Reading Between the Crimes

by Kate Young

  “And you found the body. Interesting. I’ve meant to come by and offer my condolences to you and your mother. That couldn’t have been easy on either of you.”

  “That’s incredibly kind of you.” My tone dripped with sarcasm. “But it’s Harper who is truly grieving. And I’m afraid our calendars are pretty full. I’ll get back to you.”

  “Ouch.” Charles smirked and stepped aside to allow me to pass. “Nice meeting you.”

  “Nice meeting you too.” I tossed a smile over my shoulder and went to check out. Piper and I had once been close friends. Right now, that felt like a million years ago. I began to wonder what had happened to our friendship. Things like that happened, I supposed.

  I walked down the sidewalk of the square, carrying my bags and moving toward my car. As I waited for the stoplight to change, a silver Cadillac parked around the side of Sweeties Market and Deli caught my eye. The car looked like Mother’s.

  A glance into the window of the market confirmed my suspicions. Mother sat at the table directly to the left of the dining room. To say I was surprised by her outing would be an understatement. Quizzically, I peered through the window. The ladies she dined with were her usual crowd. Part of me felt glad she’d managed to get out and about. The other part worried sick she might be struggling to deal with what had happened and could react badly. Some things trigger Mother’s past trauma, and she’d lose herself for a few days. At least that’s how Daddy described it. Thankfully, my mother always found her way back.

  Mother beamed at the table, and I, too, began to smile. My smile faltered when Charles passed by the window. He waltzed right up to their table and took a seat in the middle. Hadn’t Piper said they had a dinner engagement? I scanned the room and did not see her. Huh. Perhaps she’d said “our dinner engagements”—plural.

  The table greeted Charles as if they had been awaiting his arrival. I still saw no sign of Piper, and that was a relief. The women began to laugh at something Charles said. Boy, would he have some material to work with now. You’d think he would have mentioned this to me. He seemed nice enough, but I still, I didn’t care for the idea of his unguarded access to the old families of Sweet Mountain who loved to gab.

  Someone bumped into me, and I stumbled forward. “I apologize.” A woman flushed with embarrassment and took her child by the hand. “Say you’re sorry, son.” The little boy, who wore a blue ball cap and had giant doe eyes, said, “Sorry,” before ducking his head behind his mother’s leg.

  “It’s fine. No harm done,” I assured them. The light changed, and I cast one last glance back toward the deli. Charles stared right at me, and our eyes locked. They were penetrating and eerily unwavering. Part of me wanted to storm in there and find out what was going on, but that would only make another scene, giving him more material. I smiled as if everything was perfectly fine, hoping that were true, and waved before turning my back on him. I’d have to deal with this situation later. I crossed the street as the wind blew, and an ominous feeling overtook me that the gray sky could perhaps be an omen. I hoped not.

  * * *

  The core group of the Jane Does—Mel, Amelia, and I—were all seated on my tufted group sofa. We were still waiting on Rosa. I’d just finished telling them about my encounter with the writer and how later I’d seen him with Mother and her ladies’ group.

  “Oh my God,” Melanie cackled. “You ran him over!”

  Amelia smirked and picked up one of the bottles of wine he’d selected—not that I’d shared that part of the encounter. “Be honest. You sure you didn’t want to run him over?”

  I threw a napkin at Amelia. “No! But after seeing him charming the senior ladies of our town for information, I might have reason to again.”

  “Oh well, that would be a little nutty, Lyla. And when have we ever had this opportunity before? Maybe we should have him come to our club meeting.” Melanie lifted her hands in the air. “Or better yet, maybe he’ll let us beta-read his novel! We could influence the story. Give him a genuine perspective of our hometown life. I mean, if he’s going to write it, he might as well involve us.”

  I glanced from Mel to Amelia, who raised her brows. “She has a point. And honestly, the story will probably only be loosely based on Sweet Mountain.”

  “Well, I hate to burst any bubbles here, but I googled him and didn’t find a single title he’s published.” I took a sip from my glass.

  “That doesn’t mean he won’t—or maybe he publishes under a pseudonym. Lots of people do that, as you well know.” Melanie wasn’t having her bubble burst.

  “You’re right. And it’s something to consider, I guess. Charles did seem nice.” I glanced back at the clock. “Where is Rosa? This is her second no-show today.”

  Mel crossed her legs, and her concern replaced her amused smile with a frown. “I’m starting to get worried. It isn’t like her not to call, and her phone is still going straight to voicemail.”

  “She’s just a half hour late. Let’s not freak out yet.” Amelia attempted to be the voice of reason, but her seemingly calm demeanor had a crack in it. She kept tapping her index finger on the sofa.

  “More like forty-five minutes.” Mel didn’t even try to remain calm as she violently tapped on the screen of her phone. She placed her phone back on the end table with a giant sigh. “Voicemail.”

  We’d all grown closer over the last year after the death of a club member. The tragedy bound us, and we were more than merely club members now. We were like sisters—sisters who could read each other well.

  The knock on the door made all three of us jump. I leaped to my feet and answered it. Rosa stood on the other side, still in her blue uniform. “Oh my God! We were so worried,” I said.

  “I’m sorry.” She hugged me, and I let her pass. “My phone died, and I didn’t have my charger on me.”

  Mel and Amelia hugged her next, then Rosa took a seat next to Mel. “It’s been a day from hell.”

  Melanie poured a glass of wine and handed it to her.

  “What happened to you and Detective Battle this morning? He called and said y’all would be here, and then nothing.” I kicked off my Mary Janes and sat on the chaise lounge, tucking my feet underneath me.

  “He didn’t call you?” Rosa stared at me for a moment, confusion written all over her face. When I shook my head, she said, “Huh,” and took a deep sip from the glass.

  “He said he was going to. I guess it slipped his mind. It was that kind of day.” Rosa put the glass on the coffee table. “Two of our officers and Chief Quinn called out sick with the nasty stomach bug that’s been going around. Detective Battle took me off desk duty, and we had to hire a temp to cover the front desk. It was madness.”

  “Oh no.” Amelia’s eyes went wide. “A couple of ladies from my church had that bug running through their families last weekend. They said it was awful. Had their entire family down for the count for three days.”

  “Yikes.” Melanie scooted away from Rosa.

  “I don’t have it.” Rosa gave Melanie a look that said she didn’t appreciate being treated like a leper. “And I’m starving.” Rosa got up and made herself a plate from the food I’d laid out on the bar. “I missed lunch and came straight here from my last call.”

  “Nothing too horrible, I hope,” I said.

  Rosa shook her head. “Some domestic over on the outskirts of town.” She grabbed a napkin and perched on a barstool. “Did you find anything on Harper’s aunt?”

  I gave her the lowdown on what I’d discovered and how even I found it difficult to believe that a person could simply vanish in this day and age without a trace, and that those closest to her agreed with Harper’s and my assessment. “Though I’m not ready to rule anything out yet,” I continued. “All it takes is one critical piece of evidence to alter an investigation completely.” I truly wished to be able to locate the woman for Harper.

  Rosa nodded. “That’s the truth.” She tossed a couple of olives stuffed with blue cheese into her mouth. />
  “Well, did it feel amazing to be in the field?” Melanie asked Rosa. Mel seemed to have gotten over her worry of contracting the illness going around.

  Rosa shared with us that after her stint in Afghanistan working as military police, she needed a break from any field duty. She never went into details about what she’d been through, and we never pried. We admired her and gave her the freedom to share whatever she felt like and whenever she was ready to.

  “Yeah, it did. I liked being on desk duty. I needed the reprieve for a bit, but now, I think it might be time for a change.” She turned toward me. “Lyla, you have any water?”

  “Yes, in the refrigerator.” I smiled at her growth. “Sweet Mountain will be lucky to have you keeping us safe.”

  My friends echoed my encouragement, and Rosa grinned over her shoulder. “Y’all are the best.”

  While she went to retrieve the bottle, I wrestled with what would be appropriate to ask about the Richardson case. I cast a glance toward Mel and Amelia, who also seemed to be having the same trouble.

  Rosa turned around, the bottle to her lips, and stared at us for a few blinks. “Y’all, I can’t say anything more, so please don’t ask me to. I probably shouldn’t have called the other day. Can we please just chat about the book? Or if this is too difficult, I’ll understand and go.”

  Mel, Amelia, and I exchanged a glance. None of us wanted her to leave. And as her friends, we needed to respect her position.

  “Please, stay.” I smiled. My friends chimed in with similar comments.

  “So, what did you think about the story?” Melanie said, directing the conversation to its stated purpose.

  Rosa beamed, and we all let out a little sigh of relief. “It was so good. I don’t have the book with me, but I finished it. I had my suspicions but did not see that ending coming.”

  The fears of the day became distant as we delved back into discussions of Crooked House. Having my townhouse filled with friends enjoying food, and listening to my book club chattering, made everything seem more normal somehow. The energy in the room was the medicine we all needed. And later, Melanie took great pleasure in telling the story of how I ran over the writer at the market.

  We were all still laughing, the warmth of the wine spreading throughout my body, when my phone rang from inside my purse. I let it go to voicemail, not wanting anything to spoil the evening. But as soon as the ringing ended, it began again.

  “Take it. It might be important.” Rosa said, still chuckling as she got up to use the restroom.

  “Sorry, y’all.” I reached down and dug into my bag to retrieve it. A Facetime call came through from a number I didn’t recognize, and I almost declined it, when something changed my mind. This call could have to do with the disappearance of Harper’s aunt. I’d given my number out to several people. I swiped the phone icon right, to answer. LJ’s face came on the screen.

  “Lyla, this is LJ. I’m calling at Harper’s request. The cops are here with a search warrant!”

  “What?” I was on my feet.

  “They’re tearing the house apart!” The screen view flipped, and Harper’s pale face filled the screen, her voice high and shrill. “They showed us a warrant. Something about new evidence they’ve uncovered.” The camera turned, and we could see Detective Battle and another officer as they came down the hallway toward the camera.

  “Harper Richardson, you are under arrest for the murder of Leonard Richardson.” I couldn’t believe my eyes or ears. My heart began to race as my friends and I crowded around my phone to watch helplessly as the officer continued reading Harper her rights while another officer cuffed her in the living room of the Richardson home.

  Harper glanced up at the phone with flooding eyes. “What’s going on? You have to help me, Lyla! I can’t believe this is happening. I’m mean, I worried someone might try and frame me, but—” Before she could finish her thought, the police interrupted. Her face crumpled, her bottom lip trembling uncontrollably.

  “It’s okay, Harper. Listen to me. I’ll do everything I can to help.” She tried to focus on the phone. Just then, her legs gave way, and the two officers held her upright by her arms.

  Sharp intakes of breath echoed from my friends as my hand holding the phone shook. Horrible thoughts raced through my mind as we watched Harper being taken out the front door and placed in the back of the police cruiser. Never will I forget the look on her face when the officer said she was under arrest. The entire Richardson family stood idly by. They’d even wheeled out the elderly gentlemen onto the front porch to watch the officers put her into the back seat, the officer’s hand on the top of her head as he pushed her in. The only one who seemed to care was LJ. He’d rushed the police, shouting profanities, phone in hand, until he too was threatened with an arrest himself.

  “LJ!” I shouted to get his attention. “She needs a lawyer!”

  He shoved his hand into his hair, a panicked expression on his face. “What?”

  “Harper needs a lawyer.” I gripped the phone too tightly; my fingers were white. “Do you need me to help you with that?”

  “No. I’ve taken care of that.” He appeared frantic. His head kept shaking, and the phone screen trembled. “I’ve got to go. Harper begged me to call you and let you know you’ll be hearing from her lawyer. We need your help.” The sound of loud breathing came over the phone as we watched him run toward his car. “I can’t believe this. I effing can’t believe it!”

  “Okay, try and stay calm. Let me know—” I managed to get in before LJ disconnected the call.

  I stared at my friends, all of us at a loss for words. Amelia sat down on the sofa, hard. The whites of her eyes were showing more than usual, and she panted a little. Melanie blinked rapidly and looked like she, too, might faint.

  A million things went through my mind. With Harper charged with murder, would LJ have access to the family account? Did he have his own money? Would he contribute to her defense? She was going to need all the help she could get, emotionally and financially. By the way he’d reacted to her arrest, I believed he would. I wondered who her lawyer was and when she’d retained him. She hadn’t mentioned anything about seeking my help, other than for her aunt’s case. I guess with the new development that had changed.

  I needed answers. While at the Richardsons’, I’d resisted asking about the rumor of an affair. I’d hoped we’d have another chance when she’d settled down a bit. It would surely come out now. Everything would come out now. Not that I judged her for it. I had no idea how I would survive in her position.

  Rosa slowly made her way back into the living room. All three of our heads whipped around accusingly. “I told you Detective Battle had evidence for a potential search warrant. I told you not to be cavalier in your assumptions. The case is solid. And that’s all I can tell y’all.” She walked over and grabbed her purse off the sofa. “I better go.”

  None of us said anything as she walked out the front door. We all just sat there, processing what had transpired.

  After Mel and Amelia left, I called Brad and left a voicemail. I got into my coziest PJs and washed my face and brushed my teeth. I couldn’t do anything for Harper until her lawyer called, so I decided to check in on my mother, who seemed to be in a rush to get me off the phone after I told her I saw her at Sweet Market Deli. “Well, you should have come in and said hello. Everyone would have loved to see you.”

  “I had groceries and didn’t want to disturb your meeting with the writer.” I let that hang out there, hoping she’d elaborate on the discussion.

  “Lyla Jane, please don’t be patronizing. Have you heard from Harper? Is she doing all right?”

  “Patronizing? I simply inquired as to why you lunched with a writer. You, Mrs. Ross, and Mrs. Waters were all sitting at a table with him. And while he seems like a nice man, I’d be careful. Some things can’t be retracted.”

  “What? James, turn that up.” I tried to remain patient.

  “Oh my stars. The police arreste
d Harper this afternoon.” She sounded shocked and a tad out of breath.

  Guess it made the nightly news. “I know.”

  “You knew! You knew and didn’t tell me.” Mother sounded distraught.

  “I was about to. What’s between you and Harper? You discouraged me from drawing any attention to her. Had me withhold information from the police. I don’t understand, and now—well, they’re going to leave no stone unturned. You do realize how, from the detective’s perspective, this case looks like a massive cover-up. If you know something more, you’d better tell me right now.” My pulse raced as I waited for her response. I couldn’t imagine what she’d say, but the foreboding I felt spoke volumes. I loved my mother. But I didn’t exactly get her.

  “There is much you don’t understand. And that young man, the writer you were asking about, he seems to understand everything.”

  “What are you saying? Everything about what? Harper? I can’t—”

  “Lyla Jane, I have to go.” She hung up. For the first time in my life, my mother hung up on me. I stared at the phone. What was going on? I worried now more than ever. She hadn’t denied a cover-up. Was it possible? No. I gave myself a mental shake. My mind went round and round with thoughts I couldn’t ascertain. I closed my eyes, willing clarity to come.

  When the phone rang again, I nearly leaped out of my skin. I assumed it was Mother calling back. I didn’t even check when I doubled-tapped my earbud. “I can’t believe you hung up on me.”

  “What?” a male voice said. My mouth felt dry, and I checked the time and who was calling. It was almost eleven. I must have fallen asleep.

  “Sorry, Uncle Calvin.” I yawned. “I thought you were someone else. We’re working from home again tomorrow?”

  “I’m afraid so. I’m sure you saw the news about Harper Richardson.”

  “Actually, LJ called when she was being arrested and gave me a heads-up that she needed my help.”

  “He called me too, and so did Harper’s attorney.” Well, that made me feel better. “The attorney—Jenkins is his name—he’s just a step above a public defender, and he sounded overwhelmed to me. They retained him before her arrest. I suppose they saw a charge coming.” I’d wondered about that. “And Jenkins officially requested our help turning up leads to build a defense.”