“Annie, I’m not sure,” Clifford said. “No one tried to break in the mansion while Inga was there. It seems odd this would happen now after Barbara’s death.”
“Uh huh,” I answered. “Maybe it was the killer trying to plant evidence or steal something to try and prove I killed her. I didn’t kill Barbara.”
“Just watch your step and your back. Call if you need us.” The line went dead.
He hung up on me. Oh my goodness gracious, even Clifford thinks I killed Barbara. Georgie and I are the only ones who believe I’m not the killer. We have to find whoever did it before I end up in prison. I wonder what he or she wanted from the mansion.
Yummy’s bark combined with my alarm woke me again at seven. At least it isn’t another strange phone call. I pulled on my robe and walked out to place Yummy in the puppy run. Peanut was already barking for her favorite friend to join her.
I glanced over towards Aunt Irene’s cottage. She and Lyle were drinking coffee. They waved. I waved back as I hurried in to start my coffee.
I don’t think Lyle has been home since the time machine incident. Well, Aunt Irene is a grown woman. An eccentric woman in her seventies, but grown none the less. I hope I have that much spunk at her age. I need to text Georgie.
“Attempted break-in at the mansion last night.
Going over today to try and figure out why.”
She texted back:
“Not without me. Let’s go after lunch.
I’ll bring lunch to the store.
Don’t worry, I’ll bring a nice salad with diced grilled chicken.”
~ * ~
My morning flew by quickly. The chicken salad was just what I needed for lunch. I took the last sip of my lemonade as I pulled in behind the mansion. It was a beautiful day, and I opted to park in the rear drive instead of the garage.
“I love this house,” Georgie said as she climbed out of my SUV. “Are you sure you don’t want to live here? I’m sure Inga’s financial people would help you invest the inheritance so you can pay the taxes. If you weren’t marrying Clark, I’d almost be tempted to leave Paul home and move in here, too.” She laughed.
“Paul would divorce you and we’d be alone in the world with Yummy and maybe a few cats. Our girls would ignore us. The town would talk. We’d become recluses and children would be afraid to walk near the house. We’d grow old and die,” I smiled at the thought.
“Maybe,” Georgie agreed. “But, what a way to go.”
We were both laughing when I slid the key into the deadbolt lock and opened the door. I released a deep breath when I remembered the five digit numerical code for the security pad without setting off the alarm…again.
“What are we looking for?” Georgie asked when we walked into the kitchen.
“I’m not sure. Whoever tried to break-in either wanted to hide something here to incriminate me in Barbara’s murder or take something they can trace back to me.” I scanned the area trying to figure out what someone might take.
“That makes sense, but how are we going to figure it out?” Georgie bit her lip.
“Think like a criminal,” I suggested.
Georgie giggled. “Hey, I thought of two more ‘A’ names last night. Is there an Amos in town?”
I shrugged. “I don’t think I know anyone named Amos.”
“Me either and I suppose Aristotle is out of the question.” She looked at me.
I began to laugh and when she joined in I laughed harder until my side hurt, and I sat on a chair in the den.
“Stop laughing,” I said.
Georgie tried, but all it did was cause her to snort. We laughed for another five minutes.
When we finally regained our composure, Georgie offered her opinion. “Let’s say the intruder was looking to take something and plant it wherever he killed Barbara. It would have to be something small and personal. An item a person might drop and not notice.”
“Agreed, which is why Detective Nate zeroed in on those silly key fobs.”
“Exactly.”
I asked, “What should we do. Since whoever was here didn’t take anything what do we look for?”
Georgie jumped up. “If we think like a criminal, we’ll look to see if we can find anything small and personal. Depending on what we discover, it might help us at least figure out if it’s a female or male killer. Each would think of a different type of object.”
I agreed again. “Still we don’t know what they might have decided on.”
Georgie blew out a breath and dropped back onto her chair. “True, we don’t know what we are doing.”
“Wait, I had a thought. What if the intruder was looking for something they lost? The entire town believes Barbara was having an affair with Phillips and maybe the mayor, too. All three are well-known county wide. Where would they meet? What if they came here? No one would see them if they kept the lights off. He might have killed her here. If he pushed Barbara’s body into the lake near the mansion, it could easily float over to my pier.”
“I think you have a great idea.” Georgie jumped up again. “We need to check out the bedrooms.”
“But how would they get in? They need the code.”
“There are several cameras installed around here. What if the killer installed one of his own controlled wirelessly. It might capture you entering the code.” She bounced her palms on her thighs. “You wouldn’t notice an additional camera.”
“No, I wouldn’t. I bet you’re right. Off to the bedrooms.”
Georgie ran up the stairs with me close on her heels.
“Where do we start?” She asked.
“The most romantic room in the house. Inga’s room. We found Barbara’s necklace hidden in the newly dug grave. Maybe the killer lost something else. Barbara must have struggled. The poor woman fought for her life.” I shivered.
“Okay, but what should we look for and where?” Georgie asked as we entered Inga’s room.
“Not sure. Belt buckle, tie clasp, cuff link, button, anything.”
Georgie raised her eyebrows, “Maybe a key fob.”
“I never thought of that. It sure would help to find one.”
We began searching the carpet on opposite ends of the room. We both jumped when we heard the back door close.
“Did you remember to set the alarm,” Georgie whispered?
I twisted my lip and shrugged. “I’m not sure.”
A voice that sounded like a cross between a cartoon character and a ghost filtered up from downstairs. “Annie, where are you? I know you’re here. Your car’s parked out back. Talk to me. I know you’ve figured out who I am. Maybe we can make a deal.”
“What the heck is that?” I grabbed Georgie’s arm.
“A voice changer,” she whispered. “Some of the kids come into the Grille with them. It makes your voice sound weird when you speak into it.”
“It’s the killer,” I stammered.
Georgie nodded.
“We need to hide or get out of here.”
I walked toward the bedroom door. “There’s a panic alarm just across the hall.” When I stepped out, Georgie pulled me back into the room.
“Listen, he’s coming up the stairs. What do we do? Where can we hide?”
“Panic room,” I grabbed Georgie’s arm.
“Huh?”
“Panic room,” I repeated as I ran across the room into Inga’s large walk in closet.
“How is this going to help? We’ll be stuck in the closet.” Georgie argued.
“Watch,” I said as I pressed a button on the wall. A metal door slid quietly between us and the wooden door we had just used.
“Panic room,” Georgie smiled. “I get it now.”
“I forgot to tell you about this. Lucas showed me when he walked me through the house and pointed out Inga’s wall safe and the one her husband had installed in the library room floor.” I turned on the screen on the wall that gave a view of the bedroom.
“Look,” Georgie said. “Isn’t that person
dressed the way Clifford said last night’s intruder also dressed?”
“Exactly,” I answered.
“We need to call 911. Hey, I don’t have any bars on my phone.” Georgie exclaimed in a whisper.
“Neither do I. Maybe all the walls are fortified with metal blocking a signal.” I turned around to try and figure out what we were going to do. A small table in the corner caught my eye.
“Look,” I said. “A land-line phone.” I grabbed the phone. Dead. I shook my head.
“Who puts in a phone that doesn’t work,” Georgie asked.
“It’s my fault. I’m an idiot, and now we’re both doomed.” I dropped down onto a quilted seat next to a shelf filled with at least forty pairs of shoes.
“How can this be your fault?” Georgie sat next to me.
“When I inherited the house, I had to put all the utilities in my name. The phone company told me the mansion had a main line, two business lines, and an additional dedicated line. I assumed both Inga and her husband had a separate business line. I had no idea why the mansion needed a dedicated line, so I kept only the main line for the security system. I think this phone used that dedicated line. It makes sense to have a special line for a crisis phone.” I dropped my head in my hands and fought back tears. I would be responsible for getting us both killed.
The intruder’s voice came through the speaker next to the video screen. “Annie I know you are here. I can wait you out. Come out now and we’ll talk.”
I looked at Georgie. “Did you tell Paul where we were going?”
She shook her head. “Did you tell Aunt Irene?”
I shook my head. “I told you we’re doomed.”
Georgie grabbed my arm. “Look, the intruder is leaving the bedroom but has a gun. We can’t try to get to the panic button. I could try and sneak out long enough to make a 911 call.”
We could hear the distant sound of doors being slammed.
“No, he’ll hear you and shoot you.”
The voice drifted back through the speaker. “Come out, come out, wherever you are. I’m getting upset.”
Georgie backed away from the screen to the back of the closet.
She whispered, “Annie, I feel a draft. Maybe there is a way out.”
Fortunately, the closet was lit by two bright bulbs, and we had a clear view of the walls. The back wall appeared to be made of wood identical to the other walls.
“Look,” I whispered. “Another button. Should we push it? It might open this wall, or if the panic door opens, he’ll catch us.”
Georgie armed herself with a walking cane leaning in the corner. “You push the button. If the panic door opens and the killer gets here before you can close it again, I’ll smack him with the cane.”
We hugged each other the way we always did before doing something dangerous. I reached for the button and pulled my hand back. I was safe in the back of the closet partially hidden by clothing. If the panic door opened, Georgie could be shot and killed.
“Let me have the cane, and you push the button,” I said to Georgie. “He’s after me, not you.”
“Just push it,” she said. “He’s coming back into the bedroom.
I said a prayer and pushed the button. Silently, the back wall of the closet opened revealing a narrow staircase.
Georgie still gripping the cane walked over. “You found a secret staircase. Cool. Let’s see where it goes.”
We walked down until we reached another wall with a button.
“Push it,” Georgie whispered.
“I don’t know where it opens. What if the killer is out there?”
Georgie turned and rushed back up the stairs. She returned nearly as quickly and said, “He’s on his hands and knees looking for something near the bed. We can get out.”
I said another silent prayer and the wall slid open revealing the laundry room and rear door right in front of us.
I slipped my keys from my pocket; Georgie had her phone in her hand. We both ran for my SUV. I raced down the drive away from the mansion as Georgie called 911. I slowed long enough for Georgie to snap a pic of a car parked near the end of the drive then I hit the gas, and we headed for the police department.
~ * ~
We passed a police cruiser with lights and sirens blaring on the way to the station. When I pulled into the parking lot, both of us ran into the station. Dot was sitting behind the desk.
“Thank goodness you two are okay,” Dot said. “I was worried to death when I got the call from the mobile operator.”
“Sorry,” Georgie said. “I know the mobile operator was going to transfer me, but I somehow hung up when I took a pic of the suspicious car near the mansion’s drive.”
Dot held up a finger and called Chief Elroy on the intercom.
He appeared in the hall and waved us into his office.
Clifford sat behind his desk and asked, “Can I get you anything. Water maybe?”
We both shook our heads.
“Okay then, tell me what happened.”
Georgie and I took turns telling the Chief what happened. After a few minutes, he stopped taking notes. I think we were talking too fast.
His phone rang, and he told us to catch our breaths. After listening and telling whoever he was speaking to that they should remain where they are until backup arrives, he hung up.
“The mansion appears deserted now. I’m going to have two officers go through it thoroughly.” He picked his pen up and made a few more notes.
Georgie said, “Tell them to look in the woods and outbuildings. I don’t think he could make it to the car before the squad car got there.”
“Car, what car?”
Georgie explained and showed Clifford the pic on her phone.
He looked at it and made a few clicks on his computer keys.
“Good job and fast thinking, Georgie, but it won’t help. Old Mrs. Holliman reported her car stolen from the church parking lot after the knitting guild luncheon this afternoon. It’s her car.”
“Well,” I said. “Since Georgie and I only made plans this morning to search the mansion after I learned about the attempted break-in, this should prove I’m being followed. He must have stolen the car last minute to follow me. He was there shortly after we arrived. You can get the video footage and listen to what he was saying to me. It was creepy. I told you I was innocent.” I crossed my arms over my chest, sat back in my chair and crossed my right leg over my left.
Clifford looked at me and said, “We’ll see.”
I jumped to my feet.
How dare he not believe me? I’m going to give him a piece of my mind. Think, Annie. You’ll only get one chance to say it.
As I opened my mouth, Georgie grabbed my arm. “Let them finish investigating and watch the video first.” She stared at me, and I could read her thoughts.
She’s right. I have to calm down. Getting angry won’t help.
“Okay,” I muttered as I sat back down.
Clifford said, “Go home. I’ll call you after we watch the video. I might have more questions, and you might remember something to add to your statements.”
We agreed and left the police station. I dropped Georgie off at her car. Before she left the car, she looked at me and said, “How about Miss Agnes?”
“Georgie, I think she’s ninety.”
“Okay, well, there’s Ashley, who volunteers at the vet’s office,” she added.
“She’s sixteen,” I laughed.
“You’re right. Keep thinking.” She slammed the car door and waved.
I wasn’t in any mood to reopen the bookstore for a couple of hours.
Aunt Irene wasn’t home, but she used her key to make sure Yummy was safe in my powder room before she and Lyle went out to eat. I’m not sure what I’d do without her. I hope I don’t find out for many years.
Chapter Eleven
I spent a quiet evening watching a couple of movies I saved on my DVR. Just before bed, I received a text from Clark and an e-mail from Laci.
Clark was worried but knew I didn’t cause the situation today. Laci claimed she needed to study, and we’d have to skip our video chat tomorrow. She’s still angry about Clark and me. Feeling alone, I grabbed Yummy and headed for bed. Yummy still loved to try and share more than half of my pillow. After a bit of arranging and rearranging, we settled in, and I fell asleep.
My alarm woke me, and I felt happy I slept through an entire night without interruption. I stretched and yawned. Yummy licked my nose. It was time to get up.
I saw Aunt Irene and Lyle having coffee on her picnic table again.
“Good morning,” I said as I placed Yummy in the fenced puppy run.
“Morning,” they both replied.
“Aunt Irene?” She looked up at me. “Do you want to go out to lunch after church?”
We always went out after Sunday services.
“Of course, Lyle is going home for a while today to check on his house.”
“Yup,” He said and sipped his coffee. “There are some people coming this week to explain services to help me keep my home. I want the place to look good. My daughter still won’t talk to me and my son mentioned getting a lawyer. I need to know my rights.” He pounded his fist on the picnic table. “This is my life.”
Aunt Irene nodded. “Annie, remember this. Don’t ever try and put me away.”
I put my hands up in front of me. “Never. I know better than to try.”
Lyle laughed.
“I’m going in to shower and get dressed.”
Aunt Irene answered, “I’ll get ready as soon as I drive Lyle home.”
I grabbed Yummy and headed for the house. I entered just in time to hear the answering machine pick up. The same voice Georgie and I heard yesterday at the mansion blared from my machine.
“You escaped yesterday. Next time you won’t be as lucky.”
I dialed 911.
Within a few minutes, Deputy Carolyn Dawlins arrived. She placed my phone and answering machine in a plastic evidence bag.
Murder, Trouble & Family Page 10
