Cat Me If You Can

by Miranda James

  “What did you do when you discovered that?” Helen Louise asked.

  “I told him I never wanted to see him again,” Ellie said, her expression hardening. “He was cheating on me. It didn’t matter with whom, only the fact that he was unfaithful. My father cheated on my mother and made her life miserable. I wasn’t going to go through all that because I saw what it did to my mother. She started drinking and never stopped until it killed her.”

  Helen Louise and I exchanged appalled glances. What a terrible burden this obviously had been for Ellie, and, I thought, what fuel for the anger that could lead someone to commit murder.

  “Ellie, I’m so sorry,” Helen Louise said. “That’s terrible. No wonder you were upset with Denis.”

  “That’s why the police will probably think I’m responsible for his death,” Ellie said. “I think I hated him once I found out. But he wouldn’t leave me alone. He kept pestering me, telling me he would stop running around if only I would agree to marry him.” She laughed suddenly, a bitter, harsh sound. “There were times when I wished he would die and leave me alone, but I didn’t really want him dead.”

  “Of course not,” Helen Louise said.

  Diesel went to Ellie and put his head on her knee. She put out a trembling hand and stroked his head. “He’s so sweet,” she whispered. Diesel meowed softly.

  “When did you find out that Denis was cheating on you with a man?” I hated to be blunt, but if Ellie wanted our assistance, we needed to know.

  “About six weeks ago,” Ellie said. “I went by his place after work one day—his office, I mean—to confront him about it, and I walked in on him and that rat, in the middle of . . .” Her voice trailed off and she closed her eyes.

  “We understand,” Helen Louise said. “Was it Zac you found with Denis?”

  Ellie nodded. “I wanted to blame him at first. Thought he was responsible, but then I learned more about Denis’s past escapades. I wondered why he spent so many nights in Memphis, and then it all fell into place. That’s where he met Zac, in a bar up there.”

  “How did you find out about Denis’s past?” I asked.

  Ellie shrugged. “Doesn’t matter, I just did. I told Denis several times I would never take him back, but he wouldn’t give up. I couldn’t believe he followed me here. He wasn’t supposed to know I was coming on this trip. Why wouldn’t he leave me alone?” She sank back in the chair as if suddenly exhausted.

  Neither Helen Louise nor I had a ready answer for that. Perhaps Denis really did love Ellie. Perhaps he had meant what he said about staying faithful to her. I rather doubted the latter, because in my experience, men who cheated didn’t change their behavior that easily or permanently.

  “I’m so sorry you’ve been through such a terrible experience,” Helen Louise said. “It sounds to me as if Denis genuinely cared for you. Otherwise I don’t think he would have been so persistent. No one could blame you for the way you felt after you discovered his betrayal, least of all Denis himself.”

  “Helen Louise is right,” I said. “Everything we do in life has a consequence, and Denis was completely responsible for his own behavior. Not you, not anyone else, only Denis.”

  “Thank you,” Ellie said. “You’re right, and I know that. I did care for him, you know.”

  Helen Louise nodded.

  I hesitated, but there was another question I wanted to ask. “Ellie, you said Denis wasn’t supposed to know you were coming with the group to Asheville.”

  Ellie nodded. “I thought I could get away from Athena for a few days without him finding out about it. I told Miss An’gel that I wanted to come, but I didn’t want anyone else to know until I got here.”

  “I was surprised to see you,” I said. “I didn’t think you were coming with us this week.” I glanced at Helen Louise, and she shook her head to indicate that she hadn’t known, either.

  “Did he tell you how he found out?” Helen Louise asked.

  “I demanded to know who had told him,” Ellie said, “but he refused to tell me. My guess is that Zac somehow found out and told him.”

  “I’m not sure how Zac would have found out,” I said. “Miss An’gel certainly wouldn’t have told him. She wouldn’t betray your confidence.”

  Ellie sighed. “No, I’m sure she wouldn’t. I told my boss at the last minute that I needed some time off to take care of my aunt in Mobile who’d had a stroke.” She raised her eyes to meet mine. “I do have an aunt in Mobile, but she’s perfectly healthy as far as I know.”

  “Was Denis possessive of you?” Helen Louise asked. “Did he frequently ask you what you were doing, where you had been, things like that?”

  “At the beginning, no,” Ellie said. “Later on, though, he began to be. I thought at first it was simply a sign that he was getting serious about me, but toward the end I realized it was more than that.”

  If Denis Kilbride had such possessive tendencies, he might have used technology to keep track of Ellie. Perhaps a program on her phone, or a tracking device on her car.

  “Ellie, did you drive here?” I asked.

  The question surprised her, I could see.

  “Yes, I did. Why do you ask?” she said.

  “This is simply a guess on my part,” I replied. “Maybe Denis put a tracking device on your car in order to know where you were going at any given time.”

  Ellie looked aghast. “That’s horrible.”

  “It is,” Helen Louise said. “In cases where one of the partners in a relationship is overly possessive, though, I don’t think it’s uncommon. From what you’ve told us, I can’t say I’d be surprised if you find such a device on or in your car.”

  “That would also explain,” Ellie said slowly, “why Denis wouldn’t tell me who revealed my plans to him. He wouldn’t need information from anyone else if I gave it to him myself without even knowing it.”

  TWENTY

  “That’s the simplest explanation,” I said. “Do you know whether Denis drove here, or did he perhaps fly?”

  “He drove,” Ellie said. “He told me he had appointments he had to keep so he couldn’t follow me immediately; otherwise he would have turned up sooner.” Suddenly she got up, startling Diesel, and began to pace. “You know about these things, Charlie. What do you think? Did someone kill Denis? If he wasn’t murdered, then why would someone kill that poor woman?”

  Helen Louise shrugged when I looked to her for advice. I knew what that shrug meant: Your guess is as good as mine on what to do in this situation.

  “Ellie, I can’t speak for the police,” I said, “but I have to say I do think it’s likely that Denis was murdered and that Cora’s murder is connected to his. The questions are these: Who had the motives? And who had the opportunities to kill them?”

  “Those are questions we can’t answer,” Helen Louise said. “The police will have to answer them, and they’ll be doing it by asking us questions, probably over and over, until they find a pattern of some sort.”

  “Yes, you’re right, I suppose.” Ellie had stopped pacing and now leaned against the back of the chair she had formerly occupied. “I have to sit tight and let the police do their work. I’m sure I’ll be their chief suspect once they know more about my relationship with Denis.”

  “That may be,” Helen Louise said gently. “All you have to do is tell them the truth, though. They won’t arrest you for a crime you didn’t commit.”

  I hoped Helen Louise was right. Frankly, I thought Ellie had the strongest motive for murder. With Denis’s death, she was rid of a possessive man who had stalked her and who had violated her trust. This wouldn’t be the first time a woman had killed her lover for such reasons. Either one might suffice for a strong enough motive to kill.

  I checked my watch. We had about twenty minutes before we were to meet with the lieutenant again in the dining room. I wondered what he would do if there wer
e any straggling diners. That wasn’t my problem, though. I mentioned the time to Ellie and Helen Louise.

  “I look a mess, I know,” Ellie said. “I guess I’d better go and do something about my face and hair. Thank you both for listening to me. I feel better somehow, getting all that out.”

  Helen Louise went with her to the door and gave her a quick hug. “Go wash your face and put on a little war paint. You’ll feel better.”

  Ellie gave her a faint smile and was gone. Helen Louise shut the door and turned back to me, obviously troubled.

  “Do you think she did it?” I asked.

  She sighed. “I can’t see that anyone else has a stronger motive, can you?”

  “Other than Zac, no,” I said. “But if she did kill both Denis and Cora, she’s one hell of an actress.”

  “Yes,” Helen Louise said. “That’s what I can’t get past. I don’t think she is acting. I think that was all genuine. I can’t be completely sure, though.”

  “Same here,” I said. “There could be more going on that we don’t know about, that even Ellie didn’t know about. Denis was a businessman, and a successful one. Was he completely honest in all his dealings? I don’t have a clue. We already know he treated Johnny Ray Floyd badly. Johnny Ray could have borne a bigger grudge against him than we know.”

  “I can’t see Johnny Ray as a killer,” Helen Louise said.

  “I can’t, either. I don’t want to,” I said. “But we both know that how we feel about a person’s potential to be a killer isn’t worth anything.”

  “No, it isn’t,” Helen Louise said. “The problem is, I can’t see anyone in this group as a killer, even Zac.”

  I laughed at that. “Because he’s the only Yankee in the group?”

  “Don’t be absurd,” Helen Louise said, but there was no sting in her tone. “He is an outsider in a number of ways, but I can’t see him as a killer, even if he was having an affair with Kilbride. I suppose we can’t rule him out, though.”

  “No, we can’t,” I said. “From past experience, I’m aware that any person has secrets, depths to their character, that we can’t possibly know about.”

  “That’s unsettling,” Helen Louise said. “Do you think that of me?”

  “I guess I think that of everyone, even myself,” I said. “We even have secrets we hide from ourselves, truths about ourselves, our motives, our emotions that we can’t admit because it would be too painful.”

  “I don’t know that I like the way this conversation is going,” Helen Louise said, and I could tell I was making her uncomfortable. I made myself uncomfortable when I got into one of these moods of introspection.

  “Sorry,” I said. “I’m overstating the point. Other than Melba, the Ducotes, and Benjy, we don’t consider any of the rest of the people in the group close friends. We know little about their inner lives and what really drives them. We can make guesses, based on externals, but that’s only the surface of their characters.”

  “Now you’ve got me truly terrified,” Helen Louise said. “I’m not used to thinking about other people in these terms. That’s why reading writers like Ruth Rendell and Patricia Highsmith scare me, frankly. Their people are so damaged, so alien to my everyday experience, and you’re starting to make me think our current situation is like one of their books.”

  “I’m sorry, honey,” I said, taking her in my arms while Diesel chirped anxiously. She laid her head on my shoulder. “I didn’t mean to get so dark and grim. I’m letting all this get to me. We’re in a strange place, involved with a group in which we don’t know half the people as well as we might have thought we did. Now we have two murders and a killer amongst us.”

  “I don’t want to let you or Diesel out of my sight until we’re safely home again,” Helen Louise said, her voice muffled.

  “We’ll stick together, I promise.”

  Helen Louise drew back. “I promise, too.”

  Diesel meowed loudly, and Helen Louise and I chuckled.

  “Yes, we’re going to keep you close, too,” I said. “We’re not going to let anything happen to you, either.”

  “We’d probably better head downstairs now,” Helen Louise said. “It won’t do to keep the lieutenant waiting.”

  “No, it won’t. Come on, boy. Back in your harness and leash,” I said. Diesel grumbled but he behaved while I got him kitted out again.

  When we reached the dining room we found a police officer standing at the door. Seeing us, he waved us in. Most of the group was there, except for Ellie and Johnny Ray. Two diners were paying for their meals, and once they were gone, we would have the dining room to ourselves.

  Ellie came in on the dot of two, and Johnny Ray about two minutes after. The diners had left, and now only our group occupied the room.

  We all waited quietly for about five minutes, and I felt everyone begin to grow restive around me. I wondered what was keeping Lieutenant Wesner and Sergeant Bloesch. I was about to step outside to query the officer at the door when I saw Wesner and Bloesch approaching from the direction of the small salon. I went back to my seat.

  “Sorry to keep you all waiting,” Wesner said. Sergeant Bloesch took up position in front of the door, now closed. “I know you’ve all been curious about the death of Denis Kilbride, and I can now reveal some of the results of the autopsy to you. His death was not accidental or natural. He was murdered.”

  “How?” Johnny Ray shot out the word. “How was he murdered?”

  “The blow you gave Denis Kilbride was not connected to his death, Mr. Floyd,” Wesner said.

  “Thank the Lord.” Johnny Ray dropped his head in his hands and began to sob in what I thought must have been relief. I was sure the suspense had been horrible for him.

  Miss An’gel went to him and patted him on the back. “I know we’re all happy for your sake that your punch didn’t cause his death.” She stayed by him, patting his back, until he regained control of himself. He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his face. “Thank you, Miss An’gel, everybody.”

  I gave him a thumbs-up gesture, as did several other members of the group.

  Wesner had waited, his expression impassive, until this interlude concluded. Then he nodded and began talking.

  “After the examination of both victims, we are reasonably certain that they were killed by the same person. We are continuing our inquiries, and we appreciate your cooperation. It is my understanding that you were planning to stay here in Asheville until the coming weekend. I have spoken with the owner of the hotel to inform him that the police prefer that you all remain here. I also must insist that you not leave the city until our investigation is complete, or until such time as we conclude that you may safely return home. Is that clear?”

  “Perfectly clear, and perfectly understandable,” Miss An’gel said. “I don’t believe any of us has any problems with your request, Lieutenant Wesner. I’m sure everyone will cooperate with your investigation to the fullest extent of their abilities.”

  Once Miss An’gel had spoken, no one in the group dared to question the lieutenant’s directive. She had used that no-nonsense tone before which brave men and women quailed.

  “Thank you, Miss Ducote, for your assurances on behalf of the group,” Wesner replied.

  “Can you tell us, Lieutenant, whether Miss Apfel had any family?” Miss An’gel said. “I’m sure we would all like to express our condolences to them.”

  Wesner said, “We have not found any kin yet, but I will let you know when and if we do.”

  “How sad,” Helen Louise murmured. “The poor woman.”

  “Yes,” I whispered back. “If they can’t find any family, I’m sure Miss An’gel will insist on taking care of her burial expenses if there isn’t any money.”

  “She lives up to her name, doesn’t she?” Helen Louise said.

  Diesel meowed loudly, causing several he
ads to turn in our direction. Wesner frowned. I gazed blandly back at him.

  “My staff and I will be going through your statements, and we will be asking you many of the same questions we asked before,” Wesner said. “We realize this is repetitious, but we have to make sure we are getting the fullest picture of the past couple of days here in this hotel. Any incident, anything you might have heard or seen, anything you might know about either of the victims, we want to hear about it. Nothing is too trivial. I want you all to keep that in mind.”

  Burdine Gregory raised her hand. “Can I ask a question, sir?”

  Wesner nodded. “Of course, ma’am.”

  “Thank you,” she said. “Are we allowed to leave the hotel at all? It’s really nice here, of course, great hotel, but we really had hoped to see more of Asheville.”

  “You may leave the hotel,” Wesner said. “There will be an officer on duty, and all we ask is that you let that officer know where you plan to go and for approximately how long. We have all your contact information if we need to get in touch with you. As I said earlier, our only requirement is that you do not leave the city.”

  “Thank you,” Burdine said.

  “You’re welcome,” Wesner replied. “Are there any other questions at this time?” He glanced around the room.

  No one responded to this, and Wesner said, “Thank you for your attention. I know you might have had some plans for this afternoon, but I must ask you to stay close at hand, within no more than a few minutes’ drive or walk from the hotel. We are going to start our next round of questioning. I don’t know how long this will take, I’m afraid, but we will do our best not to inconvenience you more than we have to.”

  “Who’s first?” Zac Ryan said, his tone slightly arch.

  “You are, actually,” Wesner replied smoothly. “Would you please come with us, Mr. Ryan?”

  Zac, his face a bit red, got up and walked to the door being held open by Sergeant Bloesch. She held the door for the lieutenant, then followed him out and closed it behind her.