by Cindy Bell
The factory was located two towns over. It took Bekki about an hour to reach it because the traffic was thick. When she arrived at the factory she noticed that there were several cars in the employee parking lot. It was business as usual despite the fact that one of the owners of the company had been found dead the day before. As she walked up to the office she heard a voice coming from inside.
“Just keep producing,” she heard a stern, cold voice state. “There's no reason for a slow down.”
“Sir, the employees are a little afraid,” another voice rumbled in return. “They've heard about Brad's death and they know it wasn't an accident.”
“And so what if it wasn't?” Steven demanded in return. “What does that have to do with production?”
“Well, I guess they're afraid one of them might be next,” the other man, who Bekki guessed was likely the foreman, replied.
“That's ridiculous,” Steven sighed. What he said next made Bekki cringe from the callousness of his words. “Tell them, they can either risk getting murdered or risk getting fired, because I have plenty of men chomping at the bit for these jobs. I won't tolerate any slacking off. If anyone doesn't show up for work, they're automatically fired. This is nonsense.”
“And what about the funeral, sir?” the foreman asked.
“What about it?” Steven snapped back. “It's for family only. I don't think any of them are related, are they?”
“No sir,” the foreman replied. As the door of the office opened Bekki stepped back and pretended she was just walking up. “Excuse me, ma'am,” the burly foreman murmured as he moved past her. She could tell from the frown he wore that he didn't agree with Steven's responses, but she only smiled as if she hadn't heard a word.
“Bekki,” Steven said as he stepped into the doorway. “What are you doing here?” he settled his icy blue gaze on her. Bekki noticed his arrogant manner. It was one of the first things she noticed about him. His brother Brad had been friendly enough and was quick to smile. But Steven had a look that made her wonder if there was something stuck in her teeth.
“I just wanted to offer you my condolences,” Bekki explained sympathetically. “I know I could have called, but it seemed to be more appropriate to come in person.”
“Thank you,” he replied grimly. “But I'm actually very busy.”
“I noticed that you're still open for business,” Bekki said softly. “How are you handling all of this?”
“If you're worried about your next delivery you will get it on time,” Steven responded gruffly.
“Oh no, not at all,” Bekki narrowed her eyes sightly as she noticed one of his pens in his front pocket. “Oh, that reminds me!” she muttered with frustration.
“What?” Steven asked inquisitively.
“When I was going through my order, I found one of your pens in one of the boxes. I meant to bring it back to you,” Bekki sighed as if she was disappointed in herself.
“I'm sure it wasn't mine,” Steven said quickly.
“I'm sure it was,” Bekki countered, her voice hardening slightly.
“Excuse me?” Steven asked the tension growing thick between them.
“I mean, it had your name on it,” Bekki clarified and smiled to ease the scrutiny of her gaze. “At least, your initials,” she pointed to the pen in his pocket.
“Oh,” Steven blinked a few times and then shrugged. “I often lend them to the customers and employees. One of the employees must have accidentally dropped it in there.”
“I'm sure,” Bekki nodded a little. “So, do you think Brad was involved in something he shouldn't have been,” Bekki continued in a conspiratorial whisper.
“I'm sorry?” Steven glared openly at her. “What are you implying?”
“Well, I was just wondering if maybe he had some enemies, or some debt, that might have come back to haunt him,” Bekki explained with a slight shrug.
“Listen Bekki, I appreciate your business,” Steven said sternly as he held her gaze with his own. “But I'm not about to discuss my brother's personal life with you. This isn't some murder mystery on television, my brother is dead, and I am grieving his loss.”
Bekki glanced over at a forklift that was driving a stack of boxes through the warehouse.
“I can see that,” she said quietly before looking back at him. “I'll be sure to get that pen back to you.”
“Keep it,” Steven waved his hand dismissively. “I really do need to get back to work,” he added as he started to step back into his office.
“Of course,” Bekki nodded. “But don't overdo it, Steven. You have to have time to heal,” she added. He glanced back over his shoulder and Bekki caught a glimpse of a shadow of emotion that crossed his features. She instantly regretted the way she had been toying with him. He had lost his brother after all, and if they had been in business together for so long, they must have been fairly close. As she walked away from the factory she wondered if she was wrong to suspect that Steven knew more than he was sharing.
***
Bekki's mind was spinning after her conversation with Steven. Even though he claimed to be so close to his brother, he didn't seem to be terribly devastated by his loss. The traffic was lighter on the way home, and she made it back into town just in time to meet Sammy for lunch.
“Hey, I saw the salon was closed,” Sammy greeted her with a frown when she walked into the diner. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes,” Bekki smiled as she hugged her friend and then sat down in the booth across from her. “I just wanted to check on something.”
“Uh oh, getting involved in Brad's death, hmm?” Sammy asked as she took a sip of her soda.
“Not involved exactly,” Bekki argued with a touch of defensiveness.
“Well, don't look now if you don't want to get involved,” Sammy replied and tilted her head towards the entrance of the diner. “But Tom just walked in.”
Bekki looked up to see Tom walking towards the diner counter. She could tell from the way he was carrying himself that he was still a little shocked. She had heard from Nick that Tom was going to be released that morning on bail. She was glad to see that he was out, but she knew that didn't mean he was out of the woods.
“Tom!” she waved to him and gestured to their table. Sammy was surprised that Bekki was inviting him over but she slid in further on the vinyl seat of the booth so that Tom could sit beside her.
“Hi,” Tom said quietly and kept his gaze lowered.
“How are you doing, Tom?” Bekki asked hesitantly. Tom glanced up briefly, only to look back down at the table again. His thin cheeks were burnt crimson.
“I didn't do what they say I did, Bekki,” Tom murmured. “I swear I didn't.”
“I know you didn't,” Bekki assured him and patted the back of his hand lightly. “Don't worry. Tom, we'll get all of this straightened out.”
“I'm not sure how,” Tom confessed as he stared at the table. “I am not sure there is a way to prove my innocence.”
“It's your guilt that has to be proven,” Bekki said with confidence in her voice. “Now, tell me again what happened yesterday morning.”
“Well I,” Tom swallowed thickly and glanced up briefly at the waitress who brought the three of them glasses of ice water. Sammy was quietly observing the conversation. “I loaded the truck the night before like usual. Steven's supposed to check off the contents before I start the deliveries, but I needed to finish early. I had a doctor's appointment,” he explained with a slight shake of his head. “So, when he didn't show by seven thirty, I decided to just start the deliveries. I've done it before,” he added with a frown. “Brad and Steven never minded, they trusted me,” his voice broke slightly. “Just thinking that Steven might think I had something to do with this,” he groaned and ran his hand across his forehead with frustration. “I didn't. I swear I didn't.”
“It's going to be okay,” Bekki assured him. “So you were waiting for Steven yesterday morning? Was he usually late?”
“Tha
t was the strange thing,” Tom admitted. “He was never late. Sometimes Brad would be running behind, he had a thing with the ladies, so once in a while he would text me and tell me to go ahead with the delivery. But Steven was always right on time no matter what. He expected the same from his employees, too. He fired four drivers in a row before me because they were a few minutes late for their shift.”
Bekki grimaced as she recalled the callous threat he had made to the foreman about firing anyone who didn't show up for work.
“Had you noticed Steven and Brad having any problems lately?” Bekki asked as she looked more closely at Tom. “Anyone strange showing up at the factory?”
Tom was obviously uncomfortable as he tore at the edge of his napkin until it frayed.
“All I know is, they weren't exactly like brothers, you know,” he stated as he looked guiltily up at Bekki. “I mean, I don't want to talk out of turn, but even though they both owned the company, it was never like they were equals. When Steven barked Brad jumped, and Steven had the final say in all of the big decisions.”
“So, they argued a lot?” Bekki suggested curiously.
“No, just the opposite,” Tom insisted. “Brad seemed happier to just deal with the day-to-day stuff with the employees. He just wasn't really the businessman type.”
“Not like Steven,” Bekki shook her head.
“Definitely, not like Steven,” Tom laughed a little. “Steven can talk anyone out of their last penny. I remember once I had a dispute about one of my pay checks. I went into his office to straighten it out and came out offering to work a few extra hours for free. I still have no idea how that happened.”
“Interesting,” Bekki said quietly. “Order anything you like, Tom, it's on me,” she smiled at him. Her phone beeped as the waitress was taking their order. She glanced down at it and saw a text from Nick.
'Outside please' was all it said.
Bekki glanced up at the large glass window of the diner. She saw Nick standing just beside the entrance. Bekki frowned as she excused herself from the table. When she met Nick outside he didn't look too pleased.
“Is there a particular reason you and Sammy are having lunch with a murder suspect?” he asked as he regarded her with slightly narrowed eyes.
“I told you Nick,” Bekki replied with some surprise. “We're old friends.”
“Right, which is fine, but he's also our prime suspect in Brad's death, and you could be a witness. It's not a good idea to be sharing a table with him,” Nick frowned as he shoved his hands into his pockets. “Besides, I know what you're up to. I spoke with Steven this morning and he said you'd been out to see him.”
“Just to talk business,” Bekki began to say and then shook her head. “All right, the truth is, I just wanted to see him. After finding that pen I had a pretty strong hunch. I think Tom just confirmed it. Did you know that Steven was the one who was supposed to check off the deliveries yesterday morning? When he was late, Tom left without seeing him.”
“So, you're thinking that Steven killed his own brother and stashed him in the back of the truck?” Nick asked in that cool tone that always left her feeling as if he knew a lot more than he was sharing.
“Well, it makes sense doesn't it?” Bekki asked. “We found his pen in the box. He had access to the trucks after hours, and even though he's never late, he didn't show up that morning to look through the truck. If he had, then they would have seen Brad's body before Tom drove off.”
“It would,” Nick agreed with a sigh. “If Steven didn't have an alibi.”
“You already checked?” Bekki asked with surprise.
“Well, it is kind of my job,” he reminded her with a sly smile.
“Good point,” Bekki smiled and then glanced back over her shoulder into the diner. Tom was finishing up his food and nervously glancing in Nick's direction. “Are you sure it's valid?” she asked as she looked back at Nick.
“Well, he was at Doug’s,” Nick shrugged a little. “You know the bar owned by Doug Matthews.”
“Sure,” Bekki nodded as she recalled the bar. Doug Matthews had been one of her teachers in high school. “And Doug saw him there?”
“Yes, he said Steven was in there last night. It was a little busy,” he added. “They had a special. But he clearly remembers Steven being there.”
“Hmm,” Bekki frowned thoughtfully. “Well, I guess my hunch was wrong,” she sighed and shook her head with slight embarrassment. “Maybe I should leave the detective work to you.”
“Bekki, if there's one thing I've learned about you,” he said with a slight quirk of a brow, and his arm snaking around her waist. “It's that you're never wrong,” he pushed her long, dark, wavy hair off her face with his free hand and kissed her lightly on her lips as she smiled broadly.
“Why Nick, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were flirting with me,” she narrowed her blue eyes slightly. “You do realize that I'm a married woman, don't you?”
“I do,” he drawled in return and stole another kiss before sighing. “All right, I've got to get going before I get completely distracted.”
“Can't have that,” Bekki winked at him. Then she paused and smiled. “I'll see you at home.”
“See you there,” he nodded and they both savored the sweetness of being able to say that to one another.
***
When Bekki returned to the booth where Sammy and Tom were taking the last bites of their food, she sank down across from Tom.
“What did Nick want?” Tom asked with a suspicious glance.
“He was just checking in with me,” Bekki replied with a hesitant smile. She didn't have the heart to tell Tom that he was still the prime suspect.
Bekki felt like she was back at zero, since she had been pinning all of her suspicions on Steven. If it wasn't Steven, and she was sure it wasn't Tom, then it could have been any number of employees that worked at the factory. Or even someone that knew Brad outside of work. She had to find out more about Brad, but she knew Steven wasn't going to share much with her. It struck her that he probably didn't share much with anyone. But the thing about some men who were so tight-lipped and straight-laced, was that a little bit of alcohol could really loosen them up. If it was true that Steven had been at the bar, then maybe he had been confiding in the bartender, or someone else who was there. It was a long shot, but it was the only one she could think of.
“Don't worry, Tom,” she said as she paid the bill. “All of this will be straightened out soon.”
“I hope so,” Tom muttered as he stood up from the table. “I think you're about the only ones in town that would dare share lunch with me.”
“Anytime, Tom,” Bekki said firmly. She remembered what Nick had said about dining with murder suspects, but having been one herself in the past, she understood what it was like to be under suspicion of a crime while innocent. She didn't wish that feeling on anyone.
“Yes, anytime,” Sammy said and nodded in agreement.
“Thanks,” Tom replied and then walked out of the diner with his head hanging low.
Bekki presumed that on his salary he couldn't afford a lawyer. He would have a court-appointed one who might look at the circumstantial evidence against Tom and encourage him to take a deal. Bekki couldn't let him sit in jail for years just because he was doing his job.
“Sammy, what do you say about grabbing a drink tonight?” Bekki suggested as she and her friend walked out of the diner.
“Really?” Sammy asked with surprise. Since Bekki had been back in town she hadn't often gone out for a night of fun, at least not with Sammy. “I think that's a great idea. Do you mind if I invite Morris?” she asked.
“Perfect,” Bekki nodded. “I'll text Nick and ask him to come along.
“Sure,” Sammy smiled. Bekki texted Nick and then drove back to the salon. She had it shut down for most of the morning so it was time to get caught up with some customers.
Chapter Three
Bekki still felt a twinge of anxiety pulling
into the salon’s parking lot. As she parked and walked up to the salon she noticed that there was still some yellow police tape stuck to the gate that led to the storage area behind the store. She walked over to it and snagged it off the gate. As she did she caught sight of someone staring at her. Her blood ran cold as she felt the strange sensation of knowing that a stranger was looking directly at her. He was a tall, thin man, thin enough to be called wiry. He wore a light blue hoodie but it didn't hide his face. He was staring at Bekki with a mixture of anger and annoyance.
“Can I help you?” Bekki asked, her voice sounding stronger than she felt.
“I'm just wondering if you knew him,” he said as he walked towards her. Bekki took a slight step closer to the door of the salon. She had never seen him before which was unusual in her small town.
“Who?” Bekki asked as politely as she could.
“Brad Zane, the guy that was in the back of that truck,” he explained as he paused a few feet away from her.
“Are you a friend of his?” Bekki asked and narrowed her eyes.
“Not exactly,” he replied. Then he reached into the large front pocket on his hoodie. Bekki braced herself as she expected him to withdraw a weapon. Instead the black mechanism he brandished was nothing more than a camera. “I'm a reporter,” he explained and smiled a little. “Sorry if I scared you. It's just Brad Zane's death has made a bit of a splash in the business world. There were a few big names in the fight.”
Bekki sighed with relief that he was a reporter and not just someone hanging around a crime scene. “What fight?” she asked as she studied him.
