Vintage Whispers (A Cozy Retirement Mystery Book 1) (9 page)

Chapter Eight

A loud hammering racket vibrated against the backdoor right before Johnny B’s monologue began. Pearl quickly rose to her feet. “He wanted to be here.”

Opal frowned in disbelief. “You called Sheriff Littleton?”

“We can trust him,” Pearl said, rushing to the rear exit.

“Are you all right with this?” Opal asked.

“If you are,” Johnny said. “If you want me to lie and say I stopped in to help, I can do that.”

“We can’t support a lie, Johnny,” Mary Louise said. “Around here, we’re too old to remember what we did yesterday. If we have to start remembering who said what to whom then you’ll end up in a heap of trouble and we’ll end up in witness protection.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, Mary Louise. Sounds a bit drastic.” Sheriff Littleton entered, ducked under the small chandelier in the middle of the ceiling, and nodded at Johnny. “I’m only here to help.”

“Which is what we’re doing,” Opal said. “We’re helping a friend.”

“Let me assure you that I’m Johnny’s friend as well. Maybe we can help him remember something. Pearl tells me you have some incriminating evidence.”

Opal snorted. She looked mad enough to throw a tantrum. At the very least, she was mad enough to toss something at Pearl. “You couldn’t keep your mouth shut.”

“He’s the boss in this county.”

“And we don’t even know if a crime has occurred and you’re offering to hand over our records? Those are private.”

“I can get a court-ordered search warrant,” Littleton said. “In fact, I thought about it. What do you know about selling cinderblocks?”

Mary Louise picked up the stack of receipts and thrust them at Sheriff Littleton. “We keep very detailed records.”

“What was the story behind them?”

“A construction company donated them to a daycare center and someone had the wise idea to let the kids decorate them with spray paint. They then sold them to local merchants to raise money for their annual tuition drive.”

“So it was for a good cause?”

“I’m guessing that’s a matter of opinion,” Opal said, looking at Johnny. “Did you tell Sheriff Littleton everything you know?”

“Yes,” he replied.

“Wait a second,” Pearl said. “Are you saying our cinderblocks were used in a murder?”

“I don’t think they were used to kill anyone,” Sheriff Littleton said. “But they may have been used to keep a body buried.”

“He means Oscar’s,” Pearl explained, clearly proud to be in the know.

“Would someone please tell us what’s going on here?” Mary Louise was frustrated by the lack of information.

“When Pearl knows more than anyone, it’s kind of scary for those of us who have known her for more than a minute,” Opal added.

Johnny turned his trucker-style cap around and instantly transformed into the boy-next-door. “I already told Opal everything, but I was about to share information with Pearl and Mary.” 

“By all means.” Littleton probably wanted to test Johnny to see if his story now matched the one he likely gave down at the sheriff’s office. Sure enough, he pulled out a handheld tape recorder and placed it on the coffee table. “Go ahead.”

“I saw the pillow over Samantha’s face. It was one of those half-body cushions.” Johnny’s tale seemingly started in the middle. “Still had that crinkled look like someone had just released it and darted away, maybe even when they heard me pull up.” He glanced around the room, clearly gauging expressions before he added, “I was only there because Clarence had asked me to drop off some potato soup. Samantha always loved soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.”

“She was already dead?” Pearl asked.

“I don’t know,” Johnny said honestly. “Clarence’s truck wasn’t there. I was scared that someone might have still been in the house so I left. A few hours later, Clarence stopped by to see if everything was all right. Told him I’d been real busy and didn’t have a chance to drive out to their farm.

“I gave him a pint of soup and told him to tell Samantha I was thinking about her. He left without correcting me so I assumed she was all right.” He looked ashamed of himself. “Truth is, I tied one on the night before so I started thinking that maybe I’d imagined the whole thing, ya know?”

“No, I don’t,” Pearl said.

“What if she had needed assistance?” Mary Louise asked.

“She didn’t,” Pearl reminded her. “She died.”

“Yes, Pearl. She died. I think she died that morning.” His eyes watered. “I think she was dead and someone wanted to set me up for murder. Clarence told everyone she died that night.”

Pearl inched closer. “But you think she was killed earlier on the same day?”

“I do, yes.”

“And did you do it?”

“Pearl!”

“I have to know,” she said, leaning forward and ignoring Opal.

“No, Pearl. I wouldn’t have hurt that woman.” He glanced at Littleton. “Clarence and Samantha were good to me when I was a boy. It was no secret that Dad and Mom used to keep the bar open late and they were their best customers.

“Thanks to Samantha, I always had a place to stay. I slept on their couch more times than I can count. Samantha made sure I had a hot breakfast every morning and took me to school when it was too cold to walk.” He swallowed once before he gathered his wits and added, “She was like a second mother to me. I loved her.”

The room fell quiet. Finally, Sheriff Littleton said, “Might as well tell ‘em the rest.”

Johnny cleared his throat. “A lot of people don’t know this but Oscar Leonardo and Clarence were best friends at one time.”

“So?” Pearl asked. “What does that have to do with—”

“Apparently they were buddies until Clarence found out that Samantha and Oscar were also best friends, for lack of a better explanation.”

“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” Mary Louise asked.

“I don’t believe it,” Opal said.

Johnny bowed his head. “I’m just tellin’ you what I know. Samantha is dead. I think she was killed. Clarence and Oscar were friends. Then they weren’t. Samantha and Oscar were also friends and then they weren’t. Oscar’s wife Kelly hasn’t lived with Oscar in well over a year. Samantha died on a Monday. Oscar supposedly met his demise the very next day but no one has seen a body.”

“Wait a minute,” Mary Louise said, turning to Sheriff Littleton. “
You
never saw the body?”

“No,” Sheriff Littleton said. “But we know he’s dead. The coroner did an autopsy and took pictures. We just don’t know what happened to Oscar’s corpse.”

“What did the coroner tell you?” Opal asked.

“He said, ‘Sheriff, I need to see you. I believe you may have a homicide on your hands. Can you come over right away?’ And that was the gist of it.”

“So you went…”

“So I went.”

“And?” Mary Louise was as impatient as a toddler waiting for candy.

“He disappeared.”

“What?” Opal leapt to her feet. “Are you saying the coroner disappeared or Oscar?”

“Both,” Sheriff Littleton said regrettably. “Coroner and corpse vanished. And we have no idea where they are or how to find them.” 

Chapter Nine

Right before sunrise, they crept along the exterior wall. They slipped inside the service entrance and tiptoed across the main lobby before running for the elevator.

“Good morning, ladies!” Nurse Waterbury stepped inside the lift. Dressed like a psychiatric nurse from a scary movie, she wore a slenderizing white dress with the cap, tights, and shoes to match. “Fourth floor, right?”

They nodded in unison. Pearl and Opal swapped their ‘you do it’ looks and Opal finally said, “We meant to thank you.”

“Thank me? Whatever for?” Nurse Waterbury rapidly blinked as if she were having trouble seeing them. She’d either been there all night or perhaps just arrived.

“For taking the time to help us yesterday. We appreciate the warm welcome.” Pearl blinked as rapidly as Nurse Waterbury but she didn’t seem to notice.

The double dings from the elevator announced an approaching floor. A sharp-dressed man in his early to late fifties entered. Wearing a navy suit with a bright red tie, he raked his fingers through his salt and pepper hair before scowling at Nurse Waterbury.

“Doctor,” she said curtly before turning to Pearl. “Once again, I’m glad to be of assistance.”

“You were,” Pearl said enthusiastically, a bit overkill given the wee hours of the morning. “And we hope to see more of you. You’re such an asset to Cozy Retirement. They’re lucky to have you.”

“Thank you,” Nurse Waterbury said, smiling at the doctor as if she were proud to receive praise in his presence.

The next bell announced their fourth floor arrival. Mary Louise and Opal walked off the elevator. Pearl, always at her finest, exclaimed, “Have a goodnight. See you in the morning!”

Mary Louise steeled against the possibility of a reprimand. Opal came to an abrupt halt and shot the doctor a semi-sweet grin. “We’ve been outside on the porch most of the evening.” She brushed off her shoulders, avoiding eye contact. “We’re just so excited to be here.”

“They are,” Nurse Waterbury agreed. “You should’ve been here when they arrived yesterday, Dr. Smalls.”

“Dr. Smalls?” Pearl stared up at the rather large man. “Apparently God gave you to the wrong family. Why you’re at least seven feet tall.”

“Not quite.” He smiled as if it were a chore and then pushed his arm against the jerking door. “Isn’t this your floor?”

“Oh yes,” she said, prancing down the hall as if the doctor’s attention added an extra spring to her step.

Mary Louise watched and waited, willing the doors to close. They were almost in the clear when the doctor’s phone rang and he stepped off the lift to take a call.

“Come on.” Opal kept her voice low. “We have too much to do and we haven’t slept.”

“I know,” Pearl whispered back. “Hope we’re free to do whatever we want here. I’d like to sleep the day away.”

“Missing breakfast and lunch might be a problem,” Mary Louise pointed out.

“Let me call you right back,” Dr. Smalls said, his voice carrying through the corridor.

“Four doors down,” Mary Louise reminded them. “We’re in 424.”

As they passed 420, a tremendous screech filled the hallways. It was the most eerie sound Mary Louise had ever heard and she easily guessed who lived in that particular pod. “I take it Miss Layla is still among us.”

“Don’t be mean,” Pearl said, glancing over her shoulder and waving at Dr. Smalls.

“Ladies? May I have a word?”

“Now look what you’ve done,” Opal snapped.