High noon, p.13
High Noon, page 13
“You may not understand this, but the town has a certain balance to it. And every time someone new traipses in, looking to stay, that balance is disrupted,” Ginny said in a clipped tone.
“Well, they have to find their place to fit.” I offered.
“Just because you forced yourself in doesn’t mean you fit,” she snapped.
“I’ve every right to be here,” I replied, my own anger bubbling to the surface. “Just because your brother is the law in this town doesn’t make you in charge of the rest of its affairs. No matter your family’s history.”
She slammed her oversized mug down on the counter, its contents frothing up over the edge as she turned to glower at me. Before she could say more, the front door opened and Monica reappeared, the scent of cigarette smoke trailing in her wake.
Our conversation was over. The waitress fixed both Ginny and I with a questioning stare before she headed back into the kitchen. Ginny’s posture shifted and she turned away from me. I had overstayed my welcome.
“Right, well, uh, thanks for the chat,” I said and stood up from my stool. The fire that had been burning hot in my belly had died down with the interruption.
“I’d say it was a pleasure, but that would be a lie,” Ginny called in a sugary sweet tone as I left the café behind. She really had a bizarre relationship with the concept of truth.
I paused outside the window and caught Gerry’s gaze tracking me. I offered up a small wave before I departed. I knew I should head back to Maggie’s and regroup with her and Tania. But I needed to clear my head. I did an about face and headed toward the pier. I’d spent more time at Ginny’s than I’d expected. It was almost five o’clock and most of the stalls would be closed by now. But empty was what I needed. For the first time since I’d come to Brookhaven, I felt claustrophobic. There were too many people with their watchful gazes and eavesdropping ears.
I made it to the boardwalk just as the sun touched the horizon line, turning the sky above me to pale shades of pink and purple. It reflected off the water, creating a picturesque image that I could envision some savvy photographer capturing to put on a postcard enticing travelers to come here.
I tried to sort through what I’d learned about Vera and McKenzie. The latter had gone missing after Vera’s last posts on Facebook, but before her last Instagram photo with the engagement ring. The timing did seem to coincide with Walter’s original missing person's ad in the paper and the website he’d created. So maybe she’d decided she would rather be Vera Chase with the rich fiancé than McKenzie Lawson and she’d taken off.
I still couldn’t pin down why Walter would wind up killing her. Unless it had been an accident. Except the cut vine and the strangulation pointed to planning. He hadn’t just come onto Tania’s property, clipped a length of vine, and brought it with him unless he planned to use it. But there was another option. Maybe Vera’s fiancé was mad she’d run off with that ring and he’d been the one to kill her.
Almost on cue, I heard the wooden boards of the pier groan under another person’s weight. I pivoted to see the silhouette of a man standing a few feet away. He turned long enough for me to verify it was Walter before he startled like a deer caught in traffic and bolted.
Interesting. Had he come here to think, too? This was the second time I’d seen him here. I started after him, but lost him before I’d made it past the spot where Maggie and I had shared lunch. No one should be able to move that fast. Not naturally anyway. Could he have some sort of supernatural ability, too?
Vera had been almost offended when she’d discovered me attempting magic. If her own brother had abilities, surely it wouldn’t have led to such a reaction. Unless his power is what drove her away. Given my own experience, that was a real possibility. I was still no closer to unraveling this mystery and it frustrated me.
But maybe I had an avenue open to me that I wasn't seeing. If Walter had come here twice, perhaps he would again. I could stake out the pier early in the morning. If he was looking for other ways to calm himself, seeing a beautiful sunrise without other people around was one way to do it.
As I wound my way back to Maggie’s, I resolved to be up before the sun in the morning and track Walter down. I was going to get him to tell me what he was still doing in town. If I was lucky, I might just land a confession.
16
I’m not normally a morning person, yet I was up even before my phone buzzed at me to get out of bed at five o’clock. I did my best to pull on clothes and a light jacket—being near the water was still chilly even in the summertime—and crept past Maggie snoring softly on the couch. I spotted Beau lounging on the back of the furniture.
“Oy, come along you. I need your help today,” I whispered and held out an arm for him.
He blinked twice at me before crawling along the back of the couch and up my arm. He nestled against my neck and the familiar weight of him buoyed me as I went in search of a potential killer and thief. Main Street was appropriately deserted at this hour. Most businesses didn’t open until eight or nine and their owners didn’t live far from them. There was no need for them to be up now.
“You know, I was kind of annoyed you weren’t home during the break-in, but now that I’ve had time to think about it, I’m glad you weren’t. You could have gotten hurt,” I told the reptile.
‘Camouflage.’
There was a hint of derision in the word as it echoed in my head. As if he wanted to add ‘you stupid woman,’ but hadn’t quite managed it. “I know you can hide, but still. Not even you’re impervious.”
I took a leisurely pace to the pier, hoping my hunch that Walter would be there panned out. As I walked, I took in the beauty of the place I now called home. If I’d gone out at this hour in the city, there would have already been hundreds of people clogging up the streets, rushing to the tube for work or coming home off a night shift. There would have been noise and pollution. I’d been raised in that environment and yet it hadn’t struck me til I’d come here that the slower pace of small town life was really more my speed.
I reached the pier and at first glance it was deserted, just like the rest of the main thoroughfare. I could wait. Although if I’d been smart I would have packed a thermos of coffee to keep me company. Unfortunately, there weren’t any retail chains in town and even Ginny’s, while doing earlier hours than most businesses, was not open yet, either.
“You’re interrupting my 'me time,'” Sam’s voice came to me on the breeze.
“Didn’t come looking for you,” I told him as he materialized beside me. “I’m looking for someone else.”
He arched a brow at me, and I took in his skintight outfit. It wasn’t one I’d seen before and was devoid of most of the bright colors and sparkles he was prone to. I really ought to ask him how he managed to change outfits when he was a ghost. Though now was not the time to indulge my curiosity. “Well, I know you’re not out here looking for Maggie. Not even the dead could wake her at this hour.”
“Tried it, have you?” I quipped.
“Maybe.” He flashed a cheeky grin. “So, if you’re not here looking for the town’s eligible healer, then who are you looking for?”
“Vera’s killer. Or at least her brother, who I’m hoping can shed some light on what happened to her.”
“Oh honey, trust me being dead isn't’ all it's cracked up to be. And I’ve kind of got the whole house haunting down to a science. I don’t need you messing up my mojo.”
I waved off his sass. “Relax, I’m not planning on getting myself murdered. Anyway, like I said, I’m really just hoping Walter can tell me why he’s stuck around town and give me any hint about what really happened to Vera.”
“And you’re here because …?” Sam trailed off.
“I saw him here last night and earlier in the day. For some reason he seems to like the pier, so I was hoping he’d show up again.”
“I haven’t noticed anyone today. What’s he look like?”
I took out my phone and pulled up one of the photos on McKenzie’s page. Sam leaned in close. “Hmm, now that I think about it, I have seen him. He’s come down here in the morning the last couple days.”
“Great. Where have you seen him exactly?”
“You really think confronting him is a good idea?"
“I told you, I just want to talk to him. I’m not going to flat out accuse him of anything. But there’s something that feels off about this whole thing and if I don’t figure it out, it’s going to drive me mad.” I stowed my phone. “Now, tell me where you’ve seen him.”
Sam pointed to the far end of the boardwalk. Maybe Sam had distracted me or maybe Walter had some sort of teleportation magic after all, because I could swear I hadn’t seen him standing there a moment ago. Yet, a male figure stood staring out at the horizon line. Daybreak was just beginning to color the sky in vibrant shades of orange, as if burning the darkness of night away. It really was beautiful. I could see why Sam liked to come out here so much. I closed the distance and upon closer inspection, confirmed it was indeed Walter.
I inched closer, my foot landing on a squeaky board. Walter’s head whipped around and he visibly shrunk away from me. Guess those pot gummies weren’t doing anything to calm his nerves now.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you,” I said, holding my hands up in a placating gesture.
“You’re the girl from the dispensary,” he said.
“That’s me. Darcy,” I replied and took another step or two closer. He glanced my way and I could tell that his eyes were a little glassy. He was high, which could work to my advantage.
“What are you doing here?”
“Just out for a walk. I find it’s peaceful out this time of day,” I said, coming to stand beside him. “How about you?”
“It was her favorite time of day and she loved the water,” he murmured.
“Whose?”
"What?” He seemed to catch himself before he added, “Sorry, I mean it’s my favorite.”
No, you didn’t.
“You aren’t from around here,” I said.
“What gave it away?”
“The New York address on your license,” I replied.
“Oh. Yeah, I guess that would do it.”
“I’ve seen you around town for a few days, but I know for a fact there’s only one lodging house in town. Where have you been staying?”
If he was put off by my direct questioning, he didn’t show it. “There’s a hotel a couple miles outside of town, on the highway.”
Probably the same one Vinnie and Chief Hayes had offered to foot the bill for Tania and I after the break-in. Could it be where Vera’s fiancé was holed up, too?
“Did you know her?” His question felt like a non sequitur, but it gave me an in to talking about Vera. Or McKenzie as he knew her.
“You mean Vera, the girl who was killed? Not too well. She’d only been around a week or so. But we were both staying at the B&B.”
Tears welled in the man’s eyes. “I haven’t been able to get her out of my head,” he admitted.
“Me either,” I said, leaning into it. “But I mean, you’ve got no reason to worry about her. It’s not like you knew her.”
“I thought I did,” he sighed.
“You met her before she died?” I knew he had.
“I’ve known her all of her life,” he said. The marijuana was making his lips loosen.
“Oh. You were good friends then?”
He gave a sad laugh. “No, she’s my sister. She wasn’t exactly proud of our family. I miss her.”
“Well, surely you’ve spoken to the police, then. Let them know there’s someone to claim her.”
“I …” he trailed off into silence.
Why wouldn’t he go to the police? Was he afraid to face what he’d done? Or was it just too much for his psyche to actually see his dead sister’s body? I let the question drop.
“Well, I’m still very sorry for your loss. There’s going to be a memorial on Saturday. Will you be staying to attend?.”
“They’re honoring a version of her I never knew. It would be like walking into some stranger’s funeral,” he said.
“What makes you say that?”
“I don’t know a Vera. I know McKenzie. And she wouldn’t lie about who she was, no matter what she was going through.”
I wanted to ask what he meant by lying, but his interaction at High Time came to mind. “Before she left New York, did she ever mention a boyfriend? Or someone serious like that?”
“No. But in all honesty, the last few months before she took off, we weren’t really talking much. If she was seeing someone, it’s news to me.” He swallowed. “It’s going to sound strange, but I can’t shake the feeling that she’s still out there. I know she’s laying in a morgue, but it’s like, I don’t know, maybe her spirit is lingering?”
“I’ve heard weirder things,” I answered and glanced in Sam's direction. He remained invisible to Walter’s eyes. “Maybe getting her belongings back would give you some sense of closure?”
“Maybe.”
“I’m sure once the police are done with their investigation, they’d be happy to release them to you. Was there anything you were hoping to get back?” A ring perhaps.
“She had some jewelry that I think our mother would like to have back.”
Not what I'd expected to hear, but it could encompass a fancy engagement ring. I didn’t know their family dynamic. That was the way I would lure him in. Offer up the ring and see if he showed up. Then I could force him to admit the truth.
“I hope you get it back,” I said, sensing it was time to make my exit.
“I just wish I knew why she told me she didn’t recognize me,” he sighed.
I stopped mid-motion. “Maybe she was just surprised to see you.”
“No. It was like she didn’t even know me …” He trailed off into silence again.
I took a few steps backward, letting him fall back into his own head. He’d admitted he’d seen Vera at least once. I still hadn’t asked Sage about that video footage. Now seemed like as good a time as any to sort that out. It was curious he didn’t know about her fiancé, though. Maybe she’d created the Vera persona to hide the relationship? I still didn’t have a clear motive for why Walter would be the one to kill her.
I left Walter to watch the rest of the sunrise in peace as I swung by Ginny’s and got a muffin to go, arriving just before 9:15 at High Time. The back door was locked when I arrived, but I pulled the spare key from its hiding spot and let myself in. I didn’t expect to find anyone else in the building, especially since Thomas had confirmed he’d patched things up at home, but I walked into the employee area to find Sage standing there.
“Hi boss,” I greeted. Maybe it was the universe's way of saying I was on the right track, putting us both here so early.
“Oh, hi, Darcy. I didn’t hear you come in. I thought I’d locked the back door.”
I headed for my locker as I said, “You did.”
“Oh.”
“What are you doing here this early? I thought everything was prepped last night for when Thomas and the others come in,” I noted.
“I posted Vera’s job online and I’ve been getting a bunch of applications. Vetting them is taking longer than I’d like.”
“Oh? I didn’t think the process was so complicated,” I noted.
“Yeah, well, it turns out I didn’t do such a great job with Vera. Chief Hayes came by asking questions about a name I didn’t recognize, attached to Vera’s picture.”
“Oh, how weird.”
“So, now I’m taking extra precautions.”
“Speaking of weird things, I’d heard her argue with a customer not long before she died. I told all of this to Chief Hayes and reminded him you’d probably have video footage. Did he ever ask about that?”
Sage let out an exasperated sigh. “I knew I was forgetting to do something." She rubbed at her forehead. “Might explain the two missed calls from Vinnie last night."
“Why don’t you just go do it now?” I suggested, silently hoping she wouldn’t mind if I tagged along.
“I probably better do that. Do you mind coming with me? You would know the timeframe better than I would.”
Part of me wanted to tell her she should just give them all of the footage for that day, but I wasn’t going to argue about getting a chance to see Walter’s confrontation with Vera.
“Of course. Anything I can do to help.” After a beat, I added, “Are there any cameras in the grow room?”
“No, although maybe there ought to be with everything that’s been happening lately,” Sage answered.
I shut the door to the locker and followed her back into the office. I peered at the computer screen as she tapped away, bringing up two different camera angles. She found the files from four days ago and brought them up, turning to look at me.
“When was it again?”
“Oh, uh, around ten or eleven.”
She fast forwarded at 1.5x speed until she hit 10:00. She hit play and I watched as a few people came in and out. Then, I spotted Walter walking up the street. I didn’t think he realized he’d been caught on camera as he walked inside. On the interior camera I could see him step up to the counter and engage with Vera. Her face visibly darkened as he spoke to her. I could see him reach a hand across the counter to touch her, but she pulled away.
He lingered for a moment before turning and leaving again. It hadn’t been a long exchange, but it was enough to give Chief Hayes a real reason to track him down. Especially as the video played on, revealing me taking over and then Vera stepping outside the dispensary a short while later. Other passersby milled around on the periphery of the camera’s range. They were mostly blurry silhouettes and people in profile. They likely hadn’t even realized what they’d seen.
I leaned in closer, watching as she started down the street. Tania intercepted her just within frame and they stood on the sidewalk talking for a few minutes before Vera vanished from sight. Tania disappeared in a different direction about thirty seconds later. I studied the video and spotted Walter walking after Vera about half a block back. He’d gone after her again. I thought I spotted a phone in his hand, before he too, vanished from the camera’s view. Did he find a way to track her? Is that how he had ended up here in Brookhaven? The messages he’d gotten on his website had been vague on location. Just the right state. The clip ended as a few other people crossed the street. I thought I caught a bearded man move through the frame, strolling at a leisurely pace, hands in his pockets. Could that be Vera’s fiancé?
