by J A Whiting
“The Foley’s have been charged with stealing the painting from your brother’s home. We’d like to hold onto it for a few more days if you don’t mind, Mr. Finch.”
Finch sat straight in a side chair. He held the top of his cane with both hands. “I have no intention of keeping that painting. I plan to donate it to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, unless you discover that it is stolen property. Which wouldn’t surprise me in the least.”
“That’s very generous of you, Mr. Finch.” The chief rubbed his forehead. “As I mentioned, the Foleys have an alibi for the night your brother was murdered. They were at the resort having dinner late that night and then they spent several hours at the bar. A number of people are able to vouch for them.”
Finch nodded slightly. “I see.”
The chief went on. “They did visit the candy store prior to going to dinner. They mentioned seeing the resort manager in the store at the same time, and they also noted that Finch sent his regular employee home early. This was because the Foley’s had arranged with Finch to make a purchase from him, other than candy. Finch had brokered an art deal for the Foleys that didn’t come to fruition. The Foleys had sent Finch a deposit. Finch refused to return the money to the Foleys, saying it was his fee for his troubles. It was quite a large sum. They argued. Finch threatened to badmouth them to his art world contacts. He planned to make sure that the Foleys would be blacklisted from any future private art deals.” The chief cleared his throat. “When the Foleys heard that Finch had been murdered, they hatched the plan to go to his house and steal some artwork from him. They claim they were justified since your brother owed them money.”
Finch clutched tightly to his cane. “So many unscrupulous people in the world.”
Chief Martin nodded. “I want to assure you that we continue to work to find your brother’s killer.”
“Thank you, Chief Martin,” Finch said. “I hope that your investigation will prove fruitful soon. In my opinion, my brother was a blight on humanity. But it is also my belief that no one deserves to be murdered. I hope you find the killer, not for Thaddeus’ sake, but to keep the good people of Sweet Cove safe.”
Chief Martin said, “We’ll do all we can.”
The chief made a move to get up to leave when Angie cleared her throat. “Um. Chief, we want to tell you something.”
Chief Martin turned expectant eyes to Angie.
Angie, Jenna, Courtney, and Finch took turns relaying what had happened the previous night at the restaurant. Ellie stayed quiet. Euclid and Circe both sat up, listening with interest.
“I have a strong feeling that our waitress has knowledge about the crime,” Finch said.
“Hmm.” Chief Martin looked across the room, thinking. “It might be a good idea to talk to Lindsay again.”
“You know.” Jenna leaned forward in her seat. “I’ve walked by the Pirate’s Den late at night. I’ve seen Lindsay sitting near the window after the restaurant is closed. She goes over the evening receipts and cashes out the register to reconcile the money from the night’s business.”
Ellie’s eyes widened and she almost jumped up from her chair. “I’ve seen Lindsay in there at night, too. Every time I’ve seen her, she’s sitting at the table that we all sat at last night. She always sits by the window.” Ellie looked straight at Angie. “In the seat you were sitting in last night.”
Courtney turned to Angie. “That’s why you felt something during dinner. I bet Lindsay saw something or someone the night Finch was killed. She had a direct view of the front of the candy shop. You picked up on it. That’s what the thrumming was trying to tell you.”
Euclid arched his back and let out a low hiss.
Chief Martin stood up. “I think I’ll pay Lindsay a visit right away.” He thanked the girls and shook hands with Finch. Courtney showed him to the door.
Before Courtney could return to her seat, the doorbell chimed. “I’ll get it. The chief probably forgot something.” When she opened the door, Betty Hayes stood on the porch.
“Hello, Courtney.” Betty brushed past and entered the foyer. “Is Victor here?”
Courtney looked blank for a moment, and then said, “Oh, you mean Mr. Finch.”
Finch heard Betty’s voice and came into the foyer to greet her.
Betty beamed at him. “Oh, there you are. You’re looking very nice today, Victor.”
“And so are you, Miss Betty.” Despite Finch’s limp, he had a spring in his step whenever Betty was around. Courtney had to stifle a chuckle at the way the two of them oogled one another.
“A small ranch has just come on the market.” Betty batted her eyelashes at Finch. “It’s adorable. I think it’s perfect for you. Do you have time to see it? It’s just around the corner from here on a lovely side street. We should jump on this. It will go quickly.”
“I’d love to see it.” Finch’s cheeks were flushed with a healthy glow.
Betty said to Courtney, “Victor tells me he’s been teaching you to make candy. He says you’re a natural.”
“She is indeed.” Mr. Finch smiled.
Betty eyed Courtney. “You know, you should think about running a candy business. You could take over Finch’s shop. We can’t have Sweet Cove without a candy store. The lease is coming available very soon.”
Courtney said, “I thought Lindsay Cooper wanted to open a sandwich shop in the space.”
Betty swatted the air with her hand. “Oh, her. Maybe.” Betty plastered on her sweet smile. “The candy store is in a wonderful location. A spot like that doesn’t come along very often.” She patted Courtney’s arm. “Think about it. You’re done with college now. Your sisters are all entrepreneurs. You may as well be one too.”
“Perhaps I could treat you to lunch after we take a look at the ranch?” Finch held Betty’s elbow and the two opened the front door and headed to her car.
Euclid and Circe jumped onto the side table near the window so that they could watch Finch and Betty leave.
When the door closed, Courtney turned to her sisters. “Those two. Who would have guessed?”
Jenna accused Angie. “Did you put a love spell in something those two ate?”
They laughed.
“Do you think Lindsay changed her mind about the sandwich shop?” Jenna asked. “She sure seemed gung ho when she told us about it.”
Courtney sat down on the sofa next to Angie. “Maybe she decided she didn’t want her shop in a place where a guy was murdered.”
“Or maybe Betty is trying to start a bidding war for the lease,” Angie suggested. “I wouldn’t put it past her.”
Ellie asked Courtney, “What do you think about what Betty suggested?”
“The candy shop? I don’t know anything about running a business.” Courtney patted Circe who had curled next to her.
“You could learn.” Ellie got up to return to the kitchen. “Think about it.”
Jenna stood up too. “Enough sitting around. Some of us have to work.” She headed to her jewelry shop at the back of the house.
“Come on,” Angie squeezed Courtney’s shoulder. “We promised Ellie we’d clean the guest rooms and bathrooms today.”
As they climbed the stairs, Courtney groaned. “Not my favorite activity. I’d better seriously consider becoming a candy maker.”
***
During dinner, Jenna told her sisters she was going to the Pirate’s Den later in the evening to show Lindsay some new jewelry and asked if anyone wanted go with her. Jenna planned to sit with Lindsay at the restaurant and show her some pieces once the customers were gone and it was closed for the night.
“I’ll go.” Courtney helped clear the dinner dishes from the dining table.
“I’m meeting Attorney Ford in an hour to finish going over the business papers he’s drawn up for the B and B.” Ellie finished her tea. “After that, I’m taking a shower and going to bed. I’m beat.”
Courtney raised an eyebrow. “An evening meeting?”
Ellie yawned. �
��We’re both busy people.”
“You want to come, Angie?” Jenna asked. “We could go and have a drink and an appetizer while we wait for Lindsay to finish up. Maybe we can get her to tell what she knows about dead Finch's murder.”
“I guess so.” Angie rubbed her forehead. “I’ve had a headache ever since I had that thrumming at dinner last night. I hope it doesn’t happen again when we’re there.” She didn’t know why, but a wave of unease washed over her.
Chapter 23
Jenna, Angie, and Courtney headed into the center of Sweet Cove. Jenna carried a small briefcase with her new jewelry designs inside. The night was clear and the air retained the warmth of the day. A full moon glowed in the ebony sky.
“How’s your headache?” Jenna asked her sister.
“I still have it.” Angie had taken a nap after dinner hoping that sleeping for a little while would ease the throbbing in her head.
“Maybe a good night’s sleep will help.”
The girls entered the Pirate’s Den. Most of the tables were filled with customers. Bessie, the owner, spotted them and hurried over. “Lindsay went home. She was afraid she was getting a migraine and her medicine was in her apartment. She told me to tell you to come over. Here’s her address. She lives just a half mile from here.” Bessie handed Jenna a piece of paper with the address on it.
The girls thanked Bessie and stepped outside.
“You okay with walking to Lindsay’s place?” Jenna asked her sisters.
“Fine with me,” Angie said. “The restaurant was really crowded. I don’t mind avoiding all the noise in there.”
“Let’s go, then.” Courtney turned to lead the way.
Angie glanced at the darkened candy shop across the street as they walked along the sidewalk away from the restaurant. A shiver traveled down her spine.
After a ten-minute walk on the side streets of Sweet Cove, the sisters stopped in front of an historic home. “This is it.” Jenna led the way up to the front door of the three story stone house. There were three doorbells on the side of the door with names printed on pieces of paper that were slipped into brass holders. “Here’s Lindsay’s.” Jenna pressed the button. After a few minutes, the front door opened. Lindsay greeted them wearing a pullover sweater and loose black slacks.
“Hope you didn’t mind coming here.” Lindsay led the girls to her second floor apartment. “I had to take my migraine medicine before the headache kicked in.”
Angie had a vague sense of unease as she climbed the stairs. Waiting for Lindsay to open the apartment door, she took a quick look at Courtney to see if she might be displaying any signs of discomfort or reservation.
Lindsay swung the door open. The living area was decorated with a large cream colored sofa, two club chairs in a light shade of chocolate, and a glass coffee table placed on a rug with a contemporary design. A large white wall unit was placed on one side of the room and several of the shelves were filled with hardcover books. Green plants stood here and there about the room. Framed photographs of nature scenes hung on the walls.
“What a nice place,” Courtney said admiring the space.
“You can spread the jewelry on the table.” Lindsay gestured to the coffee table. “How about some cold drinks?”
Jenna opened her case of jewelry and began placing the pieces on suede mats that she’d brought along to use to display the designs. Angie took a seat on the sofa while Courtney walked around the room looking at the photographs on the walls.
Lindsay headed to the kitchen to get the drinks. “I used to enjoy dabbling in photography. I don’t have the time anymore, but I’d like to get back to it someday.”
A bead of cold sweat ran down Angie’s back. Her heart pounded. She wondered if she might be coming down with the flu.
“I can’t wait to see the new pieces,” Lindsay called from the kitchen. The girls could hear her placing ice cubes in glasses.
Courtney stood in front of the bookcase reading the titles on the spines of the books. Most of the them fell into the category of the classics. “You have a great collection of books.” She reached for a leather bound volume. “This one looks really old.”
A crash sounded from the kitchen as a glass hit the tile floor and shattered. Lindsay rushed into the living area. Her voice was high. “Will you come here and help me, Courtney?”
Jenna turned towards Lindsay.
Angie’s head pounded like it was about to explode and with each beat of her heart, her blood thrummed. What’s wrong here?
Courtney slowly lifted her eyes from the thick, heavy book she held in her hands. She glared at Lindsay. “You.”
Angie’s body flooded with panic. She leaped up and rushed across the room to her sister’s side, sensing that Courtney was in danger.
Jenna’s body stiffened from the tension in the room. “What? What’s going on?” Her gaze darted from Lindsay to her sisters.
Courtney’s tone dripped with disgust. “This is Mr. Finch’s recipe book.”
Lindsay’s face hardened. She took several steps to a desk near the side wall, never taking her eyes off the girls. She pulled open the desk drawer and removed a gun.
Angie clutched Courtney’s arm, pulled her back, and instinctively moved in front of her. Jenna edged closer to her sisters.
“You killed him.” Angie narrowed her eyes.
“Yes, I killed him. That monster.” Lindsay’s face muscles tightened. “He deserved to die. He made my life hell. He lied that I stole from him. Everyone hated him. I figured out he was dealing in art.” Lindsay raised the barrel of the gun. “I confronted him. I told him I’d go to the police with the information. I wanted money to keep quiet.” She let out a shrill cackle. “That greedy monster. He refused. So I stabbed him with his own kitchen knife. I robbed his safe. In the end, he was right. I did steal from him.”
“Lindsay.…” Angie took a step forward.
“Don’t move,” Lindsay ordered.
Angie held her hands out, the palms facing Lindsay. “We’ll leave. We’ll wait before going to the police so you have plenty of time to get away.” Her voice shook even though she tried to keep it steady.
Lindsay snorted. “I don’t think so.”
Suddenly a strange sensation of relief washed over Angie. She listened.
Lindsay waved the gun. “Come on, the three of you. Get in my bedroom.”
The girls stood still.
Lindsay shrieked. “Move!”
Angie’s muscles tensed. Get ready. They’re coming.
The apartment door cracked and splintered from a heavy boot’s impact and it flew open, just as Angie turned and knocked Courtney to the floor. “Get down, Jenna!” Angie yelled as she and Courtney fell.
Two gunshots rang through the apartment.
Out of the corner of her eye, Angie saw Chief Martin and a second police officer in the room, their guns drawn and pointed towards the spot where Lindsay had been standing. Two other officers ran in from the back door. Lindsay’s curses burned into Angie’s ears. The murderer wailed and screamed as the police cuffed her and hauled her away.
Chief Martin ran to the girls. The three of them hauled themselves up off the floor. Relief spread over the chief’s face. “You scared me there for a second.”
Angie’s stomach clenched and her head was spinning. She crumpled onto the sofa and put her head on her knees, her hair falling over her face.
“Take deep breaths.” Courtney rubbed Angie’s shoulders.
Jenna sat down beside Angie and put her hand on her twin sister’s arm. Tears gathered in her eyes. She rested her cheek against Angie’s back.
With her head still on her knees, Angie asked the chief, “How did you know we were here?”
Chief Martin gently slid the jewelry to the side and sat down on the glass coffee table in front of the girls. “Ellie. She called us. She’d called the Pirate’s Den, they told her you were here. When Ellie got home from meeting Attorney Ford, the cats were going berserk in the hous
e. Screaming, jumping over the furniture, climbing up the drapes. Ellie knew you were in danger.”
Angie said softly, “Once again, saved by felines.”
“And by Ellie’s quick thinking,” Jenna added.
The coffee table creaked under the chief’s weight and the glass panel beneath his butt shifted and slipped from the metal sides. The panel and the chief collapsed onto the rug with an impressive thud. Angie lifted her head to see Chief Martin sprawled on the floor.
Laughter spilled from the girls’ throats. Jenna and Courtney each gripped one of the chief’s arms and hauled the red-faced man to his feet.
Chapter 24
The police took Lindsay into custody and charged her with the murder of Mr. Thaddeus Finch. Working at the Pirate’s Den and sitting near the window each night reconciling the evening’s receipts, Lindsay had a good view of the goings-on in Finch’s candy store. She noticed parcels being delivered to the shop early some mornings and late some nights. Her regular jogging route ended right in front of Finch’s store and one day, she heard Finch arguing with people about a piece of art.
Lindsay watched the activities at the candy store with a close eye and figured out that Finch must be dealing in artwork. Her discovery of his secret, in combination with her hatred for the man, ignited the plan to blackmail Finch. When the confrontation with Finch went sour, Lindsay ended up stabbing him to death. She stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from the store safe and from Finch’s home.
After Chief Martin and his officers rescued the sisters from Lindsay’s apartment, the Chief directed his men to haul the murderer off to the Sweet Cove jail. Chief Martin then drove the girls back to their home, the headlights of his car cutting through the darkness like little beacons.
Ellie, Mr. Finch, and the two cats stood under the Victorian’s front porch light, their faces tight and worried, as the police cruiser pulled into the driveway. Tears streamed from Ellie’s eyes when she saw Courtney, Jenna, and Angie emerge unhurt from the vehicle. Mr. Finch clapped his hands with joy and Euclid and Circe rushed down the steps and danced around the sisters. Chief Martin had tied a jacket around his waist to hide the huge rip in his trousers that was caused by his undignified fall through the glass coffee table.
