Cranberry Orange Murder: A Frosted Love Cozy Mystery - Book 29 (A Frosted Love Cozy Mysteries)

by Summer Prescott

  “How are you, Kel?” Chas asked, indicating that the artist should take a seat in one of the chairs in front of his desk. Instead of sitting behind the desk as he typically would, the detective seated himself directly across from his friend.

  “I’m a bit surprised at having been summoned, but aside from that, I’m okay,” the artist replied. “And you?”

  “Fine, thanks,” Chas’s eyes bored into those of the somewhat defeated-looking man in front of him. “I spoke with Missy this morning.”

  “One would assume that you’d speak with your lovely wife on pretty much a daily basis,” Kel chuckled, not understanding his point.

  “Kel…she told me.”

  A look that was difficult to distinguish passed over the artist’s features. “Told you…what, exactly?” he asked carefully.

  “About your condition.”

  “I see,” he sighed, shaking his head a bit.

  “Don’t be upset with her, she was only confirming what I already knew.”

  Kel raised his eyebrows in surprise. “And how did you happen to come by that information?”

  “I’m investigating the murder of Doctor Winstead Burrows, and your name was in his private schedule book,” Chas explained.

  “Doesn’t sound very private to me,” he muttered.

  “In fact, it appears that you’re the last person to have seen the doctor before his death.”

  “And that’s why I’m here. I thought that Winstead died of a heart attack. That’s what was in the papers,” Kel frowned.

  “That’s what was thought, initially, but other evidence has surfaced that would indicate otherwise.”

  “Great. One of the best oncologists in the country, someone who could actually help me, and someone kills him. Makes me wonder what I’ve done in my life to turn the universe against me,” he grumbled bitterly.

  “Random ugliness just happens Kel,” Chas reminded him.

  “Yes it does, and it seems to be happening to me way too often these days,” the muscles in the artist’s jaw flexed.

  “I’m sorry. I know that this is a tough time for you, but I have to ask you some questions about the last time that you saw Doctor Burrows.”

  “Of course. I’ll help in any way that I can.”

  **

  Andrew Koslowski made his way down the dock toward his boat, bag of fast food in his hand, earbuds blaring Adam Ant in his ears. His last rental had come back in to the dock right at five and he’d gone to a nearby hamburger joint to get a greasy paper sack full of pure enjoyment for his dinner. The sun was beginning to set as he stepped back aboard Andy’s Girl, and he ripped his earbuds from his ears, dropping his bag of food on the table when he saw what had happened in his absence.

  The young man stood, staring in disbelief at the mess that had been made. Papers were scattered everywhere, and it looked as though a whole lot of his files were missing. It would take him quite some time to clean the mess up and he sighed in disgust, shaking his head. Considering the weird things that had been happening around the marina lately, he figured that he should probably call the police…again. He opened up his duct tape wallet and pulled out Chas’s card. When the detective didn’t answer, he left a message.

  “Hey, dude, it’s Andy from the marina. Just figured I’d let you know that some dirtbag came in and trashed my boat while I was gone getting some food. Looks like some files and stuff are missing too. Sucker created a buttload of work for me, but whatever. Anyway, call me back, or not, it’s whatever, ya know?”

  Ten minutes after Andrew left the message, before he’d even finished the second of his three chili-cheeseburgers, Chas Beckett called back, telling him not to touch a thing.

  “No prob, dude. I’m just chillin’ on the dock, eatin’ some food.”

  Chas brought a team to the marina with him, and soon techs were combing through the boat’s interior, dusting for fingerprints, bagging items that seemed out of place, or that Andrew indicated had been moved from their original spot, and looking for what appeared to be missing from the young man’s files. The process took a long enough time that the adaptable young man took a sleeping bag from his bunk and laid it on the dock to go to sleep, the techs working well into the night.

  Chapter 11

  Echo was missing from morning cupcakes and coffee because she and Spencer had worked until well past midnight the night before. While the Marine was up and about, having gone for a run as the sun was coming up, the more delicate Californian had needed her beauty rest. Truth be told, she was also probably actively avoiding contact with Kel until after the two of them had a chance to talk about whatever was going on. Her absence also meant that Missy and Kel could talk freely without worrying about saying the wrong thing in front of her.

  “Kel, honey, I’m so sorry. I didn’t tell a soul, just like you requested. Chas already knew,” Missy apologized, setting a bran muffin and a mug of coffee in front of her friend.

  “I know, dear lady, he told me. It was merely an odd set of events that caused him to stumble upon the truth of my reality,” the artist smiled faintly. “I’m fully aware that you can be trusted.”

  “So, I haven’t had a chance to ask him about it, because something happened last night and he had to work late…how did he find out?”

  “In an odd twist of fate, the doctor that I’ve been seeing here in town died suddenly. Everyone thought that he’d had a heart attack, which seemed strange, given his good health and fitness level. Turned out, he was murdered. Chas did a search of the doctor’s office and found an appointment book with my name in it, that’s how he found out, and when he called you, it was just to confirm what he already knew.”

  “He was pretty upset. I hate that he had to hear it that way,” Missy murmured.

  “I know, I felt bad about that too,” Kel nodded. “I’ve tried to find an opportunity to talk with Echo so that all of this secrecy will be unnecessary, but we keep getting interrupted.

  “You have to make time, sweetie. This is going to drive you crazy if you keep it from her for too long,” she patted his hand.

  “I know. I’m working on it.”

  “So who do you think murdered your doctor? That’s awful.”

  “I have no idea. I didn’t know him well, aside from having seen him at numerous charity functions, and on occasion at the Club, but he seemed to be generally liked and certainly highly respected in his field.”

  “Do you think it could’ve been professional jealousy?”

  “I doubt it. Most guys in his line of work are far too busy doing research or saving lives for that kind of thing,” Kel shook his head.

  “You don’t suppose it was the young man from the marina do you?”

  “Andrew? Good heavens, no. His worst character trait is being too laid-back. He may not have the highest of ambitions, but he’s from a good family. In fact, I would imagine that his parents probably knew the Burrows family. Andrew will stand up for himself if challenged, but I don’t think that boy has a malicious bone in his body.”

  “Well, who on earth could have done it?”

  “I have no idea, and I’d like to find out, but I fear that if I start asking around, it’ll make folks wonder why,” Kel sighed in frustration.

  “Why did Chas want to talk to you about it anyway? I mean, I’m sure that the doctor had tons of patients that he could’ve interviewed.

  “Apparently, I was the last one to have seen Winstead alive.”

  “Oh. Well…I see how it could be problematic for you to be asking questions then,” Missy nodded, concerned. “Looks like I’ll have to do it. Where do I start?”

  The two friends put their heads together and came up with a list of people for Missy to chase down and talk with.

  “I’ll give it my best shot, Kel,” she said quietly, reviewing the list.

  “That’s all one can ask, dear lady.”

  Missy had taken copious notes and was armed with information when she passed through the doors of Calgon Hospital
. Heading directly for the elevator, she pushed the button for the fourth floor and walked up to the Radiology desk.

  “Hello,” she said brightly to the nurse receptionist. “Is Mary Ann available?”

  “I think she’s with a patient right now, but I’ll call back there and check. If you want to have a seat, she’ll come out here when she’s done.”

  “Perfect, thank you,” Missy beamed, taking a seat away from where patients with various maladies awaited their scans and x-rays.

  She didn’t particularly want her conversation to be overheard. Looking down at the variety of magazines on the side table next to her, she saw some interesting ones, but, considering the possibility of germ transmission in a hospital environment, she refrained from picking one up.

  Roughly half an hour later, a plump, middle aged woman with a shock of bright blonde hair spiked in all directions approached her, crepe-soled shoes squeaking on the spotless multicolored linoleum.

  “Hello, I’m Mary Ann…you were looking for me?” she asked pleasantly.

  “Oh, yes. Hi! I’m Missy and my friend Kel said that you took really good care of him when he came in for his scan the other day.”

  “Oh yes, he’s such a dear! We all love Kel up here,” Mary Ann smiled fondly.

  “Yes, he is an absolute sweetheart,” Missy agreed. “And a bit absent-minded, as well, I’m afraid,” she laughed. “He said that he believes he may have left his sweater in the exam room after his scan, and since he’s feeling under the weather, he asked if I could come pick it up for him.”

  “Well, bless his heart, he does have a bit on his mind these days,” she shook her head ruefully. “If he left it, it should be in the lost and found box in the back, let’s go take a look.”

  “Sure,” Missy nodded, sobering at the reminder of Kel’s condition. “And now that his doctor has passed, it’s been even more stressful for him,” she tossed out casually, hoping something useful would come out.

  “Well, I hope the poor thing doesn’t feel too guilty about the way that he behaved when he was here.”

  Missy had no idea what Mary Ann was talking about, but pretended that she did in order to elicit more information.

  “It does seem like he feels pretty bad about it, although I don’t know why,” she led the nurse.

  “Okay, here we are. Go ahead and look through here and see if you find his sweater,” Mary Ann pulled a box out of a storage cabinet.

  As Missy pretended to search through the contents for a sweater that didn’t exist, the nurse spoke again.

  “Well, I have to admit, I’ve never seen him quite so frustrated, and for him to raise his voice at Doctor Burrows, when all he was doing was trying to help…I can see how he’d feel badly about that.”

  “Yes, because it’s so out of character for him,” Missy nodded, confused.

  “Well, thankfully Doctor Buchanan came in to save the day,” Mary Ann sighed, nodding.

  “Right,” Missy nodded as well, not having a clue as to who Doctor Buchanan might be. “Well, I guess I’m going to have to go to the market next, because he didn’t leave it here, so he may have left it there,” she sighed, handing the box off to Mary Ann. “Thank you so much for your help.”

  “Anytime,” the nurse beamed. “You be sure to give Kel a hug from me.”

  “Will do.”

  Missy was thoughtful as she drove back to the Inn. Kel had some sort of altercation with his doctor? She knew that illness could do strange things to people’s personalities, but that didn’t sound like Kel at all. Her next stop was Kel’s doctor’s office, where she would speak with the receptionist, Charice.

  “Hi,” she said to the early-thirty-something receptionist with the pretty pink blouse. “Are you Charice?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” the woman smiled back. “How can I help you?”

  “I’m a friend of Phillip Kellerman’s. He saw Doctor Burrows a few days ago and thinks that he may have left his sweater here. Do you know if it might be around here somewhere?”

  “I’d be happy to take a look in the lost and found for you, can you describe it?” she asked.

  “It was a navy cardigan with grey patches on the elbows,” Missy said, as instructed by Kel.

  “Hmm…seems to me he was wearing that sweater when he left, but I’ll check.”

  “Wow, you have a great memory,” Missy was honestly impressed.

  “Well, that was a pretty memorable day,” Charice sighed.

  “Yes, I’m so sorry to hear about Doctor Burrows’ death. Had you known him for very long?”

  “Oh yes, I’ve worked with him for four years now,” she nodded, looking sad.

  “I hear he was a wonderful man,” Missy willed the receptionist to keep talking.

  “Yes, he was. Which made what happened between him and Mr. Kellerman even more baffling. They’re both such nice people,” she shook her head.

  Again, Missy found herself in the position to pretend that she knew what someone was talking about in order to try to learn more.

  “Well, these situations can be rather emotional,” she commented.

  “Clearly. I just hate that that was the last patient experience that the doctor had before he…well, you know. Well, anyway, let me go check the lost and found, I’ll be right back.”

  While Charice was gone, Missy reflected on the bizarre things she’d heard so far. Apparently, Kel and Doctor Burrows didn’t get along, something he’d neglected to tell her. It was so unlike him to create or participate in conflict, making her wonder what had happened to cause it.

  “Nope, the sweater wasn’t in there,” Charice reported. “He must’ve left it somewhere else.”

  “I guess so,” Missy nodded. “Thanks for checking.”

  “No problem. Have a nice day.”

  “You too.”

  Missy headed back to the Inn, wondering what on earth was going on. Had Kel been under so much stress that he chose to take out his frustrations on his own doctor? That didn’t make sense. He knew Winstead Burrows socially, and sounded as though he respected him, it just didn’t add up. There had to be someone else that she could talk to who could shed a little light on the situation. She’d ask Kel about it at the cupcake shop in the morning.

  Chapter 12

  Tim Eckels had seen to every last detail of Winstead Burrows’ funeral personally. The casket was of the finest quality, and its occupant looked like a picture of health as he lay cold and dignified in the front of the chapel at Memorial Mortuary. The best and brightest of Calgon, as well as friends and family from all over the world had come out to pay their respects to the doctor, and the introverted mortician was performing at the apex of his ability, periodically having to leave the room to go take deep breaths and tamp down the panic that he faced when placed among so many people.

  Reverend Carlson from the Baptist Church was officiating, and stood in the front of the sanctuary, patiently waiting for mourners to take their seats. Charice, the receptionist was there and was clearly distraught, Missy observed from her vantage point next to Kel. Winstead’s widow sat in the front row red-eyed and elegant in her simple black dress, and the rest of the pews were filled to capacity, with lines of folks three people deep standing along the back and sides of the chapel. The media had been kept outside at the request of the family, and after one eerie encounter with the mortician when trying to slip in, they willingly milled about outside.

  During the service, one of Winstead’s brothers came forward and spoke about his brother’s family life, charity work and professional accomplishments. A man sitting to Kel’s right, a couple of rows from the back, suddenly stood and left the room, seemingly overcome with emotion. Missy watched him go, her heart breaking for a community that was clearly in morning for a man who had contributed much to the lives of those around him. Kel sat beside her, pale and motionless, holding her hand. When the two of them left, skipping the graveside service, he was quiet, quieter than she’d ever seen him, in fact.

  “You
okay?” she asked, squeezing his arm.

  He nodded and swallowed hard. “It’s just…” He stopped and cleared his throat, casting his eyes skyward. “It’s…difficult to face the mortality and fragility of life when…” and suddenly, he couldn’t continue.

  Missy grabbed him in a fierce bear hug, squeezing him with all the might that her petite frame could muster.

  “Don’t!” she commanded, tears streaming down her cheeks as she held him. “Don’t say it, don’t even think it. You’re going to get through this, Kel. Don’t you dare give up. You’ll get through this.”

  She felt his body shudder with what she expected was a sob, then he relaxed against his friend, allowing himself to draw the warmth that he needed from her embrace. Across the street, unnoticed by anyone, a man ground his cigarette butt under his patent leather shoe and walked away.

  **

  Missy and Spencer were busy making the over two hundred cupcakes that had been ordered for Elmer Fenster’s retirement party, when the Marine asked about what was going on with Echo and Kel.

  “Oh, sweetie, I wish I knew. That woman can be so darn stubborn sometimes. She gets an idea in her head and just won’t listen sometimes,” Missy shook her head, using oven mitts to transfer hot cupcakes to a cooling rack.

  “I think I may have made her think about some things,” Spencer said quietly. “Life’s too short to waste time not talking to someone you love.”

  “Oh, honey, truer words were never spoken. I hope that she did let whatever you told her sink in, and if so, you’re my hero,” she grinned at the Marine as he took another batch out of the oven.

  The bells over the front door picked a most inconvenient time to jingle, letting them know that someone had come in, and Missy sighed at the interruption. She loved seeing her customers, but she had a big order to get out the door.

  “I’ll go,” she told Spencer. “You take care of this operation and I’ll be back as fast as I can.”