High noon, p.12
High Noon, page 12
“What is it they say, that killers often return to the scene of the crime?” she noted.
“Yeah, but this felt different. I can’t put my finger on it, but he seemed almost nervous. He kept looking out the window. Like he thought someone was watching him.” I took another bite. “And it’s weird he’s still in town.”
“He may be waiting for the police to release her body, to take her home to bury her,” Tania offered.
“Maybe.” I took another bite. “Sage and the rest of the staff are organizing a small service for Saturday. If we can find proof that Walter is the killer, maybe we can lure him out. Make sure Vinnie and Chief Hayes are there to arrest him.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” she chided.
“You’re right.”
We lapsed into silence as we both ate our meals. Having Tania back on my side was a bigger relief than I’d expected. Thinking it through, I could understand her hesitancy to tell me about the large sum of money she’d come into possession of. I could also get that she was embarrassed by the solvency of the business. I wanted to do something to help her turn around the business, but I was at a loss for what to do.
“I know things have been disrupted with Vera’s death, but how has communicating with the plants at the dispensary been going?” Tania broached.
“Poorly. I was making some progress the day Vera died. But since then, there’s only been radio silence. Like, even when I’m not trying to get them to react to me, I can still hear them in the back of my mind. They’re just waiting for me to listen closely. Except, now I can’t even hear that.”
“That’s odd. Perhaps it’s a stress reaction,” she said with an unconcerned shrug.
“Is that a thing? Have you ever just lost your magic, because you were stressed? I mean, forgive me for sounding indelicate, but having your business at risk seems like a pretty stressful situation and I don’t see you not being able to feel people’s emotions.”
“I also have three decades more experience with my power than you. When I was first learning to control it, there was a lack of consistency for a time. I can’t say for certain that it happened as a result of stress, but magic is a natural part of a person’s being. I don’t see why it would be any different from stress causing other physiological symptoms.”
“Maybe. It just feels strange to not have that connection, especially in a town where it seems like everywhere you turn people have powers. Like, can Tyson teleport or something?”
Tania shook her head. “Tyson had an unfortunate accident where he accepted a cursed object and it blinded him in one eye.”
That explained the eye patch.
“He now uses some crystals and a truth spell placed on the shop to gauge his customers better.”
“Who put the spell on the place?” I didn’t think it was relevant to the problem at hand, but it was fascinating.
Tania snickered. “Ginny of all people.”
“I don’t believe that. That woman is the epitome of hyperbole.”
“While I don’t disagree with you on that last point, it is true. Ginny is a fairly powerful witch, when she chooses to use her gifts for good and isn't spending all of her time stirring up controversy all over town.”
“Speaking of people all over town, do you think the break-in has made its way through the gossip mill? I saw our neighbors looking when the police showed up.”
Tania made a show of checking the time on the clock over the stove. “By now, yes. I think that cat is out of the bag.”
There was very little I could do about that. Time for a different subject. “I managed a look at Walter while he was at the shop today.”
“And what did you find?”
“If he was the one who broke in, either he is really good at cleaning his shoes or he brought another pair. And his hands were clean. No cuts or marks like Chief Hayes is looking for.”
“Maggie does sell healing products at the clinic. It’s entirely possible he went in while she was working before we knew any of that information,” Tania offered.
“Chief Hayes had a similar thought about me.”
I made a mental note to show Maggie Walter’s picture when I saw her next. She might be the key to breaking this whole thing wide open. Before I could think about it more, the alarm on my phone buzzed. I’d set it to remind me to pay Ginny’s a visit and see if I could learn anything from her.
“Thanks for lunch. It was fantastic,” I said.
“It is nice to have someone around who appreciates my cooking.”
I stood to leave and she cocked her head to one side. “I thought I saw limited hours at High Time.”
“It’s closed for the rest of the day, but I’ve got an errand to run.”
If Walter stuck around through Saturday, I doubted he would stay beyond Vera’s memorial. Two days felt like a long time and yet I knew it was no time at all. I had to use every avenue available to hunt down the clues.
I made my way toward Ginny’s, but stopped when I spotted a man loitering outside of High Time. He kept peering through the front window, even though the sign obviously said ‘Closed.’ I darted across the street and tapped him on the shoulder.
“It’s closed for the day. You’ll have to come back tomorrow. We open again at ten,” I said.
The man faced me and I reflexively took a step back. He looked eerily like Vera’s fiancé from the photos I’d seen. What is he doing here? It couldn’t be a coincidence that both he and Walter were in town at the same time. Had he been the bearded man I’d seen at Ginny’s last week? The one making Vera so nervous.
He pointed to my High Time shirt. “I’m guessing you work here?”
“I do. But like I said, we’re closed.”
“I’ve just got a couple questions.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a crisp fifty-dollar bill. “Consider it overtime.”
“Any questions would be better directed to the owner,” I said, unease washing over me.
“It’s nothing too difficult, I promise. I just want to know if this place does a lot of business.”
“We do all right. Why?” I didn’t want to answer his question and yet I felt almost compelled to reply.
“Well, I heard you all lost an employee suddenly and I might be in the market for a business venture.”
“I can ask the owner if she’s looking to take resumes.”
He shook his head. “You know what, I’m good. I’ll come back another time.” He pressed the fifty into my palm. “Thanks for your time.”
He flashed me a sly grin before heading off down Main Street. I wanted to toss the money. It felt wrong somehow and yet, I found myself pocketing it anyway. I’d been so thrown off by his questions, I hadn’t even remembered to look at his hands to see if they bore any cuts, healed or otherwise.
I now knew that Walter and Vera’s fiancé were in town. Had they come looking for her together? Had she been trying to get away from both of them? What motive would either of them really have to want her dead? Had she lied about her identity? She’d clearly done well to keep both her persona as Vera and that of McKenzie separate. Maybe her fiancé had discovered the lie and come to confront her about it before her brother caught up to her. Or maybe they’d both been involved.
I'd thought I had a handle on what might have happened to Vera. Now, all I had was more questions.
15
My head was spinning by the time I walked into Ginny's. It was quieter than usual, but Ginny still occupied her spot at the middle of the counter. I couldn’t just go up to her and ask what she knew about Walter or Vera’s fiancé. It would be too obvious and she would see it coming. So, I found an empty table for two and sat down. I would never turn down a cup of coffee and it would let me build the courage to suck up to Ginny.
A redheaded waitress whose name tag read Monica stopped by to offer me water and take my order. She had to go back to the kitchen for a fresh pot of coffee. As I waited for her return, I considered the fact that Ginny, like me, was a witch. Given what Tania had told me about the Hayes family dating back to the Salem Witch Trials, I was surprised Ginny hadn’t led with that when we’d first met. Maybe she didn’t brag about it to tourists. Her having magic did raise the question of what type of witch she was. If her magic was linked to truth, that would seem to be more of an emotional power, like Tania’s. Could I cast spells like she had on Tyson’s establishment? Or was that only reserved for certain types of power? I hadn’t seen Tania cast any spells. I couldn’t say for certain whether what Maggie had done in trying to guide my memories was actual spell work. I was just so new to all of this. And then the realization that she was capable of casting a truth spell sent me into a minor fit of giggles. It seemed so out of character for the woman who shared whatever rumors floated by her with anyone who’d listen.
“I’m so sorry to hear about what happened at Tania’s,” the gentleman from the library said from the next table over.
I blinked at him, not registering that he was actually talking to me at first. “Thanks. We weren’t home.” I said.
“Just awful. This town has always been such a safe place. I can't imagine who would want to do something like that,” he said, shaking his head.
“I’m sure the police will find the culprit,” I offered.
He laughed. “Wouldn’t bet money on it. That chief is useless.”
“Oh, be quiet, Gerry,” Monica said as she came by with a mug and the coffee pot. To me she said, “Don’t mind him. He’s just bitter he didn’t think to run as opposition.”
“I still got votes,” Gerry protested.
“Because you voted for yourself,” Monica sighed with an eye roll. “Let the poor girl drink her coffee in peace.”
The commotion had drawn Ginny’s attention. Her blonde ‘do bounced against her shoulders as she cast her gaze my way. I tried to ignore her and prayed she would at least let me finish one cup of coffee before launching at me. Yes, I wanted to pick her brain, but I intended to do it on my own terms.
Mercifully, she seemed to agree and turned back to her prior conversation. I contented myself with taking slow pulls from my mug. As I drank, I people watched. I hadn’t intended to pick a table with a clear view of the front entrance, but here I sat. Aside from Gerry to my left, there was only one other occupied table on this side of the restaurant with a couple of tables filled on the far side. It must just be a slow afternoon. I half expected Walter or Vera’s fiancé to materialize, yet the door remained firmly shut.
Slowly, the other patrons began to cycle through. Gerry sat at his table, nursing his own mug of coffee that Monica came by and refreshed twice while I finished mine. She refilled my mug again and I handed over the fifty Vera’s fiancé had forced on me and waited for the change. Monica was going to get a generous tip today just so I didn’t have to carry the money around. For whatever reason, Gerry seemed intent on staying as long as I sat there.
“Can I ask you something?” I finally said, leaning across the back of the booth seat to address him.
“Sure,” he said, setting his cup down.
“I noticed you reading an out-of-date paper earlier. Why is that?”
Gerry chuckled. “I’ve been out of town a while.”
“The paper doesn’t have an electronic version?” I noted.
He scoffed. “You, young people and all your computer nonsense. Newspapers are meant to be enjoyed firsthand. The smell of the ink, the texture of the page.”
“So, you are what, reading them one by one until you’ve caught up?”
“Precisely.”
“Well, I hope you’re able to get current. I’d hate to be perpetually three weeks behind,” I said with a laugh.
“I’m a fast reader,” he said with a self-important nod.
I laughed and turned away from his seat. The rest of the shop was deserted. It was as good a time as any to grab Ginny’s ear. Also, with fewer people around, there would be less chance we’d be overheard. I heard Monica tell the kitchen staff she was going on a smoke break. The door separating the kitchen from the main eating area swung open and shut behind her.
I pushed myself out of the booth and moved to sit beside Ginny, waiting for her to take notice of me. She drummed her nails on the ceramic handle of her oversized coffee mug without looking at me.
“Hi, Ginny,” I finally said.
She made a show of turning to look at me, feigning surprise that I now sat beside her. “What brings you over?”
Like you don’t already know.
“I wanted to make sure you knew about the service the High Time staff is holding for Vera on Saturday. I’m sure everyone would be grateful to have one of Brookhaven’s most prominent families showing their support.”
“Sage already asked me and yes, I am going to be there. She didn’t need to send you to confirm.” Her gaze narrowed. “Then again, I don’t really think she did.”
She took a slow sip from her mug. “You know, I feel just terrible for Vera. Poor girl, being murdered like that. How awful.” She stopped and leaned back. “Then again, I don’t have to tell you that.”
“I know it’s probably none of my business, but you seem to have your finger on the pulse of what’s going on in town and you seem to be the first to know when new people come through. Almost like magic. And I had heard your family was prominent for a reason. Something about the Witch Trials?”
I hoped buttering her up, acting as though I was in awe of her talents, would loosen her lips. At the very least it got her attention. She pivoted on her stool to look at me directly.
“There have been Hayes family members in this town since the early seventeen hundreds. Our power and influence have shaped this town. And it is our duty to make sure it stays safe.”
“And people come to you, because you know what’s going on,” I continued. “Surely, you’ve got some idea of what’s really happening here?”
Her dark gaze narrowed in my direction. “What are you getting at?”
“I know I’m new around here, but I think we both know that I didn’t do anything to Vera. No matter what other people have told you. And I certainly didn’t break into the B&B. But I’m betting you’ve got a theory on who did.”
She batted her long lashes at me. “I might. But I don’t see why I’d share it with you. Especially when you’ve made my poor brother’s life so complicated.”
“Stop being a tease, Ginny. Tell the girl what she wants to hear,” Gerry called.
“Mind your own business Gerald,” Ginny snapped.
I didn’t need him butting into the conversation, but if it got her to tell me what she knew about Walter or Vera’s fiancé, I’d allow it. Ginny sat there contemplating what she wanted to share with me for a long time. She tapped her hands on the rim of the coffee cup in front of her and took a sip, the contents still high enough to slosh about.
“I think that Vera was leading some sort of double life and it finally caught up to her,” Ginny finally offered.
I stared at her in stunned silence. Could we really be of the same mind? It was plausible she’d heard about the second identity from her brother or Vinnie. The latter wasn’t exactly careful about leaving evidence in easily accessible locations. But maybe she had spoken to Walter and managed to worm her way into his head and extract information without him noticing.
“Interesting. Wish your brother believed that,” I sighed.
“He’ll stop hounding you eventually. I just don’t think he likes you,” she said with a knowing smile. “He’s protective of his job and he doesn’t need some amateur sleuthing around, messing up his case.”
I’m not messing it up!
“I’m not trying to mess anything up. Trouble just seems to follow me,” I murmured.
“Some of us are just born unlucky, I suppose,” she responded.
“So, let’s say for argument’s sake that we can agree I didn’t do it. Who would you think is a likely suspect? She talked about a brother once or twice,” I fibbed. “Seemed not to get on so well with him.”
“Well, I don’t know about any brother. I didn’t really talk to the poor girl much while she was alive. But I may have seen some new faces in town the last week or two besides her. One might have even asked about her.”
“What did they want to know?” I pushed.
“A man with that sort of purposely scruffy facial hair look came by asking about her. Honestly, I don’t see why people think that’s attractive.”
That sounded like Vera’s fiancé. So, he’d come asking about her. But I was sure I’d heard Walter argue with her the day of her death. Both men had come to High Time after she’d been found, even if Vera’s fiancé hadn’t gone in. None of this was adding up.
“Did anyone you talk to happen to mention if that guy or anyone else they didn’t recognize were lurking about places they weren’t meant to be?”
“Isn’t that the definition of a stranger? They’re somewhere they aren’t supposed to be?” Ginny drawled.
She had a point, as irritating as it was. This little interrogation was not going at all like I’d hoped. Sure, she’d confirmed there was more than one new face in town and that Vera’s fiancé had specifically asked around about her. But that didn’t help me pin down who might have killed Vera.
“Did you happen to notice if the new faces popped up around the same time?” It was entirely possible that Walter found Vera and let her fiancé know and he showed up later.
“Are you looking to form a newbie club or something?” she mocked.
“What? No, I just … never mind,” I answered.
She let out a long huff. “I might have noticed a couple of new guys come in a day or two before the news broke about Vera getting murdered. Mr. Scruffy was one of them.” Her tone had an air of irritation, almost like she had unwanted guests lingering in her home.
I knew for a fact neither man had left town yet. And she wasn’t happy about their lingering presence. If I could nudge Chief Hayes in the right direction and get both of these men out of town, maybe I could find my way into Ginny’s good graces. Then she’d stop spreading rumors that I’d done all manner of criminal acts.
