Roses and Daisies and Death Oh My!

by Petersen, Penny Clover

  “Of course, I don’t. But there are two of us and Malcolm. Marc might have had a heart attack or something. Come on.”

  Rose took a deep breath and said, “Oh, for heaven’s sakes. Okay, Malcolm, lead the way. Bark like a banshee if you spot trouble.”

  As they pushed the door open, Daisy whispered, “Do banshees bark?”

  The only light in the shop was the eerie red glow of the exit sign over the door and the gleam from the streetlamp outside. Everything was in shadow.

  “I can’t find the light switch. These old houses are all different. Why are empty shops so creepy?” murmured Rose as she was feeling the wall around the doorway.

  “Ssh, Rose, I’m trying to picture the room. I think it’s on the other wall behind the door.”

  “Well, what idiot would put a light switch behind a door?”

  Daisy was searching for the switch when Rose let out a blood curdling scream.

  Daisy grabbed her sister. “What? What? What?” she whispered frantically as Rose pulled her down behind the door.

  Rose spoke quietly into Daisy’s ear. “Someone’s in that the corner over there looking at us. We have to get out of here.”

  “Calm down a minute. Are you sure? I didn’t see anything. Let me just…”

  Daisy raised her head and shined the flashlight into the corner. “Marc?” she croaked in a loud whisper. “Marc, are you there?” Silence.

  “Rose, are you sure you saw someone?”

  Rose answered, “Yes! Over there in that corner. Near the mirror!”

  “What mirror?”

  “That big oval one in the corner behind the walnut table.”

  Daisy turned the flashlight off and looked across the room. She let out a gigantic sigh and stood up. “Rose, you priceless ass, stand up. I’m pretty sure she’s harmless.”

  Rose stood and looked across the room. Daisy waved her hand in the air.

  “See, the scary person’s waving at you,” as her reflection waved back.

  Rose started giggling. “Great goofy reflections, batman. Sorry. I am jumpy! I’m not used to creeping around other people’s dark, empty shops.”

  She stopped laughing and looked around as the grey dawn began seeping through the windows. “But why is it dark and empty? Marc’s car’s outside. He’s got to be here. We’d better check the workroom.”

  They edged their way around the furniture toward the back of the showroom. The door to the workroom was closed. Daisy knocked, “Marc, it’s Daisy. Are you all right?”

  Rose held Daisy’s arm. “Maybe we should call someone. This really feels like ‘don’t be an idiot’ time for sure.”

  “Anybody lurking would have run out the back by now. We haven’t been exactly quiet.” Daisy opened the door and now it was her turn to scream.

  In the growing daylight she could see a figure on the floor near the outside door close to the workbench.

  “Marc! Oh my God, Rose. It’s Marc.”

  She rushed over to him, but stopped short. He was laying face down, a small puddle of blood seeping out from under his chest. The back of his head was bloody. A pry bar was on the floor a few feet away.

  “He’s dead! I know he’s dead,” shrieked Daisy.

  She started shaking and Rose took her by the shoulders and sat her in a chair. “Come on, Daisy. Deep breaths. Hysterics won’t help. Sit here and don’t touch anything. Malcolm, sit by Daisy. Don’t move.”

  Her hands shook as she dialed 911 on her cell phone. She stooped next to Marc and felt his neck for a pulse. “This is Rose Forrest. I’m calling from Lost Treasures Antiques on Azalea Lane in Old Towne. A man’s been attacked. He’s unconscious, but I think I can feel a faint pulse. There’s a lot of blood. Please hurry.”

  Daisy started at that. “He’s not dead? What should we do?” She started to go to him, but Rose said, “Daisy, take Malcolm out to meet the ambulance. The EMTs will be here in a minute.”

  Daisy just stood there staring at Marc. Rose said, “Hold on,” into the phone and went to her sister. “Look at me, Daisy. Take Malcolm outside. I’ll wait here with Marc.” Malcolm slowly pulled Daisy out of the room.

  Rose picked up the cell again and said, “I’m back.”

  The dispatcher stayed on the phone with her until she could hear sirens in front of the shop.

  “They’re here. Thank you.” Rose hung up and stooped next to Marc. “Marc, can you hear me. Daisy and I are here. You have to hold on. Help is coming.”

  Tom Willis walked through the door. A team of paramedics was right behind him.

  “Rose, you need to go outside now. Daisy’s freaking out.”

  “Oh God. Can we go home and wait?”

  “Sure. You two go on over. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  Rose got Daisy home and made a pot of strong tea. Then she called her mother and told her what happened.

  “Why did you call Mother?” asked Daisy.

  “I don’t know. I guess I still think she can fix everything.” Rose sat down and stifled a sob. “What is going on here? I don’t understand. Who would do this?”

  Outside the street was swarming with police. Daisy watched the EMTs carry Marc out and put him in an ambulance.

  “Shouldn’t we go to the hospital with him?” asked Daisy.

  “I think we’d better stay here until the police talk to us. Tom will let us know what’s going on.

  “I just knew something was wrong. I know I’m sounding like Mother, but I just knew something was wrong.”

  It wasn’t long before Tom Willis got to the house. “I hate to do this now, but I have to ask you some questions.”

  “Of course you do. What do you need to know?” replied Rose.

  “Why were over there this morning so early?”

  Rose said, “We were taking Malcolm for his walk. He ran over to Marc’s shop and wouldn’t come home. We went over after him and found the door was cracked open, but it was dark inside.”

  Daisy interrupted, “How is he? Could you tell what happened to him? Where are they taking him?”

  “They’re taking him to County General. It’s kind of nuts. It looks like someone hit him on the back of the head, but I think he has a stab wound in his chest, too. The EMTs had him stabilized, but wouldn’t say anything else. It’s lucky you got there when you did.

  “When you went into the shop was anything disturbed? Out of place?”

  “We didn’t really look at anything. I didn’t turn the lights on and it was too dim to see much in the showroom. Then we only saw Marc in the workroom. I made Daisy take Malcolm outside and I sat with Marc until you got there. I didn’t look around at all.”

  “Listen, I know this will get turned over to the state boys. My chief is on vacation and his second is out with the flu. And we don’t have the resources that the state guys do, anyway. I’ve already had to ask for help from their crime scene people.

  “But right now, this is my case. And you and Marc are my friends. I want to find this guy.

  “I know this is a lot to ask, but, Rose, maybe you could go back to his shop with me and look it over? See if anything’s missing or out of place.”

  Daisy stood up and sighed. “I’ll go.”

  Tom looked doubtful, but Daisy said, “Really. I’m okay and I want to help. And I’m more familiar with his shop than Rose is. You’re right Tom. I want to find this guy, too. This sure feels personal to me.”

  Tom and Daisy got to the shop. Tom pulled on a pair of latex gloves. He handed Daisy a pair and said, “Put these on, but try not to touch anything. CSI will be here soon and I want this place to be just the way you found it.”

  Daisy put the gloves on, then shoved her hands in her pockets. The showroom looked normal with the lights on. She looked around carefully. “This room looks fine. Everything seems to be where it should be.”

  “Will you be all right if we go back to the workroom?”

  “I’ll be okay. If I can help Marc, I’ll do it.”

 
The workroom was where Marc kept furniture for pickup or delivery. He also stored odd pieces there and, of course, his workbench and tools ran across the entire back of the building. A door opened into the alley on the far side of the room.

  Tom asked, “Is it always this clean?” The room was swept clean and everything seemed to be in its place.

  “I’ve only been in here a couple of times, but I think so. Mark was pretty careful.”

  Daisy was looking around trying not to stare at the spot where she had found Marc. “Oh, that’s the desk he was having delivered today.

  “But that’s not right. Look, someone’s been through it. Marc would have had it polished with everything in place and probably wrapped in his own shipping blankets.”

  The desk was open. All the drawers were pulled out. The back and sides had gouges in them like a pry bar had been used on it. “Looks like someone tried to get the back off. Marc would never have done that. This thing is worth a small fortune.”

  At the mention of his name, Daisy automatically looked over to where she had found him. She saw a pry bar lying there and started to look away, but then moved closer.

  “Come here, Tom. What’s that on the floor?”

  Tom stepped forward and bent down. Something was scratched into the wood.

  He stood up and shook his head. “It’s kind of hard to make out. Might be a letter. It could be a d. Maybe he was trying to write something.”

  Daisy looked more closely. “I don’t think it’s a letter. Look, there’s little flaggy-line at the top. It looks more like a note to me.”

  “A note?”

  “You know. A musical note. I didn’t see it when we found him. But then, I really didn’t see anything but his body, did I?”

  “Well, I didn’t notice it either. Just a minute, I took pictures of the scene while the EMTs were setting up.” Tom was looking at his digital camera. “See, it looks like his hand was covering it. I think you’re right. It could be music. Have any idea what it means?”

  Daisy shook her head. “None. Maybe he was delirious. How did he scratch it in the wood?”

  “I don’t know. It had to be something sharp. He couldn’t have done it with his fingernails.” Tom crouched down and shone a flash light around the floor. “Look! There’s a nail under the counter.”

  He reached under and picked a nail up with gloved hands and looked at it carefully. “It looks like it’s got blood on it.” He put the nail back where it had been for the techs to document with other evidence.

  He moved carefully around the workshop shining his flashlight under the counters and furniture.

  “Nothing else on the floor. But look here. I think he must have been attacked and grabbed at this counter before he fell. See. There are fingermarks on the edge like he tried to hold on or grab something.”

  “A nail?” suggested Daisy.

  “Why would a man who’s just been attacked, probably stabbed, reach for a nail and scratch a musical note into the floor?”

  “I have no idea! We’ll just have to ask Marc,” said Daisy with determination.

  “I really hope he can give us an answer.” Tom took Daisy by the arm and walked her back home.

  As soon as they walked in the door Rose said, “I just talked to the hospital. He’s in the emergency room. They wouldn’t tell me anything else. Tom, I think we should go to the hospital.

  He answered, “I don’t know if you’ll be allowed to see him. But it’s okay with me.”

  The phone rang and Daisy took it in the kitchen. “That was Mother saying she’s on her way, but I asked her to meet us at the hospital.”

  “I think that’s a good idea. And I think it’s a good idea for the three of you to stay together. No walking in the dark or chasing dogs. Don’t take any chances at all. We’ve had enough bodies!” said Tom.

  “You’re absolutely right, Tom. We’ll be careful. It’s a promise.”

  Tom Willis had called the policeman posted in the ER to let him know they were coming.

  The nurse in charge only allowed them to see him for a few minutes. He was still unconscious and would be going into surgery shortly.

  Daisy, Rose and Angela took turns holding his hand. Daisy whispered, “Why a note, Marc? What did you want to tell us?”

  They left him when the orderly came to take him to surgery. “How long will it be?” asked Rose.

  The nurse said she really couldn’t tell them. It all depended on what the doctors found. She would be glad to call as soon as he was out.

  “We’ll be in the cafeteria. Thanks.”

  They got doughnuts and tea and sat down to wait. Exhaustion was setting in and they hardly spoke for well over an hour.

  Finally Rose asked Daisy what she had said to Marc. “What note were you talking about?”

  “Hmm? Oh! Tom and I found what looked like a musical note scratched in the floor where Marc was lying. It looks like he wrote it with a nail that Tom found under the counter. It had blood on it.”

  “I didn’t see anything like that when we found him. I was kneeling right next to him.”

  “It was hidden under his hand. How long do you think the surgery will take?”

  Daisy heard a chair slide back and looked up to see Bill Greene standing there. “What do you want?”

  “Tom Willis told me you’d be here. It’s my case and I need to talk to you and Rose. How did you manage to get into see Proctor?”

  Angela looked him in the eyes, “I told the nurse that I’m his aunt. And if you tell her otherwise, I will not be responsible for my actions.”

  “Fine. I don’t care if you visit him. But you have to tell me anything you might find out.”

  “Bill, I don’t have to tell you a damned thing. We’ve had nothing but trouble since you’ve been back in our lives. By the way, can you account for your little deer’s whereabouts this morning?” asked Daisy.

  “She’s not involved in this. She was with me until about two hours ago. So let’s move on to what happened this morning. Why were you in Proctor’s store?”

  Daisy went over the whole morning again beginning with Malcolm running off and ending with finding the scratches in the floor.

  Bill said, “Why didn’t you call the police when you found the door open? Are you trying to get yourselves killed? There’s a maniac running around and you two are playing Nancy Drew!”

  Rose said, “We know that, but we thought Marc might be hurt. Actually, we were thinking more along the lines of a heart attack, but we were right. I’m glad we didn’t call for help. He could have died while we waited.”

  “As for the mark on the floor, I have no idea what it means,” said Daisy. Angela’s cell phone rang. She spoke for a minute and said, “He’s out of surgery. He’ll be in intensive care shortly.”

  Bill got up to go. He turned to Daisy and said, “I know you think I’m the bad guy and I guess you’ve got a point. I’m not proud of how our marriage ended. But I really am worried about the two of you. You seem to attract trouble.”

  “Maybe you should worry about little Bambi. She seems to start trouble! Good bye, Bill. We’ve got to get upstairs.”

  When they got to the recovery room Angela introduced herself to the surgeon. “I’m Angela Forrest, Marc’s aunt.” The doctor took her word for it and gave them an update. He told them that the knife had nicked Marc’s spleen and they had to remove it. The surgery went well. The head wound was another matter.

  “He’s lapsed into a coma, so we’ll be moving him to Intensive Care. There’s no telling when he’ll come out of it. We’re running tests tomorrow. We might know more by then.”

  They thanked the doctor, said their good-nights to Marc, and went home.

  By Wednesday morning they were worn out. The past week was catching up to them and they needed rest and quiet. Even Malcolm was moving slowly. There were no doggie pedicures and he waited until nine o’clock to demand to be let out.

  Rose came trudging up the back staircase into the kitchen a
fter letting Malcolm into the back garden. “We’ve got to get a dog door.”

  “I know, but not until this mess is cleared up,” said Daisy. “The odd critter getting in I could deal with. But there’s a murdering nut job on the loose and I don’t want to give him an open invitation.”

  She yawned as she shuffled to the refrigerator and got out juice and yogurt. “Thank God we don’t open until noon today. I could barely drag myself out of bed. What a week!”

  Sitting around the kitchen table Daisy, Rose and Angela tried to sort through the last few days. Angela had been staying at the house. It was close to the hospital and she had been sitting with Marc every day since the attack.

  Tom had come by the shop the night before to take Tonya home. He told them that the nail did have blood, probably Marc’s, on it. But no fingerprints other than Marc’s had been found on the pry bar. It probably came from his workbench. No one had a clue as to the meaning of Marc’s message.

  Daisy sat musing, talking to herself. “A musical note. Why would he write that? He must have thought someone would understand it. A hidden musical note. Rats! I just don’t get it!”

  “How about this?” suggested Rose. “We stop thinking for a while, get dressed and go have an early lunch at the Tavern. Change of scene, change of subject.”

  At ten forty-five they were sitting in a booth in a quiet corner of the tavern. Daisy looked up at the pictures lining the wall and saw their home.

  “This is the booth Marc and I sat in when he took me to lunch the first time. Seems like years ago, now.”

  The waitress came over and recited the lunch specials.

  They ordered and Angela said, “I think we’ll share a carafe of Pinot Grigio. Good for morale.”

  Lunch came and they talked about Christmas. Angela was excited because Mari and her husband would be home for the holidays. She was planning menus and parties.

  They stayed away from the subject most on their minds until dessert. Angela was talking about hiding a silver coin in the plum pudding.

  “I’m always afraid someone will eat it! But it’s tradition, so what can you do? And it makes a lovely dessert. Speaking of which, what would you girls like? We are having dessert, aren’t we?”