Murder in Georgia

by Agnes Alexander

  She gave Nicole that snooty look which made her feel more like a klutz than she was, but said nothing else. “We’ll see you this evening, dear.” She patted her husband’s shoulder then took her little girl’s hand.

  Paul picked up his mail and headed to his office.

  The phones were quiet during the afternoon. Nicole had her work caught up and was looking for something to do when the door opened. She looked up to face two plain-clothed police officers. How she knew they were police she wasn’t sure, but for some reason she did.

  “May I help you?” She hoped the nervousness in her voice didn’t show.

  “I hope you can.” He walked up to her desk and flipped open his identification. “I’m Officer William Milo. This is Officer Trudy Collins.” Without giving Nicole time to introduce herself he went on, “Do you happen to know a young woman who walks down this street every morning and then back in the afternoon?”

  “I walk to work every day. Is that what you mean?”

  “And where do you live?”

  She gave him Lita’s address.

  He nodded. “I see why you’d want to walk. It isn’t far at all.”

  “May I ask what this is about?”

  “We’re just checking on anyone new to the neighborhood, Miss...”

  “Lynch. Nicole Lynch.”

  “Well, Miss Lynch...it is Miss, isn’t it?”

  “It is.” She didn’t dare say she didn’t know if it was Miss or not. In fact, she didn’t dare say much of anything. She felt uncomfortable with these officers, but tried not to let them know it.

  “So you walked to work this morning?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you’ve been here all day?”

  “I was here all morning. I walked home for lunch and then came back. Why?”

  “Do you go home for lunch every day, Miss Lynch?”

  “Most of the time.”

  Paul came into the office. “What’s going on here?”

  “We’re just asking some questions, sir. And what is your name?”

  “I’m Paul Cottingham. May I ask why you’re questioning my secretary?”

  He ignored Paul’s question. “Can you verify that Miss Lynch was here this morning, sir?”

  “I most certainly can.”

  “And what time was she here?”

  “She was here when I came in at nine o’clock and she was still here when my wife picked me up for lunch around eleven-thirty or quarter to twelve. She was here when we got back about one-thirty.”

  The officer looked back at Nicole. “I thought you said you went home for lunch.”

  “I did. I left right after Mr. Cottingham. I ate my lunch and came back. He hadn’t returned when I got back, but he came in a few minutes later.”

  “I don’t want to be rude to the police, but you need to tell us why you’re asking all these questions,” Paul said.

  “We’re just checking up on something which happened up the street. We thought Miss Lynch might be able to help us.”

  “What happened?” Paul and Nicole asked almost in unison.

  The police ignored the question, but Detective Milo said, “When we asked the neighbors about a stranger in the area, they told us about seeing Miss Lynch walking up and down the street for the last few days.”

  “Well, sir, if anything illegal is going on during the day, I assure you Miss Lynch has nothing to do with it. She’s here every day at eight-thirty and sometimes earlier and she leaves at five.”

  “Can you vouch for her evenings, Mr. Cottingham?”

  “Of course he can’t,” Nicole butted in. “But my landlady can. Her name is Carmelita Mancini.”

  The police officer wrote the name down. “Then let me thank you for your cooperation.” He nodded at Paul and they walked out the door.

  “I wonder what that was all about?” Nicole asked when the door was closed. “When I went home for lunch I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.”

  “Could be anything. I wouldn’t worry about it. You know it doesn’t involve you.”

  “Thanks for vouching for me, Paul.”

  “Not a problem. I only said what I know is the truth.” He changed the subject. “Do you happen to have the Mercer file? I need to make some changes on it.”

  “Yes. Your father left it on my desk.” She handed it to him and he disappeared into his office.

  On the way home at five, she was surprised to see several police cars parked in Dora’s driveway and yellow crime scene tape around part of the front yard. She started to go to the door to find out what was going on, but changed her mind. She didn’t want to be around police officers any more than she had to. They asked too many questions and she was afraid they would ask her something she didn’t know how to answer. She’d wait until she got home to satisfy her curiosity. Lita would probably know what had happened.

  As she came through the front door, she heard voices in the living room. She hesitated. She wasn’t sure if she should interrupt them, but she wanted to know what had happened at Dora’s house.

  She stuck her head in the living room door and was surprised to see a woman who looked to be in her early twenties sitting on the sofa. She was crying and Lita was comforting her.

  She started to leave, but Lita saw her. “Nicole, come in. Let me introduce you to Janice Hildebrand.” Nicole nodded and Lita went on, “Something horrible has happened.”

  Janice Hildebrand looked at her. “My mother has been attacked in her house. I found her this afternoon.”

  “Is she alright?” Nicole asked.

  Lita shook her head. “She’s in the hospital, Nicole.”

  Janice looked at her with haunted eyes. “My mother is in a coma.” She began to sob. “My dear sweet mother. How could this happen?”

  “I’m so sorry. Do you know what happened?”

  “She was beaten, dear,” Lita said.

  “Somebody beat her almost to death,” Janice said between sobs. “I found her on the living room floor. I heard them say they thought someone had used a baseball bat.”

  “Oh, no. How horrible.” Nicole dropped to the chair in front of the sofa. “I can’t believe this.”

  “Let me get some tea.” Lita stood. “I think we all could use a cup.”

  Janice looked at Nicole. “Mother told me how you would stop on your way to work and talk with her. She likes you, Nicole. She thought you were someone special.”

  “She was very nice to me. I like her too.” When she said nothing, Nicole went on, “Do they have any idea who hurt your mother?”

  “No. They seem to think it was a robbery gone bad. Maybe someone on drugs who was looking for money. Mother’s purse was dumped on the kitchen table and there was no money in it.” She paused. “You didn’t happen to see anyone around the house as you walked to work, did you, Nicole?”

  “No, and I looked at the house because I wondered if your mother was going to work in her flowers this morning.”

  “She loved those flowers.”

  “Yes, everyone says how much she enjoyed gardening. We often chatted in the morning and I missed her when she wasn’t there today.”

  Lita came back with a tray, a teapot, and three cups. “Maybe this will help you feel a little better.”

  “I’ll have a little, but I need to get back to the hospital. I only left because the police insisted I come to see if there was anything missing besides the contents of Mom’s purse. I want to be sure they’re doing everything they can for my mother at the hospital. I don’t want her lost in the shuffle.”

  Nicole didn’t say anything. Could the police have visited her today because they thought she had something to do with the attack?

  Chapter 10

  When she got to work the next day, Connor was already in the office. He came to the reception area when he heard her open the door.

  “Good morning, Nicole. Have you heard what happened to Dora Hildebrand?”

  “Yes. Wasn’t it awful?”

  “It
sure was.”

  “Her daughter came by the house yesterday afternoon and told us about it. She said she’d call Lita if anything changed with Dora’s condition.”

  “You must have known Dora pretty well.” He took off his glasses and stuck them in his shirt pocket.

  “Not well, but I was getting to know her.” She was beginning to wonder why Connor was asking her all these questions. “Lita and I played gin with her and I talked to her in the mornings on my way to work. She was usually tending her flowers.”

  “The Hildebrands were friends with my parents. Every time they got together there was a discussion about flowers.”

  She didn’t respond. She didn’t know what he was driving at.

  He cleared his throat and started to speak, but the telephone interrupted him.

  She answered it and one of the clients wanted an explanation of his coverage if he let his cousin borrow his car. Nicole pulled up the policy and told him she’d be glad to send him a copy.

  When she hung up, Connor said, “Since you need to be answering questions concerning policies, we ought to think about sending you to study for your insurance license. Would you be interested?”

  “That’s a big step, but I’ll think about it.” She smiled at him and hoped she hid the nervousness she felt. Going to school would require documentation she didn’t have, but she couldn’t tell him this.

  Connor looked as if he wanted to say something else, but a client came into the office and paid his insurance bill. When he left, Nicole said, “Connor, I’m not sure what I should do with all this money. I lock it in my desk, but I don’t really feel comfortable keeping it here.” She unlocked the middle drawer and took out the checks and cash she’d collected in the past couple of days. “I’ve been writing receipts and clipping the carbon to the payment. I hope that’s okay.”

  “That’s fine for now. You can just give the receipts and the payments to me when you get ready to leave each day. Later, I’ll discuss with you how we like the bank deposits done. I’m doing them now, but we may add that to your duties.”

  She nodded and wished he wouldn’t stand so close to the desk. On the other hand, she wished he’d get closer. She could smell his manly cologne. It made her want to get up close and personal with him. Someday, maybe I’ll be able to buy an expensive fragrance which will turn him on.

  Stunned at her own thought, she turned to the computer. “There was an email this morning. A gentleman wants you to write a policy on his place at Tybee Island.” She glanced at him. “Can you do that?” He nodded and she went on. “I sent a message back that I’d turn the request over to you or Paul.”

  “That’s another reason we need to get you licensed. You’d be able to answer questions about policies and write up the simple ones yourself.”

  She nodded and said nothing. She still felt there was something more he wanted to say, but before he could, a woman breezed into the office. At first she thought it was Paul’s wife, but then Connor said, “Well, hello Elsie. What are you up to today?”

  “I’m on a special mission, and I hope you can help me with it.”

  “I’ll try. What can I do?”

  “Let’s go to your office and discuss it, darling.” She looped her arm in his and they walked down the hall to his office.

  * * * *

  “Bowie Detective Agency,” Jeff Bowie said into the phone as he leaned back in his black imitation leather swivel chair.

  “Mr. Bowie, this is Janice Hildebrand. I’m returning your call. You left a message on my mother’s answering machine yesterday.”

  “Yes, Ms. Hildebrand. I have a little information I want to share with your mother.”

  “I’ll be happy to take the information for her. My mother is in the hospital.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t think the disease would progress this quickly.”

  “What disease?”

  He could tell from Janice Hildebrand’s voice she was surprised. He wasn’t sure what to say. Skirting the issue, he asked, “What happened to your mother?”

  “Someone broke into her house and attacked her. She’s hanging onto life, but she is critical.” She took a breath. “Now, what disease were you referring to?”

  Used to thinking quickly he said, “Well, she told me the arthritis was getting so bad she sometimes thought she’d have to go into the hospital for treatment.” It sounded good to him because he knew most older people had arthritis in some form or another.

  Her daughter must have swallowed his explanation. “Oh, that. Well, she has been complaining about it a lot lately. I thought it was because it always gets worse in the fall of the year.”

  “I’m certainly sorry to hear about the break-in. I’ll keep Mrs. Hildebrand in my thoughts. She’s a lovely lady, and I don’t like to think of something like this happening to her.”

  “Thank you. Of course I knew my mother had hired you and why. Now, if you’ll give the information I’ll be happy to give it to her if she recovers.”

  There was something about her voice that sent a warning bell off in his head. Maybe it was the remark about if her mother recovered. Anyway, he knew he wasn’t going to tell Janice Hildebrand what he’d learned. Again he thought quickly, “It really wasn’t much, but I thought it’d give her a little hope. I was able to locate a nurse who worked at the hospital at the time your mother was there. Her memory is shaky and she didn’t recall your mother as a patient, but I plan to chat with her again. Maybe she’ll be clearer next time, but I’m not counting on it. She’s pretty old.” He took a breath. “Now that I think about it, maybe we shouldn’t even tell your mother. There’s no need to get her hopes up.”

  “I agree, and I probably won’t tell her.” She sighed. “In fact, maybe it would be better if you put the investigation on hold until mother is well again. I don’t want to run up a needless bill for her.”

  He lifted his eyebrow. “Would you not be interested in continuing the investigation on your own? Aren’t you interested in finding your sister?”

  “Not at all. I’m happy with my family the way it is. I don’t see any need to shake things up with someone who has never been a part of our lives.”

  “I can understand that. I’ll put the file away and when your mother is able, we’ll revisit it again.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Bowie.”

  When he hung up, Jeff sat back in his chair. So, you don’t want a sister coming into your life and messing things up for you, Ms. Janice Hildebrand? We’ll just see what your reaction is when I do find your relative.

  He picked up the file. There was a copy of the generous check Dora Hildebrand had given him last week. And it had already cleared the bank. He had plenty to continue the investigation and that was just what he intended to do. Miss Janice Hildebrand might not want to find her sister, but Jeff Bowie certainly did

  * * * *

  It was after eleven when Connor and his friend, Elsie, appeared back in the office. She was saying, “But I wanted you to go to lunch with me, Connor.”

  “I’m sorry, Elsie. I just can’t make it today.”

  “Oh, you and your old business meetings. When are you going to let go of the past and start getting out and having fun?”

  “I get out.”

  “Yes. Like the night I insisted you attend that fundraiser with me. That doesn’t count because as soon as we ate you insisted on going home. You need to get out and do some fun things like dancing and attending movies and plays. You spend too much time alone.” She glanced at Nicole. “Does he give you a hard time, Ms...?”

  “Lynch, Nicole Lynch.”

  “Hi, I’m Elsie Franklin.”

  “Nice to meet you.”

  “Thank you.” Elsie looked at Connor. “Why hadn’t you introduced me to your new secretary?”

  “I would have, but I’m in a hurry.”

  “You’re always in a hurry.”

  He looked at his watch.

  “Okay, okay. I’ll let you off this time, but I want a
rain check for lunch. You need the guidance of a female in your life and believe you me I’m the one to get you out of your doldrums.”

  He opened the door. “Good-bye, Elsie.”

  “Toddle-do, love. I’ll see you soon.” She leaned up, slung her silky light brown hair back and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. She then gave Nicole a quick wave and went out the door.

  Connor closed it and turned around. His face turned a little pink when he saw Nicole glancing over her computer at him. He grinned. “Sorry you had to see that.”

  “Oh, that’s okay. I do think the lady likes you.”

  He shook his head. “The only person Elsie likes is Elsie.”

  “She could pass for Paul’s wife.”

  He laughed. “She should. They’re twins.” He came and stood at her desk. “I told her a flat out lie to get rid of her.” When Nicole just looked at him, he said, “I told her you and I had to meet a client and go over some important things at lunch, and it was something which had to be done today. I’m sorry I used you, but I didn’t want to get stuck taking her out to eat.”

  “That’s what a secretary is for, I guess.” She eyed him.

  “Well, in that case,” he hesitated then went on, “will you go to lunch with me? Elsie is the type to watch and make sure I wasn’t lying when I said we needed to go to lunch together.”

  “Let me see.” She cocked her head at him. “You’re using me to get out of taking your girlfriend to lunch.”

  He shook his head. “One, she’s not my girlfriend. Two, I admit I’m using you. Three, I’ll buy you a good lunch to make up for it.”

  “Then how can I refuse? Let me give Lita a call so she won’t be expecting me.”

  “Great. I’ll get my coat. If you will, please grab a few files to take with us. They can be empty or old files. It doesn’t matter what’s in them. I just want it to look like we’re taking work with us. Elsie may be parked outside somewhere watching.”

  “She must be strange if she’d do that.” Nicole picked up the phone.

  “She and her sister are both strange. Elsie is man crazy and Erline is a snob. I don’t see how my brother stands them, but he seems to get along fine with it.”