Path to Nowhere (A Shady Acres Mystery Book 2) Read online

  “I’ll take everything that’s left for one hundred dollars.” A middle-aged woman held out a hundred dollar bill. “I’ll even cart it away for you.”

  “Deal.” I’d call the day a rousing success.

  Alice took the money box from Mom and hurried for her office. “Come see me after lunch, Shelby.”

  I would. Right after I ate and checked my mirror message.

  Heath and Lauren were already seated when I entered the dining hall. The witch sat in my seat! I grabbed a plate, filled it with food, and glaring at my usual table, went and sat next to Grandma with the Poker Boys.

  “A rousing success of a sale,” Bob said.

  “Splendid.” William raised his glass of tea to me in a toast. “Poker tonight? Five card draw. Five dollar ante. Come at seven and bring a snack to share.”

  “Sure.” I shrugged. I didn’t have anything else to do.

  Grandma excused herself and left for the restroom. The Poker Boys pretty much ignored me after inviting me to the poker game. I glanced to where I normally sat.

  Heath sent me an imploring look from across the room.

  I turned away. Man up and set the woman in her place, is what I wanted to say.

  I finished my chicken salad sandwich and headed to the women’s restroom. Today’s message said, “Me one, you zero.”

  Twisting my lips, I tried to come up with something cutting to say. Zero was right. I had nothing.

  “So, it is you leaving the messages.” Grandma exited one of the stalls. “Who are you replying to?”

  “Lauren, I think. It’s a battle over Heath.”

  “No granddaughter of mine should fight over a man.”

  “She started it.” I leaned against the sink. “I can’t think of a reply.”

  “Say this.” She handed me fuschia-colored lipstick. “When you use stink bait, you may get the biggest fish, but it will often be full of bones.”

  I choked on a laugh. “That will take me all day to write, but it’s brilliant!”

  “Sweetie, if you want to know how to put a woman in her place, all you have to do is ask. I’m an expert.”

  After writing Grandma’s witty response, I knocked on Alice’s office door and entered when commanded. She glanced up from her desk.

  “Five thousand dollars, not counting the jewelry sale. You should open a resale shop.”

  “Gardening is fine with me.” I sat in the chair opposite her. “What did you want to see me for?”

  “I found this in the pocket of one of Teresa’s coats. You must have missed it.” She handed me a slip of paper.

  “Fountain. Ten o’clock.” More proof that Teresa had a boyfriend. Something we already knew. “I’ll pass it on.”

  “Who do you think killed her?” Alice leaned back in her chair.

  “Right now…I have no idea. It has to be a man she was spending time with.”

  Alice shrugged. “I heard she spent time with a lot of men.”

  “Who told you that?” I really needed to find time to talk to Leroy.

  “It wasn’t a secret. I suffer from insomnia and wander the grounds late at night or early in the morning. I’ve seen men with my own eyes and heard things.”

  “What men?” I leaned forward.

  “I respect our resident’s privacy, Shelby.”

  “Even if one of them might be a killer?”

  “I’ve given their names to Uncle Ted.” She straightened. “The reason I wanted to speak with you was about the gym. Those bushes around the building need trimming. Heath is going to repurpose the wood floors inside. After that, we’ll be ready to install equipment.”

  “But—”

  “I know you’re anxious to start work on the maze, but do this first. It shouldn’t take more than one morning.”

  True, but what was the purpose of me making my own to-do list when Alice changed it up on me every single day? “Fine.”

  “You’re attitude needs improving.”

  “Yep. Hire me a helper and I’ll make a dramatic improvement.” I left and headed for the soon-to-be gym.

  The windows needed cleaning and a couple of hours with the hedger should take care of the hedge. A gym would be a nice addition and attract more clientele. Not that we had any empty cottages at the moment. Did Alice rent out the rooms in the main building? There were several vacant ones. All I’d ever seen stay there were temporary help. I could suggest she charge less rent and put the rooms to use. But that could wait until my attitude “improved”.

  I had a few hours before poker, so decided to pay Leroy a visit. I knew he slept during the day but it was early afternoon.

  He answered the door, blinking against the harsh sunlight. “I expected you days ago.”

  “I’ve been busy. May I come in?”

  He opened the door wider. “I made tea.” He motioned to the small dinette table. “Let’s talk.” After pouring me tea into a cup, surprisingly feminine with pink roses along the edge, he sat across from me.

  “Tell me more about Teresa’s visitors.” I sipped the orange pekoe tea. Leroy was a man of many surprises.

  He peered at me over the rim of his cup. “I saw Bob a couple of times, Harvey, too. And…those two new guys were the most common visitors, other than that boy Scott.”

  “Really? Before they lived here? Was Teresa…charging for services rendered?”

  “Where do you think she got all the nice clothes and jewelry? Not on a receptionist salary.”

  I wanted to ask if he’d pay her a visit, but held my tongue. “Did you ever hear her fighting with anyone?”

  “I’ve heard raised voices a time or two, and Teresa crying sometimes when she was alone, but never could find out who she fought with.”

  “Hmm.” Not a lot to go on. I could bring up the visits by Bob and Harvey during the poker game. I didn’t think either of them were her killer, but they might have more information.

  “Is this the same information you gave Officer Lawrence?”

  “I told you a bit more.” He grinned. “I’m not fond of police officers. I know they’re necessary, but they aren’t very understanding about my wandering around when most people are sleeping.”

  “I wouldn’t imagine so.” I chuckled and finished my tea. “Anything else?”

  “Not at the moment, but I’ll keep my eyes and ears open. Things have been pretty quiet since her death. This might be a tougher one to crack, Shelby.”

  “You’re right. I don’t know where to begin other than finding a discreet way of questioning Teresa’s nightly visitors.” A conversation that would make me very uncomfortable.

  “You could always pose as our resident call girl.” Leroy broke into laughter.

  “Not funny.” Even if I did have dreams of living a lavish lifestyle that isn’t the way I would go about earning money. “Will you be at the poker game tonight?”

  “Don’t miss any. It’s the only socialization I get.” He escorted me to the door. “Be careful, Shelby girl. I count you as one of my few friends.”

  I smiled. “The feeling is mutual. I’ll be as careful as I can be.”

  Which, considering I was about to accuse men of visiting a woman and paying her for her services, wasn’t going to be very careful behavior.

  10

  Showered, with my pockets full of five dollar bills, and carrying a plate of sausage and cheese and crackers, I headed for Bob’s cottage. Grandma met me halfway, carrying a tray of cheesecake bars.

  “Glad you could make it,” she said. “I’m usually the only female there.”

  “I doubt that bothers you much. What’s Mom doing?”

  “Watching a taped episode of one of her soap operas. Never could get into those myself. Real life is more drama than anything you’ll find on television.” She opened Bob’s door and waltzed in as if she owned the place. “The party has arrived!”

  I laughed and set my contribution to the snacks on the kitchen counter before choosing my seat at the poker table. Counting me and Gr
andma, there would be six players. I hadn’t played in a long time, not since Pink Poker nights with other teachers at Cooper Elementary, but I felt I could hold my own.

  “How long do we play?” I set out my stack of fives.

  “Until someone gets mad and quits,” Bob said, grinning. “It’s usually Harold.”

  “It is not.” Harold glared. “It’s William who quits first.”

  I sat back and listened to the men bicker. It ought to be an interesting evening. Especially when whiskey shots were passed around.

  “No, thank you.” I shook my head.

  “My granddaughter is a teetotaler,” Grandma said. “Barely tolerates a glass of wine now and then.”

  “Nothing wrong with that.” Alcohol loosened tongues, which I was counting on, but that didn’t mean I wanted to imbibe.

  Bob dealt the cards, we anted up, and I glanced at two deuces, a king, a queen, and a three. Not a lot to work with. I turned over the queen and three. I was dealt a two and a king. I had this hand in the bag.

  Doing my best to keep my expressive face neutral, I reached for my glass of ice water. When was a good time to ask these men about their visits to Teresa?

  “Two pair.” I turned over my cards and racked the thirty dollar pot toward me. Hello, new rain boots.

  “First timer luck,” Bob said, reshuffling.

  I wiggled my eyebrows at him. “Let’s do that again.” From the look on his face, I guessed it was Bob that had a tendency to quit first when things didn’t go his way.

  “Did Teresa ever join you guys?”

  William laughed. “She played games of a different sort.”

  My smile faded. “Don’t be crude. I’ve heard tales of you men joining in with her game. Don’t be disrespectful of the dead.”

  “We’re men, she provided a service.” He shrugged. “But, she was a really nice gal.”

  Grandma’s head whipped from one of her friends to another. “You all disgust me. Did you shower her with all those expensive gifts?”

  “Us?” Bob looked taken aback. “We don’t have that kind of money. Some of her other…friends, must have given her those.”

  I’d lost my enjoyment of the game. My heart ached for the poor girl who only wanted a better life. True, she went about it the wrong way, but she must have felt she had no other avenue.

  “I’ve also heard one of her ‘friends’ abused her. Any idea who?”

  Bob’s face darkened. “If I’d have known that, I would have hunted him down. Teresa might have had loose morals, but she deserved to be treated well. She wanted to move to Hollywood and become a star.”

  I nodded. At least these four would have looked out for her had they known. How could I find out who she’d fought with?

  “I know this is…private information, but it could be very important. Do you know who any of her other…visitors were?”

  They glanced at each other.

  “I’ve seen that new handyman, and the new residents, plus a few faces I don’t know,” Bob said, focusing on the cards in his hand. “I’m not proud of my behavior, Shelby, but my money helped her.”

  He could look at it however he wanted, it was still wrong. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.” I threw down a royal flush and scooped up the pot again.

  Bob groaned. “Let’s break for snacks before she bankrupts us.”

  After our fill of finger foods and sugar, we sat back at the table. I lost the next two rounds, but since I was still ahead, it didn’t bother me.

  Grandma had been unnaturally quiet since the conversation about Teresa. I’d be sure to pick her brain on the walk home. It had to have come as a shock that her friends enjoyed a woman’s company other than hers. Grandma had always prided herself on being the belle of the ball.

  I leaned close. “Are you all right?”

  “I’ve got a headache.”

  I suspected it was more of a heartache. “Sorry, gentlemen, but the ladies are leaving. Come on, Grandma. I’ll walk you home.”

  The men glanced up, their faces creased with concern. It had to make Grandma feel better knowing they cared about her.

  “Take care, Ida,” Bob said. “I’ll check on you in the morning.”

  She nodded, avoiding his gaze, and after dumping the snacks from my plate and hers onto another one of Bob’s, rushed out the door.

  Once the door closed behind us, I asked, “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m a silly old woman. Old being the main word here.” Her heels beat a steady rhythm on the flagstone sidewalk. “I’m pouting because my friends chose a younger woman, not that I would offer what she did, but…”

  I patted her arm. “I know.”

  “Men are scum. Most of them, anyway. Thank the Lord above for my Teddy.”

  I thought of Donald, the man who ditched me at the altar, then of Heath. Yes, fine, honest men were hard to find.

  “I will make you sorry!” A shrill voice caused us to stop in our tracks.

  I grabbed Grandma’s arm and dragged her behind a thick bush near the pool.

  “I’m really sorry,” Heath said. “But I’ve tried to tell you nicely that we’re over. You have some kind of mind block.”

  “Is it a crime to love you?” Tears poured down Lauren’s face.

  I wanted to gloat, I really did, but instead, I felt sorry for her.

  “I care for someone else. No one forced you to cheat, Lauren.”

  “You prefer that Shelby over me?” Her voice rose.

  “Yes. It’s really not a hard decision for me.”

  My heart leaped. He was finally putting her in her place.

  She screamed and two-hand shoved him backward into the pool. With a nasty expletive, she slammed through the pool gate.

  Without a second thought, I barged into the pool area and jumped into the pool. Throwing my arms around Heath’s neck, I almost drowned us both.

  “You heard, huh?” He grinned, shaking his head like a wet dog.

  “The best words I’ve heard in a really long time.” I rested my cheek against his chest. “You do know she’ll make our lives miserable.”

  “Let her try.” His arms tightened around me. “I’m sorry I wasn’t tougher to begin with.”

  “Better late than never.”

  His chest rumbled with laughter.

  I lifted my face. “Kiss me until I can’t breathe.”

  “I can’t breathe just from having you close.” He lowered his head and placed his lips on mine.

  We’d had some wonderful kisses before, but nothing like the heated one that night in the pool. His kiss shoved all the fears and uncertainties aside, sending me soaring closer to heaven than I’d ever been. I didn’t want the kiss to stop.

  A pop sounded next to us. Water sprayed.

  Heath fell backward. A dark stain spread around him.

  Grandma rushed forward like an avenging angel and broke the glass plates over Lauren’s head.

  The woman dropped her pistol and crumbled to the ground.

  “Heath!” I dove after him.

  Slipping my arms around him, I struggled until I had dragged him to the pool steps. “Call 911.”

  “Already done.” Grandma waded into the pool and helped me pull him out.

  “I’m fine. She just grazed my arm.” Heath grunted and lay on his back. “I don’t think this was what you meant about her making our lives miserable.”

  “No.” But, it did raise her higher on my list of suspects. If she could attempt murder to the man who had jilted her, maybe she had killed Teresa because the younger woman had stolen another man of Lauren’s.

  “Teddy is on his way.” Grandma fell into a lounge chair. “Life is not boring at Shady Acres.” She put a hand over her heart. “Maybe it’s time for me to slow down.”

  Heath grinned. “Never, Ms. Ida. You’re much too young.” He pushed to a sitting position. “I would like to borrow your lovely scarf though.”

  “Very well.” She sighed. “I’m tired of it anyway.” She un
wound the silk rose-colored scarf from around her neck and handed it to him. “Tie it tight.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He winked at me.

  We sat there, keeping a close eye on the unconscious Lauren until Teddy arrived.

  When he did, he glanced at the prostrate woman and rushed to Heath’s side. A moment later, a paramedic joined us.

  “I knocked her out,” Grandma said. “You should have seen it. But, now, I’m feeling rather faint.” She toppled over.

  Everyone forgot Heath and hurried to her side.

  The paramedic took her pulse and radioed for a gurney. “I think she’s having a heart attack.”

  Oh, that would kill her. Not the way one would expect, but because it was another sign of her advancing age. I gripped her hand. “Hold on, Grandma. We’re here.”

  “Stop fussing and take care of Heath. I’ll be fine. It’s just a spell.”

  “You’re more important than a graze, Ms. Ida.” Heath leaned over her. “It looks as if we’ll share an ambulance.”

  I frowned.

  “I’m playing along to make her feel better,” he whispered.

  “I can still hear you, and I appreciate the gesture.” Grandma closed her eyes as the paramedic lifted her. “Where’s Lauren? I hit her hard. She can’t have wandered far.”

  Teddy groaned and took off like a horse at a starting gate.

  Before I knew it, I found myself alone next to a blood stained pool deck with a crazed woman on the loose. To top it all off…she’d taken her gun.

  11

  Fully expecting a bullet in the back, I raced to Mom’s cottage and pounded on the door. “Hurry! Let me in.”

  “For Pete’s sake.” Mom, dressed in a robe over a cotton nightgown, opened the door.

  “Grandma had a heart attack, Heath’s been shot, and there’s a crazy woman with a gun running loose.” I collapsed onto the sofa. “Get dressed and drive me to the hospital, please.”

  “You’re bleeding.” She pointed at my arm.

  With the rush of adrenaline, I hadn’t noticed the bullet had grazed my upper arm before striking Heath. I sure noticed it now. Pain burned through me. My stomach churned. “I guess I need something to wrap around the wound.”