Christmas Caper
Page 14
“Not at all.”
“Did you drag him through earth?”
“I did, yes. I confronted him after I thought the poison would’ve taken affect, but he ran from me. He shouldn’t have done that. I picked him up, but I sort of dropped him when I tried getting him into the wagon. I dragged him back and hoisted him up. How did you know?”
I pointed to the cuff of Oscar’s trousers.
Squinting but not moving forward, he nodded. “You have a great eye. Do you like poisons, Mrs. Westin?”
“Uh…” Was there a good answer to that question? “Sure. I do. As much as anyone, I suppose.”
“That’s nice.”
“That was clever of you. To put him in the maid’s bed.”
Clenching his jaw, he pinned me with a stare, his wild-brown eyes shining with madness. “That was risky, but I figured it was worth it to place suspicion on someone else. Why would anyone think I had anything to do with the death of a philanderer?”
“No, of course not. They’d never have guessed his business partner did this.”
He shook his head. “I’ve been stealing people’s money for years. He thought he could blackmail me? Me?” He started getting angry again then blinked it away. “I shut him up.” He gazed down. “Finally.”
There was the motive. I glanced back at Chris, and he nodded at me. Annie’s grip tightened around the butcher’s knife, and Copra hovered next to her, protective. Focusing back on Waters, I said lightly, “You do realize I have to take you in.”
He tilted his head, intensity still shining from his eyes, the sweat on his forehead glistening. Then his shoulders drooped. “To prison.”
“That would be the best place.” Nothing happened for a few seconds. “You’ll let me arrest you?”
Swinging his hand lazily at the doorway, he said, “I can’t deny what happened.” Then he looked at me in hope. “Can I?”
I shook my head, adopting a tone I imagined I’d be using on my own children one day. “No, you can’t.” I rounded the bed. “So…you’ll let me take you in?”
“Yes, Mrs. Westin.” He shoved a hand through his blond locks. “I’m glad this is over. He had me running around all night. I couldn’t find him! When I found the poker players, he’d just left to get a drink. When I went for a glass of hard cider, he was singing in the parlor. When I got to the parlor, he was dancing with Miss Westin. Never once did he seek me out to confront me. He did it on purpose, Mrs. Westin, avoiding me all night long. Always one step ahead of me. I can’t figure out why. Revenge, I suppose. For my trying to kill him. He’s cold. But I got him.”
I only prayed he was safely locked away when— if—he ever found out I’d pretended Oscar was alive for the sole purpose of catching his killer. I was doing my job, not intending to torment a mad man. I placed my hand on his arm, and he glanced down at it before following me, his head hanging.
Chris tucked his gun away, extracting a pair of handcuffs.
“Mr. Waters,” I said with as much sadness as I could muster. It wasn’t difficult. “Would you be so kind as to place your hands behind you? I’m so sorry to be crass in this matter, but it’s the proper way these things are done.”
“Of course, Mrs. Westin. I understand.”
Chris slapped the cuffs on and whispered, “I’ll take him in. You stay here and continue playing the host’s daughter.”
I considered. “I do want to check on Doris.”
“What happened to Doris?” Annie asked.
I refused to answer, instead saying to Chris, “You can’t go in alone.” Since Waters was listening to every word, I didn’t want to be the one to give him the idea he could fight his fate.
“I’ll go with,” Copra announced.
“And I’ll grab Doug on the way out,” Chris said. “He’s been laying off the liquor in case you needed…” He glanced at Waters. “Something.”
So that’s why Chris was sober. The moment he realized something was up, he’d stopped drinking, too. I took these good men for granted far too often.
“I’ll go find Doris,” Annie said.
I grabbed her by the elbow. “You will stay here. I’ll find Doris.”
“Then who’s guarding Miss Grainger?” Chris asked.
Copra opened his mouth but nothing came out. Then he said, “You stay with Annie, and I’ll find Doris. If she’s unable to come up here on her own, I’ll get Ness to help.” He took off before I could protest.
“He’s a good man,” Chris said.
“So are you.” I smiled at Chris, and he blushed. Then his eyes widened. “Ella, I never gave you that dance!”
“Oh, yes, well, I…” That had been my fault, even though I’d threatened him if he didn’t.
“I’ll come back after I take care of this.” He indicated Mr. Waters with a tilt of his head. “You save a dance for me.”
I was never going to get to bed tonight, was I? Nevertheless, I grinned.
Ness helped Doris up the stairs, even though it was obvious she didn’t need it. Or want it.
“You lay one more helping hand on me, and I’ll knock you down these steps.”
Ness hovered over her but kept his distance.
Doris huffed at me. “This man. How do you stand working for him?”
“Are you all right, Doris?”
“Look what Waters did to me!” She pointed to her other purpling eye, her nose a bit red.
“Now you’ll have a matching pair,” I said, trying to lighten her mood. It didn’t work. She glowered at me then hissed a breath in pain. I winced in sympathy. Annie cooed and led her into her bedroom, where Oscar still lay in repose across her bed.
“I don’t want to stay in here,” Doris said.
“I don’t either.” Annie shivered.
I spent the rest of the evening moving Annie to another room and listening to Doris recount our tale to Ness—leaving out the bits about Oscar Cryer entering the house dead. She still wanted Ness to think she’d been dancing with him. I found my husband passed out on the poker table. Someone had shoved a pillow beneath his head.
Stoker and Peabody were dancing with their wives in the ballroom, though they were so drunk they couldn’t stand upright without assistance. On second examination, I wasn’t sure they were dancing at all. The ladies might have been attempting to carry them across the room and into guest rooms Jasper had made up for anyone who couldn’t leave—which appeared to be nearly everyone.
Seth Cryer had been taken to a private room immediately upon losing his trousers. I hadn’t yet had the opportunity to apologize to him for my part in that social horror. Hope Cryer took residence in the room next to his, and I had a feeling the widow might become a wife after the proper mourning period. In fact, I hoped so, and I wished I’d be invited to the wedding, but after the trouser incident, I wasn’t holding my breath.
I found Jasper smoking outside as a light snow blanketed the land in silence.
“It was a good party,” Jasper said in a voice as soft as the falling flakes.
I couldn’t bring myself to agree, so I sat next to him and watched the flurries.
“Did you have fun?” he asked.
“I did, Jasper. I danced. I ate. I drank. I…talked to people.”
He chuckled, patting my knee, staring across the white land. “This was my first attempt with almost no time to plan. Wait until next year. That’ll be a party to remember.”
Warmth leeched from my body as dread knotted my stomach. I hugged my overcoat closer around my torso, but it did nothing to comfort me.
Chris finally returned, looking exhausted but content. Waters had given him no trouble whatsoever. Copra and Doug had elected to put the horses away so Chris could give me that last dance, thus making my evening complete.
And it was the last dance. Nobody was left in the ballroom, even the musicians had long since retired. But that didn’t stop Chris from taking me in his arms and swaying us to imaginary music.
“This is silly,” I said.
“I want my Christmas present.”
I laughed. “You are released from my threat.”
“Quiet or I’ll threaten you.”
“What could you possibly threaten me with?”
“I will sing.”
I shut my mouth and tried not to laugh as we finished our silent dance.
The next morning, Copra made brunch for everyone. He’d set up tons of food in the ballroom and guests came and went as they pleased. I didn’t know where that man found the energy.
In our dining room, reserved for family and…shall we say permanent houseguests, it was a little too quiet. Doris scowled over her eggs, both eyes spectacular shades of black and blue. When anyone inquired about it, she refused to speak, instead glaring so intently nobody posed follow-up questions.
Joe was still so drunk he simply laid his head next to a bowl of fruit. Copra and Annie displayed unfair amounts of energy and excitement, the only ones of us chatting.
Jasper sat at the head of the table, beaming with pride that his party was so well received and looking forward to next year.
I formulated a getaway plan. Maybe when Joe sobered up, I could start on him to make plans of our own for next Christmas.
Travel plans.
The End
###
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Christmas Caper. I hope you thoroughly enjoyed reading Ella’s latest antics. Please feel free to leave a review anywhere and everywhere about how awesomely fantastic it was and how everyone you know should read it!
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You just might make a potential reader’s day.
(You would definitely make mine.)
Ella Westin Mystery Series
Ella Westin #1
Married To Murder
6,214 words
Three hours before my wedding, I have to prove my groom didn’t commit murder.
Is it too late to elope?
Ella Westin #2
Honeymoon Homicide
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My husband wants me to solve a murder at 4am.
Is it too late to get separate rooms?
Ella Westin #3
Toxic Train
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A passenger is poisoned and it’s up to me to find the killer.
Is it too late to miss the train?
Ella Westin #4
Unpacking the Undertaker
39,929 words
I’m back from my honeymoon and moving into my new home. I unpacked a particularly heavy crate and got a nasty shock. All I wanted to do was put my books on the bookshelf.
Is it too late to close the crate and send it back?
Ella Westin #5
Queen’s Quest
30,644 words
After investigating a supposedly haunted house, I find myself in the midst of a plot to rob the Port Bass Museum.
Is it too late to abdicate?
Ella Westin #6
Bury the Boss
49,254 words
I'm back at work, and my new boss is convinced someone is trying to kill him. He orders me to find out who—but won’t let me leave his side. Now I'm the boss's babysitter.
Is it too late to call in sick?
Ella Westin #7
Christmas Caper
My pirate father-in-law is hosting the biggest Christmas bash Port Bass has ever seen. But when a guest is murdered, my husband is three sheets to the wind, and my boss is enamored with his new romance, it’s left up to me to solve the murder—quietly.
Can I enjoy the holidays while working—without pay?
Ella Westin #8
The Wobbly Westin (COMING SOON)
I was enjoying my leisurely New Year’s morning when a nagging thought made me search for my pirate father-in-law. Then I found him in a compromising position. I did my best not to double over laughing. I really did. When he requested my help with an unusual task, how could I say no? Really, how could I?
Ella Westin #9
A Sister’s Sense (COMING LATER)
The original story won Honorable Mention in the Sisters In Crime Chicagoland Short Story Contest 2017.
I have the ’flu but that doesn’t stop Doris from enlisting my help to solve a murder.
Can I figure out who killed the man Doris stumbled over while not breaking into his house?
Can I stay on my feet long enough to try?
Other Books by Jennifer Oberth
Masked Rider: Origins—128,507 words
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15720829-masked-rider
Ella and Jasper Shorts—Three short stories (Free!)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24813232-ella-jasper-shorts
Georgia Meets Virginia—25,664 words
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15720816-georgia-meets-virginia
Mr. E in Cabin 187—6,693 words
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13727951-mr-e-in-cabin-187
In the mood for some more mystery and humor?
Then you’re in for a treat because Ellie Oberth is releasing Who Murdered the Elf?, the third Hazel Cartbell mystery, just in time for the holidays!
It’s the Christmas season in Andover, New Hampshire. Hazel and Chief Rasmussen must investigate the murder of Santa’s helper. The elf has been killed, the Christmas presents stolen and Sister Marie Catherine is breathing down their necks.
Will Hazel and the chief solve the mystery and save Christmas?
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25878003-who-murdered-the-elf
Check out Directed to Death by Ellie Oberth!
19,902 fun-filled words
Murder enters stage left and new Hollywood star Honey Black’s life fades to black.
Who wanted the young starlet dead? Honey can’t imagine what would cause anyone to end her life. Wanting to solve her own murder, her biggest hurdle is how to communicate with the lead detective in charge of the case.
As the investigation progresses, the detective receives help from two very unlikely assistants.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48585497-directed-to-death
Connect with me!
http://www.JenniferOberth.com
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Smashwords Interview:
http://www.smashwords.com/interview/jenniferoberth
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Disclaimer
This is a work of fiction set in the 1800s. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Real people may appear or be mentioned in the story under their actual names; scenes and dialogue involving them are invented. Any resemblance of imaginary characters to actual persons is entirely coincidental.
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