by Abigail Keam
While babies are not my favorite thing, Emmeline and I had grown accustomed to each other, and she enjoyed spending time with me. My favorite activity was to read to Emmeline. I was going to make sure Emmeline had an expanded vocabulary.
Wait a minute. I did that with my daughter, Asa, and look how she turned out—mercurial and furtive! I’m sure she got those traits from her father.
“Come on, Baby. I have to get you back home because I need to get to the library to get more books.”
Like I said—it’s always better to be busy when faced with doubts.
I had a lot of doubts about Shelby Carpenter’s death.
Perhaps a trip to the library would alleviate them and soothe my mind.
18
There were several young women working at the Tates Creek Library branch, but only one that looked like someone Chase would date—someone flashy. She was working alone at the reference desk.
I meandered over with my arm full of books. “Excuse me. Can you point me in the direction of any book on St. Hildegard of Bingen?”
The young woman blinked and said, “Oh, yes. Over at the historical section, third row from the bottom on the left side. We have several books on her. You should also check out our music CD’s. She was an amazing composer as well. Sister Hildegard is one of my favorite women from the medieval period.”
“She’s one of mine, too.” I looked quizzically at the librarian as if remembering her and asked, “Did you ever date Chase Landau? I’m a friend of his mother, Ferrina.”
The girl seemed taken back.
“You’re Diane Voss.” I readjusted my books and stuck out my hand. “I’m Josiah Reynolds.”
Diane shook my hand. “I’ve heard of you. You’re in the paper a lot. Didn’t you find a dead body in a car recently?”
“The trunk to be exact.”
“Yes. The reason I remember your name is that I thought you were a man. Josiah was a king in the Old Testament, wasn’t he? I thought the paper was wrong referring to you as ‘she’ until someone told me that you are a woman.”
“Guilty as charged.”
“How is it you know who I am again?” Diane asked.
“I’m a friend of Ferrina’s. In fact, I saw Chase earlier this month at a party his mother threw. As a friend of Chase’s, I know you must be concerned that he is no longer welcomed at Centre College.”
“Chase and I no longer date, so I’m not privy to any issues at college.”
“That’s a shame since Ferrina told me she thought you and Chase made such a cute couple.”
Diane’s face screwed up into a tiny ball. “Excuse me. I must get back to work. The books you want are over there,” she said, thumbing behind her.
Uh oh. “Did I say something wrong, dear?”
Diane looked at me with intense dislike. “I don’t know what game you’re playing but I doubt very much Ferrina thought Chase and I made a ‘cute couple.’ The woman positively loathed me.”
“Ferrina must have had a change of heart.”
“Please go away,” Diane pleaded, looking around. “I need this job.”
“Then smile while we’re talking.” I put my books down on the reference desk. “I don’t mean to make trouble. Really, I don’t. I found Shelby Carpenter’s body, and I’m trying to tie up loose ends.”
“Are you a cop?”
“Not exactly, but I have a vested interest.”
“How can I possibly help you? I don’t know any Shelby Carpenter.”
“I was wondering why you stopped dating Chase Landau.”
“What business is that of yours? If you don’t leave right now, I’m going to call security,” Diane said, her voice filled with anger.
“Just answer the question, and I’ll leave. Promise.”
“He was a jerk. All right? Now go, please.”
Boy, I was really suave at interrogating Diane, wasn’t I?
Diane tried to get the attention of another librarian, so I knew it was time to leave. I gathered my books, checked out, and hurried to my Prius. I was afraid to look back to see if incensed librarians were running after me with pitchforks and torches. I must have hit a nerve, but then again, I was being pushy.
I seem to have a knack for it.
19
You’re going to think I’m a terrible person. I knew Hunter was going to be away for several more days, so I went to Wickliffe Manor and let myself in with a spare key Hunter hid under a rock. I called out for Franklin even though I knew his little Smart Car was gone. I assumed he was at work.
Making my way to Hunter’s study, I went through his filing cabinet, which I opened with my new set of picklocks that Asa gave me for my birthday. Isn’t my daughter thoughtful? You might think Hunter was old school for still having a filing cabinet and paper files, but Hunter and I are old enough not to trust computers. We always have paper backup.
Bingo!
I found Shelby Carpenter’s file. I grabbed it and sat at Hunter’s desk perusing it. I studied Carpenter’s autopsy report. He had been shot in the back of the head with a .22 caliber gun. It would seem Carpenter was facing away from his attacker when shot, so he may not have even known he was in danger. If one has to die by misadventure, that’s the way to go. You don’t even see it coming. According to the autopsy, there was no other damage to the body.
Looking through the different records in the file, I found the report on the cars. It was Carpenter who hit VeVe’s car. The police lab matched the paint from Carpenter’s rental to VeVe’s car. I felt a little glimmer of satisfaction. I was right about who hit whom.
The rest of Hunter’s report was subjective and open to interpretation of the evidence. He suggested my theory of what happened after the accident. Carpenter puts money under VeVe’s windshield wiper and goes back to close the trunk which had popped open during the accident. As he is standing near the trunk, he is shot. He falls to the ground or slumps halfway into the trunk. The murderer pushes him all the way into the trunk, checks Carpenter’s pockets, takes the dead man’s phone, and closes the trunk. Then he simply gets into Carpenter’s vehicle and drives away, leaving his own transportation close by which he retrieves later.
I knew how, but the why and who was missing. I greedily read Hunter’s profile. Hunter thought the attacker was a young, athletic, white male with considerable upper body strength. The attack was simple and without anger or passion. Hunter posed the strong possibility that Carpenter’s demise could have been a for-hire killing since the phone was missing and his laptop, found in the back seat of the rental, had been sabotaged. I can see why Hunter thought this murder to be an execution. Professional hit men favored head shots with as little fuss as possible.
I slumped back in Hunter’s chair. The case might never be solved if a professional had killed Carpenter. The key to this case was the story Carpenter had been working on but what was it? I still believed it had something to do with the Landaus, especially Chase. Chase was my number one suspect even though I thought it weak that he could carry out such an efficient murder and not get caught. So why did I have Chase at the top of my list?
The question Hunter would ask is—if that were true why would Chase leave Ferrina’s police report and newspaper clippings about King? My answer would be the same as before—young people don’t think about paper. They are about electronics.
As for a professional hit, my answer would be that the murderer was acting through a mediator and was told only to take Carpenter’s phone and destroy the laptop. The fact that Carpenter had folded-up paper reports in his pocket is not something that occurred to anyone. The assassin might not have even known the Landaus had ordered the hit.
There. Two possible explanations of who did the dirty deed.
Now—as to the why.
20
VeVe and I were having dinner at a little café near her house.
“You look tired, VeVe.”
“I’m not sleeping well. Ever since we found Mr. Carpenter, I’ve been hav
ing nightmares. I even sleep with the light on. I jump at every sound. It’s unnerving. Has this been happening with you?”
“Nah. I sleep like a baby.”
“Oh.”
“I don’t mean to sound insensitive, but this is not my first rodeo.”
“You have been stepping over dead bodies quite a bit lately. Why is that, Jo? You used to be so normal.”
“I do seem to stumble over the dark side of people. I keep hoping it’s a phase.”
VeVe smiled. “I used to think it was so glamorous of you solving all these mysteries, but now that I have been involved in one, it feels . . .”
“Sordid?”
Blushing, VeVe nodded. “No offense intended.”
“None taken. I know what you mean.”
“Did the police make you take a lie detector test?”
I looked up curiously from my chicken salad. “No. Why?”
“They made me take one, and they have asked me to come in for another talk. I don’t think they believe me when I said I didn’t know this Shelby Carpenter.”
“Do you have an appointment scheduled with the police?”
“Day after tomorrow.”
I pulled Shaneika Mary Todd’s business card from my wallet and handed it to VeVe. “Tell Shaneika that you are a friend of mine and ask her if she will go with you to the police interview. She is the number one criminal lawyer in the state.”
“What do the police want from me? Why should I need a lawyer?”
“They want to rattle your cage and see what falls out. They have no other suspect, and you are the closest person at hand. They’re just fishing.”
VeVe poked at her salad in contemplation.
“What is it? Something else is troubling you?”
She put down her fork and used her paper napkin to dab her eyes. “Josiah, this murder might cause me to go bankrupt. The police impounded my car and the thousand dollars Carpenter left. The police won’t release either, and I need my car for work.” VeVe used her napkin to blow her nose.
“Don’t cry, VeVe.”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do, Jo. I can’t afford Miss Todd. I simply can’t.”
“She’ll let you pay so much a month. The expense for the interview shouldn’t be too much, and Shaneika will stop future harassment. She’ll be worth the few hundred dollars you’ll pay her.”
VeVe took a deep breath. “You think I should take her?”
“I do, VeVe. I think you’re getting in over your head. Shaneika will help you find solid ground.” I knew how VeVe felt. I had been in her shoes once when a rogue cop hounded me for years and almost murdered me at Cumberland Falls. VeVe needed some backup and fast.
VeVe gingerly put the card in the front pocket of her purse.
“If the police have your car, how did you get here?”
“In a rental, but I can’t keep that up. It’s too costly but I’ve got to have transportation for work.” VeVe mopped her eyes again. “Why does everything have to be so hard. Why won’t the police release my car? I’m so angry I could spit.”
“Because your car is evidence, and they haven’t solved the case yet.” I pulled a checkbook from my purse and wrote a check for a thousand dollars. “Pay me twenty dollars at the first of each month.”
VeVe pushed my outstretched hand away. “I can’t take that. It would make my insomnia worse knowing that I owed someone a thousand dollars. Besides, you need that money yourself.”
I could see there was no use pressing the issue. “Very well. I’m sure they’ll release your car as soon as they arrest someone.” Of course, I didn’t believe that for one second.
“I wish they’d get on with it. If I could do something to solve this case myself, I would. I hate feeling this helpless.” VeVe stabbed a tomato repeatedly.
“I think your salad is dead, VeVe.” I commented, before coming up with a brilliant idea. “Why don’t you ask Lady Elsmere if you can borrow one of her farm trucks until the police release your car?”
“I can’t do that. I don’t know her very well.”
“But I do. The farm has lots of trucks. I’m sure they could spare one.”
VeVe shook her head. “I don’t know how to drive a stick shift.”
“All their farm trucks are automatic.”
“Do you really think she would let me borrow a truck?”
“I’ll broach the subject with Lady Elsmere tomorrow. I’m sure she’ll say yes.” I smiled, congratulating myself on fixing VeVe’s problems. Lady Elsmere agreeing with my plan was as sure as gravy on a biscuit.
21
“NO!”
“What do you mean no? I gave that woman my word that you would let her borrow one of your farm trucks.”
Lady Elsmere said, “I don’t know her. She could get into a wreck and then sue me for a million dollars.”
“That’s nonsense.”
“It is really?” June sneered. “Then you are not as worldly as you proclaim.”
“This is a sweet woman who works as a secretary at the University of Kentucky making thirty-five thousand a year. By the time taxes are taken out, the woman barely has enough money to buy food for her cat and some chocolate bars for herself. You have so much. Why can’t you help a sister in need?”
“You are always over here wanting things. Always yapping at my heels like some wayward mutt.”
“June!” I gasped. I couldn’t believe what she was saying to me. “You are not yourself.” I stood up almost knocking over my teacup. “Is this your final word?”
“Yes.”
I threw down my napkin. “I’ll see myself out.” I couldn’t believe what had happened. June had never been in such a foul mood.
Charles was waiting near the kitchen door. “You look frightful.”
I must have been more distressed than I realized because when telling Charles of my run-in with June I became incoherent.
Charles nodded sympathetically as he listened. Holding up his hand, he said, “Stop Josiah. I get the gist of your conversation. June’s doctor put her on a new heart medication, and she’s been an evil old bat since then. June’s been so awful that Amelia threatened to quit as her caretaker, and you know Amelia loves June. This last incident with you proves the medication is causing a change in June’s personality. I’m going to call her doctor immediately.”
“Sounds like a plan, but I need an answer immediately, too.”
“Tell me your issue again.”
I related my need for a borrowed truck.
When I finished my tale of woe, Charles said, “You came at the right time. We have two trucks that we are going to trade in for newer models. Miss Veritas can borrow one and return it when she’s finished, but she’ll have to sign some papers first.”
“What kind of papers?”
“June is not wrong about being sued. No good deed goes unpunished. I’ll have June’s lawyer draw up an agreement. Your friend can have the truck tomorrow, and it is an automatic transmission.”
“It might be months before my friend can return it.”
“That’s okay. We’ve got plenty of vehicles. It’s just cost-effective for us to trade work vehicles in after five years. I’ll make sure our mechanic goes over the truck before we give it to your friend.”
“Thank you so much, Charles. You don’t know what this means.”
“Things will get back to normal when June’s medication is straightened out. Don’t fret, Jo. This is only a temporary bump in the road.”
“She upset me so.”
“I could tell.”
“I’ve never seen June so unreasonable. What am I going to do if that old witch goes senile?” It then struck me how much I love and depend upon June. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing her.
Charles smiled. “You need a distraction. How’s the investigation regarding Mr. Carpenter going?”
“Slow. No new leads as far as I know. The police are being awfully tight-lipped.”
“It doesn’t do
any good for our fair city to have an unsolved murder of a tourist.”
“No, it doesn’t,” I sighed, thoroughly worn out after my tussle with June. “Enough about me. What’s going on with you, Charles?”
Delighted that he was asked about himself, Charles spouted, “I was asked to join Ferrina Landau’s board to save retired Thoroughbreds. My first advice to the board was to partner with the Lexington Humane Society so we wouldn’t be going after the same donors, but I don’t think my suggestion was welcomed.”
“There needs to be legislation on this issue.”
“We need to educate the public first about this and illegal doping before we go after our legislators.”
“You know best in these matters, Charles. Keep at it. Better yet, let Ferrina think your suggestions were her ideas. Butter her up. She wants to be the queen bee, so let her. If the ideas fail, she’ll take the fall and not you.”
Charles grinned. “And here I thought you were such a nice lady.”
“You should have known better.”
“One more thing before you take your leave. Ferrina is looking for a part-time secretary to help with this new venture. Mostly computer work at Ferrina’s home. We don’t want to spend money on an office when Ferrina has a space for office work. It will be for about ten hours a week that are pretty flexible but there will be weekend work. If you know of anyone reliable, let me know.”
I just love it when gifts like this drop into my lap. “I know the perfect person for you, Charles. There absolutely couldn’t be a better fit for this position.”
Charles hesitated, but said, “If you say so, Josiah.”