Whispering Walls & Murder

by Jenna St James

  I picked up the hot chocolate with a splash of butterscotch Schnapps and delivered it to Bernice, who was curled up on one of the sofas. “Here’s your Hobbit Hotscotch.”

  She reached up and grabbed the cup. “Thank you so much, Jaycee. I’m going to finish this drink and this chapter then call it a night. Did I hear correctly that you and your sister found a dead body in your new house?”

  I grimaced. “That’s true. It was David Saddler. Did you know him?”

  “Not really. I know his mom, Ella. She usually attends the Ladies Prayer Meetings at my church on Tuesday nights. She’s a nice woman who’s had her share of sadness.”

  “Did she ever talk about her son, David, leaving town? Or did she think something else had happened to him?”

  Bernice took a drink before answering. “I think deep down she always thought something had happened to him. She says he left a note, but there’s always such sorrow and sadness in her eyes.” She sighed and set her drink down. “Hopefully this will at least give her closure. Well, as soon as they find out who killed her son.”

  I nodded. “Hopefully. Can I get you anything else?”

  She shook her head. “Nope. I’m good. I better get back to this last chapter.”

  I finished up my rounds while Jax, Tillie, and Mom sat at the bar and sipped Tequila Mockingbirds and chatted. I’d just set my order pad down on the counter when Bridget and Heidi rushed inside.

  “What can I get ya?” I asked.

  “I think tonight I want a Hook’s Treasure,” Bridget said.

  “Ditto,” Heidi echoed.

  Hook’s Treasure was Bridget’s signature drink—vanilla syrup with spiced rum and Coke, topped off with a maraschino cherry or two. Once the drinks were made and everyone was taken care of, I decided to talk about what Jax and I had learned. I needed to make sure we knew the basics before Mike arrived.

  “Here’s what Jax and I learned when we questioned Manny,” I said. “If he’s telling the truth, then the last time he saw David alive was the day David finished his community service—a Friday. They spent the evening hanging out. He didn’t see or speak to David on Saturday because that day was saved for Jayla.”

  “So we definitely need to talk with Jayla,” Mom said. “See if she saw David that Saturday night.”

  “Exactly.” I took a sip of my ginger ale topped with cherries and oranges. “We also need to talk with Logan Blevins tomorrow and see when was the last time he saw or spoke to David.”

  “Manny did admit he no longer speaks to Logan,” Jax said. “I don’t know if they had a falling out or what, but that’s important to note.”

  I nodded. “Especially when you add in the fact that when I pressed Manny on why he married Jayla so quickly, he became agitated.”

  “Could be he just didn’t want to admit his now-wife was pregnant with another guy’s baby,” Heidi said.

  “Or it could be because he’s worried it gives him an even bigger motive to kill David,” I said. “He obviously had feelings for Jayla, and with David out of the way, he could step right in.”

  Tillie set her drink down and frowned. “But if that were true, wouldn’t Logan Blevins step up and say something?”

  “Someone has to know something,” Jax said. “Right now the only motive we really have to kill David is so Manny can marry Jayla.”

  “I think when we press these other people—especially since they now know David was murdered—we’ll find more suspects who may have had a motive to kill David.”

  “That’s true,” Heidi said. “David was in trouble a lot in school and with the law. Could be someone we haven’t even thought about killed David.”

  I groaned. “Let’s cross that bridge when we get there. I also need to go by the library soon and talk with the librarian. Get her take on David’s mental health on his last day of his community service.”

  “And somehow we need to find a way to talk with David’s parents,” Heidi said. “I think maybe if I call Mae, that might pave the way.”

  “Great idea,” I said.

  As Bernice made her way toward the register, I grabbed her bill from the pad. I rang her up as she made small talk with Mom and Tillie. Once her bill was paid, she waved goodbye and headed outside.

  “Bernice made it sound like David’s mother always thought something bad had happened to her son,” I said when I joined back up with the girls. “I’m hoping that means they’ll be interested in talking with us…especially since we’re the ones who found their son’s body.”

  The door opened and Mike and Trevor both strode inside. My heart gave a little flutter like it always did when Mike walked into a room. He called out a greeting to the two other customers sprawled out in chairs before heading over to give me a kiss.

  “How’s my favorite fiancée today?” he asked.

  “Pretty good. Kinda slow tonight.”

  “I can see that.” He sat down on a barstool next to Mom. “I’ll take a whiskey neat, please.”

  “You got it.” I slid down to Trevor. “What about you, handsome? What can I get you?”

  He chuckled. “I’ll have the same thing…whiskey neat.”

  “Anything happen today you can tell us about, Mike?” Mom asked.

  “Just that we’re making slow progress on the murder.”

  I rolled my eyes. Even though I knew he wouldn’t tell me anything, that pat answer always made me want to strangle him.

  “Fine,” Mike relented. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt anything if I told you we found traces of lye on the body.”

  “Lye?” I queried. “Like the stuff you make soap with or something?”

  “It’s more nefarious than just something you put in soap,” he said. “Also, there were no traces of fingerprints outside of yours on or around or inside the chest.” He arched an eyebrow at me. “I didn’t see you around town today, Jaycee, are you feeling okay?”

  “Ha ha.” I slid the tumblers of whiskey to both him and Trevor. “I told you I wouldn’t interfere with your investigation.”

  Mike took a small drink. “And I’ve heard that a million times. So where did you go today and who did you speak to?”

  I snorted. “Would you believe me if I said no one?”

  “Nope.” He took another drink before setting the glass down on the bar. “Try again.”

  “He’s definitely got your number,” Heidi joked.

  “Fine,” I said. “Jax and I went to see Manny Lopez at his place of business.”

  Trevor raised an eyebrow at Jax. “Did you learn anything interesting?”

  “You aren’t supposed to encourage them,” Mike said good-naturedly. “But I guess now that you’ve asked…did you learn anything I need to know?”

  “Not really,” Jax said. “Nothing I’m sure you don’t already know.”

  “One thing,” I said. “Manny did mention texting David on Sunday. Did you guys find a cell phone in the chest?”

  Mike shook his head. “Nope. We already figured the killer or killers must have taken it.”

  “I think Tillie and I are going to run,” Mom said. “See you all in the morning for breakfast.”

  We bid them goodnight and made small talk for a little longer until the last two customers left. It was almost eight o’clock, and I was ready to call it a night. I hurried and counted the till while the others helped me clean up.

  “All I have to say,” Bridget said as I locked the front door and we headed to our vehicles, “is the next time we get together like this, we better be discussing wedding plans.”

  Chapter 8

  “Hey Gramps?” I leaned against the kitchen doorframe and watched as he gave Tillie and Mom a kiss goodbye.

  “Yeah?”

  “I was thinking maybe I’d take Duke with me today,” I said. “Ya know, just for some company.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “Company, huh? So it would have nothing to do with the fact you’ll have this morning free and you may want to do some sleuthing you aren’t supposed to be d
oing?”

  I pushed myself up off the doorframe. “No. Of course not.”

  “You always were a terrible liar, Jaycee Sullivan.” Gramps looked down at Duke. Duke looked up at Gramps, shook his meaty jowls, snorted, and waddled over to me. “Guess he’s yours for the day. You take care of my dog, you hear me, girl?”

  I rolled my eyes. “I hear you, Gramps.”

  “Are you going out to Blevins Auto Body Shop this morning?” Gramps demanded.

  “I was thinking about it.”

  “I don’t want you out there alone, Jaycee.” The softened tone of Gramps’ voice took me by surprise. Usually he just grunted or demanded…but this time I heard genuine concern.

  “I’ll be okay, Gramps. I’ll have Duke with me.”

  “And Duke is a great watchdog,” Gramps said. “Best there is.”

  Ruff! Ruff!

  Crossing my arms over my chest, I leveled my gaze at Gramps. “But?”

  “But I think this time you need more than just Duke.”

  “We can go with her,” Tillie said.

  Gramps sighed. “I’d feel better if I went with her. I wasn’t kidding, Jaycee, when I said these Blevins boys are bad news.”

  “But you have to open today,” I pointed out.

  “I’ll open,” Gramps said. “Then if we ask your mom and Tillie nicely, I’m sure they’d cover for me while I went with you.”

  Grinning, I leaped into his arms and gave him a squeeze. “Thanks, Gramps. You’re the best.”

  “Uh-huh. I’m only helping you out because I want to see you and your sister walk down the aisle someday soon.” He released me, and I took a step backward. “You up and get yourself killed, and that won’t happen.”

  I rolled my eyes and punched him in the arm. “Whatever.”

  Gramps looked down at Duke. “You should think about getting yourself a dog for protection, Jaycee. You know, since you keep insisting on putting yourself in harm’s way.”

  “I can’t get a dog!” I exclaimed. “I’m way too busy for a dog. I have a full-time job.”

  “Sure you could, honey,” Mom said. “Duke goes with Gramps to Gone with the Whiskey every day. You could bring your dog too.”

  “I’m not—I mean, I can’t—I…” Frowning, I glanced down at Duke. He tilted his big beefy head at me, snorted, and nodded once. “Well, I guess maybe I could be on the lookout for something.”

  “I’d feel better if you had some protection outside of your stun gun and pepper spray,” Gramps said.

  “Let me talk it over with Mike,” I said. “Oh, and Jax and Trevor now that we’ll all be living together shortly.”

  “I already said something to the men.” Gramps lifted his hand and scowled. “And before you yell at me about going to the men folk before asking you, let me just tell you that they were there when I was contacted.”

  I frowned. “Contacted? What do you mean?”

  Gramps’ green eyes twinkled with Irish mischief. “That’s for me to know and you to find out.”

  Ruff! Ruff!

  ***

  “Do you have a strategy planned?” Gramps asked as we bumped along the road in his Hummer.

  “I have some questions I want to ask Logan.” I shrugged. “Otherwise, I was going to wing it.”

  Gramps snorted. “Wing it? Does that usually work for you?”

  I grinned. “Yep.”

  Blevins Auto Body Shop was located one mile outside the city limits off Hwy 116 on Mays Canyon Road. Feather Reed Grass mixed with other tall weeds lined the long gravel driveway leading to a ramshackled tan metal building, complete with a metal red roof. The sign on top of the roof was rusted and had huge holes scattered throughout, which helped add to the dilapidated feel of the business.

  Approximately ten dogs were currently on guard behind a massive fenced-off area surrounding the property.

  “Is the chain-linked fence to keep all the dogs in or the customers out?” I joked.

  Duke let out a whine, and I turned to give him a reassuring pat in the backseat.

  “It’s okay, Duke,” I said. “They’re just protecting all the cars out here.”

  Gramps grunted.

  “What does that grunt mean?” I asked.

  “It means I’m not quite sure what those dogs are really protecting.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning something tells me there’s more than just car fixin’ going on out here.”

  I scoffed. “And you come to that conclusion based on the number of dogs?”

  “No. I come to that conclusion based on the numerous years of experience I have when it comes to listening to my gut.” He turned the Hummer off and unlocked his seatbelt. “There’s something off here, Jaycee. You and Duke stick close to me at all times. You hear me?”

  “I hear you, Gramps.”

  Ruff! Ruff!

  I opened the door and tried to drop gracefully to the ground…but since Gramps’ Hummer had like an eight-inch lift kit or something ridiculous like that, graceful wasn’t always an option.

  Tall grass, abandoned car parts, and more dogs than I could shake a stick at—now wasn’t that an image?—lay as far as my eye could see. For the first time ever, I actually wished I carried the Walther PK380 Gramps had given Jax and me as gifts not too long ago.

  “Stand at my five and keep your eyes and ears open,” Gramps instructed. “You know the drill.”

  He was telling me to drop back a couple steps on his right and keep an eye on what was happening from that vantage point. I did know the drill. Duke ambled along a half step behind Gramps but still in front of me. I couldn’t help but wonder what we looked like to the eyes staring at us from inside the building.

  And there were plenty of eyes on us.

  Both bays were open, but only one car was up on a lift…a black sedan of some sort. Four workers milled around inside the garage as they stared at Gramps and me making our way to the building. The front door—next to the left bay—opened and a young man about the same age as Manny leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. The interior was too dim to see if anyone else was inside.

  I heard the faint growl of a couple different dogs in my right ear, but I didn’t turn to acknowledge. I kept my eyes straight and watchful. The whole place gave me the creeps. I wasn’t sure I was ready to jump on Gramps’ bandwagon of something shady going on…but I definitely didn’t get the feeling I was only a mile from town. It felt like we’d been dropped in the middle of nowhere.

  Ruff! Ruff!

  Mouth open, I watched in horror as Duke bolted right and made a beeline for the fenced-off area. This was not at all Duke-like behavior.

  “I’ll get him,” I said.

  Jogging after him, I tried to calm the rapid beat of my heart and blood pumping double-time throughout my body. Spotting Duke, I hissed at him to get over to me. When he didn’t comply, I marched over to where he sniffed around a mound of tires. Looking over my shoulder, I realized I was out of view of Gramps and everyone else.

  “Now, Duke!” I hissed. “What’s wrong with you? Get over here!”

  When he just looked up at me impatiently, I jogged the last few steps and squatted down to his level. And gasped…my stomach somersaulting when I recognized the clue.

  “C’mon, Duke,” I whispered. “Gramps may need us.”

  Duke perked up and trotted back over to where Gramps calmly stood, waiting for our return. When he spotted us, Gramps started walking again.

  “Gramps,” I whispered, falling back into step behind him, “did you see that huge pile of tires on the side of the building? Well, Duke found a piece of tarp at the bottom of the tire pile like the one in the chest with David.”

  Gramps grunted.

  A large linebacker-looking guy stepped out of one of the bays and crossed his arms over his massive chest. A little over six feet tall with muscles that could give Trevor a run for his money, and a beard that nearly reached his chest. His uniformed coveralls were caked with grease and dirt with
the name Earl stitched above his breast. His bald head gleamed under the florescent lights, and even though he had on dark sunglasses which prevented me from seeing his face, I had no doubt he was scowling as Gramps and I stopped in front of him.

  Inside the garage, I could see myriad tools scattered about that could easily be used to kill a person. I made a mental note of the tools I recognized, just in case it came back David had been bludgeoned to death with an instrument instead of shot or stabbed.

  “Name’s Earl,” the man said. “What can I do for you today?”

  Earl sounded like he ate gravel for breakfast.

  My eyes darted to the younger guy still leaning in the doorframe of the front door. His own beard wasn’t near as long, and he sported a close-cropped buzz cut instead of a full-on shaved head, but now that I was closer, I could see the name Logan on his coveralls.

  “My tires need to be rotated,” Gramps said. “I was hoping you might have time today to do that.”

  “We’re by appointment only,” Logan said. “You want to make an appointment, we got openings tomorrow.”

  Earl took his sunglasses off, his eyes never leaving Gramps’ face. “We can probably get this nice gentleman and his female companion in today, son.”

  Ruff! Ruff!

  Earl’s hard eyes cut down to Duke and one corner of his mouth lifted. “And the dog.”

  “Appreciate it,” Gramps said.

  Logan waited another two full seconds before stepping back to let Gramps, Duke, and me inside. I closed the door behind me and took in my surroundings. To my left, eight plastic chairs lined the walls with a small table wedged in the middle that held mechanic magazines. Logan sat behind a desk to my right, and near the back of the room was an open archway on the right that led to the bays. Against the wall between the desk and the open archway was another table that sat flush against the wall which held the makings for coffee.

  “Are the keys in the Hummer, or do you have them with you?” Logan demanded.

  Something told me he wasn’t up for Employee of the Month…not with that surly attitude.

  Gramps gently set the keys down on the counter, not saying a word, his eyes never leaving Logan. This kid had no idea who he was messing with if he thought he could intimidate Gramps. The Colonel ate little punk boys like him for lunch and then used their bones to pick his teeth. I tuned them out as they did the make and model song and dance paperwork and focused instead on the older man sitting silently, watching our exchange, in one of the plastic chairs.