Murder in the Theater (Cold Creek Book 4)

by Christa Nardi

  “We all knew he was crushing the theater. That was obvious. We never had enough votes to do anything though. You know that. Obviously some board members felt they had to tolerate him because of the money. Others became apathetic and checked out. But you didn’t have to kill him.”

  I gasped and covered my mouth, hoping they hadn’t heard me.

  “Well, of course I did, Jule. There was no other way. If I didn’t kill him, the play would never go on. That night I was there late and heard him talking to his wife. I thought he was meeting with Isaac to get him to come back. I met him on stage and he had his gun with him. I asked him why he had a gun. His explanation was he was afraid Isaac would attack him. It was for self-defense. He had decided to ban Isaac from the theater forever.”

  Her voice rose in volume and quickened.

  “What happened?”

  “His back was to me and he wasn’t paying attention. The heavy pan for the dinner scene was right there, so I picked it up and swung it. He fell. I picked up the gun and shot him and put it by his hand so it would look like a suicide. And I’d do it all over again. Then I left the scene where Ebenezer begs forgiveness on his chest. I wiped off the gun. But Jule, I missed one of the prints and it was Isaac’s. I never meant for him to take the blame.”

  “Adelaide, I understand he got to you. He made us all mad. But now what? Isaac’s in jail. Why are you here in Cold Creek?”

  “That Hendley person keeps asking questions, trying to find out who really killed Will. Obviously, if Isaac is to play Ebenezer, someone else needs to take the fall. It’s too bad you stopped acting, Jule.” Adelaide’s voice dropped, almost apologetic, with this last statement.

  “You tell me I can direct productions in one breath, that we’ll be a team. Then you point a gun at me. Do you plan to shoot me? That’s why you brought the gun right? You have a permit for that thing? What did I ever do to you?” His voice now rose to match hers.

  All the reasons he shouldn’t shout questions at her stuck in my head. I placed my phone, record still going, on a big rock closer to where they were. Then I darted back out of the Arboretum to wait for and warn Hirsch.

  It seemed like I moved too slowly, but I burst out of the trail and collided with Hirsch. My flashlight went flying and Hirsch retrieved it easily. I gave him the basics, emphasis on the gun, and he was gone with a command for me to “stay put.”

  I heard a shot and reached for my phone to call campus security and remembered it was acting as a tape recorder. Adelaide’s voice got louder and I could hear Hirsch, but not what he was saying. I couldn’t hear Dr. Gorganz. The threesome emerged with Dr. Gorganz holding his arm. A bullet grazed him when Adelaide shot at him.

  Hirsch pushed Adelaide forward, hands cuffed behind her. She kept yelling, letting loose strings of profanity. I only guessed what some of them meant. I told Hirsch I’d be right back and went to get my phone. With the remaining power, I did a quick playback and at least some if not all words could be understood.

  “Sheridan, what is that?” Hirsch asked as I came back out of the Arboretum, the recording on play.

  “I used my phone to record the conversation between Dr. Gorganz and Adelaide. She admitted killing Thompson.” I waved the phone after saving the recording.

  Hirsch grabbed my phone. “I’ll need this for evidence. You might want to pick up a cheap one in the meantime.”

  “But my contact information, emails…”

  “Sorry, Sheridan. This phone is evidence until we decide we don’t need it. Not a simple ‘copy and paste’ either. We need to preserve the chain of evidence.”

  About then, I preferred the quiet and sometimes hesitant police officer Hirsch had been before becoming Chief. A sign of how addicted I am to my phone and instant access, I was speechless and close to a panic attack.

  The arrival of the paramedics and Officer Matthews distracted me. They got Dr. Gorganz taken care of and the bleeding stopped. He tried to decline a ride, but Hirsch stepped in and insisted. For good measure, he added that he’d meet Dr. Gorganz at the emergency room to take his statement.

  Adelaide stopped screaming and collapsed into tears as Hirsch and Matthews both worked at getting her into the cruiser. She wasn’t a big woman, about my size, but she was not making it easy. I doubt she cared that her kicking a police officer was not helping her situation. I noticed she had plain black shoes on as they shoved her legs into the car. Throughout the whole ordeal, her facial expression never changed, not even when tears flowed or she screamed.

  As Hirsch was about to leave, my phone rang. I reached and he shook his head. “Call Brett,” was all he said and he was gone along with my phone.

  I walked back to my office and ran into Kim. Before she could start with questions, I asked, “Can I use your phone please?”

  She handed me her phone and I realized I didn’t know Brett’s number. I always clicked on his name. “Is Brett’s number in your directory?”

  Eyes wide but silent, very un-Kim-like, she shook her head and I had to wonder at the expression on my face. Her phone rang in my hand and I jumped. I recognized the area code and answered. I’d guessed correctly – it was Brett.

  Kim listened while I explained what had happened. Of course, she wanted her phone back to call Marty with the news. We compromised and she waited while I finished my conversation with Brett.

  While she called Marty, she and I went to the local department store to get a prepaid disposable phone. She immediately called the number and then gave me Brett’s number. At least I had two people in my contact list. I spent a few minutes and tried to get down any numbers I could remember, angry with myself for my reliance on technology.

  “Well at least if someone can’t get you on the cell – hopefully Hirsch will turn it off when they don’t need it –the person can call you on your land line.”

  “No, not unless I tell them. Pretty much only crank calls, sales calls, and my mother use the landline. Most times, it goes to voicemail. I bet you don’t even have the number for my landline.”

  She was surprised to find she did not. We added in all the numbers Kim had that I might need. I sent out a group text with this temporary number, without offering any explanation.

  CHAPTER 23

  I was still pretty wound up when I got home. A long run in the park with Charlie tired me out and relieved the stress. Dinner eaten, I called my mother to finalize Thanksgiving dinner plans.

  She wanted to keep it traditional, or at least what was traditional in our house. That meant turkey, dressing, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, tossed salad, cranberry sauce, breads and dessert. Mom said they’d ordered the turkey, pre-cooked. She’d also taken my advice for a change and reserved a folding table. Someone would set it up for them on Wednesday.

  All that was left was for Kevin, Kylie and me to decide who was bringing what. I called Kylie and we decided Kevin could safely bring the cranberry sauce and tossed salad. Kylie volunteered to do the dressing and casseroles at least in part to be sure the food was edible. She’d be coming in Thanksgiving day which made it easier too. That left me with dessert and the breads. I could handle those.

  I hung up the phone as Brett’s car pulled in the driveway. He hadn’t said he was coming so I wasn’t sure what was up. With a quick brush of my hair and glimpse in the mirror, Charlie greeted him at the door before I did.

  “I was in the neighborhood?”

  We both knew that wasn’t true and laughed as he pulled me into an embrace. We both talked at once.

  “How are you doing now it’s all over?”

  “Have you eaten?”

  We laughed again and after a few more false starts, decided a glass of wine was in order. I filled him in on the Thanksgiving plans as he opened the wine and we settled onto the couch with Charlie.

  “Do you know what the status with Isaac is?”

  “I checked. Hirsch notified the Chief in Altavista of Adelaide’s arrest and the recording of her confession. As of right
now, she is arguing it was all an act. Her story is she hoped to get Gorganz to confess and he got shot when he rushed her.”

  “What? You have to be kidding me!”

  Brett shook his head. “Hirsch said when they got to the station, she was calm and collected. That was the only statement she gave other than she was adamant Isaac was innocent. Then she called a high-powered attorney in Richmond. She is the guest at the Cold Creek Police station tonight. In the morning, I agreed to transport her to Altavista for questioning. Her attorney is expected to arrive at 10 AM ‘to clear this all up’ with assurances she will be exonerated.”

  Now it was my turn to shake my head. “Brett, if she was acting… well, I mean she is an actress, but why bring a gun? Why confess to Gorganz if she was trying to get him to confess? Isn’t there enough on my phone to discount what she’s saying?”

  I threw my hands up in the air and Brett grabbed my wine glass just in time to avoid a shower.

  “Unfortunately, it’s still a mess. Hirsch took a statement from Gorganz. Since you also heard part of the conversation, he needs you to go in and make a statement, starting with why you were there. Why were you there?”

  I explained about the voicemail from Adelaide and voicemail and text from Gorganz. The voicemails were still saved and I printed out the email message. That left Isaac’s status.

  “I talked to the Chief in Altavista and he shared the information with the prosecutor’s office. I assume Marty shared the information with Mendelson. My best guess is that by tomorrow morning, the State’s attorney and Mendelson will come to some agreement. Most likely one or the other will either seek a continuance or drop the charges against Isaac for now, with a warning he is not to leave town and so on. Neither will want to go to trial next week when there is now reasonable doubt and an apparent confession.”

  “Is Isaac still in jail?”

  “Yes, as of the last I heard. The wheels of justice move slowly. Unfortunately, if they believe Adelaide is making all this up to create reasonable doubt, she’ll face alternate charges and Isaac will still be tried for murder.”

  “What a mess. Do you have any idea how Adelaide and Gorganz ended up meeting in the arboretum?”

  “Not yet. I wonder if they weren’t working together, setting a trap for you. Hirsch didn’t share his statement with me. We can both go to the station tomorrow – you to give your statement and me to escort Adelaide to Altavista. We might know more then.”

  I sighed and nodded. “Anything else new?”

  He pulled his hand through his hair. “I’m not sure what’s going on with Maddie or Victoria. Maddie called upset again. She keeps on about Thanksgiving, but I don’t think it’s really that. With Thanksgiving with Victoria, Maddie decided she would come spend this coming weekend with me and then again the weekend after Thanksgiving. I can’t tell if Victoria is alright with the change or what.”

  “Did you talk to Victoria? Maybe she could shed some light on what’s bothering Maddie.” I knew he avoided talking to his ex, but sometimes it was necessary.

  “Very briefly. She said she was fine with Maddie’s request. That in itself set off red flags for me. When I asked if she had any idea what was bothering Maddie, she blamed it on teen age and girl drama. What is ‘girl drama’?”

  I smiled at the phrase. “When a couple of 13 year old girls – or even a few years older – get together, everything is bigger, better, badder, and blown out of proportion. Usually, they also get a bit louder and emotions can be exaggerated. They feed off each other and the ‘drama’ escalates. I don’t think that happens with boys except in the context of a fight or aggression.”

  “I guess I’m lucky I only see Maddie and not her friends.” He shook his head.

  “Did you ask her what she wants to do this weekend? Maybe she had a special reason other than being mad at Victoria over Thanksgiving.”

  He hedged a bit, but his eyes twinkled and he smiled. “She wants to visit you.”

  My eyes got big and all sorts of questions leaped into my head. “I guess that would work. I was planning on getting some of the breads made for Thanksgiving – freeze them and have them ready to go.”

  Brett laughed. “I told her I would check with you. You obviously don’t have to accommodate her at all and it doesn’t have to be the whole weekend. I could take her to Appomattox Friday night, we could come down here Saturday afternoon, and then I’d take her back on Sunday afternoon like usual.”

  “That works, but it’s really no problem for you to bring her here Friday instead of driving all the way to your house. Maybe she’d even enjoy helping make the breads on Saturday. Whatever works for you and Maddie. I’ll make sure the guest rooms are clean and beds made up.”

  We talked for a while longer. Madison was the uppermost mystery in his life. Although he never discussed his divorce much, definite friction lingered between Victoria and him. It made me glad my ex and I had never had children.

  The next morning I didn’t waste any time with my 8 o’clock class and immediately left campus to meet Brett at the Police Station. He was there when I arrived and chatting amicably with Hirsch. After the exchange of pleasantries, we went to an interview room and I gave my statement and provided a copy of the email from Dr. Gorganz.

  “Thanks again for coming in Sheridan. It’s much appreciated. We will still be holding on to your phone though. Sorry.”

  “I understand. Recording what was happening made sense and if it helps… I hope this all gets straightened out for Isaac’s sake. How is Dr. Gorganz doing? Have you talked to anyone up in Altavista?”

  “Gorganz had a flesh wound. It was treated and he gave his statement. I don’t have to tell you Mercer’s story of what you heard as an act didn’t go over well with anyone. With them both actors, the question’s been raised if this was all staged for you as the witness slash audience.”

  I shook my head and pursed my lips. Their interaction had felt real, not staged or stilted, but then they were both used to playing parts.

  “So she hasn’t slipped up or anything?”

  Hirsch cocked his head. “Not hardly. As cops we’re trained to look for all the subtle nonverbal things that say someone is lying. Her facial expression never changes. Even upset at the arboretum, her face looked placid while she yelled about the way she was treated, while she cried even. It’s unnerving.”

  I smiled. “You’re right. Kim and I noticed it too. It is hard to get a sense of what she is feeling except from her tone, rate, and rhythm. I would think that would get in the way of acting – not being able to scrunch one’s face or knit one’s brows.”

  Brett watched and listened to our exchange with interest. “Should be a fun ride then. She’ll be in the back. If she decides to chat, I’ll only have the cues from her words and tone anyway.”

  “Hopefully, she’ll think you are a sympathetic person and tell you her tale. We will, of course, review her Miranda rights before she gets in your car and remind her she signed that she was warned. Are you ready to go?”

  We all stood. Brett kissed me and Hirsch shook my hand. The two of them were all business and I had to get back to campus.

  My door was barely open and Grant appeared at my side. “Sheridan, Coulter’s office called. They’ve been trying to reach you all morning. They heard about the problem yesterday – a faculty member shot. Where were you anyway?”

  The problem with my work ethic and being in my office every day is that people like Grant come to expect it.

  “I taught my class and then had to go to the police station to give a statement. I’ll call Tonya now.”

  “Good. Good. That’s good.” He turned and shuffled away.

  My conversation with Tonya was brief and limited to the facts. There were new developments in the murder case and the assault on campus related to that. I assured her I would send out the flyer on traveling in pairs once again.

  I no sooner hung up the office phone, and Joe was in my doorway. “What can you tell me about sh
ooting yesterday? What effect does this have on the murder case? Are faculty here at Cold Creek College involved in the murder of Will Thompson?”

  His questions were phrased such I suspected he had some kind of recording device on without being obvious about it. That put me on guard so I stuck to the facts.

  “Dr. Gorganz, a faculty member in Fine Arts, met with Adelaide Mercer in the arboretum. She shot at him but he was not seriously injured. She has been held for questioning. I don’t know the answer to what the effect will be on the murder trial. Only time will tell what the attorneys come up with.”

  “So what do you think?”

  “I think I have work to do, Joe. You might talk to Hirsch or the Chief in Altavista or the attorneys involved if you want more information.” He glared at me and when I didn’t say anything else, he stomped off.

  I did due diligence and sent out the safety flyer again. My email had exploded overnight and I set to work sorting, responding, and deleting. I was engrossed in one email on potential benefit changes and jumped when Max called my name.

  “Sheridan, are you alright? I heard you almost got shot. That’s what’s going to happen if you keep getting involved in murders you know.” Max bounced but genuinely sounded concerned.

  “I’m fine Max. Thanks for asking. I wasn’t involved in the shooting, honest.”

  “Okay. Okay. Well, you be careful.” He nodded and walked away.

  I no sooner turned back to the email I’d been reading and someone else said my name.

  “Dr. Hendley?”

  “Dr. Gorganz, please come in. Have a seat. What can I do for you?” The thought he might not be so innocent flitted through my mind, but I ignored it.

  “I wanted to thank you for coming to the arboretum yesterday. I wasn’t sure you’d gotten my messages or if you’d come if you did. I certainly didn’t intend to put you in any danger. I suspected Adelaide after your question about the black cloak. I wanted a witness when I confronted her. That way it wouldn’t be my word against hers. I didn’t think she’d have a gun with her. The police said you called them. You may have saved my life.”