Second Bloom Read online

  “Are you related to the patient?” Benson turned and resumed helping his partner with the stretcher.

  “No, I’m a friend of Mrs. Hagel’s,” Holly replied. “We just dropped by …”

  “Can you call a family member?”

  “I don’t have any numbers.”

  “Okay, ladies,” Benson said. “We’ll take it from here. Give us your contact information, and if we need to talk to you, we’ll give you a call.”

  Holly gave the EMTs her phone number and address. She and Ivy stood watching as the two responders moved quickly up the driveway and disappeared from view around the side of the house.

  “I guess that’s it,” Holly said, turning to Ivy.

  Ivy nodded. “C’mon. Let’s go and let them do their job.”

  Holly hesitated and looked back up the driveway.

  “Holly, let’s go. There’s nothing else you can do here. Let’s finish our walk around the park and go home.”

  “Okay.” Holly tugged on the leash, and Lucky rose, leading the way down the street.

  ************

  Back in her kitchen, Holly detached the leash from Lucky’s collar and hung it on the hook near the back door. “What do you want to do?” she asked walking over to the sink, looking out the back window.

  Ivy smiled, sitting down at the kitchen table. “We don’t have to do anything. You want to talk?”

  Holly turned, bit her lip and stood just looking at Ivy for a moment. “I know,” she said, snapping her fingers. She crossed the kitchen, entered the dining room and went over to the liquor cabinet. Bending down, she opened the cherry wood doors and pulled out two, Waterford Crystal, old-fashioned, rocks glasses and a bottle of Jameson whiskey. Returning to the kitchen she placed the glasses and bottle in front of Ivy.

  “We’ll have a mini-wake for Mrs. Hagel. I feel like I need to do something to honor her.”

  Ivy nodded as Holly got a water glass out of the cupboard and filled it with ice. Ivy rose and located a small water pitcher from another cupboard, filling it with tap water. Both returned to the table and remained standing across from each other. The ice clinked as Ivy dropped the cubes into each glass. Holly opened the Jameson and poured. Ivy added the water. They each lifted their glasses.

  Holly began the toast. “Edna Hagel was a wonderful person. She was a good neighbor and a fantastic gardener. She will be missed.” She raised her glass just a bit higher. “To Edna.”

  “To Edna,” Ivy echoed, also raising her glass.

  Each took a swallow, lowered her glass, and sat down. After a few more sips, Holly smiled and said, “I do feel better now.”

  Ivy laughed. “That’s just the whiskey.”

  Holly reached for the bottle. “If that’s the case, then let’s have just a bit more.”

  As she started to pour, Lucky stood up and began to bark, heading to the front door. “Somebody must be walking up the street with a dog,” Holly said.

  When the barking got louder, Ivy got up, walked into the dining room and looked through the front windows.

  “Holly, there’s a really good-looking man, dressed in a suit and tie, standing at the front gate. Do you have something to tell me?”

  “Right,” Holly replied, rolling her eyes. “He’s probably somebody with the wrong address,” she said as she came up alongside Ivy and peered through the blinds. “Yeah, he’s nobody I know. Definitely at the wrong house.”

  Outside, the muscular stranger pulled a cellphone out of his pocket and put it to his ear, placing his free hand on the gate. Ivy looked at Holly. “Go comb your hair and put on some lipstick.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Seriously.”

  “Get out of here. That man is not here to see me. If he’s not lost, he’s probably an insurance salesman or a Jehovah’s Witness.” Holly turned, walking through the arched doorway into the hall. “Quiet, Lucky. It’s okay.”

  Ivy turned back to the window, parting the blind slats to get a better look. “I never saw a Jehovah’s witness with dark, wavy hair like his. And if he’s an insurance salesman, I’d consider upping my coverage.”

  “Get out of the window,” Holly said, kneeling to calm Lucky.

  “Uh-oh,” Ivy said.

  “What?”

  “A police car just pulled up.”

  Holly stood up and looked through the glass panes of the front door. A patrol car, lights flashing, parked in front of the house. A uniformed female police officer got out, walked over and said something to the man at the front gate.

  “He must be a policeman,” Ivy said. “He just opened the gate, and they’re coming up the walk.”

  Holly started to feel an adrenaline rush through her body, the one she sometimes felt right before she stepped in front of a microphone at a public speaking engagement. She shook herself. What did she have to be nervous about?

  Lucky resumed barking. Holly reached down and grabbed her collar as the man in the suit reached the front stoop. She opened the door.

  “It’s okay, Lucky,” she said. The dog got quiet and sniffed in the direction of the two visitors.

  “Are you okay with dogs? She’s friendly,” Holly said.

  The man bent forward and offered Lucky his downturned hand. Lucky sniffed and walked past him to the uniformed officer who did the same.

  “I’m Detective Manelli with the Pineland Park Police.” The suited stranger held up his identification.

  Just like in the movies. Holly looked at the ID pretending she could actually read it without her glasses.

  “This is Officer Rivera. Are you Holly Donnelly?”

  “Yes.”

  “We’d like to talk to you, Ms. Donnelly.”

  Holly stood looking from the detective to the policewoman to Lucky.

  “Can we come in?” he asked.

  “Of course. I’m sorry. Come in.” Holly opened the door wide, knocking into Ivy who had been standing right behind it. “Sorry.”

  She sighed and walked past Ivy through the arched doorway opposite the dining room into the living room. Ivy remained by the door.

  “Hello. I’m Ivy Donnelly, Holly’s sister. I just arrived today from South Carolina.”

  Detective Manelli nodded and followed Holly into the living room.

  “Are you twins?” Officer Rivera asked as she entered the hallway.

  “No, no. Just sisters.” Ivy giggled and shut the door once Lucky was inside.

  “Have a seat.” Holly said, pointing to the two wing chairs on either side of the fireplace. She sat on the couch facing the fireplace and Ivy sat beside her.

  “We just came from the Hagel residence,” Manelli began. “You placed the 911 call, Ms. Donnelly. Is that right?”

  “Oh, that’s why you’re here,” Holly said, feeling her tensed shoulder muscles relax. “Yes, I placed the call.”

  “Why were you there?”

  “My sister and I were walking the dog, and I told her I wanted to stop by and thank Mrs. Hagel for hiring a landscaper I recommended. He …”

  “How well did you know Mrs. Hagel?”

  “Pretty well. We’ve been neighbors for more than twenty years. We belonged to the garden club together.”

  “Why did you go to the back door?”

  “We tried the front first. I knew Edna was hard of hearing, so when she didn’t answer the front doorbell, I thought we should try the back.”

  “When she didn’t answer there, you just let yourselves in?”

  “No…”

  “Holly didn’t go in,” Ivy volunteered. “I did.”

  “Why?”

  “When Holly looked through the window and spotted Mrs. Hagel on the floor, I told her to call 911. While she was on the phone, I tried the door and it was open.” Ivy shrugged.

  “So you just walked in and decided to examine the body?”

  “Yes. I wanted to help if I could. I’m a registered nurse.”

  “What exactly did you do?”

  “I went in, walked o
ver to Mrs. Hagel and felt for a pulse. Her body was cold. No pulse.”

  “Then what did you do?”

  “I stood up and went over to the kitchen counter to look out the window and see where Holly was. I didn’t want her to come in and see her friend’s body.”

  “Did you touch anything?”

  “No. Wait a minute. Yes. I knocked a pill bottle on the floor, so I picked it up and...”

  “Wait a minute!” Holly interrupted. “What’s going on here?”

  Detective Manelli didn’t answer, but merely stared at Holly. After a lifetime of working for male bosses, Holly recognized the look. Condescending and meant to intimidate, the look that always made her spine turn to steel. She lifted her chin, returning the stare, determined not to blink.

  Manelli turned back to Ivy. “What did you do next?”

  Holly leaned forward, about to stand up. Ivy put her hand on Holly’s arm. “It’s okay.”

  Holly sat back as Ivy continued.

  “I stood up and went back to the door. Holly was on the stoop. I stopped her and said we were too late.”

  “Then what?”

  “We searched the house for valuables, stuffed our pockets and went out front to wait for the EMTs.” Holly’s words dripped with sarcasm as she glared at Manelli.

  “Holly!” Ivy sighed. “You’ll have to excuse my sister, Detective. She’s quite upset over Mrs. Hagel’s passing.”

  “Did you try to move the body?” Manelli asked.

  “What? I don’t believe this,” Holly said, looking at the policewoman, sitting quietly across from her.

  Ivy shook her head. “No. There was no reason once I knew she was gone.”

  “So you didn’t see the knife in her chest?”

  Ivy’s eyes widened and she stared at Manelli, speechless for the first time. Holly snapped her head back in Manelli’s direction.

  “What did you say?”

  “Mrs. Hagel had a knife in her chest.”

  “Oh, no!” Holly covered her mouth with her hand. Ivy reached over and squeezed her other hand. Holly began to shake. “I can’t … I … who would do such a thing?”

  “That’s what we’re trying to find out,” Manelli said.

  Ivy looked from Holly to Manelli. “Mrs. Hagel was on the floor face down. I only felt for a pulse, Detective. As soon as I realized Mrs. Hagel was dead, I stood right up and went to the window to look for Holly. I understand why you need to question us, but surely you don’t think we had anything to do with murder. My sister was Mrs. Hagel’s friend and I didn’t even know her. What motive could we possibly have?”

  Manelli looked down at the notepad in his hand and continued. “Did you see anyone else around the house before you went in? Anything seem unusual to you?”

  Holly shook her head. Ivy said, “I can’t think of anything.”

  “The landscaper you recommended. What’s his name?”

  “Juan. Juan Alvarez, Holly replied.

  “Do you have his address and phone number?” Manelli asked.

  “Yes, but Juan wouldn’t …”

  “What’s the address?”

  Holly just blinked, not moving or answering.

  “We need the contact information,” Manelli said looking at Ivy.

  Ivy turned to Holly. “Where do you have Juan’s address and phone number? Can I get it for you?”

  “It’s on the side of the refrigerator,” Holly answered, barely whispering. She sat still just looking down at her hands.

  Ivy went to the kitchen, returned with a slip of paper and handed it to Manelli. He thanked her, stood up and handed it to Officer Rivera who copied down the information.

  “Juan Alvarez is incapable of murder,” Holly said, still focused on her hands in her lap.

  Manelli glanced at Holly, then looked at Ivy. “Because you had access to the crime scene, we’ll need you both to come down to Police Headquarters tomorrow for fingerprinting.”

  Holly bit her lip and brushed away a tear starting down her cheek. Ivy put her hand on Holly’s shoulder and said, “Of course.”

  “Here’s my card, and Officer Rivera will give you hers. Call her tomorrow morning. If you think of anything that might help us, call me.”

  Ivy took the card from the detective as Officer Rivera rose, returned the slip of paper with Juan’s contact information and added her business card. Holly remained seated on the couch, rubbing her forehead with her hands, her eyes closed. Ivy escorted the pair to the front door. After closing and locking the door, she returned to the living room. Holly looked up. “I think I need another Jameson.”

  3 POLICE HEADQUARTERS

  At 12:52 PM the next day Holly eased into an open parking space marked visitor behind Pineland Park Police Headquarters and turned off the ignition. Their appointment was scheduled for 1:00 PM. As she reached to unfasten her seatbelt, Ivy placed a hand on Holly’s forearm.

  “Now, remember, you promised me you would stay calm today.”

  “And I will,” Holly reassured her. “I promise.”

  Ivy let go of Holly’s arm and reached to unclasp her own seatbelt. “Why am I not convinced?”

  “Look, I don’t know what got into me yesterday. When I realized that detective was questioning you like a suspect, I got a little crazy. And when he said Edna was murdered, I lost it, I admit. I was caught off guard. Today’s different. Today I’m prepared.”

  “Okay, then let’s go.”

  Inside the front entrance the two sisters were instructed by a policewoman to put their handbags on a conveyor belt and step through a metal detector. “I feel like I’m back at the airport,” Ivy said.

  I wish we were. If only we could start this visit all over again. Holly hoped that after this ordeal, they would be able to go to the garden center, buy some bedding plants and put this all behind them. When it was her turn, she held her breath as she walked through the metal detector. Thank heaven--no buzzers.

  After clearing the initial security checkpoint, they had to stand in line to speak with a police officer seated at a desk located in front of another set of doors. Holly looked around at the drab green walls and spotted some water stains on the ceiling. “You know, I’ve never been here before and I’ve lived in this town more than twenty years.”

  “I can’t say I’ve ever been to a police station either. I guess we’ve been pretty lucky.”

  “Until now.” Holly frowned.

  “Relax. This is just because I touched the pill bottle and we both touched the railing. Our fingerprints won’t be on the murder weapon and that will be the end of it.”

  “Next,” snapped the chubby, balding police officer behind the desk. Holly and Ivy approached.

  “Names,” he said without looking up.

  “Holly and Ivy Donnelly.” Holly answered.

  “Who are you here to see?”

  “Officer Yolanda Rivera,” Holly read off the business card they’d received the night before.

  The officer picked up a phone. “Holly and Ivy Donnelly to see you.” The policeman looked up at them for the first time and grinned. “Yeah. Okay.” He hung up the phone and asked, “Are you really twins?”

  “Wrong,” Holly said, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. “Ouch!” Holly glared at Ivy who’d just pinched her. Ivy smiled at the policeman and fluttered her eyelashes. “Don’t mind her, Officer,” Ivy gushed. “She’s just annoyed because she’s younger than me.”

  The policeman laughed and said, “Go through the doors and wait there for Officer Rivera. She’s on her way.”

  “Thank you so much,” Ivy said, as she looped her arm through Holly’s and led the way.

  As soon as they got through the doors, Holly asked, “Why did you say that I was younger?”

  Still holding onto Holly’s arm, Ivy whispered, “To defuse the situation. In spite of your promise to stay calm, you were already getting testy with a man who was just making conversation.”

  Holly swallowed hard and raised her chin. “You�
�re right. I’m not normally rude.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re just nervous. Now snap out of it.”

  “Okay, okay.”

  Officer Rivera appeared. ”Good morning, ladies. Thank you for coming in.”

  Holly wanted to ask if they had a choice. Instead she just said, “You’re welcome.” After all, this young woman was being polite, just doing her job. This morning she looked much younger than she had sitting in Holly’s living room the night before.

  “Follow me,” the policewoman said. ”I’ll escort you to the lab.”

  As they walked down the corridor, they passed Room 101. On the door was the name “Detective Nicholas Manelli.” Holly felt that same tingling rush of nerves she felt the night before when Manelli and Rivera had walked up to her front door. She exhaled through her lips when they walked past and saw Room 101 was empty.

  “You understand why we need to do this, don’t you? We need to be able to identify your prints and distinguish them from any other prints we find at the scene,” Rivera said.

  “Yes,” Ivy replied. “That’s what I told Holly. My fingerprints will be on the pill bottle and not on the murder weapon.”

  “That’s right.” Officer Rivera looked from Ivy to Holly and back. ”It really is amazing how much you two look alike. It’s just your eyes are different.”

  Ivy grabbed Holly’s arm before she could respond. “Yes, mine are blue and Holly’s are green. Holly’s actually three years older than me, but who can tell?”

  “Not me,” Rivera said as they reached their destination. “Here we are. Inside Officer Brennan will fingerprint you. He’ll contact me when you’re finished and I’ll be back to escort you out.”

  Twenty minutes later Officer Rivera again was holding the door as Holly and Ivy exited the finger printing lab.

  “That wasn’t so bad, was it?” she asked smiling.

  “No, it wasn’t,” Holly replied. As they retraced their steps back down the long corridor, Holly looked over at Rivera. “Officer, have you spoken with Juan Alvarez yet?”

  The smile left Rivera’s face as she nodded. “Yes.”

  Holly waited for the policewoman to say more. When she didn’t, Holly probed. “He’s not a suspect, is he?”