Pampered to Death: A Deadly Calm Day Spa Mystery

by Molly Dox

  “Right, thanks,” Andrea said.

  The girls looked at one another and started on the footpath. Dirt and a line of pressed down grass led them to a trail.

  “Oh, gross,” Jocelyn called out. “Watch out for the-”

  Andrea’s shoe went splat, right into the pile. “Oh yuck!”

  “Too late, sorry, I was trying to warn you. That’s disgusting,” Jocelyn whined as she wiped her shoe on the grass, trying to get as much of the gook off as possible. This was not in the plans, traipsing along a dirt path, the odd cow patty in the way and… “Oh, look how cute. There’s a bunch of chickens and turkeys.”

  One of the turkeys squawked loudly. His beady little eyes focused in on the women. He scuffed a foot back, like a bull ready to charge. With a sprint and burst of energy, the turkey came straight at them.

  “Run!”

  “Ahh! Go, go, go, the turkey’s getting closer.” The adrenaline flooded Andrea’s body as she tried to pick up her pace.

  “Don’t look back, you’ll slow down! Save yourself,” Jocelyn screamed as she bolted.

  “Running isn’t my strong suit. He’s going to get me. I didn’t think I’d die this way, being hen pecked.” Laughing only made running harder. Andrea started cracking up. Breathless, she grabbed her side as the stitch set in.

  “Keep moving! There it is! I see it!” Jocelyn grabbed Andrea’s hand to help. “Come on, one last push and we’ll be there.”

  That’s when they realized they’d have to stop and knock. Stop dead in their tracks. Jocelyn turned to look back as Andrea knocked.

  The chickens moved in closer, the turkey determined to get them. Just as the birds inched closer, they dispersed to eat the fresh grass by the shed. The girls looked at one another. Really? All of that? No climatic ending. They sighed just as the turkey changed his mind and charged them. A door opened as they screamed.

  “Fred, back off! Leave them alone,” the woman yelled.

  The girls were face to face with Cassie. She had a bohemian vibe, wearing metal, string, and leather bracelets around her wrist and up her arm. Her clothing dated her, like she’d been stuck in the seventies.

  “What are you doing here?” Cassie side-eyed them suspiciously and added, “If I’d realized it was the two of you, I wouldn’t have called off the bird.”

  Andrea swallowed the urge to snap back at her. They’d never hit it off well. She forced herself to stay on course. “We’re here about your mother. We wanted to ask you some questions.”

  “My mother? What did she do now? Not that I care, to be honest. My parent’s lifestyle is a waste of time and money. What’s the matter, did my father come to his senses and finally bail on her?” Cassie groaned, hearing they’d traveled all this way to ask about her mother of all people. She never was on their radar, otherwise.

  Jocelyn looked at Andrea. Was it even possible? She cautiously guarded her response. “Have you talked to anybody from back home recently?”

  “Do I look like I have a phone at this place? I shun modern technology and choose to live off the land. You’re all wasting your brains, and think you’re so much better. I have only myself to answer to.” She was annoyed.

  Andrea softened her tone. They had to tell her. Her stomach twisted. They could cross Cassie off the suspect list, because she honestly had no idea that her mother was dead. “Cassie,” Andrea started. “I’m so sorry to be the one to tell you this. I thought you knew. Your mother died.”

  Cassie stared through them and then blinked. “What?”

  “She died recently. There were some odd circumstances that led the police to believe it wasn’t of natural causes.” She tried her best to be gentle with the news.

  Cassie let out a twisted, ragged laugh. “Figures somebody bumped her off. Nobody liked her. Especially my dad, oh and don’t forget my aunt, and her co-workers, and pretty much anybody who came in touch with her. When my grandparents were alive, they constantly complained to my father about her. She was hardly a warm lady.”

  Jocelyn stepped in and placed her hand on Cassie’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”

  Cassie nodded. Her body went limp, as if her bones had turned to rubber. She started to drop. Jocelyn grabbed her and pulled her near. “It’s okay,” she said quietly.

  “I loved her, even if she wasn’t perfect,” Cassie whined. “Why didn’t my father tell me? He’s probably too broken up over it all to drive.”

  Andrea didn’t have the heart to tell her he seemed to be doing just fine and was having a ball at the country club. Nothing seemed to make sense, but they’d get to the bottom of it. Their livelihood depended on it.

  After consoling Cassie for a while, they made their way back to town. They’d offered her a ride, but she wanted to be left alone. The girls didn’t say much on the drive back. The gravity of the situation struck them. Not only had Cassie’s mother died, but nobody took the time to tell her. How could that slip someone’s mind?

  “We need to go back for her. She shouldn’t be alone. She doesn’t have anyone.” The girls agreed. They turned around and went back for Cassie.

  Of all the people in the world, Cassandra Chadwick never expected Andrea Davenport or Jocelyn James, the popular girls from back in school, to be the ones that befriended her and helped her through the rough experience. She finally agreed to come back home with them.

  Chapter 5

  “I’m beat,” Andrea said pulling into the prestigious gated home of Brad and Jeanie Chadwick. She turned toward Cassie who was sitting in the back seat of her car. “Good luck.”

  Cassie got out of the car after thanking the girls for their time. She hadn’t been home in a long time. She pointed to the two police cars that shared the driveway. “I guess Daddy forgot to mention we’d have company,” she said and then headed inside.

  Jocelyn turned to Andrea. “They’re questioning him. Do you think they’ve got new evidence on him? I wonder if cops are swarming the spa again. Let’s go see if it’s clear to get in. We might find something that they overlooked.”

  Andrea sighed. “You really want to go there now? You’re not itching to get home, maybe flop on the sofa with a pint of ice cream and some soothing music?”

  “Are you kidding me, I could go all night. It’s like I’m energized! I mean, Cassie didn’t even know! I felt kind of bad about that, but why wouldn’t you tell your kid? It’s kind of an interesting turn of events, right?”

  “Fine Columbo, let’s go check the spa.” She turned out of the long driveway and headed in the general direction of the spa.

  “Columbo? Not Sherlock or Ms. Marple? What about somebody more current? I mean, hello, Columbo was eons ago – and might I point out, a man.”

  “Fine, I’m a Monk fan. Or what about Nancy Drew? Wow, I can’t even remember those, it’s been so long since I read them.” Andrea rolled with the conversation. If she didn’t keep talking, she was going to wilt. It had been a long day, and it still wasn’t over.

  The girls named a few others while driving over to the spa.

  “Hey, why do you think the police are at the Chadwick house? Do you think they’re questioning Brad or asking for more details about her life? I wish I could remember more things that she’d said in the past, but everything sort of runs together when client after client checks out.”

  “I did take note of what Cassie said,” Jocelyn said. “Something about an aunt that didn’t like her, I guess Jeanette’s sister-in-law. How do we find out about her? Is she a client? I have no idea what her name is. Add her to the list, but leave a note that we need her name still.”

  “Sounds good,” she said as she pulled up to the spa. Andrea saw a frazzled Monica standing in front of the door. “What’s she doing here?”

  “Let’s go find out.” The duo parked and walked over to their co-worker. “Hey Monica, what’s going on?”

  “I think I lost my keys. I can’t find them. I’ve been digging through my purse, and my boyfriend said I didn’t leave them on the table.
Stupid keys…” she mumbled.

  “What are you here for? Did you need something? I’ve got my keys,” Andrea said.

  She didn’t make eye contact. “It’s not important. I’ll just come another day.”

  “We’re right here. I’ll open the door for you.” She knew that they were there to snoop, not that she wanted Monica to know, but what was Monica doing trying to get inside?

  “I wanted to sneak in and not make a big ‘to do’ about it. I need to grab something out of my drawer. My spare cell phone is tucked under a few things.” She looked away sheepishly.

  “Spare phone? Like one your boyfriend doesn’t know about?” Jocelyn was all up in the gossip.

  She shrugged and squeaked, “Sort of.”

  “Come on, let’s go.” Andrea slid her key in the door. Opening the spa, she drew a deep breath. “Is this breaking and entering? We work here, but are we allowed to be here?”

  “I’ll only be a minute,” Monica answered. “What are you guys doing here, anyway?”

  Jocelyn’s palms were getting sweaty. She bit her lip and dug deep for a quick response. “I forgot something. Nothing important, but we were in the area, so we thought we’d quick run in and get it.”

  Andrea added to the conversation to distract their co-worker. “Can I ask you something? This might sound odd, but I’ve been wondering, how come most of your clients are men? They’re always guys coming and going, but most of our spa guests are usually women. Is there something going on?”

  Monica stiffened up. “What exactly are you insinuating? We’ve worked together for a long time. You know I’m not like that.”

  “Right, I don’t mean anything by it. It’s more just curiosity.” Andrea looked to Jocelyn, begging for help.

  Jocelyn joined in. “Yeah, I think it’s awesome, but how did you find so many male clients? I bet they’re better tippers.”

  “Fine, I’ll tell you my secret. My father is a swimming coach and he sends his team in to get waxed. They like the full package and some places won’t do that. I’m discreet about it, the tips are good, and you have to promise not to say anything. If word gets out I do the full ‘kit and caboodle’ I might get in trouble. In New Jersey, certain areas are off limits to wax.” She looked down; regret already washing over her face. She shouldn’t have admitted to that. It could get her fired. Not like the spa would do much business after a client was murdered there. She’d just say the word, find a new place and the swimming team would follow her.

  “Is there any truth to that, about swimmers and waxing, making them faster?” Andrea asked.

  “My dad swears by it, and his team is always tops in competitions.” She didn’t have much more to say. Monica reached into her drawer and dug through to find her phone. A loud groan rose up from her belly. “It’s gone. Do you think the police took it as evidence? I didn’t do anything. I’m not guilty. I just didn’t want my boyfriend to know I was flirting with one of the swimmers. I better get out of here. If I were you, I’d high tail it out of here as soon as you can. Who knows if anyone is watching this place,” she added for good measure.

  Andrea’s eyes popped open wide. “I better sort through my stuff and make sure nothing was touched. Go on, we won’t be far behind you.”

  That was the cue. Jocelyn waited for Monica to leave. She ran over and locked the door from the inside. This was their chance. It was now or never. If they were going to find any clues or information, they’d have to do it quickly and carefully.

  Only Monica came back. Bang. Bang. Bang. She was knocking hard at the door.

  Andrea sighed. She turned back to the door. “What is it?” she asked after opening the door.

  “What’s going on?” She squinted and eyed Andrea suspiciously. She lifted onto her toes to look over Andrea’s shoulder. “And where is Jocelyn?”

  Andrea was stuck for words. Monica waited, but when Andrea had nothing to say, Monica pushed past. “What are you guys up to?”

  “Jocelyn,” Andrea called, looking to be saved from her momentary quiet spell.

  “I think I found something-” Jocelyn stopped in her tracks on seeing Monica beside her friend.

  “What exactly did you find?” Monica quizzed.

  Andrea chimed in. “You might as well sit down. We need to talk.” They walked to the seating area of the waiting room and sat. She wasn’t sure where to start.

  This was getting weird. Monica glared at Andrea. “What’s going on? Did you guys do something? Oh my gosh, did you… Right, I should be leaving. I didn’t see anything.”

  “No, it’s not like that. We didn’t do it. We’re trying to find out who did. Some things aren’t adding up, and if this isn’t solved, the business may fold. The spa’s reputation is going to be in tatters. The only thing we know are the things we read in the police report and have heard. Let me ask you something, do you know anyone that wears clip-on earrings?” She hated to say it aloud.

  “Clip-on’s? You don’t think…Carmen wouldn’t hurt a fly…well, I don’t think she would. Wow, do you think she killed Mrs. Chadwick?” Her mind was spinning, trying to put pieces of the puzzle together.

  “No, I mean, I’m not sure. The thing is that it was found in the area where it happened. It could have fallen off at any time, not during that time, but if they struggled…I just don’t know.” Andrea said.

  Jocelyn leaned against the arm of a chair. “I need this job, and if we don’t figure this out, the spa will end up folding. I can’t afford the lack of work this week as it is. Things will get ugly fast. We’re desperate to find answers, so the case can be closed and life can go back to what we know. It’s not like there are a ton of places around here to work at, and the ones that are have staffing. We’re all going to be in trouble.”

  Monica closed her eyes. The only other person I know of that wears clip-on’s is that Olive lady. Maybe another client, but I’m pretty sure Mrs. Mackanack wears clip-ons. You know those big and gaudy fake looking jewels. Though, as much money as she’s into, they’re probably real.”

  “Wait a minute,” Andrea said. “Now that you mention her, I know who you mean. Isn’t she somehow related to Jeanie. I remember a while back, we were setting up some appointments, and she made a snide comment to make sure her appointments didn’t intersect with Mrs. Chadwick’s appointments. She didn’t want to run into her. Let me think…yes, I think she’s something like her sister-in-law, or a cousin, or something through marriage. I forget. It’s been a while since we had the conversation, and she hasn’t been in lately. Maybe we need to go talk with her. ”

  Jocelyn placed her hands on her hips, growing excited at the thought of another potential suspect. She leaned forward, her eyes bright. “There’s a possibility. I can’t imagine our Carmen doing something violent like this. Maybe that’s our answer!”

  Monica looked away. Something was going on.

  Andrea noticed the change in her body language. “Monica, what is it?”

  She hesitated, and then sighed. “Fine, but you didn’t hear it from me. Last time Mrs. Chadwick was in, she made this snide comment to Carmen. Usually, she takes in in stride, only this time Carmen whispered under her breath about how much she hated the woman. She goes ‘one of these days I’m going to snap’ and then slid her finger over her throat, joking around. At least I took it as a joke.”

  “Holy cow,” Jocelyn said. “That’s big, so she made a threat, even if it came off as a joke. Now, Mrs. Chadwick turns up dead. Did you tell that to the police?”

  “Oh, gosh, no, she didn’t mean it. She was joking. If I said something like that, they’d take it seriously. She’s not like that. You know Carmen; she’s a sweetheart, not a killer. She made a silly face after she said it. She was letting out her frustration. I understood it was an expression.” Monica froze. What if it wasn’t a joke?

  “I wonder what happened to your key,” Andrea mentioned. “Kind of weird that you’ve had it all this time and you lose it now? Where do you usually keep it?”


  Monica shook her head. Somehow Andrea was back onto her key situation. “My key, I don’t know, I just toss it in my purse. It’s on its own key ring. Why does that matter?”

  “What if somebody took it? When was the last time you used it? Do you remember the last time you saw it?” she quizzed.

  “I usually don’t. You’re here before me and the door is unlocked. I haven’t locked up in ages.” Monica shrugged. She squinted and scrunched up her nose. “I probably saw it last week. I was switching wallets and purses. I got this great deal at the store and a cute matching set. So, I know it was there when I moved everything over.”

  “And what have you done since that time? Did you go anywhere besides work or home?” Andrea was on a roll, hoping it might give them a possibility.

  “Now that you mention it, I did go out to the bar with my boyfriend this week. But, that’s about all I did. He’d had a rough day, so we went up to Rosetti’s for a pitcher of beer and nachos. Otherwise, things have been pretty quiet.”

  Jocelyn looked toward Andrea. They both knew where they’d be heading next. They wrapped up their conversation and left together. They were afraid to stay at the spa much longer, anyway. They could get in big trouble for being there.

  Monica pulled out of the parking lot to head home. Andrea and Jocelyn needed to make a pit stop first, before heading home.

  Chapter 6

  Rosetti’s was on the other side of town. Andrea closed her eyes and cautiously asked, “Do we really want to do this? Maybe we should go tomorrow. It’s been a long day.”

  “We can wait another day, but the sooner we get there, the sooner somebody might remember if anything stood out to them,” Jocelyn said.

  “You’re right,” she answered. “I’m going to sleep like the dead tonight; oh, no offense, Mrs. Chadwick.”

  Pulling into the parking lot after driving across town, the girls started inside. Jocelyn saw a stray cat the owner seemed to have been feeding with a small bowl placed on the ground not far from the building. “Hey kitty,” she said and reached down to pat the cat. Jocelyn stiffened. She turned to Andrea. “It said ‘good luck’ but he doesn’t know anything.”