Suspicious Minds (Squeaky Clean Series, Book 2) (16 page)

"I'll tell you what I told the police. I hadn't seen anyone over there for years. I had to call the city several times trying to get the owner to even cut the grass. That house was an eyesore for the entire neighborhood. Then about three weeks ago, I started seeing little Bobby over there. Told me he was going to sell the place. Honestly, it's about time. His folks have been dead for years now, but I guess sometimes you just want to hold on. Anyway, I saw his car there several times:" She blinked at us. "Is that what you wanted to know?"

"Did you see any other cars there?" I asked.

"I saw a white van there one day."

That would be mine.

"I also saw one of those ... what do you call them? Those hippie vans"

Vanagons. That would be Chad's.

"And one day, I saw a black sedan. I think it was a Kia, but I couldn't get a good look at it. It was foreign, though. My husband used to work for the Ford plant, and I learned to spot those foreign cars a mile away."

It sounded like she got a good look at plenty of things. There was nothing like a nosy neighbor to keep a neighborhood safe.

"When was that?" I asked.

"On the day they say that Elvis man died"

I wondered what kind of car Darnell Evans had. I'd have to ask Jamie.

"Is there anything else unusual you've seen over there?" I'd grab onto any details she had to offer.

"I saw two young people who looked an awful lot like you over there a couple of days ago" The woman's eyes twinkled. "Who did you say you were again?"

"This is Gabby St. Claire," Chad said, extending his arms like I was the prize if you answered enough questions correctly. "She's been asked to investigate Darnell Evans's death. She's one of the best in the area"

I really enjoyed being with Chad Davis. I was so glad we'd met.

"That's right" She nodded faster and faster. "I remember reading about you in the newspaper a few months back. You helped solve that crime involving that young politician, right?"

"That's me"

"Well, I hope you can figure out who killed Elvis. I saw him in concert once, you know."

I leaned toward her. "You saw Darnell Evans in concert?"

"No, I saw the real thing. Boy, did that man know how to make a girl's heart swoon" She placed a hand on her heart and closed her eyes as if reliving the event. I smiled at the sweet expression on her aged face.

"Thank you, ma'am, for your time."

"Catch the man who did this. This neighborhood used to be pretty spectacular, you know. People were proud to say they lived here. Now, it's crime ridden and run down. A murder is the last thing we need."

"Understood" I rose, and Chad followed my lead. "Have a great day."

"How long have the two of you been married?"

I skidded to a halt. "Married? Us?" My hand flung back and forth between Chad and me. "Oh, we're not married."

Chad grinned beside me. "But we will be soon" Before I knew what he was doing, he pulled me toward him and kissed my temple. "She's one special gal"

For one of the few times in life, I felt speechless. As soon as we stepped outside, I turned to Chad and saw the amusement in his eyes.

"I couldn't resist." He nudged my chin with his knuckle. "You're just so cute when you're mad. Your face turns all red and matches your hair"

No, Chad Davis would never be my friend.

As soon as I climbed in my van, I ignored Chad by pulling my cell phone out and dialing Jamie's number. Her gum-smacking voice sounded over the line. She informed me that Darnell drove a black Hyundai. I'd guess that was the car the neighbor had spotted. I wondered if the police had found it.

She also informed me that everyone knew Lynette and Hank had been married at one time.

Of course. Because they were both so famous that the paparazzi couldn't get enough of them. Forget Bradgelina, tell us about Hankette. The world wanted details.

Before I hung up, I had one more question. "By the way Jamie, what was Darnell doing on October 28, the day he died? Was it work as usual?"

"He supposedly took off early to do a concert at a nursing home"

"Which one?"

She threw out the name of one about fifteen minutes away. As soon as I hung up, I started down the road toward it.

If the entrance to the crawl space had been like the opening to the underworld, walking into the nursing home was like entering Bizarro World.

Pictures of Darnell Evans were strung up and down the hallway. On my way to the front desk, I passed one woman inching down the hallway with her walker, wearing a T-shirt with his face plastered across it. This man had been an enterprise in himself. Who would have thought?

I paused by one of the posters and studied the man's face. The wrinkle creases around his eyes. His nose-too large and hooked to look like the King. His receding hairline. Yet something about his smile and the look in his eyes did ring of Elvis.

"Can I help you?"

I approached the petite woman at the front desk. I quickly sized her up. Long, poofy hair with big, hairspray-plastered bangs; tapered, stonewashed jeans; an oversized sweatshirt; and big hoop earrings. The girl was obviously stuck in the eighties. I glanced at her desk, cluttered with miniature Snickers wrappers. Obviously a chocolate nut.

"I was hoping to speak to someone about Darnell Evans"

"You mean Elvis?" She nodded too brightly and smiled.

Puh-lease, people. The man wasn't the real thing. I made sure to keep my tones even. "Yes, Elvis"

"What would you like to know?"

I nodded and smiled brightly. "About his last visit here"

"It was a lovely visit"

"Anything unusual about it?"

Her bright smile and sparkly eyes remained frozen in place. The perpetual cheerleader, I figured. Stuck in her prime of twenty years ago. You met them once in a while, the poor souls for whom the nightmarish teenage angst of high school really was the best years of their lives. "He couldn't linger afterwards like he usually does"

"Why not?"

"He just said he had an urgent appointment"

"I see" I leaned closer and lowered my voice. "Any hints about what kind of appointment it was?"

"Nope" She shrugged and popped a bubble. "I just know the residents were real disappointed. He usually stays afterwards, signing autographs, giving kisses"

I signaled at all the pictures hanging up of Darnell. "It looks like he's got a lot of fans around here."

"Oh yes. He's like a celebrity." Nonsensical nodding, blinking, smiling like she had Vaseline on her teeth. Maybe it didn't happen at every school in America, but at mine, the cheering coach made her cronies put Vaseline on their teeth to ensure they'd keep smiling. Of course, I was never a cheerleader, so don't get the wrong idea. I was the girl who stirred jalapeno juice into their Vaseline.

I would have never guessed"

"He just brightened everyone's days" She tried to look sad, but with her smile still stretched across her face, the emotion didn't work. "We're really going to miss him. It's a shame. He was such a nice man"

I had to find out who that appointment was with. When I did, I'd find Darnell's killer.

NO SOONER had I deposited my glittery purse in my bedroom than someone knocked at the door. A fresh-faced girl with caramel-colored, straight hair stood on the other side.

"Gabby?"

"The one and only."

"Riley said your computer is acting up?"

I swung the door wide. "Come on in."

She stuck out her hand with its unmanicured fingertips and stubby nails. I liked her already. "I'm Amy"

I noticed her confident grip. Not too sweaty, not bulldozer strong. The woman had a perfect handshake; I had to give her props for that.

"What's going on with your computer?" She readjusted the leather bag on her shoulder. If Sierra came over, I'd have to hide that lest we get an hour-long lecture on the mistreatment of cows.

"Apparently someone's locked me out of my own PC"

"That's a bummer, but I think I might be able to help"

I opened the door wider. "Then by all means, come inside"

She stepped inside, and I saw her gaze sweep my humble abode. "Cute place"

"I like it"

Her gaze swept me this time. "Riley's told me a lot about you, you know."

"Has he? All good, I assume"

She laughed, and I wasn't sure how to take it. "Of course. We all love hearing his Gabby stories"

Gabby stories? What did that mean? A quick picture of Riley sitting in Sunday school class, sharing a prayer request about his kooky neighbor who didn't know the Lord, flashed through my mind. The brat.

"So, where's that troublesome computer of yours?" She clapped her hands together and looked around.

I pointed to the corner, wondering about her keen observation skills.

"What a beast!"

I knew my computer was old and kind of big when compared to the flat, thin computer screens they had out nowadays. But that computer let me do what I needed. It had been one of my first big purchases. I felt a special connection with my "beast" I scowled at Amy, but she was already gliding across the room.

"Let me see what I can do"

She plopped at my computer desk, a nicked monstrosity that I'd picked up from someone's trash pile. It was a perfectly good desk. I don't know why anyone would want to throw it away. It was solid wood-so what if the wood was stained orange and the drawers had big, oversized wooden knobs.

Amy's fingers began flying over the keyboard. I paced, anxiety knotting in my stomach. A moment later, the computer guru looked back at me innocently.

"I need your user name and password."

I felt my face turn red. I'd desperately tried to change it last night, but I'd been too late. Now, the whole world would know my sad secret.

I briefly considered just letting the computer rot-or do whatever computers did. Rust, I supposed. I would buy a new one-a smaller one with a flat screen. No big deal. I'd just work a few extra jobs. Maybe even do some mold remediation.

But I had forms on there that I'm sure the IRS would like to see. I had to access the information in that computer.

When I admitted my password, would Amy share the information in prayer-request form with everyone at church? I could hear it now: Not only is Riley's neighbor kooky, she's also sad. Very, very sad.

She continued to stare at me.

I cleared my throat, feeling hot. "My password?"

"I promise not to tell anyone" She smiled as if trying to be reassuring.

"Well, it's ...

She nodded, leaning toward me.

"I changed it a few months ago, when . .

She continued nodding, her fingers poised to type.

I went with a last-ditch effort to avoid the unavoidable. "Do you just want me to type it?"

She shook her head. "It would be much easier if you just told me."

I laughed, weakly. Took a deep breath. Wondered how I could have ever been so stupid.

"My username is.. " Dramatic pause. Closed my eyes, wanting to crawl under a rock. "... gabbythomas, one word"

I couldn't open my eyes to see the pity in her gaze. I heard computer keys pounding.

"And your password?"

I swallowed, wondering why she hadn't laughed, why her voice sounded the same. Obviously, she was a great actress who could conceal her pity/ amusement/curiosity with the best of them.