Hop 'Til You Drop

by J. M. Griffin

  “Great idea. Time got away from us after we had initially talked about it. I’ll ask if they’re interested in an event like that. I believe they’ll be quite thrilled.”

  “Okay, let’s plan to give it a try. We had such luck with our open house in the past. I don’t see why we wouldn’t be able to pull off a show and sell that sort of thing.”

  “I’ll keep you posted on this.”

  Alone with Bun after Molly left to greet her students, Bun said, “Do you think they’ll do it?”

  “I think so. It’s a confidence builder, that’s for sure.”

  “This professor guy, he might give us enough information on the medallion that we can pass on to Carver. We can use it in furthering our investigations. Maybe you shouldn’t play cat and mouse with him over your sources.”

  I slanted a look in his direction. “Really? You’re serious about that?”

  “He does have responsibilities, Jules. Just sayin’.”

  “I’ll give it some thought.” Not.

  Jessica poked her head around the edge of the breezeway door and said, “I have to run out to Sean McPherson’s. Want to bring your evidence and show it to Eve?”

  Willing to make the trip, I grabbed the two articles and tucked them into the soft little bag before tucking it into my jeans pocket. With Bun in tow, I met Jess at her car.

  “Charlie is having problems again. He gets sick because he eats anything and everything. I warned Sean about that and recommended he clean up the land where Charlie eats the grass. I think the soil should be tested, too. Maybe it’s polluted.”

  “Are you going to suggest that?”

  “I will because Charlie might have eaten poisoned grasses. Goats aren’t fussy, that’s for sure. Unlike rabbits and other animals that know when something isn’t good for them, goats don’t.”

  “Yeah, like lily of the valley.”

  I glanced down at Bun. It took some doing not to ask why rabbits wouldn’t eat them. I mentally filed my question for later.

  While Jess inspected Charlie, I knocked on the front door and was invited in by Eve.

  “What brings you by, Juliette?”

  “I found a couple of oddments. Jessica thought you might be able to identify the artwork. I’m interested in the origins of the saying and design.”

  Her face lit up and she said, “Let me see them, then.” Having come to America from Scotland, her brogue was beautiful, though somewhat difficult to understand at times.

  I laid the two items on the table. Eve peered at them for a while before laying a hand on either one. Her concentration intense, I waited for her to speak first.

  Eventually, she picked up the medallion by its edges and spun it with one finger without touching the front or back of it. “The engraving says strength and honor clan and it’s a clan from a century in old Scotland, when warriors defended their clan with much honor. They weren’t warring clans who killed other families, like the McDonalds and such. The weave is theirs, as well. Where did you find this?”

  Certain she knew more than she was willing to say, I said, “Bun and I were at the beach digging around. I came upon it merely by accident.”

  “I’m familiar with someone who’s a descendant of that clan. I can’t remember their name at the moment, but when I do, I’ll give you a call, okay?”

  “That would be great. Thanks. Any ideas on the button?”

  She gently placed the medallion on the table as though it was sacred. Picking up the button, she seemed to weigh it in the palm of her hand. “This is a button that factories use when making suits for those who can afford the marvelous fabric that goes into the making of them. The weight of the button is the tell. Other manufacturers use cheaper fabric and a lesser weight of this button with a similar design. Most people are fooled by it unless, of course, you happen to be from Scotland and are wealthy,” she said with an honest chuckle.

  I thanked her for taking the time to help me out. She then asked if I’d like to see her family crest and other Scottish wares she’d brought to America. I found my interest piqued when she showed the impressive items from her homeland.

  “You’re very proud of these wonderful things, and you should be.”

  “Yes, many came down through generations from long-lost ancestors. You should come to the Highland games the next time we have them. I think you’d enjoy the bagpipes and their soulful, yet joyful sound, as well as the talent it takes to compete in the Highland games. I’ll keep you posted on the date.”

  Jessica appeared and asked if I was ready to leave. I nodded and thanked Eve once again.

  During the ride home, Jess quizzed me about Eve’s information. “She’s not always easy to deal with. At times she broods, and Sean knows that’s when she misses Scotland the most.”

  I ran through what she’d shared and said, “She knows more than she would say, but I didn’t want to push.”

  “If you had taken me in with you, I would have found a way to get her to tell everything, but no, you left me in the car. I guess you’ll never learn.”

  I let the comment pass, aware this wouldn’t be the end of things. Instead, I said, “Eve is familiar with a descendant of the clan, but she couldn’t remember their name. She didn’t say if it was a man or a woman.”

  “That’s great, you’ll probably get a call from her when she remembers.”

  “She did mention that, but I’m not so certain. It’s just a feeling I got from the way Eve handled the medallion. Molly took pictures of the pieces and plans to ask a professor at the college about them. His hobby is all things ancient and Scottish.”

  “I wonder how important it is to your investigation.”

  “It could offer a lead to the killer, or the people involved in one or both deaths. I can’t imagine how much strength it took to get Frank out of a boat, up an embankment, and then leave him near the lodge where he’d be found. Frank was a good-sized guy. Deadweight is more cumbersome than lifting a live person, too.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Jack told me when I first started sleuthing.”

  With a light chuckle, Jess said, “To be specific, Jack refers to your escapades as sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”

  Yup, he’d called my poking around a good many things, some quite descriptive, but in the end, Bun and I helped him solve the crimes. We could get people to talk when police officers couldn’t. We also broke into places where cops had to have a warrant to search the premises.

  Chapter 15

  After dinner, Bun and I redecorated the bicycle basket. Instructed by Bun, once I had stripped off the dilapidated flowers, I got into the job. He wanted the flora to look a certain way, and while it wasn’t easy to weave the stems into the basket, eventually it all came together. I picked up Bun and stepped back to survey the job.

  “What a splendid basket. I’m going to enjoy riding in style.”

  “You’re a great decorator, Bun.”

  He leaped from my arms and scooted up the steps of the porch. He sat on the top step and gazed at the bike. “Can we take a ride, at least to the end of the driveway?”

  “We can. I’ll get a small pillow to make you more comfortable.” A few moments later, I returned with a sweet pillow I’d had as a kid. My mother had bought it for my dolls, and I’d saved it. The dolls . . . well, they were given away to someone less fortunate than me. I didn’t mind. I wasn’t a doll kind of kid. Instead, I liked wildlife and would walk through the woods in search of foxes, birds, rabbits, and whatever else I might find.

  “That’s a wonderfully soft pillow, Jules. Have you been saving it for me?”

  He sounded excited and I didn’t want to disappoint him, so I said, “I’ve had it for a long time and can’t think of a better use than to make your ride comfy.”

  With Bun nestled into the basket, I climbed onto the bicycle and pedaled to the end of the road and back a few times, as he went on and on about the new look and feel of his brand new ride.

  Tw
ilight had set in, along with dark gray clouds that threatened rain. I said as much to Bun and wheeled the bike into the barn. Bun jumped from the basket, ran up and down the aisles, and then asked, “Can we go out again tomorrow? I like being able to sit in that classy basket much more than the sling.”

  “I guess so. It depends on the weather. Although, I have to make time to speak with Jack.”

  “About what? You aren’t telling him that we found some evidence, are you?”

  “I hadn’t planned on it. I want to see what he’s found out. After his last visit, he had lots to do and interviews to hold. I’m interested in how that worked out for him. I’ll keep the medallion and button until I think he needs to know. They might not be worth much in the way of clues, and I won’t do a thing until I hear from Molly.”

  “Smart, very smart.”

  I gave the rabbits a last round of food and water, then checked on Petra and the babies. They were fluffy and sweet and she let me touch them. Their fur was exquisite, beautiful like Petra’s, except for one kit whose short coat and looks resembled its father. Pleased by Petra’s care of the little critters, I gazed at them a bit longer before locking up for the night.

  I’d had an informative, yet busy day. I flopped on the sofa, reread my marketing business speech for the college kids, and then set about straightening up the house. I’d been lax in cleaning the messes I’d ignored, which was evident by the looks of the dust bunnies that lingered in corners or tumbled across the floor.

  An hour later, the dust bunnies were gone. I’d washed the kitchen floor and scouted out what needed to be cleaned next. The breezeway had dirty footprints where we regularly tromped in and out. I refilled the floor steam cleaner and set that job to rights. The entire time I worked, the murders and happenings since then, ran through my mind. Bits and pieces had come together, but not enough to amount to much. After rinsing the steam pads, I put them in the washer, tossed in a few more items, and started the wash.

  Thunder rolled, torrential rains came, but no lightning accompanied it. Like a rain cloud, Jack arrived, parked as close as he could, and hurried up the porch steps. I let him in and stared at his stormy face. Uh-oh, now what?

  He hung his hat on a hook, draped his jacket over the back of a kitchen chair, then sat down without uttering a word. I made a half of a pot of coffee and served it without speaking. Our waiting game ended after Jack took a few slurps of brew.

  “I can’t believe Dean Jasper could be so stupid and hold such a responsible position. His predecessor had more going for him than Jasper ever will. When I asked why he didn’t report the crime to our office, he had the nerve to say it was college business, and none of mine. Who the heck does he think he is? Because he wasn’t smart enough to obey the law, there have been two murders.”

  Okay, Jack was on a rant. I said nothing, just listened as he went on. Why he did so must have been due to his inability to tell Meredith. Jack tried to keep his wife out of police business. I, on the other hand, always nosed into police affairs, and thought he was probably comfortable using me as a sounding board.

  I refilled his cup and set a plate of oatmeal cookies in front of him. He glommed two right away, sucked them down, and slurped the fresh coffee before he started in again.

  “I demanded he tell me . . . uh, certain things, and he refused. He used student privacy for an excuse. I’m telling you, if he so much as held back one tiny thing that could lead to an arrest, I’ll arrest him for obstruction. My job is hard enough without dealing with his sort.” He chewed another cookie, leaned back in the chair, and heaved a sigh.

  I guessed the rant was over. It was annoying to be wrong so often.

  From Bun’s doorway, I heard, “He’s not done yet. If he’s not careful, he might have a stroke or something. Get him under control, Jules, for his own sake.”

  Certain Bun knew something I didn’t, I allowed Jack to keep going for a bit. You never know what valuable crumbs of information might fall from his mouth. Right about now, I could use all the clues I could get.

  “Have you found out anything?” Jack asked.

  I shook my head and sipped my coffee.

  “I spoke to Professor Clarke. He, too, was less than forthcoming. It seems they’ve circled the wagons. I won’t get a word out of them, which brings me to the reason for my visit.”

  “Okay, go on, but no more raving, Jack. It’s bad for you, me, and especially Bun. He becomes upset when people show aggression.”

  Jack peered across the room to where Bun squatted in his doorway. He’d flipped his long ears downward as a sign of fear. “I guess I have scared him. Sorry, Juliette. I had to get that off my chest and I can’t talk to Meredith about it.”

  “No harm done. Tell me what I can do.”

  “I’ve said this before, but people like you. They open up to you and offer things we would never get out of them. While it annoys the daylights out of me to ask, I want you to get closer to the students and dig deep. You know how to do that, I’ve seen you in action.”

  “As a matter of fact, Jessica and I have been invited to lecture at the college. We’re giving a special presentation on how we have become successful, and what it takes to do so, to Professor Clarke’s marketing students.”

  “When?”

  I checked the calendar and realized the date was coming up quickly. “In about a week. Can you wait until then? If not, I could meet with Denton and use the lecture material as a segue, then turn the conversation toward whatever you want to know.”

  He smiled. I’d won the day, I knew, and so did Bun.

  “Plain to see that idea is appealing.”

  “I knew you’d be able to come up with a reason to poke around. Will Jessica go with you?”

  “Only to lecture. She’s far too busy with the clinic to become involved with my efforts to assist you. Besides, if anything happened to us, who would care for the rabbits?”

  “Molly. She can handle anything. Never does she seem frazzled—at least that’s what Meredith tells me. That young lady has a real fan in my wife. I’m sure the other students feel the same way.”

  “She is precious. There’s no doubt in my mind.”

  “Meredith mentioned a possible display and sale of work done by the students. She’s ecstatic. I hope this isn’t going to cost me more money, Jules.”

  “Don’t worry. It’s to benefit the students only.”

  “When will you meet with Clarke?”

  After a mental schedule check, I said, “I’ll give him a call in the morning and will let you know how it goes, okay?”

  “Very well, I’ll hear from you sometime tomorrow morning, then?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “That was easier than you thought it would be, huh?”

  “What else, if anything, did you get from others at the college?”

  “After being snubbed by the dean and Clarke, I went to the security office and had a cup of coffee with my old pal, Will Johnstone. He’s a former police officer, who was injured on the job. He’s retired from the department now. A good man. His hands are often tied when it comes to the discipline of students for wrongdoing. Jasper refuses to allow Will to call us in, no matter the crime. Dean Jasper thinks he’s the judge and jury. If I can, I’ll oust him from that office. He isn’t doing those kids, or their families, any favors by ignoring laws that apply to all, not just a few.”

  “What else did Will have to say?”

  “There’s a drug problem on campus. Will can’t figure out who’s at the bottom of it, either. He’s frustrated by the way things are handled.”

  “I can check with Molly to see what she’s heard about the drug situation. Do you think it pertains to your investigation or is another avenue entirely that’s caught your interest?”

  “Once these two murder investigations come to an end, or close to it, I’ll turn what I know over to the narcotics department.”

  “I wasn’t aware there was one.”

  He smirked. “Other than the ca
ptain of that squad, there are only three officers. Windermere isn’t that big of a city to demand more, not right now.”

  “I never considered drugs a problem. I guess I’m too busy with the farm to have heard about it. Little kiddies aren’t likely to be buying and selling drugs at birthday parties.”

  “That is a good reason for not knowing.” Jack donned his hat and jacket and then left.

  “Wow. He was certainly put out by those two men who refused to answer his questions and then showed how unwilling they were to help on any level. Doesn’t that beat all?”

  “For a moment, I thought he’d have a meltdown. Glad it didn’t happen. Jack’s a good cop and a good man. He takes his job seriously and lets us get away with a lot. The fact that we are helpful has something to do with his decision to allow us to dig around where we have no right to.”

  “You say that, but we’d do it anyway, whether he approved or not. We both know it. How do you plan to bring up the subject of the two murders?”

  “I have no idea. I’ll fly by the seat of my pants, just like always.”

  “Tread carefully. Drug dealers aren’t nice people. Margery . . . uh, well, never mind. I don’t want to talk about that.”

  “As you wish. I do have one question for you, though. When we were with Jess earlier, you mentioned something about lily of the valley flowers. What was that about?”

  “Why, I’m surprised you don’t know. The plant is poisonous, even though the flowers smell wonderful. People have them growing in their yards, their kids pick them, and they could become very sick. When put in water, the poison from the stems seeps out. If you drink enough of that tainted water, you can die.”

  Bun began to jump around and yammer wildly; so wildly, I couldn’t understand a thing he said. “Stop, just stop and tell me what’s got you in a frazzle.”

  “Remember when we were in that small valley where I found Della’s body?”

  I said, “Yeah.”

  “Della had a lily of the valley bouquet on her chest. Her body, surrounded by those awful eggs, caught our attention, and we ignored the flowers. I think they were a taunt from the killer that we didn’t realize was one.”