Aunt Shirley shrugged. “Farting on demand comes in handy sometimes.”
“I got the key,” I said. “Let’s go by our room real quick and see if Olivia gave us the blackmail letter, and then we’ll sneak over to Trent’s room.”
“Sounds good.”
We walked up the stairs and Aunt Shirley received a text on her phone. She read it, giggled, and sent a reply. Seeing as how she had a slight flush to her, I figured she was bordering on sending indecent texts to the unsuspecting Sheriff Simpson. I didn’t say a word, just guided her up the stairs and to our room.
I unlocked the door and bent down to retrieve a note. It was the letter and envelope Olivia said she’d slide under the door.
“Let’s see the paper.” Aunt Shirley put her hand out and I placed the letter and envelope in her hand. It was high-end stationery. Not exactly expensive, but not cheap, thin stuff either. “Notice anything about the paper?”
I nodded. “It’s the same paper that was sent to both Olivia and the Wainwrights.”
Aunt Shirley smiled. “Remember where we saw this paper?”
I frowned. “No. Have we seen this before?”
“Just today, in fact.”
I thought back to everything we’d seen. I remembered! “Yes. Bessie was writing her grocery list on paper like this!”
Aunt Shirley chuckled. “She was indeed. Looking more and more like Sheriff Simpson is gonna need his handcuffs…and not just for me!”
I slapped my hands over my ears. “Geez! Must you, Aunt Shirley? I…can’t…even!”
Aunt Shirley slapped me on my shoulder and I pitched forward. I really needed to start working out. When a septuagenarian can almost bring you to your knees with a slap, you know you’re in trouble.
***
“Hurry,” I hissed and looked quickly down both sides of the hallway in the west wing. “I don’t want to get caught.”
Aunt Shirley stuck Trent’s key in the lock and pushed open his door.
“We’re in,” Aunt Shirley whispered. “Let’s go.”
We slipped into the room and quietly closed the door. The room was pretty much laid out like ours, only a tiny bit smaller. There was a queen-sized bed, a dresser, a small dressing area, and bathroom. A pint-sized secretary was pushed up against the wall.
“You rummage through his drawers,” Aunt Shirley snickered at her crude joke, “and I’ll check the secretary.”
I pulled open the top drawer to the dresser and dug through Trent’s underwear and socks. Not exactly the most glamorous job I’ve ever had—but not exactly the worst job, either. When I didn’t find anything, I shut the drawer and opened the next one. I continued until I’d gone through everything.
“I didn’t find anything relevant,” I said.
Aunt Shirley looked up from the secretary. “I did.” She waved the same stationery used to write the blackmail letters in the air.
I sighed dejectedly. “Yes. But we figured Trent was the one writing the letters and asking for money, why else would he have been killed?”
Aunt Shirley pursed her lips. “I’ve been thinking about that. I think it could have gone one of two ways. Either Trent sent everyone blackmail letters and someone here finally killed him…or someone is going to great lengths to frame Trent.” Aunt Shirley shook her head. “No. Now that I’ve said it aloud it sounds too far-fetched. I still think someone here killed Trent because he blackmailed the wrong person.”
“But you heard Olivia say when she confronted Trent he acted like he didn’t know anything about the blackmail. So maybe it’s not too far-fetched after all.”
Aunt Shirley grunted. “You’d really have to hate someone to set them up for something like this. Maybe we need to take another look at Trent’s past.”
I opened Trent’s door and ran straight into Wayne Skaggs. “Hey there, pretty lady. What’re you doing in Trent’s room?”
I tried not to grimace too much at the smarmy compliment.
“The Sheriff asked us to get something out of Trent’s room,” I lied.
“That’s right. I heard you two were some sort of super sleuths or something like that.”
I laughed but Aunt Shirley answered. “You bet we are. And while we’re here, we have some questions for you.” She paused dramatically. “Unless there’s a reason you don’t want to answer some questions?”
Wayne smiled and spread his arms wide. “I’m an open book. Ask me anything.”
Aunt Shirley folded her arms across her sagging chest and gave Wayne the stink eye. “Okay. How long had you known Trent?”
Wayne looked up toward the ceiling then shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess about a year now. I was hired a year and a half ago as an actor and attendant, if you will. The Wainwrights have only been doing the murder mystery theater that long. Then about a year ago Trent showed up. Gary had put out an ad looking for a horse trainer and caretaker.”
“Do you know where Trent came from?” I asked.
Wayne pursed his lips in thought. “Well, I think I remember him saying something about Wyoming. Like maybe he worked on a horse ranch in Wyoming. I bet Mr. Wainwright could help you out more.”
“Did you like Trent?” Aunt Shirley asked. “As a person, did you like him?”
“He was a likeable enough guy. He was charismatic, had a way with the ladies, but…”
“But what?” I asked.
“Well, let’s just say I didn’t always agree with his treatment of women. And then when he started seeing Miss Dayna, I knew that wasn’t going to end well.”
“I wonder why Gary and Cybil let that relationship happen?” I asked.
Wayne shrugged. “Well, I don’t think at first they knew. I think the youngins kept it quiet for a while. Then by the time it came to light, I guess the Wainwrights figured it would be okay.”
“Thanks for the information,” Aunt Shirley said. “Guess we will see you for dinner.”
Wayne’s eyes lit up. “I had a great talk with your mom today. I’m thinking of asking her to take a stroll with me after dinner tonight.”
Oh, boy. I’m not touching that with a ten-foot pole.
Chapter 10
“Let’s make one more stop before we get ready for dinner tonight,” Aunt Shirley said as we headed toward our room.
“To talk to Stewart?” I guessed.
Aunt Shirley grinned. “You got it. See if his blustering is just a ruse.”
The door to the Hercule Poirot room was not fully shut as we passed by, and we heard voices inside. I recognized Olivia’s voice, but the other voice belonged to a man.
“You’re sure you knew nothing about this?” Olivia asked.
“I swear, no!” the man said. “Once your mom finally told me where you were, I hopped in the car and drove the three hours here. I turned off my phone just in case you tried to call because I wanted to surprise you. I love you, Olivia. I came here to save our marriage. And I came here to confront that piece of —”
“Shhh,” Olivia said. “It doesn’t matter anymore because he’s dead.”
No one said anything for a few seconds.
“Olivia’s husband Brian?” I whispered to Aunt Shirley.
“I assume so,” she whispered back.
I heard a dresser drawer close then Brian cleared his throat. “Olivia, you didn’t have anything to do with this guy’s death, did you?”
“I swear, no! I confronted him this morning and told him we were not going to be blackmailed by him anymore and he’d better not send anything to us again or else there would be consequences. That’s it. I promise.”
I scrunched my nose when I heard kissing noises.
Time to move this party along.
I waved Aunt Shirley on to where we were supposed to be going—the Harley Quin room where Stewart and Tina Collins were staying.
I knocked on the door and waited a few seconds. When no one answered, I knocked again.
“What?” Stewart Collins shouted. “I’m busy here. Come back later.”
“Mr. Collins?” I said as I knocked on the door again. No way was I leaving this jerk alone. He’d have to answer the door and physically tell me to stop. Which would allow us to ask questions real quick.
“What?” Stewart Collins yanked open the door and glared at me. “Didn’t you hear me tell you to go away?”
I gave him my most innocent look. “No. I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you. My aunt and I would like to ask you a couple questions, if you don’t mind.”
“I do mind.”
He went to shut the door in my face, so I stuck my foot in the door frame. He glared at me, then moved his glare over to Aunt Shirley.
“We just had a couple questions about the death of Trent Starnes,” I said.
“I already talked to the Sheriff. I don’t need to talk to you. I had no idea who this Trent guy even was.”
“What about your wife?” Aunt Shirley prompted. “What did she tell the Sheriff about Trent?”
Stewart Collins gave me a funny look. “My wife? She didn’t know him either. I think she told the Sheriff she may have spoken to him when she was here previously. But she said she hadn’t spoken to him at all since we’ve been here the last two days.”
Well, in her defense, they weren’t doing a whole lot of talking!
“Ya know, Stewart,” Aunt Shirley said, “you’re a huge jerk. And you probably deserve what’s coming your way, but I’m here to tell you right now your wife knew Trent a little bit more than she’s let on.”
Anger clouded Stewart’s face. “And you’re a meddling old fool. Do not presume to tell me who my wife may or may not know. Now, I don’t think we have anything more to talk about.”
He slammed the door in my face.
I turned to Aunt Shirley. “I’m not even sure how to read that relationship. Or really who I feel sorrier for. I just hope to high heaven they don’t ever have kids.”
We started back to our room when Stewart’s door opened again. I turned and saw a distraught Tina standing in the hallway. She looked over her shoulder back into the bedroom before motioning us over.
“What did you tell Stewart?” Tina asked.
I shrugged my shoulders. “We just asked him a couple questions.”
Tina chewed on her lower lip. “Did you say anything about seeing me in the barn? Because I can explain. I went in there to set up an appointment with Trent to go horseback riding. That’s all.”
Aunt Shirley and I both snorted.
“It’s true!” Tina cried as she narrowed her eyes at us.
“Try playing that song and dance somewhere else, girlie,” Aunt Shirley said. “We know the truth.”
Anger flashed in Tina’s eyes. “You don’t know jack, old lady. I already told the Sheriff and my husband the truth. You have no proof otherwise.”
I chuckled. “I wouldn’t exactly say that, Tina.”
Tina paled. “What do you mean?” She grabbed hold of my arm, her nails digging into me.
“She means we saw you and Trent doing the horizontal hula…bumpin’ uglies…knockin’ boots…playing a little hide the sal—”
“Okay,” I laughed. “I think she gets the picture.”
Tina dropped my arm, ran back into her room, and slammed the door shut. Aunt Shirley and I shrugged at each other and went back to our rooms to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
I knew I had to call Garrett soon and let him know what happened. At the pace we were going, I’m not sure we could solve this crime and be on the road by tomorrow like we’d planned.
“I’m gonna take a bath,” Aunt Shirley announced. “Let my body soak and my brain think.”
I laughed. “You do that.”
Deciding it was now or never, I picked up my cell phone and punched in Garrett’s number. Just my luck he answered on the second ring.
“Hey, Sin. What’s up? I miss you.”
I steadied my breath. “Not a whole lot. It’s fun here.”
“Fun? Okay, what’s happened?”
I sighed. “What makes you think something has happened?”
Garrett chuckled. “Because I heard the hitch in your breath, and never would you describe an outing where you have to sleep with your aunt as fun. So, again, what’s happened?”
“I found a dead body.”
Silence.
“Sin, honey, aren’t you supposed to find a dead body…maybe even two?”
I laughed shakily. “Yes, but usually they are props. I mean I found an actual dead body.”
Garrett sighed. “Of course you did. Because you wouldn’t be the woman I’ve come to love if things actually went according to plan.”
My stomach pitched. Hearing his declaration of love always warmed me…but did he have to say it like loving me was a burden or a cross to bear?
“Why don’t you fill me in?” Garrett interrupted my thoughts.
So I filled him in on everything. From the moment we got to Mystery Farms until our latest encounter with Tina and having the door slammed in my face.
Garrett chuckled. “Who knew Aunt Shirley knew that many euphemisms for sex?”
“You’re disgusting!” I laughed.
“Guilty. And this Lester Simpson character is really a Sheriff?” Garrett asked. “Maybe I’ll give him a call and see what’s going on.”
I sighed. “You mean you’ll call him and ask him what the heck he was thinking asking Aunt Shirley and me to help in a homicide investigation.”
“Guilty again. I mean, really, what was he thinking?”
“We are only supposed to be asking the people around here questions. We aren’t supposed to be investigating or deciphering clues. But then Aunt Shirley assured him that we had single-handedly solved three or four cases already.”
Garrett sucked in his breath. “You’re telling me she’s going around touting herself as a detective?”
Oops. Gonna have to talk him off the ledge now.
“No. She just told Sheriff Simpson we had been in many situations where we had to solve crimes. Mainly after we’d been kidnapped, poisoned, and nearly killed. But it impressed Sheriff Simpson enough he asked us only to listen in on what’s going on. See if anyone would talk with us. Harmless, really.”
Garrett groaned. “Until the killer decides you’re asking too many questions and you need to be dealt with.”
Well, yeah, there’s that.
“I hate sounding like a harpy,” Garrett growled, “but would it really be too much to ask for you to go one month without stumbling over a dead body?”
I giggled at the thought of Garrett being a harpy.
He finally chuckled. “Hush up. I’m serious. I love you so much, that the thought of something bad happening to you puts me in a lecturing mood.”
Lecture away!
“Do you want me to come down and help out? If this Sheriff Simpson is as strapped as you say, perhaps he wouldn’t mind help from another actual police officer.”
I paused. I personally wouldn’t mind the help—and the backup weapons. But I knew Aunt Shirley would be devastated if she thought someone was honing in on her territory.
“No. I think we have everything under control here. Like I said, Sheriff Simpson just wanted us to talk to the guests and employees here. Only because he thought they’d open up to us. I don’t think we’ve done anything that would cause Aunt Shirley or me any harm.”
“Hmm. I’m not so sure. But I trust you. Just know I’m here if you need any help.”
My pulse raced at his words. He was actually going to let us help out with an investigation without a huge lecture! “I will. I promise. And I also promise not to do anything too crazy.”
“It’s not you I worry about…it’s that crazy aunt of yours!”
I hung up while things were on a positive note. Sometimes Aunt Shirley had a tendency to sour good spirits.
Next I called Hank to check in with him.
“How are all the little Nancy Drews doing?” Hank asked snidely around the unlit cigar in his mouth.
&n
bsp; I rolled my eyes. “We’re fine. Listen, before you start drilling me too much, just know I haven’t solved anything yet, but when I do, you’ll get the exclusive.”
Hank barked out a laugh. “The newspaper ain’t that hard up I need you writing about a pretend murder you and your aunt solved.”
I smiled, knowing I had him. “Oh, did I imply it was fake?” I laughed when I heard his chair squeaking in the background. That obviously got his attention enough he decided to sit up and take notice.
“Spill it, Sinclair. Whaddya got for me?”
I paused and relished in the glory of having one-upped Hank. It was rare I could do it. I heard him growl and knew I’d kept him waiting long enough.
“Mystery Farms didn’t just supply us with a fake murder, but they also supplied us with a real murder.”
Just like with Garrett, I went on to tell him everything I knew so far. When I was finished, he whistled.
“So you and Aunt Shirley are actually helping out with the case? Is that wise?”
Okay, Garrett junior!
“Yes, it’s wise. Hopefully we’ll have the murderer identified and apprehended by tomorrow.”
“Front-page story for you if you do,” Hank promised.
I let out a little squeal of delight. “Tell Mindy hi for me. Talk to you soon.”
I hung up as Aunt Shirley walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a bathrobe. “I’ve been thinking, and darned if I’m not mad at myself for not thinking of it before. I know the post office is probably closed by now, but we need to get to the post office in Millsap and see if the post master knows anything. Legally he can’t tell us who rented the box, but I don’t think the law says anything about nodding yes or no when it comes to describing someone.”
I looked at Aunt Shirley in astonishment. That actually was a great idea. “Maybe Mr. Wainwright will know something. As a business owner he must know a lot of people. Want me to run down to his office and see if he can help us out?” I asked.
“Do I really need to answer that question for you?”
I rolled my eyes at Aunt Shirley’s sarcasm. “Fine. I’ll be back in a second. It will give me a chance to return Trent’s key without getting caught, too.”
Bed, Breakfast and Murder (A Ryli Sinclair Mystery Book 4) Page 7
