A Charming Misfortune

by Tonya Kappes

  “I don’t know.” I tried to keep up with him, but he was fast. “Why are you going so fast?”

  “I don’t have much time. I can’t keep them in Whispering Falls forever.” He stopped once we came to the clearing where the massive main part of the resort came into vision. “If I can’t get this solved before tonight, they can leave. Then I’m going to have to call in outside help and we don’t want to do that.”

  “Maybe there’s evidence we’ve overlooked.” I followed him up the steps of the resort.

  “Colton has been out there for an hour or so. I’m hoping he’ll bring something, anything back.” His chest lifted as he took a deep breath and let out a long sigh before he opened the door and held it for me to enter the Treesort. “I sent off Adam’s cane to the lab, and I’m hoping they’ll get it back to me soon.”

  “Prints?” I wondered exactly what he was looking for beside the fact the blood on the bird’s gold beak was definitely from Adam.

  “There weren’t any visible to the naked eye, so I’m using the wizard police lab.” He closed the door behind us.

  “Maybe we can get someone to confess.” I knew it was grasping at straws to think one of these Audubon Society members would actually tell us they killed Adam, but a gal could hope.

  “June,” Oscar laughed and shook his hand.

  The sound of silverware and the low murmur of voices spilled out of the dining area and got louder as we made our way around the big fireplace to find the group eating around the large countertop. Amethyst stood behind it while still preparing more food.

  “Good morning.” She grabbed a mitten and took some biscuits out of the oven. “I’m having some biscuits and chocolate to go with the grits and eggs this morning. How many do you want?” she asked me and Oscar.

  “I’m good. I’m actually here on police business.” Oscar looked at the group. They’d put their forks down.

  “Do you know who killed Adam?” Tammy asked. She and Paris were sitting next to each other. They gripped hands.

  “I just want to go home.” Paris’s upper lip quivered.

  “They can’t keep us here much longer,” Cindy said in a flat voice.

  “I want my camera back before anything happens to it.” Webster reached across the counter and took another biscuit from the basket. He tore it in half and sopped up the rest of the chocolate sauce on his plate.

  “I wanted to grab some statements from everyone. Then we can see where we go from here.” Oscar pulled out his notebook and flipped open the page. “Cindy Sams. Can I see you over there?”

  “Sure.” She let out a long sigh and took one drink of her coffee. “You can take my plate. I’m finished.” She got off the bar stool and placed her napkin on the counter. “I’ve suddenly lost my appetite.”

  “If you get hungry, I’m always more than happy to fix you something.” Amethyst was such a good hostess. “June, can I get you a cup of coffee?”

  “That’d be great.” I pointed over to the couch where Oscar was taking Cindy.

  “I’ll bring it over.” Amethyst winked. “Do you also mind cleaning all of their rooms tonight before they leave?”

  I gave her a sideway look indicating I didn’t clean for her, but there was something she needed me to know. If it was that urgent, she’d have told me, but this seemed like something that could wait.

  “I’ve not slept good. I dreamed all night.” Her words were just confirmation of how her gift had come to her in her dream, and there were some details I needed to know that must’ve pertained to Adam.

  Slowly, I raised my chin up and then down to show her I understood exactly what she was saying. By the time I’d made it over to the couch, Oscar had already had Cindy state her name and occupation.

  “Tell me, how did you know the victim?” Oscar asked her.

  “I’m sure you already have found out that we were once married.” A flash of wild grief across her face made my heart ache. There were some deep-rooted feelings there that I was sure needed to be explored.

  Amethyst came over to give me the cup of coffee. I mouthed “thank you” so as not to interrupt Oscar’s questioning.

  “Yes.” Oscar seemed to be happy she’d offered the information without him having to pull it out of her. “Can you tell me why you divorced?”

  “It’s no secret. I’d spent my life trying to help endangered species. And when I was on the board of an organization, we did a lot of fundraisers for exotic zoos.” As she spoke, I started to feel a heaviness that centered in her chest.

  I took a few quick small breaths that caught Oscar’s attention. He knew how my intuition punched me in the gut sometimes, which led me to revelations about the customers I served. Not that Cindy was a customer, but she was a mortal, and it wasn’t like I could turn my gift on and off.

  We held each other’s stare for a second, and he knew to continue with the questioning.

  “Go on,” he encouraged her to tell her story.

  “Adam owned one of the exotic zoos in attendance at the fundraiser. He was so into the Spangled Smoky Momoko like I was. The bird had yet to be extinct, but it was on the list to watch.” There was a smile on her face as she remembered the tender moments in which they met. “He was into making exhibits that encouraged reproduction of species so they didn’t become extinct. It was his heart for the animals that made me fall in love with him.”

  “Do you have children with Adam?” Oscar asked her a great question. Was there an alimony thing? A custody issue?

  “No. Neither of us have children.” She shook her head. “Our babies were our animals we strived to take care of.”

  “How did the divorce end?” He asked the dreaded question that could lead to a motive.

  “He got bit by the money bug. The more money that poured into the zoo, the greedier he got. He really wanted to be the best exotic zoo and began to run over anyone who didn’t donate huge amounts of dollars.” Her nostrils flared with fury. Her features hardened. Hatred had taken over the pain in her chest, making me gasp.

  “Are you okay?” Oscar looked at me.

  “I’m fine. Heartburn.” I lifted my hand to my chest, though Oscar knew better. “I’m sorry,” I apologized for the interruption. “You were saying about the fundraising.”

  “Yes. He didn’t want to travel anymore, which is a big part of trying to save endangered species. He wanted people to bring him the animals and the money, or he didn’t give you the time of day,” she spat out contemptuously. “We drifted apart since we couldn’t see eye to eye anymore. We fought all the time. I really began to hate who he was turning out to be. But not enough to kill him.”

  Oscar rolled his shoulders back.

  “Tell me about the Audubon Society, how you travel.” Oscar moved the questioning into a different direction.

  “We use the summer months to travel around different places in the United States. There’s over five hundred chapters in the States and sometimes we pair up with them to make our numbers bigger when we are going to find a particular bird. We all work together. Some get more accolades than others when we do find something like the Spangled.” Her shoulders relaxed, and there was a faint smile on her lips. She definitely enjoyed talking about the Society, clearly her passion. “We are a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation. The Audubon started in 1905, making it one of the oldest of such organizations in the world. We rely on science and education of the species, along with a grassroots movement to help our mission to conversation.”

  “Who decides when and where you go on these trips?” Oscar asked.

  “I coordinate those.”

  “How did you hear about the Spangled?” I asked.

  “Another member from a different Audubon Society had mentioned at the last conference how he and his wife had come to Whispering Falls for a day trip. He swore he saw the Spangled. Of course everyone dismissed him. When we discussed it at our last meeting, Paris suggested we come and look for ourselves,” she said. “The
Spangled is most active in the summer months. Since it was summer and we didn’t have anything planned for this particular month, we made a quick decision, and the four of us were the only ones from our chapter who could come.”

  “Adam, is he a member?” Oscar asked.

  “No.” Her tongue was sharp.

  “How do you think he found out you were here?” I asked her.

  “I have no idea.” She glanced off into the distance while shaking her head. “He knows so many people. Anyone at the conference could’ve told him or anyone from my chapter. I don’t know…” Her voice trailed off.

  “Did you speak to him or visit his teepee while at the campsite?” Oscar was getting to the biggest question of this interrogation.

  “No and no. He disgusts me. I know better than to talk to him because it will do nothing but make me angry, and that does no good for the team.” She lifted her chin in confidence. “Now, when can we leave?”

  “I’ll let you know. But for now, I’m finished with questioning you.” When she stood up to leave, Oscar said, “I might have more questions later today.”

  Cindy didn’t bother looking at us.

  “I’m going to go to the shops if anyone wants to join me,” she told the group when she walked back over to them.

  “I will,” Tammy spoke up.

  “Tammy Harp,” Oscar read off his notes, getting her attention. “I’d like to talk to you before you go with Cindy.”

  “Do you mind waiting a few minutes?” Tammy asked Cindy and got off the stool.

  Cindy slid her eyes over to Oscar and back to Tammy, shaking her head.

  “I’ll be outside on the deck.” Cindy stomped off.

  Paris and Webster scooted next to each other. Their heads were together, and they whispered between them. Oscar and I gave each other a look. I was sure Oscar would ask them what they were discussing.

  “How can I help?” Tammy sat down on the couch where Cindy had previously occupied.

  I already knew pretty much about Tammy since Ophelia and I had looked her up.

  “State your name and occupation and how long you’ve been a member of the Audubon Society.” Oscar had his pen and paper ready.

  “I’m Tammy Harp. I’m fifty years…” She blushed. “Oh dear. You didn’t ask my age.”

  “No,” Oscar laughed. “But it’s fine.”

  “Okay. I’m fifty, and I’ve been in retail all my life. I didn’t go to college. I joined the Society a few weeks ago.” Her shoulders bounced up and down. She was full of energy for sure.

  “Why did you join the Society?” I asked since she didn’t seem like the outdoor type.

  “Like I said, I’m fifty, and friends are limited. I was looking around on Instagram using the hashtag groups when I found the Society. Not this particular one because Cindy is definitely not hip to social media, which really is a shame because I tried to tell her there could be more people joining, and when that happens, the Society gets more money from dues, and we can go all sorts of places.” She held up a finger. “Which is why I joined. Trips. I figured why not join and one, get friends, and two, travel a few weekends a year.”

  There were clearly different reasons people joined any group, and Tammy was specifically there because she wanted to connect with others.

  “Did you go to the last convention?” Oscar asked.

  “No.” She drew out the word and slowly shook her head. “I think it was out of state, and I don’t have a lot of disposable cash. Plus I wasn’t able to get off work.”

  “I thought you said you were between jobs.” Oscar looked back at his notes.

  “I am. Then I wasn’t.” She didn’t seem too bothered about not having a job.

  “Did you know Adam Vedder?” he asked her while I watched her body language.

  Her chest gave a couple quick inhales before her eyes teared.

  “No.” She gulped. “Well, not until here. He was a lovely man. He really does care about the Spangled, and he said his zoo was building this big exhibition. He even had this elaborate plan he printed out.”

  “You seem upset for someone who didn’t know him.” I made the observation.

  “The man is dead.” She looked at me with a gapped mouth. “Who deserves that? It’s awful.”

  “Did you talk to Adam at the camp?” Oscar took over the conversation again.

  “I did. He was very knowledgeable about the endangered animals. I told him he should come talk to our group or host us at his zoo. I guess that’s not going to happen…” Her voice trailed off. “Along with the job offer,” she muttered.

  “Job offer?” I asked.

  “I told him I was between jobs, and he said I should come work for him since they were building on a big addition. They were going to be hiring.” She blinked a few times and looked down.

  “Is there anything you want to add, or did you hear anything that we need to know?” Oscar asked.

  “No, but if I do remember anything, I’ll let you know. Is that all?” She smacked her hands on her thighs.

  “Yes, but like I’m telling everyone, don’t leave Whispering Falls until I tell you. I might have a few more questions.” He turned the page in his notebook.

  “No problem. I’m going to explore all those great shops today.” She put a big smile on her face and got up. She waved at Paris and Webster on her way out.

  “Which one?” Webster twirled around on his stool and asked Oscar.

  “You’re good.” Oscar waved him over.

  “I guess I’ll have another cup of coffee,” Paris told Amethyst.

  Amethyst cleaned the dishes in the sink and continued to chit-chat with Paris while Webster took his seat on the interrogation couch. Oscar’s remarks were much more like general statements so he could look back at them and then decide on more specific questions. It was his process, and I didn’t bother trying to make suggestions or to change it. He knew what he was doing.

  “Name and occupation.” Oscar wasn’t as gentle on Webster.

  “Webster Jones. Photographer,” he stated flatly, giving us a put-out attitude.

  “How long have you been a member of the Audubon Society?” Oscar asked, not one bit flustered by how Webster was acting.

  “I’ve been with this chapter for about eight years. Others over the years, my job had given me the opportunity to travel. I still pay dues for various locations because I like to go on some of their trips like this one.” He rolled his eyes. “Which turned out to suck.”

  “How did you know Adam Vedder?” Oscar ignored Webster’s observation about his time here in Whispering Falls.

  “He’s been on some of the trips I’ve been on.” He leaned back and crossed his legs and his arms.

  “Like the one in Madagascar?” I asked because I couldn’t sit there and watch him be so smug.

  “It appears you did your homework.” The corner of his lip twitched. There was laughter in his eyes. “Yeah. He’s a pretty big jerk. Was a big jerk.”

  “Is it true it’s because of him that you lost your job at the National Geographic magazine?” Oscar had used the knowledge I’d found out with Ophelia Biblio’s help to question Webster.

  “It’s true he’s a first-rate jerk,” Webster spat. He gnawed on his cheek, drew his arms long across the back of the couch. “Yeah. He’s the reason.” He sucked in a deep breath. “I’m a big game hunter. We’d gone on the same expedition years ago to Madagascar where they were taking us to see the mating Spangled Smoky Momokos. National Geographic had a big monetary reward to anyone who could produce the photos. I needed the money to live on, and he needed the money to fund his zoo exhibit.”

  “What does this have to do with big game hunting?” I asked, instantly not liking that he did this.

  “I can see by your expression you don’t like the idea that I might be on the lookout for a trophy like a giraffe.” His words made my skin crawl. “That’s the look I get from everyone who knows or finds out. It just so happens, Adam paid someone to get a photo
of me killing…”

  “I don’t want to know what you killed,” I stopped him and put my hand up. “Just tell what Adam did to you.”

  “Fine.” He glared at me. “National Geographic is obviously against big game hunting as are most of the environmental magazines. He got the photo during our trip to Madagascar and sent it to all the magazines I worked for, including my main source of income and why I was there, National Geographic. They immediately had me removed from the group and sent home. When I got home, they called me into a meeting and fired me on the spot. They let me know exactly who sent the photo.”

  “So the big tale about you getting all Zen was a complete lie?” I was actually a little hurt because I wanted so bad to believe he was a nice guy.

  “Not a total lie. I did have to learn to be Zen. That’s why I forgave Adam.” He dragged his arms off the back of the couch and folded his hands in his lap.

  “Did you ever confront Adam about what he did to you?” Oscar asked.

  “Of course I did. As soon as he got back,” he scoffed. “I beat the sonofa…” he slurred his words together, cursing Adam up one way and down the next. “Then a couple of years later, I went back and apologized because I realized he’d done me a favor. I actually started to love photography again and not view it as a job once I got back into nature and found myself again.”

  “That’s why you killed Adam? To get back at him.” Oscar was bold.

  “Don’t be ridiculous, man. I didn’t kill him.” Webster smiled. “I might have the motive, but I wouldn’t waste my energy on someone like him.”

  “What does that mean?” Oscar asked.

  “He only cared about money. He lost his love of the endangered species when he started getting big donors and wanted to grow that zoo,” he snarled. “After I realized who I really was, I stopped big game hunting, and half of my income is now donated to the various organizations dedicated to banning trophy hunting.”

  “That’d be easy to check out.” Oscar continued to write.

  “My lawyer said you had to let us go in twenty-four hours.” Webster had contacted his lawyer. That hit me in the gut.