Stabbed In The Solarium

by Leighann Dobbs

  Outside, the tall oak tree loomed in the dark. Araminta’s gaze fell to the dark patch of mulch beneath. A patch of lily of the valley flowers had been planted there once, but since they’d been used to poison her husband, Daisy had had them ripped out.

  Meow!

  Arun jumped up onto the sill and head-butted Araminta’s hand then looked out the window. Both cats appeared to be in deep concentration, their blue eyes staring, delicate ears pointed forward. They weren’t looking up at the moon or the stars as they usually did but toward the tree. Were they thinking about the lily of the valley flowers too? But no… they weren’t looking down. They were looking straight ahead.

  Araminta put on her glasses and squinted. Was that the yellow glow of a light? Someone was out there. She leaned close, peering deep into the shadows where she’d last seen the flickers. A dim glow seemed to be coming from the gardener’s shed.

  Had Yancy returned without telling anyone? Or could it be Stephanie out there in the woods?

  It must be Yancy. Perhaps he had heard something? Was there more trouble brewing? Had he heard or seen something he was now investigating to try to clear his name? Or worse, if he were truly the killer, was he preparing to take down another Moorecliff?

  After a few seconds of rummaging around in the middle drawer of her writing desk, Araminta found the small flashlight she kept there for emergencies or in case the electricity should go out in the middle of the night and she needed to be able to find her way to the ground floor of the manor. “Come on, kitties, but be silent, if you please. We are going out there to have a look around, but I’d rather not alert whoever is skulking around the grounds to our presence in case it’s Shirley’s killer.”

  Jacob Hershey would have a fit if he knew what she was about to do. He would chastise her for not thinking before she hustled out and give a stern warning about what was and wasn’t smart. Araminta knew well enough there could be trouble in the dark, but Stephanie was out there somewhere, and she couldn’t just stay inside. What if the girl should need her help?

  Using the back stairs because they offered the quickest route to the back door off the kitchen, Araminta made as little noise as possible while hurrying toward the garden shed. If there was an intruder inside… well, she’d rather not think of that.

  Cautiously, Araminta made a motion with her hand to her lips for the cats to keep silent as she approached the shed. Opening the door, she poked the flashlight inside and had a quick look around. Someone had definitely been in there! More clothing was heaped in one corner, along with a bit of food she knew had come from what was left untouched in the solarium. She was about to step inside when she noticed a shadow looming behind her. Her hand froze on the door, and her heart practically leapt from her chest.

  Dropping the flashlight, Araminta took a moment to recall something she’d learned in her younger days and spun around to face her would-be attacker, assuming her best remembered karate stance. If she was going to have to fight off a killer, she meant to let him or her know she’d come prepared. But…

  “Auntie?”

  Araminta could hardly believe her eyes “Reginald? What in the world are you doing here? You’re supposed to be at the Gamblers Anonymous retreat.”

  Reggie simply stood and stared at her. Maybe he was too shocked by finding her in here to speak, or maybe he needed time to come up with an excuse. Either way, it didn’t bode well. Why would Reggie be living out here, unless he had something to hide?

  Araminta’s thoughts went to Shirley. She was very good at digging up everyone’s secrets and taking advantage. Had she found out about Reggie’s problem and blackmailed him? Hadn’t one of the other relatives alluded to that very thing?

  If Araminta hadn’t known her nephew so well, she might have been suspicious. Reggie had come up with the perfect alibi by not coming to the memorial. Had he skipped the retreat and come back to kill Shirley? And if so, why was he still hanging around?

  Chapter Ten

  Glancing around as if he were afraid someone else may have followed Araminta to the gardener’s shed, Reggie picked up the flashlight she had dropped and urged her inside. “I apologize, Aunt Minty, but I couldn’t miss Father’s memorial.”

  Araminta speared him with a look. “So you skipped out on the Gamblers Anonymous retreat? After all your stepmother has done for you? The debt she paid? You made a promise, Reginald.”

  Arun and Sasha raced to Reggie’s side as if to provide comfort from Araminta’s scolding.

  Head bowed, probably because he knew what she’d said was true and he was feeling a little ashamed of himself, Reggie nodded. “That’s why I’ve been staying out here. I was just going to watch from afar. I didn’t want to hurt her, so I figured if she didn’t know…”

  He bent down to scoop up Arun and cuddled him while Sasha stood on her hind legs, batting at his knee for attention.

  Araminta sighed. At least now she understood why there was clothing and food here, even though Yancy hadn’t been on the premises.

  “But that hasn’t stopped you from lurking about, peeking into windows, has it now?” Araminta fussed. Hands on her hips, she narrowed her eyes, though she doubted he would get the full effect. It would be difficult to see her expression in here since there was only a tiny bit of moonlight coming in through the windows and Reggie had his face buried in the cat’s fur. “It was you I saw peering through the window to the dining room this morning, wasn’t it?”

  With reluctance, he confessed. “Yes. I wanted to at least see the cousins, although I knew I would not be able to speak with any of them, not that I minded that too much. Still, it is good to see them. And then the police came, and I had to disappear to keep from being noticed. What happened?”

  “Shirley was killed. Found her in the solarium when we all walked down to celebrate and commemorate your father’s life.”

  “The family gossip? That Shirley?” Reggie put Arun down and squatted to give Sasha her share of attention.

  Araminta nodded. “The same.”

  Looking around the shed again, though she had already done so earlier in the day, Araminta asked, “Have you seen Yancy? Daisy told us earlier she had given him the day off.”

  Reginald shook his head. “No.”

  Araminta busied herself with gathering up his clothing. “The police found a bloodied gardener’s glove near the body.”

  “They suspect Yancy?”

  Araminta grunted. “Suspect, yes. Have proof he is Shirley’s killer? No. And I’m not so sure myself. There has been far too much movement after dark in this house since the rest of the family came, including yourself.”

  Puzzled, Reggie asked, “What do you mean?”

  Remembering her promise to not tell on Angela and Owen, Araminta instead mentioned the reason she had come out to the gardener’s shed in the first place. “Stephanie didn’t join us for supper tonight. Someone mentioned she was out late last night too. That is why I’m here. I saw a light out here in the woods and thought it was her or Yancy. Instead, I find you.”

  There was a look on his face, barely discernable in the low light, but Araminta saw it, just the same. “You have something to tell me? You saw something, didn’t you?”

  “Aunt Minty, Stephanie isn’t the only one who has been out after dark, I’m afraid, but—I don’t know if I should mention—”

  Araminta straightened. “If you’ve seen someone, Reggie, I need to know. Whoever it was may well have been Shirley’s killer!”

  “I certainly hope not,” Reginald muttered then shuddered as if with horror at the thought. “It would be quite terrible for her to be exonerated as a suspect in one possible murder, only to be embroiled in another.”

  Quick-witted as she was, Araminta knew exactly who her grandnephew was talking about. “Daisy? You saw your stepmother out after dark last night?”

  Reggie shuffled his feet and hung his head, but he also nodded. “I saw her down at the solarium last night. I don’t have my watch, but I’m pr
etty sure it was before midnight. Araminta, if Daisy killed Shirley…”

  “Poppycock. She did no such thing,” Araminta insisted immediately then wondered exactly when Shirley had been killed. She thought she’d heard the police mention the wee hours of the morning, but surely Daisy wouldn’t have lain in wait since ten o’clock. “She had no motive, and besides, murder just isn’t something I believe your stepmother could do.”

  Reggie nodded. “I don’t believe she’d be capable either. Detective Hershey might, however, and I don’t think she could handle suspicion being cast upon her again, but if they should find me here and ask that question…”

  “Which is precisely why they aren’t going to find you here, young man. You are to gather your belongings and come up to the house, as a proper Moorecliff heir should do.” Handing him the clothing she had collected, Araminta said, “Skulking about here in the darkness instead of joining the loving comfort of your family inside would lead to naught but suspicion.”

  “But what about Daisy, Aunt Minty? She’s going to be upset that I’m here.”

  Araminta needed a moment to consider. Finally, she said, “You will come inside and fess up to your stepmother. She will be disappointed, of course, but she will understand your wanting to be at your father’s memorial.”

  “Maybe we shouldn’t mention that I saw her… even to her.”

  Araminta shook her head. She admired how Reggie wanted to cover for his stepmother, but in her experience, it never worked out well. “It’s good that you mentioned it. Now we have the opportunity to get ahead of it.”

  “What do you plan to do?” he asked.

  Araminta turned and motioned for him to follow her from the shed. “I will find out why she was in the solarium last night before someone else who may have seen her there starts whispering and sowing seeds of doubt that she’s responsible for Shirley’s murder.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Daisy was disappointed to learn Reginald had left the retreat, but she was still happy to see him. “But why are you both here in the middle of the night? Especially you, Araminta. I would have thought you’d be soundly sleeping.”

  “I was up thinking about the investigation.” There was no casual way to broach the next topic, so Araminta went with her usual—blunt and outright. “Reginald saw you in the solarium late last night. Why were you there?”

  “Well, let me see… I was in the solarium for a bit, helping Mary and Trinity with the food from the caterers, then I came back here to wait for…” Understanding dawned. She gasped, and her eyes went wide. “Oh, please! The sheer audacity! Are you thinking it, too, Reginald? Tell me you don’t think I am Shirley’s killer!”

  “Of course we don’t think you are,” Reggie hurried to assure her. “We just want to know why you were there and who you were with at that hour. Daisy, you could have been in danger. There was a killer about!”

  Daisy’s eyes welled with emotion. Araminta knew how much it meant to her that Archie’s children accepted her and cared for her as family. She was touched that Reggie genuinely seemed to care about her.

  Araminta was touched, too, but it didn’t really explain why Daisy was there late into the night. Trinity and Mary would have already gone home after dark, and Araminta knew they’d set up the solarium earlier in the day.

  “I know you spent the day setting the solarium up, but Reggie saw you there late at night. Why?”

  Daisy looked put out at the question. “What are you insinuating, Araminta?”

  “Nothing, dear, I just wanted to know what you were doing so we can make sure it is explained properly.” Why was Daisy acting so incredulous at the question? Araminta had seen her meeting with someone mysterious in the garden before, and she’d had a good reason. Could there be good reason for a second meeting?

  Daisy looked away, her lips pursed. “I wasn’t there…. oh, wait! The cake! I was there because of the cake.”

  Her shoulders slumped as she explained further. “I wanted to surprise everyone with a beautiful replica of Moorecliff Motors’s most-famous car, so I had the bakery deliver it in secrecy. I scheduled the delivery for ten o’clock, because I knew everyone would be in bed by then.”

  So that explained why Araminta didn’t remember the cake. Truth be told, she felt a little relieved that she wasn’t forgetting things. No one had been allowed near the solarium, so if the cake had been delivered at night, Araminta would have had occasion to see it only when she discovered the body, and at that time, she’d been a bit distracted. Araminta looked at Reginald for verification of the timing.

  “As I said before, I don’t have my watch. I just know it had been dark for a while when I saw her, so I suppose it could have been around ten.”

  “You may verify it with the bakery, if you don’t believe me,” Daisy said, affronted by their doubt.

  “We believe you, Daisy,” Reginald assured her again, then he gave her a quick hug for good measure. The cats must have believed her as well, because they rubbed their cheeks on her ankles and purred to show their support. “But if anyone else saw you creeping around out there in the dark like I did, there could be trouble. That’s why Aunt Minty and I came to you. We wanted to ask what was up in case someone else brings it up. In case the police question you.”

  Daisy looked at Araminta, her gaze questioning. She tilted her head toward Reggie. “How did you know Reggie was here?”

  “I was pacing in the sitting room, and I saw a light out at the edge of the woods through my window.”

  “But weren’t you sleeping? Did someone or something wake you up?”

  Now it was Araminta’s time to confess. “I couldn’t sleep. I was watching for Stephanie.”

  Daisy frowned. “She isn’t home? But it’s one a.m.”

  “She didn’t join us for dinner, Daisy. If she were home, would she not have come down? I think she’s out again, just like last night, when she sneaked in through the back door by the kitchen.”

  “Sneaked in?” Daisy’s eyes widened. “You saw her?”

  Araminta shook her head. “No, but someone did, and with a murderer obviously on the grounds, you know that could mean trouble for her.”

  “No!” Daisy exclaimed, her tone adamant. “Stephanie did not kill Shirley. Why would she?”

  Daisy began to pace. “Why would she have done so? She barely knows Shirley, and she has only just returned to the family. For anyone to suspect Stephanie of having killed her gossipy old aunt would be ludicrous, because of us all, Steph would have the least reason to.”

  She turned to Araminta. “I know you’ve thought of a plan, Araminta. Tell us—what can we do? I won’t let this happen, not when Stephanie is finally opening up to me. Please, say there is something we can do to prevent her from becoming an object of suspicion.”

  Araminta hated to upset Daisy again, but she knew the evidence found thus far could be used to present a case against Stephanie. If chance and circumstance presented itself, Olive would definitely tell the police what she knew about Angie and Owen. And then Angie, thinking Araminta had lied and betrayed her confidence would, in turn, feel obligated to tell what she knew about Stephanie’s late-night entrance.

  If events did, indeed, happen that way, Araminta knew there would be nothing she or Daisy could do to save the girl, other than hope she had an airtight alibi for where she was during the time of Shirley’s murder.

  Daisy, overcome with emotion, had tears pooled in her eyes again. And poor Reggie. It was clear he, too, was concerned for his sister, but what could they possibly do?

  “Don’t worry. All will be well,” Araminta quickly reassured them. “I won’t let this fall on Stephanie.”

  Daisy looked doubtful. “You have a plan?”

  Araminta straightened, pretending for all she was worth that she had everything well in hand, though she hadn’t a clue what to do at this point. Not that she would admit as much. Instead, she steeled her spine with a bravado she really didn’t have and said, “I will simply find
the real killer before anyone has a chance to accuse Stephanie.”

  Chapter Twelve

  The next morning, Araminta woke to the cheery sound of humming and whistling in the garden drifting in through her open window. She slipped on a robe and her slippers and went to the window to see who was so jovial this early in the morning. It was Yancy. He was back.

  Oddly enough, he had simply resumed his normal duties in the garden with neither fuss nor warning of his return. “Well, would you look at that,” Araminta told the cats. “It’s as if he hasn’t a clue about what went on here at Moorecliff Manor yesterday.”

  Araminta hurried to her wardrobe to dress. Since he’d returned, she needed to ask him a few questions before Detective Hershey found out and started to interrogate him. It felt strange to know she could soon be facing a murderer. But if he had recently committed such a heinous crime, you wouldn’t know it by his demeanor. No, he seemed much too jovial and lively this morning for someone who had recently killed an ex-lover.

  Or perhaps that was why he was in a good mood in the first place?

  Araminta’s hand paused in the act of pulling a brush through her silver hair as she considered the possibility, then she continued to quickly groom her hair with a renewed determination. If she wanted to know where Yancy had been last night, there was only one way to find out: she would have to ask him.

  Araminta rushed through her morning routine, eager to get to Yancy before anyone else. Unfortunately, she ran smack-dab into Prudence Abernathy on the way out.

  “Oh, morning, Pru.” Araminta didn’t want to be rude, but she was in a hurry. Why was Pru hovering in the main foyer anyway? “I trust you slept well.”

  Pru scowled. “Not so much. Laid awake all night, listening for mice.”

  “Did you hear any?” Araminta edged toward the kitchen, where she intended to exit through the door closest to where she’d seen Yancy.