by Molly Dox
Walking to her car, she was afraid people were staring. She was certain Mrs. Bushmiller would be popping by at some point to talk about what happened. She never missed anything. Annie swore she sat at the window just waiting for stuff to happen.
Opening her car, she sat inside and locked her doors. Her fingers wrapped around her steering wheel tightly. White knuckled, she tucked her head down to the steering wheel and cried. How did she even get mixed up in something like this? If she didn’t solve this crime, the police might take the easy way out and take her down. She needed a plan. Charlotte would help her; she was certain she would.
It took hours for her to stop shaking. Annie ran her hand through her hair and exhaled deeply. Charlotte would be there any minute. She wasn’t even sure how to approach the topic. She was almost afraid to. She trusted Charlotte, but would the woman change her opinion of Annie and look at her with suspicion? She rolled an endless debate through her mind until the doorbell rang, and then the words were out before she could stop them. “They brought me in for questioning today. I need help.” Annie couldn’t stop the tears that seemed to come out of nowhere. It’s like they were locked inside and now the door was thrust open. Her entire life was on the line, and she was innocent!
Charlotte walked to the couch with Annie and sat down. She was stunned and not sure what to say. She approached the topic cautiously. “You were questioned? For what? You wouldn’t hurt a fly. Well, maybe Alex, but not anybody else.”
“My ex is a jerk, but I still wouldn’t kill him.” She sobbed and looked at her friend. “I’m innocent, Charlotte. I swear I am.”
“Of course you are. Anybody who knows you could tell you that.” She took Annie’s hands in hers. “Start from the beginning and tell me what happened.”
“I need to figure out who did it, before they decide to book me for Patsy’s murder.”
“Wait, what? Murder?” Charlotte was confused.
“She was poisoned.” Annie drew a deep breath and continued. “I overheard two cops talking at the convenience store, and then later they showed up to my shop with a search warrant!” She was skipping ahead, her mind mixing up how fast she was going.
“Back up. Okay, so Patsy was murdered. Wow, that’s scary. And it was poison. And they searched your shop, why?”
“Her son told them she had her hair colored at our shop, so they came in to look for evidence. They found a vial of something. I have no idea what it was, but they were convinced it was used in the murder. Just like that. They don’t even know what it is! The only other person that goes in that back room is Trish.” Annie was frustrated how the entire situation went down.
“Do you think…?” Charlotte quizzed.
“I don’t know. I don’t think so, but who really knows?” Annie threw herself back onto the sofa. Pip joined them both, hopping up beside them. She reached over to stroke the dog’s head. “What would happen to Pip? I can’t go to jail.”
“Now, now, you’re not going to jail. We’ll figure out what happened, and Pip will be here with you.” Charlotte tried to comfort her friend the best she was able.
“Will you take her, Charlotte? Promise me you’ll take her if something happens.” Annie’s insides trembled at the thought of spending her life in prison.
“I will, don’t worry, but nothing is going to happen. We should return to the scene of the crime and see if we can figure anything out.” Charlotte’s mind was already ticking.
“I made of list of the people I could think of that were there. Maybe you could check it and see if I missed anybody. And Trish…I’m not even sure what to think.” Truth be told, she barely knew much about her, just the stuff that came out during work, and that was mostly superficial stuff. Trish wasn’t exactly a deep person.
“As far as I’m concerned, she’s on our suspect list,” Charlotte said. “She had access to the beauty shop, if that’s where the stuff was found. Is there anything else you can think of, or anybody who might have information?” She shook her head. “What do they think was in the vial?”
Annie shook her head. “I don’t know. They didn’t tell me anything. I keep going over the last few days and I can’t think of anything that stands out. Oh wait, the other night…” she trailed off, lost in thought.
“The other night, what? Don’t leave me hanging here!” Charlotte’s curiosity grew.
“Right. Mrs. Bushmiller, the neighbor from one of the upstairs condos, said her dog was barking around four o’clock in the morning, looking out the window. By the time she got up to look, nothing was there. Maybe somebody was trying to break in.” Annie suddenly remembered something. “Oh wait! The glove! There was a glove. I have to go get it. I have to give it to the police. Maybe it’s a clue. Come on, Charlotte, I’ve got to stop at the shop.” Annie was already up and ready to go.
Pip followed them to the car, hoping for a car ride. “Not this time, girl.” Annie brought her back inside. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I’ll take you out for a drive tomorrow. I won’t be long.”
“I better drive,” Charlotte said, realizing Annie was too worked up. They quickly switched vehicles and headed to Annie’s shop.
Annie’s jaw dropped in horror. The locks had been changed, and there was yellow caution tape on the door and windows. She had no way inside. She had to get inside. If she broke in, it would be a crime. There was an official notice posted on the door that the business was closed until further notice. Not only had she been implicated, her reputation was at stake, and her business.
Annie fell to the ground and leaned against the door of the shop. “What now?” Defeated, knowing there might be a piece of evidence inside, she knew she’d have to tell somebody. And yet, talking to the cops was the last thing she felt like doing after what happened earlier.
Chapter 6
“Oh dear.” Charlotte paced in front of Annie. Suddenly it was real. This was bigger than both of them could handle. Seeing the caution tape, the notice on the door, and the locks obviously changed and dead bolted, Charlotte realized how serious this was becoming.
“The glove,” Annie said hopelessly. “Maybe it’s a clue.” She pulled her collar up closer to her neck as a gust of the September night blew past.
“You’d better tell somebody if you think it can help. Did you hire a lawyer?” With each moment the situation became more real in her eyes. The implications that her friend had poisoned someone were ridiculous, but if the police were pointing their finger at her, they needed to do something quickly to take the pressure off.
“Do I need a lawyer? Oh my gosh, I need a lawyer.” Annie cried all over again. The only lawyer she knew…no, she refused to go to her ex-husband’s practice. Addison and Leventhal was the biggest practice on the island. Her ex, Alex, and his partner were ‘the go to’ place in town. They were the best. She needed the best, but she didn’t need her ex-husband involved. Besides, their divorce was ugly and he probably wouldn’t help her anyway.
“Come on,” Charlotte said. “Let’s head to Uncle Buck’s and see what we can find out.” She needed to pull Annie up out of her slump before she completely gave in. “And we’re going to talk to one of the officers. Well, you are, and you’re going to tell him about this glove you mentioned. Honey, if it’s part of the puzzle that can help free you, you need to tell them.”
“I don’t know if it is. I just assumed the landscaper left it by accident. It was shoved behind one of the potted bushes in front of the shop. Right here,” she pointed. “I didn’t think anything of it.”
“Okay, you should let them know. Is it still in there?” Charlotte convinced her.
“I think so. Trash day isn’t until tomorrow.” She sighed, hoping the glove would offer some kind of evidence, anything to take the pressure off her.
The women headed to Uncle Buck’s to scope out the place. They were surprised to see Greg behind the bar. Annie thought for sure he’d have taken off. She eyed him suspiciously before taking a deep breath and going over to speak to him. “I’m sorry to hear abou
t the loss of your mother.”
He glared at her. “I know about you,” he said between clenched teeth. “I hope you pay for what you did.”
Annie gasped. He was outright accusing her! She turned away, her voice caught in her throat.
Charlotte glared at the bartender and pulled Annie to a table to sit. “Don’t listen to him,” she whispered.
Settling at a table, they put an order in. The waitress looked at them sideways. Apparently news traveled fast.
A man in the booth behind them didn’t take notice. He was too busy arguing with somebody on his cell phone. “I don’t have the money, she didn’t put it in my account before she died. How was I supposed to know the old broad would up and die?” His annoyance was obvious. “I’ll have the money next week. Just give me time.”
Charlotte’s eyes opened wide. “Shhh,” she cautioned as they listened in a little longer. She picked up on the words ‘money’ and ‘died’. She tried to focus on what the man was saying.
Unfortunately there wasn’t anything else to pick up on. He simply said, ‘I can’t talk about this here,’ and then hung up his phone abruptly.
Charlotte whispered. “Why would she put money in his account? He might have been talking about Patsy.” She was the only recently dead person she knew of. And who was he? “Let’s get him talking with a little whiskey. Are you with me?” She was ready to do whatever it took to help her friend, and if this stranger had information, she’d pry it out of him.
Annie wasn’t sure what to do. They had nothing to lose, but she doubted he’d talk if he had something to hide. “I don’t know. A stranger can be unpredictable.” Annie’s insides twisted. What did she have to lose? They already were trying to pin the crime on her.
“Come on, I’ll take one for the team,” Charlotte said. “We need to work fast. You be the designated driver and abstain. I’ll do shooters with him, if he’ll agree. Let’s see what we can dig up.”
“But how are you….” Annie started.
“You let me worry about that,” Charlotte said, confident she could pull information from just about anybody.
Annie’s heart raced. She finally nodded in agreement. “You lead,” she whispered. This was probably a mistake, but what did she have to lose?
“I’ve got this.” Charlotte stood up, leading the way. She settled down in the booth next to the guy. “Hey, my friend and I were wondering if we could buy you a drink.” She pushed her hip against his, forcing him to shift over a bit.
He looked at the older woman and then over at Annie. He shrugged. “Sure, why not? What do you want?” The man was in his forties, though he could easily pass for his late thirties if you squinted. His hair was lacquered in place with hairspray, and his teeth were whitened beyond a natural shade.
“My friend here is single.” Charlotte started, nodding toward Annie. “I saw you over here eating alone.”
Annie sucked her bottom lip in. She panicked, then tried to play along like she was interested. “Hi,” she fluttered her eyelashes at the man across from her.
“You’re more my type, grandma,” he said with a wink. Both women looked at the other, neither expecting his response.
Charlotte cleared her throat. “You’re into old broads, huh? Not young, cute ones?”
“I’m into my bills being paid in exchange for a good time,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Wow, you don’t pull any punches, do you?” Charlotte wondered what was going on. This was way too easy.
“Let’s just say, a good time can be bought and had, and I’m available this evening if you’d like a little company.” He leaned in closer to the woman beside him. “I’m good at what I do,” he whispered, lowering his voice. “Satisfaction guaranteed.”
“What are you, a hooker?” Annie couldn’t stop herself.
“Whoa, lady, watch who you’re calling a whore. I’m a male companion. Plenty of women have enjoyed my services. I’ll be honest, I’m a little short on cash. I’ll even cut you a bargain price if you pay up front.”
Charlotte gasped and let it slip. “Oh my gosh, Patsy was paying you for sex?”
He glared at her. “I don’t discuss my clients.”
“What client? She’s dead.” Charlotte glared right back. “What do you know?”
“Are you kidding me?” The man started to laugh. “What are you two, trouble and more trouble?”
“I can be your worst nightmare,” Charlotte tried. “Tell us what you know.”
“I know the woman dropped over and died, and there’s no money in my account. Seriously, a good time, half price,” he started to barter.
“I’m a lonely woman. I just might consider your offer,” she said, locking eyes with him, “if you give me the information that I want.”
“Lady, I don’t know what you’re talking about. The woman had a heart attack and I haven’t seen her since. She paid my bills. Now I need another lady of leisure to keep me in the style I’m accustomed to.”
“Patsy was murdered.” She watched his reaction.
His face crumbled, showing genuine surprise and concern. “What? I didn’t know. Who would do that? She was harmless.” He shook his head. “What is this world coming to?”
“So you didn’t do it?” Charlotte asked.
“Why would I kill the woman who paid my bills?” His face changed, muscles slacking. “Bummer, she was like a mother to me. Okay, wait, not like that, but…well, I’d grown attached to her over the years.”
“Patsy had a lover,” Annie said, amazed. “I’d have never guessed.”
The man tried again. “So what do you say grandma? Are you looking for a boy toy?”
“You call me grandma one more time and I’ll knock you upside your head. Secondly, you’re not bad looking, but no. Not interested.” Charlotte got up. “I’ll pick up your dinner tab for bothering you.”
He nodded. “I hope they find who did it. That’s terrible, to think there’s a killer among us.”
Annie had nothing to say. She sulked back to their table as her wits sank to the ground. “What am I going to do?”
“The glove. The glove is next. Who is that cop you like, the cute one? Let’s tell him about the glove,” Charlotte suggested.
“Should I get a lawyer?” Annie’s heart was sinking.
“I think one just found you,” she said, pointing toward the door.
Annie wanted to slither to the floor, but as soon as Alex saw her, he found his way over. Normally he’d avoid her like the plague, but having the opportunity to poke her a little…this was worth it. “So,” he started, “I happened to be at the police station earlier. I was just about to pull out of the parking lot, when I saw something fascinating.” He stood there, mocking and full of glory. “I saw my ex-wife getting out of the back of a cop car. Imagine that.”
Annie rolled her eyes. “I’m really not in the mood.”
“I can imagine it’s been a rough day. What did they charge you with, the ability to turn off a man in twenty seconds? Too much public nagging? Or was it…” He was amusing himself.
“Murder,” she said, staring at her ex, “and you might be next.” Annie clenched her teeth, wishing she hadn’t just said that.
“Ha, ha, right.” He looked between the women. Neither broke into a smile.
Charlotte jumped in. “Alex, is your partner available? Do you have his number? We need to contact him.”
“For what?” He was kidding, but he realized they were serious.
Annie sighed. Fine. If it had to be this way… “For me. They think I killed Patsy, but I didn’t do it. She was poisoned and they found some stuff in my shop, but I swear it wasn’t me.”
“Whoa! You were serious.” Alex sat down beside Annie. “How did you get involved?”
“Not that it matters,” she said. The last thing she felt like was dishing about her trials with her ex-husband.
“I think I know you pretty well, and you’re not capable of murder.” He shook his head. Something wa
s very wrong…He had a heart. He felt bad for her. It was so much easier to be angry with her for taking him for so much money in the divorce. Though if he’d kept his pants on…
He pulled a card out of his wallet. “Come to the office first thing tomorrow. I’ll make sure he fits you into his schedule. We’re the best on the island, you know that.”
“I don’t know,” Annie said, burying her head in her hands. “I just don’t know what to do anymore.”
“Tomorrow morning. We’ll see you then.” He got up and walked over to the bar.
“He was almost human.” Charlotte said. “Listen, a good lawyer on your side is a start. But the more evidence we have, the better off we’ll be. Let’s figure out how to get that glove.”
Annie nodded. “Thank you, Charlotte. Thank you for believing in me.”
Charlotte stood, hugged her friend, and left a couple of dollars on the table to cover the bill.
Chapter 7
Annie was terrified of walking into the police station. She was afraid if she went in, she’d never come out. She’d contact Alex’s partner tomorrow morning, but tonight she needed to speak with someone about possible evidence.
Annie cleared her throat, standing at the counter where a woman had her back turned. She was hunched over a cell phone texting something. “Right,” she said as she finally spun around. “Can I help you?”
“I’m looking for Officer Rossi.” Annie choked on the words, barely able to speak.
“He’s not here. His shift ended earlier. Do you want to leave a message for him?” She snickered, “And what lady doesn’t want to leave a message for him?”
“It’s not like that. Do you know if he’s working tomorrow? I’ll try then. No message.” Annie was afraid to leave her name behind and draw more attention to herself.
The woman asked one more time. “Yeah, he’s working the early shift. You sure you don’t want to leave your name?”
“No, but thanks.” Annie headed back out to the car. Charlotte was waiting for her. “He’s not working tonight; he already left, but he’ll be back tomorrow morning. I’ll talk to him then.”