Amber Dee's Missing Toe by Matt Ferraz

Author:Matt Ferraz [Ferraz, Matt]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-12-06T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Pieces that Fit Together

The clock struck eleven as Winifred and Grandma Bertha arrived home after spending the day in the police station, where Winifred had told and retold detectives about her encounter with Jeannie. Grandma Bertha picked up the dogs from Mr Hanks’ apartment and promised she would bake him a cake someday. Only then were they able to discuss everything in detail.

“This was all my fault,” said Grandma Bertha, putting the kettle on. “I should never have sent you there alone.”

“No – if you had been there, it would’ve been a bloodbath,” said Winifred, sitting on the couch and taking off her shoes. “We would both be dead now. You wouldn’t have been able to hide or fight that woman.”

The image of Dana’s dead body would not leave Winifred’s mind. According to the coroner, Dana had been dead for less than half an hour when Winifred had arrived. The woman who had called herself Jeannie must have been looking for something and hadn’t wanted to be interrupted.

The police had showed Winifred dozens of mug shots at the police station, but none of them looked like Jeannie. Dana’s neighbours didn’t know her either. Two of them had seen her running from the building, screaming in pain. She wouldn’t have been able to get far that way. Somebody must have picked her up.

“You were brave,” said the old lady, serving Winifred tea.

“I’m bad luck,” the girl replied, noticing Grandma Bertha hadn’t poured herself a cup. “This is the second member of Amber’s family that I have found dead. Aren’t you having a tea?”

“I need a cold one,” said Grandma Bertha, taking a beer can from the fridge. “And how are your nerves?”

Winifred considered the question. “I’m not sure if I’ll be able to sleep tonight. I keep seeing that woman’s face. And her hand. There was something really strange about her hand.”

“What?” asked Grandma Bertha, opening her beer.

“Her pinkie finger on her left hand was too big,” she replied.

“That’s interesting,” said Grandma Bertha, sitting down. The dogs arranged themselves around her feet. She took a big sip before continuing. “The tea she offered you had poison in it. Plain rat poison that you can buy at any hardware store – and that’s what she used to kill Dana Dee. Now, think. Jeannie – let’s keep calling her that – comes to Dana’s house, and Dana makes her tea. At some point Dana leaves the room, and Jeannie adds the poison to her tea. Dana drops down dead. Jeannie goes to the kitchen and puts on Dana’s washing-up gloves. Then she drags Dana to her room…”

“She was very strong,” said Winifred. “That wouldn’t have been hard for her.”

“But why?” asked Grandma Bertha. “Why bother to move the body? Here’s my guess: she suspected someone would visit the apartment.”

“But who?” asked Winifred.

Grandma Bertha jumped off the couch, almost spilling her beer. “Dr Balsam!” she said. “We need to tell the police.”

She grabbed the phone and dialled Inspector Shaw’s number. “Inspector! Grandma Bertha here.

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