by Tim Myers
To my amazement, they did just that. As the men drifted back to the production line, Kate and Louisa went back to their customers. At that moment, Cindy walked back in. “I heard you all from the parking lot. What did I miss?”
Before Kate or Louisa could say a word, I said, “Nothing much. Now that you’re back, I’ve got some things I need to do.”
“Where are you going?” Louisa asked me. “Andrew confessed to the murder. You’re off the hook.”
“There are still a few loose ends I want to tie up,” I said. While I could believe that Andrew had killed his father, I was still puzzled by Ralph’s behavior, especially with the coins I’d seen him intentionally tarnishing. Louisa was right. I probably should just leave it alone now that my name was cleared, but it wasn’t in my nature. I wouldn’t rest until I knew the answers to all of my questions, not just some of them. Andrew had told me he was going to Raleigh the night his father died. I’d assumed Molly had checked that alibi out, but it had to be faulty if Andrew found a way to get back and kill his father. Maybe he got to the hotel, checked in, and drove straight back. It was even possible he had someone else check him into his hotel. For whatever reason, he’d figured out a way to beat the system. That still left a lot of questions unanswered.
Where to go to get answers was another question entirely.
I thought I was driving randomly as I played with the possibilities racing through my mind, but I suddenly realized that my subconscious was working overtime when I found myself in front of the Joy household again. It was going to be a quiet place with Andrew and Earnest both gone. I got out and stared at the house, willing it to tell me its secrets.
Then I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. Ralph Haller, or whatever he wanted to be called, was coming out his own front door, a pair of suitcases clasped in his hands. As he threw them in the open trunk of his car, I approached on foot, but he didn’t see me. I was almost to his front door when he charged back out, this time loaded down with boxes that had obviously been hastily packed.
“Going somewhere?” I asked him.
For a second I thought I’d given him a heart attack. His face went ashen and the boxes slipped from his grip. “What are you doing here?”
“Did you hear about Andrew?” I asked, sidestepping his question.
“Yeah, I heard. It’s a real shame.”
I’d expected more of a reaction from him, especially given his previous devotion to Andrew Joy.
“That’s all you’ve got to say about it?”
Ralph started retrieving objects from his fallen boxes. “What can I say? He’s gone, but I’m still kicking.”
“So where are you going?”
He said, “Out of town, out of Dodge, out of North Carolina, and if I don’t do it soon, I’ll go out of my mind. Does that satisfy you?”
There was definitely something amiss about his reaction. “Surely you’re staying in town for the funeral.”
“No way,” Ralph said as he shoved a box into his backseat. “If I do, there might be two.”
“What are you talking about?”
He shook his head. “You should have kept your big nose out of this. You’re the reason he’s dead.”
“Andrew killed himself out of remorse,” I protested.
“Yeah, right, that’s exactly what happened.” He hustled back into the house, and I thought about following him in when he came out, slammed the front door shut, and got into his car.
“You can’t just run away,” I said.
“Watch me.”
He peeled rubber out of his driveway and raced down the road. Something had him spooked, and from the way he was acting, it was pretty bad.
I peeked inside his house, but there was nothing but junk left behind. When I walked over to the Joy house, I thought about forcing my way in, but I knew all that would get me was a stay in jail. Molly was pretty serious about crimes committed in her jurisdiction and our history wouldn’t save me from punishment if I blatantly broke the law. I went so far as to try the doorknobs, both front and back, but they were locked tight.
I couldn’t do much if the answers were tucked away behind closed doors. I drove to the soap shop, then changed my mind at the last second and circled the block to the Joy jewelry store. No one was there, as I’d suspected, but there was a note on the front door. I got out and read it. closed until further notice was printed in bold letters. I wondered if the place would ever reopen. Terri was the only one left to run the jewelry shop, and she already had a job. She’d mentioned the possibility of running it herself, but I didn’t see how she could do it now, given the circumstances. I peeked inside the window and looked at the display cases. Earnest really did have a fine touch converting old coins into jewelry. And then it hit me.
Old coins. Or were they? When I’d confronted Molly about Ralph Haller’s counterfeiting conviction, she’d said it wasn’t money, at least not any kind you could spend. I’d seen Ralph doctoring coins in his living room, and I naturally thought he’d been cleaning them until I’d talked to my brothers. Suddenly it all began to fit together. Ralph Haller had to be making counterfeit coins that Earnest was selling in his jewelry. If he wanted a bigger slice of the action, he could have killed Earnest himself. So why did Andrew’s death send him scampering out of town like his tail was on fire? There could only be one reason I could think of. Someone else had killed Earnest, and Ralph must have suspected that they’d had something to do with Andrew’s death as well. Who was left with motive, means, and opportunity? Then I realized how it all fit together. No one had heard Andrew’s confession except Terri, the only other person in the world with motive enough to kill. By blaming her father’s death on her brother, she’d made herself sole heir and put the blame on her brother. Then I realized that I’d given her the opening she’d needed at the hospital by asking her a leading question.
But how on earth was I going to prove any of it? I couldn’t go to Molly. She’d laugh in my face. Kelly couldn’t help me, either. I had to do something, but I couldn’t imagine what.
Then I heard a car pull up behind the Miata, effectively blocking my escape route. It was Terri Joy, and she didn’t look all that happy to see me.
“Ben, what are you doing here?”
I couldn’t accuse her, but I had to get some evidence that I was right. “I was hoping someone would be here. I still need that present.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Come on, that was a ruse, and we both know it. It’s okay, I forgive you.”
“You don’t understand,” I said. “Diana drove by when I was comforting you in front of the soap shop. I’m in hot water with her, and I’m hoping one of your pieces will help me fix it.”
She looked sympathetic. “I suppose I should let you in, since I’m partially to blame. Come on.”
I followed her into the store. I had a plan, but I wasn’t sure it would work.
“So, have you come to any more conclusions about what she might like?” Terri asked as she dead-bolted the door behind us.
“I saw something the other day that would be perfect,” I said.
“Pick out whatever you like, and I’ll sell it to you at cost. I’m closing this place down, so it’s time I got rid of our inventory.”
“You’re not going to run the store after all?” I asked.
“No, I never really liked retail anyway. I think I’ll leave Harper’s Landing altogether,” she said. “There are too many memories here for me.”
“I understand completely,” I said as I moved to the case with the fake bar of gold in it. “I see just what I want.”
I pointed to the display of ancient coins dangling from a necklace.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “But I don’t think so.”
“I thought you said I could have anything I wanted?” I asked.
“Anything except items from that display.” She reached into the case and pulled out the gilded lead brick with her left hand. “I’m sentimental, and these were the last pieces
my father ever made.”
I stared at her and realized I should have gotten Molly’s help after all, even if it would have caused me some humiliation. “You’re right. This isn’t a good time after all. If you’ll let me out, I’ll go get her some flowers or something.”
Terri nodded, and she followed me to the door. I had my hand on the dead bolt when I heard a click behind me. I didn’t even have to turn around to know that she had a gun pointed at me.
“So, you know, don’t you?”
“Know what?” I asked, refusing to turn around. Maybe I could bluff my way out of this after all.
“Give it up, Ben. It’s no use. You always were too clever for your own good. Now step away from the door and I may just let you live through this.”
I pivoted, but realized the second I looked into her eyes that I wasn’t going to get out of there alive.
“I give up. You’re right, I know you did it. I just don’t know why.”
Terri laughed, but there was no joy in it. “And you think I’m going to tell you? Please, you’re kidding, right?”
“Don’t I deserve to at least know the truth?”
She shook her head. “Believe me, the truth is highly overrated.”
“Humor me, Terri. After all, you won’t be able to ever tell anybody else, and I’ve got a feeling I’m not going to live to see the sunset.”
She appeared to think about it for a few seconds, then said, “Why not? It all started because of my moron of a brother. He never was very smart, but forcing Dad to commandeer your parking lot was a colossal blunder, and attention we didn’t need.”
“Why did he do it?” I asked, hoping against hope that someone would see our cars and wonder what we were doing in a closed shop.
“He found some of our coins in the backyard that Dad was trying to age naturally. It had been when he’d first gotten started, and he hadn’t discovered that darkening agent yet. Dad forgot all about them, but Andrew uncovered them with his new metal detector, and he thought he’d struck it rich. If he’d just told Dad or me we could have set him straight, but he was too greedy. Andrew wasn’t about to share.”
“That’s when he started gardening,” I said.
“You’ve got it. He must have dug up a dozen old spoons, buttons, and other worthless junk, but he was convinced there was more treasure out there. That’s when he persuaded Dad to take over your parking lot. The fool even dug into it before I could stop him. I took Andrew aside and explained what we were doing, at least a part of it, and offered to cut him in. We’d been right to exclude him, though. When he found out, he threatened to go to Molly with the truth about our counterfeit coin scam. I decided he had to go, but then I saw a way to get it all for myself. If I killed Dad and pinned it on Andrew, I could inherit it all. But he left a clue before he died, and I didn’t know about it until it was too late.”
“Are you talking about the soap in his hand? I figure you planted that yourself to put the suspicion on my family.”
She shook her head. “No, he did that himself. The clue wasn’t the soap, though.”
That’s when it hit me. “It was in his left hand, and you were the only real suspect who was left-handed.”
“Very good, Ben, but you’re a little late.” She laughed shortly, then added, “That’s good. In a second, that’s exactly what you’re going to be; the late Ben Perkins.”
I had to keep her talking. It was my only hope. “But what about Ralph?” I asked as I inched closer to the only weapon in sight, the gilded brick still on the counter.
“Who’s going to believe an ex-con, especially when I had evidence to send him back to prison? He was leashed, good and tight. That’s why he hated me so much. There wasn’t a thing he could do to stop me.”
“So you killed Andrew to cover up your father’s murder,” I said. I was almost there, and if she noticed me inching toward the brick, she didn’t let on.
“I told him we’d claim his overdose was another murder attempt, and that would clear him forever with the police.
Andrew was almost grateful to swallow the pills and bourbon when I promised him I’d call an ambulance, so he’d be perfectly safe. At that point he was desperate to do anything to stay out of jail. I waited until he took the pills, and then slipped out the back. The fool came out of it long enough to call an ambulance, so I had to make sure he never woke up at the hospital.”
“So you killed him again?” Okay, I knew it didn’t make sense as I said it, but she understood.
“I would have if I’d had to, but he never woke up. No, Ben, I’m sorry, but the way I see it, you’re my last loose end.”
I saw her finger tighten on the trigger when I heard Molly pound on the front door.
“Drop it,” she shouted.
Just as I grabbed the brick, Terri shot at me, and I thought I was going to die. The lead brick caught the bullet, though, and it was knocked out of my hand as it saved my life.
Molly put one shot into Terri’s torso, and I knew that I wouldn’t have to dodge any more bullets.
Terri Joy, like the rest of her family, was dead.
Chapter 13
“I’ve never been so happy to see you in my life,” I said. “What made you come in?”
As she knelt down to search for a pulse I doubted she’d find, Molly said, “Some things didn’t add up in Terri’s story, so I wanted to ask her a few more questions. When I saw your car parked in the lot, I was ready to chew you out, but I guess you knew what you were doing after all.”
I reached down and picked the brick up. “I got lucky, and I know it.” I looked down at Terri. “She didn’t want to go to prison, did she?”
“No, and it looks like she got her wish. Suicide by cop is the worst way to go. I didn’t have any choice, Ben. I couldn’t just let her kill you.”
“Thank you, Molly. I thought I was going to die when I saw you through that door.”
“I’d say you dodged a bullet here, but it’s a little too close to the truth, isn’t it?” She got on her radio and called in the death, and I stared into the display case. There were bodies everywhere, all because of one family’s greed.
“Now tell me what you know,” Molly said after she was through.
I brought her up to date, then said, “You’ve got to stop Ralph Haller. He was leaving town when I saw him half an hour ago, and if you can catch him, I’m willing to bet he’s still got some of those coins on him.”
She nodded. “I’ll radio the state police. Why don’t we wait outside?” Molly said as she looked down at the body.
I agreed, and we moved out to the parking lot. “Ben, are you going to be okay?”
“Once I catch my breath, I’ll be fine,” I said. “Molly, do you think I might be able to keep that lead brick?”
“That’s a pretty gruesome souvenir, don’t you think?”
“I don’t think so at all. After all, it saved my life.”
She nodded. “I’ll see that you get it. Listen, there’s no reason for you to hang around here. Why don’t you go over to the soap shop, and when I’m ready for you, I’ll come over there.”
“Thanks,” I said. “For everything.”
“You’re welcome,” she said.
Since the Miata was blocked in, I decided to walk to Where There’s Soap. I’d have to call Paulus and tell him it was safe to come home now, though I was tempted to leave him on Lois’s couch for a while out of spite.
As I walked, I thought about how one family had been decimated by greed, a stain on the soul so deep that no cleaner on earth could wipe away its traces. My family had many flaws—no one knew that better than I did—but we loved each other, and in the end, that was really all that mattered.
Recipe for Basic Hand-Milled Oatmeal Soap
Oatmeal soap is a classic, known to soothe irritated skin.
INGREDIENTS:
10 ounces of grated soap or noodles
8 ounces of water
¾ cup oatmeal long cooking or rolled oat
s only
chamomile, cary sage, or cinnamon optional
DIRECTIONS:
First, melt the grated soap with the water added in a saucepan.
Then grind the oatmeal in a blender or food processor until the flakes are about one-sixth of their original size.
Add the oatmeal and stir the mixture until it starts to thicken. The goal here is that you don’t want all of the oatmeal to settle to the bottom.
After you’ve reached the desired consistency, it’s time to add the optional fragrances if you’d like. Go with 8 drops of chamomile oil, 4 drops of sage oil, or a few drops of cinnamon.
Then pour sour soap into molds. Wait until the soaps form a skim laser on top, then put them in the freezer. Check on them in an hour, then every half hour until they are solid. Freezing isn’t absolutely necessary, but it usually makes the soaps easier to remove from their molds. After that, allow them to cure on an open-air rack for two to four weeks, turning them occasionally to allow for uniform drying.
Now it’s time to put that new soap to use, so have fun with something you made yourself
Soapmaking Tips for the home hobbiest
Hand-milling soap is a great way to make a quality soap that can easily be tailored to your specific needs. Why go to the trouble of hand-milling? Many people find that hand-milled soaps have a more pleasing texture than soap that hasn’t been ground. They last longer, and allow you to use fragrances and colors with a greater efficiency as well.
Hand-milling, also sometimes known as rebatching, simply means grinding or grating a basic bar of soap, then mixing it with water or milk, heating it, enhancing it, then pouring the finished mixture into molds. The tools needed are most likely ones you already own.
While you can hand-mill your own soap if you’d like, soap noodles are readily available from most suppliers, and they make the process much easier. These noodles are made from soap that has already been grated, then extruded in a meat grinder and placed in plastic bags to retain moisture and workability.
