Till Death Do Us Bark

by Judi McCoy

  “Rosa’s been a doll through all of this. What’s up with Tomas? I tried to ask her about the bail hearing, but she clammed up whenever I opened the topic today.”

  “Terry and Maria took over her chores while you were asleep this morning so Rosa, Julio, and Arlene’s attorney could meet at the courthouse. The boy is home, thanks to Arlene, who put up a bond. It was half a million. Can you believe that?”

  “Wow. Did they give a reason for the huge amount?”

  Viv carried a chair to the chaise and took a seat. “Rosa finally told Arlene that her son had a record, which is why they got his prints off the knife so fast. It was penny-ante stuff, but he’s been hanging with a gang. The DA argued that he was a flight risk, thus the outrageous amount.”

  “And Arlene didn’t care?”

  “Far as I know, she told the attorney to do whatever was necessary to free the kid. He’s home right now, helping his father with the landscaping work around the guest cottage.”

  “Then Julio’s back. You’ve seen him?”

  “Yep. I guess he’s the next person you want to talk to about the night of the murder, huh?”

  Ellie reached into her tote, pulled out her spiral notepad, and flipped the pages until she arrived at the blank sheet with Julio’s name at the top. “I know it’s not going to be easy, but I have to question him. Did he mention where he’s been for the past twenty-four hours?”

  “Sort of.” Viv took a long swallow of tea. “Arlene said Rosa told her he’d been in church, praying for his son, but that really wouldn’t account for the entire time.”

  “I doubt it. Has Wheeling been around?”

  “He was over this morning. Told Arlene they were releasing the doc’s body to her because Kent’s brother called and told them he was in the process of sending a letter of release giving Arlene full control. Needless to say, she’s in a tizzy. Says she and Martin discussed a will, but never got one on paper. It’s not only his body. He owns two cars, a huge boat, and office furniture and equipment. She tried the brother herself, with no luck, so she’s having the doc cremated as soon as the letter arrives.”

  Fingers crossed, Ellie asked, “Is she planning a memorial?”

  “I guess so. Why?”

  “Because—well—I think his killer was someone here at the party that night. And everybody who was here said they’d come to a memorial, if one was held.”

  “It’s possible. Wheeling says they’ve done a thorough check of the patients listed in the doc’s appointment book, and they all had a decent alibi for the night of the party. And here’s a bit of news.” Viv lowered her voice. “Mr. Bond finally told the detective that he’d broken into the crime scene the night of the murder and heard Kent arguing with someone.”

  “Really?” Ellie bit her lower lip. “Did he say anything about you and me doing the same thing while the crime scene tape was up? And when did he say it?”

  “After the burglary, when they went over who might have sneaked inside and why.”

  Ellie cocked her head. “You still haven’t said. Did Jim cover for us, or did he squeal?”

  Viv tsked. “You’re starting to sound like a character in one of those ancient Humphrey Bogart movies. No, he didn’t ‘squeal.’ He kept us out of it.” She smirked. “He likes you.”

  “Now you’re starting to sound like a fifth grader.” She sighed. “I only hope Wheeling never hears that we broke into the doc’s office the same night Jim did.”

  “As long as Agent Bond keeps quiet, I don’t see how he’ll find out.”

  “Too bad we ran into him there. I really would have liked to check out Kent’s office early on after the murder, instead of two days later. And I still wish Rosa would give me a better explanation of where Julio’s been and what he’s been doing. Maybe she doesn’t know her son or her husband as well as she thinks she does.”

  “I still buy your explanation. Tomas was the first person to argue with the doc, but he ran, and the real killer was lying in wait. And don’t worry. I didn’t say anything to Arlene about us crossing the tape, either. I figured it would just open up a whole new can of worms.” She straightened in her chair. “See, I’m getting the hang of things. Following in your footsteps as a private investigator.”

  Ellie’s shoulders slumped. “Maybe we should both go back to being ordinary citizens. I’m worried that things could get more violent than they did last night.”

  “I don’t give a fig about the violence. Rosa is distraught over her son’s arrest, and Arlene is still coming to grips with Dr. Kent’s illegal practices. Which means they need our help.”

  “When do you think we should clue her in about the painting?”

  Viv ran a hand through her long dark hair, then pushed her pair of twenty-dollar sunglasses to the top of her head. “I’ve run it through my brain, and I don’t know what to do. If Arlene blows her cork and confronts Adrianne, it might start ‘the great catfight of 2012.’ And Mother is going to flip, too.”

  “I asked Adrianne about it last night when I had her in my clutches,” Ellie confessed. “It didn’t seem to bother her a bit that we knew about the portrait.”

  “Sounds like Adrianne. Did you press her about seeing or hearing anything while she was resting during the party?”

  “Sure did. She claims she didn’t hear a thing.”

  “Do you believe her?”

  “Now that I’ve gotten a better read on her? No.”

  Viv’s green eyes grew wide. “Oh, my God. Do you think she killed Dr. Kent?”

  Ellie blew out a breath. “I don’t want to think it.” Viv and her family would be gossip fodder for the scandal sheets for sure if word got out that the middle sister of a local resident killed her older sister’s fiancé. It was bad enough drugs were involved. With the sleaze element, every newspaper in town and every TV tell-all program would jump on the story, and the entire McCready family would be dragged into the middle of the mess. “I just can’t imagine her being strong enough to knock a well-built, six-foot-tall man backward like the killer did.”

  “I agree. Adrianne is a brat, but she doesn’t have the strength to push that hard. But she did take a martial arts course to ‘strengthen her inner core,’ as she puts it.” Viv shook her head. “And what about a motive?”

  “They could always say that when the doc told her their affair was over, she wanted to get back at him.”

  “It’s possible, but that’s not Adrianne’s MO. She would have slashed Kent’s tires or keyed his Mercedes, maybe even trashed his office before she’d get that physical.”

  Ellie set her iced tea on the side table. “I don’t think we need to spell anything out to Arlene. Once she sees the painting, she’ll figure out the affair for herself.”

  “You’re probably right. She needs to know everything.”

  “Then we’ll tell her tonight?”

  “Uh, okay.”

  “Without your mother, father, or Adrianne present.”

  “That might be difficult.”

  “We can wait until they go to the cottage.”

  Viv leaned forward in the chair. “But you’ll be with me when I do it, right?”

  Ellie put herself in Viv’s shoes before she answered. If she was attempting to rebond with her big sister, this could be an important step. “Not a problem. I’ll give moral support and sensible reasoning if you need it.”

  Dinner that night was a choice of warm crab chowder or chilled gazpacho, a wonderful tossed salad, and crusty, fresh-from-the-oven bread. Ellie ate her fill, then sat back and watched the McCready family dynamics at work. To her mind, except for Adrianne, they were getting along more like a caring unit than an angry group of folks who just happened to be related.

  “How are you feeling, Ellie?” Viv’s mother asked for the fifth time that night.

  “Awwwk! Feelings. Oh-oh-oh, feelings!” squawked Myron. “I feel a headache coming on. Awwwk!”

  “I’m fine,” said Ellie, ignoring the idiotic bird Arlene had returned
to the terrace. “I just have to be careful about touching my temple. It’s no big deal.”

  “Awwwk! Deal me in, baby. I’m game for anything. Awwwk!”

  Arlene stood and pulled an M&M from her pocket. “Give me a minute. This should calm him down.”

  Myron grabbed the candy in his claw, brought it to his beak, and began to eat.

  “He’s so much more agreeable once he has his favorite snack.” Arlene returned to the table. “Now, where were we?”

  Evan McCready had kept his gaze trained on Ellie almost the entire evening, and she imagined it was because of her charming purple face. Now he said, “I may have been a bit gruff with you when this whole mess started, my girl, but you’ve won me over. I should have said this earlier. You were very brave last night, confronting that burglar.”

  Wow, thought Ellie. High praise coming from a man who had sneered and growled at everything and everyone just a few days ago. “Thanks for saying so, Mr. McCready, but I really haven’t done much yet.”

  “Nonsense,” said Vanessa. “You stopped that man in the midst of a robbery. If you’d hit that table any harder, you might have more to worry about than a cut and a bruise. You could have been killed.”

  “Killed! Awwwk! I’m gonna kill you, Marty! Awwwk!”

  “Oh, dear.” Arlene stood and delivered the African gray another M&M while Ellie thought. She needed time to figure out whom that voice belonged to. “Mr. Bond was there to take care of things, and the dogs helped, too. They’re the real heroes of the incident.”

  Mr. T hopped onto Viv’s lap and she cuddled him close. “Dad knows what the boys did. He might even be coming around to making friends with Twink.” She kissed his pointy muzzle and he licked her lips. “Isn’t that right, sweetie?”

  T pulled back a bit. “It’s Mr. T to your old man, Vivie, and don’t you forget it.”

  “Awwwk! Woof! Woof! Woof!” Myron barked, sounding exactly like a Boston Terrier. “Awwwk! Awwwk!”

  Evan McCready stood, grabbed the African gray’s perch, and marched into the kitchen while the women laughed. He returned a minute later and took his seat. “I wouldn’t go that far, Vivian, but I do see the advantage in having a dog for protection,” he continued as if he hadn’t left the terrace. “Even a small one.”

  “And Twink is the best.” Viv scratched his ears. “Aren’t you, baby doll?”

  Mr. T wriggled from her arms and jumped to the deck. “Hey. No more with the mushy stuff in front of the family.”

  “And what about me?” grumped Rudy from below the table. “I deserve a pat on the head, too.”

  Ellie tamed her smile into a modest grin. “Both the dogs were brave. Has Vivian told you about the time Rudy dived onto a woman while she held a gun on me?”

  Evan nodded. “She mentioned it, but at the time I thought she was just selling me a tall tale. I can see now that your dog would be game enough to protect you from any bad situation.”

  “Ahh, that’s more like it.”

  “And on that happy note, I think it’s time we retired, don’t you, dear?” Vanessa asked her husband. “Ellie needs her rest, and so does Arlene.”

  Adrianne tossed her napkin onto the table, stuck out her lower lip, and stood. Walking to the stairs, she stomped down the steps without saying good-bye.

  Vanessa heaved a sigh. “I’m afraid this has hit Adrianne hard, though I’m not sure why. She’s been acting unusually quiet since Dr. Kent’s death.”

  “If you ask me, she’s been sulking like a twelve-year-old,” said Viv. “I bet she wants to party at one of the clubs in Bridgehampton, but she doesn’t want to go alone, and she knows none of us will go with her. It’s typical Adrianne bullshit.”

  “Now, Viv, leave your sister alone. She’s trying.”

  “She’s trying, all right,” Viv muttered. Then she smiled at her parents. “I have an idea. How about if we all go into town and have lunch at the American Hotel one day this week? I hear it’s a Billy Joel hangout. Maybe we’ll see him there.”

  “That’s an excellent idea, dear. Evan, what do you think?”

  The senior McCready swallowed what Ellie thought was a laugh. “Fine, if that’s what you ladies want.” He gazed at his oldest daughter, who had been quiet through the past exchange. “Think you can handle a public outing, Arlene?”

  “If I’m with you all, then yes, but I need to ask a question and I’d appreciate your honesty.”

  Viv locked gazes with Ellie, then said, “Shoot, sis, and we’ll do our best to help.”

  Arlene took a deep breath. “It’s about a memorial for Martin. I’ve been told word has already gotten out that he’s under investigation by the DEA, and the whole of the Hamptons knows he was murdered because of it.” She sniffed back a tear. “I hate the thought that I came this close”—she held two fingers an inch apart—“to marrying a drug dealer, but I feel I have to show some kind of farewell to my fiancé. Now that his body’s been released, do you think I should actually offer a memorial service?”

  Good question, thought Ellie, and one she and Viv had discussed at length. No one spoke, so she took control. “I know I’m not family—”

  “Oh, but you are,” said Vanessa.

  Arlene dabbed at her eyes. “Mother’s right, Ellie. You’ve been a trouper through this entire episode, especially in agreeing to help free Tomas. Please, speak your mind.”

  “Okay, but listen to everything before you comment.” She steeled herself for their opinion. “I promised to assist in finding the real killer, and I’ve come up with a theory. I think there’s a good chance the killer will be here if there’s a memorial.”

  “What are you saying?” asked Vanessa.

  Evan laid a hand on his wife’s shoulder. “The girl’s right. Haven’t you ever heard the old saw—‘the killer always returns to the scene of the crime’?”

  “That’s what I’m hoping for,” Ellie answered, relieved that she had someone in her corner besides Vivian. “I’ve done a bit of investigating and tried to put the pieces together. I think Arlene needs to call everyone who was at the dinner that night and ask them to attend as a personal favor. I’m hoping that might stir the pot a little, and the killer will show. If we ask the right questions, he may incriminate himself.”

  “I’ve been in on everything Ellie’s done, and I agree,” added Viv. “She knows what she’s talking about.”

  “So you’d be willing to help, Mr. McCready?”

  The man gave his first full-blown smile of the weekend. “What I think is it’s about time you called me Evan, young lady. And I do agree. With Agent Bond and Detective Wheeling here, plus me, of course, I’m sure we’ll be able to handle anything that comes up, including a visit from the killer.”

  “I’m not sure Mr. Bond or the good detective will want our interference,” said Ellie. “My guess is whatever we decide to do will have to be done on the QT.”

  Vanessa’s smile told Ellie exactly what she was thinking. “Then we’ll all be undercover?” She clapped her hands. “Oh, I can’t wait. It sounds like fun.”

  Vivian, Arlene, and Ellie sat around the terrace table, each woman digging into her own personal-sized container of Caramel Cone. Viv had made a run to the local grocery store when Ellie said she needed something cold for her head, which wasn’t exactly what she meant, but the frigid ice cream was working like a charm at the moment.

  “This is fabulous,” said Arlene, licking her spoon with gusto. “I had no idea anyone made ice cream that tasted this good.” She dived in for another helping and swallowed it down. “And my babies think so, too.”

  She dug into the container, careful to avoid the bits of chocolate, and passed a waiting Boston Terrier a spoonful. Then she giggled. “Thank God Father’s not here. He’d have a cow if he saw me feeding the gang from my own spoon.”

  “Oh, pooh,” Viv said. “Daddy would have a cow over anything you did with your dogs. I think tonight’s the first time I’ve ever heard him say a kind word about any canine.
” She raised her carton in Ellie’s direction, giving her a toast. “And we owe his change of heart to you, my friend. And Twink and Rudy, of course.”

  “Why, thank you,” said Ellie. “It was great to see him act like a real dad tonight. Not to be insulting, but has he always been cranky?”

  “I think he’s felt sort of useless since he retired. Playing golf can get boring after a while, and the projects Mother comes up with? Well, they’re not exactly the type to keep an ex-spy busy.”

  “I bet he’d even adopt you as a fourth daughter, if we asked him,” said Arlene. “Because I’ve never heard him sing anyone’s praises until he warbled yours. That is, if you wanted him to.”

  “Ah, no, thanks,” said Ellie. She had Randall and Judge Frye, who treated her like their own daughter, and that was all the fathering she could manage in her life at the moment. “But I am happy your dad’s taken a liking to me. More important, he thinks I’m doing a good job with this case. Too bad I have yet to find anything useful.”

  “Knowing Dad, he wouldn’t say so unless he meant it.” Arlene downed another scoop of Caramel Cone. Then she carefully picked around the chocolate bits and fed a scoop of ice cream to Isabella and one to Darby-Doll, her female Boston Terriers. “I’m going to have to buy this stuff by the case. Right, Corey?” she asked her male dog. After giving him a final spoonful, she capped her tub and stood. “It’s getting late. I should probably get to bed. I have to plan a memorial service for a criminal tomorrow.”

  Viv glanced at Ellie, as if to say “now’s the time,” and walked to stand at her sister’s side. “Arlene, Ellie and I have something personal we need to discuss.”

  Arlene shrugged. “Sure, why not? Especially since it seems like I no longer have a personal life. Do you know that I haven’t received a single phone call or card from the women I thought were my friends?”

  “But I’m sure you will—”