Wanda stared. I bit into the bread and gave her a broad smile. “You should have some. It’s wonderful.”
The rest of the evening was equally tense. As we left the restaurant, I gave Rob a kiss goodnight, then whispered, “Maybe we should trade houseguests.”
He kissed me back. “Trust me, Richard’s no prize.”
Richard and Wanda stood to the side, speaking softly to each other.
Jenny climbed into the back, and Wanda took the passenger seat, a small smile on her face. “The salmon was good.”
✽ ✽ ✽
I rose early to bake muffins for Alex. After they cooled, I put them in a cloth-lined basket. Then I ran into my office, pulled out a piece of notepaper, and scribbled “Welcome to the neighborhood. Hope you enjoy the muffins, Merry.” The clock chimed seven. I hoped that it wasn’t too early. I scooted out the back door and up the steps to my new neighbor’s house, hesitating before knocking. The last time I’d been at this door was when my ex-husband rented it earlier in the year. He left town right before the FBI stormed in to arrest him. I patted my pockets for an antacid. Empty. I straightened my shoulders, wreathed my face in a smile, and knocked softly, in case Alex was still asleep. The door opened. She was fully dressed and wearing a beige smock smeared with a kaleidoscope of colors.
I handed her the muffins.
“I wasn’t sure what type you liked, so I went with my favorite, Morning Glory. And don’t worry. No nuts.”
She waved me into the house and lifted the basket closer to her face. “They smell wonderful.”
“Do you paint?”
“Landscapes and flowers mostly. The early morning light is wonderful.”
“I’d love to see your work sometime.”
“Won’t you join me for coffee?”
“I’m sorry, I really can’t stay; I have a busy morning. Are you free for lunch on Saturday? I’d love to get to know you better.”
“Sounds lovely. Noon?”
“That works.” I hurried down the stairs, across the driveway, and up the steps back into my kitchen. I reached for my car keys, but they weren’t on the counter next to the garage, where I usually dropped them. I groaned and scurried upstairs. Knocking softly on the guest room door, I whispered, “Wanda, are you awake?”
There was no response. I inched the door open. The bed was made, and Wanda was not in the room. I looked down the hallway. The bathroom door was open; no one was in there. I ran back down the stairs, checked my office, and the laundry room. Where is she?
I stuck my head in the garage. No car. When had she gone out? I went to bed before her, but I hadn’t heard her leave. I ran back up the stairs. The bathroom door was now closed. I knocked, and Jenny opened the door, curling iron in hand. “I thought you left for work.”
“Have you seen our houseguest?”
“She isn’t in her room?”
“Nope.”
“Weird.” She turned her attention back to the mirror.
I texted Rob: “Do you know where your mother is?”
My phone rang. “She’s not with you?”
“Her bed hadn’t been slept in, and the car’s MIA.”
There was a pause and then a quick knock. “Richard?” A door creaked. “Richard’s not here either.”
“Where do you think they are?”
Rob sighed. “They’re adults. Let’s not worry about it. They’ll return eventually.”
“Easy for you to say. Your mom has my car.”
“Want mine?”
I scrolled my calendar. “If it wouldn’t be a problem.”
“I’ll drop it by in ten minutes.”
I hung up and poured myself another cup of coffee. The cats eyed me and mewed, so I tossed them a few treats. “I’ll let you out later.”
Jenny ran by, picking up a banana on her way out.
“Have more than—” I was talking to the door.
There was a quick knock, and Rob strolled in. “Where do you think they are?”
“Together, I hope. Especially since Wanda has my car.” I held out my hand for Rob’s keys. “Want me to drop you somewhere?”
“My office?”
“No problem.”
✽ ✽ ✽
I was kissing him goodbye when his phone rang. He answered, “Mom, where are you? You have Merry’s car—” his eyes widened, and his jaw dropped. “Room 212? I’ll be right there.”
He hung up and turned to me. “Richard’s dead. They’re at the motel near the highway. I’ll need the car.”
“I’m coming with you.” I pulled back onto the road and made a left at the traffic light. “He’s so overweight. Was it his heart?”
“She didn’t know. She woke up, and he was dead.”
We arrived at the “no-tell” motel. We ran up the concrete stairs to the second floor and turned right. Midway down the corridor, a room was cordoned off by yellow police tape. Rob said, “They got here quickly.”
A pallid young man wearing a brown motel uniform, stood just outside the tape, cell phone in his hands. “This has never happened before. I called the manager, and she’s on her way.”
I asked, “Do you know what happened?”
He shook his head. “No. The lady in the room called down and said her husband was dead. I called the police. They just got here.”
Detective Jay Ziebold, our friend and sometime collaborator on murder cases, walked out of the room. His hand gripped Wanda’s arm. I gasped. Her hair was askew, mascara streaked her face, and the dress she wore from the night before was beyond wrinkled. She looked ready for a perp walk.
The young man pointed his phone at her. I held my hand in front of it. “No recording.”
He huffed and put the phone down.
Rob moved so that he blocked Jay. “Where are you taking her?”
Jay stopped. “What’s your involvement in this?”
“She’s my mother.”
Jay groaned. “I should have guessed once I heard her name. Why are you two involved in all my cases?” He rubbed his forehead. “The medical examiner is working on the body, so I’m taking Ms. Jenson to the station for questioning.”
“I’ll join you.”
Wanda stood straighter. “Call my attorney. He’ll know someone good in the area.”
Rob blanched. “Why would you need a lawyer? Richard died of natural causes.”
Jay replied, “We’re not sure what happened yet. Come along, Ms. Jenson. Your attorney can meet us at the station.”
“Surely I can go back to Merry’s and clean up first.”
“I’m sorry, but no. Let’s get this out of the way.”
It looked like Wanda was going to argue with him, but then her shoulders slumped, and she allowed herself to be led down the stairs.
A moment later, the medical examiner wheeled out Richard’s sheet-covered body. I said a quick prayer. Rob edged closer. “Mind if I take a look?”
The medical examiner glared and brushed past him to the elevator. “Reporters!”
Rob pulled out his phone. He pressed in a number, turned, and talked quietly into it.
I stood in the corridor, outside the room’s open door. Two techs appeared to be gathering evidence. They were in the process of bagging a bottle of champagne that lay on the floor. The sheets were rumpled. Rob joined me. “Looks like it was a busy night.”
“Unfortunately it had a horrible ending.”
Chapter 2
I used my spare keys to retrieve the car, then drove to check on clients who had suffered the worst damage from the storm. It was sad to see all the shingles strewn across the grass like cards. Having dispensed referrals for roof repairs, I returned to my office. I hung up my coat, and Cheryl walked in. “Did you hear what happened at the motel? I heard someone died.”
I sank onto my chair. “It was Rob’s stepfather.”
She sat opposite me. “You’re kidding.”
“I wish I were.” I put my purse in a drawer. “Do me a favor. Doesn’t your s
ister-in-law work at the police station now?”
“Yes.”
“Would you ask her to let you know when Wanda leaves?”
“Wanda’s at the station? Did she kill her husband?”
“I don’t think so. At this point, I’m not sure what happened.”
“Good thing it was him. If it were her, you’d be a prime suspect.”
“Not funny.” I pointed toward the door.
I texted Rob: “Anything?”
“Attorney arrived. Waiting at the station.”
“Keep me posted.”
I put down my cell and started on my call list. I made my way through most of it, and as I was about to leave for lunch, Cheryl breezed in. “Your future mother-in-law has been set free.”
“Thanks.” I picked up my cell and typed, “Lunch at my house?”
Rob replied: “Going there now.”
I gathered what I needed to work on the rest of the day and waved to Cheryl on my way out.
When I pulled in the driveway, Rob was outside waiting for me. “She’s in the shower.”
“That’s not surprising; she had a tough night.” I gave him a quick kiss and walked into the kitchen. I washed my hands and started pulling things out for a salad. “What did she say?”
“Not a lot. She seemed confused.”
“When did they cook up the scheme to meet at the motel?”
“Must have been right before we got in the car.”
“Oh. So that’s what they were whispering about.”
Wanda walked into the kitchen. She wore no makeup, her hair had not been dried, and she looked about ten years older. She stared at the salad spinner in my hand. “No. That won’t do. I need something more.” She turned to Rob. “Do you still make those grilled cheesed sandwiches?”
My mouth dropped. Who is this woman?
Rob kissed his mother on the forehead. “For you, anything.”
She sank to a chair at the kitchen table, and I joined her. “What happened?”
“Tea?”
Rob said, “I’ll get it.” He put the kettle on.
I stared into her brown eyes.
She shifted in her chair. “We made up. I forgave him for not giving me the birthday present I wanted.”
I waited.
“I wanted to go on a cruise through the Panama Canal.” She inspected her nails. “We won’t be going now.”
I barely restrained myself from a major eye roll. “I’m sorry you won’t be able to go on your cruise now that your husband died. What happened last night?”
“We decided to meet at the Shady Inn.” She sniffed. “That’s not the kind of hotel I had in mind. I normally stay at the Ritz Carlton.”
“Sorry, we don’t have one in town.”
She looked up at me. “Was that sarcasm?”
“I wish we did have a nice hotel in town.” I bit my lip.
“Anyway, I stopped at the wine shop you showed me, Pick of the Vine—tawdry little place—to pick up a bottle of French champagne. I had to get a bottle of prosecco, if you can imagine. I mean, doesn’t anyone celebrate in this town?”
I moved my index finger in a clock motion, signaling for her to speed up. “You were saying—”
“Richard called me with the room number, and I went directly there.” She rubbed her arm. “He popped the prosecco, and we drank it out of those horrid small plastic cups.” Her gaze lingered on my cupboard. “I wish I had thought to take some glasses.”
Rob placed a beautifully toasted sandwich with cheese just beginning to ooze and a cup of tea in front of his mother. She lifted a corner and said, “Good, you didn’t burn it. You always used to put the burnt side down to hide it.”
He handed me my sandwich. I smiled up at him. “Perfect, like you.”
He rubbed my shoulder and sat at the table. “Continue, Mother.”
“We had some champagne and did some celebrating. Around two in the morning, Richard started to feel ill and woke me. I assured him it was the cheap wine and went back to sleep. In the morning he was lying on the bathroom floor, dead. I can’t believe I’ve lost another husband.”
I asked, “Do you need help making arrangements? Do you know where he’d like to be buried?”
Her bright brown eyes darkened. “May as well be here. You might actually be helpful. He didn’t have many friends, so you might be able to get people you know to come to the funeral. I’d hate to have no one come.” She sipped her tea. “That is once they release his body.”
Rob put potato chips on his plate. “He was pretty old. I’m sure that they’ll figure out it was natural causes.”
His mother glared at him. “He was the same age as me, seventy-two. That’s not old.” She paused. “I wish your sister was here. She always treats me so well.”
I bit my tongue, gathered the dirty dishes, and Rob helped load them into the dishwasher. His mother rose and strolled from the room. “I’m going to put my face on, if anyone cares.”
I leaned against Rob’s shoulder. “Wow.”
He wiped the counter. “That about sums it up. I’m sorry I saddled you with her.”
“It hasn’t been that bad.”
“Uh-huh. After we get mother through the next few weeks, we’ll have to do something fun. Just the two of us.”
I hugged him. “That sounds wonderful.”
✽ ✽ ✽
“Let me get this straight. You’re helping your potential future mother-in-law plan the funeral for her yet to be released fifth husband’s body. Has anyone ever told you your life is complicated?” My best friend, Patty Twilliger, sipped her wine.
“Yep.”
She removed a white scrunchie and fluffed her long brown hair. “I do love you, but you are showing latent doormat tendencies. I don’t understand it. You’re so strong at work, yet at home, you let everyone walk all over you. And what are you doing here?” She swept her arm to encompass her comfortable living room. She had chosen a cottage décor that would stand up well to kids, yet look elegant enough for adults.
I sank farther into her soft, blue sofa. “I’m hiding. Be nice. I’m tired of being berated.” I swirled my wine. “ And besides, what am I supposed to do? He’s dead, and she doesn’t know anyone in town. I have to help.”
“Doesn’t he have any other relatives?”
“He has a daughter, but they haven’t spoken in years.”
“Is she coming to the funeral?”
“I don’t know. Wanda said she was considering inviting her. Rob’s sister, Elizabeth Jenson, is coming into town tomorrow. Rob and I may have both our houses full.”
“Can’t Elizabeth and Wanda stay at Rob’s?”
I took a long sip of wine and contemplated my glass. “They could, but Wanda said that being at Rob’s would be too painful because it would remind her of Richard. Not that she’s shed a single tear since he died.”
“She sounds like a marvelous person.”
Jenny, and Patty’s daughter Cindy, came rushing down the stairs. Jenny plopped down next to me. “Mom, can I stay here tonight?” She batted her long eyelashes at me.
“You’re going to make me go back there all alone?”
“Please.”
“Okay, but that means you’ll have to get up early to come home and dress for school.”
Cindy offered, “She can borrow something from me.”
I kissed Jenny’s cheek. “Rat.”
She stood. “Thanks, Mom.” They ran back upstairs.
I took my wine glass into the kitchen. “It’s late. I should be getting back.”
I shivered as I stepped into the cool night air. Pulling my coat tighter, I scurried back to the house. I opened the door, dropped my purse on the kitchen stool, and shrugged out of my jacket. Wanda sat at the kitchen table, drinking a glass of wine. “It’s about time you got home. You should have more sympathy for me.” She took a large gulp. “I just lost my husband.”
I sat down. “I made progress on the arrangements this morning.�
�
“You did?”
“Yes, I spoke with Father Tom, and he’s agreed to hold the funeral mass.”
“Oh, do we have to go through all that falderal? Can’t he say a few words and be done with it?”
I shook my finger at her. “You put me in charge; we’re going to have a full mass. No shortcuts.”
“Very well.” She sighed. “I hope you’ve been thinking about food.”
“I have. The people who live behind us, Andy Perkins and his husband Ed, own an antiques store and tea shop in town. I’m going to ask them to cater lunch for us here.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re going to hire out the catering? That sounds expensive. I thought you were supposed to be a good cook.”
“Not as good as Ed. I want to be able to thank everyone who comes, and I won’t be able to do that if I have to worry about replenishing the food.”
“I’m not paying for that.”
I bit the inside of my cheek and struggled to remain calm. “When is Elizabeth getting here?”
“Her plane gets in tomorrow at ten. I told her you’d pick her up at the airport.”
I stood, retrieved a wine glass, and poured myself a large portion. After a long sip, I put the glass down. “I’d be happy to. Have her text me the plane info.”
“Can’t you get it from her? I hate being the go-between. Rob has her number.”
My grip on the wine glass grew tight. Courvoisier, one of my cats, rubbed against my leg. I sank my fingers into her fur and petted her. My hand relaxed. I stood. “We’ll work out the details. I’ll see you in the morning.” I took my wine glass, topped it off, and moved carefully up the stairs so that I wouldn’t spill a single drop.
I sat on the bed, took a long drink, and picked up my phone.
“Send me your sister’s phone number.”
Rob replied with the number.
“Thanks.”
“Love you.” He appended an emoji hug.
I sent him a heart emoji and put my phone down. I propped myself up on the pillows and reached for my book. Courvoisier and my other cat, Drambuie, soon joined me. One settled by my legs, and the other climbed on my chest. I took another sip of wine and leaned down to whisper in Courvoisier’s ear, “She’ll be leaving soon, won’t she?”
Murder So Deadly Page 2
