Murder at the Mall: (A Madeline Shore Cozy Curvy Mystery)

by Lynn Cooper

  “It must be nice.”

  He grimaces. “I sound like the biggest, most arrogant jerk in the whole world, don’t I?”

  “Gosh, Stan. Even when it’s about being a jerk, you still can’t help but brag.”

  He cracks up at that. “You don’t let me get away with anything. You’re right. I can be nonchalant about money because I have a bunch of it. So, maybe we don’t sweat giving back three-hundred grand. I don’t lose a second of sleep over something like that. Yeah, it bugs me about those back-up generators not working on the morning of the grand opening. But not because it hit our wallet. Believe it or not, it’s because it’s embarrassing.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. We take a lot of pride in what we do. We have literally built our reputation on delivering a quality product. Tom and I put our names on the business for a reason. We stand behind what we build. When something goes wrong like it did day before yesterday, we take it personally.”

  I nod, spotting a couple of nice benches near the sunglasses kiosk. Still scanning the area, I stroll over to one and sit down. “Did you take it personally when Bluff, as your brother put it, ‘did such a slick job of getting us down on the price, we’re lucky we made any profit at all’?”

  Sitting beside me, Stan puts his elbow along the back of the bench and grins. “Boy, you don’t miss much, do you? Of course, we did. Like most everything in life, business is a game. You play to win. If someone plays better and beats you, it makes you mad. You just vow to play even harder next time—”

  “Or, you get even with the one who beat you.”

  Stan leans back, frowning. After a thoughtful moment, he sighs and shakes his head. “The cops always send the beautiful ones. You gals sure do make a man loosen his tongue. Are you wearing a wire, Madeline?”

  “Just under my bra. So, how mad did Bluff make you?”

  “He cut into our profits a little. That’s all Tom meant. Bluff made money. We made money. It was all good.”

  “But, McCraven Brothers made enough to send three-hundred grand back to the town without batting an eyelash. No big surprise there. You guys have bigger stakes involved than Bluff ever played for at a card table. According to Mayor Kwan, he hardly made anything at all on the mall deal. ‘Not on the paltry commission the town was able to kick in for him and Tug to broker the deal. It wasn’t exactly the kind of money you put in a Swiss bank account.’”

  Stan grins. “That sounds almost exactly like what the mayor said.”

  “That’s because it is exactly what the mayor said. One of my many quirks is that I remember things I hear verbatim. Too bad it doesn’t apply to what I read. I might have gotten out of college with more than a three-point-five grade point average.”

  Stan spreads his hands. “Thank you for making my point. Sure, we lost several hundred thousand on the deal he and Tug cut with us. We were licking our chops when they walked through our door, just certain we were dealing with a couple of backwater hicksters. Let me tell you, those boys were shrewd. Especially Bluff. But, pardon the pun, it was no big deal. We still made a killing—the business kind, I mean.”

  “You’ll have to excuse me, Stan. I’m strictly small business, so I’m naïve on how mega-business deals like this work. I guess I was thinking McCraven Brothers would throw in a finder’s fee or something.”

  He shakes his head. “That’s not how it usually works but definitely in this case. Your mayor wanted a mall. Bluff and Tug found our construction company to do the job for her. It was the town of Slocomb who owed the councilmen a finder’s fee, not us. We only pay those fees to our guys—the ones who go out and find building jobs for us.”

  “Guys like Lonnie Burke. He was the one who found McCraven Brothers ‘a fertile business opportunity in a Saudi Arabian desert.’ Right?”

  “Honey, you do have a good memory. We pay Lonnie a fat commission, plus a finder’s fee, plus his salary. It’s only fair. Bluff and Tug deserved that sort of reward, too. Both of them should have been steamed at Mayor Kwan for sticking them with a paltry commission when they did such a fantastic job brokering the deal that got us to build here.”

  “I see. Now that I know no money changed hands between McCraven Brothers and Bluff, again I have to wonder: how could Bluff Burrows afford to retire and buy a beach house and a schooner? How was he able to just hand Tug Sizemore a solid-gold money clip with two-thousand dollars in it? Why did he then say that, while love does make the world go ‘round, ‘a buttload of money sure helps that sucker spin a lot easier.’ Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t that sound like someone who made out like a bandit?”

  Stan blinks thoughtfully. “Yeah, it does. He just didn’t do it on our nickel.”

  I stand. “Thanks for the tour and the talk, Stan. I learned a lot.”

  “My pleasure. Now, you’re sure our little conversation—verbatim, no less—is not going to come back to bite our company on the proverbial butt, right?”

  “I don’t recall hearing anything incriminating. You could have easily told the sheriff or the detective just what you told me.”

  “Yes,” he says, standing and taking my hand, “but I’m sure neither one of them would be as easy on the eyes as you are. We’re going to be in town at least through the weekend. Any chance you might let me take you out to the finest restaurant in Slocomb? Show you something else besides the inside of a mall?”

  My goodness, it’s tempting. Like Sadie said, hot and rich and charming.

  “Thanks, Stan, but I’d better not,” I say with a sigh. “I might have a boyfriend.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  IN THE MID-SEPTEMBER AFTERNOON, Bear tears across McPherson Park on the grassy knoll right above the duck pond. A couple of super-thin, adolescent boys who just happened to show up near the swing set a few minutes after we did are tossing a bright-blue Frisbee. My little dog chases it eagerly through the air as if it holds treats.

  It’s a beautiful day with a slight, cool-edged breeze. We’re in that limbo time when the season can’t quite make its mind up about the temperature. It’s warm out in the open sunshine but a tad nippy in the shade.

  A kite drifts over toward the petting zoo. Inside the fence, I see a peacock fanning its beautiful, bright-hued feathers. It has something to do with the mating ritual although I’ll need to do a little research to know exactly how that works.

  I’ve been meaning to create a stuffed peacock with short, square tail feathers for my shop. I thought it would be a nice touch to put eyebrows over the eyespots. Luisa wants to see a prototype before she decides if she likes the idea or not. We’ll see.

  I take my cell phone out of my handbag and Google the creatures. After a few minutes of interesting reading, I call Sheriff Rice to let him know what I was able to glean from Stan. As soon as the call connects, Archie says, “How’d your date with the elder McCraven boy go this morning?”

  “How’d you know about that?”

  “Don’t you be thinking you’re the only one in Slocomb with sleuthing skills, Miss Madeline.” He cackles. “Actually, his brother Tom told me Stan was squiring you around this morning.”

  Squiring you. It sounds romantically medieval. “Where did you see him?”

  “I went over to their hotel room out on the interstate. I wanted to follow up with’em on this Burke character. I cooled my heels for about an hour before Tom showed up. Anyhoo, I asked him how long On-the-Lam Lonnie had worked for them, which turns out to be four years. He’s kind of a jack-of-all-trades for the company, everything from helping Tom oversee the accounting department to hiring locals when they do construction in other countries to coming up with marketing strategies. Apparently, he’s got more going for him than muscles. Tom said as far as they knew, the ugly incident down in Old Mehico was the only act of violence Lonnie had ever perpetrated. What’d you get from Brother Stan?”

  “A seminar on big business. I think mostly he was just trying to impress me,” I tell Archie. “I just assumed Bluff and Tug got so
me monetary consideration from McCraven Brothers for brokering the mall deal. Although, to hear Stan bluster about it, they could’ve afforded to with no sweat. He said the councilmen only got what Slocomb gave them. Oh, yes, he was embarrassed when the grand opening was delayed and dampened when the lights went out.”

  “They surely are brothers then,” Archie says, “‘cause Tom gave me the same spiel. He wanted me to know they’re not just a couple of cold businessmen who only care about the bottom line. He said they both take things very personally. They want to give their customers a satisfying experience.”

  “Well, I’ve been to the mall four times now, Sheriff. It’s always wall-to-wall with Slocomb shoppers.”

  “Good. That’ll tickle Mayor Patsy’s heart. ‘Bye now.”

  Bear is still chasing the elusive Frisbee. The circular sphere finally swoops low enough. He leaps and catches it in his mouth. The boys look at each other and laugh when he scurries away proudly, bringing his prize to me as I sit in the leather-strap swing.

  Rearing up, Bear puts his paws on my knee so I can take the Frisbee. “Who’s a good boy?” I say, scratching him behind his ears, which he loves. “Bear’s a good boy, that’s who.”

  I look up to see the two boys staring at us. Make that, gawking at me. My plaid Bermuda shorts show off a decent amount of tanned thigh, but I think it’s the snug, low-cut, orange-sherbet tank-top that’s got their eyes a bit bugged. I can literally see their Adam’s apples sliding up and down as they glance at each other and swallow, trying to figure out which one of them has the nerve to come over and get their Frisbee (no, I’m not going to toss it back; where’s the fun in that?)

  With a nod that says I’m going in, the one with blond hair on the right rubs what I imagine are sweaty palms on his jeans. Hesitantly, as if I’m a voluptuous witch sitting at a house built of bread and cakes, he creeps cautiously toward us.

  “Is that your dog?”

  “Yep. This is Bear. I’m Madeline. What’s your name?”

  “Landon.”

  “Nice to meet you, Landon. Who’s your skittish friend?”

  “Roy. He’s not skittish though. He’s an American.”

  I burst out laughing. These guys are so cute. “Hi, Roy.”

  Roy nods but says nothing.

  Putting my finger under the rim of the Frisbee, I begin twirling it. “I guess you’ll be wanting this back.”

  Bear looks up at me, his adorable brown eyes saying Don’t do it. I worked hard to get that thing and bring it to you.

  Landon shrugs. “You can have it if you want.”

  “Landon, no!” Roy whispers hoarsely. “My brother will beat the crap out of me!”

  I smile. It feels good out here in the sun. The last couple of days haven’t exactly been loaded with carefree fun like this. Don’t get me wrong. Having breakfast and exploring the mall attic with Zeke was fantastic. But being at crime scenes and police stations and walking through malls with potential murderers tends to put a damper on your mood.

  I did not know Bluff all that well. I met him at a civic meeting in Patsy’s office. He introduced himself and was very pleasant and cordial despite his business reputation for being hard-nosed and unfeeling. I saw him a couple of other times there and at a commerce awards dinner during the course of the Kuberov and Gandalon cases. He always made a point of speaking to me. Unlike the mayor and Darren Sparks, he never treated me as a suspect, laughing at those two when they did.

  From what I gleaned, he had no family in Slocomb or anywhere else. He and Tug were business partners and best friends, even before Tug’s marriage ended three years ago. Saying “Bluff and Tug” rolled off the tongue as easily as “ham and eggs” or “peanut butter and jelly.”

  The saddest part is, his affair with Yvonne seemed to have changed him for the better. Made him into someone he obviously liked more than the person depicted by his harsh reputation. One that preceded him wherever he went. As he told Tug, “I’m no longer an SOB.”

  I hate to think falling in love had any part in getting him killed.

  I did a few crafts after I got home from my meeting with Stan this morning. Making cute, plush animals always de-stresses me and helps me get my bearings. But, I still felt the need to get out into the sunshine and fresh air with Bear. I had promised him a trip to the park, and we were both having just the best time.

  Truth be told, I’d probably be playfully interacting with these guys no matter what mood I was in. As well as being a crafter, I also consider myself a teacher of life lessons.

  I want to reinforce some of those with these young males. I want to reward Landon for being bold. For overcoming his apprehension and going after what he wants in life—even if it’s just a Frisbee being held hostage by a scary, sexy lady. At the same time, I want to discourage Roy from sitting on the sidelines while others venture forth. I can already imagine him looking back years from now, regretting not having the nerve to approach the voluptuous witch himself.

  I clasp the spinning Frisbee between my fingers and stand up from the swing. “You can have it, Landon,” I say. “But it’ll cost you a hug.”

  He blinks rapidly, a grin breaking over his sweet face. “Sure.”

  I give him a big one. Over his shoulder, I watch Roy’s jaw unhinge.

  Just for pure, naughty meanness, I give Landon a kiss on the cheek as I hand him his Frisbee.

  “Thanks, lady.” Grinning from ear to ear, he takes off running toward the duck pond with Roy close on his heels.

  As Bear perks his ears and watches them disappear with his prize, he makes a pitiful moan in his little throat.

  “I’m sorry, sweetie. But it was rightfully theirs.” I reach down and clip on his leash. “Ready to go home?”

  The Frisbee forgotten, he wags his tail and pulls me along behind him.

  A GURGLING STREAM THAT feeds the duck pond meanders all through the park. It’s wide in some places, narrow in others, just as it will barely cover the ankles here and then be deep enough to dive in there. Staying out of the cool shadows of the overhanging trees, we walk along it in the quickly-disappearing sunshine toward the west entrance.

  “Alright, Bear,” I say, “let’s recap. We’ve got Tug Sizemore, who admittedly hated Bluff for ending their partnership and putting the cat he gave him to sleep. Witnesses heard him fighting with Bluff, and two heard Tug threaten his life. On top of that, he had Bluff’s money clip holding two thousand bucks and claimed it was a gift.”

  Bear darts briefly after a squirrel, which quickly escapes up a tree.

  When he turns his big, chocolate eyes back toward me, I say, “Lonnie Burke is strong, has a history of violence toward those who try to take advantage of him and lost eight grand to Bluff in a poker game. While he didn’t come right out and threaten him, he did say, ‘Nobody’s that lucky.’ It also doesn’t bode well for his innocence that he ran when the police tried to arrest him.”

  I wait as Bear marks some territory near a scrub pine before moving on.

  “Yvonne Ellsworth is admittedly a cheater, and she initially lied to Detective Worthy and me about not knowing Bluff. Zeke’s right. She does have a viable motive in wanting to keep her husband from finding out about her affair. She worked at the shop where Bluff was killed. And even though she does have a brace on her wrist, she got her injury from being an athlete. She’s a buxom woman, taller than Bluff and likely even heavier (I don’t judge). As Zeke suggested, a shot of adrenaline could not only ease any pain but give her the oomph to lower her lover onto a hook.”

  We veer to our left from our path along the creek, which continues widening and deepening beneath the bridge. Bear and I climb the stone steps carved into the embankment and turn right on the sidewalk that runs along Gunther Avenue. We pause on top of the bridge.

  “Which brings us to Vince Ellsworth. Strong enough, angry enough, he threatened in front of a bar full of patrons to kill both Bluff and Yvonne. At first glance, it appears he doesn’t have the means—the code to th
e keypad locks. Which is something Tug and Lonnie undoubtedly were given as bigwigs involved in the mall construction. But, being married to a store manager who does have it, getting the code would not be difficult for Vince.”

  On the road above the bridge, I hear the roar of a motorcycle. Oddly, it makes me think of Todd sneaking money out of his college savings account to put a hold on a dirt bike. Being terrified his mom would find out.

  My cell phone rings. I take it out of my handbag, setting that on the waist-high, two-foot-wide, in-laid stone retaining wall. It’s Zeke, and he wants to video chat. I quickly straighten my hair and smooth my tank top before accepting the call that puts us face to face. “Hey, Detective, what’s up?”

  “Sheriff Rice had me dig into Mr. Burrows’ finances. At the local bank, he had a checking account balance of eighteen-hundred dollars and a savings account with six hundred in it.”

  “Hardly enough to buy a postage-stamp lot at the beach or even a paddleboat.”

  “No. But the $1.2 million he deposited last week in an offshore bank account would cover them with change to spare.”

  Dumbfounded, I sag against the retaining wall. Bear hops up onto it and sits down beside me. “I’d say that qualifies as ‘a buttload’ of money, wouldn’t you? Looks like he somehow procured funds that didn’t come from the town of Slocomb.”

  “Maybe the McCraven brothers believe in payola.”

  “Not according to Stan. He says they didn’t pay Bluff or Tug a single nickel.”

  “The sheriff told me you spoke to him. Where are you now? I see woods in the background.”

  “Bear and I are on the far side of McPherson Park at the Gunther Avenue Bridge,” I say, staring down at the water ten feet below. “He’s been stealing Frisbees, and I’ve been jump-starting teenagers into puber—”

  Bear leaps to his feet. At the same time he gives a sharp bark, I hear the squeal of car tires. I whirl just in time to see a black vehicle speeding straight toward me.

  Grabbing him, I lunge backward off the retaining wall. In mid-somersault, I hear the wrenching scrape of metal shearing stone as I enter the water feet first and submerge.