Page 48 of Little Dark Deeds
CHAPTER 18
Iwas sitting on Tiffany’sfront porch staring at the envelope in my hand.I hadn’t opened it yet, and I wasn’t sure why I was hesitating.If this were any other case, once it got into my hot little hands, I would have torn it open the first chance I got.
This was different somehow.
Not knowing what the contents inside might contain, I was nervous—and I liked to think I didn’t get nervous.It’s what I told myself, at least.
It’s not going to open itself, Gigi.
Just do it.
I heeded the pep talk I’d just given myself, putting on a pair of gloves.Then I undid the clasp, pulling the flap open.Reaching in, I grabbed the contents, pulled them out, and set them on my lap, my eyes coming to rest on a series of photos—lots of photos—printed out on plain white printer paper, from the looks of it.
In one, Tiffany and Tyler were leaning against her car, embraced in a hug.In another, Tiffany, Tyler, and Ron were sitting at the table inside Tiffany’s house having dinner.In yet another, the two were on the front porch, kissing.
The photos revealed patterns.
In each of them, Tiffany looked happy and content, like love had found its way to her door at long last.It was also obvious the photos had been snapped over a series of days as evidenced by the fact that Tiffany’s hair and wardrobe were different in several of the images.
The one constant was the vantage point from which the photos had been taken—from outside Tiffany’s house.It made sense that she and Tyler always got together at her place, given he was married and lived forty minutes away in San Luis Obispo.I bet he thought forty minutes was far enough away for him to keep his secret until he decided to let it out.
If true, I wondered whether Tiffany ever questioned why he always came to her house, or why she was never invited to his.Maybe she had questioned him.If so, what excuse would he have given?If I had been in her situation, it would have been one of the first things I asked.In that way, we were total opposites—Tiffany always trusting, and me, always questioning.
“Hello, dear.”
Startled to realize I was no longer alone, I looked up.A much older woman stood in front of me, her hands on hips, her short, curly, white hair radiating in the sunlight.
I flipped the photos over, stripped off the gloves on my hands, and slid the photos back into the envelope.
“I don’t believe we’ve met,” I said.
“We haven’t.I’m Queenie Jenkins.I live across the street.Who might you be?”
“Georgiana Germaine.”
“Aha, the detective I’ve been hearing about.We’ve been expecting you.The neighborhood has been all abuzz about Tiffany’s famous detective friend.”
“I am a detective, and I was Tiffany’s friend, but famous?I don’t know about that.”
“I do.Tiffany told Martha all about you, and Martha told Janice, and Janice told me.You’re good at solving murders.”
I nodded, and she smacked my shoulder.
“See there, you’re just being modest,” she said.“No need, not around us.”
“Us?”
Queenie turned and shouted toward the hedges on the neighboring property.“Martha, Janice, I’ve made the introductions.You can come on over.”
Two more women similar in age to Queenie popped their heads up and gave me a wave.They scurried over, smiling but saying nothing.
“Why were you hiding?”I asked.“You could have just come over and introduced yourself like Queenie just did.”
Queenie swished a hand through the air.“Oh, Janice and Martha are both on the shy side, and we’ve been debating whether you wanted to be approached or not.We’ve been watching you through Janice’s window for some time.You seem ...well, sad, if you don’t mind me saying so.Not that we blame you.It’s dreadful, what happened to Tiffany.We’re all so sorry she’s no longer with us, sorry to lose such a wonderful woman, and sorry for your loss.I realize my words of support can’t fix what’s happened, but we wanted to give our condolences all the same.”
“I appreciate it.”
It was clear Queenie was the ringleader of the group, the other two nodding as if content to let her continue to do all the talking.
