Caught Dead Handed

by Lyndsey Cole

  “Or maybe my magic eight ball. At any rate, I’d better get Petunia back to her pen before she terrorizes someone else.”

  Meg snorted. “Served that city girl right. I haven’t laughed that hard for too long.” She waved Hannah out of her kitchen.

  Chapter 14

  Petunia had her own ideas about her day’s activity and Hannah quickly discovered that it didn’t include returning to her pen behind Ruby’s house.

  Armed with apple slices and plain popcorn, Hannah tried to tempt, bribe, and she even stamped her foot in frustration to get the potbelly pig to follow her up the road. Instead, Petunia trotted around each cottage, staying out of Hannah’s reach as she rooted in the sand searching for her own treats.

  Hannah gave up and went into her office to find Samantha. “Petunia has decided to stay here for a visit. Can you keep an eye on her?”

  “Oh, that sounds perfect.” Samantha fluffed up her curls. “Harold wants to do some more photos with me and Petunia. I’ll let him know we’re available.”

  “Good luck getting her to cooperate in the wide open. I don’t know how she got out of her pen and she hasn’t had complete freedom for a long time. She’s loving it.” Hannah dropped the harness, leash, and bag of popcorn on the desk. “She loves popcorn so maybe once she is finished investigating on her own, she’ll get lonely and be more cooperative.”

  “Sit down for a minute.” Samantha walked to the door and closed it. “I had an interesting chat with Vanessa this morning.”

  Hannah sat.

  Samantha rested against the desk that had once belonged to Hannah’s Great Aunt Caroline. An old oak monstrosity that dwarfed the petite woman. “First of all, she’s furious that she is on the suspect list.”

  “Huh. I didn’t even consider her but I suppose everyone with access to the wing at the Paradise Inn reserved by Harold would end up on Pam’s suspect list.”

  “Right. She says she was in the shower. She always goes to shoots with Monique but since Harold was about to start his session, she decided she could take a break for a shower.”

  “That fits with what Ruby and I saw when we knocked on her door when we were looking for Monique. Vanessa was in her bathrobe with a towel wrapped around her head.” Hannah puffed out her bottom lip. “But why did Vanessa always accompany Monique? It seems strange to me.”

  Samantha shrugged. “I guess they were close. Vanessa said they did everything together. She’s devastated. Another thing she told me was that Gwen hated Monique. The two models were constantly trying to undermine each other for the best photos and, get this, for Harold’s attention romantically.”

  “That’s not exactly news after my conversation with Gwen this morning. Her words were, ‘now that Monique is out of the picture,’ she’s hoping for more exposure and she wouldn’t mind becoming Harold’s girlfriend. She said there are a lot of perks that go with that role.”

  Samantha laughed. “Does she think ending up at the bottom of the pool is an attractive perk?”

  “I guess she knows how to swim.” Hannah cringed at her grisly joke. “Gwen is convinced that Juliette pushed Monique in the pool for revenge for breaking up the marriage. She basically said she would want revenge if it happened to her.”

  “So, there’s no shortage of finger-pointing. Vanessa is pointing to Gwen, Gwen is pointing at Juliette, and what about Harold?”

  “He’s pointing to Juliette, and she thinks Harold is the murderer. Pam has her work cut out.” Hannah stood. “Good luck with Petunia. I’ll be back as soon as possible. With this mix of guests, I’m under no illusion that fireworks won’t erupt round here at some point.”

  Before Hannah had a chance to make her exit, the door pushed inward and Deputy Pam Larson walked in. “Meg told me you might be in here.”

  “Hello Pam,” Hannah said.

  “It has come to my attention that you have some last-minute guests staying here that I need to ask more questions to.”

  “You must be referring to Harold Chandler III, Gwen Laine, and Vanessa Parkes?”

  “Actually, I’m looking for Juliette Chandler. She disappeared yesterday before I had a chance to question her.” Pam tilted her head and studied Hannah’s face. “Are you hiding her here?”

  “No. She’s a grown woman and I have no control of her whereabouts. And for your information, she isn’t renting one of my cottages.” Hannah clenched her jaw.

  This was so typical of how Pam needled her. They’d gotten off on the wrong foot after Hannah moved to Hooks Harbor and she didn’t think they could ever become friends even though Jack was important to both of them. Jack assumed his daughter was jealous of his friendship with Hannah, but that wasn’t something Hannah had any interest in changing.

  “I’ll rephrase my question. Do you know where I might find Juliette Chandler?” Pam gripped her cardboard coffee cup. Hannah thought there was a strong possibility that she might crush the cup if Hannah didn’t give a good answer.

  “As far as I know, she’s at Ruby’s house.”

  Pam smiled, a forced smile but better than the original glare. “That wasn’t so hard.” She turned to leave but stopped before she went through the door. “You spend time with my father.” A statement from Pam, not a question. “Have you noticed anything different about him lately?” Her voice had softened and even hinted at a bit of vulnerability.

  Hannah hesitated. Pam was part of the cover-up when Great Aunt Caroline was supposed to have died but Samantha didn’t know anything about it. She couldn’t share Great Aunt Caroline’s similar concern about Jack. “No, but I’ll keep your comment in mind the next time I see him.”

  Pam nodded and continued out the door and off the porch.

  Hannah moved toward the door and saw Vanessa hurrying toward Pam with her hand waving in the air. “Oh, Miss Policeperson. Do you have a minute?”

  Miss Policewoman? Pam’s shoulders tensed. Hannah bit her lip to keep from laughing and took the opportunity to bypass Pam and Vanessa. Petunia also decided she was ready for a snack and ambled over to Hannah. She returned to her office with Petunia following behind.

  “There’s a change in plans,” Hannah said to Samantha. “I’m taking Petunia to Ruby’s house so I have an excuse for being there.” She tilted her head toward Pam and Vanessa. “With some luck, she’ll be tied up with Vanessa’s problem and I’ll have a chance to talk to Juliette again before Pam arrives.”

  Samantha put the harness on Petunia and clipped the leash to the ring. “I can get her when I know what the photo schedule timeframe is.”

  “Leave time to spray her down unless Harold wants a muddy pig on his calendar spread.”

  “I’ll ask him.” Samantha grinned. “I can imagine all kinds of scenarios with her—a bubble bath, a big tub of flowers, a pile of towels. This girl is on her way to stardom.”

  “Petunia or you, Samantha?”

  “Both of us, of course.” Samantha put one hand on her hip and struck a pose.

  After a big handful of popcorn, Petunia was content to head down the road toward Ruby’s house and her fenced-in pen. Nellie and Patches refused to be left behind. As they came abreast of Jack’s house, Hannah glanced over and just made out his profile through the big front picture window. He looked to be asleep in his chair which was highly unusual. He wasn’t normally a nap person.

  Hannah picked up her pace as she detoured to Jack’s front door. With a shaky hand she tried the doorknob without knocking, wondering if she should disturb him or let him nap. The door clicked and squeaked as she push it open.

  “Can’t I get any privacy without you barging in at all hours of the day?” Jack’s cranky voice was music to Hannah’s ears.

  Hannah remained at the door with Petunia but the dogs let themselves in. “Just wondering if you want to come over to Ruby’s house with us.” She had to come up with some reason for dropping in.

  “Us?”

  “Yeah, me and Petunia. She’s turned into an escape artist and I have to figure o
ut how she got out of her pen. Want to help?”

  Jack didn’t answer. Hannah dropped the leash and rushed into the living room, his head tilted backward against the chair. His eyes were closed.

  “Jack!” Hannah shook him.

  His eyes opened but it took a few seconds for him to focus on Hannah’s face. “When did you get here?”

  “You don’t remember?” Hannah crouched in front of Jack. “Are you feeling all right?”

  He blinked a couple of times. “Yeah, yeah, don’t hover. What do you want, anyway?”

  Hannah straightened. “I guess you must have fallen asleep. I’m wondering if you want to come over to Ruby’s house with me and help me repair Petunia’s pen. Somehow she escaped this morning.”

  “Sure.” Jack pushed himself up. “Do you think she’ll have any coffee there?”

  “Even if she does, you’ll complain about it.”

  He headed into his kitchen. “I’ll make some to bring. I can’t stand weak coffee. It’s meant to be strong and give a good caffeine kick.” He busied himself measuring his coffee and water while Hannah waited.

  “You don’t have to wait for me. I can find my way down the road to your sister’s house. You don’t have to babysit.” Jack turned his back to Hannah and turned his coffee maker on.

  “Just keeping you company, Jack.” Was he standing a little more stooped than normal? For his eighty-one years, he always stood ramrod straight, but something was a little different this morning. Her eyes roamed the kitchen—neat and tidy, except for some papers scattered on his small kitchen table.

  She stepped closer. On top, rested an unopened envelope from a diagnostic laboratory. Her heart skipped a beat.

  When Hannah looked back toward Jack, he was watching her with a scowl. “Don’t be snooping into my business, Hannah.”

  “Jack, I’m not snooping. I care. What’s in that envelope?”

  “Well, how can I know? You can see plain as day that I haven’t opened it yet.” He returned his attention to his coffee and poured it into his big thermos.

  “Is it bad news?” She held her breath.

  Jack let out a loud, frustrated sigh. “Again, I haven’t looked, so I can’t answer any of your prying questions. Now, drop it and,” he pointed his gnarly finger at Hannah, “don’t mention or even hint at any of this to Pam. I don’t want her over here twisting her hands and acting like I’m on my death bed or something. She hovers worse than you do. When I’m good and ready, I’ll tell you what I want to share.” He picked up the thermos. “Now, let’s go and fix Petunia’s pen.”

  Hannah snuck a last glance at the envelope but since she didn’t have x-ray vision, she could only guess what was inside.

  She left Jack’s house with a knot in her stomach and fear in her heart.

  Chapter 15

  Petunia was nowhere in sight when Jack and Hannah left his house. Unlike her two faithful dogs who waited at the front door and danced around Hannah when she went outside.

  “Nellie, why didn’t you think to hang onto Petunia’s leash?” Hannah jokingly asked her golden retriever mix.

  Nellie looked at Hannah and wagged her tail even harder.

  “Petunia’s pretty smart. I bet she has already let herself back into her pen for a mid-morning nap,” Jack said. “At least, that’s what I’d be doing if I was her.” He mumbled, “Peace and quiet away from all these hovering women.”

  Hannah smiled but pretended she didn’t hear Jack’s comment. As much as he complained, she suspected that he enjoyed the attention. Most of the time.

  “I’ll check the pen for Petunia if you want to take your coffee inside.”

  Hannah walked along the path that curved around the side of Ruby’s house but not before she heard him mutter, “And bossy, too.”

  Wait until Great Aunt Caroline found out about Jack’s unopened medical test. That was when he’d find out about bossy.

  Hannah stopped at Petunia’s gate. She was contentedly lying in the shade at the edge of her muddy puddle. She looked up at Hannah as if to say, gee, what took you so long?

  Hannah jiggled the gate to find it firmly latched. Either she was smarter than Hannah realized, or someone found her and let her back into the pen. But how did she get out? Hannah took the leash and harness off the pig and turned toward her sister’s house.

  The back door of Ruby’s house opened. “Juliette is gone!” Ruby shouted. “I took a shower while Olivia was watching Sesame Street and when I got done, she was gone.”

  Many possibilities ran through Hannah’s brain. None of them good. And one she hadn’t considered walked around the corner of Ruby’s house just as Hannah reached the back door.

  Pam’s face was set like a stone statue—hard and cold. “Miss Chandler’s car isn’t here. I better not find out that you warned her that I was stopping by.” Pam’s eyes bore into Hannah’s with a level of anger she hadn’t seen before.

  Jack walked out. “Cool down, Pam. Hannah was at my house until five minutes ago, and the only car that was here when we arrived was Ruby’s. How about you come inside. I have some coffee.”

  Anyone who loved coffee and had ever tasted Jack’s couldn’t refuse his offer. And Pam probably went through ten cups a day, with nine of them being watered down dishwater from the police station.

  She walked inside behind her father.

  Maisy jumped on Hannah’s legs begging for attention. Hannah bent down and picked up the small dog. “Where’s your momma? She’s coming back for you, right?” Maisy’s tongue flicked out and caught Hannah’s chin.

  “Maybe I should lock up the dog to flush Juliette out of hiding.” Pam’s words were harsher than her tone but Hannah’s arms tightened around Maisy.

  With a deep sigh, Pam asked, “So, any idea where the elusive Juliette Chandler might be?” Pam looked at Ruby over the rim of her mug.

  “She’s not Monique’s killer,” Ruby said.

  “How about you help me find her and then let me figure that one out.” The last part of her comment was pointedly directed at Hannah.

  “I’m not sure where she is, but last night she said she had some unfinished business to take care of. She said that’s why she scheduled this photoshoot in Hooks Harbor.” Ruby looked at Hannah and raised her eyebrows. “She didn’t give me any more details.”

  “Unfinished business like tracking down her husband to finish him off? Or that other model, Gwen?” Pam said.

  “Nothing like that. She said it was connected to something that happened about six years ago. With another model.” Ruby paused before she continued. “Juliette said she was doing a photoshoot at the cottages, now owned by Hannah, before she and Harold were married.”

  The hairs on Hannah’s neck prickled. Great Aunt Caroline mentioned that incident and something about one of the models working for Harold leaving suddenly.

  “I have a vague memory of that,” Jack said. “Caroline commented to me at the time about how rude the photographer was to one of his models. She wanted to give him a piece of her mind but the one model left and the photographer was as sweet as sugar to the other one after that. Do you think it’s the same guy who’s here now?”

  “I do,” Hannah said forcefully before she caught herself and said too much about the information from Great Aunt Caroline who was supposed to be dead. “At least, according to what Juliette said to Ruby. I mean, how many photographers did Juliette work with?”

  Jack gave Hannah an odd look but didn’t grill her. The look told Hannah that he suspected she knew more than she was sharing.

  “I’m going back to the station to do some digging,” Pam said. “When—I’ll be optimistic—when Juliette returns, tell her to get herself over to my office before I have to come here to drag her in.” She lifted her cup toward Jack. “Thanks for the coffee, Dad. It’s got me firing on all cylinders now.”

  Hannah put Maisy down after she was sure Pam was gone and wouldn’t make good on her threat to take the dog. The Moodle immediately trotted upst
airs and disappeared.

  Jack made himself comfortable in Ruby’s living room and kept his eyes on Hannah. She didn’t like his intense scrutiny. She knew she’d have to confess to seeing Great Aunt Caroline as soon as they had privacy away from Ruby.

  “Maybe I should have told Pam that Juliette left her bag here,” Ruby said.

  “She didn’t ask so you’re good,” Jack said. “What she doesn’t know can’t hurt you.”

  “If anyone is going to snoop, I’d rather it be us. You know, just in case,” Ruby said, leaving off what they all were probably thinking. Just in case there was something to incriminate Juliette.

  “Lead the way. I’m happy to do the snooping honors,” Hannah said. She seriously doubted that Juliette would leave anything incriminating at Ruby’s house. But sometimes a distracted person forgets to be careful.

  As Ruby led the way upstairs to her guest room, she whispered to Hannah, “Juliette did tell me something else that might mean something.” She push the door open and let Hannah enter first.

  Hannah made a quick visual inspection—the bed was made, a small carryon size case rested on a chair, and the start of a knitting project lay carefully rolled up on the bed with Maisy using it as a pillow. It didn’t appear that Juliette left in a hurry or that she wasn’t planning to return.

  “Juliette told me that Harold admitted to her that Monique was driving him crazy. He regretted letting his, um, weakness, destroy their marriage.” Ruby leaned against the doorframe.

  “Do you believe it?”

  Ruby shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know what to believe. I guess I don’t know her all that well.”

  Hannah sat on the edge of the bed and picked up the knitting while she patted Maisy. “What’s she making?”

  “A blanket for Olivia. Dark pink, like Olivia requested.” Ruby smiled. “She has a big heart, but—”

  “But everything doesn’t fit together nice and tidy, right?” Hannah finished Ruby’s thought. “How did you meet Juliette?”

  “A mutual friend. We hit it off right away and kept in touch. When she let me know she’d be coming to Hooks Harbor for a short stay, I was thrilled. She’s the kind of person that even though we haven’t known each other for more than a few years and hardly spend time together, it seems like we’ve known each other forever. It’s weird.”