Vera stood back and frowned at Lexy. “Just how did the dress get ripped, anyway?”
Lexy’s cheeks burned. “I kind of got into a fight with another bride whose dress was similar.”
Vera took the last pin out of her mouth and burst out laughing. “You did? I can’t picture that—seems like something Nans would do though, maybe you’re starting to take after her.”
Vera walked behind Lexy and did more pulling and tugging, then reached for more pins. “So, if you’re not involved in it, then why did someone break in here?”
“I don’t know. For all we know that wasn’t even related,” Lexy said. “It could have just been a random break in”
Vera pulled the dress tight and stuck in a pin, almost jabbing Lexy. “Well, I think I know who did it anyway.”
Lexy twisted around to look at her mother. “You do?”
“Yep. Last night we had dinner with the Stottlemeyer’s. And Philippe’s seamstress, Millie, is Georgia’s aunt.”
Lexy raised a brow at her mother. “And?”
“She said that Millie has been acting very strange for a month or so now,” Vera said.
“Strange, how?”
“Evasive … Nervous. That’s exactly how someone who is up to no good acts. And they said she’s not normally like that at all.” Vera put in the last pin and stood back to inspect the dress. “I’d bet my right eye tooth she’s got something to do with the murders.”
18
“So, should we move Millie over to the suspects list?” Ruth stood in front of the whiteboard, her blue marker poised to write. Lexy looked at Nans—she wasn’t sure how reliable Vera’s information was.
“Well, she was acting very strange when Lexy, Ida and I saw her at Chez Philippe,” Nans said. “We might as well put her under the suspects and make a note to question her again.”
“We can cross Wiggins off. He was killed first, so he couldn’t have killed the others,” Lexy added.
“And since they were all killed with the same gun, the killer probably wasn’t Veronica.” Ida leaned against the entry from the dining room to the living room with a mug of coffee in her hand.”
“Unless she killed Wiggins then someone took the gun from her and killed her and Philippe,” Helen added.
Nans pressed her lips together. “I suppose that’s possible, but since she’s dead we can’t question her. That leaves Millie, Ramona and Eddie.”
“Ramona sure did act strange at the wake,” Ida said.
“Well, that could have just been because she hates me. But I do have to admit I wouldn’t feel too bad if she were the killer.” Lexy chewed on her bottom lip. “In fact, that Eddie guy seemed to imply that she was up to something.”
“We need to talk to both her and Millie,” Nans said, then turned to Ruth. “Did you find out where that big payment Philippe got came from?”
Ruth shook her head. “It was a cash deposit so I can’t trace it.”
Nans tapped her fingers on her lips. “Hmm … well somewhere, someone has fifty grand less money. Did you check the accounts of the other people involved?”
“Yep. The only one that had any significant amount of money going in and out was Wiggins. But he didn’t withdraw that much at any one time,” Ruth said. “Of course I only checked the last two months. Maybe I should look back further.”
“Yes, do that,” Nans said. “In the meantime, I think we need to pay a little visit to Millie over at Chez Philippe.”
Lexy and Nans decided to go to Chez Philippe alone. Millie might be more apt to talk if she wasn’t overwhelmed by five people. As they walked to Lexy’s car, she noticed a black sedan idling at the end of the parking lot. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled.
Was the person in the car watching them?
“Is something wrong?” Nans asked.
“No. I think I’m just getting paranoid with the murders and the break-in.” Lexy laughed. “I’m starting to think people are after me.”
Nans narrowed her eyes at the black car. “Which brings up the question … why did someone break into your house?”
“That’s been bugging me too,” Lexy said as they got into her car. “The only thing I can think of is maybe they think I have whatever Philippe got paid the fifty grand for.”
“Indeed,” Nans said.
They drove the short distance to Chez Philippe in silence. When they got there, they could see the lights on in the showroom.
“Looks like it’s open,” Nans said as Lexy drove by. She pulled into an empty spot a couple of doors down and they got out.
“Now, let me do all the talking,” Nans said as they approached the door. “I know just what to say.”
“If you say so.” Lexy opened the door and they entered the empty shop.
“Hello. Anyone here?” Nans called.
“I’m in the back.” Millie’s voice answered from the back room of the shop.
Nans motioned to Lexy and they walked over to the back room, both of them entering through the wide doorway at the same time.
Millie was sitting at a sewing table stitching lace onto a piece of white fabric by hand. She held the fabric up about an inch from her face. She squinted over at them as they entered, not recognizing them at first until her eyes adjusted. Then, once she realized who they were, her eyes widened.
“You people again.” She sighed. “What do you want now?”
“We’re investigating the murders and we want to ask you some questions,” Nans said, as if they were “officially” investigating.
Millie straightened her back. “I’ve already talked to the police.”
“Some new things have come to light since then and we have more questions.” Nans walked closer to Millie. “You weren’t here that night, right?”
“Like I said before, I went out to get coffees. Philippe … Mr. Montague … was meeting with Ms. Veronica. I went down to Fresh Market to get Mr. Montague’s favorite cinnamon roll and then over to Starbucks for coffees.” Millie looked like she was about to tear up, then her eyes turned cold when she looked at Lexy. “One might wonder what you were doing here.”
“I was supposed to meet with Philippe … about fixing my dress,” Lexy said.
“Oh, but I thought you ripped Ms. Veronica’s dress?” Millie narrowed her eyes at Lexy.
“She ripped mine! … Well and I guess I ripped hers, too. She was mad because they were so similar.”
Millie looked away. Lexy thought she almost looked guilty, which made her wonder if the similarity of the dresses was a mistake or not.
Nans continued her interrogation. “Were you and Mr. Montague up to something?”
Millie’s hands jerked, the needle dug into her finger. “Ouch!” She pulled her hand away and shoved her finger in her mouth.
“Whatever gave you that idea?” she mumbled around her finger while glaring at Nans.
“We know something was going on … we just don’t know what.” Nans started walking around the room. “Unless you want us to guess the worst, I suggest you come out with it.”
“How dare you!” Millie stood up, knocking the sewing from the table then bending down to retrieve it, obviously flustered.
Nans showed no mercy and swooped in for the kill. “We have statements from witnesses that know about it.”
Millie collapsed in her chair and sobbed into her hands.
“It’s all too much,” She blurted out in-between sobs.
Nans rushed to her side and rubbed her arm. Lexy found the box of tissues and shoved them toward her.
“What’s too much? What was going on with Philippe?” Nans asked.
“We were having an affair!” Millie blurted out. “I’m so ashamed.
“Ashamed? But neither of you are married so what’s to be ashamed about?”
“Well, a woman of my age? Taking up with a man?” Millie’s cheeks flushed. “In my day, that just wasn’t done.”
Lexy and Nans exchanged a glance.
“That’s it?
That’s what you’ve been so nervous about?” Lexy asked.
Millie nodded then said softly, “That and the dresses.”
“The dresses? What about them?” Nans asked soothingly.
“Well, you see I’m getting on in years. My eyesight and creativity isn’t what it used to be … so, sometimes, I design similar dresses to make it easier on myself.” She looked at Lexy apologetically. “That’s what happened with your dress and Ms. Veronica’s.”
“Where did the money come from?” Nans asked.
“Money?” Millie looked from Nans to Lexy. “What money?”
“Surely you noticed that Philippe came into a large sum of money a few months ago?”
Millie’s eyes narrowed. “That’s not true. Philippe didn’t mention anything … and I’m sure he would have told me.”
“It’s true. Did you notice he was acting strange the past few months?”
“Well, he was acting kind of strange lately … distant.” Millie looked down at her hands in her lap. “I was worried that he’d tired of me.”
“Are you sure you don’t know anything about the money?” Nans persisted. “We think that whatever he was involved in was what got him killed, so if you know something, it would be in your best interest to tell us now.”
Millie held her hands up. “I don’t know a thing, I swear!”
Nans nodded and stood up. She took a few paces into the middle of the room then turned around to face Millie again.
“If you don’t know anything about the money, then didn’t you wonder who would have murdered Philippe and why?”
Millie glanced sideways at Lexy. “Well to tell you the truth, when I saw Ms. Baker here that night, I thought she killed them both over the dress. It made perfect sense … the two girls fought earlier in the day and I was certain they were both mad as hens to have discovered their dresses were almost identical.”
“Seriously? You don’t think Lexy would kill over something like that, do you?” Nans waved her hand at Lexy.
Millie snorted. “Believe me. I’ve seen brides do all kinds of things when it comes to their dresses.”
“I can assure you, I didn’t kill them,” Lexy said. “In fact, I think whoever did kill them might be after me. That’s why we’re so interested in finding them.”
“Oh dear. That’s terrible,” Millie said.
“Yes, so if you think of anything that could help us … maybe something Philippe said, or something you saw at the shop, please let me know.” Nans pulled out her Ladies Detective Club business card and handed it to Millie.
Lexy and Nans turned to leave and Millie called out behind them. “I’m truly sorry about the gowns, Lexy.”
Lexy turned to face the other woman. Millie looked so sad, Lexy didn’t have it in her to be mad and, besides, her gown was perfect. “That’s okay, Millie. I love the gown and who cares if it’s similar to another one anyway?”
“Oh thank you for being so understanding,” Millie said as Lexy turned back to leave. “You’re so much nicer than that other girl that asked about the gowns.”
Nans and Lexy spun around and spoke at the same time. “Other girl?”
“Yes, that friend of Ms. Veronica’s … what was her name …?” Millie tapped her lips with her index finger.
“Ramona?” Lexy asked.
“Yes, that’s it. She was here asking about Ms. Veronica’s dress. An impertinent young miss she was too. Nasty girl.” Millie made a sour face.
“What was she asking?” Nans asked.
“Oh, where the dress was and so on.” Millie waved her hand. “I told her I had no idea where it was. Ms. Veronica must have it at home somewhere as it certainly isn’t here. She stormed out of here and nearly broke the door slamming it so hard.”
“Young people these days,” Nans said shaking her head. “Well, thanks for your time, and please do let me know if you remember anything that might be connected to this mess.”
“Will do,” Millie said.
Nans took Lexy by the arm and practically ran her out of the building into the car. Once she was seated, she whipped her iPad out of her purse and started typing like a mad woman.
“What are you doing?” Lexy asked.
“Sending a message to Ruth … I need her to find out everything she can about this Ramona person. And we need to get back to my place pronto … I think we might be getting close to solving this case.”
19
“I know Ramona has something to do with this,” Nans said once they were back in her apartment with Ida, Ruth and Helen. “Did you find anything Ruth?”
“I didn’t have much time to search on her, Mona … I mean you only called like fifteen minutes ago.”
“Oh, sorry. Sometimes I get carried away.” Nans gave a sheepish shrug.
“But I did find something interesting about Stuart Wiggins.” Ruth’s eyes twinkled.
“You did?”
“Yep. It seems he’s been getting credit card advances over the past three months. That money doesn’t appear in his bank account … and it all adds up to just a little over fifty thousand dollars.”
“He could have used it to pay for wedding stuff,” Lexy said picturing her own mounting wedding expenses.
“True.” Ruth nodded. “But I also discovered that he and Ramona went to the same college in Texas … and guess who else went there?”
Lexy, Nans, Ida and Helen stared at her. Finally, Helen said, “I give up … who?”
“Eddie Sharp.”
“What did Ramona go to college for?” Lexy wondered.
“Computer Technology,” Ruth said. “She barely graduated. It says here she works at the museum too.”
“So, all three of them went to college together and got jobs at the same place.” Ida shrugged. “So what? Lots of people remain friends for years after college and recommend their friends for jobs at their place of employment.”
“It does make sense that Veronica could have met Stuart through Ramona. Lots of people introduce their friends to each other,” Helen pointed out.
“So, maybe Stuart was into something with Philippe and that’s why they were both killed. Veronica might just have been in the wrong place and got killed along with Philippe,” Lexy said.
“Or Veronica was in on it too and the killer wanted all three of them dead,” Ida added.
“Yes, but what were they into and who killed them?” Nans asked.
“I don’t know,” Lexy said as she stood up. “But I think finding the money trail is a job for the police and I’m pretty sure all this evidence lets me off the hook. In fact, I’m going to call Jack as soon as I get home and let him know.”
“But what about Ramona?” Nans asked.
“She’s just mean,” Lexy said. “Always was in school, too. Her behavior might seem suspicious, but for her, acting like that is normal.”
“Does that mean you don’t want to come with me to interrogate her tomorrow?” Nans looked crestfallen.
“Sorry, Nans. It’s the day before my wedding and I have a ton to do.” Lexy felt a tug at her heart—she hated to disappoint Nans but she did have a lot of last minute errands to run. “Besides, it seems like the case is pretty much solved. Davies just needs to connect the money between Wiggins and Philippe and find the other person involved and she’ll have her killer.”
Lexy was halfway to the door before Ida’s voice stopped her. “Wait a minute. If it’s as you say … then why did someone break into your house?”
Lexy’s brow creased.
She turned around. “That’s a good question. I guess they must think I have something … although I can’t imagine what. I’m sure the police will figure that all out once you give them this information you found.”
“Well, you better be careful, dear,” Nans said. “The killer is loose out there and he may still think you have something he needs.”
Lexy pushed away the niggle of doubt that clutched at her as she pulled out of the Brooke Ridge Falls Retirement Center. Nans
and the ladies had found compelling evidence that Stuart Wiggins and Philippe were into something together and she could trust the police to come to the right conclusion. Couldn’t she?
She thought about Davies and wondered if she was competent enough to figure the rest of it out.
Well, she’ll just have to be, Lexy thought, because she didn’t have time to continue an investigation herself right now.
Her heart flooded with warmth as she thought about her wedding. Hers and Jack’s wedding. It was going to be beautiful. The weather was supposed to be sunny and in the seventies. The leaves were in full color and she’d be wearing her gorgeous dress. If she could tie up some of the loose ends tomorrow and make it to the rehearsal dinner, everything would be perfect.
She pulled up in front of her house and walked to the front door, her stomach clenching as she put the key in the lock. She was still a little spooked about the break-in and apprehensive about what she might find inside.
She took a deep breath and shoved the key in. It’s no good being afraid of walking into your own home, she thought as she shoved the door open. Her breath came out in a whoosh of relief—the house was exactly as she left it.
“Lexy! Is that you?” Vera’s voice echoed across the entire neighborhood.
She turned and poked her head out the door to see Vera running across the lawn, her arms loaded with mail, Sprinkles racing along beside her.
“Hi Mom,” Lexy said.
“I got your mail … the box was overflowing.” Vera handed Lexy the pile.
“I guess I must have forgotten about it, the past couple of days have been so busy,” Lexy said grabbing the mail. “Come on in.”
Lexy felt exhausted. The stress of the past few days was catching up with her. She collapsed on the couch, throwing the mail on the coffee table. Sprinkles jumped up beside her and she hugged the small dog, her heart surging at her unconditional love. Giving the dog a kiss on the head, she turned her attention to the mail.
Lexy Baker Cozy Mystery Series Boxed Set Vol 2 (Books 5 - 7) (Lexy Baker Cozy Mysteries Boxed Sets) Page 32
