Moss Hysteria (25 page)

Marco let go of my hand. “Go ahead. You do the honors.”

I ripped open the paper and found a metal sculpture of a giant purple daisy with a yellow center on a long green stem punctuated near the bottom by two giant leaves. The flower sat in a big yellow bucket filled with brown-tinted plaster to keep it from tipping over. I liked the flower but still didn't understand why Rosa's help had been needed. Mom had worked with metal before.

I walked over to hug Mom. “Thank you. I love it.”

“We thought it would look pretty on your front porch,” Mom said, beaming.

Marco was right behind me and gave her a hug, too. “It'll look great there.”

We thanked Dad next, who said, “I'd like to take credit for it, Abracadabra, but it was all their doing.” He pointed to Mom and Rosa. “I was just their support team.”

I walked over to Rosa and hugged her. “Thanks. It's perfect.”

“I'm glad you like it.” She leaned close to whisper, “Your mother wanted to make you a giant chicken mailbox. That was when I volunteered to help.”

Ah.
Now
it all made sense.

Monday

When Seedy and I arrived at Bloomers the next morning, I could hear Lottie's booming laughter coming from the back of the building, where she was probably preparing the Monday-morning breakfast. Seedy sniffed the air then hobbled ahead of me straight through to the kitchen. There, wearing an orange scoop-neck blouse and an orange print skirt, was Rosa entertaining Grace and Lottie with the details of our housewarming celebration.

“I did not think Abby would appreciate a giant yellow chicken in front of her house,” Rosa said, and they all laughed.

“Nor would the neighbors,” Grace added.

“Rosa to the rescue again,” Lottie said as she stirred the eggs.

Again?

“Here is Abby now,” Rosa exclaimed. “Did you put your big daisy on your porch?”

“It's on the back patio,” I said. “I forgot we have rules about decorations for the front. Nothing over three feet high.”

“That's too bad,” Lottie said. “No one will see it in the back.”

“I guess the chicken would have worked after all,” Rosa said, causing another round of laughter.

At ten o'clock, Marco phoned with news on the investigation. “The forensic results came back on the garden shovel, Abby, and I'm afraid they're not what you were hoping to hear. Dirk's DNA was found in the seam where the handle meets the spade, and Theda's was found on the handle itself.”

“It is her shovel, Marco.”

“But no one else's DNA showed up.”

I rubbed my forehead, thinking. “Well, okay, so the killer wore gloves. It doesn't mean
Theda
killed Dirk.”

“But it does mean she will be arrested today.”

“T
hey can't arrest Theda based on that. It's completely circumstantial.”

“But taken with everything else, they have a woman with the means, motive, and opportunity.”

“Mitzi has all that, too!”

“Abby, you know how the DA's office works. That doesn't mean Theda will be convicted, and it doesn't mean we stop investigating.”

“But it does mean she'll be humiliated in front of the whole community. We can't let that happen.”

“
We
don't have a say in it. All we can do is find evidence pointing to the true guilty party. Let's head out to Rye's neighborhood at noon and see what we hunt up in the way of alibi witnesses for him.”

Poor Theda! I ended the call and tried to focus on the next order, but I was so distraught I finally told my staff I had to leave for a few minutes. Throwing my purse strap over my shoulder, I dashed out the door and practically jogged across the square to the police station.

“Hey, beautiful!”

I turned to see Connor MacKay, the crime reporter for the
New Chapel News
, coming up the walk behind me. “Hello, MacKay,” I said with a curt nod.

“Looks like we've got ourselves a serial murderess. And to think you've been living next door to her.”

I really didn't want to take the time to talk to Connor, but that statement had me seeing red. “You're one hundred percent wrong, MacKay. The DA is on a witch hunt, that's all. Do you want to know why they arrested Theda?”

“Can I quote you?”

“You bet.”

He pulled out a minirecorder and clicked a button. “Start talking.”

I gave him a story to print, ending with, “And put in your piece that Marco and I have collected proof and are almost ready to name the real killer—and it's not Theda.”

“You know the DA won't be happy about this,” he said with a grin.

“That's what I'm hoping. I want to shake him up. He's got the wrong person in jail, and we'll prove it.”

“When?”

“By the end of the week.” I don't know why I said that, but there it was. Marco would not be pleased when he read it in the paper.

“Thanks, freckles. This will be in tomorrow's edition of the
News
.”

•   •   •

“I need to see Detective Wells,” I told the officer behind the window in the small entryway. “It's an emergency. About a case she's working on.”

“And you are?”

“Abby Knight Salvare. Salvare Detective Agency. You know me. I've been here before. My dad was Sergeant Jeffrey Knight. Please tell Detective Wells I need to see her right away.”

“You just missed her,” the officer said. “She went out on a call about three minutes ago.”

Damn!
“Do you know where she was going?”

“You know I can't give out that information.”

I pushed the door open and stepped out into the sunshine. I had to warn Theda.

I phoned her as I hurried back across the square, but the call went to voice mail. That meant I'd have to leave a message and hope she got it in time—or had the police already been there?

“Theda, leave the house,” I said into the phone. “Go somewhere, just don't stay home. The police want to arrest you. If you get this message in the next ten minutes, I'm on my way.”

I rounded the corner onto Michigan Avenue where the parking lot was, only to see that my yellow Corvette wasn't there. In a panic, I dug out my phone again and called Marco. “Where are you? My car's not in the lot.”

“I'm at the restaurant supply store. What's up?”

“I need my car, Marco. I. Need. My. Car.”

“Whoa, slow down, sweetheart. What happened?”

“I need to get to Theda's house before Lisa Wells arrests her—and you have my car!”

“Abby, you're getting squeaky. Calm down. Do you really think you're going to convince Lisa not to arrest Theda? Based on your gut feeling that she's innocent? Lisa might arrest you, too, for interfering with police business.”

But at least I could try—and I couldn't even do that because I didn't have transportation. I was so frustrated I stamped my foot, causing a couple walking past to cast me curious looks. “I want my car back!”

“I'll be there in fifteen minutes, and then we'll go to Theda's together, okay?”

“Fine.” I hung up and threw my phone into my purse. Then I remembered our rental van. I hurried back to Bloomers, only to find that Lottie hadn't returned from making deliveries. So I paced in front of the shop, waiting for Marco to show up, getting angrier by the second.

“Abby, are you all right?” Grace asked, stepping outside.

“I'm waiting for Marco. There's been an emergency with my neighbor.”

“I'm sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do?”

“Just manage the shop for me.” My phone rang and I grabbed it. “Theda?”

“Guess again,” my cousin said cheerily.

“Jillian, I need to keep my line open. I'm expecting an important call.”

“You'll get a beep. Anyway, I've got great news for you.”

“What?”

“You don't need to snap at me. Your living room suite is ready to be delivered. How about I schedule it for tomorrow while you're at work and you can be surprised when you get home?”

“Fine.”

“Aren't you excited?”

I took a breath and blew it out. “Yes, I'm excited. I'm just in a little bit of a rush right now.”

“You leave everything to me. I promise you'll be amazed when you get home tomorrow.”

Amazed? I hoped that was the word I'd be using.

I saw Lisa Wells drive by in her green Volkswagen Beetle heading toward the police station—and no one was with her. Maybe she hadn't gone to arrest Theda after all. Maybe I could still prevent that from happening.

“Okay. Thanks, Jill. Gotta go.” Stuffing my phone into my purse, I hurried after Lisa's car.

By the time I reached the station, Lisa was on her way to the back entrance. I called her name and she waited for me. She was not smiling.

“What is it, Abby?”

“Lisa,” I said, trying to catch my breath, “you can't arrest Theda Coros.”

“Can and did.”

“She's in jail?”

“Being processed.”

“You've got the wrong person, Lisa. Theda isn't the killer.”

She folded her arms over her black blazer. “Is that so? Then who is?”

“I don't know yet, but Marco and I are this close to solving the case.” I held up two fingers and made a pinching motion.

“Have you uncovered evidence proving Theda's innocence?”

“No, but—”

“No
but
s, Abby. The prosecutor believes he can make a case against Theda, so if you can prove otherwise, bring me the evidence right away.”

“What happened to innocent until proven guilty?”

“That's for a jury to decide.”

“You know that's a cop-out. I thought you were a better detective than that.”

“And
you
know that telling a suspect to flee is considered aiding and abetting.” And with that, she pulled the door open and walked inside.

I stared at the door, debating what to do next, but I was stymied. So I turned and headed back to Bloomers, where I found Marco leaning against my yellow car, arms crossed as though
he
was the one who was put out.

“You're too late,” I said. “Theda's at the jail right now being booked.” Giving him a furious look, I walked around my car and straight up to Bloomers' door.

“Abby.”

“I don't want to talk right now.” I went inside, headed directly to my workroom, stepped into one of the coolers, knelt down among my flowers, put my hands over my face, and cried.

A few minutes later Lottie came in and crouched down in front of me, putting her hands on my shoulders. “Sweetie, what's wrong?”

I wiped my eyes and sniffed. “I'm frustrated, that's all.”

“Frustrated about what?”

“It's too long to go into.”

“This is Lottie you're talking to. Come on. Tell me what's causing these tears. This isn't like you.”

It
wasn't
like me. I didn't cry when the going got tough. I merely got going.

Perhaps Lottie was right. Perhaps what I needed was to get everything off my chest. So I took a deep breath and let it out. “I wanted to spare my neighbor Theda the trauma and embarrassment of being arrested and hauled off in handcuffs, but I couldn't get to her in time because Marco had my car once again and you were out with the van. And I can't find evidence to prove Theda's innocence.” I started crying again. “What if I'm wrong, Lottie? What if Theda is the murderer and my gut instinct is wrong about everything?”

“There now, sweetie,” Lottie said, holding me.

“I really want to enter the flower show, Lottie, but I don't have time. And I'm afraid my living room will be a disaster when Jillian finishes with it. And I'm tired of Rosa getting all the glory—”

I heard a muffled gasp and looked around to see Grace, Marco, and Rosa standing just outside the open door. Rosa turned and ran off, the back of her hand pressed against her lips.

“I never would have said anything about Rosa if I'd known she was here.”

“Maybe it was something she needed to hear. I'll go talk to her.” Lottie got up and traded places with Marco, who held out a hand to help me up.

I walked straight into his arms and wrapped mine around his solid rib cage, breathing in his familiar calming scent. “How much did you hear?”

“From ‘Marco had my car once again.'”

I opened my mouth to speak, but he put his finger over my lips. “No. Don't apologize. Just come with me.”

He led me outside to my car parked at the curb.

“We're not supposed to use up a customer parking space,” I said.

“It'll only be for another few minutes. You apparently didn't notice that Toyota parked behind the 'Vette when you came across the street.”

I turned just as Marco's brother Rafe got out of a silver Prius. My mouth dropped open. “You bought a car?”

“I wasn't at the restaurant store, Abby. Rafe and I were picking up my new ride.” He dangled my car keys. “This one's all yours again, Fireball.”

Practically jumping for joy, I threw my arms around him and gave him a big hug. Pocketing the keys, I ran my hand along the Corvette's shiny yellow trunk, over the black ragtop, and down the hood. I had my baby back.

Marco came up behind me and put his arms around me, kissing me on the cheek. So I turned and gave him a proper kiss. I glanced over at the shop and saw Grace and Lottie at the bay window, beaming. Standing far back was Rosa.

I put my keys back in Marco's hand. “Would you drive my car to the parking lot? I need to go apologize to Rosa.”

“Anything for my Sunshine.” He turned to call to his brother, “Take the Prius to the lot. I'll follow.”

Rafe got inside and gunned the engine, causing Marco to yell, “Be careful!”

Rafe gave him a thumbs-up and pulled away from the curb. Marco got into my car and gunned the engine, then winked at me and drove after Rafe.

I watched them turn the corner. Then I headed back inside to have a talk with Rosa.

•   •   •

I found her in the first cooler, pulling stems for a new order. She came out and placed them on the table. “Congratulations on the new car,” she said, forcing a smile.

“Rosa, I'm sorry for what I said earlier.”

“It's okay. Lottie explained that you have been very stressed.”

“Then we're good?”

She lifted one shoulder as she prepped a blue ceramic vase. “I suppose so.”

“What does that mean?”

“I don't understand what you mean by
the glory.
What did I do to get all of it?”

How could I explain without offending her more? As I stood there pondering, she said, “It's okay. I will keep my nose out of your business from now on.”

“That's not what I want.”

She put down the green foam and faced me. “Then what do you want? I am very confused.”

I opened my mouth to explain but couldn't find the right words.

She waited a moment, then went back to the vase. “Never mind. It will be fine.” I opened my mouth again but still couldn't think of anything to say that wouldn't make the situation worse. So I plucked a new ticket and went to choose my blossoms. And that was how we finished the day.

If things weren't bad enough at the shop, I then had to face Theda's empty house when I got home. She had sent a message through Dave Hammond asking me to take care of Kitty for her and giving me her garage door code to get in. Poor Kitty was so distraught, meowing and searching all over the house for Theda, that I brought him and all his trappings back to my house. There, at least, he would have company. And Seedy was overjoyed to have her best friend there.