We rounded the side of the inn. The structure was dark, most of the guests surely asleep at this time of the night—11pm. But it was best to be cautious.
Maybe if we went in now, we’d catch the ghost. I nearly stopped walking at the thought, but no, we were sure the ‘ghost’ was linked to the murder. The crime scene was our next best lead.
Gamma unlocked the Mini-Cooper, and I opened the passenger side door.
“Going somewhere?” A deep voice spoke from the shadows.
Gamma and I tensed, both snapping into a state halfway between calm and readiness.
Smulder came down the front steps, his features lit by the phone in his hand. “What are you two doing?”
“Just going for a ride, Brian, dear,” Gamma said. “Why don’t you go upstairs and get some sleep?”
“This is a dumb idea, Charlie. You’re endangering yourself again,” he replied. “You know what ‘grandpa’ would do if he found out about this.”
“Well, ‘grandpa’ isn’t going to find out, is he?” I raised an eyebrow at him. “There’s only one way he’d find out, and I’m pretty sure you’re not a snitch.”
“If it will keep you safe…”
“That’s enough,” Gamma said, clicking her fingers. “Brian, you can relax. Charlotte and I are merely going for a nighttime ride.”
“Dressed in black. And leather.”
“That’s neither here nor there,” Gamma continued. “Now, if you don’t mind, we have places to be.”
“Don’t do this, Charlie.”
I blew Smulder a kiss just to annoy him and got into the car. Gamma pulled out of the drive, the car’s headlights dancing over the gravel and illuminating Smulder, his arms folded now.
“You’re getting better at handling men, Charlotte,” Gamma said. “At this rate, you might wind up in a long-term relationship.”
I crossed myself.
“Don’t be melodramatic.”
“I’m not,” I said. “I’m not ready for anything too serious. I trust Brian, but it’s not like I truly trust anyone except for you. I’ve been let down in the past.”
Gamma didn’t comment.
The ride over to the Shone Drive-In Theater was spent in another one of our silences. This one was far from comfortable. I sat ready for what would come—hopefully, more information about who might’ve murdered Mr. Shone and why.
We had three main suspects, one of whom was vaporous according to Lauren and Mr. Shone himself, and this little recon mission might point us in the right direction at last.
We parked outside the closed front gates, the sign for the Shone Drive-In Theater glimmering in red lettering.
“All right,” Gamma said. “We have our plan.”
“I take the men’s and women’s bathrooms and try to find the source of the failing lights on the night of the murder.” It seemed too coincidental that the lights had gone out before Mr. Shone’s death—he’d been the most obvious choice to go check what was wrong with them. It was the perfect lure to get him on his own and chase off anyone who wanted to use the restrooms. Nobody liked to go in the dark.
“And I’ll be searching for clues in the surrounding shrubbery. The most likely hiding place for a murderer with a blow dart.”
We exited the Mini and set off, both vaulting the gate at different points. Gamma and I separated at the tree line that intersected the field, and I made for the bathrooms. They were no longer in darkness. The light out front, situated on the brick wall between the entrances to the men’s and women’s bathrooms, cast its glow on the concrete below.
All right, first things first. Check inside.
I entered the women’s restroom first and searched the stalls. There was nothing of note. The place was clean, the toilet’s in working order, the lights working. I arched my fingers in my leather gloves, frowning.
What had I expected to find? A vial of poison? An abandoned dart? Or perhaps the killer’s name written in lipstick on a mirror? Silly.
I entered the men’s room next. There was the faint smell of urine in here—gross—but the place was clean and empty, with no sign of any clues.
Wait a minute… why are the lights on? The theater doesn’t open until Friday.
I kept the questions in mind, exiting the restroom and circling around to the side of the building, in search of the breakers that the killer might’ve tripped to take out the power on that fateful night.
A clang from around back stalled me. I listened, tensing my muscles, preparing for action.
“—idiot,” a man whispered. “Going to get you for this. Going to make you pay.”
My heart rate increased, though I kept my breathing even.
“Coming to get you.”
Another metal clang—a trashcan lid?—followed by a furious hiss and a meow. A cat streaked off into the darkness. The muttering continued. Had the murderer returned to the scene of the crime.
“Pay for this.”
I couldn’t get a visual on the guy without stepping up to the corner. There was nothing for it. Wish Gamma had let me bring that SIG Sauer.
“And if she thinks I’m just going to keep doing her dirty work, she’s got another thing coming,” he growled, followed by another clank of metal.
I moved to the corner and stole a glance at the mutterer.
A skinny, tall guy bent over the trashcans, rooting around in them. The clouds drifted, and a slanted beam of moonlight fell from the heavens and across the brick wall. The man was bald, wiry, and familiar.
Where did I know this guy from?
Archie! It was the man Smulder, and I had overheard talking with Stephanie in the library the other day. Presumably, her boyfriend.
I made to slink back into the shadows, but Archie tensed. He looked up and caught sight of me watching him.
Archie shrieked and jumped back a step.
“Wait!” I said, before he could run off in terror. “Wait a second. It’s OK.”
“W-who? W-what? What are you doing here? This is private property!”
“I could say the same to you,” I replied coolly, folding my arms. “Why are you rummaging around in the trashcans near a crime scene?” Heavens, I didn’t want to think about what was in these cans, given that they were right behind the restrooms. Ugh.
“I work here,” Archie snapped. “I’m the janitor.” He straightened and tapped his chest. I hadn’t noticed it, but he wore a beige uniform, a name badge embroidered onto his chest. “What are you doing here? Wait a minute… Don’t I know you from somewhere?”
“No,” I replied. “You don’t.”
“Yeah, I do. You’re—”
“I’m the security detail for the theater,” I said, thinking on my feet. “Ms. Myers hired me to ensure there are no security breaches before the big opening, Friday.” I walked past him, putting myself closer to the trees Gamma was checking for clues. If I needed to make a speedy getaway, this was the best spot to be.
“Liar,” he said.
“Excuse me?”
“You’re not the security detail! Ned is the security detail! I spoke to him a half an hour ago.”
Uh oh. Bluff called.
“Well, in that case,” I said, flashing him a winning smile. “Have a lovely evening, sir.” And then I turned tail and ran for it.
“Hey!” Archie yelled. “Hey! Get back here!” His footsteps thumped across the ground, but I was too fast for him. Even with all the donuts, cupcakes, and excellent food—my training kicked in, and the hard work I’d put in over the years snapped back. Muscle memory.
I sprinted between the trees and let out two sharp whistles. It was our coded warning that meant “Head back to the car. Now!”
“Get back here!” Archie called from the distance. “Ned! Ned, there’s someone here.”
I broke from the trees at the same time as Gamma, and we vaulted the fence in unison. She didn’t ask questions. We threw ourselves into the Mini-Cooper, and she started the engine and tore out of there before Ned o
r Archie could reach the perimeter fence.
“Shoot.” I gasped, pressing my fingers to my wrist and timing my beats per minute. “Shoot, I’m unfit.”
“There was no evidence in the trees. Did you find anything?” Gamma asked, in business mode.
I told her about Archie. For all intents and purposes, I had found nothing but the janitor. Still, it was interesting that he worked at the theater, was Stephanie’s boyfriend, and had been speaking about revenge.
There was more to this than met the eye. We just had to puzzle out what it meant.
14
That Friday evening…
A few days had passed since our jaunt in the woods, and Gamma and I had been keeping quiet and spending nights trying to riddle out a motivation for the murder. Days were consumed by tending to the guests’ every whim and need and searching the inn from top to bottom for secret entrances.
So far, we’d gone through about two-thirds of the known secret passages and they had yielded nothing but frustration. That wasn’t technically true. Gamma had found an expensive antique ring in the second attic. She’d sent it off to get evaluated by a professional.
I sighed, pacing back and forth in my room, glaring at my reflection in the mirror over my dressing table.
It was Friday night. The night that the Shone Drive-In Theater reopened, and Gamma and I had hatched a plan to get back to the crime scene and find out more about Archie.
Asking Stephanie had yielded nothing but a sniff. Besides, we couldn’t draw too much attention to ourselves after they had chased us off the premises. The Gossip Rag, the local paper, had run a front page special about an attempted robbery at the theater.
“Not that there’s anything to steal,” I murmured.
I picked up my brush and ran it through my hair. Gamma and I had gone shopping for appropriately fancy dresses for our girls’ night out. Mine was glittery black, hers matte and the same color.
We’d fit in but be able to move around easily. I lifted the hem of my dress and checked the thigh strap holding my Taser. Just in case. A non-lethal method of incapacitating anyone who dared to mess with us.
A knock came at my bedroom door, and I quickly pulled my dress down. “Come in,” I called.
Smulder entered, his brow creased. “You look beautiful,” he said.
“You wouldn’t think it from the look on your face.”
“Sorry.” He tried to smile, but it caught halfway to a frown.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing. Nothing,” he replied. “Just, uh, worried about you going to that theater tonight.”
“There’s no reason to be.”
“Right. Because I didn’t read about an attempted robbery in the paper the other day, Charlie. You’re being irresponsible. You know, I can’t cover for you for long. As much as I want to. I have to look out for your best interests.”
“You don’t,” I said. “I can look out for my best interests.”
“Charlie.”
“That’s enough, Brian. You don’t need to hover over me like a helicopter mom at a football game. I’m fine. Everything’s fine. Just focus on… the mark.” Kyle.
Smulder shook his head. “Just promise me you won’t do anything crazy tonight.”
“Why would I?” I walked up to him and brushed a kiss across his cheek. “Try to relax, all right?”
But he didn’t respond, and it was futile to ask that of him. Brian was a worrier.
I met Gamma and Lauren downstairs, both women dressed in their evening best.
“This is so exciting!” Lauren squeaked, clapping white-gloved hands together. “We’re probably going to be the only ones there dressed like this, but who cares? It’ll be fun! I hope y’all don’t mind, but I invited Josie along.”
“Your sister?” I asked.
“That’s right. She doesn’t get much chance to leave the house. We’re meeting her there.” Lauren flashed me a grin.
It was yet another variable we couldn’t control, but oh well. What could we do? Gamma and I had organized this with two goals in mind: follow Archie, and check out the crime scene again, this time unfettered by interruptions.
Lauren sang along to the radio all the way to the theater, and I scrambled out of the car before we’d stopped moving in our chosen parking space, closest to the bathrooms.
“Charlotte’s eager for the movie tonight,” Gamma said, her lips twitching at the corners.
“Anyone need anything from the concession stand?” I asked.
“Oooh! I’ve been craving buttery movie theater popcorn all day,” Lauren said. “And a soda!”
“Sure, I can get that for you.”
Gamma and Lauren handed me a few bucks, and I headed off, joining the long line of people chattering about the movie and what had happened here earlier in the week.
I scanned the area for any sign of Archie. Or suspicious behavior. What’s more suspicious than rooting through the trash near a crime scene while swearing revenge on someone?
But suspicion didn’t equal motive or evidence.
The line shifted, and I finally stepped up to the front, where Barb, the concession stand lady, sat chewing on gum. “Hey there,” she said. “You’re that one who works at the Gossip Inn, right?”
“Right,” I said. “Georgina’s helper. Came to get some snacks.”
“Well, you’re sure dressed fancy. What’s that about?”
“We’re having a girls’ night—”
“Aunt Barb!” The shout came from my left, and I tensed. Others in the line behind me had jumped at the noise, so I feigned shock and outrage along with them.
Archie strode toward the concession booth wearing his janitor’s uniform. I turned my head so he wouldn’t see my face, but I shouldn’t have bothered. His gaze was fixed on Barb.
“What in the name of all that’s hot and burning do you think you’re doing, Archibald?” Barb snapped at him. “You’re interrupting these people in line. They came to the theater to relax and you’re—”
“Shut up,” Archie replied, and people gasped. I did along with them, but keeping my head turned away from him. “You left a huge mess in the office and I was the one who got in trouble for it. You’d better clean up after yourself, Barb. I’m not going to take it from you here.”
“You’re a janitor,” Barb said, rising out of her chair. “It’s your job to clean up after everyone. And it weren’t that big of a mess anyways!”
Archie jabbed his index finger toward her. “Just clean up after yourself!” And then he stormed off, leaving a wake of awkward vibes.
“Are you all right?” I asked.
Barb stood huffing, her cheeks flushed red. “I’ll be fine,” she said, after a minute. “That stupid, stupid boy.” She lowered herself back into her chair, brushing fingers through her gray hair. “He knows just how to get to me.”
“I’m sorry about that.”
She waved it off. “I’m the one who’s sorry,” she said. “Sorry all of y’all had to see that. Now, what can I get for you, sugar?”
“I need four popcorns, four sodas, two diet, and then can I get a couple bags of Skittles?”
“Sure, sure.” Barb rolled her chair around to fulfill my order, shaking her head and muttering.
“Are you sure you’re OK?”
Barb was a bubbling pot, the lid about to lift off. “That Archie,” she said, “has a terrible temper. And you know what, I regret taking him in now. I put my faith in him, tried to show the rest of the family that he wasn’t as good-for-nothing as they were making out, but boy was I dumb. I should’ve listened to his mother.”
“He lives with you?” I asked.
“Well, yeah, he did for a while. Not anymore.”
Then how had she taken him in?
“You want to know a secret?” Barb asked, as she put on a pair of plastic gloves to handle the popcorn scoop.
“Sure.” Did I ever. The more I knew about Archie, the better.
“I sold
this land to get away from him. Sold it to that Bridget and Vaughan because it gave me the opportunity to move away without telling him. That’s why he’s so mad. He don’t know where I live, and I don’t know whether he has a place to stay, but I couldn’t stand having him in the house anymore. Kid drove me crazy. Drinking and partying and shooting things out back. I had so many complaints about him.”
“So you, uh, you just left?”
“Well, I ain’t left town. And I did get him this job at the theater, didn’t I?”
“That’s very kind of you.”
Barb put the popcorn and sodas down on the counter. “You got someone to help you carry all of this?”
“Uh…” I hadn’t thought of that. “No.”
“I’d help you, but I got these people to serve.”
“Right, yeah. Thanks.” I paid her and told her to keep the change, then moved my order over to one side and considered it. Or pretended to. Really, my mind was on the new information.
“There you are!” Gamma strolled over, the picture of elegance in her cocktail dress. “Josie’s arrived, and they’re both starving. I didn’t know it, but they’re both pregnant. Good heavens, how were you going to carry all of that back with you on your own?”
I handed off half of the stuff to Gamma, and we started walking back. I broke down what I’d just witnessed, going into as much detail as possible.
“That settles it then. We’ve got a suspect.”
“Strange how they’re all interconnected, isn’t it? Barb is Archie’s aunt, who’s dating Stephanie, who is now rich because her father died. And then there’s Bridget, who may or may not have either been in love with Vaughan or hated him and was obsessed with strange weaponry. We need to work this out.”
“Tomorrow,” Gamma replied. “On our ride over to the Gossip Cat Rescue Shelter. For now, let’s try to enjoy the evening. And check out the crime scene.”
I nodded. “Don’t think we’re going to find anything. It’s been a long time since the murder. Whatever evidence there might be is probably degraded by now.”
“I agree with you, but we still have to try, Charlotte.”
Raspberry Revenge: A Mission Inn-possible Cozy Mystery Book 4 Page 6