Marinating in Murder

by Linda Wiken

  “Wow, that’s some theory and a lot of coincidences.” She thought about it and scrunched her nose. “I guess it’s possible.”

  “Anything’s possible,” Brad said. “And without any development on the other theories, I think it’s the most plausible explanation. Maybe you should talk to her police buddies and try to make them see reason. I’m sure they’re looking for a solution that doesn’t involve putting a crony behind bars.”

  There was that smile again. She’d at least consider his suggestion.

  *

  • • •

  J.J. got to Beth’s house about fifteen minutes later than she’d said she’d arrive. She was surprised to see Evan and Michael there. Beth hadn’t mentioned a team approach.

  “I thought the more ideas, the merrier, J.J.,” Beth explained. “I hope you don’t mind. We’ll leave the professional decision up to you, of course.”

  “No problem.” She smiled at the guys. “I hope you’ve brought your best ideas.”

  “But certainly,” Evan countered.

  Michael followed Beth into the kitchen to help carry out the coffee and some Danish she had promised.

  “I think Beth is more upset about Alison than she lets on,” Evan said, lowering his voice. “Or maybe she’s having problems at the shop. Whatever the reason, she calls more often than usual and it seems to be just to chat.”

  “I hadn’t noticed. I guess I’ve been so focused on Alison …” J.J. wondered if Beth was having problems with her newest employee, Ilsa Quinn. Beth had given Ilsa a part-time job instead of handing her over to the police when Ilsa had been caught stealing from Cups ’n’ Roses. Beth had a soft heart, and nothing valuable had been taken, she reasoned. She hadn’t let on that Ilsa hadn’t panned out, if that was so. But if Evan was concerned then J.J.’d better start paying close attention.

  “Okay,” Beth said, setting the tray of mugs in front of them. “Maybe we should do the Alison discussion before we get into the planning. I know it’s on all our minds.”

  J.J. glanced at Evan, who raised his eyebrows.

  “Well, I can fill you in on what I know has been happening.” She told them about the creepy business with Darrell Crumb, finishing with Lieutenant Hastings’s belief that Darrell was merely a creepy neighbor. She wondered if she should share what she’d learned from Brad Patterson, but when she thought about it, he hadn’t really given her any useful information. Only the most recent suppositions.

  “So, as you can see, there’s not much forward movement. I want to talk to Jessica again, though. She might know a lot more than she thinks she does. Her brother seems convinced the killer is someone who wanted to frame Alison, but if that’s so, it’s totally out of our hands. The cops will have to come up with the answer.”

  “But if that’s the case,” Michael pointed out, “there wasn’t a set plan. The killer just happened to go to Alison’s that night. To do what? Kill her? I guess that’s possible. But that would be quite a switch in plans to see James and decide to kill him there on the spot, break into her vehicle, and leave him there in order to frame her.”

  J.J. nodded. “I agree with you, Michael.” She thought about it a minute. “Look, I don’t have any answers, and it’s getting late and we know who has to get up early. Let’s try for some ideas for the Christmas recital.”

  By the time J.J. packed up her iPad she felt confident she could put the recital together in no time at all. “Thanks for your help,” she told the others.

  “Yes, thank you so much,” Beth added. “I do have total confidence in you, J.J., but I thought it would be fun to get together.”

  “You were right.” J.J. gave Beth a quick hug.

  Beth seemed reluctant to let them go. “So, who’s up for the next dinner?”

  “I’m pretty sure it’s Connor’s turn,” Evan answered, sitting back down. “But I think Beth should be the one to remind him.”

  “You don’t think he’ll be reluctant, do you? He seemed okay about Alison’s picnic, after all.”

  “He’d just bought himself a brand-new motorcycle. That was a good high. Good enough to take his mind off his girlfriend’s demise.”

  “Oh dear. You are right. One never knows how long it takes to recover. That’s such a clinical word, isn’t it? I mean, until it doesn’t hurt so much. Have you been out with him, J.J.?” Beth asked.

  “Not really. We did go to a movie one night but that’s about it.” She thought back briefly to the many dinners and movies they’d shared over the two years they’d known each other. They’d been a lot of fun even though they’d both agreed they were better as friends. She missed spending time with him but she also knew how much sorrow had taken over his life in the past several months. For now, anyway, keeping him busy with Culinary Capers was probably the best medicine.

  “And don’t forget, we’re still hoping to have Alison’s aborted picnic. That might mean having to bump up Connor’s turn.”

  “Hm, I guess,” Beth said, pushing herself up out of the chair.

  J.J. paused as she slid her arms into the sleeves of her jacket. “There was something else related to Alison. I talked to her neighbor and he told me he saw Alison’s cousin Henry warning James off seeing another woman. That must mean Henry had to have seen James with Jessica while James was still living at home.”

  “Well, in hindsight, we know James was in another relationship,” Evan said. “So, do you think Henry could be mad enough at James’s betrayal to actually kill him?”

  J.J. shrugged. “Who knows what can happen in the heat of an argument? And did he know that James and Jessica were married or just think that James was having an affair on the side? From what I’ve heard, Henry doesn’t strike me as someone who’d kill in cold blood. And even if he did, he certainly wouldn’t plant the body in Alison’s SUV.”

  “Are we sure about that?” Michael asked, eyebrows raised. “What do we know about Henry? You say Alison and he are close, like big brother and little sister. But what if there is something more odious going on?”

  “I think I know where you’re going, Michael, and it’s really not a nice place.” Evan crossed his arms and looked like he was about to add something but didn’t.

  “Murder isn’t nice, is it? I’m just saying, they were both teenagers when Alison moved in to her aunt and uncle’s place. What if Henry fell for her, but because of social taboos, it went unacknowledged until it drove him around the bend?”

  “Wow,” Beth interjected. “That’s quite an active imagination you have tonight, Michael. What brought all that on?”

  Evan’s cheeks colored ever so slightly. He looked at Michael and answered for him, “It sounds suspiciously like the plot of a movie we watched the other night.” He shook his head.

  Michael looked offended. “Well, it may be a darn good plot. I’d say it could happen in real life.”

  J.J. tried to stifle a smile. “I’ll agree that it is a possibility, but if you’d met his mom, Pam, you’d know that nothing like that could happen on her watch. She seems to err on the overprotective side when it comes to Alison.”

  “All right, I’ll bow to your suspect-finding superiority, J.J. Your instincts have been good so far.”

  “Yeah. Except when they’re not.” She grabbed her purse. “It’s those four days when he was living with each woman, right out in the open and under their noses, that’s the key. I’m sure about it. Unless some kook Alison locked up is really at the bottom of it all.”

  “Okay. So how do you find out what James was doing on those days?” Michael asked.

  Evan smiled. “I’m sure J.J. will come up with a plan.”

  *

  • • •

  Oh, sure. Leave it to J.J. to have the plan.

  She sat at her kitchen counter, absently stroking Indie’s back. She got up and went to the drawer where she kept his comb. Back again, she took great care in running it through his silky fur. The motion felt soothing. Indie’s purring grew louder. A plan. Easy peasy. She
was happy to do it but her brain seemed stalled. Maybe Devine could think of something, although a part of her hated to be relying on him for this. Maybe she didn’t need the plan to come from him, just some help in thinking in the right direction. That was it.

  She dialed his number and counted the rings. Obviously not in. Where was he late on a Monday night? Not that it was any of her business. Was it the redhead she’d seen him with a couple of times, first at the caterer’s funeral and then at the casino fund-raiser? Would he be dating two people at once? Well, she was, sort of. Not that she considered seeing Brad as actually dating. But what were they, then? Would he still be as interested in her as he seemed to be once the killer had been found? Did she want him to be?

  She paused in the combing, and Indie gave her a playful swat. “Okay, I’m back on it.”

  She had to admit, Brad was good-looking in the extreme and he had an air of confidence about him that made people sit up and take notice when he walked into a room, or over to a table, as the case may be. He had a good sense of humor—a major attribute, in her books—and he seemed kind and sensitive. All good traits. And, he sure made her feel all tingly whenever he touched her. So, maybe he was someone she should be dating.

  She should be more excited by that prospect. Why wasn’t she? What is wrong with me? Devine. No, I’m not going there. She put the comb down and picked Indie up, replacing her earlier movements with some deep massaging.

  So, back to the plan. Tomorrow she’d go visit Jessica again. That was a plan. She’d get some names of Jeffrey’s friends, if he’d ever mentioned any to Jessica, and track them down. Surely someone had some ideas about his missing days.

  CHAPTER 19

  On her way to Rouses Point, J.J. phoned in a message to Skye at the office, explaining she’d be in to work in a couple of hours. She knew her morning was relatively clear, at least she didn’t have any appointments, and the phoning around to get prices and ideas, an integral part of her job, could be fitted into the afternoon. She’d just work through lunch.

  She was pleased to see Jessica’s red Toyota in the driveway, a good start to her day and her plan. Jessica answered the door just as J.J. was about to hit the buzzer a third time.

  “Oh, I wasn’t expecting you,” Jessica said, and then looked sheepish. “I’m sorry, that didn’t come out quite right. It’s the plumber I’m expecting, but do come in. Would you like some coffee?”

  “That would be nice,” J.J. said, following her down the hall and into the kitchen. “I hope you don’t mind my dropping in like this. I won’t stay long but I had a few more questions.”

  Jessica shrugged. “I don’t mind. It’s nice to have company, actually, even if it is a short visit.” She was wearing a tweed pencil skirt that skimmed her knees and a pink cashmere sweater set. Maybe this was normal, after all, J.J. thought.

  Jessica set the mugs of coffee, sugar bowl, and small pitcher of milk on the table. J.J. took a seat and waited until Jessica was settled, mug in hand, before talking.

  “I’m really curious as to how Jeffrey spent the days he was with you. You mentioned he did some work as a financial advisor. Have any of his clients come forward and tried to contact you? I imagine there was some kind of notice in the newspaper.”

  A small sob escaped Jessica’s lips, alerting J.J. to the fact that it really had been only a couple of weeks since his death. In normal circumstances, asking intrusive questions like this would be unthinkable. But nothing was normal about what had happened. And Alison was still on the suspect list.

  “Yes, Brad handled that. His obituary was in the paper for a couple of days leading up to the funeral.”

  J.J. reached across the table and put her hand on Jessica’s. “I know this is hard for you and I’m really sorry to be prying into your life, but the more we know about his dealings, the better the possibility of tracking down his killer.”

  Another sob. “Yes, I realize that. But that’s all I know about his work. He never spoke about it, never mentioned any clients’ names or anything. I don’t even know where his office was or if he even had one. I’m sort of assuming he had one because he doesn’t have any business files in the house. But maybe he wasn’t a financial advisor at all.”

  “What about friends or hobbies? Did he belong to any clubs or anything?”

  “He loved hockey. I told you we met at a fund-raising dance, didn’t I? Well, I know he hung around with the team sometimes on the weekends he wasn’t at the fire station.”

  “Did he play on the team?”

  “No. He never quite got the hang of skating. But he was part of it; you can ask Brad some more about that. They have a weekly game every Sunday night at the arena.”

  “Is there anything else?”

  Jessica looked like she was in deep thought then shook her head. “Not that I can think of. I don’t know what to do with all his stuff. Brad will know, but I can’t bring myself to deal with it. What is Alison doing with it?”

  “I know she’s gone through what’s there but that’s all I know.”

  “I’m sorry, I don’t think I want to talk about this anymore. Maybe some other time.”

  “I understand, and again, I’m sorry to bring it all up when it’s so painful. Remember to let me know if I can help in any way. I’ll let myself out.”

  Jessica nodded and sat staring at her mug.

  On the drive back to Half Moon Bay, J.J. ran through the conversation in her mind. So, no details about his work other than that he may have been a financial advisor. And, he really was into hockey, at least enough to get involved in some way with the team, even though he wasn’t playing. He was just as secretive in this marriage, it seemed. But weren’t secrets meant to be discovered?

  *

  • • •

  J.J. sat at her desk, trying to put all thoughts of death out of her mind while she finalized costs and contracts for the Franklin Dance Studio anniversary dinner showcase. It was coming up in a little over five months but she felt confident all bases had been covered. She glanced over at Skye.

  “Anything I can do to help with the dentists’ Christmas party?”

  Skye shook her head then reconsidered. “Maybe. If you have the time could you check on prices for centerpieces that say Christmas without being too schmaltzy? I need about twenty. Anyone you can think who might give us a deep discount for that many?”

  “I’ll try my best. By the way, it’s your week teaching night school on Wednesday. Just a friendly reminder.”

  They’d started a weekly class through the Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront department in Burlington the year before and had such good feedback they’d decided it was worth doing it another year. The class was made up of mainly harried women who needed some ideas for dinner parties, family reunions, and other special occasions. There were also some future event planners attending, hoping to get some basic information before taking more concentrated programs. J.J. enjoyed the variety offered by the students. She felt challenged when her teaching night rolled around every second week, and she was certain that rubbed off on her own work. She knew Skye was enjoying it just as much but she often needed reminders as to which week they were in, even with it noted in her iPad calendar. Fortunately, they were using the same work plans they’d developed for the first time around, so no extra effort was needed there. Although they’d made sure to revisit each of the plans during the postmortems each week.

  “Thanks. I’m actually on top of it this week. But right now, I’ve got to hoof it over to the Crosstown Mall. The tooth fairy tree ornaments I’d ordered as door prizes for the Christmas dinner are in. Get it, tooth fairy? Dentists? They’re pretty glam and should make a lot of the wives happy to win. Now, I’m anxious to pick them up before closing.”

  Closing? J.J. glanced at the clock hanging on the wall above the water cooler. She hadn’t realized it was so late in the day. She’d been so involved in her planning. She’d compile a list of florists before heading home and get to calling them first th
ing in the morning.

  Skye had just left when the door was opened again and in walked Devine.

  “Are you just about wrapping it up for the day?” he asked.

  Her heart gave a little flutter. Was this business or pleasure? “I am. What did you have in mind?”

  “I thought you might like a quick dinner and then we could finish off with a pub visit and a chance to talk to some of the guys on the hockey team.”

  “You found it?”

  “Of course. I just made a few calls, starting with the city that has a record of who uses the arenas. Then I called all the hockey clubs and finally found someone who sort of remembered James Bailey. He said the guys were getting together for a pub night and we could ask some questions.”

  “I’m impressed.”

  “It’s what I do, remember?”

  “Mmm. Just give me a few minutes.”

  She watched Devine wandering around the office, glancing at the various certificates hanging on the wall, interspersed with photos of events both she and Skye had planned. Of course, it was business. She felt a little let down, a foolish thought. She shut down her computer and grabbed her purse.

  “Ready. Where should we eat?”

  “I know just the place. I’ll drive.”

  It was only ten minutes away but J.J. had never been to Pomegranate before. Of course, it had been open less than a year but she’d read some rave reviews on a local food blog. She was immediately entranced with the gauzy, pastel curtains that appeared to float around the tables. So, this was Persian décor, Vermont style. The exotic-looking hostess, looking as if she’d stepped out of the pages of One Thousand and One Arabian Nights, had smiling brown eyes, which she seemed to focus totally on Devine. J.J. wondered if they’d dated but it didn’t seem likely he’d bring another woman to the restaurant if that was the case.