by Nancy CoCo
“Can’t we just wait for the EMTs?”
“Every moment counts,” Josie said.
“She said every moment counts,” I repeated.
“Fine,” Aunt Eloise said. “I’ll hold his head.” She put Everett on the top of the dresser and carefully walked to Bernie’s head. “This is terrible. I don’t think I can do it.”
“We have to try,” I said. “Hold him steady and I’ll roll him over. One, two, three . . .”
We shoved and pushed and struggled until he turned. He was very heavy and very limp, flipping like a dead fish. “I think we’re too late,” I said.
“Open his airway,” Josie said.
“You don’t understand,” I said into the phone. “He’s dead.”
“Tip his head back, open his mouth, and swipe a finger in his mouth to see if his airway is clear,” she continued.
I looked up at my aunt, whose mouth was a tight line. She wasn’t going to help. I blew out a deep breath and did exactly what Josie said. It was rather disgusting. “I didn’t feel anything.”
“Okay, now is he breathing?”
“It doesn’t sound like it. Seriously, he’s really cold and white and his eyes are open and he’s staring blankly at the ceiling.” All I could think about was that CSI McGovern was going to be very upset with us for messing up another crime scene.
“Check for breathing and start heart compressions,” Josie said, as if reading from a list of instructions.
Luckily, I heard sirens. The door downstairs bust open and a man’s voice shouted: “Where are you?”
“We’re upstairs,” I yelled back.
Jim came through the door to find me and my aunt hunkered down beside a dead man. “Step away from him.”
We both scrambled upright and stepped back with our hands raised. “The dispatcher told us to turn him over and check for a pulse.”
He knelt down and put his finger to the same spot as I had. “He doesn’t have a pulse and he’s cold. I think this man is dead and has been for some time. You moved the body?”
“She told us to,” I said and pointed to my phone.
“Let me talk to her,” he said and took my phone from me. “This is Hampton.” He walked off to the other room. I looked at Aunt Eloise.
“I told her I didn’t want to touch him.”
“Let’s get out of here,” Aunt Eloise said. She picked up Everett and we both hustled downstairs into the kitchen.
“Don’t go anywhere, you two,” Hampton hollered at us.
“We’ll just step outside,” I said. “We don’t want to further contaminate the crime scene.”
“Fine, but don’t go far. I have questions.”
We stepped outside as the EMTs came through the doorway with a stretcher and their kits in hand. I went over to stand under the ancient basketball hoop that hung on the garage. Aunt Eloise had told me that years ago Bernie had hung the hoop to encourage neighborhood kids to play at their house. I found it sad that most people overlooked the hoop with the missing net. Taking Everett from my aunt, I hugged him until he squeaked.
“I’ve never seen a dead man before,” Aunt Eloise said. “Well, not one that wasn’t already in a casket with waxy makeup on.”
“We had to touch him,” I shivered. “I put my finger in his mouth.”
“If he had had a blockage you would have saved his life by finding it,” she pointed out.
“But I didn’t.”
“No, you didn’t.” She put her hand on my arm to comfort me. “But you tried and that says a lot about you.”
“Do you think I need to call my lawyer?”
“Yes,” Aunt Eloise said gravely, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
“We should have never tried looking for her client list.”
“We have it now,” she said. “Those pictures in your phone will help us figure out who is doing this.”
“I hope so,” I said. “I just want my life to go back to normal.”
“Here, give me Everett.” She held out her hands. More sirens moved toward us. “Call your lawyer.”
I dialed Matt’s number with shaking hands. By now the sun had come up.
“It’s pretty early to call, Wren,” Matt said as he picked up. “Are you in trouble?”
“I think maybe,” I said.
“Where are you?”
“I’m at the Snows’ home,” I said. “I’m with my aunt and my cat. We found Bernie Snow on the floor of his bedroom and I’m pretty sure he’s dead.”
“Have you called the police?”
“Yes,” I said. “Can’t you hear the sirens?” Another cop car pulled up and cut the siren as it stopped in front of us. “I think you should be here in case they think I did it. I had to touch him. The dispatcher asked us to turn him over and look for a pulse. Jim arrived before we could start CPR. He told us to stay away from the body.”
“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” he said. “Don’t say anything to anyone until I get there.”
“Okay,” I said and hung up the phone.
“Don’t talk?” Aunt Eloise suggested.
“Not until he gets here.”
A female officer came out and said, “Officer Hampton said to come out and get your statement.” She pulled out a recording device. “I’m Officer Morris. You are . . .” She looked at her notebook. “Eloise Johnson?”
“That’s me,” my aunt said.
“And Wren Johnson?” she asked and eyed me.
“Yes,” I said. “I just called my lawyer. I’m not going to speak to anyone until he’s here.”
“Fine,” she said and turned to my aunt. “I’ll get your story first. Ms. Johnson, please step over to the squad car. I need you out of hearing distance, but not far. Don’t make me put you in the squad car.”
“Got it,” I said and walked ten steps away. I turned and leaned on the car and watched the goings-on. Someone had put up police tape at the end of the driveway. The neighbors had gathered to see what was going on. I could feel them staring at me. I’m sure they were curious why we were even in the Snows’ house.
My phone lit up with texts from Porsche and Alicia asking me what was going on. Word traveled fast in a small town. Alicia arrived and stood right outside the police line and waved at me. I waved back. She texted. “What happened?”
I texted back. “Can’t talk until my lawyer gets here.”
“What about the other day when you stood me up?”
“We’ll talk later,” I texted back.
“But you will tell me what’s going on, right? Is it Bernie Snow?”
“I can’t say.” I put my phone away. Anything I texted would be written in stone and probably used as evidence. I watched as Officer Morris finished taking my aunt’s statement. At least I knew what the story was. We had gone for a walk and Everett had slipped into the Snow home. The cat was with my aunt right now. She had taken off his leash. At least that part of the story seemed to be working. I glanced around again. Our plan to slip in and out unnoticed was certainly out the window.
Honey is a natural humectant and emollient. You
can use it to condition your hair. It seals moisture
and reduces breakage. Wash your hair, then apply
a quarter-size amount of honey to your ends. Let
sit for thirty minutes and then rinse with warm
water.
Chapter 13
“Tell me you didn’t say anything to anyone,” Matt said as he walked up. He was dressed in a button-down shirt, dress slacks, and a relaxed sports coat. He looked like he just walked off a television set.
“I waited.”
“Let me go in and see what’s going on.” He went to the house but got stopped at the door. I watched as he argued, but they weren’t letting him in. Instead, Officer Morris stepped back out and walked straight to me.
“I see you have your lawyer,” she said. “So I’m going to get your story now.”
“Okay,” I said and motioned for Matt t
o come over. “Ask away.”
“Why were you in Mr. Snow’s house?”
“My Aunt Eloise and I went for a walk with Everett.”
“Who’s Everett?”
“My cat.” I pointed to Everett, snuggled in the arms of my aunt. “But then my aunt told you this, didn’t she?”
“I’m simply asking questions,” Officer Morris said.
She went on to ask me more and I told her how we found Everett and then Mr. Snow.
“You called nine-one-one?”
I looked at Matt and he nodded to let me know to answer.
“Yes,” I said. “I’m sure the recording will show that I found him facedown and was told to roll him over. Which we did as carefully as possible. I cleared his airway and was about to start CPR when Officer Hampton came in and told us to step away. That Mr. Snow was dead.” I felt a tremor in my voice.
“I think my client has answered enough questions for now,” Matt said.
Officer Morris pulled out a card. “If you think of anything else, please call me.”
“Are we free to go?”
“You and your aunt are free to go,” she said.
“Thanks.” I walked over to Aunt Eloise and took Everett from her. I slipped his leash on him. “Let’s go home. Matt, thanks for coming. You probably didn’t need to be here, but you did say for me to call you before I talked to anyone.”
“I’m glad you called me,” Matt said low with his back to the crowd. “With you as a person of interest in Mrs. Snow’s death, we need to keep you as helpful but as safe as possible. I’ll walk with you. There are a lot of people here and you need to not speak to anyone.”
“She can certainly talk to me,” Alicia said as he lifted the police tape for us to duck under.
“I’ve advised my client not to speak to anyone,” he said. “Especially the press.”
“Well, she’s my friend,” Alicia said.
“And you are the press,” he pointed out. “I will write up an official statement that you can use if you need to, otherwise you’ll have to get your story from the police like everyone else.”
Aunt Eloise put her arm through mine and we walked behind Matt the entire way back to the shop. The downtown was bustling as it was now nearly 10 a.m. and the stores were opening. People eyed us through their store windows. Word must have spread about Bernie’s death.
We went into my shop through the back. I gave Matt a hug and he walked back to the Snows’ house to get his car. Aunt Eloise let Everett free once we were safely inside.
Porsche waited for us at the counter. “What happened? Is it true you found Bernie Snow dead in a pool of his own blood?”
“Yes, it’s true,” I said.
“Oh, dear,” Porsche said.
“I can’t say anything. Matt won’t let me, but Aunt Eloise will tell you what happened.”
I left my aunt to fill Porsche in and went upstairs, where I stripped and went straight to the shower. I didn’t want to feel as if I had any evidence on me. I had after all knelt down and turned Berne’s body over. I tried to replay the scene in my mind. Did I see a bullet hole? No. Any obvious trauma? Not really. All I really remembered were his wide unseeing eyes.
I got dressed and went downstairs to face the day. Today’s costume was the Cowardly Lion. I was glad I didn’t have much face makeup to put on, as I didn’t feel like being a zombie after finding Bernie Snow. The rest of my outfit was a straight-up lion suit with a hoodie mane.
Porsche was dressed as Tiffany from Bride of Chucky. She had opened the shop while I showered and dressed, and the place was packed with shoppers.
“How are things going?” I asked.
“Your aunt said to tell you she was going home to shower and get some rest. I guess finding a dead man has left her in a bit of shock.”
“I understand that,” I said. “The hot shower helped me, and work will help, too.”
“People have been asking for you,” Porsche said.
“I can’t talk to anyone about this morning,” I said and stretched my neck to peer around the room. “Did Alicia come in?”
“She texted and I said you weren’t working today.”
“Thanks,” I said. “Is anyone buying?”
“Yes, quite a bit,” she said. “Even Linda’s candles are going.”
“Well, that’s something,” I said and stepped out from behind the counter. “Maybe with my costume, people won’t bug me about this morning.”
“Yeah, well, good luck with that,” she said.
“Oh, Wren, good to see you. Porsche, here, told us you weren’t working today.”
“June,” I addressed the mother of two who came in often and sent Porsche a look. “I wasn’t feeling very well, but I’m going to try to make a go of it. What brings you in today?”
“I was looking for a new hand cream,” June Walters said and put three tubes on the counter. She was a lovely Asian woman with perfect skin and shiny black hair that fell to her shoulders. “I love your rose-scented ones.”
“I thought maybe the pumpkin spice was what you came for,” I said and rang up the three tubes. “These have been available for months.”
She didn’t look at me. “I prefer the rose and just ran out is all.”
“Well, I’m glad I had some for you.” I watched as she swiped her credit card and I bagged up her lotions. “Thanks for coming in.”
The store slowly emptied when people realized I wasn’t going to be talking about finding Bernie Snow this morning. Luckily most people felt guilty enough to buy at least one item, and nearly all the candy sold.
While Porsche went to lunch, I restocked shelves. The doorbells cackled as it opened and I looked over my shoulder to see Conrad coming toward me. “Wren, I heard what happened this morning. Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” I said.
He put his hands on my forearms and drew me toward him. “Thank goodness. I can’t imagine what it must have been like to come upon someone like that. What were you doing in his house? Were you alone?”
“I can’t discuss the details,” I hedged as I leaned into the cologne-scented warmth of his chest. I closed my eyes for a second and enjoyed his embrace. Then, I realized I was dressed like the Cowardly Lion with my own frizzy mane underneath. Not the most romantic of looks.
“Not even with me?” he asked with concern in his gaze. “You really should talk to someone about it. It’s not good to bottle that all up inside.”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“Let me take you to dinner,” he said. “You close at seven, right? I’ll pick you up at eight. You can wear the costume if you like. I think it’s cute.”
“I think that says more about you than me,” I teased him.
“Have dinner with me.”
“Don’t you have a business deal to work on? Something about a whaling boat operation?”
“I won’t be working on that at dinner,” he said. “I’ll pick you up at eight. We can go out to the Northwest Inn. They have a Tuesday special on roast beef.”
“Sounds yummy,” I said.
He gave me another hug and kissed my cheek. “I’ll see you then. Try not to get involved with anymore dead men.”
“Bye, Conrad,” I said.
Porsche came back in as he was leaving and grinned at me. “What’d I miss?”
“I’m going out to dinner,” I said. “And not because someone wants to hear my story.” I couldn’t help the grin that ran across my face.
“Good,” she said. “It’s about time you got a little action.”
“What’s it like out on the street?” I asked. “I know you didn’t just go home for lunch.”
“People are all abuzz. There’s speculation that you killed Bernie, but the betting pool says it was your Aunt Eloise that did them both in.”
“Why would Aunt Eloise kill Bernie Snow?”
“They think she was caught in a love triangle and got rid of Agnes. And when Bernie found out, he dumpe
d her—so she killed him.”
“That’s ridiculous,” I said and put my hands on my hips.
“I know that and you know that,” she said. “At least very few people think you killed Bernie.”
“I have no motive.”
“Unless you killed him for rejecting your casserole,” she pointed out and went to the counter.
“That’s ridiculous,” I repeated. “I’m going to go call my aunt and check on her.” I grabbed my phone and went upstairs. Everett followed me up. I dialed my aunt.
She answered the phone with, “Wren, how are you?”
“I’m fine. The store had a nice run this morning until everyone decided I wasn’t going to be telling the story after all. It’s been quiet so far this afternoon. How are you? Porsche says you are the talk of the neighborhood. Something about you having an affair with Bernie Snow and offing Agnes to be with your true love who then—”
“Rejected me so I offed him,” she said with a chuckle. “Right. Bernie was no fan of mine and I was no fan of his. He once tried to say my prize kitties had to be bred outside of the city limits. ‘No livestock within city limits, ’ he’d grumbled. That is until I mentioned that Agnes was breeding parakeets. That shut him up.”
“She bred parakeets? For how long?”
“Only two years before the birds drove Bernie nuts and he shut her down. They can be quite noisy in a flock.”
I laughed then got serious. “We need to meet and go over the photos of Agnes’s ledger.”
“Not for a day or so,” she said. “We need to lay low for a bit.”
“Right,” I said. “But what if the killer is found on those pages?”
“What pages?” asked a mellow baritone voice behind me.
I whipped around to see Jim standing in my doorway. “I thought I closed my door.”
“It was open,” he said and stepped in. “Are you talking to your aunt?”
“Yes.”
“I’d prefer you hung up.”
“Why? Am I being arrested?”
“Who is that?” Aunt Eloise asked.
“It’s Officer Hampton,” I said. “He wants me to hang up.”
“Tell him your lawyer told you not to talk to anyone without him present.”
“Right.” I looked at Jim. His eyes were so darn blue. “My lawyer said I can’t talk to anyone without him present.”