An Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy Collection - DEF

by Diana Xarissa

  “Maybe she’ll turn up before you speak to him again,” Mona said brightly.

  The phone rang only a moment later.

  “Yes, I’m in London,” Donald’s voice boomed at her. “But I had to ring John to ask him about a small matter that came up, and while I was talking to him, I asked him about Mortimer and Fiona.”

  “That was good of you.”

  “It seemed important to you, so it’s important to me.”

  Fenella blushed. “Thanks,” she muttered.

  “As far as John can recall, he offered to find Fiona another home, but Mortimer told him not to bother. Apparently he’d been thinking about acquiring a pet, but he hadn’t done anything about it. He told John he was willing to give Fiona a try.”

  “And that was five or more years ago?”

  “About that, yes. John said he checked in with Mortimer on a weekly basis at first and then every month or so for a while. Eventually Mortimer told him that he was keeping Fiona and that John didn’t need to worry about her anymore.”

  “From what I’ve heard, he wasn’t all that fond of her.”

  “John didn’t think he really liked owning a pet, but that he realized that having her was good for him. She got him out of the house every day, if nothing else.”

  “Well, I hope her new owner, whoever that may be, lavishes her with love and affection.”

  Donald laughed. “You won’t get her away from Harvey now that he has her,” he predicted. “I saw him with her last night. As far as he’s concerned, Fiona is his dog now.”

  “I hope you’re right, seeing as how much Fiona took to Winston.”

  “I wish I could talk to you all day, but I’m meant to be meeting my daughter in a few minutes. I just wanted to share that information with you before I forgot.”

  “Can you spare one more minute? I have a quick question.”

  “For you, of course.”

  “Do you know Leonora Oster?”

  For a minute Fenella thought that maybe Donald had hung up. “Hello?” she said eventually.

  “Sorry,” Donald replied. “That was not the question I was expecting.”

  “I’m only asking because she’s disappeared,” Fenella told him. “I was wondering if you might know of anything that connects her to Harvey or Mortimer.”

  “She’s disappeared,” he repeated slowly.

  “Yes. Daniel came and asked me about her.”

  “Why you?”

  “She lives in my building, for one thing. I suppose because of my involvement in the other two missing person cases, as well.”

  “I didn’t realize she lives in your building,” Donald said. He sounded distracted.

  “Anyway, I just thought I would ask. It doesn’t really matter.” Fenella tried to smooth over the awkwardness.

  “She was, shall we say, good friends with my father at one time,” Donald said after another short silence. “He liked independent women, which is why he was so attracted to your aunt. My mother, of course, was totally dependent on him, which he found boring.”

  “I’m sorry. This isn’t any of my business.”

  “It was a long time ago and I don’t mind talking about it. It was just a shock, hearing her name after all these years. I don’t know the extent of her involvement with my father, really, but I do remember meeting her on a few occasions.”

  “What is she like?”

  “Odd,” Donald said. “She has a way of looking at you but not really seeing you. I was in my teens when I met her, and as I considered myself the center of the universe, I found it annoying that she didn’t seem at all interested in me.”

  Fenella chuckled. “So you didn’t get to know her well.”

  “I don’t think anyone ever gets to know her well. She simply isn’t interested in other people. My father found that fascinating, of course. As I recall, she was around for some months, considerably longer than most of the women he spent time with, but I don’t think he got what he wanted from her, even after all that time.”

  “And now she’s missing.”

  “Perhaps her mind is going and she simply wandered off somewhere,” Donald suggested.

  “That’s probably the most likely answer. It’s just odd that she’d disappear so soon after Harvey and Mortimer did.”

  “I really must be going, unless you have any more questions?”

  “No, not at all,” Fenella said, blushing. “I’m sorry about the one I did ask.”

  “Don’t be,” Donald said firmly. “I’ll ring you on Monday. Take good care of yourself until then.”

  Fenella put the phone down and dropped her head into her hands. Sometimes she was an idiot. She never should have asked Donald about Leonora.

  “I was a part of Donald’s father’s life for a good deal longer than a few months,” Mona said softly. “And he never did get what he wanted from me, either.”

  “I don’t think I want to know what he wanted,” Fenella said.

  Mona laughed. “It isn’t what you think. He wanted to marry me, the silly man. It never would have worked, of course. I was never the type to settle down with just one man. He would have lost interest if I had gone through with it, anyway. Knowing he couldn’t have me was what made me so irresistible.”

  “And now I’ve made a mess of things with Donald.”

  “You haven’t. He was just surprised and embarrassed by the question. His father’s relationship with Leonora was surprising and out of character for the man. I’m sure Donald would like to forget it ever happened.”

  “Out of character?”

  “Donald’s father liked a certain type of woman, and Leonora isn’t the type. Shelly and Donald were right; she is somewhat odd and difficult to get to know. We were something like friends for a time not long after her parents died. She did some charity work, and we were often thrown together at charity events. Single women were usually stuck at a table in one corner or another. After a short while, she began to realize that she was only being invited to such things because she had money, and she started turning most of the invitations down. Neither of us made any effort to stay in touch with one another after that.”

  “Did she have other friends?”

  “Not as far as I know. She lives alone and I don’t think she even had any pets until she moved into Douglas.”

  “I wonder why she got a dog, then.”

  “Having known her years ago, it seems an odd choice, but people change. Perhaps she found Douglas lonely, or decided that she needed to get out more. I’m sure I hadn’t spoken to her in fifteen years or more before I died. Maybe someone gave her the dog or something.”

  “I just hope she turns up soon,” Fenella said.

  The phone interrupted Mona’s reply. “You should ignore it,” Mona suggested. “If you let the machine pick up, people might think you have a busy and exciting social life.”

  Fenella stuck her tongue out at Mona and grabbed the phone.

  “It’s Daniel. I just wanted to apologize for rushing away earlier.”

  “You needed to get to work. I understand that.”

  “Yeah, so I could sit in endless meetings about all of the things that need to happen while I’m away. I’d much rather be out investigating Leonora’s disappearance, but at least Gloria is doing that.”

  “Shelly and I were wondering if anyone has checked the bank accounts of the missing people. We were worried that someone might be stealing from them while they’re gone.”

  “Mortimer’s accounts were frozen as soon as the body turned up. Nothing had been touched since before he went missing. Gloria had Harvey check all of his accounts and they seem to be fine. We’re working on checking into Leonora’s, but her legal team is dragging their feet.”

  “Surely they want her to be found?”

  “They’d prefer it if we could find her without compromising her privacy. I don’t know if she has a lot of money in a Swiss bank account or secretly invests in a company that produces pornography or what, but they don’
t want Gloria to have a look at her accounts.”

  “If she has a legal team, surely they can let you know if anyone is using her cards or spending her money, can’t they?”

  “They can, and I think they’ve promised to check and let Gloria know if there are any issues, but it’s frustrating not having our own access.”

  “What did Leonora do for a living? Is there a possible connection there between her and the two men?”

  “Leonora didn’t work,” Daniel confirmed what Mona had told her. “And she didn’t use Mortimer as an accountant. Harvey doesn’t recognize her name, although he did recognize Rex as an animal he’s seen on the promenade occasionally.”

  “Maybe she just wandered off and there isn’t any connection between her and the other two cases,” Fenella said, feeling frustrated.

  “That’s possible. My instincts tell me the cases are connected, though, no matter what anyone else here thinks.”

  “And you still don’t know exactly what happened to Mortimer?”

  Daniel hesitated. “It’s going to be in tomorrow’s paper, so I suppose I can tell you. Mortimer had a heart attack.”

  “So it wasn’t murder.”

  “He had heart trouble and took medication daily to help with that. He also carried something with him to take in emergencies if he felt unwell. Both drugs were left in his flat when he disappeared.”

  “So if he didn’t go voluntarily, whoever took him could be accused of murder.”

  “It’s possible,” Daniel said. “If he was held against his will and deprived of necessary medical aid, it might have been murder. If he just went for a drive to Andreas, having forgotten his meds, then it was an accidental death.”

  “Why would he drive to Andreas?”

  “Maybe he liked the tea at the café and didn’t realize it was shut,” Daniel said. “Perhaps the shock of finding it closed gave him a heart attack.”

  “You don’t believe that,” Fenella said.

  “No, I think he was murdered, but that isn’t a popular opinion around here right now.”

  Fenella could hear frustration in the man’s voice. “Why don’t you come over tonight? We could talk and maybe go to the pub.”

  “I’d like that, but I’ll have to see what comes up between now and then. I’m going to Mortimer’s memorial service this afternoon. If the killer confesses, I’ll be doing paperwork until midnight.”

  “I’d nearly forgotten about the memorial service,” Fenella gasped. “I’m going as well. I should see if Shelly wants to go with me.”

  “You know I don’t like you spending time with murder suspects.”

  “Thus far, we don’t even know if anyone was murdered,” Fenella pointed out. “Do you actually have any suspects?”

  “Not at the moment,” Daniel admitted. “I can’t seem to find any real motive for killing the man, but I’m working on it.”

  “In the meantime, I won’t be in any danger in a public place with Shelly. You mustn’t worry.”

  “As long as you promise to stay with Shelly and keep to public places, I won’t worry,” he replied.

  “I can do that,” Fenella said easily.

  “So maybe I’ll see you later. At the memorial service, if nothing else.”

  Fenella disconnected the call and then immediately dialed Shelly’s number from memory.

  “Are you going to the memorial service for Mortimer this afternoon?” she asked her friend.

  “I just saw the notice in the paper,” Shelly replied. “I was going to ring you in a minute.”

  “So you’re going?”

  “Yes, indeed. I wouldn’t miss it. I’ll drive if you’d like.”

  “Sure. I don’t even know where it’s being held.”

  “Actually, we can probably walk if it doesn’t rain. It’s being held at the church on the corner.”

  “Was Mortimer religious?”

  “I doubt it, but they rent out their function room to anyone and everyone. I’m sure Doncan will do something tasteful and suitable without bringing religion into it at all.”

  They agreed to meet in the corridor at quarter to two before Fenella hung up. Her rumbling stomach told her that it was time for lunch, and once that was out of the way, it was time to get ready for the service.

  Mona had several suitable outfits, and she and Fenella easily agreed on a black dress that was lightweight enough for late spring but formal enough for the occasion.

  “You look lovely,” Mona told Fenella as she pinned up her hair. “I may have to make an appearance myself, under the circumstances.”

  “You can do that?”

  “I can do whatever I want,” Mona told her. “It’s not always easy, but it’s always possible. I do feel, even though I barely knew the man, that I should make the effort for him.”

  “Will he be there?”

  “How should I know? I suppose he might.”

  “If you can talk to him, you should ask him what happened,” Fenella said.

  “He hasn’t been dead long enough for me to talk to him,” Mona told her. “You can’t talk for the first month after you die.”

  “Really?”

  Mona sighed. “No, not really. I’ll see what I can do.”

  11

  Shelly was pacing back and forth in the corridor when Fenella walked out of her apartment.

  “I’m sorry. Am I late?” she asked the other woman.

  “I was early,” Shelly replied, with a wave of her hand. “I’ve been walking back and forth, trying to decide whether I should change my dress or not.”

  “Change? Why?”

  “Is it a bit too much for a memorial service?” Shelly asked. “Be honest,” she added.

  “I’m so used to seeing you in bright colors that I didn’t really look at you,” Fenella admitted. She studied the other woman’s blue and green suit. “But no, I don’t think it’s too much. I think it’s lovely.”

  “Are you quite sure?”

  “Yes, quite.”

  “Let’s go, then, before I change my mind again,” Shelly laughed.

  They took a few steps toward the elevator, but stopped when they heard a door open behind them. Fenella smiled at Peter as he walked out of his apartment.

  “Ah, good afternoon,” he said. “And I am terribly sorry.”

  “For what?” Fenella asked.

  “I’ve been meaning to come over to help with Winston, but something went rather pear-shaped with one of my smaller companies and I’ve been working all hours trying to sort it out.”

  “Pear-shaped?” Fenella echoed.

  “Yes, as in went wrong,” he clarified. “But where is Winston?”

  “Harvey reappeared and has taken him back,” Fenella explained. “He has Fiona as well.”

  “Fiona?” Peter asked.

  “Mortimer Morrison’s dog,” Shelly explained. “Mr. Stone was looking after her, but she didn’t like it in his office, so Fenella took her in as well. Now Harvey has both dogs.”

  “I didn’t know you knew Mortimer,” Peter said to Fenella.

  “I didn’t,” she told him.

  He shook his head. “I’ve missed a great deal over the last two days, haven’t I?” he said.

  “Come along. We’ll catch you up in the lift,” Shelly told him.

  The trio headed down to the lobby while Shelly told the man what he’d missed. “And now we’re on our way to Mortimer’s memorial service,” Shelly concluded.

  “That’s where I’m going as well,” Peter said. “He did some accountancy work for me when I was first starting out. Eventually, I needed my own in-house accounts staff, but I tried to send little jobs his way whenever I could. He wasn’t good with people, but he was great with numbers.”

  “Should we all go together, then?” Shelly asked as they walked out of the elevator.

  “I was going to walk, as the sun is shining,” Peter said. “It isn’t far.”

  “They are giving rain later,” Shelly cautioned.

 
; “Let’s take our chances,” Fenella said. “I’d much rather walk when we can. I feel like I haven’t walked anywhere in ages now that the dogs are gone.”

  Shelly laughed. “I’d have thought you’d never want to walk again after taking Winston out a thousand times.”

  “I thought so, too, but now I miss it,” Fenella admitted.

  It didn’t take them long to reach the church.

  “I’ve walked past this building a dozen times and never really noticed that it was a church,” Fenella said as they climbed the stairs to the door.

  In the foyer, a small sign pointed the way to the memorial service.

  “I was right. They’re having it in the community room,” Shelly said.

  Doncan Quayle, who had been Mona’s advocate (the Manx term for a lawyer), was standing in the doorway as they approached. He was around forty, with dark hair and eyes, and Fenella had been impressed with the way that he handled her aunt’s estate. If she ever needed legal advice, she planned to use his services.

  “Mr. Quayle, how nice to see you again,” Fenella greeted the man.

  “I’m sure I told you to call me Doncan,” he replied. “How are you finding the island, then?”

  “It’s wonderful. I still can’t quite believe how lucky I am to be here.”

  Doncan smiled. “And Shelly and Peter, of course, you all live on the same corridor, don’t you?”

  “We do,” Shelly replied. “And we’ve become great friends.”

  “And you all knew Mortimer?” Doncan asked.

  “I worked with him,” Peter said.

  “We had a nodding acquaintance,” Shelly told the advocate.

  “And I never met him, but I did keep Fiona for him while he was missing,” Fenella added.

  “The estate will reimburse you for any expenses associated with that,” Doncan told her. “We can pay you something for your time and effort, as well.”

  Fenella waved a hand. “Mr. Stone gave me food for her, and she was no bother at all. I enjoyed having her, really.”

  “She should be here any minute now,” Doncan said. “Harvey Garus is bringing her and his own dog, Winston.”

  “Winston stayed with me for a while as well,” Fenella told the man.