Barbara Graham - Quilted 03 - Murder by Music

by Barbara Graham

  Theo thought it took an eternity before Elf stepped into her appointed spot and sat down. Theo couldn't see her face, but she guessed her expression was triumphant. If being noticed was her goal, Elf achieved it in her unique style. Not in good taste though.

  The next usher escorted the official mother of the groom. In her lovely champagne beige dress, she looked happy and relaxed, except for some lines of tension around her mouth. Her husband appeared proud. As he stepped past Elf, he did glance down into Elf's cleavage display, and his cheeks flushed almost purple.

  The mother of the bride maintained her elegant demeanor. Her dress of aqua silk made a quiet swishing sound as her escort led her past the other mothers and settled her into place on the other side of the aisle.

  Theo held her breath, half expecting an explosion, but all she heard was beautiful music. The clear tones of the much-improved organ rang as the processional continued.

  The bridesmaids' gowns, a beautiful shade of deep teal shimmering with overtones of rose, were elegant and flattering. The girls carried a fortune in flowers.

  Everyone, except Elf and Theo, stood when the music changed and signaled the approach of the bride and her father. The bride was lovely, of course, and kept her eyes focused on Patrick.

  Theo could see Elf, by peeking between the standing guests. The singer slouched on her pew and crossed her arms over her almost bare bosom. Theo assumed she was not smiling.

  The remainder of the ceremony went smoothly although Theo could almost feel the congregation waiting for an explosion. The bride and groom kissed, inspiring a great cheer of joy mixed with relief. The couple turned and led the way down the aisle. Elf managed to jump into the path of the groom's parents, but the MacLeods didn't appear concerned. Their part of the wedding was over. Even Mrs. MacLeod smiled, all tension relieved. The rest of the celebration belonged to the bride's family.

  “How would you like to be posing for pictures with the tight-jawed wedding party?” Nina asked as they waited to leave the church.

  Theo leaned toward Tony so she could speak softly, “I'm guessing Elf is not going to be in many of them.”

  “Or the photographer is going to alter the digital pictures and erase her.” Nina's distinctive laugh drew attention from other guests.

  Theo rolled her eyes and grinned. “At the very least, I'll bet he adds a bit of computer fabric to the front of Elf's dress.”

  Nina didn't exactly whisper when she said, “If I was in charge, I'd turn it into a turtleneck.”

  “What's the plan?” Tony shifted on the pew. “Are we supposed to go somewhere now or just sit in here until the fight ends?”

  “And listen for the sounds of gunfire?” Nina cupped a hand to her ear.

  The jests got worse. Finally Theo held her hands up in surrender. “The plan is for us, all the guests, to go out to the museum and look around and enjoy light snacks. It's supposed to be the guests' entertainment while the wedding party is driven around town in an open, horse-drawn carriage and has a thousand pictures taken.”

  “And Elf?” said Nina. “Do you suppose she's part of the wedding party?”

  “I think she'll be lucky if they don't run her down.”

  Because of the large guest list and limited parking at the museum, a fleet of small buses that looked like old-fashioned trolley cars, were supplied for shuttle service. Tony opted to drive his vehicle because of Theo's wheelchair. He escorted Theo and Nina into the museum and left them with friends while he went to look for his mother. He found her sitting on one of the display chairs, staring into space, ignoring the sign she had spent so much time working on. The card lay at her feet. “Do not sit here.”

  “Mom?” Tony didn't know if he should chastise her or not. “Are you okay?”

  “Didn't the church look lovely?” Jane lifted her face and her smile was nearly as radiant as Celeste and Patrick's.

  “Yes. I'm sure Dad would agree.” He leaned against the wall behind him, watching as the wedding guests wandered about the museum, oohing and aahing. “I think he'd like your museum, too.”

  Jane glanced around and seemed to notice the crowds of people for the first time. “Oh, my.” She jumped to her feet and replaced the sign. “I'd better pay attention. I'm supposed to answer questions and hand out brochures.”

  “I didn't see you at the church and wanted to make sure you and Martha got there for the ceremony.”

  “We had a lovely time even if we held our breath when Elf sashayed down the aisle in that dress. My goodness, I've never seen such a gown.” She fanned herself with a brochure. “How's Theo?”

  “The wheelchair is just what she needed.” He helped her adjust the sign. “Have you met Katti?”

  “Oh, yes. I think she's wonderful.” Jane laughed. “I wonder if Claude was prepared to have her take over his life. I can't wait until we all get to go out to the dump for their wedding celebration. It promises to be lots of fun.”

  Theo watched Elf strut into the museum, clinging to the arm of her driver. If anything, the front of the dress looked like it had dropped even lower. At least the driver's chest was covered today with a white shirt and conservative suit.

  Next to her, Nina whispered. “If she's wearing anything under the dress, it's not much. There's just about nothing left to the imagination. My ex-husband would be salivating all over her.”

  “Not if her bodyguard could help it.” Theo studied the man. “Do you think he seems to be more than professionally involved?”

  “I'm guessing she hired him as much for his looks as his bus driving talents.”

  “Speaking of which . . .” Theo leaned closer. “Why do you think she's staying in her touring bus instead of the mansion?”

  “Is she really?” Nina looked thoughtful. “How do you know?”

  “Someone mentioned it at the shop the other day. We have our fair share of up-to-date gossip, you know.”

  “Well, there's certainly been a bit at the high school. The halls have been buzzing.”

  Since Nina taught where Patrick coached football, Theo was curious. “Don't tell me Elf followed Patrick to the field, or worse, into the locker room.”

  “It hasn't been quite that bad, but I heard him say if he'd known she was coming, he might have suggested they run away and get married.” Nina took a beautifully decorated canapé from a passing waiter. “Mmm, caviar.”

  Theo selected a puff pastry tidbit filled with salmon mousse. “I don't know whether to feel sorry for Elf or slap her. It would have worked out so much better for everyone, especially the now deceased Scarlet of course, if they could have followed the original plan.” Theo craned her neck to keep Elf and the driver in view.

  The bride and groom made their grand entrance into the museum amid cheers and applause. The couple posed for more pictures in front of various displays. They included Elf in many photographs, but the photographer appeared quite adept at separating Elf from the other mother of the groom.

  Theo guessed it helped, but she still heard an almost constant litany of complaints from Elf. She wasn't interacting with any of the guests, the bride's family or any of her own relatives.

  Nina leaned over and whispered in Theo's ear. “If she doesn't quit whining, I vote we shove a sock down her throat.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Tony was visiting with Mr. Durand, the father of the bride, when the caterer imported from Knoxville trotted over to where they stood.

  The caterer's face was taut and furious as he pointed toward Elf. “She, she.”

  The bride's father cut him off. “She's got no authority to do anything here tonight but eat, drink and keep her mouth shut. If she so much as looks like she has more to say, tell me. I'll get rid of her.”

  Obviously mollified, the caterer headed back to do his job.

  Durand glanced at Tony. “She's a menace. You're welcome to keep her.” Durand lifted a tumbler of whiskey with a little ice in a quiet salute before taking a sip.

  Tony couldn't disagree
with the man's assessment of Elf. In all honesty, he could easily live without hearing or seeing the woman again. “I wanted to thank you and your wife for all the improvements you paid for at the church. It's a small congregation and not a wealthy one.”

  “I don't think you realize how much money it saved me having the wedding here.” Durand's gray eyes sparkled under heavy, dark eyebrows. “I'm delighted the church didn't need a new roof or all new plumbing.”

  “Excuse me?” Tony wondered if he'd missed something. The man had spent a fortune already and the caterer was pouring more of his money into crystal glasses. No limit. Besides the shuttle buses, there was a separate fleet of cars prepared to take over-imbibers directly to their homes. Tony could practically see the dollar signs fly by.

  “If Celeste had gotten married in Lexington, her mother would have worn the numbers off at least six credit cards instead of two.” He smiled at his wife and raised his glass in a silent toast even as he continued talking. “She'd have given parties. She'd have redone our church, but it's much larger. She would have redecorated the house. I hate to imagine the cost of the new wardrobes she would have purchased for all of us.”

  A waitress carrying a tray of shrimp and crabmeat treats stopped by and offered it to them. The man paying for everything stacked them high on a small china plate. “I might as well get my money's worth.”

  Moving away from the happy man, Tony saw the wedding planner nod her head in the direction of the DJ. The torch was passed. The man lifted his cordless microphone and suggested the wedding party and friends make their way from the museum into the barn. The real party was about to begin.

  He found Theo and Nina chatting with his mother and aunt. Everyone looked happy. Evidently, Mr. Durand's donation to the museum was more than generous.

  “Are you locking up the museum or leaving it open during the reception?” Tony asked.

  His mom patted his arm. “We have to leave it open for the restrooms. There aren't any in the barn, dear.”

  “Let's go eat.” Theo pointed to the door. “I'm starving again.”

  Even though she had helped with the lights, Theo was stunned by the change in the barn. The draped tulle and tiny lights created a fairyland. In the center of the large room, a dance floor was roped off from the tables by garlands of greenery and roses. Round tables covered with damask held not only silverware, crystal and silver chargers, but bowls of roses and more candles.

  Musicians filled the largest stall, making Theo smile. The horses once stabled there wouldn't recognize the place. The wedding cakes were in another stall. The bride's cake consisted of several elegant tiers, cascading the length of the table. The groom's cake had its own table. It looked like a snow covered football field. She whispered to Tony, “I think it's Red Velvet. Blossom made it.”

  She heard his stomach growl.

  The planner held a seating chart and directed traffic.

  The DJ requested everyone be seated and offered a formal introduction of the bride and groom. Applause dropped to silence when no one appeared. Theo wondered if the happy couple had run away, leaving the problem of one too many mothers behind.

  She wouldn't blame them.

  And then, smiling widely, the couple walked in, holding hands. Everyone stood and cheered. Almost everyone. Not Theo or Elf. Elf sat at her designated spot, arms crossed, glaring at everyone. Her handsome escort was on his feet, applauding and cheering. At least Elf's driver was ready to party.

  Dinner was delicious. The service impeccable. There were numerous occasions of toasts and jests. The DJ kept everyone to the prearranged timetable.

  The groom led his bride onto the dance floor. The music began and the couple performed a well-rehearsed tango. Then Mr. Durand danced a slow waltz with his daughter.

  It was time for the groom, Patrick, to dance with his mother, and he led Mrs. MacLeod onto the dance floor. As they began dancing, Elf jumped to her feet, threw her glass of champagne on the floor and stormed out of the barn. Her driver/escort was hot on her heels. She slammed the door in his face.

  He calmly opened it and went out, closing it softly behind him.

  When everyone in the room started breathing again at the same time, Theo realized she had been holding her breath as well.

  The party began in earnest. Wade and Grace danced past her. Near them, Mike and Ruby looked happy to have the evening off. Together, Blossom's escorts led her onto the floor. Theo saw Mr. Durand dancing with Jane. Mr. Espinoza made Martha look like a dancer.

  It was lovely.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Tony woke early Saturday morning. Halloween. He groaned into his pillow, already dreading the first complaint about stolen and smashed pumpkins. He yawned and stretched trying to unkink a knot in his back.

  Until they discovered who killed Scarlet, or ran into a dead end, he would have to put in at least several hours each day. So this Saturday would be just another work day for him. He couldn't believe it had only been a week since the woman had died. It felt like a year. And, although the killings at the Shady Nest were clear cases of murder/suicide, the paperwork would require two trees.

  At least he could be grateful for Katti Marmot. Claude's bride was just the assistant Theo needed. He didn't have to worry about his wife getting herself into trouble.

  His cell phone buzzed and he checked the screen. “Not already.” He felt stomach acid begin to eat into his gut and reached for the antacids at the same time he answered.

  “Sheriff.” Flavio's nasal twang blasted into his ear. “I hate to bother you on a Saturday, but, well sir—”

  “Just spit it out.”

  “I, that is we, just received a call from Elf's driver, and he says she's dead. Claims she was murdered in her fancy touring bus.”

  “Did you tell him not to touch anything?” Tony reached for his uniform shirt.

  “Yessir, I did, and he told me he walked in, found her, ran out and called me.”

  “And, where are the man and the bus?”

  “Parked behind Ruby's.”

  “Call Wade and Doc Nash and tell them to meet me there. And notify the TBI. Let them know we need their help. Again.” He disconnected and finished dressing in record time. Having anyone murdered was a tragedy as well as a mystery. He guessed having a celebrity like Elf murdered would create a media frenzy beyond anything he could truly imagine. He wanted to arrive at the scene before the first newshound, especially Winifred.

  When he pulled his Blazer into Ruby's parking lot, he parked to block the entrance into the overflow area where Elf's huge bus sat alone, its lily-decorated paint job gleaming in the first rays of the morning sun. It should have been a lovely sight.

  Mike and Dammit walked toward him from the café's back porch. The big dog looked like he suffered from a hangover. It was his usual off-duty expression.

  “Don't you get a honeymoon?” Seeing him, Tony felt a sense of relief. They needed every officer they had. His tiny force was simply not equipped for celebrity homicide.

  Mike shook his head. “We don't leave for our cruise until next week. Ruby wanted to get married on Anna, er, Angelina's birthday.”

  “So that's why she picked Tuesday.”

  “Yep. I'm just lucky we didn't have to go through eleven months of the calendar after finding Angelina.” Mike tipped his head toward Elf's driver who sat on the café's deck staring at the bus. “He's pretty shocky.”

  Wade pulled in next to the Blazer, and Doc Nash parked on the far side. Neither of them smiled as they stood studying the bus. Wade carried a large camera bag and a stack of yellow plastic numbered markers. “You want me to start here or inside?”

  “Start here.” Tony needed to see the crime scene. “Take some pictures of this whole area for reference.” Tony waved his arm to indicate the parking lot, the motor home, and the driver.

  Without another word, Wade began systematically photographing the area. He placed a couple of markers as he moved toward the open door but generally foc
used on the broader view. The doctor was right on his heels, following in his footsteps. So was Tony. Mike and Dammit began setting up barricades and stringing crime scene tape to limit, as much as possible, contamination of the area.

  Tony thought Wade's camera clicking sounded amazingly loud in the unnatural silence. Not a dog was barking, nor a bird was chirping anywhere nearby. He climbed into the bus and took more photographs. Tony, watching over Wade's shoulder, knew when he focused on Elf. Wade, prepared for his inevitable reaction, quickly handed Tony the camera and pulled a plastic lined paper bag out of his pocket and threw up into it.

  Tony barely noticed. He felt a chill run through him that had nothing to do with the weather. Elf's body lay sprawled in the open space of the living room. No longer dressed in the “black lounge singer gown” she'd worn to her son's wedding, she wore baggy jeans and a well worn oversized gray sweatshirt. Her bare feet looked no bigger than a child's. He'd catalogued her overall appearance quickly but now he stared, feeling queasy in the closed space. Tightly wrapped around her neck, he guessed twice, was a thin steel wire with a loop on one end. A dulcimer string.

  On the coffee table was a bottle of wine and two glasses. Both looked untouched. “So she had company or was expecting it.”

  He glanced into the doctor's face. Doc Nash was shaking his head even as he pulled latex gloves onto his hands. Tony watched him move close to Elf's face.

  “Wade, picture.” The doctor pointed at the face.

  Wade slipped his barf bag into another plastic bag and stuck it into a small pouch hanging on the camera bag. Eyebrows lifted, he followed the doctor's instruction, taking multiple photographs of the face from several angles before following his own protocol for cataloging every inch of the crime scene.

  “What is it?” Tony stepped closer to see what drew the doctor's attention.

  “Paper in her mouth. That color.” Doc pointed to a stack of paper next to a small electronic keyboard on the coffee table. “There was nothing in Scarlet's mouth or throat.”