A Perfect Case of Murder

by B. T. Lord

  I regret very much taking Helen’s life, but I had no choice. She was overcome with guilt over what we’d done to Charles. She was near breaking point. My fear increased when I noticed the inordinate amount of time she spent at the cemetery, near the rocks where we’d buried the bastard. I found her there on April 13 where she told me she was going to the authorities the next day. The next few moments are a blur. But when I was done, she lay on the ground, dead.

  I repeat, Lily had no knowledge or complicity in the death of her mother or of our burial of a man who was not dead. It was my doing and mine alone. She is wholly innocent of all wrong doing.

  She folded the fax and thoughtfully put it in her pocket. Later that morning, she shared it with her staff.

  “I don’t know, Cam,” Rick said when she was done. “I’m not doubting Tom offed Charles and Helen. But I’m not buying that Lily is innocent crap, just as I don’t believe her husband abused her. From what you told me, I’d say she was the abuser. I bet she was in on it somehow. I also think it’s mighty bizarre that he made a point of saying that he helped Helen as much as he could to bury Charles. Who says that unless it’s to make sure people don’t suspect that it was Lily who actually helped move those stones with her mother? No, sir. I guarantee you she knew everything every step of the way.”

  “I agree with you. However, there’s no way to prove it. Not with Tom taking full responsibility. And with his suicide, we’ll never really get to the truth of it all.”

  “So Lily continues to lead her perfect life,” Emmy replied.

  “Mantree hasn’t given up trying to find something on her. He’s thinking of maybe bringing her up on accessory charges. But until he does, you’re right. She does continue to lead her perfect life.”

  “Well, we can only hope that karma comes around and bites her hard on the ass,” Rick spoke up.

  “Either that, or realize at some point in her life the price that was paid for perfection.”

  Rick guffawed loudly. “Yeah. And I’m the capo di tutt’i capi.”

  Emmy glanced at Cammie. “He’s watching The Sopranos reruns again, isn’t he?”

  She laughed. “You think?”

  A few days later when Cammie and Jace arrived at Doc’s after a long workday, they were surprised to find him waiting for them on his front porch. He had the look of an eager child on Christmas morning who can’t wait to tear into his presents.

  “What’s up with Doc?” Jace asked as Cammie turned off the Navigator. “He looks like he’s ready to burst into song.”

  Before Cammie could respond, Doc hurried down the stairs and waved at them. “Quick, come inside, both of you. There’s something I need you to see.”

  He practically dragged her out of her vehicle. He then grabbed Jace’s arm along with hers and pulled them inside.

  “Doc, what are you doing?” She exclaimed, trying not to trip as he forcefully drew them along.

  “You’ll see!”

  Cammie and Jace exchanged worried looks behind Doc’s back. Her first thought was that Lily was sitting in the living room. But with all her threats of legal action, she couldn’t imagine him being so happy at his half-sister’s presence. Unless he’d tied her up.

  Dear God, had he tied her up?

  She was about to voice her concern when they burst into the living room. “Voila!” he announced with a dramatic flourish.

  Cammie scanned the room quickly. There was no sign of Lily. Just a large, rectangular package propped up against the fireplace.

  “Is that package what you’re so excited about?” She asked a bit deflated. As much as she hated to admit it, she’d been looking forward to seeing Lily tied up on the couch.

  “Open it up and see for yourself.” She looked at him, but his face gave nothing away. “Go on. I promise, it won’t bite.”

  Curious now, she and Jace pulled away the packaging. When she saw what it was, she gave a whoop of delight.

  It was the painting Abby had created of the gold tree against the dark ocean.

  “I know how much you loved it, so I bought it for you. It’s small compensation for all your help, but I thought you might like to have an original work of art in your new home.”

  “Doesn’t Abby need this for her art show?”

  Doc smiled broadly. “She insisted you have it. You made quite an impression on her. I wouldn’t be surprised if your countenance appears in one of her future paintings.”

  Cammie wasn’t so sure how she felt about that. But she was sure about how she felt regarding the gift propped up in front of her.

  To Jace’s shock, she threw her arms around Doc and hugged him tightly. To Jace’s even greater shock, the doctor returned the hug.

  “Either the world has turned upside down, or Doc is actually becoming human,” he muttered under his breath.

  Doc heard him and laughed. “I suppose I am. There’s nothing quite as difficult, yet ultimately gratifying as revisiting your past to see how far you’ve come in your present.”

  The End

  AUTHORS NOTE

  I am overwhelmed and grateful at the success of the Twin Ponds Mystery Series. And it’s all because of you! Your support in buying these books, and for the wonderful emails and comments I’ve received, have been both humbling and inspiring. You’ve helped this writer’s dream come true, and I’ll continue to do my best to write the very best I can for your enjoyment.

  As you could probably tell, I’ve spent many years in Boston. In one of my many lives, I gave tours and my love for the historical city has never waned. If you ever make it out to The Hub, I think you’ll enjoy walking the quiet streets of Beacon Hill, dropping in to the African Meeting House and spending some time in the Boston Common and the Old Granary Burial Ground. If you do, be sure to say hi to Sam Adams for me.

  As usual, I ask that if you like the books, please leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads. These reviews are vital. They allow others to take a chance on buying my books and they help me advertise the series so more people can discover Twin Ponds.

  You can sign up for my newsletter through my website www.btlordwriter.com I’m also offering a free novella featuring Cammie and the gang which can be gotten only through my website. It’s called Murder to Die For. Who doesn’t love a free book?

  You can also visit my Facebook page

  https://www.facebook.com/BTLordWriter/

  I love hearing from you!

  And now a preview of the 4th installment of the Twin Ponds Mystery Series

  ~

  Murder by Duplicity

  ~

  PROLOGUE

  The heavy sounds of machinery marred the serenity of the surrounding forest. Ugly gashes in what had once been a lovely, wild flower filled meadow ripped across the surface, replacing the flowers with mounds of angry, upturned earth and mud.

  Steve Murphy glanced at his watch. It was break-time. Turning off the huge excavator that was responsible for leaving the obscene scars on the land, he wiped his brow with a handkerchief he’d pulled out of his jeans pocket. Jeez Louise, but it was hot out here, more so in the claustrophobic cab where he sat. Reaching into a cooler he kept next to his seat, he withdrew a bottle of water. Opening it, he took a long hard swallow.

  He swung down from the machine and once more wiped his brow with his handkerchief. He saw the men from his work crew gathered over by one of the trucks that had been parked under the shade of a small grove of trees. They were sitting around, shooting the shit, enjoying a break from the intense heat of the midday sun.

  He looked across the meadow, not to mourn the destruction, but to calculate how much work still needed to be done. Steve had no conscience when it came to tearing down trees or ripping up fields. It was a job. It provided money for he and his family. That’s all it was and it was all it would ever be to him.

  He took one last gulp of water, then turned to join his co-workers, to listen to their ribald jokes or to bitch about the hot weather. Just as he started towards him, his eye caug
ht something in the mountain of dirt he’d just dug up. He gazed at it for a long moment, before shrugging his shoulders. Probably just the branch of a birch tree. But as he walked away, the thought of what it could be nagged at him. He slowed his step. He was a good worker. A conscientious worker. He had to check it out. He couldn’t ignore it.

  Shit, why does this happen to me? There are ten other guys out here. Why couldn’t it be under one of their damned machines?

  He continued to silently grumble as he drew nearer to the mountain of dirt, rocks and broken branches. He stared at what had caught his attention. Reaching out with his fingers, he pulled some of the dirt away. Then took a step back.

  “Hey Augie!” he yelled out to one of his co-workers. “Get the boss on the horn. He’s going to want to see this.”

  The day was hot, with the temperatures hovering around the low eighties. If it weren’t for the slight breeze blowing up from Waban Pond, everyone would have melted hours ago.

  Sheriff Cammie Farnsworth stood on a small platform that had been erected on the shores of the large pond. She felt a bit ridiculous standing there, as if she were about to receive the keys to the city. If Twin Ponds had any. Which it didn’t.

  With sweat trickling down between her breasts and sweat stains that she swore were ruining her uniform, she was waiting for the mayor of Twin Ponds to show up. Bill Barnes, who’d been mayor of the small town since dinosaurs roamed the earth, was fifteen minutes late. With each passing moment, the sizeable crowd that had gathered was growing restless. Not only was it scorching, but they all wanted to get this over with.

  So did Cammie.

  They’d gathered on this hot late June day because they were finally going to close a chapter in Twin Ponds’ life. Fifteen years before, a young man who’d been born and raised in this small town had left to become a hockey legend. He’d returned last year, both in triumph and ultimately in tragedy when he’d been found murdered in his bed.

  Eli Kelley had once been a huge part of Cammie’s life and now, on this sizzling day, she was about to spread his ashes over Waban Pond – the place where he and she had started playing hockey together all those years before.

  It seemed appropriate to spread his ashes where it had all started. The townspeople were ready to say good-bye. To have a sense of closure. One more chance to be close to Eli before the winds took away what remained of him, leaving only memories in his wake.

  At least that was the thought everyone had when they’d begun to gather together an hour before.

  Now Bill Barnes was screwing this up. Big time.

  Cammie blew out a frustrated breath. She was convinced her face was about to burn to a crisp since she hadn’t thought she’d need sun tan lotion. Originally, she’d planned a five minute ceremony, saying a few words about what Eli had meant to the town before opening the urn and spreading his ashes over the water, all the while praying the breeze wouldn’t blow it back into her face.

  She could only imagine the risqué jokes her deputy Rick Belleveau would come up if she managed to get some of what remained of Eli in her mouth.

  Unfortunately, Barnes had insisted on making a long-winded speech. Which wasn’t that surprising. All of his speeches were long-winded. Cammie was convinced he made long-winded speeches while in the shower, if only to hear himself speak. Kelley had become a legend, not only to the world, but to his home-town. Barnes insisted it was not only appropriate, but necessary that he be remembered in florid detail on such a solemn day.

  There was no way to fight this. Barnes was mayor. And responsible for her running for Sheriff. She’d had no choice but to give in to his demands, or risk having him follow her around town, making flamboyant speeches whenever she went, if only to make a point.

  And Bill Barnes was very good at making a point.

  She scanned the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of him arriving. Instead, she saw Rick break away from the crowd and jog towards her.

  Half Native American, half French Canadian, she hated the fact that in winter, he never looked cold while she struggled with three sweaters and two pairs of socks under her polar Tec parka and furry bomber hat. In the summer, no matter how hot the temperatures got, he never looked uncomfortable. Damn it, the guy never even broke a sweat.

  “Hey Cam,” he whispered. “We better get this ash party started, or else some of the townspeople are going to grab that urn from you and dump it into the pond themselves. It’s friggin’ too hot out here to keep waiting for Barnes to show up.”

  She knew he was right. And, if only in the interest of avoiding everyone suffering from sun stroke, she knew she had to act.

  “Got it,” she replied. “Get their attention, will you?”

  Rick put his two fingers in his mouth and uttered a piercing whistle that almost ruptured Cammie’s eardrums.

  “Why don’t we begin?” She announced in a loud voice.

  “About time!” someone shouted.

  “Yeah, or we’ll be joining Eli in the water!” Another called out.

  “Okay, okay.” She cleared her throat. “I want to thank all of you for coming. I know how much Eli Kelley meant to this town and to all of you--”

  “For God sakes, we know all that. Just dump the ashes so we can get back to our air conditioners!”

  Cammie blinked in surprise. This wasn’t exactly how she’d envisioned the ceremony to go. But hey, it was pretty hot out. And knowing Eli as well as she did, he’d probably find the whole thing hilarious.

  She hoped.

  “Alrighty then. Here’s to Eli!” She hopped off the platform and turned towards the pond. Taking the top off the urn, she was about to dump the contents into the water when she heard the sounds of a siren. Perplexed because, with the exception of Emmy, her entire staff of deputies were there with her, she watched as one of her cruisers made its way slowly through the crowd.

  “Who the heck is that?” she asked Rick.

  “I don’t know, but they’re driving one of our squad cars.”

  She handed the urn to Rick and stomped towards the vehicle. A moment later, Bill Barnes popped out. A large, rotund man, who took great care with his appearance, he was dressed in a beautiful dark suit with matching tie. It was his face, however, that momentarily took Cammie by surprise. It was beet red, with his thinning hair completely askew, as if he’d raked his fingers through it several times.

  “Just what the hell are you doing in one of my cruisers?” she demanded.

  “If I had a siren, I would have used my own car.”

  “Hey, will you get on with it?” Someone from the crowd yelled. A chorus of angry voices agreeing rose up.

  “Listen, if I don’t dump Eli’s ashes into the pond within the next two minutes, we’re going to have a riot on our hands.”

  She started to turn back when she felt Bill grab her arm. “That can wait.”

  “Are you nuts? Look at these people. They’ve been waiting 20 minutes for you to show up. You can tell me later why you’re late. In the meantime, it’s hot and we need to get this over with.”

  Physically removing his hand from her arm, she started back towards the pond. Bill hurried after her.

  “You don’t understand,” he puffed as he ran alongside her.

  “No. You don’t understand,” she countered.

  They reached the pond. Cammie was about to take back the urn from Rick when Bill’s next words made her stop.

  “They found a skeleton out where I’m building the new hotel.”

  She stared at him. “A skeleton?” He nodded nervously. “And?”

  “And I think I might know who it is.”

  Rick looked from Cammie to Bill, then back again. He knew this conversation could go on forever. And right now, he had to save their lives from the increasingly restive crowd.

  Making what he considered an executive decision, he put the urn on the shore, took off his shoes and socks, rolled up his pants leg and grabbed back the urn before wading into the water until it reached his shin
s. There, he held the urn out and turned it upside down.

  “By the power invested in me, I now pronounce your ashes three sheets to the wind!’ The crowd roared its approval as the ashes poured out onto the surface of the water. Caught up in the moment, Rick cheered too. At that moment, a stiff wind gusted and before he knew what was happening, the ashes were blown back right into his mouth.

  CHAPTER ONE

  “You said you know who the skeleton belongs to?”

  Cammie was seated in Bill’s office. Surrounding her on the wall were frames of all shapes and sizes that held photographs of Bill with various state and local dignitaries including several, of course, of Bill with Eli Kelley.

  Twin Ponds’ town offices were in a one story building at the end of Main Street. The Office of the Mayor was in the back, overlooking part of the athletic field that belonged to the high school. On some days, when the wind was blowing in the right direction, conversation was drowned out in Bill’s office by the loud cheers of the spectators and the loudspeaker announcing the plays. Which perhaps explained Bill’s normally loud bombastic way of speaking.