Cozy Christmas Murder

by Summer Prescott

  How could someone do this to Mr. Bellington? He was good and kind to everyone he met. He had a giving soul and a huge heart. Miss Lottie had been with him for thirty-eight years. She was there even before he married Patricia and had started their family. Miss Lottie loved Patricia like a daughter, but she had stayed with the family because of Robert. Her heart ached.

  She had her own suspicions of who the killer was. She would ask questions whether the police wanted her to or not. The only way she could pay Robert back for his kindness over the years was to find his killer and that’s just what she was going to do.

  The doorbell rang. Timmer had been sent home, so she had to answer it. She opened the door and greeted the two returning detectives.

  “Is the family back yet?” Piper asked as they stepped through the door.

  “No, they should be arriving any minute now,” the housekeeper answered.

  “Is Robert Jr. still here?” Adams asked.

  “He left quite a while ago. He said it was too morbid and he had to get away.”

  “Did he say where he was going or when he would be back?”

  “No, he told me he’d get back when he got back and stormed out the door,” she said, sadly. “I just don’t understand him anymore. He’s nothing like his dad.”

  A car horn sounded from outside. Miss Lottie opened the door to see the limo had pulled up to the front of the house. James got out and opened the door for Patricia and her two daughters. The girls exited the car and turned to wait for their mother. She wouldn’t get out of the car even with the girls coaxing her to do so. Miss Lottie slipped on her coat, walked to the limo and disappeared inside.

  Several minutes later, both women exited the vehicle and walked towards the house. Patricia stopped just outside and put her hand up on the door.

  “How could this have happened? This house was Robert’s safe-haven from the world. Our family spent so many hours here together,” Patricia lamented.

  “It’s going to be okay, Mom. Lean on me and we’ll go in together,” Kimberly Ann said softly, taking her mother’s arm.

  Patricia let her daughter lead her into the house. She stopped in the foyer when she got her first glimpse of the yellow police tape that blocked off the entrance to the living room.

  “Oh, Robert,” Patricia mumbled through the tears.

  “Come on, Mother. Let’s go into the kitchen,” Vanessa suggested. “Miss Lottie can make us some tea.”

  The group went into the kitchen where the housekeeper got busy making the requested tea. Miss Lottie collected their coats as they all sat down at the kitchen table. Adams and Piper stood off to the side, watching.

  “And you are?” Vanessa asked, staring at the two strangers who accompanied them to the kitchen.

  “I am Detective Adams and this is Detective Piper. We are so sorry for your loss, Mrs. Bellington,” Adams said. “But, we need to ask you some questions.”

  “Really? Do you have to do this right now?” Vanessa protested.

  “Yes, I’m sorry, we do,” Piper answered.

  “Vanessa, they are only doing their jobs. What do you need to know?” Patricia commented, reaching for the sugar bowl.

  “You left the mansion yesterday at seven a.m.?”

  “Yes, James took the four of us to the Boulder Airport.”

  “What time was your flight?” Adams inquired.

  “Our flight was at nine and we landed in San Francisco right before noon,” Kimberly Ann answered.

  “You went directly to your mother’s house from the airport?”

  “Yes, we did,” Patricia replied.

  “Minus your son?” Piper asked.

  “That’s my fault. We got into another stupid fight and he took off mad at everyone,” Vanessa stated. “He never came back to board the plane.”

  “And, he wouldn’t answer his cell phone, either,” his mother claimed. “I don’t know where he is, which is nothing unusual.”

  “He came home today,” Miss Lottie said. “And left again.”

  “Is he okay?” his mother asked.

  “I really don’t know,” Miss Lottie replied.

  “What did you do in San Francisco? Were you all at your mother’s the whole time?” Piper inquired.

  “We ate lunch with Grandma and then each went our separate way to go Christmas shopping,” Vanessa snapped. “You really don’t think that one of us killed my father, do you?”

  “We have to look at all the possibilities,” Adams stated.

  “I was shopping until ten and went home and went to bed,” Kimberly Ann commented.

  “Well, unlike Miss Goody Two Shoes here, I was out until well after three. One of the downtown malls was open all night and I bought lots of scrumptious things that are going to look divine on me,” Vanessa announced. “Oh, I did do some Christmas shopping, too.”

  Miss Lottie gave Vanessa a look of disgust which was noticed by the two detectives.

  “Mrs. Bellington, what time did you get home?” Piper asked.

  “I believe it was sometime after two. I was busy shopping for my husband’s gifts,” she stated. “I always get his gifts in San Francisco when I go to visit my mother.”

  “Did anyone see any of you come in?” Piper questioned.

  “Grandma was up when I got home at ten.” Kimberly Ann commented.

  “Of course, she was,” Vanessa responded bitterly, sitting back and folding her arms over her chest. “Well, no one saw me come in, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t when I said I did.”

  “Just like her brother,” Miss Lottie mumbled, going to get the whistling tea kettle.

  “Excuse me, Miss Lottie. Did you say something?” Vanessa asked, staring the woman down.

  “Nope, not me,” she answered.

  “I didn’t think so,” Vanessa stated curtly.

  “Vanessa, mind your manners,” Patricia admonished. “Are there any more questions? I am getting one of my migraines and it’s going to be a bad one. I’d like to go lie down if you don’t mind.”

  “I need to go unpack and try on my new clothes,” Vanessa said, standing up to leave.

  “That’s all for now. We will have more questions for you, but they can wait until tomorrow,” Adams answered. “Again, we are sorry for your loss.”

  Patricia and Vanessa left the kitchen without another word. They didn’t even drink their tea that had been poured for them. Kimberly Ann walked over to the yellow tape that blocked the door between the kitchen and the living room. She turned with tears in her eyes.

  “Mr. Adams, what happened to my dad?” she asked.

  “Do you really want to hear this, honey?” Miss Lottie asked her.

  “I need to know,” she answered, squaring her shoulders.

  “As far as we can tell, it was a robbery gone bad. The safe behind the bar was emptied and he was found on the floor in front of it. The medical examiner thinks he was hit on the head as he turned around,” Adams explained to the daughter.

  “How did they get in the house? They must have known my dad,” Kimberly Ann reasoned.

  “That is one possibility, but unfortunately the pool dome door was open and someone could have entered that way,” Piper replied.

  “So, it could have been anyone,” she sighed.

  “Miss Bellington, do you know how much cash your dad kept in the safe?”

  “There was always at least half a million dollars in there, but I’m not sure about an exact amount. My dad liked to be prepared in case of an emergency.”

  “Do you know what else the safe contained?” Piper asked.

  “No, but I’m sure my mother would know. Were my mother’s Christmas gifts stolen as well?”

  “How did you know about that?” Adams asked.

  “I knew about her gifts every year. My dad told me and no one else. I could keep a secret and he always asked my opinion about what he was ordering. Mr. Tagnello was supposed to deliver the jewelry last night,” Kimberly Ann stated.

  “He did and
yes, they were also stolen,” Adams confirmed.

  “My dad’s last gifts to my mom and now they are gone,” she said, her shoulders drooping again. “Do you have any idea as to who did this to my dad?”

  “We have several suspects at this time. We are still investigating, but we will let you know as things progress,” Adams promised.

  “Miss Bellington, if you knew about the jewelry, did you know about the bust of your mother that the jewels were to be displayed on for Christmas Day?”

  “No, I’m sorry. I don’t know what you are talking about,” she replied. “I thought dad had ordered a crystal case to put the gifts in.”

  “Miss Lottie, did you know that there was supposed to be a bust of Patricia in with the hand?”

  “I didn’t know anything about anything,” she answered confused.

  “I told you, my dad never confided in anyone but me. May I go lay down now? This has been a very tiring day,” she asked quietly.

  “Yes, and thank you for all your help. We will catch who did this, I promise,” Adams stated.

  “Miss Lottie, can we speak to you for a moment before we leave?”

  As soon as Kimberly Ann was out of the room, Adams continued.

  “We spoke to Thomas Tagnello and he was here last night. He was the one who told us about the bust of Patricia. Can you think of anyone who would want to steal the bust?”

  “Not off hand,” she said, not telling the detectives her suspicions about Angie Simmons.

  “If you can think of anyone or you find the bust, please give us a call.”

  “Please ask Mrs. Bellington to make a list of anything that she can remember that was in the safe. We have to know what was stolen besides the cash and the jewelry.”

  “I will have her complete a list tomorrow and call you,” Miss Lottie replied.

  “I am going to send a fingerprinting expert here to print the family members and all the staff. We need to rule out those sets of prints and isolate unknown prints at the crime scene. She will arrive at eleven o’clock tomorrow morning. Please try to make sure that even Robert Jr. is here, as hard as that may be to accomplish,” Adams requested.

  “I can’t guarantee anything,” she replied.

  “Just try your best,” Piper said, smiling. “We’ll be in touch.”

  Miss Lottie cleaned up the kitchen before retiring. The staff would return tomorrow and funeral arrangements would have to be made. The police would be in and out and it was sure to be a stressful day for all who resided or worked in the house.

  She retired to her room and kicked off her shoes. Turning on the small night light on her vanity, she walked over and opened the balcony doors that over-looked the backyard and the pool. She needed some fresh air to clear her mind.

  For her age, she still had her wits about her and a good deductive thought process. It had come from many years of reading and watching mysteries on television. She needed to go through the steps and make a list of suspects. She grabbed a notebook and pencil and took a seat next to the now closed balcony doors.

  Opportunity; she listed herself, James, Robert Jr., Angie Simmons and Thomas Tagnello.

  Motive; this list was longer. A scorned Angie Simmons was at the top of the list followed by Robert Jr., Vanessa, and any business CEOs that had been bought out or taken over by Bellington Computers. Angie was on this list for love, but the rest were there because of the billions of dollars that made up the Bellington empire. Tagnello didn’t have a motive as he would have made more money with Robert Sr. alive.

  Means; any of the above had the means if they had the trust of Mr. Bellington.

  Miss Lottie flipped the pencil back and forth between her fingers and started thinking about the bust that was missing. She stared out the balcony doors. The moon had come out from behind the line of trees that framed the manicured yard. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a dark figure running towards the pool area. She dropped her pencil and ran for the kitchen to get a better look.

  CHAPTER 7

  * * *

  Miss Lottie hid herself in the corner of the kitchen next to the French doors that led into the pool area, phone in hand. The perimeter lights of the pool lit up the area enough that the housekeeper could see what was taking place. The figure ran up to the dome door and looked around. A second figure joined the first one.

  The pool door was unlocked and Robert Jr. stepped into the lit area followed by Angie Simmons. They both had on swimsuits and looked like they had been drinking.

  So, that’s how it is. You couldn’t get the father and his money, so you go after the son. I’ve seen enough.

  The housekeeper hustled back to her room not wanting to be seen spying on the two at the pool. She picked up her list and circled Angie and Robert Jr.’s names, placing them at the top of her suspect list.

  Robert Jr. was greedy enough to want to get rid of his father for the money. His mother was more of a pushover and that would give him easier access to the money he so craved for his lavish lifestyle.

  Miss Lottie was just thankful that Patricia’s suite was on the other side of the house and that she would not be subjected to what was happening in her pool.

  She put the small notebook in her nightstand drawer, shut off the light, and fell asleep with the terrible pool image she had just witnessed running through her head.

  The kitchen was in full swing when Miss Lottie entered it the next morning. She smiled, watching the staff accomplish their everyday tasks. It was nice to have everyone back.

  Breakfast was ready to be served at eight, but none of the family had come down out of their rooms yet. Kimberly strolled in at eight-fifteen and informed Timmer that she had spoken to her mother who had requested that coffee and toast be sent to her room.

  Vanessa showed up shortly afterwards, dressed in new clothes from head to toe, and plopped down in her chair. She sent the maid to get what she wanted from the buffet as she couldn’t be bothered to get up and get it herself. She picked at her food, complaining the whole time and finally pushed her plate away stating that she was going to the club to show off her new clothes.

  “You have to be back by eleven. The police have requested that all the family members and staff be here to be fingerprinted,” Miss Lottie said. “You’re lucky; because of who your father was, the police are not dragging the family down to the police station. They are allowing it to be done here.”

  “Fingerprinted! I’m not allowing that. It will get black ink all over my newly manicured nails!” Vanessa yelled.

  “Oh, Vanessa, do calm down,” the housekeeper ordered. “They have a new machine that takes pictures of your fingertips without using any ink at all.”

  “Don’t you want to find out who killed dad?” Kimberly Ann asked, fed up with her sister’s attitude. “Don’t be such a jerk; just be here like you’re supposed to be.”

  “Says the favorite child,” Vanessa said, throwing back her head in defiance.

  “Eleven o’clock, Vanessa,” Miss Lottie warned.

  “I’ll be here,” she said, leaving the dining room in a huff.

  “Sometimes, Miss Lottie, I don’t know how I am related to my brother and sister. We are nothing alike,” Kimberly Ann observed.

  “I know, honey, I know,” Miss Lottie said, hugging the young girl. “You stay just the way you are, okay? They’ll get theirs in the end, don’t you worry.”

  The front door closed with a bang. Robert Jr., hungover and in the same disheveled clothes that he had worn the day before, plunked down in one of the chairs demanding breakfast be served to him.

  “Get up and get it yourself,” Kimberly Ann replied.

  “You’ve been hanging around with her too long,” Robert Jr. said, through clenched teeth, glaring at Miss Lottie.

  “This has nothing to do with Miss Lottie or who I hang around with. This is all on you. Look at yourself, you’re a mess. Drinking again and probably out with some girl all night. Dad would be totally not happy with you right now.”
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  “Well, Dad’s not here is he? Never mind, I lost my appetite,” he said, standing.

  “The police will be here at eleven to fingerprint the family and staff. Be here in the dining room by five of,” Kimberly Ann ordered her brother.

  “Whatever…” he mumbled, walking away.

  “I mean it, Robert! Be here or I’ll send the police to your room to come get you,” she threatened.

  “Thank you for telling him. He hates me and I’m sure if I had told him it would have resulted in a big fight,” Miss Lottie stated.

  “No problem. I’ll tell Mom when I return upstairs,” she replied. “It feels like I’m the only one around here that wants answers.”

  “I do, too, honey, I do, too,” the housekeeper said, clearing the dishes.

  At eleven o’clock, the fingerprint expert arrived along with Detective Adams. Mrs. Bellington, Kimberly Ann and the entire staff had assembled in the dining room. Vanessa and Robert Jr. were nowhere around.

  “Kimberly Ann, go get your brother, please,” her mother asked. “Where’s your sister?”

  “She went to the club to show off her new clothes. I told her to be back at eleven,” Kimberly Ann answered. “Can’t we send Detective Adams up to get him? He’s going to yell at me and god knows what else.”

  “I will get Robert Jr.” Timmer offered.

  “Thank you, Timmer. Tell him I said to get down here now.”

  “Mrs. Bellington, when the staff is done, I would like to speak to you and your children in private,” Adams requested.

  She shook her head yes.

  “Miss Lottie, could I have some tea? It seems this is going to take a while,” Patricia said, closing her eyes.

  They had almost finished fingerprinting the staff when Timmer returned with Robert Jr. in tow. He did not look happy at being pulled out of bed after being up all night. The butler was the last one of the staff to be printed upon his return and then they were all dismissed.

  Vanessa came waltzing into the dining room at noon.

  “You were told to be here at eleven,” her mother stated.