by D. S. Butler
“I didn’t mention it because I’d already told you that Pete and I had a disagreement about historical accuracy. That’s all it was, a disagreement, nothing more.”
I turned back to Jess. “They’ve also got the post-mortem results back, which showed Monty had been poisoned using nicotine in a very elaborate method.”
“Nicotine?” Jess looked puzzled. “How strange.”
“Yes, it wouldn’t be the easiest way to kill someone. There is something about the whole crime that gives me the creeps. It was so elaborate and carefully planned and… well, premeditated.”
Jess took our empty plates and carried them from the library reception area out to the small coffee break room.
When she came back, she wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. “It’s horrible to think that there is a killer roaming free. It could be anyone. Do you have any ideas yet, Harper?”
I was starting to think that Jess had too much confidence in my investigative abilities. I didn’t have the first idea who could have murdered Monty.
“There are lots of possibilities,” I said, not wanting to disappoint Jess or Monty. “In fact, if you’re okay here, I thought I’d go back to Cherrytown this afternoon and try to talk to Laura. She’s the only one I didn’t speak to last time, and I know there was something going on between her and Nigel. I want to find out what that was.”
Jess nodded firmly. “That’s a good idea. I will be fine here. If the library starts to fill up with busybodies, I will set Grandma Grant on them.”
We both grinned at that idea.
“That reminds me, have you seen Grandma Grant today? I hope her ankle is feeling better.”
Jess nodded. “I called her earlier. She said it is fine today. She put a poultice on it last night.”
Grandma Grant swore by herbal poultices and always treated sprains and injuries with them. I was never sure whether the poultices healed by magic or simply the medicinal effect of the herbs she used.
I asked Jess if I could borrow her car for a couple of hours, gave her another quick hug and told her I’d see her at home later. Monty followed me out of the library, and we went around to the back of the building to the parking lot.
I pointed the key fob at the gray VW Golf and pressed the unlock button. The lights flashed as the car unlocked.
I slid into the driver’s seat, and Monty floated through the passenger door.
Inside the car, I figured it was safe to talk to Monty. Anybody who saw me would probably think I was singing along to the radio.
Monty had been a big man when he was alive, and now with all the armor he was wearing, his bulk filled a large area of the front section of the car.
I suppose he didn’t really take up any room as he was a ghost, but I didn’t envy him having to squeeze himself into the passenger side wearing all those metal parts of armor.
“Does all that armor feel heavy and cumbersome?” I asked.
Monty shook his head. “No. It was quite heavy when I was alive, but now it feels weightless. That’s the one benefit of being a ghost. I can glide through the air with minimum effort.”
I had to admire Monty’s tendency to look on the bright side.
We set off to Cherrytown, heading directly for the hairdressing salon where Laura worked.
I had really hoped to find her there today and was disappointed when Molly told me that she hadn’t turned up for work again.
Frustrated, Monty and I left the salon feeling despondent.
I was deciding whether we should chance going back to Laura’s house and running into her angry neighbor again when Monty said, “Wait! Isn’t that Laura over there with Nigel?”
I looked in the direction Monty was pointing and saw he was right. On the other side of the street, outside the bakery, were Nigel and Laura.
Like the last time I’d seen them together, they looked like they were discussing something important, but this time, they looked furious and were clearly having an argument.
I was so pleased he’d spotted them, I almost forgot I wasn’t supposed to talk to Monty in public. I quickly swallowed my reply and dashed across the road.
Before I got there, Laura turned and saw me approaching them. Her face paled, and she ran off. She actually ran. Laura definitely had something to hide.
When we caught up with Nigel, he looked like a man on the edge. Despite the cold weather, he was sweating, and his face was red and flushed.
When he saw me, he put his head in his hands and groaned. “This is not a good time, Harper.”
I put my hands in my coat pockets and straightened up to my full height. I didn’t care if it wasn’t a good time for him.
Pete was in prison, and Monty had to exist as a ghost until we found out who killed him. I was pretty sure that Nigel’s problems weren’t as bad as that.
“You look very upset, Nigel, and I’m sorry about that, but I need to talk to you. Pete has been arrested.”
Nigel’s hands dropped from his face, and he stared at me. “Pete? Are you sure?”
I nodded. “They arrested him in Archie’s Diner in Abbot Cove at lunchtime.”
Nigel groaned again and shook his head. “This has gotten way out of hand.”
“I’m sorry if you think I’m nosy. But for Pete and my sister’s sake, I want to find out what’s going on. I know that you and Laura are hiding something.”
Nigel rubbed a hand over his face, but this time, he didn’t even try to deny there was something going on.
“I saw you arguing with Laura.”
Nigel nodded slowly. “I can see you are not going to give up. All right, I will tell you all about it, but let’s sit down first and get out of the cold.”
We popped into the nearest cafe and both ordered coffees. Once the waitress had taken our order, Nigel regarded me steadily.
Monty loomed above us, staring down at Nigel.
“I was arguing with Laura,” Nigel began, his voice wavering slightly. “We had a difference of opinion. She was trying to persuade me around to her way of thinking, but it’s not right. I won’t do it.”
I shook my head. “I don’t understand. What won’t you do?”
“I owed Monty money and so did Laura. She wanted to keep quiet about it so we didn’t have to pay back the estate.” Nigel shrugged. “But that’s not the kind of man I am. I got where I am today by being honest and hardworking.”
“I see,” I said and thanked the waitress as she placed our coffee cups on the table.
I waited until she had gone before asking Nigel another question.
“Have you told Officer Tardy about this? Or Chief Wickham and Joe McGrady from Abbot Cove?”
Nigel shook his head and stared down at the table morosely.
I wanted to ask why Monty had lent him money, but I didn’t want to be rude and figured Monty could tell me that himself afterwards.
Nigel sniffed and rubbed his eyes, which had been glistening with unshed tears.
“I am sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Nigel’s lower lip wobbled. “It’s actually a relief to talk about it. It’s been weighing heavily on my conscience.”
“In that case,” I said, pulling my coffee cup towards me, “why don’t you tell me all about it? Start from the beginning.”
Nigel took a sip of his coffee and then obediently began to tell me how Monty had ended up lending him money.
“It started off when he gave me some free legal advice. He was a good man, and that was the sort of thing he did. He often gave legal advice to people in Cherrytown who couldn’t afford normal legal fees. I had an out-of-towner come into the hardware store a few months ago, and he dropped a hammer on his toe. He told me he was going to sue me. I knew he was an opportunist, out for what he could get, so I asked Monty for advice. He helped me through the legal situation, and the fact I had his advice meant the case against me came to nothing. I confided in Monty that I couldn’t afford legal fees because I’d recently lost some m
oney. A supplier whom I’d already paid in advance went out of business and left me out of pocket. Monty agreed to lend me five thousand dollars to see me out of a tight spot. I always intended to pay him back, and even though he died, I still intend to honor my debts.”
I was warming to Nigel. He did seem a very honorable man. Laura, on the other hand, sounded like a sly money-grubber to me.
“And Laura wanted you to keep quiet about the money?”
Nigel bowed his head. “Yes. The thing was, after Laura learned that Monty lent me some money, she decided to ask him for a loan, too. She wanted to do a beauty course, I think, so Monty lent her the money for that. She doesn’t think we should pay the money back. But I think whoever inherited Monty’s money should get it.”
I nodded. “I think you’re right.”
I took a sip of my coffee, thinking things over.
It seemed one mystery was solved, and I now knew that Laura had owed Monty money, but surely her debt wasn’t a motive for murder?
Chapter 24
I had to wait until we were back in the car to ask Monty about the money. I didn’t understand why he hadn’t mentioned the loans before now.
As soon as we got back in the car, I turned to Monty.
He put his hands up and said, “I know what you’re going to say. I should’ve mentioned the fact I’d given Laura and Nigel some money. But it wasn’t very much, and I really didn’t think it was important.”
“That’s the trouble, Monty. Right now, we don’t know what’s important. It could be a clue.”
Monty pulled a face. “I gave Laura one thousand dollars to cover the cost of her course. I told her she didn’t have to start repaying it until she’d set up on her own. She’d intended to set up as a mobile beautician.” Monty shrugged. “I had the money, and I wanted to help. What’s so bad about that?”
I softened as I looked at Monty. He was a kind man.
“There’s nothing wrong with that, Monty. I suppose it explains why Laura has been acting so strangely. At least, that is one small mystery solved.”
I smiled at him and started the engine.
“Now, if you don’t mind, I want to go and see Grandma Grant. I need to warn her that Joe found my scarf at your house.
If Chief Wickham goes to see her, I want her to be prepared.”
As we drove back to Abbot Cove from Cherrytown, the sun dipped beneath the trees, and a fiery red sunset streaked across the clouds.
Monty was very quiet on the drive back, and I wasn’t sure whether that was because he thought I was mad at him for not telling me about the loans earlier, or he was simply deep in thought.
When we arrived at Grandma Grant’s house, we found her sitting in an armchair beside the fire with Athena on her lap.
Although Athena raised her head and looked at me warily when Monty and I entered, she didn’t dart away to hide, which I considered was progress.
“Would you like a cup of tea? I have just made a pot of lemon, honey and chamomile.”
I said I would and went to the kitchen to pour it myself.
Carrying a steaming mug of tea, I returned to the living area and took a deep breath ready to give Grandma Grant the bad news.
I blew over the top of the steaming tea to cool it and then said, “Deputy McGrady found my scarf at Monty’s house. I must have left it there last night.” I shook my head. “It was stupid of me. He confronted me about it in the diner today, and I had to confess I was there last night. He was livid and said he was going to tell Chief Wickham.”
I waited for Grandma Grant to tell me I’d been a fool, but she waved away my words and took a sip of her tea.
“Chief Wickham has already been to see me about it. I played the part of the shocked grandmother to perfection, even if I do say so myself. He asked me to keep a close eye on you, and I told him I would. I assured him you wouldn’t be getting up to any more mischief.”
I blinked at Grandma Grant in disbelief. It was so unfair. “But it was your idea!”
Grandma Grant shrugged and looked at me as though I were an idiot. “Yes, but they don’t know that, do they?” She ran a hand over Athena’s fur and then looked up sharply at me. “You didn’t blow my cover, did you?”
Blow her cover? Oh, for goodness sake.
I shook my head. “I didn’t tell them you were involved. I pretended you didn’t know anything about it.”
Grandma Grant nodded, satisfied. “So, my cover is intact.”
I flopped down into the armchair opposite Grandma Grant, almost spilling my tea. “We’re not spies! We’re amateurs.”
Grandma Grant gave a little huff. “Speak for yourself.”
I rolled my eyes and reached for my cell phone when it beeped.
I had a message from Jess.
I quickly scanned it and then relayed the message to Grandma Grant and Monty. “Pete has been released without charge. They’ve asked him not to leave the area, though.”
I’d been too busy getting irritated with Grandma Grant that I hadn’t noticed Monty hovering forlornly by the window.
“I should think so too,” Grandma Grant said. “They need to be on the trail of the real killer, not wasting their time with Pete.”
“You’ve changed your tune,” I said. “Earlier, you said we didn’t know that much about Pete.”
Grandma Grant shrugged. “I’ve thought about it, and it doesn’t make any sense for Pete to have murdered Monty. He has no real motive apart from the silly argument they had at the library.”
I agreed with her. I put my cup down on the coffee table, stood up and walked over to Monty.
“Are you okay?”
Monty turned to look down at me. His big brown eyes regarded me sadly.
“Yes, I suppose it has just hit me how horrible all this is. I still don’t know who wanted me dead.”
I stood beside him at the window, looking out into the darkness. The dark branches of the trees opposite swayed softly in the evening breeze.
“I know it’s hard,” I said. “But we will unravel this mystery, I promise.”
I probably shouldn’t have promised. At the rate things were going, it was going to take a long time to solve this mystery.
I could only hope that Chief Wickham and Joe were looking for somebody who had bought a supply of nicotine recently.
I didn’t have the resources of the police department, so all I could go on was how people behaved.
Laura’s behavior was strange, sure, but if that was explained away by her not wanting to give the money back to Monty’s estate, then it looked like we were back to square one without any strong suspects.
“Are you staying for dinner?” Grandma Grant asked.
I figured Pete would have gone straight to our cottage to talk things over with Jess and thought it might be a nice idea to give them some time alone.
I nodded. “Yes, please.”
Grandma Grant lifted Athena off her lap, put her on the floor and then got to her feet.
“Good, you can prepare the green beans. I have made a potato and cheese pie.”
I followed Grandma Grant into the kitchen and had to admit that the pie cooking in the oven smelled very good.
I raised an eyebrow. “Have you been using cooking spells again?”
Grandma Grant scowled. “Why do you care? If it tastes good, that should be all you need to worry about.”
I narrowed my eyes. Grandma Grant had always said we weren’t allowed to use our magic on mundane, everyday things, but she used hers all the time. Perhaps if I’d had a little more practice, I might not be so awful at casting spells and making potions now.
Grandma Grant got the green beans as I pulled out a chopping board and reached for a knife.
“That reminds me,” Grandma Grant said. “Have you been studying your spells?”
I sighed. “I’ve been trying, but I’ve been a little preoccupied.”
Grandma Grant gave me a sideways glance that told me she didn’t buy my excuse.
I chopped up the green beans and added them to a pot of boiling water as Grandma Grant prepared some herb butter to serve with them.
I’d assumed I was in for a long nagging session over dinner, expecting Grandma Grant to tell me how important it was for a witch to learn her spells, but I was pleasantly surprised when she didn’t dwell on the subject.
Instead, we talked about potential suspects.
I told Grandma Grant everything I’d learned from questioning Nigel, and as we got stuck into the cheese and potato pie, I explained that I didn’t think Nigel was a potential suspect.
“I just don’t get the vibe from Nigel,” I said. “I think he’s a decent guy.”
Grandma Grant paused with her fork laden with potato and cheese halfway to her mouth. “So, murderers have vibes now, do they?”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“Well, you’ve told me who you think didn’t do it,” Grandma Grant said, reaching for more green beans. “But who do you think did kill Monty?”
That was the million-dollar question.
Monty hovered on a chair beside me, with his chin resting on his hand, watching me eat.
“I am not sure...Barbara isn’t exactly friendly, but I can’t see any reason she would want Monty dead. Pete had an argument with Monty, but it wasn’t worth killing him over.
John Gastineau didn’t seem to have any problems with Monty, at all, and Nigel was very grateful for Monty lending him money. I haven’t talked to Laura properly yet, and I can’t say I warmed to her when I first met her, but that doesn’t mean she’s a murderer.”
“And what about the other people at the re-enactment?” Grandma Grant asked as she speared her fork into the last piece of her cheese and potato pie.
“Well, they didn’t even know Monty. I suppose it could have been a random act of violence, but from what I know about murder, the killer is usually someone known to the victim. Pete requested a few extra people to come along to bulk out numbers. None of them had met Monty before that morning.”
Grandma Grant sighed. “Yes, you told me that earlier. What about spectators?”
“The only other people there, apart from Jess and me, were the Townsends. They can be mean and love to gossip, but I don’t think they murdered Monty.”