Lily unlocked the back door of the thrift store using a key that didn’t belong to her. She knew it had been wrong to make a copy of her brother’s master key. As she slipped inside, Lily disengaged the alarm with the security code. Had her brother, Bill, really murdered his business partner, Alan Shephard, who’d been missing for the past month? Lily was clueless. But Bill was the one who’d reported his partner missing. There was no doubt in her mind Bill indeed had a temper. Even growing up, he leaned more toward being a bully than a nice kid. Many times, Lily had been a first-hand witness to his wrath. In fact, over the years, she came too close to his violent outbursts. But still, Bill Laden was her brother—her only brother. Could he possibly be so evil as to take a life? Lily Laden needed to know the truth.
The thrift store office was confined to a small room adjacent to the storage area. Maybe she could find something, anything to prove or disprove her suspicions. Using her lock picks, she inserted two thin pins and jiggled the door knob. A slight click, and the office door opened with ease. The small, cramped room smelled strongly of cleaning solutions. Lily covered her nose with her hand. She flipped the switch on the wall, and the overhead fluorescent light lit up the room. Her heart raced inside her chest.
The enormous antique desk took up most of the space. It was a mess. Papers scattered all around. Several sheets lay on the floor. A pink slip caught her eye. Lily bent down and picked it up. It had been a receipt for several pieces of furniture. The date on the receiving bill was yesterday’s date. But the signature on the bottom read: Alan Shephard. How could that be? Alan Shepard had been missing for a month. Yet on the receipt, distinctly written on the bottom line, was the missing man’s signature. Did Bill forge Alan’s name? Why? They were equal partners. It didn’t make any sense.
At the top of the invoice, the printed name of the seller was barely visible. Lily shoved the paper inside her pocket. As she hurriedly sifted through the mess on the desk, she became startled by the chime of her cell phone. Instantly, she recognized the number. Bill.
“What’s up?” she answered, purposely slurring her words. Her mind raced. She was sure no security cameras were inside or outside the thrift store. Bill felt having cameras would be a waste of money. Alan, on the other hand, disagreed. At least that’s what Bill had told her.
“Sorry to wake you, Lily. Any chance I could come over for a bit? I need to talk,” he said in a low voice.
Lily looked about the room, as if Bill’s office would hold the answer to the question. “Um…well, I’m in bed. And I was sleeping. Can’t this wait till morning? I can swing by the store before I head in to work,” she answered, faking a yawn. Silence filled the space in-between the siblings. “Bill? Are you there?”
“It’s just…it’s just…I need to get something off my chest, little sister. You’re the only one I can talk to without sitting in judgment,” he replied.
Lily’s mind scrambled with all sorts of thoughts. Maybe her brother wanted to tell her the truth about what really happened to Alan Shepard, or he realized she’d made a copy of his key to the thrift store and was now standing inside his office, looking for proof of his involvement in a crime.
“Well…why don’t you just spit it out, Bill? I’m listening now.” Lily quietly closed up his office, reset the alarm, and headed out the back door of the thrift shop. She quickly slipped behind the wheel of her leased Equinox.
“What was that…it sounded like a car door?” asked Bill in a raised voice.
Lily flinched. “No…bathroom door, sweet brother. I have to relieve myself now that you woke me up at the crack of dawn.” She remained perfectly still.
“You’re right…it can wait. I’ll see you in the morning, Lily. Sorry again for waking you up.” And with that said, he hung up.
Lily looked around the dark alleyway. She pressed the ignition and kept her lights off until she reached the main street. There, she hightailed it back to her outdated condo, located on the far side of town.
There wasn’t much traffic this time of night on Main Street. Madison Township was a farming town by rights. The nearest big city was roughly seventy-five miles away. The population in Madison never strayed above a thousand occupants. Most were descendants of the early settlers who, at one time, supplied the entire state with homegrown produce and wheat. The town prospered until the closure of the wheat mill, which had been replaced by imported grains from foreign countries. But Bill and Alan’s thrift store thrived among the towns folks and those just passing through. They’d accumulated a various assortment of antique furniture, knick-knacks, tools, wall and lawn decorations, and the list went on and on.
Lily arrived back at her place as the sun began to rise. She would have to shower quickly and grab something to eat if she was going to make a quick stop at the thrift store to see Bill before work. Lily rubbed her burning eyes as she stepped inside the cold shower stall. A shiver ran up her spine. She soaped up, then rinsed off. Madison Library’s policy on work attire was slack. Her limited wardrobe consisted of dress slacks, several blouses, blue jeans, and T-shirts. She slid on her navy dress slacks and a white long-sleeved blouse. Her black flats were next to the bed. Minutes later, she was making egg and bacon muffin sandwiches for her and Bill. Lily gulped down the hot coffee, burning her throat. She set the half-full porcelain cup in the sink, then wrapped the three warm sandwiches in foil.
The sun was shining bright in the blue sky. It was a beautiful summer day in Madison Township. Lily felt refreshed from the brief shower. She inhaled the mouth-watering aroma from the breakfast sandwiches permeating the air. A smile played across her thin lips. It was going to be a good day—she could feel it in her bones. As she pulled into the miniature strip mall, she saw her brother’s truck parked in front of the Dime and Dollar Thrift Store.
With food in hand, she pushed through the front door of the store. A bell tingled, announcing her arrival. Movement could be heard coming from the back of the store. Her brother, Bill, appeared. His brows were scrunched together.
Lily’s good mood sank. Could he possibly know she’d been inside his store just a few hours ago? Not a chance.
“Hi…what’s going on? Who rained on your parade?” she asked and giggled. She tried to diffuse the anger he displayed across his face.
“Someone broke into my shop,” he muttered. “I called Sheriff Hanley. He told me he’d be here as soon as he finished his breakfast at the diner. What kind of sheriff tells you a break-in comes second to his breakfast? Huh? A sheriff who shouldn’t be a sheriff!” cried Bill. He slammed his flat hand down on the counter. The cash register lifted.
“Take it easy, Bill. What are you talking about…were you robbed?” asked Lily, knowing nothing was taken but one receipt.
“No…but someone was in here. So, it doesn’t matter if anything was taken, breaking and entering is against the law,” said Bill, clenching his fist. “I bet Alan Shepard isn’t missing at all—I bet he’s the one who came in here.” Lily placed the wrapped sandwiches on the counter.
“Wait…what? He owns half this place. And if he came in…well, that means he’s not missing! I would think that’s good news!” replied Lily.
“You don’t get it…that’s what I wanted to tell you…Alan staged his own…” Bill’s words trailed off into silence. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is, I’m not a hundred percent sure it was Alan. But considering there are only two of us who know the security code…well, it wasn’t me.” Bill looked away from his sister.
Lily felt completely confused. What was her brother trying to say?
Just then, the front door swung open wide. “Morning, folks!” bellowed Sheriff Hanley. “Where did the perp break in, Bill?” The tall, overweight sheriff picked at his teeth with a toothpick. His hat tilted back on his sweaty head. The beige uniform had a couple of buttons missing on his pulled shirt. The issued trousers hung below his protruding belly. The sheriff sucked his teeth. “Well, where did the break-in occur, Bill?”
Bill looked hard at his sister. Lily tried desperately to stifle her laugh. Sheriff Hanley was just a sweet, good ole homeboy who grew up smack dab in the middle of Madison. He played a heavy-duty defensive linebacker in his high school years back in the 70s. After graduation, Hanley took an interest in law enforcement and became the longest running sheriff in the state. Now in his early sixties, he did as little as possible, waiting for that glorious, long-awaited time called retirement.
Sheriff Hanley rested his left hand on his holstered sidearm. The leather holder creaked. He stared at Bill—waiting. Bill’s jaw clenched. Lily hoped her brother could stay level-headed until the sheriff did his thing and left.
“The ‘perp’ came through the back door and left the same way,” murmured Bill. Sheriff Hanley nodded his head.
“Did the alarm go off?” asked Hanley. Bill took a deep breath.
“No…the security code was used to bypass the alarm,” explained Bill. He ran his hand through his thick, dark hair.
“Ah, huh, I see. Who else knows the code?” asked Hanley.
“Me, of course, and Alan Shepard.” Bill began to unwrap the cold sandwiches. Lily tried not to look at either of the men. Her face flushed, knowing it had been her who entered the Dime and Dollar Thrift Store.
“Wait…are you telling me Alan Shepard isn’t missing? That’s good to hear, Bill. I can close the books on his disappearance. Another one solved.” The large man smacked his hands together. Lily jumped.
“No…what I mean is, the only other person who would have known the security code to access the store is Alan Shepard. I didn’t say Alan Shepard was found. I don’t know who came into my store, you oversized buffoon!” shouted Bill. “That’s your job to find out!”
Sheriff Hanley shifted his feet. “Well, now, Bill, no need to name calls here…I’m just trying to help. It’s my job, you know, to ask the unpleasant questions. Any cameras?”
“Actually, I have one in the back, facing the alleyway,” replied Bill. Lily stopped playing with her sandwich. She dared not look at her brother. She’d been caught—on camera. Surely, Bill would have looked at the recording and recognized his own sister?
“But…it wasn’t connected yet. I was having a hard time interfacing the camera with my laptop.” Bill shrugged his shoulders. Lily silently let out a breath. Her luck was still holding strong.
“Anything taken? Money? Property?” asked the sheriff.
Bill shook his head back and forth. “No. Merchandise was not touched. And there was no money in the safe. I took it to the bank yesterday. My desk was messed up. That’s about it,” explained Bill.
“Well, I guess there’s not much I can do, Bill. If the perp wore gloves, it would be a waste of time to dust for fingerprints. Nothing was taken. Are you sure someone got in? I mean, the alarm system could have failed, making it look as if someone was messing with it.” Hanley hooked both thumbs in the belt loops of his pants.
Bill closed his eyes. He grabbed the sandwich and took a huge bite. Lily stood stoic, afraid to open her mouth. Sheriff Hanley glanced around the shop. He tipped his hat and turned to leave.
“If you should notice stuff missing, give me a holler, Bill. I’ll write it up for you to give to your insurance company. Not much more I can do, Bill. You have a great day, Ms. Lily.” And with that, Sheriff Hanley left the siblings alone with their sandwiches.
The following morning, Lily fiddled with the pink receipt at the wooden table inside her condo. She’d learned several different methods for bringing “ink” back to life. The YouTube video had been specific. Eventually, she could make out the words “Eliot & Eliot, Attorneys at Law” at the very top of the thin paper. She still couldn’t read what kind of furniture or items were sold to her brother. But the amount Bill paid for the unknown merchandise totaled almost twenty thousand dollars. What did Bill purchase for such a large amount of money? She knew the kinds of items Bill and Alan sold at their thrift store. Whatever it was Bill purchased was definitely high-end. Was that why her brother forged his business partner’s name on the receipt? Maybe Alan Shepard had more clout than her own brother. Maybe he bought it for a particular buyer. But from a thrift store? Something just didn’t add up.
Without hesitating, Lily began an Internet search for Eliot & Eliot, Attorneys at Law. Thirty minutes later, she had the address. The attorneys were located in the business district of Bakersfield—fifty miles south of Madison. But besides the address, there was no other description of the type of attorneys. Just an address. Lily jotted down what little information she had and decided it was time to take a ride.
The drive to Bakersfield was uneventful. The dreary scenery along Route 58 seemed endless, with miles and miles of desert sand. Lily kept changing the radio stations. Her favorite tunes faded in and out with the lack of reception. After forty-five minutes of trying to focus on the straight, flat highway, she finally reached her destination.
Bakersfield was a less populated municipal city. It boomed before the real estate drop in 2008. Since then, many businesses had either folded or moved out to other locations, leaving behind those who could not afford to sell.
Lily skirted around the downtown area. Eventually, she found the address to Eliot & Eliot, Attorneys at Law. She slowed down and stopped in front of the abandoned brick building. The name on the sign was faded from sun and neglect. Many of the windows had been shattered. Obviously, Eliot & Eliot had moved long ago. So, how was it possible her brother purchased anything from a law firm that no longer existed? What was her brother trying to do, or what was he trying to cover up?
Lily got out of her car. She walked slowly towards the secured steel door. The brand-new lock shined in the blazing hot sun. Sweat dripped down between her shoulder blades. Her cotton shorts stuck to her thin legs. Suddenly, a sound came from within the vacated building. Her heart raced. Was there someone inside? Squatters?
“Hello!” she yelled near a broken window. “Are you alright?” Lily stood on her tiptoes and tried to see through the splintered glass. A dark shadow moved quickly across the cluttered floor. She wasn’t sure what to do next. The pepper spray was useless inside the glove compartment. “Hello!”
Suddenly, several pigeons flew out from the broken windows. Startled, Lily jumped back. “Geez!” she cried. This place was empty. Nothing to see. She turned and started toward her car. It was then she noticed a young woman across the street. The twenty-something lady stared at Lily. Her arms crossed. The shabby shirt and ripped pants instantly drew Lily’s undivided attention.
“Hello,” Lily said, with a wave. “By chance, do you know what happened to the law firm that used to occupy this building?” she called as she hurriedly crossed the road. The strange woman did not move nor give a response.
“Hello…my name is Lily Laden. I’m from Madison Township, about fifty miles north of here. I’m looking for Eliot & Eliot, Attorneys at Law. The address provided on the Internet is, unfortunately, this vacant building. You wouldn’t happen to know where they moved their practice to…would you?” Lily shoved her hands inside her back pockets. The unkempt woman stood stoic. “Do you live around here?” Lily took a step back.
“I do…I live in that building,” replied the young lady, pointing to the abandoned place. Lily glanced back across the street.
“You mean you live in there?” she asked. “And it’s not for sale! So go away!” shouted the irritated female. And with that, she moved quickly across the street and disappeared around the side of the building.
Lily looked around. The street was deserted. It just didn’t make sense. The date written on the pink receipt was merely a few weeks ago. How was that possible? From the looks of the building, it had been quite a while since anyone had occupied that space.
Lily decided to return to Madison and confront her brother. Where was Alan Shepard, and how was her brother involved? And where was Eliot & Eliot, Attorneys at Law? The mystery only deepened.
Bill Laden frantically searched his office, shoving papers everywhere. He knew the last time he saw it had been before the break-in. How could it be missing? The pink receipt. He should have kept it inside the safe. Now it was gone. He needed to find it—fast. It had been the only piece of evidence that proved his partner, Alan Shepard, was indeed still alive.
Lily drove above the posted speed limit. The long and boring road back to Madison was worse than the endless drive to Bakersfield. She decided to confront her brother about the forged receipt and demand he tell her the truth. Even if it meant her brother had done something illegal.
By the time she rolled into Madison, the sun was beginning to set, and the red-purplish sky filled the horizon. Lily headed straight to the thrift store. Many times, her brother would work late into the evening hours. As she turned the corner, she noticed his car in a parking spot directly in front of the Dime and Dollar.
Lily slowly pulled in next to Bill’s car. She shut off her engine and sat for a moment. How could she phrase what she wanted to ask without risking a sudden blowout between the two of them? Without hesitating any longer, she got out and went inside. The tiny bell jangled as she entered. The neon “open” sign was unlit. The counter area had been cleaned. Lily continued on to Bill’s office. His door was ajar. A light was on. She could hear him cussing under his breath and the sound of shuffling papers. She tapped lightly on the door.
Bill instantly stood tall. “What the…” he cried. Upon seeing it was his sister, he let out a huge sigh. “Lily, what in Heaven’s name are you doing here? You startled me,” he said, with a warm smile. In that moment, Lily knew, in her heart, her brother had nothing to do with the disappearance of Alan Shepard.
“I was…I was in town and decided to stop by and visit my handsome brother. What are you up to?” she asked. Lily leaned against the door frame.
“Well, since you’re here…could you help me? I lost an important receipt, and for the life of me, I can’t find it,” he explained. Lily’s stomach flipped.
“A receipt? I thought you kept your receipts in a folder until you downloaded them online?” she said. Her face flushed at the lie. “Who was it from?”
“It was from…” His words trailed into silence. Bill stood looking at his sister. Lily held the pink receipt. His gaze fell to her hand. “How did you…” Wide-eyed, Bill reached out to take it from her hand. She immediately pulled it back.
“Bill…I know you had nothing to do with Alan’s disappearance…but what’s going on?” she whispered. He clenched his jaw and curled his hand into a fist. “Bill…please, let me help you!” pleaded Lily in a raised voice.
Bill dropped his head. “Lily, I can’t tell you if I don’t know myself.” He released his fist and sat down on the chair by the desk. “I was trying to tell you…before…on the phone that morning…but I didn’t know how.”
Lily sat on the far end of his desk. “Just spill it…Bill…I’m your sister.” She waited patiently for what she thought might be a confession.
“I’m sure you already figured out there is no Eliot & Eliot, Attorneys at Law. It’s just a run-down, abandoned building. I found out after I discovered the pink receipt,” he said, pointing to it sitting now on top of his messy desk.
“Wasn’t hard, Bill. I took a leisurely drive to Bakersfield. And much to my surprise, it was exactly what you described,” said Lily. He gave a slight nod.
“I didn’t forge Alan’s signature, Lily. Alan signed it that way to incriminate me. It was all a setup…for me to take the fall. He planned his own disappearance, leaving me to try and explain it to the authorities,” said Bill.
“You lost me, Bill.” Lilly narrowed her eyes.
“I was working on the Dime and Dollar accounts receivable ledger a few months ago. Alan usually took care of it, but I received a letter from the IRS about back taxes for the store. Well, I was going to give it to Alan to handle, but something told me to take a look. So, I did. That’s when I came across a large, substantial payment for items…for items…we didn’t have, Lily. The money came from Eliot & Eliot, Attorneys at Law,” he said.
“Did you ask Alan?” pushed Lily.
“I tried. He blew me off a couple of times, then he told me he’d picked up a few pieces of antique furniture at an auction, only to find out they were worth a fortune. And then he sold them to Eliot & Eliot for a huge chunk of change.” He looked at his sister. “I didn’t believe him.”
“What happened?” asked Lily.
“I did my own research and found out exactly what you did…the building is empty. I even asked around town. I thought maybe some of the locals heard of Eliot & Eliot. They heard of them alright. Talk around town the federal government came swooping in and closed them down for money laundering. Thus, the crushing end of Eliot & Eliot.” Bill fiddled with a pen.
“But Dime and Dollar was the recipient of the large amount of cash. Why would they give it to Alan?” Lily tilted her head.
“Alan got mixed up into something he couldn’t get out of, I suppose. Maybe he promised to hold on to it until the coast was clear. I’m sure he negotiated his part of the bargain. But I burst his bubble when I checked the accounts. After I confronted him, I checked the business account again, and two days after it appeared in receivables, it just vanished—and so did Alan,” explained Bill.
Lily blinked. “How much are we talking about, Bill?” she asked. He dropped his shoulders.
“One-point-two million,” he replied in a monotone voice.
Lily stood up. This was bad—really bad. The police would assume Bill had murdered his partner for the money. The money that had mysteriously disappeared when Alan Shepard had vanished without a trace.
“You have to tell them the truth. Exactly what you told me, Bill. They will believe you. I mean, when they check your accounts, they’ll see you don’t have the money.” Lily’s voice rushed with words.
“Lily, it won’t matter. They’ll say I siphoned the money into offshore accounts so it couldn’t be traced. And as for Shepard…he’s probably long gone out of the country, living the life of luxury while I sit in jail, accused of his murder.” Bill lifted his hands up in the air.
“No one can convict you, Bill, unless they have evidence. There is no evidence of a crime. There’s no body. People disappear every day.” Lily frowned.
“The IRS flagged the Dime and Dollar tax returns—or should I say lack of. They must have contacted Alan directly. Who knows what he told them? Anyway, I don’t know how to get out of this mess.” Bill stood up.
“We’ll figure this out, together.” Lily reached over and took her brother’s hand. He forced a half-smile. He lightly squeezed her hand.
“Thanks Lily.” The two of them walked out of Dime and Dollar hand-in-hand to face whatever the future may hold.
One Month Later
“Our top story today: the body of Alan Shepard was found in a shallow grave outside the town of Bakersfield by hikers. He had been missing for several weeks. It has been speculated he had been involved with a money laundering firm, Eliot & Eliot, which was raided a couple of months ago by the FBI. The investigation is ongoing. This is Maggie Spencer reporting for Channel Six News.”
[Image Credit : Photo by Gabriel Meinert on Unsplash]
by 
Alice Baburek
Latest posts by Alice Baburek (see all)
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Another good one Al.