Death in Dahlonega (A Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery Book 1)

by Deborah Malone

  “P-please call me Trixie,” I reminded him, pushing down that overpowering urge to flirt when I was around him. With his good looks and southern charm, he was probably used to women fawning over him. After all, he was the enemy, and everyone knows you don’t fraternize with the enemy. Or was it, “keep your friends close, and your enemies closer?”

  He rewarded me with a beatific grin, and I continued, “Considering the circumstances, I could be worse.” I plowed right ahead. “By the way, have you started looking at other suspects? I have reason to believe John Tatum made more than one enemy along the way. Some say that having an angry ex-wife and an angrier ex-girlfriend could present a sticky situation.”

  “And how did you come up with this information?” He looked me square in the eyes. “I hope you’re not interfering in this investigation.” He placed a warm, but warning hand on my shoulder and guided me toward the door. “You have my pledge I’ll follow any and every lead I believe important to this case. That’s what I’m trained to do.”

  We said our good-byes, and I firmly shut the door - maybe a bit firmer than necessary.

  “Oh Trixie, it was awful.” Dee Dee pulled out a ragged tissue from her pocket and dabbed at her eyes.

  “Sheriff Wheeler and Deputy Ray grilled me, then they left me alone with that GBI man.” The tissue was used for a makeshift hanky. She blew her nose and discarded it in a nearby trashcan. “Good grief, I didn’t even know the dead guy.”

  I squeezed Dee Dee’s arm for reassurance. “I think they’re trying to make the puzzle pieces fit where they don’t belong.”

  “That makes sense,” Dee Dee nodded. “I might have discovered a reason why the sheriff wants to solve this case in such a hurry. I overheard him talking to Agent Cornwall. The sheriff wants to retire soon and run for Mayor. He said, ‘It’ll be great to have this case closed by the time I leave office.’ Can you believe that?” Dee Dee plopped down on a bench and removed her shoe. She shook it and a small pebble fell out.

  I sat down beside her and people watched a long moment, gathering my thoughts. The crowd was growing and, shortly, the streets and sidewalks would be wall-to-wall people. I leaned my cane on the wooden bench, but it slid off and onto the pavement. I let it lay there for the time being.

  We sat quietly watching the throng of excited passers-by. Was Jake Wheeler trying to pin Tatum’s murder on Dee Dee? I didn’t want to believe this attractive man would use Dee Dee as a scapegoat.

  “Dee, it makes perfect sense.” I poked her knee and she started. “No wonder he focused on you from the beginning. In his mind, this was an open and shut case from the time he saw you standing there with Tatum’s blood on your hands. It doesn’t hurt that you’re an out-of-towner. Don’t want to offend too many locals who vote.”

  This put a new perspective on the situation. Would the sheriff cover all the bases? Possibly, but I wasn’t taking any chances. I had to continue my own investigation.

  Chapter Eleven

  My stomach growled like a lion, and we both laughed. “Come on Dee. Let’s get something to eat.”

  “That’s the best offer I’ve had all day,” Dee Dee rooted in her gigantean shoulder bag. She pulled out her favorite “Ruby’s Red” lipstick, painted on a fresh coat, stood up, and readjusted her clothes. “Let’s walk around the square and see if we can find a nice café that isn’t too crowded.”

  The smell of funnel cake and other fried foods, along with the squeals of children in the park, bombarded my senses. Smiles and excitement glowed on the faces of the tourists. I fought the little stab of jealousy mixed with a scoop of anger, thinking, If Dee Dee wasn’t under a cloud of suspicion, we’d be smiling, too.

  We decided on a cute little sandwich shop: The Victorian Tea Room. The motif catered to women, and I blinked at the ladies in large hats sipping from bone china and nibbling on crustless sandwiches on the other side of the plate glass window.

  “Would you look at this? Isn’t it unique, Trix?” Dee Dee fingered a veiled hat on the wall, obviously itching to try it on.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a tea room quite like this.” Old-fashioned hats and shawls hung from the walls with an invitation to wear them. A few of the guests had donned the fancy attire and were taking pictures of each other. Tables decked in lace tablecloths were covered with hand painted china, reminiscent of my grandmother’s house.

  A cute young girl in her early twenties, short brown hair streaked with purple, and earrings in places I wouldn’t dream of piercing, showed us to our table. The menu consisted of food destined to win a girl’s heart, and stomach. Sandwiches, fresh fruit, scones and muffins made up the lunch cuisine. We chose the chicken salad sandwich on a croissant. For dessert: fresh strawberries covered in brandy sauce and topped with whipped cream.

  Hot Cinnamon Spice and Peach tea sat on the table in individual teapots. The cinnamon flavor floated in the air like magnolia in the evening. My nostrils filled with the heavenly scent as we doctored our tea, and then settled back to talk.

  Before the swish of a lamb’s tail, the waitress brought our sandwiches. The crust on the croissant resembled homemade piecrust; it did a buttery dance across my taste buds. We managed to enjoy our food, despite being stressed.

  I started on my fresh fruit, savoring every bite, when the jingle of the doorbell drew my attention towards the door. “Oh, no!” I whispered.

  As soon as Miranda walked in, the chef barreled through the kitchen doors and hurried to her side. They conferred for a moment, and then he went back into the kitchen. She stood ramrod straight as she gazed around the room. Her face gave away nothing, that was, until she caught my eye. Her fiery eyes shot daggers.

  The chef returned, laden with several bags, and handed them to her. She turned on her heels and clicked out of the café without so much as a nod.

  “Good grief. If looks could kill, I believe we’d be dead.” Dee Dee turned around in her lattice chair from watching the scene. “Who was that?”

  “That my dear, is Miranda Tatum. John Tatum’s ex-wife.”

  “The infamous Miranda.” Several heads turned our way.

  “Shhh. Let’s finish our dessert and I’ll fill you in later.” We finished eating and headed for the bathroom—the place that got us into trouble in the first place. Dee Dee forever needed to go to the bathroom. I’d tried to get her to tell her doctor, like they suggest on the television commercial, but she didn’t see it as a problem. I’d bet now she’d visit him as soon as we got back home.

  We stepped back into the busy street and were immediately engulfed by a sea of people. I had to holler to get her attention. “Let’s go over to the Gold Museum and see if we can wheedle some information from Teresa.”

  “Why?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Because I like to wheedle people?” I smiled to let her know I was only kidding.

  “Huh?” Her face was blank. Unusual for Dee Dee, she missed the joke. The investigation must have really gotten under her skin.

  “Well, if we’re going to find out who killed John Tatum, we’ll have to create a list of suspects.”

  Dee Dee stopped abruptly.

  “Whoa. I almost ran into you,” I laughed.

  “Well, with all my cushioning back there, it wouldn’t hurt you. Where did you get the crazy notion to snoop for suspects?” She stood firm, not moving an inch.

  “Do you have any better ideas? You said yourself that Sheriff Wheeler needed to close this case as soon as possible. Joyce said that there are a lot of people who had reason to want Tatum dead. We can find out who they are, tell the sheriff, and let him follow-up.”

  “Well, put that way it doesn’t sound like a bad idea. I don’t want you to put yourself in danger for my sake.” Dee Dee adjusted her shoulder bag and we continued walking.

  We elbowed our way through the throng of people. Several of the festival booths seemed to call our names so we stopped to check out their colorful knick-knacks. We moved with the crowd until we reached the end o
f the street.

  We stood at the corner, admiring the fancy, horse-drawn carriage providing rides around the square. As it turned, it nearly ran over us. We jumped out of the way. I felt something squishy under my foot. Let me tell you, those horsey diapers don’t work as well as you’d think.

  I spied some grassy lawns around the museum. “Come on. Let’s go over there so I can clean my shoes.”

  Dee Dee belly laughed.

  It was good to hear, even if it was at my expense. “Thanks a heap, these are my new Rockports.”

  “I’m sorry. I can’t help it. You should have seen the look on your face,” she managed to sputter.

  I grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the museum. By that time I was laughing, too. But as we got closer, my mirth slowly died from my lips.

  Teresa might not be an easy mark for my line of questioning, but for Dee Dee’s sake, we had to try.

  Chapter Twelve

  Hello, ladies. What brings you back to the museum?” Teresa’s thin smile looked forced and unnatural when we walked in.

  “Can we talk to you for a minute?”

  Teresa adjusted the badge on her uniform. “For a minute. They’ve finished taking down the crime scene tape. I want to make sure the mining room is cleaned up. I don’t want any of our visitors upset by blood stains.” She looked directly at us with displeasure, and I didn’t blame her.

  “Let’s go to my office.” She led the way.

  “I’m so sorry this happened. This must be such an inconvenience for you, especially during the busiest time of the year.”

  “Not to mention the embarrassment it has caused. One of the most influential men in Dahlonega was murdered on my watch, and I was up for a promotion.” She muttered under her breath. The softly spoken words sounded something like, “I guess I can kiss that good-bye.”

  “Umm, look on the bright side. It might boost the tourist traffic today. You know how people possess a morbid curiosity.” A nervous giggle escaped my lips.

  Teresa turned and gave me a funny look as Dee Dee poked me in the ribs.

  “I hope you don’t think Dee Dee murdered Mr. Tatum. It was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time—”

  “Look, Trixie,” Teresa interrupted. “I’m not sure what to think. I know for a fact that John Tatum had more than one enemy. He made some thoroughly bad decisions - others came with the territory of possessing enough power to say ‘yea’ or ‘nay’ to someone in need.” She pointed to some chairs, indicating for us to sit down.

  “I could use some help locating some of these people, and Joyce said no one knows the people or the town as well as you do.” I leaned toward Teresa, now seated behind her desk. “I heard John and Miranda Tatum had a messy divorce.” I searched her face for a reaction but saw no change. I continued. “Could you tell me about John’s girlfriend? Give me her name and how to get in contact with her?”

  “Look, I shouldn’t.” She looked from me to Dee Dee, then back to me. “But if my best friend was in trouble, I’d do the same thing. Promise you won’t do anything but ask questions, and leave the rest up to Sheriff Wheeler. One person’s dead already.”

  I nodded.

  Dee Dee spoke up. “I’ll promise for both of us.” She squinched her eyes and glared at me.

  Teresa’s shoulders relaxed and I thought, Way to go Dee Dee. But I had every intention of doing whatever was necessary to prove Dee Dee’s innocence.

  “What’s her name, and where can we find her?” I handed paper and pen to Dee Dee so she could play secretary.

  “Her family name is Dalton. Sueleigh Dalton. She lives with her kin several miles outside of town. You might be able to find her whole family at the festival today. They run a food stand every year during Gold Rush Days and she helps them out.” Teresa scooted back in her chair and adjusted her badge. Again.

  “I can’t thank you enough. You wait and see; you have my word. When this is over, Dee Dee will be exonerated.” I gave Dee Dee a big smile and touched her shoulder. I talked tough, but could I make it happen? I had to believe I could, with some help from above.

  “I don’t know why, but for some reason, I believe you.” Teresa tapped her teeth, as if considering her options. “There’s one more person you might be interested in.”

  Dee Dee and I both belted out, “Who?”

  “A couple of years ago, there was a robbery at the Tatum place. Tubby Hawkins, a local teenager, broke into Tatum’s home, but he didn’t make it out alive. He was a known trouble maker and had a gun in his possession, so no charges were filed against Tatum, but John killed the boy, all the same.” She shifted around in her office chair, obviously unsettled by the events.

  “The Hawkins family was outraged and vowed revenge on Tatum. Tommy Hawkins, Tubby’s older brother, was the most vocal. He went around town telling everyone that Tatum had better watch his back. No one was going to kill his brother and get away with it.”

  “Wow!” Dee Dee sat on the edge of her chair.

  “This could be a big break.” My wheels already turning, I glanced at Dee Dee, who was furiously writing names on her note pad. I turned back to Teresa. “I wonder if the sheriff’s looked at this angle. This Tommy character should be at the top of the suspect list.”

  “Remember, you didn’t hear any of this from me.”

  “Of course,” I nodded, attempting to make my expression the model of discretion. “One last thing: I’ve heard the sheriff’s going to retire? He could solve this case by blaming the most obvious suspect instead of investigating other leads. It would be mighty convenient for him to focus on Dee Dee.”

  She stood and placed fists to her hips. “I’ve known Jake Wheeler for years, and I believe he’ll follow any lead he thinks important.” She drew herself up. “Now I’ve got to inspect the rooms so we can open.”

  Dee Dee and I knew the way out, and it was obvious she wanted us to go, pronto!

  Chapter Thirteen

  Teresa retrieved some papers and started to leave.

  “Oh, Teresa!” Dee Dee begged, in her not so subtle way. “I need to use the ladies room if you don’t mind.”

  I wasn’t surprised.

  Teresa’s eyes shot open like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She wasted no time ushering us out the door.

  “Well, ladies, I hate to be rude, but...No, I’m going to be honest. I don’t hate to be rude. I can’t take a chance on anything else happening while you two are loose in the museum. There’s a public restroom across the square.” She had me by one arm and Dee Dee by the other as she led us out. She stood, still as a statue, until we walked down the outside steps.

  I’m sure my, “thanks for the information” was lost in the wind as she turned and hurried back into the museum.

  “Well, I can’t blame her,” Dee Dee said.

  “Me neither.” I replied as we stood, deciding what to do next.

  “Our list grows longer.” Dee Dee thrust her notepad in my face as she hot stepped toward the public restroom.

  I reviewed our growing list of suspects while we stood in line at the facilities. Afterwards, we decided to stop in a quaint little ice cream and pastry shop for an afternoon pick-me-up. Country themed gifts, coffee cups painted with flowers and butterflies, Christmas wreaths, antique jewelry and home decor fragrances, and heavenly scented candles lined the shelves along the walls. We looked for a minute, then found a corner table and placed our order.

  I slid on my reading glasses and waggled my fingers. “Bring out the suspect list and let’s go over it.”

  Dee Dee brought out the tablet faster than a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. “So far, we have Miranda Tatum. A woman scorned is one to be contended with. Her husband’s betrayal has left deep scars that haven’t healed yet. I should know.” I wondered, prayed, that the time would come when I’d be able to think of Wade without that sharp stab of pain.

  Dee Dee gave me a little shake. “Girl, where did you go? You looked like you took a trip to La-La
Land again. From what you’ve told me, Sueleigh Dalton wasn’t any happier with Tatum’s treatment of women. It seems like he used women and tossed them away like disposable commodities. Use them and lose them.” She rolled her eyes. “Men!”

  I nodded. “Don’t forget Tommy Hawkins. Teresa said he didn’t hide his hatred for Tatum. He told the whole town he was going to kill him.”

  Dee Dee pointed at his name written on the page. “You heard Teresa. The Hawkins are meaner than a mama bear protecting her cubs. Good grief, she refused to tell you where they live.”

  The waitress slid our dishes onto the Formica. “Anything else?”

  “No thanks,” I smiled at her before picking up my spoon.

  “I don’t think we need to mess with them.” Dee Dee scooped into her whipped cream as the waitress walked away.

  “True, but we can find it ourselves.” I savored a mouthful of my ice cream and sighed. “Speaking of Harv.”

  “We weren’t speaking of Harv, Goofy.” Dee Dee poked her spoon at me.

  I laughed. “I know, but he popped into my head, and I felt like pulling your string.” I did love to tease Dee Dee. And she loved to tease me.

  I noticed a lonely tear running down Dee Dee’s face. “I’m, sorry Dee; I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.” Man, I felt like a jerk.

  She sniffed. “No, it’s not that. You didn’t hurt my feelings. I miss my babies.” she was referring to her furry babies; all five of them. I never understood the attraction to cats—I’m a dog woman myself. But the love for her cats is as strong as the love I have for my dog, Bouncer.

  The tears streamed down her face. As any woman knows, crying plus make-up equals raccoon eyes. Dee Dee dabbed her napkin at her cheeks.

  “I’m sorry, sweetie; I’m sure you miss them.” I squeezed her hand, knowing she was now upset about more than her cats.

  “Its times like this I want to wring Gary’s neck for going and dying on me. I don’t want to face this all alone. I’m scared.” She rubbed her eyes, enlarging the black circles of smeared mascara.