Lullabies & Lies

by Ruby Blaylock

  While lying about how much money you had wasn’t a crime, Annie got the distinct impression that Philip would do anything to keep the reality of his financial status a secret. Maybe he’d even murder someone to do so.

  She glanced at the clock on her computer screen. The day was getting away from her. If she didn’t do something soon, the Marshalls would leave, and while they weren’t exactly suspects in her mind, they were still behaving very suspiciously. At least, they were behaving much differently than they had when they’d first arrived.

  She closed her laptop. Bills had been paid, the man had been called about the pine tree, and she’d even managed a quick round of Sudoku, but she hadn’t found a way to figure out who killed Kimberly Ashcroft.

  The gentle whimpering of a baby startled her momentarily, at least until she remembered the baby monitor in her pocket. As her heart slowed back to its normal pace, Annie left her office and headed up towards her mother’s room to comfort the waking infant. She’d put her foot on the first stair when she heard something that froze her in her tracks.

  A woman’s voice filled the baby monitor, soothing and cooing to the baby who had now gone silent. Annie hurried up the stairs, rushing to her mother’s room as quickly as she could. Without hesitation, Annie pushed open her mother’s door and bolted inside.

  Well, goodness, lookie here, cooed Marlena, bouncing Emma gently beside the portable crib. I heard her crying and I couldn’t help myself, Marlena explained. I’m sure your mother won’t mind that I came into her room, but she’s obviously busy doing something else, Marlena jibed. You can’t take your eyes off these little ones for a minute at this age, you know.

  I had the baby monitor, Annie explained. And I didn’t hear her cry.

  Oh? It must not be a very sensitive monitor then. Poor little thing was practically sobbing when I came in here and picked her up. I never trusted those things, she added, nodding towards the baby monitor. Now, those new ones, the ones with video, they look alright.

  Annie reached out her arms. I’ll take her. I’m sure she’s probably wet and hungry by now.

  Marlena hesitated. I could change her, if you want. And I think I remember how to hold a bottle, she chirped.

  Annie didn’t want to be rude, but Marlena’s insistence was making her more than a little uncomfortable. She seemed almost desperate to take care of the baby and she was leaving soon, so perhaps there was no harm in letting Marlena help, just a little.

  Why don’t I change her and then you can come downstairs and give her a bottle? Annie suggested. Marlena passed the child to her reluctantly.

  She’s so little, Marlena sighed. I had forgotten how small babies are. And their smell! Oh, I could just bury my nose in her little neck and keep it there forever, she laughed.

  Oh, they can be stinky, too. Luckily, this was a not-so-stinky diaper, Annie said, removing the disposable diaper with one hand while holding the baby still with the other. After a few swift maneuvers, Annie had the new diaper on and held a drier, happier Emma in her arms.

  Let’s go down to the kitchen and see what we can find, Annie said in a sing-song voice to the baby. Marlena watched quietly, following Annie closely as they descended the stairs.

  When they arrived in the kitchen, Annie was surprised to see Emmett and her mother sitting at the wooden table. I thought you would have gone back to the station by now, Annie said to Emmett. Is she distracting you too much to work these days? she teased, nodding towards her mother.

  I’m waiting on some information to be confirmed. It’s a slow day for crime in Coopersville, so why shouldn’t I wait here with the most beautiful woman in the state of South Carolina? He winked at Bessie and she blushed, her pale cheeks turning the rosiest shade of red that Annie had ever seen them turn.

  Oh, Em, you terrible flirt! She smoothed her hair back and pushed her glasses up on her nose a little. Is Miss Emma ready for something to eat?

  I thought Marlena could give her a bottle, if that’s alright. Annie pulled out a chair at the table and indicated that Marlena should sit.

  I guess that would be okay, Bessie replied. Let me warm a bottle up and I’ve got some baby food we can give her, too. Oh, I suppose I’d better get her a bib, though. Annie’s mother fretted and fussed, scurrying to gather the baby’s things. Annie wondered if Bessie didn’t have something else on her mind completely when she handed Annie a tub of butter instead of the applesauce.

  What do you want me to do with this, make the baby some toast? Annie asked, half-jokingly.

  Bessie clapped her hand over her mouth, stifling a laugh. I swear, my head just isn’t screwed on right this afternoon. Here, give me that and take this, she ordered, passing a small jar of applesauce with a picture of a chubby, smiling baby on the label.

  Is everything alright? Annie asked, looking first at her mother, then at Emmett. Both wore matching smirks, but neither seemed willing to ’fess up. Okaaay then, Annie grumbled. She pulled Emma’s high chair up to the table and placed the infant in the seat, strapping her in for safety. Then she laid everything Marlena would need out on the table in front of her, realizing only as she stepped away that she must look terribly patronizing. Of course, the woman knew how to take care of a baby. She’d raised Everett, hadn’t she?

  For her part, Marlena didn’t seem to mind. She simply focused her attention on Emma, fussing and cooing over her like she was the only baby that had ever existed.

  For a moment, the kitchen was quiet, save for the sounds of Emma’s gurgles and Marlena’s cheers when the baby managed to get a tiny bit of applesauce into her little mouth. Annie realized that her kitchen felt cozy and almost peaceful for the first time since the Marshalls had arrived. That feeling didn’t last long.

  What is she doing? Philip’s voice boomed into the kitchen from the open doorway. His tone was one of disgust, his volume tremulous. Emma burst into tears.

  What are you doing? Marlena accused shrilly. You frightened the life out of this poor baby!

  Philip took several deep breaths, seething in the doorway for a long minute. No one spoke, but all eyes watched him for his reaction. Finally, he turned to Emmett. I have been waiting all day for you to come and tell me that I can take Emma home with me. What is taking you people so long?

  Annie rose from her chair before Emmett could reply. Mr. Hutchens, we have been exceedingly patient with you during what I am sure must be a terribly trying time. I only ask that you show us the same courtesy. These things take time. If you can’t be polite, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.

  Philip’s face reddened. He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again. Annie thought he might explode, possibly even undergo spontaneous combustion with all that pent up rage he seemed to have. Fortunately, that didn’t happen.

  Mrs. Marshall, I’m sorry to bother you, but I wondered if you’d like me to load your things into Mr. Marshall’s car now. Gareth appeared behind Philip, completely unaware of the cause of the tension in the room.

  Oh, Gareth, not now! Marlena shrieked, I’m feeding the baby! She clenched her fists and put them to her temples. Oh, my headache is coming back, she growled. This is all I need, she added, scowling past Philip at

  her assistant.

  Sorry, Mrs. Marshall. I’ll just go and see if Mr. Marshall needs anything. He started to retreat, then paused and returned. Mr. Hutchens, if you don’t mind, your car is blocking one of our cars. Would you mind moving it for me?

  Philip took another deep breath, held it for a count, then let it out. Fine, he replied. Let’s do that now, shall we?

  Annie watched as the men retreated into the foyer, then disappeared through the front door.

  That man, Marlena began again, but she cut her rant short. Annie, could I get a couple of those headache tablets you gave me the other day? I’m going to go and lie down until Maxwell wants to leave, she added.

  Annie nodded and went to the cabinet to retrieve the bottle of pain relievers. She palmed two and put the bottle back.
After giving them to Marlena, Annie glanced out of the kitchen window. She could just see the end of the car that Marlena had arrived in parked in a little gravel area near the barn. She couldn’t see Philip or Gareth from where she stood, but she could see the end of Maxwell’s car, just barely, parked neatly beside Marlena’s.

  That’s odd, she thought to herself. She didn’t see any sign of Philip’s car—a grey sedan—blocking either of the Marshall vehicles. And she hadn’t heard the sound of an engine, so he couldn’t have moved it already.

  Curiosity pulled at her like strings on a puppet. Mama, I’ll be right back. I think I left my phone on the front porch earlier, she lied, hoping it sounded like the truth.

  Bessie had her hands full with a swooning Marlena and a sobbing baby. Well, you’d better go and look for it, I guess. I’m going to take Emma upstairs and give her a bottle where it’s quiet, she said, shooting an annoyed look towards Marlena.

  Annie slipped out the front door as quietly as possible, thankful that she didn’t see Gareth or Philip. She crept down the front porch steps and around to the end of the house where the cars were parked. Philip’s car was parked alongside Maxwell Marshall’s car. It was closest to the house, right under a light that lit the cars at night. His trunk was open and both men stood behind it.

  From where she stood, she couldn’t see their faces or hear exactly what they were saying, but they were talking in hushed tones. She wanted very badly to get closer, but she feared that the crunch of the gravel under her feet would give her away. Frustrated, she glanced around, trying to find a better hiding spot to eavesdrop. Her eyes landed on the barn, behind the cars and far enough away that she wouldn’t be seen, but it was too far for her to get to. By the time she snuck around the house and behind the chicken coop, the men would likely have finished their conversation. Of course, they may have simply been sharing horror stories of Marlena’s temper tantrums or discussing the weather, but something in Annie’s gut told her that wasn’t true.

  She craned her neck around the corner of her house, hoping to see something, anything other than the car’s trunk lid, and she was rewarded for her efforts sooner than she’d hoped. Without warning, one of the men closed the lid of the trunk, removing her visibility shield and sending Annie scrambling back around the corner of the house. Fortunately, she was standing on a grassy patch so her retreat was silent, if not exactly elegant. Unfortunately, the grass was wet. She slipped and went down hard against the side of the house, covering her rear in mud.

  Footsteps crunched on gravel. Annie jumped up faster than she thought was humanly possible and sprinted back to the porch, up the few stairs that led up to the porch and threw herself through the front door. She just managed to nab a seat on the next to the last stair step, straining to strike a casual pose that didn’t look at all planned.

  Philip returned first, followed a few seconds later by Gareth. Annie managed a weak smile for each of them, then scowled as they both disappeared up the stairs, presumably to their rooms. Whatever they’d been discussing, she’d missed it completely. Probably it had been harmless, pointless talk about the weather or shameless gossip about the Marshalls, but something about the whole situation still nagged at Annie. Had she missed out on something important, some astounding clue that would help her figure out who killed Kimberly Ashcroft? Or had she simply let her curiosity get the better of her and ruined her favorite pair of jeans in the process?

  27

  Spying on the Guests

  Did you go mud wrestling without inviting me? Rory’s voice followed Annie up the stairs, causing her to pause in her mission to retrieve clean pants. She wiggled her bottom at him teasingly.

  Does that sort of thing turn you on? she asked. Because where I come from, mud’s a beauty treatment, not a kinky thing.

  Rory blushed. I apologize, Miss Purdy, he began, using her maiden name to soften her up. I didn’t mean to insult the beautiful woman of the house and I humbly beg your forgiveness. Now, would you like me to help you change out of those muddy jeans? He gave her a cheeky wink, which made her cheeks flush with color.

  You are pushing your luck, Mister. If my mother heard you propositioning her daughter like that—

  She’d probably tell me to go and put a ring on your finger like Emmett’s trying to do to her? Rory bit back a smile. I think I’d better go to the kitchen and pour myself a cold drink to cool my heated, overly passionate head, he said.

  Might work better if you poured it on your big, passionate head instead, Annie shot back. She turned her back to him once again and started up the stairs, then quickly turned back around. Wait, did you happen to be in the barn just now, before you came in here?

  Rory held up one arm to display a swath of creamy, buttermilk-colored paint on the back of his forearm. You caught me red-handed. Or should I say, cream-armed? I was just painting the back wall of the barn. You were right, this color is going to look amazing.

  Annie ignored the fact that he’d just told her she was right. Of course, she was right. She had decorated the entire inn with very little input from anyone else. Of course she could handle picking the best colors for her beloved barn.

  Did you see Philip and Gareth out by the cars? Could you hear anything they might have been talking about?

  Rory raised one eyebrow. Now, I don’t make it a habit to go around spying on your guests, he began, but it did strike me as odd that they were standing so close together. I mean, don’t the Marshalls hate Philip? And didn’t Gareth replace Kimberly? I don’t see how they would feel comfortable enough to be practically shoulder-to-shoulder out there by Philip’s car.

  Yeah, I thought that was strange, too, Annie agreed. Did Philip move his car while he was out there?

  Rory shook his head. Not that I’m aware of. I didn’t hear him start his engine and it was in the same spot it was in earlier this morning. I think they were just looking at something in the trunk of Philip’s car.

  And they were standing close? Like, how close?

  Real close, Rory replied. Like I said, their shoulders were touching. It looked… He shook his head. I don’t know, but it looked like they were trying to hide whatever was in the back of the car from view.

  Annie’s eyes flared wide, a smile played at her lips. Well, that settles it. She turned and began walking up the stairs once again.

  Where are you going? Rory called out, baffled by her behavior.

  I’m going to go change my pants and then I’m going to go find out what’s in that car, she said in a loud whisper. Wait for me in the kitchen. Oh, and grab me a Diet Coke out of the fridge, will you?

  Rory shook his head and let out a low chuckle, then retreated to the now-empty kitchen to wait for Annie. She didn’t keep him waiting for long. Approximately five minutes later Annie appeared in a clean pair of jeans and a different shirt. She still wore the same determined look on her face, though.

  Thank you for this, she said, popping the tab on the Diet Coke. Caffeine helps me think better, she said, rationalizing her addiction to the sweet, acidic soda.

  You weren’t serious about looking in that car, were you? Rory eyed her over his own glass of sweet tea.

  Yes, sir, I was. I just have to figure out how to pick the lock on the trunk of the car, Annie replied. I’ll bet I can find a YouTube video on how to do it. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and began searching.

  You mean you’re planning on breaking and entering the property of one of your guests because you think he’s acting a little weird?

  He’s acting a lot weird, and yes, I am planning to do just that. Annie didn’t look at Rory. She could feel his

  disapproval from across the table.

  You know, the Chief of Police is still here. And breaking into a car is still illegal. Rory sat his glass down and thumbed the condensation forming along its side. But that Philip is a real hemorrhoid, isn’t he?

  Annie choked back a laugh. Yeah, he’s more than that. Rory, I don’t trust him. I don’t trust him a
t all. He’s just so…so… She struggled to find the right word to describe him. So self-righteous. And I’m sure he’s been lying to us about…something. She crossed her arms. So, I’m going to go out there and see what he’s hiding. You can either be my lookout or—

  Do you even know how to pick the lock on a car like that? Rory leaned towards her. It’s not as easy as it looks on TV.

  Annie’s eyes grew wide. You’ve picked a lock before?

  Rory nodded solemnly. How else do you think I got my keys back after I locked them in the trunk of my car? Mine was an older car, so this might not work for Philip’s car, but if you have two bobby pins you can try. But you have to avoid being seen by Emmett. And Philip. Oh, and you’d have to do it in broad daylight before social services calls and clears Philip to take Emma with him.

  Annie scowled at him. Why do you have to be so reasonable? And practical?

  Somebody has to be, he shrugged.

  Annie rose from her chair and peered out the window. She still couldn’t Philip’s car from this spot, so she hurried to the kitchen door. Opening the door, she stuck her head out and considered the row of cars parked beside her house. After a few seconds, she turned back to Rory, a grin on her face.

  We may not have to pick the lock, she told him. It looks like Philip left his car unlocked! I’ll bet we can just reach inside, pop the trunk, see what’s there, and no one will be the wiser. She darted out the door before Rory could reply, forcing him to leap out of his seat and follow her.

  Annie, I’m really not sure this is a good idea. Maybe we should talk to Emmett first, he urged.

  He’ll just tell us we need to wait for a search warrant. We don’t have that much time. She had reached Philip’s car and put her hand on the handle. Watch my back, Rory.