Digging Up The Dirt

CHAPTER 6

You’ve been watching too many reruns of old detective shows. Turning everything into a mystery.

An’gel scolded herself mentally for the wild ideas she was entertaining over Sarinda’s death. The timing of it was simply coincidence. If Sarinda truly had been a secret drinker, then it was only a matter of time before she had an accident. In this case, it sadly turned out to be a fatal accident.

An’gel’s thoughts had seesawed back and forth between a verdict of sad accident and deliberate murder since the previous evening. As she sat finishing her third cup of coffee at the dining room table this morning, she was glad she hadn’t shared any of this with her sister.

Dickce broke into her thoughts. “You’ve hardly said a word since we got in the car last night to drive home from Sarinda’s. I’ve been waiting for you to tell me what’s on your mind. You’re stewing over Sarinda’s death, obviously.”

Her sister knew her only too well, An’gel reflected. “Yes.” She hoped the terse response would be enough to quell her sister for the moment, but Dickce didn’t snub that easily.

“You think someone pushed Sarinda down the stairs, don’t you?” Dickce toyed with a small bit of scrambled egg on her plate.

“I think it’s a possibility,” An’gel said.

“I do, too.” Dickce set her fork down and leaned back in her chair. “Maybe we’re simply all off balance, thanks to Hadley, but the more I think about the meeting yesterday, the more I believe there was something going on underneath it all that we don’t understand.”

“That’s what I’ve been feeling,” An’gel said. “But I wonder whether I’m trying to make too much out of Sarinda’s behavior yesterday.”

“It’s possible,” Dickce said. “After what we’ve been through the past few months, we’re bound to be oversensitive, I suppose. Murder here at Riverhill, and then more murder at Willowbank, when we went to St. Ignatiusville for the wedding.”

An’gel grimaced. “The last thing we need is to be involved in another murder, and I’m hoping that this turns out to be an accident.” She pushed away from the table and stood. “All right. I’ve had enough of this. The sun is shining, the morning is warm, and I have gardening to do.”

“You’d better get it done this morning,” Dickce said. “I was listening to the weather report before I came down to breakfast, and we’ve got a storm system coming our way by mid-afternoon. Sounds like we could be in for nasty weather. Heavy rain, thunderstorms, and high winds.”

An’gel pushed her chair in to the table and stood with her hands along the back. “I didn’t check the forecast this morning.” She paused. “If we’ve got that kind of weather coming, I shouldn’t bother putting in new plants, then. The wind is liable to wreak havoc with whatever I do today. Not to mention the azaleas I planted yesterday.”

“In that case,” Dickce said, “why don’t you come with Benjy and me this morning? I’m taking him shopping for clothes and shoes. He’s going to need new things for when he starts at Athena College in the spring.”

“Thanks for the offer, but I think I’ll stay here.” An’gel didn’t care much for shopping, though her sister did. “I need to catch up on correspondence and a few other business issues.”

Dickce stood and began to gather the breakfast dishes. “Suit yourself. If you get bored and want to join us in town later, we’re going to be lunching at the Farrington Hotel.”

“You’re taking Benjy’s car, then?” An’gel referred to the small sedan they had bought their ward two weeks ago so he would be able to drive back and forth to classes and also run errands when needed.

“Yes, Benjy insists on driving, so we’ll leave the car for you.” Dickce, plates and utensils neatly stacked in her hands, walked out of the dining room.

An’gel realized suddenly that she would no doubt be left in charge of Peanut and Endora, because Dickce and Benjy certainly wouldn’t take them shopping. The animals could spend part of the time in the kitchen with Clementine, the housekeeper, An’gel decided. Clementine was fond of both pets and didn’t mind keeping an eye on them. An’gel’s office was on the small side for one woman, a dog, and a cat—particularly a dog and a cat that liked to play while the woman tried to concentrate on business.

After a heavy sigh, An’gel picked up her coffee cup and saucer and bore them off to the kitchen. After a brief chat with Clementine about Peanut and Endora, An’gel went to her office to work.

Her first chore was to check e-mail and deal with any messages that needed an immediate response. As she worked, she found her mind drifting to the death of her friend. After reading one message three times and failing to comprehend it, she gave up and picked up the phone handset on the desk beside her computer.

She hesitated a moment, then punched in the number for the Athena Police Department. She identified herself and asked to speak to the chief of police, Drew Carson. After a delay of about thirty seconds, Carson came on the line.

“Good morning, Miss An’gel, how are you and Miss Dickce these days?”

“We’re doing fine, Drew, and I hope you and Adele are doing well.”

“Tolerable, Miss An’gel, tolerable.” The police chief chuckled. “Adele’s busy playing with the new grandbaby.”

“That’s right,” An’gel said. “Your son and his wife have a new baby. Another boy, I believe.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Carson said. “He’s doing fine. Growing like a little weed.”

The pleasantries continued for a moment, then Carson said, “What can I do for you, Miss An’gel? You wouldn’t be calling about the death of Miss Sarinda Hetherington, would you?”

An’gel chuckled. “I’m afraid you know me too well. Yes, I’m calling about Sarinda. Dickce and I were stunned to hear about her death, naturally, but even more stunned to hear the cause of it.”

“What exactly did you hear, if you don’t mind my asking?”

An’gel registered the note of caution in the chief’s question. She couldn’t blame him for being wary, because he wasn’t a man who appreciated outside interference in the work of his department.

“We heard that she had been drinking heavily and fell down the stairs and died. Broke her neck, presumably,” An’gel said. “And that surprised us both, because we had no idea Sarinda was a heavy drinker.”

“I have to tell you, in my experience, alcoholics can be real clever in concealing the fact that they drink. Especially when they drink in secret. Miss Hetherington lived alone, far as I know, and didn’t go out a lot. Not an unusual pattern.”

“I suppose not,” An’gel said. “But Sarinda was active in her church and with different clubs, including the garden club. We saw her yesterday at a garden club board meeting, in fact.” She debated whether to confide in the police chief her misgivings over Sarinda’s behavior at the meeting and her sudden disappearance. She made a quick decision to keep it to herself for the moment. Thus far Carson hadn’t said anything to indicate he considered the death anything other than accidental.

“We’ll be looking at the whole picture,” Carson said. “I know you’re upset about your friend, but I promise you we’ll investigate thoroughly. We’ll be talking to her neighbors and her doctor. I have to say, though, I think this one’s going to be pretty quickly wrapped up.”

“I appreciate your time, Drew. If you wouldn’t mind letting me know the outcome of the investigation, I’d be grateful.” Struck with a sudden idea, An’gel was eager to conclude the call. She, Dickce, and Sarinda all went to the same doctor and had done so for the past thirty years. The minute she got Drew Carson off the phone she planned to call Dr. Gandy. She had a few questions to put to him, and she hoped he would be willing to answer under the circumstances.

After she bade Carson good-bye, An’gel ended the call and reached for the phone book to double-check the doctor’s number. Once she found it, she punched in the number and waited for an answer.

“I made a list of the things I think you’ll need.” Dickce pulled a small notepad from her purse and opened it to the page where she had jotted her notes.

“It’s awesome of you and Miss An’gel to buy me new clothes and stuff,” Benjy said, his gaze focused on the road ahead. “But I really don’t need that much, honestly.”

Dickce smiled and shook her head. He was a dear boy and always seemed to be worried about any money she and An’gel spent on him. He had fussed about the car, too, but Dickce knew how thrilled he was to have his own transportation. At nineteen, he needed to be able to come and go on his own, and he was a responsible driver.

“I swear you’ve grown an inch in the past three months,” Dickce said. “Your ankles are sticking out of your jeans, and surely your shoes must be giving you blisters by now.” She glanced down at the ragged sneakers he was wearing. They definitely had to go, plus the boy needed dress shoes and a couple of suits for formal occasions.

Benjy laughed. “That’s thanks to Clementine’s cooking. I have to admit my jeans have been getting a little tight around the waist. I’ve never eaten so much good food in my life.”

Dickce felt a momentary pang. She recalled how Benjy looked and acted when they first met him, back in August. Thin, defensive, shy, and neglected. What a difference good food and affection had made in him.

“You’re still growing,” Dickce said around the small lump in her throat. “So you eat and enjoy. Clementine has perked up considerably, I can tell you, now that she has a healthy appetite to cook for.”

When they reached town, Dickce directed Benjy to the square. Their first stop was the best men’s store in town, where Dickce intended to find the suits, dress shirts, shoes, and ties on her list. After that they would visit another store for casual wear.

By the time Dickce and Benjy finished shopping, nearly three hours later, boxes and bags filled the trunk of Benjy’s car and most of the backseat. Benjy appeared dazed at the amount of clothing and accessories he had suddenly acquired, but Dickce was determined that her ward was going to have a proper wardrobe for the first time in his life.

“Don’t forget about the fitting next week,” Dickce said as she watched Benjy load the final bag into the car. “After they do the alterations we agreed on today, you’ll need to try everything on again to make sure the fit is right. You won’t need me for that.”

“I won’t forget,” Benjy said. He brandished his cell phone. “I’ve already put the appointment in here.”

“Excellent.” Dickce smiled. “Now, I don’t know about you, but shopping always gives me an appetite. I’m ready for lunch.”

Benjy laughed. “I guess it gave me one, too, because I’m starving.”

“The Farrington Hotel is two blocks away. Let’s walk, but be sure the car is locked.” Dickce waited for Benjy to check the locks, then led the way down the sidewalk toward the hotel.

In the entrance to the dining room, Dickce greeted the hostess with a smile and inquired after the woman’s family. Once the pleasantries were finished, the hostess took them to a table in a corner that overlooked the square and left them with menus.

“Doesn’t look like An’gel is going to join us,” Dickce said as she gazed around the room. Her eyes lit on a couple seated at a table in the far corner, partially obscured by a large ficus.

“Now, isn’t that interesting,” she murmured, mostly to herself, while she stared at the man and woman. “She certainly isn’t wasting any time making a play for Hadley.”