by Lisa Orchard
She gave Sarah a smile and relaxed. The crease disappeared. “Just be home before dark.”
“Okay.”
“I’m going home. I need to disinfect,” Lacey sniffed.
“Do you need some money?” her uncle asked.
“Yeah.”
He pulled out his wallet and handed Sarah a five. “Have fun.”
Sarah hurried over to Jackie. “Hey, how about Hinkle’s?”
“Absolutely,” Jackie gave her mom her best Vanna White smile. “Mom, we’re going to Hinkle’s.”
“I don’t know.” Jackie’s mom hesitated. “You’ve had a horrendous day.”
Jackie nodded. “I know, that’s why I need some ice cream.”
“Let her go, Claire,” Jackie’s dad said, winking at his daughter. “This is Harrisburg.”
“Where an old lady was just murdered,” Jackie’s mother said dryly.
“Please….” Jackie whined. She gazed at her mother with pleading eyes, and clasped her hands together as if she were praying.
“Please….” Sarah copied Jackie’s stance and beseeching expression.
Her mother sighed. “All right, just be home before dark.”
The girls smirked at each other.
“Let’s go,” Sarah said.
Hinkle’s stood on the corner of Main and Church, just two blocks from the police station. Cars drove up and down the street, the drivers honking and waving to people they knew. Main Street was considered the main drag to the teenagers of Harrisburg, and they called this “cruising the gut.”
According to Jackie, “cruising” was the favorite pastime of the teens of this tiny burg, those that could drive anyway. It was considered a rite of passage, and Jackie couldn’t wait to get her license. She had talked about it last night when she walked Sarah home. Sarah watched the cars go by, shaking her head. She didn’t see much point in “cruising.” The cars just went around the same city blocks for what seemed like hours. What was the point?
Sighing, her mind returned to the events of the day. “I’m so glad we weren’t arrested.”
“I know,” Jackie said, dipping her head in Sarah’s direction. She skipped ahead, and then turned to face Sarah. She walked backward as she spoke. “Do you realize we have a murder mystery right here in Harrisburg?”
Sarah nodded. “You got that right.”
Jackie stopped and mused. “A major mystery in our small town.”
“I thought you said nothing interesting ever happens here.”
“It didn’t until now,” Jackie cracked a wide smile. “I wonder who killed the Cat Lady?”
“Klonsky thinks we did it.” Sarah’s stomach fluttered and she chewed on her nail again.
“I know.” Jackie started her backward walk again.
“We’ve got to find the real killer before Klonsky pins this on us.”
“You think so?” Jackie’s eyes widened. “Why would he do that?” She stopped walking and stared at Sarah.
Sarah paused and gazed at her new friend. “I don’t know. All I know is that he thinks we did it, and he’s a cop.”
The two girls stared at each other. Sarah saw confusion flickering in Jackie’s eyes. A car honked its horn, and Sarah watched as her friend gave the driver a half-hearted wave, never taking her focus from Sarah.
“He doesn’t have any evidence,” Jackie said.
“Well, he could make it look like it was us even when it wasn’t.”
“Why would he do that?”
“I don’t know, but everyone would believe him because he’s a cop.”
Jackie shot Sarah a skeptical look. “Are you serious, girlfriend?”
“Totally, I read about it all the time in my True Crime books. The cops go after some innocent bystander. It happens all the time.”
“But we’re just teenagers,” Jackie protested, pulling on one of her curls. “Who would believe him?”
“He’s a cop. Everyone’s going to believe him. Plus, Lacey and I don’t live here. No one knows us.”
Sarah saw Jackie’s nostrils flare, and her eyes widened as her words hit home.
“What are we going to do?” Jackie gulped as tears filled her eyes.
“We have to find the killer ourselves.”
“You’re right, girlfriend.” Jackie wiped her eyes, and then closed the gap between them. She gave Sarah a squeeze before the girls continued their walk.
They arrived at the restaurant, and Sarah relaxed when she opened the door. It was a cheery place where all the townies gathered together to gossip and exchange family news. Hinkle’s was Harrisburg’s official hangout. On the walls hung Christmas lights year round and humorous plaques that brought chuckles to the patrons while they waited for their meals. As the girls walked through the door, one of these plaques caught Sarah’s eye. In life, it’s not who you know that’s important, it’s how your parents found out. She laughed and felt a little better, as the cold blast from the restaurant’s air conditioning raised goose bumps on her skin.
“I’ve got to use the bathroom,” Sarah said, rubbing her arms.
“Didn’t want to use the one at the police station?” Jackie gave her a playful nudge.
“No way! I wanted to get the heck out of there.”
The girls cracked up laughing. Now that the ordeal was over, they could laugh about it.
“I’ll grab a booth,” Jackie said as she turned and stopped at the hostess stand.
Sarah nodded and walked to the restroom. She glanced into the restaurant before going through the door and noticed the place wasn’t busy. It was early afternoon, and the dinner rush hadn’t begun yet. The hostess seated Jackie by a window. Sarah made a mental note of this, before walking through the door.
A few minutes later, Sarah slid into the booth. “We need to come up with a name.”
“A name?” Jackie glanced up from her menu.
“Yeah, if we’re going to be detectives. We have to have a name.”
“We’re going to be detectives?” Jackie dropped her menu and stared at Sarah with a perplexed expression.
“Yep.”
“Why do you want to be a detective?”
“So we can find out who killed the Cat Lady.” Sarah grabbed her menu and opened it, then laid it on the table.
“How about the Fashionistas?”
Sarah groaned.
“What? You don’t like that name?” Jackie asked.
“Not everyone’s into fashion like you are.”
“What? I don’t believe it.”
“Believe it,” Sarah giggled.
“What could be more important than being a Fashionista? I’m going to be a model, you know.” Jackie flashed Sarah a smile.
“I know. Models are fashionable, but detectives keep a low profile.” Sarah smirked.
“How about the Shopaholics?”
Sarah shook her head. “No, it has to be something about detectives.”
“Girlfriend, you’re way too serious.”
Sarah rolled her eyes. “Let’s focus on a name.”
“How about the Crime Stoppers?”
“No, that sounds like a TV show or something. Besides, it’s too late to stop the crime.”
The conversation paused when the waitress came to take their order. Each girl ordered a super-size chocolate malt. Hinkle’s was famous for their thick malts, and Sarah’s stomach rumbled with anticipation. Hmm, Sarah thought, super-size. Super Spies. When the waitress disappeared to fill the order, the girls leaned forward to continue their conversation.
“I know, how about The Super Spies?” Sarah asked.
“Hmm, I like it,” Jackie said.
“Me too. It has a nice ring to it.”
“It’s like we’re super heroes.”
“I’m so not wearing a cape.” Sarah frowned and shook her head.
Jackie laughed. “Why not? Capes are fashionable.” She raised her straw and twirled it in the air.
“Detectives, not Fashionistas, remember?”
“The capes are out,” Sarah said, with mock severity.
“Oh, come on.”
“No, the discussion is closed.”
“Party-pooper.”
Their waitress returned with two huge malts. Sarah held her malt up in the air. Jackie followed suit. The girls raised their glasses together for a toast. Smiling at the sound of the muffled clink of their glasses, Sarah’s body tingled with anticipation.
“To the Super Spies,” Jackie crowed.
“To the Super Spies, without capes.”
Jackie gave Sarah an exaggerated frown and then sipped her malt.
Hinkle’s began filling with people, and it soon buzzed with conversation. The dinner rush had begun. Scents of cooking food wafted past Sarah’s nose, and a grin spread across her face as she inhaled the delicious smells. Sounds of clattering plates and scraping silverware increased within seconds. Sarah welcomed the noise. They were less likely to be overheard.
“You know, I have a theory,” Sarah leaned forward and whispered.
“Hmmm…What is it?”
“I think the Cat Lady knew her killer.”
“Why do you think that?” Jackie asked, leaning forward also.
Sarah saw the glimmer of curiosity in her eyes. “You saw her house. All those stacks of papers.”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t you think if she were fighting for her life all those papers would be messed up?”
“Maybe.”
“Oh, come on, Jack…You think the killer was concerned about being tidy?”
“Probably not,” Jackie agreed. “But still, it doesn’t mean she knew her killer.”
Sarah raised her eyebrow and smirked at her. “Come on, Jackie!”
“How does it prove she knew her killer? Enlighten me. Bestow upon me your superior wisdom.” Jackie pretended to gag on her words.
“I guess I’m going to have to teach you about the powers of deduction.” Sarah sat up in her seat and pursed her lips.
Jackie cocked her head and smirked at her. “Apparently.”
“Okay, first of all, the Cat Lady was a hermit, right?” Sarah held up her index finger.
“Right.”
“Second of all, she never opens her door for anyone.” Sarah held up two fingers.
“Right.”
“Third, there was no sign of a break in, and the place wasn’t messed up.” Sarah held up three fingers.
Jackie’s face lit up. “Oh, I get it now.”
“So, it had to be someone she knew well enough to open her door and let them in.” Sarah glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one heard her, and then leaned closer to Jackie and whispered, “That’s why we need to sneak out tonight and look for clues in the Cat Lady’s house.”
Jackie’s eyes widened. “What! You mean sneak into the Cat Lady’s house?”
Sarah nodded.
“At night?”
“Yeah.”
“Why at night?”
“Because the police are going to be there during the day and we won’t be able to get in.”
Jackie giggled. “Sounds like a plan to me.”
“Just you and me,” Sarah said, with a conspiratorial wink.
“What about Lacey?”
“You know Lacey… she’s a big wimp.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah, you saw her bawling on the way to the police station,” Sarah shook her head.
“True,” Jackie said, slurping the last of her malt.
“Let’s meet at the willow tree at midnight.”
“Cool beans.”
“Wear dark clothes.”
Jackie winked, and then swiveled to flag their waitress down. “Hey, Carla, we’re ready to go.”
She nodded. “I’ll get your bill.”
Carla returned carrying a heavy tray filled with ice cream and she struggled to keep it upright.
“She looks upset,” Sarah said.
All of a sudden, Carla stumbled and the tray flew out of her hands, ice cream landed everywhere. Patrons turned their attention to the noise, and Sarah saw the red stain of embarrassment on her face.
“Are you all right?” Sarah asked, as she leapt from the booth to help her. Jackie followed behind her.
“Yeah, I’m all right. I just heard some bad news,” Carla said, with a quivering lip. She began wiping up the spilled ice cream with a cloth.
“What news?” Jackie asked.
“Someone murdered Mrs. Fedewa!”
“For real?” Sarah exchanged a look with Jackie.
“What happened?” Jackie asked.
“According to my mom, the grocery delivery boy found her this morning.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, I guess she was stabbed,” Carla continued, with a sob in her voice.
“What a horrible way to die,” Sarah frowned.
The table next to the major ice cream spill overheard Carla’s story. Traveling like wildfire, the news spread through the restaurant. Sarah witnessed people’s expressions changing to shocked dismay as they heard the news.
“Do you know if they have any suspects?” she asked, turning back to Carla.
“As far as I know, they don’t have a clue who did it. You know, she was weird, but she didn’t deserve to die that way.” Carla continued mopping up the mess. “I’ve got to get new malts for the people at table twelve.” She started to leave, then swung back around and handed the girls their bill. “Here’s your bill. Have a good night.”
Sarah watched Carla scurry away, while a busboy came out to finish cleaning up the ice cream with a mop and bucket.
The girls paid their bill and hurried outside. Humid air seemed to wrap around Sarah. She sighed with contentment, the atmosphere felt like a warm blanket after the frigid air in the restaurant.
“That explains why the police showed up this morning,” Sarah said.
“Yeah, we must have gotten there right after the delivery boy left and called 9-1-1.” Jackie fidgeted with her curls.
“I find it interesting the delivery boy found her body.”
“Yeah.”
“He’s the one person the Cat Lady would let inside,” Sarah pointed out.
“True, but why would the delivery boy want her dead?”
“Uncle Walt told me that she was one of the richest people in town,” Sarah whispered.
“Are you sure?” Jackie raised her eyebrows.
“Yep.”
“You couldn’t tell that by the way she lived.”
“I know.”
Strolling down the street, Sarah noticed the early evening sun hanging low in the sky. It resembled an orange Christmas ornament suspended in the air, illuminating her world. She took a deep breath and inhaled the delicious scents of the season. The smell of freshly mowed grass, the light fragrance of summer roses, and the aroma of burgers on a charcoal grill. This summer might be more exciting than I thought. A grin of anticipation danced across her face, but disappeared quickly when the words and more dangerous flashed through her mind.
“We should probably head home,” Jackie sighed.
Sarah nodded. “Yeah, probably.”
“I’ll meet you tonight,” Jackie whispered in Sarah’s ear.
“At midnight,” Sarah whispered back.
Jackie tugged at a wayward curl, deep in thought. “We need a signal.”
“A signal?”
“Yeah, you know, to identify each other in the dark.”
“Okay, how about the hoot of an owl?”
“Cool beans.”
The two girls stood on the corner and practiced their secret signal. Sarah noticed the cruisers were out in full swing. She heard strains of rock music as they drove past. Some of the drivers had turned their bass way up and their cars vibrated with the music. Shaking her head, she turned her attention back to the task at hand. After the gi
rls perfected their signal, they exchanged conspiratorial glances and went their separate ways.
Sarah arrived home just as the sun was setting. She climbed the porch stairs and found Lacey sitting on the swing, reading in the fading light. Lacey glanced up and saw Sarah.
“Hey,” Lacey greeted her.
Sarah stopped at the top of the stairs. “Hey, yourself. Feel any better after your shower?”
“Totally. I’m still freaked out about seeing a dead body.”
“I know what you mean.”
“How was Hinkle’s?”
“It was good. I got one of their malts.” Sarah walked across the porch and plopped down on the swing next to Lacey. “Jackie and I are going to solve the Cat Lady murder.”
“You are?” Lacey’s eyes opened wide. “I want to help.”
“I don’t think so… you’d be too scared.”
Lacey scoffed. “I would not.”
“Remember last Halloween when we went to the Haunted House at the high-school?”
“I was in seventh grade then. I’m in eighth now,” Lacey said, sitting up straight in the swing and dropping her book on the porch.
“We don’t need any wimps on our detective squad,” Sarah grumbled.
“I’m not a wimp.”
“Riiiight,” Sarah said, arching her eyebrows.
“I’m not. Besides, I know someone whose dad works in the police department.”
“So what?”
“He could help us.”
“The only way he could help us is if his dad’s involved with the investigation.”
“He will be. You see, his dad is the chief of police,” Lacey sat up straight as a wide grin spread across her face.
Sarah saw the triumph flash in her sister’s eyes. “Awesome,” she said, with a rueful smile. “Give him a call, and set something up.”
“All-righty then,” Lacey flashed another jubilant grin and bounced into the house.
Sarah pushed on the porch with her feet, sending the swing swaying. The cool breeze from the swing’s movement felt good on her skin. Her mind drifted back to the scene the girls had stumbled on this morning. Who would want to murder the Cat Lady? She pondered. There must be some clue at her house. I’ll find it tonight. She shuddered as the image of the spooky house invaded her mind.
