Journaled to Death

by Heather Redmond

  ‘Like what?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ Increasingly concerned, Mandy ripped open the tough paper covering, revealing a white plastic bottle like those used by hotels for complimentary lotion. ‘Weird.’

  ‘I think I know where this is going,’ Linda whispered. ‘Unscrew the bottle.’

  Mandy did as she suggested, pouring the contents into her shaking hand. Yellow gold capsules came out. ‘Adderall XR 30 MG,’ she read off one of them.

  ‘The Adderall,’ they said together.

  ‘It was coming from the coffee bar all along,’ Mandy gasped. ‘I can’t believe it. People have been taking pills with their drinks. We haven’t just been selling coffee and snacks, we’ve been selling drugs!’

  ‘It wasn’t your fault.’

  ‘No. It’s Fannah or Kit, or one of the weekend staff.’

  Linda winced. ‘The problems have been happening on weekdays, right?’

  Mandy nodded. ‘It’s Fannah or Kit then.’

  ‘Which one?’

  Mandy thought. ‘Kit’s the one who was beaten up recently. She’s been planning to quit, though.’

  ‘Maybe that’s why she was hurt? Her drug boss doesn’t want her to quit?’

  ‘It makes sense. Unfortunately.’ She pulled out her phone. ‘Given that there is security here, there is no safer place to have this conversation.’ She found Kit in her contacts and dialed.

  Kit answered with a distracted, ‘Why are you calling so late?’

  ‘You go to your other job on Wednesdays, right?’ Mandy asked.

  ‘Yeah, but my shift just ended.’

  Mandy heard Kit yawn. She decided to get to the point. ‘Were you beaten up and forced to sell drugs at our coffee bar?’

  Kit let out a breath. The harsh sound whistled in Mandy’s ear. She flinched but kept the phone to her ear.

  ‘How did you find out?’ she whispered.

  ‘I discovered the drugs, Kit.’

  ‘Please don’t tell anyone,’ Kit begged. ‘Just put them back, like you never saw them. Hopefully you won’t be approached if I can ever quit.’

  ‘Did my cousin have something to do with this?’

  Kit didn’t respond.

  ‘Ryan had so many coin rolls. He must have been involved.’

  After a long pause, Kit said, ‘He was my supplier.’

  ‘Did you ever actually date him?’

  ‘Yeah. I can’t believe I dated my dealer. He knew I was hard up and offered to discount my supply if I sold through the coffee bar.’

  ‘Is Fannah involved?’

  ‘No,’ Kit said.

  ‘OK.’ Mandy squeezed her eyes closed. ‘Are the four rolls here still from Ryan?’

  Kit said nothing.

  ‘Kit?’

  ‘No,’ she finally said.

  ‘Who is supplying you now that Ryan is dead? Why didn’t you stop selling?’

  ‘Right,’ Kit said in a bitter voice. ‘Think, Mandy. Why would I have gotten beat up?’

  ‘Because you tried to stop?’

  ‘Ding ding ding.’

  Linda, wide-eyed, shook her head. It wobbled a little as she glanced at the coin rolls, then her gaze shot away as if they were too dangerous to look at.

  ‘Who is supplying you? Who took over from Ryan?’ Mandy demanded.

  ‘I don’t know who took over for him in general. His upline is dealing directly with me now. There’s a whole network but I don’t know the details. Addicts just kind of find each other, you know? The drugs go out the back door of the office building pharmacy, then into the Maintenance Department, since the janitorial staff move around the complex.’

  ‘They approached you after he died?’

  ‘Yeah. I need to stop before I get caught and fired. Obviously, word is getting out, with those stupid nurses and dumb Doctor O’Hottie.’

  Like Kit wasn’t the dumb one for getting involved in the first place. ‘How could you leave this stuff on an open shelf where anyone could find it?’

  ‘It wasn’t my idea, Mandy.’ Kit’s voice had grown huffy. ‘Someone put it there after close for me to sell in the morning.’

  Mandy stared at the four small containers of pills. ‘You sell this much every day?’

  ‘How much is there?’

  ‘Four containers.’

  ‘Sure.’

  Quickly, Mandy used the edge of her sleeve to wipe them clean. What if she’d left fingerprints or something? ‘I opened one of the coin rolls. Should I tape it back together?’

  ‘Do what you can,’ Kit said. ‘Hopefully the person I sell it to won’t complain.’

  Mandy’s stomach contracted. She was getting in too deep, but she had to know. ‘Did your supplier kill my cousin?’

  ‘Why would he do that?’ Kit asked. ‘Ryan was doing what he was told. Look, I have to go.’

  Her phone beeped and the call vanished. Mandy huffed. ‘She’s a drug dealer but she hardly has a minute to take my questions.’

  ‘What are you going to do?’ Linda asked.

  Mandy shook her head. ‘Let Detective Ahola know. I’m sure it’s important for him to be told that my cousin dealt drugs.’

  ‘It’s a good way to shorten a person’s lifespan,’ Linda agreed.

  She held the flashlight so Mandy could see to put everything back as close to how she had found it as possible. Finally, Mandy slid the tray back into its slot.

  ‘I can’t believe I have to be back here at five-thirty. We’re so behind because of everything being thrown out last week that I have to bake cookies before I open at six-thirty.’ She yawned.

  ‘But you still have the energy for that cupcake, right?’

  Mandy turned over Linda’s arm and looked at her watch. ‘It’s too late for that.’

  Linda pouted. ‘Darn it.’

  Mandy used the counter to pull herself up, then helped Linda to her feet. ‘We can stop at the grocery store. The bakery will be closed, but we can buy one of the four-packs of the upscale cupcakes.’

  ‘Now you’re talking my language. Call the detective from my house when we get home. I don’t really want to stay here anymore. It’s creepy.’

  Mandy switched off the flashlight and shrugged. ‘It’s just my workplace.’

  They held hands as they went up the escalator. Mandy knew her friend was spooked. When they reached the parking garage, Mandy felt the same way. Kit had been hurt here. Bad people were roaming the hospital. They moved quickly to the car and got in.

  Mandy drove them out of the garage, then pulled to the side of the road. ‘I’m calling Detective Ahola right now. I don’t want to wait.’

  TWENTY

  Linda nodded as Mandy pulled out her phone. ‘Just pay attention to the cars, OK? Let’s not get rear-ended while you’re calling.’

  ‘At least I’d be talking to the police,’ Mandy joked, but she got the hint. The call could wait. She set her phone down and pulled back onto the road.

  They went to the grocery store, then to Linda’s home. Mandy pulled out her phone again and called while Linda made tea.

  ‘Detective Ahola.’ The deep voice on the line was instantly reassuring.

  ‘Oh good, you answered,’ Mandy said.

  ‘Hello, Ms Meadows. Have you solved the case?’

  ‘It’s not funny,’ she countered.

  ‘The murder, definitely not. Your exciting phone calls, though, they can be amusing.’

  ‘This isn’t one of those calls, Detective,’ she said, injecting steel into her voice.

  ‘Do tell.’

  ‘You told me to let you know when I figured out who the drug dealer was,’ Mandy said in her most professional tone. ‘I found out that my cousin was the drug dealer.’

  ‘I see.’ His voice lost all humor. ‘What is the basis of your conclusion?’

  She wilted. ‘I was told, by someone he supplied drugs to.’

  ‘I see.’

  His tone was level, but she still didn’t like it. She’d stuck her arm into a gross
shelf space and pulled out actual illicit drugs, for crying out loud. ‘That’s important, right? I mean, people kill drug dealers. Honestly, I remember joking about him being the drug dealer, because of all the women that seem to have been around him, but I never believed it until tonight.’ She paused. ‘Am I babbling? I sound like I’m babbling.’

  His voice lowered, became more intimate. ‘What’s going on, Mandy? You don’t sound like yourself.’

  ‘I don’t like any of this. And I’m going to get people in trouble if I tell you,’ she explained. Linda gave her a sympathetic glance and squeezed her shoulder. How had she ever doubted Linda’s innocence?

  ‘Tell me what?’

  Mandy lowered her voice. ‘I know where some drugs are, right now.’

  ‘Where?’

  ‘In the hospital.’

  ‘A hospital dispenses drugs.’

  ‘I’m well aware of that. I found a cache of pills.’

  ‘Are they accessible to all employees?’

  ‘Technically, yes. They are in the coffee bar area, but in a part of it that is accessible to anyone, in the sense that they aren’t behind locked doors or anything.’

  ‘Then we don’t need a warrant.’ He cleared his throat. ‘We will need to take these items into evidence and take a formal statement from you, Mandy.’

  ‘That’s fine.’

  A pause. ‘Where are the drugs, Mandy?’

  ‘Oh, sorry. You know where the cash register is?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘There is a shelf underneath it. Way in the back of that shelf are four quarter-sized coin rolls, full of drugs.’

  ‘I’m going to send someone to pick them up. Meanwhile, I’ll come take your statement. Are you at home?’

  ‘I’m at my neighbor’s, but I can go home.’

  ‘Have you created any new danger for yourself?’

  ‘I confronted someone about the drugs.’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘The person who is selling them now.’

  ‘Mandy,’ Detective Ahola said, a note of frustration and irritation evident.

  Seeing it from his perspective, Mandy understood. ‘If I hadn’t called her I wouldn’t have known what was going on. I know she didn’t kill Ryan. She has an alibi.’

  ‘All right.’ She heard him release a breath. ‘Kit, I take it.’

  ‘Do I have to tell you?’

  ‘I’m a homicide detective, remember?’

  ‘Right. Yes, but I’m telling you with extreme reluctance. Remember, she was beat up, right? And she dated Ryan. Maybe she got sucked in by accident.’

  ‘Not your problem.’ His voice took on an authoritarian tone. ‘Stay at your neighbor’s house for now. What’s the address? I’ll be there as soon as I can.’

  Mandy hung up after giving Linda’s address to him.

  ‘Should we save him a cupcake?’ Linda inquired.

  ‘No. I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t accept it while officially questioning us. You’re part of this too, now.’ Mandy paused. ‘I guess we know what Dylan and Alexis were after all along. They wanted the coin rolls because they had drugs in them. I’d better warn Jasmine to inspect them.’

  Detective Ahola didn’t arrive for a full hour. By then, Mandy and Linda had polished off all four cupcakes and were drinking peppermint tea in the hopes of staving off indigestion.

  ‘I hate to say it, but I’m glad Vellum is with the Moffats. I’d hate to have left her alone all evening.’

  ‘I’d rather she was with your mom,’ Linda said loyally. The doorbell rang and she went to open it.

  Detective Ahola, looking both gorgeous and irritated, was accompanied by Detective Rideout. They questioned Linda and Mandy separately.

  Finally, when they were done with Mandy, Detective Rideout said, ‘While we can’t assume your assessment of the implications and connections to your cousin’s death are valid, we will investigate that angle.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Mandy said. ‘I’m supposed to be at work at five-thirty. Is the coffee bar going to be open?’

  ‘We searched the entire publicly accessible area,’ Detective Ahola said. ‘We also notified the hospital administrator, who discussed it with your coffee bar manager. They asked us to allow them to open up if at all possible.’

  ‘I’m the first in tomorrow,’ Mandy explained. ‘I have baking to do in the prep room. We’re still recovering from last week. Aren’t you going to get a warrant for the back area and search that too?’

  ‘In the course of interviews, we determined that the drugs are not coming through the back rooms of the coffee bar. We’re still researching how they are supplied to the shelf,’ Detective Ahola said.

  ‘So we go on as if nothing happened?’ Mandy asked. ‘Didn’t Kit’s information give you enough to go on?’

  ‘Not without names. The hospital administrator convinced our higher-ups that closing the bar yet again would be fatal to the operation, which is important to the hospital.’

  ‘We can’t have anyone losing out on their espresso drinks,’ Mandy said sourly. ‘Especially with everyone’s favorite amphetamine out of supply.’

  Detective Ahola narrowed his eyes at her. ‘Why don’t you get some sleep, Mandy? You aren’t part of the drug problem and you have to work in a few hours.’

  ‘I know I have an alibi for Ryan’s death,’ Mandy said. ‘Because I was on camera. But what about the drug issue? I just don’t understand.’

  ‘The hospital already cleared you of involvement. They investigated you after a doctor accused you of selling drugs to him.’

  ‘How do they know I’m innocent?’ Mandy asked. ‘Not to belabor the issue, but as many times as I’ve asked for a security camera near us, a working one has never been installed.’

  ‘We’ve made an arrest,’ Detective Rideout explained. ‘We have the seller.’

  ‘But not the upline?’ Mandy asked.

  ‘We’ll probably offer a plea bargain to get the name,’ the detective explained.

  ‘What happens if she doesn’t know the chain of command?’ Mandy asked. ‘She told me she didn’t.’

  ‘The hospital administrator will increase security on the main floor starting tomorrow. You’ll be fine.’

  Mandy put her hand over her mouth to hide a yawn. ‘OK, then. I need to get home or I’ll be worthless tomorrow.’

  The detectives glanced between each other. Detective Ahola nodded. ‘We’ll walk you home, Mandy.’

  ‘OK.’ She went to tell Linda her interview was over and they were all departing, then pulled on her coat and left with the detectives.

  ‘Cold night,’ Detective Rideout observed.

  ‘Watch out for the sidewalks, they can be really slippery,’ Mandy said as they walked alongside Linda’s fence. The detectives followed her down her driveway and through her back gate, then stopped at her steps. ‘Thank you for following up on this.’

  ‘Just doing our job,’ Detective Rideout said. ‘Thank you for being a responsible member of the public.’

  ‘I want my cousin’s killer found and punished,’ Mandy told him. ‘That’s what I care about. I hate that I’ve cost Kit everything.’

  ‘She isn’t your responsibility,’ Detective Ahola said.

  She raised one hand in a wave, then walked up her wood steps, holding on to the railing so she wouldn’t slip on the slick surface.

  Inside, she tried to take a deep belly breath, but didn’t seem to have it in her. When she went into her room, she climbed onto her bed and just lay there, falling asleep in her clothes.

  Mandy’s alarm went off at four-thirty. She lay in a daze, hardly recognizing the sound for what it was. Eventually, she forced herself up, the number ‘five-thirty’ ringing in her head.

  Oh, that’s right. She had an hour and a half of overtime today. Usually someone from the weekend shifts covered the first hours of Wednesdays so they could open on time, but the weekend people weren’t trained to bake. Yawning, she texted Fannah to make sure someone else would be
working with her until Fannah arrived at nine-thirty for her Wednesday late shift. Otherwise she’d be alone.

  Mandy walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower, wishing she still had Vellum to fight her for space. But Vellum wouldn’t have been up now anyway.

  She showered and decided to skip breakfast, since she could eat the imperfect cookies, and probably would whether she’d had breakfast or not. Instead, she dumped a coffee pod into her machine to brew while she did her makeup, then found slacks and a coffee bar T-shirt, threw a plush hoodie over it, and grabbed her coffee.

  Automatic lights flashed on when she went out, fighting the winter morning darkness. Frost crystals sparkled on the grass as she trudged past. No one else seemed to be moving in her neighborhood and very few lights were on in the houses. Lucky them.

  The hospital felt eerie when she arrived on the main floor. She never worked this early. In the back and prep rooms, she flipped on all the lights and set to work. She only had an hour before she had to turn on the coffee bar lights and start taking orders.

  Before she washed her hands, she checked her phone but Fannah hadn’t replied. No doubt she usually slept in on Wednesdays, but Mandy would have appreciated an update. Maybe someone from administration would come by at six-thirty. She mixed up batter for chocolate chip cookies and ginger thins, thinking it was time for a change, or at least an addition. Lemon cookies with crusty edges, dusted with powdered sugar? Something with luscious butterscotch or jam thumbprints?

  She pulled out the first batch of chocolate chip, set them on a wire rack, and inserted the ginger thins. By the time she had the first cookies in their waxed bags, the ginger thins were cooling. She watched for color on the second set of chocolate chip cookies anxiously, because the clock was moving closer to six-thirty.

  The cookies were done at six-ten. She opened the door into the coffee bar, hoping a line hadn’t formed yet because she’d had no time to prep drinks. No one was there so she slipped her cookies from the tray into the glass case, then started brewing coffee for the urns. She should have done it first, but she had hoped someone else would come in, and besides, she was a coffee snob. The fresher the better, even for the urn drinkers. Stupid of her, since she’d pay the price now in crabby staff.