Bygone Days Read online

  “You can’t eulogize someone like Sam.” She glared at Sheriff Littleton. “Ask him. He knows. He has the reports. All of them. And they did nothing to help me.”

  Mary Louise jerked. Sheriff Littleton never wavered.

  “You were abused?” Pearl was empathetic. “How awful for you.”

  The fact that someone cared must’ve come as a surprise. Exasperated, Candace lowered her gun and it was just enough. A deputy tackled her and rolled to the ground.

  Littleton and the other responders acted fast. He quickly motioned for Mary Louise, Pearl, and Opal. They rushed to the hallway without wasting a second.

  “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used…” As the Miranda rights were read, Sheriff Littleton congratulated his deputies. “Good work, men. Take her to my office. I’ll meet you there to process her.”

  “She didn’t do it,” Mary Louise blurted as a detective scooped the vials into a plastic baggie.

  “Did you miss the part where she brought drugs here to kill us?” Pearl turned to Sheriff Littleton. “Don’t listen to her. She’s in shock.”

  Mary Louise said, “It’s Mack.”

  “You’re pointing your finger at a friend and neighbor after a crazy lady held us at gunpoint?” Pearl grabbed Littleton by his vest. “Listen to me. You have the right person.” She hesitated. “She probably wasn’t going to shoot us—at least I don’t think so—but that doesn’t matter. Look at the whole picture.” She stammered. “Candace had four syringes and planned to kill us by lethal injection!”

  “And where do you think she got the drugs?” Opal asked, now following Mary Louise’s train of thought. “She may be a lot of things but if she’d been a killer, she would’ve blown me away the second I had the upper hand.”

  “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you never had the upper hand, Opal.”

  “And I hate to be the carrier of truths but she’s not a murderer, Pearl.” Addressing Littleton next, Opal added, “Want to hear my theory?”

  “Why not?” Sheriff Littleton motioned for another deputy to enter their apartment. “Make it quick. I’m sure your notion doesn’t match mine and I’m pretty sold on mine.”

  “See?” Pearl grinned. “He agrees with me.”

  “I wouldn’t go that far,” he said before focusing on Opal. “Let’s hear it. What do ya have for me?”

  “It’s what you have,” said Opal.

  Mary Louise watched Candace as they secured her hands behind her back. “She’s running scared. Someone tried to kill her. If her plan had been successful here, she would’ve lived but wouldn’t have been considered a suspect if she’d been a victim. The only reason she wanted to kill us was because someone convinced her that we believed she’d murdered her own husband.”

  “We would’ve been dead all the same,” Pearl said. “She’s guilty and she deserves to hang for it!”

  “Perhaps she thought she could follow through with her plan when she came here but she didn’t hurt anyone. That should count for something.”

  “My life isn’t a game of horseshoes,” said Pearl. “I’ll sleep better if she’s sleeping behind bars.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Why are you trying to help her?” Opal and Mary Louise straightened up the living room and rearranged the furniture. “I don’t get it. Am I the only one who thinks that lunatic tried to kill us?”

  The deputies had tossed the place in search of evidence and another weapon. Thanks to Littleton, they hadn’t roped off the apartment as a crime scene but it was probably because he suspected they’d scatter to their respective homes if they couldn’t stay there.

  “Maybe you should read more of your mysteries and see how Hankerly copes in situations like these.”

  “Don’t change the subject. This is about us and not some fiction book!”

  “I’ll remind ya of that later.”

  “A few more minutes and we would’ve been dead.”

  “But we aren’t.”

  “We still could be.” Pearl scoffed. “What happens when the sheriff releases that quack? Hmm?”

  “We’ll be more aware of our surroundings from now on.” Mary Louise cocked her head for a moment. “Do you hear that noise?”

  “The only racket I hear is this one.” She tossed a decorative pillow at Pearl. “It’s been a long day and longer night. We need some rest.”

  “No one answered my question!” Pearl’s frustration resembled mania. “What will we do when she comes back?”

  The loud humming continued. Someone must’ve been playing their opera music a little louder than usual.

  “She’s afraid,” Mary Louise said. “The woman fears for her life but probably guessed that the sheriff didn’t buy the fact that she was poisoned at the hospital.”

  “Candace drugged herself. Who does that?”

  “She didn’t drug herself.”

  “Sure she did. She showed us the empty pill bottle!”

  “She’s terrified that someone will kill her and can’t run because she probably doesn’t have anywhere to go.”

  “I’ll make a list of suggestions,” said Pearl.

  “She can’t leave town now and maybe she couldn’t before tonight. If the sheriff asked her to stay—and I’m betting he probably did—then she’s been a sitting duck since her husband died. Haven’t you wondered why she cleared out her belongings but still returned here after she was released from the hospital?”

  “I don’t sit around and think about Candace.” She crossed one leg over the other, shifted her weight, and changed legs. “All we’ve done since we arrived here is pry. Before long, they’ll ask us to leave. We’re bad for business.”

  “Maybe,” Mary Louise said, not really paying attention. Instead, she thought about everything she’d been told and the sources behind the information. “If Sam was as horrid as everyone said, he controlled the money. Candace probably didn’t have access to his funds which made her death a priority for the real killer.”

  Pearl silently considered all possibilities while Mary Louise explained them. After a brief silence, she said, “I’ve been trying to tell you all along. Mack’s guilty.”

  “Of course he is.” Opal shot Mary Louise a knowing smile. “Next time, we’ll listen to Pearl. Thanks to her reading choices, she’s an expert in her field and always gets her man—or woman—the first time.”

  ****

  It was almost two-thirty when the racket outside hit a higher volume level. Pearl had kept them up late with various what-ifs and Opal had fallen asleep on the couch. Mary Louise tiptoed through the living room. As she approached the door, the noise grew louder. “What on earth?”

  “It’s Layla,” Opal muttered, rolling over to face the cushions. “She’s been at it all night.”

  Mary Louise checked the peephole. Sure enough, Miss Layla was there, dancing in circles and chanting.

  “Let me guess, her death shadow—or whatever that thing is—led her to us.”

  “She claims she’s protecting us,” Opal grumbled. “And you obviously didn’t see who was helping her.”

  Mary Louise looked again. “Oh for crying out loud.”

  “Don’t let Pearl hear you say that. She’ll find you some tissues.”

  “She’ll think twice before she hands over the tissues. She’s dancing in the hall in her nightgown?”

  “Want me to call the psych ward or do you have this?” Opal stood, stretched, and yawned.

  The chanting stopped. Opal turned on the burgundy lamp in the foyer. “I’d call security but it wouldn’t do any good. Turns out, we now have another resident posing as an employee.”

  “Grief,” Mary Louise grumbled. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll talk to them.”

  “Goodnight.”

  “You too.” Mary Louise opened the door. “Layla—”

  “She prefers Miss Layla,” Pearl said, watching her with keen interest.

  Mary Louise pecked on her shoulder. “Can yo
u take this song somewhere else? We need to get some sleep.”

  Layla, seated in an Indian-style pose, opened one eye. “Better be careful what you wish for, Mary Louise. If I leave tonight, death will come for you. I’d rather stay so this isn’t your last nap.”

  “I’m not cashing in my chips tonight.” Mary Louise sighed. “We’ll be fine. I can ask Dr. Smalls to look in on us if that will make you feel better.”

  Throwing his name down was like playing a wild card. Layla pushed away from the floor, patted Pearl’s arm, and flopped down in the floor about halfway down the hall. Her chanting ritual began again.

  “Come on, Pearl. We need to get some sleep.”

  Layla opened one eye again. “It’s fine, Pearl. Go on to bed. I touched your arm so my guide is protecting you.” She glared at Mary Louise. “You’re the one who won’t be with us much longer. You’ll see.” She chanted again and stopped. “Actually, you won’t.”

  Mary Louise draped her arm around Pearl’s shoulders in a protective gesture. “Let’s go inside now.”

  Before they reentered their apartment, Layla jolted forward and yelled, “Wait! Something’s wrong here.”

  “What is it?” Pearl ducked under Mary Louise’s arm. “What do you see?”

  “A killer just arrived.”

  “See there?” Pearl shook her finger. “I told you she’s intuitive.”

  “Or perhaps she heard the elevator?”

  Dr. Smalls appeared at the opposite end of the hall. “Layla, we’ve talked about this.”

  Mary Louise grinned at Dr. Smalls. “Come to think of it, you do bear a striking resemblance to Dr. Henry Jekyll.”

  “Thanks,” Dr. Smalls mumbled, turning his attention to Layla. “It’s time to go.”

  “Not yet. I’m helping out a friend.”

  “You’re making a lot of enemies,” he said, motioning for Mary Louise and Pearl to go back to their unit. “More importantly, your acquaintances have upset the other residents. We’ve discussed this.”

  Layla ignored the good doctor’s hand when he offered it. “I’m an old woman, Doctor. And if I want to sing myself to sleep, that’s my right.”

  “That’s her spirit guide speaking now,” Pearl whispered.

  “No. That’s a crazy lady who wants attention and needs something better to do.”

  “Humph. She’s not the only one.” Pearl looked Mary Louise up and down. “Since we moved in, the sheriff and his deputies spend as much time here as we do. The residents voted and they want us out. How’s that for unwanted attention?”

  Chapter Nineteen

  They returned to Vintage Whispers early the next day and went through the motions of straightening shelves and fixing what was broken. It was nice to work together again but also a little nerve-wracking.

  Opal said, “I talked to Littleton. He said Mack returned to the pharmacy a few hours ago. Some of his drug reps are there helping with inventory. Detectives are questioning him. Apparently, he told quite a story.”

  “How’d he explain the numerous shots fired?” Mary Louise asked.

  “Claimed he was threatened and robbed. Gunfire was exchanged. He fled to a relative’s house and hid out until he felt it was safe to return.”

  “That’s an outright lie,” said Pearl.

  “Surely they didn’t believe him.”

  “Well, he can’t account for the missing stock,” said Opal. “They’ll probably haul him in after the reps leave.”

  Mary Louise set aside the broom and walked to the front of the store. “Something going on out there?”

  Deputy Thompson nodded in the pharmacy’s direction. “Guess you and your friends should make amends with your neighbor.”

  Mary Louise watched in horror as Sheriff Littleton shook Mack’s hand. The good old boys scenario played out in living color. “I’m not surprised.” A detective slapped Mack’s back and passed off his business card. They shared a laugh and said goodbye. “Girls, come and look at this.” Sheriff Littleton and the detective crossed the street and disappeared inside the bagel shop.

  “Mary Louise,” Mack tilted his chin like a thug might. “It pays to have friends in the right places.”

  Instead of firing back an accusation, she reentered the store. “They’re letting him walk.”

  “No way.” Opal set a tray of doodads on a cedar chest. “That’s impossible.”

  “Not if Mack had an alibi and Candace had more motives.”

  “Maybe she’s guilty,” said Pearl. “She tried to kill us, remember.”

  “No chance we’ll forget that one.”

  “Bet they’re working together. What do you think Mary Louise?”

  “In the beginning, maybe. Mack was in love with her. He admitted as much to me but something happened and the tables turned while Candace was in the hospital. Mack or one of his guys tried to kill her. She now knows he’s coming for her and the only way she could cast the light of suspicion on Mack was to stage an attempt on her life.”

  “That’s a longshot theory,” Littleton said, entering Vintage Whispers with the detective on his heels. “But we think you’re right.”

  “I’m Agent Scarborough with the DTF.”

  “DTF?” Pearl’s voice escalated. “What is it now?”

  “I’ll explain more later,” Littleton said. “There’s an ongoing investigation and we don’t have much time.”

  Agent Scarborough said, “In a few minutes, two women will emerge from the bagel shop. The younger one will hug the older woman and point to your store. She’ll start this way then change her mind and go to the pharmacy where she’ll purchase something at the counter. We want to be sure Mack is alone before we send you in.”

  “The reps will leave soon for a lunch break and it’s now or never,” Littleton explained.

  Pearl raised her hand. “I have a question.”

  “Wait until after class,” said Opal.

  “We’re listening.” Mary Louise understood the urgency of the situation. Since the drug task force was involved, it meant they didn’t have enough on Mack to prosecute. Her pulse raced. “You think he’s the big fish.”

  “At the very least, he’s a whale in shark-infested waters,” Littleton said.

  Agent Scarborough scowled. “When our agent enters, you need to know which one of you will wear the wire. We’d like to have a confession before he leaves town but suspect you won’t get that.”

  “They’re walking this way,” Littleton said.

  Scarborough grunted. “She’s always in a hurry to do everything.”

  “New partner, I guess.”

  “Leave it to Pearl to be in the know,” Opal said. “I’ll wear the wire.”

  “Why you?”

  “Because you hug everybody,” said Littleton, apparently supportive of Opal’s decision.

  “Not killers!”

  “Fine. Wear the wire,” said Opal. “We’ll all go together.”

  “As much as I hate to say it, Pearl’s the likely choice. He won’t suspect a thing.”

  “Told you my experience would pay off.”

  “We don’t have time to provide more information. You’ll be wired up as soon as our agent walks in. Be ready.” He turned to Littleton. “Ride with me. I’m parked in front of the pharmacy. He’ll let his guard down as soon as he sees us drive off.”

  Minutes later, they exited the store and drove away. Soon thereafter, an agent wearing spike heels and a fitted skirt entered. “I’m here to deliver wire and tape.”

  “Great,” Opal said. “Here we go.”

  “Just like in the movies,” Pearl said, lifting her shirt and offering skin for wire.

  Twenty minutes later, Pearl, Opal, and Mary Louise entered the pharmacy. Wiring Pearl wasn’t an easy task since she was so ticklish. The agent had been more frustrated than polite.

  Mary Louise had hoped to ask questions and gain some guidance but Pearl wouldn’t be quiet long enough for any of that. In the end, she was confident as they approached
Mack and that’s what mattered.

  “We need to talk to you,” said Opal.

  Mary Louise went to the counter. “We owe you an apology.”

  “I’m not apologizing through the window,” said Pearl, crossing her arms. “I was accused of something. If I’m supposed to apologize, I want to do it right.”

  Mack narrowed his eyes which made him look downright creepy. “You don’t owe me an apology, Pearl.” He glanced at Mary Louise and Opal. “None of you do.”

  “I was in the hospital.” She inched closer to the glass. “In case you haven’t heard, that quack that Sam married?” Opal glanced over her shoulder as if she feared someone would hear her. “She tried to kill us last night.”

  “What?” Mack didn’t know. Perfect. “When? How?”

  “I’ll tell ya but you can’t talk to Littleton.”

  “Don’t say anything else,” Mary Louise said, pointing at the dummy camera on the wall. “He’s recording us.”

  “We’ll tell you later then.” Opal picked up a bottle of aspirin and rolled it under the glass. “Can you ring me up?”

  He studied their faces for a moment. “Sure.”

  They weren’t doing a very good job of luring him away from his protective glass.

  “It was just awful,” Pearl rambled, clearly nervous now. “She tried to poison us!”

  “There, there, hon.” Mary Louise wrapped her arm around Pearl’s shoulder. “Now’s not the time.”

  “The camera doesn’t work,” Mack said. “You can speak freely.”

  “I’m not talking to an old friend through a glass. It makes me feel like I’m in prison.” She smiled sweetly. “Or you are.”

  Mack’s shoulders stiffened. He rang up the sale. “Five dollars even.”

  Opal paid and Mack slipped the receipt under the window. “Thanks.”

  “See ya around, Mack.” Opal looked at Mary Louise. “You two coming?”

  “Wait a second.” Mack rushed to unlock the security door and stepped into the open aisle. “I’ve been worried about Candace. She’ll soon be my new business partner, you know. If anything were to happen to her, I couldn’t live with myself.”