Murder on the Great lake: A Pet Portraits Cozy Mystery Book 2

by Sandi Scott

  “What? How can you say that?” Aleta chuckled. “Jonathan moved for work and he’s doing well. Andrew is carving out his own niche in the art world. You have to be proud of that. Catherine takes after her mama raising that beautiful baby. There are Kayes scattered all over the country. That’s a good thing.”

  “If they still lived close to home they could all come over, pitch in and fix my roof.” Georgie griped.

  “You aren’t fooling me.” Aleta pointed at her sister. “If those kids were around you’d be complaining they were always at your house and underfoot. You like your solitude.”

  “Except when I don’t.”

  “Yeah, well, that’s why I’m here. I’m going to help you get your roof fixed. And you’ll help me pick out some exercise equipment. It’s a win-win situation.”

  “That it is.” Georgie smiled.

  Chapter 8

  “Did you sleep okay?” Aleta asked as she set a coffeecake on the kitchen table and poured two cups of coffee.

  “I did and I’m ready to go to this fitness equipment place and tell them I’m ready to feel the burn.”

  “Coffee first?”

  “Of course.” Georgie sat down at the table. “And cake. Can’t forget the cake.”

  In no time at all they were in Pablo driving toward downtown Chicago and the AdonisTech Fitness Equipment showroom. It was located two blocks from the Magnificent Mile right around the corner from Water Tower Place in the high-high end shopping area.

  The showroom was as sleek and decked out as the Lexus and Mercedes dealerships that were just a few doors down.

  “Maybe we should have gotten dressed up to come here?” Aleta tugged at her beige cardigan over her stiff white blouse.

  “Speak for yourself.” Georgie strolled past her sister while looking at the machines, tipping back the brim of her maroon cabbie hat, and thrusting her hands into the pockets of her tan duster with zebra stripes along the trim.

  “Hello. Can I help you?” It was Abby from the cruise.

  The Kaye sisters introduced themselves and mentioned that they had been on the Catherine O’Leary for the event the other night. That was where they had seen Abby’s information.

  “That was a night to remember.” Abby offered them a seat at a glass-topped table.

  “Wasn’t it?” Aleta agreed. “Did you know that man who fell overboard?”

  Georgie was shocked Aleta jumped into the snooping so quickly but she was glad she did.

  “Deck? Yeah, I did.” She shook her head. Before Aleta could ask a follow-up question Abby began to talk as if they were all just old friends. “There was a time there that I really couldn’t stand the guy. We ran one of those Fit Family Gyms together. Yikes. It was like I had been signed up in the Marine Corp and didn’t realize it until it was too late. Deck took his job very seriously.”

  “We spoke to him only for a second. He seemed very nice. Genuine.” Georgie offered.

  “Nice? Sure—unless you stood in the way of his business profits—then he could be cut-throat. He’d call me at three in the morning telling me to run reports and when I told him I liked some personal time, he told me I was slowing down business growth. Eventually, he started his own gym without telling me and stole 80% of my customers—some of them were even my sororiety sisters from college. I was so angry that I hired a lawyer.”

  “Did the police talk to you?” Aleta asked.

  “Yup. They asked all kinds of questions about our relationship. That was one thing I didn’t have time for.” She pulled back her hair. “I hated working with him let alone doing anything else. Besides, when you have a gym that brings in as many pretty ladies as his did there would be no sense in dipping my pen in company ink.”

  “I wouldn’t have guessed him for a player. Isn’t that the word you youngsters use? Player?” Georgie asked.

  “He had a couple of girls. Nothing steady that I was aware of but then again I tried to avoid Deck as much as possible.” She shook her head and smiled. “I’m sorry. I’m talking about him as if he’s evil but the truth is I never got a chance to tell him thanks. See, I just needed a couple signatures on some legal documents to get me out of my business partnership with him and Deck was dragging his feet. I was getting frustrated so I stalked him and I tried to be nice about it but he made it nearly impossible. You know how men are.”

  “Do I.” Georgie concurred.

  “But since I left and I started working here I’m so happy I can’t believe it. I’m a much better sales woman than I ever was a trainer or business partner. If it weren’t for Deck being such a di....jerk I’d have never realized my calling.”

  “That’s really sweet of you to say.” Aleta assured Abby with a smile. “I’m sure he appreciated that when you told him.”

  “I never did.” Abby shrugged her shoulders. “I tried to get him to talk to me on the cruise. He said he’d meet me for a few minutes but, as I expected, he stood me up. I think he thought I was going to confess my undying love to him or tell him that I wanted more money or something. He always had people asking him for either one or the other.”

  “Do you know of anyone who might have wanted to do Deck harm? He was such a big guy I can’t imagine anyone trying to pick a fight with him.” Georgie looked at her sister who nodded in agreement.

  “I couldn’t say for sure. He bulldozed a lot of people to get his gym to be exactly the way he wanted it to be. I know for a fact he left quite a few broken hearts along the way, too. When it came to his gym, everything and everyone else came second. He wanted it run a certain way and had some inflexible standards for it right from the start. He didn’t want anyone who wasn’t serious to be loitering around.” Abby folded her arms in front of her. “I’m sure he cracked a couple of eggs in order to make his omelets, too.”

  “Well, we appreciate your taking the time to talk with us.” Georgie scooted her chair back in a move to end the conversation.

  “You ladies certainly have me intrigued.” Abby chirped. “What kind of exercise equipment were you looking for and what size is your gym?”

  “Truthfully, I’m just looking for something my sister and I can use every day or every other day just to keep moving.” Aleta offered.

  “So ... this isn’t for a gym? It’s for personal use?” Abby put her index finger to her lips.

  “That’s right.” Aleta replied.

  “That’s a problem. You see AdonisTech Fitness Equipment is for commercial gyms. However, I might be able to help you. Give me one minute.” Abby stood and moved confidently back to an office, closing the door behind her.

  “I don’t think she had anything to do with Deck’s murder.” Georgie grabbed her sister’s arm. “First, she’s not a muscle-head. She’s a saleswoman. Even if she wanted to push Deck overboard she’d need a battering ram to do so.”

  “I agree. Plus, from the sound of things she wasn’t interested in him romantically.”

  Georgie grimaced.

  “Yeah, you were way off on that one. You better stop using the not-so-hard-to-get-lady name.”

  “If I recall, it was you that started that one.”

  “Maybe you’re right. Shush. Here she comes.” Georgie adjusted her collar and quickly slapped on a smile.

  “You are in luck. I have a discounted Stairmaster that isn’t too big and bulky that I can sell to you for a very reasonable price.”

  “A Stairmaster?” Georgie breathed. “We could just walk up and down the stairs to the basement.”

  “Could you be any ruder?” Aleta muttered close to Georgie’s ear.

  “That’s not rude. It’s common sense.” Georgie whispered back.

  “You’ve been very helpful, Abby. Don’t pay any attention to my sister. She’s just worried because she suffers reoccurring piles.” Aleta leaned forward adding in a low voice, “Hemorrhoids.”

  “Oh, this will help that.” Abby became a lot more excited than Georgie would have expected when talking about these specific swollen glands. “Any k
ind of exercise that works the legs and buttocks will alleviate that swelling. You’ll wonder why you didn’t start stair-climbing sooner.”

  “See that, Georgie?” Aleta gushed. “That swelling can go down.”

  Georgie looked at Aleta and shook her head. Her sister had been getting in quite a few zingers lately. It was obvious from Aleta’s smirk and wide eyes that she was enjoying every minute of it.

  “What I can do is send you some pictures and a price and you can let me know if you think it might be something you want or not.” Abby encouraged. “Let me just say that if you stick with a simple routine of fifteen minutes a day you’ll feel the results in a month. You’ll see them in three. That is really something you can’t put a price tag on.”

  “You know, you’re right.” Aleta nodded. “Please do that and I’ll get back to you right away with my decision.”

  They shook hands and as the Kaye sisters stepped outside and walked toward Pablo they agreed they were no closer to solving this case than they had been this morning over coffeecake.

  “The captain of the Catherine O’Leary thinks it was foul play.” Georgie waved her right hand as she spoke. “Richard Batt, Mr. I-can’t-pay-you-because-I-might-need-a-lawyer, is sure it was nothing more than a freak accident. Abby says maybe/maybe not.”

  “You know what this means?” Aleta clicked her tongue as Georgie shook her head. “This means it’s time we talk to Stan.”

  “Aleta, don’t you think that the head detective at his precinct has better things to do than chit-chat with his ex-wife over the most current murder case?”

  “He might have better things he should be doing but he’ll put those off just so he can tell you good morning and what time it is.” Aleta laughed as she watched her sister’s cheeks blaze bright red. “Besides, you guys are friends. It isn’t like you don’t get along. My gosh, you get along so well you should start a bowling team together. Honestly.”

  “I only like bowling for the shoes.” Georgie griped. “Remember when we were in high school and I stole that pair from the Lakewood Bowl. They were so cute. Navy, gray and maroon suede with 6.5 on the heel.”

  “Oh, you and your tiny feet.” Aleta scoffed. “Yes, I remember them. Tacky is what they were. Very, very tacky and you wore them all over the place until they got ruined by the snow.”

  “That was a sad day.”

  “I suppose so.”

  “I never saw any in those colors again after that.”

  “So.” Aleta nudged. “Are you going to talk to Stan or what?”

  “Promise you won’t tell him anything about the roof?”

  Aleta sighed but nodded her head yes.

  Chapter 9

  “You know, I didn’t think you could get any prettier. Yet every time you come see me I think that’s it. She can’t get any prettier.” Detective Stan Toon purred to Georgie as she walked into his office.

  “Are we going to lunch or not?” Georgie rolled her eyes and grimaced at Stan’s over the top flattery.

  “Yes, I’m starving.” Stan chuckled as he grabbed his jacket and slipped it on to cover his shoulder holster. “But I can’t help but feel there is an ulterior motive to this visit. And I think I can guess what it is.”

  Georgie looked guiltily up at her ex-husband’s handsome face as they walked down the hallway toward the exit of the police station.

  She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes at Stan as he held the door open that lead to the busy street.

  “Thank heaven’s you posted bail!” she cried out loudly. “I don’t know how that blood got in my trunk!”

  Every passer-by turned and looked at Georgie as she descended the steps to the sidewalk with Stan following behind her shaking his head and pinching the skin at the bridge of his nose.

  “Why do you have to do that every time you walk out of my building?” Stan offered Georgie his elbow that she slipped her arm through.

  “Because it’s hilarious.” She replied. “Now each and every person will go and tell their husband or wife or girlfriend or whatever that they heard this crazy woman tumbling out of the police station spouting off about blood in her trunk.”

  “Yeah. Well, what are you in the mood for?” Stan offered. “Where would you like to eat?”

  “It’s such a beautiful day. Let’s dine al fresco.”

  “Hotdogs?” Stan nodded toward a vendor standing under a yellow and red umbrella with a silver box stacked with mustard, ketchup, onions, tomatoes, sauerkraut, pickles and the bright unnatural green relish that is a favorite of Chicago hotdog connoisseurs.

  “Perfect.” Georgie squeezed his arm.

  After grabbing two hotdogs for each of them, Stan’s with just mustard and Georgie’s with everything but ketchup, they took their feast to a quiet section of Grant Park and spread it out picnic style on a concrete bench just big enough for two.

  “This is a beautiful day. It’s not too hot outside at all.” Georgie rambled. “The breeze from The Lake is just perfect.”

  “So, are you going to tell me what you are fishing for?” Stan took a big bite of hotdog and continued to talk with his mouth nearly full. “Or should we kill some more time talking about the weather and how beautiful your eyes look in this light.”

  “You got me.” Georgie admitted. “I wouldn’t bother you with this at all, Stan, if I had a choice but I’m desperate.”

  Suddenly Stan’s face became concerned.

  “What’s the matter?” He wiped his mouth with a small paper napkin.

  “This death that happened on The Catherine O’Leary.” She swallowed a bite of hotdog. “Richard Batt. Is that name familiar to you?”

  “Yeah, he’s a person of interest. Why?”

  “I did a painting for him. His cat.” Stan knew exactly what Georgie was talking about. Her talent as an artist doing pet portraits was slowly but surely spreading throughout the art community in Chicago. “But now he says he can’t pay me because he may need a lawyer and that someone has fingered him as the possible culprit in Deck Zannowski’s murder. Is there any truth to that?”

  Stan looked at Georgie and studied her face. She could tell he was trying not to get too annoyed with her. He hated when she got involved with his cases.

  “Georgie, if I thought you could pass cadet training I’d have you hired on the police force tomorrow and promote you to detective so we could work side-by-side every day.”

  “Well, let’s not go crazy, Stan.” Georgie tugged at her collar like she might have been exposing too much skin, then put her hand to her cheek. “I’m just asking for information. Not a marriage proposal. I’ve already had that.” Her eyes narrowed as she watched his reaction.

  “Are you ever going to forgive me?” He leaned forward smiling. Georgie could smell his cologne and thought he looked darn handsome in the sunshine with the breeze tossing his graying hair and just a little stubble starting on his cheeks.

  “I forgave you a long time ago, Stan.” Georgie soothed. “Yes, for running off to dig for gold or join a circus or the Foreign Legion. Whatever ludicrous stunt you pulled way back when that backfired in your face and made you look like a total fool...yes, I’ve forgiven you for that. It’s like I barely remember.”

  “Right.” Stan laughed. “It sounds like it. Hey, I didn’t leave you for another woman. There never was anyone but you.”

  “You’ve said that before and I believe you.”

  “I just had the urge to roam, to try something different and see if I could do it?” Stan searched Georgie’s eyes for understanding. “It’s sad, I know. I wanted to be a man who struck gold.”

  Stan Toon had left Georgie to pursue a prospecting career in California. When he left, her world nearly fell apart. If it weren’t for Aleta and her kids, she had no idea how she would have made it through the ordeal. But she did and the cancer had made those bonds that much stronger.

  As much as Georgie didn’t want to admit it, she felt a very high level of vindication when Stan returned empty handed. T
he only thing he turned up on his many excursions into the mountains was dirt and an occasional rock.

  “You did strike gold, Stan, when you found me. But I guess I wasn’t good enough.” Georgie smiled prettily.

  “It was a mistake.” He scooted closer. “But, we could fix that mistake. Just head on down to City Hall and sign a little, old, piece of paper and the next thing you know we’re hitched. I’ll even carry you over the threshold.”

  Georgie laughed.

  “Can you answer my question about Richard Batt or not?”

  Stan leaned back studying Georgie with a sly smirk on his face.

  “You wreck me, Georgie Kaye.” He lifted his right eyebrow. “But I’m not giving up.” Taking a deep breath, he began to give her details on the case of Deck Zannowski.

  “The autopsy report hasn’t come back from the coroner yet.” He helped himself to his second hotdog. “I still say it’s drowning.”

  “Really?” Georgie had only finished half of her first hotdog. “A big guy like Deck not knowing how to swim is a bit of a stretch, don’t you think?”

  “Well, if we lived in California or Florida, maybe. But this is the Midwest. There are very few reasons to know how to swim out here. If you don’t want to learn to swim you could go your whole life and never be near any threatening body of water. A guy like him isn’t going to learn how to swim for a cruise night on The Lake, either.”

  Georgie nodded and chewed another bite of hot dog thoughtfully.

  “So, I’m sticking with drowning.”

  “I just happened to run into the captain of the Catherine O’Leary and...”

  “Just happened to?” Stan repeated her words.

  “Yes, I just happened to. He said the surveillance cameras were just dummy cameras. They were just there for show.”

  “Some were.” Stan scoffed. “Those were totally useless. Some were live. The only thing we did catch on a live camera was Mr. Zannowski walking with a woman and they looked pretty serious. It was about thirty minutes before the big splash.”

  “Serious how?”