Eve Lloyd's A Deadline Cozy Mystery - Books 1 to 5

by Sonia Parin

  “Would you mind explaining how your fingerprints got on the handcuffs?”

  Her fingerprints.

  Eve made a mental note to never again touch anything that didn’t belong to her.

  She saw no point in denying it, but she had no idea how she would explain her omission. It had been a blatant lie. “All right. I found one of the handcuffs on the floor, picked it up and put it in the bedside table drawer.” She spoke slowly and hoped that would divert their attention away from the fact she hadn’t told them about it the day before.

  “When exactly did you find them?”

  “T-the day before I called the police.”

  “Ms. Lloyd, are you trying to protect someone?”

  “Yes, but not only because I know she had nothing to do with this but also because... because she didn’t want it to become common knowledge. I mean... she didn’t know the handcuffs were there. She asked me to remove them—”

  “Are you referring to Abby Larkin?”

  She nodded.

  “If she didn’t know about the handcuffs, then why did she ask you to remove them?”

  Eve gave an impatient shake of her head. “I called her and told her what I’d found.” Eve brushed her hand across her face. “I’m sure she has a perfect alibi. The handcuffs are not hers and she didn’t want their existence to become public knowledge. Abby is... she’s sensitive. Conservative. Straitlaced. She’s looking for a husband. Something like this could ruin her prospects or... or give the wrong impression about her character. Men might get the wrong idea about what she’s willing to do...”

  “Is there anything else you think we don’t need to know, Ms. Lloyd?”

  “If I say no will you believe me?” Her credibility suddenly felt shattered. She’d found reason to lie once, she’d find it again. Eve folded her arms. “You must have found other prints.”

  “We did, but we happen to have yours on file.”

  So, they had another set of prints belonging to someone with no criminal conviction.

  The police had her fingerprints because soon after arriving on the island a dead body had turned up at Mira’s house and the murder weapon had been a frying pan Eve had used that day to fry eggs.

  The detective put away the plastic evidence bag and pulled out his notebook.

  Eve cringed.

  “Are you absolutely certain you don’t know the victim?”

  “Yes, I mean no, I don’t know him. And why would you ask me that?” She speared her gaze at Jack. He could verify it. He could say they were together. In theory, that meant she wouldn’t look at another man. Did Jack know that? “Have you found the black sports car?”

  “What black sports car?”

  Realizing she hadn’t told them about it, she filled them in. “I’m guessing the driver is connected.” Eve gave the detective a lifted eyebrow look. “Will you be following up on it?”

  “Ms. Lloyd, if there’s any other information you might have decided to withhold but have now changed your mind and realize it might be pertinent to the case, please contact us.”

  With a nod, they made their way toward the bakery. Eve tried to move on. She searched her bag for her car keys. Pulling them out, she looked over her shoulder to see if the detectives had gone in to the bakery to buy donuts or to talk to the staff, and if so, why would they need to question the staff? What connection—

  It’s none of your business, Eve.

  She strode down to the travel agency to say hello to Helena Flanders but looking through the shop window, she saw her at her desk busy with a customer.

  Eve leaned back and looked down the street. She didn’t catch sight of the detectives and their car was still there. She supposed that meant they were questioning the staff at the bakery. Wondering if they planned on making the rounds of all the shops in town, she dropped into the Chin Wag Café. She was in luck, the owner, Cynthia Walker, was behind the counter.

  She greeted Eve with a friendly smile.

  “I’d like one of your blueberry tarts, please.” Eve looked down at a stack of courtesy newspapers on the counter. The murder had made the front-page news in the Rock-Maine Island Gazette but they didn’t have much information to report on.

  Cynthia placed the tart in a carry bag. “We saw the police cars drive by yesterday. Then someone came in and said they’d gone to Abby’s house.”

  Eve tried to follow the thread of the conversation, or rather, the spread of the vine...

  Someone else had then seen the body removed from the house and so news had spread about another murder on the island.

  “We couldn’t believe something so dreadful could happen at Abby’s place. Do you know if they have any suspects yet?”

  Cynthia’s question didn’t strike her as odd. Everyone knew now she was dating Jack. Every other week they had dinner right here on the island and it never took long for word to spread.

  “It’s not the sort of information that would come up.” Besides, now that Jack was involved in the investigation she wouldn’t be seeing him until it was all wrapped up.

  “We’ve been playing a guessing game,” Cynthia said, “Did the realtor find the body? Or did one of the walkers notice something suspicious?”

  Eve considered not saying anything about her involvement but then decided it wouldn’t look good once word got out that she’d been the one to find the body, as it was bound to do. She put her hand up. “It was me.”

  “I suppose you can’t talk about it. The newspaper report only said a body had been found. One of the waitresses lives out that way but she didn’t see anything.”

  She noticed voices were lowered and a few people looked over their shoulders or stilled in the way one did when trying to eavesdrop on a conversation.

  “It’s all bound to come out soon enough,” Eve said.

  Cynthia leaned over the counter. “But what did you see?” she asked, her voice lowered to a loud whisper everyone could hear.

  “Not much. I sort of scrambled out of the room and called the police.” She couldn’t help scanning the café for anyone paying particular attention to what she said.

  A man tapped away on his cell. A woman kept flicking her gaze up to her. A couple of women held each other’s gazes without speaking—a dead giveaway, Eve thought knowing that was precisely what she’d do if she’d been sitting with Jill. Nothing but normal curiosity and an eagerness to have something to talk about over the dinner table that night.

  She paid for her tart and left. On her way to her car, she noticed Jack coming out of the bakery but he didn’t go far. Instead, he stood outside and took a call.

  In her car, she was about to pull out when she looked over her shoulder and saw him step back inside the bakery.

  What could they possibly be looking for there?

  Eve tried to remember who else worked at the bakery. Apart from the counter staff, she remembered only ever seeing a couple of bakers. Jonathan McNeil and a younger guy.

  It hadn’t occurred to ask Barbara Lynch if she’d heard any rumors about the murder.

  Eve pushed out an impatient breath. It hadn’t occurred because she’d already decided she would stay right out of it. The last time she’d stuck her nose where it clearly didn’t belong, she’d ended up having a gun pointed at her... A gun that had been fired.

  “Thank you for the reminder,” Eve said under her breath and slipped her sunglasses on. When she pulled away she kept her eyes on the road.

  And just as well.

  Five minutes into her drive, she was cut off by a car turning ahead of her.

  A black sports car.

  Chapter Five

  Eve followed the black sports car at a sedate pace. Or at least, she tried to.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  It seemed to be increasing the distance between them.

  “Where’s the trust? We’re traveling along the same road... heading in the same direction. I call that coincidence. You must be paranoid if you think I’m following
you.” As long as she could stay within sight of the car, she wouldn’t... shouldn’t increase her speed.

  Eve frowned. “And exactly what do you think you’re doing?” she asked herself.

  People were trained to give chase. The police underwent rigorous training in offensive and defensive high-speed driving. Just because she had a driver’s license didn’t mean she had the experience to follow someone.

  When the car disappeared round a bend, she called for patience, but she’d never been the patient type so she increased her speed slightly.

  At the last minute, she held on tight to the steering wheel. Her tires screeched. With her back teeth clenching, she leaned into the turn.

  “Okay, note to self. Next time, increase speed only after you’ve gone around the bend.”

  Straightening, she spotted the car.

  It seemed to be further away than it had been.

  Shifting in her seat, Eve clenched her teeth.

  They were headed away from the bridge, which meant the car belonged to a resident.

  But where had it been coming from?

  The other end of the island?

  Keeping her eyes on the road, she tried to bring up a mental map of the island.

  Had the driver been coming from Abby’s place?

  If so, where were they headed now? She included herself because no amount of common sense would convince her to give up her pursuit now.

  “Hang on.” She tapped the steering wheel. “I know where we’re going.”

  They were on the road to the marina. At least, she thought they were. She’d never driven along this stretch of road before but she remembered seeing a brochure of the island and the marina had been highlighted with a couple of photos and a small map.

  For a moment, she appeared to have lost sight of the car but then Eve realized there was a dip in the road ahead. Within a few seconds the car reappeared.

  In the distance, she could see the ocean, which meant they were getting closer to the marina.

  She hoped so, otherwise she wouldn’t be able to justify following the car. What could she say if she was confronted? She was out for a scenic drive?

  Of course, once she got to the marina, she’d have to think up a reason for being there.

  Could she play the tourist card?

  If she had a road map...

  Eve bit the edge of her lip. Had she kept the brochure?

  She reached inside her glove compartment.

  “Good girl.” Grabbing the brochure, she slipped it inside her handbag, a possible scenario unfolding in her mind. If she ended up following the car to the marina, she could get out and pretend to be a tourist. The brochure would give her credibility.

  When the marina came in sight, Eve slowed down. She had a perfect view of the sports car and would see it either make a right turn or continue on along the road.

  She didn’t dare take her eyes off it. Not now that she’d come so far.

  “Yes!” She pumped a fist in the air and sat up straighter. The car had driven straight into the marina parking.

  Within a couple of minutes, she pulled in and found a parking spot, keeping a discreet distance because at this stage of the game she definitely didn’t want to arouse suspicion.

  The driver remained inside the car.

  Eve couldn’t see beyond the tinted windows. If she lingered too long, she risked exposure. So, she emerged from her car and looked around the way someone would if they weren’t quite sure of where they were.

  “I’m looking one way and now the other and, oh heavens, I’m not sure where I am,” she murmured to herself, “I wonder if there’s someone around who might be able to help me.”

  She took a few tentative steps and stopped. This time, she lifted her hand to shield her eyes from the sun.

  Because I’m a tourist and I’m lost, she thought.

  Seeing the driver’s car door open, she stared.

  “Just wondering if you’ll be the type to help a tourist trying to find her way,” she said under her breath, trying to keep herself in character.

  Finally, the driver emerged from the car.

  A woman.

  Dressed in yoga pants and an oversized cable sweater, her honey blonde hair shifted in the light breeze. She ducked back inside the car and brought out a large handbag.

  Before she could get away from her, Eve strode over, not bothering to hide the fact she was intent on catching the driver’s attention.

  “Excuse me,” she called out.

  The woman didn’t respond, so Eve hurried her steps and called out again.

  The woman gave her a cursory glance, took a step and then stopped.

  “Yes?”

  “Hi. I’m... Laura Boyd.” Eve smiled, adjusted her sunglasses and pressed her hand to her chest as if the pace she’d set had been too much for her.

  The woman’s expression didn’t shift. Unfortunately, she didn’t provide her name. Eve had known it would be a long shot.

  “I hope you can help me. I think I’m lost.” She patted her chest, again giving the impression she was trying to catch her breath. “I’m glad I found someone. For a moment there I thought I’d have to drive around the island again.”

  The woman gave her a faint smile.

  “I’m trying to get to the lighthouse.”

  “Sorry, I can’t help you. I’m not from around here.”

  “Well, do you think there might be someone in the marina who could help me?”

  “I’m not sure. You could try the main office,” she said pointing toward the pier.”

  An inspired thought sparked inside her. “If it’s not too much trouble, I have a map of sorts.” She rummaged through her bag doing her best to sound frustrated. “Sorry, I have a love/hate relationship with my bag. It’s the perfect size, but I can never find anything when I want it. And especially not with sunglasses on. Here, would you mind holding them for me?” She didn’t wait for a response and instead handed the woman her sunglasses.

  From the corner of her eye, Eve could see she was none too pleased, although Eve couldn’t decide if this was because she’d stopped her or because she’d asked her to hold the sunglasses.

  Taking her time, Eve hunted for her brochure. “Here it is.” She looked at it and sighed. “You know what? I know exactly where I am and I think I can find my way now. Sorry for the inconvenience. Oh, and thank you for holding those for me.” She took the sunglasses from the woman, careful to hold them by the edges.

  Smiling, she tried to commit the woman’s face to memory but then decided that would be a waste of time because unlike her aunt, Eve wouldn’t know how to describe the woman’s features.

  Plump, wide lips?

  High cheekbones...

  Nodding, the woman took off in the direction of the pier.

  Eve waited a few moments to see if she went into the office or if she headed to one of the boats.

  Belatedly, she remembered her cell. Pulling it out, she snatched a picture and just for good measure, she took a few of the car.

  Back in her car, she set her sunglasses down on the passenger’s seat, again taking care to hold them by the edge.

  With any luck, the woman might have left a few prints.

  Eve had no qualms about tricking the woman. Better to be safe than sorry. Maybe she had a perfectly good reason for driving out of the same street where Abby’s house was... on the same day Eve had discovered a dead body.

  Back in town, Eve spotted Jack’s car still parked in the same spot.

  “I wonder if you’ve made as much progress as I have,” she murmured as she strode along the main street, looking into the shops. When she saw him and Detective Mason Lars at The Mad Hatter’s Teashop, she stopped.

  “Okay.” She hadn’t actually figured out how she’d do this. If she owned up to following the black sports car, she’d get into trouble with Jack. Or he might overlook the fact. After all, she’d saved them a lot of legwork.

  Undecided, she sunk down on a bench and w
aited for him to come out. Checking her watch, she saw that it was coming up to lunchtime and she hadn’t had anything to eat since breakfast.

  Half an hour later she’d lost count of the number of times she’d shifted positions. Had they found a reliable witness in the shop? Maybe the owner lived near Abby’s house. She made a note to engage her in conversation and find out, right before reminding herself she’d fully intended keeping her nose clean.

  Too late now, she thought.

  However, once she handed the sunglasses over she would wipe her hands off the whole ordeal.

  When she saw Jack coming out of the shop, she surged to her feet.

  “Jack.” She couldn’t read his expression but it didn’t matter. Once she told him she was in possession of a set of fingerprints, he’d...

  Give her his severest scowl.

  “I thought you said you were going to be busy today.”

  “Yes, but something happened.”

  “Is this where I have to issue a warning not to go looking for trouble and interfere with the investigation?”

  “Strictly speaking, I didn’t go looking for trouble.”

  “It found you?”

  She folded her arms. “You should at least wait until you know what I have for you before casting aspersions on my character.”

  “Sorry, my mistake. What can you help us with?”

  “That’s more like it, although you could drop the sardonic tone.”

  “All right. You have my attention.”

  “Do you have an evidence bag?”

  He looked over his shoulder and signaled to Mason Lars. “It looks like we have something to add to our goodie bag,” Jack said.

  “Follow me, gentleman.”

  They crossed the street to her car. Eve unlocked the front passenger door and held it open for Jack. “In there. The sunglasses.”

  Using the plastic evidence bag as a glove, Jack retrieved them.

  “Wait a minute. These look like yours.”

  “Very observant, detective.” She smiled. “They are mine and I’d like them back in one piece, please.”

  “So, what do we have here?”

  “Fingerprints belonging to the driver of one unidentified black sports car. A woman, blonde and about a head taller than me. She has a boat moored at the marina.”