03 Murder by Mishap

by Suzanne Young

  “We will,” Edna said as he turned toward the mudroom to retrieve his coat. “And you’ll let me know if you find out anything about Goran?”

  She thought again of the envelope lying in her desk drawer, but as before, decided to say nothing about it. If Jaycee didn’t show up by the end of the day, she might think more seriously about showing it to Charlie, but for now, he was right. There was no reason to suspect anything sinister had occurred.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “What will you do today?” Edna asked Starling when Charlie had gone. The question was mostly for conversation and to distract herself from the myriad of unsettling thoughts galloping around in her head.

  “If the rain ever lets up, I might drive along the coast and photograph the waves. I’d love to get some decent shots of spindrift, but that depends on the wind, of course.” Walking to the sink, she looked out the window and sighed. “It doesn’t look like it will clear any time soon. I guess I’ll go upstairs and work on my laptop for a while.” She turned quickly to face Edna. “I wasn’t thinking, Mom. If you’re going to drive to Aunt Peg’s, would you like me to go with you?”

  “No, dear. Thanks, but I’m not certain Peg will even want me to visit. Geoff was still there when I spoke to her this morning, so she’s not alone. I’ll read for a bit and, if I don’t hear from her first, I’ll call her later to see how she’s doing.”

  Edna put a disc of Chopin piano music on the player in the living room and had just settled in her chair by the still glowing fire with her knitting when the phone rang. It was Peg.

  “How are you feeling,” Edna asked.

  “I’m better, thanks.” Peg sounded only slightly less tired than she had earlier.

  “Is Geoff with you?”

  “He left a few minutes ago.”

  “Would you like company? I could drive up.”

  “You’re a true blue friend, Ed. What would I do without you?” Peg paused briefly, as if to consider Edna’s offer, then said, “If you don’t mind the drive to Providence again, I’d love your company. I want to start organizing Virginia’s belongings, but I don’t relish the thought of going through her rooms by myself. I spoke with her sister this morning. Janette lives in New Hampshire. She and her husband will drive down as soon as we know when the body will be released, and we’ll talk about funeral arrangements then, too.”

  “Did she have relatives other than her sister?”

  “A nephew and a niece and three or four cousins, I think. Janette is going to notify the rest of the family.”

  “Do you need boxes for Virginia’s belongings? I think we still have a stack out in the garage left over from our move last year.”

  “That would be nice. I’m sure I’ll need them. We can only guess at what Janette will want to keep and what she’ll want to give away, so we’ll have to organize and label carefully--which means lots of boxes.” Peg sounded as if she were getting tired just talking about what needed to be done. “When can you get here?”

  “I’ll leave at once and should be there in less than an hour.” After ending the call, Edna went upstairs to let Starling know she was leaving.

  “I’ll call if I won’t be home for supper,” she told her daughter.

  “And I’ll call you if I get Charlie to take me to dinner. He owes me a few evenings for all the dates he’s cancelled.” Starling gave a crooked smile. “I’m not holding my breath, though. Two nights off in a row is rare for that guy.” More somberly, she added, “Give my love to Aunt Peg and tell her I’m so sorry about Virginia.”

  Edna nodded, hugged her child and headed to Providence for the third time that week. She was grateful to notice the rain and wind lessening as she drove farther north. She made good time and was at Peg’s doorstep in forty-five minutes.

  Looking pale and drawn, Peg let Edna into the house and, after a long hug, the two friends went through to the kitchen.

  “I made tea,” Peg said, placing both hands on the kitchen table and lowering herself onto a chair. She had dark circles beneath her eyes, and her brow was creased with concern.

  Edna was alarmed, sensing something besides grief in her friend. Removing the cozy from the tea pot, she sat and began to pour as she waited for Peg to speak.

  “The police called about twenty minutes ago,” Peg began, staring at the stream of hot liquid cascading into her cup. “They said Virginia was poisoned.”

  Edna frowned, confused. “That’s what you’ve thought all along, isn’t it? Food poisoning?”

  “Apparently what they found is not typical food poisoning. The medical examiner discovered a toxin in her blood that’s similar to snake venom.”

  “Snake venom?” Edna was skeptical. “Where would snake venom have come from? There aren’t any poisonous snakes native to Rhode Island. When could she have been bitten, and wouldn’t she have said something to you?” Edna shuddered at the thought of snake bites and considered the garden. Maybe Goran had stirred up a nest with all the tilling he’d been doing.

  Peg broke into her thoughts. “It wasn’t an actual snake bite. The poison is something that acts in the body like snake venom, they said.”

  “What exactly does that mean?”

  Peg shook her head. “They didn’t go into detail, only told me not to touch anything in her rooms. The police are sending a forensic team to go through everything.” She pulled a handkerchief from the pocket of her slacks and began to dab at the tears welling in her eyes. “I don’t understand any of this. How could Virginia have been poisoned, and in this house?”

  Edna reached across the table to put her hand on Peg’s arm. “Have you eaten today?”

  Peg shook her head before blowing her nose. “I don’t think I could hold anything down.”

  “What about soup? Shall I heat some for you?”

  Peg shrugged and gave Edna a weak smile. “I know you’re right. Maybe a little soup will be good. Thanks, Ed.”

  Opening the pantry door, she noticed an apron hanging on the back. Plucking it off the hook, she draped it over her head and tugged on the sash to tie it behind her waist. As she did so, she felt something hard bump against her thigh. Reaching into the pocket, she pulled out Virginia’s red rosary. It was made of seeds, Edna realized, and not ceramic as she had supposed when she’d seen it in Virginia’s hands a few days before. Each scarlet seed had a jet-black spot on one end. She turned toward Peg, studying the strand as something began to nag at her subconscious, but before she could bring the thought into focus, Peg’s question distracted her.

  “What have you found?”

  “Something you’ll want to put with Virginia’s things,” Edna answered, striding to the table, her hand outstretched with the rosary dangling from her fingers.

  Peg was reaching for the rosary when a faint noise caused her to look behind Edna, and her eyes widened with surprise. Edna swung around to see Stephen standing in the doorway to the dining room. In three long strides, he crossed to her and took the rosary before she could either move or object.

  “We’re seeing a lot of you lately,” he said, gazing briefly at the red necklace, as if it held little interest. Switching his gaze to Edna, he slipped the rosary into his coat pocket before moving to the coffee pot on the counter beside the stove. Neither woman spoke as they watched him take a mug from the cupboard above the machine and pour himself some coffee. He then turned and rested a hip against the oven door. Arms crossed and mug balanced in the crook of his elbow, he stared at Edna as if waiting for an explanation of her presence. His expression was placid, the rosary apparently forgotten.

  Before Edna could recover her astonishment at Stephen’s arrogance, Peg spoke. “What are you doing home, Stephen? I thought you had a meeting.”

  “The police called. Said they would be going through Virginia’s things, so I rearranged my schedule. I don’t want you to have to deal with them.” His eyes flicked to Peg before returning to Edna. It was as if he were willing her to disappear, as if silently telling her she wasn’t n
eeded now that he was home.

  She stood her ground. “I was about to heat some soup for lunch. Would you like to join us?” She knew she was being impertinent since, technically, it was his home, but she had never thought of the house as belonging to anyone but Peg’s family. It was the Graystocking Mansion, as far as she was concerned. Always was, always would be.

  In the middle of an awkwardly growing silence, the doorbell rang. Stephen dropped his eyes, set his coffee cup on the counter and strode from the kitchen to answer the door. Edna knew it would be the police and was surprised that, instead of leading them through the kitchen, which would have been the usual way to reach Virginia’s rooms, he took them up the front stairs. The two women looked at each other and then at the ceiling, following the sound of heavy footsteps that mounted the three wooden steps leading to what had been servants quarters when the house had been built in the late nineteenth century.

  Edna turned to Peg. “Why would Stephen take Virginia’s rosary?”

  Peg shrugged and seemed resigned. “I don’t know. Maybe he wants to be the one to give it to the police.”

  Deciding not to press the subject, Edna resumed her chore, mixing together and heating a can each of potato and cheddar cheese soups. She put out a plate of saltines, and, as the two friends ate lunch, Peg talked about the early days when Virginia had first come to work for the Graystockings. Each time her quiet chatter was broken by a muffled noise from above, she winced.

  Edna murmured an occasional encouragement during the meal, sensing that Peg needed to talk, but her curiosity had been aroused. At the first opportunity, once they had cleared the table and Peg fell silent, Edna said, “Tell me about the lunch yesterday. Did things go well with the Froissards?”

  “Sort of.” Some color had returned to Peg’s face and she seemed to have perked up a little after eating. Frowning slightly, she took a minute before explaining. “I think Renee was angry with Virginia, although she tried to hide her feelings.”

  “What do you mean? Did they quarrel?”

  “Not exactly. It’s hard to put my finger on.” Peg hesitated and drifted off in thought for a minute. “I sensed that Renee wanted something from Virginia, but Virginia was ignoring her. She could be very stubborn.”

  “If it wasn’t obvious, what makes you think there was anything wrong?”

  Peg shrugged. “There was a tension between them. Renee seemed to be trying to say something to Virginia--kind of a silent communication--but Virginia wouldn’t look at her. Mostly, it was the body language between the two that made me uncomfortable.”

  “Did Guy notice it, too?”

  “I think so, but I can’t be certain.” Peg shrugged. “Maybe it’s my imagination and they were just uncomfortable being back in the house after so long and all that happened.” Her brow creased with thought and she stared at her fingers as they shredded a tissue in her lap. “Renee and Guy arrived shortly before noon. Virginia and I greeted them at the door. Then Virginia went back to the kitchen to finish making lunch while I showed the Froissards around downstairs. I wanted them to see that I haven’t changed the place very much. After the short tour, I took them into the living room and asked if they’d like some cider before lunch. Renee said she’d get it because she’d like a word with Virginia.”

  “Did she seem angry at that time?”

  Peg thought about the question before slowly shaking her head. “I’d say she seemed more edgy or maybe annoyed rather than angry.”

  Edna didn’t think the description sounded like someone intent on murder. “What about Guy? Did he also seem as if he were irritated with Virginia?”

  In answering, Peg continued to walk Edna through the events of the afternoon. “When Renee returned with glasses of cider, she motioned for her brother to go to the kitchen. It was just a small jerk of her head. I caught it out of the corner of my eye, and I don’t think she realized I’d seen her. I was telling him about my plans for the yard, and we were going over the old photographs when she walked in.”

  “So he went to the kitchen?”

  “Yes. He took the tray from Renee and set it on the coffee table, then said she’d forgotten napkins. I said I’d get them, but he said to never mind, he was already up. Renee might have purposely forgotten napkins so Guy would have an excuse to talk to Virginia.”

  “So they were both in the kitchen while Virginia was preparing lunch, but at different times.” Edna spoke the thought almost to herself before asking. “Was anyone else in the kitchen with her?”

  Peg nodded. “I was. I helped with the salad. Goran came in for his lunch while Virginia and I were getting things ready. He finished eating about the time the Froissards arrived, when we went to answer the door.”

  Edna grimaced. “Seems like the kitchen was a busy place yesterday.”

  Peg concurred. “Stephen was here, too. Remember? The Froissards and I were in the living room when he walked in, and I’m embarrassed to say my husband didn’t hide his displeasure over my having company.”

  “I remember you telling me he’d come home unexpectedly. Hadn’t you told him about having guests for lunch?”

  “Of course I had, but he acted as if their presence were totally unexpected.”

  “Do you suppose his surprise was just an act and he came home purposely? Maybe he was curious about old friends of yours.” Or jealous, he’s so possessive of you. Edna did not speak this last thought aloud.

  Peg shrugged. “I’ve given up trying to guess what motivates him. I made the introductions, and he left to let Virginia know he’d be joining us for lunch. That was the big surprise, that he wanted to stay. You know how uncomfortable he is with strangers.”

  Edna thought “uncomfortable” was a diplomatic way of describing Stephen’s aloofness at social events, but she kept silent. Instead, she said, “So at one time or another, everyone had been in the kitchen alone or with only Virginia when the food was being prepared.”

  “I’m afraid so, but I can’t think why any one of us would want to harm Virginia. It’s absurd, some sort of horrible mistake.”

  Edna knew thinking that way was futile. The fact was Virginia was dead, and she’d been poisoned. Edna began to wonder how long Goran had been alone in the kitchen and if she’d get a chance to ask him. Aloud, she said, “What was served for lunch?”

  “Virginia did her usual brilliant job,” Peg’s eyes moistened with memory and remorse. “The plates were attractive and colorful. She made baked chicken breasts with homemade cranberry relish and a salad ... a slaw really, with shredded cabbage and carrots, chopped radishes and walnuts. And she baked cherry cobbler for dessert. One of my favorites.” The tissue in her lap having been torn to bits, Peg reached for a paper napkin in the holder on the table to dab at her sudden tears.

  “So each plate was indistinguishable from the others.” Edna spoke almost to herself as she wondered what was the possibility Virginia had not been the target.

  “Almost,” Peg said. “Virginia’s wouldn’t have had walnuts. She was allergic. They gave her hives.”

  Edna briefly bent her head to mull over what she had learned about the previous afternoon’s activities. When she looked up again, she noticed her friend’s tears flowing in earnest and was about to distract Peg by asking after Cherisse when footsteps sounded on the back stairs.

  Virginia’s rooms were above the kitchen and consisted of a bedroom and a sitting room with a full bathroom between. When the house had first been built, all three rooms had been servants’ sleeping quarters. Peg’s father hired a contractor to convert the middle room into a bathroom when the family reduced the number of live-in staff. The bathroom, in fact, had been a necessity when maids no longer put up with outdoor facilities or bathing in cold water.

  Stairs descended from the bedroom to a narrow mudroom with access to both the yard and the kitchen. A small lavatory had been added off the room, opposite the back stairs, for the convenience of household and yard workers.

  At the moment, Steph
en entered the kitchen from this back entryway, followed by another man. Peg looked at her husband expectantly, but it was the stranger who introduced himself as Detective Ian Ruthers. He was about six feet tall, dressed in black slacks and a herringbone sports coat over a crisply ironed pearl-gray shirt. His maroon tie was plain and neatly knotted. Edna guessed him to be in his mid-fifties and liked the soft baritone of his voice.

  “We’re almost finished upstairs, Mrs. Bishop. I understand our team went through the kitchen last night, so we’ll just have a quick look around and be on our way.” He glanced at Stephen before turning back to Peg. His words were for them both. “I must ask you to keep yourselves available for the next few days. We may have questions, once the lab work has been completed.”

  “Of course,” Peg answered quietly.

  Nodding his assent to Detective Ruthers, Stephen motioned with an upturned palm for the man to precede him into the dining room.

  Before they could disappear, Edna surprised everyone in the room by blurting, “Stephen, did you remember to give Virginia’s rosary to the police?”

  For the flash of an instant, his narrowed eyes held hatred so raw that Edna’s breath caught in her throat. Because of the way they were standing, nobody else would have seen the look and she herself wondered if it had been a trick of the light, the spark faded so quickly. His face looked both innocent and startled when he turned to face the detective.

  “I’d completely forgotten.” He sounded sincere as he pulled the beads from his pocket. “I don’t think an old rosary could be very important.” Holding the scarlet necklace with its silver cross up to the detective, he said, “Do you want it?”

  “Everything’s important at this point, sir.” Detective Ruthers took a small paper bag from the inside pocket of his jacket and held it open to receive the offering. After closing the little sack, he tucked it into a side pocket while he looked curiously at Stephen. Ignoring the look, Stephen turned and led the way out of the room.