Mulch Ado About Murder

by Martha Rogers

  That seemed unlikely to me, but I’d give it a go. “All right, I will.” Ben and Harry would need to know about this new development as well.

  “Thank you. Now I need to see to getting her more keys.” She headed down the hall toward her office.

  Tillie had gone over to console Marie, so I headed back home. When I exited the building, I ran into Ben and Harry.

  Ben peered over my shoulder. “What’s going on in there? I see Tillie with her arm around Marie.”

  I explained the situation to them both while we walked back to my cottage.

  Ben shrugged and let out his breath. “She’s probably laid them down somewhere and forgotten about it. I’m sure they’ll turn up soon.”

  We stopped at my place and Harry held some papers. “I was on my way down to the station to check on the progress of the investigation. Thought I’d show them some of the stuff I’ve found on Pete’s blog. They might have already seen this, but it won’t hurt to show them.”

  “Sounds like a good idea. I’m going to take Mitzi for her walk. Mealtime is only half an hour away. Will you two be there?”

  With reassurance he’d be there, Harry waved and walked on toward his own place. Ben stayed behind. He must want something, so I waited for him to speak his mind.

  All three of us had been working on this case, and it seems we were getting nowhere. Pete had lovers’ quarrels, debts because of gambling, and bragging because of some big scheme for winning. We needed to focus more on his relationship with Steve.

  As though reading my mind, Ben said, “Do we know for certain Steve is out of town?”

  “Of course not, how would we?” I stepped up on my porch and opened my door. “I have to take care of Mitzi, so I’ll see you later.”

  He waved and walked down to his house and I headed around to the back to let Mitzi back into the house. She jumped all over me when I unfastened the leash. My poor baby didn’t like me being gone hours at a time. The crime scene tape had been removed, so I let her loose to run about the yard instead of taking a walk.

  I followed her around the corner and discovered her digging in the dirt under my bedroom window. I was sure glad the tape had been removed, or we’d be in big trouble. “Mitzi quit that digging and come here.”

  She raised her head to give me a “not now” look and went back to digging. I marched over to her and reached for her. Before I could grab her, she shook her head, and something dangled from her mouth.

  I grabbed them and realized I was holding Maria’s keys. How in the world had they ended up here? I hugged Mitzi to my chest. “Good girl, good girl. Now let’s get inside and get you cleaned up.”

  If there had been any other prints on those keys besides Maria’s, I’d ruined them if Mitzi hadn’t. After cleaning her paws of the mud and dirt, I cleaned up for dinner. I’d take the keys with me and give them to Noreen if she hadn’t left already.

  Conversation this evening hummed, but at a much softer tone than last night and breakfast this morning. Clara, Doris, and Bessie sat alone at our table with heads bent toward each other. When I sat down, they straightened up and busied their hands with napkins and silverware. Bessie finally looked at me.

  “Where are Ben and Harry?”

  “I don’t know. I expected to see them here.” At that moment, I spotted Noreen out in the lobby. “Excuse me ladies, I must speak to Noreen before she leaves.”

  I caught up with her at the reception desk where Carrie had gathered up her things to leave for the day. “Noreen, look what I found.” I held up the keys.

  Carrie gasped behind me, and when I turned around, she looked away, but not before I noticed her pale face. She left in a rush without saying good-bye.

  Noreen grabbed the keys. “Where in the world did you find them?”

  “Out in the flower bed where Pete was—well actually, Mitzi dug them up.”

  Noreen’s eyes opened wide and she inhaled a deep breath. “This doesn’t look good for Maria.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure. The crime scene investigators searched the area before they removed the tape. They would have found them if they were there when Pete was killed.”

  “Maybe you’re right. In any case, I’ll get them back to Maria tomorrow and tell her to be more careful.”

  She took the keys and headed back to her office.

  I was pretty sure Maria hadn’t put them there because I believed her when she said she and Pete argued in the employee lounge, and she certainly wasn’t any of the women described by others. I would make it a point to speak with Maria tomorrow.

  When I returned to the table, the three women were at it again with heads bent toward each other. Ben and Harry arrived right after I sat down.

  The three women straightened up and quit talking. I glared at Bessie. “All right, I know something’s up. What were you talking about?”

  Bessie’s cheeks turned even redder than the blush she usually wore. She glanced from Clara to Doris before turning to me. “We were just discussing how many quarrels Pete had the morning he was murdered and before. Adam, Steve, Maria, some mystery woman, and even someone in a gray car parked behind your house. It’s obvious that one of those people is the killer. Steve may not have gone out of town, and he could have come back here, killed Pete and left before anyone saw him. That mystery woman could have done it and left in that gray car. Someone said he also had another girlfriend here before Maria and Taryn, so she could have done it as well.”

  How in the world had Bessie come up with so much information? I had questioned at least three if not four people to get all that. She and Tillie must have been talking. I glanced at Ben and Harry. Both of their faces wore stunned expressions.

  The old game of Gossip from childhood came to mind. We loved to play it at parties and the story told at the end rarely matched the one started before making its way through five or six teen girls. I was sure the stories these women repeated had gone through a number of versions and revisions and had little to do with actuality although they did bear a thread of the truth.

  “You ladies have been watching way too much TV.” Their minds needed to go in a different direction. “I don’t know where you got all that information, but it’s all a lot of speculation. Let’s forget about that and talk about the tournaments coming up. Harry and I plan to win the Bridge tournament no matter how hard you and Ben try to beat us.”

  That got Bessie’s mind going to another topic. “Really, you think you can win? The last two have been ours and will be again.” She smiled, and her dimples flashed. “Isn’t that so, Ben?”

  “You can count on it.” He stared at me with that smirk of his.

  He was angry with me for choosing Harry as my partner, but I didn’t care. Both men had analytical minds and were great partners. I just didn’t want to encourage Ben into thinking we might have a relationship. With three tournaments a year, Harry and I were bound to win one.

  Conversation returned to the normal topics of contests and trivia. I finished my dinner and prepared to leave. “If you will excuse me, I’m heading home to Mitzi. I’ll see you in the morning.” I sure used her as an excuse for a lot of things I wanted to do.

  Ben raised his eyebrows, and I nodded to let him know I’d be waiting for him and Harry at my house.

  Mitzi jumped all over me when I opened the door to let her out. I secured her leash and took her outdoors for a few minutes. No way would I let her run free this evening in the dark even if we are well-lighted.

  After we went back inside, I put on a pot of coffee. With all the activity of the past few days, I hadn’t had time to do any baking, so the boys would have to get by on coffee alone.

  In less than five minutes they arrived and settled themselves at the table. I filled three mugs and set them on the table.

  “Today I learned a lot goes on around here that I didn’t know about. We need to get up to the main building more often and sit in on some of those group activities.” I relayed all the information from Jim and Ti
llie as well as what Doris had told me.

  Ben let out a low whistle. “That is a lot of information, and the ladies at dinner weren’t far from the truth.” He set his mug down. “Get your pad and let’s go over what we know and how it might tie together.”

  I retrieved my notepad and picked up a pen. “Okay, we know Maria had an argument with Pete over money, Adam and Pete had a disagreement about an unknown subject because I don’t think it had anything to do with the lawn, and Steve argued with Pete regarding their gambling.”

  I wrote each name and comment on the pad. “Taryn had an argument out in yard by my house, so she’s a suspect, and we can’t forget that gray or silver car Jim saw and I heard leaving.”

  Ben leaned over and turned the list toward him. “Looks like they all have a motive and the opportunity except maybe Maria who didn’t leave the building although the keys in the flowerbed slants suspicion in her direction.”

  Harry sat back and pressed his fingertips together. “We need to start eliminating people by checking alibis. That means making sure Steve really went out of town for vacation and learning more about the mystery car.”

  He pulled a piece of paper from his shirt pocket. “Here’s a little more I learned about Pete this afternoon. Steve and Pete were definitely partners in a casino scheme. We knew he went to the casinos, but from this entry a last week, it looks like he won quite big which matches what we read from earlier. He read the entry aloud.

  “We cleaned up with Blackjack. We’re investing some of the money but we plan to go back and win even more as we’ve learned a system. With our next big win, we’ll have no more debts and lots of fun.” He laid paper on the table.

  “Then Steve adds his part about the things he’ll do with his winnings.”

  “That must be what Tillie heard him talking about with Pete. He did say something about a scheme to make even more. Wonder if that had anything to do with the murder? From what I’d heard, men are all the time trying to find ways to beat the bank.”

  Ben shook his head. “That’s break the bank, Abby.”

  “Whatever. Anyway, maybe he came up with another plan for winning at poker, too. Too bad Steve is on vacation.” I picked up the pad again.

  “That still leaves the mystery car.”

  Harry folded the paper with the info about Pete and Steve. “I’ll check that out again because if those boys were mixed up in a scheme like that, they may have attracted the attention of the casino owners where they won so big. If that’s the case, we may have more than we can handle, and we’ll need to give all our information to the police.”

  “I agree, so let’s sleep on it and go over what we know in the morning.” Ben stood and picked up his jacket. “I’m heading home. Are you coming, Harry?”

  “Yeah, I’ll join you. Thanks for the coffee, and we’ll see you at breakfast.”

  They left, and I pondered the information we had. Somewhere in it all lay the answer, but would we recognize it if we found it?

  Chapter 9

  On Friday, the police had returned or rather that detective had and questioned me as well as a few others again. This time I remembered to tell him about the gray or silver car that had roared away that morning. He didn’t appear too happy that I hadn’t told him before now, but I blamed it on my memory.

  Tillie had been in a tizzy after she’d been questioned and told me she wasn’t sure what she’d told him. I told her it was okay and not to worry about it. The detective would take care of sorting it all out.

  Noreen had been out ill yesterday, so he’d probably be back to question her later. Taryn handled everything, but I never got the chance to talk with her. She had her own as well as Noreen’s responsibilities yesterday, but they’d be here today.

  I pondered this on my way to breakfast on Saturday. Pete’s memorial in our chapel was scheduled for tomorrow night, but no one had given us any information about an actual funeral or burial. Noreen had said she’d let us know as soon as she knew anything. With her being off on weekends, I’d have to wait until Monday to ask any questions.

  Before going to the dining hall, I headed for Taryn’s office to talk about the plans for tomorrow night. I also wanted to question her about her relationship with Pete. Taryn had always been one of my favorites at Spring Hill, but after the information from yesterday, that could change. This was the perfect time to question her. Before I could knock on her door, she stepped into the hall.

  “Oh, Abigail, you’re the one I wanted to see this morning. Is everything all set for the memorial service tomorrow night?”

  “Yes, everything is set. This must be difficult for you since I was told you went out to talk to him the day he died.”

  Her face blanched, and she blinked her eyes as though to stop tears. “Yes, I did. It’s awful to think I may have been the last person to see him before the person who killed him.”

  “I understand you two once were in a relationship. Is that right?”

  Taryn fingered the papers in her arms and blew out her breath. “We had a few dates, but it didn’t go far. We were more friends than lovers. Before breakfast was the only time I could catch him to ask a favor. I asked him if he’d get some fresh flower arrangements for Mrs. Simpson’s birthday party in a few weeks. Her family is having a reception for her old friends from her church. He said he’d didn’t have time, and he still had to order the ones for the banquet coming up.”

  It all sounded logical. Still, there was the fact Helen said she saw them arguing as did Tillie. “That must have upset you. Someone told me you were arguing with him.”

  She looked down at her feet and shook her head. “Eyes and ears are all over this place.” Then she glanced back at me. “Yes, I did argue with him. After he said he didn’t have time to worry about flowers for some party for an old lady, and he hadn’t ordered the other ones, I reminded him that he was the only one who could get the flowers I wanted to use this time of year. He can—could be so stubborn at times.”

  Her eyes actually misted over. “I’m not sure what we’ll do now about the decorations.” She shook her head. “That’s why I was looking for you.”

  “Me. How can I help?”

  We walked back toward the main reception area as she explained. “Noreen and I both think you’re the perfect one to head up the decorations. Maybe Mr. Kirk can get the flowers for us, but we thought you and your friends could help take care of decorating the room and the tables for us.”

  My mind whirled with all the things suddenly happening. I had a list of suspects and questions for Pete’s murder and now this. However, I couldn’t turn her down. “I’ll do what I can. Our residents need something to cheer them up and get their minds off this tragedy.”

  “Thank you so much, Abigail. You’ll do a great job. Oh, and I also need to know what you have on tap for the memorial. I sing in the choir at my church on Sunday evenings, but I called in an excuse, so I could attend.”

  Then I remembered the solo she sang at one of our Sunday services not long ago, and how I had admired her beautiful soprano voice. “Oh, Taryn, could you sing a special number at the service?”

  She hesitated a moment and bit her lip. “I suppose I could. What would you want?”

  “How about How Great Thou Art like you sang for us not long ago? We have Amazing Grace as a group hymn.”

  “I could do that. Doesn’t Clara Bivens play the piano for your services? I can get with her and practice later today.”

  “She does, and I know she’d be delighted to accompany you.”

  We stopped at the reception desk. “Carrie, we may have guests come in tomorrow night for Pete’s memorial. Please make sure they have their name tags before coming to the chapel.”

  Carrie’s face paled and her hands shook. “Yes, Miss Ryan. I’ll make sure.”

  I studied Carrie a moment while she talked with Taryn. Carrie worked every other week-end, and this happened to be the one she would be on duty. Everyone who came in had to register with Carrie
before going to the chapel or to any of the care areas.

  Her face gave me pause. Every time I or someone else had mentioned Pete this week, she’d reacted in a rather strange way. Had she been another one of his girlfriends? That would make this whole case even more complicated and confusing.

  Taryn finished her conversation with Carrie and turned back to me. “Noreen is off, but Mrs. Fuller is here if you need anything from her, and I’m going back to my office.”

  After Taryn left, Carrie’s hands still trembled when she shuffled the papers on her desk.

  “You seem distracted today, Carrie. Is there anything I can help you with?”

  “Oh, no, Ma’am, it’s all this business with that detective being here and questioning people again.”

  I didn’t believe her, but then a detective nosing around would be disconcerting. “All right then, I’ll see you after while.” The aromas from the dining hall reminded me of my purpose for being in the building.

  Conversation hummed as usual, and at our table, the topic revolved around Bridge games again. Sometimes I wonder if Bessie had anything else but bridge or gossip she deems worthy of conversation.

  After breakfast, Ben followed me outside. “What are your plans for the day?”

  “Visit a few more people and ask more questions. Olivia Wentworth will be my first stop. She’s the only one I haven’t talked to on that wing.”

  Ben glanced at his watch. “I’d like to go with you to see Olivia. Her dementia seems to be getting worse.”

  “All right. She should be finished with her breakfast by now, and yes, she is getting more and more forgetful.”

  Her son, Trenton, had finally admitted his mother’s Alzheimer’s disease. That was the main reason for the building of the Memory Care Unit. It would be finished sometime next year, but until then, Olivia lived in her larger first floor apartment.

  A few minutes later, we knocked on her door. When she opened it, her eyes appeared confused for a moment. She peered over my shoulder at Ben and frowned.

  Ben stepped forward. “Good morning, Mrs. Wentworth. I’m Ben Martin and this is Abby Billings. We just came by to say hello.”