by Sonia Parin
“Here you are.” David strode in and waved his cell phone at Eve. “Jamie Woodridge.”
“Is that the fop’s name?”
“Yes. No prior convictions. He’s… he was a comic book artist and collector of paraphernalia.”
“What sort of paraphernalia?”
“Comic book figurines. Baseball cards. This is the information collected by the police when they visited his house. They also found a closet full of 1950s style suits and Fedora hats.”
That definitely explained the mothballs smell. “Did they find any other cameras?” Eve asked.
“No, or at least, none were listed in the report. There’s no reason why they would be left out. Why do you ask?”
Eve nibbled the tip of her thumb. “I’m wondering if the cameras were a new obsession for him.”
“I get the feeling you’re entertaining an idea.”
Eve shrugged. “Yes, but it’s one of those fleeting thoughts that has been weaving around my mind. It hasn’t quite taken shape yet.” She drew out her cell phone and showed David the photo she’d taken of the cameras at the store. “I might be imagining it or reading too much into it, but it looks as if someone was looking for something inside the cameras. See how this one’s been opened and now that I’m looking at the photo again I can see another one has the back thingy partly open.”
David chuckled. “Back thingy?”
“Hey, I’m technically challenged, meaning I’m no good with technical terms. Otherwise, I’m good with words so I might follow up on Mira’s suggestion and take up writing.”
“You could become a crime fiction novelist,” David suggested.
Eve tilted her head and smiled at him. “Why? Don’t you think I’d cut it as a romance novelist?” Before he could answer, she laughed. “I’d be a dreadful romance writer. I’d want everyone to be happy right from page one. I’ve lived with Mira long enough to learn a little about the process of writing. Some days all I hear coming out of her office is moaning and groaning.”
“I hope that doesn’t mean she suffers for her craft,” David murmured.
David’s concern looked sincere. “You two need to get together. There, I said it. And, before you ask, yes. Mira would like that.”
David chuckled. “I had no idea you enjoyed cutting to the chase.”
“I told you. Happy-ever-after right from the get-go.”
“Oh, that reminds me—” David was interrupted by Eve’s cell phone ringing.
Looking at the caller ID, she said, “Jack.”
“Yes, he just called me,” David admitted. “I was just about to tell you.”
“What did he want?” Eve asked.
“Word reached him about Jamie Woodridge.”
“How? Is he one of those obsessive people who have gadget thingies that pick up the police chat line?”
David tried not to laugh. “Gadget thingies? Police chat line? I’ll have to share that one at my next poker night.” He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. “Yes, he heard about it on the chat line.” Again, he laughed.
“And Jack put two and two together and came up with Eve Lloyd?” How could he?
David grinned. “Our boy is a genius.”
Eve smiled at his term of endearment. Jack had actually known David from his rookie years and held him in high regard.
Could she ad-lib her way out of it? She knew exactly what was coming… A lecture. Jack would warn her to stay out of police business and she would promise to toe the line… and she’d mean it. Of course, Jack wouldn’t believe her. Since meeting him, she hadn’t lied to him once and she didn’t think she ever would. Should she point that out to him? Belatedly, she wondered if he had trust issues. She hoped not because that could create a wedge between them.
By the time she made up her mind to answer the call, it went to voicemail.
“He’s only going to try again,” David warned.
Right on cue, her phone rang again. This time, Eve picked up the call on the first ring. “Jack, my goodness. Is that the time? I’ve officially stood you up. Will you ever forgive me?”
Silence.
“I’ll give you some privacy,” David said.
“Jack? Did you call me to give me the silent treatment?”
“Eve!” Jack exclaimed.
Startled by Jack’s yelp, Eve said, “Jack, do I have to come rescue you?”
“Get off me you...”
Eve missed the rest, and then she heard a muffled discussion. Moments later, Jack came back on the line.
“Sorry about that. Mischief caught a whiff of my burger and insisted I share. I swear, he can go from couch potato to ballistic missile in under a second.”
Eve heard a series of barks followed by Jill’s demand that everyone should sit down and behave or else.
“Hang on a sec,” Jack said. “I think I better do as Jill says. I’ve never seen her like this. What did you do to her?”
“Me? Why is the finger of suspicion always pointed at me? When did I become the usual suspect?” When the background noise died down, Eve assumed Jack had moved to another room.
“Now,” Jack began. “Tell me exactly what happened. No wait. Don’t. Just give me a bullet point update.”
“I’m fine. Mira is fine, and I think you know David is fine.”
“And?”
“Oh, you want a detailed summary.” Eve nibbled the tip of her thumb. She pulled her thumb away and wondered when she’d picked up the habit. “We drove Florence home. She’s a sort of victim and, as it turns out, Mira knows her from way back. Today someone tried to break into her house and then someone got killed in her store, Buchanan’s Emporium also known as Yesterday’s Trash.” Barely stopping for a breath, Eve told him about trying to convince her to return to the inn with them.
The ensuing silence didn’t surprise Eve. Jack had a habit of cataloguing information and slotting it into different mental files. She liked to imagine he had a special Eve Lloyd file where he stored all essential information about her.
“Okay,” he eventually said. “Now tell me you had absolutely nothing to do with the death.”
“Yes.”
“Yes?”
“No, I had nothing to do with it.” At least she didn’t think so. “Oh, I hope not. I’d hate to be responsible for someone being killed.” She sighed. “Okay, this is where I tell you about the cameras. So far, that’s the only thing connecting me to the death.” And that’s what she’d been trying to tell David earlier on. Oh, heavens. She hoped the cameras she’d purchased had nothing to do with the death. The thought finally took shape in her mind and she groaned.
The cameras.
Jack drew in a deep breath. “The cameras.”
Jill bellowed in the background. “I warned her to put them down.”
“Did you hear that?” Jack asked.
“Yes.”
Jill bellowed again. “If you’d listened to me, you wouldn’t be involved in this mess and I wouldn’t have two grown men taunting my dogs.”
“I see,” Eve said. “You’re contributing to Jill’s ill-temper.”
“She’s scary today and snappy.” Jack’s voice lowered. “She reminds me of my mom.”
“Yes, well… don’t let her hear you say so,” Eve warned.
“I heard that,” Jill bellowed in the background.
Eve poured herself a glass of water and drank deeply. “Jack, I think I’m going to have to stay here tonight. Would you mind breaking the news to Jill?”
“Huh? You want me to do what?”
Eve smiled. “Is that your scared little boy voice? I’ve never heard it before.”
Jack huffed out a breath. “You’ll owe me big time, Eve.”
“Hang on. Don’t tally up the total yet. I need another favor.”
* * *
“That’s settled. Jack is bringing a change of clothes for us, Mira. Since Florence refuses to come with us, we’ll have to stay with her. At least until we know she’s safe or she comes t
o her senses.”
David nodded his approval. “Jack is a keeper, Eve. I hope you realize that.”
“When you’re ready to turn in for the night, help yourselves to whichever room you want,” Florence said. “They’re all ready and waiting. My Bertie liked to entertain so we always had rooms ready for guests.”
Florence made a point of topping up everyone’s glasses and they spent the next couple of hours listening to Florence reliving her heyday. “After six months living in Marrakesh, I made my way back to London. The Dorchester then became my home away from home…”
Mira nudged Eve and mouthed, “I told you.”
“I’d been sitting at the bar for a couple of days when I decided to step out for a breath of fresh air,” Florence continued, “I could have sworn I had arrived in the middle of winter and yet, there I was blinded by the summer sun. I almost fell into the Serpentine.”
Laughing, Eve pictured Florence teetering on the edge of the Hyde Park lake. They all listened attentively to her stories, their mouths slightly parted and their eyes widened with awed disbelief and amusement.
“The bar has an illustrious history and a spicy reputation. How could I resist? The parties, the movie stars, the dancing on tables. You must go Eve…”
Eve’s eyebrows rose slightly. Had Florence seen something in her that suggested she had what it took to become a legendary barfly?
Florence tossed her head back and laughed. “Everyone should stay there at least once in their lifetime. You’ll love it. I guarantee it. The bar is surrounded by dramatic red glass spears that sparkle like fire when the lights drop.”
Florence strode around the sitting room and poured everyone another drink. Eve watched in amazement as she managed to do it all without stumbling or slurring her speech.
“I’m trying to think of the designer’s name. He worked on the centennial restoration of the Statue of Liberty.” Florence looked up and then shook her head. “Thierry something or other. Anyhow, the highlight of my stay was the suite I stayed at.” Florence struck a dramatic pose by the fireplace. “Liz Taylor was staying there when she got the call to play Cleopatra. Oh, and the pink marble bathroom is divine.”
Eve knew what it cost to stay at the Dorchester and decided Florence had either inherited a larger fortune than Eve could imagine or she’d been eager to run through it.
Remembering what Mira had told her at lunch, she refrained from asking for details thinking Florence wouldn’t particularly care to talk about her wife-beating father.
Despite the day’s events, Florence continued to hold them enthralled with her travel tales, and then Jack arrived.
Eve rushed to open the door for him and flung her arms around him. “Jack, I’m so happy to see you.”
Jack’s eyes danced around her face. “You’re trying to butter me up so I won’t tell you off.”
“I’m just glad you came and… and you’re here and… and I’m grateful. You are marvelous for coming all this way.” She beckoned him in and introduced him to Florence.
Florence’s reaction didn’t surprise Eve. Her eyes sparkled. She lifted her glass and winked at Eve. “Well done, Eve. He is gorgeous. If I could have been assured of finding a handsome detective like him I would have turned to a life of crime long ago.”
Eve drew him away from the group with the excuse of making him a coffee.
Jack leaned in and whispered, “Jill says to tell you the young couple in the Seagull room—”
“The what room?”
“I’m the messenger and not a target for your current feud.” Jack chuckled. “Apparently, Jill’s been busy naming the rooms. She spoke at great length about it and wanted to illustrate a point saying that changing the name of the inn to The Carousel made no sense because you couldn’t use any relevant names for the rooms.” He cleared his throat and mimicked Jill’s voice, “Fancy calling a room the Horse Ride.” When Eve grimaced, he tapped her chin. “Anyhow, the young couple staying in the Seagull room feel cheated because you’re not there. Apparently, they paid for the full package deal.”
Eve’s lips pressed together. “I knew this would happen. I need to nip that sort of attitude in the bud. I can’t have guests staying at the inn simply because they think I’m going to stumble on a body and provide them with extra value for their money.” Fearing this might happen, they’d spent a considerable amount of time training the front desk manager to screen prospective guests and make sure the inn didn’t attract macabre thrill seekers.
“Any news about the case?” Jack asked.
“You’re seriously asking me?” Eve chuckled. “You’re the one with the connections and inside knowledge. That reminds me, do you happen to know a Detective Ken McLain?”
The edge of Jack’s lip kicked up. “Probably.”
“And have you mentioned me to him?”
His eyes sparkled with amusement. “Most likely.”
Eve bit back a groan. “Boys and their sewing circles.”
Jack sipped his coffee and only just managed to hide his smile. “So, tell me about these cameras.”
Eve frowned. “They must be worth something. I’m sure someone’s killed for them.”
“I wouldn’t mind looking at them.”
Eve went out to the car to get them.
When she returned to the kitchen, Jack was drying his mug. He looked up. “You might have mentioned something about the box being large.”
“I might have but you know I’m used to handling large cast iron pots.” Setting the box down on the kitchen table, she began rummaging through the contents.
“Did you mention them to Ken McLain?” Jack asked.
“No. Why would I?”
His eyebrow rose slightly. “Because you suspect they might have something to do with the case.”
“I didn’t think about it at the time. In fact, you’re the first person I told about my suspicions. Although, I might have said something to David too.” She drew out one of the cameras to show him. “Isn’t it gorgeous?”
He nodded. “My grandfather had one like it.”
“The killer might have been looking for something hidden inside. Maybe someone hid an expensive piece of jewelry or a will.” Her eyes widened. “Imagine if we find a long-lost will.”
“A will?”
“It could fit inside one of these cameras. Some people only draw up one-page wills and that could be folded into a tiny square.”
Eve was about to pick up another camera when Jack stopped her. “Eve, how many cameras have you handled?”
“Just this one. Why?”
He held her gaze for long seconds.
Eve frowned at him. “Oh, no you don’t. These cameras are mine.”
“Eve.”
She sighed. “I’m growing weary of people using that warning tone with me.”
“These cameras should go straight to the police. They’re evidence.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Eve. You know you’re probably right about the cameras being connected to the death.”
She huffed out a breath. “Will I get them back?”
“Eventually.”
She looked at the camera she still held. “Surely I can keep this one. I’ve already touched it.”
Jack gave a slow shake of his head.
“All right. Go ahead. Call him.”
“It would be better coming from you,” he said.
“Why? My reputation is already tarnished. Providing him with more information is not going to change anything. In his eyes, I’m… well, whatever you said I was.”
Jack rolled his eyes. “I play the occasional game of poker with him. He reads the papers, Eve. Of course, he’s going to ask about you and...”
“And?”
“This was a while ago.”
“How long ago?”
He sighed. “When I first met you.”
“Oh.” Eve averted her gaze. “Hang on. Which incident did he ask you about?”
Jack cleared his thr
oat. “The lighthouse murder.” He shrugged. “I might have mentioned something about donuts.”
Eve crossed her arms and subjected him to her most serious look.
“Oh, come on. The donut bat signal?” He made a circle with his hands. “You saw the reflection cast by the lighthouse and thought the artist was taunting you with a donut signal. That was funny.”
“I don’t recall telling you about that.” Jill! The blabbermouth.
Jack gestured for Eve to hand over the camera.
“I’ve already handled it. Let me have a proper look.” She made a point of inspecting every inch of it and even shaking it to see if she could hear something lose rattling inside.
“Well, Sherlock?”
“What if I wear gloves?”
Jack didn’t answer.
“Fine, have it your way. But if the police find something, I should get some credit for it, and… and an extraction from you.”
“A what?”
“Whatever you told Ken McLain about me, you need to revise it and tell him how helpful I’ve been and what an asset I’ve become.”
“Consider it done.”
Chapter Twenty
“It’s a pity your detective couldn’t stay. I think I made him blush.” Florence laughed. “I’ve never seen a man blush before.”
Eve had worried they would have to eventually carry Florence to bed, but the woman had shown great staying power and stamina. It lent credibility to all her stories about being a resident barfly. Instead of slurring her words and slowing down, the more she drunk, the more she seemed to remember about her past adventures. At the first mention of a titled gentleman, Eve had assumed the conversation would veer toward a more genteel pastime, such as horse riding or fly-fishing.
Eve cringed. Nothing would bleach away the mental image of said gentleman wearing fishnet stockings and a top hat. Jack had taken that as his cue to leave saying he had an early start in the morning.
When the hallway clock struck midnight, Florence rose to her feet and took a bow. “Well, I’m going to call it a night. It’s been an interesting day.” She winked at Eve. “Since you’re so intent on standing guard over me, I keep an extra baseball bat in the hallway and one by the front door. Feel free to use either of them.”