Chapter 4

She didn't hear from Abed until the next day, but surprisingly her phone rang at five in the morning. Luckily, being a baker, she was up, her arms covered in flour as she set to work on the morning beignets. It was something of a habit she had developed ever since she had moved to Atlanta.

She brushed off her hands on her apron and removed her large baker's hat (also procured once she took the position), and picked up her phone.

"Yes, Abed? Is everything okay?" She was somewhat worried, hoping the poor boy hadn't gotten himself into trouble. Such as being arrested on prostitution charges. She made an um-hmm sound at the thought. Atlanta wouldn't understand the boy's mind.

"Good morning, Shirley! My it's a fine day. A fine day indeed. Would you care to join me for a cup of coffee and some pie at the diner?"

His voice had an affected cheeriness, much how Jeff described his tone the night they had his special birthday dinner several years ago. She was fairly certain he was wearing a suit and probably had his hair slicked back.

She mumbled her agreement, and set to work on finishing up the beignets for Detective Butcher to enjoy.

X

X

She sat across from him in the booth and watched him slowly sip his coffee, taking great pleasure in going through his ritual, which she realized involved heavily complimenting the waitress. Sure to her prediction, he certainly looked the part and was smiling as he gazed around the diner.

"My, this is fantastic. Isn't it fantastic, Shirley?"

"Um hmm."

She furrowed her brow and continued watching him, and when he didn't get down to it, she loudly cleared her throat and asked, "What did you end up doing last night with that girl?"

He raised his eyebrows and then appeared bemused by her question, stalling she assumed as he drank some more black coffee. Well, she could wait all day if she had to. She was a mother after all.

He sighed and replied, "Now, Shirley, nothing improper happened. Audrey merely showed me around. In fact, since she's a student at the community college, she was able to get me access to the campus grounds after hours. I toured the crime scene."

"You don't say."

"She didn't really know the victim well, Randy wasn't it? But people didn't really call him that. He was known as Bumbles because he was always bumbling about. From what she could recall, he seemed little sketchy, as in perhaps up to some shady dealings." He paused and then added, "This is turning into quite the mystery. Might take me some time."

She watched him as he began to eat his pie, and she inwardly sighed. She was more than worried about him at this point. She wondered if they'd all be turning into claymation soon.

She reached for her phone and considered her next step.

X

X

"So, you'll help?"

Jeff's groan reverberated into the phone, and she considered she might need to nudge him some more. She had told him the whole story thus far, focusing on Abed's alarming behavior, and she had hoped that would have been enough. Abed always did seem to look up to Jeff.

She added with a lilt in her voice, "Now, you know that boy loves you like a brother."

"Crap, Shirley. I can't just head down to Atlanta, and anyway, I'm sure he'll work it out of his system in no time. He'll run out of money and go home."

"I don't think he can afford what he's doing now. You know how he's gotten into trouble before. I am not dressing up like a celebrity again to pay off his debts, I will not!"

"Look, Atlanta's kind of out of my way and I…."

-"Now listen, Jeffrey, do we have to have a chat about what you're doing in DC?"

That seemed to put him in his place, for there was an uncharacteristically long pause on the other end.

"I'm visiting Annie."

"I know. Now that's very interesting, especially given what we talked about before I left Greendale." She let her tone speak for itself, but then caved and added an um hmmm.

"Come on Shirley, it's purely platonic. We're just sightseeing. I'm sleeping on her couch."

She paced back and forth in the diner parking lot, not knowing what to make of that mess of a man. He was either lying to her or he was a complete fool.

Her bet was on fool.

"Jeffrey. Do I have to over there and smack you?"

"Huh? I told you we aren't fooling around, in fact there hasn't even been a hint of…"

-"You love that poor girl. Tell her."

There was another gap of silence, and she could have sworn she heard some shuffling sounds, perhaps indicative of him pacing. Well, she could relate and she certainly wasn't having a good time with this conversation. She would rather just skip ahead to their wedding invitation and be done with it, as she didn't want to even entertain the idea of their likely stumbling and probably eventually obscene courtship. Jeffrey was almost an alley cat, and she suspected Annie wasn't as innocent as she presented. She had seen her stick her tongue down Vaughn's throat, and then there was that other young man that one time near the laundry mat.

She shook her head to rid herself of the disgusting image.

"I already told her."

Well, this certainly was news. She felt her heart flutter and asked, "You mean she turned you down? Oh, pumpkin, I'm so sorry."

"No, she didn't exactly. It wasn't like that. She was moving to DC, and I told her the heart wants what it wants, even if it was code for….you know what, never mind. But let's just say I pretty much told her, and she left, which is what I wanted her to do. She needs to live her life. So we're just friends. We'll always be just friends. But that's fine, and this means I can visit and we don't have any more weirdness. We're good."

"Jeffrey, I don't buy any of that nonsense for a second."

"Hey, now…"

-"You didn't use the word 'love' now did you?"

"Well no, but she understood."

"Um hmmm."

"Can we please drop this?"

"Only if you come down here and help me. I need you."

"Crap. Fine."

X

X

"Whatever happened to that interesting girl you were seeing back at Greendale? I think her name was Rachel?"

Shirley looked up from where she had been focusing her gaze on the community college library steps. She and Abed had gone to the crime scene in broad daylight, as Abed wanted to continue to get a feel for it.

From his crouched position, Abed replied, "Oh, we drifted apart after I became obsessed with Twin Peaks."

"I see."

"Mr. Nadir, did you want me to take notes?"

Audrey had been hovering, her hips swiveling now and then as she licked her finger and flipped a page in her notebook. Shirley was almost having enough of this, but strangely, Abed hadn't seemed to be paying that much attention to her. He was squinting at the concrete and rubbing his hand over a particular spot.

Almost absentmindedly, Abed replied, "No need, Audrey. I have this." He fished out his digital recorder from his inner suit jacket pocket and clicked it. Speaking into it, he said, "I'm on the library steps, Diane, and they're noticeably bumpy. It appears no one has maintained them for some time. Someone could take a dangerous fall."

As Audrey sulked in the background, Shirley ventured, "You think he fell?"

"It's possible."

"So no murder?"

Abed let out a wearied sigh that was beyond his years. He then stood and turned to her with a gleam in his eye. "I didn't say that. There are numerous ways a fall could factor into this case. Perhaps he got into an argument, and he lost his footing, and the killer took advantage and pushed him into the steps." He made a shoving motion and then air wiped toward her as he continued, "Or perhaps someone wanted everyone to think he fell, that it was an accident, so they arranged to murder him on these steps."

"Wasn't there a knife, Mr. Nadir? And blood? I heard there was lots of blood."

Abed and Shirley turned toward Audrey and instantly felt foolish. Of course there had been copious amounts of blood. And a knife in the guy's skull.

"Ah, right. That."

Audrey licked her lips and then sat down demurely on the steps, taking a few moments to smooth her skirt. She mused, "This is so exciting. We've never had anything like this happen in Atlanta."

Shirley snapped, "Now, that's just not true! Atlanta's not a small town, people get murdered all the time!"

Audrey shrugged and then giggled.

Good lord that girl was annoying.

Abed was smirking slightly at Audrey, and he said into his recorder, "Diane, it is imperative I mention the blood and the knife. The victim was stabbed." He suddenly clicked the button and furrowed his brow, spinning around to regard the steps once again as he asked, "Wait, how did they clean up all the blood?"

Audrey laughed, "Our custodial team is very efficient."

"Are they?"

"You should talk to Bob."

"Killer Bob?"

"No, Bob the custodian, silly!"

Shirley huffed and turned away from Audrey, scanning the horizon for Detective Butcher. He was supposed to be meeting them after he returned from police headquarters where he was discussing the case with the assigned police detective. He still had contacts on the force, and he was doing his best to make sure they were informed of any leads.

"Bennett! There you are."

She swiveled to see Detective Butcher wheeling toward them from inside the library. A door was open, likely an automatic one for disabled access. She smiled broadly at him, relieved that he was here to break any weird tension.

She felt her cheeks become hot as she said, "Why, Detective Butcher, I wasn't expecting you to come from in there. When did you get here?"

He pushed his chair toward them, stopping suddenly as he came to the top steps. With a smirk he said, "I can't go down any further. Steps."

She nodded and motioned for Abed and Audrey to follow her, and they all ascended to join him.

He explained, "I got here early to have a chat with the custodian. Hope you all don't mind, but I just wanted to get a jump on things." He smiled and then turned to regard Audrey. "I'm Detective Butcher. And you are?"

"Audrey. Audrey Hormel. I'm Mr. Nadir's assistant."

Abed loudly cleared his throat and then said, "Now Audrey, you know that's not true. You're my driver. As I explained, I can't have a high school student…"

-"College student."

"College student following me around. Now if you want to drive me, that is fine, and I appreciate your help, but I don't want anything to happen to you."

"Because I'm important to you?"

"Because you're a good kid."

At Audrey's crestfallen face, Shirley said to Detective Butcher, "I'm glad you could talk to the custodian. He was next on our list."

"Well, there's no need. I took notes and I'll fill you in later." He patted his side pocket, and Abed frowned.

"How did you get up the steps?" Abed had cocked his head and was regarding Detective Butcher with steely eyes.

Shirley had just about had enough again and was about to smack him when Detective Butcher waived her off and replied, "There's a ramp at the side entrance."

"How did you get here?"

"I have my van configured for driving and I keep my chair in the back."

"Ahh, that makes perfect sense." Abed smiled tightly, which unnerved Shirley to no end. That boy never smiled.

As they were all about to go back into the library, Abed remarked in a too casual tone, "I'm so glad there's a ramp. Why, otherwise there's no way you could access the scene of the crime."

Shirley stiffened and shot Detective Butcher a look out of the side of her eye, and he shook his head dismissively and allowed Abed to go on.

"I was almost thinking it was like one of those movies where it turns out the supposed hero was faking his paralysis all along. But that would be ridiculous."

"Yes, ridiculous." Detective Butcher rolled his eyes and smiled indulgently at Shirley and she gave him a light pat on his shoulder.

They entered the library and made their way to a back study room with a large square wood table and several chairs. Shirley glanced at Abed and noticed his eyes were sparkling.

Once again she could have sworn she heard him squeak.

They sat down, Shirley opting to take the seat opposite Abed, and Audrey going to Abed's right. Detective Butcher wheeled up to the spot in between Audrey and Shirley.

Abed remarked, "That's where our villain used to sit."

"Now Abed, you know Pierce was not a villain! And the poor man is dead! God rest his soul." She once again made the sign of the cross for some reason and murmured a prayer.

"We both know he's not dead. He's in the Philippines."

"He is not."

"Sure he is. He faked his death how many times? It's a common trope. If you'd only just pay attention."

They glared at one another, and Shirley was in the middle of considering what to say to that delusional boy next when there was a familiar throat clear near the doorway.

"Do I have to referee already?"

"Jeffrey!"

She jumped to her feet and shuffled over to Jeff, who was in fact standing there, a duffel bag draped lazily over his shoulder. He was smirking but she knew he was delighted to see them. She grabbed him into a bear hug, and she smiled profusely as she heard the thump of his bag as he allowed it to fall to the floor.

"Now, now, I know you can't get along without me but try not to freak out."

"Jeffrey, I missed you so much!"

She reluctantly allowed him to gently yet firmly push her out of the embrace and they took a moment to regard one another. He certainly looked more relaxed, which surprised her as he was about a year older than when they had last seen each other. His beard was more full and his hair shorter and spiky, but it was the same Jeff Winger she knew and loved.

She whispered, "Thank you."

He nodded and glanced over at Abed. "Are you going to say hello too, buddy?"

Abed was studying him and merely said, "There was no need to call Jeff. I can handle this case."

"Now, Abed."

All of a sudden there was a commotion down the hall, and Jeff winced.

"Shut up! I got it!"

"You don't! And oh my god will you let me help you? You packed way too much stuff!"

"I did not! I lived in New York! And I've traveled around the world! To Amsterdam!"

"Do you even remember Amsterdam?"

Shirley's pulse quickened, as she could believe what she was hearing. She cast Jeff a look of inquiry, and he smiled with a shrug.

"We all wanted to help."

At that moment, Shirley turned to see Annie stepping carefully inside the room, a roller bag behind her. She grinned and chirped, "Hi, Shirley! Hi Abed!"

Abed had now stood and made his way over to them, taking a moment to glance back and forth pointedly between Annie and Jeff.

He whispered, "Nice."

It was then that Britta flopped through the doorway, letting a huge half-unzipped duffel bag plop to the ground. She was also holding a plastic pet carrier under her arm, and her hair was sticking up in all directions.

With an apologetic smile, she said, "Hey Shirley. Hey Abed. I brought Daniel. He doesn't like to be left alone."

Shirley beamed at all three of them and thought this was a wonderful day.

It was so nice.