Dying Trade (A Deadline Cozy Mystery Book 9)

by Sonia Parin

  “The police refused to comment, so I don’t have much to go on with.”

  Refused to comment? Would that have stopped Eve?

  He smiled at her. “Would you be willing to share some information? You have the advantage of being well-connected.”

  “I’m under strict orders not to talk about it, but I can confirm a body was found inside.” He already knew that because he would have seen the coroner’s van. “Did you know the previous tenant?”

  He gave a small nod. “I saw him around. Phillip kept to himself. He worked from nine to five. Most days he had lunch at the office. When he stepped out, he either picked up something at the bakery or the café. That’s all I can tell you. I spend part of my day looking out the window but not all of it.”

  “Did he live on the island?”

  He shook his head. “Not that I know of. Have the police identified the victim?”

  Eve shrugged and thought it would be best to play around with the truth. “If they have, I’m not likely to be told. Just because I’m dating a policeman doesn’t mean I’m privy to information. But it doesn’t stop me from wondering. Jill and I have been tossing around a few ideas. She thinks the killer lives on the island.”

  He looked surprised. “And what about you?”

  “I don’t think he does. However, I think he might want to keep up with what goes on in town. I hear people can subscribe to your newspaper.”

  “Oh, yes. In fact, your folks just signed up. As you know, most of the locals are permanent residents but some aren’t, so they like to stay in touch.”

  “Is your subscription list computerized?”

  Smiling, he crossed his arms. “Are you following a lead?”

  “Jill insists it’s someone on the island. I’d like to back up my argument with some solid reasoning. I’m thinking the killer might subscribe to your newspaper so he can keep track of what goes on. So, how long have you had the subscription system in place?”

  “A couple of years.”

  She didn’t bother asking if she could look at the list. For starters, she didn’t think Derek Tucker would violate his subscriber’s privacy. Also, she didn’t have the resources to research names. “Does that mean you’ve lived here that long?”

  “Oh, I don’t live here.”

  “But you only started working here two years ago?”

  Derek laughed. “I’ve heard about your tactics of turning everyone into a suspect.”

  Grinning, Eve asked, “What will you tell the police when they ask if you knew Phillip Manningham?”

  “Only what I told you.” He brushed his fingers along his chin. “It’s strange. I don’t remember ever speaking with him and I usually make a point of chatting with everyone. It makes you wonder why someone like him would set himself up in a small town. If I wanted to keep to myself, I’d choose to live in the city.”

  “You might be onto something there,” Eve said. “In a small town, I think people might notice someone more if they were trying to avoid contact.” She hoped that was the case.

  The front door opened and a young woman strode in. “Sorry, boss. Long line at the bakery.”

  “I should go.” She turned only to stop. “By the way, is there any chance my parents’ subscription might be accidentally deleted?”

  Derek laughed. “I’m open to bribery.”

  “Let me guess, you want a scoop.”

  He smiled. “Whenever you’re ready to trade, my door is always open.”

  Chapter Eight

  “I feel like a kid in a candy store with my nose pressed against the window, looking in. When is this crime scene tape coming down?” Eve asked.

  Jack cleared his throat. “Crime scene tape? What crime scene tape? Who is this?”

  Eve swung around and leaned back against the store window. She told Jack about her parents taking possession of Jill. That triggered a bout of laughter. As she waited for Jack to calm down, she wondered if Jill would ever be the same again. For all she knew, she had been recruited to serve as a spy, conveying information to her parents.

  “Any news about Phillip Manningham’s relatives?” she asked.

  “We located a sister. She hadn’t spoken with him for over ten years. Bad news is bad news. She took it very hard.”

  “Yes, I can imagine,” Eve said. “While she thought her brother was still alive, a part of her must have known she could pick up the phone and make amends. Death delivers a finality that can’t be undone. I feel for her. She’ll be drowning in guilt and regret.” Never leave for tomorrow what you can do and say today, Eve thought. “Jack, I really enjoyed last night.”

  “Me too. I’ve never seen you wearing that green dress.”

  “Sage.”

  “Come again?”

  “The color.”

  He chuckled. “Not red. Pomegranate?”

  “Yes, something like that.” Eve looked up at the sky. “I wish the clouds would move. They’re casting a gloomy light over the whole town. My store’s becoming an attraction. I’m standing here and I swear I’ve never seen so many people walk down this way before. Who needs the right location when you can create it yourself by finding a dead body.”

  That produced more laughter from Jack. “Okay. My coffee break is over. And you can take down the crime scene tape.”

  “Really?” Eve smiled. As she ripped off the tape, she filled him in on her chat with Derek Tucker. “Once you rule out immediate family and friends, you might want to look into people who subscribe to the local newspaper. I know I’m not on the payroll, but you can make it up to me by taking me out to dinner.”

  “Let me get this straight,” Jack said. “For every lead you throw my way, I get to take you out to dinner.”

  “Yes, please. Now, run along and do your detective thing. I have a store to renovate.” She put away her cell phone. Scrunching up the crime scene tape, she strode toward the trash bin on the curb and discarded it. As she turned, she caught sight of a shape moving.

  Susa Dresden.

  Watching her from the first-floor window.

  Eve couldn’t stop the shiver running up and down her spine. Feeling a powerful intensity in the woman’s gaze, Eve suddenly understood why some people felt the need to ward themselves against the evil eye.

  Hurrying her step, she strode inside the store and spent a while trying to picture how it would all look once she finished the renovations.

  “I see you’re back in business.”

  She recognized Pete Dresden’s friendly tone and turned to see him standing at the front door. Smiling, she nodded. “Yes. I’ve just been given the go-ahead.”

  “If you need any help, feel free to ask.”

  Eve wondered how this lovely man could be married to someone who appeared to be as cold as ice. She pushed herself to give Susa Dresden the benefit of the doubt. She hadn’t met her yet. Somehow, it felt unfair to pass judgment on her. After all, Pete Dresden had married her and he was quite agreeable.

  She hoped she didn’t see Eve as a threat. Some women felt overprotective over their spouses and Eve had always been quick to engage strangers in conversation. It didn’t make her a flirt. However, she knew her easy going manner could be misconstrued but she also thought it was actually other people’s problem. Not hers.

  “Do you sell house paint?” Eve asked.

  “We sure do. I have a display area.”

  “Really? I don’t remember seeing it.” Then again, she’d felt lost in the hardware store. Give me a kitchenware store any day, Eve thought.

  “It’s down the back. I can mix any color you want.”

  “I plan on keeping it simple. Eggshell white.”

  “No problem. I guess that means you’ll be doing your own painting.”

  She hadn’t actually thought about it. “I guess I will. The more time I spend in here, the more ideas I hope to generate.” She looked down at her hands and then back up. “The police have identified the victim.” She had no idea why she chose to tell Pete Dresd
en. A short while ago, she had kept the information from Derek. Maybe because as a newspaper reporter he should have been able to worm the information out of her, but he hadn’t really tried.

  Pete hitched his hands on his hips. “Are you going to make me guess?”

  “Phillip Manningham.”

  His expression froze. After several seconds, he scooped in a big breath. “How… When?” He shook his head. “Wow.” He took a step toward the back of the store. “Do you mind?”

  “No, go ahead.” She followed him along the hallway and into the space she would soon transform into a kitchen.

  Pete walked right up to the hollow space that had been revealed when Jack had pushed the bookshelf out of the way.

  “All this time… Phillip was in here.”

  “Yes. It makes one wonder. What if I hadn’t leased the store? His remains would have stayed buried forever.”

  “Do the police have a lead?”

  “Not yet. They’re trying to track down his immediate family.” Eve watched him take a step closer. “Do you remember the last time you saw him?”

  Pete raked his fingers through his hair. “Funny you should ask. I was thinking about it last night. We were neighbors for a couple of years but I only ever got a nod out of him. Most of the time, he strode by with his eyes to the ground or looking toward the distance. It was almost as if he wanted to avoid making eye contact with anyone.”

  Eve had only ever spent a couple of weeks during the holidays on the island. Then, after her divorce, she had been busy trying to get her life back together again so she had stayed away for a while. But she distinctly remembered the first day she’d returned only a year before. Everyone had recognized her and she’d stopped to chat with people.

  What made a person withdraw inside themselves? And if Phillip had been such an introvert, why had he set his business up in a small town?

  Derek had been right. Living in the city, one could get lost among so many people but in a small place like the island, introverts stuck out.

  “He must have had furniture and office equipment. Did you see a van when he moved out?”

  “Can’t say for sure. You’ve been inside my store. It’s like an Aladdin’s cave. If I want to see what’s going on outside, I actually have to step out. Sometimes, I feel a little claustrophobic and have to force myself to go out for a breath of fresh air.”

  Was that why she kept seeing his wife looking out the upstairs window, trying to keep tabs on what went on outside?

  He brushed his hand across his chin. “The police might want to talk to the lady who worked for him.” Pete clicked his fingers. “Denise. Denise Glosser. She did reception and administration work for him.”

  “Does she live on the island?”

  “All her life.” Pete shook his head. “It’s really strange. I think it must have been a couple of days before I really noticed the store was vacant.”

  “What time do you usually finish up for the day?”

  “Five on the dot. Susa and I like to wind down and have a nice dinner. You know, spend quality time together in the evenings. We enjoy cooking together. It’s a thing with us.”

  “That’s lovely.” Eve wondered if she had something similar with Jack. Murder investigations? Last night had been pleasant, even when they’d sat outside on the porch tossing ideas around. It had actually been the first time they’d ever done that.

  “Do you know if Phillip let anyone else know about his plans to leave?”

  “I doubt it.”

  Jack definitely had his work cut out for him.

  “Has Jill returned?” Eve asked as she strode into the kitchen where she found Mira having an early dinner.

  “Yes, she came back about half an hour ago. And, if I’d known you were coming back, I would have waited to have dinner but Gerard tempted me with this magnificent steak and salad.”

  “Oh, is there another steak for me, please?” It would be such a treat to have someone prepare a meal for her.

  Gerard, bless his soul, smiled and nodded. “Coming right up, chef.”

  Eve smiled. It had been a while since anyone had called her chef. Working in a busy kitchen, she had been the commander in chief with everyone answering her requests with a swift ‘yes, chef’ response.

  “Wine?” she offered.

  “Oh, yes, please.”

  Jill waltzed into the kitchen, all smiles and cheerful greetings.

  Eve and Mira looked at her with caution in their eyes. They both knew where she’d been.

  Jill clapped her hands. “Oh, steak.”

  “I think it might be the last one but you can have half of mine,” Eve offered.

  “Yes, please.” Jill helped herself to a glass of wine. “So, what’s new?”

  “Why do you want to know?” Eve asked. Had someone put her up to it?

  “Because I always ask,” Jill said.

  “Do you?” Eve looked at Mira. “How was your coffee with my folks and where did you get to afterward?”

  “I really don’t understand what your problem is with your parents. They’re lovely. I love the way your mom dresses. Understated but very stylish.” Jill sighed. “She has an air about her.”

  “Yes, she does,” Eve agreed. “It’s called air of snob with a hint of upper class disapproval.”

  “Don’t be silly. We don’t have a class system here.”

  “That’s where you’re mistaken, Jill.”

  Jill smiled. “Is this where you launch into a diatribe about your days at boarding school and how Charlotte made your life miserable?”

  “No, I’ll save it for another day,” Eve said. “I want to hear about your day with my parents. I assume they took you under their wings.”

  “We toured the island. I took them to the lighthouse.”

  Eve gasped. “And what did you tell them?”

  “Well, I had to justify the trip so I told them about the artist who used to live there.”

  The artist who’d been murdered…

  Eve dragged in a breath. “I hope you gave them an abbreviated version of events.”

  “Oh, I didn’t get the chance. The new owner came out and introduced himself. You should make a trip out there and show him you mean no harm. The moment your parents mentioned their relationship to you, I swear the man shrunk back.”

  Eve gasped. “You’re making it up.”

  “I had you going there for a while.” Jill grinned. “Brace yourself, this might come as a shock. Your parents only wanted to know if you were really happy here.”

  “I hope you didn’t tell them about the inn.”

  Jill cut a large portion of steak, so Eve had to wait for her to finish chewing it. “No, I left that up to you.”

  “Jill, how did you get back to the inn?”

  A long, torturous silence followed.

  Mira grasped Eve’s hand.

  Jill burst out laughing. “Honestly. I can’t believe how you are both behaving.”

  “You didn’t answer the question.”

  “I had my car and drove myself back. And I didn’t mention anything about the unfortunate incidents that seem to follow you around. You’re safe. Relax.”

  Eve snorted. “I know my parents. They are right this minute finding out all there is to know about the previous owner of the lighthouse. How long do you think it will take them to learn about his death? One thing will lead to another and, before you know it, they’ll be standing outside the inn door.”

  “What about you?” Jill asked. “Did you make any progress in your investigation? I know you said you were staying right out of it, but I also know you just can’t help yourself.”

  After her chat with Pete Dresden, Eve hadn’t given it much thought. Once Jack had given her the go ahead to continue working in her store, she’d thrown herself into it, clearing the kitchen and taking measurements for the stove and the refrigerator.

  Shaking her head, Eve said, “I don’t understand how a loner ends up dead by someone else’s hand. H
e had next to no contact with people in town. Who could have come to hate him so much?”

  “What about his clients?” Jill asked.

  “I imagine there must be a list of names somewhere. I’d be interested to know what Jack has found out. As far as anyone knew, Phillip Manningham had closed up shop and left the island. Either he cleared everything out and sent it on who knows where or his killer did.” She thought Jack would try to work out a timeline of events. He’d have to find someone, anyone who saw Phillip close to the date when his lease expired. “I spoke with Pete Dresden today. He’s so busy in his hardware store, he doesn’t even take the time to look out the window.”

  “What about his wife?” Jill asked. “She seems to do a lot of that.”

  “You’re welcome to talk to her. I don’t dare, not after the way she looked at me.”

  Jill lowered her head and whispered, “Wouldn’t it be intriguing if she had something to do with it?”

  “In what way?” Eve asked.

  Jill lifted both shoulders. “With her husband always so busy working, she might have had an affair with Phillip. Then, he put an end to it. She flew into a fit of rage and killed him.”

  Mira laughed. “That’s very dramatic.”

  “Maybe not,” Eve said and told them about the ME’s findings. “She would have had access to tools from the hardware store. Something to hit him with and then tools to cover up the hole in the wall. As to why she did it…”

  “Ours is not to reason why?” Mira asked.

  “Killers do work in mysterious ways,” Eve agreed. “If Susa Dresden had an affair with Phillip Manningham, it would have been in secret. How do you find proof of that?”

  Jill suggested checking phone records. “I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, it always worked for Angela Lansbury in Murder She Wrote.”

  Jill had a point. There would be a trail somewhere. No one could be that careful, especially if they were trying to keep something secret. Messages would need to be conveyed. If not by phone, then how?

  “The two buildings share a common wall,” Jill said. “They might have used some sort of code. I’m not suggesting Morse code. Perhaps something simple like, three knocks for yes and two for no.”