Mulch Ado About Murder

by Martha Rogers

  “I take it your suggestion will be that we are going to investigate this on our own.” Ben raked his fingers through his thick, white hair.

  “Yes, that’s exactly what I am doing.”

  “Well, we have ourselves a good mystery here. With so many people around this complex, it’ll be hard to pinpoint suspects.”

  I resisted the urge to chew my pencil like I usually did when trying to solve a problem. “Let’s look at what we do know, which isn’t much. It had to have happened while we at breakfast.” I slapped my hand to my forehead. “Of course, that’s why Mitzi jumped all over me when I let her out of the room. She must have heard something and wanted to get outside.” Maybe if I had taken her right away, we would have seen that car speeding away. It had to be connected.

  “Hmm, too bad she can’t tell us anything.” He sniffed the air. “Is that fully-leaded I smell? The decaf they serve here doesn’t help my thinker.”

  “You know I wouldn’t have anything else for you even if it is supposed to be unhealthy.” I filled the mugs and reached up to the cabinet for the creamer and sugar but stopped. My fingers touched the bag of chocolate cookies. If I were alone I’d indulge, but Ben would just have to get along with coffee. I placed the tray with the condiments on the table.

  Ben reached for a mug and wrapped his hands around the warmth. He sniffed the brew with a satisfied grin. “Nothing like a good dose of caffeine to get my mind working. Now back to our murder victim.”

  “This will be a terrible blow to the residents here. Many of them will be too frightened to talk with police, and they won’t feel safe until the killer is caught. Do you think it would help if we reassure them and ask our own questions?”

  Ben drank a sip of coffee and nodded. He set his mug down and leaned back in his chair. “That’s exactly what I think, Abby. Let’s put our heads together and see where we go from here.”

  I lifted an eyebrow at his use of that nickname again. He shrugged his shoulders. “Abigail is too prim, proper and old-fashioned for the likes of you.”

  Well now, that put a different light on the subject. “I certainly don’t want people to think I am prim and proper or old-fashioned. However, I like my name.” Ben said nothing. I supposed that meant he’d call me what he wanted to.

  Poised with my pencil over the pad, I asked. “Okay, what do we know? I saw Pete on the way to breakfast about a quarter to eight mowing the lawn between my place and the main building. That’s quite a large area, so he must have been about done when I saw him. You joined me right after that.”

  “Right. You told the officers that he’d come here to work with your azaleas.”

  “Yes, and he was right outside my bedroom. I thought at first he’d just hit his head on something when I saw the blood on his hair, but then when they turned him over and I saw that . . . that . . . thing sticking out of his stomach I almost fainted.”

  Ben shook his head. “That thing is an aerator, and it served the murderer’s purpose well.”

  A shudder shimmied down my back. I knew what the tool was used for. I’d used one enough times in my life, but for digging dirt, not stabbing. With those sharp points, it made a perfect weapon. I wrote on my pad again. Fingerprints.

  “They’re sure to find fingerprints on the tool, and then they’ll solve this thing without us.” Until that happened, we’d keep up our quest.

  Ben furrowed his brow. “That won’t work. The killer probably didn’t stab him. Didn’t you say he was face down?”

  “Oh, yes, I did. He must have fallen on it after he was hit on the head. I guess either one could have killed him.” I sighed. So much for that clue because now we didn’t have anything to go on. “What do you think was used for the blow on his head?”

  Ben shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe a rock or another tool. Whatever it was, the killer must have taken it with him or her. Did you see his mower anywhere around?”

  “No, but I figured he’d already stored it away.” Then a thought crossed my mind. “Of course, it could have been on the other side of the walkway. That part hasn’t been done yet.”

  I added Check on mower to my growing list. I stared at the writing a moment. “What would the mower have to do with his murder?”

  “I don’t know. Probably nothing, but we don’t have anything else to go on, do we?’

  I had to agree with that, but then I remembered the sound of a car leaving in a hurry. Find out about car went next as I explained what I had heard.

  Ben tapped his fingers together. “You didn’t see the car at all? Could it have been one of your neighbors?”

  “I don’t think so. None of us peel out of here like that car did. I wish I’d been quicker.” I pondered the situation a minute. “Maybe we ought to check into Pete’s background. Somebody from his past may have killed him.” Then I slapped my forehead. “Ben, I forgot to tell the detective about the car.”

  “But you’re not even sure it had anything to do with this.”

  “No, but . . . it doesn’t matter. I can say something later.”

  “Hmm, maybe we could get Harry involved in finding out about Pete. He’s an expert on the computer, and he still has ties down at the police station.”

  I didn’t know what the computer could have to do with this, but I added it to my ever- growing list.

  A clamoring sounded on my front porch. I shoved the pad into the drawer and hurried to check the noise. Then I recognized both Harry and Bessie’s voices.

  When I opened the door, the two of them stood on the other side in a heated argument. Bessie grabbed my arm. “Abigail, please tell this stuffed shirt of a retired policeman that no one around here is safe until this killer is caught.”

  Harry pushed his way past her, mumbling under his breath about crazy ideas of little old ladies. I grasped Bessie’s hand. “Now, I don’t really think we have to worry. The person who did this was most likely just after Pete and won’t even bother us.”

  She pulled away from me. “Umph, you’re as bad as he is. Can’t you see the danger? And it was right under your bedroom window. I’d never sleep in that room again.”

  “And just where do you propose I should sleep?” I hoped she wouldn’t suggest her house. I’d never find my way around all the clutter she keeps there.

  She drew up her shoulders and with her full chest straining against the pink fabric of her dress, she reminded me of one of those pouter pigeons.

  “I don’t know. I’m just telling you what I wouldn’t do. Go ahead and be brave, but don’t come running to me for sympathy when something happens.” She sniffed and toddled off to join Ben and Harry at the table.

  Discussion about any type of investigation went on hold as long as Bessie sat with us. Soon as she left, we could tell Harry about the questions on our list.

  “Harry, how long do you think they’ll keep that yellow tape around my flower bed and that side yard? I can’t let Mitzi out for a run until they’re gone.”

  “I have no idea. It’ll stay there until they’re completely finished with sifting through every little clue they find. Might be a day or two.”

  That wasn’t what I wanted to hear. As long as the tape marked the area, Mitzi would have to be on her leash. I refilled my mug and Ben’s and offered one to Bessie and Harry. I decided to set out the bran muffins I’d made yesterday. I had to keep up appearances with the health food, but what I really craved was that bag of M&M’s in the drawer. Oh, well, I’d pig out on them later then walk them off on the golf course.

  “Here, these should go well with our coffee.”

  Bessie picked one up. “You and your health foods.” But she took a big bite anyway. “Are you still going to Ellie’s today and read to her?”

  “Yes, after I play golf. That’s when I usually go. No need to change her routine because of this incident. It would only upset her.”

  Bessie had that look in her eye again. Her brain was hatching up an idea even as we spoke. Sure enough she leaned forward in a conspirator
ial manner.

  “What if someone came in and was trying to rob your house and Pete saw him and ran him off. Then what if that person came back today to shut up Pete, and what if he planned to come back and take more things from us?”

  Ben’s laughter exploded. “Bessie, that’s the craziest thing I ever heard of.”

  Bessie pursed her lips and tilted her head to one side. “Well, you don’t have to ridicule me. It could have happened. Things go on around here nobody else knows about.”

  My ears perked up. “What things?”

  Bessie looked at me as if I’d asked for the key to Fort Knox. “Just things. I can’t tell you everything.”

  Harry jumped in. “Well, I do agree we need to look outside the people here at Spring Hills. We’ll let the police handle it.” He patted Bessie’s arm but winked at both Ben and me.

  Ben rubbed his hands together. “Sounds like a plan to me. Let’s get out of here and give Abby a little rest. This has been quite the morning for all of us.”

  Just before he left, Ben leaned over and whispered, “Harry and I’ll be back after you see Ellie. We can talk more then. Meanwhile I’m going to do a little investigating on my own.”

  “Thanks, Ben. Maybe I should go check on Ellie after all the excitement dies down over there. Her windows face this part of the grounds, so she may have even seen something without realizing it. My first priority is to make sure she’s not frightened and then question her.”

  “Good idea. I’ll see you later this afternoon.”

  I stood on the porch for a few more minutes after he left. Well, solving this little crime would take longer than the embezzlement solution had, but then time is what we had plenty of around here.

  Chapter 3

  With the police around questioning the residents, I had decided to wait and see Ellie after golf at my usual time. With the Razorback team as well as city officials using our course, tee times were precious, and I didn’t intend to lose mine.

  By the time I finished my game, the police were gone. As I approached the main building, the realization of the size of our complex hit me once again. The three-story main structure housed assisted living as well as independent living apartments. One section was set aside for those who needed full-time nursing care plus a new section is being built for Alzheimer patients.

  With the number of rooms and employees needed to tend to them, we’d have a list of suspects longer than my arm if Pete was killed by someone who worked here.

  I filed away that thought, so I could concentrate on seeing to Ellie.

  Carrie Watkins sat at her desk near the entrance where outside guests registered. She was in charge of almost everything on this floor, and not much gets by her. “Hi, Carrie, I’m going down to visit with Miss Ellie.”

  The young woman’s body jerked and her face turned ashen. “Oh, I wasn’t expecting to see you. I was thinking about what happened to Pete and didn’t hear you come up.”

  “Yes, that was dreadful, so I can understand your preoccupation.”

  Carrie gulped and ducked her head. “I must tell you, Ellie’s a little agitated about Pete and all the police around here. I hope you can soothe her nerves.”

  “Thanks for telling me. I’ll see what I can do.”

  Just before I knocked on Ellie’s door, the one to the stairwell caught my eye. All the employees had access through that exit even though residents didn’t. Any one of the staff could have gone out, killed Pete, and then been back in the building and on duty before he or she could be missed. I had to remember to mention that to Harry and Ben.

  Ellie sat in her wheel chair, staring out the window. When I reached her side, I could see she had a clear view toward my house and all the commotion with the investigation. I cleared my throat, and Ellie turned startled blue eyes to me.

  Her hand flew to her chest. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re here. I watched the goings on out there earlier and was just sitting here thinking about it. Isn’t it awful? Poor Pete, I really liked him. He was so friendly to everyone.”

  I kneeled next to her chair. “Tell me what you saw, Ellie.” Could it be possible she had been an eyewitness?

  “Oh, I haven’t seen anything but those policemen stomping all around your place. When I finished breakfast, I opened the blinds and saw them. I hope they haven’t ruined your azaleas. I love to look out at them in the springtime.”

  I sighed. Of course it had been too good to be true. “I don’t think they’ll be harmed. After all, Mitzi does dig around in there sometimes.” I gave her a hug then stood. “Now how about reading to you now instead of later this afternoon?”

  I grabbed the book we’d been reading. “Here, we can pick up where we left off yesterday.” I removed my glasses from my pocket and secured them behind my ears.

  The pleasant atmosphere of the room with its view of the rose garden outside proved to be the perfect setting to read the inspirational romance novel, but my mind wouldn’t stay put. I wanted to get back to Ben and the investigation. In the middle of a paragraph, Ellie leaned forward. I glanced up to see an impish smile play about her mouth.

  “Tell me, Abigail. How are you and Ben getting along?”

  “Uh, fine, I guess.” Something was going on in that mind of hers, and I probably wouldn’t like it.

  Ellie’s eyes sparkled. “You know what I mean. How are. . . um . . .things in the romance department?”

  “Oh for mercy’s sake.” I tugged off my glasses. “Ellie, there’s no romance. We’re good friends . . . well, most of the time anyway.” It sure didn’t take much to get rumors flying around here.

  “Humph. My eyesight isn’t so good, but I can still see how he looks at you when you’re teasing him.”

  “Oh, yeah, like he wants to do me in.” I realized what I’d said. “Forget that.” I placed a marker in the book. “We have a good time joshing each other, but that’s all it is.”

  Ellie’s voice took on a conspiratorial note. “You know, after that little mystery you solved about the missing money, everyone calls you the perfect sleuth team. He reminds me of that lawyer on TV . . . you know, Matlock.”

  “What?”

  She grinned again. “Well, you have to admit he does look like him with his white hair and those seersucker suits he wears, as well as the fact that he’s a lawyer.”

  I swallowed a chuckle and pictured Ben. Ellie did have a point. “I never thought about it, but he does. And I guess I’m Miss Marple, going around solving crimes.”

  Ellie shook her finger. “On, no, you’re too young for her. You’re more like that Jessica gal on that show about the writer.”

  “But I don’t look anything like her.” My hair was white, and I think I was taller than that actress.

  Ellie leaned forward, her eyes with a more serious look in them. “No, but you love mysteries and solving them. And Pete’s death is a horrible one. You and Ben could help the police solve it.”

  Wait until I tell Ben about this. On second thought, maybe I’d better not tell him. He might get the wrong idea. I certainly didn’t want to get him thinking I might be interested in him.

  I patted Ellie on the knee. “I think it’s time for you to have a little nap.” She didn’t protest, so I helped her onto the bed and arranged an afghan over her fragile frame.

  “I’ll be back tomorrow. We’ll finish our story then.”

  Ellie just nodded, and by the time I reached the door, I heard her gentle snore. I told Carrie Ellie was sleeping and to check in on her a little later.

  When I turned away from the desk, I bumped into Ben and almost jumped out of my skin. What was he doing here? “Good grief, Ben, you almost scared me out of my wits. You’re supposed to meet me at my house with Harry.”

  “Sorry, but I was getting anxious. Didn’t think it’d take this long to read to Ellie. We have things to do.”

  “Well, I know that, but you could have at least waited for me at the cottage.”

  He grasped my arm and led me to a chair in the
reception area. “Come on, I have things to tell you.”

  I pulled my arm loose. I had things to tell him too, but if he was going to be so bossy, I just might not share with him and do this on my own. But then I realized I didn’t have the resources Harry and Ben had, so I’d need their help whether I liked it or not.

  He pulled a brochure from his pocket. “After lunch I went to see Mrs. Jensen. I told her I had a few friends interested in this place for retirement, so she gave me this.”

  When I raised my eyebrows, he added, “And that’s the truth, Abby. I didn’t lie. I do have two buddies who might want to live here.”

  I shook my head. Just what this place needed, two more men like Ben. At least if they came, the other ladies would be happy. I turned my attention back to what he was saying.

  “You know, if the person at the desk isn’t watching closely, someone could easily get in and out of here in just a few minutes.”

  I peered at the blueprints on the brochure. “You’re right.” Then I shared my earlier discovery. After listening to my theory, Ben strode down the hall toward the exit. I waited for him near the desk. On his way back, he stopped in front of the linen closet and bent to look closer at it.

  He motioned for me to join him. When I did, he pointed at the door.

  “Looks like someone put some tape over the lock on that door so it would stay open. Who would do such a thing as that or why?”

  “One of the attendants probably forgot his or her key, that’s all. Let’s go on back to my place to wait for Harry.”

  Someone gasped behind us. I swirled to find Maria, her eyes open wide. For a moment a flicker of fear darted in then out as fast.

  “Please don’t tell Carrie or Mrs. Jensen. I forgot my keys again.”

  I patted her arm. “We won’t. At least you didn’t lose them.”

  There was that flicker of fear again and she swallowed hard. “No, ma’am.” She hugged a stack of towels to her chest and hurried down the hall.

  Ben pursed his lips with his fingers and stared after her. He then glanced at me. “Now that was odd. I think we ought to stick around and snoop a little more.”