Dooley Is Dead

by Kate Merrill

  “I’m going into town for groceries. Anyone want to come along?”

  Both Matthew and Ginny shook their heads, so Diana hurriedly dressed, made a shopping list, and rushed out the door before anyone had second thoughts. She badly needed some downtime, a chance to sort out her own conflicted emotions. Not only regarding the murder, but also her role in the Troutman household. Had she made a terrible mistake by moving in during these volatile times? Matthew was distant and distracted, Ginny alternated between indifference and downright hostility, while Lissa was Lissa, the one bright beacon of joy in everyone’s life.

  She slid into Queen Vic and turned on the engine. Maybe she should skip the groceries and head home to Davidson? After all, her condo remained a little haven of peace and sanity, where she could regroup and rewind. But what about her parrot? No doubt he’d assault her with obscenities the moment she walked through the door. Her kind neighbor had been caring for Perry for over a week now, so it was high time Diana either moved back in or relocated the bird to Matthew’s.

  And what about Liz? She’d be waiting to ambush Diana with real estate issues, and truth be told, Diana had forgotten all the details of their pending projects, and she was ashamed. Liz and she were supposed to be partners, but Liz was shouldering all the work. It wasn’t fair.

  But life wasn’t fair. In the end, she didn’t have the strength to deal with foul-mouthed parrots or real estate hassles, so for the moment, she would buy groceries and go with the flow.

  “Wait up, Diana!” Suddenly Ginny burst the house. “Mind if I tag along?”

  Diana’s spirits sank to the soles of her sensible sandals, as Ginny crawled into the passenger seat. Déjà vu. The same last minute decision had occurred yesterday morning, when Ginny decided to attend Lori’s funeral, but today, instead of her all-black persona, Ginny wore a pretty yellow sundress and actually looked like a normal southern girl.

  “Since when do you like grocery shopping?” Diana asked as they headed down the road She paused to wave at Lissa riding her bike, with Ursie at her wheels.

  “I hate grocery shopping, but that’s not why I came along…”

  Diana allowed the unfinished sentence to hang between them, almost afraid to ask. Obviously Ginny was agitated about something, but Diana drove all the way to the stop sign and had turned east on River Highway before she dared pursue it.

  “Okay, what’s up?”

  “Everything is fucked up, Diana. The cops have it all wrong. Trev did not kill Lori, and I can prove it!”

  The girl was nearly hysterical. Her words caused Diana to swerve so badly, she decided to get off the road. Luckily, a public pullout was dead ahead, so she drove onto the gravel and stopped.

  “Please help me, Diana,” Ginny pleaded.

  Diana took a deep breath. “Calm down. I don’t understand. What are you trying to say?”

  “Trev didn’t do it.” She pounded the dashboard. “He told me what really happened, but the cops will never believe him.”

  Diana stared as the girl twisted her hands in her lap. She was in full meltdown. “Just start at the beginning. When did Trev tell you all this?”

  “Remember last Sunday when he came to the lake? We went down to the dock together?”

  “Sure, I remember.”

  “Well, I told him how we saw his Jeep at Lori’s the day before…” Ginny began to cry. “And I told him how you and I ratted him out to Lieutenant Sokolsky. We told the cops, Diana, and that’s why Trev’s in jail.”

  Traffic roared by on River Highway and the sun beat down on the windshield. Diana switched on the ignition, powered up the windows, and turned on the air. “We only told the truth. What else could we do?”

  “But it’s our fault, don’t you get it?” Ginny sobbed.

  Diana pulled her wits together. “No, it’s not our fault. That boy from the neighborhood saw Trevor’s Jeep, too. I’m sure he’d seen it at Lori’s many times, so the kid told Sokolsky first. Sokolsky was only testing us, to see if we’d lie.”

  “So it’s not our fault?” Ginny daubed at her eyes with the hem of her skirt.

  Diana dug into her purse, handed her a tissue. “That’s not the point. Fact is, Trevor was there, so he’s the prime suspect.”

  “Not true.”

  Diana hesitated while Ginny loudly blew her nose. “Do you mean Trevor wasn’t there, or Trevor’s not the prime suspect?”

  “Both,” Ginny insisted. “He never drove his Jeep that morning. Someone else must have borrowed it.”

  “Why should we believe that?”

  “Because he has an alibi. He wasn’t anywhere near Lori’s the day she died.”

  Diana watched Ginny closely. Trevor had sold her a bill of goods, and she had bought it. “Okay, I’ll bite. What’s his alibi?”

  For the first time that morning, Ginny smiled. “Trev’s a veteran, and he has lots of friends at the VA hospital in Salisbury. Some guy named James is in their abuse program, and that morning James was having a birthday breakfast. Trev and his buddies were invited.”

  “You’re saying Trevor was having breakfast at the VA hospital?” Diana blinked in disbelief. “If that’s true, then all he has to do is tell Sokolsky, and he’s a free man.”

  For a moment Ginny seemed at a loss. She stared out the window at a white fast food bag skidding across the lot. The wind picked it up and tossed it into the highway. “I hear what you’re saying, Diana, and believe me, I get it. So why is Trev still in custody? Thing is, I believe Trev, but I don’t really know him anymore. He’s changed.”

  Diana read between the lines. Had Ginny seen what Diana had seen in Trevor’s eyes? That behind his smile lived a hardened soldier who had witnessed too much horror? Clearly Ginny still cared for the boy she once knew, but did she trust the man?”

  “So what can I do to help?” Diana asked.

  “Take me to the VA hospital. Take me now.”

  TWENTY-ONE

  The perfect alibi…

  Naturally Diana agreed to take Ginny to Salisbury. The opportunity was like finding a big, ribbon-tied hatbox in her closet. She could not resist opening it and hoped she’d find something beautiful instead of the bloody, severed head she expected.

  She couldn’t understand, though, why Ginny had included her in this outing. She had her own car, was perfectly capable of making the journey alone, so why hitch a ride with Diana? Diana chose to think their relationship was improving and that the girl needed to bond for moral support, but as they completed the fifty- minute trip, Ginny’s true motive emerged.

  “I haven’t been here for years, so I don’t know my way around. Do you know how to find the hospital, Diana?”

  So much for bonding. “Yes, I do, we’re almost there.”

  She entered the large campus of the W.G. Hefner VAMC from Brenner Avenue and drove directly to the medical care facility straight ahead. Ginny ran inside for directions, while Diana idled and admired the banks of azaleas in full bloom. Indeed, surrounded by a multitude of imposing brick buildings in the lush, park-like setting, she felt like she was visiting a lovely college campus rather than a facility dedicated to warriors damaged in ugly wars. When Ginny returned, they moved to Building Four for Inpatient Mental Health and parked near the front door.

  “I’m nervous,” Ginny confessed. “Do you think they’ll let us see him?”

  “I guess so.” But Diana was far from certain. They had arrived not knowing the visiting hours, or even whether patients like Trevor’s friend were permitted visitors. Sure enough, they encountered problems at the reception desk.

  “Hours for the rehab program are weekends and holidays, 9:30AM – 9:00PM,” the young man told them.

  So far, so good. Since this was Saturday morning, they had lucked out. The hours also confirmed that Trevor could well have visited last Saturday.

  “What’s the patient’s ID number?”

  Diana and Ginny looked at one another.

  “His name is James,” Ginny said. “I don�
�t know his ID.”

  The young man frowned. “You must provide the code. Our clients in Substance Abuse have earned their privacy.”

  But Ginny was determined. She smoothed the bodice of her sundress and turned on the charm. “Please, sir, my brother was here last Saturday morning for James’ birthday breakfast and forgot to give him a card.”

  “Can I see the card?” The man was smitten from the tip of his red head to the soles of his white nurse’s shoes. He could not take his eyes off Ginny.

  “C’mon, you said the guys deserve their privacy, so why should you get to see James’ card?” Ginny batted her eyelashes.

  The man looked at Diana, who nodded reassuringly, like someone’s upstanding mother. “Please tell James we’re here, and I’m sure he’ll want to see us.”

  “What’s your brother’s name?”

  “Trev Dula,” Ginny lied.

  That got the young man’s attention. “You kidding me? Your brother’s a certified hero, and he comes here all the time. Jeez, I can’t believe they’ve arrested him for murder. You guys must be really upset…”

  “Yes, we are,” Diana said solemnly. “Now, may we see James?”

  The man was obviously shaken by Trevor’s predicament. “Yeah, I remember the guys coming for his party last week, so yeah, I’ll tell James. Can you wait a minute?”

  He ushered them into a waiting area, and about ten minutes later, the receptionist returned and invited them into what appeared to be a recreation room. They saw a pool table, small library, large wide-screen TV with a lockbox on the remote, and a row of vending machines. An emaciated young man in pajamas sat alone in a wheelchair.

  “Who are you?” His sunken eyes darted back and forth in his handsome brown face and finally settled on Ginny. “Are you really Trev’s sister?”

  Ginny explained, while Diana’s heart went out to the disabled vet. He had lost a foot in combat. His large dark hands trembled on his armrests, but he had a great smile. Once he understood the true nature of their visit, he welcomed them like long-lost friends.

  “Can I buy anyone a soda?” Diana asked. She took orders, fed the machine a fistful of quarters, then passed out three cold drinks. She and Ginny settled on the sofa, and while Ginny explained Trevor’s need for an alibi, Diana tried not to stare at the single slipper on James’ remaining foot.

  “How can I help?” James asked.

  “Just tell us what happened that morning.”

  But before getting to the point, the young soldier needed to tell his story---how he suffered from PTSD, which led to his abuse of alcohol and painkillers, which led to his ruined liver. Although James seemed upbeat about his future, Diana realized again how much she hated these wars. This brave young warrior ignited her pacifist fire big time.

  “So it was cool the guys came ’round to celebrate my birthday,” he finished.

  “How many guys?” Ginny asked.

  “Trev and four others. That’s how come Trev drove his old station wagon, so they’d all fit in.”

  “Trevor owns a station wagon?” Diana said.

  James laughed, winked at Ginny. “Oh yeah, but he hates drivin’ it. Prefers his Willy’s, we call it his macho machine, the chick magnet.”

  “Right, like Trevor needs a chick magnet when he’s engaged to be married.” Ginny said sourly.

  Suddenly James got very serious. “You’re right. Trev doesn’t play around anymore. Like, he really loved Lori. She was his life. That’s why it’s such a fuckin’ joke they arrested him. Dumb ass cops.” He shot an apologetic look at Diana. “Pardon the language.”

  So in your opinion, Trevor did not kill Lori?” Diana wanted clarification.

  “No way.”

  In the silence that followed, Diana noticed Ginny had gone a little green around the gills. Perhaps all the talk of Trevor’s love for his lost Lori had upset her.

  “So this is good news,” Diana said. “When the police come here, and they will, you’ll tell them Trevor spent the morning with you. The perfect alibi. End of story.”

  But James rolled his eyes at the ceiling and sighed deeply. “Not exactly. I’m afraid it didn’t go down that way.”

  “What do you mean?” Ginny demanded.

  “I can’t alibi Trev.” James was a picture of misery. “My party never happened ’cause I got sick. Convulsions. They had to take me out and stabilize me, so everyone left around 9:30.”

  Diana’s hopes plummeted. “I’m so sorry, James. Do you think the guys went out for breakfast someplace when they left? Stands to reason. They were together, they were hungry…”

  “Nope, ’fraid not.” James cut her off. “I’ve heard from the others since. They told me Trev was really upset because I got sick. He dropped them off at the pancake house, then said he was going home. Alone.”

  “Shit,” Ginny muttered.

  Diana did the math. If Trev dropped the guys off, then returned home for his Jeep, he still had time to reach Lori’s home in Davidson ahead of Diana and Ginny, and that would explain his Jeep in her driveway.

  Shit. But Diana kept that sentiment to herself.

  TWENTY-ONE

  Back to work…

  Sunday passed without incident. They cooked hotdogs and hamburgers on the grill. Lissa played with her new beach toys, while Ginny sat in the shade of a willow oak tree strumming her guitar and staring out at the lake. She was actually a very talented musician. Matthew and Diana fell asleep before the end of a Disney movie they had rented, and no one discussed the futile trip to the VA hospital. By Monday morning, Diana decided it was high time to get off her butt and back to work.

  “I’ll pick up Perry when I’m in town,” she told Matthew as she was leaving.

  Matthew attempted a smile. “Great.”

  “Awesome! I can’t wait to meet your parrot,” Lissa squealed.

  Liz was waiting to pounce the moment Diana entered their office. “It’s about time you showed up to earn your keep. I was beginning to forget I had a partner.”

  “Sorry, you’re right, Liz.” Diana walked across the sea green carpet that always reminded her of the Mediterranean on a sunny day. She dropped her purse on her blond butcher-block desk, which remained as clear of work as it had been when she deserted it a little over a week ago. It felt like she’d been gone a month. “What’s happening?”

  “Not much. I got a terrific lead this morning.”

  Diana glanced at Liz in surprise. No wonder she was in such a sassy mood. Her cheeks were pink with excitement, her green eyes sparkled. “So tell me about it.”

  “Not yet. First tell me about you, girlfriend. Seems like you and yours are at ground zero in that Lori Fowler murder. How are you and Trout handling the notoriety?”

  Diana sighed as her eyes drifted around the little office condo she and Liz had purchased. Usually the casual tropical décor---cheerful pastel fabrics on comfortable wicker furniture, modern posters with Lake Norman themes---helped her relax. After all, they had designed the space to put potential clients in a vacation mood, but lately, with the market crash and a two-year dearth of business, she and Liz often panicked. They worried how they’d pay the mortgage, let alone buy groceries. They were adrift in a real estate dead zone.

  “Please tell me some good news,” Diana begged.

  But Liz was hungry for juicy details. “C’mon, Diana, how is General Ginny holding up now that her old boyfriend’s been arrested?”

  Diana flopped onto the couch, pushed off her sandals, and told Liz about their visit to the VA hospital.

  “Ah, so Trevor has no alibi, after all?” Liz seemed delighted by the bad news.

  Diana decided to clear the air. “Look, Liz, I understand you and Ginny had issues when you were kids at summer camp, but it’s time to pack up the past and put it away. Over the past week, I’ve gotten to know Ginny, and she’s okay. She’s had a hard life and she’s doing the best she can. She’s wonderful with Lissa, and I really want her to reconcile with Matthew, so can you give the
old animosity a rest? Please?”

  Liz paused to consider. Her amazing green eyes shifted back and forth, scanning Diana’s face for wiggle room. “Okay, you’ve got a deal. I lay off Ginny, if you dish some dirt about you and Trout. How do you like living together? How do y’all handle the bedroom issues with family in the house?”

  Diana’s face burned. She swung her legs off the couch and sat bolt upright. Even if she were inclined to answer Liz’s impertinent questions---which she was not---she was so personally conflicted about the whole co-habitation situation she wouldn’t know what to say.

  “Well, I never signed on to be a Mama and a Grandma, that’s for sure. I’ve been there, done that.”

  “I hear you. Do you think Ginny will stick around?”

  “I really don’t know.” Diana did know Trevor’s arrest had upset Ginny a great deal. The past two days she’d been drinking too much and seemed restless.

  “But if Ginny decides to stay, how will it affect you and Trout?”

  That question was even tougher. “Time will tell.”

  Liz crossed the room and sat down beside her. Her fingers brushed Diana’s hand. “Okay, then, if Ginny and Lissa keep living with Trout, will you move out?”

  Diana laughed and squeezed Liz’s hand. “Not if I can help it. In fact, one of my missions today is to collect Perry and take him back with me. Lissa’s dying to meet him.”

  “Oh yeah? Wait ’til your parrot starts teaching that little girl to cuss.” Liz grinned. “Does that mean Danny and I get to keep Amazing Grace? You know Danny adores your dog.”

  “No, but nice try. By next week, if we’re still together, I’ll pick up Gracie and introduce her to my extended family.”

  Liz frowned. “I’m serious, Diana. We really want to keep Gracie.”

  “Sorry, but the answer is no. Now, will you please tell me about your big lead? I need some good news.”

  Liz skipped to the mini refrigerator and took out two diet sodas. She popped the caps and handed one to Diana. “You won’t believe it. The call came in first thing this morning, so this commission is all mine.”