Peril in Paxton Park (A Paxton Park Mystery Book 1)

by J A Whiting

  “Did Jill mention a man named Scott Bilow?”

  “He was the man being considered for the same job? Jill told me that the son of the school superintendent was vying for the same position and she was nervous that he would get it.”

  “Had Jill met Scott?” Shelly asked.

  “I don’t think so,” Kathy said.

  “Did Jill say anything negative about anyone she met here?” Jay wrote a few things in a small notebook. “Any little thing, no matter how inconsequential it may have seemed.”

  “No. Everything seemed good.” Kathy took a sip from her coffee mug and when she set it down, her expression had changed slightly. “There was a little thing.”

  Three sets of eyes turned to Kathy.

  “It was really nothing.” Kathy waved her hand around.

  “Tell us.” Jay encouraged the woman with a warm tone to her voice.

  “The night Jill went out for drinks with the zip line people and some of the other resort workers, she told me about someone who seemed a little put out. There was a teacher who’d been taking Jill around town, showing her the sights, bringing her to dinner. Jill said that the teacher had had quite a few drinks and her personality shifted from super friendly and helpful to acting a little jealous and annoyed.”

  “The teacher acted annoyed with Jill? Why?” Juliet asked.

  “Jill thought that the woman had a thing for Jack. She was hanging on him and flirting with him. I guess Jack and Molly were chatting a lot with Jill and this teacher got jealous that Jack was showing so much attention to her. Jill said she sensed the teacher’s jealousy and sort of extracted herself from Jack and Molly and moved to talk to some other people in the group.”

  “What was the teacher’s name?” Shelly asked.

  “It was Lucy something or other. I remember because Jill and I have a mutual friend named Lucy and Jill told me that the two women looked a lot alike except the Paxton Park Lucy was short and petite and our friend is six feet tall.”

  “Did Jill see Lucy again after that night?” Shelly questioned.

  “Yes, she saw Lucy the next day. Jill said Lucy seemed herself, but that things seemed slightly off between them. Jill admitted that she felt a little uncomfortable about the previous night’s episode.” Kathy sighed. “The woman had been drinking a lot so the whole thing was best forgotten.”

  Unease brushed over Shelly’s skin. “Was there something else that happened between them?”

  Kathy shrugged a shoulder. “Lucy made a comment that rubbed Jill the wrong way.”

  “What did she say?” Juliet looked apprehensive.

  “On her way to the restroom that night, Lucy walked past Jill and leaned in close to her. She whispered something like, are you sure you want to move to Paxton Park?”

  16

  On the drive back to town, Jay, Juliet, and Shelly discussed what they’d learned in their meeting with Kathy Blake.

  “What Lucy said to Jill gave me a chill,” Juliet said from the front passenger seat. “But in other circumstances, I wouldn’t have given it another thought. Lucy was drunk and people’s tongues loosen when they’ve had too much to drink. It’s like saying, oh, I’m going to kill you, things like that. It doesn’t mean anything.”

  “We didn’t learn a whole lot about Jill.” Shelly sat in the backseat, gripping the door handle. The short car ride brought back memories of the accident and filled Shelly with dread. “I was hoping to hear more about Jill that could point to someone or something.”

  “It’s usually like this.” Jay drove the car past wide, green meadows. “You never know when a little thing will break a case wide open. You have to talk to everyone and never overlook anything, keep digging, keep at it even when things seem hopeless.”

  Juliet let out a sigh. “I don’t think I’m cut out for police work. Whenever I interviewed someone, I would grab onto what they said and think they were the guilty party. I’m too suspicious.”

  “Being suspicious is important,” Jay said. “But you have to go about the process logically, move the puzzle pieces around, make sure things fit.”

  Juliet turned to her sister. “Why did you want to meet outside of town?”

  “I don’t like to broadcast new information. I like to sort through it first.” Jay took a quick glance at Juliet. “You have to be careful who you trust.”

  “There are people at the station you don’t trust?” Juliet’s eyebrows raised in surprise.

  “I’m careful, is all.” Jay gripped the steering wheel and changed the subject. “Keep your eyes open, you two. This was an important contact that might have been overlooked and I’m grateful you uncovered it. By the way, that guy who’d been harassing Meg after he’d met her at an open house – he has an alibi for the day of Meg’s murder so he’s been crossed off the list.”

  When Juliet and Shelly were dropped off at their houses, they stood together on the sidewalk discussing what to do next.

  “When I was at Chet’s market the other night, I asked him if he knew whether Meg was friendly with anyone in town. He told me he saw her in the chocolate shop sometimes talking to the blond girl who works there. I’ve been thinking of wandering over there. Maybe I’ll go later this afternoon when I finish up at the diner.”

  “I can’t go,” Juliet said. “I have a bike tour to give at that time.” She smiled. “You should be safe going by yourself.”

  Shelly teased, “I’ll be sure to text you if the girl tries to attack me.”

  Before heading into her house, Juliet asked, “A group is getting together tomorrow afternoon for a bike ride on the trails. Want to come along?”

  They made plans to meet at the mountain after Shelly got off work.

  Shelly stopped at home to change after finishing her shift baking in the diner’s kitchen and it was nearly 5pm when she opened the door to the Main Street chocolate shop. The delicious odor of butter and sugar mixed with the smell of spices and nuts caused Shelly’s mouth to water. Glass cases filled with beautiful displays of sweets lined the walls of the space. The cream-colored walls, white tile floor, high, gold-hued tin ceiling, and pewter light fixtures gave the shop an upscale, clean and cozy atmosphere. Eyeing all of the chocolates sitting in little paper and foil wrappers on glass shelves made Shelly wonder why she’d never visited the shop before.

  A young woman with short blond hair came out from the backroom and greeted Shelly. Her name tag said, “Angela.” Shelly admitted she was overwhelmed with the choices so the pleasant girl told her about the selections and let her sample some of the candy.

  After choosing some chocolates to fill a medium-sized box, Shelly brought up the real reason she had come to the store. “You knew Meg Stores?”

  Angela’s face registered surprise. While she wrapped Shelly’s purchase, she nodded. “I knew her.”

  “I live on Meg’s street. I’ve only been in Paxton Park a short time. The deaths unnerved me.”

  Angela didn’t say anything so Shelly went on. “I’ve met Meg’s sister, Maria.” She explained about the night Maria heard someone breaking into Meg’s rental house.

  Angela took a quick look at Shelly as she placed the purchase into a small, white bag.

  Hoping to get Angela on her side, Shelly told her about finding Jill’s body in the forest. “A friend took me to see the crooked trees and on the way back, we spotted Jill.” An involuntary shiver ran down Shelly’s back recalling the horror of the situation. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to stay here. I wondered if I’d made a mistake moving to town.”

  Angela handed the bag to Shelly. “Have you made up your mind? Are you going to stay?”

  “Honestly? I don’t know. I guess it depends on whether the killer is caught or not.” Shelly paid for the candy. “Have you lived here long?”

  “I grew up here, but I’ve had the same thoughts you’ve had. I worry that it isn’t safe for young women.” Angela shrugged a shoulder. “I liked Meg. She was so nice. She worked part time at Chet’s market and part
time at the real estate office. We got together a lot. I was so shocked when….” She let her voice trail off.

  Shelly nodded. “It must have been awful. It was a shock to find Jill’s body, but to have someone you know murdered, well, I can’t even imagine. I’m very sorry for the loss of your friend.”

  Angela took in a long breath and blinked fast a few times to keep tears from gathering. Another employee entered the store and said hello to Angela before heading for the backroom of the shop.

  Angela looked at Shelly and made a decision. “I’m done with my shift. Would you like to grab a coffee?”

  Shelly was delighted to be asked, smiled in agreement, and the two women walked to the coffee shop a block away and took seats at a small table to continue their conversation.

  “The police don’t seem to have any suspects,” Shelly noted. “Did they talk to you? Did they ask questions about Meg?”

  “They came in to see me right after it happened.” Angela added some sugar to her beverage.

  “Is there anyone Meg had a bad relationship with?” Shelly asked.

  “No one.” A cloud passed over Angela’s face. “There was someone who kept asking her out and wouldn’t stop. The guy’s a jerk, thinks every woman is dying to date him. Meg kept saying no and even told him she’d file a police report on him if he didn’t stop bothering her. Finally, he got the hint.”

  “Who was it?”

  “A guy who’s lived in town all his life. A spoiled brat.”

  “Was it Scott Bilow?”

  Angela’s eyes widened. “Yeah, he’s the one.”

  Shelly rolled her eyes. “I’ve had the misfortune of meeting him.”

  “Other than Scott pestering her, Meg was happy here. She was really enjoying living in town. She’d broken up with a boyfriend who took a job on the west coast. Meg didn’t want to move there. She told me the relationship had been fizzling out for a while, that it wasn’t the right match and that she was relieved to have a reason to end it. Meg was excited about starting fresh.”

  An idea popped into Shelly’s mind. “Was this boyfriend angry about the breakup?”

  “Oh, no. Meg said he was just as relieved as she was to end the relationship. It was a friendly parting of the ways. She’d only been here about a month when she started dating someone else. Meg was happy about life.” A sad expression passed over Angela’s face. “And then someone stole it all from her.”

  Shelly lowered her voice. “Do you have any thoughts about what might have happened?”

  Angela shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Not really.”

  Shelly picked up on the young woman’s discomfort. “Did anything seem off? Was there anything going on that you think is concerning?”

  Angela made eye contact with Shelly, then looked down at her mug. “I don’t know. It’s probably nothing. It’s just a feeling that keeps coming into my head.”

  Her heart starting to pound, Shelly leaned forward. “What is it?”

  “You mentioned that you’ve met Meg’s sister.”

  “Yes.”

  “What do you think of her?” Angela questioned.

  “I’ve only talked to her a few times, both times she was under duress. Have you met her?”

  “I haven’t.” Angela looked out of the window. “I don’t have a good impression of her.”

  “Why not?”

  “Meg talked to me about their relationship.” Angela sighed. “Maria is about fifteen years older. She went away to college when Meg was only three. Meg said she didn’t have any recollection of Maria living with them.”

  “A big age difference between them.”

  Angela hesitated, but went on. “The parents died in a private plane crash when Meg was seventeen and about to go off to college.”

  Shelly’s eyes went wide. “I didn’t know that. How awful.”

  “The Stores’s were very wealthy.” Angela repeated the words for emphasis, “Very wealthy. The parents founded the department stores called “Family Finery.”

  “That’s their company?” Shelly was astounded. “Wow!”

  Angela nodded. “So when the parents died, Maria was thirty-one and was named to head the funds that were left to her and Meg. Meg would receive access to her portion of the money when she turned thirty.”

  “That would have been next year,” Shelly observed.

  “Right.” Angela let that fact linger in the air as she looked pointedly at Shelly.

  “Oh,” Shelly said.

  “Meg told me that Maria was not happy with the idea of her sister getting half the fortune. When Meg brought up any questions about the money, Maria blew her off. She wouldn’t talk about it. Meg had talked to a lawyer about representing her. The lawyer met with Meg shortly before she died and told her that there might be some irregularities with the funds and that he was hiring a financial investigator to look into it.”

  “What was the problem?”

  “It was possible that the amount Meg expected was not present in the account.”

  “Maria spent the money?” Shelly asked.

  “It might be that Maria has mismanaged and spent down the money.”

  “Yikes.” Shelly shook her head.

  “Meg told me that she was pretty sure that Maria had gotten wind that Meg had hired the attorney … and was not happy about it.” Angela’s facial expression hardened.

  “Did you tell the police this?”

  “I told them that Meg and Maria didn’t get along and that Maria was in charge of a great deal of money that Meg was about to have access to when she turned thirty.” Angela rubbed the side of her face. “I don’t know why I’m telling you all of this. I think the weight of it has been crushing me and I needed to unload.”

  Worry pulsed through Shelly’s veins. “Did Meg think Maria could hurt her over this?”

  Angela met Shelly’s eyes and whispered, “Yes.”

  17

  Shelly pointed the handle bars slightly to the left to keep her bicycle in the middle of the trail as she zoomed along under the canopy of trees behind the group of mountain bikers finishing the last half mile of the ride that would end at the resort. The rush of the wind dried the sweat on her brow and kept the heat of the late afternoon at bay. The physical exertion of climbing the mountain paths, the exhilaration of the race downhill, and the comradery of the riders had been just what Shelly needed to clear her head.

  Pulling next to the bike racks set up at the base of the mountain near the resort restaurant, the riders locked their bicycles and headed to the employees’ lodge to change into swimsuits for a dip in the cool lake. A raft was tethered in the middle of the water, a rope swing hung from a huge tree branch, and two water slides perched on the edge of the sand. Four of the eight riders ran to the swing and queued up to take the ride off the hill to plunge into the cold water. The other four hurried to the slides and, like little kids, yelled and squealed as they hurtled down into the lake.

  Shelly enjoyed the high-spirits and fun of the four guys and the three women, including Molly, the zip line guide, she’d shared the afternoon with. All of them were employees of the resort and loved being active in the outdoors.

  After the swim, the group entered the resort pub for dinner and Shelly ended up seated next to Molly and across from Juliet.

  “Are you happy with the move to Paxton Park?” Molly asked Shelly as she perused the menu.

  “I am. I love the area and the people I’ve met are great.”

  Molly kept her voice down. “The recent troubles haven’t scared you away … especially after finding Jill Murray’s body?”

  Shelly replied, “That was pretty terrible. I considered packing my bags and getting out of here, and I probably would have if Juliet wasn’t my neighbor.”

  “She convinced you to stay and give it a chance?” Molly asked.

  “It wasn’t because of anything that Juliet said.” Shelly gave her friend a smile. “It was more the feeling of friendship. I just kept putting off the idea
of leaving.”

  “I’ve been here five years,” Molly said, “and I almost decided to move away after the murders. If I was a newcomer, I’m pretty sure I would have left.”

  Carleen, the woman sitting next to Juliet, was a resort swim instructor. She rolled her eyes. “I’ve been living in town for three years and I’m on the fence about leaving. If the police don’t make an arrest soon, I’m considering moving elsewhere. I look at everyone with suspicion. Standing in line behind someone, meeting new people, if a workman comes to the house, I wonder … is he the killer?”

  Molly nodded. “I have to say, the feeling of distrust and worry can simmer right under the surface.”

  “Living in a tourist town can be hard because there are so many people walking around who come and go.” Juliet added her thoughts to the discussion. “It’s like the perfect place to commit a crime because no one knows you.”

  One of the white water instructors spoke to Juliet from the end of the table. “Hey, Jules, I hear your sister might be in line for a promotion.”

  Juliet looked confused. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Police Chief,” the guy named Jeff said. “I hear she’s being considered for Chief of Police.”

  Juliet shook her head with an expression of puzzlement. “Does Jay know she’s being considered?”

  Everyone chuckled and the talk turned to a different topic as Juliet made eye contact with Shelly and lifted one shoulder in a shrug.

  “I heard Jill Murray took one of your zip line tours,” Shelly said to Molly.

  “She did, yeah. Jill was easy to talk to, seemed like a nice person. We invited her to have drinks with us that night.”

  “She went out with you?” Shelly knew very well Jill went, but didn’t want to let on that she’d heard about it.

  “Yes,” Molly said. “Jill was hoping to be offered the high school math position. You probably read in the news that she’d come here for an interview. Jill stayed in town for a while to see how she liked it.”

  “Did anything seem wrong when you were with her? Did you notice if Jill seemed upset by anything or anyone? Did she mention anything that might have been bothering her?”