Murder to Go (The Heights Bed and Breakfast Cozy Mystery Series Book 1)

by Susan D. Baker

  “He owns Sawyer B & B up the road, doesn’t he?” Stan asked.

  Carolyn nodded. “He even offered a ‘Karl’ discount to take in all our guests.”

  Stan whistled through his teeth. “That is seriously twisted.”

  “I know. I also suspect that Porky was staying at The Heights to review it.” Carolyn remarked.

  Stan’s eyes popped open. “Are you sure? Wasn’t there a woman with him?”

  Carolyn shrugged. “Yes, there was, but that could have been a cover.”

  “That’s some cover,” Stan shot back. “His wife will be furious when the police tell him he was killed along side another woman. If I was investigating this murder, I would be looking at his wife as the main suspect, not Karl.”

  “You’re right,” Carolyn replied.

  “The Heights will receive the worst review of all time if Porky comes back from the dead,” Stan joked.

  Carolyn laughed out loud. “An undead Porky sounds like a nightmare. Thanks for the support, Stan. You’re a brick. You always were a good friend to me and Karl.”

  “Somebody’s gotta be,” Stan replied. “This town would fall apart at the seams if I wasn’t holding it all together.”

  Carolyn smiled as she finished her brisket.

  “You know what, I might have another suspect for you to check out. It’s a restaurant owner in town.”

  “Who?” Carolyn asked.

  “Her name is Beatrice Hurley,” Stan told her. “She owns the Foxtrot Cafe just over the hill on the other side of town.”

  “I heard about that place,” Carolyn replied. “Beatrice received some very good reviews on the Grey Fox Gazette site.”

  “She did but Porky gave her a terrible review,” Stan informed her. “Beatrice wrote back and made a bunch of threats—much worse than the ones Karl made. I’m surprised the police didn’t pick up on it.”

  “Probably because the victims didn’t eat poisonous sandwiches out of Beatrice’s lunchboxes,” Carolyn remarked. “I’m surprised you still read Porky’s blog, Stan. You just told me you stopped reading it.”

  “I avoid reading what he writes about my restaurant,” Stan explained. “But ever since he reviewed me, I can’t help but read his opinions of everybody else. Sometimes I just skip right to the comments. They make me laugh every time. Porky knows how to angry the most kind hearted people. It does make me feel better that he trashes all the other good restaurants in the area, not just mine. I consider myself in good company.”

  Carolyn chuckled. “That’s one way of looking at it. I appreciate the tip, though. I’ll wander over to the Foxtrot Cafe and find out where Beatrice was that morning.”

  “You could pretend to review her restaurant,” Stan suggested.

  “Good idea,” Carolyn replied. “You’re making me think I need to start writing reviews like Porky’s and give everybody rotten reviews to draw traffic to my blog. Come to think of it, I haven’t reviewed your place in awhile.”

  Stan stood up and grinned. “Just remember I know where you sleep.”

  She gave Stan another hug, and he went back to the kitchen. Carolyn turned back to her computer. Men like Stan gave her hope.

  Carolyn caught sight of a bright red flash, and Kat Coeur d’Alene strode up to her table. “I’m sorry to interrupt.”

  “You’re not interrupting anything,” Carolyn replied. “Have a seat, Kat. How are you doing?”

  Kat threw herself into the booth. “I just came by to say I’m really sorry for leaving The Heights the way I did. I was just so freaked out when I found those people dead. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

  “I understand,” Carolyn replied. “I think most everybody did the same thing. It’s not so good for Sarah and David right now, but things will settle down once Karl gets cleared of the murder.”

  “I hope so,” Kat exclaimed.

  “You could come back to The Heights,” Carolyn suggested. “You could show the rest of the guests that this has been overblown. I’m sure Sarah and David would really appreciate it.”

  “I can’t come back now,” Kat explained. “After I left The Heights, I ended up at Stan’s Motel, he gave me a discount if I would perform in his bar. I’m here for the rest of the week. I’m on in a few minutes. I just stopped by to talk to you first.”

  Carolyn smiled. “Thanks, Kat. You are very sweet.”

  Kat glanced toward the door. “I have to go get ready for my act. By the way, as soon as Karl is back at The Heights. Let me know. Stan is a great cook but Karl’s breakfast is amazing.”

  Carolyn laughed. “I have been telling Stan the same thing for years.”

  Chapter 6

  “I’m here to see Karl Jacobson,” Carolyn told the guard at the police station.

  “You’ll need to hand over all your personal affects,” he replied. “And we’ll need to search you.”

  “Search me?” Carolyn cried. “What for?”

  “We have to make sure you aren’t smuggling anything to the prisoners,” he told her.

  Carolyn flushed—but why? She had nothing to be ashamed of. “I just want to visit my husband. I would never smuggle anything into a jail.”

  The guard shrugged. “It’s our standard procedure. No one can enter the visiting area with personal affects. Even gifts have to be searched and approved by the Captain.”

  Carolyn tossed her keys and her purse onto the counter. “There. That’s all I have. Now where do you want me to go for this search? I hope you have a woman to conduct it.”

  Carolyn spun around when a hand descended on her shoulder. She found herself face to face with Babs Gillespie. “I think we can skip the search this time.”

  “Don’t make any exceptions on my account,” Carolyn snapped at her. “I can handle it. My husband’s in jail for murder, so I better get used to this sort of thing.”

  The guard spoke up behind her. “I can’t make an exception, Detective. I could lose my job.”

  “I’ll take responsibility for Mrs. Jacobson,” Babs replied. “Here. Give me your sign-in sheet. I’ll put my signature next to Mrs. Jacobson’s name. If anything goes wrong down there, they know it was my call.”

  The guard stepped away from the desk, and Carolyn turned away with Babs. “Thank you, Detective. I wasn’t looking forward to that search.”

  Babs made a face. “No one does. But please, call me Babs. You and Karl have been through enough, and all you want to do is talk. I think I can be pretty sure you won’t sneak anything in. It’s just a routine precaution. We have to do this whenever anyone visits a prisoner in the holding cells.”

  “I understand,” Carolyn replied. “I will be glad to see Karl.”

  “I ought to tell you,” Babs went on. “Karl is refusing bail. He says he would rather stay in jail than spend one more day with his no-good son-in-law.”

  Carolyn cringed. “Sometimes Karl can be a little dramatic.”

  “That’s some husband you’ve got there,” Babs remarked.

  Carolyn smiled. “You’re not seeing him at his best. We are all adjusting to living together. When you arrived last night we were in the middle of a family argument. I guess he is still upset with David. He's usually a very charming and affable sort of guy.”

  Babs nodded. “I got that impression. After we booked him into the cells, he seemed to cheer up a little bit. He started talking more and joking around with the other inmates.”

  Carolyn’s eyes widened. “I can’t believe it. I thought he would fall apart in jail.”

  “It happens sometimes,” Babs replied. “People have wildly fluctuating emotions when it comes to getting arrested, especially for a crime as serious as murder. They can get very depressed about it, but once they actually get into jail, they realize there is nothing for them to do but wait for the trial. The pressure is off. I got the impression that’s what happened with Karl.”

  Carolyn nodded. “Thanks for telling me. I have been very worried about him.”

  “I do have to warn you
,” Babs continued. “When you get into the visiting room, be ready for anything.”

  Babs led Carolyn into the holding area, and Carolyn sat down at the table in the visiting room. A guard led Karl in through another door. Carolyn bit back the urge to cry out in despair at the sight of him. He wore bright orange coveralls in place of regular clothes. He sauntered over to her table. Dark bags shadowed his eyes, and he slumped over when he walked. He collapsed into the seat opposite her and stared at the floor.

  “How are you, darling?” Carolyn asked. “Have you heard from that lawyer I hired for you yet?”

  Karl glared at her. “What are you doing here? Why can’t you leave me be.”

  “Karl?” Carolyn exclaimed. “I am trying to help get you out of here. I have been up all-night trying to figure out who framed you for this murder.”

  Karl sat forward in his chair. “I’m not talking about that and you know it. You were paying off Sarah behind my back. You have been lying to me these past few months, and now I am just a big joke at home.”

  “You’re not a joke,” Carolyn shot back. “They both think your cooking is amazing. I kept it a secret because I knew you would react this way. I never should have told you in the first place, but I couldn’t let David accuse us of dragging the B & B down, could I?”

  “What do you think I am—some kind of charity case?” he thundered. “I don’t need you or anybody else paying my way. I have been working in a kitchen since I was fifteen. I thought I was at least paying my way but now I realize I need to find a temporary job somewhere else.”

  “Don’t be so pig-headed,” Carolyn snapped. “You always provided for me and Sarah. Now it’s my turn to do the same thing for you. You’ll get used to the idea, and then we can start enjoying the money I’m making with my blog. We can travel. We can take time off. It is time you enjoyed some fancy meals rather then serving them. We can....”

  “Guard!” Karl launched himself off his chair. “Get me out of here! Take me back to my cell.”

  Carolyn struggled to her feet. “What are you doing? Stay and talk to me.”

  He was already gone. The iron door clanged shut, and Babs appeared at Carolyn’s side. “Give him some time. I tried to warn you but it is hard to explain.”

  Carolyn stared at the door. “I’ve never seen him like this. Isn’t there anything I can do to get through to him?”

  “He’ll come around,” Babs told her. “Everyone acts this way when they first come in. They get used to it. In time, Karl will be happy to see his family again.”

  “I don’t intend to let him stay in here long enough to get used to it,” Carolyn replied. “There is someone else who killed Porky. I will prove it and take Karl home.”

  Babs squeezed her hand. “I hope you do.”

  Carolyn turned to look at her. “You do? Do you think Karl’s innocent, too?”

  Babs shrugged. “I don’t know what to think. All the evidence points to him, but you were right. There’s something about him that tells me he couldn't have done it. I've known a lot of killers in my career, and they all act a certain way. Karl isn't a killer. The murder has upset the Evergreen Cove community. My captain wanted Karl to be arrested as a way to calm the public.”

  “Have you considered looking into Porky’s wife?” Carolyn asked. “He was married, you know. I found his wedding band in his room at the B & B, and he was with another woman when he died. Maybe his wife killed him.”

  “We already thought of that,” Babs replied. “We looked at her before we went after Karl. She was on a flight to New York when Porky died. The flight manifest confirmed it. She’s got an iron-clad alibi.”

  Carolyn wilted. “Oh.”

  Babs opened the door to the police station waiting room. “You can get your things from the guard. Have a good day.”

  Carolyn whirled around. “Wait a minute.”

  “What is it?” Babs asked.

  “Did you know there’s another restaurant owner in the area who threatened Porky over a bad review?” Carolyn told her. “Beatrice Hurley owns the Foxtrot Cafe over the hill. Have you looked into her?”

  Babs chuckled. “It would take the entire police force to interview everyone who threatened Porky after he reviewed them. I know it’s hard for you to accept, but Karl is the only one who had motive and opportunity. He’s the only suspect who makes sense.”

  “There must be a way around this,” Carolyn muttered, “and I’m going to find it.”

  Babs led her out to the front desk. “Just remember, whoever did it must have had access to the lunchboxes. It’s critical that you prove that.”

  “I understand.”

  Babs chuckled. “I’ve been keeping an eye on you. I never told you this before, but I’m a foodie, too.”

  Carolyn gasped. “You are?”

  Babs nodded. “I follow all the food blogs, including yours. I never thought I’d meet you in person, though. You don’t go out of your way to give people good reviews. You’re always honest, but you never cut anybody off at the knees the way Porky did. That’s why you’re so popular.”

  Carolyn smirked. “I never imagined you would read my blog.”

  “Oh, sure,” Babs replied. “You are a good writer. I have discovered a lot of new restaurants through your reviews.”

  “It is always great to meet a fan. Thanks for helping me out today,” Carolyn remarked. “I will be back with proof.”

  After leaving the police station, Carolyn found herself standing on the street corner with her keys and purse in her hand. The late morning sun blinded and confused her. Where was she supposed to go now?

  She started walking without really thinking about where she was going, but the act of walking cleared her mind. She headed over the hill and found the Foxtrot Cafe right where Stan said it would be. Cars filled the parking lot, and people went in and out through the main entrance door.

  Carolyn entered the Cafe and noticed people of all ages crowded the waiting area. Kids played with toys on the floor, and the adults read magazines while they waited.

  The moment she stepped inside, a heavy woman rushed up to her and grabbed her by the elbow. “Come in, come in. You must be Carolyn Jacobson. I recognize you from your picture on your blog. I’m Beatrice Hurley, and I’m your biggest fan. We just cleared off a table by the front window. Sit down and I’ll get you some lunch.”

  “But I didn’t come for lunch,” Carolyn protested.

  Beatrice waved her hand. “I insist. Sit down and I’ll tell the chef to make you the daily specialty. It’s on the house. I can’t wait to read your review of the Foxtrot Cafe.”

  “But I didn’t come to review you either,” Carolyn insisted.

  Beatrice stopped in mid-step. She regarded Carolyn. Then she came closer and dropped her voice to a murmur. “I know you didn’t. You came to ask me about Porky Tenboom’s murder, didn’t you?”

  Carolyn blushed. “I only wanted....”

  Beatrice laid her hand on Carolyn’s arm. “That’s okay. I understand. You don’t have to explain it to me. I’ll tell you right now, I was cooking here with my staff the day Porky was murdered. I never left the restaurant. My staff can vouch for that.”

  Carolyn’s shoulders sagged. “Oh.”

  Beatrice ushered her into the restaurant. “Sit down. You look like you need a good meal.”

  Carolyn sank into her chair, and Beatrice disappeared. A moment later, she set a steaming plate of pasta marinara with sausage and a basket of bread in front of Carolyn and sat in the chair opposite her. “Eat up. It’ll put a smile on your face. By the way, we make the sauce from scratch and the sausage is handmade.”

  Carolyn swirled her fork, wrapping it with noodles. The instant the savory smell entered her nostrils, her mouth watered. Her cares evaporated, and she glanced across the table at Beatrice. “Thanks for this. This pasta looks fantastic”

  Beatrice waved her hand. “I used to eat at your restaurant all the time. Karl was the best cook I’ve ever met. I only wis
h I could do something to help him out.”

  Carolyn stared down at her plate. “You can’t imagine how much stress this situation has put on my family.”

  Beatrice nodded. “I’m sure it has. I heard about all the guests leaving. Everyone is a bit on edge. How can I help?”

  “I can’t think of anything,” Carolyn murmured. “I came here hoping to reveal you as the murderer, but I’m glad you have an alibi. I only wish Karl had one.”

  “If I hear anything,” Beatrice told her, “I’ll be sure to let you know.”

  “Thanks,” Carolyn exclaimed. “Thanks again for everything.”

  “It’s the least I can do,” Beatrice replied as she stood up. “I’ve been waiting a long time to meet you. I would give anything to have you review my restaurant.”

  Carolyn looked around. “I would love to. I could do it right now, if you’re comfortable with that.”

  “I have a better idea,” Beatrice told her. “Why don’t you come around for my chef’s tasting menu? I have it every Saturday, and it would give you a more complete picture of my menu. I even include a bunch of specials, so you can see everything I have to offer.”

  Carolyn’s eyes widened. “Wow, Beatrice. You really have your ducks in a row.”

  Beatrice smiled. “I try to. It always pays to have an option on display for those times when people like you come around and want to tell everybody what a fantastic restaurant I have here.”

  Carolyn laughed out loud. “In that case, I would definitely love to review you. I’m sorry I never heard of you before today.”

  Beatrice waved her hand. “Don’t worry about that. You’re famous. I'm just a little old restaurant owner on a remote lake in the mountains. You can't expect to have heard of everybody.”

  “I’m hardly famous,” Carolyn replied. “I’m just a food blogger.”

  Beatrice gasped. “Just a food blogger? No way! You’re so much more than that. You’re kind and honest. You're everything Porky Tenboom was not. People would post a link to your blog with their response to his reviews and say, 'Don’t take Porky’s word for it. Just look what this blogger had to say about my restaurant.' You give so many people encouragement. I guess no one ever told you before, so let me be the first. You don't know what your blog means to people like me trying to make it in this business.”