Then There Were Nun

by Dakota Cassidy

As my mind raced with possible alternatives, he cleared his throat and gazed at me. “Well, yes. Fergus was an ex-convict. I suppose I thought everyone knew that—or at least talked about it. He did time for armed robbery twenty-some years ago. When he was released, he needed a job, and I gave him one. I felt like it was my obligation. It’s what I always did where Fergus was concerned. I saved him time after time—for our mother, of course, and then it just became a way of life. He’s been managing my buildings ever since. But I sold off most of them except yours and one other. Now, with him gone, it’s time to call it a day and take the missus somewhere warm. It’s rainy and cold in Cobbler Cove during the winter months—we’re ready to try the alternative.”

  As Delores brought our coffee and Coop’s orange juice, I struggled with what to say next. “I didn’t know Fergus had been in jail,” I said lamely as those infamous red spots on my cheeks burned bright.

  “Oh, indeed. Fergus was…” He sighed in resignation, running his weathered fingers over the handle of the bright red coffee mug. “Make no mistake, I knew who my brother was. He was crass and cruel, but he got the job done. It’s only just this past day, after spending some time in the police station with that Detective Primrose, that I’ve learned how crass and cruel. He wasn’t just managing my buildings. He’d been hiking up prices without my knowledge and loaning money to people with ridiculous interest rates and, well…I suppose you know what loan sharks do when you don’t pay up…”

  Ahhh. So Fergus was a dirtier bird than we’d thought originally. If he was hiking up rent along with this loan shark accusation, that could mean any number of suspects.

  “I’m sorry, Crowley. Truly. How sad to find this out at such a delicate time.” I didn’t know what else to say. Gee, sucks that your brother was a total creep. Hope you feel better soon?

  “Tenfold, I apologize if he was as awful to you as I’m hearing he was to my other tenants. But what upsets me the most? How ugly he was to the homeless men. I can’t bear how dreadfully he behaved. Had I known…”

  As I tried to catch my breath, I nodded, pressing a hand to my chest to slow my heart. “He wasn’t cruel to us, Crowley. He just tried to take us for more than he’d originally advertised the store for on Facebook. But we talked him back down to a reasonable price. Though, now…”

  Crowley ran a finger under the starched white collar of his shirt. “Now you’re worried someone will buy the place and hike that price right back up or turn it into a condo. You don’t have to worry. It’s protected by the city of Portland against that. But I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll make sure whoever I sell to will rent to you for the same price Fergus promised you ladies. I can’t promise what will happen after a year’s lease, but for the moment, I’ll make certain it’s fair.”

  Tears stung my eyes and relief raced through my veins—but we still had to find a killer if we wanted to get into the store. “Thank you, Crowley. You have no idea how much that means to us. Right, Coop?”

  Coop, who was blowing bubbles in her orange juice with her straw (an endless source of fascination for her), simply nodded.

  “But we do still have the problem of getting you ladies into the store. I can’t do a thing about that until the police clear it for evidence.”

  I fought the urge to chew on my fingernail, a bad habit of mine. “Did they say how long it might take?”

  He blew out a breath, running a hand over the smooth top of his head. “They didn’t. They were too busy listing Fergus’s infractions. One after the other, I tell you.”

  Now I reached across the table and placed my palm over his. “I’m so sorry, Crowley. I don’t mean to be insensitive, but do you have any idea who might have done this?”

  Now his laugh was sardonic as it bubbled from his throat—definitely not a sound he appeared comfortable with.

  “Unfortunately, I think the list of names is too long for me to remember at this point. There were plenty of people lining up, wishing Fergus would, at the very least, go away. I’m sure a few of them would have liked to see him dead. I don’t like that he was so despised. I did everything I could to help him find acceptance, but Fergus never cared for the rules of society. He didn’t care that no one liked him. He was always a loner, and nothing I did could change that. Unless there was a scam to be pulled off. Then he didn’t mind a friend or two. It’s what landed him in jail.”

  How funny Crowley had mentioned Fergus doing time. I’d googled him and come up mostly dry but for his Facebook page, where he almost never posted unless it was for a rental space opening up. But I guess, twenty-some years ago, the Internet wasn’t the wealth of information it is today.

  Yet, that made me think. “You said he was in prison. Did he still consort with anyone from his arrest? The armed robbery—did he have help?”

  “He did. Yes, yes. From Slick Yablonski. But Slick’s dead now. Did his time and was run over by a bus two days after he got out of the slammer.”

  I blanched. “How awful.”

  Crowley shook his head, his eyebrows mashing together. “Not awful. There were plenty of things Slick did that he didn’t get caught for. He had karma on his back, I’m sure. In fact, I’d bet that bus was going to take him to his next criminal stunt. He wasn’t a nice man. No more than Fergus was.”

  Yikes. Crowley was certainly unafraid to tell it like it is, and that was refreshing. At least he knew how awful Fergus could be.

  Yet, I still wasn’t sure how to go about these questions. I know Stevie probably went in for the kill from the word go, but I felt like maybe I should tread lightly, being a novice.

  So I cupped my chin in my hand and gave him a thoughtful look. “Can you think of anyone he argued with recently, or maybe if someone threatened him?”

  He leaned back in the booth and looked at me dead on. “You’re not asking these questions because you’re getting involved in police business, are you, Trixie? After everything the two of you have been through, I’d hate to see you hurt.”

  “Yes. That’s exactly why she’s asking them,” Coop answered, finally looking up from her orange juice.

  But I shot him a sympathetic glance. “That’s not entirely true. I’m only asking because we really need to get the ball rolling and move into the store, Crowley. We’ve been out of work for a long time. We need an income. If we had something—some lead or whatever—that maybe connects some dots, we could pass it on to the police and maybe they’d catch whoever did this. Then we wouldn’t have to wait for them to clear Inkerbelle’s. I’ve got boxes and boxes of inventory, waiting to be unpacked. Not to mention, the store’s a wreck…”

  Maybe I’d overstepped, but it was true. We had a lot of work ahead of us. Surely he knew that.

  Now his eyes went sympathetic, the orbs going soft and melty. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am the store’s in such dreadful condition, or that Fergus had the gall to ask for more than the going price for such a mess. I peeked in the windows today and couldn’t believe my eyes. And that’s all my fault. I let too much go by the wayside in favor of too many cruises with the missus. I knew Fergus could be harsh, but I didn’t know he was threatening people. In fact, I’m finding hardly anyone knew I owned the properties. Fergus had them believing he did,” he blustered, his cheeks going red.

  “That’s true. I didn’t know until last night, when someone told me that you owned the building.”

  He winked at me. “Ah, but it’s something else I plan to make note of. I’m happy to give you the next month free of rent. You can use the money to spruce things up, yes? And if I sell it before you’re able to get back in, I’ll have that put in the contract.”

  “And I always have a hand available to help paint, if you need it,” chirped Delores, who’d suddenly reappeared, her smile bright. “Happy to help a fellow business owner. We gotta stick together.”

  My heart beamed. This was community. This was kindness. This was what I was trying to teach Coop.

  A tear threatened to escape my eye, but I pinched m
y hand to tamp it down. “That’s so kind—thank you, both of you. I can’t tell you how much this means to us. We’ve been in a bit of upheaval lately, and hearing this makes everything so much better. Everything.”

  The jostle of the bell over the door just behind our booth jingled, making me look up to find none other than Higgs and Jay sauntering in, with smiles directed at me.

  I’m still not sure how I feel about Higgs. I definitely like Jay. He doesn’t make me throw up my guard in quite the way Higgs does. He’s easy. Easy to talk to, easy to be in silence with. Just easy.

  Higgs made me question everything and everyone—even myself.

  Still, he smiled the moment he saw me sitting at the table, his brilliantly white teeth perfect in the backdrop of his olive complexion but for the chip in his right front tooth, which only added to his charm.

  “Ladies. Fine morning, yes? And Crowley? How are you, old man? I haven’t seen you in ages.” He gave Crowley a hearty handshake and patted him on the back.

  “Higgs! So good to see you. Listen, let me apologize for Fergus—”

  “Bah! No need,” Higgs said, cutting him off. “I know you wouldn’t condone his treatment of my guys. It’s not your fault. Forget it.”

  Crowley shook his head, remorse in his eyes. “I was just apologizing to the ladies here for his behavior. Might as well throw you into the mix. Apparently, Fergus tried to hike up the rent on them. I’m so ashamed, Higgs. Had I known, I would have put a stop to it, but I was lazy, off in the Riviera with the missus.”

  I patted his hand again. “It’s all right. What’s done is done. All we can do is move on from here. That said…” I turned to Higgs and Jay. “Did you find Solomon, Higgs?”

  His face went from light to dark in mere seconds, his eyes deep with concern. “I haven’t, and I’ve been everywhere—all his favorite haunts. I had people canvassing the area all last night into the early morning hours, too. But he’s disappeared into thin air.”

  My heart beat a little faster. That cough had been so awful. He needed medical attention. “Does he disappear often?”

  That wasn’t unusual. Many of the homeless I’d encountered really only wanted peace in their lives, with little to no interference from outsiders. But if this wasn’t a habit, that left me concerned.

  Higgs shrugged as he looked out the large picture window. “Not usually for very long. Not for hours on end. Solomon’s a character. He likes people more than he lets on. When he didn’t show up for breakfast today, after we’d been out looking for him all night… Let’s just say it isn’t like him to miss scrambled eggs and watermelon—two of his favorites.”

  “You’re worried, aren’t you?” I asked, now just as worried.

  “I am.”

  Maybe I should have confided in Higgs and told him what Solomon shared with me about the bad mad guy? I didn’t know if some of it was just his out-of-touch ranting, much like his medieval speak, or if it was mixed in with some reality. But what if he meant Higgs was the bad guy and I was putting him in danger?

  He had run away when Higgs showed up last night.

  Jay slapped his friend on the back, interrupting my thoughts. “We’ll find him. Don’t worry. We’ll go out again after breakfast, yeah?” he soothed, his gentle voice a balm on my frazzled nerves.

  Higgs only nodded. “Yes. After breakfast. Anyway, it was nice seeing you, ladies. Oh, and, Coop, this is Jay Craig. My buddy and partner in the shelter.”

  Coop, who’d sat very silent, turned, her gaze landing on Jay who, unlike Higgs, definitely noted her beauty. You could always tell by the way their eyes widened in surprise, and then they looked away just as quickly so as not to gawk.

  He stuck out a hand, his expression as kind as it had been last night. “Nice to meet you, Coop.”

  “You, too, Jay Craig,” she said, then winced, which I’m assuming was her attempt at a smile.

  Again, there but for the grace of something I couldn’t identify, he didn’t make an observation about her use of his entire name, just smiled, sticking his hands into the pocket of his chinos. “Pleasure. Have a good day.” Then he headed off to find a booth.

  Higgs backed away from our booth, rocking on the soles of his tennis shoes. “I’d better go, too. But if you want to scout for Solomon later, Trixie, I’d be happy for the help.”

  “You bet,” I murmured before he turned and went off in Jay’s direction. I turned back to Crowley, forgetting where I’d left off in my feeble line of questioning. Geez, I felt inadequate.

  But he began pushing his way out of the booth, his phone in hand. “It’s the missus. Promised I’d take her to the store. So I must be on my way. But I wanted to be sure we understood each other, ladies. So, do we have an understanding?”

  I rose, reaching out a hand to him to shake. “We do. And thank you again. Your kindness means everything to us. And if you wouldn’t mind, could you send me the names of people who rent from you?”

  “Are you going to poke around somewhere you shouldn’t, Trixie? I don’t want to worry for your safety.”

  “Well,” I admitted with a smile. “Poke is a strong word, but I promise to stay out of trouble. Promise.”

  “I’ll write it up and text it to you then. Does that work?”

  “It does, and thanks again. You’ve been so generous.”

  He waved a hand and smiled. “It’s nothing. I’ll be in touch.”

  “And if you think of anything—anything about who might have done this—you’ll let us know?”

  Now he winked. “I’ll let the police know first. But yes, I’ll contact you. Take care, ladies,” he said before whisking out the door, the bell’s ring lingering in the air.

  I blew out a breath as I moved to sit opposite Coop, now that Crowley was gone. “So, we still have nothing.”

  She cocked her head. “Do you think Crowley might have done it?”

  My eyes widened as I sipped the last of my coffee, a hearty brew of hazelnut and vanilla French roast. “Wow. I guess I didn’t even think it. Even taking into consideration the stuff he said about his brother. He definitely saw Fergus for what he was. But no. I guess I didn’t consider him a suspect. Any particular reason you do?”

  Coop shrugged, her eyes locking with mine. “I don’t, I suppose. But Stevie said we were to take everyone into consideration. Even our own mothers.”

  I grinned, pushing my cup aside. “Well, my mother is no longer with us, and you don’t have one. So at least we can rule two people out, right?”

  Coop barked the fakest laugh I’d ever heard come out of her mouth, throwing her head back with abandon, and exposing the slender length of her throat.

  I blinked. “What was that about?”

  “I’m practicing laughing. I saw it on a rerun of Dynasty. Joan Collins laughs like that. Did you like that sound? Was it pleasant to your ears?”

  Coop was always surprising me.

  “Why would you ask?”

  “I heard you say you loved the sound of laughter. I was trying to accommodate.”

  Now I laughed, letting my head loll forward on my neck. “Well, thanks, Coop. Job well done. You’re getting there. And you weren’t really rude to Crowley about the state of his hair, or lack thereof, but pointing out something so obvious is a little tactless.”

  “Roger that.”

  Roger that? I think it might be time to limit Coop’s binge watching.

  She tapped the table with a finger. “Now, shall we focus on looking for more suspects and what we have so far, which, FYI, is mostly nothing?”

  I let my head rest in my hands. We did have nothing. A big fat zero. “Well, if we can find Solomon, maybe we can get him to spill who this bad mad guy is. That could be a lead, right?”

  “Do you want me to bring the sword when we look for him?” she asked, the veins in her arms popping out as she made a fist. “I’ll hold it to his throat until he squeals like a—”

  “Coop!” I almost shouted as people began to give us strange star
es. “No. No sword. Solomon’s fragile and sick. We don’t need to threaten him for information. Sometimes just a kind word or some understanding goes a long way.”

  “I don’t understand understanding.”

  “I know, Coop. Let’s forget about that now and think about what’s next. So far, all we have is a bad mad guy who has special powers and does some laundry. I still don’t understand how laundry comes into play. Now we know Fergus did time in the pokey and he was a loan shark, which does open up a bunch of possibilities, but not until we know who rents from Crowley. Then we have Higgs, who definitely had an argument with Fergus, but sure is loved by one and all, and he’s an ex-undercover police officer. Not that it eliminates him, but it’s less likely. And next is Jay. I haven’t really talked about Fergus with him, but he did witness the argument between him and Higgs. He does share a partnership with Higgs at the shelter. It’s in his best interest to keep Fergus off their backs, right?”

  Coop nodded, and pushed her empty glass away, holding up the silver napkin holder. She looked into it, widening and narrowing her eyes while she tugged at her cheek with her free hand. “It is in his best interest. But do you think he’s capable of murder, Trixie Lavender? He appears so docile and calm. And then we have to ask ourselves, the shelter isn’t a maker of big sums of money, correct? It thrives on donations from kind people.”

  “Okay. Where are you going with this?”

  “Why would anyone kill Fergus because of the shelter? He wasn’t taking money from them. He was just being very unkind to the homeless men. What motive does Jay or Higgs have for murdering him other than he was very unkind?”

  My mouth fell open. Point for my demon. I held up my hand in front of her. “Give me some, Coop.”

  She set the napkin holder down. “Give you some what?”

  “Skin, baby. Gimme some skin.” I pointed to my hand, indicating she should high-five me.

  She gasped. “I most certainly will not give you my skin, Sister Trixie Lavender! That’s so—”

  Sirens whirred in the air, the sound pealing through the quiet of Betty’s like a screeching chain saw cutting through the silence of the woods.