“Sure,” Carlita nodded. “Maybe it will take your mind off the Indian spirits.”
Mercedes waited until her mother was inside her room before jogging down the hall, rushing down the stairs and hurrying to the back of the house, to the only room she knew was occupied…the kitchen.
She tapped on the swinging door before gingerly pushing it open where she found Mrs. O’Brien, Iris and Jenny working in the kitchen. The smell of smoked meat filled the kitchen and Mercedes sniffed appreciatively. “Something smells delicious.”
“It’s Mrs. O’Brien’s shepherd’s pie. You’re in for a treat tonight,” Iris said.
“We all are,” Jenny chimed in.
Mrs. O’Brien shut the oven door. “Is there something you need dear? Perhaps a snack to tide you over until dinner is ready?”
“No thank you. Your quiche was delicious. The sausage biscuits smothered in gravy were some of the best I’ve ever had. The croissants were light and airy.” Mercedes smacked her lips. “It was all wonderful.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed your lunch,” Mrs. O’Brien beamed. “If you’re not hungry, there must be another reason you stopped by.”
“Actually, I was hoping to track down Mrs. Montgomery. I have a quick question for her.”
“She’s in her office. I’ll ring her to see if she has a moment to speak with you. She’s been busy trying to catch up after the party.” Iris hustled across the kitchen, to a small counter and a wall phone.
Mrs. O’Brien reached for a cutting board. “Dinner will be served promptly at 6:30 in the dining room.”
“Should we dress for dinner?” Mercedes hadn’t thought to bring dress clothes.
“Mrs. Montgomery doesn’t allow shorts or ripped jeans in the dining room, but if you’ve got a nice pair of jeans or slacks and a blouse, you’ll be fine.”
“Mrs. Montgomery said you can stop by her office now.” Iris hung up the phone. “She has a conference call in ten minutes. You’ll have to hurry.”
“I’m on my way.” Mercedes thanked the women and darted out of the kitchen. She slipped into the private wing and walked to Tori’s office door, tapping lightly.
The door opened and Tori peeked out. “Hello Mercedes. I was getting ready to join a conference call. Is there a problem?” She opened the door wider.
“Not really a problem, but Ma thought of something.” Mercedes glanced down the hall to make sure no one was lurking nearby. “She thinks perhaps Ava’s previous employer didn’t let her go because they couldn’t afford her. She thinks there may have been another reason.”
“I see. I have a copy of Ava’s personnel file from Mimi Dykstra. I already looked at it and didn’t see anything unusual, but you’re free to look, as well.” Tori crossed the room and grabbed a manila folder off the desk. “The Dykstras were here for the party last night and were also questioned by the authorities since they were Ava’s previous employer. I don’t believe they told the authorities anything that raised suspicions.”
She handed the folder to Mercedes, who flipped it open and peered at the cover sheet. Her eyes scanned the first page and she turned it over, studying the second page. It wasn’t until she got to the end that she noticed something odd.
“I think I may have spotted something,” Mercedes said. “Do you mind if I take this file upstairs? I want to show something to Ma.”
“Of course.” Tori’s desk phone started to ring. “That must be my call. If you’ll excuse me?”
“Of course.” Mercedes hurried to the door and quietly closed it behind her. She picked up the pace and took the stairs two at a time.
When she reached her mother’s open door, she stuck her head inside the bedroom. Her mother was sitting at the small desk, an open book in front of her.
“Whatcha doing?”
“There’s a mini library, right here in my room.” Carlita lifted the lid on the antique desk, revealing a tidy row of hardcover books. “I’m reading about Tybee Island’s history.”
“Cool, but I’ve got something even more interesting.” Mercedes waved Ava’s personnel folder in the air. “I think I might have found something.”
Chapter 16
“You found something in Ava’s personnel file?” Carlita tucked a slip of paper inside her book and shut it.
“I think so. Check it out.” Mercedes placed the file on the desk. “She worked for the Dykstra family for a couple of years, was given annual reviews and a raise. Her benefits included a room and free meals, similar to what Tori offers her employees. Here’s what I found interesting.” She flipped the folder open and tapped the bottom of the second page. “About six months before her employment was terminated, there was a gap.”
Carlita studied the sheet of paper. “Huh. Like maybe she left and came back?”
“That’s what I think. Or she was let go and then for some reason re-hired, and then let go again, the second time for good.” Mercedes crossed her arms. “Think about it. I’m sure Ava was the same aggravating employee with her former employer as she was here. They probably verbally warned her, something happened and they let her go, but for some reason, ended up hiring her again.”
“Ava loved to hold stuff over the other employees’ heads, threatening them. What if she was holding something over the employers’ heads and they hired her back?”
“It still has nothing to do with who killed Ava,” Carlita said.
“Are you sure? The Dykstras were here at the party. What if something happened, there was some sort of confrontation between Ava and her former employers, and in a fit of rage the husband or wife murdered Ava?”
“It’s a stretch, Mercedes. Not impossible, but improbable.”
“I say we ask Tori to call Mrs. Dykstra and question her about the gap in employment and see what she says. If there is nothing to it, we hit a dead end, but something tells me it’s not.” Mercedes began to pace. “Ava was a huge flirt. If she flirted with the male employees here, she may have flirted with the male employees in the Dykstra house…maybe even with Mr. Dykstra.”
“That’s an angle I hadn’t considered. I know if one of my employees began flirting with my husband, I would kick her to the curb.”
“Exactly. Let’s suppose that’s what happened. Mrs. Dykstra found out or suspected Ava was flirting with her husband, so she fired her. Reading between the lines, Ava had some dirt on someone and they were forced to hire her back.”
“We’ll mention it to Tori later.” The ceiling fan let out a dull squeak and began to spin. “It looks like the power is back on.”
“Great,” Mercedes grinned. “Now I won’t have to sleep with you tonight. I can leave the lights on in my room. Dinner is being served in the dining room at 6:30 sharp. In the meantime, I’m gonna try to do a little more research. Now that the power is on, I can use my laptop.”
“While you do more research, I think I’m gonna do a little more reading,” Carlita said. “Tybee Island history is almost as fascinating as Savannah’s history.”
Mercedes hurried to her room, but left both her mother’s door and her bedroom door open. She checked her emails first, and then checked the local news for an update on the storm, hoping to find current information on the bridge connecting the island with the mainland. She discovered the bridge would remain closed until the local authorities inspected it.
It was time to start digging into Ava’s personal life. Mercedes opened one of the more popular social media sites and typed Ava Torrez in the search bar. Several names popped up. She added Georgia to the bar and Ava’s profile popped up.
Mercedes clicked on her name and began scrolling through her online profile. There were posts and pictures of Montgomery Hall. In several of the posts, Ava bragged she had snagged a coveted job at one of the most prestigious private estates in the Savannah area.
Along with the Montgomery Hall posts were several of Ava and her friends, and among them were a few men. She scrolled to older posts and stopped when she spotted the name Dykstra. There was
a group photo. Ava had tagged several people, all of whom appeared to be employees of the Dykstra Manor.
There was a second photo, this one of a smiling man and woman, along with Ava. Mercedes read the tag line: “Mimi and Rick Dykstra.” For some reason, Mercedes envisioned an older couple, but they were younger, in their mid-thirties if she had to guess. “That’s interesting.”
Mercedes clicked on their name and it opened another window, this one of the Dykstra’s social profile page. The cover photo was of a smiling Mimi and Rick Dykstra. In front of them were three young children. The backdrop was a stately English Tudor-style home.
There was another photo, this one of Rick Dykstra behind the wheel of a Jaguar. If the family was hard up for money, they had a funny way of showing it.
The more Mercedes researched the more questions that popped up. Ava was a troublemaker, of that she was certain, but there was something more, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on, and she hoped asking Tori a few more questions, might help fill in some of the blanks.
The rest of the afternoon flew by, and Carlita and Mercedes descended the stairs at 6:30 on the dot.
Tori was already in the dining room, seated at the head of the table. Byron, Lucien, Chad and Jenny were there, as well.
Tori smiled. “Perfect timing. I trust you enjoyed the rest of your afternoon.”
“It was very…productive,” Mercedes said.
“I see.” Tori lifted an eyebrow as Patrick materialized from the hall and pulled out Mercedes’ chair.
She gave him a quick sideways glance. “Thank you.”
He moved to Carlita’s chair and pulled hers out, waiting for her to have a seat. “I hear they’ve opened the bridge now that the storm has passed.”
“Wonderful.” Tori clasped her hands. “I think we dodged a bullet this time around.”
Mrs. O’Brien and Iris marched into the dining room, each carrying a large platter filled with food. Mrs. O’Brien set her tray on one of the tables and Iris the other. “We’ll wheel the kitchen cart in and then join you.”
The women stepped back through the swinging doors, returning moments later, pushing a cart laden with food. “Along with the shepherd’s pie, I made a couple loaves of soda bread, a pot of potato soup and a salad for good measure.”
Iris and Mrs. O’Brien made quick work of unloading the cart and then Mrs. O’Brien steered it off to the side while Iris took the empty seat next to Patrick and the older woman, next to Byron.
Carlita not only thoroughly enjoyed the food, but also the conversation, a lively discussion of the Merry Masquerade party. Everyone was careful to avoid discussing Ava’s death, except for one mention by Tori.
They also discussed the storm and Lucien reported he had already walked the grounds, checking for damage and downed limbs. “The water has flooded the yard, but not enough to disturb the stones,” Lucien said. “Thanks to the partial seawall you installed a couple of years ago.”
Mercedes perked up. “Do you mean the location of the Indian burial grounds?”
“Yes. The area is marked with clay garden markers and surrounded by a hedge of bushes.”
“I would love to check it out,” Mercedes said. “I’ve never seen ancient Indian burial grounds.”
“I’m going out again after dinner if you would like to join me,” Lucien offered and turned to Carlita. “You too, if you’d like to visit the site, Mrs. Garlucci.”
Mercedes wrinkled her nose. “Won’t it be dark?” The idea of tromping around a burial ground after dark wasn’t on Mercedes’ bucket list.
“Or you can go after breakfast in the morning,” Tori suggested. “It will give the ground a chance to dry out overnight.”
With a plan in place to view the grounds in the morning after breakfast, the discussion drifted to Montgomery Manor’s schedule for the week ahead. It sounded as if Tori stayed busy with various charities and projects.
At one time, Tori had mentioned to Carlita she’d become a recluse, but it appeared she was becoming more involved in the local community.
During the meal, Carlita and Mercedes oohed and aahed over Mrs. O’Brien’s shepherd’s pie. The savory chunks of meat, mixed with corn and English peas was the perfect blend for the creamy mashed potato topping.
Mercedes scooped the last morsel from her plate and then licked the spoon. “The pie was delicious.”
“And so was the potato soup,” Carlita added. “Thank you for making it.”
“You all are too kind,” Mrs. O’Brien beamed. “You’re welcome.”
After they finished the soup and the main course, Patrick and Jenny cleared the table, loading all of the dirty dishes onto the cart and then returned with a tray of decadent sweets.
“I hope you don’t mind that we’re serving leftovers from the party. I hate to waste food,” Tori apologized.
“Of course not.” Mercedes reached for a slice of cherry cheesecake. “Dinner was delicious. The food at the party the other night was delicious. You outdid yourself Mrs. O’Brien.”
“Thanks Mercedes. I love to cook.”
Jenny poured coffee and then set the carafe on the side table before resuming her spot at the table. “Iris and I will polish the rest of the silver in the morning and make sure it’s locked in the case before I head back to the mainland.”
Tori smiled. “Thank you Jenny. You’ve been a huge help these past few days and I appreciate all you’ve done.”
“I enjoyed every minute of it,” Jenny said. “I meant to tell you that you received a call from someone at the security company who was here the other night.”
“EC Security Services,” Carlita said.
“Yes. The woman’s name was Vera, I believe. I wrote it down and left the message in the box outside your office.”
“I wonder what she wants,” Tori mused.
Carlita opened her mouth to tell Tori about Elvira’s investigation, but thought better of it. All of the people seated at the table were suspects in Ava’s murder and she didn’t want to tip her hand, quickly deciding it was something they could discuss after dinner, when they were alone.
Tori stood first, her signal that dinner was over. The others followed suit and all of the employees pitched in to clear the table.
“Would you like to join me in the library for a nightcap?” Tori paused when she reached the dining room doors.
“Sure,” Mercedes nodded. “Ma and I have something to run by you while we’re at it.”
The women strolled through the grand hall and crossed over to the library on the other side. The French doors were open. A roaring fire welcomed them and Tori waited until mother and daughter were inside before closing the door behind them.
Tori made her way over to the side table and a brandy decanter where she pulled the stopper and poured a generous amount in an empty glass. “Would you care for a brandy?”
“No thanks,” Carlita shook her head.
“I’ll pass,” Mercedes said.
They waited until Tori sampled her drink and then eased into one of the chairs near the fireplace.
Carlita perched on the edge of the nearby settee. “Before I forget, I must warn you EC Investigative Services started their own investigation into Ava Torrez’s death.”
“EC Investigative Services,” Tori said. “The name sounds familiar. Are they connected to EC Security Services?”
“Yes,” Mercedes nodded. “Elvira Cobb owns both companies. She runs the investigative services company and her sister, Dernice, the one you’ve been dealing with, runs the security company.”
“Wouldn’t that be a conflict of interest?” Tori asked. “Investigating your own company?”
“One would think, but then Elvira has never been one to follow rules,” Carlita said. “She’s concerned the authorities will begin investigating EC Security Services’ employees and find out Dernice, the head of the security company, has a criminal record.”
Tori shook her head. “Good heavens. Who puts a convicted cr
iminal in charge of a security company?”
“Elvira,” Mercedes and Carlita said in unison.
“We need to tell the investigators.”
“I don’t disagree on that point,” Carlita said and turned to Mercedes. “Tell Tori what you found out.”
Tori sipped her brandy and cradled the glass in her hand. “Was Ava’s personnel file able to provide any new clues?”
“Yes.” Mercedes squeezed in next to her mother on the settee. “At first, I didn’t think there was anything until I took a closer look at the Dykstra’s personnel file on Ava. Do you want me to go get it?”
“If you think it would help,” Tori said.
Mercedes popped off the couch and hurried from the room, returning moments later with Ava’s folder. She handed it to Tori. “If you flip to the second page of Ava’s file, you’ll see that close to the end of her term of employment with the Dykstras there was a gap in employment. My theory is the Dykstras fired Ava and then for some unknown reason hired her back, only to fire her again, which is when you hired her.”
Tori slipped her reading glasses on and studied the paper. “You’re right. I never noticed it before. Perhaps it’s a typo.”
“I don’t think so.” Mercedes shook her head. “I believe during her employment, Ava flirted with Mr. Dykstra. Mrs. Dykstra found out and promptly fired her.”
“But why hire her back?” Tori asked.
“Well, there’s one thing that all of your employees mentioned about Ava - she spent a lot of time threatening the others that she was going to report them. Maybe Ava pulled the same stunt on the Dykstras. What if she had some dirt on them and threatened to expose a secret they were desperate to keep under wraps?”
“That’s an interesting angle,” Tori said. “Now that you mention it, there were rumors swirling about that Mimi and Rick were having marital difficulties. I assumed it was related to their finances, which is the reason Mimi gave me for having to let Ava go.”
“If they’re having financial difficulties, they have an odd way of showing it. I was checking out the Dykstra’s social profile page before dinner and they don’t seem to be hurting for money.”
Merry Masquerade in Savannah: A Made in Savannah Cozy Mystery (Made in Savannah Cozy Mysteries Series Book 8) Page 12