by Rose Pressey
“Oh, I know her all right. She’s one of the lowest life forms on this planet.”
“Now I’m dying to know who it is.” Charlotte laughed. “Dying? Get it?”
Maureen laughed. “Good one, Charlotte.”
They were hardly helping the situation. It was hard to concentrate on the conversation with their antics.
“Who is it?” I pressed.
The anticipation was getting to me too.
“Tell us!” Charlotte said.
“Mandy Neville. She’s the trainer of the horse. I assume you know her.”
“Wow, so they were having an affair after all,” Charlotte said.
“That gives Kristina more than one motive for the murder,” Maureen said.
“Or Mandy,” Charlotte said.
All I could think about was the fact that I was sitting in the living room of a potential murderer, and I had talked with Mandy earlier, though Mandy had blamed Danielle. I didn’t know what to think. Either way, it was scary.
I cleared my throat. “So, um, how did you catch them on this video?”
“It was easy. I just followed them. They weren’t exactly good at hiding what they were doing. I think Mandy actually wanted people to know. She’s a sociopath.”
“What did she do that made you suspicious?”
“Well, like I said, they didn’t try to hide it. The horse community is a tight one. Word spreads quickly, and it didn’t take long for the rumors to get to me.”
In the distance, a phone rang.
“Will you excuse me?” Kristina stood from the chair.
“Absolutely,” I said with a smile.
“I’m getting a strange vibe from her,” Charlotte said.
“Psst. Psst.”
I looked around to see where the noise was coming from. Ramon was peeking around the corner from the front hallway.
“What are you doing?” I whispered.
“Is it safe to come in?”
“Based on what your ex-wife just told us, I’d say not.” Charlotte glowered at Ramon.
“Where is she?” Ramon inched into the room.
“She went to answer the phone. You have some explaining to do.”
Charlotte, Maureen, and I glared at him.
“Tell her this, ‘Come on, you know he loved you. Mandy meant nothing to him. It will never happen again . . .’ er, well, leave the last part out.”
I stared at him with my mouth dropped open. “You actually think that will work?”
He looked at me, confused. “What’s wrong with it?”
“It doesn’t sound sincere, and that’s what all cheaters say.”
Ramon walked over to the hallway and peeked out, watching for Kristina.
“Well, at the very least, you can ask her if she killed me.”
“Are you kidding me? I can’t just come out and ask her if she murdered someone.”
“Excuse me?” Kristina asked.
I looked over and spotted her standing in the doorway. She scowled. How would I explain myself out of this one?
“I was singing a song,” I said.
Charlotte groaned.
“Just change the subject quickly, and she’ll forget about it,” Maureen said.
I’d follow her advice. That was all I had.
“I can understand how you felt about what Ramon did.”
Kristina stared before crossing the room. I held my breath, wondering if she was coming over to kick me out. Instead, she sat down again.
“Whew, that was a close one.” Maureen wiped her forehead as if she’d been sweating.
Kristina leaned forward in her chair. “I can’t tell you how angry I was . . . but mostly I was angry at him. He betrayed me. I would expect something like that from Mandy. I expected much more from Ramon.”
The look in her eyes had changed. A darkness overcame them, and a blank look settled in, as if she was tuning out. She was still sitting there with me talking, but she was actually somewhere else. Was she replaying the murder in her mind?
“I think it’s about time that we leave, Cookie.” Charlotte stood from the chair and motioned for me to follow her to the door.
If Charlotte was disturbed by someone’s behavior, then I knew that I’d better take her advice.
I pushed to my feet. “Thanks for talking with me.”
I hurried toward the door. Before I reached it, Kristina stopped in front of me. Her eyes were locked on my face. Her expression looked even darker now.
“This doesn’t look good, Cookie. I’m nervous. You have to get out of here,” Charlotte said.
She didn’t have to tell me. I wanted to leave in the worst way. Currently, Kristina was blocking the door, making that impossible.
“Thanks again for talking to me. I really should be leaving now.” I tried to move around her.
She blocked me again.
“Push her down. Knock her out if you have to.” Maureen pumped her fist as if she was ready for a fight.
“Don’t hurt her,” Ramon pleaded.
Kristina stared at me. “Did Mandy send you here?”
“No, absolutely not,” I said. “I’m just trying to find out who killed your husband for the horse’s owner. He’s concerned, that’s all.”
That was a complete lie. Well, for all I knew, the owner was concerned, but he certainly hadn’t asked me to find the killer. That was all me.
Her stance eased.
“Whew. It looks like she believes you,” Charlotte said.
Kristina stepped away from the door. “I’m sorry if I was suspicious. You can understand, right?”
“Absolutely,” I said, moving closer to the door.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t like to stay for dinner?” Kristina asked.
“Thanks for the offer. I need to go.”
“She never made dinner for me,” Ramon said.
“Maybe I’ve said too much.” She looked at me for a reaction.
Were those tears in her eyes?
Charlotte tapped her Prada-covered foot against the floor. “Oh, she said too much all right, but it’s a little late to take that back.”
“I feel so bad for what I did to her.” Ramon stepped over to Kristina. He reached out to touch her, but of course his hand went straight through her arm.
“You should feel bad,” Charlotte said as she moved through the front door.
“Thanks again for talking with me,” I said as I opened the door and hurried outside.
“She’s still watching you,” Maureen said. I figured as much, but I didn’t want to turn around to see.
I climbed behind the wheel of my car and took off.
“Are you going to tell the police?” Charlotte asked.
“What? My wife would never kill me,” Ramon said.
“Are you sure about that?” Charlotte quirked an eyebrow.
He paused. “Well, I guess I can’t be sure. She did seem mad about the affair.”
“I can’t believe you cheated, Ramon. What were you thinking?” I asked as I made the next left turn.
“Wow, you’re a real scumbag, Ramon,” Maureen said.
I wasn’t going to disagree with her.
“Ramon, did your wedding vows mean nothing to you?” Charlotte asked.
“I guess I couldn’t help myself. It was as if I was transfixed by Mandy. Like she had some kind of power over me. It was like witchcraft,” Ramon said with a wave of his hand.
“Oh, there is no such thing.” Maureen rubbed her head as if she’d developed a headache.
“Don’t let Heather hear you say that,” I said. “What exactly do you mean, Ramon?” I looked at him in the rearview mirror.
“Just that I couldn’t resist her. She is bewitching.”
Charlotte rolled her eyes.
“Cookie, look out—that truck!” Charlotte yelled.
Maureen screamed, and Ramon cursed at the truck.
I swerved and managed to avoid the truck that had pulled out in front of me. It was the same truc
k that had pulled out in front of me before. I was almost sure of it. Sure, there were a lot of trucks around, but what were the odds that I would run into the same kind three times?
“I think the driver of that truck is trying to cause you to have some kind of accident,” Charlotte said.
I made a quick right turn just in case the truck was really out for me. I sped down the street until I came to the on ramp for the highway.
I peeked in the rearview mirror. “Do you think the truck is back there?”
“I think you’re safe . . . for now,” Charlotte said.
“Do you think that person has been following you?” Maureen asked.
“It seems that way, doesn’t it?”
I couldn’t help but be on high alert during the entire drive back to the bed-and-breakfast. Luckily, I didn’t see the truck. I had a sinking feeling in my stomach that I would see it again. When I pulled up to the bed-and-breakfast, there was another car in the driveway.
“It looks like she has another guest,” Ramon said as we got out of the car.
“Good. Maybe that will keep her from worrying about what time Cookie comes back at night,” Maureen said.
I locked my car and walked by the little red rental car that was parked in the driveway.
“I wonder whose it is?” Charlotte asked.
“I guess we’ll find out,” I said.
As soon as I walked in the door, I saw him. A huge smile covered Ken Harrison’s face. His blue eyes sparkled. He was dressed in casual tan pants and a blue shirt.
“Cookie, I’m so happy to see you.” He hurried over and wrapped his arms around me.
“Oh boy. I didn’t expect this,” Charlotte said.
“Who is that?” Ramon asked.
“That’s the other guy who has a thing for Cookie.”
“Well, isn’t she popular?” Ramon said.
After a couple of seconds in an embrace, I stepped back from Ken. “What are you doing here?”
“I thought I’d come to the Derby too.”
I quirked an eyebrow. “Be honest. You never mentioned wanting to come to the Derby.”
He smiled sheepishly. “Okay, I heard what happened, and I was worried about you.”
“He probably thinks you’re going to need legal advice,” Charlotte said.
“Two handsome men fighting over her?” Maureen said.
They weren’t fighting over me.
Ken placed his hand on my arm. “I thought I’d come down and check on you.”
His eyes locked me in a gaze, and I was acutely aware of his gentle touch.
“He could have done that with a phone call,” Charlotte said.
“Really, I’m fine,” I said.
“Well, I wanted to see that for myself,” Ken said.
“Are you staying for the Derby?” I asked.
“Yes, I thought I would since I’m here.”
“Where are you staying?” I leaned against the wall, trying to act casual.
He smiled. “Right here.”
“Right where?” I asked.
“At this bed-and-breakfast.” Ken leaned against the small table beside him. A figurine wobbled, and he quickly grabbed and steadied the porcelain knickknack.
Charlotte chuckled. “Oh, this will be interesting.”
Hannah stepped into the foyer.
“I see you met our new guest.” Hannah smiled at Ken.
He hadn’t told her that he knew me.
“I made dinner.” Hannah eyed me up and down. “I suppose you can eat with us if you’d like, Cookie.”
She didn’t sound excited about that prospect.
“Oh, that’s okay,” I said.
“You have to eat dinner with me,” Ken said with a smile. “Come on. It’s a lovely evening, and we can eat outside.”
“I don’t know.”
He grabbed my hand. “I insist.”
“I just need to check on Wind Song. I’ll be right back.”
Ken offered a smile. “Take your time.”
I ran up and added food and water to Wind Song’s dishes. Grandma Pearl wasn’t showing any signs of wanting to use the Ouija board or the tarot cards, so I went back downstairs. Ken and Hannah were waiting for me in the kitchen.
“I guess they wanted to make sure you didn’t leave,” Charlotte said.
Hannah sighed when she saw me. I wasn’t sure if that was to let me know I’d taken too long or if she was actually sad that I’d returned. I followed Ken and Hannah outside and over to the picnic table. We were surrounded by rosebushes and other flowers. Their perfume drifted across to us on the breeze. Lights draped overhead from the trellis. Branches on the nearby trees stirred, rustling the leaves. The last rays of the sunset faded to a navy blue across the sky. Dylan would wonder where I was. I suppose I could have a quick dinner before going to meet him.
“Cookie, you sit on that side, and Ken can sit here beside me.” Hannah pointed to the chairs.
Ken smiled and sat where he was told. I sat across from him.
“I’ll be right back with the food,” she said as she hurried away.
“I’m sorry if I surprised you like this,” Ken said.
“That’s okay. I’m doing fine, honest.”
“So tell me what happened.” Ken looked me in the eyes.
“I found the man in a hallway in the Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs. He’d been murdered.”
“What have the police said?” he asked.
“Not much actually. I’m trying to find out more from them.”
“I can ask for more info if you’d like.”
“Tell him yes.” Ramon gestured with his hands to reinforce his point.
What did I have to lose? The more people on the case, the faster we might solve it.
“That would be great. It’s so sweet of you to offer,” I said.
“Ken is a sweet guy,” Charlotte said, looking at Maureen.
Maureen leaned down close to Ken’s face. “Lovely smile too.”
“What do you know so far?” Ken asked.
“A lot of people are accusing each other. Oh, and Ramon was having an affair.” Ramon shrugged when I said that. “His wife knew about it.”
“So that gives her a motive,” Ken said.
I swatted at a mosquito. “She seems extremely angry.”
“Rightfully so.” Charlotte scowled at Ramon.
Charlotte had been cheated on in the past, so that was a sore spot for her. Before we could finish the discussion, Hannah returned with the food. She had cheeseburgers and fries. A picnic under the stars.
She set the tray on the table. “I hope you’re hungry.”
Ken reached out and grabbed a plate, placing it in front of me.
“I’m starving. What about you, Cookie?” he asked with a wink.
My nerves were definitely getting in the way of my appetite. I’d try my best to eat though.
“Looks delicious. Thank you.” I reached for a french fry.
Hannah sat next to Ken and immediately asked him questions.
“Ken’s a lawyer,” she said and looked at me.
I took a bite to avoid talking.
“She has no idea that you know each other. That’s funny,” Charlotte said.
The dinner conversation consisted of lots of questions directed toward Ken. He took it in stride though and never acted as if he was sick of answering. Darkness had completely engulfed us now. Stars twinkled above, and fireflies lit up the air around us.
“Let me help you with the dishes,” Ken said.
I grabbed a couple of plates and followed behind them toward the kitchen. Dylan would be wondering where I was. I had to leave soon. Plus, I still had to dress for the event. What would Dylan say when he arrived and saw Ken? I would just have to meet Dylan outside so he wouldn’t see Ken. Better yet, maybe I could just sneak out. That way I wouldn’t have a curfew. No one would know, right?
I yawned as I placed the dishes in the dishwasher.
“You
must have had a long day,” Ken said. “I’m tired too after the long drive.”
Hannah wiped her hands on the dish towel. “Well, it’s time for bed anyway.”
I looked at the clock. It was now eight.
“You only have thirty minutes to get ready,” Charlotte said as she paced across the floor.
She wasn’t helping with my nerves. Ken walked me up to my door.
“Hannah probably won’t like it if she sees you standing here with me,” I said.
Ken laughed. “That’s a chance I’m willing to take.”
He stared at me.
“Perhaps we should give them some alone time.” Ramon motioned for Charlotte and Maureen to follow him.
“Quiet, Ramon. I don’t want to miss this,” Charlotte said with a wave of her hand. “Cookie’s life is turning into an episode of The Bachelorette.”
“What’s The Bachelorette?” Maureen asked.
“Reality TV,” Charlotte answered quickly.
I twisted the doorknob. “Well, good night.”
I felt terrible about not telling him the truth. I hadn’t exactly lied, but I’d left out a lot of details.
“Good night,” he said with a smile.
I hurried into my room and grabbed my dress.
Chapter 16
Cookie’s Savvy Tips for Vintage Shopping
If you’re looking for something in particular,
don’t be afraid to ask the sales associate
for help. You can request a piece,
and the shop owner might find it for you.
My Vicky Tiel gray, lace-covered gown was from the eighties. Sparkling beads and sequins covered the lace. It had short sleeves and a boat neckline. After spritzing Chanel perfume along my neck and wrists, I eased my room door open. Peeking out to the left and right, I saw no one was in the hallway.
The old floor squeaked with almost every footstep. I wasn’t sure how I would manage to sneak out with that kind of noise. Anxiety had settled in my stomach. I was an adult and free to do whatever I wanted as long as it was legal. Going to this party was legal. So why was I so worried? After taking another deep breath and exhaling, I tiptoed out of the room. I eased the door shut behind me. I tiptoed across the floor. The floor squeaked, and I froze.
“Shhh,” Charlotte said.
My heart beat faster as I took another couple of steps. So far, so good. The ghosts tiptoed behind me, as if they would make noise too. I suppose it was possible. People heard noises in haunted houses all the time.
