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At least I knew that Ed Parsons or the barmaid, or both, lived in that house. I wondered if they would be at the afternoon’s meeting at the X. I applied fresh lipstick and made sure that my forehead bruise was amply covered with makeup. My hair sprang up in all directions, but figured that no one would care.
“The store will be fine,” Max reassured me. “Don’t worry about a thing.”
“I’m know. You know how to handle sales? The inventory for each house is still pinned on the inside cabinet or else the binder.”
“Got it.”
I was nervous for some reason. Who was the woman last night, fleeing Gina’s? So familiar looking. I stepped outside to wait and checked the street. Then I checked the locks twice. Aaron should’ve been here by now, so where was he? I walked to the end of the alley and looked toward home but didn’t see the car. I scratched my head, hiked to the corner, and looked in all directions. Not in sight. I turned on my heels and went behind the store, where I stood next to my car, wondering what to do. Finally, my phone rang, and I thought for sure it’d be him. It was Grandma. I hesitated, then answered.
“Grandma? What’s up?”
“Aaron took a run over here because I needed help. He’s on his way. Just giving you a heads up.”
“Why?”“Grandpa fell, and but he’s fine.”“Good grief. What happened?”“He tripped while climbing the stairs. He’s fine.”
“Okay. Put him to bed.” I heard a car and saw Aaron approaching. “He’s here. I’ll get back to you.” As soon as he stopped, I opened the door and climbed inside. “Just hung up from Grandma. How’s Grandpa?”“It was nothing. He’s fine. A little bump on the noggin.”I touched my forehead and said, “Must be going around.”Within a few minutes, we were entering onto Interstate 35-W and heading east into St. Paul. We crossed the Mississippi Bridge, and it wasn’t long before we drove into the lot and parked.
“Do you think the impersonators will be here?”
“As in Ed Parsons? Better known as John Muir? Probably.” Aaron grinned.
“You read my mind.”
Hand in hand we hiked across the entry way and inside of the building, and followed the signs to the meeting room. I recognized several people in the room, other venders and organizations who had booths at the Expo. The speaker was up front, checking his microphone and making sure the projector was on and her laptop working. There was a large number of rangers, and I recognized a few.
“Let’s get started,” the speaker said, and cleared her throat. “I’m Dot Nelson, and welcome.” She glanced around the room. “I see a few impersonators here. Sarah Page as Annie Oakley, Ed Parsons as John Muir, in the back, and Robert Coons as Buffalo Bill. Thank you for coming.”
Aaron nudged me. “Don’t even think about talking to Parsons.”
“I won’t,” I scowled. I couldn’t help but to glance over to where he sat and realized that Pam Simons, barmaid, was beside him. I had learned her name only that afternoon, during my online search.
Dot Nelson’s talk was about event security and how to improve it, and also for us to give our feedback on how the exposition turned out. Most of us thought everything went well, and that sharing the event with Minneapolis had been a good idea. Ideas for next year’s expo were explored. When the topic turned to splitting up the parks by sections of the country, I sneaked a trip to the bathroom.
Pam Simons, the barmaid, was washing her hands at a sink as I left the stall. I ignored her and went to another sink. I thought she was ignoring me, as well, but as I dried my hands, she said in a low voice, “If you ever follow me again, you’ll regret it.”
“I won’t.” I caught sight of her face in the mirror. Her eyes burned like fire, frightening me. “I promise.” “I know people who can take care of snoops like you.” She opened the door with a flourish and marched out. I stared after her. “Good grief.” I waited a minute, then left and went back to join Aaron. I immediately leaned, trembling, into his shoulder where he placed his arm around me. I was happy when the meeting wrapped up soon after and we left.
“What’s up?” Aaron asked as we left the building. “You’re like a scared rabbit.”
“Pam Simons threatened me in the ladies room,” I said. He pulled back and stared at me. “She told me to never follow her again—or else.”
“Liv, you could easily be the next victim. Don’t speak to anyone. Don’t make eye contact. Period! Understood?”
“Yep.” I wiped my eyes.
“I’m getting you home,” he said. He took hold of my arm. “We’ll throw in a movie and finish that chicken soup.”
“Okay, but what about Grandpa?”
“Give him a buzz on the way home, but I’m sure he’s fine.”
Aaron steered me toward the car, and opened the side door and closed it once I’d positioned myself. He walked around, opened his and climbed in, and turned on the engine. I gave Grandma a quick call as he drove from the lot and out into the street.
“He’s fine,” she assured me. “Just a slight headache, and he just woke from a nap.”
“Good.” Fortunately, we were exiting soon because it was rush hour traffic time. “I forgot to tell you, last night I saw a light on at Gina’s and went over to check it out. I was in the backyard and a woman rushed out of the backdoor and ran off. She didn’t see me.”“Recognize her?”I shook my head.“I thought the doors were locked,” Aaron said. “Me too. Odd, isn’t it?”“I better call it in.”Once we were home, he stayed in the kitchen to
report the news to the detectives, while I went to log into my laptop. I brought it into the living room, settled myself, and turned on the TV. I heard Aaron’s footsteps, and turned toward him.
“What’s up?”
“Someone’s going to take a look, and then stop over.”
“Okay.” I opened my laptop and punched in the website address for each of the impersonators and searched through their event calendars. Every last one of them had an event in Medora or nearby at the time of that attorney’s death. Satisfied, I logged out, poured myself a glass of ice tea, and joined Aaron outside on the patio.
“They all were nearby at time the lawyer was murdered. I’m sunk. Now what?”
“You leave it to the cops.”
“In the meantime, I need a bodyguard.” I sighed and took a sip. “Tastes good.”
“Supper?”“Sure.”We finished our drink and were ready to fire up the grill when Aaron’s phone buzzed.“It’s a couple of patrol officers. They’re out front. I told them to come on back.”As if on cue, two uniformed men walked around the side of the house, and introduced themselves.
“Officer Polski.” He showed his badge.“Officer Newby.” She did the same.“Was anything out of the ordinary?” Aaron asked.
“Have a seat.”“Want a glass of ice tea?” I asked.They declined.“We found this,” Officer Polski flicked a card from
his pocket. It was sealed inside a small plastic bag. “It’s got your store name on the front.”
“It’s one of my cards.” My eyes opened wider. “Now I recognize her. I remember handing her that card. It was Ida Gray, Gina’s aunt, that I saw!” I crossed my arms. “Okay, I’m angry about it, but why was she there lurking about? Where did the key come from? She told me that she didn’t have one.”
“Some people lie to fit their needs, ma’am.”
“That’s for sure,” I agreed. I stared at the card. “Anything written on it?”
“Nope. Only what’s printed on the card.”
“It must’ve fallen from her pocket.” Officer Polski stated, and slid it back into his breast pocket. “We’ll turn it over to the detectives. Someone will be in touch.”
We watched as they walked back around the side of the house. “Why would she do that? Sneak into the house like a common thief?” I asked.
“She’s after something.”“What, though? Do you think the ledger book is what she’s after?” I said. “I bet she’s in search of the lost land deed from TR.”
“Possibly. What about our figurine?”
“I’m taking a look at it soon. There must be a clue on it, leading to the deed.”
We had our easy meal of burgers before retiring for the night. I woke many times, always checking on Gina’s house. My thoughts circled between the two symbols, and the plat book stating where TR owned property. Eventually I fell asleep and woke to rain showers. Birds chirped approvingly.
I was happy that it was Saturday morning, and I didn’t have to rush so much. The store opened at eleven instead of ten, which gave me more time to plan my day, and it also closed earlier, at three. I hoped we’d be able to visit my grandparents after closing.
“Going to be my bodyguard today?”
“Nope. Marie’s going to sit with you.” Aaron kissed the top of my head. “I have to report in and probably work overtime.”
“Grandma? I was wondering how they were doing.”
I went to dress for the day. The clouds were breaking apart, and the sun peeking through, so I decided to walk. Aaron and I kissed goodbye, and I headed out the door. As I walked, my thoughts returned to the card. I should’ve known it was Ida fleeing from the house, but the question is, why?
I kept walking, past Pracna and further until waiting at last for the final light for me to safely cross.
Max’s truck was parked out back, which relieved me. I hadn’t realized how much I didn’t want to be alone. I texted him the moment I opened the back door and entered to let him know that I was there. I dropped my bag and went out to the shop in front.
“Hi, ladies.” I stopped near Eleanor Roosevelt’s doll. “How are you today? Have you written your column, My Day?” She wrote it everyday between nineteen thirty-five and nineteen sixty-two, except the four days after your husband died. It must’ve been hard to keep it up.
The counter looked empty without the purse and pistol taking center stage. I wondered if I’d ever see them again? I got the computer humming and logged into my website. The person who’d left the nasty comments, hadn’t taken my bait, and no more had been left. I posted a message that I hoped would help flush out the killer. It read: Come and look at our dollhouse of the White House during the Teddy Roosevelt era. See what new arrangements First Lady Edith Roosevelt added. I closed out, hoping for a quick response.
The next part of my plan was to begin to dig deeper in my search. I had just logged into a site when Max entered.
“Glad you’re here.” I smiled at him. “I don’t like being alone.”
“No problem.” He grinned. “I’m going to box up a few extra houses, plus get the inside furnishings together and boxed. That’ll keep me busy for most of the day.”
“Thank you,” I answered and was reminded again of Max’s suggestion for another employee. The phone rang and I answered. “White House Dollhouse Store, how may I help you?”
“Ida here. I’m calling to say thanks for looking after Gina’s house. How about coming out for a cup of tea or coffee or a soda? Then I can pay you back for all of your kind work?”
I was stunned and stammered out a replay. “Sure. Sounds like fun.” Well, it certainly would be interesting. Business was slow, anyway. Plus, it would give me a chance to discover the reason behind her entering Gina’s house the other night. “I need your address and what time?” I jotted it down, and told her I’d be at her house at three. It’d take me about twenty minutes to get to her place, I reckoned, since it was near the Xcel Convention Center. I sent a message to Aaron so that he’d know my afternoon schedule. I got up and went to locate Max. I peeked inside the workroom and saw two boxes stacked as well as the counter loaded with miniature furniture, but no Max, as he was having a smoke outside.
“I hope the person who applies will be a history nut,” I said. I looked up at him, and had to hold my hand up to block the sun’s rays. “I bet it’ll be slow today because people will be out walking and having picnics.” I started gathering my things together for home.
“Leaving early?” He dropped the finished cigarette to the ground and crushed it out with his sandal sole.
“Yeah. I’m going to visit Gina’s aunt. She invited me to come around.”“Be careful. Sounds suspicious,” Max said. “What’s the harm in a cup of tea or coffee?”
“Poison. That’s the harm.”I laughed. “See you later.” I turned on my heels and left. I pushed the thought out of my mind as I hiked back home. Poison? Good grief! Why would anyone try to poison me? After reaching home. I walked through the house to make sure that all was well at the Reynolds’ household, and then jumped into my car. I keyed the address into the GPS and drove from the driveway.
I became more anxious as I drove because of what Max had said about poison, and that made my throat dry up. I stopped at a small store and bought a bottle of raspberry flavored water before continuing toward Ida’s. I cursed Max for putting the notion in my head.
She’d told me that the bright yellow house on the corner was hers, so I easily found it and parked on the side street. She was sitting out back, on the patio. “Hi, Ida.” I waved with one hand, holding the water bottle in the other. “Got some ice?” I figured ice cubes would be safe in my drink.
“Good to see you. But, put that away, I’ve already made refreshments.” She nodded toward the pitcher and empty glass displayed on the patio table. Wow. If I was the paranoid sort, I’d really be worried.
“I already opened it, sorry. I was really thirsty since I’d walked home from work before I could get the car.” I sat in an opposite chair and reached for the filled Northwest Airline glass of ice cubes. “I’ll have a drink of your ice-tea when I’ve finished this.” I smiled and hoped that appeased her. “What a lovely day, isn’t it?”
“Are you busy in the store?” She crossed her arms and cocked her head. “I bet everyone’s outside and it’s slow. That’s too bad.”
“It’s been busy. Ebbs and flows.” I shrugged. “Tell me, how are things going with the house and the will? Anything new about the solicitor’s death?”
“Everything’s in the air. The police have interviewed Harry, Sunflower and me. As if I’d want to murder him.” She shivered.
“Your property is right beside Gina’s, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s been in the family for over a hundred years. So has Gina’s. Our families did everything together. Our joint properties date back to the days of Roosevelt.”
“It didn’t seem as if Harry and Gina even knew each other, or Sunflower, for that matter. They seemed distant, as a matter of fact.”
“They loved each other but living side-by-side sometimes can cause difficulties, such as cattle branding and helping with the chores. Kind of like brothers and sisters.”
“Oh. Never thought of that.” I hesitated and sipped my drink. “I thought I saw a light on over at the house the other night, so I called the police.”
“Oh my.” She eyed me over her glass as she sipped. “Did you ever find a set of books? Or ledger?” “I did find a couple, but left them there.” That’s where the deed’s hidden, the books. “Wait a minute. Actually, I do have them. I’d forgotten all about them.”
“They belong to me.” She glared at me. “When can I get them?”
“I’ll bring them to the store,” I said. “I see Aaron wants me to make a stop on the way home. Mind if I use your restroom?”
“Nope. Not at all. It’s right to the left of the kitchen.”
“Be right back.” I hiked inside, and headed straight to the room. Once inside, I opened the cabinet and took several pictures of prescription bottles. I did my job and hurried back out. “Now I must get home. I have plenty to do.”
“Okay. We’ll have to do this again when we both have more time.”
“Thank you.”
We parted and I didn’t feel at ease until the engine started humming and I had drove away from the curb. I didn’t know why she’d put me so on edge, then realized that it was most likely caused from leaving my bottle unattended.