by Cindy Bell
Ally’s thoughts were interrupted when the baby beside her began to cry. She tensed at the sound. She wasn’t often around children and the cry was so shrill that it ruffled her nerves. The woman did her best to soothe the baby, but the baby did not calm down. With the large crowd, the noise in the room, and the ineffective air conditioning she could understand why the baby was upset. She glanced at the man beside her as he stood up and walked over to the woman. When he paused in front of her Ally braced herself for what might happen next. Would he yell at her? Tell her to leave? Even threaten to hurt the baby?
“Here, let me try.” He held his arms out to the wailing infant. The woman hesitated.
“He’s just teething.”
“Trust me, I’ve had six. Let me give it a try.”
“Okay.” She handed over the baby, but remained close to the man. The man made a funny face at the baby, then swung his hips and rocked the baby in a circular motion. The baby calmed right away. The woman stared at him in amazement. So did Ally. She’d been so ready to assume that he was violent, or a criminal, just because he was big with lots of tattoos. Instead he was a sweet and warm man. If she had misjudged him, who else had she been misjudging?
“Ally?” A man walked towards her in a black suit with a badge on his hip.
“Yes.” She stood up to greet him. “Are you the detective working the Smithson case?”
“Yes, I am. I’m Detective Neil. I hear you have some information for me?”
“I do.”
“You discovered the body didn’t you?”
“Along with Luke. He’s with the Blue River Police Department.”
“Luke Elm, yes. I’ve already spoken to him. I’m glad you came in. I was going to send a car to pick you up.”
“I’m afraid I might not have much to discuss.”
“We’ll see. Follow me please.” As she followed after him she wondered if his brisk attitude was because of the crowd in the lobby or because of an idea he already had about her. Once they were alone in his office, he gestured to a chair in front of his desk. “Please, sit. I have some questions for you.”
“Okay.” She sat down across from him. “What are they?”
“How did you know to go looking for Shane?”
“When the second half of the movie didn’t begin to play, I thought we should check on him. Shane’s a responsible guy, especially when it’s about work, and I figured something had to be wrong if he was late switching the reels.”
“So you knew him well?”
“Not too well, just in passing. But he was an easy guy to know, if you know what I mean.”
“I don’t.” He locked eyes with her across the desk. “What does that mean?”
“He was an easy going person, he seemed open. He was friendly.”
“Ah, I see. So you two flirted a bit?”
“Flirted.” She narrowed her eyes. “No, not at all. We talked about his photography and film school in passing. It’s my job to be friendly to customers.”
“So he was just a customer?”
“More like a friend.”
“So was he a customer or a friend?”
“Most of the customers in the shop become our friends. We’re very connected to the community.”
“In Blue River. But Shane was from Geraltin. Still he made the effort to go to your shop when there are plenty of places to buy candy in Geraltin. You must have made quite an impression on him.”
“Our shop offers some unique flavors, and it is the only shop in the area that makes handmade chocolates. Plus, he worked both in Geraltin and Blue River. His parents live in Blue River and he grew up there. We went to the same school growing up, but he was younger than me.”
“It seems to me that you know an awful lot about a man who was just a customer.”
“Detective, sorry but what was your name again?”
“Detective Neil.”
“Detective Neil, I’m not sure what you’re trying to get at here, but I don’t appreciate your tone.”
“Oh you don’t?” He laughed and slapped his hand against the desk. “Well then, I’d better take some kind of sensitivity class, huh?”
“I think we might have got off on the wrong foot. I came here of my own free will, I’ve been polite to you, so why are you talking to me like a suspect?”
“Maybe because you are?”
“I am?” She stood up from the chair. “How am I a suspect?”
“Sit back down, please.” He raised an eyebrow. “Just because your boyfriend works for the police, that doesn’t exclude you from suspicion, you realize that right? And you’re demonstrating non-compliance at the moment, that doesn’t help your case.”
Ally rolled her eyes and sat back down in the chair.
“Okay, let’s try this again. Why do you think I’m a suspect?”
“You knew the victim, you and your boyfriend discovered his body, and that leads me to question whether perhaps you had something to hide about your relationship with the deceased. Maybe there was more between you, and good old Luke found out about it? Hmm? He might have been jealous. Things got out of hand, and Shane ended up dead.”
“What an awful thing to think.” She shook her head. “None of that is true. Luke would never do anything to hurt anyone. I have no interest in any man other than him, and he knows that.”
“You think he does, but maybe he suspected…”
“No, I’m sorry, I have to stop you right there. This is complete nonsense. I had nothing to do with Shane’s death, and neither did Luke. We happened to be there. Besides, the security guard followed us into the room.”
“But before that you had an entire half of a movie to do whatever you pleased in the projection room. It was dark, no one would notice if you disappeared for a little while.”
“I see your point, but no, we had nothing to do with it. Shane was a customer, who I was friendly with, that was all. He was a good man, and he didn’t deserve this. I came here because I wanted to help you with the case.”
“And how do you think that you can do that?”
“With these.” She placed the flash drives on the desk. “They belonged to Shane. I’m not sure if these will help or not. Shane left them in a bag of chocolates at my shop. We didn’t find them until this morning.”
“We?”
“My grandmother and I. We run the shop together.”
“I see. It’s after ten now, what took you so long to bring them in?”
“I waited in line and the lobby for quite some time. Anyway, hopefully they will give you something to go on.”
“What makes you think we don’t have something to go on already?”
“I don’t know. You haven’t made an arrest have you? And if I’m your main suspect then you are really way off.”
“When it comes to this crime, everyone is a suspect.”
“Maybe, but your job is to find the killer. Are you any closer to that?”
“We’re getting closer every minute.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Shane was a nice person, and a very talented film student. I can’t imagine who would want to hurt him. Maybe the films will give you a clue.”
“I hope so.” He picked up the drives.
“I only want to help.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He reached across the desk and offered his hand. She took it in a mild shake.
“Detective Neil.”
“Ally.” He nodded to her as she turned to walk out of the office. She left the parking lot hoping that the detective would stop looking at her and Luke as suspects and would find the murderer.
Chapter 6
When Ally got back to the shop her grandmother locked up straight away
“We should hurry, I don’t want to keep the shop closed for too long.”
“Sure.” Ally frowned.
“Is something wrong?” Charlotte walked to the car with her.
Once they were inside Ally filled her in on the encounter she had at the poli
ce department.
“I can’t believe this Detective Neil actually considers you or Luke a suspect. Now I’m really concerned about the skills of the Geraltin Police.”
“I don’t know, when he explained his suspicions to me, it actually made sense. Obviously they’re not accurate, but the way he connected me to Shane, and then Luke to me, and the jealous lover scenario, it’s not the worst theory I’ve ever heard.”
“That’s true. Hopefully, he’ll solve this quickly. Maybe he’ll find something on the flash drives to help him.”
“I hope so.” They pulled up to the address of Shane’s parents’ house. It was a small home with a neat lawn, and two small flower beds. It looked like a home that a family took pride in.
“Are we ready for this?” Ally looked over at her grandmother.
“Will we ever be?” Charlotte offered a sad smile as she opened her door. Ally carried the tray of brownies and the bag of fudge and chocolate as they walked up the front path. Charlotte knocked on the door, then glanced over at Ally. Ally forced a small smile. As uncomfortable as it was for them to be there, they both knew it was necessary. Shane’s parents were faced with the horrible task of burying their child, and that was not something they should face alone. The door swung open and Shane’s mom stood before them.
“Oh, Ally. How can I help you?” She pressed a tissue beneath her nose. Ally looked at her soft green sweater vest, and the slope of her soccer mom haircut. She was only in her forties from what she could guess.
“We wanted to offer you our sympathies, Mrs. Smithson, and see if there was anything you might need.”
“That’s kind of you.” She sniffed the air. “Those smell delicious. I feel like I’m not supposed to be able to eat, and yet that’s all I want to do. I guess, I keep hoping it will get rid of this ache in the pit of my stomach.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss, Maggie.” Charlotte stepped forward and placed her hand on the woman’s shoulder.
“Thank you.”
“Maggie, who is at the door?” A tall man with broad shoulders walked up behind the shorter woman. “Charlotte, Ally.”
“We just wanted to offer our condolences.” Ally held out the tray of brownies to Shane’s father, whose cheeks were flushed red. “Shane liked these, we thought that you might like them, too, or perhaps have them to share with others that may stop by.”
“Please come in, sit with us for a little while?” Maggie looked between the two women.
“Yes, sure we can do that.” Ally stepped aside so that her grandmother could make her way in first, then she followed after her.
“How are you two holding up?” Charlotte asked.
“Not well.” Maggie sat down on the edge of the couch. “It hurts so much to think that someone would do something like this to Shane. He was such a good boy growing up. I still don’t understand what he might have been mixed up in.”
“He never had any trouble with anyone?” Ally sat down on the couch beside her.
“Not that I know of, not even in school. Everyone liked him. The neighbors, his teachers, even the local strays. I mean, he was just a good person. They say bad things happen to good people, but I guess I never really understood what that meant until now.”
“Try not to dwell on it.” Her husband sat down on the other side of her. “He’s gone now, there’s nothing that can be done.”
“There’s something.” Maggie’s hands balled into fists. “We can find out who did this to him, and make sure that person never does it again to anyone else. No mother should experience this kind of heartbreak.”
“You’re absolutely right.” Ally took one of her hands in her own. “If there’s anything that you can think of, anything at all that might help the police find out who it was?”
“There’s nothing. I mean, he was dating a young woman and things went sour. That was a rough patch, but he straightened himself out.”
“What do you mean they went sour?”
“He liked her, she liked him, too. But he wanted to focus on his film career, and she was more interested in getting married, starting a family. He understood where she was coming from, but he didn’t want to settle down just yet. He had a few more years of school, and wanted to pursue his film career before he set down roots. So they went their separate ways. He was upset, but then he just stopped talking about it.”
“What about any special projects he was working on? Did he mention any to you?”
“Just the screening of Clara Davis’ movie. He was a huge fan of hers. He’s always liked older movies, even as a young boy. He thought they were more theatrical and intriguing than modern films. He was excited to work at the screening.”
“So there was nothing he seemed nervous or upset about?”
“Not really.” His father frowned. “He called me at work yesterday and said there was something he needed to talk to me about. But I was in the middle of a meeting and I asked him if we could discuss it today.” He covered his eyes with his hands. “I put him off, and now he’s not even here to tell me. I keep thinking there must have been something I could have done.”
“There was nothing you could have done.” Maggie patted her husband’s knee.
“Did Shane mention any unhappy customers? Someone who might have been angry enough to want to hurt him?” Ally asked.
“Just the one, Mario Mazzalli. I warned him when he took the job that the guy was a thug. He has a bad reputation, and is known for complaining or intimidating to get out of paying for something. The bride made a specific request of Shane. She wanted a video diary of her wedding, not a traditional video that focused mainly on her. She was quite happy with the video, but her father decided to throw a tantrum. Shane refused to give the man a refund despite the terrible reviews that he published all over the internet. I was proud of him for standing his ground, but now I wonder if he just should have refunded the money and been done with it,” his father said.
“Do you think that Mario could have been involved in Shane’s death?” Ally asked.
“I don’t know what to think. Yesterday if you asked me if I thought anyone would do anything to hurt Shane I wouldn’t have been able to come up with a single name. Now that he’s gone, sure Mario looks a little more threatening. I just don’t know.”
“I understand,” Ally said.
“If there’s anything either of us can do to help you, please just let us know,” Charlotte said. “Or if you just want to talk, I’m available anytime.”
“Thank you so much.” Maggie hugged them both before Ally and Charlotte left the house.
“That was hard, Mee-Maw.”
“I know.” Charlotte opened the car door. “Losing your mother at a young age is not an easy burden for you to carry, but losing a child it just feels unnatural. Parents never expect to outlive their children.”
Ally glanced back at the house before she climbed into the car.
Chapter 7
When Charlotte and Ally returned to the shop Ally helped her grandmother open it back up. Then once everything was ready to function, she gave her a warm hug.
“Why don’t you go home for the afternoon? It’s not going to be too busy. I can handle this myself.”
“I don’t need to, I’ll be fine, Ally.”
“I know you will be.” She looked into her eyes. “But I’d feel better knowing that you had some time to relax. Tomorrow we’ll be much busier, and who knows what will happen on the day of Shane’s funeral. Take the time now when you can put your feet up and relax a little. Maybe see your boyfriend.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Okay, your man that’s a friend.”
“That’s better.” Charlotte grinned. “Maybe that is a good idea. I am still a little tired from coming in so early. I could use a nap. But are you sure you’ll be all right here?”
“Yes, I’ll be fine. Mee-Maw, go get some rest.”
After her grandmother left, Ally set about arranging the chocolates on the glass dis
play shelves. As she positioned each one she thought about the different people that she had seen at the screening the night before. Was there anyone there that was unusual? Was anyone acting suspiciously? She was so caught up in spending time with Luke that she didn’t really pay attention to anyone else around her. She recalled that it was quite crowded, but no one stood out to her.
Once the chocolates were arranged she brought the laptop out to the front counter. When she turned it on she found she still had Shane’s website open on her internet browser. She looked through it again, then decided to do a little research on Mario. There was no harm in doing a little digging online. It wasn’t hard to find dirt on him. His name turned up everything from scathing rants against him, to articles about his latest scheme. He had his hands in everything from pyramid schemes to horse race betting. Every picture of him she came across featured a menacing expression. It was easy to imagine that he was a murderer with such an intimidating presence. She decided to look at the film clips again to see if she could find any clues. She first looked at the one of Shane filming what she presumed were drug dealers. She was so engrossed in the film that she barely noticed the bell ring above the door. When a pearl-covered purse plopped down on the counter in front of her she jumped, and looked right into the eyes of Clara Davis.
“Pardon me, are you busy?” The woman that stood before the counter was every bit as regal as she had been the night of the movie.
“You’re Clara Davis.” Ally’s eyes widened.
“Why yes, I am.” Her perfectly painted lips stretched into a small smile. “Thank you for reminding me.”
“I’m sorry, I’m just surprised to see you.”