by Rayna Morgan
"What's she going to be doing out there with all those horses and cows? She's hardly Calamity Jane."
"I can see there are still things you don't know about her. She sits a horse very well actually. Not much she doesn't do well athletically." Paul grabbed some peanuts from the bowl the bartender set in front of them. "Apparently, they do a monthly barbecue for all the ranch hands. Lea says being out in the country will be like a day at the spa for Maddy. Should perk her right up. Don't worry, she'll be home by sundown," he added, poking his friend's ribs.
"Yeah, I suppose it'll do her some good," Tom grumbled, gulping down the last of his beer. "At least it keeps her out of my hair for a day. Wouldn't know what I'd do if I weren't busy cleaning up the messes she and that wife of yours get into."
"I hear you. Believe me; I've tried to talk Lea out of her amateur sleuthing, but they're both as stubborn as their dad. Those apples didn't fall far from the tree."
"Here comes Sherlock Holmes now," Tom said, jerking his head toward the front door where Lea was entering. "Let's move over to a table and order some grub. I'm starving."
"I heard that. You're always hungry," Lea said, coming up behind them, running her fingers across Tom's shoulders.
"Staying hungry keeps me from getting hungry."
Paul settled the bar tab, carrying two beers to a table at the back. "Name your poison, babe. Beer or cocktail?"
"A vodka tonic, please." Turning to Tom, she said, "Speaking of poison, I want to speak to you about a conversation you had with my client."
"Your client?" both men exclaimed, turning to look at her.
"Angelo has asked me to look into Barrett's murder for him."
"As his attorney or as his P.I.?" Paul scoffed.
"As a friend concerned about the charges leveled at him by a certain Homicide Detective."
"Oh, boy, here we go." Paul pushed his half empty beer toward Tom and signaled the waitress. "Take this; I need something stronger to drink."
"Lay it on me," Tom insisted. "Am I missing something or isn't it my job to interrogate the major suspects in a homicide?"
"I understand perfectly well what your job is. My problem is with your considering Angelo to be one of your major suspects. Angelo and Barrett were not only close friends for years; they were business partners."
"Which gave him two of the best motives in the world for bumping off his friend: jealousy and greed. As far as being friends, their friendship had been tarnished by Barrett's having an affair with Angelo's beautiful young wife."
"That happened more than ten years ago. All was forgiven and forgotten long ago."
"How about their recent affair? Has Angelo forgiven that as well?"
"You don't know Barrett and Camilla were having another affair. I'd like to know where you got that unsubstantiated malicious piece of gossip."
"Getting things a little twisted, aren't you? I'm the cop here. I don't give up my sources to anybody."
"Angelo assured me their marriage is secure. Besides, Barrett intimated to Angelo he was, in fact, having an affair but it wasn't with Camilla."
"That's what makes you think he has no motive for killing his friend? Don't keep us in suspense. Tell us who the mystery woman is."
"Barrett didn't get that specific. He only said Angelo would be surprised when he found out who it was."
"Sounds to me like someone wanting desperately to believe the outrageous lie of the man seducing his wife so he doesn't have to face the truth. What about his other motive?"
"Are you referring to the business proposition proffered by the hotel chain?" Lea asked.
"At least he was candid with you on all fronts." Tom finished the fries on his plate and wiped the grease from his mouth. "What do you think, Paul? Does putting five million bucks in your bank account sound like a motive?
Paul shook his head resting his hand on top of his wife's. "It's not looking good for your team, babe."
Lea's cell phone buzzed. Looking at the number, she held up one finger and answered. All Tom and Paul overheard were bits and pieces of a one-sided conversation: "Yes, so nice to hear from you … I'm more than happy to do it … Monday at ten o'clock is fine. I look forward to working with you."
"New client?" Paul asked.
"Not a paying client; just some gratis work I'm doing," she answered briefly, turning back to Tom. "Angelo admits Barrett was opposed to selling, but Julia wanted to sell as much as Angelo did. He knew she'd convince her husband sooner or later; he always listened to her when it came to the business side of the Theatre."
"That offer didn't represent merely a financial proposition,” Tom argued. “It represented his losing the most important thing in his life. He was never going to agree and Angelo knew it. He bumped him off by poisoning the mushrooms Barrett ate at the Pre-Opening Dinner."
"What are you saying? Angelo had nothing to do with the Pre-Opening Dinner. Margaret Patton catered the event."
"Oh, my, it seems your so-called client was less than totally candid with you after all." Tom leaned back, a smug grin on his face. "Barrett apparently had some silly notion about mushrooms bringing good luck and insisted they be served at every Pre-Opening Dinner. Margaret Patton wasn't able to get hold of the kind of mushrooms she needed. She called Angelo the day of the Opening. He took some over for her to use."
Tom stood up and threw some bills on the table. "Sorry, Sherlock. You may need a few more lessons in knowing when someone's playing you. I'm going to shove off. I'm anxious to stop by the jail to see if my prisoner is going to make my day by ratting out his boss."
Paul reached for his credit card, but Lea put her hand in her shoulder bag. "I'll get it." Feeling around for her wallet, she touched the glass tube wrapped in the tissue. "Oh, Tom. Throw this out on your way, would you? I forgot I had it in my purse."
"What is it?"
"Something Gracie found in the rocks by the dock."
Tom reached for it gingerly, passing it under his nose. "Interesting smell."
"I thought so, too. The scent is what got Gracie’s attention. Thankfully, she couldn't get close enough to taste it. "
"It doesn't look like it's been in the water. There's no salt residue on the glass."
"Why would someone have thrown it on the rocks?"
"No clue.” Tom hesitated, looking carefully at Lea. “Speaking of clues, don’t you go getting into detective mode on me.”
“What do you mean?” Lea asked innocently.
“I mean where you starting seeing people as potential suspects, objects as potential clues, and behaviors as potential motives,” Tom mocked, slipping the glass container into his pocket. “Tell Maddy I'm sorry she couldn't join us, but I hope she had a great day out in the country with all those birds and bees."
He turned back before he reached the door. "No, never mind. I'll tell her myself when I see her."
"Didn't know you had plans to see Maddy anytime soon," Paul jabbed.
"I do now."
Before the Detective walked out the door, Lea jumped up and called to him, excitement rising in her voice. “Tom, you need to take a closer look at that vial.”
Tom looked over his shoulder, a scowl on his face. “What are you talking about?”
“The country … birds and bees. That’s how I know that scent. It was one of the first things Dad taught me to look out for when we went on camping trips.”
• • •
Tom rehearsed the conversation he would have with Hector on his way to the station. By the time he pulled into the parking lot, he was convinced he was finally going to have a shot at taking down the Kingpin.
Throwing open the door leading to the cells, he checked in at the front desk. "How's my prisoner, Officer? Did he call an attorney after he talked to me?"
"Not a peep out of him, Lieutenant. At least, not since his bail bondsman was here to see him."
"Bail bondsman? The prisoner can't get out on bail; no bail's been set. Did the guy talk to Hector?"
"Yes, sir. Said Hector's boss sent him. The funny thing is, after he had talked to Hector, he said he wouldn't be arranging bail after all."
"When did he leave?"
"About thirty minutes ago."
"Let's get to his cell … now," Tom shouted, shoving past the guard.
When they got there, the prisoner was lying on a cot facing the wall. When the guard turned him over, Tom saw what had happened to the odds against his taking down the bookie. They'd just shot up in the form of the syringe stuck in Hector's arm.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The next morning, Lea drove to Maddy's house in Seagate, a small residential area adjacent to the sandy beach between the Harbor and the Pier. The beach at Seagate was a favorite of the locals because it didn't get as many tourists as beaches near the downtown area. Seagate Park was a popular gathering spot for residents and visitors alike providing walkways and benches adjacent to the jetties built to protect the beach from high tides. On weekends, the field in the center of the park was crowded with lawn chairs, makeshift volleyball nets, and mini soccer posts. Hamburgers and chicken sizzled on the public grills while children played in the tide pools.
Seagate itself was an eclectic mix of housing where newer two or three story homes furnished in modern chic could be found next to older single story cottages furnished in a coastal motif with weathered wood and seascape paintings. The neighborhood was originally a hodge-podge of rental dwellings, weekend cottages, and vacant lots. Architectural styles were as varied as the occupants, ranging from families with young children to retirees.
A small retail area featured a seafood restaurant, a sushi bar, and a hamburger place known for its sesame seed buns and curly fries.
Maddy's cottage was on one of the lanes leading directly to the beach. She had retained the charm and quaintness of the original design but had made improvements including double-pane windows to minimize the ocean dampness and chill, adding a partially covered deck in the back, and applying her magic to the front yard. Lea envied her sister the green thumb she had inherited from their father. Walking through the picket fence gate, she was met with an array of red, yellow, blue and purple flowers. Sunflowers bloomed on the path leading to the porch. Potted plants flanked the entry.
Every visitor to the cottage followed the instructions on the wood carved sign hanging on the screen. 'Come in and give a holler.'
"You up?" Lea called out.
"Drying my hair. Coffee machine's on the patio. I'll be right out."
Maddy appeared in robe and slippers, toweling her long, straight hair. Lea considered her own curly locks. "If I lived this close to the water, my hair would be a permanent frizz-ball. As it is, I spend thirty minutes blow drying it straight after a shampoo."
"Yeah, and if I had your curls, I wouldn't have to spend time with a curling iron." She draped the wet towel around her shoulders and poured herself a cup of coffee. "I got your message. I assume you're here to explain yourself. It better be good."
"First, I want to hear about your day."
Maddy's chin raised a notch; her nose scrunched up. "I had a very nice time, thank you."
"Oh, come on, give."
Maddy reached her arms behind her neck and cradled her head in her hands, staring up at the sun. A smile spread across her face. "It was dreamy. A much-needed oasis from the summer tourists swarming the beaches. The Ranch is straight out of House Beautiful; the countryside is gorgeous. My favorite thing was the horses roaming the open fields; there's nothing as beautiful as watching mustangs running and playing. There's even a small waterfall at the back of the property."
"I was referring more to the people than the livestock."
"I spent time with Scott's grandfather; he's a perfect delight. His daughter took me up to her favorite spot. She's the sweetest thing; a real cutie. Everyone on the Ranch is super nice."
"And …"
"You mean Scott?"
"Of course, I mean Scott."
Maddy's typical coyness was replaced by an uncharacteristic reserve. "I like him … a lot. He's one of the kindest men I've ever met. He's like his grandfather in that regard; strong but gentle at the same time. It's easy to see why the people at the Ranch enjoy working for him; he shows great empathy."
"Sounds like he made quite an impression."
"He has such clarity about who he is and what he's doing. Makes me feel like a dithering waffler the way I change my mind about things from one day to the next."
"I'm glad you had a good time. It's good to see you out there dating again. It's been almost five years since your divorce."
"I don't know if you'd call it dating. Scott and I are just getting to know each other. I have no idea where this might lead. We may decide to settle on being friends. Anyway, it's not like I don't socialize. Tom and I do lots of stuff together."
"Yeah, like brother and sister. I'm talking about relationships. You do remember what relationships are all about; where two people make a commitment to each other?"
"I like things just the way they are," Maddy said tossing her hair and fanning her fingers through it. "Tom and Scott aren't any more interested in a serious relationship than I am. We all like being footloose and fancy-free. Right now, the only commitment I'm interested in talking about is what exactly you agreed I'd do for Eddie King."
Lea recounted her conversation of the previous day.
"So two of the people at the top of Tom's list of suspects are professing their innocence to you, and you fell for their stories hook, line, and sinker. Forgive me if my turn of phrase reminds you of your recent near-death experience."
"You make me sound like some gullible bleeding heart."
"Because that's the way you're acting. Don't you think we have enough reasons to keep our noses out of this one?"
"If you're referring to my recent misadventure, I'm completely over it."
"What about the other two good reasons for us to butt out … Tom and Paul?"
"I can handle Paul, and Tom will be thanking us when we solve the case. Besides, Angelo is a good friend; I can't say no to him."
"Eddie King is no friend of mine. I have no reason to get involved," Maddy responded stubbornly.
"Don't even go there with me. You're the one who started the whole thing following Eddie from the Theatre. He asked me why you were following him by the way."
"Wow. What did you tell him?"
"Don't worry; I covered for you. But the least you can do after the suspicious thoughts you had about him is to clear his name."
"Are you kidding? I don't owe him any explanation. In fact, he owes me. I probably saved his life being in that alley and calling for medics as fast as I did."
"According to certain traditions, if you save a person's life, you're responsible for them forever after."
"That's sci-fi bunk."
Lea stood up. "Okay, forget it. I'll do it on my own. Sorry to see you're losing your sense of adventure."
"Hold on." Maddy threw the towel at her sister. "You knew before you ever walked through the gate I'd be up for this. Where do I start?"
"The problem is I'm not sure if Eddie is sincere in asking us to find the killer or putting on an act to divert suspicion from himself."
"He may want to use our friendship with Tom to keep tabs on how the investigation is proceeding,” Maddy suggested. “Same could be said of Angelo."
"Not really. My instinct tells me Angelo's innocent. My intuition has never failed me before; I'm not going to waste time questioning it now."
"How do we decide if Eddie's being straight with us?" Maddy asked.
"We need to figure out if what he's saying about his debt with Barrett being taken care of is true. If it is, that should eliminate him unless we discover he has a different motive."
"How do we find out about his debt? According to him, it was a private matter between Barrett and himself. It sounds like not even Julia knew about it."
"Talk to Eddie. They both must have some record of it," Lea said. "Having
Eddie's account won't be enough. He could easily create documents to back up his story. It's Barrett's copy of the financial transaction we need to locate."
"Where do you propose I find copies of Barrett’s financial transactions?"
"Start by accessing his computer files."
"Tom's probably confiscated the computer as part of his investigation," Maddy pointed out.
"Then you'll have to access the computer from Tom's end."
Maddy looked at her sister with an expression of mingled incredulity and vexation. "You expect me to just waltz into Tom's office asking to see Barrett Mason's computer, all the time keeping the fact we're involved in the case a secret from him and Paul?"
"You established rapport with the recruit. Maybe she can help."
Maddy pushed out her lower lip and frowned. "I'll see what I can do." She planted her hands on her hips. "And while I'm busy possibly breaking the law and incurring Tom's wrath, how exactly will you be employing your sleuthing skills to flush out more suspects?"
"An opportunity to get closer to Julia fell into my lap. I'm meeting with her tomorrow morning at the Theatre. My antenna will be fine tuned to pick up signs of anyone else with a possible motive to get rid of Barrett. I'll call you tomorrow night and we can compare notes."
"If you don't reach me on my cell, call the jail. I may be locked up by then."
• • •
Later that day, Tom nursed a beer and ordered appetizers at the Crab Shack where he'd asked Maddy to meet him for a drink. He zeroed in on her the moment she walked through the door. His weren't the only pair of eyes watching her walk across the room; she drew attention wherever she went. She was the whole package: voluptuous body, succulent lips, sultry eyes, and a seductive smile which melted hearts.
Completely unaware of admiring glances, Maddy gave him a light peck on the cheek and plopped onto a bar stool.
He noted the natural bronze tint in her cheeks. "Looks like you've been catching some rays." He raised his fingers to signal the cocktail waitress. "Missed you at the weekly meet-up with Lea and Paul."
"Yeah, I was taking in some fresh air and sunshine. You should get away from the precinct and try it sometime. Might do wonders for that grouchy attitude I got from you last time we met."
