Along Came A Needle: A Mercy Mares Cozy Mystery (8 page)

She placed her bag on the counter top and started rifling through drawers, removing kitchenware and utensils. What could I say? They were probably hers.

After a few uncomfortable minutes of me watching her go back and forth, filling her bag and her pockets with various kitchen items, she stopped in front of me and said in a threatening tone, “Don't you say a word about me being here. If you know what's good for you, you'll remember to mind your own business.”

“Excuse me, but are you threatening me? I'm sorry, I thought we were grown women?” I couldn't help but say. I mean, last I checked, grown women didn't threaten each other.

“I think you understand English. Now, do what I say. No one needs to know about this. No one. If I hear otherwise, I'll have someone pay you a visit.” Alice continued with her threats.

I didn't know what to say. My past experience with this kind of situation was a big fat zero at best. No one threatened me, other than an occasion patient or two, who had been denied another dose of a medication they'd just been given. Just like coming between women and their prized possessions, no one liked to be separated from the feel good stuff and patient's medications fell into the category of feel good stuff. That was strictly a medical term, of course.

“Mom, your cell phone is ringing,” Diana stepped through the swinging doors. Noticing Alice and the expression on her face, she asked, “Are you okay in here?”

I nodded. “Sure, I'm fine. We were just chatting, weren't we, Alice?”

The glare I received in response almost made me laugh.

Diana waited for Alice to walk out before she reminded me about the phone call. “Mom, your phone. Its Nubbin.”

I took a deep breath. With everything going on, it had been a while since I'd spoken to Nubbin.

I took the phone. “How's my favorite former patient?”

“I don't want to hear that, Chevy. I want to know who you think you are.” Nubbin sounded angry, which normally wouldn't have been unusual for him, but this tone was slightly more pronounced. “You could have said something, instead of leaving me here to find out by myself.”

I pulled the phone from my ear to make sure that it was Nubbin that I was talking to. “I don't understand. Did I do something wrong, Nubbin?”

I started to wonder if this was due to his deteriorating memory. Nubbin and I met when I'd taken an assignment in Western Nebraska. He was and still is a nursing home patient. I'd met him under unusual circumstances and, despite all that happened during my three month stay there, I couldn't be more thankful for having met him.

Nubbin was complicated at best, but he truly had a heart of gold. This wouldn't be the first time I had to calm him down and I doubted that it would be the last. In fact, I hoped that it wouldn't be the last time. Nubbin was eighty-two years old and not getting any younger. He had a host of health problems and was fairly non-compliant with medications, but for him, like most, it was all about attitude. He may have sounded grumpy and went around giving those who took care of him a good scare every now and then, but he wasn't just sitting on his laurels waiting for illness to knock on his door either.

“All I know is that I don't appreciate being treated like a second class citizen and I'm about done with you. Next time, do me a favor and stay away from me.” Nubbin slammed the phone down, leaving me shocked and confused.

“Was he yelling? What happened?” Diana asked. “And, what was the cook doing here? I thought she got fired.”

“Honey, I don't know what's going on anymore. First, I thought that Flynn died, then I thought I saw a ghost. Now, I don't know anything anymore. Nubbin is mad at me and I have no idea why. You know what I want to do? I just want to cook, get my hands in some dough, and relax for a while. As soon as my car is fixed, we are leaving. Is that clear? I have had enough of this and I just want to go home and forget that it's my birthday.” My voice shook as I spoke. I needed a few minutes.

“Okay, Mom. Do you want some help?” Diana asked.

“No, I can do it. You and your Aunt Ruby should just have some fun. There's supposed to be some kind of ghost hunting tour here tonight, so you two can jump on board that crazy train.” I teased, determined to not sour another moment of this trip, if I could help it.

“I think I'll call Tina and see if she knows what's going on with Nubbin. I'll let you know later.” Diana walked out to make the phone call and let me wrap my head around what had happened.

Chip stepped back into the kitchen, the phone still to his ear. “They found out how Flynn died.”

I stopped short, gripping the counter. “What happened?”

“They think it's a homicide,” Chip answered.

“Homicide?” My knees went weak. “How could that be? He was here with us.”

Diana poked her head back into the kitchen. “Tina says that she doesn't know what's wrong with Nubbin. He just called your house and said that he's through with you.”

Charlie raised his voice, “Have you lost your mind, Mercy? You honestly think that you'll find something out by making cookies? I told you to leave this alone. Where is your car now? I can make some phone calls and see if I can get the parts out to you faster.”

I shot a sideways glance at Ruby because she was the one who took it upon herself to call Charlie again. I'd already said that I didn't want him involved.

“I don't need for you to do me any special favors. I'm fine and I was fine for a long time, long before you came around.” I hated to sound so mean, but that was the truth. He didn't need to come in to save me. I was capable of taking care of myself. And, who was he to tell me that I couldn't look into who killed Flynn?

“Mercy, do you hear yourself when you speak? I think Diana and Ruby would have been better off buying you a new pair of hearing aids for your birthday, because you obviously can't hear. While they're at it, they'd do well to invest into some common sense for you because you are plum out, my dear.” Charlie said.

“Don't call me 'dear'. I know what I'm doing. We can't leave. My car died, remember? Do you think I want to stay here? Believe me, if my car wasn't dead, I'd be out of here right now. I need to do this. You weren't with me. You didn't see what I saw. He was in distress. Ruby and I saw it, but I was so busy whining and complaining that I didn't pay enough attention. I could have done something. I should have done something.” That was the honest truth. Now that it had been confirmed that Flynn was dead and it was a homicide, I felt guilty for being so selfish.

Charlie breathed heavily into the phone. I just assumed that he didn't like to be challenged by a formidable opponent. It would only be a matter of time before he did something rash, so I had to come up with a way to stop him from hopping on a plane and coming in to save the day. He'd done that before, and while I appreciated that he wanted to help, I also didn't feel right getting him involved.

“Before I forget or you get yourself killed – whichever comes first – Nubbin is all up in arms about something, so you might want to reach out to him and see how he's doing.” Charlie and Nubbin were buddies. Since they lived in the same town, Charlie would make a point of checking in on him and making sure he was okay and didn't need anything.

“He just called me. Do you know what he's upset about?” I asked, hoping that would stop him from asking about my intentions here.

“Nope, but with Nubbin it could be anything. I haven't seen him much lately because of work, but I'll make a point of stopping by tomorrow and finding out. That is, if I don't have to go to California to save you from yourself.” Charlie said.

Diana asked for the phone. “Can I talk to him for a minute?”

Oh, that's a bad idea.

“Charlie's really busy now. He's working on a case.” I explained as I moved out of earshot of her.

“Mom, give me the phone.” Diana demanded, reaching for it.

Ruby snagged it out of my hand and gave it to her. “I swear, you are like a child sometimes. Let her talk to Charlie.”

I walked out of the room, knowing that Diana was going to fill his head with all sorts of information that I didn't need him to know just yet.

I sat down in the dining room, without thinking, and shot up as soon as I realized where I was sitting – in the same seat that Flynn had died in. It gave me chills to think about. I played the scene over again in my mind. Everything from the moment we sat down was odd. I could just see his face and the way beads of sweat dripped from his forehead.

“Oh, Mom, Charlie wants to speak to you,” Diana called out in a singsong voice.

I swear, I'm traveling with teenagers.
I suppose she told on me and was feeling pretty proud of herself for it.

“Now, what?” I asked as I put the phone to my ear.

“The cook threatened you?” Charlie's voice was shrill.

I glared at Diana. “No, not really. She just asked me not to say anything. It's no big deal, really. I don't know what possessed my dear child to share that information with you.” I answered.

“You need to mention that to someone. I know you won't, but you need to. I told you that digging into this is a bad idea. It's probably your worst idea yet. Why can't you just do what you're supposed to do and leave? I'm beginning to get the feeling that every time you go somewhere, someone dies. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear, you plan it that way.”

I rolled my eyes. “Are you calling me a murderer, Sheriff Wagner?”

“Well, if the glove fits...” Charlie teased, but I didn't find it to be funny.

“Are you enjoying yourself, Sheriff,” I groaned.

“Oh, lighten up. I'm just kidding with you,” Charlie said.

“Are we done yet, because I have a meal to prepare and I still have to come up with something for the ghost hunting group.” I had a plan in mind, but needed to make sure that the ingredients were on hand.

“You're cooking for ghost hunters? Well, now I've heard everything.” Charlie quipped.

“Calm down there, Mr. Professional,” I said in response to his sarcasm.

“I hear your ghost hunting too. That's how you got into this mess. Someone put a hex on your car. Oh, wait, that was Father Time, wasn't it? Your poor car should have been removed from life support decades ago.” Charlie joked.

My other line beeped. “Charlie, I have to go. As always, it's been a pleasure speaking to you. Next time I'm in a bind, I won't call you.”

He laughed. “Okay, but Ruby or Diana will, so I'll stay by the phone. Don't do anything any normal person wouldn't do. Try and keep your head above water on this one, please.”

I had plenty to say to that, but my line beeped again. “Hello?” I answered the other line.

“Sorry to interrupt your vacation, but I think Barney is sick,” Hank said.

“What do you mean? What happened?” I asked.

Hank answered, “Well, he's not moving.”

“What?” I screamed into the phone. Ruby and Diana moved in on either side of me. “What do you mean he's not moving?”

“Who?” Ruby asked me.

“Hank, tell me what's going on,” I begged.

He took a deep breath. “Sorry, I forgot who I was talking to. Ruby told me that you'd been on edge the last few days. Barney's not dead. He's just not acting like a normal dog. I can't get him to go outside. I can barely get him to move from his crate. He won't eat anything.”

“Whoa! Barney won't eat?” I knew then that something had to be wrong with him, because Barney may not have been like other Pugs, but he was about the best eater I had ever seen.

I sighed.
When it rains, it pours.

“Okay, call James. His next door neighbor is a veterinarian. See, if he can take a look at him, please. You know what, hold tight. I'll call him myself. Let me know if anything else changes. Has he had a fever? Any other symptoms?” I asked Hank.

“I'm a psychiatrist, not a doctor, Mercy. I don't know.” Hank answered.

I said my goodbyes and hung up the phone to call James and see if he could get in touch with his neighbor. The last thing I needed was to have my dog suffering at home while I was trapped in this circus of a town.

The doorbell rang. I closed my eyes for a second, hoping that it wasn't the curious crew of hopefuls, expecting to find a ghost.

“Who do you think that is?” Diana asked.

“We'll find out,” Ruby answered, peeking out the door. “Uh oh.”

I cringed. “What does that mean?”

“We're about to find out,” Ruby answered, backing away from the door to allow Chip to pass.

“Welcome our newest guest,” Chip stepped aside so that we could say hello.

Diana and Ruby gasped.

I couldn't believe my eyes. “You're the guy from the rest stop.” I said, feeling chills run up my spine. There was something about him that didn't sit well with me. He looked shady, like he was up to something. I didn't want him anywhere near me or my daughter.

“Hello, ladies,” the man smiled at each of us. “Forgive me, but I didn't introduce myself. I'm Jackson Lund. Nice to meet you girls.”

Girls? Who was he calling girls?

Diana gulped and stepped forward. “Yeah, hi. I'm Diana and this is my mom, Mercy, and my Aunt Ruby.” She shook his hand.

“Your mom and aunt? Really? Well, nice to meet you.” He shook Ruby's hand, then put his hand out for me. Instinctively, I took a step back. I wasn't ready to make nice with him just yet.

“I thought you were supposed to be visiting your dad. Wasn't he ill or something?” I asked, remembering what he'd told us at the rest stop.

Jackson's lips formed a smile, but the look in his eyes didn't mirror that same smile. He didn't like me and I was glad, because I didn't very much like him either.

“My dad and I had a bit of a tiff. It happens. Long story. You know how it goes. There aren't too many places around here that have spare rooms, aside from the Green Farm, and no one wants to stay there.” Jackson smiled.

“You're right there. Mom wouldn't even step foot in there.” Diana answered.

Jackson smiled a genuine smile then. He took pleasure in my fear. I'd have to pay close attention to that, if he was going to stay here with us.

Paul walked into the dining room. “Hey, is that Jackson Lund? What in the world are you doing here, buddy?” Paul gave Jackson one of those manly hugs that weren't true hugs at all. “When did you get out?”

It was my turn to gasp.