Sweet Avengers (A Sweet Cove Mystery Book 18)

by J A Whiting

  The taxi came to a stop in front of a lovely Second Empire-style home located on Avon Hill in Cambridge and as the group got out, Dianna Griffin emerged from the house and waved.

  After giving Orla a long hug, Dianna said, “How nice to meet all of you.”

  Introductions were made and they followed the woman into the house.

  Sixty-seven years old, Dianna appeared at least ten years younger. Slender and petite, she had blond hair and stunning blue eyes. “I’ll give you a tour of the place.”

  The guests were led into a sitting room, dining room, library, morning room, kitchen, and sunroom. Each room was impeccably decorated.

  “Upstairs has six bedrooms and three bathrooms along with a sitting room. My husband and I raised four children in this house. We should probably sell and move into a smaller home, but we just can’t do it. We love it here.”

  Everyone took seats in the sunroom that had big windows looking out over the small, landscaped backyard. Tea, water, coffee, and crackers and cheese had been set on the coffee table.

  Dianna took a light blue chair facing the sofas and looked from sister to sister, her face breaking into a soft smile. “You all resemble Elizabeth.” She made eye contact with Ellie. “With your hair color, you look like you could be your mother’s sister.”

  “You knew our mother?” Angie asked.

  “I knew her,” Dianna said softly. “She was a lovely person. She had very powerful skills.”

  The sisters’ eyes went wide.

  “Our mom?” Courtney’s tone was almost disbelieving.

  Ellie’s face paled and when she reached for Mr. Finch’s arm, he took her hand and patted it softly.

  Angie swallowed. “At first, we didn’t think Mom had any skills at all. She never showed them when we were together. Lately, we’ve suspected she had some abilities, but preferred not to use them.”

  “Ellie doesn’t want to have skills,” Jenna explained. “We thought Mom must have been like Ellie preferring not to make use of her abilities.”

  Dianna smiled and shook her head. “Your mother was very careful around you. You were the suns in her universe. She was fiercely protective. Elizabeth thought it best to keep you in the dark about powers and skills and paranormal-type things. She believed you shouldn’t be told until you reached adult-hood.”

  “Why though?” Courtney asked. “What was she afraid of?”

  Dianna said, “Early on, Elizabeth was quite reluctant to embrace her abilities, but she came to believe that we all needed to use our skills for good so she worked to develop her powers. She thought it was best for children to develop as a person before learning to use their skills. She also knew there could be danger for people with powers and believed it was better for children not to display abilities until they were mature enough to understand and handle the consequences.”

  “Did our dad have powers?” Jenna asked.

  “He did not, but he was fully aware and supportive of your mother’s abilities. He doted on all of you.”

  Ellie cleared her throat. “Do you know anything about the necklace Mom was wearing when she died?”

  Dianna looked over to Orla and when Orla gave a quick nod, the woman replied. “No one knows a lot about the stone. Most of the time, its kept in its box so no one is able to sense where it is. It is always protected by a keeper. It cannot fall into the wrong hands. Your mother was wearing the stone on the morning she died. She had a meeting with someone. We assume she was wearing the stone to give her strength.”

  Mr. Finch had been quietly listening. “Does the fact she was wearing the stone imply that Ms. Elizabeth was meeting someone with paranormal powers?”

  Dianna looked at Finch and before she could answer, Orla said, “We believe that was the case.”

  “But you don’t know who it was she was meeting?” Jenna asked.

  “We aren’t positive. We’ll probably learn more when we meet another friend.”

  “I have another question.” Angie’s forehead was creased from thought. “Mom was wearing an important and powerful necklace when she was walking to work that day. She was hit by a car and lay in the street unconscious. Why didn’t anyone steal the necklace right then and there?”

  “We aren’t sure,” Dianna told her. “There might have been someone in the area who came to her side.”

  Jenna’s eyes narrowed. “And kept someone from stealing it from her?”

  Dianna nodded.

  “Then the person who went to her side was a friend? Or maybe just a kind person who wanted to assist?” Ellie asked. “Or was it someone with paranormal skills who helped protect the necklace?”

  “It could have been someone with skills,” Orla said. “But not necessarily.”

  “The police couldn’t have questioned everyone who witnessed the accident.” Mr. Finch stroked his chin. “Before law enforcement arrived, some people might have kept going on their way. Others might not have wanted to get involved and so left the area. Not everyone who saw the accident was questioned by the police.”

  “Good point,” Angie told the older man. “Maybe the police have video taken from area businesses by the street where Mom was hit. Maybe we can scan the video to see who was there when Mom crossed the street.”

  Finch nodded.

  “Have you heard the name Dr. George Day?” Courtney questioned Dianna.

  “He was at the hospital where Elizabeth worked,” Dianna said. “They were colleagues.”

  “Were they more than colleagues?”

  “I don’t know,” Dianna said.

  “We met him yesterday,” Angie reported. “We got the feeling he wasn’t telling us everything he knew.”

  Orla sighed. “Like a lot of people involved in this tragedy.”

  5

  It was early morning when the doorbell rang and Courtney flung it open to see Chief Phillip Martin of Sweet Cove and his wife, Lucille, standing on the doorstep.

  “Morning,” the chief smiled. “Looks like some fancy digs you’re staying in here.”

  “It is fancy. Come in and see.” Courtney held the door wide and gave the chief and Lucille hugs. “It’s great you’re here.”

  Chief Martin was in his late fifties, tall and stocky, and had some gray mixed in with his light brown hair. The man had kind eyes and a heart of gold. He’d known the Roseland’s nana and she’d worked with him as a psychic on some difficult cases. He also knew the four sisters from when they were young and would visit their grandmother each summer in Sweet Cove.

  “Are people still sleeping?” Lucille asked.

  Courtney chuckled. “Are you kidding? Gigi and Libby are up with the sun which usually means so are the rest of us. Although this house is really quiet and you can’t really hear when the others get up. We’re just all used to rising early these days.”

  “I remember those times well,” Lucille smiled. “Our kids would be bouncing around at the crack of dawn, but when they were teenagers, a nuclear bomb wouldn’t have woken them up.”

  “Ah, to sleep like teenagers again,” the chief sighed.

  “Everyone’s either in the kitchen or on the patio.” Courtney showed them the way. “Once you say hello, I’ll give you a house tour.”

  “I’d love that.” Lucille admired the rooms they passed on the way to the kitchen.

  Wearing a pink apron, Mr. Finch stood at the gas stove preparing eggs and pancakes. “I timed the food for your arrival,” he announced to the chief and his wife. “The coffee is on so help yourself.” Finch gestured to the coffee bar with his spatula.

  The sisters stood to hug them, and Euclid and Circe jumped down from the top of the refrigerator to welcome Phillip and Lucille.

  The couple laughed when they saw the felines.

  “I see you’ve made yourselves right at home.” Chief Martin knelt down to pat the cats.

  “As long as there’s a fridge to perch on, they’re good.” Lucille scratched the cats’ heads.

  Josh and Tom carried their da
ughters inside from the patio and greeted the Martins.

  “Look at these two sweethearts,” Lucille cooed at the children and received smiles and babbles from Gigi and Libby.

  Ellie placed a fruit salad on the table while Jenna brought over a pitcher of orange juice. Angie carried a platter of freshly-baked muffins, slices of coffee cake, oat-cinnamon pancakes, and small bagels to the breakfast table. Jenna and Orla were just finishing setting out the plates, napkins, and silverware.

  “What a beautiful house,” Lucille glanced around.

  “Sit down and eat first,” Courtney said. “I’ll give you the tour after breakfast.”

  While everyone enjoyed the food, the chief asked about the case and the sisters and Finch reported what they’d learned so far.

  “It isn’t a whole lot,” Angie told them. “But it’s really only been a day and a half.”

  “You’ve already met two people who worked with Elizabeth,” the chief said. “I’d say you’re off to a good start. Maybe Detective Owen will be able to share some details with us.”

  After they finished eating, Angie and the cats took the chief out to the patio while Courtney gave Lucille a house tour.

  Angie had her arms wrapped around herself. “I’m feeling uneasy. I hope we haven’t stepped into something we can’t get out of.”

  “Are you sensing danger?”

  Euclid howled.

  Giving the orange cat the eye, Angie said, “That doesn’t make me feel any better, Euclid. And, yes, I sense danger.”

  Leaning on his cane, Finch came out to join them.

  “What about you, Mr. Finch? What are your feelings?” the chief asked.

  “Ms. Elizabeth’s death is a puzzle. Perhaps it was a hit and run. The driver may have been drinking or taking drugs, was speeding in the car, and Dr. Roseland was in his path. On the other hand, there may have been a level of intention involved. Ms. Elizabeth may have been targeted.”

  “And which way are you leaning?”

  Finch hesitated a for moment. “I sense it was no accident. I believe someone deliberately took her life. Finding the who and the why may prove very difficult.”

  “Do you have feelings that we’re in danger?” Angie asked the man.

  “It’s a possibility, yes. It’s all unformed at present, but I feel something is gathering.”

  “I feel it, too.” Jenna stepped outside and walked over to where the three people were standing. “I’ve been on edge for days. I wonder if Josh and Tom should take the babies home.”

  A shudder ran over Angie’s skin. “I don’t like to admit it, but I’ve been wondering the same thing.”

  Finch leaned heavily on his cane. “My sense is that whatever danger may be headed our way, it isn’t quite ready yet.”

  Angie touched the older man’s arm. “Let us know when we should send the kids back home.”

  “I won’t hesitate to tell you.” Finch nodded.

  “Shall we head to our meeting?” Chief Martin suggested.

  Mr. Finch and Courtney took a cab to the police station while the others walked the mile and a half to the headquarters. When they entered the building, Detective Carter Owen was in the lobby to meet them.

  Fifty-nine-year old Detective Owen was six feet tall and stocky, with a head of short, curly black hair and a friendly demeanor. He greeted the six guests with hearty handshakes and led them to a conference room with a large wooden table and natural light pouring in through the windows.

  “I know it was seven years ago, but I’d still like to offer my condolences to you. I understand you spoke often with the officers who worked the case and with Detective Fisher who was in charge at the time. Mike Fisher moved out of state and the case was transferred to me about three years ago. A case like this closes only when we find the person responsible. It is still open and will stay that way until it is solved.”

  “Thank you for that,” Angie told the man. “We appreciate it.”

  Chief Martin addressed Carter. “Can you share some things with the family?”

  Carter handed a thick folder of material to Angie. “These are case notes and interviews that were done. Not everything can be shared since it’s an ongoing investigation, but there’s quite a lot of information in there for all of you to read through.”

  “Were there ever any suspects?” Jenna asked.

  Carter shook his head. “There were some rumors about possible people who were in the area who had a history of driving under the influence. They were spoken to, but nothing panned out. There was a good deal of conflicting information about the car, the color, the make and model. Some said the vehicle was black, others said it was blue, and a couple of people said it was red. Some reported it was a compact car and others told the officers it was a large sedan.”

  “It was broad daylight,” Ellie protested. “How can the witness reports be so different?”

  Carter lifted his hands. “People see what they see, and sometimes they see what they don’t see. Unfortunately, witnesses can be very unreliable.”

  “What about the driver? Was the driver male or female?” Finch asked the detective.

  “The first few witnesses who were questioned told the officers a man was driving the car.” Carter frowned. “Other witnesses claimed it was a woman at the wheel.”

  The sisters groaned.

  “Are there any security videos from the morning our mother was hit?” Courtney asked.

  “There were two.” Carter’s face was serious. “It’s not something family members should see.”

  Jenna cleared her throat. “Could the actual accident be cut from the tapes? We want to see the people who were there on the street at the time.”

  Carter gave a nod. “I think so. I’ll look into it as soon as we finish. The security tapes we have are quite fuzzy. It’s hard to determine if the driver was male or female. I’ll hold my opinion until you’ve seen the films.”

  “Was there anything unusual about the incident?” Chief Martin asked.

  Carter tilted his head a little to the side. “One witness claimed seeing a man approach Elizabeth right after the accident. She claimed the man had a mean face, those were her words. A taller man rushed by this particular guy and knelt beside your mother. The witness said she heard the taller man speak loudly to the mean-looking man and the mean one slunk back and then disappeared into the crowd.”

  Angie leaned forward. “What did the tall man say to the mean one?”

  “The witness said she couldn’t make it out,” Carter said. “It’s all in the notes in the folder.”

  Finch asked, “Did the police interview anyone who recalled Elizabeth seeming out of sorts or upset or worried about anything right before the accident happened? Was her mood different? Did she seem on edge?”

  “I don’t recall reading that anyone mentioned such things. If you don’t mind, may I ask what prompted you to request the information on your mother’s case? Why now?” Carter asked the group.

  Angie took a deep breath. “I’d moved to the North Shore to start a bake shop and three years after our mother’s accident, we inherited a large Victorian located on the coast of Sweet Cove. My sisters and I each built businesses and settled into our new home. Jenna and I are married now and have five-month old daughters. When the accident first happened, I think it created a stress response in all of us. The trauma of losing a loved one so suddenly is a terrible shock and has lasting effects. We’re all in a place now where we’re ready to find out what happened to our mother. We want to gather all the information we can to understand what really happened. Maybe with the passage of time, there are witnesses who are willing to say more than they did back then. Maybe a few, new, little things will combine and point the way to the person responsible.”

  6

  While the cats perched on top of the refrigerator watching, Angie stood at the gas stove mixing ingredients in a sauce pan for the eclairs she was making for that night’s dessert. Ellie was working at the counter cutting potatoes
into chunks and chopping onions and celery for the potato soup.

  Mr. Finch leaned against the kitchen island cutting up vegetables and salmon into chunks for the grilled vegetable kebobs and the salmon kebobs.

  Not much had been discussed since leaving the detective. The family members needed some time to think over what they’d learned.

  “Will Phillip and Lucille be back to join us for dinner?” Finch questioned.

  “They’ll be back,” Angie said as she used the wooden spoon to mix the butter, sugar, water, and milk for the éclair pastry. “They’re visiting some friends in the North End.”

  Courtney, Jenna, and Ellie sat at the kitchen table by the windows reading over the case notes Detective Carter Owen had given them.

  Courtney leaned back in her chair. “This case is so confusing. So many conflicting details were reported from the witnesses. How can they see such different things? The color of the car is in question, the type of car is debated, and even the driver can’t be described as simply a man or a woman. It’s maddening.”

  “I guess law enforcement officials deal with these kinds of discrepancies all the time.” Ellie rubbed her eyes.

  Euclid and Circe let out simultaneous low growls just as Jenna looked up with a puzzled expression and Angie turned around holding the wooden spoon in the air.

  Finch noticed the sisters’ reaction. “What are you thinking? Oh. I see.”

  “See what?” Ellie blinked at Jenna and Angie. “Why do you two look like that?”

  “Could the driver of the car have paranormal skills?” Jenna’s eyes darkened.

  “Meaning what?” Courtney questioned.

  Angie said slowly, “Meaning … could the person driving the car have the skills to cause people to see different things as he sped towards the intersection?”

  “Whoa.” Courtney stood. “Really? I never considered such a thing could be possible. Cause people to see what you want them to see? Amazing. How can we acquire that skill?”