Tori waited until Mercedes and Carlita were in the hall before pulling her office door shut and locking it. “As I said, William and I spent most of our evenings in this wing of the house. The only access is through the hall where we first came in.”
She pointed to a second door. “William installed a small filter room, to air out his cigar room. Before he installed the filters, the cigar odor lingered for days.”
Tori smiled sadly. “What I wouldn’t give to smell his stinky old cigar just one more time.”
“I’m sorry.” Carlita’s throat clogged and she touched Tori’s arm. “I know exactly what you mean,” she whispered.
“Stop or else you’ll have us all bawling.” Mercedes slid past her mother and walked into the room, her eyes falling on the billiard table. She crossed the room and ran her hand along the top rail. “This is the billiard room.” She turned to Tori. “Your office is the conservatory. You live in the Clue house.”
Tori lifted a brow. “What clue house?”
“Your house is the Clue house. Haven’t you ever seen the game Clue, or watched the old 80’s movie Clue? It’s about a bunch of people, trapped inside a mansion during a storm and they start dying! We’re living the movie,” Mercedes shrieked. “I’ve got to go get my gun before the killer tries to take one of us out.” She hurried to the door.
“You brought a gun with you?” Carlita gasped.
“Of course.” Mercedes grabbed the knob. “There’s a killer on the loose and we’re in the Clue house. People die. There are going to be more before it’s all over and I’m not going down without a fight.”
Carlita blocked her daughter’s exit. “Mercedes, that’s absurd. This is not a movie, nor is it a board game. Your very vivid imagination is working overtime. Maybe the storm has you distraught. This is not your home. You can’t walk around brandishing a gun.”
“Let her get her gun,” Tori said. “William used to walk around carrying one of his collectibles all the time. If Mercedes feels safer with her weapon, then by all means, go get it. Maybe we’ll all be safer. She’s right. There is a killer on the loose.”
“Better yet, let’s head upstairs and we’ll stop by Mercedes’ room. You’ve already seen the kitchen, the butler pantry, the dining room, my library and of course, you’re familiar with the drawing room.” Tori glanced out the window. “When the storm blows over, we’ll head outside to the pool house, where Ava was found and then continue upstairs to the employees’ private quarters.”
“Can we stop to get my gun first?” Mercedes asked.
“Of course, but I would ask that you keep it secured, so you don’t accidentally discharge it inside the house.”
“I’ll leave it in my carry purse,” Mercedes promised. “I don’t mean to be paranoid, but there are too many coincidences and I’m more than a little freaked out.”
The women retraced their steps, exiting Montgomery Hall’s private wing and returning to the main hall. They found Byron and Lucien near the front entrance.
Tori paused. “Are there any updates on the hurricane?”
Lucien nodded. “We believe the worst of it has passed. As soon as the storm lets up, Olsen is going to take the four-wheeler to the front of the property to check the water level under the bridge.”
“Perfect. I’m taking Mercedes and Carlita on a tour of Montgomery Hall. When the weather clears, we’re going to take a look at the pool house and then a quick tour of the employee quarters.”
Byron fumbled inside his pocket and pulled out a folded note. “You received a phone call from a Ms. Cobb earlier. I forgot to give this message to you.”
“Elvira,” Carlita mumbled.
“Or Dernice,” Mercedes said. “I wonder what they’re up to.”
Tori unfolded the note. “I gave their number to Detective Wilson. He told me he was going to call EC Security Services because he had a few more questions for them.”
“I’m assuming the detectives talked to them last night,” Carlita said.
“Yes, they did, but Ms. Cobb gave the detectives the impression that they’d arrived at Montgomery Hall shortly before the party started. The fact of the matter was they toured the grounds and the property the day before yesterday. They were setting up their security staging.”
Carlita crossed her arms. “Iris mentioned that to me, as well. Did their access include the drawing room where the murder weapon was kept?”
“Yes, of course,” Tori nodded. “The security company had access to all of the public areas of the lower level, except for my office and William’s cigar room.”
Chapter 13
“That adds a whole lot more suspects to the list,” Carlita said. “I wonder how well Elvira screens her employees.”
“If her sister, a convicted felon, is any indication, then not very well,” Mercedes said.
“The head of EC Security Services is a convicted felon?” Tori gasped. “Oh dear. I thought security staff had to pass a rigorous background check.”
“One would think,” Carlita murmured. “Elvira has her own way of doing things.”
“And not always the right way,” Mercedes chimed in. “So I guess Elvira is on our list to question.”
“Let’s head upstairs. Thank you for the note, Byron.” Tori grabbed the handrail as they ascended the steps. When they got to the top of the landing, their host paused. “Which room is yours, Mercedes?”
“This one.” Mercedes eased past Tori and opened her bedroom door. She made a beeline for her overnight bag and the small handgun bag inside. After opening the bag and checking to make sure it was there, she joined her mother and Tori in the hall.
“I’m good to go.” Mercedes slung the strap over her head and patted the front. “I feel much safer now.”
The trio toured the remaining guests’ rooms, all of which were identical to Mercedes and Carlita’s rooms, except for the room at the very end of the hall.
“This is the master suite.” Tori swung the doors open, revealing an expansive master suite.
To the left was a reading nook, complete with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a marble fireplace and an overstuffed chaise lounge.
To the right was a compact kitchen. It sported a mini-fridge, granite countertops and a stainless steel sink. Above the sink was a small microwave and in the corner was a wine fridge.
Mercedes let out a low whistle. “Check it out. I could live in your bedroom.”
“It’s convenient,” Tori said. “William and I made a deal. I got my book nook and he got the kitchenette. I still use it on occasion, when I’m feeling under the weather, but for the most part, it goes unused. Would you care to see the master bath? It’s my favorite part of my room.”
“Lead the way.” Mercedes rubbed her hands together. “I love your home, even if it is most likely haunted and a replica of the Clue house.”
“Thanks, I think.”
The women made their way down a side hall. It opened to a spa-like master bath. The floors were an Italian marble. Front and center was a massive claw foot tub.
“Check this out.” Mercedes stuck her head inside the shower.
“It’s a walk-through shower. You can walk through if you’d like,” Tori said, a twinkle in her eye. “Only a handful of people have ever been inside my private quarters.”
“Can I?” Mercedes strolled through the shower, taking in every detail, from the wall of showerheads to the rain showers hanging from the ceiling. She exited the other side. “You must need an owner’s manual just to figure out which handle goes to which showerhead.”
“I only use the one inside the entrance. It seems like such a waste.” Tori shrugged. “I remind myself I have to think about resale value. If I ever needed to sell my home, I have plenty of upgrades to entice potential buyers.”
“Would you ever consider moving?” Carlita asked. She couldn’t picture Tori moving from her magnificent estate, unless, of course, she couldn’t afford it.
“No. I can’t imagine selling it. It
would be like getting rid of a part of me, of William. Shall we continue?”
The trio retraced their steps. Tori pulled the double doors shut and they meandered down the long hall and then down the main staircase. Lucien and Byron were gone and the hall was empty.
“I believe Iris is in the kitchen with Mrs. O’Brien. If you think it would be useful, we can talk to her to see what she remembers,” Tori said.
“Yes. That would be perfect. We’ve already spoken with Mrs. O’Brien.”
“Let’s head to the library, and I’ll have Iris bring us a light lunch. Are you hungry?”
“I’m starving.” Mercedes patted her stomach. “I was so excited about our stay that I didn’t bother eating, although the cookies were delish.”
“We shall take care of that posthaste.”
There was a fire burning brightly in the fireplace and Carlita and her daughter settled into two of the wingback chairs while Tori walked over to a side table and picked up the phone.
She spoke briefly to someone about serving a light lunch in the library and thanked the person on the other end before replacing the receiver. “Mrs. O’Brien prepared a bacon and cheese quiche this morning. Iris will bring that, along with a tray of croissants and sausage and gravy biscuits, made from scratch, of course, and a bowl of cut fruit.”
Carlita’s stomach grumbled and she realized she hadn’t eaten, either. “I guess all of this sleuthing made me hungry.”
The women chatted about the storm, about Ava’s death, and then the conversation drifted to Tori’s employees. Carlita wondered if Tori was subconsciously protecting her “family” and was guarding what she said.
Carlita admired the woman’s loyalty to her employees, but someone had committed murder and that someone needed to be brought to justice.
The conversation shifted to the upcoming Christmas season, and the Cathedral of St. John’s Christmas Eve service.
“If you don’t do anything else during the Christmas season, you must attend St. John’s Christmas Eve service. It’s stunning,” Tori said. “Back to this EC Security Service Company. Ms. Cobb…the second Ms. Cobb is Elvira’s sister.”
“Correct,” Carlita nodded.
“The woman is a convicted felon?”
“In the State of California,” Mercedes said.
“Obviously, I’m all for second chances.” Tori grasped one of the pearls on her necklace and began twisting it. “Still, if I hire a security company, I want to feel secure.”
A light knock on the door interrupted their conversation and Iris, followed by another young woman Carlita didn’t recognize, entered the room.
“Thank you Iris and Jenny.” Tori pointed to a small table and chairs in the corner, next to a wall of bookcases. “You can put the trays over there.”
Iris nodded and the women slid the trays onto the table. They turned to go. “Iris, if you could stay behind please.”
Jenny and Iris exchanged a quick glance and Iris nodded. “Of course.”
Jenny lowered into a small curtsy and hurriedly exited the room while Iris laced her fingers together and slowly crossed the room.
“Mrs. Garlucci and Mercedes would like to ask you a couple of questions about yesterday, if you don’t mind.” Tori patted the chair next to her. “Have a seat.”
Iris perched on the edge of the chair. “The sooner we figure out who killed Ava, the better.”
“I’ll make this brief,” Carlita said. “When was the last time you saw Ava alive?”
“As I told the investigators, it was in the morning. Of course, we were busy with last minute preparations for the party. We were all running about. To be honest, after my confrontation with Ava, I was glad I didn’t run into her again. She was not a nice person.”
“That’s what I’ve heard. If you can think of anything, anything at all that stands out in your mind as unusual or odd that may have been said or occurred during the party, or even before the party, I’m all ears.”
Iris shook her head. “I’m sorry. I can’t think of anything.”
Carlita decided to try a different approach. “Why don’t you give me a rundown of your day yesterday, starting with your morning routine?”
“I wake every morning at six, do a few stretches since I have a bad back, and then I shower. I’m dressed and in the kitchen at 6:45 a.m., where I meet Mrs. O’Brien. She typically has a fresh pot of coffee brewing for Mrs. Montgomery, who likes her coffee in her office at 7:00 a.m. sharp.”
“We run a tight ship around here,” Tori chimed in.
“Yes ma’am. It works out perfectly,” Iris agreed. “After bringing Mrs. Montgomery her morning paper and coffee, I returned to the kitchen where Mrs. O’Brien was holding a staff meeting to go over the final preparations for the party.”
“Was Ava there?” Carlita interrupted.
“Yes. It was a mandatory meeting. We were all there. Byron, Lucien, Patrick, Chad, Jenny, Ava and me. Mrs. Montgomery hired some extra kitchen help, but I don’t remember their names. Mrs. O’Brien would remember.”
She told the women that after the morning meeting; she delivered Tori’s breakfast to the office and then began a final inspection of the butler’s pantry, the dining room, the library, the drawing room and the front and rear courtyards. Her final stop was to check the restrooms that were sandwiched between the drawing room and the library.
“I never crossed paths with Ava at all yesterday, but Jenny stopped me right after lunch to tell me she argued with Ava after she caught her taking a nip of gin while on the job, which is against Mrs. Montgomery’s rules.”
Iris cast Tori a sideways glance before continuing. “Jenny said Ava blew her off, telling her it didn’t matter because she was going to quit and file discrimination charges against Mrs. Montgomery.”
Chapter 14
“Discrimination charges?” Tori’s hand flew to her chest. “Whatever for?”
“I…” Iris squeezed her hands together. “I’m not completely sure. Something about her weight. You’ll have to ask Jenny.”
Tori leaned forward in her chair. “I’ve already talked to Jenny. The investigators have already talked to Jenny and this is the first I’ve heard of Ava’s plans to quit and file charges.”
“She was a wicked person,” Iris offered. “Jenny was afraid to tell you. She figured Ava was blowing a bunch of hot air. I mean, there’s no way you would have harmed Ava or any one of us.” Her voice trailed off.
“If the authorities catch wind of this, they’re going to add you to the list of suspects,” Mercedes said.
“I’m already a suspect. Ava was my employee. She died while working for me and on my premises. They haven’t come right out and said it, but I’m sure I’m at the top of the list.” Tori leaned back in her chair. “Jenny needs to come clean with the authorities, but this won’t look good for her or for me. She was trying to help, but may have done more harm.”
“I’m sorry Mrs. Montgomery.” Iris’ eyes filled with unshed tears. “We would never do anything to hurt you.”
“I know Iris and I sincerely appreciate that.” Tori sucked in a breath and turned to Carlita. “Do you have anything else for Iris?”
“While you were making your rounds yesterday, you said you inspected both courtyards and the pool areas and nothing appeared to be out of place.”
“Correct.”
“Who else has access to the pool area?”
“Patrick. He’s in charge of the pool house, plus the courtyards.”
“Yes, Patrick has keys to the pool house,” Tori confirmed.
It was asking the obvious, but Carlita decided to make sure all of her bases were covered. “Did Patrick argue with Ava, too?”
“No. Patrick avoided Ava. She chased after him, but he wasn’t interested in her. She also flirted with Chad Olsen, but I don’t think he was interested either.”
“Ava argued with you, threatened to report Jenny for using her cell phone during working hours and argued with Jenny, who threatened
to report her after she caught Ava taking a nip of gin while on the clock. She complained that Lucien was stalking her, that Tori, Mrs. Montgomery, was discriminating against her and Patrick avoided her.” Carlita slid out of the chair and wandered to the fireplace, staring at the glowing embers. “It appears the only person who remotely tolerated her was Chad Olden.”
“Olsen,” Tori corrected. “Thank you for talking with us, Iris. You can return to the kitchen.”
“You’re welcome.” She lowered into a small curtsy and backed out of the room, quietly closing the door behind her.
Tori waited until the door was closed before speaking again. “The storm has let up. Let’s enjoy our lunch before it gets cold. After we finish eating, we can head upstairs to take a look at the employees’ quarters and Ava’s room.”
Carlita scooted around the side of the table and squeezed into an empty seat. “Did the investigators search all of the employees’ personal quarters?”
“No.” Tori slid onto a chair and reached for a napkin. “I told them that I didn’t think it necessary to search the employees’ personal spaces and if they wanted to, they would need to obtain a search warrant. Although, looking back, I think I should have allowed them to look around.”
Mercedes pulled out an empty chair. “Your employees might not have been keen on someone invading their personal space without their permission.”
“Which is one of the reasons I told them no.”
The small table offered barely enough space for three plates of food. Tori uncovered the dishes and placed the lids on the bookshelf behind her. “I normally don’t dine in the library. I do apologize for the cramped eating space. I guess we should’ve taken our meal in the dining room.”
“This is perfect.” Carlita’s mouth watered as she eyed the food. “Everything looks delicious.”
“Yes, this all smells and looks tasty.” Mercedes picked up her fork and sawed off the tip of her quiche. “This is divine. Ma, we need to learn how to make quiche.” Next, she tried her sausage biscuit with gravy. “I swear, if I grew up in the south with all of this good food, I would…”
Merry Masquerade in Savannah: A Made in Savannah Cozy Mystery (Made in Savannah Cozy Mysteries Series Book 8) Page 10