Free For Old Crime's Sake (Chase Charley Mystery Book 1) by Rose Pressey Page B

blew out the candle and grabbed her purse. I must have gone into some kind of shock because I just stood there as if I couldn’t move my legs. She grabbed my arm and yanked me back. That was when I snapped to my senses. We ran out the shop and down the alleyway.
    “I can’t leave the store unlocked,” Courtney said.
    She had a point. We would have to hang around until we saw them leave. That wouldn’t be easy.
    “We will have to go around to the front of the store and see if they are hanging out,” I said.
    Courtney motioned toward the front of the building. “I’ll go in and see if they are in the store. If they are gone, then I can lock the front door and we will get out of here.”
    I nodded. “Just be careful in there, okay?”
     

Chapter Thirteen
     
    After a couple minutes I got nervous and decided to go check on Courtney. My heart raced as I stepped into her shop. No one was around and I worried that Doug and Russ had done something to her. As I headed toward the back of the store to look for her, she popped out from the back.
    I clutched my chest. “Thank goodness you are okay. Are they still here?”
    She shook her head. “No, but they left something.” She held out her hands and showed me a bundle of hair and twigs.
    “That’s disgusting. What is it?”
    She stared at the debris. “I don’t know.”
    “Is it voodoo?” I asked.
    She blew the hair out of her eyes. “Yes, it is.”
    “Then how do you not know what it is?”
    Courtney placed her hands on her hips. “I’m not a know-it-all.” She pointed. “Don’t say a word.”
    I held up my hands. “I wasn’t going to.” I really had planned on commenting, but I digress.
    She motioned for me to follow her. When we stepped outside, she locked the door, then said, “I know who can help us.”
    “Who?” I asked as we walked down the sidewalk. For all I knew the men were still hanging around.
    “My friend worked at a bed-and-breakfast in the city for many years before retiring. Now she lives in an old plantation just outside of town. Apparently, she knew the owners of that house where you saw the cop that night.”
    “And you’re just now telling me?” 
    Courtney threw her hands up. “Don’t look at me like that. I was getting ready to tell you when the men showed up.” 
    “So how does your friend know about the house?” I asked.
    “You know, she didn’t tell me how she knew them or what she knew. I’ll call and ask if we can come to see her.” Courtney pulled out her phone and dialed her friend.
    I listened to the one-sided conversation as we hurried to Courtney’s car. After a couple minutes, Courtney hung up the phone.
    “Sorry it took so long, but she had to tell me about her bingo game.”
    I laughed. “That’s understandable. How was the game?”
    Courtney unlocked her car. “Let’s just say she didn’t win and she wasn’t happy about it. She accused someone of cheating.”
    “Drama at the bingo hall, huh?” I said. “What did you find out?”
    “My friend worked with the owner. I thought she knew the previous owner, Bentley Miles, but she knows the current owner, Michael Hook. Well, his wife at least. I’m sure when we see her she can tell us more.”
    “I’m lucky that you had some inside information.” I opened the car door.
    “It’s not much and I wish I could help more,” Courtney said.
    “You’ve done a lot. I don’t know what I would do without your help.”
    “You know I will always help you, but you have to remember to be honest with me about that voodoo stuff. I can’t help you with that if I don’t know what is going on.” She waved her finger in warning.
    “I promise to keep you informed about anything new that happens,” I said.
    I wanted to know everything about the owners of the home. That wouldn’t be an easy task. I would have to research and find out more, but talking to Courtney’s friend would be a step in the right direction. Once I had that information, maybe I could