Death by Association: The Wellington Cozy Mystery series

by M A Comley

  It was Tim Stivers, the neighbor from across the street who worked for a delivery service at night. She watched his powerful shoulders make short work of the heavy snow and was glad she hadn’t drawn up closer to the front of the drive. It would be far easier to walk to the car. Lucy glanced around for something she could give him as a token of thanks, but Tina had grabbed the last of the cookies. Instead, Lucy knocked hard on the window, and then smiled and waved at him. She planned to make more cookies when she got back that afternoon from the interview with Winnie. She’d wrap up a plate of fresh cookies and take them to him before he left for work. She felt cared for to have good neighbors and was all the more determined to find a way to improve Marnie’s life.

  She carried her coffee into her office and set it down on a folded piece of paper towel she was using as a coaster next to her laptop. She knew the risk in having a drink so close to her only computer but, just as people do with so many things in life, Lucy overlooked the risk, hoping nothing would come of it. Lucy had noticed that since she now lived alone, she had more time for contemplation.

  She was divorced from Mark. Mark, the reliable teacher who proved to be anything but. The years she had spent as his wife had been very sad, not only because their marriage had been under constant strain but also because he chose to look at the negatives. It had been a constant heavy weight for Lucy to carry on her shoulders—especially while dealing with Mark’s warped and depressed view of their life.

  She reached forward to turn on her laptop and the bulky sleeve of her robe tilted the cup of coffee dangerously. With a gasp, she grabbed the coffee, dabbed at the spilled liquid on her desk with the paper towel and then set the coffee on a small, nearby end table where it could only harm the carpet if she absentmindedly knocked it over. It was less convenient, but it made better sense.

  A warm glow of sunlight lazily spilled through her window and covered her desk. She had checked the weather and knew that the temperature was due to rise above freezing. In fact, she could already see the snow beginning to drip off the edge of Marnie’s house, forming round droplet prints in the snow. It occurred to her that no one had bothered to plow Marnie’s drive for her, which saddened her. Everyone knew that Marnie had nowhere to go. “I hope I can help to fix that problem this afternoon.”

  Lucy had long considered herself what those in the trade referred to as a pantser, meaning that she skipped over the cumbersome job of creating an outline and instead chose to write directly from what was rattling around in her mind. She felt that kept her work spontaneous, and by allowing her imagination to flow freely, the words would be the richer for it. Unfortunately, it also created an unstructured, seldom disciplined day. If she happened to have external things on her mind, such as the meeting with Winnie, it would distract her from sitting down and writing. She decided maybe she should try an outline instead, just to see if it helped.

  Just then, her phone buzzed and she fished it out of her pocket to answer. “Hello? Oh, hi Brendon. You caught me just at the right time.”

  “Really? Are you busy writing?”

  “That’s the point. No, I wasn’t busy, but I should have been. I’ll be honest. Same old story, it seems I’m just not able to make a proper start on this novel. But less about my problems, how are things going with you?”

  “I only have a minute. My day is swamped, too. I just called to ask if I could maybe come over tonight. I need a break and you always make me feel better. I’ll bring the pizza if you provide the company?”

  “Sure, I’d love that, except, I’ll cook, I was planning on being in the kitchen this afternoon anyway. I’ll be baking cookies when I get back, so we’ll have them for dessert.”

  “Back?”

  “Oh, that’s right. I haven’t had a chance to talk to you about it. Never mind, it can wait. It’ll give us something to talk about tonight, and I’d like your opinion on the matter, anyway. I’ll see you when you get here.”

  “Hmm… sounds ominous. I’ll see you later.”

  Brendon disconnected and Lucy considered, after yet another disastrous day, whether she should jack the writing in and jump in the shower and get dressed. The laptop would still be there afterwards, and she didn’t have to be at Sal’s until two. It seemed to be a convenient excuse, so she switched the computer off again and headed into the bathroom.

  Lucy turned up the hot water a degree or two and luxuriated under the hard spray. The water did its job of making her feel alive. After the shower, she dried herself and went into her bedroom, throwing open the closet door to choose the right outfit. She was partial to the retro look and often shopped at thrift stores, but not because she couldn’t afford to shop elsewhere. She just happened to like the classic cut to clothes of a certain era. She chose a pair of gray wool slacks that she knew would keep her warm. She topped it with a floral blouse and a lilac sweater with pearls for buttons. With the blow dryer turned up high, she used the bristles of the rolled hairbrush to dry her hair so that it curled under. She applied her makeup carefully, hoping it would last, knowing she may not have much time to reapply it later before Brendon showed up.

  She decided to set off early and carry out a few chores on the way. Bundled up in her heaviest coat and wearing her loafers, now that her driveway was cleared, Lucy left the house. She was unlocking her car when she heard a knocking sound and turned to see Marnie waving enthusiastically from her window. She had a huge smile on her face. Marnie fumbled with the lock and lifted the window. “Good luck!” she called out. “I’m even a little excited at the idea.”

  “Don’t worry, Marnie. The girls and I will check her out.”

  Marnie waved again and shut the window, then closed the drapes. Lucy had high hopes that a companion would be able to work wonders with Marnie, gradually drawing her out and making her life less fearful.

  After dropping into the post office to pick up a few extra pencils and pads, Lucy pushed open the door to Sal’s; all the familiar, delicious smells filled her nostrils. She stomped her shoes to remove the snow on the rubber rug just inside the door. A few of the gals waved and motioned for her to join them.

  “I’ll be over as soon as I get my coffee,” she called back.

  Sal welcomed her with a toothy smile. “I hear today is a big day.”

  “Sal, you never fail to amaze me. You should be running a newspaper.”

  “Get away with you. Want to know how I heard?”

  “Go on, surprise me.”

  “Oh, it was easy. Winnie called to thank me for the referral. She sounded so pleased over the phone. I hope it all works out well.”

  “Me, too. That’s why I asked her to meet me here, so all the girls would have a chance to get to know her, including you. Maybe you could take a break and join us when she gets here?”

  “Sure thing. You know I always have an opinion on everything under the sun.”

  “That’s one thing we can always count on you for,” teased Lucy.

  “Get away with you before I raise the price of your coffee.”

  Lucy dragged a couple of tables together to form a long, banquet-style seating arrangement. She had been keeping to herself recently, so the other women were keen to ask how things had been with her.

  “Ladies… if you’ll give me a few seconds? Listen, all of you know Marnie who lives next door to me and the challenges she faces. I’m thinking we can put our heads together and find a way to make her life more fulfilling. Sal had a chat with a woman named Winnie who came in for coffee the other day. Winnie is looking for a position as a companion in exchange for room and board. Sal gave me Winnie’s number and I’ve invited her for coffee here today, so we can all get to know her a little better. Interview her as a possible candidate, if you like. It would take the weight off Marnie’s shoulders if someone carried out the interview for her. What do you say? Are you up for helping me out?” Before anyone could answer, Lucy noticed the time on the clock above the counter. “She should be here at any time. Please make her feel comfor
table because I know she’ll be checking us out at the same time. Be nice and say nice things, would you all, and leave the bad for later?”

  There was a smattering of applause and Cecilia stood up—Lucy had been expecting Cecilia to speak first. “Where’s she from?”

  “I don’t know anything about her at all, Cecilia, so feel free to ask her when she arrives.”

  Grace Marley raised her hand. “Would she be needing a place to stay?” Grace and her husband ran the local bed and breakfast.

  “No, that’s what the room and board part is all about, Grace,” Lucy said kindly.

  Grace flushed. “Oh.” She fell silent as Cecilia let out a mocking snort. Lucy shot her a frown. She felt Cecilia was setting things up to go badly, and Lucy felt the need to slap her down quickly; she wasn’t about to let her ruin Marnie’s chance at a better life.

  The bell on the front door tinkled as a very tall, slender woman with fuzzy hair graying at the temples entered. She appeared to be in her late fifties. Her complexion was very pale and saggy, she had dark circles beneath her eyes. She looked nothing like her voice had suggested but nevertheless, there she stood, her red vest confirming she was the interviewee.

  “Hello, Winnie,” Lucy said, standing up to greet her. “Thank you for coming in to see us.”

  Her voice had a pleasant timbre when she spoke. “Oh, I’m so pleased to be included. I knew, when I first arrived, that this would be a friendly town.”

  “Where are you from?” Cecilia’s voice screeched.

  “You might detect a bit of an accent. I’m from the U.K. originally. Moved around quite a lot with my husband. He was in the U.S. Army. When he died, I found myself unprepared, you see. I’m not a U.S. citizen and it can be a bit hard to find your way around in this life.”

  There wasn’t a heart that didn’t break for her around the table, with the possible exception of maybe Cecilia’s.

  “Here, sit down,” Lucy said, pulling out a chair in the middle of the group. “How do you take your coffee?”

  “I wonder if I might have tea?”

  “Of course, typically British, eh? Coming right up.” Lucy left her seat and went up to the counter where Sal was already heating the water and going through cupboards looking for tea bags. “Well?” Lucy prompted her in a low voice. “What do you think?”

  “I think it’s too soon to tell. Go sit down and I’ll bring the tea with me.”

  “Deal.”

  Lucy had a good feeling about Winnie and was very satisfied with herself as she reclaimed her seat.

  “Such a cheerful bunch, you all are,” Winnie gushed with a huge smile that revealed some crooked teeth. Her hair was wiry and red; her complexion spoiled by pockmarks. Lucy thought it was likely she’d had some form of childhood disease.

  “Oh, well, we are what we are. Ladies, why don’t we all introduce ourselves? I’ll begin. Winnie, as you probably assumed, I’m Lucy and currently I’m taking a hiatus from my newspaper job to write a book. The lady you’re here about, Marnie, is my neighbor.”

  “I see. Pleased to meet you, finally.” Winnie smiled and her head bobbed up and down.

  One after the other, the ladies introduced themselves and also gave a short intro about their standing in the community. When it came to Cecilia, everyone seemed to hold their breath.

  “I’m Cecilia and I have dogs.”

  “Oh, okay. How wonderful. I’ve always wanted to have one, but you see, since we moved so often with the army…”

  There was a collective gasp as all the women tried to catch Winnie’s eye and shake their heads, discouraging her from letting Cecilia talk her into one of her rescue dogs. Everyone in town knew better than to bring the topic up.

  Sal arrived with the tea and eased herself into an empty chair next to Lucy. “Winnie, have you made any friends in town?”

  Winnie scrunched her face. “I’m afraid not. I find it a struggle to make friends. We moved around so much. By the time I felt settled, it was time to leave again. And then when my mother became ill, she came to live with us as I had to care for her. When she finally passed away, my husband became ill and the cycle continued. Now I’m quite alone in the world. No siblings, no children. No one. Not even back in the U.K.”

  “Aww…” a wave of sympathy rolled across the table.

  Sal frowned, something that surprised Lucy. “If you don’t mind me asking, how do you get by? I mean, you have to make money to live.”

  “Oh, that,” Winnie said, nodding. “I’ve generally sought out similar positions, you know, as a companion. That took care of giving me a roof over my head and a little pocket money. I’m still a citizen of the U.K. so my medical care is covered. My father left a small pension—enough for spending money. My mother saved it, so it gives me a tiny bit of cash each month. Not much, but it buys the necessities.” She pulled together the front edges of her sweater as though she was cold. “I wonder… might one of you tell me about Miss Marnie? I can usually get a good feeling right away whether a situation would work out, but I’m at a loss right now, not having met her.”

  “She’s my neighbor,” Lucy said immediately. She was determined to show Marnie in a good light. “She lives alone and prefers not to go out. Not at all, if you get my meaning.”

  “Oh, yes. I quite understand. I knew another lady like that. She was called Evie. As it happened, even though she was agoraphobic, we became good friends; and eventually, she built up enough trust in me that allowed her to become braver. She even bit the bullet and shrugged off her fears to go for walks with me in the park. She was such a darling.”

  “Where is Evie now?” Sal spoke up.

  “Oh, she was quite elderly when I met her. Sadly, she passed away.” Winnie’s head dropped.

  “Do you have any references?” Sal had always had a forthright approach, no beating about the bush.

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” Winnie shook her head again. “I know I should, but you see without family, I drifted until a situation came up. The ladies were always much older than me; when they died, I would just move along, seek out the company of someone else. References have never been required in my previous positions. The people either liked me or they didn’t.”

  “I’ve got a question for you,” shrilled Cecilia.

  “Certainly, what’s that?” Winnie turned and smiled.

  Cecilia folded her arms and tilted her head, no smile in sight, she asked bluntly, “What’s your last name?”

  The ladies fell silent for a few moments, each of them trying to recall whether they knew it.

  “Buttons. Winnie Buttons.”

  Winnie answered quickly, not flinching a bit at the question. Lucy got the impression that, in the right circumstances, Winnie could be a force of her own.

  “Well, Winnie, let me tell you a little about my neighbor, the lady in need of your services. Her name is Marnie Whitmore. She’s probably close to your age, and she’s a regular in the village. As I said, she isn’t fond of leaving the house and that makes me sad. She’s never been married, so she is also alone in the world. Of course, she has all of us, but it’s not the same. I was hoping if she had a companion who lived with her, she might trust that person enough to possibly venture out now and again. It’s heartbreaking to see her suffering, she’s such a sweet lady and I know you would like her. When I discussed having a companion, she was extremely hesitant at first, but I think she’s coming around to the idea now. At least, I hope so. Do you have any other questions?”

  “Umm… I can’t think of any. I can’t wait to meet her, if she’s as friendly as you are, all of you.”

  “Alrighty then, thank you very much for coming, I have your number. The other girls and I will have a little chitchat and then I’ll let Marnie know what we think. I’ll call you later, either way, if that’s okay?”

  Winnie stood up and pushed in her chair. “That would be wonderful. Thank you all for seeing me today. It’s been an absolute pleasure to meet you all. I do hope some of you will becom
e friends with me. If I don’t hear from you, Lucy, please understand that I have to move on and look for another position.”

  Lucy got up and accompanied Winnie to the door. “It won’t be long, I promise you. A day or two at the longest.”

  “That’ll be just fine. Thank you, ladies,” she called out over Lucy’s shoulder to the rest of the ladies. She waved and the way she waved reminded Lucy of the way Queen Elizabeth greeted her subjects—which made her smile.

  Lucy closed the door and then, walking back to the table with a sigh, she asked, “Well? Ladies?”

  Sal left her seat and returned to the counter. “I’m going to abstain.”

  “Why? Sal, is there something about her you didn’t like?”

  “Not at all. I was the one who instigated all of this, so, in a way, I’ve already had my say, right?”

  Lucy’s expression was one of disappointment.

  Cecilia sniffed loudly. “One look at your face, Lucy, says it all.”

  “Okay, laying my cards on the table first. I found her refreshingly honest.”

  “Is that the only quality you’re looking for?” Cecilia wiped her nose on her sleeve. “Honesty?”

  Lucy was indignant at Cecilia’s dismissive attitude. “I would have thought it high up on the list of priorities and darned important. What about the rest of you?”

  Grace raised her hand. “I liked her, if anyone cares.”

  “Of course, we care what you think, Grace,” Lucy replied. “Jenny? How about you?”

  “I sort of felt sorry for her. I think she’d relate to Marnie really well.”

  Lucy looked around. “Anyone else have an opinion?”

  The ladies glanced at each other, each of them shaking their heads. “I think you’ve won, Lucy,” said Cecilia, a smirk on her weather-worn face.

  “This isn’t a contest, Cecilia. This is me reaching out to Marnie’s friends for their opinion, you included.”