by Cindy Bell
When Samantha finally looked up from the computer she recognized that it had been over two hours. Her shoulders ached from being hunched towards the screen for so long and her eyes burned from staring at the monitor.
With no success in making the connection she refocused her attention on May’s brother. She discovered the address of the property that Daniel and his sister owned. Its previous owners were their parents.
The fight between Daniel and May appeared to be over an inheritance. Samantha continued to search through Daniel’s past to see if he had any criminal record. There was very limited information available, but she did manage to locate some court records that had been uploaded to the internet. Although he’d never been convicted of anything he did have some tangles with the legal system. The first tangle was in his late teens when he was accused of participating in fraud. From what information she could find she gathered that he was involved in some kind of pyramid scheme that went sideways. From what she could tell others involved in the scheme were arrested, but Daniel was never convicted. She saw no mention of May being involved, but there was still a chance that she was. As she looked over the information in the court records she recognized that the court proceedings took place in Mariner County. The name sounded familiar to her. She glanced down at the article she had printed out. Mariner Man’s Drowning Death Ruled Accidental.
There it was. A tiny thread. It wasn’t enough to explain why the article mattered to May, but it did throw Daniel into the mix. However, the dates were almost two years apart. The thread was thin and frayed at best. Still, it was there. There had to be more to it than that, but she wasn’t going to find it in the library. She packed up her things and headed back to the parking lot. As she pulled open the door to her car she noticed a familiar face a few parking spaces over. Valerie Brunis. She was not exactly a friend, but she was in the same book club as May and her. May and Valerie had been quite good friends when Samantha joined their book club. Samantha tried to get into the car before Valerie spotted her.
“Samantha! Samantha!” She waved her hand through the air.
“Hi Valerie.” Samantha turned to face her. “How are you?”
“Just shaken over this whole thing to be honest. And you?”
“A bit upset.” Samantha nodded.
“I bet you are. I heard you were there this morning. How do you get into the middle of these things?”
Samantha rested her hand on top of the car. “I’m not sure. I guess I should figure that out.”
“I have to be going.” Valerie glanced at her phone, then smiled. “I have to meet someone.”
“Have a good afternoon, Valerie.”
“I will.” She turned and walked away. Samantha did not overlook the fact that Valerie didn’t wish her a good afternoon in return. Then again, Valerie wasn’t the polite type. In fact, she’d been terribly rude to May the past few times they’d all been together. She didn’t know what the problem was between Valerie and May, but Valerie seemed to be the instigator. She got into the car to drive back to the villa just as her cell phone rang.
“Hi Eddy, what did you find?”
“Not too much more than what we started with I’m afraid. Other than that the killer was likely about the same height as May. The medical examiner based it on the way the fire poker went in. So we’re not looking for someone very short or very tall. It could be a man or a woman. Doesn’t rule many people out does it?”
“What about information about her brother Daniel? I found that he was charged with fraud in his late teens.”
“Yes, I found that, too. Apparently, he got several people including family members tied up in it, too. Poor kid was in over his head before he even knew it. It’s seems that he’s never been able to resurface from the fines and bad credit. He’s in a vicious cycle.”
“That might explain why he was so determined to sell the property. It’s definitely in both his and May’s names. I found the record for it,” Samantha said.
“Yes, and that gives him motive, because with May gone it will be his now and he can sell it as he pleases.”
“I also found a connection between the article I found and Daniel, but it is very thin. Daniel was charged in the same county that the article was written in. It looks like the article is about an accidental drowning death. I have no idea how it could be related and the two incidents are over two years apart.”
“I wonder if there might have been more pages? Maybe what we have left isn’t the only article that she wanted?”
“Maybe.” Samantha looked out through the windshield at the traffic that passed by. It always surprised her how life carried on no matter what. “Why don’t we meet for dinner? Everyone, I mean.”
“Yes, we can do that. I wonder what Jo and Walt might have found out from Reynold. At the diner?”
“Yes. I’ll head straight there and get us a table.”
“See you soon.”
Samantha started the car and pulled out of the parking lot of the library. She wondered if it was worth mentioning to her friends her run-in with Valerie and how May and her hadn’t been getting along leading up to her murder. As unpleasant as Valerie was that didn’t make her a murderer. Was it right to cast suspicion on someone she might even call a friend in the right circumstances?
Chapter 6
When Samantha pulled into the parking lot at the diner she noticed that there were quite a few cars. She wondered if she would be able to get a table for them after all. As she pushed through the door of the diner she was greeted by a loud cheer. A birthday party. Samantha waved to the hostess.
“I need a table for four, please.”
“It’s a little noisy in here right now. Do you want to sit in the private section?”
“Sure. That would be great.”
The waitress nodded and led her into a separate room. “I’ll bring the others in when they arrive.”
Samantha sat down at one of the three tables that were in the room. As she gazed around the room she wondered why she’d never been in it before. It was a small space, but it was cozy and the walls were decorated with historical photographs of the town. She smiled at the sight of a group of young people lined up by an old fashioned bridge. She guessed they were in their late teens. The photograph reminded her of the age that Daniel was when he had his run-in with the law. Nineteen. That was very young to already be charged with fraud. What was his life like at that time? Who were his friends? Were they the ones that drew him into the pyramid scheme? Or was he the mastermind behind it all?
“Hey, nice place.” Eddy made his way into the room. “Jo and Walt will be here in about five minutes.”
“How did their talk with Reynold go?”
“I don’t know. You know Jo, she only likes to text now, and I can’t figure out what half of those abbreviations mean.”
“I’ll have to train you better.” Samantha smiled.
“Give it your best shot.” He chuckled as he sat down beside her. A few minutes later Walt and Jo arrived. Once the four were settled Samantha updated them with the information she had found, as did Eddy.
“So, how did your conversation with Reynold go?”
“Apparently, Walt is not the human lie detector he claimed to be.” Jo smiled slightly.
“It was impossible to tell if he was lying.” Walt sighed and hung his head. “I’ve never seen someone so unreadable before.”
“What do you mean?” Eddy furrowed his brow.
“He was just so, vacant. That’s the best way I can put it. I kept trying to discern his mannerisms, to predict when he was truthful and lying. He acted the same way when he said his name as he did when he said that he had nothing to do with May’s death. The man is like a fortress, and I have to admit, I couldn’t figure it out.”
“What about you, Jo?” Samantha met her friend’s eyes. “You’re pretty good at telling a con.”
“Yes, I am. To be honest, he left me unsettled. He was forthcoming, and shaken, but it was almost too p
erfect, as if he was trying to convince me of something.”
“I’m sure the police have him on the defensive. Being a murder suspect can make you want to convince anyone and everyone you can that you are innocent.” Eddy nodded to the waitress as she walked up. They placed their orders, then returned to the conversation.
“I still find it hard to believe that Reynold would do anything to hurt May. Not only that, but I didn’t find any link between Reynold and May. Why would he kill her? However, I did find out that her brother Daniel was involved in scams, and desperate for money. He wanted her to sell the property and jewelry, she wouldn’t, he killed her. It seems pretty simple to me.” Samantha shrugged and drummed her fingers on the table.
“So, I don’t think he would have done it that way. He could have easily planned it out.” Walt pushed a napkin towards the center of the table. “If you know your victim the way that Daniel knows his sister there is absolutely no reason to kill her in a public place. The risk involved would be immeasurable.”
“That’s if he thought about it first.” Samantha shook her head. “Maybe May invited him to join her and Reynold for coffee. Maybe she thought that would break the tension between them. But Daniel arrived early, and they argued, and he decided to end things.”
“Even knowing that Reynold was on his way?” Eddy frowned. “That must have been some fight.”
“A fight, that possibly centered around this man.” Samantha pushed the article into the middle of the table in place of Walt’s napkin. “This is the article that was burning in the fireplace when I arrived at the community center. I have no idea how it relates to the case, other than that two years prior Daniel was accused of fraud in the same county.”
“Hm, that is a big stretch.” Jo gazed down at the article.
When the food arrived the conversation dwindled. Samantha’s mind flipped through ideas as she ate. If Daniel was the killer, why did he act so rashly? If he wasn’t, who was? Could the suspicion around Reynold be valid? As disturbed as he was when she saw him, could it have been an act? Or was he disturbed because he had just committed murder?
“Statistically, family is more likely to perpetrate a violent murder,” Walt said. Samantha blinked and looked across the table at Walt.
“What?”
“Oh, I was just saying that if you do the research on murders over the age of forty-five, it is more likely that family is involved. Mainly because at that point you are dealing with long term feuds, as well as inheritance battles.”
“Then our main suspect has to be Daniel.” Eddy looked around the table. “He has motive, opportunity, and although his actions may not make sense to us, they still need to be investigated.”
“If we really think the brother had something to do with this, there’s one good way to find out.” Jo pushed her empty plate away. “I’ll invite myself in to look through some things.”
“Are you sure you want to do that?” Eddy raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want to put yourself at risk, remember?”
“Oh, I don’t mind. It keeps me sharp, for when I need to go back to robbing jewelry stores. I wouldn’t want to get out of shape.”
“Jo.” Eddy shook his head. “I don’t want to hear about that.”
“That’s why I say it.” She winked at him. “If my career as a private eye doesn’t work out, I’m going to have to come up with something.”
“Very funny.” Eddy smiled slightly.
“Maybe we should go tomorrow in the morning. From what I researched about him when I was looking into things for May, I discovered that he has a habit of going to the grocery store at the same time each week,” Jo said.
“Good idea.” Samantha nodded.
“Just remember that murdering your sister can really throw off your routine. He might not be following the same habits,” Walt said.
“Maybe we should try luring him out of the house, so that we can make sure that he’s not there when Jo breaks in?” Samantha snapped her fingers. “I could go to him, as a grieving friend, and ask him to share coffee with me.”
“That might work.” Jo smiled.
“You’re going to have coffee alone with a potential murderer?” Eddy shook his head. “I’m not sure I like that idea.”
“You think he’s going to kill me with creamer?” Samantha grinned.
Eddy locked eyes with her. “I’m not joking. This man might have killed his own sister, I think that you need to realize that if he’d be willing to do that, he’s capable of anything.”
“I understand that.” Samantha looked right back into his eyes. “I also understand that I’m capable of keeping myself safe.” She smiled a little. “I also appreciate your concern, and that you want me to be safe. It means a lot to me, Eddy.”
His expression softened as well. “I know you can take care of yourself, Samantha, but it still makes me nervous.”
“I could go with her. I rather enjoyed the act when I spoke to Reynold,” Walt said.
“Perfect.” Samantha nodded. “See? I’ll have back-up. Eddy, you can be Jo’s back-up.”
“I work alone, remember?” Jo raised her hand.
“Not anymore you don’t.” Eddy smiled at her. “You’re stuck with me.”
“Great.” She rolled her eyes. “I can’t wait.”
“So, it’s a plan then?” Samantha looked between them. “Tomorrow morning Walt and I will invite him out for coffee, and while we’re gone, Jo and Eddy will search the house.”
“I guess.” Jo sighed and eyed Eddy. “But I’m in charge.”
“Aren’t you always?” Eddy finished his meal and stood up from the table. “Meanwhile, I’ll check into this drowning, and see if I can find a connection to May or Daniel.”
“Good plan.” Walt nodded.
“If anything comes up before tomorrow morning, I’ll let you know. I’ve got dinner.” Eddy nodded to his friends as they dispersed. He handed the hostess some cash to pay for the meal. Eddy never ceased to surprise Samantha, he used to be very tight with his money. Maybe he didn’t want Jo to have to pay for her own dinner, considering she was worried about money.
“Thanks for giving us this private space,” Eddy said to the waitress.
“Honestly, we had it reserved for a grieving family, but they canceled at the last minute.”
“A grieving family?” He looked into her eyes. “May’s family?”
“Yes, I think that was her name.”
“Did they say why they canceled?”
“It was for her brother and a few other people. He called and said that he’d changed his mind. That’s all.”
“How did he sound?”
She shifted from one foot to the other. “I’m not sure I should be saying all of this.” Eddy reached into his wallet and set a twenty-dollar bill down on the table.
“It’s just between us.”
“He sort of laughed.”
“Laughed?” Eddy raised an eyebrow.
“He said, I guess nobody cares that much, and kind of laughed, then hung up the phone.” Her cheeks reddened. “I thought it was awful, but I figured people have different ways of grieving.”
“Thanks for the information.”
“Thanks for the twenty.” She snatched it up from the table.
Eddy left the diner with his mind focused on Daniel. What kind of man laughed at his sister’s death? A man that had killed her?
Chapter 7
The following morning Samantha parked her car in front of Daniel’s house.
“How do you drive in this thing?” Walt cringed.
“Sh! Walt, don’t worry about that now. We’re here.” She glanced in the rearview mirror to be sure that Eddy and Jo were still close by. Once she was sure they were out of sight on the side street she opened her car door. Walt pulled a tissue out and opened his as well.
“I could have this car cleaned for you.”
“Walt.” She stared at him.
“What?” He met her eyes.
“Let
me do the talking, okay?”
“Sure.” He shrugged and followed after her. She knocked hard three times on the large, wooden door, then waited. A few moments later the door swung open. Daniel stood before them with his eyes narrowed and a faint sneer on his face. She assumed he did not like surprise visitors.
“Hi, Daniel?” She met his eyes.
“Yes? What is it?” He looked between the two of them with his brow furrowed.
“I’m sorry to bother you. My name is Samantha, and this is my friend, Walt. We are residents at Sage Gardens and we were friends of your sister, May. We just wondered if we could take you out for coffee.”
“Coffee? Why?” He put his hands on his hips.
“Because we are upset about May, and we wanted to be able to offer you some comfort. May told me that your parents are gone, and you were her only sibling. I thought it might be difficult for you now that you’re alone.”
“We’re all alone eventually.” He shrugged and shoved his hands into his pockets.
“Still, it would give me some comfort if you’d share some memories of May with us. If it wouldn’t be too difficult for you.”
“Who is paying?” He eyed them with a stern expression.
“We will of course. It’s our treat.” Samantha patted her purse.
“Okay. I could use some coffee. But we can’t take my car, I don’t have much gas.”
“That’s okay we can go in mine,” Samantha said.
“Okay.” Daniel pulled the door closed behind him, then turned to lock the deadbolt. As they walked away from the door Samantha could have kicked herself for not trying to make the break-in easier for Jo and Eddy. Then again, knowing Jo, she already had a plan. Walt escorted the man to Samantha’s car. He pulled out a tissue to open the door for him. Daniel gave him an odd look, but nodded as he got into the car. Walt sat in the backseat while Samantha got behind the wheel. She drove to a coffee shop that was a little further away to give Jo extra time if she needed it.