Hidden Secrets

by Madison Johns

  Bunny frowned. “Believe me, she’s exactly like that. But I had planned to go to Traverse City for a few days. Thanks to Faith, I couldn’t go.”

  “I’m sure you’ll have another opportunity.”

  “Not with my job. I’m kept busy.”

  “Is that your SUV?” I asked.

  “It’s a company vehicle. I deliver flowers for Kohler’s Flowers. The owner allows me to take the SUV home.”

  “That’s kind of her,” Eleanor said. “Has Faith ever delivered flowers?”

  “That’s how I met her. She delivered flowers for my grandmother’s birthday and we got to talking. She helped me get the job at Kohler’s. Faith took a position delivering groceries for Neiman’s Market.”

  “How good of friends are you?”

  “We’re not best friends or anything, but I’ve bumped into her at the Irish pub in town. It’s a great little bar if you like a friendly atmosphere and killer drinks.”

  “I’ll have to keep that in mind,” Eleanor said. “Agnes and I like to toss one back every so often.”

  “Did Faith ever mention Darrell, the manager at Neiman’s?” I asked.

  “I already told you —.”

  “You weren’t that good of friends with Faith, got it,” Eleanor interjected.

  “Why would you ask Faith to stand in for you as a house sitter if you weren’t that close?”

  “I was desperate.”

  “Let me a guess. You were hoping to get alone time with a certain man in Traverse?” Eleanor grinned.

  “Yes, but it didn’t work out for me. It turns out he wasn’t that in to me. It’s probably good I couldn’t go to Traverse.”

  “Men.”

  “Thank you for your time, Bunny,” I said. “One last question: Did Faith tell you she was Ellen’s niece? She claimed she was taking care of her sick aunt.”

  “Sounds like she had to make up a story to get time off work.”

  My shoulders slumped when Eleanor and I walked back to the car. I drove back onto 23. I had hoped Bunny would have something more to say about Faith. Instead of getting another clue we’d hit a brick wall again.

  “That was disappointing. I’d hoped that Bunny would be able to tell us more about Faith,” I finally said.

  “She didn’t even seem to know Faith that well.”

  “We have a few questions. Why did Faith tell Darrell she was staying with a sick aunt two weeks ago?”

  “You saw that beach house. It’s gorgeous.”

  “Still, that’s quite the story.”

  “It doesn’t change the timeline,” Eleanor said. “Faith hasn’t been seen for two weeks.”

  “It might be time to touch base with the coroner.”

  “Even if he could tell us if the remains are male or female it will take time to identify the body and cause of death.”

  “Let’s just hope the body didn’t decompose as fast as Peterson believes.”

  Oscoda, a quaint town, also had a G’s Pizzeria, although not as fancy as the one in Tawas. You could order a beer with your cheese pizza too. Right next to that was the Bavarian Bakery and Restaurant, and I had to make a quick stop. You can’t get fresh bakery style doughnuts just anywhere, and I’d rather purchase local as opposed to chain coffee shops. Not that Eleanor and I don’t love Tim Hortons. Nobody else makes a peanut crunch doughnut like that.

  The buzzer over the door sounded and we made our way to the bakery display case, where we practically drooled on the glass.

  A woman around our age approached the counter and waited for nearly ten minutes before we made our selections. I paid for our purchase and admired the menu board for the breakfast special. They served breakfast all day, but you couldn’t get the special after eleven. I wished I had more time in the morning to come down here. I suppose I could if I really tried, but that never seemed to work out. If I dared do it without Eleanor alongside me I’d never hear the end of it. Honestly, it would be hard to have breakfast without my friend and partner.

  Eleanor shoved the doughnut in her mouth and I pulled into a gas station and bought two diet pops. I shook my head at her chipmunk cheeks. “Seriously, Eleanor, you’re going to choke to death one day. Do me a favor and don’t do it when you’re with me.”

  “You act like you don’t enjoy wrapping your arms around me, Agnes.”

  I smiled knowing Eleanor was merely goading me for a hasty retort, but instead I simply put my chin up and drove to Kohler’s Flowers.

  Eleanor wiped off her mouth and fingers before we walked inside. My nose twitched at the assault of fragrances that trailed up my nostrils. I tried my best to breathe through my mouth. I’ve been known to have asthma attacks in florist shops.

  Shelves were packed full of figurines for funerals. Angels had the largest shelf. No surprise there. Planter-type birdhouses with twig poles were scattered on the floor.

  “Hello,” I greeted the woman at the counter.

  “How can I help you ladies today?” she asked.

  “We’re looking for information about Faith Fleur. We were told she works here.”

  “Worked here,” Eleanor put in with a slight smile.

  “Faith worked here about six months ago before she decided delivering groceries was her new dream job.” The woman laughed.

  “Didn’t she suggest Bunny Vaverick would be a good fit for delivering?” I asked.

  “Bunny works for me now, though she had to take two weeks off to housesit. I suppose the girl needed a vacation. I’m glad she’ll be back tomorrow.”

  “Getting back to Faith,” Eleanor said. “What was she like?”

  “She has a talent for her job and was always willing to help out here at the shop. Some of the customers find Bunny’s Barbie doll voice irritating.” She smiled.

  “So no problems with Faith?”

  “Not in the least.”

  “Would you call her dependable?”

  “Of course. Why are you asking me all these questions about Faith? Are you planning to hire her?”

  “I wish that was the case. She’s missing, I’m afraid.”

  “And we’re trying to find her,” Eleanor said.

  “She hasn’t been seen for two weeks, which has concerned us because everyone we’ve spoken with has given us the same story.”

  The woman pressed a hand against her chest. “How awful. I hope you find her. It breaks my heart to think that something untoward has happened to her.”

  “We’re hoping she has forgotten to tell her family where she’s gone.”

  “Young ladies seem to do that sort of thing at times,” Eleanor said with a shake of her head.

  “I’m afraid you’re mistaken. Faith doesn’t have any family. She’s on her own and that can’t be easy in this area. Not many high-paying jobs in town. Even us business owners have a hard time keeping it going.”

  “You have a lovely flower shop,” I said.

  “And I normally keep busy, but not always in the off season.”

  “I’ll make sure to recommend your shop,” I said. “You have quite a variety and I have a few friends who are obsessed with angel figurines.”

  “Why thank you.”

  Chapter 12

  “Stop by Marion’s Dairy Bar when we get back to Tawas.”

  “Won’t it spoil our dinner?” I asked.

  “We actually have time for dinner today? From the way you’re pushing us I thought we couldn’t sleep until we solved this case.”

  I looked over at Eleanor and saw how tired she was from the way her shoulders drooped.

  “It sure seems that way, but we’ll call it quits after some ice cream. I imagine Andrew and Mr. Wilson are wondering where we disappeared to.”

  “If you’ve ever noticed, they don’t seem to be as put out as they once were. They know when we’re on a case we get a little single-minded.”

  “Yes, like a dog searching for his bone,” I agreed.

  I pulled into the parking lot behind G’s Pizzeria and we hoofed it to
Marion’s. The statue of a little boy holding an ice cream cone beckoned us closer and the fragrance of waffle cones wafted in the air. I could taste the creamy goodness already.

  It wasn’t too crowded inside and that was a blessing. Eleanor ordered a hot fudge sundae and I had a pineapple with the works. It wasn’t a sundae without whipped cream and chopped nuts. I paid the cashier and Eleanor I looked for an open booth.

  I stopped in shock when I spotted Curt and Curtis Hill with Rosa Lee’s boarder Gia. She wore a crop top and shorts that showed plenty of skin. The boys didn’t notice us as Curt was feeding Gia a spoonful of his ice cream sundae. Curtis glared on from narrowed eyes, his hands clenched into fists.

  “Curt and Curtis, fancy meeting you here,” I said hoping to defuse the situation.

  “Why hello, Gia,” Eleanor said. “I hope you don’t mind if we sit with you.”

  Curtis scooted over so that Eleanor and I could sit next to him.

  It was a tight squeeze and I tried not to elbow Curtis as I had my first spoonful of sundae. “This tastes heavenly.”

  “We’ve had a long day,” Eleanor seconded. “So what have you boys been up to lately?”

  “Showing Gia around town,” Curtis said.

  “She’s looking for a job and we’re helping her,” Curt added.

  “But I thought she was working at Dairy Queen.”

  “It didn’t work out,” Gia said with a shrug.

  From the look of Gia’s mussed hair I couldn’t see her as high class and from New York City. You could be from there and not be high class and it wouldn’t matter to me. I just hated the pretentiousness of her claim.

  “Have you gotten any bites yet?” I asked.

  Gia shook her head sadly. “Nothing that fits my skills.”

  “Oh, I didn’t know you had any skills,” Eleanor said as she popped a glance at Gia.

  Gia blinked her eyelashes and popped her spoon in her mouth. “I was an administrative secretary in New York for a major law firm.”

  “What law firm is that?” I asked. “My husband is an attorney; he might know it.”

  “He’s spent time in New York,” Eleanor added.

  Gia glanced down at her melting sundae. “Wilson and Gunter. They’re divorce lawyers,” she said when she glanced up.

  I made a metal note to check to see if there really was a Wilson and Gunter practicing divorce law in New York.

  “No wonder you came to Michigan,” Eleanor said. “That sounds so depressing.”

  “Very. Especially when a husband or wife loses custody of children. It’s very tragic for all parties involved.”

  “Did you quit that job?” Eleanor asked.

  “I believe she said vacation the other day,” I said.

  “I’m on a personal leave, actually. I really needed a break.”

  “What are your plans if you don’t find a job in town?” I asked.

  Gia wiped spilled ice cream off the table. “I suppose I’ll have to move on.”

  That’s what I wanted. I didn’t like the wedge that was between the Hill brothers. I suspected she was playing them both.

  “You don’t have to do that,” Curt said. “Ma said you can stay as long as you need.”

  I clenched my hand into a fist. Did Rosa Lee really say that or was it her son’s wishful thinking? It didn’t sound like her at all, especially when she considered Gia a distraction around her place. Oh well, it’s none of my business. It’s just that Curt and Curtis deserved so much better. Not that I can say they’re great catches. Neither of them has shown the slightest interest in a long-term relationship. I didn’t consider them mama’s boys, but they might not be the type of men who wanted to be tied down.

  Eleanor and I finished our sundaes and bid the trio goodbye. “Tell your mother we said hi,” I said as we left.

  “Dinner will have to wait. I’m stuffed,” Eleanor said.

  “We’ll have to give our husbands an excuse for why we can’t have dinner yet. If we can even find them. I haven’t heard from Andrew since we found the remains.”

  “I bet they’re at my house,” Eleanor offered.

  I drove below the speed limit all the way to Eleanor’s house. There were times when I just wanted a relaxing drive. It helped me think, and right now I knew what we had to do. I just hoped my son Stuart would be reachable.

  Andrew and Mr. Wilson weren’t at Eleanor’s house.

  “Please drop me off,” Eleanor said with a yawn. “I think I ate too much ice cream. I’m sleepy.”

  “Is there such a thing as too much ice cream?” I yawned myself. “I’m heading home myself, and I don’t care if Andrew is there or not. I’m so piling into bed.”

  I filled my travel mug with coffee. I barely remembered Andrew coming home last night or to bed. He wasn’t there when I woke, which was puzzling. It was so unlike my Andrew to not touch base. I really missed my husband.

  I picked up Eleanor, who carried her own travel mug as she hopped in the car.

  “Great minds,” I said. “Is Mr. Wilson home?”

  “Your Andrew and my Mr. Wilson went out on Captain Hamilton’s charter boat to go fishing today.”

  “Hamilton certainly has been busy of late. It’s no wonder Martha hasn’t breathed a word about him,” I said. Captain Hamilton was Martha’s boyfriend, who ran a charter boat business in town. He gave up his position as captain of a cruise ship after he met my daughter. “I hope our husbands aren’t planning to have us clean fish tonight.”

  Eleanor made a face. “Ew.”

  I drove to the hospital and we took the elevator to the third floor, where the coroner’s office was located. There was no way they’d let us anywhere near the autopsy room, which under the circumstances I was okay with.

  I knocked on the door and Walter Smitty opened it.

  He smiled. “I expected you two yesterday. You’re getting a little behind in your game.”

  “We knew yesterday would have been bad timing with the discovery of a body.”

  “You could say that when the state police were involved. I warn you, I haven’t done the autopsy yet.”

  “That’s fine. All we wanted to know is if the body is male or female,” I said.

  “And how long it’s been in that barrel,” Eleanor said.

  Walter sighed as he interlaced his fingers. “I won’t know the cause of death or how long it’s been in the barrel. These things take time.”

  “Are the remains male or female?” I asked again.

  “Female. And the sheriff informed me the remains might belong to a Faith Fleur. He has a search warrant for the room she’s been staying at, so that will help with identification. Please be patient. I have enough pressure on me as it is. The sheriff is very concerned about the results of the autopsy and the implications.”

  I sighed. “I’m glad he’s taking our findings seriously.”

  “I can’t imagine him ignoring you two. You’d never give him a moment to sleep at night. Cases have a way of getting under the skin of law enforcement. They all want to find the killer.”

  “Faith hasn’t been in the area that long, but she has taken up residence in town. I imagine Peterson would be concerned even if the victim was from out of town.”

  “That would be a travesty. Imagine what would happen if a tourist was found dead or murdered in Tawas? It would affect the entire county.”

  “I wouldn’t look forward to that day,” Eleanor said.

  “Be careful ladies. I’ll be in touch once I have some results. We won’t tell the sheriff about that now, will we?”

  “He won’t hear it from me,” I said and nudged Eleanor softly in the ribs.

  “Me either,” she chipped in.

  We smiled when I rapped on the door of Peterson’s office. He glanced up from his paperwork and motioned us in with a wave.

  “Close the door,” he said, still focused on his papers.

  I closed the door and Eleanor and I sat across from the sheriff. Papers were strewn acros
s his desk, and stacks of paper were piled on top of manila folders.

  Peterson’s brows bunched. I wiped my hands on my slacks nervously. It unnerved me that the sheriff had yet to speak. That couldn’t be good, but at least he didn’t refuse to see us.

  He finally glanced up and leaned back in his chair. Large dark circles rimmed Peterson’s eyes and his wrinkles were more pronounced.

  “Are you feeling okay, Peterson?” I finally asked.

  “Haven’t slept all night.” He inhaled sharply. “I can’t get this case out of my head. Is it possible that a serial killer has been at work right here in our backyard?”

  “Have you had any luck trying to find the case in which Wilber was a suspect?”

  He shook his head. “No, and none of the enquiries I’ve made to the FBI have been returned.” Peterson’s eyes met mine. “I don’t suppose you could give your son a call?”

  I wiped more sweat off my palms. “I’ve been thinking the same thing. I hope he’s not too heavily involved in a case right now. I’ll tell him you’re also involved so he’ll move on it faster. I have a feeling he’s annoyed when I bother him for privileged information.”

  “When has that ever stopped you before?”

  “Good, so we’re on the same page. I can’t imagine Smitty has completed the autopsy yet.”

  Peterson sat back. “Is that what he told you?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Peterson,” Eleanor said. “We’d never go behind your back to talk to the coroner.”

  “Hah, that would be the day. In this case, though, I don’t mind. It saves you from questioning me.”

  “He didn’t give us any details, but he did tell us the victim was female, as we suspected. I only hope the body hasn’t been there longer than we believe. Have you searched the property again?”

  “Excavating will continue through the day.”

  “Have any more bodies been discovered?” Eleanor asked.

  “I haven’t received a call so far, and I hope that I won’t.”

  “Let’s all pray that won’t be the case,” I said.

  Chapter 13

  Eleanor and I were seated across from my son Stuart and his wife, Moraine, both of them FBI agents. We decided to meet at a family restaurant a few towns over that had a huge dining room. We were seated in the back, affording us lousy service but plenty of privacy.