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

by Sonia Parin

  “Jill, that’s the sort of thing I’d notice if I performed an autopsy.”

  “Just checking.”

  “That’s all right. You know, I rather like the idea of Barbara committing a crime of passion. Accountants always strike me as being dull. All that time spent with numbers.” She shivered.

  “What about Timothy Johnson? You said he was friendly at first and when you started asking too many questions, he clammed up.”

  “He too could be a jealous lover.” Eve turned into a narrow lane. “This is it.” She leaned over the steering wheel and looked at the house. Barbara had described it as a fishing cabin. Eve gasped. “Fishing.”

  “What about it?”

  “Timothy said Jonathan had taught him to fish. Barbara said Jonathan had inherited his grandfather’s fishing cabin.” They looked at each other.

  “Helene,” they both said.

  “Yes. Helene said she’d gone fishing with Henry. Could Henry be Jonathan’s grandfather? If he and Helene had become lovers... then he would have had a key to Helene’s house.”

  “And,” Jill piped in, “Jonathan would have held on to it.”

  Eve slumped back on her seat. “Okay. Here’s the problem. Why go to all the trouble of meeting in Abby’s house? Jonathan had his own place. And, let’s be honest, even if he’d found the key, how would he know which house it belonged to?” Eve shrugged. “It’s a long shot, but maybe Henry kept a journal and actually named Helene as his lover. I know, it’s more than a long shot. It’s actually wishful thinking. Jonathan McNeil must have had a way of knowing the key belonged to Abby’s aunt Helene and when the opportunity arose, he decided to use it.”

  They sat in silence, each one lost in her own thoughts. Then Jill spoke up.

  “I’m actually okay with Henry having a journal too. So Jonathan knew all along about the key. When Abby put her house up for sale, he remembered about the key. And he and Gabe met at Abby’s house because it was all part of a game. Boys like to pretend they’re pirates. Jonathan had the key to Abby’s house and he decided it would be fun to pretend they were meeting there.”

  “I like that.” Eve turned the ignition key.

  “Aren’t we going to look around?”

  “Yes, but I don’t want to leave the car here for everyone to see. I’ll drive down a bit and we can walk the rest of the way.”

  “Good thinking.”

  “We can access the beach from here.” Eve climbed out of her car and stretched. “Next time remind me to bring some snacks. All this thinking has made me hungry.”

  The fishing cabin came into view. It turned out to be a small house, fit for one person. It sat at the end of a narrow street and only a few yards from the pier that had seen better days.

  “See anything?” Jill asked as Eve tried to peer inside through a small window.

  “Nothing. No one. Jonathan doesn’t care much about personal comfort. He must be earning a decent wage. I would have torn this down and built something more comfortable and modern.” They walked around it. “I can only see two rooms. A bedroom and a living area with a kitchen. That’s probably the bathroom that’s been added on,” she said pointing to a part of the building that had obviously been a recent addition to the original structure.

  “Meeting at Abby’s house makes sense. Now if we can only confirm Jonathan is gay.”

  “Is? What if he was? What if something’s happened to him?” Eve asked. “If it turns out the police know something’s happened to him but are withholding the information until his next of kin can be notified, I’m going to be very angry with Jack.”

  “Why? Because you’d have done all this running around for nothing?”

  “Exactly.”

  Jill’s laughter was cut off when Eve clamped her hand over her mouth.

  “I think I heard something. Or someone.” She dropped her hand and gestured for Jill to crouch down.

  They both looked at each other and nodded. Someone was definitely walking up to the house, the steps tentative rather than determined. Much the way someone would walk if they were looking over their shoulder to make sure no one was watching them.

  They heard the front door to the house open. The slight creaking of the door suggesting someone was being very careful.

  Eve bit her bottom lip. She desperately wanted to see who it was but if she tried to look through the window, she’d risk being seen. Signaling to Jill, Eve started moving toward the end of the house to position herself for a better view of the person when they came out.

  Fingers crossed the person didn’t head out down the beach, she thought.

  It must have been twenty minutes later when the person came out. They heard the front door being locked which meant he or she had the key.

  Jonathan? Eve mouthed.

  Eve saw a shadow cross the front yard.

  When she saw who it was, she pressed her hand against her mouth.

  Her heart beat a fast tune against her chest.

  She waited to make sure the car disappeared down the street and then turned to Jill.

  “Well? Did you see anyone?”

  Eve nodded. “You’ll never believe it.”

  “Try me.”

  “Barbara Lynch. We must have been right about her having an affair with Jonathan.”

  “We need to tell the police what we saw.”

  Eve agreed. She didn’t care how much trouble she got in with Jack. They needed to question Barbara and give serious thought to her possible involvement in the murder.

  “She had a bag with her. Do you think she came to get some of her personal belongings, stuff that might link her to Jonathan?” Eve straightened. “I have a good mind to confront her. Now I’m more sure than ever she fired me because I was asking too many questions.”

  “But you won’t go anywhere near her. Please promise me you won’t. That could provoke her into doing something rash like getting rid of witnesses. If she didn’t want you to ask questions about Jonathan, think how she’ll feel about you seeing her coming here.”

  “You’re right. I was just venting my rage. Come on, I want to call Jack and tell him our news.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Jack sat for long minutes in silence.

  Eve almost regretted telling him about seeing Barbara Lynch going into Jonathan’s house.

  What if it made him feel incompetent? He was a highly skilled and trained detective while she couldn’t even pretend to be a hobby sleuth. If anything, she was an accidental sleuth. A sleuth by default. Eve couldn’t escape the fact trouble seemed to follow her around.

  It hadn’t been her intention to outshine Jack. She tried to reason her way out of the sinking feeling by hoping Jack could think of their relationship as a partnership and not as a competition.

  Please say something, she silently urged.

  Jack surged to his feet and strode to the window.

  She’d called him that morning and had asked him to come for brunch or if he didn’t have the time, coffee. Even police officers on duty had to stop for a meal.

  Jill had been smart enough to make herself scarce by taking Mischief and Mr. Magoo out for a walk leaving Eve to tackle the subject by herself.

  In hindsight, Eve wished Jill had remained behind to back her up.

  “Are you naturally suspicious of everyone or is this a talent you’ve acquired since moving to the island?”

  She didn’t know if she should smile or scowl. “Are you going to question Barbara Lynch?”

  “Of course we are. Thank you for sharing the information.”

  Now for the rest. He had to tell her off. To warn her, yet again, to not get involved in police matters.

  Strangely, he didn’t. Instead, he stepped out of the house and made a phone call. Presumably to Mason Lars to report Barbara Lynch’s suspicious behavior.

  “So, what’s for brunch?” he asked when he came back inside. The edge of his eyes crinkled. His arms came around her waist and he drew her to him.

  “
Shouldn’t you be rushing off to deal with Barbara Lynch?”

  “It’s all being taken care of.”

  Again, she waited for the reprimand she knew had to be coming her way.

  “You look surprised.”

  “I’m... I’m bracing myself. Shouldn’t you be issuing a warning?”

  “Resistance is futile. I can’t stop you from being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But I don’t want you taking unnecessary risks.”

  “I won’t. I promise. I don’t think my heart can take it. Honestly, when I heard the footsteps heading toward the house, I prayed for the earth to swallow me. Well, I didn’t exactly, but I did wish to be elsewhere. One confrontation in a week is enough to last me for a while.” Eve swung away and busied herself in the kitchen preparing mini burgers with fries. “So... are you going to compare Barbara’s fingerprints to the ones you found on the handcuffs?”

  Jack chuckled.

  “Right. As if you’d tell me. Although, I don’t see what harm it would do. To be honest, I’m surprised Miriam’s fingerprints didn’t match.” She looked up in time to see Jack shift slightly. What was that about? She’d gone to the trouble of procuring Miriam’s fingerprints by getting her to hold her sunglasses. The police must have been able to lift the fingerprints off them and then... Surely, they’d taken Miriam Holloway’s fingerprints. That had been the whole point of the exercise. She’d put herself at risk. Seeing Miriam free to wander around had led Eve to believe the prints hadn’t matched. Had she been too quick to jump to conclusions?

  “Jack, I get the feeling there’s something you’re not telling me.”

  “You know as much as you need to know or as I’m prepared to tell you.”

  “Which is nothing. You haven’t shared any vital information with me.”

  “Information you need because...”

  She gave an impatient shrug. “I’m not playing at being an amateur detective. The sooner this is over, the sooner I can get on with the business of... setting up my business, which has now been derailed by the fact a dead body was found in the house I hoped to convert into an inn.”

  “Is that what you plan on doing?”

  “Yes. Jill suggested it and I like the idea. I’ve already decided I’m going to stick to cooking or at least incorporate cooking into my business.”

  “So, what’s wrong with Abby’s house?”

  “It feels tainted. There’d be people staying there for the wrong reasons. You know, someone was murdered. I wouldn’t want to become part of some ghoulish tour of inns with a macabre history.”

  “On the other hand,” he said, “There’s been one disaster. Chances are it’ll be smooth sailing from now on.”

  “Lightning doesn’t strike twice?”

  “Something like that.”

  He had a point. “Would I be required to disclose the fact there’s been a murder in the house?”

  “It’s already become public knowledge and anyone coming to the island would hear about it one way or the other.”

  True. It would only take a visit to a café and a brief mention of where the person was staying for the truth to come out.

  “I’m still not convinced. People who stay in inns like to feel comfortable and... snug. While a murder might appeal to some, I doubt the average tourist would feel safe.”

  “What do you think they’ll be afraid of? Ghosts?”

  “Just because I haven’t seen a ghost doesn’t mean they don’t exist. And what if I attract the wrong type of people? You know, the ones who think, well, there’s been one killing here, let’s see if we can have another one. I could become the ideal destination for killers. They’d be holding conventions at my inn.” She shivered. “See, just thinking about it gives me the shivers and I’d have to work there day in, day out.”

  “You might feel differently after the dust settles. The house is off the market until we solve the case. So, you have some time to decide.”

  “Maybe. Or maybe some other property will come on the market.”

  He brushed his hand along her shoulder. “It’s good to hear you talk about plans.”

  She smiled. They’d been playing it by ear, taking it one day at a time without putting pressure on each other. Eve felt commitment was something one arrived at by putting in the time to build something. A solid foundation.

  “By the way, what’s Mrs. Stewart’s first name?”

  “You never give up. Why do you want to know?”

  “Jill and I like to toss around a few ideas.” She shrugged. “Some people like doing crossword puzzles, we like to entertain ourselves with hypothetical scenarios. It makes it easier when we can refer to people by their first names. Although, sometimes we tag on the last name. It makes it less personal that way. At the end of the day, we still need to live with some of these people, even if they become temporary suspects. I don’t see the harm in you telling me her first name.”

  “You’re not going to like it.”

  “Please tell me it’s not Mira.”

  “Eve.”

  “No.”

  “Yes. Eve Stewart.”

  “I suppose I’ll have to learn to live with it. But please hurry up and find the killer.”

  “I’ll do my best.” He checked his watch. “Am I getting that brunch?”

  “Of course. I’ll get the burgers going.”

  After their meal, she brought out a couple of mugs and a plate for some brownies she’d made. “Has Eve Stewart been told to stay on the island?”

  “No, she’s waiting to organize the sale of the yacht.”

  She didn’t waste any time, Eve thought. “So, you don’t suspect her at all.”

  “She was miles away.”

  “You know that for sure?”

  He nodded.

  “What if she hired someone to kill her husband? She could be the mastermind.”

  “How’s that chew bone tasting?”

  “You can’t blame me. It’s all I can think about. Remember, I have a stake in this too. I found the victim. I’ve been confronted by one of the suspects.”

  “You can’t help having found the victim, but the rest...”

  “It’s too late now.” She helped herself to a brownie. “Burning question.”

  “About the weather? There’s some rain forecasted.”

  “About the case, Jack. Don’t be coy.”

  “I’m sorry, did I give you the impression you had access to police information? And don’t say it’s only fair.”

  “Hear me out. It might be something you could answer without breaching whatever secrecy code you have in place.”

  “Okay.”

  “It’s about Miriam Holloway. Why was she traveling with Gabe Stewart? They obviously weren’t lovers.”

  “What makes you so sure?”

  Eve tried to remember if she’d mentioned her suspicions about Gabe’s sexual orientation. It had been triggered by Barbara’s mention of the police’s interest in the subject. “I honest to goodness, cross my heart promise I didn’t go trawling around for this information. It just landed on my lap.”

  “Go on.”

  “Barbara mentioned you asking her about Jonathan McNeil’s private life. So, Jill and I have been playing around with the theory that Jonathan and Gabe were lovers.” She watched for his reaction, but Jack had a perfect poker face. Although she thought she detected a slight lift of his brow.

  “Ever thought of joining the police force? I think I’d rather have you on side than working as a private eye. You’d do me out of a job.”

  “Thank you. That’s a lovely compliment. But no thanks. I don’t deliberately go out looking for trouble. I simply don’t have the stomach for it. It doesn’t mean I’m not curious enough to want to find answers.” Noticing he hadn’t touched the brownies, she pushed the plate toward him. “I think you’ll like these. They have chunks of walnuts in them.”

  He took a bite and sat back to savor it. Giving a small nod, he smiled. “Are you trying to sweeten me u
p for more prodding into something you know could land you in a dangerous situation?”

  “If I want to know something, I prefer to take the more direct approach.” She took a sip of her coffee and counted to ten. “Do you suspect the killer acted out of jealousy? Jill and I think Jonathan McNeil had a full time lover and carried on behind her back with Gabe Stewart. That’s right, I said her.”

  “I’d love to sit in on one of your brainstorming sessions with Jill. It would make great entertainment. What other theory have you been playing around with?”

  “I haven’t mentioned the obvious one. We think Barbara Lynch was involved with Jonathan. And...” She drummed her fingers on the table, “We think Jonathan is missing presumed dead because Barbara found him at Abby’s and snuffed him out.”

  “Why? What was her motive?”

  “She felt betrayed. She’s in her early forties. I’m assuming she’s never been married. Then here she is, running her own business, she meets the baker, falls for him or... maybe she sees him as her last chance to marry. He goes along because he’s trying to keep up appearances or maybe just because he plays for both teams. It’s been known to happen, but then she learns the truth about him and she can’t take it. All she wants is a man to marry and she ends up getting the raw end of the deal.” Eve was in full swing now, her voice getting angrier by the minute, playing the role to the hilt. “She hates that she has to settle for someone who can’t even make up his mind about his sexuality. It enrages her.”

  Jack gave a small shake of his head. “It’s such a wild assumption, it could actually be true.”

  Eve relaxed back into her chair. “Did you ever find out who the other fingerprints on the handcuffs belong to?”

  “No.”

  He’d been too quick to answer. Again, Eve thought there was something not adding up. He’d said there were two sets of fingerprints. One belonged to her because she’d picked up the handcuff. The other had to belong to the killer.

  “Are you going to get Barbara Lynch’s fingerprints?”

  “I waited until the coast was clear,” Jill said as she strode in. “How was it? Did you tell him about us seeing Barbara going into the house?”