by Cindy Bell
“Oh no!” he gasped.
“I’m so sorry!” Brenda gulped.
Joyce jumped up. “Oh, Mr. Pierce, you need to get that coffee stain out right now! Good thing you have another jacket to wear.”
“Good thing?” he shouted. “This is the second time!”
“And we’ll have everything cleaned again. I’m so sorry. I just don’t know what’s wrong with her. Brenda, are you all right? Maybe you need to see a doctor about that clumsiness.”
“Yes, maybe.” Brenda sighed. “Please Mr. Pierce, if you give me your shirt, I can soak it for you. Do you have another shirt you can change into?”
“Yes, of course.” He huffed and opened a door to a small closet. After he snatched a shirt from it, he grabbed his freshly cleaned suit jacket and stalked out of the office. Brenda followed after him.
“I’ll clean up the mess in here.” Joyce called after them. She hurried down the same hall that the secretary had and grabbed some paper towels. As quickly as she could, she mopped up the few drips of coffee that landed on the desk. Then she began to go through the stack of files on top of it.
As she sorted through the papers, she soon found that while Pierce had a lot of paperwork, none of it had anything to do with the street being rezoned. She glanced at her watch and noticed that five minutes had already slid by. Pierce wouldn’t be gone for long, and she really didn’t want to be caught. In desperation, she snapped a few pictures of different things in the office. Maybe when she had time to look at them closely, she would find something.
On a whim, she decided to take pictures of his personal photographs that hung on the wall behind his desk. With the tissue in her hand, she tried to open the desk drawer directly in front of Pierce’s chair. After one tug, she found it was locked up tight. If she had more time she might have been able to find a way to unlock it, but the sound of footsteps in the hallway told her that her time was up. She glanced around quickly to make sure that everything was back in place then managed to drop back into her chair just before the door swung open. Brenda followed Pierce into the room and went to stand next to Joyce. Pierce turned towards them.
“Ladies, I think that you’ve taken up enough of my time.” He tilted his head towards the door. “Please, do me a favor, and get your facts straight before you ever even think about stirring up this kind of trouble again.”
“We will, Mr. Pierce. Thank you for your time,” Joyce said.
“Sorry again.” Brenda cringed.
“Just, maybe keep your distance around me, hmm?” Pierce shook his head. Brenda and Joyce hurried back out to the car.
“Did you find anything?” Brenda smiled eagerly as she pulled away from the building.
“No, I didn’t. I’m sorry, Brenda. I really thought that would work, but I guess I was wrong.” She stared out through the side window.
“Hey, Joyce, don’t be upset. You did what you could. Maybe the police will have better luck.”
“I doubt that Detective Crackle is even going to look into Pierce.” She slapped her knee with exasperation. “I bet you that as far as the police know, he is an upstanding citizen. Maybe if I knew how to pick locks.” She sighed and closed her eyes.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Joyce. We’re going to figure this out.”
“I did take some pictures. Maybe there will be something to see there, but I doubt it.”
“Oh? What kind of pictures?”
“Just of different areas of the office. I didn’t really have time to look through everything, so I thought there might possibly be something that I overlooked.”
“Can you send them to me?”
“Sure, I’ll do that right now.” Joyce scrolled through her phone and sent the pictures off to Brenda. “Let’s look them over tonight. Maybe we’ll find something. I know you have to get home, but let me know if you notice anything unusual or interesting.”
“I will.” She pulled into Joyce’s driveway and parked beside her car. “Joyce, try to remember, you’re not the detective here. We can try to help, but you shouldn’t beat yourself up if we don’t get anywhere.”
“I’ll try.” She smiled. “Thanks.”
Chapter 13
Before Joyce’s eyes even opened in the morning, her cell phone rang. She fumbled for it and saw that it was Brenda.
“Hello?”
“Can we meet for breakfast? At the diner?”
“Mmhm, I’ll be there.” She stifled a yawn. “Give me twenty minutes.”
“Take forty, I have to get Sophie to school first.”
“Okay, I’ll see you there.” As Joyce got dressed, she wondered what Brenda might have found. Joyce hoped that she might run into Vince. Given his criminal history, she imagined he was the police’s prime suspect. However, she wanted to find out what Brenda might have discovered first. When she arrived at the diner, Brenda was already there, seated at the same table they’d been at before.
“Morning, Brenda.”
“Morning, Joyce. Sorry to call so early. I got a little excited. I realized something. The girlfriend. It’s what we’ve been forgetting to look into. I remember in those pictures that you sent me of the inside of Adam’s truck, there was a tiny wallet photograph of a woman pinned up on the wall. Remember, you found it behind the other photos? I bet that’s her.” She skimmed through the photographs on her phone, then paused on the one with the small picture. “It’s too small to see her face, but I can get Charlie to enhance it. Hold on, I’ll send it to him right now.” She texted the picture and request to Charlie, then looked across the table at Joyce. “This might be the break that we need.”
“That would be good, because I am still struggling to tie all of this together. First, we have Pierce, who clearly has some kind of motive to shut down the trucks on Green Street. But for the life of me, I can't figure out what the motive is and why he would want to kill Adam. And what about Pete? I mean there are easier ways to force a shutdown than through murder. Pierce has so much to lose, I can't imagine him getting involved in all of this.”
“Maybe, but he’s also a man with power, and as Charlie told me, a man with power doesn’t like to be questioned. Maybe Adam asked one too many questions, and Pierce needed him to be quiet?”
“Maybe.” Joyce frowned and gazed down at the food on her plate. “I just wish there was a way to get some evidence of why Pierce would want to shut down Green Street. I got nothing but pictures from his office.”
“Let’s look at those again, shall we?” Brenda pulled them up on her phone and began to slowly look through them. “Notice the photographs on the table behind his desk?”
“Yes?” Joyce looked at the same photographs on her phone.
“One of them is of this very diner. With a few people standing in front. Can you tell who it is?”
“It looks like Pierce, and two other people. I’m not sure who. Maybe his wife? And Melvin?”
“Yes, maybe. That’s odd, don’t you think?”
“Why?” Joyce glanced up at her. “We know he likes this place. He was leaving here the last time we came.”
“Yes, he was. But I like a lot of restaurants. I don’t take family pictures in front of them, and even if I did, I wouldn’t choose that picture as one to display in my office. Right?”
“I guess not.” Joyce pursed her lips as she studied the photograph. “So why did he?”
“It might be a coincidence, but maybe it’s important to him. Maybe we should look into this diner.”
“Maybe.” Joyce raised her hand to summon the waitress. Brenda smiled as she walked over.
“Is everything okay here?”
“Can you tell me who owns this restaurant?” Joyce locked eyes with her.
“Leighann Chambers.” She shrugged. “She’s the only owner as far as I know.”
“Thank you very much for your help.” Joyce finished the last bite of her food. “Let’s go, Brenda. I think we might have a lead.”
As they left the table, Joyce looked bac
k at the waitress, who hurried over to the manager. She looked flushed as she spoke to the woman in charge. Joyce paused long enough to lip read snippets of their conversation.
“They wanted to know who owned the restaurant.”
“I knew this would come out eventually.”
“Joyce?” Brenda held the door open for her. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, yes I am, and we are definitely on to something. I hope Charlie doesn’t mind a little company.”
When Brenda and Joyce arrived at Brenda’s house, Charlie and Sophie were playing a game of cards at the dining room table.
“Mommy!” Sophie jumped up and hugged her. Then she flung her arms around Joyce as well. “Hi Joyce!”
“Oh, that should be Mrs…” Charlie began.
“No please, Joyce is fine.” She ruffled the little girl’s hair. “You are such a good hugger, Sophie. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome.” Sophie grinned. “I just beat Daddy three times in a row!”
“In a row?” Joyce laughed. “Sounds like he might need a break.”
“I lost all of my crackers.” Charlie sighed. “Sophie, let’s go play outside and let Mommy and Joyce work.”
“No, I’ll take her outside. Joyce needs your help with something.” Brenda grabbed Sophie’s jacket and led her out through the back door.
“What do you need my help with?” Charlie looked up at her. “I already blew up the picture, if that’s what it is, and you’re not going to believe who it is.”
“Not just that. I need to know everything there is to know about Leighann Chambers. Who was the picture of?” She followed him into his office.
“Kathy Pierce.” He woke up the monitor and revealed the enlarged photograph.
“As in Councilman Pierce’s wife?” Her eyes widened.
“The one and only. Well, so far. I’m guessing that may change in the future.”
“So, you think she and Adam were having an affair?”
“I think it’s hard not to make assumptions.” He frowned. “From what Brenda told me about your meeting at the comic book shop, she fits the description. Very wealthy, the relationship would have to be kept secret, and if Pierce found out, well, there’s your motivation for murder.”
“Yes, there it is.” She sank down into a chair beside him. “Wow.”
“Yes, wow.” He shook his head. “I’ll never understand how people with such wealth can be so unhappy.”
“Maybe she wasn’t unhappy. Maybe she just likes younger men.”
“Ouch. I guess that’s possible.” He nodded. “Now, as for Leighann Chambers.” He did a quick search and pulled up a website. “Well, according to this, she is Pierce’s youngest sister, or half-sister I should say.”
“A half-sister? I didn’t even know he had one. I didn’t find any mention of her when I was doing research on him.”
“I guess it’s not something he advertises, as she was the product of an affair between his father and her mother, one of his employees.”
“Wow. If Leighann owns the diner, and clearly Pierce still has a friendly relationship with her, then that might explain why he really wanted to shut down Green Street.”
“Oh?” He raised an eyebrow.
“The first time we went to the diner, the waitress was complaining about how much business they lose to the food trucks. If the street was rezoned, then the only dining option would be Pierce’s sister’s diner. That would give her a big boost in customers.”
“Yes, it would.” He snapped his fingers. “But there’s still one problem. There’s no proof.”
“And we still don’t know why Pete was killed. Unless he was having an affair with the wife as well.”
“Brenda mentioned that he was the only one who supported the protest against Pierce. He was killed not long after that. Maybe Pierce was upset that Pete was trying to tell the truth and bring attention to the fact that he supported the rezoning.”
“It’s possible. If Pierce had already killed once, maybe he didn’t see a big issue with killing again.”
“Maybe not.” He sighed and ran his hand back through his brown curls. “It seems to me Pierce is the one with the motive. Adam was more than likely sleeping with his wife, and maybe he thought revealing the truth about Pierce would give him the opportunity to be with Kathy. I don’t think I have to tell you this again, but this is such a dangerous situation. You’re dealing with a powerful and well-liked politician who is used to getting what he wants. The moment you start to make accusations, you’re going to be in danger. Without any proof, the police won’t be able to offer you any protection.”
“I know, I know. You’re not going to want Brenda involved in this. And you’re right. She shouldn’t be.” She stood up from her chair and adjusted her purse strap on her shoulder.
“Where are you going?” He studied her expression. “You look like you’re up to something.”
“I’m going to speak to Pierce’s wife. If she was in a relationship with Adam, then she should be able to tell me something about his final days and whether her husband found out about their affair.”
“That seems like a risky conversation to have with someone whose husband might be a murderer. How do you know that she wasn’t involved? Maybe Adam threatened to expose their affair, and she killed him herself.” He stood up from his chair. “You have to consider all of the possibilities.”
“I know that, and I think that I am. But I have a better chance of finding out the truth if I talk to her directly than I do if I sniff around for a few weeks. I think it’s worth the risk. I’ll be subtle, and maybe I’ll find out something.”
“Then I’ll come with you.” He reached for his keys on the desk.
“No, you won’t.” Joyce patted his hand before he could pick up his keys. “You need to stay here and make sure that Brenda is safe and stays here. That’s your job. Nothing else.”
“You may feel that way, Joyce, but I don’t. Now I may have never met your husband, but I suspect that if he was here, he would warn you that going alone is a very bad idea.”
“He probably would. But he would also be the first one to go alone, into far more dangerous situations. Though I appreciate your concern, Charlie, this is something that is best done alone. Most women are not going to be willing to confess their affair with another man present.” She smiled and gave him a light pat on the shoulder. “However, it is nice to know that you care. Please don’t tell Brenda where I’m going. She’ll want to tag along, and as you said, it’s best if she doesn’t. I will let you both know what happens after I speak with her, okay?”
“I guess I have no choice but to agree.”
“I guess not.” She smiled, winked at him, then turned and left the house. When she reached her car, she felt a slight shudder of fear. Was he right? Was she being foolish? She pushed past the concern and drove in the direction of Pierce’s address. Although it was later in the day, she knew that Pierce would not be home. He had business meetings on his schedule all day, according to what Charlie looked up. Whether or not Kathy would be home was something she couldn’t be sure of, but it was worth a shot.
When Joyce pulled into the driveway, she noticed two cars. She guessed one belonged to Kathy due to its bright purple shade. The other was older, beat-up, and seemed quite out of place surrounded by the opulence of the three-story, two-winged mansion. Even her own car, which was a few years old, stuck out like a sore thumb. This was a place that only the rich visited. Even more intimidated than before, she considered turning around. However, the presence of the other car made her curious. Adam was not a wealthy man when he died. Perhaps Mrs. Pierce had an affinity for young working-class men. If that was the case, then she might have already moved on to a new beau.
After a few deep breaths, Joyce walked up to the front door and pressed the doorbell. It played classical music instead of any kind of ring. She wondered if anyone inside would even hear it. Just as she was about to knock, the door swung open.
>
“Oh, Mrs. Pierce, hello.” Joyce smiled.
“I thought I was the one that should be surprised, as I was not expecting anyone, but my, you’re as white as a ghost. Are you ill?”
“No.” Joyce cleared her throat and took a good look at Kathy. She was adorned from head to toe in a gold-colored dress with a dramatic low-cut neckline and a sweeping skirt that drifted around her ankles. Paired with high heels and a diamond necklace, it was clear that she intended to go out that evening. “I’m sorry to interrupt you. It’s just, I have something to discuss with you, and I think it will be important to you. It’s about Adam Sonders.”
“Who?” Her eyes widened. She reached up and touched the perfectly coiffed hair piled on the top of her head. “I’m sure it can’t be that important to me.”
“Joyce?” A familiar voice called out to her before the man that it belonged to stepped into the foyer.
“Detective Crackle.” Joyce gritted her teeth.
“What are you doing here?” He squinted as he scrutinized her. “I wasn’t aware that you and Mrs. Pierce knew each other.”
“We don’t.” Kathy frowned. “At least I don’t recall us ever meeting. Am I mistaken, Joyce?” She raised a dark, thin eyebrow.
“No, you’re not mistaken. I’m sorry, this was a misunderstanding. I should go.” She started to step back through the door.
“No, wait.” Kathy grabbed her by the curve of her elbow. “You should stay. Detective Crackle was just leaving. Weren’t you, Detective Crackle?” She pursed her lips as she looked over at him. “I really have nothing else to say.”
“I suppose I have worn out my welcome.” He looked directly into Joyce’s eyes. “Unless of course, Joyce, there’s something you’d like to share with me?”
“No, Detective Crackle. It’s just a friendly visit.”
“A friendly visit with a stranger?” He crossed his arms and looked between both of them.