The Midsummer Murders

by Jill Nojack

  Uh huh. She had this. Stuck-up Mindy Li wouldn’t get a second glance from Marcus today.

  And where was he anyway? He should have been here by now.

  A text filled her in. He was waiting out back. He usually came in to say hi to Daria, but if he didn’t feel like it today, then whatever.

  She blew past her cousin with “I have to work at three and I’m babysitting tonight, so I won’t be back until late.”

  Daria waved her on, her head buried in her laptop, working on her newest design gig. Twink got a quick glimpse of chunky men in unsexy underwear. She had to laugh when she told people Daria was a freelance graphic designer and they thought it was a glamorous job. Last time, she’d had to come up with ideas for how to make cotton balls and bandages look irresistible. That was glamour, for sure.

  She smiled when she opened the door and Marcus was leaning against the side of his car, waiting for her.

  “Why didn’t you come in?” she asked.

  “Your new doorman had other ideas.” His chin lifted, gesturing to her side, where a large crow stood, eyeballing him. It never took its eyes off of him, even though you’d think she was the bigger threat now, standing only a foot away like she was.

  “Go on, get out of here,” she said, clapping her hands. The crow hopped off a few feet, but it continued to stare at Marcus. She turned back to him. “What is it with the crows? They’re always around the shop for the past couple of days. It’s creepy. It’s like they’re stalking me.”

  “You sure? ‘Cause it’s not you it’s eyeballin’. And one of those things didn’t try to rip your face off the other day, either.” He started toward her, but she could tell he still had half his attention on the bird.

  She walked over to meet him and wrapped her arms around him as he bent down to give her a kiss.

  “Don’t worry,” she said after she released him. “I’ll protect you.”

  He laughed at that. “I believe you. I sure wouldn’t want to go up against you when you’re angry.”

  “Wait a minute—are you saying I lose it a lot?”

  “No. Nothin’ like that.” His eyes grew round, and he looked worried.

  Until she laughed and said, “Like I don’t know I have a temper?” She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the side of the house to cut through the side yard to the front of the shop. “And you better remember that if you let Mindy Li put her hands all over you again.”

  “You know there’s nothin’ going on with me and her.” He stopped her with a gentle tug on her hand just as they hit the sidewalk that ran the length of Main Street. “You know that, right?”

  And she knew it. She did. But that didn’t mean that things couldn’t change. Girls like Mindy Li, they knew how to get boys to do what they wanted. It was like their whole reason for living. And Marcus, sweet as he was, wouldn’t even see it coming. She wasn’t taking any chances. She was keeping an eye on that one, even if it meant Mindy Li was getting a new bestie whether or not she wanted one.

  “Yeah, I know it,” she said, squeezing his hand, then leading him down the sidewalk toward Ling’s Things, where she hoped Mindy wasn’t working that day.

  As they walked, several crows landed on the telephone wires and benches around them. She thought she recognized the biggest one, which appeared to keep pace with them by moving from wire to bench to rooftop as they walked. She was sure it was the one that had been out on the back stoop minutes ago and on the planter outside her window the night before. A real ringleader.

  But that was crazy, right? Like she could tell one inky black crow from another. And like they had leaders.

  “Listen, I know it’s a long shot getting that perfume bottle back, but Daria just got paid for her last job and it was a pretty good one, so she says she can loan me the money until I get paid next week. So we might as well stop in and ask about it.”

  “Girl, you’re obsessed with that bottle.”

  “I am not. It’s just...I like nice things is all.”

  He put his arm around her. “And you deserve ‘em. When I finish school and get a good job, I’ll buy you all the perfume bottles you want.”

  It was hard to feel jealous when he said things like that. And she was glad he was more relaxed now that the crows seemed to have settled down behind them instead of following them around the corner.

  All except for the ringleader. It still trailed them, but it kept its distance now.

  ***

  Cassie Sanders was used to calming down her excellent boss, Dash Simmons, who was owner of the Giles Gallery of Art. He often worked himself up a little too much over the latest gossip. But he only got so upset because his heart was in the right place. He cared about Giles and its people, and he was always the first in line to defend its residents when they’d been wronged.

  So when he stopped absently tweaking his long, Daliesque mustache into two perfect, upward points as he watched the video his partner Jon had just sent him and called, “Oh my goodness! Cass, come now. Come,” with one hand waving her over frantically, she was prepared.

  “You must see this,” he insisted. “What a terrible way for our little town to go viral!” He pulled a balled fist to his mouth with a horrified expression. “Whoever this horrid woman is, she says this, this, horrible thing is what’s left of Clotilda Bentwhistle. Tildy was such a kind woman...and it’s so...well, I just...”

  Cassie scurried behind the counter to join him in peering at the small screen.

  What in the world was she looking at? A female voice narrated, “This is what’s at work in Giles ‘cause of the evil we let in. Ain’t no natural death be lookin’ like this one.”

  As the woman talked, Cassie was sure she recognized the voice, but she couldn’t quite place it. The video panned in close over the face of what looked like a mummy in an old-fashioned flannel nightdress. It wasn’t anyone she knew from around town, she was glad to see. Or at least she didn’t think it was. It was hard to tell because the body was so shriveled.

  Her stomach protested against what her eyes were seeing, but she fought back. A little morning sickness was all, which Cassie had discovered was misnamed; it happened any time of day it felt like it.

  Dash said, “This woman, whoever she is, says Clotilda died out at the nursing home. Goodness, I didn’t even know she was there. What kind of friend am I? It’s sad, you know...people do lose touch over the years....”

  “This is someone you know? Dash, I’m so sorry. What happened to her?” She held a hand to her mouth as she swallowed, fighting another wave of nausea, but her eyes were still stuck to the video, and the woman who was talking answered the question instead of Dash.

  “This death—like so many other recent deaths in Giles—is the work of Satan through his witches. It’s time for Godly people to take this town back from the unclean!”

  With that, the video ended.

  “Omigoddess,” Cassie said at the same time she gave up battling her stomach and turned to run for the bathroom.

  When she finished saying goodbye to her breakfast, she rinsed her mouth out thoroughly and checked her makeup, taking the time to reapply her candy-pink lipstick, then took her phone out of her purse as she headed in a rush toward the front door. She called to Dash as she passed him, “I need some fresh air!” Then she added, “Forward me that video, please,” before the heavy glass door of the gallery closed behind her.

  She had calls to make. Because while she was indisposed, she’d realized she knew who the voice in the video belonged to. And if she was right, things were about to get worse, at least for her friends Daria and Twink, if not for the entire town. She took out her phone as she dashed across the street, then sped down the sidewalk toward Cat’s Magical Shoppe.

  ***

  The biggest crow landed on the ground behind Twink as Marcus held the door to Ling Thing’s open for her. He scrambled to enter right behind and closed the door quickly because the bird darted forward to try to follow her in.

  Twink stood
inside the closed door and looked the bird in the eye for a minute as it looked back at her through the glass. It really was like the stupid bird was following her. I mean, it wasn’t bad enough that Natalie was always on her back, now she was being harassed by the local wildlife!

  “Hey guys!,” Mindy Li called from behind the counter. When she pulled her eyes away from Marcus to look at Twink, she said, “Cool, you’re wearing the comb again today. I don’t like old things that much because I like to stay in fashion. But it looks nice on you.”

  It would have been fine with Twink if the other girl had stayed where she was, but the wench hurried around the counter’s edge and grabbed her in a quick air hug, and then she grabbed Marcus too. But he got lots more than air. Like it was hard to tell he was the target all along.

  Twink was glad he looked uncomfortable and that his arms sort of hung at his sides instead of hugging back.

  “I’m sooooo glad to see both of you,” Mindy said after she finally let go of him. “It’s crazy boring in here day after day with no one to talk to. I mean, if my mom had to have a vintage shop, why couldn’t it be a vintage kicks shop or something? Then there’d be cool people in here all the time.” She turned back to Marcus. “I’d even give you my employee discount to get you into a great pair of shoes.”

  Twink looked down at Mindy’s shoes; they were Air Jordans. Probably cost a fortune. She was glad she’d worn heels today, but she felt bad for Marcus because of his cheap sneakers that didn’t even have a label and, as a special added bonus, had a fresh tear in one seam.

  “I’m good with these,” he said. They protect my feet, and that’s all shoes are s’posed to do.”

  “Oh, I know, I just meant if...”

  Twink cut her off. “Everybody knows what you meant.”

  Mindy rolled her eyes and huffed, “I was just being nice.”

  Twink rolled her eyes just as broadly when Mindy looked back at Marcus, giving him her anime-girl smile again and looking up at him through her lashes. When Mindy turned back to her, she said, “Look, we just wanted to know if the woman who bought the perfume bottle has been in. I found a Bentwhistle in the Giles phone book, but the number was disconnected.”

  “No, she didn’t come in yesterday. I would have texted you.”

  “Okay. Thanks,” Twink said, then grudgingly added, “I appreciate you.”

  “No problem. I said I’d keep my eye out for her. What are you guys doin’ today?”

  Twink shrugged. “I have to work in the magic shop, and he’s cleaning up after pigs.”

  “Ewww...”

  “I know, right?”

  “Hey, don’t be dissin’ on the pigs,” Marcus protested. “They’re cooler than you think.”

  This time Twink rolled her eyes for Mindy’s benefit instead of Marcus’s. “Look, we gotta go if we want to spend any time together this morning.” She gave Mindy an extra-special smile. “And we definitely want to spend time together. A lot of time.”

  When they were outside, Marcus asked, “You’re still jealous of that girl?”

  “No,” she replied, louder than she should have. She wasn’t angry. It was just that the crows were cawing like crazy. It was noisy and annoying. She turned back to look, and they were milling around in front of Mindy’s store, squawking. One of them tapped the big glass display window with it’s sharp beak, over and over, like it would break the glass if it could. Good. Maybe the stupid things would bother somebody else for a while.

  “You’re jealous. I know you. You’ve got your claws out, girl.”

  And she realized she wouldn’t mind right now if she did have claws. Mindy sure wouldn’t mess with what didn’t belong to her if she did.

  Her phone rang, and it was Mindy’s name that showed up. She put it to her ear.

  “Okay, so I can’t get out of the door to tell you this because of that bunch of birds out there. They’re freaking scary. So I had to call instead. But that woman—the one who bought the perfume bottle—just called and asked if we wanted to buy back the things she bought from us. I guess her grandmother died and doesn’t need ‘em any more. You still want it?”

  “Ummmmm...duh?” Twink responded.

  “I made an appointment at noon on Friday for her to meet with my mom. If you’re here, I bet that bottle goes home with you.”

  “I’ll be there! Thanks!” Twink disconnected, turning to Marcus. “That was Mindy—I have to be at Ling’s Things on Friday because the woman who bought the bottle wants to sell it back to the shop. I’m gonna get it after all.”

  “See? That girl is lookin’ out for you. She’s nice, just like I said.”

  “Maybe,” she said, knowing she should listen to him because he was usually right about that kind of thing, as the flock of crows took off over the street to soar above their heads in lazy circles. Quiet now, but still watching.

  ***

  Karl Denton slicked a hand across his short brush of hair as he took off his hat before he entered the nursing home. He hoped Charity Barnes would notice that he still had a full head of it even though it was turning gray. Prematurely so, he hoped she’d realize.

  Why was he even worrying about it? This was nothing more than an official call to follow up on the visitor logs he’d asked for. It only made sense to collect sensitive information in person to assure the nursing home management it would be treated with the confidentiality it deserved.

  He reached the desk in the lobby, ready to ask for Nurse Barnes, when a woman approached him saying, “Chief Denton? I’m Felicia Bentwhistle. Clotilda Bentwhistle’s grandaughter?”

  She set a large cardboard box she was carrying at her feet as he replied, “Of course, Ms. Bentwhistle. I remember you. How are you holding up?”

  “As well as can be expected, I guess. My grandmother was important to me. It’s hard to believe she’s gone; I’m sort of in a haze, to tell you the truth.”

  “I’m sorry I don’t have further news for you. I’m here to gather more information, but I’m afraid we don’t yet know the cause of death.”

  “No, it’s not about that. I’m sure you’ll contact me as soon as you know something. I wanted to ask if the police took any of her personal items for evidence? The aide didn’t know. It’s only that a couple of her things are missing. When I went through them, I discovered they aren’t in the boxes they gave me.”

  “I’m not sure. We might have taken some things into evidence. Let me give a quick call to the investigator.”

  Bill picked up right away. There had been no items placed into evidence other than the body and the bedclothes, which were being analyzed in a lab in Boston. All of the victim’s possessions were still in the room when it had been cleared for entry that morning.

  “We’re not the culprits on this one, ma’am,” he told her after hanging up. “Are the missing items valuable?”

  “Not terribly expensive, but a couple of hundred dollars maybe? Just small things. An antique hand mirror and perfume bottle. A newer gold chain. I was planning on selling them for the estate since there’s no sentimental value. She hadn’t had them long.”

  “I understand. Would you be able to stop in to the station today and fill out a report? Ask for Bill Bailey. He’s the officer in charge of your grandmother’s case. If there was foul play, there’s a possibility that a theft could be important.”

  “Thank you. I’ll do that. I appreciate your time.” She bent to pick up the box at her feet.

  Denton moved forward. “Let me help you with that.”

  By the time he was done helping, he’d transferred four large boxes of personal effects to the back seat of the woman’s car. She pressed his hands between both of hers in gratitude before they parted at the front entrance. The touch made him uncomfortable. It went on too long, but he knew from his experience on the force how important contact with others was during a time of grief. He didn’t pull his hand back until she was ready to let go.

  “That was kind of you,” a starchy female voice said
from behind him as he watched Felicia Bentwhistle drive away.

  He turned to find Charity Barnes greeting him with a tight smile.

  “Oh...you...I...” Why on earth was he suddenly tongue-tied?

  “I assume you came for the visitor logs? I have them ready. It surprised me that corporate released them already. They normally move at a glacial pace. Walk this way, please.” She turned and led him back into the lobby.

  There it was again. That walk. He was never going to walk that way. Being treated to it once again, he found he couldn’t square the feminine sway with the woman’s buttoned up demeanor any more than he could last time. He supposed he’d never know her well enough to reconcile the contrast. Since he’d just been caught holding another woman’s hand, he didn’t think much of his chances—a completely foreign thought for him to have while on the job. It wasn’t like him.

  It shouldn’t be like him.

  He grabbed the logs from her when she offered them and said brusquely, “Thanks for coming through on this. I’ll let you know if there’s anything else,” before he darted for the exit.

  Yes, he thought. That was smooth, Denton. Super smooth.

  7

  “Twink, the kitchenette needs cleaning. Please take care of it while we’re slow.”

  Twink sighed her frustration, then dragged herself down the hallway to start on the chore. She knew Natalie was trying to keep her from eavesdropping on her conversation with Gillian and Cassie. If the Maid, Mother, and Crone, as Twink knew Natalie thought of them—in capital letters even—were huddled together whispering, it was bound to be interesting. The snatches she heard as she left the shop floor confirmed her suspicions when she heard Natalie explain in what she probably thought was her quiet voice, “...the children were far too involved last time.”

  Gillian said something in response in her soft English accent that Twink couldn’t catch, even though she tiptoed to quiet the tap, tap, tap of her noisy high heels on the hard vinyl tile.

  Natalie was loud enough when she answered, though. “It endangered them. I won’t risk harming that boy again. Nor the girl.”