Pembleton nodded. “I know the political atmosphere in the county because of Blue Sands. I told Ed if there were any political repercussions because he removed Joe, I would back him up. I would tell the county commissioners and the press that the work of the assistant county planner had degraded and was simply undependable. It was shoddy and full of errors, errors that always helped one side and not the other.”
“Did Mr. Rockingham know of the out-of-office relationship between Dinera and Ms. Atwater?”
“He knew about it but said as long as it didn’t disrupt office routine he wasn’t going to say anything about it. In past years Dinera had dated other city employees but no one who worked in the same department. Ed wasn’t too happy about it, but he didn’t consider the romance a major issue. Another reason Ed didn’t want to jump is he liked Dinera and Dinera held him in high esteem. Joe would tell anyone that Mr. Rockingham had done the county a great service during his years as planning director. Which is very true.”
“Thank you Mr. Pembleton. We appreciate you talking to us,” Clay said.
13
The Emlet’s sports and clothing store was decorated in red, white and green. A huge "Merry Christmas" greeting had been painted on one wall. A dozen or so small mistletoes hung from the ceiling. Conversations began and often ended with "Merry Christmas." The employee who looked at the sketch April handed him wore a red Santa cap. His small rectangular name tag read Billy Odom. He shook his head.
“He wasn’t in here. I know Derek Rivenbark. Not well, but I know him. He went to school here, as I did. He was a grade above me in high school. But we were both in the Sea Oak High School for four years. We were not social buddies, but I certainly know when I see him. He wasn’t in the store,” Odom said.
“Do you know his brothers on sight?” April asked.
“Jeff, yes. He was two years younger than Derek so he was a grade below him. I know him well enough to say hello on the street. The third brother I know when I see him.”
“Have any of them been in the store lately?”
“If they have, I haven’t seen them. And they do occasionally shop here. The two older brothers are golfers. Jeff has bought clubs and any number of accessories here. The company sponsors a Little League team and Derek has been in to buy bats and balls. The League usually supplies all equipment but Derek will help out from time to time.”
April handed him a sketch of Andrew Lester. “Seen this guy?”
“Nope. Don’t know him and don’t think I’ve even seen him in here.”
April patiently handed him another sketch but got the same negative response. She held up the last one. “Bet you haven’t seen this lady either, have you?”
He shook his head. “Nope. She’s pretty, but I haven’t seen her in here. Of course most of our customers are men. Only about fifteen to twenty percent of customers are women.”
April nodded. “Are there any other salespeople in here who were also on duty the Tuesday when the murder occurred?”
Odom looked around. He pointed at a tall, pale man with black, wavy hair. “Carl, there. He usually works the same shifts as I do. I remember him because we talked about the murder after it happened so I know he was here. And . . .” He looked around, “Larry Studs was on that shift too. He came over and joined our conversation. Nice guy and also a great salesman. He could talk Floridians into buying snow skis. I don’t see him right now. He must have stepped into the back. I don’t think they will tell you anything more than I did. The individuals on those posters were not in the store last Tuesday. Maybe they were Christmas shopping in other stores.”
April frowned. “I have to ask.”
When she talked to Carl he echoed Odom’s sentiments. He had not seen the individuals on the posters either. He played golf so he did know Andrew Lester. “He gave me a discounted lesson at the golf course and showed me how to correct my slice.” But, he said Lester had not been in the store recently.
“No reason for him to be. He gets all his equipment from the country club pro shop. Since he’s the pro out there he gets a discount. For that matter I think he gets a cut of the profits,” Carl said.
Frustration was building in April as she heard Larry Studs say he didn’t recognize any of the people on the posters either. One Rivenbark brother looked slightly familiar but hadn’t seen him in the store in weeks. Studs said he had never seen the other people on the posters.
“Thank you very much,” April said.
“Sorry I couldn’t be of more help. We’ve been having heavy Christmas traffic, heavier than usual. This year sales are up about fifteen percent. So I could be mistaken because so many people are coming in and out. But I don’t remember seeing any of those folks,” he said.
April sighed. Well, I thought this was a great idea. May have been mistaken. She loaded the posters into a sack, pulled the string and lifted it on her back.
More legwork. As she walked out of the store she felt a trace of guilt. The salesman had been so nice and spent a good amount of time with her but she hadn’t purchased anything.
A bell sounded alerting salespeople that another customer had entered. As the ring diminished the idea hit her. It jolted her so much she dropped the sack and had to bend down to pick it up.
Her sketches may have been a good idea after all. She had just made one mistake. With the sack in hand she ran out of the store, determined to correct that one mistake. She knew who the killer was.
The next morning at ten o’clock she and Clay knocked politely on the door of County Planning Director, Ed Rockingham. He looked annoyed when he saw the two.
“May we talk to you for a minute?” April said.
“Well, I am a little busy,” he said.
“This won’t take long.”
“OK, come on in but I will hold you to that. I don’t have minutes to waste today.”
“This won’t be a waste. I promise,” April said.
Rockingham sighed. “Sit down.”
They eased down onto the two chairs in his office. April crossed her legs. She had carried one of the sketches into the office. She placed it on her lap.
“I know that you want us to solve the murder of Joe Dinera, Mr. Rockingham,” she said.
Rockingham nodded. “Joe was a good man. He had some flaws but we all do.”
April’s fingers rapped on the poster. “My theory was the killer entered Emlet’s, the sporting goods store next to the corner where Joe was. Christmas is a busy time, so the employees didn’t notice when a customer went into the back and opened the exit door. He walked probably halfway to Joe and called to him. Joe knew his killer and walked back to talk to him. They probably entered Emlet’s back room. All the employees were busy on the floor so it was private. That’s when the murderer swung and fractured Joe’s skull. Yesterday I was showing portraits of suspects to Emlet’s employees, but didn’t get a hit. Then I realized I left one person out. I had to get another sketch done. When I returned to the store, I hit a stone wall until I showed them this . . .”
She handed the portrait to Rockingham. He jerked as if hit with an electric shock.
“It’s a picture of you, Mr. Rockingham,” April said.
Rockingham didn’t touch the portrait. He eased back in his chair and scooted the chair back from the desk.
“I’m a regular customer at Emlet’s. When I have time I like to get out on the golf course. I also like Pickle Ball when I have time for it. Lately there hasn’t been time, but I try to play regularly. I buy equipment and items from Emlet’s. The employees know me. The fact they recognized my picture means nothing.”
“It places you at the scene of the crime,” April said. “There were two people who say you were in the store. The time of the murder was about one in the afternoon. Bill Odom said he saw you about two minutes to one. He remembers because the staff has to schedule lunch breaks to make sure enough employees are on the floor during the noon hour. Odom checked his watch and left for lunch after he saw you. He didn’t f
orget because when he came back the police were at the store. So it was a memorable day. Another employee saw you too so there is no mistake.”
Rockingham said nothing. The creases in his face deepened. His breathing seemed labored.
April spoke in a soft, gentle tone. “Why don’t you just tell us what happened? You‘re not a killer, Ed. I’m guessing for some reason you felt you had to kill Joe, but now you’re regretting it. You can’t keep it a secret forever. We know what happened and I’m guessing the police might be closing in too. At first Joe fooled me. He wasn’t a very admirable man. What did he do or try to do that prompted you to react so violently? If you confess I’m sure the district attorney will be lenient.”
A long silence followed. Finally, Rockingham pulled a cigarette pack out of his pocket. When he slammed the packet against his hand a cigarette popped out. He put the filter in his mouth and lit it. When he sighed he blew out dark-gray smoke.
“He was blackmailing me. The guy was a fanatic . . . a true fanatic. He wanted to defeat the Blue Sands project and he told me to recommend a no vote to the county commissioners. I refused. I told him, considering all factors, I had to recommend approval. He got angry and accused me of taking a bribe. That was nonsense. He said Blue Sands would give me a high-paying job once the project was approved. That was a lie, but there was a degree of truth to it. The company never made an offer, but Mr. Winslow hinted they did need a good planner. My wife has medical problems, and I do need money. I never agreed to the hinted deal, but I didn’t turn it down either.” He shrugged. “I was going to recommend approval anyway.”
“But, if I didn’t go along with Joe, he said Patti Atwater would go to the city manager and make allegations of sexual harassment and attempted assault. That is a vile lie, but in the atmosphere today in the wake of recent sexual scandals, even being accused would kill a career. He said there was another woman he knew who worked for the city who would make a second accusation. He also warned he would back up Atwater’s accusation. Just when I needed money my career would be gone down the drain. With my wife ill, I was desperate. I had to do something.” He took another puff on the cigarette. “Joe fooled me too, Ms. Longmont. I thought he was a good man but . . . he would have destroyed my career and walked away feeling righteous.” He ground the cigarette out in the ashtray. “For that matter he has destroyed my career and destroyed me. You’re right. In spite of everything I do feel guilty. What I did is weighing on me. You won’t have to go the police. I’ll go down and turn myself in.”
April and Clay walked somberly out of the office. April felt her eyes water. She grabbed a Kleenex from her purse and wiped them.
“I’m not exactly in the Christmas spirit,” she said.
“Neither am I,” Clay said. “Perhaps in a couple of days we can get back into the spirit of the season.”
April shook her head. “Joe was a fanatic. I didn’t see that at first. Even if you’re on the right side you can’t be a fanatic, or you’re wrong. Being a fanatic doesn’t help your cause, it just corrupts you.”
“But if you’re dedicated to a moral cause, and act morally, society will call you a saint, after you’re dead of course.”
April gave a dry smile. “There are no saints in this case.”
“Yes, there is,” said Clay. He reached over and touched her chin. “There’s one. She’s out singing and ringing bells for needy children. With one exception, the Salvation Army and their Santas are walking along a saintly path.”
She patted his chest.
“That’s the one thought we should hang onto this season.”
THE END
Afterword
About the Author
Adele M. Cooper is a mother, wife, and artist. When she’s not busy taking care of her family, she does everything from gardening, crafts, sewing, painting, traveling and writing cozy mystery stories. In another life, she would have loved to have been a female Inspector Poirot! As she’s also a hopeless romantic, there is always a touch of romance in her stories.
Contact Adele here
liriospublishing.com/books-by-adele-m-cooper-cozy-mystery.html
[email protected]
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