by Liz Turner
“I’m shocked you were able to find this towel by smell alone!” Max proclaimed.
Veronica shrugged. “What can I say? I’ve always had a strong nose.”
Chapter 14
Taking to heart Max’s suggestion they check the swimming pool one more time before giving up the investigation, the trio passed over the basketball court, through the door to the indoor pool, and then to the outside.
The area was still closed off with yellow police tape, to keep the public away, although there weren’t any officers there to guard the place anymore. It was left just as it was when the body was first discovered. The small tables and lounge chairs initially had been moved aside after they had been checked for any trace evidence, to give the forensic investigators better access to the floor. The police tape had been tied ten extra feet around the perimeter of the pool area, but there wasn’t much there except some ornamental plants.
Veronica glanced at the diving boards where Amber had been jumping into the water just twenty-four hours ago. No one had expected something as sinister as murder would occur in a place like this.
This tragedy will forever taint this place, Veronica thought to herself.
Sakura went off to look at the diving board while Max kneeled next to the pool. Veronica joined him, looking into the clear water as it sat as still as glass. The light came in from the sides of the pool itself, illuminating the water in case someone decided to go for a swim in the cool night air. In the summer months, it wasn’t too cold to swim outside, and it was safer than trying to go for a swim in the nearby lake. The water was crisp and clear, and Veronica held herself back from tossing a stone into it to create a ripple.
“It’s so still, isn’t it?” she said to no one in particular. “Why didn’t they drain the pool?”
“We had someone in scuba gear search it thoroughly,” Detective Bernard explained. “With no obvious external injuries to the body, we didn’t think we needed to take the pool water into the lab.”
“You’ve had to do that before?” Veronica asked.
“Oh yeah. I once worked on a murder case at a water park,” he replied. “We had to bring in every ounce of water to filter and test it for any trace evidence.”
Veronica coughed out a laugh. “That couldn’t have been fun.”
“No, it was not,” Max agreed with a smile. “Worst part of it was none of the water had anything involving the murder. The victim had been soaking wet, but we later learned it was just toilet water.”
“Eww, that’s nice.” Veronica scrunched her face at the thought.
“You’re telling me.” Max went back to watching the tranquil water. “Water always complicates cases, whether they’re a murder a not. It also ruins evidence too easily.”
“I never thought of that honestly.”
“I didn’t think you would. You’re not a detective, but you’ve got the knack for it. I’m a little jealous.”
“Jealous? Of me?” Veronica gave him a perplexed look. “Why would you say that?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I’ve been taking police conclusions at face value too much lately. I’m wondering if I’m losing my intuitive edge.”
“Why would you think that?”
“I usually know when a case is a murder, or a kidnapping, or anything like that,” Max explained. “Sometimes I could even solve a case before the ink on the evidence reports dried. Nowadays the police tell me what they think happened, and I just go with it. Just not how a detective should work.”
“Well, sometimes the police are called in for things which aren’t crimes, aren’t they?” Veronica inquired. “I mean, not every call is a crime, right?”
“Not always, no, but that wasn’t the case this time,” Detective Bernard debated. “You knew this was a murder instead of an accident right from the start, but none of us believed you until Amber’s autopsy showed indications of foul play. Only after that did I think I needed to investigate this.”
“That’s not true, you thought it was more serious than the rest of the police,” Veronica reminded him.
“While you and Sakura went off and did some of my work for me,” he mused. “It shouldn’t be that way. I should look into something like this without waiting for evidence.”
“Well, everyone does things differently, right?” Veronica answered. “There’s nothing wrong with needing evidence before believing something horrible has happened. Isn’t that how a jury works?”
Max smiled at her. “Yeah. Innocent until proven guilty, but the accused has to be found guilty beyond reasonable doubt. Nowadays lots of jurors are more interested in forensic evidence than anything else.”
“That’s a good thing, right?” she inquired. “It helps get the right person arrested and tried.”
“For the most part, yeah.” He sounded like the wanted to say more, but Detective Bernard was interrupted when a large body slammed into his, sending them diving into the pool.
“Max!”
Veronica watched in shock as the detective wrestled with the other person in the water. They stayed under for a few seconds, punching and kicking each other, although Veronica couldn’t make out any more details than that from the water’s surface.
“Veronica!” Sakura shouted, running back over to her. “I heard the scream. What happened?”
She didn’t answer. Veronica tossed her purse aside and dove into the water, taking a huge breath before she was completely submerged. She heard Sakura shout her name, but she had more important things on her mind.
Veronica swam as hard as she could, kicking her legs and paddling with her arms until she reached the two. It was then she realized Max’s assailant was a man, with strong arms and dark hair, but water always made hair look darker than it normally was. The man had his hands around the detective’s throat while Max tried to punch his opponent's face to force his release. It wasn’t working, and Veronica saw how Max was starting to struggle for air.
She pushed herself off the wall of the pool and straight into the man. Grabbing his hair from behind, she took him by surprise and yanked him backward. He released a line of bubbles from his mouth. Max kicked him in the stomach causing the attacker to buckle over in a fetal position. Max and Veronica each grabbed an arm and pulled the man to the surface.
Even though he attacked Max, I don’t want him to drown, she thought. Whoever this guy is.
They swam to the shallow end of the pool, away from the diving board. Once the water was low enough so they could walk, Max took hold of both the man’s arms and pushed him to the edge of the pool, forcing him out of the water completely.
While Veronica and Max were dealing with the assailant in the water, Sakura had apparently called for help. Security guards and resort customers soon surrounded the pool. Veronica spotted Sandro in the midst of everything. Charlie and Janet were there as well, and they helped Max get the man out of the pool.
“Anthony?” Janet shouted, recognizing the man in an instant. “What were you doing in the pool?”
“Yes, what were you thinking?” Max demanded. “Attacking a detective and trying to strangle him underwater? What did you hope to accomplish?”
Charlie narrowed his eyes at the man who had been his father’s best friend. “Anthony, did you attack Detective Bernard?”
“Doesn’t matter now,” he answered with a huff. “I failed, so why does it matter?”
“Because I can arrest you for assault, at the very least,” Max explained with a cold tone. “If you don’t tell me exactly what you were thinking, right now!”
“You better,” Charlie hissed. Veronica had not seen him so angry in the few days she had known him. “You’re already in hot water with my dad.”
“Don’t you bring up that embezzling accusation!” Anthony yelled. “I’ve already heard it from Martin and Amber! I don’t need to hear it from you too!”
“Wait, from Amber?!” Sakura declared. “She did talk to you about stealing money from Martin’s accounts?”
Anthony hissed. “She came barging into the fitness center during my regular workout, spouting nonsense about how she knew I was taking the money and I was going to pay for it. She just wouldn’t shut up! So I shut her up!”
“…Shut her up?” Charlie repeated.
“I think we know how too,” Veronica said, addressing the two Buckner siblings. “We found a used towel in the fitness center. It was covered in spit and bits of food from dinner that night.”
“We’ve taken it as evidence,” Max added. “We can confirm that it was the item used to suffocate Amber.”
“And I’d bet you the sweat on it will match Anthony’s,” Sakura finished.
Charlie glared at Anthony, snarling and clenching his fists. “I always thought something was off about you, but no one believed me.”
“No one should’ve believed you,” Anthony argued. “You have no credibility in this family.”
“I’m not the one under arrest,” Charlie argued. “But do I wish I could slug you.”
“Unfortunately, I can’t allow that, Mister Buckner,” Detective Bernard stated, turning professional again. “He’s in my custody, and no one’s attacking anyone else on my watch.”
“Too bad for you, huh Charlie?” Anthony taunted him.
“I’d keep your mouth closed if I were you,” Veronica warned him.
“Yeah, after all, everything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law,” Sakura joked. “Ha! I’ve always wanted to say that!”
“Couldn’t have done it without you, ladies,” Max addressed to Veronica and Sakura. “Thanks. I owe you one.”
“No problem,” Veronica replied. “Glad we could help.”
“As for you, pal,” Detective Bernard said to Anthony. “She’s right. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say, can and will be used against you…”
Chapter 15
“How’s the lobster coming?” Veronica asked, back in the Starlight Resort’s kitchen. It was empty of any of the restaurants cooks. They had long finished their work and gone home. “Is it ready yet?”
“Taking it out of the oven right now,” Hannah announced as she pulled the dish out of the oven. “Plating it now.”
“Good. Janet’s breaded tofu is ready,” Veronica reminded herself. “So we just need to plate the lobster and then we can bring it over.”
“I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen you serve the same meal twice in a row for a catering job,” Sakura commented. “Especially when it’s the same family you’re serving it to.”
Veronica smiled at her Executive Sous Chef. “You’re right. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t, but Martin asked for this specifically.”
“It’s the same meal you gave Amber the night she died, isn’t it?”
“I think that’s why he wants it,” Veronica deduced. She glanced at her watch. “Time to go. Everyone ready?”
“Ready!”
Veronica helped her cooks, and a few servers carry the dishes into the private dining room. It was late at night, so the starlight glimmered through the huge window on the wall, and Veronica finally saw for herself where the Starlight Resort got its name. The lights in the room were dim. Instead of giving it a romantic atmosphere it gave an ambiance of sorrow. It was a strange sort of sorrow, more along the lines of grieving but moving towards achieving peace. Next to Charlie’s seat was a large easel with a white cloth covering a canvas, but Veronica could guess what was underneath. They all set the main dishes in front of the customers and stood back.
“Good evening everyone. Tonight we have Lobster de Jonghe, which is lobster meat served with breadcrumbs, green onion, and lemon juice,” Veronica declared. “Except for Janet, who doesn’t eat meat. We have a breaded tofu dish for her. Please enjoy.”
“Thank you for your consideration, Chef Koche,” Janet said with a rare smile.
Once everyone had their plates, Martin stood and clinked his spoon against his glass. “Everyone, Chef Koche, and Chef Yamouchi, I have an announcement to make.”
Veronica and Sakura stopped in their tracks, and the whole room waited for the Buckner patriarch to speak. Martin cleared his throat and addressed the chefs.
“Chefs…Veronica and Sakura, I wanted to give my personal thanks to you for everything you did for my family today,” he proclaimed. “Although we already knew Anthony was embezzling money, we might not have ever learned he was the one responsible for her death without your intervention.”
“The same goes for me,” David added. “I can’t believe I ever thought she’d commit suicide although murder’s not much better.”
“We just all hope Amber can rest in peace,” Martin continued. “Knowing her killer will be brought to justice.”
“I hope so too,” Sakura agreed. “I wish I got to know her longer. I think we wouldn’t have been good friends.”
“I believe so too.”
“I have something to show off as well,” Charlie said, standing from his seat.
He lifted the white sheet from the easel, showing his finished painting Veronica had seen him working on earlier that day. The woman in the portrait looked exactly like Amber, and he even managed to capture the sparkle in her eyes as she looked at the sky.
“It’s brilliant, Charlie,” Martin said, and he started clapping. Everyone else in the room gave him a round of fast applause, and Charlie smiled widely. Martin turned his attention back to Veronica. “In addition to that, I wanted to give you a small gift, as thanks for all your hard work.”
Veronica smiled but shook her head. “Mister Buckner, I can’t let you do that. It’s not a big deal.”
“It’s a huge deal,” he argued. “You didn’t have to do anything for us, but you did it regardless. You more than deserve this.”
Martin waved to Janet, and she bent down to pick up a box she kept hidden beneath the table. It squeaked and yapped as Janet carried the box over to Veronica and passed it over.
“We can also give you a few recommendations for veterinarians,” Janet suggested. “Father wants to pay for all her vaccines and to have her spayed if you like.”
Veronica stared while Sakura tried to look in the box. “Spayed? What are you—”
The inside of the box barked again, and Veronica placed it on an empty section of the table so she could open it. Inside was her favorite Golden Retriever puppy. The puppy seemed keen on her as well, as she leaped up to lick Veronica in the face.
Veronica laughed. “You’re giving her to me?”
“Like Janet said, I’ll pay for any medical needs for the first year,” Martin answered. “Don’t refuse, please. I insist. And she clearly likes you too.”
“She’s adorable! Thank you!”
“She’s going to need a name,” Sakura informed her.
The puppy yipped again, and Veronica smiled as she held the baby up in her arms. She stared into the little dog’s bright eyes, the color of tree sap.
“I think, if it’s all right with you, I’ll call her Amber,” Veronica declared. “In honor of your granddaughter.”
Martin’s eyes glossed over a little, but he smiled and nodded nonetheless. “I would love nothing more.”
Veronica, Sakura, and the newly named Amber left the dining room, leaving the Buckners to their meal. As they returned to the kitchen, Amber wouldn’t stop crying and wagging her tail, giving Veronica some licks on her face and hands the whole way.
“I’m not going to be able to work with any food if you keep doing that!” Veronica protested, but only half-heartedly.
“Now there’s a cutie,” a voice called. Veronica looked up to see Max Bernard leaning against the wall next to the door heading into the kitchen. “Mr. Buckner told me about his plan to give you this puppy. I didn’t know she was so cute.”
Max walked over and scratched the puppy behind her ears, and Amber panted in delight. Veronica smiled at the detective’s attention on her new dog.
“It’s nice to see you too, Detective,” sh
e said. “I take it everything went well at the police station?”
“It went great,” he reported. “We got a full confession out of Anthony, and our lab rats are working on doing the forensic tests on the towel. Mister Cugno’s going to jail for a long time.”
“Good to hear,” Sakura said.
“I know you’ve heard this a lot lately, but thanks for your help.” Max gave Veronica a wide grin. “I was wondering if you would be interested in catering for some of the department’s annual parties? Maybe Christmas?”
Veronica’s eyes went wide. “I’d be honored!”
“Now there’s a high-end assignment, huh Chef?” Sakura joked.
“Are you hungry, Detective?” Veronica asked, ignoring Sakura for a moment. “I have some left over from tonight. I can make you a plate.”
“Are you sure?” he asked. “You wouldn’t get in trouble?”
“Not at all. It would just get tossed anyhow. No use letting perfectly good food go to waste.” Veronica held up the puppy for Max to take. “As long as you look after Amber for me? I can’t have a puppy in the kitchen.”
“No, that wouldn’t be good at all,” Max agreed, taking the puppy and holding her against his chest. “Well, if you insist, I’d love some food. I’m starving!”
Veronica and Sakura headed into the kitchen, where Veronica immediately washed her hands before setting up a plate of lobster. Sakura leaned against the kitchen counter and gave her boss a knowing smile. Veronica furrowed her eyebrows at her.
“What?”
“You’ve got it bad?”
“Got what bad?”
“Got it for Detective Bernard,” Sakura clarified a little singing tone to her voice. “Veronica’s got a crush!”
“Oh please.” Veronica rolled her eyes and went back to work. “I’ve known him less than a day.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Sakura argued. “You’ve got a crush!”
“Get back to your station, Chef,” Veronica teased as she carried the plate through the door to the main dining area.
“But I wanted to start writing that mystery novel based on Amber’s murder! Veronica? Veronica!”