Small Town Spooky (Cozy Mystery Anthology)

by Anisa Claire West

  “Big mistake,” Carl commented who recently was divorced for the third time.“Rule Number 1: Never mention the word marriage to a woman. Rule Number 2: Wife is a 4-letter word. And Rule Number 3: I DO are the two most dangerous words in a man’s vocabulary.”

  Norman choked on his beer with laughter.

  Regardless of their individual circumstances all had to some degree commitment phobia. George rushed to be engaged to Peggy as soon as they returned from the cross-country bicycle tour but never talks about a wedding date; Gavin declared he wanted to marry Kay while in Ireland but now dodged it like the flu; Norman constantly uses his lifetime bachelor trump card demanding more time; and Carl, a hopeless aging skirt-chaser had no problem getting married, it was staying married that had been his challenge. Everyone knew it was just a matter of time when Carl would be walking down the aisle with wife number four.

  “You guys,” George interrupted. “Where would we be without our ladies? We love them, so why not just admit it.”

  “Love, another 4-letter word,” Carl snarled.

  Love and marriage was a song all of them had heard in their youth belted out by Frank Sinatra. They did love the women in their lives but were keenly aware that liaisons do become complicated when you reach 55 and over. Whose house or apartment do you live in? Are there kids and grandkids? Women talk-the-talk, but do they really want to cook and clean?

  Besides, all the women they were involved with were independent and self-sustaining. Kay and Peggy were teachers who took early retirement with full-pensions. Gloria received half of her husband’s pension plus her own. Did they really need a man? The fact that money was not a substitute for emotional needs eluded the men. All this clouded their judgment and served as a back door escape from commitment.

  “I love Gloria,” Norman said. “I’m just afraid.”He affected the voice of the Cowardly Lion. The guys laughed and jabbed him.

  “What’s your excuse, Gavin?” George asked.

  “I’ve been married twice.” Gavin shrugged and went for his jacket. “See you blokes around.” The guys were surprised at his early exit. Norman started dealing the cards again.

  “What’s up with him?” Carl asked not really wanting an answer. The bidding resumed.

  ***

  It wasn’t that Gavin didn’t adore Kay. He fell for her the first time they met back in October 2012. Just the thought of her dimples made him smile. She was shy and sweet, boy that ship had sailed, he thought. Marriage would be a big step for him if he decided to marry Kay. The whole idea brought back memories of his first wife. Though that marriage had ended in divorce long ago, Gavin had since grappled with guilt since she passed away last spring. It was almost as if he were in mourning, unable to move forward with his new life.

  Just as Gavin approached home, he spotted that strange woman, Erna, walking about the property peeking through the kitchen window.“Hey you!” Gavin shouted and ran toward her. She quickly dashed through a neighbor’s hedges and disappeared out of range.

  ***

  “Kay, I’m home.” Gavin called upstairs. “Are you alright?”

  Kay descended the stairs wearing a sheer 2-piece turquoise night gown, Cody tagged along. “Of course I’m alright. What’s the matter?”

  Gavin rushed to Kay to embrace and kiss her. “That woman,” Gavin whispered.

  “What woman?”

  “The loveseat woman, she was sneaking around the yard just now.”

  “You mean that Erna?” Kay pulled away surprised.

  “May be we should just give her the chair and forget about it,” Gavin said with mixed motives. “I think we should call the police and report her.”

  Kay retrieved the map and letter from beneath the loveseat cushion. “I think this is what Erna really wants, not the chair. We can’t call the police.”Kay led Gavin to the kitchen table while Cody retreated back up to the bedroom. Carefully she unfolded the map and coded message spreading them across the table.

  “It’s an old map of Pearl River, but I’m not sure what part of Pearl River,” Gavin commented. “Is it worth anything? The note looks like gibberish.”

  “This map and this coded message may lead us to something that is worth money.” Kay had a gleam in her eye that Gavin recognized when she was up to something. He grabbed Kay and kissed her again but Kay was too distracted with intrigue.

  “My sleuth is at it again, eh?” He pressed her against his chest.

  “I already called Peggy and left a message for her. She and I will figure this out.”

  “Uh-oh here we go again with Lucy & Ethel hijinx,” he joked. He held her tighter.

  “Don’t you think you should return the loveseat to the young woman who sold it to you? May be it belongs to her,” Gavin suggested.

  “We can’t assume anything,” Kay argued. Besides, Kay didn’t want to entertain that thought right now. She decided to follow Gavin’s cues for making love. Then with calculated ease, Kay dropped her nightgown to the floor completely erasing any more of Gavin’s good-scout suggestions…

  ***

  Around 2:30 am Kay found herself wide awake thinking about the coded message and the map. It couldn’t possibly be the loveseat that this Erna was after, Kay reasoned. Unable to fall back to sleep she made her way downstairs, sat on the sofa staring at the loveseat. With paper and pen in hand Kay jotted some notes to organize her thoughts and the next steps:

  Go to Pearl River Library to research map - soon

  Find that old postcard with alphabet; it may help decipher the code

  Look where Gavin may have hidden my Valentine gift

  Her last item made her smile. What was the big deal about Valentine’s Day, she thought. She recognized that she was putting herself and Gavin through some sort of test. Was it a test of wills or a test of love? What was it that made her want a marriage proposal so badly? After all, Gavin did present her with an Irish Claddagh Ring in Christmas 2012. Was it all about a diamond? A memory instantly surfaced when Kay was at an impressionable age and saw “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” Marilyn Monroe sang the hit tune, “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.” The lyrics circled in Kay’s head, she became nostalgic and teary. Her emotions went up-and-down like a teeter-totter. It was exhausting her and probably Gavin too.

  Then impulsively Kay decided that a better place for the loveseat would be against the wall beneath the front window rather than next to the staircase facing the front door. She quietly pushed the loveseat along the floor where it now rested by the window, then returned to bed.

  Sunday Morning

  An overnight snowfall left in its wake a lily-white carpet and a brilliant sunny sky. Gavin was up and about having his second cup of coffee ready to resume writing. Kay stretched and lingered in bed while enjoying the sunlight streaming into the bedroom. She peered out the window. The fresh snowfall inspired her to take a new round of winter photographs. Cody nuzzled her face to coax her out of bed. It was already 8:30. Just last year she would have rushed to make choir practice before Sunday service. But ever since she and Gavin lived together church had been placed on the backburner.

  Church had become problematic for Kay which made her feel guilty. She loved the Montvale Evangelical Church and singing in the choir. Gavin was Catholic. Not going to church had become a way for them to avoid deciding whose church they would attend. Not that either had refused to attend the other’s church, but for whatever reason it had become comfortable not attending.

  “Good morning,” Kay called out as she passed him in the spare bedroom writing.

  “Good morning, honey. Give us a kiss,” he called back. Instead Kay made a beeline to the bathroom, then downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast. As soon as she reached the bottom of the stairs she yelled Gavin’s name with such urgency that both he and Cody came running down to see what was wrong.

  “Darling, what’s the matter?” Gavin squeezed her hand.

  “The loveseat, it’s been moved. I didn’t move it, did you?”

>   “No, I thought you did. I saw it this morning and figured that’s where you want it now.”

  “How could I have moved it? I was asleep last night right after—“

  “I know,” Gavin grinned.

  “Stop it, be serious. Someone, or that woman, broke into our home and moved it.”

  Gavin began laughing. He even dared to sit on the loveseat motioning for Kay to sit next to him. “I could grow to like this chair,” he said.

  Kay rolled her eyes. “You seem to think this is a joke. Be honest, did you move it?”

  “Sweetheart, I would never gaslight you on anything. Erna did say it was cursed.”

  Kay stuck her tongue at Gavin and turned toward the kitchen. “Go back to your writing and leave me be.”

  Gavin couldn’t brush this incident off so easily. It began to trouble him how Kay was forgetting things. But before he could say anything, the doorbell rang. Kay ran into the living-room with alarm.

  “Don’t look at me, I wasn’t expecting anyone this morning,” Gavin remarked. “Stay in the kitchen, you’re not dressed, I’ll get the door.”

  “Wait, I’ll get my bathrobe upstairs,” Kay said. Again the bell rang and was followed by a knock.

  Gavin opened the door. It was Erna again this time with the young woman, Denise, who held the estate sale. Gavin immediately noted her beauty.

  “Ladies, how may I help you?” Gavin poured-on his Irish brogue. He knew his voice and his slight resemblance to Liam Neeson charmed women. Kay scurried to his side while adjusting her terry-cloth bathrobe.

  “I’m so sorry to bother you,” the young woman began. “May we come in for a moment?”

  Gavin looked at Kay who nodded affirmatively.

  “You were the lady who bought my aunt’s loveseat.” Denise said to Kay while staring at it.

  “Yes, I am. Why are you here? Seller’s remorse?” Kay joked. With that she made sure to sit on the loveseat as if with squatter’s rights.

  “That’s my loveseat,” Erna blurted.

  “Erna, I’ll take care of this,” Denise said kindly.

  “Oh you’ll take care of it all right. Denise, she’s not going to give it back.”

  “I don’t know how you intend to take care of it,” Kay repeated. “But I’m not giving up this chair for anyone.”

  Gavin took his place alongside Kay on the loveseat which pleased her immensely.

  “It’s my chair!” Erna yelled again. “It was promised to me many years ago. My dear friend, Elizabeth Woods, promised it to me.”

  “Can’t you and your wife buy another chair? I’ll refund the money,” Denise offered.

  Kay shook her head negatively with her lips pursed shut. Gavin gave a deep sigh and looked at the young woman as if to say sorry. Erna ran toward them with her two fists ready for punching. Gavin pushed her away while Denise grabbed Erna by the coat.

  “I apologize for bothering you about this intrusion,” Denise said. She extended her hand to Gavin. He politely shook her hand then simply opened the front door signaling for them to leave.

  “Thief!” Erna screamed.

  “Stalker,” Kay countered loudly.

  Erna trailed behind Denise muttering, “I know he loved me.”

  ***

  Kay rushed to the kitchen to jot down notes. Gavin could hear her opening and closing kitchen drawers with agitation.

  “Kay, what’s going on?” He joined her.

  “I can’t find a single pencil or piece of scrap paper. I don’t want to forget the names I just heard.”

  “There’s a pad of paper and pens in the top drawer next to the fridge,” Gavin said helpfully.

  “I knew that,” Kay replied smiling at her own joke. Gavin shrugged and retreated back to the study.

  Kay carefully wrote three names: Erna Wilson, Denise, and Elizabeth Woods. Now I have all my suspects; then she listed alongside each name the words friend, niece, and aunt.

  Erna

  Pearl River or “Muddy Creek” as it was once known is a small hamlet in Rockland County, New York, which is bordered on the south by the affluent Bergen County, NJ. The spacious homes of Bergen County are a striking contrast to the more modest ones of Pearl River. A similar disparity existed between Erna Wilson and her friend Elizabeth Woods, Denise’s deceased aunt. Both Erna and Elizabeth were born and raised in Pearl River.

  Erna was from a working-class family who lectured relentlessly that a college education was the door to opportunity and a good husband. Her parents cashed insurance policies and borrowed from pensions to provide for Erna’s college years. She would rise to the educated middle class that many of her peers at high-school already enjoyed. Elizabeth was one of them whose father was a pharmacist and her mother a piano teacher. Elizabeth sparkled with natural blond hair and electric blue eyes; her glow cast a shadow on Erna whose hair was mousey-brown and framed her pallid complexion. Elizabeth succeeded at everything; she was the golden girl, whereas life for Erna had always been a struggle. In spite of this mismatch the two became close friends and attended the same college.

  It was the late 1960s with the Vietnam War raging and ROTC was spurned by students on most campuses. Erna and Elizabeth embraced the anti-war movement joining demonstrations, carrying placards and chanting “Hell no! We won’t go.” That is, until they met the handsome ROTC cadet, Ben Fields.

  Ben was everything the straggly hippie coeds weren’t. He cut a tall lean muscular stance and appeared level-headed. His yellow-blonde hair and deep blue eyes gave him the looks of a movie-star. He could have had most any woman he wanted. It was Elizabeth who caught his attention with her soft-spoken voice and natural beauty.

  Erna was at home now feeling defeated with the outcome of the red loveseat. Thoughts of the past made her frown. She went to the bathroom mirror to look at herself and saw the scowl across her already unattractive face while tugging at her dull greasy hair. She was disgusted at who she had become.

  She was sure Ben loved her and not Elizabeth though there was no tangible evidence from an outsider’s viewpoint. Erna was also certain she had qualities that Elizabeth would never have. These qualities, however, escaped her at the moment and certainly eluded Ben.

  Her nursing degree at college permitted her to shamelessly follow Ben to Vietnam when he was sent for a year’s tour of duty. Elizabeth who studied education stayed behind to teach at a local Pearl River elementary school. She and Ben promised to write often and to be together when he returned. Elizabeth also corresponded with Erna.

  The weeks slipped into months and Elizabeth’s letters became fewer and further apart to both Ben and Erna. There was a distraction: a male colleague who had fallen hard for Elizabeth on the first day at school. He finally had the courage to ask her out for New Year’s Eve. She accepted.

  It was now the end of January and Ben’s tour was due to end in mid-February. Foolishly, Elizabeth had written to Erna about the teacher but had no intention of telling Ben because she still loved him. But Erna seized the opportunity to tell Ben that Elizabeth was dating another man back home. To prove that he wasn’t hurt over the news, Ben impulsively had sex with Erna. She chose to interpret this as the beginning of their love. He then told Erna about the letter and map hidden in the loveseat without going into detail; and said if he didn’t make it back to please tell Elizabeth when returning to the States. Meanwhile, Erna posted a letter to Elizabeth telling her that she and Ben were in love, he didn’t care that she was seeing someone else. About a week later, Ben was killed in guerilla crossfire.

  These memories spun out of control in Erna’s head so much that she collapsed on the chair and sobbed. Not just for Ben, but for her friend, Elizabeth. Betrayal and guilt make a toxic cocktail. She knew the past was dead, all of it. But Erna wouldn’t leave the past alone until she unveiled the truth about Ben Field.

  Sunday Evening

  Would it be another Sunday evening of Masterpiece Theatre? Kay pondered. Cody was restless going up and down the stairs begging fo
r Gavin or Kay to walk him. He carried the leash in his mouth and dropped it at Kay’s feet. She resigned to taking Cody for a short walk. It was snowing again.

  “Gavin want to join Cody and me for a walk?” Kay called upstairs.

  “No thanks. Tomorrow we’ll go together,” he called back. When he was sure she was out of the house he walked to the back of his clothes closet in the study to look at the Valentine gift he bought for Kay. He was relieved to see that Kay hadn’t snooped to find it.

  A shiver ran through Kay as she started on the walk. It was much colder than she realized. Cody took winter in his stride, stopping to sniff the snow and rubbing his nose against the hard ground. Kay’s cell phone rang in her pocket. It was Peggy.

  “Hey girlfriend, just called your home phone and Gavin said you’re out walking,” Peggy jumped right into talking.

  “Yeah, I needed some exercise and lately I’ve been restless. You’re so lucky you have that part-time library job. Though I know you don’t need the money.”

  “I guess it does structure my time and it’s not about the money. So why did you call me?” Peggy asked.

  “What? My cell phone just rang because you’re calling me,” Kay insisted.

  “Well yes, but I’m returning your call from Saturday evening, don’t you remember? You sounded very excited about something.”

  Kay stopped and shook her head no-no-no she thought to herself. What’s happening to my memory? Cody pulled on the leash.

  “Kay, are you alright?” Peg said with concern.

  “Oh yes! Now I remember why I called. I found some sort of secret note and a map hidden inside the loveseat. It was hidden in one of the pillows.”

  “A real mystery,” Peggy said with interest. “What are we going to do?”

  “We first have to decode the note. I’ll need you to help me with that.” Cody pulled on the leash again placing his paw on Kay’s leg.