Authors: Leigh Selfman
Éclair Case of Murder: A Culinary Cozy Mystery (A Rosie Kale Culinary Cozy Mystery Book 2) (13 page)
It was a while before I was able to get Diane alone to ask what she’d been about to tell me. But just before the second act of the play was about to begin, she motioned for me to follow her down a set of stairs and into an empty hallway.
“I only have a minute,” she said. “And I probably shouldn’t say anything because to be honest, I’m not even sure that Helen was serious about it. But...”
I waited impatiently as she took a deep breath.
“The thing is…” she continued. “I remember Helen telling me a few weeks before she died, that she suspected Chuck was cheating on her again.”
I nodded, willing her to get to the point faster.
“During that call, Helen also mentioned that she was thinking of installing some kind of software on his cell phone to track his calls—in and out.”
“Oh,” I said, unable to hide my disappointment. I didn’t see how that would help with my investigation. Chuck’s cell phone had nothing to do with the call to the crisis center.
“But…,” Diane continued after a moment. “Helen also talked about hiring someone to attach some kind of machine to their home phone. Something to tape all calls into and out of their house.”
My eyes widened and I stared at her. “And you never told the police about this?”
“No. I mean, why would I?” she shrugged. “I never realized there was any question about Helen having made that call to you at the crisis center. It was only tonight, when you mentioned how you wished that the suicide hotline taped their calls, that I was even reminded of it.”
“Right,” I said. I thought about reminding her that she was the one who’d said that about taping the calls, but it didn’t really matter. The point was, there might be some evidence that Helen Wright’s death wasn’t really a suicide at all.
“I mean…of course it’s quite possible that Helen never actually taped his phone calls,” added. “Or, if she did, it could be that Violet or Chuck already found the tape machine and got rid of it.”
“But it’s also possible they didn’t,” I said excitedly. “Maybe they didn’t even know it was there. Which means it could still be there. It could be just the thing to prove that Purple Streak was the one who made the suicide call.”
“It is possible,” Diane agreed. Then she frowned thoughtfully. “I suppose I could tell the police about it tomorrow morning. Since Detective Sanders doesn’t seem to want to hear from you, perhaps I could ask him to look for it. The recording device would have to be either on the den phone or the one in the kitchen since those are the only two landlines in the house. He could easily check.”
“No, he won’t care.” I said, shaking my head in frustration. “Sanders doesn’t think there’s any reason to even investigate anything. He’s sure it was a suicide. Plus he’d have to get some kind of warrant to search their house, which he’s very unlikely to do.”
Diane nodded and looked at her watch. “I’m sorry, I really should be getting back.”
I nodded absentmindedly, staring down the hall, but my mind was elsewhere. It was racing down the road and into the Wright house to find that evidence.
My face must have telegraphed my thoughts because Diane looked at me skeptically.
“Rosie, what are you thinking? You’re not planning to do something you shouldn’t, are you? You yourself just told me that you could be arrested if you try anything.”
I shook my head, thinking about my options. Then I looked at her. “I know I did. But I can’t let important evidence like that get destroyed.”
“Well what exactly do you think can we do about it?” Her head was cocked slightly to the side and she appeared genuinely interested.
I had to admit I was touched that she used the word
we
. I’d been in this alone for so long that it was nice to have someone who not only believed me, but also wanted to help. Still, I didn’t think that someone in her position would be willing to commit a felony.
“The whole family is here tonight…right? Even Mrs. Pond?” I asked her.
She nodded. “Yes, they’re all here. Or will be soon. Chuck had an emergency at the hospital, but he let me know that he’d be here as soon as he was done.” She looked at her watch. “The play’s only going on for about another forty five minutes, but he said he’d be here in time for the drinks and silent auction afterwards.”
I looked at the time on my cell phone. “That’s perfect. That means that if I leave right now, I can get there and back before it’s even over.”
“
There
? Meaning the Wright’s house?” She was looking at me reprovingly.
“Yeah. I’m going,” I said. “Do you know of some way I could get in?”
“No, absolutely not,” she said curtly.
“Diane…please. This is my choice. I’m going to do it with or without your help.”
“Fine,” Diane sighed. Then she squinted, appearing deep in thought. “I suppose you could use the emergency key—they hide it in the fake rock outside on the porch. And the alarm code is 1012—Sammy’s birthday.”
I nodded committing the date to my memory, knowing I was crazy to even consider it. Then I took a deep breath, or tried to anyway. I was so nervous I was having trouble catching my breath.
Was I really going to do this? If I did, I could get arrested.
But if I didn’t, it would mean letting Violet get away with murder.
Diane looked at me and I saw a flash of worry cross her face. “I can’t tell you what to do,” she said seriously. “But I hope you’ll be careful. And that you’ll call me if you need anything at all.”
She was looking at me intently.
I nodded and swallowed hard, then I started walking towards the door.
“And Rosie,” she called out. “Whatever you do don’t get caught. Not only could you get arrested, but Chuck Wright has a gun safe. Do not let them see you.”
To my relief, the key was right where Diane said it would be. I removed it from the fake rock with a shaky hand and put it into the front door lock of the Wright’s house. Then I slowly reached for the doorknob.
But instead of turning it, I hesitated.
I knew this was one of those choices that could change my life forever. And not in a good way.
My inner voice was screaming at me to turn around and run; that it wasn’t too late. I hadn’t really done anything illegal yet. I could just put the key back in the rock and go home.
But instead of listening to its words of wisdom, I did what I always tended to do in these situations. Ignored it completely and threw caution to the wind.
I turned the key in the lock. Then I turned the doorknob and walked in.
As soon as I dealt with the alarm, I paused to let my eyes adjust. Everything was dark inside but I didn’t even consider turning on the light. Instead I walked slowly through the darkened foyer.
“Ouch,” I said under my breath as I knocked right into a console table. I steadied myself and walked on more carefully.
Making it to the living room entrance, I saw that there was some light coming in through all windows. Not much light, but some. I was able to move more quickly as I crossed the room, spotting the portrait of Helen over the fireplace in the dark.
As I headed across the room, I glanced in the opposite direction…and saw someone in the dark, looking right back at me.
My hand flew to my mouth as I gasped in shock and
And the other person’s hand did the same thing.
Which is when I realized I must have been looking in a mirror.
I rolled my eyes at my own overreaction and paused to let my heart rate come down from the stratosphere. Then I continued on through the living room and down the hall until I came to what appeared to be the den.
Inside the small, book-lined room, it was so dark that there was no way I’d be able to search without more light. I considered turning on the overhead light but decided it would be safer to use the flashlight app on my cell phone instead—I figured that with the blinds closed, no one would be able to see inside the room anyway.
Then, in the span of a few minutes, I searched through every drawer in the desk as well as behind the TV cabinet and the mini bar. I was pretty confident that there was no tape machine hidden anywhere in the room.
I had to check the kitchen, next.
I hurried back out of the room and down the hall then cut back through the living room. Halfway through, I was again startled by my reflection in the mirror. I told myself not to be such an scaredy-cat as I started moving again, but to my horror the reflection stayed put.
For a moment anyway…then it lifted an arm and pointed a gun right at me.
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t shoot you right now,” Violet said pointing her gun in my direction.
If only I could think of a good reason. If only I could think of any reason at all. But I couldn’t, I was literally paralyzed with fear—all words and thoughts forgotten.
“Why shouldn’t I kill you right now?” she said, flipping on the light and allowing me a better view of the gun. It was aimed at me with a shaking hand.
I backed up towards the fireplace, my hands up, my heart pounding furiously.
“Please…don’t,” I said. It was the only thing I could think to say.
“Please, don’t,” she mocked, moving closer to me.
I was staring at the gun’s barrel as though it was the only other thing in the universe. It was all I could see, even as Violet’s shrill voice made its way into my consciousness.
“All I have to do is shoot you right now,” she said. “I just have to say that you broke in--which you did. So I grabbed Chuck’s gun and shot you. I’ll just say that you were coming after me!”
I forced myself to look her in the face. She looked scared, her pale blue eyes wild as she pointed the shaky gun at me.
I was trying desperately to think of some way out—I kept going over and over all of the options in my mind. But none seemed promising. I could beg for my life—but somehow I didn’t think she’d have much compassion.
I could make a run for it—after all she probably wasn’t any kind of expert shot. The gun belonged to the Chuck and it was twitching so nervously in her hand that she just might miss me.
But then again she might not. With my luck, in her nervousness she’d accidentally hit me.
Glancing back, I tried to see the fireplace mantle behind me. I remembered there was something heavy there, something I could hit her with. But the only thing on the mantle was the big, metal, numberless captain’s clock.
“Don’t even think it,” Violet smirked. “That thing is metal and weighs like thirty pounds.”
I turned back around, desperate. “Please. Please, Violet. Don’t do this. You can’t…”
“I can’t? Really?” she said in a mocking tone, moving closer to me. “Give me one good reason
why
I can’t. I happen to know you’re here trying to plant evidence to prove I killed Helen!”
“What? No I’m not! Please Violet…”
“You are
never
going to be out of my hair unless I get rid of you. You’ll just keep stalking me and spreading rumors and lies. You’ll get more and more obsessed and dangerous and…”
“No, please!” I interrupted, backing away from her as far as possible. I was right up against the fireplace mantle. “Please…”
She was inches away and the gun was aimed right at my chest.
In a flash of bravery, or maybe it was idiocy, I reached for the gun and held it tight, pushing it off to the side in case it went off.
But Violet didn’t let go. Neither did I, as we struggled and fell over the top of the sofa. We were both screaming as we rolled over the base and onto the floor, the gun flailing dangerously in both our grasps.
“Just stop! Just let me leave," I cried breathlessly. “I promise I’ll leave you alone. Please!”
“Liar!” she screamed and got on top of me, twisting the gun around until I had to let it go.
I looked at her terrified as she glared at me.
“Please, Violet! Please don’t! You won’t get away with this! Please! Diane knows it was you that made that phone call to the suicide line! I told her about it tonight! If something happens to me, she’ll tell everyone it was you!! All they have to do is look at that photo you took. It proves you were here at almost 1:00 that day! Right at the time the call was made!”
She looked at me puzzled. “You really are delusional,” she said with what almost seemed like pity. “I wasn’t here at 1:00 that day. I was here at 11:00am.” She shook her head and cocked the gun, but she hesitated.
And in that moment of hesitation I was able to reach up and pull the gun safely away. Or at least I thought I did.
Just when I grabbed it from her hand, I saw her finger get caught in the trigger and accidentally pull it back.
It was as though the whole thing were happening in slow motion…but I couldn’t stop it.
“Nooooo!” I screamed as the gun went off with a deafening bang. I stared dumbstruck and horrified as it fell to the floor, smoking.
Violet lay nearby, unmoving.