by Ava Mallory
Jessica turned from the bowl of ingredients she'd begun to mix and touched her small, frail hand to my arm. “I'm so sorry to hear that. Will they be able to get it repaired quickly?”
I giggled. “You haven't seen my car, have you? It is about as old as my daughter, but runs like something fifty times its age. I love it; don't get me wrong, but she's been begging to be let go for years and my friends and family have been begging me to let it go for almost a decade now. The mechanic said he'd have to order a part or two, so I'm not sure exactly how long it will take or how long we'll be here.”
“Not much of a birthday, is it?” Jessica mused.
“No, but I'll live.” I gasped at my word choice. “I mean, I'll survive.” I had to stifle a laugh. Nothing I said seemed appropriate considering that we'd both witnessed a man die a few feet from where we stood.
Jessica continued mixing the ingredients. “Such a shame. He was such a young man. I wonder what happened.”
I wasn't sure whether or not to make mention of how I'd been feeling about his death. It was too early to be morbid. I thought it better to change the subject.
“Did you hear anything unusual last night?” I asked.
Jessica considered for a moment. “No, nothing unusual. Why, did you hear something?” She put her hand to her mouth. “Do you mean ghosts?”
Please don't tell me that you believe that bologna too.
I smiled. “No, not ghosts. I mean, did you hear anyone walking around outside your room last night?”
“You mean, besides you?” She teased. “No, I can't say that I heard anything. Did something happen last night?”
I shook my head. There was no reason to drag her into my conspiracy theories. I grabbed the ingredients for a vegetable quiche as I changed the subject to something much more pleasant.
“What's the book you're writing?” I asked.
She put her head down, grinning. “Oh, just something I've been toying around with for years. It's just for my own pleasure. Maybe, I'll leave it for my grandchildren to read someday.”
“You're not going to publish it?” I asked.
“No, I'm not much for rejection. This is just a personal project that I've been brewing for quite some time. I always knew that I'd write it here.” She said.
I was surprised to hear that she'd intended to write her book here in The Felon House. What would possess a sweet, old woman like her to actively seek out a place like this? I mean, I could see the initial draw, but I'd never in a million years believe that anyone, besides my two cohorts, would want to stay here, given its history.
“Why do you seem so surprised,” Jessica asked.
“Oh, you saw that. Sorry. I was just wondering why you'd choose this place to be where you'd write your book. Have you been here before?” I asked.
“You could say that,” she answered, turning to put the muffins in the oven.
“Good morning, girls,” Ruby stood in the doorway. “You've been up all night?”
Jessica looked at each other and laughed, answering together, “You could say that?”
“Say what?” Paul and Jackson walked up behind Ruby.
“Does everyone wake up early around here?” I muttered under my breath.
Ruby explained, “Chip is upstairs tearing rooms apart looking for something. Did he get robbed?”
I wiped my hands on a dish towel and walked out of the kitchen to see what Chip was up to. He seemed awfully desperate for a man who was looking for a medical case. What was in there? Gold?
When I got to the top of the stairs, Chip was standing behind the desk in Flynn's office. He took one look at me and walked around the desk and slammed the door shut.
Rude much?
“Do you need help, Chip?” I called out.
He didn't answer, but I could hear him rustling around in the office.
I knocked on the door. “Hello? Are you okay in there? Do you need help?”
He pulled the door open quickly, beads of sweat dripping down his face. “What?”
The office had been torn apart. Papers were strewn all over the floor. Files had been scattered. Photos were removed from the wall.
“What is going on? Are you okay? What was in the medical box?” I asked, getting the sense that something very important was missing and Chip wasn't going to be able to get through his day without it.
He grabbed my arm and pulled me further into the room. My breath caught.
“What is this? What are you doing?” I asked.
He looked at me with a mixture of rage and fear in his eyes. “Someone murdered Flynn and I think they're coming after me next. Can you help me?”
I jerked my arm from his tight grip. “What are you talking about? Who is after you? Do you know who killed Flynn?”
He looked at me wide-eyed and took a deep breath. “I can't tell you that yet. I don't know for sure, but I have to find that box. Are you positive that you never saw it? I swear it was there. It's always been there. Has anyone been in that kitchen or anywhere in the house that seemed unusual or like they didn't belong here?”
“Yep. Me.” I answered quickly. I never wanted to go home so badly in all my life. This place was a nut house and I was beginning to think that I was the chief nut.
His fear was palpable. He practically begged me to be serious with him. “Did you see anyone or anything unusual?” His eyes darted around the room as if he was expecting someone or something to move.
“Do you mean, like ghosts? That's not really true, is it? I don't believe in that stuff and, believe me, if I had known where Ruby and Diana were bringing me, I wouldn't have let them. That's probably why they didn't tell me.” I explained.
He sat down, put his head in his hands. “This place isn't haunted. I told you, that was Flynn's idea. He had some crazy ideas sometimes. I just went with it. Business is business, you know? It provided a healthy income for us and helped pay for some of the renovations, but there's nothing true about it.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. I'd never been so happy to not to have seen a ghost. “I'm so glad you said that. I thought I was going crazy.”
He looked up at me. “What do you mean?”
I shook my head to erase the memory. “Nothing. I just thought when I'd seen you in here the other night and you were... well, you know.”
His eyebrows quirked up. “I told you. I rarely come up here. I wasn't up here the other night. What did you see?”
I swallowed hard. Was this for real? “I saw a man. I don't know how to say this.” I cleared a spot on the only other chair in the room and sat down. “I thought I saw someone that looked like Flynn. Actually, he looked a lot like that man in the photos.”
“What man?” Chip pulled a photo out of a drawer and handed it to me. “This man?”
I looked at the photo. It was the same man from the photos we'd seen in the guest log book. “Yes, that's what he looked like, but I must be mistaken because that's not possible.”
Chip stood up and pounded his fists on the desk. “I can't believe this!”
I sat up straighter in my seat. What did I say wrong?
“Who is that,” I asked.
Chapter Twelve
Sitting at the same table with a potential murderer, did nothing to calm my nerves. I did as Chip requested, but I didn't feel good about it. In fact, all I really wanted to do was forget everything and hitchhike back to Lake Villa. I swear, I'll never take another vacation again as long as I live.
Chip really had this acting thing down. He smiled and laughed and kept the conversation going while I sat quietly moving the food on my plate from one side to the other. I guess a benefit of this excruciatingly long weekend was that I'd lose a few pounds in the process. This place would be better served to change its name to The Death House.
“Mom, how come you're not eating? You made it.” Diana nudged my elbow.
I looked up at Chip. He nodded slightly. “I ate while we were cooking. I'm stuffed.”
Jessica
looked over at me. “You did? I guess I must have missed that.”
Chip cleared his throat. “I guess we all missed plenty in the last few days, haven't we?”
I gasped. We hadn't agreed to mentioning anything yet. What was he doing?
Jackson laughed. “I guess I got here just in time, then, didn't I?”
No one appreciated his attempt at a joke, except his sidekick. Paul laughed like those were the funniest words he'd ever heard. Annie, on the other hand, remained quiet, sitting on the other side of the table, with her head down. I wondered what that was about, but if I had to guess, a newlywed who suddenly had an ex-con interrupt her honeymoon wouldn't be the picture of happiness.
I hadn't had a chance to get acquainted with her yet, so I figured this was as good a time as any. “Annie, how are you doing this morning?”
She blushed, but it was hard to read why exactly. “I'm fine, I guess. Mostly, I'm just tired. I haven't gotten much sleep lately.”
Jackson laughed loudly, shaking the table and congratulating Paul. “Way to go!”
She glared at him. “Shut up. No one invited you to my honeymoon, jerk.”
Well, I couldn't blame her there.
Chip pushed his chair back from the table. “Okay, folks, everyone has been on edge. What do you say we do something fun this morning? As you already know, Flynn's memorial will be here tonight. You don't have to be present for that. I understand if you don't want to be, but I hope you'll consider it. He loved this place. It meant a lot to him.”
“No, thanks. I don't do funerals.” Jackson said.
Ruby muttered, “Of course you don't. You only do time.”
He shot her a sideways glance, but shrugged it off just as quickly. “What about you? What are your plans for the evening?”
Ruby offered him an exaggerated smile. “Oh, nothing much, just calling my wonderfully, sexy husband and chatting with him, because unlike present company, he is capable of holding a conversation without being crude and offending anyone.” Ruby answered. I mentally high-fived her. I loved her.
Diana snorted. “I love my Aunt Ruby. She tells it like it is, right, Mom?”
“I have to agree. Hank is one sexy beast.” I kidded.
“I suppose, Mom will be doing the same with her hunk Sheriff Wagner.” Diana did that on purpose, but in this instance, I wasn't nauseated by the idea. I sure didn't want some creep inviting me on a date or whatever it was he was planning on doing.
Jackson seemed amused. He sat with his arms crossed over his muscular frame and grinned at us as we continued. His gaze fell on Diana. Now, it was my turn to intervene.
“So, honey, how are things with your Special Forces beau?” I asked, nudging her seat with my leg.
“Huh?” She could be so thick for such an intelligent girl. “I don't have a...”
Cue the hysterical laughter. I laughed until tears fell from my eyes and my empty belly hurt.
“Are you feeling okay,” Diana whispered in my ear.
“Nope. Not at all.” I answered through clenched teeth.
Chip cleared his throat. “If you all are through teasing each other, I was going to suggest that we take a trip to the Green Farm.”
Jessica choked on her tea.
“Whoa. Are you okay?” I asked, patting her back gently.
“I'm so embarrassed. I apologize. The tea must have gone down the wrong pipe.” She said.
When she was settled, I addressed Chip. “We're leaving?” Again, he wasn't following the script.
He grinned at me. The doorbell rang before he could respond. “Hold that thought.” He said as he walked out of the room.
I heard Calvin's voice. “I told you I'd be back, Chip. I don't know what you're so worked up about.”
Chip stopped in the doorway and pulled the dining room doors shut to speak to Calvin in private. We could still make out some of what they were saying, although Chip's voice was slightly muffled.
“Do you hear that,” Diana whispered.
“I sure do.” I answered, wondering why Chip was so upset with Calvin.
The Sheriff raised his voice, startling all of us. “What do you mean, it's gone? How could it be gone? It didn't just walk away!”
Chip admonished him, telling him to quiet down before we heard them. I hated to tell them, but it was already too late.
“Someone is in trouble,” Jackson hummed.
“Shut up,” Annie demanded before getting up and opening the pocket doors to leave.
“Annie?” Paul called behind her. “What are you doing?”
“Getting away from you and that thief. How can you even look at him after what he did to your family?” She shouted as she rushed up the stairs.
This trip was getting better and better by the minute.
Chip walked back into the dining room. “What is going on? Is everyone okay in here?”
James sneered. “Maybe we should be asking you and Captain Not A Clue the same thing.”
Calvin feigned a smile. “I see, you're still the same, Jackson.”
“Wouldn't have it any other way,” Jackson quipped.
My cell phone vibrated in my pocket. I didn't want to miss a word of what was going on here, but I was also worried about my dog and my friend Nubbin, so I had to answer it.
“Excuse me,” I walked back into the kitchen. Ruby followed close behind me.
“So, now what, Camaro?” Nubbin asked before I had a chance to say 'hello'.
“Nubbin? I wish I knew why you are so upset.” I said, mouthing to Ruby that he was still mad at me.
“Well, if you don't know by now, I guess you'll never know will you, Mercedes?”
Mercedes? He never called me by my actual name. This was serious.
“I wish you'd tell me what was wrong. If I've done something to offend you, I'd like the opportunity to apologize, but I really have no idea why you're so upset with me. Did Charlie go pay you a visit?” I asked.
“Oh, I don't want to hear about him. He's a crack up. He is so busy pretending to be a real police officer that he forgot that there are some people around here who might need him every now and again.” Nubbin groaned.
Great, now he was mad at Charlie too. That was probably somehow my fault too.
“Did I forget to do something?” I seriously had no idea what in the dickens he was so upset with me about, but whatever it was, I wanted to make it right. Right now, it felt so much like the world was off kilter. Nubbin was supposed to be my constant. I could count on him for a laugh. Yes, it was true that his constant mood swings often left me wondering why I'd ever allowed myself to care for him the way I did, but without him, I felt like the world was out of order. I needed Nubbin more than he needed me.
“I don”t have time for this. I have a life, you know. Not much of one, but something. Bye.” Nubbin slammed the receiver down.
“What was that,” Ruby asked, watching me as I stared at the phone.
“He hung up again. Something is wrong. I'm going to have to make a call and see if maybe he is coming down with something, because he sure doesn't sound like the Nubbin I know.” I worried.
Ruby pursed her lips.”Do you think he's ill?”
“I almost hope that he is because that would at least make some sense. What I'm feeling now is hopeless. It's like I betrayed him. When I spoke to Tina, she had no idea what had him so upset. Charlie was going to go find out today, but it sounds like that didn't go well.” I sighed. If I hadn't been dragged into this nonsense, I could be home taking some time to get my life in order and figure out what I had done wrong. I seemed to be pretty good at making people upset without even trying too hard.
“Okay, so now let's see who else we could make mad.” Ruby teased. “What do you make of that nonsense with Chip and Calvin?”
“You don't know the half of it. Chip asked me to help him with something and I'm not sure I should be doing it.”
“What? Why didn't you tell me this? What are you doing for him and why?” Ruby
sounded worried.
I explained what we discussed in Flynn's office earlier. She stared at me in disbelief.
“How did I miss this? When did this conversation take place? Was it when you went upstairs while we were in the kitchen trying to keep Paul and Jackson out of the cupboards?” Ruby asked.
