Altered to Death Page 5

  “I have garbage bags of animal carcasses upstairs,” Wyatt said. “You want me to leave those?”

  “Animal carcasses?” Steve asked.

  “Squirrels. Rodents. Snakes. They’ve been making a home for themselves in the attic. Looks like the heat got to them, and then the blizzard we had back in December froze ’em. Thought it might be good to get them out before they all defrosted and stunk up the place. Unless...” Wyatt trailed off and shrugged.

  I knew what the guy was up to and would’ve kissed him if that wouldn’t have made the other guys suspicious, and if word got back to Gussie, she’d be planning a wedding for me and Wyatt.

  “You can remove them,” Steve said.

  Another car was chugging up the steep hill. I watched it getting closer and closer. Ted. I wondered how this new development interfered in his investigation.

  “I’ll just toss the bags in our work van and take them to the disposal place,” Wyatt said. “Unless you need me to hang around, brother.”

  “No. I don’t want them stinking up the van.”

  Ted parked his unmarked vehicle and slid out, side-eyeing Steve before addressing Wayne.

  “What’s with the audience?”

  “He showed up on his own free will saying his mystery client owns the property and we’re trespassing,” Wayne said. “He won’t give a name and says he doesn’t have to because he doesn’t work for the county anymore. Davis is his own boss now.”

  “Actually, his dad is his boss. Steve works at their new satellite office here in Eden,” I piped up.

  “Is that so?” Ted faced Steve. “This is quite a dilemma we’ve found ourselves in. You coincidentally no longer work for the county, and now you have an unnamed client who owns this property. Property you had told the city the Historical Society had the rights to and could move forward with the renovations.”

  “I gave plenty of notice,” Steve said. “This client came to me recently, long after I had advised the Society.”

  “So you say.” Ted waved off Steve’s impending argument. “We can discuss this further if I find it necessary. Currently, I have a more pressing matter. The two of you can either stay or leave, but make sure I can reach you later. Wayne, lead the way.”

  Wayne and Ted walked around the front loader. I rocked back and forth on my heels, trying to look innocent and uninterested in what Ted was looking at. Of course, that made Steve extremely interested in what Wayne needed to show Ted.

  Ted returned a moment later, removing his cell from a clip and dialed a number.

  “I need backup at the Everton mansion. The area needs to be cordoned off and searched.” He hung up. “Change of orders for you two, you need to leave the premises.”

  “I don’t think I should do that.” Steve crossed his arms and glared at Ted.

  “You no longer work for the county, so you don’t get a choice.” Ted placed a hand on his handcuffs. “This is a crime scene, so you have two choices: either leave voluntarily in your car or by force in mine.”

  The bucket of the front loader lowered, giving Steve a view of the skull.

  Five

  “What the hell is that?” Steve’s eyes widened.

  It was rare for Steve to show a display of temper, so I was a little taken aback. It stopped me from stating the obvious. Plus, it was better to avoid creating more drama for Ted. My commentary wasn’t needed now. Though I’m sure Ted’s opinion would be it was never necessary.

  “A skull,” Wayne said, helpfully. “Think your client knows anything about it?”

  Maybe Georgia was right and her husband hadn’t died of natural causes. I sucked in a breath. What if Edward had uncovered something about the murder and that was why he was killed? Not because she was an Everton and the city took what was hers.

  Ted spun around, gaze drilling into me.

  Leaning over, I rubbed my ankle. “I should watch where I’m stepping. Next time I might break my ankle instead of twisting it.”

  “Why don’t you head off to work, Faith,” Ted said. “If there are any questions for you, I know where to find you.”

  “Should you be the one questioning her?” Steve asked. “It seems like a conflict of interest for the homicide detective to question his fiancée about a murder.”

  “You think I’m involved in killing whoever that is?” I jabbed a finger in the direction of the skull. “Those bones are old, and all the roots dug up point to them being buried for a long time. I probably wasn’t even born when that poor person was buried.”

  “Davis is trying to find a bargaining chip so he doesn’t have to give up the name of his client,” Ted said. “Don’t get riled up. Why don’t you head to work?”

  I drew in some calming breaths. Ted was right. There was nothing to get upset over. Steve was being a jerk. “The historical society hired me to document the goings-on of Eden. This story seems important.”

  “Since my client owns the property, it is my duty to stay and document what is happening,” Steve said.

  From the set of Ted’s jaw, I knew he wanted to argue—with both of us. “Stay out of my way and behind the line.”

  Before I mentioned there wasn’t a line, Ted picked up a stick and gouged one into the soft dirt. “Step over it and you’ll find yourself at the station having a chat with Chief Moore.”

  Been there, done that. Rather not do it again. Especially since my grandmother Hope was now married to the chief, and Bobbie-Annie was annoyed with me. If she saw me being escorted to the chief’s office, she’d call my grandmother. I’d rather explain myself to the chief than to Hope.

  “Does that mean I should send the bill for all the work to your office, Davis?” Wayne asked. “You can forward it to this so-called client of yours.”

  “I have a court document with me that proves what I’m saying is true.”

  Ted held out his hand. “I’d like to see it.”

  Steve handed it over. “Are you sure it’s human?”

  Wayne snorted and lifted his chin toward the skull. “That look like an animal skull to you? I’ve seen plenty of deer, skunk, and other critter skulls. It’s human. And probably been there for a while, not a lick of skin on the bones, and it was buried pretty deep.”

  “Shut up, Wayne.” Ted stopped walking and turned to face us. “I don’t want any of this to go any further. Or for any of you to take another step toward the crime scene, and it is a crime scene until I determine otherwise.”

  “Maybe they found a private cemetery of the Evertons,” I said.

  Ted tilted his head to side, considering my words. “That is a possibility. But until I know for sure, I’d appreciate everyone staying put. If someone did commit a crime here, it’s going to be hard enough with the scene already disturbed by Wayne and his crew.”

  Wayne glared at Ted. “We aren’t at fault for this. We checked the blueprints and landscaping plans. There were pipes laid in this area.”

  I wasn’t going to tell Wayne, but I didn’t see any pipes in the hole he dug. His calculations were a tad off, but that was for Ted to point out.

  Ted huffed out a breath. “I’m not saying you are. It’s just my job here is already complicated without having anyone else potentially damaging the crime scene.”

  “Maybe you should advise the chief and the county prosecutor what’s going on,” Steve said. “They might have strings to pull to get you some extra help. You might want someone with experience in archeology.”

  Ted narrowed his eyes on Steve. I didn’t think Ted was thrilled about Steve offering a suggestion, even though it was a good one. It might have to do with the superior tone and smirk on Steve’s face, and the pesky fact that Steve wasn’t being forthcoming with him.

  Why was Steve keeping the name of the client a secret? He had to know that a dead body on the premises, whether through foul play or a cemetery, meant Ted would
need to speak to the owner. The police were going to demand access to the house to gather up any evidence to identify the body.

  “I can check some of the documents that I have at Scrap This,” I said, trying to offer a true helpful suggestion. “There might be something in them about a cemetery plot.”

  “I appreciate that, Faith,” Ted said.

  A door slammed shut. We all turned. Wyatt was carrying out an arm load of fabric.

  “You can’t take those out of the house.” Steve stormed toward Wyatt. “Only the remains of the animals.”

  “Those are in the van.” Wyatt shoved the bundle into my arms.

  “Why are you handing over my client’s property to Faith?” Steve reached for a wadded quilt.

  “Faith borrowed it.”

  I froze my expression into non-readable or at least neutral, hoping it showed nothing even as my brain whirled with questions. What was Wyatt talking about? The man was plotting something because he was desperately trying to keep his gaze averted from his brother or Ted.

  “Faith brought a quilt with her?” Steve crossed his arms, standing with one foot slightly in front of the other. Every inch of his stance said Wyatt was lying.

  “She kept whining about the cold. You know Faith, she ain’t leaving if she wants to poke around a place. I couldn’t take the bellyaching anymore so I gave her an old blanket I had stored in the van.”

  “Why are you giving it to Faith?”

  Wyatt’s features squished up in confusion. “Because there are dead animals in my van. Why else would I? I don’t want my mom’s quilt smelling like carcasses. She’d kill me. Faith can take it with her. I’m not leaving it in the house since you’re trying to make sure we can’t get back in.”

  “I guess that’s understandable,” Steve said.

  “If your client’s a woman,” Wyatt said. “I’d have someone fix the heat in the house before she moves in or you’ll be getting calls about it being cold and why wasn’t something done about it before you let them move in. Because you know, it’ll be your fault.”

  “Yes, it usually was.” Steve’s gaze...along with his words...rested directly on me.

  I whipped into the last parking space behind Scrap This, jamming the shift into park and flung open my door. An abundance of fresh air washed over me, and I inhaled. And again. The smell of mildew and ammonia stayed in my nose. There must have been an animal living up there that used the quilt as a toilet. I thought it had only been a story so Wyatt could sneak out items for me.

  I opened the back passenger door, gathering the items into my arm. A coat slipped out from the quilt. Wyatt had acted like the items were important to me, and I felt it necessary to play along with the ruse. Why had Wyatt chosen to take these items—including the coat that had been hidden—out of the house?

  I grabbed both items and deposited them into the trunk of the car. There was no way I was taking the smelly things into Scrap This. I didn’t want the odor soaking into the paper. I dusted off my hands then swiped at my clothes, a futile attempt to rid myself of the stink. I removed the keys from the ignition, leaving the window rolled down to air out my car before the odor soaked into the fabric seats.

  I entered the storage area. The orders that arrived yesterday evening needed to be inventoried before being stocked on the shelves. There were a few times that we’d been shorted items, and if we hadn’t checked, we’d have been out a few dollars. It might not seem like much, but ten dollars here and there added up to a huge loss.

  Inventory, either before or after the product was put out, was my least favorite task at Scrap This. I’d rather do just about anything other than inventory. Except for cleaning the restroom.

  I started toward the sales floor, hesitating at the threshold as my mind drifted toward the other to-do option in the employee lounge. Was there a clue in any of the items dropped off?

  “I finished up the display board for the March and April classes,” Cheryl’s voice carried to me.

  “Sorry about being late. Took me longer to collect some items for the town scrapbook.”

  “Hope is checking out a space we might be able to use for your wedding reception.”

  “We already placed a deposit down on the Everton mansion, and we bought floor coverings for the room we rented.” If Hope was looking for another spot, it meant word was getting around town, but I didn’t know if it was about the secret heir or the skull. “Why are you looking for another location?”

  “You know why,” Cheryl said, venturing out from behind the counter and going to re-sort the cardstock customers returned to the wrong slots. “Gussie’s boys gave her a call and filled her in on what’s going on. She called us. I’m surprised no one heard about this court order before now.”

  The court order. Don’t mention the skull, I reminded myself. If there was one thing Eden was famous for, besides my amateur sleuthing, it was gossip. “I’m a little shocked about that too. If the ladies at the beauty shop or the senior center aren’t talking about someone else coming in to claim the house, then no one else knows except Steve and the so-called owner. Steve isn’t talking.”

  “I’ve put some calls to the hotels around here, and no one has a clue on which guest might be the person claiming ownership of the Everton mansion.”

  I was impressed that Cheryl thought of calling the hotels to track down the identity of our mystery owner. “Has anyone gotten back with you yet?”

  “No, and I wouldn’t be surprised if none of them did. The reservation clerks didn’t seem interested in answering my questions.”

  Privacy issue. They had no idea why Cheryl was trying to find out that information. But would they if they knew? I must’ve been grinning like the Cheshire Cat because worry developed on Grandma Cheryl’s face.

  “Maybe they haven’t heard about what happened at the mansion,” I said. “I bet they’d change their mind when the morning paper is delivered.”

  This news was perfect for Karen England, our reporter extraordinaire, who was always looking for a story big enough to gain national attention. A vintage body being dug up was one of the most exciting events to happen in Eden in quite a while. If Wayne had accidentally disturbed a family burial plot, it increased the story’s potential for going viral.

  “Yes, this does seem like a story for Karen.” Cheryl smiled. “I think I’ll put a little bug in Gussie’s ear. She’d love to go barging into the newspaper office and demand Karen investigate the matter, or get the information from Steve. She isn’t going to like it if she thinks the Society, with the help of the city, is trying to find a way not to pay her boys.”

  That was an interesting theory. Was this a ploy by the Society to avoid remitting payment on the large bill they racked up for the renovations? At the last meeting I attended, the treasurer expressed concern about the rising costs. A few of the members, one being Gussie, had defended the job the Bufords were doing, and Gussie even mentioned being able to bring in independent estimates and documents from inspectors stating the renovations were necessary.

  “I’ll give Karen a call and fill her in on what happened.” I took out my cell.

  Cheryl snorted and rolled her eyes. “If you want her to write a story, you calling will have the opposite effect. Karen is more likely to not do something if she knows you want it done.”

  True. Karen and I had butted heads since childhood. I can’t even remember how it all started. It seems like we’ve always clashed over everything...big or small.

  “You also know she’s interested in Steve and might think you’re still pining for him if you mention talking with him.”

  Maybe Steve avoided me to save me from gossip. “No pining.”

  “Some people are wondering since you and Ted have been engaged for a year and only recently made a date for the wedding.”

  “We wanted to wait until after his ex-wife, Elizabeth, was remarri
ed, and then Grandma Hope had her ceremony. We didn’t want to take any of the focus off them. And we had to know when the Everton mansion was available for the reception. There aren’t many places in Eden to hold a wedding.”

  I heard the anger creeping into my voice and worked on squishing it down. I jammed some papers into a slot. Why couldn’t the residents of Eden take anything at face value?

  Cheryl hugged me. “Honey, you don’t have to convince me or anyone else you love Ted. I know you do.”

  “It doesn’t sound like everyone believes it.”

  “Don’t let it bother you. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. Ted knows you love him, and that is all that matters.”

  I forced out a smile. I wished it were true, but in small towns it wasn’t the only thing that mattered. I didn’t want Ted living everyday with rumors swirling about me harboring any feelings for Steve. I was sure I made it clear to Ted I had no tender feelings for Steve and certainly wasn’t in love with my ex-boyfriend. There were times I even doubted if I was ever in love with Steve and instead was content and happy to be with a man who loved and wanted me. I hadn’t been looking for love, only opening my heart for the possibility of it. It was so much easier on the ego—and the heart—when someone declared their love for you first.

  “Sweetie, I wish I hadn’t said anything. I don’t want you looking for trouble in your life when there isn’t any. Steve’s feelings are still bruised and battered. He’ll get it over.”

  That was true. He had been cold and challenging toward me today. Of course, it might also be the fact he knew me enough to know when I was up to something and vice versa. Right now, Karen seemed to be the only way to find out what Steve was hiding.

  Or was she? I had saved Steve’s life. Steve’s dad had said he owed me a debt of gratitude. Maybe it was time to see about cashing it in.