Chapter 24
Shelbee spent several hours at the hospital and returned to the B&B shortly after dinner. I hadn't seen or heard from my uncle since he returned to the station. Patricia insisted Shelbee stay at the B&B where she could be properly cared for until she fully recovered. Jac, who had gone home from the hospital to check on her dad, returned to spend the night as well. Bruce suggested he and I stay too.
I raised an eyebrow. “Do you think a killer is still on the loose?”
He scratched the stubble on his chin. “No, but I feel responsible for Shelbee's wellbeing.”
“Neither of us suspected Donna,” I said. “Don't hold onto guilt.”
Stubbornly, he said, “I'm staying at the inn tonight.”
I didn't protest because I had already sworn to stay by Shelbee's side until she recovered. Bruce wasn't the only one feeling guilty.
Karen returned to the inn and moved to Shelbee and Jac’s room on the third floor. Robert returned home so Jac and Shelbee could have his room. Fewer stairs for Shelbee to climb.
No one wanted to sleep in the room where Madeline had been murdered.
Bruce and I slept in the living room along with Paw. Bruce spent the night patrolling but in the early hours collapsed on the sofa across from me. He and Paw serenaded me with their snoring.
I gave up trying to sleep around seven in the morning when Jac tiptoed down the stairs. I met her in the foyer.
“Let's walk the dogs,” she whispered to me. “Shelbee’s sleeping.”
I nodded agreement, and with Paw, Samuel, and Bitsy frisking ahead, walked to the front door.
The phone rang one ring.
Jac grabbed my arm. “William will get it.”
I snapped on Paw's leash while Jac did the same for Samuel and Bitsy. We then stepped outside and walked around back to the garden.
Neither of us spoke as the dogs hurried to do their business. We hustled in the back door to the smell of fresh coffee.
“Good morning,” Patricia said from across the room. She filled cups for Jac and I. “Clarissa, Harry called. He wants to meet with everyone in an hour. Can you two help me prepare breakfast?”
“Of course.” Jac gulped coffee.
“Karen is joining us so use the commercial kitchen to cook.” Patricia gestured to Jac. “I'll join you as soon as I fix Henry's breakfast.
Jac left, and I asked, “Where is he?”
“Henry?”
I nodded.
“William is walking him down to the bakery to get some pastries.”
“I'll feed Paw, Samuel, and Bitsy.”
Patricia waved me away. “Go help Jac. I'll feed them.” She opened a cupboard, bent down, pulled out three cans of dog food, and stood up. All three dogs rushed to sit in front of her. Paw ignored me in favor of food, and I slipped out and crossed to the other kitchen.
Uncle Harry arrived an hour later with Lillian. “Found her walking up the hill.”
Lillian rolled her eyes.
I placed the last fork on the table. “Where’s Saber?”
“At home. He’s sitting in the window watching the birds at my new bird feeder.”
The dining room table was set with plates, glasses, and utensils. Jac and Patricia carried the last dishes of food into the room.
Shelbee sat at the table with a grumpy frown, irritated that we wouldn't let her help. Dark shadows smudged under her eyes and she moved her head cautiously.
Karen sat to Shelbee's left, a crumpled tissue in her hand and a haggard expression on her face.
William motioned everyone to a seat while he sat at the head of the table. Patricia sat to his left and Harry to his right. Bruce and I sat across from each other with Jac to my right.
“You look tired, Uncle.”
He smiled weakly and patted my shoulder. “It's been a long night.”
“Then dig in and eat,” Patricia said as she passed him a platter of pancakes.
We passed pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, and toast around the table. Bruce poured orange juice into Shelbee's glass.
Murmurs of approval and compliments to Jac and Patricia on their cooking mingled with stretches of silence as we ate.
Harry devoured his pancakes then wiped his mouth with his napkin and sat back, cradling his cup of coffee. “If no one minds, I'll explain what happened after I left yesterday while you eat.” He covered a deep yawn with his hand.
Several of us nodded our consent.
“When I got back to the station, the Daytons were engaged in a shouting match. Between their mutual threats, arguments, and confessions, I concluded that they were the killers of both Cafferty and Ms. Wells.”
Karen stifled a sob with her tissue.
“They confessed?” Bruce finished a forkful of eggs.
“Yes.” Harry gulped coffee. “James accused Donna of masterminding the murders. That betrayal, as she called it, caused her to confess to her husband's part in the murders.”
Harry popped a grape into his mouth and chewed.
I shifted in my chair. “So what she told me was true? She hit Cafferty over the head when he confronted James on the basement stairs?”
“Yeah. She did. I talked with Mark Carter. The information he dug up helped to get her confession. Apparently, she did embezzle money from the bank she worked at because her husband's construction business was ruined, thanks to Cafferty. That's when Cafferty blackmailed her.
“If she agreed to be his mistress, he wouldn't press charges. She refused, and he had her fired. She's held a grudge ever since. They were planning on killing Cafferty but not that night.
“James tried to steal the wine bottle, so they could sell it. When Cafferty interrupted, Donna saw her chance to end him. She showed no remorse except that Paw found the wine bottle in the mulch, ruining her chances of stealing it.”
Harry shook his head at their callous nature.
William smirked. “They would have been fooled if they had gotten the wine as that bottle was a fake.”
Patricia lay her hand on the back of William's hand. “What about Madeline?” She asked Harry.
“They killed her, too.” Harry paused as Karen sobbed harder.
“Why?” Jac asked.
Harry turned to me. “Why do you think?”
I opened my mouth but paused before speaking. Why did they murder Madeline? Shelbee lay down her knife across her plate sparking an idea. “The clues. Madeline was searching for them at night. They must have thought she saw them.”
“Clues?” Lillian asked.
“Yes,” Karen said, wiping her eyes. “Madeline loved to beat out the competition at mystery games. She'd get up in the middle of the night and search for clues. I told her not to do it. That it was cheating, but she'd laugh and say all was fair in a game.” Fresh tears tracked down her cheeks.
Harry nodded. “Donna confessed that Madeline was sneaking around the B&B the night they killed Cafferty.” He held up his hands at Karen's protest. “Her words, not mine.”
Harry cleared his throat. “Donna ripped that wooden wine bottle out of Madeline's hands and scared her up to bed with threats of informing the Innsmans, who would kick her out of the game. Donna dropped the wooden bottle in the confrontation with Cafferty. They panicked when they thought someone was coming.”
Bruce sat back and crossed his arms. “Did Madeline confront Donna after Cafferty's death?”
“Yes. According to James, Madeline spoke with Donna and told her she would tell the police about the wooden bottle that Donna took from her if Donna didn’t. James claims Donna wanted to tie up loose ends and forced him to hold Madeline while she smothered her. Donna says that James did it.”
Karen jumped up and rushed from the room.
Patricia stood up to follow, but Harry waved her back to her seat. “Let her go for now.”
Bruce pointed to Harry. “Who do you think smothered Madeline?”
“Both of them. My guess is James held her down while Donna smothered her.
”
Shelbee hugged herself. “Why didn't she kill Patricia and me?”
Harry gazed at her sympathetically. “Probably because a gunshot would have drawn attention. Appears as though she was leaving town without James. That's one of the reasons James talked. He was furious when he realized she was skipping out on him.”
I tapped the table with my fingertips. “The two fake weapons we found in Madeline's room. She must have found them in her nighttime search.”
Bruce nodded. “Probably.”
William refilled his coffee cup, asking, “What about Jessica?”
Harry grunted. “She refused to answer any further questions until she speaks with her lawyer, however, she admitted planting the pen. Oddly, she was correct in her suspicions of James and Donna killing Cafferty.”
Shelbee sipped her juice then asked, “Why didn't the Daytons target Jessica? I mean she was the one who kept accusing them of murder.”
Harry set down his coffee. “Maybe they did but didn’t have a chance to attack her. Jessica told me she wedged a chair under her doorknob. She was paranoid that the Daytons would sneak into her room and kill her.”
William scratched his jaw. “How did they get in Madeline's room?”
“Donna picked the lock. We found a lock picking kit in her suitcase.”
“Woof! Woof!”
“Woo! Woo!”
I jumped up. “Sounds like the dogs want to join us.”
“Not before we clear the table,” Patricia said. “Is everyone finished?”
Everyone was so Patricia and Jac stacked dishes and platters.
Shelbee stood up to help, but Jac pushed her to sit back down. “You rest.”
Lillian patted Shelbee’s hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep you company.”
Shelbee smiled weakly.
Harry swigged the last of his coffee. “Time for me to leave.” He turned to me. “Walk me out.”
I nodded, but instead of heading for the front door, Harry strode to the kitchen where the dogs were. He entered to a chorus of barks and yips.
The dogs milled around us. Harry scratched Paw between the ears. “I'm proud of you boy. Once again you saved our Clarissa.”
“Woof!” Paw gazed at Harry with his tongue lolling out.
“Come on.” Harry led me outside but closed the door on the dogs who tried to follow.
He settled a heavy hand on my shoulder. “You know I love you, right?”
I nodded.
“Then please try to stay out of trouble, okay? I don't want to lose my favorite niece.”
I stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “I'll try, Uncle. I'll try.”
He nodded and strolled away.
Turning to the door, I spied Bruce standing there with arms crossed, Paw sitting at his feet.
He enveloped me in a huge bear hug. “My heart stopped when I saw Donna pointing that gun at your head.”
“I wasn’t happy about it either,” I quipped.
He drew back enough to look down into my eyes. “Please be more careful.”
I opened my mouth to protest that I was careful, but he hushed me with a finger to my lips. “I love you.”
I smiled and kissed his finger. “I love you too.”
Paw wedged his head between us. “Woof!”
We laughed, and I said, “I love you too, Paw!”
Review Request
Thank you for reading. I truly appreciate your taking time from your busy day to read my novel. I know your time is limited, but could you do me a favor? Could you leave a review of this story? Reviews are an important part of a writer’s marketing success.
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About the Author
Sandra Baublitz is a lover of all animals. She has always loved dogs and cats. A Dog Detective series originally began as a contest entry. Paw’s creation was influenced by the Beethoven movies and the author’s desire to own a Saint Bernard. The author never got the opportunity to own a St. Bernard and her current cats will not allow a new edition. Ms. Baublitz expresses her love of the breed by continuing to write about Clarissa and Paw and their mystery adventures. She hopes her readers enjoy reading them as much as she enjoys writing them.
Please don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter on her site to be the first to get updates on upcoming publications!
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Other Books by Sandra Baublitz
SHORT STORIES:
The Mystery of the Blue Dolphins
The Mystery of Aunt Carol’s Disappearance
The Mystery of the Body in the Shed
The Mystery of the Missing Bear
The Mystery of the Missing Actor
Short Story Collection:
A Dog Detective Short Story Collection (Books 1-5)
NOVELS:
Mastiffs, Mystery, and Murder
Bassets and Blackmail (A Dog Detective Series Novel Book 2) Page 20
