“Did Misha get involved in the scene at the manor?” Eleanor asked.
“That’s funny,” Bobbie Sue said as she tipped back a glass of iced tea. “He’s a wimp. If you’re ever in trouble, don’t count on him to help you out.”
“That brings me to my other question. Do you know a woman by the name of Constance Shaklee?”
“No, why?”
“Because we found her body yesterday,” I said. “Her body was just identified.”
Eleanor cocked a brow.
“Before we found your injured ex-husband,” I continued.
“Misha is slow when it comes to learning his lesson,” Bobbie Sue said. “Wouldn’t surprise me if the woman was married. I bet the husband caught them together and lashed out on them.”
“She’s divorced,” I said.
“The ex-husband then.”
“We haven’t gotten around to questioning him yet,” Eleanor said.
“I don’t know if this case is about jealousy quite yet. Constance was shot in the chest, but Misha only received a knot on his head.”
“He might have a head injury,” Eleanor suggested.
“Someone might have scared him off,” Martha offered.
“Or Constance was the intended victim,” Eleanor said. “There was a blood trail going outside.”
Martha’s brow wrinkled. “If he shot her in the chest, how was she able to run anywhere?”
That’s my thought,” Eleanor said.
“It’s the only thing that makes sense,” I agreed. “Can you tell me where you were a few days ago, Bobbie Sue?”
“Sitting at this picnic table making jewelry,” Bonnie Sue said. “That’s what we’ve done the majority of the time.”
“Can you please let your sister answer my questions?” I asked.
“I can verify they’ve both been helping me make jewelry other than when I’ve had Adam take us all out on his charter boat,” Martha said.
“Oh, I didn’t realize he’d taken the boat out yet.”
“Fishermen have been catching their limit of walleye.”
“Do you have any walleye in your freezer?” Eleanor asked.
“I’m sorry. I gave the last of it away to Elsie. She had a killer fish fry last week.”
“Aww.” Eleanor pouted. “I wonder why we weren’t invited.”
“Probably because there wasn’t enough fish for more than four.”
“Did you go over there?”
“We’re getting off track here,” I said. “Thank you both for speaking to us today. You’re eliminated from the suspect pool.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Bonnie Sue said. “Do you have an idea how Misha is doing?”
“Still unconscious from what the sheriff just told me on the phone.”
“I wonder if they’ll let me in to see him.”
“It might not be the best idea, at least until he wakes up. The sheriff might believe you had something to do with his injuries.”
“I’m not about to let my sister go anywhere near that louse,” Bobbie Sue said with a curt nod.
“Do you happen to know where Jillian Bauer is giving yoga lessons?” I asked.
“At the community center,” Martha said. “Her yoga class is brutal.”
“Do you think Jillian had something to do with Misha’s injuries?” Bonnie Sue asked.
“I don’t know, but I’d certainly like to find out. At this point, any woman Misha was involved with might have wanted to hurt him and whomever he was seeing.”
I drove off and Eleanor sighed. “I felt so bad about what Misha did to Bonnie Sue. I could tell those questions were really killing her to answer.”
“At least Martha was able to verify their whereabouts.”
“But they were divorced.”
“That doesn’t necessarily change anything, Eleanor. Did you see the look in Bonnie Sue’s eyes when she found out he had been injured.”
“Perfectly understandable. Just because you divorce someone doesn’t mean you don’t still care about them. Even if they are a snake.”
Traffic was smooth going, and we arrived at the recently opened community center. We bypassed the walking track and moved into the weight room where a sign pointed in the direction of where yoga classes were being offered.
I opened up the glass door and found a thin blonde rolling up yoga mats.
I cleared my throat. “Excuse me.”
She walked over with a smile. “Are you here to sign up for classes?”
“Do we look like we’re here to sign up for yoga classes?” Eleanor asked as she made a pose with a raise of her leg before she nearly stumbled and fell flat on her face.
The blonde barely contained a smile.
“We’re actually here looking for Jillian Bauer,” I said.
She shook my hand. “I’m Jillian.”
“I’m Agnes and this is Eleanor. Do you know Misha Curry?”
Jillian blinked a few times. “I hope you don’t work for Bonnie Sue.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Because she’s been looking for a way to get at me.”
“Is it true you had an affair with Misha?”
“He was the one who was married, not me.”
“Did he tell you he was married?” Eleanor asked.
“No, but I found out quick enough when his wife confronted me a year ago at Robinson’s Manor. It was so embarrassing.”
“Did she lay hands on you?” I asked.
“She sure did. Slapped me across the face in the dining room.”
“What did Misha do?”
“He was in the bathroom, but I realized after the incident that he left me there to fend for myself. You have no idea how embarrassing it was when I had to call my grandmother to come pick me up. I’ll never be able to show my face in there again.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it,” I said. “People tend to forget in time.”
“Not when you’re labeled a home wrecker. I could kill Misha for putting me in that situation.”
“He should have at least manned up,” Eleanor said. “Have you seen him since that happened?”
“Are you kidding me? Like I need to deal with that.”
“Even after he got divorced?”
“Once you drink spoiled wine, would you drink it again?”
“Probably not.” Eleanor laughed. “Sorry. I’m not laughing at you or the situation you were in. Bonnie Sue should have never come at you like that.”
“That’s what my friends told me too. She’s certainly not a woman to mess with.”
“Misha was cheating on her,” I said. “And her emotions ran high.”
“Sounded like she just found her husband with you and overreacted,” Eleanor added.
“I have my doubts she just happened to be at the manor that day. Someone must have told her we were there, unless she hired a private investigator. We met for lunch every Tuesday at the manor.”
“And you said you had no clue he was married?”
“Exactly, but I’m certain Bonnie Sue didn’t see it that way. She didn’t give me the chance to explain it to her.”
“I’m so sorry you had to go through that,” I said.
“I learned a valuable lesson though: check out the men you meet before you go out with them.”
“Do you know a Constance Shaklee?”
“We think she might have been involved with Misha recently.”
“I couldn’t tell you. I blocked Misha’s number and had him thrown out of here when he showed up after the incident at the manor.” She smiled. “A couple of my bodybuilder friends didn’t mind doing it for me.”
“And you haven’t seen him since?”
“Nope. I never much liked snakes.”
“Do you know anyone else he might have been involved with?”
“Sorry, but I can’t help you with that.”
“Thanks for speaking with us today,” I said.
7
“We didn’t advance o
ur case speaking to Jillian,” Eleanor said.
“No, but it goes to show us that Bonnie Sue went out of her way to catch her husband red-handed.”
“I doubt it was Bonnie Sue. Sounds more like something her sister would orchestrate. I don’t believe Bonnie wanted to divorce Misha because she didn’t do it of her own volition.”
“Bobbie Sue was looking after her sister, and I won’t fault her for that.”
“I know how feelings can get in the way,” Eleanor said. “Bonnie Sue still loves Misha. I only hope she doesn’t let him back in when he recovers.”
“If he recovers,” I said. “He’s been unconscious for a few days now if memory serves me right.”
“We’ll have to shift the investigation back to Constance,” Eleanor suggested. “We’re out of leads concerning Misha.”
“I should call Peterson and ask if Constance’s daughter is at the sheriffs department.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Peterson answered on the first ring. “Do you know how I can get ahold of Constance’s daughter Becky?”
“It’s not a good time. She left to meet her brother at the funeral home.”
“Right. Any change with Misha?”
“He’s in a medically induced coma for a few more days.”
“You didn’t tell me that before?”
“The doctor didn’t tell me that either until half an hour ago. You learn anything from your end?”
“Nothing that has panned out. We’ll be in touch.”
I ended the call just as Eleanor pointed out the Hill brother’s truck parked at Neiman’s Family Market.
I pulled up next to the truck and waved at Curt, who was behind the steering wheel.
“What brings you here?” I asked him.
“Waiting for Ma to come out of the grocery store.”
“Oh, shouldn’t you be inside helping her shop?”
“Ma doesn’t need any help. She told me she gets through the store quicker without me adding items to her cart.”
“That makes perfect sense.”
Eleanor and I wandered inside, and we caught Rosa Lee in the baking aisle. She was reading the ingredients on a package of yeast.
“Hey, Rosa Lee. You shopping for the bake sale items.”
“Among other things,” Rosa Lee said as she glanced at me.
“What brings you two here?”
“We saw your son’s truck parked outside and thought we’d stop by and ask how you’re doing with your shopping list. What kind of goodies are you baking for the sale?”
“Did Elsie send you?”
“We don’t do Elsie’s bidding even if she asked us,” Eleanor said.
“How are you doing with organizing the egg hunt?” Rosa Lee asked.
“We have way more plastic eggs than I think we’ll need, but I had Martha pick more up after Sophia told me they bus children in for the egg hunt every year.”
“I hope you don’t get stuck with more supplies than you need.”
“I have a feeling that’s the way it will be. My spare room is packed to capacity.”
“We’re helping Bernice find animals for the event, but there’s been a wrench in the plan.”
Eleanor looked to assure that nobody would overhear her as she added, “We found the body of a woman and an unconscious man.”
Rosa Lee’s eyes widened slightly. “You don’t say.”
“Do you know Constance Shaklee?” I asked.
“The name sounds familiar, but I can’t place her face in my mind.”
“She raises ribbon-winning rabbits.”
“I know who you’re talking about now. Oh, how horrible. How did she die?”
“She died from a shotgun blast.”
“I just don’t understand folks these days,” Rosa Lee said. “She could be a tad annoying, but nobody deserves to die.”
“Annoying how?” I asked.
“Sometimes I think she forgets that the kids from the 4-H deserve to win too sometimes. Those children spend a lot of time raising animals.”
“Do you know Stevie?”
“Sure. She runs the 4-H club in Tawas City. Her husband has a farm way out 55.”
“Can you give us better directions than that?”
“I’ll give her a call and ask her to meet me back at my house.”
“Thank you, we’d appreciate that.”
“Anything for a friend.”
Eleanor and I grabbed an ice-cream cone at the local Dairy Queen before driving to Rosa Lee’s house. The trees were sprouting spring leaves and an occasional flower. Soon all the flowering trees would be full bloom. I’ve always wanted to plant one, but since I didn’t have as much of a green thumb of late, I decided against it. It would be a shame to kill something before it had a real chance to grow. I’ll admit I have too many trees and shrubs in both my front and back yard. Last year I had to hire a leaf removal service.
Rosa Lee held the door open for Eleanor and me when we arrived. She walked to a cutting board where she was dicing strawberries.
“I’ll be glad when your strawberries are in season,” I said.
“Yup, but I’ll make do with these. You won’t be able to tell the difference when I’m done with them.”
Eleanor and I took a seat at the table. Rosa Lee spends the majority of time in her kitchen. She’s always trying out recipes or inventing her own. Probably why I was so worried about what she was bringing to the bake sale.
Her edibles are known far and wide. She has a license to grow marijuana, but she doesn’t anymore—or not since the cops busted her years back. They confiscated the product instead of charging her since she had a license to grow it, although she had exceeded her plant limit. These days she buys the leftover leaves from local growers to make cannabis butter she sells on consignment at a state-licensed dispensary. I’m hoping the butter isn’t an ingredient in her brownie recipe this year.
“What are you making for dinner?” I asked.
“Was going to roast chicken, but Curt forgot to bring me home a fresh one.”
“You know someone who sells live chickens?” I asked.
“It’s the best chicken you’ll ever taste, but unfortunately tonight it’s BLT sandwiches.”
“Sounds good.”
“That wasn’t an invitation,” Eleanor said.
“I know that, Eleanor. I was just curious.”
Rosa Lee clucked her tongue. “Now girls, behave yourselves.”
“I’m sorry. When it comes to food, I get all weak in the knees, especially when it comes to bacon.”
“Be careful, Agnes. Rosa Lee might make you slaughter a pig for the bacon.”
“I don’t believe I’ve ever done that before,” Rosa Lee said. “But we’ve had a pig roast from time to time.”
“I remember when I was younger and there was always a pig roast at a church when the evangelists made their rounds,” Eleanor said. “They certainly don’t do that anymore.”
“You’re right about that,” Rosa Lee said. “And we certainly could use a little more gospel in the world, not that I’m trying to say I haven’t seen either of you at church in quite a while.”
“I didn’t know you were a fan of Pastor Verne,” Eleanor said.
“He’s a good pastor although some of his sermons are long-winded.”
“Is Stevie really going to meet us here?” I asked.
“I believe I just heard a door slam.”
A dark-haired young woman laughed as she walked in the door with Curtis. Her long hair was tied back in a ponytail. She looked every bit a farmer’s wife dressed in jeans and plaid shirt and boots.
‘Thank you for the compliment, Curtis,” she said. “But as you know I’m a married woman.”
Curtis’s eyes widened. “I didn’t say anything out of line, Ma.”
Rosa Lee twisted a dish towel in the air. “Don’t make me snap you with this, boy.”
Curtis backed up. “I think I hear Curt calling me.”
It was comical to see how fast Curtis flew out the door.
“I didn’t mean to cause any trouble,” Stevie said. “It was my idea of a joke.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been able to intimidate my children as Rosa Lee has.” I laughed. “I’m Agnes Barton and this is Eleanor Mason. I’m happy that you were able to meet us out here.”
“It’s not a problem since I live way out in the sticks,” Stevie said. “I’m Stevie Paul.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said as I shook her hand. “I’m not sure if you’re aware, but Eleanor and I are investigators.”
Stevie put her hands up. “I hope you’re not planning to investigate me.”
“We’re working on a case, and your name came up,” I explained gently. “Are you acquainted with Constance Shaklee?”
“What did she do this time, start a brawl with an eleven-year-old at a rabbit competition?” Stevie asked.
I exchanged a quick look with Eleanor. “Is that something Constance frequently did?”
“Brawl is the wrong word; verbal confrontation is her normal.”
“She attacked children verbally?” I asked.
“That’s the gist, but not to worry, the kids can hold their own.”
“The kids in the 4-H group?”
“Yes. I’m the leader of the group in Tawas City. People that visit the area might not be aware that many farms encompass the area on the outskirts of town.”
“Are the members boys or girls?” Eleanor asked.
“Both boys and girls are involved. Raising animals is only one of the activities the children are involved in.”
“Are rabbits the only animals taken to the fair to be judged?” I asked.
“No, the children also raise pigs, goats, and calves.”
“Let’s get back to Constance,” I said. “Did you have any problems with her?”
“She complained all the time about the competitions not being fair, especially when the children win the ribbons she thinks she deserves.”
“But hasn’t Constance won competitions too?”
“Yes, but she plays dirty. One year the children's rabbits mysteriously disappeared from their cages. It took us a few hours to round them back up.”
“Chasing rabbits can’t be easy,” Eleanor said.
“It’s not. The first chance they get, they’re off digging a burrow.”
Easter Eggs and Shotgun Shells Page 6
