Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 4 - 6

by Danielle Collins

  Her thoughts were caught up with the menu she was supposed to be creating when she arrived at the gate. She pulled up as close to the guard gate as possible so that Sal wouldn’t need to get wet to speak with her.

  “Afternoon, Missus Durand.”

  “Please, Sal, call me Margot.”

  He nodded. “It’d be my pleasure. Here to see Kellen?”

  “Yes, if that’s still all right?”

  “It is. Go on up.”

  Margot waved her thanks and pulled into the closest parking space to the clubhouse’s entrance. Under the protection of her umbrella, she managed to make it inside with only a few drops of water making it onto her navy blue blazer.

  “Hello,” a young man said when she entered. “Are you here for lunch?”

  “She’s here to meet with Kel,” Steve said, suddenly appearing at the door to the bar. “I saved you two a table.”

  “Thank you, Steve.”

  He grinned and showed her to a table in a quiet corner of the bar. With the rain, the whole bar was quiet, though.

  “I’m sure you don’t get as much business on a day like today.”

  “You’d be surprised,” he said with a chuckle. “Kel will be right over, she’s almost done with the first part of her shift. She’s going to take a longer lunch so you’ve got up to an hour if you need it.”

  “Thank you so much.”

  He leaned in conspiratorially. “I might have gotten her the job here, but I was hoping she’d move on—you know, find something even better. But when she started dating that no good—er, excuse me, Mister Henry—she was happy to stay here. Now that…well…” He looked uneasy.

  Margot had turned on the news that morning to see that the report of Elliot Henry’s death had appeared as early morning news. It would seem that Steve had seen that report.

  “It’s all right. I understand.”

  “Thanks. Just know that Kellen is a hard worker.”

  Margot smiled at him and he went back to wiping down the bar. Several minutes later, a beautiful, blonde young woman came through the door and made a beeline for the table at the back. Margot recognized her immediately as the woman from the photos with Elliot.

  She looked different now, though. She wore a black polo sporting the club’s insignia, khaki pants, and black flats. Her hair was pulled back in a French braid and several wisps of hair had escaped, framing her soft features with curls. Compared to the photos with Elliot, she looked happy and sweet.

  “Hello,” she said, offering her hand to Margot. “I can’t believe my brother tricked you into giving me an interview.” She flushed and sat down across from Margot.

  “Not at all. I hope it wasn’t against your wishes.”

  “Oh no.” Kellen offered a small smile. “I enjoy working here. I split my time between working in the restaurant and then managing the pool area and lifeguards, but to be honest, I’m ready for something else.”

  Now Margot felt even worse, wondering if she could deliver on her promise to the woman.

  “But I’m getting ahead of myself,” Kellen said. “You own the bakery shop in town?”

  Margot took a few minutes to explain her shop and what she might possibly want in a new employee. Kellen listened attentively to everything, asking questions where appropriate. Everything was going so well that Margot was afraid she would complete the interview without even the slightest chance to find out more about Kellen and possibly Elliot as well.

  “Tell me about yourself. Are you single? Married? Looking to stay in town? Things like that.”

  At the mention of the more personal questions, Kellen’s eyes shifted to the side. “I’m…single, I guess. Definitely not married.” She added a nervous laugh. “I’d like to stay in town, yes.”

  “Oh, I thought you were dating someone.” Here was where Margot hoped she could pull off a little bit of incognito questioning. “Your brother had mentioned something about…well, about that poor man that was found dead.”

  Kellen’s eyes jerked to Margot’s. “You mean Elliot Henry?”

  “Yes. Such a shame.”

  Margot watched as Kellen’s jaw clenched. “I suppose.”

  “I gather you’re no longer dating then.”

  “I don’t know what my brother told you, but I’m sure he didn’t say that we were together. He couldn't wait for us to break up.”

  “He wasn’t really that clear.”

  “Suffice it to say…” Kellen sneaked a glance at where her brother was tending to a customer at the bar. “Neither of us liked the guy. Sure, I dated him for a while…until I found out what he was really like. He dumped me and that was it.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that,” Margot said. “I heard rumors he didn’t pay his tab.” Margot cringed, wondering if she’d gone too far, but Kellen seemed to take it in stride.

  “Yeah. I mean, I never understood that. He’s a wealthy guy, right? He treated me pretty decently most of the time, but then we’d go places and he’d forget his wallet or something would come up. I don't know. I just… It was clear we were not meant to be.”

  “I know the feeling.” Margot reached across and patted her hand in a maternal manner. “Just so long as you’re happy now.”

  “I am.” She got a faraway look in her eyes. A look Margot could easily interpret as love. Was there someone else? “Still, I was shocked he’s dead. I mean, I didn’t like him—like, really didn’t like him by the end of our relationship—but it is sad he’s gone now.”

  Margot sensed the woman was being genuine, but she couldn’t be fully certain. Still, she had gotten as much information from the young woman as she was going to at this point.

  “It is sad. I’m sorry you lost someone that was once close to you. And thank you for your time. I’ll let you know when I’ve gone over your application.”

  “No, thank you for even agreeing to meet with me on my break. Even if this doesn’t work out, it was a good experience for me.”

  “I agree. I’ll be in touch.”

  With a wave to Steve behind the bar, Margot left, thankful the downpour had paused long enough for her to reach her car without the use of her umbrella. She turned her car on and watched as the windshield wipers swiped back and forth, wiping away the rain until they screeched across the now-dry surface. She reached up and turned them off, still lost in thought.

  No one was having anything good to say about poor Elliot Henry. Was he really that bad of a person or had he just rubbed people the wrong way? Even his ex-girlfriend had been happy to see the end of him, though she didn’t seem to be happy about his untimely demise. That said something, didn’t it?

  Sighing, she put the car in drive and headed back toward the bakery.

  “Hello?” She pressed the Call Answer button on her steering wheel and the phone call routed to the car’s speakers.

  “Margot, you there?”

  “Yes, hello, Adam.” She smiled hearing his voice, but felt a twinge of anxiety. If he asked her where she was, she would have to say on her way back from the golf club and that could open up its own can of worms.

  “So, I’ve got news I thought you’d want to hear.”

  Her heart pounded. “Oh?”

  “Don’t play coy. You know you’ve been waiting by the phone for me to call and tell you that Elliot Henry’s death was murder.”

  She was holding her breath now, even if she hadn’t been before.

  “Well, sorry to disappoint, but aside from elevated levels of alcohol and a bit of what appeared to be an allergic reaction, his death was ruled accidental. There weren’t even drugs in his system. Possibly suicide, but I don't buy that theory. We did find his kayak in a cover of another island directly across from the one we were on. It looks like he decided to swim for it and never made it.”

  “I don't buy it.”

  “Margot. Everything points to accident. Every. Thing.”

  “He recently lost his girlfriend, seemed to be having money troubles, and wasn’t liked by ve
ry many people. I’d say that is not everything.”

  “Margot…” Adam drew out her name with a warning tone. “Please tell me you haven’t been looking in to this.”

  “What do you mean by ‘looking in’?”

  “Oh come on, Margie! You know better than to stick your nose where— No, I take that back. You certainly do not know better than to do that. But I’d hoped after our conversation, you’d leave it alone. It was an accident.”

  “I’m just not sure.” Her words hung in the car as she turned onto Front Street where the bakery was located.

  “Look, I don’t want to do this, but I’m going to beg you to cease your investigating—or whatever you want to call it. I’ve gotten some pretty heavy-handed direction from the chief on this one. It would seem Miles Henry isn’t too keen on his son’s dead body being paraded all over the news. Nor does he want the investigation to go on any longer than necessary.”

  “Is he willing to let his son’s murderer go then?”

  “There is no evidence of it being anything other than an accident.”

  “I don't know about you, but I have a hard time believing that someone who was water-certified on all fronts would just drown. It doesn't make sense.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “His bracelet. The bright red one. I knew I’d seen one before. It was when I was doing weddings up at the country club almost every other weekend. I walked past that pool and the lifeguards there more than a hundred times—or so it felt like—and I remembered seeing those bracelets. I confirmed it just the other day. He had to be certified and that means he couldn’t have just forgotten how to swim.”

  “But the alcohol—”

  “Could explain it, but this requires more investigation.”

  “Margot…my hands are tied.”

  She fell silent. At this point, it sounded as if Adam wanted to help her, but couldn’t or his job could be in jeopardy. Well, she’d just have to work on it herself.

  Chapter 5

  Despite the fact that Adam happened to casually drop the information that they had found Elliot’s kayak, he was less casual about asking her to lunch at a shack near the marina. She had a feeling it was his way of agreeing to let her take a look without officially doing so, but that fact remained to be seen.

  “Hey,” she said, walking down the aluminum ramp to the floating boards of the dock. To her left were a complex set of floating docks with slips for all manner of boats. To the right, a gate stood closed at the end of the public dock, the point beyond leading to the private dock where yachts and other expensive craft were moored.

  “Thanks for meeting me here,” Adam said a little too loudly. “Can you wait just a few minutes before we get lunch? We’re about to examine this kayak.”

  She smiled back at him, knowing that this was all for show. He couldn’t be seen inviting his girlfriend down onto the docks during police business, and yet if what he’d said held true, this was not a criminal investigation in their minds. Just routine follow up.

  “Of course.”

  “Come on down, Margot,” Les said, rolling his eyes. He knew what Adam was doing, even if he didn't admit it. He was also a kind man who had only joined the local force a few months ago, and had only recently been assigned to the detective division with Adam. It was good to see a new face in the department, even if it was a little unusual to have such a new member of the force bumped up so quickly.

  They walked down the dock and Margot was thankful she’d taken the time to change into her boat shoes. While she didn’t go sailing anymore, she’d spent enough time on or near the water to know that sensible shoes were a must.

  “Madame,” Adam said with a smirk as he held the private gate open for her.

  Les led the way down the dock, its finishing a slightly nicer look than the public docks. The path was much cleaner as well—no coiled ropes, crab pots, or nets to get in their way. When she looked up from her observation of the dock, her eyes fell on a tall, lean man who’d just come from a small house overlooking the sea level dock. He made his way down a short and steep staircase and met them in the middle.

  “Can I help you?” he asked.

  He looked to be in his early fifties with tanned skin in a rich, hazelnut color. His dark brown eyes peered out at them as he squinted from the sun. His receding hairline showed salt and pepper hair with more salt than pepper and his smile felt forced to Margot. Something practiced that he pulled out when dealing with the public.

  “Hello, I’m Detective Adam Eastwood. This is my partner, Les Mabry. We’re here to see the kayak that was found.”

  The man’s forehead creased and he nodded. “This way.”

  Charming, Margot thought as they followed him down the pristine deck to a boathouse. He pulled out a ring of keys and opened the door. Margot immediately saw that they were in someone’s private boathouse, a collection of paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, and all manner of water paraphernalia filling the space. Nets were piled up in one corner, wetsuits hung on another rack, and a few oddly shaped bottles of liquor sat on a high shelf, their amber liquid glinting in the sunlight.

  “It’s the one on the sawhorses in the middle there. The red one.”

  Margot peered around Adam, but caught the man looking at her. His eyes narrowed in obvious disapproval, but she smiled, undaunted by his gruff attitude.

  “Hello, I'm Margot Durand.”

  He grunted as he took her hand. “James. James Peck. I’m the marina caretaker for the Henrys.”

  Realization dawned and with it, her sympathies were reawakened. “I'm so sorry for the loss you’ve suffered.”

  “Elliot was a really good kid,” the man said, rubbing his jaw. “It’s a shame to see him go like this.”

  Her eyes narrowed. This was the first person to seem genuinely sorry for his loss. Were those tears in the man’s eyes?

  “How long have you known the Henrys?”

  Still distracted by his grief, he said, “About five years now. They’ve been good to me.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said, stepping back to indicate he could go if he wished. He took the opportunity and turned to go.

  “I’ll come back to lock up,” he said absentmindedly.

  When he was gone, Margot came to stand next to Adam, who was frowning. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s been cleaned.”

  “What?” She looked down at the kayak and frowned, seeing what Adam had.

  “Someone cleaned it up.”

  “Perhaps James did.”

  He met her gaze. “Or whoever delivered it here.”

  “You don’t know how it got here?”

  He shook his head. “We just got a call. Checking into this is just routine, of course, but I wanted to be sure. We won’t get anything from this.”

  They walked back out into the sunlight and Adam and Les made plans for their next course of action while Margot observed the dock. Several antique speedboats sat out of the water in rigging, a larger luxury boat was parked at the end of the main dock, and another expensive looking speedboat sat next to it. Obviously, the Henrys were not hurting for money.

  And yet Elliot still hadn’t paid his bills.

  “Adam,” she said when he came to join her as Les left, “did you look into Elliot Henry’s financials?”

  He gave her a warning look. “I told you, the chief is coming down hard on us about this. It’s an accidental death. That’s all.”

  “And that’s exactly what I don’t understand.”

  “You know I can’t just go poking my nose into everything, Margie.” He walked her back to the gated area and they let themselves out. “If the chief doesn't want me in on this, I have to trust that he’s got good reason. Like the fact that it’s an accident.”

  “But why does the chief care? You’ve investigated things in the past that he wasn’t sold on. I’m telling you Adam, something is amiss here.”

  “Because he has his reasons. Margot.” Adam stopped, pulling her gentl
y to a halt with his hand in hers. “I know you’re always seeing mysteries in everything, but I can’t risk going against the chief on this. He’s…adamant.”

  “But why?” She knew she sounded like a broken record, but she also knew that something wasn’t right.

  “I have my suspicions, and they are only that, but I think that he’s getting pressure from Miles.”

  “Miles Henry? The deceased’s father?”

  “Yes.”

  “And that doesn’t sound strange to you?” She released his hand and crossed her arms, frustration at his seeming lack of interest in this matter creeping up on her.

  “Maybe a little, but the chief knows what’s best. He wouldn’t cover something up, if that’s what you’re getting at.”

  She wasn’t sure what she was getting at, but she wasn’t about to sit by and let a murder go unsolved.

  “I’m sorry, Adam, but I have to follow through with looking into this. You should know me well enough to know that I wouldn't be looking into this if I didn’t think there was a good reason to be.”

  He sighed and rubbed a hand over his face in an obvious show of weariness. “I don’t know what else to tell you.”

  She wanted to say that if he had so little confidence in her instincts, she was disappointed, but the fight drained out of her and was replaced by weariness as well.

  “I’m going to go,” she said, taking a step back.

  “What about lunch?” She took another step toward where she’d parked. “Margot, you don’t have to—”

  “It’s all right,” she said, her tone softening. “I’m just… I need some time. I’ll take a raincheck on our lunch date.”

  He seemed to want to argue, but thought better of it. “All right. Talk to you soon.”

  She nodded and left, her heart heavy for Adam’s disinterest and yet her logical mind warring with her to see it from his side of things.