Meows, Magic & Murder (18 page)

“And where did this happy reunion happen?”

“I spoke with her at the sheriff’s department when I was questioned there this morning.”

“A private conversation where exactly, during questioning?”

“No, in the bathroom.”

Noah shook his head, now. “That’s the last person you should consider speaking to. That very well might have been a set-up.”

Petunia sighed. “I suppose you’re right.” That wasn’t what she wanted to hear, though. “The sheriff had her in the interview room when he questioned me and she really didn’t seem like the type. She’s new to the department.”

“And I bet she told you that, right?”

“Look, I’m not an idiot. I have a good sense about people and it’s the only way I’ll ever find out if there really was a letter.”

Noah drummed his fingers against the steering wheel and said, “Look, I’m not trying to tell you what to do here, but there’s simply no way that anyone at the sheriff’s department will tell you anything. Did the sheriff ask you about a letter?”

“No, he didn’t.”

“That makes me wonder about the validity of it, then. But he might not want to question you on that matter until he has all his ducks in a row.”

“Meaning when he’s ready to arrest me?”

“Exactly.”

Noah started the car and Petunia gave him directions to the townhouse community where Charlene Catlin’s mother, Rhonda, lived. On the way, they drove past Mystical Remedies that now had only three people in line, which made Petunia not feel so badly about not helping her aunt out. But the way Petunia saw it, she had very little time left to find the killer before she would be the one to answer for it.

Noah broke through Petunia’s train of thought when he asked, “What can you tell me about Charlene?”

“Charlene was homecoming queen back in high school, but for some reason, she never went to college and worked as a beautician at the Hair Hut. Her parents, Rhonda and Charles, divorced after she graduated, which really changed their style of living. They lived in a huge house near the lake, and her mother had to move to a townhouse after the divorce.”

“Is her father still in town?”

“I really don’t know. It’s not like I was on speaking terms with Charlene.”

“Not even when you get your hair done at the Hair Hut?”

Petunia gave Noah a crazy look. “I don’t go anywhere near that place after the first time. Charlene obviously told the other beauticians all about me.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Well, the one time I went there when Charlene wasn’t working, one of the girls cut a bare spot in the back of my hair.”

“Really?” Noah laughed.

“It’s not funny. I had to wear a hat for a few months when I left the house.” Sure, she could have tried to whip up a hair tonic to grow her hair, but she wasn’t all that sure what the results of that would have been.

“Does Rhonda know who you are?”

Petunia gulped.

“I’ll take that as a yes. I insist on questioning Rhonda solo.”

“You can insist all you want, mister, but there’s no way I’m sitting idly by in the car while you question Rhonda. This is my freedom on the line.”

“I know. That’s why I don’t want you to go along. Just seeing you might upset the woman. She might not answer any of our questions then.”

“But I need to explain to her that I didn’t do this.”

“You can say that all you want, but unless we find the person actually responsible, nobody will believe you’re innocent. Public opinion can be quite harsh.”

Petunia folded her arms across her chest. “I don’t care. I’m going with you and there’s no way I’m staying behind.”

Noah shook his head as he pulled into the Willow Creek complex drive. The all-brick townhouses each had a garage, and while most people might think they looked more like duplexes, they were considered townhomes. There was a tennis court, swimming pool, and gym for residents that were all near the office that they drove past.

“She lives in the back, number 22,” Petunia said.

Noah pulled into the driveway of unit 22 and two boys in their teens were outside, holding onto skateboards. When Petunia and Noah approached them, one of them had a sly smile on his face.

“Does Rhonda Catlin live here?” Petunia asked, unsure if these boys were Rhonda’s sons since they were sixteen, if that.

“Yes. Who are you?” one boy asked, his bright blue eyes widening slightly.

“We’re here to speak to Rhonda. Is she your mother?” Noah asked kindly.

“Today really isn’t a good day. Mom’s in a mood.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, but we really need to ask her some questions about Charlene.”

A woman with disheveled, blonde hair wearing a pink sweatsuit came out the door and asked, “What do you want, Petunia Patterson?”

She looked indeed like she was having a bad day since there were dark circles under Rhonda’s eyes. “I’m here to ask you some questions about Charlene,” Petunia said.

“You have some nerve, coming here. The sheriff told me you’re the prime suspect in her death.”

“Why would he say that since I haven’t spoken to Charlene since high school?”

“After you ruined her gown at prom, you mean? You ruined Charlene’s dress and she was too embarrassed to stay, missing out on the announcement that she was prom queen.”

‘That was all an accident,” Petunia said. “I’m very sorry for what happened. I was a complete klutz back then and it was the first time I’d ever worn heels.”

“That’s all ancient history,” Noah said. “What does any of that have to do with Charlene’s death?”

Rhonda’s eyes narrowed at Noah’s interference as she said, “And who are you? I’ve never seen you in town before.”

“I’m Noah Becker. I’m doing a private investigation of the murders here in Lake Forest.”

“Then why is
she
here?”

“Since her freedom is on the line, she’s taking part in the investigation. We mean to find the real killer.”

Rhonda’s hands went to her hips, now. “Well, you don’t have to go very far to find out. She’s standing right next to you.”

“I didn’t kill Charlene or anyone here in town,” Petunia insisted. “I have no reason to.”

“Not even after Charlene had those girls at the Hair Hut hack your hair?”

“That happened last year. It would be strange to wait so long to enact my revenge if that’s what you think.”

“You probably found out my Charlene was spreading rumors about you being a witch.”

Petunia sighed. “If that were true, I’d have to murder half the people in Lake Forest.”

Noah shook his head now, taking over the questioning. “Was your daughter dating anyone?”

“No, the pickings are slim here in town and she’s put on a few pounds since high school.”

Not according to the last time Petunia saw Charlene. She was blonde, thin, with model looks. “I don’t recall that at all. She was so beautiful. Surely she had some male attention,” Petunia said.

“You don’t think I’d know if my girl was dating someone?”

“We’re not here to pass judgment, but it’s important for us to know who else we should question,” Noah said. “Do you know anyone who’d want to harm your daughter?”

“Nobody except for Petunia,” she insisted.

“Any friends?”

“Just her co-workers.”

“Where was your daughter’s body found?” Noah asked.

“At the beach at Lake Forest. Don’t you watch the news?”

“I do, just verifying if they reported the right information.”

Petunia leaded against Noah slightly now, “Why would she go out there at that particular time.”

“After that note you sent, you mean?”

“I sent a note to Charlene?”

“Yes, you wanted to apologize to her so she said, and you just lured her out there to kill her instead.”

“How was the letter delivered?”

“Mom,” Rhonda’s son began. “I—”

“Travis, I thought you were going skateboarding?”

“I am, but—”

“What you waiting for?”

Travis frowned and left with his friend, and Rhonda said, “I think it’s time for you two to leave before I call the sheriff. It must be some kind of crime to be harassing the family of a murdered woman, especially a suspect.”

“Do you have the letter?” Petunia asked.

“I’m calling the sheriff, now,” Rhonda said as she went back inside and Noah motioned Petunia to move back to the car.

Once they were back inside the car, Petunia said, “Well, that’s two victims that were given a note supposedly by me. I just wish I knew if it was handed over to the sheriff or not.”

“I’d imagine so, but as I told you before—”

“I know, don’t talk to the deputy.”

“I suppose we should head over to the Hair Hut.”

“What about questioning Trevor? I’d sure like to hear what he was about to say before his mother cut him off.”

“Me, too, but he’s just a teenager, from the looks of it. It’s better to not question a minor without his mother’s approval.”

“You’re talking like a cop now, not an investigator.”

Just then, the sheriff’s car pulled up behind Noah, and the sheriff made it over to the passenger’s side window. Petunia lowered the window, smiling up at the sheriff. “Hello there, Sheriff. Fancy meeting you here.”

“Indeed. I’ve received two complaints about you already today. Go on home, Petunia and quit harassing the families of those murdered women.”

“I wasn’t, and I’ve now questioned both families. What can you tell me about a letter sent to Charlene and Kaye, supposedly by me?”

Sheriff Pinkerton released a heavy breath and spat, “I’m not about to tell you what I have or don’t have in the case I’m building against you.”

“Since both family members told us that a letter was sent to the victims prior to their deaths at the Lake Forest beach, I know you must have them and just hope you’re checking it for fingerprints. I’ve never written any letters to Kaye or Charlene.”

“Get a move on, Petunia, before I place you under arrest for interfering with an ongoing investigation. I’m sure Noah can tell you all about that.”

“We’re leaving,” Noah said as he roared the engine to life and tore out of the driveway, heading onto Main Street.

“Are we going home, now?” Petunia asked. “Because I’d really like to stop by the Hair Hut.”

“That’s exactly where we’re heading. Someone has gone to quite a bit of trouble to make you look like you’re responsible for the murders. It doesn’t help that you have a shaky history with all of them.”

“I know how it looks, but I’d really like to know how those letters were delivered.”

“Perhaps the ladies at the Hair Hut will know.”

Petunia nodded and hoped they’d catch a break, and soon. Investigating would be hard to do from a jail cell.

Noah parked in the back of the Hair Hut. At least that way, hopefully the sheriff wouldn’t see them when he drove past. They walked toward the all-wood building that was constructed of treated logs.

A bell dinged when they walked in and Henry, of all people, was inside having his hair done. Henry’s eyes widened when Petunia locked eyes with him as he stood, making way for her.

“I’m sorry, Petunia, about everything. I know you’re no murderer. If you were, I’d have been the first on your list, or Olivia.”

“That’s not true, Henry. I wish you no harm or anyone else. I’m simply not prone to violence.”

Peggy stepped forward. “I’m not sure that Olivia would care for you talking to Petunia.”

“We’re just talking and if any word gets back to my wife, I’ll know exactly who is responsible, Peggy.”

“Does anyone here know of anyone who Charlene might have been dating?” Petunia asked the beauticians who now approached them.

“She wasn’t dating anyone,” Peggy said. “Her last boyfriend, Nathaniel Chambers, broke up with her over six months ago.”

Nathaniel from the Grease Monkey auto shop. Now, he really didn’t seem like Charlene’s type. Petunia asked, “What do you know about a letter sent to Charlene from me?”

“She told us all about it, how she planned to confront you about what happened back in high school.”

“People in this town sure have memories like an elephant.” Noah laughed. “I can’t imagine why anyone would hold a grudge that long.”

“I know, but Charlene’s boyfriend, Tim, ended up hooking up with Stacey Keetings after Charlene left that night of prom, and she felt you were personally responsible, Petunia.”

“I had no idea, but that’s hardly my fault. She’s the one who decided to leave that night.”

“You ruined her gown.”

“I suppose, but I don’t hold a grudge against Charlene or anyone else in town. I know you were all friends with Charlene, and that’s why you hacked my hair last year, but is there anyone else in town that would mean to cause Charlene harm?” The beauticians all shook their heads empathically, which caused Petunia to frown now.

“I just don’t understand this. I swear I’m not guilty of this crime and we’ve been questioning witnesses all day now and we’re no closer to finding the killer than we were yesterday.”

Henry shuffled his feet now. “I should get going before Olivia wonders why I’m not home yet.” He then slapped down money on the counter and left.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“I’m too exhausted to hunt down Charlene’s ex-boyfriend, and quite starved,” Petunia said once they were back in the car.

“Would you care to stop somewhere? I’m starving, too.”

Petunia needed to get home so she could have time to think. Sure, she wanted to question the ex-boyfriend, but she also had hoped to speak with the deputy about the letters that were claimed to have been given to both Kaye and Charlene.

“If you’d rather I question Nathaniel Chambers—”

When they drove past Hanover’s Bistro and Petunia saw a deputy’s car parked out front, she interjected with, “Not at all. Let’s go to the bistro. It has the best sandwiches in town.”

Noah raised a brow when he glanced toward the deputy’s car. “I hope we’re just here for food and not asking any deputy questions about the case,” he said as he parked.

“What deputy?” Petunia asked innocently. “Oh, I didn’t even notice that car was here. I’m just so starved and Hanover’s is such a great place.”