“But what if it’s someone you do personally know?”
“Was that a joke?”
“Not really.”
“Well, I didn’t know Tam Gillis before I arrested the little fuck, so there ya go.”
“And you’re certain it’s him?”
“Absolutely. And having civilians running around sticking their beautiful noses in where they don’t belong, well, that’s the sort of thing that can really mess up a case. The law’s a tricky beast. There are all sorts of loopholes out there that can let a killer out on the street.”
“Or put an innocent man in prison.”
“I guess for the sake of the argument, yeah, that’s true.” He stepped toward Bess so that they were less than a foot apart. He was taller than her. If she looked straight ahead, she’d be staring directly into his neck. She saw the flash of his throat as he swallowed and felt a strong urge to reach out and touch it. “So, to set my mind at ease, Bess, would you mind telling me what you’re doing visiting my murder suspect?”
She stared up into his eyes and lied, “I’m writing a book.”
“Come again?”
“A book. You know, I work at the book shop here, and if I were to write and publish a true crime novel about this case it would be huge. We could sell it exclusively through the store.”
His eyes said he knew she was lying, but also something else. That he was happy with the lies. “That sounds like a real smart plan.”
“I thought so. I’m just full of real smart ideas, Scott.” She smiled at him, feeling a warmth spread from her center out.
Scott leaned in and lightly squeezed her shoulder. “It was nice seeing you today, Bess.” His breath was coming quicker and she hoped she was the one responsible.
She stretched up and grazed her mouth against the rough stubble of his cheek as she whispered, “It’s always a pleasure.”
He cleared his throat with a gruff little growl and stepped back. “Well, let’s hope the next time is under more pleasant circumstances.” He stamped out his cigarette and left the butt on the ground at her feet. Bess wondered what it would taste like to kiss him as she watched him ambling slowly to the jail.
She stayed where she was for a few moments, reveling in the hormone-fueled electricity skittering through her. She didn’t trust Scott Howland. But she couldn’t stop herself from wanting to touch him every time he got close enough. It was moments like this that reminded her exactly how long she’d been single, and how different it felt when someone else touched her.
The historical society was only a five-minute drive from the jail. Nothing in Antioch was ever more than ten minutes away from any other point in Antioch. Bess parallel parked in front of the building and strode to the door.
No one was in sight when Bess walked in. She slid into the gift shop and thought about all the magnets she could potentially steal in this unattended store. Maybe even several keychains. In the future, this shop would probably carry dragon keychains and little plastic snow globes that rained red down upon the town.
Heading back out of the little shop, Bess caught sight of Winnie sitting in the replica old-fashioned living room with a cup of tea and a book.
“You have a lot of spare time around this place I guess,” Bess said.
Winnie jumped slightly but a smile immediately brightened her face. “We don’t get many visitors, it’s true.”
“I assume you know why I’m here?”
“I wouldn’t have the slightest idea.” Winnie’s smile didn’t waiver. “But I do have a box for you if you don’t mind waiting a moment.” She rose from her seat and maneuvered her way past the velvet rope to meet Bess in the foyer.
“Now wait a minute. Stop. I want to know why you didn’t tell me you were Tam Gillis’s aunt.”
“When would I have told you that, dear? The boy wasn’t arrested until after I saw you last.”
Bess started to speak but stopped herself. The old woman was right. “But you knew I was looking into the murders. You should have come to me. You had no way of knowing I’d speak with Tam.” The words sounded hollow in her ears. She hadn’t really admitted to herself that she was looking into the murders, but what else could she really call it at this point? She was here, wasn’t she?
“I’m under very strict orders from the fine officers of Antioch to keep my mouth shut about these murders. I know things that they don’t want the general public knowing. Officer Howland told me he’d arrest me for obstruction.” Winnie’s smile was gone. Her eyes were stern now, afraid.
“You don’t think he’d really do that, though, do you?” Bess tried to imagine Winnie Tate locked up and the absurdity of it nearly made her laugh. “The press would eat them alive.”
“I don’t take chances like that. What you wish to do is your business. But I certainly did try to let you know certain things.”
“You mean about the dragon?”
“No, I mean about Tam.” She leaned in and muttered under her breath, “Where did you think those notes were coming from?”
Bess felt numb. Her mind whirled, thinking back to all the strange occurrences she’d experienced over the last few days.
“I told you, I’m not supposed to be talking about any of this,” Winnie said.
“Did you call my house?”
Winnie blinked, the anger in Bess’s voice seemed to physically wound her. “I… did, yes.”
“And what about the bathroom at my work yesterday?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, the fuck you don’t.” Bess felt a twinge of guilt for cussing. “I’m sorry. But I’m going around feeling like a mad woman, thinking I’m losing my mind, and the only thing I’m being haunted by is an old lady.”
“If you’d please take the box I have for you.” Winnie walked away, heading to retrieve the box of Tam’s notes.
“No way. I’m done with this. I don’t care anymore. Do you hear me? I don’t care.”
“But you have to help us,” Winnie said.
“But I don’t,” Bess shot back. “I wish I’d never come here. You’ve been using me ever since you met me. Manipulating me. I’m done. Find someone else to haunt.”
Bess turned her back on Winnie Tate and felt her old eyes burning into her, but she didn’t care. Disappointing a woman she barely knew shouldn’t even register on her scale of moral wrongdoings. And if Tam truly was innocent, then it was for the cops to find out, or the judge, or the jury. Anyone but her. Scott Howland had been telling her from the first day they met that she should stop interfering in his investigation and she was finally ready to listen.
9
ON THE WAY home Bess stopped by The Hole to talk with Carol. The shop was pretty busy. All of the barstools were full and Bess noticed four or five customers browsing among the books and gifts. Saturdays were good for business. The fluorescent lighting made a pleasant hum overhead and the place smelled of beer and books. There was nothing quite like evenings at the bookstore.
“The boss is behind the bar, if you’re looking,” Lucy said from over near the cash register.
“Thanks, I was. Although it looks like she’s got a crowd.” Bess smiled at Lucy, making an effort to not hate her.
“The woman is magic. Every time she bartends the place fills up like a landfill.”