“Phillip’s notebook says that he overheard an incriminating conversation about bribing officials, theft, and potential murder.”
“You don’t have a recording of this conversation, do you? Or it this all based on an old man’s written ramblings?” Lyle asked. He was putting on a mask of boredom, but Heather felt for once he was concerned that they might have cornered him.
“Based on this evidence of blackmail, you had a motive to kill the victim.”
“Anyone who was being blackmailed by him had a motive. Luckily I’ve never done anything to be blackmailed for.”
Amy coughed to cover up her laughter at that remark. Lyle shot her a dirty look.
“This is all circumstantial,” Lyle said. “I deny having a motive, and you obviously don’t have physical evidence.”
“You didn’t let me explain about the murder weapon,” Heather said, calmly.
“The murder weapon?” Lyle Clarke asked. He shot a brief glance toward Frank and then tried to cover what he had done. He locked eyes with Heather. “I’ve never touched a murder weapon.”
“You might not have,” Heather said. “But you friend here did. There was a strange mark on the branch that was used to hit Phillip Ruth and kill him. A mark that should match that large ring that he is wearing. We have a court order here to take it and test it. It should be fun awaiting those test result from your jail cell.”
“You get ahead of yourself,” Lyle said. “I’m not going to jail.”
“Murderers go to jail,” Heather said, simply.
“And this one will,” Lyle said.
Frank looked disappointed as he stepped forward.
“I was suspicious as soon as Mrs. Shepherd started talking, Frank. I’m afraid I can’t cover for you. That would be against the law,” Lyle said.
“I understand, sir,” Frank said. “I’d like to make a confession. I killed the man.”
“We can take a confession,” Ryan said. “But any co-conspirators are just as guilty.”
“I acted alone,” Frank said. “I knew that the waiter was listening in on conversations. I knew that he had misheard something at our table and was misrepresenting us to make us appear like criminals. When really, Mr. Clarke had done nothing wrong. He was just listening to some stupid ideas I am now embarrassed to have voiced.”
“We know Phillip heard you talking about bribing officials.”
“It was a terrible idea I had,” Frank said. “The honest Mr. Clarke rightly shot the idea down. But that waiter had heard me talk about it. He tried to blackmail us. Mr. Clarke didn’t know about it. He would have ignored it because he knew the charge was false, but I was angry. I was so angry that someone had tried to blackmail me that I decided to kill him.”
“You were the one waiting for Phillip to arrive by the trees?” Ryan asked.
“I waited behind a tree with a branch I had found. When I saw him start to look for the money I crept up behind him and killed him. Then I threw the branch away. I thought it far enough back that it wouldn’t be found. I also didn’t expect my ring to tie me to the murder. But I should have known that murderers always get caught.”
Heather couldn’t believe what was happening. Lyle Clarke had definitely had the conversation that he was going to be blackmailed for, and he had decided that Phillip Ruth had to be killed, and yet Lyle Clarke was going to get off of the charges again. Another person was going to take the blame and protect Clarke’s name.
Heather was so angry she didn’t know what to say. Luckily, Ryan had a question. “You say you acted alone, but how did you get to the deserted wooded area that he wanted the money deposited at? There was no car when Phillip arrived.”
Frank considered it for a long while and eventually said, “I walked.”
“If you would testify against someone who put you up to this, I’m sure that you could get a plea deal,” Heather said.
“I acted alone,” Frank said. “Officer, you can take me away now.”
Ryan had no choice but to escort Frank out while reading him his rights.
“I can’t believe so many people I know are murderers,” Lyle said.
“Funny how that happens,” said Heather.
“I’ll have to be more careful about who I do business with,” Lyle said. “And you should be careful too, Mrs. Shepherd.”
Heather ignored the threat and left with Amy. She refused to give Lyle a backward glance. This had been a bittersweet victory. They had caught the man who physically committed the murder, as both the mark on the murder weapon and footprints would show. However, the man who had ordered the kill, and who would doubtless order more during his time in Hillside, was getting away scot-free.
“You’ll get him next time,” Amy said to her friend once they had left the building.
“I hope so,” Heather said. “But more than that I hope there isn’t a next time.”
Chapter 18
Heather was sitting with her favorite customers and friends at Donut Delights, and her feelings of defeat started to fade. They might not have caught the evil villain, but another henchman was behind bars. She would do everything in her power to make sure that any killers who acted in Hillside would be brought to justice. Until then, she would enjoy telling Eva and Leila about how Lilly had decoded a major clue in the case and listening to their fancy restaurant outing.
Amy brought them another round of donuts and sat down to listen to Eva and Leila describe the violinist who played for them during their dinner. Enthusiastic was the word that they were throwing around.
The door to Donut Delights opened, and Heather couldn’t have been happier to see who was the newest customer. It was Jamie, and his face lit up when he saw Amy.
“I’m surprised to see you,” Amy said.
“I’ve been working so much that Geoff let me go home early today, and I needed to see you.”
“Uh oh?” Amy asked.
“I’m not washing dogs right now, and you’ve finished with your case, right?”
“Right.”
“So we both have free time right now?”
“What is this leading to?” Amy asked.
He held up some printouts from renting websites. “Amy, will you look at some of these houses with me? I printed out the ones that looked promising. We’ll visit whatever ones will see us today and go from there.”
“You still want to move in with me?”
“Of course I do,” Jamie said, sincerely.
“I still tell bad jokes and still investigate murders.”
“Those are things I love about you. I didn’t mean to let that case get me into a mood that made you think I wanted to change you.”
“It’s okay. Murder can get me into a mood too. That’s why I want to help catch the killers as quickly as possible.”
“I understand. But while you’re between catching killers, do you want to look at some real estate?”
“You had me at “Will you look at some of these houses with me?”” Amy said, making a variation on the classic film line. “I’m so glad we’re moving forward with this.”
“Me too,” Jamie said. “And when we live together I can keep a better eye on what’s going on with your cases. Try and make sure that the people who serve us dinner don’t end up dead.”
“I’d love that,” Amy said. “I don’t know if it will work, but I’d love it.”
Amy turned to Heather and asked “Do you mind if I head out? I’m being swept off my feet to find a house.”
“I think I can hold down the fort,” Heather said, with a smile.
Jamie and Amy walked off hand in hand. Heather rejoined Eva and Leila who were also smiling about the turn of events.
“I’m so glad that seems to be working out,” Eva said. “They seem like a strong couple to me.”
“And hopefully they’ll be strong roommates too,” Leila said.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, not everyone can be as lucky as the two of us living together. Our habits ar
e perfectly formulated to foster our friendship and make us good roommates. But some things can be hard to get used to.”
“I know what you mean,” Eva said. “I loved my husband dearly, but he did some things that drove me crazy as a housemate. His socks never seemed to make their way into the dirty clothes.”
“And my husband used to snore. I eventually found it endearing, but at first, it made me wonder what I had gotten myself into.”
“I’m sure they’ll be fine,” Heather said. “If Amy can survive a sleepover at my house with you two, Lilly, Ryan, me, a cat and a dog, then I think she can put up with one man that she loves.”
The ladies all giggled as they thought about Amy and Jamie’s future happiness and began plans about what they should bring as a housewarming gift. The obvious answer was donuts. But what flavor?
The End
A letter from the Author
To each and every one of my Amazing readers: I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Let me know what you think by leaving a review!
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Stay Curious,
Susan Gillard
Banana Fudge Murder: A Donut Hole Cozy Mystery - Book 50 Page 7
