“Certainly,” the sales woman said. “I’ll bring it right in for you.”
A minute later, Mia came out dressed in her jeans and sweater. “Didn’t fit,” she said.
“Mia,” I said, and shook my head, pointing at Robin’s dressing room door. “I’ll find you something else.”
Mia sighed and went back inside the fitting room. I hurried around the store, pulling a handful of dresses off the racks. I had to be sitting in that chair when Robin came out.
Rushing back, I knocked on Mia’s door and pushed the whole armful in at her when she opened it. “Take your time,” I told her. “I don’t know how many things she’s got in there with her to try on.”
“Here you go,” the sales woman said, handing the smaller-sized dress over the top of the door to Robin. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
“I’d like this in purple instead of navy,” Robin said, tossing another dress over the door.
“Right away.” The sales lady whisked off to fetch the requested color.
At this rate, I’d be sitting here all night and Mia would have every dress in the store on and off again before Robin came out.
“Look at this one!” Mia said, bursting through the dressing room door. “It’s perfect!”
Somehow I’d managed to grab a red dress with cap sleeves, a chiffon skirt, and a thin row of sequins around the middle. “It is perfect,” I agreed. “Is the price perfect? Or will it send your dad through the roof?”
I stood and grabbed the price tag peeking out under her arm. “Not terrible. I think we can swing that.”
Mia let out a cheer of excitement and jumped up and down. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She started taking selfies to send to Steph.
With that task accomplished, all I had to do was get Robin out of her fitting room to find out what brought her into a formal dress shop. Maybe it was nothing. But maybe it was something.
Mia changed back into her clothes and we paid for the dress, and Robin was still not coming out. I was almost ready to give up when Mia whispered to me, “Do you know which car is hers?”
“I’m not sure, but I know which cars were in Clayton’s driveway, so I think I’d recognize it if I saw it.”
“Okay, don’t worry. I’ve got a way to get her out of the store.”
We walked to the car—Monica’s car—and Mia draped her dress across the backseat while I scanned the parked cars near us.
“I’m pretty sure it’s that white Lexus,” I said.
“Stay here. I’ll be right back,” she said and jogged back into the store.
A few minutes later, she came back out with Robin right behind her. “We saw the car speed away,” Mia said. “I don’t think it left a mark, but you should check.”
Robin began to examine the front of her car. “I don’t see any damage.”
“Robin?” I asked, pretending astonishment. “Is this your car? I didn’t see you inside. We just bought Mia’s dress for the winter dance.”
“Oh, this is Ben’s daughter? Nice to meet you, dear,” she said, shaking Mia’s hand. “This is my car. I can’t believe someone would hit it and dash off like that. I don’t even see a scratch on it, though. What a relief.”
What a good little liar Mia turned out to be. I wasn’t happy about that, but it did get Robin out of the store. “What event are you shopping for today?” I asked her.
“The Native American Mound Builders of Metamora is having a little shindig tonight. Richard was just invited this morning.”
“How nice,” I said. “I didn’t realize he was still close to so many people in town.”
“Well, it’s more of a business association,” she said, stepping closer. “The president of the association has an interest in Clayton’s property and offered to pay Jason’s bail if we considered selling the land.”
“Really? That’s good news. Does Jason own the land? Does he want to sell it?”
“Richard’s going to do some negotiating tonight before he approaches Jason with the offer, but it’s worth a fortune to them.”
“Wow,” I said, tingling with the feeling that I was closing in on the motive I’d been hunting all along. “You and Richard could retire with that money. Travel the world!”
“I’m sure Jason would make sure we were comfortable, but it would be his money, of course.”
“Of course.”
“I have always wanted a house on the beach in North Carolina.” She clenched her hands together in front of her, like she was hoping and praying her dream was about to come true.
The only person this deal didn’t make rich was the one who was always bartering and trading for his livelihood. The one who might have, unknowingly, died for that land: Clayton Banks.
• Fifteen •
Sunday went by without incident. I washed laundry, cleaned the house, and did my best to clear my mind of solving murders. I had a well-deserved day off, which was good, because Monday morning dawned with Jason Banks knocking on my door.
I suppose it didn’t dawn that way. Ben was already at work, Mia at school, and Monica at Dog Diggity. But it was still pretty darn early. Way too early for a suspected murderer out on bail to be on my doorstep. Not that there was ever a good time for that.
“Come in,” I said, hoping he’d say no thanks, and that he couldn’t stay long.
But he came in. “I know I’m the last person you expected to see,” he said.
“I can’t deny that.” I held Gus back from jumping all over him but could do nothing about the twins. “Coffee?”
“No,” he said, indulging Colby and Jack as they sniffed his legs, curious about the dog they smelled. They’d never come across Ginger before. “I’ll get right to the point. You said you’d find my father’s killer. I need to you to find David Dixon’s. I can’t spend my life in jail for something I didn’t do.” He pulled an envelope out from his coat pocket. “I’ll pay you in cash.”
“Oh, good gravy. I can’t take that. I don’t know if I can even help you. I mean, I want to, but I don’t know that I can.”
“Because of our rocky start? Listen, I’m sorry about how I treated you. I didn’t mean anything by it. I was—”
“No! No, Jason, not because of that. I know you were upset about your dad and didn’t mean it. I can’t promise that I’ll figure out who killed Dixon or your dad. We’re trying our best to figure it out, though.” I took a breath. “Jason, what can you tell me about your mom?” I had a feeling he didn’t know Robin was his mother, and if he did, I wanted to know if he’d tell me, or if I could tell he was lying.
Jason looked surprised. “What does she have to do with this?”
“I’m not sure she has anything to do with it, but I need all the information I can get. Does she live in the area?”
“My mom—the one who married my dad and raised me—lives in Arizona now. But my biological mother is long gone.”
“Is she still alive?”
He shrugged. “My dad loved her and she left him, that’s all I know.”
His answer could mean Robin or any other woman on Earth who he’d last known to be alive, whether yesterday or fifteen years ago. “You don’t have contact with her?” I asked.
“She took off right after I was born. Left my dad and me and never looked back, so no, I’ve never had anything to do with her. If you think she had some reason to come back around now and kill him, you’re way off. Her family gave my dad the house and told him to pretend he never met her. That’s what he did for the last thirty-seven years. That’s what both of us have done.”
He had no idea that Robin—his uncle’s wife—was his mother. Robin’s family disowned the baby and paid Clayton off with that house and land! Now she and Richard knew its value and wanted it back. Their first obstacle? Clayton.
Their next obstacle? Jason.
; “Oh, good gravy!” I shouted, making Jason take a step back from me like I was nuts.
“What?” he asked.
“I think you’re in danger. I think whoever killed your father did it to get his land. Now that land belongs to you.”
He shook his head, eyes wild with confusion. “What do you mean? Why would someone kill my father for his house?”
“Not the house, the earth mound on his property.”
“But I thought the police cleared John Bridgemaker and Paul Foxtracker? They aren’t suspects.”
“No, they aren’t. Whoever killed your father wants to sell the land to John and Paul and make a profit—directly or indirectly.”
He ran his hands through his hair, still shaking his head. “I don’t understand. If they kill me next, the land would go to the state.”
“And depending on the probate laws, your aunt and uncle could inherit the property,” I said carefully, hoping it would sink in.
“Right,” he said, “so how does that tie in to me being in danger?”
Who was I kidding? He wasn’t going to suspect Robin and Richard of killing his dad, even though his dad and Richard had bad blood between them for decades. Why couldn’t he see the connection?
“Just trust me,” I said. “Don’t eat anything you didn’t cook and don’t drink anything you didn’t buy and pour. I don’t care who it comes from, do you understand me? You told me your dad was poisoned, so don’t let the same thing happen to you.”
He held up his hands in surrender. “Okay. So what about David Dixon? I might not be poisoned, but how do I stay out of jail?”
“I think they’re connected somehow, but I don’t know how yet. I mean, it only makes sense. They were best friends. They died one day apart. Both murdered. That’s not a coincidence.”
“Then Starnes Buntley needs police protection. There was nothing my dad and David knew that he didn’t. The three of them were inseparable and had been since high school.”
“I think I need to have a talk with him, because you’re right. He knows something, and I don’t know if he even knows he knows it.”
“What can I do? There has to be something.”
“You’re right. There has to be something in that house. Search through all of your father’s papers and belongings. If you find anything at all that seems odd, call me.”
“I’ll do that right now. I’ll be in touch.” He turned and opened the front door to leave.
“I’ll let you know what I get out of Starnes, if anything.”
As soon as Jason was gone, I picked up the phone and called Betty to get Lana’s phone number. “I just want to see how she’s doing,” I said, lying through my teeth. “I know Jason being out on bail has to be a relief for her.”
Betty told me how kind I was to care, which made me feel like one of Gus’s big piles of poo in the backyard. But this wasn’t a time to dwell on feeling bad. Unfortunately, getting to the truth required telling lies, and it was easy thinking of one to tell Starnes to get him to see me.
Lana answered the phone and I introduced myself. “Betty told me how upset you were when Jason was arrested. I hope you’re feeling better now that he’s out on bail,” I said.
“Of course,” she said. “I know Jason didn’t kill David. I don’t know if they’ll ever figure it out. I mean that show on television says the first forty-eight hours are critical and after that the chances keep decreasing.”
“I’m positive that Ben and Sheriff Reins will find the person responsible,” I said.
“Oh, sure. Yes, I’m sure. Do they have any leads?”
“Ben doesn’t fill me in on the details no matter how much I beg, but I’m sure they have a few.”
“I bet it was a jealous competitor from his Olympic days,” she said. “There was this one guy I remember from Florida. He was always coming in second to David in all the national competitions. Floyd Evans was his name. Ben needs to find him and haul him in for questioning.”
A twang of desperation sounded in her voice. “I’ll let Ben know,” I assured her. “I was also wondering if Starnes was home.”
“He is. Is there something you need him for?”
“Well, I couldn’t help noticing what you had in your handbag at Clayton’s wake. Betty told me Starnes had some on hand. I was wondering if I could stop by and pick up a bottle? Or maybe you two would be in town soon?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Lana, I already know the two of you make and sell moonshine. I’m not going to tell Ben or anyone. I only want to buy some.”
“I didn’t peg you for a dirty wife of a cop,” she said.
“That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?” I asked, taken aback.
“You’re the one who has to face him every day,” she said. “We’ll be in town tomorrow for David’s memorial service. His family had him cremated, you know. I don’t think he would’ve liked that. He built his professional career in the snow and they end his days with cremation? That’s not the way he would’ve wanted it.”
“Did you know him well?” I asked.
“Of course I knew him well. He made a point to know everyone well. He was a busy body, a social butterfly. Always sticking his nose into everybody’s business. Well, everyone loved him anyway.”
“Someone didn’t,” I said, trying to keep her talking.
“Oh, I don’t know. It’s hard to say why anybody does anything they do.”
“What time is his memorial? Do you think it would be okay for me to stop in? I don’t want to intrude.”
“His sister’s holding it at his house at two in the afternoon. She’ll be putting the house up for sale, so if you know anyone who might be interested, pass word along. I’m sure you’re welcome to stop by.”
“And you’ll bring me a bottle of moonshine?”
“We always bring some with us.”
“I’ll find you there then.”
“You know I’ve been questioned about Clayton’s death? They think it was my blood pressure medication that killed him. How could it be me who poisoned him with something I lost? Just because it was the same brand, like I’m the only person on the planet who takes those pills. What reason on earth would I have of killing Clayton?” Her voice cracked. “I’ve known that man forever. He had a good heart. Sure he was rough around the edges, but once you got to know him he was the kindest soul you’d ever want to know.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said, sensing how close she and Clayton had been.
I didn’t know they’d made a positive connection between her lost pills being the same kind they found in his system. My theory had been right then. Ben should be thanking me, not keeping me in the dark.
“It’s okay. I just don’t know how anyone could think I’d harm that man.”
“Don’t worry. Ben will get to the truth soon.”
With my help, I didn’t bother saying.
I hung up with Lana and considered her saying I was a dirty wife of a cop. Was I? Sure, I snooped around to help solve murders, and sometimes that meant I had to do things Ben wouldn’t approve of. Was I going too far?
Even if I was, I couldn’t back away now. I was getting close to figuring things out, I could feel it. All I needed was the puzzle pieces to fall into place.
Around noon, the Action Agency had assembled at my house. I had a feeling that even if we had world-class offices, we’d all end up congregating around my kitchen table with coffee and Betty’s cookies anyway.
“What are these?” Roy asked, tapping a thin, dark brown cookie on the side of his plate.
“Ginger snaps,” I said, getting out my notebook and pen.
“They’re hard.”
“Once you take a bite, they get chewy.”
“My teeth aren’t made of iron.”
Johnn
a huffed. “Oh hush, and dunk it in your coffee,”
Roy did as she said and chewed slowly, considering the taste. “Nope,” he said, dropping the cookie on his plate. “I don’t like ’em.”
“Well, they’re my favorites,” she said, snatching another from the cookie box in the middle of the table.
“They would be. They’re hard and sharp like you.”
Johnna ignored him and took a bite.
“There’s a memorial service for David Dixon tomorrow at two,” I said, “and I’m going.”
“Who isn’t?” Roy asked, and took a swig out of his flask.
“You mean, you guys knew about it and didn’t tell me?”
“Everybody knows,” Johnna said, digging her yarn and knitting needles out of her bag. “It’s not like there was a formal invitation sent out. Word spreads around.”
“It didn’t spread to me.”
“You knew about it, didn’t cha?” Roy asked.
“Well, yes, but I had to find out for myself when you two already knew.”
“Didn’t know we was your keepers,” he mumbled.
I took a deep breath and moved on. There was no getting through to them sometimes. “Anyway, I called Lana and told her I want to buy a bottle of moonshine. I figured it would get me access to Starnes to ask him some questions.”
“What are we for, then?” Roy asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Johnna and I have known those two a long time. We don’t need an excuse, like buying ’shine, to go up to him and start talking.”
“Again,” I said, “I didn’t know you two knew about the memorial service and would be there. If you would’ve told me, I wouldn’t have had to make this harebrained plan and get called a dirty wife of a cop!”
Johnna chuckled. “That’s a good one.”
“It doesn’t feel so good,” I said.
“Oh, you’re the furthest thing from a dirty wife of a cop,” she said. “You snoop around and ask some questions, big deal.”
“Now I’m buying illegal moonshine.”
She and Roy looked at each other and burst into laughter.
Fatal Festival Days Page 15
