My mom is hands down the best cook around. Unfortunately, that usually meant people thought I must be a great cook, too. Like somehow there’s a magical cooking gene in DNA that gets passed down through generations. There isn’t. I should know, I’ve tried cooking and baking hundreds of recipes, and only a few are edible.
“So who do you think did it?” I asked, wiping my mouth with my hand.
“Did what?” Mom asked, frowning at me.
“Hello…murdered Dr. Garver.”
“What!”
“Didn’t you hear?”
“Oh, my God! No, I didn’t hear. I turned my cell off last night.” I watched as she continued to wring her hands together in worry. “This is horrible!”
Why Mom thought it was horrible I don’t know. She disliked Dr. Garver as much as anyone. And for mom, that was a feat. I’ve never known my mom to dislike anyone, but Dr. Garver was a different matter. I heard words come out of my mom’s mouth that would make a sailor blush when it came to that woman.
“We just started the new school year…where on Earth are they going to find someone to fill her spot this late in the game!”
Okay, that made more sense. Mom was worried about the school.
“Were you and Matt called to the scene? What happened?”
I didn’t know if I should tell her exactly what happened. It was pretty gruesome. Although, if I didn’t tell her and she found out later—which she was bound to do—she’d probably turn me over her knee. She liked to think she could still do that.
“Okay. But you have to understand, most of this isn’t going to be printed, so you can’t repeat this…but it looks like someone dragged her into the kitchen, cut out her heart, and chopped of her fingertips.”
Mom’s mouth dropped open. “You’re not serious?”
“I am. I just can’t believe you hadn’t heard until now.”
Mom didn’t meet my eyes. “Like I said, I turned off my cell. I was busy—reading. I was reading.”
Warning bells went off in my head. Something didn’t sound right. “Everything okay?” I tried to keep it casual, but I’m not sure I succeeded.
“Oh, yes, I’m fine,” Mom said, waving a hand dismissively. “I take it Matt was with you?”
“Yes, he stayed with Mr. Garver,” I said as I took my empty plate to the sink. “Mr. Garver was the one that came home after class and found her.”
“That poor man. I always did like him. Never could understand how he came to marry that woman.”
Evidently that’s the sixty-four thousand dollar question. Well, that and who killed her.
Queen’s “You’re My Best Friend” came blaring out of my cell phone. “Hey, Paige, what’s up?”
Mom got up and poured herself more coffee while I talked to Paige. I could see she was pretty shaken up. I watched as she sat back down and sipped her scalding coffee. How in the world she could drink it that hot I never knew. I ended my conversation with Paige with the promise of meeting up soon.
“Mom, I’m going to meet Paige at Dairy Queen this morning to talk. Then I have to go over to Legends to get reactions from people. You know everyone’s going to be talking about the murder, and what better place to hear the latest gossip than down there?” Mom nodded her head in agreement. “But before I leave, I was wondering if I can ask a favor?”
“Of course, dear, what is it?”
“Well, Matt invited Garrett, Paige, and me over for dinner tonight, and I want to do something special. I was wondering if I could borrow that chocolate jelly roll recipe you have so I can make a dessert.”
Mom didn’t say anything for about five seconds. “Do you want me to make it for you?”
“I’m pretty sure I can handle it.”
Again, dead silence.
“C’mon, I can do this. You always said it’s one of the easiest things to make.”
Mom leaned over and patted my hand, “Of course you can. The recipe’s in the box on the shelf next to the stove. Make sure you can read my writing. You know how I just jot things down by hand. Do you need the ingredients?”
“No, thanks. I’ll go to the store when I finish up at Legends.” Suddenly excited at the prospect of showing off to Garrett, I couldn’t sit still. “Thanks again, Mom. I’ll let you know how it turns out.” I gave her a brief kiss, found the handwritten recipe, snapped a picture of the recipe with my cell phone, and flew out the door.
* * *
You have to pass the bus barn on the way out to Dairy Queen. Since the buses were moving, pulling in and out of the large area, I assumed school was still in session despite the queen’s death. No sense wasting a school day and having to come back sometime during the year to make it up.
The Dairy Queen is a staple here in Granville. Almost everyone has worked here at some point in high school. I worked here the summer going into my senior year. I needed the extra income to buy the Civic, and at the end of the summer, I had just enough money saved up.
Our Dairy Queen was a little different than others because we sold breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We’re such a small town, that this is pretty much the only thing open for breakfast besides Subway and the two cafés. And where there’s breakfast, there’s old men hanging out, drinking coffee, ready to swap gossip and stories just like ladies do.
I parked in the half-full parking lot and walked in. About three different people greeted me. I waved and then spotted Paige over in the corner booth, just like always. Paige also worked here with me during the summer going into our senior year.
I went to the counter, ordered my drink, then slid into the booth across from Paige. She didn’t look too great this morning.
“So, what’s up?” I asked.
“I’m just so upset.”
“Yeah, but it’s not like it’s a surprise, right?”
“How can you say that? I mean, I guess you’re right, but still…I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Paige all but wailed.
Huh?
“Why do you have to do anything?” I asked.
Paige stared at me like I was an idiot. I watched her blow her hair out of her eyes. Paige’s hair was cut right below her chin in short, choppy layers. It was deep auburn with caramel blonde highlights. Her eyes were green, her nose perky, and her lips full. Between her and Mindy, I always felt frumpy.
“You can’t be serious. Of course this affects me!” Suddenly, she burst into tears.
What the hell?
I glanced around to see if anyone was watching. No one was. They were too busy whispering among themselves to pay attention to us. I handed Paige a napkin and waited until she finished.
Oh, God. She wasn’t going to tell me she did it, was she? She actually went to that old bat’s house, subdued her, and then grabbed vital organs? No, no. This is Paige. Sensible, sweet Paige. Stay calm.
“I’m sorry. I’m just so upset about this.”
“I understand. But it’s not like we liked her, right?”
Paige stopped crying but continued to dab her eyes. Even with red swollen eyes she managed to look great. “What? I’m talking about the fact that your brother and I are getting ready to celebrate our first year anniversary, and I don’t think he’s going to give me a ring!”
Relief soared through my body. I tried to be sympathetic, I really did. After all, I’d probably be a little pissed off if the boy I’d loved for nearly my whole life still hadn’t proposed, but what the heck did I know.
Hoping to cheer her up I said, “Hey, I have to go downtown to Legends to get quotes from people over what happened last night. Wanna go with me?”
Paige perked up at this. “Sure. I’ll tell you, Ryli, I was shocked when Matt dropped by this morning and told me what happened. I just can’t believe it. Was it really that bad?”
“Yes, it was really that bad.”
* * *
I decided to ride downtown with Paige. She had a roomy SUV her parents bought her when she graduated college. Paige was an only child and was constantly dot
ed on by her parents. She sometimes complained they smothered her, but I knew she was grateful for everything they did.
The streets downtown were jam-packed with cars. It was an odd thing to see this early in the morning on a weekday. We were getting ready to head down the back alley when a car pulled out two spaces from Legends.
Legends Salon and Nails was the third storefront on Elm Street. When I was a little girl, I used to think that Legends was actually Iris’s house. I remember telling Mom that I wanted a house that had a beauty salon in it when I grew up. Mom thought that was funny and had to explain to me that Iris lived above the store. It wasn’t an actual house.
I also remember Iris used to have this Coke bottle machine that when you put in twenty-five cents, you got to pull out an actual glass bottle of Coke. To a five-year-old girl, there was nothing fancier than sipping Coke and listening to the ladies gossip on a Saturday morning.
The front of the building was made of red brick and was sandwiched between Closet Antiques and Subway. The awning was large and shaded most of the sidewalk in front of the salon. It was a pretty maroon and cream combination and had scalloped edging around the bottom. The door was one of those heavy oak doors that you had to push with all your might just to open, and then you had to hold onto it just to keep it from slamming shut. I never got the novelty of the door. It was a pain in the ass as far as I was concerned.
The first thing I noticed when Paige and I stepped inside the salon was that it looked like a zoo. Two toddlers about three years old were crawling on the floor, making tunnels with the hair being cut. Their mothers were oblivious to this disgusting act because they were too busy yammering away at one another. Hands were being thrown in the air with excitement, hair dryers were blowing, and the gossip was being tossed around like a beach ball. Christ, the volume was deafening.
I wasn’t quite sure where to start. Paige and I hadn’t even been noticed when we walked in. I guess no one could hear the dinging of the bell over the cacophony of other sounds. Cindy Troyer was blow drying Anna Johnson’s hair, while Patty Carter was regaling them with what she’d already heard about the murder.
Knowing Patty, she’d probably heard a lot already. Patty was a nurse out at the Granville hospital. She used to be a nurse at the school years ago until Dr. Garver suddenly fired her. There was definitely no love loss between those two.
The other stylist, Tina Anderson, was setting Claire Hickman’s hair in rollers. My God, what had Claire done, walked straight over from her graveyard shift? Didn’t these people have a life? Lined up against the wall, sitting patiently waiting and gossiping amongst themselves, were four other women.
Any other day Legends wouldn’t be this busy. Evidently nothing brings out gossipmongers like a good murder.
I walked over to Iris’s nail station. She was sitting on a black vinyl stool painting Janice Tillman’s nails. You’d never know Iris was a successful businesswoman who owned a thriving salon…mainly because she always dressed from decades past. Today she had on a button-down jean shirt tucked into a pair of pleated, high-waisted, acid-washed jeans. Her hair was a dull brown, and she still curled her short hair every morning with a curling iron and then feathered it out on the sides.
Janice and Iris had a love-hate relationship. Their typical M.O. was to get into a catfight over something ridiculous, back stab each other publically, then down a few bottles of wine and make up. They once went three weeks without speaking—it was the quietest this town had ever been!
I had to clear my throat twice before they even acknowledged me. When recognition hit, they both sat up straighter.
Leaning in my general direction, Iris asked, “Ryli, honey, are you here to write about the murder?”
I barely suppressed a grimace. “Yes, I was hoping to maybe get some quotes from a couple ladies on what they’re feeling.”
“Well,” Janice interjected. “I always knew if someone was going to be killed, it would be that woman. There probably won’t be a single tear shed for her at her funeral,” Janice continued, shaking her close-cropped blonde hair and clucking her tongue.
“I heard they weren’t gonna have a funeral, they’re gonna have a memorial service instead.” This from Debbie Perkins sitting against the wall.
“Really? I hadn’t heard that.” Janice said. “Although, I have to say, it will be weird not seeing her in the salon anymore.”
Deep breath, Ryli. Deep breath.
I took out my pad and pen. “What I’m really looking for is reaction as far as personal safety, maybe reaction on what it means for the town, the school.”
“What it means is that we’ve just started the new school year and now suddenly we’re without a superintendent. Do you know how long it’ll take to get another?” Iris said.
“I know. This is so inconvenient,” Janice, the minion, chimed in.
I turned to the ladies sitting against the wall. I happened to make eye contact with Paige. She’d been flipping through a hair magazine, feigning interest. I rolled my eyes. She mouthed a curse word.
“Could I get a reaction from any of you about what happened last night?” I asked.
“I heard it was pretty gruesome. Were you there, Ryli?” I turned and saw Sharon Williams, my preacher’s wife, standing next to me. I have to say I was a little surprised to see her there, clutching her purse as though it was her lifeline. Today she was dressed in a sensible brown A-line skirt, white blouse buttoned up to her neck, and brown orthopedic slip-on shoes. Probably why I didn’t hear her come in and walk up behind me.
“Yes, I was.”
“Was it? Was it really as bad as they’ve been saying?” her thin, bluish lips whispered.
“Yes, was it?” Debbie asked. I saw the gleam of hope in her eye. The hope of hearing first-hand all the gory details that she could tell people.
I hesitated, not wanting to switch the focus of the conversation. “Yes.”
“Well, it’s sad, that’s for sure,” Debbie said, unable to hide her disappointment at not getting anything juicy.
“It sure is,” Sharon agreed. “But at least the good Lord gave her some time here on Earth. Iris, I stopped by hoping I could get an appointment today, but I see you’re busy.”
Iris didn’t even bother looking up from Janice’s nails. “Yep, sure am. Try back later, will ya?”
This time I heard the bell ding above the door, signaling another arrival. I glanced over and saw Garrett standing by the door. He motioned to me with the crook of his finger. My heart raced. I know I should play hard to get, but who am I kidding…I nearly ran to him.
“Hey. I saw Paige’s car and thought maybe you two were together.”
I smiled in response. Mainly because I was afraid I’d say something stupid.
“I was thinking. Why don’t I pick you up around six and we can drive over to your brother’s for dinner tonight.”
Be still my heart!
I went for casual. “Sure. But you know we don’t have to be there until seven, right? It only takes five minutes to…oh, right.” I trailed off lamely.
Garrett’s eyes bore into mine and he smiled that predator-like smile.
* * *
Closing the heavy oak door of Legends behind me, I breathed a sigh of relief. I’m not sure when I’d heard more cackling women in all my life. I was just getting ready to open Paige’s car door, praying for Calgon to come take me away, when I felt a hand on my arm.
“Hey, Doc,” I said, surprised to see Dr. Martin Powell hanging out downtown on a Friday morning. Doc Powell was the local veterinarian and current president of the school board. He loved Miss Molly almost as much as I did…always giving her extra cat treats on her visits.
He was attractive in that Sean Connery way. In fact, for about a year now I’d been trying to set Mom up with him. I knew he was a little older than her, I just wasn’t sure how much older.
“Hello there, Ryli,” he said, running his hands through his salt and pepper hair.
His w
ife, Pearl, had died some years back from breast cancer, and he’d never remarried. Being a handsome widower along with a doctor guaranteed him a homemade dinner from a different woman each night. He accepted the food, but never the company from what I’d heard through the grapevine. Still, it didn’t stop me from bringing up my mom every time I had an appointment with him.
Doc’s green eyes bore into mine. “I just finished talking with the ladies down at central office about Dr. Garver.”
Central office was where the superintendent, her secretary, and some other school officials had their offices. I could tell by the look on his face it hadn’t gone well. “Just mostly a lot of shock. No one can believe this has happened,” Dr. Powell said.
“Yeah,” I agreed, “it was pretty shocking.”
Dr. Powell peered down into my face. “How’re you doing? I heard you were there and saw the body.”
Man, I’ll never get over how fast word travels in this town. “Doing about as good as can be expected,” I said.
Dr. Powell glanced over at Legends. “Did you just come from in there?” he asked, shuddering at the thought.
I couldn’t help but laugh at his expression. It was the exact same one I had when I came out a second ago.
“Hey, Doc,” Paige said, popping out from the driver’s side.
“Hello, Paige. I was just telling Ryli here how saddened we are at the sudden loss of Dr. Garver.”
I couldn’t help but wonder if he really was…saddened by this news, I mean. I’d always heard the two doctors didn’t get along very well. In fact, if rumors could be believed, the last board meeting had resulted in a doozie of a fight between the two of them.
“Paige and I were just questioning some of the ladies inside, hoping for a quote for the paper,” I said, trying to fill the awkward silence.
Doc scowled and his lips became a flat line of disapproval. “Oh, I’m sure you got plenty from that group in there,” he said. Giving himself a little shake, the good doctor smiled again at us. “Ladies, you have a lovely day. And, Ryli, give Miss Molly an extra treat for me tonight, would you?”
Picture Perfect Murder (Ryli Sinclair 1) Page 3
