by Molly Dox
Rosie had a thought. Greed. Money. Inheritance. Her mother’s out-there scenario just might be truer than she wanted to believe. Maybe it was time to look at them a little closer.
Chapter 8
Libby and Rosie hatched a plan. They’d head over to the nursing home to see who’d been visiting Mr. Jones and at what time. Was there somebody else they should be looking at? The twins were now worth taking a closer look at. What about Coral Blossom? She picked up the muffins, but she was in the profession of helping people, not ending their lives. Or was she an angel of mercy?
Libby had read about those people. The ones that thought they were doing patients a favor, putting them out of their misery. She shuddered thinking about those poor patients. That one man in New Jersey and Pennsylvania was finally caught in 2003 after he admitted to killing over forty people by lethally injecting them with medication. Sixteen years as a nurse. Now he was serving a lengthy prison sentence. He wasn’t the only one that acted on that impulse. Could they have their very own ‘Angel of Mercy’ right there in their hometown?
Or could it be somebody more sadistic? Helpless victims might be in trouble if one of the nurses was wielding their power the wrong way. No. She couldn’t think that way. She only had respect and gratitude for the nursing community. There were no bad apples locally. She knew much of the staff as they frequented The Nook. She couldn’t picture one single nursing home employee that would possibly commit such a heinous crime.
Then there were those that were weird in believing they could be a hero. Jeopardize someone’s life, then save them. Only it could have gone wrong. Oh, dear. Libby’s mind was running wild with conspiracy and crazy thoughts. She needed to stay focused. The Jones twins were the first place they should be looking.
“Myrtle mentioned an inheritance. While Mr. Jones didn’t live a life flaunting his wealth, apparently he’d done quite well for himself. He tucked most of it away. She said they’ve been fighting over control of the estate after their mother died and their father started having medical problems. They used to be closer, but apparently money can do ugly things to a family,” Rosie said, filling her mother in on what she knew so far.
“Okay, let’s go check the logs at the nursing home, and see when the girls visited. Let’s see if he had any other visitors the night before.”
A sun-kissed woman walked into The Nook and looked around. “Good morning.”
“Hi, can I help you?” Libby asked. The visitor broke her train of thought.
“Hello. I’m Saanvi Varty, it’s nice to meet you. I’m new in town and was told that this is a good place to get a bite to eat.”
“Oh, how lovely. Sit wherever you’d like and I’ll get you a menu. What brings you to Spring Valley?”
“I’m opening a beauty shop a couple of blocks away. My husband, Ash, just opened a Jif-tastic Oil place one town over. As for me, I’m not quite ready, but in a week or two the Snip and Clip will open its doors.”
Libby squealed and stuck out her hand. “Oh, you’re the new business in town! We’ve heard it was coming soon, but not a lot more. They were going to discuss it at a meeting next week. We’ve had a bit of a shake-up recently. It’s so nice to meet you.”
Saanvi shook Libby’s hand and asked for a spot of tea. She glanced over the menu while Libby went to retrieve her beverage.
Rosie would be thrilled to meet her as well. Rosie was over giving Dash some attention. With everything going haywire, they didn’t have the free-time they usually did.
***
“So I think, maybe we should check things out. What do you think, Dash?”
“Mew.”
“That’s what I thought.” She scratched the cat’s ears and then slid her fingers through his soft fur. “Do you think he’ll be upset? I know it’s not exactly a traditional date, but we’d be spending time together? Don’t judge me too harshly, kitty.”
“Mew, mew.”
“I know. We can go out to dinner after.” Rosie sighed. Dr. Jeff Tucker would be running the other way if she didn’t finally commit to spending time with him. It’s just that things kept coming up. And now, instead of their date this weekend, she wanted him to investigate one of the Jones twins with her. It could be fun, right? Working on the case together? Finding answers? Of course, first she had to run over to the nursing home after the café closed.
“I should get back to work. I left Mom over there without me.” Rosie stood and headed through the door that led to the restaurant.
“Rosie! Honey, come meet Saanvi. She’s the new owner of the Snip and Clip that’s opening soon.”
“Oh, wonderful. I have to drive a good twenty minutes for a haircut. Having a place closer is a plus, especially when things are busy.” Rosie went over to say hello.
“So what brings you to this area,” Libby asked.
“We were in Dallas, and my son’s studies brought him here. We decided to relocate with Rajvi. Ash and I were ready to start over, anyway. Things got a little dicey in Dallas. It will be nice to live in a quiet town.”
“You’re a busy family with two businesses and studies,” Rosie said.
“Ah, yes, well if we were together all day, we’d kill each other,” Saanvi said with a chuckle.
The women looked at one another awkwardly.
Saanvi continued. “No worries, there won’t be any deaths in Spring Valley. It’s just an expression. Anyway, my son is a doctor studying geriatric medicine and involved in research at the University.”
“Right, sure,” Libby said excusing herself. “Let me go start your breakfast.”
“It’s lovely to meet you Saanvi. I hope you visit us often.”
“Thank you,” she said. Her phone buzzed. “I need to get this. Excuse me.”
“Certainly,” Rosie said, heading back to the kitchen.
Libby looked at Rosie. “I didn’t mean to freeze up. It’s just…”
“I know. Bad timing.”
Chapter 9
Jeff wasn’t thrilled that their evening plans had changed, but at least it was time with Rosie. He was crazy about the girl, but was starting to feel like she was shying away from dating. Maybe he should have given her more time. Either way, at least if something happened, he’d be there. This entire situation was just odd.
They were headed to Twyla’s house to speak with her.
Earlier that day, Rosie ran over to the nursing home and had a look at the guest sign-in book. Both women had gone to visit their father that day. That solved nothing! One had been there at ten that morning, the other at eleven. Both before lunch. Both before he died. They’d already ruled out his breakfast – and the muffin he ate from The Nook.
Coral Blossom didn’t have anything outstanding she remembered, other than that horrible overpowering perfume one of the girls wore. She couldn’t remember which, but dear goodness, it was strong. She told Rosie, ‘That woman needs to learn how to use a lighter hand when she dabs or sprays that stuff on.’
Jeff looked over at Rosie and sighed. “Are you sure about this? Getting involved? Shouldn’t you let the police handle it?”
“I have a hunch. Just help me out here?” Rosie nudged.
“Then dinner?”
Rosie smiled. “Then dinner. Absolutely.”
“Okay, it’s a deal.”
The couple showed up at Twyla’s house and rang the bell. With a fruit basket in hand, they’ve arrived to show their condolences and gather what information they could.
***
Owen scowled. “You’re not going to take Gary up on the offer, are you? I thought we had something going on here.”
“Oh, silly. I just told you so you’d get a little jealous,” she teased. Libby smiled and patted Owen on the shoulder.
“Where are we headed?” Owen fired up his truck and waited for Libby to buckle in. “And who’s the fruit basket for?”
“Lila Jones. We’re going to offer our condolences on the loss of her father, of course.”
“And…”
He knew it was never as simple as Libby made it out to be when she wore that sly little smile.
“I guess it wouldn’t hurt to poke around. I mean, certainly I wouldn’t want to pry, but a man is dead, Owen. I’d be foolish not to at least be observant. That’s all.”
Owen sighed. “I got out of this line of work, and you’re dragging me back in.”
“And you love every minute of it,” she teased.
Owen smiled at Libby. “Well, if you’re by my side, I guess it’s more interesting.”
Libby and Owen stood on Lila’s doorstep with a basket of fruit, waiting for somebody to answer the door.
When Lila opened the door, she was surprised to see Libby from The Nook and the handsome, but retired Owen Masters. “Libby? Owen?”
“Oh dear, we’re so sorry about your father. I know it’s been hard on you. We’ve brought you a little something. Where can I place this?” Libby asked as she pushed her way inside.
Lila grew flustered. “On the counter, I suppose. This really isn’t a good time.”
“Oh, we won’t stay long. Owen, dear, why don’t you sit with Lila for a bit. Do you mind if I use your bathroom? Thank you. This way? I’ll be back.” Libby quickly excused herself before Lila could protest.
Owen shrugged.
Libby quietly opened the medicine cabinet, looking for anything obvious. Nothing. Darn. She’d have to go through the kitchen if she could get Owen to take Lila into the other room. And… what is that?
Libby bent down and looked in the trashcan. That’s weird. Who throws a perfectly good bottle of perfume away when it’s only half used? She stooped down for a closer look. “So Sensual,” ladies perfume. It’s not like it went bad. She quickly texted a note to her daughter.
‘Perfume in trashcan. So Sensual. It’s only half used.’
‘Interesting,’ she texted back. ‘Would she notice if it was missing?’
‘Don’t know. Will wrap in tissue and drop in my purse. Will ask Coral and Owen if it smells familiar.’
‘Be safe.’
‘Got to go.’
Libby quickly grabbed the bottle of perfume, wrapping it in tissues and slid it into her purse. She flushed the toilet and washed her hands for good measure, making sure it sounded like there was a reason she was in the bathroom.
“Owen, I just remembered something. I think I left the stove on. We’d better go check it out!”
“That’s not good. Lila, please excuse us.”
“Certainly. And thank you for the kind gesture. It’s lovely.”
The couple was out the door and into Owen’s truck in no time. Libby was chomping at the bit. “Guess what I found?”
“Do I want to know?”
“Absolutely. It’s perfume. Half-used. Tell me if this smells familiar.” She handed the bottle wrapped in tissue to him. “Careful not to touch it. I want her fingerprints still on it, just in case she was up to no good.”
Owen took a whiff. “Yeah, that was the smell. A spritz wouldn’t be bad, but the woman must have bathed in it.”
“I wonder how Rosie and Jeff are making out?” Libby asked.
***
Rosie groaned under her breath. Twyla was flirting shamelessly with Jeff. “You’re such a fine young man, and so strong. Would you be able to help me change a bulb? It’s a ceiling fixture, and I can’t reach?”
Jeff agreed, while Twyla batted her lashes.
Rosie trudged along behind them, sucking it up. She didn’t like Twyla flirting with her guy right in front of her, even if she was way older. Well, not that Jeff was her guy. Well, not yet. Maybe. Probably.
On entering Twyla’s bedroom, Rosie sighed and glanced around. What was that? Wasn’t that the same perfume her mother just sent her a text about? She stepped closer to look, trying not to be obvious. Yep, So Sensual.
“Oh, I’ve never tried that perfume,” Rosie noted. “I’ve been looking for something new. Do you like this?”
“It’s only my signature scent. I’ve been wearing it for ages, darling. Of course, it’s only to be worn after five o’clock. It’s too sensual for day time. For that, I do a simple body splash. Would you like to smell it? I’m thinking it might be a bit strong to wear in the restaurant, but the splash might do you well.”
“After five, you say? I guess it’s more of a dinner date kind of perfume. Do you mind if I smell it?”
“Go right ahead,” she answered.
Rosie sniffed the perfume. Definitely not her taste in fragrance. “It’s sensual, yes, I see now. Not a daytime perfume for sure.”
Chapter 10
Libby and Rosie ran the idea by Owen and Jeff, but the men protested at first. They weren’t so sure about getting more involved. Owen was already less than thrilled with Sheriff Snyder hitting on Libby, and it’s not like Gary liked being upstaged by the man. Gary Snyder liked to point out that Owen was retired and needed to stay that way.
On the other hand, Gary had no hard will toward Jeff.
Jeff didn’t like the idea at all. He was used to keeping his nose out of things. He fought fires. He helped sick animals at his office. But this? Jeff grumbled and accepted it was the right thing to do. Somebody had to come forward. He’d do it if Rosie went with him.
The foursome decided that Jeff and Rosie were the best chance of getting Sheriff Snyder to take them seriously. Libby and Owen would have to sit on the sidelines this go round. The new information they had could change everything. There was obviously something fishy going on with the Jones case.
It wasn’t quite etched in stone yet, but they were pretty certain Lila had a red flag waving over her head. The bottle of perfume that was in the trash, still half full, and the fact that she’d stopped by to see her father the morning he died didn’t help her matters.
The weird thing was that when the stories came out, something didn’t add up. The names didn’t match. Lila said she visited her father at ten, yet had signed in at eleven. Twyla said she visited her father at eleven, yet was signed in at ten. There was nothing else to implicate Twyla with.
After debating back and forth, Rosie and Jeff made their way to see Gary. Sheriff Snyder was in a hostile mood since Libby had canceled their plans. He wasn’t interested in seeing her daughter in his office. Jeff noted the way he glared at her, and took the lead.
“Sheriff Snyder, we think we’ve found some evidence that may implicate Lila Jones in her father’s death.” He handed him the bottle of perfume that was carefully wrapped in tissues. “Great care was taken to try to reserve her fingerprints, but we had to use what was at our disposal. I think you’ll find that Lila used her sister’s signature scent and signed in under Twyla’s name, trying to pass off as her sister. Is it possible this is what was injected into his IV line? I don’t know the details of the toxicology report, but we think she was trying to set up Twyla to take the fall.”
Interesting, Gary said, suddenly perking up. “That is a good break. We better get those girls down here for some further questioning. Good job.”
Rosie looked to Jeff, surprised by the reaction. “Gary, about my mother…”
“Forget about it,” he grumbled. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “I crossed the line. I owe her an apology. I haven’t been myself lately.”
“Are you okay?”
“I will be.” He flipped open the phone book and dialed Twyla Jones and then Lila Jones, telling them they were wanted for questioning. He’d be there to pick them up shortly. Any attempts to leave the area would only make matters worse.
Sheriff Snyder hopped into his car and made the trip to pick up the sisters. He demanded there be no speaking between them until they got back to the Sheriff’s office.
On his return, Jeff, Rosie, Libby, and Owen were sitting outside.
The women glared at the foursome. Quite the coincidence to see them there, after they’d just been to their homes.
Everybody went inside to give individual statements about what was seen, what was heard, who was where when
and so forth.
When each statement was given, he looked the sisters. “We’ve got a problem. Neither of your statements match what actually happened. Would you like to give it another go, before I throw the book at you?”
Lila broke first. “It was me,” she sobbed. “I did it. I disguised myself as my sister, using her perfume. After dousing myself in it, I injected a large dose of the fragrance into my father’s IV line. I don’t know what got into me. I signed her name in the book, in place of mine. I can’t lie anymore. I just want this over with. The guilt has been eating me alive.”
Twyla’s jaw dropped. “You what?” She reeled back and slapped her sister.
Gary watched the scene play out. “Not so fast, Ms. Jones. There’s more to this story. Twyla, would you like to tell us what you were doing signing in as your sister?”
“What?” Lila’s face grew redder. “You double-crossed me? You signed in as me? Why?”
“That bitter old man wouldn’t die. He just kept hanging on. I mean, come on… Who survives falling down the stairs, gets his hips repaired and keeps on smiling and living. Seriously, kick off old man.”
Rosie’s face went slack at the cruelness in her voice.
“But wait…” Lila was confused. “I’m the one that…”
Sheriff Snyder stood up. “What’s interesting is that there was indeed perfume in the toxicology report, but that wasn’t what actually killed him. It was the enormous dose of Lidocaine that killed him. In fact, we looked at the nursing staff first, because who would have access to something like that if you weren’t a nurse or doctor, right?”
Everybody waited.
“What happened?” Libby asked, sitting on the edge of her seat.
“Just before Rosie and Jeff stopped by my office, I got a phone call. It would appear the nursing home was missing several vials of Lidocaine. They’ve been doing some investigating of their own and had narrowed down the times it was notated. Turns out, none of the nurses worked all the shifts where it went missing, so they couldn’t pin it down to any one employee with a drug room key. Though, they could apparently find a common element when it came to visitors. When one of those visitors happen to be the town’s locksmith, well, things started to click. I was just about to fill a warrant out to search Lila and Twyla’s homes and work vans. Looks like I won’t need that now. Is there something you’d like to say Twyla? The more you cooperate, the easier it will be.”
