Bygone Days Read online

  “Can you tell if anything was stolen?” The young deputy looked serious. He was too new to realize what to do.

  “Are ya kidding?” Opal balked as she walked from one booth to the next. “This place is a wreck! We won’t be able to tell ya what’s missing until we do a complete inventory.”

  “That’ll take days,” said Mary Louise, tilting one of the display trunks upright. The simply act of reassembling their displays and folding quilts, coverlets, and tablecloths would take hours, maybe days.

  “Sheriff Littleton had the place under surveillance after the call came in. It was around three. We have someone posted at the bagel shop across the street. Of course I’m taking care of things here.” He fiddled with his holster again and stood taller. “Different states have had similar things happen in their downtown districts. One hit is usually the start of the rampage. They’ll strike again then move on.”

  “We were targeted,” Mary Louise said.

  “Ya got that right.”

  Staying in the conversation, the deputy followed them around the store. “I’m the day shift guy.”

  Opal glanced at the grandfather clock as the chimes announced the tenth hour. “And here I thought you were working graveyard.”

  Mary Louise’s heart sank with each loud strike. “Guess we won’t open today.”

  “Bull,” Opal said, fiddling with a jewelry box lid. “Thompson can keep an eye out for anything unusual. We’re temporarily down but we are not defeated.”

  “We can’t open with this mess.”

  “Less clutter we have to pick up later.”

  “Your call.” Darren stayed with them as if he thought they might say something of interest at any moment. “Keep a record of what you sell in case the sheriff needs it. He’ll stop by later.”

  Mary Louise went from sad to furious. “Whoever created this mess, hit their mark and made their point. If nothing else, we can open and send back a message.”

  “That’s the spirit,” said Opal.

  Perplexed, the deputy asked, “What message? Do you have reason to believe this wasn’t a random robbery?”

  “It wasn’t.” Mary Louise walked away before she said too much. They couldn’t trust anyone except one another. Upon reaching the breakroom, she whispered, “We’re too close to someone in more ways than one.”

  “Are ya thinking what I’m thinking?”

  “Mack looks more and more like a prime suspect. He had motive and opportunity.”

  “He also had unrestricted access to the drugs used in Sam’s death and Candace’s close call.” Opal painted on a smile as two recognizable shoppers cautiously stepped over the broken glass and entered the store. “Keep your head up. Your hillside spying came back to haunt us. If I’m right? We’ll see Mack before the morning ends.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “What did they say?” Mack’s voice echoed as he entered the shop. “They need more than that to go on.”

  Mary Louise peered around a crowded shelf to find Mack standing in the middle of the country corner. He held up one finger and pointed at the phone against his ear. Ducking behind a row of vintage hardbacks, she quickly sent a text to Opal. Stay where you are. Mack’s here. Call for help if necessary. Rookie’s on bagel break.

  If Opal stayed out of sight, Mack might threaten her. At the very least, he would speak freely. She hated to think that the town pharmacist was the culprit but what else did they have to go on?

  “Mary Louise, I just heard.” Mack picked up a Victorian present cup and placed it on a nearby mahogany dresser. “Are you okay? Is there anything I can do?”

  She launched from the floor and quickly brushed her hands together. “As you can see, we have a lot of work ahead of us.”

  “Can I lend a hand?”

  “Thanks but no. We’ve got it covered.”

  “We?” He scanned the shop. “Is Opal out of the hospital? Where’s Pearl?”

  As much as she wanted to make small talk in hopes of gaining a confession, she didn’t have the patience. Mack wouldn’t admit guilt anyway. He’d been brazen enough to sling drugs out his backdoor. He wouldn’t later walk out the front with his hands up. “Can I help you with something, Mack?”

  He frowned. “I’m here to help a friend in need.”

  “And we’re friends, right?”

  “We have been, yes.”

  “Then you would tell the police if you saw anything suspicious last night. Wouldn’t you?”

  His face went blank. “As I’m sure you would.”

  They were playing mind games now? She had experience there. She’d dealt with her son and daughter-in-law.

  “Did you need something specific?”

  “I started to ask you the same thing.”

  “You came to my store.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “As you came to mine.”

  “Yes. Pearl and I stopped by right after Opal was taken to the hospital.” Conversation for the sake of avoiding uncomfortable silence was beginning to feel like a tedious task.

  “Funny you should mention Pearl.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a pair of reading glasses. “I found these. Can you return them to her?”

  Mary Louise swallowed. Pearl hadn’t mentioned losing the glasses but they were hers. The paisley fabric between the temple hinges made them identifiable. With all the effort she could muster, she tried not to tremble as she accepted them. “I’ll put them up for her.” It only took a second to realize where she’d lost them.

  He removed his own glasses and stuck them in his coat pocket. “Take care, Mary Louise.”

  “You too.”

  The crunch of broken glass resonated as he walked to the front, pausing long enough to check the price on a modern vase seated upon a walnut card table. Assuming he’d gone, Mary Louise muttered, “Where’s our bodyguard when we need him?”

  “Mary Louise, Cozy Retirement is a fine community.” Mack reappeared in the doorway. “Would be a real shame if the place ended up with a bad reputation if you know what I mean.”

  She steeled, aware of the tension in the air and the threat hanging in the balance. “I’ll tell Pearl to pay closer attention next time. I hope it wasn’t a challenge to retrieve them.”

  “Not at all. We’re always glad to help. Make sure you mention our discussion to Pearl and we won’t have any further problems.”

  He walked away whistling an upbeat tune. Mary Louise darted in the back. “Did you hear him?”

  Opal thrust her arm forward. “I have goosebumps. Who knew the twerp could be such a mobster.”

  “He knows.”

  “Of course he does.” Opal grabbed Pearl’s glasses and placed them on the coffee table. “What was she thinking?”

  “She probably doesn’t even know they’re missing. You know how she is. She puts one pair down and picks up another.”

  “What should we do?”

  “Talk to Littleton.”

  “That wasn’t on my list,” Opal admitted.

  “What is?”

  “As soon as the rookie gets back, we’ll go see Candace. If Mack isn’t her friend, she knows he’s an enemy.”

  “And if he’s a friend?”

  “We’ll teach her what to do when friends hold the smoking guns.”

  ****

  “You’re back early.” Pearl met them outside the chapel. “I saw you sneak by the activities room.” She tapped her noggin. “Instincts.” She searched their faces. “What happened?”

  “Don’t ask,” Opal said, entering the elevator.

  Pearl situated her leather purse strap on her shoulder. “So what’s this chitchat about a downtown burglary? One of the residents said it looked like a catastrophe. Apparently it was one of the shops with a lot of breakable items. They said all you could see from the sidewalk were the shards of glass. Broken plates, furniture, even toys. Can you believe that? I hope they had insurance.” She fiddled with her sweater. “Imagine my surprise when they said it happened downtown. Why, I ca
n’t begin to know what the storeowner must be going through.”

  “Sure you can.” Opal stepped off the elevator when they arrived at their floor.

  Mary Louise was left to explain. “Pearl, can we talk about this later?”

  “Sure.” She trailed behind them. “Which store was it?”

  “Ours, okay?” Opal turned around. “It was ours.” She shot Mary Louise a peculiar look. “We stick our noses where they don’t belong and we face the consequences. It happens. We pay to play.”

  “I’m not having fun.” Pearl crossed her arms and scowled at Mary Louise and Opal. They stopped at Candace’s door.

  Before they knocked, Opal turned to Pearl. “Hon, I’m sorry. You weren’t responsible. This wasn’t your fault.”

  “Incoming fire received,” Mary Louise said.

  “The muddy shoes are in your closet, Mary Louise, not ours. We could enjoy ourselves here but you’re the one who can’t stay put. It’s like you’re afraid to settle down and relax. What’s the worst thing that could happen if we stopped looking over our shoulders?”

  “We could end up dead now,” Opal said.

  After Mack had threatened them, they would need to be more aware of their surroundings. “You found the body, remember.” She rapped on the door.

  Candace immediately answered. “Not you again. Who died this time?”

  “Is that any way to greet someone who’s trying to look out for you?” Pearl closed the distance between them. “They’ve had a rough morning. We’ve had a long week. And for your information—”

  “We’ve got this, Pearl.”

  “That’s the whole problem,” Pearl fired back. “You think you’ve got this. Why don’t you leave this interrogation to the professionals and wait downstairs?”

  Opal grunted. “I didn’t realize card players could read criminals as well as poker faces.”

  “Not me, silly.” Pearl pointed. “Littleton arrived before you did.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  The sheriff was questioning Candace and told them to wait outside.

  “Two hours and no Littleton,” Opal muttered, watching as other residents made their way to the porch.

  The late afternoon sun enticed residents to move their conversations and games outside. Unable to find a rocking chair, Mary Louise, Pearl, and Opal waited for Sheriff Littleton at his unmarked car.

  Pearl gnawed on her lower lip. “Wonder what they’re doing up there?”

  “Talking,” said Mary Louise.

  “Patting each other’s hands.” Opal laughed. “Ya know how he is.”

  “Very funny.” Pearl plucked lint from her orange cashmere sweater. “He had plenty of time to do that while she was in the hospital.”

  “He was being a friend,” said Mary Louise.

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Littleton walked up behind them. “Hospital staff limited my time with Candace. That’s why I’m here. What’s your excuse for harassing the victim?”

  “Harassing?” Opal rolled her eyes. “We wanted to see if she’s okay.”

  Pearl smiled. “We’re neighborly in that way.”

  Littleton narrowed his eyes. “Sure you are.”

  “We had a few questions of our own.” They needed to rule out Candace as the killer. “As you could tell from the earlier episode of having a door slammed in our faces, she won’t talk to us.”

  “You’re barking up the wrong tree. Candace didn’t drug her husband. Sam had enough enemies but she wasn’t one of them. It could’ve been any of his business associates.”

  Mary Louise was starting to believe it. Sheriff Littleton looked guilty as well, particularly since he didn’t seem too interested in working the case.

  Was he on the take? Had Mack operated in Bristol under the watchful eye of the sheriff? Had he dealt his drugs without concern because the locals looked the other way?

  “Have you talked to Mack?”

  “Oh for goodness sake, Mary Louise. Surely you don’t think the town’s most popular pharmacist is guilty of murder.”

  “Maybe ya should stop and ask why he’s so popular.”

  “Opal, I expect that out of these two but not you. You’ve been involved with the business community for more than forty years. You stood up for Johnny B and said he couldn’t commit a crime. Turns out you were right. Can’t you give Mack that same benefit of the doubt?”

  “I could.” Opal closed the distance between them. “But there’s a small problem with that. Johnny B wasn’t selling illegal alcohol, take moonshine for instance, behind his bar.”

  The sheriff narrowed his eyes. “You’re suggesting illegal drug activity?”

  They remained quiet and still.

  “I don’t believe it.” He twirled his keys. “Now I see why Mark and Catherine arranged for your visit here. There’s nothing worse than meddling old women who think they’re right all the time.”

  “We’re not old or wrong.” Mary Louise moved away from the car. “But you can’t say the same.”

  ****

  It was brownbag Thursday which meant homemade chicken salad served on croissants with extra chips and a slice of pretzel fruit salad that was out of this world. Most of the residents had gathered in the theater for movie night but not everyone had a crime to solve. They couldn’t stay for the entertainment thanks to the drama surrounding them.

  Mary Louise rocked to and fro as she balanced her sandwich on her lap. “Do you think we’ve made a mistake?”

  “How many mistakes have we made? Now that’s the better question.” Pearl popped a chip in her mouth and chose a chair.

  “Mack isn’t one of them,” said Opal.

  Mary Louise stopped rocking. “What if he didn’t do it?”

  “He’s guilty.” Opal broke her croissant in half. “How many other downtown businesses have more parking in the back than the front?”

  “Luck of the draw there. The city owns the parking lot behind his building.”

  “Mary Louise, if we find out he’s innocent, we can apologize and move on.”

  “Think he’ll take a ruined reputation lying down? No way, girl.”

  “We can’t falsely accuse someone.”

  “Oh please. Hon, you’ve added ten or twelve suspects to our list since this began. Someone could wear a shirt inside-out and you’d think they had bloodstains on the other side.”

  She pressed her lips together and resisted smiling. “I’ll work on that.”

  “Limit your trips to the Five and Dime then.” Opal once said she wouldn’t shop there for fear she’d hear something about one of her tenants and make unfair judgments.

  “Mack’s been our friend since our business opened.”

  “Has he?” Opal scoffed. “Consider that lopsided friendship if you will. He hung out in our store asking questions, making inquiries about people and things that didn’t concern him. Sometimes other people answered for us. Oftentimes we simply ignored him. Regardless of each outcome, he’d show up day after day, prying into our lives while skipping one important detail about the pharmacy. He had a partner.”

  “Lots of businesses have silent partners.”

  “That’s not the point. The fact that he wasted our time prying is frustrating. It’s almost like he wanted to find out something about others so he could hang it over their heads in the event that he needed to blackmail someone.”

  “That’s it.” Mary Louise stood abruptly. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

  “What now?” Pearl asked, stirring her pretzel salad.

  “You think Mack wants to extort us?” Opal nodded. “Impressive. I like it.”

  Mary Louise said, “I think he’s in trouble. He came to the store to warn us.”

  “When?” Pearl asked.

  “Shucks. We forgot to tell ya. He returned your glasses. We left them at the store.”

  Pearl hummed. She always hummed when she felt guilty.

  “You knew that you’d lost them?” Mary Louise asked.

 
“Suspected, yes.”

  “Did you suspect you’d left them on the hill?” Thanks to the clues they’d left behind, Mack understood the stakes. He undoubtedly realized they’d seen too much.

  “Oh Mary, of course I did. I couldn’t tell you. You’re so brave and always trying to cover for me. If I’d mentioned it, you might have gone back to retrieve them. I couldn’t let you risk your life for me.”

  “Should’ve let her risk it,” said Opal. “Now, Mack knows at least one of us saw his extracurricular activities. Since I was an admitted hospital patient, I’m in the clear.”

  She dropped her head. “I’m sorry, girls. I’m not very good at sleuthing.”

  “Sure you are.” Opal patted her hand. “I’ve learned a lot from you lately.”

  “You have?”

  “Sure.” Opal stirred her tea thoughtfully. “I’ll never wear identifiable glasses on the chance that I drop them like a breadcrumb and a killer follows what might have otherwise been a cold trail.”

  “This coming from the woman who wears recognizable hats with doodads that jingle when she walks?”

  Opal took it all in stride. “I deserved that.”

  Mary Louise ignored the bantering. The sooner they questioned the right people, the quicker they could return to Vintage Whispers and focus on putting their store back together. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Where are ya going?”

  “Don’t do it, Mary.” Pearl leapt in front of her. “You can’t change someone if they’ve already changed.”

  “Thank you for that philosophical note.” She patted her hand. “I’ll be fine. Maybe we’re wrong, but what if we’re right? Either way, I’ll give Mack the benefit of the doubt. The only way to find out if someone is innocent is to look them in the eye and ask if they’re guilty.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Our chance meetings are beginning to feel like forgotten appointments.” Mack unlocked the door between the pill dispensary and retail area.

  Mary Louise browsed the cough medication shelf. “If I buy something, will you forgive me for what I’m about to ask?”

  “Isn’t that akin to a killer apologizing to his victim before he shoots him?” Mack scoffed. “I never understood that. We’re supposed to turn the other cheek but how does that work if your neck’s been sliced?”