Eve Lloyd’s A Deadline Cozy Mystery Box Set 2

by Sonia Parin

  “I’ve heard say you should write what you know. Murder mysteries would suit you.”

  Eve gritted her back teeth. “I think we should change the subject.”

  After a brief silence, Jill asked, “Where are we going now?”

  Eve considered switching off her cell phone, but Jill would find a way to use it against her until the end of days so she decided to come clean. “We are on our way to snoop around Jamie Woodridge’s house.”

  “Why?”

  Eve pulled up outside the California bungalow and checked the house number again to make sure she had the right house. “How much did David tell you when he called and snitched on me?”

  “Enough to get me to ring you. You had a visitor last night.”

  “Yes, Jack dropped by.”

  “That’s not what I meant. Someone snuck into the house in the dead of night.”

  “Jill, you’re sensationalizing the news and twisting it to suit your needs. I saw a shadow that might have been a person and they might have wandered into the wrong back yard.”

  Jill’s silence had Eve worrying her bottom lip.

  Finally, Jill spoke. “So where are you at in your investigation?”

  “Who said anything about me investigating? You really need to stop jumping to conclusions. I can’t control everything that happens around me. Perhaps I should send out a notice of intention. Something along the lines of…” Eve shrugged. “Killers beware. Eve Lloyd is coming. Please refrain from killing anyone while she is here.”

  “Eve.”

  Eve really needed to get a new line of defense. “Yes, Jill? Oh, all right. I’m only going to do a bit of snooping around. It never hurts to get a fresh perspective. I might see something the detective missed. It will only take five minutes and then I’ll head back to Florence’s house and cook lunch.”

  “In that case, I’ll definitely stay on the line. Also, as soon as the boys come back from their romp around the beach I’ll go back inside and get the landline ready for an emergency call to the police.”

  Eve looked around at the neighboring houses but didn’t see anyone peering out of their windows. She decided to play it by ear and stride along the path as if she had business to attend to. If anyone stepped out and asked questions, she’d simply say she was from out of town visiting the area and the house had caught her eye.

  Giving a firm nod, Eve hopped out of the car.

  Jill grumbled, “Can you please hold the cell phone steady and raise it a bit. I’m looking at the pavement.”

  “If I walk holding the cell phone out in front of me, I’ll look silly and too conspicuous.” Although that had never bothered Eve. Over the last few months, she had expanded her comfort zone and, adopting an ignorance is bliss attitude, she had embraced the sort of risks the average person would walk away from. Eve suspected this had something to do with having spent so much time around hot stoves and sharp knives. Kitchens could be dangerous, even deadly. She knew this first hand.

  “If anyone asks, you can say you are house hunting and the house caught your eye,” Jill suggested.

  Smiling, Eve chirped, “This will send a shiver down your spine. I just had the same thought. Now I’m thinking I should prop the cell phone on my shoulder so you can watch my back.” Eve heard Mischief and Mr. Magoo barking. She imagined them bounding toward Jill, their tongues lolling, their tails spiraling out of control. The loud thump she heard next signaled the moment they both lunged for the back porch.

  Jill confirmed this by bellowing out an order for them to settle down that was followed by a lengthy doggy chat with lots of praise.

  Instead of making a beeline for the front door, Eve strode along a path leading to the side of the house. She drew in a deep breath and smelled the scent of freshly mowed grass. Either Jamie had recently cut the grass or he’d had a standing agreement to have it mowed regularly.

  “Jill, please check the local newspapers on-line.”

  “What am I looking for?” Jill asked.

  “Obviously, any information about the death.”

  “Oh, I thought you might have wanted to know about cameras.”

  “What about them?” Eve asked.

  “Oh, I don’t know… Collectors sometimes have advertisements.”

  “Good thinking. Look that up too.” The cameras were a key link to the murder. She wished she hadn’t told Jack about her purchase. For all she knew, she might have struck it lucky and the box actually contained vital information that would help solve the case. Eve gasped.

  “What?”

  She’d forgotten to hand over the box of cameras to the police. She couldn’t tell Jill. If she did, Jill would be implicated in withholding evidence. “I stepped on dog poop.” She’d deal with the box after she had a look around.

  She strode up to a window and pressed her nose against the glass but didn’t see anything. The next window proved to be just as fruitless. Going around to the back of the house, she tested the back door.

  “Huzzah!”

  “What now?”

  Scratch marks. Had someone used a tool to try to jimmy the lock? “I found proof. Someone tried to break into Jamie’s house.”

  “Show me.”

  Eve adjusted the cell phone to get a closer look.

  “Those could have been made by anyone at any other time. There’s no way to tell if they’re fresh scratch marks,” Jill reasoned.

  “Add killjoy to bossy,” Eve murmured.

  “I heard you.”

  Eve tried the door handle but didn’t have any success. Belatedly, she wished she’d picked up some sort of implement at the store, adding that a pry bar would have been a handy tool to have as a weapon in case someone ambushed her.

  She strode off in search of another window and hit pay dirt after only a couple of steps. “I just stepped on broken glass.”

  “Again, that’s not proof of a break-in,” Jill warned.

  Eve held up the cell phone. “How about a broken window?”

  “Right. I see it and I feel it is now imperative for you to retreat, get back in the car and drive off. I’m not there to watch your back or… or act as your stooge.”

  Eve frowned. “You’re not my stooge.”

  “Patsy. Sidekick.”

  Looking around her for something she could use as a leg up, Eve said, “I’ve never thought of you as my sidekick. That sounds too derogatory.”

  “You’ve definitely used me to employ your diversionary tactics. I recall having a gun pointed at me at least once. Maybe more, but some experiences are best forgotten. Where are we going? I can see you moving but you’re not heading back to the car.”

  “There’s a shed and the door is partly open,” Eve offered. “I’m looking for something I can stand on so I can try to get in through the window.”

  Jill groaned. “I wish you’d suggested I embrace the ignorance is bliss adage. That is far too much information. I feel helpless. Swing the cell phone around. I need to make sure no one sneaks up on you.”

  Eve peered inside the shed. Her eye went straight to a wooden crate. Wiping off some cobwebs, she dragged it out and tested it for sturdiness. “This should hold me.”

  “Don’t drop me,” Jill yelped.

  “Right. Because you’ll break?” Putting her foot on the crate, Eve again tested it. It seemed to be holding steady. Taking care to avoid the broken glass, she poked her head through the window. “Someone’s definitely been inside. The place has been turned upside down.” The room appeared to have been used as a study. There were shelves lining one side of the wall and all the items had been toppled over. A filing cabinet had all its drawers open. Papers had been strewn about. A framed picture hung askew on the wall. Another one appeared to have been wrenched off the wall, the nail it had hung on looking about ready to slide off. Eve imagined the perpetrator succumbing to a fit of fury.

  “Whatever you do, stay on this side,” Jill urged. “Do not attempt to climb in. You’ll cut yourself.”

  Eve
swept her hand across the windowsill and brushed off some shards of glass. “The thought didn’t even cross my mind.”

  Jill harrumphed.

  Easing herself back down, Eve returned the crate to the shed. “I’ll have to hang up. The police need to be notified of the break-in.”

  “Don’t you dare hang up. I’ll use the house phone to contact them. You stay on the line.”

  “Fine. Ask to speak with Detective Ken McLain.” Biting the edge of her lip, Eve listened to the phone conversation. Jill sounded brisk as she relayed the necessary information. To her credit, she pretended to be a concerned neighbor. “You know they probably traced the call,” Eve admonished.

  “I bought you some time. What are you waiting for? Get a move on before the police arrive.”

  For once, she followed Jill’s instructions and hurried back to her car. Then, she drove up the street and parked again. Ten minutes later, she spotted a squad car turning the corner.

  “Hold the cell phone up. I want to see too.”

  As she peered from behind the driver’s seat, she noticed someone else keeping a close eye on the house.

  “Eve?”

  “Yes?”

  “Are those chairs I see in the back of your car?”

  Eve cleared her throat. “Okay. This just turned awkward. You’ll have to make another anonymous call and warn the police to check a blue car parked near the house. There’s a suspicious looking man standing by his car.” Eve watched him as he reached inside the car and pulled out a rag. He then proceeded to absentmindedly wipe his car, his focus clearly on the squad car. Of course, anyone would be curious but why had he made a point of looking busy?

  Determined to get a closer look, she set the cell phone against the passenger seat headrest.

  “What just happened? Half my view is blocked?” Jill complained.

  “I’m getting a leg cramp. I just need to stretch. I won’t be long.” Eve stepped out of the car and crossed the street, making sure to steer clear of Jill’s line of vision.

  As she neared the suspect’s car, she called out, “Excuse me.”

  The man turned. Eve tried to remember if the man she’d seen at the store had been quite so tall. Yes, she thought, and remembered she’d been able to see him from across another aisle.

  She gave the man a bogus street address and added, “I purchased something on-line and I get the feeling I’ve been had. I’m supposed to do a pick-up at this address. I followed the directions and they led me here.”

  “You’ve got the wrong street,” he said.

  “I thought so. Do you live around here?”

  He narrowed his gaze and frowned.

  “I only ask because I want to make sure I really do have the wrong street.” Eve smiled. “I guess if you’re a local, you’d know.”

  He grunted and lowered his head to continue his wiping.

  Eve would swear he was sneaking a peek at Jamie’s house. When he didn’t answer, she turned away only to stop. His shoes caught her attention.

  Swallowing, Eve backed away and crossed the street.

  Grass clippings.

  Getting back in her car, Eve snatched the cell phone. “Jill. Call the police again and tell them their suspect is right outside pretending to clean his car.”

  A tap on the driver’s window had Eve swirling around.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “The way Jill tells it makes me sound rather silly,” Eve complained. David’s straight face didn’t fool her. “You’re laughing at me. Look at you, your shoulders are shaking.”

  “How did you explain the grass clippings on your shoes again?” David asked.

  Eve lifted her chin. “I went on the offensive and told them they were wasting police resources and that if they didn’t act quickly, the real suspect would get away.”

  “And that worked a treat?” David asked.

  “No, obviously not. The police officer asked for my license and registration.” Turning the cell phone to face her, Eve scowled at Jill. “That reminds me, you took your sweet time coming to my rescue.” Jill had finally hollered out the fact she’d been the one to call the police. Too little, too late, Eve thought. “Finally, Detective Ken McLain showed up. We saw him talking to the suspect but he refused to tell us his name. However, when the detective spoke with him, we saw him point over his shoulder at the house behind him. I assume he was saying he lived there.” And she fully intended going back to question him. “We need to talk to him. The detective is clearly not going to share information and I can’t be left in the dark.”

  “No, we can’t have that,” David teased.

  Eve ignored him. “As I said, there’s something about the way he pointed. I’m sure he was saying he lived there.”

  “And that’s proof he’s somehow involved.” David’s eyes creased at the edges with amusement.

  “Again, you’re laughing and I don’t appreciate it. You have your way of doing things, and I have mine.”

  David nodded. “You’re right. I should respect your hunches.”

  “And?”

  David’s eyebrows rose slightly. “And… Your modus operandi?”

  Jill chortled. “That always seems to work for Eve. Suspect everyone, including people with a legitimate reason for standing outside their homes.”

  “Appearances can be deceiving,” Eve grumbled. “David. Can you please contact the detective and prod him for information? I have to get lunch started.”

  Taking a calming breath, she turned her attention to doing what she knew best. Eve seasoned some steaks with salt and pepper, brushed them with olive oil and put a sprig of rosemary on each one. Then she turned her attention to preparing a salad. Jill’s demanding guests had drawn her away. Saying she didn’t want to miss anything, she’d put Josh on the line to keep her seat warm.

  Eve had propped the cell phone on the kitchen counter but had kept her thoughts to herself.

  Eventually, Josh cleared his throat.

  “Is there something on your mind, Josh?”

  He cleared his throat again. “Advice. Off the top of your head, can you think of ways I might use to contain Jill?”

  “Contain? Did she catch my bug?”

  “I didn’t realize you had a bug,” Josh murmured, his tone apologetic.

  “Yes, it’s called the stick my nose where it doesn’t belong bug. Some of the side effects are attracting trouble even when I’m trying to avoid it.” She managed to get a chuckle out of Josh.

  “Did she tell you about your guests?” Josh asked.

  “The thrill seekers? Yes,” Eve said, “Oh, and thank you for acting as a tour guide.”

  “I didn’t have a choice and that’s what I’m trying to put a stop to.”

  “Really? I thought you were happy being with Jill.”

  “I am.”

  “Well then, I suggest you tread with care.”

  “But she’s become so intense.”

  Eve smiled. “I think the word you really want to use is bossy.”

  “Yeah, that too.”

  Eve glanced at the cell phone screen and saw Josh frowning. “Don’t worry, she’ll get over it. It’s just a phase.”

  “I’m trying to be understanding and supportive. After all, she has the inn to look after and you’re out there doing who knows what.”

  “Taking a day off.” Eve shrugged. “Well, it’s turned into a couple of days, and I have full faith in Jill’s ability to take care of business while I’m away.”

  “Yes, but I feel she’s taken on too much.”

  “How did the guests react to your tour?” Eve asked in an attempt to change the subject.

  Josh groaned under his breath. “They couldn’t get enough of it so I ad-libbed and threw in some extra blood and gore with a couple of cliffhanger moments. You featured in both of them.”

  Eve’s shoulders sagged. With her luck, the guests would make it their business to spread the word around and open the floodgates. She’d definitely have to change the n
ame of the inn or flee.

  “Did you know your face changes when you cook?” Josh asked. “You look relaxed.”

  Yes, she knew… Well, no, not really. Although it didn’t surprise Eve. The kitchen would always be her domain. Her go-to comfort zone. The one place where she could function on autopilot and think without missing a step.

  Eve searched through the cupboards looking for plates. She opened a door and found a walk-in pantry with floor to ceiling shelves full of dinner sets. Florence had been into serious entertaining. And she hadn’t taken half measures. “Nothing but the best.”

  She strode over to the adjoining dining room and set the table for four. After she finished a simple dressing of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar for the salad, she cooked the steaks.

  When she heard the others approaching, Eve called out, “Take your places everyone. Lunch is almost ready.”

  Florence inhaled a deep breath. “That smells wonderful, Eve. Have you ever considered moving back to the mainland and changing jobs? I can think of several people who’d love to have you cook for them in their homes.”

  “Hire myself out?”

  “Why not? You’d only need to work for a few hours.”

  “I’m quite happy where I am but thank you for suggesting it.” Eve set the steaks on a platter to rest and took them over to the table in the adjoining dining room.

  “Florence’s been showing us some photographs of her parties.” Mira gave a small nod. “They look quite glamorous.”

  Tipping her head back, Florence laughed. “Any excuse to dress up. We don’t do it often enough, especially not in this neck of the woods. We all felt wonderfully special having black tie affairs in this little pocket of suburbia.”

  Eve drew out her chair and then remembered Josh. As she strode back toward the kitchen she could see him straining to get a look at them.

  “I hope you don’t mind,” Eve said and set the cell phone against a jug on the table, “Josh is joining us.”

  Florence winked at him. “I hope your friend Jill doesn’t mind me flirting with her boyfriend. I’m beginning to think I should pay this island of yours a visit.”

  “Now’s a good time to visit,” Josh said. “I think you’d liven things up.”