by Lori Herter
Steve led the way toward the back of the large room, where there was a door to an office. He walked up to the fortyish, bespectacled man behind the desk and showed his badge.
“Detective Steve O’Rourke, Briarwood Police. I need to ask a few questions.”
The man behind the desk stood. “I’m John Axelrod. How can I help?”
“You have a bingo game here on Monday afternoons at three o’clock?”
“Yes, the first and third Mondays of the month.”
“So one took place today?”
“I supervised it myself.”
Steve opened up a tablet he was carrying and quickly thumbed the keys to bring up a photo. “Do you recognize this woman? Was she here this afternoon for bingo?”
Axelrod took the tablet and squinted at the photo on the screen, adjusting his glasses. “Oh, she was here. Definitely. She’s one of our regulars. Seems like a nice lady.” He looked at Steve. “Has she gone missing or something?” he asked with concern.
“Her husband was murdered. We need to confirm her whereabouts.”
“Oh, my goodness.”
“You recall her name?” Steve asked.
Axelrod looked up at the ceiling. “Well, it starts with an E, I think? I remember faces better than names, I’m afraid.”
“Ethel?” Claudia suggested.
The man nodded. “Yeah, that sounds right. Ethel.”
“Last name Radek?” Steve asked.
“Oh, I never can remember last names.” He shook his head.
Steve took back the tablet, then held out his hand to Axelrod. “You’ve been helpful. Thanks.”
“How awful her husband was murdered.” He shook Steve’s hand. “Hope you find who did it.”
As they walked back to the unmarked police car in the parking lot, Claudia said to Steve, “I’m glad Ethel’s no longer a suspect. I wonder why she drives to Wheaton for bingo? There’s a senior center in Briarwood.”
“Good point,” Steve said, looking thoughtful.
“Maybe it has bingo on a different night, and Mondays are more convenient for her.” Claudia sighed and looked at Steve. “Are there any other possible culprits, besides Roberta Radek?”
“Ethel says one of their neighbors, Ed Lynch, has been complaining about the squawking parrot. Threatened to wring the bird’s neck. She thinks he might have come over while she was gone to harm the bird. Maybe Tom got into a fight with Lynch and wound up dead.”
“But the parrot’s still alive,” Claudia said.
“Another good observation,” Steve agreed.
“Unless Ed Lynch got so spooked at having stabbed Tom, he ran out and forgot about the parrot. Is there a murder weapon at the scene?”
“Haven’t found one so far,” Steve said. “The autopsy will help determine what we should look for.”
As they drove back to Briarwood, Claudia grew thoughtful. “Do you like being a detective?”
“I like solving puzzles and putting away criminals. Getting justice for victims is rewarding.”
“Is your job dangerous?” she asked in a careful way. “Do you carry a gun?”
As he drove, he turned his head to her briefly and nodded. “Does that bother you?”
She drew in a long breath. “I suppose you must,” she replied in an agreeable tone. But she didn’t like it. Her husband had died too young. Did she want to grow emotionally attached to another man who might meet an untimely death?
Claudia looked out her side window at the passing street lights and headlights shining dreamlike in the darkness, and shut the unsettling question out of her mind.
CHAPTER three
What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
The following Saturday, Claudia attended the funeral service for Tom Radek, held at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. The medium-sized church with tall, narrow, stained glass windows was only about half full. The closed coffin sat on a bier at the front.
Claudia slid into a pew toward the back and was soon joined by Steve, who had told her he planned to attend. She knew from past experience that he found a murder victim’s funeral to be a good place to scope out possible suspects.
“How are you?” Steve asked as he sat down next to her.
“Okay.” She only half-smiled. “I don’t like funerals.”
“I know. They always remind me of my wife’s memorial service, even though years have passed. Same for you?”
Claudia nodded, thinking of Peter’s funeral. “I feel for Ethel. She’s been dabbing her face with a handkerchief. The murder has been in the paper. Must be hard for her.”
Steve tilted his head and looked toward the front pew where Ethel sat. “All dressed in black. Looks the picture of a grieving widow alright.”
“Has she gone back to her house yet? Her cat is doing well. We’ve been boarding her until Ethel can take her home.”
“She’s still at the hotel. The bloodstained rug at the house will need to be cleaned or replaced. The hotel’s letting her stay at half rate.” Steve seemed preoccupied looking at a group of men and women sitting close together, filling a pew across the aisle. “Those are Tom’s co-workers from Briarwood Certified Public Accountants.” Steve kept his voice low as he motioned toward them. “I went to their office the morning after the murder to ask some questions. Didn’t learn much. They all seemed genuinely shocked at the news. Tom only worked there part-time the last two years, being semi-retired. He’d been a partner in the firm.”
“The brunette sitting on the aisle looks distraught,” Claudia whispered. She noticed the young woman’s hand trembling as she pushed back her long hair.
“Mia Wilson. She went pale when I told the employees Tom was stabbed to death. Mia was Tom’s secretary. I was afraid she’d pass out. She’s another partner’s secretary, too. Greg Owen, the big grey-haired guy next to her.”
“She seems very nervous,” Claudia said with concern. “Or scared.”
Steve looked in Mia Wilson’s direction, his eyes intent. “You’re right. Her posture is rigid, like she’s afraid to move.” He shifted his gaze to Claudia. “You’re very observant. You were really helpful solving the murder of your church minister, too.”
Claudia smiled and shrugged. “That was mostly luck, being at the right place at the right time.”
He looked at her with admiration. “More than luck, I think.”
Claudia felt warm under his gaze, liking his attention and yet feeling unsettled. Should she flirt back? Was she ready for where that might lead?
Just then, Claudia noticed a woman using a walker making her way slowly down the side aisle. She wore sunglasses, a long grey overcoat, a knit white beret over her hair and a scarf around her neck partly covering her face. The woman reached the pew behind Ethel as the priest began the service. She laid her hand on Ethel’s shoulder, and Ethel turned around and nodded to her.
“A friend?” Claudia whispered to Steve, whose eyes seemed to be glued on the woman, too. “Or maybe a cousin or aunt?”
“Don’t know.” He subtly pointed to a man sitting a few pews ahead of them. “By the way, that’s Ed Lynch, the neighbor who Ethel suspected. The guy she said threatened to wring the parrot’s neck. He was out of town the day of the murder. Hotel and restaurant receipts prove it.”
“Well that’s one less suspect,” Claudia said. “So, how’s Hal doing?”
Steve nodded in a hesitant way. “Um, okay. I may need to talk to you about that later.”
Mystified, and growing suspicious, Claudia did not reply. She remained quiet through the rest of the service, as did Steve.
◆◆◆
Claudia and Steve drove in their separate cars to the cemetery to observe the burial. The grass in between the rows of gravestones was covered with snow slowly melting under a sunny sky. They stayed about fifteen yards back from the small group gathered around the coffin, where the priest gave a few final remarks and said a prayer. The woman with the walker stood near Ethel, head bowed.
Claudia noticed th
at Mia was the only person from Tom’s office who came to view the interment. She stood back from the mourners around the coffin, too, but some distance away from Claudia and Steve.
“Look, she’s openly weeping,” Claudia whispered to Steve. “I feel bad for her.”
“I wonder why.” Steve’s expression had grown puzzled. “You’re an empathetic person. Why don’t you go up to her and ask if she’s all right. I’ll follow.”
His request surprised Claudia, but she quietly began walking toward Mia.
“Excuse me, but I see you’re upset,” Claudia softly told the young woman whose eyes were red and wet. “Are you okay?”
Mia looked startled. “Oh . . . sure. Tom was . . . a wonderful, upstanding person.”
“I knew him and liked him, too. I’m Claudia Bailey. He and his wife brought their cat to the clinic where I work.”
Mia shook her head. “Tom didn’t deserve what happened to him. He was only trying to do the right thing.”
Claudia glanced at Steve, who had stepped up beside her. Steve’s intent look silently urged her to continue.
“The right thing?” Claudia repeated. “Was something wrong?”
“He’d discovered . . . .” Mia stopped short. “I can’t talk about that.”
Steve leaned toward her. “Will you be in trouble if you do?”
Mia’s pale blue eyes widened. She stared up at him dumbfounded. “You’re that detective. I shouldn’t have said anything.” She turned to walk away.
“Wait,” Steve said. “Please. We need to find Tom’s murderer. If you know anything that might be helpful, you’d be honoring Tom’s memory by telling us. The police can protect you, if necessary.”
Mia paused, looking at the ground as if transfixed for a long moment. Her taut expression changed and she faced Steve and Claudia. “But I’m scared. My boss is . . . not a nice guy. Harassment comes natural to him. It was a great place to work until I became Greg Owen’s secretary.”
“I’m so sorry,” Claudia said. “He intimidates you?”
“He said if I told anyone, he’d have me fired.” Mia’s hand shook as she wiped wetness from her face. But her demeanor had become more resolute. “I can’t go on this way.” She looked up at Steve. “Tom found out that Greg is embezzling one of Tom’s former clients, a power tool manufacturing company.”
“Go on,” Steve encouraged her.
“I’d left work at five o’clock one night. I was in the parking lot when I realized I’d forgotten my half-sandwich from lunch. So I went back in and walked to our little kitchen to get it out of the refrigerator. On the way I passed Greg’s office and heard them arguing. Greg had taken over the account from Tom. I heard Tom say that the owner came to him to ask about the company’s financial reports. The balances seemed out of line with past reports. Tom looked into it. He told Greg he knew he was embezzling. Tom said he could prove it and advised Greg to come clean or he’d report him to the police. Greg’s going through a nasty divorce. He probably needs money. He and Tom got into a shouting match. And then Greg saw I was in the hallway and could hear them.”
Mia took a deep breath and lifted her hand to her forehead as if she felt lightheaded.
“Are you okay?” Claudia asked.
Mia nodded. She looked at Steve. “Tom ordered Greg to leave me alone, but Greg threatened me anyway. Took me by the shoulders and shook me hard, said I’d be out of work and that would be the least of my worries if I told anyone. When you came to the office and said Tom had been murdered, I didn’t have to guess who could have done it. He probably killed Tom to keep him quiet.”
While Steve asked Mia to come to the station and make a statement, Claudia noticed the quiet ceremony around the coffin had ended. She felt she should say something to Ethel. Claudia headed in her direction as the lady with the walker who had stood next to Ethel slowly made her way toward the narrow cemetery road where people had parked their cars.
“I’m so sorry,” Claudia told Ethel, taking her gloved hand. “Tom was a fine man.”
Ethel nodded and murmured a thank-you. “How’s Jasmine?”
“Jasmine is doing very well. She’ll need to be on several medications for about a week, but you can take her home.”
Ethel shook her head. “The hotel won’t allow pets. And I don’t know how I can live in my house again after . . . . I’ll need to find an apartment or condo and sell the house. But all that’s too much to think about right now.”
“I understand.” Claudia hesitated, thinking twice about offering to help. But she found herself saying, “I can take Jasmine home with me and give her the medications.”
Ethel’s hazel eyes widened in appreciation. “Oh, would you? I’m no good at giving a cat a pill. And if she’s with you, she won’t be left there when the clinic is closed overnight and on Sunday.”
“Someone comes in to check on our ‘guest’ cats on Sunday. But I know you’d feel better if she was looked after at my house. I already have a cat I adopted, but I can keep them in separate rooms.”
“You’re a godsend, Claudia. Can I come and visit Jasmine now and then? I mean, until I’m settled in a new place.”
“Sure, call me and we’ll figure out a convenient time.” She gave Ethel her number.
Steve strode up to them. Claudia noticed Mia walking to her car.
Ethel turned to Steve. “Have you investigated Roberta?”
“Yes. Roberta Radek was at her dentist having a root canal at the time of the murder. Her dentist confirmed it.”
Ethel twisted her mouth in annoyance. “I was sure it was her.”
Claudia looked to Steve, wanting to tell Ethel what Mia had revealed. But she knew she should leave it to the detective to convey any details.
“Do you know Greg Owen?” Steve asked Ethel.
“Tom’s partner? I’ve met him.” Ethel appeared startled. “You think he did it?”
“Did Tom ever talk about a client being embezzled?”
Ethel’s expression cleared. “Come to think of it, Tom did say he thought Greg was doing something underhanded. I didn’t pay much attention. You think Greg murdered Tom to keep him from saying anything?”
“We’re going to look into it.”
“I have heard that Greg has a temper,” Ethel said.
Steve paused. “So, we’re done with your parrot. Our lab results show the blood on its wing matches your husband’s. When can you take him?”
Ethel stepped backward. “I can’t have that noisy bird in my hotel room. They don’t allow any pets at all. Claudia’s going to look after my cat until I’m settled in a new place.”
Claudia gazed up at the clouds in the sky, anticipating what Steve would say next.
He turned to her. “Can you take care of the parrot, too?”
“I have little experience with birds,” Claudia said.
“Well, none of us cops at the station do either. He’s pulling out his feathers, squawking and talking constantly. Drives us nuts.”
“Pulling out his feathers is a sign of stress,” Claudia said. “He witnessed the murder of his favorite person and he’s traumatized.”
“Hal is talking a lot?” Ethel asked Steve. “What’s he saying?”
“Mostly ‘Shut up, Hal.’ And also, ‘No, don’t!’ in a harrowing screech.”
Ethel seemed to grow slightly pale. “I’m very sorry if he’s traumatized, but I can’t take care of him right now. Just feed him some parrot food. He’ll be fine.”
At the clinic, Claudia had observed that Hal was much more Tom’s pet than Ethel’s. “Okay, I’ll take Hal. Maybe he’ll calm down when he sees Jasmine.”
Ethel smiled. “Why, you’re right. Hal likes to cuddle with Jasmine. They’re friends. Oh, that’s the best of all worlds if you take them both. I’m very appreciative, Claudia.”
Claudia gave her a reluctant nod and murmured, “You’re welcome.” Two cats who don’t know each other and a frantic bird. What could possibly go wrong? She looked at her watch. �
��I’d better get to the clinic. I told them I’d be in this afternoon. Have to change into my scrubs.”
Steve smiled at her, his eyes growing whimsical. “I like your outfit with the cartoon cat faces the best.”
Claudia pressed her lips together, trying to look annoyed, yet couldn’t help but chuckle. “I know you do. I wore them the day you met me and interviewed me.”
“An image I’ll never forget,” he said amiably, his brown eyes earnest as they gazed into hers.
Claudia drove home to quickly change clothes, choosing the cartoon cat tunic out of the several scrubs she owned. She went to the clinic, still a little disconcerted, not by the funeral and burial, but by the way Steve made her feel—cherished, even adored. She had the sensation of being a little high, like she’d drunk champagne.
And that, in turn, began to worry her. Her life had become placid and predictable. She’d grown to like it that way. Steve kept making ripples in her calm waters, which made her both excited and apprehensive.
At the end of the day, Claudia brought Jasmine, along with the cat’s various medications, home with her. Fortunately Knickerbocker, the Maine Coon cat Claudia had adopted months ago, was fast asleep, curled up on Claudia’s bed. She quietly crept past the bedroom with Jasmine in a cat carrier and went to the guest room. After closing the door, she opened up the carrier to let Jasmine out. At first the Himalayan seemed afraid to move, but after Claudia set out some cat food, a bowl of water, and a litter pan, Jasmine came out to sniff the food. Claudia sat down on the floor and petted her.
“You’ll be safe here until you can go home with Ethel,” she told the cat, who appreciatively licked her hand. How long would it be before Ethel found a new place to live? Claudia feared she’d get too attached to Jasmine if she kept the cat more than a few days.
CHAPTER four
A Happy Reunion
As expected, that evening the doorbell rang. Knickerbocker was sleeping on the living room couch, but raised his head in alarm.
