“When are you planning to release the details about the victim?”
“We’re only releasing a brief statement saying that a body was found, not where it was found or any other additional information.”
“Let me know how that goes for you. In my opinion it will make the residents more nervous.”
“They might think a madman is running loose and you’re trying to cover it up,” Eleanor added.
“That’s all I’m comfortable releasing right now. And I expect the two of you to keep quiet about this. Go ahead and question who you believe might be suspect, but I expect you to share the results with us.”
“You expect us?” I gasped. “Why should we do that when we’re quite capable of solving this case without your help?”
“You say that now, but that will change if you get yourselves in a tight spot, which always seems to happen.”
“I think we’ve overstayed our welcome, Eleanor. We have more important matters to attend to.”
I took a ragged breath when we were back in the car.
“You shouldn’t let Peterson rattle you like that,” Eleanor said.
“I’m trying not to, but I can see with this case it will be one-sided.”
“That shouldn’t surprise you. I bet he’s under a lot of pressure to find out what happened. If this hits the airwaves there might be more at stake than just finding who killed Louis.”
“Thank you, old girl, for reining me in. I don’t know why this case bothers me so much.”
“It might be because this will delay our movie.”
“Not if I have anything to say about it. I hope the road hasn’t been closed, because I’m taking another look at the crime scene. It’s quite possible that we might have missed something.”
Chapter Nine
Eleanor and I managed to breeze past the state park guards and parked between two trailers, one of them belonging to Eileen and Hannah. I was a little surprised that they’d share a trailer, but maybe it was something they agreed to in their contracts, or perhaps the film had a tight budget.
An armed guard took a stance nearby, but Eleanor and I managed to slip into the tent where the body was found yesterday.
Everything looked the same as yesterday, two tables loaded with boxes of dry food items and another marked “props.” I walked over and opened the prop box, but it was empty.
“That’s strange,” I said.
“So the prop box is empty. So what?” Eleanor asked.
“Why would it be here in the first place? It looks like supplies for the caterer are stored in this tent.”
“Where do you think the props should be stored?”
“In the wardrobe trailer. Eileen and Hannah took us there yesterday.”
“Maybe the prop box was mislabeled,” Eleanor suggested.
“I suppose we’ll find out.”
“What are you doing in here?” a portly woman with short black hair demanded.
“We’re investigators, and we were wondering if the cops missed anything yesterday,” I said.
“So this is about Louis?” Her face dropped. “It’s horrible what happened. Louis was such a nice man, so willing to help out.”
“Isn’t he the first assistant for the director?” Eleanor asked somberly.
“Yes, but that’s not all he does. He’s quick to lend a hand to the crew. Why, he was helping me out yesterday. Someone forgot to buy butane lighters and I needed them to light the Sternos for the chafing pans. It took him a few hours to find them.”
“I’m shocked he found them in Tawas.”
“I believe he mentioned he had to go to Standish for them.”
“That far?” Eleanor gasped.
“That’s about an hour from here,” I mused. “He must have been gone all day.”
“I don’t remember exactly how long he was gone, I just noticed that the filled Sternos were here.” She sniffled. “You don’t think someone followed him from Standish do you?”
“You think someone from Standish followed him here to kill him?” I asked.
“That sounds far-fetched, I know. I just can’t think of anyone here who would want to hurt Louis. I’m sorry, I should have introduced myself, I’m Heather James. I’m the caterer.”
“What do you think about Ivy?” Eleanor asked.
“I don’t much care for that girl, but I’m not one to judge. I can’t honestly say what her relationship with Louis was.”
“She concocted a story about being his niece, but it’s been debunked.”
“His niece! Now that one I haven’t heard.”
“What have you heard?” I asked, “in regard to Louis’s job as first assistant?”
Her eyes lit up. “Do you think Ivy had something to do with Louis’s death?”
I rubbed my throbbing temples. “You tell us; you knew her better. Do you think she’s capable of murdering Louis?”
“I should hope not, but I couldn’t imagine anyone here capable of murder.”
“She didn’t seem to be bothered when she found the body, other than initially,” I said. “Although I can’t say if she would have a motive.”
“She wanted his job, I tell you,” Eleanor said.
“I can’t think she’s qualified to be an assistant of the director,” I countered.
“I’ll second that, but stranger things have happened,” Heather said. “Nothing would surprise me when it comes to Ivy.”
“At first you didn’t think she looked suspect,” I reminded her.
“That was before you told me about her deceiving Louis. I hope Amim kicks her to the curb. Sorry, but I believe in saying it like it is.”
“I totally agree,” Eleanor said. “But unfortunately it’s not getting us any closer to finding out who murdered Louis.”
“I wish you wouldn’t say that word.” Heather shuddered. “‘Murdered.’”
“I’m very sorry for your loss. How long have you known Louis?”
“Two years ago I was a caterer on a movie set and we just started talking one day. We realized we had a lot in common and became fast friends.”
“So no romance?” Eleanor asked with a frown.
“Oh no, Louis wouldn’t give me the time of the day even back then. And he had a female chasing him around the set.” She laughed.
“Was he in a relationship or did he just have on-set flings?” I asked.
“Oh no. Louis wasn’t interested in that kind of thing. He told me once he was too old for that. I’m going to miss my friend.”
“So he wasn’t involved with anyone?”
“Nothing has changed in that respect, not as far as I know.”
“You really helped us out,” Eleanor said. “It’s strange that Louis was found dead in this tent, but there weren’t any footprints or marks from a scuffle. I can see our shoe prints.”
“It’s smoothed out frequently, but there will be an outdoor carpet arriving later to put down, not that it matters because I’m the only one who comes in here.”
“Are you saying the actors don’t come in here?”
“They’d get too dirty. And unless a part calls for it, they abhor dirt and dust. It ruins even the best of clothing.”
I smiled. “So what do you think about this movie?”
“It sounds like a lighthearted story. I’m a big Jessica Fletcher fan, and this movie sounds perfect for the Hallmark Channel.”
“How do you know who they’re making the movie for?” I asked.
“Don’t be so accusatory, Agnes,” Eleanor huffed.
“I’m doing no such a thing. I didn’t know it was that well known.”
“Louis mentioned it. When he told me Eileen Foster and Hannah Paris were playing sleuths in this movie, I had to laugh. They’re Broadway actresses, and I don’t think they’ve ever made a movie before.”
“It certainly seems like they would have at some point in their careers.”
“Well, I suppose I shouldn’t talk then.” She picked up a box full of goods an
d nodded curtly. “Nice talking to you ladies, but if I don’t get started the crew won’t have any lunch.”
“Thanks for all your help, Heather,” I said.
She walked out of the tent and I exchanged a glance with Eleanor. “So what do you think, Agnes?”
“It’s a good thing we bumped into Heather. She’s been so helpful, don’t you think.”
“Do you think she and Louis had a thing?” Eleanor asked.
I pressed a hand to my chest. “Do you really think so?”
“Well, I certainly got that impression, but maybe they’re just friends, like she said.”
“That’s conceivable and I must admit I like Heather.”
“I think she’s just that kind of person.”
I walked alongside the tent looking for any kind of clues and stumbled across a grading rake. “Heather was right, they do smooth the dirt,” I said.
“Why would it be used around a body do you think?” Eleanor asked.
“To conceal evidence?”
“My thoughts too.”
Eleanor and I examined every square inch under the tent I knelt on the ground where the body was found and came up empty.
“This was a lost cause,” I finally said.
“No, we were able to speak to Heather.”
“She didn’t say much of anything that we didn’t already know.”
“We know Louis wasn’t involved with anyone.”
“How can we really be sure? We’ll have to question a few more people before I’ll be satisfied with that.”
Eleanor picked up the empty prop box again and turned it upside down and then right side up. “Wait,” she exclaimed. “She picked up a piece of string and held it out to me. “The cops must have missed this.”
“How is a string a clue?” I asked.
“Well, it proves props might have been in the box at some point.”
“So we’re back to props. Perhaps we better head over to the wardrobe trailer to find out if we can find the actual props.”
Eleanor and I crossed to the wardrobe trailer and climbed the steps inside. Under flickering lights I ran my hand along a rack of apparel, searching under the costumes.
“There’s nothing under the costumes,” I said. “Where would they keep their shoes?”
Eleanor pointed out a shoe rack. “Over there.”
I inspected the back of the trailer and came across boxes. I searched through them and reached into one, coming back with a fake knife. “I think I just found the props,” I said.
Eleanor joined me as we pulled out realistic handguns and bullets.
“Hey, do you remember an actor playing around with a gun once that was loaded with blanks or was supposed to be?”
“And he pointed it at his head and pulled the trigger,” Eleanor finished for me. “It was a tragic accident.”
“Or a well-disguised murder,” I added.
“Why do you think we always see murder in everything?”
“Because we’ve been around murder for far too long these past years.”
Eleanor yanked out a red silk rope and proclaimed, “I bet this was the murder weapon!”
“What makes you think that?”
“Because the string we found in that empty box matches.”
“In case I’ve never said it before, Eleanor, I’m glad you’re my partner.”
“Me too ... most of the time. What should we do next?”
“I think we should tell the sheriff. But we can’t be certain this was the murder weapon unless the fibers from this rope match the string.”
“Which only the coroner could tell us for certain.”
“Or forensics,” Eleanor suggested.
I nodded in agreement. “I hate to leave now, but we don’t have any other choice.”
“You could call Smitty instead of going all the way over there. Just a suggestion,” Eleanor said. “We could call the sheriff after we hear what Smitty has to say.”
“Oh, why not.”
I called the coroner. “Smitty, I have a question. Did you find a piece of string in the ligature mark on Louis’s body? We believe we might have found the murder weapon.”
“What ligature mark?” Smitty asked.
“Is Sheriff Peterson standing there?”
“No, I just don’t know where you get your information from. I haven’t determined the cause of death yet, but I’m sure Sheriff Peterson will be happy to tell you when the report is released.”
“Don’t you dare hang up, Agnes,” Sheriff Peterson growled as Smitty apparently handed him the phone. “What is this about?”
“We found a red silken rope and we believe it’s the murder weapon.”
“Who told you Louis was strangled—and this time I’m not letting you off the hook, so spit it out.”
“I-I- I can’t seem to remember where I gleaned that bit of information.”
“Then why did you call Smitty?”
“Okay, fine he told us. But now I think we actually found the murder weapon. You and your deputies missed it, of course, but there’s no point arguing about it. I suppose you should come out here and I can show you what we found.”
“Don’t go anywhere,” Peterson hissed.
I ended the call and leaned against the costume rack, which collapsed on top of me. “Could you please help me, Eleanor?” I asked. “I’m kind of stuck.”
“There’s no way I can help you out of this mess. That rack is too heavy with all those costumes on it.”
“Then take them off and right the rack.”
“But what if I damage any of them?”
“So you plan to desert me?”
“I should go ask someone for help,” Eleanor said.
“No! Please don’t do that. I’d be mortified, and I don’t have the money to replace any of the costumes.”
“Fine, but I hope you know we’ll have twice the mess before we’re done.”
“You’d better hurry because Sheriff Peterson is coming out here.”
“Now you tell me. I swear you’re really stressing me out right now.”
“Well, you’re the one who told me to call Smitty with the sheriff standing right there during the call.”
“It seemed a good idea at the time. How was I to know the sheriff would be there?” Eleanor asked.
“He knows who told us Louis was strangled now.”
Fabric flew into the air until I was able to manage a ragged breath and Eleanor was able to pull me up. We then hastily rehung the clothing and did our best to smooth the fabric before sliding back down the steps outside just as Sheriff Peterson pulled up.
I motioned for the sheriff to join us. Eleanor waved a piece of the string in the slight breeze and she pressed it into his hand.
“We found it at the crime scene,” I said as I walked back to the tent and showed him the empty box with the word “props” printed on it. “This is where Eleanor found the string.”
Peterson examined the fiber. “Is that it?”
“No,” Eleanor gasped. “We found the actual props in the costume trailer.”
Sheriff Peterson walked into the trailer and we followed. He barged his way between the racks of clothing and picked up the prop box. But before he was able to carry it to the door the rack again fell over and Peterson became entangled in the costumes and fell to the floor with a thud.
I bit down on my fist as I gasped.
“Do you plan on helping me or what?” Peterson bellowed.
“It seems like I heard that once already today.” Eleanor laughed.
Eleanor and I removed the costumes and Peterson helped right the rack and rehanged the clothing.
“We’d better get out of here before it falls again,” Peterson said.
Outside we all took a deep breath, and Eleanor produced the red silken rope from the box. “This string appears to match this rope.”
“I probably should take it as evidence, but I don’t know how the director will handle that if its needed for the film
.”
“I suppose we’ll find out because Amim is heading this way now.”
Amim’s eyes widened when she spotted the rope Peterson held. “What’s going on here, sheriff?”
“I have to take the rope as evidence. I think it might be related to Louis’s death.”
“He was strangled?”
“What makes you say that?” Peterson asked.
“How else would someone kill him with a rope?” Amim said. “Ivy mentioned his body didn’t have a mark on it, and he couldn’t have been stabbed or shot. And I ruled out poison as Louis didn’t have anything to eat yesterday.”
“How can you be so sure?” I asked.
“He’s just like that. He’ll go all day without eating and only drinks the bottled water that he keeps locked in his trailer. It’s one of his quirks.”
“So strangulation is all that’s left?” Eleanor nodded in agreement as if we didn’t already know it as fact.
“Unless the autopsy says differently,” Amim sighed. “Is that all you’ll be taking, sheriff?”
“Yes, for now. I’ll bring it back after a sample is taken.”
“No bother. We’re not going in that direction. The writers have our victim dying from a shotgun wound now.”
“Are you done shooting for the day?” I asked.
“That’s the case, unfortunately. All I can think about today is Louis dying. He was very close to me.”
“I’m sorry for your loss and won’t take up too much more of your time,” Sheriff Peterson said as he put the rope and string into separate evidence bags, put the bags in the trunk of his car, and drove away.
“I can’t imagine anyone strangling Louis,” Amim said. “Or anyone else for that matter.”
“I hope this isn’t putting a black mark on this movie. Please tell me the opening scene went off without a hitch,” I said.
“I don’t like the scene at all.”
“Well, you shot it out here didn’t you?”
“Yes, why?”
“Well, if this movie is about us I would think the opening scene would be the characters receiving a phone call about a death. Or they’d be out for dinner or a nice day at the beach when they stumble across a body or someone else finds the body. I’ve been told it’s too much of a coincidence if the sleuths find the body, but it’s happened to us more than once.”
“That sounds much better than what those writers came up with. You should be writing the script.” She smiled.
Tawas Goes Hollywood Page 8
