by Abby Deuel
“That does seem like a foolproof system. Do many people store their guns here?” asked Mandy.
“Quite a few. Some people have one at home and one here. Some people bring theirs here. We like to make it easy for whatever option they choose. Many residents of Crestview have a gun of some sort. It’s part of living in rural Illinois.”
“I see. It sure makes it hard to solve a murder that was caused by a gunshot.”
“Indeed it does. I can’t tell you who has a gun out here, but I can answer yes or no, if you know what I mean,” Doug said.
“I see. Does Dennis have a gun here?”
“No.”
“Does Aaron?”
“Yes.”
“Does Jim?”
“Yes.”
“Well I can see that this probably isn’t going to help. Just about everyone has means, some have motive, most have an alibi. Let’s move on.”
“I can show you our different range areas. The outdoor section is not open at this time. We are doing some maintenance. Clay shooting is one of the popular areas out there. Our three indoor areas include the typical stationary targets. Our newer area has moving targets and is a bit of an obstacle course. People are really enjoying it so we may have more of that sort of thing in the outdoor area as we re-format it.”
“It seems nice. What can you tell me about The Hall of Fame?” asked Mandy.
“We have a competition once a year among the community members. I started it just as a way for people to have some fun. It has turned into quite the focal point and a great source of income right before Christmas. The competition is pretty fierce. Buck and Jim tend to be the main winners.”
“I saw that on the wall of plaques. Do you know of any unfriendly blood between Buck and anyone in particular?”
“Not really. As I said before at the clinic, he owed a lot of people money. Although you’ll probably find the number of people he owed money to is about the same as the number who have guns. I don’t know how to help you there.”
“Thanks for trying. This is just such a mystery.”
“Anytime. I am going to do my rounds and check that everyone is content. Here are ear plugs to protect your hearing if you go into the shooting rooms. Make sure to stay behind the line painted on the floor at all times. I will talk to you later this week to check in on Ronnie,” Doug said.
“Thanks to you, too.”
Mandy looked around a little more. She didn’t find anything out of the ordinary that would help her so she decided to head back to the clinic. She still had most of her lunch hour left. Perhaps she would pay Sonya, the librarian, a visit. Even though the library wasn’t open during lunch, Mandy knew where Sonya lived and she could check on Bubba at the same time. She stopped by the RV to check on Lyle on her way there. Lyle was content but still holding out for the long walk that had been promised.
“Soon, sweetheart. I have one more errand to run and then I’ll be back,” Mandy said to Lyle.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Mandy drove out to the library and parked. Sonya lived in a little cottage out the back with Bubba and her cockatiels, Zen, Zac, and Zoey. Mandy drove since the clouds looked like they might be holding back a rainstorm. She knocked on the little arched door at the front of the cottage, although she hardly needed to announce her presence since Bubba was in the window barking before she even made it out of her Jeep.
“Hi, Dr. Bell. Come in. I was just going to have a rest myself. I have been cleaning all morning in the library. Can I get you a cup of coffee?”
“That would be fabulous. I had a late night and I couldn’t sleep,” Mandy said.
“Poor lass. What’s got your panties in a bind?” asked Sonya.
“Well, I had an emergency last night. Even when I finished that, I just couldn’t seem to rest, knowing the murder has not been solved. Hi, Bubba,” Mandy said as Bubba snuck onto her lap and nudged her hand for some attention. Sonya was in the kitchen getting coffee and cookies together and appeared around the corner with a tray.
“Here, have a fresh cup of coffee and tell me all about it,” Sonya said.
“Thanks so much. This smells lovely,” Mandy said, taking in a long sniff of coffee.
“I never skimp on coffee. I get my fresh roasted beans in the mail. It’s my one major luxury.”
“That is a very good idea. I should try that. Not all coffee is equal, that’s for sure,” said Mandy. “Before I forget, I am going to have a pile of books to donate to the library from Anna’s house. I haven’t finished sorting yet.”
“Oh, that would be wonderful. How is it going with Anna’s house? What are your plans with it?” asked Sonya.
“I am slowly getting through it. But I did have a few questions for you.”
“Sure, how can I help?” asked Sonya.
“Well, I wondered if you could tell me more about the Anna, Buck, and Dennis triangle.”
“That brings back memories. We all had such fun in our younger years. It’s hard to imagine that two of them are no longer with us.”
“It is a tragedy. They were so young.”
“I don’t know very much about Dennis. Buck, on the other hand, kind of turned into a bad seed. In high school, they were all so normal and well-adjusted. Buck seemed to have more trouble as the years went on. He was always in search of easy money, working from scheme to scheme. He could have just settled down and had a steady job like everyone else. That wasn’t his way.”
“Did you know anything about Dennis and Anna buying a house together?”
“No, I can’t say that I do. I knew they were an item on and off for quite some time but they never showed that kind of commitment. Then Dennis left town. He kept in touch with Anna for a while. I never saw him come to visit. That doesn’t mean that he didn’t. Meanwhile, I secretly think that Buck was trying to get his finances squared away so he could win Anna once and for all but he never could get there.”
“Did he ever borrow money from you?”
“Look around. I clearly don’t have much so I think he knew I wasn’t a good option. He never asked. It’s one of the perks of appearing to be a homely little librarian. I hate drama, except in books where I can close the book when I need a break,” said Sonya.
“I can relate with that mentality. It seems to me that it is too much of a coincidence that Buck was murdered while Dennis was in town. I keep thinking it is somehow related to their relationship and feud over Anna. The problem is that I have no proof.”
“I could see Buck murdering Dennis, just not the other way around. Now I haven’t spoken to Dennis in a long time and didn’t even know he was in town. I just can’t see him doing that.”
“In truth, nor can I. Do you know what he might want from Anna’s house? He keeps pestering me that he needs to get something before he leaves town. I just haven’t had a chance to meet him,” said Mandy.
“I can’t think what it would be. Maybe it was something special he had given her as a token of his unending love and he wanted it back?”
“You should write romance novels. I can see in your eyes that you could get carried away in that thought,” Mandy told Sonya.
“I have thought about it but I have never actually done it.” They were each finished with their coffee and cookies.
“If you ever do, I would help you edit it.”
“Thanks. I will keep that in mind.”
“I should go back to the clinic and check on my patients. Plus, I promised Lyle a walk, though the rain may change that,” Mandy said.
“I’m glad you stopped by. I needed a break from cleaning, though I don’t think I was that much help.”
“You were. I just need that final little clue and it will all come together.”
“I wish you luck. Please be safe,” Sonya said.
“I will. And I will bring those books by for you sometime. I may need to come to the library to scour the town’s history for clues in this mystery, too.”
“Anytime. I can help show you our
search engine and the microfilm system.”
“Thanks,” said Mandy. She left Sonya’s cottage to get back in her Jeep. It was just starting to drizzle so the long walk would be only a short sprint with Lyle. She needed to air out her thoughts and a promise is a promise.
She arrived back to the RV to grab Lyle and a light raincoat. Lyle was so excited to be out of the RV that she bounced through the puddles starting to form. They wandered through town, Mandy deep in thought, and Lyle happily prancing. The air was chilly enough that they had to keep a brisk pace to stay warm.
Despite the coffee break at Sonya’s and snack before the range, Mandy worked up a little appetite and they needed a break from the cold drizzle. They entered the Inn and Merv greeted them. At the same time, the smell of something fabulous welcomed them.
“What is that I can smell?” asked Mandy.
“We decided to have some beef stew ready since the weather started to turn chilly. Would you like some?” asked Merv.
“Count me in. Can Lyle have a small tidbit of something?”
“Coming right up.”
Merv delivered the steaming hot bowl of thick stew and some freshly made dinner rolls for dipping and soaking up the gravy. Lyle’s snack consisted of a smaller serving of roll drenched in gravy.
“What are you two doing out walking on a day like today?” Merv asked.
“I’ve been running errands over the noon hour and Lyle was getting stir crazy since she couldn’t be with me.”
“I see. What errands?”
“I was following a few leads on my investigation.”
“Any luck?” asked Merv.
“Not so much. I won’t give up, though.”
“Larry was in earlier and the police don’t seem to be getting anywhere. My opinion is that it was someone who had planned this carefully and had a substantial motive. I don’t think they are the traditional murdering type.”
“That’s pretty much the conclusion I have come to. I just need them to make one tiny little mistake so I can penetrate the mystery.”
“Better you than me,” Merv said. Mandy was enjoying each spoonful of stew while Lyle had already eaten her portion. Lyle was thoroughly cleaning her bowl with delicate licks. “She’s such a good dog. What is her favorite tid-bit?”
“She prefers anything dairy-based; cheese, milk, ice cream, anything creamy and milky. She also has quite a sweet tooth, although I don’t encourage her to eat people food often. It’s just a treat every now and then.”
“We all need a little something now and then.”
“Thanks for having the perfect comfort food to provide nourishment for us after our jaunt. I didn’t realize how hungry I was,” said Mandy.
“You came to the right place for that. Can I get you any dessert?”
“No thanks. I need to go check on the patients in the clinic. And if I keep eating like this, I will need to expand my wardrobe in a bad way.”
“A vet’s work is never done, eh?” Merv said, completely ignoring Mandy’s comment about weight gain.
“You’ve got that right, especially this week,” Mandy said. Mandy and Lyle left the Inn, feeling much better with warm stew in their bellies as they walked back to the clinic.
Mandy checked on Trixie, Ronnie, and Reggie. All was well so she went to the front of the clinic to check with Gillian.
“Any messages?” Mandy asked Gillian.
“Just the lawyer called again wanting to know if you found the deed,” said Gillian.
“Oh yes. I did find that. What’s her number and I will call her to arrange a time to drop it by,” said Mandy.
“Here you go. Other than that, no messages. It’s been relatively quiet here, with the exception of Jimbo and Emma meowling for an early lunch.”
“That’s not surprising. They have quite the personality,” Mandy said, taking the number Gillian gave her for the lawyer. “Since it’s so quiet right now, I will go in the office and do a little work.”
“Sounds good. I will man the phones,” said Gillian.
Lyle and Mandy trotted down the hall to the office. Mandy started by calling the lawyer whose secretary patched her through.
“Yes, this is Dr. Mandy Bell. I understand you require a copy of the deed to Anna’s property. I have just located such a thing. Can you come by the clinic to get a copy? OK. Perfect. I’ll see you in an hour.”
Mandy felt good that she was getting something checked off of her list of to do’s, even if solving the murder wasn’t one of them.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Gillian’s face poked around the corner.
“Anything I can get you?” asked Gillian.
“I am good. Just trying to fit some pieces together. The lawyer is coming by in an hour. You may as well go home. We have no other appointments and I will have to check all of the animals this evening.”
“Are you sure? Trixie’s mom brought in some cookies for us. I’ll put them on the counter in the back.”
“Wonderful. A cookie might be in order in an hour or so. I’m still full from lunch. You have tomorrow off anyway so think of this as an early start to your day off.”
“I really appreciate it. I will be able to get the house spick and span. We’ve been pretty busy lately. I’ve been doing a few hours after work driving tractors for of the big grain outfits on the edge of town to save up a little.”
“You are a major help around here. I hope you are not working two jobs because you don’t get paid enough here.”
“No, I just seem to always be a little behind with surprises that suck up money. Last month, my shower flooded. I’m not complaining. I just do what needs to be done,” said Gillian.
“I hear ya sister. I’ll call you if the whole town suddenly comes in. Otherwise, I’m going to do some paperwork while I wait for the lawyer.”
“You have my number. I will go clean my humble abode.”
“And, Gillian, have a good day off. You have earned it.”
“Thanks,” said Gillian.
Lyle repositioned herself on the floor while Mandy got out her list. She decided to use the internet to search for any clues of connections she was missing. First, she checked her email. There was another threat in her inbox. The sender had clearly fabricated an anonymous email so she couldn’t track it back. The email made it clear that she should not continue to pursue her investigation.
She shrugged it off. She looked at her list. Howie was someone that she needed to check into more. She also needed those leaves raked up at Anna’s. She decided to give his parents a call. She arranged for him to come out the next day. She would be able to talk more to his parents while they dropped him off.
Before she could transport herself into her mind, she heard a car door. She looked up at the clock and an hour had already passed. Lyle jolted up at the sound of the front door.
“Hi, you must be Dr. Bell,” said a tall, slender woman. “I’m Lucy Vanderbeek. I am representing Anna’s estate.”
“Nice to meet you. Sorry to meet you under these circumstances,” said Mandy.
“Indeed. Anna was a great woman and an asset to this community,” said Lucy. “I am terribly sorry for your loss. I understand you were quite close.”
“We were, despite the long distance. We had one of those friendships that we could pick up where we left off no matter how long it had been since we’d seen each other. It’s strange to be here in this town she had talked about so much,” said Mandy. Lyle, meanwhile, had crept up to Lucy’s lap and was licking her hand. “Lyle, down.”
“She doesn’t bother me. My dad used to raise hunting dogs. I love animals. You can’t live in this town and not love animals and the outdoors,” said Lucy.
“It’s such a shame that this murder shattered the innocence of Crestview,” said Mandy, probing for a reaction. She wasn’t sure if Lucy even knew Buck. At the moment, anyone she met was a potential suspect or source of information.
“It is indeed. I went out with Buck once upon a tim
e. We just weren’t right for each other. In a town this small, unless you marry your high school sweetheart, you end up dating anyone who is eligible. I’ll miss the old brute,” said Lucy.
Mandy could see in Lucy’s eyes that she was genuine. She trusted Lyle’s judgment of people explicitly. For Lyle to like Lucy immediately, Mandy had a feeling that she could trust her.
“I think I have what you have been looking for. The deed to Anna’s house was tucked up in a closet. Here it is,” said Mandy, handing over a copy to Lucy.
“Interesting. That’s what I needed to know,” said Lucy.
“What?” asked Mandy.
“For some reason, the original copy of this in the courthouse is missing. I needed to know if it listed just Anna or anyone else. See, the first deed to the property has Dennis on it. He was laying claim to the property based on that first deed. But when I went to the courthouse to verify his claim, the property was listed nowhere. It was odd,” said Lucy.
“That is strange. So, at some point, Anna had bought him out without him knowing?”
“He would have had to sign documents so he knew that it had happened. The courthouse had a fire a few years back. The documents may have been destroyed in that. Who knows? The important thing is that we have the proof that Anna was the sole owner. Since she left everything to you, you are now the owner, with no room for formal contest,” said Lucy.
“I had no idea that any of this was being contested,” said Mandy.
“There was no need to involve you until I had proof one way or the other,” said Lucy.
“That makes sense. Thanks,” said Mandy. A howl could be heard from the kennels. It sounded like an animal in distress. “I better go see what that’s about. Excuse me.”
“I can let myself out. That is all I needed. Thanks for your time. Welcome to Crestview,” said Lucy.
“Nice to meet you, Lucy,” Mandy said.
As Lucy headed out the front door, Mandy and Lyle went to the kennels to see who was upset. Ronnie was whining as they approached his cage. He had peed and was vocalizing to indicate that his cage needed cleaned. Mandy transferred him to a clean cage and disinfected the original cage. She checked on everyone else. All was well so she returned to her office to work on the case, stopping to get a cookie on her way past the kitchenette.