Designed to Death (A Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery) (4 page)

The front door yanked open and the bell jerked back and forth, adding a hectic musical track that went well with the current situation of the class morphed into a public brawl. About time. I glanced over to let the police know what happened. It wasn’t the police.

Standing before me was Gussie Buford and her two brawny sons, Wayne and Wyatt. Gussie stood with feet planted and a take-charge expression engraved on her face. Wayne and Wyatt looked perplexed and hesitant, their usual expression when facing any circumstance.

“Boys, you get in there and settle those women down.” Gussie pointed to Hazel, Darlene, and then me.

“I’m not doing anything wrong.” I sat up, still keeping Darlene pressed to the cold floor. “I’m maintaining law and order. Or trying to anyway.”

Wyatt snorted.

I launched a glare at him.

Gussie swatted the back of her son’s head. “If Faith says she’s not part of any wrongdoing, then she’s not. Gentlemen do not…ever …call a lady a liar.”

“Sorry, ma’am.” Wyatt looked at the ground then peeked at me. The grin on his face said he knew I wasn’t an innocent damsel.

Normally, I did have some part in creating my own problems but this time, well this instance, was all Darlene.

“Momma, you said it ain’t right for us to go around manhandling women.” Wayne shifted from foot-to-foot. “And considering one of them is elderly.”

I winced. Wayne wasn’t the brighter of the two brothers. Hope and Cheryl reddened and stepped back, giving Hazel a clear shot of Wayne.

Normally, Wyatt and Wayne stuck together like glitter to glue. For better or worse, they were victors together or went down for the count together. Except in this occasion.

Wyatt—the smarter brother—rushed toward the back of the store, putting plenty of distance between himself, the insulted woman, and his brother.

I didn’t blame Wyatt one bit.

Darlene wiggled underneath me, pushing and bucking, trying to throw me off.

“Stay still.”

“I can’t breathe right.” She hissed out.

I didn’t want to smother her. “Okay, I’ll let you sit up, but if you try to stand or crawl, I’ll let Sierra’s boys come over and play cowboys and bank robbers.” A game Harold, Henry, and Howard—the Hooligans—would relish. Darlene would make a mighty fine bronco to tame.

Sierra flipped open her cell phone. “One button is all I have to push. Hank wouldn’t mind bringing the boys down.”

“I won’t move,” Darlene said, propping herself off the floor with her elbows, “if you ensure that Belinda doesn’t leave.”

Seemed like a fair and stupid request. Darlene assaulted Belinda. Why would she want to leave before the police arrived?

“Fine.” I stood up and dusted off my hands, wishing I got rid of this situation as easily as the small particles of glitter on my palms.

Belinda shuffled toward the door in her bare feet, pressing a shaking hand to her throat. A neck no longer decorated with the Diva necklace. “I don’t want to stay here. I just want my necklace back.”

“It’s mine.” Darlene clutched the jewelry in her fist, pressing her hand into her dove gray shirted-cleavage. A sliver of the beaded silver chain trailed from between her index and middle fingers.

“Let me have the necklace.” I held out my hand.

Darlene shook her head and glared at Belinda. “It’s mine. I earned it. Not her.”

Had Darlene lost her mind?

Belinda swiped at tears and took a few steps backwards. My grandmothers blocked the front door to make sure no one escaped.

The bell rang and all heads swiveled toward the door. Detective Ted Roget walked inside followed by Officer Conroy Jasper. Ted scanned all the women in the store and then focused his intense green eyes on me.

My knees shook. There was no reason for my nervousness of police to rear up with Ted, especially since I wasn’t causing the commotion this time. He knew my darkest secret and wouldn’t use it against me. If he were inclined to let my skeleton out of the closet, he’d have done it months ago when I interfered in a murder case by starting my own investigation to prove he was the murderer.

Ted yanked the cord of the glue gun from the wall. “Someone care to explain what is going on?”

Was I mistaken, or had his gaze lingered on me for a moment longer than anyone else, a hint of appreciation in those cool green eyes?

I glanced down and saw my shirt had ridden a few inches up and exposed some of my stomach. I tugged it down and narrowed my eyes on Ted. A gentleman kept his wandering gaze to himself or made it not so obvious.

Disappointment flashed across his face.

I wanted to continue the stare-off, but Ted’s attention left me and was now fixed on Darlene and Belinda. His eyes widened for a second when he took in Belinda’s attire.

Darlene jumped to her feet and jabbed a finger, not one of the ones holding the diva necklace hostage, toward Belinda. “She stole from me. I demand retribution.”

Belinda whimpered and huddled against her mother. The women almost blended together with their similar style and almost matching outfits.

Matter-of-fact, Hazel and Belinda looked way too much alike. I hadn’t really paid attention before but now side by side I saw Hazel had added some extensions to make her hair style, which last week was at her chin, to shoulder length. And her previously dark brown hair with gray shot through it was now dark brown and curly with red highlights. Just like her daughter.

Since Belinda didn’t seem fazed by her mother morphing herself into her twin, it wasn’t my concern. No matter how odd—or creepy—I found it.

Hazel wrapped an arm around her daughter’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, baby. Mom won’t let that witch hurt you.”

Ted sighed and pulled a notebook from his pocket. “Officer Jasper, start interviewing some of the other women.”

“She tried to kill me.” Belinda sniffed as fat tears rolled down her rouged cheeks. “I didn’t do anything to her.”

“Liar!” Darlene made a sudden movement forward.

Ted made an equally sudden movement toward where he kept pepper spray and his gun.

I snagged Darlene and halted her progress. I really didn’t want to see anyone get shot — even Darlene. “It’s better to stay put.”

She threw a glare at me. I aimed my gaze at Ted’s side. Darlene switched her attention from me to the object I looked at. Darlene nodded and dropped her hand to her side.

Ted pointed at Wayne and Wyatt. “Collect up anything that could be used as a weapon. Have Mrs. Hunter and Mrs. Greyfield lock the items up somewhere.” He pointed at my grandmothers.

“Yes, Sir.” Wayne and Wyatt said in unison. Gussie beamed.

Great. There went our scissors again, along with our trimmers, glue, and glitter as Darlene and Belinda showed how they could be used as a method of attack.

“I just wanted to give him the proof.” Darlene pointed to the stack of
Making Legacies
magazines.

“The special issue?” I looked at my grandmothers. Both shrugged and eyed Darlene with wariness. Had Darlene’s competitive scrapbooking spirit finally cracked her?

I smiled, hoping it portrayed warmth and understanding, not the fact I thought she was a few foam stamps short of a complete alphabet set.

“Look at her…” Darlene nearly strangled on the pronoun, “…layouts.”

I picked a copy on the table and flipped through it, stopping at Belinda Watson’s section. I turned the magazine face out, flashing the pictures to Ted like we are at a story time hour in the library.

He squinted and looked at the photos. “What am I missing? I’m not an expert.”

I sort of was and still didn’t know what Darlene meant.

“Give me that.” Darlene snatched the magazine from my hand and rested a manicured nail on top of the layout. “This design. It’s mine. Belinda submitted my work under her name.”

Women inched forward. Eager ears and even more eager mouths waited. I swore a few rubbed their hands together in glee.

“You’re a liar.” Hazel started toward Darlene. She stopped and screeched, swatting at Wayne who knelt at her feet, one hand on her ankle and the other on her high heel. “Stop fondling me!”

Wayne pressed his lips together and tugged Hazel’s leg up, tilting the woman to the side. I reached out to steady her before she fell to the ground in an inelegant and unladylike heap.

Gussie blanched and covered her face with her hands.

Karen scribbled furiously into her notebook. The photographer disappeared somewhere, probably back to the news station to start going through pictures of the brawl.

“I have proof.” Darlene crossed her arms and tilted her chin up.

“Wayne, what are you doing?” Ted’s expression was a mix between revulsion and confusion.

“He’s assaulting me!” Hazel hit Wayne again.

Wayne was unfazed. “Now, ma’am. I’m just following orders. Detective said to get anything that was a weapon. Now, I’ve been kicked by shoes like these. They sure do hurt.”

Wyatt nodded in defense of his older brother. “Me too. Like heck.”

Ted rolled his eyes. “Don’t worry about the shoes.”

Wayne shrugged. “Okay, Detective, it’s your investigation but don’t say we didn’t try to help.” 

“I’ll take my chances.” Ted centered a look on me and kept it there.

I squirmed under his gaze. What did I do now? I was being helpful. Matter-of-fact, I put myself in the way of harm to stop Darlene from committing a crime. Ted continued staring at me.

I had enough. “What?”

“Why are you sparkling?”

I glanced at my arms. Gold, green and red glitter clung to my skin and clothes. I shook my head and a rainfall of sparkling dust floated around me. “The top wasn’t on when Belinda clobbered me with the glitter.”

“Why did Belinda go after you?” Ted scribbled something in his notebook.

Was that suspicion in his eyes? I refused to allow my imagination and conspiracy notions to run away with me. Again. “She meant to nail Darlene with it but her aim sucks.”

Ted turned to Belinda.

The woman blanched. “Mom!”

“Faith! That language.” Hope glared at me.

Hazel, still wearing heels, ran over to her thirty-five year old daughter and took her in her arms. “How dare you bully my child? She’s the victim here. That horrible woman attacked her.”

“I retrieved what she stole from me.” Darlene wore the coveted Diva necklace.

Tears streamed down Belinda’s face. “That’s my necklace. It was sent to me. I’m a Life Artist Diva. Not you.”

Ted held out his hand, palm up and then curled his fingers up and back down. “Give it up.”

“No.” Darlene pressed her hand to her throat, protecting the symbol of divahood.

“I have a jail cell I can house you in,” Ted said. “I might have to keep you there overnight. It will take a long time to interview every single woman in this room.”

Apparently, Darlene believed the words were a promise and not a threat because she handed the necklace over. “The toggle is still intact so I didn’t rip it from her neck. She wasn’t hurt. I took it off. Nicely. Admirable of me, considering…”

“Yes.” Ted’s voice was still in neutral. “I’m sure that’s your recollection of the incident.”

Jasper walked over, exasperation clear on his face. “Detective, I’m not getting anywhere. Every woman has a different story on who started it, what happened, and even the time. Some say the fight started when the doors first opened this morning.”

“That’s not true.” I crossed my arms and glared at Jasper. “Everything was orderly, maybe feisty on occasion, but no violence whatsoever until Darlene arrived.”

Jasper frowned. “Faith, I’m only repeating what was told to me. I’m not saying you or your grandmothers stood by as women conducted a boxing match in the store.”

“I’m sorry.” I shoved my hands into the back pockets of my jeans. “I don’t like anyone lying about my grandmothers.”

“Now you know how I feel.” Hazel rubbed her daughter’s back. “Darlene is lying about my daughter.”

“No.” Darlene slapped her hands against her legs. “That’s how I feel looking at the magazine. Belinda lied when she sent in those layouts. Those are mine. She stole them.” Darlene pointed at Belinda. “I will prove to the scrapbooking world that you are a fraud.”

A gasp came from behind me. I turned. Ms. Amtower stood with a hand pressed to her chest.

Belinda wailed and dropped her head to her mom’s shoulder. “Why is she doing this? I didn’t steal them. She gave them to me, so I submitted them.”

Gave them to her?

“Gave them?” Ted scribbled something in his notebook.

“I need to call my lawyer.” Ms. Amtower pulled an iPhone from her purse and scurried toward the door. “This is not good.”

“Wait!” Belinda made a valiant but failed attempt to grab the editor-in-chief’s arm as the woman hightailed it out of there. “Darlene said she didn’t like the pages so I could have them as my own.”

“For you to put the photographs of our mother-daughter cruise on, you idiot. Not for you to say you designed and send them in for a contest.” Darlene clutched the magazine to her chest. “We were working on my mom’s birthday present. I never would’ve given you permission to submit them to a contest.”

“You gave them to me. That makes them mine. You said they weren’t contest worthy,” Belinda shot back. “I wanted to prove you wrong. And I did.”

“You cheated! You could have at least scraplifted the design instead of actually using my pages. I even paid for all those supplies!” Darlene tossed the magazine. It smacked Ted in the chest. “You just wait until I post about this. The chat board will eat you alive.”

“That’s enough, Miss Johnson.” Ted narrowed his gaze and this time directed it at Darlene.

“You’re a fraud.” Darlene swung back around and jabbed a finger at Belinda.