Murder by the Book

by Lauren Elliott

  He stepped toward her and began twirling her robe ties around his index finger. “I am worried about you, but not about you coming to harm at the hands of Catherine.”

  “How worried?” Again, her lungs rebelled and refused to breathe.

  He tugged slightly at the ties. “Don’t ask.” His voice turned husky, and she swallowed hard. “But be careful and watchful, promise?”

  “I will, and I’ll call the station at the first sign of trouble.”

  “No, I’d rather you call 911.” He tapped her nose with the end of her robe tie. “Don’t forget to lock the door behind me.”

  She heard the door click shut and went down to secure the dead bolt. Then she headed for the kitchen to make coffee.

  By eight-thirty, she was already exhausted. One more hour of sleep would have made all the difference, but this way she arrived on time to open for Paige and get her set up for the day, then race to be at the hospital by nine.

  Catherine’s face lit up when Addie walked through the door. She was up and dressed and sitting in a chair by the window, waiting for the discharge order from the doctor.

  “This is a wonderful surprise, Addie. The nurse said I had a ride home, but I never expected it to be you.”

  “Marc was supposed to come, and I was only going to tag along to make sure you got settled just fine, but he got called to court, so here I am. I hope that’s all right with you?” She smiled and moved closer to Catherine. “He asked me to tell you that he’d drop in on you later to talk about what happened, if that’s okay?”

  “Yes, of course it is and this is wonderful. It gives us more time to get reacquainted, and I can give you that envelope that seems to have caused so many problems lately.”

  “Yes, the envelope.” Addie breathed a sigh of relief at having dodged her burning question. She sat back and studied Catherine. Maybe she should give this woman a chance. At the very least, she could glean more information about her father. “Has the doctor come by yet?”

  “Yes, and he explained that I also received a bump on the back of my head? Honestly, I have no idea how that happened.” Addie glanced down at the floor. That was something she’d better leave for Marc to explain later. “Now, I just have to wait for the doctor to write the discharge order and the nurse to give me the go-ahead. Then we can leave.” Catherine placed her hand over Addie’s and smiled.

  Addie squeezed her fingers and smiled back. The nurse came in and gave Catherine papers to sign and information about what to watch for after she went home and told her that if she had any of the symptoms, she should go directly to the emergency room. Other than that, she was to follow up with her own doctor in a few days.

  The drive to Catherine’s was quiet, for the most part. Addie glanced sideways at her passenger, thinking how tired she looked. Visiting could wait. Catherine needed rest. She checked her rearview mirror and sucked in a breath. A black sedan was stalking them. She made a quick left turn.

  “This isn’t my street.” Catherine pointed out her window.

  “Isn’t it? I must have gotten confused, sorry. I’ll turn right up here and go around.”

  Addie kept checking her mirrors and was relieved. The black Honda didn’t reappear. She pulled up in front of Catherine’s house and got out. Her heart started thudding against her chest wall. Parked at the far end of the street was a black sedan. She fished her cell phone out of her purse and put it in her front pocket and went around to help Catherine into the house.

  Catherine collapsed on the sofa, her forehead covered in beads of perspiration. “I had no idea I was this weak.” She closed her eyes. “I’ll just catch my breath and then get the envelope for you.”

  “I can get it if you like.”

  “No, you’d never find it. It’s well hidden.” Catherine heaved herself up. “I’ll be right back, and then I think I’m going to have to lie down. Sorry to cut our visit short today.” She disappeared down the hallway.

  “I understand,” called Addie after her.

  She went to the window and peeked through the curtains. She couldn’t see the end of the road from her vantage point, so she had no idea if the sedan was still there. She listened for any unusual sounds outside or at the doors. A scraping noise came from the direction Catherine had disappeared in. The hairs on the back of her neck tingled. Then Catherine came around the corner, holding a small brown envelope in her hand, a wide grin across her face.

  “See, I told you no one would find it.” She held it out to Addie.

  With trembling fingers, Addie took it from her and turned it over in her hands. “I can’t believe such a small parcel could cause so much trouble. Thank you for keeping it safe for me.” She looked at Catherine, tears burning behind her eyes.

  “It’s all in the floorboards, my dear.” She tapped her foot on the hardwood floor under them. “An old trick my mother taught me that she learned from your aunt. It seems your aunt had a number of very valuable items over the years and didn’t trust their safekeeping to anyone else, so she developed her own safe security system.”

  Addie laughed. “It sounds like my aunt was a real character. I only wish I could remember her.”

  Catherine squeezed her hand gently, her eyes filling with tears. “She was. After my own mother passed, she took me on as her daughter. I’ll always be ever so grateful to her.”

  “Well, she sounds like an amazing woman.”

  “Yes, and she would be so proud of you. It was her dying wish that you would continue her legacy.”

  “Her dying wish? You were with her when she passed?”

  “Yes—myself, old Doc Smith, and Raymond. I held her hand as she took her last breath.”

  “So there was no reason to believe any foul play was involved?”

  “Heavens, no. Your aunt was very old and had been suffering from a heart condition for years. Doc Smith was surprised that she lasted as long as she did, considering the extent of her heart damage.” Catherine smiled, sucking in a deep breath. “But she was a fighter and wouldn’t give up.” She tucked a wayward strand of Addie’s hair behind her ear. “You’ve very much like her, you know.”

  Addie bit her bottom lip, studying the wistful look in Catherine’s eyes, and wished she could remember meeting her aunt, just once, as she seemed to be a dynamic person who had a great impact on the lives of all who knew her. Addie squeezed Catherine’s hand, thanked her again, and quickened her pace to her car.

  She started her engine and pulled out onto the road. At the same time, the black car pulled out from the far end of the street and made a quick right turn at the corner. Addie stepped on the gas, hoping to be able to catch a glimpse of the plate number, but when she got to the intersection and checked the road to the right, the car had vanished. She made her way home, keeping a close eye on her rearview mirror, reassuring herself that the envelope was tucked safely in her handbag.

  The closer she got to home, the more anxious she became to open the package and discover its secret. She was certain it must be the key for the jeweled box, but was it the box that had created such murder and mayhem? If so, then why was the key so important—or was it? The box itself was worth a fortune. She shook her head. None of it made sense.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Addie raced up her front steps and took a quick look over her shoulder to be sure she was alone. She disarmed the alarm and pressed her back against the door, pausing to take a deep breath, and then dashed into the living room. She tossed her bag on the sofa and tore into the envelope. A small, white box fell into the palm of her hand. With trembling fingers, she pulled the top off and gasped.

  It was exactly like the picture in the postcard: a red silk–lined box with a small gold ornate key tucked into the center. “My God, Raymond,” she murmured. “That card was an actual photo of this, not a postcard. How much did you know?” She frowned, tucked the box into her jacket pocket, and then turned toward the desk.

  Marc and she had returned the desk to its original position against
the wall last night. Addie had insisted on storing the jeweled box in one of the other secret compartments underneath the desktop for easier access when they had to retrieve it later. After all, she had told him, the intruders hadn’t discovered it in the past. Therefore, it should be safe in there again.

  On wobbling legs, she navigated herself across the room and crawled under the desk. She wiped her clammy hands on the knees of her trousers and slowly pulled the box out of its hiding place. Her heart raced. This was the moment she had been waiting for. She took a deep breath and wiggled out from under the desk, fished the key from her pocket, and fit it into the small lock. Nothing happened. She jiggled the key; still nothing. Her breath came short and fast, and her heart crashed to the pit of her stomach. She took the key out and refit it into the lock. Still nothing. It turned, but the top wouldn’t open. “Darn it. What’s your secret?”

  She placed it on the desk and glared at it. “Secret . . . that’s it.” She grabbed the box and turned it over. Her fingers traced the contours of its underside, but she felt nothing out of the ordinary. She tried inserting the key again and began pressing and prodding the gem and gold filigree design, but to no avail. She moved her hand to the box’s side and discovered an irregularity in the pattern where the base and sidewall met, and pressed the center diamond of that pattern. The lid popped open in her hand.

  Her face dropped. There was nothing but a roll of newspaper clippings bound by an elastic band, which she easily removed. The elastic didn’t break, so it told her it wasn’t that old and hadn’t dried out with age. She unrolled the pages across the desk and checked for the date of publication. She wavered and grabbed the side of the desk. The date was the day after her father had died. She scanned through the pages, looking for a clue as to why this would be in the box, but only found advertisements and comic strips. It made no sense. Why would her aunt have gone through the trouble of stashing these in the jeweled case?

  Her cell phone in her pocket chimed a text alert. She pulled it out, relieved to see it was from Serena.

  Where are you? I need to talk to you right away.

  Addie’s fingers flew across her screen. I’m home. Come over. Leaving the door unlocked. If I don’t answer, follow nose to the kitchen.

  She rolled the newspapers back up, secured them with the elastic and placed them into the box, then tucked it under her arm and unlocked the front door. After she got the kettle on for Serena’s tea, she flew off a text to Marc.

  Found the key! Contents a little disappointing.

  Serena’s going to meet me here at the house.

  Should be back at my store within the hour if you have any juicy tidbits to share.

  “I’m back here Serena,” she called out when she heard the front door open. “That didn’t take you long. I’m just making a late lunch. I hope you’re hungry?” she yelled, placing meat and cheese on buttered bread.

  “Not really,” a cold voice said behind her.

  She spun around and looked directly down the barrel of a black gun. She stared across the barrel to the hand and then to the face of the person holding it. Her jaw clenched as she looked into the steely eyes of the tall woman from her store, the same one she had seen with Catherine.

  “We’re not very hungry, my dear,” chirped another voice. The elderly lady from her shop appeared from behind the tall woman. “But I do think you have something that we are looking for.” She smiled sweetly. Her gaze traveled to the jeweled case sitting on the counter. “If you would be so kind as to give me the key,” she said, holding out her frail hand, “we’ll be on our way and let you have your lunch.”

  “What makes you think I have the key?” Addie wished she had kept the carving knife she’d used earlier in her hand.

  “Please give us some credit, my dear.” Tsk tsk, she clucked. “We know much more than you’re aware of.” Her eyes bored into Addie’s, and the corner of her lip curled up. “Now I’m losing patience. Hand it over.”

  The woman with the gun took a step forward.

  Addie flinched and reached into her pocket.

  The old woman took the key from her trembling fingers. “There, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” She turned to the box and inserted the key in the lock. It didn’t open. She wiggled it and then slammed her palm on the counter. “Open it. Now.”

  Addie took a breath and shook her head.

  “I said now.” The old woman glared.

  Addie heard the sound of a trigger being cocked. Her heart pounded against her chest so hard she could hear the thudding in her ears. She clenched her fists at her sides and grabbed the box. She almost dropped it. The woman reached out and grasped Addie’s arm, steadying it. “There, there, that’s it, just give us what we want, and we’ll be off.” Her silky voice grated inside Addie’s head.

  Addie turned the key in the lock and pressed the gemstone to release the lid. It popped open. The old woman snatched it from her hands and pulled it toward her. “What’s this?” She pulled the roll of newspapers out. “Where’s the book?” She glared at Addie. “Where is it?”

  Addie glanced at the two women, their faces red with rage. She stepped backward. “I, I don’t know anything about a book. I swear. I thought you were just after the box. It has to be worth a lot of money.” She inched away until her back pressed into the counter.

  The old woman tucked the case into her large handbag. Her eyes remained fixed on Addie’s. “Not half as much as the book, and you know that. Where is it?”

  “Honest, I don’t know anything about a book. I just found the box yesterday. Until then, I didn’t even know it existed.” Addie placed her hands behind her and searched the counter until she felt the handle of the carving knife. She drew it close to her back.

  “We’re not done yet,” snapped the old woman, turning on her heel and heading out of the kitchen.

  The tall woman inched backward. Her gun never wavered from Addie. When she was close enough to the front door, she turned and bolted. Addie slithered down the side of the cupboards and sat, shaking on the floor. She turned the carving knife over in her hands and wondered, if given the opportunity, she would have actually been able to use it on a person. She dropped it on the floor beside her.

  She pulled her phone from her pocket, knowing she had to call Marc. Not only to report this but so he could tell her how she should feel after staring down the barrel of a gun. Tears burned at her eyes as she entered his phone number. The front door banged open, and she jumped. Her phone flew from her fingers and skidded across the floor. She gritted her teeth and tried to stop the whirling motion in her head. She strained to listen and heard the scuffle of footsteps, but nothing more.

  Addie swiveled onto her knees and peered over the island counter. “Marc,” she cried.

  “Addie, are you okay?” He lowered his gun to his side.

  She nodded.

  “You’re shaking.” Marc walked over to her. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

  She looked up at him and nodded. “How did you know to come?”

  “Because I was standing in front of your shop with Serena when you sent me the text telling me she was on her way to your place.”

  Addie frowned and stared blankly at him.

  His fingers grasped her shoulders. “She’s lost her phone. You couldn’t have gotten a text from her.”

  “I didn’t know.” She bit her lip and looked at him. “Why were you at my shop?”

  “Long story. First, I need to know what happened here and why you’re so shaken up.”

  “All clear, Chief. There’s no one else in the house.”

  “Thanks, Kurt. You guys can wait outside. I’ll just get Miss Greyborne’s statement.”

  Kurt looked from Addie to Marc, a slight smile crossing his lips as he turned and left.

  Marc wrote down her statement and offered a few hums and nods while she made it. However, she noticed his brow did rise when she told him about the mysterious book the old woman had said was supposed to be in the box�
��but that was it. His staunch, detached chief-of-police demeanor through it all was infuriating. What she really needed from him right now was some hint of personal warmth. After all, she had stared straight down the barrel of a gun. When she finished giving her statement, she shot him a glaring glance.

  “What’s wrong with you?” He stared at her. “What did I do besides come to your rescue?”

  “My rescue? Really, that’s what you think?” She crossed her arms. “I think the threat was over by the time you arrived—and by the way, staring down a loaded gun barrel isn’t as bad as everyone thinks it is.” She tossed her head back.

  “Addie, come here.”

  “I’m fine, really I am.” She tapped her toe.

  He tilted her chin up with his fingertip, his soft eyes searching hers. “It’s okay if you’re upset. It isn’t easy. It never is when something like this happens and you walk away thinking how lucky you are to survive.”

  She nodded, tightening her lips.

  “Well, I will say,” he said, gripping her shoulders gently, “that you handled things pretty well. You made sure you could get your hands on that knife. It shows that you can think on your feet and not lose your head in a crisis.”

  “Yup, I sure did that.”

  Marc focused on her taut face. “Look, Addie, I know you’re in shock now and holding it together, but sometime out of the blue it’s going to hit you, and hard. It does even the most seasoned soldier or police officer. But please know, I’m here when you need to talk.” He tucked a wayward strand of her hair behind her ear. “The anger and confusion you’re feeling right now is a natural reaction. Talking about it comes later.”

  She sniffed. “Why were you at my store?”

  He shook his head. “You are something else.”

  “What happened?”

  He puffed out a deep breath and scratched the back of his head. “Well, I was there to break up a protest that got out of hand.”

  “A protest in front of my place?”