by Leena Clover
Julie whipped out her iPad from her bag and offered it to Gino.
“You can use this.”
“I prefer the old fashioned way,” Gino grinned. “Now let’s see. There’s Pearson, the butler, of course.”
“He lives inside the house?” Anna was curious.
“Some of the staff do. They have rooms in a separate wing attached to the house. It’s always been that way.”
“Sounds feudal,” Julie remarked.
“The Gardiner estate was built by Edward’s grandfather over seventy years ago.” Gino shrugged. “They must have had a dozen workers at the time.”
“Who else?” Anna prompted. “Does Alison live there too?”
“Alison and Sharon both do,” Gino replied.
“So that’s Edward, Pearson, Alison and Sharon,” Anna counted. “Unless you suspect the butler, things don’t look good for the women.”
“Didn’t you say the old man was strangled?” Mary asked. “Wouldn’t it require a lot of strength?”
“He suffocated,” Anna nodded. “Neither Sharon nor Alison appear delicate to me.”
“I almost forgot.” Gino wrote something down on his notepad. “The son-in-law, or rather grandson-in-law. Finn O’Malley lives in a small cottage on the property. He must have free access to the main house.”
“Who’s this guy?” Julie wanted to know.
“Ruth’s husband,” Mary piped up. “Poor man. He’s had more than his share of misfortune.”
“O’Malley’s a war veteran,” Gino supplied. “Almost lost his life in the line of duty.”
“What’s he doing in Dolphin Bay?” Anna asked. “Is he from around here?”
“I don’t think so.” Gino frowned. “He was looking for a quiet place to recuperate. Edward invited him here.”
“And he never left?” Anna scoffed. “I’d say he outlived his welcome.”
“Edward was a generous man.” Gino defended his friend. “He liked to have people around him. He insisted Finn make his home here.”
“Do you know him well, Gino?”
“I met him a few times.” Gino shrugged. “He doesn’t talk much. Spends most of his time roaming around the grounds with his dog or fishing in a creek at the far end of the property.”
Anna remembered how attached Craig Rose was to the man. She wondered if Finn O’Malley returned his affection.
“Do you know how long Edward had been dead when they found him?” Anna asked Gino. “Did you, err, see him that day?”
“I didn’t get a chance.” Gino sighed heavily. “They had already taken him away by the time I reached there. I need to tap some of my sources. Maybe Leo or Teddy Fowler will tell us about the time of death.”
“Are you meeting Rory Cunningham anytime soon?” Anna asked Mary.
Rory was the medical examiner and a friend of Mary’s husband.
“He’s coming to our place for the weekly poker game tonight,” Mary confirmed. “I better start making that banana cream pie he loves.”
“I think we should begin meeting Edward’s family, Anna,” Gino suggested. “Start establishing their alibis.”
“Why don’t we go there tomorrow? Meg’s not here and there’s the tree lighting ceremony tonight. We can’t miss that.”
Gino agreed with Anna.
“I almost forgot about my shopping list. Can’t keep your mother waiting.”
The women exchanged smiles.
“Don’t let her run you ragged, Gino.”
“I’m enjoying myself, Anna. Sofia’s promised to teach me the perfect risotto. That’s one dish I have never been able to get right.”
“Mom’s never shared that recipe with anyone.” Anna was amazed. “You must have made a good first impression.”
“I aim to please.” Gino stood up and gave them all a mock bow. “Good day, ladies.”
“He’s a keeper!” Julie trilled as soon as Gino stepped out of the café. “I hope you know that, Anna. What are you doing to keep him happy?”
“You make her sound like his concubine,” Mary said, making Anna turn red.
“No, seriously Anna,” Julie pressed. “When was the last time you two went on a date?”
“I don’t have time for this now, Julie. Why don’t we talk about something more important? Like decorating the café and the bookstore.”
“She’s right.” Mary supported Anna. “Have you been outside today? Volunteers are busy decorating the town square. There are wreaths and pretty red bows on all the lamp posts. The gazebo is being decked out in holly and mistletoe. And don’t forget the Seaside Christmas Lights contest. We are meeting tonight after the tree lighting ceremony to appoint different group leaders and assign tasks.”
“Okay, okay.” Julie held up her hand. “I’m not the Grinch here. I already ordered two custom wreaths, Anna. Young stay at home mom a couple of towns over sells them online. I saw them on Instagram. You won’t believe how beautiful they are.”
“Insta … what?” Anna made a face. “Is that the new fangled thing Meg keeps talking about?”
“You’re a business owner, Anna.” Julie rolled her eyes. “You need to step into the new decade and embrace technology.”
“What if this young mother of yours fails to deliver? Should I place a backup order somewhere?”
Julie’s phone dinged just as she opened her mouth to protest. She tapped her screen and held it up jubilantly.
“That’s her. She says she’ll be done tomorrow. We can go pick up the wreaths after lunch.”
“I’m not holding my breath,” Anna muttered.
“Ye of little faith,” Julie sighed. “You’re going to love them. Just wait and see.”
“I’ll make you a whole pan of tiramisu if we come back with the wreaths tomorrow.”
Meg swept into the café, her cheeks pink from the cold wind outside.
“Did someone mention tiramisu?”
Chapter 7
The old Mercedes made its way down the winding drive that led to the Gardiner mansion.
“Thanks for coming with me, Cassie.” Anna smiled at her daughter. “You know how Julie is when she has a deadline.”
“I don’t mind, Mom. This is much better than being in the bookstore for hours every day. I don’t know how you managed it all these years.”
“I love books.” Anna shrugged. “And it was my career, just like acting was yours.”
“Don’t use the past tense yet,” Cassie sighed. “This new script I’m reading has a lot of potential.”
“Will you have to go to Los Angeles for an audition again?” Anna was curious. “Please don’t do it around the holidays. I have my hands full with your Nana. You better stick around for moral support.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Cassie parked the car in the ample space before the grand front door. “They might have a video audition. I can do it right from our living room.”
“Huh.” Anna snorted, expressing what she thought of the idea.
She stepped out of the car and noted the holiday decorations that had adorned the mansion for the big party were still up. She wondered if they should have been taken down.
The door opened and Pearson stood there, his face devoid of any expression.
“Hello there,” Anna called out.
She hadn’t rehearsed what her story was going to be.
“Ms. Sharon is expecting you.” Pearson bowed and started walking down the big foyer.
“Gino must have called Sharon,” Cassie observed.
Sharon Gardiner sat in a plush chair, wearing a designer frock that made her look ten years younger. Anna realized she had no idea how old Sharon really was. The cherry sized rubies she wore in her ears sparkled as they caught the wintery sunlight streaming through the tall bay windows.
“Hello, hello.” Sharon leapt up and greeted them with a smile. “It’s nice of you to come. I thought Gino would be here too.”
“He’s meeting some suppliers,” Anna fibbed. “The vineyard keeps him busy.”
&n
bsp; “He’s a workaholic, just like my brother. That’s why they always got along well. Edward thinks the world of him, you know.”
Sharon had dispatched the butler to get some refreshments. He arrived with a tray loaded with a wide assortment of cookies and glasses of chilled eggnog.
“We always serve eggnog during the holidays,” Sharon laughed. “It’s a family recipe handed down since my grandpa’s time.”
Anna found Sharon’s exuberance puzzling. She couldn’t decide if the woman was touched in the head or just nervous. She gave no outward appearance of grief. Maybe she hadn’t been close to her brother.
“Your brother was a lot older than you, Sharon,” Anna remarked.
“Edward was more like a father figure,” Sharon nodded, daintily nibbling on a sugar cookie. “He was almost thirty when I was born. I was three when he got married to his Beth. They say I was the cutest flower girl in the family.”
Anna tried to calculate how old Edward’s mother must have been when she had Sharon.
“Our father remarried.” Sharon answered her question. “Edward’s mother died when he was in college. Dad mourned her for several years. I don’t think anyone expected him to bring home a second wife.”
Anna tried to hide her surprise. She wondered if Gino knew Sharon was Edward’s half sister.
“My parents died when I was barely in my teens,” Sharon continued. “Edward was such a dear. He never let me feel they were gone.”
Anna extended her apologies.
“No worries.” Sharon played with a ring she wore on her right hand. “Premature death seems to be a thing in our family. Edward’s mom, then my parents, Edward’s son, his daughter … they were all taken from us too soon.”
“I wonder how you cope with it,” Cassie said sincerely. “We’re still trying to come to terms with my father’s death.”
“Did your brother have any ailments? Any chronic health conditions?” Anna decided it was time to ask some pertinent questions.
“Edward was healthy as a horse. You saw him yourself that night at the party.”
“He was quite spry for someone his age,” Anna agreed. “Did he get into an argument with anyone recently?”
“Edward never argued.” Sharon started pacing around the room. “He was friendly with everyone. He believed money combined with a kind word solved most problems. And he had plenty of both to spread around.”
“So he didn’t get any threatening notes or phone calls?”
“Not to my knowledge.” Sharon looked thoughtful. “Knowing Edward, he would have kept anything unpleasant to himself. He was very protective of us, you know. Just wanted us to be happy and have a good time.”
Anna had no doubt Sharon was doing just that. She noted the large stockings hanging over the fireplace and read the names off them in her mind.
“You have two extra stockings,” she murmured, then realized she had spoken out loud.
“Oh that!” Sharon giggled. “Probably for some new kid Edward’s taken under his wing.”
“How do you mean?” Anna was puzzled.
“Some protégé or charity case,” Sharon dismissed. “Edward championed a lot of causes. He said he was making up for all the kids he didn’t have.”
“Sounds like a true philanthropist.” Cassie’s eyes shone with admiration. “Most Hollywood people I know do it for the photo op.”
“My Edward wasn’t like that.” Sharon’s face fell for a split second. “He was the real McCoy. Had a heart of gold.”
Anna didn’t know what to believe. Despite the rosy picture Sharon painted, someone had attacked the poor old man in the middle of the night and wrung the life out of him.
“Can we get a tour of the house?” Anna asked. “I want to get an idea of the general layout.”
“Of course!” Sharon pressed a discreet button next to the fireplace. “Pearson can show you around. You will have to excuse me now, though. I’m going up to San Francisco for some holiday shopping.”
The butler appeared beside them and nodded at Sharon’s instructions. She picked up her bag and sailed out of the door, waving goodbye to the Butlers.
“That’s a genuine Birkin,” Cassie whispered to Anna. “Do you know how hard they are to come by?”
“Miss Sharon collects those bags,” Pearson said fondly. “My master bought a dozen of them for her birthday one year, in twelve of their best colors.”
Cassie’s eyes popped out of their sockets. Anna realized the Gardiners had more money than she could ever imagine.
Pearson spoke in a dull monotone as he took them around the house. After going through an opulent parlor and sitting room, they entered a dining room that could seat a dozen. Anna fell in love with the library that spanned the length of the entire first floor. She noted the door that led into the backyard from the kitchen.
“Is that the only way in other than the front door?” she asked Pearson.
“There’s a hidden door in the library,” the butler informed her. “Mr. O’Malley uses it a lot. And the French windows in the family room open onto a terrace. I guess it would be easy to come in that way.”
“Where are your rooms?” Anna asked. “You live in this house too, don’t you?”
“In a manner of speaking,” he replied, opening a green door that led to a covered passage.
Anna and Cassie followed him down the long carpeted hallway to a small foyer. There was a cozy living room with a fireplace and big television. Another passage led to four doors.
“How many people live here, Pearson, other than you?” Anna inquired.
“The cook and the maid,” he offered. “One of the rooms is empty at the moment.”
“Is that green door locked at night?” Anna asked, knowing she wasn’t being very subtle.
Pearson shook his head.
“The cook has been here for over thirty years. Martha, the maid, is her niece. She started working here when she was sixteen. Neither of them would dream of harming the master.”
They went back into the main house and climbed the big staircase to the second floor. Half of it was occupied by the ballroom where the holiday party had been held. The other half was split into two large suites belonging to Edward and his sister Sharon.
“You must know everything that goes on in this house, Pearson.” Anna decided a little flattery wouldn’t hurt.
“It would be unethical to violate the family’s privacy.” Pearson’s voice dripped with contempt. “And it’s against the code of conduct I adhere to, Madam.”
“You do remember your master has been murdered?”
“You’re an outsider,” Cassie told him. “You will be the first person the police suspect.”
“I would never harm Mr. Gardiner!” Pearson looked shocked. “Just the very idea is ridiculous.”
“Tell us who would,” Anna stepped in. “Who do you think might have wanted to hurt your boss.”
Pearson didn’t hesitate.
“Mr. O’Malley. I never trusted him.”
“Why is that?” Cassie asked.
“He’s a mean drunk. Gets into a tizzy and goes on and on about how the old man doesn’t treat him right. Says he was set aside after little Ruth died. He’s living here, isn’t he? Eating at my master’s table? He has no right to go around bad mouthing him. No right.”
Anna was surprised to see Pearson so disturbed. It was the first time he had displayed any emotion.
The tour ended prematurely when Anna realized how late it was. They thanked Pearson and showed themselves out.
On the drive back, Anna tried to process what she had learned while Cassie chattered about the latest texts from Bobby.
“I told him he better get here by Christmas. Do you think we have enough room for him, Mom? We can put an air mattress in my room. He won’t mind.”
“Bobby’s always welcome, dear,” Anna replied absently.
The café was bustling when they got back and Meg was looking stressed.
“We’re back!”
Cassie exclaimed. “Anything interesting happen today, Meg?”
“I’ll say!” Meg shook her head. “You know that jerk from DBU? He actually came in here.”
“What did he want?” Anna asked worriedly. “You didn’t get into a fight, did you?”
“I never got the chance,” Meg smirked. “He ordered a cup of coffee and started talking about how I had impressed him the other day. Said I was a born crusader and he couldn’t wait for me to join their cause.”
“I think he’s sweet on you,” Cassie giggled. “Did you at least get a good look at him this time?”
Meg blushed.
“He’s not bad looking,” she admitted grudgingly. “Could use a haircut though. And a shower.”
“Is he conserving water by not taking a bath?” Anna was aghast. “Meg, I think you should stay away from this boy.”
“He came looking for me, Anna!” Meg fumed.
She flung her apron off and told them she was taking a break. Anna and Cassie stared wide eyed as Meg stalked into the bookstore through the connecting arch.
“Did you see that, Mom?” Cassie chortled. “I think she likes this kid.”
Chapter 8
Anna tore the basil leaves she had picked from her garden and sprinkled them over the hot casserole she had just pulled out of the oven.
Cassie uncorked two bottles of Mystic Hill wine while Meg set the table. Sofia stood like a martinet, hands on her hips, ordering them about.
Gino and his nephew were coming to dinner and Sofia had insisted Anna pull out the good china.
“But we only use it for special days,” Anna protested.
“It’s the holidays, Anna, and you have a handsome, eligible Italian man coming to dinner. I’m thinking about your future here.”
“You’ll embarrass him.” Anna was worried.
“Italian men appreciate good food,” Sofia stated.
The doorbell rang and Cassie rushed to get it. Anna heard Gino’s deep voice and couldn’t resist a smile.
The group sat in the living room, noshing on the magnificent cheese and charcuterie tray Sofia had put together.
“Did you talk to Teddy Fowler?” Anna asked Gino. She turned to Leo. “I don’t suppose you are working on this case?”
