Hope Callaghan - Garden Girls 05 - Eye Spy

by Hope Callaghan

  Ruth started to shake her head until Gloria gave her a hard look. She slowly nodded when she realized what Gloria was doing. “Sure! Yeah! Great idea.”

  Ruth leaned around the corner. Tammy was shoving mail into the different slots. “Is it okay if Gloria and I run across the street and grab a quick bite?” Ruth’s voice dripped with honey.

  Tammy didn’t look up. “Sure, yeah. It’s slowed down a little so I should be able to handle it.”

  Ruth started for her purse, then stopped. She needed to leave it behind, to give Tammy a place to plant the drugs.

  The girls wandered out the front door and headed for the street. When they were out of earshot, Gloria spoke words of encouragement to her friend. “You’re doing great, Ruth. Just hang in there. It will be over soon enough.”

  Ruth nodded. “I just want to wrap my hands around her throat and throttle her!” she confessed.

  Gloria touched her arm. “I know, I know. You don’t want to go to prison for murder do you?”

  Ruth grinned. She shrugged her shoulders. “But it might be worth it.”

  They slipped in the front door of the restaurant. Ruth picked a table by the window. She stared across the street at the post office, as if she had x-ray vision and could see Tammy’s bad deeds through the brick exterior. “She’s probably in there right now, sticking the stuff in my purse!” Ruth hissed under her breath.

  Dot stopped by with a couple glasses of water. “Who’s tending to the yard sale?”

  Gloria looked up. “Jill and Lucy have it covered. First thing this morning we were busier than a one-armed wallpaper hanger.” She twirled the straw in her glass of ice water. “It hit a lull so I thought I’d come into town to check on Ruth.”

  “Glad to see you back in the saddle, Ruth,” Dot told her.

  Ruth nodded. “Me, too. It’s good to be back.”

  Ruth started to say, “I’ll be glad…”

  Gloria read her mind and cut her off. “…when the yard sale’s over.”

  Ruth swallowed hard. She’d almost forgotten that only a few people knew about the sting.

  Dot took their order and disappeared. “I almost slipped up,” Ruth admitted.

  “This has to say between the two of us,” Gloria reminded her.

  Dot stopped back a short time later with two turkey club sandwiches and a heaping mound of crispy French fries. Gloria was hungrier than she thought. Then she remembered Jill, Lucy and the boys still slogging it out at the yard sale. “Can I get two BLT’s, two more turkey clubs and a bag of fries to go?”

  “Sure can.” Dot jotted down the order and disappeared again. By the time the to-go order was done, so was Ruth and Gloria. The post office was empty when they stepped back inside. Tammy was nowhere in sight. She must’ve heard the front door because she popped back in through the rear door looking a bit startled. “Oh, you ate fast.”

  Hopefully not so fast that you didn’t have time to plant the drugs, Gloria thought to herself.

  Tammy smiled brightly. “I’ll step out for a bite now if you don’t mind.”

  Ruth tried to smile back but she just couldn’t pull it off, mainly because both she and Gloria knew that she was supposed to meet with Sharon on her lunch hour to let her know if Ruth had done anything “suspicious.” If she had given Tammy any reason to believe Ruth should be searched before she left the post office.

  Ruth’s eyes shot daggers at Tammy’s back when she left through the back screen door. She tapped her fingers on the gleaming countertop. “You think she did it?”

  Gloria shrugged. “Yeah. I’d have to say she did.” She was going to add that they’d know soon enough, but the post office door jingled and stopped Gloria from speaking.

  Judith Arnett shuffled in through the front door. Gloria could see the poor woman was still in pain. She smiled when she saw Gloria. “Hi, Gloria. I’m surprised to see you here, what with the big sale going on at your place.”

  Gloria smacked the palm of her hand on her forehead. “Oh my gosh! I forgot about the sale!” She darted to the door, grabbed the handle then swung around. “Keep me posted on the other,” she shouted out to Ruth before she ran to her car.

  She got in, then remembered she’d left the lunches on the table at Dot’s. She climbed back out of the car and took off across the street. Dot was waiting for her, the bag in hand. “I figured you’d be back!”

  “Thanks, Dot!” She grabbed the bag and ran back out the door. She climbed back in Anabelle for the second time in as many minutes and started the car. She pulled out and onto the road just as Tammy and Detective McIntyre were pulling in.

  She snapped her fingers. “Rats! I wish I could be here to see this!” But she had to run. She checked to make sure her cell phone was in her purse, certain that Ruth would call as soon as it was over and give her the blow-by-blow. Still, it wasn’t as good as witnessing it in person!

  The yard sale was back in action when Gloria pulled in. There had to be a dozen cars lined up beside the barn and down the road!

  She grabbed the bag of food and made a beeline for the table where Lucy was sitting. She looked up from the table when she spotted Gloria. “I though you forgot all about us!”

  “I’m sorry, Lucy! I got so caught up in Ruth’s first day back at work, I forgot.”

  “How’s it going?” Lucy was in on the sting. After all, she was the one that first caught Tammy on camera slipping drugs into Ruth’s purse.

  Gloria rolled her eyes. “Whew! Ruth’s fit to be tied.” She chuckled. “Man, if looks could kill, Tammy would’ve died hours ago!”

  Jill and the boys wandered over. Tyler opened the bag and looked inside. The boys had been hard at work in the garden all morning. Gloria was thankful for the help.

  It seemed that every summer, the garden was a little bit harder to handle. Or maybe it was time for Gloria to think about slowing down and consider planting a more manageable garden. She did it partly for the fruits and vegetables she could use all winter, but there was another reason. She did it in honor of James. James loved the garden. When he was alive, their evening ritual was to wander through the garden and check on the plants. Keeping the garden alive was like keeping a small part of him alive.

  Ryan pulled her from her thoughts. He grabbed a small handful of fries from the paper bag and stuffed them in his mouth. “Grams promised to teach me ‘n Tyler how to drive the tractor.”

  Jill raised her eyebrows. “She did, did she?”

  Gloria handed a BLT to Tyler and nodded over his head. “It’s time. They’re old enough now,” she said.

  She grabbed the other BLT and put it in Ryan’s outstretched hand. “Your Father would be thrilled knowing the boys love the farm as much as they do.”

  Jill choked back sudden tears. It stung every time her Mom mentioned her Dad. Not just for herself, but for the years her two sons didn’t have their grandfather in their life. It had only been a few years now, but the boys had been young when he died. Each year that passed, his memory would fade even more. “You’re right,” Gloria’s daughter whispered. “Dad would love it.”

  “It looks like I missed lunch.” A deep male voice drifted over Gloria’s shoulder. A familiar voice. It was Paul! She spun around and faced him. He gave her a warm hug and kissed her cheek. “I had a call a couple miles up the road and thought I’d drop in to see how the sale was going.” He looked at the groups of people sifting through the tables. “I should’ve brought some of my stuff over.”

  Gloria slapped his arm. She narrowed her eyes. “I told you!”

  He lifted his hands in self-defense. “I know, I know,” he admitted. He leaned in towards Gloria and whispered in her ear. “I heard your company moved out.”

  Ryan stepped between the two of them and pushed them apart. He eyed Paul suspiciously. “Grams is going to teach us how to drive the tractor,” he told Paul.

  Gloria couldn’t get over how excited the boys were about driving the tractor. She made a mental note to spend some time th
inking about what other stuff around the farm they might be interested in. She could see if the Palmers down the road would let her come by with the boys so they could feed the chickens and check for eggs…

  Tyler puffed up his chest. “We helped Grams with the garden and cleaning the barn last night,” he informed Paul.

  Paul nodded somberly. “Your grandmother is lucky to have grandsons like you. I wish I had grandsons.”

  Ryan’s eyebrows shot up. “You don’t have any?” He thought every grandparent had grandsons. He wasn’t so sure about girls…

  Paul shook his head. “Nope. I have granddaughters but no grandsons.”

  Ryan slipped his hand into Gloria’s. “Maybe Grams can bring us by to help you sometime,” he offered. “Right, Grams?”

  Gloria’s heart melted right then and there! She had the most precious grandchildren on the planet!

  “I would like that very much.” Paul glanced at his watch. “I have to get back to the station.” Gloria walked him to the car and watched as he climbed in. He pulled the door shut and rolled down the window. He nodded toward the boys, who were still eating their lunch. “You have some fine grandsons,” he told her.

  Gloria stiffened her back and smiled. “I couldn’t agree more.”

  He started the car and put it in reverse. “I’ll call you later tonight?”

  She nodded, then leaned in the window and kissed his lips. “I’ll be waiting,” she flirted, then batted her eyes. The smile never left his face as he swung the car around and pulled onto the road.

  Ryan finished his food and started to chase Mally around the yard. Tyler took his final bite of sandwich then wadded up the wrapper and tossed it in the empty bag. He had watched as Gloria told Paul good-bye. “Is that your boyfriend, Grams?”

  Gloria studied the serious expression on his face. “Yes, Tyler. Paul is my boyfriend.”

  He nodded. “Are you going to marry him?”

  The talk at the table stopped. Everyone turned to look at Gloria. Lucy. Jill. She stared at the road where his car had just been. “Maybe, Tyler. Maybe.” That was the best answer she had to give.

  Ruth was inside the post office, waiting on a customer when Tammy returned. She wandered in the back door and hung her jacket and purse next to Ruth’s. The customer left. Ruth focused her attention to Tammy. “Did you have a nice lunch?”

  “Yeah. Just had to run a few errands.” She quickly turned her back to Ruth and began to sort through the packages that had accumulated throughout the morning.

  Ruth turned back to the lobby when she heard the front door chime. It was Detective McIntyre. She walked to the counter. “How are you today, Ruth?”

  Ruth smiled cautiously. “Great. Busy,” she added.

  While they made small talk, a plainclothes agent stepped in through the back door. The man made his way to the center of the room and nodded at Sharon. “Unfortunately, I’m here on official business,” Sharon announced.

  Ruth caught a glimpse of a sneer on Tammy’s face when she heard the detective’s words. Sharon stepped back over to the front door. She flipped the lock and switched the door sign to “Closed.”

  She stepped through the small half-door that separated the lobby from the employee area. She nodded to the detective, then pulled a computer from the bag that was slung over her shoulder. She set the laptop on the mail sorting counter in the rear. She looked at Ruth and then waved Tammy over.

  The two women peered over Sharon McIntyre’s shoulder and at the computer screen. The back of the post office came into view. Detective McIntyre pressed a few buttons. Tammy backed up a bit while Ruth moved closer. Close enough to have a clear look at the screen. She motioned Tammy forward. “You need to see this.”

  Tammy swallowed hard and shuffled closer. The detective pressed one more button. Suddenly, there was an unobstructed view of Tammy. They all watched as she waited on a customer. Moments later, the customer exited the post office.

  Tammy glanced around the room and out the window. She disappeared out the back screen door before returning seconds later. She was wearing latex gloves and had a small packet in her hand.

  She glanced around the room before she walked over to Ruth’s purse that was hanging on the hook. She opened the purse and dropped the small packet inside. She snapped the purse shut, peeled off the gloves and dropped them in a nearby trash can. For good measure, she reached down and sifted through the trash until the gloves disappeared from sight.

  Detective McIntyre stopped the recording and turned to Tammy, whose face was pale as a ghost. “Go get Ruth’s purse,” she instructed in a quiet voice.

  Tammy dropped her eyes and shuffled over to the bag. She lifted it off the hook and returned to where Ruth and the detectives were waiting. She set it on the counter next to the laptop.

  The male detective nodded. “Open it.”

  Tammy wiped her brow with the back of her hand. “Do I have to?”

  Sharon McIntyre nodded. “Yes.”

  Tammy reached down and unclasped the hook. She opened the purse then slid it towards Ruth. Ruth peeked in. The plastic bag they had all watched Tammy drop inside was still there, sitting on top.

  Detective McIntyre grabbed a thin, plastic glove from her case and slipped it on before she reached in and pulled the small packet out. She turned to Ruth. “Is this yours?”

  Ruth shook her head. “I’ve never seen that before in my life.”

  The detective turned to Tammy. “What’s in the bag?”

  “I-uh. I don’t …”

  Sharon McIntyre cut her off. “You’re under arrest for drug trafficking, drug possession, possession of an illegal substance.”

  The other detective took over. “You have the right to remain silent…”

  “You can’t arrest me!” Tammy turned on Ruth. “There’s the criminal!” Tammy started to bawl.

  Ruth almost felt sorry for her. Almost. She watched as Tammy was handcuffed then led out the back door to the unmarked police car.

  Detective McIntyre turned to Ruth. “You know you’re not supposed to have that in here.” She pointed to the camera.

  Ruth nodded. “I’ll take it down,” she promised.

  “That’s what I would advise. Of course, I can’t force you to do anything.” She winked at Ruth. “It saved your hide.”

  “No kidding!”

  A light tap sounded on the front door. A customer’s face was plastered to the outside of the glass entrance door. Two eyes peered in.

  Ruth headed to the door. “I better open up.”

  Detective McIntyre nodded. She packed up her laptop and stuck it in her briefcase. She looked at the wastebasket. The one with Tammy’s gloves inside. “I have to take that with me.”

  Ruth nodded. “Be my guest.” As long as she wasn’t going to arrest her, the woman could take whatever she wanted.

  She unlocked the front door and let Bea in. Beatrice or “Bea” as she was called, stepped into the lobby. Bea was the local hairdresser and a noted gossip. “I’m so glad to see you’re back.” She’d been anxiously waiting for Ruth to return to work. “Say, did you hear that Sheriff Nelson is dating Sally Keane?”

  Ruth shook her head. Right before she closed the door, she looked out at the bright blue sky, took a deep breath and smiled wide. All was right in Ruth’s world once again. “You don’t say?” She closed the door.

  Chapter 10

  Gloria watched as the last car pulled out of her drive. The yard sale was officially over. Her yard sale helpers had left a short time ago. Lucy and Jill offered to stay and help clean up but there was little left to take care of. The place had been cleaned out. Things that Gloria thought would never sell were some of the first items to go.

  She wandered into the barn and dropped the few remaining items into nearby boxes. She shoved them to the side and folded the legs on the gray card table.

  Back inside the house, she slid the metal container across the table and pulled the stacks of bills from within. Between Ruth’s
investigation and the yard sale, she hadn’t had time to figure out how much money they had made.

  She sorted the piles - $20 bills, $10 bills, $5 bills. The largest of the stacks was the $1’s. When she finished counting, she couldn’t believe the amount. She grabbed her cell phone off the table to make a few phone calls with the good news when she noticed the text message. Her eyebrows furrowed. Why hadn’t she noticed this earlier? Then she remembered. Judith Arnett had forwarded her a picture. The one she had snapped of Tammy and a shadowy figure out behind the post office the other night.

  She slipped on her reading glasses and studied the picture up close. The investigators were convinced someone that worked at the post office was involved in the drug trafficking. Was it Kenny? She tapped the screen and zoomed in.

  The figure’s arm was lifted and at an angle as the person handed a box to Tammy. There, on the back of the arm, just above the elbow, was a design. Gloria walked over to the kitchen sink and flipped on the light. She held the phone directly under the light. The design was a tattoo – some kind of snake or dragon.

  She clicked out of the picture and dialed Ruth’s number. “How did it go?”

  “Tammy confessed to everything after she saw that she was caught on camera planting the drugs in my purse,” Ruth said. “Seems she was determined to get my job since Belhaven post office is bigger and nicer. Plus, the pay is better than at Fenway. That was her main motivation for framing me. Of course, she probably liked the money she was getting as the middle man in the drug ring, too.”

  “Detective McIntyre seems to think there’s still another person involved,” she added. “Someone that works at the Belhaven post office.” She sighed. “I sure hope it’s not Kenny.”

  Gloria nodded. “I hope not, either.” She told Ruth how Judith had done a little surveillance work and managed to snap a picture of Tammy outside the post office handing a box to someone. “Does Kenny have a tattoo on the back of his arm?”