HELL'S HALF ACRE a gripping murder mystery full of twists (Coffin Cove Mysteries Book 2)

by JACKIE ELLIOTT

  Matt was getting impatient. “Sir, the inspector can decide if it’s crazy or not.”

  “I’ve seen a man in town the last few days. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him. He’s been staying at the Wilson Motel, and he told Peggy he was some kind of real estate developer. He was in the pub for the belly dancing thing too. And then, when I was in Andi’s apartment, I saw a photo on the wall. And I knew who the man reminded me of. Except the more I think about it, I think it’s really him. But . . .”

  “But what, sir?”

  Walter looked sheepish. “This is the crazy part. The man I think it is . . . he died years ago.”

  * * *

  Vega was frustrated. He stared at his cell phone, which was on loudspeaker, and wanted to hurl it across the room.

  “You need more manpower, I know, Inspector. Unfortunately, there’s been a gang shooting here on the mainland, and a homicide in Prince George, so at the moment, you’re on your own until I can get more of our guys over there. However, you’ll have more locals at your disposal in the next hour or so. You can use them for door-to-door and interviewing.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” There was no use whining to the superintendent, it wasn’t her fault.

  “It’s a bad business, Andrew.” Her voice softened. “I disliked Dennis Havers, but nobody deserves that. Are you sure it wasn’t suicide? A pact, maybe, between him and his wife?”

  “No, ma’am. He looked like he was planning suicide. He left a note with a weird confession of sorts, but somebody finished the job for him. The gun was left at the scene. Wiped clean, of course, but I’ve got a team going over the house now.”

  There was a brief silence.

  “A confession, you say?”

  “Yes. He said he was responsible for the death of a—” Vega looked down at his notes — “Daniel Ellis. We’ve looked him up, but it seems like he died years ago in a fishing accident. Dennis was not on the boat, so we don’t know what he meant. But we’re looking into it.”

  “And the woman?”

  “Identified as Nadine Dagg,” Vega answered.

  “Cause of death?”

  “Her throat was slit,” Vega said. “I’ll know more when the reports come in.”

  Sinclair was silent again at the other end of the phone. Vega knew she wanted to ask more, but she never asked her officers to speculate. She’d wait for the report.

  Vega continued, “And now Jade Thompson, the mayor, has gone missing.”

  “Christ.”

  “Ma’am, I have Summer Thompson here at the detachment. I’ve applied for a warrant to search her home. It seems she owns a gun. And there was an incident last year between Ricky and Jade Thompson. It seems Jade fired at Ricky, but Summer swears he wasn’t hurt. He went missing after that. I’m checking the dates.”

  “And now Ricky’s body just showed up, and Dennis and Sandra are dead,” Sinclair said. “You’re thinking this missing persons report is designed to throw us off?”

  “I have to think Summer Thompson, and possibly Jade, are suspects, ma’am, at least until we can rule them out.”

  “And the other victim?”

  “Not so sure about Nadine Dagg. It was a very clean slice, and I doubt either Jade or Summer would have the strength to do that. But forensics will tell us more. Hopefully, there’s some DNA evidence.”

  “So you’re still looking at the husband for that?”

  “In the absence of any other leads, ma’am, yes.”

  Before Sinclair ended the call, Vega remembered something.

  “Ma’am, there's something else I could use your help with.”

  “If I can, Inspector, what do you need?”

  “Remember you told me about an old investigation Emma was involved in — a drug cartel on the island? It involved a biker gang?”

  “Yes, that’s right. Didn’t go anywhere.”

  “Does Emma have the old files, ma’am?”

  There was a pause. “I can get them for you if you think they’d help. What are you thinking, Inspector?”

  Vega hesitated before he answered, “Just a thought, ma’am, that’s all.”

  There was a pause. “There were a lot of bad things going on in Coffin Cove back then, Inspector. Havers was involved, and I think you’ll remember Summer Thompson was right there in the middle of it. Except back then, she was a victim.”

  “Victims sometimes seek revenge, ma’am,” Vega said simply.

  “You’re right, Inspector. Sometimes they do.”

  They ended the call, and Vega stared down at his phone. He couldn’t tell his superintendent he was following Andi Silver’s “gut feeling”, could he? And yet, nothing was making any sense at all.

  “Damn it, I need ten times the manpower,” he said out loud.

  And if Summer was telling the truth about Jade’s disappearance, then he was running out of time.

  There was a knock at the door and Charlie Rollins was standing there, looking miserable.

  “Do you have a minute, sir?”

  “Not really, Sergeant, but come on in.” Vega was irritated. Hadn’t this idiot done enough damage?

  Charlie walked into the room, and without waiting, slumped down in a chair and held his head in his hands.

  Vega stared at him. What now, for Christ’s sake? He took a breath and tried to keep the annoyance out of his voice.

  “What’s this all about, Charlie? Come on, man, I’ve got multiple murders on my hands. Let’s have it.”

  Charlie Rollins straightened up.

  “Yes, sir. Sorry.” His voice trembled a bit. Vega looked at him. Oh God, had he been crying?

  “Sir, Dennis Havers and me, well, we were good friends. We went way back.”

  Vega nodded and cursed himself for being so insensitive. Of course Charlie would have known the Haverses well.

  “Charlie, I’m so sorry. Forgive me. I completely forgot how close everyone is in this town. The last few days must have been very hard for you.”

  Charlie waved his hand. “Thank you, sir, but it’s not that. It’s just . . . well, I used to help Dennis once in a while. Nothing illegal or anything . . . but . . . well . . .” The man was stammering.

  Vega closed his eyes.

  “Charlie. Please tell me everything. Now.”

  “Dennis didn’t mean to get Ricky killed. He just . . . he was frustrated with his kid. Ricky never worked a day in his life and Dennis knew he would cut corners with this weed store. It was all about the money for Ricky. And Sandra gave Ricky everything he wanted. Dennis just wanted to scare him. . . you know, try to teach him about real life, so . . .”

  “So he told you not to pay any attention if Ricky was reported missing?” Vega finished for him. “Good God, man, what was supposed to happen? Did Dennis get someone to abduct him?”

  Charlie shook his head slowly. “I don’t know, sir. He told me that Ricky would be gone for a while, and when he got back, he and Sandra would toe the line.”

  “What did he mean by ‘toe the line’?” Vega exclaimed. “You do remember that kidnapping is a crime, right? Even if it’s someone you know? What happened to you, Charlie? Been so long in the back of beyond you forgot everything about being a police officer? Jesus.”

  “I’m sorry,” Charlie mumbled.

  “So you think Dennis had his kid killed?” Vega demanded.

  “No, no, sir. After a couple of weeks, Dennis was worried. He said the people he’d hired to . . . teach Ricky a lesson, they hadn’t got him. They couldn’t find him. So then Dennis started thinking someone else must have grabbed him. And that’s when you came over, and I got some searches underway . . .”

  “But by that time, it was too late,” Vega finished for him.

  Charlie nodded.

  “Why didn’t you come forward before?” Vega asked, trying not to leap up and throttle the man sitting opposite him.

  “I was going to . . . When we found Ricky, I tried to call Dennis. I thought he should tell you everything. But Dennis
wasn’t answering. And now he’s dead.” Charlie hung his head.

  “OK. Have you told anyone else?” Vega asked.

  Charlie shook his head. “But then the article came out. And now the whole community blames me for Ricky’s death. I can’t . . . live with myself.” His voice cracked again.

  Vega suddenly felt sorry for Charlie.

  “Listen, man, no one’s blaming you for Ricky. We have a killer in Coffin Cove. I need you. You know this community. You made a mistake and so did I. But now, I need you to focus and help me, can you do that?

  “Yes, sir, I’ll try.” Charlie still had his head down but didn’t sound so desperate.

  Vega patted him on the shoulder. “Good man. We’ll talk again later.”

  “Thank you, sir.” Charlie left the room, standing a little straighter.

  Vega felt like his head would explode. He and the team were being buffeted in all directions. Were they being manipulated? As soon as they started chasing down one investigation, another bomb went off. These killings were connected. And whoever was behind this spree must be laughing at them all racing around chasing their tails.

  First, Vega had Dennis under the spotlight for Ricky’s death, and considering Charlie’s confession, he might have been on the right track. But now Dennis was dead, and so was Sandra. Maybe Dennis’s hired thugs made a mistake. And then took Dennis out, in case he came clean. But how was Nadine connected to this? She and Dennis were having an affair, but why kill Nadine? And how on earth did Jade Thompson fit in to all this, except to unseat Dennis as mayor? And who the hell was Daniel Ellis?

  Vega was suddenly tired. Tired of this investigation and tired of Coffin Cove and its damn secrets. That was the problem with this town, everyone was still living in the past. Everyone was looking back, not forward.

  Vega sat up. Maybe that was it. These cases must be linked by something or someone from the past. What was it Andi said about this town? Everyone knows everyone else’s business. Well, someone knew the connection between the Havers, Daggs and Thompsons. He just had to find that person. Or maybe it wasn’t a person. Maybe it was a place.

  He leaped up and opened the door. “Charlie?”

  The sergeant came running. “Yes, sir?”

  “What’s the history of the chapel? Why is it there?” Vega felt, for some reason, this was the key to everything.

  Charlie looked blank. “I don’t know, sir. I don’t think the Daggs built it, I think it was the previous family, the Whilleys. But they’ve all been dead for years.”

  “Right.” Vega felt deflated. He had one more question for Charlie. “Do you know who Daniel Ellis is?”

  Charlie shook his head. “No, sir. Never heard of him.”

  PC Matt Beaufort appeared behind Charlie Rollins.

  “Inspector? Have you got a minute?”

  Vega spread his hands in resignation. “Sure, why not? What is it?”

  “Walter from the pub is in the interview room. I think you should hear what he has to say.”

  “OK, Constable, I’ll be right along.”

  Vega clapped Charlie on the shoulder. “Go home, man.”

  But Charlie didn’t move. “You know who could tell you more about that chapel, sir?” he said. “Clara Bell. She knows just about everyone’s history in town. And she’ll know that Daniel Ellis if he’s from Coffin Cove.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Andi couldn’t imagine eating. There was an acidic burn of stomach bile at the back of her throat and her head was pounding. She felt chilled and shivered uncontrollably. She wanted to lie down and rest but was terrified that Nadine’s glassy dead eyes would haunt her thoughts and dreams. So she struggled to stay awake, propped up at the galley table, absently petting Bruno’s head and grateful for the warmth of the dog’s body as he snuggled up to her.

  Walter had arrived with Bruno when Andi got back to her apartment, after giving her statement. Walter took one look at her and told her to pack a bag. Minutes later, Harry arrived.

  “You can stay on the boat for a few days,” he said gruffly, while Andi threw a few things in a bag and packed her laptop. “You can have my stateroom. And Bruno’s coming with us. He likes it on the boat.”

  Andi hadn’t argued. The last place she wanted to be was this apartment. She didn’t think she could ever stay here again. She thought for a moment and picked up Terri’s photo and slipped it into her bag. She called Jim and told him where she was going. He agreed it was the best idea all round.

  Harry followed her down the steps, and then, with a hand on her shoulder, gently steered her away from the trash cans where Andi had found Nadine that morning. Andi couldn’t look. There was nothing there. The forensic team had finished a few hours before, and Andi guessed they were at the Haverses’ house. The news of Dennis and Sandra’s killings were like a gut punch. Andi had been too shocked to speak. Suddenly, her quest for a story seemed childish, even obscene. Three senseless deaths in one horrific night, on top of the murder of Ricky Havers.

  Andi couldn’t think of any connections. She felt tired of it all. She felt like she’d unearthed something larger and more sinister than she’d ever imagined possible and somehow unleashed this evil. She didn’t know what the “something” was. Logically, she knew none of this was her fault. But as she buried her face in Bruno’s fur, she just wanted it all to go away.

  Harry stood with his back to her, slicing and throwing garlic, onion and vegetables into a large frying pan on the galley stovetop.

  He poured her a glass of wine without asking and put it in front of her.

  “What are you cooking?” Andi asked, as the aroma of spices filled the cabin. Andi searched her mind for the last time she had smelled food like this and could not remember.

  “Halibut cheeks,” Harry said.

  “What?” Andi looked at him, confused.

  “You asked what I’m cooking,” he said. “It’s OK. You’re still in shock.”

  “I didn’t know halibut even had cheeks.” Andi managed a smile.

  “Best bit of the fish,” Harry said as he put a plate of food in front of Andi. “Eat. You’ll feel better.”

  They both ate their meal in silence, as it grew dark outside.

  From the cabin window, Andi watched as the moonlight threw a shaft of shimmering light over the ocean, and the gentle rhythmic ripple of waves comforted her a little.

  “It has a calming effect,” she said to Harry. “Being on the water, I mean. Is that why you live out here?”

  “Hephzibah rents my house,” Harry answered. “As much as I love my sister, there’s no way I want to live with her. She has too much stuff.”

  Andi laughed.

  “The boat suits me,” Harry continued. “I have everything I need.” He looked at her curiously. “What about you? That little apartment. It’s OK, but I thought it was temporary . . .”

  Andi looked down at her plate and fiddled with her cutlery. She hadn’t been hungry, but somehow the plate was empty.

  “It was. I didn’t know what I was going to do. I promised Jim I’d stay for another year, but now . . . I don’t know, I just keep thinking I’ve fucked up somehow.”

  She felt the tears come and wiped her hand over her face.

  “How have you fucked up?” Harry demanded.

  Andi looked up. He was serious.

  “Well, in my continuing obsession for a good story, I published details of the investigation I wasn’t supposed to, I practically accused Charlie Rollins of killing Ricky Havers, I didn’t find out anything for Sandra Havers and now she’s dead, and so is Dennis and poor Nadine.”

  “Are you finished with your pity party?”

  Andi jerked her head up. Harry laughed.

  “Good. Now, I’m going to pour you another glass of wine while you get all those photos and documents out and fire up your laptop.”

  Andi looked at him in surprise.

  Harry laughed. “What’s the matter? C’mon, girl, you won’t be happy until you’ve fi
gured this thing out. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and get back to work.”

  He filled her glass. “The way I see it is this: someone waited until Ricky’s body was discovered before he — or she — went on a killing spree, right? So whoever it is must either be fucking crazy or full of rage for something. Something that links the Havers and Nadine Dagg. And I don’t think it’s Lee Dagg. I went to school with Lee. And sure, he might regret marrying Nadine, but he wouldn’t do anything to hurt Katie. He might punch out Dennis in the pub after too many beers, but Lee Dagg wouldn’t snatch Ricky Havers and then kill Dennis and Sandra, and the mother of his daughter, no way.” He was emphatic.

  Andi nodded.

  “I still think Jade and Summer Thompson are connected to Dennis Havers in some way.”

  “Unlikely that either of them killed Nadine,” Harry said. “Nadine wasn’t tiny, and she wasn’t a fragile little flower. She’d have put up a fight.”

  Andi nodded. “That’s what I thought.”

  “So, get out your stuff and let’s see what you’ve got. Maybe I know something that’ll help. And you know there’s somebody in this town who knows what’s going on. Vega can collect all the fingerprints he wants. My bet is there’s something in the past that set off these killings. All we have to do is work out what it was.”

  “I think we can help with that.” Jim Peters stood in the galley doorway. Andi could see the figure of someone behind him. “Any more of that halibut left?” he asked.

  “Sure. Who have you got with you?” Harry asked.

  A woman stepped into the galley, holding rolls of paper. She had a shock of white hair and wore a long black skirt with a jacket made of some kind of animal hide.

  “Hello, Clara,” Harry said. “Take a seat. Plenty of fish to go round.”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Vega listened to Walter.

  In his mind’s eye he could see the brand-new Mercedes E-Class sedan parked outside the motel room next to his. He’d even nodded at the owner, although Vega couldn’t remember anything about him, except he was dressed expensively. What had Peggy Wilson said his name was?