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“Lola, you did nothing wrong. Phil Hill was the one at fault here. He caused this. I bet if you talked to Margo and explained, she’d understand. Margo isn’t the kind of person to hold a grudge, especially when you’re just as much a victim in this, too.”
Trying to soothe her worries, I walked with her back to her office. She’d unpacked a lot, and I had already disliked the deputy, but now he went to an even deeper low for me. I didn’t care that he was dead. I wouldn’t have wished death on him, but it didn’t change his character and how I would’ve viewed him if he were still alive.
“I don’t know how to say this, but I want you to be prepared for what could be coming down the grapevine.”
Lola’s tear-stained face looked back at me. “What?”
“I want to warn you that a few people in town are already suspicious of you for his murder. Knowing now about what he did with you doesn’t help, either. It would be good if we could figure out how the wolf-claw knife ended up missing because it might lead us to the real culprit.”
She got quiet for a moment, and I thought I’d maybe upset her, that she wouldn’t want anything more to do with me, but then she spoke.
“I really don’t know where it could have gone, but several people did help me move into the office and the adjoining apartment.”
Lightbulbs went off in my mind. They could’ve easily seen the knife and thought it would be the perfect murder weapon, making the murder easier to pin on the newbie in town. “Who helped you move in?”
“Um, let’s see, there were the Ashworths and Mrs. Marrow because we’re neighbors. Sheriff Clawson showed up, introduced himself, and moved in several boxes and some furniture. Mateo helped the sheriff with the large furniture, and the Magpies stopped by to introduce themselves and bring a welcoming casserole and dessert so I didn’t have to worry about cooking my first night. It was great how people pitched in to help me settle in and say hi. At least, I thought it was until now.” Her voice quieted at the end. I hated hearing that because I knew most had been there to be friendly and kind.
“Hey, don’t think like that, okay? The people here are nosy but kind and want to help where they can. Don’t let one person ruin the way you feel about the town.”
Lola nodded and gave me a weak smile.
I mentally reviewed who was there, and it was a good list. It helped that my suspicions of Clawson were validated again. I was also still hesitant about Mateo. I hated to admit it, but I still couldn’t help but think he could have done it.
Lola was most definitely the wrong suspect. She was nervous and nauseated just talking about the murder. How in the world could she have gone through with it?
“We’ll figure this out. I promise everything will be fine and we’ll get your name cleared. Take it easy, and I’ll figure out who stole your knife.”
Lola hugged me tightly, fresh tears pouring out of the sweet woman. “I’m really, really glad you came to town because I’ve been horrible at making friends. Audrey is…well, she’s scary, and the entire ordeal with Margo made being friends with her impossible, but I feel like you and I get along great. It might help me feel like I finally have someone to connect with in town. It has been lonely.”
My heart twinged. Yet another person I was bound to upset when I moved on from here.
“I hope you and the mayor are planning on sticking around Blackwood Creek for a long time,” she continued. “I’d hate to lose out on a friendship with you.”
Lola stepped back from our embrace, and guilt swaddled me. My plan to leave was already in motion, and I’d decided not to tell anyone when I was taking off. The fake engagement only complicated things.
I was glad I’d gotten to meet Lola, though, because she was sweet. She gave me hope for people I had lost along the way.
“I’m happy we met, too,” I said.
As I left through the back door of her office, I realized it came out behind the offices and the library. It wouldn’t hurt to take a look around. Though I wasn’t sure what I was looking for, I was certain Lola was innocent. There had been no reason for her to go for Hill. Maybe I could get an idea of how someone got into her office.
I scanned the back of the connecting library, not expecting to find anything in the bare space. Frowning, I checked the whole area. I was missing something, but what, exactly?
Then I heard birds in the park outside the front of the library.
The bird feeder.
Mrs. Marrow had told me she was refilling the bird feeder when she heard Audrey scream. Where was it? There was no bird feeder back here.
“Hey, do you know what happened to the bird feeder?” I called out to Lola.
Lola looked around and shook her head. “There’s never been one, or at least I don’t remember ever seeing one. Why?”
A spasm hit my gut, and I smiled at Lola. I needed to talk to the librarian again to get her story straight.
“Never mind, I must have misunderstood.” I waved it off and put my focus back on the other woman. “You going to be okay?”
Lola nodded. “I am now, thanks to you. It really does help to have someone to talk to. I want you to know I am also here for you, and I won’t charge you by the hour.” She winked.
