These Haunts Are Made For Walking (Haunted Tour Guide Mystery Book 1) (19 page)

I turned around to finish the walk to my car, but unfortunately I ran right into Brannon. This was great. I hadn’t even had time to un-tease the new updo Sue had given me. I knew I should have headed straight for the car instead of lingering around. I’d assumed that most people were headed out of town at this time of evening. There was no time to smash down my puffy hair or anything. I probably looked like a peacock, or maybe Marge from
The Simpsons
. By the smile on his face, he’d noticed my new style right away.

“I swear, if you say one thing about my hair…”

He held his hands up, but continued to stare at my perfectly coiffed hair. I’d never gotten such a strange look before.

“How did she get it that high?” He studied my head.

I shook my head, which just brought more emphasis to it. “Lots of hairspray and teasing. I didn’t ask for this.” I pointed at my head. “This was all in the name of solving the crime.”

“Is that right? And what exactly did you discover?”

I frowned. “Nothing.” That wasn’t true, but he didn’t need to know that. “So what about the case?” I asked.

He looked to the left and then to the right as if someone would actually hear us. Not a chance since no one else was around. “You didn’t hear this from me, okay?”

I nodded and crossed my heart.

“We believe that the poison used to kill Marion was potassium cyanide.”

“Really?” I had no idea what that meant, but I did know that the person who had used the computer had looked up information on that exact poison. There was no way that was a coincidence. Who would have access to something like that?

“I just wanted you to know. Maybe it will make you worry a little less.” Brannon flashed a soothing smile.

I doubted that was possible. Now I knew that I was on to something with finding the killer. If only I had a way to know who had used the computer and had left the note in the book.

Brannon looked at his watch. “I’d better get going. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

I nodded. “Sure. Thanks for sharing the info.”

He stared for a second. “You’re welcome.”

I watched as he turned away. Before I had a chance to stop looking at him, he glanced back and caught me watching him. My face probably turned red. There was no denying that Brannon was a handsome man. I doubted anyone would blame me for looking.

After talking with Brannon, I decided not to go to my car. He’d already seen my hair, so how much worse could it get? Besides, there were a couple more places that I could visit. Again, they might lead to nothing, but I had nothing to lose by stopping by. I turned the opposite direction and headed down the sidewalk. Sugar Buzz was only one shop over. I might as well pop in for a visit while I was there. A sweet treat would be good now anyway.

Pushing open the glass door, I stepped inside the shop and the sweet aroma of frosting hit my nose. My mouth watered. The walls were white, but the trim was pink and the tables and chairs were pink as well. Pictures of cupcakes decorated the walls.

On one wall was a display case and a menu board above describing all the options. I hoped Katherine was working today. Just then she stepped out from the door leading from the kitchen. Her eyes widened when she saw me. Why was everyone so surprised to see me? There was nothing strange about me wanting a cupcake.

“What can I get for you, Ripley?” She wiped her hands on her pink apron.

My mind couldn’t even compute all the options, so I quickly settled on a chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting. Of course it had sprinkles.

“How have you been?” I asked as Katherine took a cupcake from the display case.

She attempted a smile. “I’m doing okay.” She handed me a white bag with the cupcake inside.

“It’s such a tragedy what happened to Marion. Do you have any idea who would do something like this to her?”

She frowned. “No. I have no idea who would want to kill Marion.”

I tried to gauge her reaction, but I couldn’t quite read her.

As I handed her the cash, she looked up at me for a moment and then said, “You know, there is something.”

I quirked a brow. “Yes?”

She tapped her fingertips against the counter. “It’s just that Marion acted funny right when she was leaving the room.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“It was like she wasn’t feeling well.”

I clutched the little white bag. “Do you know whose idea it was to read Ted Alistair’s book in this month’s selection?”

She frowned. “I think it was Dana’s selection this month.”

That was an interesting bit of information, but did it mean anything? This search was leading me nowhere. But now I would have to speak with Dana. Why had she picked that book? Maybe because she knew that she was going to carry out the murder against Marion the same way as it had been done in the book. It would have taken a lot of planning on her part. But then again I would think any murderer would take some time planning their crime.

“I guess you want to know all this because it happened at the library?” Katherine asked.

It looked as if she was suspicious of me. Of course that made me suspicious of her. What a vicious cycle. 

“Yes, I was just curious. Anyway, thanks again for the cupcake.” I gestured with the bag.

She attempted another smile. “I hope you like it.”

That was when it flashed in my mind that Marion had died with the cupcake in her hand. Had it been a poisoned cupcake? I looked at my bag. Could my cupcake be poisoned? Now I was just being paranoid. Of course it wouldn’t be poisoned. I waved and headed out the door, still not sure about what I’d found out.

With my cupcake in hand, I decided I would drop in for a visit with Dana at the coffee shop. It was just a couple stores down. I hoped that she was there so that I could ask questions about the book selection.

I reached the shop and pushed open the door. The smell of roasted coffee hit me right away. A couple people sat at tables in the corner, but the shop was quiet. The only sound was of someone working in the back.

A young girl popped from behind the counter. “May I help you?”

“Is Dana here?” I looked around.

She smiled. “Sure, just a minute and I’ll get her for you.”

After a few seconds, Dana emerged from the door leading from the kitchen. She frowned, but as she got closer, she smiled and said, “Ripley, what a pleasant surprise.” Dana seemed overly happy to see me. “Would you like to place an order?”

I studied the menu quickly and then said, “I’d like a pumpkin spice latte, please.” After all, it was fall and I couldn’t resist. This trip was doing nothing for my waist line.

“Coming right up.”

“I’ll get it,” the young girl said.

Dana frowned and looked as if she’d wanted the excuse to get away from me. When the girl turned away, she had to focus her attention on me. “I’m glad you stopped by. I’ve been meaning to say how sorry I am for what happened.”

I nodded. “That’s nice. Thanks.”

“I’m sure it’s tough on you since you have to work at the library and look at the staircase and constantly be reminded of what you saw.”

She wasn’t making me feel any better. “I’m doing okay,” I said.

The employee returned and handed me the drink. She stood there and stared at me. When we didn’t speak, she took the hint and said, “I’m just going to finish my work over there.”

Dana nodded. “Thanks, Sara.”

I looked around the coffee shop. Not many people were there.

Dana placed her hands on her hips. “It’s sad.”

I furrowed my brow and took a drink of my coffee and then said, “Marion’s murder?”

She shook her head. “No, the fact that my business is suffering due to Marion’s murder.”

I hadn’t expected that comment. Dana didn’t seem distraught about losing her friend. Obviously they weren’t that close after all.

“Why do you think that would affect your business?” I asked.

“People probably think I had something to do with it. I didn’t though,” she said. 

I shook my head. “No, of course not. I doubt that’s what they are thinking.”

She scoffed. “Of course it is. I just hope they find the killer soon so things can get back to normal.”

Well, that and there wouldn’t be a killer on the loose. But I kept that part of myself.

I took another drink from my coffee and then asked, “Why do you think Marion was coming down those back steps?”

I knew it was because they had been arguing, but I wanted to hear what Dana had to say. I watched her face to see her reaction.

“Marion was madder than a hornet. Marion would argue with a lamppost. So that was why she ran down those steps.” Dana busied herself behind the counter. “She had been arguing with all of us. It wasn’t just me, you know. I can’t help it if she got mad. She was mad a lot of the time.”

“But the fall wasn’t what killed her though,” I reminded her.

Dana shook her head. “No, that’s what they say. But maybe Marion lost her balance from being woozy,” Dana suggested.

That had been a possibility. Did Dana know more than she was letting on? It was hard to read her. I decided not to tell Dana that I knew Marion had been poisoned. As far as I knew, only the police had that information. I wondered if I could get Dana to admit that Marion had been poisoned. “Why do you think she was woozy?” I asked.

Dana frowned. “You are asking a lot of questions.”

I smiled. “Just making conversation.”

Dana shrugged. “Marion had complained about being sick.”

I knew that she had said that, so maybe Dana was just repeating what she’d heard. I took another drink and then asked. “Was Marion acting normal at the meeting?”

I already knew the answer to that too, but I wanted to hear Dana’s side of the story again. I had seen firsthand how they had been arguing.

“Well, you know we weren’t happy with Marion, but I guess she seemed a little disoriented right after she drank the coffee and had taken a bite of the cupcake. I noticed that right away and thought it seemed odd.”

“Did you eat or drink anything?”

“No, we didn’t have time. Marion excused herself from the room, saying that she wasn’t feeling well.” Dana shifted from one foot to the other. She fidgeted her hands.

Yes, she was definitely acting nervous. I got the impression that she wanted to tell me more. I was all ears, but getting her to open up would probably be tough.

“Dana, are you sure there isn’t something else you’d like to tell me?”

She frowned and said, “No, why would you think that?”

Because you’re acting weird.
Instead I said, “Just a feeling. I guess I was off base.”

“Yes, I guess you are.”

Okay, pushing for details about Marion hadn’t worked.

She stared at me for a moment. Maybe she would open up after all. Dana sighed and then said, “We used to be best friends, you know.”

“Really? I had no idea. What happened?” Now I had to know the details.

Dana’s expression changed and her face was full of anger. There were obviously a lot of hard feelings. “I’ll tell you what happened. Marion betrayed me. She married my ex-fiancé. That’s what changed our friendship. Good reason, huh?” Her face had turned red.

“Yes, that
is
a good reason.” Her admission had brought back a lot of unwanted memories. I definitely could relate to her infuriation over that situation. So Dana had been angry with Marion the night of the murder? But Dana had been angry with her for a lot longer than that. Something like that could build up until the person lost it. Maybe the argument that night was just the final straw. Their friendship had obviously faded over the years. Could Dana have killed Marion? Anything was possible and a lot of clues were pointing to Dana. She seemed so nice though, like she couldn’t possibly hurt anyone. Looks could be deceiving. Was Dana putting on an act for me now?

I’d like to think I would be able to see through something like that, but I knew I could be deceived. My fiancé and friend had done it to me easily. And I’d known them much better than I knew Dana.

A few people entered the shop and Dana focused her attention on the customers. I knew that I wouldn’t get her to answer any more questions today.

“Thanks for the talk,” I said with a smile.

She looked at me suspiciously and then smiled. “Come back for more coffee, okay?”

I looked down at my cup and back at her. “Yeah, sure, I’ll be back.”

I walked toward my car, trying to enjoy the crisp air and smell of fallen leaves. I’d discovered a few details about the murder, but nothing solid to go on yet. The best things I’d gotten out of my visits were the cupcakes and latte. Plus, I wasn’t even sure if I would be able to eat the cupcake.

I needed more than just speculation if I was going to solve this case. Brannon probably wanted me to just stay out of it. That wasn’t an option for me now as far as I was concerned. No doubt Brannon would give me a warning soon.