Candace McCauley, P.I Mysteries (5 Cozy Mystery Books Collection)

by Kira Reese

  I dialed Ben.

  “Candy, it’s good to hear from you. You’re sounding better. Are you back full time again?”

  I told the detective I was in for a few hours and back full days beginning Monday. I told him I was faxing the information regarding the theft of funds from the grocery store. Once he saw proof and his own cops did their part, they could make an arrest.

  “This isn’t the first time there has been a report of theft from that grocery store,” said Ben. “We’ve just never been able to prove who was doing it. He’s gotten away with the crime for several months.”

  I told him of the Robert Douglas events. “I don’t have much yet since the case is still new. His daughter and wife have hired me to look into some things that surround the mystery of who may have wounded him near my office.”

  Ben told me they searched the surrounding area for evidence twice so far. “We’ve come up with nothing significant at this point.” He paused. This habit told me he had more to say, so I waited. “I know your assistant is good at her job, Candy, but I don’t feel comfortable giving her information every time she asks for it. I hope you understand that.”

  “I get it. From now on I’ll let her know to let me communicate with you. Unless your young officer O’Neil wants to work with her on the case.” I laughed at my own joke. He didn’t find it as humorous as I did. “I’m sorry. That’s not a good idea. The two of them could mess things up for both of us.”

  He finally chuckled. We ended the call and I relayed the message to Natalie.

  “I trust you, but Ben clings to his office and rarely leaks information unless he intends to do so. It is nothing against you, but if you need anything from the precinct I’ll be the go-between.”

  Natalie smiled and agreed. I think she was relieved she did not have to deal with Ben.

  “Are you letting me stay on the case?” she asked.

  “Of course. Keep me informed and there may be times I’ll join you in interviews. Once you get your license, you will have full rein of cases.”

  “That works for me,” she said. The lilt in her voice told me she found her niche in private investigating.

  Chapter 5

  The Farmer

  By the time Monday rolled around I was gung-ho to get back to work. The first call I got that morning was from Ben.

  “Candy, the autopsy report on Robert Douglas is in. The bullet in his head was not what killed him. He had a massive heart attack just after he entered your front door. The bullet probably would have been the cause of death, but the heart attack did it.”

  “I had no idea he had a heart condition. I’ll check with Natalie and find out what his daughter said about that. So you are sure it wasn’t the bullet?”

  “According to the coroner, he died of the heart attack. I’m not sure how he can tell which happened first, but he is the expert. By the way, we are releasing his body today, so I’m sure the funeral will be soon. I believe the family had arrangements made and were just waiting for us.”

  After the call I caught Natalie when she came in.

  “Jenny told me he did not have severe heart problems,” she said. “He was on a mild medication, according to her, for his heart. I don’t have complete details but will get them. Are they sure the gunshot didn’t do it?”

  I told her what Ben told me. “He is faxing the report over and we should have it in a minute or so.” We both turned toward Evelyn’s desk when the sound of the fax machine started.

  If Robert had a mild heart condition, could the shock of being shot trigger a massive attack? I would put Natalie on that. She could call our medical consultant and find that out.

  “I’ll call the funeral home to ask particulars regarding the funeral,” I said.

  I offered to do this since I could tell Natalie was trying to figure her steps in the case. Right now she appeared overwhelmed. I reminded her she wanted to visit the farmer. At nine o’clock she told me and Evelyn that she was headed back out to Cowherd Road. I hoped the farmer would be helpful. Natalie hoped he didn’t recognize her as the person who almost slammed into his tractor the last time she was out there.

  I returned to my office and brought up everything Natalie had uncovered about Robert Douglas. Her notes were detailed and meticulous. She was on the right track for solving the case. We had a long way to go, but I didn’t doubt she would do a good job. The funeral director told me the burial was scheduled for the next morning at ten o’clock. I planned to lock the office door but leave Evelyn there to answer calls. Natalie would be a good second pair of eyes at the gravesite.

  ***

  Natalie drove back to the country. She knew she had to pass the grove of trees to get to the farmer’s house. She hoped he was home so she could get this part over with. When she got out of her car she found him in the back of the house near an open garage. The shop held numerous tools and an old tractor was missing a front tire. It looked as if it could be one of the first tractors ever invented. Her shoes crunched on the thin gravel, which caused the man to look up. He didn’t frown when he saw her but she was sure he recognized her.

  “At least you didn’t slide in here and slam your brakes,” he said by way of greeting. His crooked smile caught her off guard.

  “I’m sorry about that. I was in too big a hurry, I guess.”

  “I knew you weren’t born in the country. Out here, no one speeds like they do in the city. You city people are always in too big a hurry. What can I do for you?”

  He wiped his hands on a dirty rag he pulled from his jeans pocket. He appeared in his fifties and his rugged face told Natalie he spent a lot of time in the sun. He had to be at least six feet tall, she thought. He took note of the perfect olive skin and well-groomed woman who stood gaping at his appearance.

  Natalie introduced herself and explained she worked for a private investigator. He looked at her in surprise and waited for her to go on.

  “May I ask your name?” she said.

  “I’m Lee Chambers. I own most of this land you see from here. I’m not sure how I can help you.”

  “We are working a case about a man who dropped dead at our front door when he came into our office. He was a taxi driver and had driven a couple out to Cowherd Road, where he dropped them off at their direction. They did not want him to wait for a ride back home. I wonder if you know anyone named Polly and Bill Pearson?”

  “I once knew some Pearsons who owned the grove and surrounding farmland. That was a long time ago. I grew up out here and my father passed down a few acres to me. I bought more to add on to what I had. They sold all of it except the small grove to an investor. I eventually bought the land from the group. I don’t mean I bought the grove. I think the Pearson family kept that, as far as I know.”

  “Do you remember Polly and Bill?”

  Lee thought for a moment and then shook his head. “The Pearsons had a daughter and two sons, as I recall. I was pretty young at the time and don’t recall seeing much of the family. Of course, as a kid I didn’t pay much attention to adults.” He chuckled at his comment. “The children all moved away from here. I guess one of them could have been named Bill. I remember a farm neighbor saying it was too bad none of them cared about farming. I suppose that’s why the Pearsons sold off all but the grove. I’m not sure why they decided to keep that small part. It’s barely two acres.”

  “Do you know if anyone comes out and takes care of the grove?”

  “There’s someone who bushhogs the property once in a while. I think something is wrong with him. He keeps in the shadows if he hears someone coming down the road. I mean, he’s not the friendly type. I don’t know who he is, but I’ve seen him walking back toward town. He leaves the mower in the grove. Even in winter it just sits out in the weather.”

  Lee hesitated and then remembered something else.

  “I was past that grove the other day. It sure is grown up with brush and weeds. He needs to get back out here and take care of it.”

  “Have you ever s
een anyone else around there?” Natalie looked directly at Lee. “By any chance, is there a family gravesite in there?”

  The look on his face told her that was a new idea for him to consider. “I’ve never known of any graves in there. I guess there could be, now that you mention it. They would be old graves from years ago. I don’t recall any burials there since I’ve owned the surrounding fields.” He looked off into the direction of the trees. “In answer to your question, I haven’t seen anyone around there except for the mower. I could have missed someone. After all, I guess I missed the taxi coming out here.”

  Natalie told him she understood how he couldn’t watch for people who may come and go. Lee Chambers was friendly, and before she left, he told Natalie about his wife’s death from cancer two years previous.

  “I have two sons, but they don’t live close by. One became a professor in a university. The other one works for the conservation department.” Pride was evident on Lee’s face when he spoke of his sons. “My wife always insisted on good educations for the boys. She was right about that. With good educations, they are successful now.”

  Natalie edged slowly backward toward her car. She had all the information Lee could give her, and she didn’t have time for more chitchat. She tried to be polite, and when he took a breath she thanked him for his time. Then she handed him a business card and asked him to call her if he noticed anything out of the ordinary around the grove.

  He smiled at her and told her it had been a pleasure to talk with her. She drove off slower than was her habit. She only kicked up the dust just before the grove when she decided to slow down again and search the area from her car. She hoped to see the strange shadowed man, but everything was quiet. When she reached the blacktop she met two police cars. Detective Ben Jones was driving the first one. The second car was driven by Officer Whitten and his partner Officer Michael O’Neil sat next to him. Her impulse was to turn around and join them, but she was reluctant since Ben had not been all that friendly toward her up to this point. He nodded in her direction, acknowledging her, and went on by. Michael’s eyes danced when he saw her and Officer Whitten smiled and nodded in her direction.

  She found herself parked behind the office building without realizing she drove all the way back with Michael O’Neil on her mind. She shook her head to clear it, but that only brought a huge smile to her face.

  “What are you smiling about?” asked Evelyn when Natalie walked in.

  “Nothing at all. Is Candy still here?”

  “She left just a few minutes ago to go home. She said to call her if you had any news. She had a headache but is working from home the rest of the day. She sure was hit hard with that flu bug.”

  Natalie agreed with her. “I’ll gather my notes and call her. Did anything interesting happen while I was out?”

  Evelyn told her that Candy had sent final paperwork on the embezzlement case to the precinct. She had taken work home with her, according to Evelyn.

  Natalie chatted with Evelyn about Lee Chambers. “He’s friendly enough to talk with.” Natalie told her about the two police cars she met.

  “That’s what put that smile on your face,” said Evelyn. “When are you going for your second date with Officer O’Neil?”

  A slight pink flooded Natalie’s face. “He hasn’t asked me for a second one. I’m sure he will, though. We hit it off.”

  “He can come in handy for you when you feel intimidated about talking with the detective.”

  “Candy told me to allow her to do all the communication with the precinct. I guess I’d better follow her orders. I don’t want to mess anything up that would jeopardize the case. I’m trying to prove myself on this one.”

  Evelyn smiled at her. “You wouldn’t still be here if you hadn’t already proven your ability in investigative work. By the way, I haven’t seen you bring in your romance novels lately.”

  “I read at home. This place has gotten so busy that there isn’t time to read here. Even in my lunch hour I find myself going over details of a case rather than opening a book.”

  The phone rang but not before Evelyn told her she may not have to read romance books since she had her own romantic partner now. Natalie was frustrated when she couldn’t come back with a retort.

  The exchange on the phone sounded as if they were about to get another case. Natalie was glad Candy was coming back full time again.

  Chapter 6

  Tracking the Scruffy Man

  That evening, after Nick and I finished our dinner, my cell rang. It was Detective Jones.

  “I’m sorry to bother you at home, Candy, but I have some important news for you. I’m not sure if you will take this as good or bad news.” He paused and I waited silently for him to continue. “The autopsy report we received from the coroner’s office was on the wrong person. He had an assistant in there since the coroner apparently was suffering from the same flu virus you had. The assistant got the reports mixed up.”

  I sat up on the edge of the bistro chair. We were on the patio and the crisp air was just as fall should be giving us this time of year. “What was the real cause then?”

  “The hole was small and that turned out to be a scrape on his head when he fell. A small pebble embedded in his skull made the hole. The rock must have been tracked into your foyer. Someone gave him poison that appears to be something like arsenic, though just what it was has not been determined. We found a used coffee cup in his taxi. We know he went through a Jack in the Box drive-thru. The cameras at the restaurant show someone in the front seat of the taxi with him. It’s blurred, so we can’t determine much about the passenger.”

  “It must have been someone he knew, or the person wouldn’t have been in the front seat.”

  “My thoughts exactly. The young clerk on duty recognized Robert Douglas as the man who went through the drive-thru lane and then parked and came inside. He bought French fries and left. Whoever was in the taxi with him may have asked him to get them for him, and then while Robert was inside he put the poison in his coffee.”

  “That all sounds plausible. Were there any fingerprints other than Robert’s in the front of the cab?”

  “We found only the victim’s prints. There was only one half-filled coffee cup from the restaurant, even though two coffees were ordered.”

  “Thanks for the information, Ben. I’ll meet with Natalie the first thing in the morning. This may change our perspective on who could have done that.”

  “Again, I’m sorry for the mix-up. I doubt the coroner’s assistant will have that job much longer.”

  I read frustration in Ben’s voice. I couldn’t blame him. That was a serious omission from the coroner’s office. I answered Nick’s questioning eyes and told him the latest.

  “That’s a serious mistake,” he said. “Have you ever had a case where the wrong autopsy report was given out?”

  “No, and I don’t envy Ben having to tell Dora and Jenny Douglas the latest news. He didn’t say anything about delaying the funeral, but I have a feeling it will be put off another day, at least.”

  Before I went to bed I called Natalie to tell her to meet with me first thing in the morning before she left to interview anyone.

  ***

  The next morning, Nick handed me my daily glass of orange juice. I drank it down with thoughts about the mix-up report on Robert Douglas’s cause of death. Nick towered over me and leaned down to kiss me.

  “I can see you are far away, so I’ll excuse you this one time,” he said. Laughing blue eyes caught mine.

  “I’m sorry,” I said. I made up for my negligence and kissed him long and hard before we parted ways for the day. Both of us wished we had another half hour or so before work called.

  When I parked at the office Natalie was getting out of her car. It amazed me how well-groomed my assistant always appeared. Her short black hair glistened in the sunlight when she turned and waved in my direction.

  She waited until I reached her and I told her about the autopsy repo
rt. “Ben told me his department will let the Douglas family know about it. I don’t know which is worse: poison or thinking he was shot to death.”

  “That means the victim may not have had severe heart conditions after all,” said Natalie.

  I agreed with her. “Do you mind if I go with you to interview the Pearsons today?” I didn’t want Natalie to think I was taking anything from her.

  “I don’t mind at all, Candy. In fact, I was hoping you would go with me. I’m not all that confident in doing a good job of interviewing them.”

  She opened the back door using the code. I glanced at my watch. It was a few minutes before eight o’clock. I heard Evelyn pulling into her parking spot.

  “I almost forgot,” said Natalie. “I plan to see the owners of Culver Street Café this morning. I’d like to do that first and perhaps interview the Pearsons after that, if it’s all right with you.”

  I assured her that would be fine. I knew Natalie wanted to connect the smelly man in the tree grove with the same man Robert Douglas commented on to his family at the café. I hoped it would be that simple. If so, we could move along a little faster on the case and find out who poisoned the cab driver.

  While Natalie left for the café, I dialed the number for Polly and Bill Pearson. There was no answer. Evelyn said they probably worked and weren’t home when I commented on my failure to reach them.

  ***

  Natalie parked in front of the small café. A few breakfast stragglers were leaving when she entered. The soft bell alerted the woman behind the counter to her customer. She smiled and picked up a menu.