Chapter 1-2
923 Words
Inside the hospital room, Dean and Nicole stood over Aunt Lucia. Lia waited downstairs because they were limited to two visitors at a time. Aunt Lucia’s eyes opened slightly and she said in a hoarse voice, “I must have gone to heaven because you two are finally together.” She seemed amused by her comment and chuckled slightly.
Nicole’s eyes widened with surprise and then relief while Dean looked away. Nicole spoke up, “Aunt Lucia, are you okay? What happened?”
“Oh, it was terrible!” The heart rate monitor started beeping faster and faster before she could finish her sentence. A doctor and nurse rushed in.
“Please let your aunt rest. She had a mild heart attack and should be okay, but she is in a delicate state right now. Can you come back tomorrow? Visiting hours are over.”
“Yes, Doctor.” Nicole smiled meekly at her aunt, but her aunt’s eyes had closed again. She looked up at Dean. He nodded to her and they walked out of the room.
“Let’s go find Lia downstairs,” said Nicole as they walked slowly down the hallway. Dean nodded again, seeming quiet. “Dean, thank you for driving us. You didn’t have to go to the cafe, though, you could have called.” He stopped walking.
Dean thought for a second before answering, “I almost called the cafe, but I know how close you are to your aunt.” Nicole watched Dean carefully as he pushed his glasses up toward his eyes. “And I knew you might be too upset to drive.”
“That’s true, I’m so upset about this whole thing. Aunt Lucia is getting up in years. I sympathize with the murder victim, but I also feel Aunt Lucia is a victim, too. We’re lucky it was a mild attack. I really want to get to the bottom of this incident!”
“I know. Honestly, I was also hoping to get more info to share with you but I haven’t gotten much so far.”
“Info? Oh right, because you’re a private investigator now?”
“I opened my practice in Rosewood and sometimes do contract work for various businesses.” Dean paused while he rubbed his forehead, a slightly nervous habit he had since Nicole could remember. “My friends at the station often help me out with details for my cases. Sometimes I do contract work for them as well. We have a good relationship that way. I’m going to see what I can find out for you.”
“So you are going to investigate the murder that happened at the restaurant?”
“Not officially. I haven’t been formally contracted to do it, but I want to help out if I can.”
Nicole looked at Dean’s eyes and detected his sincerity. “Dean, what can you tell me about the murder of Frank Tanner? Wasn’t it his retirement party tonight?” Nicole knew Frank Tanner was the director of the town library for many years. She didn’t want to think crudely, but she wondered why anyone would be interested in murdering someone who appeared so innocuous.
Dean read her mind and said, “It’s still unclear why anyone would want to murder him, but we suspect there may have been a double or triple life behind his innocent appearance.”
“But in my aunt’s restaurant? How did he die?”
“Do you have a strong stomach? Someone slit his throat with one of your aunt’s kitchen knives.” Nicole gasped and raised her left hand to her neck, massaging it. “It happened in the back hallway. She walked out of the back office after hearing a scuffle outside the door and saw blood everywhere. At that point she screamed and had a heart attack.” Nicole steadied herself against the wall while she listened to Dean’s account, feeling a bit woozy. “Mrs. Donnelly, one of the library assistants, heard the scream and went to the back hallway where she saw your aunt and all the blood. She didn’t know what happened but called 9-1-1 immediately.”
“Oh my, that’s a lot to digest,” said Nicole, who was experiencing chills. Poor Aunt Lucia, she thought.
“They are ruling out your aunt as a suspect,” said Dean.
“I would hope so! I guess I can see why she would be one given the location. How were they able to rule her out exactly?”
“The only detail we have so far is that she was on the phone in the back office with a supplier and actually told them to hold on while she checked on the scuffle. They also called 9-1-1 when they heard her scream.”
“I see, that makes sense.” Nicole was nodding as she was processing the details Dean just explained. “Oh, I almost forgot about Lia. Guess we should take the elevator down.” She looked up at Dean, feeling vulnerable in that moment. She admired his thick, dark hair and felt a little more secure with the fit private investigator by her side, even if it was just for a moment—despite their history.
When they got off the elevator, Lia said, “Nicole, maybe I should stay with you tonight. You know, with a murderer on the loose and everything you’ve been through, it might be a good idea.”
Normally Nicole would have said she was fine and didn’t need company, but she felt a little rattled after everything so she agreed.
“I can drop you off so you can pack a bag, Lia. And keep your eyes open for anything suspicious in the neighborhood. The murderer is most likely a town resident,” said Dean.
To Lia’s delight, Nicole had managed to buy a house around the corner from her. Little did they know how helpful their proximity to each other would be, especially in a time like this.
Dean stopped the car and looked over at Nicole when they arrived in front of her house. They got out and walked to the front door together.
“I'll be okay from here, Dean. Ringo is inside and he can protect me.” As she opened her front door, her black labrador barked with enthusiasm and approached Nicole.
“Okay, Nicole. Well, Goodnight, then.”
“Goodnight, Dean. And thanks…”
- Writer
