by Ruby Jones
The Full Cup of Murder
Full Cup Mysteries Book 1
Cozy Murder Mystery
Ruby Jones
Copyright 2015 by: Ruby Jones
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted to any form by any means electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the Publisher except where permitted by law.
Table of Contents
Carrying on Traditions
Frightening History
Stories We Never Knew
Building All Over Again
Mysteries Close Silently
Carrying on Traditions
He is sitting on the bar stool waiting for me to finish my shift, as he always does. He is my best friend and confidant, a big, fluffy, one eyed cat named Carl. He is the greeter of all who enter my bar. The Full Cup is a local bar in a small town in coastal Maine. It was handed down to me from my parents, as are most businesses in this community. If the children are willing to stay here, most businesses are passed down from generation to generation. The Full Cup is one of only two bars in this small town and it does fairly well. Many locals often come, many a bit more often than they should, but Carl greets them all with a tired eye and perhaps a small purr provided they give him a pat on the head.
My name is Ali, short for Alison Emily Sarah Jameson. I have so many names because my parents considered me the only child they would have and tried to stick all the names they liked into one. Funny how with all that worked, it was shortened to Ali. Anyway, my dad ran the bar for 40 years before handing it over to me. My mom died when I was six, leaving my dad to raise me on his own. I have many vague recollections of my mom, taking me to the beach or into town for ice cream. Mostly I have childhood memories of the bar. My dad worked a lot, probably more than he should have with a young child to care for and all, but we all do our best. As a child, I loved coming to the bar. The patrons always made me feel like family, perhaps because they felt sorry for me spending so much time here but I really did not mind. I never knew any different and besides, being at the bar meant I was rarely ever alone.
As I clean up the bar, put all the stools in order & sweep the floor, my mind drifts back to the events of the evening. Dan, a nice man who was once the chief of police for our small town of Sea Harbor, comes in as he does almost nightly. After his retirement a few years back, he has become a fixture here. A lonely man just looking for company. On many occasions, I have had to call Jason, his grandson and current chief of police to take him home. Not something Dan is ever crazy about, but usually only grumbles a bit. Dan was reminiscing about his life, prior to the death of his wife, on how much he missed her. When he has a bit too much to drink, his conversations somehow always end back with Pat. He misses her, sadly has found solace in liquor. He was talking with a couple of fishermen who always come in when their boat is in. Jeff is a big husky fisherman type. One would pick him out as a fisherman in an instant. The other is Ray, a skinny, rather clean cut kid who works the boats with him. Ray is a super smart person who had hoped to go on to college and get the hell out of this town but sadly, he never made it. Rumor has it that money was the issue but no one knows, as it seems to be an off limit subject with him. He is always coming in and saying, "Ali, you and me, we should go on a date, marry, raise some kids and get out of this town." I know he is right in some aspects, getting out of this town would be the best thing for most people here. Other than that, he is way off.
I recently started dating a man who we all joke is a transplant, someone from away. I find it refreshing to spend time with someone who does not know everything about me, as do most of the locals. We all know each other’s secrets; it is just part of living in a small town. It is both a blessing and a curse. Anyway, Reese, the man who took a job in our town as a school superintendent and I have been dating for a few months and he seems like a nice person. He comes into the bar on weekends to visit and if we are lucky, we get to sneak a kiss out back, kind of like teenagers.
Something happened between Dan and Ray tonight. They were in heavy discussion over fish or law enforcement or some other subject that could be discussed between the two, and Ray abruptly left. Very unusual, as the two men always hit things off, in grand fashion. I shrugged it off, as the bar was quite busy being that it is a Thursday night in June, many of the college kids are just getting back from vacation, and this seems to be the spot to catch up with friends.
There is another small bar in this sleepy town. It is called Fish out Of Water, a new place that was opened a few years back by a couple who was long time summer residents but after retirement made Sea Harbor their home. I hear they do a fair amount of business but I have yet to go there as I am usually here. I hear the locals say that they do not like it there, as much due to the air of pretention and that it is not locally owned. Tourists seem to love it though. I have always looked at it as a good thing to have two bars that are so different and cater to different patrons. I have heard however, mostly through the not-so-sober grapevine, which they are not as appreciative and try to get more of the locals to come there instead of here. Personally, I think there are plenty of drunks to go around but I love my bar because of the locals, they run their bar for the money and that makes for different attitudes.
As I sweep and clean glasses and silverware and stock the bar for the morning shift, Carl purrs loudly and watches me with his one sleepy eye, waiting for word that it is time to go home. As I head to sweep out the bathrooms, my least favorite job, I first lock the front door so that nobody can get in without me knowing. It is a small town full of people I know, but one can never be too safe. I hit the women’s room first, three stalls, three sinks and surprisingly, usually much messier than the men’s room. True, men do not have good aim, especially after downing a few beers, but women, are still just messier.
As I head into the men’s room, one stall, two urinals and two sinks, I see a foot sticking out from under the closed stall door. Ugh, I think to myself, a drunk who never made it out of the toilet. I open the door and notice he is lying face down with his arm under his head. Great, just great. Not what I needed, to deal with tonight. I hope that I can get him out of here without him vomiting all over and me having to re clean the entire floor. I nudge him with the end of my broom, "Hey buddy, it's time for you to head home. Can I call you a cab?" No answer. I nudge a little harder, still nothing. Great. I kneel down beside him and shake his arm, still nothing. Therefore, as I attempt to roll him over I notice his hand is cold, much too cold for late June in a hot bar. I roll him fully over and can see that it is Ray and he is looking up at me with a blank stare. Screaming and backing away, I trip over my broom and fall to the floor. Getting up I rush to the phone and with trembling fingers dial Jason and gibberish comes out as I start telling him about Ray and the restroom and what to do. "Stay put. I'm five minutes away." I hang up the phone, and gather Carl in my arms and anxiously wait by the door for Jason.
Jason came through the bar to the bathroom about five minutes but it certainly felt like twenty.
“Yup, “Jason said after he felt for a pulse. “He is gone. What happened in here tonight?” He took my arm and steered me back into the bar. I told him that it has been a busy but quiet night. Other then the argument between Ray and Dan but even that was really nothing to be too concerned about. Jason asked me to write down the names of everyone here tonight so I did. The whole thing was just so upsetting considering this town has always been so quiet. Everyone knew everyone
and even with the tourists coming through and the occasional bar fight or drunk driver, it was just a peaceful place to be. Jason went to go find his grandfather in hopes to get some answers about the brief conversation that happened between the two of them and why was Ray so upset.
It took about two hours for the crime scene investigators to do their thing and to have Ray’s body to be removed. I was planning to close the place down for a couple of days. The police told me it would possibly be a week. I grabbed Carl, locked the bar behind me, and finally drove home. I called Reese who had left about a dozen messages on my phone as he had heard what had happened. He had called the bar but the police would not let me speak to him or anyone for that matter. I got ready for bed and finally after what seemed like hours dozed off.
I woke up to a knock at my door. It was pretty loud and sounded like whoever was knocking was pretty anxious. I threw on my robe, went, and answered it. It was Jenna Holmes, my best friend of thirty plus years. We were like sisters. She was married to the president of our only bank in town. Fredrick Myron Holmes. I liked him and he defiantly treated Jenna well. I mean a fourteen-room home settled on twenty-seven acres of some of the best land. He drove a red beamer and she drove a blue caddy. They have been married for thirteen years. They had twin ten-year-old daughters, Brianna & Shayla. Jenna led the charmed life and always did. However, she never let her life and what she was doing make her forget her friends. Especially me.
“Oh my god Ali! Are you ok? Is the bar ok? Where is Carl? Reese must be freaking out,” She cried all at once, as she brushed past me with her usual flair style. I kind of smiled. How can you not feel comfort? No matter how dramatic Jenna could be her feelings were always sincere and her antics could actually make you smile.
“Come Jenna.” I said walking past her towards the kitchen. “I haven’t even had my coffee yet.” We walked out to the kitchen and while she sat down at the table, I made coffee and filled her in on what little I knew.
“Oh poor Ray.” Jenna said when I finally finished. “Dan would never hurt anyone. He is so harmless. He is just lonely is all?”
“I guess money may be an issue.” I replied. We spent a couple of hours visiting but I had to cut it short and tell her that Jason and the detectives wanted me to come down and write out a full statement. I also had to meet with the crime scene cleaners as well and let them in. I was fortunate that because of my family roots and all that some volunteers from the crime lab were going to come down and sweep through the crime scene one more time and since it was not too much of a mess, they would clean up for me. I was grateful because the entire thing was just truly upsetting me.
Jenna left making me promise to call her and to go over to dinner with Reese at their house that night since I was not opening the bar tonight. I was not sure if Reese would want to go but I told her I would call her. After my shower, I was getting dressed when my cell phone rang. The number did not look familiar at all.
“Hello” I said as I sat down on the edge of my bed.
“Ali?” A male voice said.
“Yes?”
“How much do you know?” He asked.
“Who is this?” My heart rate quickened a little.
“It does not matter. “ He said, “What does matter is whatever you do know. It would probably be best that you say nothing.” The phone went dead. I looked at my phone. I pressed send and it went right to the automated voice mail. I got up and looked around my house. When I finally felt like I could breathe, I called Reese and told him about the mysterious call.
“Ali.” He said in his gentle voice. “Calm down sweetheart. It was probably just someone playing a joke.”
I was somewhat irritated. Why do men take things so lightly? Someone was just murdered and now I am getting creepy phone calls. I wanted to get upset with him but I had to remember Reese is not from here. He does not realize that things like this just do not happen in our small town. I talked with him for another fifteen minutes. I promised him I would try to stay calm and to call Jason and report the phone call. It seemed to me like I was making an awful lot of promises. I finished getting dressed and headed to the police station in the middle of town. Our town was small. Other than the two bars, we had the bank, a post office, a few stores but mostly houses. We had the town hall, fire station and police station all in one community building. If you traveled about thirty-five miles South West Greenly was much bigger and had a Walmart, McDonalds and places like that along with a couple of dance clubs as well. I parked the car but when I stepped out into the beautiful sun lit day, I felt an unreal feeling of being watched. I looked around me. I saw plenty of people that were normal sites to be found. I waved at Johnnie Rogers who ran the barbershop on the corner. He waved and smiled. I saw Miss Lilly Sheraton, a kindly old widow who everyone loved, walking out of the store. She came rushing up to me.
“Ali dear.” She grasped my hand. “Oh I worried about you all night. Such horror has come into our town. I have told these people this town is changing…” she went on and on. I imagine it is hard to be living here for so long and see all of the changes going on. Almost like, you sit still while progression just takes place all around you. I assured her I was ok and told her I needed to get inside. She hugged me and I walked up the steps pausing and still feeling like I was being watched.
“Ali!” I saw Jason walk around the corner. “How are you dear?”
“I am ok” I said. “How is Dan? “ I followed Jason through the building into the police station. It was a pretty busy day today. I was actually kind of amazed watching how life just goes on no matter what happens around you. We went into a conference room and I saw two men sitting at the table. They stood up as we approached.
“Ali,” He gestured towards the two men. These men are from the FBI out of DC”
“FBI?” I said as I sat down. Why was the FBI involved? Was this not a simple bar room argument that turned bad?
“Hello Ali. My name is Brody Linden and my partner Shane Holbrook.” The first one said. Brody was about my age. Not a bad looking guy. He looked uncomfortable in his suit but carried himself very well. Shane was older. I would say in his sixties. “We came down because we have discovered things about the victim. Raymond James Chiffer.” My mind kind of raced a little. Ray was a quiet guy. I went to school with his sister, Annabella, but Ray was five years younger then I. Always a very gentle person who never got into trouble like most of his friends. He got the job with Jeff Younger in his early twenties so he spent most of his time fishing on the water. We all knew he wanted to go to college but money and time was defiantly not in his favor.
“Did you know that Mr. Chiffer was involved with the Malanta Family in Redwood?” Shane Holbrook finally spoke up.
“Well no.” I said. Redwood was fifty miles away. It was a pretty rough town. A lot of drugs, gambling, and prostitution. “I knew Ray and he came into the Full Cup practically every day but never caused any troubles. Who is the Malanta family?”
“The Malanta family goes back to the 1920’s,” Holbrook told us. “They have been very involved in the underground activity.”
“Oh come on!” Jason spoke up. He sat up in the chair and I could tell he was having a hard time like I was, believing any of this. “This is a sleepy town. I have known Ray since he was a young boy. So has Alison. Everyone has. I cannot even start to believe this is true”
“Officer Lawlor. Linden spoke up. “Are you aware your grandfather was investigating the link between Malanta and some of the activity going on here?”
“No…” Jason sat back shocked. “Grandpa used to leave town a lot on assignment but we never really knew why.”
“It has been said that some of the fishermen have been helping smuggle drugs and fire arms into your town to be transported to Redwood. It has also been rumored that Ray and his boss, Jeff Younger, Captain of the Sea Smell, was a big part of it along with two other fishing vessels.” I turned and looked at Jason. I could not even believe we had this kind of thing
going on in our small town. “It is also being said your bar is a part of it as well.”
“I don’t think so!” Jason started to sit up again and his voice rising.” I have known Alison all of her life. There is no way….”
“We know that!” Linden interrupted. “That is why we are talking with you.”
“I had a weird call this morning.” I finally said when I found my voice. All three men looked at me.
“Ali...why...” Jason started to say.
“I haven’t said anything because I have not had a chance,” I told Jason. “It was not too bad, but it was threatening. Someone out there seems to think I may know a lot more then I actually do to. “
“We have to put extra patrol by your house.” Jason stood up and abruptly left.
“We will get that protection for you, Ali. I do need to know what you do know though.” Linden turned back to me.
“I don’t know anything.” I cried.
“Yes we know you are not involved but why would they even imply that you are, is what we do not understand at all. Did you date Ray at anytime?”
“No. He was always like a little brother. He would joke with me all of the time. I believe he did like me but I just could never think of Ray in any way but a kind neighborhood boy I grew up with.”
“Well, we do believe at least money has been exchanged at your establishment and more than likely a common place for meetings and arrangements to take place.” I sat there listening to them fill me in on what the FBI has known for a while. I was shocked. All of this going on right under my nose at the Full Cup. In our small town. With people, I had known all of my life. I knew Jeff too and although he was a burly, loud and funny guy, he was far from any kind of trouble or the kind to be doing illegal things. He is a family guy. His wife, Susie was a part of the PTA. It just did not fit in my head. Jason walked back in with his grandfather, Dan. Dan looked tired and a little lost.