Grand Prize: Murder!

by Vivian Conroy

  But as Vicky saw the picture of Lisa Coombs, she froze.

  She enlarged it and stared.

  It hardly seemed to be the same person. The long hair was about right, but the nose…

  Was the Lisa Coombs who had shown up to meet Bella Brookes a different woman than the one who had applied for the job? A clever switch, with a malignant purpose?

  Vicky picked up her phone again and called the number given under the header ‘contact information’.

  “Hello?” a brisk youthful voice answered.

  “Is this Lisa Coombs?”

  “Yes.”

  “Hello, this is the…” Vicky referred to the volunteering section. Oh, yes, botany and horticulture. “Botanical Society,” she improvised. “We still have a few spaces left for the big orchid show on Wednesday. Would you be interested?”

  She was making this up as she went, hoping the other woman would not catch on to her deception but would give something away about her whereabouts.

  “I’m sorry, but I can’t. I’m on vacation in the Florida Keys. Sorry.”

  Vicky held her breath. Vacation, while she should be here assisting Bella. “Oh, my mistake. I believed you were scheduled for a summer job. In publishing, or something? You mentioned that earlier when we talked.”

  A brief silence, then, “I changed my mind. The job was not for me anyway.”

  “I see.” Vicky realized nothing more could be gleaned here and it was time to end the conversation before Lisa started asking questions of her own. “Well, thank you for your time.”

  Vicky put the receiver down quickly and gathered her thoughts. If the real Lisa Coombs had bowed out of the job and was now on vacation in the Florida Keys, then who on earth was the woman here in Glen Cove pretending to be Lisa Coombs?

  And what was her game plan, with either Paul DuBree or Bella Brookes?

  A disturbed fan, after Bella, trying to get to her in her inner circle?

  Or something more ingenious that Vicky could not even begin to comprehend?

  One thing was for sure: she had to share this information with Cash Rowland as soon as possible so he could confront the fake Lisa Coombs with her lies.

  Maybe, face to face with the police, the substitute would confess to whatever she was up to?

  Vicky printed off the papers on Lisa, put them in her purse and got her bike to cycle the two miles to the police station. Marge would open up the store for her and she herself would go there as soon as she had provided the information on ‘Lisa’ to Cash. She hoped that in person she could put a little pressure on him to act on this right away.

  As she was on her way over, a sheriff department’s Jeep came up from behind and passed her. The horn honked, and she raised a hand in acknowledgment. Good to know Cash would be in as she arrived.

  But as she pulled up, panting after cycling so fast, her good mood evaporated at once. Cash had not been alone in the Jeep. From the passenger seat emerged Bella Brookes. Apparently taken in for questioning.

  Vicky cast Cash an angry look. He could have told her that he planned to do this. Now all her work over the weekend had been for nothing.

  Cash raised a hand as if to ward off her anger. In a low voice so he could not be overheard he said, “I know I had agreed to talk to you and all, but I got a call early this morning and the person calling had seen Bella Brookes fighting with a man at the party. There was even a blow struck between them. I had to take her in.”

  Vicky was puzzled. She whispered, “Why would somebody call you if the murder is still under wraps?”

  “I’m afraid it isn’t. I have no idea where the information is coming from, but people know. I guess somebody saw the wagon come from Lilian’s house with the dead body in it. Hard to prevent something like that getting out.”

  Vicky sighed. Apparently her mother hadn’t been the only one getting calls about a dark car moving away from Lilian’s house. “So the anonymous tips are flooding in?”

  “I wouldn’t say flooding. But I have to act now or lose control. I’m not letting Glen Cove investigate this for me. I’m wearing the badge here.”

  Cash turned away from Vicky and shepherded Bella into the station. He waved for a deputy to come over to assist.

  Vicky followed them in a hurry. “Bella, did you know that the person working for you as Lisa Coombs is in reality somebody else?”

  Bella stared at her, jaw sagging. “Say what?”

  “Lisa. She is not the person you hired or the company think they sent. Somebody took her place. Now did you know about this, or…”

  “Of course not. What? Somebody taking her place?”

  “Is the real Coombs dead?” the deputy wanted to know, his mind obviously working on some conspiracy theory.

  “No, on vacation in Florida. I talked to her this morning.”

  “And how did you know where she was and how you could reach her?” Cash asked with a frown. “Is there something I don’t know?”

  “I came out here in a rush to update you.” Vicky smiled innocently.

  Cash rolled his eyes. “This better be good. You…” he looked at the deputy “…take Miss Brookes into the interrogation room and give her some coffee. I want to talk to Miss Simmons here first and find out what she knows. And foremost, how she knows it.”

  Vicky resigned herself to the inevitable. Given the latest developments, Cash was mad that she had acted on her own. But she had not known that he planned to arrest Bella right away. She had hoped that with the right information she could prevent that!

  Cash gave her coffee as well, and they went into his office. Cash closed the door carefully and leaned against it. “I told you, Vicky, no private investigation.”

  “I just wanted to know a bit more about Bella’s team.”

  Cash pursed his lips like he thought ‘yeah, sure.’

  Vicky rushed on, “So I asked for Lisa Coombs’ personnel file at the company who sent her out here.”

  “And they gave it to you just like that?” Cash hitched a brow.

  “Uh, maybe I threatened just a little bit that if they didn’t send it, the police might later—”

  “I don’t want to hear it!” Cash barged to his desk and sat down. The leather swivel chair crunched under his weight. “Tell me what you got.”

  She gave him the file and told him that the picture seemed different from the real woman. She then recounted how she had called Lisa Coombs at the number listed under ‘contact information’ and got the reply the woman was in Florida and had not taken the job as Bella’s assistant. “I think she has no idea that somebody else took her place under her name.”

  “So we can arrest the Coombs woman here in Glen Cove for impersonating someone, fraud or whatever you like to call it. But does that help us solving the murder?”

  It gratified Vicky that he did say ‘us.’ “We don’t know until we find out who she really is. But keep in mind that the dead guard had disguises in his hotel room. He might have worked together with her. She could be our killer. Maybe they argued at the party and…”

  “OK, OK,” Cash said, pushing himself up with both hands on the desk. “I can send my deputy to take her in. In the meantime I want to question Bella Brookes personally about her fight with that man at the party. If it turns out to be the same man who got killed…”

  He shook his head sadly. “It could be enough to hold her on. I’m sorry, Vicky. For the scavenger hunt and all.”

  He exhaled. “But even the prospect of taking you to London can’t deter me from my job. I have to catch this guy’s killer.”

  “You want to take me to London?”

  “Of course. You know the place better than anybody I know.”

  “But I don’t even know if it would be allowed. I’m involved with the organization of the hunt.”

  Cash gestured broadly. “If I win, I am entitled to two tickets so I don’t see why I can’t take whomever I want to.”

  “Maybe. Uh, can I be present as you question Bella? I’d like
to offer her some moral support.”

  “And find out firsthand how much she is willing to share with me, huh?” Cash caught on at once. “I don’t have to allow it. You’re not an attorney.”

  Vicky cut across him, “I could call an attorney for her and then ask him later on what she shared with you. Come on, Cash, this is only a talk; no official charges have been made yet. I’m asking as an interested party. My store’s reputation is on the line here. If we can determine quickly and discreetly that she wasn’t involved, we can all breathe easier.”

  She waited a moment before adding, “Once the press gets wind of it, it might take an ugly turn.”

  Cash nodded. “You’re right. Come along then. Let’s hope she’ll be cooperative.”

  He left the office and told the deputy to bring in Lisa Coombs as quickly as he could. “Don’t tell her what for, just take her in.”

  “But what if she doesn’t want to come?” the deputy asked bewildered. “If I can’t name a reason, she might…”

  “Then you handcuff her. I’m telling her my reasons once she is here at the station. Now split!”

  Vicky rolled her eyes at him. “Tough guy.”

  Cash shrugged. “I can play bluff poker too. Hopefully better than she can.”

  They went into the interrogation room, and Cash explained Vicky had asked to be present during the questioning, if this was all right with Bella. She nodded and gestured for Vicky to sit by her side. She looked nervous and a little upset.

  Cash sat down opposite them and waited a few moments. “At the party Friday night you fought with a man. Was this the same man who was later killed?”

  “No.”

  The answer came promptly. Vicky sat up. So Bella had fought with someone, despite her former emphatic denials on that point.

  Cash frowned. “Are you quite sure? You don’t even know the man who was killed. How can you be sure it was not him?”

  “Because I do know the man I fought with and he is still very much alive.”

  Vicky’s mind raced. Sydney Haverton? He had behaved oddly the morning after the party.

  Cash asked, “And who was this man?”

  “I see no point in sharing that. The argument between us was personal, and it has nothing to do with the murder.”

  “I’ll be the judge of that. You are here to justify…”

  “I’m here to answer questions. Voluntarily.” Bella sounded calm. “You can’t make me answer if I don’t want to. I know my rights.”

  “If you have nothing to do with the murder, you would be smart to answer all of my questions, so I can establish your innocence and let you go.”

  Bella blinked a moment. “I will answer all of your questions, Sheriff, unless they touch upon something very personal that is none of your business. Then I’ll tell you I won’t answer that specific question, and there is nothing you can do about it.”

  Vicky opened her mouth to say she’d better reconsider that, but Bella shook her head. “No, Vicky, my mind is made up. I’m not answering any questions about the reasons for that fight.”

  Her voice trembled as if she was controlling her emotions with difficulty.

  Cash decided to try another tactic. “Did you know that the person calling herself Lisa Coombs is in reality somebody else?”

  “No, I didn’t until Vicky mentioned it to me when we arrived here. How do you know that?”

  Cash avoided a direct answer. “Suffice to say that we know, and we are bringing her in right now to talk to her. But you can be certain that she is no college undergraduate and she had some ulterior purpose in joining you.”

  Bella sat thinking for a moment. Then she snapped angrily, “Once you are done with her, send her to me so I can tell her how I feel about people who lie to me.”

  Cash narrowed his eyes. “You seem to have a temper, Miss Brookes. If you felt injured, would you lash out at someone? I mean, not with words, but with—”

  “A marble pedestal?” Bella hitched a brow.

  “How do you know what the murder weapon was?” Cash shot forward on his chair. “Did Vicky tell you? She should not have…”

  “Vicky didn’t tell me. I guessed. I had seen it there when our hostess showed us the conservatory. She is very proud of her orchids and showed us around. Vicky was there; she can tell you all about it. I noticed the marble pedestal, because it seemed like an excellent murder weapon. Conveniently placed, not too heavy to lift, still heavy enough to deal a nice deadly blow with.”

  Cash hitched a brow at Vicky. Like he wanted to say, do you hear her talk?

  “I was interested in the object as a possible prop in a new book of mine,” Bella continued calmly. “I did not use it to club someone to death. As I just told you, I have been in the conservatory with my hostess and Vicky here. On their invitation. I could have lost that piece of my fan then.”

  Cash hid his face in his hands. “I knew,” he muttered, “that I should have taken action right away when I was called to see that dead body. I should never ever have allowed Vicky Simmons to meddle.”

  He snapped his head up again and looked at Bella. “Vicky meant well, Miss Brookes, and I myself gave her the weekend to find some clue to another suspect to avoid damage to your good name and her business’s. That was a mistake on my part. I’m afraid this whole case is now ruined. I can’t establish if you have knowledge only the killer would have since some things have already been revealed to you.”

  He leaned back, deflated. “I guess I hurt your case with that and I apologize for it.”

  “No,” Vicky said. “If anybody is to apologize, it’s me. I asked Cash to give me the weekend. Thinking Marge and I could unearth something major to solve the murder and acquit you of all blame. I should have realized it can’t be done so fast.”

  And maybe not at all.

  Bella raised a hand. “Nobody has to apologize as far as I’m concerned. I appreciate that you kept it quiet over the weekend and did not run to my door at once. I guess another convenient suspect could have popped up, or something might have appeared from fingerprints or other evidence found on the scene, but apparently that didn’t happen or we wouldn’t be sitting here. Well, I can’t very well prove that I was not there or that I did not kill him. I have no alibi as I was a guest at the party and I could have sneaked away at any moment. The same goes for all of the guests of course.”

  Cash shook his head. “Those other guests were not accused of a major crime by the man who was later murdered. You had every reason to go after him and silence him.”

  Bella hitched a brow. “Up until now I still have no idea what the victim accused me of. Contrary to what you seem to think, Sheriff, Marge and Vicky didn’t tell me everything. They were very reluctant to share anything with me at all.”

  Cash sighed. “Point taken. And your own people? Could any of them have known this particular man?”

  Bella thought about it for a few moments. “I would have been inclined to say no, but now that you revealed Lisa Coombs is not who she claims to be… She could have been recognized by the man and have killed him to keep it silent.”

  Cash sighed. “That will be hard to prove. He is dead and can’t tell us anymore if he recognized her or not. And your fan…”

  “My fan broke when I had the fight with the other man.” Bella looked down. “I didn’t notice I lost the piece. Somebody must have picked it up later and used it. To incriminate me.”

  Vicky bit on her lip. “Did you fight with Sydney Haverton?”

  Bella started as if surprised. Then she said, “I will not name the man. No point in trying to tempt me into a confession.”

  Vicky glanced at Cash. To her it was obvious it had not been Sydney, or Bella would not have been so surprised at the suggestion. But maybe that reasoning was too subtle for Cash?

  “How many times in all were you in the conservatory Friday night?” Cash asked.

  “Two times. With my hostess and Vicky, to look at the orchids. And later, as I fought with the
man we shall not name.” There was a vague smile around her lips. “At that time there was no dead body there. I would have noticed for sure.”

  “And what time was that?” Cash asked, pulling out a notebook to take it down.

  “Oh, I have no idea really. Probably close to midnight?” She frowned. “It was really dark outside already. Those Chinese lanterns looked lovely.”

  Cash nodded. “I guess it is hard to pinpoint the exact time during a party. You don’t check your watch constantly.”

  Bella nodded in relief. “Only people who have something to hide know the exact time of things. They bother to look at a clock in advance to create their alibi. I use that in books all the time.”

  Vicky, who was studying Bella’s responses closely, noticed that every time her fight with the unidentified man was mentioned she was uptight, but the questions about the murder didn’t seem to bother her at all. Was she so convinced she would be released again as she was innocent?

  Cash asked some more general questions about the party, with whom she had arrived, with whom she had talked, how long she had been on her own et cetera. Vicky remembered she had seen Bella go up the stairs with Sydney—there was even a photograph of them going up—but Cash asked nothing about that and Bella did not tell of her own accord.

  Vicky wondered what Sydney had been up to with the pretty cozy author. He had acted weird the next morning. And his early walk… While he didn’t seem to be sporty at all.

  There was a knock at the door, and the deputy looked in. “I could not find Lisa Coombs, Sheriff. She’s not at the resort. They think she left this morning, but they are not sure. They haven’t seen her in town either.”

  “Great,” Cash burst out. “She gave us the slip. Now we will never catch her.”

  The deputy was still waiting at the door, head down, as if he feared to be chastised for failing to bring the suspect in.

  Cash gestured at him. “Don’t stand there. Put out an APB on her. Lisa Coombs, an alias for somebody else. Give a good description of her and of the car she might be driving. Go!”

  The deputy ran off, leaving the door half ajar. Cash shook his head as he got up to close it. “She must have smelled danger. Like she knew you were onto her.”