Meows, Magic & Murder (13 page)

“Too bad she’s dead. She might just have been the person that could have helped you with the investigation into Jeremy’s disappearance. You did ask her about it, right?”

“Of course I did. She told me Jeremy was headed to your place that night, and it was the last place he was seen.”

Petunia arched a brow. “Oh? And how, exactly, would she know that? I didn’t see her peeking through the windows that night.”

“Oh, so you admit he was at your place that night he disappeared?”

“I don’t recall ever denying that he was, but he left about nine that night and I haven’t heard from him since.” Although Petunia sure heard plenty from Jeremy now that he was a cat. Truth be known, he never shut up. Yes, about nine was truly the last time Petunia did see him. After about ten minutes of him rolling on the floor and a puff of smoke, he was transformed from a man to a cat. And ever since, her life had changed in a big way.

“Actually, Cora was spying on you two that night with her binoculars, and she told Helen all about it. She saw him come inside, but never saw him leave.”

Petunia leaned forward now. “You’re not suggesting that he’s still somewhere in my house, are you?”

“No, of course not. I just find it interesting, is all.”

“So you never thought that he might have slept over and that’s why they never saw him leave that night?”

“I did think about that, and recently we found his car in the bottom of Lake Forest. We dredged the lake this morning.”

“He’s been gone for two months and you just now dredged the lake? Why not before now?”

Natalie smiled, putting a hand against her lips so that the sheriff didn’t hear her.

“After Helen’s death I knew we had to do it, to see if there might be a connection between you and Helen’s death.”

“So you think I first got rid of Jeremy and then killed Helen? Why, exactly?”

“Because you have a connection to the both of them.”

“Sorry, that sounds kind of crazy even for you, Sheriff.”

The sheriff turned a few pages over. “How about the other victims who died? Did you know them?”

“Victims?”

“Yes, two more women were found murdered with knitting needles thrust through their chests. You do knit, don’t you, Petunia?”

“Me and half of town, I think. Haven’t you ever noticed how busy it gets at the Hobby Shack?”

“Sorry, I don’t frequent the place.”

“Well, your wife, Michelle, does. She’s quite the knitter, from what I hear. Perhaps she’s the Knitting Needle Killer.”

Natalie snickered openly now.

The sheriff shot her a look and she quickly pursed her lips, silencing her laughter.

“You think you’re cute don’t you?”

“No, I’m just pointing out that you’re way off base with this line of questioning. Many women, both young and old, knit in this town. Happening to knit doesn’t necessarily make one a killer. I’m really shocked. I can’t even image why anyone would use knitting needles to commit murders. It’s scary, really. And to think that one of the murders happened right in my neighborhood.”

“Kaye Horton was the first victim. Did you know her?”

“Not personally.” When Natalie gave her the eye, she elaborated with, “We did go to high school together.”

“How did you get along?”

“I barely knew the woman.” Did she really need to explain things further?

“That’s strange. I heard you two didn’t get along.”

Petunia stared over to Natalie who was now looking down. It was obvious where he’d heard that from.

“I’ve heard the two of you have fought over a man before.”

Petunia bit down on her lower lip. “If you know the answer to all of these questions then what are you asking me for?”

“Just answer the question. Is there any truth to that?”

Petunia licked her lower lip now and admitted, “It would seem that Henry was still dating Kaye when he asked me out. I had no idea at the time until after he broke up with her.”

“And how did she take that?”

Petunia swallowed hard now. She had no idea that Henry hadn’t broken up with Kaye before he asked her out, not until later. By the time she did find out, it was too late to go back. Petunia was already falling in love with Henry, but in retrospect, it really was an example of who Henry was, the cheating bastard.

Kaye was quite curvy, although she had a beautiful face. It made Petunia feel all the more guilty back then. Petunia finally said, “She was very heartbroken. I swear I never knew that Henry broke up with her to be with me.”

“And since high school?”

“Again, I still felt guilty for what Henry did to her, enough to avoid her at all costs. There was just no way I could ever explain to her how I didn’t know and felt badly about what Henry did to her. I certainly wouldn’t ever hurt her more than she’s already been.”

“And you’ve had no contact with her since high school?”

“I might have seen her a few times at either Norm’s Meat Market, or Nelson’s Bakery, but I never spoke to her. I ran the opposite way, actually, since Kaye carried a grudge against me.”

“Have you ever wanted to get back at her for carrying a grudge against you, like stabbing her with knitting needles?”

“Gosh, no. Like I said, I stayed away from that one and that makes no sense. I don’t blame her for how she felt about me. I probably would have felt the same way if it were me.”

The sheriff turned over the next page and said, “That leaves us with Charlene Catlin.”

“I accidentally ran into her with a glass of punch and ruined her white prom gown. It happened right before she was going to be crowned prom queen, but she was so mortified that she went home.” Petunia paused and continued, “And she was really mad at me, but I swear it was an accident. I was sorry to hear she was murdered.”

Sheriff Pinkerton’s face softened, if only slightly. “I see.” He turned a few more pages and stood, putting his palms on the table now. “How much knitting do you do, Petunia?”

Where on earth was he going with this line of questioning? “I don’t know. I knit blankets for the vets, enough to make a couple of blankets a month.”

“And how many knitting needles do you generally purchase?”

“It depends. I hardly keep track.”

“Ms. Patterson, it seems like you’ve purchased quite the number since right before the murders began. At least six packages. Since there’ve been three murder and three knitting needles in each victim you have three more to commit yet another murder.”

“I admire you and you math abilities, but no self-respecting woman who knits on a regular basis would use three knitting needles. They’d use two, since that’s all you need to knit with. I’d even venture to guess that you’re looking for someone who doesn’t knit at all, or realizes that I have a history with the victims.”

The sheriff sat back down. “So what’s the story about purchasing so many knitting needles?”

“Like I already told you, I don’t keep track of how many I purchase, but I must admit that I have a compulsion to buying extra since I always seem to misplace them. It’s quite possible my cats even carry them out the door, although I’ve never caught them doing that.”

“I didn’t know you let your cats outside.”

“I don’t, usually, but they sure can manage to get my screen door open at times and I have to form a search party to find them. Why, the day of the murder, my cat, Pansy, managed to make it all the way next door and into Noah’s house.”

“I see. Well, that’s sure some story and I’m not sure if I’m buying it.”

Petunia stood now. “Is that all you have, Sheriff. Have my fingerprints been lifted from the needles?”

“Yours aren’t already on file and no prints were on the needles, like the killer wore gloves or wiped them clean. You’ve lived your life on the straight and narrow for the most part, except for your role in making quite a few men bald from your supposed hair tonic you were selling on Craigslist.” He yanked out a Kleenex and proceeded to blow his nose on it and then said, “But no charges have been filed and I see that you’ve removed your ad.”

“Of course I did. It’s not like I wanted to make those men bald, Sheriff.” She stretched now. “Can I leave? I really need to get home and feed my cats. It’s way past their meal time. There’s no telling what mischief they might get into if I don’t get back soon.”

“I can hold you for twenty-four hours, you know.”

“I’m quite aware of my rights and you simply have no reason to do so, unless you want to hear me pull the attorney card.”

“That will be all for now. Deputy Cartwright, kindly run Ms. Patterson home, but I’ll be in touch with you and soon, Petunia. You can count on it.”

Petunia hardly had time to say anything before the sheriff made for the door.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Natalie smiled kindly as she asked, “Ready to go home?”

“I sure am.”

Petunia followed Natalie into the parking garage and she waited by the back door for it to be opened, but Natalie opened the passenger’s door instead. “Just don’t tell the sheriff,” she said.

She hopped into the car and admired all of the equipment inside, including a laptop. Once Natalie joined her inside, Petunia remarked, “There’s sure plenty of equipment in here.”

“Yes, sure is, but it all comes in handy. Even the shotgun. A law enforcement officer can never be too careful.”

Petunia smiled, but she really had to ask her, “So why did the sheriff have you in on the questioning? It’s not like he let you speak.”

“Nope, but I’m a newbie here. It was interesting how you countered the sheriff’s questions. He sure seems to believe you’re guilty of a triple murder and involved in Jeremy Walters’ disappearance. That Jeremy sure made his rounds in town. Him turning up missing shouldn’t be that much of a surprise. I forget that saying about a woman scorned, but it’s not wise to do that.”

“Were you just being nice to me in the ladies’ room, or—”

“Look, Petunia. I haven’t seen you since high school, but you’re hardly the type to murder someone in such a manner. Using witchcraft, maybe.”

Petunia frowned now. “I’m not a witch.”

“Why deny what is obvious to most people? In chemistry class you were always trying to come up with some kind of concoction that wasn’t part of our class assignments.”

“So I dabble in making potions. It’s not a crime and it certainly doesn’t make me a witch.”

All this talk about being a witch put Petunia in a funk. Her aunt might just be the only person able to get her out of it when she felt like this.

Natalie stopped the squad car in front of Petunia’s house and when she stepped out, Noah was on her porch, speaking to Aunt Maxine—about her, undoubtedly.

“What are you two plotting about?” Petunia asked as she walked up.

Aunt Maxine’s eyes lit up at her approach and Noah had a shocked look on his face like he half-expected that he’d have to bail her out of jail.

“We weren’t plotting at all,” Aunt Maxine said innocently. “We were wondering how long it would be before you’d be calling and asking to be bailed out of jail, though.”

“I wasn’t arrested, so there. But if the sheriff had his way, I would be.”

“It went that bad?” Noah asked.

“Yes. As it turns out I went to high school with two of the victims of the Knitting Needle Killer, Kaye Horton and Charlene Catlin.” Petunia then went on to explain how she knew them and how she would never have been in their vicinity, let alone murder either of them. “The sheriff won’t let that Jeremy thing drop, either.”

“I can’t imagine that he would,” Noah said. “Don’t worry. We’ll figure out who really is the killer. There must be someone to question.”

“Yes, like the victims’ families or friends. I wouldn’t mind dropping by the funeral home, either. They must have Helen laid out there by now.”

Aunt Maxine coughed nervously. “And you’re certain that you want to go there?”

“I insist, but neither of you need go along. I’m quite comfortable with going solo.”

Noah shook his head. “You’re in no position to go anywhere by yourself, least of all to a funeral home where the woman you’re suspected of murdering is laid out. I highly suggest you not go anywhere near that place.”

Petunia sighed as she walked past them and into the house, where Pansy sprinted over to her.
“It’s about time. I was so worried. I mean, hurry up and make the potion already, would you?”

“Not happening today. If I don’t find out who murdered Helen and the other victims, and soon, I’ll be locked up in jail. I highly doubt that the sheriff would let me whip up a potion in a jail cell.”

When Aunt Maxine and Noah walked in, Pansy arched his back and hissed.

Noah laughed. “What’s up with that cat now? I was here the whole time you were gone and he never did that.”

“How should I know? Pansy’s known to react strangely, at times. I wouldn’t take it personally.”

“Perhaps I should leave you two alone now,” Aunt Maxine said. “I’d better get to the shop. Hazel and Wanda opened up for me today, and who knows what trouble they might get themselves into.”

Before Petunia had a chance to say anything, her aunt was out the door. If she hadn’t known better, she’d think that her aunt was trying to play matchmaker. She was always on Petunia about meeting more men, but after what happened to Jeremy, she wasn’t really all that keen on doing that. If only her neighbor, Noah, wasn’t so attractive, and thus far he’d not actually shown any interest in her other than helping her clear her name. At least that’s what she thought he was doing. She really hoped that Noah didn’t think she’d really killed anyone. She couldn’t even kill a bug, but her cats sure did.

“I suppose I should check my computer to see what time Helen’s showing is.”

“So you still plan to go ahead with that?” Noah asked with a notable frown.

“Yes,” Petunia said as she waltzed over and sat down, checking online for Helen’s obituary. “Looks like I have time to get cleaned up before I go. I should probably wear a dress. I’d like to look presentable, at least.”

Noah sank into a chair and said, “Go ahead. I’ll wait for you.”

Petunia eased herself up. “But I don’t know how long it will take me. I’ll meet you at your house when I’m ready.”