by Casey Mayes
After the safe was locked, I made myself a cup of hot chocolate and sat outside. I’d started to reach for the tea bags automatically, but the thought of Joanne’s poisoning was enough to stay my hand. The more I thought about one of my puzzles being pirated, the madder I got. I couldn’t believe the nerve Joanne had exhibited, stealing something I’d created and taking credit for it as her own. I felt betrayed by the action, and more than a little angry. I wouldn’t kill her over it, but I was certain that if she were still alive, I’d do my best to publicly berate and humiliate her with the truth. Hadn’t she realized that, or did Joanne think she was so clever that I’d never uncover the truth? It had been the height of arrogance to steal my puzzle, but even brasher was that she’d waved it in front of my face.
If I was being honest about it, I knew that I’d heard of worse motives for murder in my life.
There wasn’t anything I could do about that at the moment, though. I was just going to have to forget my own motive and continue to look for whoever had killed Joanne.
I was torn from my thoughts by the sound of a car coming up the drive. For a second I thought it might be Zach coming home, but instead, it was Rob’s pickup truck. It was easily recognizable, since he used it for deliveries and it had the hardware store’s name embossed on both door panels.
“Hey, mister, you’ve got the wrong house. I didn’t order anything from the hardware store,” I said as I stepped off the porch to greet him.
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that,” he said as he held up a replacement doorknob for one of my kitchen cabinets that I’d asked him about weeks ago.
I laughed as I took it. “I nearly forgot about this. What did it cost me, two dollars?”
“Sorry, they went up to two fifty,” he said.
“I might be wrong, but isn’t it a little expensive to make a delivery on something this small?”
He shrugged. “I was out this way delivering a load of pine straw to Steve Waverly, so I thought I’d drop this off to you while I was here. What have you been up to today?”
“Oh, a little of this and that,” I said.
“Don’t hold back on me, Savannah,” he said with a grin. “I’m still a member of the investigating team, right?”
“I hate getting you involved,” I said.
“I believe we’ve already gone over that.” He glanced at my mug. “Is that coffee?”
“Hot chocolate,” I admitted.
“Even better. I’ve got some time before I have to head back, and I’d love a cup if you’ve got it to spare.”
“Come on in,” I said.
“If it’s all the same to you, I think I’ll stay out here and enjoy one of these rocking chairs. I don’t get to sit and rock nearly enough.”
“I’ll be back in a minute,” I said.
I made his cocoa, and freshened mine up with a dash more of the hot chocolate while I was at it.
Rob was rocking away when I handed him his mug. “Thanks.” He took a sip, and then smiled. “That’s outstanding. You know, you and Zach have done a wonderful job with these flowers.”
I looked at the raised beds, and their nearly spent buds. “We have vegetables, too, but I love surrounding myself with blossoms and blooms.”
“Don’t tell anyone, but I do, too. My garden feeds my body, but my flower beds feed my soul.”
I smiled gently at him. “I never realized you had a poet’s heart, Rob.”
He shook his head. “I wouldn’t say that, exactly, and I surely wouldn’t spread it around town. After all, I’ve got a reputation to uphold.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t give you away.”
“Good,” he said as he took another sip of cocoa. “So, what’s new on the murder investigation?”
“I don’t even know where to begin,” I said.
“Start anywhere, and I’ll stop you if I’ve heard it before.”
I started to tell him about the conversations I’d had so far without him, but I held back on mentioning my visit to the Asheville Botanical Gardens, and what I’d discovered there. I didn’t think Zach would want me to tell anyone about the poison that had been used to kill Joanne, so I decided to err on the side of caution until I discussed it with him first.
After I was finished recounting what I could, Rob whistled softly under his breath. “Do you realize something? If we’re right, you’ve talked to a murderer in the past twenty-four hours.”
I hadn’t really thought of it that way, but what he said was valid. “I’m still no closer to knowing who did it than I was before.”
“I might be able to help you with that,” he said a little smugly.
“Go on. You’ve got my attention.”
Chapter 10
“WOULD IT HELP IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO GO through Joanne’s house without anyone looking over your shoulder?” Rob asked. “Could there be a clue hiding there about what happened to her?”
“There might be, but I doubt Laura would let me near the place, even if Zach approved of it.”
“You have to get his permission to snoop?” Rob asked softly.
“When it comes to getting actively involved in one of his investigations I do. I wouldn’t do it any more than he would pick up a pencil and change a number in one of my puzzles. There have to be some boundaries.”
Rob thought about that, and then nodded. “I can see that. Assuming he gives you the green light, would you like to look around her place?”
I took another sip of cocoa, and then said, “I’m not at all certain that Laura would appreciate me doing that. If she’s Joanne’s nearest living relative, she’s not going to just invite me in.”
“Maybe not, but you could come with me,” Rob said with a grin.
“How did you get the magic key?”
He took a sip, and then said, “That’s closer to the truth than you know. A magic key is exactly what I’ve got.”
“What are you talking about?”
He held a key up and waved it in the air. “Laura came by an hour ago and gave me this key to Joanne’s house. She’s paying me to change all of the locks in the place, and to give the new keys just to her. She seems concerned that someone’s going to get in there without permission.”
“Couldn’t you get in trouble for bringing me along?”
“Not if you’re my helper,” he said. “Have you ever thought about moonlighting at the hardware store for real? You were teasing with Lee yesterday, but we could make it official. I can only hire you for one job, and there won’t be any salary or benefits attached, but it’s yours if you want it.”
I smiled despite the serious nature of our investigation. “How can I turn down an offer like that? When are you going to do it?”
“As a matter of fact, I’m heading there right now,” he said. “Laura’s paying me double time for a rush job, and I wasn’t about to turn her down.”
“Let me grab something first, and then I’ll need to call Zach.”
“I’ll be right here waiting,” he said.
I called my husband, and he answered on the second ring. “Savannah, did you put those papers in the safe yet?”
“The second we hung up,” I answered. “Let me ask you something. Have you been through Joanne’s house yet?”
“I didn’t get a chance to go myself,” he admitted. “North had it checked out while we were interviewing suspects. I would have loved to go through it, too, but she’s already released it to Laura Moon. Why do you ask?”
“I’ve got a chance to snoop around a little right now, but I didn’t want to step on your toes.”
I could hear him taking a deep breath before he asked, “How did you manage that?”
“Oddly enough, I’ve got a part-time job. No, that’s not right. A temp position is probably closer to the truth.”
I told him what Rob had in mind, and he said, “Is he sure he wants to put himself on the line like that?”
“I told you before, he’s doing this for his late wife, so who am I to say n
o? What do you think?”
“Be careful, don’t take anything, and don’t get caught,” Zach said.
“That’s what I like: directions I can follow.”
He laughed at that. “When’s the last time you followed anyone’s directions that didn’t involve a recipe?”
“Hey, there’s always hope.”
“Savannah,” he said, his voice growing serious for a moment. “Be careful, okay? Never forget the fact that we’re dealing with a murderer here.”
“How can I?” I asked, and then hung up.
I grabbed my digital camera from the closet. After I brought up the pictures in storage on its memory card, I found that the last photo on it was one of Zach working in the garden, a look of serene happiness on his face. I checked the battery level, and then let out a low moan. I’d forgotten to recharge it since my trip to the Botanical Gardens. It had just a small charge left on it.
I hoped it would be enough.
Tucking it into the pocket of one of my oversized jackets, I went outside to tell Rob that I was ready to go.
“What did your husband have to say about our little excursion?” Rob asked as he got out of his chair.
“We’re good to go,” I said. “Hardware Store Apprentice Stone reporting for duty, sir.”
He laughed, and then said, “Just get in the truck, Savannah.”
As we drove to Joanne’s house, I said, “Zach had a good point when I told him what we were up to. You don’t have to do this, you know. If Laura finds out I was in Joanne’s house, she can tell everyone in town that you aren’t trustworthy, and it could do some serious damage to your business.”
“Most folks have known me their entire lives,” he said. “I’m willing to take the chance that they’ll believe my word over hers.” He paused, and then added, “Besides, what’s life without a little spice in it? Do you have any idea what you’re looking for at Joanne’s place?”
“Not really. I’m kind of hoping I’ll know it when I see it.”
Rob smiled slightly as he shook his head. “I’ve always admired that in you, Savannah. You’re not afraid to tackle something without any plan ahead of time whatsoever.”
“If I waited for a sound strategy every time I acted, I’d never get anything accomplished,” I said.
He shrugged. “I’m sure you have a point there, but I’ve always been a big planner, myself.”
“Don’t worry, keep hanging around me and there’s hope for you yet.”
He drove to Joanne’s place, and as we pulled into the driveway, I got that same nagging feeling I always got when my life’s path crossed with someone who was recently dead. There was something eerie about it, but I did my best to suppress my emotions. This wasn’t the time to let my feelings rule me. It was an opportunity that I was certain I wouldn’t get again, and I was determined to make the most of it.
JOANNE’S PLACE WAS FAIRLY MODEST FROM THE OUTSIDE. The grass had been mowed recently, and the leaves were neatly bagged and sitting by the curb for pickup. I doubted Joanne had done it herself. She didn’t seem the type to enjoy yard work, or any other type of work for that matter. The ranch-style home was neatly painted and well cared for. With Joanne, I knew that appearances mattered a great deal to her.
My place was quite a bit more lived-in, at least from the exterior. If there was a choice between style and substance, I always chose the latter.
We walked up to the front porch, Rob with his toolbox and me carrying the replacement locks. So far, to any prying eyes in the neighborhood, I was acting out my part in this charade.
Rob unlocked the front door, and we stepped inside.
The furniture was nicer than I’d been expecting, especially after hearing Laura protest that Joanne didn’t have any money. There were several pieces of furniture that were more expensive than anything I’d ever owned, and I saw some original artwork hanging on the walls that had to be worth more than our cottage, if the quality of the paintings was any indication.
“What do you know? It’s as neat as a pin,” Rob said.
“And much nicer than I’d been led to believe.”
He looked surprised by that comment. “What are you talking about?”
“When I spoke to Laura, she told me that she doubted there would be enough cash to pay off Joanne’s bills, and she said this place was mortgaged to the hilt. Looking around here, I’m guessing that she was mistaken.”
“I don’t know if she was wrong or she just flat-out lied to you, Savannah. I know for a fact that the car Laura is driving around town came from Joanne.”
“How could you possibly know that?” I asked. “Their kinship was supposed to be some big secret.”
“To most folks, it probably was, but you have to remember, Joanne and I knew each other for what felt like forever.”
I ran a hand over the surface of a walnut end table. “Laura had to know I’d find out the truth eventually. What was the point in playing all of this down?”
“Maybe she was embarrassed about all she’s going to get. Then again, she could have been just trying to throw you off her track,” he said as he examined the doorknob. “I can do all of this in half an hour, if everything works out.”
“Does that ever happen?”
He grinned at me as he took out an electric drill with a screwdriver bit chucked in it. I hadn’t been working with Zach on the cottage without picking up a few things here and there. “Do you really need my help, or was it just an excuse to let me satisfy a little curiosity?”
“Okay, I’m willing to admit that I can handle this by myself,” Rob said. “Why don’t you go look around and see what you can turn up? Just do me one favor, okay?”
“Anything. All you have to do is ask.”
“Put everything back where you found it, and we’re good.”
“I can do that,” I said. I started walking around Joanne’s house as Rob went to work removing the old doorknob. I didn’t have a lot of time, so it was important that I got busy right away.
THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE POLICE HAD DONE anything but a superficial search of the house as far as I could tell. Either Captain North was a very thorough investigator, or she didn’t believe the clue to Joanne’s death could be found in her house.
Either way, I had my work cut out for me. Thirty minutes wasn’t a lot of time to dig into someone else’s life. I went to Joanne’s bedroom and started looking inside drawers. The thought of leaving fingerprints behind worried me a little, since they’d be difficult to explain, but I couldn’t imagine it ever coming up. I found Joanne’s bank statements in one of her dresser drawers, and I pulled the top one out. In that money market account alone she had nearly fifty thousand dollars. There shouldn’t be a big problem paying off all of her bills, despite what Laura had told me. I took a photo of the statement, and then turned to the recording section of her checkbook. I didn’t even have time to read the pages; I just snapped a photo of each one with the intention of going over the individual entries later. After I returned her financial records back to the drawer where I’d found them, I started looking around for other things, personal items that might give me some indication of who might want Joanne dead.
As I searched, I found three letters she’d been writing tucked away in a big book of Impressionist artists lying on the nightstand by the bed. None of them were addressed yet, but each note held variations of the same theme.
You should be more careful with your secrets. I found out, and if you don’t watch your step, everyone else in Parson’s Valley is going to know, too.
How odd. I doubted that she was blackmailing anyone, since there was no mention of money in any of the letters. Apparently Joanne was threatening someone—or possibly three someones—to straighten up. Were these three drafts written to the same person, or was Joanne threatening to expose three different people’s misdeeds? I took a quick photograph of all three and then put the letters back where I’d found them.
On her dresser was a framed photograph
of Joanne taken in the mountains. From the look of it, it had been snapped somewhere on the Blue Ridge Parkway, a scenic drive that traced the Appalachian Mountains from North Carolina to Virginia. I always thought that it was odd when people kept pictures of themselves around their homes.
When I opened Joanne’s closet, I nearly lost my breath when I saw how many shoes the woman had. I personally didn’t get the fascination with owning a thousand shoes, but I knew a lot of women did. I had a sturdy pair of boots for hiking and gardening, three pairs of tennis shoes, three pairs of three-inch heels, and two pairs of flats, one in black and the other brown.
It was clear that Joanne believed that she could never have enough shoes. Row after row after row of shoes were stacked, some in their boxes and some in the open air, halfway to the ceiling. She could barely get her skirts and blouses inside the closet. I opened a few of the boxes at random, but they contained only shoes.
I was about to close the closet door when I noticed that one of the boxes away from the door had been shoved in upside down. It was tough to notice it at first, but once I did, it was a glaring error in shoe filing. I leaned down and pulled the box out, careful to keep the lid on tight so nothing would fall out. I flipped it over and began to replace it among its brethren when I realized that the box felt heavier than a pair of heels should be.
Carefully lifting the top, I held my breath as I stared inside. Unfortunately, before I could take more than one quick peek, I heard a woman behind me asking, “What are you doing here, Savannah?”
It was Laura Moon, one of the last people in Parson’s Valley I wanted to see at the moment.
