by Curry, Edna
I dealt with a dozen email messages, most just sales pitches. A couple of them held forms off my website requesting background checks on people. I did this service on a regular basis for various local employers. I printed them out and put them aside to work on tomorrow. Then Paul called, saying he’d be home around six.
“Nora’s speaking at the Chamber dinner tonight. She especially asked me to come, so I really can’t skip it.”
“Good. I’ll try to make it and surprise her,” he said. “It’s at the usual place?”
“Yes. See you later then.”
Realizing it was already after five o’clock, I knew I’d better get dressed for the Chamber dinner.
I quickly showered and did my hair and makeup, then got into the new dress I’d bought at Marion’s shop. I drove to the restaurant where the dinner was being held, thankful the spring weather had remained balmy. I parked at one end of the long building and got out, careful to watch my step on the sidewalk. I wasn’t used to wearing high heels. Most of the time, I work in either running shoes or flats.
A gentle breeze brought the scent of lilacs blooming from the hedge along the side of the restaurant. I entered the party room the Chamber always reserved for their dinners and stopped inside to get my bearings.
Soft classical music played from the sound system. Many people in party clothes or suits already stood around the brightly lit room holding cocktails. Their voices mingled in a soft buzz of conversation. A couple of long tables down the center of the large room were covered in white linen tablecloths. Red cloth napkins folded in a fancy design stuck out of stemmed crystal water goblets. White china and gleaming silverware sat at each place. Flames flickered in the tall red candles beside red tulips in crystal vases. The delicious scents of fried chicken and a variety of expensive perfumes mingled in the room.
Marion spied me and hurried over and gave me a hug. “Oh, you look fantastic, Lacey! I just knew that dress was perfect for you.”
“Thanks,” I said hugging her back. “I’m glad I bought it. Paul is going to try to make it tonight.”
“Aha. Then you’ll have to be sure to stay dressed up until he gets home.”
“No, I mean he’ll be here for the dinner. Don’t tell Nora, though. He wants to surprise her.”
Marion laughed. “Okay.” She grabbed two cocktails from a passing waiter’s tray and handed me one. “Come on, let’s grab a place and save him a seat at the table, then.” We each claimed a red plush chair at one long table and sat, sipping our drinks. I placed my purse on the chair beside me in our traditional signal to indicate that it was taken.
We’d no more than taken our places when the reporter I’d tried to avoid earlier, Joyce Baxter appeared beside me. She picked up my purse and put it on the table, then pulled out Paul’s chair and plopped her ample behind on it.
“That chair’s taken,” I protested, dismay tightening my throat. I sure didn’t want to talk to her. But it looked like I didn’t have a choice this time.
“I know. I have a seat over there.” She waved a hand toward the other end of the table. “But I just need to talk to you for a minute before they bring out the food.”
I pretended I didn’t have the least notion of what she wanted and remained silent.
“What did you find out from Sheriff Ben this afternoon? I saw you talking to him after they pulled Agnes Simms’ car out of the lake.”
I shrugged. “You’ll have to ask him. You know his rules as well as I do.”
“He wouldn’t tell me anything,” she said in her whiny voice. “I don’t think he likes me much.”
So join the club. I swallowed. “All I know is that it was Agnes Simms’ car. I didn’t see the body. It had already been taken away when I got there.”
“But we can assume Agnes was in her car?”
I shrugged. “You can, of course, assume anything you want to, but I can’t say.”
“Hmm. Can’t or won’t?”
“No comment, Joyce.”
She scrunched her chubby face in a scowl. “So you can’t tell me any more?”
I shook my head and assured her, “I’m sure Ben will issue a press release soon.”
She shot me a disbelieving look and went back to her seat.
Marion leaned over and whispered, “Don’t you really know any more?”
“Sure. But I don’t want to be quoted in her gossip column. She always misquotes me and she’s made me out to be a fool for the last time.”
“So tell me,” Marion whispered.
I leaned close and filled her in on what I knew, concluding, “I think Ben is suspicious about it being an accident, but he didn’t say why. I’m sure we’ll hear more later. He had Patti come to his office to question her tonight. She’s supposed to call me later.”
“Good. Maybe we’ll know more when you hear from her,” Marion said. “Ooh, look, old Mr. Billings is here. He hardly ever leaves his house any more, I hear.” She pointed to a white haired, skinny little man in a pin-striped business suit who’d just arrived. A taller, dark haired man dressed in a similar suit held his arm as they surveyed the room, then moved on to join a small group of stragglers standing nearby who were holding cocktails and had yet to find their seats at the table.
I eyed the pair as a waitress hurried over with a tray of drinks for them. I knew them slightly. “Oh, yes. Harold’s been a lawyer for many years, hasn’t he?”
Marion nodded. “Yes. He was in Minneapolis for years, then when his partner died, Harold and Rolly came out here and opened a practice. They’ve done legal work for half the town and are well liked. But they say Harold has Alzheimer’s now. Rolly hired a live in caretaker for him.”
“So Rolly runs the firm alone now?” I frowned, remembering the emails I’d gotten from the firm always had both Harold and Rolly’s name on them. “I wonder why he leaves his dad’s name on the firm?”
Marion grinned. “Presige, Lacey. It sounds better if people think your office has more than one lawyer working there.”
“I suppose,” I agreed. “Roland is the taller, dark haired guy with a serious scowl on his face. I’ve met him a couple of times.”
“Yes, but remember, he hates being called Roland. Insists on Rolly, even on legal papers, I hear.”
“I like Roland better than Rolly,” I said, biting back a laugh. I watched him pounce on Joyce and she seemed thrilled to huddle with him. I hoped they weren’t talking about Agnes, but knew chances were good that they were. I sometimes did searches for the Billings firm, so couldn’t afford to avoid either of them. I saw Rolly glance my way and steeled myself. He was sure to question me for more details about the sheriff retrieving Agnes and her car from the lake.
But I lucked out for the moment, as just then, the Chamber president grabbed the microphone. “I think almost everyone is here now and our hostess says dinner is ready to be served. So everyone take your places, please.”
As the standing groups obediently moved to the table, the waitresses began passing bowls and platters of food. Luckily, as latecomers, the Billings and Ms. Baxter ended up at the far end of the table from me.
***
Rolly frowned at the announcement of dinner being served, but as everyone began taking their places, he gave in and helped his father to a chair at the end of the long table. Harold’s Alzheimer’s was at that unpredictable stage, where sometimes he was lucid and did very well. Then again, he might be totally confused as to where he was or why he was there. But people still expected to see the senior law partner, so Rolly felt obligated to bring him out in public occasionally. Tonight Harold seemed less confused than usual.
Rolly did his best to hear what was going on with the finding of Agnes’ body in the lake today. She’d been one of their best clients. No doubt he’d be hearing from the sheriff soon. Police always looked into a victim’s finances.
Not that Agnes had let him handle any of hers, but she had made him the executor of her will a few years ago, so he had a vested interest in
how the police regarded her death. Maybe he could get more out of Lacey or that nosy columnist later. He’d have to be careful what he said in front of Joyce though. She often misquoted people and made them sound stupid. He’d wanted to wring her fat neck the last time she’d done it to him.
What had Lacey been doing at the lake anyway? Did she have an interest in Agnes? If so, how or why? He’d never heard Agnes mention the P.I.
Harold spilled his water, causing a small scene and bringing Rolly’s attention back to his charge. A waitress hurried over with a towel and mopped up the water on the table, fussing over Harold and assuring him, “No harm done, Mr. Billings. I’ll take care of it and bring you another glass of water in just a jiffy.” She bustled off and returned in a minute with another glass of iced water.
Harold thanked her with a shy smile and ducked his head, then reached up a shaky, wrinkled hand to smooth back his fluffy white hair.
Rolly sighed. His father had always had an eye for the ladies and they obviously still liked him. Damn. There was Lacey’s trucker friend, Paul, who always stuck to her like a burr. He’d never get her alone to question her now. He’d have to try pumping Joyce and hope for the best this time. Maybe she wouldn’t quote him at all. He didn’t have to tell her Agnes was their client. After all, there was no reason Joyce should assume that.
***
We turned our attention to eating. Paul appeared, gave me a hello hug and then went over to the head of the table to shake hands with Carl and hug Nora who squealed in delight to see him.
“Surprise, I made it for your speech,” he told her.
She rose and hugged him. Everyone around the table grinned at them. Tears blurred my vision as I watched the happy scene.
The story of how Nora had found the twins she’d given birth to as a teen was now part of the town’s legends. She and her husband had never had more children, so they were pleased to have been reunited with Paul. Sadly, his twin brother, John, had been murdered before that, and thus had never known his birth mother. I’d met Paul when he’d hired me to clear him when he was a suspect in that murder. While working that case, we’d found Nora and have been good friends, since.
“I’ll talk to you later,” he told Nora now, and came back to take his seat beside me. A waitress quickly brought him the salad course he’d missed, sending him a nice smile which he returned, of course. That’s one thing about Paul. He has no trouble getting waited on wherever we go. He’s always friendly and cheerful. Of course, being tall, dark and ruggedly handsome doesn’t hurt either.
I clasped his left hand under the table as he began eating his salad. “Thanks for coming.”
He sent me a grin. “No problem. Glad I made it in time for the meal. I missed lunch, rushing to get home in time, so I’m starving.”
I let go of his hand to take the platter of fried chicken Marion passed to me. I was happy to see a thigh, helped myself to it and passed the platter on to Paul. As I knew he would, he found a big hunk of breast meat and took it. We never have a problem with cooking a chicken at our house, because I like dark meat and he likes white. We concentrated on eating our food, then the meeting began and Nora gave her speech.
We could tell she was very nervous at first. Then when she glanced at Paul and me, she smiled and her white knuckles relaxed. Everyone applauded her effort and her ideas for the upcoming Fourth of July celebration and parade. She sat and a long discussion followed.
Finally the meeting ended and people got up to use the restrooms and buy drinks from the bar. Then they stood around in small groups, chatting.
The subject of the day, of course, was the discovery of Agnes Simms’ car in the lake. Joyce had evidently passed the word that I’d been at the scene, and several people questioned me about it. Paul stuck beside me, all ears.
Then Nora came over and said, “You were there when they pulled out the car today?”
I nodded. I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t lie to my future mother in law. “Yes, the sheriff identified it as Agnes’ car and called Patti who called me because I’d been helping her look for Agnes. I told you Patti claims she’s been missing since Friday.”
Nora nodded, adding to Paul, “Lacey came for lunch yesterday.”
“I see,” Paul said. “So that’s how you knew what she was up to.” He turned back to me and sent me a scowl, adding, “You didn’t tell me about this.”
I blushed. I often don’t tell Paul what I’m up to because he worries about me and can’t do anything about it when he’s many miles away, driving his truck. “You saw Patti arrive before you left Monday morning, remember? It was just a routine missing person case, Paul. Nothing to worry you about. Besides, you know I can take care of myself.”
I turned back to Nora. “Yes, Patti identified the body as Agnes.’ Joyce stood nearby, evidently overheard, and gave me a dirty look for not telling her that earlier. Rolly appeared beside her and the two of them again huddled. But several people came up to Rolly and I was happy to see he moved with them back to talk to his father.
“Now you’re in trouble,” Marion said, nudging me to note Joyce’s expression.
“Oh, well, she doesn’t like me anyway. So that’s nothing new,” I said with a shrug.
“I wonder what happened to cause the accident,” Marion said with a frown.
“Well, that place along the lake is just after a sharp curve,” I said. “I suppose she could have been going too fast and didn’t make the curve.”
“Could be,” Nora agreed. “But I’ve ridden with Agnes. She’s usually a very careful driver. And she was so proud of that new red Acura. She took extra care driving so as not to damage it.”
“I’m sure the sheriff will figure it out,” I said, not wanting Joyce to misquote me as saying that was what had happened. Especially when I remembered he’d said her house would be a crime scene and for Patti to stay out of it. But I didn’t tell them that, either. “Sheriff Ben and his deputies were taking lots of pictures at the scene.” I sipped my cocktail, keeping my gaze on my glass. Both Nora and Paul were very good at knowing when I was hiding something and I hoped neither would accuse me of doing that now.
“Of course Ben will figure it out. He’s a very good sheriff. I love that dress,” Nora said to change the subject. “She looks lovely in it, doesn’t she, Paul?”
“Very lovely,” he agreed, winking at me over the rim of his glass and making me blush again.
“Thanks. Marion picked it out for me,” I admitted.
After another half hour of chit-chat, people started to leave and Paul urged me to do the same.
He followed me to my house in his car. The blacktopped road to my house on the lake is winding, dark and lined with evergreen trees. My headlights seemed to make a yellow tunnel of light as I drove along it.
As I turned into my yard, my headlights picked up Patti’s blue Honda parked at my door.
“Darn,” I said. “Why couldn’t she have just called?” I wanted to jump into bed with Paul, not deal with a client. She sat on my steps, waiting for us, wiping away tears with the back of her hands, and managed to give me an apologetic smile. Oh, well. She’s here now. Might as well get it over with.
Patti glanced at Paul and said, “I’m sorry to interrupt your evening. But…”
“That’s okay, come on down to my office,” I said.
Scamp barked a welcome at Paul and wriggled happily, dancing around him. Paul sent me a look that meant, ‘I’ll take care of him while you deal with your client.’ He took Scamp’s leash from the hook on the entrance wall and took him outside for his run along the lake.
Patti and I went down the stairs. I turned on my office lights and waved her to a chair, then sat opposite her at my desk. Would she tell me she no longer needed my services?
“So what did the sheriff have to say?” I asked.
She sniffled and I shoved the box of tissues I keep handy for upset clients toward her. She blew her nose. “He asked all kinds of questions.”
; “About what?” I asked with a frown. My stomach tightened as I remembered the sheriff had ordered her to stay out of Agnes’ house.
“Where I was the past couple of days. Who I talked to and who saw me. When was the last time I actually talked to Agnes. When I’d last been to her house.” She glanced at me. “I had to tell him we’d both been there yesterday, Lacey. I’m sorry. He acted like I’m a suspect, or something.”
“A suspect of what?”
“He said that was no accident. Somebody shot out one of the front tires of her car so Agnes would lose control and go into the lake. Oh, this is so awful! Who would do such a thing? And why?”
My heart seemed to flip-flop into the bottom of my stomach and the dinner I’d eaten threatened to come back up. I swallowed hard to avoid that. “Agnes was murdered?”
Patti twisted her tissue into shreds and bobbed her head up and down. “He thinks so. Said nobody could have shot her tire by accident. It’s not hunting season or anything.”
This changed everything. I usually deal with simpler, safer things, like background checks, cheating spouses and suspicious spouses, not ones carrying guns. True, I have a gun myself, right in my office desk drawer, but that’s usually where it stays unless I’m going to the firing range to practice a bit. And Ben was not going to like me being involved in a murder case again.
“But why does he suspect you?” I said, now, puzzled.
“Because I wanted him to file a missing person’s report on Monday and nobody even knew she was missing yet, then. So he thinks I must know more than I’m telling him.”
“Do you?” I frowned at her. I, too, had gotten the impression she wasn’t being honest with me. I’ve gotten quite good at reading people and she seemed evasive at times. Was Ben right?
But she looked up at me with wide blue eyes now, trying her best to appear innocent. “Of course not. If I knew where she was, why would I hire you to find her? I could have just stayed in Chicago and waited for someone to find her and call me about it, couldn’t I have?”
True. I swallowed and fidgeted in my chair. But something wasn’t right here and I didn’t like this one bit. “So where do we go from here?”