The Bead Seller

by Wendy Meadows

  “Did she hire you right away as her hairdresser?”

  “She told me she wanted me to do her hair for her and stick with her as she got started. Later, she made sure I was educated in how to apply stage makeup. It’s an art, since the actors are under lights and the application is heavy but still has to look natural.”

  “When did you last see Kelly?” Mac asked.

  “I talked with her just before the rest headed to the ocean at her suggestion. I told her I was too tired and wanted to head to bed. I wasn’t going to sleep right away. I just needed some time alone. Tiana Lockser read me that day and I wanted to think about what she told me.”

  Mac asked her what the psychic told her. Carol explained her problems at home and Tiana’s answer. “She gave me hope.”

  “Did you leave your room?”

  “I paced a little right here but didn’t leave. I enjoy looking out the window toward the sea. I love imagining what it would be like to take a boat someday and cruise the oceans. I had intended to talk to Kelly when she came back, to get her perspective on what Tiana had said.” Her eyes welled up with a fresh round of tears, but she wiped them away and took a breath to steady herself.

  “Did you see anyone walking around the grounds?” Brenda asked.

  “It was getting late when I decided to look out.” She frowned. “Wait a minute. I do recall someone near the tree line toward the back. I felt sure there were two people and thought perhaps someone was taking a stroll. I was getting sleepy and turned in.” Brenda asked if she had heard the others coming back from their walks at the time. “They had all come in by that time. This was a little later. I didn’t hear any more footsteps on the stairs or in the hallways.”

  Mac asked for more description. Carol opened her hands and shrugged her shoulders. “It was dark, but I’m sure one was a man. The other one was more into the tree shadows and I don’t know if it was a man or woman. I’m sorry I couldn’t see them well enough.”

  Further questioning didn’t shed more light on who Carol had observed crossing the end of the yard after everyone came back to their rooms. According to the timeline she provided, both felt sure Kelly was still on the shoreline.

  Dr. Arthur Walker was approached next.

  “I wondered when you would get to me. It’s a terrible thing about Kelly. Sweetfern Harbor gives one the feeling of wellbeing and a safe haven.”

  He was completely relaxed and leaned back on the paisley loveseat in the sitting room across from the winged chairs Brenda and Mac sat in. The doors were secured, and inquiries began.

  “How well did you know Kelly Reed?” Mac asked.

  “I met her when she was a young child. I was the family physician to the Reeds. Her father had just entered into the culinary business. He rose to the top as chef in the same way his daughter rose to her apex in acting. Both had talents that served them well.”

  “What can you tell us about her family?” Brenda asked.

  “Her father Jackson Reed owned three notable upscale restaurants in the New York area. He turned everything over to another top chef about ten years ago and started a private business of his own. He had a partner and they soon had a falling-out, as I understand it. I’m not sure what happened but Jackson came out all right on the deal. I’m not sure about the partner.”

  Mac asked what kind of business Chef Reed started on his own. He was told it had to do with grassroots movements in organic food production. He was adamant about getting wholesome foods into every restaurant, according to the doctor.

  “I lost track of the family, but I believe the business included a cooking school. Because of Jackson’s research on the subject, the Reeds moved to Paris and stayed quite a few years there.” For the first time, sadness clouded his eyes. “Jackson must be heartbroken. Kelly meant more to him than anything in the world.” Brenda asked about Mrs. Reed and was told she passed away while in France. “It was just Kelly and Jackson after that. They built each other up and that’s how they got through the tragedy.”

  “I’ve noticed you are an observer,” Brenda said. “Has anything triggered you about the other guests? Perhaps something they’ve said or the way they’ve reacted to Kelly’s sudden death could be a clue.”

  “Are you so sure it was one of the guests here?” Brenda told him they weren’t sure of anything right now and asked if he had seen anyone else on the beach. “I came back a little earlier than some of them. The last people I saw down there were Kelly, Kathryn, Scott, Tiana and Rocky. The rest of us came back and went to bed.” His forehead furrowed. “I thought I saw someone moving around a few yards away from where most of us were strolling. Tiana must have seen someone, too. She glanced that way more than once but didn’t say anything. I chalked that up to her psychic abilities. She may have some insight on it. But perhaps it was just some foliage shifting in the winds near the water.”

  After the doctor left, Brenda and Mac tried to put things together. “I have several people that stick out,” Brenda said. She named the doctor, Carol and Rocky.

  “What about Kathryn?” Mac asked. “She had the best motive.”

  Brenda shook her head. “I don’t think the murder has anything at all to do with theatre and its players. I think someone knew Kelly Reed apart from her career. We have to delve further into their personal lives. Right now, none can be ruled out until we know who they really are.”

  Detective Rivers, as so many times in the past, admired the depth his wife discerned in matters of crime.

  Phyllis found Brenda and Mac in the sitting room.

  “The cast is determining who will replace Kelly this afternoon in their last performance. We all felt sure they would just cancel and refund money to attendees, but Rocky said it would be better if they go forward, as a tribute to her. Kelly’s understudy will replace her. Are there any good leads yet?” Brenda and Mac shook their heads simultaneously.

  “You notice details about people,” Brenda said to Phyllis. “Try to get them into conversations about Kelly and how each knew her. Anything you can find out about their personal lives would be best. I think I’ll ask Allie to do the same, and as usual both of you have to keep everything under your hats.”

  “I know, I know,” Phyllis said. “We’re good at that.” The women laughed together.

  “And Phyllis, I really appreciate you and Allie working all day today,” Brenda said. “Pick a couple of days later this week to take off. We’ll have a little down time in between guests.”

  Meanwhile in the other room, Jeffrey was pondering the situation. He was aware Tiana spent less time with him than usual. He had hoped she would leave her work at home and enjoy the seaside village with him. Instead, she hovered around with Rocky or with Kathryn, of all people. She and Kathryn had butted heads more than once since their arrival. Kathryn seemed to resent Tiana’s abilities. When the psychic told him she had been blunt with the actress about her lack of talent, he never expected them to carry on a social conversation with one another. Perhaps Tiana managed to soothe her after all.

  Kathryn Parker went outside and walked along the paths to the edge of the wooded area. She sat down on the stone bench and listened to the waves lapping from the sea. Once the shock of Kelly’s untimely death wore off for Scott, she would be there for him. She realized it would be best to stay away for a short while when she saw daggers shoot her way when he caught her looking at him. Tiana Lockser was no psychic, she thought. The so-called psychic had no real talent. She simply formed opinions from every morsel she could gather from rumors and conversations about others and then read her victim to get the outcome she wanted. Kathryn made up her mind to sidle up to the woman. She wanted to know who she really was and above all, the truth of what she really knew.

  Brenda told Mac she was going to find the bead seller woman who had tried to see the actors. She gave him a description of the strange woman who came into the bed and breakfast to sell her trinkets.

  “I’m going to start down on the beach to look for clues.�
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  The officer at the beach allowed Brenda to go forward after checking her permit as an Investigator for Chief Bob Ingram. She stayed on the rocky parts and focused on the spot where Arthur described the foliage moving in the wind. The detail Keith gave matched the same area. She looked closely at the recent shoeprints in the sand. The prints resembled the clunky shoes the woman wore the day she came into the bed and breakfast, Brenda noted, though it was difficult to tell in the soft sand. In one patch of hardened mud between the large boulders, she saw a boot print that looked firmer, however. The disturbed pockets of sand here and there indicated where the woman had likely been picking up seashells. Brenda shielded her eyes against the sun. She returned to the officer.

  “Has anyone tried to come down here today?”

  “A few families, but all were cooperative. No one else has tried to enter the crime scene.”

  Brenda gave him a verbal description of the bead seller and asked him to let her know if he saw her, whether close by or from afar.

  Phyllis was sweeping fallen twigs and leaves from the front walkway and greeted Brenda when she walked up to the house. “Put your broom away, Phyllis. We’re going to search town for someone.”

  Phyllis was happy to give it up. She had learned nothing during lunchtime with the guests and now they were all at the park getting ready to go on for their last show in Sweetfern Harbor. Mac called Bryce and asked the detective to come to Sheffield Bed and Breakfast. He had search warrants for everyone’s room. Bryce arrived with two officers.

  Tiana looked up in surprise when they all entered. She was informed of the warrants. At first, she started to object but knew she had no choice other than to accompany them to her room where she stood by the door as Detective Jones began the search with another officer. Mac and the other officer went into Jeffrey’s room after knocking on his door. Jeffrey held an open book in his hand and allowed them entry.

  They moved on to Kathryn Parker’s room. Everything was packed, and Mac had the impression that once the play was over she would be on her way. Rocky Masters’ room was disheveled. Mac put several folders and documents into the evidence bag. They went over that room twice.

  Bryce spent time in Tiana’s room. “What do you use in your work? I don’t see anything like tarot cards or the like.”

  Tiana chuckled. “I don’t need props. It is all in my sixth sense.” She tapped her head.

  Bryce hesitated in front of the corner writing desk. He picked up a folder.

  “That’s my private business that has to do with clients.” Tiana reached for it.

  “I’m sorry, but I’ll have to take it to the station. It will be returned to you once we look at it.”

  “It contains personal information about those I read.” She started to reach for it again.

  Bryce stepped in her way and nodded an order to his officer who deftly dropped the folder into the evidence bag and made a note on the cover. “Ma’am, I wouldn’t want you to get in the position of obstructing officers of the law,” he said to her firmly but gently.

  Tiana nodded, but her hands began to shake. Despite attempts to protest, she was assured they were gathering evidence in the middle of a crime investigation. After they left, she went next door to Jeffrey’s room. Mac and his officer had moved on to another room and Jeffrey noted the panic in his friend’s eyes.

  “What’s wrong with you, Tiana? They are just doing their job.”

  “I feel very ill, Jeffrey. It’s not the investigation but I think we’d better leave soon. I must get home where I can rest. This entire affair has shaken me. I believe it’s finally hitting me that Kelly is dead. It is too much for me to absorb.” She wrung her hands. “I told her I didn’t think she would reach her full potential, but I didn’t mean she would die. I worry that she had that on her mind. It caused her to not realize someone was coming up behind her, don’t you think?”

  “No, surely not.” Jeffrey put his arm around Tiana and pulled her close. “How could any of this be your fault, Tiana? The words you told her weren’t menacing. It wasn’t a threat at all. I thought you gave vague implications, that’s all. If anything, I heard that other actress was far more threatening.”

  “I have to get home, Jeffrey. They’ve searched our rooms and interviewed us several times. If they thought either of us had anything to do with it all they would have arrested us by now. We can just slip out.”

  Jeffrey jerked back. His eyes grew large. “Why would either of us be arrested, Tiana? You are just upsetting yourself over nothing.”

  Tiana did not answer. She merely returned to her room and packed her belongings. When Jeffrey came down the stairs, he set Tiana’s luggage near the front desk and told Allie they were getting ready to check out. She presumed Mac had released them and then prepared the final receipt. When Jeffrey got to the top of the stairs, he checked on Tiana to tell her that as soon as he retrieved his luggage they would be on their way. Her door was partially opened but she wasn’t there. He heard muffled voices from Rocky’s room. That was confusing, because he felt sure Rocky had gone to the last performance with Arthur. Jeffrey realized the officers were searching the chef’s room as they had the others, so he stuck his head into the doorway.

  “I’m looking for Tiana. Have you seen her? She wasn’t feeling well and we’re going to check out earlier than planned.” He felt foolish explaining why he barged into Rocky’s room.

  “Don’t leave just yet, Jeffrey,” Mac said, frowning. “I want to get contact information from both of you. We may need to ask more questions later.”

  Jeffrey sighed. He knew Tiana would not be happy when she heard this. “I’ll find Tiana and we’ll wait in the sitting room.”

  When Mac and Bryce finished searching the rooms, one of the officers took the bagged evidence to the patrol car. Outside, from a corner of the vast lawn, Tiana sat in the gazebo and watched the man secure the plastic evidence bags in the trunk of the cruiser.

  Drumming his fingers on a tabletop, Jeffrey waited for Tiana to come downstairs. He wondered at her sudden ill feeling and wondered what on earth was taking her so long. He realized the shock of the entire matter must be affecting her gift and that perhaps she was shaken in a different way than everyone else involved. He was in no hurry and decided to give her time to recoup.

  Chapter 7

  The Bead Seller

  Brenda and Phyllis were ready to give up searching for the bead seller, Grace Baker, in town. Brenda suggested they go back to Sheffield Bed and Breakfast and get her car.

  “We’ll drive around the outskirts of Sweetfern Harbor. I have no idea where she keeps herself but perhaps she is homeless, as Keith thought.”

  Phyllis agreed it was a good plan. “We’ll find her. After what you told me, I feel she probably was the person down there. But who looks for shells in darkness?”

  “That’s a part of the mystery,” Brenda said. “Maybe she is more or less a recluse and doesn’t like doing it when crowds are down there.”

  “Or maybe she is the one who strangled Kelly. She could have had a relationship with her and used selling beads as an excuse to come see her when they all arrived.”

  Brenda thought about the strange woman. She wished she had paid more attention to her mannerisms and looks but her focus was on restricting all vendors, especially those looking to harass famous guests, and that included someone selling trinkets on the premises.

  “I had never seen her around town before,” Brenda said. “If I knew where she came from, it may shed some light.” She reached in her pocket for her car keys and she and Phyllis got in. “She seemed pleasant enough and left peacefully. She didn’t object at all when I told her she had to leave.”

  Phyllis allowed her friend to ramble and observe aloud for a few minutes. They turned into a side street and Brenda drove slowly as they passed empty lots and narrow alley-ways. She told Phyllis to be on the lookout for someone in colorful gypsy-like clothing and unkempt dark hair.

  “Most of all
, she will be wearing lots of beaded necklaces and other such jewelry.”

  Phyllis became more enamored with the mystery woman Brenda described and suggested they go to the outskirts of town. Suddenly, she pointed to a figure who met the description of the bead seller. She pushed a small cart ahead of her and had stopped to speak with two elderly women who appeared interested in her wares. Brenda waited until the exchange completed and then parked her car. The woman looked up expectantly in hopes of another customer. She recognized the owner of the bed and breakfast and looked somewhat quieted as she waited.

  “We’ve been looking for you to ask some questions,” Brenda said. “Do you mind coming down to the police station for a few minutes?”

  Grace Baker’s eyes darted from Brenda to Phyllis before settling on Brenda. “Why? I’m merely selling my wares as I go along. It’s not illegal to do that on the sidewalks here. I’m not setting up shop anywhere.”

  “It’s not about selling your jewelry or beads. We have questions about the other night when you were seen on the beach near the bed and breakfast. We think you may have information about a crime committed down there.”

  Fingers toyed with draped beaded necklaces. “I go down there to find seashells. I didn’t witness any crime.”

  “Why do you search for shells at night?” Brenda asked. “Isn’t it hard to find any worth your while in the dark?”

  “The moon was bright, and stars shined in the night sky. Nighttime is the most peaceful time of all to feel and assess shells of value to me.”

  A few seconds of silence ensued, and Grace Baker realized Brenda was waiting for her answer. She knew she wasn’t under arrest and didn’t have to answer questions. Brenda was aware that the bead seller battled with her decision.