Murder Most Howl: A Paws & Claws Mystery

by Krista Davis

  I forced myself back to the things we knew for certain. One of them was that Norm had been married to Juliana, and she had died a terrible death. Shadow maintained his innocence. His father, Hollis, thought Norm had killed Juliana.

  And then my thoughts took me where I hadn’t wanted to go. Val. How did Val know so much about Norm? How could she possibly know all those details about him? She had moved to Wagtail about the same time I had. Of course, she had been related to Norm and probably heard about him from Juliana. But how did she learn all those oddball details like the fact that Blanche had to live in her car? It might not be a secret—after all, Weegie had been aware of that. But it was hardly the kind of thing Norm or Juliana would have bragged about, was it?

  On the clues Val wrote, the Baron von Rottweiler poisoned his second wife. Did she think Norm had poisoned Juliana? And she had said the baron had falsely accused a man of murder. Did she think Shadow had been falsely accused of Juliana’s murder? I had to talk to her. Val wasn’t prone to foolishness. She probably heard a lot in the bar but it seemed to me she knew too much that wasn’t just silly gossip. And she had most definitely structured the clues to make Norm very, very angry. What could she have been thinking?

  Oh no. I wished I wasn’t thinking straight. I liked Val so much. Was it possible that she had arranged the whole Murder Most Howl weekend as some kind of misguided plot against Norm? I couldn’t imagine what she thought she would achieve.

  There was one person who probably knew more than anyone else: Savannah. I would think of a reason to have a chat with her in the morning.

  With a heavy heart, and a heavy chest since Twinkletoes was still on top of me, I drifted off to sleep.

  * * *

  I woke up to the most glorious blue sky. The sun shone on the snow that blanketed the mountains. The sound of a key turning in the door lock roused Gingersnap and Trixie. They lifted their heads and perked their ears.

  Mr. Huckle rolled a room service cart into my living room, and for the first time in my entire life, I was served tea in bed before I rose.

  “This must be how the other half lives. Thank you, Mr. Huckle!” I drank from a lovely china breakfast cup. It was going to be a very good day. I felt thoroughly spoiled. “Is the electricity back?”

  “Indeed it is. It returned about four this morning.”

  “Thank goodness. Hot water for the guests. Any word about the roads?”

  “Not yet. I’ll see you at breakfast, Miss Holly.” He left the cart, which was loaded with delicious-looking breakfast breads. I fed Trixie and Gingersnap breakfast cookies. Twinkletoes pawed at my leg.

  I knew what that meant. In my little kitchen, I opened a container marked Seashore Supper. I assumed it was just as good for breakfast. I spooned chunks of the fish and shrimp into two bowls and set them down for Twinkletoes and Leo. I watched them eat to be sure Trixie and Gingersnap didn’t help them.

  Leo ate every last morsel. Twinkletoes ate half of her food. I set the remainder on the counter so she could finish it at her leisure.

  After a quick shower, I wrapped up in my Sugar Maple Inn bathrobe and tiptoed into my bedroom for clothes.

  Aunt Birdie slept with a mask over her eyes and snored softly. I chose a cheerful deep pink sweater with a V-neck, comfortable khaki trousers, and hoop earrings. I carried them out, quieter than the mouse, whom I hoped had escaped last night.

  When I was dressed, I opened the pet door for Twinkletoes, grabbed a jacket, and headed downstairs. The dogs and cats all beat me to the bottom.

  A handful of members of The Thursday Night Cloak and Dagger Club had already eaten breakfast. One of them called me over.

  “I was packing my belongings this morning, and I simply cannot find my reading glasses. Could you make a note and ship them back to me if you find them?”

  “Absolutely. We’ll keep an eye out for them.” And for Geof’s money clip.

  “I wouldn’t make a fuss but they’re prescription and so expensive to replace.”

  “Of course.”

  I hurried through the lobby before anyone else could catch me. The poor doggys needed to go out!

  Zelda hadn’t arrived yet for work.

  I let the dogs out and noted that Shadow had already cleaned the walk. He was a hard worker. He must have started before dawn.

  The dogs sniffed around for a few minutes but soon returned to me, ready for breakfast.

  But they would have to wait. I scooted behind the reception desk to make sure Casey had been able to run off the bills. Unless the roads were still closed, I suspected we would see a mass exodus today.

  Happily, they were all sitting exactly where they should be. I leafed through them. Everything seemed to be in order. I picked up the phone and called Dave. He sounded alert when he answered.

  “Any news on Myrtle?”

  “They’re still looking for her next of kin. Even if she’s not speaking to her sister, maybe one of her friends knows how to get in touch with her?”

  “I’ll ask. How’s she doing? Did she come around yet?”

  “Still unconscious. They’re worried about frostbite on her fingers and toes.”

  “Keep me posted. What’s the story with the roads?”

  “They have a few more cars, including Ben’s, to get out of the way but they anticipate opening the road around noon.”

  I thanked him and considered calling Val. Her place stayed open late, though. She might not be up yet.

  Trixie and Gingersnap watched me hopefully. “Breakfast.”

  They took off for the dining area, and I followed.

  Holmes was up, eating a stack of pancakes that made my mouth water. Trixie was already making sad eyes at him. Holmes grinned at me. “I knew you couldn’t be too far away.”

  Shelley swung by and filled my mug with coffee. “I heard about Myrtle. Is it true that one of her book club members shoved her down some stairs?”

  “Where did you hear that?”

  “Here. I pick up bits of conversation when I’m serving.”

  “Her friends think someone in The Thursday Night Cloak and Dagger Club did it?”

  “I heard some people betting on Weegie.”

  “That’s nonsense,” I scoffed, but quickly added, “unless they know something I don’t.”

  “Pancakes?” asked Shelley. “I think Trixie and Gingersnap have their hearts set on them.”

  I thought the same thing. “Yes, please.” To the dogs, I said, “Tomorrow we’re back to healthier food.”

  “You realize that they’re laughing at you,” Holmes pointed out.

  Their tails swished on the floor. Their mouths were open, and they seemed to be smiling. They probably were laughing at me.

  “After breakfast, I’m heading home to my parents’ house to pack. Maybe I ought to spend a few minutes with them, too.”

  “They’d probably appreciate that. Tell them I apologize for stealing you this weekend.” I knew he had to go home to Chicago but that didn’t stop me from feeling a little melancholy about it.

  “Aww, you can steal me anytime.”

  I wished that were true.

  “If the airport is open, I’ll head back to Chicago tonight, but I’ll be at Hair of the Dog at noon to see who won Murder Most Howl. Now that Myrtle is out of the running, I bet it’s Ian and Geof.”

  My pancakes arrived. A mixture of fresh strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries adorned the top. Maple syrup flowed over the sides of the stack. I checked the bowls that Shelley had brought for the dogs. Their pancakes were smaller. A dollop of mashed pumpkin sat on top, adorned with berries, which Trixie probably wouldn’t touch but Gingersnap would eat for her. They even had a drizzle of maple syrup.

  They snarfed their pancakes and gave me the I-love-you-and-your-pancakes look that I knew all too well.

  After breakfast, Gingersnap took up her position in the lobby, greeting everyone who passed through. I popped into the inn’s commercial kitchen.

  “Need something
?” asked Shelley.

  “An excuse to visit Savannah.”

  “How about an apple Bundt cake with caramel drizzle?”

  “That sounds good.”

  “Help yourself. We probably won’t have as many people for tea today anyway. A lot of them will leave right after the meeting at Hair of the Dog.”

  “Good point.” The cake wasn’t a lightweight. Thick caramel coated the top and it smelled heavenly. I set up a box and lowered the cake into it. Once closed, I wrapped it with an elastic gold band to secure it.

  When I emerged from the kitchen, Aunt Birdie pounced on me. She wore a rust turtleneck with a navy blue boiled wool cardigan and trousers in the same shade. Large silver earrings and a chunky silver bracelet completed her ensemble. Her outfit was actually quite chic. “You look nice.”

  She cast a critical eye on my apparel. “Hmm. You’d do well to take my advice on your wardrobe.”

  Suddenly I was very glad I had someplace to go.

  “Holly, dear, your grandmother’s absence provides the perfect opportunity to make some much-needed improvements here at the inn. For starters, the towels I used this morning were an adequate quality but they really should be imprinted with the name of the inn.”

  It took me a moment to recover from my surprise. “Aunt Birdie, I’m just on my way out. Maybe you could have breakfast, and we’ll talk when I return? I recommend the pancakes.”

  In a rush, I pulled on my jacket, dressed Trixie in hers, and told Mr. Huckle to call me if I was needed. Trixie and I headed out the door into the glorious after-snow day. The air had warmed a little. Between the sun and the snow, the glare forced me to dig into a pocket for sunglasses.

  It was as though Wagtail had awakened. Shopkeepers smiled and waved. Everyone was glad the blizzard and wind had passed. Things were getting back to normal. But they would never be the same for Norm or for Myrtle.

  I knocked on the green door.

  Bingo barked twice, and Trixie barked back at him.

  Savannah opened the door and pulled me inside. She closed it fast and locked it.

  Thirty-two

  “What’s going on?”

  Savannah stood with her back to the door. She held a finger up to her lips indicating that I should be quiet.

  Nothing happened. I didn’t hear a thing. I held up my free hand in question.

  She escorted me into the living room. All the curtains were drawn. Half-packed boxes cluttered the floor. “Are you moving?”

  Savannah burst into tears.

  I held her while she sobbed. “Where’s the kitchen?”

  Sniffling, she led me to a cheerful yellow kitchen with white cabinets. A kitchen table occupied a sweet bay window that probably overlooked the backyard. But all the shades had been drawn.

  I told her to sit down, put the kettle on, and looked around the kitchen for tea. I found it in a cupboard. Mugs hung on a little stand on the counter. I slid tea bags into two mugs.

  Savannah jumped up. “We can’t have tea! We can’t eat anything in this house! It’s all such a mess. I thought it was my fault that Norm died. But—” her eyes grew big “—they know I’m here.”

  “Honey, what is going on?”

  Bingo started barking, which sent Savannah into a new frenzy.

  “There’s a guy outside watching me. I need to go someplace private.”

  “Come to the inn, and we’ll talk this out. Okay?”

  She nodded. “Give me just a second.”

  I returned to the living room and peeked out from behind the curtain. Looked pretty peaceful to me.

  Savannah returned with her hair tucked under a knit hat. It was pulled down so low that she was barely recognizable. She wore what had to be one of Norm’s coats. It was too long and totally shapeless. If I had passed her on the street, I wouldn’t have recognized her. “Ready?”

  “When we leave, act like I’m some old lady, okay?”

  Bingo would give her away to anyone who knew her, but she was already so agitated that I didn’t think I should mention that.

  She locked the door and closed it behind us.

  A block later, I spotted a guy in a blue ski jacket. On any other day, I wouldn’t have paid much attention to him. But given Savannah’s fear, I tried to watch him surreptitiously while being cheerful to Savannah so she wouldn’t notice. I could tell she was scared out of her wits even without knowing he was behind us.

  Instead of walking back through the residential neighborhood, I cut over to the green, where shops and restaurants lined the sidewalk.

  I pointed out the cute display in the window of Shadow’s mom’s store, which gave me a chance to see if the guy had followed us when we turned.

  He had. He wore a baseball cap that said Yankees. As odd as that might seem in the South, the Yankees had recently brought an affiliate team to a town about an hour away, so the caps were turning up everywhere. It no longer marked him as an out-of-towner.

  We continued on our way and entered the inn through the main lobby. Mr. Huckle greeted us, and took Savannah’s coat, which gave me the opportunity to see if the guy was outside.

  Sure enough, he lingered on the plaza, looking up at the inn.

  I excused myself and told Savannah I needed a word with Mr. Huckle. She wandered into the Dogwood Room for a look at the view of the lake and the mountains.

  “We were followed,” I blurted out.

  Mr. Huckle’s forehead furrowed with concern.

  I motioned him to the window. “Blue jacket, Yankees cap.”

  “Shall I call Officer Dave?”

  “Please. I’m taking her down to the office.”

  I collected Savannah, who raved over the view. At least it had taken her mind off her problems. I took her straight into the office.

  Zelda flashed me a curious look. “Lock the outside door,” I whispered.

  I had carried the cake back. I set it on the coffee table. “Are you hungry? You probably haven’t eaten much.”

  Gingersnap appeared out of nowhere, as though she knew someone needed comforting. I would have expected Bingo to cozy up to Savannah, but it was Gingersnap who sat beside her and placed her head in Savannah’s lap.

  She stroked Gingersnap’s head, and I finally saw the glimmer of a smile.

  I made idle chitchat for a few minutes to calm her nerves.

  Mr. Huckle surprised me by bringing tea in a silver tea service. When he handed me a floral tea cup, I asked, “Who’s watching the door?”

  He whispered back, “Ben. We’re still trying to reach Officer Dave.” And then he served the cake. I felt a little bit guilty. I wasn’t used to being waited on like this. Oddly enough, his presence appeared to calm Savannah.

  When he left, I closed the door and said, “Tell me what’s going on.” I no longer thought she was overreacting or being dramatic.

  “Do you remember that day on the green when Trixie came to play with Bingo?”

  I nodded.

  “I had made up my mind to leave Norm. Things weren’t working out at all between us. And then this girl came by to thank Norm for the puppy he gave her.”

  “That was nice.”

  “No! It wasn’t! That was when I realized that I was Juliana.”

  I wasn’t following her at all. “You’re not making sense.”

  “Don’t you see? Norm gave me Bingo. And then Juliana died. It was the same thing all over again. Except this time, he gave another girl the puppy, and I was the one he wanted to get rid of.”

  “Maybe not.” It was a bit of a leap.

  “Blanche was the only one who made it out alive. Norm mentioned that she was coming to town and staying in Randolph Hall. So I went over there to talk with her. He was such a jerk. He followed me and waited outside. When Blanche’s husband came home, Norm finally walked away. The coward! He had no problems frightening two women, but as soon as a tiny eighty-pound weakling guy showed up, Norm took off. I couldn’t call my dad. My parents thought Norm walked on water. He was alway
s right in their eyes. They never would have supported my decision to leave him. So I called Shadow, who said to take Bingo and go to his cabin. He met me there and let us in. I stayed with him that night. When Dave called my cell phone and said Norm was dead, I couldn’t believe it. And then I realized that if I had been home that night, I would have known Norm didn’t come home. I could have looked for him or called Dave and reported him missing. I felt so guilty. I wanted to leave him. I didn’t want him to die!”

  A soft scratching on the door alarmed Savannah. But I knew exactly who it was. I opened the door and Twinkletoes walked in. She leaped onto the sofa and rubbed her head against Savannah’s arm.

  Savannah cooed at her. “What a pretty kitty you are. Honestly, I’m jumping at everything now. First all kinds of nice people came by the house, offering sympathy. Even Shadow’s parents. I think they always hoped Shadow and I would end up together. Anyway, the next morning I answered the door and this man was standing there. I had never seen him before. He demanded that I pay him money. And a couple of hours later another one showed up. I guess they were loan sharks or something. They made all kinds of threats. So I figured I better pay them, but when I checked with the bank this morning, I found out that we’re dead broke. Norm borrowed against everything. Our house, Randolph Hall, everything we have. Only he didn’t do it through the bank, he did it through people that break your legs when you don’t pay them back. There’s about four hundred dollars in our bank account.”

  I wasn’t particularly surprised to hear that Norm was involved with scuzzy people. “Did you call Dave?”

  “No. I called my dad. He said Norm had to have his money stashed somewhere. That a man like him surely had investments. I just had to go through Norm’s papers and find them.”

  “So that’s what you were doing today when I came by?”

  “Yes. But there’s one more thing. Dave called me this morning. When Norm died, they found a little vial in his pocket. At the time no one was very concerned about it but they had it analyzed anyway. It was rat poison.”