by Tonya Kappes
I smack the dash for a little background music. Gloria Gaynor is belting out the mantra of my life. “Sing it Gloria.” I turn up the volume and sing I will survive all the way home.
With Herbie settled at home, Erin back to sleep and Aunt Matilda nowhere to be seen, I head back out. I like Michael and want to help prove his innocence. Not that anyone thinks he’s guilty, but once the police figure out the connection between Dabi, Kent/Terry, and Michael, he’ll be at the top of their list. I pull the picture out of all three of them and put it on my dashboard. Maybe if I stare hard enough something will come to me.
I stop my car next to the chain link fence parking lot where it looks like all three of Park City’s pigs haven’t left for the day. I look for the entrance for normal citizens, but wonder if I’m considered a normal citizen or a suspect?
I grab the file off my passenger seat and get out of the car.
I walk in the squeaky door to find all of Park City’s finest eating their doughnuts and drinking the stale-smelling coffee. It’s exactly the way I remember it from when I was little and Aunt Matilda would bring me here. The flickering lights hum and are still barely hanging by their electric wires. I have no clue what my taxes are going for because they obviously haven’t been used to spruce up the joint.
I lightly tap on the sliding glass window where the receptionist sits, but I’m sure it’s too early for her.
“Hello, Ms. Davis.” Carl stands up from his desk and licks his fingers. “I didn’t take you for an early riser.” His eyes focus on my hands. “Is that the file I asked for?” He tries to slide the glass, but it gets stuck on the track, causing the window to stay put on the bottom, but go cockeyed on top.
I notice the young policeman look up from his desk and snicker. He continues to watch Carl communicate through the glass and laugh.
Carl points to the door next to the window. He turns the handle, but it seems to be stuck. I pull the handle, but it doesn’t budge. Carl’s mouth becomes tight as he jiggles the door-knob and pulls with all his might. He is flung back and takes a few steps backwards so he won’t fall flat on his ass.
I purse my lips in an attempt not to laugh. By this time all three officers snicker and snort, but don’t dare release the pastry goodies from their fingers.
“We need to get this door fixed!” Carl doesn’t look back at his colleagues. His face is as hot as a piece of sizzling coal.
I hand Dabi’s break-up file. Of course it’s not the original. “I’m sure there is nothing there to lead you to the killer.”
“Now, now.” He looks suspiciously at me. “Don’t put your nose where it shouldn’t go.” He opens the file and thumbs through it. “If you’re anything like your aunt, I’m afraid I’m wasting my breath.” I notice his face relaxes when he talks about Aunt Matilda.
I smile and do not reply. I can’t lie to the police—again.
The young officer gets up from his seat. “Is this the Dabi Stone file from the on-line breakup service?”
“Splitsville.com.” I pop my head over Carl’s shoulder and correct him. Break-up services sounds awful compared to Splitsville.com.
Carl nods and hands it over. If this were a doughnut, he wouldn’t have given it up so easy.
“I’m Olivia Davis,” I say, holding out my hand. I’ve never seen him around and everyone knows everyone in Park City.
“This is Officer Ian Parker.” Carl pats Ian on the back. Ian’s electric blue eyes catch me off guard. They are much brighter against his sulfur aura. “He’s new to Park City. Specializes in murders.”
Pride emanates from Carl’s eyes. If only Carl could read Ian’s aura, he’d know Ian is not a happy employee.
“Are you here investigating Dabi’s murder?” I wonder how long I’m going to have to deal with this clown.
“No, I’m here for good. It’s just a coincidence this happened my first week.” He gives off the police air that leaves a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. He even looks the stereo-type with his high-and-tight hair cut, stiff collar and shiny shoes.
Great! He’s hungry to get this solved and prove his worth. I don’t need another officer on my tail.
Okay, whatever pig! I want to yell, but I don’t. I have no intention of being a guest at Park City’s jail today.
“Nice to meet you.” I smile and look at Carl. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
“We will,” Ian confirms.
Again, whatever, pig! Of course I don’t say it, but I want to. Like a good girl, I turn and start out the door.
“Did your aunt look at this?” Carl hollers after me. I’m sure he would’ve asked her to if I hadn’t been around yesterday. There hasn’t been a double murder in Park City in a long time in.
“You’ll have to ask her that.” I throw my head back and laugh. If only they knew the truth and how I was a big part of Aunt Matilda’s job with Park City Police Department.
Fifteen
Aunt Matilda is outside with Herbie when I get home.
“Dang, he’s cute.” She pats her leg and Herbie jumps up to get a good dose of loving.
I smile, watching Herbie rub his head around her ankles. Her long brown gypsy skirt floats around his head as he darts in and out. “He is,” I say. I’m starting to get attached to him and that’s not what I intend to do.
“How was Carl?” She looks over at me.
He’s a jackass. That’s how he is, I want to tell her but I hold my tongue. “He’s fine. They have a new police officer. And boy, is he eager to solve Dabi and Kent’s deaths.” I recall Ian’s strong authoritative aura.
I walk over while looking thumbing through my BlackBerry to retrieve a dump file.
“What’s wrong?” Aunt Matilda stops petting Herbie and leans over to see what’s on my screen.
I tilt my head and my eyes come face to face with Aunt Matilda’s. My eyes sting from not blinking or being able to blink. “I’m watching you. You better shut down Splitsville.com or else.” I read the screen a couple of times in my head then look down the street for any sign of a car, a person, anything that may be stalking me.
The street is dark and silent.
“Is it another threat?” Aunt Matilda quietly asks, as if it’s no big deal.
“What?” I know I didn’t hear her correctly. How does she know?
Immediately I want to think Erin told her, but she hasn’t gotten out of bed since we came home yesterday.
“I know about the threats. You forget, little girl.” She embraces me and my soul begins to feel a little better. “I know you better than you know yourself. I’ve had the gift longer.”
“The gift! The damn gift!” I pull away and march over to Herbie. I pick him up. “I’m so sick of having this gift I don’t even understand!” With Herbie in my arms I stomp around the house. “I read auras, I have night visions. What kind of gift is that?”
I plop on the couch and the piles of clothes puff up around me and Herbie. He runs off.
“Do you ever question a gift Erin gives you?” Aunt Matilda begins to pick up clothes and put them in the empty laundry basket.
I jump up and grab the basket out of her hands. “Don’t do this.” I can’t tell if I’m completely irritated that she’s cleaning up or these threats are getting a little old. “No, I don’t question those types of gifts.” But I have definite questions about this dump.
If Kent’s not behind the murders, since he’s in the great beyond, who is?
I walk over to the window and peek out to make sure the killer isn’t standing on my walkway. My reflection stares back at me. The dark eyes run deep. I shiver. The threat in my inbox did say someone is watching me. Granted they didn’t give details to what I’m doing, but eerie nonetheless.
“A gift is a gift.” Matilda nods. “Don’t question your gift Olivia. Once you accept and embrace it, you will have a much better life.”
I grab Herbie’s leash. “My gift might get me killed.”
***
Bradley cal
led early to see if Herbie and I want to meet him at Pleasant Ridge Park with a few of his other shelter dogs for a morning walk. A walk might do me good. Plus it’s too late for Michael Schultz to be there so I don’t have to worry about running into him.
With one eye on the road and one eye in the rear view mirror, I drive to Pleasant Ridge Park. I don’t see anyone following me or anything out of the ordinary, which puts me a little more at ease.
The streets are filled with people going to work or taking their morning strolls. I pull into the closest spot to the coffee shop so I can grab a couple cups, one for me and one for Bradley.
I leave a crack in the window for Herbie, so the cool brisk breeze won’t chill him too much. He sits there like a human when I get out. I look back to make sure he’s okay and stop. How did I miss this? I walk back toward my car.
Herbie is as happy as a lark. “Oh no.” I hang my head and groan. A brown aura surrounds Herbie, meaning he’s become addicted to something and unfortunately the something happens to be me. How am I going to give him back now?
I put his aura in the back of my head and turn toward the coffee shop. I don’t want to be late meeting Bradley.
I believe in signs and the blinking one in the store next to the coffee shop is telling me something! According to the window, they sell guns, nun chucks, stun guns, mace, and personal alarms. If there’s a killer after me, I’m going to need more than a dog that acts like a human and thinks he’s human.
I look at my watch.
9:20 A.M.
I don’t have time to check the store out, but I will put it on my priority list. Right now, Herbie is in the car waiting for me and Bradley might be at the park waiting on me.
***
I find Bradley standing next to the gazebo in the middle of the park, holding tightly to three leashes. His blue aura dances around his shaggy brown hair. I smile, taking in his every drop of him as he is trying to keep the three dogs from barking.
“Hey Olivia!” His teeth are almost blinding. “Over here!” He tries to put a hand in the air, but flings forward as his dog lunges at a passing pooch.
I walk with my head high, two coffees, and a leash attached to the best dog in the world. Herbie doesn’t pay attention to the others we pass. He seems to know we are on a mission and he’s not straying from it.
“Thanks.” Bradley looks between his hands to see which one is freer for holding a cup. He points to a bench next to the lake. The shade will be nice for the dogs and us as we drink our coffee. “Let’s sit over there.”
“Hey Herbie.” Bradley pets Herbie once the other three are situated. “How’s your new mommy?”
Herbie wags his tail and his aura is as brown as mud.
“Wait a minute.” I remind Bradley. “This is a trial. Remember?”
“Sure it is.” Bradley nods slowly. I can tell he already knows Herbie and I are a good match for each other.
Michael’s voice comes out of nowhere. “You’re early.”
I cringe at the sound. I ignore it and pretend I am someone else or, at least, let him believe he has the wrong girl. I continue to ignore him and sit with Bradley while we enjoy our coffee.
“Olivia?” He yells even louder, “Okay, Jenn!”
Sharply I turn around on the bench to face Michael walking across the grass towards us. What is he doing here? I look at my watch and confirm its past 10 A.M. I made sure I’d miss him. He’s supposed to be meeting me here tomorrow, not today.
“Do you know that guy?” Bradley, looking a little confused, points to Michael. “He knows you or someone named Jenn.” Bradley looks a little confused.
Michael trots up, out of breath. “Hey, I didn’t think you’d be here until tomorrow.” He seems more relaxed than earlier in the week.
“I’m here with my boyfriend enjoying a quiet stroll.” I hold up my cup and give a shit grin, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Cool. Hey, Herbie.” Michael put his hand out to Bradley. “Michael Schultz.” He snorts, “Thank god, Jenn, er, Olivia volunteered to clear our names because I wouldn’t know where to begin.”
Bradley takes his hand. “Bradley.” He looks over at me but I can’t look him in the eyes. I take a drink of coffee. “Yeah, it sure is nice of her.”
“Just in case I saw you walking, I’ve been carrying these.” He pulls out the set of keys and begins to tell me which one goes where. I follow along, but there are too many. I can picture myself having to try every key when I break in. Now what kind of image is that for a sleuth?
He continues, “This is the entrance to the garage, this is the entrance to the building, this is the apartment and this is the mother of all mothers.” He holds up a key much larger than the other ones. “The office key. Don’t ask me how I got them because I’m not telling.”
“Fine.” I take the set of keys and try not to look at Bradley. I feel his stare and it’s about to burn a hole the size of the National Geyser in my head. “I’ll let you know what I find out.”
He begins to walk away. “And Michael?” He stops and turns. “Remember, you can’t tell anyone!”
“Oh I won’t. My life depends on it.” He smiles wanly and takes off running back to wherever it is he came from. His life and mine really do depend on it.
I still feel Bradley’s stare. I head back toward him, nervously sipping my coffee, no clue what to tell him.
He launches in the second I’m next to him. “Are you going to tell me what that was all about?” Sparks shoot from his eyes as he leans in front of me. I gulp and almost spill my coffee on a perfectly clean t-shirt—even though it did come from the basket of laundry I took from Aunt Matilda. I can tell him that Michael is a dot com nerd like me...or I can tell him the truth.
“What, what was about?” I say, totally stalling, but I can see he’s not going to budge one bit. His aura still radiates as brightly as the big blue sky.
I grab Herbie’s leash and start hoofing hit down the sidewalk, my coffee close to sloshing over the rim of the cup. I don’t even care. “If you really want to know,” I say as he falls into step beside me. “I’ll tell you, but you have to tell me one thing first.”
He nods, eyeing me warily.
“You can’t hold it against me.” I have no idea if what I’m asking is really possible, but I hope against hope that it is.
His nod is slower this time, but he’s agreeing, so I feel a tinge of relief. Still, part of me thinks I should warn him that he better be careful, he doesn’t even know what he’s agreeing with.
“You see,” I keep my voice and walking pace steady. “I have this thing...” I trail off, not even knowing how to say it.
“What kind of thing? Like an STD?’
“God, no! More like a “gift”...or a curse. Kind of depends on how you see it.”
He’s slowed down, so I slow down. He is staring at me. “I don’t get it.”
“Have you ever heard of people’s auras?” I smile trying to take the sting out of my shocking words.
He stops and takes a couple of steps away from me like I have leprosy. “I don’t know much. Only it has to do with voodoo or witch-craft.”
“No, it’s not witch craft or voodoo,” I snap. Ugh! Why does reading auras have such a bad rap? If I didn’t like him so much. . . “You can learn a ton about someone by the color of their aura.” Like how his has changed from vibrant blue to dusty gray, meaning he’s completely doubting everything about me.
“Hold up.” He laughs, his aura sliding back to blue. “Are you telling me you have a aura thing?” He continues to snort but abruptly stops when he sees I’m not laughing. As a matter of fact, my insides churn and shrivel up and die with this relationship. He’s back to gray and I’m sure he’s going to run as far away from me just as fast as he can.
He laughs one last time and I can tell he’s trying to figure me out. “Wait, you’re kidding right?”
“I wish.” My mind goes blank when he begins walking in circles like he’s trying to dige
st everything he’s just heard. I imagine it spinning around in his head like a tornado.
Bradley suddenly wheels around and faces me. “So when we met at the kissing booth, you knew I was attracted to you from my...my...my aura?” I can see the light bulbs going off in his head. I shake my head, but he’s already onto another thought. “And Sam. That’s how you knew she was sick?”
I nod this time. “Sam’s aura color deepens in the spot where she’s sick. That’s how I knew where it was.” I rub my hand down his arm to comfort him and let him know I’m not some freak. “I couldn’t tell one aura from the other at the kissing booth.”
“What about that guy?” He points to where Michael and I were standing a few minutes ago.
“Oh, that.” I take another deep breath preparing for what comes next. So far Bradley’s not running, but if it’s not the aura thing that’s going to kill us, it’s the Splitsville.com. It’s what I fear most. I take a deep breath and just blurt it out. “My dot com job is really an on line break up service called Splitsville.com.”
He takes another step back. His aura goes from grayish blue to baby blue. And then, God love him, he starts to laugh.
“I don’t have face-to-face contact with anyone who uses my business. I use an alias,” I whisper conspiratorially. “Jenn.”
Bradley is nodding and listening to every word as I tell him about my life. He seems to be taking it well. He’s breathing slowly, even if his nostrils flare a bit, but he’s still next to me and hasn’t run for the hills over my secret identity or pessimistic break-up service
“That’s why I know who Dabi Stone is and why I need her keys. I need to clear not only Michael, but Splitsville.com.” I carefully explain everything. “Dabi used Splitsville.com to break up with Michael. The police linked Dabi to Splitsville.com and I had to check Michael out.”
“Why?” he asks, shaking his head. “You shouldn’t get involved. Why not leave it up to the police?”
Damn good question. I’ve asked myself that several times, but keep coming up with the same answer. “The thing is. . .” I choose my words wisely, “with this aura thing I have got going on. . .” I circle my hands around the top of my head like a halo. “I can’t work in an environment with a lot of people.”