Merriment & Murder

by Jenna St James

“Let’s go see what Aunt Aggie knows,” I said. “Then we can follow up with Mariah, Beatrice, and Thomas.”

  The front door to the B&B was unlocked, so I let us in and headed to the back of the house.

  “Aunt Aggie?”

  “Back here, Brynn,” she called out.

  Aunt Aggie and Chef Granger were standing in the middle of the kitchen eating sandwiches.

  “Grilled cheese,” Chef Granger said. “You girls want one?”

  “You’re like this famous chef,” I said. “Why’re you making grilled cheese?”

  Chef Granger grinned. “These aren’t your typical grilled cheese. Trust me.”

  “I’ll take one,” Raven said.

  “Me too,” Peyton said.

  My mouth dropped open. “We just had donuts.”

  “And now I need something to soak up all that sugar and caffeine,” Raven said.

  I shrugged. “Makes sense, I guess. I’ll have one too.”

  Chef Granger turned to the stove and started preparing our meal. “Do you guys like avocados?”

  “Yes. But on a grilled cheese?” I scoffed. “Yuck.”

  “Just trust me,” he said.

  “So how’s it going so far?” Aunt Aggie asked. “Anything promising?”

  I slid a glance at Chef Granger. “We’re still tracking down alibis.”

  “Who all have you talked with this morning?” Aunt Aggie asked.

  “Percy and Barbie,” Peyton said. “Plus we’ve gotten Mr. Powell’s alibi.”

  I cleared my throat. “We still have Mariah, Thomas, and Beatrice to talk with. And then…”

  “And then?” Aunt Aggie prompted.

  Chef Granger turned from the stove. “Me?”

  Aunt Aggie’s mouth dropped. “You? Why you?”

  Chapter 13

  “I wondered if you’d overheard the conversation between Temperance and myself,” Chef Granger said. “I guess you did.”

  Aunt Aggie held up a hand. “Wait. What’s going on here, James?”

  “Peyton, Raven, and I were in the butler’s pantry last night sneaking cookies,” I said. “We were about to head back into the party when we heard someone arguing.”

  “Temperance had stopped me to let me know if I didn’t fire Mariah immediately she was going to call a bank board meeting on Monday and demand they call in my loan payment.”

  “Why take it out on you?” Aunt Aggie asked.

  Chef Granger sighed. “It’s more than just me hiring Mariah. Last year, I dated Temperance for a very short time. Not even a month.”

  I bit my lip to keep from laughing at the incredulous look Aunt Aggie gave him.

  “She was quite a bit younger than us in school,” Aunt Aggie said, “so I really didn’t know her that well. But from what I saw last night, she hadn’t changed much.”

  “It didn’t take me long to see her true colors,” Chef Granger said. “I broke it off as soon as I figured out her game. She was a very manipulative woman. Downright mean.”

  “I think we were the only ones to overhear the conversation,” I said. “So you shouldn’t really be on Chief Baedie’s radar. But you understand why we need to ask you where you were at certain times last night, right?”

  Chef Granger nodded. “I do. And I respect the fact you’re asking.”

  “The truth is, I don’t know if you were in the kitchen or not when she was killed,” I said. “I know for a fact there were a few times when we walked through the kitchen last night and you weren’t there. And one of the last times anyone saw Temperance alive was right before we went to gather wood, and you were in the kitchen talking with Mariah.”

  “I was in and out of the kitchen at all hours last night. And after you girls went through the kitchen to go outside, and Mariah and I parted company, I think I did go into the dining room to check on the cookie supply. However, when I heard about Temperance’s discovery, I was in the kitchen. It was Mariah who came and got me.”

  “Did you kill Temperance Clairmont?” Raven asked.

  “I did not.”

  He handed me a plate, and I set it down on the counter. Peyton and Raven accepted their sandwiches and began devouring them. Following suit, I picked up the grilled cheese and took a big bite.

  “Oh my gosh,” I moaned. “This is amazing.”

  “It sure is,” Raven agreed.

  “Don’t take this the wrong way,” I said, “but we really can’t just take you on your word you didn’t kill her.”

  James grinned. “You’re a tough nut to crack.”

  There was a lull before Aunt Aggie spoke. “I’ve known James for a good number of years. Granted, we lost touch for a significant period of time, but I have to go on faith that if he says he didn’t kill Temperance, then he didn’t kill her.”

  I gave him my best steely look. “I will admit I have stronger suspects. But if after we question Thomas and Beatrice we feel they aren’t viable candidates, I’m going to have to circle back to you. You understand that, right?”

  Chef Granger nodded. “I do. But I can promise you, I didn’t kill her.”

  Aunt Aggie stood up. “You girls finish up. I have to go back to cleaning. You can tell it’s Christmas…glitter everywhere.”

  I snorted. “Yeah, not sure when the last time I saw so much glitter. Even Jessica and Janice had on glitter dresses last night.”

  “I’ve had to dump my vacuum six times already,” Aunt Aggie said. “And I’ve only done the great room and front parlor. I can’t tackle the library until Chief Baedie gives me the go-ahead it’s okay to enter.”

  Aunt Aggie walked out of the kitchen, leaving us alone with Chef Granger.

  “Did I tell you my grandson is moving to Copper Cove next week?” he asked. “He’ll start high school after the new year.”

  “What grade?” Raven asked.

  “Senior,” Chef Granger said.

  “What?” I exclaimed. “Who starts a new school the last semester of their senior year?”

  “My son is a police officer,” Chef Granger said. “He applied for the officer position here in Copper Cove a few weeks ago and got the job.”

  I knew exactly what job opening he was talking about, and why it was open. “Your grandson isn’t upset that he has to move to a different school his senior year?”

  “No. His mother passed away a few years ago, and it’s just been him and his dad. My grandson already has his life planned out. He’s going into the Marine Corps after he graduates, and he’s already said it doesn’t matter to him what school he graduates from as long as he graduates.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest and stared Chef Granger in the eyes. “Then I guess it’s a good thing you didn’t kill Temperance. I’d hate to think your son would have to arrest you for murder his first week on the job.”

  Chef Granger grinned. “I knew I liked you for a reason.”

  Chapter 14

  “How much farther?” Raven asked.

  We were on our way to talk with Mariah. I didn’t think it would be cool to ask Chef Granger to rat out his worker with her address, so I pulled her name up on the internet and found her address. I recognized the street name, so all we had to do was find the right house.

  “Look!” Peyton exclaimed from the backseat. “Isn’t that Percy?”

  “Slow down! Slow down!” I said to Raven.

  Pulling over to the side of the street, we watched as Mariah waved goodbye to Percy. He pulled out of her driveway, never once looking our way.

  “I thought he was going to see his lawyer,” Peyton said, “and then going to the funeral home.”

  Raven snorted. “Guess he forgot to tell Barbie of his plans.”

  “Omigosh!” I said. “Do you guys think maybe they’re in this together?”

  “You mean like the two of them planned it beforehand?” Peyton asked.

  “Could be,” Raven said. “I mean, Mariah obviously knew she was going to be working the event, so there’s opportunity. She and Percy devise a plan to
take out his mom. He inherits, she marries him, everyone is happy.”

  “Except Temperance,” I said. “She’s dead. She ain’t happy.”

  “I don’t know,” Peyton said. “Mariah looked miserable last night when she saw Percy and Barbie together. If Percy and Mariah planned it ahead of time, they sure are convincing.”

  “And besides,” Raven added, “they couldn’t have planned ahead of time to kill Temperance in the library when she was in there, because they’d have no idea Temperance would be in there alone. This was impulsive. The killer saw an opportunity and took it.”

  I sighed. “You’re right. I guess I got carried away.”

  “What does stick out,” Raven said, “is the fact that now that Temperance is out of the picture, Mariah can have what she wants. And from the looks of it, she’s going to get it.”

  We waited a few more minutes to let Mariah settle back down inside before I knocked on her door.

  “This is a surprise,” she said, glancing in the direction Percy’s car had just driven off in. “What’s going on?”

  “We just came to see how you were doing,” I lied. “Aunt Aggie said when Chief Baedie left her house this morning, he had you in his sights. How’re you holding up?”

  Emotion flickered in her eyes…I couldn’t be sure if it was anger or fear. “Yes, the Chief did stop by.”

  “Everything okay?” Peyton asked.

  “No,” she snapped, “everything is not okay. I have to go down to the station for a formal interview in about an hour.”

  I shrugged. “But he doesn’t really have anything on you. Right?”

  Mariah narrowed her eyes. “Of course he doesn’t. I didn’t do anything.”

  I scrunched up my face, pretending to think. “I mean, outside of the fact you and Percy used to be engaged, he doesn’t have anything.” I paused. “Well, and the fact you were wearing a glittery shirt and there was glitter found on Temperance’s body.”

  “I didn’t kill Temperance Clairmont, and I don’t have to prove otherwise.”

  “Unless you’re arrested,” Raven said. “Then you might want to.”

  Mariah snorted. “I’m not getting arrested. Chief Baedie said this was just a question and answer session in an ongoing investigation.”

  Raven clucked her tongue. “I hate to tell you this, Mariah, but with both of my parents being lawyers, I know standard cop speak for number one suspect when I hear it.”

  The color drained from Mariah’s face, and I hoped like heck she was guilty…otherwise I was gonna feel bad for making her sweat the interview.

  “I overheard what Temperance said to you by the staircase,” I said, “right before she went to the library to retrieve the book she was looking for.”

  “You did?”

  Nodding, I gave her my most sympathetic smile. “I did. I’m sorry for what she said to you. And then a few minutes later, the three of us cut through the kitchen and saw you and Chef Granger. You looked like you’d been crying.”

  “Look, I may have been upset, but I wasn’t upset enough to follow her into the library and murder her.”

  “Don’t take this the wrong way,” I said, “but right before she died, you said to her you hoped she choked on all the bad things she ever said about you. And then moments later, someone strangles her. You understand how that looks, right?”

  Mariah took a step back into her house. “Chief Baedie has asked me to bring in my t-shirt from last night when I go in for the interview. He said if I didn’t do it voluntarily, he could get a search warrant. I don’t know what he is hoping to find, but he won’t find it on my shirt…because I didn’t kill her.”

  Chapter 15

  “Hopefully we’ll learn something more from Thomas or Beatrice,” Peyton said.

  “Luckily with us being on Christmas vacation,” I said, “we can investigate tomorrow if we need to.”

  Raven turned onto Fishermen’s Drive and continued down the narrow street. Houses were lined on both sides of the road, and Christmas decorations were up on most houses.

  “Look.” I pointed to Thomas Baskins high on a ladder stringing Christmas lights on his house. “Hope this means Beatrice is home too.”

  Raven pulled into the drive and we headed over to Thomas. He scowled down at us from the top of the ladder.

  “I’ve already heard through the grapevine about you girls,” he said. “When your grandmother was arrested last month, you three went on a mission to prove her innocence. I don’t know what you’re doing here, but I’m sure it has to do with Temperance’s death.”

  His voice caught on Temperance’s name, but I pretended not to notice. “We’d just like to talk with Beatrice for a minute.”

  “Beatrice is sick,” Thomas said. “She’s too ill to speak to you today.”

  The front door opened, and I turned to look at Beatrice. He hadn’t been exaggerating…Beatrice looked like death. She was pale and sweaty, and swaying lightly on her feet.

  “I thought I heard voices out here.”

  Her speech had a slight slur to it.

  “You girls come in now.” She gestured weakly for us to follow her.

  “Not long,” Thomas said. “Beatrice, you need your rest to feel better.”

  She nodded slowly and then shut the door behind us.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked. “You didn’t seem sick last night.”

  She touched her temple and smiled. “It was sudden. I felt okay when I went to bed, but this morning after breakfast, I just felt horrible. I’m hoping it’s just a twenty-four hour flu bug. I can’t afford to be sick right now. We’re busy at the diner, and I have Christmas to get ready for next week.”

  “Let’s sit down,” Peyton said. “You look like you could fall over any minute now.”

  “You girls are so sweet.”

  We followed her into the living room and sat down.

  “We’re just stopping by people’s houses this morning,” I said, “and making sure everyone is all right after what happened last night.”

  “A lot of people are sad over Temperance’s death,” Raven said.

  I tried not to snort at her obvious lie.

  “I’m not,” Beatrice said. “I’m glad she’s dead.”

  I reached out and patted her hand. “Yeah, you did seem a little upset last night.”

  Beatrice blinked back tears. “She was a horrible woman. She got what she deserved.” Beatrice put her hand to her head again. “Or is it she deserved what she got? My mind seems to be a little foggy right now.”

  Peyton scooted to the edge of the couch and leaned forward to catch Beatrice’s eyes. “My friend, Brandon, said he saw you in the conservatory, and that you looked upset.”

  Beatrice frowned. “I guess so.”

  “He was going to talk with you,” Peyton continued, “but he said Thomas came in and said he was ready to go. You two had words and then you left the room.”

  “Yes,” she said. “I think that sounds right.”

  “Do you remember where you went when you left the room?” I asked.

  The front door opened and Thomas walked in. “Beatrice, it’s time for your medication. I’ll get it and bring it to you.”

  “I’m sorry you’re feeling so awful,” Peyton said. “Be sure to rest up after we leave.”

  “I will,” Beatrice promised.

  “I like your A Christmas Story leg lamp,” Raven said. “Very retro.”

  Beatrice laughed softly. “That’s Thomas’ lamp. He loves that lamp. Last Christmas I had to fight him to put it away until this Christmas.”

  “You know, my Grams has the apothecary in town,” I said. “If you tell me what your exact symptoms are, she might have something to help.”

  Thomas strode into the living room and handed a cup to Beatrice. “No offense, Brynn, but Beatrice doesn’t need any of that hocus pocus crap. She’s seriously ill. I haven’t seen her this sick…well, not in the two years we’ve been married.”

  I was about to t
ell him it wasn’t hocus pocus crap, but then thought better of it. I’d learned a long time ago you can’t change some people’s minds so why bother trying.

  “Drink it all,” Thomas said to Beatrice. “It’s the vegetable broth I make that you love.”

  “Thank you, Thomas.” Beatrice took a long sip of the broth and smiled at him. “Thomas has been growing his own vegetables for years. This broth is the perfect blend of carrots, celery, onions, mushrooms, and sage.”

  “Sounds wonderful,” Peyton said.

  “Has Chief Baedie stopped by today to ask for your alibis last night?” I asked.

  Thomas snorted. “No. Why would he?”

  I shrugged. “I just figured he was talking with everyone who was at the party last night. He’s talked to my aunt twice.”

  “Again why?” Thomas asked. “She just moved to town. She wouldn’t have a reason to kill Temperance.”

  “No,” I said, “but the scarf used to strangle Temperance was my aunt’s. Didn’t you know?”

  Thomas swallowed hard and blinked back tears. “No. I didn’t know it was her scarf.”

  “A scarf?” Beatrice asked. “Yes.”

  We all turned to stare at Beatrice. Her eyes were glassy, and she looked ready to keel over at any minute.

  “My wife obviously isn’t feeling well and needs her rest,” Thomas said. “If she doesn’t improve by tomorrow, I’m going to have to insist she see a doctor. But right now, I need you three to leave and let her rest.”

  “Yes,” Beatrice slurred. “I need to rest.”

  ***

  “That was the weirdest thing ever,” I said as we drove back toward Grams’ house. “And I’m mad I didn’t get a chance to see her sweater. If Chief Baedie wants Mariah to bring in her shirt, they must be trying to match the glitter found on Temperance.”

  “Pretty smart thinking,” Peyton said.

  “I’m thinking Beatrice knows something,” Raven said. “Maybe she saw something or knows more than she’s letting on.”

  “She’s so out of it,” Peyton said, “there’s no telling what’s true and what’s a lie right now.”