Murder in South Carolina

by Agnes Alexander

  Maxie ran to the door.

  “Does he bite?” Joe asked.

  “No. Maxie’s a friendly dog.”

  “He’s a cute little pup,” Bett Willis said.

  “Thank you.” Nola Dean wished she’d kept on the sun dress she’d worn to the store, but it was too late to think about that now. “Thank you for coming.”

  “We like to check out all calls as soon as we can.” Joe Randell sat on the chair she indicated when they reached the living room. Maxie plopped himself at Joe’s feet.

  Bett sat on the sofa and took out a notebook.

  “You reported that you found a body in your condo last night?” Joe looked at her.

  She wanted to melt into the blue checked high backed chair where she’d dropped when she looked into his deep brown eyes. “Yes, I did. There was a body here when I arrived,” she mumbled. “I put the emphasis on was, because it was here last night when I came in and fell over it. It was gone when I came to this morning.” She wished she at least had put on shoes.

  “Came to?” Bett quizzed.

  “Yes. Somebody put a cloth over my mouth, probably soaked in chloroform or ether or something and I passed out. I didn’t come to until this morning.”

  Joe frowned. “Maybe you’d better start at the beginning so it will all make sense.”

  “I don’t know if it will make sense to you or not. It doesn’t make any sense to me.”

  “Try us,” Bett prodded.

  Nola Dean took a deep breath and told them of her arrival last night and about waking up with the place empty.

  “Let me get this straight. You came in, fell over a body and then someone attacked you and you passed out?”

  “Yes. As I said, I think there was something like chloroform on the cloth he put over my mouth. I had a terrible headache this morning.”

  “I see.” Joe looked at Bett, but didn’t comment. Instead he said, “All right, Ms. Buckingham. Show us where the body was.”

  She stood. “Right here,” she pointed to a spot between the living room and kitchen. “It kind of blocked the doorway into the hall.”

  He moved to the area and bent on one knee to the floor, examining the carpet for stains. While he was on his knee Bubbles ambled into the room. His eyebrows shot up. “What a big cat!”

  “He weighed twenty-seven pounds on his last trip to the vet, but with all that fur he looks like he weighs fifty.”

  Bett asked, “Do he and the dog get along?”

  “They’re great friends.”

  “What’s his name?”

  “Bubbles.”

  Bett laughed as Bubbles proceeded to curl up in the sun beam that came through the balcony door ignoring everyone in the room. “I have a calico, but she’s not one third the size of your Bubbles.”

  “Calicos are pretty cats,” Nola Dean said.

  Joe was rubbing his hand across the carpet where the body had been.

  “I couldn’t find any blood, but the carpet was damp this morning. It’s probably dry now. I did find the dent where the cat carrier smashed into the wall.” She moved beside him. “It’s here near the back of the barrel chair.”

  Joe ran his left hand over the wall. “There’s a dent here all right. And you’re sure it wasn’t here before last night?”

  “I can’t prove that it wasn’t, Mr. Randell.” She felt he was questioning her integrity. “I know I threw the cat carrier in this direction and it hit the wall. Now there’s a dent and a smear on my wall. I’m sure the carrier made it.” Even her irritation hadn’t kept her from noticing there was no wedding ring on his finger.

  “Where’s the carrier now?”

  “In the coat closet.”

  “May I see it?”

  She retrieved the carrier and he studied it intently. “There’s a place on the corner of this carrier that could be white paint from your wall,” he said.

  “See. I told you it hit the wall.”

  “Of course, the white mark could have come from something else.”

  “Of course.” Her voice was a little sarcastic.

  He didn’t act as if he noticed. “Now, tell us all you can remember about the man you say you fell over last night.”

  “I don’t even know if it was a man. It was just a body. A little overweight I think because I felt the plumpness of the arms when I fell.”

  Bett flipped her notebook. She was writing quickly.

  “Now tell me about the man who attacked you.”

  “I’m sure he was a man because he was wearing Polo. He was taller than me but most people are.”

  “How tall are you, Ms. Buckingham?”

  “I claim five two but the doctor says I’m only five one and a half.”

  “Back to the man,” Joe said.

  “I don’t remember much. He had on a flannel shirt because I felt the material.”

  “And you didn’t see his face?”

  “No. I’d found the candles and matches, but I didn’t have time to light them before he grabbed me from behind. The power was out and it was dark. The street lights were even out.”

  “Did the man say anything?”

  “No. He pinned me against his chest and put a cloth over my mouth. It smelled funny. That’s why I think it was soaked in something which put me to sleep. That’s all I remember until I woke up this morning.”

  “Are you on this trip to the beach alone, Ms. Buckingham?”

  “Yes. Well, unless you want to count Bubbles and Maxie.”

  “When you called in, you said you owned this condo, is that correct?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you ever rent it out?”

  “No. Sometimes I will let a friend or a special client use it, but not often.”

  “Have you or anyone used this place lately?”

  “My daughter and some of her friends were here about three weeks ago and the week following, a friend used it for a couple of days.”

  “Was anyone here last week?’

  “No. Since my friend came, nobody else has used the place.”

  Joe looked at her for a moment then asked again, “Are you sure no one has been here since then?”

  “Yes. Of course I’m sure.” She stared at him and almost added that he had no right to doubt her word.

  “I see.” He looked at Bett. She closed her book.

  Joe continued, “I think that’s about all I need to ask you at this time, Ms. Buckingham. We will get back with you if we have further questions?”

  “That’s fine. I’m probably going to be here for a couple of weeks.” She looked directly at him. “Do you think the body I fell on and the one on the beach was the same person?”

  “How did you hear about the body on the beach, Ms. Buckingham?”

  “I turned on the television at noon and saw the reporter interviewing you.”

  “Oh.” He took a breath. “Then, by chance, did you know the lady who discovered the body?”

  “No, They didn’t show her.”

  “They interviewed her after they talked with me this morning.”

  “I only saw you. Then they switched to the weather. Who found the body?”

  “Olive Brunson.”

  She frowned. “I know who she is. Isn’t she a lady in her seventies who wears a little bun on the back of her head?”

  “So you do know her?”

  “Not really. I’ve met her on the beach a few times when we’d both be walking. She’s a retired teacher or something. She likes my dog and my art.”

  “Your art?” Bett looked at her.

  “I do some sketching and a little painting. That’s how I met Mrs. Brunson. She stopped to look at my work when I was sketching on the beach one day. I’ve only seen her a few times since then.”

  “Have you visited with her in her home?” Joe asked.

  “No.” Anticipating his next question she added, “And she’s never been here either.”

  He stood and handed her a card. “In case you think of anything else which
might help us, please give me a call.”

  “I’ll do that.” She wondered if he’d racked her up as a nut who liked to get in on a big story or would he take what she said seriously. She didn’t voice these thoughts to him.

  He paused at the door. “I see you’re putting on a new lock.”

  “I thought I’d feel safer.” She couldn’t help adding, “That is if I get it on before time to go to bed tonight.”

  Joe smiled. “Let me see if I can help.” He picked up the screw driver she’d left on the floor and began working as his partner waited in the hall. In a matter of minutes he had the knob on the door.

  “Now Ms. Buckingham,” he said handing her the screwdriver. “You can go to bed and sleep.”

  “Thank you.” She was glad to have the door secure.

  “You’re welcome.” He started out then turned around and looked at her. “You know we don’t have much to go on, but we’ll do our best to sort all this out for you.”

  “Thank you,” was all she could think of to say.

  “Good-by, Ms. Buckingham,” Bett Willis said. “I’m sure we’ll be in touch again.”

  As the elevator door closed, Nola Dean wondered what she meant by that remark.

  * * * *

  Megan Eller turned off her computer and sat back in the burgundy swivel chair. It had been another long day at Collier, Collier, Briggs and Burton. She wondered how much longer it was going to go on. There had been a few phone calls from clients the receptionist had sent her way and she’d had to tell them Mr. Overton was out of town, but expected back tomorrow. If he didn’t show up then, she didn’t know what she’d say when they called back.

  She thought of dialing Columbia and asking either Rex Collier or his father to send some reinforcements, but she didn’t have the nerve. First of all, she didn’t want to make Rex look bad in front of his dad and second, when the Colliers had asked her to come to Myrtle Beach and manage the branch office, they had made it clear she’d been chosen because of her expertise and because they thought she could handle it. She didn’t think they expected her to take charge of the clients though. That was why Rex had taken his cousin, Walter Overton into the partnership. Though Walter wasn’t the brightest man she’d ever worked with, he had a way with the clients. That strong point kept the office open and kept both their jobs.

  “Damn you, Walter,” she said aloud. “Where are you this time? I can only cover for you so long. One day somebody is going to get wise to your little trips.”

  She stood, shoving the chair back. The phone rang and since the receptionist had left she debated whether or not to answer it. There were still three minutes left in her work day; she did.

  “Megan, Rex Collier here.”

  “Yes, Mr. Collier. How are you?” She was thankful she’d had the good ethics to pick up the telephone.

  “I’m fine, Megan. And yourself?”

  “Great.”

  “I know it’s time to go home, but I need to speak to Walter a minute. Has he left yet?”

  “He’s not here, Mr. Collier.”

  “Cut out early, huh?”

  She smiled. “Not really. He hasn’t been in today.”

  “Oh?”

  “No. He said something about going to Raleigh or Columbia. I’m not sure which.”

  “Must have been Raleigh. He hasn’t shown up here.”

  “I do expect him back tomorrow.”

  “I’m thinking of coming over there tomorrow. Dad has some things which need doing here, but I think I can finish them tonight. I’ll call in the morning and we can go from there.”

  “It will be good to see you,” she bit her lip and wished she hadn’t said that.

  “I’ll be glad to see you, too. We sure miss you in this office, Megan.”

  “I miss everyone there.”

  “Now that you have everything running smoothly in Myrtle Beach, maybe we can see about sending someone else to that office and bringing you home.”

  “Oh, that would be wonderful, Mr. Collier.” Her heart soared. There was nothing she wanted more than to be back in Columbia and working with Rex once again. “I’ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow then.”

  “I’ll call if I’m delayed. Tell Walter to be ready with the figures on the Murrells Inlet project.”

  “I’ll tell him.” She hung up the phone feeling good. She might even go by the mall and get a new dress to wear to work tomorrow.

  Chapter 6

  Nola Dean woke up early. She made a quick breakfast and decided to go to the beach before the predicted rain came today. After all, this is supposed to be a relaxing time to help me get used to Emily being off at school. Though she didn’t want to admit it, it gave her some time to cope with the disappointment of finding out the man she’d been dating off and on for the last six months had the morals of an ally cat. She also knew it wasn’t a time she wanted to have nightmares filled with disappearing bodies and mixed up dreams about her late husband. She decided it might help her relax if she did some drawing.

  Tucking a sketch book under her arm and plunking a straw hat on her head, she took Maxie’s lead and headed for the beach, leaving Bubbles asleep in the beam of sunshine he’d claimed as his own.

  She dropped to the towel she spread on the sand several feet from the water and hooked Maxie’s leash around her ankle. He scouted about for a little while, but soon tired of it and stretched out on the sand beside her.

  Nola Dean didn’t know why she liked to sit on the beach and sketch. Often her drawings had nothing to do with her surroundings. Instead, they came from recessed memories of people and places she’d seen. This was the case today. She was well into a scene of a man’s profile when Maxie jumped up, pulling her foot.

  He wagged his tail as Olive Brunson spoke to him. “He still doesn’t bite does he?” She smiled at Nola Dean.

  “No. Maxie’s delighted to see you.”

  She patted his head. “He’s one of the prettiest little dogs I know.”

  “Thank you.” Nola Dean smiled at her. “It’s nice to see you again, Mrs. Brunson.”

  “Nola Dean, I thought we agreed the last time we met to be on a first name basis.”

  “Yes, we did. I’m sorry, Olive.”

  “No problem.” She smiled and asked, “Did I ever tell you I had a poodle mix once. Her name was Goldie. She was a sweet little dog.”

  “I think a mixed breed is often the best kind of pet.”

  “I miss Goldie a lot. My cat Mansford is a good pet, though he only sleeps and eats.”

  “That’s the way with cats, I suppose. I left my Bubbles asleep in the sun.”

  “What are you drawing?” The older woman changed the subject.

  Nola Dean held the pad for Olive to see.

  “My, goodness. It’s a man.” She laughed. “I was expecting to see an ocean. This is interesting.”

  “Thank you.” Nola Dean put the pad back on her lap. “I seldom draw what I’m looking at.”

  Olive laughed. “How long are you visiting the coast this time, dear?”

  “Probably a couple of weeks. I took Emily to college and I wanted a vacation to get used to my daughter being away from home.”

  “You’re so young and cute; it’s hard for me to realize you have a college age daughter.”

  Nola Dean laughed. “I was only nineteen when Emily was born.”

  Olive shook her head, “I guess it’s hard when children leave home no matter what age you are.”

  “You’re telling me.” Nola Dean smiled and changed the subject. “What’s been happening with you?”

  Olive paused then said quickly, “I was the one who found the body on the beach. Did you know that?”

  “I was told it was you,” Nola Dean said. “It must have been terrible.”

  “It wasn’t pleasant, but once I was over the shock, it wasn’t hard to handle. In fact,” she chuckled, “it’s made me kind of a celebrity with some of my friends, especially after the television people interviewed me
and my name was in the paper.”

  When Nola Dean said nothing, Olive went on. “Please don’t get me wrong. I’m sorry the gentleman is dead. My heart goes out to his family, whoever they are. It’s just that very few exciting things happen to the people in my group of friends.”

  “I understand.” She smiled again at Olive. “Did you know the man?

  “No. I wish I could have helped the police more, but I’d never seen him before. Do they know who he was?”

  “I haven’t heard.”

  Olive blushed. “I’ve probably said too much. I’m sorry I brought it up.”

  “Oh, no. Don’t be. Everyone on the beach is talking about it. Why shouldn’t you? You didn’t happen to see anyone else around the body did you?”

  “The beach was deserted when I came upon him.” She sighed. “Well, it was delightful seeing you again, Nola Dean. And you too, Maxie.” She bent and stroked his head again as he jumped up and wagged his little stubby tail.

  “I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other again.” Nola Dean smiled at her.

  “I walk every day.” She started to move away. “I’ll look for you.”

  Nola Dean nodded and watched as Olive made her way back toward the point. “She sure is agile, Maxie. I hope I do as well when I’m her age.”

  Without answering, Maxie came up and nestled his head under her arm. Nola Dean didn’t seem to notice. She was too lost in thought about Olive and the dead man on the beach. She’d lost all interest in her drawing.

  * * * *

  Megan Eller pulled her car into the parking lot of Collier, Collier, Briggs and Burton Investment Real Estate Brokers at ten minutes after eight. Though she wasn’t required to be in the office until eight-thirty, she always made it a habit to get to work earlier than most of the other personnel. This had paid off in several ways. Not only did she demand one of the highest salaries in the administrative support department of the firm, she was often given extra perks such as tickets to concerts, sports events and once, before Rex came to work in the Columbia office, she was invited to attend a luncheon at the Governor’s mansion with the senior Mr. Collier.

  Megan hung her rain coat on the coat stand in the corner. Though the sun was shining, the forecast called for nasty weather in the afternoon. Megan always thought it sensible to be prepared.