by Linda Wiken
The sister-in-law, perhaps. Maybe. A slim chance. But why? Because Miranda butted into their lives? She had made a couple of cutting remarks about Miranda. That probably meant nothing more than irritation. Maybe Yolande was unstable and that’s all it took, but wouldn’t her husband, Miranda’s brother, realize the two should be kept apart and do his best to make that happen?
J.J. sighed. This was getting her nowhere. She could follow up with Detective Hastings, though. See if he knew about Hennie and also if he’d had any further word on Connor’s whereabouts.
Half an hour later, she was ushered into his cubicle at the main police building on North Avenue in downtown Burlington. Hastings didn’t look overjoyed to see her, but she put it down to his being interrupted when he had such a heavy workload.
“I’m sorry to just drop in like this and I won’t take much time. I just have a couple of questions for you.”
Hastings’s mouth twitched. “That’s usually my line.”
J.J. smiled. “I knew I’d heard it somewhere.” She quickly sat down in the only empty chair before he had a chance to throw her out. “I’m curious. Did your men speak to Hennie Ferguson aboard the ship at the casino night?”
Hastings gave her a quizzical look, then tapped his computer keyboard. After a few seconds, he looked back at her. “Yes. She was there.”
“Did she say why she’d come?”
“You mean she had to have a reason other than wanting to support a good cause and maybe win some money?” He leaned back in his chair. His white dress shirt stretched to reveal a white T-shirt beneath and under that, the start of a paunch.
J.J. quickly looked elsewhere. At the solid blue baffle behind him, separating his space from the next one. Still no photos or anything. “No,” she hedged. “But don’t you think it’s odd that she didn’t mention her being at the event when I was talking to her?”
“No. There’s no reason she should feel the need to answer your questions to begin with.”
“Except to help catch a killer.”
She realized her error by the look on his face. She was sure she could hear a growl.
“You are not to interfere in this case, Ms. Tanner.”
“I was just …”
“Nor go about asking questions. Nor trying to track down any suspects. Do you understand?”
She gulped. “I do, but sometimes people will say things to a civilian they wouldn’t to a cop.”
“Oh, that worked well last time you were involved in a murder, didn’t it?”
J.J. felt her cheeks burn. Sexy British accent or not, that wasn’t very nice. “Have you heard anything further about Connor?”
He stared at her a few moments before answering. “No. And that’s something else you must stay out of. We’re quite capable of tracking him down.”
“I can see that.” She felt like hitting the side of her head as soon as she said it.
Hastings’s face was now beet red.
J.J. stood quickly. “Well, I mustn’t take up any more of your time. Good luck, Detective Hastings.”
“I meant what I said, Ms. Tanner,” he said as he stood. “Stay out of police business. For your own sake as well as ours.”
She smiled, although it felt a bit strained, and left, walking quickly down the hall, through the sets of doors, and outside. She hadn’t dared ask him half the questions she had been planning, like did they know about the married cop? She’d also like to know who was on the entire suspect list, but she couldn’t think of a single way to get them to share that.
Of course, there was Ty Devine.
• • •
She sat behind the steering wheel in her car, thinking about her next move. Hennie. Maybe she could get an address for her and go visit. No, she’d promised Devine they’d talk to her together. But that was before everything else happened. Surely he’d forgotten. But if she went to the TV station looking for Lonny, for instance, and happened to be talking to the receptionist and asked for an address … She should tell Devine, though. He’d be so mad if she didn’t. She tried calling him from her smartphone but decided not to leave a message when it went to voice mail. She shrugged. I tried.
She had only a slight twinge about Hastings’s warning when she reached the TV station. And she managed to ignore it. Unfortunately, Lonny Chan wasn’t in but fortunately, J.J. hadn’t yet asked about Hennie before Devine appeared by her side.
“I tried calling you,” she started to explain.
“Funny, I thought I had the voice mail feature.” She couldn’t read his glare, how serious he was or just how mad.
“I chose not to use it. But I really came because I have a question for Lonny, however, he’s not in. Again. If I didn’t know he spent most of his time on the road covering news, I’d think he was trying to avoid me. Maybe we should go talk to Hennie instead.”
He shook his head. “Nice save. You weren’t planning on getting an address for Hennie Ferguson, were you?”
“Oh, what a good idea.”
“Thank you.” J.J. winced as Wanda almost melted on the spot when Devine smiled at her.
“We really need to talk to Hennie Ferguson. Could you give me her home address?” J.J. asked.
“I’m sorry, I can’t give that out. Station policy.” Her smile was strictly for Devine. “But she’s in the phone book.”
Outside, J.J. pulled out her phone and Googled Hennie’s address. J.J. and Devine agreed that would be the next stop, and they’d meet there. Devine made it first, and J.J. was pleased to see he actually waited until she arrived. The apartment turned out to be on the third floor. J.J. made the pretext of searching for her keys in the bottom of her purse, and they managed to slide through the open door as a tenant went in. They tried knocking on Hennie’s door and, after a short wait, agreed she was out. Next stop, Harry’s Haven, but the Closed sign remained in place.
“Have you found the cottage?” J.J. asked as they stood staring at the windows of the restaurant.
“No. I’ve been tied up with something else. What’s next for you?”
“I actually do have a job so should put in some time there. Let me know when you have a location.” She gave him a small wave and felt his eyes on her as she walked to her car.
She parked behind the office and thought about Devine on the climb upstairs. What was it about him? He ran hot and cold; sharing information, then not; asking for her help, then telling her to back off. But, oh, those eyes. Not a good thing to focus on, not if she wanted to … what? Remain aloof? Stay in control? Never go on a date with him? Aagh! J.J. shook her head, trying to toss aside her thoughts.
She pulled open the office door and grinned when she noticed Skye standing and doing some stretches, reaching to the ceiling, at her desk. The phone rang and Skye sat quickly to answer it. She gave J.J. a thumbs-up as she listened to her caller.
J.J.’s phone rang, surprising her. It was Beth.
“Add another set of cutlery to the missing list.”
“Really? While I was there?”
“Uh-uh. The thief came in later, I guess. I wonder if he or she is onto us and trying to avoid detection. This is driving me crazy. I’m about ready to throw in the towel. Except I’d never do that. Don’t mind me—I’m just venting.”
J.J. could hear Abby in the background talking to a customer.
“I have an idea. Let’s have a ‘treat Beth’ evening and get the gang together for supper at, say, seven at McCreedy’s?”
Beth sighed. “That sounds delightful if I can just hold it together until then.”
“You do that. It’s your task. Mine is to make reservations and gather people. Let’s say seven at McCreedy’s unless you hear back from me.”
“Thank you, J.J.”
“Don’t mention it.” She phoned Evan as soon as she got a dial tone. He agreed that he’d be there with Michael. Next she tried Alison and had to be content with leaving a message. She made the reservation for five people anyway. On a whim she tried Connor but hun
g up when it went to message.
• • •
Evan and Michael were already seated when J.J. arrived. Beth and Alison joined them shortly after. They ordered drinks and appetizers, then Beth filled them in on her woes. She also talked about all that J.J. was doing to help even though it hadn’t led to anything conclusive.
“I’m sorry, I can’t think of anything else you could do,” Alison admitted, “although the cop in me wants to just walk in there and make an arrest. Have you thought of installing cameras?”
Beth shook her head. “I don’t really want to go there. I think it would make my customers uncomfortable to know there were cameras. Besides, I can’t afford them.”
Evan looked thoughtful, then apologetic. “I can’t think of a single thing.”
“That’s okay. Just talking about it with friends makes it seem easier to cope with. Not so much in my head, if you know what I mean, or yet another burden on J.J.’s shoulders,” Beth said, and sipped her Manhattan.
J.J. had often wondered about whether Beth had a man in her life or not. She knew about her being widowed way too early in her marriage, but she never mentioned anyone else nor even if she was looking for another Mr. Right. Maybe at some girls’ night out. But they’d had those, and although they knew all about J.J.’s failed engagement, Beth had shared little. Oh well, they all had a right to their privacy. But she did wonder.
And look where privacy had gotten Connor. No one knew enough about his life to figure out what had happened to him.
As if reading her mind, Evan suggested, “How about we tackle another unsolvable topic? Is there anything new on Connor’s whereabouts?”
Everyone looked at Alison. She shook her head. “Nothing since he was spotted last week. There’s not much to go on.”
Their attention switched to J.J.
“Well, I was talking to Miranda’s sister-in-law, who mentioned that Miranda and Connor had stayed at his ex–business partner’s cottage at times. Devine and I went to the restaurant hoping to talk to this guy, but it’s closed for a few days. And that makes me wonder if Connor and the ex-partner are at the cottage right now. Devine is trying to track down its exact location.”
“I seem to remember something about that cottage, now that you mention it,” Evan said, looking stumped. “I’m sure it was on one of the islands near the water, but that’s about all I can think of.”
“That would make sense seeing as Connor’s car was spotted on South Hero. Can’t you remember anything else?”
Evan looked like he was trying, but then he shook his head. “Sorry.”
“I’ll help him try to remember,” Michael promised. “He gets so stressed out these days. He just has to relax at night and things settle into place.”
J.J. wondered what was stressing Evan besides the usual business woes, but thought she’d save the question for another time when she was alone with him.
“There has been another development. She was having an affair with a married cop. They apparently met when she needed a cop on her show. Do you think you could find out who he is, Alison?” J.J. asked.
“Well, sure. I’ll just go in and ask.” She shook her head. “Sorry, it’s been a long day. I’ll need some details, like when this happened, for starters.”
“Of course. I’ll have to get more details from her assistant, when I find her again.”
“Someone else is missing?” Beth asked. “Is that a coincidence?”
J.J. shrugged. “There’s no reason to think it has anything to do with Connor. She might have just taken a few days off, and the station is not giving out any information.” That was probably it. She needed to have a heart-to-heart with the receptionist tomorrow.
“I’ve been wondering,” Beth said after their entrées had been served, “if you all figure it’s okay to carry on with the Culinary Capers dinner this month.”
“Of course it is,” Evan said. “Connor would insist on it.”
The others agreed.
Beth let out a sigh. “I’m happy to hear that. I think it will do us all good. So, how was your visit with your mom, J.J.?”
“Um, good, I guess. I didn’t see much of her. She was here for meetings about the company opening a new office, and Mom would be put in charge of it.”
“Wow, is this a good thing?” Evan asked. “How’s your relationship with your mom?”
J.J. laughed. “It’s good, Evan, although I think distance is better. I’m a bit concerned what this might mean to Dad, though. It’s just the two of them, you know. My brothers have also moved away.”
“Remind me what your dad does,” Alison said.
“He’s an artist, a painter. He has a studio in the house, and he spends most of the daylight hours in it. But even though Mom’s out on a tear all the time, showing houses and whatnot, she’s always there to cook his suppers. If she takes this job, she’ll go home on weekends, but it can be a long, lonely week for him.”
Beth reached over and patted her hand. “Or, it might not. Men are often more resilient than we give them credit for. He’s got his work, and I’m sure he can fix himself something to eat. They’ll be together on weekends, which should make it that much sweeter. I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you.”
J.J. couldn’t take Beth’s advice that easily. She found herself still worrying later that night, so she phoned her older brother, Rory, in Stowe.
“What do you think of the possibility that Mom might move to Burlington?” she asked after they’d caught up on his two young children and their growth spurts.
“Do you mean, how much will she be in your hair? Or how will Dad cope?”
J.J. laughed. “I really am more concerned about Dad. She seems to do everything for him.”
“That’s the part we see when we visit, but I know for a fact he’s much more self-sufficient than that. I think he’ll be just fine with it. And, so will she. You know how she has to keep busy, and this new project will be good for her.”
“Then you’re okay with it all?”
“I am. So is Kyle. We’ve talked. I was wondering when you’d call about it.” He sounded so relaxed and sure about it all that J.J. decided she should stop worrying about the Tanner household. Especially with a murderer still on the loose.
CHAPTER 21
The first thing J.J. wanted to do the next morning was talk to Hennie. She took a long drink of her tepid latte and then phoned the TV station, asking to be put through to Hennie’s extension, hoping she’d be back. The phone just rang and rang. Next she tried phoning Hennie’s apartment but got the same response. It was time for action.
She tidied up her desk, left a note for Skye, and then drove to the station, hoping to have a heart-to-heart with Wanda, the receptionist. Maybe she and Hennie were good friends, and her lack of forthrightness may have been a misplaced attempt to shield Hennie. J.J. wanted to reassure her that Hennie wasn’t in trouble, yet, and that all she wanted was information.
Wanda was on the phone and in fact took several calls before she was able to spare some time for J.J. She looked expectantly at J.J. and thanked her for the coffee she’d brought.
“I’m really hoping you can help me track down Hennie. I have to talk to her ASAP. It’s very important and really can’t wait. Do you have any idea where she might be?”
“Like I said yesterday, I don’t have a clue. We’re not really close, you know?”
“Does Hennie have any close friends at the station?”
Wanda shrugged. “Not that I know of. I mean, she’d usually eat her lunch at her desk. I guess sometimes she’d go out but never with anyone from the station. Not that I saw, anyway.”
“Do you know if she has any family in the city? Had she ever mentioned someone in passing?”
Wanda shook her head. “I tell you, I really don’t know anything. Although, I think she has a boyfriend.”
“What makes you think that?”
“Well, one day a bunch of us were in the break room kidding around about dati
ng, and she let drop that she’s no longer playing the field. That can only mean one thing, right?”
J.J. thought about it. Could be Hennie was just plain tired of the dating game for the moment, but on the other hand, maybe Wanda was right. “Thanks. I think I’ll just leave her a note. Okay if I go around?”
Wanda nodded as she answered another call. J.J. took the shorter hallway to the right, past the station manager’s door, which happened to be open. She halted at the sound of Devine’s voice and quickly backtracked, scurrying past the newsroom, and took the longer way. He was the last person she wanted to talk to this morning. And she knew he wouldn’t be too pleased about her being back on Hennie’s trail, without him.
She slipped into Hennie’s office and left a note asking her to call. She then wandered around to the office shared by the on-air personalities. She found Kathi at one of the desks, making notes on something she was reading. Maybe J.J. didn’t have to wait for Hennie.
“Hi, Kathi. Do you have a minute?”
Kathi glanced up and looked surprised. “Sure, I guess. I’m getting ready for my show, so it can’t take long.” She looked at her watch, almost in emphasis. J.J. couldn’t help but notice the black-and-white zigzag design on the wide band, a close match to the dress she wore, and the black, short-sleeved shrug top.
“It won’t,” J.J. said as she walked closer. “I was just wondering about Miranda’s love life. Had she confided in you about who she was dating?”
Kathi shook her head. “No, she wasn’t the confiding type, especially to me. But I did know about her broken engagement to Connor Mac and that they were dating again although not a real item. And there was talk that she was seeing some married guy.”
J.J. feigned a look of surprise.
“I know, nothing’s sacred in this business. Rumors run rampant, and if there are none, someone is sure to make something up.” Kathi shrugged. “But I stress, those are rumors. She never told me anything directly.”
“Did you hear anything else about the married guy, like where she met him?”