by Sonia Parin
Nodding, Eve went back into the kitchen and came out with the jug. “I feel I should say something,” she continued. “You should have seen Mira when she first told me about David not coming and showed me his daughter’s Christmas card. I’ve never seen her look so miserable.”
“Excuse me.” The Yule-Tider straightened his flamboyant green tie. “Do these cookies have peanuts? I’m allergic.”
“No peanuts. They’re ginger cookies and lemon cookies.” Turning to Jill, Eve lowered her voice and continued, “I really want to give David a piece of my mind before telling Mira about his cold case.”
“She needs to know,” Jill said. “In her place, I would want to know.”
Noticing she’d brought out one teacup too many, Eve removed it. “If I could skip ahead to the ending, I’d want to see Mira happy with David. So, I feel I should do everything in my power to make that happen. Although, the sensible side of me says I should stay right out of it and let them work it all out by themselves. I’m not sure I’d appreciate someone meddling in my private life. Not even if they had the best intentions.”
“Hush,” Jill said, “Mira’s headed our way.”
Mira approached them and, taking them by their hands, guided them back to the kitchen. “I’ve been chatting with the Tinsel-Toners.”
“How are they holding up?” Eve asked. Going by their earlier reaction and their eagerness to get on with it, it looked as if they were deep in denial.
“They’re feeling a little edgy and worried someone might be targeting them.”
“Someone?”
“Yes, Eve. They’re pointing the finger of suspicion at the Yule-Tiders who in turn are pointing the finger right back at the Tinsel-Toners.”
Eve chortled. “Well, that’s a first. I’m usually at the receiving end of that dreaded finger of suspicion. Considering the on-going feud between the two groups, I’m not surprised they feel like targets.”
“One of the Yule-Tiders mentioned Rob Reeves had been having some trouble with the victim.”
“Is Rob Reeves a Tinsel-Toner or a Yule-Tider?” Eve asked.
Mira nodded. “A Tinsel-Toner.”
“Really? I thought the Tinsel-Toners were a big happy family?”
“On the surface, I’m sure they are.” Mira gave a firm nod. “I spoke with Rob and asked him straight out if he’d had any issues with Todd Emerson. He averted his gaze and changed the subject. So, I called Jack and passed on the information. I believe he’s on his way over now to interrogate him.”
“Well done, Mira.”
“Now I’m going to do an impromptu author reading.” Mira smiled. “A couple of the Yule-Tiders are fans. One of them even mentioned liking the mad innkeeper. She produced a copy of one of my books covered in plain brown paper.” Mira chortled. “She told me she found the covers a little provocative. Anyhow, my audience awaits…”
When Mira left, Jill whispered, “You still haven’t told her.”
“I can’t bring myself to do it. What if I say the wrong thing? I’m emotionally invested in her well-being. If I thought I could keep a cool head, I’d contact David, but I don’t trust myself and I feel I can’t say anything to Mira unless I’m one hundred percent certain David stayed away only because of the cold case.”
Eve prepared another couple of trays. “Help me take these out to the sitting room, please. I’m thinking I’ll have to run into town, but that will have to wait until Jack brings back my car. Our guests will want a change of clothes soon and since Jack still wants them to remain at the inn, I’ll need to go out and buy a few essentials for them.”
“That should definitely come out of the town’s coffers,” Jill said.
“I can’t think of that now. Especially not as it will make me think about Roger McLain and that always makes my teeth grind.”
Hearing a car approaching, she looked out the window. “Jack’s back.” She couldn’t burden him with Mira’s private business, but she wouldn’t mind knowing if he knew about David’s cold case.
She met him in the kitchen and waited for him to end a call he was on. “I’ll take any news you have.”
“I had a chat with Ken McLain,” Jack said. “Thank you for providing those license plate numbers.”
“You can thank Samantha for getting them.” Eve pretended to look busy by wiping down the counter. Lowering her voice, she asked, “Do any of my guests have prior convictions? I feel I’m entitled to know.” She shrugged. “After all, they’re staying under my roof and, heavens, I might end up harboring a killer for Christmas.”
“They all lead squeaky clean lives,” Jack assured her. “Not even a single traffic violation so far. I doubt any of them would be capable of murder.”
Eve chortled. “Are you telling me what I want to hear?”
He smiled. “I guess it didn’t work.”
“No but only because I saw them going at each other’s throats in town.” She offered him a coffee and got busy making it. “Your fake assurances are probably spot on. Would a killer who is prepared to lure his victim out of the house ever become involved in a public display of anger?”
“There’s always a first time for everything.” Jack shrugged. “People change. Evolve. Maybe the public flare-up was the killer’s trigger, prompting him to deal with the matter in his own way.”
“I guess your search of the island didn’t yield any results.”
Jack looked over her shoulder and nodded.
Turning, Eve saw Josh standing at the door.
Jack cleared his throat. “Would you mind if we use your study for a moment?”
“Y-yes. May I ask why?”
“One of the Tinsel-Toners had an ongoing disagreement with Todd Emerson.”
“Rob Reeves?” The man Mira had mentioned…
He nodded. “We’d like to ask him a few questions.”
“Sure. Go ahead.” Eve leaned against the kitchen counter and closed her eyes for a moment and only opened them when she heard Jill coming into the kitchen.
“What did I miss?” Jill asked.
“We shouldn’t jump to conclusions, but it looks like it might have been an inside job, after all.” Eve organized a tray with tea, coffee and some cookies for the pregnant couple. “I’ll be back shortly.”
On her way to the stables, she kept her mind busy by working on a menu for the week. When she knocked on the door, she again wondered if she should tell Mira about David. A cold case meant he wanted to tie up loose ends. She understood that, but why hadn’t he mentioned it to Mira? She’d never made any unreasonable claims on his time. Mira worked long and hard on her writing. She respected David’s space and he reciprocated…
Could that be the problem?
Did David feel she wasn’t giving him enough attention?
Eve knocked again. Turning, she looked out across the yard and thought the town elder, Roger McLain, should have tried to organize transportation off the island for everyone. A ferry to get them off the island and then buses to get them home. Everyone who could, should be able to spend Christmas with their loved ones.
Strangely, she hadn’t heard anyone complaining about being stranded on the island.
Eve bit the edge of her lip. The killer wouldn’t complain… Or would he?
“There’s a reason why I’m an inn keeper and not a detective.”
A movement on the front porch drew her attention. Jack and Josh burst out of the house and rushed to Eve’s SUV, taking off like a bat out of hell.
A second later, Jill appeared on the front porch. Seeing Eve, she ran over. “Did you see them?”
“Yes. What happened?” Eve asked.
“Looks like Rob Reeves did a runner. He must have taken off when Jack arrived. If he’s not guilty of something, then he’s going to have to explain himself.”
Knowing there was nothing for her to do, she turned and, just as she was about to knock on the door again, her cell phone rang. “Ken?”
“Eve. I tried to contact Jack but it w
ent to voicemail. What’s going on over there?”
“Jack has just gone chasing after one of the guests,” Eve explained.
“This is important,” Ken said. “Are there any other officers there?”
“I’ll get Jill to go back in the house and look. I’m sure Jack left someone behind.” As she waited, Eve asked, “Is there anything you can share with me?”
Ken took a moment to answer. “I ran the license plates you gave me and one of them is for a car reported stolen a couple of days ago.”
Ken gave her a description of the car. She scanned the street but didn’t see it.
“I don’t see it here. It probably belongs to Rob Reeves,” Eve mused. “He’s the guest Jack wanted to speak with.”
“Yes,” Ken admitted. “The details of the stolen car match the information linked to Rob Reeves.”
Jill returned with one of the officers. “This is Officer William Blaine.”
Eve handed him the cell phone so he could speak with Ken McLain. As she waited, she turned and looked at the door. Edging toward the window, she peered inside. “Jill? Did you happen to notice which car the pregnant couple were driving?”
“An old BMW.”
The car Ken had described to her. “Ken says the car’s been reported stolen. I knocked on the door but there was no answer and I don’t see anyone inside. Bradley said her folks had a boat and he’d organized to be picked up at the marina, but he had to postpone his plans to leave when Jack said he still wanted everyone to stay at the inn. I don’t get it. The list Samantha put together had Rob Reeves’ name connected to the license plate number Ken says belongs to a stolen car.”
“Did you get that?” Jill asked the officer.
“Maybe they switched the plates.” Officer William Blaine nodded and approached the door. When no one answered, he opened it.
Eve and Jill stepped back. Eve thought if anyone bolted out of the apartment, she didn’t want to be in their way.
“There’s no one here,” William said and handed Eve the cell phone.
“I guess they must have decided they didn’t want to miss their chance to get off the island.” Eve hoped that was the case.
“After you told them they couldn’t leave?” Jill frowned. “And they’re driving a stolen car.”
True.
They both stepped up to the threshold.
“I guess we shouldn’t go in. Just in case. There has to be an explanation.”
Jill chuckled. “They’re car thieves?”
Eve got on the phone to Ken and told him what had happened. “We’re standing outside the stables where they were staying.” Ken asked her to describe the couple. “Tall. Lanky. Mousy brown hair. He has regular features with no discernable marks. At a guess, I’d say he’s in his early thirties.” She looked at Jill. “Can you describe his wife?”
“Brunette. Pregnant.” Jill shrugged. “Sorry, I didn’t really look at her. They didn’t spend much time at the inn. As soon as we allocated the rooms, they went there and kept to themselves.”
“Do me a favor, Eve,” Ken said. “Don’t touch anything. Put William back on, please. Try to keep anyone from entering, please.”
“Don’t worry. Everyone’s been good about staying inside.” Eve crouched down and ran her fingers along the entrance floor. “Sand. It could have come from William.” Or Bradley, she thought. But Jill had said they hadn’t set foot outside since they’d been shown to their room.
Why would there be sand on the floor?
When the officer got off the phone, Eve drew his attention to the floor. “Where you on the beach?”
He showed her his boots. “Yes, but I cleaned my boots before going inside the house.”
Had Bradley gone out onto the beach?
Worse. Had he been at the beach the night before?
“He’s driving the stolen car. What if he switched the license plate? What if… What if Jack went chasing after the wrong person?”
William contacted Jack. Luckily, he picked up.
When he finished the conversation, he looked at the cars parked near the inn.
Reading his thoughts, Jill grumbled, “He’s about to commandeer my car. I think we should beat him to it.”
Another officer came rushing toward them. He had a brief conversation with William who said, “This is Patrick. He’ll stay here in case something happens.”
Jill took that as her cue to rush to her car.
“What is she doing?” William hollered as he chased after Jill.
When he reached the car, Jill said, “I’m driving.”
“Ma’am. This is official police business.”
“You want to stand here and argue? Fine, you drive.”
As William jumped in the driver’s seat, both Eve and Jill jumped in the passenger seats.
“No time to argue,” Jill insisted. “Besides, I know a short cut to the marina.”
“This is highly irregular,” he complained even as he drove off.
“That’s our middle name,” Jill declared. “Now, step on it.” Turning to Eve, Jill asked, “What sort of head start do you think they have?”
Eve tried to work on a timeline. After serving the guests lunch, she’d sat down with Jill but then she’d remembered the pregnant couple. She’d prepared their meal so there might have been a half hour delay. She ran through everything else. Talking with Jill. Jack’s arrival... “Well over half an hour.”
“They could be anywhere by now.” Jill dug inside her pocket and drew out her phone. “I’m calling the marina. What’s the manager’s name?”
Eve gave her a slanted eye look. “You seem to assume I know him… Fine. I did meet him and I just happen to know he’s visiting family for the holidays. Someone else is looking after the marina.”
“Be careful what you say to him,” William warned. “You don’t want to spook him. Tell him to stay out of sight and, if possible, to take cover. We don’t know if the perps are armed.”
“We don’t know they’re perps,” Eve said. “We only know they’re driving a stolen car. For all we know, they might have purchased it recently not knowing it had been stolen.”
“Eve, they’re already guilty,” Jill said. “Otherwise, why would they take off when you explicitly told them Jack had said they needed to stay?”
Bradley hadn’t looked like a killer. “What’s this world coming to when a father to be turns into a killer?”
Jill gave a slow shake of her head. “You assume it was him. What about his wife?”
True. They might even have conspired together. “All I can say is that he’s off on the wrong foot and setting a bad example for his unborn child.”
Jill put her finger to her lip calling for quiet. “Hi. Who’s this? Bartholomew? Has a young couple come to the marina? The woman is heavily pregnant.” Jill looked at Eve and gave a stiff nod. “They’re just driving in? But they had a head start… Oh, sorry, I was talking to someone else.” Leaning forward, Jill tapped William on the shoulder and said, “Step on it.”
“Tell Bartholomew to be careful,” Eve said.
Jill pressed a finger to her ear. “What was that? The coast guard just radioed you? They’re on their way?” Putting her hand over the phone, she turned to Eve. “Sounds like the cavalry is arriving.”
What about Jack?
William must have read her thoughts. “He’s on the other side of the island, near the bridge and heading toward the marina.”
“I think we’ll get there first,” Jill said. “What’s the plan?”
“For you to lay low and stay in the car,” William said.
“I don’t have any problems with that,” Eve murmured and sent Mira a text message to check up on her. She responded with surprising speed saying everything remained calm and no one suspected anything. Which begged the question. So, Eve sent another text. “What are you talking about, Mira?” she murmured. When she received the reply, she moaned under her breath. “Trust Mira to be looking out the window when we all
piled into the car and took off. She’s dubbed us the Keystone Cops Hangers On because, of course, we’re not the police.” Glancing at the mirror, she thought she saw William frown.
“Does that make William a Keystone Cop?” Jill asked.
Eve’s phone pinged. “Mira must be a mind reader. She sent a message saying she did not mean to infer William is a Keystone Cop and she apologies for any offense given unintentionally.”
Jill grabbed her hand. “Listen up. Bartholomew says the pregnant couple is walking up the jetty.”
“Okay,” William said. “We’re here.” He pulled up just outside the marina entrance and killed the engine. Turning, he warned, “Stay in the car.”
Eve and Jill nodded.
As Officer William Blaine emerged from the car, Eve noticed her SUV approaching. “Jack’s coming.”
“Bartholomew, talk to me,” Jill said. “What do you see now?”
“I see a police officer approaching.”
Jill turned to Eve. “I think he should have waited for back-up.”
Eve struggled to believe the pregnant couple were in any way involved in Todd Emerson’s death. Leaning in, she spoke into Jill’s phone, “Bartholomew, this is Eve Lloyd, does the officer have his revolver drawn?”
“That’s an affirmative,” Jill said. “This is rather a novelty. We’re usually in the thick of it with guns pointed at us. And we always end up catching the guilty party.”
Eve lifted her chin a notch. “Well, some people might say meddling women don’t solve crimes, they get killed. So, I’m fine sitting on the side-lines.”
Jill harrumphed. “What sort of insufferable, good for nothing, petty misogynist would make a remark like that?”
Eve shrugged. “You assume it might be a man. It could well be a woman.”
“Have you been eavesdropping on people whispering about you?”
Eve gave a nonchalant shrug. “I might have heard someone or other saying something or other within my hearing.”
When Jill waved, Eve looked out the window and saw Jack running toward the marina.
“I suddenly find being here very odd,” Eve whispered. “However, if Mira had come along, she would have told me not to worry and then she would have told us about the Battle of Waterloo and how some high society people had trekked out there to be near the battle.”
