The Name of the Game is Murder (A Clarissa Spencer Cozy Mystery Book 6)

by Alaine Allister

  “It worked!” Clarissa crowed triumphantly.

  She quickly set to work snooping through Betty’s emails.

  “What are you doing?” Cat asked, moseying into the bedroom.

  “I’m checking for receipts,” Clarissa replied. “I want to see if Betty has any orders for the pills that killed Bobby.” Suddenly she wrinkled her nose. “Ew, what’s that awful smell?” she asked as her stomach lurched.

  “I take offense to that,” Cat said haughtily.

  “It’s you?” Clarissa asked incredulously. “Why did you have to go digging through the trash?”

  “I smelled steak,” Cat informed her defensively. “Why would someone throw out perfectly good steak? The part by the bone is the best part, after all! You humans are so wasteful.”

  “You dug steak out of Betty’s trash? You act like I don’t feed you.”

  “You don’t feed me steak nearly often enough! And especially not the good cuts,” Cat huffed. “Besides, dumpster diving is one of my favorite hobbies. Don’t knock it until you try it.”

  “I’ll pass.”

  “Are you almost done? I’m bored.”

  “Yes, I’m finished,” Clarissa sighed as she shut off the laptop and put it back where she had found it. “I didn’t find anything incriminating. Well, anything other than the fact that Betty used Bobby’s name as her password. I swear she’s completely obsessed!”

  “What was so great about that Bobby guy?” Cat asked.

  “Most people I’ve spoken with didn’t like him,” Clarissa shrugged. “By all accounts, he was an aggressive alcoholic who rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. His only redeeming qualities were that he loaned people money and was a good bingo caller. I think Betty is just lonely.”

  “Maybe she shouldn’t dress like a walking disco ball,” Cat suggested. “It probably makes people think she’s crazy. Or that she’s an actual walking disco ball. Bottom line: Betty needs a makeover – badly.”

  “That’s not very nice!” Clarissa chided, smiling despite herself. “Come on, let’s go.”

  “Finally,” Cat grumbled. “I can’t wait to curl up on the couch and have a nap.”

  “Oh, no,” Clarissa shook her head. “You’re not setting foot in the house until we get you cleaned up. Forget the bathtub – I’m going to fill a bucket and wash you off in the front yard.”

  “But – but,” Cat sputtered, appalled by the indignity of it.

  “It isn’t up for negotiation,” Clarissa advised as she quickly watered the plants.

  Cat continued to protest, whine and threaten but it fell on deaf ears. As they walked back across the street, Clarissa’s mind was a million miles away.

  Something was bothering her, but she couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was. She hoped it would come to her soon because it felt like she was overlooking something important.

  Chapter 15

  “Why would a Nigerian prince contact you of all people, Ed? Use common sense!”

  “You’re just jealous a Nigerian prince contacted me and not you! Admit it, Constance!”

  Clarissa heard her parents before she saw them. In fact, their voices carried out into the street as they loudly argued. They both sounded angry. Clarissa cringed and hurried inside, hoping to diffuse the situation.

  She found Parker sitting in the living room, looking very uncomfortable.

  “They’re in there,” he whispered, pointing to the kitchen.

  “Great,” Clarissa sighed.

  When she walked into the kitchen, she saw her parents standing on either side of the table. The laptop was in between them. They were so busy glaring at each other that they didn’t appear to even notice Clarissa.

  “I’m not jealous, and I’m not about to stand idly by while you invest our life savings in fake Rolex watches!” Constance snapped. “What’s wrong with you, Ed? You’re letting greed cloud your judgment.”

  “I am not, and the Rolexes aren’t fakes!” Ed insisted. “Why can’t you just be happy for me? I don’t understand why you’re not on board with this, Constance. I don’t know why you have to shoot down my dreams.”

  “Shoot down your dreams?” Constance repeated incredulously. “Ed, selling watches wasn’t even on your radar until what, twelve hours ago? Until then, the idea hadn’t even occurred to you! Stop being so dramatic, would you?”

  “Um, excuse me,” Clarissa piped up, clearing her throat.

  Her parents turned to look at her.

  “So, how about we get out of the house today?” Clarissa suggested, hoping to distract her parents from their silly argument. “Let’s go do something fun and touristy. Let’s pack a picnic and go to the beach for the afternoon!”

  “Okay,” Constance agreed. “It will give me a chance to wear my new swimsuit. In fact, I’m going to go try it on right now. I hope it still fits. I hope I still like it. I hope I can find it! Oh, I might need to buy another swimsuit,” she fretted. She quickly retreated to the master bedroom.

  Once Constance had disappeared, Ed cornered Clarissa. “What do you think about me opening up a new business?” he asked eagerly. “I was thinking I could buy the Rolexes from China dirt cheap and re-sell them here in Florida.”

  Clarissa bit her lower lip. “What is it that Grandma always says? If it sounds too good to be true, it is? I wonder if maybe that applies here. Do you really think you can buy legitimate Rolex watches from China for one dollar apiece, Dad?”

  “Seventy-five cents, if I buy them in bulk!”

  “My point exactly,” Clarissa replied.

  Ed scratched his head. Then he sighed. “No, I suppose you’re right. The Rolexes can’t be real,” he admitted. “And now that I think about it, I’m not sure how a Nigerian prince would even get my email address. I guess I was just hoping the messages on the computer were real.”

  “Why?” Clarissa asked curiously. Her father had never been a greedy man. She found it hard to believe he had been blinded by the prospect of free, easy money. There had to be something else going on with him.

  “To tell you the truth, I’m bored,” Ed sighed. “I miss going to work every day. I liked my job and I was darn good at it! I’m not very good at golf, and I’m getting sick of eating fish. If your mother didn’t love fish so much, I think I’d stop fishing all together. Retirement isn’t for me.”

  Clarissa’s jaw dropped. “I thought you loved being retired!” she exclaimed in surprise. “Mom thinks you love being retired! And she thinks you love fishing and golfing! Do you even like living in Florida?” she demanded.

  Ed gave an unenthusiastic half-shrug. “Not having to shovel the driveway is nice,” he said.

  “You and Mom really need to talk,” Clarissa advised.

  Ed nodded. “Why don’t you and Parker go enjoy the beach and I’ll take your mother to lunch?”

  “That sounds like an excellent idea.”

  “It’s really good having you here,” Ed said suddenly, reaching out to give Clarissa a hug. “I don’t suppose your mother and I can talk you into moving to Florida, can we? The house down the street is up for sale. But you don’t want to live in a retirement community, do you?”

  “I think I would miss Sugarcomb Lake too much,” Clarissa smiled, hugging her dad back. Then a thought occurred to her. “You aren’t talking about Bobby Bates’ house, are you?” she asked. “Is that the house that’s up for sale?”

  “Yes, that’s the one. His half of the duplex is on the market.”

  “Who’s selling his house?” Clarissa asked curiously. “Do you know who inherited his assets?”

  “What assets?” Ed asked. “From what I’ve heard, Bobby was in deep financial trouble. I think he was a bit too generous handing out loans to people around town. And he was a bit too fond of the race track, too. It was catching up to him. He died penniless.”

  “Oh.”

  “Well he might have come into some money eventually,” Ed mused. “Word around town was he was starting to call in loans. He asked Sue Neils
on to repay him several times, but of course that was never going to happen.”

  “Do you know who else he loaned money to?” Clarissa demanded.

  Ed thought for a moment. “He called his loans investments,” he recalled. “Bobby liked to loan money to small businesses – I think it made him feel important. He bought the mascot costume for the ice cream shop on Main Street. I hate that thing!”

  “It’s kind of cute.”

  “It’s annoying and it distracts drivers!” Ed fumed. “I think Bobby actually made some money on that so-called investment. I mean, it’s Florida. It’s hot outside and everyone loves ice cream. Of course the ice cream shop is profitable! Hey, maybe I should open an ice cream shop!”

  “There’s already an ice cream shop in town,” Clarissa reminded her father.

  “Right,” Ed nodded. “Ooh, maybe I could open a lemonade stand!”

  Clarissa raised an eyebrow. “I saw a lemonade stand down the street the other day. Your neighbour’s twin granddaughters were running it. Do you really want to be in competition with them? I hear six year olds can be ruthless…plus they’re pretty cute.”

  “Hmm, good point.”

  “Dad, did anyone else have outstanding loans with Bobby?”

  “Oh I’m sure lots of people did,” Ed nodded.

  “Do you know of anyone in particular?” Clarissa pressed.

  Ed shook his head.

  “Okay. Here’s another question for you,” Clarissa said. “What do you think of Jack Walter?”

  “Bobby’s next-door-neighbor?”

  “Yes. I know he and Bobby were feuding, but I’ve heard two different accounts of what happened. Jack says Bobby was a nightmare to live beside. He claims Bobby was an inconsiderate, rude neighbor. But Bobby’s best friend Dave says Jack wasn’t without fault.”

  Ed nodded. “The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle,” he predicted. “Jack is a nice enough fellow. Your mother certainly enjoys discussing gardening with him. But I know he really had it out for Bobby. I can definitely picture him getting nasty when agitated.”

  “Do you think if he got agitated enough, he’d resort to murder?”

  “Whoa,” Ed laughed uncomfortably. “I don’t want to go starting any rumors, Clarissa! Some people are capable of doing awful things, that’s for sure. Is Jack one of those people? I really can’t say. Jack has certainly never struck me as being dangerous though.”

  “Ed! What do you think of this swimsuit?” Constance called out, barging into the kitchen.

  She was wearing a purple one-piece and a white sarong.

  “You look beautiful,” Ed said once he had picked his jaw up off the floor.

  Immediately, Constance stood up a little taller. “You think so?”

  “Yes. You look every bit as beautiful now as when we met.”

  “Ed!” Constance laughed, clearly delighted by the compliment.

  Smiling to herself, Clarissa slipped out of the kitchen. Sometimes her parents fought like cats and dogs, but they always worked things out in the end. They got on one another’s nerves, sure. But they loved each other deeply.

  “Is everything alright in there?” Parker asked as she joined him on the couch.

  “Everything is just fine,” she smiled. She leaned in to kiss him.

  Parker suddenly gagged and recoiled.

  Clarissa’s eyes widened. “Do I have bad breath?” she asked in horror.

  “No, it’s not that. But…what’s that smell?” Parker asked.

  The cat strolled past the couch then, looking offended and smelling foul.

  Chapter 16

  “I could get used to this,” Parker grinned.

  He was sprawled out on a beach towel, his arms folded behind his head. He had his sunglasses on and his shirt off. Clarissa couldn’t help but check him out as he soaked up the sun in his swim trunks. She noticed other women checking him out too, but Parker seemed oblivious to everyone but her.

  “My parents forgot to mention they have a gorgeous beach practically in their backyard!” Clarissa remarked. “I wonder if they even know about it. Knowing my parents, they’ve probably never even ventured over here!”

  “They’re missing out,” Parker said, sighing blissfully. “Why haven’t I ever vacationed in Florida before? This is like paradise.”

  “It is,” Clarissa agreed. Then she wiped her hand across her forehead. It was damp with perspiration. “It’s awfully hot here though, isn’t it?”

  “Do you want to go for a dip?” Parker suggested, sitting up and lifting up his sunglasses so he could get a good look at the water. “I don’t see any signs about sharks or alligators, so I’m guessing we’re good to go.”

  “I was actually thinking about buying an iced cappuccino,” Clarissa admitted. She glanced over at the food stand down at the far end of the beach. “Do you want something?” she asked, standing up and brushing the sand off her ruffled pink swim skirt.

  “Depends on what they have. I’ll come with you,” Parker decided, climbing to his feet.

  The couple made their way down the beach. Then Clarissa stopped in her tracks.

  “What is it?” Parker asked, nearly bumping into her.

  She shielded her eyes against the sun and squinted. A man was exiting the public restrooms just beyond the food stand. He was carrying a mop and dragging a bucket of water behind him. And he looked very familiar.

  “I know him!” Clarissa exclaimed. “That’s Dave Carey, Bobby Bates’ best friend.”

  “He works here?” Parker asked.

  “He runs a hardware store, but he does janitorial work on the side,” Clarissa explained. “He told me he’s having trouble making ends meet.” She thought for a moment. “It sounds like he was Bobby’s only friend. Bobby loaned money to mere acquaintances…so why not his best friend?”

  “Maybe Bobby did loan Dave money,” Parker replied.

  “Yeah, maybe…”

  Clarissa was still watching Dave out of the corner of her eye. He had packed up his cleaning supplies and was now loading them into the back of an old, rusted green pickup truck. Based on what he drove, it seemed clear that money was indeed tight.

  “You okay?” Parker asked, nudging Clarissa to get her attention.

  “Yeah,” she nodded. Then she made a snap decision. “Be right back!”

  Clarissa broke out into a jog. “Dave!” she called as she hurried over to the beachside parking lot. She waved her hands to get his attention. “Hey Dave, wait up a second!”

  The balding man glanced up. Recognition flickered in his eyes. He finished putting his cleaning supplies into the back of his truck. Then he crossed his arms over his chest and waited for Clarissa to reach him.

  “Hi!” she said, gasping for breath.

  “Hello. Clarissa, isn’t it?”

  She nodded. “I was hoping you could help me.”

  “With what?” he asked as he fished the keys to his truck out of his pocket.

  “I looked at the security footage you got me from the hospital,” she told him. “Thanks for that, by the way. Unfortunately, the footage didn’t go back far enough to be of any use to me.”

  “Oh, that’s too bad. I can ask around at the hospital next time I’m cleaning there,” Dave offered. “Maybe someone saw something suspicious in the days leading up to Bobby’s death. Maybe someone even saw Sue Neilson acting strangely.”

  “I’m not so sure Sue did it, to be honest.”

  Dave scratched his head. “Really?” he asked, sounding confused.

  “Why are you so convinced she’s guilty?”

  “She’s a gambling addict,” Dave replied. “Everyone knows that. She knew Bobby, she needed his money and she had access to prescription drugs that could kill him. Or should I say prescription drugs that did kill him?”

  “I don’t know if she actually did have access,” Clarissa told him. “I heard she isn’t able to get into the medication room at the hospital. Only supervising nurses can do that.”

/>   “In theory, but the key to that room is kept behind the nurses’ desk,” Dave reminded her.

  “It’s in a safe,” Clarissa informed him. “And Sue doesn’t have the combination for the lock.”

  Dave’s face screwed up into an expression of discontent as he absorbed the news. “But that doesn’t make sense,” he insisted. “It has to be Sue! Maybe one of her nurse buddies slipped her the key,” he suggested.

  “Possibly,” Clarissa conceded reluctantly.

  “Or maybe someone left the medication sitting out and she scooped it up!”

  “I suppose that’s a possibility,” Clarissa agreed, still unconvinced.

  “Maybe it was even her medication,” Dave speculated.

  “No,” Clarissa shook her head. “I spoke with the pharmacist. It’s apparently a rare drug. So it’s doubtful that Sue would have been taking it. I know you want to get to the bottom of who killed Bobby – so do I. But wild speculation won’t help.”

  “Okay,” Dave agreed. He glanced at his watch. “I’ve gotta go. Another cleaning job is waiting for me,” he said, offering a rueful smile. “Good luck with your investigation. How much longer are you in town for?”

  “Only a couple more days,” Clarissa replied. She was well aware that time was running out. If she didn’t solve Bobby’s murder in the next forty-eight hours, it was unlikely she ever would. As she watched Dave drive off, a sense of urgency gripped her.

  “For you,” Parker said, joining Clarissa. He held out a large iced cappuccino.

  “Thanks!” she smiled before taking a greedy slurp. Then she noticed Parker was holding their beach blanket, as well as her handbag. “You packed up our stuff. Are you ready to go?” she asked, fearing he had gotten bored.

  “No, but a couple ladies looked like they were about to steal our things,” Parker said with a disgusted shake of his head. “I figured I’d better grab them before they disappeared! Also,” he admitted, “I think one of them was about to take her swimsuit off and sunbathe nude.”

  Clarissa looked around and spotted a white haired little old lady frolicking in the water naked.