Silver Springs Cozy: Pawsitively Lethal Part 7

CHAPTER 16.

Maggie finds herself alone with Drew back on the street in front of the Silver Times once Winona and Erline go their separate ways. Winona has two dogs she has to take out and Erline has errands to run so Maggie walks with Drew to the brewery on Main Street.

"What do you have going on today?" he asks, his big hand enveloping her smaller one.

"I guess I should go over to Two Sisters and make sure Clem is okay alone today. She always works Sundays so I close during the week. But with so much going on, I dont know how much time Ill spend there."

"What can I do to help?"

Maggie shakes her head. "Dont worry about me. I know Ginger Rae asked you to keep an eye on me in the past, but you have your own job and responsibilities. Ill work with the police and make sure I stay safe."

Drew doesnt look convinced. "At least keep me in the loop if Im not going on stakeouts with you."

Maggie smiles at the memory of a month ago when they got to know each other in the seclusion of Drews car. They watched a couple houses for clues about a murder and Maggie knew by the conclusion of the case that he was someone she wanted to know better.

"Ill send you texts with my whereabouts so you can always come rescue me." Maggie laughs, mostly joking, but Drews face is nothing but serious. She has never been a damsel in distress, but she has to admit that she enjoys having someone always worried about her safety. She knows he cares about her.

Drew kisses her cheek and says, "Great. Ive gotta get to work. See you tonight?"

Maggie nods. "Come over after work. I think Denis is coming for dinner too."

"And youre cooking for everyone?"

"I dont know who else would." Maggie laughs again. Clem is useless in the kitchen, but shes great at ordering in.

Maggie is alone on the sidewalk and heads west toward Two Sisters. Its not yet noon, but shed normally be there to help Clem by now. When she walks inside, shes surprised at the number of customers and immediately sets her bag behind the counter so she can make sure everyone is taken care of.

Clem is busy with a customer near Maggies favorite permanent piece, a 1920s airplane propeller that brings back fun memories of childhood. Maggie makes a quick tour of the store, asking if anyone needs help.

One woman holds up a quilt, handmade by Winona. "Could you tell me the history of this?" she asks Maggie. "Its in such good condition."

Maggie smiles. While Two Sisters is an antique shop, theyve expanded over the years to include imports, and now Winonas local and handmade quilts. "All of our quilts are made by Winona Landis, a resident of Silver Springs."

"Wow," the woman says, running her fingers along the st.i.tching. "When did she live here?"

"She lives here now. This is her latest quilt. I think its only been in the shop for a couple days."

The woman furrows her brow. "So . . . its not an antique?"

Maggie shakes her head. "Nope. Its the newest item we have, actually."

"Hmm." The woman folds it back up and places it where she found it. "Im not sure its the right thing for me, then."

Maggie nods. "Okay. Let me know if you have any other questions."

"Thank you." The woman walks away, finds who Maggie decides must be her husband, and they promptly leave the store.

At the sound of the bell on the door ringing, Clem looks up and catches Maggies eye. They exchange unspoken questions about the sudden departure of customers. As soon as Clem can pull herself away from her own customer-who buys three scarves from India-the sisters meet at the register.

"What was that about? That couple had been here for half an hour and then disappeared as soon as you talked to them?" Clem asks. Her tone is not accusatory, only concerned that Maggies mind might be preoccupied.

More customers pay for their purchases and leave. Maggie waits until shes alone with Clem again. "I told the woman about Winonas quilt and she didnt seem to like my answer. She was looking for something antique I guess and didnt want something new. What other feedback have you had on Winonas quilts?"

"Only positive." Clem rings up the final customer and the sisters are the only people left in the store. Business always slows during lunch.

Before either of them can sit down, the phone in the phone booth rings and Maggie walks quickly to answer it, never even looking at Clem to see if shes surprised. Maggie isnt. Shes been expecting a call from Clara and knew it would come as soon as the customers were gone.

"Hi Maggie," Claras impatient voice says when Maggie picks up.

"Clara."

"What news do you have?"

Maggie gets right to the point with the new details she knows. "Jessie isnt guilty, I know that much. Blood was left on the window in your bedroom but theres no match in the system. Stewart was spotted in Silver Springs this morning. Any ideas why he might be here?"

"No new suspects?" Clara asks, ignoring Maggies question.

Maggie wishes she was the one asking the questions. "Not with names. But Ginger Raes neighbor claimed publicly in the newspaper to have seen someone fleeing your aunts house after she heard the scream."

"Well what are you waiting for? Talk to her. Find out who it was. It had to be the killer."

"Im hoping to talk to her this afternoon. Ginger Rae doesnt know her. The woman is a recluse so Im taking my time approaching her." Maggie considers mentioning Karl Jacobs and the article he published on Sunday but thinks better of it. Clara is already worked up and Maggie doesnt need to make her even more anxious.

"How are my parents?" Theres a tenderness to Claras voice that surprises Maggie.

"David and Marla? Upset. Theyre in Silver Springs. I havent seen them yet but Ginger Rae has. Im also hoping to talk to them this afternoon."

"They wont know anything about me. I didnt tell them things."

Maggie nods. Shes still thinking they are possible suspects. Unlikely suspects, but possible.

Maggie asks her next question carefully. "Did you ever meet a Mitch Cable or Josh McMann?"

Without missing a beat Clara says, "No, why?"

"No reason." Maggie doesnt have to go into their past crimes in Silver Springs. She can tell Clara isnt lying. "What about a Karl Jacobs?" she asks, going out on a limb, asking only because she wants a reason to talk to Karl. If only to give him a piece of her mind for yesterdays article.

"Yeah. I knew him. I met him in rehab."

Maggies heart skips a beat. "Really?" she asks, almost breathless.

"Yeah. He was another patient. Is he involved?"

"Maybe," Maggie tells her. "Hes a reporter with the Silver Times and he wrote an article yesterday. He quoted Ginger Raes neighbor, Valerie. The one who doesnt even talk to Ginger Rae."

"We didnt exactly get along. I told you yesterday I didnt make a lot of friends. Well, he certainly wasnt a friend."

"Would you go so far as to call him an enemy?" Maggie asks.

No answer comes and Maggie replaces the receiver, wondering what the nature of Clara and Karls relations.h.i.+p was. Now at least she has a starting point to talk to him.

CHAPTER 17.

Maggie doesnt even have to ask Clem for the rest of the day off. Clem offers. "I dont want to see you until tonight. Are you still making dinner for Denis and Drew?"

Maggie smiles, relieved. "Thank you. And yes. Ill see you at home."

Maggie leaves without another word, her handbag slapping into her knee as she walks quickly down the sidewalk back to her car. She stops at the sandwich shop above the parking garage and orders herself a hot avocado wrap and then goes immediately to her car.

She has four options: visit Valerie Hunt, track down Karl Jacobs and chew him out for his disrespect of Clara, look for Stewart Cole, or find Marla and David. She takes a bite and thinks of a fifth option: call Trista, the computer whiz she used when she was a private detective in Denver with her partner Garth. Trista always made her job easier by supplying background information on suspects that no one was ever willing to offer in person.

Maggie takes out her smart phone-not the burner phone she used to use to call Trista, she gave that back to Garth when she left their office-and sees that she has no service underground. She backs out of her parking spot, her wrap on the pa.s.senger seat, and drives down River Road along the Spring River to a good pull off spot with picnic tables.

Once her wrap is finished, Maggie calls Trista, never leaving her car in her rush to find out new information.

"h.e.l.lo?" Tristas voice asks. This is the first time Maggie has called her since leaving her job in Denver.

"Hi Trista, its Maggie."

"Maggie Boothe?"

"Mm hmm." Maggie smiles at the excitement in Tristas voice.

"I didnt expect to hear from you again. How are you?"

They chit chat briefly about whats been going on in their lives but then Maggie gets down to business. "I have a favor. I can still pay, it just wont come from the office."

"Of course." Maggie imagines Trista spinning around in her computer chair and pulling up whatever databases and computer hacking tools she uses to get her information. Maggie prefers not to know too many details about Tristas methods. She suspects they arent all legal.

"There was another murder in Silver Springs."

"You sound like you bring bad luck to that small town," Trista teases.

"You know, I think you might be right," Maggie agrees. "But Im wondering now if theyre somehow all connected. Can you try to find any connection between Josh McMann and Mitch Cable?"

"Why Mitch? I didnt think he was guilty for murder."

"He wasnt," Maggie confirms. "But his theft might be connected to Josh murdering my parents."

"I see." Maggie hears the faint sound of papers being shuffled on a probably overcrowded desk. "And whos the newest murderer?"

"I dont know that yet. Stewart Cole is my top suspect. Not everyones, but mine. See if you can find anything out about him. I know hes the ex-husband of the victim, Clara Speed, but I dont know much else."

"Okay. Josh McMann and Mitch Cable connection, and anything on Stewart Cole. Got it."

"You have my number. Call me when you have something."

"Will do. Take care of yourself."

Maggie smiles and hangs up. She locks her car and walks down to the river and onto the bike trail. She needs to clear her head and get everything in order, and the best way to do that is to take a brisk walk.

There is no one else on the bike trail-no walkers, no runners and no cyclists. Maggie is completely alone. This gives her the perfect opportunity to prioritize her tasks for the afternoon.

Most curious to Maggie is Stewart Coles sudden appearance in Silver Springs. He hasnt had a good relations.h.i.+p with Clara since their divorce, so why did he show up? Was he here before today? Was he around on Sat.u.r.day night when Clara was killed?

Valerie Hunt is also a high priority. She claims she saw someone fleeing Ginger Raes house right after Clara screamed. Maggies first conclusion is that this is the killer and he or she needs to be identified. But Valerie isnt a friendly person. So why did she talk to Karl? Was she just looking for time in the spotlight? If thats the case, then her testimony doesnt hold much weight.

Finally, Marla and David are of great importance. Maggie hopes that they can shed some light on their daughter, though Clara says they wont know anything about her. But parents always know more than their kids think, at least that was Maggies experience with her parents. They might have insight into Claras more recent relations.h.i.+p with Stewart. Or they might be able to point Maggie toward a new suspect who hasnt come to light yet.

And then theres Karl. Theres really no reason to talk to him other than to let him know he was way out of line with yesterdays article. Hopefully Ginger Rae is making progress with Ellen at the Silver Times on a redemption article. But that wont undo the pain Karl has already inflicted.

Maggie suddenly finds herself back at her car. She doesnt remember turning around-and the trail isnt a loop-but she gets in and makes her decision. Shes going to try her best to talk to Valerie Hunt.

CHAPTER 18.

Maggie drives slowly by the houses on either side of Ginger Raes home. One house does not have a name on the mailbox and the other says "Smith." Maggie parks across the street and knocks on the unmarked home, hoping that it belongs to Valerie Hunt.

As Maggie waits for someone to come to the door, she takes in her surroundings. Ginger Raes house still has police tape across the front door and the window is cracked open upstairs in Claras bedroom. Maybe to get any lingering scents out. Or maybe it was unintentional.

Maggie rings the bell, wondering if the sound of her knocking didnt travel through the house and no one knows shes there. A few moments later, the door is opened just a crack and a middle aged woman peeks around the corner.

"Hi. Valerie?" Maggie asks.

The womans blue eyes are wide. She doesnt give any indication that her name is Valerie.