by Julie Ramson
Digs and I walked to my car. He took the keys out of my hand and walked to the driver’s side. “My turn, Toots. I thought Sean was bad but you drive like an insane person. Is it genetic?”
Funny man. He might find some salt or pepper in his future too. If I ever found out where he lived.
He glanced at me sideways on the way back to my apartment. “Looks like Jimmy might be defecting, huh?” He grinned.
“I have no idea what you mean.” I looked out the window. But I did know what he meant. I did want Jimmy to find someone. I did. Just maybe not today. And maybe not petite, helpless Emily.
We parked behind my apartment and got into the elevator. Killer came bounding out - saying hello to Digs first, the rat - and did the Get-A-Move-On-Thing with his rear end. Digs got his leash from behind the door and told me to put the coffee on.
This was too damn domestic for me! I put the coffee on anyway, but only because I wanted some. I was definitely getting a little cranky.
I was in the bathroom when Digs and Killer returned. When I came out, Digs was standing just outside the door, arms across his chest, one foot against the wall. His hair was mussed, his eyes were way too blue and his lips had a slight smile.
“Poor Maggie.” He moved toward me. I sidestepped him. I was not in the mood for this.
“Hardly. I hope Jimmy and Emily have a great lunch and hit it off! I hope that all goes well! I hope we find the damn will and - ”
“I agree, Maggie. And I also hope for world peace and a better environment and an end to crime but right now.......” he reached out and grabbed my waist.
“Digs, I am not in the mood for this! I mean it! Get your hands off me!” I pulled away and he pulled me back.
“Ah, honey, but this is the best time to move in! You’re vulnerable and tired and a little nervous about going to Emily’s .......seems like perfect timing to me!” He was moving in and put both hands on my face. Then he kissed me. Damn! He was a really good kisser. Both hands on my face, holding me still while he kissed and kissed and kissed. Soft. Hard. Deep. Oh, my.
“You are some good teacher,” he breathed against my lips. “I feel my technique improving already!” He was smiling.
I pulled away. “Nice try, Lover Boy, but not now. We have other things to do - business things.” But my tone had certainly mellowed.
“Yeah, monkey business.......” he moved in again. “Ah, Maggie......” He started that damn kissing again. How was I supposed to stay focused on this case with him kissing me silly every damn chance he got? His hands were roaming, up and around, everywhere. Whoa. He grabbed my butt and pulled me in. Everything started to tingle and......
There was a knock on the door. Killer almost knocked Digs and me over running for the bathtub. Digs went to the door and Sean stood there, fast food bags in hand. I stood behind him in the doorway to the kitchen. “Changed my mind and decided we should talk before we go to Lily’s and.........” He stopped and grinned at the two of us. “Oh. Or, I could go.”
“There’s a plan,” Digs growled.
I seized the moment. “Sean! Lunch! Sounds great. What did you bring?” I was babbling again.
Digs shook his head and followed me to the kitchen. “Let me know the next time you want to salt his food,” he said. So Sean must’ve told him about the Salt Caper and his belief that I had done it.
“I’ve no idea what you mean,” I said, brushing past him. Digs just grinned.
Sean gave a mock glare. “She confessed to you, didn’t she, Digs? I knew it! I knew it!”
“I haven’t confessed to anything. I haven’t done anything.” I said. I gave him an innocent look.
“Uh huh.” Sean started bringing out the food and drinks. “Right. You’ll pay.” He must have run home for a quick change because he was now in old jeans and a sweatshirt. Planning a down and dirty search, I thought.
“Yeah, well, you’ve already made me - an innocent woman - pay by siccing that big lummox on me!” I pointed my head in Digs’ direction. I started laying out the napkins and plates.
Digs gave a wicked laugh. He leaned in and whispered in my ear, “One of these day, Toots, I’ll have you and there won’t be a cell phone or knock on the door or a fire to rescue you.” His blue eyes were dancing. His warm breath went straight down my spine. Oh, man.
Killer came running into the kitchen. He saw Sean and did the happy dance, then started to roll over, belly up for him to scratch. I could tell the exact moment when he realized there was food. His face was hilarious as he tried to decide between the belly rub and the cheeseburger. The burger won. Sean flipped one to him and he happily started in.
I grabbed a pad and pen. “We need to make a plan of how to search Lily’s house.” Sean grinned at Digs.
“Hate to tell you, Mag, but we’ve done searches before. We have a pretty good idea of how to go about this.”
“Ha! There’s an attic filled with trunks and boxes and two other floors of rooms as well. The dining room alone is a trove of stuff to go through! And, while we are there, why don’t we start cleaning it up for Emily? It’s going to be a huge job for her and she’s had enough with the murder and all. Let’s really be the good guys and take some trash bags and start in.” I watched their faces. I did think this was a good idea but it would be interesting to see if the guys would buy into it.
“Hmmm. We could label the bags and then keep them for further searching if we needed to.” Sean cocked a brow at me. “Not bad, Mag. Not bad. Even though I know you hadn’t thought of that reason.”
“You wish! I was one step ahead of you, like always.” I wiggled my eyebrows and took a huge bite of burger. Killer, who had long finished his, watched me. Big brown eyes. “Forget it, Killer! You have to learn to take your time with your lunch!” But I gave him a piece of mine anyway.
A thought occurred to me. “I have another suggestion. We can use all the hands we can get. Why don’t I call Sam and ask her to come along and help? She’s technically part of my firm and if I can reach her, I know she’ll be game.”
Sean shrugged. “Not a bad idea. Sam’s good.” He got up and headed toward the bathroom, Killer at his heels.
I picked up the phone and punched in Sam’s number. She answered after a couple of rings.
“Hi Sam - it’s me. Got a project right up your alley! It’s a search and nose through someone else’s stuff....”
“Nosy! My specialty!” I could hear Sam smiling.
“We - Sean, Digs, Emily and I - are all going to Lily Hastings’ house to search through the stuff and try to figure out what is so important there that someone else wants! There’s been a lot of strange things going on and - “
“Snooping in a murder scene! Perfect. When? I’m there!” I knew I could count on Sam.
“Now. We’ll pick you up in ten.”
“Sure. I was starting on some taxes......boring, boring! But I want all the latest on the Near Occasion of Sin - how’s that going?”
“You come along, help snoop and clean and I’ll share...... ” Digs raised an eyebrow.
“Share what, Maggie?” He grabbed the phone.
“Hi Sam - Digs here. I should warn you, I am planning to pump you for all the information on Maggie’s prior lovers....she tells me that she’s had many of them!” He grinned. “Ah, really? Hmmm. You’ll have to tell me more, much more.” I grabbed the phone back.
“Not one word about me, Sam! Mr. Nose will have to confine his snooping to Lily’s things, not me!” I was half laughing, half annoyed.
“Already this is better than my company's taxes! I’ll be out in front.” Sam clicked off.
I turned to Digs. “Don’t even think it, Pal. Sam is my buddy, not yours.” I waved a hand in the air. “She’ll never divulge my secrets!”
Digs cupped the back of my neck. “We’ll see about that, Mags. I can be very.....persuasive,” he started to lean in.
“Ahem!” Sean came up behind us. “Looks like you two have worked through some of your...
..differences.....” He grinned at me.
I rolled my eyes. “Just because I don’t have a gun to his head doesn’t mean I have forgiven you for being an overbearing jerk and sending him here - or him, either, for agreeing! Let’s go.” I got Killer’s leash. “We need to take Killer out, too. In fact, he can come with us, I guess.” Killer jumped around my feet at the leash.
We walked outside and I let Killer loose. I walked with him to the end of the parking lot. Sean and Digs were standing at the car, talking.
“Knuckleheads,” I called out to them. “You forgot to tell Emily about her friend John’s call.”
Digs looked up. He leaned back on the car. “Oh, yeah. Remind us later and we will. Do you know anything about him?”
I shrugged and walked over to the car. “Not really. I know he spent time with Lily, according to Mrs. O’Brien.” I had gotten a box of heavy trash bags from under the kitchen sink and put them in Sean’s car.
Sean got in his car and with a wave, took off. Digs got in the driver’s seat of my car, Killer in the back seat. “I probably should let you drive, since you’ve been there so often ......illegally .....” He gave me a side glance.
I put my thumb under my nose and flipped it at him. “So?
He followed my directions to Sam’s and she was there, waiting on the sidewalk. She had on designer jeans and a bright blue sweater. She looked terrific.
“Hi!” She gave both of us a big smile and hug to Killer as she climbed into the back seat. Killer jumped and wagged his tail so hard saying hello that he kept hitting Digs in the back of the head.
“I feel like Nancy Drew!” Sam said, leaning forward and laughing.
I gave her a mock stare. “I am Nancy Drew. You can be George or Bess.”
Sam rolled her eyes. “Don’t think so, Mag. I’m much more Nancy. Blond. You know. You can be George, though. You're tall.” Digs just shook his head.
Traffic was fairly light and we got to Lily’s shortly before one. Emily and Jimmy were already there and had changed clothes. Both wore down jackets with jeans and sweatshirts underneath. They also wore running shoes. Emily was pale and had a tense look on her face. I went up and pulled her aside. “Are you worried about going back in, Emily? You look upset.”
Her dark eyes were huge. She had her hands stuffed in her jacket pockets. “I don’t know. This is where I came when I was threatened but now, going through Aunt Lily’s things just seems to make her death more real to me somehow.” She looked sad.
I gave her a hug. “I know. There isn’t much I can do about that.”
We turned to Jimmy. “What did you find at Emily’s?” Sean asked.
“Nothing missing that she can tell. Odd. There was some very nice jewelry there, too, and some paintings that had been Aunt Lily's. Whoever broke in was looking for something specific. The boxes were in her closet and had been ransacked.”
“Where are the boxes now?” I asked. I was afraid they'd have been taken.
Jimmy gestured to the car. “We brought them back here. Safer here than at her apartment.”
We all walked up the stairs and onto the porch. Emily unlocked the door. Digs leaned over and whispered, “Must seem strange, entering legally.”
I gave him a dirty look.
As we crossed the entrance, both Emily and I gasped. The house was even more trashed. The living room sofa had been ripped in the back and on each cushion. Stuffing had been pulled out. The fireplace had several bricks pulled out. The grandfather clock had been opened and the door left hanging. Pictures were down from the wall and the backs slashed.
We crossed into the dining room behind the living room. The table was overturned and the bolts loosened. The hutch had been pulled from the wall. All of the pictures were off the walls and on the floor.
We all just stared at each other in dismay. Emily backed out of the dining room and Jimmy followed her.
Digs spoke. “Guess someone else decided to take another here, too.” He and Sean did the eye thing and Sean rubbed his jaw. He had a stubble and his dark eyebrows were furrowed. His eyes had the flat, cold blue cop look. Digs’ mouth had tightened and he was frowning.
Killer had taken one look at the scene and scurried back out the door. He was pressed up against the far end of the porch, head down. I knelt and rubbed his head. “Yeah, Killer. I agree. What the hell happened here?”
Sean came out. I got up and went over to him. “So, now what? Do we still search?” Digs came up behind me.
“Yes. Whatever it is he’s looking for, I don’t think he’s found it yet. Digs?” Sean was still in Cop Mode.
Digs was standing with hands in his pockets and I could see the outline of a gun at his waist. His face was unreadable and his eyes had the flat look of a shark. He was all business and all cop. I wondered what his background really was. He looked at Sean then at me. “We search.”
Sean led us all back inside, including Killer who went directly into the kitchen - also more destroyed - and positioned himself right in front of the back door. I guess he couldn’t find the bathtub.
We all sat in the kitchen chairs. Sam sat to the right of Sean, Digs on his left. Jimmy was next to Digs, then Emily, then Sam, then me making the full circle back to Sam. Sean spoke.
“Let’s plan. We go through everything thoroughly in each room. First, we will all go through all three floors to assess the damage. Then Digs and I will take the first floor. Emily and Jimmy will search the second floor and Sam and Maggie will start on the attic. If anyone finds anything suspicious - call the others. No one works alone.” He gave each of us a steely look.
“Sean, what about the basement?” Jimmy spoke up.
Emily looked at him in surprise. “No one goes down there. Or not that I know of, anyway. It's a true old cellar I think. Dirt floors and all.
“Digs and I will check the basement too. We’ll do that first.” Sean added that to his list. Sounded good to me. The basement was the last place I wanted to go. Jimmy disagreed. “We all need to go down there. Emily, have you ever been in the basement?”
She looked at him silently for a moment, her dark eyes even darker against her pale skin. “Maybe as a child. I don't really remember when. It's damp and ugly. Aunt Lily never went down there and I never had any reason to either.” She shuddered. “I can't believe that she or Uncle Herbert would have hidden anything there.”
Jimmy went back out to the police car for flashlights. He came in with three and he and Sean and Digs each took one. We all stood. Visions of spiders, creepy crawlies and monsters flashed through my mind. I called to Killer. He looked at me as though I was nuts and never moved a muscle. Seems he had no intention of going with us. Maybe he’s smarter than I thought.
Sean opened the basement door and we all followed him down. The cellar had low ceilings with open beams. Sean had flipped the light switch and one bulb lit up at the bottom of the stairs. The cellar smelled musty and dank. There was a dirt floor but nothing on it. No old furniture, no boxes. Nothing. There were two smaller rooms off to the side. We opened the first door into a small room, about 5' by 3'. It had shelves but there was nothing on them. Probably used in the past to keep home canned goods.
The second room was slightly larger, about 5' by8'. We all stopped. There was a bedroll and a large candle. There were matches nearby. They were new. Someone had been in this room very recently. Jimmy pulled out some evidence bags and carefully lifted each item into one. He took a pen and wrote the date, time and location of each item on the outside of the bag.
Emily had gulped hard and backed away. She was deathly pale. I knew what she was thinking. Had someone been in this room in the basement while she was trying to stay safe upstairs in one of the guest rooms?
Jimmy went up and got a large trash bag. He and Sean carefully rolled the sleeping bag into the trash bag and marked the outside of that as well. There was nothing else in the room. No cups, no plate, nothing. Spooky.
Silently, we all climbed back upstairs to the kitc
hen. Sam and I walked into the living room and started up the stairs to the second, then the third floor attic. The stairs got narrower as we ascended. The entire third floor was an open area. Unlike the basement, it was filled with boxes, old trunks, furniture and lamps. An old sewing machine sat in the corner on a table. It was crowded and dusty. The area just beyond the stairs showed some recent movement but everything else looked dusty and undisturbed.
Sam and I stared at each other and sighed. “What a mess. Let’s start at the far corner and work our way back,” I suggested. I moved toward the two trunks and stacks of boxes there. A small window was about halfway up the wall where the two biggest trunks sat, giving us light to see their contents.
We opened the first box. Lots of old clothes, all wrapped in tissue that had become brittle with age. The clothes looked like they were from the 40's or 50's, with straight skirts and fitted jackets. One box was nothing but old hats. The fabrics had faded over the years but they still held their feathers and pins and beads of adornment.
The next two boxes were old coats. One was a woman’s dark green wool with a fake fur collar. The wool was moth eaten but the original color could still be seen in spots. It would have been a lovely coat. Another looked like a woman’s black silk evening coat. The one clasp at the throat was a large clear blue stone. A brooch was still pinned to the area of the right shoulder. It was lovely, a spray of clear stones set in silver. A small silk purse was tucked in with the coat and had the same kind of crystal blue clasp as the evening coat. It was empty but the coat pockets held long white silk gloves. The last item in that box was a man’s evening cape. It was a lined black silk cape with a man’s stand up collar and a string tie. It had been eaten away in places but was still handsome. A top hat, crushed, was packed with it along with a black walking stick with a white tip. Men’s gloves rested under the coat and were made of afine black leather.
“These are incredible old clothes!” Sam fingered the woman’s silk evening coat lovingly. “Amazing condition, considering the years that they have been here.” She unfolded the silk cape. “Look!” she cried. “A program! It’s for the Opera House, January 23, 1969. Wow! Can you imagine!” Sam was entranced.
