Jewelry Can Be Deadly (Sage Gardens Cozy Mystery Book 6) (2 page)

S
amantha’s eyes
moistened with tears. She turned right into Jo’s arms who waited to console her. Jo was shocked herself as she had experienced many things, but the sight of death was not common for her. She looked over at Roger who had stood up from his wife’s side and now paced back and forth, his eyes wide.

“Did you call for an ambulance?” Samantha gasped.

“Of course I did! What good will it do?” He glared down at her. “She’s dead!”

Samantha sniffled and pulled away from Jo. “How did this happen?”

“She must have choked. She’s got so much of that darn muffin crammed in her mouth.” Roger crouched down beside her again. “Oh Valda, oh Valda.” He took her hand in his and brushed away some muffin crumbs. “I should have been here, maybe if I had been here I would have been able to help her.” He continued to mutter his regrets as the police arrived.

“Step aside, please.” One of the officers brushed Samantha and Jo away from the woman’s body. Roger was immediately pulled aside by another officer. Medics followed the officers, however they only established that Valda was dead. The lead officer assessed the scene, then he joined another officer and Roger in a corner of the living room.

“We need to get out of here, Samantha.” Jo tugged at her arm and looked around at all of the police officers. There were only a few, but to her it seemed like thousands. “Let’s go. There’s nothing we can do here.”

“What if the police want to question us?” Samantha continued to stare at Valda’s body, more specifically the crumbs that covered her mouth.

“That’s what I’m afraid of, Samantha. You know how I am with cops.” Jo shifted with an antsy energy from one foot to the other.

“All right, all right.” Samantha started to turn towards the door. Before she could reach it one of the officers blocked her way.

“Miss?” The lead officer called out to her. Jo slipped out the door without the slightest hesitation. Samantha found it impossible to walk away from the officer’s command. “Are you the one who supplied the muffins?”

“Yes.” Samantha swallowed hard. She couldn’t imagine that her attempt at welcoming new neighbors had led to an untimely death.

“And why are you here now?” The officer whipped out his notepad.

“I was walking past the villa and I heard Roger scream. I wanted to make sure that everything was okay.”

“You’re a friend of the deceased?” The officer scribbled on his notepad.

“No, not really. They just moved in. I brought the muffins to welcome them.” The officer looked up at her with slightly parted lips.

“Okay,” he said slowly and then made another note on his notepad.

“Am I free to go?”

“Sure. Unless you poisoned the muffins.” He smiled. Samantha stared at him. His smile faltered. “You didn’t, did you?”

“No, I didn’t.” Samantha glared at him.

“Then you’re free to go. I’ll be in contact if we need any more information from you.” As Samantha stepped out the door she overheard Roger’s heated words to another officer.

“It’s quite obvious she choked. No one else was in the house.”

Samantha found Jo loitering at the end of the driveway as far from the police cars as she could get.

“What took you so long?” Jo looked at the villa nervously.

“The officer was quite interested in my muffins.” Samantha wrung her hands. “I’m afraid they’re going to think I was involved. Roger was shouting at one of the officers when I left. They must have been asking him some upsetting questions.”

All of a sudden Jo remembered the necklace. “Samantha, I have to go back in there.”

“Huh? You couldn’t wait to leave.” Samantha looked at her strangely.

“I have to look for something that should be in there. I need to see if it is or not.”

“Okay.” Samantha followed her up the walkway to the villa. An officer blocked the door from any nosy residents.

“I need to get in for just a second.” Jo cleared her throat.

“No, you don’t.” The officer crossed his arms. He was wide enough to block the entire door.

“I left something inside, please, the key to my villa. I have to get it.” Jo tried to look calm. Her heart pounded. To speak directly to a police officer was enough to make her break out in a sweat. It had taken her quite some time to get comfortable with Eddy, even though he was already retired from the force when she met him. The officer looked over his shoulder at the lead officer and then nodded.

“All right, but make it quick. The scene needs to be contained in case there is any evidence of a homicide.”

Jo thought that was a little strange. Why would they suspect homicide when it was so clearly an accidental death? She didn’t want to ask any more questions than she needed to, however. She crouched down near the body under the pretense that she was searching for her key. What she was actually looking for was the necklace that Valda had worn that morning. As she suspected the necklace was gone. There was a red mark on the curve of her neck, but Jo imagined that could have been caused by the woman clawing at her neck if she had truly choked.

“Excuse me, why are you in here?” Roger paused behind Jo. Jo looked up at him.

“Did you find anything missing? Do you think it was a robbery?” She searched his eyes.

“No, there’s nothing missing, other than my wife.” Roger’s eyes moistened. “Why would you even ask that? I don’t understand why everyone is acting like this isn’t the simple tragic death that it is.”

“I’m sorry, I was just asking.” Jo stood up. “I didn’t mean to upset you. But are you sure that nothing is missing?”

“I appreciate your concern, but no nothing is missing.” He frowned. “Do I know you?”

“I was here this morning.” Jo cringed and resisted reminding him about the muffin delivery. “I noticed that your wife was wearing…”

“Ma’am, you need to leave the scene now,” the officer at the door commanded her. “Did you find your key?”

“Oh yes.” Jo looked over at him and nodded. When she looked back at Roger the lead officer had pulled him over to the corner again. Jo thought about the argument she had overheard that morning. She stepped out of the villa and joined Samantha.

“There’s something very strange going on here.”

“Stranger than a woman dying on the very same day she moved in here?” Samantha shook her head. “That is terrible luck.”

“Strange as in, this might not be accidental.”

“What makes you think that?” Samantha looked at her with surprise.

“I’m not sure just yet. I’ll let you know if I figure anything out. Are you going to be okay to get home?”

“Sure.” Samantha nodded.

“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Don’t forget that we are meeting Walt and Eddy for breakfast at the café.”

“Uh huh.” Jo nodded but she barely heard her words. Her mind was on the missing necklace.

A
t breakfast
the next morning the café buzzed with conversation about Valda’s unexpected death. Jo listened closely to the comments around her, but she heard no mention of the necklace that she believed was missing. Perhaps she and Samantha had been the only ones to even see it, if Samantha had even noticed it. The general gist of the conversation was sympathy for Roger and the tragedy of an accidental death. People did whisper about the muffins being made by Samantha, however. Jo noticed that the café grew quiet when Samantha walked in the door. She rushed over to the table to join Jo.

“They all think I poisoned her.” Samantha grimaced. “Why would they think that?”

“They don’t think that, Samantha. It’s just a juicy tidbit for them to discuss. None of them would ever dare to say it to your face.”

“Maybe not, but that doesn’t change the fact that it was indeed my muffin that was in her mouth.”

“Sure, but it could have just as easily been a piece of apple. She could have choked on anything.”

“I know you’re just trying to make me feel better, but I don’t even want to think about how she died.”

“Well, what about her necklace? Do you remember seeing it?” Jo leaned across the table and lowered her voice.

“Necklace?” Samantha shook her head. “I’m not sure. Was she wearing one?”

“She was wearing one when we brought the muffins, but not when she died.”

“Huh. Well, maybe she took it off for the evening?”

“Maybe.” Jo narrowed her eyes. She recalled the argument Valda had with Roger. Perhaps Roger had insisted that she put the necklace away. Why else would he not mention it to the police? “It’s not just any necklace, it’s a very valuable necklace. I’m sure of it.” Jo quietened down as she noticed the two men that approached their table. The taller of the two was Walt. His thin frame was immaculately clothed as usual in a sweater and pleated pants. The larger and slightly shorter of the two was Eddy. His balding head was covered with a fedora as usual, and his eyes narrowed slightly at the corners with suspicion. The two men settled themselves at their table.

“Good morning, Samantha, Jo.” Walt smiled at both of them.

“Samantha, Jo.” Eddy nodded at them and then waved his hand at the waitress for some coffee. “What happened last night?” Eddy looked at Jo. “We just heard that there were some cops here last night. Now you’re talking about a necklace? Was there a robbery?”

“Yes.” Jo met his eyes.

“No.” Samantha raised an eyebrow at Jo. “There was an accidental death. Valda, the new resident.”

“Well, accidents do happen,” Walt commented.

“Jo and I were there when her husband found her. We heard him scream so we went to check on him.” Samantha’s eyes filled with tears. Jo handed her a napkin. “It was not your fault, Samantha.”

“Why would it be?” Eddy looked over at Samantha and then back at Jo.

“There’s a bit of a problem,” Jo explained.

“What problem?” Eddy accepted the coffee the waitress brought with a short thank you.

“The woman who died, she and her husband Roger just moved in. So Samantha took them some muffins.”

“Sure, she always does.” Eddy shrugged. “Why is that a problem?”

“Because Valda died with a muffin in her mouth.” Jo cringed.

“Now the police probably think I had something to do with her death!” Samantha wiped at her eyes.

“They think you poisoned the muffins?” Eddy asked.

“Since the preliminary reports haven’t come in yet, they can only go on what they saw at the scene. What they saw was a muffin. She might have just died of natural causes, but one of the officers mentioned the muffin being poisoned, but it was probably an off-color joke,” Samantha said.

“That’s absurd. Maybe she choked?” Eddy suggested.

“That is the presumed cause of death.” Jo nodded.

“That is precisely why I only open my mouth a certain amount and chew every bite of food at least twenty times before I swallow,” Walt explained. “You may think it’s silly, but I haven’t choked, have I?”

Eddy looked over at Walt. “So, how many times do you swish your tea?”

“Four. Oh.” Walt frowned. “You were teasing me weren’t you? It’s not funny. You never know when a tea leaf or a portion of the cup might have broken off.”

“Why do you think it was a robbery, Jo?” Eddy shook his head. “Are you saying she was eating a muffin, then a robber broke in, and she choked?”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying.” Jo frowned. “Keep your voice down.”

“Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t realize this was a secret.” Eddy held her gaze across the table. “So, why do you think it was a robbery?” He was not about to allow her to avoid the question.

“Because when we delivered the muffins earlier in the day she had a beautiful necklace on. It had to be an antique. When she died, she was not wearing it.”

“And the husband? Did he say the necklace was stolen?” Eddy swept his gaze around the café in search of Roger.

“No. He said nothing was missing.” Jo sighed. “But that doesn’t make any sense.”

“It makes perfect sense.” Walt wiped his mouth carefully though he had only taken a sip of his tea. “If she died with an expensive necklace on he probably took it off. If there is even a suspicion of a crime the body and everything she was wearing would be taken as evidence. He might have taken it off to prevent it from getting lost in the system.”

“He’s right.” Eddy nodded. “I’ve seen people pry rings off dead fingers before the body bag is zipped up.”

“Oh, that’s so cold.” Jo grimaced.

“It’s logical.” Walt pointed out. “Human life is a great loss, no need to compound it with financial loss.”

“I don’t think she choked.” Samantha’s voice interrupted them as she wadded up her napkin. All of the attention at the table focused on her.

“Why not?” Eddy set his coffee cup down on the table. Before Samantha could answer the waitress arrived to take their order. Once their orders were placed Jo jumped in before Eddy could.

“So, why do you think that Valda didn’t choke?” Jo frowned. “She clearly had muffin in her mouth. Maybe she got a piece stuck in her throat and couldn’t get it out.”

“Of course it’s possible, but what bugs me is that she specifically told me she was carb-free. Why would a woman who was carb-free eat a muffin?”

Eddy stared at her blankly. “What is carb?”

“Try to keep up, Eddy. I do remember her saying that, Samantha, but she could have been lying. Maybe she was just trying to put you down for bringing the muffins. You know how some people are, they can’t be pleased with anything you do.”

“Maybe.” Samantha nodded. “Although, I tend to think that there are much easier ways that she could do that. Claiming to be carb-free is very specific.”

“Well, try not to worry, it will get worked out.” Walt reached out and touched Samantha’s shoulder. “I’m sure it was not your muffins. Even though there are many poisons that can easily be hidden in foods.”

“Walt, you’re not helping.” Jo lifted an eyebrow.

“Oops. Sorry.” Walt picked up his tea.

“Now, just wait a minute. We have a situation where a woman might not have choked, and her necklace may or may not have been stolen. That’s not very much to go on,” Eddy said.

“No, it’s not, and it doesn’t add up does it?” Samantha pursed her lips.

“Maybe we’re looking for a crime where there isn’t one?” Walt looked between his three friends. “It’s not as if we haven’t done that before.”

“Good point,” Samantha agreed. “It’s possible I’m just feeling so guilty about her choking on my muffin that I am trying to create another reason for her death.”

Jo was silent. The waitress delivered their food. Jo poked at her eggs. Maybe they were right about Valda’s death being accidental, but that didn’t mean that the necklace wasn’t stolen. The necklace. The necklace. She couldn’t get the image out of her head. She knew that it was important for some reason. She just couldn’t place why.

A
fter they finished breakfast
the four friends went their separate ways. Jo tried to calm her mind by pulling out some weeds in her garden. The flash of the sunlight against the flower petals reminded her of the flash of the light against the diamond necklace. When her cell phone rang she dropped her pruning shears. With a sigh she tugged one glove off and answered the phone.

“Jo, it’s me Samantha.”

“Samantha? Are you okay?” Jo noticed strain in her voice.

“Listen, I just got a call from the police. I have to go in and give a statement.” Her voice trembled as she spoke. “Apparently there is some evidence that foul play may have been involved in Valda’s death!”

“I knew it!” Jo sat upright and stared hard out across her garden.

“Knew what? That I poisoned the muffins? I didn’t!”

“No, I knew that she was murdered. Someone killed her for that necklace, I’m sure of it.”

“Jo, forget about the necklace! Are you even listening to me? I might get arrested for murder.”

“It’s going to be okay, Samantha. You’re not going to get arrested. They probably just want to know what was in the muffins or if you saw anything suspicious. You should take Eddy with you when you speak to them. In the meantime I’ll try to drum up some suspects that might have been interested in that necklace. You may not believe me, but I am certain it was stolen.”

“If it was stolen then why wouldn’t Roger report it?” Samantha sighed.

“Because either he knew that it was stolen, or he stole it himself. It’s illegal to be in the possession of stolen goods.”

“Wait, are you saying that you think it was stolen before it was stolen?”

“I think so.” Jo frowned as she tried to keep up with Samantha’s train of thought. “It would explain why he didn’t want her wearing it outside. If it was a known stolen item he could get in a lot of trouble if they are caught with it.”

“Oh no, Jo.”

“What?”

“What if Roger killed her?” Samantha said. “So that he could collect insurance money, plus keep the necklace?”

Jo nodded. “That makes sense except I don’t think he would have been able to insure stolen goods. But I heard them arguing about the necklace after you dropped off the muffins.”

“You did? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Well, at the time we thought she had just choked to death. I didn’t think there was a reason to mention it. It was just your average argument. But now I wonder if that was the final straw for Roger?”

“I’m not sure, but we need to figure out if Valda was murdered and by whom. Otherwise I might be spending a lot of time behind bars.”

“Try not to worry, Samantha, you’ve covered enough crimes to know that it takes a lot to convict someone of murder.”

“Actually, I’ve seen the opposite. I’ve seen several people who I believe might be innocent locked away on circumstantial evidence. Why do you think I’m so worried?”

“Just do your best to stay calm. Make sure that you take Eddy with you.”

“I will.” Samantha hung up the phone. Jo held the phone in her hand for a few moments. If the police were leaning towards murder that meant that the medical examiner had turned up something unusual in relation to the death. It was clear that the woman hadn’t been attacked as there was no sign of a struggle. Whoever did kill her did so with enough intelligence to make the scene look like an accident. Roger was the first thought that crossed her mind. He was after all the husband, which made him a strong possible suspect to begin with, but there was one thing that Jo knew about Roger that the police didn’t. He was also either a criminal, or at the very least associated with criminals. That was the only way that he could have gotten his hands on the necklace.