The Mellow Summers Mystery Series Boxed Set Two: Books Five to Eight

Chapter

1

The raucous hails of the onlookers at the parade filled my ears as the float ambled down the icy street. Decked out in ornaments, trees, snowmen, and even a Santa Claus; the Candle Shoppe made quite a display in the city’s Christmas Parade. Mr. Stilton had decided that he wanted a float in the parade for advertisement. We had spent the last month working on it. I hoped all of our hours of sweat paid off.

Tammy jumped up and down excitedly waving and cheering at the crowds. Her fervor did little to warm my frozen hands. I breathed on them some, but it seemed to make them colder, instead of warmer.

Merry Christmas! shouted Tammy, rocking the float with her enthusiasm.

Jackie and I glanced at each other with knowing looks.

Shouldn’t you be a bit more excited? she asked.

It’s not that I don’t like Christmas. It’s usually one of my favorite holidays. But standing out in the cold on a moving trailer overloaded with stuff is not my idea of a good time. I am cheerful, but my hands and lips are frozen. I waved at the crowd. How much longer is this thing?

Not long, answered Jackie. Oh, look! There’s a little kid there dressed like Rudolph.

I smiled at the cute little tyke.

What’s with you? asked Jackie, You’ve been gloomy lately.

I had been a bit melancholy lately. I didn’t know why. I had managed to pass my classes when the semester ended. I should be happy. Truth be told, I was bored. I wanted another mystery, or something worthwhile to do. I never realized that I depended on ghosts showing up unannounced to spice up my life and give it meaning. It—

A flicker of movement in the upstairs window of a two story building caught my attention. I looked up watching the window intently. Through the open shade, a man with his back to me had his hands around a woman’s throat. Her hands waved wildly as she tried to get away, but he mysterious man held her firm.

Jackie! I shouted, A woman is being murdered!

I leapt off the float, dashing into the building and stomped up the stairs.

Mel! Jackie chased after me. Even Tammy followed.

When I reached the top, I looked around like a Wildman, trying to figure out which door to use. I finally settled on the nearest one to my right. Open. The door banged against the wall as I burst in. Empty. I ran to the window, verifying that I had entered the correct apartment. It was the right one, but where was the body?

Mel? Jackie and Tammy entered the room.

I shoved open the other doors to the adjoining rooms. All of them empty. No body. No furniture. No sign of life. Clamping my head in my hands, I searched wildly for the woman I saw being choked and the man who had committed the deed.

Mel, said Jackie, what is going on?

She was here. I saw her a moment ago. She was here!

Who? demanded Jackie.

I don’t know! But I saw a woman being choked.

Mel, is everything okay? asked Tammy, concerned about my mental well-being. I think the cold must have been getting to you.

But I know she was here! I know it! I paced the room in agitation. What had just happened?

I dashed out of the room and back outside.

Mel, where are you going? demanded Jackie as she chased after me.

To the cops, I yelled back at her. Someone had to know that I saw a woman get murdered, body or no body.

Despite the cold, and the distance from the parade to the police station, I ran the entire way with both Jackie and Tammy close behind. I burst through the front, glass doors and charged the front desk. Where’s Detective Shorts? I demanded.

In his office, replied the man there. May I tell him who is calling?

Ignoring his question, I raced over to the directory, noting where his office was. Nixing the elevator, I careened into the stairwell and hiked the stairs two steps at a time.

Mel!

Jackie’s voice echoed in the stone interior as she and Tammy both followed me. I ignored their pleas. Someone had to be told quickly before the murderer got away with it. Though, I had no idea how I’d explain the missing body. Reaching the fourth floor, I whipped the door open, my feet slapping the linoleum as I charged for the detective’s office. It wasn’t too far ahead.

I halted in the doorway, glad to see Detective Shorts for the first time in my life.

There’s been a murder, I said, breathless.

Murder? he looked up at me from his paperwork. Where?

Still panting, I answered, Down near the parade. Main Street. 238.

The wheels of his chair squeaked as he pushed it back, standing up. Take a deep breath and tell me what happened.

Mel, gasped Jackie as she and Tammy both appeared in the doorway.

Detective Shorts held up his hand.

We were at the parade on one of the floats, passing that abandoned shop with the apartments above it.

I know the place, said Detective Shorts. Continue.

I happened to glace up at the front window and there was a woman there with a man choking her. We have to go there right away.

Hold on, Detective Shorts cautioned me. What did the woman look like?

I thought a moment. Everything had happened so fast, Brown hair. Dark skin. I didn’t get a good look at her face.

And the murderer?

He had his back to me and wore a long, black trench coat with the collar up.

Mel, there was no one there, said Jackie. That apartment was empty.

Empty? You went up there? said Detective Shorts, with a note of disappointment.

I hung my head. Yes, I had to do something.

Geez, Mel, you were like a wild woman, Tammy made her presence known. You went charging in there like a maniac.

I glowered at Tammy. I didn’t think I had acted like a maniac.

So you girls went with her? asked Detective Shorts of Jackie and Tammy.

They nodded their heads.

And the apartment was empty?

Totally! blurted out Tammy. It was so bare that not even mice were there. No furniture. No dust.

Rubbing his chin, Detective Shorts looked at me as though I had played the cruelest joke imaginable. He didn’t believe me. And worse, Jackie didn’t seem to believe me either. I didn’t care about Tammy’s thoughts.

Don’t any of you believe me? I looked at each of them and their mixed expressions. I’m not making this up. I saw a woman being choked to death.

Then where’s the body? asked Jackie.

Alright, enough, said Detective Shorts. Show me where it happened. I can at least have a look.

We piled into his old car. He pulled out onto the street, taking all of the back roads to get to the abandoned shop. My stomach swayed the way a boat does on water with each of the bumps the car hit. Good thing it was cold. By the time we reached the abandoned shop with the apartments above it, the parade had ended. Only remnants of it remained as people cleaned up debris.

Detective Shorts held the door to the entrance open for us as we headed inside and up the creaky stairs. I opened the apartment, See? I know something happened here.

Detective Shorts perused the place, taking in every detail. He searched every corner, every nook and cranny. His nose wrinkled as he wandered into the kitchenette and opened the cabinets. I watched in bated anticipation as he wandered into the adjoining room, checking the closet and the bathroom. My nerves prevented me from being able to stand still. Detective Shorts peeked out the bedroom window. A thump reverberated as he opened up the window, leaning out to look down at the ally below and then up at the roof.

Well, Miss Summers, there doesn’t seem to be anything here to indicate a murder took place, he said as he came back to the main room.

But I know what I saw.

I don’t doubt that. But isn’t there the slightest possibility that you might have imagined it? The excitement of the parade can play tricks on a person’s mind.

Why do you guys keep looking at me like I’m crazy? I shouted at them.

Maybe because there is nothing here, said Jackie as delicately as she could. Face it, Mel, this place is literally empty. There is nothing in here.

Maybe the killer carted the body away, said Tammy with too much excitement. I had no idea if her outburst was a poor attempt at patronizing me.

Well, there is a fire escape out the bedroom window, said Detective Shorts, but to carry a body down those steps would be difficult and dangerous with all of the ice. However, it does adjoin to the window of the apartment next door.

What’s going on in here? demanded a hoarse voice.

We all turned. A man with hair all over his body, a beer gut, and gray tank top that only covered the top half of his belly stood there. His livid face told me he did not appreciate our intrusion.

Excuse me, sir, said Detective Shorts, pulling out his badge, I am Detective Shorts.

The man’s greasy fingers took the badge, eyeing it with distrust. A detective, huh? You’ve no business being here.

On the contrary, I do, for the moment. One of these girls claims to have witnessed a crime take place here, which opens the door for me to investigate.

A crime, eh? What crime?

Murder, I said aloud.

The man scoffed at my notion. I didn’t hear nothing.

You live around here? asked the detective.

Yeah. I live next door. I’m the landlord. This apartment’s been empty for two months.

And the last tenant, was it a friendly parting? asked Detective Shorts.

I didn’t kick him out if that’s what you mean. Nah, he got a job down south some where’s.

Hey, what’s this? Tammy knelt down and picked up a shiny object the size of her fingernail. It looks like an earring. Five dollars from Claire’s. Cheap imitation jewelry, but looks real enough.

My ears perked up. I had no idea she knew anything about jewelry.

I’ll take that, said Detective Shorts, pulling out a handkerchief and wrapping the earring in it.

Hey, you can’t take that, said the landlord.

Do you wish to lay claim to it?

No. Go on take it. And get out of here all of you.

Now wait a minute, I said. What about the murder?

Where’s the body little missy? said the smug landlord.

Sorry to intrude, Detective Shorts steered us all out of the room.

But…

Miss Summers, I know you believe that you saw a woman get killed here, but the fact is, we have no body and no signs of a struggle. How did you get in here anyway?

The door wasn’t locked, I replied.

Detective Shorts ushered us outside and parted company. Go home. And forget about what happened here.

Night you guys, said Tammy. It’s been fun.

Fun is not how I’d describe it.

Jackie and I trudged down the walk amongst the few stragglers at the parade as they packed up their chairs and blankets.

Let’s go to the diner on the corner here, suggested Jackie. I hear they have wonderful soup.

Considering my foul mood and frozen hands, I relented. Sure.

The door jingled as Jackie opened it for the both of us. The soup menu lay on a poster board near the cash register. Jackie’s lips formed a straight line as she considered her options. The sign had seven different soups listed. The usual varieties consisted of Chicken Noodle, Minestrone, and Vegetable. More exotic kinds were Tahiti Surprise, Lobster Fest, Chili’s Galore, and the Shit Maker, with the word popular next to it. I had reservations about that particular one. It didn’t sound appetizing.

The guy ahead of us ordered two of them. I scrunched my nose. Someone would be spending a lot of time in the bathroom.

What do you want? asked Jackie.

Whatever you have.

What’ll it be for you lovely ladies? asked the older gentleman behind the counter.

What is your Shit Maker? asked Jackie.

Guaranteed to clean out your insides, chuckled the man. Made with every bean and spice imaginable to mankind.

I think we’ll just take two orders of your Tahiti Surprise, said Jackie.

Anything to drink? asked the guy behind the counter.

Two waters, replied Jackie.

$7.50.

No, I got it. Jackie pulled out her wallet, waving the bills in my hand away.

Here ya ladies go, the guy handed us a tray with two gigantic bowls of soup.

Jackie took the tray and guided us to a somewhat secluded place in the packed diner. On a cold evening like this, no wonder everyone wanted soup.

Well, eat up, she said in a cheery voice, placing my soup in front of me.

The Tahiti Surprise was surprisingly good with chunks of pineapple and mango in it, along with bamboo shoots, basil and rosemary. It had a sweet and tangy taste. I added it to my list of favorite things to eat.

You need to cheer up, commented Jackie as she dived into her soup.

I am cheery, I protested.

No, you’re not. You’ve been down in the dumps lately.

I have not. My statement sounded false, even to me.

You haven’t, huh? Jackie’s eyes bore into mine. You mope around at home. At work you seem to be just going through the motions. You and Greg aren’t having trouble are you?

No, it’s not that. I just…

Just what, prompted Jackie when my voice had trailed off.

I feel useless. After those girls left, I haven’t seen hide or hair of someone who needs my help.

You mean a ghost who needs you? Mel, I don’t believe it. You’re addicted to solving crimes.

I am not.

Yeah, you are, continued Jackie. I think I just figured it out. The only time you seem alive is when you’re catching bad guys. It’s like an adrenaline rush for you.

It is not. A part of me knew that she was right. The only time I felt useful was when I got involved in some mystery.

Is that why you thought you saw a woman being murdered?

SHHH, I hissed. Keep your voice down. I didn’t think I saw it. I know I did.

Then why didn’t we find anything?

I wish I knew. I glanced up as I noticed a guy sitting a few tables away from us turn back around suddenly. Had he been listening? I sloughed it off as just my imagination.

Mel, I know you feel important when you are getting involved in cases that the police wish you’d stay out of; but you are important to the rest of us, even when you’re vegetating on the couch. You don’t have to save the world to be important.

Thanks, Jackie.

So everything between you and Greg is fine? No juicy gossip?

Jackie.

Okay. Okay. I’ll let it drop. I really need to get a boyfriend.

Lately, Jackie had been feeling a bit left out in the romance department. I felt for her. You’ll find one someday.

Thanks. I like the ‘someday’ part you threw in there.

I thought I noticed the same man listening. He whipped around the moment I glanced at him. Come on, Mel, not everyone is a suspect.

Our spoons clinked on the bottom of the ceramic bowls as we scraped the last drops of our soup into our mouths. Finished, we dropped our bowls off at the counter like the sign had asked and went back out to brave the cold once more. It felt as though it had gotten colder.

Chapter

2

Morning dawned like it always does. I sat up in bed, still groggy from sleeping, and stretched, hoping that last night’s events wouldn’t come back to haunt me. A part of me began to believe that I had imagined the whole thing, since it would be difficult to move a body down a fire escape so quickly, but it had all seemed so real.

Throwing the covers off, I crawled out of bed and headed for the bathroom. As usual, Jackie looked picture perfect, by the time I stepped out of the shower with soggy hair. I dressed quickly, downed a cup of coffee, and prepared to leave for work.

I think the tree has enough stuff on it, I said to Jackie as she added more red and gold ornaments to the Christmas tree we had gotten a few days ago.

You can never have too much stuff on a Christmas tree. She put one more ball on it before stepping back to admire her work. Looks good. Ready to head to work?

Yeah. As it happened, we were both scheduled to work the morning shift at the Candle Shoppe.

You still down in the dumps? Get over it, Mel. You should be glad that there wasn’t a body. It means no one died.

She had a point, but I hated admitting defeat, or that I was wrong. I grabbed my keys. Let’s go.

The Candle Shoppe had its usual customers as we walked in. I put my stuff under the counter and proceeded to help the shoppers.

Mr. Stilton had decided to start a new line of scented oils. He had contracted with a supplier, thinking that the oils would go perfectly with the warmers that we had, and had not been able to sell until now. He must have guessed correctly because I had just sold three cases of the scented oils with 1 box full of the warmers to go with them. A good day of sales meant that I stayed in a job, so I wasn’t complaining.

The steady flow of customers took my mind off of last night’s events. Maybe I had imagined that a woman was murdered. No body, no crime. The bell above the entrance jingled as the door opened and closed. I ignored it, thinking that it was just another customer coming in to get a last minute Christmas gift. A shadow crept across the counter as I busied myself with the cash register.

May I help you? I asked without looking up.

Yes, Miss Summers, you can tell me again exactly what you witnessed last night during the parade.

I knew that voice. I knew that tone. Detective Shorts, I said, looking up, surprised. What are you doing here?

I need to ask you some questions, he replied.

Is there a problem? Mr. Stilton had come out of his office to haunt the main floor.

No, Mr. Stilton, replied Detective Shorts, I just need to ask Miss Summers a few questions about an incident she witnessed last night. It will only take a moment.

Very well, said Mr. Stilton, giving me wary look, probably wondering what I could have done to warrant a detective entering the store.

I followed Detective Shorts outside. What is this about? I asked. You know as well as I that there was no body.

That isn’t true anymore.

I gaped at the detective. What?

Early this morning, a fisherman at the river hauled in the body of a woman matching the description you gave me last night, as part of his morning catch.

So a woman had been murdered.

What I need to know from you is exactly what you saw. Tell me everything again.

I thought back to the parade and my mad dash up to the apartment. It’s like what I said last night. I was in the parade, riding on the float and I happened to glance up. The shade to the window was open and I saw a woman being stranglrd by a man.

Are you certain that it was a man?

No, I said, the man’s back was to me. I did not get a good look at him or any discerning features.

Do you know what he wore?

A black trench coat and a hat.

Baseball?

No, it looked more like one of those old fashioned hats from the movies, but the murderer seemed to be about the same height as the woman, maybe a little taller.

But you can’t be certain.

No. I was looking up.

When you and your friends went up to the apartment, did you see or hear anything?

No. You know that. There was nothing. Literally nothing. No sign that anyone had been there. No noise. Nothing.

Detective Shorts sighed. All right, Miss Summers, I think that will do for now. Don’t go anywhere in case I have more questions.

So the woman you found was choked to death? I asked, stopping the detective in midstride.

Detective Shorts turned around and looked at me. I must have been too eager in my question. No. You are not getting involved.

I can help, I pleaded.

If you get involved I will be forced to arrest you for obstruction of justice, Detective Shorts warned before leaving.

I went back inside to finish my shift, only to have a peppy voice stop me. What did the detective want? asked Tammy, jumping with excitement. Was it about what you saw last night?

Not now, Tammy, I said.

Come on! Spill, said Tammy.

This isn’t the time, I said.

Come on, Mel, Tammy tugged on my arm.

Okay, yeah, it was about last night. They found a body matching what I saw last night. Now, please let it go.

Oh, wow! Do they know who did it? Tammy followed me throughout the store, chatting excitedly, wanting to know what I knew and what the cops knew.

Enough, Tammy! I whirled on her. Look, I don’t know what they know. And this isn’t the time to talk about it.

Are you going to get involved?

In a way I was already involved. No.

Why not? You’ve solved a few things before. Yes, I know about it. It certainly explains why you keep running out of here. Come on, I can help.

Tammy’s pleading eyes reminded me of a few moments earlier when I had said the same thing to Detective Shorts. Knowing I was not going to be rid of her, I thought of a way to placate her. Perhaps you can help, but, you need to wait until I ask for it. Don’t go blabbing around town about this. It has to be a secret, otherwise the real killer will know we’re onto him.

Got it, said Tammy.

I mean it, I told her.

Don’t tell anyone. I got it. She darted off to assist a customer.

Mel? Jackie pulled me aside. What did the detective want?

I took a quick sweep to make certain no one listened to us. A body was found this morning at the river. It was a woman. The same woman I saw murdered last night.

Jackie placed her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide in shock. Really?

Yeah.

Oh my God, Mel, I’m so sorry I doubted you. You’ve never been wrong about these things before, but without any sign of a body I just thought…

Don’t worry about it, I told her. Look, we should get back to work.

Later then.

Several hours later Jackie and I clocked out. Even though it was only five thirty, it felt much later as the sun had disappeared behind the horizon. We strolled down the sidewalk toward a local place to grab something to eat. Amidst the Christmas music playing on outdoor speakers, and the different Santa Clauses asking for donations for the Salvation Army, we made our way to our destination. The crisp air smelled fresh with an invigorating scent that I always enjoyed.

The crowded restaurant gave us the promise that it would be a good place to eat as we had never been there before. We wormed our way through the throng of people to the man waiting to take names for those wishing to be seated.

Two please, I told him.

He scanned the list of tables. I think I have a place for you guys if you don’t mind being seated in the back.

No, that’s fine.

This way. The man grabbed two menus and led us past rows of tables and booths to a small two person booth near the restrooms. He set the menus on the table and waved us in. Your server will be with you shortly.

Thanks, I told him, taking my seat.

Isn’t Greg meeting us? asked Jackie as she took her coat off.

No. He had to work tonight. He’s been pulling a lot of extra hours to pay for tuition next semester. Besides, one of his coworkers is out with a bad case of the stomach flu and he volunteered to fill in.

That was nice of him.

Yeah, but he said he needed the extra money."

Don’t we all, mumbled Jackie.

Says the woman who bought a new pair of boots yesterday.

Hey, I needed them and you know it. The soles on my old pair fell off.

I grinned at her. Jackie had a wealthy uncle who sent her money every month. She never talked about it and preferred to keep it a secret. I didn’t care. She didn’t flaunt her money or live extravagantly, and she wasn’t kidding about her old pair of boots. Besides, she’s bailed me out many times, so I couldn’t complain.

Hi. My name is Reya and I will be your server tonight, greeted the waitress as she came up to us. Can I start you off with something to drink?

Oh, I’ll just have water, I said.

Oh no you don’t, Jackie piped up. We will both have Cosmos. And I want your double bacon cheeseburger with extra cheese and extra bacon.

And you? the waitress turned toward me.

I hadn’t even looked at the menu. Giving it a quick glance, I just picked the first thing that caught my interest. I’ll have your Chipotle Pasta dish.

Excellent choice. The waitress bustled off. I had to hand it to the woman being able to handle a hungry crowd and maintain a smile.

Cosmos? I said to Jackie. Those are five dollar drinks.

Don’t worry, I got the bill. You’re a broke college student.

But, Jackie…

Mel, it isn’t going to kill you to accept charity once in a while. Besides, I’m your best friend and what are best friends for? So, what are you taking next semester?

I don’t know, I said. I hadn’t thought about it too much and still had some time before I needed to register for classes. Though registration usually happened before the previous semester’s end, this university did allow returning students to register up through the first week of January. Very convenient if you had to make up classes or had a professor that took his time tallying up grades. Actually, I might not take any classes next semester. I kind of burnt myself out last semester.

You could take one or two classes.

I thought I would do an independent study. It will complete one of my graduation requirements and give me more flexibility, schedule wise.

That’s an idea. Now, what are we going to do about that murdered woman?

I hadn’t thought about that either. Jackie’s eager expression told me she had every intention of solving it. Well, I don’t know. I guess we could start at the river, since that was where she was found.

How will you know the exact spot?

The paper will probably say something about it tomorrow and I’m sure it will be marked by crime scene tape. It shouldn’t be too hard to locate. The difficult part is not getting caught.

Tomorrow at six am. It’s a date. Jackie sipped her drink that the waitress had dropped off moments before.

I think I’m a bad influence on you.

We should take Tiny with us, said Jackie. Unless Greg can make it.

I frowned. That was the problem when your boyfriend picks up a bunch of extra shifts in addition to his own; you never see him. No, he has to work early and won’t get off until late at night. It’ll be nice when this week is over. Maybe then I’ll get to go out with my man.

Oh, it isn’t that bad, Mel. This last strain of flu has been knocking everyone out.

I’ll call Tiny when we get home.

Our food arrived. I watched in awe as Jackie crammed the top part of her bun on her burger and then took a huge bite, allowing the grease to trail down her chin. Where do you put all of that? I asked her.

Oh, someplace, said Jackie through her food. My mom says it will all go to my ass someday, but until then I am going to enjoy this burger. The cheese is so creamy. I love it.

I dug my fork into my pasta, nibbling with a little more dignity than Jackie.

We finished our meal in relative quiet since we were both too busy savoring our meals. Once finished, we stacked our dishes on the table and left. The cold night air struck us the moment we stepped outside, reminding us that winter was here to stay.

Good evening ladies, said a well-dressed gentleman. He handed us some campaign buttons with his face and slogan on it. My name is Randall Hopkins and I am running for the city council. How are you two this evening?

Fine, thanks, I said, taking a button.

Are there any pressing issues you would like to see discussed at future city council meetings?

Uh, no. I hadn’t thought about it much, I said, feeling sheepish.

Oh. Well, what do you think about the Charity Ball next week? asked Randall Hopkins. He winked at Jackie, who for some reason could not stop smiling at him. Please, tell me she wasn’t getting a crush on him.

I heard about that, blurted out Jackie. They did one last year and it was a huge success. All proceeds go to the Children with Disabilities Fund.

"You know your stuff. That’s right. Last year we raised nearly $25,000 dollars, which was all donated to the Children with Disabilities Fund. The fund gives money to families with disabled children to assist them in affording education and medical care for their children.

"The ball is