by Rose Pressey
Dylan waved at Dixie. She came over and I figured this would give me time to plan my words.
“The usual?” Dixie asked.
Dylan gave her the thumbs-up. “He comes here just as much as you do,” Charlotte said. “A match made in heaven.”
“They do make a cute couple,” Minnie said.
I fidgeted with the fork.
“When Cookie isn’t acting suspicious they make a cute couple. Now she’s just letting him know she did something. She might as well wear a big sign announcing it to the room.” Charlotte waved her arm in a grand gesture.
“What’s on your mind, Cookie Chanel?” Dylan asked as he studied my face.
“What makes you think there’s something on my mind?” I asked with a nervous chuckle.
“The way you’re pushing that lettuce around on the plate.” Dylan pointed at my plate.
“That doesn’t necessarily mean anything,” Charlotte said. “After all, it is lettuce. Now if it had been a cheeseburger she would have scarfed it down already. What gave her away was the nervous laughter.”
I glared at her.
“What? I only speak the truth.” Charlotte held her hands up.
“The look on her face gives her away too.” Minnie pointed. “Oh, now that scowl isn’t good either.”
“The ghosts are here?” Dylan asked as he looked to his left and to the right.
“Minnie and Charlotte are here.” I gestured. “No new ghosts as of yet.”
“Good afternoon, ladies,” Dylan said with a huge smile.
The ghosts practically swooned.
“Hi, Dylan,” they said in unison.
Dylan looked toward the door. “That woman that bumped into me on the way out the door . . . she was leaving in a hurry because of you, wasn’t she?”
My mouth dropped. “What makes you say a thing like that?”
“You have to admit he has reasons to be suspicious,” Charlotte said. “He’s really good at reading you. I guess that’s why he’s a detective.”
“Plus, it’s true. The woman was leaving because of Cookie,” Minnie pointed out. “I’ve only been here a short time and I can already see that. Cookie is bad at hiding things.”
Technically Shanna was leaving because she thought she’d been stood up. I probably just sped up her desire to get out of the diner. I placed a fork full of lettuce into my mouth and chewed. This gave me time to think of something to say. Dylan was patient though and waited for me to finish. Sadly, I wasn’t coming up with much in the way of excuses.
When I attempted to place more food in my mouth, he touched my arm and chuckled. “Nice try, Cookie. Now spill it. What was going on between you and that woman?”
“Oh, you’re being interrogated by the police,” Charlotte said. “This is better than a Lifetime Movie.”
“Well, she was at the scene of the crime. They usually interview suspects, er, I mean witnesses,” Minnie added.
They weren’t helping matters.
I wiped my mouth with a napkin. “Okay, here’s the thing . . . she was the woman who was supposed to meet Tyler the day he was murdered.”
Dylan’s eyes widened. “How do you know this?”
“Oh, this will be a tricky question to answer,” Charlotte said.
Minnie leaned against the booth. “You’ll have to tell the truth. I hope he doesn’t take you to jail. I wouldn’t know how to get you out.”
There was only one thing to do. I had to answer truthfully. A flash of being behind bars popped into my head. It wasn’t a pleasant scene.
“I tricked her into thinking I was a guy so she would come here to the diner and speak with me.” The words rushed out. “I just wanted answers about how she knew Tyler and what their relationship was like.”
“So that’s why she stormed out?” Dylan asked.
“No, she never knew I was the guy. I let her believe that the guy stood her up. After that I talked about how sleazy men are,” I said with a wave of my hand.
Dylan stared at me. “I’m not sleazy.”
“You really put your foot in your mouth now,” Charlotte said.
“Oh, I think you hurt his feelings,” Minnie said.
“Of course not, but I just told her what she wanted to hear.” I smiled, hoping that would make Dylan not upset with me.
“What did you find out?” Dylan asked.
“Other than that she was supposed to meet Tyler on the day he was murdered, nothing,” I said around a sigh.
“I need to track her down. We’ve been unable to find any information on anyone with the name Shanna Sizemore,” Dylan said.
“Maybe she was using a fake name,” Charlotte said.
“Charlotte thinks maybe she was using a fake name,” I said, relaying the message.
“That’s quite possible,” Dylan said.
“I can send a message to her again through the dating app. As the guy she was supposed to meet, of course,” I said.
Dylan lifted an eyebrow. “What was the name of this fictitious guy?”
“Cash,” I said.
Dylan chuckled. “Sounds like a guy from a romance novel.”
Charlotte laughed.
Chapter 13
Cookie’s Savvy Tips for Vintage Shopping
Don’t like the current fashion trends?
Check out vintage clothing shops for
the styles that made you happy.
That evening I was home and in bed when the crash sounded from somewhere outside my bedroom door. I froze with the covers up under my chin. I knew I had to check it out, but my fear had paralyzed me.
“Don’t worry, Cookie, I’ll go check it out. Don’t move,” Charlotte whispered, as if someone would hear her.
“I hope it’s not the killer,” Minnie whispered.
I glared at her.
“Sorry,” she said.
Charlotte disappeared out the door. I contemplated calling Dylan. What if the noise was nothing? I wouldn’t want to disturb him and make him think I was completely paranoid. What was taking Charlotte so long? Minnie had followed along behind Charlotte, leaving me alone to worry about what was happening. After she’d put even more panicked thoughts in my head. I decided to stop being a chicken and go check it out for myself.
I eased out of bed and over to the bedroom door. Pressing my ear up to the wood I listened, but there were no sounds. Not even a noise from the ghosts. Releasing a deep breath, I wrapped my hand around the doorknob and twisted. I eased the door open and peeked out into the hallway. Of course it was dark. I should have left a night-light on out there.
Charlotte and Minnie were nowhere in sight. I tiptoed through the hallway and into the living room, trying not to bump into furniture. Where were Grandma Pearl and Tyler? Normally Wind Song slept at the foot of my bed. Chills traveled down my spine. Where were Charlotte and Minnie? Panic was starting to settle in. If I didn’t find them in the kitchen I would have to check outside. I supposed I needed to look out there anyway. Maybe Charlotte and Minnie had stepped out there to have a look around the house. Now that I thought about it, maybe looking outside wasn’t really necessary. When I reached the kitchen, I saw Charlotte and Minnie standing by the back door. They were whispering to each other and hadn’t noticed that I was standing there.
“What’s going on, y’all?” I asked.
Charlotte screeched and jumped. Minnie screamed.
“Don’t sneak up on us like that,” Charlotte said, clutching her chest. “You nearly scared a ghost to death.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What’s happening in here?”
Charlotte and Minnie stepped away from the back door. Shards of glass covered the floor. The window of the back door had been broken from the outside. Panic surged through me. Was someone in the house?
“It was like that when we got in here,” Charlotte said.
“Do you think someone is in the house?” I whispered.
“The door was still closed. You’d better call Dylan just to be safe.” Charlotte motioned for
me to move.
I rushed for my phone and dialed Dylan. It was the middle of the night, so I hoped he answered. Dylan answered after only a couple rings. Of course panic filled his voice.
“Someone broke my back door window,” I whispered. “The door in the kitchen. I don’t know if someone is in the house.”
“I’m on my way,” Dylan said.
He ended the call. What would I do until he arrived? I had to find the cats.
“I should check the rest of the house, right?”
Charlotte nodded in agreement, but Minnie shook her head no.
“Be careful,” Minnie said as she tiptoed behind me. “What if someone is in here?”
Sometimes the ghosts forgot they were ghosts. My house was small, so there wouldn’t be a lot to search through. Tiptoeing through the house, I checked the other bedroom, the closets, and bathrooms. Nothing seemed out of place. Why would someone break the window? There was no way I was going outside to look around. Not now. Maybe once daylight broke.
The house was still dark. I was worried if I turned on the lights the person outside might come back. I eased back down the hallway with a plan to head toward the kitchen. Something jumped out at me and I screamed. Charlotte and Minnie screamed too. I ran down the hallway so quickly that my feet got ahead of me. I tumbled face-first onto the hardwood floor. When I looked back to see who had reached for me, I saw glowing yellow eyes staring back at me.
“Tyler? Why did you do that?” I asked.
“He is just trying to be difficult,” Charlotte said as she clutched her chest.
“If I wasn’t dead already I surely would be now after that,” Minnie said. “Are you all right, Cookie?”
I climbed up from the floor and to my feet. “I’m fine.”
Grandma Pearl meowed. She was sitting at the living room’s threshold.
“Where have you two been?” I asked.
I wouldn’t get an answer unless I used the Ouija board. There was no time for that now.
“I hope Dylan gets here soon,” Charlotte said.
Tyler ran past me, joining Grandma Pearl. As I neared them, they took off toward the kitchen.
“I think they’ve been in to something they shouldn’t have,” Charlotte said.
“Do you think they broke the door?” Minnie asked.
“I don’t think that’s possible,” I said.
The ghosts and I hurried back toward the kitchen. I had just reached the doorway when a rattling noise caught my attention.
“Please let that be a mouse,” Minnie said.
“Well, it’s certainly not Mickey,” Charlotte said.
“I doubt there are mice in the house with two cats. Actually, I take that back. Pearl would never go after a mouse.”
Grandma Pearl meowed and Tyler shook his head. Minnie clutched the back of my pajama top. The cold from her nearness sent prickles along my skin. Somehow I mustered up enough courage to continue my journey to the kitchen. However, I froze when I reached the kitchen entrance. A bright light shone on me from outside the door. My breath caught in my throat.
“Cookie, it’s me,” Dylan said, moving the flashlight off me. “Are you all right?”
His face came into view now. Though it was still dark. I couldn’t make out anything behind him. His dark hair was tousled as if he’d just rolled out of bed. Probably because I’d dragged him away from home in the middle of the night. He wore a white T-shirt and blue shorts.
I released a deep breath. “I’m better now.”
“This is almost more stress than I can handle.” Minnie twisted her hands.
“You’ll get used to the stress while hanging around Cookie,” Charlotte said with a dismissive flick of her wrist.
“Other officers are on their way to check for fingerprints,” Dylan said as he shone the light around the edges of the broken window. “I don’t see anyone suspicious out here.”
“That’s a relief,” I said, releasing a deep breath.
“I’ll come around to the front door. I don’t want to disturb the scene,” Dylan said.
I raced to the front door and unlocked it, letting Dylan in. He’d slipped into his sneakers with no socks.
“At least he didn’t come in his boxer shorts,” Charlotte said, eyeing Dylan up and down.
“I’ll check the rest of the house,” Dylan said when he stepped inside the front hallway.
“I already did that,” I said.
He frowned. “Why would you do that?”
I shrugged. “Boredom?”
“Well, for my peace of mind I’ll look again. The officers should be here soon.” He headed down the hallway.
“I’ll wait here for them,” I said.
I watched out the window waiting for the officers to arrive. After a couple seconds staring out into the darkness, I thought better of peering out the window. What if the person who broke the window was still out there and looking in at me? Thinking about some creepy person staring back at me chilled me to the bone.
Dylan emerged from the back of the house. “No one there.”
“You already told him that,” Charlotte said.
“Yes, but like you said, he wanted to check for himself,” Minnie reminded Charlotte.
“He’s as stubborn as Cookie.” Charlotte trailed along after Dylan.
“I want a closer look at that window.” Dylan headed for the kitchen.
I started to follow him, but the sound of police arriving pulled my attention back to the front window. Rushing over to the door, I opened it and allowed them in. Two officers in uniforms stood in front of me.
“Good evening, ma’am,” the young officer said with a nod of his head.
“Dylan, er, Detective Valentine is in the kitchen.” I pointed in that direction.
I followed them to the kitchen. The officers got to work right away with checking for fingerprints. Dylan walked over to me as I stood by the kitchen entrance.
“Why did someone do this?” I asked.
“My guess is they were going to break in, but something scared them away.” Dylan ran his hand through his hair.
The thought sent a shiver down my spine. Whatever had stopped the person I was thankful for it.
Dylan looked around to make sure no one was listening. “Do you think the ghosts chased them away?”
I shook my head. “The ghosts were in the bedroom with me. At least I think they were. I saw Charlotte there.”
Charlotte and Minnie nodded.
“Yes, they were in there with me,” I said.
Dylan pushed the hair away from my face. “Try not to worry too much. Someone was probably just looking for items to steal.”
“Don’t worry about a thief?” Charlotte raised her voice.
“This is upsetting.” Minnie stood next to me again.
The cool air made the skin of my arm prickle.
“More than likely they’ll never return,” Dylan said.
“More than likely?” Charlotte’s voice grew louder.
“Oh, please don’t let them return.” Minnie shivered with fear.
“We’ll get any fingerprints we can and see if we get a match,” Dylan said.
He had no idea that the ghosts were upset with his comments.
“I just hope they find something,” I said around a yawn.
“You should go back to bed and get some rest,” he said.
There was no way I’d be able to go back to sleep. Besides, it was now four in the morning. Soon the sun would peek out over the horizon. My next-door neighbor’s rooster would announce the start of the day. That was better than any alarm clock I could buy. Though unfortunately there was no snooze button.
Dylan must have read my mind. “It looks as if you’re not ready to go back to sleep. Would you like to get breakfast? It’ll take your mind off things.”
Though I wasn’t sure I would be able to eat, it would probably distract me.
“I’d like that,” I said. “Just let me get dressed.”
&nbs
p; “I’ll be here in the kitchen.” Dylan kissed my forehead.
My thoughts raced as I headed for the shower. I still didn’t know why the person had run away. Unless the police recovered fingerprints I might never know. Although I wasn’t sure that they wouldn’t return. Dylan was finishing up with the other officers so I had to hurry and dress for breakfast.
When I stepped out of the bathroom I found Wind Song sitting on the upholstered chair in the bedroom by the window. She meowed at me. There was something on the chair beside her. Tyler sat on the floor beside the chair, peering up at Grandma Pearl.
“What is that?” I asked as I stepped closer.
I knew that Grandma Pearl was the one meowing at me. Wind Song rarely got a chance to say anything with Grandma Pearl in control. Plus, the twinkle in the cat’s eye gave it away. I’d learned to pick up on the different mannerisms between Wind Song and my grandmother too.
“What did the cat get into this time?” Charlotte placed her hands on her hips.
“I’m just glad it’s not a mouse,” Minnie said.
I reached down and picked up the piece of fabric from the chair. The edges were jagged, but it had a hem.
“This looks like a piece of someone’s pants.” I held up the cloth.
“Did she raid your closet?” Charlotte asked. “Maybe Tyler did it. That seems like something he would do.”
Tyler hissed at Charlotte.
“Bad kitty,” Minnie warned with a wave of her finger.
“I do think it was Grandma Pearl,” I said.
Grandma Pearl would never rip any of my clothing. She’d loved fashion as much as I did. Wind Song never did anything like that either. Tyler I didn’t know well enough. Plus, he seemed like he would do something if he was mad. Examining the fabric closer, I realized it wasn’t from any clothing I owned. As much as I loved clothing, I had a mental inventory of everything I owned and the clothing that was in my shop.
“Where did you get this, Grandma?” I asked, waving the fabric through the air.
She meowed.
“Unless you speak cat, you’re not getting an answer right now,” Charlotte said.
I suppose I’d have to wait until I got to the shop and have her use the Ouija board.
“What if she got it from the person who broke the window?” Minnie asked.
