She continued to mull over the possibilities until she stepped inside the coffee shop. At that point the wonderful scents coming from the store eased away remnants of the murder. Five customers waited in line ahead of her, so Helen found an empty grouping of chairs and sat down to wait. Rosie had seen her and given her a wave. Off to the right was a table that still contained several of Maude’s books and a sign that indicated that they’d been autographed by the local author.
When things calmed down for Rosie, she brought Helen a latte and sat down.
“Thanks.” Helen took a tentative sip. “Busy morning.”
“And I expect it to get busier. The book signing Saturday brought in a lot of new people.”
“Did Maude sell a lot of books?”
“Over a hundred, which is great for a small place like mine.”
“I’m reading one of hers now. She’s a good writer.” Helen set her cup aside to cool. “And judging from her police involvement, she’s done her research.”
Rosie nodded. “She told one of our customers yesterday that she has a friend who works in criminal investigation.”
Joe came in and Rosie excused herself to get his coffee. He lowered himself into the chair she’d vacated. “We got the autopsy report and some interesting information from the CSI team in Portland.”
“Are you going to share?”
“They’re certain our victim was hit on the side of the head with a fireplace poker. Yours, I’m afraid.”
Helen winced. “I don’t suppose you found any prints.”
He shook his head and reached up to take the cup Rosie offered. “I’m afraid not.”
“Anything else?”
“The person who whacked her was short. I’m seriously looking at the kid again.”
“Oh, Joe. I just can’t see Cody doing something like that.”
“You’re a grandmother.” He offered a wan smile. “But think about it. He had motive. What if she found out about his financial venture and confronted him? If he’s telling the truth and she didn’t know, she’d have been upset. They argue and he grabs the nearest thing to a weapon.”
“I know it makes sense in a way, but would he think to create a mess so we’d think it was a robbery?” Helen frowned. “Besides, how would she find out? The only reason she’d have been at my place was if she came to straighten up and found....” Helen gasped. “Oh. You don’t suppose....”
“What?”
Before she could answer, Maude came in. After greeting Helen and Joe, she placed her order with Rosie and then came back. “Thank you for coming to my signing. It was wonderful to meet your family.”
“They enjoyed it.” Helen said. “I started reading one of your books last night. The one you’d signed and left in my bookcase.”
She offered up a shy smile. “I hope you’re enjoying it.”
“I am. You do very well with details.”
“Thank you. I’m especially interested in forensics.”
“I can tell.” Helen set her cooled drink on the table. “Joe, why don’t we run through the details of this case with Maude? She might have some ideas about who killed Janelle.”
Joe frowned and before he could say anything, Helen plunged headlong into the details. She told Maude what they’d learned so far. “In thinking this through, Maude, I got to wondering if you may have seen the killer.”
“It’s all very interesting.” Maude tightened her grip on her cup. Her hand shook as she reached out to place it on the table. “I don’t remember seeing anything.”
“Janelle was killed at around the time you would have left the house.” Helen leaned forward. “Are you sure?”
“I’d like to help, but, no, I…I didn’t see anything.”
“I wish I could believe that. You see, Maude, I think you’re the one who killed her. I think Janelle came to the house while you were still there. And you weren’t supposed to be there. Did she order you out? Threaten to call the police?”
Maude shook her head. “No. How can you say something like that? I am not a killer. True, I write about crime, but I’m not a criminal.” The once-confident author seemed to deflate as she buried her face in her hands. She bent down to reach for her bag,
Joe pulled out his weapon. “Hold it right there.”
The bag dropped to the floor with a thud.
Chapter Twelve
Maude screamed.
Rosie shrieked.
Helen’s heart jumped to her throat.
Joe nodded toward Maude’s bag. “She was going for a gun.”
Helen picked it up and searched through it. “Books and a wallet. No gun.”
“Of course not! I was just reaching for some Kleenex.” Maude’s eyes brimmed with tears. “I don’t even own a gun.”
Joe settled his weapon back into his holster, looking confused and out of sorts.
Helen suggested he sit back down. She placed a hand on Maude’s arm and handed her a tissue. “We know you killed Janelle. Why don’t you tell us about it?”
“I didn’t mean to.” Maude sobbed. “She must have thought I was an intruder and picked up the poker from the fireplace. She came at me and I grabbed it away from her. I swung it and she went down.” Tears filled her eyes again. “It was an accident. I never meant to hurt anyone.”
Joe pulled out his handcuffs. “So you dragged her body outside and cleaned up the crime scene.”
“I didn’t think anyone would suspect me.” She lifted her hands so Joe could cuff her. “How did you know?”
“I didn’t for sure.” Helen answered. “After my family left this afternoon, I got to thinking. Most people from the Portland area who visit the beach usually head home in the late afternoon. And with you being a writer and loving to write at the coast, I thought you’d want to stay as long as possible.”
Maude sighed. “I was up in the office working when I heard a noise downstairs. She must have heard me as well.” She turned to Joe. “I’ll need to contact my attorney. Since it was self-defense, I shouldn’t have to do any jail time, right?”
“You tampered with evidence and fled the scene.” Joe helped her to her feet and read her her rights to make the arrest official.
Maude turned as they reached the door. “I’m sorry about your friend. I shouldn’t have tried to cover it up.”
“No, you shouldn’t have.”
“I was so scared. Killing someone can ruin your reputation. I didn’t know what else to do.”
Maude went quietly with Joe and for several long moments, Helen stared at the closed door.
Rosie came up behind her. “I didn’t see that one coming.”
“Neither did I.” Helen handed Rosie her coffee mug. “I think I need another one.”
“You and me both.” Rosie headed for the counter. “Flip the sign for me, will you. We need to debrief.”
Rosie made them each a latte while Helen turned the open sign in the window to closed.
“So, do you think she’s right?” Rosie asked. “That she won’t do jail time?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised. A good attorney will get her off. She might have to do community service.”
“I suppose this means you won’t be renting out your house to her.” Rosie grinned and handed Helen her drink.
“Probably not. Will you keep selling her books?”
Rosie laughed. “I know this isn’t the least bit humorous, but I’ll bet once the press gets hold of this story, those books will sell better than ever.”
Helen had to agree. Fame, even the negative kind, could sell books. They sat in silence for several minutes. Helen felt relieved to have solved the crime, but there was no satisfaction in seeing Maude arrested for murder.
In the early afternoon, Rosie closed the shop again when she and Helen drove to the funeral home for Janelle’s or rather Janice Kamden’s memorial service.
The funeral brought closure in a number of ways. Sherrie had brought Betty as well as her daughter and son-in-law and Cody. Caitlin and
Andrew had agreed to take Cody in. He was, after all, family. The four of them would live in Betty’s home, at least temporarily, as soon as they made a few renovations. Helen felt certain that Janice would have been pleased at seeing her family together again.
Helen pulled into her driveway around four-thirty. Her cell phone went off just as she opened the door. The familiar Irish accent made her smile. “Did you miss me, luv?”
“Of course.” Helen leaned back against the front door, closing it firmly. “Are you coming home?”
“On my way. I just left the airport.”
“Drive safe.”
“Always.”
Helen tucked the phone away. She had just enough time to walk on the beach and shower before dinner. And then she and JB could get back to what mattered most. Their honeymoon.
About the Author
Award-winning author and speaker Patricia H. Rushford has written over fifty books, including five mystery series including: The Helen Bradley Mysteries, The Angel Delaney Mysteries The McAllister Files, which she wrote with a police detective. She's also written the popular Jennie McGrady Mysteries and the Max & Me Mysteries for kids.
Patricia's most recent works include Strangers in the Night, a romantic suspense for Summerside Press. Most of her mysteries are set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest where she lives with her husband Ron. She enjoys sharing the sights sounds and culinary delights of the northwest with her readers. The Oregon and Washington coasts provide the settings for many of her novels.
Patricia, who worked for 18 years as an RN, holds a master's degree in counseling. In addition, she conducts writers' workshops for adults and children and has been the Director of the Oregon Christian Writer's Summer Conference and co-director of Writer's Weekend at the Beach. Patricia has appeared on numerous radio and television talk shows across the United States and Canada.
Books by Patricia H. Rushford
FICTION
Romantic Suspense
Sins of the Mother
Strangers in the Night
The Angel Delaney Mysteries
Deadly Aim
Dying to Kill
As Good as Dead
The Helen Bradley Mysteries
Death on Arrival
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
Red Sky in Mourning
A Haunting Refrain
When Shadows Fall
The McAlister Files
Secrets, Lies and Alibis
Deadfall
Terminal 9
She Who Watches
Novels for Guidepost Books
Strangers in Their Midst (Mystery and the Minister’s Wife series)
Chasing the Wind, Measure of Faith, and With Open Arms (Stories from Hope Haven)
Mysteries for Kids
The Jennie McGrady Mysteries
The Max & Me Mysteries- Available as e-books
Non-fiction:
It Shouldn't Hurt to Be a Kid
What Kids Need Most in a Mom
Connect with Patricia
On Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Patricia-H.-Rushford/e/B000AR89Y2/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
On her Website:
http://www.patriciarushfordbooks.com
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patricia.h.rushford
On her Blog: http://www.patriciarushford.blogspot.com/
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Death on Arrival: A Helen Bradley Mystery (Helen Bradley Mysteries Book 1) Page 8