Independence Day Murder

by Linnea West

  He grabbed my hand and gave it a little squeeze before lifting it to his lips. A quick kiss on the hand assured me that the anger had left and we were back on good terms. I smiled back at him, not wanting to leave this moment. The only thing that pulled me out of it was Trevor pushing my bike helmet into my gut.

  For the second time, we got back on our tandem bicycle and left the boat landing. As we cycled away, I spotted Murray's giant mansion on his little swath of land. It must be nice to have enough money to do things like make your own private beach. How strange that his wife seemed so miserable.

  I thought back to the Third of July parade and how miserable she had looked. She had been dressed in all black, even in the summer heat. The only spot of color was a flashy American flag brooch that had almost seemed ironic on her all black outfit.

  The bike skidded to a stop as I hit the brakes. The American flag pin probably had gems like the one we had found. I had been a long way away from Carol so I didn't know for sure, but I could assume that it may match. If the police could find the brooch and see if it was missing a gem, they would know it had come from her pin.

  "Umm Tessa?" Trevor said, tapping me lightly on the shoulder. "Why did we stop? Are you okay?"

  "Yeah, yeah, totally," I said. "But I think I just solved this mystery and we need to go back to the beach. I think I know where the gemstone came from."

  Trevor just shrugged as I turned the bike around and steered us once again to the boat landing parking lot. When it came into sight, I saw that Max already had another cop there with him so instead of going up to him to talk to him, I caught his eye and made the hand sign for "call me."

  Max scowled at me as he made the hand sign for "go away." I was glad that the other cop who had been called there was Philip because he knew me well enough to keep a pretty straight face as he watched Trevor and I bike by on a bicycle built for two. He just waved hello as I rode toward the Donut Hut to call and relay the information to Max.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Once we biked back downtown, I called Max as soon as we were upstairs in the apartment. I told him what I had remembered about Carol's brooch and her surly attitude. Max was quiet for a while until he revealed that they had been thinking of bringing her in anyway because of how strange her reaction had been after she got over the shock of seeing Murray's dead body. I asked him to keep me up to date on the investigation and he scoffed a little before saying goodbye.

  "Want some more pizza?" Trevor asked, coming out of the kitchen with a plate of warmed up pizza slices.

  Pizza from Nick's is one of my ultimate weaknesses, so I grabbed a slice while I thought through my interaction with Carol. I was silently munching a very cheesy piece of pizza when Trevor interrupted my thoughts.

  "Maybe you could do some thinking out loud?" Trevor said. "I would love to know how you are putting all of these pieces together because I know I'm not super good at investigating, but I'd like to know how you do it. Maybe if I learn, I could be more helpful."

  I smiled at him and finished chewing. While he wasn't so good at the finding clues part of solving mysteries, so far he had been a pretty good partner in solving crime. Even Mandy would have slowed me down by asking me questions or insisting I was wrong. Trevor just went along with my crazy schemes even though I didn't give him all of the information.

  Trevor grabbed another slice of pizza as I backtracked and told him the whole story, starting with Max and I finding the boat. I told him about Carol's reaction to the boat and that I had to take her home. I relayed how she said she hated boating and had never even ridden in it, which in hindsight seemed like her covering her tracks, especially when she had mentioned she hadn't seen the fireworks. I described their house and Carol's drinking habits along with Rebecca's relationship to Carol and her reaction to finding out Murray was dead. I even talked through Carol saying that she was glad he was gone.

  "Heavy," Trevor said under his breath when I had finished.

  I grabbed the last slice on the plate and took a triumphant bite as I watched the wheels turn in Trevor's head. Grabbing the plate, I stood up to take it into the kitchen when I noticed a ruckus outside the window. The living room window overlooked Main Street and if you leaned over far enough, you could see all the way down to the courthouse that housed all of the city offices and the police department.

  Gathering outside around the statue in front of the courthouse, a large group of people with signs were starting to chant. I couldn't make out what they were saying, but I didn't have to be able to understand it to know that they were probably talking about the city beach.

  "We need to go," I said. "But this time we can walk."

  Trevor jumped to his feet and after a glance out the window and a nod to me, grabbed his house keys and we were off. Once we were outside in the alley, I could hear the group even louder.

  "WE WANT OUR BEACH TO HAVE MORE SAND, NOT MORE MONEY IN OUR HAND."

  I cringed a little, wondering what Ronald was going to do. He loved Shady Lake so much, but this was a huge misstep on his part. I couldn't help but feel bad for Mayor Panda. I just hoped that he would come out the other side unscathed at election time.

  Even though it was mid-week, there were plenty of people protesting along with lots of lookie-loos who had been drawn out of their downtown businesses to come see what was going on. The crowd of protesters were holding signs calling for more money for the public beach and less government corruption, which seemed to be a bit harsh, but I understood the sentiment.

  My flip phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out to see a message from Max.

  I can see you down there. Don't get in trouble. FYI, we have Carol here and are questioning her. She's pretty surly about the whole thing and insists she's never been in the boat and she wasn't even awake to see the fireworks.

  I looked up and spotted Max in one of the windows on the top floor. He didn't wave back when I waved, but he did flash me a small smile. I typed out a quick message back.

  I won't get in trouble, but please tell me that you will be releasing Derek.

  From where I was standing, I could see Max pull out his phone and look at my message before typing one more back to me. Before I could read it, he disappeared away from the window.

  It looks like he will be released.

  I started jumping up and down, which drew a few odd looks and some high fives from the protesters who thought I was just really into the chanting. Trevor gave me a puzzled look before I handed him my phone. As he read what Max had said, a wide smile crossed his face. He grabbed my arm and started jumping up and down with me.

  Hysterical laughter burst out of me and I couldn't help but belly laugh first because I was just so happy, but then because I couldn't get over the looks we were getting from some people. I made a mental note to tell all of this to Mandy soon so that people wouldn't start gossip about Trevor and I doing sordid things behind her back. How dare we happily jump together in public. As much as I loved being back in Shady Lake, I had not missed all of the gossip while I was gone.

  Suddenly, a loud jeer of BOO erupted from the crowd. I stopped jumping and turned around to see Ronald emerging from the courthouse. Despite the July heat, Ronald was dressed in his standard uniform of a button up shirt under a sweater vest. This vest featured a wavy blue pattern, almost as if he had known he would have to talk about the lake and the beach today.

  He made his way up to the protesters and held his hands up to show that he came in peace. One of the Save the Beach members gave him a megaphone and with much difficulty, Ronald climbed up to stand on a nearby park bench.

  "Shady Lake residents, especially members of the Save the Beach club, I am here to address you today about the public beach," Ronald said into the megaphone. "I was going to send out a press release, but let me cut right to the chase and tell you here, the beach will be getting a new load of sand next week. We are working on revitalizing this important piece of public land in Shady Lake and hope that we can all work t
ogether to make it a safe, fun place for all the residents of Shady Lake."

  A cheer went up from the crowd as everyone started to jump and hug. Now Trevor and I didn't look so crazy for our earlier display. A few people helped Ronald down off of the bench and patted him on the back as they shook his hand. I was happy to see that despite the anger over the beach, no one seemed to be holding it against Ronald personally. Ronald looked relieved too as now the smile on his face was not ringed by worry, wrinkles and knit-together eyebrows.

  The crowd now turned into almost a dance party as a car nearby turned their speakers up and started playing happy music. The electric energy was almost contagious and I couldn't help but dance along. This was the flip side to the small town gossip. Everyone was willing to dance and party with you when things went your way.

  There was only one thing that seemed off. Just across the crowd of people, there was one person who wasn't dancing or even smiling. Rebecca stood at the edge of the crowd, off a bit by herself in the shade of a tree. She didn't look happy.

  Rebecca was a bit more put together today. She still had her bright red, short haircut that made her look a bit out of step, but her outfit was much more refined. In contrast to the cartoon t-shirt she had been wearing the other day, now she had on a v-neck, blue striped shirt that along with her hair made her look like she didn't know she'd missed the Fourth of July.

  I wondered if she was there to try to help her sister. When I had seen them together on the morning of Murray's murder, they hadn't seemed close at all. But in times of crisis, families often pull together. This might be one of those times.

  Rebecca suddenly seemed to spot me. I started to look away when she raised one hand and smiled at me, wiggling her fingers in an odd sort of wave. As I waved back, she turned and walked away from the courthouse and back towards an expensive looking sports car that was parked on a side street.

  I couldn't put my finger on it, but I didn't quite understand their situation. I know that Rebecca and Carol had grown up without much money. They both seemed to be enjoying this lifestyle, even if Rebecca had to act as their housekeeper. Besides the fact that Murray had been murdered, they both seemed to be thriving.

  So what would drive Carol to murder her husband? Wouldn't the flow of money stop if he wasn't around anymore? Obviously Carol would inherit his estate, but after that dried up, what would she do?

  As glad as I was to spring Derek from jail, there was still something strange that I couldn't put my finger on. I made a note to try and meet with Rebecca sometime soon. Maybe she could explain the strange relationship she and her sister had. If nothing else, she seemed like a woman who could use a friend.

  I checked my phone and saw that right now, though, I was due at the winery to help with a few last minute wedding plans.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The tasting room was humming with people when I arrived. I smiled, thinking about Derek and Greg's worry about the investigation ruining their business. I was just glad I could help without making them release the embarrassing tape. Shady Lake could use a wonderful place to meet with friends just like the tasting room.

  "Don't worry, I have a glass of wine waiting for you," Derek said as he slid his arm through mine as I walked in the front door. "And there are plenty more where that came from. I think that's the most appropriate way for a vintner to thank his knight in shining armor."

  "Thank you," I said. "And congratulations on your major beach victory. I heard that they approved more sand for the beach next week."

  "They did, but I have a feeling we might have some sand before then," Derek said, winking at me before a big smile spread across his face.

  I smiled back at him as he shepherded me through the tables of people enjoying themselves and into the back, private room. This was where Mandy and all of us bridesmaids would be getting ready in just a few more days. Right now, it was wedding planning headquarters.

  It was a cozy, fireside room with a spectacular view of a rolling meadow. In the winter, I could imagine having a Christmas party in this room with a large fire roaring in the fireplace and plenty of mulled wine to drink. The scene outside would be full of snow, but the inside would be hung with Christmas lights to brighten the room.

  I snapped myself back to my summer reality when a cold blast of A/C hit me from an overhead vent. Mandy was sitting in a big, leather armchair with her wedding planning binder in front of her on the table. One thing I appreciated about her was how calm and organized she was, even amid short-term, wedding planning chaos. I had been a nervous bride when I married Peter, worried about whether my wedding would be fancy enough or memorable enough. I had wasted too much time trying to do everything myself and comparing it to everyone else's wedding. I had learned my lesson and the next time I got married, I would delegate, delegate, delegate, worrying only about whether it was a wedding day I would enjoy.

  There were three glasses of wine on the table and I assumed that the extra full one was mine. Mandy smiled at me as I picked up the full glass of white wine and took my place in the matching armchair that was next to hers. She held out her glass and Derek added his to the group.

  "To Tessa for saving the day," Mandy said. "And springing Derek from jail. Hear hear!"

  "Hear hear!" Derek chimed in.

  "Cheers," I said before taking a large sip.

  For a moment, I sank back into the armchair and tried to just enjoy a few sips of wine. The wedding planning was almost done and everything was coming together. Thanks to my mother and sisters, everything that had to be put together, like favors and presents for the wedding party, were already done. The end was in sight.

  "I am happy to report that with all of the free time I had from being in jail, I was able to finalize the table placement in the tasting room for the wedding dinner," Derek said.

  He produced a piece of yellow paper that looked like it had been ripped off of a legal pad. Derek had carefully drawn in the tables along with the bar and all of the columns. The dance floor would actually be outside, because the tasting room had two large barn-style doors that would be swung open. That was the only way to fit everyone at a table inside.

  We spent an hour going over all of the details including the schedule for the wedding day, the final menu, and the plans for the groom's dinner the next day. I tried to keep a firm handle on how much wine I was consuming since I knew between the bachelorette party tonight, the groom's dinner tomorrow, and the actual wedding the day after that, I would have to pace myself if I wanted to get through it and remember it all at the end.

  Mandy stood up to go get us one more bottle of wine from Greg in the tasting room and I took the chance to ask Derek about the investigation. Derek was sitting on a loveseat that looked comfortable enough to nap on, but he was sitting up ramrod straight. I could tell that no matter how put together he looked, he was still very nervous about hosting this wedding.

  "Everything is going great," I said. "This wedding is going to be gorgeous."

  "I hope so," Derek said. "Lord knows I've stressed enough about it. I just hope I can do it justice for Mandy. She is so calm and she believes in us so much. If it were anyone else, I would have said no."

  "Mandy is like that," I said with a wink. "She has a way with people."

  I tried to get a feel for what Derek was thinking. He seemed to be as calm as he was going to be before this wedding was over, so I took a deep breath and launched into it.

  "Do you mind if I ask you something?" I asked.

  Derek nodded and I scooted myself out of the chair so that I was sitting next to him on the sofa. He gave me a puzzled look as I leaned toward him conspiratorially.

  "Did the police mention anything else about the murder or any other clues?" I asked.

  "You already helped me and got them to question Carol, why do you need to know more?" Derek asked.

  "I still have this feeling like something isn't right," I said. "Even though I started looking around to help you and make sure Mandy's wedding
wasn't canceled, I can't just sit back when I feel like maybe the police still have it wrong."

  Derek took a deep breath and looked around as if maybe the police had come and bugged the fireside room. He scrutinized me for a moment. Maybe he thought I was wearing a wire for the cops, like I was some kind of strange, small-town snitch, but he must have thought better of it.

  "There was one more clue that they asked me about but told me not to tell anyone," Derek said. "But I know I can trust you because you haven't told anyone about the security tape and our little snafu with the tablecloths."

  He looked around one more time, making sure that we were actually alone before he started frantically whispering to me.

  "The police showed me this ratty, old, gray sweatshirt that was covered with blood on the front," Derek said. "The police said they had found it on the boat and that it had been worn by the killer because the blood on the front was from Murray. They said it would fit me. It was definitely cut for a woman and I told them that but then they tried to say that I had used it as some sort of disguise. They made it sound like I put on some sort of costume and lied my way onto the boat somehow. I mean, how ridiculous is that?"

  That was a pretty ridiculous idea, but it also made me wonder about Carol. She claimed she hadn't seen the fireworks and that she had never been on the boat but even if she had I couldn't imagine her wearing some ratty old sweatshirt. When she had walked to get the boat at the beach at dawn and half drunk already, she had looked more put together than that. Whose sweatshirt was it then?

  "The police said that whoever had been wearing it must have taken it off and tried to stop the bleeding with it, but when that hadn't worked, they had tried to hide it in one of the little cupboards on the boat," Derek said. "I told them that even if it had been mine, I would have no clue where to hide anything on a boat like that."

  I was about to ask him a few more questions when the door opened again and Mandy came in carrying another ice bucket with a bottle of white wine chilling in it. I certainly like wine, but I think soon my blood will be more wine than anything else if I keep getting my wine glass filled everywhere I go.