Heather Horrocks - Who-Dun-Him Inn 01 - Snowed Inn (27 page)

Paul lowered his voice, obviously with effort. “Why did you leave your tube of lipstick after you left the lip print?”

“To rub it in.” Martha sighed, becoming silent for a long moment. “If I had any idea someone was going to murder Gregorio, I wouldn’t have done it. Much as I hate to say it, BJ has been through enough. It’s not really her fault Gregorio couldn’t keep his pants zipped.”

I looked at her in surprise.

She caught my gaze. “Yes, even I, the Queen of Mean, can be nice sometimes.” She laughed. “Though after my fight with BJ, perhaps you won’t believe that. I got carried away.”

The woman could be rude and obnoxious, but there was something about Martha I really liked. Slowly, I smiled at her. Just as slowly, she smiled back.

As if he couldn’t believe either one of us, Paul shook his head. “Ladies, if you don’t mind, could we go back to my questioning? Ms. Turner, do you realize that, despite your claims to the contrary, this fight makes you look more guilty?”

“But I’m not,” Martha said indignantly.

“But I don’t know that for sure, now, do I?”

* * *

Paul and DeWayne sent some of the guests to their rooms, like naughty children— Martha and BJ being the naughtiest.

Garrett, Bonnie, Alexis and Dr. Ray resumed the Uno game, but without heart. I wasn’t in a mood to listen in on their verbal replay of the catfight.

Since the guests were accounted for and behaving, I settled myself in my library window seat. I wrapped myself in the Utah State Fair prize-winning blue-and-white quilt, designed and sewn by my grandmother Devonshire years ago, and traveled a hundred years into the future. I had no Calgon to take me away, but Clark Harmon’s latest mystery could always do the trick.

Someone walked past the library and coughed, as I automatically glanced up.

What? I would have sworn the person before me was Kevin Higgins.

It was!

When he saw me, he started running for the front door.

I began screaming for Paul, DeWayne, deputies, anyone, to come get Kevin, he was here in the house. I ran to the foyer and watched Kevin racing down the driveway as three deputies tackled him at once.

They caught the murderer. Yes!

The deputies pulled him to his feet. He was wearing a familiar-looking coat, but I couldn’t remember where I’d seen it before. His other coat, the denim one he wore when he arrived, was still hanging on my hook in the back hall.

With the three deputies cuffing Kevin, I took a deep breath of relief. This nightmare was nearly over.

The deputies hauled Kevin’s hind end to the house and inside. Paul instructed them to take him into the dining room. “Vicki, do you have any blankets? He’s not well. And ask Dr. Ray to come up.”

Liz came along, following me to find Dr. Ray. “I hope he turns out to be the murderer, after all. Then all my guests can go home.”

She laughed. “Whatever happened to the concept of hospitality?”

“Lost. All gone. Vanished.” I grinned at her, and teased gently. “When are you going home, by the way?”

She laughed again. “You can’t get rid of me that easily, Vicki. Besides, Kevin can’t be the murderer, because that would be too easy. After all, what else has gone smoothly this weekend?”

After sending Dr. Ray to the dining room, Liz and I turned on the microphone. My brother could be pretty cool sometimes. He made sure we could watch.

Dr. Ray did a quick examination of Kevin, and announced some broken left-sided ribs, a good start on hypothermia, and possible bacterial infection or pneumonia. The good doctor (who apparently still carried a mini kit in case of emergencies) gave Kevin a shot of antibiotics, and said he’d need more medical attention soon, but ought to be okay for some questions.

He certainly didn’t look good through the one-way mirror. He was wrapped in blankets. I fixed some mugs of hot chocolate and chicken noodle soup and took them into the dining room. His face was gaunt and covered with stubble. “Thanks.”

The interrogation was just beginning when I returned to the kitchen. The four officers had specific posts— DeWayne at the door, Paul and Deputy Shannon, the striking Halle Berry double, standing in front of Kevin, and Shannon’s partner, Joe Josephson, at the window. I knew the Sheriff’s Department had jurisdiction, but I was glad to see they were giving Paul deference by including him.

Liz pulled up a stool and joined me in front of the glass, and we watched the next reality show. “Don’t they need the big light shining in his face? They’re asking the same questions they asked everyone else. It needs to be more exciting.”

“Do you want another brawl?”

“That was pretty exciting, all right. I thought Martha was going to rip BJ’s head right off.” Liz took a sip of Pepsi.

“Don’t let Grandma catch you drinking demon caffeine.”

Liz shrugged. “I picked up a few pointers during the brawl. Don’t you worry about me. I could take Grandma, Vicki.”

I laughed. “I bet you could. Unless she’s packing heat.”

“Besides, she’s the biggest Pepsi drinker of us all.” Liz turned up the volume. “Shh. Listen.”

Kevin became animated. “I would never hurt Bobbi Jo. I only want to take care of her and make her happy.”

“There’s the motive, right there.” Liz pointed at Kevin, but didn’t touch the glass. “The sap would take her back in an instant.”

Deputy Shannon asked, “Sir, have you spoken with your wife?”

“No. I tried to get inside to talk with her,” he admitted, “but I couldn’t. The windows were all locked.”

“Well, except for the one on the second floor,” I said.

“Have you ever hit your wife?” Shannon’s words were so nonchalant, as if she were asking if Kevin ever ate Oreo cookies.

“And have my daddy come back and haunt me? I don’t hit no women. No, ma’am. Don’t even think it.”

“Then why did she leave?” Paul’s turn again.

Kevin shrugged and sighed. “I don’t know. I thought we was happy. We never had as much money as she’d like. But who does?”

“Ain’t that the truth?” I said.

“Gene’s rich.” Liz shrugged. “Sometimes money isn’t as great as it seems.”

“Only a person with money can say something that stupid.”

“It’s true. Now shush. I want to hear him.” Liz harrumphed. “Some detective you are, always talking.”

“She likes nice things.” Kevin sounded a little whiney. “I bought her stuff. The new DVD player she wanted. A bright red Camaro. I’m still paying for that.” Kevin slumped back. “I make good money doing electrical work, but I couldn’t keep up.”

I felt a twinge of sympathy for this poor man who just wanted his wife back home.

Lt. Josephson asked, “How long ago did she leave you?”

“Right before Valentine’s Day. She took our Cece, our daughter, to first grade one day, and was gone by afternoon. It just ain’t fair to break a kid’s heart like that. Ain’t right.”

Paul exchanged a glance with Mary Beth Shannon. “Did you kill Calabria?”

“No, man. I mean, I wanted him dead. I won’t deny that. You would too if he up and stole your wife. But I didn’t do it.”

She nodded, and Paul asked, “Did you cut the phone line?”

“Why would I do that?” Even I could tell Kevin was lying.

“If it wasn’t you,” Shannon said, “then who cut it?”

“Could be anyone.” Again, it was obvious he was lying.

“Not too bright, is he?” Liz commented.

“Or he’s bright enough to play dumb. Now you shush.”

Shannon nodded. “Who do you think murdered Mr. Calabria?”

“I don’t know these people. Never met them before. Could be any of them.”

“What in the crap?” A woman’s voice from behind startled us so much, we nearly fell off the stools. Liz and I turned to see Alexis, her eyes narrowed. We didn’t hear her come in. She pointed at the glass, her face indignant. “You mean to tell me you’ve been spying on us the whole time we’ve been here?”

As Liz jumped and turned down the sound from the dining room, I looked into the blazing eyes of my guest. Oh, crap.

Alexis’s face was pale, but her eyes were dark with anger. “When we thought we were alone in the dining room, you could hear and see everything that happened?”

“No, no. We usually only turn on the microphone during the performances so the actors know when to go in. This is the first time we’ve used it for—”

“Spying,” Alexis finished.

Anxious to pacify my guest, I rambled on. “And we used it so I’d know when to serve the courses.”

“Well, it really sucks. You know that, don’t you?” Alexis winced and put her hand to her eyes. She stared through the glass as Kevin continued to proclaim his innocence.

Liz came to my defense. “We’re not eavesdropping on guests. A murder has been committed.”

Alexis turned back to face us, still angry. “You think that’s a good excuse? It’s just a crummy rationalization.”

“He’s the murderer,” Liz reminded her, speaking softly.

Alexis turned back and frowned. “I can’t hear it.”

Liz turned it back up, and the three of us listened for only a moment before Alexis put her hand up to her head and groaned.

“Are you all right?” I asked.

“I need a glass of water to take some medicine.”

As I obliged her, I knew it wasn’t Grandma’s medicine, because I removed that.

She popped a pill into her mouth and washed it down. She was incredibly pale again. Liz pointed Alexis toward a chair. “Sit down. You look like you’re about to pass out.”

Alexis slumped into it. “I never want to set foot in Silver City again. Or Utah, for that matter.”

“Oh, I know what you mean.” Liz patted Alexis’s shoulder. “I feel exactly the same way about Wisconsin.”

Wisconsin? When had she ever been to Wisconsin?

Alexis squinted. “I need you to tell your brother something before I forget again.”

I turned down the sound from the dining room again.

“After Kevin cut me and knocked me down, I couldn’t move for a few moments. I was there watching everyone run inside and out. I went upstairs and then I remembered your grandmother offered to give me her medication, so I started to come back down the stairs, only that’s when the lights went out. So I stood on the stairs, clutching the banister, hoping the power would go back on. I heard you call out, Vicki, but I was in too much pain to answer.”

I remembered my panicky moment in the darkened foyer well.

“That’s when I heard raised voices. Understandable, with everything that had gone on already. But it was disturbing.”

I murmured understanding sounds to keep her talking. Maybe she could identify the two voices. A flash of hope flared through me.

“I heard Gregorio and BJ. Gregorio told BJ their engagement was off. BJ told him she’d end her marriage with that man,” she said, pointing at Kevin again through the glass. “Then I heard a slap, and BJ ran out, crying. I figured they’d kiss and make up.”

She rubbed her eyes. “But with Gregorio dead, the authorities probably ought to know. Maybe some people had more of a motive to kill Gregorio than your brother realizes.”

Meaning BJ, of course. “I’ll tell him as soon as he comes out,” I assured her. “Can we help you to your room?”

Liz said, “Perhaps we should have Dr. Ray look at you.”

“I just need to sleep it off. Thanks.” Alexis stood on shaky legs, but wouldn’t let us help her. We followed her into the foyer and watched as she climbed the stairs.

Stephanie passed her coming down, Lonny right behind her. Stephanie waved. “Hey, Vicki, Liz. We’ve had it with your Inn and we’re going home. Can we borrow the snowmobile keys?”

I laughed. “Martin can’t stand to be without his sweetheart?”

“Poor baby? Does he need some loving?” Liz grinned.

“Liz!” I said. “You are very naughty.”

“It’s a fact of life, Vicki. Get over it.” She looked at me. “And I’m only a little naughty. Not, say, like Georgia.”

Georgia was our wild sister, the black sheep of the family who worked as a nurse at the hospital during the day, and ran wild at night. Last I heard, she was dating a biker.

Lonny smiled broadly, as if to announce he, too, could use some loving. Just visit Martha, I thought. She’ll take care of you. “Where’s Xavier? Is he going down with you?”

“No.” Lonny shook his head. “His roommates told him the snow caved in their apartment roof. They’re all camping out with friends and family. It’s okay if he stays, isn’t it?”

As long as it wasn’t in Martha’s room. I nodded. “What do you guys know about him? Other than he’s an actor, I mean?”

“He’s pretty much a loner,” Lonny said. “But he’s cool as a cucumber on stage.”

“How about off stage? Does he get stage fright often?” Lonny shook his head. “Xavier never gets stage fright. He’s always so cool, it seems like he doesn’t care. But he does.”

“But he was nervous here, rolling up his script.”

“He was sick,” Stephanie reminded me, “and I talked him out of it, remember?”