The Case of the Natty Newfie

by B R Snow

  “How did you know that?” Shirley said, frowning.

  “Really? He’s here?” I said, surprised.

  Shirley pointed at the man in question.

  “How about that?” I said, glancing at Max.

  “He’s a very nice man,” Shirley said, then turned to Bill. “Not that you would know that. You were busy with other things.” She glanced around at all of us. “He was staring at Paradis the whole time we were talking to him.”

  “Oh, she’s here?” I said, glancing around the room for signs of the supermodel.

  “She certainly is,” Bill said.

  “I don’t see her,” Chef Claire said, also scanning the room. “What’s she wearing?”

  “Not much,” Bill said.

  “Why don’t we find a table?” Josie said, looking around then pointing. “That one right over there is perfect.”

  “For a better view of the party?” Shirley said.

  “No, it’s on the appetizer route,” Josie said, heading for the table and motioning for us to follow.

  “Okay, Magellan,” I said, shaking my head. “We’re right behind you.”

  “She’s joking, right?” Bill said.

  Chef Claire and I looked at him and shook our heads.

  “Just remember to keep your distance when she’s eating, and you’ll be fine,” I said, sitting down with Max on one side and Bill on the other. “Okay, what’s the plan?”

  “I thought I’d drink, then eat, then drink some more,” Bill said.

  “You’re pretty funny for a cop,” I said, glancing up when I saw a woman approaching the table.

  “I was wondering when you’d get here,” Max said, getting up to give the woman a warm embrace. “You look great.”

  “It’s so good to see you, Max,” she said, glancing around the table before settling on me. “I’m Max’s Aunt Jennifer. You must be Suzy.”

  “I am,” I said, standing up to shake hands. “It’s so nice to meet you. Please join us.” I gestured at my chair. “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “That would be nice,” she said, sliding into my chair. “Club soda with lime, please.”

  “I’ll be right back,” I said, then headed for the bar.

  While I waited to get the bartender’s attention, I took another look around then waved at Shirley. I eventually caught her eye, and she joined me at the bar.

  “What’s up?” she said.

  “I need some help putting a face to the names,” I said.

  “You sure you don’t want to just take the night off and enjoy the party?”

  “When are we going to get another chance like this to talk to all of them?”

  “I know, but still,” she said. “I hate putting you in the middle of an active investigation.”

  “We’re just going to be talking,” I said, accepting Jennifer’s drink from the bartender and helping myself to another glass of champagne. “What could possibly go wrong?”

  “Hang on a sec. I’ve got a list here somewhere,” she said, laughing.

  “Funny,” I said. “I’ll be right back.”

  I headed back to the table and gave Jennifer her club soda. I leaned over and gave Max a kiss. Jennifer started to get up from my chair.

  “No, stay right where you are,” I said, smiling at her. “I’ll be chatting with Shirley at the bar.”

  “Try to stay out of trouble,” Max said.

  Josie and Chef Claire snorted. I made a face at them then rejoined Shirley. She took a sip of champagne and pointed at a table in the middle of the room.

  “There’s Victor Rollins,” she said.

  “So, I see. And the woman sitting next to him is his girlfriend, Wilma.”

  “I remember her from the Middleton case,” Shirley said. “She’s an animal massage therapist or something weird like that.”

  “That’s her,” I said, studying the woman sitting at the table with them. “Who’s the woman at the table with them?”

  “That’s the Black Widow,” she said. “Charlotte Evans. I wonder if she’s flying solo tonight.”

  “Judging by the size of that rock on her finger, I doubt it,” I said, staring at the largest engagement ring I’d ever seen. “But maybe she got it from one of her dead husbands.”

  “No way,” Shirley said, shaking her head. “If Charlotte was on the market, she’d make sure everyone knew it. Well, what do you know?”

  We both watched a large balding man I guessed was somewhere in his fifties sit down next to the Black Widow and give her a kiss. He ended up with his hand resting on her upper thigh.

  “Silly man,” Shirley said, shaking her head.

  “Who is it?”

  “That is none other than George Theo.”

  “The mining guy?”

  “Yup,” she said. “Well, at least he’ll be able to dig his own grave.”

  “I definitely need to pay them a visit at some point,” I said, returning the wave Victor was giving me.

  I felt Shirley nudge me with an elbow and I followed her stare. Two extremely attractive and thin women were slowly walking toward the bar. In their heels, they were both close to six feet tall.

  “That’s Paradis and Claudine Gilbert,” I said, doing my best not to stare.

  “Yeah,” Shirley said, shaking her head. “Genetics can be so cruel.”

  I laughed and snuck another glance at the women who’d come to a stop at the other end of the bar.

  “Did you see how that space for them just opened up?” Shirley said.

  “I did. It was like the parting of the Red Sea.”

  “They own the room,” Shirley said, glancing around. “And this is a pretty tough room to own.”

  “Well, they certainly have most of the men’s attention,” I said.

  “I hope they don’t get their hopes up,” Shirley said.

  “What?” I said, glancing at her.

  Shirley nodded at the two women. Almost hidden from view was the sight of Claudine slowly running a finger up and down the side of Paradis’s thigh.

  “That’s interesting,” I said. “I wonder if Naylor managed to catch them in a compromising position.”

  “Maybe,” Shirley said. “But nobody would care. And the rumors about the two of them have been floating around for months. I think it actually helped both of their careers.”

  “Okay, that’s all of the loft people except for the finance guy,” I said.

  “Jeremiah Walters,” Shirley said, nodding at our table. “He’s the one hitting on Josie.”

  I glanced over and saw the dark expression on Josie’s face as she listened to the man whispering to her. Then she beckoned him closer and whispered something back in his ear. He flinched, then made a hasty retreat from the table.

  “Wow, she’s good,” Shirley said, laughing.

  “His biggest mistake was not waiting until she finished eating,” I said, waving at Josie who shook her head at me then refocused on her nosh plate. “Let’s go get an update.”

  We walked back to the table, and I stood behind Max and placed my hands on his shoulders. He grabbed one of them and gently kissed it. Jennifer watched it play out and beamed at both of us.

  “Having fun?” Max said.

  “Yeah, it’s a great party,” I said.

  “You just missed Josie shooting down one of the richest men in Canada,” Max said. “It was beautiful.”

  “He’s a pig,” Jennifer said, scowling.

  “You’re going to give pigs a bad name,” Josie said, taking a bite of an egg roll. Then she focused on me while she chewed. “Did you know that there are several hookers working this party?”

  “How the heck would I know that?” I said, frowning at her.

  “I just assumed you’ve been snooping,” she said.

  “No, I haven’t even started.”

  “He thought I was one of the hookers,” Josie said. “Can you believe that?”

  “In that dress, I guess anything is possible,” I said, grinning at C
hef Claire.

  “He offered me five grand to spend the night with him,” she said, popping the rest of the egg roll into her mouth.

  “That’s ridiculous,” I deadpanned. “I’m sure you can get at least ten out of him.”

  “Shut it,” she said, swallowing then taking a long sip of champagne.

  “I’m going to go have a chat with Victor and Wilma,” I said. “You’ll be okay here, right?”

  “I’m fine,” Max said, squeezing my hand. “Aunt Jennifer and I are just catching up.”

  “I’ll see you in a bit,” I said, then headed for Victor’s table.

  Chapter 11

  Victor and Wilma greeted me warmly then went straight back to ignoring each other. Apparently, they’d had a fight, and its effects were lingering. Victor introduced me to Charlotte Evans and the mining magnate, George Theo, who was finding it impossible to keep his hands off his fiancé. He did make time to remove his hand from her waist for a quick handshake, then refocused on the large section of bare back on display. As Shirley had said, I would have never believed she was in her sixties. The mining magnate was sitting behind Charlotte and oblivious to the look in her eyes that was one-part rheumy gaze, one-part death stare. She flinched a few times but tolerated George’s wandering hands as she gave me the once-over. In angling terms, she had definitely hooked the prize fish but hadn’t got him in the boat yet. When she did finally land him, I was pretty sure that George was going to have to find something different to do with his hands.

  “Suzy, right?” the Black Widow said, giving me a small smile.

  “Yes, Mrs…uh, Charlotte,” I said, sitting down next to her. “Suzy Chandler.”

  “Chandler? I know a woman in Clay Bay with that name,” she said, cocking her head.

  “Yeah, she’s my mom,” I said, finishing the last of my champagne.

  “I see the resemblance,” she said. “How is your mother?”

  “She’s doing very well,” I said. “Happy and healthy. You can’t ask for much more than that, right?”

  “Well, those two are certainly a good start,” she said, laughing, then frowned when one of George’s meaty paws landed near her right breast. “George, I’m out of champagne. Be a dear and get me another.”

  “Of course,” George said, hopping up from his seat and glancing around the table. “Would anyone else like a drink?”

  Victor and Wilma waved him off, but I handed him my empty glass and thanked him. Charlotte watched him leave the table then exhaled and shook her head.

  “The things we put up with,” Charlotte said.

  “He does seem very fond of you,” I said, grinning. “And that’s an amazing ring.”

  Charlotte held the ring up to the light and examined it.

  “It’s a bit much, wouldn’t you say?”

  “Not if you’re a glass cutter.”

  She laughed and sat back in her chair to get a better look at me.

  “So, what do you do?”

  “I run an inn for dogs in Clay Bay,” I said. “And we’ve got a couple of restaurants. Now, we’re getting into the dog toy business. That’s why we’re here. Victor’s company is our retail distributor.”

  “It’s an amazing concept,” Victor said. “We think it’s going to go big in a hurry.”

  “Fascinating,” Charlotte said, already bored with the topic.

  I decided to push the envelope a bit.

  “We came to the city primarily to do a photo shoot,” I said. “We’re using our dogs in the marketing campaign.”

  “I see,” she said, nodding.

  “John Naylor did the photo shoot.”

  “Yes, Mr. Naylor,” Charlotte said as a small grin appeared. “He does do very good work.”

  “Do you know him?” I said, forcing myself to remain calm.

  “A bit,” she said. “But mostly by reputation.”

  “His reputation as a photographer?”

  “Primarily his reputation as a slimeball,” she said, her smile widening. “But if people choose to put themselves in the public eye, I guess they should expect to cross paths with people like Mr. Naylor.”

  “I take it you’re not a fan of his,” I said, studying her face closely.

  “I suppose if I gave him any thought, I probably wouldn’t be,” she said, shrugging. “But Mr. Naylor is insignificant.”

  “He is a bit of an acquired taste,” I said, then decided to take a different tack. “Have you and George decided on a wedding date?”

  “Not really,” she said. “But he’s taking me to Niagara Falls this week, so I imagine his plan is for us to elope. You know, surprise me with a spur of the moment sort of thing.”

  “Well, it is Niagara Falls,” I said, shrugging. “A romantic spot, right?”

  “I suppose. But knowing George, instead of staring at the Falls, he’ll be wondering what was buried in the ground before it got dug up.”

  I laughed, and she glanced around the room, pleased by my response.

  “Can I ask you a question, Charlotte?”

  “Go right ahead.”

  “Why are you getting married again?”

  She flinched, thought about my question for a few moments, then shrugged.

  “I take it you don’t buy into the concept of settling down with the person you love?”

  “No, I do. Very much so. But I’m just having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea of being married six times.”

  “It’s just a number,” she said. “Mainly I do it because I hate being alone. And when it’s all said and done, I do enjoy George’s company.” Then she looked off into the distance, and her expression went dark. “At least, I do for now.”

  The hairs on the back of my neck tingled, and I was glad to see George heading back to the table carrying three glasses of champagne.

  “Any idea where you’re going on your honeymoon?” I said.

  “We’re going to be sailing around the Caribbean,” Charlotte said. “Just the two of us.”

  “Nice,” I said, nodding.

  “Yes, I love sailing. My first husband taught me.”

  I tried to remember if Shirley had mentioned how her first husband had died. As if reading my mind, Charlotte continued.

  “He died in a tragic scuba diving accident,” she said, glancing over her shoulder at George who was repositioning his chair behind her.

  “I’m so sorry,” I said.

  “What are we talking about?” George said, passing the glasses around.

  “We were just talking about our honeymoon plans,” Charlotte cooed, glancing back at him.

  “I can’t wait to learn how to sail,” he said, taking a big gulp of champagne.

  “You don’t sail?” I said, frowning.

  “No,” he said, shaking his head.

  “How’s your swimming?” I deadpanned.

  Charlotte stared at me and gave me a strange smile that let me know she hadn’t missed the message behind my question.

  “Play nice,” she whispered through a tight smile.

  “I’m an okay swimmer,” George said. “I’ve never spent much time on boats, but I’m sure this little lady will teach me everything I need to know.”

  “Just leave everything to me,” Charlotte said, then spotted someone across the room. “Oh, George, I see the Crawfords. We need to go say hi.” Charlotte got up from her chair and extended her hand. “It was very nice to meet you, Suzy. Please say hello to your mother for me.”

  “I’ll do that,” I said, returning her handshake. “You two have fun. And good luck with the wedding.”

  “You’re obviously an intelligent woman,” she said.

  “Thank you, Charlotte,” I said.

  “Try to remember that it’s never wise to follow the rumormongers. That’s usually how people get themselves in difficult situations,” she said, then waved goodbye to Victor and Wilma and headed off trailed by the mining magnate.

  “What the heck did she mean by that?” I said, scratching the
hairs on the back of my neck that were again standing straight up.

  “With Charlotte, you never know,” Victor said, then glanced at Wilma. “You still mad at me?”

  “I’m getting over it,” Wilma said.

  “We had a fight earlier,” Victor said to me.

  “I hate when that happens,” I said. “Nothing serious I hope.”

  “We were just arguing about something Wilma did without letting me know,” Victor said.

  “Let it go, Victor,” Wilma said. “The selling price was fine.”

  “I guess we’re going to disagree about that,” he said, taking a sip of his drink.

  “And it sold in two days,” Wilma said, on the defensive. “I was getting sick and tired of dealing with it.” She glanced at me. “It was an old house and required constant maintenance.”

  “I know that problem well,” I said. It was true. Our place in Clay Bay was almost a hundred years old and regularly needed something done to it.

  “You probably could have gotten more for it if you’d taken your time,” Victor said, draining the rest of his drink.

  “So, now you’re a real estate mogul?”

  “I’m just saying.”

  “Well, don’t,” she snapped, ending the conversation.

  I waited out an uncomfortable silence then decided to change the subject.

  “Have you seen Abby tonight?” I said.

  “No, she can’t make it,” Victor said. “She called earlier and said she had some work to take care of. You guys were smart to hire her. She’s good.”

  “She is,” I said. “How well do you know Charlotte and George?”

  “I know him pretty well,” Victor said. “He spends most of his time here when he’s not on the road. Charlotte only seems to be around a few months out of the year.”

  “She used to,” Wilma said. “And then she met George. Now, she’s here pretty much all the time. You know, making sure she gets him reeled in.”

  “I’ve heard some disturbing rumors about her,” I said, going for casual.

  “They’re not rumors,” Wilma said.

  “We don’t know that,” Victor said.

  “Five dead husbands?” Wilma said, raising an eyebrow at him.

  “Maybe she’s just unlucky,” Victor said, rattling the ice cubes in his empty glass.