Seeds of Suspicion (Lack of Luxury Cozy Mystery #1)

Chapter 25

Gloria grabbed Liz’s hand and dragged her to the nearby closet. They barely made it inside when the office lights flipped on.

“It’s useless, Tammi,” a male voice said. “Maybe Deanna was lying about the background check and finding out my name was on your apartment lease. It was an excuse because she never planned to follow through on making you a business partner.”

“But she knew you were on my lease, Eric, and don’t forget, there’s also the forged copy of the partnership agreement she found when she was digging up dirt on me.”

Liz watched as her sister quietly removed her cell phone from her pocket, tapped the video button, and aimed it at the narrow crack in the door .

“I warned you it was a mistake to secure a line of credit against this place,” Eric said. “Green Springs is a small town. Deanna had connections. She could very well have heard about me being on the lease from someone who works at the apartment complex. She sat on Dreamwood Retirement Community’s board. I’m sure the people working in the rental community all know each other.”

“Either way, I knew you should have never been on my lease.” There was a rustling sound. Through the crack, Liz could see Tammi rifling through one of the desk drawers. “If Deanna had proof of the line of credit, she made sure no one would ever find it.”

“I say let it go,” Eric said. “The cops are hot after the Rasmussens. You’re essentially off the hook.”

“I can’t. I already told you. Carol is growing suspicious. She’s determined to make sure Deanna’s killer is caught. She’s asking for a key to the office since I changed the locks. I can’t keep putting her off. If Deanna hid those reports and partnership agreement somewhere around here and Carol finds them, she’ll turn them in.”

“The investigators searched this place. You’ve been tearing it apart, and no one has found them,” Eric said. “I admit, it could be problematic if the investigators find out I’m on your lease, but they still can’t prove you’re the one who strangled her.”

“And if they find the forged partnership agreement that’s MIA? I never should’ve let Deanna push me over the edge, but she kept going on and on about how she was going to make sure I never worked in this town again.”

Liz leaned in, her heart skipping a beat as she watched as the man she suspected was Eric Andretti pulled Tammi O’Toole into his arms.

“Maybe you should’ve waited until you had the papers in your hands before you wrapped that curtain around her neck,” Eric said. “Besides, if there was an agreement and you were a partner, it would have given you a motive to kill her. ”

“Yeah, well, you’re still on the hook,” Tammi said.

Eric laughed. “No way. They’ll go after Floyd now that they have Deanna’s cell phone records. Either him or his wife. What was her name?”

“Liz,” Tammi said. “You should’ve heard Deanna that day after we left their place. She was fit to be tied. Floyd wanted nothing to do with her.”

“Deanna could be relentless when she wanted to,” Eric said. “Back to Carol. If she was as loyal to Deanna as you claim, we might want to avoid meeting here, at least for now.”

There was a hint of desperation in Tammi’s voice. “I can’t keep putting her off about the office key.”

“Then give her a key. Problem solved.”

Tammi’s voice became muffled.

“What did you say?” Eric asked.

“Nothing. I need to find those papers. ”

“Deanna was big into secret hiding spots,” he said. “Are you sure you checked every single book in her bookcase?”

It grew quiet, and Liz craned her neck, attempting to maintain a visual on the couple. She lost her balance and teetered back, creating the faintest of thuds .

Gloria grasped her hand and squeezed hard while Liz braced for the closet door to fly open. Her heart pounded loudly in her chest and visions of a gun-toting killer discovering their hiding spot made the small space spin.

“Did you hear something?” Tammi O’Toole’s voice drew near.

“No. You’re being paranoid. The doors are all locked and we’re the only ones with a key. This place is secure.” Eric laughed. “Maybe it’s Deanna’s ghost coming back to haunt you. ”

“Very funny.” Tammi’s voice faded. “Let’s head over to Deanna’s again. We’ll try searching the basement this time.”

The door shut and Liz went limp. She reached for the doorknob and Gloria shook her head. “Not yet,” she whispered softly. “Give it a few minutes.”

Liz began silently counting as the seconds dragged by. She shifted slightly, attempting to ease the numbness in her foot.

Gloria gave her a gentle nudge and a warning look.

“I can’t help it,” Liz whined. “I’m getting a Charlie horse.”

“I think the coast is clear.” Her sister slowly slid the closet door open and stuck her head around the corner. “They’re gone. We need to finish searching and get out of here.”

“Search where? You heard them. Tammi’s already torn this place apart. Apparently, Deanna liked secret hiding spots. We’re basically back to square one and we almost got caught. We could’ve died.”

“You’re so dramatic.”

Liz winced at the sharp pain in her foot. She took a tentative step and the heel of her shoe caught on the rug, causing her to stumble, her arms flailing wildly.

Gloria sprang forward and caught her sister before she hit the floor.

Snap.

“My shoe. The heel got caught,” Liz sniffled. “My favorite pair of shoes are ruined.”

“I’m sure you can glue it back on.” Gloria squeezed past her. “Where’s the flashlight?”

Liz held it out. “What are you doing?”

“There’s something under here.”