Eve Lloyd's A Deadline Cozy Mystery - Books 1 to 5

by Sonia Parin

  “I’m aware of that. I meant the moment you went outside. Why did you go outside?”

  “Mischief,” she took a sip of her drink.

  “Yes, I know. I warned you to stay put.”

  “Mischief and Mr. Magoo, they’re Jill’s Labradors.” She took another sip. “They needed to go out and Jill had gone to bed so I took them out... and...”

  “And you felt compelled to go snooping around?”

  “Hey, blame Mischief. He took off. What was I supposed to do? Call for backup?” She finished her drink but instead of setting the mug down, she held it against her and told Jack everything she could remember from the moment she’d stepped outside. “I didn’t see anything to suggest there was something wrong, but then I heard Mischief’s whimpering.”

  “And you didn’t hear anything before that? No approaching footsteps?”

  “If I had, I would have run out to the squad car straight away.”

  He nodded as if in approval. “Would you like another drink?”

  “No, thank you.” She gave the blanket a tug and drew it closer to her. “What’s going to happen now? You know I didn’t kill him.”

  Jack shook his head. “You didn’t. Henry Parkmore is alive.”

  “Poor Henry.” Her lips parted and she pushed out a sigh of relief. “I didn’t stop to see who it was. I just ran. Then the police officer went to investigate, and soon after the ambulance arrived. I then heard the police officer reporting the incident and mentioning Henry’s name.” Another victim, she’d thought, and then she’d worried because the officer had guided her back inside the house. By then, a backup squad car had arrived and an officer had stood guard over her.

  “So what happened to him? Did someone try to kill him too?”

  “We won’t know that for a while. Henry Parkmore hasn’t regained consciousness.”

  But he was alive. If the death toll rose, and she had anything to do with it, she’d never be able to live with herself. Bad enough Alex had lost his life and she knew, without a doubt, that it had something to do with her. She was the only solid link to Alex. Sure, she’d been trying to connect Richard Parkmore to him... but that remained an assumption.

  “Where was Jill while all this was happening?”

  “She’d gone to bed.” And she was still there. Eve couldn’t believe she’d slept through all this. “What about Richard Parkmore? Have you spoken with him?”

  “Yes. He’s at the hospital now. He’s very upset.”

  “Mmm.”

  “What?”

  “He’s supposed to be looking after Henry.”

  “He said Henry snuck out.”

  People didn’t just sneak out to go wandering about in the middle of the night. They had to have a reason. She’d had a reason to step out...

  “Whatever you’re thinking, stop it,” Jack warned.

  “I can’t help it. Why would Henry go out in the middle of the night? There has to be an explanation.”

  “Eve, let us do our job.”

  “And what am I supposed to do in the meantime?”

  “Sit tight.”

  “Like a sitting duck?”

  “The police are within easy reach. You’ll be fine just so long as you don’t go wandering off. No more walking along the tracks. Stick to the main road, better still, if you need to go somewhere, drive. The squad car will follow.”

  She shifted slightly. “Sorry to get you out here so late. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.” The words spilled out before she could think better and hold them back.

  “I was at the precinct doing some paper work.”

  “Oh. You keep very long hours.” Did that mean he didn’t have someone to go home to? “It’s very comforting to know you’re on the job.”

  He stood up. “Try and get some rest and stay indoors.”

  “I slept through all that?” Jill asked the next morning.

  “It’s a sign of a clear conscience.”

  “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

  Eve gave her a small smile. “Yes, for once you’re in the clear.”

  “What about you?”

  Eve bent down to give Mischief a scratch behind the ear. “Jack only wanted to know how I’d found Henry. Once I explained I’d gone chasing after Mischief, he seemed satisfied.” She frowned. “Then again, there’s a police officer posted outside the door, so they’ve stepped up their presence... which could mean they’re more concerned about me... being a victim... or a murderer.”

  “Maybe he could give us an update on Henry Parkmore. I’ll go and ask.”

  “I saw you peering out the window just before, Jill.”

  “And?”

  “You have a thing for that young officer.”

  “So, what if I do?”

  “If you do, then I suggest you do something about the smudge of chocolate on your chin.”

  “Ooops, thanks.”

  “Never say I don’t have your back.”

  After clearing out the breakfast dishes, Eve had a long shower. She’d only brought a couple of changes of clothing with her, so some time during the day she’d have to think about going back to Mira’s. But she was in no hurry.

  Grabbing her phone, she slipped it into her back pocket and strode out to find Jill. Eve felt she was imposing on her time, so she’d have to figure out some way to keep herself busy while Jill worked on her painting or whatever she did during the day.

  As she strode into the sitting room, she heard voices.

  Jack and Jill.

  She laughed.

  “Look what the lovely detective brought us. Coffee.”

  “And donuts?” Eve asked.

  “Of course,” he said.

  “Is this your way of suggesting we stay put and don’t interfere with your investigation because nothing good can come of it?”

  Jack smiled. “Thank you. You saved me the trouble of having to explain it to you.”

  Eve held up the coffee in a salute. “I wouldn’t want you to walk away thinking I’m a troublemaker.” The edge of his lip quirked up and Eve could imagine him thinking she wasn’t a troublemaker, but rather... a trouble magnet.

  “Any good news this morning?”

  “Henry Parkmore is out of danger.”

  That was a relief. “Oh, come on. Is that all you have for us?”

  “If I tell you more, will you promise you won’t get a false sense of security?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “This wasn’t about an attempt on Henry’s life.”

  “So, our killer had nothing to do with it?” She raked her fingers through her hair. “That sets my mind at ease. I hate to think the killer is stepping up his campaign of terror, but... how can you be sure?”

  “Henry Parkmore has a history of illness. He suffered a mild stroke. Apparently, it’s quite common with his condition. There’s some disorientation involved. At the time, his speech would have been affected. Even now, he’s not making much sense.”

  “He wasn’t making sense when he was all right. I think Henry has been rambling for quite some time. Is he actually talking this morning?”

  Jack nodded. “He expressed concern for Mira Lloyd. We assume she was on his mind when he set out last night.”

  “You think he was headed out to the house?”

  Jack nodded. “Perhaps not for the first time. His nephew, Richard, said he often has to go chasing after him.”

  “So, it wasn’t the killer striking again?” And the shadows she’d seen on her first night might have been Henry Parkmore wandering around.

  “Eve, I told you. No false sense of security.”

  Did Henry have reason to be worried about Mira? She hated not knowing where she was... how she was. But she couldn’t let herself be distracted by negative thoughts. “Are you stepping up your investigation?”

  “We’re still gathering evidence.”

  “I was thinking of returning to New York,” she said testily.

  “I wouldn’t rec
ommend that. In fact, it was very sensible of you to come stay with Jill.”

  “Do you hear that, Jill? That means you’re officially off the suspect list.” Eve set her cup down on the coffee table. “And me too. Otherwise, they wouldn’t let me stay with you.”

  Jill took a step back, putting herself out of Jack’s line of vision, and waved to Eve. When Eve gave a small shrug, Jill pressed her hand to her ear.

  “Oh, that reminds me. I have something for you. It might be nothing, but then again, who am I to say?” She looked around but couldn’t see the phone anywhere. Looking up at Jill she saw her pointing toward the kitchen. “Back in a sec.” Eve returned shortly with the phone in her hand, worrying her lip and hoping Jack wouldn’t make a big deal out of it. “Jill and I were out on a walk yesterday and we found this.” She shrugged. “It might have washed ashore... or maybe someone threw it away thinking it would land in the sea. Anyhow, we found it by the rocks near Mira’s house.” She handed the phone over.

  Jack removed a plastic bag from the inside pocket of his jacket and held it out for Eve. The phone went in and he tapped it against the palm of his hand, his eyebrows drawn down.

  “I honestly wasn’t out there looking for trouble.”

  “Just make sure it doesn’t find you.”

  “So, do you think it’ll be of any use to your investigation?”

  “I’ll hand it over to forensics. They’ll know what to do with it.”

  “And then you’ll let us know what you find?” she asked, her tone cheerful, somewhat hopeful and verging on mischievous.

  “This is so strange. I can’t remember the last time I had a whole day to myself with nothing to do.” Eve watched Mr. Magoo zigzag his way ahead of them and then stop to see if they were following. “So, tell me about your daily schedule.”

  Jill sighed. “Walk the boys. Paint. Read. Paint. Walk the boys.”

  “What about a social life? Friends to visit?”

  “I’m twenty-four. Everyone my age has moved on. They’re all working in the city.”

  “What about Samantha over at the bookstore? She looks to be about your age.”

  “She is, but we never hung out together at school. I doubt we’d have anything in common.”

  “Have you tested the waters?”

  “Are you trying to get rid of me?”

  Mischief came up to them and barked or at least made a sound that sounded like a bark.

  “What’s wrong, boy? Are we going too slow for you?” Eve asked and hoped Mischief hadn’t acquired a nose for finding bodies and now felt bereft because there were none around for him to sniff out.

  “You know he doesn’t talk human.”

  “Dogs are smart. They understand.”

  “Maybe you should get one,” Jill suggested.

  “I need to do some thinking first. There’s no point in getting a puppy and then sticking it in a small apartment.”

  “You should stay on the island.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Just like that?

  “Why not?”

  “Plenty of reasons. It would feel too much like giving up. A part of me feels I should be out there, doing something, trying something new.” They came up to Mira’s house. “Okay. I’m going in to get a change of clothes and I’ll meet you out here again.” She watched Mischief and Mr. Magoo trot off down to the beach. “I think I can guess what you’re going to do.”

  “I’ll see you back here,” Jill said and took off after her dogs.

  Eve dug her keys out of her back pocket and let herself in through the back door. Sprinting up to her bedroom, she grabbed an old backpack out of the wardrobe and filled it up with essential items. Enough for a couple of days, she thought. Then she’d bring it all back and spend a day doing the laundry and airing the place out.

  When she had everything she wanted, she went down to the kitchen and checked the refrigerator to see if she had to throw anything out.

  Seeing Jill a fair distance away on the beach, she figured she had another twenty minutes wait so she made herself a coffee.

  She stood by the window sipping it and thinking about Henry Parkmore. It was a relief to know he hadn’t been attacked. How could Richard have let him out of his sight? She’d seen it happen the day after she’d arrived on the island when Henry had accosted her.

  A thought occurred and she couldn’t leave it alone.

  It would have been convenient for everyone to think Henry had been attacked. It would definitely let Richard off the hook since no one would think him capable of attacking his own uncle.

  A ruse.

  Just like the break-in he’d reported at his house.

  It’s what she’d do if she wanted to draw the scent away from her.

  When Jill returned, Eve decided they’d both go through all the bookshelves, and trawl their way from one end of the house to the other until they found something. Anything. Whoever had broken in, had been looking for something significant.

  For a wild moment, she thought of Abby. Mira got all her books from her store. Was there a connection?

  Eve laughed.

  Okay, now she’d gone too far.

  If she had to point the finger of blame at anyone, it would have to be...

  Richard Parkmore.

  Because?

  He had money problems.

  And how did one resolve money problems?

  By stealing, of course.

  From where she stood, she glanced over at the bookshelves. Mira’s books were all paperbacks. She doubted her aunt had ever purchased a first edition.

  Mira.

  Where are you?

  One more day, she thought and she’d have to turn the house upside down looking for Mira’s personal information. If she had her banking details, she could contact them and see if they could provide information about credit card activity. She only needed some peace of mind. A part of her insisted Mira was still sorting stuff out and would return in her own good time.

  Thinking about it, she realized Mira had actually done a disappearing act a couple of times before, with Eve only finding out after the event but not always. In fact, she couldn’t remember Mira mentioning her trip to Pennsylvania. The Amish quilts on her bed looked new. One of them even had layers of tissue paper still in it.

  Mira practiced such intense focus while she wrote but in other areas, she could be quite forgetful to the point of being indifferent, never really worrying or thinking anything bad was going to happen. In fact, Eve would bet anything that once she called, she’d be dismissive of any feeling of concern.

  It still wouldn’t stop her from giving her aunt a piece of her mind. Of course, Mira would merely give her one of her blank expressions and shuffle off to do some writing.

  She chuckled under her breath.

  She was about to turn away from the window to wash the mug when she stopped.

  The house almost felt too still.

  Too quiet.

  She held her breath.

  And then she heard it.

  The slightest noise. The creak of a door.

  She set the mug down, and edged her way toward the sitting room, even as her instinct told her to run out the back door.

  Someone was in the house.

  All that time she’d been rummaging upstairs and while she’d been drinking her coffee, there had been someone in the house. She couldn’t shake off the feeling.

  Self-preservation urged her to retreat. Slowly and without alerting the intruder.

  It wouldn’t hurt to play it safe. Jill might laugh at her afterwards, but at least Eve would be alive to hear it.

  Still holding her breath, she took a step back and another.

  She figured she had about ten steps to take before she reached the back door. Eve kept her eyes on the sitting room entrance, praying that whoever was in there would stay put long enough for her to make her getaway.

  She took another step just as her cell phone beeped a message.

  Eve froze for a moment.

&nbs
p; The door she’d heard creaking was slammed open and hurried steps made their way toward her.

  She felt her body shake.

  Somehow, she managed to tell herself to move.

  And scream.

  Yes, screaming would be good.

  Screaming would raise the alarm, but she was too busy trying to move.

  Clutching the phone against her chest, Eve swirled away and lunged for the back door just as a large hand curled around her arm.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Eve screamed.

  Not out of fear, but rather as a reaction, which was much the same thing.

  It deafened her ears so it had to have caused some damage to the man trying to grab a hold of her.

  She kicked. She pushed.

  She rammed her elbow as hard as she could and connected with his ribcage.

  All the while, Eve could hear the scuffling of their feet.

  Neither one spoke.

  Both breathed heavily.

  Sheer anger and frustration took over.

  She’d come to this island to relax.

  Damn it.

  She’d come to find peace and quiet.

  Eve’s rage worked its way up to her throat and she roared.

  She tried to twist around and see his face, but his grip tightened and he pushed her toward the door, pressing her face against it.

  All those shows she’d watched on late night television, surely something must have stuck, she thought and decided to quit struggling and go limp.

  It seemed to work.

  The man took a moment to adjust his grip and that’s when she dug deep and found a strength she hadn’t known she possessed.

  She leaned forward and used the motion to propel herself back, blindly lifting her head and praying it would connect with the man’s jaw.

  Her prayers were answered.

  He let out a yelp.

  Eve hoped he’d bitten off his tongue.

  In that split second, she managed to break free and wrench the back door open.

  She didn’t think she’d get more than three seconds grace to make her escape so she threw everything she had into it and then some, pushing her legs to pump harder until she could feel every muscle in her body screaming with pain.

  Acting so quickly, she didn’t have time to pick a direction.