Cars and Cold Cases

by Diana Xarissa

  “She’s fine,” Mona said. “I’ve been keeping an eye on her.”

  “Are you sure?” Fenella asked anxiously.

  “Of course I’m sure,” Mona told her.

  The phone startled Fenella. “Hello?”

  “It’s Daniel,” the voice on the other end said. “Daniel Robinson. I understand you had an interesting conversation in the pub last night. Were you planning to ring me about it?”

  7

  Fenella took a deep breath before she could say anything stupid. At least she hoped it would stop her from saying anything stupid. “I was going to call you,” she began, “but I wasn’t sure what to say.”

  “I never would have discussed the case with you if I thought you’d end up withholding valuable information from me,” Daniel said.

  “I didn’t think it was valuable information,” Fenella said. “And I also didn’t think it was my place to tell you about it. I did urge Anne to talk to you.”

  “She hasn’t,” Daniel said.

  “So how did you hear about our conversation?” Fenella asked.

  “Shelly rang me,” Daniel told her. “She had some concerns about Peter and Anne. She wanted to ask me what I know about the woman.”

  “She stayed with Peter last night,” Fenella said. “Or she was meant to. I haven’t seen Peter today to find out if she really did stay.”

  “As I understand it, she did,” Daniel said. “Shelly didn’t like Anne. What did you think of her?”

  “That was the other reason why I was hesitant to call you,” Fenella said. “I’m not even sure I believed her. It seemed like if it were a true story, that Anne would have told the police about the man thirty years ago. Why keep it quiet for so long, and why talk about it now, after all these years?”

  “All questions I will be asking Anne when I talk to her later today,” Daniel said.

  “Mel said she made the whole thing up,” Fenella added.

  “You asked Mel about it?”

  “No, he brought it up. Apparently Anne called him last night and told him that she’d told a bunch of people Anne’s secret,” Fenella explained.

  “And Mel says it isn’t true. This case is getting more interesting by the minute,” Daniel said.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t call you right away,” Fenella said. “I should have, but, well, it’s hard for me to know what’s important and what isn’t.” And I feel funny calling you, because I have a schoolgirl-style crush on you, she added to herself.

  “You shouldn’t worry whether something is important or not,” Daniel told her. “If you talk to anyone connected with either case, you should let me know about it. You never know what offhand remark might help solve the case.”

  “I suppose I ought to warn you, then,” Fenella said. “I’m going to Carl Manderly’s party with Shelly tomorrow night.”

  Daniel groaned. “I should have known you’d find a way to get yourself invited to the party,” he said. “I don’t suppose I can talk you out of going?”

  “Why? Do you think I’ll be in any danger there? Should I warn Shelly?”

  “No, I don’t think anyone will be in danger,” Daniel said. “I just don’t like the idea of you spending time with that particular group of people. There’s a very good chance that whoever killed Christopher Manderly will be there.”

  “I’ll be on my best behavior,” Fenella said. “And I’ll report everything that I say or do back to you.”

  “You’d better,” Daniel replied. “Or I’ll find someone else to discuss cold cases with next time.”

  “I’ll call you on Sunday,” Fenella promised. “Did you have any questions for me about the conversation with Anne last night?”

  “Run me through it,” Daniel said. “I’ve heard Shelly’s version. I’d like to see if yours is the same.”

  Fenella did her best to remember the conversation as accurately as possible. Daniel didn’t interrupt as she talked. When she was finished, he sighed.

  “That’s more of less the way Shelly told it,” he said. “Can you remember exactly what Mel said today?”

  Again, Fenella tried hard to repeat the conversation. The chat with Mel was easier to remember because it was shorter, had been held more recently, and because Fenella hadn’t been drinking during it. “I think that was about it,” she said to wrap it up.

  “I’m going to have to speak to him again,” Daniel said. “And to Anne. I was really hoping to have the preliminary interviews on this case wrapped up soon so that I could start looking at Christopher Manderly, but he’s going to have to wait another day, it seems.”

  “I’ll see what I can learn at the party.” Fenella said.

  “Don’t ask anyone any questions,” Daniel said firmly. “I will be interested in what you think of all of the players though, but just general impressions.”

  “I understand the case was mentioned in the local paper as one you’re reinvestigating,” Fenella said. “The topic might well be on everyone’s minds.”

  “I’m sure Carl and Sophia will be doing their best to divert everyone’s minds onto much more pleasant matters,” Daniel said. “It’s meant to be a party, after all.”

  “It should be interesting,” Fenella remarked.

  “But what are you going to wear?” Mona asked as Fenella hung up the phone after apologizing to the man one last time.

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Fenella replied. “Do you have something suitable in your wardrobe? I’d hate to have to go shopping.”

  “Ring Shelly and ask her what she’s wearing,” Mona instructed her. “You don’t want to turn up in the same color, unless that color is black.”

  “Oh, I bought a wonderful new dress,” Shelly told her when she answered. “It’s electric blue and I think it suits my curves. But how is Katie?”

  “She’s sleeping nearly all the time,” Fenella said. “Which is worrying me.”

  “What did the notes from Mr. Stone say?”

  “That she might sleep more or less all day today,” Fenella admitted.

  “If you’re really worried, ring the office and talk to Mr. Stone,” Shelly suggested. “It’s only early afternoon, though. Maybe wait a few more hours, to see if she starts to come around.”

  “I suppose,” Fenella said. She put the phone down and glanced at the clock. As her brain registered the time, her stomach growled. “Yes, I’m not surprised that you’re growling,” she said, giving it a pat. “It’s well past time for lunch, isn’t it?”

  In the kitchen, she made herself a sandwich and spooned some of Katie’s favorite food into Katie’s bowl. The kitten picked up her head and then sighed.

  “If you aren’t more like your old self by five o’clock, I’m going to call Mr. Stone,” Fenella told her.

  “Merrow,” Katie said. She got up and stretched and then blinked a few times. Fenella felt much better after the kitten had taken a few bites of her lunch and then washed it down with some water.

  “What a good girl,” she said softly to Katie.

  “Oh, really, all she did was eat something,” Mona said. “She’s been doing that every day since she arrived.”

  “Yes, but, oh, never mind,” Fenella said to her aunt. “Shelly is wearing electric blue.”

  “In that case, you can help yourself to anything in the wardrobe,” Mona said. “I’ve never owned anything electric blue in my life.”

  “Me either,” Fenella said.

  “I do have a wonderful red dress, though, that would be just right,” Mona told her.

  “I don’t know about red,” Fenella said. “It’s quite, um, noticeable.”

  Mona laughed. “Surely you want to be noticed. You want to speak to everyone who might have killed Christopher Manderly.”

  “I really don’t,” Fenella said. “I’m just going to keep Shelly company.”

  “You need to find out something truly interesting,” Mona told her. “Then you can share it with Daniel and he’ll forgive you for not passing on what Anne told you last nig
ht.”

  “I’m such an idiot,” Fenella said, sinking into a chair. “I should have called him first thing this morning.”

  “Yes, you should have,” Mona agreed. “But don’t just sit there, let’s find something for you to wear to the party. You might need shoes or something. You don’t want to leave it all for the last minute.”

  As much as Fenella hated to admit it, she absolutely loved the red dress. “I can’t believe I never noticed this one before,” she said as she twirled slowly in front of the full-length mirror in the master bedroom. “It’s so beautiful.”

  “And it fits you perfectly,” Mona pointed out.

  “It’s cut a bit lower at the front than I like,” Fenella said, pulling at the top of the dress.

  “Don’t try to stitch it up,” Mona told her. “You’ll ruin the lines of the bodice. It’s perfect anyway. There’s nothing wrong with showing off a bit of cleavage.”

  Fenella turned again and studied herself in the mirror. The dress was a perfect fit and it was only the slightest bit revealing.

  “Trust me, Sophia will be displaying a lot more cleavage than that,” Mona told her. “And she’s ten years older than you.”

  “What about shoes?” Fenella asked. “Can I wear black shoes?”

  “Of course not,” Mona said. “But I bought shoes especially to go with that dress. They’ll be in the wardrobe somewhere.”

  It didn’t take Fenella long to find the shoes. They were the exact same red as the dress. “They’re awfully high,” Fenella said, studying the heels.

  “But they’re incredibly comfortable,” Mona told her. “Try them on. I had them made for me by this little man who ran a shoe repair business. He found the leather to match the dress exactly and made them with extra support and cushioning. You won’t even feel like you’re wearing high heels.”

  Fenella slipped her feet into the shoes and then slowly got to her feet. She took a couple of steps and smiled. While she was very conscious that she was wearing heels, the shoes were surprisingly comfortable. “I think they’ll work,” she said happily.

  “Excellent,” Mona said. “Now you can relax until tomorrow evening.”

  “I’m going to get some work done,” Fenella told her as she changed back into her own clothes. “I’ve just started reading a new biography that’s fascinating,”

  “In that case, I think I’ll go and take care of a few little things,” Mona said. She faded away before Fenella could reply.

  An hour later, a knock in the door interrupted Fenella’s reading.

  “Peter isn’t back yet,” Shelly announced in the doorway.

  “Where has he gone?” Fenella asked, shaking her head to clear it. Her brain was still firmly planted in Tudor court matters.

  “He was taking Anne home,” Shelly reminded her. “But that was hours ago.”

  “Maybe they stopped for lunch,” Fenella suggested.

  “He should still be back by now,” Shelly fretted. “I’m worried about him.”

  “He’s a grown man,” Fenella said. “He doesn’t have to account for his time to you.”

  Shelly sighed. “I just didn’t like that woman,” Shelly said. She blushed. “I even rang Daniel about her,” she admitted. “I just wanted him to know what she’d said last night, even though I didn’t believe her.”

  “Yes, he called me,” Fenella said. “He wasn’t very happy that I hadn’t told him about the conversation last night.”

  “Oh, dear, I hope I didn’t get you into any trouble with Daniel,” Shelly said. “I never thought, that is, I was just so worried, I mean, Peter’s far too nice to get involved with a woman like that.”

  “She didn’t seem that bad,” Fenella said. “A bit obvious, maybe.”

  “She’s after his money,” Shelly said firmly. “And he won’t see it because he’s known her for such a long time.”

  “I saw Mel this morning, and he said Anne made the whole story up,” Fenella said.

  “I knew that woman couldn’t be trusted,” Shelly said. “Now we just have to tell Peter that she was lying.”

  The elevator door suddenly slid open and Peter stepped out of the car. “Ah, good afternoon,” he said cheerily as he walked toward Shelly and Fenella. “Is everything okay?”

  “I was just checking on Katie,” Shelly said.

  “And how is the little darling?” Peter asked.

  “She seems to be recovering slowly,” Fenella said. “But she did manage to eat a few bites of her lunch.”

  “Well, that’s good news,” Peter said.

  “Are we going to the pub later?” Shelly asked him as he continued past them.

  “Oh, I’m afraid I’m not,” he said. “I’ve made other plans for this evening. Another time, maybe.” He opened his door and disappeared into his apartment.

  “Other plans?” Shelly sputtered. “He’s going to be seeing that woman again, I’ll bet.”

  “It’s none of our business,” Fenella said, ignoring the pang of jealousy she felt. Peter could spend his time with whomever he pleased, she reminded herself.

  “Do you want to get dinner or something?” Shelly asked Fenella.

  “It’s a little early,” Fenella replied.

  Shelly laughed. “I didn’t mean right now,” she said. “I’ll come over at six, and we can go and get something to eat and then have a drink at the pub. We’ll be home by eight so you can have an early night with Katie.”

  “That sounds good,” Fenella said. “As long as Katie has perked up by six.”

  “I’ll see you at six, then,” Shelly said.

  Fenella went into the kitchen to check on Katie and found both her food and water bowls empty. The kitten appeared to be fast asleep again.

  “Well, you managed to get through that when my back was turned,” she said. She refilled both bowls and then went back to her book for a while longer. By the time Shelly arrived at six, Katie was wandering around the apartment, having eaten her dinner and emptied her water bowl again.

  “She looks happy enough,” Shelly said.

  “She’s doing much better,” Fenella agreed.

  The pair enjoyed fish and chips at the neighborhood shop. They each had a single glass of wine at the pub before heading home.

  “I’d offer to bring Smokey over for a play date, but I don’t think Katie is up to it just yet,” Shelly said in the corridor when they arrived back at their building.

  “Not tonight, but soon,” Fenella promised.

  “Thank you for going out with me tonight,” Shelly said. “I’m incredibly fond of Peter, and if I had stayed home, I’d have just worried about him. At least now I can worry about him with a full stomach and the warm glow from a glass of wine.”

  Fenella laughed and let herself into her home. She was awfully fond of Peter as well. She could only hope that Shelly was overreacting. Katie was snuggled up in her new bed in the kitchen, awake and seemingly content.

  “Shall we move this into the bedroom for tonight?” Fenella asked her.

  “Merrrrreeewww,” Katie answered, climbing out of the bed.

  Assuming that meant yes, Fenella carried the bed into the master bedroom and put it near the bed, but enough out of the way that she wouldn’t trip on it in the middle of the night. “Maybe even when you’re well enough to jump on the bed again, you’ll want to sleep in your little cat bed,” Fenella suggested as Katie snuggled in again.

  “Yeewww,” Katie told her.

  Fenella sighed. It didn’t seem likely that the cat bed was going to tempt Katie away from the center of Fenella’s king-sized bed any time soon. Fenella would just have to enjoy having the bed to herself while the kitten was unable to jump.

  She was relieved the next morning when she couldn’t remember her dreams. Breakfast was toast with jam, and Fenella was pleased when Katie ate all of her kitten food happily.

  “You’re going to be back to normal in no time,” she told the kitten.

  “Merrrrrreeeww,” Katie said.
/>   Feeling restless, Fenella wandered down to the main shopping area in the center of Douglas. Everyone seemed to be bustling about with lists of things they needed, while Fenella window-shopped and bought nothing but some champagne truffles as a special treat. She made herself a light lunch and then called Shelly.

  “Did you tell me what time the party is tonight?” she asked.

  “Probably not,” Shelly laughed. “I have a taxi coming at six. The party starts at six, but it won’t get going properly until later.”

  “Is it dinner or just drinks?”

  “It’s drinks and finger foods,” Shelly told her. “But the food is usually quite substantial. I won’t eat any dinner tonight so I can enjoy the gorgeous food.”

  “Maybe I’ll just have a light snack before we go,” Fenella said. I wouldn’t want to make a pig of myself at the party, she added to herself as she disconnected the call. They’d agreed that Shelly would come over at five so that they could get ready together, which gave Fenella the entire afternoon to fill.

  “Do your research,” she told her reflection in the bathroom mirror. “Or I could just curl up with a puzzle book,” she spoke back.

  Her reflection looked disappointed in her, but Fenella ignored that and found a book of logic puzzles in the desk drawer. She took it into the living room and curled up to use her brain. By the time Shelly arrived, she’d worked her way through several easy puzzles and found herself stuck on a much harder one, which meant she was relieved when Shelly knocked.

  “I feel like a teenager again,” Shelly said with a laugh as Fenella poured them each a glass of wine. “I don’t think I’ve done my hair and makeup with a friend since my wedding.”

  “You never did this with Mona?”

  “No, Mona was always perfectly made-up, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. I never saw her without makeup or without every single hair in place.”

  “My goodness, how did she manage that?” Fenella asked.

  Shelly shrugged. “I’ve no idea. I asked her once, when we’d been out in the convertible for hours, how she managed to still look perfect, and she told me it was magic.”