by Sandy Vale
“Yeah, that’s a good idea. It would make him happy. I certainly don’t want to step on his toes. I’m having a meeting with him next and I’l let him know you may be a target. Can I stop by your house later?”
“Sure. Tina should be there if I’m not home,” Kitty said trying to sound casual.
Just after Frank drove out of the lot, David came storming from the show room with Glenda fol owing and screaming at him.
“How dare you treat me like that David Wilson! Don’t expect any more help from me!” They both stopped short when they saw Kitty. Glenda turned and hurried back inside but David changed his path and headed toward Kitty. He looked like he was mad enough to spit nails.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded with venom in his tone.
“I don’t have to answer to you David. What are you doing here? What has Glenda been helping you with?” David looked daggers at Kitty. “Just watch your back. Don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong!”
“David, what are you hiding? I think you know what happened to Roger. I’l figure this out to clear my name. I’m not scared of you!” Kitty glared right back at David until he got into his car and drove off.
Kitty went inside, shaking off her anger. “Hey Glenda, is my truck ready yet?”
“I think so. Let me check and get the keys. I’l be right back.”
Kitty walked toward David’s office, trying to look as casual as possible. She could see that his computer and file cabinet were gone.
“Here you go, Kitty. Here are your keys and a print out of the repairs Joe made. He’s out back if you want to talk to him about anything.”
“Glenda, what’s going on with you and David?” Kitty asked quietly, looking directly at Glenda.
Glenda squirmed a little. “I don’t want to talk about it. He just uses people. I have to get back to work now.”
“Oh, one more thing, did you meet that detective—Frank Hughes?”
“The guy who looks like he belongs in a fashion magazine? I saw him talking to Jimmie. Jimmie didn’t look too happy either. He went through David’s office and took some folders. That’s what David was so angry about. He wanted to look through his stuff first. Roger had copies of everything though.”
“Why would Roger have had copies of David’s files from the car dealership?” Kitty whispered.
Glenda looked around before answering, “I think it has something to do with how the insurance is handled. I real y shouldn’t be talking to you about this. Good luck with your truck. I hope you don’t have any more problems.” Kitty saw her truck in the lot. Time to get out of here and get her chicks, she thought. And then she saw the folder on the front seat of her car.
That would have to wait. She needed to get her chicks and get them under the warming lamp in their new home.
***
Kitty pul ed up in front of her barn next to Michael’s truck.
She rushed into the barn with her box of peeping cuteness. “Hi Michael. I’m so glad you’re here stil . I’ve got my chicks. What do you think?” Michael looked in the box. “Doesn’t get much cuter than this Kitty. What kind did you get?”
“A mixture of Barred Rock, Rhode Island Red and Buff Brahmas. I paid extra to get al hens plus they sent three extra chicks. I hope those three aren’t al roosters. Michael, this area for the chicks looks great. I think they’l do fine here. What do you think?”
“It wil be fine as long as it stays warm enough. I should be able to finish up the main coop and nesting boxes by tomorrow.”
“You’re a life saver Michael. I could never get this farm going without al the expertise you’ve offered, helping me figure out how to put everything together.”
Kitty gently picked each chick out of the shipping container and placed them in their new home under the heat lamp. Kitty smiled to herself. She imagined the chicks al grown up, pecking and scratching at her Fat Hen Farm. Laying nutritious bright yel ow yolked eggs for her customers. Even with the nightmare swirling around her, she was moving forward and starting her dream.
“Look at them Kitty. Your first ‘girls’. I’m happy to be able to help you build this dream of yours.” Kitty hugged Michael and kissed him on his stubbly cheek. “I’m off to clean out Roger’s office. Tina and Detective Hughes should be here sometime. I’l make dinner for everyone again. My new special gril ed cheese sandwich.”
“Great Kitty. I’l keep working on the chicken coop and keep an eye on these little peepers to make sure it’s warm enough for them. I’m sure I’l stil be here when you get back.”
Kitty got in her truck and saw the folder on the seat. She looked inside before leaving and saw papers with lists of numbers. It didn’t make any sense to her and she threw it on the floor of the truck.
Roger’s office was about 20 minutes away, between Wil ow Fal s and their old apartment. She parked outside on the street, found the key and went inside. He was an independent insurance agent and had a smal space in a large somewhat run down office building. Kitty wanted to get everything cleaned out so she could cancel the lease. It was quiet in the office building when she entered. Rogers’s office was at the end of the hal on the left, the street side. When she entered, everything was neat and she didn’t know where to start. Looking in the file cabinet, she found folders labeled Jimmie’s Auto. That was a good starting point and definitely something to take. As she looked around for something to put the folders in, she heard the doorknob turning.
Panicking, Kitty opened the closet door and hid inside. It was a big space and she crouched behind a stack of boxes, wondering who was outside. She heard file drawers opening and closing, then the office door closed and it was quiet again. She started to breathe again. Was it safe to leave her hiding spot?
Fumbling around in the dark she bumped into a suitcase. She cracked the closet door to peak outside and saw that the office was empty. The light let her see that the suitcase was Roger’s. What was it doing here? Kitty looked inside and saw two cruise tickets in the names of Roger Wilson and Candy Shaw, Roger’s clothes and a wrapped gift package. This didn’t make any sense. Was Roger having an affair with Candy? Was he planning a trip with her? Maybe David found out. That would be another motive.
Kitty took the suitcase and folders labeled Jimmie’s Auto, locked the door behind her and hurried to her car. She wanted to get home to look at this stuff more careful y. She didn’t notice the black car that pul ed out after her and fol owed her back to Wil ow Fal s.
Chapter 6
A hot shower, a cup of mint tea, and Licorice in her lap helped her to refocus and get the events of the day in order in her head. She would real y just like to lie down and take a nap but she had promised to make dinner for everyone again.
Michael came in from the barn looking tired.
Kitty pul ed herself together. “Would you like a beer, Michael?”
“That’d be great. I think your detective friend just pul ed in.”
Max went to the door to greet him. Once he met someone once, he didn’t forget them.
“Hi Frank. How did your meeting with Herb go?”
“Herb? Oh, the police chief. He’s stil working on fingerprints and checking at al the businesses here to see if anyone saw anything unusual the day Roger was kil ed. I gave him the cardboard gun you found in your car. He said he would have an officer park on the street to keep an eye on your driveway.”
Kitty grabbed three beers and a bottle opener and put them on the table. “I’m tired, let’s sit down for a few minutes before I start cooking.
Michael, how are the chicks doing?”
“So far so good.”
Kitty got up from the table. “I almost forgot. When I got my car back, there was a folder on the front seat. It doesn’t make sense to me. I’l go get it.”
Candy was driving up just as Kitty went out to her truck.
“Candy, I completely forgot you were coming. Tina should be here any minute. Do you want to come in? Have something to drink?”
“I . . . I don’t know. I’l wait here for Tina if that’s okay.”
“Sure. I have to get something from my car.”
Tina pul ed in as Kitty headed back to the house. She slowed down to hear what Tina and Candy were saying.
“Candy, are you okay?” Tina asked as she put her hand on Candy’s arm.
“I can’t stay. Here. Don’t tel anyone I gave this to you.” Candy nervously handed a folder to Tina and walked back to her car.
“Where did you get it?” Tina asked as she started to fol ow Candy.
Candy looked back. “I found it in David’s car. I have to go. I don’t know what it means.” Both Tina and Kitty held folders. They looked at each other wondering what it might mean.
“Let’s go in and take a look at what Candy gave us. Looks like we have company,” Tina said eyeing Frank and Michael sitting in the kitchen.
Kitty pul ed out several sheets of paper with rows of numbers. “I don’t know what this means. What’s in your folder?” Tina pul ed out pages of photos of cars. “This doesn’t make any sense either.” They both studied the pages before putting them on the table.
Frank leaned forward looking careful y at the papers. “I think these numbers might be the vehicle identification numbers of cars. Maybe these photos are the corresponding cars. Kitty, I told you that I’ve been investigating a stolen car ring. This might be the evidence I need. Someone must have left that folder in your truck by mistake. If they realize what happened, they’l want it back. Who was at Jimmie’s Auto when you picked up your truck?”
“I talked to Glenda but she got the keys from Joe in the service department. I saw Jimmie in his office on the phone.”
“Why did Candy have that other folder? And why do you think she gave it to you? Is this connected to Roger’s murder?” Frank asked, trying to put the pieces together.
“You’re the detective. Shouldn’t you have the answers? I don’t know, unless David is involved too and Candy suspects something and is getting scared. Glenda said Roger kept copies of everything in his office.”
Kitty got up to start making the gril ed cheese.
“Michael, do these papers make any sense to you? What do you think?” Tina asked.
“This sure looks like a list of VIN numbers. Kitty, this photo looks like your truck. Let’s check the VIN number and see if it matches any of these on the list. I’l go take a look at your truck.” He didn’t waste any time heading out the door.
Frank had been sitting quietly, listening intently. “I’m impressed with al the clues you’re finding and putting together. You’re making my job much easier.”
Michael came back inside. “Here it is!” Michael pointed to the VIN number from Kitty’s truck and the matching number on the list. “But something else is weird. I have the registration card and that VIN number doesn’t match the one on the truck. Kitty, didn’t you say you thought you saw your truck outside the other day but Glenda checked and it was on the lift?”
“That’s right. Do you think they mixed up the trucks? Gave me the wrong one today?”
“That’s what it looks like. The VIN number on your registration, which I’m guessing would match the number on the other truck, your truck, is not on this list. I think they gave you the stolen truck by mistake.”
Frank stood up to get a closer look. “This is just what I’ve been looking for to connect Jimmie’s Auto to the car theft ring. Glenda must have given you the wrong keys by mistake. When they figure this out, you’l real y be in danger Kitty. I don’t want to do anything yet, until we figure out how this connects to Rogers’s murder. I‘l have to bring these papers to the police station and get Herb up to speed on this. Maybe Roger was murdered because he knew something. Maybe he was trying to blackmail Jimmie. I also have files from David’s office that I need to go through.”
“First things first, these gril ed cheese sandwiches are just about ready. Is anyone hungry?” Kitty got plates from the cupboard and served the gril ed cheese.
“Kitty you’re amazing! What’s your secret with these? Knowing you, there’s something besides just cheese,” Michael asked.
“Wel , I am trying something new. I think the bread is real y important so I’m using homemade whole wheat bread, buttered on one side with pesto on the other side. I like to use at least two kinds of cheese. Tonight, I’ve got Vermont cheddar and Jarlsburg with roasted red pepper in between the cheese. I gril them slowly so the cheese melts into the pepper and pesto and the gril ed side of the bread gets nice and crispy brown.
What do you think?”
Trying to talk with a mouthful of sandwich, Michael mumbled, “These are to die for Kitty. It’s the best gril ed cheese sandwich I’ve ever had. If the farm doesn’t work out for you, you could always open a café. You’re an incredible cook. I can see it now, Kitty’s Cozy Café.” Frank was nodding in agreement. “This is incredible Kitty. You are a talented woman.” Kitty laughed. “Michael, I love to cook, but if I was doing it for a living, I don’t know if it would be as enjoyable. I’m going to be optimistic and assume I’l make the farm profitable. I would like to have baked goods for sale but I don’t think I’m ready for a whole café. I like cooking for my friends. Especial y when you love whatever I make!” Changing the subject, Kitty continued, “I found something else in Roger’s office. Take a look at this.” Kitty put the suitcase on the chair next to the table. “It looks like Roger was planning a trip with Candy. There are two tickets for a cruise inside in his and Candy’s name, and a wrapped gift. Should I open it and see what it is?” Kitty looked at her friends for advice.
“Tina, didn’t you say that Candy told you that David was taking her on a vacation?” Frank asked.
“Yeah, she did. Maybe Roger was going to surprise her and David found out.” Kitty looked around the table. “When I was in Roger’s office, someone came in.”
“Who was it?” Frank looked very concerned.
“I don’t know. I hid in the closet and waited ‘til it was quiet before I came out. Whoever it was didn’t stay very long. I don’t even know if they took anything.”
“Did you find anything else?”
“I took some folders labeled Jimmie’s Auto. Glenda told me that Roger had copies of David’s files for the insurance work he did. I haven’t looked at them yet.”
“Do you mind if I take a look?”
Kitty handed Frank the folders.
“This is great! This is a list of names. It looks like this connects the VIN numbers and photos from the other files to who the stolen cars went to.
Roger must have been manipulating the information for insurance. He was part of the ring. Kitty, what did you know about his business?”
“Frank, I didn’t know anything. Roger worked long hours and never talked about business with me. Actual y, he barely talked to me in the last year. Our relationship was real y headed downhil but I was always hoping that I’d be able to turn it around.”
“Sorry to hear that. We have to figure out who kil ed him and quickly. What about David? There’s a lot of evidence pointing to him: access to your gun, the life insurance policy that he changed recently and the insurance information Roger was helping him with. Is there anything else unusual that happened lately that you haven’t told me about?”
Kitty and Tina looked at each other. Frank knew they shared a secret but he didn’t push it. He had learned that patience was the best way to get information from someone.
Tina looked at Frank. “There is something else. The night after Roger’s body was found, Max found a piece of fabric stuck to the latch of the barn door. We didn’t think too much about it until Sam stopped by yesterday and I saw a rip in his jacket. It’s the same fabric.”
“Kitty, what do you think about that? How wel do you know Sam?” Frank asked.
“I’ve known Sam my whole life. He told me he promised my Grannie that he would keep an eye on me. He said that Grannie wasn’t going to give the farm to me because she didn’t like Roger an
d didn’t want him to live here. He didn’t like Roger either but he convinced her to give me the farm.
Then he told me, it’s funny how things work out.”
“When did he tel you this?”
“I think it was yesterday when I was coming home. I saw him outside, he lives next to the end of my driveway. I stopped to say hi. He sees everything that happens up here. He shows up at odd times. I think he’s just keeping an eye on me but it is a little spooky. He gave me Max. Now I’m wondering if he wanted me to have a dog that knows him so he can snoop around without being bothered by a dog.”
“Kitty, you never told me that.” Tina looked at Kitty with alarm. “I thought you weren’t worried about him.”
“I’m not worried for myself but I’m just not sure if he kil ed Roger thinking he was protecting me or fulfil ing a promise to Grannie. Maybe it had nothing to do with the stolen cars. I just don’t know what to think.” Kitty looked from Tina to Michael to Frank hoping they had some answers for her.
Frank put his hand on her arm. “Did he know about your gun?”
“He seems to know everything, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he knew about that too.”
“I think it’s time I have a talk with your friend Sam. He probably knows a lot more about what is going on. I want to know what he saw the day Roger was kil ed: who came here, who left and what he was doing in the barn?” Chapter 7
Frank knocked on Sam’s door first thing in the morning. He waited for several minutes before the door opened.
“I’m looking for Sam Chapman.”
“Oh yeah? And who are you?”
“I’m Detective Frank Hughes. I’m helping Police Chief Herb Simmons with the investigation of the murder of Roger Wilson. Are you Sam Chapman?”
“Yup.”
“I’d like to ask you a few questions about what you may have seen on Monday, the day he was kil ed.”
“I’ve been wondering when you would figure out to ask me questions. Not too quick are ya?” Frank ignored that jab. “May I come in?”