by Cindy Bell
“Maybe not.” Ally sighed. “Who else would?”
“Good point.” Charlotte stood close to her.
“I think he was at the cocktail party.”
“He was. He was seated at the table next to the main table.”
“I think he came to the catering table to get a tart.”
“That’s right.” Charlotte nodded. “Maybe we can get a little further up. It’s going to be hard to hear him even with the microphone.”
“You go ahead. I want to stand back here and keep an eye on the whole crowd.”
“Okay. Text me if you need me.” Charlotte made her way through the crowd of people towards the front. Ally hung back and surveyed everyone around her. There weren’t too many faces that she didn’t have at least some familiarity with. Though most of the news crews were at the funeral, she noticed a few reporters. Then she saw him, hiding behind his camera, which was pointed right at her. She took a slight step back as she recognized Ralph. He noticed her noticing him and began to walk towards her. Her heart began to race. Was he the one hiding in the trees? Did he have reason to follow her?
“I thought that was you.” He let his camera fall against his chest. “Did you find out anything new about the murder?”
“A bit.” She nodded and avoided looking at him.
“I hope the pictures helped somehow.”
“They did. But not enough. Not yet anyway.” Ally stole a glance at him.
“Do you have a main suspect?”
“Why were you following me?” Ally asked.
He lowered his eyes and fiddled with his camera. “I thought maybe you had seen me.”
“Well I did. Why were you following me?” She repeated.
“I was on my way to the memorial, and I saw you with the pig. It just seemed like a great photograph. So I parked and took the shot. I didn’t think you’d let me if I asked.”
“Why would I?” She crossed her arms. “You have no reason to take pictures of me.”
“I get inspired by certain things, Ally. A pretty woman like you, taking comfort in a pot-bellied pig, you have to admit, that’s a good photo.”
“It’s not right to snap pictures of people without permission.”
“That’s what I’ve based most of my career on. Do you want to see the picture?” He picked up his camera. Ally frowned.
“I guess.”
He smiled and displayed the digital screen to her. “See?”
Ally stared at the photograph of her and Arnold together. She wanted to be angry, but the truth was, the picture was perfect. “Can you give me a copy?”
“I knew you would like it.”
“Still, it’s not right to do what you did.”
“Okay, okay. I’m sorry. Now, can you tell me what you found out about Julia’s murder?”
“Not much,” Ally said. She didn’t know if she could trust him with any information and she didn’t want to risk it. She tried to change the subject. “Aren’t you afraid that people will get angry with you for taking photos of them?”
“I’m not afraid.” He grinned. “You should see the places I’ve been with this camera. Besides, I have my ways of protecting myself.”
“How?” Ally swept her gaze over his wiry frame with disbelief.
“Easy now.” He chuckled. “No, it’s not with brute force. Let’s just say, I make it my business to have a little something on everyone who could do me harm.”
“Like blackmail?”
“It’s not blackmail unless you use it.” He quirked an eyebrow. “I’ve never had a reason to use any of it.”
“What about me?” She stared into his eyes. “Do you have anything on me?”
“I did.” He smirked. “But, I think it’s useless now.”
“What do you mean?”
“I caught a snap of you and your officer boyfriend in an affectionate moment. I thought it would be good to use in case there was ever an issue with me getting information from the detective. But, since you two aren’t exactly hiding your affection, I guess it’s not going to do much for me now.”
Ally rolled her eyes. “I guess it was worth invading my privacy for that silly photograph.”
“The thing that people don’t realize, is that I don’t invade anything. I don’t secretly follow people around to find dirt on them. People are so numb to the fact that they are constantly surrounded by others, that they air their dirty laundry out in public. If I happen to catch it, that’s merely observation, not invasion.”
Ally shrugged. “You can call it what you want, but you are using photography as a weapon.”
“Am I now?” He stared at her with wide eyes. “I can see that your disdain for me is clear.”
“It’s not you.” She sighed. “I’m just frustrated with trying to find out who killed Julia. It seems to me that people in power get away with way too much.”
“Not when it comes to this camera.” He tapped the top of it. “Actually, that’s the real reason I came over here.”
“What do you mean?” Ally turned to look at him again.
“I have something that I thought might be helpful.”
“You do? What is it?”
“It’s not so much what it is, but who it is. I have some interesting pictures of the mayor and Julia.”
“Do you have them with you?”
“No, of course not. I have them at home. I’m not going to risk walking around with something like that. I can show them to you if you want.”
Ally chewed on her bottom lip for a moment. She wasn’t sure whether to trust him. However, the temptation of the photographs was too much to ignore.
“After the memorial.”
“Okay, I’ll find you.” He smirked and tilted his head to the side. “You’re going to like what I found, trust me.” Then he turned and walked back into the crowd. Ally wondered what the pictures were of. She hoped they were something she could use to further the case and not just smut. She had believed that the rumors about Julia and Mayor Malcolm, were just that, rumors, but maybe she was wrong. As the memorial came to a close Ally looked through the crowd for her grandmother. She spotted her surrounded by a few other business owners. Charlotte broke away from them when she spotted Ally.
“Are you holding up okay?” She gave Ally’s shoulder a squeeze.
“It was a nice memorial.”
“Yes, I thought so, too. Ted gave a good speech. He’s also hosting the dinner and drinks they’re having at the restaurant down the street. Should we head over now?”
“I have to meet someone. Then I’ll be back for the dinner.”
“Ally, who are you meeting?” Charlotte searched her eyes for an answer.
“Not now, Mee-Maw.” She looked around at the people close by to indicate to her grandmother that she didn’t want it to be overheard. “I will tell you later I promise.”
“Ally, you’re not doing anything rash are you?”
“I’m not, I promise.”
“Remember to be careful.”
“I will.” As Ally started to walk away her grandmother followed her. Once they were away from the crowd she grabbed Ally’s arm to stop her.
“You’re not thinking of breaking into the mayor’s home while he’s at the funeral, are you?”
Ally raised her eyebrows. “No I wasn’t, but now that you mention it, that’s a pretty great idea.”
“Ally!”
Ally laughed and shook her head. “I promise, I’m not breaking in anywhere. I’ve been invited. I am just going to look at some photos that the photographer took. Apparently he has some photos that might be interesting.”
“Okay, be careful.”
Ally turned and walked away from the main square. Not far from the street she saw another gathering. She spotted Ralph in the parking lot. He had a group of people around him as he snapped pictures. Ally walked up to the edge of the group and watched as Ralph continued to snap away.
Ally noticed that one of the men in the group was Ted Housers,
the new deputy mayor of Freely. Her heart skipped a beat as it occurred to her that Ted profited quite a bit from Julia’s death. He now had a brand new title, and more than likely a huge increase in pay. Would that be reason enough for him to poison her or the mayor? She narrowed her eyes. He was at the next table over, he could have poisoned the mayor’s glass. He could probably access poison with his political reach. Just as her mind began to churn with the possibility of him being the killer, Ralph lowered the camera.
“Hi there, Ally.” He waved to her. Ted Housers turned to look. When he saw Ally he smiled. Ally looked into his eyes and noted that he seemed quite genuine. But that didn’t mean he was. “Just taking the time to take some pictures for the new deputy mayor.”
“Please, this isn’t the day to call me that.” Ted waved his hand at Ralph. “I want to honor Julia today, not do anything to taint her memory. She was my inspiration, and I only hope that I can half fill the shoes she left behind.”
Ally’s heart softened a little at his words. But did he mean them?
“Excuse us.” Ralph gestured to Ally who followed him towards the edge of the lot. “So, I guess you want to see what I’ve got?”
“I do.”
“It’s going to cost you.”
“Seriously? You’re going to make me pay?”
“No, I just want a favor.”
“A favor? Chocolate?”
“No, I’m allergic, remember?”
“Oh yes. Then what?”
“I want a chance to have dinner with you.”
“I thought you knew that Luke and I are kind of…”
“Kind of.” He tilted his head towards her. “That’s the point isn’t it? Anyway, it will just be a dinner between friends.”
“Why?” Ally frowned.
“What do you mean, why?” He stared back at her.
“Why would you want to have dinner with me?”
“I thought it would be nice to have dinner so I can get to know you better. Unless you’d consent to a photo shoot instead?”
“Absolutely not.” She shook her head. With her hands shoved in her pockets she considered his offer. She did want to see the pictures, however a dinner out with another man might not go over well with Luke. Still, he said it was just as friends. Ally looked into his eyes. “Just as friends?”
“I’ll be on my best behavior. Unless, you don’t want me to be.” He offered a smile.
“No, I want you to be. Okay fine. Can we go and see those pictures now?”
“Right this way.” He gestured to a car not far from him.
“I’ll meet you there.”
“In what?” He looked around. Ally remembered that she had left her car at the cottage and walked into Freely with her grandmother. It would take far too long to walk back, get her car, and then drive to his house. She sighed and nodded.
“All right, I’ll ride with you.”
“Just relax. Not every photographer is a secret psycho you know.”
“Oh, I don’t think everyone is. But I do wonder about you.” Ally smiled.
“Rude!” Ralph laughed and shook his head. “I might not enjoy dinner with you after all.”
“You didn’t say that you had to enjoy it.”
“Good point.” He opened the car door for her. “Get in.”
Against her better judgment she sat down in the passenger seat of the car. He gunned the engine and the car roared off down the road. Ally glanced out the window at the disappearing crowd behind her and wondered if she’d made a grave mistake.
Chapter Fifteen
Ralph switched on the radio and turned up the volume. As the rock music blasted out of the speakers Ally’s heart began to pound along with the beat. She glanced over at Ralph. He looked calm, and fairly normal. But what sense did it make for her to get in a car with someone she barely knew? Someone who just that morning took secret pictures of her? He could be driving her anywhere.
“What are the pictures of, Ralph?”
“You’ll find out when we get there.” Ralph raised his voice to be heard over the music. When he looked over at her his eyes were stern. Ally stared back at him, then pointed her finger towards the road.
“Stay focused.”
“Okay, okay.” He nodded and sped up even more. Ally grabbed the door handle and closed her eyes. At the very least if he kept driving the way he was then they would likely be pulled over. Before that could happen he came to a sharp stop. “My house!” Ralph said barely above a whisper.
Ally opened her eyes to see what remained of Ralph’s house. The roof was charred. The walls slumped as if they might collapse at any moment.
“What?” Ralph stuttered out the word. He didn’t say another word. He just repeated the same one. When he opened the car door the car continued to roll. He put the car into park, then jumped out. Ally stepped out of the passenger side and stared at the house as well. Curls of smoke still rose from the structure. A fireman stood near the driveway of the house. Ralph walked towards him, though his eyes didn’t leave the house.
“Sir? You can’t go in there.” The fireman walked towards him.
“What?” Ralph finally looked at him. Ally stepped up beside him.
“What happened?” She asked what Ralph couldn’t manage to spit out.
“A fire,” the fireman said.
Ally had to resist the desire to roll her eyes. “I see that. But how? When did it start?”
“We were called when it was already engulfed. Unfortunately, with everyone being in town for the memorial I guess the fire wasn’t noticed very fast. We tried to save the house, but it was too far gone when we arrived.”
“This is impossible.” Ralph ran his hand back through his hair. “All of my pictures are gone. My cameras. Everything was in there.”
“Try to calm down, Sir. Some things may be salvageable.”
“But how did it happen?” Ally narrowed her eyes.
“Our best guess at this point was a chemical fire from the chemicals in the dark room.”
“No, absolutely not. That is not what happened. I am very careful with all of my chemicals. I always double-check to make sure that everything is off and unplugged. My entire life is in that house. I am always careful.”
“Something started the fire. At this point we don’t know what that was. We will conduct a full investigation. I hope that you have insurance.”
“I do. But that’s not going to get the pictures back. I have backups of some, but nothing replaces the originals. What am I going to do?”
“Just take a deep breath. You have to let them do their investigation, then they will get to the bottom of it,” Ally said.
“Someone did this.” Ralph thrust his fist through the air. “I know it!”
“Ralph, is there anyone you can call? Anyone that you can stay with?” Ally tried to get his attention with a light touch on his shoulder. He whipped around so fast that she stumbled back.
“No! I don’t want to stay with anyone. I want my house back!” He groaned. “I knew it. I knew this would happen if I wasn’t careful. Who did you tell about the pictures of the party that I showed to you?”
Ally took another step back. “I didn’t tell anyone.”
“Don’t lie to me!” He pointed a finger so close to her face that she could have bitten it. “You were the only one that I showed the pictures to. Someone must know what was in those pictures, otherwise this wouldn’t have happened. There is no other reason for someone to want to burn down my place.”
“I just told my grandmother that’s it. She wouldn’t have told anyone.” Ally stared into his eyes. “Just relax, Ralph, you’ve got to get a hold of yourself. Something terrible has happened, but at least no one was hurt.”
“No one was hurt?” His eyes filled with tears. “Do you know what I had inside of that house? Years worth of work! Years!” He reached up and pulled at his own hair. “All nothing but ash now!”
Startled by the passionate tone of his voice, Ally again tried
to comfort him with a light touch to his shoulder.
“It’s devastating, you’re right. Why don’t you come back to my place, you can calm down a little, and we’ll talk about the next step.”
“No.” He narrowed his eyes. “You’ve done enough.” He started to turn away from her, but Ally tugged at his wrist.
“Wait, Ralph! What about the pictures that you were going to show me?”
He laughed and shook his head. “The pictures. That’s all you care about. Fine. They were photographs of Mayor Malcolm and a female politician.”
“Julia?”
“No, but she was also there. I have a series of pictures. The mayor and this politician, Sue Wardie, at a fancy restaurant. Then in comes Julia, who ends up throwing the mayor’s glass of champagne into his face. I have it all on camera.”
“Was she jealous?”
“Not according to the other people that were in the restaurant that night. Julia apparently accused him of going behind her back trying to make a political deal with Sue that Julia didn’t want to go ahead. I’ve heard all of the rumors that people spread about the mayor and Julia, but I don’t believe any of it. If anything had happened between them I would have found some indication of their affair over the years, but I haven’t. I doubt she was having an affair with him.”
“That wasn’t what I expected.”
“I didn’t think it would be.”
“Do you think Sue Wardie could have held a grudge against Julia and killed her?”
“No, she moved from Freely a couple of months ago so she was no longer interested in the Freely government.”
“Okay. I guess that rules her out,” Ally said thoughtfully.
“Don’t miss out on the key detail, Ally.”
Ally frowned. “What’s that?”
He rolled his eyes. “I’ll spell it out for you. Julia humiliated the mayor by throwing the champagne in his face. Then she died from a poisoned glass of champagne.”
“Oh!” Ally’s eyes widened. “I see it now.”
“I should hope so.” He stared hard at her. “I have to go figure out what I can save from my house. I hope you can get your own ride home.”
