SCREWED DOWN MURDER (Mrs. Fix It Mysteries Book 2)

by Belle Knudson

  With Celia not at her desk, Kate wondered if it was okay to just knock on the mayor’s door. She couldn’t hear anyone moving inside, but he might not have returned to the building.

  A DPW guy walked past. Kate stuck her head out into the hallway. “Hey.”

  The young man stopped. “Yes?”

  “Have you seen the mayor?”

  “Not today. He wasn’t outside with us.”

  The man kept going. Kate frowned. She knocked on the door to the mayor’s inner office. No one answered. She pondered that for a moment, then she walked toward another outside door. Maybe the mayor was out there. She poked her head out, but there was no one in that parking lot.

  With the power back on, everyone was back in the building.

  She sent a text to Jessica. I’m supposed to meet Dudley here. Is he with you?

  No, he should be at work. I think.

  Guess she didn’t know where her husband was. Had he not contacted her about the power outage?

  I’ll wait a little longer, Kate texted back.

  She went back to the mayor’s office, but something told her to knock again. She did. There was still no answer. “Will the repair be obvious?”

  Kate wanted to begin her day. Her first coffee was long gone. She wanted her second after this repair. Darn. Her day was not going as planned.

  She looked down the hall, but no one was coming, so she decided to peek into his office. She took a deep breath, let it out, then opened the door to see if she could find the repair he needed.

  She did. It was a set of shelves that were empty, and one of the brackets had fallen of. “That’s easy to fix.”

  She had brought brackets with her and would replace all of them. If one went, the others wouldn’t be far behind. Returning to her truck, she hoped Dudley would be back before she began her work.

  When he wasn’t, she opened the door fully so no one would question her presence there. That’s when she saw him. On the floor.

  “Dudley?”

  She knelt down to find a pulse, but there wasn’t one. Not again, she thought. The mayor was dead on the floor, his hand clutching his chest. She picked up the phone on his desk and called the police.

  She waited in the outer office, doubting the job would get done today. Or at all. She paced, trying to rid her mind of the sight of Dudley on the floor. He was pale and lifeless.

  Scott was the first one in with EMTs right behind him. He glanced in then looked at Kate with a grim face. “He’s dead.”

  She sighed. Another body that she had been the one to find.

  “I’ll need to get a statement,” Scott said.

  “Can I load my truck before we do? Clearly I’m not getting in to make the repair.”

  “No, this might be crime scene,” Scott said. “You can load up your truck then meet me in the PD. I’ll have someone take your statement.”

  “Thanks.”

  She carried what she was holding back to her truck. Her day really wasn’t going as planned. She entered the police department, but the same woman from last time was not at the desk. She must have had her baby already.

  Today it was a man with a cast on his arm. He let her in as he’d gone to school with her sons.

  “Tell Jason and Jared I said hello,” Officer Gunther said.

  “Not a problem.”

  She passed through the door and found Detective Ken Johnson, the father of her best friend, waiting for her. “You’re like Jessica in that old television show. She found dead bodies everywhere.”

  She appreciated his attempt at humor, but it fell short. “I guess.”

  He led her back to the room he’d taken her statement in when she’d found Jackie York dead in Scott’s kitchen. She shuddered at the memory of being held against her will by the murderer.

  As she sat down, Ken brought her a much needed cup of coffee. Kate couldn’t imagine what had happened to the mayor, but making a statement to the police meant it was being considered as a homicide. Ken took her statement then sent her into Scott’s office.

  “He wants to talk to you,” Ken said.

  She was going to get a scolding probably. He wouldn’t want her to interfere with the investigation.

  “I have no reason to have anything to do with this murder. If it is one.”

  “We have reason to believe it is, but I’m not telling you why. Stay out of it.”

  She put up her hands. “Of course. I only investigated last time because you were involved. I didn’t want you to get railroaded.”

  Scott smiled. “I know you care about me, Kate. One of these days you’re going to have to admit it.”

  “What feelings I may or may not have for you are irrelevant until I know what happened to Greg.”

  “Fine. Lunch?”

  She glanced at her phone. “If I stop for lunch, it won’t be until closer to one.”

  “Text me. I’ll meet you wherever.”

  She thought about sending a text to Jessica then decided to go see her anyway. Even if she didn’t fix the item today, she wanted to give her condolences to the woman. Her husband had just died.

  Apparently word had already gotten out about Dudley, and several cars were parked in Jessica’s driveway. Kate contemplated just calling Jessica to see if she still wanted Kate to come by.

  So she called.

  “Hello.”

  Jessica sounded distraught.

  “It’s Kate. Do you want to postpone my repair today?”

  “No, please come over. It’ll be nice to have a friendly face.”

  “I’ll be there in a moment.”

  Kate disconnected. She looked around at the cars and wondered what Jessica had meant by a friendly face. Wasn’t she currently surrounded by people?

  Kate knew she had to fix a window in Dudley’s office. She brought the necessary tools with her when she rang Jessica’s doorbell. The woman answered, letting Kate in.

  “Dudley’s business associates are here. I’ve never met most of them. Please do what you need to do then come have coffee with me.”

  Kate nodded. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  “Thank you Kate.”

  ***

  Kate followed Jessica inside. The living room sported several men in suits with coffee cups in their hands. Kate wanted to say something to them, but she didn’t know what. It didn’t seem right to her that strangers had descended on Jessica’s house in her time of grief. She should be surrounded by family and friends.

  Kate didn’t think any of Jessica’s family was close, but she must have friends. She was involved in so many things in the community. Kate wanted to shout at these men for invading her home.

  At least Kate had been invited in.

  “I’ll get that window fixed in no time.”

  Jessica smiled a feeble smile. Kate squeezed the woman’s arm.

  Upon entering Dudley’s office, Kate watched two men look up at her with guilty expressions on their faces.

  “Can I help you?” one said.

  She didn’t recognize either of them, but assumed they worked at Dudley’s trucking company.

  “I’m here to fix the window.”

  “Can you come back later?”

  “Mrs. Stuart has asked that I do this right now.”

  Kate wasn’t leaving. The men looked at each other and frowned. “Okay. We’ll come back.”

  They’d clearly been looking for something. Kate would have to mention it Jessica. What could they possibly need from Dudley’s office? She put it out of her mind until she was done with the repair.

  The window had gotten stuck in the open position. It made things tough when you wanted to put on the air conditioning. She tugged on it then lubricated it with some grease. Finally it budged. A little. She wished for some more upper body strength to shove it back on track. She went out to her truck for a rubber mallet and a small board.

  With that, she was able to put the window back in its place. Jessica came in as she closed it.

  “Yo
u fixed it.”

  “I did, but I want to put a thin piece of wood here so it can’t jump the track again.”

  “We’re due to replace the windows on the back of the house in a month or so. I’ve already made the appointment, so no need.”

  “Okay, then I just have to pack my tools then I’m done.”

  “You want some coffee?”

  “I’d love some coffee.”

  Jessica smiled that wan smile. After loading her truck, Kate returned to the house. The men in the living room were gone. Inside the kitchen, Jessica was pouring two mugs of coffee.

  “You alone?” Kate asked.

  “Finally.”

  “Who were they? Two of them were going through Dudley’s desk.”

  Jessica sat at the counter. “I don’t know exactly. They kind of forced their way in here. I had no choice.”

  Kate sat then reached out to Jessica. “Are you okay?”

  “As okay as I can be.”

  “Was Dudley sick?”

  “No. I don’t know what could have happened,” Jessica said.

  “Is there anyone I can call?”

  “My parents are on their way here. My sister, too. Will you stay for a little while?”

  Kate would have liked to get a third job in today since her first was a bust and the second hadn’t taken long, but she couldn’t leave Jessica in this state. “Yes, of course.”

  There would be no lunch with Scott, which was okay. She should keep more distance between them anyway, but he was persistent. That’s probably what made him a good cop, she thought.

  Her phone buzzed. It was a text from Scott.

  Can’t make lunch. Case is more complicated than we thought.

  Okay, she texted back.

  She wondered if they’d learned something new about Dudley’s death since she’d left the police station. She decided not to ask.

  “I’m sorry. Do you have another job?” Jessica asked.

  “Not until the morning. My afternoon is yours,” Kate said. “When do you expect people to get here?”

  “In about an hour.”

  The doorbell rang. “I’ll get that. You sit tight. You up for visitors?”

  Jessica shook her head.

  Kate wished she could have talked to Jessica alone more. The woman looked like she could use a good cry. She was holding herself together remarkably well. Her husband had just died, and she was making coffee for her visitors.

  Kate had been a mess when she’d discovered Greg was gone—inconsolable, although she’d had to pull herself together for her kids.

  Two women Kate recognized from one of the local committees that Jessica was on were standing on the doorstep with casseroles in hand. “Hello.”

  “Hi, we’re from Daughters of Rock Ridge. We have some food for Jessica,” the woman with black hair said.

  “Jessica isn’t up for visitors, but I’ll tell her you stopped by.”

  The women handed Kate the casseroles then left. No argument. That had gone easily. She brought the dishes into the kitchen.

  “Probably the first of many,” Kate said. “This is how Rock Ridge is when a tragedy happens.”

  “Just put them in the freezer.”

  Kate did as the woman asked then sat back down. She sipped her coffee. “Anything you want to talk about?”

  “No, please, just sit here for a few minutes.”

  “I can stay until someone in your family gets here.”

  “Thank you.”

  The doorbell rang again. Kate answered it and was surprised when Ken and Scott were on the doorstep. She guessed it was to pay their respects, but both looked grim. Not that she expected them to look any different. The mayor was dead.

  “Jessica isn’t up for visitors.”

  “We aren’t visitors,” Ken said.

  Kate looked from one to the other. “What are you then?”

  “We’re here to talk to Jessica. A police matter,” Ken said.

  “Let us in, Kate,” Scott said.

  She stood out of the way then followed them back to the kitchen. Jessica looked up at them, surprised. “Hello.”

  “Jessica Stuart, we are here to arrest you for the murder of Dudley Stuart,” Ken said.

  He began to put cuffs on Jessica as Kate gasped. She reached out to Scott. “What’s the meaning of this?”

  “We have reason to believe that Dudley was murdered and Jessica is responsible.”

  How could they think that? Didn’t Jessica love her husband? They seemed pretty solid.

  “On what grounds?” Kate asked.

  “That is none of your business. Why are you here anyway, Kate? You investigating this thing already?” Scott said.

  Kate straightened, indignation running through her. “I was here to fix a window. How would I know to investigate? When I left you weren’t sure it was a murder.”

  Not that she had to justify her presence anywhere to Scott.

  “Fine. We’re taking Jessica in.”

  Jessica began to cry as Ken read her the Miranda rights. Finally she looked up at Kate. “I didn’t kill my husband, Kate. I promise I didn’t. Please don’t let them think I did.”

  Crap. She couldn’t let Jessica be falsely accused. Scott got in her face before she could say anything.

  “Stay out of it.”

  He walked out. Jessica’s eyes pleaded with Kate.

  “I’ll do what I can, Jessica. You know I can’t let an innocent person go to jail for something like this,” Kate said.

  “Thank you.”

  “I’ll close up your house and leave your parents a note.”

  Jessica nodded then let herself be led out by Ken.

  Chapter Three

  Kate locked up the house, put the key back in its hiding spot that she knew from doing so much work here, then left. She debated going to the police station. Scott would be pissed if she became involved, but Jessica had asked her for help. She couldn’t turn the woman down. She’d just lost her husband.

  Kate hadn’t gotten a chance to finish her coffee at Jessica’s, so she stopped at the coffee shop again. It was probably almost closing time. She got the last of regular coffee that was left. Clara didn’t charge her for it.

  She took the cup with her to headquarters. The utility trucks were gone, so Kate could park by the police department. The same young man sat at the front desk. He merely buzzed Kate in without her having to explain why she was there.

  For all he knew, she could have a bomb on her. Just because she knew the chief didn’t mean she couldn’t be up to nefarious purposes. But she did have that honest face. Everyone had told her that her whole life.

  Still, the cop should have cleared it with Scott. Did they already know that she’d come here?

  She stood in the doorway to Scott’s office. He was on the phone, but he waved her in. She’d been there more than once, but not because of her proclivity to commit crimes. If she was in the municipal complex, she stopped in to see him. More than she should, she knew, but he was a friend. The only male one she had.

  The rest of the single men in Rock Ridge seemed to be determined to get her to date them, but for some reason, she wasn’t put off as much by Scott’s attempts. At one point in their lives, before they had dated, they had been friends.

  Kate appreciated his candor and his quick mind. If she was sorting out a problem, Scott could usually help her get to the answer. That’s why she would come to see him.

  It was the only reason, or so she told herself.

  Scott hung up then put his hands flat on his desk. He had large hands.

  She sat in her usual seat.

  “I knew you’d be here.”

  “Is that why the guy out front let me in without a second glance?”

  “Yes.”

  Scott didn’t appear to be unhappy about her presence, but he didn’t seem overjoyed, either. He had his “cop” face on. He wasn’t revealing anything to her.

  It didn’t matter. She was a big girl and would
do what she wanted, despite the lecture she was about to receive. She braced herself for it.

  “I was there when Jessica asked you to investigate. I’m here to tell you that you should stay out of it. Don’t get in Ken’s way.”

  “Ken has the case?”

  “He does. He is our best detective.”

  She cocked her head at him. “Better than you?”

  “I’m the chief now. I have other duties.”

  “So what makes you think that Jessica did it?”

  “You think I can talk about it?”

  “No, but you know I’m going to ask anyway,” she said.

  She wasn’t a busybody, but she couldn’t let someone be charge falsely, either.

  He sighed. “Let’s just say we have a witness to the fact that the mayor and Jessica argued and the mayor stormed off. Then Jessica left the house.”

  “A witness?”

  “Yes.”

  “So they argued. Married couples argue,” she said.

  “Yes, but one of them doesn’t usually end up dead afterwards. At least not often in Rock Ridge,” he said.

  She frowned. The little town was fast becoming a murder hotbed after years of nothing happening other than the occasional burglary. She and Greg and chosen to stay in Rock Ridge because it was a good place to raise kids—a safe place. Now it was beginning to resemble a big city with the amount of crime she was encountering.

  “Who?”

  “I’m not telling you that.”

  “It’s you.”

  His gaze didn’t waver, but if she hadn’t been looking, she wouldn’t have noticed the quick flicker in his eyes.

  “Okay, so you saw them argue. Dudley left the house. Didn’t you have fights with your wife where you had to get out?”

  Scott frowned. “Yes, I guess we did.”

  “You didn’t kill her?”

  “No, I didn’t. I divorced her instead. Look, I’ve said too much already. You have lunch yet?”

  “No, and I don’t want any. I’ll have an early dinner.”

  She knew she wasn’t going to get much more out of him. She’d learned enough to know that she wanted to help Jessica. Scott was a good witness and a credible one. She would have to have an alibi.