Janet McNulty - Mellow Summers 03 - An Apple a Day Keeps Murder Away (3 page)

I clapped my hand over my mouth the moment I said it. That part wasn’t supposed to be out loud.

You know how every family has a few relatives that no one like
s? Especially the kind that you wish didn’t know about your existence. Well, meet my Aunt Ethel. Widowed five years ago, and left with a substantial amount of money, Aunt Ethel decided to visit every relative she had. And I mean every relative. The problem is she tends to show up unannounced. But no one is ever able to turn her away. I had hoped she wouldn’t find me here. Talk about being wrong.

Luckily, Aunt Ethel didn’t hear my outburst.
Or she decided to ignore it.

“Oh,
Mellow darling, you seem upset,” said Aunt Ethel. She gave me a quick hug. Then she opened the door to my apartment and went in with her bags. How she knew which door was mine, I’ll never know. She plopped her luggage on the couch and looked around. Her lips formed a straight line as she took in every detail. “Surely, you don’t live here.”

“Yes,” I replied.
“Jackie and I like this place.”

“But it’s so ordinary.
You should let me help you, Mellow. I could get you a very nice place all for yourself.”

I did my best to contain my anger.
Aunt Ethel always thought that people should live in ritzy areas. It happens when you’re a Southern Bell, I guess. But she married into wealth and when my uncle died of cancer, she inherited it all. I didn’t begrudge her her money. It was the fact that she always tried to tell me how to live that really got on my nerves. Aunt Ethel was always forthcoming with her opinions and on what she thought people should do. And her self-invitations did little to endear her to me. 

“I’m happy here,” I said, “It’s close to the college and my work.
Jackie and I get along fine.”

“Someday, Mellow, y
ou are going to have to split up with Jackie. You two girls have been attached at the hip since you were in high school.”

“Best friends tend to do that.”

Aunt Ethel frowned.

“What are you doing here?”

“Oh, I decided that it was time for me to travel the world. Anyway, I was in the neighborhood and decided to stop by. You don’t mind, do you?”

Mind?
Why would I mind? She only dropped by unannounced and would be here for who knows how long. “Uh, no. But a phone call would have been nice.”

“
Oh pish posh,” said Aunt Ethel.

“Mel, you OK?”
Jackie walked into the room. She stopped cold when she saw Aunt Ethel.

“Oh, Jackie, be a dear and take my bags to the guest room,” said Aunt Ethel.

Jackie’s brow twitched. I stepped in before she lashed out. “We don’t have a guest bedroom,” I said.

“What?”

“There are only two bedrooms; one for me, and one for Jackie.”

Aunt Ethel sputtered a bit.
She couldn’t believe we didn’t have a spare bedroom. Knowing that things weren’t going well, I decided sacrifices were going to have to be made. Especially if I wished to avoid world war three.

“We could,” I said, “
Work something out. I’ll move into Jackie’s room and you can have mine.”

“Well I suppose that will have to do,” said Aunt Ethel.

I took her luggage into my room and moved my things into Jackie’s. We’d have to just settle for sharing her double wide bed until Aunt Ethel decided to leave. There was no telling when that would be.

When I returned to the living room, Jackie and Aunt Ethel stood at opposite ends of the room with their arms crossed.
They glared at each other. I have no idea what happened between them. But it was obvious they hated each other. Always have. I guessed it was Aunt Ethel’s personality. She had a way of forcing her way into other people’s business.

“You t
wo look about ready to kill each other,” I commented.

“Oh don’t be silly, darling,” said Aunt Ethel.

“Yo, Mel, why’d you leave?” said Tiny as he walked in. “Who’s the old bat?”

“I beg your pardon.”
Aunt Ethel put her hands on her pudgy hips.

Sensing trouble, I stepped between them.
“Tiny, I want you to meet my Aunt Ethel. Aunt Ethel, Tiny.”

“Tiny,” said Aunt Ethel.
“He doesn’t seem so small to me.”

“It’s his name.”

“And this is your boyfriend?”

I could tell Aunt Ethel thought I was making a huge mistake with my life.
Her expression proved she was afraid he might be my boyfriend.

“Oh, Mel
and I,” he put his arm around my shoulders, “We’ve been going out for a while now.” Apparently, he read her expression as well and decided to have some fun. “I don’t know what I’d do without her washing my underwear and buying me beer.”

Aunt Ethel turned white.
Before she had a chance to faint I shrugged Tiny off. “Aunt Ethel, we’re not dating. Tiny is just a friend.”

Tiny’s smile faded.
“Spoil all the fun.”

“Oh goodness, de
ar, you shouldn’t do that to me,” said Aunt Ethel with relief.

“Mel?”
Greg walked in. It was only a matter of time until he got curious as to where we were.

“That’s my boyfriend,” I said pointing at Greg.
“Greg, meet my Aunt Ethel. She’s going to be staying with us for a few days.”

Greg held his hand out in greeting.
Aunt Ethel stared at it. She took it for a second and then let it drop. Her manner indicated that she disapproved of him anyway. I wasn’t surprised. Aunt Ethel never approved of anyone.

“Mel
low, I tire of all this. Can we please send these people home?” asked Aunt Ethel.

I bit my tongue to keep silent.
Now she was dismissing my guests. I wished to avoid confrontation for the moment. “Perhaps you all ought to go,” I whispered to Greg.

He agreed, gave me a kiss and shoved Tiny out the door.

“Well, my dear, I’m going to bed. We will talk in the morning and have a wonderful visit,” said Aunt Ethel. She closed the door to what was once my room.

I glanced at Jackie.
“This could get interesting,” I said.

“Define interesting,” said Jackie. “You’ve lost your memory, get visited by a ghost, and now have Aunt Ethel.”
She said the last bit through gritted teeth. “How could it possibly get any more interesting?”

“All we need now is for Rachel to show up,” I said.

Sometimes I think Rachel had an inner radar to alert her when I mentioned her name. At that moment she appeared.

“Hey,” she said.

I jumped a little from her unexpected arrival. “Keep it down,” I whispered. “My Aunt Ethel arrived today unexpectedly.”

“You have an Aunt Ethel?
How interesting,” said Rachel.

“What did you find out?” asked Jackie.

“Nothing. Unfortunately,” said Rachel.

“Nothing?”
I asked.

“
Sorry, Mel,” said Rachel, “I searched and searched, but cannot find one clue as to what happened to you.”

I turned away disappointed.

“Maybe if you went back to the motel,” suggested Rachel, “Perhaps you’ll remember something.”

I pondered what she had suggested. I could go back. And it was an idea. I hated not remembering what happened. “You’re right.”

“Mel, no,” said Jackie.
“Remember what your lawyer and Detective Shorts both told you? Stay out of it.”

“I can’t,” I said.

“But what if you’re caught,” said Jackie. “It will only prove that you are guilty of something.”

“I can’t just sit around and do nothing,” I said.

I shushed everyone when movement sounded in my room.
I hoped we hadn’t woken my aunt. I really didn’t want to explain to her why a ghost was in my apartment. Or why I was speaking to thin air. The movement subsided and I concluded that Aunt Ethel had gone back to sleep.

“Look, I’ll call Tiny in the mo
rning. He can help me break into the motel,” I said.

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” said Jackie.

I hoped I did as well.

I woke the next morning a bit earlier than normal.
The coffee had already brewed. We recently bought one of those programmable coffee makers. I relished the aroma. I filled my cup of coffee and drank it quickly.

Aunt Ethel shuffled into the kitchen.
She wore baby blue pajamas with pink, bunny slippers. I’m not joking. That lady loved her bunny slippers. I handed her a cup of coffee.

“Nonfat mocha caramel creamer, please,” said Aunt Ethel.

“We only have half and half,” replied Jackie.

“I never drink that stuff,” said Aunt Ethel.

“Then I guess you’re drinking your coffee plain,” snapped Jackie.

“Mellow, be a dear and get me some of my favorite creamer,” Aunt Ethel
said to me.

“Mel has someplace to be,” quipped Jackie, “And half and half is your only choice.”
She plopped the half and half carton on the counter next to my aunt.

“How can y
ou possibly have anywhere to be?” demanded Aunt Ethel.

“There’s something I need to take care of,” I told her.

“But I came all this way for a visit,” pleaded my aunt, “You can’t just leave me here.”

“I’m sorry
, Aunt Ethel,” I said. “But I have somewhere to be. We’ll meet up for breakfast in a couple hours at the local Denny’s. Jackie will take you.”

I felt Jackie burn me with lasers from the glare she gave me.
She didn’t appreciate being left alone with my aunt. I mouthed the word “sorry” to her when Aunt Ethel looked away.

I headed out the door and got in my car. Before I pulled out of the parking lot I gave Tiny a call.
He answered on the second ring. “Tiny? Mel. I need you to meet me at the Sander’s Motel.”

“Why?” asked Tiny.

“You’re going to help me break into the room I was found in.”

“Bad idea,” said Tiny.
“There will be cops all over that place.”

“Then I suggest you find a way to ta
ke care of them. I’m headed there right now.”

“Mel—”

I hung up. I’d hear about it later from him, but I knew he wouldn’t leave me hanging. No way was Tiny going to let me break into that motel on my own.

I pulled out onto the main road and made my way to the uglier side of town.

I parked down the street from the motel hoping that my car would be less noticeable there. Tiny waited for me as I walked up to the motel. He motioned me over behind some bushes.

“What’s this all about?
” he asked.

“I need to get into the room I was found in,” I said.
“I’m hoping it will jog my memory.”

“This goes against what
Calvin told you do,” said Tiny.

“Then let’s not get caught,” I said.

“I have Sombrero on lookout,” said Tiny.
He waved me over to the door to the room. Locked. I figured it would be. Tiny pulled out a lock pick, jiggled it a bit in the lock, and pushed the door open. We crawled underneath the crime scene tape and shut the door.

“No lights,” said Tiny as I went to turn on a lamp.
“The less we disturb the better.”

I did as he asked.

“Hey you guys,” said Rachel as she popped in. “Breaking and entering—that’s a new one for you, Mel.”

Tiny turned around and nearly jumped when he saw Rachel.

“You see me because I want you too,” said Rachel.
“And because you’ve been hanging around Mel enough for her skills to rub off on you.”

“You’re
kinda transparent,” said Tiny.

“Yeah, well, you can’t have everything,” said Rachel.

“Guys, can we save the chit chat for later?
We don’t have much time,” I said.

They agreed.
We each took a different part of the room. The blood spot on the carpet was still there. It showed signs of someone trying to clean it up, but a big brown spot still remained. I wandered around trying to remember what I did after waking up.

I went to the phone.
I remembered wanting to call Jackie when the cop busted in. But nothing else came back to me. Tiny checked under the bed for anything that might have been knocked under there. He pulled out a small bit of plastic. It looked like a cap of some kind.

He held it out to me.
I took it and studied it. It didn’t help me remember anything. I didn’t know what it went to.

“Nothing,” I said.
“I don’t get it. I had hoped that coming back here would help me remember what happened.”

“Sometimes you can’t force it,” said Tiny.

“Mel, over here,” called Rachel from the bathroom.

Tiny and I both walked into the bathroom.
Rachel pointed at something in the sink. I picked it up and held it close to take a good look at it. It was a button with a star on it. Still nothing.

“Sorry,” I said handing it to
Tiny, “Nothing.”

It happened quick
ly. A mental image of the button close to my face appeared in my brain still attached to a blue shirt. Flashes of a struggle popped in my mind. It was a jumbled mess and made no sense. Eventually, my head cleared.

I sat scrunched on the cold, tile floor of the bathroom.
Both Tiny and Rachel looked at me concerned.

“You remembered something,” said Rachel.

I didn’t know what I remembered.
It still remained a puzzle. “It’s still a mess,” I said.

“Well, what did you see?” asked Rachel.

“The button attached to a blue shirt,” I replied, “And images of a fight. But I don’t know who I was fighting with or why.”

“Well, it’s a start,” said Tiny.
His phone rang. He answered it and hung up seconds later. “Cop on the way.”

We ran to the door, but the sound of a car pulling up outside stopped us.
Rachel stood in the window. “Hey, it’s the detective,” she said.

Not good.
The one person I didn’t want to run into was him. Especially since he had ordered me to stay out of trouble and here I was getting into mischief. “We need a distraction, Rachel,” I said.

Rachel disappeared.
Within seconds Detective Shorts’ car started revving its engine. The headlights flashed on and off and the loud honking of the horn filled the entire area. Annoyed, Detective Shorts ran to his car.

Tiny and I opened the door and squeezed under the yellow tape
. We ran down the side of the building and had just gone around the corner when I heard, “Miss Summers!”

He saw us.
Guiltily, I walked toward him with Tiny close behind. The detective’s car still went crazy making enough noise to wake the residents of a cemetery. Rachel sat in the driver’s seat laughing at Detective Shorts’ efforts to get inside. Knowing that the jig was up I signaled for her to stop. Suddenly, the car fell completely silent.

Detective Shorts composed himself not sure of what to make of the situation.
“What are you two doing here?”

“Out for a stroll,” answered Tiny.

Detective Shorts gave him the evil eye. Of course he didn’t believe us. “And I told you to stay home,” he said to me.

“I couldn’t just stay cooped up hoping that my memory came back,” I said, “So I came here hoping I might remember something.”

“And did you remember anything?” he asked.

“Nothing much,” I said, “Just a button on some guy’s blue shirt.”

“Do you remember what was happening or who the guy was?”

“No.
I can’t put a face to it,” I said. “It’s still all fuzzy.”

Detective Shorts pursed his lips.
He knew I held something back.

A car pulled into the parking lot and parked beside his.

“Oh no,” said Detective Shorts.
“Whatever you do, stay quiet.”

A middle aged man in an expensive suit hopped out of the car.
He looked fit for someone who was quite a bit older than me. He did not look happy. In fact, he looked down right angry at seeing me. I hoped he wasn’t who I thought he was.

“Detective,” he said, “What is going on here?
What is she doing here?”

“Mr. District Attorney,” grumbled Detective Shorts, “She is here at my discretion.
”

“Really?
You realize she is a prime suspect in a murder?”

“What murder?
” said Detective Shorts growing irritated. “You know as well as I that there is no body.”

“Yet.”

“And until there is, Miss Summers is allowed her freedom. You are aware of the signed writ that her lawyer has.”

“So I am,” said the D.A.
He glared at me.

I suddenly hated him.
I didn’t do anything and he didn’t know who I was but had already decided on my guilt. Jerk.

“So why is she here?” asked the D.A.

“I don’t like him,” said Rachel to me. By the way everyone ignored her, I could tell that she only allowed me to see and hear her. “Should I steal his car?”

I shook my head trying to appear normal.
Tiny caught it. His unspoken question told me what he thought.

“It would be fun.
And serves him right,” Rachel persisted.

“No,” I hissed out the side of my mouth.

“You say something, Miss Summers?” asked the District Attorney.

“No,” I replied.

“Miss Summers is here because I had thought that perhaps revisiting this place when she was arrested would help her remember something,” said Detective Shorts stepping in.

“And has she?”

“Unfortunately no.”

“And what is he doing here?”

“Tiny is here because Miss Summers wanted a friend. I saw no problem with it,” said Detective Shorts.

“That’s the problem with you detectives,” said the District Attorney, “You don’t think.”
He turned and went back to his car. Before he took one step, Rachel kicked him hard in the behind.

“Jerk,” she said.
“I don’t like you.”

The D.A. turned back around to face us.
“Who did that?”

“Did what?” asked Tiny.
“No one did anything.”

“Don’t give me that,” said the D.A.

“Mr. Harrow,” said Detective Shorts, “No one here did anything. Now, please leave so that I can continue my investigation.”

Mr. Harrow huffed in anger.
He stalked off. He got in his car, started the engine, and sped off.

“Jason Harrow,” said Detective Shorts, “He is a good prosecuting attorney, but has too much ambition.
And when he sets his sights on someone, he does not back off. Unfortunately for you, Miss Summers, you are his target.

“
Now, go home, both of you. I won’t cover for you again. And if you remember anything, I suggest you tell your lawyer first because if you tell me directly, then I am obligated to tell Mr. Harrow. But your lawyer can tell me and manage to keep Mr. Harrow from finding out. For a while at least. Understand?”

“Yes,” I said.

“And you,” Detective Shorts pointed at Tiny, “Don’t enable her. Stay out of trouble.”

He approached his car slowly before getting in the driver’s seat.
Before we knew it, he had left.

“That lawyer won’t get far,” said Rachel appearing beside both Tiny and I.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Well, most people don’t get
very far when you puncture their tires with a screwdriver,” replied Rachel. She flipped a screwdriver in her hands.

“Tires,” I said.

“Yeah. I poked all four,” said Rachel. “Imagine how mad he’ll be when he notices that all four tires on his car are flat.” She snickered to herself with pride.

Tiny cackled.
Rachel had just gone up in his book. This little episode more than earned her his respect. Even I chuckled some. That attorney deserved it.

“Let’s go,” I said.

Tiny walked me to
my car. No one was letting me do anything alone. I figured the last thing they wanted was for me to disappear again.

“Now you go straight home,” he said.

“Can’t,” I replied, “I have to meet my Aunt Ethel for breakfast.”

“Really?
Give her a kiss for me,” said Tiny with a smile.

“That ought to set her off,” said Rachel.
“I’ll catch you all after a bit. Got business in the spirit world.” She vanished.

It was only eight in the morning.
I made my way to the Denny’s on Eighth Street. I wasn’t a big Denny’s fan, but it was a restaurant my Aunt Ethel would recognize. She never ate at local places.

I parked my car in the already crowded parking lot.
What was it about Denny’s and breakfast? People must love a good breakfast in the morning. Though their Grand Slams weren’t bad.