by J A Whiting
“What a feast.” Closing her eyes and inhaling the delicious odors, Maribeth smiled from ear to ear. “I’m sorry Courtney couldn’t make it.”
Finch said, “She’s minding the candy shop this evening.”
“Well, please thank her, too. I know she pitched in to help make the food,” Maribeth said. “It’s such a treat not to have to make the evening meal. The residents will love this. Thank you so much.
“And we’ll clean up afterwards, too,” Jenna assured the woman while taking the white plates from the cabinet and heading to the dining room to set the table. “It will give you a little break.”
“Speaking of enjoying a little break,” Finch winked as he opened a bottle of wine and poured some into a few glasses.
“Oh, gosh.” When Maribeth saw the wine, she put her hand over her heart. “I’d better not.”
“Nonsense.” Finch handed Maribeth one of the stemmed glasses. “This is an evening to relax with friends.”
“Well, I guess I could.” Maribeth accepted the wine. “But just a little.”
“That’s the spirit.” Finch clinked his glass against hers as Roger Winthrop and Mary Bishop entered the kitchen and headed for the island.
“You brought wine, too? How wonderful.” Roger helped himself and then asked, “Mary? A glass?”
Mary nodded and sipped. “Oh, it’s lovely.”
The platters and pans were placed in the ovens to keep the meal warm and the rest of the residents began to arrive from their rooms to enjoy drinks and hors d'oeuvres of smoked salmon crisps, bruschetta, mini potato latkes, puff pastry squares with fig preserves and stilton cheese, and French fries with chive sour cream.
Megan came in to join the group and Andy Hobbs showed up a few minutes later.
“Look at all this.” Andy swallowed a salmon crisp. “I wouldn’t mind if you Roselands and Mr. Finch were here every night if this was the result.”
Megan started a conversation with Mary and Maribeth, while Roger carried a small plate of food over to stand beside Finch. The three sisters moved around the room mingling with the others and it didn’t take long before everyone was feeling comfortable and the chatter began to flow.
Jenna said, “Isn’t it interesting that everyone who lives in the house works or studies in a medical field.”
“I guess that’s true,” Mary said. “I was an accountant for years, but now I work part time in a doctor’s office.”
“I don’t know if that counts,” Andy said.
“Of course it counts,” Maribeth replied. “Mary does billing so she has to know and understand medical terms and codes to do her work correctly.”
“Understanding terms isn’t equivalent to medical understanding,” Andy said.
Megan gave Andy the eye. “Jenna pointed out that we all work or study in a medical environment. We all do. Even Mary.”
Andy was about to open his mouth in protest when Roger clapped him on the shoulder. “No need to split hairs. You’re making unnecessary distinctions. It’s not important.”
Andy huffed and reached for several potato latkes. “I think it is important to be precise in the use of language.”
“We’re not in the classroom,” Roger said. “We’re socializing.”
Mary sidled up to Angie and sighed. “I don’t know why Andy has to be so antagonistic. It can make people want to avoid him.”
“Is he often like that?” Angie asked.
“Often enough. You never know what you’ll get with Andy,” Mary said. “He can be very quiet at times and then he can be challenging and contrary. Whatever is said, he wants to take the opposite position.” The woman shook her head. “Doesn’t he see the effect he has on other people? He turns people off. They don’t want to be around him. Why would he want to do that?”
“Some people are like that,” Angie said. “I don’t think it can be explained.”
“Maybe they like drama,” Mary suggested. “Maybe they don’t like it when things are going smoothly. Anyway, I don’t like it when he behaves that way.” Mary moved off to get more appetizers.
Megan came up next to Angie. “Any news about Perry? Are the police close to figuring out what happened?”
“I don’t know,” Angie said. “I hope so.”
Wearing a sad expression on her face, Megan said, “It seems so odd when I pass by Perry’s room. I can’t believe he’s gone. He had so much to live for, so many plans.” She had to stop speaking as her throat tightened and the words wouldn’t come out.
Angie gave Megan’s shoulder a squeeze of sympathy knowing that the young woman’s grief was for more than losing a friend and housemate. Trying to think of something comforting to say, Angie’s brain came up empty … nothing was enough to counter such loss.
Megan ran her hand across her face. “Anyway, the police will discover the killer. They’ll find him eventually.”
“Have you remembered anything new about the night?” Angie asked.
“Nothing.” The corners of Megan’s lips tugged down. “It must have been quick. The attacker went into Perry’s room, prepared the injection, and gave it to him. The medication is so fast-acting Perry didn’t have a chance to react. He probably didn’t know what was happening.”
“Really? It’s that fast?” Angie knew the medication was swift, but she didn’t fully comprehend just how fast it could take someone’s life.
“Seconds,” Megan said softly. “At overdose levels, it would only take about four to six seconds.”
“The killer must have known what he was doing,” Angie said. “He must have known Perry would be dead almost before the last drops of medication entered his body.”
“I’m sure he did.”
Angie turned the conversation to a different topic. “Have you run into Charles lately?”
A look of disgust instantly took over the sad expression that had seemed at home on Megan’s face. “No, I haven’t.”
“Has he tried to get in touch with you?”
Megan narrowed her eyes. “How would he? He doesn’t know my number.”
“It would be easy to find your number,” Angie said.
“It’s unlisted,” Megan said defensively.
“You haven’t seen Charles at the university?”
“Not today. Not yesterday. But I’m sure I’ll run into him someday soon.” Megan gave a weary shrug. “I don’t want to see him.”
Angie asked, “What time did you say you ran into Charles on the night Perry died?”
“Around midnight. Why?” Megan cocked her head to the side.
“I’m helping the police with the timeline. I need to be sure everything is accurate,” Angie said.
“Yeah,” Megan said, “it was midnight, or right around that time.”
“When you were going into the house, did you notice what direction Charles went?”
“I don’t think I noticed,” Megan said. “He wasn’t behind me and that was all I cared about.”
Mary came over to the young women to join in with whatever they were discussing. “What are you talking about?” she asked with interest.
“Oh, just this and that,” Angie said with smile.
“Mostly about Perry?” Mary asked.
“Mostly,” Megan told her. “I think I’m going to get myself a cold drink.”
Mary took a step closer to Angie. “I want to talk to you. Would you come up to my room?”
“Sure,” Angie said trying to figure out why Mary suddenly wanted her on the second floor, and she didn’t think the reason was because it was quieter up there.
Angie followed after Mary as they entered the elevator and pushed the buttons on the control panel.
In contrast to her friendly and outgoing personality, Mary didn’t say much on the ride up to the next floor and when the slow-as-molasses elevator finally deposited them on the upper floor, Mary brought Angie to the sitting room of her suite.
“I wanted to bring something up with you.” Mary’s face looked a little pal
e. “I haven’t mentioned this to anyone.”
Angie’s senses went on high alert … her head began to buzz.
“It’s about the night Perry passed away,” Mary said. “You asked me a few days ago if I’d heard anything unusual in the house. You didn’t ask me if I’d seen something unusual. Which I did.”
“What was it?” A flush of nervousness raced through Angie’s body.
“I was sitting on my bed by the window that night,” Mary said. “I had some sewing to do, but I was feeling sleepy and decided to put the things away. I gathered everything up and got off the bed to go to the other side of the room.”
Angie encouraged the woman to continue.
“As I was passing the window, I thought I saw someone in the yard by the backdoor. I turned off my lamp and tip-toed to other side of the window to get a better view.”
“Did you see Perry out there?”
“No, not Perry. I saw two people. I couldn’t hear what they were talking about. One of them was Andy Hobbs.”
“Andy?” Angie asked. “Could you see who the other person was?”
“The other person was in shadow. I couldn’t see the face. I couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman.”
“Did Andy and the other person show up at the same time?”
“I don’t know,” Mary said. “I only saw them when they were already standing at the rear door.”
“Did they come into the house?” Angie asked, her eyes wide.
“The other person turned around and headed out of the yard. The yard was dark, full of shadows.” Mary leaned closer and spoke softly. “Andy watched the person go, then he reached into his back pocket and took out his key.”
“Andy came inside the house?”
“Yes, but before he did, Andy returned his key to his pocket and turned around to look to the rear of the yard. I followed his gaze, but I couldn’t see anything. Maribeth keeps a house key near the faucet at the back of the house, in case one of us forgets ours or gets locked out. There’s a loose shingle there. The key is hidden under the shingle.”
“What’s the hidden key got to do with Andy?” Angie asked.
“Andy went to get the key. He unlocked the back door, then he put the key back in its place by the faucet and went inside.”
“Maybe Andy had the wrong key in his pocket?” Angie suggested.
“Maybe. But I don’t think so,” Mary said. “I got the impression he didn’t want to use his own key to get into the house.”
Angie’s mind raced. “What time was this?”
“Around 12:30. I looked at my alarm clock.” Mary said, “Don’t tell Andy I saw him that night. He’ll know it was me who told you. He knows my room looks out over the rear yard. Andy has a difficult personality. His attitude makes me nervous sometimes.”
“I won’t tell him,” Angie promised.
Mary let out a worried sigh. “Like I said, I couldn’t hear what Andy and the other person were saying and I don’t know why Andy put his own key back in his pocket, but don’t you think there’s something odd about the whole thing?”
Yes. Yes, I do.
21
“Tom was right about putting a kitchen in the apartment.” Angie pushed the long, loose sleeve of her robe back as she removed an apple pie from the oven and set it on the counter to cool.
“Tom knows what he’s doing. I’m glad we took his suggestion. It’s nice to have this private space for ourselves.” Josh had on navy blue pajama pants and a faded short-sleeved t-shirt.
The young couple had only moved into their new apartment on the upper floor of the Victorian several weeks ago, but it already felt comfortable and homey to them.
While Josh took out a half gallon of vanilla ice cream from the freezer, Angie made tea and carried the mugs to the bedroom where she placed one on each bedside table. “Don’t touch the hot mugs,” she warned the two cats who were curled in the middle of the bed.
Returning to the small kitchen, Angie asked Josh, “Do you want to wait for the pie to cool a little longer?”
Josh smiled broadly. “No, I want to eat it right now. I love warm apple pie.”
After Angie cut and plated two slices and Josh scooped balls of ice cream from the carton and placed one on top of each slice, they carried their dessert to the bedroom, climbed in under the covers as the cats adjusted their positions to accommodate the people. Euclid stretched his long, furry body over Josh’s lap causing the man to laugh.
“You don’t make it easy to enjoy my pie.” Josh held his plate over the huge orange feline’s head.
Circe snuggled next to Angie and the young woman held out a fingertip she’d dipped in the melting ice cream so the cat’s little pink tongue could lick it.
“Nothing like being alone in our own apartment,” Josh grinned.
“It’s rare that anyone is ever alone in this family.” Angie shook her head as she brought a bite of pie to her mouth.
“It’s just the way I want it. I only have my brother and we don’t see a lot of each other anymore. I love this big, wacky family.”
While Circe trilled and gave Josh a look of contentment, Angie leaned over and gave her new husband a kiss. “It’s a good thing you love the family because now you’re stuck with us.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Josh said reaching for his mug being careful not to spill any of the hot liquid onto the cat in his lap.
After finishing their desserts, Josh ran his hand over Euclid’s orange fur and listened to his purring before bringing up the case. “Tell me what happened at the boarding house.”
Angie took in a long, slow breath and told him what she’d learned from Mary Bishop.
“Do you think the other person in the yard might be a friend of Andy Hobbs?” Josh asked.
“It’s possible. But why would he or she walk Andy to the backdoor and leave? Why not go their separate ways to their own places?”
“Maybe they were engrossed in conversation and didn’t want to stop talking?” Josh suggested.
“Maybe,” Angie said. “Mary got the impression that Andy didn’t want to use his own key to enter the house. Why wouldn’t he want to use his key? There isn’t a monitor on the lock or on the door logging the residents’ comings and goings. What would it matter if he used his own key?”
“Tell me again how Mary Bishop described the incident.” Josh leaned his head back on his pillow and closed his eyes as he listened to Angie’s retelling, and when she finished, he opened his eyelids. “Andy looked back to the rear of the yard right before he put his key back in his pocket?”
“That’s what Mary said,” Angie nodded.
“Was he trying to show the person he was with where the spare key was?” Josh asked.
Angie’s eyebrows shot up. “You think the person Andy had been with was watching him from the back of the yard?” The young woman slipped out of the bed and started pacing around the room. “And Andy was showing him or her where the key to the house was hidden?”
“Possibly,” Josh said.
“But why do that? Why not just tell the person where the key was?” Angie asked.
“I don’t know,” Josh said. “I guess it was a silly idea.”
“I don’t think it is a silly idea. I think you’re right. I think Andy was showing the other person where the key was. What was the reason though? Why didn’t he just tell the person where it was?” Angie’s face paled and she hurried to the bed and slipped in next to Josh. “The person at the back of the yard is the killer.”
“You think so?”
“There was no sign of forced entry,” Angie said excitedly. “That’s because the person used the spare key to get in. Andy didn’t tell the person where it was because he didn’t want to implicate himself as an accomplice. He can claim he never told the killer about the key. He can’t be blamed for any of it.”
“You think Andy and this other person were in on the murder together?” Josh asked.
“It seems like it.” An
gie’s eyes narrowed showing she was deep in thought. “But something doesn’t seem right. Something about it seems off.”
“Maybe it will come to you. Maybe if you talk it over with Chief Martin, things will align and point you in the right direction.”
“Who is the other person?” Angie asked. “Is he or she really the one who killed Perry? Maybe I should talk to Andy again.”
“Why don’t you share the information with the chief. I don’t think you should talk to Andy Hobbs alone. Go with Chief Martin, or better yet, let the chief interview Hobbs on his own. Maybe steer clear of the guy. Just in case.”
“You’re right. I’ll talk to the chief.” Angie made eye contact with Josh and her voice was hopeful. “This seems like an important break in the case. Maybe this is going to lead somewhere.”
“It seems likely,” Josh agreed.
“You know, when I was at the boarding house, I felt like things that were unsaid were floating on the air. I think what Mary told me is one of them, but I think there’s something else. There’s another person in the house who knows something he or she hasn’t shared. Maybe more than one person. I need to talk to some of them again.”
“Not Andy Hobbs,” Josh cautioned.
“Not him. I’ll leave him to Chief Martin.”
Josh nodded and said, “Why don’t we give the case a rest for now and focus on us. We haven’t talked about it for a few days and the deadline is coming up to make the decision. What are you thinking about locating a second bake shop in the museum?”
Angie sighed. “I know it’s a great opportunity and I’ve wanted to expand for almost a year now.”
“But?” Josh asked.
“But is it the right time to do it?” Angie tucked a loose strand of her hair into her ponytail.
“Why do you think it might not be the right time?”
“Business in the bake shop downstairs is booming. Chief Martin calls on us frequently to help him with cases. I would never want to tell him I didn’t have time to help. You know we all want to use our skills for good.”
“Even Ellie?” Josh kidded about the reluctant Roseland sister who wished none of them had any powers at all.
