Murder Most Wholesome

by Staci McLaughlin

  She waved in the general direction of Zennia’s house, a slight curl forming on her upper lip. “Yes, over where that hippie woman lives with that overgrown garden.”

  I bit back a smile. Zennia would no doubt take her comment as a compliment, even if the woman meant it as an insult.

  “I’d be nervous with a murder happening so close to where I live,” I said.

  “I’ve been double-checking the locks on my doors every night. Of course, Fluffy here will protect me.”

  I eyed the small dog panting up at her owner. The thing couldn’t weigh more than five pounds and looked about as ferocious as one of the chicks at the farm.

  “Were you home the day the murder happened?” I asked.

  She shivered. “I missed seeing the killer by minutes. I was getting ready for Fluffy’s walk when I heard a squealing noise. I looked out my window and saw this beat-up van stop in front of the hippie’s house. Thank goodness the driver doesn’t live around here. Those types of eyesores bring down everyone’s property value.”

  I glanced around, noting several older and slightly shabby cars. Frank’s van fit right in. “How do you know he doesn’t live nearby?” I asked.

  “The nice policeman mentioned that the dead man arrived in that van. Apparently a friend was dropping him off.” The woman lowered her voice. “I got the impression the policeman wasn’t supposed to tell me that. He got quite flustered after he said it.”

  Perhaps Detective Palmer had sent a rookie officer, one who hadn’t learned the art of discretion yet, to interview the neighbors. “Did you see anyone else? Or another car?”

  “Not a soul. I went downstairs a few minutes later to put Fluffy’s leash on, and we started on our walk. A little after that, I saw the van go by, but no one else. The neighborhood was as quiet as a graveyard.”

  I flinched at the comparison, but the woman didn’t seem to notice. Had the killer snuck into the cul-de-sac and murdered Birch while Fluffy was tinkling on the tulips down the street, or was Birch still waiting patiently in Zennia’s garden at that point?

  “Nothing when you returned from your walk either?”

  The woman pursed her lips. “I already told the police no. I almost never run into anyone that early. I’d be done with Fluffy’s walk today, except I needed to finish cleaning my house. Which reminds me, I need to start my walk if I want to be back before my guests arrive.” She looked pointedly at my car.

  “I’ll be gone by then,” I said. Maybe.

  She yanked on the leash and started down the sidewalk. Fluffy trotted after her, the dog’s short legs a blur as it tried to keep up.

  I continued on to Zennia’s house, wondering if the police had obtained more information from the other neighbors. With the early hour, it wasn’t likely.

  Zennia opened her front door before I could even knock. “Dana, you made it. Come in, come in.”

  I stepped in the house and spotted Millie in one of the wicker chairs. On the phone, Zennia said Millie was shaken up, but here, she seemed no more excited than if she and Zennia had been discussing the latest blooms in the garden.

  “Zennia told me what happened,” I said. “Are you all right?”

  Millie smirked. “I’ve survived closer calls in life. He’ll have to do better than that if he thinks he can scare me away. ”

  Getting shot at was about as close a call as I could imagine for myself. “You said, ‘he.’ Do you think it was Ryan?”

  “I’m sure of it. I confronted him with my information as soon as I got back to the commune last night and told him I wanted him out or else I’d expose him for the fraud he is.”

  Zennia had disappeared into the kitchen, where I could hear her moving around. I settled into the chair next to Millie. “What did he say?”

  “He tried to deny everything. When that didn’t work, he threatened me. Told me I’d better keep my mouth shut or else.” She slapped the chair arm, the first evidence of emotion I’d seen from her. “Not two hours later, I was walking to my cabin when someone took a shot at me.”

  “You’re lucky you weren’t killed.”

  Zennia entered the room carrying a tray with three mugs on it. “That’s exactly what I said.” She set the tray on the coffee table and handed me a mug. “But even after Millie repeated everything to the sheriff, he still refused to arrest Ryan.”

  I whipped my head around to face Millie, careful not to spill the tea Zennia had given me. “But he shot at you!”

  “The sheriff couldn’t find any proof,” Millie said. “Ryan did a real snow job on the sheriff, even offered to let him search his living quarters. You can bet he’d already hidden the gun in the forest, and the bullet could be in any one of those trees.”

  “That’s it? You’re almost killed, and the police won’t do anything?” I asked.

  Millie steepled her fingertips, demonstrating a maddening air of calm. “No one claimed to hear the shot, and besides that, the sheriff pointed out it could have been a poacher in the woods. He said his hands are tied without any evidence.”

  No wonder Zennia was worked up. The sheriff wasn’t even looking for the shooter, which meant whoever it was—and it was most likely Ryan—could try again.

  “What are you going to do now?” I asked. “I don’t think it’s safe for you to stay at the commune.”

  “I immediately packed a bag and came to Zennia’s. She’s always had a good heart, and I knew she’d welcome me. I’ll sleep here until Ryan moves out.”

  I added sugar to my mug and stirred so forcefully that tea sloshed over the side. I grabbed a napkin and dabbed it up. “It sounds like he won’t leave quietly if he’s resorted to attempted murder.”

  “He won’t have a choice. I’m making my case at the commune this evening.”

  I almost choked on my tea. “Isn’t that risky?”

  Millie placed her hands on her thighs. “Once I reach the commune, I’ll make sure I’m constantly surrounded by people, and I’ll come back here as soon as it’s over. Ryan won’t have an opportunity to harm me.”

  “I’m going with her,” Zennia added. “I’ll make sure Ryan doesn’t get anywhere near her.”

  Zennia didn’t exactly strike me as the ideal bodyguard, and there was no way Millie could guarantee she’d be safe, but the two women had clearly made up their minds.

  “Besides,” Millie said, “once everyone knows his story, Ryan will have no reason to harm me.”

  “Except if he wants revenge,” I said, though I knew I was wasting my breath arguing.

  “He’ll be too busy running out of town with his tail between his legs to worry about me.”

  Zennia glanced at her watch. “If you two don’t mind, I’m going to wash up the breakfast dishes. It won’t take a minute.” She left the room.

  I set my mug down and slid to the edge of the chair. “Will you tell me now what you found out?” I was almost positive she’d learned of whatever Ryan planned to do with the cabins, but there was an outside chance she’d discovered something else.

  “Perhaps the time has come, since I’ve given Ryan the option to bare his soul and he has refused me.” She turned her pale blue eyes on me. “The man doesn’t have nearly the skills and knowledge he claims.”

  “I know he didn’t finish college,” I said.

  “That’s only part of it. He proposes these glamorous plans, but has no real experience. My cousin told me how he’s created several apps that go on cell phones. I’m not entirely clear on what an app is, but every one of his has been a flop. He even tried to start his own company, but no one would back him because they have no faith in his abilities.”

  I tilted my head. “But what about his fantastic job down in San Francisco?”

  “Not fantastic at all. He worked in customer support on the lowest level and had absolutely no influence.” Millie’s face turned grim. “But that’s not even the worst of his treachery. Pushing the commune into online sales is only step one of his plan.”

  Now things wer
e getting interesting. “What’s step two?” Did it have anything to do with that text I saw?

  “He plans to kick the residents out of the nicer cabins and rent those for thousands of dollars a week. Evergreen will become a business retreat where technology developers from all over the world can meet and brainstorm, while Ryan pockets the profits.”

  Aha. Jason and I had been right. But Millie’s idea that Ryan would keep the money didn’t make any sense. “People in the commune won’t agree to that plan, will they?”

  Millie frowned, the lines in her face deepening into furrows. “I’d like to think not, but the money from my cousin is only a loan, one that will need to be repaid eventually. I worry that if Ryan can reverse the commune’s situation with these online sales, people will do whatever he asks to guarantee financial stability. All he has to say is that it’s for the good of the commune when really, it’s for the good of his bank account.”

  “How could he keep the money? Isn’t Frank in charge of the books?” Millie’s ideas sounded completely farfetched, and I wondered how much was based on reality and how much was based on her fear that Ryan would succeed in changing the commune.

  “Ryan is a sly dog. I’m sure he’ll find a way to steal part of the money for himself.”

  “Honestly, I don’t see how that could happen. Wouldn’t any money be shared among everyone?” I leaned toward Millie. “At any rate, what sort of proof do you have? Any documentation?”

  “My cousin is friends with several important businessmen. Ryan approached one of them about his ideas.” Millie reached in her pocket and pulled out a crumpled-up napkin. “I also have this. Ryan threw it in the wastebasket, but I pulled it back out.”

  “What is it?” I asked, trying to get a good look.

  She smoothed out the napkin and held it up. “Drawings. Of the commune. These are all cabins currently occupied by residents, but he’s assigned other names to them. These must be his first customers.”

  “But where would the people living there now go?”

  Millie pointed to a sketch of a building. “To the dorms. He must plan to rent out every cabin that has running water and electricity, and kick these poor souls out.”

  “Are you sure about this? These seem like big plans,” I said.

  “Let’s not forget he tried to shoot me. That isn’t the action of an innocent man.”

  Zennia came back into the room. “All done. Millie, what time did you want to go to the commune?”

  “I called Frank earlier,” Millie said. “He assured me that he can get everyone gathered in the main hall by five this afternoon, which doesn’t give me much time. I must organize my thoughts and calm my soul before we drive out there.” She looked at Zennia. “Perhaps I can sit in your garden and meditate.”

  “I’d much rather you came to the farm with me,” Zennia said.

  “I can’t. I need the quiet to center myself.”

  Zennia laid a hand on Millie’s arm. “Promise me that once you’re finished meditating, you’ll come back inside and stay here for the afternoon.”

  “If it will make you feel better,” Millie said.

  I rose from my chair. “I need to be going, too. Zennia, I’ll see you at the farm. Millie, good luck this evening.”

  From the sound of it, she was going to need all the luck she could get. Even if Millie exposed Ryan’s lies, there was no guarantee the residents would force him out. And if he stayed, what would he do to Millie?

  Chapter 29

  When I got back to my car, the woman who’d been walking her dog was placing a note under my windshield wiper. She saw me and yanked the paper back. “There you are.”

  “Did you need something?”

  “Yes. You must move your car now. I was leaving you a note to that effect.” She glanced guiltily at the paper clutched in her hand, and I wondered how offensive the wording was.

  “You do realize this is a public street, right?”

  She glared at me. “I told you I need that space for company.”

  I looked up and down the cul-de-sac. “Are they here yet?”

  “I’m expecting them any minute.”

  “Great,” I said. “Have a nice day.”

  I got in my car and slammed the door shut. I pulled away from the curb and forgot all about Zennia’s cranky neighbor as my mind turned to Millie and her big meeting later today.

  Even though Millie had uncovered damning information about Ryan, people might be willing to overlook the fact that he’d exaggerated his education and experience. He could easily claim he was implementing his changes to help the residents. And for all I knew, maybe all of Ryan’s grand plans actually were for the good of the commune. Millie had her work cut out for her.

  When I got back to the farm, I typed up the day’s blog, which I’d completely forgotten about in my rush to see Zennia and Millie. Once I’d posted it to the farm’s Web site, I checked to make sure Zennia didn’t need help with lunch. When she declined the offer, I returned to the office.

  With nothing pressing at the moment, I called Jason to fill him in on everything I’d learned.

  “I’m at the commune right now to finish those interviews,” he said when I stopped babbling and allowed him a chance to speak. “The whole place is talking about how Millie’s disappeared. I’m glad she’s safe.”

  “People must be frantic after she was almost killed.”

  There was a pause. “Actually, no.”

  “Really?”

  “No one heard the shot, and while the sheriff conducted a cursory investigation, he couldn’t find any proof. A few people are suggesting she imagined the whole incident.”

  I stood up and shut the office door in case Zennia walked by. “You know, I do find it odd that no one heard anything. I’ve run through those very same woods at night, as you know, and I can tell you that it’s insanely quiet out there. You could hear a shot for miles.”

  “I agree. And even as late as it was, I wouldn’t expect everyone to be asleep.” I heard talking in the background. “My interviewee has arrived,” Jason said. “I might be here a while. I’ll stay for the meeting and give you a call after Millie’s speech.”

  “Hey, do me a favor and keep an eye on Millie and Zennia. I’m sure nothing will happen, but I’ll feel better knowing you’re there.”

  “Absolutely. Talk to you soon.”

  I put my phone in my pocket and spent the next couple of hours working on odd jobs around the farm. At three, Zennia left to take Millie to the commune. Though I knew the meeting wasn’t scheduled until five, I spent the rest of the afternoon listening for my phone’s ringtone. Twice I was convinced I heard it, only to yank my phone out of my pocket and discover the music was only in my head.

  At five, I went out to check on the animals, trying to find anything to keep me busy. I was saying hi to Berta and the other chickens when my phone rang for real this time. When I saw Jason was calling, a knot formed in my belly.

  “How did it go?” I asked as soon as I answered.

  “I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”

  I laughed, and the knot slipped a bit. “Well, you must be okay since you were able to call me. But seriously, how did Millie’s big announcement go? Is Ryan packing as we speak?”

  “No. The whole thing was done in five minutes, and people seemed more confused than ever.”

  My instincts were correct. The villagers hadn’t grabbed their pitchforks and chased the so-called beast out of town like Millie was hoping. “Millie must be furious.”

  “Absolutely. I saw her deep in talks with Frank a short while ago. Probably planning what she’ll say tomorrow.”

  “Is Frank on her side?” As I spoke, Berta strutted over to the fence and glared at me. I took a step back in case she decided to peck me through a hole in the wire.

  “As far as I can tell. Most of the old-timers are.”

  This situation was becoming more dramatic than one of those soap operas my mom loved to watch when I was little. “Remin
d me never to live on a commune,” I said.

  “I don’t think they’re all like this, but at any rate, I need to go. I just wanted to call and give you the latest.”

  “Thanks, I appreciate it.”

  I headed back to the house to grab my purse and keys. On the way home, I swung by the store for milk, Lucky Charms, Oreo cookies, and a few other essentials before driving to the apartment.

  As I pulled into the complex, I did a double-take. Mom was stepping out of her car where it was parked in a visitor space. I whipped into my own space and got out to greet her.

  After a quick hug, I said, “What brings you by?”

  She smoothed out her sweater. “I haven’t seen my two favorite girls in a while and thought I’d stop to say hello. I called Ashlee first to make sure I wouldn’t be interrupting any plans.”

  I felt instant guilt for neglecting my mom. “Of course you’re not interrupting, and you don’t need to call first. I love to see you. Let’s go up.” I retrieved my groceries from my car and led the way up the stairs.

  Inside the apartment, Ashlee was sitting on the couch in her pajamas. She held a pint of dark chocolate ice cream in one hand and a large spoon in the other. “Men!” she said as soon as she saw us.

  “Trouble in the dating world?” I asked. I stepped all the way inside so Mom could enter, and then I closed the apartment door with my foot.

  Ashlee jammed the spoon into the ice cream and set the carton on the coffee table. “Good ol’ Ryan must have felt bad about not calling me, because he sent me a text message this morning to set up a date. I decided to say yes to show him what a generous and forgiving person I am, and he has the nerve to text me after lunch and cancel. Well, screw him.”

  “Ashlee,” Mom said with a warning tone, “your language.”

  Ashlee winced. “Sorry, Mom.”

  I toted the groceries into the kitchen and talked to both of them over the counter while I unpacked. “I know for a fact Ryan was busy at the commune today.”

  “Then he shouldn’t have asked me out in the first place,” Ashlee said. She came into the kitchen, once more clutching her ice cream.