Betsy called the police and Mr. Santiago sent all the chaperones other than Betsy outside to keep an eye on the kids who were waiting for their rides and to make sure those that drove got to their cars safely. He sent several group texts to the parents of the kids at the prom, letting them know what happened. This would have been a job for Bobby Zane, except he seemed to be somehow involved in the criminal activity. Unfortunately, it appeared to have turned on him.
I saw a squad car pull up and Teddy got out, moving quickly toward me. “Where’s Betsy? Is she okay?”
“She’s fine. She’s waiting in the kitchen,” I said, pointing inside.
“You were with her when the guy was taken?” Teddy asked.
I nodded.
He motioned with a finger for me to follow him. I looked to Mr. Santiago, who saw the exchange and nodded in understanding.
Betsy stood up and smoothed her green skirt down when she saw Teddy.
“Hey, you okay?” Teddy rubbed her arm.
“Yeah, I was—I was—um,” Betsy looked at me helplessly.
“She was on a date with Bobby tonight,” I explained. “We can’t tell you much, we saw him talking to Asher and Caleb from the construction company Nestle runs. I saw Bobby hand them something in a small bag. I thought it was a bundle of money but I was kind of far away so I can’t be sure.”
“Wait, back up. You’re positive it was Caleb and Asher, though, right?” Teddy had his pad out, writing it all down.
“Yeah, Ava and I saw the three of them talking in the parking lot late one night and they were in the same white van.” I recalled the night Ava told me she was pregnant and my sudden stop at the school.
“When was this?” Teddy asked.
“A week or a little more ago, I think.”
“How do you know it was the same van?” Teddy asked.
“Because it was the same van Nestle had at the murder scene,” I said.
Betsy looked from me to Teddy.
Teddy looked at me expectantly.
“Remember? I told you that you could cite him for the right taillight being busted. Same thing. We ran outside but saw the van speeding off and it was dark out again. I noticed the taillight.”
“Okay, I got what I need for now. Betsy, can I drive you home?” Teddy asked.
I was happy he was taking her home. Maybe those two would have a chance to catch up.
Ava popped up behind me. “Tabitha just texted asking if we are stopping by the office.”
“Yes, you go ahead since you drove separately. I’m going to get the dishes and run them to the restaurant real quick and I’ll be right behind you,” I said, heading back to the kitchen for the three warming bags filled with dirty Tupperware and trays from our restaurant.
I parked in the alley and went to unlock the door and turn the alarm off before getting the warmers. I was just going to load the dishwasher and soak any dishes that needed it overnight, then head to Tabitha’s office.
I got out of my car and turned my phone flashlight on to help me see my keys and moved to the door. Without thinking, I flashed the light around the alley. I hadn’t heard anything but too many crazy things had happened in the last three years and I got nervous being alone in an alley at night. I never would have felt this way five years ago. So much had changed in our little town—yet, it seemed like the more I found out the longer a dark cloud had hung over this place and I had been clueless.
I turned the alarm off, hefted the bags, ran into the shop, locked the door and took a deep sigh of relief. Okay, I started gathering the dirty dishes and sorting them for the dishwasher and what needed to be soaked.
My phone buzzed and I figured it had to be Ava. “I’m on my way. I’ll be there in less than five minutes.”
“It’s not your sidekick,” a strangled voice said.
“Who is this? Asher? Caleb? We saw you.”
“You’ve always been nosey. All the way back when your poor old grandma was a suspect in beloved Ellie Siler’s death.”
Was that a female voice? I couldn’t tell. The sound kept going from a high-pitched squeal to a lower registered baritone voice sounding like a man. I pulled my phone away from my ear and could hear something from the office off to the side of the kitchen. I looked at the door out to the alley where my car sat just beyond it and then looked at the office door I’d have to pass to get there.
I looked around the kitchen, moving to the closed office door slowly, with my heart pounding so hard I could feel the beating in my eardrums. I paused momentarily to listen and could hear a noise similar to what was coming from my phone. I hung up and pushed the office door open slowly, feeling every muscle in my body tighten.
The sound cut off and I flipped the light on. No one was there. There was a tape-recording device I didn’t recognize on the desk with a note taped to it. It was a picture of me and Ava together at the prom with a huge red X across both of our faces.
Ten minutes later, Tabitha and Ava arrived to pick me up. I’d called to tell them what had happened and where I was. Tabitha had told me not to touch anything. She’d arrived with gloves and a special greenish light to look at the doors and the recorder and the paper.
“Whoever did this wore gloves and wiped things down, but maybe we can do some digging on this old device and come up with something.” Tabitha flipped the light on and held the device up. “Yeah, this is an old machine.”
“You two okay to stay here? I can heat up some leftovers and we have plenty to drink.”
“Fine with me,” Tabitha said.
“Has anyone heard from Darrell?” I asked.
“Right now, Darrell, Bobby, and Lia seem to be missing,” Tabitha said.
Ava and I looked at each other. That wasn’t a card I was willing to show Tabitha yet.
“Lia?” I faked surprise.
“Yeah, I went to the shelter to talk to her and Devonte, but he said he hadn’t seen her for a few days. I didn’t ask where she was, so I suppose she could be out of town, but it still seems odd. She wasn’t there the night Janelle was murdered, either.”
“So, when the person called, they knew what I said. They knew I thought I was talking to Ava, after that is when it sounded like a recording and when I heard things in the office,” I said to Tabitha.
“Yeah, it’s an old device where they hook their number to this machine. Once they make the call and say something, it signals for the recorded message to take over. I’m guessing you guys are being watched and someone knew you’d stop by here tonight?”
“I think whoever did this isn’t necessarily involved in your cousin’s murder. Maybe. But the recording mentioned Ellie Siler. I think the Leavensport mole contacted me,” I said, reaching for the tape after Tabitha was done checking it.
“That was something we wanted to share with you tonight,” Ava said.
“What’s that?” Tabitha asked.
“Do you know who is behind things here in town?” I asked Tabitha.
“I don’t, and I’d tell you if it was something I couldn’t share with you. I truly don’t. We’ve been speculating though.”
“So have we,” Ava said.
“I mean, Harvey shows back up and things get weird. Tom Costello’s got a murky past and can’t seem to give concrete answers on anything,” I said.
“Maybe it’s both of them,” Tabitha said.
“But they both came in here the other night, arguing in front of me and my family,” I said.
“Maybe they wanted you to see that,” Tabitha said.
“This is getting to be like a spy novel,” Ava said, snatching up a deep-fried Oreo, eating it in one bite, and moaning. “Uh—so good!”
Tabitha and I took one too. I wasn’t much of a coffee drinker but it had been a really long day and I needed something to perk me up fast, so I made us a pot.
“We should have gone back to my office. I have my laptop there,” Tabitha said.
“No worries,” Ava said, looking at me.
I zipped open my tote bag and pulled out my Microsoft Surface.
Tabitha grinned.
“She’s like a party trick. Ask for anything and Jolie will pull it out of her purse.” Ava did an abracadabra move.
“You know, the only time I’ve smiled or laughed since Janelle was killed is with the two of you,” Tabitha said.
We both gave her a hug and she let us for a moment, then shooed us away.
“Janelle always looked up to me,” Tabitha said. “I wish she could have just joined the FBI and not gotten caught up in this case.”
I bit my tongue, wanting to remind her of playing the what-if or should-have/could-have games. She’d had to tell me that often in our sessions. It was one thing to say it and a whole other thing to put it into practice when you were beating yourself up.
“Okay,” I said, pulling up a new fresh slide. “Throw suspects out at me—go through all the questions starting with who.”
“Asher, Caleb, and Nestle and why is it that van seems to connect them all,” Ava said.
I nodded, typing. “You’re right. We’ve seen Asher and Caleb use it with Bobby at the school. It’s the same van Nestle was driving at the murder scene.”
“Harvey and Tom since they are acting weird,” Tabitha said.
“But I’m making a note that they may be part of the bigger picture,” I said while typing.
“You know you want to list Imelda,” Ava teased me.
“I would love to add her,” I started. “I’d love to get her arrested for something—but I heard Mick’s sister talking to her on the phone after Janelle’s murder. Imelda was in Italy then.” I rolled my eyes.
“Trouble in paradise?” Tabitha asked.
“Nah, just a childhood crush,” I said. “Although, I guess I don’t know who was crushing on whom.”
Ava yawned loudly.
“Yeah, it’s late, ladies.” Tabitha looked at her watch.
I looked at the time on my laptop. It was close to midnight. Mick hadn’t called me yet, so I assumed he was caught up in something with the case. I hoped it was something that cleared Carlos’ name.
We all went to the alley together. Tabitha took the recording device with the picture of Ava and I with her. She wanted to look into it more.
I couldn’t help but feel we were getting closer to something. What—well, I wasn’t sure of that—yet.
When I got home, I saw that Delilah had texted, telling me Ava had checked on Mirabelle after she left the restaurant. Delilah had told Ava to sleep in this morning and that I should do the same thing. She was picking Mirabelle up from my mom’s house and mom and Aunt Fern would open the restaurant for us in the morning. I was not arguing.
I did exactly that. Slept in and woke up to a note that Mick had gotten home about an hour after me, but I was out of it. It was eight thirty and he had already left to meet Keith for a round of golf.
Mick and I had done a lot of research about the best types of sports and exercising for those with MS. The key was to do it in moderation, not pushing too hard. Mick struggled with that when it came to work and that often is what caused setbacks for him. A relaxing game of golf would do him good.
I got up and got dressed, then texted my mom.
Morning, thanks for opening for us.
No prob, everything is fine here. Take ur time.
I gave her a thumbs up emoji and made some hot tea and a bowl of Cheerios, then reached for my journal.
I figured I’d have a little breakfast and get some thoughts out before going in to work.
I think the biggest thing bothering me right now is that Mick and I are married and living together but we haven’t had any time in the last couple of weeks to sit and talk. And we really need to. Ugh, I feel like this is always going to be an issue as long as he’s with the police force and Ava and I are pursuing this ongoing case with the history of this town.
I still can’t believe how lucky I am to have found my soulmate. If I was writing this entry eight months ago, I’d be terrified the relationship would be over. It still boggles my mind how so much can change so quickly but how I still feel the same in many ways.
I took a few bites of my Cheerios and slurped some tea, thinking about how many trust issues I had with men for most of my life.
I still doubted I’d ever trust my biological father again, but with Mick, it’s nice to be able to believe in someone again.
I went back into freewriting, momentarily lost in thought.
Trust. Fathers. Teddy’s father. He left his wife and kid. Tom Costello stayed and said he did what he did to save his family. What about Karl Davis or Lory Davis for that matter? Darrell was a dad. Now Carlos is a dad . . .
Yikes, I didn’t realize I’d spent so much time thinking. I needed to get to work.
A few hours later, I was busy cleaning up from the lunch rush and prepping for the dinner crowd when Mick came into the kitchen.
“Hey, stranger,” I said, giving a cute finger wave with my soapy hands as he reached for a hug. “You okay?”
I stepped back and picked up a towel to dry off.
“Yeah, I’ve just missed my wife. I’m sorry I left before you woke up this morning. I needed some fresh air and to get my mind off of things.”
“I get it, babe. Seriously, I was writing in my journal how I would have been terrified several months ago about our relationship if this stuff was going on. I don’t feel that way at all now. I know we’ll be fine no matter what.” I rubbed his hands.
“Do you two need to go get a room together?” Ava asked, strolling into the office.
“I think we do,” Mick said.
“Gross,” Ava said, grabbing something and running back up front.
I giggled. “You actually taking a full day off today?”
“I just got back from seeing Tabitha,” he said.
“Oh, how is she doing?” I asked, feeling odd that I’d just seen her last night. Mick didn’t know that or about the phone call. But he knew about Asher, Caleb, and Bobby from Teddy.
“I don’t know. She seemed—off. But I can’t put my finger on it. Anyway, I’m here to see if you are coming home with me tonight?”
My cell buzzed in a text message. I checked it, seeing it was from Tabitha.
I found something after you left last night. I need you to meet me at the park past the gazebo at the green iron bench.
I texted back, Now?!? Then I looked up at Mick, smiling.
Bzzz. I looked down at my phone. Now. I know where Darrell is and you need to know too.
“So I take it we don’t get an evening together,” Mick said.
“I’m sorry,” I said, hugging him.
“You aren’t doing anything dangerous, are you?” he asked.
“No, Tabitha just texted and wants me to meet her for a minute,” I said. “Maybe she’ll tell me what’s up with her. Although, she’s been through a lot. She is grieving, you know.”
“You’re right, I can’t imagine what she’s feeling,” Mick said. “Can you drop this file off at the station with Teddy on your way, please?”
“Sure thing,” I said, reaching up to kiss him as Bea Seevers came in to relieve me for the evening. She, Magda, and Ava were going to close tonight.