My curiosity got the best of me. “How did you locate him? He wasn’t using his own name. I checked. I had to drive around and show a picture.” I shot a glance at Farlow hoping he hadn’t noticed me confess to snooping. Fortunately, his attention focused on Rosemary.
She continued. “He always used the name Bob Smith when traveling incognito, so I called a few places until I found him. It was easy. Not many spots to hide in this town.”
Sage took up the story. “There was only one thing we could do. We got in the car and drove here. He was surprised to see us when we showed up at his room that night. Of course he played innocent and denied everything, but we had the proof. Why would he have those photos if she wasn’t his girlfriend?”
Ophelia put both hands over her face. “I can’t believe it.”
Her son glanced at her and continued. “Finally, he confessed his infatuation with the real estate woman. He even said he planned to convince her to go away with him.”
Sage gave up fanning his mother and took a chair beside Rosemary. “I guess the Lane woman had turned him down. But he insisted he’d never give up, since she was the only woman he could love.”
At that point, there was a loud sob from Ophelia, and Rosemary put her arm around her. “Sorry Mom.”
Ophelia patted Rosemary’s hand. “It’s okay, dear. I suppose it was mid-life crisis.”
Rosemary resumed scowling at Clair. “We tried to convince him to come home, but he said he’d found his dream girl. You can imagine, about that time I was getting really mad.”
Rosemary twisted to face her mother. “I couldn’t stand it any longer. Tried to control my temper like you taught me. I even went to the mini-fridge to get some water to cool down. And there it was.”
Officer Farlow flipped a page in his notebook and leaned in. “There what was?”
“A roll of cookie dough—frozen solid. Father never noticed it in my hand. He kept on ranting about that skinny hussy.”
Rosemary stared at the far wall as she recounted the assault. “I went crazy and clobbered him with the dough. Once I got into the swing of things, I kept it up until he fell down. But he got up again and crawled on to the bed.”
She lifted a shoulder. “I couldn’t believe he was still declaring his love for Clair Lane, so I hit him a few more times. Then he shut up.”
Sage gripped the arms of the chair. “You see, officer, it was obvious I couldn’t help him. It was too late. He quit moving and we both knew he was dead. That pretty much shocked my sister into her right mind.”
Rosemary nodded. “It did.”
Sage continued. “We sat in the room for a while and discussed the pros and cons of calling the police. In the end, we decided we should dispose of his body. We wouldn’t want mother to see him in the condition he was in. So we wrapped him up in the blanket, carried him out, and put him in the trunk of his rental car. I drove it and Sis followed.”
Farlow scribbled in his notebook. “So, he’s in the car. Then what?”
Rosemary shrugged. “I’d told Sage to find a dumpster that was easy to get to, but to make sure it wasn’t out in the open. When he found one, we had a terrible time getting father’s body out of the trunk.” She slowly shook her head. “Talk about dead weight.”
Sage rolled his eyes and nodded.
Rosemary continued. “Finally, we did and managed to put it in the dumpster. We found a spot to leave our father’s car, and went back to clean up the room. Packed up all his things and drove back home that same night.”
Having finished her statement, Rosemary relaxed into her chair. “Man, it’s been a long day. Do you have an espresso?”
Chapter Twenty-One
M y to-do list was empty. I could find nothing to worry about. The sun warmed my face and the birds sang. I walked into town, leaving the Chrysler at home. My only goal for the day was to stop at Ava’s for a quick cup of her new coffee drink, the Tranquil Toddy. I loved the name. It filled me with pleasant expectations.
Reaching for the Java’s front door, I recognized Anita peering out at me through the glass. She pushed it open, juggling two carry out cups and small white paper bag. With a little shriek, my friend indicated that we should step to the side to chat.
Anita steadied a cup with her chin. “Hey, girlfriend. What have you been doing these last few days? I’ve been trying to catch up on cleaning at home. Working at the Java during the festival wore me out.”
“The same for me. Except I didn’t work during the festival and I haven’t been cleaning my house.” I shrugged. “But the craziness in the food alley was more stress than I needed. And then going with Clair to the police station. Don’t get me wrong, catching the killer was exhilarating. But I’m ready for peace and relaxation.”
Anita resettled the items she carried. “I’m disappointed I missed the fun. Really wish I’d been there to hear the confession. I could have written ‘Case closed by the Women’s Detective Agency.’ in my notebook. We can still use it for publicity, when we decide to take on another case.”
“No! I’m getting too old for crime fighting and I think I can say the same for Clair. She’s been holed up in her house for the last three days, resting. And you know she never stays home.”
Anita blew out a breath. “You girls are just acting old. We’re only in our forties. Anyway, I’m glad I ran into you. We should make a date for coffee, soon.”
“Gosh. We haven’t talked for a while. You know, I never even heard who won the Marshmallow Festival Cook-off. I guessed it wasn’t Ava, since there’s no sign in the window. Was it Carl from Burgers ‘N Bean Sprouts? Please tell me he didn’t.”
Anita shook her head. “Nope. It wasn’t Carl, and I heard he was fit to be tied. He’d been counting on his buddy, the mayor, to give him the prize.”
“I shouldn’t be thinking negative thoughts about him. Rarity would shake her finger at me. I’m sure he’s a nice guy, but I don’t ever want to see the Vegi-Mallow.” My mouth puckered thinking about it. “So, who won?”
“Funniest thing. It was Marci Johnson.” At my quizzical look, she continued. “She has that little cake shop on Short Street. She entered a custom made smores and created everything from scratch—marshmallow, graham cracker, and chocolate bar. We’ll have to go over there some time and try one.”
Anita edged toward the street. “Right now, I gotta run. I promised Jake I’d bring him coffee and Killer Marshmallow Fudge Brownies, so I better get them home while they’re still warm. He’s so looking forward to it.”
Anita crossed to the parking lot, and I went into the Java. The place was quiet, just what I was looking for. I picked up the Toddy and claimed my table.
The Tranquil Toddy was hot, smooth, chocolaty, and amazingly soothing. I closed my eyes and savored each sip, slipping into my private little imaginary world. I didn’t hear the footsteps of a visitor approach the table, and only glanced up when the chair beside me slid out.
“Do you mind if I sit for a minute?” Not waiting for an answer, Officer Farlow sat.
The Tranquil Toddy must have been true to its name. I remained calm and managed to utter a greeting.
I watched Farlow settle into the seat and acknowledged the coffee mug in his hand. “Officer Farlow, I didn’t know you were a fan of Ava’s Java. Do you come here often?” The only time I’d seen him in the coffee shop was the day Giles Gold turned up in the dumpster. Not my favorite memory.
“Please, call me Jim. I’m not on a case.”
What? Who was this man?
Farlow took a sip of his coffee. “No. Usually I think one brand is as good as another, so I take mine at the station. But Amos says drinking Ava’s Java will change my mind.”
He tipped up the mug again. “He’s right. It’s pretty good.”
We sat for an awkward moment, both sipping our coffee and avoiding eye contact.
Farlow cleared his throat. “Lauren, I want you to know I appreciate your help with the Giles Gold case.”
There
he was, using my first name again. I’d come to the conclusion that the wild day at the station had been real, not a dream, but this meeting had me wondering again.
Farlow was still talking. “You do tend to interfere and get in the way of official police work. But I believe you have good intentions. And I admit your instincts are sound. A sharp eye for detail. You probably missed your calling. Should have been in law enforcement.”
I stared at him for a moment. I hadn’t noticed how blue his eyes were. Or that he had a cute dimple on one side of his mouth.
He was waiting. I needed to respond on the chance this was not a dream. “Thank you, Officer Farlow. I mean…Jim.” That felt weird and I never wanted to say it again. “That’s very kind of you. But the truth is I don’t have good instincts when it comes to criminals. I’m almost always wrong in my first guess. I have stumbled across the real criminal a time or two. But by accident, not by design.”
Farlow shook his head. “On the contrary, take Gladys’s testimony about the dumpster. I would have passed her off as a crazy old lady. But you pushed in and questioned Rosemary and Sage Gold, yourself. Good job.”
I felt a blush creeping in, and mumbled. “Thank you.”
I tipped my cup and watched the Tranquil Toddy swirl around. “Since we’re on the subject. There’s something I’ve been wondering. Do you believe Rosemary Gold’s explanation for her violent outbursts? Isn’t caffeine over-load a bit farfetched?”
Officer Farlow chuckled and shook his head. “That was a new one on me. Didn’t believe it for a second. But I looked it up. Turns out that same defense has been used by others in at least two cases, back in 2009. I think they called it psychosis due to caffeine overdose, or something like that. It looks as if she might get away with it.”
“Huh. It’s hard for me to believe anyone could overdose on caffeine. At least you solved the case. What the judge decides is his business.”
We sat quietly and awkwardly for another moment. Finally, Officer Farlow placed his cup on the table and eyed me. “I have to tell you I’m disturbed about one thing. We still have a loose end. The murder weapon. What happened to it? Chief Stoddard will be back to work next week, and I’d really like to get that pinned down. The Golds have clammed up. They were real talkative about everything else but won’t say a word about the weapon.”
Farlow leaned toward me. “What are your thoughts? Is there a chance of finding it?”
The man was asking my opinion. My hand trembled, and I wracked my brain for something to say. What if he never asked again? If only I could think of something intelligent.
I took a breath and began spitting out ideas as they popped into my head. “They could have thrown it into another garbage can. Or maybe they tossed it in Beaver Creek, although they would have had to drive blocks out of their way to get there. Oh crap, if it’s been in the water it wouldn’t be intact. Unless of course it was really well wrapped. So that’s still a possibility.”
I took time to breathe. “How about their homes in New York? Has anyone searched there?”
Officer Farlow pulled out his notebook. “Those are good thoughts. I’m afraid that if they used another garbage can, it would be in the dump by now.” He pointed his pen at me. “I’ll send someone out there to take a look.” He made a note. “We don’t have the equipment to search the creek.” He shook his head. “Never had the need before.”
He smacked the notebook on the table. “Wait. I think there’s a scuba club that meets at the Y.” He made another note and finished with, “I’ll call New York authorities and have them send a team to search their homes.”
Farlow sat back and picked up his coffee again. “These are long shots, and we don’t have much time to check them out.”
Things were going so well, I wanted to be encouraging. “But remember, even if you don’t find it, you have the confession. Chief Stoddard will be impressed with that”
Farlow blew out a breath. “Maybe, but I hate to leave the case unfinished. It’s discouraging. There will always be a big question mark in the file. A missing murder weapon.”
I heard the heavy footsteps behind me and a cheerful whoop. “Hey, Jimmy. Didn’t know you were in here.” Officer Amos Smith ambled up to the table. “Hi, Ms. Halloren. How’s everything? Mind if I join you?”
Amos sank into the third chair at the table. “Isn’t it great to have the town quiet again? The Festival is over and the business owners are happy. It was a big success. Best of all, the murder was solved. Life is good.”
It was a good thing Amos was smiling. I’d begun to worry that if my friends happened to notice me through the window, sitting with these two, they’d be out collecting bail money.
Officer Smith scratched his head. “I’m glad it’s over. But I have to admit I was surprised that Rosemary Gold did it. She was always cooperative, and seemed really nice.”
Smith chuckled and glanced at Farlow. “Remember she even brought in snacks for everyone in the office. We were all surprised she would do that, particularly when her mother was unhappy with our investigation. You commented about how someone was finally showing appreciation for the work we do. I don’t remember anyone ever bringing us cookies. Do you, Jimmy?”
Officer Farlow shook his head. “I think she’s the only person ever to show real appreciation for our efforts. At least, in my years of service.”
Amos hummed and a big smile crossed his face. “Those were good cookies. I wouldn’t mind having more of them. Do you suppose, now that she’s in jail, Miss. Gold would give me the recipe? I told my wife about how tasty they were, and I know she’d like to try her hand at a batch.”
Farlow shrugged. “You can ask. Now that she’s cooled her heals in a cell for a while, she might give it to you.”
Amos glanced at his watch. “Guess I better get back to the station, since you’re in here. Can’t have both of us taking a break.”
He gave Farlow and me a nod and pushed up from the table. “I think I’ll see if Ava has any of those Killer Marshmallow Brownies left.”
My brain was spinning. My foot was tapping. I clamped my mouth shut for fear of getting into trouble again. I bit my tongue, and had to hold myself in my chair. It was time to use those deep breathing exercises.
This was the first time Jimmy Farlow had been nice to me, ever. If I blurted out my suspicion, would it spoil the moment? I slanted my gaze at him and waited.
Farlow took another sip of coffee and stopped with his cup in the air. “All that time Amos thought Rosemary was showing us her gratitude, but she probably figured she could sweeten our opinion of her. All criminals think they’re smarter than the police. You heard Amos. She nearly fooled him. I suppose for a while I was taken in, too. But I know even people who seem nice commit murder.”
He chuckled. “Yep. Those were good cookies, though. Good…”
Farlow’s coffee mug clunked to the table and his hand went to his forehead. “No. It can’t be.” Through clenched teeth, he said, “It can’t be!”
I raised an eyebrow, but fought hard not to smile.
He ran a hand through his hair and mumbled, “The cookies.”
Those blue eyes locked with mine. I pressed my lips together and gave a slow nod.
Farlow closed his eyes. “We ate the murder weapon!”
The End
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Born and raised in Northeastern Indiana, Lynne Waite Chapman is a lover of mystery and suspense. In September of 2016, she published her first cozy mystery. The debut novel Heart Strings—first in the Evelynton Murder series—was
a 2016 semi-finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers Association Genesis contest. The next three in the series, Heart Beat, Murderous Heart, and Caffeinated Murder continue the adventures of three friends in the small town Evelynton, Indiana.
Lynne Waite Chapman began her writing career with fifteen years of composing weekly non-fiction content for the BellaOnline.com Hair site, drawing on her thirty plus years as a hairdresser. Retiring the Hair site, she has spent the last fifteen years sharing her faith and penning weekly content for the BellaOnline.com Christian Living site.
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