Murph's Law

9781483546643

CHAPTER ONE

A young girl approached gliding along the pathway on roller blades. She wore all the proper safety equipment, including knee pads, elbow pads and a helmet. Ear phones were plugged into an MP3 player attached to her belt. Holly was amazed at her graceful dexterity, the way she could weave in and out among the walkers and joggers without disturbing them. She was like poetry in motion. Holly was a bit jealous wishing she could move like that. There was a time…she sighed wistfully leaning back on the park bench. She ignored the pain in her hip glancing up at the sky. This was the first fairly warm day of spring with no hint of rain. The sky was a beautiful azure blue against the New York skyline. It was a long, hard, cold winter made much worse by the fact that she had to spend it being cooped up in her apartment. Distracted again by the ebb and flow of passers-by, she noticed it was now thinning out along the pathway. To her left was a quaint stone bridge over the creek. She could hear the sound of water somewhere behind the bench she sat on.

A young woman approached crossing over the bridge in a slow, comfortable jog. At her side, was a lovely Golden Retriever dog with cream colored flowing fur. His face was alive with a typical Goldie smile, tongue hanging out. The woman was tall and slender with long sun-tanned legs. She must use a tanning bed to regularly to have a tan that looked that great this early in the spring, or she spent the winter in Cancun. She was strikingly beautiful. Her sun-kissed blonde hair pulled back in a long ponytail. She wore running shorts and a short-sleeve t-shirt. She slowed down as she approached Holly on the bench finally coming to a stop. There was a thin film of perspiration on her face and arms.

Do you have the time? she asked.

Holly pulled her sleeve back glancing at her watch, Its 3:25 p.m., she said.

The girl smiled parting full pink lips, Thanks.

What a beautiful dog, Holly said reaching out to pet him. He responded by placing his head in her lap and gazing up at her with the most expressive brown eyes she had ever seen.

He’s a love isn’t he? she said. The plumed tail responded waving gently back and forth. His name is Murphy.

How old is he? Holly asked.

He’s just shy of three. Have a good day and thanks for the time.

No problem.

The woman settled into a brisk walk instead of a jog as she moved down the pathway. Holly watched the waving plumed tail until it vanished around the bend and out of sight. She was about to go back to her book when a shadow fell across her lap. She glanced up at a man standing in front of her. He was staring after the girl she had just been talking to. Slowly, he turned his head to look at Holly. She felt a sudden chill run down her spine. She couldn’t see his eyes. They were covered by dark mirrored sunglasses. He glanced at her without smiling for several seconds then he took off down the path.

Holly tried to get back to her book, but she was beginning to feel chilled and stiff, so she tucked it into a canvas shoulder bag and struggled to her feet. After the man she just encountered, she suddenly felt as though the park was a less comfortable place to be at the moment. She needed to go home to her apartment anyway and take a nap before the birthday party tonight. First, she had to stop at a local bakery for some banana cream pies.

Holly lived across from the park in old brownstone owned by Lonnie and Art Parker. They were the nicest people she had ever known. Actually, everyone living in that brownstone was great. Lonnie and Art bought the place several years ago after moving to New York from the Midwest. They gutted the whole building turning it into one-bedroom apartments. Lonnie and Art lived on the ground floor in a big two bedroom. The second floor consisted of two one-bedroom apartments across the hall from each other. Henry Flanders lived across the hall from Holly. Henry was the birthday boy celebrating his 70th birthday. His wife died several years back, now he preferred to live alone although Lonnie seemed intent on finding him a wife. Henry was a very thoughtful, intelligent, charming man, still quite handsome with his thick head of white hair. He loved banana cream pie.

Every Tuesday the whole brownstone got together for Potluck night. Tonight it was at Henry’s apartment. The top floor consisted of two other apartments both one bedrooms inhabited by Devlin and Jared, a young gay couple who were always the life of the party. Across from them were Barb and Chuck Getz, a couple of workaholic professionals. They were professional tax preparers running their own business. Thanks to them Holly didn’t have to worry about where her taxes were being done or by whom. In the last year when life had become difficult, her little group of friends in the brownstone had become more like family. They made her life less miserable by far.

She was thinking about Henry, his dry sense of humor, his passion for life and knowledge when she was suddenly knocked over by a huge ball of golden fur. It was the dog she admired just a few minutes ago when his owner asked her for the time. He was trailing his leash, but his owner was nowhere in sight. Holly grabbed the leash pulling him toward her. He was highly agitated running around her and whining.

Hey easy Murphy, easy boy, she said softly stroking his fur. As she pulled her hand away she noticed the blood on it. Hey, are you hurt?

Holly managed to stand up examining his coat but there were no obvious injuries on the dog. The blood had to be from something he rubbed up against. She felt the hair stand up on the back of her neck. Her heart beat faster. She glanced at the hedge where the dog broke through. She had to find out where he’d been. She straightened up looking around.

Where is your human? she asked. She took a few steps forward just as someone crashed through the hedge ahead of her stumbling onto the pathway. Murphy growled deep in his throat lunging toward the man. He glanced over his shoulder as he raced up a small incline toward the parking lot. Holly stared at the man, recognizing him as the one who stopped in front of her. He continued to run away but not before she saw the glint of sunlight on something metal in his hand. Murphy barked hysterically trying to run after the man.

Now Murphy was pulling her toward the hedge. Unable to hold him back she was dragged. She stumbled over a tree root plunging down the rough terrain. Holly fell approximately fifteen feet before rolling to a stop at the edge of a creek. She was dazed at first worried that she had hurt her already tender hip joint. Holly picked her head up. Her hand was resting on someone’s ankle. She moved slowly, painfully rising up on her knees.

The top half of the woman’s body was in the water floating face down. Her blonde ponytail floated off to the side of her head. Murphy was whining and running in circles trying to get his owner to get up by pushing his nose against her body. Holly got up slowly testing the pain in her leg and hip. The body definitely belonged to the woman she had spoken to. There were multiple stab wounds all over her body. Blood was spreading out on the shoreline in the water around her. Holly stifled a scream reaching for her cell phone to call the police, but it was missing from her pocket. Frantically she searched the area until she found it a few feet up the incline she had just tumbled down. She dialed 911 letting the operator know that she just found a dead body in the park.

She grabbed Murphy’s leash pulling him away from the body. Holly didn’t want to stay there either. Slowly, she made her way back up the embankment as every joint and muscle screamed in pain. Still shaking she stood on the path hoping to keep anyone from going down to the creek until the police arrived. Nearly ten minutes later, the first police car arrived in the parking lot above. Two uniformed police officers walked down the small hill where she stood waiting.

She’s down there, she said pointing past the bank of shrubs. Her voice sounded strange, cracked and weak. One of the officers took off through the shrubs while the other remained with her taking a small notebook from his pocket.

Your name is Holly Wells is that correct?

Yes, I just live over there, she said indicating the brownstone across the street from the park.

"How did you discover the body?

Holly explained everything including how man stopped in front of her staring after the woman and her dog then he followed her down the path.

I’ve never seen him before. He didn’t say anything to me, but he was following her, I think.

We’ll need a description of this guy can you wait right here please?

She nodded but more than ever she wanted to go home. She knew it would be awhile before they were through with her. He stepped away meeting with the other officer who had just come up from the scene. They talked quietly for a moment then he came back to her.

It might take some time there are two detectives coming and they’ll want to talk to you.

I’d like to sit please. I fell down that embankment. Her dog dragged me through the shrubs.

Oh of course, let’s go up to the parking lot, there’s a bench. Do you want me to call an ambulance for you?

No, that’s not really necessary but I really do need to sit, she said.

He took her arm guiding her up the hill slowly and carefully until they were at his squad car. There were benches in the grass, so he eased her down on one of those. Murphy sank into the grass beside her. Within minutes an ambulance crew arrived, a medical examiner’s van and another car pulled up into the parking lot. Everyone convened with the officer to discuss the situation. Holly glanced back at the place where the body still remained watching as the other officer stretched yellow crime-scene tape around the area where a small crowd of onlookers gathered.

The ambulance crew approached her smiling reassuringly,

Understand you took quite a tumble, one of them said setting their equipment on the ground. How are you doing?

I’m alright. I’m recuperating from an accident and I’m a little stiff and sore.

What happened?

It was a car accident last summer shattered my hip and leg. It didn’t help that I fell down that embankment. I’m fine really but I guess you need to check me out.

Well it wouldn’t hurt to do a cursory examination.

The young man began to take her vital signs while a woman touched her cheek with a gloved hand,

You have some minor scratches on your face. Do you have pain in your hip or leg?

Some but I can walk. I really think it will be alright.

He looked at her and nodded, Ok, you should get off your feet and if you have problems get in touch with your doctor.

I’ll be happy to comply as soon as I get home.

She signed some papers then the ambulance crew left. They were replaced by two men in suits and ties wearing black trench coats. One of them headed toward the crime scene while the other stood in front of her his hands in the pockets of his coat.

Ms. Wells?

Yes, she said looking up at him. He was tall with short cropped sandy hair and blue eyes. He had a nice smile.

I’m Detective Matt Holmes. I’d like to talk to you about what happened down there. I know the officer already talked to you so I’ll make this brief. I see the ambulance crew checked you out. Are you alright?

I’m sore but I’m alright as long as I can sit here.

Do you mind if I sit with you?

She gestured toward the seat beside her, Please.

He reached for the dog gently rubbing his ears, He’s a beauty is he yours?

No he belonged to the woman down there. His name is Murphy.

Do you know her?

No she stopped and talked to me. She asked the time and we talked about Murphy here then she went on her way.

He continued to rub the dog’s ears while Murphy rested his head in his lap, I’m told that you think you saw the man that killed her, is that right?

He ran up from the creek right at the spot where I found her. Murphy went crazy, barking and growling, lunging at him. I had all I could do to hold him back. I thought I might have seen something shiny in his hand.

Do you think it was a knife?

I didn’t see a knife, specifically just the glint of sunlight on metal.

Do you think you could identify this man if you saw him again? he asked.

She looked at him, I’m pretty sure I could but I didn’t see his eyes. They were covered by mirrored sunglasses.

If I had a sketch artist sit with you, could you describe him?

Yes I would be glad to do that, but right now I would really like to get home. I just live over there. She pointed at the end of the park to the brownstone building across the street. I need to lie down for awhile.

Are you alright?

She sighed, I was in an accident awhile ago. I’m recuperating. I don’t think the fall complicated things, but I’m tired and sore right now.

Are you on any pain medication Ms. Wells?

She glared at him, Not at the moment Detective, but I assure you my mind is crystal clear as to what I saw.

He smiled, I didn’t mean to imply that you were anything else but crystal clear. I have to ask these questions.

What about Murphy? she asked.

He looked down at the dog lying near her feet, He’ll go to a local shelter until we identify the body then hopefully there will be family members to take care of him.

No, she said emphatically, He’s been traumatized enough. He has a tag on him with a phone number and address. I’d like to take him home until you locate her family. I don’t think he deserves to sit in a shelter alone after watching his owner brutally murdered.

Ok Ms. Wells, I get your point but are you able to handle him. He’s a pretty big dog.

I’ll manage thanks. My name is Holly.

You stay right here Holly. I’m going to check out the crime scene. If you could take down that number and address for me I’ll be back to drive you home. He gave her a small notepad and a pen.

When he came back she handed him the notebook then followed him to his car at the end of the parking lot. Murphy climbed in the back seat while he helped her into the front passenger seat.

I could walk home, she said. I just live right over there. I have to stop at a bakery up the street. I have a potluck birthday party to go to tonight in my building. I promised to bring pie.

I’m sure that you could walk, but we’ve put you through enough besides I need to talk to you. We’ll stop by the bakery. Look, I don’t want to scare you, but I do want you to be alert to the fact that just as you saw this man, he probably got a decent look at you.

She glanced at him, You don’t think he would come after me do you? she asked.

No I don’t, not really. Most likely he’s on the next bus out of town, but I believe in being cautious.

I’ll be careful, she promised. He pulled up in front of the bakery helping her out of the car. He waited with Murphy while she went in purchasing three large banana cream pies. He helped her back into the car and drove onto the brownstone.

Thank you for the ride.

He came around helping her out of the car again then he got Murphy out of the back seat,

You should get some rest.

I’ll try but the tenants who live here get together every Tuesday night for a potluck dinner. It just happens to be Henry’s birthday. He’s seventy years old and a real charmer.

He smiled, Well enjoy your potluck. I’ll have our sketch artist call you in the morning. If I hear anything from Murphy’s family, I’ll let you know.

Thanks for letting me take him, she said.

He waved then pulled out into traffic. She stood in the lobby watching him drive away juggling Murphy’s leash and the pies. Murphy looked up at her with his big brown eyes as if to ask,

Now what happens to me?

I wish I knew what will happen to you Murph but for tonight at least, you’re staying with me. We’ll just have to muddle through with each other.

CHAPTER TWO

Holly took a quick shower and changed. She went to the market just down the street to purchase dog food hoping Murphy would eat it. She read the directions on the bag then had to estimate his weight as to how much food a dog of his size should get. When she put the bowl on the floor, he wolfed it down as if he hadn’t eaten in days, yet he certainly didn’t appear neglected by any means. He followed her to the elevator then down to the first floor. She walked him through the back entrance into a nice fenced yard. Art and Lonnie Chambers were the landlords of the brownstone. They were polar opposites. Art was like one of those stick figures children often drew. There was nothing to him. He was a quiet, unassuming man with thinning gray hair and the ability to fix anything that was broken. He was considered the magic man of repairs. On the other end of the spectrum was his wife of forty years. Lonnie was eccentric to say the least. She was a large bodied woman, always decked out in wildly patterned clothes of vibrant colors that often matched the color of her hair at the moment. She wore it short and spiky embellished with some different shades of highlights. Sometimes it was orange or lime green or even electric blue. Today it was flaming red more to the orange side of the color wheel. It matched the tangerine floral patterned top she was wearing. The flowers were in blue. Her polyester slacks were blue as well. Lonnie was sixty years old and her flamboyance showed no signs of mellowing. The truth of the matter was that everyone loved her they wouldn’t want her any other way. She was cooking her famous baby back ribs on the grill slathering them with bar-b-q sauce she made from scratch. They were to die for. The smell was making her mouth water as she stepped out onto the patio.

Murphy galloped up to her sniffing the air around the grill, his tongue hanging out, tail wagging furiously. Lonnie glanced down squealing in delight,

Ooh where did you come from my beauty? She bent over crooning loving words as she cradled his face in her well manicured hands. Her nails were a study in red neon glitter. What a precious animal. Where did he come from?

Holly sank onto the chaise lounge and told the story for the hundredth time. The good thing about telling Lonnie was that she would not have to repeat it again because within the hour, it would be all over the brownstone if not the entire neighborhood. Murphy politely let her love all over him then he ran off to find a spot to do his business conveniently under some overgrown bushes. On his way back, he lifted his leg on one of the bushes, then he settled down next to Holly on the chaise lounge nestling up against her.

I cannot believe this happened right across the street practically under our noses and to think you had to find that poor woman. You must have been terrified when that man ran out in front of you.

I guess I was but to tell you the truth, I don’t think it has really hit me yet. Is it going to be a problem if I keep the dog here until they locate her family? They wanted to take him to a shelter, but he was so upset I couldn’t let them. I don’t want to break any rules.

Nonsense, I’m certainly not one to turn away a cute male.

What was that about a cute male? Art asked as he came out the door. I brought you some more sauce dear.

Lonnie proceeded to tell him the whole story while Holly closed her eyes dozing off. Murphy raised his head when Art reached over to pet him, but then he settled back down with Holly’s arm around him.

Will you look at that Art? Isn’t that the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen? Go get a blanket and cover them up.

She slept for the better part of an hour. Lonnie woke her up as the sun moved off across the yard and the air took on a definite late afternoon chill. She checked her reflection in the bathroom mirror, fluffing her shoulder length honey-colored hair. She had naturally curly hair sometimes