Mahjonged (An Alex Harris Mystery)
Page 14
I smiled at my assistant. “I tend to agree with you.”
Millie, visibly relieved, sat down. “You do? Oh, thank God. I mean, Alex, I know what it looked like on Friday, but Mia wouldn’t hurt anyone.”
“I still want to talk with her. She may have heard something from someone that could shed some light on this thing. You didn’t tell her about Saturday night, did you?”
“No, I didn’t. We talked a bit on the phone on Sunday afternoon but Reuben and I had plans so we didn’t talk long. She said the police stopped by but that was all.”
“What time does she get home?” I asked, turning off my computer and tidying my desk.
Millie looked at her watch. “She should be home soon. She usually goes home and then out for a jog so if you leave now, you’ll probably catch her.”
Fifteen minutes later I knocked on the door to Mia’s apartment. She opened it dressed in a pair of running shorts and a sweatshirt, her gorgeous blue eyes much more calm than they had been on Friday night.
“Alex, I was just leaving. I’d ask you in but I have plans later so I have to get my run in now. I walk first to warm up so you can come along with me.”
I wasn’t exactly dressed for an evening jog, but it looked like I had no other choice. Mia was already several steps ahead of me and I picked up my pace.
“I’m sorry for the way I acted the other night. I was, well, upset. I didn’t think I would ever see Liz again and it just unnerved me to see her out of the blue.”
“I believe you, Mia. I don’t think you planned on killing Liz and got Penelope by mistake. What I want to know is if you heard anything.”
Mia pumped her arms as she walked, building up steam, and I had to almost skip to keep up with her.
“Heard anything? Like what?”
“Well, like something that would get someone mad enough to kill her?”
“No. Not that I can remember. I did hear one of the women, the one whose husband hid upstairs.”
“Connie.”
“Yes, right. Connie. Well, she was talking to him, her husband, and he said something like ‘Why did you have to go saying I wanted to kill her?’ and then Connie said, ‘Well, you did. And now she’s dead so you don’t have to worry about her causing any more trouble.’”
I stopped walking. Mia took a few more steps and turned to look at me. “Alex, are you all right?”
I took a second to catch my breath. “Mia, did you tell the police what you heard?”
“Oh, yes. I told them that night, well, in the morning, actually, when they interviewed all of us. Look, Alex, I have to get going.”
“Oh, okay, you go ahead. Thanks, Mia.”
I watched her jog half a block and then turn onto a running path circling the park. I turned and walked back to my car.
I sat on the front seat with the door opened trying to catch my breath. I figured chocolate would help the process and grabbed a handful of M&Ms, popping them slowly into my mouth thinking about what Connie had said. So even though she and Bert lived apart, she was well aware of the complaints Penelope had filed against him.
And then I remembered what my sister said at lunch, that no one knew anyone else before they all came to my house. But that wasn’t true. Besides Judith, Bert knew Penelope and Connie had at least known of her. But Connie acted very shocked when Bert admitted knowing Penelope and having trouble with her. Acted. Maybe it was all an act. I shook my head. Nothing made sense. And then I remembered something else.
In a little town in upstate New York, there was a community playhouse, where on summer nights people would gather from far and wide to see a talented group of amateur thespians. It was a true outlet for artistic expression where talent and skill were honed, and where Connie Cabrizzi had acted her little heart out all summer long.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
The next morning I sat at my parents’ kitchen table while my mother made me a cup of tea and popped an English muffin into the toaster. I could get used to this, being spoiled and catered to. Poor John. I hadn’t given him a lot of thought lately accept to hope he stayed gone a bit longer until I solved the murder. What kind of wife was I?
“So what did the police say last night, Alex?” my mom asked.
“Detective Maroni said they’re concentrating on Bert and Connie for now.”
“Does he think they did it together?” Mom asked while she set the toasted muffin in front of me.
I took a bite savoring the warm butter and the very crisp muffin. Just the way I liked it. “Well, he’s not saying for sure he thinks they killed her, but he’s got a lot of unanswered questions for them. You should see what Bert did to Penelope’s kitchen. Or, I should say what he didn’t do. It’s a mess. Nowhere near finished. If her stepchildren are going to sell the house, they’re going to have to get it completed first.”
“Is that what they plan to do?” Mom finally sat down with a steaming cup of coffee.
“They don’t want to stay here so I would imagine they’ll sell it.”
“Have you talked with anyone else?”
“I’ve talked with everyone except Bert, and I want to talk with Judith again about the doctor?”
“I don’t think there’s anything there, Alex. I know I thought so the other morning, but Penelope liked to flirt and the doctor is married…what’s that look?”
I hoped my mom didn’t pick up on my suspicions, but she’s my mom. Of course she would. She could read me like a book.
“Okay, don’t get all upset, but what if Judith felt jealous because she wanted the doctor and he only had eyes for Penelope?”
“Alex! You got mad at me when I brought this up. Why are you going back to this theory? You’re talking about Millie’s mother. Judith couldn’t hurt a fly. And besides, she said the doctor wasn’t the least bit interested in Penelope.”
“That’s right. Judith said. How do we know she’s not trying to throw off suspicion?”
My mother just shook her head. “I hope you’re wrong.”
“So do I. I also talked with Liz and Jean. Do you know anything about Jean? Family? Friends?”
“Not much. She worked as a sales rep at some point and she’s a widow, no children. She’s been retired since I’ve known her. She’s coming over today to play pinochle with Meme and Dorothy. Maybe I should keep her away from your grandmother,” my mother said with worry.
“Why? Meme’s done wonders with Francis. She was so lonely after Mrs. Scott died.”
“Your grandmother is trying to organize a camping trip. Camping. How on earth are they going to set up a tent?”
I left my mother pondering the thought of several octogenarians camping in the wilds of Connecticut and drove over to the medical offices where Judith Chapman worked.
Judith sat at her desk working on her computer when I walked in.
“Hi, Alex. What brings you here? Oh, my, you aren’t sick are you?”
“No, nothing like that. Just checking in to see if you remember anything else.”
“Not a darned thing,” Judith said. “I can’t imagine how the police are ever going to solve this.”
I looked around the office and wondered where all the patients were. “It’s awfully quiet. I guess that’s a good sign. No one’s sick.”
“That would be nice, wouldn’t it, but no, Doctor Katz is off for the rest of the week. It’s his twenty-fifth wedding anniversary and he and his wife are doing it up in the city and one of our other doctors is at a conference.”
Judith didn’t sound one bit jealous about the doctor going away with his wife for a romantic get-a-way and I felt certain I could cross her off my list for good and then she opened her mouth.
“Rosemary is a very lucky woman. I hope she realizes what a catch she has. Doctor Katz showed me the diamond pendant he bought for their anniversary. The stone had to be the size of a marble and the hotel he took her to is the very best. I should be so lucky. Penelope never had a chance. Doctor Katz is not capable of straying.”
We chatted for a few more minutes and then I left. I sat in my car, looking out the window at nothing. After all my talks with all the suspects nothing came to mind. I had lots of thoughts swirling around in my head but nothing really made much sense. Yes, maybe the first Mrs. Radamaker had come to town and killed Penelope. I told Detective Maroni about this last night and he said he would look into it, but the slight smile on his lips made me think he didn’t put much stock into this idea. It did seem far-fetched to think the woman would wait all these years to get her revenge, but stranger things have happened.
I sighed. I usually had more to go on by now. Maybe I lost my touch. The police seemed to be focused on Connie and Bert and maybe that’s where I needed to focus my own investigation but first I replayed in my head my conversation with Judith again and again trying to discern any snippet of lust in her voice for the doctor. Everything she told me just sounded like she was talking about a friend but still she did seem very taken with him and lavished on a ton of praise. No one could be that wonderful to work for. And how did she know for sure he didn’t stray? I felt like all I was doing was grasping at straws and trying to find some hidden message in Judith’s praise for the doctor. I needed a diversion and I turned my attention to Bert.
I wanted to talk with him but he and Connie no longer lived together. I reached in the back seat for the phone book, a year-old phone book, and if they just recently separated there wouldn’t be a new listing for Bert. I could call directory assistance or I could check for a business address. I flipped through the yellow pages until I found Cabrizzi Construction.
Thirty minutes later I pulled up to a small trailer. It didn’t look like much, but then what did you really need for a construction office. All the work was done someplace else. I saw someone move by a window and I walked up the ramp leading to the front door.
“Can I help you?” Bert asked without even looking up at me.
“Yeah, you can tell me why you broke into my house.”
That got his attention and he looked up. “Oh, it’s you. What’s your name again?”
“Alex. Alex Van der Burg.” I sat down and put my purse on the floor next to me. “Well?”
He placed both hands flat on the desk. “Okay, look. I’m sorry about the mess and stuff. I’ll fix the window.”
“Like the way you fixed Penelope Radamaker’s kitchen? No, thanks. But you can pay me for making the repairs myself.” Okay, so the window was already broken and I planned on replacing the old carpet anyway, but I wanted to see what kind of a guy he was.
“Sure. Sure. Anything. Look, just don’t have me arrested, okay. Really, I didn’t touch anything. I just wanted to check up on Connie.”
“Oh, I don’t think you need to worry about me. You’ve got bigger things to keep you occupied. Like the police suspecting you of murder, like a pending lawsuit for the mess you created at Penelope’s house.”
“You’ve got it all wrong. I wanted to fix the kitchen. Really. But she wouldn’t give me a chance. I kept leaving messages but she wouldn’t return any of my calls.”
I could see what attracted Connie to Bert. He was good looking with his disheveled dark looks and brooding eyes. And the five o’clock shadow. I have a weakness for stubble.
“It sounds like you had a motive for wanting her out of the way,” I said.
Bert stood up. “Hey, now. I’ll admit I didn’t do my best work, but some guys quit on me. Okay, so maybe I didn’t pay them for a while, but that’s no reason to walk off a job. And yeah, so I had a couple beers too many and may have said something like it would be a good thing if she just kicked the bucket, but I am not a killer.”
It suddenly occurred to me I was sitting in a trailer, alone, with a man who currently topped the police suspect list. Probably not my best move.
“As a matter of fact, I drove by her house early this morning and saw her step kids. I told them I would be back tomorrow to finish the job. I just have to call my concrete guy…where is his number?” Bert said as he searched his desk through a mound of paper.
“So how’s Connie?” I asked. “The two of you looked pretty chummy for a couple who split up.”
Bert smiled. “Oh, you saw us? She’ll let me back. She always does. But this time I promise to straighten up. Really. I’m going to get my shit together. Oh, sorry,” he said looking up at me. “Here. I knew I had his number. I’m going to call him right now and get the kitchen finished. And if you could find it in your heart not to press charges,” he said with a hundred megawatt smile, “then things will be just perfect.”
I grabbed my purse and stood up. “I’ll think about it,” I said as I started to walk out and then it struck me. “Did you have an affair with Penelope?”
“Huh?” Bert asked and then quickly went back to searching for something on his desk.
I took a few steps back into the trailer. “You did, didn’t you? Oh my God, is that why you killed her?”
“Okay, okay, look, that’s not how it was, okay,” Bert said as he stood up. “It wasn’t an affair, it was one time. She wanted more, but come on, she was old, you know? I mean, you’ve seen Connie. Penelope kind of threw herself at me.”
I could see it happening. There was Bert, working on her kitchen, getting all hot and sweaty, probably took his shirt off, and that stubble…I shook my head and came back to reality.
Bert ran a hand over his chin. “It was fun for a while, but I wanted to get back with Connie. Penelope wanted more and that’s why she filed a complaint against me. But it didn’t matter. I love Connie.”
“It was fun for a while?” I asked. “That doesn’t sound like one time to me.”
“Okay, okay, look. We had fun. But really, the minute Connie seemed to be willing to try again, I told Penelope enough was enough.”
A pushy woman, threatening to report him for shoddy work and maybe tell his wife about their affair seemed like a damned good motive for murder. Plus Connie probably knew and maybe took matters into her own hands.
“And she said no so you killed her?” Did I just say that out loud? Geesh. I needed to get out of here and call the police. I turned and walked out without another word to Bert.
About a mile down the road I passed Detective Maroni headed to Cabrizzi Construction. Like I told Bert only a few minutes ago, I was the least of his problems.
CHAPTER FORTY
I didn’t know who else to talk to and I had a few things to get done at the office. Plus, it seemed likely either Bert or Connie, or maybe the two of them together, killed Penelope. Detective Maroni probably had Bert in the back of his car right about now headed to the police station. Of course that didn’t mean Bert had spilled the beans about his little affair with Penelope. I needed to make sure Jim Maroni knew Bert did more than just work on the kitchen.
Sam had some things to do this afternoon and Michael needed to work late, so after a couple hours of work, I went and picked up my niece and nephew.
By three I arrived back at my parents. Henry and Kendall sat at the kitchen table. Sam wasn’t kidding about the math homework and I watched as Henry meticulously worked through his long division. It amazed me how the kid managed to focus on such a complicated task, but Henry loved school.
My cell phone rang and I dug it out of my purse.
“Hello?”
“Alex, it’s Jim Maroni. Do you have a minute?”
“Sure. What’s up? Did you arrest Bert?”
“No, it’s about the passport on Mrs. Radamaker.”
I took a deep breath. Was it really going to be so easy, that the first Mrs. Radamaker came and killed her rival after all these years?
“No record at all she entered the country, but the problem is the Dutch issue passports on the maiden name not the married name
. You wouldn’t happen to know what her family name is by any chance?”
I let out a deep sigh. “Of course. I forgot about women keeping their family name for all documents. Damn.”
Henry and Kendall looked over at me and started to laugh.
“Auntie said a bad word,” Henry said to his sister, then turned back to his homework.
“The thing is, Alex, even if she came here, how did she get into your house, into the den, in the dark, and then get out?”
To his credit, he didn’t sound like he was laughing at me, but he had a point.
“She would have had to be able to find her way around in a strange place in the dark and just happen onto Penelope? I don’t think so.”
“No. No, I guess not. It was just a thought. Thanks for looking into it. I appreciate your confidence in me.”
“No problem. If you get any more ideas, let me know because this one really has me stumped. I wish John was here.”
I closed the phone and put it back in my purse. Another dead end. “Damn,” I said, startling the kids. I forgot to tell him about Bert.
Henry finished the last problem and passed his work over to me and I went over it. He had gotten all ten problems correct. I kissed the top of his head and got up to get them each a glass of milk and homemade chocolate chip cookies. My mother worked while Sam and I were growing up so there weren’t homemade cookies for us when we got home each afternoon. Henry and Kendall usually stayed at the after school program until Sam picked them up so the cookies and milk were a special treat. Leave it to my mother not to forget. I made myself a cup of tea and took a few of the cookies and sat back down. Sitting next to my niece and nephew I suddenly had doubts about not wanting any kids of my own, but deep down I didn’t think I could be as good a mother as Sam. And it wasn’t just that. I really didn’t want to have any children. Mary-Beth and her husband felt the same way as well. I just wished I didn’t feel so guilty about it. And of course, I hadn’t even told my family yet. I wasn’t looking forward to it, but maybe tonight.