Old Fashioned Murder (A Ryli Sinclair Cozy Mystery Book 3)

by Jenna St James

  “Please, do you honestly think ole Shifty is capable of planning a premeditated murder? Because I don’t.”

  She had a point.

  “I hope Virginia liked her piece in the paper yesterday.” We exited the elevator and made our way to Virginia’s apartment. I figured Lovey and Dotty would already be there, and since it was ten in the morning, they probably were still having mimosas to celebrate last night’s date night.

  I knocked on the door and waited. When no one came, I knocked again, this time a little louder.

  “Maybe she and Old Bert got down in the sack last night and she’s still sleeping,” Aunt Shirley cackled.

  I frowned at her and knocked again. “Virginia, are you home?”

  A door opened, but it wasn’t Virginia’s. Lovey and Dotty stepped out into the hallway.

  “We were just on our way over,” Dotty said. “We wanted to let Virginia sleep in a little this morning. She was exhausted after her date last night. Plus her stomach was still acting up.”

  Lovey nodded. “We had a nightcap last night when she got home from her date, and she told us all about her romantic evening. But then we cut it short because she wasn’t looking very good. Earlier she had complained of an upset stomach before she left on her date, but we figured it was nerves. So we wanted her to rest a little this morning.”

  “I can’t wait to hear all about it,” I said. “And to hear what she thought of the paper yesterday.”

  Dotty clapped her hands together. “That’s right! Congratulations! We read it together yesterday and it brought tears to our eyes.”

  “Well, unless this fabulous date contained some horizontal action, I couldn’t care less,” Aunt Shirley said.

  Lovey chuckled. “Which reminds me. Old Man Jenkins was asking about you yesterday.”

  Aunt Shirley motioned for more info. “What did he say?”

  “Well, we stopped by to see if he needed anything. With it being Valentine’s Day, Dotty and I were swamped trying to keep up with the demand.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Aunt Shirley rudely waved her arms like she couldn’t care less. “What about Old Man Jenkins?”

  Lovey chuckled, not offended in the least. “Well, he asked how you were doing, and if you were coming back anytime soon. We told him as soon as Manning’s killer was caught you could come back.”

  Aunt Shirley preened. “He wants me. He wants me bad.”

  I groaned and turned back toward Virginia’s door. “She’s obviously still sleeping. I guess we should come back later.”

  Dotty laughed. “Nonsense. Cinderella’s slept long enough. We really need her help to finish a quilt today.”

  I knocked again, but still no answer.

  Lovey dug into her polyester pants pocket and pulled out a keychain. “Got an extra house key right here.” She moved in front of me and inserted the key. The door unlocked and swung open.

  “Virginia,” she called out sweetly. “Get your lazy bones up and come help us quilt.”

  No answer.

  I looked over at the bar and kitchen area. The glasses from the previous evening’s nightcap were still in the sink. A bowl of chocolates sat on the counter next to the decanters of booze.

  I’m not sure why, but I suddenly got a bad feeling in my stomach. I looked at Aunt Shirley. She read me loud and clear.

  “I’ll just go get her up,” Dotty said and started to walk down the hall.

  “Hold up,” Aunt Shirley said. “I’ll go get her.”

  Dotty cocked her head to the side. “Why? I’ve seen Virginia in every state of dress and undress. She can’t…” Her face turned white and her voice trailed off. Her eyes cut to Lovey.

  Lovey was busy wiping down the counter. She looked at Dotty when she trailed off. “What’s wrong Dotty? You don’t look well.”

  Dotty lower lip trembled and tears filled her eyes. “They think something’s wrong with Virginia.”

  Lovey looked at me then Aunt Shirley. She dropped the glass she was holding. It crashed to the floor and shattered. Lovey took off for Virginia’s bedroom.

  The four of us were pretty much on top of each other when we flung Virginia’s bedroom door open.

  She was lying on the floor, her red flannel pajama dress billowing out around her. Her normally perfect hair was tousled and damp. Her skin had a slick sheen to it.

  Lovey and Dotty screamed and ran to Virginia. Dotty lifted her up off the ground. I pulled out my phone and called for an ambulance. I had them on speed dial because Matt used to work for them when he was an EMT. I gave them the info they needed, hung up, and called Garrett.

  “Little busy, Sin. What’s up?”

  “Virginia. Dead. Oak Grove Manor.”

  Cursing. “Did you already call it in?”

  I could feel the shock beginning to set in. My teeth started chattering and my head felt foggy. “Yes.”

  “I’ll be right there.”

  I hung up the phone and turned to the girls. Lovey and Dotty were cradling Virginia’s head in their hands. Aunt Shirley placed her head on Virginia’s chest as I knelt down beside them. I picked up her cold arms and tried to find a pulse.

  “It’s no use,” Aunt Shirley said. “She’s gone.”

  Lovey and Dotty let out a wail that broke my heart. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how they were feeling. I’d only met Virginia this week, and I wanted to join them in their sorrow.

  Not wanting to hamper anyone’s entrance into Virginia’s home, I ran to the front door and made sure it was open. I stood out in the hall and listened for the ding of the elevator. I began pacing the hall, wondering what could be taking so long. I finally heard the ding. I pressed myself against the hallway walls as four EMTs came rushing by with a gurney.

  “In there.” I pointed to Virginia’s open door and followed closely behind.

  I could hear crying as I huddled near the entrance of the bedroom. I looked over at Aunt Shirley. She was as white as a ghost. I let out a sob and put my hand over my mouth. I felt my legs give out from under me.

  “Hold on there.” Garrett wrapped his arms around me and carried me into the living room. He set me down on the couch and knelt on the floor by my feet.

  “Thanks,” I whispered as he wiped tears from my cheeks.

  Lovey and Dotty staggered into the living room while Aunt Shirley brought up the rear. They sat woodenly on the living room furniture and refused to make eye contact with me.

  “Is she gone?” Garrett asked.

  He was looking at Lovey and Dotty, but it was Aunt Shirley who nodded her head. “I’d say she’s been gone for a few hours now.”

  I felt sick to my stomach. “I should have stopped by this morning instead of waiting. Maybe I could have been here in time!”

  Garrett put his hands on my knee. “Don’t think that. I’ll be back in a few minutes. No one move.”

  We all nodded. The grief was too raw to argue.

  “I just don’t understand,” Lovey said. “Do you think it was a stroke or what?”

  “A stroke doesn’t do that to a person,” Aunt Shirley said. “I’d bet a thousand dollars she was poisoned.”

  “Poisoned!” Dotty gasped. “When? How?”

  I thought back to Virginia’s whereabouts yesterday. “Do you think she could have been poisoned during her meal last night?”

  “Possible,” Aunt Shirley admitted. “But why? This doesn’t make sense.”

  “I’ll kill her!” Lovey’s petite fists were clenched in rage. “If Sheri Daniels had anything to do with this, I’ll kill her myself! Save the courts from prosecuting her!”

  Even though I felt the same way, I didn’t want to throw fuel on the fire. “Let’s not jump to conclusions. I’m sure Garrett has everything under control.”

  “Normally I’d argue that point,” Aunt Shirley said. “But right now I think Ryli is right. We need to let the police do their job.”

  I handed Dotty and Lovey a Kleenex from the box, and Aunt Shirley got up and poured a sh
ot of bourbon in two glasses. I was almost tempted to have her pour me one.

  “Here. This should help.” Aunt Shirley handed them the glasses, and we watched as they each took small sips.

  “We are going to be wheeling the body out,” Garrett said softly from the hallway. “Do you ladies want to stay here or go to your place?”

  “We’ll stay here,” Lovey said. “See this through to the end.”

  No one said a word as Virginia’s covered body was wheeled through the living room and out the front door. My grief was so palpable it hurt to breathe. If I was reacting this way, Lovey and Dotty had to be beside themselves.

  “I’m going to need to ask you all some questions. Ryli, why don’t you and Aunt Shirley go with Officer Ryan and I’ll take Lovey and Dotty.”

  Aunt Shirley and I followed Officer Ryan over to Aunt Shirley’s apartment. We went over our story about Virginia’s date the previous night, our suspicions of poison, and how we found her this morning.

  Garrett walked in as we were finishing up. “I went ahead and let Lovey and Dotty go back to their apartment for a while. I let them know I’d be calling them down to the station later this evening for follow-up questions.” He looked at me and sighed. “I’m going to go arrest Sheri Daniels. I can’t formally charge her, but I have enough evidence to at least hold her twenty-four hours for questioning on the deaths of Ray Manning and Virginia Webber.”

  I couldn’t even perk up at the thought of a juicy story. Not when it meant it came with the death of a new friend.

  CHAPTER 26

  * * *

  “Let’s wait here for a little bit,” Aunt Shirley said, “and see if we can get a picture of Sheri coming out in handcuffs.”

  I smiled at her enthusiasm, but it felt wrong. My heart was still hurting from the death of Virginia. She was such a lovely woman. I felt equally horrible for thinking that at one time I thought she had committed Manning’s murder. I obviously wasn’t cut out for solving crimes.

  We walked down to the lobby by the front doors. I figured Aunt Shirley was also hoping she would catch a peek at Old Man Jenkins if he was playing checkers by the fireplace.

  I took out my phone and pulled up my camera just in case. It wasn’t long before we heard a loud commotion coming from Sheri’s office. We both took off running toward the sound. Officer Ryan was blocking the door, but I could hear Sheri yelling inside.

  “How dare you come in here and arrest me for something I didn’t do! I didn’t kill Ray Manning, and I didn’t kill Virginia Webber! How many times do I have to tell you that you have the wrong person? I suggest you take your worthless hides out of here and go find the actual killer!”

  My mouth dropped open and I looked at Aunt Shirley. I knew what was coming next. Garrett was going to unleash on Sheri the likes she’d never seen before.

  Aunt Shirley rubbed her hands in glee. “This should be good.”

  I actually felt like smiling.

  A few seconds later a red-faced Sheri came stumbling out of her office, hands behind her back, Garrett guiding her. I lifted my phone and started snapping pictures.

  Sheri zeroed in on me and started screaming and shouting obscenities at Aunt Shirley and me. She was like one of her rabid Chihuahuas.

  A small group of residents and orderlies started gathering where we were standing, tittering and whispering. I knew this was the most excitement most of them had seen in quite a while.

  Lucy Stevenson was standing behind the information desk with a look of pure horror. I kind of felt sorry for her. How in the world was she going to spin this into something positive? Not only was there a burglary ring at her place, but now there’d been two murders. I couldn’t see people knocking down the doors to move into the Manor anytime soon.

  “Nothing to see here, folks,” Officer Ryan said as he parted the path for the others to follow. “Go back to what you were doing.”

  I snapped a few more shots as they walked past us.

  “You!” Sheri yelled at me. “This is your fault! You obviously lied and told your boyfriend I did this!”

  I smirked at her. “Nope. Didn’t say a word. Guess your actions speak for themselves.”

  Garrett’s lips twitched, but he looked at me sternly. “Move along.”

  I gave him a wink and grabbed Aunt Shirley’s sleeve. “I think we have enough pictures. Let’s go. I’m starting to get a really bad headache.”

  We followed at a safe distance behind the chaos, hopped into the Falcon, and drove to Burger Barn. I needed a cola to help ease the dull ache in my head. And the cheeseburger, fries, and chocolate sundae would hopefully help, too.

  By the time we got back to the Gazette, we had enough comfort food to feed a small Army. I tend to stress eat when I’m anxious…or sad…or worried…and on and on I could go.

  “I heard another murder occurred and an arrest has been made,” Hank said by way of greeting. “I’m assuming you two did what I pay you to do and got the story?”

  I sighed and put the food down on my desk. Times like these made it hard to separate my personal life from my professional one.

  “Don’t give us too hard a time,” Aunt Shirley admonished. “Not only did we get the story, but we were involved with the story.”

  She went on to tell him and Mindy that it was Virginia’s body we’d found and about Sheri’s subsequent arrest as I passed out food. Passed out mostly to my desk, but I did share a little with the others.

  Hank whistled when Aunt Shirley finished her story. “So Sheri Daniels killed Ray Manning because he knew about the burglary ring—which means she must have been the ring leader. But why kill this Virginia lady?”

  Aunt Shirley looked at me then back at Hank. “I’ve been wondering the same thing. I’m not sure I’m convinced of anything right now. But it was fun seeing Sheri arrested. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer lady.”

  Hank picked up the cheeseburger I’d passed out to him. “Thanks for lunch. Now hurry and eat. I want at least an outline of a story before the end of the day.” He turned and walked back into his office.

  Mindy got up and came over to my desk where I was sitting and shoveling food into my face. “Take your time, honey. The story isn’t going anywhere.” She leaned over and hugged me.

  Once I finished my lunch and felt the caffeine from the cola ease my headache, I decided to get to work. Aunt Shirley and I jotted down notes, and a few hours later I put together a pretty good article.

  “I think I’m going to call it a day,” I said to Mindy once I’d e-mailed my story to Hank. “I’m really tired. I know I should call Lovey and Dotty, but right now I don’t have the energy. I think Aunt Shirley and I are just going to call it an early day.”

  “Of course. And don’t worry about tomorrow. I can cover anything important here.”

  Aunt Shirley and I didn’t speak on the way home. I knew why I wasn’t talking—I was too dang tired. I was beginning to worry why Aunt Shirley wasn’t talking. I didn’t think it could be anything good.

  We changed into sweats and t-shirts immediately. I then called Mom to let her know what had happened. Paige was with her, so I had Mom put me on speakerphone while I filled them in on the day’s events. With a promise that we’d be careful, I hung up the phone and started to make Aunt Shirley and me some hot tea. Once it was done, I opened one of the tiny bottles of bourbon from Aunt Shirley’s boozy bouquet and poured some in the hot tea.

  “Why kill Virginia?” Aunt Shirley finally asked as we sat on the couch silently drinking our doctored tea.

  “I don’t know. Does there have to be a reason? Maybe Sheri was jealous of her. Maybe she thought…” The truth was, I couldn’t think of a single reason why Sheri would kill Virginia.

  “I’m going to take a bath,” I said when I finished my hot tea. “Maybe that will help me think.”

  I pulled my hair up on top of my head, poured lavender vanilla bubbles into the water, and wondered if Garrett had gotten Sheri to confess to anything yet. I clos
ed my eyes and let my mind wonder.

  “I’m coming in,” Aunt Shirley yelled as she opened the door.

  Instantly awake, I sunk down lower in the now-tepid water. “What are you doing? Get out!”

  “Get dressed. I think I’ve figured it out. No questions right now. I need you to call Garrett and see what he’s doing. Don’t let him in on the fact I may have solved this case.” Aunt Shirley slammed the door closed. “Hurry up!”

  I sighed and grabbed a towel from the rack and proceeded to dry off. I wrapped the towel around me and went to go get my cell phone.

  Garrett picked up on the second ring. “Hey, Sin. What’s up?”

  I wasn’t exactly sure what to say. “Not much. Just got out of the tub.” I heard him groan and I smiled. “What’s going on down there?”

  “Sheri Daniels and Thomas Shifley are sitting tight in holding cells. Lovey and Dotty are here. I have a couple more questions I want to ask them about Virginia.”

  “Okay. Call me later when you’re about to go home.”

  “Will do.”

  I hung up the phone and relayed my conversation back to Aunt Shirley.

  “Perfect. Let’s go.”

  “I need to put clothes on! I’m still in a bath towel.”

  “We don’t have time. We need to roll.”

  “Believe me…we have time for me to dress.”

  Ten minutes later we were at the Manor and hurrying inside. Luckily there were only a handful of people lounging around in the lobby. I assumed most had already eaten dinner and were calling it an early night.

  “I don’t understand what we’re doing here,” I said as I pushed the number three button in the elevator. “Did you forget something in your apartment?”

  “No.” Aunt Shirley unzipped her camo parka and pulled out a box from one of the inside pockets.

  “What is that?”

  “It’s a kit to help you break into people’s houses,” she said matter-of-factly.

  “No. I don’t know what you’re thinking…but no. I’m not doing this with you.” The elevator doors slid open and emptied us out into her hallway. I refused to budge.

  Aunt Shirley grabbed me by the arm and forced me to move. For an old woman, she had some muscle.