Triple Dip Debacle: A Cozy Mystery (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book 7) (4 page)

I herded us to the back door. “She has a point.”

*****

We were all taken down to the police station. Not as suspects, at least most of us, but to give our statements. Dottie, Paige and I sat in the old chairs in the waiting area of the station. I remembered these chairs all too well when we accompanied Trixie here when she was under suspicion for her first husband’s death. The chairs weren’t any better now than they were then.

Stormi was back in one of the interrogation rooms with Officer Jerry Burkle. Since she and Greg were engaged, the chief of police didn’t think it a good idea for him to question her. Greg was setting up another room where he would question the three of us.

I tried to make small talk. “So what do you think of your future son-in-law Miss Dottie?”

Dottie shifted in her chair. “I don’t know…I haven’t met him yet.”

Paige and I looked at each other. “Why on earth not?” Paige asked.

“Stormi said he’d been working long nights and sleeping during the day. She promised to introduce us on his first day off.”

I do remember Stormi saying he’d been working nights for another officer who was off work sick.

“It’s too bad you have to meet him under these circumstances,” I said. “But he’s a wonderful man.”

Dottie wrung her hands. She was very nervous and I wasn’t sure if it was because of Mr. Pennington’s death, Stormi being questioned, or her being next in line for the interrogation. I’d seen Dottie under serious circumstances before and normally she was the rock of Gibraltar. When her husband left her with two kids to raise she buckled down, worked two jobs, and never complained. You could count on Dottie in an emergency or if you suddenly felt overwhelmed. She was there to take charge. Something she knew how to do so well. I guess there were many times that Dottie’s take over attitude had positive effects on the community. Like the time the Baptist church suffered smoke damage from a faulty furnace. Dottie stepped right in and offered to have the church service in the basement of her home until the church was fumigated. Another time some teenage boys were scaring their elderly neighbors by tossing rocks at their windows late at night. Dottie took it upon herself to stay up late and sneak around trees and light poles until she found the culprits. Word is she grabbed one by the ears and wouldn’t let go until he promised that he and his friends would cease and desist. Yes, there were times when Dottie’s take-charge behavior had been a welcome relief. I told myself I needed to remember that, even when she was overbearing about Stormi’s wedding. But this wasn’t like her at all. I moved to the chair next to her and put my hand on her shoulder.

“You okay Miss Dottie?”

Dottie took a lace hanky from her purse and dabbed at her eyes. “I’m just so worried about my Stormi. Finding Mr. Pennington like that. My poor baby.”

“Hey now, she’s made from strong stock,” I said patting her shoulder. “She’ll be fine.”

Dottie gave me a half-hearted smile. We heard the creak of the door of one of the interrogation rooms opening and Stormi emerged. She walked over to us and sat down.

“I think Jerry thinks I did it,” she whispered.

“Did what?” Paige asked.

Stormi peered at Paige impatiently. “He thinks I murdered Mr. Ping Pong.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Paige replied. Then she looked sternly at Stormi. “You didn’t did you?”

Stormi gave Paige the evil eye. “No I didn’t. Yes, I didn’t care for the man. He made my skin crawl and I wanted to boot kick him back to Atlanta. But no, I didn’t skewer him with the cake cutting knife.”

“So that was the murder weapon!” Paige exclaimed. “That silver plating sure sparkled off that handle. That’s too bad; it was a really pretty cake serving set.”

Stormi looked disappointed. “Yeah I know.”

“You guys are unreal,” I exclaimed. “A man is dead, likely murdered, and you’re mourning the cake serving set? What are we, a bunch of ghouls?”

I knew I shouldn’t have said it, but it just came out. I could see the look on Stormi’s face changing. Oh, crap…she was getting the giggles. Not now! You’ll definitely look guilty if you start snort/giggling. Too late…

Paige saw it too. “Don’t you dare kiddo…if you start it will trigger a chain reaction!”

I covered my mouth, trying to stifle the rising laugh gurgle trying to come forth. When Stormi started her nervous snorts and giggle, no one was safe.

Stormi grabbed the sides of the creaky chair and took a deep breath in an effort to squash the impeding explosion.

“That’s good,” Paige reassured her. “Just take deep breaths and calm down.”

Dottie looked at us. She was no longer wringing her hands, but her gaze said she thought we were nuts. “What in tarnation is wrong with you girls?”

That did it! Stormi could contain herself no longer. The snorts came forth, tumbling one after the other despite her attempt to hold them off. I could never keep from laughing at Stormi’s snort/giggles so I gave in before the top of my head blew off as well.

Paige rolled her eyes and said, “Good Lord.” Which only made us laugh even harder. Dottie was speechless for once and Paige mumbled something about getting new friends.

My stomach hurt from laughing and Stormi was finding it difficult to breathe. Then Greg, her fiancé walked into the waiting area. Stormi struggled to stand; suppressing her snorts and giggles as best she could.  

“Honey, ummm…I want you to meet my mother, Miss Dottie Rogers,” Stormi said to Greg.

Now Greg was use to Stormi and her outbursts, so he took it all in stride. He held out his hand to Miss Dottie who smiled and took it. “Momma, this is Greg.”

“It’s nice to meet you Miss Dottie. I’m sorry it’s under these circumstances however.”

Dottie shook her head. “So am I, but I am so happy to meet you. I’ve heard wonderful things about you from my daughter.”

Greg smiled at Stormi who had finally gotten control of her giggling. “I’m a very lucky man.”

Stormi smiled. “I’m glad you feel that way Greg, but I believe Jerry thinks I murdered Mr. Ping Pong.”

“Who?” Guess Greg hadn’t been let in on the name change.

Stormi shook her head. “I mean Mr. Pennington.”

“I doubt that,” Greg replied. “We’re still looking at all the evidence.” Greg motioned towards Dottie, Paige and I. “And I still need to get statements from these ladies.”

Greg stood to the side and motioned down the hall. “I can get all your statements at once ladies since you were all together at the time of the murder. Follow me this way.”

We followed Greg into an interrogation room and told him what we knew, which was very little. We had all left the shoppe together to go look at the new furniture next door, and when we returned the back door was open and Stormi was kneeling over Mr. Pennington. When we were finished, Dottie cornered Greg.

“Greg, you don’t think my baby had anything to do with this do you? She’s my angel, there’s no way she’d hurt a fly. Sure, she and Mr. Pennington didn’t get along and she might have spouted off to him that she’d like to twist his head off and use it as a hood ornament, but it was all talk. You know how she is.”

Paige grabbed Dottie’s arm. “I think we’ve done our civic duty Dottie. Let’s roll.”

Greg walked us to the front where Stormi was waiting. She and Greg talked while we waited outside for her. When she came out, she looked better. Greg had that effect on her.

“Greg said forensics just finished at the shoppe and they would go over everything right now.”

“So are you off the suspect list?” Paige asked.

Stormi sighed. “He didn’t act like I was on any list, but Jerry sure gave me a scare.”

“Well it did look funky…you kneeling over Mr. P. with a knife sticking out of his chest.”

“Paige, how could you say that?” Miss Dottie huffed.

“She’s teasing me Momma. That’s how we communicate.”

Paige put her hand on Dottie’s shoulder. “I’m sorry Miss Dottie. I’m just trying to take the stress out of a well, stressful situation.”

“It’s alright dear. I’m just wound up as usual. I hate to think there might be a murderer lurking around.”

“But who in the world would want to kill Mr. Pennington?” I asked. “Nobody even knows him.”

“I’m sure there are a number of people that know him who would like to kill him,” Stormi stated.

“Stormi, that’s not a nice thing to say,” Dottie exclaimed. “The poor man is dead.”

“I know Momma, but I’m calling a spade a spade. He wasn’t a nice man and he may have made some enemies. I’m sure there are quite a few bridezillas out there that he made enemies with.”

“But why come all the way to Caesars Creek to do him in?” Paige asked.

“I don’t know, but I’ve got to get to the shoppe and clean or call a hazmat crew,” I said.

“I don’t think he bled too much, at least I didn‘t see any on the floor,” Stormi replied. “The knife probably didn’t hit an artery, just his black heart.”

“Stormi, stop that!” Dottie patted the small beads of sweat from her face with a hanky. “You keep talking like that the police will toss you in the hoosegow for sure.”

Stormi waved it off. “Let’s get back to the shoppe and help Tara clean.”

Once we got back to The Frozen Scoop, I set mops, sponges and buckets out. We’d have to give the place a thorough cleaning before I could reopen. I had Dottie sit at one of the tables while we worked. She still seemed anxious. I called Brandon and told him what happened. He was out of town installing windows on a new house, but said he was on his way.

Not long after we finished cleaning, Paige went next door to Bruce’s office and then Brandon arrived. He hugged us, making sure we were all okay. “Don’t want anything to happen to my girls.”

Dottie looked at him quizzically. “Momma, I know this isn’t the best time to tell you, but there’s no sense in waiting.” Brandon walked over and put his arm around my shoulders. “Tara and I are dating.”

I wasn’t prepared. I thought we were waiting until that evening to tell her, but evidently, Brandon thought otherwise. I didn’t know what to expect from Dottie.

First, she appeared confused and then the realization sunk in. She clapped her hands and stood up to hug me. “Of all the girls, I couldn’t have chosen a better one than you my dear.” Dottie grabbed my hands, looked them over, then looked at Brandon. “Where’s the ring?”

Brandon turned all shades of red. “I said we’re dating Momma.”

Dottie pointed a finger at him. “You better not screw things up young man. Don’t you let a jewel like Tara get away.”

I had to help Brandon out of this hole he dug himself into. “We’re taking it slow Miss Dottie. You know, it’s better not to rush into things.”

That seemed to quell Dottie somewhat. “Don’t go to slow my son…you’re not getting any younger. Plus I wish one of my offspring would supply me with a grandchild.”

Brandon nodded his head towards Stormi. “How about the one about to get married.”

“Yes, she’ll do,” Dottie answered as she sat back down. She looked tired. This whole ordeal was taking a toll on her. I motioned for Stormi to come over and we all sat down at Dottie’s table.

“Are you feeling alright Miss Dottie?” I asked. “Would you like me to make you some tea?”

“Thank you dear, but no. I’m just feeling a little blue. I wanted this to be a bonding experience with my baby girl, but it’s turned into…well, something I never imagined. I should never have hired Mr. Pennington. I thought I was doing the right thing.”

“I know you did Momma,” Stormi replied. “But sometimes you need to discuss certain items with people. You know, we could have went and picked out a wedding planner together. One that didn’t carp about my weight so much.”