Digging Up the Dirt

by Miranda James

  “I know,” Hadley said. “I’m not going to apologize for not telling you about it all before now. You were too sick, and I didn’t want you fretting. I didn’t realize, frankly, that you could be in danger, though, until An’gel forced me to face facts.”

  Coriander turned to An’gel. “What facts are we talking about?”

  “The women of the Athena Garden Club board,” An’gel replied. She named them for Coriander, who nodded to indicate she remembered them all. “One of them, I think, is obsessed with Hadley. Obsessed to the point that she will try to remove any obstacle standing in her way. She’s already pushed Sarinda down the stairs to her death and run Arliss off the road. She even attempted to do the same to me, I think, although there’s a possibility that was simply a coincidence.”

  “The point is, once she finds out Hadley has a wife, she could very likely target you,” Dickce said.

  “That sounds like the plot of a movie.” Coriander shivered. “A creepy, scary movie.”

  “I’m afraid it may all be too true.” An’gel looked straight at Hadley. “Have you told her about what we found in the garden?”

  He shook his head. “Not at the time. She was really sick then, and I didn’t want to worry her. I told her last night.”

  “I don’t understand it,” Coriander said. “I know Hadley thinks his brother killed Callie, but I can’t believe he did. He loved her, and he had never raised his hand to her in all the time I worked for her. He had a temper and even broke things sometimes, but I don’t think he would ever kill her.”

  Coriander sounded completely sincere, and An’gel had no doubt she believed Hamish was innocent. An’gel reserved judgment still.

  “Then if Hamish didn’t do it, who did?” Dickce asked.

  “Track down that nasty woman who was housekeeper here,” Coriander said. “Mrs. Turnipseed. She hated Callie with a passion because she fancied herself as Mrs. Hamish Partridge. If anyone killed her, that old witch did.”

  “Mrs. Turnipseed was in love with Hamish?” Hadley asked. “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely,” Coriander said. “I caught her once in their bedroom, lying on the bed with one of his suits. She was stroking it and talking to it like he was there in the bed with her.” She shook her head. “It was sickening.”

  “Did she know you saw her?” An’gel asked, fascinated by what Coriander had told them.

  “I don’t think so,” Coriander said. “She always treated me like dirt, and I didn’t notice any difference after that.”

  “Did you tell Callie?” Hadley asked.

  “I wanted to,” Coriander said. “I just couldn’t, though. I know she complained to Hamish about the woman several times and wanted him to fire her, but he wouldn’t. She seemed to have some kind of hold over him.” She laughed suddenly. “She couldn’t force him to marry her, though, even after Callie disappeared.” She looked at An’gel and Dickce. “She didn’t, did she?”

  “I don’t think so,” An’gel said. “If he had, it was a deep secret. Otherwise he would have had to admit that Callie was dead.”

  “If he didn’t kill Callie, and someone else did, then why didn’t he call the police?” Coriander asked. “It doesn’t make sense that he wouldn’t, if he didn’t do it.”

  “That’s one of the reasons I’m inclined to think he probably did,” An’gel said. “Though I wonder how it’s connected to recent events.”

  “You were still here for a few days after I left and before you joined me in New York,” Hadley said to his wife. “Did you see or hear anything that might have a bearing on Callie’s death?”

  Coriander frowned. “The afternoon I left the weather was pretty bad. Thunderstorms and heavy rain. I thought we weren’t going to make it to Memphis for me to catch the plane to New York in time.” She paused. “I left by the back door. I’d arranged with a man I knew in town to give me ride to Memphis. He was waiting around back when I came out. It was pouring rain by then, and I got soaked getting into the car with my suitcases. When he drove around the front to head for the highway, I saw a car there. I don’t know who it was, though, but I remember thinking I heard somebody at the front door. Mrs. Turnipseed always answered the door, and I was happy she wasn’t there in the kitchen when I left.”

  “I wonder who it was,” Dickce said.

  “Can you remember anything about the car?” An’gel asked.

  “Let me think about it a moment,” Coriander said. After a brief silence, she spoke again. “I think it was black, or some other dark color. Probably a four-door. That’s all I can recall. It’s been so long I’d almost forgotten about it.”

  An’gel looked at Hadley. “Do you have any idea whose car it was?”

  He shrugged. “Who remembers what kind of car another person had forty years ago? I barely remember my own. I sold it in Memphis before I left for New York, but that’s neither here nor there.” He paused. “It sounds like a sedan, of course, and everybody was driving one back then. Reba was, and I’m pretty sure both Barbie and Lottie were, too. The color I have no idea about.”

  “That’s not so sinister in itself,” An’gel said after a moment’s reflection. “Visitors came to Ashton Hall regularly, didn’t they?”

  “Not all that often, no,” Coriander said. “Hamish didn’t like company all that much. In fact, he used to complain to Hadley about the women who would show up here unannounced. Didn’t he?”

  “Yes,” Hadley said. “I didn’t encourage them to come here, they simply showed up. I tried to explain that to Hamish, but he didn’t believe me.”

  “It’s a fatal attraction you seem to have,” An’gel murmured, “at least for some women.” She shook her head before she focused on Coriander. “What about the few days after Hadley left and before you went to join him? Were there any unexpected visitors?”

  “I’ll have to think about that for a minute,” Coriander said. “The more I’m trying to recall things from then, though, the easier it seems to be getting. Yes, I’m pretty sure that both Reba Dalrymple and Lottie MacLeod turned up, looking for Hadley. They both insisted he’d failed to keep a date with them, but I thought they were both lying. They had made it up as an excuse to see him.”

  “Did you talk to them yourself?” An’gel asked.

  Coriander shook her head. “No, Callie did, although she told me about it.”

  “Did she know that you and Hadley planned to run away together?” Dickce asked.

  “Yes, we told her,” Hadley said.

  “How did she take the news?” An’gel said.

  Coriander looked troubled. “She was heartbroken, even though she knew it was for the best. I knew she was in love with Hadley, but she knew he didn’t return her feelings. She was talking about going away herself, at least for a little while, to sort things out.”

  “Did she tell anyone else that?” An’gel asked.

  “She might have,” Coriander said. “She was pretty low right after Hadley left. She might have told someone she was going away for a while.”

  “If she did, that person might have assumed she was going to join Hadley,” Dickce said. “What story did Hamish and Callie give about Hadley leaving?”

  “Not anything, really, other than that he was on an extended trip,” Coriander said. “Neither one of them wanted to say that he wasn’t planning to come back. Hamish thought he left because of Callie, and in a way he did, I suppose. I wasn’t going to tell him, and Hadley certainly didn’t, that it was because of me.”

  “And almost everyone in town thought Hadley did leave because of Callie,” An’gel said. “I’m sure that Callie’s murderer thought that, too, and blamed her for Hadley’s going away.”

  “You mean to tell me someone murdered Callie because I left town and they thought she was the reason?” Hadley asked.

  “I do,” An’gel said. “Now we simply have to figure out w
ho it was.” Before she could elaborate further, she heard her cell phone ringing. “Excuse me, I need to check this.” She pulled it out of her purse and glanced at the screen. Kanesha Berry’s name came up.

  “Hello, Kanesha,” An’gel said. “Any news?”

  “Yes,” Kanesha replied. “We found Mrs. Turnipseed and her car. She was dead inside, and the car’s front end was damaged. I think she was the one who tried to run you off the road.”

  CHAPTER 33

  “Oh, my heavens,” An’gel said. “That’s terrible. I was hoping she was still alive. Are you sure she’s the one who tried to run me off the road?”

  “Reasonably sure,” Kanesha replied. “We can’t say for certain until we can test and match the paint samples we found on your car and hers. I’m pretty confident, though, that we’ve found the right car.”

  “Where did you find her?” An’gel asked. She could see that the others were curious but she wanted to get all the details she could from Kanesha before she shared them.

  “In her own garage,” Kanesha said. “We’re not exactly sure when she returned, or how she got by us, but a neighbor on the street behind her reported seeing lights around one o’clock this morning. We didn’t hear about this until a couple of hours ago, however.”

  “How strange,” An’gel said. “Do you know yet how she died?”

  “We’re pretty sure she was knocked unconscious and then strangled,” Kanesha replied. “I’m hoping the witness who saw the lights can tell us something more that will give us a lead on who’s responsible.”

  “I hope they can, too,” An’gel said. “In the meantime, though, I think you really need to come out to Ashton Hall. There’s new information that could help.”

  “Such as?” Kanesha said, her tone sharp.

  “We found Coriander Simpson, for one,” An’gel said. “Now, I know you’re probably going to be aggravated we didn’t tell you sooner, but the story is a bit complicated. If you can come out here now, we can tell you everything. Coriander is here with us now. She’s actually Hadley Partridge’s wife.”

  For once in her life, Kanesha must have been struck speechless, An’gel decided, as she waited for the chief deputy to respond. Finally Kanesha said, “I’ll be on my way in a few.” She ended the call.

  “Tell us what all that was about,” Dickce said.

  An’gel shared what Kanesha told her about the death of Mrs. Turnipseed. When she finished, there was stunned silence for a moment.

  Coriander looked up at Hadley. “I think maybe we should tell Ryan that he and Belinda and the boys should stay in Memphis until the murderer is caught.”

  “Good idea,” Hadley said. “As soon as I know their plane has landed, I’ll text him and tell him to call me before they leave the airport.”

  “Who are Ryan and Belinda and the boys?” An’gel asked, although she suspected she already knew.

  “Our son and his wife, and our grandsons, Simon and Derek,” Coriander replied. “They live in London, and they’re on their way here for a visit.”

  “This will all be theirs someday,” Hadley said. “If they decide they want to keep it and move here, of course.” He looked down at his wife. “We’re planning to stay here. That’s why I’m investing time and energy and money in this house and grounds.”

  “I’m delighted to hear it,” An’gel said. “You belong here.”

  “Me, too,” Dickce added. “It will be wonderful to see children here at Ashton Hall.”

  Coriander laughed. “They’re not precisely children. Simon will soon be seventeen, and Derek is fifteen.”

  “Young people then.” Dickce smiled.

  “I take it that Deputy Berry is on her way here?” Hadley asked.

  “Yes,” An’gel said. “She needs to know everything you’ve told us, and I’m hoping she will have other information she hasn’t shared. Maybe that way she can figure out who’s behind everything. Maybe even who really killed Callie.”

  “While we wait for her,” Coriander said, “why don’t I make some tea? I think we could all use it right about now.” She rose from the chair.

  Hadley smiled. “We’ve become accustomed to it. Tea as the antidote to everything. I frankly could use something a lot stronger, but tea will do. How about we all go to the kitchen and have it there? Cory made some fresh scones this morning.”

  “Sounds fine to me,” Dickce said. “Come on, An’gel.”

  “I’ll never say no to tea and homemade scones,” An’gel replied as she rose from the sofa.

  An’gel had barely finished her first scone when the doorbell rang. Hadley left the room to answer it.

  “Will the deputy be offended if we talk to her in the kitchen?” Coriander asked.

  “Not at all,” An’gel said.

  “Good. I’ll get another cup out for her.” Coriander walked over to the cabinet.

  Hadley returned with Kanesha Berry, and he quickly made introductions between his wife and the deputy. Coriander stared at Kanesha for a moment. “I believe I knew your mother,” she said. “Azalea Berry, isn’t she?”

  Kanesha nodded. “Yes, that’s my mother.”

  “I hope she’s doing well,” Coriander said. “She was always such a gracious person and very kind to me when I saw her.”

  “She’s doing fine,” Kanesha said. “I’ll let her know you asked about her.” She turned to greet An’gel and Dickce. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I have a lot going on. I really need to hear what all you have to tell me.”

  An’gel knew that Kanesha was feeling the pressure of the investigation and was not bothered by her abrupt manner.

  “Why don’t you sit down and have a cup of tea and a scone, and we’ll tell you everything as quickly as we can.”

  Kanesha didn’t respond for a moment. “All right. I could use a little caffeine, frankly.”

  Hadley held out a chair for her, and she nodded before taking it. Coriander placed tea and a plate with two scones on the table in front of her.

  An’gel said, “It all started with Dickce and me trying to trace Coriander Simpson.” She gave Kanesha a quick summary of Benjy’s efforts and Dickce’s visit with Coriander’s mother. “We thought she really might have died in England, but as it turned out, we were wrong.” She looked to Hadley and Coriander to take up the story now.

  Hadley explained the reasons he left Athena and all that ensued, from his own knowledge, after that. Coriander then shared with Kanesha what she knew about the other women who were in love with Hadley, and about the car she had seen the day she left Ashton Hall to join Hadley in New York.

  Kanesha had consumed both scones and two cups of tea by the time she heard all the information that An’gel, Dickce, Hadley, and Coriander had to share. Now they all waited to hear what she had to say in response.

  Kanesha pushed the empty plate away and regarded them all with her habitual unreadable expression.

  “Well?” An’gel said. “Does any of this help you figure out who the killer is?”

  Kanesha nodded. “I believe so, but I do have one question for you. I think I know who it is, but tell me, is one of these women left-handed?”

  An’gel looked at Dickce and frowned. “As I recall, both Lottie and Reba are left-handed, aren’t they?”

  Dickce nodded. “Yes, they are.”

  Kanesha muttered something under her breath, and An’gel thought she knew what it was. She didn’t blame the deputy.

  “I presume whoever killed Mrs. Turnipseed was left-handed?” An’gel said.

  “Yes,” Kanesha replied, “and I figured the chances were that only one of these ladies was a lefty. Now you tell me two of them are.”

  “At least that eliminates Barbie Gross,” Dickce said. “I’m glad. I really like her.”

  “My vote is for Reba,” An’gel said. “After all, she knew Mrs. Turnipseed r
ather well. She told us so herself. If Mrs. Turnipseed trusted the person who killed her, who was that more likely to be? Reba, I think.”

  “That makes a lot of sense,” Dickce said.

  “I agree,” Kanesha said. “But we don’t know for sure that Mrs. Turnipseed was working with someone she might consider a friend. I suspect she was being paid by someone. She was living well beyond the means of a retired housekeeper.”

  “How do you know that?” Coriander asked. “Surely you haven’t access to her bank account so quickly.”

  “No, I don’t,” Kanesha replied. “I’ll just say that we found plenty of things at her house that were way too expensive. She had a lot of antique furniture for one thing, antiques that looked like better quality than what she might have inherited from her own family. I knew of them. They weren’t people who could afford such things.”

  “Some of them came from Ashton Hall,” Hadley explained. “My brother left her most of the furnishings from my mother’s bedroom and sitting room.”

  “That would account for most of them,” Kanesha said. “It still doesn’t explain the rest. Your mother didn’t have an early seventeenth-century oak coffer, did she? Or an oak settle from roughly the same period?”

  Hadley shook his head. “No, she didn’t. We didn’t have them anywhere in the house, unless they were purchased after I left. Frankly, though, I can’t see my brother buying them. They would have been too old. He didn’t care for anything before Regency.”

  “I see,” Kanesha said. She glanced at An’gel and Dickce, obviously aware of their curiosity. “I watch shows about antiques when I’m off, and I’ve learned to recognize different periods and styles.” She smiled briefly. “My one hobby.”

  “So you think Mrs. Turnipseed was blackmailing someone?” Dickce said.

  “Yes, I believe so,” Kanesha replied.

  An’gel said, “I know Lottie’s husband left her quite well off. Reba, on the other hand, has always seemed to be strapped for cash.”

  “Maybe because Mrs. Turnipseed has been blackmailing her for years,” Dickce said. “They certainly used to have money, at least as long as her husband was alive. After he died, I thought she spent most of her money on keeping Martin happy with gadgets and cars.”