Take Stock in Murder

by Millie Mack

  “Were there any single women who could have thought Todd’s attention was more than fun?”

  “Oh, there was a girl at work, Sara Chaney, who helped him with the Investment Club. They were friends for many years, but Todd looked upon her as more of a sister.”

  “Any of the staff at the Club? I hear the lady golf pro is pretty good looking. What’s her name?”

  “Her name is Bitch, if you’re talking about Jennifer Foster.” Linda downed the rest of her beer, slapped the mug on the table, and motioned to the waiter for a refill.

  “That’s quite a reaction.”

  “Look, that woman isn’t anything but a tramp. Our little Jennifer chases anything in pants, provided he has money. Todd mentioned how Jennifer was constantly after him, but Todd had no interest in her. He had a real hard time getting rid of her.”

  “How did he get rid of her?”

  “He didn’t have to. Apparently she found someone else at the Club that could provide her with what she wanted. Todd felt it wouldn’t last because the guy was married.”

  “Could Todd have been blackmailing Jennifer’s newfound love? It would have provided him with more money for his new business. That would certainly have made him a murder target.”

  “Nah, I don’t think so. Todd was a prankster, but he wasn’t stupid. Besides, he was doing quite well with his investments. What’s the third possibility?” she asked.

  “Someone in the family didn’t care for what Todd was doing.”

  “You’re implying someone in the family killed Todd. That’s outrageous! Look, I understand you want to prove your wife innocent, but to imply someone in the family…Wait a minute! You’re not talking about someone—you’re accusing me. You think I killed Todd! That I was jealous because of Todd’s rumored affairs. Well, you’re wrong! I didn’t care about those other women. I knew Todd only loved me. I think you need to go back and review all the evidence and come up with some other motives.”

  Linda was suddenly sober and angry. She stood up. “Thanks for the drinks and the sandwich. I need to go home now.” With that, she turned and left the booth and Perkins Tavern.

  hile Charles and Linda discussed Todd’s murder in the booth at the back of the bar, a slim figure wearing a black wig slid into one of the old-fashioned phone booths near the front. The person angled one foot in the door of the phone booth to keep the light from turning on. The shoe on the foot was a black flat with a small gold bar across the instep. She dialed her number and waited for the person on the other end to answer.

  “Hello. You were right. She came right to Perkins Tavern…

  “She’s been drinking heavily, but there’s more bad news. Charles Faraday showed up, and they ended up in a booth together.

  “No, I couldn’t get close enough to hear what they were saying, but what else could they be talking about?

  “I know you say she doesn’t know anything, but they sure found a lot to say to each other.

  “Wait. Linda just left. Charles is taking care of the bill, so I’m sure he will leave shortly.

  “I don’t know about that. I think we ought to leave his wife right where she is, sitting quietly at home, waiting to go to trial. The evidence is pretty strong against her.

  “You really think talking to her would help?

  “All right, I’ll call her, but isn’t there a police guard?

  “OK, I’ll ask if she can get out unseen. You’ll take care of the other call? Yes, OK, I’ll see you there.”

  Charles gave the check to the waiter and looked around to see whether Sara was still there, but the table she’d occupied with her friends was filled with a new group of patrons.

  The waiter returned so quickly that Charles thought perhaps he’d misread the bill.

  “Are you Mr. Faraday?”

  “Yes, I’m Faraday.”

  “There’s a phone call for you, sir.” He held a wireless phone.

  “Thank you.” Charles waited until the bartender left.

  “Hello?” He half-expected the call to be from Carrie.

  “If you’re tired of playing amateur detective, I have some real information that will clear your wife of murder.”

  “Who is this?” Charles could tell the voice was a man’s, but it sounded muffled and distant. Perhaps a handkerchief was covering the mouthpiece.

  “Does it matter who I am as long as I have the information? I want money.”

  “What kind of information?”

  “I was working the dance at the Club. I know who murdered Todd!”

  “The only way you can be of help to me is if you testify.”

  “I have proof, and once you see it, you’ll understand why you won’t need me to testify.”

  “How much money do you want?”

  “Not a huge amount. Only twenty-five thousand dollars.”

  “I’ll have to get it from the bank on Monday.”

  “No, I need money tonight. Go to an ATM.”

  “The most I can get tonight is one thousand dollars.”

  “OK, I’ll take that. I’ll give you a PO box where you can mail the rest.”

  “Where do you want to meet?” Charles asked.

  “At Parker’s Apple Barn, north on Mill Road.”

  The Apple Barn was twelve miles beyond Perkins Tavern. Parker’s sat on a huge parcel of land and had once been one of Tri-County’s largest orchards. A development group had purchased it for a planned community of condos, houses, and shopping, but the developers had gone under before anything was built. The property was deserted.

  “How long will it take you to get there?”

  “I may have to stop at more than one ATM. I’d say about forty minutes.”

  “Drive in the lane and stop. Then flash your lights twice. Don’t get out of the car. I’ll come to you.” The caller hung up.

  Charles took the phone back to the bartender. “Did you know I was Mr. Faraday?”

  “No, the caller said you were sitting in the booth in the back. I took a chance it was you.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate you finding me.”

  As Charles drove to his next destination, he reviewed what he’d learned. He was inclined to believe Sara, not Linda, that the audit taking place at the firm wasn’t routine. He also believed Linda when she’d said that Jennifer Foster stopped chasing Todd when she found someone else at the Club. Linda had been Todd’s financial accomplice, but her shoes proved she hadn’t broken into their home. And how had the caller known Charles was at the tavern? Had the caller been at the tavern? And the most important question was, had the call he’d just taken been from the murderer?

  should have gone with him, thought Carrie as she sat alone in the study. I could have waited in the car or even slipped into the tavern and sat at a nearby table. I’ve several wigs and could have disguised myself. She paced back and forth in the study, then stopped to look out the window for the tenth time. Oh, how maddening. I hate waiting. All right, get a grip. What can I do to help my case while I’m waiting?

  “Where’s that list?” This time she spoke aloud, causing Baxter to look up from his place on the sofa. Carrie went through the papers on her desk, looking for the printout of the list she and Charles had made of possible suspects. She pulled it out from the middle of a pile.

  Gosh, what a group! she thought as she scanned the names on the list. All women, and all involved somehow with Todd. But we’re missing something. She took her pen and added columns, labeled MEN, MOTIVE, and OPPORTUNITY. Then she thought for a moment and added a column labeled BENEFIT. Who would benefit from Todd’s death?

  Filling in the names of the men for the first several women was easy. For Judy Marshall, Marilyn Armstrong, Terry Conan, Patricia Sloan, Delores Chaney, and Linda Barrington, Carrie added their husbands’ names. Next to Sara Chaney and Jennifer Foster, she placed question marks. For both of these women, the obvious choice was Todd, and he was dead. Was there some other man in their lives? Carrie jumped to the OPPORTUNITY column, which was ver
y easy. Each suspect had been at the October dance. But it was when Carrie got to the MOTIVE and BENEFIT columns that she began to get excited. Suddenly she had an idea. She opened the folder with the police report of the murder. She checked the list of items that represented Todd’s belongings.

  Black tuxedo (pants & jacket)

  White shirt with studs

  Boxer shorts

  Black socks and shoes

  Black bow tie

  Cummerbund

  One pair of cuff links

  One watch

  One comb

  One wallet with $100 (5 twenties), 1 Visa, and 1 MasterCard 75 cents in coins (3three quarters)

  The list confirmed Carrie’s theory. Suddenly everything was clear. She knew who the murderer was. It all had to do with one word. Suddenly one of the songs from Fiddler on the Roof popped into her brain.

  She was so excited that when the phone rang, she was sure it was Charles. “Hello, Charles, where are you? I’ve figured it out!”

  “Uh…Hello, Mrs. Faraday.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you were my husband. Who is this?”

  “You don’t know me, but my name is Jennifer Foster, one of the golf pros at the Country Club.”

  Good heavens, thought Carrie. This woman keeps popping up. “Yes, Jennifer, I’ve heard your name mentioned.” She paused, then added, “Many of my friends take golf lessons with you. In fact, just the other day I was golfing with several ladies, Mrs. Marshall, Chaney, Sloan, Conan, and Armstrong.”

  “Why, yes. I know the ladies in the investment group. I work with all of them to help improve their game. Perhaps one day I could give you a lesson. Are you interested in improving your game?”

  “Yes, I could probably use some lessons just to keep up with the other ladies.” Carrie noticed that Jennifer had associated the names she mentioned with the Investment Club. “Is that why you’re calling, to sign me up for lessons?”

  “No, I have another reason for contacting you. I hope you won’t think I’m prying, but I can’t help but ask—when you picked up the phone, you seemed excited because you had figured something out.”

  “I’ve had a bit of trouble lately, so my husband, Charles, bought me a puzzle. One of those mystery jigsaws. You know the kind, where you have to put the puzzle together to figure out who committed the crime. When I answered the phone, I thought it was Charles.”

  “Oh, I see. Speaking of mysteries, it’s because of your troubles and Todd’s murder that I’m calling.”

  “You have information about Todd’s murder?”

  “Yes. You see, I was dating Todd off and on during the last several months. We became good friends, and he confided in me. He told me how he was running the Investment Club and the reason he needed so much cash.” She spoke very casually to Carrie, as if they’d been friends for a long time.

  “And what was his reason for needing so much cash?”

  “Todd had tremendous debt. He owed several gamblers and several local bookies. It amounted to over one hundred thousand dollars. He was unable to go to his family, so he devised a scheme for getting extra money through the Investment Club.”

  “Are you saying one of these gamblers was responsible for Todd’s death?”

  “I’m not just saying it, Mrs. Faraday. I’ve actual proof.”

  “What kind of proof?”

  “I don’t really want to discuss this on the telephone. You see, I’m kind of in a public place.” Carrie was trying to identify the noises behind Jennifer’s voice. Wherever she was, there was the sound of people. In fact, it sounded like a lot of people were having a good time.

  “Did you want to meet?” The little voice in her head told her to wait for Charles.

  “Can you get out? I mean, are you under house arrest, or can you get away so the police won’t know?”

  “I’ve a way of getting out so I won’t be seen. Where do you want to meet?”

  “How about meeting at the golf office at the Club? I’ve been hiding my evidence in my office desk. I figured it was safer than in my apartment. The office is closed this time of night, and it’s far enough away from the main buildings of the Country Club that I don’t think we’ll attract any attention with the lights. Do you know how to reach the golf office without going through the main building?”

  “No. In fact, I don’t believe I ever knew there was an office.”

  “Go in the entrance, as if you were going to the main building. As you drive up the straightaway, there’s a very slight cutoff from the driveway to your right. Take this cutoff, and it will bring you to a small cottage. Our offices are in the cottage.”

  “All right, I’m sure I can find it.”

  “Mrs. Faraday, be sure to come alone. I’m very nervous about the proof I have, but I feel I can trust you. But if anyone else comes, I’ll deny I have anything to prove your innocence.” Jennifer hung up the phone.

  Carrie slowly replaced the receiver in its cradle. I’ll come alone, but I’m leaving Charles a note about what I’ve discovered and where I’m going. She printed out a hard copy of her suspect chart and circled the name of who she thought was the murderer. She placed the chart in their safe. Carrie quickly typed out a note for Charles and left the computer on with her note on the screen. Before she went out the kitchen door, she wrote on the chalkboard, “See computer.”

  arrie drove very carefully, with low lights, as she followed the secret lane to the main highway. She didn’t need the police interfering, at least not at the beginning of her trip. Fifteen minutes later, she turned into the Club driveway and easily found the cutoff. It’s incredible, she thought. I’ve been to the Club so many times and never knew of this little side road. At the end of the lane sat a stone cottage.

  The cottage had probably been the estate caretaker’s house in earlier times. Now it was modernized to accommodate the pro shop offices. The front of the cottage faced the greens, and there was a small walkway wide enough to allow golf cart travel between the cottage, the pro shop, and the first tee. Across from the cottage was a garage with all the golf carts tightly parked, waiting for the arrival of the morning’s first golfers. There was a small parking lot at the back of the cottage. Carrie parked her car next to the only other car in the lot. It was a new, dark green car with temporary tags. She slid her car keys in her pocket and carefully placed her handbag under the seat of the car.

  Carrie walked to the front of the cottage. The building was in darkness. She cupped her hands and peered in the window. There was a faint light coming from the back of the cottage. Carrie waited a few seconds to see whether there were any other movements within the building, and then tried the door. It was unlocked. She opened the door very, very slowly and then jumped as a buzzer sounded. She closed the door, and the buzzing stopped. She found herself in a reception area.

  The light at the back became brighter as the door opened wider. “Mrs. Faraday, is that you?”

  “Yes, Jennifer, it’s me.”

  “Is there enough light for you to find your way?”

  “Yes, I can see just fine.”

  Jennifer held the door, then closed it once Carrie was inside. They were in a large office area behind the reception area, with several desks separated by cubicle walls. Carrie imagined this room had been part of the living room and dining room when the cottage was a home.

  Jennifer was tall and had a slim build. She had very short blond hair with a pixie cut. Her hair was well bleached from both the bottle and the sun. Her tanned face was enhanced by a white turtleneck, which showed smartly above her loden-green crew sweater. When she turned around, Carrie was surprised that she was a little older than she had expected. Jennifer pulled out a chair for Carrie, then took a position sitting on the edge of the desk, with one foot dangling over the side.

  “I’m glad you came.”

  “Your offer of evidence to clear me was most enticing. What evidence do you have?”

  “How much do you really know about Todd’s murder?” She
was now casually swinging her leg. Carrie couldn’t help but notice her shoes. Those marvelous little black flats with the gold bar had made another appearance. Carrie tried not to stare, but she was sure there were streaks of white caught between the soles and the leather. Once again the little voice reminded her that she should have waited for Charles.

  “Mrs. Faraday, are you listening?”

  “I’m sorry. I was just looking at your shoes. I’ve a pair just like them. Aren’t they just as comfortable as they can be?” Jennifer looked somewhat startled by Carrie’s remark.

  “Yes, they are. They’re a nice change from the golf and athletic shoes I wear all day, but could we get back to Todd’s murder?”

  “Yes, of course. It’s just that I’ve been under a lot of pressure. The results seem to be this tendency to go babbling on about the most trivial items. Now about Todd…How much do I know? Very little. Other than I’ve been charged by the police just because Todd, Charles, and I had a small altercation. That was no reason to assume we would shoot the man. Can you imagine what the world would be like if people shot one another just because they exchanged some cross words?”

  “You don’t have any theories about who may have committed the murder? I thought I heard that you and your husband were investigating.” Her tone indicated impatience with the conversation.

  “Oh, yes, Charles and I’ve been asking questions when given the opportunity, but no other suspects seem to be emerging. That’s why I was interested in what you said on the phone. If I understood you correctly, you believe the murder may have been committed by a gambler trying to collect one of Todd’s many debts.”

  “Yes, I think it’s a real possibility. In fact, I believe the police will eventually find this was the motive.”

  Carrie said nothing but looked dumbfounded at Jennifer, waiting for her to continue.