Murder at Coventry Hill Inn

by Jane T O'Brien

  Laura entered her mother’s room, she felt a chill through her body as though someone was watching her. Glenda appeared to be asleep. The few times Laura was with her mother, she never knew if she was sleeping or unconscious.

  “Mother, I don’t know if you can hear me. My husband, Alec, and I will fly you to Hillsboro and a lovely place in Evergreen where I can visit you often. You haven’t flown on an airplane in a long time. Do you remember when you and Father traveled to many exciting places in the world?”

  Laura saw a slight smile on her mother’s lips and knew she heard every word she’d said. Laura thought it ironic that her mother would be forced to stay in one place and Laura could see her anytime she wanted. After all these years, she finally had a mother to talk to even though she would never answer back.

  “Mother,” Laura continued, “I remember on the occasions you and Father were home, you and I walked through the gardens hand in hand. The memory of those brief times together comforted me while you were away. I think you loved me but didn’t know how to act around a child. I’m not blaming you or my father, you loved each other, and it was difficult to let anyone else into your life. I look forward to motherhood and can’t imagine anything better than to bear the child of the man I love.”

  A grimace crossed Glenda’s face as her daughter spoke those words.

  Laura continued to talk to her mother when Glenda sat up in the bed, her eyes staring in fear at the door. Laura was stunned by the reaction, Glenda’s arm swung at Laura knocking her off her feet and to the floor. Laura heard her mother shout “No” before the sound of a gunshot rang out.

  Laura jumped to her feet, turned to the door, and saw nothing. She turned back to Glenda and watched as the blood oozing out of her mother’s shoulder.

  “Mother,” she cried.

  Molly, Alec, and Luke heard the gunshot and rushed to the room. Luke called 911 on his cell phone, any misgivings he had about the facility were justified with the obvious attempt on Glenda Abbott’s life. Molly rang the call bell for a nurse and pressed a towel to Glenda’s shoulder to stop the bleeding until help arrived.

  The charge nurse, Eleanor Bagley, entered the room. She quickly examined Glenda’s wound and determined the bullet had grazed the woman’s shoulder.

  “What is going on here?” she asked in a stern voice. “Who shot Mrs. Abbott?”

  “I don’t know, Ms. Bagley,” said Laura. “I was standing by my mother’s side when she sat up and pushed me out of the way. I heard her shout ‘no’ and thought she was telling me she didn’t want to leave Maplewood. I heard the gunshot and saw the blood. When I turned to the door, I saw no one.”

  “I don’t want you to leave this room until security searches you for a gun. My guess is you didn’t want to pay for your mother’s care any longer and decided you would eliminate the problem.”

  “That’s an asinine statement to make, Ms. Bagley,” said Luke. “The police have been called and will do any investigating that needs to be done. I suggest you call a doctor to care for Mrs. Abbott’s wound before making any more assumptions.”

  Ms. Bagley stomped out of the room. She knew she had to call Dr. Wilson about the incident and hoped he wouldn’t blame her for all those people nosing around. She knew Laura Danforth was not responsible for attempting to kill Mrs. Abbott. If only Dr. Wilson had approved the woman’s transfer when the daughter first arrived. Alec Danforth’s money was too much of a temptation and Dr. Wilson could never resist the appeal of money.

  A young man wearing a lab coat entered the room.

  “Hello, I’m Kyle Sherman, please excuse me while I treat Mrs. Abbott’s wound.”

  “No,” said Laura, “I’m not leaving my mother. We will all stay where we are. Are you a doctor, sir?”

  “I’m a physician’s assistant and perfectly capable of treating a flesh wound,” he grumbled.

  The foursome watched closely as Kyle cleaned the wound and bandaged Glenda’s shoulder.

  “Whoever did this was a lousy shot,” he said looking at Laura.

  They could hear Mrs. Bagley’s voice saying Mrs. Abbott was shot by one of the four people who refused to leave her room.

  Two uniformed police officers entered the room. The older officer introduced himself as Officer Kelly and his partner Officer Campbell.

  “If you will follow me, I will question you in the conference room down the hall.”

  “Officer Kelly, please let me stay with my mother, her life is in danger and I can’t leave her alone.”

  “Officer Campbell will stay with your mother, young lady. She will be perfectly safe with him.”

  Laura reluctantly followed the officer while Alec held her hand. Molly glanced at the doorway and saw what looked like a bright red fiber caught on the strike plate of the door frame. Was it there before today? Could it be from the clothing of the person who tried to kill Mrs. Abbott? Was the shooter aiming at Laura? Mrs. Abbott shouted no as though she was protecting her daughter from being shot. Maybe it’s Laura who is in danger. These people don’t want her mother moved to another facility. Maybe Luke is right about Mrs. Abbott being drugged.

  “Mrs. Danforth, is it true you have been estranged from your mother for several years?”

  “Yes, Officer, I hadn’t seen or heard from my parents until the day of my wedding. Unknown to me, my father witnessed my marriage ceremony. His body was discovered on the grounds of the Coventry Hill Inn in Evergreen. Like my mother, he was shot, unlike my mother his wound was fatal.”

  “Have the police made an arrest in your father’s case?”

  “No, there aren’t any leads. It turns out my father stole jewelry from a wealthy widow here in Westbury. My parents spent most of their time traveling. They lived off my father’s inheritance until Mother’s accident. The cost of care at Maplewood Manor drained my father’s bank account and I believe that is why he resorted to thievery. This is speculation.”

  “Why are you here? Your parents didn’t contact you for years. Wasn’t there some resentment on your part?”

  “I don’t think I ever resented them. I never saw much of them when I was a child. On the rare occasions they were home, my mother was loving in her own way. I was privately tutored and didn’t have friends, I never knew my family was unusual.”

  “What caused the final estrangement?”

  “I became a public-school teacher and my parents couldn’t understand why I would choose such a common profession. I defied them and that was the end of our relationship?”

  “Officer Bagley,” said Alec, “is this inquisition necessary? My wife’s relationship with her parents has nothing to do with an attempted murder in her mother’s room.”

  “Mr. Danforth, I am not accusing your wife of any wrongdoing, I need to know why the shooting happened. It is odd that a daughter whose parents had nothing to do with her for years would care what happens to her mother.”

  “That’s because you don’t know Laura,” said Molly. “My friend is a remarkable woman who has overcome her childhood and is a vibrant and important member of our community in Evergreen. Laura doesn’t hold resentment and, I assure you, she would have compassion if the woman in that room was a stranger. I’m not surprised she will take on the responsibility of her ailing mother. If I were investigating this crime, I’d start with the staff at Maplewood Manor.”

  “You would, would you? Are you a police detective, Ms. Ryan?”

  “No sir, I’m a florist but I have common sense. Look at the facility, it’s like a five-star resort. I’m guessing the residents’ families are paying a fortune to keep their loved ones in this place.”

  “I agree with you there. I like you, Molly Ryan, you don’t mince words, do you?” he laughed.

  Meanwhile, a conversation was taking place in a park several miles from the nursing home.

  “You idiot, who told you to shoot the old lady? Now the cops will swarm the place. It will make it harder to get rid of the old bag and her daughter. You have little time; get
the job done and get it done today!”

  Chapter Twelve

  “Did I hear correctly?” said Cassie Cross. “My arrogant partner, Michael Callahan, say he is interested in settling down in the dreary little town of Evergreen?”

  “I changed my mind about the place… so sue me.” Mike said embarrassed to discover that Cassie heard his discussion with Travis Kincaid about his interest in Evergreen.

  It was true, the town had been growing on him and Cassie had grown on him too. In fact, he was getting dangerously close to taking her in his arms and showing her how desirable she is. I’ve got to find that jewelry and close this case, I don’t know how much longer I can be around Cassandra Cross before I make a fool of myself. She’s a rich girl who has her pick of rich guys, there is no way she could feel anything for a regular guy like me.

  Michael Callahan was from a small community not unlike Evergreen. He is the youngest of four children. He and his brother, Matt, were only one year apart. Matt has always been a hero to Mike. They were both active in sports during their high school years. Mike’s father owned an auto repair shop. He made enough money that Mike’s mother didn’t work while the kids were growing up. When Mike graduated from high school and the house was empty, Shirley Callahan volunteered in the elementary school her children had attended. Because of her love for young people, she spent hours in the school library reading stories to the younger students.

  Mike was never sure what he wanted to do with his life. He thought of being a police officer but didn’t have the patience for advancing through the ranks. Paul Clancy, a friend from college began an investigation firm and asked Mike to work for him.

  “I think you’d be good at it, Mike, give it a try, no hard feelings if it’s not what you want.”

  Mike took a chance and found a natural high investigating those who tried to commit insurance fraud. His first case was that of a middle-aged man who was involved in an automobile accident with a young driver. The man claimed permanent disability causing him the inability to work for the rest of his life. Before the insurance company was required to pay out the settlement, Mike recorded the man carrying a seventy-five-inch television set into his home. The man’s claim was denied, he returned to work and returned the television set to the store.

  Mike had many dealings with wealthy people and people who pretended they were wealthy. From researching Cassie before their assignment began, he’d learned she was from a prominent and wealthy family. He was determined to dislike her before they met. He had to admit, she didn’t act like the superior rich folks he’d run into before. She seemed normal, like his sisters. He thought of Mrs. Welker whose jewelry he was trying to recover. She was a nice elderly lady. Travis Kincaid is a millionaire but seems like an all right Joe. I must concede, not all rich folks are snobs. Still, Cassandra Cross is out of my league.

  Cassie wished she could read Mike’s mind. He seemed to soften toward her but was it because he wanted the case settled so they would never see each other again?

  “We’re going back to Westbury,” Mike said. “We must talk to the daughter. She has the jewelry or she knows where it is.”

  “Mike, I don’t know why you are so cynical. From what everyone says, Laura Abbott Danforth is a respectable woman. Her new husband is wealthy, she wouldn’t need Mrs. Welker’s jewelry.”

  “If I know rich people, they can never have enough money.”

  “How many rich people do you know?”

  “You, for one,” he said looking at Cassie accusingly.

  “How do you know I’m rich?”

  “I checked you out.”

  “I checked you out too, I know you came from a nice family. You have an older brother and two older sisters. You thought you wanted to be a police detective until you found out you needed to go through the ranks first. Your first case was a personal injury claim you proved to be fraudulent.”

  Mike laughed, “I suppose you know the name of my kindergarten teacher.”

  “Oh, I draw the line at intimate details. I’ll bet she would have plenty to tell me about you. You were probably a nasty little kid who picked on all the girls.”

  “I never picked on anybody. Remember, I was the youngest. All three of my siblings picked on me.”

  The two laughed as they packed a change of clothes before leaving the inn for Westbury.

  Mike checked them into the hotel again. He was tempted to order only one room. He knew he would miss Cassie when they went to sleep that night. Nothing went on between them but Mike liked the fact she was close by.

  “I can’t get over this place,” said Cassie. “I wonder who benefits from all this opulence? Surely not the residents.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure the owner is raking it in. The frills must be for show when the rich dump their elderly here.”

  “Michael Callahan, I’m tired of your attitude toward people with money.”

  “Okay, let’s call a truce again. No more disparaging remarks about your precious kinfolk.”

  “If you met my kinfolk, I think you would like them. My dad works for a living and my mother does her share of volunteer work. I have two younger sisters and an older brother who is a resident at the local hospital. We aren’t perfect but we aren’t privileged snobs either.”

  “I’m sorry, Cassie, I don’t know why I say things like that. I’m sure your family is the exception to the people I run into in this line of work.”

  Cassie smiled, she didn’t think Michael Callahan had the words ‘I’m sorry’ in his vocabulary.

  They walked up the stairway to the front door not seeing the police car parked in the parking lot behind the building.

  Cassie held her breath when they entered the building. She’d done volunteer work in a nursing home when she was in high school. This was nothing like the Sunnyvale facility back home. “I can’t believe this place. Someone is making a killing here,” she whispered.

  A pleasant young woman greeted them.

  “Hello, welcome to Maplewood Manor. How may I help you?”

  “We are here to see Mrs. Glenda Abbott. My name is Michael Callahan, and this is Cassandra Cross.” He avoided telling her they represented Gillespie Insurance Company.

  The girl scowled. “Mrs. Abbott is not available to receive guests. I suggest you call the director to arrange a convenient time.”

  “Why don’t we speak to the director while we are here. Will you show us to his or her office, please?”

  “That’s not possible, Ms. Paisley is in meetings all day and cannot be disturbed.”

  Molly and Luke walked to the front waiting area.

  “Molly, you were right to defend Laura. I think nurse, Eleanor Bagley must have filled the officer’s head with nonsense about her,” said Luke.

  Mike and Cassie heard the names Molly and Laura and approached the couple.

  “Are you Molly Ryan?” asked Mike.

  “Yes, I am, this is my husband Luke Sullivan, do we know each other?”

  “We’ve never met but we’ve talked to some of your acquaintances in Evergreen.” Mike introduced himself and Cassie and explained their interest in Clinton Abbott and the missing jewelry.

  “Laura was given her father’s belongings in the hospital. I know there was a key in his wallet. I don’t think she has done anything about it because she has been worried about her mother. There was an attempt on her mother’s life today. Laura was in the room when it happened and is being questioned by the police. I know Laura would never hurt her mother.”

  “Isn’t it true her parents’ disowned her?” asked Mike.

  “I don’t know if I’d call it disowning, Laura has been estranged from her folks for several years. Although she didn’t have a close relationship with either parent, she wanted her mother transferred to a nursing facility nearby where she could watch over her. There is something sinister going on in this place. Mr. Abbott sold the family home and resorted to stealing a woman’s jewelry to pay for her treatment here.”

  “Our
interest, in this case is retrieving Mrs. Welker’s jewelry,” said Mike. “However, I find it curious that someone tried to silence Mrs. Abbott. It makes me wonder what she knows about this place and its administration.”

  “How is Laura holding up?” asked Cassie. “This ordeal can’t be easy for her.”

  “Laura is a strong person. Her husband, Alec, is helping her cope with everything that has happened in the last weeks. It’s been a nightmare for her since the day of her wedding when her father was found dead.”

  “Mike,” said Cassie, “I don’t feel right bothering Laura with questions about the jewelry. Why don’t we let her get her mother settled? Mrs. Welker can wait a few weeks for the return of her jewels.”

  “That’s our job, Cass. We have an obligation to find the jewelry as quickly as possible.”

  Officer Kelly entered the waiting area. “Who have we here?” he asked.

  Mike explained who they were and their connection to the case.

  “My, oh my, we have many mysterious happenings. I can’t help you with the missing jewelry, I can tell you there is no reason to suspect Mrs. Danforth of a crime. She is asking for you, Ms. Ryan, she’s in her mother’s room.”

  “Thank you, Officer Kelly, would you follow me, I saw something earlier that may be a clue to who was in the room earlier. It may be nothing.”

  Officer Kelly followed Molly. She pointed to the fibers on the strike plate.

  “Hmm, you have a good eye, Ms. Ryan.” He called to his partner, “Billy let’s bag this, we’ll get it to the lab right away.”

  “Officer Kelly, I’d like to get my mother out of here. May I call an ambulance to transport her to the Kincaid plane? I’m worried about her safety.”

  “I’m waiting for your statement to be printed. As soon as it’s signed, you can leave.”

  The door opened. Dr. Wilson watched as Officer Campbell sealed the evidence bag containing the red fiber.