“Tammy Williams? She has donated quite a bit of money, as I understand it, to the theater for our productions. Jon Kenyon has been the primary one to deal with her as he was director here before I arrived. As I’m sure you know, the theater is owned by the town, having been donated by the previous owner. It runs on proceeds from the ticket sales and donations from donors like Tammy Williams. I believe she is one of the major donors that we have.”
Lillian leaned back in her chair and tapped her chin. “Hmm. So, she may believe that she has a right to determine how the theater is run. Has she ever exerted control over you or Jon Kenyon? How things are run?”
Mark sat back and crossed his arms. “What does that have to do with David Tanner’s murder?”
“It doesn’t at the moment,” Lillian said, still tapping her chin. “But it’s good to know the character of our suspects.”
“She has never asked me to make any changes to the place. As far as I know, Jon Kenyon and she have a cordial relationship. I have no idea if she has asked him to change anything or made demands. Perhaps you should ask Jon.”
“We just did,” I said. “Didn’t you see him as you arrived.”
“No, I must have just missed him.”
“What about Charlotte Tanner?” Mark asked.
“I’ve never seen her at the theater, nor have I spoken to her.” Robert looked around at the rest of us. “I wouldn’t even know who she is, except for the fact that I saw her arguing with David at the fair.”
I sat up straighter on the sofa. “They argued at the fair? When did that occur?”
Robert glanced up at the ceiling, corralling his thoughts. “It was after I saw the two of you and after the magic show performance. I was just finishing packing up the props that I had brought along when I heard raised voices behind the gazebo. I stepped to the back of it and peered out. Charlotte Tanner was poking David in the chest with her finger and demanding that he share the money with her. That was her words. But before they finished their conversation, some of the younger kids came running past the gazebo on their way back to the pond, startling Charlotte and she huffed off. David glanced up and saw me and shrugged, saying, ‘What are you going to do about women?’ and then walked away.”
“Money?” Lillian said, sitting up and disturbing Saber, who jumped down and stalked off toward the kitchen. Before he reached the kitchen though, he stepped into Paw’s dog bed and curled up. I looked down at Paw who watched the cat then glanced up at me as if to say that cats are pests.
Shelbee looked at me. “I thought you told me Charlotte Tanner said that she hadn’t seen David for weeks when you saw her at the church.”
“Yes. That’s what she said.”
“So, she lied!” Lillian clapped her hands together. “That’s one suspect that isn’t telling the truth.”
Mark metaphorically poked her with a finger. “That’s redundant, Lillian. If she lied, she definitely wasn’t speaking the truth.”
Lillian scowled at Mark. “Don’t be rude, Mark.”
Robert watched their exchange with a bemused smile. “Who else do you suspect of David’s murder?”
“Her artist boyfriend, of course,” Lillian said.
“Who’s her boyfriend?”
Lillian smiled smugly at Robert’s question. I took pity on him and said, “Ned Turner. He’s a sculptor with the artist guild. He has a studio at the arts co-op, and I believe, teaches classes.”
Robert shrugged. “I don’t know him.”
Bruce sat forward in his chair, placing his arms on his knees. “What do we know of the young man and his wife who were on vacation in town.?”
Robert wore a confused expression. “You mean the young couple that Alma introduced me to at the fair?”
I nodded. “The young man’s name is Sam Davis. He was at the reading of the will for David Tanner. David left him a considerable sum of money.”
“I only met them at the fair. Alma introduced us, and we spoke a few minutes about the town, but then she ushered them away to meet some other people.”
“Do you know if she introduced them to David?” Bruce asked as he cracked his knuckles.
“Not that I know of.” Robert sat up. “But I was busy with my performance, and then after I saw David and Charlotte arguing, I collected Pedro and went home.”
“Alma is who we should talk to,” I said.
Bruce stood up. “I think it’s time Clarissa and I went to speak to Alma. Find out what she knows about Sam and Laura Davis.”
Mark stood up too. “I’m coming with you.”
Before Bruce could protest, Lillian stood and marched to the door. “You are not leaving me behind.”
“Mreow?” Saber poked his head up out of the dog bed where he’d curled up.
“Come on, Saber. We’re going to go see Alma,” Lillian said.
The cat got up and stalked across the room with his tail held high. He ignored Kathleen, who lounged on the back of the sofa. Paw raised his head and stood up, shaking himself vigorously. Drool flew from his jowls, hitting my legs and the chair where Lillian had been. I sighed and reached for one of the towels I had stacked under the end table for just such an occurrence. I wiped off my legs, the sofa arm, and the chair as Mark argued with Lillian.
“Perhaps it isn’t safe for you to go.” Mark stood blocking the front door. He’d moved quickly and quietly, I noticed, and I filed that away for future reference.
Lillian stood with her hands on her hips. “Dangerous? To see Alma? Reporterman, you need to come up with a better reason than that.”
Bruce swiveled his head between Mark, Lillian, and me.
I shrugged as if to say, “You try to stop them from coming with us.”
Robert stood up and clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention. “Well,” he said, “I’ll leave this part of the investigation to the experts.” He bowed his head in my direction. “I’ll take Kathleen and Pedro home.”
Jac and Shelbee shared a glance. Then Jac said, “We’ll help Robert get Pedro out of the pantry. And I’ll put those cookies away.”
Shelbee nodded. “You guys go on ahead and we’ll meet up later.”
I smiled at my friends, thankful that they understood.
Paw trotted to the door, tail high and waving, giving Saber, who was known to swipe at anyone who went past, a wide berth.
Samuel and Bitsy gazed after Paw longingly, but Shelbee and Jac distracted them with caresses.
Bruce strode to the front door and opened it, snapping on Paw’s leash before my big, furry dog barreled out the door.
Mark smirked at Lillian and offered his arm, which she smacked. “I may be old, but I’m not doddery.” She stomped out the door with Saber sashaying behind.
I waved to our friends and followed behind, closing the front door.
Bruce walked Paw in the side yard so he could do his business while Saber scampered around the side of the house.
Mark got in his car and backed out of my driveway onto the street, waiting for Bruce, Lillian, and I to back out so he could follow us to Alma’s.
Lillian stood by the passenger side front door, tapping her foot. Saber was nowhere in sight.
Bruce turned to the car with Paw, who had finished his business. Paw shook himself, trotted over, and jumped in the back seat where I stood holding the door open for him.
Bruce raised his eyebrow at Lillian’s commanding of the front seat but climbed into the back with Paw.
I shut the door and climbed into the front as Lillian slammed her door shut and applied her seatbelt. Once prepared I backed out and drove to Alma’s, not sure if she would be home but figuring it was the best place to start.
Chapter 13
I pulled into Alma’s and Harry’s driveway behind Harry’s patrol car. In the backseat Bruce mumbled, “This could be a problem.”
I knew what Bruce meant. Harry would be peeved that we were questioning Alma about the investigation.
“Buck up,” Lillian said as she u
nlatched her seatbelt. “Harry will just have to get used to our involvement.”
“If he doesn’t arrest us for obstructing a criminal investigation,” Bruce mumbled under his breath.
“Humph.” Lillian slammed her car door.
In my rearview mirror I saw Mark slam his car door and approach my driver side door. He opened it and bowed me out of the car. “Ladies first.”
I stepped out with a small smile on my face. Bruce slammed his door and then put an arm around my waist. Mark loved to irritate Bruce with his attentions to me.
The front door opened, and Harry stepped out onto the porch, hands on hips, and a scowl on his face.
Lillian took the lead and climbed the steps, brushing past Harry, and sailing into the house. I approached my uncle and lay a hand on his arm. I nodded toward Lillian, who was greeting Alma inside the house. “There’s no stopping her.”
“Or you,” Harry said.
I winked at him, strolled into the house, and hugged Alma.
“It’s good to see you too, sugar.” She hugged me back tightly. Gesturing to everyone, she said, “Sit down. Sit down.”
We arranged ourselves on the sofas and chairs in the living room, and Paw, who had trotted in by Bruce’s side, lay down with a sigh, legs sprawled out and chin on the floor.
Harry was the last to sit down. “I assume you’re still investigating. So, what is it you want now?”
“Harry,” Alma admonished him with a stern look. “What can we do for you?” She looked at me.
“We’d like to know more about Sam and Laura Davis, the young couple you introduced me to at the fair.”
Alma tapped her chin and sat in silence a moment. Finally, she said, “I don’t really know that much about them. They’re here on vacation. They seem to truly like the area and mentioned that they considered moving here. I introduced them to Tammy Williams, thinking they may want to purchase a house here.”
Lillian butted into the conversation. “Do they have, or did they have, any connection to David Tanner?”
Harry jerked up in his chair. “Lillian, I told you to leave this investigation alone.”
Lillian waved a hand at Harry to dismiss him. “This could help you too.”
Before Harry could grumble and argue further with Lillian, Alma said, “Funny you should mention it. They asked about the different residents in town and pointed David out at the fair. I thought perhaps they had already met him, but it could be they were trying to find out more information about him.”
Harry grumbled to Alma, “Why didn’t you tell me about that?”
She shrugged. “It didn’t seem important at the time. Quite frankly, I forgot all about it until you asked me just now. What does the young couple have to do with David Tanner’s death?”
I jumped into the conversation. “Alma, did you look at the papers I left for you for Tammy Williams? The ones from the lawyer’s office? I hadn’t seen you since I dropped off the papers, but when I was at the lawyer’s office for the foundation, Sam Davis was there. David Tanner left a considerable amount of his estate to the young man.”
Lillian crossed her arms. “Let’s get right to the point. Where are the Davises?”
Alma scowled. “Lillian, I don’t know the movements and whereabouts of everybody in town.”
Harry grunted, but he quickly cut it short when Alma turned her glare on him.
I leaned forward, attracting Alma’s attention. “Aunt, did they mention where they were staying in town when you spoke to them?”
Alma nodded. “They are staying at Peaceful Dreams.”
Peaceful Dreams Bed and Breakfast sat on the hill on the way out of Tranquil Valley. Paw and I, along with Bruce, Lillian, and Mark had been involved in a mystery game, and subsequent murder, at the B&B in the fall.
Paw raised his head when he heard Alma mention Peaceful Dreams. No doubt he was thinking of his new friend, Henry, a Bassett hound owned by Patricia and William Innsman, owners of Peaceful Dreams Bed and Breakfast.
He and the Basset hound were instrumental in the solving of our last murder.
Mark clapped his hands together. “Excellent! We’ll stop over there and see if we can question them.”
Lillian turned in her chair to face Mark and wagged a finger at him. “You are not going with us. This investigation is for Clarissa and me.”
“Who put you in charge?” Mark demanded as he stood from his chair, preparing to leave.
Bruce, who had sat next to me on Alma’s sofa, leaned close and whispered, “We need to ditch them.”
I whispered back, “That doesn’t seem fair to Lillian, but I agree. I’d like to have Mark out of our investigation.”
Alma, who had acute hearing, said, “Lillian. Mark. Why don’t the two of you go on to Peaceful Dreams? I need Clarissa and Bruce to help me with something, then they’ll follow you.”
Mark raised a skeptical eyebrow, obviously debating what Alma was up to. However, Lillian shrugged and poked Mark in the ribs. “Let’s go, reporterman.” She cackled with glee. “We can be one step ahead in the investigation.”
She marched to the door before Harry could jump up and open it for her.
Mark glanced back and forth between Alma and me but relented. He followed Lillian with a quick stride so that he could reach around her and open the door. I was surprised at his gallantry. Lillian marched out and Mark followed, shutting the door behind him.
I turned Alma. “Okay, what do you need us to do?”
Alma wore a sly smile. “Go to Harriet’s Café.” She winked at me. “I just past the Café on my way home and saw that nice young couple sitting in the window. Perhaps it would be wise to see if they’re still there?”
Harry grunted. “Stop encouraging their involvement in my investigations.”
Alma ignored his grumbling and smiled sweetly at him.
She turned to me. “You and Bruce go interview that young couple. With any luck, they will still be at Harriet’s eatery. And why don’t you leave Paw here with me?”
“Alma,” Harry said as he watched Paw jump up and trot to her at the sound of his name. “That dog isn’t going to find any more clues than I did.”
Alma caressed Paw’s ears. “Who said anything about Paw checking for clues at the thrift store?”
Harry grunted. “Because I know how you think.”
I glanced between Alma and Harry, wondering what they were talking about. When neither one continued the conversation, I asked, “Why do you want Paw to sniff clues at the thrift store?”
Bruce, who also glanced between Lillian and Harry, said, “What aren’t you telling us?”
Harry grunted, but said nothing.
Alma shook her head at him. “Somebody broke the lock on the thrift store’s loading dock door and ransacked the store.”
I gasped. “What did they take?”
Harry grunted as he shifted forward in his chair. “That’s the thing, nothing was stolen, according to the thrift shop volunteers.”
Alma nodded. “Of course, it can be difficult to determine if anything was stolen in the new donations area. The volunteers hadn’t had a chance to sort those items. But the main store, and the storage area where items had already been sorted, were accounted for.”
Harry grumbled under his breath. “This town is getting kooky. First the church and now the thrift shop.”
“The church?” I asked. “Lillian and I were just at the church today. The church ladies never mentioned any problems, so what are you referring to?”
Alma lay a gentle hand on my arm. “Pastor Matt wanted us to keep it quiet. He didn’t want to involve Harry, but of course, I told him anyway. Last week someone smashed a window in the church’s back door and stole some food items from the church kitchen. The pastor believes that it is somebody who is in need, and he doesn’t want to involve the police. That’s why we didn’t tell anyone.”
“The pastor is an idiot,” Harry said as he heaved himself to his feet.
“Harry
, do not speak about Pastor Matt like that.” Alma frowned at him.
“I didn’t say I didn’t like the pastor. He’s a fine preacher, but he is an idiot to think that a crime like that shouldn’t be reported. Not everyone is in need. There are plenty of people out there that commit crimes just for the fun of it.”
Bruce stood up, drawing Alma’s attention. “Harry’s right.” He turned to Harry. “Do you think the break-in at the church has anything to do with the thrift shop?”
Harry shrugged his wide shoulders. “Can’t tell at this point, but I wouldn’t be surprised to find that they are related.”
I stood up too. “Were there any other incidents?”
“The theater,” Alma prompted Harry.
Harry waved her suggestion away with his hand. “I doubt that was anything more than a mouse or rat in the walls.” He continued when he saw that I was about to ask him for further details. “Some of the actors heard scrabbling sounds in the back of the theater two weeks ago when they were rehearsing late one night. We checked it out but saw no sign of an intruder. Jon Kenyon agreed with me that it was probably rodents and said he would get an exterminator in.”
I doubled over laughing, much to Uncle Harry’s consternation. Paw must have wondered at my behavior because he came over and nudged me with his nose. I placed a gentle hand on his head and said, “I’m okay, boy. I’m just laughing at something funny.”
“Care to share that with the rest of us?” Harry growled.
I calmed my breathing from my deep belly laughs and said, “Saber is patrolling at the theater for mice. That was Jon Kenyon’s solution to an exterminator.”
Harry scowled, but Alma began laughing as deeply as I had been.
Bruce rolled his eyes and shook his head.
Once Alma recovered from her fit of laughter, she said, “You two better get going if you hope to catch Sam and Laura at Harriet’s Café.”
Bruce and I nodded, and I bent over and gave Alma a huge hug. To Paw, I said, “Be a good boy for Alma, okay? See if you can sniff out any good clues at the thrift shop. I’ll see you in a little while.”
Canines and Crime Page 9
