Mint Condition Murder

by Ellery Adams

  “Rene Flores?”

  “Yeah, that’s the name. You know her?”

  “We’ve spoken.” Molly realized her mistake. She hadn’t asked Rene if she had dated anyone. She’d been too focused on Charlotte. “Do you know where I can find Quincy Clarke?”

  “I can give you his phone number.”

  “That would be perfect.”

  Marcus reached under the counter and pulled out an old address book. He flipped to the Cs, found his name, and wrote his phone number and address down for her on a Post-it note.

  “Do you know if Charlotte had a boyfriend?”

  He handed her the slip of paper. “I don’t think the young man was her boyfriend, but she did have a male friend who would come in sometimes to see her, or give her a ride. Her car was a real rust bucket, and it broke down a lot.”

  “Why don’t you think they dated?”

  “They were too opposite,” he said. “He was always dressed preppy-like, and she was into vintage clothes. He drove a BMW, she drove the rust bucket. And I never saw them looking at each other, or acting the way young people do when they’re seeing each other. There were no signs of affection.”

  Molly wondered if the man he had seen her with was Wyatt Lyman. The posh clothes and expensive car were all trappings of a son of wealthy parents who owned a construction company.

  “Is there anyone else you can think of?”

  “No, no one comes to mind.”

  “What about your wife? Could I speak to her?”

  He shook his head. “I wish you could, but Mary passed away seven years ago. It’s just me and this old shop. I’d close it for good, except then I’d have nothing to do all day. At least it gives me somewhere to go, and people still come in, sometimes just to talk to me.”

  Molly felt a little sorry for Marcus, but thought he was smart to keep the shop open as long as he could. It was better than staying home alone.

  “I’m sorry she’s gone,” she said.

  “Yeah, me, too. Anyway, word of advice on Quincy. When you call, he probably won’t answer, because he’s like that, so leave a message and tell him I gave you his number. That way, he’s more likely to call you back. Oh, and I should mention, he’s a very wealthy man. Comes from old money. His family’s been in New England since the Pilgrims landed. Personally, I never really cared for the guy. He’s arrogant, sitting on his high horse, and looks down at the rest of us. But he knows coins.”

  Chapter 9

  When Molly arrived home, she found Starling in the kitchen making tuna fish sandwiches.

  “You’re just in time for lunch,” she said.

  Molly held up a paper bag. “I have chocolate croissants.” The hostess at Juniper had given her a take-away bag.

  “Yummy! Look, Tyler. Mommy’s brought us a treat.”

  Tyler was in his booster seat, his eyes fixated on the bag. “Momma, what’s it?”

  “Dessert,” Molly said as she kissed his cheek. “After lunch, we’ll all have one.”

  She walked over to the kitchen counter and set the bag down. Her cats, Merlin and Griffin, were circling around Starling like vultures, sniffing the scent of tuna fish in the air. Starling had already set out a pitcher of iced tea on the table, and Molly poured a glass for each of them.

  “So, how was your meeting with Rene?”

  “It was good. I’ll tell you about it while we eat.” Molly sat down next to Tyler. “How was the park?”

  “Tyler had a lot of fun on the swings. Oh, and before I forget, you got a delivery, a box from the police. The cop who brought it said it’s from Detective Shelly Osborne. I had him put it in your office.”

  Molly was surprised. “It must have something to do with a cold case Lombardi told me about.” She relayed that information to Starling. “Sounds like Detective Osborne’s not wasting any time.”

  “But why did she send it to you? Or do you think it was Tony?”

  “I have no idea.”

  Starling set their plates down on the table. She had already cut Tyler’s sandwich into smaller pieces, and he picked one up and started to eat.

  Molly pushed back her chair. “Sorry, but I want to take a quick look at that box. I’ll be right back.”

  She went into her office. The box was on top of her desk. She took off the lid and looked inside, expecting to see a letter on top, or a note, to explain what it was doing there, but there was nothing. She checked a few tabs of the individual files. It was definitely the case file for the Larry Pruett murder. She had just replaced the lid when her cell phone rang in her pocket.

  “This is Molly.”

  “Molly! Hi there! This is Shelly Osborne with the Burlington PD.”

  “Detective Osborne, did you have the Pruett case files dropped off at my home?”

  “I sure did. And please, call me Shelly. I spoke to Lombardi earlier, and he mentioned how you found Charlotte Blair’s body yesterday. Man, what a bummer for you, but lucky for him, am I right? You’ve got a good reputation around here, in case you didn’t know it.” Molly was aware of this, but she also knew her name was rarely spoken at the station. Her participation in police investigations was officially frowned upon. Even if unofficially it was accepted and appreciated. “Since that gun you found in Charlotte’s desk is directly connected to the Pruett murder, and now she’s been killed, I told him I had no problem with you taking a look at the files.” She talked fast, like so many Northerners did, and Molly had to pay attention. “It’s been a cold case for a long time, and the truth is, I’m up to my eyeballs on another case, which I hope to resolve very soon, but even if I do, I won’t have time to delve into Pruett’s for at least another month, maybe two. I know Lombardi wants to keep the momentum moving on the Blair case, and it would really help us both out if you could take a look at what’s in that box.”

  “You’re saying you both want me to read over the Pruett files?”

  “Exactly. Maybe you can find something the lead investigator at the time missed. Lombardi said you wouldn’t mind. In fact, he said you’d be willing to help, because you’re doing a story about Charlotte for your magazine. But if you’re not able to get to it anytime soon, say the word, and I’ll have someone stop by and pick it up.”

  “No, it’s fine, I have time. I’m happy to take a look.”

  “Fantastic!” Molly liked Shelly’s exuberance. “Pay attention to the small stuff. You never know, you might find a connection to Charlotte, or something else to identify her as someone with not only the means, but a motive, to have participated in a robbery-murder.”

  “Is the investigating officer on the force?”

  “No. Unfortunately, Detective Diego Schmitt died years ago. I never met the man myself, but I’ve heard about him. At the time he was on the Pruett case, he was near retirement. I don’t know if having a short-timer attitude made him sloppy, or if there simply wasn’t enough evidence to go on at the time to pinpoint a prime suspect, but he never got anywhere near an arrest. Read his reports, and his notes. Something might jump out at you. It’s a shame it’s been sitting around so long.”

  Back in the kitchen, Starling had finished eating her sandwich, and Tyler was almost done. Molly started in on hers, and while she ate, she filled Starling in on her conversations with Rene and Marcus Lee at Memory Lane. She concluded with Shelly’s call about the Pruett files.

  Starling said, “She can do that? Just give you the files?”

  “It’s a cold case. I don’t think they mind so much, if it’s old and unsolved.”

  “Well, from what you’ve told me, I think Quincy Clarke killed Charlotte.”

  Molly laughed. “I thought you said Rene must have done it.”

  “I changed my mind. He knew Charlotte, and he’s a coin collector. Or maybe he did it with Rene, since they were dating. But maybe I shouldn’t guess anymore. I’m not very good at it.”

  “That’s not true.” Molly helped Tyler with his last bite, which he was starting to smush in his fingers. “You alwa
ys give me good ideas, and you let me toss crazy theories around.”

  “True. Sometimes they even stick.” Starling smiled, and sipped her iced tea. “What’s next on your agenda?”

  “I’ve made a decision about my father.”

  Starling’s eyes widened. “Did you really? What are you going to do?”

  “I’ll agree to meet him, but not alone. I want my mother and Sean there, as well as Matt. If they’re all on board, I’ll propose we meet for dinner tonight at the Island Grill.”

  “Tonight? Wow. You’re not wasting any time.”

  “I’m afraid if I prolong it, I’ll change my mind.”

  Starling nodded. “Good point.” She paused. “Can I just say . . . I think you’re the bravest person I know.”

  Molly smiled. “Thank you, but I’m far from brave. I’m feeling very nervous about it. I’m still in shock that my mother has been in contact with him all these years. It freaked me out when she told me.”

  “Well, I think you’re handling it really well.” Starling paused. “Um, I’d actually like to tell you something, too, but I hope it doesn’t freak you out again.”

  Her voice was so serious, Molly was half dreading to hear what it was. “Please don’t tell me you’ve decided to move back to Ohio.”

  Starling shook her head. “No, I’m not moving. I love it here. Actually, I love someone here very much.”

  Molly sat back in her chair. “You’re in love? With who?”

  “Tony.”

  “I don’t understand.” Molly was confused. “Have you been seeing him on the sly? Were all those lunches and dinners with Rachel really with him?”

  “Not all of them, but a lot.” Starling bit her lower lip. “I told him not to say anything to you, in case it didn’t work out the second time. I didn’t want to get your hopes up. I know how much you and Uncle Matt like him.”

  “How long have you been seeing each other?”

  “About four months.”

  Molly felt like a failure. It didn’t matter that Starling was twenty-six and could date whoever she wanted to date, but she and Matt had promised her parents they would protect her, and keep her safe, and that included from certain men, like Lombardi, who had broken her heart and could easily hurt her again. And then she realized, this was exactly why Starling had wanted him to keep quiet. She knew they would advise extreme caution on her part, and that wasn’t what she wanted to do.

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you and Uncle Matt, but like I said, we didn’t want to get your hopes up. You’re not upset, are you?”

  Molly pointed to her face. “Do I look upset?”

  “No. You look disappointed.”

  “I’m a little shocked, but I’m not disappointed. In fact, I’m happy. I always thought you were perfect for each other.”

  “Oh, good, because I’m so excited.” Starling was beaming. “And I’ve been bursting to tell you . . . Tony proposed on Saturday, and I accepted.”

  Whoa! Molly had just gotten used to the idea of them seeing each other again, and now they were engaged? She sat there for a moment as it sank in. Then she got out of her chair and hugged Starling. “This is wonderful news. Truly. I’m thrilled for you both.” She picked up Starling’s left hand. “Where’s the ring?”

  “I told Tony the kind of ring I want, and he’s going to pick it out himself. We’ve been talking about how we’ll make the announcement, too. He thinks we should tell his parents and sisters, and their families, over dinner one night, and have a separate get-together with you, Uncle Matt, and Clara and Sean.”

  “Me!” Tyler said.

  Molly thought it was amazing how Tyler could listen to their conversations and keep track of what they were talking about. Until she realized he was pointing to the bag of croissants. He was just like her. He had his priorities, and they were baked goods.

  She took a croissant out of the bag and cut him off a piece. “Do you have a date in mind, for the announcement?”

  “We were going to try to put something together for next week, but now he’s on the Blair case and the timing doesn’t feel right.”

  “How about a Halloween brunch? Halloween is on a Saturday this year. I’ll invite everyone, and use the excuse that we’ll take Tyler trick-or-treating after we eat.” Tyler was eating his croissant with a big smile on his face.

  “Sounds perfect,” Starling said.

  “There’s just one thing. Can I tell my mother? Please? You know I tell her everything.”

  “Oh, no. No, you can’t tell Clara. I love your mom, but if you tell her, she won’t be able to keep it to herself. Every customer who walks into the Treasure Trove will hear about it, and then Tony will find out that I blabbed, and . . . no. She needs to be surprised.”

  “All right, I won’t tell her. What about Matt? Can I at least tell him?”

  “Yes, you can tell Uncle Matt.”

  Of course she could, Molly thought. Because Matt was honorable, and Matt wouldn’t blab her secret to half the town. Her cell phone rang. “That’s probably Matt right now, checking in.” She snatched her phone up off the table, and without looking at the call screen said, “Hi, honey.”

  There was a beat of silence, then, “Is this Molly?”

  Yikes. It wasn’t Matt. It was someone else. “Yes, who’s this?”

  “Nathan McDaniel.”

  Molly froze. Her father was calling. She’d been right all along. He wasn’t reliable. He hadn’t waited. “Your mother said she spoke to you about me.”

  “Yes, she did, and you were supposed to wait for my answer.”

  “I know, but when I didn’t hear back from either of you, I thought maybe you were going to say no, and I—”

  She interrupted. “I was going to suggest we all meet for dinner tonight at the Island Grill. That’s as long as Ma and her husband can make it. Does seven o’clock work for you?”

  “Yes, yes, it does. I’ll let my wife know. We’re both looking forward to—”

  “Gotta go. See you later.” Molly unceremoniously hung up. When she looked back at Starling and Tyler, they were both staring at her wide-eyed.

  “Was that your father?”

  “Yes.” Molly nodded. “Oh, my God.” She sank back down on her chair. “What have I done?”

  Chapter 10

  Molly shut herself in her office for the remainder of the afternoon to read the Larry Pruett files. She was glad to have the distraction. It gave her something else to think about other than her father, and the dinner she was already regretting having set up. Matt and her mother had both been surprised, but pleased, when she told them they were going to meet him and his wife at the Island Grill, and once she’d set it in motion, she felt it was probably better to get it over with.

  Later that night, when they were in the car on the way to the restaurant, she told Matt about the Pruett files.

  “It seems Larry found twenty-five Civil War–era coins hidden under a bathroom vanity in his house while he was renovating it.”

  Matt laughed. “You’re making this up.”

  “No, it really happened. It’s bizarre, but according to his son, Keith Pruett, who Detective Schmitt interviewed, the coins were stolen the night his father was killed, along with his father’s gun, and an antique emerald and diamond ring that had belonged to his late mother.”

  “Did you find a ring in the candy tin?”

  “No, just the coins and the gun, but Charlotte’s name was in the file. Schmitt interviewed her, because she was renting a room from a woman named Gloria Wilcox, and Gloria’s house was right next door to Larry’s.”

  “Wait a minute,” Matt said, “didn’t you tell me she lived with Rene the whole time she lived here?”

  “I thought so based on what Rene told me, but either something changed or she was lying. I’ll have to ask her about it.” Molly leaned her head back on the headrest. “When I first saw Charlotte’s name in the file, I got so excited. I thought it proved Charlotte without a doubt had something to
do with Larry Pruett’s murder, even if she didn’t have the ring. Then I read Schmitt’s reports. He interviewed her, and Gloria’s nineteen-year-old daughter, Janell. They said they’d stayed up late to watch a rerun of Casablanca on television. The movie ended at one o’clock in the morning, and they went to bed. They said they never heard anything going on next door. They both had an alibi.”

  “What time was Larry killed?”

  “Between midnight and two o’clock. As for Gloria Wilcox, she was battling cancer, and always took a sleeping pill to help her sleep at night. She was out like a light.”

  Matt glanced at her. “Is she still alive? Does her daughter still live here?”

  “I found an obituary for Gloria. She died almost a year after Larry was killed. It mentioned she was able to attend her daughter’s wedding, which occurred a month prior to her death. Janell married a man named Theodore van Wegberg.”

  “Janell van Wegberg?” Matt turned into the restaurant’s parking lot. The restaurant was on a quiet road east of the city, and on a Tuesday night there were only a half dozen vehicles parked there. “There’s a nurse at the hospital with that name. It must be her.”

  Molly perked up. “Do you know her?”

  “Yes, I’ve worked with her more than a few times.”

  Molly couldn’t believe her good luck. “Could you do me a favor, when you go in tomorrow? Ask her if she’d be willing to talk to me. I want to know more about the night Larry died, but don’t tell her that part. Tell her I’m writing an article about Charlotte, and I’m trying to find people who knew her. Do you think she’d talk to me?”

  “She seems very nice.” Matt switched off the engine. “I’ll ask her.”

  A knot of apprehension suddenly tightened in Molly’s stomach. She had felt calm on the drive to the restaurant, but now that they were there, and she was done talking about the case, the reality of meeting Nathan was something she couldn’t ignore. She was second-guessing her decision to come.

  Matt didn’t open the door, but turned to her in his seat. Molly loved him for not rushing her to get inside the restaurant. He knew she was nervous, and there was nothing that settled her nerves better than talking about a homicide case.