Murder at Coventry Hill Inn

by Jane T O'Brien

  “Marcella, what are you doing in there? I better not find you watching television when you are supposed to be cleaning.”

  “No, Ms. Bagley, I’m working. I found an envelope tucked under Mrs. Abbott’s mattress and I’m looking for more.”

  “Let me see the envelope. You’d better not have opened it.”

  “No, ma’am, I would never do that. I was going to give it to you.”

  “Finish cleaning, Marcella, I’ll take care of the letter.”

  Eleanor Bagley hurried to her office, she closed the door excited to read what was inside the envelope, maybe money although the envelope wasn’t thick.

  What’s this? Hills State Street 9975. It makes no sense. It looks like a man’s writing; it’s useless.

  Disappointed, Eleanor dropped the envelope in the trash can and then thought better of it and put it in her desk drawer.

  Mike Callahan held the key from Clinton Abbott’s wallet in his hand. He knew the key was government property and should be returned to the post office, any post office. However, he knew if he could locate the box the key opened, he would likely find Mrs. Welker’s missing jewelry. He wasn’t above bending the law but finding the correct box would be a difficult task. Clinton could have rented a box anywhere from Westbury to Hillsboro or in a different state altogether.

  “You know you should give that key back to Laura, don’t you?” said Cassie.

  “Yes, I know and she should return it to the post office. They will locate the box, open it, and confiscate the contents. Mrs. Welker won’t see her jewelry for years.”

  “We searched through Mr. Abbott’s belongings carefully, there wasn’t a clue of the post office he used or any number.”

  “That would make our job too easy? I had a call from Paul this morning, the insurance company is getting nervous. They say we are taking too much time solving this case.”

  “It’s like finding a needle in a haystack. I understand their impatience; they are paying us well to recover the jewels.”

  Mike watched as Cassie ran a brush through her golden hair. He wondered if he was purposely prolonging solving this case because he enjoyed being with her every day. No, he wouldn’t do that but had to admit, she made the search more pleasant than usual.

  “I’d like to talk to Mrs. Abbott. Clinton might have told her something or given her the paperwork he received when he rented the box.”

  “We could check with Laura and the doctor. I know Laura would be happy to have the jewelry found and returned. It bothers her that her father was a thief.”

  “The guy was desperate although I don’t know what kind of hold the nursing home had over him. Do you think he was responsible for the accident and was protecting himself?”

  “There are so many questions about this case. Laura’s parents didn’t seem to care about her and yet her father watched her marry Alec and her mother protected her from a bullet.”

  “Luke, I have a sinking feeling about Laura’s safety. That fiber I found on the strike plate in Mrs. Abbott’s room is haunting me. It was a minuscule bit of material but the color was familiar. I could swear I’d seen it before.”

  “Honey, your instincts are usually correct. I don’t doubt you will make the connection soon. How are you feeling, any more stomach problems?”

  “No, I felt nauseated this morning when I woke up to the wonderful aroma of bacon but it passed quickly. Luke, I don’t want to get my hopes up but it might be more than an upset stomach.”

  “Are you saying you might be pregnant?”

  “I don’t know, I’ve been so irregular lately and we want a baby so much, maybe it’s my imagination. I don’t know if I trust those pregnancy tests. I think I’d rather be examined by the doctor.”

  “I want to be with you when you have an appointment, I hope it will be soon.”

  “Rosie Allen’s daughter, Dana, is completing her residency at Hillsboro Community. Her specialty is obstetrics. I’ll make an appointment if she will see me.”

  “Rosie from the flower shop? Do you think you should see your regular doctor? Is Rosie’s daughter a real doctor?”

  Molly laughed, “She is, she has patients and everything. Dr. Philburn is always so busy, I don’t think I’d get in to see him for a couple weeks and I don’t want to wait.”

  Luke tried to curtail the excitement he felt. He knew how much Molly wanted a baby and he wanted one too. He wanted to take her in his arms and protect her from the bad guys who came into her life. Why couldn’t Molly be satisfied with her floral arrangements and stay away from danger? Luke knew his wife’s curiosity would not be curbed, and it was one of the many reasons he loved her.

  Molly arrived at Buds and Blooms Emporium shortly after eight o’clock. Her twin, Stephanie, and Rosie Allen were already at work.

  “Molly, you look ghastly. Are you ill?” asked Rosie.

  Molly didn’t have time to answer, she made a beeline to the restroom and promptly lost her breakfast.

  Stephanie and Rosie looked at each other and smiled. “She’s pregnant,” they said in unison.

  Molly came out of the restroom with a breath mint in her mouth. The color was returning to her cheeks. She smiled and asked Rosie if she thought Dana could see her sometime today.

  “I know she will, Molly. I think she’s in the clinic in Hillsboro this morning. I’ll call her, they always put me through no matter how busy Dana is.”

  Rosie made the call and told Molly Dana would be free to see her at the clinic at three that afternoon.

  Molly worked all morning on the books she’d been neglecting since her trip to Westbury. Luke would pick her up at two-fifteen giving them plenty of time to drive to the clinic in Hillsboro for the appointment. Molly looked at the clock, it was almost noon and she felt hungry. She called Laura who was sitting with her mother in the community room of the nursing home. The doctor had weaned her off the sedatives she’d been given for many years and she was smiling and joining the other residents singing and swaying to the music being played in the room.

  Laura stepped out of the room when Molly’s call came. “It’s a beautiful fall day and I would love the walk to Sunnyvale. I can meet you there and we can have lunch at the coffee shop across the street.”

  “That would be lovely, Mother has had her lunch and will be ready for a nap soon. I’ll see you shortly.”

  The friends ordered soup and salad; Molly hoped she’d keep it down. She couldn’t contain her excitement and told Laura she thought she might be pregnant. Laura knew how much Molly and Luke wanted a child and was happy for her. She hoped she and Alec would share news of a baby before too long. For now, her attention had to be on her mother and the mystery surrounding her father.

  After lunch, Molly began the walk back to the floral shop. As she approached the crosswalk, a car ignored the stop sign and drove through the intersection toward the nursing home. Molly watched as the car turned the corner and a familiar face of a woman wearing a red sweater.

  “It can’t be!” she said aloud. Her heart pounded “That’s it, that’s the red sweater.” Molly punched Laura’s number on her cell phone. It went directly to voicemail. “Laura, be careful, I think you and your mother are in danger. I’m heading back to the home. I hope you get this in time to alert the receptionist not to let anyone near your mother.”

  Molly retraced her steps breaking into a run. Can it be? She was so gentle and caring toward Glenda Abbott. Maybe she is here as a friend and the sweater is a coincidence or it was caught on the strike plate another day. I must be sure; thank heaven I no longer feel like I will upchuck my lunch. Molly took a few deep breaths to ward off any signs of sickness.

  A woman entered the front door of the nursing home wearing large dark glasses. “Hello, my name is Patricia Abbott, I’m Mrs. Abbott’s daughter, what room is she in, dear?”

  “Ms. Abbott, I wasn’t aware Mrs. Abbott had another daughter,” said Tammy, the young receptionist. “I don’t have you on the list of approved visitors.
”

  “I’ve been out of the country for several months, I’m certain my sister, Laura, didn’t think I’d return to visit mother. I assure you it’s all right.”

  Tammy was eager to get back to answering her boyfriend’s text and told the woman Ms. Abbott’s room number.

  In the meantime, Laura was in Dr. Jamison’s office. “I see an improvement in my mother already, doctor. I’m so happy she is here at Sunnyvale.”

  “As you know, Mrs. Danforth, your mother will never fully recover but when she is weaned off the drugs, I think you will see a different woman. She seems happy here in a few days and I’ve been told she looks forward to your visits.”

  Laura was happy to hear the words, despite being neglected most of her life, she loved her mother and hoped the feeling was finally returned.

  Molly was breathless when she entered the nursing home. “Call security,” she cried. “Mrs. Abbott is in danger.”

  Molly ran down the hall to Glenda’s room as Laura walked out of the doctor’s office.

  “Molly, what’s wrong? Are you sick again?”

  “The red sweater!” she said as she pushed open the door to Glenda’s room. Laura screamed when she saw the woman covering her mother’s face with a pillow. Molly ran to her and pulled her off Glenda, both falling to the floor. Glenda’s nurse, Angela, at Maplewood Manor scrambled to get up and kicked at Molly causing her to double over in pain. With all her might, Laura swung her fist at Angela’s jaw and knocked her to the floor.

  The security guard appeared at the door demanding to know what was going on. A tearful Tammy said the lady in the red sweater said she was Mrs. Abbott’s sister. “I believed her, I’m so sorry, Mrs. Danforth.”

  “The woman was trying to kill my mother. She was holding a pillow over her head. Her name is Angela Jackson and I believe this is the second time she has attempted to murder my mother. Please call Dr. Jamison and the police. I want this woman arrested.”

  “Wh-h-at’s all the ex-x-x-citement about L-L-aura?” Glenda asked.

  Laura laughed, relieved that her mother was obviously unhurt. She worried about Molly though, if she was pregnant, the blow to her belly couldn’t have been a good thing.

  Laura helped her friend to the chair. “I’m calling Luke, I think you should go to the hospital. We must make sure the baby is all right.”

  Dr. Jamison appeared at the door. The security guard had Angela under control. He checked Glenda and found her to be fine. “Are you all right, young lady?” he asked Molly.

  “Molly might be pregnant, that woman kicked her in the stomach. I saw her do it, I hope the baby wasn’t harmed.” Laura glared at Angela.

  “Babies are a lot stronger than we think. Laura, do you have an obstetrician?”

  “I have an appointment this afternoon, I don’t know yet if I’m pregnant.”

  “The police are on their way,” said Glenda’s nurse, Elizabeth. “Ms. Ryan, your husband is on his way too.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Detective Dylan Roth arrived on the scene. Angela was silent as the security guard stood over her.

  “Ma’am, what is your name?”

  “I’m not talking to anyone without my attorney present. I’m allowed a phone call and I insist you allow me to make it.”

  “Ma’am, you haven’t been arrested, however, I will allow you to make one phone call. I suggest you cooperate by telling us your name and why you are in Mrs. Abbott’s room.”

  “That girl told me her room number. Mrs. Abbott is an old friend.”

  The girl, Tammy, whimpered in the background. “She said she was Mrs. Abbott’s daughter. I didn’t know she would try to kill her.”

  “I never said I was her daughter. When I came into the room, I saw that Mrs. Abbott’s head had slipped off her pillow. I was adjusting it for her when these two maniacs came charging into the room. That one,” she said pointing to Laura, “screamed and the two of them attacked me. I had to defend myself.”

  “You’re a liar, Angela,” said Laura. “Angela was my mother’s nurse in Maplewood Manor in Westbury. She acted as though she cared about Mother but all the time she was drugging her.”

  “That’s ridiculous, I am a capable nurse and would never administer drugs that weren’t needed.”

  “Detective Roth,” said Dr. Jamison, “I noted inconsistencies in Mrs. Abbott’s medical records from Maplewood Manor. I have notified the proper regulatory agency. I believe the information I’ve sent will be helpful for your investigation. In the meantime, I would prefer any interrogation be done outside Mrs. Abbott’s room.”

  “I understand, doctor,” said Dylan. “Molly are you all right, were you hurt in the scuffle?”

  “I’ll be fine, Dylan. Luke is on his way. This is the second attempt on Mrs. Abbott’s life. Officer Kelly, with the Westbury Police Department, is overseeing the investigation of the first incident. He has fiber from a cashmere sweater that was found on the strike plate in the door frame of Mrs. Abbott’s room. I think the red sweater Angela is wearing will match the fiber.”

  Molly noticed the fear that appeared in Angela’s eyes.

  Luke arrived and insisted on taking Molly to the emergency room at the hospital. “Dylan, if you have any questions, you can ask her later.”

  Because of the urgency he heard in Luke’s voice, Dylan agreed to ask Molly questions at another time.

  The security guard escorted Angela to another room where she could make her telephone call. Instead of an attorney, she called Maplewood Manor and asked to speak with Dr. Wilson.

  Eleanor Bagley took the call. “I’m sorry Angela, the doctor is not available. Where are you calling from? I had you scheduled to work today?”

  “Never mind where I am, tell Richard to call me STAT. Don’t leave a note on his desk, tell him in person.” Angela ended the call abruptly. I hate that woman; I’ll tell Richard to fire her. Where is he when I need him? He’d better not be with that blonde bimbo from the country club.

  Luke tried his best to hold his speed down but his worry for Molly was on his mind.

  “Luke, slow down, I’m sure I’m fine, that woman didn’t hurt me, just knocked the wind out of me. You’ll get us killed.”

  “I don’t want to take any chances with the baby. We’ve waited so long for a child.”

  “Sweetheart, I might not be pregnant, I hope I am but I don’t want you to be disappointed if I’m not.”

  Luke knew they would both be disappointed if Molly wasn’t carrying his child. He hadn’t been able to concentrate on his writing all morning. He could only think of his son or daughter. He didn’t care about the sex of the child. Soon they would find the answer. If that woman did anything to hurt his baby, he would strangle her with his bare hands.

  Molly called the clinic where Dana Allen was expecting them.

  “Molly, what’s up, can’t you make the appointment,” she asked.

  “I’m sorry Dana, something happened today and Luke insisted on taking me to the emergency room at the hospital.”

  “Was it something related to the baby?”

  “I had a blow to my belly, I’m sure nothing happened, but he wants to make sure.”

  “Molly I’m finished for the day here. I’ll stop by the hospital. You hang in there and don’t worry. Babies aren’t as fragile as you might think.”

  Dr. Allen alerted the staff before Molly arrived at the hospital. She was taken directly to a cubicle where blood was drawn. Within a few minutes, Dr. Allen appeared.

  “Hi Molly, it will take a few minutes before the lab runs tests to determine if you are pregnant and if it’s a viable pregnancy. Depending on the outcome, I recommend an ultrasound to determine how far along you are. I’d tell you not to worry but I know you will.”

  The wait seemed an eternity until Dr. Allen reappeared.

  “You can relax now,” she said, “you and Luke will be parents. My guess is that you are two months along. We’ll see what the ultrasound has to say.”

&
nbsp; Molly saw the look of joy in Luke’s eyes as he squeezed her hand.

  Meanwhile, in an interrogation room of the Westbury Police Department, Willie Plant was telling Officer Kelly about being stiffed by a high and mighty dame he called the boss lady. He didn’t know her last name because he never thought to ask.

  Willie was promised a bundle of money to follow a guy and take the jewelry he had in his possession. Until Willie had been approached by the boss lady, he’d never seen more than a couple hundred bucks at one time. One of the few honest jobs he had in his life was working for a landscaping company who often hired people down on their luck. That is where Willie met the boss lady. He’d been operating a leaf blower when she approached him and asked him to do a small job for her. The job was a simple one, he had to sabotage a car in the parking lot. Willie quickly performed his job. He watched as a hot redhead walked to the sports car and drove off. He heard the squealing of breaks and then the sound of metal crunching and knew he had been successful. The boss lady gave him a bonus when the news report told of the redhead’s demise.

  It wasn’t long after when the boss lady told him she had another job for him. It seemed simple enough, follow some guy on the train to a town up north, watch when he went to where the goods were to be found and take them back.

  The job was a cinch and paid more money than Willie had ever dreamed of. After it was over, he planned to leave town and the cold weather. He would go to California, find a little place on the beach and live worry free from then on.

  Willie sat behind the guy all the way to the Hillsboro station. A high school band was boarding the train in Hillsboro and it was mass confusion. Willie lost sight of the guy in the crowd. He tried to remember what the boss lady told him. It was something about his daughter’s wedding in Everett or Everly. He looked at the map on the wall of the station and spotted Evergreen. That’s the place, Evergreen. The kid was getting married at some inn on a hill. I’ll hitch a ride. The place can’t be too far away.