Calico Confusion

by Katherine Hayton

  “Obviously, this developer was unhappy when she pulled out of the deal,” Marjorie explained, thinking she must have left out a piece of the puzzle somewhere for the officer not to follow. “And Angelica would only have made the video if she thought there was a genuine threat to her life.”

  “We can’t know what Ms Carmel thought when she made the recording,” Sergeant Matthewson said in his infuriatingly calm voice. “It’s days old, if not weeks, and a lot has changed.”

  “Yeah. Her dead body turned up.”

  “We have hard evidence against the suspect currently in custody,” the sergeant continued without a pause. “Far more compelling than the suspicions Ms Carmel harboured before she died.”

  “But she pulled out of the deal,” Marjorie said in an insistent tone that had sounded whiny, even to her own ears. “It’s a firm motive.”

  “That only happened a day before her death.” Sergeant Matthewson waved his hand at the screen. “When Ms Carmel made this tape, she didn’t know that would happen.”

  “But it takes away Leah’s only motive, too. Can’t you see that?”

  “Only if she knew Angelica had changed her mind,” Braden said in a soft voice. “And from the accounts I’ve heard, she didn’t.”

  One of those accounts had come straight from Leah’s mouth herself just a day before but Marjorie wasn’t in the mood to be agreeable. “I just don’t understand how you can dismiss this of no concern.”

  “I’m not dismissing it.” The sergeant pointed to a form he’d already had Marjorie sign, detailing the circumstances of the discovery. “This is the record so we can enter it into evidence. Rest assured, we’re not limiting the scope of our investigation just because we have a suspect in custody.”

  He stood, walking towards the door of the interview room and gesturing for them to follow. “However, we’re won’t arrest a well-respected member of our community based on the say-so of a recording without further facts to back up the theory. This is unsupported circumstantial evidence.”

  “And what do you have against Leah? Hear-say gossip about a public fight?”

  “A murder weapon.”

  The sergeant’s frank admission dried up the arguments in Marjorie’s mouth. She thought of Esme telling her Angelica had been stabbed. To think Leah, a woman who cried over the death of a bee, could thrust a blade into another person’s body made her skin tingle and her brain sizzle.

  “We’ve done all we can,” Braden said to comfort her as they walked back to his car. “The police wouldn’t dismiss it if there’s other evidence to back up the suspicions.”

  “I still think Shaun Hayes is a more likely candidate than Leah.” Marjorie cupped her elbows and shivered. “Although thinking anybody I know could be responsible for such a crime is hard to fathom.”

  “It is.” Braden put an arm around Marjorie’s shoulders, pulling her closer. “But this is what the police are trained to do.”

  “When I saw her on the screen, it shocked me,” she said in a small voice. “How awful if there were several people who wanted to kill her.”

  “Angelica was a severe woman, but I find the whole thing bizarre. Leah yelling at her in the street, I understand. In my few dealings with her, I wanted to shout in her face too. But killing someone…”

  “Wait.” Marjorie stopped walking, holding a hand up. “Didn’t Connor say you’d set up security cameras in Angelica’s home?”

  “Yeah, that was me.”

  “Can you access them and see who went in and out of her place? Maybe you could see the killer?”

  “The police have access to her entire security system,” Braden said, grabbing Marjorie’s arm and starting them toward the car again. “But I doubt they’ll find anything on there. Even though she set up the cameras, Angelica didn’t seem comfortable about having them turned on.”

  “Why set them up at all then?”

  “A deterrent? I don’t know. As long as clients pay my invoices on time, I don’t pry into why they want things done.”

  “But she might have had them running…”

  “In which case, the police will have the footage. I don’t have remote access to them, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “I don’t know what I’m asking,” Marjorie admitted. “My head is aching just trying to put it all together.”

  “Then stop.” Braden unlocked the car with a double beep and Marjorie slid into the passenger seat. “It’s not your job to worry about.”

  But even after Marjorie was safely back home, Braden having departed with the leftover muffins and kittens crowding her with love and mischief, she couldn’t wrest her mind away from the problem. It seemed so obvious to her that Angelica’s prediction was right. An underhanded developer must be the one responsible for her murder. Not a peace-loving beekeeper!

  With Monkey Business curled on her lap and Marmalade chasing dust bunnies under the bed, Marjorie lay in her room, trying to work out what to do. If the police wouldn’t take any action, she could hardly confront the man herself. If she went in there, hurling accusations, guns blazing, he might very well kill her on the spot.

  Unless she didn’t accuse him.

  Marjorie sat up and furrowed her brow. She could easily schedule an appointment to discuss other matters, then work her way around to Angelica’s untimely death.

  Evie Swan—Angelica’s next-door neighbour—had invited her to ask for help if she needed a favour. Well, her café still had the threat of being built out to address, so why not start there?

  With a renewed sense of purpose, Marjorie checked the time. Six o’clock. Not too late to knock on someone’s door and ask for help.

  She jumped up, grabbed the car keys, and gave Monkey Business a kiss for good luck.

  “I’m so glad you took me up on my offer,” Evia Swan said as she led Marjorie into her kitchen. “Since retiring, I’ve missed the work. Not the stress or the long hours but actually applying my mind to something other than crosswords.”

  “In that case, I’m glad I accepted your favour too.” Marjorie leaned forwards, her hands clasped. “Now, what do I need to give you to get an injunction in place?”

  “An application for an injunction,” Evie corrected. “And please remember that there’s little to no chance this will affect the eventual outcome.”

  “If it postpones the building for a while, that works for me.” Marjorie smiled. “But is there any chance I could get a ruling to stop works completely?”

  “Only if there’s a heritage aspect to the land.” Evie splayed out the papers in front of her, seeming to read all of them at once. “I can’t see anything like that in here.”

  “Doesn’t beautiful flora count as heritage?”

  “If it was in rare supply, maybe, but you can see similar plots all over the township.”

  “What about fair play?”

  Evie glanced up with sharp interest. “Go on.”

  “My business has traded on the current spot for the past five years. To build another café right in front of it seems unfair.”

  The retired lawyer sat back, her eyes travelling up to the far corners of the rooms. “It’s a possibility but I’ll need to do more research on the council bylaws.”

  From the way her eyes sparkled at the words, Marjorie guessed research was something Evie enjoyed.

  “What will happen once we file the papers?”

  “The council will set aside time to investigate and perhaps schedule a meeting with all parties to discuss the complaint in more depth.”

  “Will that involve me and Mr Hayes being in the same room together?”

  “If it happens, maybe. More likely, he’ll send along an underling well versed in the matter. In a corporation his size, there’ll be legal staff on hand for these sorts of things.”

  Marjorie chewed on the inside of her cheek. Although she’d love it if the action resulted in the proposed café never being built what she really wanted was the chance to meet Shaun Hayes and see him in action
. She wanted to put Angelica’s recording in front of him and see how he reacted.

  “Is there any chance of a private negotiation, directly between me and Mr Hayes?”

  “Not if we file these with the court. After that, it’ll all go through lawyers, council staff, and the courts until we reach a final decision. And, as I said, it likely won’t find in your favour.”

  This wouldn’t do at all. “Could you draught up the documents, then let me take them around?”

  “I can do whatever you like. Why?”

  Because I’m desperate to see his expression when a dead woman names him as her killer.

  “I might try a private consultation with Mr Hayes before we get too far. If he has an open mind, I’d like to give him the chance to change it without incurring legal expenses.”

  From the way Evie’s mouth pulled down at the corners, Marjorie guessed she didn’t think much of the plan.

  If she thought that was a mistake, better not tell her the real reason.

  Chapter Ten

  The next day, Marjorie arranged for Esme to take over the café for a few hours so she could head into the main township. She hesitated at the entrance to Shaun Hayes office. Although the papers in her hand were the perfect excuse to come inside, her fears got the better of her for a moment.

  If Angelica’s accusation were true, she was about to come face to face with a killer.

  Suddenly, dropping the whole pursuit seemed a great idea. She could go back to the café and spend her energy trying to make it the best place in town rather than confronting a killer. If her view was about to go then she could come up with better food and better kittens and better interaction and… And…

  Marjorie yanked the door open and tumbled inside before she could talk herself out of it.

  “Do you have an appointment?” the young secretary asked when Marjorie requested to talk to Mr Hayes.

  “No, I’m just here on the off-chance.”

  “Hm. There’s a possibility he might finish up with his current appointment early, but I can’t guarantee anything. Otherwise, I can schedule a meeting for early next week.”

  With the café open all days, Marjorie tended to lose track of time. It gave her a shock to realise it was Friday. She bit her bottom lip while the secretary waited with a polite expression on her face. If she left it, the entire weekend opened up in front of her, giving her the chance to plan out the encounter more thoroughly. The opportunity to think things through.

  “I’ll wait,” she said. To postpone the meeting might mean she never gathered up the courage to do this at all. Even if she didn’t end up solving the mystery of Angelica’s murder, Marjorie wanted to try pleading her case for the café.

  She refused the offer of refreshments, scared her hand would tremble so badly coffee or tea would end up down the front of her blouse. Instead, Marjorie sat and clenched her hands together almost as tightly as she clenched her jaw.

  When the door to the office opened, Marjorie jumped. Her hands gripped each other even tighter, squeezing to the point of pain.

  “It’s always good to catch up with you,” Shaun Hayes said, clapping another man on the shoulder. Marjorie thought he looked familiar and when he turned, she gasped. It was Connor Carmel.

  “I’ll let Candace know you’re waiting on her signature,” Connor said. “Although I still think this is a bad business.”

  “No, it’s good business,” Shaun insisted. “You’re just too close to the situation to see it properly. Come back next week and I assure you, things will appear much better.”

  Marjorie tipped her head down, hoping to avoid catching Connor’s eye. What was he doing here? And what papers did Candace have to sign?

  “This woman would like to see you if you can squeeze her in before lunch,” the secretary informed Mr Hayes. “She doesn’t have an appointment.”

  “And you are?” He raised his eyebrows and Marjorie sprang to her feet.

  “I’m Marjorie Hardaway,” she said, accompanying her words with a sickly grin. “You’re developing a piece of land beside my home and business.”

  When he continued to stare, she elaborated, “The section up on the hill, next door to the Cozy Kitten Café?”

  “Oh, that place.” He waved her into the room ahead of him. “Sure, I remember. My predecessor bought it and we’ve had it on the books for more than a decade. For years, all the builders told us it wouldn’t be possible to build anything on there. Then suddenly, there’s a giant leap forward in retaining wall technology and we’re all go.”

  Marjorie sat on the edge of her chair, pulse racing when Shaun closed the door behind her. “Can’t we leave the door open?”

  “These old buildings carry sound so I wouldn’t recommend it unless you enjoy shouting. But I can.”

  After a brief internal tussle, Marjorie said, “No, that’s okay then.”

  “Were you wanting to do some modifications to your place while I’ve got the builders up the hill? I’m having to pay for them to bus in from Christchurch for the duration of the project but I’m happy to let you have them at just the cost of labour since they’ll already be here.”

  Marjorie sat back in her chair, frowning. “No, I—” She broke off to swallow past the large lump in her throat, feeling confused now as well. “That’s fine. I don’t need any renovations at the moment. I set my café up just the way I like it.”

  “If it were me,” Shaun said, leaning back and swivelling his chair halfway to the window, “I’d swap the position of your place. Have the café upstairs with the wonderful view and move your living quarters downstairs. I bet the kittens would love it too, having the heated air through most of the day.”

  “So you do know who I am.”

  “Oh, yes. I pride myself on knowing all the businessmen—and women—of Hanmer Springs and the wider Hurunui.”

  “Okay. That should make things easier.” Marjorie pulled the papers Evie had prepared out of her purse and spread them on the table. “These are court papers to file an injunction to stop your building plans on the section.”

  “Are they?” Shaun didn’t react beyond hitching his right eyebrow.

  “I’ve come to discuss the matter with you in person before I file. It seemed like the courteous thing to do.”

  “Hm.” Mr Hayes turned his chair to stare out the window for a second, then spun the rest of the circle to face her again. “The courteous thing would be not to file. You must know you don’t have sufficient grounds to stop me.”

  “My lawyer assures me the council will give me a fair hearing.”

  “Yes. Then they’ll weigh up the evidence and find in my favour. They’ve already considered your position when they granted the initial consent for the land.”

  “When I purchased my business five years ago, the estate agent assured me no building could fit the land parcel next to mine so the view would never be under threat.”

  “Sounds like a pushy salesman to me.” Shaun rolled his chair forward until his chest bumped up against the oak desk. “If I were you, I’d spend my time and my lawyer fees seeking compensation from him instead.”

  “He’s moved on.”

  “But I’m not the next best thing, Ms Hardaway. Just because your realtor gave you faulty information doesn’t mean you can seek redress from me.”

  Marjorie took a flash drive from her pocket. Braden had transferred the recording onto it before they took the original down to the station.

  With her heart thumping, she pushed the drive across the desk. “There’s also the matter of this recording. I’m sure you wouldn’t want this to go public. Especially if you just signed a deal for Angelica’s land with her son-in-law.”

  This time, Shaun reacted. His neck flushed red, the colour creeping into his cheeks and up to his temples. His pupils widened until the corneas were lost to a spreading pool of blackness. “I don’t know what you think you have on me, Ms Hardaway, but I can assure you—”

  “Play it.” Marjorie put her fin
gertip on the drive and pushed it even closer. “You’ll see.”

  Shaun Hayes stared at the flash drive for a long moment, then pressed a button on the intercom. “Ms Hardaway is leaving now. If she ever wanders into the office again, please tell her to make an appointment or send her away.”

  He stood, gesturing towards the door and Marjorie couldn’t think fast enough to come up with a new plan. As she nodded to the secretary on her way past, her stride lengthened. She mightn’t have come out of there with a confession but at least she’d made it out alive.

  Outside, she took a deep breath and scanned the courtyard in front of the office building. Across the way was a doctor and dentist office, while next door was a restaurant not yet open for business.

  With Esme taking care of the café, Marjorie didn’t need to hurry back. She strolled across to a patch of sun nearby some towering oak trees and sat on a bench, closing her eyes to let her mind empty.

  “Marjorie.”

  Braden’s voice popped her eyes open and she jumped to her feet. Candace stood at his side, her face sick and pale in the morning light.

  “We were just grabbing something for breakfast. Do you want to join us?”

  About to say no, Marjorie abruptly changed her mind. “Sure, why not? If you don’t mind, Candace?”

  “The more the merrier,” the young woman said in a voice drained of all inflection. It was such a startling change from the persona she’d projected at the dinner party a few nights before, Marjorie was concerned.

  “You haven’t caught that nasty bug that’s going around town, have you? I heard a lot of mutterings in the café last week about children being sent home from school, then passing the lurgy around the rest of the family.”

  “No, I’m fine.” Candace pulled her lips apart in a caricature of a smile to hideous effect.

  “Do you have the day off from the café?” Braden asked, then when she nodded, “How does that work? Do you get the most senior kitten to run the show?”

  “I’d love to see how Marmalade coped with that but no, Esme’s keeping a tab on things.”