Dandy and I exited the gate of her white picket fence enclosed front garden as a stocky man emerged from the overgrown yard across the lane. Aaron the Hermit swayed from side to side on sandaled feet as a dachshund waddled behind him on a blue leather leash. Aaron’s stringy gray hair was swept over his head in an ineffectual comb-over, and thick dark hair covered tattoos on his beefy forearms. He wore thick metal-framed glasses, and another pair dangled from a leather lanyard around his neck.
I’d heard stories about the Hermit of Penniman and now here he was. I didn’t have a preconceived notion of what he’d look like, but I did find his gold necklaces and three heavy gold rings surprising, as was his cute little pet.
Dandy said, “Aaron, this is Riley Rhodes. She’s a friend of the Spooners.”
The dog whined and Aaron picked it up. “McGillicuddy, say hi to the lady.” McGillicuddy had sweet glossy black eyes. A blue bone-shaped tag swung from a matching blue leather collar. Aaron smacked a big kiss on his head and then set him gently down. “Rough business with Mike. I’m sorry about Buzzy. What a great gal.”
“She was, thanks,” I said.
“How’s Caroline holding up?” Aaron asked.
“She’s okay. I’m going to help her with the ice cream shop.”
“What’s that?” He cupped his hand behind his ear.
I repeated what I’d said more loudly.
“That’s great,” he grinned. “Is that big real estate deal still going through?”
I didn’t like the glitter in his deep-set eyes. “No.”
“It will. Everyone has a price,” Aaron chuckled.
“Have you been contacted about selling your property?” I asked.
Aaron rubbed his finger along his nose. “That’s my business.”
Before I could ask him more, a police SUV parked on the road next to us and Detective Voelker got out.
“Good morning, Mrs. Danforth.” Detective Voelker’s eyebrows shot up when he saw me. “Ms. Rhodes. Mr. Tuthill.”
So, Aaron the Hermit had a last name.
Aaron said, “I’m going to take McGillicuddy for a little walk.”
Dandy led Voelker through the gate and her lush garden of rosebushes into the house. I followed.
In the kitchen, Detective Voelker opened the roll of knives. “You’re sure it’s from the person camping in the cemetery—”
“Who else’s would it be?” Dandy scoffed. “I cleared weeds from that area yesterday and there was nothing there. People don’t just traipse through my yard.”
“I’ll have my team look for footprints,” Voelker said.
Oh, great, they’ll definitely find mine. Inwardly, I groaned.
I remembered that Gerri and Flo lived next door to Dandy. I wondered if they’d heard anything. I’d ask when they came into work.
We went back through Dandy’s front yard and out the gate. Voelker gave me a resigned look, got in his SUV, and took off.
Dandy closed the picket fence gate behind me with a firm click. From here I could see the Love Nest down the road, with Mike’s car still parked in front.
Aaron and McGillicuddy hadn’t gone far. I’d probably not get another chance to talk to the Hermit of Penniman.
“Aaron, did you see anything the night Mike died?”
“Nope,” Aaron said. “Like I told the cops, I feel bad I forgot to turn on my security cameras that night. They don’t go as far as the barn anyways. Just here on the road.”
He’d forgotten to turn them on the night of Mike’s murder? What a disappointment for the cops. Even filming cars coming down the road would’ve been valuable for their investigation.
I couldn’t help but glance into his thickly treed lot. Had I been filmed every time I went for a run? Everyone had cameras. My handlers had taught me to always assume you’ll be on video.
McGillicuddy wrapped his leash around Aaron’s legs, lunging at something only he could see.
“Wish I had turned them on that night.” Aaron scratched his belly and raised his voice. “Quiet night. I walked little McGillicuddy here, but didn’t see anything, right, Donna?”
Donna. Dandy’s real first name. Dandy was busy deadheading the rose plants in her front yard, and I’d forgotten she was there. She called, “Sorry, I missed what you said.”
Aaron continued, “I said I didn’t see anything the night Mike died, after McGillicuddy and I went in. I stopped for a chat here with Donna over the fence like we often do around eight o’clock. Then I went in.”
“I saw nothing and heard nothing out of the ordinary.” Dandy bent to pull a weed. “Most of that night I was in the potting shed behind the garage.” She pointed down her long driveway to a weathered freestanding garage, where a blue minivan was parked. “I worked quite late preparing for the Garden Club booth at the Sunflower Festival.”
Aaron picked up and nuzzled McGillicuddy. “Sure hope they catch the guy who did it. Or gal. That tennis gal’s a looker. Shame if she’s the killer.”
His thin lips curved in an ugly smile. I said goodbye and ran back home, mulling over what I’d seen. So much bothered me. The way Dandy had turned her daughter’s room into a shrine; Aaron’s evasiveness when I asked if he considered selling his property; the fact that some drifter was carrying not just one knife but a set of knives. I shuddered thinking of those sharp blades. I’d make sure the door was locked.
After a quick shower I dashed out of the house with an apologetic pat on the head for Rocky. There was so much to prepare for the Sunflower Festival and I had no time to play. I dashed back to secure the door, again shaking my head at the flimsy old lock.
When I got to the shop, Caroline already had the chiller running and a custard cooking on the stove. “When you didn’t come home I figured you were here. I was worried!” she said.
I filled her in as I set hot fudge to warm. Her hand crept to her neck and her eyes widened as I described the set of knives I’d found. “Why does someone carry something like that around with them? Is this guy really dangerous, like a serial killer?”
I’d thought the same thing, but resolved to stay cool. I said, “It’s just some guy camping.” I hesitated, wondering if I should mention Stretch. Was it fair to him that I had pegged him as the camper? But when others called him a firebug, it didn’t seem right. He’d seemed a gentle person. I said, “But to be safe, I locked the door.”
Her voice faltered. “What if that guy in the cemetery killed Mike?”
“I don’t—” I was going to say I didn’t think Mike was killed by a stranger, but that was worse. “As far as that camper, I bet this place is too crowded for him. The police are doing the best they can.” I gave her a sidelong glance. “Especially the cute guy who’s crushing on you.”
Caroline hit me in the shoulder with a towel, a smile curving her wide mouth. It was good to see her smile. “I wish we could go into town for the festival on the green.”
“Me too. I’d love to go browse the bookshop and visit Dad,” I said.
“I insist you take off on Monday,” Caroline said.
“We’ll see.” I wouldn’t mind stopping by the police station and chatting up Tillie.
The crowds were steady and festive. A brief shower swept through around three o’clock, but it was soon a memory. I thought of the camper and hoped the rain had given him a good soaking.
So many people asked me about the petting zoo that I found some poster board and markers in Buzzy’s office and made a sign to post on the pen outside: “Saturday 2–4 Lady Mirabelle and Bob, The Miniature”—I stopped myself from writing “ponies”—“Horses. Sunday 12–5: Baby Goats.” I went outside and taped the sign to the pen.
Flo joined me. “Dandy told me about the knife guy.”
Great, now he was “the knife guy.” “Don’t say that around Caroline. She’s talking about him being a serial killer.”
“Probably just someone who wants to enjoy the night air.” Flo always looked on the bright side.
“Did you see or hear anything unusual last night?” I asked.
She shook her head. “No. I was watching my shows. I wish I had.”
Later, as I mixed another batch of ice cream, I flipped on the TV on the counter. I grimaced when I recognized Tom Snow in front of the Farrow Center.
I wondered if Angelica had any news. She should’ve been questioned by now. How I longed to know what was happening in the investigation. I checked the schedule. Flo and Gerri were here with Brandon and Caroline. The Farrow Center was only fifteen minutes away.
I pulled off my apron.
Caroline came into the kitchen carrying an empty tub. “What are you doing?”
“Going to speak to Angelica.”
She set the tub in the sink. “I’m coming with you.”