03 Murder by Mishap

by Suzanne Young

  Looking away from Edna, Renee said, “What makes you so sure?”

  Placing the picture back on the table next to the jade plant, Edna pulled the other straight chair forward so she could sit facing Renee. Half turned toward the hallway door, Edna caught a slight movement. She didn’t look in his direction but knew Ruthers was standing just outside. In a slightly louder voice, she said, “When I started putting the pieces together, you were the only one who made sense. You garden, so you know about plants. You gave the rosary to Virginia, and you knew about her heart condition. What I don’t understand is ‘why.’ What did you have to gain by killing your friend?”

  “She betrayed our friendship.” Renee’s head jerked up and her eyes flashed. “If she had been a true friend, she wouldn’t have taken the brooch from Mama.”

  “You killed her because she took a pin?” Edna’s words reflected the incredulity she felt as her own anger began to rise.

  Renee shook her head and seemed to deflate before Edna’s eyes. “I didn’t mean for her to die. It was an accident. I had no idea she had been handling the beads as much as she was and that so much poison had already gotten into her system. That, on top of her heart condition ...” Renee paused and drew in a shaky breath before continuing. “She shouldn’t have died. That single seed was only supposed to make her sick. I would come to tend her. When she slept, I could search her room and get Mama’s brooch back.” Renee’s words were fading as she bowed her head, repeating, “It was a mistake. She wasn’t supposed to die.”

  Edna nodded. “I thought that’s what must have happened when I cleaned out the medicine cabinet and found her prescription bottle. If she was taking such a strong dose, her heart would have been too weak to stand the severity of the attack caused by the abrin poison.”

  “I didn’t realize her heart condition had gotten worse, but she upset Mama. I was so mad at her and only wanted to get the brooch back.” Renee hadn’t raised her head, but Edna could see tears beginning to trickle down her cheeks.

  At that moment she was aware of Ruthers moving up quietly to stand beside Renee. When he put a hand on the woman’s shoulder, she started and looked up. After several seconds during which she looked as though she were trying to figure out who he was and where he’d come from, she spoke defiantly. “Mama earned that brooch. She was so obsessed with the colors of France, she paid with her reputation. Virginia had no right to take it from her.”

  Putting her bowed head in both hands, Renee began to sob. Before Edna or Ruthers could react, Guy burst from the bathroom and rushed to his sister’s side. He must have come up the back stairs, Edna thought as he knelt between their chairs and took Renee into his arms.

  “What have you done? What have you done,” he repeated over and over as he rocked her gently.

  Ruthers removed his hand from Renee’s shoulder and held it out to Edna. Helping her to rise from the chair, he said quietly, “I’ll have to take her in and get her booked. Please inform Mrs. Bishop that I’ve left with the Froissards. Nothing more, just that. If she asks, tell her I’ll be back shortly to speak with her and Ms. Hoxie’s relatives.” He paused a moment before adding, “I think that’s all for now.”

  The detective turned to Guy. “She’ll have to come with me, but you may follow us, if you wish. I suggest you have your lawyer meet us at Division headquarters.”

  Guy nodded, rising to help his sister to her feet.

  Ruthers ushered the Froissards toward the back stairs. Guy walked beside Renee, one arm around her waist as she leaned against him. Edna followed the trio down the back stairs. She wanted to be less conspicuous entering the dining room from the kitchen rather than walking down the stairs into the foyer.

  When she reached the kitchen, she found Starling loading glasses and plates into the dishwasher. To her daughter’s startled and questioning look, she said, “I’ll explain later, dear,” and went through the room in search of Peg.

  Within the next twenty minutes, guests began to leave and a half hour later only a few family and friends remained. Peg showed Janette and her husband upstairs where they began to sort through the labeled boxes. Geoff Luccianello, his wife and Starling helped carry cartons down to the couple’s Chevy Suburban. Edna packed the final items that Janette wanted while Peg boxed up what little remained for delivery to the Goodwill center.

  When the last box had been closed, Edna went downstairs to finish cleaning up. The dishes were done, chairs moved back and all the cartons loaded into the SUV by the time Detective Ruthers returned. When he suggested everyone gather in the library, Edna quietly begged off. She was exhausted and hoped to get home before Albert.

  “We’re not needed here and will only be in the way,” she said of herself and Starling. “You know where to reach me.” When Ruthers agreed and disappeared into the library, Edna spoke to her daughter.

  “You don’t mind driving me home, do you, dear?”

  “Is it safe? I haven’t had time to call Charlie. Do you know if he’s caught the gunman?”

  “I don’t, but I’m going home, regardless. Geoff has invited Peg to stay with them for a few days. She said she’d stay here with me if I wanted her to, but I said no. Your father will be home this afternoon, and I can’t leave it to Charlie to explain why we must vacate the house.”

  Several minutes later, as Starling pulled away from the Graystocking home and headed for Interstate 95, she said, “Speaking of explaining things, what happened this afternoon?”

  Only Peg had realized the implications when Edna told her about Renee’s arrest and that Ruthers would explain everything. Peg had wanted details, of course, but Edna only shook her head.

  “Detective Ruthers has more information than I, and he’ll be back soon,” was all she would say to either Peg or Starling who had also tried to pry information from her mother.

  Now, as they drove south, Edna filled Starling in on events since they had parted company Thursday night. She began with the altercation in the attic and ended with Renee’s confession.

  “So it was all a horrible mistake. How tragic,” Starling said, her voice filled with emotion. “What do you think will happen to Renee?”

  Edna shook her head. “That’s up to the lawyers and judges and, perhaps, a jury. Her nightmare is just beginning, I’m afraid.”

  “You said her mother’s in a nursing home and not very strong. What will this do to her?”

  “Hard to say, dear. She has her son to lean on, and sometimes a mother will rally, gain unimaginable strength when her child is in trouble.” She smiled at her daughter’s profile, wondering if there were anything she wouldn’t do for her own children.

  Keeping her eyes on the road, Starling was silent for a moment before she asked hesitantly, “Do you think Aunt Peg will divorce Stephen?”

  Edna didn’t need to think before replying, “I certainly hope so. I can’t see how she could ever trust him again, after what he’s done.” She sighed. “But I’ve learned never to second guess anyone.” She paused before adding, mostly to herself, “Whatever happens, the immediate future does not look good for my dear old friend.”

  They were both silent as Starling maneuvered the car to the left lanes and merged toward Route 1. Settling back into the stream of traffic, she said, “You think Dad’s home by now?”

  Edna felt her stomach lurch at the thought of Albert arriving home and running into a gunman lurking around the house or, worse yet, hiding inside the house. If Mary hadn’t taken that memory chip from Jaycee’s envelope, I wouldn’t need to worry. She felt more than a twinge of anger at her neighbor’s meddling ways before remembering how Mary’s curiosity and interference had once saved her life.

  “Are you going to tell Dad about this one,” Starling asked, as if reading Edna’s mind. “You’ve now been involved with, what, three murders, and he doesn’t know about any of them.”

  “It’s not that I haven’t wanted to tell him,” Edna said defensively. “By the time he was around for me to explain, every
thing was all over, all wrapped up.”

  “Not this time,” Starling said. “Not unless Charlie has found your intruder. Do you think the guy’s dumb enough to hang around or arrogant enough to think he won’t get caught?”

  “I haven’t a clue.” Edna’s head was beginning to throb. Starling had brought up questions Edna would just as soon ignore, but knew she couldn’t.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  When Starling turned into the driveway, Edna saw Charlie’s car parked behind hers in front of the house. He was standing beside her dark blue sedan, talking to Mary and stroking Benjamin who lay on the Buick’s hood. Wearing her favorite jungle fatigues, Mary was cradling a small black cat in her arms while Hank sat on his haunches staring up at her. Edna’s hopes soared at the calm, almost happy, scene which boded good news.

  She jumped from the car almost before Starling had time to turn off the engine. Starling leaped out, too, and they both rushed up to the pair.

  “Have you caught him,” Edna asked Charlie.

  “Did Jaycee get home,” Starling said at the same time.

  Charlie raised his arms as if fending off an attack. Only Edna’s subconscious recorded the startled kitten bounding from Mary’s grasp and disappearing around the corner of the house with Benjamin close behind.

  “One thing at a time,” Charlie said, putting an arm around Starling’s shoulders as she nestled into his side. He looked at Edna. “Yes, we’ve arrested the man who threatened you. Mary’s sighting proved out and he’s safely locked away. Chicago police have been looking for him, too. They’re sending a man to escort the prisoner home. Their charges are more serious than ours.”

  “What about Jaycee? Have you heard from her?” Starling repeated her earlier question impatiently.

  Before anyone could answer, the sound of a car crunching on broken shells made them all turn to see a red Kia pull up and stop behind Starling’s Toyota. Having expected to see Albert, Edna was puzzled at who would be visiting on this Sunday afternoon until she saw Goran and Jaycee alight.

  She gasped and turned to Charlie. “Arrest him,” she blurted, so astonished was she to finally see the man who had been on her mind for the past several days.

  “Whoa,” Charlie said, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. “I have no authority to arrest a special agent.”

  The newcomers strolled up to join the group. Goran’s smile was cocky. Jaycee looked relaxed and happy.

  Edna was speechless, busy absorbing what Charlie had just said. “Special agent?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Treasury. At your service,” Goran bowed from the waist before nodding an acknowledgement to Charlie.

  Edna narrowed her eyes at him while the puzzle pieces inside her head began to fall into place and form a recognizable picture. She turned accusingly to Charlie. “You knew about Goran? Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Charlie looked both surprised and innocence. “Only since Thursday afternoon. My captain called me in. Said I should stop asking questions about a case that didn’t belong to me.” He shrugged. “I made an educated guess. Even if I’d been certain, I can’t divulge information in an ongoing investigation.” He gave her his crooked smile. “I did tell you not to worry.”

  Edna turned back to Goran, voicing her thoughts as, one by one, events started to make sense. “You’re on the case involving threats to bankers,” she said, flicking her eyes toward Jaycee, “The same one Carol James accidently got mixed up in.”

  Goran smiled at Jaycee before returning Edna’s gaze. “I recognized her from our file photos when I drove up to your house that day. You could have pushed me over with a straw, but I couldn’t let on. It would have blown my cover.”

  “Your cover as a gardener was so you could watch Stephen Bishop,” Edna said. He nodded and was about to speak, but she cut him off. “Did he know you were watching him?”

  Goran shook his head. “We couldn’t trust him not to give away the operation. He had to be kept in the dark.”

  “How did you get him to hire you?”

  “That was pure coincidence. We’d already contacted the lawn maintenance company the Bishops use. They’d already agreed to send me in as an employee, and when Bishop mentioned his wife wanted to restore the gardens, it was just the excuse I needed to hang around the place.”

  Mary, Charlie and Starling were listening to Edna and Goran with rapt attention. Besides Goran, only Edna had known that Stephen Bishop was one of the bankers being threatened. She was also the only one who knew of his duplicity in stealing his wife’s jewelry in order to pay off the extortionists.

  Remembering Stephen’s suspicions that Peg had been in his office, Edna said, “You were the one who took the brooch from Stephen’s desk.”

  “Right again,” Goran agreed. “I broke into the office one afternoon when nobody was home. Easy enough since I had access to the house. We’re bonded, you know.” He gave a short laugh at his own joke before he went on. “I thought something funny must be going on when Bishop was so ready to give up his wife’s jewelry, once he’d depleted his own savings. I’d already decided to go through his desk to see if there was anything pertinent to our investigation. When I saw the brooch, I took it to have it appraised. I’d planned to put it back before he could miss it.”

  “Did you know it was a copy?”

  He shook his head, “I suspected, but didn’t know for sure.”

  “How did it end up in the dirt,” Starling spoke up. “Mother told me that’s where she found it.”

  He looked sheepish. “Careless of me. It must have dropped out of my pocket when I was tilling up the garden, probably when I pulled out my handkerchief to wipe my face. I didn’t have a clue where to look when I realized it was gone.” His voice was full of suppressed laughter when he said, “Nice of your mother to find it and hang around until I got there.”

  Edna felt the color creep up her neck and into her cheeks at the memory of getting caught in the fence. She quickly diverted the conversation. “Stephen thought Peg took the brooch from his desk. Why didn’t he suspect you, since you were the one receiving his payments?”

  “Remember. He knew me only as a gardener,” Goran said. “His payoffs were left at a drop sight. Bishop never dealt directly with anyone except the initial contact and that was necessary only to acquire the original loan. After that, Bishop received his instructions by phone.”

  “How did you know where the drop was, then?” This time Mary asked the question. Edna was surprised her crime-enthusiast neighbor had managed to keep quiet for as long as she had.

  “I was informed through my contact at the Treasury,” Goran said. He winked at Mary and added, “Can’t tell you how they found out. Top secret.”

  “What did you do with the jewelry,” Edna said with the sudden realization that Peg might be able to reclaim some of her property if it hadn’t, in fact, been turned over to be broken apart or melted down.

  Goran’s eyes sparkled with suppressed humor. “Every piece is tucked away in a safe deposit box at her husband’s bank.”

  Edna stood stunned for a second or two before she choked out a laugh. “You’re kidding. You hid it right under Stephen’s nose?”

  “Sure did. Made certain he wasn’t around when I went to the vault, of course, but I figured it would be a pretty safe place.”

  They all laughed, and Edna shook her head, chuckling at his audacity. “Peg will be pleased and relieved.”

  Starling turned to Jaycee. “Where have you been? We were worried about you.”

  The young woman frowned and looked from Starling to Edna. “Didn’t you get my note? I stuck it on your front door.”

  “It ended up under our wet newspaper,” Edna explained, “looking more like a finger painting than a message.”

  “What did it say,” Starling asked.

  “I wrote that Goran and I would be away for a few days and please don’t worry.” Jaycee looked apologetically at Starling. “I know we had plans. I’m so sorry you didn’t get my message.�
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  Uncharacteristically, Starling didn’t seem in a forgiving mood, at the moment. “Why did you leave that envelope with my mother? She and Mary were threatened as a result of your thoughtlessness. They could have been killed.”

  “I know, I know,” Jaycee said, obviously upset at both the thought and the accusation. “When Goran came to my house to tell me who he was and that my cover had been blown, we had to leave at once. It was the middle of the night. I didn’t have a chance to get the envelope back, and I really didn’t think anyone would suspect your mother was holding it for me.”

  Edna interjected to calm her daughter. “It wasn’t Jaycee’s fault. That man wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t answered the door with the envelope in my hand.” To Jaycee and Goran, she said, “Where have you been?”

  “Hopping around Boston suburbs,” Goran answered. “We stayed in a different town each night and roamed around during the day.” He glanced at Jaycee with affection.

  “Were you hiding from the guy in the picture, the shadow guy,” Mary asked. “Is that who we just arrested?”

  “From what I learned this afternoon, our lab techs are nearly positive the shadow in the photo matches the profile of the man you arrested,” Goran answered Mary, speaking to Charlie as well.

  Jaycee said. “I didn’t realize that the fire was all part of this major extortion ring until after I agreed to testify. I received several threats before the trial, but once it was over and the arsonist went to prison, I thought it was all over.”

  Goran picked up the explanation. “We’d been watching this bunch, building a case. When Carol ... or Jaycee ...” he stopped and shrugged. “To avoid confusing everyone, let’s keep calling her Jaycee. Anyway, when she left Chicago and went to stay with her grandmother in Florida, everyone thought she was out of harm’s way. I wasn’t really part of that end of things, just assigned here in Providence to watch Bishop, once we took out the real courier. You could have blown me away when I met up with one of our chief witnesses right here in this yard.