Don

by Carlene Thompson

  "Pretty imposing guy."

  "Who apparently doesn't have time for introductions."

  "That's all right. No reason for him to be interested in me. I'm just a harmless tourist." He gave Lily an earnest look. "Ms. Peyton, I'm very sorry about your sister. I had no idea."

  "How could you?"

  "I did read about the murder in the newspaper but I-didn't realize the poor woman was your sister."

  "My identical twin."

  "God, that's awful." He hesitated. "I guess they have no idea who…"

  "Slashed her throat?" Natalie winced at Lily's bald language. "No, although I wonder if Sheriff Meredith isn't suspecting Tamara's husband Warren. That must be why he's in such a fizz to talk to him this morning."

  Paige lingered around the counter, looking in the glass case at several pieces of antique jewelry. And taking in every word, Natalie thought. She caught Lily's eye and nodded at the child. "Where are you off to first?" Lily asked Jeff.

  "I might visit the nautical museum." His stomach growled loudly. "Or I might eat," he laughed. "Can you recommend a restaurant that serves a hearty breakfast?"

  "Trudy's Diner, right down the street. They make the best cinnamon rolls in the world and they load your plate as if you're headed into the Yukon for the day."

  "Sounds like just the ticket. Well, thank you for all the information. And once again, I'm sorry about your sister, Ms. Peyton."

  "Lily."

  "Lily it is." He looked at. Natalie. "Nice meeting you, Dr. St. John."

  "And I'm Natalie. Nice meeting you too, Jeff. Enjoy your day."

  As he walked out the door, Paige moved away from the jewelry counter and joined Mrs. Collins, who was looking at a brass bedwarmer. "I wonder if Nell would like this?" she asked no one in particular. "Oh, no she wouldn't. Her husband left her a month ago. She'd think I was rubbing it in. Maybe a pretty ceramic thimble. No, she'd think I was being cheap. Oh, this art glass is pretty… Good gracious, look at the price!"

  "Decisions, decisions," Lily murmured to Natalie.

  "He was nice-looking," Natalie said.

  "Jeff? Yes. Under different circumstances I might even have flirted, but I don't have any coquetry in me this morning."

  "It will return, maybe even before he leaves town."

  "If you don't get to him first."

  Natalie smiled. "We sound desperate."

  "We are," Lily said wryly. "So, Natalie St. John, why did you need to talk to me this morning?"

  "We didn't discuss the post-funeral arrangements. I assume everyone will be coming back to your father's house."

  Lily sighed. "Yes, and how I dread it. Maybe some people take comfort in having a bunch of people stand around stuffing themselves with food after the burial of a loved one, but I find the custom repugnant."

  "I'm not crazy about it myself," Natalie said. "Need my help?"

  "Surely you jest. With Viveca Cosgrove in the picture? She started making plans an hour after she heard Tam was dead."

  "Viveca? What about Mrs. Ebert?"

  "Oh, forget that she's been the housekeeper forever and has impeccable taste. Viveca pushed her aside and Dad let her. She's having the damned affair catered. I've heard her on the phone making arrangements. They sound like they're for a party. I'm surprised we're not having a reception with a band at the country club. Maybe even a door prize. I told Dad I thought the whole shebang was in terrible taste. He said I should appreciate Viveca's efforts. I can just imagine what my poor mother would think."

  "She'd be appalled. Is Alison coming?"

  "With bells on. Even Dad isn't too happy about that, but last night on the phone Viveca told him it was important to Alison." She glanced around like a guilty child and lowered her voice.

  "While they were talking on the phone, I happened to pick up the extension and I didn't hang up."

  "Lily!",

  "Yes, I'm thoroughly ashamed of myself," Lily said, not looking at all ashamed. "Viveca was upset. She said Alison got quite distressed when she told her she didn't want her to attend the funeral and that she'd flung off to her bedroom in a fury. At around one-thirty in the morning she thought she heard the front door closing softly and someone coming up the stairs. Viveca got up and peeked in Alison's room. She was in bed, but she was dressed. Viveca said she didn't want to upset Alison by asking if she'd left the house, but it's pretty obvious she did." Lily raised an eyebrow. "Now where do you think someone like Alison Cosgrove would go in the middle of the night?"

  Mrs. Collins had looked at every item in Curious Things. She picked up one thing after another, rejecting each after careful inspection. Finally she'd dithered over a pair of brass candlesticks until Paige thought she would scream. At last she bought them, paying the whole amount in five- and one dollar bills. Purchase in hand, she'd marched from the store to window-shop, although how anyone could enjoy window shopping at the hardware store and the office supply outlet Paige could not imagine. At last they'd made it to McDonald's where Mrs. Collins complained steadily about the terrible food although she ate every bite of her Big Mac, large order of fries, and apple pie.

  When they reached home, Paige tore up the stairs to her bedroom and the precious phone. She stroked Ripley as she endured Mrs. Jenkins's inquiries about Paige's health, her father's health, and Mrs. Collins's health while a child whined maddeningly in the background. At last she put Jimmy on the line.

  "Can you talk in private?" Paige asked.

  "Yeah. Mom took my sister to her room. What's up?"

  "This morning I was in a store owned by Mrs. Hunt's sister. Her name is Lily Peyton."

  "I know who she is. She looks just like Tamara. She told me to call her Tamara, you know, not Mrs. Hunt. I liked her a lot. She always made me chocolate chip cookies."

  Chocolate chip cookies, Paige thought. She would immediately learn to make them. "I met Natalie St. John."

  "Who?"

  "The lady vet who took home the dog that found Tamara's body. I think she's pretty. Real pretty."

  Jimmy sighed. "Did you call just to talk about her?"

  "No I did not," Paige snapped. "When we were in the store, my dad came in and asked Lily Peyton where her brother-in-law was. That would be Tamara's husband."

  "Sure. His name is Warren but I always had to call him Dr. Hunt. Dad says he's a stuffed shirt."

  "My dad seemed like he really wanted to talk to Dr. Hunt. You live right across the street. Isn't he home?"

  "No. He's been gone all morning."

  "How do you know?"

  "The garage door is up. No car. And his morning paper is on the porch. He always gets it real early." There was a moment of silence. "Hey, I just remembered something! When we couldn't go to Ariel's last night because my sister Ivy got sick and everyone was up and I couldn't sneak out, I stayed awake and watched television. Ivy went to the emergency room."

  "What's wrong with her?"

  "Chest cold. She'll live. Anyway, I was looking out the window and I saw Dr. Hunt leave in his car. It was before midnight."

  "When did he get back?"

  "Mom and Dad brought Ivy home about one o'clock. I was watching Lethal Weapon 4 on HBO. Mom got mad. She thinks it's too violent. She made me go to bed, but I looked at the Hunts' house first. He hadn't come back."

  Paige sat silent for a few seconds, thinking. Finally she said, "I think Dr. Hunt was gone all night. You have to tell my dad."

  "He wouldn't believe me," Jimmy said glumly.

  "He might not believe you about that creature at Ariel's house, but he'd believe you about this."

  "Gosh, Paige, I don't know. My mom already gripes at me for spying. She calls me a little Peeping Tom. She'll be mad."

  "You weren't spying. You just noticed. For Pete's sake, the guy lives right across the street."

  "She's all upset over Ivy today and she'd blow up and call it spying and maybe ground me."

  "Jimmy?"

  "Yeah?"

  "Eddie Salvatore would do it."
<
br />   Silence. Then a voice full of determination. "You're right. I can't worry about getting grounded. I have a civic duty. I'll call your dad right now."

  "Why aren't you at work today, Mama?"

  Alison sat at the kitchen table tearing her wheat toast into tiny pieces.

  Viveca poured a cup of tea and sat down. Her honey blond hair fell in soft waves to her shoulders and without makeup her skin was pale but unlined. "I'm taking a week off so I can arrange the funeral."

  Alison began stacking the pieces of toast. "I don't like Lily."

  "Really?" Viveca asked casually. "I thought you did after she sold us that brooch."

  "It was Ariel's brooch. It belonged to us anyway and she should have just given it to me. But that's not why I don't like her. She looks at me like I'm crazy."

  Viveca sipped her tea. "I'm sure that's just your imagination."

  "Now you sound like you think I'm crazy," Alison huffed.

  "Of course I don't. You're being too sensitive. Now eat your breakfast."

  Alison threw her a mutinous look. "I hate wheat bread and I hate tea. Mrs. Krebbs, my keeper, knows that. Where is she?"

  "Taking a few days for herself. Since I'm off this week, I thought we could spend some time together."

  "Doing what?"

  "Whatever you want. We could just relax and talk-"

  " Warren had a girlfriend," Alison burst out.

  Viveca's cup stopped halfway to her mouth. "What are you talking about?"

  "He was having an affair. You know what an affair is."

  Viveca set down her cup. "How do you know he was having an affair?"

  "I have my ways."

  "With whom?"

  "I'm not going to tell you. You'll know soon enough. And you'll be surprised." Her malicious smile faded. "I was. I thought he was better than that. I thought he cared about me."

  Viveca suddenly wanted nothing else to eat or drink. Her stomach had immediately twisted into a knot. "Dear, you've been listening to gossip."

  "It is not gossip. I know."

  Viveca's tongue touched her dry upper lip. "Do me a favor and don't repeat this. It's vicious."

  Alison shrugged. "All right. Whatever you say. Your wish is my command. I live to please you. But everyone will know soon."

  Alison pushed her plate away and glared out the window, twisting a lock of hair around an index finger.

  Viveca made an effort to sound composed and offhand. "Dear, did you go out last night?"

  "No."

  "Are you sure?"

  "No. I'm crazy. I'm not sure of anything."

  "Darling, you are not crazy. Don't say such a thing. But you know it isn't safe for you to be out at night. After all, Tamara Hunt was murdered."

  "So you think I might be murdered by the same person who killed her!"

  "Yes."

  Alison stared at her mother. Then she burst into shrill laughter.

  "I need to talk to the sheriff."

  Ted Hysell idly sketched a twelve-point buck. At least it was supposed to be a buck. It looked more like a Great Dane with antlers. "Look, son-"

  "Jimmy. My name is Jimmy Jenkins. I already told you that."

  Ted sighed. He'd have something to say to the new receptionist for putting this call through to him. She probably thought it was funny. She was a smart-alec and he didn't like her. She wouldn't have dared to show Meredith such a lack of respect.

  "Okay, Jimmy. Sheriff Meredith is very busy. He only takes important calls, not calls from kids."

  He could feel Jimmy bristling on the other end of the phone. "Just because I'm a kid doesn't mean I don't have anything important to say."

  "I'm sure."

  "Quit making fun of me. Look, I'm friends with Paige Meredith."

  "Is this about Paige?"

  "Is what about Paige?" Hysell looked up to see Meredith looming over his desk. "Who is it?"

  "Some kid named Jimmy Jenkins. Says he has something important to say but he won't tell me. Insists on talking to you."

  "Switch the call to my office," Meredith said.

  He's going to bother with this kid, Hysell thought in annoyance. Maybe he thought the boy had information about

  Paige. Or maybe the kid was just using Paige's name as an excuse to talk to the sheriff. Oh, well, he hadn't put through the call. Meredith couldn't get mad at him for wasting his time.

  As soon as he hung up, the phone rang again. Great. His head hurt and he'd abandoned his lunch to take care of old Harvey Coombs, who this morning had sat out in his rowboat shouting that he had a bomb. Harvey got really ripped on bourbon and pulled this stunt at least three times every summer. He claimed the tourists got a big kick out of it. The Sheriff's Department didn't, even though former Sheriff Purdue had always let it slide. Not so Meredith, who had ordered Hysell to arrest Coombs. Harvey 's wife said a night in jail might do him some good and refused to bail him out until tomorrow, leaving the drunken old coot to sit weeping in a cell like a lost child.

  Now it was three o'clock, Hysell's head pounded, his stomach rumbled, and he felt half bad for Harvey even though the guy was a pain in the ass. What a terrific day so far.

  The phone rang again and he picked up the receiver. After hearing his name, the woman caller nearly burst into tears. "Oh, Ted, I'm so glad it's you. I don't know what… This kind of thing has never happened before… Max doesn't know yet…"

  Hysell would recognize the tentative voice and unfinished sentences anywhere. "Mrs. Bishop, why don't you take a couple of deep breaths and tell me what's wrong?"

  "It's Charlotte of course!" She sounded as if she thought Hysell was being dense. "She didn't come home last night!"

  Wow, Charlotte Bishop had a one-night stand, Ted thought. Alert the media. "Mrs. Bishop, when did you last see her?"

  "About ten-thirty last night. At dinner she was wearing her gray slacks with that cute little silk tunic I gave her last Christmas. Then I looked out the window and saw her in the driveway. Saw her clear as day… all those lights, you know. She had on tight white pants and a filmy blouse un buttoned far too low. I rapped sharply on the window. She ignored me. She got in that sports car of hers… Oh, something happened first. She was approached by a man."

  "Not someone you know?"

  "No."

  "Someone she knew?"

  "Well, I'm not sure. Charlotte has many friends. She's always been so popular…"

  Oh, sure, Hysell thought sourly. Port Ariel's Miss Congeniality. "What did this guy look like?"

  "Youngish. About your age. Dark blond hair a bit long for my taste. Dungarees. I don't understand why people wear those things. Paul Fiori wore them. It always seemed to me that if he wanted to get movie parts he should look like a movie star. Rock Hudson didn't wear dungarees. Of course, he was funny, if you know what I mean… Died a terrible death. Max said he got what he deserved, but I felt sorry for him, so handsome and all-"

  "Mrs. Bishop," Hysell said firmly to one of the few people in town who could out-talk him, "this guy had dark blond hair and wore jeans. Can you remember anything else about him?"

  "No. Except that he was tall and slender like my Billy used to be. You remember Billy. Such a wonderful boy…"

  "Did the guy last night act like he was threatening Charlotte?"

  "Well, not exactly. But I could tell she didn't want to talk to him. She kept shaking her head… She looked cross. Charlotte can be quite irritable sometimes. She gets that from her daddy. After she left, the man in dungarees went out to the street and got into a white car. I don't know car models. It was ordinary, not sporty or luxurious… just, well, you know… ordinary." Her voice rose. "Ted, I'm afraid he followed Charlotte and maybe hurt her!"

  "Don't worry, Mrs. Bishop. We'll locate her. I promise."

  Muriel Bishop sounded teary. "Thank you, Ted. You've always been a sweet boy. Please call when you know something. I haven't told Max yet," she repeated. "He gets so upset because he's helpless. But if he finds out and I didn't tell
him, he'll be furious with me. I don't know what I should do. Life is so confusing…"

  She hung up.

  Charlotte hadn't been gone for even twenty-four hours. Officially there was nothing Hysell could do. Unofficially there was nothing he wanted to do. Charlotte was probably shacked up with someone. With Warren Hunt? Now that would be pushing it, even for Charlotte. The guy's wife had just been murdered. He was under suspicion, although Hysell wasn't sure Hunt quite realized the seriousness of his situation. He seemed to think he was far too classy to ever be considered capable of murder.

  Meredith strode from his office. "Hysell, the Jenkins kid lives across the street from Warren Hunt. He says Hunt left around midnight last night and never came back."

  Hysell tensed. "I just got a call from Muriel Bishop, Charlotte 's mother. She says Charlotte left about ten-thirty and she hasn't come home, either."

  "Well-, well, what a coincidence."

  "Do you think they ran off together?"

  Meredith shook his head. "They can't be that stupid. No, something's wrong. Did Mrs. Bishop have any idea where Charlotte went last night?"

  "I don't think so. She left in some sort of outfit Mrs. Bishop didn't like. Something about a filmy blouse unbuttoned too low. And there was a guy outside the house. Tall, slim, dark blond hair, maybe early thirties. Mrs. Bishop said they seemed to be arguing. Then Charlotte drove off and the guy left in his own car."

  "What kind of car?"

  "Don't know. White. Ordinary, Mrs. Bishop said."

  "Call her back. Ask where Charlotte went at night for fun. Also ask if Charlotte has ever stayed out all night before. Don't sound like you're implying any misconduct on Charlotte 's part. That might make Mrs. Bishop clam up."

  "It sure would. I know how to handle it."

  "Make it quick. I have a feeling time is important."

  Half an hour later they were headed toward the marina. Muriel Bishop said sometimes her daughter spent the night aboard the yacht, but she was always home by noon. She couldn't still be there, Muriel insisted. Besides, she'd called the yacht and there was no answer. Hysell had assured her they weren't alarmed-only curious. "If you want to know the truth, I think Sheriff Meredith just wants an excuse to look at the Charlotte,'" he'd laughed. "She's really something."