Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
They found Eddie Parks in the back hallway of town hall, hauling boxes of decorations from a storage closet.
The hallway smelled like a mix of pine cleaner, old wood, and something faintly peppermint.
A mop bucket sat in the corner, and his maintenance cart was parked against the wall, loaded with supplies.
His knit cap was pulled low over his ears. His cheeks were red from exertion or cold—maybe both. His boots were wet, leaving dark prints on the tile floor.
He looked up when he heard them approaching and let out a long breath. “Well, if it isn’t the interrogation squad.”
Nans stopped a few feet away, her expression gentle. “We’re not interrogating. We’re chatting.”
Eddie set the box down with more force than necessary. “Sure.”
Helen stepped forward, her voice soft. “Eddie, we’re sorry about Stanley.”
Eddie’s mouth tightened. He looked down at the box, not meeting her eyes. “Yeah.”
“You were here early this morning?” Ruth asked, her iPad ready but held casually at her side.
“I’m always here early. Pipes don’t care about holidays.” Eddie wiped his hands on his jacket, leaving faint streaks of dust. “Building’s old. Something’s always breaking.”
Ida stepped closer and sniffed theatrically. “You smell like pine cleaner.”
Eddie blinked at her. “That’s my job.”
“What’s that on your shoe? Looks like glitter,” Ida added, tilting her head like a detective who’d just found a crucial clue.
Eddie’s eyes flicked away. “My wife does a lot of stuff with glitter.”
Nans folded her hands. “Eddie, do you have access to the storage room? The one where Stanley was found?”
“Master key.” Eddie pulled a key ring from his belt and held it up. It jangled with at least a dozen keys. “I can get into every room in this building.”
“Were you in the storage room recently?” Ruth asked.
Eddie hesitated, his hand tightening around the key ring. “I was in there yesterday. Checking for water damage. There’s a draft that freezes the back wall sometimes. Pipes can burst if I’m not careful.”
Helen’s voice stayed gentle. “Did you notice anything wrong with the shelving while you were in there?”
Eddie swallowed. “It looked fine.”
Nans stepped closer, her gaze steady. “Did Stanley argue with you?”
Eddie’s jaw tightened. “Always.”
“But did he argue with you this week?” Nans pressed.
Eddie’s hands curled around the edge of the box he’d just set down, knuckles going white. “He accused me of misplacing extension cords. Said I was careless. And he implied... other things.”
“What other things?” Ida asked, her usual cheerfulness replaced with something sharper.
Eddie exhaled, the breath shaky. “He implied I took money last year. From the toy drive. He said he ‘knew.’ He said if I didn’t ‘make it right,’ he’d tell the mayor and get me fired.”
Ruth’s fingers moved slightly on her iPad, taking notes. “Did you take it?”
Eddie’s face went pale. “No. I didn’t take anything.”
“Then who did?” Helen asked softly.
“I don’t know!” Eddie’s voice cracked, and he caught himself, lowering his volume. “I don’t know. But Stanley thought I did because I have keys to everything. He thought I had access, so I must be guilty.”
Nans let the silence settle for a moment, then asked quietly, “Eddie. Where were you this morning when Stanley died?”
Eddie looked away, staring down the hallway toward the lobby. “Here. I came in at five. I checked the furnace room first—made sure the heat was running. Then I went outside to salt the steps. Front and back.”
“Who can confirm that?” Ruth asked.
Eddie’s laugh was hollow and bitter. “Nobody. It was five in the morning. I was alone.”
“What time did you come back inside?” Nans asked.
Eddie’s eyes flicked toward the hallway, then back. “Maybe five-twenty? Five-thirty? I’m not sure. I wasn’t watching the clock.”
Helen leaned in slightly. “Did you see anyone when you came back in?”
Eddie swallowed hard. “I heard someone. Running. In the lobby. Footsteps, fast, like they were in a hurry. But when I got there, nobody was around.”
The ladies exchanged glances.
“Did you check the storage room?” Ida asked.
Eddie’s face went ashen. “No. I didn’t know... I didn’t know anything was wrong until later. Until the police showed up.”
Nans nodded slowly. “Thank you, Eddie.”
Eddie stared at them like he wanted to say more, like there was something pressing against the back of his teeth, but he just picked up the box and walked away.
As they walked back toward the lobby, Ruth whispered, “He’s nervous.”
“Very nervous,” Helen agreed, glancing back over her shoulder.
Ida pulled her purse closer. “And he was here when it happened.”
“So was Vivian,” Nans said quietly. “The question is: what did Eddie do when he heard someone running?”
Ruth’s eyes narrowed. “And why didn’t he check on it?”
“Because he was scared,” Helen said softly. “Or because he already knew what he’d find.”
Nans didn’t answer. She just kept walking, her mind already piecing together timelines and motives.