by Marja McGraw
Stanley walked to the front of the office where he watched Joshua walk away. “This guy makes me like Chris a little more.”
“I know what you mean.” Pete winked at me behind Stanley’s back.
I leaned back in my chair. “We’re not getting anywhere with this case. We need to move on it, and move fast. I know the police are working, but it seems that the most likely suspects are coming to us.” I wondered if they, the suspects, thought we were stupid and we might throw a wrench in the police investigation. Guess we’d just have to surprise them.
“We’re doing as much as we can for the moment,” Pete reminded me. “You’ve talked to the Lawsuit Queen and I’ve talked to the painter, and we’re going to talk to Pamela. I think I’ll call Traci Marks and meet with her, too. She left the party before the police arrived, and maybe there’s a reason.” Pete paused, watching me fumble around with the items on my desk. “What are you looking for?”
“The photos that Jolly took at the party. I want to take a closer look at them and see if there’s anything in the pictures. I’m sure I left the package on my desk.” I opened the drawer to see if I’d shoved them inside. They weren’t there.
“I can’t understand… Yes Stanley?”
He was waving his hand in the air like a kid in class. “I know where they are.”
I waited but he didn’t say anything. “Well? Where are they?”
“I returned them to Felicity during my lunch hour. I didn’t know you wanted to take another look at them. I’m sorry, Sandi.”
“That’s okay, but I’m beginning to feel like I’m not meant to study those photos. Which reminds me, did Jolly ever call back about pictures of the burning scarecrow?”
Pete and Stanley both shook their heads.
“Haven’t heard a word,” Pete said.
I sighed. Couldn’t someone go the extra mile and make life a little easier? “I’ll call him again and remind him that I need those, if he even took any outside that night.”
“He took pictures of everything else. I think he might have imbibed a little too much because Felicity tells me he’s not normally obnoxious with his photography. He was beginning to annoy everyone.” Stanley stopped speaking and turned back to his computer.
“Stanley? Is there something else you’d like to say?” He’d turned away too abruptly and I knew there was something on his mind.
“Well, I’m just upset at the way Felicity’s party turned out. She worked so hard to put it together, and then everyone drank too much. And there was the murder. It just doesn’t seem fair.”
And there was the murder. He made it sound so simple.
Poor, sheltered Stanley. He’d never had the opportunity to be a Party Boy and had no clue that this is how many parties turn out. Well, minus the killing. That would be out of the norm.
I glanced at my watch and, noting the time, stood up. “This is ridiculous. Do you guys realize this is Sunday? And it’s almost six o’clock? I should have gone to church this morning and then spent the day relaxing. Instead, I’ve been on a stakeout with Chris, met with Pamela and Joshua, dealt with my mother and Sharon Stone, interviewed Mavis, and had a semi-confrontation with Joshua King. Why don’t we close up and get some rest?” I glanced from Pete to Stanley and back again. “Stanley? Would you mind if we go to dinner and a movie in a couple of days instead of tonight?”
“Not at all.” He checked his own watch, as though verifying the time. “I should have met Felicity half an hour ago anyway. I’m surprised she hasn’t called to ascertain what’s keeping me.”
“Pete? Let’s go have dinner and forget about Purity Patton for a little while.” I didn’t want to think about the murder anymore. At least, not until morning.
“Sounds good to me.” He yawned. “You’re right. Today was way too busy for a Sunday. I haven’t even read the newspaper yet.”
The three of us turned off computers and lights and headed for the door. The phone rang. I glanced over my shoulder.
“No. Let the answering machine pick it up. Whoever it is can wait until morning.”
Pete held the door open for Stanley and me. We paraded out and waited while he locked it.
Stanley left to meet Felicity and Pete and I headed for a diner near the office. We ate there often enough that the waitresses knew us.
“Take a seat anywhere,” the cashier said. Definitely a low key establishment.
We sat down and I closed my eyes while taking a deep breath. “I don’t feel like I took a couple of days off last week.” I opened my eyes and looked into Pete’s big browns.
“Well, you did. You know, we’ve been working a lot lately, without taking many days off. Maybe you and I should take a vacation when this is over.” He looked at me expectantly.
“I think you’re right. It seems like every time we turn around, something new pops up. Who would have thought we’d end up investigating a murder after a simple costume party?”
We both sat quietly for a few minutes, contemplating life, the business of investigating and sleep, not necessarily in that order.
“I’ll bet L.A.P.D. would love to see me take a vacation.” My mouth tried to form a pathetic smile, but it didn’t quite happen.
“I know Rick would. He says the murders in this town have about doubled since you became a P.I.”
My smile turned from pathetic to happy. “Glad I can keep him busy and make him earn his money.”
“Somehow I don’t think he’d agree with you.”
I was joking, and Pete knew it. Rick and I had become good friends since I’d come to know him.
By the time we finished eating it was after seven-thirty. I was tired and so was Pete. We strolled back to the office, never having mentioned Purity Patton even once, not that she was far from our thoughts.
“Sandi? Would you be insulted if I went home instead of coming over to your place?”
I smiled. “No, you go home and get some rest.” I glanced up at him. “I’m assuming that’s what you want to do?”
“Yeah.” He grinned at me. “You were right. It’s been a very long day.”
“Actually, it’s been a very long week. I’ll be glad when this is over.”
Pete pulled me into his arms and held me. I rested my head on his chest and enjoyed the closeness. And then he patted my back. You know, the kind of pat that says, Okay, that’s enough. You can let go now.
I held on to him a little tighter, not ready to let go. What we had was good. Watching and listening to people like Joshua and Purity made me realize just how good a thing Pete and I had.
“What?” he asked.
“I was thinking how much you mean to me.” I lifted my head and looked into his face.
“Glad to hear that.” He had a self-satisfied expression on his face.
“Well?”
“Well what?” he asked.
“Don’t you have something to say?”
“Oh. I didn’t know it required an answer. You already know I love you, Doll.”
Doll, a little reminder of Chris.
“Yes, Pete, I know. But you could say it once in awhile, Doll.”
He hugged me again and said, “I love you, Sandi,” into my hair. I could feel his warm breath on my scalp.
“Okay. That’s what I needed to hear.”
“Maybe I should go home with you, after all.”
“Maybe you should.”
“I’ll follow you in my car,” he said.
I unlocked the car door and climbed in, fitting the key in the ignition and starting the car. Pete did likewise and we headed out of the parking lot.
I was surprised when we pulled up in front of my house and found Stanley’s car parked in front. Glancing around, I didn’t see him. I have patio chairs sitting on my front porch, but he wasn’t sitting in one of them.
I closed the car door and looked around again, wondering where he was.
Pete joined me and took a look inside Stanley’s car. “Wonder where he is.”
“Sandi?” I heard Dolly’s squeaky little voice calling my name and turned toward her house.
“Hi, Dolly.”
“Can you and Pete come over here, please? I think you need to talk to Felicity.”
We glanced at each other. Now what? We quickly walked over to Dolly’s house.
She met us at the door. “I think she should have gone to bed and rested, but she said she wanted to talk to you first.” Dolly clucked her tongue and shook her head.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Come inside.” She took hold of Pete’s arm and pulled. “Both of you.”
We stepped inside and she glanced furtively around, building the drama.
“Where are they?” I asked. I knew Stanley was there, too.
“In the kitchen. Stanley is putting ice on Felicity’s face.”
I stopped dead in my tracks. “What?”
Following Dolly’s example, Pete took hold of my arm and pulled me along behind him while she led the way.
We entered the kitchen and Stanley glanced up. He was standing over Felicity, holding an ice pack against her cheek.
I ran over to the couple. “What happened?”
Stanley removed the ice pack and I saw that Felicity’s cheek was quite red with a small cut. She was going to have a nasty bruise by tomorrow.
“What’s going on?” Pete asked.
Felicity took a deep breath. “I went shopping this afternoon, and when I arrived home it was already dark. I unlocked the door and it flew open as soon as I put my hand on it, pulling me into the house. Someone punched me and ran out. That’s all I can tell you.”
“Burglary?” Pete asked.
“In a way. The only things missing were the photographs of the party. Can you believe that? I guess my timing was bad to have come home when I did.”
“Did you call the police?” I asked.
Stanley placed the ice pack back on Felicity’s face, making her wince. “She did. That’s why she didn’t call to see why I was late. They were taking a report.”
“Did you get a look at him?” Pete asked.
“No. It happened too fast. He pushed me down after hitting me and ran out the door before I could even think.”
“Did you have a doctor look at your face?” It made my cheek hurt just to look at her.
“No, I’m okay. Looks like I won’t be able to work for a few days though. I don’t think make-up is going to cover this up.” She made a face and winced again. “I was supposed to do a layout for a new line of cosmetics tomorrow.”
Pete, always the ex-cop, pushed. “Did you notice anything about him? Was he tall or short – heavy or thin? Any unusual body odors? Anything?”
Felicity slowly pulled Stanley’s hand away from her face. “Now that you mention it, there was an odor. Unfortunately, I can’t place it, although I’ve smelled it before. I mean, it wasn’t body odor or anything like that. It seemed more like a chemical smell. I didn’t even think about it until you asked.”
Pete smiled at Felicity. “That’s okay. Maybe it’ll come to you.” He’d made her remember something, and that made him happy.
Chapter Twenty
We sat in Dolly’s kitchen and talked for about half an hour. By that time we were all exhausted. Stanley drove Felicity home, where he said he’d sit on her couch all night to make sure she was safe. Typical Stanley. No, not really. He’d never had anyone to protect before. This was mostly new territory for him, and he was handling it well.
Pete and I decided to call it a night. The romantic mood had passed. He headed home, and after talking to Dolly for a moment, so did I. She’d already fed Bubba for me, so at least I didn’t have to feel guilty about him being hungry.
At home, I refilled Bubba’s water dish and sat down to give him a few minutes of undivided attention. After a little belly scratching, he followed me upstairs and settled himself beside my bed. Felicity had Stanley, and I had Bubba. Both caring and protective. I wondered how it would be some day when Pete and I married and my husband and dog had to live in the same house. Two alpha males, both feeling protective of me.
The last thing to cross my mind before falling asleep was that I needed to call Jolly to ask for my own copies of the photos. Which is probably why I had a memorable dream that night.
The scarecrow was on fire. Purity was dancing around it with a vacant look on her face, and black mascara marked her face like war paint. Someone watched her from the shadows, and the fire glinted off the blade of a knife in his hand. Blade held high, he began to sneak up on her. He held the knife higher, and waited for her dance to turn her toward him. She began to turn, and…
I woke up.
I glanced down at Bubba. He opened one eye and looked at me before pulling himself up and lumbering out the door in the direction of the stairs. It was time for his morning constitutional, so I followed him down the stairs and opened the back door for him. I shivered, but I wasn’t sure if it was the cool morning air or memories of my dream that caused the chill.
Luxuriating in the shower, I warmed up. When I was done, I applied a minimal amount of make-up. Glancing in the mirror, I decided I’d probably start using more facial products. After all, I wasn’t getting any younger. I leaned forward and studied a small line by my right eye.
“Take a lesson from Felicity, Sandi. She’s gorgeous, and you could be, too. Well, maybe not gorgeous, but you could be attractive.” I checked my neck. No wrinkles there yet. “Good. And even better if you quit talking to yourself.”
After a quick breakfast, I sat down and called Jolly’s office. I almost groaned when Tiffany answered.
“Tiffany, this is Sandi Webster. May I please talk to Jolly?”
“He’s too busy to talk right now. Someone broke in here and wrecked the place last night.”
My heart dropped to my toes. “Tiffany, listen to me. I need to talk to Jolly, and I need to talk to him now. Please call him to the phone. It’s important.”
“More important than my uncle’s problem? Did you hear what I said? Someone broke in here last night. You sure are a pushy woman,” the little snot said.
“It comes with my job. Now, will you please call him to the phone?”
“What kind of work do you do?” Tiffany asked.
“I’m a private investigator.”
“Ohhhh, yeah, right. I forgot. And that makes you pushy? Huh.”
Before I could think of a smart reply, Tiffany slammed the phone down on her desk. I didn’t think I was being pushy. In fact, considering who I was talking to, I thought I’d been rather patient.
I could hear Tiffany calling Jolly, and I could also tell she wanted me to hear what she said. “Uncle Jolly, that nutcase detective is on the phone again. Do you want to talk to her? I can tell her you’re busy, if ya want me to.”
I couldn’t hear his reply, but in a moment he picked up the phone. “What is it, Ms. Webster? I’m pretty busy right now.”
“I know. Tiffany said that someone broke in and wrecked your place last night? Is that right?”
“Yes, it is. I’m trying to figure out if they took anything. Can we talk later?”
“Jolly, someone broke into Felicity’s house last night and stole all the pictures from her party. And while he was at it, he knocked her down and gave her a black eye. Will you check to see if your pictures are still there?”
He was quiet for no more than a moment. “Let me check and I’ll call you back. I wasn’t looking to see if any pictures were gone, just equipment.”
“I’ll wait by the phone.” I gave him my phone number and sat back to think things over. Someone was obviously afraid Jolly’s photos would show something better left a secret. I was assuming that his party pictures would be gone, too. It only made sense, at least to me.
My wait was short, about five minutes. The phone rang and I grabbed it out of its cradle.
“Yes?”
“Ms. Webster, this is Jolly. You hit it right on the head. All of the photos and ne
gatives from the party are gone.”
“Jolly, was anything else taken?”
“That’s what surprises me. I’ve got all of this valuable photographic equipment here, and the only things missing are those photos. Do you think it has anything to do with Purity’s murder?”
“Absolutely. I’m sure of it. Can you remember anything significant in the photos?”
“Not really. I developed them and made a copy for Felicity. I figured I’d take a good look at them later, when I wasn’t so busy. And that reporter, Sharon Stone, also wanted copies of the photos.”
My heart fluttered. “Sharon has copies?”
“Unfortunately, no. She was going to pick them up today.”
“Oh.” I exhaled the breath I’d been holding.
“And that police detective wanted copies, too. He called me yesterday afternoon. Now they’re gone. I hate this. You all make me feel like they might have held the key to the murder.”
“They just may have,” I replied. “Why else would someone take them?”
“I’ve got to go. The police just pulled up. They’re going to think I’m crazy for calling them to take a report about stolen photographs.”
“No they won’t. From the way Tiffany talked, it sounds like they wrecked your studio, too.”
“Yeah, a broken window, stuff thrown all over the place, and there’s a broken camera.”
“I’m sorry, Jolly. Let me know if you think of anything significant about the pictures. Did they take the ones of the scarecrow fire, too?”
“I did finally remember taking pictures in the yard during the fire, but I never got the chance to develop them. That film is gone, too.”
“How did the burglar know which roll of film had the scarecrow pictures on it?”
“It was sitting with the developed photos. Gotta go.”
We hung up and I heard Bubba scratching at the back door. I walked through the house and let him in, trying to think who might have hurt Felicity and broken into Jolly’s studio. I couldn’t come up with any answers and I was deeply disappointed that the photos were gone.