“Then we’d better be going,” Moose said.
As we were walking away, I asked Moose, “That was interesting, wasn’t it?”
“I imagine Rob will pay a great deal less for an empty lot than he would have for the entire bakery,” he said. “Could he have been that cold blooded just to expand his business, though?”
“Why not? If Barry wasn’t cooperating, maybe he figured that his heir might.”
“That’s assuming that Mike gets everything now,” Moose said.
“Who else could it go to? I doubt that Barry left it to any of his girlfriends.”
“You never know,” Moose said as he looked around. “By the way, where did Mike go?”
I pointed to the lot next door, now a leveled charred ruin. “He’s right over there.”
“I feel kind of bad pouncing on him like this when he’s clearly in mourning,” Moose said.
“If it makes you too squeamish, you could always wait in the truck,” I told him.
“I don’t feel that bad about it,” Moose said. “Let’s go have a talk with our last suspect and see what he has to say for himself.”
“Mike, do you have a second?” I asked the man softly after he failed to see Moose and me approach. Despite what I’d said to my grandfather earlier, I wanted to handle this as delicately as possible. After all, if Mike hadn’t had anything to do with his brother’s murder, the last thing he needed was someone accusing him of being involved, especially just after it had happened.
“What do you want?” he asked, clearly distracted by the remnants of his brother’s former business.
“I know it’s not easy, but we need to know something,” I said.
“Listen, can’t you two leave me in peace? I just lost my brother. We had an argument last night, and I said some things that I regretted almost instantly. I was going to apologize to him today, but now I’ll never get the chance. Can you even imagine how that makes me feel?”
I was about to comment when my grandfather did it for me. “Was the fight about the money you owed him?”
I looked at Moose and shook my head, but he just shrugged. He was right. I’d been about to back off completely, but we couldn’t afford to do that, especially not given the sheriff’s timeline for calling in outside help. I knew that a state police inspector wouldn’t be nearly as forgiving of our investigation as Sheriff Croft was.
“What money are you talking about?” he asked. “I didn’t owe my brother a dime.”
“That’s not what he thought,” Moose said.
Mike pivoted around and stared hard at my grandfather. To his credit, he didn’t even flinch as he faced Moose down. “That’s a lie.”
“Show him the picture, Victoria,” Moose told me.
“What picture?” Mike asked.
I got out my phone and found the photo I’d taken of Barry’s bank statement. It was tough to see what he’d written beside it, so I tapped my phone and enlarged the photo. “If you still can’t read it, let me do it for you. It says, and I quote, ‘Get the money Mike owes you. Just because he’s your brother doesn’t mean that he can bankrupt you.’ That’s his handwriting, isn’t it?”
Mike stared at for a few seconds, and then he looked away. “So what? That doesn’t prove anything.”
“You’re kidding yourself,” Moose said. “That’s motive enough for murder right there, not to mention the fact that you’re most likely going to inherit everything your brother had.” My grandfather was guessing, but it was a likely enough scenario.
Mike just laughed, though there was an empty ring to it. “Do you think it’s a prize inheriting my brother’s estate? The way things look right now, there are more debts than assets. All I’m going to get from this is one big headache.”
“What about this property?” I asked him. “Isn’t it a part of his estate? It’s got to be worth a small fortune all by itself.”
“In the end, that’s the only thing that’s going to save me,” Mike said. “I hadn’t realized it, but he put the deed in both our names when he bought the business. I had a small slice of the bakery and I didn’t even know it. Thankfully, it’s not part of the estate at all, since there’s a survivorship clause. It was Barry’s way of reaching out to me.” As he said that last bit, Mike’s face clouded a little, as though he’d instantly regretted sharing that particular tidbit of information with us.
“Do you expect us to believe that you didn’t know about it beforehand?” Moose pressed. “If you didn’t, how did you find out about it so quickly now? Your brother’s just been dead for a few hours.”
“His attorney came by to see me,” Mike said. “He wanted me to know the score before I did anything stupid. Barry told him that he didn’t want me to know that I owned a small part of his business. It was going to be a surprise once things really took off.”
“So, he didn’t want you to do anything stupid like selling the land to Rob Bester; is that what you’re talking about?” I asked.
Mike looked at me sharply. “Something exactly like that. The man turned out to be some kind of ghoul, if you ask me. He came out the second I got here and started hammering away at me about selling off this useless land to him.”
“It’s not as useless as he might like you to believe,” Moose said. “It’s a prime location, and there’s a clean slate here now, so it will be easy enough to start over with something new.”
“Probably, but I’m not going to be the one to do it. I just want this nightmare over with.”
“I can understand that,” I said. Rob’s actions didn’t make him all that great of a human being, but it didn’t make him a killer. That was still to be determined.
“We both get it,” Moose added, “but we’d still like to know about that money you borrowed from your brother.”
I could see in Mike’s gaze that Moose had finally pushed him just a little too hard that time. “I don’t have to tell you anything.”
He started to walk away as Moose said, “We might not be able to make you talk, but the police certainly can.”
“Then I’ll save my answers for them,” he said.
Before he could get completely away, I called out, “Where were you this morning when the fire started?”
He didn’t even look back at us as he got into a beat-up old Honda and drove away.
“I probably shouldn’t have asked him for an alibi,” I said.
“Don’t blame yourself. I’m the one who ran him off.”
“Why did you ask him about the money he owed Barry?” I asked my grandfather. “Do you think it’s relevant?”
“It very well could be, but the real reason I asked was because I was curious. Aren’t you?” Moose asked me.
“Maybe, but there were other things we needed to find out more urgently, and now we’ve lost the opportunity.”
“Victoria, I’m sorry about that, but I have a hunch he wasn’t exactly in a sharing mood after he told us about the land. Did you see his face after he let that slip? I’m positive that he didn’t want us to know that.”
“Well, it does supply him with more of a motive for murder, doesn’t it?”
“As if owing his brother a small fortune and not having to pay it back wasn’t enough before,” Moose said.
“Maybe so,” I said. “Have we spoken with all of our suspects?”
“The ones we have so far,” Moose said.
“And where do we stand?”
My grandfather smiled as he admitted, “Right where we usually are at this stage of our investigations.”
“And where exactly is that?”
“Dazed, Confused, Overwhelmed, and Clueless,” he replied.
“That sounds about right,” I said with a grin. “So, what do we do now?”
“I say we go back to The Charming Moose and get a little work done there until something else turns up,” my grandfather said.
“Does that mean that you’re going to work at the diner today, too?” I asked him.
“Heck n
o. I’m collecting my wife and we’re going home. Running a diner is for you young folks.”
“Moose, you could run circles around most people half your age, and you know it.”
He grinned at me. “Maybe so.” It was clear that he loved being complimented on his energy level. “But honestly, I could still use a nap after the day we’ve had.”
“I could myself,” I said, “but I’m not leaving Martha up front any longer than I have to. She’s been great stepping in and covering for me, but right now, you’re exactly right; I belong at the diner.”
“I felt the exact same way myself when I was running the place.”
“I guess it goes with the territory,” I said as we headed back to Moose’s truck and got in. It was a short drive back to The Charming Moose, and honestly, I was looking forward to a little time working there to take my mind off murder. Things had a tendency of getting intense when Moose and I were investigating crime, and it was a nice break when I got a chance to return to my old routines. Besides, I might even be able to come up with our game plan for later if I got lucky. It worked that way sometimes. Actively forgetting about suspects, motives, and clues allowed my subconscious mind to chew on the case while I was involved doing something else. Hopefully this time it would work as well, but if nothing else, at least I’d get a taste of my normal life in the peace and quiet that came with running the diner, even if for a few brief moments.
For now, we’d let all of our suspects simmer a little and twist in the wind without any help from us.
If we could figure out a way to get them all rattled, maybe the killer would slip up and make a mistake. It was worth a shot, anyway, even if it did put our lives at risk.
That was just the admission price to this particular game that my grandfather and I were playing, and we were going to pay it gladly if it gave us a shot at catching a murderer.
Chapter 9
“How’s it going?” I asked my grandmother when we walked back into The Charming Moose a few minutes later. She was back at the job she’d done when Moose had started the diner at the very beginning, and I didn’t know what I’d have done if she hadn’t been available to step in every now and then when I needed her. She’d gotten a little rusty at cashiering over the years, but the more I called on her to help, the better she’d gotten.
“It’s been smooth sailing,” she said with a warm smile that faded slightly as she asked, “Have you and your grandfather had any luck?”
“These things take time,” I answered, parroting the response Moose and I usually had this early in an investigation. “I thought it might be easier given the number of suspects we found from the start, but honestly, it hasn’t done us that much good at all.”
She patted my hand gently. “Don’t worry. Between the two of you, you’ll figure it out.”
“I hope you’re right,” I said, “but in the meantime, why don’t you go on home and get some rest? I have a feeling that I’ll be calling on you again tomorrow, if you don’t mind.”
“I’d be delighted to help out in any way that I can,” she said as she gave up her spot behind the register. “Victoria, are you sure you wouldn’t like me to stay a little longer?”
“I’m positive,” I said as I settled back into my station. “We’ve done all that we can for the moment.”
Moose was listening in. “That’s right, Martha. Besides, it’s nearly four. Jenny will be here soon, and then there will be too many employees hanging around and not enough customers.”
Martha said, “Jenny’s already here.”
Moose looked around. “I don’t see her.”
“That’s because she’s in back. Greg’s making her something to eat, something I’m certain he’d be more than happy to do for us before we go.”
“You know what? That’s an outstanding idea,” Moose said as he started for the kitchen.
Martha grinned at her husband. “Why, because you’re hungry, or because a pretty young girl who pretends to flirt with you is already back there?”
“Who’s pretending?” Jenny asked with a smile as she walked out of the kitchen holding a plate with fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and brussels sprouts with cheese.
“Don’t give him any ideas, dear,” Martha said, matching her grin for grin. “The old wolf doesn’t need a single bit of encouragement as it is.”
“I can handle him; there’s no need to worry about that,” Jenny answered.
Moose looked at them both as he said, “I’m standing right here. You both know that, right?”
“Come on,” Martha said as she put her arm in Moose’s. “Let’s go get an early dinner.”
“Hold on. I’m not finished being offended yet.”
“You can do it just as easily in the kitchen, can’t you?” she asked him.
“I suppose so,” he said as he allowed his wife to pull him into the back.
“I like your grandfather,” Jenny said as she approached me.
“It’s okay to like him, as long as you don’t like him,” I said.
She just laughed. “I’m no competition for your grandmother, and she knows it.”
“Martha does have some kind of spell over him, doesn’t she?” I asked.
“I need to ask her what her secret is, just in case I ever find a man who’s worth keeping,” Jenny said. I could tell that she was more than a little serious, though she’d said it in a joking tone.
“I don’t know if it will help, but I can tell you what she told me before I found Greg,” I said. “Would you like to hear it?”
“Are you kidding? Spill.”
“She told me to find someone who’s worth loving, and then never hold back. You might get a few broken hearts along the way, but in the end, if you’re lucky, you’ll find the love of your life, and when you do, never take them for granted.”
“I’m not sure that I can be so daring with my heart,” she said.
“You’ll have a tough time finding love until you do,” I said.
“Is that what you did with Greg?” Jenny asked softly.
“I got lucky there,” I admitted. “I didn’t have to kiss many frogs before I found my particular prince.”
“I wish that I could say the same,” Jenny said as a few new customers walked in.
“Give it time,” I said. “Would you like me to wait on them? You’ve got a few more minutes before your shift starts.”
“No, I’ve got it. Thanks for the chat.”
“Anytime, Jenny,” I said.
There was a bit of an early rush between the late lunches and the early dinners, and after that, our full evening crowd started trickling in, so I didn’t get much of a break until it was nearly seven, the hour we normally closed.
I rang up our last customer as Jenny started cleaning the tables, and Greg peeked out of the kitchen.
“That last few hours just flew by,” he said. “I love it when we’re busy, with one notable exception.”
“What’s that?” I asked as I started balancing out the register.
“I didn’t get to spend as much time with you,” he said with a grin.
“We’ll make up for that tonight,” I said as I counted the till and checked it against the totals on the report. “I don’t believe it.”
“How far off was your grandmother today?” Greg asked me with a smile.
“That’s just it. The report and the till totals are spot on.”
“Hey, she’s been getting enough practice lately,” Greg said good-naturedly. “Maybe she’s finally getting the hang of it again.”
“Are you saying that Moose and I have been gone too much investigating lately?” I asked him as I filled out the deposit slip.
“Not at all. I know that what you two do when you’re away from the diner is important. I just miss you sometimes. Is that a bad thing?”
“I’d be hurt if you didn’t,” I said as I grabbed him and kissed him. He hadn’t been expecting it, but he didn’t look all that unhappy that I had done it, either.
>
Jenny walked by us and smiled. “Following your own advice, Victoria?” she asked.
“How good could it be if I didn’t?” I asked.
“Am I missing something?” Greg asked.
“Never mind. It’s just a little girl talk,” I said.
“Then forget I even asked,” he said with a smile.
I nodded as I released him. “Jenny, we can finish closing up. Go on and have a good night.”
“You, too,” she said.
I locked the door behind her after she left, and Greg said, “I’m almost finished in the kitchen. Would you like something to eat before we go?”
“As much as I love your cooking, I’m just not all that hungry,” I said. “Are you?”
“I can always eat, but I’m good for the moment,” he said.
After we finished cleaning up, we left the diner, making one stop at the bank for our nightly deposit on the way home. Moose and I had planned to get together in the morning when I took my first break at eight. We’d use my regular three-hour break for our investigation, and if we needed more time, Martha had volunteered to cover for me again at the register and waiting on tables if Ellen needed her. I usually used my breaks to unwind a little, but when Moose and I were digging into crime, it was the perfect opportunity to track down suspects and clues. Besides, I worked the early shift from six until eight, which gave me a start on the day at my real job running the diner.
“How are things going with your investigation?” Greg asked me as we neared out house. “Or is it too soon to say?”
“You know how it goes,” I said as we pulled up into our drive. “We tread water right up until the moment that it all falls into place.”
“I get it,” he said. “I know it’s a bit chilly, but would you like to sit out by the fire tonight and roast some marshmallows?”
“Normally I’d say yes,” I told him as I got out of the car, “but I’ve had more than my fair share of fire today. Do you mind?”
“Heck no,” he said. “I’d be just as happy to curl up on the couch and watch a movie, as long as it’s with you.”
A Burned Out Baker: Classic Diner Mystery #7 (The Classic Diner Mysteries) Page 8