Decluttered and Dead

by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson

  “I could use some of that sweet tea Billy Ray’s got,” Henrietta said.

  “You don’t need no sweet tea. You’re just looking for a date to bingo next week,” Bonnie said.

  Henrietta stiffened her torso and smirked. “A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.”

  That time Dylan couldn’t hold in his laughter. “You two are dismissed, but I don’t want you leaving town any time soon, you hear me?”

  Henrietta scooted up close to Dylan and patted his behind. “Sheriff, I don’t have any plans of leaving a place where you are any time soon.” She winked and scooted off.

  Belle and I busted out laughing while Dylan just shook his head and walked away.

  Belle whispered in my ear. “You going to let that old woman hit on your man like that?”

  I smiled. “Honey, one day I hope to have half the spunk of that old woman.”

  “If you get even a quarter of it, it’ll be a miracle.”

  * * *

  We drove back to the office knowing Dylan would be in touch when he had the opportunity. Granted, we both were a bit shell shocked, but as we walked down the street, it hit us like a meteor falling onto our heads.

  Belle kept shaking her head over and over. “I can’t believe she’s dead. It just seems so surreal. Savannah’s dead.”

  “I know. I can’t either. All these memories just keep flashing through my mind, you know? Like the time we all went camping at the lake? Remember that?”

  “Which time? We did that every summer of high school.”

  “True, but that one time when we almost caught the woods on fire? That’s the time that keeps coming back to me. We all could have died then.”

  She laughed. “Bless her heart, Savannah wasn’t the sharpest tack in the box, was she? She could have gone down in history for destroying most of the state of Georgia all over again.”

  I laughed, too. “Who starts a fire in the middle of a woods full of pine trees when it’s a hundred degrees out and hasn’t rained in a month?”

  “Savannah, apparently.”

  “Yeah, and then she runs screaming like it wasn’t her fault.”

  Belle blew air from her nose. “That was kind of a theme in her life, wasn’t it?”

  “What?”

  “Nothing being her fault.”

  I glanced at her. “Yes, but no matter what she’s done, nothing was bad enough for her to deserve this.”

  “I know. And honestly, I don’t even know what happened to her. I saw her in that trunk, and I just couldn’t look at her. I had to look away.”

  “I couldn’t either, but I don’t remember any blood. I know you said there was blood or something on the sticky note, but I don’t think that was blood. If she’d been killed in a way that made her bleed, wouldn’t we have seen some on her? I can’t stand the sight of blood, so I know I’d remember that.” I tapped a pencil on my desk. “Dylan’s going to have to bring me my bag soon. I need my laptop and planner to get anything done, and that note is in there. I’d like to see it.”

  “You have a desktop, you know.”

  “I know, but my planner is my world. Everything’s in there. I’m basically crippled without it.”

  “Honey, you need to get with the modern world. Digital is the way to go. There’s this thing called a calendar on your phone, and a place for reminders and notes. You should use those.”

  “I don’t like those. You can’t see everything in one spot, and you have to switch apps. It’s hard on a Type A person like me.”

  “It’s got to be rough living inside your head.”

  “I find it comforting most of the time.”

  “Except when someone takes the Lilybit Bible.”

  “Except then.”

  “I’m sure he’ll bring it by once he’s free, but he’s probably taken the notes as evidence or something.”

  “Probably, but maybe he’ll let me see them.”

  “I’m sure he will,” she said.

  “He’ll tell me how she was killed, too.”

  “I’m not sure I want to know. It was bad enough finding her. Seeing her squished into that trunk like that? Lord, it doesn’t matter what that girl did, she did not deserve to die that way.”

  “No, she didn’t.”

  “This is going to sound totally inappropriate, but I’m hungry. Do you want to go grab something at Millie’s? My treat.”

  “You know what? That sounds like a good idea. I’m not going to get much done right now anyway, and my momma always says ‘food heals a wounded heart’.”

  “Well, my heart is wounded and starving, so food is definitely on the menu.”

  We walked over to Millie’s Café for an iced coffee and a sandwich. I also had an ulterior motive. I wanted to find out what I could about the confrontation between Caroline and Savannah the day before.

  The line wasn’t long, and I was surprised to see Ellie Jean Pruitt at the end of it.

  She saw us and gave me a hug. “Oh heavens, I heard the news.” She hugged Belle, too. “You two must be a mess.”

  Belle nodded. “A little. It’s just shocking, really.”

  I mustered up a half smile, but that was the best I could do. “It’s been a rough day, that’s for sure.”

  “I told my Faith, and well, she was beside herself.”

  “How is Faith?” I asked.

  She waved her hand. “Oh, thank you for asking. She’s just sweet as a peach. She lives off in Tennessee now. Got married a few years ago to an accountant, and he took her miles away from me.” Her eyes narrowed a bit, and had I not been looking directly at them, I probably wouldn’t have noticed. “But she’s happy as a clam.”

  “That’s wonderful.”

  Millie came out and handed Ellie Jean a bag. “Here you go, Ellie Jean. You tell them volunteers over at the library I’ll give them a ten percent discount on lunches if they come in twice a week, okay?”

  Ellie Jean smile. “Will do, Millie, and thank you.” She waved to all of us as she walked through the door and left.

  We placed our order with Millie, who shouted it to her kitchen staff and poured us fresh glasses of iced sweet tea while we waited. We didn’t mention that we’d ordered iced coffees and drank the tea instead. With Millie, if she didn’t get the order exactly right, you took what you got anyway. Complaining never did any good. In fact, sometimes it got you grounded from her café for weeks at a time. Neither Belle nor I wanted to take that risk. We lived for her caffeinated drinks.

  She pulled out a chair and sat with us. “You two must be emotionally drained.”

  “Just a bit,” Belle said.

  Millie leaned toward us and whispered, “You know, it doesn’t surprise me that Savannah was murdered. She shouldn’t have come back to Bramblett County in the first place. With her reputation and the way she treated people, something horrible was bound to happen.”

  I sipped my tea and enjoyed the icy sensation as it slid down my throat. I didn’t realize I was so thirsty. “Nobody deserves to die because of their reputation, Millie.”

  “Oh, I agree, but this ain’t about what’s right or wrong. People get what’s coming to them no matter that. I sure hope that boyfriend of yours is talking to Caroline Abernathy because after what I saw yesterday, why that girl would be on the top of my suspect list.” She sat back in her chair and nodded. “Let me tell you, I’ve seen women fight before, but the look on Caroline’s face?” She shook her head. “I’ve never seen that kind of look before. It was pure evil.”

  Belle cocked her head. “Aren’t you being a bit extreme, Millie?”

  “I beg your pardon, but I do not do extreme. I call it as I see it. Go ahead, ask around. Anyone that was here yesterday will tell you the same thing. Caroline Abernathy threatened to kill Savannah, and I believe she would have done it right there had we all not been there watching.”

  I patted Millie’s arm. I didn’t want her upset with either of us, but I also didn’t want her making a bad situation worse by
spreading gossip. “I’m sure Dylan will do what needs to be done, and I appreciate you giving me the information. I’ll make sure to get it to him.”

  “Thank you. And you tell him if he needs me to come to the station and be a witness, I can do that. I want to keep this county safe from murderers.”

  Her kitchen person handed Belle our bags and we walked back to our office.

  “That Millie sure puts the icing on the cake in the drama department, doesn’t she?”

  I laughed. “Just a bit.”

  “I sure hope I never have to be on the tail end of that.”

  “You and me both, or anyone we love.”

  * * *

  “Bo, stay.” He stuck like glue to my side. I wanted to do my happy dance, but I couldn’t ruin the moment.

  “He’s doing great,” Dylan said.

  I pushed out my bottom lip. “Hey, I’m doing pretty great too, don’t you think?”

  He kissed my forehead. “You’re doing fantastic. You’re going to be an amazing mom.”

  The air filled with an awkward silence and thickened so much I nearly choked on it.

  “Someday, Little Bean. Not soon, but some day.” He laughed. “You’re actually starting to sweat. That’s funny.”

  I released Bo to go the dog park, and Dylan and I walked behind him. “No, it’s not funny. I am so not ready to be a mom.”

  “Well, for one, you’re not married, and we both know your mother would tan my hide if anything like that ever happened between us.”

  “Tan your hide is putting it mildly. You’d be dog food, and not the premium kind.”

  He winced. “Ouch. Your mom loves me.”

  “Loved. You’re going to have to win her over again, and good luck with that by the way. You broke her baby’s heart. That’s an unforgivable sin in her book.”

  “But you forgave me.”

  I elbowed him in the side. “I’m working on it.”

  “Well then, I best try harder to make it happen.”

  “You could start with giving me back my bag. I’m useless without it.”

  “One, you’re not useless without it. There are many uses for you sans your bag, and two, it’s in my car. I’ll give it to you when we leave.”

  I tipped my head back and raised my hands to the sky. “Thank you, God.” I smiled at Dylan. “So, what happened with your interviews? Obviously, no one was arrested because the town gossip train hasn’t reached me yet.”

  He nodded. “No, no arrests, but we’re headed that direction. Matt’s working on a few things, and we’re putting the timeline of the last few days together.”

  “Shouldn’t you be at the station doing that now?”

  “I should, yes. I just wanted to come see you for a minute, tell you I’m probably going to be busy for the next few days, and I might not see you much until this case is wrapped up.”

  “I understand. I’m worried about Caroline. She was pretty shaken up earlier.”

  “She calmed down a bit at the station. William knows how to handle her.”

  I angled my head and scrunched my eyebrows together. “Handle her?”

  He waved his hands in front of his chest. “No, no, I mean, he knows how to…to help her relax, to calm down. She admitted she’s been on edge since seeing Savannah, for the last few weeks actually, and that she might have overreacted at Millie’s.”

  “Do you think she could have killed her?”

  “Why don’t you tell me what you think.”

  “It’s just a rumor, about Savannah and William, but there’s always a bit of truth to every rumor, so, I guess I can see why she’d be upset.”

  “Even after all this time?”

  “Yeah, that’s the part I struggle with. I mean, sure, a year after the rumor started, maybe it’s justifiable to still be upset, but they’re married now, and they have been for a while, so I’m not sure why she’s got a bug up her behind about it all of a sudden.” I pushed a dangling curl from the side of my face. “I don’t think it’s reason enough to kill someone though, you know?”

  “People have killed over smaller things.”

  “That’s true. Happens on TV shows a lot.”

  He chuckled.

  “Well, it does.” I kicked a rock off the path as we walked up to the dog park. “Heather though, I’m a little concerned about her. She’s still so angry, and there’s a…” I didn’t know how to describe what I saw in Heather’s eyes when we found Savannah. “I don’t know exactly. Maybe spite, or vindictiveness, something like that is brewing inside her. Whatever it is, it’s not healthy.” I picked up another rock and threw it behind me. “What did she say about her jacket? How did it get in Savannah’s house?”

  “She doesn’t know. She said the last time she had it on was yesterday morning. She put it on that morning, wore it to your class and doesn’t remember wearing it after that. She thinks she left it there, or somewhere between the library, her parent’s store and home. She’s not sure.”

  “So, basically she conveniently forgot?”

  “Basically, yes.”

  “Did she say where she was last night? Does she have an alibi?”

  “Lily, this is an official investigation. We really shouldn’t be talking about any of this. I don’t want you involved, you know that especially after what happened with the Redbecker case.”

  My posture involuntarily stiffened. “What? But I’m already involved. I found the body. Well, I was one of the people that found the body.”

  “Yes, and that should be the extent of your involvement. You were nearly killed the last time you got involved in a murder investigation. I can’t take that risk again. I don’t want to lose you.”

  We stood outside the dog park’s gate and watched the dogs play. I gripped the fence, and the veins in my hands bulged. “You can’t lose me, but you’ll gladly dump me when you’re ready to move onto the next phase of your life.”

  He clutched the fence, leaned forward and then dropped his head and shook it. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

  I couldn’t believe I’d said it either. I didn’t know where it came from. I guess I still felt threatened by our history, by his up and leaving me in college. “Well, I said it, so you should believe it.” What was wrong with me? Why was I acting like a teenager?

  He angled his body toward me and moved into my personal space. “Lily, I told you, I’m in this for good.”

  I couldn’t look at him. I wanted to, but I knew if I did, I’d either kiss him or cry, and neither of those options sounded like the right choice, so instead I just watched an ant colony work their butts off for their queen, moving dirt around like the little minions they were.

  “Lily, look at me.” He used a finger to angle my chin toward him. “I’m not going anywhere. I promise you.”

  I swallowed. He couldn’t really promise that. He’d already done that years ago, and he did go somewhere. Away from me. “May I have my bag, please?”

  “Really? Is that how you’re going to handle this?”

  I called my dog. “Come on, Bo. Time to head home.” He bounded over to the fence, and I opened the gate to let him out. I glanced up at Dylan. “I’ll meet you at your car.”

  “Unbelievable.” He took off jogging toward the parking lot.

  * * *

  Belle sat on my back patio with my monster-sized puppy on her lap as I filled her in on my situation with Dylan. “Girl, you haven’t got the sense God gave a goose, and a dumb one at that. What were you thinking?”

  “I wasn’t thinking, I guess. I don’t know. The words just came out, and once they did, I couldn’t stop them.”

  “Or something.”

  “So, what do I do?”

  “I’ll tell you what you do. You get all gussied up, and you go over to Dylan’s house, and you tell him you’re sorry.”

  “I can’t do that.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I don’t think I’m sorry. I think I actually meant what I said. I don’t
trust that he won’t up and leave me if some better job comes along or if he decides he doesn’t want to be in Bramblett County anymore.”

  Either God planned an intervention, or Dylan had perfect timing, I wasn’t sure which was the case, but nonetheless, he texted me.

  “I need an official statement from you tomorrow, please. You can talk to one of my deputies. And I shouldn’t be telling you this, but I trust you’ll keep it private, the red on the sticky notes wasn’t blood. It was paint.”

  Belle’s phone dinged shortly after mine. “I need to give my statement tomorrow.”

  “So do I. And the red stuff on the sticky notes wasn’t blood.”

  “What was it?”

  “Paint.”

  Chapter 4

  Dylan was at the station when I arrived. I didn’t know what to say, so I just waved like he was some casual acquaintance I’d see at the coffee shop or walked past on my way to work. The deputy at the front desk had another deputy—we had a lot of deputies for a small county, but that wasn’t uncommon in Georgia—escort me to the conference room back by Dylan’s office. That’s where I saw him. The deputy told me to have a seat and said someone would be with me to take my statement soon.

  He kept his sentences short and to the point, and I wondered if he was agitated with me personally, or if that was just the way he was. I couldn’t help but think he knew something had happened between me and his boss.

  My mother’s voice played in my head. “The world doesn’t revolve around you, Lilybit. Get over yourself.”

  Dylan stepped into the room a few minutes later. When I looked up and into his eyes, my heart crashed into my stomach. “Oh, hi.”

  He placed a vanilla file folder, a pen and a mini recording device on the large table and sat across from me. “I’ll make this as quick as possible.”

  “Okay.” That wasn’t what I wanted to say. I wanted to say I was sorry, and that I loved him, but the words stuck in my throat like a lump of bread, and I swallowed them back so I wouldn’t choke on them.

  He asked me a series of questions, all official and without any hint of emotion. I answered them in the same tone, doing my best to pretend he wasn’t himself but some random deputy sheriff I had no history or connection to. When he finished, I asked if I could ask him some questions.