Easter Eggs and Shotgun Shells

by Madison Johns

  “And a calf too if possible,” Eleanor said. “Please.”

  Harvey sighed. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt, but I insist on staying with my animals. Someone with a background of farm animals should be the one instructing the children how to handle them correctly.”

  “Thank you so much. I’ll donate a few bags of grain to you for your help.” I said. “So you say Constance is the only one who has rabbits in town?”

  “No, but she has the most impressive of them. She might know someone else you can contact,” Harvey said. “Make sure Elsie puts me down as sponsor on the flyers.”

  “I didn’t know she was doing flyers.”

  “You have to have flyers, otherwise how is she going to take credit for organizing everything?” He smiled.

  “I like how you think, Harvey,” I said.

  I gave Elsie a quick call when we were back on the road to ensure that she’d list Harvey’s name as a sponsor.

  “I hope Elsie isn’t mad at me,” I said. “I cut the call short before Elsie asked me why Bernice isn’t handling the petting zoo.”

  “She tried to,” Eleanor said. “But nobody would let her borrow any animals.”

  “We should ask Constance about her rabbits,” I said.

  I drove the five miles in relative silence. Halfway there I had serious doubts we should go over to Constance’s house even though I wasn’t sure if she had turned Bernice away or not.

  I pulled up her long driveway and reached the modest-sized house. Out back was a blue pole barn with a hole at the bottom that only a rabbit could fit through. It allowed the rabbits to enter a wire fenced area for play.

  “Isn’t it strange Constance hasn’t come out of her house yet asking why we’re trespassing?” Eleanor asked as we got out of the car.

  “Not any stranger than why none of the rabbits are outside.”

  I heard a loud noise and hit the ground with Eleanor beside me.

  “What was that noise?” I asked Eleanor.

  “Beats me. But it sounded like a shotgun blast.”

  “That’s not good.”

  “Do you think it’s safe for us to get up yet?”

  “I don’t know, but it might not be anything to worry about. Maybe someone is hunting in the woods.”

  Eleanor and I brushed ourselves off as we stood up. I circled around the outbuilding and glanced across the field with a gasp at the familiar shape on the ground.

  “I-Is that what I think it is?” I asked Eleanor.

  “I hope it’s not a body, but it certainly resembles one.”

  Eleanor and I walked across the field to the body of a woman with blond hair, a bloodstain spreading across the blue sweatshirt she wore. I knelt to check her pulse while Eleanor called 911.

  “I hope this isn’t Constance,” I said, “because this woman is dead.”

  Eleanor’s eyes widened as the 911 operator came on the line, and she reported our finding.

  “Maybe we should wait up by the house,” I said nervously. “I’d hate to trample more of the crime scene than we already have.”

  “How are the cops going to find the body if we’re not here?” Eleanor asked.

  “I’m sure Sheriff Peterson will figure it out.” I sighed. “Our life is about to get way more complicated. How are we going to investigate this murder and organize the Easter egg hunt at the same time?”

  Eleanor shrugged. “Very carefully.”

  The sound of sirens in the distance drew closer, and Eleanor and I waved our arms to get Sheriff Peterson’s attention.

  Peterson frowned at the body as he joined us. “What happened here?”

  “I don’t know,” I said. “But Eleanor and I heard a shotgun blast, and when we went to investigate it, we found the body.”

  “It might be Constance Shaklee,” Eleanor added. “But we’re not certain because we’ve never met the woman.”

  “And why are you two here?”

  “We’re organizing the Easter egg hunt this year,” I said. “Bernice is in charge of getting animals for the petting zoo.”

  “What does that have to do with your finding the body?”

  “I was getting to that.” I sighed. “Anyway, Constance Shaklee raises rabbits, and we planned to ask to borrow a few of them.”

  “Bernice told us people were reluctant to loan her rabbits. They thought she’d feed them to her cats… allegedly,” Eleanor added.

  “So we came here to ask Constance ourselves.”

  Peterson snapped on gloves as several deputies and troopers joined us. He quickly knelt and felt for a pulse. “You said you heard a shotgun blast?”

  “Yes, and when I checked her pulse, she felt warm.”

  “That’s my observation too. Head back and wait for us, ladies. We might have an active shooter in the area.”

  Eleanor and I hurried back to the house.

  “I never realized we were putting ourselves in danger when we checked out the body,” I said.

  Eleanor frowned. “What if Peterson is right and there’s an active shooter?”

  “Hey, we don’t know that for certain. It was merely Peterson warning us that it would be a good idea for us to clear out.”

  Eleanor walked to the pole barn. “I wonder why there aren’t any rabbits outside.”

  “Maybe Constance keeps them in their cages. After all, she raises prize-winning rabbits.”

  “Horrible way to treat prize-winning rabbits if you ask me.”

  Eleanor poised to open the door when I pulled her back. “I don’t think we should go in there.”

  “And why not?”

  “Because it might be part of the crime scene.”

  “Constance’s body was found in the field, not in here.”

  “We don’t know if it was her body or not yet.”

  “Good time to check on the rabbits.”

  Eleanor pulled her shirtsleeve over her hand and opened the door. “Does that make you feel better?”

  “Hurry up before Peterson sees us.”

  “He can’t see the door from the field; it faces the opposite direction,” Eleanor said as she walked in the door.

  “Wow, that’s not something you see every day,” I said, swallowing hard.

  There were row after row of cages stacked three high and six long.

  “Huh, and Constance is reluctant about loaning out her rabbits?” Eleanor sighed. “At least Bernice wasn’t planning to keep them locked in small cages like that.”

  “Not a good way to treat prize-winning rabbits that’s for sure.”

  “I wonder where the rabbits are?”

  “Not here,” I said.

  Just then I caught sight of bloody paw prints on the floor, leading behind a van parked in the building. I gingerly walked around the van and choked back a scream. Sprawled out on the floor was a man with a huge lump on his brow. Splattered blood covered bales of straw nearby.

  “Constance most likely was shot in here, and her body was either moved or she managed to escape,” I said.

  “I don’t see a blood trail,” Eleanor said. She squealed. “That man’s alive. I just saw his chest move.”

  I checked the man’s pulse and nodded to Eleanor, and we hurried back outside.

  I waved my arms wildly. “Sheriff Peterson, there’s another victim in the out building over there. He has a bump on his head, but he’s alive. We saw his chest move!”

  Peterson, followed by Deputy Danworth and Trooper Sales, raced to the building. Eleanor and I followed but remained just inside the door.

  “Is there a reason you came in here?” Bill asked.

  “We were checking on the rabbits, but it’s apparent someone fostered off with them,” Eleanor said. “They were prize winners from what we’d heard.”

  Peterson joined us. “How did you find the victim?”

  “I followed the bloody paw prints on the floor.”

  “One of the rabbits must have gotten loose,” Eleanor said. “I wonder where he went.”

&nb
sp; “I surmise Constance was shot in here and her body was moved.”

  “Agnes thought she might have gotten up on her own, but I don’t see any evidence of that.”

  “Evidence?” Danworth asked.

  “There would have been a blood trail across the floor, but there’s not one going to the door.”

  “Good observation, sort of, but I see a few drops of blood near the back door,” Peterson pointed out.

  “Maybe whoever the man is told her to make a run for it,” I said.

  “Unless she was running from him,” Eleanor put in.

  “Then who knocked the man out?” I asked. “He certainly doesn’t have a shotgun, Eleanor. And there is evidence somebody was shot in here.”

  The sound of sirens alerted me that an ambulance arrived, and Eleanor and I moved back outside. We waited near the wire fence.

  “It’s a good sign that the man inside is alive, don’t you think?” Eleanor said.

  “Yes, if he lives to see another day.”

  “He only has a bump on his head.”

  “Could be a skull fracture for all we know.”

  “Do you think Constance knew him?”

  “Yes, I believe he’s a friend, not a foe, otherwise his cohort would have brought him with them.”

  “The second perp was more worried about catching up to Constance is my thought,” Eleanor said.

  “Yeah, and when we showed up, one of the perps escaped in the woods.”

  “You’re right, Agnes, it has to be more than one person. Someone stole all the rabbits while the second perp shot Constance.”

  “We didn’t pass any large vehicles on our way here.”

  “Constance’s body was warm, so we could very well have passed the killer or killers.”

  “Bernice might have been here earlier.”

  Eleanor pointed out a gray lop-eared rabbit in the yard. “Looks like whoever took the rabbits forgot one.”

  I walked over and tried to coax the rabbit, but he hopped beneath the woodpile. I frowned, and the rabbit didn’t know who he was messing with. This rabbit had no idea how to survive in the wild, and I knew exactly what he had on his mind. I circled the woodpile where I spotted freshly tossed soil.

  “He’s digging a hole,” I told Eleanor.

  “Maybe nobody stole the rabbits after all.”

  “That will be hard to determine. I can’t imagine all the rabbits are in the same hole.”

  “It’s funny if you think about it. The rabbits probably lived their whole lives in a cage, and the minute they’re out in the open, they do what’s natural. They build a burrow.”

  “The rabbits are probably digging holes all over the yard.”

  “Woodpiles certainly work good for that.”

  “And there are plenty of brush piles bordering the property too.”

  “People have been known to put brush off the edge of their property. It beats burning it.”

  “What’s going on here?” Peterson asked.

  “We were wondering if someone stole the rabbits and Constance caught the perps red-handed, but we’ve spotted a rabbit digging a burrow, so that idea is shot.”

  “Stealing rabbits is hardly a motive for murder,” Peterson countered. “We’re going to hold off on naming the victim until it can be confirmed.”

  “If it’s not Constance, who could it be,” I said.

  “That’s what I’ll be finding out. I think all things considering, you two should go on home. Meet me at my office in the morning. We’ll talk then.”

  I nodded. Eleanor and I shuffled back to the car, and we drove off.

  “We’re not going home now are we?” Eleanor asked.

  “Nope. We’re going to speak to Bernice again. I’m curious if she spoke to Constance about the rabbits earlier.”

  “I hope you don’t think Bernice had anything to do with killing Constance.”

  “Maybe the sheriff is right and we should wait before we mention a body turned up at Constance’s place.”

  “And don’t forget the injured man.”

  “Let’s hope he’s not too injured to speak to us about what happened.”

  “Peterson isn’t going to allow us to speak to the man,” Eleanor said.

  “Not until after he has anyway. Let’s hope the man wakes up and soon.”

  “We’ll have to get creative.”

  “Creative for what?”

  “Sneaking past an armed cop. Until the man wakes up and can talk to Peterson, his life might be in danger.”

  “I knew there was a reason we’re friends, Eleanor. I wasn’t even thinking about the danger the man might be in now.”

  4

  Bernice motioned us through the door. “You came back sooner than I had expected.”

  “You can say that again,” Eleanor said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Only that we were trying to find animals for the egg hunt.”

  “Farmer is happy to supply the animals but insists to be on hand at the event. I don’t think he trusts anyone with his farm animals.”

  “He’s concerned about how the children handle the animals,” I said.

  “That sounds good to me,” Bernice said.

  “Who did you talk to about getting rabbits for the event?” I asked.

  Bernice fell into a chair and lit her pipe. “What’s this about, girls?”

  “We need to know whose house you went to about the rabbits.”

  “What does it matter?”

  “Did you go over to Constance Shaklee’s house or not today?” Eleanor asked.

  “Yes, but she wasn’t home.”

  “Did you knock on her door?” I asked.

  “What’s the sudden interest in Constance?”

  “Besides needing rabbits at the event, nothing.”

  “I never wanted to go over there, but she has some interesting rabbits that would be perfect for the event.”

  “But she wasn’t home you said?” I sighed.

  “Is there something you’re not telling me?” Bernice asked.

  “Did you even get out of your truck?” Eleanor asked.

  “Okay so what if I didn’t?”

  “You’re in charge of finding animals for the event,” I reminded her.

  “I don’t know why Elsie involved me. She knows I’m not a personable person like you two are.”

  “I had no idea she railroaded you into helping,” I said. “I thought you were happy to help.”

  “I was at first, but folks aren’t normally happy to see me at their door.”

  “There are plenty of people in town who would be happy to see you,” I said with a smile.

  “Elsie can be pushy at times,” Eleanor said. “To be honest, I’m not too keen on organizing the egg hunt either.”

  “I agree,” I said.

  “Rosa Lee, on the other hand, is looking forward to baking treats for the bake sale at the church and I hope Easter dinner.”

  Bernice took a puff. “I don’t believe Constance was home because she didn’t come out and chase me off.”

  “Oh, come on,” Eleanor said. “Do you really believe Constance knows what you drive?”

  “She does since I rear-ended her at the red light on Newman Street last week.”

  “I wonder why so many of us have a problem with that intersection in town?” Eleanor asked.

  “Too busy gawking at the tourists?” I suggested. “Please continue, Bernice.”

  “Even before I rear-ended her, we’ve never gotten along. My old house was close to hers, and every time one of her rabbits went missing, she accused my cats of eating it. She wouldn’t even apologize when she found the bunny.”

  “That’s not very neighborly,” Eleanor said. “When you were at Constance’s house, were there any vehicles parked in the driveway?”

  “I didn’t see any.”

  “Was the pole barn door open?”

  Bernice rubbed her chin. “Nope.”

  “Notice any rabbits?”
Eleanor asked.

  “What’s up with all the questions?”

  I swallowed hard. “We found Constance’s body.”

  “She’s dead?”

  “Murdered, we believe.”

  Bernice set her pipe in the ashtray. “You don’t say. Where did you find her body?”

  “In the field,” I said. “We discovered an unconscious man in the pole barn, so we’re wondering how he might be involved.”

  “He could be the killer or another victim,” Eleanor added.

  “We’re hoping that he’ll recover so we can speak to him.”

  “You’ll be fighting with Sheriff Peterson over that,” Bernice said.

  “You’re right about that, but he might be a key to this case.”

  “Sounds like you ladies have a viable clue to start off with.”

  “I’m not sure if it’s a good clue or not yet.”

  “The rabbits are missing,” Eleanor added. “We thought someone stole them, but we found evidence that’s not the case.”

  “Someone left the barn door open at some point,” I said. “Because we found a rabbit digging a burrow in the yard.”

  “Constance has a good-sized wood and brush pile,” Eleanor said. “Those rabbits are as good as gone.”

  Bernice tried to yank out a chin hair. “That’s not good. They’ll never survive one of our Michigan winters.”

  “I heard about someone whose rabbit got loose in the yard,” Eleanor began. “That darn rabbit kept coming back into his cage for food. It took a while before they figured it out and caught the rabbit with a fishing net no less.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” I said. “Hopefully we can find someone who would be interested in catching the rabbits.”

  “So other than the one fender bender, you never had problems or encounters with Constance?” Eleanor asked.

  “Nope, that’s it.”

  “So you don’t know her personally,” I summarized.

  “That’s what I said, but I’m not saying I’m the only person in town who she might have had a beef with.”

  “I’m sorry, Bernice, but that sounds like there’s something you’re not telling us.”

  “You girls are my friends. I’d never keep anything from the two of you.”

  “I’m glad to hear that,” I said. “Because you know we’d help you out of any jam you’d find yourself in.”