Murder at the Church: Cottonwood Springs Cozy Mystery Series Read online

  “I’d be happy to,” Brigid said. She opened her cabinets to look for ingredients. “I think I have the stuff to make some cream cheese brownies. People always seem to like those. Would that do?”

  “That would be perfect,” Missy said brightly. “Thanks again. I’d love to talk, but I really do have a number of things I need to do.”

  “I understand. See you tonight,” Brigid said as she ended the call.

  She was on her way to the bathroom to take a shower when she heard a knock on the front door. Brigid looked through the small window and saw Linc on the other side, smiling at her. She laughed and opened the door.

  “I was just getting ready to hop in the shower. If you want to wait a couple of minutes, you can hang out with Jett. He’d love it.” As soon as his name was mentioned, the big dog ran to the door and bumped against her leg. Linc walked in, and she shut the door behind him.

  “Take your time. Jett and I haven’t had any guy time for a while.” He’d already started playing with Jett, who was jumping around and obviously eager to play with Linc.

  “Enjoy the guy time. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  She headed down the hall, and as she walked by the guest bedroom, she glanced into it. She’d tried rearranging the room and shutting the door, but it hadn’t helped. In her mind’s eye, she could still see Rachele’s laptop sitting on the desk, the story of her best friend Lucy’s murder displayed on the screen. Even the thought of it made her shiver.

  Brigid shook her head, took a deep breath, and a few moments later she opened her closet and began picking out clothes to wear. Grabbing a pair of jeans and a white cotton shirt, she headed into the bathroom and turned on the shower. It didn’t take long before the warm water soothed her body, which was already feeling a bit stiff from the run.

  She’d started working on getting in shape a few weeks earlier and was beginning to feel pleased with the results. With everything that had happened when she was investigating Lucy’s death, Brigid felt as though she needed to be able to protect herself, and having a strong body was part of the process.

  Linc had been visiting her quite often lately, but neither one of them had made a commitment. For now, they simply enjoyed being with one another. After having been in a bad marriage, Brigid was enjoying her independence, and he was fine with that. Neither one of them wanted to put a label on what they had, afraid it might ruin it, so they’d decided to let things just unfold naturally, however that may be.

  When she was out of the shower and dressed, she joined Linc and Jett in the great room. She couldn’t help but laugh. Jett had Linc on the ground, licking his face. Linc was trying to avoid the slobbery licks, but without much success.

  “Hate to tell you this, but whatever game you’re playing, I think Jett won,” she said. Jett hopped off of Linc and rushed over to greet Brigid, tail wagging, as if she’d just come home from an extended trip, rather than walking down the hall returning from her shower.

  “Yeah, I’d have to agree with you,” Linc said as he got up off the floor. “How was the run?”

  “It’s not number one on my list of fun things to do, but it seems to be working, and I think it’s great exercise for Jett. As big as he is, he needs some.” She turned and looked at the dog who had left her side and climbed up on the old loveseat in the corner that had become his bed. He was already snoring softly.

  “That’s good,” Linc said. He paused and clapped his hands, “Drum roll, please. I have some news.” Linc looked nervous. He knew how Brigid felt about their relationship, and he felt like there was a big grey area about what their future looked like.

  “Oh, and I assume you’re going to share it,” she said, sitting down in her favorite armchair.

  Linc screwed up his face, as if he was trying hard to think about exactly how he wanted to phrase it. “It’s like this, Brigid, my parents are coming for a visit.” He quickly put his hand up. “You don’t have to meet them if you don’t want to. It’s completely up to you. They’re going to be staying overnight at my house, kind of a landing place because my mother has been wanting to come see my home…” he said, letting his sentence trail off.

  “That’s great!” Brigid said. “Aren’t you happy about it?” She sensed his anxiety, but she wasn’t quite sure what was worrying him.

  “Of course, I am, but if you don’t feel our relationship is at a place where you want to meet them yet, I’d completely understand. In which case, we will have to postpone our dinner tomorrow night, because I just found out they were coming.” Linc sat down nervously on the couch. He was hoping Brigid would want to meet them. His first wife and his parents hadn’t gotten along well at all. He didn’t know where things were going with Brigid and him, but he knew he’d feel a lot better about it if both sides could at least tolerate each other.

  Brigid thought about it for a moment before answering. “I’d very much like to meet them if you want me to, Linc. The opportunity is presenting itself, so we may as well take advantage of it.”

  Linc visibly relaxed. “Great,” he said. “I have some work I have to do today, but if you aren’t busy tonight maybe we could watch a movie or something.”

  “I’m sorry, Linc, but I can’t tonight,” she said. “I told Missy I’d help her out at the church.”

  “Okay. Just thought I’d ask. I’ll call you with the details,” he said as he stood up. Brigid stood as well and gave him a hug.

  “Have a good day,” she said before they kissed goodbye. Jett opened one eye and sleepily looked at them, deciding it was more important for him to stay where he was than accompany Linc to the door.

  “You, too,” he said.

  *****

  That evening when Brigid pulled into the church parking lot, she parked as close to the back door as possible. Clouds had moved in. The weather report had said there was a chance it would rain, and it looked like they were finally right. Brigid picked up the tray of brownies she’d made and hurried into the church.

  “It’s starting to get stormy out there,” she said after greeting Missy.

  “Oh, really? I’ve been inside for a couple of hours, so I hadn’t noticed. I hope everyone makes it here okay,” she said with a worried expression on her face.

  “Why wouldn’t they?” Brigid asked as she set the brownies down on the table.

  “A couple of them live here in town and walk to the meetings. They don’t own a car,” Missy said simply.

  Brigid was surprised, not that people had to walk to the meeting, but that she’d taken something as simple as her car for granted. She had a feeling she was going to learn some other things tonight that she’d also taken for granted.

  Brigid and Missy began setting up the chairs and getting things ready for the meeting. Before long, people started arriving. Brigid did her best to put a name with a face, but she knew there was no way she was going to be able to remember all of them. Eventually, a woman walked through the door and Brigid noticed Missy heaving a sigh of relief.

  “I’m so glad you made it,” Missy said as she hurried over to the woman. The woman had short chestnut-brown hair with freckles dotting the bridge of her nose. She was thin and wore a jacket that was far too big for her slender frame.

  “It started to sprinkle just as I got here,” she said smiling. “I took that as a good omen.”

  “Maggie, this is my good friend Brigid. She’s helping me out tonight,” Missy said, introducing them.

  “Nice to meet you,” Maggie said shaking Brigid’s hand.

  “Nice to meet you, too,” Brigid said.

  “Maggie’s been coming to our meetings for a few weeks now, and she’s doing great, especially considering her circumstances. I’m really proud of her,” Missy said as she warmly put her hand on Maggie’s shoulder.

  The woman blushed and looked away. “I’m not special, Missy. Plenty of people stay sober every day,” she said dismissing the praise.

  “It’s a great accomplishment,” Brigid said with a smile. “You s
hould be proud of yourself.”

  Maggie looked at Brigid, surprised by what she’d said, and then allowed herself a real smile. “Thank you.”

  A rumble of thunder shook the floor just as Missy began to raise her voice. “Alright everyone. Grab a soft drink or coffee and a snack if you’d like and take a seat. We’ll get started when everyone’s gotten settled.”

  Brigid took a seat along one side of the room and silenced her phone. She sat back and listened to each person stand up and speak about their struggles to stay sober. She heard the backstory given by those who stood and along with others, applauded their successes. As the meeting wore on she found herself secretly rooting for each one of them. She’d never felt so close to a group of strangers in her entire life. She couldn’t even begin to imagine what it must have taken for each of them to go to their first meeting.

  When it was over, everyone continued to talk as they headed toward the exit, except for Maggie, who remained seated. “Would you like another brownie, Maggie?” Missy asked as she walked over to the snack table and picked one up.

  “Yes, please. They were wonderful.” She stood up from where she was sitting and joined Missy.

  Missy looked up at Brigid and said, “You don’t have to stay. After the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting we have a Narcotics Anonymous meeting.”

  “Well, don’t you still need help?” Brigid asked. “I’m happy to stick around for a while longer.”

  “No, but thanks. Maggie is the only one who attends. It’s not really an official NA meeting, but we do our best,” Missy said as she smiled at Maggie.

  “Apparently, I’m the only one who wants to get clean around here,” Maggie said with a laugh.

  “I’d like to stay, if you don’t mind. Maybe there’s something I can do,” Brigid said.

  Maggie smiled thinly. “That’s up to you, but you may not like me very much after you hear about the things I’ve done.”

  CHAPTER 2

  “Your past doesn’t need to define your future, Maggie,” Missy told the younger woman. “Everyone’s made mistakes. It’s what we do after we acknowledge them that shows who we really are.”

  “Intellectually I know that, but emotionally I’m still struggling to cope with what I did when I wasn’t in my right mind. At the time, it seemed like the right thing to do. Now that I’m sober, I see how twisted my thinking was. I’m left with what I’ve done, and believe me, those aren’t very happy memories.” Maggie’s head hung down. A moment later she turned to Brigid and smiled. “I promise I’m not always this sad. It’s just been a rough week for me.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Brigid said. “You’ll probably feel better if you get everything off your chest.”

  Maggie nodded and turned back to Missy. “I know I’m supposed to take things one day at a time, but there’s one person who’s really making that difficult for me.”

  “Let me guess. Billy. But you expected that, didn’t you?” Missy asked gently, although her words were forceful. She was being kind with Maggie, but she also knew there were times when you had to show a bit of sternness to someone in Maggie’s position. “You need to let him go, Maggie. He’s a thorn in your side, and if you don’t let him go, he’ll undo all the good you’ve done. He can’t do anything but bring you trouble.”

  “I know,” Maggie said. “I try to avoid him, because I don’t want to talk to him, but occasionally I’ve had to. Missy, you know how hard it can be in this small town to avoid people. I don’t answer his texts or phone calls, and if I’m in a position where I have to talk to him, I keep it short and sweet.” Maggie twisted her hands in her lap. “It’s all so hard. Giving up the drugs is easy compared to the booze. Everywhere you look, you see it, even on television and at the movies.”

  Brigid couldn’t imagine what it was like to completely give up something so readily available. Then she remembered how she’d been struggling with giving up sweets while trying get in shape and how she’d rationalized having a candy bar the other day while she was grocery shopping. It had been a spur of the moment purchase, caused simply by seeing it. Maybe they were different substances, but she had a sense of just how tough the struggle must be for Maggie. Willpower was often in short supply just when one needed it most.

  “I admire you,” Brigid said. “You’re lucky to have Missy and her support. Just keep doing what you’re doing and surely Billy will get the hint. Some people are just a bit more stubborn. Sounds like he’s one of them. Have you tried getting him to come to the meetings with you?”

  Maggie nodded. “I wanted him to get sober with me, but he laughed and said he’d never step foot in a church. He thinks all they do is brainwash people. He’s an atheist.” She shrugged. “Billy took over selling meth when Mike Loomis got locked up. He won’t give up dealing drugs, because he says the money is so much easier than getting a real job.”

  “Forget Billy. I think you’re doing great,” Missy said, leaning forward and rubbing Maggie’s arm. “You know I’m here most of the time. In fact, sometimes when I can’t sleep at night, I go in the chapel and say a silent prayer. Think about it. It might help you when you feel anxious.”

  Missy looked at her watch and sighed. “I have to make a few phone calls. Don’t worry about cleaning up. I’ll get it later. Have a good rest of the evening, Brigid, and thank you again for helping.” She waved as she hurried through the wooden door that led upstairs to the church office.

  Brigid stood up and began putting away the chairs. She smiled when she saw Maggie doing the same. They both worked quietly for a few moments and then Brigid said, “It sounds like you’re doing really well, and I’m happy for you.”

  “Thanks, but it’s something I have to do for my daughter. If it wasn’t for Holly, I think I’d have given up long ago.” Maggie stacked the last chair on the cart and pushed it against the wall.

  “I didn’t know you had a daughter. How old is she?” Brigid asked as she wrapped up the brownies and cleaned off the table.

  “Thirteen. She’s great and really smart. I don’t know where she gets it from,” Maggie said, laughing. “She goes to the library every day during school summer vacation to study the subjects she’s going to have the following year, so she’ll have a leg up on everyone.”

  “Wow! That’s impressive. I bet her teachers love her,” Brigid said with a smile.

  “I don’t know. I’ve never been to a Parent Teacher conference,” Maggie said softly, looking down at the floor.

  Brigid paused, realizing she’d accidentally struck a nerve. “I’m sure the teachers aren’t worried about her. Anyway, from what I hear, those things are more for the kids who are struggling, and it sure doesn’t sound like she is.” Once everything was put away, Brigid and Maggie headed towards the door. “That’s probably something you could look forward to doing in the future. I’ll bet your daughter would be thrilled.”

  Maggie visibly brightened and smiled. “Thanks. I hadn’t thought of that. I’ve often thought Holly doesn’t want me there, like she’s ashamed of me. If so, I wouldn’t blame her. I hope that’s not always going to be the case.” She pushed the door open and stepped out into the covered area beside the church. They hadn’t heard the rain when they’d been inside the church, but once they were outside, they realized rain was pouring down.

  Brigid noticed Maggie’s look of apprehension as she stared at the rain. “Why don’t you let me give you a ride home?”

  “That’s okay, you don’t have to,” Maggie said, “I’m sure it’s out of your way.”

  “No, I absolutely insist. Come on,” Brigid jogged over to her car and quickly climbed in. After a moment of hesitation, Maggie joined her.

  “I really appreciate this,” Maggie said as she shut the door. “Normally walking isn’t a big deal, but when it rains like this…” She pulled her thin coat tighter around her.

  “Don’t even think about it,” Brigid said. She looked down at the brownies in her hands. After Maggie had buckled her seatbelt she hande
d them to Maggie. “Here, why don’t you take these home to your daughter so you two can share them?”

  Maggie’s face lit up. “She’d love that. Thanks. That’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me.” She gave Brigid the directions to get to her home and leaned back in her seat. “Have you ever done anything you really regretted?” Maggie finally asked.

  Brigid thought for a moment. “Of course. I think that’s something that comes with being human. We all do things we’re ashamed of later.” She looked sideways at Maggie and saw that she was looking out the window, lost in her thoughts. “I think it’s what you do to set things right that really determine who you are as a person. Even if you can’t fix it, if you just work hard at not being that person anymore, or making the same mistake, that’s what counts.”

  “I’ve hurt a lot of people, Brigid. I’ve been a thief, a homewrecker, and a lousy mother. I don’t know if I could ever make it up to all of them,” Maggie said with a sigh.

  Brigid turned down the street that led to the trailer park. The rain was finally starting to let up and there was a sliver of moonlight peeking through the clouds.

  “It’s the third one on the left with the yellow siding,” Maggie said as Brigid drove slowly between the trailers. “Why don’t you come in and have a brownie with us?” Maggie asked. “You could meet my daughter, Holly.”

  “I’d love that,” Brigid said, as she stopped her car in front of Maggie’s trailer. Although she didn’t particularly think it was safe to go into the home of a random stranger, in this case she felt it would be rude not to. Besides, she was really enjoying getting to know Maggie, and thought Maggie could probably use a few sober friends to help her on her way.

  “I apologize for the way the place looks. I know it isn’t very attractive. I haven’t exactly had my priorities straight.” Brigid could tell Maggie was embarrassed by the broken porch boards and the loose siding on the trailer.