The officer strode through the crowd. Brave man that he was, he stepped between the women and admonished them for their actions.
“Break it up, you two. There’s no need to behave like children. You’re upsetting the rabbits and making a spectacle of yourselves.”
The more aggressive of the two women refused to back down and said, “Mind your own business.”
Security personnel arrived in time to save the day. They moved in to disperse onlookers and handle the two women’s differences, thus saving the plainclothes policeman from having to produce his badge and blow his cover. I grinned over his statement that the rabbits were upset. It was likely he had no inkling of what rabbits felt. Bun’s ears had flattened and then flipped up again when he’d heard the cop say it, and I took it as a sign of Bun’s sense of humor kicking in.
Bystanders loitered until they were ordered to move on. Bun and I were adjacent to the sheriff, the other cop, and the two women. Our vantage point was perfect. We could hear what was being said by others and the two offenders.
I glanced over my shoulder. The booth behind us was attended by a young man who beckoned to me.
“That sure was poor behavior for two adult women, don’t you think?”
“It was indeed. Do you know them?” I asked.
“They attend every show and come to blows each time. Too much jealousy if you ask me.” He shook his head.
I saw his badge and asked, “How do they get away with such disruption, Colin?”
“Miss Montgomery always kept them under control. Last year, one of them threatened her with violence. She said Evelyn should mind her own business or she’d pay for her nosiness.”
Colin Bedford’s eyes flicked back and forth, as though he expected someone to walk up to the booth. I wanted him to share more of what he knew and encouraged him to continue.
“Which woman was that? I want to stay as far away from her as I can.”
His mouth opened as Jack stepped next to me. I never got my answer. Colin and Jack began a conversation on what type of food he recommended for his rabbit, since Colin’s rabbit appeared so healthy.
I bid them farewell and went in the direction of the merchandise vendors. I stopped to chat at several booths, purchased all natural rabbit toys from each, and ended up at Jim Brody’s booth, where I pondered a bed for Bun.
“That was quite the brouhaha, wouldn’t you say?” Jim remarked.
“This has been an eye-opening experience for me. I never realized there was such jealousy among owners or the competition between them, either.”
“Those women have disliked each other since they met.”
I touched the light blue bed that Bun had found to his liking.
While he shared the benefits of it, Jim said, “Personally, I think if owners and contest entrants can’t behave professionally, they shouldn’t be allowed to participate in the show. The majority of them are great people, with a love of rabbits, and enjoy the chance to show them off. It’s a shame when people like those two women create an atmosphere that can ruin an event such as this. Evelyn never allowed it to get as far as it did today.”
As he paused, I jumped in with a question. “How well do you know these rabbit owners and helpers?”
“They attend the same shows every year, so I know them very well.”
“It must be nice to see them every time. Good for business, too, I bet. I’ll take that blue bed if you have a huge bag I can carry it in. As you can see, I have Bun and a backpack to deal with.”
“You’re really buying it for me? I’m so happy, I could jump out of this comfy sling and run around the room.”
I hugged the sling a bit closer while Jim put the purchase in a huge plastic bag with handles. I held out my credit card. “Evelyn must have been quite brave. How did she manage to keep the peace?”
Jim returned the card and smirked. “She wielded her power over anyone foolish enough to push their luck.” He leaned in close as he lifted the bag over the counter. “She was a miserable person, and was rude and overbearing toward the entrants. Even the hoity-toity group steered clear of her.”
“Really?” I remarked in awe. Fake though it was, my awe came across as believable, because Jim warmed to the subject.
“She would threaten to have them disqualified. I have to say her one saving grace was her affection for the rabbits.”
Sympathetically, I said, “It’s such a shame she was, uh, killed. Do you know of anyone who would want to harm her?”
“Be careful, don’t push too hard.”
Leave it to Bun to remind me of that, when he would be the first to not push, but shove as hard as he could. Rabbits, ya gotta love ’em.
“I can think of a few who held grudges against her. The two booths in from the right side of that entrance over there, for instance.” He chinned in that direction so as not to lift a finger and point. “I’m sure they wouldn’t harm her, though.”
I’d followed the direction he alluded to and noticed Sheriff Carver had entered the room. It was time for us to leave. Before I made a run for it, I asked, “Evelyn worked for you, didn’t she?”
He gave me an odd look and nodded. “She did, albeit briefly.”
After offering my thanks for Bun’s bed, I walked past Carver with a nod.
CHAPTER NINE
Day two had proven to be informative. With one more day to go, I was positive I could make enough headway to prove Carina hadn’t committed the crime Jack thought she had. Even though he was interested in the show folks, I knew he would maintain his belief that Carina could have been the culprit.
“You know, that Brody fellow could be mistaken about the people he pointed out. If Evelyn was as miserable to them as she supposedly was to everyone else, there’s no telling what they might have conspired to do to her.”
“After dinner tonight, we should compile notes on what we know, and have heard and seen. Let’s keep it concise since we’re dealing with lots of possibilities and gossip.”
“I think that’s a smart idea. What’s for dinner?”
“You’re having what everyone else is.”
“And that would be?”
“Whatever Jessica and Molly have put together. It will be scrumptious, it always is.”
He lay still and quiet for the remainder of the ride home. I had managed to tucker Bun out with all our investigative efforts. He awoke upon arrival at the farm. Cars were lined up just as they were for the last spinning and weaving class.
Jess met me at the door and whispered, “Sheriff Carver wants you to call him.” She lifted the Bun Bag from my shoulder onto hers.
I went in and let Bun loose, then removed the sling. “Thanks,” I said in recognition of her message and taking on half of my load. I set the bags of purchases on the floor next to the barn door and watched students intent on their creativity. The weavers sat at their small rigid heddle looms, wending their shuttles to and fro, then tightening each row.
Molly joined Jessica and me, then motioned us into the barn. We followed her lead and waited as she closed the door.
“I have some news, though it might not be so great for you, Jules.”
Jess and I looked at each other, then back at Molly. Prepared for the worst, I said, “Okay, go ahead.”
“There was an article in the newspaper about a murdered woman named Evelyn Montgomery. She worked at the show you are judging at, Jules.”
“I know. There’s more, isn’t there?”
“Well, um, there is. She was seen with Carina Richland’s husband before he died. I only know this because my sister, Emily, used to be a waitress at a restaurant in Jasper. She also knew of Mr. Richland because Emily’s friend used to babysit for the Richlands. Emily would wait until the couple left and then join her friend while babysitting the Richlands’ daughter. She said he and the dead woman were all cozied up at that restaurant.”
“Whew, I’m relieved that’s all you wanted to tell me. It is good news, but bad at the same time. I’m w
orking to keep Carina from being accused of Evelyn’s death. Please don’t tell anyone that, and I mean, anyone.”
Her smile, as always, lit up the room. She crossed her heart with two fingers, and promised not to breathe a word. Having said what she thought useful, Molly returned to her students.
Bun came toward us, his ears twitching. A sure sign he had heard every single word. Before he could expound upon his views, I asked Jessica if the rabbits’ meals were ready.
“They are. I prepared them in between patient appointments. Petra is fine, by the way. Her allergy has taken its leave, and she’s her old self again. The fare for dinner is a mix of orchard and oat hays, followed by a portion of mustard greens and pansies. Dessert consists of a couple teaspoons of apricot bits.”
“Yummy for my tummy. Yippee.”
I gave a thumbs-up. “The rabbits will be happy with that menu. I appreciate your help. One more day to go, and then I’ll be home to handle things. Thanks.”
“You can make our dinner. I have late patients today. The last one will be here by five o’clock.” Jess glanced at the clock, then left me and Bun on our own.
“I’ll put your new bed in your room so you can take a rest if you want.”
“I’d rather go into the run tunnel to exercise, if you don’t mind. That kit nap I had on the way home refreshed me.”
A kit nap, huh? Kits are what baby bunnies are called. Bun cracked me up when I least expected it by using kit nap rather than catnap. “Get going, then.”
After lifting him into the tunnel, I fed the rabbits while he raced to the end and back again. By the time I had doled out the last meal, Bun awaited me. I retrieved the shopping bags and Bun Bag from the shop before we entered the house.
Bun checked out his new bed. Sniffing it, he placed his front paws on the fabric and kneaded it like a cat would. His final move was to hop into the center of the huge pillow to snuggle into it. His approval was obvious. Pleased that I’d made his day, I prepared dinner.
While a pot roast, potatoes, onions, and carrots simmered in a pan on the stove, I wiped my hands and answered the phone. Carina was on the line.
“Hi there, I was going to give you a call later tonight.”
“I’m glad I caught up with you. The sheriff hasn’t been around, but I think he assigned an officer to follow me.”
“Are you sure?”
“When I take Adrian to school and pick her up, I see the same car and driver. I went to the market yesterday and he was in the parking lot. When I walked toward his car, he took off.”
“I’ll see what I can find out and get right back to you.”
“Please do. I don’t like it, but being stalked is much more sinister. I’ll be here for another two hours before Adrian goes to dance class.”
I hung up and dialed Jack’s number. He answered on the first ring.
Without niceties, I asked, “Do you have an officer keeping track of Carina?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“She thinks she’s being followed or, even worse, possibly stalked.”
“Adam is assigned to her. Now that he’s been seen, I’ll remove him from that detail. How did she come to her conclusion?”
“Good golly, he couldn’t have been more obvious, Jack. If you want to tail her, don’t let the officer sit in front of her house and take off when he sees her at the grocery store.”
“And, you know all of this because?”
“We spoke on the phone. I wanted to know if she wanted to bring Adrian over to see the rabbits. She mentioned the situation and is quite rattled.” Ashamed of lying to Jack, I knew he could probably see through it.
“I see. Let her know the police are keeping an eye on her for her own protection. After all, the murder was committed on her property and the victim was one of her guests.”
“You’re kidding, right? You aren’t watching her on that account, you think she killed Evelyn.”
Silent for a minute, Jack said coolly, “You don’t know what I think, so don’t assume.”
“Fine, I’ll let you go then.”
In a snit, I slammed the phone into the charger. He could annoy me in no time flat. Jack Carver had that cop thing down to a science. I walked into his trap every time he used it to get under my skin. He hadn’t wanted to say more, so he’d made his remark knowing full well that I would get snippy. Geesh, would I ever learn?
The news that Carina was under surveillance to assure her safety was taken well when I offered Carina the sheriff’s reasons behind it. With a sigh of relief, Carina went on to say she was certain the sheriff had figured out she couldn’t have killed Evelyn.
I wanted to tell her to rethink that, but I didn’t. Instead, I shared what I’d learned at the rabbit show and how Sheriff Carver felt the killer was somehow connected to it.
“Thanks, Jules. You don’t know what it means to me to have you on my side.” With that said, she hung up.
The table set, Jess and I ate supper after she had closed the clinic.
We chatted over our individual happenings of the day. Jessica mentioned Molly’s ability to handle the shop and classes, work in the clinic if needed, and then help Jason with the rabbits. “She doesn’t get flustered. It amazes me that someone her age can compartmentalize what comes her way and deal with it accordingly.”
“She’s a winner in my estimation.” Pleased that Molly could shoulder responsibility without a meltdown, I considered her an asset to the farm.
“Is there a raise in her future? She could use the money.”
I calculated what I could afford and shook my head. “I can’t afford to pay either one of them more. I wish I could.”
“What if you received Jim Brody’s grant?”
“I haven’t turned in the application yet. I’ve never had a grant like that one and I’m worried there might be a loophole in it somewhere.”
“You should have told me. I’ll take a look at it if you’d like.”
Happy over the offer, I rose from my chair. “I’ll go get it.”
Handing it to her, I watched as she pulled the sheets of paper from the packet. “What are your concerns?”
“That there may be a way for Jim’s company to take over the farm or influence the operation of it.”
“Okay.”
Other than the sound of paper rattling, Jessica was silent. I’d expected a running stream of thoughts from Bun as he huddled in his doorway, but there wasn’t a peep from him. The table cleared and dishes loaded into the dishwasher, I walked to the mailbox at the end of our driveway, and took the mail inside.
When I sat at the table to look through the mail, Jess shuffled the papers and folded them neatly.
“You have no need for concern. It’s a straightforward grant. You won’t have to pay it back, but you will have to give reports every six months until the money runs out. Give this to Jim tomorrow, I think he’s an upstanding guy. If you still have doubts, ask Sheriff Carver about him and his business. That man knows everything about every-one.”
Tucking the application into the envelope, I added it to the Bun Bag for delivery in the morning.
“Should the funds be granted, I can offer both kids a raise and do the small repairs that have been put off until I could save enough to pay for them.”
“Good. I should get going. Thanks for the meal.”
After Jess was gone, Bun and I sat on the porch to watch twilight descend. I’d brought a notepad and pen with me to write our findings.
“She’s very helpful, isn’t she?”
“Indeed, she is. But you’re helpful, too. Now, we should organize the information we’ve gleaned. I also have to consider how to let Jack know anything new, without him becoming angry.”
With what I thought of as a snort from Bun, who hadn’t sneezed or sniffed. Rather, it sounded somewhere between the two.
“After he said we were out of his investigation, I wouldn’t give him the time of day. He’s totally unappreciative of our talents.”
“He wants us to be safe, is all. I was shocked when he asked me to be his eyes and ears in the first place. If his boss knew he had involved civilians, he’d be in hot water.”
“Go ahead, rationalize it any way you want, but in the end, the result is the same. We’re on the outside looking in, even though we’re in a better position to get people to talk to us. Look at what we were told today. I bet no one offered that information to the sheriff.”
“You could be right. Anyhow, we will continue on our own and Jack can do his best by himself. Let’s get what we know down on paper. You dictate, and I’ll write.”
“We’re a great team, you and I. We should open an investigative service. We’d get rich, though I have no use for money.”
He didn’t, but I could use all I could get. A job as an investigator wasn’t on my to-do list even if it would please Bun. I wrote furiously in the light from the porch lamp as he talked. Night had fallen, all was covered like a dark blanket had been cast over the land. The longer we sat out here, the cooler it became.
The last word written, I suggested we go inside as it was chilly. I had no idea what time it was. I yawned and stretched, tipped my wrist to see my watch and found we’d been at work for two hours.
Shuffling through the door, I locked up for the night and went into the barn to check that all was well. The rabbits rested. The shop room was neat and clean. No odd bits of yarn or hanks littered the floor.
A note from Molly was on the countertop. She’d made an inventory list, left totaled sales slips clipped together, and gave me a rundown of the progress made by the students. The note ended with a question of how many additional small spinning wheels we could afford and asked where could they be set up. She also suggested we acquire one or two more looms. I smiled at her business acumen, and knew quite well she could fill the room with spinner and weaver students given the chance.
I left the room, thought over her requests, and heaved a sigh. Tired to the bone, I was delighted the show would end soon, and hoped to procure Jim Brody’s grant. I walked through the breezeway and turned my mind to the mystery surrounding Evelyn’s life and death.
Who's Dead, Doc? Page 8