Murder and Tainted Tea

by Janet Lane-Walters

  “Will do.” He strode from the room.

  Once I heard the front door close, I gathered the dishes and took them to the kitchen. Lars brought the last piece of cake and placed it on the counter.

  “Hope I’ve done the right thing,” he said.

  “You have.”

  “Maybe...” He sighed.

  “Don’t you trust Rafe?”

  “Of course I do, but making the wrong move could endanger Bonnie.”

  “She’ll be fine.” Conviction filled my voice, but my view of the kidnapping was different than his. “Calling the police would have been a better move.”

  “How can you say that? You read the note.”

  I nodded. “The police would have known how to handle things.”

  He grasped my shoulders. “I will not risk my daughter’s life.”

  If this event had been planned to drive Lars and me apart, it was succeeding. I needed to change the subject before we quarreled. “What is Damon planning?”

  He shook his head. “Nothing to concern you. There’s a matter I have to solve on my own.”

  “You asked me to marry you. Isn’t part of a marriage the sharing of problems?”

  “Since we’re not married, I’ll keep my secrets. Look, I’m edgy. I feel helpless. All I can do is think about my daughter.”

  “Fretting won’t change things. You’ve paid the ransom. You should have word soon.”

  “Maybe, but it’s Friday. The kidnappers might not be able to assess the funds until Monday.”

  “Call Don and have that talk.”

  “Might as well get all the bad news in the open.” He went to the living room. A moment later he returned. “He’ll be over when Megan wakes from her nap.”

  * * *

  “Pop, we come,” Megan called.

  Lars swept the child into his arms. She planted a kiss on his cheek. “So I see.”

  “You and Aunt Kaferine wented away. Where you go?”

  “Skiing and to see your daddy’s pictures.” Lars put her down.

  I held out my hand. “Come with me. Your daddy and grandfather need to talk.”

  “We bake a cake?” she asked.

  “Not today, but we can make some cookies. I think I saw some chocolate chips in the pantry.”

  Lars chuckled. “By the time you leave, I’ll have gained twenty pounds.”

  “I’ll send the cookies home with Megan.”

  Don laughed. “We’ll take them.”

  Megan skipped ahead of me. We soon had two pans in the oven. I put the bowl in the sink with the other dishes I was soaking.

  “What you doing?” Megan asked.

  “The dishes.”

  “Daddy use the washer fing.”

  “So do I most of the time, but the dishwasher doesn’t always get the dishes clean.” I showed her the dried cheese on one of the plates from lunch.

  She nodded and for an instant looked old and wise. “I tell Daddy.”

  “Where’s Rose Prairie?”

  “Her’s sleeping so we leave her home.”

  “Good idea. Kittens need a lot of sleep.”

  She pointed to the counter. “Our cake.”

  “Would you like the last piece?”

  “Yes.”

  I gave her the cake and a glass of milk. The oven timer buzzed. I took the sheets from the oven and put the cookies on a rack to cool.

  Megan alternated bites of cake with tales of Rose Prairie and her toys. “Her run after the ball and hit it...I wind up the mouse...Her was scared...Now her jump on it.”

  A scowling Don entered the kitchen. “Button, we’re going home. We’ve things to do.”

  Lars appeared in behind his son. “Don’t do this.”

  “Don, Lars, what’s going on?”

  “He’s giving my sister her way again,” Don said. “I want no part of the business. He’s refused to honor his promise to buy me out and won’t give a reason. That doesn’t matter. Megan and I are leaving Santa Fe today.”

  “I can’t give you what you want. Son, you don’t understand.”

  “Then explain what I already know. It’s whatever Bonnie wants, Bonnie gets. She told me she’d make sure I never saw a cent.”

  Lars groaned. “She’s not to blame. There’s a problem. I may have to put my retirement plans on hold.”

  “That will please my sister. How many times has she screamed that you can’t retire and that you can’t leave her?”

  Sadness aged Lars’ features. “I spoiled her. That was wrong, but I can’t change the past and I can’t give you the money.”

  Don reached for Megan’s hand. “Time and time again you’ve given Carl money to pay his gambling debts. I don’t even need a whole share. Just enough to buy a house so Megan and I don’t have to live in an apartment.”

  Lars sank on a chair. “There’s a big house back there that’s empty for most of the year.”

  “What a good idea,” I said.

  Don turned to me. “Are there good pre-schools in the area?”

  “Several. A friend of mine runs a Montessori program I’d recommend. When I return home, I’ll have her send you an information packet and when you arrive, I’ll introduce you.”

  That idea made me smile. Though years ago I’d forsworn matchmaking, that didn’t mean I couldn’t bring two lonely people together.

  Don ruffled Megan’s hair. “Button, how would you like to live near Aunt Katherine?”

  She nodded. “We bake cakes and cookies and see big Rose Prairie. Pop, you come too?”

  “I just might.”

  Don lifted Megan from the chair. “Is Bonnie’s play house still in the backyard?”

  “Sure is,” Lars said. “Might need some paint and repairs before it’s ready for use.”

  The phone rang. Lars headed to the living room. For a moment I wondered why the call hadn’t come on his cell phone. Then I realized if the call was about Bonnie, he wouldn’t want Don to hear.

  “This will work,” Don said.

  “I agree.”

  As I tested the cookies to see if they were cool enough to store, I thought about what Lars had said about his retirement plans. Would that make our marriage impossible? I couldn’t imagine living near Bonnie. Though I hadn’t accepted his proposal, I felt a moment of regret.

  Lars waved from the doorway. “That was Rafe. He’s found something he wants us to see.” Excitement and hope filled his voice.

  Don looked from his father to me. “Did he find the place where you were held?”

  Lars stared at the floor. “He didn’t say, but that’s a good possibility.”

  “Then go,” Don said. “I’ll take care of the cookies. Even leave you one or two.”

  By the time I had my jacket buttoned, Lars was in the car. I slipped into the passenger’s seat. “What did he find?”

  “Bonnie’s car.”

  “How?”

  “By accident. After the cabbie told him where he picked me up, Rafe started a search in the area for a house that was for rent or sale. Your suggestion, I believe.”

  “Mere speculation based on the things you told me about the house. Musty smell. A cot as the only furniture.”

  A frown wrinkled his brow. “A table and two chairs. A different room. That’s where I found my jacket.”

  “Anything more.”

  “Nothing.”

  A short time later Lars drove into an area of town where the streets twisted and turned. Though the houses were smaller than the ones where Lars lived, they were behind stucco walls. He spotted Bonnie’s car and parked at the curb. After he left the car, he stopped. Then he walked to an iron gate.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  “I think...that’s it.”

  “What?”

  “That’s the house.”

  Rafe reached us in time to hear Lars. “Are you sure?”

  “Positive.”

  “Let me check the list of properties a realtor gave me. If this house is on the list, we
can get in.”

  He and Lars strode away. While they were engrossed in making plans, I walked to the gate and peered at the house. Wouldn’t hurt to look.

  Chapter 7

  I examined the unique grillwork of the gate and reached for the handle. With a low eerie groan, the gate opened far enough for me to squeeze through. The noise had startled me. Afraid the men had heard, I turned to look for them. To my relief they remained halfway down the block beside Rafe’s dark sedan, engaged in an animated conversation complete with hand gestures. Not wanting to alert them, I slipped through the narrow gap and then paused to study my surroundings.

  The adobe house was squat and sand-colored. The garden, touched by winter, was brown and barren. Small patches of dirty snow were scattered across the lawn. Bushes with gnarled branches lined the walk. Against the side wall, a bench stood. A pair of trees had been trimmed to form an arch above the bench and probably provided shade from the summer sun.

  The men’s voice rose from a low drone. I peered toward the street and saw them slowly making their way toward the house. Though I could await their arrival, all I wanted was a few minutes to discover if I could see inside—unless I found a way to enter.

  Dark green shutters covered the front windows and prevented a view of the rooms on either side of the entrance. I turned the knob and wasn’t surprised to find the door locked.

  As I strolled toward the rear of the house, I noticed a slat missing from one of the side window shutters. I slid between two bushes and peered through the gap. Once my eyes had adjusted to the gloom of the interior, I saw a cot and what looked like a heap of blankets—or a body. I tapped on the glass. Had I seen movement?

  For an instant I considered calling the men. Before I acted on that thought, I decided to see if there was another door. After stepping back onto the walk, I made my way along the broken flagstones to the rear of the house. I found what I’d been seeking. I paused and then turned the knob. To my surprise the door swung open. With no more than a second’s hesitation, I decided to enter.

  “Kate, where are you?”

  Lars’ shout made me jump. I grabbed the frame and willed my pounding heart to quiet. “Around back. The door’s open. I’m going in to look around.”

  “Kate, no.” Both men shouted the order.

  The command arrived a moment too late. I was already inside. Light filtered from outside and revealed a table and two chairs against the side wall. Were they the ones Lars had remembered?

  Draped over one of the chairs was a fur coat. Though I didn’t recognize the coat, the clinging sweet scent of Bonnie’s perfume was clear. Yes, I thought. She was here.

  The light from the kitchen door failed to penetrate the darkness in the hall. I stumbled over the sill and nearly fell. A musty odor filled the air. A sneeze exploded. I leaned against the wall and waited for my eyes to adjust. A thin band of light slid through the gap in the shutter.

  “Bonnie?” My voice was muffled by the thickness of the walls.

  The lump of blankets moved. Without another thought I strode to the cot and pulled the rough wool blanket away. Bonnie stared at me. White cloth had been jammed into her mouth. I pulled the wad free and dropped it on the floor. When I saw the way her arms had been bound to her body with wide strips of adhesive tape, I knew the origin of the bruises on Lars’ upper arms.

  “What...I thought...Th...thanks.” Bonnie clamped her lips together. She tried to rise.

  “I’ll help you sit and remove the tape.” I slid her legs over the edge of the cot. I frowned. Not a hair was out of place. If I’d have been beneath that blanket, I’d have emerged looking like a bag lady.

  “Kate, where are you?” Lars called.

  “In the front room. I’ve found her.”

  “Daddy,” Bonnie called.

  I found the end of the tape and soon had Bonnie’s arms free. “Thank heavens they didn’t apply the tape to your skin. You may have bruises like your father did.” Though I wondered if she would. The binding hadn’t seemed that tight.

  Lights flashed on. Tears blurred my vision and I blinked them away.

  Lars appeared in the doorway. “Honey, are you all right?”

  “Now I am.” She scrambled from the cot. “Daddy, how did you find me?”

  She bumped against me. I lost my balance and landed on the cot.

  “Rafe found your car while he was looking for the place where I’d been held.”

  “My car...but...Why was he looking for that place?”

  “Your brother asked him to.”

  She shook her head. “How did my car get here? I was in the parking garage near the office when I was attacked.” She took a deep breath. “How did you know I was in this dreadful place?”

  “We didn’t. I recognized the grillwork on the gate and then the house,” Lars said. “Rafe was trying to locate the owner and get permission to search. We noticed Kate had vanished so we looked for her. You’ll have to thank her for barging in.”

  “Already did.” She stood in the circle of Lars’ arms. “I was so scared. Aunt Katherine, you were very brave. What if someone had been here?”

  “I would have screamed.”

  Her voice seemed louder than her usual dulcet tones. Was the volume caused by excitement, relief, or was she warning someone? She didn’t sound like someone who’d been frightened. She sounded like a child who’d successfully pulled a prank on her elders. Silently I chided myself for allowing the dislike that had blossomed since my arrival to sit in judgment.

  Rafe crossed to the cot and held out his hands. “Do you always act on impulse?”

  “Coming in was hardly an impulse, but an action based on a logical deduction. I weighed the facts. Lars recognized the house. Bonnie’s car was nearby.” I grinned. “At the rate you and Lars were moving, next Christmas would have come and gone before you acted.”

  He pulled me to my feet. “We were observing the legalities. I believe you’re trespassing.”

  “Actually I only intended to look, but the back door was unlocked. Nurses are trained to act with speed during an emergency.”

  “Was this one?”

  His voice held the same doubt as my thoughts. “For Lars it was.”

  He nodded. “You’re right about that.” We moved toward the others. “From the tales Lars has told me, I imagine your local police would like to see you locked up.”

  I chuckled and remembered the times Pete Duggan had expressed similar thoughts. “They’ve learned to listen to my hunches.” I tripped over an end of the blanket. Rafe steadied me.

  “Careful.” He put his lips to my ear. “What do you think about this?”

  I shrugged. To voice my suspicions where both Bonnie and Lars would hear would be foolish. “I have some questions.” I glanced at Bonnie.

  Rafe’s gaze followed mine. “So do I.”

  Had Bonnie been kidnapped or was this part of some scheme to drive a wedge between Lars and me? Her clothes seemed too unrumpled, her hair too perfect, and her fear seemed feigned. For someone who’d been missing for four days, bound and gagged, she seemed too energetic and too sure of herself.

  Questions multiplied like viruses during an epidemic. Why had her car been left on the street so close to her place of confinement? Had the mysterious someone planned to return and free her arms so she could escape the way her father had? Had the car been left as a guide for Lars once the money had been transferred?

  Rafe joined Lars and Bonnie. “Sure was an unexpected surprise to find you. This must have been an ordeal. How are you feeling?”

  “Confused. Thirsty.” She pushed her hair back from her face. “I want out of here. I don’t like this place.” She edged toward the door.

  “Any idea who took you?” Rafe asked. “Do you think it was the same people who took your dad?”

  She stared at her shoes. “How would I know? He didn’t speak.”

  “He?” I asked.

  She pursed her lips. “Had to be a man. I’m tall. Whoever hit me
on the head had to be taller and strong. I was getting out of the car when the attack occurred.”

  “Any headache, nausea, blurred vision?” I asked.

  She shook her head. “Daddy, please take me home now.”

  “Sure, honey.” Lars started to guide her to the door. He stopped. “I know you’re upset, but you need to tell us as much as you can remember. Start with New Year’s Day. Tell us what happened.”

  “What else? Carl and I had a fight. How dare he let those men come to our party? I’m sure everyone’s talking about that.”

  “He said you didn’t come home.” Lars clasped her arm. “Why?”

  She straightened. “And walk into another fight? How could I stand to be around him? You were right. He’ll never change. When I told him I wanted a divorce, he demanded a large settlement. You have to help me get free.” She tried to pull away from him.

  “You know I will. Haven’t I offered to help you time and time again?”

  “What did you do after you left the house?” Rafe asked.

  “Drove around.” She flashed a hostile glance in my direction. “Daddy, I really needed to talk to you. I went to the house, but you were off somewhere with her.”

  Had she helped herself to my jewelry during her visit to the house? If I asked now, I would only muddy matters.

  “Kate and I went to the chalet.”

  “No, you didn’t. I called and called.”

  “We did spend the night in town.” Guilt flashed in his eyes. “Where did you go?”

  “That hardly matters.”

  “Tell us about the attack,” Rafe said.

  “I drove to the office to pick up some papers Damon was supposed to leave for me. When I got out of the car, the man hit me.”

  “Did you smell anything?” I asked. “Like aftershave or tobacco smoke?”

  “Nothing.” She looked away. “Just that smelly scratchy blanket.”

  “Hear anything?”

  “Don’t you ever listen? I said he didn’t speak. Besides, this is none of your business.” She fisted her hands on her hips and stepped toward me. “Why don’t you just go home?”

  “Bonnie, that’s enough,” Lars snapped.

  Rafe edged between Bonnie and me. “Are you sure there was just one man?”