Death By Bourbon (9 page)

Lady Elsmere agreed. It was time to have a little talk with Doreen Doris Mayfield
DeWitt.

“But we shouldn’t spook her,” I cautioned.

Lady Elsmere took a sip of her tea, lost in thought. Her ruby and diamond bracelet
clanged against the fine china cup.

“I know,” chirped Meriah. “My book is being released at Morris Book Shop in several
days. Why don’t I ask her personally to come?”

“Is that the book about me?” I huffed.

“No, silly. Just someone who resembles you,” Meriah pouted. “Now don’t spoil this
book for me. It’s a good mystery and the heroine will do you justice.”

“Is she good looking?” I asked.

“Stunning!”

“Okay,” I said sarcastically. “As long as I look good.”

“I will call Doreen,” declared Lady Elsmere, “and ask her to come. She knows me better.
I know for a fact that she’s going to Florida after Matt and Meriah’s wedding.”

“Then we all three can approach her at different times and ask her questions,” said
Meriah, looking very pleased. Instead of writing about solving murders, she was actually
investigating one. What a great story this would make for her Hollywood friends.

“I will write down a list of questions that should be asked,” I directed, “and then
we can divide them. Now, you realize that you just can’t blurt them out. They need
to be asked with some finesse.”

“Really!” sputtered June. “You’d think you were the only one in the room with some
sophistication.”

“I’m just saying that if she did indeed murder her husband, then she might react in
a negative fashion – like, oh, I don’t know, maybe trying to knock us off too.”

“Don’t be so dramatic,” rejoined June, turning towards Meriah. “She’s always such
a drama queen.”

I threw up my hands.

Meriah had the grace to look sheepish. “She did fall off a cliff trying to solve a
murder,” she replied, coming to my defense.

“That was only because Josiah was too fat to outrun that nasty policeman.”

Looking amused, I said, “and how do you think you are going to get away from nasty
Doreen when you are older than Methuselah, you old bat?”

“Charm, my dear, charm,” answered Lady Elsmere, taking a sip of her tea.

Shaking my head, I wrote down a series of questions and gave sections to Lady Elsmere
and Meriah.

After discussing the subtle ways of interrogating Doreen without her getting wise
to us, I took my leave of the lady of the manor and her court jester.

I called Jake and told him I was heading home. It was his protocol that he liked to
be waiting for me.

When I arrived home, he was on his cell phone looking very disturbed. I couldn’t hear
what he was saying due to the thunder of the waterfalls coming from the fluted gutter
of the Butterfly’s second roof. Jake’s face was flushed and his expression was one
of formulating an opinion on something foul. He looked like he had just been given
something rotten to eat.

I wanted to ask him who he had been talking to but didn’t.

He acted aloof all evening, just giving grunts when I talked to him.

Hearing him take a shower later that evening, I quietly entered his room. Finding
his cell phone, I pushed the buttons to see where his calls had originated. His last
call was from a Pauline Dosh.

I felt the ground move beneath my feet.

Pauline was the name of his ex-wife.

Putting the phone back, I went to my room. I rummaged around until finding my best
negligee. I combed my hair and put on some blush. Then I sat at my dressing table
waiting for Jake.

Seeming like forever, he finally strode into the room. Seeing me, Jake stopped short
and gave a questioning look.

I went over and locked him in my arms. “It’s time, Jacob,” I whispered. I tilted my
head up and caressed his lips with mine. And then it began.

Jake picked me up and carried me to the bed.

I was at my booth at the Farmers’ Market selling my honey when Doreen suddenly popped
up. She was wearing a lemon-colored jumpsuit. She looked like a walking banana. It
played hell with her florid complexion.

“Hello,” she said, pulling a bottle of clover honey off the table and into her canvas
bag.

“Hello, Doreen,” I replied. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

We shook hands. She had already switched her wedding ring to her widow hand and had
placed the rocks to underside of her finger, causing them to dig into my skin when
we clasped hands. That was okay if she wanted to play dirty. I dug my fingernails
into her flesh and didn’t flinch until she released my hand.

What a little bitch. I’ve met women like her before who “accidentally” step on your
foot or give you a cut while handing you paper and then apologize profusely. Nothing
is worse than a paper cut.

Doreen gave me a distasteful smile.

I gave her one back. No way was I going to check the damage on my hand with her around.
She must have thought the same thing, as she didn’t check her palm either. I felt
smug as I saw a little blood on her hand. Served her right.

Doreen handed me eight dollars.

I put the money in my change box.

On her left hand, Doreen was wearing a large gold button ring. It had brushed my skin
when I reached for the money. I remembered she had been wearing it the night of the
party.

“Interesting ring,” I mentioned. “May I try it on?”

“I’d rather not. I’m fastidious about my jewelry.” She gave me a lopsided grin. “I
got this in Italy. Very unusual, don’t you think?”

Why was this woman trying to piss me off?

“Yes,” I replied, observing it carefully. “You know it reminds me of something but
I can’t quite put my finger on it. When were you in Italy?”

“Oh, years ago,” said Doreen. “During my first marriage.” Doreen looked around sheepishly.

I stretched my neck to see what she was looking for.

Doreen laughed again. “I’ve got some idiot stalking me. She claims that Addison was
seeing her but I know for a fact that he was not. She’s in a psych hospital for burning
something down. Something about being delusional. But I still look for her. Better
safe than sorry, right?”

“Lacey Bridges?”

“Yes! How did you know?”

“She approached me at Addison’s funeral, and tried to convince the police that you
killed Addison.”

Doreen gave a brittle laugh. It came off as phony.

“You didn’t, did you?”

“What?”

“Kill Addison.”

“Silly girl,” answered Doreen. “Now why would I want to kill my own husband?”

“Lacey claims that you were tired of him and wanted to get rid of him, but couldn’t
because the prenup states that if you filed for divorce, Addison would get a large
settlement.”

“But I could if he was having an affair, is that what you’re saying?”

“You would have to prove adultery to the judge first. That’s why she says you hired
her to seduce Addison and provide you with evidence.”

“If that were true, why didn’t it happen?”

“Because she fell in love with him.”

Doreen snorted a short laugh. Sounded like a hyena this time.

“Oh, Josiah, I heard that you had a head for strange stories, but this takes the cake.”

“Then why do you think she’s following you?”

“Because she’s a nut. Didn’t you have someone harassing you who’s a nut? Don’t you
use a cane because of an obsessive person still making your life miserable?”

“Touché.”

Doreen leaned over the table. “Let’s not butt heads. I really came down here wanting
to thank you for coming to Addison’s funeral. I saw that you were alone and with the
difficulty you have in walking – well, I just wanted to thank you.”

“I liked Addison,” I replied.

“I wonder if you would do me a favor?” asked Doreen, pushing her silver blond hair
back. “If that woman contacts you again, if she ever gets out . . . will you let me
know?”

“Sure. No problem, but wouldn’t the police let you know?” I knew the real reason Doreen
was here. She had seen me talking to Lacey Bridges at the funeral and wanted to know
what was said. That made sense to me.

“The police have mix-ups, now don’t they.” Doreen looked around again before moving
off.

I started to say something, but was cut off by another customer who wanted to pay
me. It was then, out of the corner of my eye, that I saw Lacey Bridges across the
street watching us. It gave me the chills.

So Lacey Bridges was out and stalking Doreen again. I called out to Doreen to tell
her but she had disappeared into the crowd.

I phoned Jake, who was milling around the Market somewhere, and asked him to come
to my booth. I didn’t want to be alone. Within a minute, Jake was at the booth, listening
to my tale. When I finished, he motioned to the Market Manager and related that the
Market had a possible stalker. The Manager called security and put his staff on alert.

Jake also called Detective Goetz and told him.

Goetz promised that he would look up to see whether Doreen had a restraining order
against Lacey Bridges. He would also inform the DA.

I breathed a sign of relief. I didn’t have to worry any more about crazy stalkers
that day.

It turned out later that I was wrong, but how was I supposed to know that fate would
take hold?

I kept thinking about Doreen’s ring. It sort of rang a bell with me. No pun intended.

On a hunch, I pulled out my books on Renaissance paintings and looked in the glossaries
for mention of the notorious Borgia family. Finally I found a reference to Dosso Dossi
for his painting
Portrait Of A Youth
painted in 1514. Flipping to the correct page, there was the picture of a golden-haired
youth dressed in dour clothing, almost like a Puritan’s of the seventeenth century
instead of the flamboyant, rich clothing of Rome during the flowering of the Renaissance.
It was also hard to tell if the youth was male or female even though the print stated
that person was Lucrezia Borgia.

I had seen several portraits of Lucrezia during my travels to Italy and this person
did resemble that young girl.

Lucrezia Borgia was the illegitimate daughter of Rodrigo Borgia, also known as Pope
Alexander VI. The corrupt political and sexual machinations of Pope Alexander VI,
which included the famous Chestnut Ball at the Vatican, are said to have laid the
groundwork for the Reformation in 1520. Among the many juicy accusations against the
Borgia family was incest between father and daughter, orgies and most particularly
– political assassinations by poison. Nice family, huh.

It was rumored that Lucrezia did her fair share of poisoning by use of a special ring
with a secret compartment filled with poison, which she used on selected guests during
dinner.

And, looking at the portrait I saw a ring on her finger – a large gold bauble just
like Doreen was wearing. Was Doreen’s copy of Lucrezia Borgia’s ring hollow too? Did
it have a special compartment?

That’s what I needed to find out. I drummed the desk. Now how could I get that ring
off Doreen’s finger to see?

I would figure a way.

The bookstore was packed. I managed to grab a seat in the back near the bathroom.
Jake stood in a corner watching everyone. I kept mouthing for him to smile but he
was miserable at functions like this. He hated small talk and confined spaces where
he couldn’t control the traffic. This was Jake’s idea of a tactical nightmare.

What was one person’s hell was heaven for another. Lady Elsmere pushed her way back
and sat in the seat I had saved for her. “Isn’t this grand!” she purred. “Meriah’s
book is going to be a big hit.”

“Oooo,” I cried. “Someone just stepped on my foot.” Indeed there was someone standing
in front of me with her fanny in my face. I grabbed my ebony cane and was about to
insert the wolf’s head into an orifice when Jake asked the lady to move, which she
did. Jake went back to his corner seemingly happier and I had some breathing space
in front of me.

“I’m not going to stay if this crowd keeps up,” I whispered to Lady Elsmere. “There
is no way we can have a conversation with Doreen under these conditions.” I looked
up towards the door and saw Matt waving at me. He seemed very relaxed and happy. I
waved back.

Before Lady Elsmere could answer, Meriah was pushing her way through with Doreen in
tow. “Look who I found,” giggled Meriah, grabbing a chair. She pushed a confused Doreen
into it. “Now you girls have fun. I’ve got to sign books. Great turnout, huh?”

Doreen turned to look at us with suspecting eyes. “My, this place is packed. One can
hardly get a breath.”

“That’s why we’re hiding back here,” confided Lady Elsmere.

I nodded in agreement.

Lady Elsmere plowed right in. “Doreen, did you hear that someone tried to burn down
my horse barns?”

Doreen blinked. “Yes. That’s terrible.”

“I think it was some woman who has a connection to you.”

Squirming in her chair, Doreen answered, “I have been having trouble with a stalker.
It might be the same woman.”

“Her name is Lacey Bridges,” stated Lady Elsmere.

“Yes, that’s her name, but I’ve nothing to do with her. I have never met this woman,
but she keeps going to the police and telling them that I murdered Addison. She is
making my life miserable.”

“So sorry to hear that. It’s awful that innocent folk have to deal with people with
mental health issues like that. Back in the day, we just locked them up and didn’t
have to bother with them.”

Everyone who lives here knows that is a lie. We don’t lock up our crazies. We have
them run for political office or become grand marshals at the Fourth of July parades.
I stifled a laugh, but said nothing. This was Lady Elsmere’s party.

“That right,” agreed Doreen, nodding her head. “I’m afraid every time I go out, but
now she is under observation, isn’t she?”

“That’s not what I understand,” I replied. Hadn’t Goetz called her about Bridges?

Doreen ignored me. “As soon as Meriah’s wedding is over, I’m going to Florida and
put this all behind me.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I’m going to sell the house and leave Kentucky for good.”

“Oh, surely you will want to keep your beautiful home?” questioned Lady Elsmere.

“There are beautiful houses in Florida and my daughter is going to join me. We are
going to start over.”

“I think that is the best thing,” I commiserated. “Start over. Where will you be locating
to?”

“Florida,” answered Doreen impatiently.

“But where in Florida?” I asked.

“On the gulf side,” dodged Doreen.

“I hope you’ll be happy,” interrupted Lady Elsmere. “Let’s change the subject. I want
to show you my new antique cameo I’m wearing. I just bought it a couple of days ago.”
She took off the pin and handed it to Doreen. “Look at this, Doreen. It opens and
has a secret compartment.”

Doreen held the brooch up the light, admiring it. “Fascinating.”

“And that’s a lovely ring you have,” exclaimed Lady Elsmere pointing at Doreen’s ring.
“May I see it?”

Doreen blanched. I could tell she was looking for a way to refuse. “I don’t think
I can get it off.”

“Oh, sure you can,” I said. “Just give it a good tug.” I reached for her hand, which
she pulled away.

Seeing that there was no graceful way to decline, Doreen reluctantly pulled off the
ring and handed it to Lady Elsmere.

Smiling, Lady Elsmere tried on the ring. “People used to keep hair locks of the deceased
in my brooch. That’s what it was made for.”

“I see,” said Doreen. She handed the brooch back.

Lady Elsmere began taking off the ring but seemed to be having trouble. She fussed
with it until, “My goodness. Doreen, your ring opens. Did you know it did that?”

Lady Elsmere and I peered closer at the now opened ring.

“Yes, I did,” replied Doreen, trying to hide her anger. She closed the ring and put
it on her finger.

“What do you think the ring was used for?” I asked.

“Women used to keep their snuff in rings like this,” replied Doreen.

“I didn’t know that. I though they used special snuff boxes,” I replied.

“They also used rings as well. I got this in Italy, remember. Lots of women used to
use snuff in the eighteenth century.”

“Yes, I remember you telling me that. It is a stunning ring.”

“Yes,” said Lady Elsmere. “It seems that you and I have fine taste when it comes to
jewelry, Doreen.”

Doreen relaxed and smiled. It seemed like Doreen loved flattery. If I had known that
sooner, I would have really laid it on thick sooner.

“Doreen, you do look really wonderful considering the awful tragedy you’re going through.
How are you doing?” I said.

“I miss Addison terribly, but life must go on. And I have my daughter.”

I nodded my head in agreement.

“Who would have thought that a simple aspirin would cause a person such harm?” said
Lady Elsmere. “I keep thinking about how he got aspirin at my home, but can’t come
up with a clue. Charles, my butler, says he didn’t ask for one. I just keep wondering.
I so hope you’re not going to hold that against me. It worries me so.”

Doreen put her hands on Lady’s Elsmere arm. “June, don’t worry yourself about this.
It was just an accident. Someone might have had a headache and put an aspirin in their
drink and Addison picked up their glass by mistake.”

“But no one claims to have used aspirin that night,” I retorted.

Doreen gave me a sympathetic smile. “Of course, no one would admit to it. They don’t
want to be implicated in a man’s death even if it was an accident. Afraid that I might
sue or something like that. It’s human nature to protect one’s self.”

“I’ll drink to that,” quipped Lady Elsmere, taking a swig out of the silver flask
she had pulled from her purse. “You make me feel better about it, Doreen.”

“It was just an accident, June. Unfortunate, but nothing more sinister that than.
I don’t harbor any resentment. None at all.” Doreen looked around and saw a pathway
through the throng of people. “Now, I must be going. I had no idea so many people
would be here. It makes me nervous. Ta ta, ladies.”

Lady Elsmere and I watched Doreen disappear hastily through the crowd.

Taking another swig out of her flask, Lady Elsmere swore, “She’s guilty as hell. Snuff
indeed.”

“Her demeanor does give one pause. I don’t think I would be so calm about someone
putting aspirin in a drink and my husband dying by drinking from that glass. I certainly
would want to know whose glass, even if it was an accident.”

Meriah ran back and leaned over us. “What did she say?” whispered Meriah.

“We know for sure that her ring has a compartment, but we couldn’t trip her up on
anything else. She is unflappable,” replied Lady Elsmere.

Meriah turned to me. “Well, it’s up to you now to make it stick.”

“Me?”

“You’re the one with the police contacts. If anyone is going to convince the police
to look into this further, it will have to be you,” concluded Meriah.

“Yes, Josiah,” joined in Lady Elsmere. “You will have to talk to Detective Goetz.
You have a way with him and if anyone can get his attention, it’s you.”

“Jumping Jehosaphat!” I cried.

“What is it?” asked Meriah.

“I forgot to tell Doreen something important about Lacey Bridges,” I said. “Oh well,
the police will let her know, I’m sure.”

Hearing a cough, I glanced at Jake. He was scowling at the three of us. He had been
listening and did not like our investigating Addison’s death. I knew that on the way
home, he was going to read me the riot act.

But I was wrong.

Jake was quiet on the way home. That was because he was going to drop a bomb and was
thinking of how to tell me.

I was also wrong about the police notifying Doreen that Lacey Bridges had been released.

I would have to live with the guilt of not telling her for the rest of my life.