$10,000 in Small, Unmarked Puzzles

by Parnell Hall

  “Why?”

  “There’s no point in me looking where you’re looking. We’ll see the same thing.”

  Chief Harper set off in the direction she’d indicated.

  Cora set out at a similar angle to the left. She was swinging the flashlight in a wide arc. This allowed her to scan a greater path in front of her. It also allowed her to change the angle slightly within the arc, and head back to the right. After a while, the flashlight picked up the tomb at the outer limit of the arc.

  Chief Harper was just a bobbing light in the distance. Cora continued to swing her light in a leftward arc, while inching her way to the right.

  Finally she reached the tomb.

  Okay, with this as a starting point, eight graves to the left. It was a lot easier counting them with a flashlight than with a lighter. Now seventeen north, the sum of the four corners of the sudoku.

  Cora counted the gravestones, her mind racing a mile a minute. Melvin. Why did it have to be Melvin? She could handle anything but Melvin. A conceited, obnoxious, meddling son of a bitch. He hadn’t fired a gun. She knew he hadn’t fired a gun, because she was in the cemetery twenty minutes ago when that call came in. She was damn lucky she missed Dan Finley. She must have left just before he got there. But she must have been there when the shots were fired, so Melvin didn’t fire them, there were no shots, but what the hell was that son of a bitch doing in the arms of the police clutching her damn ten grand? Which was his ten grand to begin with, so was this all just a wild-goose chase to give him a chance to play games with Becky Baldwin? If it was, the next time Chief Harper sniffed her gun it would have been fired. Six times. At close range.

  She was almost there. Just two more graves. Unless she’d miscounted. Which would have been easy with so many thoughts jumbling through her head. Well, what did she expect to find? Melvin had appropriated the money. In point of fact, there should be absolutely nothing. Just a bare grave. Unless there was another puzzle there, sending her somewhere else. If there was, she was going to freak out. She couldn’t solve it, so she couldn’t let Chief Harper know about it, so she’d have to appropriate it, and carry it around with her for as many hours as it took to straighten out the mess that Melvin had created by getting nabbed by the cops. Which wasn’t entirely his fault, unless he’d phoned in the report of shots fired. But that was too convoluted even for Melvin, wasn’t it? Maybe not. She knew for a fact now he’d given Becky the money and stolen it back.

  Damn it, was that the first grave or the second? The second, definitely the second. That’s the first grave, and—

  Cora stopped and stared.

  A young woman was stretched out in front of the gravestone.

  She was clearly dead.

  Chapter

  31

  The cemetery was lit up like a Christmas tree. First there were the police lights, which Officer Sam Brogan had set up in a semicircle around the crime scene. Sam had balanced them on the tops of gravestones, which probably wouldn’t have pleased the relatives of the dear departed any, if they got wind of it.

  Then there were the floodlights from the Channel 8 news van parked just outside the cemetery gate. They had tried to park inside the cemetery gate, but Sam Brogan put a stop to that, stringing a crime scene ribbon straight across the cemetery entrance.

  Of course, that was where Rick Reed set up for his shot.

  “Murder in Bakerhaven,” Rick began triumphantly. “And, in a bizarre twist, this time the murder is an eerie carbon copy of a murder that took place in Bakerhaven years ago. In both cases, a young girl was found dead in front of a grave.”

  The camera pulled back as Rick Reed pointed his microphone at Cora Felton, standing next to him.

  “I am talking to Bakerhaven’s own Cora Felton, the Puzzle Lady, who has assisted the police on numerous occasions, and who was involved in that original case. Miss Felton, is it true that this is the second time you’ve found a young girl’s body in the cemetery?”

  Cora smiled sweetly. “No, it’s not true.”

  Rick stopped in mid follow-up question. “Really? But I was told you did.”

  “Better check your source, Rick. I’ve never found a young girl in the cemetery before.”

  Rick frowned. “But the first case, years ago. Wasn’t a young girl found in front of a grave?”

  “Yes, but not by me. I never heard of that case until much later.”

  The young reporter, clueless under the best of circumstances, floundered helplessly. “But it’s true you solved the case?”

  Cora smiled. “I think Chief Harper would take exception to that, Rick. I was there while the police solved the case, but I sure didn’t do it for them.”

  “Oh. Well, in this case, is it true you found the body?”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Well, that’s something,” Rick said. “You found the body. And what were you looking for?”

  “A body.”

  “You were looking for a body?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “How did you know a body was there?”

  “I didn’t. The police got a report of shots fired. When shots are fired, you have to wonder what they hit. Sometimes it’s a person.”

  “What made you think it was in this case?”

  “I didn’t think it was in this case.”

  “Then why were you looking for a body?”

  “To see if there was a body. I was hoping there wasn’t.”

  “But there was.”

  “Yes.”

  “How did you come to find it?”

  “Trial and error.”

  “I understand you and Chief Harper were both looking for a body.”

  “I’m glad you understand.”

  “But you found it. How did you beat him to it?”

  “I didn’t beat him to it. He was looking in one half of the cemetery. I was looking in the other. The body happened to be in my half.”

  Sherry Carter, watching the interview on the small hospital TV in her room, made as if to push Aaron Grant off the bed. “Will you get out of here?”

  “I don’t have to go.”

  “Yes, you do. It’s a murder. Cora’s on TV giving interviews to Rick Reed.”

  “Yeah, and what’s that all about?” Aaron said. “She usually avoids him like the plague.”

  “And you can’t wait to find out why. You saw the baby. The baby’s fine. The baby’s asleep. You proved you’re a good husband and father by sneaking in after visiting hours to see us, now get the hell out.”

  “But—”

  “Go.”

  Aaron got up, leaned down and kissed her, and hurried out the door.

  Aaron got to the cemetery just in time to see the EMS van leaving with the body, followed closely by Dr. Barney Nathan’s car. Aaron parked behind the Channel 8 news van. As he got out of his car, Cora came up to meet him.

  “Hi, Aaron. What kept you?”

  “I didn’t want to leave Sherry.”

  “I thought you went home.”

  “I came back.”

  “She okay with you leaving again?”

  “She threw me out of the room.”

  Cora nodded. “That’s a good sign.”

  “What happened?”

  “You see my interview?”

  “Yeah. You didn’t say anything.”

  “Well, I was talking to Rick Reed.”

  “Why?”

  “Harper asked me to.”

  “And you always do everything he wants.”

  Cora grimaced. “I found the body. He asked me if I’d like to answer his questions or Rick Reed’s. Frankly, it was a toss-up.”

  “Anything irregular with you finding the body?”

  “Not that you could put in the paper.”

  “What can I put in the paper?”

  “The body’s a young woman. Probably thirty. Probably shot.”

  “Who was she?”

  “No one knows. There was no identification on the body.”


  “Just like the man?”

  “In that respect.”

  “You have no idea what she was doing there?”

  “She was lying there dead.”

  “Come on, Cora.”

  “There was no reason for her to be there. There was no reason for a man to be in the Dumpster.”

  “Was there a reason for you to be there?”

  “Don’t be a wise-ass. No one likes a wise-ass.”

  “I’m serious.”

  “I know you are. So is Chief Harper. Which is why I’m answering Rick Reed’s questions instead of his.”

  “Why isn’t Becky protecting you?”

  “Becky’s a little busy right now.”

  “Oh?”

  “My ex-husband Melvin’s in town. Dan Finley arrested him just before I found the body.”

  Arron’s mouth fell open. “Arrested him? Where?”

  “In the cemetery.”

  “Melvin was in the cemetery?”

  “That’s right.”

  “You didn’t mention that to Rick Reed.”

  “No kidding.”

  “Is that why you did the interview?”

  “It’s one reason. There was a report of shots fired in the cemetery. Dan, investigating, found Melvin in the cemetery.”

  “Is that all?”

  “That’s not enough?”

  “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “I’m telling you a lot more than I told Rick Reed. He doesn’t even know about Melvin. Which means Dan Finley hasn’t tipped him off. You know Dan will as soon as they come up with a charge that will stick.”

  “He arrested him on no charge?”

  “He arrested him on suspicion of discharging a firearm within town limits.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  Cora shook her head. “No, apparently the cemetery falls within Bakerhaven township.”

  “Melvin had a gun?”

  “No.”

  “That should make the charge less valid.”

  “Shots were fired in the cemetery. Melvin was found in the cemetery, and won’t explain why he was there.”

  “You were also found in the cemetery?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Chief Harper sniff your gun?”

  “He always sniffs my gun. The man has a fetish.”

  “I can see why you opted for Rick Reed.”

  “I gotta talk to the chief sooner or later. I just opted for later.”

  Dan Finley drove up in his cruiser, hopped out, headed for the cemetery gate.

  “Dan,” Cora called. “Where’s Melvin?”

  “I left him with his lawyer.”

  “You let him out?”

  “No, he’s in the lockup.”

  “You gonna tell Rick Reed?”

  “Now, you always think I do that.”

  “Because you always do. Can you hold off in this case?”

  “How come?”

  “The chief asked me to talk to Rick. I haven’t mentioned Melvin, and I don’t want Rick to.”

  “The chief asked you to talk?”

  “I owed him a favor. I gave Rick an earful for him.”

  “What did you tell him?”

  “Not a damn thing. And I wanna keep it that way. Don’t tip him off until the chief spills it, or he’s gonna know it came from you.”

  “Okay, okay. I gotta go.”

  “Fine. Tell the chief I’m out here doing my job.”

  “You got it.”

  As soon as Dan was out of sight, Cora headed for her car.

  “Hey! Where are you going?” Aaron said.

  Cora turned back. “I’m not going anywhere. If Chief Harper asks, I’m around here somewhere, thinking up things to tell Rick Reed.”

  “But—”

  Cora hopped in her car and took off.

  Chapter

  32

  The Bakerhaven Police Station was a white frame house with black shutters, just like most other buildings in town. Cora pushed open the front door, went through the outer office, past Chief Harper’s office and the interrogation room, and down the hallway to the two small holding cells in the back.

  Melvin was in one of the cells. Becky was standing next to it. They were in the midst of a heated argument.

  Becky looked around when she came in. “Cora! You shouldn’t be here. Get out of here.”

  “Oh, let her stay,” Melvin said. He flashed Cora a smile.

  “Melvin!” Becky said irritably.

  “We could use a referee. Come in, Cora. We were just having a little discussion about the whole situation. Becky doesn’t like my attitude. Can you imagine that?”

  “Yeah, well, don’t take it personally. She’s not very tolerant.”

  “That’s what I figured. But she’s my lawyer. That counts for something.”

  “Why should it? You’re not guilty. It’s not like they could hang anything on you.”

  “My position exactly. But Becky thinks I shouldn’t talk because I’m apt to incriminate myself.”

  “She’s just pissed because you took her ten grand.”

  “Well, why not? It was mine to begin with.”

  “That’s right,” Becky said. “Just talk about me as if I weren’t even here.”

  “There’s an idea,” Cora said. “Why don’t you beat it, Becky?”

  Becky was incensed. “I’m not going to beat it. Who’s the lawyer here?”

  “Yeah, beat it, Becky,” Melvin said. “I gotta talk to Cora.”

  Becky’s mouth fell open. She gave him such a look. Then she turned and stalked out the door.

  “That’s not gonna win you any points with the young lady,” Cora said.

  Melvin shrugged. “Nothing wins me any points with her. She won’t go out to dinner. She won’t go for a ride. She won’t have attorney/client conferences in my motel room.”

  “What’s the matter, Melvin? Getting old? Charm slipping?”

  “Hey, I didn’t say I was giving up. I just said throwing her out of here probably won’t make any difference.”

  “I’m glad to hear it. What’s this all about?”

  “Bill French.”

  “Huh?”

  “You never knew Bill French? Funny. Bill French has been a pain in the ass ever since the dawn of time.”

  “Could you be more specific?”

  “Well, you know how I like to gamble? Bill French was a loan shark who stiffed me on the vig.”

  “How does a loan shark stiff you on the vig? You’re the one paying it.”

  “Yeah, if you borrow from him. I didn’t borrow from him.”

  “Then what’s this about the vig?”

  “Loan shark’s gotta get his money somewhere. You ask the loan shark for five grand, if the loan shark ain’t got it, the loan shark can’t loan it. It happens. A lot of guys into him, nothing coming due. Where’s he gonna get the cash?”

  “So you loaned it to him?”

  “Why not? Who’s a better risk than a loan shark? I loaned him five grand.”

  “What happened?”

  “Four hours later he pays it back.”

  “What’s wrong with that?”

  “No vig. Where’s my five hundred bucks?”

  “He didn’t pay?”

  “Hell, no. He says, oh no, it turns out he didn’t need the loan, here’s the money back. I don’t care if he didn’t need the loan, the fact is he took the loan. And now he’s repaying the loan, and where’s my five hundred bucks?”

  “He wouldn’t give it to you?”

  “No, he gave it to me. He acted like I was sucking his life blood, but he gave it to me.” Melvin’s face hardened. “Then things started happening. I started hearing whispers. Like how I was a bad risk.”

  “That wouldn’t hurt unless you were borrowing.”

  “Yeah, but it’s not the type of reputation you want to have in Vegas. Anyway, that was just the beginning. It happened I was going out with this girl who danced at the Tropicana.”

&
nbsp; “What a surprise.”

  “I went to pick her up one night and she’s dead.”

  “What!”

  “Yeah. And I can’t duck it. Everyone knows I’m dating her. So the police grill me about it, but it’s not a suspicious death, and it’s no big deal. They let me go and that’s the end of it.”

  “So?”

  “So, someone gets an anonymous tip and the next thing you know she’s been poisoned, and the cops really do take a dim view of that, so they have a lot more questions, and this time they aren’t nearly so nice. The whole thing is a major pain in the ass because I’m married at the time, and they’re stupid enough to think that might be a motive.”

  “Go figure. How’d you get out of it?”

  “Well, I had an ironclad alibi. And it turns out the girl was seeing someone else. She was seen with him a couple of times, though no one was able to make an ID.”

  “Bill French?”

  “Had to be. Anyway, every five, ten years, whenever our paths cross, things start to happen. If I work hard enough, I can always trace it back to him. Only this time it went a little too far.”

  “Are you saying Bill French is the guy in the Dumpster?”

  “No. I’m saying Bill French put the guy in the Dumpster.”

  “How do you know?”

  “How do I know anything? But I’ll bet you a nickel the guy in the Dumpster is a loan shark named Tony di Marco.”

  “You seen the body?”

  “No, but it stands to reason. Because I happen to owe Tony di Marco money.”

  “You owe the guy in the Dumpster money?”

  “Not anymore.”

  Cora thought that over. “So, Bill French is the guy blackmailing you?”

  “No one’s blackmailing me.”

  “You gave Becky Baldwin ten grand.”

  “Yeah, well, she’s cute.”

  “Don’t start with me, Melvin, I’m not in the mood. Are you behind the blackmail or not?”

  “I’m not behind anything. I’m being pushed out front and set up. I know who’s doing it, but I can’t prove it, and I can’t do a thing about it.”

  “Why did you consult Becky Baldwin?” As Melvin started to answer, she added, “Aside from the fact she’s cute.”

  “I had a job I needed done. I didn’t want a New York lawyer to do it. I remembered what a good job she did for you.”

  “There were extenuating circumstances.”

  “Sure there were. And she used every one of them to her advantage.”