Christy Barritt - Squeaky Clean 08 - Foul Play

by Christy Barritt

  I had to work fast.

  I scrambled down the hallway, wishing the lights hadn’t been turned out already. The darkness had an eerie quality that made me want to crawl under a blanket and hide.

  A thumping noise in the background made me freeze. The ghost?

  I shook my head. No, I didn’t believe in ghosts. Bennie had just put the idea in my head, and that was the only reason the explanation had popped into my mind. No ghosts.

  But there was definitely a strange sound.

  I remembered I had a flashlight application on my phone, and a small measure of relief washed through me. I pulled my phone out of my pocket, found the right button, and finally had some light.

  I shone the beam down on the gasoline. Why did it look yellow? What sense did that make?

  I didn’t have time to ponder it. Instead, I raced down the hallway.

  “Paulette!” I called.

  I didn’t see any sign of her. Where would she have gone? My only guess was her office. Maybe she’d slipped in there to do some paperwork.

  I rounded the corner and grabbed the office door. It was locked and all the lights inside were off.

  Strange.

  Where was she?

  I hurried down the hallway, looking for any signs of life.

  What if she’d left? What if I was putting myself in danger for someone who wasn’t even here?

  I’d check a few more places and hopefully by then the police would be here. As I moved deeper into the hallway, the smell of gasoline lessened. It appeared the liquid had just been poured near the chorus room.

  The thought didn’t comfort me. Someone obviously knew Mrs. Baker and I were in there. But since it still hadn’t been lit, maybe they were just trying to scare us.

  I swept my light over the floor and something caught my eye. I stepped closer to one of the hallways that had been locked off until Phase 1 of the renovations was complete.

  A metal gate with a zigzag pattern stood at the entryway. A padlock normally connected the two sides of the gate, ensuring that no one could get through.

  Tonight, there was a crack there and the padlock was unlatched.

  Interesting.

  Trepidation and curiosity collided inside me. Curiosity won.

  I squeezed through the gate. The metal let out a loud squeak in protest. So much for remaining covert.

  I looked both ways, saw no one, and continued.

  Had Paulette come down this way?

  Why would she?

  I took leaden steps forward. The sound I’d heard earlier had stopped. Had it come from down here?

  This was the hallway where the elective classes had taken place. Art, shop, architecture, newspaper.

  I tried the first door. It was locked. Using my light, I peered through the window in the door. Nothing looked out of place inside.

  My throat tightened with every step I took.

  I turned the knob at the next classroom and, to my surprise, the door opened. I stepped inside the old shop classroom. The scent of sawdust and grease filled my senses.

  I stepped across the room, looking for anything out of place. Rows of tables and benches still remained there, just as they’d been all those many years ago.

  I paused by a cabinet and, out of curiosity, tugged at the door. It stuck.

  I pulled harder.

  That’s when the entire piece of furniture started falling—right toward me.

  I dove out of the way, but the edge of the cabinet caught my foot. A cloud of dust surrounded me, filling my lungs and making me feel like I couldn’t breathe.

  I heard the door open and footsteps rushing inside. “Ma’am, are you okay?”

  I looked up and a bright light shone right in my eyes. I moaned and pulled my leg out. “Yeah, besides a bruised ego.”

  “I’m Officer Billingsworth with the Virginia Beach P.D. I heard something crash.”

  I rotated my shoulder as I pulled to my feet. “I tried to open the door, but it was stuck. The whole thing came crashing down.”

  He kicked something out of the way. “Must be this old building. It looks like that cabinet was just filled with textbooks.”

  I followed his gaze. Even in the dark, I could tell he was correct. Old books had spilled all over the floor.

  “We’re evacuating the building,” the officer continued. “We need to get you out of here.”

  I nodded. “I was just looking for Paulette.”

  “She’s outside already.”

  Great. All of this for nothing.

  I brushed some plaster off my shirt and nodded. “Let’s go.”

  ***

  Paulette and I stood outside, the night air brisk around us. Numerous police cars filled what used to be the bus ramp. Mrs. Baker had been dismissed, so it was just Paulette, me, and a whole crew of law enforcement officers.

  Paulette shook her head, her breaths coming out in frosty puffs. “I just don’t understand.”

  “Someone poured a trail of gas all up and down the hallway surrounding the auditorium and chorus room. However, they didn’t ignite it,” Detective Charlie Henderson explained.

  The police had already been over all of this with Paulette, but she looked dazed and confused. Right now, she wrung her hands together like she might have a nervous breakdown.

  I patted her back, trying to calm her down. She claimed she’d been in her office the whole time, trying to track down some receipts to turn in to her accountant. I hadn’t seen any lights on in the office, though, and it didn’t make sense that she’d be working in the dark.

  Currently, Chad and the crew were finishing cleaning inside. I’d called him to help out, mostly because Squeaky Clean had the knowledge and know-how to handle hazardous materials.

  I’d helped supervise as we poured kitty litter on the gasoline to soak it up before shoveling it into plastic bags. When that was done, we’d put down some sand to absorb any leftover odors. We’d take all the waste down to a disposal center when we were finished. Thankfully, the damage had only extended down one hallway.

  I’d peeled out of my haz-mat suit and left Chad to finish so I could get some information from Charlie.

  “Charlie—I mean, Detective Henderson—was it my imagination or was the gasoline yellow?” I asked.

  She nodded. “It wasn’t your imagination. Someone dyed it.”

  “How did they do that? Most dyes are water based and everyone knows that water and gas don’t mix,” Paulette said.

  I stared at her a moment in wonder. The question made sense; it just seemed out of character for her to ask that. It required a knowledge base that I had no idea she had.

  “There are oil soluble dyes,” Charlie said.

  “But why? What sense does it make to go through that trouble?” I asked.

  Charlie shook her head. “I have no idea. There are some strange people out there.”

  “What if it was the ghost?” Paulette started. “What if the ghost left a trail of yellow—?”

  “It was definitely gas, not an otherworldly substance,” Charlie said quickly.

  “But maybe someone wanted to make it look ghostly,” I suggested.

  “It’s a possibility,” Charlie agreed.

  “What I’m wondering is why didn’t the person ignite the gasoline,” I continued. “Was it because we stepped out into the hallway before they could or were they just trying to send a subtle threat?”

  Charlie shook her head. “I don’t know. That’s a good question.” She turned to Paulette. “Did you have those new security cameras installed yet? The ones I suggested after our last visit?”

  Paulette nodded. “I did. Just today, as a matter of fact. Would you like to take a look?”

  “Would I ever,” Charlie muttered.

  “I insist that Gabby go with you,” Paulette said. “I’m having her look into this case, as well. I’d like another set of eyes on all the evidence.”

  “I don’t have a problem with that. Show me where the recordings are kept.
”

  We followed Paulette into the school, down the hall, and into the old guidance office. I blinked in surprise at what I saw. Paulette had spared no expense on this equipment. It was state-of-the-art, top-of-the-line stuff.

  But I’d also noticed that, when we’d arrived, the door hadn’t been locked this time. Had Paulette purposely left it unlocked under the assumption that there was no one else here? Did anyone monitor this area? I had yet to see a security guard on duty.

  Charlie took a seat at the desk while I stood behind her, watching the screens.

  “I’m not sure how to use all of this,” Paulette started, wringing her hands.

  “I can probably figure it out, but you’ll want someone here who knows how to operate this system if it’s to be any good to you,” Charlie said.

  “Of course.” Paulette frowned. “Working within the budget my father gave me has its challenges. He said it’s good for me to have limits, though.”

  “Are these cameras set up all around the school?” Charlie asked.

  “Except in the areas we’re not using,” Paulette said. “Like Corridor D and E.”

  I stored that information away. Could someone be using those quarantined hallways?

  Charlie scrolled backward to nine o’clock, the time right after rehearsal ended.

  A shadow appeared in the corner of the screen before everything went black.

  “What?” Paulette lurched toward the screen. “How did that happen?”

  “I’m not sure,” Charlie said. “Let me check some other feeds.”

  On every camera, the same thing happened. The shadow then blackness.

  “I think I know what the guilty party did.” Charlie stood. “Follow me.”

  She led us to the first camera, grabbed a chair, and climbed up to examine it.

  “It’s just like I thought. Someone spray painted over the lens.”

  “What?” Paulette looked truly shocked.

  “They obviously knew the cameras were here,” Charlie continued. “They also knew where to stand in order to avoid detection. It looks like this could be an inside job, Ms. Zollin.”

  CHAPTER 8

  After everyone cleared out, I sat with Paulette in the auditorium. We were both silent. I wasn’t sure about Paulette, but I was taking a moment to absorb everything that had happened.

  Finally, Paulette rubbed her hands against her designer jeans and glanced at me. “I didn’t mention this earlier, but my stage manager quit.”

  “Really?”

  She nodded. “He said he’d had enough and wanted to get out while he could.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Ms. Maggie quit too. She said something about wanting to babysit her grandkids, but I know the truth. She wanted out, also.”

  “I’m really sorry.”

  “Bennie offered to help out in the meantime.”

  “She seems nice.”

  Paulette nodded. “Everything in my life is falling apart, Gabby.”

  “It’s all going to work out. I just know it is.”

  She looked at me again. “You may not have had money, but you were the successful one, Gabby. You never let anything hold you back. I wish I had some of that gumption.”

  “You do. Look at this place. It’s amazing!”

  She smiled faintly. “Do you remember when you found that old time capsule?”

  The memory warmed me. It had been up “buried” up in the eaves above the auditorium and discovered during a renovation. “That was one of my proudest moments.”

  “I watched you up on the stage when you did a monolog about it. My dad was sitting beside me and afterward he told me that you were someone to watch for and that he was glad we were friends.”

  “That was nice.”

  “I remember thinking that he’d probably rather have you as a daughter.”

  “I happen to remember that I would have loved to be a part of your family. Besides, that’s not true. I know your father loves you.”

  “That’s what one of my therapists says too.”

  “Therapists?” One of them? How many did she have?

  She nodded. “He says I’ve got to let go. That’s what I thought I was doing when I took on this project.”

  “Don’t get discouraged. I’m here. I’m going to help you.”

  “You were always good for that, Gabby.” She offered another sad smile and then stood. “I guess I should be getting home. Thanks again for everything.”

  “Any time.”

  We walked out to the parking lot. Just as we stepped onto the sidewalk, something in the direction of the bus ramp caught my eye. It was a man walking toward the back of the school!

  He froze when he spotted us and then ducked behind the building.

  “Stay there, Paulette!”

  I took off after him. As I rounded the corner, I spotted him ahead of me. He was dressed in all black, had a stocky build, and wore a dark hat. Other than those things, I couldn’t tell anything about him. Except … was that a tattoo snaking up his neck? I couldn’t tell for sure.

  My legs burned as I chased him.

  He darted toward the old track. I plunged into the nighttime, away from the overhead lights that made me feel safe. The cold air stung my lungs, but I continued to heave it into my chest. I couldn’t afford to slow down.

  I raced past the bleachers and stopped cold.

  Where had he gone?

  My gaze scanned the dark field in front of me. The stands that surrounded me offered too many hiding places to count. The man could have gone anywhere.

  I wasn’t ready to give up.

  I took my first step onto the track. I stayed light on my feet, trying not to give away my presence. I listened for any telltale sign of where he’d gone. There was nothing.

  I shivered, suddenly feeling exposed out here on the field. This wasn’t a smart idea. I was vulnerable.

  This case wasn’t worth dying over.

  I took a backward step toward the entrance.

  As I did, movement in the distance caught my eye.

  I looked over in time to see the man on the other side of the field.

  It didn’t matter, I realized. He was too far away for me to catch. The questions were: Who was he and what was he doing here?

  ***

  By the time I got back to my apartment, I smelled not only like blood but faintly of gasoline, a little bit of sweat, and probably a touch of Paulette’s expensive lilac perfume that saturated the interior of her loaner car.

  It was well past midnight and I was beat. It seemed like more often than not I ended up staying awake until all hours of the morning either with my job, my friends, or trouble.

  I lived in an Old Victorian that had been cut up into five apartments. It wasn’t fancy and the area where it was located seemed about as eclectic as the apartment residents. But it was home, and there was no place else like it.

  I dragged myself inside, my physical exhaustion mingling with the waning effects of the adrenaline rush I’d gotten as we uncovered clues about the trouble—and murder—we’d had at my old middle school.

  As soon as I stepped into the entryway of the building, the door to my left popped open. My best friend Sierra stuck her head out. Sierra was married to Chad, and the two of them seemed like a match made in heaven. They were attached at the hip and, truth be told, I kind of missed them. Whether anyone wanted to admit it or not, things changed once people got married. Sierra had fewer opportunities to hang out. Less availability. Not as much … time for me.

  I totally understood, and I was happy for her. But I still missed the old days.

  “I heard what happened.” She pushed her glasses up on her tiny Asian nose and stared at me.

  “You waited up for me? I’m impressed.”

  “Want to talk? We’ll have to go up to your place. Chad’s sleeping. He fell into bed after he got home. I guess he had a bad day.”

  My eyebrows arched up. “What happened?”

  I’d notic
ed he seemed rather aloof at Oceanside, but I thought he’d just been focused on getting the job done. Being married had seemed to bring with it a new side to Chad. When we’d met, he’d been a laidback surfer. Now he seemed more responsible and serious. I guess growing up did that to people.

  Everyone seemed to be changing … except me. I was changing in my own ways, but not like everyone else. My friends were all getting married, embracing their careers, settling down. Meanwhile, I seemed to be stuck in a holding pattern.

  Sierra shrugged. “I guess it mostly had to do with that new guy he hired. Chad’s not impressed. Something about Chad still doing the same amount of work for less pay.”

  I knew it! I knew Braxton was the wrong choice. But I wanted Chad to figure that out himself instead of through me insisting I was right. “I’ll talk to Chad later.”

  Up in my apartment, Sierra and I sat on the couch, and I poured out everything about the investigation. There wasn’t enough information to theorize about very many suspects or motives yet, but we agreed that I should keep my eyes on Paulette’s ex.

  As soon as I finished that purge of information, I launched into another. “Garrett has invited me to go to Africa with him for a month.”

  Sierra blinked. “What?”

  I nodded. “He said I can work as his bodyguard, so it wouldn’t be a free ride.”

  Sierra snorted.

  I nodded and pointed. “See! That’s what I did, too. That thought is ridiculous, right?”

  Her smile slowly faded. “You are very protective. And you’re observant. I mean, you being a bodyguard isn’t the craziest thought in the world. It’s just unexpected. What are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know. It sounds like a great opportunity to see the world, doesn’t it?”

  “Garrett really likes you, Gabby. I mean, for goodness sakes—he bought this whole building just so you wouldn’t have to move and find a new place.”

  In the past, I might have hesitated before agreeing. But this time I nodded. “I know. He does.”

  He had purchased this old house because he’d known I needed something stable in my life. The place had almost been sold to someone who wanted to turn it into a single-family residence. If that had happened, I would have been out on the street and away from my co-tenants who felt like the only family I had.