Trust Can Be Deadly (Sage Gardens Cozy Mystery Book 3)

by Cindy Bell

  Jerry stared at it for a moment. Then he broke out into a smile.

  “Oh yes, I remember them.” He nodded.

  “Are you sure?” Samantha asked with some confusion. “He was with someone else?”

  “Yes, in fact I never would have noticed him if it wasn't for her. She was quite the firecracker.” He laughed.

  “What does that mean?” Walt asked.

  “Well, the guy wanted to just go straight to the theater. He was kind of pulling her along with him. She started insisting that she wanted popcorn. He started getting aggravated. She barked at him that if he was going to take her on a date he had to treat her right and buy her snacks.” Jerry laughed again. “That's when I started paying attention, because I just thought it was funny that she would demand snacks.”

  “A date?” Samantha repeated. She exchanged a look of confusion with Walt before looking back at Jerry. “So, did he buy her snacks?”

  “Sure he did. The woman was quite a looker, you know, an older lady, but still gorgeous, like you.” He smiled charmingly at Samantha.

  Walt raised an eyebrow.

  Samantha tried to ignore the flattery. “So, she was about my age?”

  “Yes, I'd say so.” Jerry nodded. “She made him buy her popcorn and a drink. I thought it was a little odd that he didn't buy himself anything. I figured he was just being cheap.”

  “Did they argue?” Walt asked.

  “Not really, he just kind of gave in to what she wanted, and then hurried her away to the theater. I don't know why he was in such a rush, they were early for the show by about twenty minutes.” He shrugged. “Maybe he didn't want to miss the previews.”

  “Did he ever say the woman's name?” Samantha asked.

  “No. That was the other odd thing, he just kept calling her doll. I mean they were an older couple, but who calls their girlfriend doll anymore? I can tell you if I called my girlfriend doll she would punch me right in the nose.” He laughed loudly.

  “You don't have a girlfriend do you, Jerry?” Walt asked.

  “Uh well, not currently. Anyway, I really have to fix this popcorn machine.” He cast a wink in Samantha's direction. “If you wait until it's fixed, I'll give you a free bag.”

  Walt wrapped an arm around Samantha's shoulders and steered her away from the counter. “Thanks, we have to be on our way.”

  As they walked out of the movie theater Samantha shrugged Walt's arm off. “What was that about?” she asked with an amused grin.

  “That boy was clearly flirting with you, I was just saving you the trouble of having to turn him down.” Walt unlocked the car.

  “And what if I didn't want to turn him down?” Samantha asked incredulously.

  “Oh?” Walt paused and met her eyes with an unreadable expression. “I didn't take you for the type that favored pimples and helping with homework.”

  “Walt! He was at least twenty.” Samantha laughed out loud.

  “Statistically, May December relationships do not last.” Walt opened Samantha's door for her.

  “More like January December.” Samantha giggled. She couldn't deny that the young man's attention had been a little flattering. She sat down in the car and began flipping through her phone.

  “What are you looking for?” Walt asked. Samantha was still skimming through her phone.

  “When I was trying to get into the group that runs the social activities at Sage Gardens I got a lot of the contact information for the women who are members. I've never deleted them because contacts are contacts.”

  “That still doesn't tell me what you're looking for,” Walt pointed out.

  “Oh well, something Jerry said made me think of someone.” She paused for a moment and stared down at her phone.

  “What is it?” Walt asked. He squeezed the steering wheel anxiously. He wanted to look over at Samantha, but refused to take his eyes off the road.

  “Yes, there is a woman who lives at Sage Gardens. Her name is Cynthia Doll. But all of the ladies just called her Doll.” Samantha looked over at Walt. “When Jerry said that Tommy was calling his date doll that seemed odd to me. I can't see Tommy ever calling someone doll, unless that was her name.” She smiled a little. “I also couldn't imagine Doll dating Tommy, but maybe she likes her men with a little bit of attitude. I know plenty of women that do.”

  Walt suddenly stepped on the brake. Samantha was jolted forward but her seatbelt kept her from moving too much.

  “Sorry!” Walt gulped. “I got distracted.”

  “It's okay.” Samantha adjusted her seatbelt. “I think we need to have a conversation with Tommy and with Doll.”

  “The question is, if Tommy was at the movies with this Cynthia Doll last night, then why didn't he tell the police that? Why did he claim he was alone? Jerry said he was trying to hurry Doll along. It was like he was trying to keep from being seen,” Walt said perplexed.

  “I can tell you why,” Samantha replied smugly. “Because there is a Mr. Doll.”

  “Oh.” Walt's eyes widened. “They are having an affair.”

  “So, it seems,” Samantha agreed, “unless I am off base in thinking that the Doll he was with last night was Cynthia Doll. Tommy's going to have to admit to it, because there's no way that Doll will do anything to tarnish her perfect image.”

  “Sounds like a job for Eddy.” Walt drove into Sage Gardens. It was nearing eleven o'clock, much later than he was used to being out. “I can call him in the morning,” he offered.

  “That's all right, I'll let him know.” Samantha smiled as Walt parked in her driveway. “Have a good night, Walt.”

  “Thanks.” Walt watched as she walked up the path to her front door. He waited until she had unlocked her door and was safely inside. Then he began the drive to his villa. As he did, he noticed something odd. Abe was rolling along the sidewalk. Walt slowed down a little and considered asking him if he was okay. But then he stopped himself. Abe had every right to be out as late as he wanted to, a wheelchair didn't stop him from being able to go out. Still it seemed odd to Walt that he would be out wandering so late. Abe didn't seem to be concerned. He looked quite relaxed as he rolled down the path. Walt assumed he must be going to visit someone. He gave a slight wave through the window. If Abe noticed, he didn't respond. Walt continued down the road with his mind on Joel.

  Chapter Eight

  Samantha stepped into her villa and felt immediate apprehension. She had almost forgotten about the strange occurrences from earlier. First she had found a window open that she was certain she had closed, and then she had found the items on the top of her dresser pushed aside. All of this came rushing back to her as she stared into her dark villa. She stood just inside the door and flicked the light on. The room filled with light, revealing that everything was just as she had left it. She still shivered a little.

  To help ease her nervousness she decided to give Eddy a call. He was often awake fairly late and she wanted to update him on what had happened at the movie theater. She dialed his number as she poured herself a glass of juice. Eddy answered on the first ring.

  “Sam, is everything okay?” Eddy asked with some urgency.

  “Yes, I just wanted to let you know what we found out tonight.” Samantha suppressed a yawn. “It's not too late I hope.”

  “Not at all,” Eddy replied. “In fact Jo and I are still going over some of the information I found out about Tommy's background.”

  “Oh, Jo is there with you?” Samantha was surprised. Eddy and Jo hadn't been very quick to be friendly with one another. She was also relieved. The more comfortable Eddy became with Jo the less tension there would be between the four of them.

  “Yes. We were trying to come up with any previous evidence of Tommy's volatile temper. So far we've had a few hits.”

  “I think you might have wasted your time.” Samantha sighed. “I'm fairly certain that Tommy's alibi is solid.”

  “Really?” Eddy asked. “What did you find out? I didn't think much would come from your v
isit.”

  “I didn't either, but apparently Tommy and the woman he was with made quite an impression on the employees.” She sipped her juice.

  “Tommy had a date?” Eddy sounded surprised. “Who would go out with a man like him?”

  “Possibly a socialite by the name of Doll.” Samantha smiled into the phone. “She has to be the most prim and proper woman that lives in Sage Gardens, but it looks like she's been stepping out on her husband. I thought you might want to have a talk with Tommy about it in the morning.”

  “I'll do just that,” Eddy agreed. “But it's disappointing that now our only suspect is Anna. I still don't think she would be strong enough to pull off something like this.”

  “Maybe not. But she could have hired someone to do it. And don't forget the list of suspects that Walt gave us.” Samantha sighed as she thought of the list. It was going to take a lot of digging to get to the bottom of it.

  “I still think Abe is a little too interested in the case. Maybe he's connected somehow?” Eddy suggested.

  “I can look into his past and see what I can find,” Samantha offered. “I'm going to turn in for the night though.”

  “Okay, rest well, Sam.”

  “Thanks, you too, Eddy. Tell Jo I said goodnight.”

  “Will do.”

  After Eddy hung up the phone he turned to look at Jo. She was finishing the cup of tea he had made her not long before. “Looks like we can cross Tommy off our list of suspects. I'm going to have a conversation with him in the morning to confirm it, but it looks like he was at the movies with a married woman.”

  “Really,” Jo said with surprise. “Are you sure he couldn't have got back in time to kill Joel?”

  “I don't think so. Besides, it really looks like a crime of passion. It would take an awful lot of planning to pull off creating an alibi and committing a murder all while not slipping up. I don't think he has the smarts for it. Do you?”

  “Well, Tommy never did strike me as a murderer.” Jo sipped the last of her tea. “But I guess we'll find out for sure. I wouldn't be too harsh with him though, or he might end up being a thorn in your side.”

  “Tommy doesn't frighten me,” Eddy's voice was stern. He stood up and took the empty mug.

  “I didn't mean to imply that he did. I just think he could get pretty annoying after a while, and a man like him tends to hold a grudge.” Jo stood up from the table.

  “Just how much do you know about what kind of man Tommy is?” Eddy turned to look at Jo inquisitively.

  “What are you asking me, Eddy?” Jo's eyes danced with a touch of amusement. She paused just in front of Eddy and held his gaze boldly.

  “I'm asking what business you had with him that allowed you such an intimate understanding of him.” Eddy didn't back down. Instead he took a small step closer. “You don’t seem to like him very much, but you also know quite a lot about him.”

  “Is this the part where you start to question my motives again?” Jo asked in a disappointed tone. “I don't know what I have to do to prove my friendship, Eddy, but I'm also not interested in finding out. Either you consider me a friend, or you don't consider me at all.”

  “My friends tend to be fairly forthcoming. I asked you a simple question.” Eddy scowled.

  “I'm not under your interrogation, Eddy I'm not obligated to answer your questions. As your friend, I can tell you that I associated with Tommy because he had a connection I needed in the gardening community. I wanted a certain kind of flower, and he knew the person to get it from. Does that put your mind at ease?” She stepped around him and towards the door.

  “Jo, wait.” Eddy turned to face her. “Look, old habits die hard.”

  “Once a cat burglar, always a cat burglar, I'm used to the routine.” Jo shook her head. “I thought maybe we had gotten past that, Eddy.”

  “It's not that at all. Well, maybe a little.” Eddy shrugged. “I don't trust easily, Jo. It's nothing personal.”

  “So, don't trust. That doesn't mean we can't be friends, does it?” Jo met his eyes. “Do you really think I trust you?”

  Eddy stared back at her as the tension built between them. No matter how he tried, he couldn't quite figure Jo out. One moment she was as casual as the next door neighbor, the next he could see the cunning in her that had allowed her to survive on the run. It was hard to reconcile those two personalities.

  “So, we don't trust each other. Friendship usually requires that we do.” Eddy frowned.

  “Does it? I don't think so.” Jo looked towards the door for a moment and then back at Eddy. “Actually, that's something to think about. We've all been looking at Joel's enemies, but what about his friends?”

  Eddy realized that she was trying to change the subject, but he didn't stop her. He had gotten himself into a conversation that there was no real way out of.

  “I think you're right. It just brings my thoughts back to Abe.” Eddy shook his head. “You probably think I'm a lunatic for even considering a man in a wheelchair as a possibility.”

  “Not at all.” Jo levelled her gaze on Eddy. “I’m always amazed at what people are capable of doing, Eddy. Where there is a will there usually is a way.”

  She turned and walked out of Eddy's villa. As the door closed behind her she felt her heart drop slightly. Just when she thought she was making progress, beginning to be accepted, Eddy had made it clear that he still viewed her as a threat. It was frustrating, to say the least.

  Chapter Nine

  Samantha woke up the next morning with a feeling of dread. She immediately looked towards her bedroom window. It was closed and locked just as she had left it. Still, she felt nervous as she climbed out of bed. It was early enough that the villa was still mostly dim. She made her way slowly into the kitchen. The first thing that she noticed were the curtains moving over her kitchen sink. Her stomach tightened with fear. Her eyes flew wide open as she watched the curtains swing in the breeze. The window was open all the way. She was certain that she had not left it open. She hadn't even opened it since Jo had startled her. Samantha quickly looked around the villa. She checked in closets, even in cabinets, and behind furniture. There was no sign of anyone else inside the villa.

  Samantha grabbed her purse and searched for her cell phone. She wanted to get someone else on the phone before she lost her mind. The more she searched in her purse the more frustrated she became. There were plenty of receipts, crumpled up wrappers, and loose change, but there was no cell phone. Samantha growled with frustration. Then she spotted her phone sitting on the kitchen counter not far from the open window. Had she left it there? She rarely left her phone out in the open. She didn't remember leaving it there. But then she had come in late from the movies with Walt. She had been tired when she talked to Eddy on the phone. Perhaps she had laid it down and forgotten to pick it back up.

  It didn't explain the open window, but it made sense that she might have left the phone there. She reached for the phone. Before she could grasp it, the phone began ringing. She gasped with surprise. The phone was just doing what it was supposed to do, but she had been so uptight that the shrill ring scared her. She saw that it was Eddy calling.

  “Hello?” Samantha’s voice shook slightly.

  “Samantha, is it too early?” Eddy asked. “I had trouble sleeping.”

  “No, it's not too early.” Samantha held tightly onto the phone. She stared at the open window.

  “I'm going to talk to Tommy this morning. I just wanted to check in with you before I did. I also want to ask you for a favor,” Eddy sounded determined.

  “What is it?” Samantha asked.

  “I know it seems like a long shot, but I'd like you to look into Abe. Dig as deep as you can. I just can't shake this feeling I have about him.”

  “No problem, I'll do a thorough search. Why don't we meet up after you speak to Tommy?” Samantha suggested. She was hoping to spend as little time alone as possible.

  “Sure.” Eddy paused a moment. “Are you okay, Sam
antha?” His voice deepened with concern.

  “I think so.” Samantha reached up and closed the window. She made sure that it was securely locked. She didn't want to admit to being afraid. If she did Eddy wouldn't leave her alone about it. She wanted to be sure that what she was experiencing was real before she told anyone else.

  “Do you want to come with me to talk to Tommy?” he offered. Samantha could sense that he was really just offering her company.

  “No, I'll get to work on Abe. If your instincts are telling you that there is something strange there, I believe you.” Samantha sat down in front of her computer. She could get her coffee later. She needed something to take her mind off the fear that she was feeling.

  “All right, I'll see you in a little while.” Eddy hung up the phone.

  He looked at the screen for a moment as if hoping it would give him more of an explanation about the conversation he had just had. Samantha was clearly disturbed by something, but she wasn't willing to tell him about it. He wondered if Jo wasn't the only one that felt judged by him. He pushed the thought out of his mind and headed out the front door. He wanted to catch Tommy before he had the chance to go out for the day. As he walked up to Tommy's villa he could see that he had made it just in time. There was a moving truck at Tommy's. Tommy himself was standing at the end of his driveway with his hands on his hips. He was watching the movers like a hawk.

  “Be careful with that television,” he snapped.

  “Tommy!” Eddy called out to him as he walked closer.

  “What do you want?” Tommy sighed.

  “I see that you're moving.” Eddy nodded towards the truck.

  “You really are quite the detective.” Tommy sneered in Eddy's direction.

  “Moving closer to Doll's place then?” Eddy asked casually.

  Tommy turned to look at him so quickly that Eddy heard a subtle cracking sound from the man's neck.

  “What did you just say?” he demanded.

  “I could ask you about it, or I could ask her husband where he thinks she was last night.” Eddy narrowed his eyes and squared his shoulders. He was sending a clear message to Tommy that he would not be intimidated.