Look Into My Ice (Garden Girls Christian Cozy Mystery Series Book 12)

by Hope Callaghan

  She cast a glance skyward at the gathering storm clouds.

  Gloria caught the last few minutes of the morning forecast and knew the snow would soon start falling, followed by strong gusty winds. Near white out conditions were headed their way.

  The full force of the storm wasn’t supposed to reach Belhaven until mid-afternoon, unless, of course, forecasters were wrong. Gloria planned to be back home and safely inside before the first snowflake hit the ground.

  She pulled Annabelle into an empty parking spot in front of the grocery store, shuffled onto the sidewalk and hobbled to the store door. Once inside, she cast a glance at the checkout counter. It was empty.

  Gloria shifted her gaze to the back of the store and the new deli display case where she caught a glimpse of Sally’s curly brown hair.

  She plucked a hand basket from the stack and made a beeline for the back of the store.

  “Hi Sally.”

  Sally’s head popped up. “Good Morning Gloria. I see you’re here early. Trying to beat the snowstorm?”

  “Something like that,” Gloria replied. “I would like a half pound of corned beef and a half pound of smoked turkey.”

  Sally nodded and opened the back of the display case. “I hope Brian lets me leave work early if this storm blows up like the forecasters are predicting. The tires on my car are almost bald and the last time I got caught on slippery roads I almost ended up in the ditch.”

  Gloria had almost forgotten Sally’s penchant for complaining…all the time. She interrupted Sally’s rant. “Did you hear about the poor unfortunate summer resident, Ed Mueller?”

  Sally nodded as she bagged the corned beef and placed the bag on top of the scale. She pulled the sticker from the machine and slapped it on the side of the bag before handing it to Gloria. “Terrible tragedy. Why, can you imagine being trapped in the ice, unable to save yourself? What a horrible way to die.”

  “No kidding.” Gloria placed the packet of corned beef in her basket. “I caught a glimpse of poor Ed’s body. You have to wonder how in the world he got trapped in the ice.”

  Sally grabbed a set of tongs and plucked a pile of smoked turkey from the display tray. “Ed stopped in here to pick up some trash bags the evening before his body was found. Said he was doing a little cleaning at the cottage and then heading home later that night.”

  Chapter 11

  Sally rattled on, but Gloria’s mind was stuck on what she’d just said. Ed Mueller had not intended to spend the night at the cottage, which made sense. The wood stove was cold.

  Why would he make a special trip to Belhaven just to “clean up” around the cottage, and then turn around and leave? Why not come for the weekend or at the very least, plan on spending the night?

  Her sleuthing radar shifted into high gear. What could he possibly have planned to “clean”? Was he trying to hide something…possibly from his wife? Her gut told her Ed Mueller’s trip to Belhaven was directly related to his death.

  Were Ed and Sheryl Mueller involved in some sort of crime?

  Gloria opened her mouth to ask if Sally would agree it was odd, but quickly clamped it shut. She remembered a while back Sally spreading a rumor that Gloria was creating mysteries just so she could be in the spotlight.

  The thought made her ears burn. She pushed aside her sudden anger and forced a smile.

  Sally handed her the package of smoked turkey. “Can I get you anything else?”

  Gloria took the packet from Sally. “No. I have a couple small items to grab on my way to the checkout counter.”

  She hobbled through the chip aisle; passed on the soda pop since she had no idea how she could juggle a 12-pack of soda along with the other purchases, and headed to the front of the store.

  Sally rang up Gloria’s purchases, placed them in plastic grocery sacks and slid them across the counter. “Joe told me investigators suspect foul play.” She lowered her voice, although they were the only two in the front of the store. “I think the wife was involved. He was a player, you know.”

  Gloria nodded, but didn’t reply. She slid the handles of the bags onto her arm and adjusted her crutches. “I hope you make it home before the storm hits.”

  Sally rolled her eyes. “For heaven’s sake, I sure hope so.”

  Gloria shifted around and hobbled to the exit.

  The door swung open just as she reached for the handle, causing Gloria to jerk backward and almost lose her balance.

  A woman with cropped gray locks, steely gray eyes and scarecrow thin figure burst through the door.

  It was Lynda Clemson, another of the part-time summer residents. She and her husband, Ben, owned the cottage next door to the Mueller’s cottage. Lynda attended the Church of God during the summer months when she was in town.

  Gloria hadn’t seen her since the fall festival back in October.

  Lynda reached forward to steady Gloria. “Oh my gosh! I am so sorry Gloria!” She gazed at Gloria’s cast. “What in the world happened to you?” she gasped.

  Gloria sucked in a breath and shook her head. “It’s a long story. Nice to see you Lynda.”

  Lynda Clemson waited until Gloria had cleared the doorway and was safely on the sidewalk before she closed the front door to the grocery store.

  The winter winds had picked up and Gloria shivered as she tucked the collar of her coat around her neck. A snowflake hit the tip of her nose and she stared up at the snow clouds. “I thought you were holding off until later,” she scowled.

  Even though the snow had begun to fall, it would take several hours before the roads became treacherous. A snowflake or two wasn’t going to kill her.

  On the other hand, the thought of icy sidewalks and roads, combined with her crutches and cast made her nervous.

  Gloria opened the driver’s side door, gave the bag of groceries a light toss, grabbed the top of the doorframe and shoved her crutches into the passenger seat. “I’m going to have a bonfire and burn these babies as soon as this cast comes off,” she promised herself as she slid into the driver’s seat.

  When she reached Eleanor’s place, Margaret’s SUV, Dot’s van and Lucy’s jeep were already in the drive. Andrea pulled in behind her and Gloria spotted Ruth in the passenger seat. It was apparent no one wanted to miss Margaret’s hypnosis experiment.

  Lucy must have been on the lookout for Gloria because she darted down Eleanor’s front steps and met Gloria near the driver’s side door. She reached across Gloria and grabbed her crutches. “You bought groceries?”

  Gloria reached for the paper plates and napkins. She hopped out of the car and took the crutches from Lucy. “I picked up a few things but they’ll be fine in the car. It’s cold enough.” She shoved a crutch under each arm and trailed behind Lucy as they made their way to the front steps.

  She handed the crutches to Lucy, grabbed the handrail and hopped up the first step, then the second and finally the third.

  “You’re getting to be an expert at balancing on one foot,” Lucy remarked.

  “It’s a skill I can live without,” Gloria quipped. She hopped into the empty living room. The chatter of excited voices echoed from the kitchen. “She hasn’t started yet, has she?”

  “No,” Lucy said as she handed Gloria her crutches. “Margaret is chomping at the bit but we made her wait until everyone got here.”

  Andrea and Ruth followed them inside.

  Lucy fell in step with Gloria and the foursome made their way into the kitchen. “Who ate my pink frosted sprinkle donut?” Lucy demanded.

  “No one.” Dot laughed. “It’s over there on top of the microwave.”

  The girls made room for the new arrivals and Dot shifted a chair sideways so Gloria could sit down.

  Andrea poured a cup of coffee and slid it in front of Gloria while Dot placed Gloria’s favorite donut, a chocolate éclair, on a paper plate and set it in front of her. “You guys are spoiling me. I may have to keep the crutches awhile longer.”

  Ruth snorted. “The way you’re moani
ng and groaning about the broken leg cramping your style, I don’t think so.”

  Gloria broke the chocolate éclair in half and licked the creamy center. “True,” she admitted. “It’s driving me crazy.”

  “As long as the cast is off before the cruise,” Margaret said. “Speaking of cruise, someone said Liz and Frances are booked on the same ship and in a suite near us.”

  “Yeah. When she heard we were going on a girls’ cruise, she got on the horn with Lucy, who told her where and when we were going and even helped her check for available cabins.” Gloria gave Lucy a dark look.

  Lucy shrugged her shoulders. “What? Did you want me to lie?”

  “It’s a thought,” Gloria sighed. “Bottom line is France and Liz are across the hall from our suites. I’m pretty sure they plan on driving down the night before and staying at the same hotel.”

  “This ought to be exciting,” Dot commented.

  Andrea peeled the wrapper off her blueberry muffin. “Is she really that bad? I mean, she seemed all right when I met her.”

  The group groaned in unison.

  “You have no idea.” Margaret grinned and patted Gloria’s hand. “Don’t worry. We’ll protect you from big, bad sis.”

  Eleanor swiped the last smear of chocolate frosting from her plate with her index finger and then licked it off. “Do you think this hypnosis thing will work?”

  All eyes shifted to Margaret, who squirmed at being the center of attention. “I-I don’t know,” she confessed. “I hope so. All we can do is try.”

  After the group finished devouring the delicious goodies Dot had brought with her, Margaret grabbed a dishrag from the sink and wiped the crumbs from the table.

  “Before I forget, I stopped by the Quik Stop this morning and Sally Keane said the day before Ed Mueller died, he had stopped by the store to buy a box of trash bags.”

  “And?” Lucy leaned in.

  “He told her he wasn’t staying overnight but was only in town long enough to do a little cleaning at the cottage.”

  “That explains why the wood stove was cold,” Eleanor commented.

  Margaret slapped an open palm on the tabletop. “All the more reason to find out what clue is lurking in the back of Eleanor’s head.”

  She unbuttoned the cuff of her sleeves and rolled them up. “It’s time to get down to business!”

  Chapter 12

  Gloria still had her misgivings about the whole “hypnosis” mumbo-jumbo, but didn’t want to hurt Margaret’s feelings since she seemed certain it would help Eleanor remember exactly what she had seen at the Mueller’s cottage the night before Ed Mueller’s body had been found in the lake.

  They would be much better off praying to God for help in solving the case but she held her tongue.

  Margaret pulled an iPad from her purse, turned it on and set it on the table, placing it between Eleanor and her.

  A man’s droning voice began to speak. “Take a slow, deep breath and hold it in…and now let it out. Just breathe deeply and slowly as you allow your body and mind to relax.”

  Gloria rolled her eyes.

  Lucy snorted.

  Andrea covered her mouth to keep from laughing.

  Eleanor took a deep breath.

  The monotone voice continued. “Make sure that you’re sitting down or even lying down in a comfortable position…”

  “Clear the deck!” With the swipe of her arm, Margaret sent the center table doily along with the salt and pepper shakers sailing across the table.

  Lucy lunged, catching the shaker of salt midair. “Got it.”

  “Nice catch,” Andrea said.

  Margaret patted the tabletop. “Here, lie down on the table,” she told Eleanor.

  “What in the world,” Gloria muttered.

  “That can’t be comfortable,” Dot objected.

  Margaret ignored the others as she grasped Eleanor under her right elbow. When she was standing upright, she motioned Lucy to help her ease Eleanor onto the flat, butcher-block surface. “It’s only for a few minutes.”

  Margaret pressed the stop button on the recording and settled Eleanor on the table. “Give me your sweater.” She snapped her fingers and pointed at the sweater Ruth was wearing.

  Ruth removed her sweater. “Good grief.” She handed it to Margaret who rolled it up and slid it under Eleanor’s head.

  Eleanor glanced at the five faces staring at her and squeezed her eyes shut as she folded her hands and placed them on her stomach.

  Margaret pressed the play button on the iPad.

  “Continue breathing in and out until your breaths become slow and even…allow your mind to drift…”

  The recording droned on.

  Eleanor’s hands fell to her sides.

  Gloria leaned in, looking for signs that Eleanor was still breathing. “I think you killed her,” she said.

  Eleanor shifted slightly and began to snore softly.

  Lucy burst out laughing.

  Margaret frowned and paused the recording. “She wasn’t supposed to fall asleep!”

  They all stared at the sleeping woman. Now that Gloria studied her closely, she didn’t look too uncomfortable.

  “I should borrow the recording,” Ruth said. “I haven’t been sleeping well lately.”

  Margaret gave her a dark look. “Well, at least I had an idea. We’re back to square one!”

  Eleanor snorted and flopped sideways. She opened one eye and peered at the women. “D-did I just fall asleep?”

  Gloria smiled and nodded. “So much for hypnosis.” Dot and she helped Eleanor slide off the kitchen table.

  Eleanor patted Margaret’s arm. “At least you tried.” She pulled her walker close and then shuffled over to the kitchen sink. “Would anyone like more coffee or tea?”

  The girls shook their head. “No thanks,” Andrea said.

  “That’s it!” Eleanor exclaimed.

  All eyes shifted to Eleanor.

  She turned to face the girls seated at the table. “I remembered what I saw the other night!”

  “See? It worked!” Margaret beamed triumphantly.

  “No!” Eleanor shook her head. She pointed to window in front of the kitchen sink. “Officer Joe Nelson’s patrol car is parked at Mueller’s cottage. I saw his vehicle there the night before Ed Mueller was found frozen in the lake!”

  Gloria jumped out of her seat and ran to the window. She leaned over Eleanor’s shoulder for a glimpse of the Mueller’s cottage. Sure enough, a Montbay County Sheriff’s patrol car was parked in the drive.

  Eleanor and Gloria watched as Officer Joe Nelson strolled to his patrol car. He glanced around, and then looked directly at Eleanor’s place.

  Gloria jerked back, hoping he hadn’t caught a glimpse of her.

  Eleanor waved.

  “I hope he didn’t see us,” Gloria muttered.

  Eleanor put her hand down. “Why not? Officer Joe is such a nice young man.”

  “Because Officer Joe is a suspect,” Gloria said. “Someone spotted him arguing with Ed Mueller the night before his body was found in the lake.”

  Gloria hobbled over to the table, passing by the sliding glass doors on her way.

  The police patrol car was driving up the hill. She leaned forward and watched as he turned down Eleanor’s street and slowly drove by her house.

  As quickly as she could, Gloria limped to the living room picture window that faced the street. She lifted the edge of the curtain and watched his patrol car stop at the corner.

  Suddenly, the lights flashed and the sound of a police siren echoed, followed by the squeal of tires as his patrol car quickly disappeared from sight.

  The other Garden Girls had followed Gloria into the living room and peeked through the curtains.

  Lucy stared over Gloria’s shoulder. “I wonder what he was doing at the Mueller’s cottage.”

  Gloria shifted to the side. “I don’t know but I think it’s time to do a little recon.”

  “Recon?” Eleanor as
ked.

  “Reconnaissance,” Gloria explained.

  Eleanor shook her head.

  “Snoop,” Margaret said bluntly.

  Ruth rubbed her hands together. “Now?”

  “Now would be the perfect time, what with Officer Joe heading in the other direction.” Gloria gazed at Dot. “We need someone to drop us off in front of the Mueller’s cottage.”

  Dot pointed at her chest. “Me?” she squeaked. Dot tried her best to stay on the sidelines during Gloria’s investigations. She was more of a behind-the-scenes member of the group.

  To be the designated driver of the getaway car, or in her case, van, was better suited for one of the other more adventurous girls…at least that was her opinion.

  Lucy patted Dot’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. All you have to do is drop us off in front of the cottage and then wait for one of us to call you to come pick us up.”

  Dot ran a hand through her hair. “I-I…”

  “Good,” Gloria interrupted. She turned to Eleanor. “Do you have any rubber gloves we could borrow and maybe a flashlight? We don’t want to leave prints, just in case investigators aren’t finished.”

  Eleanor nodded and scooted back to the kitchen. She returned moments later with the requested items inside the basket attached to the front of her walker.

  Gloria took the two flashlights and box of latex gloves.

  “I have a few black ski masks if you want,” Eleanor offered.

  Gloria was about to ask what in the world Eleanor was doing with black ski masks but changed her mind. Some things were better left alone. This was one of them. “Ready?”

  Ruth opened the front door while Eleanor, followed by Andrea, Lucy, Margaret, a reluctant Dot, and last but not least, Gloria, made their way down the steps and over to Dot’s van.

  “If I get arrested, someone better bail me out,” Dot said.

  “Paul will bail us out,” Gloria reassured her friend. Although he would probably let her sit and stew in a jail cell to teach her a lesson. She shrugged. It wouldn’t be the first time.

  The girls climbed into the van and Dot hopped behind the wheel. “Here goes nothing.”