message. She read it and passed it to Eamonn. He nodded. “Just as I suspected.” He looked up as Detective Wills re-entered the room and forcibly dropped his large frame into his chair.
He dropped the file on the desk. “Where were we?”
“There is more evidence.” Eamonn dug his phone out of his pocket and opened the photo gallery. “There was extensive damage to the table and area, and very fresh damage at that, that the wife attempted to conceal.” He showed the detective the photos of the broken leg, the lifted hinge and the hole in the panel below the bench seat.
“The autopsy report indicated a partially filled stomach with very recently consumed food, yet the wife claims that when she discovered him, there was nothing else in the kitchen, no food, no coffee, just a dead hubby and a book.”
Marty Wills looked through the file, then nodded. “True. Still a little weak. He could have eaten elsewhere.”
Eamonn held up Nicky’s phone. “We’ve just received confirmation from the M.E. that there was a highly elevated level of cicutoxin in Julio’s system. This is found in water hemlock. The roots look very much like, and have the consistency of, parsnip. The effect of this poison, from freshly picked water hemlock, is almost immediate, resulting in severe convulsions, severe abdominal pain and, finally, severe death, within 30 minutes. It is inconceivable that someone who had ingested water hemlock would be able to clean up any evidence of them having eaten before they died.”
Detective Wills was taking notes. “Compelling. Obvious question is who.”
Nicky piped up. “The wife, obviously. Mary is a cold-hearted bitch that had a grip on Julio that you couldn’t possibly imagine. And lately he’d been starting to make contact with me again. Intimating that he was finding the relationship stifling. I’ve never liked her.”
Eamonn placed his hand on her arm. “Emotional aspects aside, and there is something to be said for female intuition, there are concrete reasons. First, she clearly doctored the scene before calling 911. Second -” he stopped as Detective Wills held up his hand.
“Enough.” He looked over his notes.
Nicky frowned. “But -” She stopped. His hand was up again.
Wills continued to look over the notes “Look, there are still some questions here, but if the medical examiner confirms what you just said, there is more than enough to get a warrant to look at the trailer again, and to bring Mary Muniz in for questioning. Who was the M.E.?”
Eamonn pulled the card out of his shirt pocket and slid across the desk. “Estelle Prichard.”
“Ah. The lovely Ms. Prichard. I’ll give her a call and get a copy of that report. Listen, you two, if you’re correct about this, this woman is dangerous. You’ve done more than you should have, probably, so I’d strongly advise you to let us take from here.”
He slipped the additional notes he had taken during their conversation, as well as the M.E.’s card, into Julio Muniz’s file and stood. “Leave your contact information with the front desk on your way out, and please leave this to us, would you? I’ll get back to you tonight with where we stand. Nicky, I’ll be calling you since you are the immediate family.” He tucked the file under his arm and shook Nicky’s, then Eamonn’s hand. “I really appreciate this, folks. Hate to think a murderer is living in my little town.”
Eamonn and Nicky followed him out of the room, left their contact information with the Sergeant at the front desk, and exited the Police Station into the beginning of what was turning into a hellacious rainstorm.
“Stay here under the awning Nicky. I’ll swing around the block and pick you up here.”
Nicky laughed. “I’m not made of sugar. Let’s make a run for it.”
-oOo-
Later that evening they stood on Eamonn’s balcony watching the storm move out to sea. The sky above them was clear, and a full moon was breaking over the storm clouds to the east. The air was fresh and crisp, as was the Riesling.
“Eamonn, how have you managed to afford such a beautiful place? You’re just young. Excuse me for being forward.” She held up her glass. “Blame the wine.”
“A long story, one that I’d be delighted to tell in little pieces over the next few weeks. You’re more relaxed than I’ve seen you since I first met you in your delightful bookstore.”
“Oh, I’m relieved that Detective Wills is looking into Julio’s death with more focus. I hated to think he was killed and nobody looked into it.” She put her glass down on the small table and stood at the balcony railing. Deep inside her pants pocket her phone rang. She looked at the display and handed it to Eamonn. “It’s him. Can you take it?”
He smiled, took the phone and pressed the green button “Eamonn Shute on behalf of Nicky Muniz, Detective. What can you tell us?”
“Detective Mills here Eamonn. Are you with Miss Muniz?”
“It’s her phone, isn’t it?”
“I would need to speak with her.”
“One sec.” He handed the phone back to Nicky. “He wants to make sure this is legit.”
“Detective, hello. This is Nicky. I’d prefer if you talked to both of us about this. I’ll put you on speaker phone.”
She laid the phone on the table and activated the speaker. “Detective, what can you tell us?”
Wills cleared his throat. “You two were correct. Julio’s death was foul play.” A tear slid down Nicky’s cheek. Eamonn reached across the table and took her hand. “I’ve confirmed the M.E.’s report with Dr. Prichard, and the local judge issued both search and arrest warrants on Mary Muniz.”
Nicky leaned into the phone. “So you’ve arrested her? Will I have to testify?”
“Nah. Not so lucky, I’m afraid. When we arrived the fire department was already there and the trailer was almost completely destroyed. Arson investigators have preliminarily labelled it as an intentional burn. Lots of accelerant found, primarily in the kitchen area. Eamonn, I’ll need copies of those photos and an affidavit from you when you get a chance. Oh, and Mary is missing. There is a nationwide arrest warrant for her, for both the arson and the murder. Dr. Prichard has amended Julio’s death certificate to indicate foul play, intentional poisoning. As I said before, I appreciate this.”
Nicky smiled through her tears and sniffed. “Thank you Detective Wills, and thanks very much to Eamonn. I couldn’t have done this without his support and help.” She squeezed his hand.
“Okay kids. I doubt that Mary is still in Florida, but keep an eye out for the next few days. I think she’s pissed. I’ll call you if anything comes up.” He disconnected.
Eamonn looked at Nicky. Nicky looked at Eamonn “I’d like to buy you dinner, big guy.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’d like to cook you dinner. Tonight. Can you stay?”
She smiled and wiped the remaining tear from her cheek. “I think this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
###
Book ‘Em – An Eamonn Shute Mystery
Mayhem, murder, and a $4,000,000 book.
In Miami.
Eamonn Shute is smart, capable and larger than life. There is nothing he can't handle.
Until Nicky, the love of his life, is framed by her ex-husband.
Eamonn leaves no stone unturned in his quest to clear Nicky's name, but the evidence is piling up, and Nicky's troubles seem insurmountable.
Eamonn needs to hark back to his rough and tumble youth in Donegal, taking on some of the most dangerous people in Miami to clear Nicky's name.
"Compelling characters and a well paced plot make this story a joy to read." - Lisa Hall Deckert
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tony McFadden is a Canadian now happily living in Australia, a land with very little snow, writing near the beach whenever possible.
You can find him on the interwebs at www.TonyMcFadden.net
and on Twitter @Tony_McFadden
Also by Tony McFadden
Book ‘Em - an Eamonn Shute Mystery
Family Matters
Unprotected Sax<
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Matt’s War
Daly Battles: The Fall of Pyongyang
Target: Australia
G’Day LA
G’Day USA
Have Wormhole, Will Travel
October Moon - An Eamonn Shute Short Story Page 4
