Free Pillow Stalk (A Mad for Mod Mystery) by Diane Vallere

here?” I asked angrily, even though Rocky was hopping around my feet waiting for a kiss.
    “I wanted to make sure you got home safely after I bailed on you,” he said.
    “I am continually shocked by what you claim falls under the title of normal cop behavior.”
    “Maybe it’s not cop behavior. Maybe it’s nice guy behavior. Does that shock you, too?” he asked.
    Rocky, frustrated by the lack of affection from me, had returned to the ankles of his new friend, who instinctively ran his fingers through Rocky’s long fur.
    “Officer Nast didn’t seem to think you were a ‘nice guy.’”
    “I’m not going to talk about her.”
    “Okay, so talk about me. I’m not a suspect, but all of a sudden I’ve got a lieutenant showing up at my door offering to drive me around, checking to see that I made it home safely?”
    “Madison. I told you you’re not a suspect and I meant it. But I do think you’re tied to the murder of Pamela Ritter.”
    “Do you have any news on the—that?”
    “On the murder? Not much more than a hunch at this point.”
    “So why do you think I’m tied to it?”
    “Well, there is one other thing. Remember the pillows, the pillow your dog pulled out from under the car?”
    “The pillows? From my trunk?” I looked away to a brown patch of grass on the front yard, trying to process what he said. “They’re not that hard to come by, if you know where to look—”
    “Madison, listen to me. That pillow was the murder weapon. That’s what was used to kill her.”
    Tex’s words bit into my mind. I wanted to tell him not to talk about her, but it was too late. “She was suffocated. Our team found a death mask on it.”
    “Those pillows were new old stock. There shouldn’t have been anything on them.”
    “A death mask is an impression left behind on the fabric. It’s made by her nose, mouth, eye sockets...”
    I lowered myself onto the step next to him as his voice trailed off. I wasn’t used to hearing the technical terms associated with a murder and I started to shake, even though it wasn’t cold. Tex put his hand on my knee, not knowing how badly it throbbed. I flinched and he pulled it away, mistaking my reaction. I looked at him, searching his face for something comforting. He kept it unreadable.
    “Who else knew those pillows were there? Who else had access to your car?”
    “I don’t know. It wasn’t a secret. I gave Pamela my keys so she could get a swim cap out of the trunk. The keys were in the lock when I found her. Those pillows have been in there for a week. Anybody who walked past while the trunk was open would see them.”
    “When’s the last time you saw them?”
    “I don’t remember. I was planning to put them in my storage unit soon, but the trunk of my car has been giving me trouble. Remember? You had to hit it to get it to open at the pool. What does it mean?”
    “I don’t know what it means yet, but one thing seems for sure. Someone broke into your trunk and stole the pillows, then used one to murder Miss Ritter.”

    After Tex’s news I wanted little more than to collapse inside my apartment. Tex ruffled Rocky’s fur then stood up and said goodnight. I entered the building. The mailbox overflowed with colored circulars from the local grocery stores that I tossed directly into the recycle bin in the foyer. Rocky pulled me up the stairs and stood on hind legs, paws on the door of our apartment. I turned the two locks mechanically and pushed the door open.
    Unclipped from his leash, Rocky ran into the bedroom and returned with one of my terrycloth slippers in his mouth. I let him play while I swallowed a prescription strength anti-inflammatory then kicked off my white canvas sneakers and left them in a pile covered with my dirty dress. I took a long shower, ridding my body of dust, dirt, dried sweat, and tense muscles. After drying off, I dressed in a fresh pair of yellow pajamas with white flowers and searched the freezer for a quick dinner option.