One by one, we peered down the steep stone steps to the cistern. When it was my turn, the room’s dank coldness caused an eeriness to creep over me, and I shivered. Vivian turned off the lights after everyone had taken a look. “Now we’ll proceed to the second floor.” She led us out of the kitchen and up the wooden staircase.
The tour continued with Vivian detailing the history of crystal chandeliers, radiant heaters, and the lovely solarium or conservatory, as some called it. A twinge of nostalgia hit me as I remembered my own sunny conservatory filled with rattan furniture and beloved paintings, where I spent many enjoyable hours before downsizing to my present cottage.
We ended in the ballroom where tables filled with auction baskets lined one wall. Guests made notes about which basket they wanted to bid on from the slips of paper provided, and then they took their seats along the opposite wall. The band assembled in front of the main window.
The auction was about to begin but before it did, Karla’s voice floated above the din. I turned to see her talking to Dr. Singh, who looked as if her best friend had died. Karla smirked before walking away. Watching their interaction made me think the chances of putting in a good word for Cecilia were slipping away.
Taking the mic in hand, Vivian addressed the audience that was now seated at tables around a dance floor. “Before we begin the auction, we would like to recognize our Volunteer Member of the Year.” The audience applauded.
“Would Mr. Alex Raven please join me?” Vivian said, motioning for the applause to continue.
I looked at Ron Porter, sitting close to me, to gauge his reaction at the disappointment. However, he was smiling as his wife Susan patted his hand for support. A few seats away, Dr. Singh sat motionless next to David Thorndike while Karla took photos.
Alex pushed back his chair, straightened his already straight black bowtie, and joined Vivian. “For your tireless work and devotion to the Clover Hills Historical Society, it is the board’s privilege to honor you with Volunteer Member of the Year.” She handed him the plaque.
Alex accepted the award and returned to his chair. The applause died down and Vivian began the auction. After what seemed to me to be interminable bidding, the final tally was taken. “We’ve surpassed our goal,” Vivian exclaimed. “$82,000!”
Everyone cheered at the total raised.
“Thank you for your generous support. Raven House will have a renovated second floor by this time next year. Now, let’s celebrate with dancing.”
The band played, and a few couples began dancing while others looked on. Karla made her way to Ron Porter. She said, “Mind if I borrow him for a few minutes, Susan?”
Ron looked at his wife and then stepped onto the dance floor with Karla. A dark cloud seemed to hover over Susan as she watched them together.
In the middle of the dance, Ron returned to Susan, leaving Karla with a satisfied smirk on her face. What from, I couldn’t imagine. Ron whispered in his wife’s ear. “That sounds like a veiled threat,” she said.
Ron must have noticed my overhearing. “I think Karla may have had too much to drink,” he said.
I smiled weakly. “I hope she gets home okay. I believe she drove here alone.”
He shrugged. “I believe I’d like to dance with my lovely wife. If you’ll excuse us.”
“Of course. I need to check on the dessert table anyway. Have fun, you two.” It made for an easy exit. My feet hurt from being in heels all evening, and I was grateful for an excuse to leave. The caterers had finished cleaning up and were packing their van by the time I assessed the situation.
Satisfied that part of my job was finished, I made my way out, pausing at the library when I saw David Thorndike and Karla head-to-head in conversation. I stepped back where I wouldn’t be seen and listened. The only fragment I could make out was David saying, “I want to see the document.” Then Karla said, “After the party, at my place.”
I hurried past the library door and made my way to the kitchen to offer my help in finishing up. By the time everything had been cleared away, all the guests had left except for a few board members. As we were leaving, I noticed Ron and Susan Porter shaking hands with Dr. Singh, thanking her for her support in the city councilman race. The Porters seemed like a nice couple. Alex, Vivian, and the museum director were turning off lights. Their spouses had left earlier.
I made my way to the parking lot. As we got into our cars, I watched David Thorndike drive away alone in his Lexus. A light rain fell and storm clouds shrouded the orange October moon. I was happy the night was over.
Raven House slowly disappeared from sight as I headed home, anxious to pick Teddy up from Walter and Cecilia. The older I got, the less late evenings appealed. At the moment, all I could think about was another hot bubble bath and slipping beneath the soft sheets of my nice comfy bed with Teddy asleep at the foot.
I knocked softly at their back door. Walter had waited up, and opened the door holding my sleepy little dog in his arms. “Here’s your baby. How’d it go?”
“Interesting dynamics, but I’m glad it’s over. We did raise more than our goal, which made it all worthwhile.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear it.” Walter handed Teddy to me.
“Thanks again for watching him.”
The little guy was so sleepy that he was out before we entered the door of the cottage. I lay him at the foot of my bed on his special blue towel.
“Now it’s my turn.”
After my bath and a spritz of Chanel No. 5, I sank under the covers and whispered a prayer. Thank you, Lord, for getting me through the night. See you in the morning. Goodnight.
I stared in the darkness at nothing in particular. Outside, rain had started. I heard it drumming on my roof and windows. Instead of counting sheep, I counted the number of conversations I’d overheard with Karla. After having met her, I looked forward to reading her story about the Raven House Ball in the morning.
Chapter 4
I was having a pleasant dream, which ended abruptly when Teddy sprang from the bed and barked at the front door. Now I was wide awake. “Hold on, hold on. Let me put on my robe, and we’ll see who it is.” Since I lived well within a fenced and gated back property, it could only be Walter or Cecilia.
I opened the door to Walter, a surprise since he usually called if he wanted to talk.
“Come in. Is anything wrong?” I went to the kitchen to pop in a coffee pod. Walter was Clover Hill’s chief homicide detective, a role he eventually attained after helping the police in Half Moon Bay solve a murder. We’d become fast friends since I was in the middle of the investigation which also involved his father.
“A call came in this morning from the head gardener at Raven House reporting an empty vehicle in the parking lot. When I checked the license plate, it registered a Karla Wilson. I thought you might know her since you were there last night.”
I took my coffee into the living room and sat in my recliner. “Have a seat.” I motioned to the sofa. As soon as Walter sat down, Teddy hopped into his lap.
“Thanks. Before I investigate, I thought I’d talk to you first. It could easily be cleared up.”
I took a long sip of coffee. “Karla was doing a story for our event—she’s a reporter for the Clover Hills Daily. Last night, I did overhear Karla telling her boyfriend, her current flame as she called him, to meet him at her place after the party.”
“That’s interesting. They could have ridden together in his car then, and she left hers there to be picked up in the morning.” Walter scratched behind Teddy’s ears.
“I don’t think so.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because when we were leaving I saw David Thorndike leave in his Lexus, and he was alone.”
“Did you see Karla leave with anyone?”
I thought a moment. “As a matter of fact, I don’t remember seeing her leave at all.”
Walter’s face grew serious. “We may have a problem here. Can you get dressed real fast and come with me
? Who has the keys to Raven House?”
When Teddy saw me get up and set my coffee down, he perked up his ears, as if to say, “Please take me with you.” My dog is a mind reader.
“I’ll get Vivian’s number for you and you can call her. She’s in charge of the renovations so she must have a key, or she’ll know who does. Ask her for Karla’s phone number, and you can also check at the Clover Hills Daily to see if she came to work today. But it’s Sunday, so she may not have come in.”
In ten minutes, we were off. Vivian would meet us at Raven House with the key. Teddy had always been a great help at sniffing out clues in areas the police or I never thought of, so I brought him along. A detective in Arizona gave him the name of Sleuth Dog after solving a case where Teddy uncovered the hiding place of the murder weapon.
I smiled as I held him in his tote and kissed the top of his little brown head. This precious Yorkie was a wonderful companion since I lived alone. “I love you, sweet doggie.”
Walter glanced at us and smiled. “You and that dog.” He sighed. “Our department owes you big time, though. Over the past couple of years you’ve saved us hours of investigation by listening to your gut instincts.”
“And Teddy’s nose for clues, too, don’t forget.”
“Exactly my point. You’re a good dog, Teddy.”
“Woof!” he barked, as if understanding the compliment.
The head gardener was chatting with Vivian as we pulled up in front of Raven House. Small puddles remained after last night’s rain. Karla’s car was parked by itself in the middle of the lot. I shivered, and Teddy whined. Dogs sense when something isn’t right.
Vivian opened my car door and held Teddy while I got out. She asked, “Have you found Karla yet?”
I shook my head, took Teddy out of his tote, and attached his leash. “Have you checked inside the house?”
“Detective Montoya asked me to wait until he got here. Are you ready, Detective?”
“Lead the way.”
Vivian unlocked the front door, and we walked inside. She turned to Walter. “The workers are due to arrive soon. Will that be a problem?”
“I’ll let you know once we checked the premises.”
Sunlight streamed into the foyer from the coffin windows. I tried not to think the worst. Vivian led us through the house, one floor at a time, room by room including the watchtower. We found nothing.
“Looks like everything is in order. No trace of Miss Wilson.” He took out his phone and was about to make a call when Vivian stopped him.
She touched his arm. “Oh, I just thought of something. We didn’t check the cistern right off the kitchen. I’m sorry I didn’t think of it sooner, but my mind is racing with all this. I do hope Karla is okay.”
I scooped up Teddy in my arms, knowing that a steep flight of stairs awaited. We followed Vivian and Walter into the kitchen.
“The cistern is behind that door.” She pointed to where we’d all looked last night.
“You ladies stand back while I check things out.” Walter opened the door and proceeded down the stairs. After a few seconds he called up. “Jillian, you need to see this.”
“Vivian,” I said, “Why don’t you wait here with Teddy? I’ll be right back.”
I descended the stone steps until I saw Walter. When he stepped aside, I saw Karla lying on her back next to the cistern, in a pool of blood. My hand rushed to my mouth in horror at seeing her still, lifeless form.
She had been stabbed in the heart. Blood had run just beneath her blue and orange flowered vine tattoo.
Walter made a call. “We’ve located the body of Karla Wilson. Send the coroner and forensics ASAP.” He stepped back, looked at me, and shook his head. “Looks like another homicide I’ll ask your help on.”
“Anything I can do.”
From the stairs above us, we could hear Teddy bark. I added, “And I’ll be sure Teddy is with me while I’m helping you solve this crime.”
“Come on.” Walter took my arm. “Let’s go back upstairs.”
Vivian handed Teddy to me and clasped her hands. “Did you find her?”
“I’m afraid we did.” I said. “Karla’s dead. It looks like someone killed her.” Teddy whined. I held him tighter and stroked his fur. “It’s okay.”
Vivian’s eyes grew wide. “What? That’s impossible! We were all together last night.”
I nodded. “That’s what I thought, too.”
Walter motioned for us to sit at a small table in the kitchen while we waited. “When was the last time you saw Karla, Vivian?”
She said, “We, that is to say the board members, were turning off the lights from the upper floors first.”
“Was Karla with you?” Walter poised to make notes on his phone.
“No. I don’t remember exactly when she left. Let me think. Karla was taking photos during the dance. That’s the last time I saw her.”
“That’s the last time I saw her, too.” I said. “She had asked Ron Porter to dance.”
“Who is Ron Porter?” Walter asked. “A board member?”
Vivian appeared to be going into shock. She sat still, staring in front of her. We needed to get her out of the kitchen.
“Yes, you know Ron Porter. He’s running for city councilman.” I stood and handed Teddy to Walter. “We need to get Vivian out of here. I think she’s going into shock.”
Together, we helped Vivian outside for some fresh air. Walter set Teddy on the ground and handed me his leash. “She’ll be okay.” He rubbed her wrists. “Grab a bottle of water from my car, and we’ll get her to drink a little.”
By the time I fetched the bottled water and brought it to Walter, Vivian had fainted.
Chapter 5
How could such a terrible thing have happened in this beautiful place? The Raven House gardens were full of tranquility with towering palms, red and yellow roses still in bloom, and a bubbling fountain flowing as if nothing had happened. But it had.
Vivian came to after Walter dabbed her forehead with a little water. At first she didn’t recognize where she was or who we were. “What happened? I think I was having a terrible dream.”
Walter said, “You’re at Raven House. Can you stand?”
She nodded. “If you’ll help me to my feet.” Her gaze shifted to approaching vehicles. “What’s all this?”
“It’s the coroner and forensics team.” Walter hailed the drivers and then turned back to Vivian. “As soon as you’re feeling stable, I need to get your statement.”
“Statement?” She started to faint again, but Walter and I grabbed her before she fell. We took her to an iron bench on the front porch. Teddy’s leash had slipped from my hand, but he simply followed us and stayed by my side. “Good dog,” I said. “Stay.”
He didn’t move a muscle.
Color returned to Vivian’s face.
“Sit here until you’re okay,” Walter told her as he handed me the bottle of water. “Take care of her, Jillian. I need to direct the boys.”
“Walter, see if you can find Karla’s purse. I didn’t notice it anywhere, and it may have her camera, or phone. Whatever she took photos with was small, as I remember. Maybe it can tell us something about her last moments.”
He smiled. “I’ve already thought of that. We’ll look for it. Did you have a hat check last night?”
“No.”
“If we don’t find it, the killer may have taken it.” Walter joined his boys and proceeded inside.
I turned to Vivian and offered her some water. “It’s a shame the rain last night washed away any evidence here on the grounds.”
Vivian rubbed the back of her neck. “I’m okay, now. So many things are running through my head. It’s terrible that I’m even thinking about the effect Karla’s death will have on Raven House, without having her story for our event. Worse than that is the idea that someone on our board might be a killer. Jillian, I’m on overload.”
Walter joined us on the porch. “Vivian, are you up to
making a statement?”
She told him the same story as before. “We—that is, Ron and Susan Porter, Dr. Singh, and Alex Raven, and me—were turning off the lights. I couldn’t tell you who turned off which ones because there were several floors. After the lights were off, we all left in a group. That’s all I know.”
Walter finished making notes. “Thank you. Are you up to driving home?”
“I think so. Please call me if you need anything else. The sooner we find out who did this, the better off Raven House will be.”
As Vivian made her way to the parking lot, I scooped up Teddy, and went back inside with Walter.
“Did you find anything?” I asked.
He shook his head. “The coroner said she’s been dead ten to twelve hours. I’d put the death right about 10:30 last night.”
I said, “That makes sense. The caterers were gone by ten, and the kitchen was clean because I checked. Come to think of it, all the lights were on at that time, too. Someone must have killed Karla right after the caterers left.”
Walter rubbed his chin. “Whoever did it might still have the murder weapon.”
“Or has hidden it. The killer may have the camera, too.”
Teddy struggled from my arms and raced up the stairs. “Where is he going?”
Walter and I followed the fur ball until we reached the kitchen, where Teddy was sniffing everywhere.
“Well, look at you,” Walter said. “What’s up, boy?”
Teddy stopped, wagged his tail, and perked up his ears.
“He probably smells the food from last night.” I motioned around the room. “There’s nothing here.” I scooped him up. “I think you need some breakfast.”
Walter took us home and dropped us off. On the way, he gave instructions to someone at the police station to notify Karla’s next of kin. My heart went out to her family when they heard the news.
Happy Homicides 4: Fall Into Crime: Includes Happy Homicides 3: Summertime Crimes Page 15