The buffet table was nearly sagging from all of the homemade dishes that had been put on its red gingham tablecloth-covered top. Several of the kids were already swarming around the nearby dessert table and were being shooed away occasionally by an unconcerned adult. There was a big space open on the dessert table, just waiting for Mrs. Granger’s birthday cake and all of its ninety lit birthday candles.
Meg took one of the crockery plates and followed behind Brian, scooping up food from the various dishes but not really watching what she was putting on her plate.
What do I say to this guy? she frantically wondered. How do I open the conversation to ask him if he knew his packing tape was used in a murder?
“So, I guess you’ve been keeping up with the news from my place,” she said loudly to Brian’s back, watching him take a huge helping of the smoked salmon.
Brian turned, startled. “Oh, hi, Amanda. Um, yeah. I’ve been reading about it in the paper. How are you?”
She tried to keep her voice calm and indifferent. “Doing okay. Just kinda of busy with all the police stuff and still trying to get the Inn fixed up.” Amanda followed Brian into the main room and took the open seat beside him, balancing her full plate on her lap. He looked kind of startled but scooted over politely so she had plenty of room.
Juggling her dinner on her lap and trying to ask discreet questions at the same time was not going to be easy, but she was going to try. Amana poked at a lone meatball with her fork, then cleared her throat as she tried to think of what to say.
“… So how are things with you?” she asked. Brian hastily swallowed a mouthful of lasagna and nodded at her. “Good, good,” he said. “We’re doing a big sale on stuff for winterizing your house, so maybe you should stop by. Never too early to get started for bad weather, and you do have the biggest house in town.”
“Well, I’m not sure how much I’ll need to do that. Right now the Inn is closed and I can’t open it to visitors because of the city council restrictions, and because of the murder investigation.” She shifted nervously in her chair. “I keep finding out more about the guy who was buried in my garden.” She speared a pineapple chunk with her fork, her eyes carefully on her plate. “You didn’t happen to know Emmett did you?” she said, trying to sound nonchalant.
Brian swiveled his head toward her, his jaw set in a straight hard line. “Yeah, I knew him,” he said. “Everyone in town knew that bastard.”
Amanda knew Emmett hadn’t been popular, and Brian certainly wasn’t trying to give her any other opinion. Careful, Amanda, she thought. Don’t blow this.
“From what I hear, Emmett didn’t have a lot of friends in this town. Is that right?”
Brian snorted. “The people who didn’t want to kill Emmett didn’t know Emmett,” he said. “We went through school together; twelve years of school and he was a weasel from the moment I met him. Did you know he dated my sister for a while? Broke her heart.”
Amanda hadn’t known that fact.
“Oh, really?” She tried to keep her voice calm. “What happened?”
“Let’s just say that Emmett was a complete jerk who couldn’t keep his hands to himself, even if he’s supposedly engaged to someone. Can’t say that I’m sorry he’s dead at all,” Brian added, turning his whole body to face her. “That guy did things in this town that’d make your blood curdle and I’m glad somebody had the guts to finally do him in. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go refill my glass,” he said, getting up and taking his completely full cup with him.
So much for my interrogation techniques, Amanda thought, morosely looking around the room. A few stragglers were still coming in from time to time and she was surprised to see that James must’ve arrived when she was in the back kitchen. He had a young man with him, a tall fellow who bore a strong family resemblance and who seemed intent on charming every young lady in the room.
By the time James and Ruby had made sure to turn off the smoke detectors, and the blazing fire of the birthday cake had been brought from the kitchen, James had worked his way around the room to come stand by Amanda. They both joined in the hearty singing, James’ strong baritone a nice addition. Mrs. Granger clapped excitedly while everyone sang, her glasses reflecting the near-bonfire set down in front of her. She finally leaned back from the heat of all of the candles. “Well, somebody better help me blow these out! I ain’t got the lungs to do it myself, doncha know,” she said, pointing a crooked finger at the crowd in the room. There was a general laugh and several people stepped forward to help with the candles, even though George Ortiz was waving a fire extinguisher as a joke. “Don’t make me get the fire chief,” he said, finally putting the extinguisher down.
James looked at the huge cake, now smoking from the snuffed out candlewicks. “Sorry I’m late. Had to wrap some things up at work,” he said to no one in particular, even though he was shoulder-to-shoulder with Amanda.
“No problem. At least you get cake. Who’s the guy with you?”
James followed Amanda’s gaze. “Oh, that’s my brother Derek. He’d never miss this party for Mrs. Granger. When we were little she was our after school babysitter, until our dad would come pick us up. She was pretty much like a gramma to us, and we still love her.”
Amanda tried to picture these two tall, handsome men with dark hair as little boys, eating cookies at Mrs. Granger’s house.
“Ever spank you? You look like the sort who would deserve it.”
He snorted, amused. “Wouldn’t you like to know! Anyway, I’m not the troublemaker. If you wanna talk to a bad boy, that’s the guy right over there,” he said, gesturing to his brother. Derek was definitely working the room, chatting to whichever lady was close by and even making the married ones blush and laugh. Just a bit shorter than James, his dark hair was like his brother’s but a bit longer over the ears, and Amanda could tell that he was used to schmoozing any female that came near to him, with devastating results.
“Lady killer?”
James restrained the urge to roll his eyes. “We try not to use that term in my profession unless it means something entirely different. Just don’t wander away with my brother, okay? Once he finds out that you’re single and new in town you don’t stand a chance.”
New in town or not, Amanda still bristled a bit. “Think I can take care of myself, thank you very much! Besides, he’s not that good-looking anyway.”
“Liar.”
She laughed, caught in her little falsehood, and finally agreed with him. “Okay, deal.”
Chapter 25
Someone had cranked up the old jukebox in the back room, and one of the Hortman brothers was dancing with his red-haired wife to an Elvis Presley song blaring from the speakers. It didn’t take long until a few more people joined in, laughing as they tried to avoid bumping into the other couples. Mrs. Granger watched, seemingly amused, until she pulled herself up into her walker and announced that she wanted to give it a go, too. The crowd parted for her as she headed for the jukebox and started shaking her hips and shuffling to the rock ‘n roll music.
James laughed and held out a hand to Amanda. “Want to?” he asked and wordlessly pulled her toward the dancers. It was silly dancing, with a lot of shaking and shuffling and laughing. Amanda tried to do her best to keep up, and it was immediately apparent that her partner was a fabulous dancer. He effortlessly twirled her, then tried to show her how to duck under his arm. She laughed her way through the sudden move and did okay until she smacked into the back of Mrs. Mason, who gave her a disapproving look as she danced away.
They’d been dancing for only a few minutes when Amanda heard a commotion in the back room and someone exclaiming over whatever had happened. People were moving toward the buffet table and Lisa rushed for the café’s front door while frantically punching a number onto the screen of her cell phone. James must’ve heard it too, or maybe he was so tall that he was able to see over the crowd. He grabbed Amanda’s hand and pulled her toward the back room, weaving through people as
if he was ready to take charge.
Amanda heard the whispers as she pushed her way through the people to see what had happened. Mayor Sandford, a lady who was always impeccably groomed and elegant in public, was sprawled face down on the floor. Her legs were splayed apart, and she appeared unconscious. James jumped forward and placed his fingers on her neck, feeling for a pulse.
“What happened? Did anyone see her fall?” Seemingly satisfied that she was alive he scanned the crowd. Grace TwoHorses, still clutching a cake server, was nearly in tears.
“She was just talking to me about how Ravenwood Cove has become so full of tourists, and then she seemed to pass out. I couldn’t catch her before she hit the floor.”
James turned aside. “She’s still breathing. Who called 911?“
Just then they could hear the high whine of the ambulance siren. Having the emergency services downtown in a small town sometimes meant it was only moments from the time help was called until it arrived, and Amanda was relieved to see the ambulance double parking in front of the café. James’ brother, Derek, helped make a path through the crowd for the paramedics and gurney. As soon as they reached the mayor’s side they began to quickly check her over, and calling in to their dispatch center to confirm that they were transporting her to the hospital as quickly as possible.
It took only a few minutes to gently flip the mayor face up and move her to the waiting gurney. As the ambulance pulled away from the curb, patient safely inside and on her way to the nearest hospital, James turned quietly to Ruby and said, “Get me a couple of large ziptop plastic bags, maybe gallon size. Also a big paper grocery bag if you’ve got one.”
Amanda turned, her eyebrows drawn together in confusion. “What do you need bags for?”
James’s face looked tired and almost angry. “For her cup of punch. Her plate, too. I think she’s been poisoned.” Ruby gasped and scuttled into the back room in search of bags.
Mrs. Granger hefted herself out of her chair and gripped her wheeled walker, obviously ready to go. “Well, that’s all the fun I can stand to have today. Remind me to do that again sometime, like when I turn a hundred. Meg, get the car.”
Amanda handed the old lady her purse. “I’m really sorry this happened at your party, Mrs. Granger.”
The elderly woman grinned. “Are you kidding? That was is the most excitement I’ve had in years! Do me a favor and bring some of that leftover cake to the general store tomorrow, okay? And uh, fill me in on any of the juicy details that I’m gonna miss.”
Amanda couldn’t even smile as she promised to do just that. James was conferring with George, the police chief, and it was less than five minutes before two more police officers arrived. James gave them some quick, quiet instructions and they began to interview a few of the partygoers.
Ruby hurried back through the crowd, and James took the proffered bags. He pulled a pen out of his pocket and put it through the handle of the empty punch glass, lifting it up and settling it into a plastic bag. He set the pen aside and carefully pressed the zippered top shut, then stashed the mayor’s plate in a bag, too. Once they were both put into a large brown paper bag and he’d rolled the top down twice, Amanda’s curiosity got the best of her.
“Who do you think did it?” Amanda asked, fully aware that there were people still loitering around, hoping to overhear any details.
“Could’ve been anyone at the party, and anyone who had motive. That means probably half the town.” James straightened up and looked Amanda square in the eye. “Including you.”
Amanda’s mouth dropped open, stunned. “You can’t believe I did this! There were about a hundred people here tonight, and any one of them could’ve had the opportunity.”
James leaned closer, his voice dropped a whisper. “Yes, opportunity, but you had motive, Amanda. You are the only one who was just seen in public, yelling at the mayor about how awful she was. I know maybe other people have yelled at her, too, but I have to include everyone.” He paused. “Even the ones I like.”
She could feel her heartbeat flutter a bit in her throat as he stood just a little too close to her, holding her gaze just a little too long.
His eyes are the color of a stormy ocean, she thought.
‘I…okay.” Amanda took a half step back. Standing too close to this guy, a police detective, felt too good and also way too dangerous.
Lisa Wilkins plopped into a nearby chair and let out a sigh of exhaustion. James turned to her. “Lisa, you were greeting people at the door for most of the night, right?” She nodded and James was back in detective mode immediately. “I know some people have already left, but I want you to grab a pen and paper and write down the names of every single person you can remember who was here. Start with the people who are still here, and add as much as you can remember. Amanda might be able to help you. Jot down anything weird you might have seen.”
“So, it’s still okay for people to leave, right? I didn’t even think about having everyone stay.”
It only took a few minutes to write down the names of the guests at Mrs. Granger’s party, even as they were answering questions from the stragglers who were trying to be part of the action. Amanda could hear James back in the kitchen, talking on his cell phone and giving instructions to a police officer as he snooped around the food prep area.
Lisa was listing everyone she could remember on a yellow pad of paper. “The Ortizes had already left because little Lucy was crying. The Hortman brothers went home early because they said there wasn’t enough liquor. Mrs. Granger was sitting in that one chair all night and didn’t have the opportunity to do anything except sit in her chair and be the birthday girl. Um, except for when she was dancing.”
Amanda’s thoughts were going a different direction. “Who had access to the mayor’s food?” Lisa looked surprised, but Amanda continued. “I mean, who could’ve poisoned her? We may not know motives but we can at least try to figure out who had opportunity.”
Lisa thought for a moment, her pen tapping on the tabletop as she mulled over her new friend’s question. “Well, if there was poison, it couldn’t have been in the buffet. Everyone ate from that and the mayor’s the only one who wound up face down on the floor.”
“Did she go back for seconds? Maybe someone targeted her after the main buffet had been eaten.”
Lisa’s eyes lit up, remembering. “I did see her go back for a third helping of Grace TwoHorse’s stewed tomatoes. I was cleaning the table a bit, trying to wipe up any spilled food, when I saw Mrs. Sandford dishing up more.” She shivered in disgust. “Honestly, I have no idea how she could eat something that slimy. Yuck!”
Amanda felt a surge of excitement at Lisa’s words. Maybe they were on the right track. “Was anyone else close to her, like close enough to be able to drop some poison in those tomatoes? It wasn’t a very popular dish, was it?”
“No, it wasn’t. Maybe someone poisoned the tomatoes.”
“Anything else?”
Lisa frowned, trying to remember. “She had cake, but I think Emma gave that to her and it was the same time everyone else had cake.” There was a pause, then she looked up at Amanda, her face stricken. “There’s just one more thing I can remember.”
“Yes?” Amanda could hear the dread in her friend’s voice.
“I saw Brian Petrie give the mayor a glass of the tropical punch before dinner.”
Chapter 26
Some days, you just need to have an impromptu wine party at home with girlfriends.
Amanda was lying on her back on the oriental carpet, her sock-covered feet propped up in the nearest upholstered chair, as she explained her latest batch of theories to Lisa and Meg.
She tried not to wave her hands too much, or she’d knock over her nearly-empty wineglass. “So now I’ve got a weird Russian neighbor, a store owner who openly loathed the dead guy, and a mayor who hates me. I still think she might be the killer of the guy who was buried in my garden, and then some lowlife poisons the broad at a public gathering.”
She sat up just enough to take a sip from her glass. “This town is really strange.”
Meg cocked an eyebrow at her. “Feel better, propping your feet up like that?”
Amanda reached over to pet Oscar, who was lying by her hip and purring like a happy buzz saw.
“Yes, yes, I do. If I just had chocolate cream pie, I’d be all set.”
“Do you have any?” Meg sounded hopeful.
“Nope, but I sure wish I did.”
Lisa and Meg laughed, obviously agreeing, and Amanda continued.
“That birthday party tonight was more than I can take. You know how many times someone got poisoned and keeled over at a party when I was at in LA? Zero. Nada. Zilch.”
Lisa sighed wistfully. “What are LA parties like?”
“Boring. Full of people who talk like they’re reciting their resumes and telling you all the ways you should fear and revere them.” Amanda turned her head toward her friend, surprised. “You don’t mean you’d want to move to LA, do you?”
Lisa shrugged ruefully. “No, but I just was wondering if there were a lot of movie stars at LA parties. You know, kinda elegant and important.”
“No movie stars I saw. Just guys on the make and tons of lonely people.”
There was a pause while they all thought about that, then Meg piped up, “Yeah, but at least they don’t have stewed tomatoes on the buffet table.”
Amanda grinned. “Well, you may have a point.”
Lisa wasn’t going to be swayed. “Amanda, what are you going to do now? We’ve got one person murdered, one person poisoned...maybe…and the mayor blocking you opening your business. I can’t see how you can-“
Her friend interrupted, sitting up and crossing her legs. “Look, I can only keep moving forward the best I can. The thought of having to crawl back to LA with my tail between my legs just kills me. I don’t have much of a choice but to stay here and try to find out who’s behind all this.”
“Is that why you’re not just selling the Inn, instead of going through all this trouble? Look, I’m glad you’re staying, but – “
BED, BREAKFAST, and BONES: A Ravenwood Cove Cozy Mystery Page 12