Lucy scrunched up her nose. “One of them lives in Wisconsin and the other one lives overseas where her husband is stationed in the military.”
It was possible they had just arrived in town and were staying at Bill’s place. If that were the case, there would be suitcases and other travel bags.
Gloria shoved the backpack back under the bed and followed Lucy into the hall.
Lucy closed the door behind them and made her way to the room across the hall. The door was open and Gloria peeked inside. The room was empty. There was nothing inside…not a stick of furniture, not a picture on the wall. Nothing.
“That’s odd. This used to be Bill’s office. It was full of office furniture.”
If Bill had removed everything from the room, what had he done with it?
The trio passed by a hall bath on their way to the master bedroom at the end. Double doors opened to the spacious master suite. The room was clean, the bed made. A door on the far end led to a small screened-in porch.
Gloria glanced out the window. Centered against one wall was a white wicker loveseat with navy blue cushions. A matching wicker table sat next to it. On top of the wicker table was an ashtray.
Lucy opened the door and stepped out onto the porch. She pointed at the ashtray. “Huh. That’s odd. Bill quit smoking years ago. In fact, he hated the smell.”
The girls finished their inspection of the master bedroom and adjoining bath.
They retraced their steps as they made their way to the end of the hall. At the end of the hall was an open staircase leading down to the basement. Although the steps were carpeted, they still creaked – loudly - when the girls stepped on them.
Gloria wondered how a house that was only a few years old could have so many creaks and groans.
At the bottom of the steps, Lucy fumbled with the light switch on the wall. A bare bulb in the center of the ceiling cast a dim glow and illuminated the open space. The room was empty except for a desk, chair, bookcase and file cabinet squeezed against the far wall.
Gloria glanced around. The basement was small, much smaller than she thought it would be for a house that large. “This is it?” she asked.
Lucy nodded. “Yep. For some reason, Bill didn’t see the need for a large basement. He said the only thing basements were good for was storing junk. He always said if he did anything, he’d build a bomb shelter.”
She pointed to the wall. “There is his office equipment.”
Gloria frowned. Why would Bill move his office downstairs and into a dark, dreary basement instead of leaving it upstairs in a bright, airy bedroom? It didn’t make sense.
Lucy slipped into the chair and settled in behind the desk. She turned the computer on and waited until the login screen appeared. “I’m not sure if Bill’s password is the same.” Lucy clicked a few of the keys and hit enter. An error message appeared.
She tried again, and again she got an error message. “Nope. He must have changed it.” She tried to guess the password but nothing worked. Finally, it locked her out. “I have no idea what his password is.”
While Lucy worked on the computer, Ruth searched the bookcase and Gloria rifled through the cabinets. Nothing popped up as suspicious. There were folders for receipts, bills and other important papers.
Not once did Gloria’s internal radar go up. She shut the cabinet door and took a step back. Ruth joined her. “The place is clean.”
“Looks like we just wasted our time.” Lucy pushed the chair back. Her fingers pressed against a desk calendar and it shifted forward. The corner of a small slip of paper appeared.
Lucy reached down and pulled on the paper. “What’s this?” She flipped the piece over and squinted at the words scribbled on the back.
“12 Grand Marais Drive, Detroit, MI 49962”
A smudge of what appeared to be blood stained the corner.
“I wonder if that’s Bill’s blood.” Gloria’s stomach churned at the thought.
“Let me get a plastic baggie so we can take it with us.” Lucy darted up the stairs without waiting for a reply.
She returned moments later. Using the corner of the clear, plastic bag, she slid the slip of paper inside and pulled the tab across the top to seal it shut.
They finished their search of the basement and utility room, which turned up nothing. At least they had something…the small slip of paper.
Disappointed, the trio trudged up the stairs. Ruth was the last one out and she flipped the light switch on her way up.
The women retraced their steps through the living room and exited through the front door. Lucy glanced toward the kitchen. “Do you think whoever has been inside the house will notice that we closed the window?”
Gloria’s brows formed a “V.” True…if someone was staying in the house, there was a good chance they would notice. Then again, if they didn’t close the window and the house was vacant, wild animals and the elements would damage much more than a section of the kitchen floor.
When they reached the edge of the yard, Ruth stopped to pick up her surveillance equipment. Gloria and Ruth followed behind Lucy as they zigzagged through the pine trees.
The tops of the trees began to bend and sway as the wind picked up. The wind whistled through the treetops and it began to rain.
The freezing rain pelted their faces and clothes. The girls picked up the pace in an attempt to outrun the sudden storm.
By the time they reached the van, they were soaking wet.
When they were safely inside the van, Ruth switched the motor on, turned the center dial to heat and cranked it all the way up. “That was fun.”
Warm air blasted from the ducts and Gloria stuck her hands in front of the warm air. “I’m not sure I’m ready for winter,” she admitted. She loved fall and loved having a white Christmas to put her in the holiday spirit but after New Year’s, the winter weather was for the birds…or the outdoor enthusiasts.
Lucy wiped her forehead with one of the ruffles from the front of Judith’s fancy pink blouse. “Since Paul is retiring, maybe you guys can become snowbirds…maybe spend the winter months somewhere warm like Florida.”
Lucy leaned forward in her seat. “I’ll be the first one to come visit!” she promised.
Gloria’s sister, Liz and her best friend, Frances, had recently moved to Florida. It was a thought. The idea of warm, sunny weather was appealing. “We might just do that,” Gloria answered.
“First, we have to get out of the woods, literally,” Ruth grimaced. She shifted the van into reverse and slowly backed out of the woods.
Sharp branches scraped the windows and the sides of the van. Gloria cringed each time a branch scraped the side. This had been her idea and she would never forgive herself if Ruth’s van were damaged during one of her investigations.
Finally, they reached the main road and turned toward home.
Gloria hoped that Andrea and Margaret had better luck with the mysterious gun rep, Maxim, than they had searching Bill’s house.
Chapter 12
Ruth handed Gloria her cell phone. “Call Judith and let her know we’re on the way.”
Gloria dialed the number and switched it to speaker-mode.
Judith picked up on first ring. “Please tell me you’re on your way back.”
Gloria smiled wickedly. “We’re on our way back.”
“Good!” Judith gasped through the line. “These clothes are downright itchy. Lucy must wash her clothes in poison ivy.”
“I do not!” Lucy leaned forward in her seat. “I use only all natural ingredients.”
“I’ll be waiting in the drive.” Judith hung up before Ruth could reply.
Ruth dropped Lucy off one street over, circled around the block and pulled into her drive.
Judith, true to her word, was waiting for them. She swung the jeep door open and hopped out of the driver’s seat. She didn’t look at all happy as she trudged up the drive, scratching at her arms, her stomach and her neck as she walked.
Gloria co
uld see large red welts covering her skin. “Wow! That looks bad,” she commented.
The women traipsed up the steps and into the house. Ruth made her way to the back door to let Lucy in.
The two women swapped clothes. Lucy handed Judith her shoes. “Those are the most uncomfortable shoes I have ever worn.”
Judith grabbed the shoes. “Can’t be any worse than your clothes,” she snapped.
Judith shoved her foot into the shoe and pointed at Ruth. “I’ve paid my dues and upheld my end of the bargain.”
Ruth nodded solemnly. “Yes, you have Judith and I thank you for your cooperation.”
Judith snatched her purse off the table, turned on her heels and stomped out the door, slamming the door shut behind her.
Lucy grinned. “I would give anything to know what Ruth had on her to make her agree to the swap.”
They watched Judith hustle down the sidewalk and disappear around the corner.
Ruth shook her head. “No can do. Judith held up her end of the bargain and I need to uphold mine.”
Lucy reached into her purse and pulled out the plastic bag with the small piece of paper inside. “Do you have time to check this out?”
Ruth glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost lunchtime. “Yeah. Kenny isn’t expecting me to come in until after lunch.”
She waved the girls past the small eat-in area and down the narrow hall off to one side. She stopped in front of the first door and they followed her inside.
The room was dark and the curtain drawn tight with nary a sliver of light coming in.
Ruth shuffled over to the other side of the room and switched on a small desk lamp that sat on top of the desk.
Gloria had never been in the back of Ruth’s house. She’d only seen the kitchen, dining and living room.
If Gloria had an inkling that Ruth was obsessed with surveillance equipment, she was now 100% convinced of the fact.
The room was floor-to-ceiling monitors. Every square inch of wall space was filled with electronic gadgets and boxes.
A giant map of Michigan covered one entire wall. Circled in bright red pen was the Town of Belhaven.
Round, color-coated tacks dotted the map. Gloria reached into her purse, slipped on her reading glasses and peered at the map. “What do all those colored dots represent?”
“Uh, just a little map for tracking different post offices,” Ruth explained.
Gloria wasn’t convinced. Down in the lower right hand cover was a legend. She bent down and leaned in.
“That is of no interest to you,” Ruth blurted out. “We have more important things to worry about!”
Gloria was itching to find out what the colored dots and legend meant, but she didn’t want to put Ruth on the spot.
“You’re right.” Gloria looked longingly at the map and then turned her attention to Ruth. “We need to get down to business.”
Ruth slid into the seat at the desk. She wiggled the mouse until the computer came to life.
Lucy read the address on the small sheet of paper.
Ruth typed in the address and clicked the “search” button. Several results popped up…all of them listing the same place: East Michigan Swap and Shop, a Detroit area gun shop that took guns in trade and bought used guns.
What did that mean? Obviously, it meant something to Bill…or whoever was using Bill’s computer. But why Detroit? It was almost 200 miles away!
***
Gloria climbed in Annabelle and started for home. She made a last minute decision to stop at Nails and Knobs, Brian Sellers’ hardware store.
The parking lot was full. Gloria turned down a side street and parked behind the building.
Brian had recently painted the hardware store, along with the small pharmacy and grocery store…stores that he also owned. All three buildings now matched and it somehow helped make the cozy Town of Belhaven appear uniform and even quainter.
She made her way inside and walked to the back of the store. Brian was waiting on a customer. He smiled when he caught a glimpse of Gloria.
Gloria waited off to one side while Brian rang up the customer’s purchases. After the customer left, she wound her way around the light fixtures and garden hoses and over to the counter.
She set her purse on the edge of the counter and hopped up on one of the barstools. Brian reached behind him for the pot of coffee and a cup. “I was beginning to think you were avoiding me,” he teased.
“Me? Avoid you?” Gloria snorted. “More like the other way around.” It was true. She hadn’t seen much of Brian lately.
He had taken a brief vacation to visit his father, who had suffered a minor stroke. Other than seeing him at Andrea’s the other day, it had been quite some time since they’d had a chance to chat.
He slid the piping hot cup of coffee across the counter and then leaned both elbows on top. “Doing a little sleuthing this morning?” he guessed.
Gloria lifted the coffee cup to her lips and took a sip. “How did you know?”
“I stopped by the post office to mail some packages and Ruth was MIA. When I asked Kenny what happened to her, he mumbled something about an unexpected emergency so I put two and two together and figured you two were trying to crack Lucy’s case.”
Gloria fiddled with the handle of the mug. “What do you think?”
Brian shrugged his shoulders. “Judging by the gossip around town and what I’ve been told, it looks like someone is trying to frame Lucy.”
“That’s what I think,” Gloria agreed. “We have some suspects but nothing solid. No smoking gun so-to-speak.”
She listed the suspects and gave Brian a brief rundown of each of their motives.
“I think Bill rejected that Barbara woman. Maybe she went crazy with jealousy and murdered him,” she theorized.
She went on. “Next is the brother, Randy. One of the employees told me that Bill and his brother had a huge blowout a couple days before his death.”
Gloria shifted in her chair. “Last, but not least, is the gun dealer that Bill seemed to be somewhat intimidated by.” That reminded her she needed to do a little snooping around on him once she got a report back on Andrea and Margaret’s findings.
“What does Lucy think?” Brian asked. She knew Bill better than the rest of them combined.
“Lucy is in a haze.” Not that Gloria could blame her. This whole thing reeked of a set up. Someone who was close to Bill knew that Lucy would be a prime suspect. She remembered the employee, Zeke, who seemed all too willing to throw everyone else on the tracks.
“I should go.” Gloria glanced at her watch and slid off the barstool. “Thanks for the coffee.”
Brian reached for the empty coffee cup. “How are the wedding plans going?”
The wedding plans weren’t “going” anywhere. They were almost at a standstill. Not that there was much to do at this point…the invitations had been sent, the wedding party and location ready to go, along with the food. The only thing left to do was pick out a dress and flowers.
“It’s right on track. Speaking of that, are you and Andrea ever going to settle down?” Gloria blurted out.
“Now that you mention it.” Brian opened the cabinet drawer behind him, reached inside and pulled out a small box. “What do you think?”
Gloria smiled. “Well, I know that this box isn’t for me.”
Brian and Paul had tricked Gloria into thinking the engagement ring Paul had bought for her was one that Brian intended to give to Andrea. Paul had been so nervous about her liking the ring, that he had her give her “seal of approval,” in a roundabout way.
Brian lifted the cover off the box and pulled out a second box, covered in white velvet. He lifted the lid and held it out. A large, marquise cut diamond ring was nestled inside.
Gloria picked up the box and set it in the palm of her hand. “Oh Brian. This ring is beautiful!” She shifted her gaze and stared at Brian. “When…”
Brian grinned. “I was thinking of taking her on a romant
ic carriage ride in downtown Grand Rapids and popping the question.”
“How romantic,” Gloria gushed. She handed the ring back and clapped her hands. “Oooh! I hope I can keep my mouth shut. This is so exciting,” she babbled.
“You better keep quiet or we won’t make you the godmother of our children,” he threatened.
“Godmother? Oh my gosh!” Her hand flew to her chest.
The front bell tinkled and an elderly couple that Gloria vaguely recognized made their way to the back.
Brian closed the lid on the box, popped it back inside the outer box and then slipped it into the drawer. He made a zipping motion across his lips.
“I promise.” Gloria zipped her own lips. “I better go.” With a spring in her step, Gloria headed down the center aisle and out onto the sidewalk.
The day had started out rough around the edges, but Brian’s exciting news made Gloria want to explode into a million tiny pieces. She could hardly wait to tell someone, anyone, but she knew she couldn’t.
Chapter 13
Andrea pulled her truck into the parking lot, eased into an empty spot and shut the engine off. The place was deader than a doornail. The only other vehicle in the parking lot was a four-door late model sedan. She wondered if it belonged to the gun dealer…
A shiver of fear raced down her back. Was this gun dealer also a killer? Andrea cast a wary glance toward the store. It was possible that any of the employees inside the store could be Bill’s murderer.
Andrea grabbed the edges of her jacket and pulled them tight. “I’m a little nervous!”
Margaret shifted her purse on her shoulder. “Yeah. I get a bad feeling about this place.” Her eyes wandered around the empty parking lot. She had a nagging feeling that they were being set up. She made a vow to stop watching so many creepy movies.
The store bell tinkled as Andrea pushed on the door and the women stepped into the shop. Margaret followed Andrea to the counter in the back.
A young man that Andrea vaguely remembered from the day before approached them. “Can I help you?”
Fall Girl (Garden Girls Christian Cozy Mystery Book 9) Page 9
