Drowning the Daffodils (A Heavenly Highland Inn Cozy Mystery)

by Bell, Cindy

  “You don't remember anything about what he looked like?” she was asking.

  “I don't,” he shook his head. “All I remember is his ball cap.”

  “Which all of the Carter men were wearing,” Vicky pointed out as she stepped into the lobby. She paused beside the two and smiled kindly at Will. “I really appreciate how hard you're trying to figure all of this out,” she said.

  “I wish I could remember more,” Will sighed with frustration. “I couldn't even really hear exactly what they were saying.”

  “Wait,” Vicky paused a moment. “Maybe you can't remember the words, but do you remember anything about the voice? I know you said you can't tell the difference between the voices of the Carter men, but what about the tone or the volume?” she asked as she met Will's eyes through his thick glasses. Maybe vision wasn't his strong suit, but he might just have picked something up about the person's voice.

  “Well,” he frowned a little. “I remember that he sounded angry. He was growling his words, like he wanted to yell, but he was trying not to.”

  “And Simon?” Vicky pressed and listened closely as Will replied.

  “Simon was sputtering, like he was shocked, or he just couldn't believe what the other man was saying. I wouldn't even say he was angry, he just seemed really surprised,” he frowned and again shook his head. “I really do wish I could remember more.”

  “That's plenty,” Vicky assured him as she smiled at him. “Just remember to stay with Aunt Ida, okay?” she said firmly. With Will being a potential witness and trying so hard to remember who the killer might be, and all of the suspects still staying in the inn she was worried that someone might try to hurt him. She knew that Aunt Ida would try to protect him, considering that she was almost fearless and was skilled in martial arts, and very protective of Will.

  “Sure,” he nodded and smiled shyly at Ida. “I don't mind one bit,” he added.

  Aunt Ida blushed a little and winked lightly. “I don't mind either.”

  As Vicky walked away from the lobby she thought about what Wilbur had said. If Simon had been surprised by whatever the person was saying then maybe it had been about an affair with Jane. Maybe she could shed more light on who the murderer was, maybe it was even Jane, herself. She decided that it was time for her to have a serious conversation with the woman who seemed to have caused such a deep rift in a family.

  ***

  As Vicky stepped into the elevator she found Alina already waiting inside. “Going up?” Vicky asked as she pushed the button for the third floor.

  “Yes,” Alina sighed. “I was just trying to get a few minutes away from Lawrence. He's really a basket case over this.”

  Vicky eyed the woman with a hint of annoyance. “Well, he did just lose his son,” she said as diplomatically as she could.

  “Oh, I know he did,” Alina waved her hand dismissively. “And honestly if that was what he was upset about then I would understand. But that's not even why he's upset.”

  “It's not?” Vicky asked with surprise. What could be worse than the murder of his son?

  “He's so concerned about all the bad press,” Alina sighed again and closed her eyes. “He's so worried about his image. That's the only reason he married me you know. He just wanted someone young on his arm who was intelligent enough not to embarrass him.”

  “I'm sorry,” Vicky replied cautiously.

  “Don't be,” Alina smiled as she opened her eyes again. “I prefer a relationship that is more like a business deal. It gives us both the freedom to do as we please.”

  “You don't mean?” Vicky's voice trailed off as she knew it was none of her business.

  “Affairs?” Alina smiled as she met Vicky's eyes. “Honey, men like Lawrence Carter can have any woman they want, any. I knew that when I married him, and I never expected that to change.”

  “And you're okay with that?” Vicky was a little shocked as the elevator came to a halt on the third floor.

  “Remember the driver?” Alina asked with a light wink. “Lawrence has his forms of entertainment, and so do I. It's how our marriage works. Not everything is a fairytale, you know,” she added as she stepped off the elevator. Vicky hesitated for a moment before following after her. It stunned her that Alina could be married to a man she obviously wasn't in love with, and not have a problem with his wandering desires. Was Simon that way, too? Maybe he wouldn't have even cared that his brother was sleeping with his future wife.

  “So, I guess Mike has a wandering eye, too,” Vicky suggested pensively as she caught up with Alina.

  “Mike?” Alina burst out into a loud laugh. “No way. Charlene got a hold of him when he was in high school and she hasn't let him out of her sight since. He's nothing like his father,” she paused a moment, a touch of affection entering her expression. “I might not be in my marriage for love, but I do admire Lawrence's children. Each one made their own way, especially Simon. He knew that he was his father's favorite, but he never leaned on Lawrence for favors or special treatment,” she pursed her lips for a moment as if she was trying to hold back emotion, then slowly shook her head. “I just wish he would have had the chance to show Lawrence what it's like to be a good man. This is all just too tragic.”

  They paused outside the door to Alina's room and Vicky nodded sympathetically. “It certainly is unexpected when someone so young dies in such a terrible way,” she pointed out.

  “I wish it had been more unexpected,” Alina admitted. “But I could swear that Lawrence knew something like this would happen. He was getting so nervous as we were getting ready to come here. He kept wondering if Simon would show up. I don't know why he was so concerned. He almost canceled the reunion at the last minute. I talked him out of it because, well,” she sighed, her shoulders drooping slightly, “I just wanted a nice vacation and I had heard so many good things about this place.”

  Vicky nodded a little though she couldn't help but think that Lawrence might have had some kind of paternal instinct that the weekend would lead to disaster.

  “Well, if you need anything feel free to call down to the front desk,” Vicky insisted as Alina stepped into her room.

  “Thank you,” she smiled and disappeared into the room.

  As Vicky walked down the hall towards Jane's room she caught sight of Charlene at the ice machine.

  “Hi Charlene, how are you doing?” Vicky asked as she paused beside her and offered to carry the ice for her.

  “I've got it,” Charlene said sternly and hugged the bucket of ice. “Mike just wants a few cocktails in the room,” she admitted.

  “How are you two holding up?” Vicky pressed with growing concern.

  “As best as can be expected,” Charlene replied with a slight shake of her head. “Mike cared so deeply for his brother,” she frowned. Vicky was surprised by that comment.

  “Oh, were they close?” she asked with disbelief.

  “Of course they were,” Charlene narrowed her eyes a little. “Why wouldn't you think they were?”

  “Well, it's just I heard them arguing…” Vicky began to explain, her voice wavering slightly as she tried to disguise her deeper suspicions about Mike's behavior with Jane.

  “Oh that,” Charlene rolled her eyes and then shifted the ice bucket from one arm to the other. “The truth is Mike played a big part in raising Simon. See, Lawrence was always too busy. Even though Mike was only a few years older he took responsibility for Simon. We got together in high school, not long after Lawrence divorced his first wife. Mike was a little broken up about it, he was really hurt that his father had been cheating on his mother,” she drew her lips into a thin line of disgust. “Some people have no idea what a real loving relationship is supposed to be like.”

  Vicky swallowed back the words that were rising to her lips. She felt almost compelled to reveal what Mike had been up to behind closed doors with Jane. But the way that Charlene described Mike was very different from Vicky's impression of him. She nodded encouragingly as she could tel
l that Charlene had more to say.

  “After that, Mike started to become really protective of Simon. If Simon wanted to date someone we had to double with them. Of course, when Simon reached college all that changed. Jane is the first girlfriend that Simon found all on his own. Mike had it in his head and still does that Jane was just after Simon for his money, that she was just manipulating him, and that she would take him for all he was worth and then leave him,” Charlene rolled her eyes and shook her head. “I tried to tell him that the more Mike tried to pull them apart, the more Simon would want to be with her, but he is so stubborn. He just kept saying that he had to protect his brother, and if no one else would tell him the truth, then he would.”

  “Did he?” Vicky asked as she moved slightly closer to Charlene. “Did he tell Simon his suspicions?”

  “He hinted at it. He kept trying to catch Jane in the act. It got so bad that he even hired a private detective.”

  “Wow,” Vicky said and then raised her eyebrows. “He was really serious about getting some proof.”

  “That's the strange thing,” Charlene admitted thoughtfully. “He hired the private detective, and then one day I asked him if the detective had found anything because his mood had changed, he'd become really quiet. He said no, and not to bring it up again,” she glanced towards the door of the room they were staying in. “Before all of this I could have told you every single thought in Mike's head, but since then, he's been closed off to me,” she blinked as if she suddenly realized just how much she was sharing with Vicky. “Oh I'm sorry, listen to me ramble. My point is, Mike adored Simon, and yes they argued over Jane, but that was only because Mike was trying to protect his little brother.”

  “No wonder he's taking it so hard,” Vicky shook her head. “Please make sure to let me know if there's anything at all I can do to make this time a little easier.”

  “I will,” Charlene nodded. “I think he just wishes the crime would get solved and that we could all move on.”

  “I can understand that,” Vicky nodded. But she wondered if that could really be what Mike wanted. If he was the one who killed his brother he probably wished the crime would remain unsolved. Just as Vicky was about to ask Charlene about Mike's change in behavior, Mike opened the door to the room.

  “Char, do you have the ice?” he asked and passed his bloodshot eyes over Vicky. He curled his lip in a drunken attempt at a smile. “Did my wife give her permission to be questioned?” he asked, stumbling over his words.

  “Mike, don't,” Charlene warned him. “Look I have a whole bucket of ice,” she said as she walked towards him.

  “Don't be nice to her, Charlene. She thinks I killed my own brother, “ he chuckled, the laughter sliced up by bitterness.

  “Of course, she doesn't think that Mike,” Charlene huffed as she steered her inebriated husband back into the room. She mouthed 'sorry' over her shoulder to Vicky, who nodded slightly. As the door to their room closed, Vicky wondered if Mike had simply been too drunk to realize the gravity of what he was doing. Had it been a crime of passion? Had Mike wanted to protect his brother so badly that he killed him in order to keep him away from Jane?

  It made no sense to Vicky, but then she had never been as drunk as Mike obviously was. As she walked down the hallway towards Jane's room, she wondered how she would initiate the conversation with her. She didn't want to isolate her as she might be her only ally. When she knocked lightly on the door it opened immediately. Jane stared at her, her beautiful visage pale and shadowed by grief. She stepped back to allow her inside without Vicky even having to explain why she was there. Vicky stepped inside and Jane closed the door behind her.

  “I heard what she was saying out there,” Jane said glumly as she crossed her arms across her stomach. “I'm just the resident manipulative whore,” she rolled her eyes which glistened with tears.

  “People just say things,” Vicky offered in a sympathetic tone. “All Charlene said was that Mike was really protective of Simon.”

  “He was,” Jane admitted and a tear slid down her cheek. “He really was,” she whispered.

  Vicky studied her for a long moment. She knew that it was the perfect time to ask the question she had in mind, but she still felt a little uneasy about it.

  “So, you and Mike, you weren't having an affair?” Vicky blurted out, though she tried to even out her words. Jane took a slight step back and raised her eyes to Vicky. The mixture of emotions that crossed her features made it clear that she was stunned by the question.

  “What are you talking about?” Jane asked sharply as she glared at Vicky. “How could you even say such a thing?”

  “Am I wrong?” Vicky asked. She knew that she had already crossed a line. There was no turning back now. “Because I overheard you and Mike, Jane, I heard you arguing.”

  “You know,” Jane shook her head and raised a hand to her mouth to cover a gasp. “I expect this from the Carters, they don't get it. But you?” she glowered at Vicky. “You’re not one of these, born with a silver spoon in your mouth, types. Yet, you still think the same thing about me? That I must have been cheating on Simon?”

  “The argument,” Vicky pressed, not letting the woman's emotional words sway her. “I heard it. There's no getting around that.”

  “There is if you had no clue what we were talking about. That's what being nosy will get you, an earful of nonsense,” she shook her head and opened the door to her room. “I trust you can find your own way out.”

  “Jane, I'm just trying to get to the bottom of things,” Vicky insisted as she stared into the woman's eyes.

  “Well, I'll make it easy for you, Vicky,” Jane replied as she continued to hold the door open. “I was not sleeping with Mike, and I did not kill my fiancé. Now, could you please leave?”

  Vicky held her gaze for a moment longer before turning and stepping out of the room. Jane pushed the door closed behind her. Vicky found herself standing in the empty hallway a little stunned by everything she had learned. Not only did Charlene deny the affair, but Jane did, too. Was it just a front to throw her off? But if Jane had been involved in the murder it would have benefited her to throw Mike under the bus. There was only one person she hadn't talked to yet that might be able to shed a little more light on the situation. She turned around to walk back down the hallway and discovered that Lawrence had just stepped out of the elevator. He locked eyes with Vicky from a few feet away and stopped in his tracks.

  “Mr. Carter,” Vicky said and cleared her throat as she walked towards him.

  “Everything's fine, I don't need anything,” he said dismissively as he began to walk past her to get to his room.

  “If you don't mind I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions,” Vicky suggested calmly.

  “You're not a police officer, are you?” he asked with a furrowed brow.

  “No sir, I'm not,” Vicky replied in a more professional tone. “However, I do like to keep track of what happens at the inn, and if we were in any way negligent…”

  “Is that what this is about?” he snapped as he glared at her. “Are you afraid that I'm going to sue you or something?”

  Vicky was silent as she nodded.

  “Look, do you have some paper I can sign?” he asked with a mild shrug. “Unless you're the one that pushed him in the pool I don't see how the inn could be responsible.”

  “Sure, I have a waiver,” Vicky offered even though she did not have anything of the kind.

  “Well, then come on in and I'll sign it for you. Anything to stop being asked questions,” he sighed and pulled his cap off briefly to run his hand back over his balding scalp.

  “Okay, thank you,” Vicky said quickly and he opened the door to his room for her. Alina was sitting on the couch flipping through her phone when they stepped inside. She barely glanced up at the two as Lawrence walked over to the kitchen counter. Vicky was a little flustered as she realized that now she had to produce the form she claimed to have. She searched through her purse
for it and then frowned.

  “I'm sorry, I thought I had it with me,” she shook her head and looked up at Lawrence who sighed heavily.

  “Just go and get it, make it quick,” he insisted. “I have an important call to make at three.”

  Vicky glanced up at the alarm clock to see what time it was. She was startled by what she saw on the clock. She glanced at her watch and then back at the clock.

  “Oh, it looks like your clock is off,” Vicky said with a frown as she walked over to it.

  “Oh, uh, yeah looks like it is,” he said with a mild shrug. “I don't pay attention to those things. I prefer to use my watch,” he explained.

  “Oh, I see,” Vicky said as she adjusted the time so that it was correct. Then she noticed something on the floor. It was a tiny piece of gold. She stared at it for a long moment. Then she turned and pretended that her purse had slid off her shoulder. As it fell to the floor a few of its contents scattered across the floor. She reached down and picked them up quickly.

  “So sorry,” she mumbled as she cleaned up.

  “It's fine, like I said, I just can't miss this call,” he said impatiently. Vicky made sure she picked up the tiny bit of gold as well.

  “Don't worry about the form,” she said quickly. “We can take care of that when you check out. I'll make sure everyone knows that you're not to be disturbed, okay?”

  “Perfect,” he smiled with relief and then walked her to the door. As Vicky stepped out into the hall again she didn't bother to look over her shoulder at Lawrence, in fact she did her best not to look at him at all. Instead she headed straight for the elevator.

  Chapter Seven

  Vicky rode the elevator down to the lobby, her mind spinning with what she suspected. As she walked over to the front desk she found Aunt Ida and Wilbur waiting for her.

  “How are you doing, sweetie?” Aunt Ida asked as she noticed the concern reflected in Vicky's features.

  “Honestly,” Vicky shook her head as she set her purse down on the counter. “Not so great.”