by Emily Selby
Michelle smiled. 'Yes, we definitely have some control over the kettle. I’ll make some more, and you get us a piece of paper and a pen. How about we make a list of suspects?' She jumped up and bustled around the kettle.
'If it is about that ring, there are not that many I can think of.' Katie reached to her handbag and fished out a notebook and a pen.
'Who knew about the ring?'
'Let me think,' Katie said slowly. 'Me, Roy Dunbar, and obviously Vera.'
'I think we can exclude Vera. Isn't she in jail?'
'I think so.'
'Who else?'
'The police, of course. Celia Baxter, Jack Heaton, and Chris.'
'Don't know Celia, but Chris Fox? He's a good guy. You don't think Chris has done that, do you?'
'No, I know Chris very well. He's worked at the police station for donkey's years. He was in there when I first joined them. Chris wouldn't do anything illegal.'
'What about anybody else on your team?'
'I generally assume that police are good people,' Katie said.
'Which is really strange, if not naive of you, given your experience with a policeman.'
Katie waved her hand dismissively.
'Come on Michelle. One bad apple...'
'Okay. But I still think we can't exclude the Sunnyvale police team.'
Michelle put the steaming teapot on the table.
'Who else do you think might have known about the ring?'
Katie cast her mind back over the previous couple of weeks and her involvement in two murders. The first murders in town since the records began. Probably.
'Maybe the nurses in hospital,' Katie said hesitantly.
'What about Roy's family? His wife and children?'
'Yeah, I think we should add them. Although I'm not sure what their motivation would be.'
'Was the ring worth much?'
'No idea. It probably had more value for the person who ordered it and the one it was meant for.'
'So where are the ancient bride- and groom to be?'
Katie shrugged. She sipped her tea, thinking again about the recent events.
'Apparently, a son of the groom-to-be—if I may call him that—contacted Roy Dunbar about the ring. Or rather the box it was in.'
'When was that?'
'I can't remember the exact dates, but I think it was a couple of weeks ago, a month at the most.'
'So, the guy was definitely interested in the ring.'
Katie chewed on her cheek. This wasn't quite making sense. 'Strangely enough,' she said after a pause. 'The man said he was looking for the box. He never mentioned the ring. But as the box was an engagement present, and he knew about it, I can only assume he knew about the ring as well.'
'I love when you make those sentences. I really think you would be a great lawyer. Can you just repeat the same thing but in plain English please?'
Katie sighed. She decided to ignore the comment about becoming a good lawyer, since this was too painful. She had been regretting her decision to drop out of the law school more and more often since the divorce.
'The guy who emailed Roy told him he was looking for a Japanese puzzle box, which was meant to be an engagement present for his mother. The puzzle box was part of William Dunbar's, Roy Dunbar's uncle's wedding gifts business. The boxes came with engagement rings inside. So, someone who knew of the existence and function of a box like that would, by default, know there was a ring inside.'
Michelle smiled. 'Now, I get it. Do you think the guy tried to trick Roy, by hiding the fact he knew there was a ring inside?'
'Makes sense to me.’
‘That sounds like he’s not a very honest person,' Michelle concluded. 'You should definitely add him to your list.'
Katie chewed on the tip of the pen. She could not remember the name of the person who had sent the email, so she simply wrote, "Japanese puzzle box seeker".
'What about the Bowers? Do you think they might want it?'
'The richest family in the area?' Katie glanced at Michelle incredulously. Michelle shrugged.
'You never know what's going on with the super-rich. Maybe they have money tied in the company or real estate but no cash.'
'Do you think Michael or Harold might be in the need of cash? Have you heard anything on the grapevine?'
Michelle, the owner of a very popular hair and beauty salon, was usually up-to-date with the town gossip.
'I vaguely recall something.'
'Adding the Bowers to the list then,' Katie said and paused. 'Interesting thing,' she carried on slowly, thinking back to the conversation with Inspector Lumley. 'The police asked me if I had any enemies. They think someone might have wanted to frame me by using my pen. Inspector Lumley seemed to suspect the Bowers might hold a grudge against me.'
'Given what happened as the result of Mrs Dunbar's death, they should be grateful to you, right?'
'You would think, wouldn't you? But it cast a shadow over their apparently happy existence,' Katie added.
'And Michael Bower cares about what people think of him and his family,' Michelle commented, nodding. 'I can totally see how Michael Bower might not be happy with what you did.'
'And want me implicated in a murder?'
'Well...'
Katie stared at her friend. 'Michelle, do you know it would mean that Michael was implicated in this murder, too?'
Michelle's almond-shaped eyes were fixed on Katie's face. 'Hmm,' she said. 'Indeed. But why would he do it? To steal the ring?'
'We're back to the ring then. But why? It didn't look all that valuable.' Katie sighed and tapped the pen to the paper. 'Full circle. Not much closer to finding the killer.'
Michelle craned her neck to read Katie's list.
'That makes nine or more, depending how we count the family members,' she said. 'Now, you need to narrow your suspects list.'
'Me? Why me?'
'Because you work at the police station, and because it's in your interest to see this investigation finished ASAP. Do you want your flat back? Do you want people to talk about your pen being used to kill someone?'
Katie sighed. Michelle was right. However much Katie didn't want to get involved, she was keen to close the case, so her and Julia's life could return to normal. Any way she could help speed up the investigation was welcome. But maybe not tonight. Tonight, her eyes were itching with tiredness and her back was sore. She rolled her shoulders. Michelle yawned.
'Okay, you've got a point.' Katie said reluctantly. 'But I won't do anything about it now. It's late. Let’s start tomorrow.'
4
When Katie reached the kitchen in the morning, Michelle was already there. The circles under her eyes were darker. Her eyelids were puffy and red.
'Morning, how are things?' Katie asked cautiously.
'Kevin's back,' Michelle replied not looking at Katie. 'Fast asleep. He's been drinking.'
'What time did he come back?'
'About three,' Michelle replied quietly. 'We're having lunch at the pub with Kev's parents today. I'll ask his brother Jerry to come around when we're out.'
'You think Kevin will talk to him?' Katie asked. If anyone, Michelle was the best person to make Kevin talk.
Michelle flicked the kettle's switch.
'I've tried but didn't get anywhere. So...' Her voice trailed off.
'Sounds like a good idea.'
'Coffee?' Michelle asked when the kettle clicked off.
'Of course. Let me help you with breakfast as well.'
'The girls have already eaten. They went back to the bedroom and are playing quietly. How are you doing today?'
'I've had a message from Julia. Her dad took her out horse riding yesterday.'
'Horse riding? That's an expensive hobby.'
'I know. Why can't he just come up with some cheaper nice things to do?'
'He's behaving like he's got a lot of money. Is he still in debt?'
'I'm not interested, as long at the child support money keeps coming in. A
s far as I'm concerned, I'm no longer his wife and my finances are separate from his.'
Michelle shook her head.
'Every time you remind me of what he's done I want to grab him by his throat and shake him until all those stupid thoughts and behaviours fall off him. He used to be an okay guy. What on Earth got into him?'
'Midlife crisis, so he tells me. But I suspect he's always believed he deserved a better lifestyle. He’d been hiding it for years, and once he was promoted to inspector, it went straight to his head. All of a sudden, he needed new clothes, a new car...'
'A new wife?'
Katie shrugged. 'I don't know. I'm not interested. I wouldn't be surprised, but I haven't seen any signs.'
'Do you ever wish you could work through it and be back together?'
'No way. Not anymore. I'm convinced we were incompatible. I'm glad I didn't waste my entire life learning about it.'
'I'm glad you dealt with it quite quickly. And speaking of men-'
'I've already told you,' Katie interrupted her, trying to sound innocent. She realised the more she defended herself, the more suspicious it looked. 'I'm not interested at the moment.'
Michelle glanced at Katie, her right brow arched.
'I haven't said a thing. But if you want to talk about the dishy inspector or any other men of interest, I'm more than happy to listen.'
Katie sighed and waved her hand.
'Never mind. What did you want to say in the relation to men?'
'I wanted to ask them about the man on the roof. You never said who he is. Or was.'
'The police said his name was Zac. Zac Green-something.'
Michelle paused, a jar of coffee open in her hands.
'Zac? Not a very common name. It rings a bell.'
'He's not a local, but his grandmother lives here.'
Michelle continued preparing the coffee in silence. She put two steaming cups on the table and sat.
'I wonder if this is the same Zac Kevin's had some trouble with lately.'
'The guy who's been ringing and making Kevin swear?'
'Yes. He’s the one. His name is Zac as well. He's not local. But it may be just coincidence.'
A couple of hours later Katie, Michelle and Michelle's two daughters left the house, leaving Kevin in bed, and went to the Royal Oak. Michelle's in-laws were waiting for them. Once everyone was seated, the kids started squabbling, Michelle started whispering with her in-laws. Katie waved the waitress down to order the food. The girl looked pale and her dark eyes were puffy. Katie wondered if she had worked the previous night.
'What would you like to order?' the girl asked.
Katie recited the list of lunch wishes she'd collected from the family. She wanted Michelle to have the opportunity to talk to her in-laws.
'I need to warn you you'd have to wait for food. We're having a bit of an emergency here.'
'What sort of emergency?'
The girl flinched. She waved her hand. 'Never mind. We’re short-staffed.'
'Is the cook sick?'
'No, the cook is fine. It's the barmaid.'
'Zuza?' Katie jerked in her seat. 'What's happened to her?'
'Do you know her?'
'Yes, from the Paper Crafts Club. I'm also working with her in Willow Park, on their cleaning team.' Katie thought back to Zuza, the person who had told her about the cleaning gig in the local nursing home. 'What's happened to her?'
'I'm not sure,' the waitress said. 'Something to do with that murder.'
'Ah!' Katie said, her voice tense. 'Awful! It happened outside my house. I found the body.'
The girl shuffled.
'I'm sorry. Did you know the victim?'
'No. Apparently his name was Zac.'
The girl's eyes glistened. She took in a sharp breath.
'Did you know him?' Katie asked.
The girl pressed her lips so hard they turned paper-white pale. She nodded. A tear rolled down her cheek. 'He was going out with Zuza. She's my friend, too.'
'Oh, sugars...' Katie whispered. 'Is Zuza all right?'
The waitress shook her head.
'She's sitting there, crying. Can't stop crying.' She took a deep breath and straightened her back. 'Sorry, I have to go. We're short-staffed,' she repeated and rushed off.
Katie tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Zuza had moved to Sunnyvale in early summer to help during the busy time in the pub. But she loved the town so much, she decided to stay until next summer. She got a part time job on the cleaning team in Willow Park. Zuza was nice, always smiling, always keen to help.
Katie stood.
'I've made an order,' she told Michelle. 'Be back soon.'
As there was no one behind the bar, Katie walked past it straight through the door marked 'Staff Only’ and entered the kitchen.
Noisy and hot, the kitchen smelled of roast beef. Typical Sunday lunch, Katie thought, glancing at the ovens, certainly containing Yorkshire puddings. A sous chef was chopping vegetables to the rhythm of a song on the radio. The cook was busy whisking something in a large metal bowl. Katie looked around. In the corner by the window, face covered with her blonde curls sat Zuza, her shoulders and chest shuddering as she sobbed.
Katie strode across the kitchen, crouched by Zuza's chair and put her hand on the girl's back.
'Hey, Zuza.”
'Katie?' The girl asked, sobs still racking her body. 'I'm not able to talk.'
'I know,' Katie said soothingly. 'Don't worry. I know what happened. I found his body.'
'You found Zac's body?' Zuza looked up. Her face was swollen and covered with red blotches. Without make-up, she looked much younger.
Katie grabbed a paper towel from the dispenser above the sink and handed it to Zuza, who accepted it with a shadow of a smile. She dabbed her face and blew her nose.
'I'm all over the place.' She started sobbing again.
'Don't worry. Would you like some water?'
Zuza nodded. Katie walked to the sink and filled a glass. Zuza drained it in one long glug.
'Better?'
'A little.'
'I'm sorry for your loss,' Katie said. 'I didn't know you two were going out.'
'We've been dating since last year. Zac was the reason I came to Sunnyvale. His grandma suggested we could stay with her, but Zac never wanted to live here. I don't know what he wanted any more. I don't think he was serious enough to settle.'
Katie considered her next question. The clue to a murder is often the victim itself. Maybe Zuza could shed some light on Zac's death?
'Not serious enough to settle... Do you think there was another girl?'
Zuza's hands curled into fists. 'I thought so,' she said. 'But every time I asked him, he said no. I felt he was lying. There were a few phone calls and text messages he never answered with me around. I know he was into car racing, not always legal stuff. At first, I thought that was it. But then, he started disappearing for the night. I've found lipstick on his T-shirt once. When I asked him about it, he said it’s a mate's prank. He told me I was being silly.' Her voice broke, and she started sobbing again.
Katie grabbed another tissue from the dispenser and handed it across. She rubbed Zuza’s back.
This might be a bit harsh on her friend, but then - it was a murder investigation.
'Any idea why he was killed?'
'Don't know. The police say it was because of something he stole from you. What did he take?'
'Something went missing from my house. But I don't know if it was Zac who took it. Apparently, it wasn't found on him. Do you think he might have had an accomplice?'
'What?' Zuza looked puzzled.
'Someone who broke in with him. Like a partner in crime.'
'I don't know. He had a lot of mates. They were not really good people, I think. I'm not sure of what's the word for it?'
'Dishonest? Dodgy? Violent?' Katie offered.
'I think dodgy. I've only met a few of them at the races. He took me there twice last year because I in
sisted. He said it wasn't for girls.'
'Did you enjoy going there with him?'
'I enjoyed spending time with him, laughing and having fun. But each time I went to the races, I felt Zac didn't want me to be there. There was stuff going on between him and those people. I don't think it was all fully legal, but he told me not to ask any questions, to keep quiet and smile. One of his so-called friends made some nasty, sexual comments to me. So, in the end, I didn't want to go anymore. I didn't want to feel like a trophy girlfriend to be on display.'
Katie looked at Zuza's blemish-free, perfectly oval face, with big blue eyes, long lashes and a luscious mouth, framed by shoulder-length blond curls. The picture-perfect face was matched by an equally perfectly shaped body with an ample chest and long legs. Many people in Sunnyvale assumed Zuza was "just a pretty girl", but Katie knew this was not true.
'Trophy girlfriend - that's just awful. You're a beautiful girl, but you've got much more to offer. You're a great friend, caring and thoughtful. Without you, I'd never have managed that cleaning job at the Willow Park. You knew I needed it, you're recommended me, and you've helped me get stuff done properly more times that I can remember. You're a star, Zuza. I know you cared about Zac, but did he care enough about you?'
'Thank you for your kind words, Katie.' Zuza blew her nose again. 'I think I loved him, and really hoped he loved me back. All was going well between us until May. But then he changed. He always had an excuse - overnight delivery jobs, helping mates, having some important tweaks done to his car, that sort of stuff. It was sort of believable, after all he worked for a delivery company. But even when we were together, I felt his thoughts were somewhere else. As if his body was with me, but his mind, or his heart were elsewhere. That's why I started suspecting there was another woman involved. And I gave him that ulti... What's that word?'
'Ultimatum?' Katie prompted. 'What did you tell him?'
'It was last Friday. He spent Thursday night somewhere else, didn't come back in the morning. I was angry, because he had been away a lot last week. He'd told me a few people had been off sick at work and he had to fill in for them. But he was quite nasty with me. So, when I saw him here, at the pub, at lunchtime, just before I started my afternoon shift, I lost it. I really wish I didn't say that...' Zuza paused and hung her head. Her curls spilled over her face again. Her shoulders shuddered under another wave of sobs. Katie put her hand on her back and started rubbing it again. Zuza's breathing steadied.