Hope Callaghan - Garden Girls 05 - Eye Spy (10 page)

The marble on the double vanity had also been polished.  Brand new, sleek, modern sinks and faucets had been installed.  Small storage cabinets had been installed on both sides of the vanity.  Crown molding gave the ceiling a touch of elegance. 

Gloria walked over and skimmed her hand across the gleaming marble top.  “This is almost too pretty to use.”

Andrea wandered to the door on the other side of the bath.  “Check out the closet.”

There was no light switch to flip in this room.  Instead, it was all motion sensor.  They stepped inside and recessed lights instantly brightened the interior.  Custom shelves and cabinets lined the walls.  There was a whole section devoted to shoes.  It was jam-packed.

Gloria gazed down at the collection. “I never knew you liked shoes that much.”

“It’s my downfall,” Andrea confessed.  “I love shoes.” She went on.  “But, hey, you’ll never guess what the workers found when they were redoing this closet.”

She stepped over to the corner.  The one with the built-in cabinet.  “Check this out,” Andrea said.

She stuck her hand under the cabinet.  The cabinet glided seamlessly backwards and stopped a few feet in.  Andrea reached around the corner. A bright light came on and revealed a secret room!

Gloria leaned forward and peeked through the narrow opening. 

“Follow me.” Andrea turned sideways and squeezed in through the small space.  Gloria followed her in.  She glanced down at the wall and her stomach that touched the frame. Too many more desserts and she’d get stuck!

The room wasn’t large.  Maybe six feet by nine feet.  The walls were smooth concrete.  A small, plaid sofa sat in the corner. An end table with a small lamp sat beside it. There were two TV monitors on one of the walls.

Andrea pressed the button on one of the monitors.  A view of the front door appeared. 

Gloria placed a hand on the smooth concrete and stared at the screen.  “You have a panic room,” she said.

“I know, right? I ordered a safe to put in here.”

Andrea stuck her finger on the power button to turn off the screen when a figure appeared at the front door.  It was Brian. “We better go down,” she said.

She flipped off the light and Gloria followed her out of the closet, then out of the bedroom.  “How many people know about that room?”

Andrea counted with her fingers.  “You, the contractor, one of the workers,” she got to the fourth finger, “and me.”

Andrea gave her a dark glance.  “I was thinking maybe I should keep it that way,” she said.

Gloria nodded.  “I agree 100%! By the way, have you had any more people wandering around or odd occurrences?”

They were on the stairs now and could hear the
thump thump
of Andrea’s newly-installed knocker.  Andrea shook her head.  “Nope, thank goodness.”

The smile never left Brian’s face when Andrea opened the door to let him in the foyer.  “Well, well.  Two of favorite girls.” He kissed Andrea’s forehead and then hugged Gloria. “I’ve been thinking about you,” Brian said.

“Oh yeah?”

“Wondering if your washer was still working and if your houseguest was still there.  I’m gonna go out on a limb and say the answer to both is yes?” His eyebrows raised.

Gloria’s shoulders slumped – just a little.  Andrea had taken Gloria’s mind off her troubles, but they were back now in full force.  “Yeah.  Any news on the post office investigation?”

If anyone would have info, it would be Brian since he had a lot of people come in and out of the hardware store every day.  He shook his head.  “Nope. Not a peep.  They’re keeping a tight lid on it over there,” he said.

“You want to join us for lunch?” Andrea asked.

Gloria shook her head.  “No. I have another stop to make before I head back home.  Maybe next time.” She hugged Andrea and Brian and headed to the car. 

It was time to stop by her friend, Lucy’s, place.  She hadn’t seen much of her lately.  Just briefly when she came by the farm to drop off a load for the yard sale.

Lucy’s jeep was in the drive. Gloria pulled in beside it.  She started for the porch door when she heard a muffled voice.  “Over here!”

Gloria rounded the end of the house and circled the bush on the edge of Lucy’s garden.  Lucy was bent over a tomato plant. A bushel basket rested on her hip.  She straightened her back and shaded her eyes with her free hand.  “My, my.  If it isn’t my long-lost best friend,” she said wryly.

Gloria defended herself. “You know I’ve been busy.”

Lucy tip-toed past the tidy rows of plants and over to where Gloria was standing.  “I know.  I’m just teasing…”  She set the basket on the grass and motioned Gloria towards the house.  “How’s it going with the houseguest?”

“Ruth’s fine.  No problem at all,” Gloria answered.  She remembered her date last night with Paul.  “It is cramping my style a little,” she admitted.

Lucy was on the top step now.  She spun around.  “Oh yeah?  What style is that?”

“You know.  Dates.  Stuff like that,” she added.

“So go over to Paul’s place,” Lucy logically suggested.  She held the door for Gloria to go inside.

“We would but Paul’s kids just moved in,” she said.

Lucy snorted.  “You don’t say.”

Gloria pulled out a kitchen chair and sat down.  She stuck her chin in her fist.  “Yeah.  I do say.”

Lucy headed to the kitchen sink.  She scrubbed the dirt and grime off her hands then wiped them on a towel hanging on the side of the fridge. “Have you eaten lunch yet?”

Gloria’s stomach grumbled in response.  “Nope.”

Lucy reached into the fridge and pulled out a box of fried chicken.  “Good. You can help me with this.”

She reached in and pulled out a container of coleslaw and another one with potato salad.  She set them on the table and grabbed a pitcher of iced tea.

“Here, let me do something.” Gloria jumped to her feet and helped set the table.  The two loaded their plates, then said their blessing.  The chicken was delicious, even cold. 

“Did you get this from Dot’s place?” Gloria asked. She peeled off a piece of white meat and popped it into her mouth.

Lucy nodded.  “Yeah. She’s trying a new recipe and asked if I wanted to be the guinea pig.”

The meat was moist and tender, the coating nice and crispy and seasoned with the right amount of salt.  Gloria made a mental note to tell Dot it was delicious.

Lucy reached for a drumstick.  “Any news on the investigation?”

Gloria shook her head.  “Brian said the investigators are keeping a tight lid on the case.”  She hesitated for a fraction of a second.  Should she tell Lucy about Ruth?  She decided she needed a second opinion.  Lucy had helped her out with other investigations.  Maybe they could put their heads together…

Gloria set her half-eaten piece of chicken down and took a deep breath. Gloria told her everything that had happened so far.

Lucy’s eyes widened when she told her how Ruth had surveillance equipment inside the post office.  “Can’t she get in trouble for that?”

“That’s what I thought, too.” Gloria pointed at her own chest.  “But I’m not going to say anything.”

Lucy shook her head and made a locking motion in front of her lips.  “Me either.”

Gloria went on to tell Lucy how she caught a glimpse of Kenny in front of the camera the night before and how she followed Ruth to Kenny’s that morning and watched as he handed Ruth a box.

Lucy stopped chewing and gasped.  “What do you think is in the box?”

“I wish I knew,” she said.  I thought about taking a peek in the bedroom when she’s not around,” Gloria confessed.  “You know, to see if the box is in there.”

Lucy nodded. Her red head bounced up and down.  “Good idea.  After all, it is your house,” she pointed out.

Lucy tossed the empty container of coleslaw and potato salad in the trash.  She put the rest of the chicken back in the fridge and pulled out a baker’s box.  Inside was a lemon meringue pie. 

Gloria’s mouth watered. “Did Dot give that to you, too?”

Lucy pulled the lid off and lifted the pie from the box.  “Yep.  She wanted me to run this by my taste buds.  She’s thinking about adding this to the menu, too.”

“Why doesn’t she ever ask me to taste test for her?” Gloria complained.

Lucy sliced a generous piece and set it on a plate in front of Gloria.  “Cuz you’re never around?”

“True…” Gloria cut off the tip with her fork and put it in her mouth.  The meringue was just the right thickness.  The lemon was tart with a hint of sweet and the crust flaky - yet firm.  “This would be a home run,” she declared.

Lucy wiped the meringue off with a napkin before taking a bite.

“You don’t like meringue?” Gloria asked.  She had never known Lucy to not like a sweet.

Lucy nodded.  “Yep.  Believe it or not, I’m not a fan of meringue.” She took another bite.  “But lemon pie, now that’s another story.”

Gloria stayed long enough for a second glass of tea before she decided it was time to go. 

Lucy walked her to the car.  She watched as Gloria opened the door and slid inside.  “Maybe you should confront Ruth.  Tell her what you saw…”

Gloria nodded.  “I was thinking the same thing.  I mean, what could she really have to hide?”

Gloria grabbed the mail out of the mailbox on her way to the house.  She flipped through the pile.  Nothing but junk mail and bills. 

The roar of a car racing past the farm caught Gloria’s attention.  She looked up just in time to catch a glimpse of a four-door sedan with tinted windows speed by.  It was navy blue.  The same color as Detective Sharon McIntyre’s car. 
Now what’s she doing way out here?
Gloria wondered.

Gloria wandered into the house, dropped her mail on the counter and her purse on a chair. 

Her cell phone chirped, letting her know there was a message.  She popped on her reading glasses and picked up the phone. 
Meet me out at the flea market at 1 p.m. sharp.  I have some information on the post office investigation. 

Gloria didn’t recognize the number.  It wasn’t someone she had programmed in her phone.  But it was a local number.  She glanced at the clock.  It was already 12:45. 

She let out an aggravated sigh.  It would take ten minutes just to get there.  She grabbed her purse and shoved the phone inside. 

Mally thumped her tail and let out a low whine.  Gloria looked at the furry face.  “C’mon, girl.  You can be my guard dog.”

Mally scrambled to her feet and met Gloria at the door.  The two of them climbed into Anabelle and hit the road.  There were two ways to get to the flea market.  Straight into town until the street ended and then turn left OR turn left and go through town with one right turn.  Either way would take about the same time to get there.  Gloria decided on the drive-through-town route.  That way, she could see if Ruth was still at Dot’s place.

She was.  Her car was parked in the same spot. 

She made the right at the end of main street and towards the flea market grounds.  The flea market was open only on Mondays.  The place would be like a ghost town today. 

She passed the first block, then the second block.  The third block ended at one of the entrances to the grounds.  There was one lone car parked in front of the animal auction building.  The car belonged to Judith Arnett!

Judith was Belhaven’s unofficial troublemaker and gossip extraordinaire.  She and a few of her cronies spent most of their time slandering others and spreading vicious rumors.  Not long ago, Judith had tried to steal a small espresso machine from Dot’s restaurant and Dot had banned her from the restaurant for life. 

Gloria wasn’t much of a fan.  It was best to avoid some people and in Gloria’s book, Judith was one of them. 

Gloria pulled Anabelle into the empty spot next to Judith’s car.  She glanced over at Judith’s car.  It was empty.

Gloria and Mally climbed out of Anabelle and shuffled across the hard-packed dirt to the open side of the auctioneer’s building. 

Judith was standing in the shadow of the lean-to, hidden from the street.  “You’re right on time,” she said.

Gloria nodded.  “You said you had some information on the post office investigation.”

Judith glanced around, as if someone might be nearby and eavesdrop on their conversation.  She lowered her voice.  “I kind of got this by accident.  Yesterday, I was headed down the alley, the one that connects main street to the road that the old school’s on.”

“Yes, I know the one.”

“Anyways, I was headed from Mary’s place back to my car.” Mary was one of the gals in Judith’s small circle.  “That’s when I saw Sharon, the detective lady.  She was bent over, talking to someone inside a car.”

“Did you recognize the car?” Gloria asked.

“Nope,” Judith said.  “I knew something was up so I flattened myself to the side of the fence.  I couldn’t hear what they were saying but I was able to peek through an opening in the fence and I had a clear view of them.  Suddenly, the person in the car handed the detective this!”

Judith whipped out her cell phone and turned the screen on.  She tapped the surface and handed it to Gloria.  Gloria slid her reading glasses on and studied the screen.  It was a picture of the detective taking a white box from whoever was in the car.  A white box that looked a lot like the one Ruth had picked up from Kenny that morning! 

Gloria stared at the arm.  It was long and a bit on the scrawny side. She looked up.  “Can you forward a copy of that picture to me?”

Judith stared at the phone in her hand.  “I would, but I don’t know how,” she confessed.  She held the phone out to Gloria.

Gloria wasn’t too familiar with the workings of the newer phones but she could try to figure it out.  Much to her surprise, she pushed a few buttons on the screen and Voila!  It worked!

Judith scrunched up her eyes.  “How’d you do that?  I’ve had this phone for months now and could never figure that out.”

Gloria held the phone out, then showed her how to send a picture.  Judith’s face lit up when Gloria was done.  “Now I can send some pictures to the grandkids.”

Judith was a lot like the other women in town, including Gloria herself.  Her kids – and grandkids – lived hundreds, if not thousands of miles away.  “Thanks, Gloria!”

Gloria smiled.  “Thank
you
for your sharp eye and for sharing this with me.”

“Do you think it means anything?” Judith asked.  Gloria knew Judith was trying to help.  Ruth wasn’t one of her “cronies,” but the two of them were friends. 

Gloria nodded.  “It might.  I wish I knew what was in that box.”

Judith nodded.  “Yeah, if we knew what was in the box, it might help, huh.”

They headed back to their cars. Mally trailed behind. 

“We need to get Ruth back to work,” Judith said.  “Looks like I’ll need to keep a closer eye on the goings-on behind the post office.”

Gloria patted her arm.  “I need all the help I can get on this investigation,” she admitted.

“I’m on it,” Judith promised. 

Gloria watched as Judith climbed into her car and drove off.  She turned to Mally.  “Now that is the most unlikely crime-solving partner I will ever have!”

She slid into the driver’s seat and pulled her cell phone from her purse.  She pulled up the phone number and added Judith Arnett to her contact list, certain that it would only be a matter of time before Judith contacted her again. 

On the drive home, Gloria went over what she knew so far.  What she knew so far pointed right to Ruth.  Or maybe it was Ruth and Kenny.  But what was the person in the car giving the detective?  What in the world was in those boxes?  Drugs?  Money?  Was Ruth turning a blind eye to illegal drug trafficking in exchange for cash?

Gloria shook her head.  If she was, she sure didn’t show it.  Ruth had lived in the same house for years now.  Her van was almost a decade old.  She didn’t dress in expensive clothes or wear lots of jewelry.

Gloria sucked in her breath.  Her eyes flew open. 
Or – what if Ruth had a drug problem?

Ruth’s van was in the drive when Gloria got home.  She pulled in beside her and made her way up the steps.  Ruth was in her usual spot.  Glued to the computer screen.  She looked up, then gave Gloria a small smile before staring at the screen again.

Gloria pulled out a chair and gazed at her friend.  She tried to remember everything she had ever heard about drug use.  Wasn’t there something about dilated pupils?  “So where did you and Steve go on your date?” 

Ruth’s gaze never left the screen.  “We had a nice dinner over at that restaurant on the lake going into Lakeville.”

“Do you think you’ll go out again?”  Gloria continued the conversation.

“Yeah, I think so,” Ruth answered.  “He’s got a great sense of humor.”

Gloria didn’t know Steve that well.  Only that he had left a trail of broken hearts in Belhaven.  “How are you doing on sorting through stuff for the sale?”

“Good.  I think I’m almost done,” Ruth replied.

Gloria was growing impatient.  Ruth was mesmerized by the stupid screen!  She got up from her chair and plopped down in the one directly across from Ruth.  She would have to at least glance up.  “Will you be here for dinner?”

No answer.

Gloria snapped her fingers.  “Hey!”

Ruth’s blue-gray eyes shot up.  They looked straight into Gloria’s, then right back at the screen.  It was not enough time for Gloria to determine whether or not her pupils were dilated!

She left Ruth at the table and headed to the bathroom.  She switched on the light and studied her own pupils for something to compare it to.  Hmm.  Hers seemed to be medium dilated. 

She wandered over to her own computer and fired it up. Then she typed in
signs of drug abuse.
She glanced over her shoulder.  Ruth was like a stone statue.

She clicked on one of the tabs that listed some of the symptoms.  The lists went on and on.  How was she supposed to know if Ruth had any of these symptoms?  Gloria herself had half the symptoms and she didn’t even take drugs! Difficulty concentrating or remembering things, insomnia, increased appetite….
Wasn’t there something about having the munchies?

Gloria clicked away from the screen and jumped out of the chair.  She pulled a bag of chips from the kitchen pantry and set them on the table.  “I think I’m going to have a snack.  You want one?”

Ruth looked up.  “Yeah. Something salty sounds good,” she answered.

Gloria scooped a bunch of chips into a bowl and pushed it in Ruth’s direction.  Ruth munched on the chips and stared at the screen.  Gloria put some in a bowl for herself.  “Find anything new out?”

“Yeah! I’m going to have a mess on my hands when I get back there,” she said.  She shook her head.  “They have no idea what they’re doing.  Why, I wouldn’t be surprised if half the mail is being delivered to the wrong places!”

Gloria had to agree.  Ruth ran a tight ship down at the post office. 

Gloria picked up a chip.  “I wonder how Kenny’s holding up.” She held her breath and waited to see if Ruth would mention seeing him that morning.

Ruth backed away from the monitor and leaned back in the chair.  “I bet he’s hating it.  Just like me.”

Gloria looked at Ruth.  Really looked at her face.  She looked tired.  The dark circles under her eyes were something Gloria wasn’t used to seeing.  She was normally upbeat, peppy, a real chatterbox. 

Gloria pushed her chair from the table and stood up.  “Come on.  We’re going for a walk.”

Ruth started to shake her head.  “No. I need to keep watch.”

Gloria stuck her hand on her hip and shook her finger at Ruth.  “You need a break from this whole thing.  Some fresh air will do you wonders.”

She didn’t wait for an answer.  She snapped her fingers.  “Let’s go, Mally.”

Gloria didn’t have to ask Mally twice.  She loved walks.  Through the fields and the woods.  She especially loved it when they walked all the way down to the stream, which was on the back side of the property.

Ruth reluctantly got out of her chair.  “I suppose.” She stared longingly at the screen.

Gloria reached over and flipped it shut.  “It’ll be there when you get back.”  She lifted a sweater from the hook and pulled it on.  The skies were overcast and there was a bit of a chill in the air. 

Ruth followed suit and grabbed her sweater from the back of the chair.  Mally led the way as she bounded down the steps and circled the big oak tree beside the garden several times.  The fields had been tilled and crops planted a while back.  There was a grassy path that led down the center of the fields and to the woods. 

Ruth stared at the tidy rows of crops. “What do you suppose they planted?”  Sometimes Gloria could tell right away, but sometimes she had to wait until the tender plants peeked out from beneath the soil.  Gloria bent down to examine one of the plants.  “Those are beans.”

Ruth nodded.  She’d never gotten much into the farming aspect of living in a small, rural town.  She’d grown up more of a city girl and had moved to Belhaven when she got the job as head postmaster.  Before that, she’d worked as a mail clerk right out of high school where she worked her way up the ladder.

Mally was in the lead.  She would stop every once in a while and take a step off the path.  Gloria knew she was itching to run through the crops.  She’d put one paw on the rich, dark soil to test Gloria and Gloria would warn her.  “No, Mally.” Then, she’d pull her paw back and continue on the grassy section. 

The line of trees was in view now.  It was a mini oasis at the end of the straight, flat fields.  Years ago, James had told her that the original town of Belhaven was first settled out here.  That there had been a small train depot, a few shops and several small houses beyond that. 

That’s what James’s grandparents had told him.  The only thing left of the structures now were a few spots where stones had been lined up, as if at one time they had been the foundations of the long-gone buildings. 

The girls stepped into the small forest and the temperature dropped.  A faint gurgling noise echoed through the trees.  Gloria and Mally had been back here several times already this year.  Mally knew right where she was going.  She darted off into the woods and disappeared from sight.

Gloria followed behind and Ruth brought up the rear.  Mally was drinking from the small stream when the girls caught up.  Gloria sat on the edge of a nearby fallen tree, her usual resting spot when she and Mally came back here.