COZY MYSTERY: Trail Mix Murder: A Cozy Mystery in the Mountains (Book 2)

by Liz Turner

  “She was mixing around the room like a socialite,” LeeLee said. “So I didn’t get to see who she left with. But I did see who she came with.” Deliberately, dramatically, she took a pause, waiting for Jager to ask her.

  “Who was it?” Corporal Jager asked.

  “That odious man, Hanson,” LeeLee said, looking very satisfied.

  “I see.” Corporal Jager lifted his lip a little and let it fall back down. “Declan, did you see this too?”

  “I didn’t,” Declan said. “When the party started, I was too busy greeting people and mixing. I didn’t notice Hanson till he decided to get drunk and start baiting me.”

  “Ah yes,” Jager said. “The fight.”

  “I don’t intend to press charges,” Declan said. “But...”

  “Actually, he was only verbally harassing you,” Jager said. “Witnesses say you tried to attack him. If someone can sue, it’s Hanson.”

  “Defending your uncle, I see,” Declan said, with a curl of his lip. “Did he pull some strings to get you stationed here?”

  “Not that I’m aware of, no.” Corporal Jager kept his cool. “As a matter of fact, I think he was quite keen that I not be posted here.”

  “Well it's certainly convenient how you keep rescuing him,” Declan said. “Even when Boyd was murdered you were defending Hanson all the time, right?” He looked at Victoria. “I’ve heard Victoria here gave you a piece of her mind.”

  “Oh that she did.” Corporal Jager said. “Are you planning to give me one too? I don’t think you can afford it.”

  “That’s very unprofessional of you.” Declan colored.

  Jager got up, taking his notepad and pen with him. “Thank you for cooperating, I’ll call you both if we need anything.”

  “You will file a report about the missing CD, right?” LeeLee asked.

  “You’d have to come down to the police station if your house was broken into.” Corporal Jager said. “For now, I’m going to ask Mr. Hanson some questions.”

  Staying behind, Victoria turned to speak to Declan and LeeLee.

  Chapter 7

  “Is this about your payment?” LeeLee said irritably. “If it is, you can just go away. I have no time for things like that right now.

  “I wanted to see how you liked the food yesterday,” Victoria said. “I also wanted to tell you that it was an absolute honor to be serving at your party. I’ll bet the ancient emperors of Rome would be proud of this one.”

  Immediately, LeeLee softened, blushing and laughing. So Steve had been right, after all, Victoria thought. LeeLee was less concerned about the murder and more annoyed that her grand party had been spoilt.

  “Well, I do have a certain genius for planning these things,” LeeLee said. “It doesn’t come easy. You’re either born with it or you aren’t.”

  “Oh definitely,” Victoria said, flattering her shamelessly. “It’s a kind of aesthetic genius to plan the right party. I feel like it was the best catering job I’ve ever had the pleasure of doing.” This last part wasn’t entirely a lie. Victoria had indeed felt very happy with her work.

  “I have to write you a check, don’t I?” LeeLee, still beaming, tore out a check and signed it. “There you go. Full, with a little bonus on top.”

  “Thank you!” Victoria said, delighted.

  Declan, next to LeeLee, was looking a little upset. “Well, I suppose the food was alright. There was a senator who told me the drinks felt a little watered down.” He gave her a suspecting look, and Victoria resisted the flare of temper she felt.

  “Oh if it’s Senator Dashwood, everything tastes watery to him because he’s used to gulping down Vodka by the bottle,” LeeLee said. “Victoria’s a very honest woman.”

  “Of course, she is,” Declan said, looking grumpy still.

  “In fact, I wanted to ask you if you’d consider catering at our wedding, Victoria dear,” LeeLee said. “Declan and I are planning a wedding three months from now.”

  “Oh.” Victoria cringed. So were Steve and Amanda. “When would that be?”

  “The dates aren’t fixed yet,” LeeLee said. “But we’re thinking of doing it right here in the charming historical town chapel. I love Larch Hot Springs, you know. It’s one of the most beautiful towns I’ve ever been to. I never had a home, what with growing up in an orphanage. But I used to watch movies and wish that I could be part of a small town one day. Of course, I also wanted to be part of expeditions, of big city parties, and of political powerhouses. I was a very imaginative young child.”

  “You’re still very imaginative,” Victoria smiled. “Most people lose that when they grow up.”

  “Oh, but there is no success in a creative field if you can’t keep the child inside you curious and hungry,” LeeLee said.

  “I’ve often thought that myself,” Victoria said.

  “Tell me, dear, is it true that you once wrote true crime novels?” LeeLee asked.

  “My husband did most of the work, but I was a co-author,” Victoria said.

  “I think I read one of yours about a serial killer who was obsessed with gardening his venus fly traps.”

  “Ah yes. The Greenhouse Garrotter.” Victoria said. “He was a nasty man.”

  “Do you think…” LeeLee said. “If a person around you were plotting a murder or had committed one, do you believe you would recognize it? In their eyes I mean?”

  Victoria shook her head. “Unlikely.” She said.

  “Why not?”

  “Humans aren’t just one thing, that’s why not,” Victoria said. “I’ve known men who were out and out cruel to everyone they could meet. They were products of truly terrible environments. I interviewed a spree killer once who had killed his mother, his brother, his sister-in-law, and his seven nieces and nephews. By all accounts, the man was just a humble salesman, so meek he could barely ask for a raise. Yet something spurred him to take a gun and shoot down his entire family. No, sometimes a demon comes into a man and makes him commit the most atrocious of crimes. Sometimes, there’s just a vein of cruelty hidden deep within. The only thing we can do, really, is to solve a crime after it’s happened.”

  “Yes,” LeeLee said. She had her fingers steepled under her chin. “Yes. You are right. But did it ever give you a feeling of power? When you figured out who had committed a crime?”

  “I wasn’t a detective,” Victoria said. “Though Michael and I did find evidence that one man was innocent.”

  “Michael?”

  “My husband.” Victoria reminded her.

  “Oh yes. Of course.” LeeLee looked at her. “You loved him very much, did you not?”

  “I did,” Victoria said. “I’ll never forget him, no matter what.”

  “No, you never will.” LeeLee nodded. “But it won’t harm you to move on, to find a new person to love, either.”

  “I have my family.”

  “Family will fill some part of your heart but there’s a void that only a new love can fill,” LeeLee said. “You’ll find out. You’re young still so take advantage of it. That Corporal Jager for instance...”

  Victoria blushed. “We are only friends, Mrs. Brunt.”

  LeeLee laughed. “Oh please. I must be as experienced with romance as you are with crime and I tell you that I can see sparks between people even when they themselves can’t. That man is quite fond of you.”

  Changing the topic, Victoria said, “Why did you wonder if I can spot a murderer?”

  LeeLee looked at her as if surprised she hadn’t guessed. “Because, of course, the murderer must have been at my party last night.” She said. “As the caterer, you had a chance to observe everyone silently. Surely you might have seen or heard something?”

  Victoria shook her head. “I remember seeing the victim yesterday, but no one else. She only drank water. I remember being surprised because everyone else was indulging in champagne.”

  “Ah,” LeeLee smiled. “That’s a big clue, wouldn’t you say?”

  “How so?” Victoria
asked.

  “Isn’t it obvious?” LeeLee asked. “I never touch a drink myself, you know.”

  “You’re saying that this woman was… abstaining because she was once addicted?” Victoria asked.

  “Sounds that way to me,” LeeLee said. “Wouldn’t you think so? But in that case, who was she? What was her motive in coming to my party?”

  Chapter 8

  Pondering over LeeLee’s words the next day, Victoria thought that the case seemed nearly impossible. The sequence of events seemed so unlikely somehow. Almost like something that would happen in a glitzy Hollywood movie. A glamorous woman with no identity, a party that seemed far too lavish for the small town of Larch, a murder on a hidden hiking trail… If she concentrated hard enough, maybe she could...

  “Why?”

  Victoria blinked, and saw Corporal Jager sitting in front of her, a menu open in front of him.

  “Sorry?”

  “Why?” Corporal Jager asked, staring at her.

  “Why what?” Victoria asked back, giving a little nervous laughter.

  “Why are you so interested, for one?” Corporal Jager said. “You have two active children, duties as a maid of honor, a busy restaurant to run, and a home that must need a lot of cleaning. You’ve got more on your plate than the average CEO, really, what with all the decisions you must have to make every day. So why is it that you’re determined to solve this murder?”

  “I’m… what gave you the idea I’m determined to solve this murder?” Victoria asked.

  “Because I saw you with that abstract look on your face once before.” Corporal Jager said. “That was when Boyd was murdered. I have to admit, even though it rankles me, you were the one to solve that case. I was completely clueless.”

  “I’m sure you would have cracked it too,” Victoria said.

  “I don’t care much,” Jager said. “It’s not a competition for me, who solves the case and who doesn’t. But it does interest me that you take time out of your very busy day to try and figure out motives and find clues.”

  “You make me sound like Miss Marple.” Victoria laughed. “I promise you, I’m not a brilliant detective.”

  “No? Maybe not. But you are a natural at connecting seemingly disconnected things together.” Jager said. “Aren’t you?”

  Victoria shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “You’re also good at dodging questions,” Jager said. “Why haven’t you answered mine?”

  “It’s curiosity, that’s all,” Victoria said. “I’m curious about who did it, I’m curious about why a woman wearing a fancy Italian overcoat would hike with no shoes and then throw herself, or be thrown, over the ledge.”

  “You don’t believe she’s a spy,” Jager said. “Do you?”

  “Not really,” Victoria said.

  “Why not?”

  “If she were a spy, I think that whoever killed her would make sure it looked very much like an accidental tourist death,” Victoria said. “As it stands, I believe this is an amateur’s murder. A local has done it.”

  “Well, you can’t be sure,” Jager said. “Alright, so maybe it wasn’t a trained spy who killed our Jane Doe. Perhaps she was a spy herself, and blackmailing a man at LeeLee’s party. What then? Couldn’t he have killed her in a fit of passion?”

  “There are a lot of cliffs in the area,” Victoria said. “A lot of places for a man to throw a woman off if he wants to.”

  “...or she, we’re not sure our murderer is a male yet, or even that there’s been a murder at all.” Jager clarified.

  “Alright, in any case, there are plenty of cliffs in the area. If Jane Doe was to be killed by a guest from LeeLee’s who doesn’t live here, why would he take her up that very specific trail? It’s a tough trail that only locals hike. The trailhead is so well hidden that even though Amanda and I had been told exactly where it was, we couldn’t find it. No, whoever murdered her is definitely a local, and loves to hike.”

  “Well, even if this story is true, and mind you, there’s every possibility it isn’t, every single local I know loves to hike,” Randolf said. “So you’ve eliminated the guests at LeeLee’s party, but left a pretty wide pool of suspects open.”

  Victoria nodded. “I agree. Still, elimination of superfluous stuff eventually leads us to the truth, doesn’t it?”

  “That sounds like something a new age guru would say,” Randolf smiled. “But yes, that’s true. By the way, you still haven’t answered my original question. Why are you so interested?”

  “Do you think I’m a suspect, then?” Victoria asked.

  Jager leaned his head back and gave a short, sharp laugh. “No.” He said, recovering. “No, I don’t suspect you. I’m just asking because I’m curious.”

  “Why?” Victoria asked.

  It was Jager’s turn to look surprised. “Why am I curious?”

  “Yes. Why are you curious about me when you have a very puzzling, potentially unsolvable case on your hands?”

  The Corporal shrugged. “I wish I could tell you.” He said.

  For a moment, neither spoke. The air between them seemed to slowly heat itself. Averting her eyes, Nora poured him a coffee and tried to pay attention to her other customers. Unfortunately, this being two in the afternoon, there was no crowd.

  “I’m curious about you,” Randolf said finally. “And I’m now curious about why I’m curious about you. I’m also curious about why you haven’t answered my original question yet. So far, you’ve just been deflecting me.”

  “I counted four “curious”es in your little speech.” Victoria laughed. “How’s the coffee?”

  “It’s great, can I get some answers with it?”

  “You just don’t give up, do you?” Victoria asked, exasperated.

  “I wish I could. But I don’t think I’d be a very good policeman if I did.”

  “I’m…” Victoria was at a loss for words. “Look, Randolf, it's nothing. I’m bored, I suppose. I love my life very much, but I suppose this is a grand challenge for me. That’s all.”

  “It’s not just a challenge,” Randolf said. “You were emotionally affected by this. People don’t just offer to pay for a stranger’s funeral every day.”

  “I suppose I felt some responsibility for her since I discovered her,” Victoria said.

  “Amanda was there too. I didn’t notice Amanda feel responsible.” He said.

  Victoria shrugged. “I think you’re reading too much into this, Randolf, I honestly do.”

  The door clanged, and Annie came running in, with Ida following closely behind. Behind the girls, Victoria’s Labrador Vanilla was panting and waving her thick tail about.

  “Mom! We did such a cool project in school today! We built a volcano in class!” Annie was laughing and jumping about. “Also, we’re going to have a musical next trimester and I think I want to do tryouts. It’s the Lion King. Ida wants to do tryouts too, but she can’t sing.”

  “I can sing!” Ida said, stung. She proceeded to prove this by singing “The Circle of Life” in as loud a voice as possible, shaking her hands about to add drama. Vanilla, excited by all the noise, began barking and jumping about, her tongue hanging out.

  Randolf sipped his coffee and watched, coolly amused, as Victoria made both the girls slip into a booth and gave them each a glass of milk and a ham and cheese sandwich.

  “I like mine with the crusts cut off.” Ida was saying, and Annie nodding along.

  “Mom used to cut mine off,” Annie said.

  “I think my mom used to cut them off for me too,” Ida said, looking a bit sad. “But I have no memories of her, really, and Dad never likes to talk about it. There’s only one thing I remember. One time she was putting on some makeup. I wanted it too so she placed me on her dressing table and put red lipstick on me. It was beautiful. Bright red.”

  The door clanged again, and Byron poked his head in. “Mom, I’m going over to Trick’s house tonight. Don’t wait up for me, alright? I might just stay with him. His da
d said we can use their garage for band practice.”

  “You be back home by 11:00 p.m.,” Victoria said.

  “Mom, come on. I’m not 12. Please?” Byron rolled his eyes. Spotting Corporal Jager, his smile widened a little and he said, “Hey there Corporal.”

  “Hey, there young Lord Byron.” The Corporal said.

  “Like I don’t hear that every day in first period English,” Byron said. “What say, mom? Can I? Please?”

  “You were supposed to do the hedges this week, weren’t you?” Victoria said.

  “Pleaseeeee. I’ll do all the laundry tomorrow. I’ll even iron.”

  “Deal,” Victoria said. She tossed him a foil wrapped sandwich. “A little snack for the road.” She smiled.

  Byron sniffed it suspiciously. “Oh great, Mozzarella and Basil. I love that. Thanks, mom!”

  The door clanged again as he left, and Randolf smiled at Victoria.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Nothing.” He said. “Both your kids are really sweet.”

  “They’re decent enough.” Victoria said then, her face breaking into a grin, “They’re only the best kids in the world.”

  “But they’re growing up fast.” Randolf said, “They’re growing away fast too.”

  “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “Nothing,” Randolf said. “But maybe it gives me a clue. A clue about you.”

  Chapter 9

  Almost as soon as Corporal Jager left, a very sore looking Hanson walked into the café.

  “Hanson.” Victoria’s mouth flattened into a grim line. “What may I do for you?”

  “Nothing,” Hanson said. “My dear nephew made me come here and apologize for being rude to you the night of LeeLee’s party. So fine. I’m sorry. Please don’t hold it against me.”

  “With a charming apology like that, how could I?” Victoria asked. “What do you actually want, Hanson?”

  “A coffee.” He said. “I hate to say it, but much as I hate you, I’m addicted to your coffees.”

  “It’s a special blend from Sri Lanka,” Victoria said. “One of the finest coffees in the world and only half as expensive as the regular brands.”