Heron Heights Homicide by Nikki Hensley

Author:Nikki Hensley [Hensley, Nikki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wild Fox Press

Seventeen

When I approached Lizzie's house, it appeared to be dark. Her car was parked out front, so I knew she was home. I walked up the driveway that led to the backyard. Her lot was good sized. In summer she grew a bountiful vegetable garden in the yard. Now, in the middle of winter, the garden area was barren save for a few thick sunflower stalks that had endured and stuck up through the snow like posts. The heads from the sunflowers had long ago been picked over. Sunflower seeds were a favorite delicacy for the local birds and squirrels.

I heard folksy music gently floating out from the backhouse. Lizzie was working in her studio. She used the small building on the back of her property to host a humble studio for shooting portraits. The building also housed a darkroom where she developed and processed her own film. Lizzie was one of the only photographers for miles around that still liked to shoot photos on film. Of course, she also used digital cameras for a lot of projects as well. The door to the studio was shut, but a lamp was on inside. There was no sight of Lizzie though. She must have been back in the darkroom. The last thing I wanted to do was sneak up on her. My friend had been in a fragile state when I last saw her. I decided to knock gently on the door.

"Lizzie, it's me, Luna," I called. I waited a few moments. I heard noise coming from the darkroom area. It sounded like she was rearranging things. I knocked again, a little harder this time. "Lizzie, I come bearing gifts. Chocolate gifts," I called this time. That seemed to get her attention.

Lizzie emerged from the back wearing a black plastic apron. She spotted me at the door and smiled. "Come on in," she said.

I reached down and tried to turn the knob. "It's locked."

"Oh, that's right." She shook her head as she untied the apron and walked toward the door. She lifted the apron up over her head. "Forgot that I locked it." Lizzie spun the deadbolt open and swung the door inward. "I figured we can't be too careful now."

"It's probably not a bad idea to keep this door locked when you're working out here alone," I agreed.

"Do you think I should be worried? There is a murderer out there, after all." Here I was stopping by to make sure my friend was okay, and, so far, all I'd done was freak her out more.

I shook my head. "No, no. I don't think you're in any danger. I just meant as a general precaution, it's probably not a bad idea." I hoped I wasn't digging myself in deeper, but I really had only meant it as a general suggestion.

Lizzie seemed to be weighing what I'd said. "You're probably right. I just got so used to never locking doors around here. Not a great habit." She looked pointedly at my purse. "I did hear something about chocolate gifts, didn't I?"

I smiled.

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