by Vikki Walton
Kandi nodded, her chin quivering and on the edge of tears. She choked out “Okay.”
“Come on, sweetie. I think the ladies inside could use a nice cup of sweet hot tea.” Was it just because of the incident or did it feel like the temperature had dropped quite a bit while they’d been standing outside? She looked up in the sky, and it still looked clear but in the distance were some dark clouds.
Oh no, not snow. Anne sighed. Could things get any worse this weekend? She needed to check out the weather report soon.
They walked toward the back of the house when a tall, lanky man with sandy blond hair strode around the corner. Out of his usual paramedic uniform, he wore a chambray shirt under a Carhartt jacket and blue jeans. All of the women turned their head toward him. One thing about Sam Powers, he was definitely attractive. So why didn’t Anne want to take the relationship further than a few dates? She realized that where other women had to have a man in their life to complete them, she was happy to have her freedom for the first time in a very long time. So maybe it was all timing. And, as they say, time would tell.
Kandi perked up seeing Sam and bounded over to him where he enveloped her in a hug. “Hey, Candy-cane, good to see you too.”
He released her. She looked up into his face. “When did you get back?”
“Last night. That’s why I wasn’t on call yet. But when I heard the address on the scanner, I drove on over.” He smiled over at Anne.
“Sam.”
“Anne.”
A loud male voice broke their intense conversation. “Hey, Sam, may I speak with you for a moment?”
“Sure, Carson. Coming.” Sam walked toward the sheriff.
Anne and Kandi caught up with Taylor and Lil.
“My, oh my, if he ain’t a nice, tall drink of water.” Taylor mimicked fanning herself.
Lil nodded.
“Ladies, how about a nice cup of hot sweet tea?” Anne switched the shopping bag to her other hand.
“Sounds good to me,” Lil responded. “I feel a bit cold out here.”
Anne agreed. “Yep, that’s Colorado weather for you. I’m thinking we could get some snow tonight.”
“Got any popcorn? For some reason, I’m in the mood for some,” Taylor said.
After all the ladies had gone inside, Anne struck up a fire in the living room fireplace where she encouraged everyone to gather. Hope and Kandi had gone to the kitchen to make hot tea for everyone. Taylor had gone to help make some popcorn. Anne was dismayed to see Marie excited to be in the midst of the crisis. Anne could imagine the stories Marie would be thrilled to share. Nothing she could do about it now.
As Sheriff Carson took down names and addresses, Hope and Kandi passed out the tea. Taylor brought in a large bowl of buttered popcorn and some small bowls. She was the only one to eat some. Beth sat in a chair and rocked back and forth. Liz stood by her, silent. Lil had gone and stood by the fire, warming herself with her back to the group.
Anne noticed movement and went to the window across the large hall. Snowflakes. She groaned, and Kandi came up beside her.
“Everything okay, Mom?”
“Yes, I’m just wondering if we’ll have a shark tsunami next. It’s like one bad thing keeps building on the others. I’m afraid our opening weekend is going to be our last. I doubt anyone will stay for the full weekend, so that means refunding their money.”
“Well, like I always say, it is, like, what it always is.”
Anne made a face. “Not sure what that means, but okay. Thanks for trying to cheer me up.”
Kandi lowered her voice. “You don’t think one of them”—she nodded back to the living room—“you know, like, helped him along to meet his Maker.”
“I don’t know.” Anne took a sip of the tea. She normally didn’t care for sugar in hot tea, but it made all the difference now. “He had heart issues, so he probably died of a heart attack.”
“Hope is always talking about the emotions and the body. She told me the heart has to do with love as a good emotion but also as the negative emotion of hate or anger, and boy, was he an angry old guy.”
Anne chuckled. To Kandi, anyone in their forties or above was old.
“I think that it’s actually the liver that’s associated with anger and the heart is more related to abandonment and loss of love.”
“Whatever, it is. He wasn’t a nice guy. But if you think it might be murder, then you better get those little gray cells to work.”
“Okay, got it, Miss Lemon.”
“Miss who?” Kandi’s ponytail bobbed as she spoke.
“You know—Poirot, Miss Lemon, Hastings…”
Kandi looked up at Anne. “Is that a TV show?”
Anne sighed. “Then where did you hear about ‘little gray cells’?”
“I just heard it, like, somewhere. I think—”
“Forget it.” She nodded toward the group. “Might want to check and see if any of them want more tea.”
As if on cue, Liz called from the other room, “Kandi?”
“See, you always know things.” She headed off to Liz.
Carson had finished taking statements when Liz asked, “When can we leave?”
Beth chimed in, “Yes, I’ll need to start making arrangements.”
It finally dawned on Anne what had been bothering her outside. Beth hadn’t cried then, and she wasn’t crying now. It could be shock like Hope had said, but some time had passed now. Was she so cold-blooded toward the passing of her husband or was it because she had a hand in his death? Anne needed to get Sheriff Carson away from the group and tell him about the note and how Beth had pocketed the broken vape pen.
“I’ll need all of you to stay in town for the evening in case I have any further questions. Pending any other circumstances, you should be able to make arrangements to travel home tomorrow,” Sheriff Carson announced.
Kandi came around the corner holding a tray of finger sandwiches. “Ladies, I’ve made up some sandwiches and also heated up some potato soup.”
Taylor rose and followed Kandi into the dining room. Each of the ladies moved behind them in a procession of downcast faces.
Once Anne saw that they were all in the dining room, she said, “Sheriff, I need to talk to you about a couple of things.”
“Hold on. I need to speak to the medical examiner first before she leaves.”
Carson looked over Anne’s shoulder, and Anne turned to see Marie standing behind her. “What can I do to help?”
“I think we’re good, Marie,” Anne replied. “I would so appreciate it if you could sit with the ladies. They could use a sympathetic ear.”
Marie nodded heartily. “Yes, yes, of course.”
“How about we go to my office where we won’t be disturbed?” Anne motioned for Carson to follow her.
He pointed toward the back. “I just need a quick word, then I’ll join you.”
Anne watched as the sheriff spoke to the medical examiner, a woman in her fifties who wore her hair in a no-nonsense brush cut. As they talked, she opened the door to her vehicle and slid out the large box she carried inside.
Once he returned inside, Anne ushered him into the office where she took a seat on the chair in front of the desk.
“That was a great save. Sympathetic ear.” Carson grinned down at Anne. Apparently, he knew of Marie’s tendencies for gathering gossip.
“Thanks.” She pointed to another chair adjacent to hers but he stayed standing.
“You can sit down, you know.”
“I’ll stand. Thanks.” He crossed his arms.
She didn’t like the idea of him looking down on her any more than he already was, so she stood up again. She pulled the paper from her pocket.
“I found this in the Nelsons’ room when I was cleaning it last night.” She held it up to Carson, but he stopped her from handing it to him.
“Hold on. Back in a second.” She ran into the kitchen where she retrieved a plastic baggie and stuck the note inside. She then handed i
t to him.
“And you found this in the deceased’s room?”
Anne shivered. “Yes, I’d gone in for the turndown, and it was crumpled up. I guess they’d missed the wastebasket.” Forget this standing up. I’m exhausted. She sat down. “Plus, when we found Dr. Nelson—the deceased, I mean—wait, let me back up.”
Carson took a deep breath. He must have decided that Anne’s story was going to take some time as he moved the chair away from the desk and sat down. They were now facing each other and Anne was having a hard time concentrating. Maybe the man’s death had been more of a shock than she had thought.
“Ms. Freemont . . . ” He waved at her to continue.
“Look, I know that you’re supposed to call me that . . . or I don’t know, but my name’s Anne, so why don’t you just call me Anne.”
“Or I could call you Nancy, if that’s where your story is headed.”
Anne fumed. “Ha. Ha.” When she’d become involved with another case he had referred to her derogatorily as Nancy Drew. She straightened her spine and said, “I do recall that I did help to solve that case, so you can make fun all you like.”
He merely looked at her with a big smirk on his face. “Continue.”
She plopped back into the chair. “We were all in the dining room making Marie’s cordial. Let’s see . . . we’d finished and Taylor, I think, said that Dr. Nelson was still in the gazebo. Beth said she’d go out and Liz said she’d go with her. Then Liz ran back and told us to call 911.”
“Hold on.” He held up a hand. “What were her exact words if you can recall them?”
Anne thought back. “Let’s see . . . ‘We need help. Edward’s had a heart attack.’ Yep. I’m pretty sure that’s what she said.”
“Interesting,” He commented.
“What’s interesting?”
He ignored her question. “Continue.”
“We all ran outside. Beth had been bending over her husband. Then I think Beth backed up and we heard this big popping sound.”
“A popping sound?”
“Yes, it was Dr. Nelson’s vape pen.”
He jotted something down in a notepad he’d pulled from his pocket. “Go on.”
“Let’s see. Um, Liz reached down and picked up Dr. Nelson’s vape pen. The vial was broken where Beth had stepped on it.”
“Where is this vape pen now?” Carson had been writing in his notepad and looked over at Anne.
“Beth, um, Mrs. Nelson, stuck it in her pocket.”
“Okay, I’ll go talk to her about it.” He picked up his hat which he’d placed over his knee during their conversation. Running his hands through his hair, Anne noticed it being grayer than the last time she’d seen him. He stood and headed for the doorway. He turned to her, tipped his hat and said, “Good work, Nancy.”
Chapter Eleven
Anne glanced out the window. The snow that had been light fluffy snowflakes was now coming down in full force. They’d probably get a few inches, if not more, by morning. She sighed. Nothing she could do about Mother Nature’s whims, especially when it came to Colorado weather. She returned to find the ladies finishing their somber meal.
“Marie, would you like to stay for dinner with us?” Hope inquired. “We have plenty.”
“That would be nice. I’m a bit tired though.” She yawned. “Do you have a place I could take a nap?”
“Certainly,” Hope responded. “It’s not unusual to have a dip in energy after an adrenaline rush like we all experienced this morning.”
Everyone else decided a nap sounded like a good idea and went up to their respective rooms.
After the ladies had left the room, Hope spoke to Marie, “We have a small room that you can use. There’s also a bathroom in the hallway if you want to freshen up before dinner.” Hope headed toward the front stairs.
“Oh, can we go up the stairs from the kitchen? I love those old back stairs.”
“I suppose so.” The pair headed to the kitchen where Hope opened the door. She switched on the light which barely illuminated the worn wooden stairs.
As Hope made her way up the stairs with Marie following her, the door at the top of the stairs opened. Liz came out onto the landing. “Oh, it’s you all. I kept hearing footsteps and I couldn’t figure out where it was coming from. At first, I almost thought it was from the attic, but I guess it was you guys.” Liz moved back into the hall as Hope and Marie reached the landing.
“When did you hear the footsteps?” Hope inquired.
“I hear them the most at night. I figure since I’m next to this stairway, I hear more of the comings and goings.”
Hope didn’t dare say that staircase was only used for taking down linens or trash. No one used it at night. “Would you like another room? We have another double on the far end that’s available.”
“No, since we’ll only be here tonight, I’d rather not switch rooms. I’ll see you at dinner.” She went in and closed her door behind her.
Hope walked down to the next door and opened it to a small, but quaint, room with a twin bed.
“This is a lovely little room.” Marie looked around at the small space.
“We figure that this will make a great arrangement for families when we have our annual homesteading fair. As you can see there’s a communicating door between rooms. Right now, it’s locked on both sides, but it makes a nice suite for a family. The bed is a trundle so two kiddos can sleep on it.”
“You all have thought of everything,” Marie responded. “That bed looks comfy for a nap. I’m also looking forward to enjoying Kandi’s dinner tonight. She’s a great cook. Thanks for asking me to stay.” She stifled a yawn which gave Hope her cue to leave.
“Okay, we’ll see you later,” Hope answered. Marie closed the door behind her and Hope heard the door being locked from the inside. She glanced at the back staircase door, now closed, and walked to the main staircase. Reaching the stairs, she turned back and went to the door where the back stairs were located. Hope pulled out a set of keys and locked the door. That should take care of that issue of the footsteps.
Marie had just dozed off when she heard low angry voices from the next room. She got up and tiptoed to the communicating door.
“What do you mean ‘did I do anything?’ What kind of question is that?”
“You know what I mean.”
“I’m not even going to justify that with a response. Of all the gall.”
“You hated him.” If only she knew their voices better. Marie cupped her hand on the door.
“You weren’t such a big fan yourself.”
A loud knock sounded on a door in the hallway, causing Marie to jump. She stifled a scream.
Another voice. She couldn’t hear what they were saying.
She swung open her door to the hallway. Taylor stood in the hall by the door. From Liz’s room, Lil appeared, followed by Beth and then Liz. All of their faces were livid with emotion. In turn, they spotted her gawking at them. Only Taylor acknowledged her before retreating back inside her room. Beth passed her and slammed the door to her room. Liz went back in and shut hers. Lil stood in the hall, a mixture of emotion on her face.
Marie smiled and said, “See you at dinner.” Lil nodded then went back to her room.
Back in her room, Marie sat on the edge of the bed and contemplated what she had overheard. Had it been two voices? Three? She couldn’t make out enough of the commotion to distinguish between the voices. Maybe she could listen over dinner and try to figure it out.
Her excitement grew. Yet, it wasn’t enough to stop exhaustion from claiming her. She slept.
After Marie woke up from her nap, she stepped out into the hall. Lights were on now and she could tell the sun had begun its descent. The quietness of her surroundings let her know that she was the only one on the floor. She listened to be sure. Only silence. She went over to the adjacent room and just as she reached out for the handle, she hesitated. No, much better to go and join the group and figure it out from there
.
She moved toward the main stairs but decided to take the back stairs. It would be easier to come in and maybe overhear if she came from the kitchen. She opened the door to the landing. It seemed much cooler on the landing than when they come up earlier. The light had gone out on the landing, and she grappled for the light switch. Nothing. Well it wasn’t a problem, she figured she could probably get down to the area lower where the light was still showing the steps. She sought to place her hand on the rail when a loud voice yelled, “Stop!” Cold hands gripped her arms and thrust her back into the hallway. A bright light forced her eyes closed.
She screamed.
Chapter Twelve
“Marie! Marie! Can you hear me?”
Anne and the others had all run up the stairs when they heard Marie’s screams. As they quickly took the steps, Anne heard a loud slam. That must be what Hope and Kandi had heard. Stewart had to get over here now. They couldn’t have Marie spreading the word that the house was haunted.
Anne bent down next to her. “Marie, you fell and hit your head.”
“No, I did not!” She forced herself up. “I was going to go downstairs.” She shivered and pointed toward the back stairs. “But, when I got in there, the light on the landing was out. I figured I could use the hand rail and make it to where the light was shining below. But then a cold, dead hand grabbed me. A bright light hit me in the face and said, ‘Stop!’”
Liz said, “Let me go take a look.” She didn’t wait and headed to the landing.
“Please be careful. Don’t go down the stairs,” Hope replied, and the group turned their attentions back to Marie.
Liz returned and shrugged her shoulders. “Sorry, I looked and couldn’t see anything. I even used my headlamp.” She pulled it from her pocket and handed it to Anne.
“Let’s all go downstairs and wait for dinner in the living room.” The women paired up and walked down to the living room. Anne moved back toward the stairs with the door yawning open, and slammed it shut.
Hope pulled her over. “Anne, I . . . I locked that door earlier.”
“Let’s talk about this later. We really need to get down there with the ladies now and change the conversation.” The pair turned to catch up with the others.
