Death of a Suitor

by Elizabeth Spann Craig

  “How are things going?” asked Elaine in a low voice. “I heard that you had something of an unexpected adventure last night.”

  Myrtle said, “I’m sure I probably woke you up with my phone call.”

  “That didn’t matter at all . . . I’m used to Red being called away at all hours of the day and night. Are you doing all right, though? That must have been very upsetting.”

  Myrtle nodded. “Oh, I’m just fine. Poor Eloise, though.” Myrtle’s voice didn’t sound very convincing.

  Elaine, who knew Myrtle’s opinion of Eloise, said, “Well, I’m sure it was startling, just the same.” She glanced over into the kitchen where Jack was solemnly showing Miles his new dump truck and Miles was carefully looking it over. “I hear Red might have been asking both you and Miles some questions.”

  Myrtle sniffed. “It seems as though Red is convinced Miles or I have something to do with this. Maybe he thinks we were partners in crime.”

  Elaine shook her head. “He doesn’t, Myrtle, I promise. He’s just having to make sure everything is done by the book. You know how he is. He’s mostly just concerned that you and Miles stay safe. Red’s worried you’re asking too many questions.”

  “Well, being considered a suspect can spur one to ask them,” said Myrtle. “But thanks for saying that Red doesn’t really think we’ve done anything.”

  Elaine glanced at her watch. “I’d better run. I don’t think I’ll be long—it should be a cut-and-dried appointment.”

  “Just be sure to go ahead and run by the pharmacy before you pick up Jack. There’s no need to put him in a car and go back out later for your medicine,” said Myrtle. “We’ll be just fine.”

  Once Elaine left, Myrtle put cookies and milk out for Jack, Miles, and herself. Then they played Memory . . . a matching game that Miles and Jack both seemed quite good at. Myrtle’s performance during the game was abysmal, but she felt the fact she was distracted by the murders was likely affecting her ability to find matches.

  Miles said in an aside to Jack, “I don’t think your Nana is very good at this game.”

  Jack chuckled and said, “Nana bad.”

  Myrtle said, “It’s not that Nana is necessarily bad at the game, just that Nana is somewhat distracted.”

  Miles said, “I, for one, am delighted to find something you’re not good at. I’ve lost far too many scrabble and chess games when playing you.”

  They played once more, Myrtle trying a bit harder this time to salvage her reputation as an excellent game player. But it ended much as it had before with Jack the decisive winner and Myrtle the decisive loser and Miles falling somewhere in-between.

  Then Jack wanted to play with his trucks and some action figures he’d brought over with him. While he was busily making truck noises and giving life to the action figures, Myrtle filled Miles in on her morning.

  Miles considered what she’d told him. “So Bailey did confess to both murders.”

  “Yes. But it doesn’t count because he didn’t kill anyone.”

  Miles said, “But he said he did.”

  “In a completely unconvincing way. He seemed very eager to turn himself in. And he’d given every appearance of being completely surprised when I said that Eloise died.”

  Miles looked reflective at the mention of Eloise. “I do feel badly about Eloise. The last time I saw her, I think I might have been rather rude.”

  “I was always rude to Eloise. That’s because Eloise was a very difficult person. The fact that she’s no longer with us doesn’t make her an easier person. After all, you and I had absolutely no idea that Eloise was going to be murdered. And you needed to be firm with her since she wasn’t getting the message that you two were no longer dating.”

  Miles sighed. “I know. Academically, I do know. But it’s hard to escape the feelings of guilt that I have. And I’ve already been the recipient of more food this morning.”

  “As always, word travels fast. Just send as much food my way as you’d like. I’m still stretching my retirement check out a bit further. But going back to Bailey and Marigold.”

  “Bailey and Marigold?”

  Myrtle said sternly, “Yes, our topic before you hijacked the conversation by waxing eloquent about Eloise. And I thought I was distracted today.”

  “Right. Yes, Bailey and Marigold. Bailey confessed, although he didn’t seem to know exactly what he was confessing to. And you weren’t impressed with his confession.”

  Myrtle said, “That’s correct. Red wasn’t either. Red said that Bailey didn’t know important details that the killer would know. So Red didn’t arrest him.”

  “So why do we think Bailey confessed?” asked Miles. “Did he just momentarily lose his mind? It seems unlikely, considering he ordinarily seems very sane.”

  “I think he was trying to protect Marigold. When I spoke with Bailey at Jax’s service, he seemed very forgiving of Marigold’s indiscretion and just wanted to make things right between the two of them. For whatever reason, I’m guessing he thought Marigold might be responsible.”

  Miles said, “That might have to do with the fact that Marigold and Eloise weren’t really getting along.”

  “Mm. I gather there was friction between them since they were both seeing Jax. Perhaps that friction developed into something else.”

  “What did Marigold have to say?” asked Miles.

  Myrtle sighed. “She’s not very happy with Bailey. In fact, she’s looking to end their marriage.”

  Miles raised his eyebrows. “She wasn’t impressed by his gallant gesture? The fact that he was trying to shield her from being a suspect?”

  “Not a whit. In fact, she seemed most annoyed with him for confessing. You see, by confessing, he basically admitted he was out of the house. So he messed up any alibi Marigold might have had.”

  Miles nodded. “Sounds like he didn’t consider all the implications.”

  “Not only that, he didn’t realize he didn’t even have enough information to confess to two murders. It was all total nonsense. I could tell Bailey wasn’t even aware Eloise had died when I told him about it.”

  The doorbell rang again and Myrtle scowled at it. “For heaven’s sake. I wish I still had Wanda here to tell me who’s out there.”

  “I know one way you can tell who’s out there,” said Miles pointedly.

  Myrtle walked toward the door, her cane thumping on the floor as she went. She peered out the curtain then swiftly turned around and hissed, “It’s Allen!”

  Chapter Fourteen

  MILES SHRUGGED AND Myrtle continued, “I’m not sure I should entertain a murder suspect with my grandson in the house.”

  Miles said, “Between the two of us, I think we can take him, Myrtle.”

  Just to be on the safe side, Myrtle gripped her cane very tightly, ready to swing it at the unsuspecting Allen at any moment. Then she opened the door.

  Myrtle must have looked quite ferocious because Allen blinked in confusion at her. “Hi there, Myrtle,” he said, stammering a bit.

  “Hi,” she said coolly.

  Jack ran over to show them the new toy and Myrtle carefully took him by her free hand and kept him behind her. “That’s wonderful, Jack,” she said.

  Miles stood up and walked over to help. “How about if I keep an eye on Jack in the back yard? That’s the best place to play with trucks anyway. If you’re all right with that?”

  Myrtle gave him a relieved look. “Yes, that will be perfect. Come on in, Allen.”

  Allen walked in and sat down, glancing with interest at Myrtle’s unfinished crossword. “I think five down is ante.”

  “Of course it is,” said Myrtle crossly. “I’ve simply had a very busy day and haven’t had the chance to fill it in.”

  “May I?” asked Allen. “I’m never able to get this far with crosswords, myself, and it’s nice to look at an almost-finished puzzle.”

  Myrtle gave him a nod and Allen carefully wrote in the answer. “Do you always use a pen?”
/>   “Most certainly. You have to have the courage of your convictions.”

  Allen gave a thoughtful nod. “Got it. Well, I’ll try anything. Like I said, I haven’t done too well with them.”

  Myrtle relaxed her grip on her cane a fraction. Still, she wanted to know exactly what sort of business brought Allen so unexpectedly to her house. After all, nothing was very welcoming in her yard right now. The gnome army was out in full force and carrying signs, for heaven’s sake. And she’d never put out a welcome mat on the front porch. “Was there something I needed to help you with, Allen?”

  Allen nodded. “I heard you had information about what happened last night.”

  “With Eloise.”

  Allen nodded again and looked a little embarrassed. “Sorry to bug you, but I wanted to find out what was going on. The cops keep asking me questions and I didn’t even really know Eloise. I mean, I knew she was seeing Jax and that’s about all I knew.”

  It was rather stunning that even Allen knew Eloise and Jax were dating and Miles and she were unaware of it. Either she and Miles didn’t listen to much gossip, or else they simply weren’t around it.

  “Why do you think the police are asking you questions?” asked Myrtle. She gripped the cane again, remembering Marigold’s assertions about Allen’s vandalism of Jax’s car.

  Allen sighed. “You know . . . because of the animosity between Jax and me. Because he got me removed from the theater.”

  “Do you have an alibi for last night?” asked Myrtle.

  Allen nodded eagerly. “I sure do. I told Red all about it when I saw him.” He shrugged. “Like I said, I didn’t even really know Eloise. I’m sorry she’s dead, but I didn’t have a thing in the world to do with it.”

  Myrtle nodded. She said briskly, “Excuse me for just a second, Allen, while I check on my grandson.” She walked over to the kitchen window and looked out into her backyard. Miles had brought a notebook outside and had made a paper airplane, which was apparently fascinating to the little boy. Satisfied, she walked back over to Allen.

  “Have a seat,” she said, belatedly offering him a modicum of hospitality. Then she gave Allen a sizing-up type of look before saying, “I went outside to get some fresh air last night. Rather late. I was out on my dock and looking out on the water and I saw something floating in the lake.”

  Allen looked a little green. “And that something was Eloise?”

  Myrtle nodded. “Red says it was murder. And it seems rather unlikely that Jax’s murder and Eloise’s wouldn’t be connected . . . especially since the two of them were connected.”

  Allen swallowed.

  “I feel as if Red needs a little help with this one,” said Myrtle in a mulling voice. “I’m not saying my only child isn’t competent, just that this perpetrator is sneaky. I’m trying to compile information for him . . . just to be of assistance, of course.”

  Allen looked a bit doubtful. “You’re helping him solve these two murders?”

  “Unofficially. Anyway, I’m trying to locate witnesses who might have seen something. Were you in this general vicinity last night? I’m not sure how long Eloise was in the water, which is somewhat limiting. Where were you last night?”

  Miles came back in with Jack and Allen looked vastly relieved at the interruption.

  “Jack seems to think his Nana might have some ice cream? Or popsicles?” asked Miles. There was a slight note of desperation in his voice.

  “There are both. Not a lot of regular food, but plenty of frozen treats.” She turned her laser focus back on Allen. “So . . . last night?”

  Miles gave Jack a purple popsicle and watched with interest from the kitchen as Allen shifted uncomfortably.

  “Well, last night I took your really excellent advice, Myrtle.”

  Myrtle quirked an eyebrow. “I always offer really excellent advice. Which bit, in particular, are you referring to?”

  “Your advice that I approach Mr. Toucan about returning to the theater. You see, I think it was mainly my hurt pride. I couldn’t take it that, after so many loyal years of service, Mr. Toucan could possibly think the worst of me and believe anything that Jax Jackson had to say. Jax! He wasn’t the most reliable person in the world. You know that’s true.”

  Myrtle nodded. “I’ll grant you that.”

  Allen held out his hands. “I told him I’d never do anything to hurt the theater. That it was my ‘happy place’ all these years . . . where I’d go to de-stress. I told him I figured Jax just didn’t like me or wanted me out of the way. Or maybe that Jax just felt like causing trouble of some kind between us—I’d say Jax had a mischievous streak.”

  Myrtle would have called it something more than merely mischievous. “What did Mr. Toucan say?”

  Allen gave a crooked smile and said in a relieved voice, “He said I was welcome to come back. I got the feeling I’d be in a sort of probation period first, but I was so delighted to return to the Bradley Community Theater that I didn’t really even care. I have you to thank for that, Myrtle.”

  “And that’s what you were doing last night?”

  “That’s right.” Allen’s face grew somber again as he recalled that the reason they were talking about the theater at all was because he was establishing an alibi.

  Jack came running in with purple popsicle all over his face.

  “Goodness, Jack! Do you need your Nana to get that sticky off you? Let’s find a warm washcloth for your face. That will feel good, won’t it?”

  “I should be going,” said Allen hastily, as if fearing he was about to be drafted into childcare. He glanced over at the crossword on the table again. “Do you think the flightless bird might be emu?”

  Myrtle bit back a retort. “Why don’t you take that crossword with you, Allen? It looks like I’m having a busy day today and you might get more out of it.”

  Allen brightened. “Thanks, Myrtle. I stopped my newspaper subscription and I still really miss the crosswords.”

  He picked up the newspaper, waved while walking through the door, and disappeared.

  Myrtle warmed up a soft washcloth and managed to get most of the purple off of Jack’s face. She beamed at him. “You look just like your daddy did when he was a little guy, Jack.”

  Jack beamed back at her and stuck a finger in his mouth.

  There was a light tap at the door and Elaine poked her head in. Jack trotted over and hugged her around the legs. “How did everything go?” she asked.

  “How did everything go with you?” asked Myrtle. “We had a lovely time here, naturally.”

  Elaine said, “Well, I do have an ear infection . . . two, as a matter of fact. I have an antibiotic and am going to take a decongestant to try to clear my head.” She sighed. “I think I’m going to have to miss my class, though.”

  Miles and Myrtle exchanged a look. Elaine was always trying new hobbies and they rarely went well. In fact, frequently, they were utter, outright disasters.

  “What class is that, dear?” asked Myrtle with some trepidation.

  “I’m taking a martial arts class. It’s really wonderful from both a fitness standpoint and a self-protection approach. Of course, I don’t suppose I actually need the self-protection part, considering I live with the police chief.”

  “Oh, I don’t know—Bradley seems more treacherous every day,” said Myrtle. “And you’re enjoying the class?”

  “Absolutely. I have a friend in there with me, too. Of course, I can’t really go with an ear infection. I’m sure my head would end up throbbing like crazy. Maybe I’ll be better soon, with the antibiotic.” She reached down to ruffle Jack’s hair. “Jack and I have had a time lately. Last night, he couldn’t sleep because he was all keyed up and I couldn’t sleep because of my ear hurting. So we went down to the community theater.”

  Myrtle raised her eyebrows and shared a look with Miles. “Did you, now?” Elaine had been a volunteer on and off at the theater when time allowed. Myrtle was just relieved that Elaine hadn’t yet become part
of the cast. She had a feeling that would not go well.

  Elaine nodded. “There was a production last night of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. I wish I could have seen it. I let Jack run up and down the aisles and wear himself out and I helped Mr. Toucan pick up discarded programs.”

  Miles cleared his throat. “Did you happen to see Allen there at all?”

  “Allen West?” Elaine looked surprised. “Was he supposed to be there?”

  “He told us he was,” said Myrtle in an ominous voice.

  “Maybe he was at the theater at some point, but he wasn’t there last night. Although Mr. Toucan said that he had talked to him a couple of days ago by phone and had reinstated Allen as a volunteer. I was glad he did because the theater is so important to him.” Elaine looked concerned. “You’re not saying that Allen’s alibi is that he was at the theater? When Eloise died?”

  “That’s precisely what I’m saying. And it doesn’t look very good for Allen, does it?”

  Elaine shook her head. “No, it doesn’t. But maybe he’s just anxious about being considered a suspect. Maybe he had nothing at all to do with the murder and he doesn’t have an alibi because he was at home in bed. He could have thought he needed to come up with something.”

  “It’s very difficult to picture Allen as a coldblooded killer,” said Miles.

  Myrtle said, “That’s because engineers have so little imagination, Miles.”

  Miles blinked as Myrtle correctly named his former profession for once.

  Myrtle said to Elaine, “How are things going on Red’s end of the case? What’s his grumpy-meter set on?”

  Elaine smiled. “He’s pretty cranky, unfortunately. I believe the investigation isn’t going as quickly or easily as he’d like.”

  Myrtle said innocently, “Red hasn’t dropped any little tidbits, has he? Has he talked about any forensics information he might have gleaned from the state police?”

  Elaine snorted. “As if Red would discuss forensic details with me.”

  “True. Or . . . has my wonderful Lieutenant Perkins been over for dinner with y’all? Have you been able to overhear the two of them talking about the case?”