Buried Under Clutter (Tina Tales Mysteries Book 2)

by Jan Christensen

  “That’s basically the plan. We make it happen that we seem to just run into him. You steer the conversation around to Rebecca and see what he says.”

  “Oh, so I’m not just along for eye candy. You actually want me to do the heavy lifting.”

  “You’ve been around Uncle Bob too much. You’re starting to talk in clichés.”

  “I’ve noticed that myself. I figure it just adds to my charm. You know, the part about my being cute.”

  “Uh huh.” A smile twitched at the corners of Hank’s lips. “But to clarify, I want you to get the conversation going, then stay in the background, if possible. Think you can handle it?”

  She wasn’t totally sure she could, but she kept her tone firm. “Yes. No problem.”

  “No worries?”

  “No problemo, no worries, no sweat, no trouble.”

  “I think we’ve got the bases covered then.”

  “It’s catching! Stop. Let’s stop. If I’d wanted to listen to all this, we should have invited Uncle Bob along.”

  “But I was having fun with the battle of words.” Hank made a pouting face, and Tina laughed. She hadn’t seen Hank pout since they were about seven years old. She put her hand on his knee.

  She felt a muscle jump and waited to see what he’d say or do. He just kept driving. She left her hand there, occasionally griping it harder or moving it slightly toward his crotch, then back to its original position.

  When they arrived at the outskirts of Boston with heavy traffic, she removed her hand and sat primly with both in her lap.

  Hank showed no reaction. Disappointed, Tina divided her attention between the little red car on the GPS system and the sights as they drove through the city and out east toward Suffolk Downs. She’d never been there, so she looked forward to it, although she did feel a little uneasy about running into Mr. Rankin.

  When they entered the grounds, she gasped. “It’s huge.”

  Hank parked the car, and they walked to the entrance.

  Tina tried not to gawk. “How are we going to find Mr. Rankin?”

  “I expect he’s over there.” Hank pointed, and they walked through crowds to get to some betting booths. “Look up at the board, there.” He pointed. “And pick three winners for the first races.”

  “Crazy names.” Tina picked three and told Hank what they were. They got in line to place their bets and waited. “There he is,” Tina whispered in Hank’s ear.

  “Where?”

  “To your left.”

  Hank turned his head to look. “In the blue business suit?”

  “That’s him.”

  “Okay, we’re going to keep an eye on him and buy the tickets. Pretend you don’t see him and act surprised when we bump into him later.”

  “How are we going to manage that?” How did he know where Mr. Rankin would likely be? She knew there was no use asking him that question.

  “Hopefully we’ll all be finished with the tickets at the same time, and we can just follow him to where he sits.”

  “But you already know where he likes to sit.”

  “True, but still better to keep him in sight because men, like women, sometimes change their minds.”

  “Was that a sexist remark?”

  “Probably. Here we are.” Hank handed the clerk twelve hundred dollars and told her the names of the horses Tina had picked.

  When they turned to leave, they saw Rankin headed toward the grandstand and quickly caught up, but kept their distance with several people between them. Tina saw Rankin was going to sit down and quickened her pace to keep up with Hank.

  The row Rankin sat in had a few open seats, so they followed him in, and Tina was able to sit next to him.

  She did a double-take when she pretended to notice him for the first time. “Mr. Rankin?”

  He looked at her a moment through dark sunglasses without recognition, then gave a little start. “Tina Shaw? What a coincidence. Never seen you here before. How are you?” He had his racing form in one hand and binoculars in the other, so didn’t offer to shake. From his attitude, she suspected he realized it wasn’t a coincidence she sat there beside him. For a moment, she didn’t know what to say.

  Then she decided to just answer his question. “I’m fine. And you’re right, this is my first time at the track. My friend, Hank Silver, asked me to come. Hank, this is Mr. Rankin.”

  Rankin stuffed his racing form into his pocket and held out his hand to Hank. They shook, their hands meeting in front of Tina’s breasts. When they let go, Rankin lightly brushed against Tina, and she suppressed a gasp. Dirty old man. Or was he trying to unsettle her so she wouldn’t pry? She glanced at Hank, who frowned as he met her eyes.

  She tried to keep her voice level. “You come here often?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, you must win a lot then. Who’d you pick for the first race?” She aimed for guilelessness.

  “You win some, you lose some. I like Jersey Boy for first in the first.”

  “Really? That’s who I picked.” She held out her sheet for Rankin to see and realized it was a mistake. Now he thought she’d done that on purpose, too, but it really was a coincidence.

  “Right.” Rankin slid his sunglasses up over his head, put his binoculars to his eyes and studied the field.

  Tina squirmed in her seat. When Rankin stopped looking through the binoculars, she said, “I visited Rebecca the other day. She may have mentioned it.”

  “She did.”

  “I suppose she also told you I saw her outside.”

  “Yes.”

  “She went to see you?”

  “How would you know that?” He looked her in the eye, then glanced at Hank.

  Tina noticed the horses were lining up at the gate. She swallowed hard. This was not going well. “I informed the police, of course, about seeing Rebecca. Everyone thought she never left her house. They told me it was your house she went to.”

  “I see. And why is this of any concern of yours?”

  “I’m just interested, is all. Wouldn’t you be in my place?”

  The horses charged out of the gate. “They’re off!” the announcer blared.

  “Obviously,” Tina muttered.

  Rankin put his binoculars to his eyes again and watched the race. Tina decided to do the same. Jersey Boy came in fourth.

  “Look, Ms. Shaw, I’m not in the mood to answer your questions. I know you’re dying of curiosity, but I have nothing to say to you.”

  “You’re not interested in finding out who murdered your sister?”

  Rankin gave her a baleful stare. “Of course I am. But I don’t see how talking to you will help do that.”

  “It couldn’t hurt. If you didn’t do it.”

  When he looked away, Tina’s heart gave a little lurch in her chest. Was she sitting next to a murderer? She remembered the attic bedroom. Had Rankin used it, too, when down on his luck? Was he desperate for money now because of his gambling? Wouldn’t the police check into that?

  Rankin cleared his throat. “I loved my sister, believe it or not. I didn’t kill her. I’m sure it was those Simpson people. Certainly not one of the family.”

  Of course he’d say that. Tina looked at Hank. His expression was bland, revealing nothing. No help there. She turned back to Rankin. “I’m sure you’re right. It was just a huge surprise to see Rebecca outside her house.”

  Rankin sighed. “She’s been in therapy. Hasn’t told Jenny yet—didn’t want to get her hopes up. The therapist thought it would be a good idea for her to go between our houses since we live so close to each other. Get used to being outside again in a safe environment. So, she comes over once a day. You happened to see her. Nothing sinister about it. She wanted to tell me about your visit. Which, by the way, she enjoyed.”

  Tina felt like crawling under her seat. She wanted to leave but sat rooted to her spot. “I’m glad to hear Rebecca is in therapy. It can really help her, you know.”

  Rankin’s expression hardened. “What
happened the other day set her back. She hasn’t been outside since.”

  “Oh.” Maybe, Tina thought, she should go see Rebecca again. Or maybe not. It might make things worse. Or perhaps Rankin was lying. She couldn’t see his eyes with those dark glasses on. His body was stiff, but that was natural in the circumstances. He wasn’t enjoying the conversation.

  The second race started, and the three of them watched it through their binoculars. The horse Tina had chosen came in dead last. Disappointed, she turned to Hank. “I guess I’m not good at choosing.”

  He shrugged. “No one is. You win that one, Rankin?”

  Harold Rankin looked surprised Hank spoke to him. “Nah.”

  “You win a lot?” Hank persisted.

  Rankin craned his neck around Tina to stare at Hank. “Who are you, anyway?”

  “Just a guy out on a date with his sweetie.”

  “I’ll bet.” Rankin stood up and edged past them.

  “He’s leaving,” Tina whispered to Hank.

  “I noticed. Let’s stay for the third race and see if your luck has changed.”

  “We’re not going to follow him?”

  “He’s not going to tell us anything more. So, we might as well enjoy the rest of the afternoon.”

  “They’re off!” The announcer did his patter. Tina stood up, gripping her ticket, and followed the horses through her binoculars.

  “Go, Neptune’s Trident, go!” Tina screamed as the horse came around the final turn in second place.

  “And the winner is, Neptune’s Trident by a nose.”

  Tina grabbed Hank and hugged him, jumping up and down. “We won! We won!”

  “Oh, yeah.” Hank grinned at her when she calmed down. “That was nice. Let’s go buy some tickets for the next round so we can do this again.”

  She swatted him on the arm and followed him to the ticket booth.

  “Stick with me, doll, and the excitement will never end,” he said in her ear.

  She shivered and grasped his arm to steady her suddenly shaking body. But she turned cold when she noticed Harold Rankin standing near the door, watching them behind those dark sunglasses.

  CHAPTER 49

  Later they took out lunch from the Deli Grill and bet and watched for the rest of the afternoon. None of the horses Tina picked placed, but she and Hank left the Downs in high spirits. All the fresh air, the excitement of each race, and especially being with Hank made her giddy.

  They stopped for dinner at the Petite Robert Central Bistro in Boston, and on the ride back to Newport, Tina asked, “What did you think of Harold Rankin?”

  “A weak man. Bluffer, and not good at it.”

  “So he’s near the top of your suspect list?”

  “I don’t have a suspect list.”

  “Not even a mental one?”

  “No. I’m open to all possibilities until I have as many facts as can be gathered, and as many suspects questioned as can be questioned. Now, a question for you, as a psychologist. Did what Rankin say about his sister visiting him ring true? Would a therapist really suggest she do that?”

  “Oh, yes. Probably in the beginning of the desensitization process the behavioral therapist went with her. First they would stand right outside the back door of Rebecca’s house until she no long hyperventilated. That could have taken days of trying. Then she’d perhaps go to the end of the porch. After she stopped being afraid there, the therapist would get her to go down the stairs. Eventually she could walk all the way to Mr. Rankin’s house. I doubt being inside his house bothered her much. She would have felt almost as safe there with her brother as she did in her own. It was being outside, walking there, that would be so hard for her. The next step was for her to be able to do it alone, without the therapist. Obviously, they got that far.” Tina sighed.

  “And now you’re beating yourself up because your seeing her may have set her back.”

  “You know me too well. Yes. It’s a shame that happened. Especially if she didn’t murder her sister. And I really don’t think she did.”

  “But now the possibility has arisen. We can’t rule it out. She did leave her house; you saw her. She may be at the point where she could have driven to Newport and done it. And she kept it a secret, even from the police.”

  “True. I hope they’re looking into whether she’s been spotted outside anywhere else recently, or driving a car. And I’ve been wondering if there’s any doubt she really was attacked. Did she possibly set that up?”

  Hank looked at her sideways. “You ask some good questions. And the answer to that one is we’re not sure. There’s no test for a sprain. Her shoulder is a little bruised, but not swollen. We only have her word she was attacked. Can’t find a witness who saw anyone around her house during the time she says it happened. Except, of course, for your mother. Two different neighbors saw her come and go.”

  “Great.” Tina chewed the inside of her cheek, then made herself stop. She decided to change the subject. “Now tell me about Mr. Rankin. Did you find his fingerprints all over that attic room?”

  Hank gave her one of his Hank looks. The one where he slid his eyes to meet hers and his lips turned down ever so slightly. She could tell he was debating with himself about telling her or not. But she knew he knew. “Yes, and as you know, Colin’s, too.”

  “Oh.” Tina stared out the window. She ticked off the family members in her mind, putting them in two columns. She liked Jenny and Rebecca and Colin, could imagine having them as friends. She didn’t like Mr. Rankin or Tabitha. “What about Colin?” she asked. “Why would he camp out at his aunt’s house like that?”

  “Don’t know. Maybe to get on her good side. Maybe because he was out of money. Maybe hiding from someone or something. Needs further investigation.”

  “Okay. I’ll ask him out and grill him.”

  Hank gave her a startled look. “Don’t you dare. I don’t want you alone with any of these people until we get to the bottom of this.”

  She loved to see him squirm. It was hard to make him do it. “Okay, but if he asks me out, shouldn’t I go? You can wire me and stay close.”

  His exasperation sounded loud and clear. “No. You should refuse. Tell him you’re seeing someone else.”

  “Ah, I get it. You’d be so jealous you wouldn’t be able to contain yourself, leap out of the bushes and punch him in the nose if he tried to kiss me goodnight.”

  “You got it. I get so uncontained sometimes, it’s scary.”

  “Ohhh.” Tina pretended to shiver all over.

  Hank laughed. “I’m uncontained, and you’re incorrigible.”

  “The perfect pair.”

  Hank’s expression turned sober when he looked at her. “I’ve thought that for a long time.”

  Tina held back a gasp. “How long?” she murmured.

  He smiled. “Since second grade.”

  She slapped him lightly on the arm, then grabbed his knee.

  He swerved the Jaguar slightly. Tina knew he’d done it on purpose. She’d never seen Hank lose control of himself. She squeezed his knee hard, then took her hand away.

  “So, what will the police do about Colin and his father? Will they bring them in for questioning?”

  “That or go visit them,” Hank said in his noncommittal tone.

  She decided to change the subject again. “What about the Simpsons? Have they gotten anything interesting out of them yet?”

  “Actually, I don’t know. I’ve been following up on other stuff. But they were lying low. The police hadn’t been able to locate them until your little scuffle with Eddie.”

  “That’s suspicious, isn’t it?”

  “Somewhat, but lots of people hide out after coming into a lot of money to avoid the press and friends and relatives with their hands out.”

  “That’s true. I do wish the press would get out of the neighborhood. Mom and Uncle Bob don’t like to leave the house. It doesn’t help that we don’t have an attached garage and have to be out in the open to get to
our cars. All three of us talked to our lawyer, and he even got me in touch with a financial advisor. He told us not to talk to the press at all. But it’s hard with some of the questions they throw out.”

  “I know. I’ve even thought of suggesting you all go live somewhere else until this is settled.”

  “I don’t think Mom would ever agree to that. Uncle Bob probably wouldn’t mind, and neither would I. But we wouldn’t leave her alone in the house right now.”

  “No. You wouldn’t want to do that.”

  “You could—” Tina began.

  “I could move in for the duration,” Hank said at the same time.

  They both laughed. Tina’s mind whirled. He’d be right down the hall. Sleeping. In bed. Right down the hall. She tingled all over.

  CHAPTER 50

  When they arrived back in Newport, Tina was happy to see that the reporters were gone. A shadowy figure in police uniform stood outside Olivia’s front door. Maybe he or she had managed to shoo away the newspeople.

  Laura sat in the living room, feet up on an ottoman, reading a book when they came in.

  “I’m glad you’re up,” Tina said. “Hank and I thought it might be good if he stayed here until this is all over.”

  Laura set her book aside. “That’s a great idea. Sit down and tell me what you’ve found out so far.”

  “You haven’t heard from the police about your arrest?” Tina asked. “Since they found out Rebecca can leave the house, I’d think they’d drop the charges.”

  “They won’t bother to do that until they arrest someone else,” Hank said. Tina noticed he didn’t look happy about it.

  Laura smiled weakly at Tina. “It’s all right. I’m not going anywhere until this is over, anyway. Now, who else makes a good suspect?”

  Tina laughed. “Everyone. Rebecca, as you know, can and does leave the house. Tabitha might be shoplifter. Colin might have defrauded his aunt with financial dealings. Mr. Rankin gambles. He may owe a lot of money. Both father and son have spent some time in Olivia’s attic. Jenny is having an affair with a well-known politician.” She decided to leave out Uncle Bob and his old friend Jerry. “Then there’s me. I inherited the most, next to Rebecca.”