Snowflake Bay Cozy Mysteries Boxset 1

by C Farren

  She found Kerry sitting on Chelsea’s doorstep. She looked up and forced a smile onto her face when she saw Wren.

  “I thought I’d bring your mom a coffee,” said Wren, self-conscious.

  “She’s just come back from Gran’s house,” said Kerry. “There’s a lot to sort out. It was the family home. There’s generations of stuff in there.”

  Wren nodded. It sounded like a great undertaking. “I remember when my grandfather died. I found all sorts of wonderful items in his house, hidden away in every nook and cranny. It was emotional.”

  She gave one of the cups of coffee to Kerry, who started drinking it almost straight away.

  “There’s a rumor going around town that you’re investigating my gran’s murder,” said Kerry between sips of coffee.

  “It’s true,” said Wren.

  “Don’t you think it’s a bit dangerous?” Kerry asked. “Look what happened last time.”

  Wren didn’t like the girl’s tone. Was Kerry warning her off, or was she just worried for her parents? Maybe she suspected them too?

  “This time I’m not going to go waltzing in to confront the murderer,” said Wren. “I’ll bring a taser or something.”

  Kerry appeared skeptical. “You think Mom could have done it? Killed Gran?”

  “I just need to talk to her.”

  “You need to talk to Uncle Lenny. I can’t quite put my finger on it but he’s up to something. When I went to visit Great Grandma Wanda this morning there was this weird noise coming from the back garden. He acted really, really suspicious.”

  Wren stifled a laugh. That had been Rudolph the reindeer she’d heard. Quite what Kerry imagined was making that noise Wren had no idea. The girl probably imagined Lenny was up to all sorts of weird stuff.

  And he has been.

  “I’ve talked to him,” said Wren. “For now, I don’t think he killed Delia.”

  “I still don’t trust him,” said Kerry. “I don’t think I ever will, especially after what he did to Aunt Belinda.” She squeezed her coffee cup so hard the hot liquid spilled out onto the floor, narrowly missing her fingers. “Sorry. I just got a bit angry.”

  “You look a lot like Belinda from what I can remember.”

  “It’s been said.”

  Wren said goodbye to Kerry and let herself fin into the house. A tiny Pomeranian dog came waddling up to her, sniffing and licking her shoes. It could probably smell her cats.

  “And who are you?” Wren asked in a sing-song voice. “You’re so cute.”

  She picked up the little dog, who licked her face affectionately. Wren loved all animals, though if asked she always said she was a cat person. She’d always planned on getting herself a dog one day, but cats kept invading her home and never leaving.

  “I’ve called Sheriff Fisher,” said Chelsea disdainfully, walking towards her. “You have no right going around town interrogating people like this. It’s not your job.”

  “Sheriff Fisher is a good man, but he can’t seem to ferret out secrets like I can,” said Wren, suddenly regretting the words once they were out. She sounded very conceited.

  “And what secrets do you know about me?” Chelsea challenged.

  Wren placed the small dog on the floor, who sat down and continued to stare up at her with its tongue hanging out.

  I hope dogs don’t start following me home now too.

  “I know you despised your mother-in-law,” said Wren. “She didn’t think you were good enough, and she was probably racist to boot.”

  Chelsea looked uncomfortable. “She hid her racism from polite society well, but when she wanted me to know how filthy my heritage was she’d tell me, though she was still subtle about it. But is that reason enough to kill her?”

  They should have just cut Delia out of their life altogether if the woman was so toxic. Why put up with something so negative and soul destroying?

  Wren said. “Probably not, but maybe she knew something about you that you wanted kept secret. I overheard you and your husband talking that day. You were afraid Lenny was going to ruin everything. You said he was going to tell everyone something. What was he going to tell everyone that was so distressing?”

  “I don’t know what you mean,” said Chelsea.

  “It might make you feel better to unburden yourself,” Wren suggested.

  Chelsea picked her little dog up, hugging it close to her chest. It appeared to melt in her arms like a baby. It closed its eyes and laid back, perfectly calm and relaxed.

  “Lenny killed Delia,” Chelsea stated. “I know he did.”

  “Was it something to do with the night of the car accident, the one that killed Belinda?” Wren asked.

  Terror flashed briefly over Chelsea’s eyes. “Why... why would you think that? Lenny got drunk and killed our sister. End of story.”

  “But I heard you said he refused to see you. Why would you want to see him if you hated him so much? The impression I’ve gotten is that you didn’t want to see him, not the other way around.”

  Something was going on here. Something had happened between Chelsea and Lenny that nobody else but Everett knew about, something that could cause Chelsea to lose her kids. Why would she lose her kids? What secret could Lenny reveal that could cause her children to be taken away from her?

  Something wasn’t adding up.

  “Was Lenny blackmailing you?” asked Wren.

  “No,” Chelsea answered. “He wasn’t blackmailing me.”

  “Then who was? Was it Delia?”

  “I’ve said about as much as I’m going to say. Please leave.”

  Wren nodded and left, passing Kerry, who was now doing a somewhat complex white mountain jigsaw on the dining room table. She didn’t envy the girl. The puzzle looked next to impossible. Then again, she was in MENSA. She probably understood string theory.

  Sheriff Fisher was just pulling up in his squad car as she left the house. Wren prepared herself for a strict telling off.

  “I thought the Garrett investigation was going to be a one off?” he demanded. “Are you going to be opening up your own private investigation firm next?”

  “Lenny is being treated like a killer,” Wren stated. “I have to help him.”

  She didn’t add that she thought Lenny was guilty now. It would only make him angrier.

  “You almost got yourself killed last time,” said the sheriff. He sounded exasperated. “Please leave this to the professionals.”

  “If I left things to the professionals then Cedric would still be living in this town, free to do whatever he wanted!”

  “I appreciate the help, I honestly do, but...”

  She understood where his concern was coming from, but she couldn’t help but think his pride was being dented as well. How could it not be? He was a fully trained police officer, and the biggest case in town had been solved by his son’s best friend, the local loser with the bad hair.

  Did I just call myself a loser?

  “I’m in too deep to stop now,” said Wren. More snow was falling, settling on the hot hoof of the car and melting instantly. “I’ve learned so much.”

  “Then perhaps you could share this with me?” Sheriff Fisher inquired.

  She shook her head. “Not yet. Not until I know who did it.”

  “You are so stubborn! I could have you arrested for interfering in police matters. That might keep you out of harm’s way for a bit.”

  “Keegan would never forgive you.”

  “He’d learn to live with it.”

  She sighed and said, “Fine. I’ll tell you what I know, but you have to let me continue with what I’m doing.”

  So, she told him everything she’d found out, every secret, every affair. She left out the part about Lenny and the diamond, but gave him enough on Lenny to keep him on the suspect list for the time being.

  “I can’t believe Camden had an affair,” the sheriff exclaimed, shaking his head with incredulity. “He just doesn’t seem the type.”

  “It was a
long time ago, and Jenny has forgiven him, but I’m kind of disappointed,” Wren admitted. “I just didn’t think my uncle was the type to cheat.”

  “And what about Everett? Was the woman he was with at the restaurant really a client, or his date, and does it even matter? Why was Veronica’s coat in his office? Who was blackmailing Chelsea? And which one of half a dozen people could have killed Delia? There’s a lot of questions.”

  “A lot of very personal questions that no person would ever reveal to a cop. Face it, if you want Delia’s murderer to be found then you need me.”

  Sheriff Fisher had his arms crossed. His face told her he was deeply conflicted. She didn’t want to cause his trouble but it was too late that for now.

  “Keep at it,” said the sheriff. “But be careful.”

  She saluted him and smiled. “You bet.”

  “Stop being cocky.”

  She smiled, a little more at ease. It was better to have the sheriff on side than not.

  “Can I ask you a personal question?” said Wren.

  “Go ahead,” said the sheriff.

  “Aarna told me that Delia had been racist to her in the past. Was she ever that way with you?”

  “The woman was nothing but respectful to me my entire life. She talked to me like I was her equal.” His face turned sour for just a second, but Wren caught it. “But I knew what she thought, the thorns that were underneath her pretty words. I’ve learned to see racism in all its forms over the years. I know she thought a black man shouldn’t be sheriff.” He looked out of the car window, sad. “I never called her out on it. I should have. I never called anyone out on it unless they were directly hostile. I guess I just wanted to keep the peace.”

  “Sorry if I brought back bad memories.”

  He smiled and patted her shoulder. “Ask people the hard questions otherwise you won’t get the answers you need. You’d make a good cop.”

  Chapter 22

  Sheriff Fisher’s words were all Wren could think about as she trudged through the snow across town. She’d never imagined racism could exist in her small, perfect town. Keegan had never mentioned experiencing any, but what if he had? What if he was too scared or ashamed to tell her?

  Everett was standing outside Veronica’s house. He looked completely dejected.

  “She won’t let me in,” said Everett, almost pleadingly. “I have to talk to her!”

  “If she wanted to talk to you then she’d let you in,” said Wren, a little unkindly, but she was in no mood for more of this man’s endless series of lies. “You don’t want her taking out a restraining order on you, do you?”

  “She won’t believe me when I say it wasn’t my fault. It was my mother!”

  She had no idea what he was talking about, but she could guess. He was having an affair with Veronica, his mother had found out, and she’d put a stop to it. There was no sympathy in Wren’s heart for the man. He was a cheater.

  But something else is wrong. He looks far too upset to have just lost out on a bit on the side. Maybe he was actually in love with Veronica?

  “What happened?” Wren asked. “Were you in love with Veronica?”

  “Of course not,” Everett insisted. “I love my wife.”

  “It didn’t seem like that at the Japanese restaurant.”

  “Lenny likes to stir things up. I was honestly not there on a date.” He hesitated before adding, “But maybe Mona thought it was a date. She was very handsy with me.”

  Everett was in a state of grief, and his words strung true. At the time he may have seemed smug, but it was obvious he’d been telling the truth. That meant Lenny was lying when he made that story up about Everett and Mona meeting up for a romantic rendezvous.

  Lenny you lying piece of...

  “Please,” Wren begged. “Tell me. I know you want to talk about it. I’m not connected to this in any way. I can be your... your soundboard if you like.”

  He nodded. “I was at the vet’s practice in the city and hailed a cab when I got off work. I was tired and ready to go home and I found Veronica in the car already. We decided to share. We’d known each for years. She used to have this Maine Coon I looked after and came into my surgery often. Now she has this little white cat that had diabetes. Anyway, we got to talking and she tried to kiss me.”

  “Hmm. Very classy.”

  “I rebuffed her. Veronica was horrified, and knew it was a mistake and she vowed it would never happen again. I think she just wanted some company. She seemed really sad.”

  Veronica had been in love with Garrett Knowles, even if his attention had somewhat bordered on stalking on the odd occasion. His murder had hit her hard.

  Everett faltered for a moment, seemingly embarrassed. He said, “Anyway, the day after Veronica came to me and asked me to be a sperm donor. She wanted a baby.”

  “She’s like fifty-five!” Wren exclaimed, shocked.

  “I was flattered, to be honest, and I said yes. We started the whole process going in secret until my mother got wind of it. She tried to talk me out of it but I wouldn’t do it, not even when she threatened to tell Chelsea. I just knew I had to it. I had to help her.

  “So, Mother decided to work on a vulnerable Veronica instead. She kept pestering her, stalking her even. She made phone-calls, sent pizzas to her house. Mother even sent her letters from abortion clinics.” Wren was shocked. Delia had been a sick, twisted woman. Everett went on. “Veronica shut down her coffee shop and almost barricaded herself in her home to get away from her. Then came the news that the insemination process had failed. I blamed my mother for the stress she put Veronica under, but I was willing to help her again. Only this time, my mother had told Chelsea and she forbid it. I couldn’t go against my wife.

  “When Veronica came to see me in my surgery she was... she was inconsolable. My mother did that to her. She destroyed poor Veronica, just like she destroyed all of us.” He wiped at his eyes. “My mother was the devil. She took pleasure in making people miserable, just so she could stay on top. I hated her so much.”

  The door swung open. Veronica glared at them both, opening and closing her mouth, unable to say anything.

  “I wish I’d killed her!” Veronica said, keeping her voice calm. “I wish I’d had the pleasure of stabbing that vile woman, but I didn’t.”

  “I can find you someone else to be a donor,” said Everett. His voice was gentle, consoling. “This doesn’t have to be the end.”

  Veronica shook her head. “I’m just going to get myself some cats and become a spinster like Wren here.”

  I’m the spinster?

  “Sorry,” said Veronica. “It’s just... I’m too old for this parent stuff.”

  “No need to apologize to me,” said Wren. “You should apologize to whoever did your make-up.”

  “You have bags under your eyes larger than your breasts.”

  Wren smiled. “There’s the Veronica I know and don’t like.”

  Veronica nodded and closed the door.

  “What was that all about?” Everett asked. “How is insulting her going to help?”

  “You wouldn’t understand,” said Wren. “Veronica and I like to insult each other. Don’t ask me why. It’s... fun, I suppose.” She turned to Everett and smirked. “I think now’s the time to talk about the Christmas Diamond.”

  “What’s that?” he asked, his poker face impressive.

  She crossed her arms, unimpressed.

  “Lenny told you,” said Everett, looking disappointed at being caught out. “That piece of work. He should’ve stayed away.”

  “What were you thinking, getting involved in that?” Wren demanded. “You have four children! What would they do if you ended up in jail?”

  “I only got involved to stop him from shooting me.”

  “Lenny would never have shot you.”

  Her words didn’t carry much weight. She’d like to think Lenny wouldn’t shoot anyone, but the new Lenny was another thing entirely. She was coming to realize that the Lenny
she knew was gone.

  “It sure is a bit of a coincidence that the exact reindeer you hid the diamond in ended up in your mother’s toy store,” Wren commented.

  “That’s what I thought when Mom brought it home,” said Everett. “I was shocked myself when I saw her with it.”

  “Lenny said the diamond was already gone when he tried to retrieve it.”

  “The thing was... whoever took the diamond must have taken it in the night, hours before my stupid daughter crashed her car into the store. They took out the stitches, pulled out the diamond, and then stitched her up again. Only a professional could’ve done that.” He sighed angrily. “Of course Lenny made a mess of the poor creature when he tried to get the diamond. She could’ve died of an infection or sepsis or anything.”

  He still cared about the reindeer. Would someone who murdered his own mother still care about animals like that?

  Maybe most animals weren’t as vile as Delia Rickard.

  “Do you think your mother could have taken it?” Wren asked. “Everyone in town knows how good she is with a sewing machine.”

  “She doesn’t know how to sew at all,” said Everett. “My dad used to do everything. She just didn’t want anyone to know. When she needed her Mrs. Claus costume letting out, she hired someone.”

  Everett was staring at Veronica’s house.

  “You really wanted that baby with Veronica, hmm?” said Wren.

  He nodded. “I was flattered, to be honest. She wanted my genes. But in the end, I couldn’t wait to have another child. When the artificial insemination process failed because all the stress Mother put on Veronica I was devastated.” He laughed bitterly. “I already have four and one on the way. I know, I’m a glutton for punishment.”

  She left him to it, keen to get on with things. She still didn’t know who had murdered Delia, despite plenty of people with motives to want her dead. She still wouldn’t rule out Everett or Veronica though. That woman had hurt the both of them deeply in what Wren considered an act of pure malice. Maybe in the end they snapped and decided the world would be a better place without Delia in it.