Path to Nowhere (A Shady Acres Mystery Book 2) Page 4

  “Wait up.” Birdie bustled toward me. “Did you learn anything about Teresa’s murder?”

  “What makes you think I was looking?”

  She propped her fists on her skinny hips. “Seriously, Shelby. You must think I’m ignorant. Everyone knows that successfully solving a murder puts a bug under your skin. So, did you learn anything?”

  “Not a thing. Good night.” I hurried down the path. I had no intentions of telling anyone outside of family that I was investigating. The last time, things hadn’t gone very well when I had.

  “Psst.” Someone hissed from the bushes.

  I turned. “Don’t scare me, Leroy.”

  “Here.” He handed me a slip of paper and faded back into the shadows like the creature of the night he was.

  I unfolded and read, “Men came and went from Teresa’s cottage at all times of the night. One of them killed her.” The least he could have done was told me who they were or given me a description.

  I slipped the paper into my clutch and pulled out my key. As I inserted it into the lock, something hit me in the back of the head, dropping me to my knees. Another hit and I was out cold.

  6

  I came to with Heath, Alice, Office Ted, Mom and Grandma all peering down at me as if I were some weird specimen in a jar. “If people don’t stop hitting me, I’m going to forget who I am.” I struggled to a sitting position.

  “What part of stay out of my investigation do you not understand?” Officer Ted held out a hand to help me to my feet.

  “I was doing nothing more than unlocking my door.” Which, surprisingly was unlocked and standing wide open.

  “I opened the door, sweetie,” Grandma said. “I was going to drag you inside, but decided—”

  “To let the world know I was attacked.” I put a hand to my head, bringing it away sticky with blood. “Ugh.”

  “Here.” Heath swooped me in his arms and carried me to the sofa. “Should we call the paramedics.”

  “Already done.” Mom propped a pillow behind me. “You’re going to get blood on this, but it can’t be helped.”

  Sirens wailed in the distance.

  “You’re bad for business, Shelby.” Alice crossed her arms. “Nothing like murder or assault ever happened until you came along.”

  “You’re welcome. Life must have been boring.” I closed my eyes against the spinning room. Since the room remained silent, I peeled open one eye. Yep, they were all still staring at me. “What?”

  “You’re investigating.”

  “You need to stop.”

  “I ought to fire you.”

  The comments were fired at me with bullet precision. I sighed and decided to pretend I really was dead.

  “How long has she been unconscious?” A new voice said.

  “I’m not. I’m trying to pretend none of these people are here.” I opened my eyes.

  “Can you sit up?” The paramedic, a man too handsome to be dealing with blood, helped me sit. He took a look at my head. “I don’t think you need stitches, but you’ll need to see a doctor. I’m sure you have a concussion.”

  “I’m fine. I know the drill.” Unfortunately, I’d been in this predicament before.

  After bandaging my wound, the paramedics left. “The rest of you are free to go.”

  “Not me.” Mom crossed her arms. “I’m staying here and waking you every thirty minutes to make sure you do wake up.”

  “I’m sure that’s an old wife’s tale.”

  “Nevertheless. Heath, take her to bed.”

  He chuckled. “Gladly.” He picked me up again and carried me to my room where he laid me gently on the bed. “Your mother has a way with words.”

  “Doesn’t she?” My face flamed.

  “Can I get you anything?”

  What I really wanted was a kiss. But, I reminded myself I was guarding my heart so shook my head instead. “I’ll see you the morning, okay?”

  I got the kiss anyway. He placed a tender one on my forehead and whispered, “Good night.”

  “I’ll sleep right here,” Mom said, patting the other side of the bed, “and set the alarm.”

  “I think I need to rest more than anything. Waking me up continuously defeats the purpose.”

  “This is what I did when you were a child. No need to stop now.” She grabbed a nightgown from my dresser drawer and headed for the bathroom.

  I took the opportunity to change into my nightclothes, swiped at my face with a makeup remover towelette, and crawled under the sheet. Staring at the ceiling, I contemplated who might have hit me.

  The last person I’d spoken to was Leroy, and I couldn’t see my friend knocking me out. He might be the strangest person at Shady Acres, but I’d bet my life he wasn’t a murderer.

  That left…I just couldn’t see the Poker Boys killing anyone, but stranger things have happened in the realm of reality. Add those four with Scott, and the two newcomers, and I had seven suspects. Of course, her killer could have been a woman, but my gut told me the roses were from a man.

  I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew, Mom was shaking me awake. “Okay.”

  The alarm went off at regular intervals all night until sometime right before dusk when Mom slept through it. I turned off the alarm, shoved it into a drawer and went back to sleep until ten a.m. when I was woken by a pounding on the front door.

  “I’ll get it,” Mom mumbled, climbing from bed. “Glad to see you lived through the night. Sorry I fell asleep.”

  I groaned and climbed from bed, then shuffled to the kitchen as Mom opened the door and let Officer Ted in. “Questions?” Again, I knew the drill. Thank goodness I slept in shorts and a tee shirt.

  “If you’re feeling up to it.”

  “Sit. I’m making coffee.”

  “No, I’ll do it.” Mom shooed me to a chair opposite Ted. “Just as soon as I put on a robe.”

  She was back moments later, fully clothed, but hair in disarray and no makeup, and set to work making coffee. “Just a moment and it will be ready.”

  I shrugged at Ted. “What do you want to know?”

  “Did something happen at your party to put a target on your back?”

  “Not that I know of. I didn’t participate, merely mingled so the people could get a good look at what killed me. I didn’t ask any questions.”

  He wrote something on his notepad. “Did you see anyone lingering around your cottage?”

  “Just Leroy. Oh, yeah. I’d forgotten.” I reached for my purse that someone had left on the table for me and pulled out his note. I handed it over. “He gave me this. That’s the last thing I remember.”

  “Looks like my next stop is Leroy’s.”

  Grandma waltzed through my open front door. “Teddy!” She took his face in her hands and landed a juicy kiss on his lips.

  “I’m in uniform.”

  “Oh, pooh.” She waved aside his comment. “I’ve come to see what work my granddaughter has to do. I’ll fill in for her.”

  “Work!” Mom dashed out the door, presumably to her job as receptionist.

  Grandma shook her head. “She’s going to have a heart attack when she realizes how she looks this morning.”

  “Rather than working the garden, maybe you could take her a hairbrush and some makeup,” I offered. “I’m going to lie back down for a while.”

  “Come on, Ida.” Officer Ted put his hand at the small of her back. “I’ll walk with you as far as the main building. Take care of yourself, Shelby, and—”

  “I know. Stay out of your investigation.”

  ~

  I didn’t wake again until suppertime. Starving, I threw on a pair of denim capris under the wrinkled tee shirt I’d slept in and hurried to the dining hall. I shoved open the doors and skid to a halt as everyone turned to stare. You’d think I’d be used to being the center of attention, but I was far from it.

  Flashing a grin, I grabbed a plate and piled it with a chicken breast, potato casserole, and asparagus. Tryi
ng to act as if getting hit on the head and sleeping away the day was perfectly normal behavior for me, I sat across the table from Heath and ignored everyone else.

  “How are you feeling?” His eyes caressed my face.

  “Much better. A bit of a headache, but that could be because I haven’t eaten.” I took a bite of my chicken. “You know what? I am going to investigate Teresa’s death. I tried staying out of it, to no avail.”

  “I thought you’d already made that decision…against my wishes.”

  “Did I?” I shrugged. “I may have a bit of a memory lapse. Someone whacked me pretty good.”

  The expression on his face clearly said he didn’t believe me. “I’ll help you, but I won’t like it. I have as much freedom around here as you do, so I can eavesdrop pretty easily.”

  “We need to find out who Teresa’s admirer was.” Relief that he was willingly helping filled me. Last time, he’d only helped because he had been the prime suspect, and that help had been given grudgingly. It seems the man doesn’t like the thought of me being in danger. How sweet.

  It wasn’t my fault trouble followed me like a dehydrated hyena at a watering hole. Not an appealing analogy.

  “Teddy is very upset with you.” Grandma set a giant salad on the table. “Nothing you say will convince him that you aren’t being nosey again.”

  “I’ve decided to be nosey.”

  “Goody! My life is in the pits. I need something fun to do.”

  “We just had a party last night.” How old was she? Sixteen?

  “But, I didn’t win. If we find this killer, we win. End of subject.”

  Heath’s eyes widened. “Shelby is a chip off the old block. You’re as crazy as she is, Ida.”

  “Hey, I resemble that.” Grandma pointed her fork at him. “There’s nothing wrong in seeking justice.”

  That depended on who you asked. “We need to be subtle. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “I’m a detective’s girlfriend, or I will be once he accepts the position. As detective, the boyfriend he already is. No one will dare bother me.”

  “I got reprimanded for being late.” Mom joined us. “That Alice doesn’t seem to think caring for my adult daughter was a good enough excuse.”

  I supposed she wouldn’t. I turned to Heath. “How is Scott working out?”

  “Better than Dave. The boy is a hard worker. It’s almost as if he’s trying to undo some wrong.”

  “Keep an eye on him. He’s my top suspect.”

  “Scott wouldn’t hurt a soul. I caught him releasing a rat from a trap this morning and letting it go in the maze.”

  “No! I’m going to start work in there.” I shuddered.

  “Not tonight,” Mom said, narrowing her eyes. “Wait until morning. No wandering around after dark. Not anymore.”

  And Grandma was worried about Mom cramping her style. I was twenty-eight years old, not fifteen, and she still barked orders like a drill sergeant.

  “Shelby, follow me, please.” Alice stomped up and motioned her head.

  “Looks like I’ve been summoned. Mom, would you box up what’s left of my supper?”

  When she nodded, I followed Alice to the small hall leading to the restrooms. “What’s up?”

  “First of all, how are you feeling?”

  “Good, I—”

  “Second, your mother needs to be at work on time or I’ll have to fire her.”

  “I told her—”

  “Third…” she shoved open the women’s restroom. “Look at that!” She pointed to a message on the mirror written in red lipstick.

  “Stay away, Shelbie.” I pressed my lips together. No telling who the message was intended for. “They spelled my name wrong.”

  Alice crossed her arms. “I really have no idea what to do about you.”

  “Am I doing a sufficient job as gardener and event coordinator?”

  “No complaints.”

  “Then, there’s nothing you can do. This whole thing…” I waved my hand at the mirror, “has nothing to do with my job.”

  “But it has a lot to do with your life.”

  “I didn’t know you cared.” I smiled.

  “We’re friends, aren’t we? Two women after the same man, brought together by a common bond? I don’t think that message has anything to do with Teresa, and everything to do with Heath. I’ve seen Lauren wear that very shade of lipstick. What are we going to do about it?”

  “Find a new decorator?”

  “I can’t. I signed a contract.”

  “Ignore her until she goes away?”

  “I guess that’s the best avenue.” She sighed. “Clean that up.” She marched away and left me to do the cleaning people’s job.

  I wiped off the lipstick and started to leave. Instead, I got a brilliant idea. I left a message of my own.

  “Make me.”

  7

  “Go do an inventory of the former receptionist’s cottage.” Lauren thrust a clipboard at me. “I don’t care about personal items. Just those that belong to the community. What type of furniture, what does it look like, what condition is it in…you get the drill.” She handed me a small camera. “Take pictures.”

  I started to protest, wanting to start work on the maze, but realized snooping through the victim’s home might divulge clues the authorities had missed. “One hour. Remember our deal.” I grinned as she scowled and fairly skipped from the dining hall in anticipation of a treasure hunt.

  “Where are you headed?” Alice stopped me on the sidewalk.

  “Lauren has sent me to inventory Teresa’s cottage.”

  “Oh, good. She has no surviving family, so anything Shady Acres can use is to be set aside. The rest can go to charity.”

  “I’m only inventorying.”

  “Spend the day sorting. Whatever else you have planned to do can wait.” She handed me a ring of keys on a stretchy wristband. “Keep these. I trust you.”

  I groaned inwardly. I’d never get the maze ready for a haunted treasure hunt at this rate. The way things were going, this weekend’s soiree would be a simple pool party.

  Hooking the ring of keys around my wrist, I set off, jingling, toward the worker cottages. The tape had been removed from Teresa’s earthly home. I unlocked the door and stepped inside.

  Wow. The girl might have been immaculate in her appearance, but her living conditions were horrible. Clothes lay scattered over every available surface. No dishes sat in the sink, but the garbage can overflowed with paper plates and plastic cups. This job would take more than a day.

  I snapped a picture, then began laying all the clothes over the easy chair. I eyed some of the fashionable clothes, wondering whether Alice would let me buy them. Maybe the community could rally together for a yard sale to raise money for the restoration of the maze. I started a list of questions to ask Alice, then sorted through the Hollywood magazines on the coffee table.

  I was going to need boxes. I texted Heath to find me some, then sent my questions to Alice. She responded quickly, saying a yard sale was a great idea and to make up a flier for the coming weekend. She also said I could set aside anything I wanted for myself and offer a fair price. Yay! My wardrobe needed updating and Teresa had been close to my size.

  “Need help?” Heath appeared in the doorway, his arms loaded with boxes and packing tape.

  “Do I!” I set him to work unfolding the boxes.

  “This girl sure had a lot of…junk.”

  “It’s not all junk. Her clothes cost a pretty penny.” I put the stack of magazines in a box, clearing off the coffee table. Glass topped with a metal frame, it was in good condition. I snapped a picture of it and the blue and white sofa. One room down.

  I then turned my attention to the clothes on the chair, choosing two dresses, a pair of jeans, and some capris in assorted colors for myself. The rest I folded and placed in a box.

  Heath watched me for a while, then said, “What do you want me to do? I’m not very good at knowin
g what is valuable with women’s things.”

  I’d actually forgotten he was there. “Here, take a picture of the dining set and anything in the kitchen that isn’t dirty or in the trash. Then, wrap those knickknacks in paper and box them up.” I would need to find someone to appraise them. They, too, looked expensive.

  For someone wanting to save money, Teresa sure had spent a lot of it. Unless…I stepped back and looked at her things with new eyes. What if they were all gifts from admirers? Leroy had said men came and went from here. I needed to speak to him asap. But, since he slept all day and ventured out at night, I’d have to wait until after supper.

  Once the front room was set to rights, and Heath was busy boxing up porcelain figurines, I moved to the master bedroom. Again, clothes lay strewn everywhere. I gathered them up and laid them across the bed, which, surprisingly, was made.

  I chose a sparkly blue evening gown for myself, a pair of ankle boots from the closet, and some strappy silver sandals. Shopping spree done, I folded what was rest so Heath could pack them.

  On the dresser was a large jewelry box. Another one hung on the back of the door. My eyes immediately went to a diamond choker. I snapped a photo with my phone and asked Alice if we could use it for a future prize.

  She replied that the necklace would fetch a lot of money at a jewelers and to choose something less expensive. Fine. I chose a teardrop necklace with what I was sure was a fresh water pearl surrounded by smaller diamonds. I took another picture and sent it to Alice.

  She said yes, but the rest would be sold. What a party pooper.

  “How did someone with a receptionist job afford this jewelry?” Heath carried a few boxes into the room.

  “My guess is they were gifts from a man. Maybe the very one who killed her.”

  “Should we turn them over to the police?”

  “Why?” I stared at him. “They’ve already done their investigation in here. If they suspected anything, they would have taken it away.”

  He shrugged. “True.” He set the clothes into a box, then started wrapping the jewelry boxes. “There’s a lot of money here. We really need to find out who she was seeing. Not Scott. There’s no way a delivery man could afford this stuff.”