Pumpkins are Murder

by Kathy Cranston

  “Maybe he planned it all in advance.”

  “No,” Jessie said. “Why go to all that trouble and then leave one of his own pumpkins at the scene? Not only that, but why would he search his victim’s pockets and then deliberately leave his own business card? That’s just crazy. I mean, it could be that Albie went out without a wallet or cellphone, but that seems unlikely.”

  They couldn’t tell for sure, of course, because the last call that connected to Albie Parker came from Tony Young the day before the murder.

  “So what are we saying here? The guy’s got no alibi and all the evidence points to him.”

  “We’ve got a lot of signs pointing to Cassie too.”

  “Nowhere near as much as Jeff.”

  “What if,” Jessie said, getting to her feet and walking to the internal window. “What if somebody overheard Jeff’s argument with Albie? It’s happened before. They had a problem with Albie too—goodness knows, the whole town seems to have had a problem with the man. They saw their opportunity. All they had to do was set up a trap for Jeff and ensure he was on his own at the time of the murder.”

  “You can’t say that, Jessie. If we thought like that then we’d have to start assuming that ever murderer out there was being set up that would be dangerous. We’ve got to look at what the evidence is telling us.”

  “But it’s just too neat!”

  “Yes, I know that.”

  She turned back and saw that he looked troubled. Part of her felt relieved that she wasn’t the only one; the other part despaired: if Chief Daly was worried about this then what hope was there for the rest of them?

  “Look out there!” Officer Kendall exclaimed.

  They followed his gaze and saw that Officer Stanley had returned to the station with her ward in tow. Cassie Baker looked no more refreshed than she had earlier, which was to say she seemed utterly exhausted.

  “Maybe she had something to do with it!”

  “It certainly looks that way. You think they were working together?”

  She shrugged. That wasn’t an angle she had thought of before. “No, I was mainly thinking about the possibility that she framed him. Come on. He’s always seemed like a smart, careful guy. Why would he leave clues that lead straight to him?”

  “I don’t know. Anyway. She’s here. I’ll tidy the case files away. You go and bring her in here. Maybe the formal atmosphere of the interview room was making her cagy and we’ll get more information from her if we speak in here.”

  It wasn’t often that the chief’s instinct was wrong, but he was off the mark on this occasion.

  Cassie was even cagier than she had been earlier that day, if that was even possible. She looked at them with such utter distrust that it was hard not to feel uncomfortable.

  Chief Daly gave up the plan of trying to put her at ease and jumped straight into tougher questions.

  “You were there in the café the morning Jeff argued with Albie, weren’t you?”

  Cassie’s eyes narrowed. She turned toward Jessie. “It was you! I knew you were a busybody.”

  Jessie was just about to deny that when she thought better of getting defensive in the middle of an interview with their possible murderer.

  “Answer the question.”

  “Yes! I was! Unfortunately. I was trying to have my morning coffee in peace.”

  “Really? Or did your brain make a leap? Did you think ‘hold on. Here’s this man I hate more than anyone and there’s somebody fighting with him!’”

  Cassie looked devastated. “No! Not at all! How can you say such a thing? I’m a church-going woman.”

  “I’ve had at least one church-going woman in this police station who’s now serving time for murder.”

  “Are you suggesting…” She held her hands up to her face. This was no act—her eyes were red-rimmed and sore-looking.

  “Yes,” the chief said with ill-disguised impatience. “Now, let me tell you again how important it is that you tell us the truth. We’ll find out one way or the other, do you understand? And it’ll be better for you if we find out from you.”

  “But I didn’t…”

  Chief Daly sighed and shook his head. “See, that’s hard to believe. You know why? Because you told us that the parade stall was so important for the survival of your business. Yet you took off from the stall part-way through it! Why go to all that trouble? I think I know why. You saw Albie walk past you down that quiet street and an idea popped into your mind. Maybe it was desperation—I’m sure your attorney will try to tell that to the jury and Lord knows I believe it myself. You followed him and you killed him.”

  “I didn’t!” she gasped. “I’d never do such a thing!”

  “Well then. Explain why you felt the need to leave your stall.”

  Cassie looked at each one of them in turn. Jessie willed her to tell them something mundane; that she had gone to the bathroom and had just been too embarrassed to say. Deep down, though, she knew it was something far more serious than that.

  “May we… could you…” Cassie couldn’t get the words out, but Jessie guessed from the way she looked from Officer Kendall to the chief that she wanted to speak to her alone. When she put this to Cassie, the woman nodded.

  Jessie turned and looked at the chief.

  “It’s highly irregular given what we’ve just learned.”

  “You can wait just outside. We’re sitting far enough apart that you can get back in here if there’s any sign of trouble.” She turned to Cassie. “They won’t be able to hear what we’re saying if you keep your voice down. Okay?”

  Cassie pursed her lips. “Do you really think I’d try to hurt her? Is that why you’re taking such precautions?”

  Jessie sighed. She didn’t know how to respond to that. She nodded at the chief. She was desperate to hear what Cassie had to say.

  The two men slowly stood and left the room, closing the door behind them. Cassie continued to stare anxiously at them as they took their places in front of the window.

  “It’s okay,” Jessie said. “What is it you want to tell me?”

  18

  Cassie stared at her. Jessie couldn’t interpret what the look in the other woman’s eyes meant. It seemed like fear. Jessie felt like she had been thrown headfirst into something she could never hope to understand.

  “Do you want to tell me? Why can’t you say it in front of them?”

  “Because,” the other woman spat. “They wouldn’t understand. They’ll judge me.”

  “Why do you have your hand over your mouth?”

  Cassie narrowed her eyes. “In case they can lip-read.”

  Jessie stared at the woman in surprise. Was she serious? Or was this all just a ploy to get Jessie on her side. Or… Jessie shivered. To delay the investigation in some way?

  “Please. If you’re not going to tell me what’s on your mind, I’ll have to call the chief back in here.”

  “Fine.” Cassie looked away, but not before Jessie had seen the way the corners of her mouth turned down. What was she hiding?

  “The reason I…” she inhaled deeply as if she was struggling for air. “The reason… oh my goodness, I can’t do this.”

  “Why not?” Jessie coaxed, now completely perplexed. “Surely it’s better than being charged with murder.”

  Cassie let out a little cry. “Murder? I didn’t murder anybody.”

  “Then let us help you!”

  “Fine.” Cassie looked Jessie up and down. “I suppose it’s not all bad. You’re divorced so…”

  Jessie winced. It had clearly been meant as an insult. “Yes, I am.”

  “I was supposed to meet a man.” Cassie said it and fell silent as if this explained why she was now considered a suspect in a murder investigation.

  “I see. When? I’m afraid…”

  “Oh, you’re not going to make this easy, are you? I was supposed to meet a man on the day of the parade. That’s why… it was… Saturday was the only day he could make. I was…”

/>   Jessie’s eyes widened. “Tell me his name! Tell me his number! My goodness, Cassie, why didn’t you tell us this before? Why would you sit through a police interview knowing that you had an alibi for the time in question?”

  Cassie shook her head miserably.

  Jessie wasn’t dissuaded. “Come on! You’ve got to tell me. What does it matter? Isn’t it better than being arrested?” Jessie’s mind raced. What possible reason could Cassie have for keeping that to herself? So she’d gone on a date? Who cared? Cassie was known around town for being very conservative, but Jessie hadn’t realized that extended to going on dates.

  “Not really,” Cassie said dully. “I didn’t meet him in the end. He never came.”

  “No? That doesn’t matter. Somebody in the restaurant or bar might recognize you.”

  Cassie shook her head.

  “Come on, this is important! This is your freedom we’re talking about.”

  At this, Cassie dissolved into tears. “Oh, it’s shameful! I knew it was a bad idea but I was just so lonely. You don’t know what it’s like to feel so alone that you’re not even sure if your voice still works.”

  Jessie reached instinctively for her hand and squeezed it. “I do, as it happens. You’re not alone. Come on. Tell me everything. Don’t lose hope yet.”

  Cassie looked up at her with blotchy red eyes. “How can I stay hopeful when I did what I did? Don’t you see? Principles and beliefs aren’t something you can just put aside. I should never have done it. Never.”

  “What did you do? Are you telling me you murdered Albie?”

  “No! Of course not. But…” Her head bent and she began to sob uncontrollably. Jessie looked helplessly back at the chief, who gestured at the door. She shook her head. No. She knew Cassie would never open up with Pete and the chief in the room.

  “Cassie, please. Whatever it is… maybe it’s not as bad as you think.”

  “Oh but it is! I can’t even believe I’m admitting this. I downloaded that Tinder thing, you see. I was just curious at first. I couldn’t remember the last time I even spoke to a single man. But then… well, he got in contact with me and he was just so charming!”

  “That’s what you’re worried about? People meet on Tinder all the time, Cassie. There’s no shame in it. It’s not all a hotbed of immorality. The chief certainly won’t think so. Why, my aunt tried to get me signed up to it before Mike and I started seeing each other.”

  This didn’t comfort Cassie in the slightest. She just shook her head. “Stop. Whatever you say it won’t make me feel any better about my actions.”

  “What actions? You’re really not helping yourself here. I promise not to judge you. And I won’t tell another soul unless you want me to.”

  Cassie looked up at her, still miserable. “He suggested that we get a room together; that it would be much nicer than meeting in a crowded bar or restaurant. He’s teetotal, like me. Said he’d bring some snacks and soda. Oh my goodness. I booked a hotel room with the intention of using it to meet a man I’ve never met. And he never showed up. What kind of fool am I? Part of me thinks I deserve to be thrown into jail and left there!”

  19

  It took the best part of half an hour for Jessie to convince Cassie to tell the chief what had happened; that he wouldn’t tell a soul. It didn’t matter to Cassie. She didn’t want to tell anyone else because she was so disappointed in herself.

  “Come on,” Jessie said, growing impatient as the hunger pains began to gnaw at her stomach. “People make mistakes.”

  “Yes,” Cassie said bitterly. “People forget to pay their bills until a few days after the due date. Or they forget to time the heating to come on in the morning. This wasn’t just some mistake. It was wicked behavior.”

  Jessie shrugged. “You didn’t meet him.”

  Cassie seemed affronted. “What kind of woman are you if you won’t tell me the truth and say ‘Cassie, what you did was wrong’. Huh? How can you sit there and look me in the eye?”

  “You’re angry at me for not being judgmental enough? I can’t win!”

  Cassie didn’t respond.

  “Look, I don’t care what you did. And it’s not like you did anything. You went there but he didn’t show.”

  “Why would I even go there? What was I thinking? An unmarried woman alone with a strange man…”

  Jessie sighed. “It happened. So what? By all means question your own behavior but don’t punish yourself for it. It seems to me like you’re refusing to tell the truth to the chief because part of you actually wants to be punished.”

  Cassie shrugged. “That’s how it works. You do something wrong, then you get punished.”

  Jessie shook her head. She was almost lightheaded with hunger by now and it was becoming hard to focus on Cassie’s words. But the faintest shadow of an idea was starting to come to her.

  “Do you believe in an eye for an eye, Cassie?”

  “Not literally, but yes, I believe that we should pay for our crimes.”

  “I see.” Jessie stared down at her hands. “Say you take the rap for this murder by refusing to talk.”

  Cassie jerked her chin. “Some would say it was well-deserved.”

  “Maybe they would. Certainly nobody I know and respect would condemn you to a punishment so severe. I don’t think you’d say that if you knew what it was like to be locked up.”

  Cassie shrugged.

  “There’s one thing you haven’t considered. Where does the murderer fit in here?”

  “I don’t know who that is.”

  I’m starting to believe that, Jessie thought. There is no way she is such a good actor. The way she’s acting is consistent with what so many people have said about her.

  “So? If you don’t stick up for yourself it’s going to have a knock-on effect on this case. If you take the rap for it, the case gets closed.” She widened her eyes for effect. “If that happens, Albie Parker’s killer will never see justice.”

  Cassie crossed herself and shook her head. A slight tremor had developed in her hand. “I didn’t like the man but I wouldn’t wish what happened to him on anybody. He deserves justice.”

  “You’re the only one who can help, Cassie. Now, will you tell the chief what happened?”

  “Whoa,” Pete Kendall said. “Good job, Jessie. That took a lot of patience.”

  She nodded. “I know. It doesn’t help that I’m starving. We don’t have enough time to go and get snacks.”

  Pete shook his head. “Why don’t you go on home? If the stories I’ve been hearing are true, you’ve been working twenty-five hours a day, eight days a week.”

  She smiled. “You’re pretty close to the truth. But I’m fine. I want to do all I can to help out with the case.” Her stomach growled and she clasped her hand over it. “You don’t have a pack of soup or something hanging around?”

  He grinned as he walked to the desk. “I have something better,” he whispered, retrieving a familiar red and white box from the other side.

  Jessie’s hunger levels skyrocketed. She loved the donuts from the QuikStop. She drove past there more often these days because it was on the way from Lindemann’s to town, but she never had time to stop.

  “Oh wow.”

  “You don’t object to having donuts? Some people say they’re too unhealthy.”

  She shook her head and selected a donut from the box. They looked deliciously fresh and plump and she began to salivate just from looking at them.

  “When did they start doing deliveries?”

  He shook his head. “They haven’t. My wife would bankrupt us if that ever happened.”

  Jessie took a big bite and chewed happily. QuikStop donuts really were the best donuts she had ever tasted. “When did you manage to pop out? You guys have been so busy today.”

  He shrugged. “I dropped in on my way back from checking out that address Jeff Morton gave us.”

  “Ah, I see, you…” she froze, donut hovering just inches from her face. “Wait. You dr
ove past the QuikStop?”

  He nodded, his mouth now full of donut too.

  With great care, Jessie wrapped her donut in a napkin and gestured for him to do the same.

  Chief Daly called over to them from beside the door to the secure area.

  “Come on, you two. You’ll have time for donuts after we crack this guy and find out what he’s hiding.”

  Jessie shook her head, eyes wide with astonishment. “Chief, I think I have a way to find out whether Jeff was where he said he was at the time of the murder.”

  20

  The QuikStop gas station had provided a key clue in a previous case Jessie had worked on. As a result, she was familiar with its CCTV system.

  They raced over there in the chief’s cruiser. The owner, Miguel, was reluctant to allow Jessie into the staff area, so she agreed to wait in the store.

  It didn’t take long for Chief Daly to emerge from the back room with a solemn expression on his face. After all, Jeff had given them almost exact times for when he was supposed to have visited his mystery client.

  “Well?”

  “It checked out,” he said. “His car drove past at one with a driver fitting his description. It didn’t return until almost two thirty.”

  “Which was after the murder was discovered.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Could he have parked up and walked back?”

  “It’s possible but unlikely. He has a bad leg, you see. You may have seen the way he walks more heavily on his left leg to compensate.”

  “How could you possibly have worked that out?” she asked, full of awe.

  The chief grinned. “I didn’t. He used to play tennis when he first moved here. He was pretty good too. He was injured about five years ago. It was all over the local papers.” He sighed heavily. “You were right, Jessie. It was all too perfect to be true.”

  “Now we’ve just got to figure out who framed him.”

  “We’re down to one suspect by my count.”

  “Tony Young. But what about all those other people who had grudges against Albie?”