A chill ran through Marlene. Was her sneaking suspicion right? Could the mayor have had Gwen killed to cover up all the dirty favors they’d traded?
Gant wouldn’t have done the deed himself. No. And he wouldn’t have ordered anyone close to him to do it, either. Not because he cared deeply about others, but out of self-preservation.
Gant probably would have called in help. Of the professional variety.
“Did it start out as intimidation?” Marlene asked.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“I don’t have the foggiest idea what you’re talking about.”
Maybe Gant had hired somebody to scare Gwen into staying quiet. Maybe Gant was hoping just the threat of violence would work. And if not, then maybe the mayor had okayed her murder …
The mayor offered a wicked grin. “I have to say, I respect your loyalty to Artie Ryan right now, right when he’s going through a very difficult ordeal. But you are not to interfere with a police investigation.”
“I’m a private citizen and there’s no law preventing me from looking into Gwen’s murder.”
“You’re right.” He was still grinning. “There’s no law.”
Her blood ran cold. The man had been careful with his words, but there was no mistaking his meaning. If she crossed him, he would ruin her. One way or another.
Gant stood. “Marlene, I can tell you’re very upset right now. And why shouldn’t you be? You just found out your friend is a murderer. Perhaps he’s more than a friend? And here you were, getting ready to help him run a campaign against me probably.” He shook his head with mock sympathy. “That would have been quite an opportunity for you. I’m sure it would have helped your business.”
Marlene stayed seated and looked into his hard eyes. “If you had Gwen killed, I will find out.”
He winked at her. “Marlene, you’ve got quite an imagination. I’m a civil servant, not a gangster.”
“Sometimes I can’t tell.”
He turned and left.
Twenty-Six
Marlene needed a few minutes to calm down after the mayor left. But she didn’t get it.
Somebody knocked on the door and opened it a second later. Then a woman’s voice: “Hello?”
She got up and stepped out of her office to find a youngish woman, about twenty-three and very put together and pretty, standing in the waiting area.
“Can I help you?”
“Are you Marlene?” the young woman asked.
“Yes. And you are?”
“Emily.” She put her hand out. “I work for Terry.”
Marlene shook her hand and Emily reached into her designer handbag and handed over a DVD in a paper wrapper. “Here’s the footage from the security cameras across the street. Terry said you needed it.”
Marlene smiled. “Yes, thank you. I’ll have to watch it at home. My computer doesn’t play DVDs, that’s how old and cheap it is.”
Emily laughed hysterically, like Marlene was kidding. But then she realized Marlene was serious. “Oh. Oh. Yes. I think my grandmom’s computer is the same way.”
Marlene took the DVD. “How’s it going? Can Terrence at least get Artie bail?”
“That’s so funny,” Emily said. “You calling him Terrence. He hates that. He forces us all to call him Terry, like we’re all good friends.”
Marlene nodded and smiled, but she really wasn’t interested in how Terrence or Terry managed his staff.
Emily zipped up her handbag. “There’s a bail hearing set for tomorrow morning, but Terry thinks it’s a loser.”
“Why?”
Emily gave her a look like she was a complete idiot. “It’s a murder charge, Artie is a local guy with a lot of friends, and he has a lot of friends all over the country. All over the world, actually. His parents live in Florida. He’s a serious flight risk.”
“Oh.”
Emily frowned. “I’m sorry, but I have to ask: why did Artie tell Terry to put you on the team?”
Marlene wanted to clock her. But then again, Emily didn’t even realize she was being rude. “Because I’m going to help. And might I ask what your role is?”
“I’m in law school. Someday I’m going to be an attorney just like Terry.” She put her fists up and threw a few jabs. “You know, fighting the good fight.”
Marlene thought there were already enough lawyers on the planet, but she kept that to herself.
***
Marlene zipped home and invited Cromwell inside. Jesse met them at the door.
“Did you bring me my food?” the dog asked.
“Oh, shoot! I totally forgot. I’m sorry, Jesse. I’ll have to get it later.”
Jesse wagged his tail and played it off. “Don’t worry about it.”
Cromwell waited till Jesse was at minimum safe distance, then the owl stepped inside. They talked about the case. Marlene opened the windows and fired up the DVD player. She slipped the disc inside the machine and was about to hit PLAY when somebody knocked at her door.
Jesse tilted his head. “It’s a man.”
“You can tell that?” Marlene asked.
Cromwell snorted. “Well, he has a fifty-fifty chance of being right.”
“It’s not the Dark One?” Marlene asked.
“No,” they both said at the same time. Cromwell gave Jesse a disapproving look. Both animals were trying to establish their dominance in the pecking order still.
“I’m going to see who it is,” Marlene said.
Cromwell took that as his cue to take wing and go out through the window, but not before Jesse gave him a somewhat triumphant wag of the tail. The dog’s way of saying: you have to go outside, but I get to stay in here.
Great. Just what Marlene needed right now. Her dog and owl bickering like young siblings.
Marlene looked through the keyhole and was absolutely shocked.
Bob Balin was at her doorstep.
She opened the door. “Bob? It’s good to see you.”
“Hi, Marlene.” His smile was forced and could not hide the fact he was a nervous wreck. “Do you mind if I come in?”
Marlene opened the door wide. “Sure.”
Bob checked the place out as he stepped in. Jesse approached and stopped short. The dog’s hair stood on end and he actually started growling.
Bob jumped back and plastered his back against the wall. “Keep that dog away from me!”
Marlene quickly got between them. “Easy, Jesse. Easy.”
The dog stopped growling.
Marlene gave Bob an apologetic smile. “Sorry. I just rescued him, so we’re still getting to know each other.”
Jesse had stopped growling, but his hair was still sticking up. He really did not like Bob.
“Come on, boy, let’s go outside.”
Marlene led Jesse to the back door and let him out. The dog went—reluctantly.
Bob had followed her into the living room. “I’m sorry to drop by like this. I tried your office first, but you weren’t there.”
Marlene pointed at the love seat. “Please, sit down. Can I get you something to drink?”
He held out a palm. “I’m fine. And I’ll stand. I don’t want to take up too much of your time.”
“What can I do for you?”
“I wanted to apologize for the other day. A lot of bad things happened, but you had no way of knowing they would. You were just trying to do your best.”
She was surprised by his apology. “Oh, Bob, I should be the one apologizing. My advice of late has not been good. And like you said, a lot of bad things happened all at once for you. That must be incredibly difficult to manage.”
“It is. It really is.” He nodded. “And, I wanted to thank you for stepping in at the pizza shop. I … I’m so embarrassed by how I acted. It’s like I can’t control my anger anymore with everything going on.”
“I was glad I could finally help you with something.” Marlene smiled. “After giving you all that bad advice. So how are things?”
He shook his head. “Just as bad. No, worse. The job I lost is the only place I’ve ever worked, so I can’t use anybody as a reference there …”
“I’m so sorry.”
“I went in and just flipped out. I made such a huge scene, you wouldn’t believe it.”
“I don’t blame you.”
“Well, it was moronic.” He shook his head again. “That’s what I’ve been doing recently, just flying off the handle and doing stupid stuff like that. I’ve never had a temper like this before. It’s like I’ve got no fuse left.”
“How can I help?” Marlene asked.
“I, uh, think I was … look, I want to hire you back,” he said. “I’m going to need your help right now.”
“Oh, Bob.” Marlene was very happy he wanted to give her a second chance, but right now was not a great time. There was just so much going on, and Bob needed a lot of help. Marlene thought he needed to speak with a counselor or see a psychiatrist.
But at the same time, she owed Bob. Though she couldn’t have anticipated all the bad things that would happen to him following her advice, she did feel responsible.
“Tell you what, Bob.” Marlene thought about it. “The next three months are on me.”
“Really?” His face lit up.
“Yep.” She stuck her hand out. “Deal?”
“Deal.”
He shook her hand, and when their palms met, she got lightheaded again. Another weak vision came to her. She was sitting in the passenger seat of Bob’s car as he drove past her office. The vision was blurry, but she could just make out the vague shape of a car parked in front of her office. When Bob passed, the vision faded and she came back to the present moment.
When she took her hand away, the dizzy spell faded but did not go away.
“Hey, are you okay?” Bob asked.
“I’m fine.” She got her bearings. “I’m okay.”
“You scared me for a second.” He smiled. It was the first time she’d seen him smile. “Hey, I wanted to ask you about Artie Ryan.”
“What about him?” God, she was still lightheaded. She stuttered over to the couch and plopped down.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Bob asked.
“I’m fine, really.”
Bob looked her over, very concerned. “Do you think Artie killed Gwen?”
“No. Absolutely not.”
Bob was started by her answer. “Why not?”
“He’s not a killer.”
“He was Special Forces and served in the Middle East.”
Marlene couldn’t control her temper. “That doesn’t make him a cold-blooded killer, Bob.”
“You’re right, you’re right. But the police must think he did it.”
Well, yeah. Obviously. “They’ve got the wrong guy. I’m sure of it.”
“Okay. If you don’t think Artie did it, who do you think did?”
“Somebody else,” she said, vaguely.
“I heard they had a kid together, and she gave it up without telling him.”
“Yeah, well, that doesn’t mean he killed her.”
“Honestly, I can’t think of anybody else that would want to kill Gwen. She was a bit out there and opinionated and absent-minded. But still …”
Bob smiled sadly.
Marlene nodded. “I liked Gwen, but she was kind of flighty.”
“It’s terrible what happened to her. She had all the talent in the world.”
Marlene sat up a little bit, now that the dizziness was gone. “She certainly had a lot, yes.”
Outside, Jesse scratched at the back door. Bob grew nervous.
“I’ve taken up too much of your time,” Bob said. “Can we meet tomorrow?”
Marlene thought about her schedule. She really needed to help Artie but at the same time she could squeeze Bob Balin in for thirty minutes. It was the least she could do. The guy had literally just lost everything.
“Can you meet me at my office?” Marlene asked.
“Now that I don’t have a job, my schedule is flexible.”
She smiled sympathetically. “How about ten o’clock?”
“Sounds good.”
They said their goodbyes, and Bob showed himself out. Marlene felt a little better now that she was life coaching Bob again. It gave her a chance to help him out when he desperately needed it.
Cromwell flew back in and Jesse settled by her feet as she watched the DVD. “Okay, guys, keep an eye out for anything strange.”
“Like what?” Jesse asked.
“Anything that would indicate the footage has been tampered with.”
“Watching TV gives me a headache.” Jesse put his paws over his head. “Sorry, Marlene, but you guys are on your own.”
Cromwell hopped up and perched next to her shoulder on the couch. It was a little weird having a wild animal this close to her head.
“I’m not going to peck your eyes out,” Cromwell said.
“I know.” Marlene tried to play her discomfort off. “I’m still weird from almost fainting. Sometimes when I touch people, I have visions. Is that normal?”
Cromwell nodded. “What did you see?”
“Nothing. It was just Bob driving past my office today. Somebody else was there, too, trying to give me business. There goes that potential client also.”
“Hopefully your abilities improve and will someday prove useful,” Cromwell said.
“That’s enough out of you, Cromwell.” Marlene closed her eyes and kneaded her forehead. “I have a lot going on right now.”
“I think it’s because you’re a woman,” the owl said.
“What does her being a woman have to do with anything?” Jesse jumped up, instantly coming to her defense.
“You wouldn’t know, would you?” Cromwell said with an air of superiority.
Marlene didn’t care for the woman-bashing, but she just couldn’t listen to them bickering. “Guys! Enough! Let’s just watch the footage. Remember, we’re looking for any signs of tampering.”
“If you’re looking for the Dark One, he won’t show up on this.”
Marlene looked at him. “What?”
“His power causes disturbances across the electromagnetic spectrum. Yours will too, someday, assuming you improve your—”
Jesse growled and Cromwell shut up.
“So if there’s a …” Marlene grabbed the DVD remote and advanced it to where Gwen came into the store. “Watch.”
They watched the footage for a few minutes. When Gwen started to leave, Marlene said:
“Right here. Watch her outside the store.”
Again, the footage jumped while this was happening and they watched as Gwen had a conversation with someone not in the picture.
Cromwell flapped a wing, accidentally brushing Marlene’s hair in the process. “Oh yes. That’s him. The Dark One.”
Marlene pursed her lips. “Are you sure?”
Cromwell swooped over to the TV and pointed with his wing at the weird graininess of the picture right next to Gwen. “Here. He would cause this to happen.”
“You’re sure?”
“I just answered that.”
“If he affected the tape …” Marlene thought about it. “Would it mess everything up?”
“What do you mean?”
What did she mean? She was pulling on random strings of ideas right now. “Could he have messed up the tape to the point where it looked like Tom Gelder never left the register?”
“It is possible,” Cromwell said.
Marlene nodded. The Dark One’s influence on the security footage could have hidden his—and Tom’s—involvement in Gwen’s murder.
She ran through the facts again.
Gwen had talked to the Dark One that morning. Then she had hurried away across the street. And because the Dark One never came into Tom’s store and didn’t show up on the footage, of course Bors would think he didn’t exist. But there was enough here for Marlene to point out to the detective.
The f
ootage clearly showed Gwen having an animated conversation with someone then hurrying away, like the discussion hadn’t been very friendly. And, whoever she was talking to, that person had come from the direction opposite Artie’s office.
Two people could have wanted Gwen dead.
The Mayor, who had sent the Dark One to intimidate her.
Tom Gelder, who would have wanted to get back at her for ruining his daughter’s acting career.
Of the two, the mayor seemed the more likely candidate to her.
But just pointing out the strangeness on the footage alone wouldn’t be enough to get Bors to drop the charges against Artie. At most, it would create a teeny, tiny bit of doubt about the credibility of the footage.
Marlene could tell Bors the Dark One was present that morning, but she couldn’t prove it. He didn’t appear on the footage. To get Bors to believe he was there, Marlene first had to prove the Dark One’s existence.
“Can I fix the tape?” Marlene asked. “With my own … powers?”
Cromwell shook his head no. “The Dark One’s power must be negated. There is only one way to do that.”
Marlene gulped. “Which is?”
Cromwell didn’t answer for a moment. “He must be killed. Then his power will be no more, and the footage will appear true.”
Twenty-Seven
“This sounds dangerous,” Jesse said.
“It’s very dangerous,” Cromwell said, matter-of-factly. “But the Merlin doesn’t hide away, never taking risks. The Merlin is brave and is willing to risk his life.”
“Her life,” Marlene said, exhausted by the endless chauvinism from the owl. Cromwell was trying to be helpful, but couldn’t keep his outdated attitudes to himself.
“Sorry.” The owl looked down. “I meant her.”
“That’s better,” Jesse said.
“Look, let’s focus on what’s important. We have to find the Dark One and bring him to Bors.”
“What good will that do?” Jesse asked. “Even if you arrest him, he’ll just turn into a bat and fly away or something.”
Cromwell reluctantly agreed. “The dog is right. Arresting him won’t help. You have to kill him.”
Marlene shook her head again. “I am not going to kill anybody. And besides, killing him doesn’t help. I need to prove he was there that morning and that he killed Gwen. If I kill him, what does that do for us? I need to clear Artie.”
The Once and Future Scream Queen: Marlene Ambrosia Mysteries Page 19
