Murder by Page One

by Olivia Matthews

  I secured my car. “Thank you both so very much. What should we do now?” But Adrian was already striding away, carrying the now-contained snake toward a trail that led to the park behind the library. “But…if Adrian releases the snake into the park, couldn’t it make its way back here?”

  “It might.” Floyd’s shrug was philosophical. “You should get snake repellant. You can buy it over at the general store. Apply it to your car seat where the snake was and spread it around your car.”

  For a brief moment, I reconsidered this whole small-town librarian situation. Then I remembered how much I loved my job, and that I was falling in love with the town and my neighbors. Well, with the possible exception of Delores.

  “I don’t understand how the snake could’ve gotten into my car.” I scanned my vehicle, looking for a way the reptile could’ve slithered in.

  Especially because of my concern for Phoenix’s safety, before I moved into my house, I took steps to make sure snakes couldn’t get in. I’d watched videos I’d found on the internet to learn how to snake-proof my home. I’d followed each step in detail. I’d inspected the house from the attic to the basement to the attached garage. I’d even checked the creepy, cobweb-infested crawl spaces. I’d checked for openings, gaps, and spaces larger than a quarter of an inch, and had sealed them all—every single one—with spray foam and weather stripping. But it had never entered my mind to snake-proof my car, perhaps because Phoenix was rarely in it.

  “Are you sure you locked your car?” Floyd held my gaze. “Because I don’t think your snake got into your car by itself. I think it had help.”

  “I know I locked my car.” I faced Floyd again. “It’s a habit.”

  Adrian returned at a brisk jog. “The person could’ve used a car key jammer.” The trash container was now thankfully empty. “It’s a device that blocks the radio signal from your car remote and prevents your car from locking. I read about it in one of my true crime novels.”

  My mind was almost overwhelmed by the implications of what Floyd and Adrian were saying. Someone had deliberately put a snake in my car and had planned how to do it. A foggy memory settled over my mind and struggled to take shape. Bobby was fascinated by snakes. He liked them enough to have them tattooed on his forearm in brilliant colors that almost matched the one I’d found on my car seat. Could he be behind this?

  “I don’t usually drive to work. How could he have known I drove today—and which car was mine?” I spread my arms, indicating the crowded parking lot. The after-work patrons were arriving.

  “It’s obvious.” Floyd sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. “Someone’s been watching you, Marvey. And we all know why. Are you sure you want to continue this investigation?”

  Chapter 23

  My first four months in Peach Coast had been quiet. Now, in less than a week—we’d only been investigating Fiona’s murder for five days—the stuff had hit the fan: a snake in my car, my sabotaged office chair, and the intruder who’d been sneaking around my home in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

  I’d thanked Floyd and Adrian for their help again—they really had gone above and beyond to help me—before making a beeline to the general store for the snake repellant. I was anxious to get home, check on Phoenix, and then…think.

  The general store was huge with lots of aisles and even more people. It seemed to be another town hot spot, like On A Roll. In fact, a few of the café regulars were in the store. They hailed me as I hurried past, slowing just enough to exchange a wave and well wishes before speeding on. I didn’t want to spend too much time in the store. I couldn’t risk that another snake would turn up in the parking lot and somehow or another work its way into my car. Random, frightening thoughts like that would probably stalk me for days if not weeks until the fright from my snake encounter dissipated.

  A helpful clerk pointed me in the direction of the camping section for the snake repellent. After a quick trip through the checkout lane, I was back outside. The shadows had started to lengthen. The weather had cooled, but it was still warm enough to be comfortable without a jacket. The slight breeze carried the scent of the nearby coast.

  I spotted my little sedan across the parking lot. From this distance, it seemed snake-free. Still, I prepared myself to enter the vehicle with caution. I glanced to my left before stepping off the sidewalk.

  “Watch out!” a female voice screamed from behind me.

  At the same time, a flash of movement in my peripheral vision claimed my attention. My head spun to the right. My brain rushed to verify what my eyes couldn’t believe. A dark mid-sized sedan was zooming straight toward me. There was no way the driver couldn’t see me. It wasn’t that dark. They never swerved, never blew the horn. Never. Stopped.

  Were they targeting me?

  I jumped back up to the sidewalk. As the sedan sped past, a gust of wind slammed into my back. I went cold. The car had been so close. Too close. It could’ve run me down. My legs quivered like Jell-O before giving out altogether. I crumbled onto the sidewalk. Disjointed thoughts spun around my head: Phoenix, a dark sedan, and an out-of-state license plate.

  “Are you all right?” A petite older woman rushed to my side. She pressed both of her hands onto my shoulders as though offering support.

  I tilted my head to meet her eyes. She looked almost as panic-stricken as I felt. “You saved my life. Thank you.” My voice wobbled in the middle and at both ends.

  My guardian angel’s brown eyes widened. Her thin black eyebrows flew up her forehead. “Oh, honey, don’t think like that. Are you hurt?”

  I tried to shake my head, but my whole body was still trembling. “I don’t think so.”

  “That was crazy.” Anger pulsed in her voice. “Some people are so selfish. They think they’re the only ones allowed to move in the parking lot.” She glared in the direction the car had flown. It had disappeared without a trace.

  “‘Selfish’ is one way to describe it.” Homicidal was another. I struggled to push myself to my feet.

  “Careful. Don’t move too fast.” My rescuer braced my left arm to support me.

  “Thank you.” More than anything, I appreciated her just being there after my scare, the second one in less than two hours. “I’m Marvey Harris.”

  “Sharon Hirose.” She looked up at me, cradling my arm as though afraid to let me go. “Do you want me to take you to the hospital?”

  “Oh, no. I’m fine.” My teeth still chattered, though. “Thank you again so much for calling out to me and for checking on me. You’re truly a good Samaritan.”

  Sharon’s pale cheeks pinkened. “Anyone would’ve done the same.”

  Being a New Yorker, I wasn’t sure about that. “I’m grateful you were nearby.”

  She accompanied me to my car. We checked the parking lot twice to make certain it was clear before we proceeded. “Be careful on your drive home. Do you live far?”

  “No, but I’ll be careful. And, please, you do the same.” I smiled down at her before deactivating my car alarm. “Thanks again.”

  “You’re welcome. Good night.” She turned to leave.

  “Sharon?” I waited until she turned back to me. “Did you happen to notice the car’s license plate number?”

  She gave me an apologetic shrug. “I’m sorry. I didn’t, but if you report it to the deputies, I’ll be your witness. The license plate looked like a rental.” She gave me her email address and home phone number.

  “I work at the Peach Coast Library.” I fished a business card from my wallet. “Do you have a library card?”

  Once back in my car, I found a music radio station and pumped up the volume on a favorite 1980s dance song to help settle my nerves. During the drive home, I stopped feeling shaken and started getting angry. By the time I parked the car in my attached garage, I was once again shaking, but this time with temper, not fear.

  Phoenix
stretched out at his usual station in front of the French doors, surveying the backyard. I sat cross-legged beside him and scooped him onto my lap. I cuddled and petted him while I filled him in on my day—only the happy parts. He seemed fine. After a few moments, I rose to check on his water bowl and food dish. Phoenix’s water bowl was empty, but I wished he’d show a little more interest in the food. Fortunately, our appointment with the veterinarian was scheduled for tomorrow after work, less than twenty-four hours away.

  Turning back to the dining table, I fished my phone from my handbag and sent a text to Jo and Spence. Can you come to my house tonight? Sorry for late notice, but would really like your thoughts on developments I think are related to case. I proofed the text before sending it to make sure it had the proper punctuation.

  Within two minutes, they’d both agreed to join me in half an hour. Perfect! That gave me enough time to apply the snake repellant before it got dark and to call the sheriff’s office to report my near-fatal hit-and-run in the general store parking lot. I also might be able to research out-of-state-license plates. I was almost certain the car that had tried to strike me was the same dark sedan that had threatened Willy Wednesday night. Why would someone use a rental car to try to harm me? To remain anonymous, of course.

  These weren’t coincidences. Someone was out to get me.

  “Someone’s trying to scare me off from investigating Fiona’s murder.” I looked at Jo and Spence.

  My friends had arrived within minutes of each other Thursday evening. We were meeting in my living room. I’d made us my favorite orange herbal tea. They’d both declined additional refreshments, since they’d just finished dinner.

  Jo cradled the rose porcelain mug. “Do you mean other than the deputies and Delores?”

  I gave her a dry look. “Yes. This is more than someone who’s irritated by my meddling or angry that I’ve cast aspersions against their friends. This is someone who wants to scare me, if not hurt me.”

  “What makes you think that?” Spence went still. There was tension in his tone.

  I hesitated, still loathe to worry them. “I’m not great at math, but even I know the probabilities are off. I’ve had four dangerous incidents over two consecutive days. That’s more than a coincidence.”

  Jo’s eyes flared wide. “What’s happened?”

  “What incidents?” Spence spoke at the same time. He set his mug on its coaster on the coffee table and sat forward on the sofa he shared with Jo.

  I hated the anxiety growing in their eyes. No one wanted to worry friends, but this information was important to the case. And, well, they were my friends. I would want to know if they were in trouble. “The first suspicious event happened yesterday, about two in the morning.” I stood to pace my living room. The hardwood flooring was smooth under my fuzzy lavender slipper socks. My chocolate shorts and purple T-shirt were loose around me. “The motion-detecting lights above my deck came on and woke me.”

  Jo looked toward my French doors. “Maybe someone walked past your house.” Even she sounded uncertain about that theory.

  I shook my head. “They only come on when people come within ten yards of my house.”

  Spence’s eyes darkened with concern. “Ten yards? At that distance, they’re practically on your doorstep.”

  I gave them a humorless half smile. “That distance was a compromise between my parents and I. They wanted the lights to come on if someone was across the street.”

  Jo and Spence didn’t look amused. If anything, their concern deepened.

  Spence stared at the living room ceiling as though imagining the layout of my bedroom. “Your windows face north and south.”

  I blinked. Spence knew I didn’t deal in north, south, east, and west. It was left, right, and turnaround. “At one end of my room, the windows face the front and the windows in the back face…the back.”

  Jo frowned. “Someone was circling your house.”

  Based on the increasing anxiety in their voices, I decided to give them the abridged version of the events: contacting emergency services, Jed and Errol responding to my call, and the deputies’ assertion that the disturbance was a group of kids, playing a prank.

  “That’s ridiculous,” Jo muttered.

  “I agree,” Spence said.

  I shrugged restlessly. “So do I, and I told them as much, but they’re certain of their theory.”

  Spence rose and crossed to the other side of the room. “You said there’d been ‘incidences.’ What else has happened?” He propped his shoulder against the curve of the archway between my living room and dining room. He didn’t look pleased. Neither did Jo.

  They were already upset about the lights. Should I tell them the rest? I didn’t think I had a choice. We were in this together. My recap went in chronological order—the tampered chair in my office, the venomous visitor in my car, and the psycho driver in the parking lot. My report to the sheriff’s office hadn’t gone well since I could barely describe the car and I hadn’t recorded the license plate.

  Jo and Spence stared at me as though they’d been turned to stone. Spence regained his voice first.

  “That’s it.” He crossed his arms over his chest, which was covered by a ruby cotton polo shirt. “We’re ending this investigation. Now. I’m sorry, Jo, but this is way too dangerous.”

  “I agree.” She collapsed back against the sofa. She looked up at me with wounded coffee eyes. “Marvey, I’m so sorry I ever involved you in this.”

  I held her gaze. “I chose to get involved. It was my decision then, and it’s my decision now.” I shifted my gaze to Spence. “I appreciate your concern. I really do, but I can’t stop now. Don’t you see? These incidents—the chair, the snake, the car—they must mean we’re on the right track.”

  Spence straightened from the wall, dropping his arms. “These aren’t incidents, Marvey. They’re attacks. Whether they’re from someone who’s afraid you’re getting too close to identifying them is irrelevant.”

  “I disagree.” I faced him from the other side of the sofa. Jo sat between us. “It’s not irrelevant. In fact, it’s very pertinent. The killer knows it’s just a matter of time before we identify them.”

  Spence looked at me as though he was baffled. “This person is trying to hurt you. Tonight, they came too darn close to succeeding. What would’ve happened if Ms. Sharon hadn’t been there? We may not be so lucky next time.”

  “And there will be a next time, Marvey.” Jo’s voice was heavy with pain. “You’ve got to stop. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.”

  Her dark eyes implored me to listen to them. As much as I wanted to give her what she asked for, something inside me couldn’t give in, wouldn’t give in. I didn’t know what it was—our friendship, my quest for justice, my pigheadedness. All of the above. I knew I couldn’t walk away from this, knowing I must be just a thought away from identifying Fiona’s killer. My eyes were drawn to the kitchen as I pictured the bag of chocolate-covered peanuts stashed in the cabinet closest to the door.

  I brought my attention back to my friends and steeled myself to disappoint them. “I promise to be careful.” It was the best I could do.

  “Think about your family, Marvey.” Spence searched my eyes as though trying to read my mind. “What would they want you to do?”

  Oh, unfair, particularly since none of them knew about my investigation. The motion-detecting lights had been my parents’ idea. Dre had gifted me with the Apple Watch. I suspected he’d programmed it to do more than exchange our activity updates. He may also be able to track my movements.

  I sent Spence a look that I hoped expressed my displeasure. “My family knows I wouldn’t desert a friend in need. Neither would they.”

  He threw up his hands. “Then give the deputies the information you have. That wouldn’t be deserting Jo, but it would be protecting yourself.”

 
Folding my arms, I wandered away from the sofa. “I’ve given them updates and they’ve discounted everything I’ve said.”

  “All right.” Jo spread her hands. “I appreciate everything you’ve done and are doing to help me, Marvey. You’re a good friend, probably better than I deserve.”

  I scowled over my shoulder. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  She continued. “But the situation has gotten way out of control.”

  “I can’t–”

  Jo interrupted me. “If you’re not going to listen to reason and stop putting yourself in danger, then I insist on helping you. I’m going everywhere you go. I’m doing everything you do. If that puts me in danger too, then so be it.”

  She appeared determined to win her argument to get involved this time. But Spence looked as though he expected her ultimatum to convince me to stand down. He was wrong.

  “All right. Here’s my plan for tomorrow morning.” I ignored Jo’s satisfied expression and Spence’s visible disappointment. “While I was waiting for you, I looked up the trash collection schedule for Bobby Hayes’s neighborhood.”

  Spence frowned again. It seemed that was the expression he’d chosen to wear for the rest of our meeting. “How did you know where he lives?”

  I shrugged. “Floyd told me. He really is a Peach Coast goldmine.” My description made Spence smile. I was glad he was regaining his good humor. “Okay, so tomorrow’s Bobby’s trash day.”

  Jo brought us back to our plans. “Why is that significant?”

  I gestured toward her. “Early tomorrow morning, you and I are going to jog to his house and steal his garbage.”