Crack the Code (Glock Grannies Cozy Mystery Book 5)

by Shannon VanBergen

  We all agreed and I continued. “And the others in order are: Preoccupied, adulteries, annoyance, and localism.”

  “Hmm,” Grandma said thinking it over. “It’s almost like this person, whoever is sending the codes, is pointing us to John Asuza’s faults.”

  “What do you mean?” Virginia asked.

  “Well, the business card led us to Kaylee Palmer, but the code basically told us he was having an affair. And then ‘annoyance’ and ‘localism’ involved Lucca Harris.”

  “My code said ‘preoccupied.’ I’m not sure what that means.”

  Virginia looked at me. “What is Owen saying about all of this?”

  “Absolutely nothing. He won’t even answer my texts after what happened at the shop yesterday.”

  They all wanted to know so I told them about Ayden and how I was hugging him when Owen walked in and then Kent wasn’t too far behind.

  Greta looked like she felt sorry for me. “Nikki, why does this always happen to you? You have such poor timing.”

  “I know,” I agreed. “And it really was an innocent hug.”

  Sort of.

  Virginia got us back on track. “So, we know there are a bunch of people in this town that didn’t like John. And we know, or have a pretty good idea, that his wife knew he was having an affair. And we know he picked on that poor Harris boy. Could any of them, including the mistress, be our killer?”

  “And don’t forget Delores,” Grandma added. “I don’t think she’s a murderer, but she should at least make our list since she did hand that code to Nikki.”

  “I don’t think Lucca had anything to do with it,” I said. “He didn’t act like it, plus I’m guessing his alibi panned out, otherwise Owen would’ve had him arrested by now.”

  “So, where do we go from here?” Greta asked.

  “I think we need to talk to Kaylee again,” Grandma said. “And maybe Lira, though I doubt we’re going to get anything out of either of them.”

  “And we should probably talk to Delores,” I added. “It’s weird that she baled on us at lunch today.”

  Suddenly there was a commotion at the door. We all turned to look as Hattie threw the door open and stood there, her hair soaking wet.

  “There’s been an accident!” she cried. “She fell out of the boat and I can’t find her anywhere!”

  20

  The next few minutes were a blur. Purses were grabbed, coffee was knocked over, and Greta tripped over a chair falling to the ground. I helped her up and we all ran to Virginia’s SUV, which we often referred to as the get-away-car.

  Inside the vehicle was just as chaotic as it was in the house. Hattie was crying in the front seat, Greta was praying, and Virginia was squealing out of the parking lot shouting that she didn’t know where she was going.

  Grandma was able to bring calm to everyone. She had the ability to do that better than anyone I’d ever known.

  “Hattie,” Grandma said reaching to the front seat and taking hold of her arm. “Please, we need you to calm down and tell us where we’re going.”

  Through sobs, Hattie managed to get out the words. “To the Mayor’s house.”

  “You know where that is, right Virginia?” Grandma asked.

  Virginia hit the gas. “I sure do.”

  Hattie was wailing again, and I sat in the backseat offering up my own prayers. Why did it feel like time stretched on during a crisis? Maybe because in those cases, time is so important. How long ago had this accident happened? How long did Hattie search before she gave up and drove over to get us. How could I even prepare myself for what I was about to see. My stomach felt sick as I prayed, not even being sure of what I was praying for. A miracle, I finally decided. Please God let there be a miracle.

  Grandma had calmed Hattie a bit more, enough that she could answer a few questions.

  “Hattie, what were you doing at the Mayor’s house?

  “We thought it would be funny if we went skinny dipping in the pond behind his house. You know, sneak in while he was home. We thought it would make for a great memory.”

  Grandma sighed. “What has gotten into you two lately?”

  Hattie didn’t answer, she just continued to sob.

  “How did you sneak in a boat?” Greta asked.

  “It’s was just a little thing. I made it myself,” Hattie sniffed.

  Well, that explains it. Hattie couldn’t make no-bake cookies, how did she expect to make a boat?

  When we got close to the property which was on the edge of town, Virginia turned to Hattie. “Where do I go from here? I assume I don’t just pull up in front of his house.”

  Hattie motioned to the left. “There’s a dirt road if you go that way. It takes you to the back of the property.

  Soon, I could see the Mayor’s large house come into view. The back of it was all windows and it looked like every light was on.

  Grandma leaned forward to get a better look as Virginia turned off her headlights so she wouldn’t be seen. “Is he having a party?” Grandma asked.

  “A fundraiser,” Hattie cried. “Please hurry Virginia!”

  “I’m trying! Why didn’t you call the police?”

  Hattie just cried harder.

  The pond was large and the moon reflected on its glass-like surface. Other than the celestial glow, there was no light to help with our search. This rescue mission wasn’t going to be easy. I sent Owen a text.

  “Something bad has happened. Please help.”

  He texted back immediately, and it was nice to know that when I needed him, even if he was mad at me, he was still there for me. “What’s going on? Can you talk?”

  “No,” I texted back. “We’re behind the Mayor’s house.” How could I text this last part? “Irene might have drowned in his pond.” I suddenly felt sick and I thought my knees were going to give out. I erupted into tears as I hit send. The grannies turned to look at me, surprised.

  “Hold it together,” Grandma pleaded, her voice catching in her throat. “We need to pull together and look for her.”

  Without waiting for Owen’s response, I threw my phone on the seat and got out of the SUV. The frogs were croaking so loudly I wanted to personally strangle every one. I felt like I needed silence so I could think.

  “Where should we start?” Greta asked as we ran to the pond.

  “She could be anywhere,” Hattie cried.

  We heard a splash and we looked over and saw Grandma’s head bobbing in the water. “I’ll check in here, you guys check around the edges!”

  We listened to orders and started searching the edge of the pond. I was bent over walking knee deep in water, my hands underneath feeling for anything that might be human. I could hear the other grannies crying as they searched. How could life change so quickly?

  I looked up to see where Grandma was. I knew she was a good swimmer, but I was still afraid for her. I spotted her head in the middle and then watched as it disappeared. She was gone for a solid minute and then she popped back up for air before heading back down.

  Just as I was about to look away and continue my own search, I spotted something. Ribbons of water in a V formation floated across the surface toward Grandma. I knew exactly what it was. “Snake!” I yelled out, but Grandma was already diving back down. There was no way she could hear me.

  I held my breath and dove in, swimming as fast as I could. When my head submerged, I couldn’t see the snake anymore, but Greta yelled out and pointed me in the right direction. Grandma’s head had just come out of the water, but she was facing away from me. She didn’t know that the snake was right behind her.

  I put my head down and swam until I nearly ran into her. She turned around just as I grabbed the snake by the neck. It wiggled fiercely in my hand. Grandma screamed. “What are you doing?”

  What was I doing? It was too long for me to throw and now that I had it, I didn’t know what to do with it. I doggie paddled for a several seconds, the snake’s tail thrashing in the water. Finally, Grandma reached
over and took it by the tail. She flung it, ripping it out of my hands. I never heard the splash of it hitting the water. Did she throw it completely out of the pond? It was amazing what you could do with adrenaline coursing through your veins.

  “Thank you,” I said breathless. I was trying to save Grandma and she ended up saving me. It always seemed to happen that way.

  I was an okay swimmer, but I wasn’t a diver. And I knew there was no way I could find anything in those deep murky waters, especially at night. I made my way back over toward the edge of the pond to continue searching and as soon as my feet were able to touch bottom, I felt something soft. I could feel it gently swaying over the top of my foot, moving with the waves of the water. I knew instantly what it was. Hair. I let out a cry, or maybe it was as scream, that I had found what we were looking for. As the other grannies quickly made their way over, I summoned all the emotional strength I had to force myself to reach down and pull up my dear friend.

  I reached underwater, grabbed the hair and pulled. I expected it to be heavy, to struggle to pull it to the surface. But thanks to all the adrenaline, I was able to pull her head to the surface just as the other grannies stood around me.

  Up it came with a splash and we all screamed, especially Hattie. “You found her! Chantilly! I thought you were lost forever!” Hattie grabbed her from me and held her close, rocking her side to side in her arms.

  The rest of us stood there shocked. Then came the headlights.

  I shielded my eyes as I looked in their direction. Car doors slammed and I could see the silhouette of two people coming our way. I assumed one was Owen but who was the other?

  Grandma’s voice was shrill behind me. “You mean we came out here and risked our lives for a doll?!”

  “We thought Irene was dead!” Greta yelled. “Hattie how could you do that to us?”

  “You thought I was dead?” Came one of the voices in front of us.

  Irene’s and Owen’s face came into view, lit by the moonlight, and both looked confused. “Oh!” she said to Hattie. “You found her!”

  “Nikki did,” Hattie said smoothing the dolls hair. “Aunt Nikki saved you, didn’t she?” She said to the doll. “She even wrestled a snake for you!”

  The grannies started shouting at Hattie and Irene and I felt like I was going to pass out. Thankfully, Owen grabbed my arm and helped me out of the water. I sat in the tall grass, daring any snake to even come close to me, as Owen helped the others out of the water too.

  We were all dripping wet except for Irene who stood there chuckling. “You thought I was in the pond? Hattie didn’t tell you it was the doll?”

  “She was so hysterical we couldn’t understand anything she was saying,” Virginia said, trying to get her breath from the physical assertion of climbing out of the water and the anxiety of it all.

  “Where have you been?” Grandma asked Irene.

  “Well, this one abandoned me out here,” she said pointing to Hattie. “I was out here searching for that dang doll and all the sudden I hear the car starting and I see Hattie pealing out of here. I decided to walk back to town and I was a mile from here when I saw you guys blow past me. Thankfully I saw Owen down the road a little later and he picked me up.”

  Hattie defended herself. “I had to get help!”

  “If you were in the pond,” Owen asked, “How are you so dry?”

  “My clothes were up here on the bank, along with a towel,” she answered.

  Even in the dark I could see Owen’s eyes pop open. “Your clothes were up here? So, you two were in there…”

  “Naked as a jay bird,” Hattie said proudly.

  Owen looked angry. “You know, I should take all of you in for trespassing!” He looked at each of us, all sopping wet, hair stuck to our faces, most of us still panting. He sighed. “But I don’t want to have to explain this to the chief. You ladies go home and please, stay out of trouble.” He looked at me. “Would you mind riding back with me?”

  I would actually. Sitting in his car, looking as bad as I did, having to endure some lecture about the grannies – no thank you. But then the grannies started in on Hattie and her doll again and I decided riding with Owen wouldn’t be so bad after all.

  He pulled a heavy blanket from the trunk of his car and wrapped it around me before I climbed in the front seat. I took a deep, slow breath as he got in, bracing myself for the lecture. But instead of lecturing me, he reached into the backseat and pulled out a newspaper. He handed it to me and the first thing I noticed was a yellow sticky note, the random letters written in black marker this time instead of typed.

  ACAXQKQWCA

  He looked at me, his eyebrows furrowed. “We need to talk about this.”

  21

  I looked at the paper and noticed that the date was from six months before. “Why are you handing me an old paper? And where did you get this code?”

  “I ran home for lunch today and when I started to leave, I noticed it was sitting by my front door. At first, I thought It was today’s paper, but when I read the front page I was confused. Mr. Dehner’s car dealership was vandalized months ago. That’s when I noticed the date.”

  “Is the date significant?” I asked.

  He shrugged. “I don’t know, but I don’t think so. Once I got to the station, I flipped through the paper and that’s when I found the sticky note. Look what article it’s stuck on.”

  I peeled off the note and read the headline. “TV host signs big deal with local station.” I read through the article and put it down. “Well, that’s interesting. Why is the most hated person in town given so much money to be on a local tv station?”

  “Not only that, it’s double what they’ve paid people in the past,” Owen pointed out. “I remember there was a big uproar about it. Many of the station’s sponsors pulled away to protest them hiring Mr. Asuza. Everyone knew about his podcasts and his radio show. People weren’t happy he was going to be on TV too.”

  I looked at the code. “Have you had time to decipher this?”

  He nodded. “Ya, it says ‘suspicious.’”

  “Well, that’s…suspicious.”

  “I decided to pay a little visit to the TV station today and have a talk with the station manager. At first, he didn’t want to answer any questions but then he finally cracked.” He looked over at me, shivering under the blanket and reached over to turn on the heat.

  “What did he say?” I asked, thankful for the added warmth.

  “He said John had been blackmailing him for over a year and John told him that if he gave him this tv contract, he wouldn’t blackmail him anymore.”

  Interesting. “Why was he being blackmailed? Did he tell you?”

  Owen sighed. “The station manager was having an affair and, since him and John were good friends, John found out about it.”

  “Wow, he blackmailed his friend? That guy really was terrible. So, do you think the station manager is our killer?”

  Owen turned into the parking lot of the retirement community and pulled into a parking space. “I don’t think so. I think the better question is who is leaving these codes. And how does this person know so much about Mr. Asuza.”

  He looked over at me. “You’ve told me everything you know right?”

  Had I? I really couldn’t remember. I didn’t really want to tell him we talked to Lira and Lucca, but I figured it was better to tell him what I knew. So, I told him everything.

  He sat there listening and I could see his irritation under the surface. When I was done, he was clearly annoyed. “Didn’t I tell you to stay out of this? On what planet does that mean interview suspects?”

  I sighed. “It just felt like a normal thing to do.”

  “Well, it’s not normal. Normal people don’t defy the police and go off and do their own investigations.”

  “Well, I guess I’m just not normal then,” I practically yelled.

  Did he apologize? Deescalate the situation? Try to make things better between us? No, he did not.
He said something that absolutely infuriated me.

  “You know those two guys at your shop the other day? You know they’re bad news, right?”

  “What?” I yelled turning toward him. “They are not. Ayden and Kent are two very nice guys.”

  “Oh ya,” he said nearly yelling back. “They’re two nice guys with a record.”

  “How do you know?” I challenged.

  “I ran their plates and found out who they were. Ayden? He spent 41 days in jail for robbery. And Kent, he was arrested twice when he was younger.”

  I couldn’t believe he had done that. “Why? Why would you do that?”

  “Because you make bad choices when it comes to guys and I wanted you to know what kind of people you were dealing with.”

  I was shocked.

  “First of all, I have never dated someone who has been arrested.” That wasn’t true. “And I’ve never dated someone who has been in prison.” Also not true. “But you are right about one thing. I do sometimes fall for people who are bad news. Like you for example. And thank you for showing me your real character so now I know ‘what kind of person I’m dealing with’.” I made air quotes to make my point.

  I opened his car door and slammed it shut behind me. I realized as I got to Grandma’s door that I was shaking. I didn’t know if it was from anger or from sitting in wet clothes. Either way I hoped a hot shower would calm me down. But when I opened the door, it was anything but calm.

  22

  The grannies had arrived a few minutes before I did and were all arguing in the kitchen. In the several months I had lived here, I had never seen them fight about anything. But it looked like their friendships were coming unglued.

  I noticed Grandma was at the sink, filling a tea kettle, she was the only one not involved in the shouting match happening at the table.

  “What is going on around here?” I asked as I stood next to her.

  She shook her head. “I don’t know. But once this tea is done, we’ll get to the bottom of it.”