by Kira Reese
“Are you all right?” he said. “You shouldn’t be sitting out here by yourself. There have been incidents around town, and you could have been the next victim.”
How well I perceived that now, I thought. “I’m fine. I was supposed to meet someone out here, but he didn’t show up.”
The cop looked around him. “Where did the man go I saw you talking with?”
I pointed to the woods. “He was not the man I was to meet. I have no idea who he was, but I’m glad you came along. That’s my car over there. I’m visiting Sharon Mayes, and I’ll go on back to her house.”
“Are you that private investigator who is trying to find out about stuff stolen from the mortuary?” he asked.
I nodded my head. “I was supposed to meet with a vendor here and find out where he gets his jewelry. I know Beverly at the antique shop. She gave me his name.” I told him how I came to be at the park at this odd hour.
“Just be careful, Miss McCauley. We have extra patrol around until we find out who committed the murders of the Goffs.” I assured him I would be very careful.
He went back to his patrol car as I walked toward my vehicle. I stopped and stared. My front left tire was flat. Upon closer observation I saw the slash marks. The patrol car circled around and stopped again. He pulled up alongside me and I pointed to the tire.
“I’ll give you a ride to the Mayes’ house. You can call for a tow from there.”
No doubt the massive ogre I encountered earlier made sure I would not get away. I recalled how I let my guard down listening to the night sounds while he did his deed.
Sharon expressed frantic concern when I told her what had happened. I told her I was glad she had not come with me, though perhaps if the stranger had had to deal with two of us it would have been safer. We talked a few minutes and I called the towing service. When they arrived I handed my second key to the driver, who then retrieved my car and took it to a repair shop Sharon suggested. It was the same one she used the day her tires were slashed. This time it wasn’t Sean Scholten or Vickie Goff who had vandalized a car.
The next day I talked with Natalie and asked her how things were going at the office. We had a long conversation, and I was pleased at how my associate and receptionist were handling matters. Natalie was efficient and got things done. I already knew I would need a few extra days in Sand Ridge. Natalie assured me if she had questions or needed to refer calls to me, she would do so.
“That’s what technology is all about, Candy,” she said. I agreed with her. She and I had already briefly discussed issues at the office and e-mailed back and forth since I had left. Now it was a matter of calling Nick.
“Why don’t you come up tomorrow and spend the weekend here?” I asked him.
He agreed and told me how much he missed me. Secretly, I thought he must really miss me if he was so willing to spend two whole days with talkative Sharon. I looked forward to having him with me.
“I’ll go up on the other end of the lake and have a day with Aunt Maggie,” said Sharon. “That will give you and Nick some needed time together, and Maggie hasn’t been feeling so well lately.” She insisted and so we arranged it.
When Nick drove in the next morning around nine I sat with him and we drank coffee together. I told him how things were going. I left out the encounter the night before and simply told him my car was in the shop getting a new tire. I brushed over reasons for needing a new one and told him I may have picked up a nail. It was not easy for me to tell Nick a lie, and my conscience got the better of me.
“Okay Nick, I can’t lead you on this way.” I told him what had happened. His face grew serious and his strong hand wrapped around mine. I told him I was fine and that there was extra patrol around since the two unsolved murders had happened.
“I will go with you wherever you plan to go next in the matter,” he said. I smiled at him and told him how much I wanted him with me no matter when or where.
“We’ll go eat a long brunch first,” I said. “And we won’t talk about Sand Ridge murders, either. I want you to meet Beverly. I have no idea what her last name is, but we have become friends. She owns an antique jewelry shop. She is near the café I’m thinking about for our brunch.”
We sat inside the café. The long buffet centered the room and almost every table was taken. We found a corner booth and the server brought us coffee and water. Once our food was gathered we sat back down. I was glad for the corner booth, since it gave us a little more privacy. The conversations around us were animated. I knew it was a beautiful day and people would naturally be drawn outdoors on this Saturday, but the place seemed livelier than usual. Several women sat across from us at a table for six. One spoke louder than the others.
“I can’t believe a third murder has happened around here.”
“I’m beginning to wonder about the police force around here. I can’t remember when we had even one murder, much less three,” said another. “Why can’t they do their job?”
“I don’t go out anymore at night, and believe me, I lock everything tight, including every window in my house,” said the first lady.
Nick and I locked eyes. “I thought you said there had been two murders,” he said.
“This is new to me,” I said. I got up and approached the ladies’ table. “Excuse me,” I said. “Did I hear you say there has been another murder in Sand Ridge?”
“Yes, there has been a third one. Zach Phelps was found dead on the upper lake end. His body was found on his lawn. He was a vendor who sold to quite a few shops along this street.”
I told them thanks and murmured I hoped the perpetrator was caught soon. When I sat back down I told Nick the news.
“I heard the conversation, Candy. Isn’t that the man you were supposed to meet at the pavilion last night?”
I nodded. My mind raced. It had to have been the man who threatened me. For now, I forced myself to focus on my food and Nick. He was my steadfast anchor in times like this. I was more than glad he was here. We ate in silence for a few minutes. I tried not to listen to the talk around me. Instead, I asked him how his big deal was going. He got the idea and we immersed ourselves in real-estate matters.
When we were back outside he let me lead the way. “Let’s go see Beverly. Besides wanting you to meet her, I wonder if she has heard about her vendor’s death.”
At Beverly’s Antique Jewelry Shop, there was a closed sign on her door. Now I was sure she knew of his death. She and Zach had worked closely together, and Sharon had told me he had dealt with Beverly for as long as she could remember. He must have found out the source of his ill-gotten wares.
“Let’s go pick up my car,” I said. “You can follow me back to Sharon’s and then the day will be all yours.”
Nick gave his familiar chuckle. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
“This is one of those promises I mean to keep. I need a diversion, and I can’t think of a better one than you.”
“Let’s go,” said Nick. I didn’t miss the low chuckle again when he got into the driver’s side.
Settled back at Sharon’s, we put on fresh coffee and sat on the deck. The water sparkled with its diamonds that glittered between the large tree branches.
“I could live here forever,” I said.
“It looks as if you would have plenty of crime to solve if you did.”
We bantered back and forth and my body went limp from relaxing for the first time in a week. We watched a fisherman in a boat with a small boy. We decided he was teaching his grandson to fish.
“Candy, I’m ready to listen and offer any insight I may have, if you want to talk about this case.”
That was all I needed. I expounded on everything I had discovered so far. “I am sure Sean Scholten has something to do with stolen items at the mortuary. I just can’t figure out who helped him. At first I thought it was Vickie. I still haven’t ruled out the fact that she may have had a part in it, especially after reading the note left for her. Then I thought
it could possibly be Zach Phelps. I’m really at a loss.”
Nick leaned back in his chair. “Maybe it was one or both, and for some reason someone became greedier and wanted everything for his own gain, or her own gain. Have you talked with the maintenance man? I believe you mentioned a Jim someone?”
It was true I slipped past him when Sharon told me he had been there a long time. Besides, what part would a maintenance man play in the timeframe between closing the casket and the body being placed inside the hearse?
“I haven’t found out if Sean Scholten is around or not. He seems to disappear at times.”
Chapter 12
Longed-for Visit
While Nick and I basked in the sun on Sharon’s deck, my cell rang. It was Detective Bruce McMillan. He informed me his officer had reported my incident of the night before and asked if I was all right. I assured him I was and how glad I had been to see the cop car pull up.
“Can you come down soon to give us a description of the man who confronted you at the pavilion?”
I told him I would be right down. Nick gathered our cups and turned the coffee pot off. He rinsed the dishes quickly and joined me. When we walked into the precinct I introduced Nick to the detective. He agreed that Nick could remain. I told the detective every detail of the night before.
“Are you sure you spoke with Zach Phelps?” he asked.
“I dialed his number and a man answered who identified himself as Zach. I presumed it was him, though I had never met him.” I thought for a moment. “I’m sure it was not the same voice as the man in the park. That man had a throaty voice, as if a smoker with a bad throat.”
“The coroner determined Zach was killed sometime between six-thirty and eight last night. That would have been around the time you met the burly man you described. He could have been killed by him before your encounter.”
“What caused Zach’s death?” I asked.
The detective grimaced. “He had a stab wound in his neck, causing him to bleed to death, plus three more in his upper torso. A handgun, the same kind as the others, was near the body. One shot had been fired, but there no gunshot wounds in the victim.”
I happened to think of a question I had wondered about. “Who found Vickie Goff’s body in the basement of the mortuary at four in the morning?”
“That was misinformation regarding time of discovery. She was discovered by Catherine Medlin, the secretary, at seven-thirty in the morning. She went downstairs to retrieve an item for a family member of a recently deceased person. It seems the family wanted a watch from the wrist of the deceased worn during visitation, but not buried with it. The family planned to pick it up around eight, so she came in early. Miss Medlin was quite shaken over the discovery.”
“Were all the guns stolen?” I asked.
He nodded. “The murderer fired the one shot someplace else. Each gun had more rounds left in them. We have not connected the purpose for the guns at all.”
“It could be an MO the perpetrator set for himself with no meaning otherwise,” I said. “I think it is his way of messing with the minds of the investigators.”
“I’m beginning to think the same way, but it has to be considered. We are still tracing the true owner or owners of the guns. Since they are stolen, that won’t necessarily lead us to the murderer.” He leaned his head onto open hands. “The entire town is living in fear at this point.”
Nick followed the discussion before he said anything. When we paused, he said, “Could these murders have been done by a woman?”
Detective McMillan rubbed his chin. “A woman could have done them. She could be someone who is athletic enough to have the strength, but we believe there may be two people involved. It would not be easy to stab a person like that without a fight for survival. We have not divulged this information, but each victim had ligature marks on their wrists but no ropes or twine was found at the sites. That tells us they had no way to fight. Someone held the knife on them, and the other person tied the wrists. I am sure of that.”
This information put a new light on things. Instead of focusing on one person, I began to look at a pair. I thanked the detective for asking me to come down. Before the visit ended, we decided the man in the park was a henchman sent to warn me or possibly ensure I was taken care of. I recalled the painful grasp on my wrist.
“Let’s stop at a pub and have a drink,” said Nick when we got back into his car. I could tell the wheels were spinning in his mind. “In the meantime, think about the women you have interviewed and what part one or more could play in it all.”
Nick seemed insistent on the prospects of a woman being involved. In past times, he had come up with strong suspicions that turned out to be right. We pulled up to Massey’s Pub and got out. Enough patrons were there to fill in the afternoon dip in customers without being too crowded. Nick ordered two beers and we sat at a table near the window. The bartender brought a plastic basket of chips and two small Styrofoam bowls of dip to our table. We munched on the chips, and I went over the women I had met since the first murder. I stopped when I came to Vickie Goff.
“I am sure she was involved. The note accused her of being too greedy. Someone had to kill her to shut her up. Maybe she was getting a guilty conscience about stealing from the dead and mentioned she wanted out.” I let that sink in with Nick. “There is Catherine, but she doesn’t strike me as one who would do something like that.” I recalled her well-manicured fingernails and smooth skin. Somehow she did not fit someone who visited a gym on a regular basis, if at all.
“Maybe she did not do the actual deed, but she did have access to everything at the mortuary?”
I agreed but ruled her out. I remained curious as to what would happen to Goff and Sons Mortuary. Surely, there were relatives who would come from the woodwork. Most likely, they would want to own the property and sell it for proceeds. I glanced at my watch and told Nick we should go back to Sharon’s and relax for the rest of the day. Sharon drove in at the same time we did. We chatted about her day with her aunt. Maggie’s health had improved.
“I think she just gets lonely,” said Sharon. “I really need to make more time for her.”
We settled in Sharon’s living room and I told her about our day. We decided a night on the town was in order for the three of us. We asked her to choose since Nick and I did not know restaurants well in the area. It would be a steak-and-potatoes night.
Later, when we arrived at The Wharf Steakhouse, it was difficult to find a parking space. Sharon had called for reservations for us earlier. We arrived at eight on the dot and were shown to our table halfway into the restaurant. The host lit the candle on the table. I looked up to see authentic-looking Tiffany lamps set at strategic points that enhanced the atmosphere. Conversations buzzed around us. Some of the talk was about the recent murders, but mostly it seemed as if everyone was out to forget what was going on and enjoy the diversion. We ordered salads, which were brought on white salad plates that were outlined in gold. The three of us attempted to keep the conversation light. As for me, my mind could not dismiss any of the cases easily. I was in investigative mode.
We were midway through our meal when Sharon’s eyes landed on someone.
“Don’t turn around, Candy, but Janice and Sean Scholten just arrived. I do believe it is the first time I’ve seen them out together for a very long time.”
“Maybe he has a guilty conscience and has to do that once in a while to assuage remorse,” I said. We explained who the couple was to Nick. They sat a few tables to his left. He turned and looked at them.
“Maybe they are a pair,” he said.
“They are man and wife,” said Sharon.
“I mean maybe they are a pair of murderers. The psychic looks healthy enough. Sean isn’t a small man,” said Nick.
Sharon and I told him he was way off base, though we did believe Sean Scholten played some part in it all.
“He has been having affair after affair since before he married Janice,” said Shar
on. “She gets wrapped up in her job that takes her to another world. In that sense, they get along, but I have never had the impression they are your usual married couple.”
I lost my train of thought on Sharon’s words when something else hit me.
“What if the note we found was not meant for Vickie Goff at all?” I said. “It could have been written to John, and he crumpled it up and threw it on the floor while he was in the basement.”
Sharon and Nick looked at me. I could see what I sensed was disappointment on both faces. Just when each thought they had figured things out, I put a wrench in it all.
Chapter 13
Notes Discovered
Sunday afternoon I told Nick good-bye and promised to see him in the next few days. I reluctantly pulled away as he did after he kissed me. My impulse was to get into my car and follow him home, but I knew I had a few more things to do here first. I watched until he was out of sight and returned to the kitchen where Sharon was cleaning up from our lunch.
“I am going to Beverly’s this afternoon,” I said. “I don’t mind going alone if you aren’t interested.”
“I really have to start preparing for tomorrow. I am needed back in the office,” she said. “I hope you don’t mind.”
I assured her I didn’t. Besides, I felt it would give me time to sort things out alone, though I did not say that. Sharon was always the perfect hostess, and we enjoyed our time together. I would miss her when I left again.
The bell’s melodious tone rang as I opened Beverly’s door. Several customers were looking at jewelry under pristine glass cases. For the first time, I took a good look. Her lighting enhanced the beauty of the stones. She smiled at me when I entered. Her face was paler than usual, but this would only be noticed by someone who knew her like I did. Tourists still swarmed around the lake area on weekends, and from the conversations I listened to, her customers were all sightseers for the weekend. When they cleared out I said hello to Beverly. We discussed the news of Zach Phelps’s murder in a few words.