“Flint? Then you haven’t heard.” Deputy Jamie shook his head.
“Heard what?” Nora’s hands suddenly started to shake.
“Flint’s in the hospital,” Deputy Jamie said. “He attempted to swallow a whole bottle of sleeping pills, apparently. They saved him, but he’s still pretty serious.”
“No!” Tina exclaimed. “Really?”
“Really. He would have died but, luckily for him, a customer came in, thought things were too quiet, and went nosing around the gallery to see if anyone was there. Found Flint and saved his life.”
Nora sat down heavily on a stool. “Oh, my,” she said, her voice very quiet.
“Nora? Are you alright?”
“I feel like this is my fault.” Nora blinked away tears. “I just saw him. I never would have guessed. I should have…”
“Nora. He’s a grown man. This isn’t your fault.” Deputy Jamie put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Suicide is painful but—”
“Suicide? No, Jamie. I think we’ve witnessed yet another attempt at murder!” Nora said.
“You think…” Tina’s eyes widened. “Wo.”
“Look, Nora, I can tell you’ve got a lot on your mind,” Deputy Jamie said, ignoring her theory on Flint’s overdose. “Why don’t you tell us everything you know? Secrecy never did anyone much good. Even thoughts and ideas need fresh air and sunshine.”
“Maybe you’re right,” Nora said. “But it’s a long story.”
“I’ve got an hour for lunch.” Deputy Jamie looked at his wristwatch and smiled. “Well, forty five minutes, to be exact.”
“Go on, Nora.” Tina seated herself on the other side of Nora and put a hand on her shoulder. “Tell us how you found that laptop. What were you doing in Flint’s basement, anyway?”
“The basement!” Something clicked into place for Nora at the mention of the basement. Her eyes widened and her shoulders tensed up. A jumble of images shot through her mind. “The basement, of course! Red hair! Chameleon!” Nora jumped up. “Of course! It makes perfect sense now! At least I think it does…”
Deputy Jamie looked baffled and a little afraid. “Is she having a fit, do you think?” he asked Tina.
“She’s having a stroke of genius,” Tina replied. “Wait for it…”
“I’ve got to go, as quickly as possible!” Nora exclaimed. “I can’t let the killer get away. Not this time!”
*****
Chapter 20
The Red Haired Woman
Nora walked around the outside of the house, eyeing each window and trying both doors. When she found everything locked, she decided to force open one of the windows in the back. She was a little rusty on forcing locks but, in her experience, even houses with the fanciest burglar alarms often had at least one window that could be jimmied!
Soon enough, she was inside Garth’s house and looking around with great interest.
As she moved through the kitchen and into the living room, there was no denying that this was very much a “bachelor pad”. No woman Nora knew would, or even could, bear to live like this. Clothes were draped over the backs of couches & chairs, piles of magazines & newspapers were sprinkled across the floor, and dirty dishes sat on practically every flat surface.
But when she reached the study she was surprised to find that, unlike the rest of the house, it was surprisingly tidy. A calendar on the wall had appointments written on it in a neat script. Posters of famous films covered one wall entirely and pictures of Garth, himself, from back when he was an actor were scattered across the others. There was a small desk in the corner of the room with a desktop computer on it. Ignoring the computer, Nora headed straight to the closet next to the desk. It was locked…until Nora got to work with her bobby pin.
As she rifled through the boxes of stored papers & random items inside, Nora wasn’t entirely sure what she was even looking for…until she found it. When she did, she held it in her hands and gave a little cry of triumph. Here it was: proof!
Five minutes later, she was on the street again and rushing to her car. She drove as fast as she could, hoping she’d reach the hospital in time.
Hospitals always seem to be surprisingly busy around lunch time, and Milburn General was no exception. Nora pushed her way through crowds of visitors and more than a few doctors, hurrying to catch the elevator. She’d asked around and learned Flint’s room number.
Room 314 stood at the end of a long corridor. Through a window in the hallway, you could see the highway with cars and trucks zooming by. A little beyond this was a fine view of the Tetons. Nora, however, was too excited to notice this. She walked into the room and smiled. Everyone she wanted was present.
Flint, unconscious still, was lying on the bed with Betty sitting on a chair next to him, sobbing into a lacy handkerchief. Garth stood on the opposite side of the bed, his face grim. Sheriff Ellerton was sitting in a chair near the door, his head bowed over a black notebook, while Michelle was standing next to him.
“Nora?” Michelle said as she saw her. “It’s the most terrible thing. Poor Flint!”
“You came,” Garth said. “I’m glad.”
“Of course, she did,” Betty sobbed. “Just what we need — a circus gathering. Why are you here, Nora? To rub salt into my wounds?”
“No,” Nora said. “To give you the explanation you so badly want. Betty, I know who the killer is.”
A gasp went up across the room.
“We all know who the killer is, don’t we?” Michelle asked. “Kenny Muir.”
“Ah, if only things were so easy,” Nora said. “No, I’m afraid we’ve misjudged Kenny badly, all of us. I, for one, owe him an apology.”
“What do you mean?” Sheriff Ellerton stared at her.
“Recognize this, Garth?” Nora tossed the object in her hand over to Garth. He gave a little gasp as he caught it.
“A red wig?” Michelle was puzzled. “What’s that for?”
“It’s for his star turn as Rosalind,” Nora explained. Turning back to Garth, she continued, “You played her in As You Like It, didn’t you? Weird choice of role, by the way.”
Garth cleared his throat. “Well, it was all in good fun. You know, in Shakespeare’s time, men would take on the women’s roles since women weren’t allowed to act. We thought it would be fun to have all the male roles done by women and the female roles done by, well, men.”
“Yeah, I remember that play. It was pretty hilarious seeing you all prancing about.” Sheriff Ellerton chuckled.
“It was indeed,” Nora said. “But Garth gave a second, secret performance as Rosalind. Didn’t you. Garth?”
“What is she talking about?” Michelle looked from Nora to Garth and back again. “Nora, what are you saying? Garth nearly died trying to save me last night. Now you’re accusing him of…I don’t know what?”
“Oh, but he’s not the only one I’m accusing,” Nora said. “Part of the reason Jake’s murder confused me was because everyone seemed to have decent alibis. For example, Garth was at a poker party the night Jake died, and witnesses will tell you he didn’t move from the spot.”
“You’re out of your mind,” Garth said, his face coloring. “I don’t know what crazy theory you’ve got swirling around in your brain but I don’t want to hear it. This is not the time or place. Sheriff, have her escorted out, won’t you? She’s disturbing the patient.”
“Now, not so fast.” Sheriff Ellerton held out his hands in a peacemaking gesture. “Let’s hear what the lady’s got to say, Garth. I’ve got a feeling this is going to be good.”
“I—” Garth was about to protest again but Betty held up a hand, too. “Let her talk, Garth. We need to know what Nora is thinking.”
“Thank you, Betty.” Nora smiled.
“Don’t thank me yet. I’ll have you kicked out of here as soon as you’re done,” Betty said. “I’m only letting you stay because I’m curious. As you just explained, Garth had an airtight alibi for the night of Jake’s murder. So why are you
accusing him of it now?”
“Technically, she hasn’t accused anybody,” Sheriff Ellerton said.
“Oh, I am accusing Garth,” Nora said. “I think he had a hand in the murder of Jake Tipper. I just don’t think he did it all alone.”
The sheriff leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “Go on.”
“I do have a few more questions,” Nora said. “For one, Michelle, you have the statue of an Egyptian cat-goddess in your basement, don’t you?”
“I…” Michelle blinked. “Yes, I do. It used to belong to Larry. It’s just one of the things he left behind.”
“I recently came into possession of Jake Tipper’s laptop,” Nora said. “The laptop contained a series of love letters between a man who called himself ‘Chameleon’ and a woman he called his ‘Egyptian Goddess’. It took me a bit to figure out who they were. Any guesses?”
“Garth’s ‘Chameleon’, obviously,” Sheriff Ellerton said. “He’s an actor. He slips into any new role like it’s a new skin, as easily as a chameleon changes colors. Right?”
“Right,” Nora confirmed. “He has a desktop computer in his house, Sheriff. And I have a feeling that, if you seize it, you’ll find all those lovely emails. Definitive proof that he’s ‘Chameleon’. What puzzled me, though, was the identity of this ‘Egyptian Goddess’. That is, until I remembered that cat statue in your basement, Michelle.”
Michelle flushed. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard! Just because it’s in my basement doesn’t mean I’m carrying on an affair with Garth. He’s right. You really are out of your mind, Nora.”
“Now hang on,” Nora said. “I’m not accusing you, Michelle. In fact, I don’t think you’re the one Garth’s in love with. I think that was just another role for him — a convenient role to play in order to be near the investigation all the time.”
Michelle gaped at her. “I…what…”
“Garth and Betty — they’re the ones having an affair,” Nora said.
Betty stood up in a rush, her chair tipping and clanging to the floor behind her. She clenched her fists. “You better watch it, Nora. My husband’s unconscious and you’re accusing me—”
“Ah, yes. Poor Flint and his overdose.” Nora shook her head. “He’s going to be fine, right, Sheriff?”
Sheriff Ellerton nodded. “They say he should be waking up in an hour or so.”
“I’m glad you’re here, then,” Nora said. “Because if Betty had any time alone in the room with Flint, I don’t think he would be waking up. I think he’s very, very lucky that a customer stumbled in and found him — and that you had the presence of mind to guard him afterwards.”
“I knew there was something fishy going on,” Sheriff Ellerton admitted. “I just couldn’t put my finger on it. All I knew was that Flint would never take his own life. He was far too…self-satisfied. Arrogant, even.”
“You don’t know anything!” Betty shouted. “You have no proof and you’re trying to defame me! And Garth!”
“I have plenty of proof,” Nora said calmly. “For example, the tunnel that connects your house to Michelle’s. It’s so easy for you to slip down into your own basement and then slip over into the bookstore’s basement. Right, Betty? Nobody would ever catch you. As for Garth, he lives right next door to the bookstore, so it was also fairly easy for him to slip unseen into Michelle’s basement, as well. Especially since the bookstore has been closed for years. That’s where you two would rendezvous. Must have been quite a thrill for you — to be carrying on your affair virtually under Flint’s nose, in his own family’s property.”
Betty scowled and looked away, admitting nothing.
“But then you two are quite the thrill-seekers,” Nora went on. “It must have really upset you when Jake caught on to what was happening and began blackmailing you. Murderous rage. That’s what sprang up in your bellies. After that, simply killing Jake wasn’t enough. No. You had to plan it in a way that it would implicate Flint, Michelle, Kenny — anyone but you two.”
“This is bull. Flint told you himself that he broke into Jake’s house without telling me anything about it,” Betty said. “How could I have pre-planned anything?”
“Ah, yes, but he did tell his best friend, Garth.” Nora smiled. “And, of course, Garth told you — so you knew all along that Flint was waiting for the night of the book launch to break into Jake’s house. And so, brilliantly, you decided to call Jake over to your own house that night. When he came, you took him down to your basement and you killed him there. What did you use as the murder weapon, Betty? A statue that was just lying around, perhaps? An old pipe? The basement has so many odds and ends.”
Betty trembled. “I didn’t! It’s all lies.”
“Oh, but you did,” Nora said. “Then, you dragged his body over to Michelle’s basement through the tunnel, set the fire, and escaped back to your own home. A solid, risk-free plan. Nobody would ever see you enter or leave. Nobody would doubt your ‘alibi’ — that you were asleep at home — when it happened. As for Garth, he had a perfect alibi, too. You were all set.”
“I don’t know why you’re dragging me into this,” Garth said. “Even if Betty did it, I didn’t!”
Betty gasped, staring at Garth. “Garth!”
“Maybe she killed Jake but, if she did, I’ve got nothing to do with it! I wasn’t even there!” Garth exclaimed.
“Careful, Garth. I think Betty will be more than willing to confess that you spent hours planning this together. At first, I think you wanted to implicate Flint. After all, everyone knew he hated Michelle and resented her inheriting the bookstore. You two had it all planned out perfectly — Flint would do the dirty work of breaking into Jake’s house and stealing the laptop. Hopefully, he’d be incompetent enough that the cops would figure it out immediately. By then, your plan was to have destroyed the laptop. Once the laptop was destroyed and Betty was satisfied that the town wouldn’t learn about her many secrets, she could start building the case against her husband for ‘murdering’ Jake. Then she could live happily-ever-after with you, Garth. Betty had already started laying the groundwork, pretending that she was frantically looking for Flint that first night.”
Garth growled and shook his head.
“But, to your horror, Flint said he never found the laptop,” Nora continued. “Suddenly, Betty had to shift gears. She didn’t want Flint to be implicated because, without the laptop destroyed, she’d be ruined, too, if it were found. Isn’t that right, Betty?”
Betty squeezed her eyes shut and tears leaked out.
“So, when framing Flint didn’t work, you changed tactics. You decided to pin it all on Michelle instead.”
“What?” Michelle gasped.
“It was a stroke of genius, really. After all, she was already the prime suspect,” Nora said. “And, this time, you did it on a night when Betty had an airtight alibi. Betty was at a party with Flint, and ten people can step forward as witness to the fact. But Garth? Where was Garth that night?”
Garth shifted on his feet, unable to look at Nora.
“I’ll tell you where he was. Garth put on his red wig and a dress and gave his unofficial performance as Rosalind that night. First, he searched Jake’s house, desperate to find the laptop. Garth broke into Jake’s house, grabbed the laptop case — unaware that it was empty — and then burned the place down. As he was walking away, though, two boys saw him. They just weren’t aware of exactly what they saw. They thought they simply saw a woman with red hair walking home with her laptop case, presumably after a long day at the office. They also saw a man with a gas can, and they were convinced that he was the killer, even though he turned out to just be an innocent bystander. But it turns out they did see the killer, after all. They saw you, Garth. And I think if the sheriff makes you wear that wig again, those boys will be able to identify you as the red-haired woman they saw that night.”
Garth shrugged his shoulders and his face collapsed into a mask of rage. “I’ll kill them. I’ll kill
you!”
Sheriff Ellerton stood up, his hand on his holster. “Not in front of me you won’t.”
“But…but Garth saved my life that night!” Michelle stepped forward. “It can’t be true. He was with you, Nora. He saved me from Kenny!”
“Quite the opposite,” Nora said. “I think Kenny saved you from Garth.”
“What?!”
“When you left my house and got into your car, Garth was already in the back seat,” Nora said. “That’s why you don’t remember anything. He hit you on the back of your head as soon as you got in.”
Michelle raised a hand to her mouth in horror.
“But, luckily for you, you had Bubbles,” Nora said. “If you were to pull up Garth’s sleeves, you’d see scratches all over his arms. Your cat fought to defend you from Garth. As for Kenny, I do think he was stalking you. I think he’s been stalking you ever since you came back to town. He was at the bookstore launch, too, wearing a grey trench coat. The night Garth attacked you, Kenny was watching from afar and, when he saw Bubbles going after Garth, Kenny stepped in to protect you, too. When Kenny came on the scene, Garth got scared and ran away. After all, fighting a cat is one thing. Fighting a trained ex-soldier is another.”
“Incredible,” Sheriff Ellerton said.
Nora nodded. “Michelle, we thought Kenny had kidnapped you but, really, Kenny took you to his home, where he bandaged your head and sat waiting with a rifle. He was trying to keep you safe, in his own way.”
“Poor Kenny.” Michelle had tears in her eyes.
“He does have an unhealthy attachment to you,” Nora pointed out. “It’s not healthy to stalk women, and it’s definitely not healthy to take them to your home and try and care for them yourself. He should have handed you over to the police. But, it seems, he was doing what he thought was best for you.”
“Wait, but then why did Garth make a show of heroism?” Sheriff Ellerton asked.
“More genius on his part,” Nora said. “Garth wasn’t confident he could take Kenny on his own. So he manipulated the situation. He made me and the police believe Kenny was a kidnapper — he acted like he had a crush on Michelle and was ‘rescuing’ her from Kenny. He was hoping that Kenny would get killed in the chaos, and Jake’s murder would get pinned on him. Like I said before, by that point, Betty and Garth didn’t care who went to jail, as long as it wasn’t them.”
The Milburn Big Box Set Page 165