Murder at the Mushroom Festival

by Janet Finsilver

  Tim handed me another towel, a bottle of water, and a tube of antibiotic ointment. “Here’s water you can clean with and some cream you can put on those cuts.”

  “Thanks.”

  He smiled. “Hey, we redheads need to stick together.”

  The scratches weren’t serious. It took me only a few minutes to take care of them.

  “Do you want a Band-Aid to put on your ankle?”

  “That’s a good idea, with all the sand here. I’ll keep my pant leg rolled up to keep it dry.”

  He handed me a large bandage that covered the injuries. The rest of the group circled around us, watching the proceedings. It appeared the ministrations I was receiving provided their show for the day. Joey was with them.

  I looked at him. “Thank you, Joey. It’s quite possible you saved my life.”

  “Just happy I heard your yell. I can take you back to Paddler’s Paradise in my truck if you’d like.”

  I hesitated. Was this a smart thing to do? I suspected Peter or Joey had pushed me in. However, Joey had also saved me, and everyone here had heard his offer of a ride. It would be stupid of them to do anything to me now.

  “I’d appreciate that. The sooner I get out of these wet clothes, the happier I’ll be. Can we go straight back?”

  “Sure. No problem. I’m done here. I just wanted to see what had happened with the sinker log.”

  I handed the towels, the ointment, and the blanket to Tim. “I’ll pay for the trip at your office before I leave.”

  Tim and the others had heard the conversation with Joey. This gave a time frame and an expectation in terms of when I should be back to Paddler’s Paradise. Hopefully, this would prevent the two of them from hatching up any new ideas for getting rid of me if they were responsible for what had happened.

  Tim gave me the blanket back. “Keep this. You can turn it in at headquarters.”

  I put it over my shoulders and clutched it close to my body. “Thanks.”

  Joey stepped forward. “I have a change of clothes I keep in the truck. You’re welcome to put those on.”

  “No, you use them. You said you’re working this afternoon, and you’ll need them. I’ll be okay. Thanks for the offer.”

  “Are you sure? I’ve air dried before.”

  This brought a chuckle from the guides, who probably had experienced the same thing.

  I shook my head. “I doubt if you’d be dry by the time of your event in this cool weather. You use them.”

  “Okay, then. I’ll be back in a jiffy and get you to the Paddler’s Paradise.”

  He disappeared in the woods. While he changed, I pulled my phone from my holster. Had it survived? I unclasped the top and pulled open the seal of the plastic pouch. I took the phone out, pushed the button, and the screen sprang to life.

  I checked the photos I’d taken, and they were all there. The ads had said the phone case was waterproof. I was pleased that indeed it was.

  The guides still stood around talking and glancing in my direction, as if expecting something else to happen. I wasn’t planning on providing episode two of the morning’s top story. I thanked them for their help, then put on my tennis shoe and squished my way to Joey’s truck.

  Joey was true to his word and returned in a few minutes, soggy clothes in hand. He tossed them into the back of his truck, opened a tool box, and pulled out a pair of work boots.

  “You really do come prepared,” I said.

  “Things happen when you go off-roading. Sometimes a truck will go over at a water crossing.”

  We said our good-byes to the guides, and Peter split from the group and joined us.

  He held the passenger door open. “Do you want to sit in the middle in front or in the back seat?”

  Squeezed between Peter and Joey was not where I wanted to be.

  “Back’s fine,” I said.

  Peter opened the back door for me.

  The truck was at least two feet higher than the ones on the ranch. Peter didn’t offer to help me in, and I didn’t need any. I grabbed the inside frame on the right with one hand, a vertical handle attached to the left side with the other, and hauled myself up.

  Peter and Joey got in and Joey turned the heater up full blast. The warm air felt wonderful to my frigid body. I leaned forward to where the heat streamed between the two front seats. I stretched my arms out and held out my hands, palms up.

  I’d once been bumped by a surprised mountain lion on the ranch and landed on my side in a corral of spooked horses, but I didn’t believe an animal had been responsible for my unplanned swim. The guides had no reason to go after me, whereas the two in the front seat might have a reason for wanting me out of the way. Joey was there shortly after I went in the water and close enough to hear my cries for help.

  But if Joey pushed me, why did he save me? Was it Peter? I had looked at the group of men right before the bump but didn’t get a good look at who all was there. I didn’t think the guides would talk to me about the whereabouts of Peter and Joey when it happened. I was an outsider, and they were friends. However, they might tell Deputy Sheriff Stanton.

  We bounced down the track that had been widened into a road once again by whatever mysterious equipment had traveled over it. Some of the ruts were deep and the truck slid a bit as Joey navigated through them. The vinyl seat and my wet pants made for a slippery ride. The seat belt helped, but not much.

  “Whoever did this helped our business out,” Joey said to Peter. “It gives us a whole new place to bring people. This was way too narrow to navigate before.”

  “Do you have any idea who did it?” I didn’t expect any help but figured I’d ask.

  “Nope,” Joey said.

  Peter shook his head. “Not a clue, but they’ll make some big bucks with that log.”

  I wondered if some of that money would find its way into his pocket and possibly Joey’s.

  The dirt road came to an end, and I was relieved when we were back on a paved highway. I could see why it would’ve taken Daniel a long time to walk to the river, and his Volkswagen bus definitely couldn’t have made it. The ride to the headquarters and my truck took about ten minutes.

  Joey stopped in front of the office.

  “Thank you for the ride,” I said. “And thank you again for pulling me out of the water.” I opened the back door, held on to the bar next to it, and slid out.

  “Glad I was there.”

  Yet, as I closed the door, I couldn’t help but wonder if his polite response only hid something more devious beneath the surface.

  He turned around and sped off.

  Chapter 20

  A mini log cabin served as the Paddler’s Paradise office. I walked in, paid the bill and returned the blanket, replying to all the staff’s questions about what had happened with a simple, “I slipped.” I walked to my truck, unlocked it, got in, and turned the heater up as high as it would go.

  I headed back to the inn as fast as the speed limit would allow. I parked and entered through the seldom-used side door to avoid meeting anyone. A look at myself in the rearview mirror had revealed a scary sight. The wet clothes were one thing, but the tangled strands of hair gave me a Medusa look.

  I went to my rooms and removed the bandage, wincing as it pulled at my skin. After a quick shower and treating my scrapes, I readied myself a second time for the day. I glanced at the drawer that held the threatening note and decided to leave it there. I’d tell the others about it, but the less handling before giving it to Stanton the better.

  I called Deputy Sheriff Stanton about the threat and the bump that sent me into the river. He said he’d come by in the afternoon to pick up the note and would stop by Paddler’s Paradise to question them as soon as he had an opportunity. Ned’s time of death had been narrowed to late Thursday night, and he’d be questioning people again as to where they were.
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  I promised to tell him what the Sentinels and I had learned, then dialed Scott’s number.

  He answered after two rings. “Redwood Cove Community Center.”

  “Hi, Scott. I wanted to let you know Clarence is out of intensive care.”

  “Good to know. By the way, do you know a man by the name of Roger Simmons?”

  Did I ever. His name had a place on our suspect chart.

  “I do. Why do you ask?”

  “He said he’s having a party tonight for the people who helped put on events for the festival and asked me if I wanted to come, to make contact with more locals. He knows about the community center. I thought he might have invited you.”

  “He did, and I plan on attending.”

  “Great. I have a business dinner at the time the party starts, but I’ll stop by when we’re finished eating.”

  “How do you know him?”

  “I contacted him about what we were putting together for Redwood Cove residents and veterans. We discussed ways he could support us. He hired two of the veterans to work as valets yesterday and tonight. We had quite the scramble putting suits together for them, but we managed.”

  “That was nice of him.”

  “Yes, it was. I look forward to seeing you there tonight,” Scott said.

  “Same here.”

  That certainly came out of my mouth fast.

  The conference room was still dark as I walked by to put my clothes in the washer. The light was on when I headed back. A peek inside showed Gertie putting up a piece of chart paper…or trying to. Her diminutive size made it a challenge.

  “Let me help you.” I took the paper from her.

  “Hi, Kelly. This one didn’t need any updating, so I wanted to get it out of the way. I have information to add to the others.”

  I helped her spread them out on the tables. “Timothy texted that Clarence is out of intensive care.”

  “Wonderful news.” Gertie pulled marking pens from a drawer.

  “However, it means we need to start a new chart.”

  I explained to her about Elise’s news regarding the possibly poisonous salad.

  Gertie ripped a clean sheet of paper off the chart pad and wrote Clarence at the top and added poisoned with a question mark. “Who on earth would want to hurt him?”

  “I asked myself the same question. Deputy Stanton took the salad to the lab. I told him I’d update him after our meeting and maybe he’ll know more by then.”

  Gertie added information to the remaining charts, and I posted them on the wall.

  Helen entered with a tray of cheese, crackers, and an assortment of fruit. “I thought your group might need some fuel to feed their thoughts. I’ll bring in tea, coffee, and water.”

  “Thanks, Helen. The treats will be appreciated.” I suddenly felt famished. Maybe the unexpected swim, followed by my racing heart, had something to do with it. I took a plate from the stack we kept on the sideboard, cut a piece of blue-veined cheese, and placed crackers and a cluster of red grapes next to them. I took a bite of cheese and savored its creamy flavor.

  The Professor joined us with the usual twinkle in his blue eyes, carrying a plastic container. He’d chosen to wear a blue plaid bow tie that matched his wool cap. Mary wasn’t far behind with a pink Princess purse in one hand and her personal purse in the other.

  She put the portable dog carrier on a chair and lifted Princess out. “Do you like your new coat, honey?”

  Princess blinked rapidly a few times. Chihuahua Morse code for yes, I figured, considering the plush pink-and-white coat with rhinestone hearts sewn on it. The sparkling collar added to the glitter. Mary put her on the floor, and the dog made her rounds greeting everyone.

  The loud voice that carried down the hallway worked like a doorbell announcing the arrival of Ivan and his brother. The Professor had placed the container on the counter. Mary opened it, revealing chocolate squares decorated with walnut halves on top of chocolate icing. She took them out, and I could see a layer of white in the middle.

  “Mississippi mud cake,” Mary announced. “I had fun with the Southern drawl yesterday and my mind turned in the direction of a Southern treat.”

  The rich smell of chocolate drifted into the air.

  “What’s the white stuff in the middle?” Gertie asked.

  Mary smiled. “Marshmallow cream. It makes a wonderful contrast to the dark chocolate.”

  Phil and Andy arrived and the group took a few minutes to get refreshments and chat with them. The two stopped at the inn several times a month and participated in many of the town’s festivals, but the Sentinels didn’t always have an opportunity to see them. Helen added drinks to the sideboard.

  I heard a ping from my phone. Daniel texted he wouldn’t be able to make the meeting. His tribal gathering must be taking longer than he thought it would.

  “Daniel won’t be able to join us,” I said.

  Gertie looked at the clock. “Noon, everyone.”

  That was the call to business. We all sat. I took a few minutes and filled Andy and Phil in on what the charts represented and why the people were listed on them.

  Gertie pulled out her notepad, picked up her pen, and gazed expectantly around at the group. “I’ve added what we discussed last night. Does anyone have new information?”

  I shared with them what I knew about Clarence’s food as well as the theft of the sinker log and Daniel’s emergency meeting. Rudy added the information to the charts.

  “Timothy’s been in touch,” the Professor said. “Clarence is continuing to improve. He’s hoping he’ll be released tomorrow. Timothy asked him again if he put any mushrooms in his food, given he was so confused last night. Clarence said he definitely didn’t add anything.”

  Rudy stood and put how after the word poisoned on Clarence’s chart.

  “I have more to add,” I said reluctantly, knowing they would worry. I told them about my unplanned dip in the river and the threatening note.

  Mary’s rosy cheeks paled. “Kelly, it sounds like you’re in danger. Maybe you should sit this investigation out.”

  “No way. Daniel needs all the help he can get. And the note is only a threat. It doesn’t mean someone is really going to do something.”

  “But someone did,” Rudy said.

  “We don’t know what happened, and I’m still here. One of the suspects actually saved me. If he had wanted me dead, there’s a good chance I wouldn’t be here. Would any of you back out if you were in my place?”

  Their silence gave the answer.

  Yet again, I promised to be careful.

  The Professor cleared his throat. “Well then, let’s get busy and complete this investigation.”

  “Yah,” Ivan rumbled. He placed his work-weathered hands, now clenched into fists, on the table. “Need to find murderer.”

  I turned to Phil and Andy. “Did you hear or see anything last night you think might be helpful?”

  Andy shook his head. “I wish I could say yes. The group last night included some locals, but most of them were from out of town. People will drive long distances to attend one of Roger’s parties. Many of them were from the Bay Area. They’re more than happy to pay for a hotel room and spend the night.”

  “It started in his gallery,” Phil said. “Then, after an hour, everyone moved up the hill to the main house.”

  Phil rose and went to the sideboard. “The man has class. There were covered golf carts driven by the valets he’d hired to shuttle people up and down the hill.”

  “I prepared the cheese trays in the main kitchen and his staff took them to the gallery,” Andy added.

  Phil returned to his seat with his plate replenished with a variety of cheeses and crackers. “I didn’t hear anyone talking about the murder. It’s not like they aren’t a gossiping group, it’s just the subje
ct of discussion was more likely to be who’s cheating on whom or whether or not the watch so-and-so was wearing was a knockoff or the real thing.”

  Andy nodded. “I didn’t hear any mention of murder.”

  “Did you see any heavy equipment?” I asked.

  “Like what?” Andy asked.

  I shrugged. “Maybe a crane or a tractor the size of one you might see at a construction site.”

  Phil shook his head. “Nothing like that. Now ask me if I saw Ferraris, Porsches, and Lamborghinis, and I’ll give you a different answer.”

  “I understand the party tonight is for locals,” Andy said. “Maybe we’ll have more luck there.”

  I nodded. “I’ve been invited. Roger said the party is his thank-you to people supporting the event by offering different activities.”

  “We’ll be much more likely to hear the local buzz,” Phil said.

  Ivan frowned and whispered something in Rudy’s ear…or at least tried to keep his voice down. I heard him say bees buzz. Were the people bringing bees? I was close enough to hear Rudy’s whispered answer as he explained what it meant to his brother.

  “Mary, did you meet with Elise?” Gertie asked.

  Mary batted her eyelashes and switched to a Southern drawl. “Well, darlin’, that woman’s red-hot anger when the name Ned Blaine is mentioned would melt the ice cubes in a mint julep.”

  “Bravo to the actress,” Rudy said.

  Mary sighed. “Unfortunately, it didn’t get me anything new.”

  “If she’s that angry, I think it’s very personal,” I said. “I believe Ned was blackmailing her or someone she cares deeply about.”

  “There’s her son and her mother,” Gertie said. “I’m not aware of any other family.”

  “Do you know if she’s dating anyone?” Rudy asked.

  “She was alone at the last couple of functions where I saw her,” Mary replied.

  Rudy added notes to the charts.

  “Mr. Mushroom called,” the Professor said. “He didn’t have anything new about Ned Blaine. However, the Fungi Finders discovered an area on federal land where someone is cutting down redwoods and hauling them out. It’s a criminal offense.”