For Trixie’s sake, I certainly hoped so, but the butterflies in my stomach didn’t give me much hope.
After our coffee and orange juice, I wished her well and headed to the Frozen Scoop. To my surprise, Stormi was already there.
“What are you doing here so early?” I asked as I shed my lightweight jacket and placed it on the coat rack.
Stormi was busy transferring the round barrels of ice cream from the back freezer to the ice cream case out front. “I wanted to hear how your evening went with Miss Trixie. Did she tell you anything juicy?”
I didn’t think I should tell Stormi what I felt Trixie told me in confidence, so I deflected. “Did you know about the visitor I had late last night?”
Stormi shoved the barrel of orange sherbet into its hole in the case. “Wait…What?”
I walked to the big freezer to grab a barrel of chocolate mudslide. Stormi scampered after me. “Who came to your house?”
I turned to look at her. “Brandon. I guess you told him Trixie was spending the night and he thought it a good idea to come by and make sure she hadn’t offed me as well.”
“He did? Why in the world would he do that?”
“Don’t ask me,” I said as I turned around to open the freezer. “He’s your brother.”
Stormi looked confused. “Yeah, that’s weird.”
“I think I made him mad though,” I said as I pulled the ice cream barrel out of the freezer.
“How so?”
“I teased him about checking in on me and he was offended,” I said as I carried the barrel to the front.
“You teased him and he didn’t tease back. That doesn’t sound like my little brother. What the heck’s wrong with him?”
That’s what I wondered. Heck, what was wrong with me? I was looking at Brandon differently the last few days. Maybe he was doing the same with me. I shook my head, attempting to toss the thought out of my brain. I had more important issues that needed my attention.
Luckily, the morning was occupied with filling ice cream cake orders and by noon, we had a steady stream of customers. This kept Stormi busy and from asking any more questions about Trixie. By 1:30, we were able to sit down and have our lunch. I was starving since I hadn’t eaten breakfast. I normally brought my lunch so I removed the brown baggie from the fridge and tore into my egg salad sandwich. Although the bread was soggy, it tasted delicious. As I unscrewed the top from my bottle of ginger ale, Stormi slumped down at the table with me.
“Wow that was a workout. I’m happy your shoppe had so many customers this morning, but my feet are cussing you a blue streak.”
“Don’t worry, so are mine,” I laughed.
Stormi pulled her ham and cheese sandwich from its baggie. “I guess you heard the chatter this morning. All about Trixie and Mr. Florez. And his daughter Gracie.”
I took another bite of my sandwich. “So what were they saying?” I’d heard some customers chatting, but most of the time I was in the back filling ice cream cake orders.
“Gracie was seen at the police department this morning,” Stormi said as she pulled the bread off her sandwich. “I called Greg when we had a break in customers and he told me she was there but that’s all he could tell me.”
Gregg was Officer Manning. Stormi met him a few months ago during the Jenkins investigation. They dated sporadically since then. Stormi wasn’t one to settle with one guy, much to Greg’s chagrin. She liked her freedom and the ability to answer only to herself. Gregg tried to wear her down though, with fancy meals and flower deliveries. I felt he was a great catch for her, but Stormi wasn’t about to head down the aisle without a fight. I just hoped she didn’t let ‘the one’ get away.
I put my sandwich down. I was no longer hungry. “I’m sure she’s up to no good.”
Then, speak of the devil…she walked into my shoppe.
Gracie appeared more put together than she had at the hospital the previous day. She pulled her auburn hair into a bun and wore a teal pantsuit with light brown heels. She was taller and thinner than I had expected, although I’d only seen her from afar. Today she seemed under control unlike yesterday when she tore into Trixie. I hoped perhaps she’d come to her senses. I couldn’t be more wrong.
I stood up from the table. “Hello, how can I help you today?”
Gracie walked towards me. “Hello…I’m looking for Tara Beckley.”
“You found her.” I tried to smile.
“Oh good…I was hoping you would be here. My name is Gracie Florez.”
“Yes, I saw you yesterday at the hospital Ms. Florez.”
“Please call me Gracie.”
“And you can call me Tara.”
Stormi remained sitting watching our conversation as if she was at a tennis match. I was afraid she’d get neck strain from bopping her head back and forth.
I motioned towards an empty chair at our table. “Here, sit down. We’re having our lunch during a slow time.”
Gracie remained standing. “I don’t mean to interrupt.”
“Oh no, you’re not interrupting.”
Gracie pulled the chair out and sat down next to Stormi. “This is my friend and co-worker Stormi Rogers.”
The two exchanged pleasantries, then I asked what brought her to my shoppe today.
Gracie clutched her handbag that remained sitting in her lap. “I know you’re close with Trixie. I also know she spent the night at your home last night.”
I shifted uncomfortably in my chair. “How would you know that?”
“She told my father she was staying with you.” Well duh, of course she did.
“How can I help you today Gracie?” I usually wasn’t so impatient but I didn’t feel like beating around the bush with this woman. Just get to the point.
Gracie looked around my shoppe. “You have a wonderful establishment here.”
“Thank you,” I said through gritted teeth. I didn’t like where this was leading.
Gracie turned to look at me. “I would hate for you to lose it.”
That was it…the gauntlet was thrown within two minutes of her entering my shoppe. But before I could react, Stormi put Gracie straight in her crosshairs.
Stormi threw down her napkin and stood up. “Listen sister, if you’re going to make threats you can walk right out that door or be tossed out on your hiney…your choice.”
Gracie and I both stood. “I’m sorry, that came out wrong. What I’m trying to explain and failing terribly at is that…well; your association with Miss Trixie might hurt your sales. I’m not threatening you…it’s more of a warning.”
“Look Ms. Florez.” I decided I didn’t want to be familiar with this woman. “I know you’ve made assumptions about Trixie and I get you’re protective of your father, but that doesn’t give you the right to damage her reputation and good name. It seems you came into this town with an agenda without getting all the facts first.” I couldn’t believe the things coming out of my mouth, but dang, I was po’ed.
“I’m sorry you feel that way Tara. I only had good intentions.”
Stormi was itching to get in the middle of this. “How can you say that? Where are the good intentions? Did they magically fly out the window or crawl under the table, because I never spotted them.”
“Stormi,” I said attempting to lower her anger level.
“It’s okay,” Gracie said raising her hand. “She’s a good friend to you. You are lucky to have someone like her by your side.”
That seemed to cool the raging beast beating inside of Stormi. “Yes I am a good friend. I always look out for my peeps.” Peeps? Did she just say that? I shook my head and looked at Gracie.
“Gracie, we evidently disagree where Trixie is concerned, so I think it’s best if we don’t discuss her at all.”
“I understand, but you have to recognize the fact that there are strange anomalies in her story about her first husband. Did you know she had her second husband cremated before the medical examiner had a chance to look at the body?�
�
Stormi looked at me. “No I didn’t, but so what. Plenty of people are cremated.”
“But what was the hurry?” Gracie continued. “From my sources the medical examiner wanted to perform an autopsy but before he could do so, Trixie hurried the funeral home director into cremating his body.”
I wasn’t happy with the direction of this conversation. “That doesn’t prove anything. All you have are suspicions and innuendos. Stormi and I have known Trixie for years. There is no possible way she’d ever hurt anyone.”
Gracie stood up straight. “Yet her own daughter is a confessed murderer. No one saw that coming.”
“That doesn’t make Trixie a murderer,” Stormi chirped.
Gracie turned and walked towards the shoppe door. “Maybe so, but one has to wonder if the apple didn’t fall from the tree.”
As Gracie opened the door she turned around and said, “After Trixie’s first husband died, she left the area for over a year. I have to wonder if guilt had anything to do with that yearlong disappearance. Think what you want ladies, but I will do whatever it takes to protect my father.” With that, she walked out the door.
Stormi and I looked at one another. We didn’t have time to discuss matters as customers came in for their afternoon fix. By 4pm, Paige’s husband Bruce accompanied her to the shoppe.
They were such a cute couple, Bruce and Paige. They were in their late 40’s and were high school sweethearts who married right out of college. Their only child Samantha was a whiz kid, smart as a whip and cute as a button. Paige helped a few evenings a week and tonight was one of those nights.
“Well, aren’t we lucky,” Stormi exclaimed as they walked into the store. “How are we so fortunate to be graced with Mr. Murphy’s presence today?”
“He’s looking for a kiwi-strawberry smoothie fix,” Paige answered.
Bruce walked up to the counter. “Think you can hook me up Storm?”
Stormi gave him a big grin. “I’m your gal.”
Bruce laughed. “Yes you are.”
Paige walked behind the counter. “Hey you two…I’m right here. Stop your flirting,” she teased.
Stormi started on Bruce’s smoothie. “Oh Momma, you don’t let us have any fun.”
Paige put on her Frozen Scoop apron and began tying it in the back. “That’s what Moms do…spoil all the fun.”
Paige smiled and then turned serious. “There’s a reason I brought Bruce with me. Trixie was taken down to the police station for questioning.”
“What the…What!” Stormi stammered. “Greg didn’t call me.”
“Stormi I’m sure he can’t let you know,” Bruce explained. “That would be against protocol and you don’t want him to lose his job right?”
“Of course not,” she replied but I could tell she wasn’t happy.
Paige sighed and continued. “Tara, I thought maybe you’d want to go to the police station and that’s why I brought Bruce to help out until you got back.”
Stormi handed Bruce his smoothie. “I want to go too.”
“That’s fine,” Paige answered.
Bruce took a sip of his smoothie. “I can scoop while Paige makes smoothies and takes the money.”
I tore off my apron and grabbed my purse. “Thanks guys. Come on Stormi.”
My chest felt tight. I wasn’t sure what I was walking into. I was afraid for Trixie and what they were accusing her of, but I was also troubled by what I might find out. There was a chance my view of Trixie might change forever. And the information that did come out wasn’t what I expected.
*****
When Stormi and I arrived at the police station, Officer Burkle walked up to us. The station hadn’t changed much in appearance since I was there a few months ago. Still the same drab atmosphere and centuries old desks and chairs.
Officer Burkle waved us over to the side. “I assume you ladies are here because of Trixie?”
Stormi was beside herself. “Jerry, I thought Greg would call me.”
Officer Burkle looked at Stormi. “Stormi, you know he can’t do that. Besides, he’s the one interviewing her.”
“Why did you all bring her in?” I asked.
Officer Burkle looked confused. “We didn’t. She came in of her own accord.”
Stormi and I looked at one another. I felt my heart rise in my throat. Oh Lord, she wasn’t confessing was she? “Is there any way we can see her?”
“Let me see if I can interrupt their meeting. Wait here.” Officer Burkle took off down the hall. Stormi and I stood watching as he knocked on one of the doors in the hallway. After a few seconds, he walked inside. I felt Stormi reach for my arm. Officer Burkle emerged from the room and motioned for us to come down. My heart was beating so fast I thought it might blossom right out of my chest. Stormi and I walked down to where Officer Burkle was standing and peered into the room.
An old wood table sat in the middle of the room. Trixie sat at one end of the table while Officer Manning, or Greg, sat beside her on one side. A tape recorder sat on the table in front of Trixie and Officer Manning held a notepad and pen. Officer Manning looked up from his notes and said, “Come on in ladies. Trixie would like for you to be here while she gives her statement.”
Trixie’s eyes were tired. The events of the last few days had taken a toll and I was afraid for her health. A dreary brown blanket lay across her lap. I walked over and sat in the chair opposite Officer Manning and next to Trixie. Officer Burkle brought in another chair and placed it beside mine for Stormi.
I looked at Officer Manning. “Shouldn’t she have a lawyer?”
Officer Manning looked at Trixie. “That’s up to Ms. Florez.”
Trixie looked at Stormi and I. “Lawdy no, I don’t want a lawyer and I don’t believe I need one.”
Stormi looked at Officer Manning. “Greg, do you think she needs one?”
Officer Manning shook his head. “She’s told me some of the story. I don’t like to tell people what to do as far as getting a lawyer, but from what I’ve heard so far, it doesn’t sound like she needs one.”
Trixie looked at the recorder on the table. “I can start from the beginning again, if that’s alright with you Officer Manning?”
He nodded. “Sure. We can skip all the official items, like your name and address. Why don’t you start with Mr. Crager’s behavior.”
“Mr. Crager?” Stormi asked.
“Mr. Daniel Crager,” Trixie answered. “He was my first husband dear and whom I’ve come to talk about today. I told Tara a little about him last night. He and I married young, him 18 and me 17. I don’t know why. I suppose it was more about freedom than being star-crossed lovers. It didn’t take long for me to find out what a mistake I’d made.”
Trixie shifted in her seat to get more comfortable, which was difficult in these old hard chairs. “Daniel had a mental condition that today we likely call bi-polar disorder. Now that I think about it, he was also paranoid. Of course, none of this was diagnosed back then as we didn’t have money to see a doctor and everyone just thought he should pull it together. But he couldn’t. He lost so many jobs I lost count. People thought he was loony. The fact is, as bad as he was in public, he was much worse behind closed doors.”
“He would fly into rages, throwing books or crashing plates. One minute he’d be calm and then something might set him off. Other times he would sit and cry for hours or have so much energy he’d be bouncing off walls. Everything was my fault…I couldn’t do anything right. I felt like I had walked straight into hell and there was no way out.”
“Couldn’t you get a divorce and go back to your parents?” Stormi asked.
Trixie shook her head. “No. They were angry with me for running off and getting married in the first place. When I told them how bad it was, they told me I’d made my bed, so now I had to lie in it. They wouldn’t take me back.”
“I decided to try and make the best of it and when I went to work for Mr. Davenport, things started looking up. He was such a good m
an and a brilliant lawyer. I didn’t make a lot, but it was better than we’d ever had it. I brought home enough money to buy us fresh vegetables and even a few slices of bacon or pork belly from time to time. But Daniel resented me. It didn’t matter what I did, it either wasn’t right or not enough. He’d come into Mr. Davenport’s place of business and raise hell with me. I was so embarrassed. I felt for sure Mr. D. would fire me, but he didn’t. In fact, that is when he came up with the life insurance policy.”
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