Dogs and More Dogs, Another Murder

by Christa Nardi

  “Almost all are back in foster care. A lot less crazy there, I think. We’ll go check on them on Saturday. In the meantime, you get your homework done and I’ll get dinner.

  I ruminated over the Stoneham house and the stuff stacked as I sorted through pots and pans and the ever exploding collection of plastic containers. As the meat cooked, I sat on the floor and matched containers with tops. Sure enough, I ended with some containers with no tops and some tops with missing containers. I shoved them in a bag for Goodwill. Brett arrived as I closed the bag up.

  “What do you have there?” He pointed to the bag.

  “Those are plastic containers that have no lids and lids with no containers. Goodwill.”

  “Hey, maybe I could use some of those in the garage.”

  I shuddered and shook my head. “After seeing the Stoneham house, I … we have to get rid of stuff that’s not worth saving. It will just accumulate and grow …all those boxes in the garage.”

  He took me in his arms and chuckled. “It’s okay. I don’t think a few odd containers will ever reach that level. As for the boxes, my life rule has been if a box hasn’t needed to be opened in a few years – other than tax and legal documents and photographs – then I probably don’t need anything in that box. Those boxes have only been there for about six months and you’ve needed to get to them since then.”

  “Okay, you’re right. As long as we keep it under control. Max used to boast he still had his report cards from first grade through college. He said he liked to look through them to remind himself how smart he was.”

  “You mean I have to throw mine away?” His mouth twitched.

  “You don’t really?”

  He laughed. “No, but I do have some of Maddie’s and I wouldn’t be surprised if my mother didn’t save all our report cards.”

  “Hmm. I guess that’s true. I don’t know what we’ll ever find when the time comes with either of our parents. At least we know we can walk through the house and sit on furniture and see out the windows…”

  He hugged me again. “That bad, huh?”

  “Yes. And, it may seem morbid, and I know both our parents are healthy, but do you know where your parents keep their will or who has Power of Attorney or any of that? I sure don’t.”

  “I have a copy of their wills and each has Power of Attorney for the other, and I’m the back up. Maybe you could check with your parents? Or with Kaylie or Kevin?”

  “I’ll ask my mother when I talk to her on Sunday.”

  “That reminds me though, my will needs to be revised. Do you have one?”

  I shrugged. “Everything in banks and retirement has beneficiaries. That only left the house and car.”

  “I’ll make an appointment with my attorney and we’ll both go and get that taken care of. In the meantime, I’m starved. And later I want to hear what happened with the daughter.”

  Together, we got dinner on the table and Maddie wandered in singing a song I didn’t recognize. Bella and Charlie following her. Once Maddie retired to her room, Bella with her, Brett cleared his throat.

  “There were no fingerprints on the letter or envelope other than yours. Other than Lacie, anyone else tell you to mind your business lately?”

  “No, and even Lacie? She’s only seen me at Pets and Paws. How would she know where I live? I checked and even if they did an online search, they’d get my address in Cold Creek, the College address there, or the Millicent College address in Lynchburg. How would she have gotten this address?”

  He shook his head. “No idea. But think about it. Would she ever have access to your purse, your driver’s license?”

  “I guess she could have gone through my purse at Pets and Paws, still that would be risky with all the people there the past two weeks.”

  “Well, that’s one possibility. Do you always lock your car or could she have pulled your registration?”

  My face fell. “I don’t always remember, so yes that’s possible. Again, with Blake and everyone coming and going?”

  “At least there was no threat, but this is the second time. Be sure to lock your doors from here on out.” He shrugged his shoulders. “So, what did you think of the daughter? Is she a viable suspect?”

  I shook my head. “She was too shocked at the condition of the house for one. Justine was upstairs and the pathway had to be enlarged by the police to get up there. Helen is bigger than I am and she didn’t fit in the paths that hadn’t been widened. That means she physically couldn’t have killed Justine upstairs.”

  “I wonder. Is it possible someone hit her in one place and she crawled upstairs to die.”

  “I don’t know. I’ve heard of that happening with head injuries. If that were possible, then Helen could have done it and faked her shock. We did find the stash of cash she used to pay Dan. A little over a thousand dollars, all in twenties. Like it came from an ATM.”

  “Where was it hidden?”

  I chuckled. “Not exactly hidden. Stashed in a drawer in the kitchen in a manila envelope. More like her ‘mad money’ in a convenient place. The chief has it now.”

  “What next?”

  “Tomorrow, Jacob arrives and I’m joining the party to see his reactions.

  CHAPTER 18

  Before the call from the chief, I managed to nail down my syllabi for the courses I’d be teaching and create the online shell for students. His call provided the perfect excuse for a much needed break from the tedious part of an academic position. I dressed and arrived at the station in plenty of time, hoping to talk with him before Helen and Jacob arrived. No such luck.

  “What do you mean you don’t know what happened yet? What kind of imbeciles are you anyway? Nothing has changed in twenty years.” The man was standing very close to Chief Peabody, his hands fisted. He was as tall as the chief and stocky. The chief’s face was red and the one other officer had moved closer. Helen cowered behind her brother.

  “Mr. Stoneham, I realize you are in shock. Neither of your parents contacted the police or anyone else we know of to ask for assistance at any point. We didn’t know there were any problems. Bills were being paid, mail collected, packages delivered. Up until three months ago, your mother was paying someone to mow the lawn.”

  “How could they accumulate fifty dogs without anyone noticing? Never mind the wasted money. Didn’t anyone notice she was buying dog food? The vet? Unbelievable!”

  The chief cleared his throat. “We haven’t figured out all the details. However, the local veterinarian never even met your mother or father. Justine didn’t take any of the dogs to her. There were no vet bills.”

  “And Helen here must have misunderstood. She said my father died over a year ago? How was that kept a secret? My word. I could’ve sold that property already.” He took a step back. “Helen obviously exaggerated the condition of the house, not that it matters. All JJ Properties wanted was the land anyway. Let’s go.”

  He turned and marched away, only stopping long enough to grab Helen’s arm and propel her along with him. I moved out of the way lest he run me over.

  The chief shook his head. “Thanks for coming, Sheridan. Give them a few minutes – he can do to cool his heels. And if he’s speeding? Him, I’ll ticket.”

  A few minutes later and we were on our way, just under the speed limit. I took advantage of the time.

  “Did I miss anything?”

  “Let’s see, you walked in about when it was all our fault, right?” He chuckled.

  “Yeah, and he was angry.”

  “Ahh. You missed the good part, then. All else aside, he’s angry because there is no will. The property has always been passed from father to son, at least as far as he’s concerned. In his mind, it should have immediately become his when Herman died. I clarified the law generally with the caveat he’d need to verify with an attorney. Virginia doesn’t have community property rights per se but in the event of one spouse’s death, if the property will be used by the surviving spouse, I think it would be considered hers un
der marital rights.”

  He shrugged. “I emphasized that he needed to get an attorney as without a will, the estate would go to probate, and under marital rights, the property likely belonged to Justine. I made the ‘mistake’ of suggesting the estate might be split between Helen and him. He glowered at her and then exploded at me.”

  “I didn’t realize that about Virginia law. I’ve half a mind to directly suggest Helen get an attorney to fight for her share.” As I thought about it, I realized that might explain why Brett’s ex, Victoria, got their house when they divorced.

  We turned to go up the driveway. “Before I forget, have you ever heard of JJ Properties?”

  He shook his head. As we pulled up to the house, he slammed on his brakes and bolted out of the car. I followed. Helen was on the ground sobbing with Jacob standing over her screaming.

  “You did this. You always resented that I’d get the house and all this property – the only thing of real value here. Couldn’t you keep track of them? There may be nothing left in his accounts. Did you ever consider that? I counted on that money for my son’s college fund.”

  Chief Peabody moved between Jacob and Helen and I knelt by her side.

  “No use, like most women. And you probably blame me for your disaster of a marriage. He left you for some rich broad once he realized you wouldn’t ever inherit.”

  “Mr. Stoneham, I’m going to ask you nicely to back up here.”

  Jacob shook his head as if in realization the Chief blocked Helen at that point. “This is none of your business. Stay out of it.”

  “I can’t do that, sir. We have a suspicious death here and I’m not sure what else. Let’s go inside so you can see for yourself.”

  The chief took a step forward, prompting Jacob to step backward and they walked into the house.

  “Helen, are you okay? Are you injured?”

  She nodded yes to the first and no to the second. She tried to sit up and I helped her.

  “Can you tell me how you ended up on the ground here?”

  “I… He pushed me. He was yelling at me that it was all my fault and pushed me. I’m okay.”

  “When was the last time you and Jacob got together?”

  “When my father retired. He reminded me that this would all be his to do with as he wanted some day. All I heard all my life was the father-to-son litany. And something about it being law. Is that even possible?”

  I shrugged. “I’m not a lawyer so I don’t know. I’d suggest you get yourself an estate attorney here in Virginia to act on your behalf. In the meantime, let’s get you standing up.”

  I helped her up as the men exited the house. Jacob opened his mouth to speak and I intervened.

  “Mr. Stoneham, I don’t believe we’ve been introduced. I’m Sheridan Hendley.” With my boots on I was only a few inches shorter than he was and I looked him in the eyes.

  “Dr. Hendley assists the police here and elsewhere with murder investigations.”

  Jacob looked from the chief to me, then back to the chief.

  “Mr. Stoneham, I realize Chief Peabody may have already asked this, but when did you last speak with your father or mother? Visit last?”

  “We weren’t exactly a close family. The only ‘tie’ that bound any of the Stonehams is this land. Last time I was here was the retirement party. I oversaw as Helen took care of setting everything up electronically for our father. Look where that got us.” He glared at her and she would have stepped back if not for my arm behind her.

  “It’s unfortunate that you weren’t closer to your parents. Maybe then you’d have been suspicious or more aware of what happened.”

  His fists clenched again. “You’ve no right to say those things. None at all. Just mind your own business, you hear.”

  I nodded but held my ground. The chief cleared his throat.

  “It is probably an insurmountable task to look through all the stacks in there. However, if there is any legal document as you suggested or a will, that needs to be found. Without any documentation, I will notify the appropriate authorities to take control until the estate can be probated.”

  “Helen, when you set up everything with the bank, did you designate someone with authority to sign off or anything?”

  “I… I don’t remember. I know both Herman and I signed a lot of papers.”

  I controlled my urge to do a fist pump and cheer. I glanced at the chief and could tell he was trying not to smile as he directed his next comments.

  “The bank might be the place to start then, Helen. The coroner can provide you with the death certificate for your father. You also need to make arrangements for burial and any memorial services you might want. Once you pick up the death certificate, since everything is in your father’s name, the bank will take steps to stop the autopays – and perhaps be able to stop the automated delivery of dog food.”

  “I am the man here. Why are you talking to her?” He turned and glared at the chief.

  “My apologies. You indicated she worked with the bank to begin with and she indicated she signed forms there. Of course, either one of you can likely deliver the death certificate and take care of notifying the retirement account and social security.”

  “She can take care of all that accounting stuff. Only thing she’s good for.”

  Helen started to sob and I pulled her closer. I whispered, “You are going to need an attorney, but you may be okay.”

  “Do either of you know if he had a safe deposit box or safe anywhere?”

  Jacob groaned. “I think there was a small gun safe in one of the closets. He kept a revolver in it. I don’t remember which one. Years ago, he had a rifle and it was hung on the wall in the main room.”

  “As I told Helen yesterday, we can arrange to have a dumpster brought in. How you sift through it is up to you. Without any legal documentation, I will be contacting appropriate persons for probate action. Sheridan, let’s go.”

  I nodded and turned to Helen. “You can reach me through the chief if you need to talk.” I nodded to Jacob and we left.

  CHAPTER 19

  Coming out of the grocery store, I spotted one of our neighbors, Heather, talking to someone by my car. She had her baby in her arms and I smiled until she pointed at my car. And my flat tire.

  “Sheridan, you have a flat.” She bounced her baby and the man nodded.

  I groaned. My new car and its first flat. “It was fine when I went in the store.”

  “It happens. Better here in the lot than on the road. Hank – Hank Hamilton. I can give you a hand with your spare if you’d like.” I’d yet to meet Hank and had to admit, he and Heather made a beautiful couple.

  I smiled. “Nice to meet you Hank. That’d be great, only I don’t want to hold you guys up.”

  “No problem. You can talk to Heather and Holly while I take care of it. Keys?”

  I shifted my bags and unlocked the doors so I could put my groceries in the back seat. Then I handed him the keys and said hello to Holly.

  “She’s beautiful.” The baby cooed and smiled. “Let me see if I can help Hank in any way.”

  Between us, mostly Hank, my spare was on the car and I was headed home. Thankfully, I didn’t have to drive far and Maddie had a ride home after choir practice. I texted Brett to let him know the tire needed to be repaired. He texted back he’d come by and get the car. He arrived a few minutes later.

  “You and your cars.” He chuckled. He was right though. Somehow my car took a toll whenever I got involved in a murder. This time though, I wasn’t really involved in the murder investigation. At least that’s what I told myself.

  Brett must have read my mind as he added, “In all likelihood, when you were over at the Stoneham place, you picked up a nail or glass or something. I’ll take your car and be back in time for dinner.” He gave me a kiss and left me to fix dinner.

  I shook my head as he drove away. I’d only been to the Stoneham place in the chief’s car, so that isn’t where I picked up something. Maybe in
the parking lot at Pets and Paws.

  Maddie arrived a little later. “Huh? You’re here. Where’s your car? Is Dad here?”

  I explained the flat tire and she shrugged, muttered “Homework,” and disappeared down the hall singing “My Favorite Things.”

  Brett arrived as I was taking dinner out of the oven. I started to smile and caught the scowl on his face. He had opened his mouth to say something when Maddie came into the kitchen.

  “Dinner smells good. Is it ready? I’m hungry.”

  I laughed as I put it on the table with Brett’s help. Maddie talked all through dinner about choir and homework woes. As usual, she put her dishes in the sink and darted from the kitchen with the single word “homework.”

  “Do you think she really has that much homework or does she know we won’t say ‘homework after you help with clean up?’ I wonder sometimes.”

  “No idea. She gets good grades so she obviously does her homework. But now tell me, who’s mad at you this time?”

  At my expression, he snorted. “Sheridan, the tire was slashed. If this didn’t happen so often, if you hadn’t gotten the other notes to mind your business…”

  My mouth dropped. “I don’t know. I mean I didn’t make any friends with Jacob Stoneham today, but how would he even know my car? I rode with the chief.”

  “Okay, maybe it is a coincidence or the same person. What’s the story with Stoneham?”

  “Other than he’s a bully and a chauvinist pig?” I could tell my voice rose as I spoke.

  He chuckled and signaled with his hand for me to lower my voice. “Tell me what you really think, Sher.”

  “I think he’s angry enough about not knowing his dad died that he could have killed Justine. He knocked his sister to the ground at the house.”

  “Why would it matter when his dad died?”

  “I’m not too sure on the legal side of this. He believes that when his father died, the house and land would go to him and he planned to sell it. As far as he was concerned, Justine had no claim on the house. It would go from father to son. Correct or not, that’s his his belief. Where did he think Justine would go? What if there was no son?”