Nosy Neighbor: All 7 complete Nosy Neighbor cozy mysteries PLUS: 2 short Christmas stories (A Nosy Neighbor mystery)

by Cynthia Hickey

  “I’m looking for it, darling,” Ida said. “Jim might have stashed it somewhere else. I know it isn’t likely, but—Oh, all right.” She hung up and muttered something about men and their stubborn ways and how she should go off and leave his fat rear end here while she went to the Bahamas.

  I glanced at Mary Ann. So, everything wasn’t rosy in widowhood.

  Ida headed in our direction, sending me and Mary Ann scrambling for cover in the tiny bathroom. We left the door open enough to press our faces to the opening and be able to peer into the main part of the store.

  Sweet little Ida cursed enough to set the place on fire. Whatever she looked for amongst the dirt and left behind boxes was eluding her. She sighed and plopped in a cloud of dust on top of the cashier’s counter.

  “This is a waste of time,” she said, staring at the floor. “We have enough money without finding Jim’s stupid retirement fund. I’d heard him grumble plenty of times about how poor we were going to be when he retired. I’ve had enough. I’m dirty, tired, and cranky. I need ice cream.” She hopped down and practically ran from the shop.

  “We’d better go, too.” I stepped out of the bathroom.

  It wasn’t hard to determine that the person Ida had spoken to on the phone was Dennis Franklin. Nor was it hard to see that the man wasn’t satisfied with selling the store property and the contents of the shop. Of course, Ida didn’t receive a penny unless the other shop owners on Main Street agreed to sell. It was a big gamble for Larkin Enterprises and anyone else involved.

  Enough to commit murder for? I thought so.

  “Now what?” Mary Ann said. “The library?”

  “Yes, and then Larkin Enterprises.” I hoped to catch Steve coming or going and tail him for the rest of the day. Something had to break on this case soon.

  We dropped the discarded books from the dumpster off at the library and drove to Little Rock where we parked in front of a four-story modern building housing Larkin Enterprises. With fast food bags of tacos and tall cups of diet soda, Mary Ann and I were ready to put in some hours waiting for Steve to make an appearance.

  I called Dakota, who mourned the fact that no one on my suspect list ever seemed to do anything out of the ordinary. In my nephew’s opinion, the citizens of our fair town had very boring backgrounds.

  Mary Ann and I lasted a little over an hour before my bladder screamed for release. “Why hasn’t he left for lunch? Doesn’t the man eat?”

  “Maybe he ordered takeout?” Mary Ann squirmed in the passenger seat. “I’ve got to use the restroom. His office is on the top floor. We could probably go to the lobby without being seen by him.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” We shoved open our doors and rushed into the building.

  Glossy marble floors greeted us. A cherry wood circular desk sat in the center of the foyer. A very pretty, very young woman, pasted on a smile and greeted us. Her smile fell as fast as a theater curtain torn loose from its ropes when we asked to use the restroom.

  “Our facilities are for clients only,” she said.

  “We’re here to see Steve Larkin.”

  Her smile returned. “Fourth floor. I’ll let his receptionist know you’re coming. Feel free to use the ladies room on that floor.” She motioned us toward glass-walled elevators.

  “Great,” Mary Ann hissed in my ear. “I hope you have a good story for us being here.”

  “I’ll think of something.” I dragged her to the elevator and did my best not to do the potty dance where everyone could see us as we ascended.

  The fourth floor looked much the same as the lobby, although on a smaller scale. Once you got past the receptionist desk, doors lined a hall carpeted in plush gray.

  “I’m sorry to tell you that Mr. Larkin is not in yet,” the receptionist said. “I tried to tell Alicia, but she said you had already entered the elevator.”

  I pretended to look disappointed. “I’m sorry to hear that. May we use your restroom, then possibly make an appointment? We had a long drive.”

  “Absolutely.” She waved a well-manicured hand toward a door that said “Ladies”.

  “Brilliant,” Mary Ann said the moment we stepped through the door. “But, you’d better come up with a reason for an appointment.”

  “I’ll just say I’ve changed my mind and will call him when I decide if I want to meet or not.” I slammed the stall door closed, and did my business, much to my body’s relief.

  We washed our hands and breezed past the receptionist desk with promises to call Mr. Larkin later. As we descended in the elevator, I glanced over and saw Steve and Ida in the elevator going up. Their eyes widened before Steve held his hand to his ear in the international signal for me to call him. I nodded.

  I wouldn’t call him, but suspected I’d receive a call before the day was over. I’d have to come up with a good reason for being in Little Rock at his building.

  “Why do you think Ida is meeting with Larkin?” Mary Ann held the door open for me.

  I stepped into the afternoon sunshine. “Do you think he’s convinced more of the shop owners to sell?” Maybe it was time to pay another visit to the Main Street shops.

  Mary Ann pushed me behind a tree. “There’s Thomas.”

  I peered around her as Larkin’s hired hand got behind the wheel of a silver Dodge Charger. “Let’s go.” I grabbed her hand and we raced for my car. I prayed he wouldn’t get too far ahead.

  “We lost him.” I glanced through the front windshield of my car.

  “No, there.” Mary Ann pointed. “He’s getting on the freeway. Do you think he’s headed back to Oak Meadows?”

  “That’s a very good guess.” I pulled into the turning lane, being careful to keep two cars between us and Thomas. “I bet he’s headed there to see what we’re up to.” It wouldn’t have taken long for Steve to question his receptionist about our visit and phone his friend.

  “You know?” Mary Ann settled back in her seat. “Until now, I really didn’t see how this latest case could be dangerous.”

  “Excuse me?” I cut her a sideways glance. “Did you forget about Jim and Phil?”

  She shook her head. “I guess what I mean to say is that I didn’t see how it could be dangerous to us. I leaned on the side of Ida being the killer, and didn’t see how she would consider us a threat.” She emphasized us. “But now Thomas looks mean enough to bite the head off a rattle snake.

  “Just about anyone could be a threat.” I swerved around a slow-moving vehicle. Now, there was only one car between us and Thomas. “Did you forget about the sweet little librarian who wanted to kill me if I didn’t write the next story fast enough to suit her? What about Rusty’s mother? She didn’t look too dangerous, either, but she almost killed my entire family.”

  “Never mind.” She sighed. “I figured all the danger would be aimed toward getting the other shop owners to sell. But, if Larkin finds out we’re spying on him … well, we could be next, Stormi. If we aren’t murdered, my brother will kill us.”

  “Your brother has resigned himself to the fact,” I slowed my speed and let another car slip in between us and Thomas, “that I’m getting my private investigator’s license and plan on continuing to solve cases and write about them. If I get my license, there are more avenues available to me.”

  “Why don’t you see if you can tag along on all his calls like that author on that television show?”

  I shook my head. “I love your brother, but working with him all day would drive us both crazy. He is going to Oak Meadows!”

  Thomas exited the freeway. I followed at a safe distance as he took the winding access road from the freeway into town.

  He slammed on his brakes.

  I screamed and did the same. My car swerved toward the ditch. Only quick thinking and a slam on the brakes kept us from going into the ditch.

  Thomas opened his car door and exited. The hard look on his face had me pressing the lock button on my car.

  “Get out.” He rapped on the window.
<
br />   “Not a chance.”

  “I can’t talk to you if you’re in the car,” he said. “Mr. Larkin wants me to talk to you.”

  “You’ll have to speak through the glass, because I’m not getting out.”

  “Will you at least follow me to the coffee shop?”

  “Yes.”

  He stormed back to his car.

  I glanced at Mary Ann. “What is going on? If he wanted to talk, why stop in the middle of the street? He could have waited until we stopped somewhere.”

  “He isn’t the brightest bulb in the store.” She shrugged.

  We followed him to the parking spots in front of Delicious Aroma. “Be ready to call 911 if he gets aggressive,” I told Mary Ann.

  I stepped onto the pavement and waited for Thomas to approach us. “Did you know we were following you?”

  “No. I would have stopped before driving all this way if I did. I did stop as soon as I noticed you. My boss lost your number. I tried to catch you before you left. Why were you at his office? Have you reconsidered selling?”

  I didn’t think the man could talk this much. I shook my head. “That’s why you came all the way out here? Why didn’t you call my mother’s shop and ask her?” I tried to see a light of intelligence in his eyes, I really did. But, I failed.

  “Mr. Larkin didn’t tell me to. He said to find out what you wanted.”

  “I didn’t want anything, Thomas. I only wanted to use the restroom and that was the closest place to go. I had to make up an excuse or they wouldn’t let us in.”

  “Oh.” He nodded. “Okay.” He jogged back to his car and left.

  I laughed and motioned for Mary Ann to get out of my car. “Rusty might be smarter than that man. I told him we were only there to use the restroom, he said okay, and left. All he needed to do was find out what we wanted.”

  Our conversation left me more confused than ever. Except for the fact that Thomas seemed likely to do whatever Larkin told him without asking questions or thinking twice, I’d have a hard time picturing the man as a killer. But, acting without a second thought could make him very dangerous. Either that, or he was as good at spinning a tall tale as I was.

  19

  My cell phone rang a few minutes after Thomas left us. “Hello?”

  “Is this Miss Nelson? This is Steve Larkin.”

  I leaned against the hood of my car. “Yes, this is me.”

  “I’m sorry I missed you earlier. Thomas said you came in to use the, uh, restroom? I hope he didn’t confuse your purpose here.”

  “That’s about right. My assistant and I were doing some research and the young lady in the main lobby said we needed an appointment.” I closed my eyes, hoping he’d buy the poor excuse.

  “A pity. I was hoping you had reconsidered my offer. I’m willing to increase the price to seven hundred thousand.”

  Wow, I mouthed to Mary Ann. I shook my head when she asked what. “That is a significant increase. Is that what Ida Worthington was visiting you for?”

  He chuckled. “I have no need to increase her offer, Miss Nelson. She’s already signed an agreement. Please don’t let others know of the amount I am offering you.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it, but I cannot make a decision without speaking to my partner. I’ll be in touch.” I hung up and told Mary Ann of his dollar amount.

  “If we weren’t concerned about his mall ruining our small town, that would be enough for you to live the idle lifestyle for a good long while,” she said. She tapped her finger against her lips. “Why not offer him something else?”

  “Like?”

  “There’s a big plot of land for sale between here and Harrisburg. It isn’t good for farming, and the owner died without leaving an heir. The state would probably be happy to get rid of it. Why isn’t Larkin looking there?”

  That was a very good question. After the recession, there was a lot of land selling for very reasonable prices. Why was Larkin so bent on grabbing up the center of Oak Meadows and spending the exorbitant amount of cash it would take to demolish and rebuild?

  I texted Matt. “Have you checked into why Larkin really wants Main Street?”

  “Explain.” Matt never was one for long texts.

  “There is other land for sale. Why does he want this area so badly?”

  “Good point. Will look into it. Luv ya.”

  I stared across the street, my eyes focused on nothing, and willed my brain to dig something out of nothing. Movement caused me to straighten. The dear Mrs. Rogers was handing out fliers again.

  “That woman.” Mary Ann sighed. “Want me to tell her to stop?”

  I started to say yes, but then noticed how she stopped and talked to everyone. What if she were able to get information out of them that me, as a nosy writer, couldn’t? “Does she like you?”

  “I think so. She said she feels sorry for me losing my teaching job and having to work for someone like you. I didn’t tell her it was my choice.” She grinned. “What do you want me to do?”

  “See if you can find out anything from her. I’ll wait for you in the coffee shop.”

  Mary Ann strolled across the street, stopping first at the drugstore Mrs. Rogers had just left. I pushed through the doors of Heavenly Aroma. I met Tyler’s gaze, then headed to the corner table where Norma sat.

  “Are you here every day?” I sat across from her.

  “Hello, to you, too. And yes. My office feels claustrophic, so I bring whatever needs my attention out here. How’s the case going?”

  “It’s not.” I crossed my arms on the table. “I’ve found little evidence of why Jim was killed or why Larkin wants this land so bad. Your, uh, friends, wouldn’t have heard anything, would they?”

  “If you mean my friends who are still plying their trade, then no. I haven’t spoken to any of them in a while. Being a business owner takes up all my time.” She tugged the hem of her short skirt over long legs. “But, I guess I can give a few of them a call. Is this about Larkin?”

  I nodded.

  “Then, I need to call a few of the higher class ones. I can’t see him picking up a girl off the streets.”

  “I know it’s a long shot, but maybe a little pillow talk will fill in some blanks.”

  “I could do some flirting. Try to finagle a dinner invitation out of the man.”

  “You’d do that?”

  “Sure.” She shrugged. “It wouldn’t go any further than dinner, but what’s the harm? I will insist on a very expensive restaurant.”

  I jumped up and gave her a hug. “Thank you! How are you going to manage?”

  She gave a secretive smile. “I have my ways. The poor thing is already smitten with me. He’s in here at least once a day and manages to find some excuse to come talk to me. I’ve been turning him down, since I’m not ready for a relationship, but I can give him a call. I’ll let you know in the morning what I find out.”

  “Be careful. We don’t know that he isn’t the one who killed Jim.” I took my drink from Tyler and settled back in my seat.

  “I’ll be fine. I’ll have a sweet little friend strapped to my thigh.”

  “You are the toughest girl I’ve ever met.” She really was. How many ex-prostitutes went into business for themselves, tried to get other women off the streets, strapped a gun to their leg, and still managed to look like every man’s dream at the age of thirty-five?

  “You carry, don’t you?”

  I patted my purse. “A glock and a Tazer. Both pink.”

  Her eyes twinkled. “Mine is a sexy red.”

  I opened my mouth to make a smart remark, but closed it when Mary Ann breezed through the door. She made a beeline for us, waved at Tyler, and plopped into a seat. “That woman really hates you.”

  “I hope you found information I didn’t know.” It hurt my feelings to know someone disliked me enough to try and run me out of town, but a girl couldn’t have everyone like her.

  “I think so.” She took a deep breath. “Mrs. Rogers is handing out t
wo fliers. One to run you out of town and another to run off Steve Larkin. Now,” she raised her hand to halt any questions, “the reason she wants Larkin gone is the same reason everyone else does. No one wants the crowds and pollution that a mall will bring. She said she moved here for the small town feel.”

  Tyler brought her a coffee. “You ladies want a sandwich or something?”

  I nodded, handed him ten dollars, and turned back to Mary Ann. “We know that.”

  “Well, I asked her why she thought Larkin didn’t want to buy land cheaper somewhere else, and she said it was because he doesn’t want the competition that Main Street brings when tourists flock here. I mean, look outside. For a sleepy town, we have a lot of sidewalk traffic. Even more so when the snows come.”

  “She’s finding this out by talking to shop owners?” Maybe we needed to convince her to help us find Jim’s killer.

  “Yes.” She twirled her cup on the table. “And, I asked her what she thought of Jim’s death while she was in a talkative mood. She is convinced Ida did it. It seems the two of them were in a book club together until Mrs. Rogers found out how Ida filled her afternoons. Ida had strongly hinted at how she wouldn’t shed a tear if her husband died.”

  I still didn’t see how little Ida could have gotten her dead husband from the alley to Mom’s shop. “What else?” I wrapped my lips around my straw.

  “The pranks are continuing. The drugstore had the lock on the back door smashed, the clothing boutique had a break in. Nothing was missing, but all the clothes were scattered. Even the bank has been graffitted. I don’t see Ida behind this type of stuff.”

  “Me either.” And the continuing pranks would keep the police department too busy to dig as deeply into Jim’s death as they needed to. Or give them enough time to investigate Larkin. “You were great, Mary Ann.”

  She grinned. “It pays to have people like you.”

  “She’ll like me once she knows me better.”

  “I doubt it.” She dodged the napkin I wadded up and threw at her. “What do you want to do now?”

  “I want to visit Mrs. Davidson. She mentioned that she thought Phil had started making money in a way that wasn’t selling drugs. We can stop by the bakery and take her some cupcakes.” I turned to Norma. “Thank you. Please let me know how your dinner goes.”