"He was probably jealous of them giving the baby all their attention and neglecting him," Matilda said.
"I guess we’ll have to make sure we give them equal quality time," Smiley said.
Chapter Twelve
The constant beeping sound pulled Matilda out of a peaceful afternoon nap on the sofa in her office. Fire! The thought propelled her off the sofa. She grabbed her walking stick and rushed out just in time to hear both Tara and John Paul scream. Of all the times to have a fire, it would be when we are fully booked with a ski tour!
"Where?" Matilda asked the bewildered Smiley. The hippy pointed to the hall as he pulled a fire extinguisher from behind him and hurried from behind the counter.
"What is going on?" Jack said rushing from the dining room where he was giving their ski tour guests a lecture of ski safety.
"I'm not sure. Jack get everyone out of the building," Matilda said.
Before she could get out of the lobby, Trixie ran up breathless. "Where's the fire?"
"I don't know," she said as she hurried after Smiley whom she had last seen holding the fire extinguisher in front of him like some strange alien weapon.
"Sound as though the alarm is coming from the solarium," Matilda said as she paused to pull a fire extinguisher off the wall.
"No, give it to me," Trixie said. The moment she had the extinguisher in her hands she broke into a run.
"It's in the solarium!" they heard Smiley shout.
By the time Matilda reached the door to the solarium, the smell of smoke caused her to cough.
"No stay back," Trixie ordered as she rushed in behind Smiley.
"It’s the curtains," Smiley shouted as he pressed the trigger of his fire extinguisher. Foam sprayed out of the nozzle of the extinguisher covering the burning curtains.
Trixie activated her extinguisher as she hurried to Smiley's side. Matilda jerked a third extinguisher from the wall beside the door and joined them. The foam from the three extinguishers smothered the fire in just a few moments.
"Wow, that was close," Smiley said as he backed away from the foam-covered curtains.
"What's that on the floor under the curtains," Matilda said pointing to a white lump.
Smiley bend down. "It's wax. Candle wax and black flakes of burnt paper," he added as he straightened up.
"Arson," Trixie said.
"Yep, Watson, you are correct," Matilda said. "Someone put a candle on top of a newspaper, lit it and left."
"Really?" Smiley said.
"Yeah," Trixie answered.
"How do you two know so much about arson?" Smiley asked shaking his head.
"We both love to read mysteries and thrillers. It's a common method to use when you want to be away from the building when the fire starts."
"Oh,"
"Yeah, Trixie and I read something besides Marvel comic books," Matilda said as she tapped her walking stick on the floor.
"But why would anyone want to burn down the solarium?" Smiley asked as the fire alarm stopped.
"To hide evidence!" Both Trixie and Matilda said at the same time.
"But the state forensic team combed through the room and didn't find anything?" Smiley said.
"I guess they didn't search in the right place," Matilda said as she frowned in thought. "Now what evidence would have been left by the killer?"
"Whatever it was, the police overlooked it?" Trixie said.
"Is everything all right in here," Ann Bixby asked from just inside the door. "Was there a fire?"
"Yeah," Trixie said as she turned to face the chambermaid. "Go upstairs and calm any guests that are panicking," Trixie added. "I'll be up shortly."
"Yes, ma'am," the chambermaid said as she hurried away.
"Smiley," Matilda said. "Hurry back to the lobby. I can hear Tara and John Paul squawking. Try to quieten them down and tell any guest that asks about the fire that it was a fire in a wastepaper basket."
Matilda turned back to Trixie after she locked the door to the solarium. "Trixie, I don't like having the girlfriend of the man running The Horse and Hound working for us. Why isn't she working as a chambermaid at the Horse and Hound?"
Trixie shook her head. "She doesn't get along with the head chambermaid. And I don’t think Charley likes her. She just works for them whenever one of the regular chambermaids calls in sick."
"Oh, so that’s the rub. Betty has worked for Charley for forty years. She rules the upstairs staff with an iron fist," Matilda said.
"Yeah, well Betty is jealous of Ann. She probably thinks that Carl will replace her with Ann when he inherits the inn, which looks as though it will be sooner rather than later."
"I can relate to that. When I went to the Cannon to talk to Jack, I was so jealous of him. We’re the same age and he's still an excellent skier, while I can barely make two runs down the bunny slope before my hip hurts so much I have to stop."
"Sorry, I should have gone and talked to Jack," Trixie said.
"No, no, I have to face the facts of life. I'm never going to run a slalom trail or even ski down Taft again. Not facing reality is what drove Buggy to drink. Now, let’s go and see how many guests are checking out because of the fire alarm.
The lobby was packed with guests as they entered.
"Listen up everyone," Matilda said as she pounded the floor with her walking stick. "It was only a fire in a wastebasket. Nothing to be concerned about," she nodded at Jack. "Everyone can go back to the dining room, and Mr. McGurin will finish the lecture."
"Yes, please return to your seats. There is still a lot about ski safety I want to discuss," Jack said as he held up his hand for attention.
As the guests filed into the dining room, Matilda spotted Sheriff Dudley forcing his way through the crowd.
"What are you doing here? It’s not coffee and sugar cookie time."
"I gave Trudy a lift to work. Her car wouldn’t start, and I stayed for breakfast," Sheriff Dudley said.
"Why didn't you and Trudy run out of the building when the fire alarm sounded?" Trixie asked.
"I didn't figure it was a real fire. Anyway, if needed, we could have exited through the back, kitchen door."
"Creep! Creep!" John Paul took that moment to scream.
You got that right, John Paul, Matilda thought as she nodded at the sheriff. "Don't take it personally. He says that to everyone," Matilda lied.
"Hmm, I guess that goes over big with your guests," Sheriff Dudley said as he hit his Smokey the bear hat against his leg, turned, and walked out.
"John Paul," she said as she looked the cockatoo. "You are a fine judge of character!"
"John Paul is a bad bird," the cockatoo squawked.
"Sometimes it's good to be bad," Matilda said.
"Tara is a pretty bird," Tara said.
"Yes, you are a sweet bird," Trixie said. "I don't think you need to encourage John Paul to be bad, Miss Matilda, it's his natural state."
"I guess the excitement is over for the moment," Smiley said.
"You've got smudges of soot on your face. Go to your room and wash up," Trixie can cover the desk until you get back," Matilda said.
"Yeah, I feel grimy," Smiley said as he hurried upstairs.
"Aren't you going to tell Sheriff Dudley that the fire was arson?" Trixie asked after the hippy was gone.
"No."
"Because?"
"Trixie, he's on our list of murder suspects. I think the fire was started to destroy evidence."
"Get out! You think Sheriff Dudley might have started the fire?"
"Or Jack? Both were here, and the arsonist could easily adjust the time of the fire by lengthening or shorting the candle. And it wouldn't do any good to go to Sheriff Dudley if he set the fire. Anyway, we know how the fire started, so we don't need a fire marshal or sheriff to tell us.
"Heck, I didn't take either Jack or Sheriff Dudley as serious murder suspects before the fire, but I must now," Trixie said.
"Let’s go and search the solarium. Maybe we can fi
nd that piece of evidence someone is so desperate to destroy," Matilda said. "Hearing footsteps on the stairs, Matilda glanced around. “Smiley, you look fresh as a daisy."
"Yeah, and I feel better."
"Check-in time! Check-in time!" John Paul squawked as a man and women both wearing ski jackets entered.
"Look, a galah," the man said. "Isn’t he a little noisy for an inn?"
"We cover his cage at night," Matilda heard Smiley say as she nodded to Trixie, and they headed toward the solarium. "I just hope he doesn't call the man a creep," Matilda whispered.
"What are we looking for?" Trixie asked.
"Wait for a second while I look into my crystal ball," Matilda said.
"Okay, okay, I get your point," Trixie said. "I'm going to search the right half of the room, you search the left half, and then we'll switch."
"Now, that’s what Watson brings to the table," Matilda said. "Practicality."
"No, you aren't going to sucker me into asking what Sherlock aka Miss Matilda brings to the table," Trixie said shaking her head as she moved to the right side of the room where she began looking into planters and flower pots.
Matilda did the same. An hour later both of them sat in two of the room’s white wicker chairs and stared into space.
"That was a waste of time. I found nothing but a creepy spider and a quarter," Trixie said.
"At least you got paid for your time." Matilda said with a chuckle.
"Did you really expect us to uncover something when the state forensic team couldn't?" Trixie asked.
"It was worth a try. At least we know the evidence is still somewhere in the solarium or else the murder wouldn't have set the fire."
"Miss Trixie?"
Both women looked at the red-haired woman in a maid's uniform standing in the door of the solarium.
"Yes, Ann."
"I've finished my assigned rooms. Is it all right if I take off a little early? I have to clean Attorney Casey's office tonight, and I need to run some errands first."
"Sure, run along. I'll check the other rooms," Trixie said.
"Casey is my attorney," Matilda said. "And if I recall, he's also Charley Lovett's attorney."
"Oh, that's not surprising since he's the only attorney in town," Trixie said. "Almost everyone uses him. The only other choice is to drive over to Littleton or Saint Johnsbury, Vermont," Trixie said.
"Saying Charley's name makes me wonder how he's doing. Be sure to ask Ann tomorrow. I do hope he wakes up; I have some questions to ask him about Buggy."
"I don't think he will, Miss Matilda. I have to use a trite term…"
"…You never let that stop you before," Matilda said.
"…He looked to be on his deathbed," Trixie finished. "And I think I’d better go and check the rooms or else I might say something else trite and a bit nasty."
"It wouldn’t be the first time!" Matilda called after her.
Chapter Thirteen
"Where are you going, Miss Matilda?" Trixie asked as she watched her aunt put on her faded Cannon Mountain Ski School jacket.
"Time to have a word with the good sheriff."
"Oh, we have a good sheriff? Since when?" Trixie said.
"Don't give me that, dear. You voted for him in the last election. And don't deny it because you told me you did!"
"Hmm, it was a lapse of judgment. But I do believe you had the same lapse."
"I never told you I voted for Dudley?" Matilda said. "I make it a point of keeping my vote private."
"No, you just said that Danny Ray wasn't fit to be dog catcher so naturally, I presumed that you voted for Sheriff Dudley, again."
"Gee, I bet that assumption strained your connective powers," Matilda said.
"Are you going to the sheriff's office?"
"No, I'm meeting him at the Village House," Matilda said.
Drive carefully. It’s snowing," Trixie said following her aunt out of the office.
"Well, my new Ford Explorer has an airbag. I don't have to worry about kissing the windshield again," Matilda said as entered the lobby.
"Check-in time," John Paul said.
"Get in your cage," Tara screamed at him as she walked to the end of her perch and glared at the cockatoo.
"Miss Matilda, they are driving me insane bickering back and forth like two little kids," Smiley said.
"Hmm, and here I thought you drove down that road several years ago, Smiley," Matilda said as she stopped in front of Tara's perch. "Tickle, tickle?"
Tara raised her right wing and let out a human-sounding chuckle as Matilda rubbed her finger back and forth under her wing.
"Tickle, tickle!" John Paul screamed raising his wing.
"Okay, Tara that's enough. Let me tickle your brother," Matilda said as she moved over to stand in front of John Paul's perch.
"John Paul is a bad bird!" Tara said as she bobbed her head.
"You should show him how to be a good bird, Tara," Matilda said as she rubbed the cockatoo under his wing. "Okay, that's all. Mommy has to go and see the bad sheriff…"
"Miss Matilda, you have to be careful what you say in front of John Paul or your words will come back to haunt you. He has a knack for knowing who you are talking about," Smiley warned.
"Oh, don't be silly. He's not that smart," Matilda answered.
Smiley shrugged and went back to his comic book.
Matilda would never admit it to Trixie, but she loved her New Ford Explorer. The Bronco had driven like a truck, but the Explorer drove like a car, even when she shifted into four-wheel drive.
The sheriff's office was a log cabin fitting for ski country. The large one room was adequate for Sheriff Dudley, Deputy Ray Bradley, and Susan Lock, the dispatcher. But there was the rub; Matilda wanted to talk to Sheriff Dudley in private. Therefore, she had called and asked him to meet her at the Village House Restaurant. He had said he was busy, but when she had mentioned that she needed clarification on some information that his uncle Sheriff Wilson had given her concerning Buggy's accident. He had suddenly turned very agreeable.
The light snow tapered off to flurries as Matilda pulled into the parking lot of the Village House. It was midafternoon, and Sheriff Dudley’s cruiser was the only vehicle in the parking lot.
Good, we can talk freely, Matilda thought as she parked.
The falling snow was wet, the main cause of New England losing skiers to the western states. Skiers loved powder and not the ice conditions that usually plagued Cannon Mountain and other ski venues in the adjacent states.
Matilda probed the three inches of snow with her walking stick looking for ice formations underneath. She had broken her hip under similar conditions in the parking lot of the post office. She took small steps as she cautiously made her way to the entrance.
"It's treacherous out there," Sheriff Dudley called out from the first booth left of the entrance.
"Typical Sugar Hill conditions. I sometimes think more residents get hurt slipping on the ice than from skiing," Matilda declared.
"You might be right. I never thought of that," Dudley said as he watched Matilda take her seat. "Ah, where is your niece?"
"Checking the rooms to make sure the chambermaids clean them property.” She looked up at Maud; a skinny, gray-haired waitress who had stopped at their table. "Just coffee, Maud. I don't need doughnuts since I'm not in law enforcement."
Maud glanced at the four doughnuts on Sheriff Dudley's plate and snickered before she walked away.
"I can see why Trixie doesn't' call you Aunt Matilda," Sheriff Dudley said.
"Really?"
"Yeah, when you call someone aunt, the notion of a warm, cozy middle-aged woman ready to bake cookies for you comes to mind," Sheriff Dudley said. "While the name Miss Matilda brings forth an image of a stern school teacher with a ruler in her hand watching your every move."
"Oh, did you have a trauma with a stern teacher when you were growing up, Sheriff?"
Sheriff Dudley smiled. "I should know better than to s
wap one-liners with you after being around you for thirty years."
"Yes, I agree," Matilda said, not in the kindest of tones. "Now to get down to what the good former Sheriff Wilson told me," Matilda said.
Sheriff Dudley squirmed in his seat as though he were sitting on tacks. "There is no telling what he told you. There's no love lost between the two of us."
"Yeah, I can imagine. He knows you too well," Matilda said. She took a sip of her coffee. "And do you blame him for keeping his distance after what when down with Buggy?"
"What do you mean by that?" Sheriff Dudley said. "Miss Matilda, you are just rambling when you bring up an accident that happened ten years ago. Buggy is dead. So, what’s to be gained by rehashing his accident?"
"The truth."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You and Charley didn't tell the truth about how the accident happened," Matilda said.
Sheriff Dudley glared across the table at her but remained silent for a long moment. "So, what cock-and-bull story did that old buzzard feed you?"
"You tell me?"
"Your interrogation tactics suck, you know. If that’s what you’re trying to do? Interrogate me!"
Matilda shrugged. "Okay, if you want to play it that way. Your uncle said you were in the car the night Buggy was run down."
Sheriff Dudley took a deep breath. "That’s a lie," he said as he exhaled.
"Not according to Sheriff Wilson and Charley Lovett," Matilda said.
"What’s Charley got to do with it?"
"Did you know that Sheriff Wilson saw you when Charley dropped you off at the station that night to get your cruiser?"
Sheriff Dudley stiffened in his chair but remained silent.
"He followed you back to where Buggy lay unconscious alongside the road. Sheriff Dudley, you were in the car when it hit Buggy."
Sheriff Dudley shook his head. "Not true. These are all lies."
"Sheriff, Charley confessed to Wilson a few days before he went into a coma. He said you were driving the car the night it hit Buggy."
Sheriff Dudley pushed his chair back from the table. "I don't have to sit here and listen to these accusations. They’re ridiculous. I don't know why my uncle made up this story. If Charley were conscious, he would tell you it was lies. He was driving the car and not me!" Sheriff Dudley said as he stood. "If you don't believe Sheriff Wilson made it all up, go and ask him. He's made a fool out of you. He's sick and not in his right mind. His memories of the incident are fantasies, nothing but fantasies."
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