Spangled to Death, page 8
“I think they’re the clean-up crew from a Seven Corners watering hole. They’re old enough that they may be able to give you first-hand pointers on the dollhouse furnishings.” Max raised his brow and looked down at me.
“They’re just what I needed this morning.” The Seven Corners section of Minneapolis was located near the West Bank of the Mississippi River where several streets met, making seven corners. In close proximity to the University of Minnesota, the area was notorious for its many bars. “The mayor is trying to clean up the neighborhood. It’s called revitalization,” I said sarcastically to Max. “How may I help you?” Then I remembered. “The Minnesota Nice squad?”
“They do look like they know what they’re doing.” Max’s eyes crinkled.
“They amuse me,” I said.
“Oh, yeah.” Max grinned and pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket. “The security guys need a down payment of five hundred. You or Grandpa?”
“Let me see.” I grabbed the paper and perused it. “Wow!” I folded it before shoving it into my pocket. “When will they be back?”
“They’ll start wiring tomorrow.”
“Okay.” Just then the bell jingled over the front door. Fortunately, it was Dorrie. “Lock it, will ya?”
“Sure.” Dorrie’s tree-shaped dangling earrings fit with the rest of her dress, which was green in color with gold wreaths printed on it. “These the cleaning ladies?” Dorrie nodded toward the women, mouthing “Them?”
“Yep.” I rolled my eyes as I bit back a giggle.
“That metallic stench kinda gets to ya, ya know,” Dorrie said. “I’m glad it’s almost cleaned.” She brushed her hands together. Looking at me, she asked, “Workroom?”
“If you would, please?” I logged out of the account and let the computer sleep. She was already setting a box on the workbench when I entered.
“Should I take the dolls up to my apartment for now?” Max leaned against the counter, his arms crossed. “It’s probably the safest, so they won’t accidentally get broken by Suzy or Ruth.” He cocked his head. I had to steer my gaze off of the women.
“Good idea. Do you want Dorrie to help carry them?”
“I’d be more than happy,” Dorrie piped up. She held out her arms as he loaded them with small boxes.
I got started sorting as they walked out together. I piled up miniature emerald green velveteen curtains. The red velveteens were separated out to be used in Dolley’s drawing room in the White House, the place where she exercised non-partisanship and won the hearts of many politicians. It was now called the Red Room.
I paid no attention to the time as it slipped slowly by, nor did I notice the comings and goings of Max, Dorrie, or the cleaning ladies. I turned when I heard my name.
“Want to come and see?” Suzy asked. I noticed her tired eyes as she leaned against the doorframe. “What a nightmare this mess is.”
“Sure. I’m coming.” I wiped my hands on a towel before following her. “Where’s Ruth?”
“She’s taking a break.”
“Oh, I see.” I figured she was eating.
“Not too bad, eh?” She stood next to the computer counter and watched me as I walked the perimeter and checked out the floor. The table legs still had blood smears near the bottom. “Can’t you get the stain out?” I touched the small marks with my shoe.
“No. Pretty tough.” She walked to one certain area and tapped the floor. It was the spot where the pool of blood had been the thickest. “Soaked in, here. The floor needs stripping and polishing in order to get it out properly, ma’am.”
I knelt down and peered closely at the hardwood planks. She was right. The brown spot was large, and it would show with direct light. It needed professional care.
“You’re right. You two did a wonderful job, better than hoped for.” I stood up and looked at her. “Thank you.” I started for the cash drawer by the computer and went to open it.
“You’ll get billed. We’re paid through the cleaning service, so we’re good.”
“Here’s a tip,” I said, handing over a fifty dollar bill. “Split it, will you? Thanks again.” I followed her to the door. I could see through their van window that Ruth’s head was rolled back with her jaw hanging down. Bet she’s snoring! “Take care.”
“Will do,” Suzy called.
Relieved, I closed the door. I went back into the room and sat down. A headache was starting, but I reached for the phone instead of looking for a pain reliever. I called Grandma.
“Grandma, the cleaning ladies just left.” I walked out to the showroom and rolled up the shades. I told her about Ruth and Suzy and how professional they were as well as the flask full of refreshments and how I laughed myself silly. “We need someone now to take care of the floor.” As we disconnected, I glanced at the clock. It was already two o’clock and I hadn’t eaten. No wonder I had a headache. I sent Ronnie a text message and told him to meet me here in a half-hour and bring us each a sandwich and that I’d pay him for it. I looked out the window and saw an unmarked squad car parking. I put the phone into my pocket. “Shoot.”
I watched the two detectives exit from the car and walk up to the store.
Dorrie entered from the backroom and walked over to stand beside me. I was happy to see her as I opened the door for the detectives.
“Dorrie Fillmore, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Why don’t you and Ms. Fillmore go into the backroom where it’s more private?” Detective Erlandsen said to Mergens.
“Oh. Whatever.” Dorrie gave me a puzzled look as they walked away.
“I’d like to run through the questioning once more. Maybe something will trigger something useful.” Detective Erlandsen cleared his throat and repeated his question about where the body was found.
“Yes, it was right here.” We were standing beside the spot.
“You had a break-in two days earlier. Do you think the two crimes are related?” He arched his brow.
“I don’t know,” I said. “They might be since what I’m missing leads back to the Madison dolls and dollhouses. Besides the cufflinks and family secret rumor. What’s true and what isn’t?” I rubbed my chin.
“We’re checking every avenue, ma’am.”
“I know.”
“She was killed by a blunt instrument.”
“It had to be the hammer I’d left on the counter the night before,” I said.
“We’re waiting for the lab results.” Erlandsen looked deeply into my eyes and I gulped. “Tell me about the missing two dolls?”
“Jackie Newell took Mr. and Mrs. Madison for some unknown reason when she had visited the shop earlier. The dolls are handmade. Everything in my store is. Max carves the heads, I paint them and sew the women’s clothing but purchase the men’s. They are my creation and should be treated like that. As a matter of fact, I should look into copyrights.”
“Valuable dolls.”
“They’re collector’s items.”
“Oh, I see.” He jotted down a few notes on his pad.
The workroom door opened, and Detective Mergens and Dorrie walked toward us. Dorrie’s once happy face looked a little anxious.
“I believe we’re done, for now.” At the front door, the two detectives stopped and turned around. “We’ll be in touch.”
Chapter nine
When the front door closed behind the detectives, I walked over to the computer counter and sat just as Ronnie entered carrying a to-go bag.
“Let’s sit in the back,” I said. “Dorrie, take over.”
“Will do.”
“Follow me,” I said. I left Dorrie in the showroom, and Ronnie and I sat in the workroom to eat and talk.
As we entered the room, I noticed Max had tidied up his spot. The small towel he’d placed under the head carving stand was shook out and his tools were tied up in the suede pouch. He must’ve realized that the time for work had come to an end once the security team arrived. Carving wasn’t easy, with little or few interruptions allowed.
“Let’s pull his chair to the side, away from the heads,” I said, indicating Max’s chair. “Have a seat.”
“Thanks, Liv. I hope to not be too intrusive,” Ronnie said. “You see, I’d like to begin writing my own column as an investigative reporter for the Tribune. I do have an English degree with a minor in journalism.”
“I’m glad to hear of it,” I said. “We need to keep on target, Ronnie. I have policemen coming around asking more questions. Grandma and Grandpa asking questions. People going by gawking plus the phone ringing a lot. I checked my email, and that was loaded. Not everyone was nice.” I began to eat my egg salad sandwich. “This is good. Where did you get it?”
“The Loon Cafe.” He removed a recorder from his pocket. “Do you mind if I record so that I can eat?”
“Sure. Go ahead. It’s funny how the neighborhood changes, isn’t it? Once a pharmacy, now a diner.” I took a sip of water and watched as he made the machine ready for recording. “Jackie had said she’d be in at ten. I wanted to make sure everything was perfect. I was here before nine.”
“Testing. One, two, three.” He played it back. “It worked.” He pressed the record button. “Let’s get started. Why had she chosen your store? A big lady from New York wanting to purchase houses from a small store in Minneapolis?”
“We’re both Dolley Madison descendants. My store is the only one like it in the country. I don’t know of another White House Dollhouse store. I believe that the theater sets all use similar White House models and for all doll stores, the clothes would be designed equally because the clothing would naturally be the designed copy of the inaugural address or ball. I sew the ball gowns and purchase the men’s lines because they’re too hard to sew. Too much detail. Also, she asked peculiar questions.”
“What were the questions?”
“She asked about a family secret. I haven’t a clue what that was about.”
“What were the other odd questions?”
“For now, Ronnie, I’m not saying. When the investigation is through, then I’ll let you in on it.”
“Okay. I’ll remember that.” He continued eating his sandwich. “What was it like entering the store that fateful morning?”
“For some strange reason, I felt chilled the farther I walked into the store. It was like a warning. I saw blood on the house and floor. I went to her and knew instantly it was Jackie because of her hair. I checked for vital signs, but the lifelessness of her body told me she was already dead. The massive amount of blood loss, also.”
“What did you do right afterward?”
“I threw up.” I took a deep breath. “Are we through? I really must get back to work. The door has been opening and closing and the phone rang a couple of times.”
“Were there signs of anyone else with her?” He finished his sandwich and drank his water.
“Not for the murder.”
“I overheard something about cufflinks. What’s that about?”
“I don’t have a clue. I’m not saying anything else.”
“What about the sampler on your grandma’s wall there in the dining room?”
“I’m not sure how they’re connected, if at all.”
“Not saying or don’t know?”
“Don’t know.”
“Does the murder have to do with the previously missing outfit?”
“Again, no clue.”
“Okay. We’re done for now,” Ronnie said. He shut off his recorder. “My daughter is still taking lessons and is a beautiful pianist. Mom said your grandma asked about her for your wedding. I’m sure she’d be honored.”
“Jessica is such a sweet girl. She’s how old?”
“Just eleven.”
“What is her home phone number?” After he’d given it to me, we said our goodbyes and he left.
Afterward, I sat back into the chair. My mind was swimming with what-ifs.
Grandma had always said we were descendants. What if I hadn’t researched our lineage and proved that we were related to Dolley Madison? Then Jackie wouldn’t have been murdered.
But, where did all the second-guessing lead me?
What did this all mean? I glanced at the clock, and it was already late-afternoon. The phone was ringing off the hook, so I went to join Dorrie.
“The phone is driving me nuts!”
“You look troubled?”
The phone rang again.
“Let it ring. If it’s someone important, they’ll call me on my cellphone.”
“Can I just leave? I’m exhausted. I feel like a traitor and a horrible person along with the fact I should just go home and slit my wrists.” She stared at me. “But, I do feel horrible for answering questions about you.” She was beet red, and I felt sorry for her. “He bugged me. All those questions.” She stared ahead for a moment and blew out a long a breath. “It’s given me the creeps. Also, I keep thinking about the missing dolls.” She looked hard at me. “You were so excited and nervous about Jackie coming here. Why did she want them?”
“Your guess is as good as mine.” I went to sit in my chair by the computer and checkout counter.
“What was Jackie after?”
“I wish I knew,” I said, wondering why she was so curious. “We’re going through our list of things tonight.” I frowned. “I really don’t have anything else to say.”
“What’s eating you?” Dorrie asked.
“I’m not sure.” I sank deeper in my chair. “I have this niggling feeling that this murder runs deeper than anyone could imagine. You know both Jackie and I are descendants, don’t you?” I looked at Dorrie, whose mouth was shaped like an O, but she had an odd look in her eye. “And that’s not all. There was a break-in at Montpelier a few weeks ago. A few of Dolley’s gems were stolen.”
“It might all be a coincidence, you know.” Dorrie raised a brow. “What else is on your mind?”
“Dolley had to adhere to the expectations of the day, such as embroidery and other handiwork.” My thoughts went to Grandma’s First Lady dolls and the embroidered sampler adorning her wall. “I’m willing to bet the Dolley Madison connection is somehow central to the investigation. Dolley kept many secrets and rumors to herself. Very bipartisan. She was an amazing woman and First Lady.”
“Yes, she was.” Dorrie’s eyes flashed. “Oh wow! She did embroider your grandmother’s sampler, right? Maybe the secret’s right in the words on the sampler, and you don’t even know it.” She studied me. “Ever thought about that?”
“I haven’t a clue about what Jackie referred to when she asked me about the family secret, but I’m going to give it some thought as well as the cufflinks.”
“You’ll have to inspect the two dolls carefully. The killer might find the missing clue to the family secret before you.” Dorrie stared into the distance. “What a week.”
“You’re right, but how would they know?” I still wondered about the dolls. “How will I get them?”
“Max? Maybe he could help?”
“No. The police will probably return them.” I groaned.
Max found us in the showroom. “What’s up? It’s dead in here.” He stopped and said, “Oops! Completely tasteless.”
“Yes, you are.” Dorrie hiked to the workroom. “I’ll send a text when I can work. The new class schedule is being posted today.”
“Of course.” Dorrie had some kind of “bee in her bonnet” as Grandma would say. She seemed completely out of sorts.
“How did it go with Minnesota Nice?”
“They will install a keypad, and we’ll have our own inhouse camera.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
“The floor and tables look nice and clean,” Dorrie said. “Really, I must go.” She hesitated. “The mail is just coming. I see him.”
“Have a good evening.” I watched her leave. “There’s something about her that bugs me. I know she’s hiding something important but won’t tell me. She likes to spring information on people.”
“Shock is the word,” Max said. “Let’s close up and go home.”
“I’m with you on that note.”
The mailman entered and placed the new Smithsonian magazine on the counter.
“Let’s head out. I’m thirsty and hungry—completely sick of everything.” I slipped into my winter jacket.
“I’ll lock up.” Max locked up as we walked out.
Fresh, crisp air brightened my spirits.
Both our cell phones buzzed simultaneously. Our eyes met as we dug our phones out to read the text messages. Mine read: 6 at your house.
“See you later.” Max glanced at me. “I’ve got an errand to run.”
“Thanks for everything today, Max,” I said. As he walked away, I realized that another day had nearly passed, and they weren’t any closer to discovering the murderer’s identity.
I walked to where my Focus was parked.
Since it was the start of rush hour and I had to drive through downtown traffic, I slipped in a disc, hoping the easy listening tunes would calm my jagged nerves as I drove home. My life had been upside down since the two-day-old murder.
No sooner had I walked into the house than Aaron came up beside me and whispered in my ear, “Tonight?”
“There’s always hope.” I snagged a bottle of wine from the refrigerator while he removed glasses from the cabinet. “Your friends interrogated the three of us today.” I marched out of the kitchen and toward the office.
Seated on one chair was Grandpa. Grandma made room on the settee for me as Aaron set the glasses down next to the wine bottle, which I’d placed on the small table. Grandpa made the move to open it. After pouring, he passed around the glasses.
“Here’s to Liv.” Grandpa raised his glass, and they all followed, “To Liv.”
Tears sprang into my eyes while I thought of how much these people loved me.
“Shall we get started?” Aaron took control of the meeting from behind the desk. “Alarm system?”
“The bill is right here. They need a down payment before starting.” I removed the paper from my pocket and placed it in Grandpa’s opened hand. “I can’t afford this. How about if I pay you later?”
