| Family Fiction posted November 12, 2022 | Chapters: |
...25 26 -27- 28... 
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Miranda gets advice.
A chapter in the book The Miranda Chronicles
Your Move (Miranda)
by GWHARGIS
***So far, Miranda Jessup Buckley has been jilted, fired, and left to take care of her ex-lover's child. After discovering the body of the local pervert, Miranda stumbles on the apparent murder weapon. The sheriff advises her not to put herself at risk, but Miranda takes the advice of the local know-it-all and jumps head first into trouble. ***
I've been waiting in Matt's office for about ten minutes when Sheriff Mitch comes in. He does a double take when he sees me.
"Surprise," I say, trying to work up a smile.
"And yet, it's really no surprise at all." He hooks his thumb at me, a wordless command to follow him out back.
"So, tell me how and where you found the scissors."
"I was leaving work to go home. I opened the back door, took a step, heard something skitter across the rocks."
"Skitter?"
"Yes, Mitch. That's the sound metal on pavement makes. It skitters."
"Ok. It skittered. Then what? Did you touch it?"
"No." I scowl. What kind of person does he think I am? First it was did you touch the body, now it's did you touch the obviously bloody scissors. "No, not after I kicked them. But if they're the ones from the store, well, my fingerprints will be all over them."
He pulls a plastic bag out of his jacket pocket and takes his pen to pick them up. He holds the bag up and looks at the contents. "Sure looks like blood."
"Someone is trying awfully hard to make me look bad."
"Piss anybody off lately?" He looks at me with faintest hint of a smirk. "Who would get mad at you? You're so sweet and nice. Nobody could get mad at you."
"I'm not finding any humor in this. I've given you my statement. Can I go?"
"I guess. Just do me a favor."
"I know, I know. Don't leave town." I wave my hand as I start to walk away.
"That isn't exactly what I was going to say. Meet me for coffee tomorrow. Something's definitely up. Maybe, between the two of us, we can figure out why someone is trying to frame you."
For the first time, in what feels like forever, I have a glimmer of hope.
*******************
I sit in my car listening to a song from my high school era. I don't remember the name of the band or even what year it came out. Just the song itself used to make me smile. Reluctantly, I turn off the engine and open the door.
"You got a bad moon over you," a gravelly voice calls out.
"Thank you for noticing, Mrs. Fine," I call back. "Have a nice day now."
I start towards the porch but she keeps talking.
"Had a nosy reporter here this morning. Asking a lot of questions about you."
"And, of course, you told her all about me."
Mrs. Fine smiles. Her tobacco stained teeth look like crooked fence pickets. "If I don't tell 'em, they just make some crap up."
"Can't wait to see that article." I look away from her. She has this unique way of making you feel like a bug under a magnifying glass on a hot summer's day.
"You got trouble, miss. Yep. Who is after you?"
"I don't know, Mrs. Fine. I honestly don't know. But someone is one step ahead of me. They know where I go, who I'm with, and what I'm gonna do before I do."
She reaches for a pack of cigarettes in the pocket of her house dress. She taps one up and puts it between her thin fingers. "Smoke?"
"No thanks, quit about fifteen years ago."
"Well, good for you." The lack of sincerity in her voice is astounding. It makes me laugh. "Here's the thing you gotta think about. Who has that much time on their hands to scope you out? Who is suddenly around you a lot?"
"There are three people. So, oh wise one, what the hell should I do?"
"Ever hear the phrase, keep your friends close, and keep your enemies closer?"
I meet her gaze. Nodding, I look over at my trailer. "If you're right about this, I'm gonna buy you some top shelf cigarettes. The ones you're smoking smell like manure. If you're gonna get cancer, at least, enjoy the ride."
"You always have been a smart ass, Miranda. Oh, and tell that boy to stop giving me the finger when he walks by." She chuckles to herself.
There are two messages on the answering machine when I get inside. One is about my car's extended warranty. The other is my mother telling me she's unplugging her phone because of all the phone calls about my discovery at Haynes Pond.
Taking the thin phone book out of the junk drawer I look up a number. I stare at the phone. There is only one real enemy. I carefully dial the number.
She answers on the fourth ring. "Hello?"
"Missy, it's, um, it's me, Miranda. The offer for the drink still good?"
I hear a squeal through the phone.
"I really just need a friend right now." To my surprise, I hear the raw fear in my voice.
I don't like being afraid. People take advantage of fear. This girl will not be taken advantage of.
"I knew you'd come around. I'll be by around seven. That sound good?"
I look out of the kitchen window to where Mrs. Fine still sits smoking. You better be right about this, you old battleaxe. "Sounds perfect."
To be continued ...
***So far, Miranda Jessup Buckley has been jilted, fired, and left to take care of her ex-lover's child. After discovering the body of the local pervert, Miranda stumbles on the apparent murder weapon. The sheriff advises her not to put herself at risk, but Miranda takes the advice of the local know-it-all and jumps head first into trouble. ***
I've been waiting in Matt's office for about ten minutes when Sheriff Mitch comes in. He does a double take when he sees me.
"Surprise," I say, trying to work up a smile.
"And yet, it's really no surprise at all." He hooks his thumb at me, a wordless command to follow him out back.
"So, tell me how and where you found the scissors."
"I was leaving work to go home. I opened the back door, took a step, heard something skitter across the rocks."
"Skitter?"
"Yes, Mitch. That's the sound metal on pavement makes. It skitters."
"Ok. It skittered. Then what? Did you touch it?"
"No." I scowl. What kind of person does he think I am? First it was did you touch the body, now it's did you touch the obviously bloody scissors. "No, not after I kicked them. But if they're the ones from the store, well, my fingerprints will be all over them."
He pulls a plastic bag out of his jacket pocket and takes his pen to pick them up. He holds the bag up and looks at the contents. "Sure looks like blood."
"Someone is trying awfully hard to make me look bad."
"Piss anybody off lately?" He looks at me with faintest hint of a smirk. "Who would get mad at you? You're so sweet and nice. Nobody could get mad at you."
"I'm not finding any humor in this. I've given you my statement. Can I go?"
"I guess. Just do me a favor."
"I know, I know. Don't leave town." I wave my hand as I start to walk away.
"That isn't exactly what I was going to say. Meet me for coffee tomorrow. Something's definitely up. Maybe, between the two of us, we can figure out why someone is trying to frame you."
For the first time, in what feels like forever, I have a glimmer of hope.
*******************
I sit in my car listening to a song from my high school era. I don't remember the name of the band or even what year it came out. Just the song itself used to make me smile. Reluctantly, I turn off the engine and open the door.
"You got a bad moon over you," a gravelly voice calls out.
"Thank you for noticing, Mrs. Fine," I call back. "Have a nice day now."
I start towards the porch but she keeps talking.
"Had a nosy reporter here this morning. Asking a lot of questions about you."
"And, of course, you told her all about me."
Mrs. Fine smiles. Her tobacco stained teeth look like crooked fence pickets. "If I don't tell 'em, they just make some crap up."
"Can't wait to see that article." I look away from her. She has this unique way of making you feel like a bug under a magnifying glass on a hot summer's day.
"You got trouble, miss. Yep. Who is after you?"
"I don't know, Mrs. Fine. I honestly don't know. But someone is one step ahead of me. They know where I go, who I'm with, and what I'm gonna do before I do."
She reaches for a pack of cigarettes in the pocket of her house dress. She taps one up and puts it between her thin fingers. "Smoke?"
"No thanks, quit about fifteen years ago."
"Well, good for you." The lack of sincerity in her voice is astounding. It makes me laugh. "Here's the thing you gotta think about. Who has that much time on their hands to scope you out? Who is suddenly around you a lot?"
"There are three people. So, oh wise one, what the hell should I do?"
"Ever hear the phrase, keep your friends close, and keep your enemies closer?"
I meet her gaze. Nodding, I look over at my trailer. "If you're right about this, I'm gonna buy you some top shelf cigarettes. The ones you're smoking smell like manure. If you're gonna get cancer, at least, enjoy the ride."
"You always have been a smart ass, Miranda. Oh, and tell that boy to stop giving me the finger when he walks by." She chuckles to herself.
There are two messages on the answering machine when I get inside. One is about my car's extended warranty. The other is my mother telling me she's unplugging her phone because of all the phone calls about my discovery at Haynes Pond.
Taking the thin phone book out of the junk drawer I look up a number. I stare at the phone. There is only one real enemy. I carefully dial the number.
She answers on the fourth ring. "Hello?"
"Missy, it's, um, it's me, Miranda. The offer for the drink still good?"
I hear a squeal through the phone.
"I really just need a friend right now." To my surprise, I hear the raw fear in my voice.
I don't like being afraid. People take advantage of fear. This girl will not be taken advantage of.
"I knew you'd come around. I'll be by around seven. That sound good?"
I look out of the kitchen window to where Mrs. Fine still sits smoking. You better be right about this, you old battleaxe. "Sounds perfect."
To be continued ...
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