by Robin Caroll
Beau grinned and nodded. “Indicating someone was in a hurry or didn’t care much about craftsmanship.” He looked back at the differences. “It’s not as uniform either. Definitely not of the same caliber of quality as where the wall started against the adjoining wall.” He pointed to just before where the skeleton laid. “Looks like the sloppiness started here and …” he walked down to the connecting wall. “Goes all the way to the wall.”
“What does that mean?” Timothy asked.
“It means that our murderer might not have been on the construction crew, but knew they were building these walls and what stage they were at. He had a body to hide and knew enough about how to mix the mortar and masonry to finish the wall, even though the work was much more shoddy than the original.”
“So it wasn’t a worker?”
Beau grinned. “We don’t know yet, but my gut tells me no. Even in a hurry, craftsmen take pride in their work.”
“But he could’ve been worried about being caught.”
Beau nodded. “True, but he needed to plan enough time to do a sufficient job so that no one would notice. Maybe he had others to help him so it wouldn’t take very long.”
“Okay,” Timothy nodded, “but if not a construction worker, it had to be someone who knew about the renovations and that the tools would be there and the area blocked off.”
“Right. That brings in the construction foremen, suppliers, hotel management and staff.”
“That’s a whole lot of suspects, Detective.”
Beau sighed. “Yep, so anything you and the team from FACES can do to help me narrow down my timeline will be a big help.”
Timothy grinned like a kid in an ice cream store. “You got it.”
Sometimes, it was just that easy. Beau smiled, then stared at the bones and frowned. Other things weren’t as easy.
— Addy
“Yvette said you stopped by and needed to see me?” Dimitri strode through her open office door, smile wide.
Her responding smile was automatic. “I did.” She stood and met him as he walked in. He put his hand on her shoulder, and she looked up at him. His handsome face was turned toward her expectantly, dark eyes affectionate.
“We’ve had a bit of an incident.”
His smile disappeared as quickly as hers, his look intense. “What now?”
“The renovation crew found a skeleton this morning. The police and coroner are here.”
“A skeleton?” He scruffed his hand through thick dark hair.
She nodded and quickly gave him the details, making sure to keep her emotional edge out of her voice. “Geoff’s making sure no one goes into the area. Since we already have it cordoned off for the renovations, guests won’t be alerted, so that’s good.”
“What about the skeleton?”
“I don’t think they know anything yet.”
“Oh, but we do.” Marcel crossed into her office. “Sorry, the door was open.”
They both turned.
“Then by all means, come in, Detective.” Dimitri crossed his arms over his chest and sat on the edge of Addy’s desk. “What do you know?”
Marcel grimaced at Dimitri. “It’s an open investigation now, so I can’t discuss privileged information with you.”
The overload of male testosterone in the room could strangle Addy. “What do you need, Marcel?”
“Actually, I’m here to see you, Dimitri.”
“And you’ve found me.” Dimitri stretched his legs out in front of him, still leaning against the edge of her desk. “However may I assist you, Detective?”
“Since Addy has brought you up to speed on what we’ve found, we need some information from you. As acting owner of the Darkwater Inn, of course.”
“Of course.” Dimitri pushed off the desk and straightened. “What kind of information?”
“We’ll need records of all renovations done at the hotel. Dates, locations, basic renovations done…that kind of thing.”
Dimitri looked at Addy, his eyes wide. “I’m not sure where to find those records. Father kept records, I’m sure, but I wouldn’t even know where to begin to look.”
“You might have to go ask him, Dimitri.” She kept her voice low. As much as she couldn’t stand Claude Pampalon, he was Dimitri’s father.
“I don’t think so.”
“Maybe you can call him,” Marcel volunteered.
Dimitri glared at Marcel. “Or maybe a visit from the police would encourage him to give up the information more than a visit from the son he feels betrayed him and put him in prison.”
Marcel didn’t respond, just stared back.
Addy swallowed against the lump in her throat. Dimitri had turned his father in because he was a man on honor. Of integrity. But that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt for his father to have lashed out at him like he had when he’d been sentenced to eight years in prison.
His father had already given Dimitri power of attorney over the hotel, which he wanted to retract upon his sentencing but couldn’t. Their relationship, while always strained, was now all but nonexistent.
That nearly broke Addy’s heart. As close as she was to her father…well, she couldn’t imagine not having Vincent Fountaine as a very strong presence in her life. They might not always see eye to eye, but they loved and respected one another and made the effort to stay close. Every Thursday evening, she’d join him at his reclusive house for dinner.
Thursday night. Tonight. She’d have something interesting to tell him over the lasagna she was making tonight.
But for now…Addy looked around. “I’m sure the records are here somewhere, Marcel. I’ll get someone to start searching for them.”
He smiled at her. “Thank you, Addy.”
She took a breath. “Do you have any idea when the s-skeleton will be removed and that area cleared?” She swallowed a groan and squared her shoulders. What kind of general manager stuttered over a simple word?
“Beau’s down there with the coroner investigator right now. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you asked him.” Marcel grinned wider.
Addy could practically feel the tautness rolling off of Dimitri. Guilt assuaged her since it was all her fault. Dating two men at the same time…what had she been thinking? Her best friend, Tracey, had told her to date both of them and see which one she had stronger feelings for. She’d been up-front and honest with them about trying to sort out her feelings, but she was to blame for the animosity here.
She turned on Marcel. “I’m sure he wouldn’t, but I asked you. Maybe you could go find out for me?”
Marcel stiffened. “You’ll be updated as soon as we can let you know something.” He glanced at Dimitri then back at Addy. “Work on getting us those records. We’ll need them.”
“Of course.” Great. Just when she’d begun to feel like Beau’s partner didn’t hate her on sight, now he did again.
He turned and left the office without another word. She’d talk to Beau about Marcel’s attitude later.
“I’m sorry, Dimitri.”
“For what? You didn’t put a skeleton behind the wall, did you?” He grinned and touched her shoulder.
Even when he was upset, he still went out of his way to comfort her. She couldn’t help smiling back. “No, but some people shouldn’t tempt me.”
He chuckled. “Having a mental image of you taking someone out…yeah, that’s funny.”
She nudged him with her hip. “Hey, you never know.”
He pulled her into his arms for a quick hug. “I do know you, Adelaide Fountaine, and I know you would never off someone and put them behind a wall.”
She backed up a step, but he still kept a hand on her waist. “Now that I think about it, that is very Poe-ish, isn’t it? To brick a body behind a wall.”
“Very much so. Maybe that’s where the murderer got the idea.”
“Do you think so?” She hadn’t really considered it, but such an unusual way to hide a body…maybe.
“Could be. Either way, there’
s another murder victim found at the Darkwater Inn. I suppose I should go talk to Beauregard.”
A deep baritone spoke up. “No need.”
Addy spun, moving away from Dimitri. “Beau. It’s not nice to sneak up on people.”
The hurt plainly visible on his face as he looked at both of them stole her annoyance.
“I thought I’d give you a status update.” Beau nodded at Dimitri.
“Of course. Thank you.” She gave herself a mental shake. She had to stop letting her personal feelings interfere with her position. “What’s going on?”
Beau gave her that little half-smile of his. “The coroner’s office has called in a team to help with extraction of the skeleton. They should be here within an hour. Once they have cleared the bones, we’ll gather what evidence there is, then you should be able to continue business as usual.”
“I saw a hatchet or axe there when I called you. Is that evidence?”
He nodded. “Everything in close proximity to the victim is evidence. That, in particular, since it looks like a blow to the head might have been the cause of death.”
“With the axe?” Her eyes widened. Forget Edgar Allan Poe, this was taking on a Lizzie Borden feel.
Beau nodded again. “But we don’t know anything for sure right now. Timothy, the coroner investigator, said it looked like the damage to the skull could match up with the axe found next to the remains.”
“Who kills someone with an axe and leaves the murder weapon next to the body?” Dimitri asked.
Addy shook her head. “Who kills someone with an axe, period?”
“That’s what I’ll have to find out.”
She smiled at Beau. “I don’t envy you.”
Dimitri’s gaze darted from Beau to her, then back to Beau again. “Adelaide will have someone find the hotel’s records of when renovations were performed. Is there anything else we can do to help you with your investigation?”
“Not at the moment.” Beau spoke to Dimitri, but his gaze burned into Addy. “I’ve requested a uniformed officer to replace Geoff to ensure the scene isn’t contaminated more than it already is. If you wouldn’t mind letting us keep Geoff there until our officer arrives, I’d appreciate it.”
“Of course.” She nodded. If she thought the tension was thick when Marcel was in here, she’d been wrong. Right now, the tension could easily strangle her. Despite what both Beau and Dimitri said, she couldn’t continue dating both of them. It was only going to lead to someone getting hurt. Maybe she shouldn’t date either man.
She glanced at each of them. Her heart picked up its pace. Both men were handsome in their own right. Both were kind and gentle and amazing men. She liked them both romantically, but also valued each of their friendship.
But she couldn’t string them along. She had to make a decision. Sooner rather than later. Before she couldn’t even stay friends with them.
1924
“Yes, boys and girls, demons can and do possess people. We must remain vigilant at all times.” Mother Mary Margaret walked back and forth in front of the classroom, holding her ruler tightly in her hand.
William squirmed in his seat. He’d heard her talk about this over and over again. It was always the same thing.
“In Luke, chapter four, the Bible tells us about demons and how Jesus drove them out of the men they possessed.”
Many in the class sucked in air. Talks of demons and possession scared so many of them.
William didn’t want to be scared, but he was. He just couldn’t show it. Not to his best friends James, George, and Harold. They were best friends for life and William couldn’t look scared in front of them. Even when he was called out. And he would be named in this story, like he had been many times before.
Mother Mary Margaret stopped walking and faced the students, focusing on William. “One of our own here at St. Vincent is here because his mother was a sinner, and because she was a sinner, she was where she wasn’t supposed to be.”
William hung his head. Here it came.
“A man who was possessed by a demon came to the place where she shouldn’t have been and killed her.”
Other kids looked at him…they’d heard the story many times before, too.
“So we must do as we are told and not go where we aren’t supposed to.” Mother Mary Margaret slapped her ruler against her palm. “And we must study the Bible and pray so that no demon can possess us and use us to do the evil work of the devil.”
No one said a word. William wanted to scream. Wanted to cry. He had had a real mom, but satan had taken her from him. He couldn’t remember anything about her. Mother Mary Margaret wouldn’t tell him anything more about her, but Sister Rosemary had said that a young woman had loved him very much and wanted to take care of him, but couldn’t, so she brought him to St. Vincent’s.
Had his mother loved him, or was she a sinner like Mother Mary Margaret said? Why did the demon-possessed man kill his mother? Why not someone else’s?
“You may now go play outside.” Mother Mary Margaret dismissed the class.
William hurried outside with his best friends, making sure not to run inside the building or Mother Mary Margaret would make him miss recess and write lines. Even though Harold and George were older than William and James, they all did what William said. He led all the games they played, and made up all the rules.
Sister Rosemary said he was a natural-born leader.
3
— Beau
“Detective Savoie?”
Beau turned to face Timothy, but drew up short before speaking. A striking woman stood beside the coroner’s investigator. Beau estimated her to be in her early thirties, with long sandy blond hair, and big soulful brown eyes, but it was her bright and ready smile that snagged his attention.
“This is Dr. Chandler Broussard, the biological anthropologist from FACES.”
She shook his hand. “Pleased to meet you, Detective.”
“It’s Beau.” This was the anthropologist? Nothing nerdy about this woman. Nothing at all. “So what’s the game plan?”
“We’ll get in there and remove the skeleton for you. I’ve spoken to Mr. Kelly, and he’s released the bones to FACES for assistance in the case.”
Beau grinned and nodded. Good ole Walt.
She began walking toward the taped-off area, Timothy at her side. “I understand there’s also physical evidence that hasn’t been disturbed that you’ll want to retrieve?”
He fell into step alongside her. “A zipper. Button. Coins. All items that haven’t disintegrated, although there’s no telling what clothes he was wearing.”
She smiled. “You might be surprised. Sometimes even though the clothes themselves have biodegraded, there might be a random strand left on a bone fragment. And those zippers and buttons can help determine what clothing was worn, sometimes even pinning down the year.”
“Really?”
She nodded and grinned. “Yep. Most people realize different fabrics biodegrade at different rates, but forget about the buttons, zippers, and snaps that don’t degrade. Sometimes those items are very specific to a year or fashion which helps date the clothing, even if there’s nothing left. Don’t rule anything out until we finish our work.”
“Fascinating.” He knew the basics, yes, but hadn’t really considered details.
“I just finished a case where we were able to determine the timeline due to one little snap. That specific snap had been put in blouses in 2008 only, because the company who manufactured them went out of business in 2009. It helped the detectives figure out their timeline and helped solve their case.”
“What helped solve a case?” Marcel joined them from behind. “Hello. I’m Detective Marcel Taton, and you are—?” He held his hand out to Chandler, a smile on his face.
“This is Dr. Chandler Broussard from FACES,” Timothy said before she could speak.
She smiled back and shook his hand. “It’s a pleasure.”
“The pleasure’s all mine.” Marc
el had his charm on full-wattage.
Beau shook his head and started the group walking again. “Dr. Broussard—”
“Chandler, please.”
“Chandler,” Beau turned to Marcel, “is the biological anthropologist sent to remove the skeletal remains.”
“You’re the anthropologist?” Marcel’s eyes opened wide.
Beau swallowed the laugh. “You’ll have to forgive my partner, Chandler. He seems to have lost his manners.”
She chuckled. “It’s okay. I get that a lot. Mainly from law enforcement.” She narrowed her eyes as she stared at Marcel. “Hmm. Maybe I should do some sort of study on the mindset of the typical male officer.”
“Please don’t.” Beau laughed. He lifted the tape for the group to step under.
Just inside the corridor, Chandler lifted a large case. “This is my cue to gear up.”
“Gear up?” Marcel asked.
“Hazmat suit. I never extract without it.” She stepped into the room where the skeleton rested. Two others in the head-to-toe suits were already moving around slowly. “My team.”
Beau glanced at them as he pulled out two pairs of latex gloves from his pocket. He passed a pair to Marcel, but looked at Chandler. “Is it okay for us to be here without a suit?” He hadn’t considered there would be a danger of exposure to anything, but maybe he should have. Who knew what had been kept behind that wall along with a body?
“I’m sure it’s all fine. It’s just policy for us.” She stepped into the suit. “This really won’t take us long. We’ll be photographing and documenting as we go. I know you need to retrieve evidence, but we’ll share our documents and photographs with you, so we don’t need to be stepping over each other trying to get the same shots and such.”
“I’ve already diagrammed, photographed, and documented the scene while we were waiting for you to arrive, Dr. Broussard. I also took one of the few strands of hair for testing,” Timothy volunteered.
She smiled at him. “Good job. If you guys could just stay back until we give you the all clear to come in and retrieve evidence, we’ll be good to go.” She pulled the helmet over her head. “Ready?” Her voice was muffled from behind the plastic.