Carol started to cry and Olivia found herself consoling her aunt even though Olivia felt she herself was more in need of help. Carol took two tissues from the Kleenex box on the fish-shaped coffee table and blew her nose loudly. They looked at each other.
“What should I do, Aunt C? Should I go to the police? But then I could be fired. But how can I work with Matthew and Laura knowing this? I’m just so torn apart. I wish I’d never seen that note. It’s confusing me.”
“OK, let’s think logically,” Carol said, switching her brain into detective mode. “So Tom had the note. I’m certain he went to the police. How could you not if a friend gave you that and then wound up dead? So that part has to be taken care of. Liv, I’m usually one who thinks honesty is the best policy but in this case… I wonder if this stays a secret between the two of us. You don’t want to lose your internship. I know you have to work with two of those people but the note could be nothing important, plus we have no idea who did this. Maybe it was a robbery or someone from her past or who knows. I mean, be careful around Matthew and Laura but I think it’s OK. You work in a busy newsroomfilled with lots of people, right? You’re never alone with Matthew or Laura. The police will be looking into them after Tom shares the note and if they find anything, they’ll be arrested. I think my vote is that you just stay the course. What do you think?”
“I think… I agree,” Olivia said with a long sniffle. She reached for a tissue. “I’ll just keep my head down and pretend it never happened.”
“Yes,” said Carol. “Pretend it never happened but also be glad it did in a way. Because you and I now know something that no one else on this planet does except for Tom and the police. I wonder if we can do a little sleuthing on our own. Maybe we can help break the case. What sweet justice that would be for Faith. It’s the very least we can do for such a wonderful person.”
Olivia knew how her aunt loved true crime shows and mystery novels. She could see Carol’s eyes gleaming as she spoke of justice for Faith. Sure, Olivia would love to help solve a crime and bring a criminal to justice too, but she was still just an intern and didn’t want to get too entangled in some web, especially if a killer walked among them. Her plan was to shut up and be totally normal, but she nodded to appease Carol.
“You know what, hon? I won’t even tell Jim at this point. Our little secret, OK? That way you know it’s just between us. You keep your eye on Matthew and this Laura. I wonder if there’s a chance for me to cross paths with Steve again and scope him out more. Liv, we could be the difference makers here.”
Olivia nodded again. Carol seemed filled with adrenaline and plans, but Olivia’s own chest was still heavy, and a lump sat in her throat.
“Come on, let’s get tea and cookies,” Carol said. “I’ll text Jim and send him on to another store for a few more things so we can have girl time. OK, Liv? You good now?”
“Not exactly good but I’m a little better,” Olivia said, forcing a smile. She didn’t feel good at all, but she was slightly improved from when she had arrived. At least she told someone.
“Oh, I do have your autographed picture of Faith with me too,” Olivia said, reaching into her bag. “Did you realize this might be the last autograph she ever did?”
Carol sucked in her breath and her eyes started to tear up as she looked at it. She read the inscription aloud.
“‘To Carol and Jim Henning, thank you for being Fair-Weather Friends. Stay on the sunny side of life! Best always, Faith.’
“I’m going to frame this and put it in a very special spot in the den,” Carol said with a sad smile. It was instantly the most treasured item she owned.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Carol
June 4
Carol had always enjoyed her job. It wasn’t what most people would call glamorous but she didn’t care what others thought. It was something she had been doing for decades and it fit her. She first walked in the door as an employee at Kohl’s when she was in her thirties, getting a job as a cashier and working her way up, all the way to being one of the daytime assistant managers.
Kohl’s was your classic department store, sectioned out for women, men, kids, and toddlers/babies. There was a home goods area, where you could buy everything from sheets to towels to saucepans; a section for makeup, jewelry, perfume, and luggage; places to purchase vacuums, blenders, shoes, and wrapping paper. About the only thing they didn’t sell was food. Carol knew the layout of the store so well she could tell you down to the square inch where everything was located.
It was Monday morning and Carol was scheduled to do some inventory in the back, then help design several carousels of sundresses. In the afternoon she would be interviewing a prospective cashier as well as helping out on the registers.
Her favorite part was the setting up of the clothing. There was an artistry to it, and it was both creative and meditative deciding what dresses would go on what rack to catch the eye of the customers. She was looking forward to the meditative part, especially. It would give her time to think and reflect on her conversation with Olivia. What a crazy thing for poor Liv to get wrapped up in. Carol hadn’t wanted to scold her niece for looking at the note; she could tell how bad Olivia felt about it. Carol herself might not have peeked at a note that someone gave her and asked to give to someone else, but Carol wasn’t Olivia. Olivia had always been what Evelyn called “a rabble-rouser.” Carol actually thought it was exciting to be related to a young, strong, independent-minded woman who pushed conventional norms to the side. And now Carol knew more information about Faith’s final night than almost anyone else. It was a weird thing to think about. In some ways Carol was glad to have this bonus knowledge, and in others, it made her uneasy. She needed time to process.
Walking into the employee room at Kohl’s, Carol went to her locker and hung up her purse, turning the combination lock to keep it safe. She poured herself a cup of coffee from the shared pot on the counter and added two creams and one sugar, just the way she liked it. Glancing at the clock she saw she had four minutes until her shift officially started. She was sipping the coffee when two other employees walked in.
“Good morning, Carol,” said Simone. “We were just talking about that big news from Channel 9. Did you hear what happened Friday night?”
“Yes,” Carol said with a sigh. “It’s sickening, just awful.”
“I heard they had a massive vigil yesterday,” piped in Rita. “I thought about going but we had other plans. Did either of you go?”
“Not me,” said Simone. “I never really watch the news. I mean, I know who Faith Richards is but I don’t watch hardly ever. The news is too depressing. My doctor told me it’s not good for my heart.”
“I actually attended the vigil,” offered Carol.
“You did? How was it?” said Rita.
“Extremely touching. So many fans there as well as people from Channel 9.”
“You have some of her earrings, right?” asked Rita. “Didn’t you get some for Christmas?”
