The Milburn Big Box Set

by Nancy McGovern

  Reluctantly, Nora left the house, lingering in front of the door for a moment. She was trying to come up with the words that would change Brock’s mind, but he slammed the door heavily in her face.

  Sighing, shaking her head, Nora left, squeezing herself humiliatingly through the loose fence board once more. She paused by her car and looked first at Zoey’s house and then at Matt’s house across the street. Once more, she thought she saw the curtains shift. This time, however, she had no desire to knock on the door.

  *****

  Try as she might to figure out who had killed Zoey, she was stumped. For the first time, she wondered what would happen if they never did find out. Would life just go back to normal eventually? Would Zoey’s name slowly disappear from people’s lips? And the killer? Would he go about as if everything was fine, whistling his happy tune as he lived a long, happy life?

  Nora knew only one thing: she couldn’t allow that to happen. Tomorrow, she’d talk to Brock again and try and shake him out of his apathy. Or, at least, try and find out exactly what thoughts he’d been hiding from her. Tomorrow, she’d try again.

  But when the morning came, Nora woke up to a phone call that was eerily similar to the one she’d gotten the morning after her birthday party.

  “It’s Brock.” Tina’s voice sounded strained. “Will you come to the diner immediately? I think you need to know what’s happened.”

  *****

  Chapter 19

  Berries & The Bathtub

  “Suicide,” Tina said. “Can you believe it?”

  The diner was packed with customers. Nora had seen this trend before — when something big happened, townspeople liked to come over to the diner and discuss it over hot cups of coffee and a slice or two of pie.

  Angela was busy in the kitchen and both Tina and Nora were manning the counter, serving crumbly apple pie with scoops of ice cream and pouring endless refills of coffee into waiting mugs.

  “It’s so tragic.” Kim and Perry Morris had both driven down and were seated at the counter now, looking somber.

  “I have it on good authority that the note he left behind seals the deal,” Perry said. “Brock was overwhelmed with guilt and scared of going back to jail. Being in Zoey’s house must have unhinged him. He admitted everything.”

  “Poor man.” Kim shuddered. “I mean, I know he was a murderer, but still… I pity him.”

  “I don’t pity him at all,” Tina said, banging the coffee pot down. “He’s a coward, is what he is. Why take Zoey’s life? Was it really that hard to learn his lesson after twenty years in jail? Poor Zoey! That’s who I pity. She was good and innocent and fell into the clutches of an evil man.”

  “Now, now.” Perry raised his hands in a conciliatory gesture. “We must be charitable. We never know what shaped him.”

  “Greed, plain and simple,” Tina said. “We like to complicate ‘bad boys’ these days, but it just comes down to greed in the end.”

  “But when did it even happen?” Nora asked.

  “Well, here’s the deputy now. He’ll be able to tell us,” Perry said.

  The bell above the door tinkled and the entire diner turned to stare as Deputy James walked in.

  “Welcome!” Perry exclaimed, patting the seat next to him. “Come on and sit down, old boy. You’re just the man we’ve been waiting for.”

  “Phew.” Deputy James sniffed the air as he sat down next to Perry. “You been bathing in a forest today, Perry? You smell like one.”

  “It’s my anniversary gift.” Perry put his hand on Kim’s and gave her a loving smile. Mysore Rajah.”

  “I’d be sore, too, if I smelled like a forest full of flowers.” Deputy James laughed.

  “Oh, hush you.” Kim swatted at him. “And look at what my Perry got me.” She showed off a diamond necklace that had both Tina and Nora ooh-ing. There was a chorus of “Happy Anniversary.”

  “Never mind all that. Now come on, Deputy,” Perry said. “Out with it. Tell us all the details about Brock. The town’s going to find out anyway.”

  “Sheriff’ll have my hat,” the deputy said. “I’ve been warned thrice about my big mouth already.”

  “Some pie for the deputy, Tina,” Perry said. “My treat.”

  “On the house.” Tina put a plate of pie and a fork in front of Deputy James. “Tell us, would you? We’re all dying to know.”

  “Well…I suppose you’ll find out one way or another.” Deputy James looked over his shoulder as though he were afraid to find Sheriff Ellerton standing there. Then, leaning down, he joined heads with the others.

  “We found the body early this morning. Sheriff had gone by to question him,” Deputy James explained. “He walked into the house and knew something was wrong.”

  “The sheriff’s got good instincts,” Perry said.

  “Yeah. He went upstairs and the room was a total mess. Brock had been looking all over for something,” Deputy James said. Then Sheriff went to the bathroom and there Brock was, in the tub. He ate the poison berries and drowned in the bathtub. Our guess is, it all happened around midnight last night.” Deputy James shook his head.

  “What had Brock been looking for?” Nora’s eyes narrowed. “Did he find it?”

  “Well, we found nothing. So I guess he didn’t, either.” Deputy James shrugged. “Sheriff thinks maybe he had a breakdown before killing himself.”

  “So... case closed?” Tina asked. “We can all breathe easy?”

  “Wait, where did Brock get the poison berries?” Nora asked.

  “Huh?” Deputy James blinked at her.

  “Where did he get the berries? Any idea?”

  Deputy James shrugged and shook his head. “Not a clue. But it doesn’t matter, does it?”

  “I don’t think he killed himself,” Nora said.

  “Huh?” The others stared at her, dumbfounded.

  Nora bit her lip, uncertain, then plowed ahead. “I met him. Yesterday evening. We talked about Zoey’s death. He didn’t look like he was feeling guilty, Deputy. He just looked angry and frustrated that he might end up back in jail for something he didn’t do.”

  “Well, of course he’d tell you that he didn’t do it,” Deputy James said. “A man’s got to pretend, right? But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t eating him up inside.”

  “It’s not just that,” Nora continued. “Zoey had hidden a package somewhere in her house. That’s what Brock was trying to find.”

  “A package?” Deputy James scratched his head. “We didn’t find any package.”

  “But maybe Brock did.”

  “I don’t understand,” Tina said. “If Brock found the package, it should have been near his body.”

  “Unless the killer took it,” Nora said.

  Then there was silence deepening around her words as though she’d dug a hole into reality. Perry changed that by saying, “Well, if it’s good enough for the sheriff, it’s good enough for me. I’m voting that Brock did it and committed suicide out of guilt.”

  Deputy James nodded enthusiastically. “I agree. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”

  “What about the package?” Nora asked. “What about the fact that five hours before he allegedly committed suicide, Brock was perfectly guilt-free?”

  Deputy James shrugged.

  “Just let it be. It’s all over. Okay, Nora?” Kim sighed.

  Nora was lost in thought, her eyes gazing at a painting on the wall. Raquel’s painting of a tree. It was reminding her of something. Her brain prickled, trying to grasp at something just beyond its reach. A thought hidden in shadow. But what was it?

  “Nora?” Perry waved a hand in front of her eyes.

  “Huh?” Nora blinked. “Sorry. I was just thinking of something.”

  Tom Shepherd, who was sitting next to Perry, joked, “How about letting us into those thoughts, then? Maybe we can help.”

  “If you want to help, consider helping Ronnie.” Nora grinned at him, her voice friendly but serious nonetheless. “She’s
alone with the kids right now, isn’t she?”

  Tom shifted in his seat, looking grumpy and guilty at the same time. “I’m just picking up some coffee. I’ve been working hard all week. A man’s entitled to some rest, isn’t he?”

  “So’s a woman,” Nora said.

  Scowling, Tom dropped a few notes onto the counter and turned away. “Some way to treat your customers. By the way, Aunt M. asked you to drop by again. Says it’s always fun to see you.”

  Nora nodded. “Sure. Hey, Tom, could you wait for a second? I’d like to talk to you outside. Tina, do you mind?”

  “Go ahead. I’ve got it under control.” Tina smiled.

  Tom didn’t look too pleased at this, but he acquiesced nonetheless.

  *****

  Outside, he turned on Nora, his scowl deeper. “There was no need to humiliate me like that in front of everyone, you know.” His eyes were sparkling. “I get it, I should help Ronnie more often. But who are you to—”

  “I’m a friend, believe it or not,” Nora said. “Tom, Ronnie’s at her wits end. She’s burnt out. Can’t you see that?”

  “I’m burnt out, too!” Tom exclaimed. “All she does these days is nag me. I can’t stand to be around her anymore. She always complaining that the dishes aren’t done or the kids need a bath or whatever and…I don’t know. I’m sick of it. This isn’t the woman I married.”

  “You won’t have a marriage much longer if you stay on this path,” Nora said.

  Tom stared at her, his eyes wide. “What do you mean?”

  “Tom, I’m a mother of two. I’ve been through years when I didn’t have space to breathe for five minutes. I know parenting is stressful, and adulthood is overwhelming. But you know how to get past that?”

  “How?”

  “Work as a team,” Nora said. “Be honest with yourself. Be honest with her. Of course you need time to relax, of course you need space to yourself, to have fun. But she does, too, doesn’t she? Are you on her team as much as you’re on Team Tom? Go home and really think about how many hours you get to yourself, and how many she does. When’s the last time she went out with friends? When’s the last time you did? When did you two last hire a sitter and go on a date?”

  Tom shifted, his scowl deepening. Nora could see guilt blooming in his eyes, only to be immediately covered by defensiveness.

  “It’s hard now but, believe me, this is one of the toughest parts,” Nora said. “Once the kids get to school, it will all get easier.”

  “Since we’re all handing out unsolicited advice, here’s my advice to you,” Tom said. “Stop poking around in other people’s business! You can’t save the world, Nora. Don’t try.”

  “I know I can’t,” Nora agreed. “But boy, do I hate to see good marriages fall apart because people don’t have the patience to tend to them. Just go home and think it over, Tom. Do what’s fair.”

  *****

  Chapter 20

  Red Convertible, Bag Of Cash

  Tom left in a huff as Nora watched him. Perry and Kim Morris emerged from the diner, looking full and happy. Perry had his arm slung around Kim’s shoulders and he gave her a kiss on the cheek as they walked to their car.

  “Hey, lovebirds,” Nora teased. “Got time to answer a few questions?”

  “Again?” Kim laughed. “You’re relentless, Nora.”

  “It’s important, I promise,” Nora said. “And I’ll keep it short, too.”

  “We’ve got all the time in the world for friends,” Perry said. “Go on.”

  “It’s about Matt Whitman,” Nora said.

  “That terrible man.” Perry scowled. “He was a terrible employee, too. He had the cheek to ask me for more money after I’d fired him! Can you imagine? Even threatened to sue me. I just laughed and told him to try it. I don’t like being pushed around.”

  “Did you ever ask him to clear out a bunch of doll’s eye plants?” Nora asked.

  Perry nodded. “Sure. There was a bunch of them growing in a garden on one of our company’s properties. Matt never got around to it, though I reminded him ten times.”

  “I googled it,” Nora said. “I was reminded of it somehow when we were talking inside. That painting of Raquel’s…anyway. Doll’s eyes are the plants that produce white baneberries!”

  “Oh?” Perry looked mildly interested.

  “So, Matt Whitman had access to white baneberries!” Nora exclaimed. “Surely the police will want to know this. That’s the berry that poisoned Zoey!”

  Perry and Kim looked at each other. Perry shrugged. “I mean, I still think Brock did it. But, whatever, go ahead.”

  “But don’t you see...” Nora paused, then gave up. She didn’t want to harass Perry and Kim on their anniversary. “Oh, alright. Off with you two. Happy anniversary! Do you have big plans?”

  “I’ve got work, actually.” Perry sighed. “For a few hours, at least. Then it’s off to a nice spa and maybe a fancy dinner.”

  “Sounds lovely,” Nora said.

  “Hey, tell Harvey I’ll see him tomorrow, will you?” Perry said. “I suppose you know all about it by now.”

  “Sure,” Nora said. “It’s really a generous offer you’re making Harvey, but the company’s worth it.”

  “It sure is.” Perry grinned. “Knowing Harvey, he’s going to make sure his lawyers come down hard on me. That’s the game, I guess.”

  “And nobody plays it better than you, darling,” Kim said. “Now, come on, the sooner you get to work, the sooner you’re done!”

  *****

  Nora watched them drive away then looked down at her phone, which was beeping piteously. With a sigh, she realized she’d forgotten her charger at home, and her phone’s battery was nearly dead. She popped into the diner to tell Tina she’d be back in fifteen minutes, then headed home.

  Her head was buzzing as she drove.

  Brock’s suicide wasn’t a suicide, she was sure of it. It was the killer again, disguising his crime as best as he could. And it had worked, hadn’t it? The town was satisfied with thinking that Zoey’s ex-husband had committed the crime. Anything to return to that normal, safe feeling.

  Only Nora knew that it wasn’t Brock. No way. If he’d been distressed by guilt yesterday, she would have seen it. Yet, she’d seen something hadn’t she? She’d seen something in Brock’s eyes that she couldn’t read. What had it been? She thought back to their conversation, focusing as hard as she could.

  Nora had mentioned the package to Brock and asked him where Zoey could have hidden it. Brock’s eyes had lit up then, just for a second, he’d known where Zoey would have put it. But why had he started acting so funny after that?

  Nora racked her brain, trying to come up with an answer. But all she could think of were Brock’s words to her: “I told you — me, Zoey, a red convertible and a bag full of money. That was my biggest dream in life. But now it’s all gone.”

  But that wasn’t true, was it? No. It wasn’t true at all. Zoey was gone, and maybe Brock was heartbroken about it, but Brock was a hardened criminal. Maybe, just maybe, he’d realized that the parcel held the key to the second part of his dreams: a red convertible and a bag full of money.

  Sure, Zoey had left him some money, but Brock had told her Nora wasn’t nearly enough. What if he’d thought that, with the contents of the package, he could somehow gain more? That would be reason enough for him to hide its location from Nora.

  Alright, and then what? Somehow, the murderer had gotten to him and created a fake suicide? Nora sighed. She’d hit a wall once again.

  She parked her car in the driveway and went around to the back of the house. At the kitchen door, just as she was about to insert her key into the lock, she paused. She heard a noise inside. A noise that made her freeze.

  *****

  Chapter 21

  The Laughter

  It was laughter that made Nora freeze on her doorstep. It had been a long time since she’d heard Hazel laughing this way — wild and with no restraint. She looked thro
ugh the window and saw Grace by the stove with an apron on and Hazel leaning on the counter next to her.

  “So then, after you’ve eaten like half of it, you add in the chocolate, bit by bit,” Grace was saying. “Careful not to burn it. Mix it well with the butter and you get this gooey, amazing mixture.”

  “I’d probably just get greedy and end up eating that instead of waiting to make it into a brownie.” Hazel laughed.

  “Patience, young padawan,” Grace said. “Now we sift in the flour and make ourselves a nice batter. You see? It’s thicker than cake batter, that’s the trick with brownies. It’s more buttery, and we put in less flour.”

  “Mmmm.” Hazel sniffed the air. “Wonderful.”

  “And into the oven it goes,” Grace said, placing it in. “A nice surprise for Mom when she’s home.”

  “She’ll love it,” Hazel said. “She loves everything about you.”

  “And I love everything about her,” Grace said. “Even if she is stodgy and old-fashioned sometimes and gives lectures that are way too long.”

  “Oh, you don’t know the half of it.” Hazel sighed.

  “Don’t I? I hear you’ve been fighting with Mom and Dad a lot lately.”

  “Mom, mostly,” Hazel clarified.

  “How come?” Grace asked.

  “I don’t know.” Hazel said. “You wouldn’t understand.”

  “Try me,” Grace urged.

  “It’s just...” Hazel’s voice broke a little. “I feel lost, Grace.”

  Grace cocked her head. “Lost?”

  “Everywhere on Facebook, everyone I went to school with is happy. They’re on vacations or they’re getting promoted at work or they’re graduating college with perfect GPAs. Me? I’m sitting at home eating cereal and struggling to find a job. I feel like a loser every minute of every day.”

  “Hey, that’s just life, Hazel—”