Cracked to Death (11 page)

Chapter 17

 

Savannah kicked the bottom of the studio door with her toe, trying to attract the attention of anyone inside. Her arms were full with a stack of pizzas from Cappy's Pizza, and the bottom box was seeping hot grease on her bare arms. “Hey, guys! Can you let me in?” She kicked the door with her toe a little harder.

The door opened, and Edward stepped aside. “Looks like you need a doorbell of some sort. Do you want me to install one?”

“What a great idea. Thanks.”

She set the stack of four pizza boxes in the center of the conference table and arranged them side by side, with their lids flipped open. She also lined up paper plates and napkins at the end of the conference table. Amanda and Jacob gathered around to see what kind of pizza was on offer.

“Let's get Arthur and Helen to join us. I think Pizza Thursday is a good idea for the clients of this place. What do you think?” Savannah said.

“Good marketing tool.” Edward grabbed a large slice of pepperoni and bit off the tip.

Amanda piped up. “I'll get them.”

Savannah spied the sweating pitcher wrapped in a bar towel, along with the red plastic cups. “Thanks for bringing the iced tea, Edward. It's so nice.”

Arthur and Helen joined them, and soon everyone was munching and chatting about current projects, plans for new works, local eateries, and upcoming craft shows. Savannah felt a deep, satisfying warmth in her chest. This was exactly the kind of supportive environment she had dreamed of providing to amateur glass artists. The studio provided a creative space for beginners to grow into professionals.

After everyone had had their fill of pizza, Arthur and Helen returned to their work spaces. Jacob and Edward cleared the boxes, paper plates, and napkins, and took them to the Dumpster outside, and then the posse settled back in their positions around the conference table.

Savannah cleared her throat. “Let's share what we know. First, I have gotten quite a bit of information about the bottles. It's clear that they're old and could be worth somewhere around twenty-five hundred to three thousand dollars each, in good condition. Robin believes that if they can be traced to Gaspar the Pirate's treasure, the value will increase to ten times that, at a minimum.”

Edward whistled. “That's a lot of dosh.”

Savannah looked directly at Amanda. “Do you want to tell everyone what you told me earlier?”

Amanda looked down at the conference-room table. “I knew Martin as a friend before the class. Detective Parker stopped by to ask me some questions because he found the texts that Martin and I had exchanged. I know I should have told you sooner, but the more time passed by, the harder it became for me to admit this.”

Edward leaned toward Amanda. “Why? What kept you from telling us?”

Amanda paused for a few seconds. “I just don't know. I'm—”

“Sometimes”—Jacob scratched Suzy behind the ear—“your inside voice gives you bad advice.”

Savannah relaxed back into her seat. “Okay. In your own time, Amanda. We'll listen when you're ready. For now let me tell everyone about our call this morning.”

Savannah cleared her throat. “Martin had a business partner helping him with the marketing of his new line of fantastical artworks. Her name is Vicki Lilith, and we discovered her through the Web site she and Martin shared for online sales.” She glanced at Amanda, who nodded for her to continue. “So we called her up, and, wow, did we get an earful. She apparently has been over to Martin's trailer and has put all his recent pieces up for sale on her site, without waiting for any kind of permission from his family.” Savannah tilted her head. “Anyway, she did tell us, accidentally, I believe, that Martin has an estranged sister in Tampa. I think we should talk to her.”

“I'm free, now that I'm done the social media search.” Amanda walked over to the corkboard and pinned up a picture of Martin's artwork and a picture of Vicki. She looked at Savannah. “I got the one of Vicki from their marketing Web site. I thought we might want a picture of her.” She turned around and looked at each of them. “I still haven't told you everything. There's more about me and Martin.”

“Okay. We're here for you. Go ahead,” Savannah said.

Amanda pulled a tissue from her pocket and dabbed at her eyes. “I'm so disgusted with myself that I haven't been completely honest with you guys about Martin.”

“What do you mean?” said Edward.

“I've known Martin for over a month. I can't believe it's been such a short time, because we hit it off so well.” She looked down and folded her hands into a tight grasp. “We met online, on one of those dating sites.”

“What? You were dating Martin? Isn't he quite a bit younger?” Savannah asked.

Amanda looked around the table. “See! You're doing it, as well. Judging me! You have to understand. I am seriously lonely.” She looked down and rubbed her hands. “Between the hours I work here and the erratic times I spend with my mother, I don't have a chance to casually hang out with people. I thought a dating Web site would be perfect.”

Savannah looked at Edward. “Amanda, we're not judging. We know how difficult things have been for you.”

Edward nodded and placed an arm around Amanda's shoulders. “You should have let us know. We wouldn't have talked you out of it, but we could have given you some support. You didn't have to deal with Martin's death alone.”

Leaning her head into Edward's hug, Amanda replied, “I know that. I should have let you guys know.”

“Let's focus our forces a bit differently.” Savannah looked over the group. “Edward and I have to talk to Martin's neighbors and also track down Captain Collins.” She noted Amanda's puzzled look. “Captain Collins was part of the celebration pub crawl on Monday night. Edward and I stopped by his place once, but we haven't connected with him since.”

Edward nodded in agreement. “We still have Jacob in reserve, in case we need any additional help.”

Jacob nodded down at the end of the conference table. “I'm good at analytical tasks and synergetic thinking.” He lifted Suzy from her conference chair and started out the door. “While I'm waiting, I have work to do on this restoration project,” he said over his shoulder.

“Do you think he's upset?” Savannah watched Jacob return to the large workshop.

“He might not understand what Amanda is saying. Let him absorb it in his own way,” said Edward. “Now, where were we?”

Amanda returned to her seat. “I think I should be the one to talk to Martin's sister.” She rummaged in her large hobo purse for another tissue. As she pressed it in the corner of her eyes, she said, “I've been such a fool. I don't deserve you guys.”

Savannah turned toward Amanda. “Don't be silly. We're going to clear things up.”

“No, it's not that.” Amanda placed her hands on top of the conference table. The dark wood accentuated the pale coloring of her arms. “It's something way worse. There's just one more thing I haven't told you.”

Savannah raised her eyes at the trembling tone of Amanda's voice. “What is way worse?” Savannah nodded to Edward. He quickly refilled Amanda's cup with iced tea and set it down in front of her.

Amanda grabbed the cup like a life preserver and quickly downed the cool drink. “It
is
worse.” She lifted her eyes to Savannah. “You see, I knew Martin from before the workshop. About a month before the workshop.”

“You just told us that—”

“Let me finish in my own way.” Amanda's voice was stronger now, and she straightened her shoulders. “I mean, we were secretly engaged.”

“What! Good grief, Amanda.” Savannah stood up so quickly, her chair fell back and crashed to the floor. “How do you expect us to investigate properly if you don't tell me everything about you and Martin? Why don't you tie my hands and then blindfold me? That's pretty much what you're doing.” Savannah folded her arms and looked at Amanda, her anger clearly showing.

Edward quietly picked up the chair, placed it behind Savannah, and she plopped down into a seated position.

Amanda bowed her head. “I know. I know. I'm being stupid.”

“Tell us everything. I mean everything,” Savannah muttered.

“Well, Martin and I were, well, intimate, I guess you could say, pretty quickly after we met. I was afraid I had jumped into his bed too quickly, but that wasn't the way it turned out. He felt we had a future, and on Saturday night he asked me to marry him.”

“What?” Savannah gasped.

“Yeah, I know. I've been keeping all this hidden. Anyway, I accepted, but then I started having second thoughts about how quickly everything was going.”

“Understandable.” Savannah recalled feeling the complete opposite about her ex-boyfriend back in Seattle. He hadn't seemed to want to move forward in their relationship at all. It had ultimately been the cause of their breakup. “How did you handle it?”

“Not well at all. On Sunday he suggested we meet his sister.”

“Tracy? The one that Vicki said he didn't talk to?”

Amanda nodded her head. “Yes, that's right. He wanted to make a big effort to mend their differences. It's kinda sad that they didn't forgive each other before he died.”

Savannah shook her head slowly. “I don't understand why she was willing to go along with a secret engagement and why she's still keeping it a secret.”

“I'm not sure how much longer she will keep it quiet. Our visit was not a happy event. In fact, she and Martin fought like cats and dogs. It was horrible, and I called off the engagement as soon as we left. I'm sure she doesn't want it known any more than I do.”

“This gives an entirely different focus to our investigation. We now need to concentrate fully on finding the killer.”

Amanda nodded and lowered her head.

Savannah plopped down in her chair at the conference table. “So, that's why you've been so emotional the past two days. I thought it was the pressure of the workshop, combined with your mother's condition.” She lowered her head to touch the surface of the table. “Ugh! I'm such an idiot. Some boss I'm turning out to be.”

“Uh-uh.” Amanda's voice strengthened to its normal timber. “This is not your fault at all. I won't have that.” She looked around the table. “You've been the best friend I've ever known.”

Savannah straightened up and sat tall. “This changes everything. Detective Parker doesn't know about this. Or does he?”

Amanda pulled a tissue from her pocket. “That's why he came to see me at the shop, and I didn't tell him anything, but he knows we were in a relationship, because they found Martin's phone. We texted a lot. I mean a lot.” She snuffled into the tissue. “I was going to delete them from my cell, but I couldn't do it.”

Jacob returned with Suzy in his arms. “I don't understand. What's wrong?”

“Crikey.” Edward slapped his forehead. “It means that Amanda will be questioned closely about Monday night.”

“I agree,” Savannah said. “The next time Detective Parker sees us, it will be to question Amanda.” She pressed her lips into a fine line. “Here's the ultimate question. Amanda, where were you on Monday night?”

“I was with my mother until about two a.m. But I'm sure no one saw me.”

“That's not good, not good at all.” Savannah folded her arms. “You have to tell us more about you and Martin.”

Amanda sniffed and blew her nose. She looked over at Jacob, who was still holding Suzy. “It's not a pretty story. I'm ashamed of the way I've behaved.”

Jacob tilted his head. “Did you kill Martin?”

“Jacob!” Savannah screeched. “That's a horrible—”

Edward interrupted, “That's exactly what Detective Parker will ask.” He looked at Savannah. “She had better be prepared for his questions. This is good practice.”

“He's right.” Amanda put away her tissue and folded her hands on the table. “I desperately want to find out what happened to Martin.”

Savannah softened her voice. “Of course you do. The best way is to tell us everything.”

Amanda nodded and exhaled a deep breath. “I'd signed up for a dating service with an emphasis on common interests, and Martin was a match for location, plus an interest in glass art. We arranged to meet for coffee, and we clicked.”

“When was this?” Edward asked.

“Let's see.” Amanda looked up at the ceiling. “I think it was a little over three, no, maybe four, weeks ago. Then, after coffee, we went to the Chihuly Collection. I have a season pass, so it was literally half price for Martin. He doesn't . . . didn't have much money.” She sniffed and pulled the frayed tissue from her pocket.

“Wait a tick. You're going to need more.” Edward fled the room and returned with a box of tissues from Savannah's office and placed it in front of Amanda.

“Thanks.” She pulled several tissues out of the box and wiped beneath her eyes carefully to avoid smudging her makeup. “After that we walked down the street and got some ice cream. We must have sat at one of the tables in front of Kilwins for hours. We had so many things in common—art, movies, even books. It was a great afternoon.” She sat quietly, lost in thought for a long minute.

Savannah tapped her fingers on the conference table. “I'm sorry to keep prodding, but what happened next?”

Startled, Amanda continued. “That's when we started texting a lot, and then I invited him over for a meal.” She looked at Savannah. “I'm an excellent cook. He was very surprised.”