Sweetness and Light (A Sweet Cove Mystery Book 5)

by J A Whiting

  “Is it commonly known that you and this man have a thing?” Courtney asked.

  Bethany’s eyes flashed. “We don’t’ have a thing.”

  “Okay, poor choice of word.” Courtney corrected herself. “Do people know that you and this man have affection for one another?”

  “People know that we’re friends.”

  “Did you ever date the man?” Ellie held her mug on her knee.

  Bethany vigorously shook her head. “Father would have had a fit.”

  “So nobody knows that you both harbor feelings for one another?” Jenna was trying to paint a picture of the relationship and what others might know or suspect about them. “Except for the person who sent the threatening letters.”

  “People know we’re friends,” Bethany repeated.

  Ellie didn’t think they were getting enough information. “Can you tell us about your interactions with this man? How often do you see him? Where does he live? Do you socialize together? Things like that? What’s his name?”

  Angie looked at her sister, impressed at what a good detective she was turning out to be.

  Bethany seemed to wrestle with revealing the details of the situation, probably because she was afraid to disclose particulars of the “friendship.” She rested back against the sofa. “His name is Todd Moore. He lives in Boston. He works as a teacher. He volunteers at an animal shelter. Todd runs marathons, enjoys camping and hiking. Things I’d never done before. My father would rather die than take part in such activities.” She sipped some wine. “Todd and I have always gotten along perfectly, we understand each other. He cares about me.” Tears started to fall and Ellie passed the young woman some tissues.

  “Why are you marrying someone else if you love Todd?” Courtney wanted to hear the explanation to the question that was on everyone’s lips.

  Bethany dabbed at her eyes. “My father would kill Todd if he knew I loved him.”

  Four pairs of eyes bugged out of their respective sockets. The words kill Todd echoed in the sisters’ heads.

  Chapter 5

  Angie tried to keep her voice even. “Is your comment an exaggeration or do you really feel that your father would hurt Todd because you are in love with each other?”

  Bethany sat quietly picking at her tissue considering Angie’s question.

  “Could your father be the one who sent those letters to Todd?” Courtney’s eyes were like saucers. She wondered if Senator Winston was truly a dangerous man.

  “It’s possible.” Bethany’s voice was soft and low. “But I don’t think he did.”

  “Could he just be trying to frighten Todd off? He wouldn’t really harm him, would he?” Ellie hoped she was right.

  Bethany shrugged. “My father has some powerful contacts. He doesn’t have to get his hands dirty when there’s a problem.”

  Ellie nearly jumped out of her chair. “Has your father caused harm to people?” Her voice was shrill.

  “I don’t think so.” Bethany didn’t make eye contact. “He certainly hasn’t killed anyone.”

  “Where is Todd now?” Jenna wanted to change the subject so that Ellie wouldn’t run off.

  “He’s in Sweet Cove. He’s staying at an inn near the beach. He arrived this evening. I haven’t seen him yet.” Bethany let out a sigh. “What a mess my life is.”

  Angie asked, “Why is Todd here?”

  Bethany’s long lashes blinked over her eyes. “He is my Best Man. He’s going to help me with the wedding details.”

  “You’re kidding.” Courtney was aghast. “You love each other and he is going to help you plan your wedding to another man?”

  Bethany just looked at Courtney with sad eyes. Dark circles showed under her lower lids.

  Courtney ran her hands through her hair. “You didn’t really answer my earlier question. Why are you marrying Nelson Rider if you don’t love him?”

  Bethany’s shoulders slouched making her look small and fragile. It was a strange contrast to the confidant, assured woman who had appeared at the Victorian earlier that day. “My father thinks it’s a good match.”

  Angie’s phone buzzed on the side table next to her. She reached for it, stood up, and took the call out in the hallway.

  Courtney pressed. “But you don’t think Nelson is a good match. You’re letting your father make one of your biggest life decisions for you. Maybe you can’t marry Todd Moore right now, but you don’t have to marry Nelson.”

  Angie came back into the room. Her shoulders were pulled up close to her neck and her lips were pressed together in two tight, thin lines. Jenna knew something was wrong, and she didn’t have to see Angie to know. She could feel it floating in the air. “What was the call about?”

  “We all need to go down to the resort.” Angie swallowed hard and took a quick glance at Bethany.

  “Now?” Ellie frowned. “It’s so late. What on earth for? Who called you?”

  “Josh called. We need to go. Now. He’ll explain when we get there.” She turned for the door and spoke to Bethany over her shoulder. “I didn’t tell Josh that you’re here.” She quickly left the family room with the others staring after her.

  Slowly everyone rose from their seats and headed for the hall.

  “What’s going on?” Bethany’s voice shook. “Is something wrong? Why do you have to go to the resort at this hour?”

  “I guess we’ll find out when we get there.” Jenna waited for the young woman to head for the foyer. As everyone gathered their things, Jenna sidled up next to her twin sister and whispered. “What’s happened?”

  Angie gave Jenna a serious look and checked that Bethany was out of ear-shot. “It’s about Bethany’s fiancé. Nelson Rider. He’s dead.”

  ***

  When the sisters were seated in Ellie’s van and driving down Main Street, Angie told them the news about Bethany’s fiancé, which caused Ellie to nearly lose control of the vehicle for a few moments. A barrage of questions hit Angie.

  “Who found him? Are there signs of foul play? When did it happen? How long has he been dead?”

  Angie told the girls that Josh didn’t provide any details and only asked that the four of them come to the resort per request of Chief Martin.

  Bethany, still in the dark about why they were called to the resort, drove her Porsche down the streets of Sweet Cove following behind Ellie’s van. When the cars turned into the resort’s parking lot, they could see the blue flashing lights of several police cars.

  Ellie eased the van into a parking space and the sisters emerged. Bethany pulled into a spot on the other side of the lot. She told the girls before leaving the Victorian that she would park away from them and walk inside on her own because she didn’t want to alert people that she had been with them.

  A small crowd of people had gathered in front of the resort to watch what was happening. An officer, stationed at the door, would only allow registered guests to enter the lobby. When the young policeman saw the Roseland sisters approach, he waved them forward and opened the door to usher them inside.

  Another patrolman nodded to the girls and asked them to follow him as he moved quickly down the main hotel hallway and out the door that led to the luxury bungalows.

  “Where is he taking us?” Ellie’s face was pale and she focused her eyes downward. She kept her voice soft. “I don’t want to see a dead body. Who knows what happened to Nelson Rider. I can’t look at a gruesome scene.”

  Jenna slipped her arm through her sister’s. “He must be in his room. You can stand outside if you want to. No one will force you to see anything you don’t want to look at.” She could hear Ellie’s rapid breathing.

  They walked along tree-lined stone pathways to the section of the property where the exclusive bungalows were located. When they rounded a corner, they could see a crowd of people gathered in front of two of the cottages. The flashes of cameras reflected out of one of the suite’s doors and washed over some of the people milling about outside. Chief Martin was standing next to a
man in a suit conversing intently. He spotted the sisters, and moved away from the man towards the girls.

  “So here we have the latest problem in Sweet Cove.” The chief rubbed his forehead. He looked exhausted. “It’s just been one thing after another lately.” He gestured for the girls to enter the bungalow that stood next door to the murder scene cottage. “We’re using this suite for law enforcement.”

  Inside in the living room area of the suite, there was a plush furniture grouping of sofas and chairs. They all sat. Police and detectives and tech assistants stood around the space in small groups, talking. “I’d prefer to go into one of the hotel conference rooms to chat, but I need to be visible in case I’m needed.” Chief Martin made eye contact with each of the sisters. “Let’s keep our voices down.”

  “What’s happened?” Angie asked.

  “As Josh informed you, Nelson Rider is dead. I told Josh I needed all of you here because you’ve been trained in grief counseling. I had to come up with something. Josh would have wondered why I was calling you to the scene.” The chief seemed drained of his energy. “This is going to be a circus. A wealthy guy like this … the media is going to be all over it. We can’t make any mistakes. Don’t speak with reporters. If they ask you questions, just say “no comment” and keep walking. Don’t engage.”

  The girls nodded.

  “Rider was shot. Once in the head. The killer put a pillow over Rider’s face and head in order to muffle the gunshot. There was no sign that Rider resisted, so we assume he was asleep when the assailant came in. Housekeeping went into the bungalow to do their thing and found him.”

  “What time did they find him?” Jenna held her hands in her lap.

  “Housekeeping starts doing the “turn-down” service around eight. They fold down the bed covers and put a candy on the pillow. You know what it is. Mr. Rider didn’t want the turn-down service until after ten each night. So, one of the staff goes in around 10:45, finds him, goes hysterical. Josh was called, the police, the ambulances came. The housekeeper couldn’t be calmed down so she was taken to the hospital. No witnesses. The surveillance cameras are being confiscated, but if the perpetrator went out the back then we’re out of luck. The cameras are only trained on the front of the structures. Hotel staff members are being questioned right now … inside the resort in a couple of conference rooms.”

  “No suspects as yet?” Courtney asked.

  Chief Martin shook his head.

  Angie suddenly thought of Bethany. “What about the Winstons? Who is breaking the news to them?”

  “A police detective is the lucky holder of that job.” The chief’s lips turned down. The wrinkles around his eyes were more pronounced.

  “What about Nelson’s family?” Jenna asked.

  “Rider has a sister in New York and a brother in Boston.” Chief Martin rubbed his eyes. The murders of the past months were taking a toll on the man.

  The girls exchanged looks. Angie cleared her throat. “Bethany Winston was at our house when I got the call from Josh to come down here to the resort.”

  “So I guess she isn’t on the suspect list.” Jenna watched the law enforcement agents coming and going.

  “Why was she at your house?” The chief’s eyebrows bunched together.

  The girls shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Finally Angie spoke. “She came to tell us that she is in love with someone other than her fiancé.”

  Courtney leaned forward and kept her voice low. “Bethany told us that her friend.…” She raised an eyebrow to emphasize the word. “Has recently received letters threatening his life.”

  Chief Martin was about to say something when a plainclothes detective came around the corner from the small kitchen area and gestured to him. Chief Martin stood up. “Can you stay?” he asked the girls. “I’d like to hear more about this friend.” He lowered his voice. “I’d also like you to take a look at the body and see the bungalow, if you’d be willing.” He excused himself and followed after the detective.

  “The plot thickens.” Courtney narrowed her eyes. “Bethany is supposed to get married, but loves someone else, and then her fiancé is murdered.” She tapped her finger against her chin. “How convenient.”

  Ellie’s jaw dropped. “I didn’t think of that. You think she set Rider up?”

  “Did the friend have a hand in Nelson’s murder?” Jenna had an expression of suspicion on her face. “Bethany told us that her friend just arrived in Sweet Cove this evening.” She glanced at Courtney. “Is that a red herring? Was he in town earlier than she said? Did he happen to pay a visit to Nelson Rider?”

  “Huh,” Angie pondered. “Eliminate the fiancé and the troubles are over, right? Chief Martin needs to talk to Bethany and her friend. What was his name? Moore, something or other?”

  “Todd Moore.” Courtney pulled out her phone. “I’m going to look him up.”

  Ellie turned to Angie. “I don’t want to see the body. Maybe looking at the suite would be okay, but definitely not the body.” She gave a vigorous shake of her head. “Nuh-uh.” She glanced around at the official-looking people hurrying back and forth from the scene of the crime to the suite they were sitting in. “I’d really like to go home.” She looked at Jenna. “Can I go home? You three are better at this stuff than I am.”

  Angie turned her hands out, palms up, and gave a little shrug. “I don’t know. I suppose it would be okay for you to leave. We can explain your absence to the chief. He’ll understand.”

  Ellie’s forehead scrunched. “Oh, but you’ll have no way to get home if I leave.”

  “Chief Martin will drive us. Or a patrolman. Go ahead. Don’t worry.” Jenna encouraged her sister to head home. She knew that this kind of thing caused Ellie great distress and she didn’t like to see her sister so uncomfortable. Jenna smiled. “Tell the cats what’s going on.”

  Ellie hugged the three of them and walked quickly to the door. She gave them a little wave as she stepped out to the walkway that led back to the main building of the resort hotel.

  Angie placed her elbow on the arm of the chair and rested her chin in her hand. “Even with all that’s going on, I could doze off just sitting here.”

  Jenna yawned and leaned back on the sofa. “It must be what? Midnight?”

  “It’s one in the morning. How can you be tired?” Courtney’s eyes followed the comings and goings of police officers and technicians. “I know someone died and that’s just awful, but it’s sort of exciting to watch what’s going on here as they try and solve the crime.”

  Angie closed her eyes. “Maybe you should quit candy-making and join law enforcement.”

  “Nah. I like making candy. But I’m glad we have some powers and can sometimes help the police.”

  “Shh.” Angie bolted up and spun around looking to see if anyone had overheard. “Don’t talk about that with all these people around. Someone might hear you.”

  “I’m not dumb, Sis. I don’t go around blurting out that I have paranormal powers. Sheesh.” Courtney shook her head.

  Angie made a face. She glanced over her shoulder to be sure no one was lingering nearby. “Don’t say another word.”

  A heavy sense of gloom wrapped itself around Angie. Although she felt an obligation that they use their powers for good and help the police in any way possible, Angie just wanted to go home, get into her comfortable bed, pull the blanket over her head, and pretend there were no evil-doers in the world.

  Chapter 6

  A young patrolman who the girls had never seen before came into the bungalow. He looked at each girl as if he wasn’t expecting to see such young women sitting in the living area of the cottage. “You’re the Roselands, right?”

  Courtney nodded.

  “Chief Martin asked if you’d come along with me. I’ll bring you to him.”

  Courtney was the first one on her feet. “Let’s go.” Angie and Jenna followed along behind their sister, out of the door, and down the stone pathway to the cottage where the murder took
place.

  The chief came out. “We’re clearing the suite. It’ll just be a minute.” He gestured for the girls to come inside. “Ellie went home?” He wasn’t surprised.

  The sisters entered the bungalow with small, slow steps. Some people headed out of the living room and a couple of them took a look at the girls as they passed. Angie could feel tension creeping over her skin and the thrumming started beating in her blood. In times of danger or caution, she and Courtney felt a drum beating in their veins and sometimes, when they were content or at ease, the drum quieted and the beating rhythm turned into a comforting, gentle humming.

  “The body is in the bedroom, covered over.” The chief tilted his head towards a man wearing a suit standing close to a desk just inside the entrance to the suite. He introduced the sisters to Detective Lang. “He knows about … your skills. I had to tell him. No need to worry. He knows about such things. He has experience with people who….”

  Detective Lang finished the chief’s sentence. “People who have powers.”

  Angie eyed the detective. She didn’t like other people knowing about what she and her siblings could do. She didn’t want to be judged, and she worried that their abilities would become common knowledge in Sweet Cove, and she definitely did not want that. Perspiration ran down her back.

  “Detective Lang and I will stand here, out of the way. The three of you are free to wander about the bungalow. Just don’t touch or move anything.” The chief and the detective moved quietly to stand near the door.

  Angie took a deep breath. She made eye contact with her sisters and they nodded to one another. The girls began to walk around the room each one focusing on something different and moving at their own pace trying to pick up on any shred of evidence or sensation of who had been in the cottage.

  Jenna asked, “Where’s the gun?”

  “It hasn’t been found,” the chief said. “Yet.”