Designed to Death (A Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery) (9 page)

A hum of an engine broke the stillness. I bolted upright and turned toward the sound. A car pulled into the back lot. I couldn’t make out the make and model. I clicked off the flashlight.

Too late! The car aimed right toward me, or at least in my general direction. I had no idea if the driver was gunning for me and I didn’t plan on staying still and finding out. I gauged the distance of me to my car and the other car to me. I’d never make it. I could blind the driver with the flashlight. But, I didn’t know who it was. It could be my grandmothers sent Steve looking for me. I couldn’t risk it. I’d have to hide out until I knew if the person was friend or foe.

Frantically, I looked around for a place to hide. I shouldn’t have parked my car behind Home Brewed. Like an idiot, I worried so much about Ted catching me poking around my own store, I never thought for a second the murderer might come back tonight. If it was the best time for me to snoop it sure was the best time for them also.

Reason one hundred and one I should never consider detective work as a way of making my livelihood.

Wait. I was smart enough to keep my car keys with me. I’d go inside the store. If it was a foe, I’d call the police. I was willing to give up an explanation for protection. I fumbled with my keys, nearly dropping them twice, before I got the door open. I stumbled inside and slammed the door shut just as a fist pounded on the door.

I breathed a sigh of relief and leaned against the door. Made it. Unless the person had a gun. I scrambled away from the door, heading toward the left side of the storage area and behind a few boxes. Better protection.

“Open up.” An angry woman’s voice drifted through the closed door.

For some reason, knowing it was a woman made my heart rate slow. I also wasn’t quite as anxious to call the police. Not that I didn’t think a woman wasn’t capable of violence, just I’d have a little better chance going up against another woman and winning.

The voice was familiar. Very much so.

The woman pounded again. “I know you’re in there, Faith.”

Darlene? What was she doing here? On second thought, I would rather not know. I remained quiet, hoping she would get the message and go away. Real soon. Like before someone spotted her and called the police. I did not want to have to explain this visit to Ted.

“I know you’re in there.”

So?

“Or maybe I don’t...” she trailed off.

Whatever she planned on saying next, I wasn’t going to like it. There was too much glee in her voice. Darlene wasn’t known for her helpfulness and thoughtfulness toward others. She was the biggest pain in pretty much everyone in Eden’s derrière, except for those residents who listed the Hooligans in that particular spot.

“You could be a prowler.” Darlene tapped on the door. “Or the murderer returning to the scene of the crime.”

Yeah right. If she believed that she wouldn’t be knocking on the door begging to be let in.

“I think I should—”

My patience left right along with common sense. I walked over to the door so Darlene could hear me better. “You’re right. I’m in here. You can leave now.”

“Not a chance. You’re up to something.” She banged on the door. “Let me in.”

“I’m working.”

“On a Sunday. At eight o’clock at night. And your car isn’t parked here. Sounds suspicious to me. Maybe you’re not Faith.”

I snorted. “Right. You know it’s me. That’s not going to work.”

“I know, I know. But will the police believe I’m calling to annoy you or because something is up?”

“If you call them, you’re going to have to explain to them why you’re here.”

“And so will you.” Triumph echoed in her voice.

Okay, she had me there. I didn’t want to explain my presence here anymore than she wanted to explain hers.

Ugh! I was going to have to let her in. I opened the door a crack. “Fine. But keep it down.”

Darlene squeezed inside. “What did you find?”

She wasted no time. “Nothing yet. What did you find?”

“Why do you think I’m here looking for something?”

“Because you don’t work here. How did you plan on getting inside?”

“Who says I wanted to come inside?”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever. How about we stop the games and just agree to get on with what we both had planned to do? Find whatever Belinda came here to look for.”

She heaved out a huge sigh and stuck out her hand. “Deal.”

We shook.

“Let’s split up.” I flipped the lights on, glad we had thick blinds to block any light from showing through the slats. “Chances are someone is going to notice your car and call the police.”

“Don’t worry.” Darlene headed into the main part of the store. “I parked my car by yours.”

“Like we’re not going to have to explain that.”

“I have one.” Darlene threw a know-it-all grin at me over her shoulder. “I broke down and I called you to pick me up.”

“And why would I do that?” I might as well find out from her, because I couldn’t come up with a good reason.

“Because you wanted to know why I was here in the middle of the night.”

In a weird way, it made total sense. “Okay. The second question would be why were you here in the middle of the night. Detective Roget is going to ask. I can guarantee you he’d be the one showing up.”

“I’m sure you can.”

I frowned. I didn’t like that smug, high-pitched tone she used. Then again, there wasn’t much I did like when it came to Darlene.

“I’ll search around the table Belinda used and also check the class kits left behind. You can look on the tables the students used and also on the floor.”

“Why do I have to crawl around?” Darlene smacked her hands onto her hips. She tapped her foot, the toe of her black leather boots making a soft clicking sound on the linoleum.

“I know what I put in the class kits, including Belinda’s, so if anything extra is in there I’d know.”

“What if Belinda came to put something back rather than take something?”

Interesting theory. “I’d know that also. Stop arguing and look. Someone is going to be knocking on that back door soon.”

“Aren’t you the bossy one?” Darlene tugged up the hem of her pants and slowly knelt on the ground.

I refrained from answering her question. Getting into a verbal war with Darlene kept us here longer. I, for one, did not want to be here any longer than necessary. And I had a bad feeling I was already pushing those proverbial moments. I went over to the table Belinda used and started going through the box of supplies. We never got around to doing the class so nothing should be gone.

There were pieces of the kit missing. A few of the tins, distressing ink pens, and also the special hammer Belinda insisted we have on hand. She didn’t want to bring hers to the store, but had no problem taking any of the store’s items home. Had Belinda been trying to return the items? Being accused of stealing product wouldn’t look good for her on top of the accusation of stealing layouts.

No. Steve and I would have found something on her, unless the murderer took the items when they left. But why? Belinda stealing, or returning stolen merchandise, was a good reason for her to come in the middle of the night. She wouldn’t want to walk into the store during business hours and give us the stuff she pilfered. Though I’m sure she’d have done it by accident, I mean it had gotten wild and crazy.

How did Belinda expect to get into the store? Did she plan on breaking and entering or had she borrowed a key from someone? I had mine. I doubted my grandmothers would’ve loaned out theirs.

Sierra? Possible.

I shuddered, envisioning how that conversation would turn out. Maybe I’d get Darlene to ask her. She wanted to do more than just crawl around on the ground.

No. Absolutely not. Asking Darlene to question Sierra meant we were working together on Belinda’s murder. Partnering with Darlene wasn’t on my agenda.

I glanced over at Darlene who crawled around on the ground, shining a small flashlight she had attached to her key ring. The only person I knew who’d been angry enough to attack Belinda was currently in the store with me.

Was Darlene looking for something that would prove her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt? Or had she planned on leaving something to give the police another suspect?

Darlene must have felt my suspicious gaze because she stopped scuttling around and turned her head to look at me. She frowned. “I didn’t do it.”

My famous words to Ted repeated back to me. “I didn’t accuse you.”

“You’re not saying it but I can see it.”

“You can see it?” I was intrigued. “Really? How?”

Darlene rolled her eyes. “Because you aren’t as unreadable as you believe you are. Everyone knows how you feel about Steve...and Detective Roget.”

“I like them so what.”

“Give it up, Faith. It’s more than like. You have the hots for both of them.” Darlene stood and grinned at me. “Have to say I’m kind of surprised. I didn’t think you had it in you to lust over one guy much less two.”

“And what does that mean?” I crossed my arms. “I’m not lusting, as you so elegantly put it, over Steve or Ted.”

A sharp pound on the front door had me yelping and Darlene squealing. Caught. I’d rather deal with the police than Darlene’s interest in my possible romantic choices.

Not that I was looking...who was I kidding I was seriously thinking about breaking my vow of singlehood. Though, it wasn’t a choice between Steve and Ted. It was a decision of actually wanting to start dating, have a real relationship rather than a heated flirtation with Steve.

The pounded sounded again. “Police.”

It was Ted. I hoped Darlene’s excuse worked. “It’s show time.”

I lifted up the corner of the blind and peered out, double checking that it was in fact Ted. I mean, I could be mistaken about who I heard and I should be safety conscious.

Ted narrowed his eyes and pointed at the lock. “Open up.”

“I’m finishing up.”

“Faith...”

Ugh...the warning tone. I wasn’t a child needing a good scolding. Just for that, I wouldn’t let him in. “Everything is fine here. You can go about your business.”

“This is my business. Open up.”

Gee, everyone sure was bossy tonight. I smiled at him sweetly and opened my eyes wide, the innocent damsel look. “I had no idea Hope and Cheryl brought in a partner. They didn’t say one word to me.”

“You know what I mean.” Even in the dim light, I saw a muscle in his jaw twitch.

I looked over my shoulder. Wait a minute. Where’s Darlene? If she snuck out the back door I’d never trust her again. Of course, I shouldn’t have trusted her to begin with.

She used me to get what she wanted, into the store.

I unlocked the door and jerked it open. “Forget it. She took off and will never admit she came here.”

“She who?” Ted lumbered inside and stared down at me.

This was why I should stay out of investigations. I didn’t have to worry about anyone snitching on me, I snitched on myself. “Doesn’t matter.”

“I think we should finish this conversation at the station.”

TEN

Once again I was in the police station, sitting in a tiny room, waiting for the police to interrogate—talk—to me. Anxiety raced through me even though I knew this time I hadn’t done anything wrong.

Okay, maybe a little wrong as Ted...Detective Roget...had warned me not to get involved. I had told him I had no intention of doing so. I meant it. I really did. I had only wanted to see if I could discover why Belinda had showed up at the store. It wasn’t my fault that Darlene had showed up and coerced me into letting her inside.

I pressed my hands onto my knees to stop my legs from shaking, afraid I’d be showing an admission of guilt to a murder. A murder I once again had nothing to do with, but somehow got wrapped into because I was conveniently at the wrong place at the wrong time. It was the convenient part that might end up getting me into trouble. How many people ended up being tied into a murder once, much less three times?

I watched Detective Ted Roget pace in front of the small window, hands gesturing in the air. I wasn’t sure who he was yelling at, though I guessed Steve. My choice for the one phone call. My list of people to call in an emergency wasn’t very extensive, and with this type of issue, I figured Steve was my best bet.

Darlene lied to me. She had the perfect plan and ran out when I needed her. I should’ve left her outside. I took a huge risk for nothing. No clue. No evidence. Nothing except for a trip to the police station.

Would I need bail money?

The door banged opened and I sat up straight, hoping to portray innocence and confidence.

“I thought you weren’t getting involved in this investigation.” Ted charged in and threw the question at me. He slapped a folder against his thigh.

I craned my neck, trying to spot Steve. Didn’t he come here to save me, not leave me in the lion’s den I had kind of willingly climbed into?

“I expect an answer, Faith.” Ted pressed his hands onto the top of the metal table and leaned forward. His gaze drilled into mine.

“I’m not. Not really. I was curious on why Belinda decided to stop by the store. It’s just weird she picked that time...”

“How do you know she went there at that time?”

“I...” I slapped my lips shut. I didn’t know. I was pretty sure. The alarm would’ve gone off earlier. “Nancy at Sound Security called around that time. I wouldn’t think they’d delay in calling me about a possible break in. Unless...” My stomach started churning, the yummy lasagna not feeling yummy anymore. “...Belinda was killed somewhere else and brought to the store. Why?”

Ted sighed and looked up at the ceiling. “I should’ve known. I should’ve known she’d turn that comment into a question.”

“It’s a good question.” I crossed my arms and glared at Ted. Was Ted trying to trip me up? Get me to confess to the murder. Well, it wouldn’t work. For one, I didn’t kill anyone. Two, I wasn’t
that
brainless.

“I’m the detective. Got it?”

I nodded. I knew how this little exchange went. He asked. I answered without words, the preferable method for Ted.

“Your actions tonight make it look like you’re up to something.”

“Up to what? I went to the store owned by my grandmothers which I manage and was going through the class kits. Things were left in a little bit of a disarray...”

Ted’s green eyes narrowed.

I rolled mine. “...after the class turned into a brawl. Thanks to Darlene. I can’t believe she snuck out. See if I ever help her again.”

“Can I get that in writing?” Ted shoved the folder toward me and offered a pen.

I spotted Steve walking toward the room. I waved and smiled, which promptly fell from my face when I noticed Karen England and the photographer walking behind him. My grandmothers were not going to be happy to see me as the headline in tomorrow’s paper. My only saving grace was I called Steve for help. They’d love the fact I turned to Steve when I found myself in a jam.

I, on the other hand, had a different feeling roiling through me. This funny, skittering kind of feeling ran along my nerves. And Darlene’s words bounced in my head. Okay, I was having more intense emotions toward Steve. I was also now relying on him. Counting on him. Trusting him.

I wasn’t sure I liked this new development. But I was sure I liked even less the look on Karen’s face when she looked at Steve. That woman lusted after him. I clenched my hands, dropping them into my lap so Ted didn’t see.

Steve tapped his knuckles on the small glass window. I stood and grinned. Freedom had arrived. I’d leave and not even stop to try and find out why Karen decided to visit the police station.

Hopefully, Steve kept this little incident between me and him. Though, with the addition of Karen, and Bobbi-Annie straining her neck to see what was going on, my grandmothers would know before Steve and I got to the parking lot. Gossip flew faster around here than glitter in a scrapbook store during a life artist cat fight.

“I do not need this.” Ted stalked over and yanked the door open. “Davis, I’ve already explained to you...”

“Karen...” Steve began.

Burgundy red flashed in front of my eyes for a second. Karen? He was on a first name basis with Karen.
Get a grip.
Of course he had called Karen by her first name. She was in our age bracket and he knew her.

“...came by because she has some pictures you might find interesting, Detective Roget,” Steve said. 

“Unless it’s related to my case, I do not have the time.” Ted tried closing the door but Karen braced it open with her elbow.

“It is.” Karen stepped into the room, dragging the guy with the camera with her. “This is Leonard Blue. He’s a freelance photographer and has been working for the paper for a few months.”

“This is somehow on my need to know radar because...” Ted’s irritation came across loud and clear.

The man was testy. I hoped that whatever Leonard would either get me off the hook, or deserved the detective’s ire more than me.

Karen sighed dramatically and arched backwards, leaning into Steve. “He’s not a friendly sort is he?”

“I don’t have time for this.” Ted took hold of Karen’s arm and hustled her toward the door.

In my head, I cheered, back flipped, and added a spiffy cartwheel at the end.

“You should.” Karen pulled away. “If I was in charge of this murder case, I’d wonder why Darlene Johnson was lurking around Scrap This and then forced Faith to let her inside. I wonder what Darlene threatened to do.”