by J A Whiting
The witness hadn’t shown up yet so Angie and Jenna sat with Chief Martin to get an update.
“Last night a man at the scene reported that his wife had been walking their dog around the center of town. On her way back, flames were burning on the common. She called her husband and he went up to meet her to see what was going on. She told him that she’d seen someone putting up new scarecrows as she walked past and on her way home the flames were burning. The wife stayed with her husband for a few minutes watching the hubbub on the common and then she left and went home before officers arrived so no one spoke with her last night. She should be here any minute.” The chief glanced at his watch. “She’s fifteen minutes late.”
“Maybe she changed her mind about coming.” Jenna wondered if the woman got spooked by the prior evening’s activities and decided not to talk about it.
Angie tapped her finger on the table as she thought about the strange happenings on the common. “Was there any evidence of accelerant used to start the fires?
“Not to my knowledge, but all the data isn’t in yet. The fire chief hasn’t called today. I’ll ask him about it.” Chief Martin gave Angie a questioning look.
“Last night when the four of us were standing quietly trying to pick up on anything, Mr. Finch and I got the sensation that we could smell something like gasoline or lighter fluid. It was odd though since none of us could smell anything like that when we’d been walking around the scene.”
“I’ll call the fire chief after our meeting.” The chief made a note on his pad of paper.
A knock sounded at the door of the conference room and an officer ushered in a woman who appeared to be in her early sixties. She had short blonde hair and looked slim and athletic. Little worry lines creased the corners of her eyes and she took quick glances at the three people in the room. The girls and the chief stood and made introductions.
The woman sat, her face screwed up with worry. “You don’t suspect me for setting that fire, do you?”
“Not at all.” Chief Martin sat across from her. “We’re just gathering information.”
The woman eyed Angie with a quizzical expression. “You own the bake shop.”
Angie nodded and the chief jumped in with an explanation. “Miss Roseland has some experience with investigation.”
The woman appeared to accept the comment and after a few preliminary questions from the chief, Mrs. Margaret Sullivan recounted what she’d seen last night which mirrored what her husband had reported to the police.
“It was a lovely night. Dark though. I took the dog on our usual evening walk through town. The common looked great with all the scarecrows set up. On our way back, I smelled smoke and when we got closer I could see the flames.” Mrs. Sullivan clutched her hands together and placed them on the tabletop.
“How busy was it around town last night?” The chief used a calm, friendly tone which seemed to help put the woman at ease.
“The center of town always has some activity going on even in the winter.” The woman brushed at her bangs. “Not as much as summer of course, but people are out walking around or going out to a restaurant. The fall is a lovely time of year in Sweet Cove. I never feel worried when I go out at night even when I’m alone. I feel safe.”
Angie wondered if the woman had heard about the murders and odd happenings that had gone on in town the past spring and summer. It was enough to make anyone have at least a passing concern. Maybe Mrs. Sullivan believed bad things only happened to bad people.
“And last night? Were people around?” the chief asked.
The woman nodded. “Sure. There were people strolling on the sidewalks. I noticed a few folks on the common admiring the scarecrows.”
“You saw someone putting up new scarecrows?” The chief encouraged Mrs. Sullivan with a nod.
“I did. A man was pushing the posts into the ground. You know, the end of the scarecrow has a sharp post so it can be secured into the ground. I was at the other side of the common. I wondered if there might be something else to go along with the scarecrows, you know, like the display of the pirate ship that’s set up there.”
“What made you wonder that?” Jenna gave a sweet smile to the woman.
“Well, because the things the man was putting in the ground didn’t compare to the other entries.”
“How so?” Angie asked.
“The ones he had were, well, crude. No effort had gone into making costumes for them or anything. They were just stick figures, really. I made a mental note to myself to see how they looked up closer as I passed by on the way home.”
“What about the man who was setting up the new scarecrows?” Chief Martin was writing on a pad of paper. “Did he look familiar? How would you describe him?”
Mrs. Sullivan’s forehead scrunched up. “Hmm. I was so interested in the new display he was erecting that I didn’t pay much attention to him.”
“What was he wearing?”
“It was dark, I couldn’t see much. A wool coat, I think. Dark pants. Gloves. Maybe a baseball hat.”
“Could you estimate his age?”
The woman bit her lower lip. “I wouldn’t say young, maybe middle aged or older?”
Angie groaned inwardly at the lack of details. “Was there a vehicle? Was he going back and forth to a truck or a car?”
“I didn’t notice a vehicle. He was just working on the set-up. I didn’t see him go to a truck or anything.” Mrs. Sullivan frowned. “I’m not much help, I’m afraid.”
“Every bit of information is helpful.” Chief Martin gave a reassuring nod and smile. “Can you tell us what you saw on the way home?”
“The dog and I walked our usual side streets and then we headed back to the common. I could smell burning. At first, I thought someone might have a wood stove going and that’s what I could smell, but getting closer, the odor was strong and heavy. I picked up my pace and when I got near the common I saw the flames. I called my husband to tell him what was going on.” Mrs. Sullivan clenched and unclenched her hands. “I got worried the fire might spread to the buildings and stores in the town center.”
“On your way back, did you see the man who had put up the new scarecrows? Was he still there?” Angie leaned forward.
“He might have been, but I was so intent on the fire that I didn’t notice if the man was still around or not.”
Chief Martin asked, “What happened then?”
“I stood with some people. We were talking about what could have happened. The fire truck came. Police cars showed up. My husband came to see what was going on.”
“You stayed for a while?” Jenna questioned.
“I didn’t stay for very long after my husband arrived. The dog was fussing and pulling on the leash. All the commotion was making him upset so I decided to take him home.”
“Did you notice anything else?” Chief Martin rested his pen on the pad of paper. “Anything that seemed slightly off or odd. Anything at all that caught your eye.”
Mrs. Sullivan thought for a few moments. Her lips turned down. “Just the oddness of the scene. The fire burning around the five scarecrows. It was disturbing, I must say. It almost seemed like some old pagan ceremony or a sacrifice or something. It gave me a chill.” She unclasped her hands and waved one of them about. “My husband and I discussed it. We decided kids must have done it. You know how teenagers can get into mischief. That’s all it is. Nothing to worry about.”
“Did you notice any teenagers around?” Jenna’s blue eyes were warm and friendly. She hoped the woman might recall seeing some kids milling about enjoying the commotion that their actions caused … if the cause was indeed kids pulling a prank.
“I can’t say if any teens were nearby or not. I didn’t notice. No one stood out.” She raised her hands in a gesture of helplessness. “Well, one person stood out, but not for any reasons having to do with the fire.” Mrs. Sullivan shook her head.
“What do you mean?” Angie tilted her head in a questioning posture.
/> “Someone was standing on the corner watching the fire. I don’t know if it was a man or a woman. The person had on a long coat, almost all the way down to the ankles. It was very unflattering. It even had a hood pulled up.” Mrs. Sullivan tsk-tsked. “Why anyone would wear such a coat is beyond me. Frankly, I can only describe it as ugly.”
Angie and Jenna eyed each other with concern. Mrs. Sullivan was describing the very same person Ellie had seen last night while she was sitting in her van. The person who had been watching them.
9
The interview ended and Chief Martin went to place a call to the fire chief to ask about accelerants. He promised to text Angie if there was any news.
Angie held the door of the police station open for Jenna. “Who is this person in the long coat? Why is he … or she, watching us?”
Jenna zipped up her sweater and stepped out into the chill of the overcast day. “Maybe the person wasn’t watching us with any ill intent. There was a fire. He came out to see what was going on. Maybe he was watching the excitement and wasn’t really focusing on us at all. He could have been just looking in our direction.”
Angie stopped walking and faced her twin sister. “He looked at Ellie. His look scared her.”
“Ellie can be….” Jenna gave a little shrug of one shoulder. “You know.”
Angie started down the sidewalk with a sigh. “It worries me. Ellie isn’t usually wrong about people.”
“She could have overblown it though. She was rattled about the scarecrows. She wasn’t that close to him, she couldn’t really see his face. Maybe she let her emotions get away from her.”
“That could be.” Angie wasn’t convinced though. Despite being jittery when Ellie helped on cases, she hardly ever picked up the wrong emotion or intention from a person. “Want to walk by the common? Check out the scene again?”
“Sure.” The girls walked in step along the cozy streets of Sweet Cove heading to the center of town. “Mrs. Sullivan didn’t give us a whole lot of information. The most interesting part was the guy in the coat.” Jenna admired the red and orange leaves on the branches of the trees and then something about the fire came into her mind that caused her to frown. “Suppose this fire thing really was meant as a warning message to us.” She pushed her hair back over her shoulder. “Then what in the world is the message?”
“That’s puzzling,” Angie pondered. “If someone wanted to hurt us then why send a message at all? Why not just go ahead and try to harm us?”
Jenna scowled. “Unless the person wants to unnerve us first. He might get a kick out of mentally torturing us before he makes an attempt to harm.”
“Why target us though?” Angie nodded at a couple who passed by them. She glanced at her sister. “Have you had any more feelings that someone has been watching you when you’re alone working on your house?”
Jenna kicked at some leaves on the sidewalk. “No. I’ve been bringing the cats with me.” She looked at Angie with worried eyes. “You think the sensation I had of being watched when I was at the house is linked to the fire on the common?”
Angie scrunched her upper lip. “Maybe?”
Jenna groaned. “I love the house. Tom loves the house. We want to make it our home. It can’t be ruined by some nut who wants to threaten us or send us cryptic fire messages.” She squared her shoulders. “I won’t let anyone ruin Tom’s and my plans to live in that house together someday.”
Angie gave a nod. “I didn’t like what Mrs. Sullivan said about pagan ceremonies and sacrifices.” A chill shivered down her spine and it wasn’t because of the cool October air. “I hadn’t thought of those things. Someone is sure trying to tell us something with those burning scarecrows.”
The girls turned onto the main street of town and headed to the common. A good number of people were hurrying about doing errands, sightseeing in town, strolling by stores or walking to restaurants. A few people stood at the far end of the common looking over the burned grass and the spots were the scarecrows had been set. They had been cleared away leaving behind singed lawn and bits of the hay they had been stuffed with. The girls stood where the forms had been pushed into the grass and they stared at the spot without speaking.
Jenna finally broke the silence. “Circe found some mistletoe here. Don’t you find that odd?”
“Yup, I do. I’ve been trying to figure out how that plant figures into all of this. Rufus spotted it in the oak tree yesterday and an hour later Mr. Withers saw it and commented on it. Then last night Circe found a sprig of the plant on the common and brought it to me.” Angie folded her arms over her chest. “It’s odd for sure.”
Jenna looked her sister in the eye. “Is the mistletoe part of the message?”
“Come on.” Angie tugged on Jenna’s arm. “Let’s go to the candy store and talk everything over with Courtney and Mr. Finch. We need more brainpower on this.”
* * *
THE CANDY store was abuzz with customers peering into the glass cases and pointing to the treats they wanted. Courtney and two employees greeted patrons, boxed goodies, and rang up the sales. Courtney’s eyes narrowed when she saw her two sisters open the door and step into the shop. She handed a candy bag and some change to an older couple and then stepped out from behind the counter. She led Angie and Jenna into the back room where Mr. Finch was working on a batch of fudge.
Angie closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. “Heavenly.” She looked at Mr. Finch. “Is the fudge ready?”
Finch used a metal spatula to smooth the top of the candy. “Are you hungry, Miss Angie?”
“I’m always hungry when I come in here.” She leaned over Mr. Finch’s shoulder. “Is this the new flavor? The apple pie fudge?”
“That one is in the fridge.” Finch placed the spatula on the marble counter and straightened up. He reached for his cane. “I thought you might be stopping in. Shall I pour lattes?” He walked to his drink machine and pushed some buttons placing small white cups under the spout.
Courtney pulled up chairs. “How did the interview at the police station go?”
“That’s what we want to talk to you about.” Angie carried two cups to the small table Courtney had put in the middle of the chairs.
When the four were settled in the seats with their drinks, the girls reported to Courtney and Finch what Mrs. Sullivan had told them and then they voiced some of their worries and concerns.
“My first question is why are we being targeted?” Jenna sipped her latte. “If we can figure that out, we might be able to come up with a suspect.”
“That might be difficult to determine, Miss Jenna. It could be anyone, really. It could be someone we know from town, someone who is related to a former case, or someone we’ve never met at all.”
Jenna blew out a sigh. “I see what you mean.”
Courtney said, “Is there something particular going on that might have drawn someone to want to bother us?”
“Like what? What do you mean?” Angie placed her cup on the table.
“What’s going on with all of us? Is it because Jenna and Tom bought that house? Is it because Angie reopened the bake shop? Nothing’s really new with Mr. Finch or me.” Courtney looked from person to person. “Nothing’s different for Ellie either except new guests at the B and B.”
“That new guest, Mr. Withers is kind of mysterious.” Jenna’s lips turned down.
“And weird.” Courtney harrumphed. “He can’t tell us what his occupation is. He can’t tell us where he lives or where he grew up. Like I’ve said a hundred times, why doesn’t he just make stuff up to appease people when they try to make conversation. Then no one would be suspicious of him.”
“He asks Ellie questions about us and he seems interested in our house, but doesn’t say why.” Jenna’s annoyance and confusion about Withers and what he might want from her and Tom and her sisters was evident on her face.
“You had the feeling someone was watching you the other day when you were at the house.” Courtney’s comment made
Jenna shift uneasily in her chair. “It might be the same person who set the fire.”
“Something else that’s new is that old couple who comes into the bake shop and glares at me.” Angie reminded everyone how the couple lied to Betty Hayes about their former address in Boston.
“And the cats.” Mr. Finch rubbed his palm over the top of his cane. “They were agitated the other day and tried as hard as they could to get into the bake shop. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen them so determined.” Finch thought about the past few months and how the cats had been instrumental in solving many cases. He modified his statement. “Well, thinking back on things, the cats have previously been as agitated as they were the other day, but this time was similar. Which doesn’t bode well.”
“They know trouble is brewing.” Courtney shifted her attention to Finch. “After you held the wine bottle with Withers at dinner the other night you said that a whole heap of trouble is heading our way.”
Finch gave a grave nod. “The cats and I sense it, but what it is has yet to reveal itself.”
Angie clutched her hands in her lap. “Until things become clearer, we all need to keep on guard. We probably shouldn’t be alone anywhere.”
Jenna groaned, thinking of all the work that needed to be done on the house. She and Tom’s free time didn’t overlap often so they each went to the house to work when their schedules allowed.
Angie understood her sister’s groan. “We should at least let one of us know where we’re going, when we get there, and when we’re expected home. We need to keep tabs on each other.”
Courtney went to the desk and took paper and pen out of the drawer. “You know how I love making lists.” Her eyes twinkled. “Let’s write down some suspects who might be trying to frighten us with burning scarecrows.” She sat and wrote on the paper. “Weird Withers.” She looked up with a smile. “That’s his new name.”