Strung Out to Die (18 page)

A knock at the door made us jump. The clock read 9pm, which was late for me to get a visitor. Unless it was Sean.

“Sean?” I swung the front door open with hope in my heart.

“Wrong.” Noah Druck stood on the small concrete slab just outside the door.

What does he want?
I mouthed to Bernadine. She didn’t wait to answer me. She grabbed her things and hurried out the door.

“Hi, Noah.” She gave a spirited wave. “Bye, Noah.”

What a good Diva she was. Leaving me high and dry. She made the phone symbol with her hand and held it up to her ear, “
Call me,”
she mouthed back.

We watched Bernadine hurry to her rowboat so she could row back to her side of the lake.

“Come on in.” I held the door wide open.

Willow snorted as though she was asking him to come in. He looked at her and then at me.

“I’ll stay out here. This is official police business.” He rested his hands on his hips. “Tell me about Sean’s truck in South Burrow.”

My mouth dropped, and then I quickly shut it. That no-good-for-nothing Jim Rush must’ve ran straight to the police station after I spilled the beans about the truck.

Dirty rat.

“If you don’t tell me, it doesn’t matter.” He leaned in like he was going to let me in on a little secret. “I will be making a trip to South Burrow tomorrow.”

Maybe Noah finding out about the truck was a good thing. I could tell him about the truck, voicemail, chandelier, everything, and maybe he could put out an APB and find Sean.

Just as I was about the spill the beans, a cell phone rang.

Girls, girls, girls
, Vince Neal and Motely Crew belted out the ring tone loud and clear.

Yes, it was so eighties, but it was Sean’s favorite song and long-time ring tone.

My eyes grew when the phone continued to sing in my cottage. Willow ran back to the bedroom. Was Sean here? Had he been here?

“Holly, you and I both know that is Sean’s ring tone.” He walked past me and into the cottage. “Where is he?”

The phone rang again.
Girls, girls, girls.

“I have no idea where he is or where the phone is.” I made one last attempt to draw his attention away from the ringing phone.

By the look on Noah’s face, he wasn’t buying it. So I went in search of Vince’s voice. As I got closer, it stopped.

“Holly, I’m not playing games.” He was on my heels. “If Sean killed Doug, you are an accessory to murder. Unless
you
killed Doug, and Sean found out. Then you’d have to put some of those Diva ideas into motion. If that was the case, I’m sure you know where Sean is.”

Noah plucked his cell from its case that was attached to his uniform belt, and typed on the keypad.

Girls, girls, girls.

I stood still as if cement was in my shoes. Someone was setting me up, that was for sure. I watched Noah walk over to the futon and run his hand along the creases. I cringed, thinking about his hands in
The Under
, but he didn’t mind.

“Look what I found.” Noah held the phone up and tucked it in his jacket pocket. “And to think, all these years you never put your hand
under
anything.”

“That’s right!” I pointed to the futon. “I didn’t know it was there. I would never put anything in an
under
.”

“I’m going to give you forty-eight hours to get your story straight and talk to a lawyer. And you need to include the little incident from this afternoon at Sean’s house.” His eyes squinted as if he was trying to read me.

I knew not to say a word. There was nothing I could say to get me out of this mess.

Noah walked back to his cruiser without looking back.

I shut the door, locked it, and checked it twice. Chills went all over my body. I pulled back the curtains and glanced outside. I wondered who was watching me. Who knew to call Sean’s phone when Noah was here? Someone wanted Noah to find it here. Who was that someone?

That someone had been in my cottage and planted Sean’s cell phone in my futon.

Ouch.
I felt in the small pocket of my yoga pants to see what poked me, and it was Sean’s key and piece of paper that I had stolen from his house. I took out the pink carbon copy paper and unfolded it.

Allergy tests results? I read the paper aloud. Sean was allergy tested? I recalled him sneezing in The Beaded Dragonfly after the Divas’ and I had gone to Ginger’s to give our condolences.

Damn
, if he weren’t missing, I would secretly wish he was allergic to me. But it only stated he was allergic to the typical things: mold, pollen, cocoa…
cocoa
!

Now I knew I was right. Sean was in trouble. Someone was setting me up for the murder of Doug Sloan, and that someone kidnapped Sean.

Chapter Twenty-six

Thank goodness I’d asked Marlene to open the shop, because when Willow nudged me, the clock read 10am.

She nudged me again. I pushed her snout away from my armpit.

“Okay, let’s go.” I said, and got out off the futon.

The TV was tuned to the local morning news.

Last night after I got home, I was scared to death. So much so that I couldn’t sleep and decided to practice some of the new self-defense moves I had learned. I even put in a Veronica Mars DVD.

Somehow, Veronica always made me feel better, or at least she gave me a few ideas on where to start looking for Sean.

I felt like I’d given Marlene enough time to come clean, and I wanted to know who those women from the pier were. I also wanted to know why she had stopped by the cottage when she was supposed to be working at the shop. Not to mention her history in South Burrow.

I opened the front door and let Willow out to do her business. She trotted straight for Jim, who was unloading some equipment to be stored in the barn.

“Hey, Jim.” I waved to him, but he didn’t hear me. I yelled louder, “Hi, Jim!”

He turned once Willow was around his ankles. He bent down to pat her and then waved to me. I walked over to get her. Once you’d given her a good belly rub, it was hard to get rid of her.

“I’m sorry. Did I wake you?” Jim asked.

Ginger had told me that Jim usually waits until after he thinks I’m up before he goes to the barn, since he can make so much noise in the barn.

“Nah, I accidently overslept, but Marlene is opening for me today.” I brushed my bangs out of my eyes. “Did you tell Noah about Sean’s truck?”

I knew he couldn’t lie because he was the only person who knew.

“Holly, what did you expect me to do?” Jim’s voice was inflamed and belligerent. “It’s obvious that Sean murdered my brother-in-law, and I want him found. So does Ginger.”

“I know.” I bit my lip and looked away.

I didn’t really know, but I did know that I had to watch what I said around anyone, especially Jim. The last person I wanted another visit from was Noah Druck.

“Anyway, I’ve gotta go.” I pretended like I had a treat between my fingers. “Come on Willow.”

Week, week, week
, she squealed the entire way back to the cottage, her hind hooves dancing to get a sniff at my fingers.

“Holly.” Jim called out. “You should stop by and see Ginger. She could use some company.”

He was right. Ginger had made herself scarce over the past few days. I figured she was dealing with the loss of Doug and trying to settle his business dealings.

I threw on a jogging suit and ran a brush through my hair. It was time to face Marlene and get some answers that I desperately needed.

“You stay here.” I gave Willow a pat on the head before I gathered my stuff.

Willow was scared of Marlene, and if she decided to yell at me for my line of questioning, it might make Willow a nervous wreck. And nothing good comes from a nervous piggy.

The scrap piece of paper with Donovan’s number was on the counter next to my keys. I grabbed them and my new ePhone, and then I shut and locked the door behind me.

Someone had been in my house and planted Sean’s cell in
The Under
of my futon. It was time I learned how to defend myself.

Pulling out of my driveway, I made a quick call to Donovan.

“Hey, Holly.” Donovan sounded happy to hear from me. “Are you calling to take me up on my offer?”

“Yes,” I confirmed. “Do you think you could stop by tonight?”

We agreed on a time and I gave him my address.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Donovan said before he hung up.

I was looking forward to seeing him again. I was even more interested in feeling safe in my own home, and learning moves that could possibly save my life.

I pulled up in front on The Beaded Dragonfly and noticed the sign on the door was turned to display the closed side.

The two nosey women from the pier were looking in the windows.

Where in the hell was Marlene?

I got out of my car and slammed the door.

The two women jumped and turned around. Startled, they grabbed each other and took off down the sidewalk.

“Stop right there!” I screamed, and my keys were strategically placed in between my fingers like Donovan had taught me in the first defense class.

I was
so
aware of my surroundings that it wasn’t even funny. As a matter of fact, I was proud of myself.

The two women stopped. There was a look of fear in their eyes.

“You two aren’t going anywhere.” I pointed my keys at them, and then motioned them over to the shop door. “I’ve got a few questions for you two.”

They clutched their purses, and walked backwards up the steps. They planted their backsides up against the shop door.

I unlocked the door and ushered them in. They shuffled to one of the tables and then eased themselves down in chairs.

I looked around, but Marlene was nowhere to be seen. She hadn’t even been there.

“Damn, Marlene.” I muttered before I turned my attention back to the women.

“I agree.” One of them muttered back.

“I second that!” The other one screamed and smacked her hand on the table.

“What?” I jumped, and held my hand over heart.

I was aware of my surroundings, but not prepared to be scared out of my skin.

“Where is Marlene?” She questioned me. “We aren’t playing games anymore. Are we Tallulah?”

Tallulah shook her head. “No, we aren’t.”

“That’s right.” The other woman stood up and put her hands on her thick hips. “I want my Spinel back. I’m going to get it one way or another.”

“
Your Spinel
?” I asked, my nerves tensing immediately. “You mean the Spinel Marlene’s husband gave her?”

The two women cackled.

“Husband?” Tallulah hit the other one on the arm. “Did you hear that, Mimi?”

Mimi shook her head. “I see she’s lied to you too.” Her lips were thin with anger.

Tallulah stood up and pulled out the empty chair next to hers. “I think you are going to need to sit down.”

I think she was right.

“Marlene, precious Marlene is a gold digger.” Mimi said, with a fire in her eyes. “She pretends to love them on their deathbeds, takes their money, and then disappears.”

“Mmm hmm, that’s right.” Tallulah was the best head nodder I’d ever seen.

“You see, she began to date my husband while we were separated, but he was still my husband.” Mimi planted her elbows on the table and leaned in. “On his death bed, she took his Spinel, which was a family heirloom. When his mother died, she left it to me.”

She sat back and crossed her arms.

“That yellow Spinel was locked away in a safety deposit box. Marlene flashed them the key, and without any identification, they let her in.” Mimi stood up and paced back and forth as she continued her story.

“The bank video tapes proved it.” Tallulah took the chance to have her say between Mimi catching her breath.

“We’ve been looking all over for her. Then we saw your newspaper article in the South Burrow Daily about the new shop.” Mimi said.

I snapped my fingers. “I remember the picture they took had Marlene in it.” I pointed over to the cash register where I had taped the picture on the side of it.

“That’s when we started coming around here. But she refuses to talk to us.” Mimi’s nostrils flared with fury.

Everything started clicking. Marlene being so secretive about her past, her obsession with learning the wrapping bead technique, plus her interest in Doug Sloan.

“We left her several notes.” Tallulah said. “Finally she did meet us at the pier, but she refused to give it back.”

“We were going to give her one last chance when we came in yesterday.” Mimi sat back down and pounded her fist on the table. “But she refused to listen and kicked us out of the shop. I’d love to take one of those four-inch heels of hers and whack her with it.”

“What? Here? You were here with Marlene yesterday?” I was more confused than ever.

“Yes, we came in here to talk to her, but she refused to listen.” Mimi drew back in the chair.

“Oh, and that camera man asked us to leave. He said we were disturbing the business.” Tallulah seemed inexplicably dissatisfied.

Mimi sat still looking into the distance as if she was trying to remember something.

Jim did say he was going to come and readjust the cameras, but he’d failed to mention that he was here, or anything about the little scuffle.

“Anyway, that nice handyman was going to say something, but we haven’t heard from him either.” Tallulah reminded Mimi.

“That’s right. We haven’t heard from him.” Mimi confirmed.

“Sean? You’ve seen Sean?” This discovery hit me full force. I steadied myself against the table.

Had he been here all along? Why was he having these conversations with Marlene? What did he want to tell me about Marlene?

“A few days ago, when we came in here, he was standing right there.” Mimi pointed to the counter where I’ve seen him lean over to take in Marlene in all her glory. Only, I didn’t have to worry about Marlene wanting Sean. He was too poor for her taste.

“He said he’d find out and he took our number,” Mimi said.

Frantically, I shook my head. “Marlene was supposed to be here and Sean”…I fumbled around the shop…“Sean won’t return my calls.”

I took their phone numbers and hurried them out of the shop before the beading class arrived.