Marriage and Murder (Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery Book 4)

by Dianne Harman

  “I’m certain the pin I found is Celia’s pin, and it must have fallen off her blouse, probably as she was rushing out the back door of The Crush. Remember you got a tip from an anonymous witness who said he heard people in the store arguing? I bet it was Celia and Jessie arguing, and somehow during the argument it turned physical, and they began struggling. Jesse must have broken the latch on Celia’s pin during that struggle. I’m sure she’s the one who killed Jesse. I think the broken pin proves it.”

  Mike swung his eyes from Kelly to Celia. “Well, Celia, what do you have to say for yourself? You might as well tell me because from what the fire investigators have discovered, it looks like the fire at Sophie Marchant’s home was intentionally set. Plus, they’ve located a gasoline can that was discarded not too far from the fire, and from the quick dusting they did on it for fingerprints, they were pretty sure there would be some on it that they could tie to the fire. I’d be willing to bet they’re your fingerprints.”

  “I’m placing you under arrest. Before you say anything, I’m going to read you your rights.” He took a card out of his wallet and began reading Celia her Miranda rights.

  “I want a lawyer,” she said. “I know I’m entitled to one.”

  “That you are, but between charges of arson and attempted murder, you might be a lot better off telling me everything, and I could request a more lenient sentence for you if you came clean.”

  “Mike, excuse me, but I need to talk to Celia.” Kelly turned toward Celia and said, “You need to know that Sophie will testify in court that she overheard you tell Jesse, when the two of you were talking in the back room of The Crush, that Sophie’s house should be burned down. You’ll be seeing that beautiful French woman win a case against you. I can only imagine how that will make you feel. Sophie may have lost Jesse, but ultimately she’ll win. Yes, Sophie is going to beat you.”

  “That’s why I killed him,” Celia blurted out. “He couldn’t help himself when she started sashaying and swishing around him in that high falutin French way. If he’d married her it would have ruined him and the town. I couldn’t let him do that. It would tarnish the Allen name to have that hussy carrying it, to say nothing of having more foreigners in Cedar Bay. We don’t want or need the likes of her around and we didn’t need that house...” She stopped, realizing what she’d said.

  “Mike, you told me once you always carry a recorder in your pocket, just in case. Hope this was a just in case time.”

  “Sweetheart, you’ve got a good memory. Yes, I recorded all of it. Celia just made a spontaneous and voluntary confession to having killed Jesse and pretty much admitted to having started the fire at Sophie’s house. I’m sure she came here to kill you because she realized she’d told you that the house should be burned down, and she was afraid you would connect her with the fire.”

  “Mike, I’m here,” they heard Rich shout out as he opened the front door.

  “Come down the hall and into the bedroom. Got someone we need to take to jail. I just got a full confession on the Jesse Allen murder case. I imagine the prints on the gas can that was found out at the site of tonight’s big fire will match hers as well, so we can add arson along with the attempted murder of Kelly to the charges.”

  Rich gasped when he walked into the room and saw Celia Parsons neé Allen handcuffed and sitting on the floor. Involuntarily he said, “Celia, what is going on?” She turned her eyes away from him and began sobbing.

  He turned to look at Mike, “I’ve known Celia since I was a kid. We grew up together, and our families were always very close. Can’t tell you how many times I ate dinner at the Allen home. I don’t doubt you Mike, but are you sure it’s Celia?”

  “Yes, in her demented mind, she was determined to keep Cedar Bay pure from outside influences. Unfortunately it involved killing her own brother and probably starting the fire out at the Marchant house tonight. She also tried to kill Kelly, probably in an attempt to cover up her involvement in setting Sophie Marchant’s house on fire. See if you can recover the bullet she fired into the bed. Put the bullet and Celia’s gun in an evidence bag. I can see it’s a .38, and I was told that Celia kept a .38 hidden in her nightstand. Five will get you ten the ballistics tests will also show that the bullet that killed Jesse was fired from that gun. Kelly, you didn’t touch the gun, did you?”

  “No, if you remember, I was in the embarrassing situation of being stuck under the bed. Thank heavens Lady alerted me, or I don’t know what would have happened. By the way, how did you and Rebel know that someone was here, and I was in danger?”

  “The light on the hood over the stove wasn’t on. We’ve always had an agreement that you’d turn it on when you went to bed if I had to be out late, so I’d know not to wake you up when I got home. I knew you’d be in bed by now, so the light should have been on. I guess Celia turned it off when she snuck into the house, hoping it might conceal her movements. That was a red flag for me, but before I even noticed that the light wasn’t on, Rebel was sniffing the ground like crazy, and as soon as we got to the front door, his body was quivering, and every guard hair he has on his back was up. I knew something was very, very wrong, and I was right. I’m just glad we got here when we did. Rich and I will take Celia to jail and do the necessary paperwork, so I’ll be gone for several hours. I’ll take Rebel with me, and while I don’t expect any problems with Celia, never hurts to have him with me, plus I probably need to give him a couple of special treats.”

  Lady looked at Kelly with an expectant look on her face. The word “treat” had not gone unnoticed by her.

  CHAPTER 25

  “Well, Mrs. Reynolds, it’s been a week now. Are you still glad you agreed to be my wife?” Mike said, pulling Kelly into his arms as they lay in bed, relaxing on Saturday morning.

  “I haven’t regretted it for a minute, although I didn’t expect my first week of marriage to be one where we’d solve a murder, I’d get shot at, or rather the bed where the person thought I was sleeping in got shot at, and I’d find out that I’ll be a step grandmother of not one, but two little girls. Wow! This really has been a week to remember. Tell you what. Why don’t you relax for a few minutes while I fix a one week special anniversary breakfast for the two of us.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll let the dogs out and get the paper while you start breakfast.”

  *****

  “Kelly, those omelets were fabulous. I like all three meals of the day, but I’d have to say I think breakfast is my favorite,” Mike said, as he spread the morning paper out in front of him. Kelly cleared the table, and a few minutes later she heard him gasp.

  “Mike, what is it?”

  “Remember the guy you followed from the AA meeting, Richard Larson, and the pictures I showed you of his place? Looks like the poor guy just couldn’t handle the swings between his alcoholism and trying to get sober. He committed suicide according to this article in the paper. He missed a meeting at his office, and from what the story says, his employer decided he’d had enough, and it was time to fire him. He went out to his house to tell him and found him dead. It was obvious suicide. He left a note saying that the devil alcohol had won. Poor guy.”

  “If it hadn’t been for Celia coming to our house, I probably would have tagged him as the person who killed Jesse. We’ve been so busy with everything else the last couple of days I don’t think you ever told me how Celia’s arraignment went.”

  “Pretty much as expected. She opted for a public defender and pled not guilty to the charge of first degree murder and all the other charges pending against her. If her attorney makes a deal with the district attorney, she might be able to plea bargain to a lesser charge. Rich told me he went to see Mrs. Allen and tell her how sorry he was about Celia. She told him that Sydney had asked her if she could come to live with her. Evidently they were very close, even after the divorce. I remember you telling me that Celia and Sydney were good friends.”

  “Good grief. Mrs. Allen and Sydney living together? Talk about truth being
stranger than fiction! I don’t think I’ve had a chance to tell you that Luke came to the coffee shop yesterday.”

  “No, you didn’t. What did he have to say?”

  “He hired a consultant and is committed to making the quality pinot noir that his brother made before his death. Luke told me he’d gone through all of the files Scott had on winemaking and found what he thought was a formula for their best seller. Evidently the consultant agreed that it seemed to be the right recipe for it. Luke also contacted the Pellino brothers and told them in no uncertain terms he was not selling the Center’s property, and if he ever found them or any of their employees on his property, he would get a restraining order against them.”

  “Good for him. Maybe that will get their attention, because it doesn’t seem like anything else has. I don’t think I’ve told you I got a call yesterday from the guy who worked for the Pellino Brothers Vineyard.”

  “No, what did he have to say?”

  “He told me he’d overheard Luca telling Dante that he was glad the guy named Guido Salerno wouldn’t be returning to the Pellino Brothers Vineyard. Dante said that was good news because he really didn’t like the guy. Remember, he was the one I researched who seemed to be a hit man for Angelo Rossi and the Mafia in Chicago. Maybe now things will be a little easier for Luke.”

  “I hope so. The poor guy’s been through so much. I’ve been meaning to ask you if you’d called Sophie and told her about Celia.”

  “Yes. I talked to her yesterday, after I received the initial report from the arson investigators. Their report, plus the admission from Celia, is good enough for me. Sophie told me it saddened her to think that Celia would do something like that, but she wasn’t surprised. She said she’d already contacted her insurance company, and she expected to receive the funds from the insurance she had on the property within a month or so. She told me she was sorry we’d never met, because she had really liked my wife, meaning you. The lady is a charmer.”

  “That makes me feel good. I told you I was sure she had nothing to do with Jesse’s death. If we can believe everything we’ve heard, she’s a survivor. She’s a woman who needs a man, and I’m sure if there’s not one in the wings, there will be shortly.”

  Mike raised one eyebrow and said, “A woman who needs a man? You say that like there’s something wrong with a woman needing a man.”

  “I think you misinterpreted what I said, Sheriff Mike. It’s kind of like you needing a little help from me with your investigations. I know I definitely need a man, and I’m just fine with that. Actually, why don’t we go back to bed and act like newlyweds?” she said, taking his hand and pulling him out of his chair.

  “I think this man can definitely arrange that, Mrs. Reynolds! But I do want you to remember one thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I’m the sheriff. These are my cases and you just get lucky once in a while. Deal?”

  “Deal!”

  Rebel and Lady looked at one another, rolled over, and went back to sleep.

  Recipes!

  There's a surprise following the recipes.

  KELLY’S QUICHE

  Ingredients:

  8 oz. can refrigerator crescent rolls

  2 eggs, slightly beaten

  1 cup half and half

  1 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

  1 tbsp. minced onion

  Salt and pepper to taste

  8 oz. shredded Monterey Jack cheese

  1 to 1 1/2 cups cubed cooked meat (I like bacon or ham – if using bacon, crumble it)

  Directions:

  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

  Separate crescent rolls into 8 triangles. Place 5 triangles in a 9” pie pan, pressing together to form a crust, piercing the bottom 6 - 8 times with a fork. Reserve the other 3 triangles for another use. Cut a section of tin foil so that it covers the crust and weight it down with dried beans, rice, or pie weights. Bake 12 minutes until bottom is slightly brown. Let cool.

  In a mixing bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and pour the mixture into the crust. Bake for 35-40 minutes until crust is golden brown. Let cool 5 minutes before serving. May be served warm or cold. Enjoy!

  BAKED BURRITOS WITH CHICKEN AND BEANS (MAKES 6 BURRITOS)

  Ingredients:

  2 ½ cups roasted chicken, shredded

  ¼ cup green onions, thinly sliced

  2 – 3 tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped

  2 medium tomatoes, diced

  ¼ tsp. ground cumin

  1 can (4 ½ oz.) diced green chiles, drained

  6 flour tortillas (medium size)

  1 can refried beans (can use fat-free to cut calories)

  1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend

  1 tbsp. cooking oil

  1 cup salsa and 1 avocado, sliced, for garnish

  Directions:

  Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Cover a large baking sheet with aluminum foil.

  Combine chicken, green onions, cilantro, tomatoes, cumin, and green chiles in a large mixing bowl, stirring gently to combine.

  Place the tortillas on the foil lined cookie sheet and spoon the refried beans evenly on them and then top with the shredded cheese.

  Divide the chicken mixture among the tortillas, spooning it down the center of each one. Tightly roll each tortilla and place them seam side down on the foil-covered cookie sheet.

  Lightly brush the tops and sides with the oil and bake at 500 degrees for 7 – 10 minutes or until the tortillas starts to get golden brown and crisp. Remove from oven and garnish with salsa and avocado.

  Note: I only make as many of these as I know will be eaten. Filling will hold in refrigerator and you can assemble and cook just before serving. Another option is to lower the temperature to 400 degrees, and sprinkle additional cheese over the tops rather than brushing with the oil. Results in a softer burrito. You’ll need to cook for about 15 minutes. Enjoy!

  NOELLE’S ARTICHOKE & BLUE CHEESE STUFFED PORK CHOPS/WITH SAUCE

  Stuffing Ingredients:

  2 tbsp. olive oil

  2 tbsp. shallots, sliced

  1 cup canned artichoke hearts, thinly sliced

  1/3 cup blue cheese, crumbled

  1 cup Italian seasoned Panko breadcrumbs

  Stuffing Directions:

  Heat the oil in a skillet. Sauté shallots until they become soft and translucent. Add the artichoke hearts and sauté for additional minute. Combine artichoke mixture, blue cheese, and panko breadcrumbs in a bowl. Set aside.

  Pork Chop and Sauce Ingredients:

  4 pork chops (8-10 oz. each)

  3 tbsp. olive oil

  1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

  ½ cup red wine

  1 cup beef stock

  ½ cup blue cheese, crumbled

  4 tbsp. green onions, sliced

  1 tbsp. butter

  Parsley for garnish

  Pork Chop and Sauce Directions:

  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

  Using a sharp knife, cut a slit into the side of each pork chop, about 2” long, creating a pocket. Stuff each chop with ¼ of the stuffing previously set aside.

  Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté pork chops for 3 minutes on each side. Remove chops from the skillet and place on a baking sheet. Continue cooking chops in oven for 6 – 8 minutes.

  Return skillet to the range and over medium heat, add green onions and sauté for 2 minutes. Deglaze pan with red wine for 3 minutes. Add beef stock and cook 2 minutes. Add butter and tomatoes, reduce heat to simmer, and continue cooking 1 – 3 minutes. Add blue cheese and stir until cheese is melted.

  Spoon the sauce over the pork chops. Garnish with parsley and serve. Enjoy!

  CORA’S RASPBERRY TART

  Ingredients:

  2 eight oz. boxes of fresh raspberries

  16 oz. roll of refrigerated plain cookie dough (you’ll only need ½ of it)

  1 ½ cups whipped cream cheese

  1 cup brown sugar

  2/3 jar of seedless r
aspberry jam

  Vegetable oil spray, such as Pam

  10” or 8” spring form pan

  Directions:

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  Cut refrigerated cookie dough package in half. Remove wrapper and bring to room temperature. You can freeze the unused portion.

  Place a large sheet of plastic wrap on cutting board. Place cookie dough on plastic sheet and with heel of hand press into a circle about the size of the bottom of the pan. Place second sheet of plastic wrap on top of dough and with a rolling pin, roll out until slightly larger than the size of the pan and about ¼” thick.

  Lightly spray bottom and lower inside ¼ of pan. Remove top layer of plastic wrap. With one hand hold bottom section of pan over rolled out dough and slip other hand under bottom layer of plastic dough. Lift and flip onto bottom of pan. Remove remaining layer of plastic wrap. Trim excess dough that may have overlapped the edge of the pan. You can press a small piece of the extra dough into any thin areas, using your thumb and forefinger (helps to dip them in water first). Pinch the dough together along the outside edge to create a small raised ¼” high edge. Fit the spring form over the bottom section of the pan and tighten the spring.

  Bake crust for 17 minutes. Remove and place on cooling rack for 30 minutes. After crust has cooled, take a sharp knife and run it around the edges to loosen the crust from the side of the spring form. Once loosened, release the spring form and remove it up and off of the bottom. Using a sharp knife or a cake icing spatula, work it under the crust to free it from the pan bottom. Slide crust onto flat serving dish. (If you have a raised pedestal serving dish, that works well.)