by Fiona Grace
“Well, that seems suspicious,” Johnny said. “Wasn’t he the one who gave you the key to Elmswood?”
“Yes, which is how I ended up discovering Cindy’s body,” Mia said.
“Putting you in the crosshairs of Detective Waite,” Johnny added.
“He must be trying to frame me!” Mia said. Now that she thought about it, Doug Tanner certainly had the means and the opportunity to commit the murder. All they needed to figure out was the real motive.
“Okay, let’s finish up this meeting and hit the road.”
They went back inside. Graham was on the phone talking loudly and everyone else was looking at him in anticipation.
“I need more time,” Graham said into the phone. “This isn’t a studio shoot, it’s a haunted house. Do you get that? Sure, I realize you’re on a schedule. But I can’t wrangle the ghosts, now can I? That’s what I’m being paid to do? Really? Is that so? Fine, we’ll make it happen. No problem.”
Graham hung up the phone looking exasperated.
“What?” Sylvie said.
“We’re screwed,” he said. “The network says if we don’t hand the show in to them in a week, the deal is off.”
Mia looked around at her friends, the crew of Bell, Book, and Candle. Everyone depended on the show, including her. She needed to figure out what really happened to Cindy Moore before everything they’d built up was destroyed.
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
Mia pulled into the parking lot of Seaside Estates. Johnny was in the passenger’s seat with Sylvie and Tandy riding in the back. Doug Tanner’s SUV was parked in front of the office. Through the window, they could see the real estate agent on the phone, leaning back in his chair with his feet up on the desk.
“He doesn’t look too broken up over the whole thing,” Johnny said.
“That’s what we thought,” Sylvie said.
“Come on, let’s find out what he knows,” Mia said and opened the door for Sylvie. Tandy jumped down and ran along the side of the building, stopping to check the interesting scents he found there. They walked around to the front of the building and strolled inside. The receptionist took one look at Johnny and stood up abruptly, dropping the papers in her hand in surprise.
“J-Johnny Astor?” she said, barely able to choke the words out. “Oh gosh, I love your podcast. I follow you on Twitter. Your new show is amazing.”
As usual, Johnny seemed to have a magical effect on people. Mia was struck by the contrast between the girl’s lackluster response the last time she was in the office and her current display of recognition.
“That’s great,” Johnny said and smiled his thousand-watt smile. “What’s your name?”
“Me? Ah, I’m P-Pam,” the receptionist said, her eyes as wide as saucers. Suddenly she remembered her appearance. Her hands fluttered over her jacket, straightening the seams so that she sat a little bit taller.
Johnny pulled a card out of his pocket and turned it over. Then he signed the back with a flourish and handed it to Pam. The card read: Official friend of Bell, Book, and Candle. I hope we can count on you to bust some ghosts!
Mia looked at the card, stunned.
Johnny had printed up cards to autograph?
“I hope you come to my next video chat, Pam,” Johnny said.
“Oh my gosh,” Pam said. “This is awesome.” She stared at the card with Johnny’s signature, blushing head to toe. Then she seemed to remember her duties. “Oh goodness, let me get Doug.” Pam knocked on Doug’s door.
Doug Tanner came out of his office. The moment he spotted Johnny he plastered a smile across his face.
“Aren’t you the guy on that Bell, Book, and Candle show?” Doug said. Then he spotted Mia and Sylvie. “Any luck getting the owner to sell to you?”
“You were right,” Sylvie said. “She wasn’t interested in selling.”
“Come on into the office,” Doug said. As they all walked inside, Doug took a seat behind his desk and leaned back with his hands behind his head. “So, what can I do for you? Ready to look at some of my other properties, Ms. Rockstar?”
Johnny looked at Sylvie questioningly and she pursed her lips and shook her head, indicating not to go there.
“I’m still kind stuck on that one,” Sylvie said.
Mia took the seat across from Doug and steepled her fingers.
“Listen, Doug, I have a question.”
“Shoot,” Doug said.
“Did you kill Cindy Moore?” Mia said sharply.
The color drained from Doug Tanner’s face and his salesman’s smile crumbled. He looked at Sylvie and Johnny, who just stared back at him while Tandy snorted and lay down to wait out the human business.
“What?” he said. “You think I killed Cindy? How could you think that!” He seemed genuinely shocked by what Mia was saying.
“You don’t seem too broken up over her death,” Mia said, watching him carefully. He was tense. But it was hard to tell if his reaction was genuine.
Doug looked down at his desk and nodded, his fists clenched.
“Look, Cindy and I had our problems,” Doug said in a ragged voice. “She had a big personality and she didn’t like to listen. Sure, she brought in a lot of clients, but I’m not going to lie and tell you things aren’t easier now that she’s gone. She argued with me about everything, that Elmswood House most of all.”
“Why?” Johnny said.
“The owner, Connie Carol, was too high maintenance, a total recluse who refused every reasonable offer and wouldn’t even meet with serious buyers when they asked. I begged Cindy to take that Elmswood monstrosity off our books. But she was a workaholic, she took any commission, big or small.”
“So maybe you killed her for the sake of the business?” Mia said, pushing him. Was he upset about being accused, or being found out?
Doug Tanner shook his head back and forth.
“The business? Are you kidding me? Cindy was the face of this place. With her gone, I’m in trouble! Her clients loved her. Most of them have already gone with other agents,” Doug Tanner said.
“Why should we believe you?” Johnny said, glancing at Mia.
“Because I have no motive to kill her! She was a money-maker. Besides, I was at a neighbor’s housewarming party with my family that night!”
“Listen, Doug,” Johnny said. “We want to help you clear your name.”
“Why? Do the cops think I did it?” Doug said nervously.
Johnny slid into the chair next to Mia and shrugged.
“Somebody did it,” Johnny said. “You knew where Cindy was, you had a key. How late were you at that housewarming?”
“I-I’m not sure,” Doug said.
“Exactly,” Johnny said. “The best thing you could do is help us find out who killed her.”
Mia and Sylvie exchanged glances. She’d never seen Johnny use his powers of persuasion so diabolically before. But from the look on Doug Tanner’s face, Johnny’s theory was working. The guy was cracking big-time
“Doug?” Mia said. “We spoke to one of Cindy’s clients, Howard Adler. Cindy called him the night she was killed. Do you know him?”
“No,” Doug said.
“She told him she was meeting another client. We need to find who that client was, any ideas?”
“I already told you Cindy didn’t take my advice. She was a bit reckless.”
“Cindy referred to the client as Mr. Fat Cat. Ring any bells?”
“Fat Cat?” Doug said. “We only had one client who was pretty loaded and was interested in that house. A guy from Salem named Greg Abbott. He owns that freak show in Salem, the one where they swallow swords and crap.”
“I know the place,” Sylvie said. “The Witch City Side Show. There’s a guy who pounds nails into his head. I think I told your sister about it.”
Doug opened up his phone and texted the contact card to Mia.
“Thanks, Doug,” Sylvie said. “As soon as my record contract drops, I’ll let you know about my real esta
te needs.”
“Sure, sure,” Doug said, glad to see them leave.
Johnny gave Sylvie a funny look but kept his mouth shut. As soon as they were outside he turned to Sylvie.
“Record contract? Now look who’s pretending?”
Mia’s phone buzzed with an incoming text from Swampscott PD. As she looked at the text, the hackles rose on the back of her neck.
We need to ask you a few questions.
When are you available to come in?
“Ugh, it’s Detective Waite,” Mia said. “What if he arrests me?”
“You realize a lawyer would tell you not to talk to the police,” Sylvie said. “Isn’t your brother-in-law a lawyer?”
“That is a last resort,” Mia said and started typing out a reply.
Today is bad.
Got a few things to clear up.
Maybe tomorrow?
Mia shoved her phone back in her pocket.
“Let’s go have a chat with Mr. Abbott,” Mia said.
***
Mia pulled up in front of the Witch City Side Show. The outside of the building was red brick with blackened windows painted with garish circus performers eating fire and swallowing swords. Mia put Tandy on a leash so he wouldn’t freak anyone out as they walked past the small line of people waiting to buy tickets for the next show. The girl behind the desk was wearing goth makeup and chewing gum. She checked in guests who had bought tickets on the Internet, and took cash from others. Mia glanced at Sylvie, who nodded. They learned the lesson of the last receptionist. Best to let Johnny handle it.
“You better deal with this,” Mia whispered and pushed him forward.
“No problem,” Johnny said and stepped up to the front desk. He smiled charmingly and leaned on the counter.
The goth girl looked at him and her eyes got big. She blinked her doll-like fake eyelashes in recognition.
“Johnny Astor?” she said. “The podcaster?”
“That’s me,” Johnny said.
“You jerk! Why’d you break up with Vicki Carlyle?” the girl said.
“I-I didn’t mean to upset her,” Johnny said, flustered. “Our breakup was mutual!”
“That’s not what she said!” the goth girl said, indignant. “She posted that she fell out a window and ripped her clothes.”
“I would never—” Johnny said, startled by her venom.
“She’s a creative genius. Her clothing line Cauldron Chic rocks. You’re a jackass.”
He opened his mouth to defend himself but no sound came out. Sylvie stepped in to handle the situation.
“Hey, we’re looking for Greg Abbott?” Sylvie said.
The girl looked at Sylvie and calmed down.
“Cute boots. Can I ask who you are exactly?” the girl said, chewing her gum behind black lips.
“Mia and Sylvie from Bell, Book, and Candle. Is it okay if we bring Tandy with us?”
“That cute doggie? Of course! We have a dog in the act too,” the girl said and came around the desk to pet the mutt. Then she walked back and dialed Greg Abbott’s extension. “There’re two women here to see you. Yes, Mia and Sylvie from a Bell, Book, and Candle. Yeah, they seem all right.” She hung up and pointed through the curtains. “Go ahead. Through there and to the left of the stage. You’ll see the stairs to the office.”
The goth girl glared at Johnny and started texting.
“Good work, lover boy,” Sylvie said with a smirk as they walked through the curtains.
“I broke up with Vicki months ago,” Johnny said. “She has an army of Instagram followers. They’re always so unreasonable.”
Mia and Sylvie started giggling as Johnny tried to recover his dignity.
Inside the darkened auditorium, it took a moment for their eyes to adjust. The curtains were dark and dingy and stage hands were setting up the various props onstage, including an assortment of swords. They made their way to the stairs and climbed to the second floor, then down a narrow hallway to a door marked Office.
Mia knocked.
“Come in,” came a throaty voice. The door swung open into a cramped room. Behind the desk was an older man, with a gray beard and a waxed mustache curled up on the corners of his mouth. Greg Abbott made a welcoming gesture with his hands.
“What can I do you for?” he said.
“Doug Tanner mentioned you were interested in buying the Elmswood House?”
He stared at them for a moment as a look of comprehension dawned on his face. “Why? Is it available?” Greg said.
“I’m afraid not,” Mia said. “Did you ever have a look at the place?”
“Sure I did. I was planning to buy the property.”
“Were you going to live there?”
“In that wreck? No. I wanted to open a haunted attraction. You know, tours of a haunted house and once a year on Halloween make the place a serious haunted house. I could have drawn people from across the state.”
“What happened?” Mia said.
“The current owner caught wind of what I was planning to do and backed out. She didn’t want the house turned into a ‘spectacle.’”
How far would Greg Abbott be willing to go to acquire the house? Mia wondered.
“Did you know Cindy Moore?”
“Who?” Greg said.
“Doug Tanner’s partner?”
“Oh, I know who you mean. I saw her in the office a few times. But I worked with Doug. You’re talking about the bottled blond with the Jersey attitude?”
“That’s her,” Mia said. “I’m afraid she’s dead.”
“Dead?” Greg said, looking surprised. “How?”
“Carbon monoxide poisoning,” Mia said.
“She was found at the house,” Johnny added.
“Oh good lord,” Greg said, shocked. “When?”
“Two days ago,” Mia said.
“Huh, the last week we’ve been working every night putting a set together. What a shame,” Greg said. “My condolences. Isn’t that house the Browder family died?”
“Yes,” Mia said and glanced at Johnny. They both knew that eliminated Greg. Unless he was lying, there would be a ton of witnesses who could account for his whereabouts.
“One more question,” Mia said. “Were you ever on the real estate forums at Seaside Estates?”
“Sure,” Greg said. “I asked questions from time to time.”
“What was your username?”
“Showman26,” Greg said. “Why?”
“Did you ever see a user called Fat Cat?”
Greg looked up at the ceiling as if trying to retrieve a thought.
“Oh wait, I remember. There was a guy who kept asking about that Elmswood property too. I can’t remember his user name. He could have been Fat Cat. I do remember he was kind of a real estate nerd, always quoting weird facts.”
Mia, Johnny, and Sylvie exchanged glances.
“Thanks, Greg,” Johnny said.
Greg handed him a card.
“Give me a call, I might want to advertise on your show,” he said.
They walked back out through the theater. The show had started and there was a smattering of audience members as a man stood on stage lowering a sword down his throat. They all crept along the far aisle and attempted to sneak out of the auditorium without disrupting the show.
As they emerged through the heavy velvet curtains and stepped into the lobby, Mia froze. Her cheeks flushed as she saw who was waiting for them.
“What are you doing here?” Mia said.
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
“I should be asking you that question,” Detective Landry said, leaning casually against the ticket counter. “What are you doing here, Mia?”
“Um, hi, Detective Landry,” Mia waffled as she stepped into the lobby from behind the curtain, followed by Johnny, Sylvie, and Tandy.
“That’s them,” said the goth girl said. “Like I said, the geek squad.”
“Well, well, well,” Landry said. “If it isn’t Mia Bold and her Scooby-Doo
posse. Tampering with an official police investigation, as usual.” He looked directly at Mia with a mild expression of surprise before shaking his head as if this meeting was inevitable. Mia closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
How embarrassing! She was caught red-handed, investigating Cindy Moore’s death. She hadn’t texted him or told him anything, after he had specifically asked her to keep him in the loop.
Tandy wagged his tail in recognition before trotting over to greet the detective. Landry gave the dog a friendly stroke along his flanks.
“We just had some questions for Greg Abbott, that’s all,” Mia said.
Landry stepped closer to Mia. “If I were you I would consider the course of radical honesty right about now, for your own sake.”
“Of course,” Mia said.
“Shall we take this outside?” Landry said.
The goth girl took a picture of Johnny Astor with her phone and started to post an update.
“Really?” Johnny said as he walked out.
As they all stepped outside onto the pavement, Mia fidgeted a little. The situation was incredibly awkward. She should have texted Landry with what she’d found so far, but her whole life had been blown up by the arrival of her family and her ex-boyfriend/stalker. Not to mention, the blow-up between Brynn and her brother-in-law, Jeffrey. But Mia refused to make excuses. Instead, she stood in front of Landry and waited.
“Do you want to try explaining yourself?” Landry said with his wry southern drawl.
“Doug Tanner mentioned Greg Abbott, so we were checking him out, that’s all. I don’t think either one was involved.”
“What makes you say that?” Landry said.
“They both have an alibi, for one thing. Doug was at a housewarming party with his family, and Greg was building sets all week for his circus show. Whoever killed Cindy needed time and privacy.”
“And Howard Adler?” Landry said impatiently.
Mia’s cheeks flushed red again. So Landry knew everyone she’d spoken to about the case? Of course he did!