Home Sweet Murder

by Eliza Brookes

  “Some of us don’t want to,” Matty answered good-naturedly.

  “Yeah right,” Allegra scoffed, looking at him incredulously.

  “What?” he asked in surprise.

  “You cannot honestly tell me that you haven’t thought of leaving,” she told him in disbelief.

  “Believe it or not,” Matty said, “but I never did. I like it here.”

  “So, you never considered going to a place where life is more exciting?”

  “No,” Matty said resolutely, shaking his head slightly. “Like I said, Gypsy, I like it here. I have everything I need. A good job, friends, family and a beautiful girlfriend. Llewes Cove is my home. Why would I want to leave?”

  “To see the world,” Allegra answered, the concept of staying in one place, without ever going someplace new was baffling her. She thought that everyone found the idea of traveling as exhilarating as she found it.

  “You know what I think?” Matty asked suddenly, turning to her and looking serious.

  “What do you think?” Allegra asked, tilting her head slightly and giving him her full attention.

  “I think you’re looking for something, that’s why you are always on the move. You wouldn’t want to leave a place if you felt you had everything you needed. So, tell me, Gypsy, what are you looking for?” Allegra opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came to mind. She felt uncomfortable under his earnest gaze and found herself wishing he would look away. It felt like he was looking right through her, and she did not like the feeling. Thankfully, she was spared from having to answer when the front door opened and Matty’s attention was drawn away from her.

  “Sutton, hey,” he greeted the pretty young woman who walked through the door. Allegra looked up curiously to catch her first glance of the mysterious Sutton. She was aware of how Matty suddenly leaned away from her as if she was diseased and she had to stop herself from nudging him with her elbow.

  “Hey Matty,” Sutton greeted. She was a petite brunette who only came up to Matty’s shoulders. Allegra gave her a friendly smile which Sutton returned.

  “Sutton, this is Allegra,” Matty introduced the two, putting an arm around Sutton’s shoulder. Sutton gave him a sweet smile and snuggled closer, she seemed to enjoy the extra attention.

  “I’ve heard so much about you,” Sutton said warmly, holding her hand out for Allegra to shake.

  “All good things, I hope,” Allegra joked, shaking Sutton’s hand. Sutton’s smile stayed in place, but Allegra could tell that Sutton had been made aware of her dubious reputation.

  “Sutton moved here after you left the last time,” Matty supplied helpfully to keep the conversation from going stale. Allegra nodded, unsure of what to add. Sutton looked down at her boots and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Things were awkward.

  “So, why did you come?” Matty asked, turning to his girlfriend.

  “Can’t I surprise my main man?” Sutton asked playfully, giving him a quick peck on the lips. Allegra sat down again, feeling out of place. Public displays of affection made everyone uncomfortable, except the parties involved.

  “It is a nice surprise,” Matty clarified, turning red around the ears, “I was just wondering.”

  “I actually came over to bring Ashlee’s smoothie,” Sutton explained, smiling at her blushing boyfriend. She held up a travel mug that was dripping with condensation. “Do you think she will be around for much longer?”

  “It’s hard to say,” Matty began, but before he could finish, the door to the interrogation room swung open to reveal a fuming Ashlee.

  “You will be hearing from my lawyers,” she threatened angrily, stomping out of the dingy little room. Behind her, a smirking Crane sauntered out. He looked very pleased with himself.

  “Thank you for your time, Mrs. Mathers,” he said, earning a hateful glare from the woman herself. Ashlee stomped past Sutton and Matty, pausing only to roll her eyes at Allegra. For her part, Allegra just sat back and enjoyed the show. Ashlee Mathers was a sight to behold when she got angry.

  Sutton let out a surprised sound and rushed after her angry friend, holding the smoothie out like a peace offering. She turned at the door and blew Matty a kiss before rushing out to catch up with Ashlee. By now, the sun was setting, and the police station was lit up with the harsh glare of energy-saving bulbs, lending an eerie atmosphere to the entire building.

  “Miss Mitchells,” Crane greeted, his voice yanked Allegra out of the show, and she felt unprepared for a conversation with Crane.

  “Officer Crane,” she said politely, hoping to end the interaction as quickly as possible.

  “Would you like to follow me, please?” he asked jovially, heading toward the interrogation room.

  “Actually,” Allegra said bravely, tired of his bullying tactics, “I just dropped by to give you this,” she held up the file she had spent all day compiling.

  He paused in his tracks, the way he stood alerting her to the fact that he was probably very annoyed with this turn of events. He was used to getting his way, this murder investigation was supposed to be his chance to show everyone who was boss. “What is it?” he snapped, taking the file from her hands.

  “My alibi,” she said triumphantly, sharing a look with Matty, “I contacted my previous employer who can vouch for my whereabouts. I also got a copy of my plane ticket, the travel itinerary and the number of the motel I stayed at when I landed.”

  Crane flipped through the file, his brow creasing as he glanced through the file, “I would prefer it if we discussed matters pertaining to the investigation in my office.”

  “You don’t have an office yet,” Matty pointed out, “that’s the interrogation room.”

  “It is my temporary office,” Crane snapped, shutting the file angrily, “and I’d appreciate it if we kept the details of the investigation private.” He glanced over at the receptionist who rolled her eyes at his antics. She knew things before he did.

  “No, thank you,” Allegra said firmly, “since I have an alibi, I am not a person of interest anymore. You can’t question me or hold me here.”

  “I don’t want to question you or hold you here,” Crane explained, losing his calm façade, “I merely want to keep these details private.”

  “There is nothing to keep private, except for the fact that I am not a suspect anymore,” she argued, “but while I’m here, officer, I would like to find out how the investigation is going.”

  “I don’t understand what you mean?” he said, trying to keep his voice level.

  “As Dot’s closest living relative, I want to know how close you are to finding her killer,” Allegra answered, standing up straight. Crane took a step forward, but she kept her ground despite his height advantage.

  “This is a closed investigation,” he said, clenching his jaw.

  “Since you’re wasting your time questioning the whole town, I suppose I will have to hire a private investigator,” she said matter-of-factly.

  “You can do what you want,” Crane sniffed, “but we are not wasting our time.”

  “Oh please, then why sit around and gossip with Ashlee Mathers? Between the two of you, you would have me prosecuted tomorrow.”

  “What are you accusing me of?” Crane growled, taking a threatening step forward.

  “Nothing,” Allegra replied, taking a step closer too, “but I wouldn’t have to be here if you did your job.” Matty looked toward the receptionist with a worried look on his face, but she was leaning forward eagerly, wishing that she had brought some popcorn.

  “If you must know, I have several suspects,’ Crane announced, a vicious gleam in his eyes. He said it like he had already solved the murder, as if one of the poor souls he had harassed was the murderer.

  “Considering how you treated me, Officer, I highly doubt that.”

  “I don’t understand what you mean?” Crane said, the wind knocked from his sails.

  “People who were in a different country aren’t usually considered suspects,�
�� Allegra answered angrily, “You have not inspired much faith in your skills, officer.”

  “My skills are impeccable,” Crane snapped, folding his arms across his chest.

  “If you say so,” Allegra scoffed, turning to leave, “Tell Ashlee the two of you will have to come up with a new murderer. I have an airtight alibi.”

  “Ashlee Mathers is a suspect,” Crane all but yelled. Allegra stopped in her tracks and turned to him, a thoughtful expression on her face.

  “You think that Ashlee Mathers killed my great-aunt?” she asked incredulously. The thought of Ashlee buying poison at the store along with animal crackers for her toddler seemed a little ludicrous. Matty let out a gust of air while the receptionist gasped audibly. The older lady held her hands in front of her mouth and her eyes seemed to be popping out of her head. Despite her shocked expression, she was enjoying the exchange. She was so excited that she seemed to have forgotten that it was time to go home to catch her favorite soap opera. Well, second favorite. The murder case was becoming her favorite thing to watch.

  “She doesn’t have an alibi,” Crane defended, looking pleased with himself. He relished in the reaction his words had caused.

  “Neither do you,” Allegra pointed out. Matty stifled a cough that sounded suspiciously like a laugh.

  “She also had the means and motive,” Crane pointed out, his smug façade evaporating. “Besides,” he snapped again, “this is a closed investigation. Good day, Miss Mitchells.” The thin man strode off, her file clutched firmly under his arm. Allegra stood there for a few more seconds while the receptionist began packing her things. She looked up at Matty who was watching her intently.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked as the receptionist left, giving them each a gleeful wave.

  “I’m thinking,” Allegra said carefully, “that I have a lead.”

  Chapter Ten

  “What does he mean, Ashlee had the means and motive?” Greta yelled, pacing around the break room. Eric was doodling on the white board under their list of suspects. He wore a fake detective badge around his neck and seemed to be arguing with an imaginary partner.

  “All I know is that Ashlee is a suspect,” Allegra answered, typing away on her laptop, “the internet sucks,” she exclaimed in frustration, glaring at the router.

  “Sorry about that,” Greta muttered, walking up to the device to try and work out what was going on, “why do you need internet, anyway?”

  “Seriously?” Allegra asked, giving Greta an incredulous look, “I always need the internet.” Greta rolled her eyes at Allegra and turned back to the kitchenette area to continue making sandwiches.

  “You need to unplug your technology for a few days and just enjoy the atmosphere,” Greta chided, slathering egg-less mayonnaise over the slices of bread.

  “I’d love to,” Allegra answered sarcastically, “the feel of murder and death relaxes me in the morning. This is really my idea of a luxury vacation.”

  “Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit,” Greta quipped, slicing a few tomatoes.

  “So say those who can’t use it,” Allegra replied, raising her hands in surrender when Greta waved her knife in her direction. “I would love to take a break, but I need a job. The Inn isn’t exactly cheap.”

  “You don’t need the Inn,” Greta said, placing the tomatoes on the bread, “you could always stay with us.”

  “Thanks,” Allegra said gratefully when Greta handed her a plate, “but I’d rather not bunk on your couch until Bud kicks me out.”

  “Okay, well, let us solve this murder and you can be on your way,” Greta said forcefully, turning to the murder-board and forgetting her husband’s sandwich. Eric sighed and put down his marker to take the plate to his father.

  “You know,” Allegra said, with her mouth full of sandwich, “maybe we should ask Matty to help us. Crane is driving him nuts.”

  “Matty would rather die than betray the police force,” Greta scoffed, shooing Allegra away from her laptop.

  “You make it sound so dramatic,” Allegra complained, sitting down on one of the bean-bag chairs.

  “That’s how he would see it,” Greta answered, scrolling through various website options on how to solve a murder. Allegra shrugged and turned back to her sandwich, her mind working on over time. “Let’s go find out what Ashlee thinks about all this,” Greta said suddenly, turning away from the laptop with a sigh.

  “Ashlee would rather attend my funeral than talk to me,” Allegra muttered. She didn’t take it personally; the feeling was mutual.

  “Funeral!” Greta gasped.

  “That’s what I said,” Allegra replied, staring at her now empty plate with a mournful expression.

  “No, silly,” Greta jumped up excitedly, “we should plan the funeral, that way we have an excuse to talk to everyone. They won’t be able to say no, and half the town will offer to help. We can interrogate them without them knowing.”

  “You know,” Allegra said slowly, staring at their pitiful murder board, “that is a brilliant idea. We can get close to her friends and find out the timeline of that last day. By the way, where is the housekeeper?”

  “Eleanor?” Greta asked, “She’s still on holiday, but her son said she is coming back on the weekend.”

  “Well, in the mean time we can see if we can get her friends to talk.”

  “They might like you more now that you’re not a suspect,” Greta said cheerfully.

  Filled with a renewed zeal, the two of them walked out of the break room to start planning the funeral. In the front office, a pasty middle-aged man was talking to Bud and Eric.

  “Pastor Rob,” Greta said in surprise, “how are you?”

  “Always well, my child,” Pastor Rob said kindly, grasping Greta’s hand in his own, “and, how are you?” he took Allegra’s hand too, looking at them both in earnest.

  “Peachy keen,” Allegra muttered awkwardly, pulling her hand away. The last Pastor was an ancient man who always spoke as if he was struggling for breath. His replacement, although younger, did not look like he would be much more interesting.

  “I am so sorry about your loss,” Pastor Rob said, still watching Allegra carefully. He looked like a kind man who spent his time visiting old ladies to hear how they were doing. The type of do-gooder who made you feel guilty about your own lifestyle. “Dorothy was a beloved pillar of the community.”

  “Thanks,” Allegra answered, “it is probably a lot quieter around here.”

  “Yes,” Pastor Rob said emphatically, “we all feel the loss.”

  “I meant because she was always yelling,” Allegra clarified. Eric giggled, and Greta swatted his arm. Pastor Rob was the type of person who made you feel like you were in a church when he was around.

  “I knew Dorothy to be the mildest person I ever met,” Pastor Rob said, still smiling kindly. Allegra looked at Greta in disbelief, but Greta shrugged, she did not know what the Pastor was talking about either.

  “That’s high praise coming from you, Pastor,” Bud commented, leaning against his desk and watching the exchange with interest.

  “Oh,” the Pastor chuckled, “but very deserved, let me assure you. I spent quite a lot of time with Dorothy near the end.”

  “I never knew my great-aunt was religious,” Allegra said, feeling less awkward. Greta looked around for a piece of paper to start taking notes, but Bud shook his head at her, and she sat down instead, still watching the Pastor like a hawk.

  “She had quite the spiritual thirst,” Pastor Rob continued, oblivious to their strange behavior. Eric shook his head, wanting to say something. He did not understand many of the terms the Pastor was using, but they did not sound right when describing Grumpy Dot. The lady he knew would yell at him, but still sneak him non-vegan sweets when Greta was not looking.

  “She always told me religion was a snare and a racket,” Allegra said, Greta gasped slightly, and she remembered who she was speaking to, “sorry, Pastor,” she apologized hurriedly.

  �
��No, no,” Pastor Rob assured her kindly, “I understand that many people feel that way. But the Dorothy I knew was very religious. I think she knew it was the end.”

  Allegra felt her body tense up and she looked at the Pastor with a renewed interest. “Thank you for telling me that, sir.”

  “Oh, please call me Pastor Rob,” he held his hands out humbly, “we are all friends here. Besides, that’s why I came over here. I wanted to commend you for your strength.” Greta smiled and gave Allegra a thumbs-up which made her smile slightly but turn her focus back to the Pastor.

  “My strength?” Allegra echoed in confusion.

  “Why yes, I know how much you must have loved your great-aunt. And to stand up to everyone and demand an autopsy like that. Dorothy would have been proud. She told me all about the novel you wrote for her. You know, we often spoke about you.” Allegra felt a lump form in her throat at his words.

  “Really?” she asked weakly.

  “Why yes, of course, your great-aunt was very fond of you, you know. As I said, I spent quite a bit of time with her near the end. I thought she was just ill, I never imagined that it was…” the Pastor’s voice lowered, “murder.” He looked around the room suspiciously, as if the murderer was about to jump out from behind one of the desks.

  “Were you with her on her last day, Pastor?” Allegra asked curiously. Pastor Rob hesitated slightly, as if he was unsure how he should answer. “It would mean so much to me to know she had some comfort that day,” Allegra clarified. Pastor Rob’s confusion cleared up and he nodded understandingly.

  “Of course, my child. But no, unfortunately I was not there. I only went once a week, when Dorothy would give me her contribution.”