Killer Party

by Lynn Cahoon

  “In the end, Levi didn’t include Butch.” I knew this much was true since I’d seen the argument between the two. “Do you know why?”

  “I made Levi a deal. I wouldn’t fight him on anything ever again if he left our finances alone. We worked hard to build that nest egg. I didn’t want anything to happen to it. Butch may not be able to work this hard for too many more years.”

  I took a bite of my salad, but Lois didn’t continue. I looked up, surprised to see tears in her eyes. “What’s wrong?”

  She wiped her eyes with a napkin. “I guess Levi got the wrong end of that deal. I didn’t have to agree with anything unpleasant, and I would have thought Levi would have made it hard for me right up front. That way he could prove who was really the boss of my husband.”

  “Did you know what the deal was?” Now I was curious.

  She didn’t meet my eyes, but what came out sounded like the truth. “I assumed it was a land development deal. But I didn’t get the details. Not from Butch or Levi. He kept telling me I was making a mistake. That our investment would double in less than a year. That’s when I knew he was feeding Butch a line of crap. No investment doubles in twelve months.” She stabbed a piece of tomato and the seed flew out to the table. “Not anything legal that is.”

  We ate our salads in silence. Then she looked up at me. “I sound like a total witch, don’t I.”

  She made it a statement, not a question, but I answered anyway. “No. You sound like someone who wanted to protect your lives, not just follow along with whatever Levi wanted. I know I’m new to the group, but it seems like Levi was a bit of a bully.”

  Lois barked out a laugh. “I’m going to like having you around. If we still keep getting together after this total disaster of a reunion. You’re a pistol.”

  As I walked home after we finished lunch, I thought about Lois and Butch and the pitfalls of being married. Especially around the financial decisions made every day. My first husband and I had never comingled funds. He paid his half of the bills, I paid mine, and we both had separate bank accounts. The only thing we did together was file taxes. It was at one of the meetings with our accountant where I’d found out he’d made partner and had never even mentioned it.

  When I’d asked him about it on the way home, he confessed that he had been seeing someone else on the side when it happened and had thought telling me about the promotion would give me a bargaining chip in our divorce proceedings. Assuring me the affair was over, he’d assumed we’d go on like before. Instead, I packed a bag and filed for divorce the next week.

  Greg and I talked about everything. Since I owned my house free and clear, he insisted on paying for the utilities and a part of the taxes and insurance. With that money and Toby’s rent, I was able to save most of the money I got in profits from the business. I wasn’t quite sure what I was saving for, except the rainy day my aunt had always warned me about.

  Greg seemed to still be paying for debt that he’d accrued during his first marriage. But we did share a travel account and we each slipped money into that account from every paycheck. I would have been as upset as Lois had been in not having a say in the way the money was spent.

  I just didn’t think it was a good enough reason to kill someone. But as I’d learned over the last few years, logic didn’t really come into play when you were talking about murder.

  Emotions built a stronger motive. And Lois had been angry at Levi. Even though it seemed as if they’d worked out a compromise, she could have been mad at him for making the deal.

  I had a vision of Lois spearing the tomato on her plate as she talked about Levi during our lunch. What was the saying: Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

  CHAPTER 12

  Aunt Jackie’s car was in my driveway when I arrived home. She must have used the extra key I’d given her when I’d moved into the house as she wasn’t in the car or on the step, waiting.

  I heard them in the kitchen as I walked through. Aunt Jackie was talking to Emma like she was a friend, not just my dog. My aunt was feeding Emma pieces of chicken she’d found in the fridge. My lips curved into a smile as I walked in to find her petting Emma’s golden fur.

  “I didn’t expect you. Have you been waiting long?” I put my tote on the table and went to the fridge to pour a glass of iced tea. I returned to the table and sat next to an almost mute Jackie.

  She wiped her fingers on a paper towel and took the chicken back to the fridge. “I wanted to run a bridemaid’s dress by you.”

  “You’re not getting married until March. Don’t you think it’s too early to be picking out dresses?” I took a sip of tea. It cooled my throat and kept me from talking for at least a few minutes.

  She paused as she was flipping through her planner, looking, I suppose for the dresses she’d clipped out of magazines. I didn’t know why she didn’t do this all online. She could have the web sites linked. “You act like you don’t want me to get married. Is there something you need to tell me about Harrold? Don’t you like him?”

  “This has nothing to do with Harrold. He’s a great guy.” I paused, trying to form my next sentence carefully.

  “I don’t understand. You don’t want to be in my wedding? Is that what you’re telling me?” Now her voice was tightening and her face was turning pink.

  “That’s not what I’m saying.” I shook my head. “Forget it. I’m not sure why all this over planning is bothering me so much. I guess I think you should just get married. I’ll pay for the trip to Vegas. I love both you and Harrold and I’m sure you’ll be very happy together.” When she didn’t respond, I caved. “Okay, show me the dresses.”

  She pressed her lips together, but flipped through some pages. When she reached the page, she paused and stared at me. “This is about you and Greg, isn’t it? You’re upset that your relationship isn’t moving along. Do you want me to have Harrold talk to him?”

  “No!” The word came out stronger than I’d expected. I took a deep breath. “This is not about Greg and me. I’m perfectly happy with where we are right now.”

  “Are you sure?” My aunt peered at me over the notebook like she was seeing if I was running a fever or showing signs of illness. “I’m sure Harrold would be discreet about his conversation.”

  “Just show me the dresses.” Now I wished I’d just kept drinking my tea and kept my thoughts to myself. Aunt Jackie was a fixer. And apparently in her eyes, I needed to be fixed. I pointed to the least offensive dress. “That one is perfect.”

  She looked at my one hope and tore the picture out of the book. “I thought I’d gotten rid of that ugly thing.”

  Moving closer, I tried to imagine myself in any of the other bedazzled and ruffled dresses. Either I’d look like a Vegas showgirl or a Southern belle. I kept the sigh I wanted to let out inside and smiled at my aunt. I asked the only question that mattered: “Which one do you like best?”

  By the time she got up to leave, we’d settled on a pink Scarlett O’Hara costume complete with parasol and white gloves. “The umbrella may come in handy. You know how sunny June can be.”

  I nodded and followed her to the door. “Looking forward to it.”

  She turned back sharply and peered at me. “Are you sure about me not asking Harrold to talk to Greg?”

  “Leave it alone, Aunt Jackie. Greg and I are fine.” As if I conjured him with my comment, he came through the front door, almost running into my aunt.

  He held his hand out to stop his forward advancement and pulled her into a hug. “My two favorite ladies. What are you doing here? I thought you were closing.”

  “I’m on my way. Toby said he’d wait until I got back. Although he looks like someone hit him with a tired stick. Good thing he’s not driving here.” My aunt kissed Greg on the cheek, then wiped away her lipstick. “You two have fun tonight.”

  He helped her out to her car, then met me in the kitchen. “Why does it always sound dirty when your aunt tells us to have fun?”

  “Because you have
a dirty mind?” I opened the fridge. “What are you thinking about for dinner?”

  “Anything we can grill. I’m so tired of takeout I could scream.” He picked up the picture of the dress Aunt Jackie had ripped out of the book. “Is this what you’re wearing to the wedding? It’s nice.”

  “I couldn’t be that lucky.” I told him about the hideous outfit I would be wearing, and to avoid any chats with Harrold for the next little bit. “My aunt thinks we should be moving faster.”

  “Again, sounds dirty.” He took a beer out of the fridge. “I’m heading upstairs for a quick shower and change. If you make a salad, I’ll grill those tuna steaks you took out when I get back.”

  “Perfect.” I watched him walk toward the stairs. “And as we’re doing that, we need to talk about the case.”

  “Sounds great.” He called back, his tone muffled by the wall between the staircase and the kitchen.

  I wasn’t sure I believed him.

  We didn’t actually talk about the case until after dinner was done, the table cleared and dishes in the dishwasher. I had made coffee and served up two slices of the pumpkin cheesecake I’d had for breakfast. Great way to start, and end, a day.

  I opened my notebook and started telling him about what I’d learned. When I told him about having lunch with Lois, he put his fork down on the plate. “I can’t believe she told you all of that. I don’t think she said two words to Sherry in all of the years we went to the annual get-togethers.”

  “I’m easier to like than Sherry.” I stated the obvious. “So what do you think about Butch and Lois? Could either of them have killed Levi?”

  He shook his head. “No way. And I’m just not saying that because they are my friends. Maybe Lois had motive, but it sounds like she and Levi came to an agreement and Butch has already admitted he was left out of the deal. If he was angry about that, I’d think Lois would be the one who was in the morgue, not Levi.”

  “Yeah, I kind of thought the same thing. But from what I could find out from the paperwork Butch threw away, the deal was definitely a takeover of The Castle. I don’t think they actually got the sale completed. I checked with the records and the deed hasn’t changed hands. It’s still in The Preservation Society’s name.” I sipped my coffee.

  “But those electronic records take some time to process. Have you talked to Brenda?” He took my notebook and scanned my notes.

  “I guess I can go over tomorrow after work and see what she will tell me. I thought it was odd that she let Levi buy out The Castle for a complete weekend for his private party. I didn’t think they did that anymore.”

  “Find out what made her change her rules, and we might have a lead.” Greg pointed to a note about Vladimir and Alana. “Why is this here? He’s the owner of the Russian Collectibles, right?”

  “Yeah, he lied to Bill yesterday and I don’t know why.” I took a small bite of the cheesecake and let the gooey yumminess fill my mouth. “I want to remember to stop by City Hall and see if Amy found his business license application yet. Maybe that will tell me what’s going on.”

  “Or maybe he just doesn’t want to go to your meetings. Some people aren’t naturally social. You of all people should know that.” Greg finished off his cheesecake and took his plate to the sink to rinse it before sticking it into the dishwasher. “I’ve got some reports to finish. Mind if I use your office?”

  “Go ahead.” Lately it was more Greg’s office than mine, mostly because I didn’t ever use it. Not for studying and not for business stuff. But it looked amazing. I’d totally repurposed the room when I’d moved in, with a great desk, small love seat, and tons of bookshelves. I just liked doing my homework on the couch in front of the television instead.

  Somehow the whole working together on this investigation thing felt less like Nancy Drew and Ted and more like just work. Go do this, go talk to Brenda. And all I got when I reported back was more assignments. I closed my clues book and grabbed the novel I’d been reading earlier. Maybe I was just tired and grumpy. No matter what, I was putting the problem aside and taking advantage of my last free moments to actually read fiction before classes started up again and I was knee-deep in text books.

  *

  Greg was already gone when I woke up the next morning. For someone who wasn’t working a murder case, he sure was busy at the station. I’d forgotten to ask him about the break in. I made a mental note to ask him this evening. Toby’s apartment was dark, too. Before Greg had moved in, Toby had started having breakfast with me. Mostly because he’d been lonely after Sasha left town and, unknown to me, because Greg had asked him to keep an eye on my investigating. Now, I rarely saw the guy unless he was taking over for me at the shop.

  Emma nudged her leash but I knelt and gave her a hug. “The vet said no running for a week. You have to build up your strength.”

  She licked my face which to me meant, I’m fine, don’t worry. I want to run. But I loved my girl and if her vet said a week, we were waiting a week.

  “Maybe I’ll take you into town later this afternoon for a walk.” I patted her side and stood.

  A wag of the tail told me she thought that was an excellent idea. And so I said good-bye, locked up the house, and headed into town for my shift. I’d thought about bringing her into the shop with me, but sometimes she’d bark at a random customer. Mostly I thought she might be right on their general character flaws (she hated Josh) but I guess it didn’t seem very welcoming to have a dog try to warn you out of the building when you were just trying to buy a coffee.

  After I got this college thing done, I’d start bringing her in once a week and see if I could get her settled. As long as the health inspector didn’t have concerns. Brad could be a little touchy on department rules. Even if they weren’t really rules.

  With the commuters all taken care of, I pulled out my laptop and decided to do a little research on our former host, Levi. When I keyed in his name, Google gave me pages of hits and quite a few pictures. Some of him in a tuxedo, some with Jessica, and one that appeared to be his high school yearbook snapshot. I clicked on that one and was taken to a scanned newspaper from Greg’s home town.

  “Honor student cleared of murder charges. Not enough evidence says DA.” I went to the article and whistled. “Football star is laid to rest without an answer on questions surrounding the death of Mike Lord.”

  Greg hadn’t mentioned this. And you would think if one of your friends had been accused of killing another kid—that kind of news would fly through a high school. When I’d tried to follow up on the news article, I’d realized it wasn’t a vehicle accident. Maybe that was part of why Butch felt such a loyalty to Levi. I scanned the article for more information, but it was pretty vague about what had happened due to something the reporter called juvenile privilege. Basically, he was complaining that the courtroom and the file had been sealed, limiting his access to the actual facts and, seemingly, giving the paper carte blanche to just plain make stuff up.

  I sent the article to my wireless printer in the back office, then looked up Mike Lord’s name. If it wasn’t about football or his untimely death, there was nothing. At least not online. I wondered if Greg would let me fly back and talk to the people in town. Then it hit me. Most of the group still quarantined to South Cove and The Castle had gone to school with Levi. Even if Greg wouldn’t talk about the incident, they might. Or at least their wives might know something. I didn’t have anything on my plate, so it was time to go visit The Castle this afternoon as soon as Deek arrived for his shift.

  Besides, Greg had told me to go talk to Brenda. This was just a few more people and on a topic he hadn’t opened up for me.

  The way I looked at it, I was completely in the right here. “Besides, Greg should have told me.”

  “Told you what?” Greg stood across the counter, watching me. “What did you find?”

  I closed the laptop. “What are you doing here?”

  “Came in for coffee. We’re having a meeting and our mayor wants
your coffee, not the stuff we serve at the station.” He nodded to the dessert case. “And I’ll take one of those éclairs for the walk back.”

  “I’m putting this on the city’s charge, are you sure you don’t want to take some back for the meeting?” I opened the travel box we provided for coffee and filled it while Greg waited.

  “Make it two then. One for Esmeralda.” He leaned on the counter. “You’re really not going to tell me what you were mumbling about?”

  I studied him for a second. Why wouldn’t I just ask Greg? “Okay, I’ll tell you. I found some articles about Levi being linked to a kid’s death during high school. What happened?”

  Greg froze and the pen he’d been playing with dropped from his hand. “This is why I don’t like you involved in investigations. That thing in high school had nothing to do with Levi. It was a tragic accident. So stop digging into something that should be kept in the past.”

  “That’s not the way life works you know. Bad things keep coming back to affect the present.” I turned away from him, not liking the pain I saw reflected in his face. “What happened back then?”

  “Nothing good.” Greg stood and straightened. “I really need to get back to my meeting. But Jill, don’t go poking bears. If I thought it had anything to do with Levi’s death, I would have told Terrance straight out.”

  I knew I was fighting a losing battle here. Whatever had happened, Greg had decided to keep it hidden. I put two éclairs in a to-go box. I wasn’t going to let it go, but I didn’t have to make it a federal case, not without knowing more. “What about the mayor, should I add one more?”

  “Heck no, he’s big enough as it is.” Greg smiled, but his eyes still watched me warily. I guess he knew I wouldn’t give up. He held out a hand for the bag. “Besides, I kind of like the idea of him not getting a treat. The man wants to cut my budget again.”

  “You know the council won’t let him do that.” I handed him the coffee. “Bill’s got your back.”