Crumbling Up Crooks

by Emmie Lyn

  Jane was right in my face before I’d finished saying Nick’s name. “Listen to me Ms. Mackenzie. I’ve heard a lot about how you like to go poking your nose where it doesn’t belong. You’ve gotten lucky in the past, but that’s not how real police work happens. Luck isn’t part of the equation.”

  “What’s in that equation that tells you to arrest the first person you see at the crime scene?” I didn’t back up and give her any satisfaction to think that she was intimidating me.

  She stared without blinking. “Actually, you were one of the first people I saw when I arrived at Creative Designs, so maybe you should feel lucky that I didn’t throw you in jail. Is that what has your panties all in a twist? The fact that I arrested your friend?”

  “No. What has me concerned about Misty Harbor’s new detective rushing to wrap up this investigation is the fact that I don’t think you took the time to even consider anyone else. If all the evidence leads to AJ, so be it, but I think you took the easy path and jumped to a conclusion… and I suspect it’s the wrong one.”

  Our back and forth argument had attracted the attention of several people walking by. Good, I wanted everyone to know that Detective Winter hadn’t done a thorough job.

  Jane snickered, but she did lower her voice. “Such a naïve armchair sleuth you are. Go for it. See what you come up with. I’ll be enjoying a nice dinner and glass of wine tonight though, while you run yourself ragged looking for some clue that doesn’t exist so you can prove you’re some sort of detective. Good luck!”

  Detective Winter stalked away. Finally. And I was happy to see there was still plenty of dark stuff stuck on the sole of her boot. Petty of me? Probably. But sometimes karma just works like that.

  I glanced at Sadie’s house. Her dogs must have gotten bored with our conversation because they were quiet now. I took the last few steps to the inn’s front door and entered. This was a place of business after all, so why knock?

  Kelly stood just inside. “I thought you’d never get away from her. What was she doing out there kicking the snowbank?”

  “Something dark and smelly was stuck in the treads of her boots.”

  Kelly covered her mouth, but a giggle escaped, and her eyes danced gleefully. “Serves her right.”

  “Just one small bit of revenge that some wonderful dog left for her.”

  Kelly snickered. “Yeah, maybe mine. I haven’t cleaned up behind my gallery for a while.”

  I told myself to remember that in the future. “Now,” I said, “let’s see if we can find Marion. With luck, she’ll be enjoying the fire by herself. If it’s not her lucky day, her father is with her doing his usual complaining.”

  “He’s a piece of work,” Kelly said. “I tried to get him to bring his work for my open house, but he wouldn’t even get back to me. Nick was very enthusiastic and easy to work with. At first. The only problem is, now I wonder about all those reindeer and Christmas trees. Will I have to give all the money back? I was counting on that income.”

  I patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry about that just yet. First, we have to focus on Adam.” I shook my head. “Nope, that still doesn’t sound right.”

  “Dani! You promised.”

  “Shush. I haven’t spread the word about AJ’s name. I’m just trying it out with you.” I shook my finger at Kelly. “And, just to be clear, I saw you try not to laugh. To tell you the truth,” I whispered, “if we get him out of jail, I don’t think he’ll care one bit what anyone calls him.”

  Kelly nodded with agreement. “Lead the way, Dani. And don’t forget—it’s not if we get him out of jail, it’s when we get him out. Let’s find what we need to free him.”

  And make Detective Winter eat her words, I told myself. I’ll even throw on some sugar.

  28

  Marion Glassman, curled up on a soft chair near the fireplace, held a book in her hands. A tiny flash of guilt pinged my conscience when we walked in and disturbed her from her quiet reading corner.

  I cleared my throat.

  She looked up, not happy about the interruption. With her finger holding her place, she asked, “Are you looking for Penny? She’s in the kitchen, I think.”

  “Actually,” I said, as I plopped down on the couch. “I’m glad we found you here and don’t have to drive over to Glendale to have a chat.”

  Kelly sat at the other end of the couch, and Pip wagged her tail expectantly in front of Marion. I wasn’t sure why Pip was so friendly to Marion. I for one thought she was behind something that didn’t add up.

  Marion held her hand out waiting for Pip to sniff. “Hello, there,” she said sounding surprisingly relaxed considering all the drama surrounding Nick’s death.

  I couldn’t figure her out. When she first arrived at Creative Designs, she was ready for a battle. Then she seemed almost giddy about Nick’s death. But around her father she became totally subdued. Now it was like she didn’t have a care in the world. How could someone swing from one extreme to another in such a short amount of time?

  “I thought you might be heading home now that Detective Winter had a suspect in custody,” I said.

  “Oh. Yeah. I thought so too, but my father is waiting for a decision about his reindeer and Christmas trees.” She glanced at the book in her lap, avoiding looking at Kelly or me.

  I stretched my legs out and slid out of my parka, leaving it behind my back. The room, with the fire crackling, was warm enough for just my long-sleeve shirt.

  “Penny really gets into the Christmas spirit,” I said, looking around the room filled with Christmas baubles on every surface, a tree in the corner, its piney scent mixing with the burning wood, and the display of glass blown reindeer and one glass Christmas tree taking center stage on the mantel.

  “How exactly do you plan to prove your father made those items?” Kelly asked, startling me with her sudden question. “I mean, I have an agreement from Nick outlining as clear as the nose on my face how we should distribute any money collected from the sale of the items he brought. I don’t plan to just walk away from what’s rightly due me.” Kelly had inched forward so she was sitting right at the edge of the cushion. I hoped she wasn’t planning to lunge for Marion and strangle her.

  “Of course, my father made all of those beautiful glass blown Christmas decorations. Did Nick ever tell you that he made them?”

  “Well… no. I guess I made that assumption.”

  Marion nodded as if she had made her point. “Why else would we have come to Misty Harbor except to teach Nick a lesson about misrepresenting someone else’s work?”

  “I see. That explains it all, doesn’t it?” Kelly said. “Why else would you have come if Nick hadn’t stolen those items?”

  Marion nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly.”

  I was confused. Was Kelly giving Marion a road map to ownership?

  “So… you came to confront Nick and teach him a lesson—your word.” Kelly sat back on the cushion with a satisfied grin on her face.

  A look of horror filled Marion’s face. “Oh, that’s not what I meant. Not that kind of lesson. I never actually met up with Nick at Creative Designs. He was already dead when I showed up at the gallery. Right, Danielle?” She looked at me with a hopeful expression that I’d come to her rescue. “You saw me. You were there when I arrived.”

  All of Marion’s excuses and blustery words didn’t sway me one bit now. I was on board with Kelly’s plan to set a trap to get AJ out of jail. An excellent one, and Marion walked right into it.

  “Which brings up an interesting point that you shared with my grandmother,” I said, seizing an opening to insert my two cents. “You told Rose that you gave Nick permission to market your dad’s work, which means the agreement that he and Kelly had, gives her the right to sell and profit from those sales.”

  Marion’s eyes shifted around the room, to the doorway, to the mantel, and finally settled back on Kelly. “I mean, yeah, I did hire Nick to sell those items so you should keep whatever percentage you two agre
ed on. I guess the balance will go to my father.”

  Penny’s musical voice filtered into the sitting room. “I’ve got your hot chocolate ready, Marion dear.” This gave Marion a small reprieve. “And some Christmas cookies.”

  Penny, carrying a silver tray, paused when she entered. “Oh, I didn’t know we had company. What do I owe this pleasure?” She set the tray down on her coffee table within reach of Marion’s chair.

  The cookies, at Pip’s nose level, were too big of a temptation. Just before she maneuvered close enough to snag one, I pulled the plate away. “Pip! You know better than that.”

  “Oh, dear,” Penny said, wringing her hands together. “I’m not used to worrying about dog-proofing around here. Like I told Detective Winter when I stepped in something I’d rather not discuss. Now, I’m not blaming Pip for that,” she said half-heartedly. She glanced out the window toward her neighbor’s house. “It was probably those dogs next door.”

  “Really?” This unsupported accusation rankled me again. First from Detective Winter and now from Penny. “Sadie keeps her dogs enclosed in her backyard. How can you blame them if you stepped in something unpleasant?”

  “Well, someone lets their dog roam around town. As a matter of fact, Kelly, you should check around your store, and you too, Danielle. I’m quite sure my boot picked up that smelly deposit somewhere nearby. I can’t think of where else I’ve gone recently besides Creative Designs and the Little Dog Diner for the open house.” She waved her hand through the air. “Enough of this subject. Can I get either of you a warm drink?”

  “That would be lovely, Penny,” I said. Having more time to prod Marion about the case might reveal new and important information.

  Besides, we hadn’t even touched on what Harry Glassman had been up to. If Marion hadn’t murdered Nick, her father certainly was a likely suspect with his claim of theft and anger issues.

  It was time to show Detective Winter how wrong she’d been to arrest AJ.

  29

  “Before I make more hot chocolate,” Penny said, turning to Marion, “did you tell them what Nick said to you yesterday morning?”

  It was a good thing Penny hadn’t already served the hot chocolate after that bombshell comment or Kelly and I would have spilled it all over her beautiful sofa.

  “Yes, Marion, do share,” Kelly said without a hint of shock in her voice. I don’t know how she managed to stay as cool as the weather outside, but I’d love to learn that secret.

  Marion, on the other hand, looked like she’d just swallowed a lobster, shell and all, and didn’t want to embarrass herself by spitting it out in front of us. What the heck was she hiding by telling us that she hadn’t seen Nick since she’d arrived?

  “Oh, it was nothing, really.” Marion quickly brought her cup to her mouth, probably to end this awkward conversation.

  “Nothing?” Penny sat back in her chair, tray and all. “Well, you’re handling this much better than I would have. If anyone told me ‘if I never see you again, it will be too soon,’ I’d be ready to teach him a thing or two.”

  “That’s awful!” Kelly said as she added a little tut-tut for a nice sound effect. It even sounded sincere.

  I felt my forehead wrinkle up in confusion. “Marion, I must have heard you wrong earlier. I thought you told us that you didn’t see Nick once you got into town.”

  I hoped I looked completely muddled instead of ha, you just got caught in a killer lie, emphasis on the killer part.

  Marion helped herself to a cookie, but it didn’t cover the pink tint coloring her cheeks.

  Yeah, I’d be embarrassed, too.

  “Marion?” A man’s irate voice sounded from outside the room. His tone sent a chill up my spine; I could only imagine the icy fingers gripping Marion.

  She dropped the cookie into a napkin, folded it over, and tucked it into the pocket in her sweater. “In here, Dad.”

  The only good thing about her father showing up was that now Marion didn’t have to explain her visit with Nick North. At least, not immediately.

  Harry stood in the doorway. “Marion?” He said again like she hadn’t heard him the first time. “Where’s my coat? I want to take a walk.”

  Marion practically leaped off the chair. “I’ll get it. Would you like me to go with you?”

  “No. You know I like to walk alone. It’s my time to get fresh air and do some creative thinking. Did you manage to set up a meeting with that detective so we can get this mess cleared up? It’s the one thing I asked of you.” He followed Marion as she hurried to the hall closet and handed him his coat.

  “Not yet, Dad. I’ll try right now.”

  “Good. I’ll expect it to be done when I get back from my walk.”

  Marion tried to help her father into his coat, but he yanked it away and managed on his own. He pulled on a wool hat and gloves and slammed the door on his way out.

  “He’s such a difficult man, Marion. How do you put up with him?” Penny asked as soon as she returned and plopped onto the chair with a loud sigh.

  I almost felt a little bit sorry for her.

  “You do have a habit of being attracted to those moody men, Marion dear.” Penny shook her head as if this was all way beyond her comprehension. “That’s why I never married. I learned early on that a disrespectful man is one to avoid at all costs. Get him out of your life any way possible.”

  “That’s easy for you to say, Penny. How do you propose I get rid of my father? I made a promise to my mother that I’d take care of him when she was on her deathbed. I never had any inkling what I was in for. Believe me, I’m not enjoying this.”

  “Well, at least you got rid of Nick. It was never going to work out between the two of you.” Penny pushed herself out of her chair. “I’ll go make that hot chocolate now.”

  I waited until Penny was out of earshot before I fixed my gaze on Marion and asked, “Got rid of Nick? Is that what Penny just said?”

  “That was just a figure of speech. Listen.” Her whole body shrank, and a haggard look filled her face. “I know I lied before about not seeing Nick, but I only saw him for a minute at the most. I never mentioned it because I knew it wouldn’t look good because of… you know… what happened.”

  “You’re darn right about that!” Kelly stood up and pointed at Marion, angrily jabbing her finger. She’d finally lost her nice voice as she glared at her. “Instead, you let my brother get arrested for something he didn’t do. I’d say not good is a mild version of what it looks like, Marion dear. You lied about seeing Nick the morning he was murdered. I’d say that means you have something pretty serious to hide.”

  “I couldn’t tell my father that I’d made a deal with Nick to sell the glass reindeer and Christmas trees. He hated Nick. When I mentioned the idea, he said he’d rather smash them all than let that freeloader benefit from his hard work.”

  “So, why’d you make the deal?” I asked. It sounded like a no-brainer to me.

  “I’d already made the deal. I thought my father would be happy. All he ever did was complain about no one showing up to buy his works of art.” Marion looked at me with tears in her eyes. “I was sick of his whining and moping and blaming me for everything. When Nick offered to find a gallery, I was thrilled.”

  “Any gallery would love to have those pieces. Why mine?” Kelly asked.

  “Oh, Penny recommended you, so I made that a condition of my agreement with Nick. I think she liked the idea of having my dad’s work be exclusive right here where she lives. She’s been trying to get him to join since she started the Maine League of Craftsmen. I guess, she thought it would help get more exposure and members.”

  “Let me get this straight,” I said, trying to wrap my head around what she’d just told us. “You made a deal with Nick to handle your father’s work, but he didn’t know about the deal.”

  Marion nodded, but I could tell she was uncomfortable with me grilling her.

  “How did this theft accusation come about?” I had an idea,
but I wanted to know if Marion would tell the truth or try to spin another lie.

  “I told my father that’s what happened after he saw the article spotlighting his work in Kelly’s open house.” She hung her head and her shoulders heaved. “It’s not something I’m proud of and,” she looked up at me, “I never expected this outcome.”

  Time would tell about that.

  30

  Penny returned with more hot chocolate and cookies. Now that I’d pinned Marion’s story down, I could enjoy the hot chocolate-laced milk with a dab of whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa on top. It was delicious.

  The cookies, though? Dry pieces of cardboard. I know I’m biased toward Lily’s incredible baking skill, and while Penny’s Christmas cookies were decorated beautifully, she could use some tips if she didn’t want her guests to choke on these dry, overly sweet treats.

  With crumbs stuck in my throat, I managed to spit what hadn’t already gotten stuck in my throat into my napkin.

  “What do you think, Danielle? Aren’t these cookies every bit as scrumptious as Lily’s?” Penny asked with what I could only describe as a hopeful expression with a side of competition.

  What could I say?

  I nodded, made a little mmm mmm noise, and pretended to still have a mouthful, which prevented any conversation.

  Penny sat down with a big grin spread across her face. “Baking isn’t my specialty, but I have to say I’m very proud of these.” She held the plate out to Marion, who declined, and then to Kelly, who had no choice but to choose one.

  Pip followed the plate with a thread of drool hanging from one side of her mouth. It must be torture for her to watch us eating even if the food was barely edible. She’d love a cookie, but I was sure Penny would see that as a huge insult. Especially, if Pip took it only to bury the inedible treat under the braided rug.