Chapters 24 & 25

I fell asleep thinking about the stuff Mavis had told me. A lot of it didn’t make sense, especially the part about there not being much blood around Eva’s body. Did this mean she had been killed somewhere else and then moved? But to move a bleeding body would have left blood all over the person who moved her. Mavis didn’t know if there was blood all over the guy who hurt Javelin. Why was Eva there in the first place? And where was Dirk when all this was going on? Mavis said no one had seen Dirk. Did he have something to do with this?

I couldn’t imagine Javelin witnessing someone hurt Eva without trying to intervene. He might not have liked her but he wasn’t so cold-blooded that he would stand by and allow murder to happen. I fell asleep with these questions on my brain. This time I slept soundly with no nightmares marring my slumber.

The next day I sat by the phone, waiting to hear from the elder Mr. Bow-Ridge, but he never called. When the phone did ring, it was Tiki Smith.

“Hey Viv, just the person I need to talk to,” he said in his usual cheery voice.

“Hi Tiki, any news on Eva’s murder?” I asked, knowing he probably wouldn’t tell me anything.

“We’re still investigating. In fact, the Sheriff wants you to drop by his office today. He’s talking to all of Eva’s classmates. It’s routine, so don’t get worried,” he said.

“Sure, I’ll be there. Any particular time?“ I asked.

“Try to get here within the next hour. We’ve got a lot to do, Vivian,“ he said.

“Sure. Tiki, how could something like this happen? Do you have any idea who did it?” I asked.

“We’re checking out leads. That’s all I can say. I hope you understand,” Tiki said.

“I do. See you later.”

After I hung up with Tiki, I told Mother I had to go to the station to answer some questions about Eva. I secretly wished that she would volunteer to drive me but she didn’t. All she said was, “Be careful, honey. If you need someone, call your Father.” I should have known she wouldn’t come along, but the lonely girl inside me wished differently.

The Sheriff’s department was a swarm of activity. I was directed to wait in an interview room that had a mirror on one wall. The room was very quiet. I sat at the table facing the mirror. The tingle on my forehead told me someone was watching me through the mirror. It felt like I had stepped into a mystery novel and was waiting for the cops to come in and play their game of ‘good cop/bad cop.’ After about twenty minutes of waiting, Sheriff Florence and Tiki came into the interview room.

“Good afternoon, Miss Wilde.” He said, shaking my hand. Tiki nodded at me and smiled at me. I smiled back at Tiki.

“Hi, Sheriff Florence,” I said. My hands were clammy. The waiting gave me time to think about Eva’s murder. I had a feeling it was done on purpose, to throw me off guard, so that it would be easy to tell if I were lying. I had nothing to hide and thought it a waste of time to make me sit and stew, so to speak.

“As you know Eva Clark was murdered yesterday around lunchtime. Where were you between 11 am and 1 pm?” He asked.

Tiki answered for me, “Sir, I checked with her father this morning. He said she was at home during those hours, helping her mother with blueberry preserves. They sell them.”

Sheriff Florence frowned. “Deputy Smith, I asked Miss Wilde a question, not you. Maybe you should be out following leads. I’m a big boy. I can question Miss Wilde all by myself.”

Tiki didn’t look too pleased with the sheriff’s order. He stood up from the table, but didn’t leave right away. The sheriff looked at him over his reading glasses and said, “Deputy Smith, is there a problem?”

Tiki gulped and said, “No sir. It’s just that I know Miss Wilde very well and she isn’t involved in this investigation.”

“I’m not saying she is, Deputy. There are just a few questions regarding Miss Clark’s background that I want to ask Miss Wilde about. You’re excused, Deputy. And that’s an order.” The sheriff waited until the door closed behind Tiki to continue. “Now, Miss Wilde can you tell me in your own words where you were and what you were doing between 11 am and 1 pm yesterday?”

“I was at my house. Mother and I were making blueberry preserves. We worked until 2 pm, then I got a shower and waited for my boyfriend, James Bow-Ridge III to call but he never did. We had plans for an afternoon date. Instead, a friend called and told me about Eva’s murder and his accident. I left and went directly to the emergency room.”

He wrote down everything I said. Nothing was said for at least five minutes, after he repeated what I had said. Sheriff Florence studied my words, as if looking for a hidden code within their spaces. Finally he asked, “What’s your opinion of Miss Clark?”

I cleared my throat and tried to be fair and just in my statement. “She’s a good person. I’ve known her since first grade. She is popular at school. A lot of people like her.”

“Don’t you mean ‘was,’ Miss Wilde?”

His correction of Eva’s current status startled me. I said, “It’s hard to believe she’s gone, sir.”
Sheriff Florence‘s voice was as sharp as a knife, cutting into me. “You’re happy about that, aren’t you Miss Wilde? She was your rival and had in fact, stolen your boyfriend away from you. Most girls would want their rival dead and out of the way. And she is now. Dead and out of the way.”

“She’s not my rival. I would never wish for something as awful as that. Trent broke up with me before he started dating Eva. Ask Paul, he knows all the facts.”

“I’m not questioning my son. I’m question you, Miss Wilde. Let’s stay focused. A girl like Eva would have many enemies, especially jealous ones.”

“Sir, I have never been jealous of Eva. No matter what you may think of our relationship, she has been a good friend to me.”

“Until this summer,” he said.

As honest as I could be, I said, “Sheriff Florence, it’s true that Eva and I haven’t been close this summer. I don’t know why she chose to alienate me and some of our other close friends. Whatever her reasons were, I won’t ever know. But I’ll say this, Eva had a good heart and she worked hard to better herself. That’s all I have to say about her.”

He suddenly smiled. “Very good, Miss Wilde. I knew the truth would come out. A few of your friends have said that she had distanced herself from most of her friends. I know how you teen-agers gossip. Have you heard anything about Eva, even if it sounds crazy?”

I was a little angry with his treatment of me. Why did he think he had to make me upset to get what he considered the truth. I answered, “No sir.” Then I said, “Wait a minute. Someone told me they saw her talking to a tall man one night outside of Sadie Ruth’s tavern. But I can’t remember who said it or when they saw her.”

“You can’t remember who told you this?” He asked, suddenly as watchful as a vulture.

“No sir. But if I do, I’ll call or come by,” I said.

He closed his notebook, smiling at me. I could see where Paul got his good lucks. Sheriff Florence said, “I’m sorry that your boyfriend had to be moved to a different hospital. It must be hard on you.”

I wasn’t expecting him to be so nice, especially regarding Javelin. “It is. I haven’t heard anything today. I’m worried.”

“I could take you someplace for a coke, if you like.” He leaned towards me. This man was full of surprises.

“Thanks but I’ll be okay, sir.” I said, a bit uneasy.

“Oh, little girl there are plenty of places to go if you’re afraid of being seen with an old guy like me,” said Sheriff Florence. He leaned closer, examining my hair. “You should let your hair down. Have some excitement.”

“Thanks but I don’t have time for that, sir. The blueberries call. Are we done?” I asked.

“Yes. It appears we are.” He straightened abruptly. From his stiff form, I could tell he wasn’t thrilled with my declining his offer for excitement. He didn’t say another word, as I walked out of the interview room. Nor did he take his eyes off me. I stilled the urge to run from him, to run as fast as I could.

Tiki was coming into the building as I was leaving. He said, “Viv, you look upset. How did it go?”

“As well as can be expected. It’s hard to believe Eva’s gone. The sheriff asked about the people she hung out with. I don’t know of anyone in particular other than the usual crowd.” Looking at Tiki I suddenly remembered who had mentioned Eva with a strange man. “Tiki, I told the Sheriff about someone seeing Eva talking to a strange man outside of Sadie Ruth’s tavern. I just realized it was you who told me that.”

“I told him about that yesterday. But I didn‘t get a good luck at the man. In fact, I‘ve been trying to find other witnesses, but haven‘t had any luck. I have to confess, Vivian. I wonder if this just wasn‘t a random attack. One of opportunity.”

“I wish I could be of more help, Tiki.” I sighed.

“Get home. If we need you, someone will call.” Tiki stood at the door as I walked away. I tried not to think of his troubled face as I drove home.

Chapter 25

It was a few days before the coroner released Eva’s body for burial. The funeral arrangements were made quickly. Blueberry Ridge had a penchant for covering up anything that was ugly. Eva’s murder was that and more. People were afraid for the first time in fifty years. The sheriff was no closer to solving the murder almost a week later. The newspaper screamed for closure and only finding the murderer could do that.

I dressed for the funeral with a somber heaviness. Mother and Father waited for me in downstairs, as I dressed. I felt that if I delayed getting ready, it would delay the reality--the cold reality that Eva was really dead. When I came down the stairs, Father surprised me by taking my hand. He held it all the way to the car. This comforted me more than anything he could have said. And all through the funeral service, he held it.

Eva was an only child. Her mother was the only family she had. The emptiness of the family section was a pitiful sight. The casket was closed and covered with pink carnations. The towns people had sent a massive collection of flowers, expressing sorrow. They covered the front of the church. The various sizes and colors were something to focus on instead of the casket. I listened without hearing as the minister droned on about life and death of the young, how it was cruel to end so suddenly and violently.

I stared straight ahead, fighting tears because I knew if they started that I wouldn’t be able to stop them. My sorrows ran deep. Not only losing a friend, but also losing a boyfriend. That very day I had gotten a letter from the elder Mr. Bow-Ridge, saying that Javelin was improving and that he wouldn’t be returning to Blueberry Ridge any time in the future. He included no phone number or address in his letter, which reeked of a coldness that bewildered me.

Once the funeral was over, everyone went to the cemetery located beside the church. The finality of Eva’s death came to me as I watched the casket laid down in the ground. I broke down, crying hard against my father’s shoulder. Eva was gone and I hated how our friendship had been cast aside due to pettiness over boys.

Once the tears ebbed away, I saw Trent standing in front of me. He said, “Vivian can we talk?” I nodded and held out my arms. He hugged me tightly. We stayed that way for a while, neither moving. I felt someone squeeze my shoulder from behind. It was Paul. I pulled him close with a free arm. Soon we were joined by Mavis and Jerome. All of us hugged each other, crying. There wasn’t anything we could say that would alleviate our pain. This day was the day to let our grief out, to forget about being strong in the face of the public eye.

As the graveyard workers began to put the dirt on Eva’s casket, Mother came over to tell me we needed to leave. I hugged everyone. Mavis said she would call later. Trent said he would, too. Father took my hand once again and we headed home. Once there I went upstairs to rest, feeling the full weight of mental drain on my shoulders.

Hours later I woke up to Mother’s voice. It was a murmur but I could hear most of what she said. The conversation was one-sided, meaning that she was talking to one of her friends on the phone. I knew it was wrong to eavesdrop but I couldn’t resist it once I heard her drop my name in the conversation.

“I don’t know what Vivian Carol will do now that the Bow-Ridge boy is gone. From what I’ve heard, he’s not coming back. She is smitten with him. Thank Heavens it’s not fatal. I’m hoping this whole experience will make Vivian grow up and take stock of her future.”

There was a pause, as Mother listened to the person on the other line. She replied, “Earl told me not to pressure Vivian into resuming her relationship with Trent Sawyer. He says I should leave things alone. Well, that’s fine by me. You should have seen how Mrs. Sawyer snubbed me at Mr. Bow-Ridge’s dinner party. Her nose was up so high, she could have drowned in a rain storm. And look at the mess her son’s in now; dating that little tramp who goes and gets herself killed. Tsk!”

My mother’s conversation made me angry. She didn’t know Eva well enough to judge her. Even if Eva was a ‘little tramp’ that didn’t mean she got herself killed, as Mother put it. I was relieved when she her phone conversation ended. Deciding I needed an escape, I called Mavis to see if she wanted to go somewhere. But she wasn’t home. On impulse I called Paul Florence. I was curious about his take on the murder, wondering if he had overheard his father talking, but mainly I wanted to find out what happened to Javelin. Paul and Trent were the ones to find him.
Kayla answered the phone. “Florence residence.”

“Hi Kayla. It’s Vivian. Is Paul home?” I asked.

“Hi Vivvie,’ she said in a voice devoid of emotion. “Paul’s in his room with Trent. Hang on. I’ll go get him.”

I hadn’t thought about the possibility that Trent might be there, too. I felt a little uncomfortable thinking about him because our relationship was now undefined.

“Hey Vivian,” Paul said, “Trent and I were just discussing you. Is your nose itching?”

I smiled, “It is now. Were you saying something nice?”

“We were wondering if you felt like meeting us at the Soda Shop for some ice cream or something like that. We’re tired of being cooped up.”

I said, “Me too. Why don’t I meet you there in thirty minutes?”

“Sounds great to me,” Paul said. “See you there, Viv.”