“How can you be sure that it’s not someone else? It’s a common name, you know."
“Yeah, but you fit the details."
“I saw you with her a couple of times,” Daniel added, “I know for a fact that something’s going on between the two of you."
Jimmy took a deep breath, “Yeah, I was on the phone with her last night,” he said, “She was worried, just like the rest of you,” he went on, “And I told her to calm down because she seemed to be…losing her mind, you know what I’m saying?”
“Losing her mind?” Emmy asked, “So, you’re saying that she had no reasons to ask you about your, er, connections with Annabeth?”
“You have sharp ears, my dear,” he said, “Look…” he cleared his throat and talked silently, “Annabeth and I…well, yeah, let’s just say the girl got drunk once and…” he sighed, “I shouldn’t be telling you this,” he went on, “Look, just…it’s none of your business, Emmy, and, you know? The sooner you stay away, the better.”
“What makes you say that?”
“You have no business here,” he said, “Sky Valley’s not for you."
“Sky Valley’s my hometown."
“Which you left, all those years ago,” he said, “Go back to Paris, Emmy,” he said, “then you’ll be alright."
“Nonsense,” she said, “There’s really something you’re not telling me about.”
“Jimmy, look,” Daniel said, “You just have to tell us what you know.”
“I—“ Jimmy wasn’t able to finish what he was going to say because someone opened the door. It was Tripp Meyer, Annabeth’s dad.
What was he doing here?
“Emmy,” he said, “and Daniel, what in God’s name are you doing here?”
“We just wanted to ask Jimmy some questions,” Emmy said.
“You are not an investigator, Miss Byrne,” he said, “So, really, you should not be asking Jimmy or anybody any questions.”
“Well, I think Jimmy knows something,” she said, “Don’t you want to know what really happened to your daughter?”
“That’s a really powerful statement, Emmy,” he said, “but don’t you dare talk to me like that. I’m doing everything I can to put the person who killed my daughter in jail.”
“Really,” Emmy said, “did you actually know that the coffee wasn’t actually for Annabeth?”
Tripp’s face lost color. He cleared his throat, “I don’t know what you’re talking about."
“You see,” Emmy said, “She actually ordered French Vanilla Coffee, not Irish. The coffee that she drank? That was for me. So, you see, if I drank that coffee, I would have died.”
“Well, that’s unfortunate, but it’s my daughter who died,” he said, “so don’t you dare ask me about that. Don’t you dare accuse me of anything.”
“I am not accusing you of anything,” she said, “I just want to know the truth. And why are you so defensive?”
“I could file a case against you,” Tripp said, “You’re trespassing.”
“You don’t live here.”
“But my assistant does,” he said, “And besides, you should tell your dear Audrina not to come here anymore, and not to ask Jimmy questions. She’s no detective either.”
“She was here?” Emmy asked, surprised.
“Yes,” Tripp said, “She definitely was. You see, Miss Byrne, someone’s been lying to your face all this time, and as I understand, she’s currently living in your house, too. Go home. You might find that your father’s dead.”
Emmy shook her head, “This won’t be the last time--”
“Go home.”
“Em, come on,” Daniel led her back to the car and they drove away.
“I can’t believe Audrina went there,” she asked, “that’s why she’s missing this morning. God, I don’t know what to think anymore, Dan.”
“Listen,” he said, “You have to make Audrina feel like you’re on her side, okay?” he said, “If she really knows something about this, then you have to let her admit it but don’t force her. She might…run away or something, I don’t know.”
Emmy nodded her head, “You’re right,” she said, “Dan, go home, I also want you to check Nana Tish, okay? I’m also scared for her."
“Don’t worry, Em, everything’s going to be alright."
“I hope so."
And she really hoped with all her heart that he was right.
CHAPTER 16
PRETTY LITTLE LIES
When Emmy went back inside the house, she found Audrina and her father in the kitchen, laughing. The air seemed light, until she came in.
“Emmy!” Troy said.
“Dad,” Emmy said.
“Audrina and I were just…well, I told her I didn’t really know about making these macarons, I tried, you see and—“
“And they burned!” Audrina laughed.
“Anyway, I have to get going,” Troy said, “I’ll see you two later."
“Alright,” Emmy muttered, “Audrina,” she said, “Hi.”
“Hi,” Audrina said, “So, I saw you made some cupcakes and macarons earlier…oh my God, they were so good! Especially those brown cupcakes over there, what are those?”
“Carrot cupcakes,” Emmy said, “They’re actually not that hard to make."
“Your dad tried to make macarons, though,” she said, “He’s so funny. He said that maybe they’re just like cupcakes but--”
“They’re totally different,” she said, “especially when making the filling is involved,” she smiled, “Did you like them?”
“They’re super delicious,” she answered, “I think we should place them in really nice paper packages, you know, those designed with hearts and the like…that would be cute, don’t you think?”
“I like that idea,” Emmy said, “So…where were you this morning?”
“Oh, uhm, I just…” Audrina said, obviously racking her brains for what she could tell Emmy, “I was…I went hiking."
“Hiking?”
“Yeah."
“Where?”
“Somewhere near…”
“The White Mountains, perhaps?”
“No!” Audrina said a little too fast, “That’s…that’s really not a good place for hiking, Em,” she said, “And uhm, well, I visited a friend,” she laughed nervously, “oh wow, I’m shaking…I must have had too much coffee, oh my god."
“Coffee,” Emmy said, “Right. It’s never good when you drink too much of that.”
“Right,” Audrina said, “So, what about you, where were you?”
“Oh, Dan and I also visited an old friend."
“That’s nice,” she said, “So…spending more time together and all?”
“Yeah, you could say that.”
“That’s good.”
“You know, Audrina, I’m thinking of hiking, too…Could you take me one time? And, I’d really love to check out the White Mountains, you know,” she said, “I feel like that’s a good place to start."
“Why are you so obsessed with that place?” She said, “I told you, it’s really not a good place for hiking.”
“Sorry."
“No, uhm, I’m sorry, I didn’t really mean to raise my voice like that…I guess I’m just…I’m just tired…I think I need to rest."
“Yeah, you do that,” she said, “We’ll just talk about the cupcakes tomorrow, alright?”
“Okay."
Emmy nodded her head, “Jesus Christ,” she muttered as Audrina went away. She fished for her phone and punched Dan’s number. He picked up after three rings.
“Dan, she deliberately just lied to me." She said.
“She didn’t tell you she went to the White Mountains?”
“No,” she said, “She said she went hiking and when I asked her about the White Mountains, she said that it’s not a good place for hiking and that she visited a friend, but really, how can I believe her?” she went on, “Dan, I think she’s with Jimmy on this…God!"
“Easy,” he said, “
I’ll be there, okay?” he went on, “I’ll sleep there tonight…Anyway, Nana Tish visited some friends nearby and said she’ll be staying there for a while. One of her friends just lost her husband, that’s why.”
“Will she be okay?”
“She will,” he said, “I’ll be there, okay?”
“Okay."
***
Later that evening, Emmy saw her father looking out one of their large windows in the living room.
“Dad?” Emmy said as she came up to him.
“Oh, hi, Em,” her father said. “You know where Audrina’s going?”
“No,” She said, “Did she just leave?”
“Yeah, she told me that she’d just visit a sick friend,” he said, “I don’t know why she has to visit him this late at night though."
“Oh,” Emmy said and took a deep breath.
“Why are you up, Em?”
She shrugged, “Why are you?”
“Good point,” he said, “Dan’s in there?”
“Yeah,” she smiled lightly, “drooling now!”
They laughed, “Dad,” she said, “How much do you trust Audrina?”
Troy looked at her for a while, took a deep breath, and answered, “With all my heart,” he said.
“Really? Why?”
“Because she’s a nice girl,” Troy said.
“Nice girls aren’t always nice.”
“Yes,” he said, “You’re right, but you know, Em…Audrina? She’s been through a lot. Lost both her parents at a young age, and made her way to Georgia so she could work. She’s smart, too. I know she’s misunderstood but…”
“You love her, don’t you?”
He shrugged.
She took a deep breath, “Good night, dad."
“Good night, Em."
CHAPTER 17
POISON
Cyanide is released by substances that are commonly found in almonds, lima beans, and cassava, and is also contained in plastic and cigarette smoke.
It can either come in crystal forms that are easily dissolved when added to liquid, or to food products, and can make its way towards one’s body organs right away. It can also come in gas form, and when inhaled, can cause someone’s death.
Cyanide is also used in Photography—to develop films, mettalurgy, metal cleaning, and even electroplating.
“Oh my God!" Emmy said as she finished reading the encyclopedia entry for Cyanide on the internet. She was having breakfast with Dan at the dining room that morning. They were having coffee and Gingerbread Cupcake that they made earlier. “Oh my God, Dan!"
“What is it?”
“Look,” Emmy said, letting Daniel read the entry, “Cyanide is used in photography,” she said, “You said Jimmy was into photography, right?” She went on, “It can also be dissolved when added to food products or liquid…Oh Lord,” she said, “This might have something to do with both Audrina and him!” She said, “Is Audrina up? We’ve got to talk to her."
“Em, wait--”
But Emmy was already running up the stairs, towards her room, where Audrina sleeps in. The door was open, and Audrina was there, listening to a CD on her computer. Daniel and Emmy were both sure that it was Audrina’s voice on the recording.
“She should just be gone, you know?” Audrina said, “I can’t stand her,” she laughed, “I don’t even know why Matthew’s marrying him. She is such a bitch!"
“Oh my God!” Emmy exclaimed.
“Emmy? Dan?” Audrina said, “What are you doing here?” She easily took out the CD from the computer and was about to keep it in her bag but Daniel beat her to it. Daniel took the CD from her and locked the door.
“Give me that!” She cried out, “Daniel please, it’s not what you think."
“I trusted you!” Emmy said, “Audrina, I trusted you. I asked you the other night if you were hiding something from me and you said you weren’t and now, this? That’s your voice right there."
“Yes, but you don’t understand..."
“What don’t I understand?” Emmy said, “You said you wanted Annabeth gone and you couldn’t even understand why Matthew wants to marry her! Who were you talking to?”
“I was—that was--”
“It was Jimmy, wasn’t it?” Emmy asked, “You were talking to Jimmy. You took that CD from him last night, didn’t you? And you really didn’t go hiking yesterday, you went to see Jimmy. And you lied to me about it.”
“What? You’d expect that I’d tell you? Emmy, you don’t even believe me. You think that I’m lying. You heard me talk to Jimmy, didn’t you? Yeah, fine, I was talking to him, but I only wanted him to tell me the truth.
“That day when…when Annabeth died, I wasn’t in a good mood. I mean, there she was, talking to me like I was vermin…like I didn’t, like I wasn’t a person, you know what I mean, Em? She kept on asking me to do this and that without even thinking about how I’d feel about those things. So, of course, I was mad. And Jimmy was inside the kitchen, it’s my fault, I told him there was this door at the back. He’d visit me there some days.
“That day, he was asking me to…you know, go out with him again. We broke up already, and I knew he and Annabeth went out once. I just know it, okay? I saw them once, some months back, I was driving around one evening and saw him going down Annabeth’s balcony, then next thing I know, she was pregnant…and she said that Matthew’s the father…
“Jimmy was left in the kitchen for like, a minute or two. You know, when Annabeth asked me to bring you some macarons, and when I came back, I just took the coffees out. I swear to God, Em, I didn’t poison her. I would never do that.”
“But the coffee was actually for me,” Emmy said, “Remember? She ordered French Vanilla.” She went on, “And…Why would you even say that you wanted her to be gone?”
At this, Audrina flared up, “Of course, I wanted her gone! Jesus Christ, she makes all our lives miserable! Are you happy with that now?!”
“Audrina—“
Audrina was going to run out of the door but Officer McMahon and some of her cohorts were outside the door.
“Come back here!” Troy said, following Officer McMahon up the stairs.
“Miss Naimero,” she said, “Good thing you’re here.”
“What are you doing here?” Emmy asked.
“We’re arresting Miss Naimero for the murder of Miss Meyer,” she said, “Mr. Tripp Meyer sent us some CDs a while ago. The CDs were a recording of your voice, Miss Naimero,” she went on, “Where you said that you wanted Miss Meyer gone. And, we also heard you outside. You said she deserves to be gone, right? Apparently, someone sent Mr. Meyer the tapes, and luckily, you’re here."
“This is all a lie,” Troy said, “Audrina, tell them, tell me that they’re lying—“
Audrina then cried, “I’m sorry." was all she said.
Daniel hugged Emmy who was also crying then. They were going to handcuff Audrina already when suddenly, Jimmy came.
Emmy was confused, “Jimmy!" she said.
“Miss Byrne,” he said, “Officer McMahon, you have to let Audrina go."
“Jimmy, what are you talking about?” Tripp said, “We’re arresting her for Annabeth’s murder."
“I know,” Jimmy said, “but she didn’t kill Annabeth. I did.”
“What?”
“I’m confused,” Officer McMahon said, “Jimmy, right? We have the evidence,”
“That’s not complete evidence, no,” he said, “I have the complete sound recording with me.” He then fished out a sound recorder from his pocket, and pressed play. Audrina’s and Jimmy’s voices were heard.
“She should just be gone, you know? I can’t stand her. I don’t even know why Matthew’s marrying him. She is such a bitch.”
“Yeah, she is.”
“But you slept with her, you prick.”
“Yeah, well, she was drunk…we both were…her father could be…well, he could put a lot of pressure on everyone.”
“And you know that.”
“Don’t be silly. You’re better than that.”
“So, we could go on a date again?”
“Shut up.”
“Audrina, can you come out here a second?”
That was Annabeth’s voice.
“See? Bitch.”
The sound of the door banging was heard.
Ah, sorry, woman.
Then came the sound of something being poured down a glass, followed by Jimmy’s voice.
Jimmy stopped the recording. “That was me, talking to Audrina. And you heard Annabeth’s voice, too.”
“Oh my God, Jim,” Audrina cried, “Don’t—“
Everyone was shocked. Emmy felt like there was something else that they needed to know, though, but she couldn’t put two and two together. What was obvious is that Jimmy poured crystallized cyanide into the coffee, and that the look on Tripp Meyer’s face was priceless: He looked incredulous, and seemed to be in a lot of shock, too, but more because of the fact that Jimmy seemed to want himself to be incarcerated.
Jimmy shook his head, “I’ve always hated Annabeth, until that night when we…well, when something happened between us."
“Jimmy,” Tripp said.
“Let me finish, Tripp,” Jimmy said, “Well, she was under a lot of pressure, and you know, she always tried to keep up with appearances and all that…and one night, we found ourselves talking about hurts and pains and all that, and well, something happened…you know…then next thing I knew, she was going to marry Matthew because she told everyone that he’s the father, and of course, that hurt me. I’m a man, you know, and I was going to do my job. I was going to be a good father, and then, that happened…So of course, I harbored some hatred, and when I found a way to…to kill her, I did."
Tripp’s eyes widened.
“I’m sorry,” Jimmy said, “I am not…I’m not an evil person, but…I had to do what needs to be done, and I’m sorry."
“But that coffee was for me,” Emmy said, “You didn’t plot to kill me?”
“About that,” Jimmy said, “I knew Annabeth would…would take your coffee, that’s how she is. She never liked French Vanilla. She ordered that maybe because she was in a fit or hormones or something.
William Jarvis - Sky Valley 01 - Coffee, Cupcakes & Murder Page 6