by V. M. Burns
Everyone crowded around and looked at the pictures of the building she had found.
It was brick and located on Market Street, almost directly across the street from the Choo-Choo Hotel. Unlike most of the buildings on the street, this one was a stand-alone, not connected to other buildings. As she swiped to show all the pictures, Monica Jill excitedly shared all the building’s strong points, along with her vision for what the finished product would look like.
“The location is awesome,” Monica Jill said. “It has so much potential.”
“Is that a tree growing through the roof?” B.J. asked.
“The building has been vacant for over ten years, so, yes, that’s a tree, but you just need to look beyond the tree and check out the potential.”
“Is that the price?” Dixie pointed at the screen. “That’s outrageous. Tree or no tree. I don’t have that kind of money for a rundown building with no grass for the dogs to run and play and that needs a complete gut job.”
Monica Jill turned to Red. “Maybe we know someone who could get us a deal.”
Red held up his hands. “I have a rule. I stay out of my sisters’ businesses, and they stay out of mine.”
Monica Jill stared at the faces of everyone around her. “But it’s such a great location, and with investors and . . .”
Dixie, Red, B.J., and I all shook our heads.
“But if everyone chipped in, then it wouldn’t—”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you,” Dixie said, “but buying a business and opening a doggie day care would be stressful enough without the added pressure of having a derelict building that needs to be completely renovated. I wouldn’t want to take the risk myself. I certainly wouldn’t allow my friends to risk their hard-earned money as part of the bargain.” Dixie folded her arms across her chest. “Absolutely not.” She gave Monica Jill a long gaze and then her face softened. “I’m really sorry. I know you were excited, and you put a lot of work into this, but it’s just . . . not the right time.”
Monica Jill returned her phone to her purse. “It’s okay. I understand.”
The doorbell rang, and David hopped up to answer it. “That’s probably Madison.”
We scooted one of the extra chairs to my large patio set next to David’s. When they returned, they both sat down. Madison had a large bag, which she placed on the table.
After the greetings were completed, she said, “I grabbed a burger before I left work, but I thought you all might want dessert.” She pulled a pink box from the bag. I immediately recognized Nothing Bundt Cakes’ distinctive packaging. She had brought a box of twelve cupcakes the bakery called “bundtinis.”
We made short work of the delicious cakes.
After a few minutes, Red got a phone call and excused himself. He went inside and took the call in private.
When he was gone, Madison leaned forward. “Listen, if that call is what I think it is, then, Mrs. Jefferson, you may not have much time.”
Dixie looked shocked. “What?”
“When I was leaving work, I overheard the director talking.” She glanced around to make sure Red hadn’t returned. “I only heard one side of the conversation, and I didn’t hear everything that was said, but I could tell he was being pressured to make an arrest.”
Dixie went pale. “You don’t mean they intend to arrest me?”
Madison didn’t reply, but her silence confirmed Dixie’s question.
“Oh my God. This is a nightmare.”
“Who was the call from?” I asked. “Who could have that much pull to call the director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation on a Sunday and demand an arrest?”
She shook her head. “I have no idea, but I don’t think he wanted to do it. He seemed . . . annoyed.”
Dixie put her head in her hands. “What am I going to do?”
“Well, the first thing you’re going to do is stop acting helpless,” B.J. ordered.
The shock of her statement worked like cold water to help snap Dixie out of her mood. “You’re right.”
“Now, pick up your phone and call your husband and get your attorney.” B.J. turned to me. “Did you say your daughter was coming?”
“She’s in Nashville at a conference. I was going to drive to Nashville to pick up Lucky and then when the conference was over, she was coming here for a few days, but I’m sure she’d come early and help.” I picked up my cell phone and called my daughter.
By the time Red came back outside, we had all concluded our calls. Red looked angrier than I’d ever seen him. He clenched his jaw, and the vein on the side of his head pulsed and caused blood to rush to the scar on the side of his face, making it look even more raised and inflamed. “Dixie, I’m sorry, but I just learned they’re sending someone to pick you up in connection with the murder of Naomi Keller.” He paused. “I’m terribly sorry, but—”
“Can you take me in?” Dixie asked.
Red stared. “What?”
“Do I have to wait to be arrested? Or can you take me to the police station or the TBI offices or wherever?” Dixie reached out her hand and touched his arm. “If I’m going to be arrested, I’d much rather you did it.”
The two stared at each other. Eventually, Red nodded.
When the shock wore off, we went into action. I turned to Madison. “Stephanie was at the airport in Chicago. Her flight will land in Nashville in two hours. Can you and David—”
David hopped up. “Absolutely.”
“I’ll text you the airline and flight information, but you two better hit the road.”
David and Madison hurried out.
I glanced at B.J. and Monica Jill. “I’m going to follow Red to the station and wait for Beau.”
“What can we do?” B.J. and Monica Jill asked.
My cell phone vibrated with a text message. “This is from Beau. He’s taking the next flight back to Chattanooga but wants to know if someone can pick him up at the airport. Or take Dixie’s car and leave it for him? He has his own keys.” I opened Dixie’s purse and pulled out her car keys. “Can one of you . . .”
Monica Jill snatched the keys from my hands. “Absolutely.” Before B.J. could protest, she said, “I’ll drive your car, and B.J. can follow me. We’ll leave the car at the airport for Beau.” She glanced at B.J., who nodded her agreement.
The two of them hurried away, leaving me alone in the backyard. I scooped up Aggie and Rex and took them inside. I said a quick prayer and then hurried after Red and Dixie. What had started out as a good day had quickly hit my top five worst days ever. I knew Dixie hadn’t murdered Naomi Keller, but I also knew that innocence didn’t guarantee freedom, especially if someone was determined to hang the murder around Dixie’s neck. No, it would take innocence and the use of every one of my little gray cells, not to mention lots of luck, to get my friend out of this one.
Chapter 9
I pulled into the TBI parking lot, which was located in a business park not far from my old rental home. I was relieved when Red sent me a text that he was taking Dixie here rather than down to the police station for questioning. I’m sure he wanted to spare her the embarrassment of being taken to the police station, although I wasn’t sure how his superiors would take it.
The Chattanooga TBI office was just a small brick building that resembled a post office more than a law enforcement agency. However, it was still not the way that Dixie would want to spend her Sunday.
There weren’t a lot of cars in the lot, but I did notice a black-and-white police car and knew that the officer leading the investigation was there. When I got to the door, I saw Red, Dixie, and another man standing in the lobby. Based on his military haircut, his authoritative stance, and the gun strapped to his waist, I knew he must be a plainclothes police officer.
Red opened the door and winked. He turned to the officers. “Mrs. Echosby is here as a witness.�
�
The man turned and stared at me. “Witness?”
“Officer Lewis.” I extended my hand. “Nice to see you again . . . although I wish it were under different circumstances.”
Officer Lewis shook my hand, but his eyes indicated he too would have preferred any circumstances other than a murder investigation. “Mrs. Echosby, I’m surprised to see you here.”
Officer Lewis had been the investigating officer when Aggie dug up a dead body. He was with the Chattanooga Police Department, and I tried not to hold it against him that he thought I’d murdered the man. In the end, when the real murderer was identified, we’d buried the hatchet that had made us opponents rather than friends. He was a light-skinned African American man with light gray eyes, which were looking skeptically at me before he flashed them at Red.
“I should have known when they told me you specifically asked to work with me that you had something up your sleeve.”
“Hey, all I said was that I wanted to work with the best investigator the CPD had.” He spread his arms wide and shrugged. “How was I supposed to know they’d send you?”
The two men stared at each other for a few seconds, and then Officer Lewis shook his head and sighed. “Okay, I see how this is going to go.” He gave Red an intense stare. “What do you want?”
“All I want is an intelligent investigator—”
“You can cut the flattery. If I remember correctly, you didn’t think much of my intelligence when I was investigating your girlfriend here.”
Red smiled. “Water under the bridge. I just need you to keep an open mind and—”
“Keep an open mind, and sit back, and let Nancy Drew here solve the mystery and find the murderer?”
Red must have known that I wouldn’t take kindly to the Nancy Drew reference because he shot me a glance that said Let me handle this before any words could leave my mouth. “Look, we both know that Officer Dan Martin has the finesse of a freight train.”
Lewis grudgingly nodded.
“Besides, Lilly did help catch a murderer. Actually, she’s solved several murders and saved the CPD from some embarrassing arrests.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Look, I know how it looks, but I’ve also come to know . . . and love these people. Dixie didn’t murder Naomi Keller, and regardless of what you or I or any law enforcement officer does, I also know that Lilly Echosby will move heaven and earth to prove it. She will find the real killer.”
It took everything in me not to throw my arms around his neck and kiss him in the lobby of the TBI office. Instead, I wiped the tears that threatened to leave me a blubbering baby from my eyes and tried to look dignified and . . . sleuth-ish.
Officer Lewis glanced from Red to me and eventually shrugged. “Alright.”
The two men stared at each other and came to some type of manly, law-enforcement, telepathic understanding, which reached completion when they both gave the slightest of nods.
Red’s posture relaxed. “Thanks. I owe you one.” He turned to escort Officer Lewis down the hall. When he noticed I was following, he turned and said, “Sorry, but you’re going to need to wait here in the lobby.”
I sat and waited. My brain was in overdrive, so I didn’t wait patiently. From time to time, I stood up and paced. When I was tired of pacing, I sat until I was tired of that, and then I paced some more. Half an hour later, Monica Jill and B.J. arrived. And we waited. Time stood still, or at least it felt like it. Eventually, Beau arrived. He looked wild-eyed but relaxed a mite when he saw me. We hugged.
“Where is she?”
“She’s in a room with Red and Officer Lewis from the Chattanooga Police.”
He ran his hand through his hair. “She shouldn’t be in there alone.”
“I got a text message from Red that Dixie’s lawyer was there.”
He released the breath he’d been holding. “I’m her husband. I should be in there with her.”
“I don’t think that’s how this works.” I tried to reassure him. “Stephanie sent her a text message not to say a word without legal counsel. I’m sure she’ll be fine,” I said, with more confidence than I felt.
I looked up and was surprised when Dr. Morgan and Mai Nguyen arrived. We had met Mai a few months ago, and she and Dr. Morgan had been dating ever since. Mai was five feet tall and petite with long dark hair.
“What are you two doing here?” I asked.
“B.J. sent us a text message that Dixie was in trouble.”
“Well, I figured the more the merrier,” B.J. said, “especially if we needed to stage a breakout.”
“You can’t joke like that,” Monica Jill said. She glanced around and then whispered, “We’re at the TBI. They probably have this entire place bugged and videotaped. We won’t be able to help Dixie if we all end up getting arrested.”
I couldn’t help myself from looking around and noticing all the cameras. However, I doubted that the facility was bugged, but I’d be sure to ask Red later.
Beau paced like a wild tiger in a cage, ready to pounce any time he heard a noise.
I glanced at my phone and noted the time. I’d been there for two hours. I was just about to suggest someone go for coffee when I heard footsteps.
Red, Dixie, Officer Lewis, and a man I didn’t recognize came around the corner.
Beau rushed to Dixie and wrapped her in his arms.
We waited for a few moments before interrupting.
“Dixie, are you okay?” Monica Jill asked.
B.J. glared from Officer Lewis to Red. “’Cause, if they tried to railroad you, we can get the news media down here real quick.”
Dixie smiled. “I’m fine. Although I’m rather surprised and touched to see all of you.” She wiped away a tear and nodded. “They just asked a few questions.” She turned back to the man who was standing behind her. “This is my attorney, Theodore Jordan. Theodore, these are my friends.”
Theodore Jordan was a tall, handsome African American man who looked to be in his early seventies with salt-and-pepper hair. He shook hands with each of us.
Beau put his arm around Dixie’s shoulder. “Let’s go home. You can fill me in there.” He shook Theodore Jordan’s hand again. “Thank you for dropping everything and coming out so quickly on short notice.”
Theodore smiled. “No problem. I’ll let you two get some rest and come by tomorrow, and we can talk more.” He turned and nodded to Officer Lewis and Red. “Gentlemen.”
They nodded.
We all went outside. Before getting into our respective cars, Dixie turned to face everyone. “I really am fine.” She reached out and squeezed my hand. “Red and Officer Lewis were extremely courteous.”
I relaxed a bit. I loved Red, but I also loved Dixie. She was my best friend. The biggest struggle I faced while waiting in that lobby was the internal one going through my mind. I’d heard about the blue wall and how law-enforcement officers stuck together. What if Red was forced to arrest my best friend? As much as I cared about him, it would hurt knowing that he would arrest someone he felt was innocent, someone he knows. Fortunately, he’d managed to avoid actually arresting her . . . for now. But what if he was ordered to arrest her? I knew in my head that he would only be doing his job. However, my heart was struggling. It didn’t make sense, but I still had idealistic expectations that the police should be more interested in finding the right person than in merely arresting someone they knew was innocent. Sure, it was his job, but that idea was the excuse used in the Nuremberg defense in World War II. I was only following orders. I knew this situation wasn’t on the same scale as Nuremberg, but I firmly believed that men of character, especially men in positions of authority, wouldn’t simply follow orders. I’d grown up with the belief that there was no right way to do a wrong thing. If he believed Dixie to be guilty, then arresting her would be the right thing, but I knew he didn’t. These were the thoughts that had
tortured me for the past few hours, and I still didn’t have an answer to them.
“I want to thank all of you for taking such good care of my Dixie,” Beau said, choking on his emotions. After a moment, he swallowed hard and continued. “Please, let us provide dinner for everyone tomorrow at our house.”
Everyone nodded their agreement.
Dixie leaned close and whispered, “I can come get you. I know you don’t like driving up Lookout Mountain.”
“It’s okay. I’m sure David will love it. Worst-case scenario, I’ll drive to the bottom of the mountain, and you can come get us.”
I glanced back at the building before getting in the car. Red and Officer Lewis were still inside. I had the drive home to think about Naomi Keller, Dixie, Red, and murder. By the time I arrived, I decided the only thing to do was to find Naomi Keller’s murderer before I was forced to make a choice between my boyfriend and my best friend.
Chapter 10
An accident on Interstate 24 had traffic backed up for miles, and it was dark before David and Madison arrived with Stephanie and Lucky. I was ecstatic to see my daughter, and Aggie and Rex were equally ecstatic to see Lucky.
After a quick recap of events, Madison said she had an early day tomorrow and went home, leaving David, Stephanie, and me to catch up. Hours in the car had provided plenty of time for David and Madison to fill Stephanie in on everything they knew, so there really wasn’t much left to tell. Stephanie looked exhausted after a day of travel, so we kept things short and went to bed.
Aggie, Rex, and I settled into bed and were just about to call it a night when I got a text from Red asking if everything was okay. I started a reply several times before finally typing, It will be. I could see he was struggling with what to say and eventually ended with, I love you. It didn’t take me nearly as long to type, I love you too. When there was no other message, I plugged my phone in to the charger and grabbed a notepad.
I quickly read through the notes David had taken earlier. Hard to believe that it was only a few hours ago that we had sat on the back deck, sipping wine and coming up with suspects for Naomi Keller’s murder.