“That sounds like Ashlee,” Allegra muttered stiffly. The officer smiled again and turned back to his notes.
“You are free to go, Ms. Mitchells, just don’t leave town.”
“Are you investigating me for the murder?” she asked, standing up and stretching her aching body. She hadn’t realized how long she had been in there. Her stomach grumbled to remind her of the fact that she still had to eat. The officer gave her a cryptic smile before motioning toward the door. She glared at him as she left the room, but he had his head down and was furiously scribbling in his file.
“Xosyn Sirtunade!” Greta yelled as soon as Allegra descended the stairs. She looked bewildered and shook her head at her old friend. A few hours ago, she didn’t know that the poison existed, but now nobody could stop talking about it.
“What are you talking about?”
“The poison that killed Grumpy Dot,” Greta said, looking at Allegra like she had just grown two heads.
“Not right now, please,” Allegra begged. “I need food.” Eric and Greta looked at each other worriedly and nodded. They understood what was happening.
“Okay, so Xosyn is actually very common,” Greta explained as Allegra dug into her lunch. Amazingly, the town only had one diner. Unsurprisingly, it was decorated like the diner from the fifties and the menu had not been updated since then either. “Industrial companies use it to clean their machines. But in large doses, it mimics the effects of tuberculosis.”
“So, either she was taking it herself or someone was feeding it to her,” Allegra muttered, savoring the food. It was not the best food in the world, but she was hungry, so it was amazing. “Who was with her during those last days?”
Greta shrugged and began sipping her milkshake thoughtfully.
“When is Jason coming back?” Eric asked, digging into a plate of pancakes. His face was smeared with sticky syrup and his cheeks bulged with the delicious dessert. Greta grimaced and began cleaning his mouth with a napkin.
“He had to go to work,” Greta informed him. The boy pouted, and Greta turned her attention back to her starving friend. “Grumpy Dot had a lot of visitors lately. She joined a bunch of clubs. She was so busy that she had a house cleaner come in and help her with chores.”
“So, we need to talk to the members of the club.” Greta snorted and began picking at her fries.
"No offense, Gypsy, but the people in this town don't exactly like you." Allegra nodded at that apt description of her relationship with the townsfolk. If she started poking around, they would drive her out of town quicker than Eric ate his pancakes. "That, and there is a rumor going around that the police are investigating you for her murder."
“You have got to be kidding me,” she cried, banging her fist on the table. Greta winced apologetically. The waitress, a young girl who looked like she just left high school, gave their table a warning glance, and Allegra held up her hands in surrender. The waitress flounced away, her too-short uniform showing off her legs. A group of teenage boys muttered appreciatively.
“You ladies having a good time?” Matty asked, walking up to the table. He smiled down at Eric and ruffled his hair. Eric grinned at him with a mouthful of pancakes. Greta swatted his arm threateningly.
“We’re discussing how unlikeable I am,” Allegra muttered mutinously.
“What are you doing here?” Greta asked, not unkindly.
“Oh, I’m picking up dinner for Sutton and me,” he explained casually.
"Sutton?" Allegra asked gloomily, contemplating her bad luck.
“His long-time girlfriend,” Greta informed her, eyeing her burger suspiciously. Her red curls gleamed in the fading sunlight and her grey eyes glinted as she began picking the greens off her burger. “Pesticides,” she muttered to herself.
“I didn’t know you had a girlfriend,” Allegra exclaimed, giving him a playfully accusatory look. He chuckled awkwardly and rubbed the back of his neck.
"It's very sweet," Greta commented, putting her assassinated burger down. "They are like an old married couple." Matty blushed and shook his head at her. Allegra smiled at him, amused by his reaction. Now she knew who Jason sent his regards to yesterday. One less mystery in her life. Too bad it wasn't the one she wanted to be solved.
"Anyway," he said loudly, giving Greta a warning look, "we were talking about making you more likable." Eric nodded along, wanting to be a part of the conversation. "You need to become a part of the community," he explained. "People fear what they don't know. If they know you, they might like you more."
“Or not,” Eric piped up helpfully. He raised his hands in surrender when Greta glared at him.
“That’s easy for you to say,” Allegra protested. “You were born into this community. Of course, they know you, they probably took turns changing your diaper.” Greta began laughing despite her mouth being full of burger and Eric snorted milk out his nose. Matty blushed and helped to clean up the mess.
“Fair enough,” Matty conceded, “but there are other ways to join the community. What can you do? Maybe you could join the scrapbooking club?” Allegra stared at him as if he had grown two heads.
"That's a no go," Greta answered. "I belong to that club, and trust me, it is really hard to get in."
“You are part of the scrapbooking club?” Allegra asked in surprise.
“Yeah?” Greta said, wrinkling her nose. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
"I thought scrapbooking was for old…" Allegra trailed off when she saw Greta's raised eyebrows. She opened her mouth but couldn't think of a way to get out of the mess, so she turned to Matty instead. "How about a job?" Matty nodded thoughtfully, an amused smile twisting his mouth as Greta grumbled mutinously to herself.
“You said you were a teacher,” Matty said thoughtfully. “I know that the principal at the high school would love someone to take over summer school.”
“High school?” Allegra echoed in horror.
“If you could look after those misfits for a bit, the town might just throw a parade in your honor.”
"But I don't like teenagers," Allegra whined, earning a glare from the passing waitress. She winced and made a mental note not to visit the diner again anytime soon.
“I could get you an interview with the PTA,” Matty offered.
“The PTA makes those kinds of decisions,” Greta explained helpfully when she saw Allegra’s confused expression. “If they approve you, so will the principal.”
“If it will get me off the town hit list, then I suppose it is worth a shot,” Allegra sighed, burying her face in her hands.
“And who knows,” Matty said cheerfully, “you might like it so much that you decide to stay here for good.” Allegra looked at him in horror and his smile faded. Greta snorted unattractively.
“Please, as soon as she can, Gypsy is going to fly out of this town as if the Devil were on her heels.”
Chapter Seven
“I think you look great," Greta commented. Allegra looked skeptically at her outfit and turned once or twice. Usually, this was what she wore to all her interviews, but now, her go-to outfit looked a bit lackluster. She shrugged and began gathering her wavy locks into a strict updo. Her hazel eyes were lined with minimal makeup and her skin looked a little more polished than usual.
“Wow,” she commented, turning again, “I look different when I make an effort.” Greta nodded enthusiastically. Eric sat in the corner, drawing on some paper that the Inn stocked in the room. Eric was unusual in that he could keep himself busy while his mother did her thing. He was used to impromptu visits all over town and had learned that it was best to stay out of her way.
“I like it. You’re going to knock that PTA dead.”
“I can’t believe Ashlee is already on the PTA,” Allegra groaned. The woman had made it clear that they were no longer friends. She had been snubbed at the grocery store, which meant it was official. Allegra vaguely wondered if Ashlee spent most of her time waiting at the grocery store to snub people who had wronged her. She
probably did.
“I know right,” Greta complained, lounging on the rickety bed. “Her son can’t even walk yet. She probably had an honorary spot ever since she graduated high school.”
“Let me guess?” Allegra said thoughtfully. “Prom queen?”
“As if we were allowed to vote for anyone else,” Greta scoffed, wiggling her toes as she turned onto her back and stared at the ceiling.
“Greta…” Allegra began, shifting uncomfortably. Greta leaned forward on her elbows and tilted her head curiously at her timid tone. “I just wanted to say thank you,” Allegra said sincerely, “for doing all this.”
“Well, it was either this or work on my pictures for the newspaper,” Greta said matter-of-factly. “You won by default.”
“Dad is going to kill you,” Eric whistled, looking at his mother gleefully. Greta clicked her tongue and tossed a pillow in his direction. Eric stuck his tongue out and Greta clambered over the bed in his direction. He let out a squeak and ducked behind a floral-print armchair, while Allegra laughed at their antics.
***
She wished she was back in that room as she sat in front of a few blonde PTA members. The women were of varying ages but wore the same variation of each other’s outfit. They all went to the same hairdresser who seemed to only know one hairstyle. She gulped uneasily and straightened her black pencil skirt.
“And what makes you think you are qualified for this position?” the head housewife asked politely. Allegra winced at her tone. It seemed to say everything she needed to know.
"I have taught in locations all over the world," Allegra explained. Ashlee leaned toward her companion and whispered something in her hand. Her companion giggled prettily, and Allegra felt a pit form in her stomach. She could tell they were in a high school. "Some of the places were overrun with children who were known delinquents. The result of poverty." Allegra felt some of her confidence return as she spoke about her students, "I believe that since I survived that, I can survive a few summer classes at the school." She smiled wryly, and a few of the mothers tentatively returned her smile.
“I see,” the head housewife said, pursing her lips disapprovingly.
“It says here that you only teach elementary grades,” Ashlee pointed out, circling the words with a manicured finger.
“Yes, but like I said. Most of these schools required me to teach children of all ages.”
“But you aren’t qualified?” Ashlee persisted, pursing her lips.
“I am a qualified teacher,” Allegra answered carefully, noticing that some of the mothers were beginning to frown. Added to those who hadn’t stopped frowning since the meeting began.
“Are you qualified to teach high school children?” the head housewife asked brusquely, giving Allegra a stern look over her glasses. Allegra’s shoulders dropped, and she shook her head in defeat.
“Technically, no” she answered, feeling the weight of their disapproval on her shoulders. Ashlee smirked, and a few mothers began shaking their heads as well.
“Thank you for your time, Ms. Mitchells,” the head housewife said abruptly. “We will inform you of our decision.” Allegra nodded gratefully and walked out, keeping her posture straight until she was in the hallway. Then she loosened her hair and took a deep breath. It was over. As she walked out of the school, she felt a heavy weight of disappointment settle on her shoulders. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but that was not it. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn’t notice someone climb out of the police car parked across the street.
She walked along the curb, wondering what else she could try. Someone tapped on her shoulder, causing her to turn around in fright.
“Officer Crane,” she gasped, clutching at her heart, “you gave me a fright.”
"I'm sorry," he replied, not looking sorry at all. "I thought you heard me." She narrowed her eyes at him. If he wanted her attention, there were much easier ways to get it.
“It’s all right,” she muttered, not wanting to antagonize the man who was investigating Dot’s murder. “Can I help you?”
"Yes," he said, walking alongside her, clutching his hands behind his back, "I did some research, and it turns out you left this town quite suddenly ten years ago." Allegra scoffed but said nothing. He didn't do research so much as hear all the gossip that surrounded her return.
“Okay,” she said when it became clear he was waiting for her to respond.
“Under quite interesting circumstances too,” he commented, watching her reaction closely. She shrugged casually, looking ahead and keeping her pace steady. “You were a bit of a hero, weren’t you?”
“Not really,” Allegra muttered, remembering that summer all too clearly.
“I wouldn’t say that,” Crane said smoothly. “You saved Ellie Smith from her kidnapper.” Allegra scoffed and stopped walking.
“Okay, let me stop you right there. I don’t know what you heard,” she knew exactly what he had heard, “but Ellie Smith was in no danger. Her parents were going through a divorce and her dad wanted custody of her. Her mother refused but he took her fishing. Ellie’s mom threw a temper tantrum and called the police. The only reason I found her was because I went with them a few summers before the divorce.”
“Interesting,” Crane mused, “that’s not what I heard.” Allegra rolled her eyes and moved some hair from her face, becoming flustered under the midday sun.
“I know. Ashlee probably told you that I set the whole thing up to get attention.” Crane raised his eyebrows and whistled.
“I’m sensing a little animosity, Ms. Mitchells.”
Allegra bristled but kept walking. The entire conversation seemed pointless to her, but she counted to ten in her head. In her experience, it was better to keep quiet and wait it out. Difficult situations usually sorted themselves out.
“I’m inclined to believe Mrs. Mathers’ version of events,” Crane commented, and Allegra had to bite her tongue to keep herself from replying. “You see, I know where you went when you left.” Allegra froze and turned to the insufferable man, her eyes wide. “And knowing what I do, I’ve decided to keep a very close eye on you, Ms. Mitchells.”
“I don’t understand,” Allegra said, wrinkling her nose in disgust as he stepped closer.
"What I mean," Crane said, looking excited, "is that you have become of interest to me in this investigation." Allegra scoffed and took a step back. The man was reaching. "After all, you never know what an unstable individual might do."
“What are you implying?” Allegra asked angrily. Officer Crane shrugged and took a step back toward his car, a victorious smirk on his face.
“I’ll be in touch, Ms. Mitchells.”
As she watched the scrawny police officer walk to his car with a swagger in his step, she noticed that the PTA was leaving the school and the mothers were climbing into their cars. She rolled her eyes and began walking faster. The last thing she needed right now was another run-in with Ashlee Mathers. Unfortunately, today was not her day. As she walked, she heard a car pull up behind her. She turned to see Ashlee roll down her window.
“Allegra, darling,” she called in a sweet voice. Allegra turned on her heel and gave Ashlee an impatient look. Ashlee grinned, “I just thought you should know that you didn’t get the job,” she gave an insincere pout.
“Thanks for letting me know,” Allegra said drily and turned to leave again.
“Oh,” Ashlee called, in a voice that thinly disguised her glee, “the funeral will be on Saturday.” Allegra clenched her fists as her old nemesis sped off, all but laughing maniacally.
“We are going to solve a murder,” Allegra declared, walking into the newspaper office. Greta and Bud looked at each other in surprise and got up to hurry after her.
“What happened?” Greta asked cautiously as Allegra began writing on the whiteboard.
“I realized that if I want to know what really happened, I am going to have to do it myself,” Allegra answered. “Greta,” Greta stood to
attention as if she was being spoken to by her superior in the army, “I need you to find out who Dot was closest to in all her different clubs.” Greta saluted and hurried off, pulling her phone from her pocket as she went.
“Bud,” Greta’s husband nodded, “may I ask you for a favor?”
“Greta will have my head if I don’t say yes,” he said wryly. Allegra nodded, not looking all that amused.
“Could you interview her housekeeper and find out if she has an alibi?” Bud nodded seriously and walked off, leaving Allegra to stare at the whiteboard.
“You know,” Jason said, sauntering up to her, “you hear the strangest things when you come to renew your ad in the paper.”
“You don’t say,” Allegra hummed, making a list of suspects on the board.
“What got you so fired up?” he asked curiously, eyeing the names she wrote on the board. Allegra put a cap on the marker and turned to him. The intensity of her gaze surprised him.
“My Aunt Dot meant a lot to me. Whoever murdered her deserves to be put behind bars.” Jason nodded, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
“Yeah, but the police are on it.” Allegra scoffed sarcastically and folded her arms angrily.
“Officer Crane has decided that I’m the murderer.”
“But you weren’t even in town when it happened.” Allegra nodded in agreement and turned back to the board. She reminded herself to contact her old boss for an alibi. She had a feeling that she would need it soon.
“That’s the caliber of smarts we’re working with,” she commented angrily. If she left it to someone who was more interested in chasing gossip and Ashlee Mathers, she would never find out what happened to Grumpy Dot.
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