Heavenly Corners Read online

  The doorbell rang again, and Chief Elroy arrived.

  “Sorry to be here so late Annie, but we have a job to do. We’ll start on this floor.”

  I nodded. Georgie added a few more names to her list, and I watched as the Chief and Bill went through my kitchen. The Chief even had Bill unload my groceries and place them on the table so he could look at them.

  Bill kept mumbling “I’m sorry” whenever they messed up something. After they had finished, my office was a bit messed up, but not as bad as I have seen on TV shows. They also searched the living room. It was quite amusing to watch them go through nearly one-hundred DVD cases.

  I finally had to ask, “Everyone knows someone poisoned Inga and Mags. Are you actually looking for poison in my DVDs?”

  “Annie the search warrant gives us the right to look for anything that might be related to poison. We need to check everywhere,” Chief Elroy said.

  Georgie added, “I’m glad Clark went to the bookstore. Who knows what Berg is doing in that store? If he ruins her books can she sue you?”

  The Chief shot her a look, and she went back to her list.

  My nerves were becoming frazzled. “Is Georgie right? Will he damage all my books? There are some that are valuable and some first editions.” I stood and balled my fists. I was angry.

  The Chief turned and looked at me, “I told him not to damage any books. We’re done down here. We’ll start upstairs. I followed them up while Georgie made notes on her list.

  The Chief walked into my room and told Bill to search the room across the hall.

  “No, he can’t,” I yelled.

  “Why not,” Chief Elroy asked.

  “That’s Laci’s room. They’re dating. He can’t go through her stuff. It’s just wrong.” I spat, my anger growing with each passing second.

  “Todorov,” the Chief growled. “Do you have a personal relationship with anyone in this family?”

  Bill paled and said, “Laci and I aren’t exclusive, but we dated a little last summer, and we video chat a couple of times a week.”

  Chief Elroy’s face turned almost scarlet. He flexed and relaxed his fingers rapidly as he stood in my bedroom doorway. I heard him inhale and exhale a huge breath.

  “Todorov,” his voice was low and slow. “Go back on patrol. We’ll speak later.”

  Bill ran down the stairs, and the Chief sat on the top step of my staircase. He called for another officer. He looked up at me. “Todorov’s replacement will be here shortly and we’ll continue.”

  I nodded and said, “Don’t be too hard on him. He’s a good kid.”

  Chief Elroy dropped his head into his hands and mumbled something unintelligible.

  #######

  A few minutes later, another young officer arrived, and they began to search my room. I sat on my window seat and watched. The chief walked up to my dresser. I stood and yelled, “Clifford Elroy do not touch that drawer.”

  He spun around and asked, “What are you hiding in there, Annie?”

  “Nothing,” I snapped back. “That drawer has my personal things.”

  “Annie, this entire room has your personal things.”

  “Not that personal. Would you like some man going through your wife’s personal things?” My fists were balled so tightly that they began to hurt. “Why can’t Carolyn do it? At least she’s female.”

  “Carolyn? Do you know everyone in my department, Annie?” He gritted his teeth, and his eyes shot up to the ceiling.

  “Of course I know her. Her grandma lives across the street. I’ve known her since she was born. Listen Clifford, we live in a small town. Everyone knows everyone else. Get over it and stay out of my personal drawer.”

  He threw his hands in the air. “Okay, okay. I’ll search the closet and Officer Dawlins can search the dresser.” He turned and opened the walk-in closet door. He found the light switch and began his search.

  I sat down feeling vindicated to a point. I won a small battle with the Chief, but the war was still proceeding in my own home, store, and vehicle. Clark texted that Detective Berg was methodically searching each book. Clark said he was making sure Berg was careful, and they didn’t find anything in my Explorer. Of course not, there isn’t anything to find. After the books, Berg was going to check out the cellar under the store. I stifled a giggle. We never use it. It can get a little damp down there in the summers, and that’s not good for books. Occasionally, when the weather people tell us that a tornado warning is imminent, Laci, Aunt Irene, and I will go to the store and wait it out on a bench in the cellar. The house and Aunt Irene’s cottage are too close to the lake for a dry cellar, so my grandparents never dug one. I don’t think I’ve been down there in two years. I hope Berg has fun.

  Carolyn looked through my things. Emptied the drawers on the bed. Looked under them and banged on the bottom looking for secret panels I’m sure. She felt around the inside and Clifford tipped it up a bit so she could look under and behind it. She repeated the process with my chest of drawers, two night stands, and jewelry armoire. The Chief tackled the guest room and bathroom. He climbed into the attic while Carolyn searched Laci’s nearly empty room.

  “All clear,” Carolyn told the Chief. Looking at me, she added, “Sorry for the mess, Annie.”

  I nodded figuring it was a good time to straighten out my drawers now that all the contents are strewn on my bed.

  The Chief and Carolyn walked down the stairs empty-handed. “Sorry, Annie. I meant it when I said I don’t think you’re guilty, but Berg convinced the D.A. to ask for a warrant. It’s my job.”

  “I know and you do it well. I just wish you would do it somewhere else.” I held the door open for them.

  They hurried out; I closed the door and leaned against it. I took a deep cleansing breath and looked into the living room. I forgot Georgie was still here. She was popping pieces of Aunt Irene’s chocolate pecan brittle in her mouth. She smiled at me.

  “Hey, that’s for Aunt Irene,” I said smiling back.

  “Oops, she won’t notice. Want a piece before I close the bag again?”

  I nodded and grabbed a big piece. Chocolate was what I needed.

  “Sit down,” Georgie said. “We need to talk.”

  I dropped down next to her and asked, “What’s up. I should go upstairs and clean up my room.”

  She grabbed my arm. “You can do that later. I have news. When Bill came downstairs after the Chief’s dressing down, he looked as if he lost his best friend. I wanted to lift his spirits, so I asked his advice about my list.”

  “The suspect list?”

  “Yeah, he liked the list and all the notes I added. We made a quick copy in your office, and he said he was going to do some digging. He’s worried Berg is like a dog with a bone and will keep hounding you until he makes his case.”

  I felt the room close in on me. “I need some air and I should get Yummy from Aunt Irene’s.”

  “Wait, one more tidbit. Dot called before I got here. Rumor has it that the docs think Mags may have taken the poison to throw off the cops,” Georgie smiled. “If they can prove that, then she’s the killer.”

  “I thought it would be Mags or maybe Douglas, but how crazy is it to poison yourself?”

  “She swears she didn’t,” Georgie added.

  “I wonder what really happened. We seem to have too many suspects here. At least one murder and possibly one attempted murder. We need to figure this out because Berg isn’t looking at anyone except me.” I felt my world deflating.

  I walked out on the patio. Aunt Irene’s cottage was dark. I walked to the end of my pier where I do my best thinking. Georgie followed.

  “Hey,” she whispered. “Mags won’t be released from the hospital until tomorrow or the next day and Douglas is staying at the bed and breakfast, right?”

  “That’s what I heard. Why?”

  “Look,” Georgie said. “There are lights on at Inga’s and I see at least two shadows behind the drapes. Someone is there snooping. Le
t’s go see who it is.”

  “That won’t work. We can’t get close enough with a car. They’ll hear us, and if we park far enough away, we’ll have to find our way through the trees in the dark.”

  “No problem,” Georgie said as she tugged on my arm. “We’ll take your canoe. Let’s go.”

  This is not a good idea. Why am I following Georgie? Because I always follow her. I followed her that night in high school when we took a bus into the city. Georgie lost our return tickets, and we were out of cash. My dad did not appreciate the drive into the city at eleven at night even though it was only a little over an hour drive. We were supposed to be at the movies with Paul and Steve. Here I was once again following Georgie. I always follow Georgie. She is my best friend and always has been. We always get out of any trouble we get into. We’ll be okay. I hope.

  “Annie,” she whispered. “Wake up and help me get this canoe in the water.”

  Before I knew it, we were rowing across the lake toward Inga’s mansion.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Walking to the store or on my treadmill may be great exercise, but it’s not helping to strengthen my arms. I have rowed across the lake before, but this is work. I need to do more strength exercises. Even all the swimming isn’t helping my arms enough. I’m a wimp. Maybe going to the gym is a good idea. Georgie is humming, and I’m hoping just to be able to keep breathing. Working at the grill keeps her in great shape. Hmm, we’re nearly at Inga’s pier.

  Georgie stopped rowing and turned to look at me. “Let’s not pull up to the pier. Someone may see us. Head toward the right and we’ll pull this up next to the big willow.”

  “Okay,” I answered just happy we were almost there.

  Georgie hopped out of the canoe onto the wet sand. She held the canoe steady as I stepped over the seat to climb out without ending up walking in water. We pulled the canoe up out of the water close to the willow.

  I whispered, “I wish the willow were full. It would hide the canoe better.”

  “It’s dark,” Georgie answered. “No one will see it. C’mon let’s see what’s going on in the house.”

  We crept from the shoreline to the house. I was thankful the clouds hid the moon, and the dark hid us. Georgie and I approached the side of the house. The only room with a light on now was what I remembered being Inga’s study. I think.

  Georgie pressed her face up to the window. She moved her head from side to side and up and down.

  “What the heck are you doing? The drapes are pulled shut,” I asked.

  “Look,” she whispered. “If you move your head in the right way you can see a large mirrored panel along the wall. I see the reflections of three men. At least I think they’re men. I can’t see their faces. The mirror is at the wrong angle.”

  “Or you are,” I answered. “Let me see.”

  Georgie moved grumbling, “What do you think you’re going to see that I can’t? I’m taller than you.”

  I tried my best, but all I saw was three bodies walking around headless reflected in the mirror. I could tell papers were strewn about.

  “Did you see all the papers on the floor?” I asked. “They’re looking for something and I’m sure it has to do with the inheritance. We need a better look.”

  “How?” Georgie questioned, and I know she was rolling her eyes even though I couldn’t see them.

  “We can go to the other side of the house and see if we can find an open window or door. You can climb in the window and find a door for me.”

  “Why me?” I could hear the frustration in her voice.

  “You’re taller and can jump higher to get in the window,” I answered.

  “I’m not climbing in a window. Let’s find a better way. We should go around back.”

  A low growling voice answered Georgie. “No, you shouldn’t.”

  I looked toward the voice, and I’m sure Georgie did, too. It came from a figure dressed in black holding a gun.

  “Don’t move and don’t try to run. I’ll shoot you, and no one will hear the shot. No one that is who cares.” His voice spat at us. I could sense the venom in his words. I just couldn’t see who it was.

  Georgie grabbed my hand, and we stood there as if we were statues. Georgie muttered, “We were just going home. Our canoe sank, and we have to walk back.”

  “Nice try,” the voice said. He began to laugh. “Didn’t you realize the old lady had security cameras and alarms? You set them off as soon as you hit the beach. We watched you hide the canoe.”

  “Who’s ‘we’?” I asked.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know? We’re going to walk back to the outbuildings. Move and don’t try anything funny. I’m a very good shot,” he told us.

  My legs felt like rubber, but I walked alongside Georgie to the back of the property. We passed Inga’s beloved flower garden where I drank tea with her in the summer. No lovely floral scent this time. Only the odor of wet leaves the gardener didn’t rake last fall. He opened the door of a small shed and said, “Get in.”

  “It smells in there,” I said. “What the heck is stored in here?” I could smell fertilizer and who knows what else.

  “Bodies,” he retorted. “Turn around and face me.”

  This is it, Annie. God forgive me for whatever I’ve done. I’m going to die.

  My heart was pounding in my chest. I could feel it in my ears. I was surprised he couldn’t hear it. The next thing I knew, a bright light flashed in my eyes.

  It’s only a flashlight. It wasn’t a bullet flash. I’m still alive.

  The male voice growled, “Turn out your pockets and pull down your socks. Turn around.”

  I felt a hand hit the jeans pockets on my backside. I felt Georgie jump. He must have checked her pockets, too.

  “Get comfortable,” the voice said.

  The door slammed, and we were in the dark. I heard the lock click shut.

  “He locked us in,” Georgie whispered. “We need to get out.”

  “I can’t see,” I answered. “There are no windows and knowing how well Inga kept up her property; this building is probably well built.”

  “Did he find your phone?” Georgie asked.

  “In all the commotion back at the house, it’s still in my purse.” I sighed. “What about yours?”

  “In my jacket pocket lying on your couch,” Georgie began to laugh.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Us. The great detectives without phones or weapons. We’re locked in a storage shed alone, and no one knows where we are. You have a laptop full of mystery stories you wrote. How would one of your characters get out of this mess?”

  I could hear her sit on the floor. I sat next to her and said, “My characters are too smart to get into a situation like this. If they did, they always would have a backup plan.”

  “Okay, good idea. What’s our backup plan?” Georgie asked.

  “You tell me. It was your idea to row over here.”

  “I don’t have your creative mind. Think of something and fast,” she retorted.

  “It smells awful in here, I need to go to the bathroom, we’re going to be killed at any minute, I’m going to leave Laci an orphan, and you expect me to think clearly?” I inhaled enough air to catch my breath.

  “Yes. You always get us out of the situations I get us into.”

  “You think of something.” I said. “You’re lucky I love you or I would strangle you. Why do I always follow you on dangerous adventures?”

  “Aww, you love me. I’m glad we’re friends. I love you, too.” Georgie whispered. I could hear her trying to hold back tears.

  “Don’t cry. Think carefully. We need a plan.”

  “I can’t help it. All I can think of is that Paul will kill me when I get home.”

  “He won’t be able to; that guy in black is going to kill both of us first.”

  Georgie stammered, “He will won’t he. What will Beth Ann do without a mom? Oh no, Annie. What have I done?”

  She began to
cry harder. I hugged her.

  “Don’t cry. We need to try and find a way out. We’re not leaving Laci and Beth Ann motherless.”

  The thought of the girls without moms turned my fear to raging anger. I didn’t want to die, but I didn’t want my child hurt again either. She lost her dad; she wasn’t going to lose me. We were going to fight back.

  “Okay, pity time is over. We’re going to feel around this place and look for a possible escape or weapons to use on him when he comes back. I smell fertilizer. We could throw it in his face when he opens the door. Then we run.” I stood and began to feel around for something to use.

  “What if more than one guy comes back? They might all show up. I saw three people in the house,” Georgie said.

  I heard Georgie moving around. “I don’t think we’re going to find a way out. It is all solid wood. Ow, ow, ow,” she yelled.

  “Shhh, what happened? Did you get a splinter from the wall?”

  “No, I banged my leg on some large metal container. The fertilizer odor is strong over here. Maybe I found it.” Georgie let out a little squeal. “I think this can is full of fertilizer.”

  I moved toward her side of the shed and felt for the container. “You’re right. This may be it. Let’s try to find a few smaller containers we can fill up and use to toss it.”

  “Is this what you would write as a Plan B in one of your mysteries?” Georgie sounded hopeful.

  “No, this is more like Plan F but we have to do what we can. If it works, I’ll write it into my next book. If it doesn’t, my books may sell better. I can see the headline now…”

  “Indie Mystery Author Dies In Mysterious Shooting With BFF”

  I could hear Georgie laughing. “Maybe you should switch to comedy. That’s funny.”

  “What’s funny about our deaths making the headlines of the paper?” I shuddered.

  We both stopped moving. “Did you hear that?” Georgie whispered.

  I shook my head until I realized she couldn’t see me. “Someone is unlocking the door. I think. It’s time. Thanks for being a good friend.”

  “You, too,” she whispered. “We don’t have any small fertilizer buckets to toss.”