A Very Merry Murder

by Cindy Kline

  Noah got out of the car and looked at them suspiciously, “May I help you?”

  Molly smiled. “We have an appointment to see your ma, but she’s not answering.”

  He rolled his eyes. “She’s probably wearing her headphones. She can never hear the doorbell with those on. I can let you in.”

  He took the keys in his hand, and as he went to unlock the door, it moved inward. “What the?” He looked at Molly. “She never leaves the door unlocked.”

  Noah went to open it further when Molly stopped him, her “senses” in overdrive. “Wait. Let me go in first.”

  “Why?” He moved back and let Molly go in.

  Molly looked at Keith, “You two, stay here.”

  She walked into the living room and noticed a lamp on the floor. As she looked closer, the coffee table was moved away from the couch on one end, and some books were lying on the brown carpet. All the furniture looked old and shabby other than a beautiful buffet cabinet in dark cherry, placed against the wall to her left. A fireplace was built into the wall, separating the living room from the kitchen, with smoldering embers present, a stack of wood sitting in front of it.

  “Megan? It’s Molly McGuire. Are you here?”

  As Molly walked farther into the room, she noticed a laptop computer was sitting on the dining room table, along with whatever papers Megan was working on. There was a cup of tea sitting next to the laptop, and Molly felt it with her fingers. It was lukewarm.

  She turned to her left and looked at the kitchen, but everything appeared to be in its place. To the right was a set of stairs leading up, which Molly took slowly, trying to peer in between the banister openings as soon as she was able. There were two rooms visible across from the stairs. Molly glanced into the first room, which she assumed was Noah’s. There were more signs of a struggle, with pictures hanging crooked and a vase of flowers that must have set on a small table knocked over and on the floor. Molly pulled out her phone and called Callum. She moved into the second room, which was a bathroom.

  There was a damp towel hanging over the shower curtain, but other than that, it was amazingly clean. She stopped for a moment as Callum answered his phone.

  “Hey, it’s me. I’m at Megan Hill’s house, and I can’t find her, and there are definite signs of a struggle.”

  “No, I’m not getting out of the house. I have a couple more rooms to check.”

  “Because her teenage son is out on the front porch, and if I tell him I didn’t check everywhere, he’s going to, that’s why.”

  “Of course, I haven’t touched anything.” Molly tried to think. She didn’t think so, anyway. There were two more doors. Using her sweater, she turned the knob of the first room to find several boxes stacked in it. She left it open and moved to the next room.

  “I’m on the last room right now.” The door was ajar, and Molly slowly pushed it open. Her heart sunk. Megan was lying on the floor next to the king-size bed, the gray carpet stained with blood, a knife of some sort sticking out of her chest. Not again!

  “Oh, God, Callum—she’s dead.”

  “Yes, I’ll leave,” and she disconnected the call. She went to leave when she noticed something written on the weapon. Molly walked closer and bent down to get a better look, the metallic odor of blood hitting her nose. As she looked closer, she noticed it was a letter opener and could see the letters “HB,” the last letter obscured. Molly could only assume the last letter was a “P.” But what would Henry’s letter opener be doing in Megan’s chest?

  She stood and heard sirens coming closer, so she left the room and went down the stairs to find Noah and Keith sitting on the couch talking. They stopped when she walked into the room.

  “What happened down here?” Noah stood up and looked around. “Keith said not to touch anything, but when my ma gets back, she’s going to be mad.”

  “Um, we need to leave. The police are on their way,” Molly took his arm and tried to guide him toward the door. He didn’t budge.

  “Leave? Why?” He shook off her hand from his arm.

  Keith stood up and laid his hand on Noah’s back. “Come on, Noah. The police probably just want us out of their way.”

  Molly opened the front door and almost ran into Rory, who was about to knock. Molly opened the door wider so Noah could see who was there.

  “Hey, Noah. What’s taking so long?” He looked at us and asked, “What’s going on?”

  Rory backed up as Molly walked out the door, Noah and Keith following. She spotted a swing on the porch. “Why don’t you two young men sit down,” she tried to guide Noah to sit, but he turned to face her.

  “What’s wrong? What did you find? Is it my ma? Is she okay?” Noah’s questions came at her like bullets. She closed her eyes, not wanting to destroy this young man’s dream of having him ma around for a long time.

  Rory took his arm. “Come on, Noah. Let her talk.”

  She and Keith leaned against the railing facing the boys. “Noah, there’s no easy way to say this, but your ma’s dead.”

  She saw the young man of a few seconds ago crumble, and the little boy he once was appear on his face as the tears rolled down his cheeks.

  “No, she can’t be. You must be mistaken.” He stood up and tried to go toward the door, but thankfully, Keith caught him and stopped him.

  Just then, a white SUV rolled up and stopped in front of the house, parking behind Rory’s car. The man who got out was around six feet tall with blond hair blowing in the wind. He walked up to the porch just as two police cars rolled up to the house.

  “What’s going on?” He looked at all of them on the porch and then the police cars that just pulled up. “Megan said she needed a ride to work.”

  “Hi, Uncle Craig,” Rory said.

  Molly held out her hand, “Hi, I’m Molly McGuire. This is my…Keith,” she nodded toward him. Keith held out his hand, and they shook. Did that handshake last a smidgen too long, or did she imagine it? “May I speak to you over here?” She took him by the hand and led him to the other side of the porch.

  In a low voice, she said, “You’re Craig Wilson?”

  He nodded, “What’s going on? Why are the police here?”

  “I’m so sorry, but Megan’s dead, Mr. Wilson.”

  His eyes went wide, “I just spoke to her. She asked for a ride to work. I was at the gym. I told her I’d be here soon.”

  Molly hadn’t noticed before, but his hair was damp. He had to be chilled.

  “How long ago was this?” Molly asked.

  “About thirty minutes ago.” He sat down on the railing, glancing at the boys. “Oh, my God. First Henry, now Megan? What’s going on? Poor Noah.”

  Molly looked at her watch. That was around the same time Megan texted her. She turned to smile as Callum came up to the porch. His eyes widened as he took in the crowd.

  “Ms. McGuire, may I speak to you inside?” He opened the door and motioned for Molly to go in first, then he followed her, closing the door.

  “Where’s the body?”

  “Upstairs, second door on the right.”

  Molly went to follow, but Callum held onto her arm.

  “You stay here. Actually, no, go back outside.”

  “Callum, it’s cold out there. Can’t we stay in here where it’s warm?”

  “Outside, Molly, Now!” His eyes blazed.

  “Okay, okay, no reason to get so upset.”

  Molly went back outside and wanted to sit down, but the only place to sit was the swing, both occupied by the boys, so she leaned against the railing next to Keith.

  She smiled at Constable Mills as he walked in the door of Megan’s house.

  “Where did Mr. Wilson go?” She looked around.

  Noah nodded his head toward the street. “Back in his car.” He said he had some phone calls to make. Molly turned around and saw he was indeed in his car, the motor running.

  Molly looked at the young men. “Are you two warm enough? My goodness, you only have hoodies on.”r />
  “I’m fine,” Noah said.

  “Me too,” said Rory. He looked up at Molly and asked, “Are you the one that found my dad?”

  “I am. How is he? Has there been any change?”

  “Not really. The doctors said there is still swelling in his brain, so he’s not likely to come out of the coma until it’s healed itself.”

  “How’s your mum?”

  “She won’t leave him. I came back to give my girlfriend a ride home from work, and my grandmother has packed a bag for my mum for me to take back to her.”

  Molly looked at Noah, who was fiddling with something. He dropped it, diverting everyone’s attention. Molly bent over and picked it up. It was a set of car keys.

  “Are these your keys, Noah?”

  “No. They’re Ma’s. Why?”

  Molly had put Henry’s keys in her pocket so she wouldn’t forget to give them to Megan. She pulled them out now and looked at each key on Megan’s ring, then each key on Henry’s. There was one key on each ring that looked similar. Molly held them together to compare.

  Damn. The key on Megan’s ring matched the key to Henry’s desk drawer, the drawer that supposedly had only one key.

  Molly closed her eyes. Megan, what did you do, and is that what got you killed?

  Chapter Seventeen

  Molly’s toes were numb by the time Callum came outside to speak to them. “Callum, I know this is a…” She looked at Noah. “An important investigation, but we’re freezing. I’m taking the boys to my house. Tell DI Elliott he can talk to us there.”

  “Molly, that’s hardly standard operating procedure.”

  “Fine, then tell him you came down, and we were gone. I don’t care, but we’re leaving.” Molly and Callum were in the middle of a staring contest when Constable Mills came out the door.

  “Mills!”

  “Yes, sir?”

  “I want you to follow Ms. McGuire to Rose Cottage and stay there until DI Elliott shows up to interview them.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  A few minutes later, the three cars made the short drive to Rose Cottage. Molly called ahead to let Gran know they were on their way, and there would be a couple extra for dinner.

  The garage door was open when Molly pulled into her driveway. She parked next to Gran’s sedan, and Rory and Constable Mills parked in the driveway next to one another.

  A few minutes later, they were all blanketed in the cottage’s warmth, with a pleasant fire blazing in the faux fireplace. Molly took everyone’s coats and went to hang them up. She closed her eyes, prepared for the avalanche, but when nothing happened, she opened them and was quite surprised.

  “Gran, you cleaned the closet!” She hung up everyone’s coats, then walked into the living room.

  “I did. I was tired of getting beaned in the head every time I opened the darn thing.”

  “There’s hot cocoa for everyone. You boys go and sit in the living room and enjoy the fire. I’ll bring it out shortly.” She looked at Molly and Keith. “You two, follow me.”

  Constable Mills followed the boys into the living room.

  They followed Gran into the kitchen, where there was a large pot of hot chocolate on the stove and fresh chocolate chip cookies sitting on the counter.

  Molly went to the cupboard and pulled out six mugs, handing them to Keith, who set them on the tray Gran had just pulled out of a drawer. Gran ladled the hot chocolate into the cups while Molly went into the cupboard above the refrigerator and pulled out some Irish cream. She poured some into three of the six cups. Gran added mini marshmallows to the three without the liquor, and a plate of cookies to the tray, then picked it up.

  Both boys were sitting on the couch with Luna in between them. Rory was rubbing her belly while Noah sat there with his elbows on his knees, his hands folded together as if in prayer. Molly introduced both boys to Gran.

  “Here you go boys.” Gran set the tray down on the coffee table in front of them. She handed them each a napkin as Molly handed them each a cup that had marshmallows. Molly handed the spiked ones to Keith and Gran, taking the last one for herself, holding it between her hands to bring life back into her fingers.

  “Constable Mills, we have one for you too,” Gran said, handing him the mug.

  “Thank you, Gran.” He sat back down in one of the overstuffed chairs and took out his phone.

  Rory pulled out his phone. “Excuse me, I have to text my girlfriend to tell her I can’t pick her up from work.”

  “Talia, right?” Molly asked.

  “How did you know…? Oh, that’s right, she works for you, doesn’t she?”

  “I’m sure Ciara can give her a ride home.” Molly pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to Ciara. A few minutes later, Molly looked at the return text, then looked at Rory with a smile. “Problem solved.”

  Noah hadn’t touched his drink, so Molly picked it up and handed it to him. He took a sip and set it back down.

  “Thank you.”

  Gran picked up the plate of cookies and offered it to Rory, who took one and set it down on his napkin, thanking her. She then offered one to Noah, who shook his head. “No, thank you.”

  Rory took a bite. “These are amazing. Noah, you really should have one.”

  Gran beamed. “Help yourself to more if you’d like,” Gran said as she sat down in one of the overstuffed chairs.

  Molly, who couldn’t get warm, excused herself for a few minutes and went to change her clothes, returning in a pair of jeans and an Aran sweater. Still chilled, she stood in front of the fire.

  Gran looked at the boys. “You two have had a rough week. Noah, I’m so sorry for your loss. I lost my husband not that long ago, and I think of him every day.” She then looked at Rory. “How is your father doing?”

  Rory filled her in on Henry’s condition.

  “I will keep him in my prayers.”

  “Thank you, ma’am,” Rory said as he took another cookie from the plate.

  “You’re such a polite young man, but you can call me Gran. Everyone else does.”

  “I know my situation differs from Noah’s, but I keep expecting my dad to text me, asking how my day’s gone. He would do that every day, no matter how busy he was.”

  Noah looked up, tears running down his face. “My ma would do that too.” He looked at Gran. “Will it get easier? I feel, I don’t know, almost numb, I guess.”

  She sighed. “I remember feeling the same way, Noah. You have a lot to process right now. I won’t lie to you. It will get worse before it gets better. But it will get better, I promise you.”

  Noah stood up. “I should be with my ma.” He rubbed his eyes with his fingers. Molly got up and handed him some tissues out of the box on the end table.

  “You don’t want to see her now. Besides, even if you went back, the police won’t let you in.”

  The doorbell rang as Noah sat back down. Gran went into the kitchen while Molly answered the door, not surprised to find DI Elliott standing there.

  “DI Elliott, come in, won’t you?” Molly opened the door wider for him to come through. He walked into the room, his coat open, and what appeared to be an egg stain on his tie.

  “DI Elliott, can I offer you some hot chocolate?” Gran had filled an insulated pot with the hot chocolate and was refilling everyone’s mugs.

  He pulled out his notebook and sat down in a chair across from the couch. “That would be lovely, Mrs. Kennedy, thank you.”

  Molly’s eyes went wide at his cordial tone. He looked at the boys, and let out a heavy sigh. Gran poured him his drink and handed it to him. He took a sip, then set it down on the table next to his chair.

  “You two young men have been through quite a lot these past few days, haven’t you?” He looked at Rory. “How is your father, son? Any change?”

  “None, sir. Thank you for asking.”

  He looked at Noah. “And you’re Noah Mills, correct?”

  Noah wiped his tears with the tissues Molly had given him as
he nodded.

  “I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m sure this has come as a great shock to you, but I want you to know, both of you, that I will do everything I can to find out who did this.” He looked at Molly. “Ms. McGuire, is there someplace more private Mr. Hill and I can go to talk?”

  Molly was still in shock at the kind tone he used with the boys. She was at a loss for words and just stared at him with her mouth open. Thankfully, Gran came to the rescue.

  “Yes, you can use the office upstairs. I’m sure you remember where that is.”

  He nodded, then looked at Constable Mills. “Mills, please come with us to take notes.”

  The three of them stood up. The DI picked up his cup of hot chocolate and pointed to Noah’s. “You might want to take that with you. It’s mighty good.” Noah picked it up, and they all walked upstairs.

  About twenty minutes later, Callum showed up. He gave Gran a hug, and she gave him a mug of hot chocolate and a cookie, setting him on the couch like he was there to take Molly on a date.

  “Thanks, Gran. This hot chocolate is as good as I remember it. This reminds me of all those times we’d go ice skating on your grandparents’ pond. We’d come in, and Gran would have hot chocolate waiting for us. Good memories.”

  Molly hadn’t thought of that for ages. “All I remember is the last time we went, which was when I tripped on something underneath the ice and broke my arm.” She grimaced.

  He laughed. “I forgot about that one. That was pretty funny.” He looked at Keith. “You should have seen it. She was a good skater, and she was about to do this jump when she hit a stick, or stone, or something, and went flying through the air, landing on her arm.”

  They both chuckled. Molly was sitting on the couch where Noah had left. She took one of the pillows and threw it at Callum. “Oh, it was really funny. I was in a cast for eight weeks!”