by V. M. Burns
Infuriatingly, he merely shrugged. “She didn’t know the police were coming.”
“Oh yeah.” I sighed.
“I asked her husband about her, and he promised he would have her call.”
“Did she?”
He hesitated for several moments. “Not exactly. I got a text video.” He pulled out his cell phone and made a few swipes. Then he held the phone so I could watch.
A tall, thin woman wearing a baseball cap, no makeup, and sunglasses, who looked a lot like Keri Lynn Simpson, appeared in the video. “Hello, Mr. Olson. This is Keri Lynn. My husband told me what’s been going on. I want to assure you that I’m alive and well. I have a family emergency, and so I’m going to be hard to reach for a few days.” She spun around and showed a rural area with plenty of trees. “As you can see, I’m off the beaten path and the cell reception isn’t great. I should be back in a few days. I’ll stop by as soon as…” The rest of her message was garbled and completely unintelligible.
“Were you able to trace it?” I looked at him.
He shook his head. “No, and we can’t really tell where she is. We tried to get her cell phone carrier to help, but they couldn’t even tell us which tower it pinged.”
“Why not?”
He frowned. “Apparently, she wasn’t using her cell phone.”
I opened my mouth, but he held up a hand. “Before you ask, we checked with her husband. He said she dropped her phone and cracked the screen and she bought a cheap one at Walmart to use until she gets home and can get her phone repaired.”
“That video wasn’t very clear, and it could have been anyone.”
“Maybe not anyone, but it looks like the photo we have of Keri Lynn.”
I sighed. For the first time in two days, I questioned what I saw. Red’s arm’s encircled me.
He held me tightly and whispered, “I still believe you saw someone murdered. Maybe it wasn’t Keri Lynn.”
I sighed and put my head on his shoulder.
He leaned down to kiss me but suddenly stopped. He jerked his head up so suddenly, I stumbled.
“What?”
“Is that a gas stove?”
Since there were so many boxes in the kitchen, apparently he hadn’t been able to see the stove until I moved the last box. Red loved to cook.
When I saw the excitement on his face, I couldn’t be offended, but I teased him anyway. “I can’t believe I’ve been replaced in your affections by a gas stove.”
He pulled his eyes away from the stove and only then did he seem to realize what he’d done. “I’m so sorry. I just wasn’t expecting that. Natural gas stoves are rare in Chattanooga.” He grinned and then leaned down again, but this time it was Dixie who ruined the moment.
“Lilly Ann, you’ve got a million pillows. Are you sure you want—” Dixie came into the kitchen but halted. “Sorry.” She turned around to leave.
We pulled apart.
“Wait. It’s okay.”
She turned around. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Red looked at his watch. “I’ve got to go. I’ve got a presentation tomorrow, and I haven’t even started.”
I felt guilty. I knew Red was investigating Keri Lynn Simpson because of me when he probably should have been working on his other cases.
He kissed me and promised to call later and then hurried out the door.
Dixie stood in the kitchen holding four feather pillows. “You okay?”
I nodded. “He’s investigating Keri Lynn and Dallas because of me. What if I’m wrong?”
“Are you?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know anymore.” I told Dixie about Keri Lynn’s video. “I don’t want Red to get in trouble.”
“Red Olson is a grown man. He knows what he’s doing. If he didn’t want to investigate this, he wouldn’t.” She stared at me. “You’ve been confident about what you saw. I think you should trust yourself.”
I nodded. “Thanks.”
We worked a little longer, and then Dixie said she needed to get home. She loaded up the poodles and headed out to make her way up Lookout Mountain.
David’s plane was scheduled to land soon. So I scooped up Aggie and headed for the Chattanooga airport.
Thankfully, Chattanooga’s airport was small and traffic was light. Aggie and I pulled up to the curb just as I got a text message saying he had landed and would be out soon.
In just a few short minutes, David came out with a large backpack. He was wearing a baseball cap. I got out of the car and gave him a big hug. I opened the back hatch of my SUV and he tossed his backpack inside.
“Is that all the luggage you brought?”
He smiled. “When you travel as much as I do, you learn to pack light.”
Aggie stood on her hind legs and put her nose to the crack I’d left in the back window. When she saw David, she immediately growled.
David quickly took off his baseball hat. “I forgot.” He ran his hand over his head of short, curly dark hair and smiled at Aggie. She sniffed several times, and then her tail began to wag a hundred miles an hour, like a propeller.
He laughed. “Still afraid of men in caps?”
I nodded. From the corner of my eye, I saw the blue-shirted airport security guy heading toward us to hurry us along. We quickly got into the car and drove off.
On the way home, I told David about the house I planned to buy.
I pulled into the driveway.
“Why aren’t you parking in the garage?”
“No garage door opener. The owner said he doesn’t have one.”
“You can get one of those universal remotes and I’ll program it for you.”
“Thanks.”
We walked inside.
“I’m sorry about the boxes, but…”
He smiled and walked around, noticing all of the unique details. “I like the asymmetrical window and vaulted ceiling in your living room.”
It was dark out now, so he wasn’t able to see the wonderful backyard in all of its glory, but he seemed to appreciate it all the same.
I gave him a few minutes to get settled into the guest room.
The smell of spaghetti and garlic bread heating up in the oven drew him to the kitchen.
“Mmmm, that smells wonderful. When did you have time to cook?”
I laughed. “I didn’t.” I held up the bag from a chain restaurant.
Thanks to Dixie’s handiwork, we were able to sit at the dining room table together. She had not only put away all of the items that had sat atop the table but had found my dishes and set the table as though company was coming.
Aggie wandered from David to me in the hopes of a handout or that one of us would drop something. It wasn’t until all hope was lost that she gave up, went into the kitchen, and ate her dinner.
While we ate, I told David about the murder I’d witnessed.
He stared openmouthed at me. “That’s absolutely horrible.”
I also shared my plan to offer my services as an accountant so I could get a look at their books.
He was quiet, which I interpreted as judgment. Normally, David was supportive and slow to judge others, especially when it came to me. I had supported his dream to pursue a career as an actor, in spite of his father’s opposition. So I was hurt but tried to hide it.
“I know you may not agree with my plan, but I feel strongly that someone should do something. Honestly, that’s the problem with the world. No one wants to get involved.”
He held up a hand. “Mom, calm down. I’m not opposed to your idea.”
“You’re not?”
He shook his head. “I was just thinking how I could get in on the action.” He smiled. “Do you think they could use an actor on sabbatical or a volunteer dog walker?”
Chapter 10
David and I stay
ed up late figuring out a good cover story for him. We decided a place with that many dogs could always use a volunteer. In fact, he decided to play it as wanting to observe for a movie role. I felt that would appeal to Dallas’s ego. This would give him a reason to hang out when I was at the museum.
Linda Kay had been so flexible and offered several times to allow me to work from home. I decided to take her up on the offer and would work half days at the museum and half days at Pet Haven. I could do this for at least a week. Hopefully, I could find out the financial health of Pet Haven by then.
After lunch, I drove home and picked up David and Aggie, and we headed to Pet Haven. Last night we’d agreed taking Aggie might make it harder for them to refuse. After all, if I was willing to pay their exorbitant fees for day care for my dog, and my son was willing to volunteer, then surely they couldn’t object to free use of a certified public accountant.
I was grateful I’d made an appointment, because when I got to the security gate, the guard heard my name and immediately opened the gate so we could enter.
David whistled when he saw the marble lobby. “This is pretty spiffy for dogs.” He looked around. “Maybe I should see if they could put me up too.”
When we got to the front desk, there was a young woman I didn’t recognize. “Mr. Simpson will be right out to meet you, Mrs. Echosby.” She smiled.
Her name tag said her name was Madison. She smiled at me as she walked around the counter. She bent down to pet Aggie. “You’re so cute.”
Aggie’s tail immediately wagged super fast.
When Madison reached in her pocket and pulled out a treat, the tail wagged even faster. “You’re such a smart girl. I’ll bet you know how to sit.”
Aggie’s butt hit the ground so fast I was shocked.
Madison smiled and promptly gave her the treat.
David leaned close and whispered, “Maybe you should get your friend to analyze those treats. I think they must be laced with something.”
I glared, but he merely ignored me and bent down. “You certainly have a way with dogs.” He smiled and turned up the charm.
Madison continued to pet Aggie. “I love dogs. That’s why I wanted to work here.”
“Me too.” He extended a hand. “I’m David.”
She shook. “Madison.”
Dallas Simpson walked around the counter. “Mrs. Echosby.” He smiled. I had expected a cold reception and had braced myself to grovel as I asked for forgiveness. However, I was shocked by the warm reception.
“Mr. Simpson. I’m so glad you—”
“Dallas, please.” He grasped my hand in both of his. He then did what I thought impossible and smiled even bigger than before.
I fought the urge to extract my hand and turned to David. “This is my son, David.”
He nodded to David and kept my hand clasped in his.
I was grateful when David extended a hand, forcing him to release me to shake.
He then bent over. “This lovely creature must be Aggie.” He opened his arms, and my little traitor leapt up into his arms and began licking his face with a vengeance.
Dallas Simpson laughed and struggled to keep her from sticking her tongue in his mouth.
I was so surprised at her behavior, I was paralyzed.
David reacted faster and reached out and pulled Aggie off.
It wasn’t until Aggie was removed that I noticed what she’d been up to. Dallas Simpson must have recently been refreshing his spray-on tan, which hadn’t quite set. Aggie had managed to lick off a good portion from his face.
I gave credit to David for maintaining his composure because I was tempted to burst into laughter.
He turned to Madison. “Perhaps you wouldn’t mind taking Aggie out to play with the small dogs while we chat.”
Madison nodded and David handed Aggie over.
Dallas Simpson then turned back to us. “Why don’t we go into my office and talk?” He extended an arm in the direction of the room he had just left.
We walked to the office and waited while he opened the door.
The office was large and plush. It contained the same marble flooring from the entry and a large plate-glass window that looked out on the back of the property. There was a white fuzzy rug under a glass desk and two clear plastic contemporary guest chairs.
David and I each sat in one of the chairs. The chairs were stylish, undoubtedly an interior designer’s decision chosen purely for artistic merit rather than comfort. The plastic was hard and slippery, and I had to plant my feet on the rug and put both hands on the arms of the chairs to keep from sliding.
Unlike the hard plastic chairs provided for guests, Dallas Simpson had a large white desk chair that looked soft and comfortable. He gracefully sat down and leaned across the table. “Now, what can I do for you both?”
“First, I want to apologize for any inconvenience. I was genuinely concerned about your wife, Keri Lynn. However, it’s obvious that my concerns were unfounded, and I wanted to apologize.”
After I’d told David my impressions of Dallas Simpson’s personality, he’d suggested a dramatic flowery apology would play best to his ego. If the gushing response Dallas Simpson provided was any indication, David had been right.
“My dear lady, think nothing of it.” He waved his hand as though flinging away a gnat. “I’ll admit it was a bit of an inconvenience, being taken down to the police station and questioned like a common criminal.” He shuddered. “Those policemen probe into every aspect of your life.” He pursed his lips. “I felt absolutely violated.” He took two long, slow breaths. “However, I’m over it now.” He leaned across the long, narrow desk, reached his hands out to me, and took one of mine that I’d failed to keep out of reach. “I harbor no ill feelings toward you. I believe your intentions were good, but I assure you, I love my wife.”
“Thank you so much. I was so worried.” I wrenched my hand away, reached in my purse, and took out a tissue to dab at my eyes, another suggestion of David’s. He said if I felt myself about to burst out laughing, I should either pinch myself, bite the inside of my cheek, or get a tissue and feign tears.
“Honestly, Keri Lynn and I both laughed about it, but we were in no way offended. Please, don’t distress yourself.”
“I’m so thankful to you both.” I dabbed the fake tears again and bit the inside of my jaw too for safe measure. “I’d like to apologize to Keri Lynn too…when she returns.”
He shook his head. “I assure you. It isn’t needed, but I will tell her.”
“When do you expect her back?”
A muscle on the side of his face twitched, and his smile grew just the slightest bit colder. “I really couldn’t say. She’s dealing with a family emergency and…you know how these things are.” He broadened his grin. At that moment, I knew what Red Riding Hood saw when she said, “Grandmother, what big teeth you have.”
“I was hoping I could do something to make amends.”
He opened his mouth to dismiss me, but I continued to speak. “I’m a CPA, and I know there’s always a lot of work to finish off the fiscal year and get ready for filing taxes. I wondered if you would accept my offer to volunteer my services.”
“You want to volunteer to do our taxes?”
I nodded. “Sure. It’s the least I can do for the inconvenience I caused you.” I hesitated. “That is, unless you already have a CPA to do them. I wouldn’t want to step on anyone’s toes.”
“Well, honestly, Keri Lynn and I do the books ourselves. However, with my wife away tending to her family, it would be nice to have some help with all of that financial mumbo jumbo.”
“I’d be more than happy to help.”
“Are you sure? We could pay you.”
I waved off the notion. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” I smiled. “I’m glad that’s settled.”
“Well, thank yo
u.” He smiled. This time it wasn’t the scary wolf smile but the closest thing to sincerity I’d seen in him since we first met.
“I’d like to volunteer too.” David leaned forward.
“Excuse me.” I turned to David. “My son, David, is a very successful theatrical actor.”
“Really?” He gave the “you can’t be very good, and you must be waiting tables” look that I’d grown accustomed to whenever I told someone my son was an actor. “Would I have seen anything you were in?”
David rattled off a string of television shows and Tony Award–winning musicals he had performed in, and the look changed from skepticism to awe. “Wow. That’s amazing. You know, Keri Lynn used to be an actress too.” He smiled.
“Really? Theater? Film? Television?” David eagerly asked.
Dallas chuckled. “She did some modeling and made a few films, but well…things didn’t work out quite as well for her acting career. She performed in a few little local performances…community theater.” He swiveled his chair around and picked up a picture of Keri Lynn from the back of his desk. He stared at it for several moments before handing it to David. “She’s a beautiful woman. All the leading men fell in love with her.” He smiled.
“What happened?” I asked.
“Well, you know how it is. She was young and wanted to be a star, and some men promised they could make her rich and famous.” He took the picture back and replaced it. “Unfortunately, things didn’t work out quite as well for her.”
“I’m really sorry.” I racked my brain to come up with a way to keep him talking, but it wasn’t necessary.
He shrugged. “That’s how she met her first husband. He owned a few magazines and a production company. They met and fell in love, but he died suddenly, and his family wasn’t really interested in producing films.”
“Producing films starring Keri Lynn” was left unsaid, but the implication was there nonetheless.
“So what brings you to Chattanooga?” He turned his attention to David.
David explained he was on a brief hiatus while the plumbing was being repaired in Milan, and he’d decided to come home to visit for a couple of weeks. “But the main reason I’m here is that I was hoping you’d permit me to do a bit of shadowing.”
