Till Death Do Us Bark

by Judi McCoy

  “Vivian, enough. You’re jealous of both your sisters, always have been. They’re sensitive right-brainers, while you’re a more practical left, and that’s all there is to it.”

  “At least I make enough to support myself. I don’t have to marry for money or live off mommy and daddy to survive.”

  Ellie laid a hand on Viv’s knee, where no one could see the give-it-a-rest gesture. No wonder her best friend never had much to say about her family. “Maybe it’s time we took that tour you promised me.”

  “Sure, in a minute. I want to wait for Arlene.”

  Before Ellie could say more, Arlene arrived at the top of the stairs. Perfectly made up, she was dressed in navy slacks and a man-styled yellow silk blouse with an upturned collar and rolled-back cuffs. Holding a sheet of paper in her hand, she seemed put together and composed.

  “Sorry I rushed past you, but I had to say hello to my Bostons.” Smiling, she glanced at the table and spotted the coffee cups and empty plates. “I see you found the breakfast buffet Rosa set up. I hope everything was good.” She scanned the terrace. “What happened to Adrianne?”

  “She’s in the kitchen hoping to find a peon to boss around,” said Viv. “Why don’t you have a seat? I’ll get you some eggs and coffee.”

  “Thanks, Vivie. Coffee would be great, but no food. I’m back on my diet.”

  “Diet?” Ellie asked without thinking. “You don’t need to be on a diet.”

  “Oh, but I do. I have a lot of work ahead of me.”

  “Work? Do you have to get a job?”

  “Go on, sis. Tell Ellie why you’re dieting while I get you that coffee,” said Viv, leaving the terrace.

  Figuring it was some kind of family joke, Ellie grinned. “I can’t believe how good you look after what you went through last night. And you need to eat. The next few days will probably be stressful.”

  “Maybe so, but I’ll be back on the husband hunt by the end of summer.” Arlene inspected Ellie’s tank top and bare arms. “It’s fine if you don’t care about your figure, but I do. In my experience, it’s being slim that first attracts a man.”

  “Now, Arlene,” said Vanessa. “Ellie has a police detective for a boyfriend. He might like his women a bit big—er—more generously proportioned.”

  Unable to utter a word, Ellie blinked. She was used to her mother cracking sly comments about her daughter’s double-digit dress size, but Vanessa and Arlene were practically strangers. She had no idea how to react to what they’d just said. It was then Viv arrived with her sister’s coffee and fruit, and set everything in front of her.

  Arlene pushed the fruit to the center of the table and added a blue packet of sweetener to the coffee. “How are you and Daddy doing in the cottage? The police told me I couldn’t go inside the office space to collect Martin’s personal belongings until they were through with the investigation. And I know they hung a notice on his door.” She pointed to the sheet of paper she’d brought outside. “This is a list of everything they’ve gathered, which they’re supposed to return to me when the investigation is over.”

  Vanessa straightened in her chair. “They collected scads of things, and left with their sirens blaring. Once they were gone, we had a good night.”

  “What about you girls?” Arlene asked her sister. “Did you get enough rest?”

  “More important, did you?” said Viv.

  “I managed to sleep after I took another sedative. I’m waiting to hear from Martin’s brother. He’s on business somewhere in Texas, and he couldn’t make it to the wedding.”

  Still wrapped in a cocoon of surprise over the comment about her size, Ellie rested her chin in her palm. If anything happened to Sam, she’d be falling apart right about now. And if he died? She wouldn’t be sitting on a terrace planning to diet so she could catch her next man.

  “I don’t mean to sound unsympathetic, but does that mean Dr. Kent’s body disposal might be up to you?” asked Viv.

  Without warning, tears welled in Arlene’s eyes. “I guess. He didn’t have a will, so I’ll have to consult with his brother, but he did tell me he’d want to be cremated, so I’ll do whatever I need to do to see that it happens. What I don’t like is waiting to hear if his death was an accident or a—or a—you know.” She sniffed. “It’s going to be hell living alone again.”

  Relieved to see a bit of remorse from her hostess, Ellie patted her hand. “Vivian and I will be here all week, if your offer for us to stay still holds. You can depend on us to help you through everything.”

  “How about a muffin?” asked Viv, still trying to forcefeed her sister. “Rosa did a wonderful job with the buffet, and I think you need some food in your stomach.”

  She rose and aimed for the kitchen just as Adrianne walked through the door with a coffee cup in her right hand and a muffin in her left.

  “Here you go,” said Viv, snatching the treat. “Just what the doc—er—your youngest sibling ordered.” She brought the muffin to the table and placed it in front of Arlene. “Eat this while we talk.”

  Adrianne muttered a halfhearted “Nice going, Viv,” spun on her heel, and headed back to the house.

  “Don’t mind Miss Bossy Boots. Just take a bite,” Viv coerced, smiling when Arlene broke off a piece of the crust and nibbled. “You need to keep up your strength.”

  “Awwwk! You’re a doll! Kiss me, sweetie. Awwwk! Do it to me. Yeah, just like that. Awwwk!”

  Adrianne carried Myron in on his perch while the bird announced his arrival. “Here you go. Myron ought to cheer you up.” She set the parrot in the same corner he’d occupied the night before. “I even brought a couple of M&Ms to keep him happy.”

  She returned to the kitchen, and Viv put her head in her hands. “Now I’m positive the brat’s on some kind of happy pill. M&Ms?”

  “They’re Myron’s favorite treat,” said Arlene. She walked to the parrot and gave him a blue candy. “Here you go, darling. Now, not another bad word.”

  “Awwwk! The bird, the bird. The bird is the word. Awwwk!”

  Ellie stifled a smile. She didn’t recognize the voice, but figured it was Dr. Kent’s, which might upset Arlene further. “If it’s too painful to hear Martin’s voice, I can bring him back to the foyer,” she offered.

  “Awwwk! I’ve been waiting, baby. Where have you been? Awwwk!”

  “No, no. He’s fine,” said Arlene, giving a tepid smile. “He’ll be a reminder of happier times.”

  “So, that is Dr. Kent’s voice?” asked Ellie.

  “Yes. African grays have a unique ability to imitate a sound or a voice perfectly. Martin used to sing oldies and get Myron to repeat them. Once in a while, when Myron and I are in the house alone, I’ll hear a cat meow or a lion roar, and I’ll know it’s him. He loves to watch Animal Planet.” She shrugged. “The problem is, you just never know what he’ll say or when. Sometimes, he comes out with the strangest things.”

  “Awwwk! Ah, ah, ahh, yes, Marty, yes, ahhhh! Awwwk!”

  Ellie gauged the tone, certain it was a woman in the throes of an orgasm. She wasn’t sure if she should laugh or not, because Arlene’s face was wreathed in confusion.

  “It sounds like you and the doc had him in your bedroom one time too many,” said Viv.

  Arlene said nothing, but her expression grew grim as she returned to her chair. Ellie thought her not responding was strange, but the woman had just been dropped into a tragedy, so who knew what was going on in her mind?

  Adrianne returned with a second muffin and sat next to her older sister. While Myron continued to squawk nonsense, Ellie watched the sisterly byplay, as well as the departing guests’ reactions when they appeared to say their good-byes. Elsie and Connie, the older “aunts” from the Davenport, stopped with their dogs to give a tearful farewell, and Ellie promised to visit them and arrange a walking schedule as soon as she got back home.

  Aunt Miriam, Uncle Scott, and Faith and Christian came by to pay their respects, as did the third group whose names all began w
ith the letter R. And they promised to return if there was a memorial service for Dr. Kent.

  The only people missing, that Ellie could remember, were “hunky guy,” the man called Uncle Mickey, and Dr. B.

  During the conversations, it was clear Vivian was the one with the level head, while the other three McCready women . . . Well, they were definitely in another world. After a few minutes of listening to them squabble, Ellie made a decision. “I think I’ll go see how the dogs are doing.”

  “Oh, would you? And see if Maria’s with them. I think they should all go for a walk on the beach.” Arlene dabbed at her eyes with a napkin. “My babies are so upset over losing Martin.”

  The statement set up another round of suggestions, but they stopped talking when Detective Wheeling appeared in the kitchen doorway. Wearing a grim expression, he gazed at the assembled women and waited until Vanessa grabbed her oldest daughter’s hand.

  “I just got off the phone with the medical examiner, Ms. Millman, and I need to speak with you privately.”

  Arlene reached for Vivian with her free hand and entwined their fingers. “Anything you want to say can be said in front of my mother and sisters.” She gave Ellie a hesitant smile. “And my guest.”

  Wheeling threw Vanessa a pointed look and cleared his throat. “There’s no easy way to put this, Ms. Millman. Your fiancé was murdered.”

  Ellie and Vivian reclined in cushioned lounge chairs on the deck off their bedroom suite, resting in the late-afternoon shade with Rudy and Mr. T curled on the floor between them. Detective Wheeling’s grave pronouncement had shocked everyone except Ellie, who’d been, bit by bit, putting the pieces of Dr. Kent’s death together.

  According to the detective, who was repeating the medical examiner, Martin Kent had died from blunt head trauma caused from cracking his skull on the walkway’s brick border. Murder came into the equation because the ME had discovered a bruise on his chest that had come from a blow so powerful it had probably pushed the victim backward for the fall.

  When Arlene heard the news she broke down and stumbled to her feet. Vanessa and Adrianne gathered her in their arms and rushed her to her suite, where the three women had remained. During that time, Viv had given Ellie her promised grand tour, taking her to every room in the huge house except the Suarezes’ private quarters.

  Rosa served lunch a few hours later, and Vanessa came downstairs, assembled a tray, and brought it up to Arlene. Viv and Ellie reclaimed Mr. T and Rudy and ate on the terrace, where they read the local rag, Dan’s Papers, and discussed places they could visit that were nearby, so they could still be involved in helping Arlene.

  Right now Viv lay with her eyes closed while Ellie thought about Detective Wheeling’s news. Martin Kent was a sizable man, so she imagined that whoever had done the deed was strong, which meant the killer was most likely a man. Other than that, she had not a clue to the murderer’s identity.

  “What are you thinking about?” asked Viv a moment later.

  Ellie raised an eyebrow. There was no point in trying to fool her best friend. “Dr. Kent.”

  Eyes still closed, Viv grinned. “I knew it. So you are working on the crime.”

  “I’m not ‘working’ on anything. I’m just thinking.”

  “Keep it up. You’ll get to the bottom of the thing, like most good detectives do.”

  “I thought you said we were on vacation,” Rudy muttered from below.

  “Thinking doesn’t mean I’m going to do anything about it,” Ellie said to both conversations. “And I’m not detecting.”

  “But you are,” Viv continued. “I just hope you figure it out fast. We were supposed to have some fun this week.”

  “What I’d like is a trip through Dr. Kent’s office,” Ellie admitted. “Just to see what he did in there, not to investigate. No one seems willing to tell me what type of medicine he practiced. We could probably figure it out by the type of magazines sitting on the waiting area tables.”

  “So, go inside. The only thing in your way is that yellow crime scene tape. Surely you know how to get through it without ringing any warning bells.”

  “The tape’s no big deal, but Wheeling looked right at me when he said they’d arrest anyone who crossed the line for any reason. And your mom said he told her the cottage had to remain locked until the investigation was over. The last thing I want is to spend my first vacation in years in a prison cell.”

  “Did they set up a police guard?”

  “Nope. We’re on our honor. Your parents promised to keep it locked, and I believe them. No one is allowed in until the coast is clear.”

  “Like that’s stopped you before.”

  “And that would stop you?” said Viv at the same time Rudy spoke. “I don’t think so.”

  “Me, neither.”

  Ellie chewed her lower lip. There was no use arguing, especially when she was doing so with two unconnected minds. “There is one more thing bothering me.”

  “Oh?”

  “Hunky Guy, our faux Agent Double O Seven.”

  “You know, I wanted to ask Arlene about him, but with all the activity I never got the chance. He told you he met Arlene shopping around town, and she invited him out of the blue. My guess is he finagled an invite on his own, and she was too flustered to do anything about it.”

  “My question is, why Wheeling didn’t call him on it, and talk with Mr. Bond the same way he did the rest of us?”

  “Maybe he did, but it was done at the police station.”

  “That’s a possibility,” Ellie said. “But why? If I could find a way to meet him again, I’d come right out and ask him, but it’s not like I could walk next door and borrow a cup of sugar.” Another guest came to mind, and she said, “And who, pray tell, is Uncle Mickey?”

  “I have no idea, but Martin knew him, and I didn’t see him anywhere around later, either.”

  “And that Dr. B woman?”

  “She’s someone he was in practice with a while back. Apparently they’ve stayed in touch and become best friends, though it doesn’t sit well with Arlene. She told Martin he could invite Dr. B and Uncle Mickey because they were his only family.”

  “Okay, I’ll forget about Uncle Mickey and Dr. B. I’d rather talk about Hunky Guy. Something’s up with him. I just can’t put my finger on it.”

  “Hmm. Maybe we could take an early-morning stroll along the beach tomorrow? We could lose track of time and just end up behind his house or something.”

  “That might work,” Ellie agreed. “Finding out about him is my first priority after getting into the doc’s office.” It was then she decided to change the subject, just to get her thoughts off breaking into a crime scene. “I don’t remember thanking you for the tour.”

  The place was huge, with three staircases leading to different second-floor sections of the house. The Suarezes lived in a four-room wing on the west side of the manor. The hall she’d walked through for last night’s questioning led to Arlene’s office and a library. The foyer, living room, sunporch, breakfast room, laundry, and kitchen made up the rest of the first floor, including a stairway that led to the upstairs and its five guest bedrooms and baths.

  Though the Boston Terriers were allowed in every part of the house, they stayed close to Arlene, so Ellie hadn’t been able to establish any type of personal communication with them. Their food bowls were in the breakfast area along with three dog beds, but there were three more identical beds in the living room, and another set on the back deck. It appeared that Myron, too, had the run of the place, though, according to Arlene, he enjoyed the foyer, kitchen, and rear terrace best.

  His raucous squawks rang in her brain, and she echoed Viv’s sentiments. Why would anyone want to live with a bird that repeated whatever it heard? It had to be like living in the midst of triplet three-year-olds. Even Rudy left the room when she and Sam got romantic. Weren’t parrots supposed to be smart? Why would they want to watch humans interact, then scream out what they said in the throes of passion?


  “You already thanked me a dozen times,” said Viv, her eyes still closed. “And stop trying to change the subject.”

  “No, really, my thoughts were on this house. If it belongs to your sis, and Myron was so wealthy, why is she looking to marry for money again?”

  “Ah, well, the way I understand it, Myron had kids from his first marriage and they got a lot of the cash and stocks. That’s why Arlene got the houses, some of which were mortgaged, and sold them. She’s set to live comfortably, but not as well as she wants.”

  “That sounds like Stanley’s arrangement,” said Ellie. “He’s left almost everything to his kids. Mother only gets a couple of mil. Not that she cares, of course, since she has enough money of her own. I guess that’s one way to keep the children from starting a family feud after the last parent goes.”

  “Personally, I think Arlene’s the type of woman who doesn’t feel fulfilled unless there’s a man in her life. I’d just like to see her happy with herself.”

  “What did she do when she lived here alone after Mr. Millman died?”

  “I think she wrote astrology charts for friends and a few of the people she met in town. I know she chose the date for the wedding by reading the stars. Too bad she read her chart instead of Martin Kent’s.” Viv swung her legs around and sat up on the chaise. “I know she bought Myron right before the first Myron died. Then she met the doctor and he took her to a breeder to get her Bostons. And Rosa, Julio, and the girls have always been here, almost like Arlene’s second family.”

  “Do the girls go to school?”

  “Terry takes night courses at the local college, and works here in the house. Maria goes to high school, but she was having trouble over the last few months. I’m not sure what happened, but I gather she almost died from one of those street drugs popular with the younger crowd.”

  “That sweet little girl? On drugs?” Ellie found it hard to believe. “Wow, I guess you just never know.”

  “Funny, isn’t it, how drugs seem to play a role in this debacle? I’m fairly certain Arlene is on them. I’m guessing Adrianne’s taking them, and Maria had a problem, too. If this is what it’s like to live with the rich and famous in the Hamptons, I’ll pass, thank you.”