Treacherous Trinkets, page 7
"Mr. Mayor," Liam said. "Deputy Liam Jennings." Mayor Green looked up and smiled that publicity smile.
"I know you," he said. "Best on the force." He looked at Becky and extended a hand. "And you are?"
"Becky Olson, Mr. Mayor." Becky said.
"It's Charles, please," he said. "I never really got used to the title thing." He looked around. "How did you get in here? Is this about Maggie?"
"Slightly. It's along the same vein," Liam continued. Becky exhaled. She wasn't good at standing around and letting other people talk.
"It's a real shame about Maggie and James," Charles said.
"But you said you needed a new assistant in the interim," Becky said. "So do you believe that Maggie is really innocent?"
"Maybe," Charles said. "Or maybe I'm just in denial, Becky." Becky stared at him, raising an eyebrow.
"Did Mr. Smith and Maggie have any type of relationship?" Becky asked.
"Becky," Liam said quietly. It was a warning.
"No, she's fine. I honestly do not know," the mayor said. "James liked to keep his personal business... personal. They always got along cordially." He talked like he was in an old movie, quiet and sweeping and cleanly. She found that she was surprised by this fact. Becky looked around his office. It was clean with no personal touches. The walls and ceiling were white. She found this weird too. Two years into term and he hadn't yet decorated his office.
"So why would anyone think Maggie killed him?" Liam asked.
"That I couldn't tell you. It seems the sheriff's department is incapable of doing their job. No offense, Deputy."
"None taken," Liam said. Becky watched Liam. He was acting strangely, tight and coiled. She stepped closer to him and faced the mayor again.
"Well, there had to be something," Becky said. She was trying to help. She wondered what Liam was seeing in the mayor. Charles was relaxed, still smiling, as if they were all old friends discussing cherished memories. It felt as if the mayor was like this with every person in Rose Hollow, but Charles had lived his life in the town.
Both Becky and Liam were new.
"I'm not sure, honestly, Becky," Charles said. It felt as if he was lying. He shifted his weight from his left to his right and back again, avoiding her gaze.
"What about you?" Becky asked.
"James and I were friends. I wouldn't murder my friend, Becky." the mayor said. It was the same thing Taylor Smith had said, but she wasn't so sure why she didn't believe it now.
Nothing about Charles Green seemed truthful or believable.
"Of course," Becky said. She straightened up, trying to seem taller and more intimidating.
"I'm sorry, is this about Maggie? I'm confused," Charles asked.
"Only a little. This is more about you," Becky said. There was no way that Charles could have physically murdered James. He was standing right next to him when the shots were fired. However, the mayor could have hired someone else.
"Am I a suspect?" It was a joke to him. He seemed amused as he asked the question.
"Maybe," Becky said. "I just want to know what you know."
"And if I knew nothing?" Charles asked.
"Then I would have a problem," Becky said. "I would have a large problem." She was threatening the mayor. The words came from her mouth. She was threatening the mayor.
"Then I'm afraid I know nothing, Becky," Charles said. He used her name a lot. It weirded her out. It was like he was trying to make a connection with her that wasn't really there. Liam cleared his throat.
"Mr. Mayor," he said. He was much too polite to use anything but his formal title. The mayor turned to him and looked him over. Becky took a step away, sensing something, a feeling she couldn't place.
"You're the one who arrested Maggie," the mayor said. "Now, is she guilty or isn't she?" Liam paused and cleared his throat again. He was obviously uncomfortable. She wasn't sure what to do. This was not going the way they planned.
"I'm going to tell you again what I told you when it happened. I did not kill the deputy mayor," the mayor said. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave now. I have meetings I'm going to have to go to."
"Of course," Liam said.
"Thank you," Becky added. She was trying not to frown or show her displeasure in any way. She and Liam left the office and exited the building, dashing from the lobby to the car in record time.
They didn't speak until they made it back to Becky's store. She unlocked the door and put coffee on. Liam lingered around looking at her merchandise.
"Do you believe him?" Becky asked.
The answer didn't come for several minutes. "I suppose we have to," Liam called. "He was right there when the murder happened. He couldn't have done it."
"He could have hired someone."
"I'll go over the ballistics," Liam said "But I'm not sure it'll tell us anything."
"It'll tell us what gun was used," Becky said. "Good place to start." She brought him a cup of coffee and handed it to him. Liam looked quiet and serious.
"I think we're looking at this wrong," he said. Becky wrinkled her nose. They had barely begun, and he already thought they were wrong.
"Can I talk to Maggie Dawson?" Becky asked.
"I was waiting for you to ask," Liam said. "You're going to get me fired, but this weekend… I suppose." Becky nodded.
"Why was Maggie Dawson even arrested?" Becky asked.
"She and James had a fight the day before he died. And apparently, that automatically translates to murder." He exhaled and rolled his eyes. She knew that even the deputies who worked in the department knew how bad their boss was. No one said it. Mickey talked about it openly, but she was Mickey and normal rules didn't seem to apply to her. It was something the town only seemed to talk about in hushed whispers behind the sheriff's back.
She wondered if the sheriff would eventually lose his job. It wasn't just because she hated him and the feeling was mutual.
Sheriff Tom Cramer really was awful at his job.
"I should get back," Liam said. Becky took his coffee back and placed the mug on an end table. There would be a ring and she'd have to clean it, but she didn't care.
"I'll see you later," Becky said.
"Of course," Liam said. "If you go talk to the mayor again, call me before you do." Becky fought back a smile. He did know her too well.
8
She hated taking her car to the shop. It was because she knew that her car was old and she should just buy a new one.
But she was going to hang on to Jimmy for as long as she could.
"Your car is in terrible shape." Declan was underneath her car doing whatever it was car mechanics did. Becky was barely sure what they did.
"It's not that bad," Becky said. She was flipping through a magazine.
"Do you hate your car?" Declan asked. "It seems as if you hate your car." She could hear him using tools and whatnot, but she wasn't sure what he was really trying to discern.
"You're mean," Becky said.
"You are. To this car," Declan said. He pulled himself out from under her car. "Are you sure you want me to fix this? There are parts I could use."
"Don't strip my car," Becky said. "Please." She was oddly attached to the old junker. it was old when she got it. It was pushing on too many years old. Declan sat up and sighed.
"As you say. But you really should consider getting a new one," Declan said. She couldn't afford a new car, but she nodded. She put down the magazine she was flipping through.
"Thank you. Thank you," Becky said. "I am eternally in your debt." Declan got up and wiped the oil off his hands with a rag.
"Do you have some way to get around town otherwise?" Declan asked.
"I usually just walk." Becky said. She was in what was Rose Hollow's bad side of town. She got shivers, recollecting her last time in this car shop. Luckily, there was no sign of Cameron Branson.
The last she had heard of that man was that he had left town. She hadn't known where he went, but she hoped he was getting the help he needed.
She looked around the shop. Even though the doors were closed, it was so cold she could see her breath in cloudy puffs as she talked.
"This should only take a couple of days," Declan said. "I'll get back to you."
"Great. Please remind me to buy you some pie. You deserve it." Declan stared at her, raising brilliantly red eyebrows.
"Are you asking me out, Becky Olson?" he asked. Becky felt a blush rise to her cheeks and she pulled her eyes away.
"No, no," she said. "I just owe you for taking care of Jimmy."
"You named your car?" Declan asked. "You Americans are all weird."
"No, I think that one is just me," Becky said. "Everyone says that's weird."
"So, then it is just you," Declan said. "I'll have your car as right as rain. I promise." She wanted to hug him but resisted.
"And will you promise to never mention me getting a new car again?" Becky asked.
"I cross my heart," Declan said seriously. Becky extended a pinky and he stared at it.
"It's a pinky promise?" Becky said, "You kinda wrap your own around mine."
"I know what it is, Becky," Declan said. "I was just wondering if you were serious?"
"Serious as a heart attack," Becky said. He smiled but indulged her. "Thank you," Becky said.
"So, this is where you are." The voice made her heart race and the two of them jump apart. The sheriff, Tom Cramer, was looking around the car repair shop with a look of disdain. He gave Declan a long look and then turned to Becky.
"I need to talk to you, Miss Olson. I'm glad to see you're not running around with my deputy." The sheriff said. Becky's cheeks burned. He always had a way of looking at her as if she had just offended her entire family. What she did with Liam was none of his business and she crossed her arms.
"Okay, so talk," Becky said. She was wondering if he had come to threaten her. It wouldn't be the first time and it wouldn't be the last.
"In private." The sheriff said firmly.
"Whatever you came to say to me, you can say it in front of Declan." She would prefer to have witnesses anyway. He used to scare her. Becky had decided that she would no longer let him scare her. She wouldn't give him that sort of power over her. "I know why you're here, anyway."
The sheriff smiled. Becky was sure it was the first time she had seen him smile, and it was cold, quiet and cruel.
"Do you know why I'm here, Becky Olson?" he asked.
"To tell me to stop my investigation." Becky said.
"No. I came to deliver this news in person. I wanted to see the look on your face," he said. The sheriff paused, letting the moment hang between them. He was in a good mood, and Becky was sure that she had never seen the man in a good mood. She would have to tell Mickey. She wasn't sure what to make of it.
The sheriff spoke after a couple of minutes of tortured silence. "Maggie Dawson confessed. She did so this morning. As far as you and I are concerned, this case is closed."
"What?" Becky asked. She could feel Declan watching them, unsure of whether to intervene. She didn't need Declan to help her. It was the unfortunate that this was happening right in front of him.
"It's true," the sheriff said. There was no way he wasn't getting some type of enjoyment out of this. Becky frowned. "You can ask my deputy if you don't believe me." She didn't believe him. There was nothing the sheriff had ever done that made her want to believe her.
Becky realized that there was no part of her that trusted the man.
Becky exhaled. "That's unreal,” she said. She was shocked. She hadn't talked to Liam all day. She had been busy handling the store and then the car. She wouldn't even be meeting him at the diner. She had plans with Catherine and Mickey.
"It's true," the sheriff said. "So, you can drop this matter officially." Becky nodded. She had no plans to do what she was told.
"Fine," Becky said. He looked around the shop one more time. It was as if he hated the very existence of the shop, like it was there just to bug him. He wasn't a very happy man, Tom Cramer.
"And if I catch you anywhere near this again, I will arrest you," the sheriff said.
"For what?" Becky asked.
"That is yet to be decided," the sheriff said.
"The threat of arrest isn't as scary when you don't have a reason yet," Becky countered. "You're all bark and no bite." She looked him right in the eyes, trying not to back down.
"Do you want to test me on that?" the sheriff asked. "Trust me, Becky Olson, I have way more power in this town than you do."
"Yeah, maybe," Becky said. "But the thing that's different between me and you is that people actually like me." She raised her eyebrows. The sheriff took a step back.
"I mean it, Becky," he said. Then he left, shutting the door behind him. Becky felt the world stop for one second and then it moved into fast motion, spinning around her. She dug in her pocket for her phone.
"Who was that?" Declan asked.
"The sheriff. He's awful, actually," Becky said. "He's also awful at his job. I have to call Liam.”
"Do you?" Declan asked. "The case is closed. Can’t you just focus on the store now? It seems silly to risk yourself for something that's ended." Becky stopped typing on her phone to look at him. He was right. He had a point, and Becky sort of hated that.
"No," Becky said. "It doesn't feel right. He'd say anything to get me to stop. The thing is that he hates me. I do his job better than he does."
"So, you're not going to stop?" Declan asked.
"No. The thing you need to learn about me is that I'm not very good at doing what I'm told. I've gotta go. I gotta go find Liam." It was clear that Liam didn't like Declan, and the feeling was mutual. Becky felt weird bringing him up, but she had to. "Please just fix my car. Please." She had to focus on other things.
"Jimmy is in safe hands, Becky. Take a deep breath. Everything will be fine." Becky pulled a hat down over her hair then nodded and took a deep breath.
"Everything will be fine," she repeated. As she exited the shop and stepped outside into the dreary grey afternoon, she hoped to God that that was true.
* * *
She hated the sheriff’s station. It was weird seeing Liam in the place he worked rather than the place she worked. He was handsome in uniform, sitting at his desk, talking on the phone.
When he hung up, he leaned back in his chair. She was holding one of Rachel’s pies, and they both knew what that was.
“You are shameless, Becky Olson,” Liam said.
“Ten minutes, please.” She knew she wouldn't get caught by the sheriff. She had spent fifteen minutes watching the building until she saw the sheriff step out. She pouted and waited.
Liam sighed and stood. When he did, Becky placed the plate on his desk.
“You are too used to getting what you want,” Liam said. He didn't sound angry though. Becky rolled her eyes. She was an only child. She couldn't help it.
“Becky, we’re all moving on. I was just working on a robbery case,” Liam said. “She confessed.”
“You said I could talk to her,” Becky said. “There is no way you're going back on that.”
“She’s getting ready for transport,” Liam said. “You’ll have to be fast.” He was tired. He sounded tired. Becky nodded seriously.
“Liam, hey,” she said. He stopped and turned to her. “Thank you for this. Are you okay?”
“I haven't been sleeping well. But I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?” Becky placed one hand on his forearm. He softened at her touch. He exhaled quietly, putting a hand on his shoulder. They were hidden from view, having walked down a hallway from the bullpen. His eyes didn't leave her face for a very long moment. Then he nodded.
“I’m sure. And you’re the best, Becky Olson.” There was another pause between them. She could feel her heart race, knowing this would be an inappropriate place for him to kiss her.
But she realized she wanted him to.
Then he pulled away just slightly, as if he remembered they both had a task at hand.
“And if you do lose your job,” Becky said, “you can come work for me.” It was a running joke between them. Even though Liam loved his job, he was frequently putting it on the line.
“Maybe you should really think about hiring someone,” Liam said. “That way, you don't have to close the store.” She was closing down too much, and she could afford an assistant, technically.
“I know,” Becky said. “If you hear of anyone in town who needs a job, I suppose it’s available.” It was weird thinking that the store was hers. She had the key, she lived there, but she still thought of it as belonging to her eccentric aunt and as the place she’d spent her summers.
Liam opened a door and Becky sat down in the interrogation room at the cold metal table. Her back was to the two-way glass mirror.
“I will bring her through,” Liam said. “Wait here.” Becky drummed her fingers on the table. It was cold in the interrogation room. The door opened, and the woman she assumed was Maggie Dawson sat across from her. Her red hair was pulled into a ponytail. She looked worn and tired.
“Who are you?” Maggie asked. “I don't need a lawyer.”
“No,” Becky said. “I’m Becky Olson.”
“Oh,” Maggie said. She tapped her fingers on the table. Her nails were ragged and unpainted, and some were bitten off. She didn't look directly at Becky. She only looked around.
“How did you do it?” Becky asked.
“I hired someone to take him out.” Maggie said. Becky knew she was lying. It was the first time that she was so certain someone was lying.
“Why?” Becky asked.
“I hated James so much,” Maggie said. Becky swallowed hard.
“Ms. Dawson,” Becky said. “I know you didn't do it.” Maggie’s rather large, rather green eyes rolled around the room. There was a part of her that wasn't there.
She wondered what she had been like at her job.
“But I could have,” Maggie said, “I hated him.” She stopped looking around the room and focused directly on Becky. Her gaze was unnerving, and it made Becky uncomfortable.
