Sidney only knew of one bowling alley locally. It was in the neighboring town of Brighton.
§
The bowling alley was less than a ten-minute drive from the bar outside of town. The lanes were fairly crowded that Friday evening as the sound of toppling bowling pins filled the room. Sidney entered the building and looked around. She saw Ms. Palmer with three other women, who all wore matching bowling shirts. Sidney collected herself before casually approaching the women. She sat on one of the nearby benches and watched them bowl. Ms. Palmer bowled a strike and celebrated her victory. She and another woman slapped hands excitedly. It only took a moment for her to notice Sidney on the nearby bench. Persha said something to the three women then approached Sidney and joined her.
“Sidney, I didn’t expect to see you here,” Ms. Palmer said cheerfully and leaned on the back of the bench facing her. “Do you bowl?”
“I’ve tried it once,” Sidney replied.
She remembered it well. She was about ten years old and dropped the ball on her foot. So ended her enthusiasm for the sport and her father’s dream of a father-daughter champion duo.
“So what brings you here?” Ms. Palmer asked then looked around. “Where’s your man friend?”
“In jail,” Sidney replied simply. “Disorderly conduct.”
Persha snorted a soft laugh and appeared humored. “Typical men,” she replied. “Are you interested in bowling a couple of frames?” She raised her brows suggestively and nodded toward the lane with the rest of her league.
“Actually,” Sidney announced. “I’m trying to figure out who tried to kill Mrs. Cooper in the library today.”
Ms. Palmer shook her head with sadness and disbelief. “I still can’t believe that happened to that poor woman. You know what I think, don’t you?”
Sidney shook her head.
“Mrs. Randall takes an unexpected fall down the stairs,” Ms. Palmer announced with cleverly raised brows. “Then someone tries to kill Mrs. Cooper.” Her look turned commanding. “I think Billy was involved. It makes sense if you really think about it.”
Sidney stared at Ms. Palmer a long moment, surprised she had come to the same conclusion. “You may not be entirely wrong with that theory,” she remarked. “On the day Miss Fisher was killed, I was told Billy was seen leaving the back way from school from two separate witnesses as well.”
Persha nodded as her eyes widened. “He did. Eight years is a long time, but I’m fairly certain I remember seeing him leave that way,” she insisted. “He would have had more than enough time to meet up with Emily in the woods.” She shook her head with disbelief. “Could you imagine the scandal if they discover it was him and not Alec?”
Sidney eyed Ms. Palmer with little expression. “He would have had enough time,” she agreed then tilted her head and leaned forward with great interest. “One thing I’d really like to know though. How did you see Billy leaving the school grounds when you had left nearly half an hour earlier?”
Persha’s eyes narrowed at the question, and she looked at Sidney with some confusion. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t leave school early that day,” she insisted. “It was a Friday. I stayed after to grade some papers, so I wouldn’t have to do them over the weekend. I always grade exam papers on a Friday after school.”
Sidney stared at Ms. Palmer, wishing she could remember what every person did that particular day, but she could barely remember what she herself did. It was tough deciding whom to believe. Mr. Malcolm appeared to have lied before, but that was according to what Sam had verified, and it was more than obvious Sam had been lying all along. Ms. Palmer seemed to have good intentions, but she tended to make things up as she went along. If Sidney claimed she’d seen an alien abduct someone, she was almost certain Ms. Palmer would be able to identify the spaceship. Sidney stared at Ms. Palmer then finally forced a smile.
“I guess we’ll never really know,” Sidney announced then stood. “Sorry to have disturbed your game.”
“You didn’t disturb anything,” Ms. Palmer replied and took a sweeping look over Sidney. “Are you sure you wouldn’t care to join us?”
Sidney suddenly felt uncomfortable. It would appear a few drinks had loosened up her old teacher enough to come across as flirty. It was time to leave.
“Thanks,” she announced, “but I really have to go.”
§
Sidney left the bowling alley and paused just outside. Her mind was reeling with the new information she’d received. Too many things were going through her head, and she needed someone to help sort them out. She noticed the pay phone near the front door. She removed the piece of paper containing Lyle’s cellular phone number from her pocket and hurried to the pay phone. She inserted her coin and punched in his number. Lyle answered on the second ring.
“Lyle,” Sidney announced and fidgeted slightly. “What are you doing?”
“Uh, paying some extortion money to Sheriff Drukard,” Lyle remarked simply. “Everything okay?”
“I’m not sure,” she said with a sigh. “Can you do me a big favor?”
“For you? Anything,” he replied with a soft laugh.
“I need you to look around someone’s house within the next hour,” Sidney said softly so anyone passing by wouldn’t hear her conversation.
“Oh, I can do that. Who’s house?” he asked.
“Persha Palmer,” Sidney announced and looked around to make sure no one listened to her conversation. Fortunately, she was alone outside. “It’s next door to Mrs. Cooper’s house. The red brick, bi-level.”
“The one with the stupid flamingo mailbox?” he asked then laughed. “I know the one.”
“You aren’t talking in front of Sheriff Drukard, are you?” she practically gasped.
“Nah, I’m at the ATM, stealing my life savings for that worthless boyfriend of yours,” he replied simply.
Sidney smiled gently at the sound of his remark, liking that he thought Harlan was her boyfriend. “How much?”
“A thousand dollars. Three hundred for the fine and a seven hundred dollar processing fee,” Lyle said with a tiny laugh. “Make sure he pays me back, okay?”
“I’ll do what I can,” she replied. “Thanks, Lyle.”
Sidney hung up the phone and looked around the parking lot. Thankfully, there was no one around. She walked past several cars before reaching hers then suddenly hesitated. She looked around the parking lot with an odd feeling that someone had been watching her, but there was no one there. Sidney jumped into her car and drove back to Marilina.
Chapter Fifty
Sidney paced Harlan’s motel room and stared at the clock on the nightstand. She’d been back nearly an hour. Harlan still hadn’t returned to his room, and Lyle hadn’t called. She suspected Lyle would be calling shortly, but she didn’t understand why Harlan was gone so long. Had Sheriff Drukard changed his mind and decided to keep Harlan? Sidney then had a crazy notion that Drukard may have tricked Lyle into paying a fine, took the money as a bribe, and threw Lyle in jail as well. Her mind was too active tonight. There was too much worrying her. She decided it would be necessary to make a trip to the municipal building and see just what was happening.
Sidney walked the short distance to town. It would have been pointless to drive that far. It would take her longer to find a parking space than it would just to walk. She made it to the municipal building in ten minutes. When she entered the building, she found Deputy Hawkins on duty for the evening. She approached his desk and attempted a polite smile.
“Hello, Deputy Hawkins,” she announced pleasantly. “I was wondering if I could see Harlan Brendon.”
Hawkins gave her a strange look. “He’s been released. His friend bailed him out an hour ago.”
Sidney raised her brows although her heart sank. “Oh. I’m glad to hear. Thanks.” Sidney left the municipal building with an uneasy feeling. If Harlan left an hour ago, did he leave with Lyle? He wouldn’t possibly be assisting Lyle in his search of
Ms. Palmer’s home, would he? Sidney reached the sidewalk and looked across town, staring at nothing in particular as her imagination ran away with her. Her eyes then fell upon the light coming from Mr. Taylor’s sitting room in the front of the house. Mr. Taylor had answers on more than one occasion. Perhaps he’d be able to help her again. Sidney hurried across town and stepped onto Mr. Taylor’s porch. Mr. Taylor looked out his sitting room window at her.
“Sidney,” he announced in a low tone. “What brings you here this time of night?”
Sidney approached the screen window and the old man who peered out it. “I was wondering if you’d seen the gentleman I’d been traveling with.”
He snorted a laugh and appeared humored. “The one they arrested this afternoon?”
“Yes, that’d be the one,” Sidney replied and fidgeted nervously. “He was supposed to be set free on bail. Did you see which way he went?”
“He and another fella left the municipal building and walked down the street in the direction of the diner. Couldn’t say if that’s where they went or not,” Mr. Taylor announced. “Can you believe what happened to Mrs. Cooper?”
“I’ll stop by another time, and we can talk about it,” she announced while offering him a warm smile. “It’s important that I find my friend.”
Sidney hurried off the porch and headed for the diner. Neither Harlan nor Lyle were there either. Harlan must’ve gone with Lyle to search the house. Sidney continued down the street and turned toward the row of homes just before the woods. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Ms. Palmer’s car in the driveway. Sidney’s heart pounded with fear. She uncertainly walked toward the house and listened for any sound that might indicate what became of Lyle and Harlan. Mrs. Cooper’s house had no lights on. The house to the left, closest to the woods, also had no lights on. Sidney crept around Mrs. Cooper’s house and approached Ms. Palmer’s house from the side. The downstairs lights were on. Sidney strained to look inside the living room window.
Sidney straightened with alarm when she heard the upstairs window open. She hurried to Mrs. Cooper’s house and looked up at the second story window of Ms. Palmer’s house. She stared with horror to see a man about to climb through the window. The bedroom light came on, startling her and the man. Sidney ducked behind Mrs. Cooper’s bushes and looked back, concerned for Lyle’s welfare. She saw the outline of the man, almost certainly Lyle, with his back turned to the window. He’d been caught! She could hear Ms. Palmer’s voice as she yelled something. He darted away from the window to escape through the bedroom. Sidney could still hear Persha Palmer’s voice as she screamed something else. They’d been caught! Was Harlan with Lyle? Were they both in trouble? Any minute now, Ms. Palmer would be calling the police to arrest them for breaking and entering. Sidney attempted to think of a way to help Lyle and Harlan without being arrested herself. She could hear thundering footsteps within the house, possibly running down the stairs.
She then saw the man who had to be Lyle running into the dimly lit living room. Sidney had a direct view into the room. Ms. Palmer ran into the room with a butcher knife and stabbed him in the back as he attempted to escape.
Sidney’s eyes widened, and her mouth fell open. “Lyle,” she gasped and straightened from the bushes.
Ms. Palmer looked toward the window. Sidney’s heart pounded harshly as panic swept through her entire body. Had she been seen? Persha Palmer looked around the room. Had he survived? Did she give him enough time to escape? Or was Lyle dying on her living room floor? Sidney ran out from behind the bushes and headed to the front of Mrs. Cooper’s house. She had to find a phone and call the police, though she was almost positive Lyle was already dead. A chill ran down her spine. She’d sent him there! It was her fault! Harlan was possibly still in the house, maybe hiding. She had to get the police there right away. As she ran past the garage, someone stepped out of the dark tree line in front of her. Sidney attempted to stop but collided with him. She screamed and struggled blindly against the arms that held her.
“Sidney,” Harlan cried out with alarm. “Calm down. What’s wrong?”
Sidney held her breath as she stared at Harlan. Her heart continued to pound, and her breathing was harsh. “Harlan,” she gasped with surprise then threw her arms around his neck and sobbed softly. “Thank God you’re alive!”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” he asked and pulled her away from him to look into her eyes. “What’s the matter?”
Sidney fought the tears in her eyes. “It’s Lyle,” she cried out in panic. “Ms. Palmer killed Lyle in her house. I saw her do it! We have to call the police!”
Harlan removed his cellular phone and called the police. Sidney listened to his chilling words. He yelled into the phone to the deputy, insisting he go to Persha Palmer’s house and investigate a possible murder. He then explained they would be at Sidney’s house.
“I’m going to take you to your parents,” he said firmly and grabbed her hand. “I have to go back and see what happened to Lyle.”
“No,” she protested as her eyes widened with fear. “You’re not going anywhere without me.”
“Don’t argue with me,” Harlan snapped hotly. “My best friend’s possibly been murdered, and you’re the only witness. She might come after you.”
Sidney pulled her hand from his and jumped back a step with a fire in her eyes. “And I won’t allow her to kill you either. I’m going with you!”
Harlan’s look was harsh and unpredictable. “Stay right behind me,” he snarled coldly.
As Harlan and Sidney hurried around the front of Mrs. Cooper’s house, they saw the police car heading for Ms. Palmer’s house. The blue and red lights flashed, but the siren remained silent. Harlan grabbed Sidney’s hand and pulled her behind him toward the homes and the squad car. Deputy Hawkins got out of the car with another officer. Harlan and Sidney approached the officers, who motioned for them to stay back. They remained near the squad car and watched the men approach the front door to the house. They pounded on the door with some uncertainty and urgency.
There was no response. Both deputies looked at each other. They pounded again and gave a couple of seconds for a response. Sidney bit her lower lip and looked at Harlan, who stared at the door with wide, concerned eyes. Deputy Hawkins walked around the front of the house and peered in through the living room window. He turned his head toward the other officer and motioned with a sense of urgency. By the expression on his face, Sidney knew he saw Lyle’s body. The second officer proceeded to break the door open.
Harlan placed his arm around Sidney and pulled her close to him. The shattered look in his eyes as he stared helplessly was almost more than she could stand. Sidney began to sob uncontrollably. Harlan pulled her into his arms and held onto her so tight; he nearly crushed her. Both officers ran into the house. A couple of minutes later, they hurried back out. Deputy Hawkins reached into the car and removed his cellular phone.
“Sorry to disturb you at home, Sheriff, but I think you need to come out to Persha Palmer’s house,” Hawkins announced. “We found an unidentified man stabbed to death in her living room. We’re going to search the house for the suspect we believe to be Persha herself.”
A few people from town appeared to be casually drifting down the secluded, dead-end road. Deputy Hawkins returned to the house and disappeared inside with the second officer. Only five minutes passed before Sheriff Drukard drove along the road past the growing group of spectators. His lights flashed, and he allowed the siren to wail to move them aside. He pulled into the driveway and immediately motioned the crowd to move back. Deputy Hawkins ran from the house and approached the sheriff.
“Sheriff,” he said softly, though Sidney and Harlan were close enough to hear. “We found Persha’s girlfriend murdered in the upstairs bedroom. She’s been stabbed to death as well.”
Sheriff Drukard rolled his eyes and groaned lowly. He apparently noticed Harlan and Sidney and became enraged. “What are you two doing here?” he suddenly demanded. “You two
always seem to be close by when someone in this town is discovered dead. Get out of here before I haul both of you in for conspiracy.”
Deputy Hawkins gently cleared his throat. “Sheriff, Sidney witnessed the murder.”
Sheriff Drukard glared at Sidney and placed his hands on his broad hips. “Oh, you did, did you? Always at the wrong place at the wrong time. I can’t wait to hear your story, missy.”
Sidney pulled away from Harlan and turned angry. “I’m not telling you anything,” she lashed out. “I’ll wait for the real police to arrive. If you’d been doing your job from the beginning, none of this would have happened in the first place!”
Harlan pulled Sidney’s face against his chest to silence her; worried she’d get herself into more trouble.
“I’m not at all convinced the two of you weren’t somehow involved in the deaths of these two people,” Sheriff Drukard snapped with anger then eyed Deputy Hawkins. “Search the house for Persha. If I’m correct, you’ll find her dead also. When you do, I want these two taken in for questioning.”
Deputy Hawkins looked from Sidney and Harlan to Drukard. “But, sir, I don’t think you understand--”
“Just do it,” Drukard shouted.
Hawkins uncertainly turned and walked back to the house.
Sheriff Drukard turned to them and pointed a warning finger. “I suggest the two of you remain where you are until we search the entire house,” he snarled as his beady eyes cut through them. “I want you real close when we find evidence.”
Harlan rolled his eyes, turned Sidney away from Drukard, and leaned against the squad car. Sheriff Drukard went back to the street and ushered the crowd away.
“Break it up,” he announced while attempting a calm tone. “There’s nothing to see here!”
“So what’s going on?” came a familiar male voice from alongside them.
Both Harlan and Sidney spun toward the hood of the squad car and saw Lyle only a foot away. Sidney felt the color rush from her face. Harlan released Sidney, grabbed Lyle, and hugged him happily
The Deadliest Institution Collection Page 94
