by Sandy Vale
Sam turned and walked inside without actual y inviting Frank in, but Frank fol owed Sam into his tidy kitchen. Frank noticed that Kitty’s driveway and house were in clear view from Sam’s big kitchen window.
“Ms. Wilson told me you were a longtime friend of her grandmother’s. It must have been hard to lose such a close friend. How do you feel about Ms. Wilson living on the farm now?”
“I’m thril ed. I convinced Frannie to give the farm to Miss Kitty.”
“How about Ms. Wilson’s husband, Roger. Were you happy to have him moving in too?”
“I never liked that weasel and I told Miss Kitty that. Frannie didn’t want him to live in her house.”
“His murder solved that problem, didn’t it?”
“You could say that.”
They stared at each other without saying a word. Frank liked Sam’s honesty.
“Did you see anyone drive in or out on Monday?”
“I saw a black car drive in a little before Roger’s car. The black car left just before Miss Kitty drove up the driveway.”
“Do you know who was driving the black car?”
“Nope.”
“Did you go up to the house?”
“Yup. I heard a gunshot just before that black car went flying down the driveway. By the time I got my boots on, it was gone. I walked to the house and saw Roger’s car and some footprints going to the barn. When I looked in the barn, I saw the body. Another car was coming so I stood in the shadows. When I saw it was Miss Kitty, I walked home.”
“Why didn’t you stay with her?”
“I don’t know, I guess I should have. I went back later. After things seemed to have calmed down to see how she was. Her friend was there. I brought my dog Max over for her. I wanted her to have some protection.”
“Maybe you walked to the barn and shot Roger and made up the black car.”
“I didn’t kil him. He had plenty of people who didn’t like him besides me.”
“Did you know Ms. Wilson kept a gun in her car?”
“Nope. I have no use for guns. That’s a coward’s weapon.”
“Who else didn’t like Roger Wilson?”
“Anyone who bought a car from that weasel-brother of his, David Wilson. The two of them sold bad cars. They were involved in something to make a lot of enemies.”
“You seem to know a lot, Mr. Chapman.”
“I watch and listen. I’m an old man and no one pays much attention to me.” Frank stood up. After shaking hands, he gave Sam his card and told him, “Thanks for your help. I’m glad Ms. Wilson has you keeping an eye out for her. I plan to get to the bottom of this. If you think of anything else, please give me a cal .” Sam nodded and opened the door for Frank.
Frank got in his car thinking about what Sam told him. Was he telling the truth or was he a very good liar? At any rate, Frank knew Sam wouldn’t hurt Kitty and he would keep an eye on her and her house.
He needed to find David and get a read on him. David seemed to have the biggest motive with that big insurance payout, and he had access to Kitty’s gun.
First, he drove back up the driveway to check on Kitty and see how she was holding up. He was surprised to see David’s car at the house.
Frank didn’t trust that weasel, as Sam had cal ed him. Kitty looked upset when she answered the door. Frank could hear Tina and David arguing in the kitchen.
“David, the service isn’t until five o’clock later today. You need to leave. Kitty has nothing to talk to you about.”
“I want the keys to Roger’s office. He had some papers I need.”
“You got fired. What could be in Roger’s office that you need?” Kitty yel ed.
“It’s personal.” He snarled.
“Wel , it wil have to wait until Kitty is ready to go there with you. She needs to clean out the office and she’l do it when she’s good and ready, not at your convenience.” Tina angrily told him.
David turned around, heading for the door.
“Who are you?” David almost spit at Frank. “Kitty’s not wasting any time finding another man, is she?”
“David, what is your problem? Get out of here!” Tina pushed him.
Frank grabbed David’s arm. “I’m Detective Frank Hughes. I have some questions for you.”
“Let me go. I don’t have to talk to you. How come you haven’t arrested the murderer yet?” David said as he pointed to Kitty and then slammed the door as he left.
“Seems like a real nice guy,” Frank said sarcastical y, a grin on his face. “I’l try to talk to him again later if it’s alright if I come back for the service?”
“You should come. There won’t be too many people but you might notice something. It should be . . . interesting,” Tina informed Frank.
Michael and Tina left to get some refreshments for the service.
Kitty looked at Frank. “I’m exhausted. Do you have time for some coffee and to sit down with me for a bit?”
“Kitty, meeting you has made this whole investigation so much more interesting. Watching you juggle moving into your farm, your friends and now trying to figure out who kil ed your husband, has been a real inspiration. I’d love to pay you back for your hospitality and take you out for a nice dinner. You choose when and where. How does that sound?”
Kitty was stunned. “I’m speechless. Wel , almost. That sounds perfect. There’s an elegant restaurant about a half hour drive from here that I’ve wanted to go to but Roger was always too busy. I’ve heard they have the best salmon and a great salad bar with lots of veggies and artisan breads and live music on Friday and Saturday nights.”
Smiling, Frank said, “You had me sold on the salmon. I can see you are real y passionate about food. It sounds like a date then. Saturday night?”
Kitty was on cloud nine. “Yes!” She had a huge smile on her face as she got coffee for Frank. “I don’t know how often you are in Wil ow Fal s, but I hope we can remain friends.”
“That’s what I was hoping, too. I’l be around for a while, at least until this is wrapped up.” Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Excuse me. Let me see who that is.” Kitty put her coffee mug down and went to the door. She was surprised to see Glenda wiping away tears, waiting to come in.
“Glenda, what’s wrong?” Kitty reached for her arm to console her.
“I need to talk to you Kitty. Is there someplace private?”
“Come in. Detective Hughes is here, is that okay?”
“Maybe the detective needs to hear this too”. Glenda fol owed Kitty to the kitchen, nodding to Frank. “Jimmie threatened to fire me yesterday. I gave you the wrong truck by accident. They are identical and I guess I grabbed the wrong keys. Something is going on and I don’t know what it is but I’m real y scared. David got fired, then Roger was murdered. Everyone is on edge. I need to get this straightened out.” Frank got up to give Glenda his chair. “Everything wil be okay Glenda. We’re starting to put the pieces together. Do you think David kil ed Roger?”
“I don’t know. Roger was in David’s office a lot. I had to make copies of lots of files for Roger. I never understood what was going on, I just did what David asked me to do. I know the police chief questioned al of us.”
“Try not to worry. If you don’t know anything, you aren’t a threat.”
“Thanks Kitty. Thanks Detective. I’l be back later for the service.” Frank walked Glenda to the door. As he opened the door for Glenda to leave, he saw that she was driving a black car.
Frank didn’t want to upset Kitty any more. He would keep that to himself.
Chapter 8
Tina and Michael came back with crackers, cheese, fruit, cookies and drinks.
Kitty was busy finding plates to put the food on. “It’s a good thing I unpacked the kitchen boxes first. I wasn’t expecting to need it for this, though.
Let’s open some wine. I think I’l need a glass—or two—to get through having to be in the same room with David. He’l p
robably be here first so he can harass me some more.”
Tina offered, “I’l be your buffer. Besides, he needs to be somewhat polite so you let him into Roger’s office. I wonder who went in when you were hiding in the closet if it wasn’t David.”
“It’s pretty funny that the suitcase I found in Roger’s office closet is right here. Those tickets are probably what he’s after. He promised Candy a cruise and he doesn’t want her to know he’s using the tickets that Roger was going to surprise her with. Poor Candy. She always was in love with Roger and now she’s stuck with David.”
“Do you think Sam wil come?”
“I told him about it. I don’t know. He didn’t like Roger so there’s no reason for him to come unless he wants to see who’s here and listen to what’s going on.”
Frank came into the kitchen. “Is anything ready to be carried out to the table?”
“We’re almost done. Al these trays can go out and there are glasses in the hutch you can put on the table too. What’s Michael doing?”
“I think he went out to check on the chicks. He said he would stay by the door to let people in so you don’t have to do that,” Frank told her.
“Oh good.”
“Kitty, I didn’t tel you this earlier, but Glenda was driving a black car. Do you remember anything about the car you thought was fol owing you?”
“Real y? Glenda? I don’t see what connection she would have with Roger. The car I saw was pretty nondescript, like a Taurus or Camry maybe?
Black cars are pretty common.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Just one more thing to keep an eye on. Sam told me it was a black car that drove out the night Roger was kil ed. Could be the link we’re looking for.”
The police chief was the first to arrive. “Hi Frank, Kitty. Everything good here?” Kitty nodded. “I hope you don’t mind that I came a little early. I can’t stay long and I’m curious to see the interaction of people here tonight.” He motioned for Frank to fol ow him off to the side of the room.
“Herb, are you making any progress with fingerprints?” Frank quietly asked as they stood in a corner of the living room.
“Nothing yet. The policeman parked at the bottom of Kitty’s driveway has seen a black car go by a lot. I don’t know if it means anything, we haven’t run the plates yet. Have you gotten anything new?”
“Lots of leads. I’m just waiting for it al to come together. Waiting for someone to make a mistake. People always do. I’m especial y interested in David Wilson. He had the most to gain from Roger’s death.”
Herb walked over to Tina and Kitty. “I’m truly sorry for your loss. How are you holding up?” Tina replied, “Don’t pretend I’m broken up about this, Herb. Everyone knows that Roger and I didn’t get along wel at al . We never did. I’l let Kitty speak for herself on that subject.”
“Thanks Herb. I’m okay. Roger and I were going through a rough patch but I was hoping that the move to the farm would improve things. Now I’l never know, wil I?”
Tina looked at Kitty and gave her a big hug thinking that she was the eternal optimist. Tina knew that Roger wouldn’t have changed. If anything, he would have resented Kitty more because she didn’t actual y need him. The inheritance had made her independent but Kitty always hoped for the perfect marriage.
The door opened and David and Candy walked in. He hadn’t even bothered to knock. Typical. As the oldest in the family, he was used to doing and getting what he wanted. Scanning the room, he headed for the drink table set up in front of the bay window. Candy approached Kitty and Tina with a nervous twitch in her eye.
“Kitty, I’m so sorry for you. Roger was such a great guy. We’l al miss him terribly.”
“Thanks Candy. Thanks for coming.”
Candy whispered, “Did you look at those papers? Does anyone else know I gave you that stuff?” David possessively put his arm around Candy, “What are you whispering about over here? Come on Candy, I want to talk to Herb.” He didn’t even acknowledge his sister and sister-in-law.
Candy fol owed David with a quick glance at Kitty and Tina. Tina smiled at her and shook her head slightly to let her know no one knew about the papers. Candy’s expression visibly relaxed.
“That was weird,” Tina whispered to Kitty. “Candy looks like she’s about ready to jump out of her skin whenever David gets near her. We have to find out what papers he wants from Roger’s office. I bet what he’s looking for is right here in your house—the papers and suitcase you brought back. Do you have it wel hidden?”
“It’s not real y hidden but it’s upstairs. I don’t think anyone wil be going there. What wil David do when he can’t find those things in Roger’s office?”
Another car pul ed up to the house. Michael was at the door to greet Glenda, Jimmie and Joe. Sam was fol owing them in, too.
“Come on it. There are some drinks and food on the table in the living room,” Michael told everyone.
“Sam, I didn’t expect you to come. Thanks.” Kitty hugged him.
With his face right next to her ear, he said, “The black car I saw the day Roger was kil ed is parked outside. Tel your detective friend. Someone here is the murderer. Keep acting like everything is normal. We don’t want to tip anyone off.” Sam straightened up and asked, “Where’s Max? I’d like to say hel o, make sure he hasn’t forgotten me.”
“He’s upstairs in my room. I wasn’t sure if he would be upset with people coming in. You can get him and bring him down if you think he’l be alright.”
It wasn’t long before Max came bounding down the stairs to hover next to Kitty. Sam fol owed, hugged Kitty again and told her he was walking back home. Sam nodded to the detective as he walked by on his way to the door.
Herb asked Frank, “How do you know Sam? I’ve known him for a long time and he’s an odd fel ow. He whispered something to Kitty and left. I wonder what that’s al about.”
“I talked to him yesterday. He was home when Roger was kil ed and he told me he saw a black car going to Kitty’s house just before Roger got home and it left in a big hurry before Kitty drove in. He is odd but he pays attention and may be a good resource for us.” Tina clinked her glass to get everyone’s attention. “Thanks for coming today. We’re al here to remember Roger’s life and the impact he had on each of us. Kitty has decided that she wil spread his ashes on the farm in a quiet wooded area. A toast to Roger.” Glasses clinked around the room and the conversations started up again.
Glenda was standing at the drink table watching everyone in the room. She wondered why that cute detective and the police chief were here.
Everything felt odd. David stood alone in a corner looking guilty of something. Candy kept eyeing the detective and nervously shifting from one foot to the other. Tina and Kitty were actual y starting to relax. And Glenda wondered who that old guy was who came in and left after about five minutes.
Michael and Tina carried empty plates to the kitchen. Glenda took the opportunity to talk to Kitty alone.
“Kitty, I need to talk to you,” Glenda quietly said as she stood next to Kitty. “I real y need to get that file back. I don’t want to lose my job.”
“This isn’t a good time Glenda. Do you want to come back tomorrow?”
“Alright. Give me a cal to let me know when. Where’s your bathroom?”
“Over there. Oh, it looks like someone is using it. There’s another one at the top of the stairs.”
“Thanks.” Glenda hurried upstairs just as Tina came back in with plates of food.
“Kitty, where’s she going?”
“She needs to use the bathroom.”
“What about the files?”
“I’l go up and check in a minute.”
David approached Kitty and Tina. “Hey, I want to get into Roger’s office tomorrow. When wil you unlock it for me?”
“What’s your hurry David?” Tina pestered him.
“Listen Tina, there are files in Rogers office that belong to me, either Kitty lets me in or I’l
get the landlord to unlock the door.”
“If it’s that easy, why wait for Kitty? Why don’t you tel Herb your problem, he’l probably be sympathetic. Maybe even get a search warrant.” The color drained from David’s face.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. If you want our help, you’d better tel me what’s going on.” Tina was getting impatient with her brother.
“Tina, you better watch your step.” He turned, found Candy, and headed for the door.
Frank meandered over to the food table, got a plate and quietly asked Kitty what had just happened.
“I’m not sure. David wants me to let him into Roger’s office to get some files and Tina suggested he ask Herb for a search warrant. He didn’t like that too much. There’s something in that office that he urgently needs before someone else gets to it first.”
“Great. I think he’s getting desperate. Do you feel comfortable meeting him at the office?”
“Of course. I’m not going to let that creep intimidate me.”
“We’l photocopy the contents of the folder you took and you can put it back. I’l be outside the building and take him in for questioning when he comes out. I think we have enough to arrest him for the stolen cars and I’l try to get him to give me more names.”
“What about Roger’s murder?”
“I’m going to try to pin that on him, too.”
Jimmie and Glenda were heading toward Kitty.
“Sorry about your loss, Kitty. We have to get going. You need to bring your truck in again. We got some more parts so we can finish up the repairs.”
“Joe didn’t tel me anything about more repairs. I need my truck. How long wil it take?”
“It won’t take long. We’l squeeze you in whenever you can stop by. Good luck with your farm.” As they headed toward the door, Kitty whispered to Frank, “I almost forgot. Sam told me the black car he saw the night Roger was kil ed is here.
Quick, take a look out the window and see if it’s Glenda and Jimmie’s car.” Frank motioned to Herb and they took a look out the window as Jimmie slid into the driver’s seat of a black car. It was the same car that Frank had seen the last time Glenda had come to the farm to talk to Kitty.