the approaching ambulance and several squad cars. But instead of lingering on Mitch, an approaching ambulance and several squad cars drew our attention. One by one their sirens wound down and they parked behind Mitch’s car. The first EMT bolted out of the ambulance and headed for Mitch. The second raced behind and stayed to minister to Lisa, whose face was as white as the fluffy clouds circling overhead. He draped a blanket around her back and checked her vital signs. He asked if I needed help. After extracting my phone from Lisa’s clawed fingers, I told him to take care of her. I remained in a vigil-like stance, watching the surreal action whirling around me.
Mitch and the EMT talked for a while, making wild gestures with their hands then came back across the clearing. The EMT returned to his rig while Mitch instructed his officers to fan out and control the growing group of onlookers. He barked orders to the crowd, his fingers pointing with his demands.
A satisfied look on his face, he strutted toward our table, looking Lisa and me over as if trying to decide something. “You both find the body?” he asked.
I shook my head and explained how I found Bud and when Lisa showed up, adding that Lisa should be allowed to leave as soon as Perry arrived to take her home.
“You, come with me,” he said.
You? Did he just say you? Didn’t he recognize me? Or was he still miffed after all this time? “Paige. My name’s Paige Turner.”
“Don’t worry, I remember you. How could I forget? Come on.” He latched onto my elbow and plodded across the open area to another table. “Sit.”
I slowly lowered myself onto the bench. “Why’d you drag me over here? I need to stay with Lisa. She’s really upset.”
“And I need to keep the two of you apart until we get both your statements.”
I stood. “That’s just crazy. Lisa had nothing to do with this.”
Mitch held out his hand. “This isn’t optional, Paige. Like it or not, your friend is part of this investigation. If you talk to her about what happened, one of you might change your story. Not on purpose, but it happens.”
I gave Lisa one last look then settled onto the splintered bench. “What do you need?”
He asked me a series of rapid-fire questions. First about Bud and exactly how I found him then about my whereabouts during the day. Though I was distraught, I calmly handled all of them until he chastised me for disturbing evidence. That’s when I finally snapped.
“I already told you about that. I didn’t know he was under the chips until I used the shovel. The only other thing I did was feel his wrist for a pulse.”
“Right, you did mention that.” Mitch’s face tightened, and his eyes narrowed in what must have been his practiced bad-cop glare. “I found several shovels inside the fence. All of them yours?”
“All the tools are mine. I told you that before, too.”
“When’s the last time you touched the shovel with the blue handle?”
There were several shovels in the enclosure, but I knew exactly which one he meant. “I don’t know. Maybe when I put it in the truck or carried it over to the playground. I brought it along for Lisa. Since it has such a short handle, I don’t tend to use it much.”
He studied my face, his eyes becoming hard and appraising. “You and Picklemann get along with each other okay?”
“Where’s this coming from?” I stared at him until he shifted his feet and looked down at his oversized boots while I tried to classify him in the plant world, the only world that made sense to me most of the time.
No doubt, he was bamboo—not the neat clumping variety I loved to have in my gardens, but the treacherous running type. He was stiff and wooden like bamboo stalks, aggressive and unstoppable with his questions running like roots through my life. Like a surprised mole in the garden, his head popped back up, a patronizing look planted on his face. “Let me rephrase my question. Any reason you might want to see Picklemann come to any harm?” The words were innocent enough, but his tone was loaded with accusation.
Was this residual anger from high school or did he know about my fight with Bud this morning? If he’d talked to anyone in town, he surely heard. I couldn’t admit to fighting with Bud. Couldn’t form the words. Wait. Oh my goodness. Mitch knows I threatened Bud, too. He thinks I killed him.
Unable to make my mouth move, I panicked and looked around.
Mitch cleared his throat. “I’ll take your silence to mean you might have wished Picklemann some harm.”
I jumped up and glared at him. “Who in this town didn’t? In fact, Charlie Sweeny was in the park today, too. He interrupted my conversation with Bud and threatened him.”
“Now that’s what I need from you, Paige. Helpful information like that.”
Whew! Maybe he didn’t think I did it. I relaxed a bit.
Mitch ran a hand over his head, leaving stray hairs sticking up like a bristle brush that would work really well to sweep fall leaves from the driveway. I stifled a smile over the thought of using him as a broom, and he forced one at me. “S’pose you could help me with one more thing?”
This was better. He was asking for my help. I released a smile, a peace offering. “What?”
“Seeing how all those shovels are yours and you explained how Picklemann’s head ended up on the one, maybe you could explain how what I’m pretty sure is his blood and hair got all over the blue-handled one.”
“How would I know that?” I drew back from the intensity in Mitch’s eyes. “You think I killed Bud.”
He stepped closer. “You had motive. Everyone in town knows about your argument this morning. Then we have the shovel. Yours to be exact. And you were the one who called 911. So, yeah, if I were a betting man, I’m sure I’d hit the jackpot if I put my money on you.”
“Well I’m not a betting woman, so your odds don’t mean a thing to me. This conversation is over.” I turned to leave and spotted Lisa’s husband, Perry, shoving through the curious onlookers surrounding the park. Perfect. He was an attorney. He could advise me. “If you have any other questions for me, you’ll have to ask them in the presence of my lawyer.”
Shoulders back, heart racing, I stormed away from Mitch.
“Fine! We’ll take a break for now,” he shouted after me, “but don’t leave the park until I give you permission to go.”
I kept going, ignoring his snap judgment of my guilt. Clearly, he still blamed me for his rash behavior in high school.
Even as I rushed away, I could feel his anger burning into my back. I picked up speed, nearly running, as if putting distance between us could solve the problem. Maybe it could. What was that old saying that goes something like, ‘you can’t run from the long arm of the law’?
Well, watch me.
Chapter Four
“And now, enjoy the best of Through the Garden Gate with your beloved host, Paige Turner.”
“Hi, Paige, this is Moved Out in Portland calling. I really liked the show where you compared plants to people.”
“That’s right, Moved Out, people can find themselves in places or situations where for some reason they don’t thrive. If they move out of the smothering environment, they flourish. Plants also require different settings in which to thrive. So if you find a plant not growing as well as you hoped in one location, move it, apply more fertilizer, or change your watering schedule.”
“Well, I tried that with a clump of irises. I thought they needed more sun so I found a perfect sunny location, dug them up, and I’m ready to move them. Before I send them all the way to Tucson from here, I hoped you could recommend a mover. We used a rental truck when my daughter went to college, but maybe you have a better idea.”
By the time I returned my attention to Lisa, Perry had taken the seat next to her. His arm settled over her shoulders like a trailing vine. Perry merely had to sit beside Lisa and color returned to her face. Must be from the feeling of security he gave her—that he was watching her back.
I sighed, long and loud. With the passing of both of my parents and m
y limited ability to find a mate, I had no one watching my back.
At my arrival, Perry stood, concern filling his eyes. “You okay?” he asked.
I smiled at the man I’d dubbed yarrow. Sure, I could have easily attached the obvious name of periwinkle to Perry, except he wasn’t at all like the aggressive ground cover. No, he was yarrow through and through. The yarrow plant has been valued since ancient times for its ability to stem bleeding, and that’s essentially what Perry did for Lisa. Her first husband died in an accident on their one-year anniversary, and Perry helped staunch her pain and loss. Plus he was undemanding and as sturdy as the plant, rarely wavering in the face of blowing turmoil.
Maybe he could stop the mess I found myself embroiled in. “I need your legal help, Perry. Mitch thinks I killed Bud.” I plopped onto the tabletop and shared Mitch’s brutal interrogation with the two of them. “It’s just a matter of time before he pounds me with more questions.”
Eyes curious, Perry peered at the play area where Mitch talked with an officer who seemed a smidgen too enthusiastic about stringing yellow crime scene tape.
Perry gave his head a solemn shake and locked gazes with me. “This is serious, Paige. I don’t handle criminal matters. If Lawson is convinced of your guilt, you need an attorney with the right experience.”
“But I don’t know any criminal lawyers.” I glanced at Lisa, whose eyes looked haunted. This was my fault. I put her in the middle of a murder investigation. The last thing I wanted to do was to involve her husband, but I had to. “Couldn’t you help me out for now? Until I find someone?”
Perry looked in Mitch’s direction. “Fine, I’ll do it, but just for today. I have a friend in McMinnville who specializes in criminal law. Once we’re done here, I’ll call him.”
“Thank you, Perry.” I smiled my thanks.
His acceptance didn’t come any too soon. Mitch stormed across the grass with a sour look consuming his face. I pointed at him. “Since you’re officially my attorney now, do you think you could handle that?”
Perry and Lisa pivoted toward the lawman, who seemed intent on setting a speed record. Long strides, hands swinging in cadence, brought him to us faster than I would have liked. Breathing deeply, he halted short of the table. “Winkle, don’t tell me you agreed to represent her without hearing the facts?”
Perry pulled back his shoulders and eyed up Mitch. Perry, narrow and string-beanish, weighed a third of what Mitch did, but the fierce look in his eyes made up for the weight difference. “Afternoon, Lawson,” he said as if we were at a garden party and not a murder scene. “What, exactly, do you need from my client?”
“Aw, Winkle, come on.” Mitch scrunched his eyes. “We’re all friends here. No need to get on your legal high horse. As the person who found the body, I need to ask her a few questions.”
“So she’s not a suspect?”
He scowled. “She’s definitely a person of interest. We’ll know more after we’ve had a chance to investigate.”
Perry stepped closer to him and pointed at the body. “Exactly. You haven’t compiled enough facts to ask Paige the right questions. The medical examiner isn’t even here. If you don’t know how or when Picklemann died, can you really detain Paige? Why don’t you give her a chance to get over the shock of finding Picklemann and have her come to your office tomorrow morning around ten?”
“I can’t be there until ten thirty because of my show,” I said with caution, as I feared I might interrupt the negotiations turning in Perry’s favor.
“Okay, ten thirty, then,” Perry said. “How about it, Lawson?”
Mitch glanced at the body then back at Perry. “I’m holding you responsible for making sure she shows up.”
“She’ll be there.” Perry gave me a demanding look, and Mitch followed his gaze.
“Before you go, I’ll need the clothes you’re wearing,” Mitch said matter-of-factly, as if he asked women to strip in front of him every day.
“Can I go home and change?”
“I’d rather not have the clothes leave the scene. Winkle can pick up a change of clothes for you while I take Lisa’s statement. You can use the bathroom here.”
“You’d rather, or that’s what I have to do?”
“Send someone.” He made a half pivot toward Lisa then turned back. “Oh, and we’ll be taking your tools as evidence.”
I opened my mouth to ask what I’d use to complete the project then snapped it closed. Why bother to ask? With the implication of being a murderer hanging over my head, the city council would likely fire me in the morning anyway.
“Fine,” I said.
Mitch looked at Lisa. “Ready to give your statement?”
Ack! What was with the cooing tone all of a sudden? Why did Lisa get the good cop when all I saw was the bad one?
Perry put his hand on Lisa’s shoulder. “I’m not leaving Lisa alone. We’ll get your clothes once this is finished.”
Mitch pointed toward the far side of the park. “Wait over there.”
“Since you put it so nicely.” I let my sarcasm float over Mitch then gave Lisa a reassuring smile. “I’ll wait by the concession stand.”
“You better.” She offered me the same look her twins received when trouble befell them, which might I say was far too often for Lisa’s liking.
I shot across the clearing. I was going to owe Lisa big time for involving her in another one of my messes, and she would make me pay. Not this minute. No, now that she’d worked through her initial shock, she’d move on to mothering me. But later, oh yes, much later, when this day was a bad memory, she’d pounce, and I’d be helpless.
I moved to a table farther away from the onlookers hanging at the park perimeter. Seated, I watched Mitch question Lisa. Even at this distance, I could see the softness in his eyes. This was the Mitch I knew. The Mitch before our falling out. Now here he was accusing me of murder and heaping kindness on my best friend. He was playing the good cop, bad cop routine all by himself. Why didn’t he offer me a smidgen of that respect?
An officer’s threatening voice coming from the fence area snapped my gaze in his direction. “Fence, oh my gosh, Ned!” I’d forgotten all about him. I glanced at my watch. Why hadn’t he called? I snatched my cell from the clip and frantically clicked to his number.
“Hey, Paigey girl,” he answered on the third ring. “Sorry I’m not there yet. I’m running a little behind. Just loading the truck now.”
“Don’t bother with the fence.” In short, choppy sentences to keep my tears at bay, I told him about Bud.
“Man. . .seriously? Killed. . .that’s rough. I don’t know what I can do, but I’ll come over if you need me.”
What a nice guy. See, Paige. You do have people who care about you. How many people would offer to show up at a crime scene to support you? “Thanks, Ned. I appreciate the offer. Perry and Lisa are here, and there’s really nothing you can do.” His kindness made me want to cry, but I couldn’t afford to feel that way right now. “I’m sorry I put you to all this trouble. And even more sorry for trading on our friendship like this.”
“Hey, no biggie. I’m still raking in the dough from the contract you got me. Feel free to call if you change your mind about needing the fencing or needing me to come over there.”
It’s not often you made lasting friends in the business world, but I was proud to call Ned my friend and hoped he’d be one for years to come. I stowed my phone and spotted Lisa shaking hands with the traitor, Mitch. We would definitely have a talk about that. My best friend should not be cordial to the enemy. Perry stood, braced his slim hips against the table, and pulled out his cell, hopefully calling his lawyer friend.
Lisa charged my way, her face changing from irritated to tender as her feet pummeled the grass. She reached out and folded me in a hug that I so desperately needed.
“You doing okay?” she whispered.
“I guess. How about you?”
“I won’t forget seeing Bud for a long time.” She pulled
back, searching my face with concerned eyes. “You sure you’re okay? You don’t look so good.”
I snorted. “Neither do you, and it’s all my fault. If I weren’t so focused on getting this business off the ground, you wouldn’t be here. Sorry I got you into this mess.”
“Don’t be. The only time I ever have any excitement is when I hang out with you.” Her eyes sparkled.
“And who’s to blame?”
“I know, I know. I should loosen up, but hey, now’s not the time to work on my issues. You’re the one in trouble.” She moved back and tipped her head at Perry. “Perry’s calling his lawyer friend, Adam Hayes.”
“Good, if Mitch has his way, I’ll need all the help I can get.”
“First thing we have to do is get out of here. I’ll go get your clothes.”
I pulled the spare key to my apartment from my pocket. “Bring something comfy. Maybe some sweats.”
“Not hardly. Perry is asking Adam to come over to the house tonight. No way I’ll let you meet your lawyer in sweatpants.” Even flustered over a murder, Lisa had to do the socially correct thing, and I was too exhausted to argue.
Apprehensive about being alone, I watched her go. As much as I wanted her to stay with me, I couldn’t bear the thought of Perry rifling through my personal belongings. When she slipped into the crowd, I lowered my head to my knees and finally let the tears drip in one giant pity party. In the distance, I heard Mitch hail the arrival of the medical examiner as heartily as the crowd did. I tuned them out until much later when Perry’s voice brought my head back up.
“Lisa’s mom will keep the kids for the night. Adam’ll meet us at the house around dinner time.” Perry’s eyes were alive, probably from the legal challenge I presented.
“So is he a decent attorney?”
He gave a clipped nod. “We went to law school together. He’s one of the best.”
“No offense to your friend, but what is one of the best criminal defense attorneys doing in McMinnville?”
Nipped in the Bud Page 4