A Time To Kiln

by Gilian Baker

  “Yes, Mom. We’re just friends. Didn’t you and dad teach me to rally round a friend in need? That’s what I’m doing. I have plans for my life, and even though I enjoy Dillon’s company, he isn’t part of those plans. He’s more Shelly’s type. She wants to settle down and have a bunch of kids. I want to see the world and have a career. I figure there’s time for that family stuff later.”

  “I’m so relieved to hear that, sweetie.”

  “I was lucky to have him as my first dating experience, but he’s not someone I’d consider going out with now. And you know, I get the impression he’s more interested in older women.”

  “Why?”

  “Well, Paula was a few years older and definitely more worldly than the girls he dated around here. I suspect he’s already seeing someone, and it’s not Shelly.”

  “Go on. What gives you this idea?”

  “He seems secretive, like he’s watching what he says. Sometimes he asks me to come over, but it ends up he’s just looking for someone to stay with Harper. He needs to go out ‘just for a little while,’ but doesn’t want to saddle his parents with her. Then he’s gone much longer than I expect.”

  “Do you think you should be less available for him? You’ve only got half the summer left, and you need time to have fun with friends. It’s not your responsibility to take care of his kid while he goes out and does who knows what. I think maybe you’ve done your fair share. Maybe it’s time for Dillon to start taking care of himself.”

  She was twisting a napkin around her finger. “Yeah, I think it is. I’ve been feeling a little taken advantage of the last few days.”

  “He’s going to have to get used to what his life has turned into now. It’s not fair, but that’s what it is. He’s going to need to either get out of the habit of being some woman’s project or marry again, this time to someone who’s happy to play the caretaker.”

  “Yeah. And that’s not me.”

  “Are you sure you still think he’s innocent? You don’t have to be brave for me. I know he’s your friend, but friends make mistakes. That doesn’t make them ours, and it doesn’t make us responsible for them.”

  She looked up at me with an earnest look on her face. “I think if he’d lost it and killed her, he’d be a complete mess and would have turned himself in.”

  “Do you have any idea who he might be seeing? Or maybe he’s just getting together with some of his old friends, to shoot pool and have some beers.”

  She thought about it for a minute. “No, it doesn’t feel like that. It feels like he’s overjoyed, but trying not to show it, when he comes back. And he’s pretty eager for me to leave once he gets there. He acts…I don’t know, different.”

  “Hm. Has he told you where he really was on the nights of the murders?

  “No, he just changes the subject when I get anywhere near it.” She stopped twisting the napkin and looked up into my eyes. “Do you think he’s protecting someone, and that’s why he won’t explain his alibis?”

  “My dear, I think you hit the nail right on the head.

  Chapter Fifteen

  I was proud of my daughter. She’d learned a valuable lesson about personal boundaries over the last couple of weeks. It wasn’t easy to say no to a friend in need, but that’s exactly what she’d done after our talk last night. She’d texted Dillon to tell him she couldn’t come over that night, but that she’d talk to him soon. Maybe if everyone stopped coddling him, he’d own up to whatever was going on and start helping himself.

  Before getting on with my sleuthing duties, I needed to get my business affairs in order. I logged on and whipped through business emails at lightning speed. Then I checked in with what Geena had been up to in my absence. As usual, she had things well in hand. I responded to her questions and added the next few tasks to her project board and then sent her a thank you message. I couldn’t do all this without her. I logged out and gave Gabby a call.

  ***

  Gabby said, “I got ahold of Charley Hesston. He grudgingly said he’d meet with you. He’s coming through town today so he’ll meet you around 2 p.m. at Tea & Sympathy. He’ll give you only 20 minutes, so make them count.”

  “I can do that. I should finish up the outstanding interviews today. After that, I think we should meet and reassess the situation.”

  “I agree, though we may see each other sooner. Ross is getting closer to arresting Dillon, because no new information has come to light.” She took in a big breath and blew it out. “I hate to admit this, but it may take Dillon being arrested to man up.”

  On that note, I informed her about my last conversation with Dillon and the obvious debt he was in. “Oh, and there’s one more thing you should know.”

  “Is it good news? Say it is, please.”

  I told her all about the ketamine, including Ellie and my ideas on why someone would need to use it to kill Jack, but not Paula.

  “Well, it’s good that we have an insider at the paper. You know, in some ways, Liz’s case was easier. Since she’d been officially arrested, Ross was required to give me what they had on her. With this case, we don’t have that luxury.”

  After we signed off, I filled my insulated cup with iced tea, grabbed a protein bar and headed out to Natalie Fisher's homestead.

  ***

  Natalie had a gorgeous spread of land on the outskirts of town, complete with a full stable of horses. She and her late husband had dreamed of owning a place like this, so when her husband died unexpectedly in a freak accident, she’d left the city to make it a reality.

  She answered the door still in her silk dressing gown and slippers. She looked like she was one of those irritating women who wake up in full makeup and perfectly coiffured hair. She was beautiful enough to be a movie star, though one who now played a mother of teens or young adults rather than a single young career woman.

  “Well, Jade. What brings you here? Come in, come in.” She held the screen door open with one hand and her robe closed with the other.

  I stepped into the kitchen. “I’m sorry to intrude. I know it’s kind of early.”

  “Nonsense. Have a seat at the table, and I’ll get you a cup.”

  “Thanks. I just have a few questions for you about the murders. Maybe you know I’m investigating for Gabrielle Langdon.” I handed her one of my fancy new business cards when she brought me a steaming cup of dark, rich-smelling coffee.

  “Oh, my. Well. I knew you were involved in something like that a while back.” She took the card and then gingerly sat it on the table beside her coffee cup without glancing at it.

  “Whatever can I do for you?”

  “It’s a bit delicate, actually. I know you bought your home from Jack Bristol, and I’ve heard you and he had a falling out sometime after.”

  “Oh, that. Well, yes, we did.”

  “Can you tell me about that? Some folks seem to think you still carried a hefty grudge.”

  “Oh, that was all water under the bridge. I admit to being upset at the time, but that was ages ago.”

  “What was it about? Did it start as a problem with the real estate deal?”

  “Yes.” She offered me a forced smile. “It was silly, really. There were some things that came up after the purchase of the property that had been made, shall we say, less of an issue than they really were.” She took a sip of coffee and cleared her throat before going on.

  “I’d felt he’d misrepresented some of the features of the property, specifically the stables. I ended up having to put a great deal of work into it.” Her smile waned. “Of course, I later learned Jack had a reputation for being liberal with the truth when it came to making a sale.”

  “Yes, that would be the case. Most of us have had to put up with it because he’s the only real estate agent around. But as someone new to the community, you probably weren’t aware of his shenanigans.”

  “No, I certainly was not. You know, I’ve often thought each town should have a pamphlet to give to newcomers outlining who to watch
out for. It could take years to learn such things in a small town where people don’t take to a newcomer. It would have come in handy, I can tell you that.”

  “Yes, I’m sure it would have. I doubt the Chamber of Commerce would be willing to distribute that little bit of information though.” We both gave a forced chuckle.

  “I’ve also heard that you and Jack were an item for a while, but that it ended badly.”

  Natalie blew out a breath and then took a sip of coffee. “Yes, we did see each other for a short time. It started when he was helping me find the house and continued for three months or so.” She didn’t show any sign of discussing what had put an end to their relationship, and it was interesting she’d brought up how long it had lasted without being prompted.

  “And the breaking up part? What happened there?”

  She cleared her throat. “I’m sorry, but I can’t imagine how that would help with your investigation.”

  “Look, Natalie, I’m asking all sorts of personal questions to people I know and like. We live in a small community, which means I must ask my neighbors things I know they don’t want to share. But a young widower is the prime suspect in a double homicide, and if clearing his name and bringing the murderer to justice means I have to ask some indelicate questions, I’m going to ask them.”

  “Oh, all right.” She played with the handle of her mug instead of looking at me. “I thought everything was going fine, but he seemed to lose interest after a couple of months. Of course, now I know that’s his M.O. His affections burn bright for a short time, but he doesn’t keep his boots under anyone’s bed for too long.” She chuckled without much mirth. “I was just another statistic.”

  “Someone told me you’d threatened to kill him.”

  “Oh, that’s just something you say when you're mad. ‘I could kill him!’ It’s just a figure of speech.”

  “You have to admit though that you have two motives. He messed you over when you did business with him, and he left you high and dry in the romance department.”

  Before responding, she busied herself by rearranging the vase of flowers on the table. “You’re right. I was extremely angry at the time. He took advantage of me when I was at my most vulnerable. But I certainly wouldn’t have killed him over it. Besides, if I were going to kill him, don’t you think I would have done it a long time ago?”

  Natalie suddenly looked tired and defeated. She seemed sincere enough, but her explanation seemed rehearsed somehow. Maybe I could force her to deviate from her script.

  “They found ketamine in Jack’s system. You’d have plenty of access to that drug, I’d imagine.”

  Her head shot up in surprise. “Oh, they did?” She attempted to recover quickly. “Well, yes, the vet has used ketamine on a few of my horses from time to time. It’s common. Anyone with animals would have some access to it.” She drained her coffee cup and stood up to pour herself more. She failed to offer me more. “Why would he have that in his system? I thought it was only used with animals.” She stayed with her back to me, looking out the kitchen window near the sink.

  “Oh, it’s quite popular in the club scene. People use it as a date rape drug too.”

  She turned around and leaned against the counter. “Oh, I didn’t know.”

  I let the silence hang for a moment.

  “The theory," I said, "is the killer used it to subdue him. It’s an effective way to control someone larger than you, but the effects don’t last very long.”

  “So since Jack was much larger than Paula, the killer needed to use something to control him, but not her?”

  “How did you know ketamine wasn’t found in her pathology?”

  She was already fidgety, and that little bombshell made her act. She sat down her mug abruptly, causing some coffee to slosh out onto the counter. “Oh, I just assumed. I hadn’t read anything about it in the paper, so…” She trailed off. “I’m sorry, but I have an appointment I must get ready for. If you have no further questions, I’ll see you out.”

  Shoot. I’d wanted to push her further. But for now, I’d just have to let her stew.

  ***

  Roger was holding court when I interrupted him to ask if there was somewhere we could talk. Since he was leaving all the real work to his staff, he could hardly say he was too busy.

  He led me inside to his stuffy office and sat behind his desk. The cramped room was paneled in a dark faux wood that had absorbed years of cigar smoke. His scarred desk, which was as large as his substantial ego and two towering olive green filing cabinets made barely enough space for the two visitors’ chairs.

  I perched on one of them directly across from him while breathing shallowly to avoid the stale stench of his stogies.

  Roger leaned back in his chair with his hands behind his head. “I guess this is about the murders.”

  “Yes, it is. I spoke with Betty yesterday, but you weren’t around. I’d like to ask you a couple of questions too.”

  “Shoot. I don’t have all day to sit in here and rehash this.”

  Somehow, I very much doubted his day was going to be as full as mine.

  “Okay, then. Were you having an affair with Paula Hexby?”

  When he offered the same predatory smile I’d seen on his face that day in the teashop, I had to repress a shudder.

  “I wish, little lady. If she’d had me, I woulda. I made my invitation clear. She said she was flattered, but wanted to give her marriage a real chance. I suggested what gave a marriage a chance was a little variety. She turned me down. After that, I let it go, figuring I’d have to make do with enjoyin' the view ‘til she changed her mind.”

  He smiled broadly, seeming very confident would come to see the error of her ways. I felt another shiver coming on.

  “You were friends with Jack. Any chance he had better luck?”

  “Nope.” Keeping his hands behind his head, he began rocking in his desk chair, causing it to squeak. “Said she gave him the same line.”

  “Could he have been lying? Trying to hide the affair since you’d been turned down?”

  Roger laughed so loud it echoed off the walls of the small office. “You didn’t know good ole Jack, did ya? He’d have been comin' to me to gloat if he’d gotten the chance. He thought he’d have better luck with her, being younger than me and all, but she turned him down too.” He chuckled again. “Did my old heart good, I can tell ya that.”

  “Can you explain why you were having a heated discussion with Paula outside Tea & Sympathy awhile back?”

  “Who told ya about that? Oh, it was nothing, really. I’d commissioned her to make a matching set of dishes for Betty’s birthday and forgotten to pay her. She was reminding me. Just an oversight on my part. Nothing to do with the murders.”

  Granted, what Kaye had described sound more forceful than a chat about him owing her a few hundred bucks, but I had no proof to the contrary, so I’d have to let it go for now. And quite frankly, I was ready to get out of there. Being stuck in the tiny space with him and his self-importance was making me feel claustrophobic, and a little nauseous.

  On the way back out to the car, I gave the old guys a wave on my way through. Looking at the clock, I saw it was high time I head over to the teashop. I wanted to have time to talk to Shelly before the meeting with Charley Hesston.

  ***

  Millie was arranging fresh pastries in the glass cabinet when I walked in.

  “Those look amazing, Millie.”

  “Why thank you. If you’re coming in for tea, I can grab one to go with it.”

  “Actually, I’m meeting someone here, but was hoping to talk to Shelly first, if that’s okay with you. It’s in regards to the murders. I promise not to keep her long.”

  “Yeah, I heard you were working with Gabby. The dynamic duo has teamed up again.” She stuck her head back in the case to straighten a plate covered with a cinnamon bun, then popped back out. “I suppose you can talk to her since it’s for a good cause. Don’t let her go on and on though.
That girl can talk, and I need her stirring batter in the kitchen, not whistling Dixie.”

  “Of course, thanks. Can I get a pot of English Breakfast? Oh, what the heck. Give me that bun too.” That might smooth over any irritation she felt about intruding with her staff during work hours.

  “Sure. I’ll bring it over. Go have a seat.”

  I did as I was told, and soon, Shelly brought my order to the table. She was a pretty girl, though she looked haggard at the moment. She and Dillon would make a handsome pair, and would suit each other’s needs—he needed to be taken care of and she needed to take care of someone. It was too bad she went about getting his attention in such a heavy-handed way.

  “Millie said you wanted to talk to me?”

  “Yes, have a seat.”

  She looked at me doubtfully.

  “It’s okay. I’ve cleared it with Millie. You can sit and talk. It’s important.”

  She slid out the chair opposite me and sat down. Before looking at me with her big, innocent eyes, she smoothed down her apron. Her sturdy frame seemed to be ideal for her goal in life—to marry a nice local guy, settle down and have a horde of kids.

  “I know you and Dillon are friends, but he said something that brought me up short—that you had been over to his house day and night since Paula died. And that you were in constant communication via Facebook when he was in Cheyenne. Even after he married.”

  She smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Well, you know…” She leaned in, her tone coy. “Dillon and I were sweethearts in high school. We stayed friends after we broke up. He needs his friends to gather ‘round him right now. And Facebook was a great way to stay in touch after he moved to the city. I couldn’t let our friendship die out, not after the feelings we have for each other.”

  “Even after he was married? Sometimes as we move into adulthood, we have to let go of our past romances, and even friends, so we can move on in our life.”