Last Pen Standing

by Vivian Conroy

  “The little lady lied,” West said between gritted teeth. “She didn’t hear anything in the bar. The clerk told me that her brother told her something before he ran upstairs, and then she came over to the clerk to send him into the bar so he would stumble on the dead body.”

  “The clerk came over to us,” Delta corrected.

  West ignored her and continued speaking to Jonas. “It’s clear that she knew something was wrong in that bar but didn’t want to discover the dead body herself. She’s covering for her brother. I intend to let her realize just what a big mistake that was. Nothing like a night in the cell to come to one’s senses.”

  “And then what do you expect?” Jonas asked. “A full confession? Hazel should have told you everything she knew, but under pressure, people make mistakes of judgment. I think she realizes that now. She doesn’t know anything about the murder.”

  “And neither does Finn?” West held his gaze, jutting his chin up as a challenge. “Is that what you were going to say next?”

  Jonas didn’t respond.

  West grunted. “At least you have the decency to admit you don’t know.”

  He leaned over to Jonas and added in a low voice, “You don’t know anything about that, Nord. You’ve worked with him, so maybe you can tell me he comes in on time and he knows his swans from his geese. Or whatever you look at on the lake.”

  Delta bristled at the disparaging tone.

  West continued with a smug smile. “You can’t vouch for him. And if I were you, I wouldn’t even bother. You might just hurt your reputation.”

  “I’m here,” Jonas said in a neutral tone, “to offer you the photos I took at the gold miners’ party tonight. You might be able to find something revealing in those shots.”

  West shook his head slowly, as if he felt sorry for Jonas. “I don’t want anything from you. I already have a revealing shot, Nord, telling me everything I need to know. Want to see it? Why not? Then you’ll realize the trouble the young man is really in.”

  He elbowed a deputy out of the way to reach a desk cluttered with paperwork, and dropped into the swivel chair behind it, his fingers working the keyboard with energy.

  Jonas and Delta came to stand in front of the desk, waiting for the big reveal. Blood pounded in Delta’s ears. How could a single photo have told the sheriff all he needed to know?

  West clicked through a few screens in quick succession, and then turned the monitor toward them. The entire screen was filled with a photo of guests in evening wear talking animatedly.

  It took Delta a few moments to understand the relevance of the shot. She didn’t know any of…

  Oh, wait.

  She detected a couple in the back of the photo. In the left-hand corner, behind the lively group, she could just see two faces of people talking, a blond woman looking up at a man who was taller than she was. Her expression was exasperated, as if she was telling him off about something, and his face was…

  Delta looked for the right emotion to describe what she saw in those features and then decided pleading might best fit the bill.

  Or “desperate”?

  West pointed at the woman. “The late Vera White.” Then he rammed his finger at the screen, almost pricking into it with his fingernail. “And that is my main suspect. Your good friend’s dear brother.”

  Delta couldn’t deny it was Finn, and he looked none too happy with whatever was being said between him and Vera White.

  The sheriff grunted in satisfaction. “He knew her, better than he would know a random guest at the hotel after showing them around. He had a one-on-one with her, and by the look of him, he wanted something. Something she wasn’t about to agree to. And when it didn’t work out the way he wanted or had hoped for, he killed her. Those things happen.”

  With a brisk movement West turned the monitor away from them. “We secured the murder weapon so we can analyze it for fingerprints. But even without those, you must admit I have a pretty strong case against my suspect.”

  Delta wondered if the sheriff was suffering from the dreaded tunnel vision Jonas had already warned her about. Once led in a certain direction, it could seem all other clues supported that first assumption, while there might be an entirely different explanation for them that wasn’t even considered.

  “I’m not too sure,” Jonas said. “All you have is a photograph of two people talking to each other.”

  “And Rosalyn Taylor’s testimony that Finn hit Mrs. White.”

  “Um…” Jonas seemed to waver between a disbelieving smile and getting angry. “Rosalyn stated she had seen Mrs. White in the restroom at the hotel, putting makeup on what looked like a mark on her face. Miss Taylor hardly saw who dealt it. She only assumed it had been Finn.”

  “Yes, because she knew the two of them had been having an affair. She told me right away as I arrived.” West patted the notebook that lay on the desk.

  Delta pounced. “And did you ask her how she knew that? Has she actually seen them kissing?”

  The sheriff snorted. “She had warned her sister before that Finn was no good for her. She made sure I took notice of that when she made her statement to me.”

  “So Rosalyn doesn’t like Finn,” Jonas said with a grimace. “First of all, that’s not exactly news. Second, I don’t see how that proves he was having an affair with Mrs. White. To prove that, you’d need the testimony of someone who has actually seen them being more than friendly with each other. Besides, we just talked to Ralph White, the victim’s brother-in-law, and he told us that Mrs. Vera White had had an affair with Ray Taylor. Admittedly, it was in the past, but they might have rekindled their romance once she came here. Or she wanted to rekindle it and he didn’t. That would make a pretty good reason for an argument.”

  West narrowed his eyes. “The victim’s brother-in-law told you that? Just like that? Bit of chitchat as you run into each other at the police station?”

  Before Jonas could reply, the sheriff stepped closer and said in a growl, “I’m warning you, Nord. Don’t interfere with my investigation. Just stick to training your dogs.”

  He turned away from them, casting a critical look at the section of floor where the deputy had cleaned away the coffee spill. “I can still smell coffee. Wipe it again.”

  Delta called, “Excuse me, Sheriff, but I’m here to make a statement. I was witness to a fight between Mrs. White and another woman. The blow that left the mark on her face was a product of this fight.”

  West turned to her slowly, his expression incredulous. “You do realize that making a statement is official business, right? You have to sign it and stand by it. Perjury is…”

  “I’m fully aware of that. I know what I heard.”

  “Heard? Not saw?” West looked even more critical. “I don’t think your statement will be very helpful.”

  “I still want you to take it.” Delta walked up to him. “Shall we sit down? Maybe somewhere more private?”

  With a begrudging look, the sheriff went ahead of her into an empty office. “Don’t you need your notebook?” Delta asked.

  Without responding, West shut the door behind her and gestured to a chair in front of a desk. He seated himself behind it and leaned his hands on the edge of the desk. “Well?”

  Delta told him how, during the workshop, she had taken the dogs out for a short walk and overheard the argument at the water’s edge. She repeated what both women had said as verbatim as she could.

  West listened with his gaze fixed on the ceiling. Then he said, “That was all? You have no idea what truth the other woman wanted to reveal about the victim or how it might hurt herself if she did? You must admit it sounds a bit fanciful.”

  “It’s the truth, Sheriff. I can’t help what I heard. I just want you to have all the information that might have a bearing on this case.”

  “Yes, well, I thank you for it.” West rose to hi
s feet and stretched his shoulders as if he were shaking off something unwanted. “Tell Nord I meant it about not interfering in my case. He’s not on active duty anymore, and I don’t share. With anyone.”

  He opened the door for her and walked her back to the main room. Jonas was sitting down, waiting for Delta. Two chairs away sat Ralph White with his brother beside him, white-faced and still. His fingers nervously twisted the wedding ring on his finger.

  Jonas rose as Delta came over. “And?” he asked softly.

  She shook her head.

  They left side by side, Spud slinking beside Jonas. Outside, Delta said, “He didn’t even bother to write it down.”

  “Told you he would think it’s too vague.”

  “And his case against Finn is clear-cut? He never replied to my question of how Rosalyn knew Finn was having an affair with Vera White.”

  “I don’t like the way he works, but I can’t really blame him for feeling a bit of pressure. The Taylors have a lot of clout in this town, and West is up for reelection in a few months. Besides, no tourist town in the busiest season of the year wants to have the media writing there’s a murderer on the loose, targeting female visitors. A quick arrest can quiet things down and limit the impact of the murder.” Jonas tilted his head back and looked up at the skies. “Lots of stars out tonight.”

  Delta tried to wrap her mind around what he had just said. “So Herb White wasn’t all wrong when he shouted that he was worried about family bribing the sheriff. I mean, West won’t accept money or anything, but maybe he is leaning toward the Taylors’ angle a little too eagerly. After all, Ralph White told us that Ray had had an affair with Vera and owed her money. Why isn’t West following up on that right away?”

  Jonas focused on her with his ice-blue eyes. “I’m surprised to hear you say that. I thought there’s not a woman in the world who thinks anything bad of golden boy Ray Taylor.”

  “Except for his sister, Rosalyn. She doesn’t seem to like him at all and deliberately cut him out of the family photos.”

  “So you noticed.” Jonas held her gaze, as if wanting to ask why she had been so interested in that photo session.

  Delta felt her flush deepen. “Their family dynamics are fascinating. I can’t help studying people. It’s a habit, like you going out to see how animals behave. It wasn’t just that Rosalyn didn’t want him in the picture. The others didn’t bother at all to argue with her about it. They all seemed to accept it right away. Just because they didn’t want to contradict Rosalyn or because they actually agree with her that Ray has no place in Tundish?”

  Behind their backs, the door of the police station crashed open, and heavy footfalls beat down the steps. West popped up beside them. “I’ll take that camera anyway, Nord. Your memory card at least. The shots made tonight. I don’t want you to be able to delete anything on it that could further incriminate Finn.” He reached out a fleshy hand.

  Jonas gestured at his Jeep. “It’s in the back.”

  While he retrieved the camera and slipped out the memory card, the sheriff paced up and down. He didn’t take a moment to breathe the fresh air or roll back his shoulders. He seemed full of pent-up energy that crackled in his curt steps. As Jonas handed him the memory card, he said with a huff, “Nothing private on it? Things you don’t want me to see?”

  Jonas retorted, “Just get me the card back as soon as possible.”

  West closed his fingers over it. “There’s a lot to take care of. But I’ll see what I can do.”

  Without wishing them good night, he turned on his heel and went back inside.

  Jonas sighed. “I’ll be lucky if I ever get it back. But I have more memory cards at home.”

  Delta looked him over. “Did you look through the shots? Do you know if anything worthwhile is on it?”

  Jonas shook his head. “I was worried that if one of the deputies saw me with the camera, they’d conclude I was deleting something.” He lifted a shoulder and let it fall again. “Sorry.”

  “Doesn’t matter.” Delta yawned. “I appreciate you driving me out here, but do you think we can head back? It’s time for bed now. I’m exhausted.”

  But as she got into Jonas’s Jeep, she wondered if she could really sleep knowing Hazel was in jail.

  Chapter Five

  The next morning, Delta woke up feeling like her head had been caught in a vise. She couldn’t believe their first workshop had ended at the police station with an angry sheriff sending her off and placing Hazel behind bars. From glitter to murder, within hours.

  She tried to recall whether she had seen anyone come from the direction of the bar the moment Hazel and she had left the boardroom, but she couldn’t remember. She hadn’t really been paying attention.

  Where had Finn come from when he stopped them to mention the “accident” in the bar?

  She narrowed her eyes to think better but it only served to tighten her muscles. Her forehead, cheeks, and neck all felt tense and uncomfortable.

  Massaging her temples, Delta dragged herself to the bathroom. A look in the mirror made her groan out loud. She turned away hurriedly from the pale face with the baggy eyes staring back at her and stepped into the shower.

  Twenty minutes later, dressed in her favorite jeans and sweater, and with some makeup concealing the worst signs of her late night, Delta put bread in the toaster and clicked on the coffee machine. The scent of toasting bread and ground coffee mingled on the air, giving her a bit of an energy boost. Just as she considered whether she’d boil an egg for some much-needed protein or just settle for jelly on her toast, her phone rang. She picked it up from the table and checked the screen to see who was calling.

  Gran.

  Delta’s breathing caught. Dear Gran, who had given her a hefty sum of money to make her dreams come true. What would she think if she found out there was now a murder in the mix?

  Deep breath.

  OK.

  Do it!

  Delta answered the phone, her hand trembling with a desperate determination to sound like nothing was wrong. “Gran! How nice of you to call.”

  “Of course, darling. I know your first workshop was last night. At a hotel, right? Did you have a good time?”

  “Wonderful. Good attendance and so much fun. I think you’d like Mrs. Cassidy. She thought up Paper Posse as the name for the group of crafters. All because she loves outlaws. She’s even looking for one in her family tree. And her dog is called Nugget.”

  “Is it a pug?”

  “No, it’s not a pug. A Yorkie.”

  “Aren’t those white? No, I think I’m confusing them with Maltese. Or bichons frises. All those breeds…”

  “Yorkies have long hair, Gran, and they’re kind of dark with brown patches on the face. I can draw you one quickly.” Delta grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and drew a Yorkshire terrier. “You have to imagine the colors, I don’t have my pencils at hand.” She snapped a shot of the drawing with her phone and sent it. The silly little exercise made her feel lighter.

  “Wonderful, darling, you’re so talented. I’m so glad you’re now able to do something with it. What time does the shop open today?”

  “At ten.” Delta checked her watch. “I’m just getting ready to leave. I overslept a bit after getting in so late last night.”

  “I’m sure you’ll make it in time. You’re so punctual and precise. A little perfectionist.”

  Delta remembered how she had observed on the day of her arrival that the counter was a bit disorganized and how she had found a set place for a tape dispenser and the scissors. In the back room where Hazel had her coffee machine and other things for breaks, Delta had immediately reorganized the drawer with cutlery and thrown out a package with one crinkled napkin no one was going to use anymore. It had been just like their college days: Hazel being happy-go-lucky, piling up junk mail until the stacks collapsed, while Delt
a was washing every used dish and couldn’t stand candy wrappers cluttering her desk. The mess she was now in with the murder was much bigger however, and of a different order all together. How could she sort that out?

  Gran’s energetic voice cut through her worried thoughts. “I’ll call back later then. Love you, darling.”

  “Love you too, Gran. I’ll send you some pics of the shop as soon as I’m there. Love you. Bye.” Delta kissed into the phone and then disconnected.

  She felt relieved and at the same time guilty that she hadn’t been honest about the murder case. But she just didn’t want Gran to worry. She had sounded so happy about Delta’s new life, her chance to pursue her creative passions, at last, because of the money she had given her. Delta wanted Gran to keep feeling that way.

  Delta washed down her toast with a cup of coffee, grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl, and rushed out of the door just as her phone rang again. She checked the screen while opening her car door. She didn’t know the number. She accepted warily. “Hello?”

  “Is this Delta Douglas?”

  “Yes.”

  “Mrs. Cassidy here. Look, I’m no good at beating about the bush, being subtle and all. Here goes. It could just be the oddest rumor, but…is Hazel in jail?”

  “I’m afraid so.” Delta took a deep breath to explain, but Mrs. Cassidy said, “So there really was a murder at the Lodge last night. The editor of the Tundish Trader had to hear it over breakfast at Mine Forever. Let me tell you: he wasn’t pleased. But I guess the papers had been printed anyway. Now he’s out for the full story, waiting in front of the shop.”

  “In front of Wanted?” Delta asked, nerves filling her stomach.

  “Exactly. That’s why I wanted to give you a ring. I can see him from here, pacing up and down the sidewalk, checking his watch every ten seconds. I’m quite sure he’s waiting for someone to come open up the shop so he can grill them about Hazel.”

  “If you can see all that, where are you then?”

  “Still at Mine Forever. I took a table at the window as soon as he stormed off, to ensure I could see exactly what he was up to.”