Picture Perfect Murder (Ryli Sinclair 1) (17 page)

I’d always liked Patty, but today I found her to be out of
line. No matter how much she may have hated Garver, the dead woman did have a
family. I found myself hoping they hadn’t seen the t-shirt when she went
through the receiving line.

“Wonderful day isn’t it, Ryli?” Patty practically shouted…or
at least I felt she was shouting.

Ducking my head, I mumbled a non-coherent response.

“I was just asking Patty here how she found out about Dr.
Garver’s death,” my aunt said.

“Right,” she said, lifting her hands to her hair and patting
her brown bob into place. “So like I was saying, usually I work the graveyard
shift at the hospital. I was even supposed to be on duty the night she died,
but I had to call in because I had the stomach flu. I don’t know if it was
something I ate or what, but I was pretty sick. So, I went ahead and started making
calls to see if I could find someone to cover my shift. Luckily I found
someone. It wasn’t until probably six that next morning I started getting texts
from people. That’s why I didn’t get up to Legends until later that morning,”
Patty said, turning to me. “You remember, Ryli? I saw you and Paige there that
morning talking to some of the ladies about the murder.”

I remembered.

I also wondered if Patty just realized she’d admitted she
was home all night alone the night the murder took place. I was dying to ask
her where she was the night Iris died, but I didn’t want to overplay my hand.

“What about the night Iris died,” my aunt said, not caring
if she overplayed her hand or not obviously. “Where were you that night?”

Scowling, Patty took a step back from the circle we’d made.
“Why do you want to know?” she demanded. “I don’t have to tell you anything.”

With that, Patty turned and marched away, her ample hips
pushing the rest of the thinning crowd of mourners out of her way. Dozens of
bewildered people turned to watch her stride down the ramp into the basement of
the church.

Well, so much for subtlety and not pissing her off.

“Seems we hit a nerve,” Aunt Shirley chuckled.

“Yep,” Paige said. “Seems to me if you’re going to be happy
about someone being murdered, you should be able to handle being accused of
doing the murdering.”

Smiling, I nodded my head in agreement.

We decided to make our way downstairs and find a seat. I
could smell the delicious aromas permeating throughout the church, and my
stomach growled in response. A huge bowl on Mom’s berry crisp sounded exquisite
right about now.

After thirty minutes of waiting in line, no sign of berry
crisp or Garrett in sight, I was cursing my idiotic decision to wear the heels.
I’d say my feet were killing me, but to be honest, I’d lost feeling in them fifteen
minutes ago.

Everyone was basically smashed up against each other in the
hallway leading down to the food. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to the
order, no line established, just a bunch of pressed up bodies waiting to get to
the buffet.

I shoved myself off the wall and stumbled into Paige. Great,
I was dizzy with starvation! Okay, a slight exaggeration. I knew it was because
my feet were asleep, but it helped to grumble about the lack of food. I figured
at this rate, I’d be passed out in ten minutes. The only perk in my future was
the fact that Mrs. Pratt’s room was not much farther ahead and I could run in
and take off these damn shoes! Maybe I could even find a Tic Tac in my purse to
tide me over before I expired.

“Careful there, Sin,” a voice said, caressing my ear and
making me shiver. “Hate for those sexy shoes to break your pretty neck.”

My heart jumped as he brushed his hands up my arms. I tried
to hide my smile, I didn’t want to be grinning like a fool and have everyone
see.

“Quit grinning like an idiot,” Aunt Shirley said.

Garrett chuckled in my ear before turning to Aunt Shirley.
“Shirley, always lovely to see you.”

“My ass,” she grumbled.

“I can’t stay long,” Garrett said, ignoring my aunt’s
retort, “I just wanted to see you before I headed out. I know what you’re up
to, so I’m not even going to waste my breath and tell you to be careful.” With
that he leaned over to whisper in my ear, “And let me know if you find anything
significant, please.” I felt a light kiss against the underside of my ear.

It was a pretty bold move to do in front of everyone. But
then I realized what he’d said. “What do you mean you know what we’re up to?” I
gave him my best innocent face.

He gave me his Kimball Hardass stare. “You heard me. I know
what you three girls are up to. I don’t like it, but I can’t stop it, either.
So just be careful, please.” He turned to Aunt Shirley. “I’m growing fond of
her and wouldn’t want to see her harmed.” I’m pretty sure there was a veiled
threat there somewhere.

Aunt Shirley must have heard it too. “Don’t you worry
yourself none,” my aunt said. “I’ll bring her home safely.”

Garrett stared her down, “See that you do.”

With that he squeezed my arm, said goodbye to Aunt Shirley
and Paige, and left as quickly and quietly as he came.

I watched him thread his way back up the ramp toward the
sanctuary. I also saw Mindy waving at me just a few rows back. She looked
smashing in a vintage 1950s hourglass-enhancing black dress. It had short,
capped sleeves, a scoop collar, and a bodice that tapered down to a cinched-in
waist. The bottom of her dress flared out from her waist and stopped just above
her knees. I couldn’t see her shoes, but I bet they were killer, too.

I hadn’t noticed her or Hank at the memorial service, even
though I’d looked for them. I waved back at her and motioned I’d save a spot
for her when we got downstairs. She gave me a thumbs-up sign.

We moved forward again, and it wasn’t until we passed the
Sunday school room that I realized I’d forgotten to get my purse and shoes.
With the throng of people still pressing around me on the ramp, I didn’t want
to go back up. Oh well, we were almost to the food and that was my primary
focus. My feet would have to suffer.

Paige checked her text message again. “Your brother asked
how everything was going. If there was anything new.”

Matt had to work today, so he’d been texting every twenty
minutes wanting a play by play of what was happening. Unfortunately, we had
nothing to report, except for the fact we were still waiting in line to eat.
Even the conversation around us was boring and of no use.

We finally reached the food, and I didn’t even pretend to be
a lady about my portions. I took as much as my plate could handle. I found a
table that had been recently vacated by a large group. There was still trash on
the table, so I cleared it off to make room for the five of us. By the time I
finished, everyone was getting seated.

“So, what’ve you got for the paper?” Hank said, not even bothering
with polite chitchat.

I rolled my eyes. “I wasn’t aware I was supposed to be
writing my article
during
the memorial service,” I said as sarcastically
as I dared. I was always mindful of the fact he could snap my neck like a twig
whenever the mood struck. Or discontinue my paycheck, meager as it was.

My stomach dropped!

I’d never ever
considered
Hank for the murders! He
had
been gone an awful lot lately, and I’m sure with his connections he could
probably get his hands on drugs…but what would his motive be?

The look on my face must have been priceless because I came
to with the whole table staring at me like I had suddenly grown two heads.
“What the hell is that look for?” Hank said. “You’re staring at me like you
ain’t never seen me before.” He continued shoving food into his mouth without
stopping.

I mentally shook my head. Aunt Shirley must know me better
than I thought since she started laughing. “Think Ryli here just realized you
could be the murderer.”

Hank stopped shoving the food in his mouth. “You ain’t
serious.” He stared at me a little harder then started laughing. He laughed so
hard the food fell off his fork. He laid it down on his plate and grabbed his
napkin to dab at his eyes.

Mindy shot me a look I couldn’t read. “Are you okay, Hank?”
she asked, placing her perfectly manicured hand on his arm. “You’re scaring
me.”

Hank laughed some more, then patted her hand. “I’m fine, I’m
fine.” He looked over at me. “I’m not sure whether I’m insulted or impressed.
Maybe insulted that it took you this long to realize I could be a suspect.”

Mindy let out a gasp. Paige’s mouth was hanging open, and Aunt
Shirley was ignoring us, eating her mashed potatoes with gusto.

“You might just make a good reporter yet.” And with that
Hank started shoving the food back into his mouth.

Mom, Paige, and Aunt Shirley left around the same time Hank
and Mindy did. There were only a handful of family and friends left, most of us
milling around were church members waiting to start the clean up. Mom had
brought down my purse when she’d gotten her things and set it on the built-in
bookshelves along one wall. Deciding it was time to change out of the shoes, I
walked to the sparse bookshelf and retrieved my ballet slippers from my purse.
Sliding my high-heeled shoes off, I picked them up and set them next to my
purse.

I let out a little yell, jumping three feet in the air when
a hand touched my arm. “Thank you for helping today, Ryli.”

I looked up at Pastor Williams and let out a shaky laugh.
“Sorry, Pastor, you scared me. And it’s no problem,” the lie rolled off my
tongue, “I’m glad to help.”

“I’ll just be glad when this day is over,” Pastor Williams
growled. “We need to move on, get on with our lives.”

I glanced sharply at my preacher, taking in his bloodshot
eyes. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days. His usually perfect appearance
was cracking under the pressure it seemed.

“I’m sure things’ll return to normal soon,” I said.

“They’d better!” Pastor Williams muttered as he turned on
his heel and stomped away.

“Pay him no mind, dear,” Sharon said.

I jumped again.

Geez,
what is it with this family. They could sneak up on ninjas!

I smiled at Sharon, hoping she didn’t notice my unease.

Patting me on the arm, she said, “He’s just still upset from
Chief Kimball’s visit the other day.”

Wait…what?

Kimball had questioned the preacher? Was that where he’d
been the other night when he came over in his uniform? If so, this must be
serious.

Trying not to overplay my hand, I asked, “Oh, did he need to
ask more questions about the Bible reference on the note left to me?”

Sharon’s eyes filled with tears. “No, he asked Pastor where
he was the night Dr. Garver was killed! We told him the truth. Thursday night
Pastor had an early dinner, watched TV for a little while, and then fell asleep
in his recliner. I remember going into the living room and waking him up around
ten o’clock to go to bed.”

“So he’d been in the living room sleeping all those hours,
right?”

Confusion clouded Sharon’s face. “Well, I’m sure of it. I
mean, I was in the sewing room working for those hours, but I’m sure I’d have
heard him leave.”

Over the hum of a sewing machine? Doubtful.

I couldn’t help it…I needed to know. My heart beating wildly
in my chest, I asked, “And how about the night Iris was murdered? Did Chief
Kimball ask about that night?”

I saw anger flash in Sharon’s eyes before she could mask it.
“We again told Chief Kimball,” she spat out Garrett’s name, “that if the murder
happened like they’re thinking late Sunday night, we were at church. I mean, we
have tons of people who saw us here.”

I couldn’t help but notice how she was including herself in
her husband’s alibi. Like she was needing to protect him. If he wasn’t guilty,
why would she feel compelled to emphasize she was with him all the time? “Is
that what they think?” I asked. Garrett had never told me the exact time of
death for Iris.

Sharon picked at her lace collar. “Well, they think it was
around ten o’clock that night. But Pastor is so very tired when he comes home
Sunday nights that he pretty much always goes straight to bed. I remember that
night specifically. He didn’t even finish watching the TV program he had
started. Poor thing was exhausted. I helped him into bed and shut our bedroom
door.”

I had to admit I was stumped. It didn’t sound like Pastor
Williams had anything to worry about, but then why would Garrett be questioning
him?

We decided to start on the cleanup even though everyone
hadn’t left yet. With only twenty or so family and friends left hanging around,
Sharon asked Mr. Garver if it would be okay if the church ladies got started.
He assured us it was and that they were leaving soon.

There was so much food left over, we decided to delve it up among
us to take home. I was excited…by the looks of things, I’d be eating for days.

I looked around the enormous room to see who all was helping
today. Usually the ladies on the cleanup committee did a rotation so the same
person didn’t have to do the same thing every time. There were about ten women
I knew personally, the other seven or eight I just knew by name.

We broke up into groups, and I found myself in the group
that was breaking down the tables and stacking them on a large table dolly.
Another group of ladies followed us, breaking down the chairs and stacking them
on a large chair dolly. We continued in this rhythm for a while, stopping
periodically to talk about the service or the upcoming Fall Festival on
Saturday.

Cleanup only took twenty minutes with everyone pitching in.
I was on the other side of the multi-purpose room, but I could see everyone was
starting to get their stuff and leave. Hoping to grab my purse, some food, and
slip out, I headed toward the bookshelf.

I was shocked when I saw Patty walking toward me carrying a
plate of goodies. The only people milling around were family and friends, and
she qualified as neither. “Ryli, I was just heading out. I was hoping I’d see
you so I could say I’m sorry for the way I reacted, it was silly of me.”

“What’re you still doing here?” I blurted out.

She smiled at me as though I were a simpleton. “Oh, I was
just upstairs looking at all the beautiful flowers. I dabble in horticulture,
you know. I even have my own greenhouse full of flowers and herbs.”

“I didn’t know,” I said. Nor did I care if you really want
to know.

“I came down here to go out the back way…and maybe see if
any dessert was left,” she laughed hysterically. “Well, have a wonderful night
dear. Enjoy the leftover food.”

I watched her walk out the door and turn toward her car. She
had it right—time to grab my stuff and head out. A nice glass of wine with some
leftovers, maybe a hot bubble bath...I’d love to soak my aching feet. Yes, it
was going to be a good night. It would be a perfect night if I heard from
Garrett.

I was shocked when I saw three plates heaped with food,
wrapped in Saran Wrap, with my name on them. They were placed next to my shoes
and purse. I looked around, hoping to see who’d set it there. I noticed a group
of ladies by one of the kitchen islands. Gathering my stuff, I went to
investigate.

“Ryli, dear, thank you for helping us out today,” Mrs.
Johnson said. “It always goes faster when young people help out.”

I smiled at the group of elderly ladies. “No problem, glad to
help.”

“Such a good girl, just like her mother,” Mrs. Evans said as
she patted my arms loaded down full of my crap.

“Ummm…I’m wondering, who left the plate of food with my name
on it over by the bookshelf?” I asked.

Mrs. Evans’s face scrunched up, thinking back. “Well, I’m
not sure. Maybe Mrs. Nelson. Why, is there a problem?”

“Oh, no, no,” I shook my head quickly, hoping to dispel any
anxiety. “I just wanted to thank them. I didn’t know anyone knew where my stuff
was sitting.”

Mrs. Johnson giggled. “Ryli, those shoes aren’t to be
missed. Everyone knew where your stuff was.”

I felt my face heat with her obvious explanation. Of course
my fuck-me pumps would stand out in a room full of dried up lemons. I’m
surprised they hadn’t started laying hands on me to expel my inner whore.
“Well, thank her for me please.”

Mrs. Evans snickered. “She left a little while ago, but we
will. You have a nice evening, Ryli.” The last part was said with a wide
knowing grin on her face.

Oh brother! These women thought I was going home to Garrett.
While that’s exactly what I was hoping would happen someday, I didn’t think it
would be obvious to everyone else. I mumbled my goodbyes and practically
sprinted out the church door.