“Ellen’s death is a true tragedy.” He dabbed at the corner of one eye with a linen pocket square. “But I must admit, it’s equally sad that your Uncle Randolph missed out on seeing the Seaside Theatre Festival here. The theatre was his life and he never left it for good, even in his retirement.”
Brenda smiled. “I had no idea until recently that he was ever in show business.”
“Oh yes, he was an actor for nearly ten years and then directed several very successful plays. I’m surprised your family didn’t know that about him.”
“Theatre may be the reason why my father never talked about him. My father believed in going to a good job day in and day out and making a steady, decent living. I’m beginning to think he didn’t approve of his brother’s choice of career, no matter how successful Randolph was.” But as she said this, she reflected on the enigma of their relationship, since the letter indicated the two brothers were closer than she had suspected. Randolph spilled his feelings to his brother. That said something.
“That’s too bad. Randolph’s talent showed in everything he put his finger on.” William looked her in the eye. “Now what brings you here to see me?”
“How well do you know Chester Boyd?”
“Ellen’s assistant? I know him well enough, though I’ve never considered him a close friend. He was very good to Ellen and put up with a lot from her. She was very demanding, which explains why he always appeared so prim and proper. His was a privileged life, to be that close to someone as famous in Hollywood and the theatre world as she was.”
The air seemed suspended for a few seconds. Brenda knew more was coming.
“There’s one thing I’ve never figured out, though. Chester was originally cast in ‘The Rich Game’ as I recall. I helped the festival with the local publicity. Chester called to confirm the final cast list to be printed on the playbills and the posters and I was surprised to see his name there as well, and congratulated him. I had already ordered the posters when a few hours later he called back to say he had been mistaken. He wasn’t going to be in it after all.” He chuckled ruefully at the memory. “I had to hurry up and correct the order. His name was gone and Bonnie Ross was listed instead. He never explained what happened and he seemed embarrassed by the whole thing.”
“Do you know what role he was supposed to play?”
“I’m not sure of that since the posters listed the actors and not their parts. The exception was Ellen and Ricky Owens, who played her husband. Their names were printed with their photos and roles.”
Brenda absorbed this information and cast her mind about, still not sure what to make of it. “Do you have a take on who may have murdered Ellen?”
William looked taken aback, but looked at her directly with a sympathetic look. “I know you didn’t do it. You are much like your uncle when it comes to having a gentle personality. I can’t see you strangling Ellen with her belt.” He smiled. “In answer to your question, I do know that most, if not all, of the actors disliked her. I liked her dearly as a friend, but she was a hard woman to work under. But I haven’t the faintest idea who might hold a grudge so severe as to kill the woman.”
Brenda thanked William Pendleton for the information he gave her. She didn’t feel she could fully rule William out, but nothing really indicated he had anything to do with it. Back in her car she reflected on the detail of the sudden change in casting, and realized she didn’t know much about Bonnie Ross. Every other actor might have disliked Ellen, but no one else’s casting had changed. Only Bonnie was a newcomer.
It was already early evening and the summer sky was a brilliant dark blue as the stars began to appear. Brenda decided to drive by Harbor Park. The performance was due to end in half an hour, which would give her time to observe the actors from a distance. Tonight, after this performance, would be her last chance to talk to the actors before they left town, and then her time would be up, and Mac would come to find her.
She stood under the large oak tree at the edge of the park and watched the stage. She picked up enough of the flow of words between the actors to follow the comical scene. When Chester Boyd spoke his lines, he was truly amazing. His diction was perfect and he knew the part well. The audience loved him and he seemed a natural on stage. It had to have been a practiced role. She was disappointed that she hadn’t been early enough to catch any of the major scenes with Bonnie in Ellen’s old role. She wondered how well Bonnie knew Ellen. With Ellen’s penchant for manipulation, had she cast Bonnie to butter her up for some reason? Or had the casting change been merely to spite Chester?
The cast received a standing ovation at the end. There was no Ellen Teague to push to the front as they exited a side door into the waiting crowd. Instead, all of the actors were mobbed by autograph hounds and photographers. As Brenda watched, broad grins spread across every face as they scribbled their names and best wishes onto the photographs and playbills thrust in their faces. A few reporters even pressed the actors for quotes on Ellen’s death as photographers clicked away, but they all declined to comment. All in all, it took a long while before the crowd died down and left. Brenda walked forward and congratulated the actors for a job well done.
“It means a lot that we could be here and stay at the Sheffield and reminisce about your uncle,” said Shawn. “He never let us forget how important the arts are, even in small towns.”
Anna’s eyes held joy but also great sympathy. “We hoped he would pull through his illness and be here to see the Seaside Theatre Festival. It would have been like a reunion.”
Brenda realized that this tight-knit group of actors was her uncle’s adopted family, just as Sweetfern Harbor had become to him later. She looked at the happy faces surrounding her and felt a crushing sense of loss at the idea that she might lose the Sheffield Bed and Breakfast and her uncle’s legacy. She wordlessly watched the cast members as they chatted under the starry skies.
Bonnie’s face practically glowed as the others heaped praises on her performance in Ellen’s former role. As she chatted with Chester about how privileged she felt despite Ellen’s death, Brenda was surprised again by how different Chester’s face was now. Instead of his usual stony expression, he relaxed and laughed along with the others, just as he had in his role on the stage, in a way Brenda would never have thought possible for the previously stoic and proper assistant.
Ricky Owens came to Brenda’s side and asked to speak privately with her. They stopped near the oak tree where Brenda had stood watching the play while the others continued to chat.
“What is it?”
“Word has spread that you are suspected of murdering Ellen,” he said. “I want you to know that none of us believe you had anything to do with it. Everyone argued with Ellen when she got to be too much. I mean everyone – except Chester and maybe Bonnie. That woman was not easy to get along with.”
Brenda’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. Aside from the sad fact that suspicions had spread through the rumor mill, she was also worried that everyone except Mac seemed to be ready to reassure her. Not to mention the fact that she hadn’t been able to turn up a shred of evidence pointing to any other suspect. Dread washed over her and she realized how precarious her reputation was. If word spread that she was the prime suspect then everyone would hate her for killing the famous star. The blood drained from her cheeks as she pictured her face splashed across the tabloids and she thanked her lucky stars that no reporters had approached her about the rumors so far.
Ricky noticed the sudden change in her demeanor. “We know you’re innocent,” said Ricky. He repeated it twice more. “I’m sure the real killer will be found and you will be vindicated.”
If the killer is found soon, thought Brenda. The clock was ticking down fast.
“Do you have any idea who did it?” Ricky looked away when she asked the question and she could see again the hint of something unsaid on his face. “Please, Ricky, whatever you say will stay right here between us. I just need a lead to figure out who had a motive
. My reputation is at stake – and my freedom.”
He paused, as if reluctant to admit that he knew something that could help her. He turned and met the pleading look in her eyes and finally gave in. “I’ll tell you one thing, but you didn’t hear it from me. It’s about Bonnie.”
Brenda took a step closer to him and blinked in disbelief. “Bonnie? What could she possibly have to do with Ellen’s death?”
“She is Ellen’s niece. But she would never boast about it. Ellen has been estranged from her entire family for many years, she claims she cut them off but I’m not sure...it might have been the other way around. Anyway, Bonnie pestered her for auditions for years, ever since she was fifteen or so. Ellen finally cast her, but I think there was something going on under the surface.”
Brenda attempted to wrap her head around the fact that Bonnie Ross was Ellen Teague’s niece. She thought back to her interviews with Bonnie and racked her mind for any detail that stood out, but nothing came to mind. Ricky continued his story.
“I overheard Ellen on the phone once with her estranged sister, Bonnie’s mother. She said this was the last straw, and Bonnie had pushed her luck far enough. I got the impression that Bonnie realized soon after that that she had no hope of future support from Ellen.”
Brenda was intrigued. “That does shed a new light on things...but I need to bring hard evidence to the police, not speculation.”
“I’m sorry I don’t have anything more. But it did bother me that you didn’t know the backstory about Bonnie and I’m glad to get it off my chest. Maybe it can help in some way.”
“Thanks for telling me this.” She congratulated him again and they parted ways.
Brenda sat in her car afterward and thought about Ricky’s words. She watched the actors as they walked through the park and headed toward Sheffield Bed and Breakfast. Mac is making a mistake allowing them to leave town, she thought bitterly. She knew that most of them had already packed up and only had a few details to take care of back at the bed and breakfast. In less than three hours they would be on the road again. Time was of the essence for Brenda, so she wasted no time in driving back home.
Chef Morgan was busy preparing a light dinner when Brenda walked in. She helped Phyllis carry trays of drinks into the sitting room where the actors would gather before they departed the bed and breakfast. When Brenda entered the front hall, she found Bonnie talking with Allie. As usual, Bonnie was in a jovial mood, talking animatedly with the young employee. Brenda greeted both of them and then asked Bonnie to join her in the office in back of the reception desk. When they settled down in comfortable chairs, Brenda got right to the point.
“I didn’t get to see the whole show this afternoon but I heard you performed your new part well, even with such short notice. Congratulations are in order. I’m curious...I never asked you about how you got cast under Ellen Teague?”
The young actress gave her a winning smile and tucked a lock of hair behind one ear. “I worked for it. I took acting classes and I begged Ellen more than once to give me a part. I didn’t care if it was just a small one. I’ve always wanted to act. She finally caved in and gave me an audition, and I got the part of the hostess of the country estate. It was my big break as far as I was concerned.”
Brenda eyed the vivacious young woman in the chair before her. Nothing seemed false about her, but Brenda got the impression that she was seeing a façade. “Did you know Ellen for long?” Ah, that got a response. Bonnie cast her eyes down at her lap and her long lashes seemed to tremble as if she was about to cry.
“To tell you the truth, Ellen Teague was my aunt, though I was sworn to secrecy about that. I can’t believe she’s gone.” She brushed a tear away from the corner of her eye and looked back up at Brenda. “Ellen had no love for her extended family and that included her own sister, my mother. I know Ellen didn’t think I had much talent, but I figured if she gave me any part at all I would have a solid foundation for future work.” She shrugged her shoulders prettily. “I feel...sad about Ellen’s death, but not grief, if that makes sense. We had been estranged for so long and it seemed she barely tolerated me. I know that sounds cruel, but I just can’t muster up grief over it at all.” She looked at Brenda apologetically. “I don’t mean her manner of death doesn’t give me a twinge of regret. No one should have to die like that.” She shuddered.
Brenda made a mental note of her choice of words. Right now, she had more important issues to cover with Bonnie.
“Back to your audition...I understand you got it at the last minute? What happened to the person who was first assigned to your role?”
Her expression grew pensive. “You know, I never thought about that. Ellen called me instead of me calling her for a change. I was so excited that I didn’t even consider who may have backed out. She told me the role came up and she would give me an audition immediately. Everything was hurried along and I was given the part the next day.”
“Did you know that Chester had been promised a role in ‘The Rich Game?’”
Her eyes widened and her mouth gaped open. “Really? I had no idea Chester was an actor. Though I have to admit he was great in my former role today. He has seen the play enough times to know everyone’s lines.” Bonnie chattered on about the performance and seemed oblivious to anything else.
Brenda dismissed the young actress from her office and sat thinking carefully through what she had heard. She realized that Bonnie Ross, for all her emotional mannerisms, was innocent. It was the image of Chester Boyd that nagged at her. Something about the man left puzzle pieces of this murder scattered and unconnected. Brenda knew all too well that time was running out for her and she had to make her next move. Instead, she was tempted to call Mac just to hear his endearing voice. They hadn’t spoken since the encounter in the backyard and her heart thumped painfully in her chest to recall that moment.
“He’s just waiting for me to fail so he can make an arrest.” Brenda realized she was muttering out loud when Allie looked at her in a strange way. Brenda blushed. The young girl gave her a sympathetic look.
“My mother has been throwing out theories about who could have killed Ellen,” Allie said. “It seems the crowds stuck around to hear more gossip about the murder, which means business at the bakery has picked up considerably. You know how my mother is. Once she’s on a mission, she plans to get to the bottom of things. She’s personally handing out samples to each customer just to strike up conversations with them.”
Brenda smiled gratefully. “I must go down to Sweet Treats first thing tomorrow morning and thank her for her help. Has she picked up on anything helpful?”
“She just told me that Chester Boyd has been roaming around on Main Street more than the others. I think she looks at him as someone different from the other actors. He doesn’t hang out with them. He is sort of aloof, don’t you think so?”
Brenda absorbed this, lost in thought. One more chat with Chester Boyd was in order. She shuddered thinking she could sit in a jail cell the rest of her life while wondering if he had been the murderer. His room connected with Ellen’s and so he certainly had access and opportunity. Ellen had yanked his coveted role out from underneath him and that was motive enough. He expressed in his letter to Randolph that this could be his last chance to be an actor. And then she still wondered about Anna and Shawn Quincy who often shared soft and sometimes unspoken secrets with one another. Was it more than the usual exchanges between a husband and wife? Anna had also admitted she argued with Ellen before the play. Frustrated, Brenda realized she had to go with the one scrap of physical proof she had uncovered.
Brenda hurried to the attic and retrieved the letter from Chester to Randolph, and stuffed it in her pocket. On her way to the front door, she passed the sitting room and noticed Anna and Shawn huddled together speaking in low voices. Anna looked up and waved. Brenda greeted them and went on her way. Then she changed her mind and went into the room. Both actors looked up expectantly.
“I don’t mean to in
trude, but have either of you heard anything more that could lead to who committed the murder?”
They exchanged glances and then shook their heads. “We don’t have any idea at all,” Shawn said. “I do wish we hadn’t fallen asleep so easily that night. We both slept again after hearing you and Ellen arguing. Our room is close enough to have heard something but we didn’t.”
Brenda didn’t want to be reminded yet again of the shouting she had sunk to that night. She thanked them and told them she would be back in time to tell them all goodbye.
She yearned to call Mac and get his input on her next plan. Once again, she recalled their last visit under the rose arbor and fought to hold her tears at bay.
Instead, she called Police Chief Bob Ingram.
Chapter Nine
Confession
Brenda looked through the window at the reporters on the sidewalk outside under the late summer evening stars. She would be thankful when the drama surrounding her was over. The reporters had hung around the bed and breakfast in ever-increasing numbers ever since Ellen Teague had been found dead in her suite.
Phyllis came up behind her. “I wish those reporters would leave. I’d like to see things back to normal around here.”
“I’d like that, too,” said Brenda. “I think we won’t have to put up with all the chaos around here much longer.”
“Surely you aren’t expecting to go to jail.” The housekeeper’s eyes widened.
“I don’t think that will happen. I hope not.”
Phyllis looked beyond Brenda. “I wonder what they’re up to.” Brenda followed her eyes to see several police cars pulling into the driveway.
She excused herself when the chief stepped out of his patrol car in front of the bed and breakfast. The reporters all knew something big was about to happen and swarmed forward as if meshed into one big glob of humanity. Chief Ingram scanned the yard and spotted Brenda waving to him from the side door. The chief waited for another officer to get out of his car and then gave orders to the officers that followed him. They immediately pushed the reporters back to the edge of the property. From where she stood, Brenda knew Mac was with Bob Ingram, though she couldn’t see him yet.
Dead in Bed (Sweetfern Harbor Mystery Book 2) Page 8