sixteen

“Is this not the most exciting day ever?” Joy gushed over the line after Francine said hello. “We were a smash on GMA.”

“I think that depends on your definitions. I’m betting Mary Ruth and Charlotte would use different terms.”

Joy paused. “So right. I’m thinking selfishly.” Then she got excited again. “But GMA loved the interview I gave them the next hour. They’re talking to Marcy about me being a regular contributor to the show, covering senior citizens issues and filing reports on unusual things that seniors do.”

“Congratulations. I didn’t know anything about a second interview.”

“I thought we were done for. Marcy worked hard to get me a second chance. And it worked!”

“I’m glad.”

“The Brownsburg Chamber of Commerce wants to give you an award at their next meeting for being a good role model and saving Mary Ruth’s life.”

“Why would they do that?”

“I’m sure they’re just trying to piggyback on our popularity, but I’d go with it if I were you. What are you doing for lunch?”

“I was going to grab something at home, why?”

“I just got out of meeting with the Chamber director, Rob Seneff. That’s how I knew about the award you’re getting.”

“What were you doing at the Chamber?”

“You remember it was my responsibility to find out who might have inquired about the building Larry owns …”

Francine made listening noises. She decided this was going to be a long conversation, so she left the gym and headed for the car.

“… I can’t believe Charlotte was so pushy about this. I know she’s your best friend, but even you have to admit her single-mindedness can be annoying. Not one word asking how the second interview went. Just insistent that I go to the Chamber and get the information.”

Francine figured that Charlotte must’ve called Joy right after Francine had left to go to the gym. “So what did you learn?”

Joy sounded annoyed. “In some ways, you’re like her, you know that?” She didn’t wait for a response. “Here’s what I know. Larry is a member of the Chamber, but Friederich wasn’t. Larry’s page on the Chamber website listed all of his properties, even the ones that are already rented, with one exception: Friederich’s garage.”

“That’s curious.”

“Isn’t it? I had researched the subject a little before I went to the Chamber, so I asked about it.”

“Did you get an answer?”

“Not really. But I have the impression there’s something unusual about the building. Something that Rob knows, and maybe others.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Just a feeling. He was … evasive when I asked about the building. Friendly, but evasive. And then he changed the subject with a crack about us ‘skinny-dipping grandmas’.”

“I may shoot the Indianapolis Star reporter who coined that phrase.”

“With Friederich’s murder unsolved, you should probably keep that thought to yourself.”

Francine unlocked her Prius and opened the door. ”You’re right. So why did you ask me about lunch?”

“Oh, right. Getting around to that. I’m heading over to Danville to check the assessor’s records.”

Danville was the county seat. “For what?”

“To find out how much information about that property anyone could have gleaned from public records, about who owned it and what was in it. For whatever reason, Larry wasn’t advertising the property, but Friederich found out that space was available. I want to see if it’s anything obvious.”

Francine wondered if Joy was on a roll. Earlier she must have impressed the GMA producers with her interview, and now she had dug up something interesting about the garage Friederich rented from Larry. “Count me in. I’m not at home, but I’m on my way. You want me to swing by and pick you up?” It would only take fifteen minutes to drive from Brownsburg to Danville.

Joy agreed, and they hung up. Francine switched from her regular glasses to her sunglasses, then started the car. She took a couple of minutes to drive past Friederich’s garage on Adams Street, even though it was out of the way. She paused to think about the situation. Outside, the building was boarded up like no one was there. Few people knew it was rented to Friederich. Larry had hidden cameras watching what went on inside the building. And Joy just told her others seemed to know there was something unusual about it.

It looked suspicious. Francine felt bad thinking that way. “Jonathan and I have known Larry for years,” she told herself. “He couldn’t possibly be involved in something that was … shady.”

She stopped speculating and headed home to change and then pick up Joy. A few minutes into the drive she started checking the rearview mirror more often. There was a dark sedan three cars behind her she thought she recognized as having left the gym’s parking lot at the same time she did. But the thought that it had taken the same detour past Friederich’s garage spooked her.

“I’m not going to let Charlotte’s obsession with murder mysteries get to me. I am not being followed.” When she pulled into her subdivision off Hornaday Road, the car she was watching went straight. She let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. That was also when she noticed her hands were shaking.