Mistletoe and Mayhem (Port Danby Cozy Mystery Book 3)

by London Lovett

  “Very funny. I noticed they aren’t getting wet out here in the mosaic of puddles on your lawn. Did you spray them with something to make them waterproof?”

  “Yes, I think it’s called Water Guard. I have it right here with my tools. You can borrow it if you like. Spray it outside though. It’s kind of strong.”

  “That’s what I’ve heard. Do you mind if I spray a little into the air. I’d like to see what it smells like.”

  He stared at me in confusion. “You want to smell it?”

  “It’s for the case I’m working on with—” I stopped short of saying the name that I knew always put Dash in a darker mood. I sighed in frustration. It was terribly hard to know both men and not be able to make mention of the other in front of them. “It has to do with the murder case.”

  Dash disappeared behind a stack of wood and emerged with a green and white can. He shook it up and took off the lid. He squirted some of the mist into the air. I didn’t need to take a deep breath or move closer to get a good whiff of it. It was certainly as strong as Lola and Dash had warned.

  “The smell wears off once it’s dry,” Dash noted.

  “That’s good to know. Unfortunately, it’s not the odor I was looking for. But thanks for your time. Have fun with your friends.”

  “Thanks. You too.”

  I headed back to my house. I was having no luck trying to chase down that chemical smell. I didn’t even know if it would be helpful. It really felt like this murder case was taking me in circles.

  Chapter 31

  After filling ourselves with the starchiest meal in the history of meals, Lola and I had two choices. Either plunk down on the couch like sacks of potatoes and stare absently at a blue-eyed version of Mr. Darcy or walk down to Elsie’s and to the town to try and regain our dignity by burning off the overload of calories. After some heavy-duty mind debates, we opted for the walk. It was a little too early in the evening to slip into a carbohydrate stupor.

  Lola zipped up her coat and stared down at herself. “I could swear it’s tighter than when I first walked in here tonight. Do you think I already gained weight from that dinner?”

  “Only if your body can digest and absorb an entire meal just a half hour after it was consumed.” I wrapped my scarf around my neck and positioned it so I could pull it up to cover my nose and mouth on the walk down Myrtle Place.

  “Must you always be so scientific?” Lola asked.

  “Well, I do have a science degree. And you asked.” We stepped outside and a blast of cold air made us both scrunch up in our coats.

  We headed down to the sidewalk. “Yes, but I expected the usual baloney filled good friend response of ‘oh you, Lola, you always look as thin as a runway model. Even in that big clownish parka, even after eating ten thousand calories of potatoes and noodles’.”

  “I could still tell you that, but it might sound insincere now. And would you really ever want to be as thin as those runway models? They look like they could slip down a crack in the sidewalk and never be seen again. And that’s after the camera adds the supposed ten pounds.”

  “True. They are bizarrely thin.” We hurried our pace to Elsie’s trying to avoid the biting cold breeze rushing along Myrtle Place. “We are still having that caramel cake later, right? Can’t believe we were both too full for cake. Usually my special dessert stomach allows me to eat sweets no matter how stuffed my regular food stomach is.”

  I laughed. “As your scientific friend, I will point out that animals with multiple stomachs usually spend their day grazing in fields and chewing cud. And, I’m fairly certain, they rarely eat dessert.”

  “What a waste of extra stomach.”

  We had a good laugh. I was glad that my plan to get Lola’s mind off Randall had worked. She hadn’t mentioned him all night, and I felt confident that the Dayton crisis had almost passed.

  We turned the corner to Elsie’s. We had texted her before leaving my house, and she was already waiting for us on the porch.

  “No Lester?” I asked as Elsie met us on the sidewalk. “I thought he might join us.”

  “He says the cold makes his bones hurt. Besides, his plumber friend is helping him put a drain in for the new bath tub.”

  “We should buy him a big basket of bath salts and bubbles and sponges for his luxury bathroom,” I said as we reached Harbor Lane.

  “I think that’s a great idea,” Elsie said. I had brought it up as a joke, but apparently she was serious. And she knew her brother better than anyone.

  “Fun. I think I have just the basket in my shop,” Lola added.

  There was a line of people waiting by the Mod Frock for a ride in the horse carriage. The clamor of voices and music wafting up from the coast indicated that there was a large crowd of people gathered for the flotilla. It seemed, for now, people had put the unpleasantness of an unsolved murder behind them to finish off what was meant to be a festive weekend.

  Elsie and Lola were drawn toward the beach and the display of lights. At first the plan was to have the Sea Gem towed away from the other boats to be taken back to Ruxley’s marina slip near his home town. But I’d heard through Ryder and a few other people that they had decided to move the boat in between the other boats. Some of the other boat owners had made a large wreath of lights. That was all that was lit on the Sea Gem as a tribute to its owner. It was obvious the other boat owners thought highly of Chad Ruxley. That reality made it much harder to think that someone out there hated him enough to knock him on the head and strangle him with holiday ribbon.

  “Elsie and I are going to brave the cold wind and go down on the sand to see if we recognize any of the reporters,” Lola said.

  “You go ahead. I’m going to check out the items for sale on the carolers’ table.” I wasn’t exactly sure what I was looking for at the table, but I hoped something new and significant would jump out at me. I still needed to figure out what the chemical odor was on the sweater and the ribbon. With any luck, I’d find something that matched it.

  My best laid plans were delayed by the large group of people standing around the trestle table. I should have predicted that it would be a popular spot on the pier. I decided to let the line shrink some and headed over to the bike rental kiosk where Yolanda and some of the high school kids were selling hot chocolate to raise money for the sports teams. The line there was long too, but I decided to give it a try.

  I searched around hoping to see Detective Briggs, but he was not a fan of crowded town events. I wondered if he had gotten any further on the investigation. I was highly curious to know what he’d found out from Tim Ruxley about his relationship with Charlene.

  My fortitude paid off, and I reached the front of the cocoa line. One of Franki’s sons was filling the cups for Yolanda.

  “Hey, Miss Pinkerton,” Taylor or Tyler said as he placed the lid on the cup.

  I leaned forward and took a deep smell. I had to concentrate to block out the rich fragrance of the cocoa. “Taylor, right?”

  He smiled, seemingly thrilled that someone had actually guessed right. “You’re getting good at telling us apart. That’s pretty fast compared to most people.”

  “Thanks but I sort of cheated. I saw Tyler this morning when he was helping with the window awards. I know he’s been wearing that sharp smelling sports medicine.”

  “Oh wow, I hadn’t thought of that. Maybe I should tell him to wear it all the time. Only he’ll have to sleep in the garage because no one can stand to sit or eat or sleep near him.”

  “Yeah, that might be sort of inconvenient for the family. I’ll just have to find something else to help me tell you two apart.”

  “That’s easy.” He pointed at his chest with his thumb. “I’m the handsome one.”

  I laughed at his comment as I handed Yolanda my two dollars. “Looks like things are going pretty well considering,” I commented as she handed me my cup.

  “Yes, I suppose it could be worse,” Yolanda said. “Although someone did die, so maybe not.”
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  The line behind me was getting longer. I nodded my thank you and turned around to scoot off with my hot drink. I was sure it wouldn’t be as good as Lester’s, but it would be hot and that was all I needed.

  I had my head down, trying to keep it out of the bitter cold and keep my face closer to the warmth radiating from the cup, when I heard Kate Yardley’s voice. I peered up from my drink.

  Kate was decked out in an adorable red coat with white fur trim. Her boots, gloves and hat were all made from shiny black leather. But it wasn’t the fashionable holiday attire that had my attention as much as the man she was attached to. Her shiny black gloved hand was wrapped around the arm of Randall Dayton. He had left behind the yellow construction hat and switched out his work clothes for a thick winter coat and beanie.

  Gigi was right. The man really got around. And I now knew how to fill in the blank Gigi had left when she talked about Dayton in the store. I wondered when Kate had met him. Even more so, I wondered how on earth the guy had so much spare time to meet and date women when he was running a large construction job.

  Kate spotted me, and I was certain she wanted to make sure I saw her. She guided Dayton so that they passed directly in front of me. She didn’t bother to say hello, which I pretty much expected. She was probably hoping I’d mention seeing her to Dash. But she could just keep hoping on that. Her date with Randall didn’t interest me at all, especially because they seemed to be leaving and walking away from the activity and my heartsick friend, Lola.

  They were well past when something struck me. Randall had left the smell of tobacco in his wake. It was strong too, as if he’d just recently smoked a cigarette. Was it possible that he only smoked away from the job site and only when he was out of his work clothes? The whole thing was more than a tad baffling.

  Chapter 32

  Even though I knew Detective Briggs was still stuck deep in the middle of the murder case, I was relieved that the holiday event was over. Most of the boats had taken down their decorations and some were already making their way back up the coast. A lot of tourists were still lingering in town, but most would be gone by afternoon. I looked forward to the return of some quiet in Port Danby.

  Miraculously, Lola, Elsie and I had managed to get through the rest of the evening without any drama, which by drama I meant running into a certain construction worker and his busy dating agenda. Seeing Dayton with Kate Upton on his arm would have erased all the good the comfort food and caramel cake feast had done. In fact, Lola seemed to be back on her way to her usual good spirits. I only wished that Dayton Construction had been packing up along with the boat owners. I knew little about building houses, but I was sure they’d be around for at least a few more months.

  I headed to the shop. It was Sunday and the shop would stay closed. It gave me the perfect opportunity to finish up dull paperwork. And, if I was being honest with myself, I also hoped to see Detective Briggs while I was on Harbor Lane. I hadn’t spoken to him since I told him about the apparent affair between Tim and Charlene.

  Lester was not usually open on Sunday, but I smelled the heavy scent of coffee as I reached my shop door. I hadn’t seen him much all weekend and decided to stop in and say hello before starting paperwork.

  I knocked on the front door and peered through the window to get his attention. Lester put down the coffee pot and came to the door to let me inside.

  “I see you are working on Sunday too,” I said. “I’m finally going to get to the paperwork I have piling up on my desk.” I looked at his coffee station. It was covered with flavored syrups, cans of whipped cream and bits of chocolate. “I think your Sunday drudge work looks much more fun than mine.”

  “I’m trying out some new flavors, so you’re just in time to do a little taste test. If you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all. I could use another burst of caffeine. Yesterday was a long day … and night.”

  Lester walked behind his counter to his barista station. “I, for one, am glad to have this whole event behind us. With the crowds, the news crews, the unfortunate murder and that blasted window decorating contest, this past week seemed about a year long.”

  “I totally agree with that, Les. Elsie tells me you are remodeling your bathroom and putting in one of those fancy soak tubs.”

  “Yes. We just put in the drain last night. Looking forward to that tub too. Especially in the cold weather. My days as a firefighter have caught up to me. I can feel every joint and muscle these days.” He poured some syrup into a cup and followed it with hot coffee. The aroma of coffee and vanilla filled the air.

  “Smells good. What flavor is this?”

  “This is my vanilla and peppermint surprise. Would you like a squirt of whipped cream?”

  “The day I say no to that question is the day I’ve given up on all that is good in the world. So yes.”

  He chuckled as he topped the coffee with a creamy white swirl. He grabbed a handful of crushed peppermint and tossed it on top of the whipped cream.

  He smiled proudly at his creation as he handed it to me.

  I did what any self-respecting coffee taster would do and licked off some of the whipped cream and peppermint first. As always, the mint tickled my nose. I placed the cup quickly down on the counter to avoid tossing the coffee all over the store as I sneezed. Lester looked somewhat taken aback as I covered my nose. A sneeze chirped through the store.

  “Bless you.”

  “Thanks. Peppermint makes me sneeze.” I lowered my hand, but as I drew it away, another faint smell threaded through the rich aroma of coffee and the strong scent of peppermint. I lifted my hand to my face again.

  “Another sneeze?” Lester asked. “I shouldn’t have put the mint candies on top.”

  I shook my head. “No, it’s not the candy. I smell something else.” Poor Lester looked almost distraught as I rubbed my hand on the cup and brought my palm to my nose. “That’s it. That’s the same chemical odor I smelled on the victim’s sweater.”

  Lester paled and his mouth dropped open.

  “No, I know you didn’t have anything to do with the murder, but there is something on this cup. It’s faint, too faint for the normal nose.” I reached my hand out. “Do you mind, Les? I think you might just have helped Detective Briggs’ case.”

  The color returned to his face as he placed his hand in mine. I brought it closer to my nose. “It’s on your hand. It’s a strong chemical smell. It’s exactly what I smelled on the sweater. Is it from something you use here in the coffee shop?”

  Lester’s fuzzy brows bunched together. “Gosh, I hope not. I don’t think my customers would appreciate chemical odors with their coffees.” He walked to his sink and carried over the sanitizer he used to wash his hands.

  I took a deep whiff and shook my head. “That’s not it.”

  “Thank goodness. I’ve been using that hand cleanser since I opened.” He reached up and scratched his chin and then smelled his fingers. “I know exactly what it is.” He lightly smacked the side of his head. “Of course. I must have washed my hands a dozen times last night to try and rid my hands of the odor. It’s the adhesive my plumber friend and I used to stick together the pipes for the bathtub drain. The drain pipes are made of a special thick resin, and they require an adhesive to make a proper seal. It’s quite odorous, as you noticed.”

  My sleuthing adrenaline kicked into gear, but I had to keep a lid on my excitement. Mostly because the direction my mind was heading still didn’t make much sense. “Is this adhesive something that gets used a lot on a house construction site.”

  “If the homeowners are planning to have bathrooms, yes,” he said with a light laugh.

  “Good to know.” I lifted my cocoa cup and raised it with a wink. “Thanks for the minty treat. It’s delicious. And thanks for having smelly adhesive on your hands. You just solved a mystery for me.”

  Chapter 33

  My plan to muddle through paperwork was interrupted by the latest development in the Ruxley murder case.
I sat down at my desk and pushed aside my work to write down everything we knew about the case so far. Or everything I knew. I hadn’t seen Detective Briggs since the day before when he was leaving to ask Tim Ruxley about his relationship with Charlene. He’d mentioned that he’d be speaking to Randall Dayton too. Alibi or not, this last piece of evidence had me focused back on Dayton. I pulled out a blank sheet of paper from my printer and scribbled down a quick graphic. There was Timothy Ruxley, brother of the victim who had hardly spoken to Chad in years because of a falling out in the family business, a business Chad, his older brother, had inherited. Inheritance issues could sometimes create a lot of animosity between family members. It seemed that had been the case with the Ruxley brothers.

  Timothy also appeared to have romantic feelings for Charlene Ruxley, Chad’s ex-wife, and it seemed Chad never really got over losing her. But there was no connection between Tim and the two unexpected odors on the sweater and ribbon. Or at least none that we could find.

  On the other hand, Charlene the ex-wife, who was romantically linked to Tim, had access to the same ribbon that was discovered around Chad’s throat. She also had access to the trestle table that had the distinct odor of Douglas Fir, the same woodsy scent I smelled on the sweater and ribbon.

  Then there was the third wheel on my three-wheeled diagram. Randall Dayton had a past with Chad Ruxley. Chad was instrumental in the collapse of Randall’s father’s business and indirectly responsible for his suicide. It seemed Randall had a much bigger motive than even the disgruntled brother or ex-wife. It was easy to connect Randall to both of the unique scents on Chad’s clothing. He worked with a great deal of Douglas Fir lumber, and while there was no direct evidence of it yet, it was easy to assume that at some point he had been working with the adhesive for plumbing pipes. But there was a big hole in the Randall Dayton theory. The man couldn’t have been in two places at once. It was the pancakes that should have taken him right out of the running, but something kept bringing me back to Dayton. I was missing something that was as obvious as the talented nose on my face. I just couldn’t figure it out.