Eve Lloyd’s A Deadline Cozy Mystery Box Set 2

by Sonia Parin

  “You’ve already used me to create your mad innkeeper, Mira. I think we might have to sit down and talk about the liberties you’re taking with my character traits.” Eve picked up another camera and prodded it for secret compartments. “Where were we… Oh, yes. So, if Jamie’s grandfather was a regular guest, and his cameras are at the center of the mystery…” Eve raked her fingers through her hair. “Sorry, I lost the thread. I hope David has better luck. He’s trying to get some information out of Detective Ken McLain.”

  Eve closed her eyes and tried emptying her mind but it refused to cooperate.

  Mira checked her watch. “At this rate, I think we’ll be staying another night. However, if the police don’t come up with some answers soon, we’ll have to bid Florence farewell. She’s a big girl. We’ve given her the opportunity to come with us.”

  Eve finished inspecting all the cameras and turned her attention to the photo albums. “Finances.”

  “What about them?” Mira asked.

  Eve shrugged. “I don’t know. The police always look into finances to see if anything sticks out. That’s how they join the dots. Someone in the group died and they left a box of cameras. Someone else in the group is eager to get his hands on the cameras. Come on, people. It shouldn’t take a genius to find a lead.”

  “From the start you thought there might be something hidden inside them,” Mira said.

  “Proof,” Jill piped in.

  “Of what?” Eve asked.

  “Blackmail?” Jill laughed. “I watch police procedural shows too.”

  Eve tapped her chin. “I like that. Good thinking, Jill.”

  “Hypothetically,” Jill said, “If the police find proof of someone’s bank balance increasing without any reason, then they’d have to consider something like blackmail.”

  “Blackmailing a guest?” Eve grabbed hold of the idea. “All the guests were affluent. At least, they appeared to be.”

  Jill said, “There’s a mixed bag of them. Businessmen. Professionals. Bankers. Accountants. Investors.”

  Eve drew out a stool and sat down. “You think the blackmailer caught someone doing something that would land them in hot water?”

  “That’s usually the case,” Jill agreed.

  By accident?

  Or had someone worked on a meticulous plan?

  Had someone been set up?

  Eve hopped off the stool and strode around the kitchen. Florence had said she’d never known who would be invited to dinner and that her husband had always sprung new names on her.

  If someone had set out to blackmail someone, they would have had inside information. They might have had access to the guest list.

  Eve laughed under her breath. “Having dinner parties would be an ideal setup to run a blackmail ring. But I don’t see any of the guests doing anything they shouldn’t. They all look too ordinary, albeit affluent, but still run of the mill.”

  “Someone might have been lying about their whereabouts,” Jill suggested. “The blackmailer took a photo of them at Florence’s dinner party and used it against them.”

  Eve shook her head. “That sounds too complicated.”

  “But possible,” Jill insisted. “Just picture it. So-and-so says, my company is actually paying me to be somewhere else and here I am eating ortolans. One of the other guests realizes they have been presented with an opportunity and they get photographic evidence of the person in the act of… being in the wrong place.”

  Eve tilted her head in thought. “Okay. You might be onto something, Jill.” Her eyebrows lifted. “We could even go so far as to assume Stew Woodridge was behind the blackmail. Yes, let’s point the finger of suspicion at him.”

  “Really?” Mira asked.

  “We have to start somewhere. He owned the cameras.”

  “But,” Mira frowned, “We don’t know if the police found something hidden inside them.”

  “Mira,” Jill said, “You need to keep up. This is how Eve and I work a case. We throw ideas up in the air and hope they settle into some sort of cohesive lead.”

  “Oh, I see.” Mira gave Eve a brisk smile. “In that case, shouldn’t we also point the finger at Bertie. After all, he organized the dinners. He might have been the mastermind.”

  “Wonderful.” Eve clapped her hands. “Now we’re making progress. We have two possible suspects and, for all we know, they could have been working together.”

  Mira scooped in a big breath.

  “Is there something you wish to say, Mira?” Eve asked.

  “Well, if Bertie and Stew had been working together, then Stew Woodridge would have attended more dinner parties. He appears in some, but not all of them.”

  “Mira has a point, Eve.”

  Eve looked out the kitchen window and saw David pacing up and down, the cell phone still pressed to his ear. “Nowadays, photos are all digital. Wouldn’t it be ironic if the blackmailer hid the evidence in an old camera?”

  Mira went to stand beside Eve and patted her on the back. “You’re starting to get excited, dear. Keep in mind, you’re speaking hypothetically. I wouldn’t want you to be disappointed when it turns out to be something else.”

  Huffing out a breath, Eve said, “Fine. I’ll leave the crime solving to the professionals.” Turning, she looked at the box of cameras. “There’s no point in me trying to find something. I trust the police have done a thorough search. I’m taking them out to my car. After all I went through to get them, I wouldn’t want to leave them behind.” She strode out to her car, along the way picturing her cameras sitting on a display case at the inn.

  Reaching her car, she looked through the back window and realized the chairs took up all the available space in the back. She had to make the box fit in but she didn’t want to risk damaging her precious cameras, not when she was so close to getting them home.

  She shifted the tool kit Jack had insisted she needed, just in case of emergencies, and slid the box into place. Eve smiled as she recalled arguing with Jack about having to get more tools she’d never use because if she ever had the misfortune of breaking down or getting a flat tire, she’d simply call him. She’d also argued that her car had come equipped with the necessary tools but he hadn’t thought they would be enough.

  Eve frowned. Flipping open the tool box, she searched for a pry bar. Every car came equipped with one. Surely, they did. Or did they?

  If they did, why would someone buy a new one and use it to break into Jamie’s house?

  Eve chortled. If she’d said that out loud, Jill would have reminded her they’d only been working on a theory. They had no way of knowing if the man they’d seen at the store had been the same person who’d broken into Jamie’s house.

  They wanted to believe it because it would fit in nicely and then they would have been able to embellish the story.

  “Oh, well. I guess I can’t have everything.”

  Eve returned back inside. Giving a firm nod, she told herself to stick to cooking. Seeing her handbag on the hallway table, she grabbed it and called out, “Hey guys, I’m stepping out to get some milk. I feel like baking scones, or maybe I’ll make pancakes. I’m not sure which one I feel like doing. I guess I’ll decide along the way. I’ll be back in ten minutes.”

  “Jill says you need to take the cell phone,” Mira called out.

  “That’s okay. She needs to keep you company. Just in case something happens here.”

  Eve drove out to the store and when she couldn’t find a place to park, she headed for Florence’s store and left her SUV in the space out the back.

  She hadn’t given any thought to what she would cook, so she filled up her basket with a few essential items, including bread and a variety of cheeses. If worse came to worst, they could have some cheese and a chunk of bread.

  At the grocery store, she waited in line for her turn, paid for her groceries and as she strode out of the store, something compelled her to look up.

  The store had security cameras.

  She hadn’
t mentioned anything to the police about the man she’d seen at the store buying the pry bar. If she called them now, would they take her seriously or humor her?

  There were too many coincidences for the police to overlook the man. If they could identify him from the security cameras, then they could question him and cross him off the list of suspects. Eve imagined it would sound too far-fetched for the police to bother with the theory, but she would insist. Or rather, she would make sure David insisted the police look into it.

  She picked up her pace and hurried back to her car, a feeling of exhilaration swirling inside her. Eve couldn’t wait to share the news with David.

  Excited by the possibility of contributing to the investigation, Eve didn’t notice the crunch that followed her step. She almost got inside her car when she realized there had been something odd about the sound.

  Broken glass.

  She’d heard the sound only the day before when she’d snooped around Jamie’s house.

  Putting her groceries in the passenger seat, she rounded the car and that’s when she saw it.

  The back window of her SUV had been smashed.

  “What?”

  She peered inside.

  Her cameras.

  Gone.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Jill’s face filled up the cell phone screen. “When you left without me, Mira swept your cell phone off the kitchen counter and chased after you, but you’d already left.”

  Eve rolled her eyes. “If we were in a cartoon, you’d jump out of the screen and throttle me. I needed you to stay here in case something happened to Mira and Florence.”

  “David would have taken care of them. I’m warning you, Eve, do not leave me behind again.”

  Sighing, Eve gave her a stiff nod. “Fine.” Hearing David coming along the hallway, she turned. “Is it fixed?” As soon as she’d arrived back at Florence’s house, David had jumped into action, calling the police and organizing someone to fix her broken car window.

  Since Eve hadn’t seen anyone in the alley, she hadn’t been able to give the police any worthwhile information.

  “Next time, don’t leave the scene of the crime,” David growled.

  “You’ve all taken shots at me. Do any of you have anything else you want to add?” Eve asked. “This is your chance.”

  “I do,” Jill chirped. “You have high standards in the kitchen and not everyone can match them. You need to go easy on us lesser beings.”

  “Does anyone have anything to ad that is related to the investigation? Speak now or forever hold your peace. I don’t function well on a leash.”

  They all fell silent.

  “Coffee anyone?” Eve offered.

  “I’ll stick to chamomile tea,” Mira said.

  “I’ll have a coffee, thanks.” David brushed his hand across his chin.

  “You look worried, David.”

  “I’ve been thinking… Someone must have been keeping tabs on you.”

  “Are you sure you didn’t see anyone near your car?” Jill asked. “Think, Eve. The mind sees more than the eye.”

  Eve slumped against the kitchen counter. “Are you about to suggest I do regressive therapy? I told you already. I rounded the corner, strode to my car and didn’t see anyone. The perpetrator might have just driven off.” She turned to David. “Before I forget, I wanted to ask you about car tool kits. Do they come with pry bars? I know it’s a long-shot, but I’m thinking the person who broke into Jamie’s house didn’t have the right tools so they purchased a pry bar. Jack gave me a new tool box to keep in my car and it includes one.” Eve smacked her hand against her forehead. “I forgot to mention this to the police.”

  “Did you want to let them know you’re fully equipped to deal with any situation, including breaking into someone’s house?” Mira asked.

  “Not me. The perpetrator.” Eve threw her hands up in the air. “Hey. He might not even own a car. When I went to the store, I noticed their security cameras. The police can get access to the footage. They could identify the man we saw buying a pry bar. I think they should question him. After all, what are the chances of someone buying a tool that could be used to break into a house on the same day a murder victim’s house is broken into?”

  David put his hands up. “Back up a bit. Why do you think the hypothetical perp slash person going about his business and unwittingly crossing paths with you doesn’t own a car?”

  Jill snickered.

  Eve drummed her fingers on the kitchen countertop. “Well… If I wanted to break a window, I’m sure I’d find something sturdy enough in my tool box but not everyone has a considerate boyfriend or girlfriend to supply them with a new tool box. In any case, any of the tools that come with a car might do the job.”

  “The man you saw in the store,” David said, “Might have just been upgrading his tool kit. It happens. Generally, men enjoy buying tools, even if they don’t need them straightaway.”

  Eve tilted her head. “You know what? I’m going with the idea that he doesn’t own a car. I noticed something about his build. Broad shouldered yet lanky in a sporty sort of way.”

  “And?” David asked.

  “It means something. I’m not sure what.”

  David didn’t look convinced. “I’ve known a lot of broad shouldered people with lanky physiques who also happen to own cars. Yet you seem determined to categorize him as a non-car owner… because he’s lanky. I assume that’s where your thoughts were headed.”

  “Maybe.” Eve firmed her lips.

  “Oh, dear.” Mira smiled. “I know that look. Eve has just dug her heels in. She is determined to believe this suspicious person does not drive a car and is responsible for breaking into Jamie Woodridge’s house.” Mira took a sip of her tea. “Have some chamomile tea, Eve. I think you need it.”

  “Mira. Someone stole my cameras. How did they know I had them in the car?”

  Mira held her gaze without blinking.

  “Well?” Eve asked.

  “Oh, you actually want an answer from me. Let’s see what my creative writer’s mind can come up with. It could have been someone walking along the alleyway. They saw your car, had a peek inside. When they saw the cameras, their fingers got itchy so they took their chances and stole them.”

  “Or, as David suggested, the killer has been watching the house. Watching me,” Eve exclaimed, her voice hitching up. “They saw me carry the cameras to the car. Then they followed me and waited for their opportunity.” Eve pushed out a breath in the hope that it would ease off some of her exasperation. “The police are being irresponsible. If they shared information with us, we wouldn’t be stressing about the stolen cameras and their significance.”

  David and Mira looked at her, their eyes wide.

  “For heaven’s sake. You’re both looking at me as if I’ve just grown another head.” Eve took Mira’s empty cup and washed it.

  “She always does that when she’s agitated,” Mira explained.

  “If the police didn’t find anything hidden inside my cameras, then I have to put this down as a random act of theft. However, if the police did find something, then we can safely assume the killer took the cameras because he is looking for whatever was hidden inside.”

  Mira nodded. “Oh, yes. That makes sense.”

  “Actually…” Eve tapped her chin. “The police should interview Joel Ellison. What if he went through the cameras he purchased from David. When he found nothing, he decided he’d been duped and so he then…” Eve floundered. “Ugh.”

  “You might be onto something, Eve.” David drew out his cell phone and stepped outside.

  “I wish he wouldn’t do that,” Eve complained. “For all we know he’s only pretending to call someone.”

  Mira smiled. “He doesn’t want us to hear his man talk. Men have a different way of talking to each other.”

  Eve looked up at the ceiling. “Heaven help us.”

  When he returned, Eve waited for him to have a sip of coffee before she p
ushed him for information.

  “I’ve passed on everything you told us to the detective. He wasn’t at all pleased to hear about our meddling.”

  Eve wanted to ask how he’d actually conveyed all that information but decided to go easy on him. “What else did he have to say? Did he even know about Joel Ellison?”

  “Yes. He has access to Florence’s guest list and he’s been scouring through it looking for anything that might be construed as possible motive.”

  “And?”

  “And that will be him at the door,” David said just as the front door bell chimed.

  As David strode off, Florence came into the kitchen, a glass in her hand. “I believe it’s coming up to cocktail hour.”

  “It might have to wait, Florence. The detective has arrived,” Eve said, her voice full of excitement.

  “Oh, what does he want?”

  “A word with Mrs. Buchanan, please,” the detective said as he strode into the kitchen.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  “How are we supposed to get answers if the detective interviews Florence behind closed doors?” Eve asked.

  David tilted his head. “I can never tell if you’re being serious or not, Eve.”

  Eve gave him a serious frown. “Is this a clear enough hint?”

  “Why the long faces?” Florence asked from the doorway.

  Eve looked up and saw her approach, the detective a few steps behind.

  Florence winked at her and gave one of her hearty laughs. “We’re after some coffee, Eve. The detective seems to think I need some sobering up. The store is closed until further notice. What am I supposed to do with myself?”

  The detective cleared his throat and fixed his tie. “Actually, Mrs. Buchanan felt she would be more comfortable answering questions with you all present.”

  Florence tossed her head back. “I wouldn’t want to leave anything out.”