“I get it.” Nora nodded. “So, to the public, you’re doing your duty. But, to the killer, you’ve been fooled into arresting Tyler. That way, maybe he or she slips up and makes a mistake.”
“Exactly,” Sheriff Ellerton said. “With your help, I can figure out what’s really going on.”
“You’ve changed, Sheriff.” Nora smiled. “I don’t believe you’ve ever asked anyone for help before.”
“Oh, believe me, it gives me no pleasure to,” Sheriff Ellerton admitted. “And let’s be clear, nobody’s ever going to know I asked you. I’ll deny it all.”
“I’m not going to boast about it,” Nora said gently.
“Good. There’s nothing in this for you, Nora. No newspaper articles about you being the next Sherlock Holmes,” Sheriff Ellerton said gruffly. “All you’ll get - maybe - is a chance to see justice done.”
“That’s all both of us want, isn’t it?” Nora asked. “Except maybe you’ll get re-elected, too.”
Sheriff Ellerton winced. It hadn’t escaped Nora’s attention that the elections for sheriff were coming up soon. Dave Ellerton was getting nervous about them, and couldn’t afford to mishandle a case like this. So, even though he didn’t like Nora much, and even though his ego could barely stand it, he was asking for her help.
It didn’t faze Nora. She knew that, despite his ambitions and his tendency to be hard-headed, Dave Ellerton was, at his core, a good man.
“I’ll help,” she said. “But you have to promise to tell me everything you know too, Sheriff.”
“Only if you promise to keep it quiet. You can’t tell anybody,” Sheriff Ellerton said. “Not even Tina. Not even your husband.”
“No deal,” Nora said. “Harvey’s got to know. We don’t do secrets in our marriage. Don’t worry, though. He won’t tell a soul.”
“Fine, Harvey. But only Harvey. I’ll come over to your house at midnight tonight. We can discuss things some more. But, for now, go talk to anyone who knew Maybelle. Or just go home. No offense, but I don’t really want to be seen talking to you when I’m in the middle of a case.”
“No, I’m sure there are journalists you’d rather be talking to,” Nora said, unable to resist a last jab at him. “Good day, Sheriff.”
*****
Chapter 6
Overheard and Witnessed
Nora sipped at a glass of wine, her eyes hooded. She was back home, seated at the head of her dining table, with the last bits of her dinner in front of her. On her left, Austin sat with his elbows on the table and his hands cradling his chin. Hazel sat next to him, shooting him occasional worried glances. Tina was opposite them, tapping her fingers on the table, while Harvey sat leaning back on his chair, tugging at his tie.
They’d been avoiding talking about Maybelle’s death for hours but it was all anybody could think about. And, yet, they seemed unable to start the conversation. Instead, there had just been small talk and forced smiles. There was a lull in the conversation now as Harvey pushed his plate away and cleared his throat.
“You might need a new job, Austin,” Harvey said. “From what I’ve heard around town, Tyler isn’t getting out of jail anytime soon.”
Austin shut his eyes for a second, then opened them. “I hadn’t even thought of that,” he said. “This whole day has been so strange. Real life feels like some weird fun-house mirror version of itself right now. I always admired Tyler, you know? He seemed like he had it all - perfect career, perfect health, perfect wife…and now this.”
“I talked to my neighbor, Pam,” Tina said. “She was at Coach James’s party the other day. She says she heard Tyler and Maybelle fighting.”
“She did?” Nora raised an eyebrow. Pam was clearly one of the witnesses Sheriff Ellerton had mentioned, then.
“Yeah,” Tina said. “Pam said it was really late, way past midnight. She and a bunch of friends were walking back home when it happened. Tyler and May were standing next to their car and yelling at each other.”
“Did she hear what about?” Nora leaned forward.
“She said Tyler had his hands balled into fists and his face was very red. Mitzy heard him say, 'Am I a joke to you? You think you can hide something like that and I’ll just forgive you? I’ve put up with a lot, May, but this…you’ve crossed a line.'”
“Wow.” Hazel whistled. “Sounds pretty intense.”
“Husband and wife fights can get intense,” Harvey said with a shrug. “I don’t think it necessarily means Tyler’s a murderer.”
“Well, you will when you hear what happened next,” Tina replied. “Pam said she and her friends all just froze. It was awkward, you know, walking into a private conversation like that. But Tyler and May were just yelling over each other. They didn’t seem to care who was listening. It ended when Tyler banged the roof of the car so hard it left a dent. He said, 'Sometimes you just make me want to throttle you, May.'”
“Ouch.” Harvey shook his head. “Oh, man. Three witnesses heard him say that?”
“Four. Pam says Sheriff Ellerton was in their little group, too,” Tina said. “He stepped up to intervene when Tyler said that. Pam said both May and Tyler tried to pretend nothing had happened. They drove home together.”
“So Tyler said he wanted to hit her, and then two days later she’s dead.” Nora sighed. “It does look like-”
“No,” Austin said strongly. “Couples fight. I don’t know any that don’t. Especially when they’re drunk and emotional. I’ll tell you what I witnessed, personally, working as Tyler’s assistant all these months.”
Nora looked at him seriously. “What?”
“Tyler was very much in love with May,” Austin said. “He was already planning out a birthday present for her - three months before her actual birthday. He was making me track down a rare doll online. Apparently May had one when she was a child, and it got lost while she was moving houses. Tyler had heard her mention it once or twice and thought he’d track down a doll just like it and give it to her for her birthday. Does that sound like a man who’d murder his woman? I’m telling you, Tyler was crazy about her.”
“You said he was moody,” Hazel pointed out. “You said Tyler can make you feel like royalty one moment and scum the next. Maybe he switched his moods around for her, too. One moment he loved her, the other he hated her. It happens, you know.”
“Maybe.” Austin looked suddenly uncertain. “I just…wouldn’t have thought it.”
“You said you saw her, right?” Nora asked. “Just two hours before she died?”
“Yeah,” Austin said. “I think that’s why I’m so shaken up, you know? She came to the office and said she wanted to see Tyler.”
“Any particular reason?” Nora asked.
“I don’t remember exactly but I got the impression that they were supposed to go to a party together,” Austin said. “They were talking for a while.”
“Arguing some more?” Tina asked. “Did you overhear anything?”
“Aunt Tina’s always overhearing things,” Hazel teased. “I don’t think the CIA overhears things as much as Aunt Tina does.”
“Oh, hush you,” Tina said. “Well, Austin?”
Austin squinted his eyes as he thought, then shook his head. “Nope. I was busy working and besides, Tyler’s office is pretty soundproof. But I don’t think they were arguing. They probably made up for whatever disagreement they had.”
“Unlikely, isn’t it? She died just two hours later, after all,” Tina said. “Sounds to me like Tyler lured her back home and killed her. Horrible.”
“And I’m telling you, they were both in a good mood. They were holding hands as they walked out of his office and Tyler was all smiles. Like I said, whatever disagreement they had at Coach James’s party, they’d definitely made up. It’s just so hard to picture him taking her home and then…” Austin shuddered. “I don’t believe it. I won’t until a judge and jury pronounce him guilty.”
Tina pushed back her chair. “I don’t know about judge and jury, but peo
ple in town have definitely pronounced him guilty. I mean, if two people were in the house and one is murdered, logically the other one has to have done it.”
“People used to think that, logically, the sun must revolve around the earth,” Austin said firmly. “Logic’s only good till you find evidence that disproves it, you know.”
“Well, I admire your loyalty anyway,” Tina said. “But Harvey’s right. You better look out for another job.”
“I guess I’ll have to think about it,” Austin said. He rolled his shoulders, stretched and yawned. “Getting pretty late.”
“Come on, I’ll take you home,” Hazel said. “Aunt Tina, do you need a ride, too?”
“Nope. But thanks for offering.” Tina gave Hazel a peck on the cheek and a fond look.
“We’ll clear up. You folks better move along,” Nora said, ushering them all to the door. “Austin, it’s best if you and Hazel go on that hike tomorrow. Don’t stay in town and listen to all the rumors, it’ll just upset you more.”
“Agreed.” Hazel nodded.
“Don’t forget these, then.” Harvey handed Hazel a Tupperware box full of gingersnap cookies. “Oh, wait. I forgot to tax you.” Reaching inside the box, he pulled out a handful of the cookies, then handed it back.
Hazel squealed in annoyance, “D-a-a-ad! Those are for the hike!”
“There’s no escaping death and dad-taxes.” Harvey grinned, popping one into his mouth whole. “Yum!” he said between his bites.
“Can I tax the tax-man?” Tina plucked a cookie out of Harvey’s hand and took a delicate bite. “Mmm. You can always taste the difference when it’s fresh ginger instead of powdered.”
“Goodnight, you jokers.” Nora nearly pushed them out of the house and Harvey gave her a questioning look. “Sleep well.” She waved goodbye as the cars pulled out of the driveway.
“See you tomorrow!” Tina called.
Harvey and Nora stood on the porch for a minute, taking in deep breaths of the pine-scented air as the moon glinted off the roofs of the neighboring houses. It was still too cold to linger much and, as they walked back into the wonderfully-warm house, Harvey turned to Nora.
“How come you were so eager to push them out?”
“Oh…you noticed.” Nora shrugged.
“Of course, I noticed. What’s up?”
“Sheriff Ellerton said he’d be by later tonight,” Nora said. “I didn’t want the rest of them seeing him here.”
“Huh? How come?”
Nora filled Harvey in on her discussion with the sheriff as they cleared the table.
*****
“Hmm.” Harvey had his shirt sleeves rolled up as he rinsed the dishes. “Slightly fishy, isn’t it? Ellerton was never a big fan of yours, though everyone in town knows you’ve helped him solve multiple cases.”
“I guess this one is just an exception,” Nora said.
“Either that or he’s realized that working with you is more profitable than working against you,” Harvey said. “I mean, Ellerton’s sharp. He doesn’t do anything that won’t profit him in some way.”
“He’s a good man,” Nora said.
“I never said he was bad,” Harvey agreed. “He’s no white knight like Sean, that’s all. Ellerton’s…business-minded.”
“You never even liked Sean when he was sheriff.” Nora smiled, accepting a plate from Harvey and placing it in the dishwasher.
“Sure. I thought he was too rigid.” Harvey grinned. “Plus we had history. You know, the whole stepbrother thing. Anyway, forget Sean. The point is, watch out for Ellerton. He’s trying to use you.”
“I know he is.” Nora said. “But I don’t mind if it’s for the greater good.”
“Agreed.” Harvey nodded.
The doorbell rang and Nora took a breath. “That’s him, I’m sure. I wonder what he’s going to tell us.”
*****
Chapter 7
The Sheriff’s Theories
Sheriff Ellerton took a deep breath and set his hat beside him on Nora’s dining table. He’d skipped dinner thanks to work, and had gladly wolfed down the pasta that Nora set down in front of him. Now, with his stomach full, Ellerton was far more amiable. He stretched his hands and cracked his knuckles, then rubbed his eyes, attempting to clear away the tiredness.
Nora and Harvey were sitting opposite the sheriff, holding hands. Both their gazes were firmly on him, their attention riveted. Sheriff Ellerton, on the other hand, was looking off into the distance.
“It’s a weird case,” he began. “I don’t really know where to begin. I mean, the murder just happened a few hours ago, really. Time of death is approximately 6:15 pm, I’m told.”
“Poor Maybelle.”
“Poor Maybelle is right. Still, her death was near instantaneous. She lost consciousness almost immediately after she was stabbed, and was dead in a few minutes, if that,” Sheriff Ellerton said. “If there’s any consolation at all, it’s that she wasn’t in pain before she died.”
Nora shuddered. “But she was so young. It’s a tragedy to have life snatched away from you like that.”
“That it is,” Sheriff Ellerton agreed.
“How’s Tyler taking it?” Harvey asked. “Has he been arrested?”
“For now, we’re only detaining him for questioning. We haven’t exactly formally arrested him but, somewhere down the road, we very likely will. The DA hasn’t given me the go-ahead yet. Tyler’s still not speaking, not even to his own attorney. The doctor gave him some Valium to calm him down. But I sure hope he’s well enough to start talking tomorrow.”
“Give him a break, Sheriff.” Harvey said. “Poor guy just found his wife dead in his own house. I’m sure that’d drive me half mad, too.”
“Yeah. Either that or he was mad when he killed her and now he’s in shock,” Sheriff Ellerton said. “I know I said I don’t think it’s him but I haven’t ruled him out, either.”
“Why don’t you think it’s him?” Nora asked.
“A bunch of reasons,” Sheriff Ellerton said. “One, it’s too convenient. Too neat. Second, there’s the tip we received. I told you we got a phone call that someone had heard screaming from Maybelle and Tyler’s house, right?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, it struck me as fishy, though I didn’t exactly know why till much later. Then I got there and Maybelle was dead and I forgot about the phone call for a few hours. That is, until I got around to interviewing neighbors. Maybelle and Tyler’s nearest neighbors on Delphi Street are still half a mile away. The sound didn’t carry to them. They never made that call.”
“So who did?”
“We don’t know,” Sheriff Ellerton said. “It was a woman, that much is clear. But who? The number can’t be traced, either. It wasn’t a regular phone call - someone used an app that disguises numbers to make it. That’s when I got really suspicious.”
Nora frowned. “You think this woman - whoever she is - is setting Tyler up?”
“Can you even really be sure it was a woman?” Harvey asked. “I mean, apps these days - they can even disguise voices, you know. Heck, my granddaughter, Kaylee, plays around on apps like that all the time. She even prank called us once.”
Sheriff Ellerton pursed his lips. “Well, Macy was manning the phone and she’s pretty sure it was a human woman she spoke to, though she mentioned that the voice sounded scratchy and far off. So it seems someone was definitely disguising their voice.”
“Did Maybelle have any enemies you know of?” Harvey asked the sheriff.
Sheriff Ellerton shook his head. “No. But she did have friends…and, with some friends, well, as the saying goes, you don’t need enemies.”
“You think one of the Stitchin’ Witches did it?” Brooke’s face flashed in front of Nora’s eyes and she was suddenly uncomfortable. “You’ve got very little proof of that.”
“I know,” Sheriff Ellerton said. “It’s just a line I’d like you to poke your nose into, Nora. See if anything comes up. After all… you
were already talking to them all, weren’t you?”
“Who told you that?” Nora asked, surprised.
Sheriff Ellerton tapped the side of his nose. “I’m not as useless a sheriff as you like to think. And Tina isn’t the only one who overhears things. Natalie asked you to mediate some fight, didn’t she?”
“Well, yes, but it was a ridiculous little fight. Nothing that would warrant murder,” Nora said. “The knitting club just couldn’t decide where their yearly funds should go.”
“Money,” Sheriff Ellerton said. “That’s a powerful motive.”
“It wasn’t about money - all four of them have plenty. It was about ego.”
“Ego’s an equally powerful motive,” Sheriff Ellerton said. “I don’t understand your issue here, Nora. All I’m asking you to do is talk to the girls. Or should I say…witches.”
“I will,” Nora said. “Just…don’t assume it’s them.”
“I’m not assuming anything, remember? As far as anyone is concerned, I’m just a play-by-the-rules cop who’s arrested the husband and isn’t following up on anything else.” Sheriff Ellerton grinned and took a long sip of his coffee. “In times like these I’m sure Maybelle’s friends will all want to talk to you - all relaxed and informal, of course. No interrogations.”
“Got it.” Nora nodded. “Keep it casual.”
“Exactly.” Sheriff Ellerton smiled. “I won’t lie. I think one of them is responsible. Maybe it’s because of the weapon used. A man just isn’t likely to grab a knitting needle, is he?”
“I’m not so sure,” Nora said. “By the way, Sheriff, were there any marks on Tyler?”
“There was blood on him when I found him, but it was all Maybelle’s. There’s not a scratch on him,” Sheriff Ellerton said. “It was sad, really. I found him hugging her, but she was quite dead. He was crying, the poor guy. See, that’s another thing that I found weird. He was draped only in a towel when we found him. His hair was damp, even. Like he was fresh out of the shower. What’s that all about? If the theory is that he and May were fighting, it got physical and then he stabbed her, well…it’s kind of hard to stab someone when you’re only dressed in a towel, isn’t it? Imagine clutching your towel in one hand and a knitting needle in the other? Never heard of anything like it. Just doesn’t sit right with me.”
Knitting With the Dead Page 4
