Murder in South Carolina

by Agnes Alexander

  “How lucky can a guy get?” he asked himself. “The cop being there is a real bonus. They’ll settle Dolly down and then stop for dinner or something. I’ve got all the time in the world.”

  He laughed out loud. Things were turning out better than he ever thought they would. At this moment he didn’t have a doubt in his mind that he would find the rest of the money and then he could make everything all right again.

  For a fleeting moment he was almost sorry it was coming to an end. When it all started, he’d never guessed it would turn into such an interesting game. He liked games. Especially the ones in which he held all the trump cards.

  * * * *

  “Shane, this is a lovely surprise,” Bett sat the large potted fern on a stand in the corner of the living room. “I was going to have to buy a plant for the stand, now you’ve brought exactly the right one. Don’t you think this is a good spot?”

  “I do,” Shane said from the seat he’d taken on the red-and-black checked sofa. “I think greenery always brightens a room. That’s why I like to give it to my customers as a welcome to your new home.”

  “It’s an ideal gift. I’m sure everyone is pleased to get it.” She turned to face him. “Would you like something to drink?”

  “That would be nice.”

  “I think I have a bottle of wine if I can find it in one of these boxes and of course there’s always tea or coffee.”

  “Coffee would be fine.”

  “How about some cookies?” She smiled at him. “A neighbor brought a homemade batch over.”

  “Great.”

  She served the refreshments and then took a seat in an empty arm chair which matched the sofa. “I think I’m really going to like living here.”

  “It’s a good area. Most of the homeowners like it here and they feel safe with the gates to the property.”

  “Mrs. Olive Brunson is the lady that brought the food. She is a full time resident and she spoke highly of living here.”

  He frowned. “Should I know her?”

  “She’s a spunky little lady in her mid-seventies. If you’ve met her, I’m sure she made an impression.”

  “Have you met any of your other neighbors?”

  “Not yet. I’ve been too busy. I thought of taking a week off to get things right, but with the murders still under investigation...”

  “Are you close to solving them?”

  “We get a little closer every day, but we’re not ready to put a definite time on when they will be solved.”

  “It has caused quite a stir in the area.” He smiled. “I listed Mrs. Overton’s house. I think it holds bad memories for her.”

  “I’m sure it does.”

  His cell phone vibrated. “Excuse me, Bett. I have a call.” He pulled out the phone and looked at the number.

  “If you need to make a call, feel free.”

  He laughed. “It’s not that important. I can call later.” He didn’t tell her that the call was from Dolly Overton and at this moment he wasn’t in the mood to go entertain her.

  “Then have another cookie.” Bett held the plate toward him.

  “I’ve had enough.” He flashed her a smile. “A guy has to watch his figure, you know.”

  She smiled. “You look like you’re in pretty good shape to me.”

  “I try to work out a couple of times a week.” He shook his head. “Of course, I could never pass the rigorous test you police officers go through. Now, that’s in shape.”

  “I have to work at it. Now that I’m not on patrol, I could get soft.”

  The phone vibrated again. Shane pulled it out. “It doesn’t look like they’re going to give up.”

  “Would you like to call in private?”

  He stood, “No thank you, Bett. I know what they want. I guess I should go and take care of it.”

  “I’m sorry you have to go.”

  “May I come back and see your place when you’re really settled in?”

  “Of course. I’ll want to show it off.”

  “Then, I’ll say good night.”

  At the door she said, “Thank you again for the lovely plant.”

  He simply nodded and smiled at her.

  * * * *

  It seemed like ages and Shane hadn’t returned her call. Dolly knew it would take Nola Dean at least forty minutes to make the drive and she wasn’t sure she could stay in the house alone with that snake another minute. For the first time she wished she’d been friendlier with her immediate neighbors.

  When Shane didn’t respond to the second ring, she decided she would call Megan. After all, the woman had left her a message and she’d been a good friend after Walter’s funeral. Maybe she would want to come down to tell her the news she’d mentioned on the phone.

  When Megan answered on the second ring, Dolly said, “Megan. I’ve had something terrible happen. Could you come down right away?”

  “What’s happened, Dolly?”

  “Someone left a dead snake in my bathroom. They also left a threat on my wall. Please come.”

  “I’ll be right there.”

  Dolly hung up the phone as the doorbell sounded. For a moment she was frozen on the spot, then her logical mind told her the intruder wouldn’t ring the doorbell if he’d returned.

  “Maybe it’s Nola Dean.” She almost ran to the front door.

  Two uniformed police officers stood on the balcony. “Mrs. Overton?” One of them asked.

  “Yes.” She swung the door open. “Thank goodness you’re here. Please come in.”

  “Detective Randell called for us to come and help you until he arrived.”

  “Thank you.” She took a deep breath. “I was so frightened.”

  “What’s happened, Mrs. Overton?”

  “It’s in my bathroom. It’s hideous.”

  “I’ll take a look,” one of the men said. “Do you want to show me the way?”

  “I don’t want to go back in there. It’s at the end of the hall in my bathroom.” She pointed in the direction of the bedroom. “Are you here alone, Mrs. Overton?” the officer who had remained behind asked.

  “Yes.”

  He indicated a chair. “Maybe you should sit down.”

  “Thank you.”

  The second officer returned form the bedroom. “You might want to take a look in there, Jim.”

  “Get it out of here, please.” Dolly said.

  “I’m sorry, Mrs. Overton. We can’t move anything right now. Detective Randell will want things left as you found them.”

  Though it seemed like forever to Dolly, it was only a matter of minutes until Megan Eller arrived.

  “Who could have done such a thing, Dolly?” Megan asked. “I would have been frightened to death.”

  “Do you think I wasn’t? That horrible thing was hanging right there.”

  “And to know someone was in your house while you were out. That gives me the creeps.”

  The officer named Jim glanced at Dolly. “Your friend had a good question. Do you have any idea who would have done such a thing to you, Mrs. Overton?”

  “I’ve never done anything to anybody. I don’t know why anyone wants to torture me.”

  “What do you have so valuable that would make someone threaten you?” Megan asked.

  “I don’t have anything. Though whoever killed Walter seems to think I do.” She stood suddenly. “Why don’t you policemen do your jobs and catch the man who killed my husband? He’s the one doing these awful things. He may even kill me next.” She burst into sobs.

  Megan stood beside her and looked at the officer. “I think she needs a drink to settle her down. Do you gentlemen have any objections?”

  “No ma’am,” they said almost in unison.

  Chapter 22

  Nola Dean found Dolly and Megan in the den when she and Joe arrived. She joined the women and let the police officer go about his work. She could ask Joe questions later. Besides, she wasn’t in any mood to see a dead snake. Though not as afraid of them as some p
eople, they were not her favorite animal.

  “Dolly, are you sure you can’t think of anything you have that would make someone do this to you?” she asked.

  Dolly shook her head and looked away. Her words were a little slurred when she said, “I’ve told you everything I can think of, Nola Dean. I wish you’d quit pressuring me about it.”

  “I’m sorry,” Nola Dean mumbled. She couldn’t help wondering if Dolly was telling her the truth. The woman usually looked her straight in the eye when they talked. She decided it must be the liquor. It was obvious Dolly had had several drinks.

  “Dolly,” Megan said. “When the police are finished, would you like to go to my house for the night?”

  “I’m certainly not staying here.” She looked at the women. “I thought I’d go to a hotel.”

  “You’re welcome to go home with me, too.” Nola Dean smiled at her.

  “Thank you. You’re both very kind.” She smiled. “I don’t want to offend you, Nola Dean, but you came with that policeman. I don’t think he’d want me tagging along with the two of you.”

  “That’s ridiculous, Dolly. Why should he care?”

  Dolly rolled her eyes. “Well, if you need another reason, your animals are there. You know how that cat makes me sneeze.” She looked at Megan. “Do you have a cat?”

  “No. I don’t have any pets.”

  “That settles it then. I’ll go home with Megan.”

  * * * *

  Three hours later, Joe and Nola Dean were sitting at Plantation Pancake House with a cup of coffee each and sharing a piece of chocolate fudge cake.

  “Has Mrs. Overton given you any reason for the harassment she’s getting?”

  “Not a clue. I keep asking her if there’s something Walter could have had that would make someone this determined to find it. She says she can think of nothing. She said she found a little money hidden in a sock, but that was all.”

  “How much money?”

  “Not much. Only two or three hundred dollars.” She took a bite of cake and pushed it toward him. “That’s all I want. You finish it.”

  He put his fork in the cake. “Do you know if Walter frequented the night spots around here?”

  “I don’t know. Dolly could tell you…or maybe Megan. She worked with Walter so she knows him better than I did.”

  “Have she and Mrs. Overton always been friends?”

  “I don’t think so. They’ve spent some time together since Walter’s death.”

  “Humph...”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Nothing, my eye. Of course it means something.”

  He smiled. “I wonder if they both know more about the murder than they let on.”

  “I don’t think so.” But her mind told her the two women had become close awfully quickly for some reason.

  When he said nothing, she asked, “Was the snake dangerous?”

  “No. It was a small boa. They’re not indigenous to this area so we’re going on the assumption that it came from a pet shop. They are rather expensive, though. I’m surprised someone would go to that length to frighten Mrs. Overton.”

  “I guess you’ll be checking out pet shops to trace down who bought it?”

  “First thing in the morning.”

  “What about the writing on the wall?”

  “He or she, whatever the case may be, picked up a tube of lipstick from Mrs. Overton’s stash on the dressing table to write with. It was dropped on the floor and matched some of her other tubes. I’m betting the culprit wore gloves, and the only prints we’ll get are hers.”

  Nola Dean chuckled.

  “What’s funny?”

  “Nothing. It sounded amusing when you referred to Dolly’s expensive make-up as a stash.”

  He smiled back. “I guess I phrased it wrong, but as much as there was, stash was the only word that came to mind.” He smiled at Nola Dean. “I think we’ve done all we can on this investigation tonight. How about we forget it for a while and take in a movie or go bowling or something?”

  She laughed. “I haven’t bowled since I was a teenager. It sounds like fun.”

  They went bowling and spent most of their time laughing at her form. Joe swore when they did it the next time he was going to get the children’s bumpers put on the sides for her.

  After two games they headed back toward North Myrtle Beach. Traffic increased as they came into the Carolina Opery and Dixie Stampede area. Both shows had let out. It was the same when they reached Barefoot Landing. The Alabama Theater traffic was trying to get on Kings Highway.

  When they reached her condo, Joe put his arms around her and pulled her to him. “I think it’s about time we said good night with a kiss, don’t you?”

  She smiled up at him. “I was wondering if you were ever going to kiss me.”

  Without a word he covered her mouth with his and kissed her gently then more passionately. When he let her go, they were both breathing deeply.

  “I’m sorry it took me so long to work up the courage to do that,” he whispered.

  “Joe…I...” She wanted to invite him in, but she didn’t think it was the right time. Instead, she said, “Good night.”

  He touched her cheek. “May I see you tomorrow?”

  She nodded.

  Again he pulled her close and kissed her again. “Until tomorrow then.”

  Nola Dean pulled away. “Until tomorrow,” she whispered and opened her door.

  He waited until she went inside and had closed the door behind her.

  Inside, she stood in the dark with her back against the door. Her heart was still beating fast and she was smiling. “I don’t believe this is happening,” she whispered as she thought of the kisses and the emotions they had stirred up in her. “And I said I wasn’t ready to get involved with a man. Detective Joe Randell is making me rethink that statement.”

  She flipped on the light and noticed the blinking signal on her answering machine. She reached over and turned it on.

  “Hi, Mom. It’s Emily. I guess you’re not home since you’re not answering. I wanted to say hi. Nothing special. If I get a chance, I’ll call you before class in the morning. Love you.”

  “Damn,” Nola Dean said aloud. “Of all the calls in the world, I hate to miss Emily’s.”

  Maxie came running up with a whine in his throat.

  Nola Dean shook her head. “I guess you do have to go out, don’t you, boy? I left in such a rush, I forgot all about you.” She bent and put on his leash. “Let’s go get it done, Maxie.”

  * * * *

  Mr. Smith watched in fascination as Nola Dean walked along the side of the condo with the red leash in her hand guiding her little black dog. It would be so easy to run up and grab her, but it wouldn’t suit his purpose at this time. Later when it was all over, he was going to make a move. She was the kind of woman he needed in his life. She was young and beautiful and she was fun. When a man entered a room with her on his arm it would make a statement. A statement that all other men in the room would envy. He only hoped she wouldn’t get any more involved in this situation. It would be such a shame to have to do away with her.

  She glanced in his direction and he bent his head as if he were really talking into the public phone on the corner. He knew he didn’t have to be this careful. She would never recognize him. Not in the blue jeans, flannel shirt, and Atlanta Braves baseball cap. Even the false beard he’d glued on his chin was a good disguise. No one would ever mix him up with the businessman who had been recognized in the strip club. Now he could come and go as he pleased. Though he was fairly well known around the golf courses and better restaurants in the area in his business attire, he could go anywhere and not be recognized in this get up. He had to keep this disguise where he could get at it in a hurry.

  He watched as Nola Dean headed back into the building and disappeared. He waited a few minutes then saw her light go off in the living room and come on in the bedroom. In another few min
utes the lights all went off in her condo. He moved to his rented car. There was no need to hang around any longer. She wouldn’t be making any calls tonight.

  Pulling into Ocean Boulevard, he wondered if he dared go to the strip club in this get up. It would be fun to sit there and watch everyone and...No. He stopped himself. Not tonight. There was other work to be done tomorrow and he needed to get some rest. It was getting late. It was time to call it a night and go to bed.

  Chapter 23

  “Mom,” Emily said. “I think it’s great you’ve decided to stay longer at the beach. Why don’t you stay till Thanksgiving? I’ll come there.”

  “You know I can’t stay until then, honey. I have the business to think about. But if you want to come here for Thanksgiving, we will.”

  “You said the business was running smoothly without you being there.”

  Nola Dean sighed. “You’re right. They don’t seem to need me.”

  “Not feeling sorry for yourself, are you Mom?”

  “Of course not,” she almost snapped. “Sometimes I think I should hire Danny to run the business and do something else.”

  “If you want to do something else, then I say, go for it.”

  “It’s not that easy, my love.”

  “I know it’s not easy, but if you really want something, then you should try for it.”

  “How did one so young get to be so wise?”

  “I had a good teacher.” Emily laughed. “Tell me something. If you could do anything in the world, what would it be?”

  Nola Dean thought a minute. “I’m not sure. I think I’d like to be a private detective.”

  Emily laughed again. “Of all the things in the world, that would have been my last guess. Why a private detective?”

  “I think it’s because I’ve gotten somewhat involved in Walter’s murder. I like working with the police and I think I have a good instinct about some of the things that are happening. Joe tells me I have anyway.”

  “Who’s Joe?”

  “The police detective handling the murder investigation. I’ve gone out with him a few times.”

  “Tell me about him.”

  “There’s nothing much to tell. He’s talked to me several times about the Overton case.”