Strung Out to Die (15 page)

I’m no expert, but I think that was just a tad bit unsafe.

Agnes moved around exactly the way I remembered. She crept around the kitchen cleaning up what looked like the remnants of breakfast. The sound of the percolating coffee sounded inviting, but the smell was even better.

“Help you with what, honey?” Agnes asked.

“I’m looking for that no good ex-husband of mine, and I thought he said he was coming here this morning.” I lied.

Sean didn’t tell me he was working here, but Agnes didn’t know that.

“I need to get my alimony money to pay my rent.” I continued to lie. “But he’s not here?”

It would seem like I was up to something if I told her the truth.

“Haven’t seen him. I even had Marlene drive over to his house, but she said he didn’t answer the door and his truck wasn’t there.” Agnes poured herself a cup of coffee without offering me a cup.

“What time did he say he was coming?” I wanted to know exactly what he said.

I replayed what Agnes had said at the Diva meeting about Sean killing Doug for more business. It just didn’t add up. Sean would never kill just to pay me alimony. He would do anything not to go to jail, and I had threatened to turn him in on several occasions. I wasn’t really going to do it, and harmless threats are just that…harmless.

Until someone shows up dead on your floor.

“He came over and looked at what that no good Doug Sloan did and gave me an estimate to fix it.” Agnes pointed to the half wall and broken kitchen tiles. “Said he would be here early this morning. I got up and got ready.”

Agnes ran her hand over her turban and flicked the feather.

“That’s the last you heard from him?” I asked, trying to jog her memory.

“Not a peep since. Sean’s always been here on time when he says he’s coming.” She tapped her wristwatch. The numbers were so big that I could see it from where I was standing. “That’s why I sent Marlene over with a batch of my fudge.”

Ah, that was what she was cleaning up. I saw her delicious chocolate fudge on the cooling rack on the counter. My mouth watered, because I knew Marlene would be bringing some to munch on at the shop, and I’d get a piece.

“Where is Marlene?” I looked around and listened closely.

She couldn’t be far. The yellow gem she toted around was propped up all nice and shiny on the marble mantel, as though it were on display.

Sean had something to say about Marlene before the tape was shredded, and I needed to find out what it was.

If she were around, I would have heard her heels clicking on Agnes’ hardwood floors.

Agnes walked into the family room and almost sat on the glass coffee table, until I gently guided her to the chair.

“Oh, thank you. My eyes aren’t as good as they use to be.” She pushed the turban a bit to the left. “Have you lost weight, Holly Harper?”

I straightened my shoulders and sat up a little taller. Did she really notice some weight loss? Had all my work started to pay off?

“I’ve been working really hard to.” I confirmed. “I’ve been walking Willow around the lake, and meeting Bernadine to walk when she can.”

Agnes reached over and took her glasses off the side table. I jumped when she looked at me. They magnified her eyes ten times.

“There.” She opened and closed her eyes as if she was trying to bring the room into focus. Her eyes narrowed. “No, I guess you haven’t. I tell you, my eyesight is about shot.”

If I could’ve become one with the couch, I would have. I slumped down into the cushions.

“Go on. Take a look at what that Doug Sloan did to my house.” Agnes adjusted her turban again. “I think it’s awful, them saying you killed Doug Sloan and framing Sean for it.”

“They said? Who said?” I asked, trying to steady my heart to keep it from leaping out of my chest.

There wasn’t strong enough evidence to charge me. Well, they did find the body that was strangled with my beads in my shop. I guess I’d believe I did too, if I weren’t me.

“All you have to do is give them your cell phone.” Agnes rocked back in forth in the rocking recliner.

“Why would a cell phone help?” Now I knew Agnes Pearl wasn’t only blind, but out of her mind.

She mumbled a few words, but my mind and eyes couldn’t stop looking at that yellow Spinel propped up on the mantel for everyone and their brother to see. Marlene had been carrying it around with her since the day I first laid eyes on her, and never let it out of her sight.

Odd.

There had to be some story behind it, otherwise, she wouldn’t want to disguise it in a beading wrap.

“What did you say about a cell phone?” I asked again, taking my eyes off the sparkler to concentrate on what Agnes had to say.

“I said they can track your cell phone. Don’t you keep it on you?” She looked at me like I had two heads.

Embarrassed, I tilted my head down in shame.

“Um, I don’t have a cell phone.” I mumbled.

“Who doesn’t have a cell phone these days?” Agnes scolded me. “Damn. I guess you are a suspect if they can’t place you anywhere else.”

This cell phone situation was really becoming an issue. Maybe I need to take a trip over to Cell City Shop and at least take a look at them.

Agnes eased herself out of the recliner and moseyed into the kitchen. She refilled her mug and then stared out the window. She did seem a bit nervous; I could see she was rubbing her hands together.

“Where is Marlene?” I asked, and walked up behind Agnes.

I had to know what Sean wanted to tell me. Maybe Marlene was a piece of the puzzle.

Peering over her shoulder, and looking into the luscious garden, I saw Marlene with a shovel and a man wearing a gardening hat.

“There she is.” I stepped back and headed toward the back door.

“Marlene!” I waved to her from the back door.

She said a couple of words to the man, peeled off her hot pink gardening gloves, and walked up to the house.

“Holly, what a nice surprise.” Marlene’s jaw clenched with every chew on the wad of gum in her mouth.

“We need to talk.” I walked out the door and turned to face her. “Did you talk to Sean?”

“Yes. He was here yesterday to give Agnes an estimate on the kitchen.” She wrapped the gum around her pointer finger, and stuck it back in her mouth.

“Pearl said you went over to his house and he wasn’t there.” I wanted to confirm that I had Agnes’ story straight.

As sane as she might seem, some days, Agnes did get details mixed up.

“When he didn’t show up, Agnes wanted me to check on him,” she said, and then blew a bubble.

“Did you and Sean talk?” The message he left on my machine was starting to haunt me. “He left me a message and said your name right before the machine ate the tape.”

“He wanted to know if I had anyone who could get him an out-of-town job.” She said.

“And…” I arched my eyebrows, indicating that I needed more information.

“I told him about a couple places in towns where I used to live that might be interested.” She shrugged her shoulders.

None of what she was saying made any sense. If he needed work, he could stay in Swanee because he was the only contractor available with Doug…well, six feet under. If he needed to leave town, that was another issue entirely.

“Where exactly would that be?” I asked.

As I thought about it, I couldn’t recall her ever telling me or any of the other Divas where she was from.

“Over in South Burrow.” She gestured like the two hour car ride was right across town. “When he didn’t show up today, I figured he went there. Noah even stopped by to talk to him, and of course, Agnes said he was missing. She spilled her guts.”

Marlene leaned in a little closer.

“Between you and me, I bet that good for nothing ex of yours killed Doug and the heat is on. I think he skipped town.” Marlene whispered and nodded her head.

“Marlene, that’s not Sean’s style.” I whispered back.

“Desperate times bring out the worst in people.” She batted those fake lashes, and cracked her gum. “You said he’s been acting strange.”

I took a step back, and looked closely at Marlene. How do I know she wasn’t trying to take the heat off herself? And I had yet to ask about her meeting with the two women at the pier.

“Hey, do you think you could go open the shop? I’ll pay you overtime.” I said, hoping to entice her.

I knew I couldn’t afford to pay Marlene overtime, but I had no time to waste. I had to find Sean.

“When you do talk to Sean, tell him he needs to come get this work done. Agnes already paid him for it.” Marlene blew one last bubble before she walked into the house and let the door slam behind her.

“Hi.” I waved to the gardener on my way out.

Before getting into my car, Jim and Ginger’s van pulled up and parked in Agnes’ driveway. I waited by my car for her to get out.

“What are you doing here?” I looked back and forth between the two of them.

“Agnes wants a couple security cameras installed. We’re getting calls left and right.” Ginger put her hand on my arm. “Holly, you should really think about getting cameras for the shop.”

“I’ll think about it.” I knew it would be a good idea, but they cost so much.

“We’re going to put cameras in the barn and possibly on the outside of the cabin.” Jim said.

Ginger hit him on the arm.

“What?” Jim’s forehead curled as he spoke to Ginger. “I told you to tell her.”

“It’s no big deal.” I couldn’t believe Ginger hadn’t told me. “It’s your property. I’ve got to get going.”

I waved and put on a fake smile before getting into my car. I was a little annoyed at the fact they were putting in security cameras at the cottage. I understood they were looking out for their property, but what about my privacy? Doesn’t that count for something?

Noah Druck needs to solve this case fast before the whole town turns on each other, wondering if their neighbors killed Doug. One person was holding the answers I needed.

Sean.

What would Veronica Mars do? Would she go to South Burrow to find Sean or wait for him to show up?

The last time I went to South Burrow was right before The Beaded Dragonfly opened. The South Burrow Daily interviewed me about being the only lapidary in the area. In order to see the article, I had to go to South Burrow and buy the paper at the Piggly Wiggly.

Yep.

It looked like I was making a trip to South Burrow before self-defense class tonight.

Chapter Twenty-two

I tried calling Sean a few more times before I finally made my decision to drive the two hours to South Burrow. I still hadn’t gotten a hold of him, and I was beginning to panic.

In a moment of weakness, I called Ginger’s and left a message for Jim to meet me at the shop later this afternoon. It was time to invest in those cameras.

I didn’t dare tell her I was going to South Burrow to hunt for Sean. She’d only try to talk me out of it and tell me that Marlene was trying to take the heat off herself.

Even if Marlene was involved, Sean’s behavior was out of character.

The two-hour drive didn’t help to clear my head. I came up with all sorts of scenarios on why someone would kill Doug and who would want to. It still didn’t make sense for Sean to do it, but if he’d really left town, he had to know something.

South Burrow had always been known for having a cozy atmosphere and close neighbors. It was half the size of Swanee. If Sean was in town, someone would have seen him.

I made my way through South Burrow taking in all the mom and pop shops to check if Sean had stopped into any of them. I made a mental note on a few more to hit on my way back out of town.

I pulled into what looked like was the last used car lot at the very edge of town. It seemed like a good place to turn around and begin my search. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a red and white old Chevy truck that looked a lot Sean’s.

I put my car in reverse and backed up to the truck. I got out and slowly walked around it, taking in every nook and cranny. On the door, I ran my finger along the outline of where a magnetic sign used to be.

“Runs good.” The voice behind me called out. “You need a good work truck? I’ve got all the paper work including oil changes.”

My heart pounded. Sean took immaculate care of his beloved Chevy, all the way down to changing the oil every three thousand miles. This was definitely Sean’s truck.

“It’s been well taken care of.” I smiled and patted the hood. “Why in the world would someone want to get rid of a good looking truck like this?”

“He said that he was moving to the city and he wouldn’t need a truck anymore. Even walked back into town.” The salesman pointed toward South Burrow and then leaned up against the door. “You new to South Burrow?”

“I was just passing through and I hadn’t seen a truck like this in such good condition.” I dragged my hand along the lines of the truck and stopped at the door. “Looks like something was here, like a magnet or something.”

“Yeah, he took that.” The salesman took a hanky out of his pocket and began to spit shine the outline. “Something about handyman or something with a house on it.”

I felt faint. Sean had really done it. He killed Doug Sloan and left me to take the blame.

I walked in a daze back to my car.

“Miss? You want to test drive it?” The salesman called out.

I started my car and peeled out of the lot. Something wasn’t right. No matter how logical it all seemed, for the two-hour ride back to Swanee, I couldn’t rationalize how Sean could’ve done this.

I had to check his house. He had to have left something behind.

I pulled up to Sean’s and looked around before I got out of the car. Everything looked the same about the brick ranch. The dried flower stems were still sticking up out of the dirt in the flower boxes underneath each window. The bushes were overgrown, and the lawn was as tall as a small child.

Yep, still looked the same. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Walking past the windows, I checked each one to see if any of them happened to be unlocked. It didn’t seem natural to be breaking into the house I once lived in.

Then it dawned on me. I picked up the gnome next to the third bush on the left. There it was, just as shiny as ever. The extra key that I put there years ago without Sean even knowing.