A Sinister Slice of Murder: A Jessie Delacroix Murder Mystery (Whispering Pines Mystery Series Book 1)

by Constance Barker

  He pulled a plastic sandwich bag from his pocket with a muddy handkerchief inside.

  “Whatcha got there, Lionel?”

  “The hanky is mine. I didn’t have any rubber gloves or bags with me, so I wrapped it my hanky, and I put it in this bag just now to hold for you.”

  Sheriff Muldoon carefully unwrapped the white cloth. It held a small cellphone coated in mud.

  “Looks like a burner phone. Might be just what we need to connect the dots to Mrs. St. George and figure out who was at the other end of her communications. Much obliged, Lionel.”

  Lionel looked quite proud of his find. “I’ll get the ATVs ready for you, and I can escort a crew and their equipment there on an airboat if you’d like, Sheriff.”

  “I’ve got one coming across right now.” Muldoon lifted his long arm and pointed to the pine trees. “I’ll be sending the lab team down to the bank soon.”

  “Just have them follow the foot path along this side, Sheriff,” I said. “There’s a nice flat landing there where a regular-sized airboat can pick them up on dry land…but they’ll need boots at the other end where Arthur found…the head.”

  The Sheriff was a patient and reasonable man when there was no immediate threat to public safety. “You all do what you gotta do, get yourselves some food, and we’ll start the parade in, say…20 minutes?”

  “Thank you, Sheriff. That would be perfect.”

  Carlo and Ashley were in the kitchen munching on the appetizer platter that Carlo had prepared for us before Arthur dropped in with his unexpected surprise. Lexi was in there too, just staring into the ether of her thoughts.

  “Have some fried okra or a baby carrot, Lex. Good stuff.” I munched down on a carrot and grabbed a few other fried and fresh goodies.

  “I kind of lost my appetite out there, Jess. I brought a little plate out to Kyle and Benji, though.”

  “Oh, I thought I saw Benji heading for his motorcycle not long after Arthur’s little delivery. He looked pretty pale, poor guy. He probably won’t be calling me any time soon.”

  “He was trying to leave, but Kyle collared him. He’ll have to give a statement since he was there at the table. And maybe you should give him a day and then call him.”

  Nah. Well, maybe. He was more fun than I had expected, actually. And a little cuter and smarter too. And the military thing was kind of sexy.

  “I’m just going to grab the bag of kibble and a scoop of Carlo’s shredded corned beef out of the cooler to feed Arthur. Then I’ll be gone for a while.”

  “Grab a couple of those ham salad finger sandwiches while you’re in there too, Jessie.”

  I wasn’t expecting Granny to sneak up behind me, so I had to pretend that my little shriek was a hiccup. I did a second one for good measure.

  “Granny, next time let me see you first before you give me a jolt like that. And you’re a spirit – you can’t eat. Remember?”

  “I just want a little taste of one before Arthur gets dog food all over his taste buds.”

  “No, Granny! You can’t keep slipping into Arthur like that. We have no idea how that might affect his mental and emotional well-being.”

  “What about my well-being, Jessie? Getting a taste of physical life again has made me realize how much I’m missing. Besides, the little scoundrel likes the company.”

  I put a scoop of shredded beef on a sheet of plastic wrap and grabbed two finger sandwiches for Granny. The rest of them would be set out for the officers as soon as Carlo finished the veggie tray. Then I grabbed the bag of Arthur’s dry food and slid his bowl into the lobby with my foot. I dropped one sandwich into the bowl, and Arthur made a beeline for the tasty morsel. Granny swooped into my little darling just in time to enjoy the flavor of her first finger sandwich in 12 years.

  “Oh, that was good. Too bad your little beastie doesn’t know how to take small bites and savor every moment of heaven. That thing flew down his gullet like a Jamaican bobsled.”

  “Okay, come out of there now.”

  “What about the other sandwich?”

  I heard large, heavy footsteps coming down the stairs across the lobby and looked up to see Hector followed by Alicia’s twin boys. Keeping my eyes on Hector, I dropped the other sandwich into the bowl and set the dog food and ball of shredded beef on the floor.

  “Feed Arthur,” I told Granny. “There’s a spoon in the bag you can use to mix the dry food with the meat.”

  “Hector!” I smiled brightly to hide my true motives of trying to find out everything he knew. “I haven’t seen you for a while. Where are you off too?”

  He was very sullen. “Miss Delacroix, it’s a pleasure. I’m going to take the boys to visit their mother. Officer Carnigan will be here soon to escort us. Then I’ll be bringing the boys back to Charleston to stay with their aunt.”

  “I see. Cassie is staying here then?”

  “Yes, but she’s out right now.”

  “So, did Rodney or Edgar go with her?”

  “She ditched them. She’s alone. She took an ATV, but they don’t know which way she went. There’s a team checking the ferry landings and other possible destinations.”

  “Oh! I’m sure she’ll be fine. And will you be returning after you deliver the boys?”

  “Ma’am…” The large man was very morose and maybe a little emotional behind his dark glasses. “…my services are no longer needed.”

  He looked past me toward the kitchen door where I left Arthur and Granny, and he screwed his face into a look that was somewhere between confusion and disbelief.

  “Cool!” One of the boys said, pointing across the room. Maybe it was Kevin…but it could have been Devon.

  Granny, invisible to them, was pouring the bag of dog food into Arthur’s bowl.

  “Granny! People are watching!” I wasn’t sure if she would hear my thoughts at this distance.

  “I’ll be done in a minute, dear. I just have to mix in Carlo’s beef.”

  “Not now!”

  The spoon floated out of the bag, from the perspective of the onlookers. The boys were amused and enthralled, but Hector was, well…frightened.

  “Almost done, dear.”

  She stirred in the shredded corned beef, and life finally returned to normal.

  “It’s not what it looks like, Hector. It’s just a parlor trick that I’ve been working on.”

  Thank goodness Kyle walked up to us to just then.

  “So, Hector,” I continued, as if nothing had happened, “do you have another assignment in Charleston, then?”

  He greeted Kyle and then turned back to me. “As I said, ma’am, my services are no longer needed. My client had his head…” He looked at the boys. “…had an unfortunate incident occur under my watch when I was only 20 feet away. That’s not something one’s reputation can recover from in my business, I’m afraid.”

  I was flabbergasted. “What? Why, you’re so formidable and competent in security matters, not to mention the dedication you showed the night of…the incident. Kyle, aren’t you looking for a credentialed law enforcement professional who can run the crew when you’re off duty?”

  “I am indeed…but I’m not sure our budget can handle a former Navy Seal of your caliber, Hector.”

  Hector smiled slightly. “When you’re an unemployable laughingstock, your salary requirements go down, Officer Carnigan. Let’s talk.”

  The men and the two boys headed for the door.

  “Can we get ice cream at the Dairy Queen, Hector?”

  “As long as you don’t eat it in the car, Kevin.”

  “I’m Devon.”

  At least I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t tell them apart, both with their wavy brown hair and honey brown eyes.

  “Hey,” I said walking toward the front desk, “I have some coupons here for a two-for-one deal on Peanut Buster Parfaits.”

  “Thanks, Miss Delacroix, but the boys are allergic to every kind of nut. Let’s go, boys.”

  Well, that conversation didn�
�t get me any information. I was worried about Cassie, though. Poor girl. She just lost her father, and I guess she needed to get out and get her mind off her loss. I hope she’s doing all right. Maybe I can stop in for a chat if she comes back later, after Arthur leads them to the spot.

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  Chapter Fourteen

  Once Arthur had shown them the place where he found the head of Dane St. George, we rode back and went right to the carriage house. Activity at the Inn was winding down quickly tonight, and most of the police were either gone or in the swamp. Lexi had told me that she was going to close down early before all the investigators got back and invaded the place, sitting around nibbling on carrots and sucking on ice cubes all night. Good idea. It looked like the place was already dark.

  It had been a long day. I gave Arthur a nice bubbly bath in the laundry room sink, a blow-dry, and a couple of doggie snacks.

  Then it was my turn.

  I put on a Marvin Gaye CD and let my clothes just fall in a pile on the floor. I got the tub filling with steamy, extra-warm water and added a big splash of French vanilla bubble bath, a little splash of raspberry, and a capful of Unconditional Love – at least, that’s what it said on the label.

  I bunched up a couple of towels next to the tub for Arthur, and he went right to sleep. I tried to avoid the mirror because I was afraid that my hometown diet had added an inch to my waistline. And the only other things I would see would be my right eye trailing off to the side and a gap big enough for my fist between my knees. I always tried to stand with my ankles crossed and one knee bent in front of the other to hide my bowed cowgirl legs.

  “Sweet dreams, Arthur.”

  I didn’t have any wine in the house, so I poured half a beer into a wine glass and stepped into the tub with Marvin Gaye singing What’s Going On in the background. It was one of Mom’s favorite albums, and I got it on CD for her for our last Christmas together. Now it was mine.

  C'mon talk to me

  So you can see

  What's going on

  Yeah, what's going on

  Tell me what's going on…

  Yes…really…what is going on around here? I closed my eyes with all the scattered facts about the odd murder flying around in my head. It seemed like the police still didn’t have a clue, so they were trying to pin it on the wife.

  I really wanted to fall asleep, but Mom always told me I would drown if I fell asleep in the tub. I fell into a kind of half-asleep state of mind and just let the thoughts roll around into different formations in my mind.

  Suddenly my mind was transported to our City Hall above the Dairy Queen. It felt like I was really there, but I knew I was still in the tub. Alicia St. George was sitting in front of the window in her little holding cell, staring out at the Baptist Church across the parking lot. She wasn’t crying, but I felt a sadness. I guess I floated right through the bars and put my hand on her shoulder.

  “Alicia…” I said softly in my semi-dream state.

  I stroked her hair gently, but she did not turn around. Instead, my heart nearly leapt right out of my chest. I jumped back with a gasp as her head fell off and hit the floor. I was awake, but I couldn’t open my eyes yet as I watched her head roll to my feet. She looked up at me with a desperate and piercing glance.

  “Help me, Jessie.” Tears streamed down her cheeks now. “I’m next.”

  I was fully awake and energized by panic and adrenaline as I leapt from the tub. I patted myself halfway dry and ran to my room. I threw on a housedress and some flip flops I kept by the door.

  “Mom, I need you!” I screamed in my mind, hoping against hope that she would hear me. “Mom, please answer me!”

  I ran down the stairs, out the door, and up the side steps onto the porch of the Inn outside the dark Tea Room.

  “Mom!”

  “What is it, dear? Why are you so upset?”

  I ran to the front and through the front door so I could see her and feel her presence.

  “Mom…”

  She sat patiently without saying a word as I told her the story of my dream or vision or whatever it was. She passed slowly through me to comfort me, and I didn’t want the feeling of her presence to end. She was alive and there for me in the moment. How I had ached for that feeling for the last few years. I grew calm and waited for her to speak.

  “Jessie…” She led me to the lobby bench, and we sat down together. “…you cannot ignore this cry for help. It was real.”

  “What do you mean, Mom? Is she dead?”

  “No, not yet, honey. But your special powers have revealed the future to you.”

  “My special powers? But, Mom, I’m just a…”

  “You’re a very special and unique woman, honey. I had hoped that your powers wouldn’t start coming out yet, but it seems that they have begun.”

  I started to shake and shudder, but I held back my tears. I guess I had always known that my premonitions were more than a woman’s intuition, but I just pushed those thoughts away.

  “But I don’t want to be special, Mom. I should never have come here. I should go back to Savannah.”

  “You can’t run away from it, Jessica. It’s part of you. It’s who you are. It’s what you are.”

  “What am I, Mom? What?”

  The creak of a door behind us broke the mood, and I turned to see the old man, Gus from the pawnshop, step out in front of his shop. His golden eyes seemed to glow through the shadowy darkness of his entryway. He did a sort of bow, which was more like a nod that began at his waist, with his hands clasped behind his back. Then he went back inside, looking at me all the way. He left the door open and was gone.

  “You need to visit that woman…first thing in the morning, Jessie.”

  I turned back towards Mom just in time to see her smile and fade away.

  I stood up and looked at the open door, which seemed like an invitation. A black cat stuck its head out and looked at me with eyes of yellow gold. But then the front door of the Inn opened.

  “Just leave me alone! I’m going to take a bath and go to bed.”

  It was Cassie St. George. She turned the backside of her shoulder towards me as she brushed by, making her way to the staircase. She had her mother’s large purse tonight instead of one of the smaller styles she usually carried. It struck me as a little odd, since her mother had designed most of the large bags, and she liked to show off the smaller, younger bags that she created.

  Rodney and Edgar were close behind and greeted me as they followed Cassie up the stairs. I had to feel bad for the girl, a brand new 18-year-old who had, no doubt, been looking forward to more freedom and fun as a young adult. Instead, she had a dead father, a stepmother in police custody, and two officers tracking her every move. I didn’t blame her for being a little rebellious as she worked through her pain.

  I wanted to get back to my now-lukewarm bath and my slumbering pup, but something was drawing me toward the open door of the pawn shop. I took one step towards the opening, and a dim light suddenly appeared inside. The large black cat came halfway out and invited me in with a single meow. He turned and slinked behind the counter as I crossed the threshold.

  Now what? It only took a second for my question to be answered. I stepped up to the counter, and Anika, the hefty woman I had met previously, just arose behind the counter. It was like she was rising up on an elevator platform, or maybe just sprouting up like a fast growing plant. It was far from the weirdest event in my evening so far, and odd occurrences were starting to be the norm for me by now.

  “Hi, Jessie!”

  She was very jovial and upbeat, with a huge smile on her round face. She leaned forward, her large breasts just sliding perfectly onto the high countertop. She lifted her elbows practically to her armpits and slid them on too.

  “We’ve been expecting you!”

  “Hi. Uh…we? We who?”

  “We… as i
n Gus,” she chirped. “Yup. We are Gus. Gus is us! Hehe!”

  My mind was racing with a dozen questions, and she started to answer each of them.

  “That’s right, yes. We’re all Gus. Oh, the cat? Yeah, his name is Saffron Indigo Lillimeister, but he prefers to be called Moondance. Eddy gave him that nickname. Yes, of course; Moondance is Gus – ‘stealthy Gus.’ He’s great at finding out information without being noticed. I’m Annastroika Romanov Illyanova, but Anika is easier. I guess you could call me ‘chatty Gus.’ And when we travel we’re usually Eddy – he’s ‘biker Gus.’ Sure…sure, plain old Gus is here. You don’t really need me to talk to Gus anyway. Just a sec…”

  She bent over, and the tall, grey pawnbroker stood up, exactly where Anika had been.

  “It’s such a pleasure to meet you, Jessie Delacroix.”

  His golden eyes glistened with joy, and an other-worldly warmth and affection emanated from every pore of his being. Maybe Gus is the capful of Unconditional Love in my life.

  Gus didn’t speak out loud, but he spoke to me in his special way. It was different than with Mom and Gran – I actually heard their familiar voices. But Gus just poured his words directly into my soul. It was like seeing without eyes or hearing without ears…it was just a direct connection without any imperfections from physical sensory mediums. There was no room for intent or meaning to be misconstrued.

  “What are you, Gus? Am I like you?”

  “You are different from me, Jessie. What you will become is still uncertain, and it is still too soon for you to know all of my secrets.”

  “Why did you bring me here tonight?”

  “I only opened the door. It was your choice to walk in. You are here because you have a curious and powerful spirit, Jessie. You will learn, slowly, day by day, the secrets of L’Auberge Hantée, of Gustav Gasparelli, and of Whispering Pines.”

  “Should I be frightened? Because I am. Tell me your secrets, Gus.”

  “You should not be frightened, but you must be vigilant Jessie. For now, all you need to know is that in the metaphysical world, as in the human realm, there are dark forces as well as benevolent ones. L’Auberge Hantée is much more than a Haunted Inn. It is the Fortress protecting all that is good. But the forces of Darkness are very, very near. And you, Jean D’Arc Delacroix, are the one who must keep the world safe and cast out the forces of Darkness.”