“Like what?” Willow asked. Charley’s stories were always crammed full of mischief. She couldn’t believe she’d been lucky enough to attract someone who’d lived such a daring life.
“Just the usual. Pouring bleach on the lawn to spell out rude words. Putting the teacher’s drawer into their desk upside down, so when they pulled them out, all their stationery fell on the floor.”
Willow was laughing so hard at a young Charley’s antics she almost didn’t hear the doorbell.
“Goodness,” she said, finding Reg and Harmony standing outside. “It seems like everyone in town is dropping by today.”
Reg looked unsure of himself as he peered inside, trying to gauge the number of guests. “I don’t want to intrude, or anything. I just came by to see if you wanted anything from the hardware store.”
Willow pulled at his arm, so he was helpless to do anything but follow her inside. Reg often dropped by in case she wanted things that Willow was perfectly capable of fetching for herself if needed. The small gestures of friendship always warmed her heart.
“I came from the library,” Harmony said, holding out a hardback book. “I thought you might like this. It’s a new arrival.”
“New techniques and discoveries in applied DNA testing: a practical guide,” Willow read off the cover. “Well, that sounds very informative. Come into the tea room. We’ve set up in there.”
Once the new additions settled down at the table, Willow felt a glow of happiness at the arrangement. It never ceased to amaze her how life, once empty except for a disapproving husband, had expanded out until it was full to bursting with friendships. When Willow looked back over her married life, she shivered at how lonely it had been.
“Since you’re all here,” she said, banging the table to grab people’s attention. “How about we work together to see if we can’t work out Angel’s killer and set Thera’s mind at rest?”
“I’m sorry,” Reg said to Thera, his face flushing with embarrassment. “I didn’t mean to get you in trouble with the sheriff.” Trisha had already filled him in on what the reported argument had actually been about, and his misreading of the situation now appalled him.
“You don’t need to apologize to me,” Thera said. “And please come running if you hear me screaming again. Knowing you’ll turn up to my rescue if I get in trouble is very reassuring.”
The words made Reg color even more.
“Well,” Trisha said, getting the table started, “we know that Thera Bourne didn’t commit the crime, so let’s look at who else might have had the opportunity.”
“Claud Hale and Presley Sampson,” Willow volunteered when there was a moment’s silence in response. “They’re the other obvious candidates.”
“Right. What do we know about them?”
Trisha pulled out her phone and flicked through the photos until she came to an image taken directly before the tragic murder. “Here. They’re both on the set and within striking distance.”
Harmony stared at the image for a while with her lips pursed. “I don’t know. This shot seems to show Thera standing between the two of them and Angel. They would’ve had to pass by you to get to the right place.” Harmony glanced up at Thera. “Do you remember either of them doing that?”
“There’s not a lot I remember,” Thera said. “Claud had just called for action, so I had my eyes closed trying to remember the lines.”
“So, it’s possible?”
“This will sound awful.” Thera gave the assembled group an apologetic smile. “But I doubt that Presley is intelligent enough to perform that type of murder. Now, I don’t mean she’s thick—” Thera held out her hand to stop any responses before they began “—she can certainly learn lines without trouble, but just that I can’t imagine her mind works that way.”
“My fervent hope is that not many minds work that way,” Harmony said. “And the people whose minds do, aren’t likely to stand out in a crowd. When they interview the next-door neighbors of killers, they always say how normal they appeared. If murderers went around showing their true colors, they’d never last long enough for anybody to get killed.”
“That’s true.” Willow rubbed at her forehead. “But there’s also the possibility that the people responsible for the crime weren’t the ones actually performing it.”
“You mean, a hit man?” Trisha sat back in her seat, her face turning pale at the thought.
“Something like that.” Willow shook her head. “Or, I could just be grasping at straws. The way the cord was there on set makes it appear like a spur-of-the-moment thing. Where someone might grab a knife off a bench or a hammer out of a toolkit, this killer reacted to something and grabbed the electrical lead instead.”
“If it’s a spur-of-the-moment type deal, that means we can sort it out,” Harmony said. “We need to go through the list of everyone on set and eliminate them until we end up with one we can’t.”
“This might not be appropriate,” Charley said, holding up his palms against an expected attack, “but isn’t that the sheriff’s job?”
“It is. But it’s not every day we have a real-life sleuth in our midst.” Willow gave Charley’s knee a squeeze in reassurance.
“Seems to me, you’ve been pretty active on that front for a while now.” Charley put his hand on top of hers. “I don’t know that a TV character can keep up with you.”
“Why don’t we go down to the park and see what’s happening there?” Harmony suggested. “Isn’t that the first thing that Miss Walsham would do?”
She glanced across the table to Thera with her eyebrows raised, and the actress nodded back. “That’s exactly right.”
“We got chased out of there yesterday by a deputy. He said they’d prefer to keep people out of there until they solve the crime.”
“We can stand on the sidewalk and take a look,” Harmony said, getting to her feet. She tilted her head to one side as she gazed at Willow and Reg. “Or, at least, those of us with the sense to wear glasses can do that. Others will just have to squint.”
Chapter Twelve
The deputy cast a few wary looks their way as the group approached the park. When they stopped on the sidewalk and appeared content to look from there, he relaxed and gave them a wave.
“They’ve left everything pretty much as it was,” Trisha said, comparing the view with the photographs on her phone. “The director sat over there—” she pointed to a canvas chair near the line of trees on the far side of the park “—and the table is right where it should be.”
“It’s not that far if Claud was determined to wreck some havoc,” Harmony offered. “If you put aside any motives for the time being and just examine the physical possibilities, then he’s closer than most.”
“So was Presley,” Thera said. “Though I was still in her way if she wanted to reach Angel.” After a moment, she added, “The same applies with Claud.”
“Not necessarily.” The group turned to glance at Charley, who glowed under the attention of their joint gaze. “It’s just, there’s a line of screens along there.”
Thera nodded. “They’re to keep the noise down out here. If we didn’t have some way to close off the area, then we’d never be able to hear each other.”
“See how close they’re positioned to the director’s chair?” Charley pointed. Willow squinted but couldn’t make out the scene well enough to spot what he was getting at. She turned to look at Thera’s phone instead, although the size of that screen also had her straining to see anything.
“He could slip behind there, unnoticed, and get around to the side of the table where it happened with no one being the wiser.”
Thera paled at the words ‘where it happened,’ and Willow reached for her hand to give her a reassuring squeeze.
“Would he know how to make an electrocution happen?” Willow asked. She floundered at how strange the sentence sounded but didn’t know another way to frame the question. “Does he know about electric stuff? You indicated that Presley wo
uldn’t.”
After a short moment, Thera nodded. “Maybe. Claud’s first role with the studio was as a grip, so he knows all about cameras and lights. The electrical cables and how to handle them are part and parcel of that job.”
“So he had means and opportunity,” Charley said with satisfaction.
Thera shook her head. “He was directing the entire set. Surely, someone would’ve noticed if he walked away. If not at the time he did it, then they’d have looked as soon as Angel had his—” She broke off and walked a couple of steps away from the group, clutching her arms tightly around her upper body.
“I don’t know about the first one,” Charley said. He shifted from foot to foot, apparently discomforted by the tears rolling down Thera’s face. Willow rubbed his back and gave him a nod of encouragement. “At the time of the accident, everyone’s attention would have been elsewhere. Nobody would look to the director, not for a few seconds, at least. Enough time for him to get back.”
“I can’t believe Claud would want to kill me,” Thera said, wiping her nose with a tissue. “We’ve worked together perfectly well for the last ten seasons. To think he could callously dispatch me with a frayed cord doesn’t fit with what I know about him.”
“There’s no harm in asking,” Charley said, his natural optimism breaking through to leave him with an inappropriately large smile on his face. “Or, if there is, there’s no harm to me. I can do it if nobody else wants to.”
“We’ll all go,” Willow said, grabbing hold of his arm. “I don’t want any of us alone while there’s still a killer on the loose. Whoever it was struck out in broad daylight before, so we have to accept they could do it again.”
“Okay.” Thera gave a firm nod. “We can go and ask him, and when he laughs at us or slams the door in anger, I’ll just beg to keep my job. Nothing to it.” She offered a wan smile.
“That’s the spirit,” Charley said, overlooking the light sarcasm hiding behind Thera’s words. Without waiting, he set off down the street. Willow had to run after him to point out he was headed the wrong way.
* * *
Claud opened the door on the first knock, startling Charley so much that he took a step back, stumbling into Willow behind him.
“Yes. What do you all want?”
As Charley stuttered, Willow stepped around him to stare up into the angry face of Claud Hale. He must have just been in the shower because he was toweling dry his hair. His skin smelled of lavender and honey.
“We’d just like to ask you a few questions. We’re all very concerned with what happened to Angel and are trying to fill in a few details.” She moved to one side so he could see Thera Bourne standing at the back of the group, hopefully lending them credibility. The ploy seemed to work. Claud gave an angry sigh and stepped aside to let them enter.
“What a fantastic room,” Harmony exclaimed as she walked inside. Like Willow, having lived in Aniseed Valley all her life, she’d never needed to stay in any of the accommodation on offer there. Even if she had, it probably wouldn’t be at this end of the luxury scale.
“Could you hurry up and ask your questions? There’s somewhere I need to be.”
Willow turned to Charley, hoping that he’d take the lead, but he was staring into a corner of the room, seemingly entranced by the stack of camera equipment piled there. “Mainly, we want to know if you murdered Angel,” Willow said, deciding that bluntness would get this over and done with the soonest.
The words certainly took Claud aback. His face contorted between a range of emotions, finally settling on disbelief. “Are you for real? You come barging into my room in the middle of the day and dare to accuse me of murder!”
“We’re not accusing you,” Thera said in a gentle voice. “All we’re doing is asking you. When we looked at the setup down in the park, it was apparent that you had ample opportunity to set up the electrical cord to hurt Angel.” She waited for a second, then added, “Or me.”
“And what reason could I possibly have to do that?”
“You wanted Thera out of the show.” Willow clutched at Charley’s arm for support as she took over again. “I heard you saying as much to her in my tea room the other day, and you rewrote the script so that Thera had a smaller part.”
“A situation that her threat of lawyers immediately reversed if I recall correctly.” The towel had fallen from Claud’s hand, and he bent over now to pick it back up. “That script change lasted all of ten minutes.”
“It shouldn’t have been changed at all,” Thera said with a note of indignation in her voice. “It’s against my contract, and you know it.”
“Of course, it’s against your contract. There was never any way that the changes would stick.” Claud shook his head and gave a weary sigh.
“Then why change it?” Thera seemed as genuinely confused as Willow felt. “What did you have to gain?”
“I gained a supporting actress who thinks I’m on her side, that’s what.” Claud threw the towel down on the table and paced across the room, hands on hips. “Presley told the studio execs she’s thinking of leaving the show and now they’re up in arms about her role.”
“What does it matter if Presley leaves?” Willow said. “It’s Thera’s show, after all.”
Claud shrugged. “Not according to the demographics. The program executives live and die by the numbers—” he turned to Thera “—as you well know. They think the only reason that our viewer proportions are so good in the eighteen to twenty-five range is down to Presley.”
At that, Thera shook her head, a stubborn expression pasted on her face. “That’s a load of rubbish, and you know it. I’ve always polled well in that age bracket, right from the start. If the execs want to look at numbers, they should start with the first two seasons, before Polly was even in the show.”
“I’ve told them.” Claud ran a hand through his hair and turned his back to pace the length of the room, then returned again. “I talk to them and explain everything. They nod, and I think it’s all sorted, then a month later I’m back in that room, and it’s the same script all over again.”
“Let Presley leave, then.” Thera crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s no skin off my nose, and that would show them once and for all.”
Claud chewed on his lip for a moment, then gave another sigh. “They’ve offered a retention bonus if I keep her on the show. If she walks, the ratings might do fine, but my salary would take a dip.”
“I can’t believe you’d replace me because of some bonus.” Thera appeared to be on the verge of tears again, and she tipped her head back to stop them falling. “I thought our history together should be worth more than that.”
“Don’t be silly, woman! I would never replace you. All I was trying to do was keep Presley happy enough to stay on board while making sure she didn’t erode your part. The execs back in their boardroom may not know who bread this show is buttered on, but you can bet I do. I’d never countenance them even thinking about letting you go, money or no money. I’d rather start up a new show with you from scratch!”
Thera stared at Claud throughout the outburst, her expression changing from one of profound disappointment to delight. When he finished, she burst into laughter. “Can you imagine trotting around the studios trying to get a meeting to launch a new project?”
“It only took three years the first time,” he said, smiling at the shared memory.
“And then they wanted to put in a seasoned director so they ‘didn’t waste their money on some young gun,’ remember?”
“Well, we showed them, didn’t we?”
Thera nodded. “We sure did. And I want you to know that if they fire you over this rigmarole, then the same applies. I’m not staying with this show without you. Not for all the money in the world.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” Claud crossed his arms and looked at the group. “Since I’m out of the frame, who does that leave on your list of suspects? I’m as upset about Angel as anyone. He wasn’t just
a good crew member, he was a good man.”
“I guess Presley is the only one left we haven’t talked to, even if she appears to lack the experience to do the deed,” Willow said. “She was close to the spot at the right time—” she nodded to Thera “—and you said you had your eyes closed just before it all happened, so she could’ve walked past without you seeing it.”
Just as she finished making the accusation, a frantic knocking came on the luxury cabin door. Claud frowned at the group already inside as he went to answer it. When he pulled the door open, Presley fell through into his arms, crying in fear.
“He’s back. That weirdo is back, and this time he says he’ll never leave me alone again!”
Chapter Thirteen
Presley gave a start as she realized that there was a whole group of strangers staring at her. She pushed back from Claud, and he led her over to a chair. The poor woman’s legs were shaking so much, he only had to touch her shoulders for them to give way.
“Who are you talking about?” he asked in a gentle voice. “Is there someone in your cabin?”
“No. It’s this weird fan—Royce Shepard. He keeps calling me on the phone,” Presley said. She burst into tears again, the sobs racking her body so badly that her shoulders shook with the effort. “I don’t know what to do. I’ve told security, and they said there’s nothing they can do unless he becomes a physical threat.”
“Well, that’s nonsense,” Willow said, stepping forward. “If someone’s threatening you, then the sheriff can issue this man with a warning and start the case for a temporary restraining order. Then you can call the police to arrest him at any time he comes near.”
“I’m scared that will be too late.” Presley’s tears snuffled to a halt, and she wiped her eyes. “Royce doesn’t seem to realize that I don’t care how many fan clubs he sets up in my name, I never want anything to do with him.”
Willow clicked her fingers in the realization she knew the man Presley was talking about. “He’s the fan from the other day, right? He’s president of half a dozen real clubs and then another bunch online.”
Tea Shop Cozy Mysteries - Books 1-6 Page 32