The Ginseng Conspiracy (A Kay Driscoll Mystery)

by Bernhardt, Susan

  The party was in full swing. Guests holding drinks circulated around, mingling in the open or wandering through the forest of cornstalks. Laughter and chatter rang everywhere. Deirdre and Mike stood over by the hors d'oeuvre table. I smiled. Relief swept over me. So much had happened in the past hour. I walked over to greet them, feeling safe in their company.

  “Kay, what took you so long?” Deirdre asked. “You're an hour late. I tried calling you. We were worried. We just started eating.”

  “Arrrrr, that’s what I do when I’m worried,” her husband, Captain Mike, said with a chuckle, and Deirdre laughed.

  “It took me longer to get ready than I expected.” I tried to keep the panic out of my voice. “Great decorations. I see what you mean about the committee going all out.”

  “They're fabulous. And you look great. Your fairy costume is so retro, especially with the netting.”

  “Deirdre, I can’t believe you sewed yours. It's beautiful. You look radiant. Your yew wand is a nice touch,” I added to prove that I had listened to her explain about the mystical wood. Elizabeth was right about the wand, glittery and gem-bedazzled.

  “Where's Phil?” Mike asked.

  “Working late at school tonight. What else? He should be here any minute.”

  My eyes swept around the room to see if anyone was wearing the gossamer robe, but I didn't see anyone in it. I saw Elizabeth wearing a tight, low cut ruffled blouse, a short plaid skirt and a 1950s veiled hat, dancing with John Harrison, a co-worker. I thought she was joking about coming in that costume. I should have known. She was without doubt a sexy Miss Marple.

  “Elizabeth looks like she's having fun,” I said.

  “She’s a mighty powerful force in that costume,” said Mike. “Men just keep lining up.”

  I smiled. “Must be because she's a great dancer,” I said.

  “She's been out on the dance floor for every number since the music started,” Deirdre said. “Haven’t gotten a chance to say more than hello to her since then.”

  “I need to get something to drink. Phil and I will meet up with you later.” I walked toward the bar and passed a photographer from the newspaper taking a picture of Jeff and Rebecca, our friends two doors down, who came as Austin Powers and Felicity Shagwell. The photographer was going around the dance floor taking photos of all of the couples. I saw Ted and Beth dancing The Twist. Beth was dressed as a cocktail waitress complete with fishnet stockings and wearing a small lace half-apron over her short dress. Ted had on a loud shirt opened down to his waist, showing his hairy chest. He had thick gold chains around his neck.

  The beat of the band reverberated in the floor as I walked past the stage. A member of the band dressed as Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas pointed at me singing “I Put a Spell on You.”

  Just as I reached the bar, Phil walked in through the fog wearing his deerstalker hat and holding the largest magnifying glass I had ever seen. There's my handsome Sherlock Holmes, I thought. Let's see if he can help me solve this mystery. Phil smiled at me from afar and came over.

  “Sorry I'm late. Kay, you look lovely in that outfit.”

  “Why thank you, Mr. Holmes. You look pretty good yourself.”

  He held out his hand to me. I took it and led him over to the edge of the dance floor. I didn’t want my mood to appear obvious. A slow dance played, and as we danced, I whispered to him about what I had just seen in the vacant store, all the while smiling and trying to act as normal as possible.

  “I don't know what I should do about it.”

  “Elementary,” said Phil, adding with a smile, “my dear Driscoll.”

  “Phil, this is serious. I'm scared shitless.”

  Phil’s smile fell off his face when he heard the timbre of my voice. “Have you told anyone else?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Are you sure it was the guy's voice from the post office you heard?”

  “Yes. It was Al for sure.”

  “Maybe the professor just fainted. You don’t know anything sinister is even going on. Maybe he took some kind of a drug and passed out while he was with his friends. We don’t know him. Right?”

  “Perhaps that is why Al said ‘this has got to be the last time,’” I said sarcastically.

  “Sure. You always jump to the most unusual conclusions because of your job history. This is Sudbury Falls. Not exactly the city of vice and intrigue. Let's not talk about this anymore and try to have a good time tonight. Look around. There are a lot of great costumes here.”

  “Why would everyone be wearing the same hooded silk robes? That's pretty weird, don’t you think? What would explain that?”

  Phil was gyrating to the music, not paying attention anymore. “Who's wearing the same robes?”

  “The people I told you about in the vacant store. And why the chase? I'm sure something's going on.” I knew I was boring him. But who else could I trust?

  Phil’s eyes still fixated on the band.

  “What do you think?” I insisted.

  “About... Oh, are we still talking about that? Why not report what you have seen to the police?”

  “They know. Bill Murphy's Deputy Chief of Police. He was there in the vacant store. Remember?”

  “You shouldn't get involved.” It was clear that Phil had said all he wanted to say about this. “You should have seen this awesome harp guitar the teacher brought in today.”

  I just stared at Phil. Hadn't he been listening to what I had been saying? Didn’t he realize how scared I was? And where was he when I needed him? Something was going on, and I was going to find out, with or without Phil.

  “It sounded like a dream.”

  “What? The professor lying on the floor?”

  “The awesome guitar! It had an unbelievable sustain to it.”

  “What?”

  “You know, sustain. The way the notes ring forever. That reminds me, the boys and I have set up a band practice for tomorrow afternoon.”

  “Sure, Phil, whatever. Did you walk over or bring the car?”

  “Walked. I wasn’t sure how much I'd drink tonight.”

  “I think on the way home we should go past the vacant store.”

  “Kay, stay out of it. Stay out of it.”

  “How can you say that? That's not going to happen.”

  Phil was quiet for a few moments. He shook his head and then raised his hands, palms up. “I give up. I'm not going to talk you out of it tonight. Okay, well, let’s not stay out too late tonight so I’m in good shape for practice tomorrow.”

  “Say cheese.” Phil and I turned toward the voice, and a flash went off in our faces. I shook my head. That ought to be a good picture. “Thank you,” the photographer said. “What are your names, please?”

  After the song ended, we got a drink and something to eat and rejoined Deirdre, Mike, and Elizabeth at a table. Later, Phil took turns dancing with Elizabeth and Deirdre. After an hour or so, everyone took a break from dancing and sat listening to the music at the table.

  As I was watching the dancers, I spotted Al dancing with his wife. No gossamer hood? What did this all mean? My paranoia gained some ground again, and I started to shake.

  “What’s the matter, Kay?” Phil asked.

  “There’s Al, dancing with his wife.” Al had on a glitzy Elton John costume complete with large red rhinestone sunglasses.

  “I thought you said he was…”

  “He was.”

  “Maybe you imagined it.”

  “I know what I saw,” I insisted.

  Al's personality seemed to overpower whoever he was with. Before this evening, his presence had never seemed so forceful to me. He had always just been the friendly mystery fancier that I chatted with weekly at the post office.

  “Al and his wife look like they are having a good time,” I said, trying to sound casual as the photographer took their picture. It didn't look like anything bothered Al. I knew lots of things had to be on his mind, including who the intr
uder had been in the vacant store. He sure knew how to keep his cool. Al saw me and flashed a big Cheshire Cat smile. I smiled back. He couldn’t know the intruder had been me. I wondered where the professor was right now. Maybe they took him to the hospital.

  The fantastic 60s rock and roll cover band continued to play throughout the evening. When people started to get tired from dancing, they announced the winners of the best costume contest. Some friends of ours, Jim and Alicia Miller, won as Sonny and Cher. They sang a humorous rendition of “I’ve Got You Babe” to the backing music of the band. Just before eleven o’clock, Phil and I decided to leave. We found Deirdre and Mike to say our farewell.

  “Deirdre, Phil and I are going to leave soon. He's exhausted from working at school all day.” And I was about ready to keel over.

  “Kay, I know it’s Sunday tomorrow, but how about walking in the morning? We can talk about the party.”

  “Sure, Deirdre. Ten-thirty? Let Elizabeth know.”

  Mike waved his hook at us. “Phil, see you tomorrow at practice. Can’t wait to see those lead sheets you mentioned.”

  “I’ll make sure to bring copies.”

  “I want to hear that new horn of yours, also. See you then.”

  We were just about to leave when I saw Al standing in the hallway looking at me. There was nothing casual about his gaze. He came over, took my hand, and asked Phil, “May I borrow your wife for a few minutes?” And he led me out on to the dance floor without waiting for an answer.

  “Did you think you could get away from me?”

  “What...what do you mean, Al?” My lips trembled.

  “Remember? You promised me a dance tonight. Allow me...” Al put his hand on my shoulder. My heart beat double time to the music. My muscles tensed. He terrified me by his closeness.

  “You're trembling. I didn’t realize I made such an impression on you.” He threw his head back and laughed a horrifying, baritone laugh. The heartbeat in my ears was so loud, I couldn't even make out the music we were dancing to.

  “I don’t want to make your husband jealous,” he continued with a toothy smile.

  I fought to get a hold of myself. “Right. We were just about to leave. I'm not feeling well. I think I'm coming down with a cold, and it's just freezing in here.”

  “Just kidding. We're talking about leaving, also. My wife had such a busy day. Didn’t you have fun tonight? Your costume is great, by the way.”

  “So is yours, Elton.”

  After the dance, Phil and I started toward home. Turning around, I saw Al and his wife going out the door just behind us. Al walked his wife over to her car. They talked for a few moments, and she got into the driver’s seat and took off. Al left walking in the opposite direction.

  On the way home, Phil and I walked past the vacant store. I positioned myself so Phil was on the side nearest the store. I wanted to see into the building while talking to him. I needed to get a better look around. I stopped and drew closer to Phil, giving him a long kiss, all of the time looking into the store and surveying around the area.

  “Hon, can’t you wait until we get home?”

  The inside of the store was dark without any sign of life in the building. Across the street, I noticed the flickering amber glow of a cigarette. Someone was there in the shadows. Someone watching the store. I laughed, and we continued walking home. Tomorrow morning, after I walked with Deirdre and Elizabeth, I'd head over to the professor's house to see if he was all right. I could say I was collecting for the free clinic if he or his wife answered the door. The clinic was always looking for donations. I had this bad feeling I wouldn't find him there.

  Phil started laughing.

  “What, Phil?”

  “I couldn’t get over Elizabeth’s costume tonight. I thought she was going to fall out of it a number of times.”

  Here I was totally immersed in the strange happenings of the evening, and all Phil wanted to talk about was Elizabeth’s skimpy costume. “I think she went a little overboard with her sexy Miss Marple look.”

  “Bet she has a lot of men wanting to join her mystery book club after tonight. There are lots of Miss Marple fans now.”

  Chapter Five

  Sunday, October 30

  Sunday morning after early church, I met Deirdre and Elizabeth at the end of my driveway. A heavy chill hung in the air. I couldn’t tell if it was the weather or if it came from within. We did our usual walk through the college grounds and headed out into the open space toward the parks. All the while Deirdre and Elizabeth talked about the fun they had and laughed about everyone’s costumes.

  “Sudbury Falls sure has its share of good dancers,” Elizabeth said.

  Deirdre laughed. “You ought to know.”

  “I suppose. I think I drank a bit too much. When my head hit the pillow, I fell dead to the world.”

  “When Mike and I walked you home, you wanted to see if any clubs were still open.”

  My head was still spinning from the events of last night, and I had gotten almost no sleep. I barely heard Elizabeth and Deirdre prattle on about the Ball. “What time did you end up leaving?” I managed, just to contribute to the conversation.

  Deirdre looked at Elizabeth, who shrugged. “Around two o'clock,” Deirdre said with a small smile.

  As we made the turn into the open space and went over the wooden bridge, Deirdre said, “Look…down at the river’s edge.”

  I looked. Deirdre led the way down a narrow path toward the water. Our feet crunched over fallen leaves. As we came closer, she stopped dead in her tracks.

  “I feel something…a heavy energy…something weird in the atmosphere,” Deirdre said. “Terrible forces. What is that?”

  “Deirdre, you're seeing things again,” Elizabeth said. “Let's get out of here and finish our walk. I'm leaving.” Elizabeth started going back up the path.

  My heart raced. I had a feeling I knew what we would find. “No Elizabeth, I think she's right. There's something there.”

  Deirdre rushed down the path to the riverbank. In her haste, Deirdre's foot caught on a treacherous root protruding from the pathway. She flailed her arms to keep from tumbling to the ground as she stumbled down to the water’s edge.

  “Look! Look over here! What...oh my gosh!” Deirdre's voice was harsh. “He's...he's dead.” Deirdre backed away, both hands to her mouth and looked up at us.

  I had been expecting to find a dead body, but all the leaves covering his body made it hard at first to know who it was. Then I recognized the camel-colored coat, his body shape.

  I hesitated before making my way down to the professor. Conflicting forces wrenched my body in opposite directions. A medley of curiosity and professional experience yearned for me to run to the riverbank, to get a closer look, to do what I could to help. A second part, the guilty, terrified part, wished I’d never seen it and made me want to retreat. In the sandy water next to an array of flat rocks, the professor lay with his head partway submerged. The gentle rapids splashed water over the rocks and his body. I reached down and touched his body. Rigor mortis had set in. His face was distorted. His eyes stared out murkily with the lifeless gaze of death.

  Elizabeth followed down the path and took her cell phone out of her pocket. “I'm calling the police.” With trembling hands she phoned.

  “The operator says they're on their way. I can’t believe it! Sherman Walters…dead? Kay, you just asked about him the other day. Poor Mary Ann,” Elizabeth said putting the phone back in her pocket looking at me. “Sherman's wife, Mary Ann. Where is she?”

  “I feel sick to my stomach,” Deirdre said, regaining her composure. “He’s been dead a while. There’s no glow anymore…an ethereal…”

  “Ethereal what?” I asked, staring at Walters' body.

  “After death, the physical body is left with an ethereal glow. It’s weak, but…”

  Elizabeth shook her head, the vein in her forehead bulged at the temple. “Please, Deirdre, don’t start in with that stuff,” Elizabeth s
aid. “Now’s not the time for all that—”

  “Well it's true. I'm just trying to explain to Kay about—”

  “Deirdre, I've had enough. I said stop it. You're not helping the situation. We've all just had a shock. And if you are going to get sick, stay away from this area,” Elizabeth said, her face inches from Deirdre's face. Elizabeth put out her arms preventing Deirdre from getting back closer to the professor's body. “You aren't going to mess up any evidence. It’s a crime scene. I mean it!”

  Deirdre and Elizabeth both huffed and turned to me. Deirdre frowned, her arms folded over her chest. Elizabeth glowered, red in the face. “Kay,” Deirdre said, defiantly, glancing at Elizabeth.

  My jaw tensed. “Later,” I said, shaking my head. I was tired of always having to be the peacemaker when the two of them got started.

  A wave of nausea rose from my stomach as well. I fell silent and sat down on the cold ground, taking a couple of deep breaths. I wrapped my arms around my bent knees close to my chest, facing away from both of them toward the professor, and waited for the police to come. I knew it was a crime scene, but what made Elizabeth think so? Perhaps because of all the CSI-type shows and books that were so popular. Nowadays, everyone was an expert on everything because they saw an actor do it on television or read about it in a book from a mystery author. I couldn’t think of anything to say to Elizabeth or Deirdre that wouldn't betray that I knew more about the professor’s death. I had to think this through. My heartbeat throbbed in my temples, and their bickering didn't help matters.