The Pomeranian Always Barks Twice

by Alex Erickson

  She didn’t answer right away, choosing instead to stare at the floor between us. Her silence gave me time to work through the multitude of questions zipping through my brain.

  How did Amelia know any of this? Why did she feel it necessary to confront Meredith herself? I couldn’t fathom how she’d gotten involved.

  “Is this true?” I asked Meredith when the silence began to stretch on for too long.

  She glanced up at me briefly, and then went back to staring at the floor between us. Her dark eyes were unreadable, though by the way she was sitting, I could tell she was nervous; scared even.

  “Meredith?” I said, taking a step toward her. “Did you have a problem with Timothy Fuller?”

  A sad smile spread across her face then. “You know how it is,” she said. “I worked hard for that man, and what did it ever get me? He treated me worse than that dog of his. You saw it. I was someone he used for his own pleasure. He would have discarded me if he’d gotten the chance.”

  “He hit you,” I said, wondering if I was about to hear a confession. “Pushed you to the edge.”

  “He did,” she said. “He didn’t care who saw him do it either. Every time I turned around, he was knocking something over, or breaking something, just so he could force me to clean up after him. It made me so mad that sometimes I . . .” Her gaze rose, eyes meeting mine. “I’d never actually do it,” she said, voice pleading. “I’d never kill him, even if every fiber of my being begged me to.”

  “It’s not the abuse I’m here about,” Amelia said, sitting forward. She flipped open her notebook and scanned the page before continuing. “Everyone knew about his abuse toward you and his family. Mr. Fuller had a history of hurting anyone he could. By all accounts, he was something of a sadist.”

  Meredith’s eyes flickered from Amelia, to me, and then down to her hands. “I should have quit long ago, but couldn’t bring myself to do it.”

  “If it’s not about the abuse,” I asked Amelia. “Then what? Stewie?”

  Amelia shook her head, eyes never leaving Meredith. “It wasn’t for love, that’s for sure,” she said. “That really only leaves one reason why you’d want to do Mr. Fuller harm.” She paused for dramatic effect, and then said, “Money.”

  The hidden stash. Meredith had admitted to hearing about it. Others have mentioned it. And while money was an awfully good motive for murder, I’d never gotten the impression that Meredith was all that concerned about it.

  Then again, she was at the house the last time I was there. Just because she told me she was there for Stewie, didn’t necessarily make it true. The dog could have been secondary, a convenient excuse.

  But if she was after the stash, why tell me about it?

  Amelia pressed on. “You’re about to lose the house, aren’t you, Ms. Hopewell?”

  Meredith ran a hand over her mouth, and then nodded. “I am.”

  I was flabbergasted as I stared at Amelia like I’d never seen her before. “How did you know that?”

  She ignored me. “You heard Mr. Fuller had money stowed away, and wanted some for yourself, isn’t that right?”

  Meredith visibly flinched at the question. “It wasn’t fair,” she said, meeting my eye, instead of Amelia’s, like she thought I might be more sympathetic. “He had money, but refused to think about anyone but himself and his dog. I asked him for a little, just to help pay the bills, but he laughed in my face.”

  “I have it on good authority that he planned on leaving all his assets to Stewie, which in turn, would mean everything would go to his dog’s new owner.” Amelia tapped her pen on her pad of paper. “That meant, no one else was going to get a thing. Not you. Not his family. Not unless one of you took legitimate possession of the dog, isn’t that correct?”

  “It is,” Meredith said. She sounded sick by the idea. “I was there when he wrote the provisions into his will. Whatever was left after funeral costs was supposed to go to the dog. Can you believe it? A dog!” Her eyes went hard, and for the first time, I saw a woman capable of murder. “I thought I deserved a share of it, after everything he put me through, but there was no way I was going to get it through the legal system. He’d never allow me to adopt Stewie, even though I was the one who fed him, cleaned up after him, for the last couple of years.”

  “So, since he wouldn’t allow it himself, and since you knew the dog would soon be adopted out, you had to do something,” Amelia said.

  “There wasn’t much I could do,” Meredith said. “I tried to find the money. Whenever he’d go to sleep, I’d look around. I had to have checked every corner of that house, but I never found it. And then, when Junior arrived with that wife of his, I knew he was after the same thing. Junior is more like his dad than he’ll ever admit. He only cared about what he could get out of the old man before he passed. Trust me, there was no love between those two.”

  I stood just inside the room, seemingly forgotten, mouth hanging open like I was hoping to catch flies. Where had Amelia gotten all of this information? I wasn’t even sure the police knew all of this.

  “Junior demanded Timothy tell him where the money was,” Meredith went on. “We all knew he had it, but Tim steadfastly denied it. He said he’d spent it all years ago, and when Junior tried to force him to tell him, he only laughed.”

  “They fought?” Amelia asked.

  “All the time. I don’t think there was a moment where the two of them weren’t at one another’s throats. The day Timothy died was the worst. I thought Junior was going to strangle him right then and there, but instead, he stormed out of the house and drove off. When he was gone, Timothy took out his frustrations on me.”

  Which corroborated a big part of Duke’s story. I was relieved he seemed to have told the truth, though there were still questions about why Courtney wanted the dog so badly.

  “I never killed him,” Meredith said, looking from face to face. “You have to believe me. A part of me wishes I had because of all the misery he’d put me through. I never got an extra dime from that man, and now, it looks like I never will.” Her head dropped, tears forming in her eyes. I couldn’t tell if they were sad tears, or angry ones. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

  “Who else knew about the money?” I asked.

  Meredith shook her head. “I don’t know. It doesn’t really matter, does it?” She stood. “Please, I’d like you to go now.” She walked to the door without waiting for a response.

  Amelia and I shared a look before following after her. As soon as we were outside, Meredith closed the door and locked it. I had a feeling she wouldn’t answer if we were to knock.

  Amelia stormed over to her car. I followed her, trying to figure out how it all pieced together. I knew in my heart Ben was innocent, but I also believed Meredith when she said she didn’t kill Timothy. So, who did that leave?

  Junior and Alexis were the most likely of suspects. They had motive, and opportunity. Just because they made a show of leaving, didn’t mean they’d gone far. They could have pulled off the road a short distance away, and walked back to the house. Junior could have followed Timothy to the barn, killed him, and then fled.

  It still didn’t fully explain Ben’s role, and why he was seen going into the house and then fleeing a few minutes later. That was something I hoped to work out soon.

  “Satisfied?” Amelia asked. She was standing with her car door open, glaring at me.

  “About?” I asked.

  “That I’m not making some huge mistake? That maybe, just maybe, I know what I’m doing?”

  “No, I’m not,” I said, matching her defiance with my own. “I saw you with an older man and I think I deserve to know who he is.”

  “Mom!” She made a frustrated sound. “I have a life, you know? I don’t need you poking around in it.”

  “I wasn’t poking around,” I said. “I was talking with Duke when I happened to see you with a stranger.”

  “And you just so happened to follow me here afterward?”


  “I was concerned.”

  “Right.” She snorted, looked away.

  After all I’d been through, I was in no mood for her attitude, as justified as it might be.

  “Go home,” I told her. “Don’t make any stops, don’t make any calls.”

  “Mom!”

  “No, Amelia, go. We need to have a little talk tonight. I can’t have you getting involved in this murder investigation, not when Ben’s life is at stake.”

  “Even if it helps?”

  “Even then,” I said, though after hearing what Meredith had to say, I was kind glad she had. And in all honesty, I was a little proud of her.

  “I can’t believe this,” Amelia huffed and tossed her notebook into the passenger seat.

  “Go home,” I repeated, just in case she was thinking of defying me. “I’ll be there soon. We’ll talk, okay?” I touched her on the hand to show her I wasn’t truly mad at her, just worried.

  She didn’t get the message.

  Amelia jerked her hand away and then threw herself into her car. She didn’t even look at me as she backed out and turned toward home. I hoped she was actually heading that way, and not toward another murder suspect.

  Honestly, I didn’t blame her for being mad at me. A part of me hated myself for snooping, even if I felt it was justified. Ben was in trouble, and I didn’t want anything to happen to Amelia. I couldn’t lose both of them.

  Still, I felt like a horrible parent, and a bad person, as I trudged my way to my van. She might hate me now, but I was sure I could get through to her once we talked. Maybe if I brought home some ice cream, we’d get through it without a fight.

  But first things first . . .

  I climbed into the van and pulled out my cell phone. I didn’t know what all Detective Cavanaugh knew about Meredith’s financial situation, or the money Timothy was rumored to have socked away, but I was going to fill him in. He might not like it that I’d been talking to people, but I had a feeling he’d appreciate the information.

  “Grey Falls Police Department, Officer Mohr speaking.”

  “Hi, Officer, I’d like to speak to Detective Cavanaugh. Is he in?”

  “Sorry, ma’am, he’s not here. I can pass on your message and have him get back to you.” He paused, seemed to realize this might not be a courtesy call. “Unless it’s an emergency. I can help you if that’s the case.”

  “Can I get his number?” I asked, frowning. He’d given me his card after we’d talked at the station, but I had no idea what I’d done with it. “It’s Liz Denton.” I didn’t know if Officer Mohr remembered me, but figured having my name couldn’t hurt. “I might have some information on the Timothy Fuller murder.”

  “Oh!” Officer Mohr said. “I remember you now. Like I said, Detective Cavanaugh isn’t in. In fact, he’s currently out on a call regarding the case. If you’re calling about what happened at Mr. Fuller’s home, then we already know.”

  “Something happened at Timothy’s house?” I asked. “Other than his murder?”

  “I can’t say,” he said. “I’ll let Detective Cavanaugh know—”

  I clicked off and started the van.

  Something had happened at Timothy’s house, something that could very well have to do with the murder. Detective Cavanaugh was currently there, dealing with it. Since I was only five minutes away, there really was no harm in stopping by.

  Or, at least, that’s what I told myself as I put the van into gear and headed that way.

  15

  Detective Cavanaugh’s car sat behind Junior’s own in Timothy Fuller’s driveway. Clarence was back, rocking on his front porch, watching on with his coffee mug in hand. He waved as I got out of my car. I returned the gesture, but my attention was mostly focused on the house.

  From the front, it didn’t appear as if anything was wrong. I took it as a good sign that an ambulance wasn’t here, and I was pretty sure if it had been earlier, I would have heard it speed away at some point since Meredith lived so close.

  Unless someone was dead. An ambulance wouldn’t need to run hot in that case.

  I glanced over at Selena’s house as I approached Timothy’s front door. If she was home, she wasn’t outside. I didn’t see a car beneath the carport either.

  I knocked on the door, mentally preparing for the worst. Someone had already died on the property once. I wouldn’t be surprised if it had happened again, especially since it was looking more and more like money was involved. Please don’t let it be someone I know.

  At my feet, the ceramic Pomeranian still stood watch. I was afraid this was as close as I was ever going to get to Stewie again. The thought didn’t help my mood.

  The door opened, and a perplexed Detective Cavanaugh peered out at me. “Mrs. Denton? What are you doing here?”

  “I was looking for you,” I said, trying to see past him, into the house. He shifted so his massive frame blocked off my view entirely.

  He looked skeptical when he asked, “Why?”

  On the way over, I was certain what I had to say would be of dire importance to the case. Now that I was standing there in front of the detective, I wasn’t so sure. What if he arrested me for interfering? What if he went after Amelia? And the more I thought about it, the more certain I became that he likely knew everything already.

  Before I could come up with something to say, Junior pushed past the burly detective and shoved a finger in my face. “You!” he shouted. “You did this, didn’t you?”

  “Did what?” I asked.

  Junior barked a laugh, looked to the sky. “How convenient for you. You just show up here, acting innocent, when we all know the real reason you’re here.”

  I looked past the clearly irate Junior, to Detective Cavanaugh. “I honestly don’t know what he’s talking about.”

  “You’d better come inside,” Cavanaugh said. “Mr. Fuller, please.” He placed a hand on Junior’s shoulder, and steered him back into the house. Junior complained the entire way, but at least he went.

  I followed them inside, but only made it a few steps before I came to a shocked halt just inside the door.

  The house was a disaster.

  The couch cushions were shredded, as if by a wild animal, as was the couch itself. Anything and everything that could be moved, had been. Even the expensive medical equipment, which I imagined would be going back to a hospital somewhere once the investigation was over, had been opened, electronic parts scattered about the room.

  I took another step inside. Peering past Cavanaugh and Junior, I could see the kitchen was in much the same condition as the living room. Alexis stood, bent over, in front of the oven, looking inside. The racks had been pulled free and lay on the floor next to her. Cupboards were open, contents spilled out onto the counter and floor.

  “What happened?” I asked, stepping carefully over a broken vase.

  “As if you don’t know,” Junior spat.

  “Someone broke into the residence,” Detective Cavanaugh said. I noted his hand was still on Junior’s arm, keeping him from leaping at me again. “The back door was jimmied open. They went through the kitchen and living room, but it doesn’t appear as if they made it any farther.”

  Did that mean they’d found what they were looking for? Or had Junior surprised them?

  “Who would do something like this?” I asked.

  “We don’t know yet,” Cavanaugh said, cutting off Junior’s protests before he could get started. “There doesn’t seem to be much in the way of evidence. And with the mess, it’s hard to tell if something is missing.”

  “She did it,” Junior said. “Why else would she be here? She’s covering her tracks!”

  “I’m doing no such thing,” I said, as much for Cavanaugh’s benefit as Junior’s. “I wouldn’t have known anything was wrong if I hadn’t called the police station looking for you.” I looked to the detective, hoping he believed me.

  “She’s a liar!” Junior shouted, jerking his arm free. He paced toward the kitchen, where Alexis
joined him, before he spun back around. “It wasn’t enough that your brat murdered Dad, but you had to go and do this!”

  “Ben didn’t do anything,” I said through clenched teeth. “Neither did I.”

  “So says you,” Junior said. “You only care about ruining my life.”

  “I didn’t even know you until yesterday!”

  “Right. You conveniently show up whenever I’m around, causing problems for me and my family. What did I ever do to you?”

  “Other than accuse me of crimes I didn’t commit? I don’t know, what could it be?”

  “That’s enough!” Detective Cavanaugh shouted, face going red. “The both of you need to calm down and keep your mouths shut. Throwing accusations around will get us nowhere.”

  Junior crossed his arms as Alexis put an arm around him and pressed her head against his temple. I clenched my teeth closed, lest I say something and get myself into more trouble. Junior was hitting every last nerve I had.

  “You two, wait for me in the kitchen,” Cavanaugh said, pointing at Junior and his wife.

  “But . . .”

  The detective narrowed his eyes. Smartly, Junior cut his protest short and stormed into the kitchen, Alexis in his wake.

  Cavanaugh turned to me. “Care to explain to me exactly why you’re here? And don’t give me no bull about just showing up, clueless. You have no reason to be out this way.”

  “I didn’t know anyone broke in,” I said, feeling the need to defend myself first. “I was with Duke Billings earlier, and then was with my daughter afterward.” I thought it wise not to bring up Meredith just yet lest Cavanaugh blow up at me. “They can vouch for my whereabouts over the last few hours.”

  “Good. I’ll talk to them. It still doesn’t explain why you’re here now.”

  “I told you; I needed to talk to you.”

  “Okay then, talk.”

  Suddenly, I wasn’t so keen on spilling my guts to the detective. Maybe it had something to do with Junior in the other room. Maybe it had to do with the way the detective was glaring at me like I’d personally hired someone to sabotage his investigation. Either way, it took me a moment of hemming and hawing before I got to the point.