by Rose, Sharon
“That’s the problem. You first said that you could hear everything very clearly, now you’re saying you didn’t. Why did you change your statement, Prunella? Someone almost killed you. Why are you trying to cover it up? What about the money and the drugs, Prunella? There was over a thousand dollars in that pouch. You can’t remember where it came from?”
Now, my ears really perked up.
“Officer, I told you before that I forgot I had the money there. I put it there a while ago for safekeeping. That’s all. It’s my money and I can do with it what I want.”
No one spoke for several moments and I started to panic but then the police officer spoke.
“All right, now you say it’s your money. Why did you tell us before that it wasn’t? That you had no idea where it came from? Do you think perhaps someone knew that you had money hidden and came for it but when you wouldn’t tell them where it was, they hit you on the head and left you for dead?”
“No, I told you no one hit me on the head. I just got dizzy and fell. I don’t know why you never found any blood and I don’t remember how I got to my bed. No one knew that I had any money hidden away. Why don’t you just leave me alone?”
“All right, Prunella, but there are still many unanswered questions. Be prepared for questioning from more cops. We’re going to get down to the bottom of this. If someone threatened you in any way, we can protect you. You know that, don’t you?”
I don’t know how Prunella replied because I heard the bedsprings squeak and I quickly and quietly made my exit. The police knew no more than what I did - at least, when it came to Prunella.
I wasn’t inside my house more than five minutes when the phone rang. It was May.
“Mabel,” she said. “I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner. I think there’s something you might find interesting. Do you have a minute?”
“Of course, I do. I’m curious.”
“Well, it might not be all that important but I found it to be odd so I did a little sneaking around. You know, when Prunella was in here? Well, she had a visitor every day. I was surprised but then, what do I know? You see many strange things after working in the hospital for all these years. What struck me as odd was that this visitor always visited Prunella when she was alone. I checked and when she had someone in her room, he would not go in; in fact, he would disappear.”
“May, I’m all ears. Who was it?”
“It was Melanie’s brother, Steve. Now, why would he be visiting Prunella? I’ve never known them to be friends. I don’t think any of Melanie’s family bothers with Prunella, do they?”
“Not that I know of. You didn’t happen to hear anything, did you?”
“Well, matter of fact, I did. I was very discreet though, Mabel. You know I could get into trouble. Although, who would get upset with a little old lady who couldn’t remember which floor she was on, right?”
“Right. You’re amazing, May.”
“I don’t know if it’s important but anyway, I heard Steve telling Prunella that she’d better keep her mouth shut. Which is very suspicious right there, right? Then, I heard him say something about being involved whether she liked it or not because he would make sure of it. He mumbled something about planting something. Do you have any idea what that means?”
“I have a fair idea. Did he say anything about being at her place?”
“Sorry, Mabel. That’s all I heard. A nurse came along and I had to rush back to my desk. She gave me a funny look and asked what I was doing up there so I didn’t try going up again.”
“What did you tell her? You know, why you were up there?”
“I told her I was passing on a phone message which makes no sense because there’s a phone in every room but she seemed satisfied with the answer. If I hear anything more about Prunella or the murder, I’ll make sure to pass it on.”
“Thank you so much, May. I’m going to give Reg a call and let him know. The pieces are falling into place.”
“You know who killed Bernie?”
I sighed. “That I don’t know and it’s getting quite frustrating. Sometimes, it takes awhile but I have a gut feeling that we’re getting closer.”
“Well, I’m pulling for you, Mabel. I hope you and Reg solve the case. I’ll be glad when all those city cops are out of town. Besides, I’m tired of Scully pulling me over every time I forget to put on my signal lights. Amy Hunter told me Jim sits in front of her place making sure everyone slows down for the kids. She said she appreciates that but not when he makes all the mothers walk down to the corner to cross. What’s the matter with those two anyway?”
I had to laugh. “I guess they have to do something. It keeps them out of trouble.”
Ten minutes after I called and left a message, Reg was at the door.
“What do you think, Mabel?” He sat across from me at the kitchen table.
“For one thing, Reg, I think Steve must be the one who hit Prunella on the head. Why else would he be visiting her every day in the hospital? And, why would he make sure he went in when no one else was there? May said he told Prunella to keep her mouth shut, which sounds threatening to me. Also, he told her that she was involved whether she liked it or not and that he’d planted something. What I’d like to know is - involved in what and what did he plant? Was it the money and drugs in her bedroom and if he did, why?”
“You might be on to something, Mabel. By the way, the drugs we found in Calvin’s hubcaps were nothing but crushed pills for diabetics. Now, why would someone hide a legitimate drug?”
I shook my head. It didn’t make any sense at all. “Speaking of drugs, when I was at Erma’s place, she showed me the pills that she gives to Murray. She crushes them up and puts them in his tea. Fritzy didn’t put his name on the pill bottles so Erma could tell Murray that they were vitamins. I guess otherwise he wouldn’t take them.”
Reg stood up. “Poor Murray. I hope he snaps out of this soon. You know what, Mabel, I’m beginning to wonder if he doesn’t know who killed Bernie.”
“What?”
“Well, why else would he be acting like this? Or, what about Murray? What if he’s the one who hit Bernie on the head? It happened right behind his house. It could’ve been an accident.”
“Are you serious? I can’t imagine Murray killing anyone. If it was an accident, I’m sure he would’ve come forward. Don’t you think so?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. We have to think of everyone, Mabel. Everyone is a suspect. You know this dead fish smell? I think it was to cover up the smell of drugs so that if the cops pulled them over, the dogs couldn’t smell anything. What do you think?”
I was trying not to get too excited. “That very thought crossed my mind too. About the fish smell but not Murray. I’m sure Murray couldn’t have killed Bernie. But, Reg, if they were selling drugs why did the packet we took have crushed diabetic pills in it? Where were the illegal drugs?”
“Because, now that I think of it, I took the only loose packet. All the others were wrapped up with cellophane.”
“So, the dogs that are trained to sniff out cocaine wouldn’t bother with the dead fish smell but boy, my cat sure would! And, I wonder about Biscuit. You should ask Erma if their old dog loved to eat fish. Remember Murray used to go fishing with Bernie and the dog went with them in the boat. I’m still thinking that maybe that’s why Biscuit met his waterloo. Maybe he was doing the same thing as Sammy but instead of kicking him, Calvin threw a brick. Reg, those people renting Krueger’s house must be buying up the drugs. Remember I saw Calvin and Scooter over there. What if they were getting back into the car and there was Biscuit, sniffing the hubcaps and going crazy? Or, attacking Calvin trying to rip his boots off. ”
Excitement shone in Reg’s eyes. “There’s a pile of old bricks in the empty lot beside the house.” He rubbed his hands together. “I’ll find out about Biscuit and his love for fish but first, I’m going to check out those bricks. Maybe I’ll drop in and visit your friends living behind you. What did you s
ay the guy’s name was?”
“Jeff. I think he told me his wife’s name but I can’t remember. All I know is that she’s very blond.”
“BIond? I bet I know who she is. Is she the woman Calvin is taking on the bus with him to the city? Sam Kinney said she was blond. Calvin showed up at Sam’s office with her and with a three-page resume. Said she had all these degrees in psychology and experience working in care homes.”
“You mean he’s willing to hire some blond stranger and pay her while he could get Flori for free?”
“Oh no, he’s not paying her. She’s volunteering. Wanting to help out while she’s vacationing here. Told him that this is how she always spends her summers – helping out the less fortunate.”
“So, she really has all those degrees?”
He shrugged. “Sam hadn’t checked her out yet when I last saw him. He said all the seniors seemed to be taken with her though so he wasn’t too concerned.”
“You know what? People in small towns are way too trusting. What’s the matter with us anyway? We hire strangers without a blink of the eye. Someday, someone in Parson's Cove will end up murdered; that’s what will happen.”
Reg smiled but it was a sad smile. “We have someone murdered, Mabel, and I’m betting it wasn’t a stranger who did the killing.”
For a moment, I couldn’t think of anything to say. He was right. Why was I worrying about strangers when there was probably a respected citizen walking around who’d hit Bernie over the head and killed him.
“It makes me shudder to think of that. Well, maybe we haven’t found the killer but I think we’ve discovered something else, Reg. This has to be a drug ring. Calvin and Scooter are obviously bringing drugs into Parson's Cove. They’re hiding them in the soles of shoes that Scooter is claiming to repair and also behind the hubcaps in the taxi. If the cops ever stop them doing a random search for drugs, they don’t worry because the dogs won’t smell them.”
“So how does Bernie fit into all of this, Mabel? It has to somehow be tied into that murder.”
“I wonder if Bernie was dealing. Melanie said he was acting strange. Someone must’ve double crossed him.”
“Or, he double crossed someone.”
“What can I do, Reg? I can’t sit and do nothing.”
“You’ve got the house behind you to watch. Let’s see what kind of action is going on there.”
He walked over to the window and looked out. “There’s a few places in your yard where you can sit and not be seen. Why don’t you sit outside and do some reading or something?”
“All right but it seems pretty quiet over there right now. I wonder what they do all day.”
Reg winked. “Maybe you could find out.”
That was the first time in history that Reg suggested something like that so I certainly wasn’t going to dismiss it. He’s usually telling me to mind my own business.
Chapter Thirty Six
It isn’t much fun standing at your kitchen window staring at your neighbor’s house or hiding behind a lilac bush waiting for something to happen. Sometimes a person has to take action. I pulled a bag of frozen apple muffins out of my freezer, popped them in the microwave and headed for Krueger’s house. The gate hadn’t been pried open all summer so it took a few minutes to untangle some of the vines. I’ve let them grow so I don’t have to see my neighbor’s back yard. Our one and only real estate company is supposed to keep the grass cut and the hedges trimmed but the boys they send over don’t do much of a job.
I managed to yank the gate open and then gingerly make my way to the back door. It seemed to be worse this summer than most. Once you allow thistles to start multiplying, you’re in for trouble. As soon as I returned home, I was going to give Shirley, at BuyRHomes, a call. If Old Man Krueger could see how his house and yard looked now, he’d die all over again.
Before I reached the step, Jeff opened the door. He opened it, stepped out, and then closed it. Obviously, he was not inviting me in for tea.
“Well, I see my neighbor has come calling,” he said. “Sorry, I’m just heading out.”
“Oh, that’s okay. I brought some fresh muffins over. I’m sorry I haven’t been over earlier to meet your wife. How is she enjoying our little town? I’m sure it must be quite boring for her. Or, does she like fishing?” I handed the bag of muffins to him.
He took the brown paper bag. “This is very kind of you. Actually, my wife really likes it here. She’s not much for fishing but she always finds something to do.” He smiled and turned to the door. “Thanks again. I’m sure we’ll enjoy these.”
Before he could disappear back into the house, I said, “I hear your wife loves doing volunteer work. Someone said she’s going to work at the Parson's Cove Seniors’ Home. I think that’s so wonderful. There aren’t too many nowadays who want to put themselves out for others. Don’t you find that?” I shook my head. “I don’t know. The world is changing so much. We had a murder in town here not long ago and now people have started locking their doors. It isn’t the same as it used to be.” I gave him a big smile. “Tell your wife that everyone in Parson's Cove would like to thank her for helping us out.”
Jeff didn’t seem to know what to say so I continued, “I feel silly saying this but I don’t even know your wife’s name. I’m sure you mentioned it before but I’m so forgetful. What was it again?”
“Jennifer. Her name’s Jennifer. I’ll tell her what you said, Mabel.”
“Jennifer. That’s really cute: Jeff and Jennifer. Oh, I guess she’s gone on the bus with Calvin now, isn’t she? My friend, Flori, and I went a week or so ago. I have to say, I’m very thankful for Jennifer taking over. It takes a special kind of person to get along with all those oldies. Not that they aren’t nice, mind you; I just find it very tiring. I’m sure your wife will make out fine though. She’s young and has more energy.”
He waved the bag. “Once again, thanks for these, Mabel. Sorry but I have to rush away.”
Before I could ask him where he was going, he disappeared into the house. I stood for a few minutes on the step, thinking he might reappear but when I heard him talking on the phone, I headed back home. If I could’ve heard what he was saying, I might have lingered for another minute or so.
I went back inside and watched through the kitchen window. About ten minutes later, Jeff came out. I moved away from the window in case he was watching. When I looked again, he was disappearing around the corner.
The afternoon was getting away on me. Calvin would be returning from the city soon. How much time did I have? A half hour to an hour at the most.
First of all, I did knock. Very loudly. Then, to make sure, I opened the door and yelled.
“Jeff? Jennifer? Are you here?” Then, more loudly, in case someone was lurking anywhere, I yelled out again, “Just checking to see if everyone is okay. Shirley wanted me to check on you.” Okay, so that was a blatant lie but if I needed to save my hide, it would be worth it.
There was no answer. The only sound was the hum of the old refrigerator. It was as old as the house almost and I remembered it from a few previous break-ins. (Me breaking in, that is.)
I stepped in and closed the door. The kitchen looked the same as it had when Mr. Krueger built the house. Very sad. At least, I’ve installed new cupboards and windows within the last twenty years. The Krueger house, sat frozen in time. A fleeting feeling of sadness and nostalgia passed through me. It had to be fleeting because I had very little time to do what I needed to do.
I did a quick survey of the kitchen. There were no obvious signs of drugs anywhere. I opened the cupboards, pulled out the drawers and checked the fridge. All I found were dishes, cutlery and food. Next, I tackled the upstairs. There were two bedrooms and a bathroom. Where does a person look for illegal drugs? I lifted the mattresses, looked under the beds and checked all the drawers. There were less places to search in the bathroom; and like the bedrooms, I came up empty.
One place left to investigate - the basement. This is
not my favorite spot. A few years’ back, I happened upon a dead body down there. About a year later, I hid down there, fearing for my life. As I descended the stairs, it did not bring back any happy memories.
It was as messy and musty smelling as I remembered. In fact, it looked the same as it had about a year ago, except for three boxes piled one on top of the other, sitting at the bottom of the steps. It was a good place to start my search because if I found what I was looking for, I wouldn’t have to go into any dark creepy corners.
My only problem was the duck tape. How could I rip off the tape and sneak a look without Jeff knowing?
I needn’t have worried. There was a loud rap on the kitchen door; then, another knock - louder than the first. The door opened and someone called out Jeff’s name. He called three times, each time louder than the time before.
I eased myself back into a dark creepy corner behind the steps.
Much to my dismay, whoever was up there was not leaving. In fact, he walked directly down the creaky wooden stairs. He stopped at the boxes. If he’d turned his head and peered through the steps, he would’ve looked right into my eyes. My back was up against the cement wall so I wasn’t going anywhere. All I had going for me was luck and that wasn’t too reassuring.
I could see who it was, however, and that made me somewhat apprehensive. Not that I’d ever thought of Scooter as a killer but I wasn’t really trusting that many people in Parson's Cove anymore. I became even more concerned when I saw him yank up his pant leg and whip out a deadly looking hunting knife that he had strapped to his leg. He pulled it out and sliced the duck tape in one swift easy motion. Obviously, he was in a hurry to get into that box because he dropped the knife on the floor and ripped open the flaps.
I have no idea what expression he had on his face because my eyes were where his were – on the contents of that box. He reached his hand in and I held my breath. Slowly he removed one plastic bag after another and set them on the floor. After he’d removed them all (I would say there were about twenty bags), he put them back. That is, all of them but two. Those two, he stuffed into his jacket pockets. Then, he carefully put the box that he’d opened at the bottom of the pile. That’s how intelligent Scooter is.
