Dead Ringer (Silent Partner Series Book 2)

by Sheila Hudson

  Notes to self: Call Phyl and set up coffee date. Call Merry and do same.

  Fitting for bridesmaid dress – find out when and where. Get someone to help me plan a bridal shower. I’d never done one in my life. I’ll bet Phyl is good at that too. Ask her. My brain was racing and I needed sleep.

  I ran a hot bath and enjoyed a soak in Auntie Lee’s exquisite lavender bath crystals. I yawned as I slipped into my ratty but comfy pajamas. The rest is a blur. I must have drifted into a sleep coma as soon as my head touched the pillow.

  10

  I finished the feature on the town’s newest council member and turned it in before deadline which is a major accomplishment for me. My editor sent back a feature by another writer that he wanted me to ‘polish.’ I worked through lunch and met Finn at Giovanni’s Italian Café for dinner.

  We drank Sangria and ordered before Finn pulled my laptop from his brief case.

  “Well, Sherlock. What did you glean from my emails?” I tried a little humor but he had on his serious face.

  “Something I don’t want to tell you but I must,” he said. “The emails from your father were sent from the public library – our local library.”

  I must have blanched because he picked up the water glass and handed it to me. I sipped from it and with a trembling hand set it down on the tablecloth.

  “My father – Patrick McLachlan – is here? In our town? Now?” was all I managed to get out.

  “It appears that he is here and working as an Uber driver,” Finn explained. “I had our IT guy also run a check on where he lives and what he is doing in town.”

  Our chicken parmesan came with a lovely bread basket and Caesar salad, but my appetite was gone. My stomach roiled with feelings I didn’t know I still had.

  I was struggling to get my mind around my father who hadn’t contacted me in years suddenly showing up in my back yard. I sipped my wine slowly and tried to focus on what my next move should be.

  Finn ate in silence and let me collect my thoughts.

  “Before I decide anything, just what is an Uber driver?” I asked.

  Finn smiled, “Ever the innocent, aren’t you? I suspected as much so I picked up some brochures and of course you can always Google it. In a nutshell, Uber offers transportation at a reasonable cost. They are usually people just earning a few bucks part time like soccer moms and retired folks. They carry no cash – everything is done on line. Your dad was pretty smart to pick this line of work. When surges come he can make several hundred bucks in a weekend.”

  Finn finished his chicken parmesan and I asked the waiter to box mine up. My appetite was gone. I do that when the adrenaline kicks in. Why am I fearful? My dad was never a violent person so why did his presence pose a threat now? Had I become complacent and comfortable with my ‘adopted’ family and stopped thinking about my biological one?

  My negative self-talk made me miss Finn’s remark about a nightcap. I tuned in later when I noticed the rejected look on his face.

  “Sorry I was in another world,” I said trying to look apologetic.

  “Apparently, you are going to have to let me in sometime,” he said staring at the road ahead.

  “Into where?”

  “Into your world. If we are going to have any kind of relationship, you must trust me and part of that trust is letting me in on your past. Not just the facts but into the inner workings of your life including your father.”

  He’s right you know. My mind’s eye envisioned Maggie pointing her finger at me. I sighed because I knew she was right and so was Finn. There’s no good time to drag the family skeletons out of the closet when you’ve nailed them shut for so many years.

  “How much time do you have?” I asked Finn.

  He pulled up to my door, turned off the ignition, and put his arm around me.

  “All night,” he whispered.

  11

  Finn always the southern gentleman slept on the couch. We talked until 2 a.m. and decided that in the middle of a crisis was no time for a serious commitment. He helped me compose an answer to my father’s email inviting him to a coffee date for the next morning. Before my alarm went off, Finn was up and gone.

  I waddled into the kitchen, flipped on my coffee machine, and turned on the television. Another day. Another murder. What? I turned up the volume.

  An unidentified Uber driver was found electrocuted in a nefarious part of town. All accounts appear that he was subjected to repeated use of a Taser. Details at 11.

  I couldn’t handle another murder investigation today. I needed to meet Natalie and see what she found out about the burns on Dr.Winters’ fingers. I hoped that she was able to smuggle the hand bell out of the evidence locker or at least weigh it for me. Why did everything have to happen at once?

  I dressed quickly in leggings and a tunic, put product in my hair, and slipped on my sneakers. Today was no time to primp. Natalie only had an hour lunch break and she agreed to meet us at Taco Bell© which was close to her office. I tucked in a food scale in case she brought the bell. An average hand bell for C above middle C should weigh from 7 to 8 ounces. Let’s see if this one is different.

  Finn picked me up and we made it to Taco Bell© precisely at 12:01 pm. To save time, we ordered Natalie’s taco salad ahead of time along with Taco Supremes for us. I felt guilty not eating healthy but I was stressed and this was comfort food.

  While Natalie dug into her salad, Finn and I pored over the autopsy report which she was able to copy for us. Listed were the usual causes of death that would be expected of a man Dr. Winters’ age, sedentary lifestyle, and eating habits. But the marks on his fingers weren’t mentioned in the report. Neither was the bell which had to be pried from his hand. Curious.

  Natalie paused from her lunch and dug into her tote bag. She pulled out a hand bell in a Zip Lock bag. I got out my food scale and the bell in question weighed over 10 ounces. That was very odd.

  “Natalie, this bell is too heavy. Is there any way to x-ray it or run it through a CAT scan? I think it has been embedded with some sort of metal – a metal that will transmit electricity,” I was trying not to choke as I attempted to eat and talk. I examined the bell clapper and the handle. The handle was leather with metal studs but the clapper looked larger than normal.

  “I think so,” Natalie dabbed her lips with a napkin and took a sip of iced tea. “You know I’m running a big risk. I could get fired if my boss thinks I’m doing something illegal. The report is a copy but the bell has to get back into that evidence box or I’m toast.”

  “I know. I know. And I appreciate your help. Please don’t jeopardize your job. But I believe this bell is somehow key to what’s going on,” I said and dipped a corn chip in salsa.

  Through this Finn had been sitting quietly eating his lunch. When I took a breath, he said, “Natalie, how long have you been working in the coroner’s lab? Would you say that your boss is above reproach? Would he ever ‘fudge’ records or change data to please an official?”

  Natalie coughed so hard I had to pat her on the back. She stared at both of us like we were from Mars. A tear ran down her cheek.

  “I don’t know Finn. I just couldn’t say,” Natalie said. “I have to go. My lunch break is over.” She took out her wallet.

  “No,” Finn said. “Lunch is on me. Thank you so much.”

  With that, she put the bell wrapped in plastic back into her tote and was gone.

  “That went well,” I said with all the sarcasm I could muster. “And we still haven’t planned that bridal shower for Callie.”

  “I had my reasons for asking those questions,” Finn responded.

  “Well I hope they keep you company at the movies,” I snapped. “Natalie is a dear friend and I think you may have alienated her from my life. Her mother, Auntie Lee, is like a second mother to me. I can’t afford to lose anyone else. The news report that I was listening to this morning said an Uber driver was murdered. That could very well be my father.”

  12


  The caller ID showed the phone call was from Callie. I had dreaded this because other than order a few things, Natalie and I had spent our time on Dr. Winters’ mysterious death instead of planning the shower we promised.

  “Hi Callie. What’s up with our beautiful bride-to-be?”

  “I’m great. Beau and I are trying to merge our calendars and activities. We wondered if you and Natalie had come up with the a date for the bridal shower. His groomsmen are doing something for him so we wanted to be in sync.”

  “Actually, I was going to ask what would be a good date for you. I assume it will be held on a weekend – either afternoon or evening?”

  “I was thinking for Saturday afternoon, the 15th? How does that work for you? And for Natalie?”

  “I’ll check with her. It works for me – say 2:30 pm? We don’t have a place for it yet but now that I have a date I’m sure it won’t be a problem,” I lied.

  “Got to go now. Lots to do. Keep me posted. Kiss. Kiss,” Callie said and ended the conversation.

  It was indeed a problem to find a location for the shower. I was at my wits’ end when Phyl volunteered to have it at the mansion – that’s not really the name of their home I just call it that. She has servants who will serve the catered food and of course clean up. Natalie agreed to the date and like me was relieved to have the date, time, and place locked in not to mention the servants who would do the lions’ share. Decorations were ordered but not much was needed when the location was as elegant as the Andersons’ domain.

  Now I could take a breath. Not really. I had to find out more about the Uber driver who was killed – how, when, where, and if possible by whom. My journalism teacher would be proud.

  When Finn dropped me back at the Banner after our lunch with Natalie, he was off on assignment for a few days. Dear old dad – I almost said Curmudgeon – was back in charge. I submitted my latest article on the new Yoga Studio. I suggested that a feature on Uber and Lyft drivers might be in order since it was trending. He said that was an excellent idea and sent me to pursue it.

  Two birds with one stone. Score!

  Phyl was delighted to plan, decorate, and execute the bridal shower for Callie. She had always wanted to plan a shower and this excuse was as good as any. Finn was on assignment and Mr. A made himself scarce. He wasn’t into girly stuff. By the time the shower date rolled around you’d think the Duchess of Cambridge was getting married.

  Phyl’s generosity left me free to scout out what this Uber thing was about.

  From what I read on the internet, it seems Uber is international. If you and your vehicle pass their standards, you can make your own schedule and work however and whenever you want. That would be attractive to a newcomer in town – that is if the newcomer had formerly lived in the community. Uber drivers must know the routes.

  Uber drivers don’t carry cash. All the transactions are done via the internet. So why would someone kill a driver if it wasn’t a robbery. It had to be for another reason – like revenge. And a Taser of all things! Can you buy those on line too? Probably. There’s not much that Amazon doesn’t sell or if not there – there’s always the dark web. I don’t even want to think what you could purchase there.

  I telephoned Natalie and left a message. I wanted to see if there was any identification on the driver. Part of me hoped it was my long lost father. Did that make me an evil person? I needed my sister now more than ever.

  13

  This was one high class shower. No plastic here only crystal and silver for the guests. They were awed as soon as they came in the door as a servant took their package to the gift table. No punch and cookies – think pink champagne and crudités, hors d’oeuvres, and tapas. Mama always said not to partake of food you can’t pronounce but I think she would make an exception here.

  The entire dining area was in overtones of pink – not Pepto Bismal pink but more of a blushing rose. Callie was overwhelmed.

  “How did you get Ms. Anderson to let us use her home?” she asked.

  “I just asked her and she took command,” I said. “Secretly I think she was thrilled to host this.”

  With champagne flowing, Phyl made her appearance in a lilac silk pants suit which made her silver hair gleam.

  Callie hadn’t met Phyl formally so we took care of that little matter. Callie gushed with thanks over the gorgeous decorations and food straight from heaven – actually Gordon’s Gourmet Shop. I too expressed my thanks and relief that I didn’t have to do this alone or at all. Natalie arrived with her contribution – gift baskets filled with elixirs from her mother’s shop. Alas, Auntie Lee could not attend but her generosity was appreciated.

  Gift unwrapping was the usual – toaster, coffee maker, gift cards to Target and Macy’s, lingerie, and so it goes. I wasn’t much interested but pretended to be for Callie’s sake. My mind was wandering. I couldn’t wait to ask Natalie about the hand bell imaging and find out the identity of the Uber driver. I wonder if he was in her morgue – another question when this festival of femininity was over.

  When the last drop of champagne was poured, the attendees began gathering up their gift baskets and purses to leave. I hoped none of them got a DUI on their way home. Phyl was still glowing from the compliments. She was definitely in her element.

  When we had cooed over every gift and stowed it in Callie’s car and kissed everyone goodbye, I kicked off my heels and relaxed. Then I remembered where I was and put my shoes back on.

  “Come out here, girls,” Phyl beckoned.

  While the servants whisked away all remnants of the shower, Phyl, Natalie, and I went to the patio. Coffee was waiting for us.

  Phyl patted the cushion next to her and looked at Natalie. “Sit down and tell me what you’ve learned. Mollie has brought me up to date about Dr. Winters’ death and her suspicions but I want to hear what you’ve learned.”

  I stopped stirring my coffee and waited for Natalie’s results.

  Natalie took a sip of her brew and opened her notebook.

  “The bell weighed 10 ounces more than a typical hand bell should. The clapper had been shaved in the upper region to expose more of the copper. An image shows some kind of implant and wire that have been exposed to electricity.”

  “So that’s it,” I said.

  “Wait there’s more,” Natalie said. “My lab partner was interested so I shared some of this with him. He produced the table cover which had a slight burn mark about where the C above middle C bell would have been placed.”

  Natalie passed the report around for each of us to review. Phyl studied it intensely.

  “Someone knew their physics and figured that the old professor would be practicing after class. They also knew what piece of music would force him to pick up that particular hand bell and just when to send the electric shock which would have no ground wire. The leather studs in the handle along with the copper would send enough voltage to either render immediate death or a shock induced heart attack. But why?”

  Phyl put into words what we were thinking. What motive was there to kill a harmless old music teacher who loved hand bells?

  14

  All that champagne took its toll, it was after midnight before I began to get sleepy. I Googled Uber to find out how they recruited drivers? What are the qualifications to be an Uber driver and how are the routes assigned? I didn’t get a chance to ask Natalie if the Uber driver was in her morgue. She was nervous enough about Dr. Winters’ death and promised to share what she had learned with her superiors. What we discovered about the hand bell was enough evidence to rule Dr. Winters’ death a homicide. With that said, the perpetrator was still free.

  When Finn called, his first words were “I’m sorry I didn’t look at the time. It’s only 9 p.m. here. Dad sent to me San Diego at the last minute to meet with a prospective hire.”

  “No worries. I wasn’t asleep anyway. We had lots of champagne at the shower, so I was going over what Natalie found out about Dr. Winters’ death.”

  I had lo
ts to share beginning with the info Natalie’s report filled in about the cause of death for Dr.Winters.

  “Are you crazy?” he blurted out. “If that’s true then all of you are at risk. First, you because you found him and Natalie because she’s been probing around and now you’ve gotten my mom involved!”

  He sounded very upset and when he put it that way, I understood why.

  “But Finn, Dr. Winters’ was murdered,” I replied trying to maintain a normal tone.

  “Exactly my point,” he seemed a little calmer. “I’m going to tie this up as soon as possible and get back. In the meantime, bolt the doors and be careful.”

  “Sure. Of course I will. Guess what? My memory of finding Dr. Winters’ is coming back a little. I remember Merry Bell leaning over me when the paramedics came. How did she get there first?”

  “Look I don’t know. Don’t trust anybody – well except me, Mom and Dad. I love you. Goodbye.” Click. He hung up.

  Did he say I love you? I’m sure I heard him say that but he still sounded kind of mad.

  I drifted off to sleep and dreamt of the double wedding Maggie and I always said we would have. It would be on the beach of Maui with palm trees, coconuts, and parrots. Jimmy Buffet would do the music with margaritas all around.

  While the breezes blew off the ocean, Maggie and I would say our vows to our new husbands whose identities I could never quite make out. Mom was there and in glowing good health. Everything was perfect.

  Maggie turned to me said quite uncharacteristically, If you want to disguise something hide it in plain sight.

  I was still puzzling what she meant by that. Was there something in my life that was hiding in plain sight?