Pawsitively Murder (Silver Springs Cozy Mystery Series Book 2) Page 3

  Maggie smiles. He’s eager to solve this case. “She’s sleeping now, so that’s an improvement.”

  “Good. But did she tell you anything about what happened? Was she home? Did she see who killed Felicity? She wouldn’t give us anything last night. I’ll talk to her later for her statement.” Daniel’s questions come at her rapid fire.

  “She wasn’t home when Felicity was killed, so she doesn’t know anything about who’s guilty. But she did think that Vern Myers might be up to something and she asked me to look into it. I assume you’d want to take that on.”

  Daniel’s face breaks into a small smile. “What does she think he’s up to?” His voice has a hint of skepticism, that Maggie holds herself.

  “She didn’t say. And she didn’t have any proof. Honestly, I thought she sounded a little crazy. But that can’t leave this room. She’s a good family friend and I don’t want it to get out that she’s going off the deep end.”

  Daniel chuckles. “Of course not.”

  “Have you talked to Vern yet?” Maggie asks, wondering how far they’ve even been able to get in the investigation in less than 24 hours.

  Daniel shakes his head. “He was at Erline’s last night and was beside himself with worry. For Felicity and for Erline. We told him not to leave town. I’ll send someone over to his house right now. What exactly did Erline want you to do with Vern?”

  “Follow him. She said she’d been following him and she thinks he realized she was on to him. Whatever that means.”

  Daniel considers this information and leans back in his chair. “I think we’re going to have to use you as a consultant on this case, if that’s okay with you. So I’ll let you look into Vern. If only to appease Erline.”

  “If you really think you need me, that’s fine. I’ll have my office bill you.”

  Daniel nods. “You saw the mad house out front. No one really knows what to do with a murder investigation. And after your parents’ murder . . . I don’t want to miss anything.”

  Maggie gives him a small smile at the mention of her parents’ death. The police had originally called it a suicide but Daniel had been completely supportive of Maggie trying to prove otherwise. Which she successfully did. “Okay. I’ll look into Vern. Don’t let anyone know. I’d rather you were the only other person who knows what I’m doing so it doesn’t get back to him. I know how news can travel in a small town.”

  Daniel stands, nods his agreement, and shakes Maggie’s hand. “Done. And let me know if you need anything. You’re officially on this case now, so everything we have available is at your fingertips.”

  “Thanks.” Maggie is pretty sure the resources she has in Denver are better and she’ll stick to those.

  Daniel escorts Maggie back through the police department and out the front door. He stops on the threshold and Maggie turns to say goodbye but before she can open her mouth he asks, “Can we do dinner again?”

  Maggie’s mouth stays half open, half closed for a few seconds while her brain takes in this new direction of the conversation. Her double date with Daniel in May was fine, but it wasn’t necessarily something she’s been looking forward to repeating.

  “With Clem and Denis?” Maggie asks. She doesn’t want to lead him on and make him think she’s more interested than she is.

  Daniel hesitates before agreeing. “If that’s the only way I can get you to go out, then yes, with Clem and Denis.”

  Maggie offers a shy smile and says, “Sure. But not tonight. I’m exhausted. Tomorrow? We can exchange notes by then, too.”

  Daniel’s eyes dart around and Maggie knows she’s said the wrong thing. He was looking for a legitimate date and she just walked all over his feelings. “Sure. Tomorrow,” he says, not so enthusiastically. “I’ll talk to Denis.”

  “Great. See you tomorrow.” Maggie waves as she turns and heads back to Jeff’s car.

  She sits a moment in the front seat and then decides to call Trista Voss, a whiz on the computer and the reason she and Garth have as much success in cracking cases as they do. She pulls out her second cell phone—the one that can’t be traced—and calls one of the only people who knows the number.

  Trista answers after the first ring. “Maggie. I thought you just closed a case yesterday. You have another one less than a day later?”

  Maggie smiles to herself. Last night’s actions in Denver probably haven’t even been published in the newspaper, at least not with the level of detail to let the public know that a case was closed. But that’s how good Trista is. She stays on top of everything.

  “I’m actually back in Silver Springs. Another murder. I came up this morning. I’ve been contracted by the police department here because of my success in May with my parents’ death, thanks to you.” Maggie pauses to let the praise sink in. Keeping Trista happy, employed and on her side is a high priority for Maggie. “Now I have another favor to ask of you.”

  “Ask away.”

  “The victim is Felicity Myers. I don’t know anything about her yet and would love a place to start so I can get this wrapped up as quickly as possible. How soon can you get me her background?”

  “Just a background check? I could do that while we’re on the phone.” Maggie hears Trista typing away already. She must live in front of her computer.

  “More than a background check would be ideal. Spurned lovers. Enemies through work. Anything that would point toward someone wanting revenge.”

  “You think this is about revenge?”

  “Usually is. People kill for money, love, power and revenge. But the first three could often fall into the revenge category,” Maggie says.

  “Give me until tonight.”

  “That’s it?” Maggie glances at the clock on the dashboard. It’s already mid-afternoon. “It’s a holiday weekend. And Saturday.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ll call you when I have something.”

  “Thanks,” Maggie says, but Trista has already hung up.

  Maggie slips her phone back into her bag and sighs. Having Trista in her corner always makes a huge difference.

  She pulls out of the packed parking lot and immediately notices a white SUV following her. She smiles and pulls over. The white SUV pulls over just behind her and Drew Kent exits the vehicle. Maggie rolls down her window and sticks her head out.

  “Hi Drew,” she calls. “Didn’t take you long to find out I was in town. You don’t have to work at the brewery today?”

  Drew’s deep ocean blue eyes crinkle at the edges when he smiles. “I take the weekends off. And I always know where you are, Maggie.” His voice is friendly and Maggie finds that she actually missed him over the last four months.

  Maggie raises an eyebrow at him. “Always?”

  “Well, mostly when you’re here. Jeff called me,” he explains and Maggie nods. “How’s Erline?”

  “Sleeping. She’s out of her mind with worry.” Maggie doesn’t tell him Erline asked her to follow Vern.

  “I don’t blame her. Felicity was a good friend of hers and she was killed in Erline’s house. Where are you headed now?”

  “Two Sisters.” Maggie wants to spend at least a little time with Clem, and she knows she’ll find her sister there. Ever since their parents were killed, Clem has been running the place alone, taking almost no time off.

  “You get a new car?” Drew backs up and looks over the Honda.

  Maggie chuckles. “No. This is Jeff’s. It’s a long story. But could you give me a ride from Jeff and Erline’s to Two Sisters? Since you’re following me anyway.” Maggie smiles and Drew returns the sentiment.

  “Sure.”

  Drew walks back to his car and follows Maggie to Erline and Jeff’s house where Maggie parks the car, quickly returns the keys to Jeff and gets into Drew’s passenger seat.

  “How’s Erline now?” Drew asks.

  “I didn’t even ask. Jeff looked exhausted himself so I left him alone.” Maggie sits in silence for a few minutes until they’ve made a few turns and are getti
ng closer to Main Street and Two Sisters Antiques and Imports. Then she asks, “Why do Erline and Jeff want you to keep an eye on me?”

  Drew gives her a sideways look and considers his answer.

  “Does this have anything to do with my parents’ murder?” Maggie presses when he still doesn’t answer.

  He pauses again but finally says, “We don’t know.”

  “So when Erline says she thinks she’s in trouble, she doesn’t mean she is being framed, she means that she was the intended target by the killer.”

  Drew remains silent and parks at the east end of Main Street in the parking garage. It’s packed for Labor Day weekend with plenty of tourists escaping the city for a retreat in the mountains. Maggie would rather be in Denver.

  Before they leave the car, Drew puts his hand on Maggie’s arm to keep her inside. She flinches at his unexpected touch, both surprised and annoyed that someone has intruded into her personal space without her permission.

  “Look, we don’t know yet—”

  “Who’s ‘we’?” Maggie asks.

  Drew shakes his head. “There are some things that are better left alone. And this is one of them. I’m here to keep you safe while you work with the police.”

  Drew seems to know more than just Maggie’s whereabouts if he already knows she’s working with the police. “But who are you keeping me safe from? Josh is locked up,” Maggie protests, referring to her parents’ killer who also trapped her in the basement of his house in an effort to get answers she didn’t have.

  Drew sighs. “I don’t know.”

  “You seem to not know a lot of things.” Maggie pulls her arm back from his touch and opens her door. “Are you coming to Two Sisters with me?”

  Drew locks the car and follows Maggie up the street. She fumes the whole way, wondering why Erline would ask Drew to keep an eye on her but he doesn’t even know who he’s protecting her from. She wonders how much Erline, Ginger Rae and Winona know about this murder and a possible connection to her parents’ murder but are keeping to themselves.

  Maggie opens the door to an empty Two Sisters and is immediately met with the ringing of an English style phone booth that she knows is not connected to anything.

  CHAPTER 6

  Maggie looks at Drew. She’s not sure who knows about her parents calling in May from the great beyond on the disconnected phone other than Clem.

  “Clem told me,” Drew says, calming Maggie’s hesitations, and motions for her to answer the phone. He walks in the opposite direction, giving Maggie privacy.

  Maggie isn’t sure where Clem is, but if she’s in her office she probably didn’t hear the phone ring. Maggie enters the red phone booth alone and picks up the receiver.

  “Hello?” she asks, expecting it to be one of her parents since they’re the only people she’s aware of having called on this phone.

  “Maggie?” a voice she doesn’t recognize asks. “This is Felicity Myers.”

  “Felicity?” Maggie’s brain is having trouble putting everything in place. She knows exactly who Felicity is but didn’t expect her to be the caller.

  “You came to Silver Springs to find out who killed me,” she says.

  “Yes,” Maggie confirms, leaning against the glass of the phone booth. She wonders how these ghosts from the past know about her whereabouts. “Do you know who it was?” She isn’t hopeful she’ll get the answers she’s looking for. Her parents were always less than helpful when they called while Maggie was investigating their murder.

  “No. But I can tell you how I was killed. I don’t know if the police figured it out yet.”

  Maggie is surprised that she might actually get some useful information. “They haven’t. What happened?”

  “A pillow.” Her voice is quiet and worried. “A pillow over my face. Someone held it there.”

  Maggie imagines how scary and painful that must have been. “Did you struggle? The police might find DNA under your fingernails.”

  “I couldn’t. He was kneeling on my wrists.”

  “He?” Maggie asks.

  “Well . . . I don’t know. I just assume that a woman wouldn’t be strong enough. But I suppose she could be.” Felicity’s voice grows less sure of itself as they keep talking.

  “How heavy was this person? Big enough to hold you down, I suppose.”

  “Yes. And strong, not fat. But I didn’t get a good look at him before he got the pillow over my face. So I don’t even know how tall.”

  Maggie nods to herself. “What else? Did you hear his voice?”

  There’s a pause before Felicity says, “No. Then I would know for sure if it was a man or a woman.”

  Before Maggie can ask another question, she hears the line go dead. There’s no dial tone, but the absence of Felicity on the other end is almost palpable. She gently hangs up the receiver and walks to Clem’s office. She wants to know more about Felicity from people who knew her. Trista will be able to give her different details she finds in Felicity’s background, but there is no replacing information from acquaintances, friends and especially enemies.

  Maggie finds Drew and Clem in hysterics when she walks into Clem’s office. Clem has tears in her eyes from laughing so hard and Drew is doubled over, holding his stomach. Maggie feels a single stab of . . . jealousy? But she knows she has no right to feel that. She doesn’t know Drew any better than she knows Daniel, and Clem has a boyfriend so this is just friends having a good time.

  Maggie clears her throat and they both look up at her and try to get their laughter under control.

  “Who was on the phone?” Drew asks.

  Maggie glances from Drew to Clem, wondering how much exactly Drew knows about that phone booth. In fact, Maggie doesn’t know anything about it except that dead people call on it.

  “It was Felicity,” she says, and sits in the last empty chair, conveniently located right next to Drew.

  Maggie lets the silence hang in the air and waits for someone to say something. Two sets of eyes continue to stare at her, not disbelieving but definitely questioning her sanity.

  “What did she say?” Drew finally asks.

  “I know the cause of death. I have to let Daniel know. But I can’t very well tell him how I figured it out,” Maggie explains, just now realizing her dilemma. If it looks like she knows too much without a legitimate reason for knowing it, she could be pointed at as colluding with the murderer.

  Drew and Clem both look thoughtful, thinking over Maggie’s predicament.

  “How was she killed?” Clem asks. “Maybe we can help you ‘figure it out’,” she says, using air quotes.

  Maggie smiles. “She was smothered with a pillow.”

  “Oh geez.” Clem’s hand instinctively goes to her face, covering her nose protectively. “I can’t even imagine.”

  “I know,” Maggie says consolingly. She’s been involved in enough murder investigations that she’s slightly numb to the gruesome facts.

  “Why don’t you go check on Erline and Jeff? Maybe since they’ve had some sleep they’ll be thinking clearer and they’ll remember something they overlooked before,” Drew suggests.

  “And you’re going to follow me?” Maggie asks teasingly.

  “It’s all part of my weekend job.” Drew winks and his smile widens. Maggie hears Clem hide a snicker behind her hand.

  “Actually, if you don’t mind, could you swing by Vern’s house and make sure his car is there? Erline asked me to keep an eye on him and see if there’s anything off about him that could have led him to kill his wife. But I haven’t had a chance to see him yet. And this stays between us,” Maggie adds as an afterthought. “Only Erline and Daniel know about that request.”

  Clem and Drew nod their agreement. “I can swing by Clem’s house so you can pick up your car if you want first.”

  “That’d be great. Thanks.” Maggie stands and swings her handbag over her shoulder. “I’ll see you tonight, Clem. Can I pick something up for dinner?”

  “You’re fin
ally figuring out how I live.” Clem laughs. “I’ll get it tonight. Any requests?”

  “Nope. I’ll be hungry for anything by the time you get home.” Maggie waves as she leaves Clem’s office, Drew following her to the front of the store. They walk side by side down the two blocks to the parking garage and silently get into Drew’s white SUV.

  “You know this thing is really bad for the environment?” Maggie asks as Drew starts the car. She can’t help it. She loves her Prius, not only because of its great gas mileage, but that is definitely a perk.

  “You haven’t seen my other car,” Drew says.

  “Oh yeah? A Hummer?”

  Drew gives her a dirty look but can’t keep the smile off his face. “No. A bike. I ride to work most days. But when I have to follow you around, I can’t really keep up on a bike.”

  “Fair enough.” Maggie buckles her seat belt and leans back into the passenger seat, chastened.

  At Clem’s house, Maggie doesn’t even go inside. She pulls her keys from her handbag and gets her car. She revels in the smallness of it after her ride in Drew’s giant SUV. They part ways as he heads toward Vern’s and Maggie goes back to Erline’s house. Thankfully she remembers the way from this afternoon’s drive with Clem.

  She knocks on the door and Jeff opens it, looking tired.

  “I thought you might come back today. Did you talk to Detective Stevens?” Jeff asks, leading Maggie into the living room.

  Maggie looks around for any clues as to Felicity’s cause of death. But there isn’t even police tape left up. They were quick with cataloguing the crime scene and she hopes they were thorough.

  “I did,” she answers. “I was hoping I could ask you and Erline about yesterday’s . . . er . . . events. Detective Stevens stopped by to get your statements this afternoon?” Jeff nods and Maggie continues. “I hate to make you relive it again after having to tell everything to the police, but since Erline asked me to get involved, I’d really like to know what happened. Or at least how you experienced it.”

  Jeff nods. “Of course. Why don’t we sit in the kitchen. The living room is a little much for me right now. I’ll go get Erline. She just took a bath. Do you want some tea? I’ll put water on.”