Murder Comes by Mail

by A. H. Gabhart

  “I don’t know who you are or what you think you’re doing, but I suggest you stop talking right now before I forget I’ve got witnesses.” Buck grabbed the man’s arm to propel him toward the door.

  “Get him out of my house.” Aunt Lindy’s voice was raspy but firm.

  Corley turned to smile directly at Aunt Lindy. “Floorboards creaking will take on a whole new significance now, won’t they, Malinda?”

  “Move.” Buck shoved him through the door.

  Michael picked up the gun he’d taken from Burton and followed them out, a wary eye on the man. He didn’t know what he expected Corley to do. He surely couldn’t shrink his wrists to jerk free of the handcuffs. But whatever happened, Michael wanted to be ready. Buck needed to be ready too.

  “Lock him in your car and call for backup, Buck.”

  Buck frowned over his shoulder at Michael. “I can take him in.”

  “He sounds as if he doesn’t think you’re capable of securing a prisoner, Officer Garrett,” the killer said.

  Michael ignored Corley. “Call for backup or I will. This is not some drunk who just needs to sober up. He kills people for fun and he’d enjoy adding you to his career total. Just think about it. He knows your name. Consider him extremely dangerous.”

  “Why, Deputy Keane, I can’t imagine why you would say such things. My job is to help people. Not hurt them in any way. He must have me confused with himself, Officer Garrett.”

  “You’re the one confused, buster.” Buck looked from Corley to Michael. “Who are you going to call, Mike? Lester?”

  “Ah, the nice deputy who told me his biggest pleasure in life is to ensure the children get safely across the street when school starts. Did you know he knows all the names and exactly where those sweet children live?” Corley laughed. “It’s such a pleasure to talk to someone so helpful when you’re new to a place.”

  Michael turned his eyes back to Corley. The man was a monster. “Put him in the car, Buck.”

  “You bet.” Buck ushered the man down the steps toward his patrol car.

  “If he makes the first wrong move, shoot him,” Michael said.

  Corley stopped to look back at Michael. “I do believe you have a transference problem that really should be analyzed by your favorite therapist, Michael. You lacked the nerve to shoot me yourself a few moments ago, but now you’re urging your friend to do it for you.”

  Michael stared straight at Corley for the first time since he’d relaxed his finger on the trigger of the gun between them. “Be a model prisoner and you won’t have anything to worry about from Officer Garrett.”

  “Oh, I have no worries. None at all,” the murderer said. “You’re the one who needs to worry. The game isn’t over. I’ll be back.”

  He was laughing when Buck folded him into the backseat of his cruiser.

  Buck stared through the cruiser window at the man and then unhooked his radio from his belt. “Could be you’re right, Mike. I’ll call in the troops. Eagleton and all. No need Whitt getting to sleep if we can’t. Think I’ll just wait right here until they come. Him in there.” Buck nodded toward the car. “Me out here. Safer for both of us that way.”

  When Buck started talking into his radio, Michael went back inside. Corley couldn’t get out of the car and there were people he needed to have in front of his eyes again.

  Alex was massaging Aunt Lindy’s wrists while Grimalkin sat back as though waiting her turn.

  “You’re the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen,” Michael said.

  “Is he talking to me or you, Malinda?” Alex smiled at Aunt Lindy.

  “I think you know the answer to that.” Aunt Lindy picked up Grimalkin and laid her cheek against the cat’s head. “Good cat,” she murmured.

  Alex turned to face Michael. “Then, same old line every time I see you.” She attempted a smile that looked shaky.

  “The truth never changes.” Michael kept his eyes on her face, drinking in the sight of her. “But why are you here?”

  “To save your bacon as usual.” Alex’s smile looked easier now.

  “And a good thing. I’m just not sure how you knew it needed saving.”

  “That has a longer, somewhat stranger answer.”

  “Well, let’s hear it.” Aunt Lindy spoke up. “The whole night has been strange. A little more strange will fit right in.”

  Alex flicked a look over at Aunt Lindy and then back at Michael. “It was Hank Leland. He called Uncle Reece’s house. He tried here but the line was busy. Uncle Reece had just fallen back to sleep after I disturbed him by showing up in the middle of the night. I didn’t have the heart to wake him again. Besides, I looked out and everything appeared peaceful as can be. Not a thing out of the ordinary except the phone wasn’t working.”

  Alex glanced at Aunt Lindy again. “So I thought I’d just pop over to check on you, Malinda, and see if Michael was here.”

  Michael frowned at her. “Not the best thing for you to do in the middle of the night with a psycho killer on the loose.”

  “I guess not, but Mr. Leland neglected to warn me about said psycho killer perhaps lurking in the shadows. However, he did say something about his van being missing.” She raised her eyebrows at Michael. “You know anything about that?”

  “He shouldn’t leave the keys in the ignition,” Michael said. “But Hank and Burton were locked up. How did they get out?”

  “Mr. Leland did say that he and Burton had somehow gotten locked in the jail, but it seems Burton keeps a spare key in his pocket for just such unexpected eventualities. Anyway, Mr. Leland claimed he had been doing his best to convince Burton to desert his post at the jail to drive him over here to check on you and Malinda, but Burton refused to budge. Something about how Mr. Leland had already sent him on one wild-goose chase and he wasn’t about to let him send him on another one.”

  Michael gave her a wry grin. “Sounds as if Hank had a lot to say. Were you cross-examining him?”

  “I may have asked a few questions.” Alex swept a stray strand of hair away from her face. “Obviously not the right ones or I would have called for help and waited for reinforcements.”

  “Lucky for Aunt Lindy and me that you didn’t,” Michael said.

  Behind her, Aunt Lindy set Grimalkin on the floor and got to her feet. She grabbed hold of the chair to keep her balance. When Michael stepped toward her, she waved him away. “I’m fine. Let Alexandria finish her story.”

  Alex shifted to the side a bit so she could see Aunt Lindy. “All right then. So obviously, I didn’t wait. Mr. Leland had indicated that if I didn’t see or hear anything out of the ordinary, that there was probably nothing to worry about. He did ask if I could take some photos with my phone if anything unusual was happening. He graciously offered to pay my going rate for my time.”

  “You’re kidding now, aren’t you?” When Alex simply smiled, Michael added, “He evidently has no idea what the going rate is for a high-profile attorney. Hank doesn’t have that kind of money.”

  “I’ve been known to do a little pro bono work from time to time.”

  “I’d dare Hank Leland or anybody else to take a picture of me right now.” Aunt Lindy gave Alex a hard look. “Even you, Alexandria, so if you have a phone in your pocket, you’d best keep it there.”

  A smile spiraled up inside Michael. It was good to be alive. Good to hear Aunt Lindy laying down the law. “Don’t worry, Aunt Lindy. Hank isn’t here and nobody’s taking pictures.”

  “Well, Mr. Leland did say that if he couldn’t budge Burton, he might attempt to hitch a ride or even walk over here.” A grin played around Alex’s mouth. “Said it wasn’t all that far, but if I understood him correctly, he had left his camera at home and he didn’t know what had happened to his phone. Quite unprofessional of him.”

  “This place is a zoo,” Michael said.

  “I’ve been telling you that for years.” Alex let the grin win out and her smile lit up her face.

  Michael wanted to grab h
er, feel her next to him. Let their breath mingle. Instead he stayed where he was. “I just broke out of jail and stole a car. Will you represent me?”

  “Normally, I don’t take hopeless cases,” she said.

  Aunt Lindy stepped up beside Michael to give his arm a shake. “That’s not what you want to ask her.”

  “Stay out of this, Aunt Lindy,” Michael said.

  But as usual, Aunt Lindy paid no attention. Her voice changed, got almost dreamy. “I’ve always thought October is the prettiest month for the back garden. The maples are in full color and we can cover the roses against any early frosts and still have them too. A nice outdoor wedding. That would give us three months.”

  “Malinda!” Alex turned surprised eyes on Aunt Lindy.

  Michael looked at Aunt Lindy and thought he should tell her to slow down too, but the idea didn’t sound at all bad to him.

  “Oh bother,” Aunt Lindy said. “The two of you still don’t get it, do you? When I was tied to that chair with that gun—my own gun, by the way—pressed against my head, I thought I might never see the next generation of Keanes. Then, when Michael came through the door, I feared there would never be another generation of Keanes for anybody to see.” Aunt Lindy put her arms around both of them and pulled them to her in a three-way hug. “As if all that wasn’t sorrowful enough, here comes Alexandria breezing in. I wasn’t sure if she was an answer to prayer or if her appearance would make an even more tragic ending. I couldn’t let him kill you both. I couldn’t.”

  “So with a little help from Grimalkin, you used your head.” Michael looked down at Aunt Lindy.

  “Indeed.” Aunt Lindy rubbed the side of her head she’d bumped against the gun. “You’re fortunate I have a feisty cat and a hard head. But there are times to be hard-headed and times not to be.” She poked Michael’s chest with her finger. “So since by some amazing miracle we’re all still breathing, ask the right question.”

  Michael turned to look straight into Alex’s beautiful eyes. “I’m afraid to ask.”

  “And if you did ask, I’d be afraid to answer,” Alex whispered.

  “Cowards, the both of you. You barely squeak through the night on the side of life, and you still won’t take a chance.” Aunt Lindy pushed them both away from her in disgust. “I’m an old lady who’s been tied to a chair for much too long. I need to visit the necessary room.” She and Grimalkin disappeared down the hallway.

  Michael didn’t turn Alex loose. “I may be afraid to ask, but I’m not afraid to do this.” He pulled her close and covered her mouth softly with his. Lights flashed and sirens sounded.

  Alex pulled her head back. “That wasn’t just the kiss, was it?”

  “I’d like to say yes, but I think Hank must have found a camera and Buck must have called in the clowns and now the circus is starting.”

  “Oh well, sometimes a circus can be fun.” Alex didn’t try to pull away from him. She fit perfectly in his arms.

  “And sometimes they can be crazy.”

  “Let’s not worry about the circus.” She kept her eyes fastened on his. “Or about questions or answers right now. Let’s just be thankful both our hearts are still beating.”

  She caressed his cheek with her fingers and his heart started drumming in his ears. He tightened his arms around her. “Beating in concert.”

  “Always,” she whispered. “No matter where we are.”

  “But what about Aunt Lindy and October?”

  “Shh.” She put her fingers over his lips. “I told you no questions right now. Just embrace the moment.”

  “Embracing sounds good.”

  “Very good.” Alex wrapped her hands around the back of his neck and pulled him close to put her lips on his again.

  The lights flashed brighter than ever and sirens rang in his ears. This time it definitely had to be the kiss.

  1

  When Maggie Greene heard a noise in the big old house below her, she sucked in her breath to listen. It wouldn’t do for her to get caught up in the tower room at Miss Fonda’s house. She wasn’t supposed to be there.

  It didn’t matter that Miss Fonda had told her it was okay. The old lady’s face had lit up when she remembered hiding out in the tower room at age fifteen like Maggie. But Maggie’s mother wouldn’t think Maggie had any business inside the house unless they were cleaning it for Miss Fonda. So she kept her visits to the tower room a secret.

  After Miss Fonda had to go to the Gentle Care Home, Maggie’s mother did say Maggie could come feed Miss Fonda’s calico cat, Miss Marble, who lived out in the garden shed. But the cat excuse wouldn’t help if she got caught inside the house. She’d be in trouble.

  The thing was not to get caught. So she stayed very still and listened for what she’d heard. Or thought she’d heard. No sounds now. Old houses could creak and groan for no reason.

  Maggie crept over to the window and felt better when she saw the circular drive down below was empty. She rubbed a spot clean on the glass with a corner of her sweater. No telling how long it had been since these windows had been washed. The years of grime didn’t let in much of the October sunshine.

  She shivered and pulled her sweater tighter around her. But it wasn’t actually a feeling-cold shiver. More the kind of shiver that sneaked up on you and made old-timey people like Miss Fonda say somebody must have walked over their grave.

  As Maggie started to turn away from the window, a car did pull into the driveway. She took a step back, but she could still see the red and white sign shaped like a house on the car’s door. She knew who drove that car. Geraldine Harper.

  Everybody in Hidden Springs knew the Realtor. They said she could talk a bulldog into selling his doghouse. Maggie had heard her sales pitch back when her parents had hoped to move out of the trailer park and buy a house. That was before Maggie’s father lost his job. Since then, there wasn’t any talk about new houses, just worries about paying the lot rent at the trailer park.

  That didn’t keep Mrs. Harper from calling now and again about this or that perfect house. Calls that nearly always led to arguments between Maggie’s parents. A couple of weeks ago she stopped by the trailer where Maggie’s father told her in no uncertain terms to stop bothering them about houses. The woman gave him back as good as she got and then kicked their little dog when he sidled up to her, his tail wagging friendly as anything.

  She’d probably kick Miss Marble too if she spotted the cat, but maybe the cat would stay hidden. Like Maggie. If Mrs. Harper caught Maggie in Miss Fonda’s house, things were going to be bad. Really bad. Surely Mrs. Harper wouldn’t climb up to the tower, even if she did look over the rest of the house. She had on a skirt and shoes with a little heel. A woman had to dress for success, she’d told Maggie’s class last year on career day. But she definitely wasn’t dressed for climbing the rickety ladder up to the tower room.

  All Maggie had to do was stay quiet. Very quiet. And hope the woman left soon. She needed to be home before her mother came in from her job at the Fast Serve. The “doing homework at the library” excuse didn’t work past closing time.

  The woman pulled her briefcase and purse out of the car and headed toward the front steps. She must have a key. Maggie couldn’t believe Miss Fonda wanted to sell her house. She loved this house. She was always begging to go home whenever Maggie went to visit her.

  Maggie couldn’t see Mrs. Harper after she stepped up on the porch. She couldn’t hear her either. The tower room was a long way from the front door. But what about the back door? That was how Maggie had come in. If Mrs. Harper found it unlocked, she might blame Maggie’s mother. Say she was careless. They might fire her mother.

  Maggie’s heart was already beating too hard when she heard somebody coming up the steps to the third floor. Too soon for Mrs. Harper. She would just be coming in the front hall where the grand staircase rose up to the second floor. But somebody was in the hall just below. A board creaked. The one in front of the room that led up to the tower. Maggie always steppe
d over it, but whoever was there now didn’t.

  Mrs. Harper must have heard the board creak too. Her voice came up the stairway. “Who’s there?”

  Nobody answered. Certainly not Maggie. And not whoever had just stepped on the squeaky floorboard. Maggie wasn’t sure she could have answered if she’d wanted to. Her throat was too tight.

  The door opened in the room below Maggie and something crashed to the floor. Probably the lamp on that table beside the door. It sounded like a bomb going off in the silent house.

  “Who’s there?” Mrs. Harper’s feet pounded on the steps.

  Maggie desperately hoped whoever it was wouldn’t decide to hide in the tower room. Her heart banged against her ribs, and she put a hand over her mouth to keep her breathing from sounding so loud.

  Relief rushed through her when the door creaked open and the floorboard squeaked again. Where before the steps had sounded furtive, now they were hurried. Mrs. Harper’s heels clattered on the wooden stairs up to the third floor. Those steps were narrow and steep, nothing like the sweeping broad staircase from the first to the second floor.

  Maggie dared to move over to the tower’s trapdoor and ease it up a few inches. She didn’t know why. She couldn’t see anything, but maybe she could hear what was happening.

  “What are you doing here?” Mrs. Harper’s voice was strident.

  The other person must not have found a place to hide. Whoever it was mumbled something, but Maggie couldn’t make out any words.

  “Stealing is more like it.” Mrs. Harper sounded angry. “I’ll not let you get away with it.”

  Maggie did hear the other person then. Panicked sounding. Maybe a woman’s voice. Maybe not. “I can explain.”

  “You can explain it to the sheriff.”

  “Wait!”

  Mrs. Harper didn’t wait. Her heels clicked purposely on the floorboards as she moved away. The other person rushed after her.