by Krista Davis
“Sounds logical,” I said. “She came through here fast, too. Was she was crying? Or trying not to cry?”
“Do you think she’s fallen for one of the guys?” asked Rae Rae. “Finch or Jim?”
“Funny you should ask that. Finch was just saying that he wrote her off as a social-climbing aspiring actress. He has a biting wit. Perhaps he offended her?”
Rae Rae gazed at the high ceiling and toyed with her earring. “I suppose that’s possible. He’s such a doll. I bet women chase him all the time.”
“Jim, Camille, and Finch seem to be bonding and hanging out together. But I never see Marlee with them.”
“Really?” Rae Rae’s eyes narrowed. “That’s most interesting. Then where has she been?” With a loud gasp, Rae Rae sat up straight. “Howard! She’s fallen into Howard’s clutches. I blame myself. I should have seen the signs. I’ll have a talk with him in the morning.”
I blinked at her. Either she didn’t know or she was a better actress than I had suspected. “Rae Rae, I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but Howard has died.”
Her face contorted from shock to doubt. “Are you pulling my leg? Is this some kind of trick where he’ll walk in here and laugh at me?”
“I wish it were.”
“You’re serious? I was just speaking with him last night. No, it must be someone else.”
“I saw him. It’s definitely Howard.”
“What happened? Heart attack?”
I wasn’t sure how much I should tell her. On the other hand, she’d probably hear the grim truth sooner or later anyway. “Possibly, but we suspect he may have been murdered.”
Rae Rae stared at me without moving. I wasn’t sure she was even blinking. She finally tilted her head ever so slightly. “First Diane, and now Howard? What can that mean? What did they do?” She jumped to her feet and rubbed her forehead. “And I knew both of them. I might be the only person within a thousand miles who knew them both well. And we all know I had plenty of reason to be angry with them, even if it all happened a long time ago. I’m in a peck of trouble!”
Twenty-one
“Do you know any good lawyers?” Rae Rae paced back and forth in front of me.
My previous boyfriend happened to be a lawyer. He lived in Northern Virginia, but he was entirely too fond of using any excuse to make himself at home in my guest bedroom at the inn. I was certain she could find a lawyer in Snowball, if not Wagtail. But at the moment, my greater concern was that Rae Rae might actually have murdered them. “Should I call Dave?”
“Heavens, no! Why would you do that? But he’ll come lookin’ for me sooner or later. Maybe I should just get out of town. That might be easier. Then again, if I leave, they’ll think that’s a sign of guilt. What a mess! And this was such a fun vacation up to now.” She gazed around blankly, as if she didn’t quite know what to do. “Well, except for Diane’s death. That wasn’t any fun at all.”
My phone rang, which was unusual at that hour. Dave asked if I had seen Rae Rae.
“She happens to be right here with me,” I said, worried that he might be coming to place her under arrest.
“Great! Can you bring her over to Dr. Engelknecht’s office? We need someone to confirm Howard’s identity.”
“They want you to identify Howard’s body,” I said to Rae Rae.
She drew in such a sharp breath that even Trixie looked up at her. “Yes, of course. I’m happy to cooperate with the authorities. That will look good for me.”
I checked my watch. Casey would arrive for the night shift any minute. What I really wanted was to go to bed. But Rae Rae probably needed company, and she might have trouble finding the doctor’s office.
As soon as Casey walked in the door, Rae Rae, Trixie, and I took a golf cart over to the three-story house where the doctor saw patients. I had never given much thought to the fact that someone had to have a place to store bodies in Wagtail until they were collected by a funeral home. The lights on the first floor were ablaze. An ambulance was parked on the street in front of the gate in the white picket fence.
I carried Trixie, whom I figured probably wasn’t supposed to be in the doctor’s office, but I wasn’t taking any chances leaving her outside by herself.
Dr. Engelknecht greeted us, even Trixie, warmly.
Dave thanked Rae Rae for coming and led her to a back room. I waited at the doorway to the brightly lighted room.
Rae Rae gasped. She clamped a bejeweled hand over her mouth. She turned away from Howard with her eyes closed, and for a moment I feared she might faint, but she gathered herself and looked at him again.
“Howard, darlin’, what happened to you?” She wiped tears off her cheeks. “Your tormented life is over. May you rest in peace. I guess we all knew you would end like this. It’s probably a miracle that it didn’t happen sooner.”
Dave asked, “Can you confirm that this is Howard Hirschtritt?”
“Oh my, yes. It’s definitely Howard.”
“Thank you. I have a document for you to sign if you don’t mind,” said Dave.
“Of course.” Rae Rae sighed loudly when she looked back at Howard. “It didn’t have to be this way, Howie.”
I blinked hard and watched Dave’s expression. He didn’t give away what he was thinking, but he sure was keeping his eyes on Rae Rae. Had she just implicated herself in Howard’s death? Was it possible to murder someone yet be so calm and collected about it?
While Rae Rae signed the document, I asked Dr. Engelknecht what had caused Howard’s death.
“I won’t know until they do the autopsy. I didn’t see any obvious wounds.”
“What about his blue lips and fingernails?”
Dr. Engelknecht mashed his lips together. “Unfortunately, while there are a number of reasons for blue lips and fingernails, they are characteristic of death by fentanyl. Blue lips are seen in a lot of fentanyl overdose cases. If it hadn’t been for Diane’s death, I probably wouldn’t suspect it in Howard’s case, but I’ll definitely be asking the medical examiner to check for a fentanyl overdose. That stuff is so dangerous. A pinch of it is enough to kill.”
“That’s just awful!” Rae Rae clasped her hand to her face.
“Doc and I are going to start carrying Narcan, a drug that temporarily reverses the effect. It’s not perfect, but it can save lives.” Dave looked worried. “We’re hoping there won’t be any more cases, but if we can get there fast enough, we might be able to help.”
Minutes later, Rae Rae, Trixie, and I were on our way back to the inn. Rae Rae didn’t say a word the entire drive.
But when we entered the lobby, she said, “I went for years without seeing Diane or Howard. I can’t say I never thought of them. I’ve often wondered how differently my life might have turned out if it hadn’t been for them. The two of them were the only two people who ever truly betrayed me. They spun my life in a completely different direction. But until my brother called and asked me to keep an eye on things this week, I didn’t dwell on them. I assumed their lives were on track. I certainly never expected this.”
She walked up the stairs silently and didn’t look back.
In a way, I didn’t think she had been talking to me so much as she had just been thinking aloud.
That night, I opened the French doors in my bedroom to let in the cool night air. On the third floor, I didn’t have to worry about anyone walking in. A cat had managed to climb up the wall once, but I could handle that.
I snuggled in bed with Trixie and Twinkletoes. Poor Trixie probably wondered why I kept her so close by.
* * *
When I woke, I showered, pulled on khaki skorts and a melon-colored shirt, and took Trixie out to do her business. I stopped at the office for a trash bag and disposable gloves. Since I’d given Shadow the day off, I needed to tidy the doggy bathroom while we were out there. Most people cleaned up after
their dogs, but there were always those who didn’t bother.
I made of point of looking for Wade, but he wasn’t on the bench where he’d sat before. I didn’t see him anywhere.
I washed up and followed Trixie to the dining area. She raced ahead of me. There was no doubt she knew where her breakfast would be served.
Rae Rae had just joined Oma at an indoor table. Trixie ever so slowly approached the breakfast dishes that were meant for Gingersnap and Stella. Her head extended, she sniffed the air and drew ever closer.
“Trixie!” I scolded. I didn’t know how Stella would feel about another dog eating out of her bowl. Fortunately, Stella remained amazingly calm. Trixie knew she was being naughty and backed off.
I sat down with Oma and Rae Rae just in time to hear Oma say, “We have arranged for you and your group to go boating today. That way you and Pippin can relax a bit without crowds. And without the media looking for you.”
“Oh, Liesel! That was so thoughtful of you. My brother phoned early this morning. Naturally, they’re putting out a statement. He reminded me that people might be hounding us for quotes.”
“They will pick you up at the inn’s dock at eleven o’clock. You can swim, water-ski, and have lunch out on the lake away from prying eyes. They’ve promised me they’ll have you back just in time for afternoon tea.”
“That’s marvelous. I’ll try to round up the crew. Isn’t it odd that the one who is always behind the camera seems to be the most elusive?”
“Marlee?” I asked.
“I can’t imagine where she’s spending her time, but it’s not with us. She shows up for events and does her job, but before I know it, she’s gone again.”
When Shelley arrived to take our orders, Rae Rae said, “I can’t help myself. I have to try the waffles with caramelized bananas. And a side of bacon.”
Shelley grinned at me. “Shall I bring you the same?”
I usually tried to eat like a normal person would at home, but breakfasts at the inn were always so tempting. “Yes, please,” I said meekly. “Is there a version for dogs?”
“I wouldn’t forget our most famous resident. I have something special for her.”
When Shelley returned with our waffles, she handed Trixie a bowl of sliced beef tips with gravy over rice and peas.
“Wow. That’s quite a breakfast.”
“Trixie deserves it.” Shelley watched her eat for a moment before moving on.
Zelda sat down with us. “I’ve already had breakfast, and I promise I’ll get right back to work, but I’m dying to know if the rumors are true.”
Oma frowned at her. “What rumors?”
“That a woman was seen running away from Howard’s house the night he was murdered.”
Oma’s eyes opened wide.
I looked over at Rae Rae, thinking she must be worried. But Rae Rae was stuffing her mouth with caramelized bananas and waffles as though she hadn’t a care in the world.
“I’m sure this is nonsense. Nothing more than a silly rumor, Zelda.” Oma buttered a piece of toast.
Rae Rae took a long swig of her coffee. “Are you the one who can read dogs’ minds?”
“Yes!” Zelda said proudly.
“Can Trixie or Stella tell you who murdered Diane and Howard?”
“Oh, good question. Unfortunately, the answer is no. I’ve thought about this a lot. I think that Trixie knows who touched or was in the vicinity of a dead person. She can smell who was there. But even if she could say who it was, I don’t think she could say which one killed the victim. I can pick up on a dog’s emotions, but the dog can’t point a paw at anyone. I have heard of cases where a dog was present when someone was violent with a person the dog loved. Later, when the dog saw the violent person again, he snarled or acted defensive.”
“That makes sense,” said Oma. “But a dog probably wouldn’t realize that a person was being poisoned.”
“Exactly. Like right now, Trixie is very happy with her breakfast. She’s a funny girl. Her moods are easy to read. Some dogs are harder. Stella misses Diane. She’s melancholy and confused. She doesn’t know what will happen to her. But even though she might have seen the killer, she probably doesn’t associate Diane’s death with that person.”
Rae Rae nodded. “Thank you for explaining that. It would be nice if the dogs could just lead us to the killer.”
Zelda poured herself a cup of coffee and hurried back to her post at the registration desk.
Rae Rae waved her hands. “She’s a sweet person, but honestly, I could have read their minds and figured that out.”
“Rae Rae, you knew Howard well.” Oma gazed at her. “Do you think he might have overdosed intentionally? Maybe he killed Diane and couldn’t live with the regret?”
“Not a chance. Howard was too selfish. He didn’t care about anyone but himself. It could have been accidental, of course, but Howard thought the world revolved around him. That’s not the kind of thing he would do.”
Oma excused herself just as Marlee walked through the door.
“Marlee!” Rae Rae beckoned to her. “Won’t you join us?”
Marlee paused at our table, still wearing her sunglasses. “I’ve already eaten.”
“Oh! Did you have these wonderful waffles?” Rae Rae asked.
Rae Rae’s question startled me. I had assumed that Marlee hadn’t eaten at the inn. But Rae Rae was being nosy and had deftly put her on the spot, while acting quite innocent.
“They look delicious!”
“What did you eat for breakfast?” Rae Rae prodded.
“Eggs.”
I smiled. Marlee wasn’t being sucked into confessing where she had been.
“Darlin’, have a seat,” said Rae Rae. “Would you care for some coffee?”
“I’m good, thanks. I’d just like to grab a shower.”
“You’re such a beautiful young woman. Why do you hide behind those sunglasses?”
Twenty-two
I nearly fell out of my chair. I choked on a bite of waffle I had just put into my mouth.
“Sensitive eyes.” Marlee touched her sunglasses. “I’ve always been this way.”
“I don’t mean to be nosy, sugar, but I need to see what’s under them.” Rae Rae sounded sweet and sincere, but firm.
Marlee lowered her glasses. Her eyes were swollen and red as though she’d been crying.
“Oh, honey! Do you want to have a talk? Maybe Rae Rae can help.”
“I’m so sad about Howard’s death.” Marlee sniffled. “I can’t believe that he’s gone.”
As she spoke, it dawned on me that Marlee was the other likely woman who might have been seen running from the scene of the crime.
“Oh, sweetie. I suspected as much. He drew you into his web. Trust me when I tell you that you’re better off without him.”
Marlee slid her glasses back into place. “That’s easy for you to say. Howard was my only hope. He could have helped me. He had connections.”
“Here’s the sad truth,” Rae Rae said. “He had connections, but he never would have helped you. The only person Howard ever cared about was himself. You hung your hopes on the wrong star.”
“But I heard he helped launch other actors’ careers.”
“He was good at taking credit for things he didn’t do.”
“He’s the only real star I’ve ever had the opportunity to meet. I knew I shouldn’t have come here.” Marlee fled up the stairs.
“Do you suppose she thinks she looks sophisticated in those glasses? Like Jackie O?” asked Rae Rae.
“Something is up with her,” I said. “And it’s not sensitive eyes.”
After breakfast, Trixie and I made our usual rounds through the inn. As was her habit, Twinkletoes spied on guests by entering their rooms when they were being cleaned. She was the nosiest cat I had ever m
et.
I noticed there was a Do not disturb sign hanging on the door handle of Marlee’s room. The housekeeper gave me a thumbs-up.
Closer to her, I whispered, “Why the thumbs-up?”
“It’s okay that I’m not cleaning in there. She hasn’t slept in her bed since she checked in.”
“What? How do you know that?” I asked.
The housekeeper smiled proudly. “I know how I make the beds. Even my own mother can’t duplicate it perfectly. I don’t know where she’s been sleeping, or if she’s been sleeping, for that matter, but I can tell you that she hasn’t been in her bed.”
Maybe Rae Rae was right. Had Marlee been sleeping in Howard’s rental house? No wonder she was so upset. He probably promised her the moon, and now her dreams had turned to dust. Unless she had killed him, she would recover. Had she murdered him? Or had she been there when he was killed? Maybe that’s why she was on the run when she returned to the inn last night. If she was a witness, she must be terrified.
Done with morning rounds, Trixie and I walked downstairs to the reception lobby. The door to the office was closed. I looked at Zelda.
“Big meeting between Dave and your grandmother. I have strict instructions not to interrupt unless someone else drops dead.”
“Ouch. They must be talking about the murders.”
Zelda leaned over the desk toward me. “I’ve heard that Howard used to date Diane. I think he came to Wagtail to get her back.”
“Could be, I suppose.”
“But that’s not all. Diane was a beautiful, vibrant woman. I bet she was seeing someone on the sly and that’s who murdered both of them.”
“Also possible. Don’t you think that driving Diane’s body up the mountain and dumping it meant the killer was outrageously angry with her? Why not leave her where she died?”
“To buy time. The killer thought it would take weeks, maybe years or decades, to find her body in that ravine. Seriously, if Trixie hadn’t found her, the vultures and possums would have. There wouldn’t be much left by now. They work fast.”