Dying for a Change (19 page)

“
Tea?”

Dan filled Jake’s bowl and put it on the floor. “Sounds great. I haven’t had such a relaxed night in ages, including last night. The first part, that is.”

I made a face at him as I got out cups. “Of all the places you could have gone, why here? Your family moved away ages ago.”

He leaned against the kitchen door, watching me. Except for the mustache and the light frosting of gray at his temples, he looked for all the world like the boy I had grown up with. Fleetingly, I wondered how much I still looked like the girl he remembered.

“
I needed to get out of San Francisco. The job of Chief came up here, the town offered it to me, and I took it. I took a pay cut, too.” He gave a rueful little laugh, and shook his head.

“
Are you glad you came back?”

“
I was until this week. Now, I’m not so sure. Violence, murder, you don’t see much of that in a town like this, which was a big reason I came.” His smile faded, his eyes looked tired, and somehow sad. “Now, I’m back chasing a murderer, and this time I’m going to end up arresting someone I know. Possibly a friend.” He grinned again. “You’re coming home has been the only bright spot in an otherwise miserable week.”

The conversation was doubling back on itself. “How’s that fire doing?”

“
I don’t know.” That faint smile he kept getting was playing under his mustache. “Why don’t we go in the living room and find out?”

Dan sat on the sofa; I sat in my big reading chair. Jake curled up on Dan’s lap.

“
Dan.” I decided to be blunt. “Did you arrest Tom?”

“
No, not yet.” He held his cup away from Jake’s exploring paw. “It’s hot,” he told the cat, “and it’s drinkable, not edible.”

“
Why?” I sat curled up in the chair, as relaxed as Dan. He was right. The last few days had been about as stressful as anything I’d been through, including leaving Brian. So why was I pursuing the subject? Because, I might be working with a murderer, that was why. And, that fact was pretty stressful as well. “Are you having doubt’s he’s guilty, or don’t you have enough evidence?”

“
Both.” Dan gave up, put the cat on the floor and his cup on the table. “The case against him has holes big enough to drive a truck through, but still, everything we come up with points his way. We’re not through digging.”

“
How about Vera?”

“
You know better,” was the reply I expected.

“
Well then, what about Benjamin Lockwood?”

“
Why Benjamin?” The teasing look was back in Dan’s eyes, but something more. Interest? In Benjamin?

“
Because he has a stronger motive than Tom’s. If Stop N Shop is built, Benjamin is convinced he’ll be out of business.”

“
His business may not last long enough for the new store to break ground.”

“
Having had the privilege of shopping there, I agree. Nevertheless, Benjamin’s blaming it for all his woes, and he blamed Hank for supporting it.”

“
All right,” Dan sat back down. Jake immediately returned to his lap. He started to stroke Jake’s ears, but he didn’t relax back on the sofa and he frowned as he carefully chose his words. “If it was only Hank, I could buy into that theory, but how do you tie in Dottie? Old Ben just doesn’t have a motive.”

“
I’ve been thinking.” Dan groaned. I threw a pillow at him, he started to throw it back, but Jake reached up and batted it. Dan laughed, and tossed it on the end of the sofa instead.

“
All right, Ellie. Tell me why Benjamin Lockwood might want to kill Dottie Fielding.”

“
I thought it all out while I planted sweet peas.” I had to stop until Dan had quit whooping. What was so funny about sweet peas, I didn’t know. “Suppose somehow Benjamin knew who all the partners were in that land thing of Sharon’s. Suppose he made up a story about another store wanting to buy the land, one that would pay more money but wouldn’t come for, oh, another couple of years, and was trying to convince everyone to make Sharon wait. Suppose Hank and Dottie found out, or suspected something, and he killed them both to keep them quiet.”

“
Suppose is a good word,” Dan said wryly. “I don’t suppose you have any proof?”

“
No, not exactly, but something like that could be true.”

“
I’m afraid the police can’t operate on what could be. We need facts.” Dan moved Jake from one knee to the other. “There isn’t one fact to connect Benjamin with any of this.”

The man wanted facts? I silently vowed to find some. Benjamin was just fanatical enough to think killing Stop N Shop’s chances, along with Hank and Dottie, would save his dying store, and if he was guilty, I was going to find that first “fact” to start Dan looking Benjamin’s way.

“
Benjamin tried to take Hank’s seat on the Planning Commission. That’s a fact.”

“
A fact of political intrigue and he lost.” Dan’s voice was mild. The cat rolled over and he started to scratch his belly. I could hear Jake’s loud purr of contentment loud and clear. “It has nothing to do with murder. Anyway, I thought Ray Yarbourough was your choice for chief suspect.”

“
How did you know...”

“
I’m afraid Ray’s rather obvious.” Dan quit scratching. Jake too his paw and tried to pull Dan’s hand back onto his belly. It worked. “Hank’s accusations, Dottie’s access to all Ray’s real estate files, it makes Ray a little hard to overlook.”

“
Then why haven’t you arrested him?”

“
Same reason we haven’t arrested Tom.” Dan removed his hand, avoided Jake’s paw and set him on the pillow I’d thrown at him. “I need evidence.” He stood up, stretched, and yawned. “I’m going home and hit the bed. I only had two hours sleep last night. I hope to God this town stays quiet. Promise me something.”

“
What?”

“
No matter what happens, no matter who calls, you won’t leave this house tonight. At least, not without calling me first.”

We had made it to the front door. I looked up at him in exasperation. “Really, Dan..” I started. He interrupted me by putting his finger under my chin and lifting up my face.

“
Promise.” He hesitated, as though making up his mind, then bent down and gave me a feather light kiss on the lips. I was so shocked I couldn’t think of a thing to say. He could. “And, Ellie, don’t forget to lock the door.” He walked out and closed it gently behind him.

“
Well,” I thought. “Well, of all the nerve!” I gave the door a kick. “Ahhh.” I danced around the living room holding my big toe. Jake rushed upstairs to the safety of the bed. I glared after him, then at the dying fire, the empty cups, the empty room. Why had he done that? We were friends. Old friends, nothing more. Kisses, no matter how light, were for...friends. I limped into the kitchen, berating myself for letting all the bad emotions Brian left me with spill over onto Dan. My good friend, Dan.

It was still early but I hadn’t slept much last night either. My soft flannel nightgown, my book, and another cup of tea, that’s what I need, I thought, as I stacked the last of the dishes in the washer. I wouldn’t think about murder, my new job, my new life, ruined marriages or old friendships. I’d give myself up to the comforts of a warm bed, with only Jake for company.

It was cold. If we’d had any rain it had finished early, because the temperature had taken another nosedive. I lay with the covers pulled tightly up around me, Jake firmly curled at my side, thinking how nice it was I didn’t have to move. At least, not for a while. I hoped the automatic coffee pot had done its job. Warm, drowsy, I went over the events of the night before. Dan, Chinese food, that had been fun. He’d kissed me. But a grown up, friendly kiss, nothing more. There was something about it though--.

I had no intention of going on with that thought. Besides, it was past time I was up and moving. Pushing Jake aside, I found my robe and slippers and headed downstairs.

The wonderful aroma of fresh coffee met me. I poured a mug and stood at the kitchen window, wondering if wool slacks, a sweater and boots could substitute for a skirt. Sharon would be in a dress, or suit, she always was, but that didn’t mean...Sharon. Had she gotten her message about Mr. Marburger? I picked up the phone and dialed. No answer. She hadn’t called the service for messages either. Damn! Now what?

I took another swallow of coffee and thought. It didn’t seem like efficient, dedicated Sharon not to pick up messages, but the stress of the last few days was enough to break anyone. The question now wasn’t where Sharon was, but what I did about Mr. Marburger? I couldn’t ignore him, but I did not want to take that appointment myself. Call Tom or Nicole? Out of the question. Ray? Yes, Ray! No, not Ray. He’d been talking all week about a big listing appointment he had this morning, and I knew he’d never cancel it for one of Sharon’s clients.

That left only me. So, muttering under my breath, I headed for the shower.

I was putting out a reluctant Jake when the phone rang. Praying it was Sharon, I ran back inside to answer it. It was Susannah.

“
Hey, Mom. I thought I’d better make sure you’re all right. You are, aren’t you?”

“
I’m fine.” I was immediately alarmed. “Is something wrong? Aren’t you coming?”

“
Of course I’m coming. By the way, are you stopping at the store?”

A few minutes later, Susannah’s grocery list stuffed in my purse, I was on my way to the office. It had a bleak, abandoned look. Dottie’s empty desk was an ever-present reminder of the past week’s terrible events. No time to think about that now. I ran around picking up maps of the town, propaganda put out by the Chamber of Commerce and various other groups, arranged it neatly in a folder, then tried to decide on a couple of homes to show this man. I had no idea what he expected, and my first try at showing homes hadn’t been too successful. Exciting, though. I hoped this time it would be a lot duller. Ready as I’d ever be, I picked up my briefcase, locked the office once more, and headed for City Hall where I was to pick up Mr. Marburger.

I pushed open the glass doors of our antique City Hall and looked around. Mr. Marburger was in with the city planners. I was to meet him outside the conference room door. Only, I had no idea where that was.

A frosted glass window that stated it had Information was right in front of me. I walked up to it and slid my card toward the woman behind the counter. She had huge brown eyes, a pleasant smile, and a vaguely familiar look. She glanced down at my card, back up at me uncertainly, as if she should know me.

“
I’m looking for the Planning Conference room. I’m to meet Mr. Marburger, from Stop N Shop.”

“
They’re all in that room right down there.” She pointed at closed double doors about halfway down the hall, looked at my card once more, then her face lit up. “Of course. Page. You’re Ellen Page. You remember me, don’t you? Juanita...”

I didn’t hear the rest as the conference room doors opened and people started pouring out. Mr. Marburger wasn’t hard to identify. Perfectly tailored three piece suit, silk tie, highly polished wing tips, not the usual attire seen on our streets. Past middle age, slightly overweight but not flabby, brisk, confident stride, he gave off an air of boardrooms and corporate structure.

I waved in the general direction of Juanita, who smiled and nodded at me. Accepting the inevitable, I walked up to Mr. Marburger and thrust out my hand.

He looked at me blankly for a second before he took it. “Yes,” he said, a faint question in his voice.

“
I’m Ellen McKenzie, Sharon Harper’s associate. She was called away and asked me to fill in for her this morning.”

“
Oh.” He looked at me more closely. “Well, fine. Let me put this briefcase in the car, and we’ll get started.”

He settled himself in the passenger seat of my car and looked at me expectantly. “I’m sure Sharon told you what I am looking for. This is just a preliminary to bringing my wife here, so I won’t take up too much of your time.”

“
Actually,” I tried to sound professional and confident, but it wasn’t working out too well. ”This all came up so fast, Sharon didn’t have a chance to tell me much, so...”

“
Oh. Well, then.” He looked a little dubious. “You know that our company has been dealing with Sharon on the purchase of land for one of our stores?”

I nodded. He seemed somewhat relieved.

“
I’ve been impressed by your town on my visits here,” he went on, “and, since I will be retiring soon, this seemed like a good place to relocate. If I, we, can find a place we like, we’ll use it for weekends until we move here permanently.”

He looked at me as if that explained everything. It didn’t. However, I couldn’t sit there, so I handed him the folder of information I’d gathered. “I thought you’d like some information on the town, its history and everything.” I started the engine with no clear idea where we were headed.

“
Yes.” He barely glanced at it. “We have quite a lot of information from Sharon, but I’ll take this to my wife. I hope you’re going to show me something in your hills. We’d like something with a view, but still in town. We’re used to a large house, but this one can be a little smaller, not too much land, but privacy, of course.”

That eliminated every house I had planned to show him. I started for the west side of town, frantically searching my memory for anything that might fit. One mercifully came to mind. It was vacant and had a view. At least, it was a place to start.