by T. G. Hanson
******
Marple Lane was quiet and peaceful with most of the residents safely tucked in for the night. Soft glowing lights could be seen in the bedroom windows of a few houses indicating the occupants might be doing some late-night reading, watching some TV, or were in the habit of leaving a small light on, in case they had to get up in the middle of the night.
As Wade drove down the street, making his rounds, he noticed the extra lights on at Nyla’s, Helen’s and Henry’s homes. Hmm looks like those three are burning the midnight oil.
Nyla sat at the small antique desk in her living room, writing away on a huge legal pad. The television was on, but the sound was turned down to a soft murmur. She would write a bit, then stop and check her notes on the smaller notepad she kept in her purse, then go back to writing on the legal pad.
Writing for almost an hour she stopped, leaned back, and read what she had written. Not bad at all. If the rest turns out as good as this part, I’ll have a best seller on my hands! Won’t that be something. Once again Mystic Pines will have its own Mystery Author.
Nyla continued to write well into the night. When her head suddenly hit the legal pad and she realized that she had nodded off, she stood up, stretched, and turning off the light went to bed.
As she crawled under the covers her last thought was, I’ll have to find a way to get the Sheriff or Wade to talk to me before I can go much further in my book. Maybe I’ll chat them up next time I see them in the diner.
******
Helen was sitting in front of the television watching an old movie. She was so busy in thought that she didn’t even know what the name of the movie was, much less what was going on in it. Making her decision, she stood and grabbing the fly-swatter, walked outside stuffing it into the metal garbage can at the edge of the street.
It’s done, she thought to herself, by tomorrow my worries will mostly be over. Now I only have to worry about all those bills and how I’m gonna pay them.
Realizing how late it was, she turned off the television and headed back to her bedroom. She glanced over at the stack of unopened boxes in the bottom of the closet and at the foot of her bed. I have no idea what is in any of those boxes. Guess tomorrow I should open some of them and see what they are. Why do I keep doing this, all this shopping?
She also wondered if maybe they had a shopper’s anonymous thing, like they did for alcoholics. If so, maybe I should think about going to the meetings. If I don’t do something soon, I’m gonna wind up losing everything, and be out on the streets like a bag lady. The thought made her begin to shiver and she climbed into bed pulling the covers over her head.
******
Henry, unable to sleep, had been sitting on the couch watching the TV and drinking a beer. He noticed Helen’s front porch light come on and watched her walk down the driveway to put something in the trash can. Now what could she have that she needed to put in the trash, that couldn’t wait till morning?
As soon as she went back inside and he saw the lights go out, he snuck outside and looked in the can. Now, just what do we have here? Reaching inside he pulled the swatter from the can and ran back over to his house.
Looking at the horrid swatter, he thought, there’s something funny about this thing, the way she was so worried about it the other day, and how she used to carry it around with her. Why would she throw it away? Doesn’t look broken to me.
He decided to put the swatter in a Hefty bag and store it in the hall closet. There was something important about it and he was going to find out just exactly what it was. Sitting back down on the couch, he continued drinking his beer and watching his TV show.
A few houses down, the black sedan was back and parked with the lights off. The two men had seen the car coming down the road earlier and had dropped down in the seat to hide. The taller of the two men looked at the other, “Now what do you think the old guy was doing in that woman's trash can? Could you tell what it was he took out of it?”
“No idea boss. These people are strange. Give me the big city any day over these country folks.”
TWENTY-ONE
Finishing up her cup of coffee Nyla grabbed her car keys and locked the front door behind her. She considered herself a Christian woman and like any good Christian, she tried her best to attend Church every week.
Like most Sunday mornings, she pulled the car out of the garage and sat waiting on Helen to come over. Nyla always drove them to Church since Helen had never learned to drive.
Helen hung up the phone from talking with Myra, who normally road with them on Sunday mornings. She’d been unable to reach Nyla and had called Helen to let them know she was driving herself this morning.
Gathering up her things, Helen walked out her door thinking about Henry and the Sheriff. She had been watching Henry’s house, but had not seen him go out last night at all. Maybe the Sheriff had spoken to him, and he had given up on following Meg around. She hoped so.
She climbed into Nyla’s car and let her know they didn’t need to pick up Myra this morning. That settled, the two drove off to church deciding they would eat lunch at the diner afterwards.
******
An hour and half later, Nyla and Helen, along with the rest of the widows were sitting at the diner. They had chosen the corner table in front of the big windows, so they might have some privacy and a nice view while they ate.
Sighing contentedly Nyla addressed the group, “I just love this table, don’t you girls? It’s so nice that Meg saves it for us on Sunday.” The others nodded in agreement as Meg approached the table.
“Afternoon ladies. I’ll get your salads out to you in just a second. I assume you all want tea as well?”
“That will be fine Meg dear, and thanks for saving the corner table for us. Makes it easier for us old gals to see with the extra light coming in through the windows” Nyla commented.
A few minutes later Meg was back with glasses and a pitcher of tea. Setting a drink down in front of each lady, she asked Myra if she had shared her good news with the group.
“Oh no not yet, I was just about to though.” The ladies all looked from Meg to Myra waiting for one of them to say what the news was.
“Well, spit it out one of you. No need to keep us sitting here on pins and needles” Nyla sniped.
Myra smiled at Meg then turned to address the ladies. “The other day, Meg needed some help in the bookstore and called me. I went in and worked the entire day, and she offered me a job!” Myra told the group excitedly. “So beginning Monday, I’ll be helping out here three days a week.”
Meg noticed how proud Myra was when telling the ladies, and she was happy to see them all congratulate their friend.
Soon after they had finished their meals, Sue and Janet left for home leaving Myra, Nyla and Helen still sitting at the table.
Nyla ordered pie for everyone and then addressed the other two, “So ladies, what do you think about this murder that happened last Wednesday? Myself, well I’ve got a few ideas of what might have happened if you’re interested in hearing them.”
Helen frowned. “Oh really Nyla, when are you gonna learn to keep yer nose out of everyone's business.”
Myra looked at Nyla and snickered but didn’t say a word.
Nyla had set her tea glass down rather loudly and responded, “Excuse me Missy but if it happens in my town, it is my business don’t you think!”
“Well you sure do seem to think so don’t ya” snapped Helen. “Never known anyone as nosy as you Nyla.”
Myra simply kept eating but watched her two friends argue. Something was not right. Helen normally was not so snippy with Nyla and it made her wonder if perhaps their friendship was on the rocks. Helen had been awfully edgy lately and not like herself at all.
******
Henry sat in his kitchen, trying to decide what to do about church this morning. Finishing up his eggs he figured that it might be in his best interest to just go and just see what happens.
An hour later he had shower
ed, dressed in his best clothes, and had begun walking towards the only church in town. His plan was not to go inside, unless he just had to, but to hang out in the park across the street, and see just who might show up.
By the time services let out, Henry had not seen anyone nor had anyone approached him. He couldn’t figure it all out, but in a way, he was glad nobody had shown up, thinking it wasn’t going to be good if they did.
Walking back home, the Sheriff pulled up beside him and stopped. “Hey Henry, what are you up to this fine afternoon? Were you finally making an appearance at church or just out for a stroll?”
“Me, at church? Naw, Sheriff, just out for a bit of fresh air is all. Nothing criminal about that is there?”
Laughing John replied, “Nope Henry sure isn’t. But, while I have your attention, I need you to come into the office tomorrow for more questioning.”
Henry had started to tell the Sheriff that he might not be able to make it when he was interrupted, “Henry, I’m not asking, I’m telling you to either be at the station tomorrow around ten, or I’m coming to look for you, got it.”
“Sure thing Sheriff, I’ll be there.” Being left with no choice, Henry agreed.
Neither man noticed the black sedan parked a few cars behind the Sheriff, nor did Henry notice it parked down the street from his house when he arrived home.
Henry let himself inside his house, grabbed a couple beers from the fridge, and walked out to his front porch. He sat down in the rocker and began watching Helen’s house. The swatter, in the bag, set beside him on the porch. That’ll give her something to stew about when she sees I have it. Grinning, he popped the top on a beer and began drinking.
******
As they always did, John and Wendy went to the diner for lunch, after Church. Stopping Wade after the service, they invited him to have lunch with them then meeting in the parking lot, they all walked in together.
Meg seeing the group walk in, rushed over to greet them, while bringing glasses and tea to their table. Setting the glasses and tea down on the table, she patted Wade on the shoulder.
“My goodness, whatever did I do to get the law into my diner today?” she teased.
“We heard someone was holding all the tea pitcher’s hostage and decided you might need some help” Wade teased back.
Meg held her wrists out in front of Wade, “I confess, it was me. Cuff me and take me away,” making Wade smile and blush.
John raised one eyebrow while looking at Wade and the group laughed. In the middle of their laughter and meal, John heard a commotion coming from the table where the widows were sitting and turned to see what was going on.
It appeared to him that Helen and Nyla were having a rather heated discussion. Just as he was about to get up and see if he could diffuse the situation, Helen stood up and yelled “Nyla Hanson, if you know what is good for you, you’ll just keep your big fat nose out of my business you hear me. What I do is my business and not anyone else’s.”
Nyla and Myra were sitting at the table, forks halfway to their mouths, and staring at Helen. After she exploded at Nyla, she stomped out of the diner slamming the door on her way out.
John, not understanding what had happened, stood up and followed Helen out the door trying to catch up with her. “Helen wait,” he yelled while grabbing her by the elbow to stop her. She spun around and looked at him like he was her worst enemy and standing with her hands on her hips yelled, “What Sheriff, what do you want?”
“Helen, what was all that about in the diner there? Are you okay?”
“I ain’t committed no crime Sheriff so what I do is no concern of yours now is it” she told him.
“But it is Helen, when you cause a ruckus like you just did, in a public place. What on earth is wrong with you lately. Where is that sweet little lady who has always been so kind to everyone.”
Looking at him for a few minutes and saying nothing more she burst into tears and took off, in kind of a waddling run, down the sidewalk towards her home.
The Sheriff stood there scratching his head. He had no idea what to think, but he was beginning to look at Nyla differently. Walking back into the diner he had to swat a large fly out of his way and that, is when a thought hit him.
He stopped dead in his tracks, looked back down the street and said aloud “Well I’ll be hanged, it’s been in front of me the entire time and I never even saw it.” Taking hold of the door to the diner he wondered, but it just doesn’t make sense, not that sweet old lady, and shaking his head, walked slowly back into the diner to finish his meal.
******
Back at their table John explained to Wade what had just happened. “Wade, do you remember those funny marks on the victim’s face? You said it looked like he had fallen on a waffle iron.”
“Yup I remember, but we both know that didn’t happen so what gives?”
“I know what made the marks, but I’m not sure how they got there and even less sure that I’m right about who put them there.”
The Sheriff then told Wade what he had just realized and his theory about the marks.
“But John, why? It makes no sense. How would she have even known the man? And we already know that the victim died from the head wound not those marks.”
“I know that’s the puzzling part. Makes me wonder, with the way she has been acting, what does she know or maybe, what did she see. Plus, I think she may believe she’s responsible for the man’s death.”
“Seriously? I can’t imagine how she would possibly know the guy.”
“I think we need to concentrate on finding out who this guy was, and why he was here. Once we know that, I think some other things might fall into place. Besides, we both know she isn’t going anywhere so there’s no real rush to talk to her right now.”
Wade agreed with the Sheriff and looking up smiled at Meg, as she approached their table.
Placing a hand on the Sheriff’s shoulder, Meg set the wallet on the table in front of him. John, seeing the wallet, looked up at Meg with a questioning look on his face. “What’s this Meg?”
Trying not to tap her fingers on the table, Meg glanced down at the wallet then at the Sheriff. “Found this out back of the diner this morning when I carried some trash out. It was stuck up under some bushes and I think it belonged to the guy that was killed.”
Picking up the wallet, John looked inside fishing around for some type of ID. Finding the license, he grinned. “Sure does! Look here Wade,” and passed the license over to Wade. “I’m not sure how we missed this, but thanks Meg.”
Meg, figuring she should walk away before they started asking her further questions, patted John on the shoulder and replied, “Glad to be of help John,” then walking away from the table added, “Customer needs me, talk to you all later,” and walked away thinking, whew glad that is over with.
******
Across the diner Nyla and Myra were finishing up their pie while trying to figure out for themselves, what was wrong with Helen.
“Nyla, what on earth is wrong with Helen these days. She seems like she is always on edge and jumps at every little thing.”
“I’m not sure hon, but if I didn’t know better, she acts like she is guilty of something.”
“Guilty, our Helen. Can’t imagine what that could possibly be. She’d never hurt a fly.”
“I know but she’s been acting this way ever since that murder happened. And speaking of flies, have you seen that overgrown swatter of hers?”
Myra laughed, “Yes, it’s horrid huh. She needs to stop watching that shopping channel. Seems like she always finds the strangest things to buy on there.” Myra took a drink of tea and continued. “Why I was at her house the other day and you should see it. Boxes and more boxes all over the place. Most of them she hasn’t even opened, and they are all from that shopping channel.”
“Really, that bad huh. I had no idea and what’s more, how in the world is she able to afford all that on her social security.”
“No idea
Nyla but maybe you should try and have a talk with her?”
Nyla sat thinking about her friend and decided that Myra was probably right. Maybe Helen needed some sort of shopping intervention.
******
Meg wiped down the last table and letting Randy know he could leave for the day, gathered her things to leave. The dinner crowd was always light on Sunday because it was earlier than a normal dinner time. This allowed her to close and get home early.
Locking up after Randy left, Meg grabbed her things and headed home. Wade was busy, doing something for the Sheriff, so she was on her own. She had sort of missed the walk home, and by the time she arrived at her house, she felt refreshed and was looking forward to the evening.
Lynn was coming over and they were going to continue their internet search, of the newspaper articles. Dropping her keys on the table by the door, she picked up the mail she had neglected over the weekend, and let Chewy out in the backyard to do her business. Walking on into the kitchen to fix a glass of wine, she began flipping through the mail.
Chewy barked at the back door, so she let the little dog in and sat down on the couch to finish opening her mail. Reaching the bottom of the stack, she found an odd letter. It was just a plain white envelope, a bit smudged up on the outside, but no other markings. Slitting the envelope open she pulled out the folded sheet of paper inside.
Reading the note, she grabbed her cell phone and frantically called Lynn. “Lynn, you need to get over here right away.”
“Meg, what’s wrong are you hurt?”
“No I’m fine, but I’ve got something you have to see. Hurry okay.”
The two women hung up and Lynn, grabbing her keys, sprinted down to Meg’s house, flying through the front door. Meg held the letter out for Lynn to read.
Written on the paper, with hands that had obviously been shaking, was a message: WHERE IS THE MONEY! IT’S MINE! LEAVE IT ON YOUR FRONT PORCH BY TUESDAY OR ELSE!
