Angel Angst

by Abby L. Vandiver

  “So if that’s all he’s got,” Sunny said to Divit. “Why did we come here?”

  “I thought maybe we’d find out something more,” Divit said.

  “Well, you could have found out this much at the vigil,” Sunny said and looked at Michael then back to Divit. “We may as well go.”

  “Not yet,” Michael said jumping up from his seat. “You can’t go. You haven’t seen her apartment.”

  “The one you can’t get us inside of?” Sunny asked.

  “Yes. That one,” Michael said nodding.

  Sunny turned and looked at Divit, giving him a look that said she didn’t want to do it. Divit hunched his shoulders. “What could it hurt?” he said.

  Sunny let out a huff. “Fine.” She turned her body toward Michael. “Lead the way.” She swept out her hand.

  As they started up the steps, Sunny leaned in and whispered to Divit. “He’s the right height and the right build.” She pointed to Michael who was a few steps ahead of them.

  “I thought the other person had a medium build?” Divit whispered back.

  “They had on a parka,” Sunny said. “They make people look bigger than they really are.”

  “He’s my friend,” Divit said, making his voice even lower.

  “He isn’t really. You haven’t seen him since you were a kid. And,” she raised an eyebrow. “Friends kill.”

  “I can hear you,” Michael said letting out another snort with his chuckle.

  They climbed the rest of the steps in silence, but Sunny made sure she memorized everything about their dubious tour guide.

  “Okay,” Michael said when they reached the next floor. “That’s it.” He pointed to the end of the hallway at a door that was facing them. “That’s Fleming’s apartment. She had an end unit.” He took off his glasses and cleaned them on his shirt, probably so he could see the door better, Sunny guessed.

  “Okay, now what?” Sunny said. “What are we supposed to gleam from this?”

  Divit hunched his shoulder. “At least we know you were right.” He looked at Sunny. “There’s no police tape.”

  “Well that gets us one step closer to finding out whodunit,” Sunny said. She glanced down the hallway. “Hey!” She elbowed Divit, then lowered her voice. “That’s Ramiel.”

  “Where?” Divit said.

  “Standing at Fleming’s door.” She turned to Divit. “Don’t you see him?”

  “No,” Divit said then took in a big sniff. “I don’t smell him either.

  “He pushed the door open,” Sunny said. “Maybe he’s here to deliver my message.”

  “What door?” Divit looked around.

  “Fleming’s door. Stop acting crazy. Can’t you see it’s opened a crack?”

  “Well. Well. It sure does look like it,” Michael said, he had been listening to their conversation and started down the hallway. “Who is Ramiel?” He spoke over his shoulder.

  “C’mon, Divit,” Sunny said trying to catch up with Michael.

  “Shhh!” Michael said as he reached the door. “Someone’s talking. You hear that?” He looked at Sunny then put his ear up to the crack in the door.

  “Who’s in there?” Divit asked.

  “I don’t know,” Sunny said. “Maybe Ramiel.”

  “Maybe the killer,” Michael said and nodded. “And who is Ramiel?”

  “Or maybe that Detective Dunley,” Sunny said ignoring Michael.

  “I don’t think it’s him,” Divit said. “He said he was going home after the vigil.”

  “You talked to him?” Sunny said her eyes wide. “Why would you talk that detective?” She punched him. “He knows you.”

  “No!” Divit said swallowing. “I didn’t really talk to him.”

  “How could you ‘not really’ talk to him?” Her voice went up an octave.

  “I heard him telling March that.”

  “It sounds like Fleming’s voice,” Michael said lifting his ear from the crack and turning to them.

  “So you were eavesdropping.” Sunny ignored Michael again, cocked her head to the side, and put her hands on her hips.

  “I don’t know if I should tell you or not,” Divit said rubbing his arm. “Seems like you won’t be happy with that answer either.”

  “Let’s go see who’s in there,” Michael suggested at the same time he pushed the door.

  Sunny and Divit looked at each other. “Wait!” they said almost in unison.

  “Too late,” Michael said as he door swung all the way open.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  They walked through the door and heard a woman talking, seemingly to herself.

  “That’s Fleming’s voice,” Michael said. “I’d know it anywhere.”

  “You would,” Sunny said.

  “But how is she talking?” Divit asked.

  Michael picked up a cell phone that was on an end table. “It’s a video.”

  “That’s kind of unreal,” Sunny said. “How is that just playing?” She looked at Divit. “You think Ramiel did that?”

  “I don’t know,” Divit said. “But this is our opportunity to see what we can find out about her, or a clue to the murder.”

  “You mean snoop around?” Michael asked.

  Divit let his eyes dart from Sunny back at Michael. “Well, you know. Just kind of look around.”

  “Oh, I’m fine with snooping,” Michael said and pushed his glasses up on his nose. “I’ve been wanting to come in here ever since she moved in the building.”

  “Pitiful,” Sunny mumbled.

  Sunny started wandering around the room. Fleming’s obsession with pictures of herself wasn’t limited to social media, and her social media “friend” had been right, she loved candles. She had walls full of pictures, and table tops and books shelves adorned with scented candles.

  The pictures were of every kind imaginable – some were glamour shots, there were snapshots of her and March, and an older couple, possibly her parents, she even had photo booth pictures of herself framed and hung on the wall. Sunny leaned in and got a closer look at a grade school class picture she had sitting on a bookshelf. “That guy looks familiar,” Sunny said tapping her nail on the glass of the frame.

  “Hey, I’m going to keep this,” Michael said picking up the recorder.

  “No,” Sunny said turning from the picture. “You don’t know who that belongs to. Put it back.”

  “It belongs to me now,” Michael said and shut off the recorder, pocketing it. “And I agree with you,” he said to Sunny, pushing up his glasses. “This is unreal. I want to remember every second of it.”

  “No more ‘unreal’ than her angel,” Divit said.

  “You have an angel?” Michael asked, a puzzled look on his face.

  “Divit,” Sunny said standing up straight. “I hope you never get assigned to the confessional. You cannot keep a secret.”

  “Who are you?” A man came out of the back. His face was ruddy, his eyes swollen and red. It was easy to see he’d been crying. He had short blonde hair, blue jeans that were ripped down the front, and a muscle shirt.

  “Who are you?” Sunny asked mustering up a little bravado. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

  “I have a key,” he said and patted his pocket. He pointed at Michael. “Don’t I know you from somewhere?”

  “I live in the building.”

  “Oh,” the guy said. He put his hand up to his head, holding it as if it were heavy, then walked over to where the phone had been. “Where’s my phone?”

  Sunny and Divit turned and looked at Michael. He pulled it out of his pocket and handed it over.

  “So what, dude? You were just going to take my phone?” The guy looked around at the three of them. “I’m going to need you people to leave.”

  Sunny glanced over at her compadres and back at the guy. “Hi,” she said stepping up to him and sticking out her hand. “I’m Sunny.” Sunny could smell alcohol on his breath.

  “I’m Brandt,” he said. “Fleming’s
boyfriend. And I’m still going to need you to go. Sunny.” He emphasized her name.

  “I. Didn’t. Know. Fleming had a boyfriend,” Divit said, questioning the statement with an inflection in his voice.

  “I didn’t either,” Michael said disappointment in his.

  “What are you doing here?” Sunny asked. She knew from Fleming’s social media posts that she lived alone.

  “I miss her,” he said and started sobbing. “I just wanted to be close to her.”

  “Oh,” Divit said.

  “Grief counselor,” Sunny said and nodded toward Brandt directing Divit to do his thing.

  “Come sit down.” Divit took the hint. He went over to Brandt and guided him to a chair, then sat opposite him. “My name is Divit. I’m a grief counselor.” That comment made Brandt look over at Sunny. She nodded at him, as if saying it was the truth. “Why didn’t you go to the memorial?” Divit continued. “That may have helped with your feelings. Being with other people that miss her too.”

  “Why would I go there?” Brandt’s words were slurred. And just Divit’s suggestion of him being at that pub upset him. His words were forceful, and spittle came flying out when he spoke. “They’re the reason she’s dead!”

  “How do you figure that?” Divit said.

  “She was having an affair with Ian. Either he killed her, or Naomi did in a jealous rage.”

  “I don’t think it was Ian,” Sunny said looking at Divit. “He’s too tall.”

  Brandt looked at her with confusion, but before he could respond, someone else entered the small apartment.

  “What are you people doing here?” a voice came from the doorway. “How did you get in here?”

  “He has a key,” Michael said and pointed at Brandt.

  “You weren’t supposed to have a key.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “How did you get it?”

  “He’s her boyfriend,” Michael said.

  “No he is not!” the woman said.

  “What are you doing here?” Brandt stood up and pointed at the woman. “Come back to gloat?” he glared at her. “You’ve always wanted to have her life. To be her. So what? You just took it.”

  “What are you talking about, Brandt?” the woman asked.

  “You know exactly what I’m talking about, Naomi.”

  “Naomi,” both Divit and Sunny said at the same time.

  Naomi was average height, with thick brown hair that hung around her shoulders. She had a small turned up nose, thin lips and thin eyes. She wore a three-quarter length coat and blue jeans.

  “You’re drunk!” she said.

  “Not off your liquor,” his voice began to escalate. “I wouldn’t ever be caught dead there.”

  “Come there, and that might just be how you leave!” she said, anger filling her voice.

  “You killed Fleming,” Brandt said, accusing her even in his stupor.

  That made Sunny look at Naomi and try to size her up.

  Divit had the same thoughts. He leaned into Sunny. “Is she the right height?”

  Sunny nodded. “I think so.”

  “Don’t be absurd,” Naomi said still arguing with Brandt. “I did not kill her. You need to go somewhere and sober up. And not here. I will call the Super if you don’t go!” She looked at Sunny, Divit and Michael. “All of you.”

  “That would be Rocky T,” Michael said looking at Divit. “He’s not such a nice man.” He squinted and stuck a finger under the eyeglass and rubbed his eye. “Actually, he’s not really a good Super either.”

  “Whether I’m sober or not doesn’t matter,” Brandt said, not worried about the possibility of the Super coming up. “I know what I know.”

  “Is this because she broke it off with you, Brandt?” Naomi stepped inside the door. “Is that why you’re like this? She never wanted you, you were just something to do. You check out her Facebook page? It says ‘Single.’ So you need to get over it. And,” she said and held out her hand, palm up. “You need to give me that key.”

  “What is all this commotion going on up here?” A husky man came through the door. “I’ve got complaints that voices are coming from this apartment. No one is supposed to be here.”

  “That’s Rocky T,” Michael said and moved behind a chair.

  “I don’t know how you people got in here, but I’ve called the police,” Rocky T said. You might want to leave now.” He looked over at Naomi. “Is everything alright, Mrs. McCarter?”

  “Yes,” she said. “Other than Brandt making a fool of himself.”

  “And who is Brandt?” Rocky T asked.

  Everyone pointed to the drunkard.

  “I have a key,” Brandt said repeating his professed legitimacy. “I don’t know where they came from, or what they want.” He flung an arm toward Sunny and friends. “But I have a reason to be here.”

  “We were just leaving,” Divit said and pushed past Rocky T and Naomi.”

  Sunny followed behind him.

  Rocky T pointed a finger at Michael. “What are you doing up here? You live downstairs.”

  “I came with them,” Michael said and pointed to Sunny and Divit as they were walking down the hallway toward the steps. Rocky T took a step toward him. “But,” Michael added. “I was just leaving.”

  Michael caught up to them just as Sunny and Divit pushed open the door to the stairwell. “Well, that was something, huh?”

  “Why was Naomi McCarter there?” Sunny asked Divit.

  But it was Michael that answered. “She and Ian live in the building.”

  “Oh,” Sunny and Divit said in unison.

  “How interesting,” Divit said.

  Sunny and Divit didn’t go back to Michael’s apartment, but said their good-byes in the stairwell and went down the next flight of stairs.

  As Sunny turned the ignition, ‘Help me angel, ‘cause it’s dark everywhere. Help me angel. Find the magic in the air,’ came through her car speakers.

  “That’s Steve Winwood’s song, Angel,” Divit said.

  “Those are the only kinds of songs I hear anymore,” Sunny said and shook her head.

  “Ones about angels?”

  “Yes. I think my radio is broken because every time I turn the radio off, the next time I get in the car, it’s on again.”

  “Maybe it’s being supernaturally controlled.” Divit raised an eyebrow.

  Sunny reached over and shut off the car radio without commenting on Divit’s remark.

  “You do need help from your angel,” Divit said.

  “Yeah, well you try telling him that.”

  Divit turned in his seat to face Sunny. “What was up with that Brandt guy?” he said changing the subject.

  “You mean, Right-Height-Brandt?” Sunny said.

  “He was the right height?” Divit asked. “It makes sense that a boyfriend would do it.” He looked at Sunny. “Especially a self-proclaimed boyfriend.”

  Sunny nodded. “But if he did kill her,” she said, “why was he so upset?”

  “A lot of times people feel remorseful after they’ve killed someone. That would explain the sobbing and drinking,” Divit said.

  “Yeah, that’s what Detective Dunley said to me.” Sunny glanced over. “That I called 911 because I felt bad after I killed Fleming.”

  “Well, we’ve met enough people today to give that detective someone else to look at.”

  “I hope so,” Sunny said and got quiet for a minute. “You know I wonder why Ramiel came to the apartment.” She looked at Divit. “Do you think it was a sign?”

  “Why didn’t I see him?” Divit asked. “I always see him.”

  “I don’t know,” Sunny said. “Maybe because he came and left so quickly.”

  “Maybe so,” Divit said. “But if that was it then that means it was either Brandt or Naomi,”

  “Or creepy Michael,” Sunny said. “

  “That’s not nice.

  “Not nice, but true,” Sunny said and glanced over at Divit.

  “So, who’s on
our list?”

  “You mean our ‘figuratively speaking’ suspect list?” Sunny said jeering Michael.

  “Not nice,” Divit said.

  “Sorry,” Sunny said and meant it.

  “I guess our suspects are March, Brandt and . . .” Sunny looked over at Divit. “Isn’t it strange that Naomi and Ian live in that building?”

  “I don’t know.” Divit hunched his shoulders. “They have to live somewhere.”

  “But the bartender, Chet,” Sunny said, “and drunk-guy Brandt both alluded to something going on with Fleming, Naomi and Ian.”

  “Did Chet,” Divit said and wiggled his eyebrows, “say Ian and Fleming were having an affair?”

  “No, he just said that they felt bad she was dead.” Sunny looked over at Divit. “Like they had something to do with it. You were there when he said it, you don’t remember?”

  “No. But it is strange that their names keep coming up in relation to the murder. Does it mean one of them committed the murder?”

  “I don’t think Ian could have,” Sunny said.

  “Too tall,” they said at the same time.

  “So was it March or Naomi?” Divit said. “Because we really don’t know much about them. What was their motive?”

  “I don’t know,” Sunny said and sighed. “I think if we’re being honest, Divit, we’d have to admit that we didn’t find out a thing today,” Sunny said. “There were so many people at the memorial, and the only thing we have to go on is how tall they are.”

  “I know,” Divit said and let out a breath.

  “How are we supposed to figure this out?” Sunny said.

  “Good question,” Divit said.

  The two remained quiet after that the rest of the way home. And after Sunny dropped Divit off, she remained quiet, not daring to turn on the radio.

  You wouldn’t believe it, Duke,” Sunny said when she walked in the door and saw her dog waiting for her. “All the things that happened to me today. I met a man – a cute man – successfully avoided the lawman that wants to throw me in jail, went to a memorial, and met one of Divit’s friends.” Duke gave out a bark. “No, Duke, I promised I wouldn’t say anything else bad about Michael, so you can’t either.” She reached down and gave him a pat on the head. “As far as the murderer goes, though,” Sunny looked at Duke who was listening intently, “we found out nothing.” She headed down the hallway to her bedroom. “Zero. Zilch. Nada.”