Flea Market Fatal (5 page)

Missy got held up longer than she wanted at the crop, helping Bev with what was still her first page of the day. After giving her some ideas about the layout, Missy thanked everybody for coming and met Noreen in the parking lot with her stuff. Cody bounced alongside of her and automatically jumped into the back of Noreen's car.

In the passenger seat, Missy took the phone out to call the vet. But before she could dial, her phone rang.

The name on the caller ID worried her. Mom. They’d just talked so if Mom was calling back this quickly, it meant something was up.

“Mom, is everything okay?” She shot Noreen a nervous look as her friend started the engine.

Mom said, “I just got a call from Tyler Brock. He’s on his way over.”

Missy shook her head. Mom was almost sixty and had bad arthritis in her hands. It was literally impossible for her to have strangled Switzer.

“We’re coming over, Mom.” She nodded at Noreen, who promptly threw the car in reverse and peeled out of the parking lot.

***

They arrived just as Tyler did. Noreen got into the driveway first, then Tyler parked next to her. He pulled up so he was even with Missy. Through the window he gave her a smile and it was like stepping into a time machine. The years melted away and Missy was back in high school, hanging out behind the bleachers after field hockey practice with him.

Tyler had always had such a dreamy smile. It was actually her favorite part of his look. The broad shoulders and trim body were great too, but she could have gotten by on the smile alone.

“He’s looking pretty hot,” Noreen said.

Missy was about to agree, when she remembered why they were here in the first place. Tyler had come to question her mother about Switzer’s death. When a confused look passed over his face, she realized she’d just been staring at him. Missy put on her poker face and got out of the car and waited for him, determined to challenge him before he even went inside.

Tyler slid out of the car and quietly shut the door. After he faced her, they stared at each other for a moment. Noreen got out and let Cody out. The dog came around the corner and sat in front of Missy, practically sitting on her feet.

Tyler smiled at her. “Hey, Missy. Looks like you two are getting along.”

Cody wagged her tail.

Missy pursed her lips. “What are you doing here?”

The smile slipped off him. “Official police business
.
I have to speak to your mother.”

“She didn’t do anything. She can barely make a fist with her right hand, her arthritis is so bad.”

Tyler frowned. “I’m sorry to hear that. My mother just had to get her knee replaced.”

For a moment they stood there silently, watching each other. The awkward moment stretched out, till Missy realized she was being impolite.

“Sorry to hear that.” Missy had never gotten a good vibe from Tyler’s mother. The woman had looked down at her like she wasn’t good enough for her son. Missy didn’t know why, but thought it was because of her weight or the fact that her father couldn’t seem to hold a steady job after the fiasco at the factory. “Your mother was always so sweet.”

“You’re a horrible liar.” He smirked. “You two never got along.”

“That’s not true.”

He brushed past her and smiled at Noreen as he headed to the front door. “Twice in one week, what a pleasant surprise.”

Noreen smiled back at him.

“Hold on, Tyler.” Missy hurried past him on the walk and reached the front door first. Mom opened it before she could.

Mom was wearing a great big sweater and an old pair of jeans that had lost their shape, with her half-eyes perched on her nose. She had always been petite and short, but lately it seemed like she’d actually shrunk. Anybody seeing the two of them next to each other would never in a million years think they were related. Missy towered over her, and of course was a lot
bigger
everywhere also.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Mom said. Missy threw her arms around Mom’s neck and gave her a big hug. “And look who we have here. Tyler Brock as I live and breathe.”

Missy let go of Mom and stood between her and Tyler in the doorway. She put as much attitude in her voice as she could muster. “Yes. He’s here on official police business, apparently.”

Tyler didn’t react. “Hello, Mrs. DeMeanor. It’s nice to see you again. Mind if I come in?”

Missy folded her arms. “Yes, we do min—”

“Of course, Tyler. Come right in.”

Mom opened the door wide and Tyler waited patiently for Missy to move out of the way. She shuffled sideways, but there wasn’t much space on the steps. Tyler had to sidle past her to get inside. As he did, she caught his scent again. He was freshly shaved and looked fabulous. Under the uniform, she could practically see all those muscles working…

“Excuse me,” Tyler said.

“Of course. Sorry.”

He slipped inside. Missy froze on the steps. She didn’t know what to do. She didn’t want Tyler talking to Mom, in light of what Mom had shared this morning. From the steps, she turned to Noreen and mouthed:

What do I do?

Noreen answered,
Go inside.

But what do I say?

Flirt with him. Take him off his game.

Missy nodded, thinking it a good idea. She went inside, leaving Noreen on the lawn with Cody.

***

Mom had made chocolate chip cookies. She had an uncanny knack for preparing a treat whenever an unexpected visitor stopped by. Mom offered Tyler one, but he politely declined.

“I’m going soft around the middle.” He patted his non-existent tummy and it made Missy mad. She hated it when thin people acted like that. They had no idea what overweight actually was, and what it was like to really struggle with the scale.

“Everything okay, dear?” Mom asked.

Missy dropped her scowl. “Yes. Sorry, just thinking about something.”

Mom kept her cheery smile in place. “Let’s sit down in the living room. Missy, would you pour us some water?”

Mom led Tyler out of the kitchen. Missy knew what she was doing: Mom was giving her a chance to cool off. She knew how touchy Missy could be about her weight sometimes. Missy took a deep breath and waited till she heard them talking in the living room before taking three glasses out and getting some water out of the tap.

Missy entered the living room, expertly carrying the three glasses in a triangle between her two hands.

“You waitressed for one summer and you still got it, huh?” Tyler asked.

Missy couldn’t help but smile. She loved that he remembered that otherwise insignificant detail about her life. Sitting on the couch next to Tyler, she put their waters on the coffee table. Mom reached out from the recliner to get her drink.

“Now, Tyler, I understand you have a job to do so I don’t want to keep you,” Mom said.

Tyler sipped his water and put it down on a coaster.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. DeMeanor, but I’m afraid I have to ask you where you were yesterday morning.”

Without even tasting it, Mom put her water down on the end table next to the recliner. She folded one leg over the other and put her hands in her lap.

“I was here all morning.”

Tyler took out his notebook, wearing an apologetic smile. “These days I have to write everything down.”

Missy’s eyes bounced back and forth between Tyler and her mother. For a moment she got déjà vu. Tyler and she had sat on this couch many times in high school, sometimes late at night without her parents’ knowledge…

“You didn’t go out?” Tyler asked.

Mom had to think about it. “No.”

“Are you sure about that?”

Mom frowned. “Yes.”

“I didn’t see your car outside,” Tyler said. “Do you keep it in the garage?”

“Yes.”

“Still driving the old Camry?” he asked.

Mom squirmed in her seat, her eyes wide. Something about Tyler’s questioning had alarmed her.

“Where are you going with this?” Missy demanded, hoping to slow Tyler down to give Mom time to answer.

Tyler ignored her question and kept his eyes on Mom. “Mrs. DeMeanor?”

“Yes, I still drive the Camry.”

Tyler looked away and scratched the back of his head. If Missy didn’t know any better, she would have thought he looked embarrassed.

“Mrs. DeMeanor, I spoke to your neighbor this morning. She said you went out yesterday, around lunch time.”

“Who told you that?” Missy asked.

Again he ignored her. “Mrs. DeMeanor?”

“I…forgot. I did go out.”

Missy had been ready to give Tyler a piece of her mind for ignoring her, but Mom’s answer stopped her cold. Like an owl, she swiveled her head around to peer at Mom.

“Where did you go?” Tyler asked.

“Just for a drive.”

Missy couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Since when did Mom go out for drives? She was a homebody and thought Sunday traffic was tantamount to rush hour.

Tyler leaned forward. “Where did you go?”

Mom shrugged. “Just around town, you know.”

Tyler nodded. “Anybody go with you?”

Mom answered quickly. “No.”

“Did you stop anywhere?”

“No.”

“Did anybody see you while you were out?”

“No, I was in the car.”

Tyler nodded. “I understand. I was wondering if you went to Main Street and maybe somebody saw you. You know, a lot of people are usually out and about there, even if you didn’t stop they might have—”

“No.”

“Tyler, I was at Switzer’s yesterday,” Missy said. “It’s a long two-lane road leading out there. I would have passed right by Mom if she was out there. I didn’t see her.”

Tyler finally met her eyes and there was nothing pleasant in his gaze. “She could have gone the other way. Like she said, she was out for a drive.”

“That’s right,” Mom said.

Tyler looked back and forth from her to me. “Why don’t you tell me about what happened between you and the Switzers?”

Mom grimaced. “I think you already know, Tyler. That’s why you’re here.”

“Mrs. DeMeanor, I don’t think you’re a killer, but I have to ask these questions or I wouldn’t be doing my job.”

“What about Cooper Merritt?” Missy blurted out. “Have you been to see him yet? Or Loretta? Or her new boyfriend? Have you talked to any of them? My mother probably hasn’t spoken to Albert Switzer in years.”

“Actually, that’s not true,” Mom said.

Missy looked incredulously at her. “What?”

“What do you mean by that?” Tyler asked.

“He called me.”

“When was this?” Tyler was taking notes again.

“Actually, it was yesterday morning.”

“What time?” Tyler asked, shaking his head.

“Around eleven.” Mom looked over at Missy and mouthed
Sorry.

“Around eleven?” Tyler looked up at her. “And right after that you went for a drive?”

She nodded.

Missy couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Why hadn’t Mom said anything about this earlier? Probably because she still felt the need to protect her own daughter. According to Mom Logic, the less Missy knew the better.

“What did you two talk about?” Tyler asked.

Mom shrugged. “He said he had to see me. But he wanted it to be in person. He said what he had to tell me couldn’t be over the phone.”

Tyler’s jaw just about dropped.

“Listen, Tyler. I think we need to speak to an attorney,” Missy said.

Tyler’s eyes drifted back to her. He said nothing. But his gaze was intense.

“You didn’t see your mother at Switzer’s house yesterday?” Tyler asked.

“No. I was the only one there.” Her tongue got tied when she realized how bad what she’d said sounded. “I mean, by the time I got there, I was the only one there. And there’s no way Mom could kill anybody, she can’t even make a fist. Tell him Mom.”

Mom kept her hands folded on her lap.

“Mom, tell him.”

Mom looked from Missy to Tyler.

Why wasn’t she saying anything? Missy was ready to scream, until the craziest thought popped into her head.

What if Mom killed Switzer?

Tyler held his palms out. “Mrs. DeMeanor, would you please tell me what you were doing yesterday morning?”

“I already told you, I was out for a drive.”

Tyler’s eyes bore into her, but Mom didn’t flinch. Finally he stood.

“Mrs. DeMeanor, I think you’d better come with me.”

“You can’t arrest her!” Missy shouted as Tyler guided Mom into the back of his cruiser. He didn’t respond to her challenge.

Noreen watched from the lawn while Cody barked her disapproval. Missy was absolutely mortified. She couldn’t help but look up and down the block to check for the neighbors, all of whom had nothing better to do and were watching them. In less than five minutes, the entire town would know that Tyler Brock had arrested her mother.

“This is insane, Tyler!” Missy got right in his face before he could get in the car. “I’ll call Dr. Weaver and in five minutes I’ll have a note explaining how she can’t even make a fist! How is she supposed to have strangled Switzer who has almost a foot on her?”

Tyler stared right back at her. “Excuse me, Missy.”

“You can’t do this!”

Tyler finally showed some emotion. “I don’t think she did it, but your mother gave me no choice! She wouldn’t answer my questions about her drive and it lines up with the time of death.”

“There was a twenty minute window, max, between when I talked to Switzer and when I got to his house. And Switzer didn’t mention anything about talking to my mother when I called him.”

“Why do you think that is?” Tyler asked.

“Why do I…” Missy really had no idea, but she wasn’t about to concede any points when her mother was sitting in the back of a police cruiser while the whole neighborhood watched. “You’ll be hearing from our attorney.”

Tyler nodded. “I didn’t want it to come to this, but you gave me no choice.”

As he pulled away, Missy watched him go and thought just the opposite was true. Tyler had given
her
no choice. Now she
had
to find the killer.