Murder at Harbor Village

by GP Gardner

  I had swilled my first glass of tea and the server brought another one.

  “There’s something I want to ask you about.” Nita looked and sounded unusually serious. “Do you like cats? You’re not allergic or phobic or anything, are you?”

  I laughed. “I like cats fine. I had one for years. But why?”

  “This is the problem.” She patted my wrist a few times, as if she were stalling while she decided just how to phrase something. “I barely knew the woman who lived in your apartment. She wasn’t here long and moved back to New Jersey, I understand. But I’m very much afraid she abandoned her cat. She’s a pretty little calico, with a white chest and feet, and I saw her hiding under the shrubs at the back.”

  “How could somebody do that?” I had a little catch in my throat.

  She nodded. “I hoped you’d feel that way. And I have a confession. I propped your screen door open so she could get back in, and Jim has been putting a little food out every day.”

  “I haven’t seen any cat,” he said, “but the food disappears. Could be anything. A cat, a dog, even a raccoon.”

  “I hope we haven’t attracted raccoons to your porch,” Nita said. “But we have coyotes, too.”

  “Not in the summer, Nita. They come in cold weather.”

  “Yes, I know that, but they come after cats. And I just can’t bear to think about that pretty little thing, accustomed to a safe apartment, and now she’s out there with dogs and coyotes and traffic. How a person can be so cruel…”

  “I’ll be on the lookout,” I promised. “Now that I think of it, I noticed a pet flap in the door to the laundry room.”

  Nita’s eyes widened. “The litter box! I’ll bet the litter box was in there. Is there room for it?”

  I nodded. “Probably. In the corner.”

  I fished in the pocket of my purse for the list of supplies I needed to pick up and added cat food, litter box and litter. “I suppose I should be prepared. If she doesn’t show up, I’m sure there’s an animal shelter that accepts donations.”

  “Bless your heart.” Nita beamed.

  Jim shook his head. “Another animal lover.”

  “Haven’t you been feeding her?”

  “Just on the porch. Can’t have her starving.”

  We finished lunch and I set off for the grocery store, where I bought paper products, Diet 7 Up, bottled water, a bottle of merlot, cheese, bread, crackers, fruit, almonds covered in dark chocolate, plus cat supplies and a couple of frozen dinners. Then I rushed back to Harbor Village. As I lugged bags up the sidewalk between the garages and apartments, I met a nice-looking young man wearing khakis and a tool belt that clinked when he walked.

  “Ms. Mack? I’m Stewart, from maintenance. You need a TV hooked up for the weekend?”

  He helped me get my bags into the kitchen. “I’m afraid I scared your cat off. She’ll come back, won’t she?”

  “She was on the porch?”

  “Yeah. You probably don’t know, but they don’t allow outdoor pets here. I won’t tell them, but somebody will.”

  “Thanks.” Now I had to figure out how to lure her inside and hope we’d be compatible.

  Stewart connected the cable to the TV I’d brought in the car and left it sitting on the floor. He gave me a card with a phone number to call about Wi-Fi. “Call me when you get ready to hang pictures. Fridge working okay?”

  “It’s cold.” I put the cheese and soft drinks on the center shelf.

  After Stewart left, I wiped out cabinets and put away the dishes and glasses I’d moved in the car, set up both bathrooms with tissues and towels and new shower curtains and was just putting the new litter box into the laundry room when someone knocked at the door. The moving van, I assumed, and rushed out.

  “Mom?” Stephanie yelled. “Are you here?”

  “Stephanie! I had no idea you were coming!”

  I shot across the room, threw the door wide open and gave her a hug. She had a sleepy, tousle-haired Barry in her arms.

  “Barry, honey. Do I get a hug?”

  No, I did not. He scowled at me and then buried his face against Stephanie’s neck.

  “Talk to your grandmother,” Stephanie coaxed, to no avail.

  On the porch sat a laptop bag, a small suitcase on wheels and a gigantic shoulder bag overflowing with baby gear. How had she carried all this stuff? And where were they going to sleep? Where had I packed the extra sheets and pillows?

  “There’s no furniture yet.” I pointed out the obvious. “But let me bring your things in.” I put everything in the bathroom. “The movers won’t need to be in here and we can close the door.”

  “I’ve got his quilt in the bag,” Stephanie said. “If you’ll get it out and fold it a couple of times, he’ll go right back to sleep. There was a moving van behind us.”

  I folded Barry’s quilt into a pallet before walking out to the parking lot, where I found the truck and three men, just backing into position at the end of the sidewalk. One of them asked, “You want to show me the apartment?” The other two lowered the ramp, threw open the furniture compartment and began trundling my possessions out.

  The movers set up my bedroom first. When that was done, Stephanie found two boxes labeled “bed linens” and dragged them back, then grabbed a corner of Barry’s pallet and slid it to the bedroom, too, while he slept soundly. “I’ll work back here.” She closed the door.

  The movers shifted to the dining area. The china cabinet required all three of them working in synchrony and, without asking, they put it right where I’d imagined it.

  I got them bottled water, not very cold, from the refrigerator, and they drained the bottles before going to work on the second bedroom. Finally they brought the chairs and couch and tables for the living room and then took a rest and stood under the AC vents, arguing whether it was the heat or the humidity.

  “We’ve got some bookcases,” the boss said, and I pointed to the long wall.

  I moved the TV out of the way until one of the low bookcases was in place and then positioned it on top. My computer desk and chair went under the front windows.

  The boss brought a form for me to sign and popped out a pink copy for me. I had generous tips ready and walked out to the screen porch to deliver them personally. The few pieces of patio furniture I had were already arranged, cushions in place. And the cat food dish, I noticed, was right where it had been, still full.

  “Less than an hour!” I said, in disbelief. “And you did a great job.”

  The movers grinned. “Unloading is the easy part.”

  I gave them more bottles of water and encouraged them to drive down to see Mobile Bay before they headed back to Atlanta. And then they were gone and the relocation was a done deed. I looked around, not quite believing my eyes. Except for unpacking about thirty boxes, I was moved in.

  Stephanie came out of the bedroom and draped an arm around my shoulders. “All done? That was fast. And look how perfect everything looks. You didn’t need me at all.”

  I hugged her. “Oh, you know that’s not true. You made my day. And look at all these boxes to be emptied.”

  She had my bedroom looking perfect already, right down to the new dust ruffle for the bed and glowing lamps on the night tables.

  “Amazing. This would have taken me the rest of the day.”

  “I think there’s room for a little table on this wall.” Stephanie looked around with a critical eye. “You’ve got some art or photographs or something, right?”

  We started on the guest room, spacious enough for the guest bed plus Barry’s old crib from my house, modified now with a lowered mattress and only a partial rail on the front. We weren’t actually hammering but there was a little tapping. He woke up and came to help.

  Stephanie offered him a snack but he shook his head. “You like your bed?”

  He
climbed aboard and sat for a couple of seconds.

  “He’ll still wake up before I do, but at least he won’t fall over the high rail.”

  As if demonstrating, Barry flipped to his stomach and slid off to the floor, giggling. Stephanie and I laughed with him.

  It was time for another break. We got cold drinks and moved to the living room couch and chair or, in Barry’s case, the maze of boxes.

  I looked around. “I think this is just about perfect. Will the kitchen window be too bright for orchids? I’m thinking maybe glass shelves. And I’ve already met Stewart the handyman, who’ll put them up.”

  Chapter 3

  While Stephanie showered, I decided Barry and I would go for a little walk. “Want to go outside?”

  He pointed to the door.

  The office staff should’ve been around still, and it seemed like a perfect opportunity to show off my grandson. “Want me to carry you, Barry? Are you getting tired?”

  “No!”

  He did allow me to steer him toward the big house and through the automatic door.

  A woman wearing tall, platform shoes with a bright green dress in about a size two was walking across the lobby, looking like an ad from a fashion magazine. She watched us and suddenly veered our way. I was sure I’d met her and tried to jog my memory for her name, but no luck. Maybe she was a TV personality.

  “Cleo? I’m Lee. Nice to meet you, and nice to have you joining us at Harbor Village.”

  “Lee,” I repeated, still drawing a blank. And then—Eureka! “Lee from corporate?”

  “Right.” She drew the word out and gave me a little cough of a laugh, like I’d said something stupid.

  So naturally, like an idiot, I started babbling. “Sorry I didn’t recognize you. Jamie told me you’d be here, but I thought she meant Monday, when I start working.”

  Lee shot me another glance. “People are always trying to figure out when I’m coming. It’s like a cottage industry here. But I’m never predictable. Remember that.” She put on a forced smile. “And we may as well get this out of the way now. I hate working with family. It always causes problems. So don’t expect any favors.” She glanced at Barry and sniffed slightly, then swept her gaze across the lobby. “Oh crap, where is that Stewart?”

  And then, with long, fashion-model strides, she stalked off toward the dining room.

  I reminded myself to breathe and, without asking him, swung Barry up and scurried off in the opposite direction, toward the office.

  Patti Wagon, still watching the departing Lee, came quickly to meet us.

  “Who is this, Cleo?” She tickled Barry’s leg and reached for him and, before I could say he was shy of strangers, he practically flew out of my arms and into hers. My knees were a little shaky, and not just from carrying Barry.

  “Oh, aren’t you adorable. Let’s see if I have something in the candy jar.” She carried him to her desk and found a few M&Ms in a glass jar. I nodded approval and Patti gave them to Barry.

  I was willing myself back to normal when Stewart walked in, his tool belt clanking.

  “Who have we got here?” he asked loudly.

  Barry pushed away from Patti and darted to him.

  “Oh, you like pliers?” He squatted so Barry could get a close look. “Don’t pinch your finger, kid.”

  Patti spoke softly. “I see you met our dragon lady.”

  “Yes. She warned me not to expect any favors.”

  Patti rolled her eyes and bounced her curls. “Nothing surprises me where she’s concerned. Just remember, she’s not here much. And she just approved hiring you, so you’re safe for now. I don’t suppose she told you what her name is?”

  “You don’t know her name?”

  “She remarried recently. We have a bet going about whether she’ll change her name or keep it the same as the money. The Ferrell fortune, I mean.” She giggled nervously and kept watch on the lobby.

  “She’s looking for Stewart,” I said.

  “Uh-oh.” She looked at him and repeated, “She’s looking for you.”

  “Uh-oh.” He stood up with a clank of tools. “Which way did she go?”

  “Dining room,” Patti said, and Stewart headed off in that direction.

  I said to Barry, “We’d better go, sweetie.”

  “Why don’t you use this door?” Patti walked us away from the lobby, down a hallway between offices and changed the subject to something more normal. “Would you like for Stewart to come hang pictures and things?”

  “How about Friday?” I asked.

  “You know that’s tomorrow, right? He’s probably booked already but I can check.”

  “I’ve lost a day. Next week is fine. Better, probably, since Stephanie and Barry will be here in the morning.” I took Barry’s hand and more or less fled.

  The fresh air cleared my head and silenced the OMG chorus that had been crooning in my head. As we approached the apartment, I saw a note stuck in the screen door. I assumed it would say that Stephanie had finished her shower and gone for a walk, but I was wrong.

  “Back at 6 to take you to dinner,” the note said. It was signed “Riley.”

  I stuck it in my jeans pocket.

  Stephanie was in the hall bath with the door open, drying her hair. “Hey, guys.” She switched the dryer off and picked up a hairbrush. “Have a nice walk?”

  “Barry had three M&Ms and decided to be a handyman when he grows up. He likes Stewart’s tool belt. And I had a strange encounter.” I told her about the woman from corporate and what she had said about working with family. “She looks like a million bucks and is a member of the donor class.”

  “Everybody here is like family.” Stephanie frowned. “Why would she work here if she doesn’t like that? And why would she work at all, if she’s rich.”

  “Good question. She looked familiar. I think she might be a social worker.”

  Stephanie snorted. “A rich social worker? That’s an oxymoron.”

  “Maybe I offended her sometime. We might’ve served together on a committee.”

  She shook her head. “Oh, Mom.” She gave me a hug and back pat. “Don’t let it bother you. Now, what are we doing for dinner?”

  “I found this stuck in the door.” I gave her Riley’s note and she scanned it.

  “Riley? Who is Riley? And why haven’t I heard anything about him?”

  I shrugged. “Just a nice man who lives here. We don’t have to go if you’d rather not.”

  “Oh, definitely, let’s go.”

  “Now, don’t start anything. Where’s my suitcase?”

  I showered, dried my hair, put on white pants and a sapphire blue cotton sweater. A little moisturizer, a little lipstick and mascara, and I looked more presentable than I felt.

  Stephanie had given Barry a bath and was stuffing him into a striped yellow-and-orange T-shirt and short blue overalls.

  “You look adorable,” I told him.

  “No!” he shouted and kicked while his mom tried to wedge his feet into blue canvas shoes.

  Riley appeared promptly at six. I introduced Stephanie and Barry and offered to let him off the hook. “You’ll get three of us tonight, I’m afraid. More than you bargained for.”

  “And one of us is tired and cranky,” Stephanie said.

  Riley gave me a look and shrugged. “She doesn’t seem any crankier than usual.”

  Stephanie laughed like that was really funny, and Riley grinned. “The more, the merrier, I always say.”

  Bonding with Stephanie, check.

  “I’m sure you’re tired. Let’s go someplace nearby. I’ll bet you’d like an early night,” Riley proposed.

  And now I was the one who appreciated him.

  “Why don’t I drive,” Stephanie said. “The car seat is difficult to move.”

  “Oh, I forget
about car seats,” Riley said. “Didn’t have them when mine were little. Shall we go to the pier restaurant? Ought to be a good sunset.”

  “How many children do you have, Riley,” I asked as we walked past the garages and across the street to Stephanie’s car. I held Barry’s hand, and Stephanie had gone ahead of us to reorganize the car.

  “Two boys. What about you?”

  “Stephanie is my one and only.”

  “She’s still a kid. My boys are forty-something now. Both in Washington, both attorneys.”

  “And you lost your wife?” I didn’t know whether from death or divorce.

  “Yeah, she wandered off a long time ago and I didn’t look for her.” He grinned. “Truthfully, she’s in Washington, too. In fact, she and Nita worked together, many years ago. And Nita is the reason I found Fairhope.” He chuckled, revealing tight wrinkles at the corners of dark blue eyes. “And now you know my entire life story.”

  Stephanie and I were grateful just to sit in the restaurant, but Barry was interested in the boats in the marina and especially the ducks beginning to gather for the night. He was quite happy to go outside with Riley for a closer look. I watched through the windows and saw Barry talking with great animation.

  “Riley isn’t understanding a word of that, is he?”

  Barry put both hands up and covered his head, still talking and pointing to the sky occasionally.

  “Oh, how cute.” Stephanie whipped out her phone and began filming. “He’s telling Riley about feeding the gulls.”

  We had a good dinner, and there was a pretty sunset, although not a cathedral sky. We paid at the register and walked back to the car. I hadn’t seen Nita, but she could be anywhere on the pier.

  “Riley, I assumed you live at Harbor Village, too.” Stephanie gave a signal and slowed to turn in at the entrance. “Want me to drop you somewhere?”

  He was in the front seat, beside her. “No. I took my car around to Cleo’s, thinking I’d be driving.”

  Barry pointed at the pelican sculpture as we went by and said something, I wasn’t sure what.

  “He’s going to know exactly how to find grandma’s apartment,” Riley said.