She’ll Stitch You Up Read online

  “Fine,” said Ethel. “But if I get sick, you’re going to be sorry.” They left the kitchen and went down the hall, Velma glancing into the dining room as they passed by, seeing that Bats was still lying over the table, the sheet covering his body, and the knife that tented it still in his back.

  Ethel looked away and mumbled a prayer under her breath, making the sign of the cross.

  “You’re not Catholic, Ethel,” Velma reminded her.

  “Better safe than sorry,” she said. “You can’t be too careful with dead bodies, Velma. You never know when one of their ghosts is watching or when one of them might turn into a zombie and come for our brains.”

  “You’re safe, Ethel. A zombie would starve to death if you were it’s only victim.”

  “Thank you,” said Ethel, not seeing it as an insult.

  Velma and Calvin exchanged a look but continued down to the game room. Just before they walked into the room, someone screamed. They ran around the corner and found Ray and Alice fighting over a knife with blood on the blade.

  It fell to the floor, and Alice turned to them with pleading eyes. “Help me! He tried to kill me too!” Her arm was bleeding a little, and it seemed as though Ray had cut her.

  “She’s a liar,” said Ray, who Velma was pretty sure had been holding the knife before it was dropped. “She did that to herself. She’s crazy. I knew the knife had to still be in the room, so after you all left, I searched for it. I found it in the window seat.” The window had thick, heavy drapes and a window seat next to Ray’s chair. “She killed Bats and Everett, and now she just tried to kill me when I confronted her about it.”

  “That’s a lie! I was here with my Everett when he came at me with the knife and a wild look in his eyes.”

  “I’ve seen that look,” said Ethel. “Only he usually doesn’t have a knife.”

  “You guys have got to believe me,” pleaded Ray as the others gathered at the door. “She’s the killer!”

  Mrs. Reynolds walked over and offered comfort to the girl. “She couldn’t harm a fly.”

  Mr. Reynolds came from the bar across the room with a clean rag and a bottle of water. “Here, let’s clean that up. It doesn’t look so bad.”

  Martha Reynolds took the rag from her husband. “It could have been worse if she hadn’t screamed.”

  Ray balled his fists. “I’ve been on the committee with you for years, Martha. You of all people should know I wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

  “You never come around unless there’s food involved, and when you do, you act like a pervert. No single woman is safe from your advances. Perhaps you were upset that Alice turned you down and you wanted Everett out of the way so you could have her all to yourself.”

  Ray held up a hand to refute the accusations. “I am not interested in that tree-hugging murderer. She’s a child. And even I have my standards.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” said Stanley. “I was at the door when you dropped the knife. You had it in your hands, and that’s what I’m telling the cops. Just what I saw.”

  “That’s what we came to tell you,” said Calvin. “The cops are on their way.”

  Alice looked up at Martha. “Could you please take me to my room? I want to lie down, and I don’t feel safe in my own house anymore.”

  The older woman nodded. “Certainly, dear.” She and her husband took her down the hall.

  Ray walked over and lowered himself into a chair by the window. “I didn’t do it.” He shook his head. “I’m a lover, not a fighter, and I liked Everett. He let me go fishing here whenever I wanted. Why would I mess that up?”

  “You’re not talking your way out of it,” said Harrison, who had come with the others when they’d heard Alice scream. “I’m going to make sure that you don’t go anywhere, but someone should go tell the cops what’s going on now that the rain has stopped.”

  Sirens sounded in the distance. “They’re here,” said Reeves. “I’m going out to meet them. Anyone want to come along?” He looked at Calvin and the mayor.

  Sheffield stepped forward. “I’ll go. I’d like to find out if we’re going to get out of here anytime soon.” He followed Reeves out.

  Velma walked over to the nearest sofa to get off her feet so she could finish her roast without being too close to the body.

  Ethel joined her. “Velma, how can you eat that?”

  “It’s easy. I open my mouth and cram it in.” She took another bite and carefully chewed as the sirens grew closer.

  Harrison walked over to the window, keeping a close eye on Ray in the process. He glanced out and then turned to the others. “They’re here,” he said. “They are working on the tree.”

  In the distance, a chainsaw sounded, and Calvin walked over to watch. “They will have it off in no time,” he said. “Let’s just hope we can drive out. I can tell that a good part of the first beam is down.”

  “They can help us across, even if we go on foot,” said Harrison, “It’s better than staying another minute here.” He turned and glanced over his shoulder at the others.

  Velma got up, and she saw Reeves and the mayor run out to the bridge. Someone else came across the bridge on foot. It looked like Chief Rayne’s outline to Velma. The men and the chief stopped a moment to talk, and then the chief gestured for her deputies, who after some maneuvering found their way across the bridge. “They’re coming.”

  Ethel made a sound of relief. “Oh, praise the Lord!” She lifted her hand up high.

  Ray got to his feet and began pacing. “You have to believe me. Alice is the murderer, not me. She’s a devil woman! Ethel, you believe me, don’t you?” He gave her a pleading look.

  Velma could tell that Ethel was scared and didn’t know what to say, so she stepped in. “Look, Ray. I don’t know who the killer is, but you’ll have a chance to make a statement. I suggest you do so after you contact a good attorney. The truth will come out. It always does.”

  Calvin nodded beside her. “She’s right. If you’re innocent, the chief will see that. They’ll have plenty of evidence to look at. The evidence never lies.”

  Velma looked over at him, thinking how attractive he was when he talked about evidence. But her fantasy was cut short when Chief Rayne and the Mayor burst into the room.

  “There’s your man,” said Sheffield.

  “I didn’t do it, Chief!” Ray was so scared, he was shaking like a lea. Velma thought that someone who could do something so calculated and cold wasn’t likely to show that kind of emotion.

  “We’ll straighten this all out downtown, Mr. Wetzel. For now, you’re under arrest for murder. Deputies, read him his rights.” Bucky stepped up and took Ray by the arm. The lost look in Ray’s eyes made Velma think of a wounded dog.

  Calvin stepped forward. “Chief, for what it’s worth, I think he’s telling the truth.”

  Velma looked over at Calvin, who stood straight as an oak with his head held high.

  “Don’t worry, Cal,” Chief Rayne said. “We’ll get to the bottom of it.” She turned and addressed the others. “It’s going to take the team a bit to get the tree fully removed, and even then, I’m afraid it will be far too dangerous for any of you to drive across the bridge.” There was a sound of collective gasps and dismay as the chief continued. “But if you all want to catch a ride, I’m sure we can get you all home tonight.”

  “That’s better than staying here,” said Mrs. Tate.

  “I should also warn you all not to leave town. Considering the severity of this case, I will have to get a statement from you all about your time and experiences here. I’d also appreciate you being discreet. I don’t want the media reporting on this right away. There is sensitive evidence to gather first before I’ll be releasing a formal statement to the press.” She looked around the room. “Are we clear?”

  “Yes, Chief,” said Velma. “I couldn’t agree more.”

  The chief looked over and saw Velma standing behind Calvin and Harrison. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”


  Velma frowned. “It’s good to see you too, Chief.”

  Chapter 16

  Everyone gathered out on drive where the rain had stopped. The damp night air was steamy, creating a low fog on the ground. The tree was nearly off the bridge, and Ray was cuffed and stuffed into a squad car on the other side.

  “Cell service is working,” said Martha Reynolds. She glanced at Mrs. Tate. “I will call our neighbor for a ride if you’d like.”

  “Our son is coming,” Mrs. Tate said. “But thank you.”

  Ethel leaned over to Velma. “Do you think we should call Landon or someone to come and get us?”

  “How, on his bicycle?” Velma snapped.

  “His mother might be home from work by now. I’m sure she won’t mind.”

  “I’d rather not jump from one brush with death to another, thank you. We’ll see if the chief will give us a ride.”

  Ethel gave her a sideward look. “You just want to talk about the case with her. I know you. But in case you missed it, she didn’t seem happy that you were here or eager for your help earlier.”

  “She was surprised to see me is all,” Velma said with a shrug.

  “She then told you to stay put and not to interfere with her investigation.”

  Velma wouldn’t hear it. “She’ll be glad to have my help. Unlike her, I was here. I know what went on, and furthermore, I can tell her what she needs to know about the others and their reactions to the murders. Some of these people are awfully suspicious.”

  “What about Ray?” asked Ethel. “Is he suspicious too? I can’t believe we have to go to crochet class this week and explain what happened. The others will be floored when they learn we’ve been spending all that time with a murderer.”

  “They’d be relieved, Ethel. It’s the one class they won’t feel like they need a bath and a shot a penicillin after attending. I know I won’t miss him.”

  “Velma, how could you say that? I know he’s a pain in the rump, but you can’t think he’s capable of killing Everett Gaines or poor Balthazar.”

  “Even so, you can’t go telling the ladies at class about this. You heard the chief. She said for us to keep our mouths shut, and while I know you have a tough time with it, I’ll be there to keep you in line.”

  “So you don’t think Ray is guilty either?” Ethel asked.

  “I’m almost at a hundred percent he’s innocent, but I have to admit that it doesn’t look good for him. Alice will get the sympathy vote, and while stabbing is a crime of either passion or convenience, I’m sure no one is going to believe she did that to not one, but two men.”

  About that time, Calvin walked over to join them from his mail truck. “Looks like I’m going to have to leave poor Sally here for the night. There’s no way I can chance trying to take her over the bridge.” Velma knew he was talking about his truck, but she had no idea he’d named it Sally.

  “At least tomorrow’s your day off,” said Velma. “And I’m sure Reeves will look out for it.”

  Calvin released a long breath. “Yep, she’ll be fine. So, what about you two ladies? I have my nephew coming to pick me up. Would you like a ride home?”

  Ethel was about to speak up and take the offer, but Velma gave her a hard look. “We’ve got a ride, thank you. With the chief.”

  Calvin gave her a look like he wasn’t convinced. “Are you sure, Velma? The chief could be here a while, and it’s really no trouble.”

  “No thank you,” she said with a hard expression. “I have to speak with her about some things, and the best way to do that is to have her take us home. You run along now and get yourself a good night’s sleep.” She gave him a nod, and he gave one in return.

  “I would say I had a nice evening with you, Velma, but under the circumstances?” He gave a shrug. “But maybe you and me could go grab ourselves some dinner elsewhere? Somewhere without a dead body or two.”

  Velma wasn’t sure accepting a date from Calvin was a good idea. “You’ve been through a great trauma. I’ll talk to you again when this shock you’re in wears off.”

  Despite being turned down, Calvin gave Velma a smile and shook his head. “I see we’re back to playing hard to get.” He nodded like it was what he should have expected all along. “That’s okay, Velma. I’m a patient man.” He gave a nod to Ethel and then walked away toward the bridge where his nephew would be arriving to pick him up.

  As the others left, Ethel grew impatient. “We should have taken the offers that had come our way. Now I have to stand here like a fool and hope that one of the officers takes pity on us.”

  “Chief Rayne will bring us home. Just you watch. Here she comes now.”

  “Ladies,” she said as she approached. Then she turned to Velma. “I see you’ve found something to get into. You have the strangest luck of anyone I know. I think you’re a magnet for dead men.”

  “That would explain my past love life,” she said with a smile. “You know he’s not guilty, don’t you?” She gestured to the deputy’s car across the bridge where Ray sat locked up.

  “I don’t know that for sure, but I’m excited to get to hear your theories.” Velma opened her mouth to tell her, but she held up a finger. “Tomorrow. In my office.”

  Velma frowned. “Then why take poor Ray in?”

  “Because the killer, be it Ray or not, needs to see us making a strong attempt. It will weaken their guard, perhaps, or make them slip up somehow.”

  “Clever,” said Velma.

  Ethel tugged her sleeve. “I’m ready to go home now, Velma. My feet can’t take much more. I’ve been standing most of the night.”

  “Have you ladies called for a ride home?”

  “I was hoping you could give us a ride,” said Velma.

  “I can arrange that,” she said. “Let’s get you ladies on the other side of that bridge. If you need to take anything from your car, I suggest you get it.”

  “We’re good,” said Velma, taking her sister by the arm. “Just ready to be home. It’s been quite a night.”

  “If you don’t mind me asking, just how did you two end up here anyway?”

  Velma tried not to take offense to the question. It wasn’t rocket science to figure out they didn’t belong on the scene. “I was tricked into buying park benches, and I’m pretty sure that put my name on a list. Either that or the Mayor has a sick sense of humor in the apology department.”

  “Apology?” The chief gave her a confused look. “For the restraining order against you?”

  “No, for tricking me into paying for the park bench. It’s a long story.”

  “Well, I’m sure we’ll get a chance to talk about it someday, but for now, let’s get you and your sister home.” She gestured for them to follow and walked ahead to the bridge.

  “She must think we’re marathon runners,” said Ethel as the chief ran off and left them. “I’m going to have to soak my feet.”

  “Stop your bellyaching, Ethel. You’re the one who had a fit over my sensible shoes, so it serves you right for choosing fashion over function.”

  “Do you think that Harrison will call me?” Ethel stared up at the sky like she was wishing on a star.

  “Why would he?”

  “I slipped my number in his pocket,” she said.

  “You had your hand in his pocket?” Velma was shocked. Ethel turned beet red and gave her a pinch. “Ouch!”

  “I did no such thing! I put it in his coat pocket. He left it in the front parlor hanging on a deer antler, and I thought if he found it later, he might remember the good time we had and want to see me again.”

  “The good time you had? Ethel, the man was upset because two of his friends were stabbed and you saw it as a romantic connection.”

  “You and Calvin sure seemed to hit it off despite the presence of corpses. He even gave you a sandwich.” She got a dreamy look in her eyes. “It was so romantic.”

  “It was roast beef on a roll, Ethel, not an engagement ring.” Leave it to Ethel to swoon over a sandwich. They
finally got to the bridge, where the chief had waited.

  “Come on, ladies. Hold on to the rails and stay close to me. We’re going to have to step lightly around the last part of that tree limb.”

  She waited to go behind them, and Velma hadn’t realized just how bad the bridge was until she was walking across it. “If this thing falls, I’m suing Everett’s estate,” said Velma.

  “You’ll be just fine, Velma,” said Chief Rayne. She put her hand on Velma’s shoulder and walked along behind her until they were past the damaged portion and to the other side of the bridge.

  Ethel threw her hands up once she was on solid ground. “Oh, praise the Lord, it’s good to be on this side of that bridge, even if I have to leave my car behind.”

  “You can get it tomorrow when the bridge is braced. But I warn you, Velma, just get the car and go. Do not disturb any of the police tape.”

  “She will behave, Chief Rayne,” said Ethel.

  “I’m not a child,” said Velma. “I take great insult to being treated like one.” She folded her arms in front of her. “I’d like that ride home now.” She hoped to get the chief’s ear on the ride.

  “Sure,” said Chief Rayne. She turned and waved at Deputy Buck Harris. “Buck, could you come here?”

  Ethel and Velma had known him as Bucky since he was just knee-high to a grasshopper. He came over with a big sappy grin. “How can I help, Chief?”

  “Could you give these ladies a ride home since you’re headed into town?”

  “I thought you’d take us,” said Velma, looking at the chief.

  “I’ve got too much to do, Ms. Harmon, but Buck, here, will make sure you and your sister get home safe and sound.”

  “Sure will, Ms. Velma,” he said. “You’re right on my way.” He had known where they lived all of his life, and when he was a young boy and her brother was still alive, he used to mow the lawn and deliver their paper.

  “Lucky us,” she said, knowing better than to make a scene.

  “Thank you, Bucky dear,” Ethel said. “How’s your mother?”