by Nancy CoCo
“So ten is an easy number to identify. Who owns them?”
“Well, the Jessops own five. They keep two sets of horses on the island and run a small service for visitors who want to use sleighs in their winter events. I guess they are very popular with winter wedding groups.”
“Oh, yes, I could see the appeal of arriving and driving off in a sleigh. So were any of the Jessops’ sleighs running that night?”
“All the Jessops’ sleighs are accounted for,” he said and got up to fill his bowl a second time.
“Well, you said there were ten. Who has the other five?”
Douglas sat down beside me. “The Bridgewaters keep two sleighs on their property. Mrs. Bridgewater loves to throw Christmas parties and include sleigh rides.”
“I could see that,” I said. “I take it the Bridgewaters’ sleighs weren’t missing.”
“No, and the stable guy said the horses were not outside that day.”
“What about the other three?”
“The Howards have one, but they are off the island for their daughter’s graduation. The Heists have the other two, and they are on the far side of the island. I think too far for the sleigh to have kept the body inside long enough to get that close to town.”
“That means the sleigh angle is a dead end,” I said with a pout.
“How’s the fund-raising beer-contest planning going?”
“We’re really hustling. The only day the senior center had available is Thursday.”
“That leaves tomorrow and half of Thursday to set everything up. Is that enough time?”
“We already have the mayor involved. Jenn called him first thing. He’ll be on the judging panel and has gotten approval from the city council to allow liquor to be sold at the party.”
“That was quick.”
“There isn’t that much business on the island in the winter. That’s changing as people become more aware of what is available to do here during the off-season. The mayor is on board with any bump in tourism dollars.”
“What can I do to help?”
“Jenn is calling the brewers and bar owners. Could you get with the mayor to find two other panelists that are relevant?”
“Sure,” Douglas said. “I’ve known these bar guys my whole life. I know whose opinion really matters. I’ll get with the mayor to see if we can’t get two of them to come forward on Thursday.”
“Thanks. I’m going to go see Leigh Ann in the morning to let her know what all is going on. She and Emma need to be updated on what we’re doing.”
“Are you going to talk to them about the investigation?”
“I’m going to ask them what Rex Manning is doing. That way I won’t double efforts.”
I stood and cleared the dishes, but before I could walk to the kitchen Douglas wrapped his arm around my waist. “How about you and I go get a Christmas tree tomorrow? That corner of the house is looking pretty bare.”
I smiled softly. “Yes,” I said. “Our first Christmas tree in our new home.”
* * *
The next morning, I checked in with Allie. “How’s the fudge making going?”
“I’ve got ten more boxes to get out today. I’m running out of time.”
“You keep working,” I said. “I’ll take care of the outgoing and incoming guests. But before I do that, I’m going to go see Leigh Ann this morning to let her and Emma know what we’re doing.”
“When’s the funeral?” she asked.
“Friday,” I said. “They did an autopsy and that took a while.”
“It’s not fun to have to think about murder during the Christmas season.”
“No, it’s not.” I grabbed up my coat and put on my boots. “Is it okay if I take Mal with me? Leigh Ann might like a sweet face and a warm cuddle.”
Mal jumped up and came to me, ready to go. We both looked at Allie, waiting for her answer.
“Are you sure she’s okay with dogs?”
“Mal’s not a dog,” I replied. “She’s a puppy and very friendly.”
“Okay,” Allie said with a sigh. “It’s good for her to get out. I’ve been so busy lately, and then the snow is taller than she is.”
“I’ll make sure she doesn’t get lost.” I put on Mal’s pink coat and halter and leashed her. She wiggled with impatient joy. “Come on, girl, let’s go.” I stepped out into the soft blue light of the morning. We walked down Main Street, enjoying the quaintness of the Victorian buildings covered in snow. The air smelled of wood smoke.
* * *
Leigh Ann’s house was a half a mile off the Main drag.
Mr. Butcher was out shoveling Leigh Ann’s walk for her. I said hi as we passed him. Mal loved that the walk held many secrets and scents. Leigh Ann’s porch was also free of snow and I knocked on the door.
Leigh Ann answered. She wore a black sweater and black slacks. “Oh, Frances, how are you?”
“I came to see how you were,” I said.
“Who’s this with you?”
Mal sat up and extended her paw for a shake. “This is Marshmallow, but everyone calls her Mal.”
“I’m pleased to meet you,” Leigh Ann said to the pup and shook her paw. “Please come in.” She opened the door. Mal and I wiped our feet on the welcome mat and entered. “Can I make us some tea?”
“That would be wonderful,” I said. Leigh Ann went to the kitchen while Mal and I took off our coats. I took off my boots and left them on the drying rack by the door.
“Please make yourself at home in the living room.” Her voice echoed out of the kitchen.
Mal and I went into the living area. Leigh Ann had soft music playing. It was clear she had just been sitting by the fire reading. I took a seat on the couch and Mal curled up at my feet.
“How are you?” I asked when she walked out with a tray holding a teapot, cream, sugar, and a plate of cookies.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by all the well-wishers. It’s such a hard thing to process.”
“It must be terrible. I’m so sorry. I don’t really know Emma. How’s she holding up?”
“She is so distraught. After the funeral she’s going to take her girls to stay with her mother for the rest of the winter.”
“I can understand that.” I shifted in my seat as she sat down and put the tea out on the coffee table. Mal went to sit beside Leigh Ann as she poured.
“Cream or sugar?”
“No, thank you,” I said and took the cup she passed to me. “Is Rex keeping you up-to-date on the investigation into who did this terrible thing?”
“All he’ll tell me is not to worry. He’s on the case.”
“I’m sure he’ll do a good job,” I said.
“He had to question me first,” Leigh Ann said. “Ridiculous to think I would kill my own stepson, no matter how much I disagreed with what he was doing.” She sipped her tea.
“What was he doing?”
“Oh, he got it into his head that he was going to build the next craft brewing empire.” She shook her head. “It wasn’t the brewing I opposed. It was his method of gathering what he needed at a cheap price.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m surprised you don’t know. Everyone else does. Warren was using his position at the bank to strong-arm people to get what he needed to start up his company at ridiculously low prices.”
“Someone did say something about that,” I said. “But that doesn’t sound like something your stepson would do.”
“Oh, he did it.” She shook her head. “And now I fear someone killed him for it.”
“Is that what Rex said?”
“I sent Rex down that line of investigation,” she said firmly. “Warren might not have been the nicest, but he didn’t deserve to die because of it.”
“No one deserves to be murdered,” I agreed.
Mal rested her head on Leigh Ann’s knee and Leigh Ann absently patted her.
“I’ll do everything I can to help find the killer.”
Leigh Ann
laughed. “Don’t get yourself in trouble over it. It’s Christmas. I’d rather you be safe.”
“Well,” I said, “I want you and Emma to know that I’ve started a fund-raising page on the internet to gather money for a college scholarship fund for the girls.” I pulled up my smartphone and brought up my browser. “See, it’s already up to ten thousand dollars, plus the cash I collected going door-to-door.”
Tears welled up in Leigh Ann’s eyes. “Oh, that is so nice. The girls will need this. Warren didn’t leave much in the way of life insurance.”
I patted her hand. “It’s my pleasure. I also wanted to let you know that tomorrow night we’re having a fund-raiser. We thought we’d have a craft beer brewing taste-off. All the craft brewers on the island and their patrons will come together, and a panel of experts will judge and name a ‘best of Mackinac Island.’ We will be accepting donations at the door and a portion of the proceeds from the entry fee will go to the girls’ fund.”
“That seems like a lot of work—and tomorrow night, you say?”
“Yes, Thursday at eight p.m. at the senior center.”
“Well,” she said with a nod, “I suppose it will be sort of like a wake for the boy.” She looked me in the eye. “The funeral is Friday at ten a.m. Please come. I hope people will turn out. If not for Warren, for his girls.”
“I’ll be there,” I said. “I don’t care what Warren did or didn’t do. You shouldn’t have to bury a child you raised.”
Leigh Ann turned her head and tears rolled down her cheeks. I reached over to the side table and pulled a tissue out of the box and handed it to her.
“Thank you,” she said. “Thank you for everything you’ve done.”
“I’m here to help.”
Mal jumped up into her lap and kissed away the tears. Leigh Ann laughed and hugged the puppy close. “You’re a good friend, too, little Marshmallow. Yes, you are.”
Chapter 8
“We need to step up our efforts,” I said as I walked into the
McMurphy and hung up my coat, slipped off my boots, and then took Mal out of her snow gear. She had little snow balls attached to her fluffy fur. I took out a comb and worked them out.
“What? Why?” Allie asked.
“Leigh Ann told Rex about the corrupt way Warren was using the bank loans to bully people out of the things he wanted for his brewery.”
“Oh, do you think Rex knows we’re investigating?”
“I don’t think he does,” I said. “But I don’t want to duplicate his efforts. I want to help. Maybe we should tell Rex.”
“Telling Rex isn’t the answer,” Allie said. “I’ve learned that we amateurs can find out things the police can’t. People will talk to us in ways they won’t to the police.”
“Okay,” I said. “You’re the one with the most experience in investigating. I’ll take your advice. But I won’t deny it, if Rex finds out.”
“That’s the best thing,” Allie said.
“So where are we with the party?”
“Go talk to Jenn. I’m afraid I’ve been too busy making fudge to do anything.”
“Will do,” I said. “Is she in the office?”
“Yes.”
I climbed the flights of stairs to the top floor, which consisted of two areas: the owners’ apartments, where Jenn and Allie lived, and the office, where they both ran their businesses.
“Hello?” I stuck my head in the office to see Jenn at work.
“Hey, Frances, come in.”
“Where are we with the details on the party?” I asked. Mella, the cat, trailed in behind me and weaved her way between my legs. Then she leaped up to rest in the pool of sunlight on the bookcase.
“I think we are almost ready. Thanks to Douglas and the mayor, we have a license to sell liquor at the party and a panel consisting of the mayor, Mr. Beecher, and Mr. Anthony. Mr. Beecher is an expert on the island craft brew scene and Mr. Anthony is the leading craft brewer on Mackinac.”
“I do love Mr. Beecher. He’s always so willing to help. I hope Mr. Anthony’s brewery is disqualified.”
“Yes, it is,” Jenn said. “He’s okay with that.”
“What about food?”
“I have several of the bars offering bite-size foods from their menu.”
“I’ve got the senior ladies bringing in their favorite potluck items as well. Sounds like we’re going to have a real party.”
Jenn put down her pen and looked at me. “Do you have your questions ready?”
“Questions?”
“Yes, the ones you are going to ask Barry and Henry to draw out the killer.”
“Oh, those questions,” I said and sat down next to Jenn’s desk. “I’m not sure how I’m going to go about it. I can’t simply walk up to them and ask them if they killed Warren Engle.”
“No.” Jenn’s tone was serious. “You can’t.”
“I have no idea,” I said and sat back with a sigh. “It was easy with Ralph. I simply asked him for a donation and he said he wouldn’t give Warren the time of day. Then I told him Warren was dead and he seemed truly surprised. I can’t do that now. The entire event is for Warren’s daughters’ scholarship fund. I have to figure out how to approach them.”
“Maybe tell them that you are interested in buying a sleigh. Ask them if they know anyone who has one.”
“Oh, that’s brilliant.” I perked up. “Once I get talking I’ll be able to figure out what to do next.”
“Solving problems is my superpower,” Jenn said.
“So we’re all set for tomorrow?”
“All set,” Jenn said.
I stood. “Good, then I’m off to have dinner with Douglas.”
“How are you two liking your new home?”
“Lovely. It’s still filled with boxes, but I think it’s going to be grand. Tonight we are getting our Christmas tree.”
“How fun. A real one?”
“Of course a real one,” I said with a laugh. “I love the smell of a real tree.”
“Let me know when you want to put together a housewarming,” Jenn said. “I might have some resources to help.”
“You are wonderful,” I said. “See you in the morning.”
“It’s going to be a fun day. You’ll see. I know how to pull off a party.”
“I know you do,” I said.
All we had to do was hope that something interesting came out of the party. Something that helped point a finger at Warren’s killer.
Chapter 9
Thursday was filled with errands to run, hotel rooms to clean out, and new guests to check in. Allie had printed flyers and I ensured all the guests knew about tonight’s fund-raiser. Finally, we made it to the senior center to begin prepping for the event.
“Are you sure they’ll come?” I asked Jenn and worried my bottom lip as I helped her decorate the Christmas lights.
“They’ll come,” Jenn said. “Shane has some side bets going over whose brew will win. He told me Barry and Henry are in the pool, along with about fifty other guys.”
“Oh, thank goodness for Shane.”
“Someone calling my name?” Shane asked as he walked in. Shane Carpenter was a tall, skinny guy with black horn-rimmed glasses. It was pretty clear from the way he looked at Jenn that he was head over heels in love with her. I glanced at Jenn. From her expression, I knew she was head over heels in love with Shane.
“We were just talking about the betting pool you started over who the winner is going to be,” Jenn said.
“I told her it was a brilliant idea,” I said. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He grinned from ear to ear. “I take it I’m in on this illegal investigation.”
“It’s not illegal,” Jenn and I said at the same time.
“It’s also not safe,” Shane said. “You really should let Rex take care of this.”
“He won’t tell us where he is in the investigation, and I don’t like that he seems to be so focused on the family. Leigh Ann is my f
riend. I’m sure none of Warren’s family would do such a thing.”
“Did you know that Warren’s wife was having an affair?” Shane asked.
“What? No,” I said. “Where did you hear that?”
“Bruce heard about it down at the police station,” Shane said. “The scuttlebutt is that Warren found out about the affair and went to confront the other man.”
“Who’s the other man?” I asked and tilted my head. What Shane was telling me negated everything I was doing to investigate. This sounded like a more reasonable motive for murder.
“Barry Elmwater,” Shane said.
“Oh no,” I said and put my hand to my mouth. “Barry was one of my leads. Warren forced him to sell his contracts to keep the family house.”
“Did he have an affair with Emma to get back at Warren?” Jenn asked.
“Don’t know,” Shane said. “Rex was going out to the house to talk to Barry about everything.”
“That means Barry won’t be at the beer taste-off tonight,” I said. “It also means he’s the true suspect. I guess I don’t have to investigate after all.”
“That’s good news,” Douglas said as he, too, walked into the main gathering room. “Thanks, Shane, for sharing with us. We know Rex wouldn’t say anything until charges were pending.”
“Well, all we need to worry about is the fund-raiser now,” I said. “Why don’t you two give us a hand with the decorations? We need two six-foot Christmas trees brought in and set up. There are artificial ones in boxes in the hallway. Jenn got the hardware store to donate them for the event.”
“Cool,” Shane said.
“Jenn and I will finish up the lights and then decorate the trees. From my calculations, brewers will be coming in to set up in about an hour. We’ll also need you two to set up some of those eight-foot-long tables for the brewers to use. Plus bar-height tables for people to gather around. Those are stored in the basement of the center.”
“Don’t forget the dais,” Jenn said. “We need it moved over to the judging corner and two tables on top, where we can line up the beers and they can be judged on taste, mouth feel, and color.”
