1 The Witch Who Settled the Account

by Emma Belmont

  In just a few minutes the doctor returned. He set down his kit and addressed Maris. “I’m afraid you were right. Edwin Martin is dead.”

  Jessica gasped a little, and Ashley slowly shook her head. Maris had that sinking feeling again, and swallowed hard.

  The doctor extended his hand to her. “I’m Alfonso Rossi.”

  “Maris Seaver,” she said, shaking his hand.

  “You say he was coughing?” he asked, looking from her to the two younger women. Although Ashley was still holding herself around the middle and Jessica had gone pale, they both nodded.

  When he turned back to her, Maris agreed. “He’d been eating grapes by the handful. I think he might have choked.”

  For a moment, the doctor looked confused. But when he seemed about to reply, the front door banged open and a young man stumbled into the credit union. His brown hair was tousled, and his expression grim. Even without the apron from the Main Street Market, Maris thought she recognized him—a cashier perhaps or one of the kids who bagged groceries.

  “What’s going on?” he demanded, eyes wide. “Where’s my dad?” His voice was unsteady as he approached the doctor. “The boss told me you called. He said it was an emergency.”

  “He’s in the kitchen, Bryan,” the doctor replied, taking a step toward him, “but–”

  Bryan tried to sidestep him, but Dr. Rossi put a hand on his shoulder. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, son. I’m afraid he’s died.”

  Bryan angrily shook him off and pushed past him, disappearing down the hall. Although Rossi started to go after the boy, Maris quickly said to him, “He might need a moment alone.” The doctor paused in mid-step and then turned back to them.

  “I can’t believe this,” Ashley said, shaking her head and putting a hand to her chest. “Was it a heart attack? Was that it? I mean, I know he was overweight, but…”

  “We won’t know for sure until a thorough examination can be done,” Dr. Rossi replied. “Did somebody call the police?”

  “I did,” Jessica said. She was trembling now, looking thinner than ever. “They said they would send someone. That was a few minutes ago, so hopefully they’ll be here soon.” She glanced at Maris. “Do you…do you really think he choked?”

  “I don’t know,” Maris replied. “That was just a guess.”

  Bryan re-emerged into the front room, his complexion a sickly gray. His face was flat and emotionless, and even from a distance it was clear he’d broken out in a shivering sweat.

  “Bryan,” Maris said, “are you okay?”

  He shook his head, his lips pressed together in a thin line as he hurried past them. “I’m going to be sick.” He crossed to one of the bathrooms and disappeared inside.

  “I was afraid of that,” Dr. Rossi murmured, and they all went silent.

  After a few moments, the toilet flushed and Bryan emerged, looking as though he was on the verge of keeling over.

  “Why don’t you sit down, Bryan,” the doctor said.

  The poor boy’s in shock, Maris thought, and rolled one of the teller’s chairs over to him.

  He stared at her for a moment, swallowed, and nodded, sinking into the chair. Jessica opened a nearby cabinet and withdrew a bottle of water, which she handed to him. He gave her a grateful look but said nothing as he accepted it.

  Maris turned to Ashley. “Do you have any more of those?”

  She went to the cabinet and extracted another three bottles. She passed one to Maris but the doctor declined his. She set it down, kept the other for herself, twisted off the cap and took a long swig. She didn’t seem to be doing much better than Bryan, and Maris couldn’t blame her.

  She took a good drink as well, regretting now that she’d left the B&B without a proper lunch. The water seemed to hit her empty stomach and roil around. Even so, she took another swallow. She knew it would be important to stay hydrated.

  In her many years at hotels and resorts all over the world, Maris had seen her share of emergencies—and even been part of a few. But there were two things that they all shared in common: they brought out the best and worst in people, and they were inevitably followed by many questions. In the strange lull, she took a moment to take in her surroundings. She noted the people, the room, its furnishings and objects, committing everything to memory.

  The wailing sound of a siren in the distance made them all look to the door.

  3

  Maris headed out onto the porch just as the boxy red ambulance pulled up, lights still whirling. Following it was a white SUV with the Medio County sheriff’s orange and green markings, a vehicle that Maris recognized. It had been Sheriff Daniel “Mac” McKenna who had investigated her aunt’s death—in what seemed like a lifetime ago.

  Though the EMTs moved briskly with their equipment, it was clear that they knew they weren’t here to rescue someone living. As the two tellers joined her outside, Ashley held the door for the paramedics. “The doctor is inside,” she said.

  “Maris,” Mac said, as he ascended to the porch. His gray eyes settled on her and he raised his eyebrows. “I didn’t expect to see you here—not that I’m complaining. It’s good to see you.”

  Just the sound of his familiar voice and his assured manner put her more at ease. “You too, Sheriff,” Maris said. “Although I wish it were under different circumstances.”

  “We certainly agree on that,” Mac said, glancing over her shoulder, then back at her. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded. “A little shaken up, but I’m guessing we all are.” Taking a step to the side, she gestured to the open door. “Mr. Martin is in the kitchen. We haven’t moved the body.”

  “Thank you,” he said, giving her a smile before he turned and followed after the paramedics.

  “I can’t believe this is happening,” Jessica said, running a hand through her long blonde hair. She was sweating, although the air conditioning had been running inside. “He’s dead. I mean, he’s really, actually…” She shook her head. “I can’t believe it.”

  Ashley put a steadying hand on her arm. “This has been some shift. I would say we should go home for the day, but they’re probably going to want to talk to us.” Turning to Maris, she asked, “What do you think we should do?”

  Glancing out towards the street, Maris saw a small crowd of townspeople already beginning to form, having either seen or heard the ambulance, or caught wind of the emergency somehow.

  “The authorities are most definitely going to have questions for us,” she said, eyeing the plaza. Though she’d adore staying outside in the fresh air, it wouldn’t be long before the gathering crowd had questions too. “I think it’s time to go back inside.” Maris opened the door for them. Ashley gave her a pained look and headed back in, with Jessica following close behind. It was going to be a long afternoon.

  Once they were inside, Maris shut the door. Ashley took a moment to hang the “Closed” sign in the front window.

  “Good thinking,” Maris said. The last thing they needed was someone coming in to deposit a check while there was a body being examined.

  The voices of the sheriff and the EMTs came from the kitchen. Bryan exited the bathroom and went immediately to flop down in the teller’s chair, putting his head in his hands. He’d probably been sick again. Dr. Rossi paced in front of Edwin’s desk, rubbing his chin and shaking his head periodically as if in the middle of a debate with himself.

  “What is it, Doctor?” Maris asked, as Jessica and Ashley both found a seat.

  Dr. Rossi gave a start, but then rubbed his chin again. “Nothing. Just thinking.” There was a pause before he looked at the two tellers and asked, “Had Mr. Martin gone whale watching recently? Before today, I mean.”

  Jessica frowned, thought for a moment, and then shook her head. “I…I don’t think so. At least he didn’t mention it.”

  “He couldn’t have gone whale watching,” Ashley said, leaning on her desk with her elbows. “The season hasn’t started yet. It goes from December to June.”r />
  “Hmm.” Dr. Rossi pressed his lips together, his brow furrowing, but he didn’t elaborate.

  There were footsteps in the hall and all eyes turned that way. Mac emerged into the front room, his face impassive.

  “The paramedics confirmed it,” he announced. “Not that I doubted your word, Dr. Rossi,” he continued, turning to him, “but it’s protocol to double-check. Did you notice anything unusual in your examination?”

  “I don’t want to step on the coroner’s toes,” Dr. Rossi said.

  “No worries there. The coroner will have the final word. Just your professional opinion.”

  Dr. Rossi looked from Maris to the doorway to the kitchen, and then back to Mac. “It looked like choking to me. Something cut off his airway, that’s for sure.”

  “Maybe the grapes,” Maris said, feeling like a broken record.

  Mac raised his eyebrows, turning to her. “Grapes?”

  Maris nodded. “He was eating grapes right before his coughing fit started. Maybe something went down the wrong pipe.”

  “Okay,” Mac said. “I’ll pass that along to the coroner.” He turned to face Bryan, who was still sagging in his chair, looking stunned. He hadn’t moved or spoken since the authorities had arrived, but his face seemed to be slowly returning to a less gray color, which Maris took as a good sign. Mac approached the boy slowly, stooping a little to look at him as he said, “Bryan, you should head home. People will be in touch with you shortly to make arrangements, but for now, just try to get some rest, okay? You’ve had a rough day.”

  Bryan swallowed, raising his head to look at the sheriff, and nodded robotically. “Okay,” he said, his voice cracking. “Yeah. Okay.” His movements leaden, he pushed himself out of his chair, wobbling a little on his feet. Mac steadied him with a grip on his elbow.

  “Do you need a ride home?” Mac asked.

  “No,” Bryan said, his voice sounding far away. “I’ll be fine. I ride a bike.”

  He shuffled to the exit but paused, glancing back toward the kitchen. Then he pulled open the door and stepped out into the afternoon sun. Through the window Maris could see the small crowd of onlookers part for him to pass. A few people patted him softly on the shoulder.

  “Dr. Rossi,” Mac said, “you’re free to leave, too. I’d just ask that you don’t discuss this too much with the townspeople. The less said the better.”

  “Understood,” Dr. Rossi said. “I’d better be getting back to the clinic. My nurse doesn’t like me taking too long on house calls. See you later, Sheriff. Let me know if you need anything else.”

  “Thank you, Doctor,” Mac said, as Rossi gathered his things and left the same way Bryan had.

  This time, however, the gathered townspeople seemed to crowd closer. She could see him saying a word or two, and then their shocked looks as their eyes shot back to the credit union, and then to each other.

  The paramedics emerged from the kitchen. “Sheriff,” said the one in the lead, “we’d like to take the body now, if that’s all right.”

  “By all means,” Mac said, indicating the back of the credit union. “Can you bring the ambulance around the back when you remove him?”

  “Sure thing,” the EMT said. “Is there an alley back there?”

  Ashley stood. “Yes, and a back door where we take deliveries. I’ll show you.” One EMT went with her and one exited to the front. Moments later Maris could hear the ambulance start up, as Ashley returned.

  “Thank you,” Mac said to her. Then he addressed the three of them. “I’m going to need to ask you all some questions.” Jessica sighed and slumped forward. “I’ll keep it as brief as possible.”

  The back door opened and they all heard the bone chilling sound of the metal gurney rattling into the kitchen. Maris shivered a little.

  “Jessica,” Mac said, “I’d like to start with you.” The sound of the wheeled stretcher retreated and the back door closed. “Maris and Ashley,” he continued, “would you mind waiting outside?”

  Maris heard the doors on the ambulance close and the engine start up. Of course, there was no siren. She gestured for Ashley to precede her. “We’ll be on the porch,” she replied.

  4

  With the departure of the ambulance, Maris was relieved to see that the onlookers had dispersed as well. She and Ashley sat on the steps of the porch. For a few moments they simply sat in silence. No one traversed the plaza, and only two cars drove past. For all the world, it looked like any other day.

  The water had settled her stomach and now Maris hoped that it wouldn’t start growling. She couldn’t help but look at her car where she knew there were three candy bars squirreled away. It hadn’t been intentional exactly. She’d bought them in an airport on the trip home from Hong Kong and forgotten about them. A week ago, when she’d been looking for the rental car agreement, she’d run across them.

  Maris heard Ashley sigh and looked over to see her pinching the bridge of her nose. “What is it?” Maris asked.

  “I’m going to have to balance the cash drawer,” she said, “and all the numbers really. Deposits, withdrawals. Everything.” She blew out a breath.

  It already felt like it’d been a day and a half. “How long will it take?” Maris asked.

  “Honestly,” Ashley said, glancing over her shoulder, “it’ll probably go quicker than it usually does. Mr. Martin would have Jessica order dinner delivered. I’d have to wait until he was finished eating before I helped him with the closing.”

  Maris glanced up toward the sun, which had begun its descent toward the ocean. “Well, at least it’s an early day of sorts.”

  “True,” Ashley agreed.

  The door behind them opened and Jessica emerged, her eyes red and a purse slung over her shoulder. She glanced at Ashley. “He wants to talk to you next,” she said, not pausing. Although Maris glanced up at her to say goodbye, Jessica walked passed her without noticing. “I’m out of here.”

  “See you tomorrow,” Ashley called after her, and Jessica waved a hand in the air without turning. Ashley got up and gave Maris a tired smile. “Hope it’s just as quick for me.”

  “Fingers crossed,” Maris agreed. “I’ll hold down the porch while you’re gone.”

  Mac hadn’t lied when he said it wouldn’t take long. Within minutes Ashley was emerging from the credit union and waving Maris in. “Your turn.”

  Maris got up, and dusted off her skirt. “I’ll try to be just as quick.” She turned and re-entered the building for what seemed like the twentieth time that day.

  Mac was sitting at Ashley’s desk, scribbling in a notepad as he scratched his chin. He looked up when Maris closed the door, smiling a little when she approached. “Thank you again for staying,” he said as she sat down. “I know this probably isn’t what you had planned today.”

  “At least the company is good,” Maris said, smiling a little, and the sheriff smiled in return. “So what do you want to know?” she asked, watching as he flipped to a clean page and wrote her name down.

  “Why don’t you start with when you arrived,” Mac said, his pen poised over the paper.

  “Okay,” Maris said, casting her mind back over the afternoon’s events. “I got here maybe ninety minutes ago, give or take. I was coming to open a savings account. Edwin seemed fine. I mean, he was a little short with the tellers, but there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with him.” Mac nodded, and she continued, “We sat at his desk over in the back, and he had Jessica get us some coffee. She brought cream and sugar, as well as that bowl of fruit.” She pointed in the direction of Edwin’s desk, where the coffee, now cold, sat next to the intricate china bowl. “Edwin ate a bunch of grapes.”

  Mac frowned a bit as he glanced at the desk. “You said that before as well.”

  “Yes. Why?”

  He turned back to her. “It’s just that there are no grapes in that bowl.”

  Maris’s eyes narrowed as she peered around him. He was right. Where before there had sat a giant bunch of r
ed grapes, bigger than Maris had ever seen, now there was a spot that was suspiciously barren. Apricots aplenty, along with cherries and plums, but there was not a single grape to be seen.

  “That’s odd,” she said, frowning. “I can swear there were grapes there. Edwin was eating them by the handful.”

  “Are you sure?” Mac asked. “Could it have been something else?”

  Maris pursed her lips. No, it could not have been something else. Of that she was sure.

  Mac glanced over at the fruit bowl again, and she took the opportunity to discreetly move her fingers to her temple, giving it a couple of firm taps, aware that the gesture might come off as strange. The image of the fruit bowl returned to her, like seeing a photograph. Edwin had shoveled the red grapes into his mouth like a starving man.

  Maris had been in high school when she’d realized that the other students weren’t able to recall information at will. But only in college had she heard the term photographic memory. Of course what Maris never said about her ‘excellent memory’ was how it made if difficult to forget the incident in the elevator.

  “Maris?” Mac asked, turning to look at her. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes,” she said, coming back to the present. She gave him a firm nod. “Yes. There were definitely grapes in the bowl. No doubt in my mind.” When he didn’t reply, she added, “There were two ample bunches of them, closest to him in the bowl. Closer to me were the apricots. I recall four. In between were the cherries and plums. I’d guess about a dozen cherries, none of which he ate. And I think you’ll find three plums—quite ripe if I’m not mistaken.”

  Mac’s eyebrows went up. “I rather doubt you are.” He made a few notes on the pad, then he fiddled with his pen for a moment. “Maybe he ate them all.”

  “No,” she said firmly, “there were plenty left when he went back to the kitchen.”

  Mac glanced over his shoulder to the back of the house. “Maybe someone put them back in the fridge.”