Permanently Deleted

Chapter One

Chapter One

I was at the circulation desk in the library checking in the large cart of books next to me. I wanted to get everything done and shelved before I went home in a few minutes. The last patron was packing up to leave when Juliet burst through the front doors.

“ Phee, you’ve got to come,” Juliet panted.

“ I’m busy, Juliet,” I said, stifling my exasperation at the interruption. “I need to get this done.” I scanned another book.

Juliet slammed her hand down in front of me. Startled at her sudden burst of anger, I looked up and saw Juliet’s eyes. “What in the world is the matter, Juls.”

“ It’s Nellie Jo. They found Mike dead at the pickle factory,” Juliet sobbed, “and Clint’s arrested her. Phee, he said she killed him. Nellie killed her husband!”

I sat back and tried to process Juliet’s news. Nellie arrested for murder? It had to be a mistake. Since Juliet had helped me solve Elody Campbell’s murder, she saw crime everywhere she looked. Poor Mr. Crum had to walk his dog in the predawn hours to avoid Juliet’s watchful gaze. She swore he didn’t use a pooper scooper when he walked his Schnauzer.

“ You must have heard bad information. There’s no way Nellie killed Mike. Take a breath. Start at the beginning and tell me what’s going on.”

“ Nobody has time for that!” Juliet shouted. “Nellie’s in jail. Mike is dead. Grab your purse and let’s go.”

I held my hands up in defeat. “Give me five minutes to shut everything down and lock up. We’ll head over to the sheriff’s office and talk to Clint and Lu. I’m sure it’s a misunderstanding.” I shut off the computer and grabbed my sweater and purse. Juliet paced in front of the exit as I flipped off all the lights and locked the doors.

“ Nellie won’t do well in prison. She’s too sweet and trusting,” Juliet blurted. “I’ve got two hundred dollars in savings to help with bail money. Do you think Mom and Dad will chip in?” Juliet jogged down the sidewalk towards the sheriff’s.

“ Wait until we find out what’s going on before you break open your piggy bank,” I said, huffing as my short legs struggled to catch up with Juliet’s long stride.

Juliet ignored me and burst through the glass doors of the sheriff’s office causing the glass to shudder in the frame. Tina looked up from where she sat flipping through a gossip magazine. “Where’s Nellie? Why did you arrest her?” Juliet’s eyes darted around the small front office until they lighted on Lu who had come out of her office in the back. “Lu? What the heck is going on?”

“ Settle down,” Lu said, holding up her hands defensively.

“ Settle down? Settle down? Clint slapped cuffs on Nellie like she was a common criminal and you want me to settle down?” Juliet gave an exasperated snort of laughter.

The door to the sheriff’s slammed open behind us. Valerie, Corinne Thomas and Charlie marched in. Charlie demanded to see Nellie. They all wanted to know why she was under arrest. I couldn’t figure out who was saying what as everyone’s voices rose in volume.

Lu leaped up on the Tina’s desk and pulled out her g*n. “Everybody sit down and be quiet or I’m gonna shoot!”

“ No need to shoot anyone,” Clint drawled as he walked into the reception area. “Nellie isn’t under arrest. I didn’t cuff her. She’s here to answer questions about Mike. You all need to go home and let the police do their job.” He looked pointedly at Juliet and then turned his gaze towards me.

I avoided his eyes. I stepped up next to Juliet and put my arm around her shoulders. “Come on, Juls. Let the professionals,” I hesitated on the word, “do their job. I’m sure Nellie will straighten everything out, and we’ll have a big laugh with her tomorrow at the shop.”

“ I doubt Nellie will be open for business tomorrow. Mike was found dead in a vat at the pickle factory. Based on our initial investigation, it was definitely murder.”