’s grandmother Gina was across from her, sitting with Julie, the now single fiancé, and Fred’s parents next to her. Around them were Fred’s friends and colleagues, all around the same age, some with children and some newly married. All their eyes were welling with tears and each person seemed to be fighting the urge to sob. “Fred was so loved,” she thought. “I have to expose what really happened.”
Her eyes continued sweeping across the crowd and landed on Daniel Taylor, her number one suspect. She still had no proof that he was involved, but she was positive he’d been involved with Fred’s death and even more certain he may have been the killer. She squinted from behind her shades at the man; was he wearing a toupee? Yes, the fall of his hair did seem to have a highly unnatural quality to it. The wind whipped up again and confirmed her suspicions by snatching the hair piece and making it stand straight up from his round head.
Everyone looked away politely from the scene, but a couple of younger attendees laughed into their hands as Daniel desperately held his hair down. The wind fought him hard and he crouched down for a moment, embarrassed at the scene he was making. Everyone cleared their throats and turned their attention back to the services. Everyone except Marion.
As soon as everyone had looked over at Daniel, she remembered something; he had a unique, old car. She’d seen him get into it when he left Julie’s house. It was a beat up, green Gremlin. There was no chance anyone else owned the old lemon—no one else would be caught dead in such a clunker. Marion elbowed Glenn in the side and motioned with her head for them to step aside. She pretended to cry as Glenn consoled her with an arm around her shoulders. She steered them towards the parking lot and they approached the Gremlin.
Walking as casually as they could, they checked around to make sure no one was watching them and then inspected the trunk. Of course, the trunk was locked and the lock seemed to be something out of the dark ages. She had no clue how to open it, but she remembered Glenn could sometimes pick a lock. Marion looked hopefully at Glenn—anything?
He rubbed his chin, touching the lock and looking under the car, jiggling the brake lights and then going back to the lock. “Hey, got a bobby pin?”
“Yeah, here.” She slid one out of her hair and handed it to him, then stood up on her tiptoes to see if she could get a look at the funeral. Everything seemed fine; she couldn’t see Daniel anywhere and the service was still going strong. She moved back just a bit from the car and put her phone to her ear, pretending to be in a conversation.
“How’s it going?” She looked away from Glenn as she said it, still scanning for Daniel.
“Almost … there ... Got it!” The trunk made a big popping sound and the top of it swung open. He caught it before it went all the way up and Marion gazed at him in amazement. Did this guy’s private education include courses in petty theft and cat burglary? He just gave her a smile and she shook her head, deciding there was simply no explanation for him. She’d never sort out the menagerie of surprises that made up Glenn Steele.
Marion ducked down to take a look in the trunk. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for, but she had a feeling that there was something in there that could expose him. She looked at the flashlight, the spare tire, the crowbar—nothing unusual. Then she spotted a folded piece of paper way in the back and slid into the trunk to get it.
“Uh, Marion? You might want to hurry.”
“Why? Is he coming back?”
“I think so. Whatever you’re doing, do it fast.”
She looked back at the parking lot but all she could see were Glenn’s legs. She slid a little further in, her feet raising off the ground a bit and finally got the paper with the tips of her fingers.
Glenn stage whispered, “Marion! Now, please,” and she slid out, holding the paper low so that no one would notice it. She stood up with her back to the car and spotted Daniel right away. She kept her treasure in her hand hidden in the car, praying he wouldn’t notice. He scowled in their general direction, but Glenn was holding the trunk low enough that nothing looked suspicious. Marion went into her crying act again and Glenn quickly pulled her in for a hug. She slid her hand out and he gently closed the trunk, holding it down so it locked quietly.
He spoke in a whisper into her ear. “You find anything?”
“Yes, a piece of paper.” She ducked behind him to open it and, as she read it, her eyes went wide with shock and her insides turned to ice. She could not believe what she was seeing, but she knew she had Daniel Taylor right where she wanted him.
Chapter 8
“Can you tell me what this is about?” The Director of Reception, Sam Bradley, paused, key in the lock, and regarded Carter and Marion for a moment. Carter just shook his head slowly, hoping his face looked apologetic. “Nothing? Look,” the manager opened the door, “I know this is for the investigation, but I hope you’ll tell me if there’s any reason for me to be concerned about any of my employees. Are we clear on that?”
Carter gave him a little nod and the Manager sighed. “Okay, five minutes. that’s all I can give you.” The manager left the brother and sister team to investigate and closed the door behind him.
Taking out the paper she’d recovered from Daniel’s trunk, she held it out to Carter.
“Oh my God, Sis,” he looked at her with his mouth open, “where did you get this?”
“From the trunk of Daniel’s car. I opened his car at the funeral.”
“You did what?!” Carter exclaimed with his hands on his hips. “I am the police chief in Chippingville, Marion! You know you are putting me in a dangerous position. I cannot see that paper.”
Marion understood her brother, but she had to insist. “I know I broke the law and you can put me in jail afterwards, but take a look at this, please.”
Carter looked at his sister and sighed. “Okay, let’s take a look at this.”
The two of them stood together, reviewing the document. On the sheet was a detailed layout of the system of air vents that ran through the hotel. The two of them nodded at one another, then separated.
Marion wandered over to the air vent on the right side of the room while Carter took the left. The white cover on it blended in perfectly with the wall and looked perfectly normal, but when she reached up to touch it, something was off. She touched it again; it had a little bit of a spring to it. Somehow it wasn’t flush with the wall but hovering above it just a hair.
She put her hands on it and pushed again. It made a little crunchy sound.
“Carter, come take a look at this.”
They both took a look at the door one more time, checking to make sure it was still closed and locked. They were okay; no one had come by. Carter joined Marion and jiggled the cover of the vent, hearing the odd crunch as well.
“These screws aren’t connected to the wall.”
Marion peered at the little, white screws closer as well and touched one. It was loose in its hol
e. Again, the scratchy, crunchy sound was still there. “What am I hearing?” she asked.
Carter got his fingers behind the cover and tensed his arms. “Let’s find out.” He pulled hard and the piece pulled away from the wall with a ripping sound. As soon as it was off, they saw what they’d been hearing—Velcro. Someone had rigged the face of the vent so that it looked normal but would be easy to remove.
“Well, this explains a lot,” Carter said, turning the vent in his hands. “Anyone who wanted to commit a crime in this room would have an easy means of escape.”
Marion took the cover from him and took a closer look. Someone had perfectly aligned pieces of velcro with the corners of the vent. They’d kept the screws in their place, but in such a way that they didn’t serve a purpose, they just helped the whole getup look real. “But, how? How would anyone have rigged this up?”
Carter thought for a moment, then carefully placed the cover back on the wall. Once it was up, it was very difficult to see the tampering that held it in place. “They couldn’t have. Not without help from an employee here.” He turned to the employee in the doorway. “I need to talk to whomever’s in charge around here. I want some names.”
Silently, the young man nodded and the two of them walked out quickly, leaving Marion behind. She stood in the room for a moment and thought of Fred. He would have been so excited that day, preparing to marry Julie, getting his tux on, going over his vows. He never suspected someone was out for his blood.
She could almost see him nervously pacing the room, adjusting his cufflinks and checking his hair. She hoped wherever he was now that he had some sense that people were working to find out how he died and why. “Rest easy, Fred,” she thought. “We’re on your side.” She shivered a little as a chill passed over the back of her neck, but she didn’t feel frightened. She felt like she was getting the go ahead from the spirit of a man who had left this earth too soon.
Marion walked out of the room, leaving the door open behind her to find her brother. She went down the quiet hallway toward the low, hurried conversation happening in the hotel office.
She turned a corner just in time to see Carter facing the nervous-looking manager. Carter was in full cop-mode, his feet spread apart and hands on his hips.
Sam cleared his throat. “Yes? Is – is - is there something I can help you with?”
“Yeah, there is. We’ve got a problem in that room. Apparently someone here is an accomplice to murder.”
“Accomplice?” Sam asked, squirming in his chair.
“That’s right. So we have to ask you some questions. Got that?”
For a brief moment, Sam glanced up at Marion and the two made eye contact. The manager sighed and looked down again, nodding.
“Of course, Sr. Carter. I’ll tell you everything I know.”
Chapter 9
Later that night, Daniel Taylor sat on his couch watching TV and debating whether or not make a second round of popcorn. He’d read all the articles about buttered microwaved popcorn, but he still wasn’t full. Maybe tonight would be the night the silent, buttery killer would get him. He smirked at the thought.
Daniel flipped through the channels, and gradually realized he’d done nothing besides work and sit by himself at home for the past few weeks. What had happened to him? When he was young, he’d been ambitious. He was a star member of the Science Club, where they’d designed cities of the future and space stations. He’d even tried out for drama and been given a small role in a play called Dogs and Cats. He played a cat.
He wondered for the millionth time why Julie hadn’t called him or even texted. He had been there for her through everything, after all. He had stayed the latest that first day she and Fred’s family had taken in visitors and received their condolences. Even washed a few dishes. On top of that, he had been the first to arrive at the funeral. Julie held his hand that day. He remembered her hand had been so small in his.
As disrespectful as it might be, he really believed she would be better off without Fred. Why had they even gotten together in the first place? He didn’t get her, he didn’t understand what kind of woman she was. Daniel felt very smug about just how well he knew his crush; what movies she liked, which friends she was closest to, her favorite foods. “Man, if she would just give me a chance,” he thought. “I could make her so happy.”
Then Daniel got caught up in a daydream about the two of them together, Daniel and Julie, walking down the aisle towards a cheering crowd, rice flying through the air, a band playing. Julie would a beautiful bride, her long, soft blonde curls, her big, brown eyes. She had a great smile; she just lit up when she was happy.
He got so tied up in his daydream that he almost didn’t hear the knock at the door. He shook his head and came back to reality, genuinely confused at who could be knocking. He approached the front of his house rubbing his forehead.
“Who is it?”
“Dan, it’s me! You’ve gotta let me in right now!”
He knew the voice right away. It was his friend Kate from the hotel.
Daniel opened the door to a pale and shaking Kate. Right away, his stomach cramped a little. Kate really shouldn’t be over at Daniel’s house. They shouldn’t be anywhere together. “Hey. What are you doing here?”
“Dan, listen. I think the police might be onto you.”
“Calm down. Take a seat.”
The two moved indoors and Daniel quickly closed and locked the door, then closed a nearby window. He looked at Kate again. His guest was shaking a little and hugging herself. He would have to get her to calm down.
“Listen, we’re fine. The police don’t suspect anything. If they did, they’d be here by now. Just tell me what happened.”
“Look, the cops came by today and inspected the whole room again, top to bottom. And, they got my name from my boss. He told me.” Daniel handed her a glass of water, which she accepted and gulped down. “Look, when I agreed to help out with your prank, it was all just in the name of fun. You were just supposed to scare him, nothing else. I never thought the poor guy would end up dead. I didn’t know what I was doing. Now it looks like I might go to jail. You have to help me!”
Terrified, Kate buried her face in her hands and burst into deep, heaving sobs. Daniel’s stomach was really twisting now. What could he do? If he turned himself in, he would be going to jail for sure. But maybe he could convince Kate to take a different route.
“Look,” he said, putting a hand on Kate’s shoulder. “I never meant to have any of this happen. It was an accident. He passed away before I knew what had happened. He must have had a weak heart or something. Here, use this.” Kate took the white tissue from Daniel and blew a huge wad of snot into it. “I don’t want you to go to jail. But, I don’t know how much I can do without implicating myself. What if I gave you some money? Say, five thousand dollars? I’ve got some squirreled away here at home for an emergency. Of course, if you accept it, I’ll have to ask you to agree to leave town, never come back.”
Like magic, Kate’s tears dried up and she calmed down. She didn’t respond, just cleared her throat and sat silently.
“Could you do that for me, Kate?” Daniel sat down and watched his friend’s face. “I mean it when I say it was an accident. I don’t really know how it happened.”
Toying with the water glass, Kate kept her eyes off of Daniel. She closed her eyes and pursed her lips together. “I can’t run away. I’ll look guilty. And you’re the one who killed him. I’m going to the police and you’re going too. That´s why I came.”
Nodding, Daniel put his hand back on Kate’s shoulder and tightened his grip on her small, bony frame. “That’s right. I did.”
“Danny, you’re hurting me.”
“I need you to do what I say, Kate.” He put his free hand on her other shoulder, holding her tightly and shaking her slowly back and forth. As she shook, her head started to nod in a loose, floppy nod.