2 Yule Be the Death of Me

by J. D. Shaw

  They were a good two miles outside of town when the police car made a sharp turn onto Old Cemetery Road, which was one of those country lanes which was rarely plowed. She fishtailed slightly, as the road was slick with packed snow. They passed the ruins of the Fitzpatrick farmstead which had burned down last year after a lightning strike ignited the dry wood of the abandoned property. The vegetable stand was still perched near the edge of the road, now leaning and covered up to the counter with large snow drifts.

  As they came upon the old Cayuga Union Cemetery, she found the scene hauntingly beautiful. The aged stones were tipped this way and that, some broken and in pieces on the snow-covered ground. There were several civil war veterans buried in the center, between two large cannons that were tilted skyward, along with a stack of cannon balls welded together. It hadn’t been used for decades, as most of those who came to mourn the dead had passed on themselves. Yet, as they passed by the front entrance her gaze fell upon a simple green wreath with a red bow tied to the front gates. It was comforting to think that someone still cared for the property.

  As they rounded a rather sharp corner, Vivienne could see the small collection of double wide trailers that were clustered along the empty fields. It was intended to be Tall Pine Grove, a planned community that never materialized when the housing bubble burst back in 2008.

  After a few years, the developer gave up and decided to use the utility hookups for trailers. The natural gas boom had started and many out-of-state workers were in need of cheap housing.

  The police car joined a throng of other emergency vehicles alongside a blue doublewide that had a rusty metal swing set in the front yard.

  Vivienne pulled off to the side and felt her heart sink in her chest. She wasn’t sure, but she had a feeling this was where Eddie Robertson lived along with Natalie and Connor. She stepped out of her car and joined a small group of neighbors who were gathered in front of a single green trailer that had a gaggle of faded pink plastic flamingos stuck all over the yard.

  A woman dressed in a rather-worn looking jacket, pulled over a pair of pink fleece pajama pants and a faded tee shirt with a beer logo approached Vivienne. “Are you a reporter for the news?” She asked as her hands went up to her hair, where pink curlers were poking through a thin blue scarf she had tied atop her head.

  Vivienne had never thought of that. She was just going to gawk and try to hear what was going on with everyone else, but if they all thought she was a reporter she’d be able to get people to talk easier. She decided to go with it, fishing around in her coat pocket and pulling out a small pad she kept for writing down grocery lists. “I’m Vera French.”, she lied.

  “From the local news station, I knew it.” The woman with the curlers gave her a big smile. “You look better in person, does anyone tell you that?”

  Vivienne shook her head. “I work for the newspaper.”

  “Oh.” The woman’s smile faded. “I must have seen your picture in the paper that I line the bird cage with.”

  Vivienne was glad she didn’t work for the paper as a verbal slap like that would be quite painful. She kept a smile on her face and pressed further. “But if the story is big enough, I can get it picked up for the local news station. I have some connections.” Vivienne winked.

  The woman’s face brightened. “Really?”

  “Sure.” Vivienne leaned forward. “Bryce Starr, the local radio personality is a good friend of mine. He might even ask for a radio interview. “

  The woman reached out her right hand. “My name is Sally Rollins. Do you need me to spell that?”

  Vivienne pulled the cap off her pen and scribbled the name down on the pad. “Two L’s, right?”

  “Yep.” Sally continued. “Well, I was inside wrapping up some Christmas presents for my grandkids when I heard a woman screaming.”

  Vivienne pointed to the trailer where the emergency vehicles were gathered. “From over there?”

  “Yes.” Sally nodded. “It was something awful, just like out of those horror movies.”

  “Who lives there?” Vivienne asked.

  “That would be Natalie Burdick and her son Connor.” Sally waved her hand to the trailer two away from hers.

  “Was she injured?” Vivienne began to worry.

  “No, but she had blood all over her so I thought she was at first.” Sally shook her head. “She must have got it smeared on her from Eddie.”

  “Who’s Eddie?” Vivienne pretended not to know.

  “He’s her boyfriend. They moved in about six months ago.” Sally shook her head. “I never did trust the guy. He just had a real mean look about him.”

  “What happened to him?” Vivienne pressed further.

  “I don’t know for sure, but Gus Holt who lives on the other side of them said he thought he was shot. He went in to help when Natalie started screaming.”

  Vivienne scribbled her description down. “You didn’t hear any gun shots?”

  “No, it sounded like a clap of thunder to me.” Sally folded her arms against her chest. “Weird, huh?”

  “So, Eddie was conscious when Gus went in?”

  Sally shrugged. “I wish I knew.” She clucked her tongue at the scene. “That Eddie was a mean cuss, that’s for sure. I’d hear them fighting and screaming at each other all the time.” She glanced warily at Vivienne. “Ain’t you going to write any of this down?”

  Vivienne blinked and nodded. “I’m sorry. I guess I was just processing the whole story in my head.” She started writing some of the names down on the paper for her own use.

  “So are you going to call the news station? Because if you are I’ve got to change clothes before they interview me.” Sally’s eyes widened.

  Vivienne shrugged. “I’m going to need more to go on before I can make that call.”

  “What about talking to Connor? He’s inside with my grandkids right now.” Sally asked.

  “He’s in your home?”

  “Yes, Gus brought him right over after he calmed Natalie down and called the police. I usually babysit him during the day when they’re working anyway.”

  Vivienne heard some of the assembled neighbors gasp as the emergency workers emerged from the trailer with Eddie strapped to a gurney. They were performing CPR as they climbed into the ambulance and sped away. “Mind if I park my car in your driveway?”

  “Go ahead and I’ll meet you inside. You want some coffee?” Sally asked.

  Vivienne nodded. “That’d be great.” She hurried back to her car to park it in the driveway just in case Joshua was at the scene and saw it along the road. She was fairly certain he wouldn’t pay attention to it if it were parked at one of the trailers.

  The crowd of gawkers began to break up as Vivienne pulled into the driveway and hurried inside the double-wide that Sally Rollins called home. It was neater than she had envisioned, but there were several children’s toys scattered along the floor that she had to step over carefully to avoid tripping.

  “You like cream and sugar?” Sally asked from the kitchen, which was divided from the living room by a half wall.

  “Neither.” Vivienne called back.

  “You reporters are some tough cookies.” Sally stepped out of the kitchen with two mugs of coffee. “Must be hard seeing all those horrible murders and such.”

  Vivienne took her mug and sipped the coffee. “You develop a thick skin after your first encounter.” She wasn’t lying this time. Having dealt with murder when her bakery first opened, she was starting to feel like a seasoned veteran.

  Sally walked her through the living room, past a bathroom, into a large spare bedroom where three children were happily playing restaurant with a plastic kitchen set. Sally pointed to a blond girl with pig tails who looked to be about four or five years old. “That’s my granddaughter, Hannah.”

  Hannah looked up at them from the play stove where she was flipping plastic eggs with her spatula. “You want some eggs Grammie?”

  Sally shook her head. “Not right now
, sweetie.” She pointed to a little fair-haired boy stood next to Hannah waiting to use the stove. “That’s Mason, her twin brother. Aren’t they just precious?”

  Mason stomped his feet on the ground. “Grammie, Hannah is taking too long with the oven.” He pouted.

  “Am not.” Hannah raised her spatula up at him.

  “Am too.” Mason stuck out his tongue.

  “Stop fighting or I’ll put it away.” Sally sternly put her hands on her hips.

  Vivienne guessed that the brown haired boy in the denim overalls had to be Connor. He sat at the little table playing with a teapot and some cups. “So that’s Connor?”

  Sally nodded. “That’s him.”

  Connor looked up at them for a moment and then when back to pretending to pour liquid into the cups.

  “How old is he?” Vivienne asked.

  “He’s four.”

  She smiled and knelt down to the table where Connor was sitting. “Hello Connor. My name is Vera and I’m a friend of your babysitter, Mrs. Rollins.”

  Connor looked up at her and then over to Sally.

  “She’s a good friend of mine, Connor. She wants to talk with you.”

  Connor studied her with his deep green eyes. He set the teapot down and handed her a little cup. “Wanna drink?”

  “You two share a drink while I go freshen up my clothes.” Sally smiled and hurried away.

  Vivienne sat down on the floor and folded her legs. “That sounds wonderful. Is it tea?”

  “Hot cocoa an’ marshmallows.” He replied.

  “That’s my favorite.” She smiled and accepted the little cup. “Do you like whipped cream in it too?”

  He nodded and took a sip out of his cup. “Mommy doesn’t buy it cause it costs too much money.”

  “It can be, yes.” She agreed.

  “Do you work for Santa Claus?” He asked her.

  “Why do you ask?”

  He sniffed the air. “You smell like cookies.”

  Vivienne shook her head. “I don’t work for Santa, but I spend a lot of time at a bakery where cookies are made. Do you like cookies Connor?”

  He nodded back. “I like chocolate chip with lots of chips.”

  “How many chips do you like in your cookies?”

  He held up his hands and spread his fingers. “This many.”

  She whistled. “That’s a lot of chips.”

  “Can you make me some?”

  “I’m sure Hannah and Mason will let us use the oven.”

  “I’m not done yet.” Mason protested from the oven.

  “Yes you are.” Hannah interrupted. “You hafta’ share.”

  Mason started to cry. Hannah walked away from the oven and sat down at the table next to Connor. “He’s such a baby.”

  “Am not.” Mason shouted back between tears.

  Vivienne felt completely out of her element. She looked at Connor. “We better wait on those cookies until Mason is finished.”

  At that, Mason suddenly dried his tears and went back to shoving pans in the little plastic oven. “I can make cookies.”

  Connor sighed and went back to pouring more imaginary cocoa from the little teapot. “I wanted real cookies.”

  Vivienne felt her heart break a little. “Next time I come to visit I’ll bring some real ones. I promise.”

  He looked at her with his expressive eyes and nodded. “Okay.”

  The doorbell rang twice and Vivienne could feel Sally’s footfalls on the floor as she hurried to the door. “Who is it?”

  “Sheriff’s office.” A familiar voice sounded back through the door.

  Vivienne pulled herself up and stepped out to the living room just as Sally opened the front door and let Joshua and Sheriff Rigsbee inside. She had changed into a holiday sweater of glittering red poinsettias pulled over a pair of black stirrup pants. Vivienne was quite certain the festive outfit would take top honors at an ‘Ugly Christmas Sweater’ party. The curlers and scarf were gone, replaced with curled salt and pepper hair that had a bit of a static frizz problem.

  “Oh, I thought you had the news crew with you.” Sally’s voice dropped with disappointment.

  “We were told you were babysitting Connor Burdick.” Joshua stepped past her. “Vivienne?”

  Sally shook her head. “No, this is Vera French from the newspaper. She’s writing a story about what happened to Eddie Robertson.”

  “Is that true, Ms. French?” Sheriff Rigsbee eyed her warily.

  Vivienne gave a little smile. “I was just checking out the facts to see if there was a story here.”

  Joshua bit down on his lower lip which was a sure sign that he was quite annoyed.

  “I don’t think the media needs to be involved at this stage of the investigation.” Sheriff Rigsbee gave her a stern look. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

  Vivienne nodded meekly. “You’re right, Sheriff. I apologize for the intrusion.”

  “Deputy Arkins, will you please escort Ms. French back to her car?”

  Joshua nodded to him. “Yes sir.” He gestured for Vivienne to follow him outside.

  Vivienne smiled at Sally. “Thank you for your time this morning, Mrs. Rollins.”

  Sally nodded. “If you have any more questions, I’ll be happy to answer them.”

  “Please come with me.” Joshua spoke to Vivienne and opened the front door.

  Vivienne followed him outside. As soon as they were out of earshot, he exhaled and shook his head. “Vivienne, what the hell are you doing?”

  “I was just checking on Connor to make sure he was okay.” Vivienne answered.

  “Why are you hanging around a crime scene telling everyone you’re a reporter?” Joshua pressed further. “Shouldn’t you be at the bakery?”

  “It’s kind of a funny story actually.” Vivienne tried to lighten the mood.

  “I don’t have time because I have to work.” Joshua snapped back. “You masquerading as someone else isn’t making that any easier.”

  “I’m sorry, Joshua. I didn’t mean to get in the way.”

  “Sheriff Rigsbee is going to rake me over the coals about you being here.”

  “I wasn’t poking around the crime scene or anything. I really was just here to make sure Connor was okay.”

  “We’ve called in a social worker to take care of that.” Joshua continued.

  “Is Eddie going to be okay?” Vivienne asked.

  Joshua shrugged. “He looked pretty bad when they took him away. Wasn’t responsive and he lost a lot of blood.”

  Vivienne thought about Connor and lowered her head. “The poor little kid has no idea. He wasn’t upset or anything.”

  “Kids are tougher than you think.” Joshua reminded her. “Now please, just get in your car and go.”

  “Okay.” Vivienne moved to kiss him but Joshua pulled away and walked back toward Sally’s trailer.

  She climbed into her car and leaned back against the head rest. “So much for good will toward men.”

  CHAPTER 6

  Tuesday, December 3rd

  Clara Bunton, the proprietor of Clara’s Diner, held the nozzle of the whipped cream dispenser just above a mug of her famous ‘Dark Of The Moon’ hot chocolate. “Heavy on the whip?” She asked in her usual matronly tone to Vivienne.

  “Absolutely.” Vivienne nodded back.

  Clara sprayed a hefty mound of the whipped cream onto the surface of the hot chocolate. “You haven’t had one of those days in quite some time. Want to talk about it?”

  Vivienne unwrapped the spoon from her paper napkin and stirred the quickly melting whipped cream into her drink. “Let’s just say that I sort of stuck my nose where it doesn’t belong and Joshua is going to take the heat for it.”

  Clara smoothed out the creases along her soft pink uniform top and smiled. “Men always want women to think that. It makes them feel better because it saves them the trouble of having to admit they’ve probably missed something obvious.”

  Vivienne smiled and took a sip f
rom her mug. “It’s not like I go out looking for trouble. It just sort of has a way of finding me.”

  Clara aimed the whipped cream at the hot chocolate and sprayed another puffy cloud. “Funny, I always thought that more about your mother.”

  “Whoa.” Vivienne joked. “It’s hard enough keeping a trim figure when you work with sweets all day.”

  “Vivienne Finch, as I live and breathe, you do not have an extra ounce anywhere on that body.” Clara scolded her with her hands on her hips.

  “I’m just saying I’d like to stay that way, at least until the wedding.” Vivienne interrupted.

  Clara’s pencil-thin eyebrows shot upwards. “A wedding? Did he propose?”

  Vivienne shushed her with a wave of her hands. “No. It’s much too soon for that anyways.”

  Clara did the math in her head. “You met in September, so I can see your point.”

  “We’re still living in separate homes.” Vivienne reasoned. “We haven’t even tried to move in together yet.”

  “I envy you young people.” Clara spoke as she wrapped flatware in paper napkins and tossed them into a plastic bin. “We never had that option in our day.”

  “Was it easy for you and Jake to move in with each other?” Vivienne asked.

  Clara shrugged. “We actually had to move in with his parents for about a year before we saved up enough to buy a house.”

  “That must have been awkward.” Vivienne took another sip of her cocoa.

  “Not really. His parents owned a duplex and we rented the other side of their house. It wasn’t a bad place, but having your mother-in-law so close wasn’t ideal.” Clara smiled.

  “I’ll bet.” Vivienne smiled. “I’ve never met anyone in Joshua’s family.”

  “Where do they live?”

  Vivienne cupped her hands around the warm mug. “Indian Lake.”

  “I’ve never heard of it. Is it in the state?”

  “Yes, up in the Adirondack region.” Vivienne mused as her thoughts drifted back to Natalie and Connor. “It’s so easy to take family for granted.”

  Clara finished wrapping up the flatware for the dinner rush and tucked the big plastic bin under the counter. “How do you mean?”