by Ellen Riggs
“Are you sure about that?” he said, still grinning.
Cherise’s thin lips pursed. “Vaughan, really. You’ll give the girl the wrong idea.”
“I agree,” said Alba Fletcher. She’d swapped her mint green suit in favor of a print blouse and another scarf with a fancy knot. I envied people who could work a scarf. Done right, it could really elevate an outfit.
“Ivy’s come at a bad time, that’s all,” Elsie Cornwall said. “I already told her we have a lovely community. It’s normally very peaceful here.”
“Very peaceful,” Alice echoed.
Vaughan’s laugh turned into a snicker. “It’s never peaceful here, ladies. Each morning I wait for my report from Shirley to see who’s been naughty or nice. Maybe Lottie was too naughty.”
“Vaughan!” Four female voices overlapped.
“It’s nothing to joke about,” said Alice Cheevers.
“I have to joke to stay sane,” he said. “You ladies have no idea how tough it is being head of the board. Sometimes I think running the entire country would be easier.”
Cherise rolled her eyes. “We need a second executive team to deal with you, Vaughan. I’d vote to take away your golf cart and poker chips.”
Alba stared into the frothing water and pressed her lips together. Perhaps the rumors were true about her involvement with Vaughan. If so, she might be embarrassed for him.
His playboy smile vanished and his casual splashing stopped. “Now, you be careful, Cherise.”
“Or what?” she said. “You don’t have a card left to play, Vaughan.”
Her tone was mildly threatening and the mascara dripping down her face in the steam made her positively ghoulish.
Elsie knotted her hands over the knob on her cane and squeezed till the knuckles whitened. “Please stop, you two. Ivy will think we’re terrible.”
“Not at all,” I said. “I’m the youngest of six kids, and I own sixty head of livestock. There’s always a rumble going on somewhere. I do hope the turmoil here is resolved quickly so that Jilly can have a really good visit with her grandmother.”
The rough water between the five subsided and the look they exchanged said no one was on team Bridie.
“Now that was a nonstop hen fight,” Vaughan said. “Lottie and Bridie were always pecking at each other.”
“I hope Bridie has a good alibi,” Cherise said. “Because they had quite a spat in The Silver Spoon last week. Overheard by many, though I missed it myself.”
“Is that the cute little café in the main square?” I asked.
She nodded. “They were still at it in the thrift store, arguing over used books on spells and hexes. I heard it was spellbinding.”
Elsie was the only one who didn’t giggle at that.
“Don’t go there, ladies,” Vaughan said. “Ivy doesn’t need to hear about your strange notions.”
“It doesn’t faze me that some of you believe in magic,” I said. “I’ve seen a few strange things in my time.”
Cherise patted the skin under her eyes with a tissue to blot the makeup pooling there. “Some say the swan is bewitched. That it’s one of our former residents come back in winged form to get revenge on Lottie.”
“If so, I pity the bird,” Alba Fletcher said. “There’s probably an army of vengeful spirits trying to get under those feathers.
“None of us got off scot-free in Lottie’s newsletter,” Vaughan said.
“I dreaded every issue,” Alice admitted. “Knowing it was going to make feathers fly.”
“Some loved it for the same reason,” Cherise said.
I suspected she was one of them, although it was hard to believe she hadn’t been featured sometimes.
“It’s best to put the newsletter to rest with Lottie,” Elsie said. “There’s so little real news here.”
“Except for today,” Alice said. “And there’s no one to write an obituary. Lottie did very well with those.”
“That’s true,” Elsie said. “I always looked forward to the obits.” Realizing how that sounded, she added, “Not the deaths, obviously, just the tributes and life stories.”
Vaughan rose from the water and I turned my head in case he wasn’t wearing trunks.
“Obituaries are important,” he said. “I’ll call for volunteers to replace Lottie at tonight’s dinner.”
“No one’s going to volunteer to be next to drown,” Cherise said.
“It wouldn’t happen the same way twice, I’m sure,” Elsie said.
Alba offered a grim smile. “The next vengeful spirit might inhabit another animal.”
“We only get raccoons in here,” Alice said. “That would be a sad way to go.”
I had to cover my mouth at that, and Keats didn’t even bother to hide his mumble of laughter.
“Ladies, stop your nattering,” Vaughan said. “It’s time for dinner and I want to be first in line.”
“You’re always first in line,” Cherise said, grumbling as she rose.
“It’s a perk I deserve for putting up with the palaver,” he said, heading inside with a towel wrapped around his waist.
No one seemed to notice I stayed behind for a much-needed break. Dragging a chair as far as possible from the hot tub and pool, I sat down for a minute and patted my lap for Percy. Keats refused to settle, and it wasn’t because of the water. There were things to monitor inside, it seemed.
“Just let me text Kellan about Doug and his rifle,” I said. “It’s the kind of thing he’d want to know.”
A few minutes later, Jilly texted to summon me for dinner and I headed inside. Normally I’d be starving by now but fatigue and the day’s events had dulled my prodigious appetite. If anything could revive it, it was the sight of the buffet Jilly had laid out on end-to-end tables in the recreation room. The platters of food looked gorgeous and smelled delicious.
Faced with this feast, people forgot they’d accused Jilly of murder only hours ago. Now they surrounded her with heaping plates and accolades.
My best friend was flushed from the hot kitchen and the color made her look more like her old self. Bridie had perked up, too. She’d changed into another bohemian dress, twisted her hair into a bun and swapped out her many jewels. She looked ready to take on her frenemies. It was a good front, but internal politics would surely wear her down. Maybe we could take her home to Runaway Farm for a break when all this was resolved.
That was a prickly subject to broach with Jilly later. In the meantime, I’d use the cover of dinner to ask more questions and maybe even poke around some of the smaller rooms I’d passed earlier.
My plan fizzled with the arrival of Chief Gillock and his team. A silence fell over the crowd. He apologized for interrupting dinner, but he was ready to “start some conversations.”
I glanced at Jilly and we walked over to the chief together.
“Join us for dinner first, Chief,” she said.
He shook his head, while his officers stared eagerly at the table. “We need to press on. There are lots of interviews ahead.”
“I understand,” Jilly said. “But keep in mind these are seniors and some probably haven’t had a bite all day.”
Casey Cox came up behind us. “I agree with her, Chief. I’m worried about everyone’s welfare. A shock like this could have downstream effects.” His brown eyes widened at his wording, and he added quickly, “I just mean my father and I care deeply about our community. Please give people time to eat and then sleep. You can continue tomorrow.”
The chief let Jilly lead him to the buffet table and put a plate in his hand. I watched from the doorway, and when the chatter resumed and cutlery clinked on china, I slipped away with Keats and Percy.
Out front, at least three dozen golf carts sat with keys in their ignitions. “No one would mind if I borrowed one of these for a few minutes, right? Hop in, boys.”
The wind in my face was refreshing as I pelted through the streets to Lottie Greenwich’s house. The yellow hazard tape was still up but the
lights were off and the vehicles gone. Everyone was down at the rec center enjoying the buffet. There would never be a better moment.
I drove the golf cart into a parkette across the street that was full of those flowering trees with the cloying smell. Shorter bushes offered plenty of cover and I tucked the golf cart inside. It was dusk now, and as our feet touched the pavement, the streetlights came on suddenly. Maybe Kellan had a camera on me and would blast a warning over a loudspeaker.
“Let’s not let our imaginations run away with us,” I said, as we crossed quickly. “We’ll nip in, catch the ferret and dash. And by we, I mean me. I’m counting on you two to locate him but you will not touch a single hair on his head, understood?”
Keats looked up and gave a mumble that sounded like, “What fun is that?”
“Investigations aren’t supposed to be fun.” I fell back when we reached the other side. As usual, the pets took the lead in situations like this. My instincts were good and theirs a million times better. “But we can take a quick look around while we’re there. In case the police missed something.”
They often did miss things and not because they were sloppy. Kellan and his team were far from that. But they couldn’t possibly pick up details that a very smart dog with refined senses might consider useful. Percy’s unquenchable curiosity had thrown plenty of clues into my path as well. Often quite literally.
One thing I could usually count on was their finding a way inside. Keats led me around the back of the house and used his nose to search for a spare key. Meanwhile, Percy jumped onto windowsills to look for breaches. Since I hadn’t had a wink of sleep the night before, I was grateful this turned out to be straightforward. Keats promptly went into a point. I slipped on rubber gloves I’d lifted from the rec center kitchen and used one index finger to poke into the gaping mouth of a foot-long stone fish that sat by a burbling fountain. Pinching the key, I walked to the house. It was almost too easy. Easy made me suspicious.
Standing in the kitchen, I got my bearings. The layout of the house was identical to Bridie’s, which made getting around in the darkness much easier.
There was a notable difference in décor, however. A flash of my phone light in the living room revealed Lottie’s passion for the mystical. The square coffee table held several decks of tarot cards, an array of crystals, and a huge book with gold lettering that read, Everyday Spells for Everyday Magic. There was also an old pocket watch and a pendant with topaz that gleamed with the warmth of Keats’ brown eye. I must have stared at it for a few seconds too long because Keats nudged my hand.
“Right, thanks, buddy. How about you boys use your everyday magic to ferret out the ferret? I’ll take a few pictures in case something comes in handy later.”
There were two side tables flanking a Victorian style velvet settee. The table closest to me had a spread of tarot cards. I wondered if Lottie had laid them out yesterday to see what the day held. The cards had gold edges and elaborate illustrations that looked hand-drawn. I snapped a photo quickly and forced myself to turn away. The darkness was making my fatigue worse and eroding my common sense. I had a strong desire to take off the gloves and touch everything. It was all so pretty, especially the stones.
Keats mumbled something from the dining room.
“Coming,” I answered.
The narrow antique desk I passed on the way held a glass globe about the size of a baseball. The light was even lower here yet the orb gave off a chilly glow that reminded me of Keats’ blue eye. I didn’t need to look far to compare, because the dog had come back into the room with his belly nearly touching the rug. I suspected Arnie, the ferret, had preceded him.
Percy’s fluffy tail lashed as he stalked toward the TV stand. Along the bottom shelf sat a couple of dozen DVDs and they tipped over with a clatter before either of my pets reached it.
“Arnie,” I said. “We come in peace. I’m sure you’ve realized something’s greatly amiss. Lottie’s gone, I’m afraid. I’d like you to stay with me, at least temporarily. I’ll find your things and we’ll go.”
The ferret didn’t emerge, so I got down on my hands and knees and flicked on my light.
“There will always be a place for you at my farm, Arnie, but the cat and dog come with the package. Consider yourself warned.”
A pointy face with piercing eyes and small round ears peered out from behind the toppled DVDs. I stretched out my hand cautiously, hoping he’d step onto my palm. Arnie had other ideas. He poked his nose into my sleeve and shot inside. I couldn’t help squealing as he navigated the turn of my armpit and wriggled down the front of my T-shirt to settle around my waist. I’d need to be careful not to squish him.
Keats whined and I got to my feet. “Ferret aboard. Mission accomplished. I suppose we should get going.”
The dog circled and tried herding me back into the kitchen after Percy.
“Just give me a minute, buddy. I want to take a quick look at that crystal ball. Do you think those things are rigged?”
He whined again as I picked it up but didn’t make any sudden moves in case I dropped it.
“I know, but we should be okay for a little longer. Everyone’s distracted with Jilly’s feast.”
I cradled the crystal ball carefully in both gloved hands and stared at it. At first, all I saw was a swirl of fog but then my own face came into focus. The reflection wasn’t flattering. I’d aged 10 years in a single day.
“I look awful,” I said. “That’s what I get for peeping.”
Still, I didn’t put the ball back on its ornate filigree stand. It felt warm through the rubber gloves and a light buzz of energy traveled up my arms. Now I was more alert.
Spinning the orb, I checked the bottom. “It must have a battery. Or maybe it’s solar powered.”
Other shapes seemed to swirl inside and for a second I saw Runaway Farm. It was like a little movie playing inside. Edna Evans was running ahead of Drama Llama, knees pumping, while the thug donkeys followed. Pulling up the rear was Clippers, the miniature horse. A giggle slipped from my lips and this time Keats delivered a sharp yip to bring my brain back online.
“Whew! I must be totally woozy. I see things moving in there, like the swan flapping. Isn’t that strange?”
“Very.”
The voice startled me so much that the crystal ball lifted right out of my hands and if my reflexes hadn’t sharpened suddenly, I would have broken this unique, kitschy piece. Instead, I slapped my right hand over it and clamped it down into my left palm.
The adrenaline shooting through my limbs dulled the buzz I’d felt emanating from it earlier. Now it was just regular glass. Even the blue light had faded. I supposed it had used up its battery life, although I couldn’t see anyplace for a battery in the smooth surface.
My breath evened out because I knew the voice. It had already rebuked me once or twice today, and I knew I could expect more. The overhead light came on, and a strong flashlight for good measure.
“Why hello, Chief Gillock,” I said, gently setting the crystal ball on its stand. “Finished dinner already?”
“I barely got started when I noticed you were missing,” he said. “Your beau warned me you were elusive. He didn’t mention light-fingered.”
“Oh, please. I wasn’t going to steal this.” I gave the crystal ball a last pat. “Although it is fun. Do you remember Magic 8 balls? As kids we’d ask ours if Mom would be in a bad mood after work. Every single day it said ‘without a doubt,’ like it had jammed. Unfortunately, it wasn’t wrong.”
He stared at me for a moment as if pondering my sanity. “I meant the golf cart you just lifted. Did you also take Doug Farrow’s Vespa today?”
“Pretty sure Vaughan Mills took the Vespa. I’m the one who told Doug about it. As for the golf cart, I was merely borrowing a ride and plan to return it before dinner’s over.”
“Ivy, you can’t just barge into a crime scene and manhandle things. Gloves or no gloves. Given your connections, I assume you know proper protoc
ol.”
“Of course, but this was a critical matter and I didn’t think you and your men could handle it properly.”
His chin came up, and it really was an imposing jawline. “You think you can handle police work better than I can?”
“This job was outside your purview and squarely within mine,” I said.
“As what? A farmer?”
“Actually, yes.”
His eyes dropped to my waist and then he reared back when he saw Arnie moving around under my overalls.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“Bit of an upset stomach,” I said. “Why?”
He gestured to my waist. “That isn’t… I mean, you must feel very uncomfortable.”
“I do, actually. I didn’t expect Arnie to be so wiggly.”
“Arnie?”
“Lottie’s ferret. He ran up my sleeve and this seemed like the best way to keep tabs on him till I found his cage.”
“A ferret. Oh.” The relief in his voice was palpable. “There’s no cage.”
I looked at Keats and his paw came up. “There’s a cage. My dog can find it.”
“I don’t need your dog to help my investigation.”
“I’m sure you’ll successfully solve the mystery of Lottie’s death, Chief. But it sounds like you didn’t even know she had a pet till now. So maybe you could put pride aside and accept our help. Hopefully Kellan also mentioned I have specialized skills that come in handy.”
“He said you could probably help sort things out with the swan.”
“That’s it?” It was disappointing that Chief Harper hadn’t sold my skills harder, but I supposed boyfriend Kellan just wanted to keep me safe. Especially when I was so far from home. If he heard the swan hiss, however, he might think twice about recommending me for bird wrangling.
“That’s it,” the chief said, crossing his arms. “We were both of the professional opinion that you should keep your distance from this case. You’re well aware that it may not have been an accidental drowning or a swan attack. Everyone needs to be cautious right now. Yet here you were, gazing into a crystal ball. What was so mesmerizing?”