The collapsed dollhouse walls and its furnishings had absorbed the blood. The back of Jackie’s head was split, but her long hair seemed to have soaked up a great deal of the blood. Blood trickled down the house and onto the table where it followed a line to the floor. My footprints marked where I’d walked through it.

  I tried to scream but couldn’t find my voice. My heart pounded as I reached for the phone and called 911.

  “Th-th-there’s b-b-been a m-murder.” I gulped. “Main Street. Northeast. White House Dollhouse store. Hurry.”

  “We’re sending someone right now.”

  Bile filled my throat and I went to bathroom. No sooner had I rinsed my mouth when the store swarmed with men in blue. After being initially questioned about the basic facts, I requested to sit with Inga at the antique store on the corner. I couldn’t bring myself to stay in the store, nor could I sit in a squad car to wait for further instructions.

  An officer escorted me to the store where Inga was waiting for me with an open door and pulled me into her arms.

  “You come in and sit down, sweetie,” Inga said. She folded me down into a nearby wooden rocking chair and covered me with a log cabin pattern quilt. To the officer, she said, “She’ll be in good hands.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He turned and left.

  “Well, Olivia, what a day. How about a cup of tea or do you want an early morning shot of Blackberry Brandy? Your choice.” She winked at me.

  “Just tea.” I didn’t want the police to smell alcohol on my breath.

  “Coming right up. It’ll settle your stomach and calm your nerves.” Inga went to heat the hot tea in the backroom.

  “Here you are,” she said.

  I took the offered cup and saucer.

  “Try and relax, honey.”

  “I’ll try.” I sipped a little and felt my cheeks flush from the warmth. “Thanks. I feel cozy already.”

  “Good, that’s what I wanted to hear.”

  “I can’t think of why anyone would want to kill Jackie. Why my store?” My mind was numb and when my phone rang, I couldn’t bring myself to answer the call. I glanced at the caller ID, and it was from Grandma. “It’s Grandma.”

  “I’ll call and tell her you’re in my care.”

  “Thank you. I’ll let Aaron know where I am.”

  After contacting Aaron to let him know my location and what had happened, I took the time to lean back in the cozy rocker and let my mind process the events around me. The first time my eyes closed, I saw blood and Jackie. After drying my tears and sipping the last of the tea, the sleepies hit, and I nodded off for a little while. When my eyes opened, Inga was over by the main counter.

  “I feel better. Thank you so much, Inga. You’re like a grandma to me.” I winked. “You must’ve laced the tea with a jigger of Blackberry.”

  “Of course! You needed to rest. It was as plain as day,” she said. Inga cocked her head. “You’re sweet like your mother and grandma. Marie and I have to confer about what flowers for your wedding.”

  “You know? How do you know? I never told her he’d asked. I haven’t seen her to tell her. How do you know? Confess.”

  “I’m a mind reader. I guessed.” Chuckling, she continued, “We see the way he looks at you. We’re not stupid, you know? We were young once, too.”

  “You two? Honestly.” I shook my head. “You’re unbelievable.”

  “Make sure your grandpa, that old coot, gets out that pair of cufflinks for Aaron to wear. Tell him I told him to do it or else he’ll have to reckon with me.”

  “What cufflinks?”

  “Your dad wore them when your folks married. Your grandparents on their fiftieth. Aaron should have the honor too.”

  “Never heard of them before. Where did they come from?”

  “Let them tell you.”

  “Today is sure the day for questions and secrets. What am I saying? The whole week is.” I shook my head. The remainder of the tea was cold, so I set it aside.

  Just as I stood to stretch the door opened and a policeman entered.

  “Ms. Anderson?”

  “Yes. Liv.”

  “Please come out to the showroom. The detectives want a minute with you,” the officer requested.

  “Thanks, Inga,” I gave her a big squeeze. “For everything.”

  “You betcha!”

  “Yes, sir.” I followed right behind, staying as close to him as possible when entering the store. I tried to not look at the bloody house as I passed by, so I shielded my eyes.

  “Hold on,” Mergens said. He was conferring with his partner. “You may leave for now. Go home. Do you have someplace else to stay if you’re worried about being alone? We’ll be in touch.”

  “I live with my grandparents. What about the store?”

  “This is a crime scene. The body has to be prepared before its removal. We’ll be here a long time.” Mergens frowned. “A very long time. Go home for now, but we’d like for you to return later.”

  “Okay. You have my cell number and can reach me anytime on it. Thanks.” I was out of the store as fast as lightning.

  During the drive home, my mind went in circles as I tried to figure out who would murder Jackie. Why her? I almost drove through a stop sign and had to tell myself to slow down and focus. I was lucky to have stopped in time, I knew, as I continued onward. At last turning to drive past Howe school, I knew I’d soon be parking and I could finally relax.

  When I got home, I found both grandparents sitting in the office waiting for me. Grandma made me a cup of hot chocolate, and I curled up on the settee. It didn’t take long before they coaxed the entire story from me. I kept my eyes glued on my phone, hoping for a message from Aaron. Suddenly the back door opened, and we heard, “Liv!”

  “In here!” I jumped up and raced to him, and we clung to each other. We stayed in the kitchen so we’d be alone.

  “You’ve had quite a shock.” Aaron kissed me. “I’ll return tonight to be with you.”

  “Thanks. I know I can handle it alone, but with you by my side, and driving me, it’ll be better all the way around.”

  “We’ll wait for the call.” He held me close for a moment. “How are you taking it?”

  “It was awful. The scene reminded me of the car accident that killed Mommy and Daddy.” I burst into tears. “Seeing her dead brought back such memories of seeing my parents die. I should’ve been dead that day too, if not for my seat belt. But head-on. Mommy and Daddy didn’t stand a chance. And, now this. Oh God.” I cried into his chest.

  “Let it out, baby.” Aaron held me tight.

  When I looked into his sad eyes, it made me feel sadder.

  “Feel any better? It’s almost four, and we have a lot to discuss.”

  “Now that you’re here and it’s off my chest. I hadn’t wanted to tell Grandma and Grandpa about that. It’d only make them sad.”

  Aaron put out his hand and we walked to the office. “Brave girl we’ve got here,” Aaron said, squeezing my hand. I sat in my former place beside Grandma. “I’m going after another chair.” He left, returning right away. “I’ll order pizza. How does that sound? Then we’re going to have a discussion and try to get to the bottom of what’s going on.”

  “Now? I want to try and forget the whole thing ever happened. However,” I waited a beat before continuing, “we need to talk about a few things.”

  “I’m sure, but let’s order something to eat first. Is that all right?” When Grandma and Grandpa nodded, Aaron picked up the phone and ordered a pizza for delivery.

  “There has to be some reason for the murder.” My brain was starting to come back to life. “The question is, how did she get into the store? What was she after?”

  “Let’s all do what we need to do, and then reconvene? I need the bathroom,” Grandma said. “How about coffee or a soda?”

  “Soda.” I stood. “I’m showering first and putting on fresh clothes. I still smell the blood on me from when I first found her.”

  “Liv, put those clothes inside a plastic bag. The detectives will want them.”

  “Oh sure. I didn’t think of it.

  “I’m right on it,” Aaron said. He left, only to return with a large kitchen disposal bag. “Here.” He handed it over. “I’ll get the sodas.”

  After placing the clothes inside the bag and sealing it shut, I showered. I slipped into a pair of jeans along with a long-sleeved t-shirt with a picture of the 1963 White House Christmas tree on it. I brushed my teeth and pulled my hair into a ponytail. Red ringlets stuck out like springs from the back of my head. I went downstairs and curled up again on the settee. Aaron had set sodas on the small coffee table. He was at the desk with the computer humming. Grandpa was on his chair, smoking a cigar.

  “Does this murder have anything to do with the missing item and dolls?” Grandma asked.

  “They have to be connected.” I took a sip as the bubbly fizz tickled my nose. I already felt refreshed. I took a deep breath and said, “Aaron, did you check out the ten suspect names?”

  “Ten names?” Grandpa said.

  “Yes, I had a chance to ask around. Your suspects are either living in another state, jail, or aren’t physically capable of the crime.”

  “That shoots that lead,” Grandpa said. He frowned and scratched his beard. “What next?”

  “Grandpa’s right,” I said.

  “What about clean-up?” Grandma asked.

  “Nothing can be done yet, Grandma.”

  “Forensics will be calling eventually, then Liv and I will have to go down to the station. They’ll take her fingerprints. They might need yours so they can compare them with the killers.” Aaron looked grimly at me. “Everyone is a suspect, at least until they verify alibis.”

  “The bodyguard and secretary would be high on the list.” Just then my cell phone buzzed. “It’s Max, wondering how I am.” I texted back, I’m fine. What did you want to tell me earlier?

  “The pizza will be here any minute.” Aaron nodded to the extra chair across from the settee.

  “I’m hungry. I’m glad you’ve ordered one,” Grandma said, nodding her head. “I couldn’t think after hearing about this. I worried so much about our little Olivia.” She patted my hand. “But, I see she’s tough and strong, like her mommy.”

  “Thank you, Grandma.” I almost started to cry. “Max told me about seeing someone, but I hadn’t paid close enough attention. I was too worried about Jackie coming.” I set the soda down.

  “What was the murder weapon?” Grandpa asked.

  “The only thing that comes to mind is the hammer from the junk drawer.” I started pacing. “It’d have to have been that. What else? The way her head was bashed. Blood was on the floor. Her hair soaked up most of it.” I dropped back into the settee. “What an awful way to die. Poor Jackie.”

  “Now what?” Grandpa asked. “Aaron, you’re not holding back, are you?”

  “Not at all.” Aaron shook his head. “Now we’re going to make a list of what we know and don’t know.”

  The doorbell rang, and Aaron went for the pizza.

  “My stomach is in knots. I feel so bad for Jackie,” I said.

  I couldn’t eat. As Aaron ate, he typed in everything we knew. I told him about my entering the store, turning on the lights, hanging my coat and throwing my bag in the usual place, then going into the showroom. I told him about the eerie feeling I had when I entered. Seeing the bloody head on the house and calling the police made me extremely anxious. I remembered little else except all the blood and being petrified. I checked phone messages and saw Maggie had left three texts and a voicemail. I sent her a return: I’m ok I’ll call later.

  “Where was the hammer?” Aaron asked.

  “I don’t remember seeing it.” My phone chirruped, and Max had texted me back. The overhead security camera was knocked out. I told the police when they questioned me. My eyes opened wide. “The killer must’ve done that.”

  “What?”

  “Max just texted that the overhead security camera is knocked out.”

  “I’ll call right now to report it,” Grandpa said.

  “I’ve contacted Minnesota Nice but it wasn’t urgent until now.” I placed another call to the security company.

  “The bodyguard had said, ‘Problem solved.’ Not sure, but it could mean that he’d put the camera out of commission. We need a better security system such as a touch pad.”

  “Yes, it sounds right,” Aaron said.

  “Maybe Ronnie has some tell-tale photos?”

  “You never know,” Aaron said.

  “I had trouble getting rid of him. He also knew about Jackie. How did he know? Who else knew she was coming to my store? Grandma, you know Ronnie’s grandma better than me, I think you should invite her over for coffee.”

  “I’ll go and visit her. Gabby loves my cookies. I don’t want her here because I can’t get rid of her. She talks too much.”

  “The name fits. Thanks, Grandma.”

  “Jackie was definitely searching for something, otherwise she wouldn’t have been there so early,” Grandpa said.

  “She did take those two dolls, but it makes me wonder if they aren’t in her purse? Neither her purse nor car were around. Where were they? I want the dolls back. They’re my creation. I’m curious if there wasn’t something special imprinted on them?”

  “The police report didn’t say anything about missing dolls,” Aaron stated, making a separate note to himself.

  “She talked about being a descendant, plus something about Mr. Madison’s cufflinks and a ‘family secret.’”

  “Make sure you tell the detectives about all of this.” He typed it in. “It’ll help in the investigation.”

  “I’ll inform them when I go tonight.” Having my family surrounding me made me feel better, but I was getting frustrated by all the questions. “Who was this guy who drove her around? Was he from out of town? Then there’s the bodyguard. Why would she need one when she wasn’t that big of a celebrity?” I ran my fingers through my hair.

  “People have bodyguards for any number of reasons. Stalking is one,” Aaron said. “Ex-husbands, another.”

  “That’s about it. We arranged for Jackie to come at ten and probably purchase the two dollhouses.” Suddenly I started to feel hunger pangs and reached for the remaining slice of pizza. “And pay for the taken dolls. It makes me wonder if the bodyguard or chauffeur had sneaked in and taken the doll outfit?”

  “It’s very possible.”

  “It’s probably in her purse that she carried around like a bank vault.”

  “What did Jackie say?” Aaron stared at me. “Didn’t she ask something weird?”

  “Oh, yeah, right!” I raised my brow, then sighed. “She asked if I knew anything about a Madison ‘family secret.’ I said I didn’t know what she was talking about.”

  “Family secret?” Grandma sat up straighter. “Madison?”

  “Yes, and something about cufflinks. Don’t understand any of it.” I shook my head. “Inga said I should ask Grandpa about Aaron wearing a set of cufflinks at our wedding.”

  “We’ll talk about it another time, Olivia,” Grandpa said. He suddenly began chewing on his cigar. I looked at Grandma who seemed a bit pink on the cheeks. Something was up between them.

  Chapter six

  “It was like Jackie was on an expeditionary trip,” Aaron said. He scratched his head.

  “Wanda is the secretary, and I don’t know the chauffer’s name, but the bodyguard is Stone,” I said. “I don’t recognize either of them.”

  “They’re probably still in the hotel,” Aaron said.

  “I can’t think of anything else to tell them.”

  “Okay, I’m placing a call to the detectives,” Aaron said. He left the room to make a call. After a short while, he returned and said, “Detective Erlandsen will be right over.”

  “While we wait,” I said, “Grandma, tell me about the cufflinks. They’re the set that once belonged to James Madison, correct? I know you’re holding something back, what is it? Grandpa? You too.”

  “Yes, I believe they are. Someone tried to steal them right after we married, but I inherited them,” Grandpa said. “I’m sure whoever tried is deceased because it was many years ago.”

  “How do you know?” I asked. “Are they the cufflinks worn at your anniversary and my parents’ wedding? I just thought they were from your wedding. That’s why they’re old.”

  “They’re quite valuable, aren’t they?” Aaron said.

  “Oh yes, very much,” Grandma said.

  “Where are they?”

  “Hidden in a secret place,” Grandma said.

  “Won’t you tell me?”

  “Nope,” Grandpa said. “It’s best for you to not know. They’re safe, and that was seventy years ago. This can’t be someone looking for these particular cufflinks, there’s too much of a time span from that incident to today.”

  “Jackie mentioned cufflinks, Grandpa. This is too coincidental.”

  Just then we heard car doors and saw the detective walk toward the house.

  “I’ll open the door,” Aaron said, getting up. Once the door closed, he said, “Detective Erlandsen, this way.” Aaron introduced my grandparents.

  “Do you know how they entered?” I said. I felt weak from the emotional roller-coaster ride.

  “They slipped aluminum foil between the pad and panel. It’s something an expert would know how to do.”

  “I’ll have Minnesota Nice on it, again.”

  “Let’s begin,” Detective Erlandsen said, looking at Grandpa. “Sir? Mind filling me in?”

  “When I bought the building,” Grandpa said, “we walked the basement and it runs through all three buildings. I think it was set up that way for an easy drop and delivery during Prohibition.”

  “I never thought of that secret exit,” I said. I ran my fingers through my hair.

  “You own the dollhouse store building, Mr. Ott?”

  “No, not anymore. Liv does.”

  “Where is the entrance?”

  “We each have an entrance. Ours is outside next to the backdoor,” I said. “I haven’t walked through since we purchased it.”

  “Anything else to tell us, Ms. Anderson?”

 

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