Death is Long Overdue (Phee Jefferson Book 1) (14 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

“You are my best friend as well as my lover, and I do not know which side of you I enjoy the most. I treasure each side, just as I have treasured our life together.” - Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

The next morning, I woke up early.  Wade and Juliet were still asleep.  I walked quietly into the kitchen and made myself some coffee and went to grab the morning paper.  When I stepped out of onto the porch, I saw Clint's truck parked in my driveway behind Velma. He looked to be asleep in the driver’s seat.  I pulled my robe tighter around my waist to stave off the morning chill and walked over.  His head was back against the headrest and his mouth was slightly open.  I rapped my knuckles against the driver's side window.  Clint startled awake and looked around wildly until he realized where he was.  He gave me a grimace and opened the truck door to step out.

"So angry with me you decided to sleep outside?" I asked.

"No.  By the time I got done down at the station it was after midnight.  I went home, let Watson out for a bit, but I couldn't sleep. I was worried about you, so I drove over.  All the lights were out. I didn't want to wake you, but I didn't want to go home, either.  I'm worried, Phee."

"Come on in the house and let me make you a cup of coffee.  I take it that you didn't arrest Grant?"  I walked back into the house and he followed behind me.  "Wade and Juliet are still asleep."

Clint poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table.  "No, I didn't arrest him.  He admitted to having an affair with Carla, but says it was a one-night stand and not anything to kill her over.  I actually believe him on that one.  He claims he was at his office working when Duane was killed. A stock clerk at Abe's Market across the street didn't leave work until late since it’s his job to mop the floors after they close at nine.  He left around 11:30 and said the lights were on in the law firm and he could see the shadow of someone sitting at their desk.  Plus, he saw a "sweet ride" sitting in the parking lot and went over to check it out.  Grant's car was definitely parked at his office.  It's not an airtight alibi, but I don't have enough to hold him."

"I didn't invite him over here.  Wade ran into him and told him what had happened.  Grant kind of invited himself to dinner.  I didn't know what to do," I explained.  "Grant wants to be more than friends, but I told him I wasn't interested in him."

"I know," Clint sighed.  "He was pretty forthright and a little arrogant about how he thought that I wasn't good enough for you. He let me know in no uncertain terms that he planned on biding his time and waiting until I got bored with you and moved on.  I wanted to throw his ass in a cell just for that."

"Are you going to get bored with me?" I asked in a small, quiet voice. I held my breath waiting for his response.

"Phee, I can't promise you anything right now.  I don't have a crystal ball, and I can't predict the future. But what I do know," he reached over and grabbed my hand, "is that I want you and I care for you.  I don't plan on going anywhere.  How about we just take it one day at a time and see how it goes?"

"That works for me," I said letting out the breath that I was holding.  "I like one day at a time."  I smiled at him.

"Good.  Glad that's settled because I'd hate to have to punch Grant in his perfect little teeth," Clint deadpanned.

"Clint!  That's not funny.  Grant and I have been friends forever.  He was my friend when I had braces and Christmas tree shaped hair.  He's really a good guy and I think you'd like him if you got to know him better." I waved my spoon from my coffee at him in admonishment.

"I'll take your word for it," Clint grimaced.  "I'm at a standstill with this investigation now that Grant is somewhat in the clear.  Maybe I've got this all wrong, and it isn't related to you.  Maybe the rose was a random prank.  I keep picking away at the threads connecting all the cases and coming up empty.  There has to be something that ties them all together."

"I just hope you figure it out before someone else gets killed." I shivered as I wondered who would be next. "I'd better get ready for work.  It’s just me there until this afternoon, so I'd better jump in the shower."

"Do you need some help?" Clint raised his brows at me lasciviously.  "I am here to be your bodyguard after all. I wouldn't be doing a very good job if I left you alone in the shower."

I got up and held out my hand to him. "Let's see how well you do investigating me." He stood up and took my hand.

CHAPTER THIRTY

“What if I take you apart and turn you into a toaster oven, how would you like that tin can?” - Julie Kagawa, The Iron Daughter

I arrived at work still smiling.  I unlocked the doors and switched on the lights.  I put my bag and jacket in my office then pushed a cart towards the overnight book drop. There were only a few books in there and something white was stuck underneath of them.  I reached in and tugged it out.  It was an envelope with my name on it.  Someone must have a fine and stuck an envelope with money into the book drop.  I opened it up and pulled out a folded piece of paper.  Written in block letters, it said, "I TRIED TO PROTECT YOU BUT YOU CHOSE WRONG AND NOW YOU MUST PAY."  I dropped it quickly and backed away.  I dashed across the library and picked up the phone to dial the sheriff.

"Miller's Cove Sheriff's office," a nasally voice said.

"This is Ophelia Jefferson over at the library.  I just received a threatening note.  Can you send someone over right away?"  I gasped out trying to fight the rising panic.  I was locked inside the building and was safe for now, but someone clearly wanted me out of the picture.  They had poisoned Carla in broad daylight in a crowd. I wasn't safe anywhere.

"Hold on," the tinny voice said.  I heard a muffled conversation in the background.  "Miss Jefferson, Sheriff Dawes said he'll be there in less than three minutes.  He asked that you don't open the doors to the public and stay put for now."

"Alright, I'll wait by the door.  Thank you." I hung up and watched through the windows as I saw Sheriff Dawes walking down the street at a brisk pace from his office.  A moment later, I opened the door to let him in. Charlie was the only one waiting outside.  "Charlie, we're going to be a few minutes late opening up.  Can you hang out here for about ten minutes and let people know to just hold tight?"

"Sure thing.  Is everything alright?"  Charlie gave me a concerned look.

"Everything's fine.  Just need to speak to the Sheriff for a few minutes, and then I'll open up," I reassured him.  I closed the door and locked it again.

"Where's this note?"  Jaime demanded.  "I swear this town is going crazy.  Three murders in a week and now there are threats against you.  I am at my wit's end.  If we don't get a crack in this case soon, I'm going to have to call in the state police to help."

"I'm scared, Jaime." I wrapped my arms tightly around myself and shivered from fear.  I walked over to where I had dropped the note on the floor.  The sheriff pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and picked it up carefully by the corner.

"I rushed over here without my evidence kit.  Do you have a clean bag I can put this in?" I walked over to the supply closet and pulled out a large Ziploc bag that we used to place children's craft project pieces in.  I held it open and he carefully placed the note in the envelope and then sealed it shut.

"I doubt there are any fingerprints on it.  Whoever is behind all of this has been very careful about leaving evidence behind."  Jaime shook his head in frustration. "Listen, Phee.  We got results back from the rose left on your door.  It was human blood and once we get full results back, I am sure it will match Duane’s.  The person doing these murders is seriously disturbed.  I want you to be careful.  I don't have enough men to protect you full time, but you should be safe inside the library and I will send someone by every hour to check on you, okay?"

"Believe me when I say I plan on staying right here and not being alone with anyone.  I have to tell you, Jaime, this has really made me scared.  I just can't imagine what I have done to make anyone this angry at me."  I shivered again.

"It says you chose wrong.  Any idea what they could be talking about?"  Jaime asked.

"I don't know.  I mean, I'm trying to think if I have made any choices on the library or...." I stopped. "I chose Clint over Grant.  That's the only choice I've made.  I don't know why someone would want to kill me over that though.  Grant was even okay with it, so I know it’s not him.  Could it be some woman in Clint's life who’s angry that I'm with him?  The only way they could know is if they’ve been watching me.  The only people who know are Wade, Juliet, Grant and now, you."

"You might be on to something there.  Clint's left a few women in his wake.  I didn't know you and Clint were together.  Are you sure that's a good idea?" Jaime gave me a fatherly look.  "Don't get me wrong, Phee. I like Clint and he's a good officer, but he also has a reputation for loving them and leaving them.  I've been friends with your dad for too long to not give you a little friendly warning."

"I appreciate that, but I'm a grown woman.  I can look out for myself in the romance department."

"Ah, Phee.  Don't be angry with me.  I forget you aren't a little girl anymore.  Just be careful, okay?  I'm going to take this back to the office and process it.  If you think of anything else this morning, call me.  I'm going to catch whoever is doing this and lock them up." Jaime gave me a reassuring pat on the shoulder and headed out of the library.  I followed behind him and opened the doors to the public.  Charlie had been joined by a few more folks waiting to get in and there was a flurry of whispers as they watched the sheriff leave the building.

"Are you okay, Phee?"  Francis Palfrey asked me with concern.  "What was the sheriff doing here at the library?  Did someone break in and steal something?"

"I'm fine and no, nothing was stolen. Just a bit of a scare, but it turned out to be nothing," I reassured her.  "I guess I am just a little bit on edge with all of these murders going on."  I hurried away so she wouldn't see my face and realize I was lying.  I kept myself busy so I wouldn't dwell on the threatening note.  I was shelving books in the 500 section of nonfiction when a book caught my eye.  
Poisonous Mushrooms of North America
was the title on the spine. Pulling it out, I flipped through it.  When I came to the page on the
Amanita bisporigera
also known as the Destroying Angel Mushroom, I noticed that the page was turned down on the corner.  I wondered if the book had been how the murderer had figured out how to kill Carla.

I hurried back to my desk and called Sheriff Dawes.  The receptionist connected me through immediately.

"Sheriff, I think I know how the murderer learned how to kill Carla.  I have a book here at the library that tells all about poisonous mushrooms.  I remember that I had it on display when Duane was giving his talk the other day.  I was flipping through it a minute ago and saw that someone had turned down the page on the exact mushroom that killed Carla.  I've been careful touching it.  Do you want to come get it and dust it for prints?"  I carefully placed the book on my desk and waited.

"It'll be hard to use prints from a book to prove someone killed Carla since anyone could have touched it there on the shelves.  You are a public library, after all. But go ahead and put it in a bag. I'll send someone over in a bit to get it and see if we can get any usable prints."  Jaime instructed before disconnecting the call.

I put the book in a bag and placed it in a drawer in my desk.  They might not be able to prove the person who handled this book was the murderer, but I bet it would put them on the right track.  Shutting the desk drawer, I tried to put it out of my mind and get back to work.

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

“Murderess is a strong word to have attached to you. It has a smell to it, that word - musky and oppressive, like dead flowers in a vase. Sometimes at night I whisper it over to myself: Murderess, Murderess. It rustles, like a taffeta skirt across the floor.” -Margaret Atwood, Alias Grace

I spent the morning cataloging the new books that had come in the day before while I was off.  In between cataloging, I checked books in and out and chatted with my regulars.  I had a couple of older ladies who were voracious readers and came in every week to grab the latest novels by their favorite authors.  I didn't even have to call and ask them if they wanted certain books.  I just set them aside for the next time they came in.  I loved the delight on their wrinkled little faces when they got a new treasured book to take home and enjoy.

That afternoon, Wade came in for his shift.  I told him what had happened and said the sheriff would be by later to pick up the book to try to get prints from it.  "I don't like this one bit," Wade said darkly. "It has to be someone who knows about you dating Clint.  I mean what else have you done lately that would make someone this angry.  Nothing personal, Phee, but you’re a fairly innocuous person."

"No offense taken. I wish whoever was sending me threats thought of me as harmless," I tried to shrug it off and act unconcerned, but Wade could see that I was shaken by the whole thing.

"Well, it would be easy enough to see who had the book last," Wade went over to the library computer.  His fingers moved swiftly over the keyboard as he pulled up the book on mushrooms. "It says here that the last person to check it out was Shari Davis.  That's Grant's mom, isn't it?"

"It is.  She probably checked it out the day of the talk.  Her house is right by the woods and she did say that she wanted to learn which mushrooms were safe to eat since there were so many sprouting right out behind her home.  Whoever killed Carla probably was smart enough not to check it out.  They probably just flipped through it like I did while standing in the stacks."  I was frustrated now.  Hopefully, the sheriff would find something that would point them in the right direction.

"Why don't you take a break and go get something to eat," Wade suggested.  "It's slow in here right now.  I can handle it."

"I think I'll take you up on that offer," I grabbed my bag and jacket. I opened up the desk drawer and pulled out the bag with the book.  "I'll drop the book off at the sheriff's office on my way.  Do you want me to bring you back anything?"

"I could do with a Reuben with an extra dill pickle on the side.  Thanks."  Wade turned to help a young boy find the latest in a popular superhero series.

"You've got it," I headed out.  I stopped by the sheriff's office and gave the bag to the gum-smacking receptionist.  I told her that Sheriff Dawes was expecting it.  I hoped she actually heard me since her eyes had repeatedly strayed to the screen of her cell phone.

I strolled down the street enjoying the smell of fall in the air.  A slight breeze stirred the leaves at my feet as I headed towards Odd Couple's to grab a sandwich.  As I got ready to cross the street, I changed my mind and headed towards Maybe Baby Boutique.  I thought about the possibility that whoever was targeting me was actually angry over Clint and me.  The only person that I could think of that fit that description was Valerie Hill.

The chime rang out
Brahms’s Lullaby
and Valerie glanced up from a table where she was straightening baby blankets.  "Hi, Phee.  Are you here to buy something else for the twins?"  Valerie looked striking with her dark hair contrasting with the light pink sweater that clung tightly to her curvaceous figure.

"I definitely wanted to pick up a few more things before the shower.  I was thinking maybe some blankets since it will be cold when they come home from the hospital in November."  I walked over to the table where she stood.  "I guess coming back to Miller's Cove has to be a big change after living in New York City."

"It's a little hard to adjust, but I'm actually kind of glad to be back," Valerie admitted.  She straightened a stack of blue blankets.  She held a gorgeous blue and yellow one up to show me. "This would be great for your nephew."

"It's perfect," I admitted.  "Do you have a complementary one for my niece?”  I pretended to browse through the baby clothes.  “Have you been seeing anyone since you moved back or have you been too busy getting the store opened?" I tried to sound casual, but inside my stomach sloshed from nerves.  If Valerie was the murderer, I didn't want to let her know that I was on to her.

"I’ve been pretty busy getting the boutique open. Plus, my son keeps me pretty tired."  Valerie found a pink and yellow blanket and held it out to me.

"You have a son?  How old is he?" I started to doubt that Valerie would be able to be out and about killing people if she had a young son with her.

"He's three and a handful."  Valerie reached around to the counter and handed me a picture frame with a toddler with curly brown hair and bright blue eyes.  "This is Jacob."

"He is absolutely perfect," I smiled at her.  "You must be one proud mom.  It has to be tough raising a son on your own."

"Well, I hope I won't be raising him on my own," Valerie started wrapping the blankets up for me.

"Really?" I might just be on to something.  Maybe I could get her to let something slip.

"Yeah. My ex and I have been talking since I moved back here.  He's discovered life as a single guy isn't what he thought it was going to be.  We've been talking and he is thinking about opening up a small firm in Burlington.  He's planning on coming up next weekend to look at some potential offices. I'm keeping my fingers crossed." Valerie held up her two crossed fingers and smiled at me.  Maybe she wasn't the mean girl that I always thought she was.  I guess life isn't perfect for the beautiful people of the world either.  I handed her my credit card and she rang up my purchase.  I thanked her and wished her good luck.  I stepped outside and headed to Odd Couple's.