Chapter Nineteen

“Can I go now?” Kelly asked. “I’ve really told you all I know, which isn’t much.”

Joe’s hand toyed with the upper right hand corner of the manila folder, preparing to open it. “Why did you lie about going over to Marlow House before you left your brother’s?”

Slumping back in her chair, Kelly let out a sigh. “I didn’t lie exactly. I just sorta left out that part.”

“A significant part.”

She sat up straighter and looked at Joe. “Why? I didn’t see anything, honest. It was dark when I got over there, and I’m not even positive it was a man or woman I saw in the parlor.”

“I still don’t understand why you didn’t tell me…unless…”

“I didn’t want to get involved, okay?” Kelly snapped.

“What do you mean you didn’t want to get involved?”

“Since I’ve been helping Ian research Earthbound Spirits, the more I learn about the group, well, they sort of scare me. They kill people. I just figure, whoever murdered Peter is probably someone from the inside. A lot of money is at stake. Now with Cleve gone, Morris was vulnerable.”

“I thought you believed Morris was behind Cleve’s death?”

“Yes. I think he got Cleve to kill himself, just like he did with Candice. But with Cleve—I suspect Peter began to realize he acted rashly, because with Cleve gone, there was no one who had his back. Although, I’m not sure he could’ve done anything differently—I mean, from Peter’s perspective. From what we’ve learned in our research, the group seems to be unraveling.”

“What does any of that have to do with you not telling me the truth about going over to Marlow House last night?”

“Don’t you see, maybe the killer was in the room when I looked in. Maybe he had just killed Peter right before I peeked in. If he thinks someone saw him—if it gets out that I looked in the window last night—I may be the next person on the killer’s list. If I’d seen something, something that would really help you, I would’ve already told you. But I didn’t. But the killer doesn’t know that.”

“You knew someone saw you—the car that almost hit you.”

“Yes. But it was just a car driving down the street, and I assumed it was unrelated to the murder. When Ian called me, told me about the murder, he asked me what I’d seen. I didn’t even tell him about me going over there. What was the point? And I figured if I told Ian, he would probably tell Lily. I like Lily, but I really wouldn’t trust her with my secrets. So, I hoped the driver of the car never realized they’d driven by a crime scene, and then no one would have to know I’d looked in that damn window.”

Joe didn’t respond. Instead, he silently studied Kelly, his fingers still fiddling with the folder’s edge.

After a few moments of silence, Kelly looked up into Joe’s eyes and asked again, “Can I go now?”

“Not quite yet.” Joe opened the folder and pulled out a photograph. He set it before Kelly. “Do you know this man?”

Kelly’s eyes visibly widened when her gaze set on the photograph. Nervously chewing her bottom lip, she looked from the picture to Joe. “Yes. Why are you showing me this?”

“Who is he?” Joe asked.

Kelly shrugged. “It’s Mitch.”

“What’s your relationship with him?”

Kelly shook her head. “I don’t have a relationship with him. He…he lives in a condo below mine.”

“Are you friends?” he asked.

“Not exactly. He’s just a neighbor. I’m not even sure I ever knew his last name.”

Joe smiled and removed a second photograph from the envelope. “Oh, you do.” He placed the second photograph on top of the first one.

Kelly let out a gasp and snatched up the picture Joe had just placed before her. Holding it in her hand, she looked from the picture to Joe. “Where did you get this?” The photograph was of her and Mitch.

“That doesn’t matter right now. But you look like more than casual neighbors in that picture.”

Kelly shook her head and tossed the picture onto the table. “I don’t understand what Mitch has to do with this. Why are you showing me these pictures?”

“This morning, during our processing of the crime scene, we found a fingerprint—a bloody fingerprint—on Marlow House’s front gate. The fingerprint belongs to your friend, Mitch, and we are fairly certain the blood belongs to Peter Morris. We should know that sometime tomorrow.”

“Mitch?” Kelly pressed her right hand against her brow. She began to rub her now throbbing head and closed her eyes. “No, this can’t be happening. It doesn’t make any sense.”

“Now maybe you might want to tell me again, what’s your relationship with Mitch?”

Kelly stopped rubbing her forehead and opened her eyes. She stared at Joe, her expression unreadable. “I told you. He is just a neighbor. We have a very casual relationship. I don’t even know his last name.”

“You don’t look very casual in that photograph, practically cheek to cheek.”

“It was a stupid selfie Mitch took. I ran into him at the Starbucks down the street from my condo. This was about a month ago, right after he moved in. He started up a conversation, and I recognized him as my new neighbor. As we’re talking, all of a sudden he grabs his phone, tells me he wants to take my picture, and before I know it, he practically knocks my head with his while he takes the picture. That’s about the extent of our friendship.”

“You never went out again?”

“Technically speaking, we didn’t go out that day. We simply ran into each other at the coffee shop.”

“So is that a yes or no?”

“No. We never went out—ever.”

“Did you ever run into him again—like you did that day? Maybe at Starbucks or some other place?”

“I saw him a few times at Starbucks, but I never sat with him again. We said hello; that was it. The baristas there know me; you can ask them. They can tell you we didn’t hang out there together.”

“Did you ever go to his apartment? Did he ever go to yours?”

“No…” Kelly paused a moment, rethinking his question. “Well actually, he did come into my place a couple times. But it wasn’t like we were hanging out together or anything. A few times he helped me bring up my groceries.”

“That was neighborly of him.”

“It’s not like he always helped me with my groceries. But our parking spots are next to each other, and a couple times, he pulled in at the same time I got back from the grocery store, so he’d offer to help me bring my groceries up. I have those stairs…but he never stayed. We never went out or anything.”

“Do you know what he does for a living?” Joe asked.

Kelly shook her head. “I don’t know. We never talked about it. Like I said, the only time we really talked was at the Starbucks that one time when he took that selfie. And then the conversation was just silly. We didn’t really share any personal information other than first names.”

“Silly, how?”

“Oh I don’t know—we talked about the high price of coffee, speculated on why Starbucks doesn’t use small, medium, and large. That sort of stuff.”

“Did you know of any connection between him and Earthbound Spirits?”

“No. And I find it hard to believe there is one. He didn’t seem like someone who would get involved with a group like that.” Cocking her head slightly, she looked at Joe. “Are you sure it was Mitch’s fingerprint on that gate?”

“Did you know he was in Frederickport yesterday?” Joe asked.

“No. What does he say about all this?”

“I don’t know. Your neighbor seems to be missing. He wasn’t at his home this afternoon. And he wasn’t at his office.”

“His office? I don’t know where he works. Where’s that?”

“Downtown Portland.”

“None of this makes any sense.” Kelly picked up the photograph of her and Mitch and stared at it.

The door to the office opened and another officer walked in. He silently handed Joe a piece of paper and then left the room. Kelly looked up and watched the officer leave, wondering what Joe had been handed. In the next moment, she had her answer.

“Kelly, I’ve a warrant here—to search your car.”

Ian anxiously paced the living room of Marlow House while Lily, Danielle, and Chris silently watched from where they sat: Lily on the recliner, and Chris and Danielle on the sofa. Walt observed from his place by the fireplace. Earlier, Chris had built a fire; the flames flickered and snapped from the hearth. David and Arlene had gone out for dinner, and Heather had finally returned. She was upstairs in her room.

Ian looked at his watch again. “What’s taking Kelly so long?”

“I’d call the chief again, but I’m sure he’s gone home by now,” Danielle told him.

“Want me to call down there again?” Lily offered.

“No.” Ian sat down on the arm of Lily’s recliner. “The last time I called they said she was still in the interview room with Joe.”

“That can’t be good,” Walt said from his place by the fire. Both Danielle and Chris glanced over at him.

“Well, it can’t,” Walt reiterated. “We all know Joe has an over active imagination and a penchant for trying to pin crimes on attractive young women.”

Danielle flashed Walt a frown.

“It’s true—she is an attractive young woman.” Walt then turned his attention to Chris. “You know Chris, I’ve said all along Kelly was perfect for you. And tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. Since Kelly will probably be here for Valentine’s Day—can’t imagine she’ll head out tonight—you should really think about asking her out for tomorrow. Might help Ian and Lily too. From what I understand, Ian was planning some romantic dinner at his house, and with his sister now back in town, might spoil his Valentine’s Day plans. A win win for both of you.” Walt smiled.

The doorbell rang. Ian jumped up from the sofa. “Maybe that’s her!” He dashed from the room to answer the front door.

When Ian returned to the living room, a weary Kelly by his side, Danielle thought Ian’s sister looked as if she hadn’t slept in days.

“They searched my car.” Kelly burst out in tears.

“You let them search your car? Why?” Chris asked.

“They had a search warrant.” Kelly used the back of her hand to wipe away the tears. Ian led her to a chair. She sat down and then proceeded to tell them everything that had happened.

“Well, they didn’t find anything, and they let you go. So, that’s good. Isn’t it?” Lily said.

No longer crying, Kelly sniffled. “But they kept my coat. And it’s the one I got for Christmas.”

“I’m sure you’ll get it back,” Ian said.

“I just hope they don’t ruin it while checking to see if there’s some trace evidence of blood! As if I would actually cut a man’s throat!”

“I just wish you would’ve been upfront with me, when I asked you what you saw last night. Then we could’ve avoided all this,” Ian said.

“In fairness to Kelly,” Danielle reminded. “You’re the one who withheld information from the police first—not your sister.”

“I still can’t believe it was Mitch’s fingerprint!” Kelly shook her head. “And you know what, his name isn’t even Mitch.”

“He lied to you about his name?” Lily asked.

“Not exactly. His real name is Logan Mitcham. But he goes by Mitch.”

“Logan Mitcham?” Danielle asked. “Why does that name sound familiar?”