Mint Condition Murder

by Ellery Adams

  “You weren’t even a little curious?”

  “I didn’t want to know anything about him. It was easier that way, ignoring him.”

  “Well, now you know. You have an aunt, his sister, Anne. She’s a biochemist, and lives in Oregon. She’s married, has two kids. Anyway, the point he was making is that he didn’t have a good role model growing up, and he made the decision at a young age not to have children. He thought your mother was on board with that decision, but when she got pregnant with you, she changed her mind.”

  Molly frowned. “Oh, so now he blames my mother for the pregnancy? Doesn’t he know it takes two?”

  “He wasn’t blaming her. He said he was frightened of being a father, that he was afraid he would turn into his father. It scared him.”

  “That’s a rotten excuse,” she snapped. “If he knew the difference between a good father and a bad one, then that means he could have tried to do better than his father. Instead, he chose to walk out the door.” Her eyes suddenly filled with tears. “He didn’t even try.”

  Matt smoothed her hair. “Nathan told me he doesn’t deserve you, and my personal take is that he means it. I believe he genuinely regrets leaving you and Clara the way he did, and not having the guts to stick it out. He said he’s in awe of the woman you’ve become.”

  It was taking all of her strength not to cry. Don’t you dare do it. Don’t shed a single tear for him! “I hope you told him Ma gets all the credit for who I’ve become. She’s the one who raised me, and comforted me when I skinned my knee after falling off my bike, and went to every school event, and baked cookies for fundraisers, and never once complained.” Her voice cracked. “All that time, he was Mr. Nowhere Man.”

  Matt stroked her cheek. “I told him how difficult it was for you growing up without a father. I asked him what he wanted from you now. He said all he’s hoping for is that you can forgive him. Beyond that, he leaves it up to you.”

  “Is that all?” Molly took a deep breath. “He didn’t say he wanted to be friends, or ask if he could come over to meet Tyler, or be invited over for Thanksgiving?”

  “No. He didn’t mention Christmas, either.”

  Molly couldn’t help it, she laughed, and snuggled up close to him. “You always make me feel better.”

  He kissed her. “Anytime.”

  “I have a question.” She looked at him. “Do you think my not caring about Nathan could be the same as forgiving him?”

  “I believe forgiveness demands a lot more from us than not caring,” he said. “That’s why it’s so hard to do.” He kissed her again. “Would you like another chance to talk to him?”

  Molly stared at him. “I don’t like the sound of this. What did you do?”

  “Well, while you were doing your thing, and avoiding talking to him, we both agreed the Island Grill might not have been the best place to try to get to know each other. He suggested we try again tomorrow night, at their home. He’ll cook dinner for us, which could be a real treat, since he is a chef. I told him I’d ask you and let him know.” Molly was starting to feel boxed in again. “He’s driving back to New York on Sunday. He doesn’t know when he’ll get back here again. It could be a while.”

  “This sounds like an ultimatum.”

  “It’s not. It’s about him owning a restaurant. He can’t take off a lot of time.”

  She was about to say no, absolutely not! If she agreed to meet him in his home, it would be harder to avoid him. But, of course, that was the point. “You want me to say yes. I can see it in your eyes.”

  “Molly, you’re the strongest person I know. You’ve faced bad guys, and brought down killers. I honestly think you can spend an evening with your father and have a civil conversation with him. Maybe you should give it one more try.”

  Molly sighed. She not only trusted Matt, she knew that his love for her was unconditional, and he would always have her back. She wouldn’t be going into this alone. “All right,” she said. “I’ll have dinner with him tomorrow night.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t want you to get there and immediately turn around again.”

  “Yes, I’m sure. And don’t ask me again, because then I really might change my mind.”

  Chapter 12

  The next morning, Molly had just finished dressing when Matt called her from work.

  “I bet you thought I’d forget to ask Janell van Wegberg if she’d talk to you about Charlotte,” he said. Molly realized she had been so preoccupied with meeting Nathan that she had forgotten to ask him. “She’s here today. I told her you’re writing an article about Charlotte. She’s agreed to meet you. Can you be at the hospital cafeteria at nine thirty?”

  Molly checked the time. It was already eight thirty, but she was dressed, Tyler had eaten breakfast, and Starling was up and about. “I’ll be there,” she said. “Thank you so much. I love you.”

  “I love you, too. Talk to you later.”

  Molly went downstairs, and found Starling in the kitchen eating breakfast. From where she was sitting, she had a perfect line of sight to Tyler, who was on the rug in the great room playing with this toys.

  Starling said, “I just got off the phone with Tony. He’s in Boston, and has a lot scheduled for the day, but I told him about the Halloween brunch, and he agrees it would be the perfect time to announce our engagement.”

  “Good.” Molly made another cup of coffee. “I’m going to be heading out to the hospital soon to talk to Janell van Wegberg, but I hope he finds Charlotte’s killer in Boston.” It would not only make him happy, but it would give her a reprieve from having to do any more snooping around in Charlotte’s life.

  When she arrived at the hospital and walked into the cafeteria, she realized she had no idea what Janell looked like. There were three women in line for food, and a few others seated alone at the tables. She stood in the doorway for a minute, hoping Janell would notice her. A woman sitting at a window table waved, and Molly walked over to her.

  “Janell van Wegberg?”

  “Yes. You must be Molly.”

  Molly pulled out a chair across the table from her. Janell had a round freckled face, and red hair she wore pulled back in a ponytail. She had to be in her early thirties, but looked a lot younger. She wore a two-piece nurse’s uniform, a purple multi-print scrub top and matching purple pants.

  “Thanks for meeting me on such short notice. I’m sorry to interrupt your breakfast.”

  “Actually, it’s an early lunch. I’m going to be tied up the rest of the day in surgery, and I won’t have another time to eat.” Her lunch consisted of a single-serve carton of strawberry yogurt and a banana. If Molly ate that for any meal, she’d be starving in less than an hour. “Besides, I’m happy to do a favor for Dr. Harrison. He’s a great guy. Although, I don’t know what I can tell you about Charlotte. I haven’t seen her in fifteen years. I didn’t even know she was back in Vermont until I heard about her death on the news. I was shocked she was even here, since she couldn’t wait to leave.” She spooned some yogurt. “I googled you. You solve murders. Are you trying to solve hers? Was it a robbery, or what?”

  “I’m exploring all possibilities,” Molly said. “I know Charlotte rented a room from your mother and lived with you. I’d like to know what you remember about her. Did she have friends over, did she date, or talk about her job?”

  Janell looked at her. “You think the person who killed her lives here, don’t you?” Molly kept a neutral expression. “Well, I suppose that makes sense, since it happened here, but they said on the news she only moved to Vermont a couple of months ago. If it wasn’t someone who knew her before, then she made a fast enemy.”

  Molly wasn’t going to underestimate Janell. She wasn’t stupid. “Anything you remember about her.” She pressed. “Think it over. Take your time.”

  Janell did take her time. She took long enough to finish her carton of yogurt. “Okay, here’s what I know. When she moved in with us, she was pretty mad at her friend, Rene Flores. She’d ho
oked up with some guy, which left Charlotte high and dry. They did eventually make up, though. That’s how I met Rene. She would come by the house to see her. Oh, and she liked to go dancing at this nightclub called Katz.”

  “I was told she had a platonic male friend. Do you remember his name?”

  “Well, yeah.” Janell smiled. “It was Teddy, my husband.” Molly had to work hard not to act surprised. She sat very still, and nodded once, like it was no big deal. “They really were just friends. That’s how I met him. He and Rene were the only friends she had, or at least, they were the only ones I ever met. He got into the habit of stopping by, even when she wasn’t home.”

  “To see you.”

  Janell nodded. “Yes, to see me. We fell in love, but we didn’t start dating until after Charlotte left for Boston.”

  “Why? Did you think she’d mind?”

  “No. It was just timing, that’s all.”

  Molly wondered if this was a lie, and there had been some animosity between the women over Teddy, platonic friend or not.

  Janell went on. “I wasn’t looking for love. I was busy with school and working part-time at a fast-food restaurant, and taking care of my mother. She’d had to quit her job at the dry cleaners, and it was tough on both of us, juggling everything. Teddy cheered us up. It was about a month after Charlotte moved out that he moved in. He’d still been living with his parents and was ready to get out from under their roof. But he also knew I could use the help with Mom. She was going downhill, and he was there for both of us. He’s a wonderful man.”

  “He sounds like it,” Molly said. “Did you invite Charlotte to your wedding?”

  “No. We didn’t stay in touch with her. Besides, it was a small ceremony at the courthouse, just the two of us and my mother. She died a few weeks later.” Janell looked so sad, Molly’s heart broke for her. “It was strange. We were happy, but sad, too.”

  “I’d like to talk to Teddy. Where can I find him?”

  “Midtown Savings Bank.”

  The same bank where Rene had worked, Molly realized. “Has Teddy worked there a long time?”

  “Yes, they hired him right out of college. He was promoted to branch manager a few years ago.”

  “He must know Rene. She told me she worked there as a teller.”

  Janell blinked. “Yes, of course. I’d completely forgotten. It was actually Rene who introduced him to Charlotte.”

  Of course she did, Molly thought. Yet Rene didn’t think to mention it to her. Mr. Platonic had a name, and she doubted she had forgotten it. Teddy wasn’t a stranger. He’d been her coworker.

  “Janell, I was given the opportunity to read the cold case files on the unsolved murder of Larry Pruett. I’d like to talk to you about it.”

  “Larry?” Janell’s face suddenly paled. “Why would you be looking into his case?”

  “Because the police found some stolen property that was in Charlotte’s possession, and it has been linked to the robbery.”

  “What things?”

  “Five rare Civil War–era coins, and Larry’s gun, which was used to kill him.”

  Janell looked shocked. “Well, I don’t believe Charlotte had anything to do with it, if that’s what you’re trying to say. If you read the file, you must know that. She was home with me that night. We watched a movie, and we were sleeping when Larry was killed.”

  “According to the medical examiner, he was killed between midnight and two o’clock. In your interview, and Charlotte’s, you say the movie ended at one.”

  Janell chewed the inside of her cheek. She looked nervous, and Molly knew she was trying to think about how she should respond. Maybe she didn’t think Charlotte was so innocent after all, or maybe she had gone out with her that night.

  “I suppose Charlotte could have snuck out of the house after we went to bed,” Janell said. “Our rooms were on opposite sides of the house.” Molly thought she sounded a little defensive. Sure, now that you mention it, it’s possible, so don’t look at me. “I wouldn’t have heard her, if she’d gone out. Mom was fast asleep. She needed sleeping pills, and took one every night.” She paused. “Still, it’s hard to imagine Charlotte could do such a thing. Maybe she found the coins and the gun somewhere, and didn’t know they were stolen.”

  Maybe, probably, likely, unlikely. She wasn’t going to give Molly a solid answer, either because she didn’t know or she didn’t want to risk exposing herself as an accomplice.

  “Did you know Larry Pruett?”

  Janell peeled her banana. “Not well. He was a neighbor. He loved to talk, and boast. He had the best son, the best car, the best garden.” She took a bite of her banana. “When he found those coins, he told half the neighborhood. He also went to the newspaper, and some reporter wrote a story about it.”

  Molly felt a surge of sympathy for Detective Schmitt. Yes, he could have done more to explore Charlotte’s background, but at the same time, he was overwhelmed having to sort through the neighbors, and anyone who’d read the newspaper article, people he’d never be able to reach.

  “Did Larry ever mention how much the coins were worth?”

  “He didn’t have to. It was in the newspaper article. We were shocked that someone would hide something so valuable in the bathroom. It was incredible. He got really lucky.”

  “Yes, he did.” Too bad he’d also advertised to the world not only that he had found the coins, but how much they were worth. He’d basically rung the dinner bell for the thief to come and get them.

  Janell said, “When he died, my mother blamed him. She said it happened because he’d told too many people.” She sighed. “Charlotte couldn’t have done it, could she?”

  “I’ve been told by the owner of Memory Lane that she knew Quincy Clarke. He’s a coin collector, and someone who would have been in a position to buy the coins from her, or knew someone else who could. I was told that Charlotte introduced him to Rene. He was the man she’d moved in with.”

  “Oh, yeah, I forgot his name.” Janell smiled, but it was forced. She was still pale, and as she took another bite of her banana, Molly thought she saw her hand shake. “I only met him a couple of times. Rene usually came to the house alone to see Charlotte, or pick her up to go shopping. I didn’t like him. He wasn’t friendly. He drove a Jaguar, was stuck up, snooty. Plus, he was a lot older than Rene. Mom thought she was only with him because he was rich.” She finished the banana, and gathered up the peel and the yogurt container. “It’s odd, isn’t it, how you can live with someone but never really know them? Maybe Charlotte did it, and hid it from all of us, and we never had a clue.” She stood, walked to a nearby trash bin, and deposited her garbage. When she returned to the table, she didn’t sit down again. Molly’s time was up. “Anyway, I have to get back to work.”

  “It was nice to meet you, and thanks again for seeing me.” Molly handed her a business card. “If you think of anything, or remember something I should know about, please give me a call.”

  Chapter 13

  Molly was all in on coincidences, especially when they popped up during a homicide investigation, and connecting the dots between Charlotte, Rene, and now Janell and Teddy van Wegberg was giving her the confidence to believe she was on the right trail.

  Midtown Savings Bank was a small neighborhood bank off of Main Street. It had a narrow parking lot in the building’s back alley with signs warning that it was for customers only, all others would be towed. Molly parked the Audi and entered through the back door. She always felt like she was walking into a library whenever she walked into a bank. Voices were hushed, and transactions were performed quietly. There was only one teller working behind the high counter, and she was helping a customer. Molly approached a woman behind a desk with colorful cardboard signs announcing low interest rate loans.

  “Hello, may I help you?”

  “I’m looking for Teddy van Wegberg.”

  The woman pointed around her. “Go past the teller stations, and you’ll find a hallway. Theodore’
s office is the second door on the right.”

  Of course he was called Theodore, Molly thought. He might have been Teddy when he was young and dating Janell, but at work, he was a professional who took full advantage of his name, which she found etched in scrolling letters on a brass nameplate on the wall. The door was closed, and she knocked on it. A man’s voice called out, “Come in.”

  Molly opened the door and stepped inside a large office with framed sports memorabilia on the walls featuring the Red Sox and Bruins. Theodore van Wegberg’s desk was near windows that overlooked Main Street. The way he swiveled around in his chair, Molly thought he’d been people watching, or daydreaming, out the window.

  “You must be Molly Appleby,” he said, and Molly suddenly realized that Janell must have called him as soon as their meeting ended. Maybe he’d been preparing what he was going to say to her. He gestured to the visitor’s chair in front of his desk. “Have a seat.”

  Molly sat, and took a moment to study him. Mid-thirties, slicked-back brown hair, a square jawline. He was a good-looking man in an expensive gray suit. A light blue tie brought out the blue in his eyes. She noticed his suit jacket was hung carefully on a hanger on a coatrack.

  “Janell called and said you might want to talk to me,” he said. “So, you’re looking into Charlotte’s death.” He shook his head. “We were shocked, truly, to hear what happened. You never think you’ll hear of someone you know being murdered.” He leaned back in his chair, resting his hands on the desktop. “She said you wanted to ask me what I remember about her, and the people she knew. I wish I could give you a list of names, but I can’t. Not that Charlotte had a lot of friends, because she didn’t, but she wasn’t close enough to anyone for me to bother remembering them.”

  “Janell said your relationship was strictly one of friendship. Is that true, or were you sparing her feelings?”

  “It’s true,” he said. “Charlotte was a workhorse, she didn’t have time to date. She didn’t want to get involved with anyone seriously. She was laser focused on saving money and getting out of here. I only got to know her because Rene introduced us, thinking I could keep an eye on her. Janell said you’d already spoken to Rene, she must have told you.”