“I know, I know.” She waved off his excuses. “But when you consider all the links and start connecting them, doesn’t that tell you there might be more to a few random break-ins than first thought?”
His eyes narrowed, and he straightened in his seat. “But are they connected?”
“I think so, yes. Everything that’s happened here . . . maybe isn’t as random as it appears. I think, given everything, someone is looking for something specific—and has been for a while now.”
His lips tightened into a thin line. “I don’t think I can agree, because as far as I know, your aunt died of natural causes. Her doctor was there. And after all, she’d been sick for years and was in her late eighties. That can’t be a link to anything else.”
Her cheeks puffed out, and a loud, exasperated sigh escaped her lips. “Was an autopsy done?”
“No, I don’t believe so. No need, given her age and declining health.”
“So no one looked for anything suspicious?”
“No, her physician just signed the death certificate. That’s usual in these cases.”
“Hmmm.”
“I know that look. You are nuts if you’re thinking what I think you are.” He sat upright and stared at her.
“I am her only surviving relative, and . . . yes . . . I guess I am.”
He slapped his palm to his forehead. “Really? You want me to get a court order to exhume her body and have an autopsy performed?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, Addie, Addie, Addie, what am I getting int—”
She jumped when his cell phone rang.
He reached over and looked at the caller ID. “It’s the station. I have to get this, sorry.”
“I’d better go anyway. Thanks for today,” she murmured, then closed the door and headed for the hotel entrance.
“Addie, wait.” He called through his open window.
She turned around and he waved her back.
“What?” She leaned forward and gripped the partly open window edge. “What is it, Marc? Another break-in?”
He shook his head and looked up at her, his face ashen. “Raymond James was just found dead.”
Chapter Twenty
“What? Raymond’s dead?” She swayed and grasped the side of the car.
“He was found by the weekend cleaning staff at his office tonight.”
“I can’t believe it. But how?”
“Don’t know yet, but I’ve gotta go.”
She nodded and bound around the front of the Jeep to the other side.
“Hey, where do you think you’re going?”
She flung the passenger door open and popped her head in. “With you, of course.”
“No, no way.”
“Why not?”
“’Cause I can’t take you to an active crime scene, that’s why.”
She pursed her lips. “Well, okay. I guess you’re right, but promise you’ll call me as soon as you get any details.”
He nodded. “Will do.”
“Thanks.” Her brow furrowed as she watched him pull away.
When she entered the lobby, her mind was on what she knew about Raymond James, which wasn’t much. He had been her aunt’s lawyer for many years and was the executor of her estate. Her gut gnawed at her. She knew this was somehow related to everything else that had happened.
She pressed the elevator button, stood back to watch the overhead light indicator, and waited for it to reach the main level. She tried to refocus her thoughts on the fact that her new employee would be starting in the morning and she’d have to be ready to train her. A familiar voice echoed across the lobby. She spun around in time to see the old woman who had been in her shop earlier this week. She and the taller woman who had been browsing that same day were walking arm in arm into the hotel restaurant, chatting amiably.
Addie’s eyes narrowed. She took a deep breath, strode past the front desk, and looked up at the clock behind the clerk. It was past seven and had been a while since she’d eaten lunch with Serena. She stood on tiptoes and scanned the restaurant, easily spying the two women. She selected a table that was hopefully near enough for her to hear their conversation but stay concealed from their view by a large fake palm plant.
The server came over and took Addie’s order for a seafood salad. When she left, Addie peeked around a palm leaf. Another woman had joined the first two. There was something familiar about her, but with her back to Addie, it was impossible to tell what. She strained to see better, but it was no use. There was no way to see the woman’s facial features without putting herself at risk of discovery. She sipped her water, keeping her eyes on the three women. Although she was too far away to hear their conversation over the din of the other diners, she could tell by their body language that they were very familiar with each other.
A server approached their table, and the new woman held her menu to the side and pointed to something on it. The waiter wrote down her order, and took her menu. It was still no use. Addie couldn’t see her well enough to identify her.
In exasperation, she took a big gulp of water, and then the server returned. He stood behind the woman and asked her something. She nodded and turned her head toward him to reply. Addie choked on her mouthful of water. “Catherine Lewis?” she sputtered, water spilling down her chin.
She set her water goblet on the table and took a deep breath. She was certain the old woman had told her she was only visiting in Greyborne Harbor. Was it Catherine they were here to see? When she thought about it now, there was still the possibility that her initial gut instinct, which maybe she’d been too quick to dismiss had, in fact, been correct, and that the old woman, or the younger one, did take her keys from the drawer. Because right after that Catherine had shown up at her store, and tonight she was here having dinner with them. Could she be involved with whatever was going on, too?
Nonsense, she thought. Marc had told her Catherine was well known and liked in the community. She was bound to have friends outside Greyborne Harbor who would visit her. Besides, it was quite possible the other two women were innocent of her suspicions.
Her cell phone vibrated. Addie glanced at the call display.
“Addie? I can’t say much right now,” Marc whispered, “but we need to talk. I’ll meet you in your room in about an hour,” and then he hung up.
Addie stared blankly at her phone. He’d sounded so cryptic it sent a chill racing through her. She looked back at the three women and decided she wasn’t going to find out anything else about them tonight unless she followed them when they left. But Marc was on his way, so that would be impossible now. Besides, it was probably nothing. She knew she needed to talk to Catherine soon and try to find out more about her and how she knew these women.
“Is this the person you were looking for?”
Serena’s head appeared around the palm. “Yes, thank you,” Serena said, nodding at the server, and she plopped down into the seat across from Addie. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
“I didn’t expect to see you tonight. Is everything okay?”
“Yes, I just wanted to check in and see how your day went.” Serena grinned.
“Would you mind sitting here?” Addie patted the seat beside her.
The server’s brow shot up, but she took the menu she had begun to set at Serena’s spot and placed it at the setting beside Addie’s instead, then filled Serena’s water glass.
“Okay.” Serena switched chairs. “I’m not eating. Just a tea, please.” She handed the menu back to the young server.
The waitress nodded and left.
Serena turned to Addie. “What’s up with this cloak-and-dagger stuff?”
“I’m trying to stay hidden from a couple of people in the dining room.”
Serena frowned. “Anyone I know?” She leaned forward, peeking around the palm into the main room.
“Remember the old woman and her accomplice who I thought may have taken my keys?”
“Yes.” Her brow crease
d as she scanned the room.
“They’re by the window. See, the gray-haired one sitting beside the one with darker hair, with their backs to us, and the tall woman facing us who I thought was—”
Serena gasped. “The tall woman facing us is the woman who came in looking for the knockout tea.”
Addie’s mouth dropped open. “You’re kidding?”
“No, I’d remember that face anywhere. She really creeped me out.”
“Do you recognize the other woman they’re with?”
“Not too sure. I can’t see her face. Who is it?”
“Catherine Lewis.”
“Catherine? How on earth would she know them?”
“You tell me. You said you’d never seen the tall woman before, yet here she is enjoying a friendly meal with one of the town’s most upstanding citizens.” Addie chewed on her bottom lip. “Curious, isn’t it?”
“I’d say.” Serena shrugged. “What do we do, phone Marc?”
“Not necessary. He’ll be here in about”—she checked her cell phone’s clock—“fifteen minutes.”
“Wait, he’s coming here, tonight?” Serena’s eyes lit up. “I dropped by to see how the two of you got along today after I set you up”—she winced—“but I see it went very, very well.”
“No, no, no, it’s not what you think. It’s business.”
“Sure.” She grinned. “If you say so.”
“He has something to discuss about a case he got called to after we got back, that’s all.” She took a sip of water and stared straight ahead.
“If . . . it’s that innocent, then why are you so defensive?”
“Can you please give it up?” Addie banged her glass down on the table.
Serena rolled her eyes. “If you insist.”
“No, seriously, it’s a case that might be linked to everything else.”
Serena looked away and surveyed the room. “If you say so.”
“Look, Raymond James,” Addie said, her voice dropping to a faint whisper, “was found dead in his office tonight.”
“What?” Serena shot around in her chair and stared at her.
Addie nodded.
“Wow, this is getting so weird.”
“You’d better believe it. And I think it’s about to get even weirder.” She eyed the three women across the room.
Chapter Twenty-One
“I’m bored,” Serena groaned and started flipping through all the television channels a second time.
Addie checked her phone’s clock and sighed. “Well, he is an hour later than he said he’d be. If you want to leave, go ahead. Tomorrow is Monday, and we have to be up early for work.”
“No, I’ll wait. I want to hear what he has to say about Raymond’s death.”
“I know. The anticipation is driving me crazy.” Addie gazed out the window into the parking lot below. “Oh, Catherine’s just leaving.”
Serena jumped up. “What color car does she drive?” She peered around Addie’s shoulder.
“Looks like she’s heading for that white or silver SUV. I can’t really make out the color in the dark.”
“Yes, no black sedan.” Serena moaned and flopped back across the foot of the bed. “Does any of this make sense to you? I know I’m lost.”
“Me, too. There’s too many pieces that don’t fit.”
“I know, like me being charged with murder.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll figure out who and what’s behind this and get your name cleared of any suspicion. I promise.”
“I hope so. Even though the charge has been stayed for now, if they don’t find any other leads, it still could come back to me. After all, I was furious with him when I went to his office, and Martha attested to that.” Serena flung her arm over her forehead and moaned.
“I just know we’ll figure this out. My gut tells me it’s all related.”
“But how? I’m not seeing it.” Serena sat upright. “What could your break-ins have to do with Blain getting murdered, and now Raymond?”
“We don’t know yet that he was murdered. He was older, and maybe he had a heart attack or stroke. We have to wait and see what Marc says.”
“You’re right.” Serena flopped back onto the bed.
“Although, if it was natural causes, why did Marc say we have to talk and want to speak in my room?”
“Maybe he has something else on his mind?” giggled Serena.
“Stop it.” Addie playfully slapped Serena’s foot.
“Ouch, you bully.” Serena bellowed.
“Am not. You’re just a pain.” Addie smirked and checked the time. “I wonder where Marc is.” She tapped her phone on the tabletop. An email alert pinged. “Maybe this is him.” She checked her email. “No. It’s from Suzanne, Jeremy’s assistant.” She read the message. “Hmmm, pretty vague.”
“Did she say anything about the books you sent him to be appraised?”
“No, she didn’t mention them.” Addie shrugged and set her phone back on the table. “She said she just heard from him and he’s been tied-up with business, but everything should be resolved shortly and he hopes to be back in Boston soon.” She frowned and reread the message. “Weird.”
“What is?”
“Well, when I called her the other day, she said he was called away on an emergency, something to do with his sister, but now she referred to it as business.”
“That kind of thing does happen. What’s weird about that? If Marc needed me, I’d be off in a flash.”
“Except for the fact that he’s never mentioned to me before that he even had a sister, and I’ve known him for over five years. Don’t you think family would’ve been something he’d mention, at least once?”
“How close of friends were you? Maybe he’s the type of guy who doesn’t share personal stuff with the people he works with.”
“We were friends. He helped me through a lot after David died, and I’m not sure I’d be half-sane today without his support at the time.”
“Okay, but did you ever ask him about his family?”
“I’m pretty sure I did, because he said we were very much alike, alone in the world now.”
“Maybe they weren’t close. Some siblings don’t have great relationships and only need each other in a crisis, like I need Marc now.” Serena chuckled.
“Maybe, but you and Marc seem to have a great relationship.”
“Yeah, but only when he doesn’t pull the big-brother crap on me.”
Addie chuckled and bit her lip, gazing out the window. She realized that she really didn’t know much about Jeremy outside the office. Serena might be right. It was more of a comradely colleague relationship rather than a true friendship, as she had been thinking of it. Why would he discuss family with her? “There’s Marc in the parking lot now.” Addie leapt to her feet. “He looks upset.”
“Should I leave? He said he wanted to talk to you. He might get more upset if I’m here.”
“No, stay put; you’re involved in all this, too.” She patted Serena’s foot as she walked past the bed toward the door.
“Okay, but if he gets mad, I’m outta here.”
“That’s fair. Let’s see what he says first though.”
“Hi.” Addie opened the door. “Serena and I were just watching some television.”
He peered into the room, rubbed the nape of his neck, and strolled inside. He stood near the foot of the bed, staring down at Serena.
She propped herself on her elbow. “Hi.” She smiled timidly and waved.
He sucked in a deep breath. Addie closed the door and stood beside him. “What is it? You’re as white as a sheet.”
He slumped down on the bed beside Serena. She bolted upright. “What’s wrong?”
He propped his elbows on his knees and fumbled with the ball cap in his hands, took another deep breath, and stood up. He planted his feet squarely and looked down at his sister, a wave of regret crossing his face.
“As an officer of the law, I’m bound to ask you
this.” His voice cracked. “Where were you today between four and six p.m.?”
Addie gasped. Serena jumped to her feet.
“Why, what’s going on?” Addie grabbed his sleeve and turned him toward her. His face was drawn and pale. He looked back at Serena.
“I have to know. Please answer,” he barked. “Now.”
“I . . . I . . . I was at Mom and Dad’s for dinner. You can call them.” She pulled her phone from her pocket, her hand quivering as she held it out to him.
“Thank God.” He sighed as though he’d been holding his breath and leaned back against the television cabinet.
Addie placed her arm around Serena’s trembling shoulders. “Marc, why on earth would you question Serena like that?”
Marc walked over to the window and stood staring into the parking lot. “Because of”—he slumped into one of the chairs—“of Raymond’s death. At first, it appeared to be natural causes. The cleaners found him sitting drooped over his desk when they went in. There weren’t any initial signs of foul play, but I detected the subtle scent of perfume in the air. The cleaning staff was all men, and none of them were wearing cologne. I called Raymond’s assistant, Barbara, to see if she had been working today, but she’d been out with family. She did verify that it wasn’t unusual for Raymond to work Sundays. He liked to prepare for the next week and catch up on billing.”
“Okay, but what does this have to do with your sister?”
His jaw tensed and his lips pursed tight. He took a deep breath. “There was also a cup of half-drunk tea in front of him. When I picked it up and smelled it, the scent was familiar, but there was a slightly unpleasant odor to it. I couldn’t make it out, but I found a recently opened bag of loose-leaf tea sitting on the side table. It had the same basic scent, but without the strange odor.”
“So he had some tea, so what? Lots of people drink tea,” Serena muttered.
“I know, but it was a brand from your shop and had your red label on it.”
Addie seethed and walked over to him. “You’re saying Serena poisoned his tea? That’s crazy, and you know it.”
“I know it is.” His teeth clenched. “But the perfume I smelled was the same one Serena wears.” He glared at Addie and stood up.
Murder by the Book Page 13