Sun Scream

by Barbara Silkstone

  With a smile I tucked the battery back into the box and replaced it exactly as I found it. I had a premonition that eventually the battery would be discovered legally. The blue battery must have held a special power as a sudden bolt of inspiration shot through me. I hit Kal on speed dial.

  “Don’t ask any questions. Just listen. The one unidentified print on Jaimie’s garage door opener—was it ever compared to prints on her tanning bed latch?”

  “They were a match but not in our data base. Where are you?” Kal’s cop instincts kicked in. That kind of talent can get in the way of a covert facial.

  “I can’t hear you. You’re breaking up.” I scraped the phone over my sleeve making a scratchy sound.

  “That’s the oldest trick in the cell phone manual.”

  “It doesn’t matter where I am. I should have thought of this before. Vann’s a licensed contractor. His prints have to be on file with the State of Florida as part of the application process. If they match the prints, we have him. I couldn’t help but grin. It was brilliant.

  “You’re brilliant!” he said.

  “I know.” Now if only I could figure out Vann’s connection to Raelyn.

  “What are you doing right now?” Kal asked. He always sounded suspicious.

  “About to wash egg off Muffy’s face.”

  Chapter 44

  Back in Muffy’s depressing little bathroom I gave Lizzy an okay sign.

  Muffy sat with her head tilted back, her face eggy-stiff with cucumbers on her eyelids. Cracks from chattering showed in the yellow plaster around her mouth.

  My partner tapped the woman’s face which sounded as if she was knocking on plaster. “Just testing,” Lizzy said. “You’re ready. Hold still. It’s going to feel a bit rough but that’s the beauty of using a natural product as an abrasive.”

  She placed a wet washcloth on Muffy’s face gently rubbing off the dried yellow paste. The room took on the smell of a breakfast diner. The only thing missing was the scent of frying bacon.

  I sat on the edge of the tub as if I’d been there the entire time. “Your husband is going to love how you look when we’re finished with you.”

  Muffy pried the cucumbers from her eyes freeing her mortared lashes. “As long as it didn’t cost him a penny. Vann is so tight and a hoarder. This house would be full to the brim with old magazines and newspapers and scraps from construction sites if I didn’t fight him on it. He has to satisfy his urges with hoarding small things. His desk is full of dried-out rubber bands, old keys, bent paper clips, and who knows what all. If I had an entire makeover he probably wouldn’t notice unless my dress was made from old shoelaces.”

  “You’re being modest,” Lizzy said. “The way he looked at you at the party? Vann adores you. Close your eyes now. I’m about to apply honey.”

  Muffy closed her eyes.

  Lizzy shrugged at me. She wore the silliest grin as she faked the next step in our supposed spa-treatment. While she smeared on a fistful of honey, I had a chance to home in on something Muffy said.

  “Those are some strange things to collect, Muffy. Who wants dried-out rubber bands? Where do you even find old keys?”

  “Easy for him. He keeps keys from all his construction projects plus every place we’ve ever lived or warehouse we’ve ever rented. Not to mention the vehicle keys.”

  The information about the keys would be valuable to Kal. Maybe there was more data to be mined, maybe about Raelyn. “That was such a sad ending to a party,” I said. We had one more chance to pluck the Raelyn connection from her. I checked my watch. Two hours left unless something oddball happened—and oddball things never happened to me.

  “I didn’t want to be there, but Vann insisted.” Muffy poked at her face with the tip of her finger. “Itches!”

  “Only for a minute.” Lizzy smirked. She was enjoying messing with Muffy.

  I continued digging. “Tragic that the girl died. Do you think someone mistook her for Jaimie?” We’d been around this pony track a few times but sometimes people slip when they’ve been honeyed.

  “Doubt it.” Muffy mumbled. “Jaimie’s pushing thirty. That girl looked to be less than twenty.”

  “Did you know her?” Lizzy asked.

  “I didn’t. Maybe Vann did. He gets around.”

  Lizzy massaged a bit more and then nudged Muffy. “Now you lean over the sink and splash cool water on your face. It’s easier if you do it.” Lizzy rolled her eyes at me as we watched Muffy de-honey her face. For her sake I hoped Vann had sprung for pest control. Ants would have a picnic on those cheeks.

  “My skin looks nice.” She studied her reflection in the mirror over the sink.

  “Now I’ll apply our miracle cream,” Lizzy said.

  “I expect you’ll be leaving me a sample,” Muffy grabbed the jar from Lizzy’s hand. “I’ve been invited to the grand opening of Jivy Ivy. She’s giving away tons of free stuff.”

  I got a charlie horse in my jaw. Jivy Ivy my eye. “It’s getting late. Don’t want to be here when Vann gets home.”

  We gathered our gear, stuffed it in the cooler, and said our goodbyes, leaving Muffy with her free jar and slightly eggy earlobes. We scooted out the front door and into my car.

  “I hope this was worth it,” Lizzy said. “I smell like the dairy department at a Gas and Gobble.”

  “More worth it than we imagined.” I filled her in on the blue battery and the inspiration it ignited and the significance of the keys.

  “What I still can’t come to grips with is why Vann would want Jaimie dead. She voted against the sale of Toast and Tassel. It was a dead deal, or was it? There has to be something we’re missing. Time to have another chat with Chip.”

  Chapter 45

  Kal called as I pulled into Lizzy’s drive.

  “Lizzy’s with me in my car. You’re on speaker.”

  “I put in a rush request on those fingerprints,” Kal said. “They ran them through the state data base. The partial prints on the garage door opener and the tanning bed are probably Vann’s. The weakness is the partials are only borderline large enough to make a positive identification but it’s enough to haul him in for questioning.”

  “You might want to get a search warrant for his house, particularly his office,” I said, knowing I was treading on sensitive ground.

  Silence on Kal’s end.

  “We happened to be in the Tassel house giving Muffy a facial and—”

  “Olive! What did you do?”

  “The lady of the house invited us in. We gave her an egg and honey facial. Perfectly innocent. During out visit she told us Vann has a collection of old keys in his office which includes keys from every house he built. Who knows what else might be in that office? Maybe something of Jaimie’s. A lamp? A table? A unique blue battery?”

  “If you left your prints on anything but Muffy’s face…” Kal growled.

  “I love it when you make your voice do that.”

  Lizzy covered her mouth to muffle her giggle.

  “Most of what I know about criminal law comes from police shows,” I said.

  However, with his prints on two instruments of attempted murder and the information about the keys in his office, a search warrant seems like a breeze to me.”

  Lizzy gave me a thumbs-up.

  “Robbie and I were just about to leave to pick up Vann. I’ll call a prosecutor I know and give him all this probable cause. He can plug it into his search warrant software and line up a judge to review it. I’ll go to his chambers on the way to the Tassels. Probably delay me an hour.”

  “That would terrific. Someone mentioned he was having drinks and dinner with Chip at the yacht club,” I said, struggling to keep the smirk from my voice.

  “And what is he having for dinner, Miss Know-it-all?”

  “I don’t think he’s ordered yet,” I said. “Call me.” I clicked off.

  Lizzy opened the car door but didn’t budge. “What’s next on our hit list?”

  “I’ll wait
to hear from Kal. He may want me to sit in when he questions Vann.” I glanced at her front porch. Heather waved at us. “You have mom duties. I’ll keep you posted.”

  As I pulled away it occurred to me Kal and I should be picking Chip’s brain before he grilled Vann. His partner staged Jaimie’s accidents to point a finger at Chip. Why? And did it have anything to do with Raelyn?

  I turned onto Starfish Boulevard wondering if I shouldn’t disregard Sophia’s order and pay her a visit before I know everything. Could she be hiding a connection to a crumb like Vann Tassel? It hardly seemed possible but I’d come to believe in the impossible.

  Unfortunately, my route took me past Jivy Ivy. Coming soon signs lined the edge of the road in violation of code. Being a magnanimous person all I could do was wish her luck and a citation from the city.

  It was pushing seven when I pulled into my parking space under Sandy Shores Towers. Well beyond kitty feeding time. I pitied pets of single parents. Did they panic when their parents failed to return on time? Did they worry about starving or remain confident their roommates would return?

  Puff sprang from the floor to my arms as I opened the door. She accidently caught me with her sharp little nails. I should have insisted the vet clip them despite my little fur ball’s objections.

  “Chicken pate?” I asked releasing her on the floor.

  She moved to her food mat and sat expectantly. My phone rang just as Puff licked my hand and put her little pink nose in the dish.

  Grams’ voice crackled. “Jaimie won’t let me in. She must be in danger.”

  I ran my hand over my face. Not again. “Grams why are you there? Did you speak to her?”

  “I’m here because I’m her bodyguard and she only spoke through the door. She wouldn’t open it. Maybe Chip is holding her at gunpoint! If I don’t save her, there goes my chance to be on Chick Chat.”

  “Grams, Chip really loves her. Take it from me.”

  She snorted. “You’re some authority. The love doctor! Don’t recollect you mentioning a date since you arrived in the Cove.”

  “Got another call coming in. We’ll talk in the morning.” I clicked off with Grams and picked up Kal’s call.

  “The Tassels weren’t home,” he said. “I called Chip. According to him, Vann got a call from Muffy and immediately left the yacht club without touching his dinner. Now both Tassels are gone. Her car is in their driveway. His car isn’t around. They must be on the run.”

  “Maybe he lost his cool when he heard about our faux facial.”

  “You may regret your snooping if Vann gets away.” Kal hung up.

  Chapter 46

  I made myself a cup of chamomile tea and buttered a slice of bread. I should have been hungry but I had no appetite. Puff jumped onto a chair and stared at me. My loyal companion was ready to listen to my troubles.

  “Let’s take Raelyn out of the picture for now,” I said conversing with her as if she were my Dr. Watson. “Why would Chip’s partner try to kill Jaimie?”

  Puff tilted her head as if waiting for more information. “Jaimie already refused to sell the company. Killing her wouldn’t have changed anything.” My kitty placed her paws on my thigh and kneaded in the way cats love to do.

  “It appears Vann was trying to frame Chip for killing Jaimie.” I stroked her head. “What do you think about a bird who would send his own partner to prison or even face the death penalty?” The word caught in my throat. “Bird!”

  “That’s it! Two birds with one stone! With Jaimie gone and Chip going to prison for life, Toast and Tassel could become just Tassel. The slime ball might take control of the company depending on how they set up the corporate bylaws. Vann could then sell the company and make a killing by killing.”

  I bit into the slice of bread suddenly finding my appetite. A chicken salad sandwich sounded yummy. I whipped up the sandwich from premade chicken lumps and sat at the table. Odd how solving a mystery can stimulate your appetite.

  Kal rang… again.

  “Haven’t been able to find them but I picked up a hint. Vann has an old cabin cruiser he keeps at the yacht club. Robbie and I are headed down there now. Did you get any more brilliant ideas?”

  “I did but they can wait. A cabin cruiser?” I almost choked on a bite of chicken. “The night we were locked in the garage there was a darkened cabin cruiser offshore. Vann must have come by boat to avoid being spotted on the street.”

  “Stay away from the yacht club. I don’t need your help—this could get rough,” Kal said. “Vann could be armed and desperate. We might even be facing a hostage situation with Muffy in danger.”

  “Me? At the yacht club marina at night? A wet face in the dark?” I shuddered. “Not to worry. I’ll be here with the phone close by. Just keep me posted.”

  I called Lizzy and filled her in. “Looks like the noose is closing around Vann’s neck.”

  “Did he kill Raelyn?” she asked.

  “That’s the mystery yet to be solved.” I felt a sharp grinding pain in my jaw. Must stop clenching.

  Puff and I cuddled on the sofa listening to some light classical music. Kal rang three hours after his last call.

  “We got Vann. Muffy too. They were on the boat preparing to make a getaway. Not sure if she was going against her will or aiding and abetting his crime. Is it too late to come by? I have a couple of questions.”

  “I’ll wait up for you. I’ve got paperwork to keep me awake.”

  Chapter 47

  I changed from pajamas into slacks and a T-shirt. Turned off the music and pulled out the paperwork. Paying bills would definitely keep me awake until Kal showed up. I couldn’t wait to hear how they brought down Vann.

  Puff snuggled next to me on the sofa as I attacked two stacks of invoices fastening each with a paperclip. I didn’t have long to wait. The doorbell rang twice quickly. Puff tagged along between my bare feet as I went to greet Kal, carrying the papers with me.

  Peepholes are for peeping, even when you are positive you know who’s on the other side of the door. I knew that but did I peep? No. I swung open the door without looking.

  Dave filled the opening, his hunky arms grabbing the sides of the doorframe. I hadn’t seen him since the party. He’d aged years in just a few days. Dark circles underscored the crazed look in his eyes. His body rocked back and forth. I didn’t smell liquor and didn’t sense drugs. What I did see was a man crushed by something, perhaps his breakup with Lizzy.

  Trained to deal with people in extreme distress, nonetheless I hesitated. I was alone and he appeared on edge. “I need to talk to you,” he said. His voice cracked as he broke into sobs.

  “Come in,” I said. How could I turn him away?

  He strode past me looking as if he was trying to retain his dignity. I was suddenly reminded of how huge he was. He could snap me like a twig but he had no reason—or did he?

  Dave crumpled on the sofa. I took an armchair still clutching the invoices now bent in my hand. Where had I left my phone? Hairspray was pointless with a man in his condition.

  “I need to tell someone,” he said. “You’re the shrink. I want you to listen and then explain to Lizzy.” He averted his gaze. “I’m responsible for Raelyn’s death.”

  I remained silent thinking back over the party. Dave disappeared after grabbing a beer from the bartender. I don’t recall seeing him after that. He was on the list of partiers yet to be questioned but in all the confusion with Vann, we’d set Dave on the second or third tier of suspects.

  He ran his hands through his hair. “Raelyn recognized me the day I delivered the lunch to your shop. The sight of her nearly killed me. I hadn’t seen her since…”

  Puff bounced along the sofa cushion curious as to Dave’s tears. He reached out to pet her but she ran away.

  “Raelyn’s brother Hugh Smith and I were best friends. She was just a kid in her early teens. Hugh and I had a little business, not legal, but not hurting anyone. We scuba dived a distance off Key West. We were making a ni
ce income selling antiquities to a dealer in Miami.” He let go with a shallow sigh.

  I maintained an attentive but neutral expression. Dave might be fine after he unloaded his burden on me—or not.

  “We were diving one day when a fierce storm hit,” he continued. “Hugh didn’t surface with me. I went back once but didn’t see him. I came up and boarded our boat. It was tossing on the water as if it would go under. I tied down everything and then the storm got really rough.”

  Dave rubbed a hand against his heart. “He was my best friend. The Coasties showed up. Lucky for me there was nothing incriminating on board. Divers went down and found Hugh’s body. I could have gone back after him. I should have. I just don’t remember what I felt—fear or panic. There was no excuse for abandoning him.”

  I studied Dave as he wrung his face. No wonder he’d linked up with Lizzy. Her joyful nature must have helped him when the guilt weighed him down. He’d been hiding from the world for five years. The kitchen of the Crabby Nancy became his sanctuary. Nancy’s gift of the restaurant put him exactly where he didn’t want to be—in the public eye.

  “Raelyn blamed me. At Hugh’s funeral she came at me, called me a coward. She had no one else in the world and rather than stay and care for her, I left the Keys and came to Starfish Cove. A coward twice over.”

  “You tried to move on.” I used a gentle tone.

  “I did but my cowardice haunted me. When I saw Raelyn at your shop my heart sank. And then at the party seeing her again was a shock. I’d lose Lizzy if I didn’t stay but I couldn’t bear to see the tears in Raelyn’s eyes. I walked around the deck trying to find a place to be alone. She followed me.”

  I gave him a sad smile but didn’t reach out to touch him.

  “When she found me on the deck she began to cry. I reached out to comfort her. She screamed and then threw herself at me. My beer bottle began to slip from my hand spilling on the deck. Reflexively I moved to catch it and stepped aside—not on purpose—just to grab the bottle. She went over the railing before I could save her.”