Strawberry Cream Murder

by Susan Gillard

  Amy shrugged. Then Heather led the way outside.

  "What are we looking for?" Detective Peters asked. "It's a fenced in yard. It would have been easier for the killer to have left the front door."

  "But I didn't see any mud when I entered the house," said Heather. "However, I think I see some now."

  She pointed to a hose in Vanessa's backyard. Some of the grass had been torn up, and water had been filled in, turning the dirt into mud.

  "So, the killer really did make the dog dirty," said Amy. "He was trying to hide the blood with the mud. And he hoped that the groomer would not notice."

  "This might be a break in the case for us as well," said Heather. "I think I see a footprint in that mud."

  She pointed, and the investigators smiled back at her.

  Breakfast

  The next morning, Heather found that her breakfast table was full with guests.

  She had eaten an early breakfast with Ryan before he had to run to work. He planned on looking for matches of the shoe prints they found in the mud. She hoped that he would have success with that.

  Her dog Dave had joined them. He was fond of both Heather and Ryan, and he liked being around to catch potential table scraps.

  A little while later Lilly and Cupcake had come to the table. Heather heard all about the night she had had with her babysitters, and it sounded like a good time was had by all. Further evidence was provided when Eva and Leila stopped by as well.

  Heather was happy to provide him with Caramel Sundae Donuts and to update them on everything that it happened with Jamie and his van.

  "Oh my goodness," said Eva. "I don't know what I would've done in his situation."

  "I'm just glad his businesses on wheels," said Leila.

  Heather nodded. "I'm glad he's safe. It does seem like the person who brought the dog could be the murderer."

  Dave began to bark happily, and Heather realized that a friend must be visiting.

  She went to the door and saw Amy and Jamie accompanied by two canine companions. Miss Marshmallow was still looking displease, even as Amy carried her in her arm.

  Dave eyed Skip warily. However, after a few brief sniffs, the two males decided that they could be friends and wag their tails. This was the first time that Heather had seen Skip wag his tail, and she felt it was a good sign.

  She showed everyone to the dining room table, and they enjoyed breakfast together. Heather provided more donuts, and Amy helped her create an omelet for the group.

  It was a running joke that Heather wasn't able to cook anything besides donut. However, Heather joked back and showed them that she was able to boil an egg.

  After she finished eating, Lilly asked if she could use her tablet to call Nicholas and talk about what they would do when he arrived. Heather agreed, and Lilly excused herself from the table.

  "So, dear, what's the next step in your investigation?" Eva asked as she set down her fork from her omelet and picked up a sweet donut.

  "Well," Heather said. "We're hoping that the footprint we found in the victim's backyard will lead us in the right direction. Normally we would look at who would want to hurt the victim. However, so far this does appear to be a robbery."

  "What makes you think it was just a robbery?" Asked Leila.

  "The safe at the victim's house was empty," Heather explained. "And it looked like a struggle ensued."

  "The police are trying to determine exactly what was taken," Amy said. "But she did have a nice house. I couldn't believe that she had a lot of valuables hidden."

  "And how was this poor woman killed?" Eva asked.

  "She was shot," said Heather. "And I think what must've happened was that the robber threatened Vanessa Horn and forced her to unlock the safe. However, once the safe was opened, the robber decided he didn't need her anymore. He killed her so she couldn’t be a witness against him."

  "That's so terrible," Eva remarked.

  "But it sure does make me glad to be of such a good security system in the house," said Leila. "Thanks to Heather."

  "Thanks to too many close calls when I first began investigating," said Heather. "And now I have a daughter I'm certainly not taking any chances."

  "Speaking of not taking any chances," said Amy. "Can you tell Jamie not to go to work today?"

  "I don't feel like I should be scared off from my job," said Jamie. "And Ryan and Detective Peters said that I could pick up the van today."

  "Actually," Heather said looking back-and-forth between them. "I don't think that's a bad idea. The killer knows what your van looks like. If he thinks you could identify them, he might go to get rid of some loose ends."

  "Do you really think so?" Asked Jamie.

  "It's certainly a possibility," said Heather unhappily.

  "All right," Jamie said. "Maybe I will allow the police to have one more day to analyze what was in my van. I wouldn't want to put myself or anyone else in danger."

  "Thank you," Amy said.

  "And it will give me some more time to work on wedding plans with Josh and Josie. It will make me an even better best man," Jamie said. "And I can make sure that Skip is doing all right."

  Upon hearing the name of the rival dog, Miss Marshmallow decided that she needed more attention and began pushing her nose against Jamie's foot. He picked her up and put her on his lap.

  Dave looked at Skip as if to apologize for her behavior.

  "I'll call Rudolph Rodney and tell him that I need to take the van off the road for a little while," Jamie said. "Luckily I didn't have any appointments prescheduled today."

  The friends talked about the case a little more and about the gossip in their lives. Then they began to clean up after breakfast.

  Heather decided to sneak in another Caramel Sundae Donut before she began the rest of her day when she heard all the dogs began barking.

  "I certainly am glad we have a security system," said Leila. "Because it sounds like something is happening."

  Heather ran to the window but saw that they were in no danger. It was a new mailman who was delivering the mail that day. Dave did not recognize him and had begun the bark. The others joined in either to show off or to help their friend.

  Heather waived to show the mailman that she appreciated him. Then a thought occurred to her.

  "All the dogs were barking," Heather said.

  "I know," Amy said covering her ears in mock exasperation.

  "They work pretty well as a security system on their own," Eva joked.

  "Jamie, how did you say Skip acted when the man brought into your van?" Heather asked.

  "He was a bit subdued like he has been," Jamie said conjuring up the memory. "But he wasn't snapping at the man who brought him in. In fact, he seemed comfortable with him."

  "I didn't remember you mentioning any barking," Heather said. "Now based on your description I'm sure that the man who brought Skip to have a bath was someone the dog knew."

  "That's what I was thinking before," said Amy. "The person also knew Skip. That's why he didn't want to hurt him."

  "But," Heather said. "This could also mean that the person who robbed Vanessa Horn was someone that she had introduced her dog to. The killer was someone that she knew!"

  The Ex Suspect

  "I'm glad you realized this," Ryan said. "This is a different way of looking at the case. Instead of looking at who could have robbed her or looking for stolen property at pawnshops and places like that, we can look at the people in her life."

  "I'm sorry I didn't realize it before," Jamie said looking sheepish. "I probably should have."

  "It's okay," Amy said giving him an affectionate shove. "You probably had other things on your mind."

  Heather, Amy, and Jamie had hurried over to the police station after realizing their latest discovery. Heather thought it was possible that if Ryan and Peters could find some photos of people in Vanessa's life, then Jamie might be able to identify someone.

  They had brought Skip with them because they still felt he
was an important part of the case. They had also brought Miss Marshmallow with them as she had been so insistent.

  Amy a commented that she didn't know how to deal with this sudden show of affection and joked thatshe might've preferred her aloof dog better.

  However, now both of the dogs were bored because the humans were just sitting around and discussing the case. Jamie had brought some bones for them to chew on but Skip had not felt much like gnawing on his. Missed Marshmallow had commandeered both of them and was sitting on the bones to protect them instead of enjoying them.

  Ryan continued to do some searching on his police computer as they all chatted. Detective Peters updated them with some news he had found out.

  "I heard back from Vanessa Horn's insurance company," he reported. "They can't verify what was kept in a safe specifically, but they were able to provide us with a list of items that the victim had decided to ensure. It was mostly jewelry. And it was worth a great deal."

  "This really does seem like a robbery gone wrong," said Amy. "The killer must have known Vanessa Horn well enough to know about her jewels. But also didn't mind killing her to get them."

  "I wonder who it could be," Heather said. "A former friend, a jealous relative, or a bad date."

  "How about an ex-husband?" Asked Ryan

  "That certainly has potential," said Amy.

  Miss Marshmallow decided that she wasn't getting enough attention as everyone was looking at Ryan and wondering what else he was about to share. She began to dance around on her hind legs hoping everyone would look at her. Amy picked the dog up and booped her on the nose. Miss Marshmallow didn't seem especially enthused by this attention.

  "What did you find, partner?" Asked Detective Peters.

  Ryan began to explain what he found in his search. "Vanessa Horn was married to a Tom Horn for three years. They divorced last year. And it seems like it was not a friendly settlement."

  "That certainly seems like a likely suspect," said Amy.

  "Does he own a gun?" Asked Peters.

  Ryan shook his head. "At least not a legally registered firearm. Neither he nor his ex-wife did."

  "Could you bring up a picture of him?" Asked Heather.

  A few moments later, Ryan was able to show them the picture that Tom Horn used for his driver's license.

  "That's him!" Said Jamie. "That's the man who brought Skip to me."

  "Are you sure?" Asked Ryan. "You're not letting your expectations sway you?"

  "No," said Jamie shaking his head. "I'm positive that's him. He was wearing a hat at the time and had his collar popped up. But it's definitely him."

  "We better go talk to Tom Horn right away," said Detective Peters.

  "Agreed," said Amy. "He's not just the prime suspect anymore. He's the guy who did this."

  "Yes," said Jamie. "This is the man!"

  Heather and Amy followed Ryan and Detective Peters to the suspect's house. Jamie had been instructed to take the dogs home and keep an eye on them. He said that he planned on inviting Josh and Josie over so they could help him placate Miss Marshmallow who suddenly needed so much attention.

  "Do you think you'll still be home?" Asked Amy. "Or do you think he already skipped town?"

  "Since I don't know the man, it's hard to say," said Heather. "He might've taken the jewels and run after dropping the dog off with Jamie. Or he might be hiding out."

  "At least this does partially explain what happened with Skip," said Amy. "Skip used to be Tom Horn's dog too. He didn't want him dead. So he dropped him off at a grooming van hoping to clear it of the evidence, but making sure he was safe."

  "If we don't find him at home, we might be able to track his or Jamie's cell phone," said Heather. "Maybe that was another reason for Tom Horn to steal the phone. Maybe he knew that he would be leaving town and didn't want to be tracked through his own number."

  "I hope he didn't rack up Jamie's phone bill using a ton of data and making long distance calls. We want to add that to his already long list of bad things that he's done."

  The private investigators saw the detectives park their car and found a spot right behind them. They all emerged and walked up to the front door of the house together.

  Ryan rapped on the door. There was no response.

  "I was hoping he would answer the door and we could talk to him," said Ryan. "But it looks like we have to get a warrant to search the premises."

  Heather moved over to the window and peered in. She gasped.

  "I don't think you have to worry about a warrant," she said. "I can see from here probable cause that another crime has been committed."

  "The crime?" Asked Amy.

  "Another murder," said Heather. "I can see Tom Horn on the floor. And there's blood."

  With that, Ryan and Detective Peters started to break down the door.

  The Horn House

  With a loud crash, the front door gave way. Ryan and Detective Peters both drew their weapons and entered the house.

  Heating the detective's warning to stay back Heather and Amy crept slowly towards the door, making sure it was safe before they entered. Detective Peters was near the body on the ground. Ryan finished his sweep of the house and gave the signal to the others.

  "All clear," he said as he holstered his weapon.

  Heather was already hurrying towards the body. Amy was taking longer to motivate herself to leave the doorway. She was muttering to herself about her resolve not to scream seeing a dead body.

  Heather knelt down towards Tom Horn and felt for a pulse. She looked at Detective Peters for confirmation.

  "I think so," Peters said.

  Detective Peters picked up his radio and called for an ambulance.

  "Amy, you don't have to worry about screaming when you see a dead body," Heather told her friend.

  "I don't?"

  "No," Heather said. "Tom Horn is still alive."

  "Barely," Said Detective Peters. "The ambulance better get here soon."

  After determining that there was no simple medical attention that they could provide for the man and that it was better to wait for professional help, they waited for the ambulance with bated breath.

  When I finally arrived, Heather was happy to see that Emmett, and EMT that she knew and respected, was on the scene. He and his team got to work quickly, carefully moving the patient into the ambulance.

  As Emmett moved to the front cab of the ambulance, he said to Heather, "When someone's life isn't on the line we'll have to have a talk about Fire Frank."

  Heather nodded and then the EMTs drove off with the injured Tom Horn. Heather found her mind filled with questions. She wondered what could've happened to Tom Horn. Was he truly a victim in all this? Was he still actually a murderer? And what did Emmett want to talk about in regard to his friend Fire Frank? Could it have something to do with him and Janae?

  Ryan walked up to her side, and she realized that she had been staring off after the ambulance.

  "Detective Peters is going to follow the ambulance and keep an eye on Tom Horn."

  "Good idea," Heather agreed. "If he is the person who killed Vanessa Horn, then it's good to have someone watching him in case he tries to escape or attempts to hurt anyone else. And if he is a victim in all this, then it might be good for him to have some protection."

  "It certainly looks like someone tried to kill him here," said Ryan. "It looks as if Tom Horn was pretty lucky to have survived this attack."

  "Should we go to the hospital as well?" Asked Heather.

  "I think we should examine this crime scene first," Ryan said as they began walking back towards the house. "I hope that Tom Horn will recover and will be able to tell us what happened to him. But even if he does, I don't think we can count on that happening right away."

  Heather nodded and picked up the pace heading to the front door.

  "You're right. We need to catch the person who's committing these crimes."

  Detective Peters said goodbye to them and headed towards the pol
ice car. On his way out, Heather heard him mutter about how Hope was going to be annoyed that he couldn't tell her about this developing story right away. Heather couldn't help grinning. She liked the young detective and young reporter as a couple.

  However, once she was back inside the room where they found Tom Horn her attention was brought back to the case. Amy was standing to the side and shaking her head.

  "I want to think that this is better than coming across a dead body," Amy said. "But based on that injury I'm afraid he's still going to die. We've just come across a pre-dead body. I'm trying to decide which is more upsetting. Could we have helped if we were a little faster?"

  "We can't go down that line of thought," Heather said firmly. "What happened here is not our fault. Our arrival on the scene might have saved his life. But we should focus on now is catching the person responsible for this. And for Vanessa Horn's murder. That person is still free, and we need to change that."

  "I guess so," Amy said relenting. "But I still don't like this any better than finding a dead guy."

  "You'll feel differently if Tom Horn survives," Heather said, placing an arm around her friend.

  "If," said Amy. "What do you think happened to him?"

  "I'd say he was hit with something heavy on the head," said Heather. She looked at Ryan who was examining the room. "Do you agree?"

  "Yes," said Ryan. "And I think this might be the object."

  He pointed at the table lamp that was lying on the floor. There appeared to be blood on the bottom of it.

  "Any chance there will be fingerprints on that?" Asked Amy.

  "We'll certainly check for that," Ryan said.

  They continued examining the room. There were not many other signs of a struggle. The fallen lamp was the one major clue to what happened. There also did not seem to be signs of a break-in. The door locks were not tampered with, and the windows were all closed.

  "This makes it seem as if Tom Horn knew his killer and let him inside," said Heather.