Murder at St. Winifred's Academy

by J. D. Griffo

  “I hope I’m not too early for our meeting, Vin?” Donna asked.

  “Nope, you’re right on time,” he replied. “Jinx and I were just finishing up.”

  “We were?” Jinx asked.

  “Yes,” Vinny confirmed. “I’ll let you know when we find the address and what response we get on that other matter.”

  “Talking in code,” Donna gushed. “Looks like I stumbled into the middle of some hush-hush tête-à-tête.” Vinny opened his mouth to protest, but Donna interrupted. “Don’t try to deny it. I know when a person looks suspicious.”

  Jinx thought to herself that she could say the same thing about Donna.

  * * *

  Later that night, Jinx was in Donna’s lair, so to speak, but she wasn’t at St. Winifred’s Academy to investigate its principal; she was there to figure out the best way to publicize what was becoming known as the show that would not die. Even if its star had.

  She sat at a table in the back of the theatre along with Nola, Sloan, and Joyce as they brainstormed on how to let the public know the Tranquility Players were back in business. Father Sal, Benny, and Bruno were rehearsing on stage with Johnny while Helen and Alberta were going over their lines in one of the last rows. Jinx could see that Helen never opened her script and had already memorized her part. Alberta, on the other hand, kept looking down at her script to help her get through the scene. Helen had had a head start because Alberta had just joined the cast, but it was clear that Helen was taking her foray into acting very seriously. Jinx wasn’t worried that Alberta wouldn’t learn her lines in time because she had the best scene partner possible, her own sister. They were a terrific team on- and offstage. That was it! They had been searching for a publicity angle and it was staring them all in the face the whole time.

  “Put Gram and Aunt Helen on the cover of the new poster and you’ll sell out every night,” Jinx announced.

  “That’s a brilliant idea, Jinx,” Sloan agreed. “Capitalize on the fact that real-life sisters are playing sisters in the show.”

  “I love it,” Nola said. “But do you think they’ll go for it? They aren’t what I affectionately refer to as publicity whores.”

  “Alberta might need some convincing,” Joyce said. “But Helen will be all for it.”

  Turning around in her seat, Helen addressed the group, “Helen will be all for what?”

  “Appearing on the new poster for the show alongside Alberta,” Joyce explained. “The Ferrara sisters as you’ve never seen them before.”

  “I don’t know about that,” Alberta said. “People might think we’re doing this for our egos.”

  “Why else are we doing it?” Helen asked. “We’ll do it!”

  Helen’s enthusiastic cry was heard throughout the theatre, including the stage, where Johnny was trying to direct a scene.

  “Do you mind keeping it down?!” Johnny bellowed. “I’m trying to direct a show, if you haven’t noticed!”

  “Sorry,” Helen said. “Carry on Macduff.”

  Unperturbed by Johnny’s outburst, Helen and Alberta resumed running lines. Jinx, however, could still hear the rough tone of Johnny’s voice.

  “Does he always yell like that?” Jinx asked.

  “You don’t understand theatre people, Jinx,” Nola replied, dismissing the comment with a shrug.

  “Theatre people have no right to yell at one another like that and you know it,” Jinx said. “He’d better not yell at you like that.”

  “Jinx, I love you, but I’m warning you to back off where Johnny’s concerned,” Nola said.

  “She’s only concerned about you, honey,” Joyce intervened. “Also too, we all are.”

  Nola sighed, and it looked as if she was going to scream louder than Johnny, but instead when she spoke, her voice was hardly above a whisper. “Thank you.”

  She didn’t need to say anything more for them to understand how grateful she was that she had people looking out for her. It was the same comforting feeling that raced through Jinx’s body when she saw Vinny walk through the door.

  “Excuse me,” Jinx said. “Joyce, could you come with me for a sec?”

  Jinx, with Joyce right behind her, greeted Vinny and led him to where Alberta and Helen were sitting. Whatever he had to share, he’d need to share with the four of them. No more secrets.

  “We found out where Adrienne lives,” Vinny said. “And she’s right here in New Jersey.”

  “Missy Michaels’s only living relative is living here in Jersey?” Alberta asked, stunned by the revelation.

  “That’s correct, Alfie,” Vinny replied. “And not too far away, in Parsippany.”

  “Parsippany?” the ladies hissed.

  “Granted, it’s no Tranquility, but you’re making it sound like a dirty word,” Vinny said.

  “Because it is, Vin,” Alberta said. “It’s where Kip lives.”

  Vinny let some air escape his lips and whistle into the air. “That does put a little blemish on the facts, doesn’t it?”

  “Do you think Adrienne and Kip know each other?” Helen asked.

  “Not according to Adrienne,” Vinny replied. “She didn’t mention his name when we spoke with her earlier.”

  “You spoke with Adrienne already?” Jinx asked.

  “Of course, we did,” Vinny said. “And I’m sharing that fact with you now like I promised.”

  Softening, Jinx backpedaled. “You’re absolutely right and we thank you.”

  “Do you think Adrienne has anything to do with Missy’s murder?” Alberta asked.

  “I don’t know, Alf,” Vinny replied. “She doesn’t have a record, and other than being Missy’s only living blood relative, she doesn’t seem to have any ties to her. We’re looking into her alibi, so we’ll know more in a bit, but from my first meeting with her, she seems like a good kid. Maybe a little shy and nerdy, but I didn’t come away thinking she has what it takes to commit murder.”

  Alberta crossed her arms and looked at Jinx, Joyce, and Helen, then returned her gaze to face Vinny. “We’ll be the judge of that.”

  CHAPTER 20

  Molto lontano da casa.

  For the second time in almost as many days, Jinx and Alberta drove to Parsippany to investigate another unsuspecting person of interest. Instead of Jinx driving, however, Alberta was behind the wheel of her BMW. They would tell Adrienne that Jinx’s Chevy was in the shop so her grandmother, who just happened to be a life-long Missy Michaels fan, was more than willing to play chauffeur so Jinx could keep her appointment to interview Adrienne for The Herald. They just had to remember never to tell Helen, who might not appreciate someone taking over her designated role in the family business.

  Although Alberta and Jinx had both lived in the area for several years, there were still many parts of New Jersey and even nearby towns that they knew by name only. Parsippany was one of them. Whereas Tranquility was a small lakeside community where everyone knew almost everyone else and it took effort to remain anonymous, Parsippany was a sprawling city. Which meant that even though Kip and Adrienne shared the same zip code, it was very possible they would never bump into each other.

  Officially, Parsippany was a municipality. Which meant it was large enough to be called a city but had a geographical makeup more appropriate of a town. It wasn’t urban, like Hoboken, where Alberta grew up, but filled with parks, lakes, even a golf course. Visually, it was like Tranquility, only supersized.

  When Jinx pulled into the parking lot of the Troy Hills Village apartment complex, where Adrienne lived, they realized they hadn’t even entered this part of town when they visited Kip. He lived several miles away on the other side of Lake Parsippany. Still, it was quite a big coincidence that Missy’s only living relative and her number one fan just happened to live in the same New Jersey town. Hopefully, once they started chatting with Adrienne, they’d find out which type of murder her presence in the area was like: accidental or premeditated.

  The complex itself was the typical garden apartme
nt setup: a collection of two-story, L-shaped brick buildings, well-manicured lawns, a few trees on the edges of the property, with swimming pool behind the buildings. It all looked nicely maintained, but not a suite of luxury units. Which made sense because they were meeting with a twenty-five-year-old woman who was living alone.

  As they walked up to the front steps, Alberta marveled at how the world had changed. “I didn’t live alone until I was sixty-four.”

  “I guess that’s why you’re always up for an adventure,” Jinx said. “You’re making up for lost time.”

  “As if I could back out of participating in any of our little adventures,” Alberta remarked. “You would never let me live it down.”

  “Don’t put it on me, Gram, you love the thrill of it,” Jinx said. “Like ringing the doorbell of a woman who, for all we know, could’ve killed her great-aunt.”

  “I’ll just act like I do whenever I have to visit my cousin Diana,” Alberta replied. “My mother never trusted that one.”

  “The more I hear about our family, Gram, the less surprised I am by our hobby.”

  The bell hardly rang before the door opened and they were greeted by a young woman who, even if they hadn’t known was Missy’s niece, they’d certainly know was Italian. Adrienne had thick, black hair the same length as Jinx, but without any of her waves. Her eyes were the same color as her hair, and she had dark circles under her eyes that appeared to be the result of her olive complexion rather than poor health. She stood a few inches taller than them both, even though she was wearing flats while Alberta and Jinx were both wearing heels. If the woman had introduced herself as Alberta and Jinx’s long-lost relative, they would’ve welcomed her into the family with open arms.

  “Hi, I’m Adrienne and you must be Jinx.”

  “I am, and this is my grandmother, Alberta, who drove me because my car battery decided to lapse into a coma this morning,” Jinx fibbed. “I hope you don’t mind the extra company.”

  “Not at all,” Adrienne said. “Please come on in.”

  The women entered the apartment, and as Alberta walked by Adrienne, she smelled a powerful floral scent. She recognized the perfume but couldn’t remember its name.

  The apartment was larger than Kip’s, but not as nicely decorated. For every piece of furniture there were at least two unopened boxes stacked next to the wall. The space was actually a duplex, with the first-floor layout almost identical to Kip’s, with a laundry room where his bedroom would be located and a staircase instead of the Missy Michaels museum. Alberta couldn’t tell if Adrienne had just moved in or if she was planning a quick getaway.

  “I’m sorry for the way things look,” Adrienne said, perhaps reading the expressions on their faces. “I’ve been living here for almost a month, but I’ve been so busy with work and acclimating myself to the area that I haven’t gotten around to unpacking, let alone decorating.”

  “No apology necessary,” Jinx said. “It took me a good six months to stop living out of boxes when I moved.”

  “What makes it worse is that I’m not one of those girly-girls, if you know what I mean?” Adrienne said. “I don’t have the home decorator gene in my blood, so I have a feeling it’s going to take me a while to get this place to look like someone lives here.”

  “As long as you’re comfortable, Adrienne, that’s all that matters,” Alberta said. “A person’s home should be just that, their home, and it shouldn’t have to impress anyone other than the people who live there.”

  “I like your attitude,” Adrienne said. “It reminds me of my grandmother.”

  “Angela?” Jinx asked.

  “Yes,” Adrienne replied. “She was more like my mother actually, she raised me after my parents were killed.”

  “I’m so sorry to hear that,” Alberta said.

  “Thank you, but it was such a long time ago and I was so young, I almost don’t remember them,” Adrienne said. “Listen to me, already babbling before you even get your tape recorder out.”

  “That’s all right,” Jinx said. “And I can’t thank you enough for agreeing to do this interview.”

  “The chief of police gave you a glowing recommendation,” Adrienne said.

  “He did?” Alberta and Jinx replied at the same time.

  “Yes, he said I absolutely didn’t have to grant any interviews, but he guaranteed me that you would treat me fairly in the press,” Adrienne said. “I figured I might as well get it over with because the reporters will be banging on my door soon enough. This way I can tell them that I already gave at the office.”

  “I’m honored that both you and Vinny trust me to tell your story,” Jinx said. “Should we set things up in the kitchen?”

  “We have to, it’s the only horizontal surface in my apartment,” Adrienne said. “Let me clear off the table first.”

  Adrienne grabbed the stack of papers and what looked like a tablecloth with a paisley motif that was rolled up in a ball and placed them underneath the stairs. The only thing left on the table was one of those inexpensive decorative boxes sold at craft stores. This one was covered in daisies.

  Maybe it was Adrienne’s favorite flower, or maybe she chose that box because it reminded her of the character Missy played in the movies. Regardless of the reason, Alberta and Jinx had to find out what was inside it. Noticing their curious expressions, Adrienne decided to make it easier for them.

  “The cops had the same expression on their faces that you two have,” Adrienne said. “The box was my grandma’s and I assume she got it because my aunt played a character named Daisy in some old movies, but I can’t be sure because we rarely talked about her.”

  “It is a common design after all,” Alberta said.

  “But you have to admit that it would lead people to think there was a connection between your aunt and whatever’s in that box,” Jinx said.

  “Decide for yourself,” Adrienne said. “Take a look, I have nothing to hide.”

  The same thought went through Jinx and Alberta’s mind at the same time. Was Adrienne calling their bluff? Was she testing them to see if they’d give in to their curiosity? Could she really be hiding a major clue that could crack this case right on her kitchen table? There was only one way to find out: accept Adrienne’s challenge and do as she suggested.

  “Well, if you insist,” Alberta said.

  With Jinx at her side, Alberta lifted the lid of the box, and they both tried to act as if they weren’t thoroughly interested in finding out what was inside. If they told the truth, they would have to admit they were disappointed to see that it housed Post-its, pens, and some old CDs.

  “It’s just an old junk box,” Adrienne admitted. “One of many, I’m sorry to say.”

  “We’re the ones who are sorry,” Alberta confessed. “We shouldn’t have assumed there was anything worth seeing.”

  “Trust me, I know what you and the cops are thinking,” Adrienne said. “I come to this state at the same time my famous aunt is killed. Even I understand it’s a weird coincidence.”

  “That’s still no reason for us not to be hospitable,” Alberta said.

  “Don’t think twice about it,” Adrienne replied. “It really is nice to have company. Which reminds me, I’ll make us some coffee or tea and we can start.”

  “I can do that if you don’t mind,” Alberta said, “That way you two can get right to the interview.”

  “That would be great,” Adrienne said. “I’m sure you know your way around a kitchen much better than I do.”

  “That, Ms. Petrocelli,” Jinx said, “would be the understatement of the year.”

  Jinx and Adrienne sat across from each other at the table and Jinx pulled out her microcassette recorder. She advised Adrienne that she would be recording their entire conversation and would only press the Stop button if Adrienne gave instructions that she wanted to speak off the record. Adrienne commented that she had watched enough crime procedurals on TV that she was well-versed in the rules of how reporters and cops conducted
business.

  Jinx began her interview by asking factual questions to collect as much information about Adrienne’s background as possible. Adrienne revealed that she was born in Camden, Maine, but her family moved to nearby Bath following her birth. After she graduated high school, she attended the University of Michigan and decided to stay in the area after college because the job market back home wasn’t nearly as diverse as it was in the Midwest.

  When the teakettle whistled, Alberta plopped the tea bags into the cups she found in the top cupboard and poured the boiling water over them. She knew that Jinx liked honey in her tea and was surprised to find a squeezable jar next to the cups. She squirted some honey into one cup and poured some milk into another for herself, but she wasn’t sure how Adrienne took hers.

  “Sorry to interrupt,” Alberta said, “but how do you take your tea, Adrienne?”

  “A spoonful of sugar,” she replied.

  Jinx took back control of the conversation and asked Adrienne what her major was in college, and Alberta set about searching for sugar while the song from Mary Poppins was playing in her head on an endless loop. It made it even worse because like most of the world, she only knew two lines of the lyrics, so the same words kept repeating themselves over and over again. By the fourth time she silently heard a voice sing about medicine, she found the sugar in one of the cabinets, and then realized she needed a spoon. She pulled open one of the drawers and found what she needed, and a few more things as well.

  The inside of the drawer resembled the contents of the box with the daisy motif. It contained a collection of mismatched silverware, matchbooks, a bottle of spirit glue, a rubber band ball, candlesticks, and a bunch of business cards. Alberta noticed that one of the cards had Adrienne’s name printed on it, identifying her as a customer sales representative for BioMedique. Alberta had never heard of the company but assumed it must have something to do with the medical industry. When she took out a spoon from the drawer, she made sure to take the card as well. It would come in handy later, when she would be able to investigate the company further.