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Authors: Sibel Hodge,Elizabeth Ashby

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BOOK: Killer Colada: a Danger Cove Cocktail Mystery
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"Hi, Detective," I said.

"Hope." He nodded a greeting at me. "It sounds like you had a traumatic day yesterday."

"Yes. I've had better ones. I heard you arrested Tim Baxtor. Has he confessed yet?"

Bud scrunched up his mouth. "No. He says he's innocent."

"Was that his wife?" I asked.

"Yes, Donna Baxtor."

"So, do you think he's innocent?"

"It's not my case. Lester's dealing with it, so I haven't interviewed him. I wouldn't like to speculate at this stage."

"But you did investigate Jenna's disappearance, didn't you? What do you think really happened to her?"

Bud inhaled a deep breath and rocked back on his heels, glancing up at the sky, in deep thought for a moment before looking back at me. "It's still an open case, so I can't say too much. We searched everywhere we could think of in the area, and there was no trace of her." He stared at something over my shoulder with a pained and defeated expression. "It's one of those cases that haunt you, you know. I wanted to find an answer for Pandora. Give her some kind of closure. But that's not always possible. It wrecked her life. Wrecked her son's, Ian's life, too, really. The family was never the same again, not surprisingly."

"But it sounded as if Pandora thought Tim killed Jenna and got away with it. Why would he kill Pandora too?"

"We're still trying to ascertain what's happened." Bud scratched his head. "Poor woman. She had such a tragic life. It was like her family was cursed. Years ago, Pandora told anyone who would listen how it was Tim that killed Jenna. She went to the papers and camped outside Tim's parents' house with placards calling him a murderer. She had a daily vigil outside his pharmacy, telling anyone going in how Tim had gotten away with murder. She was consumed with it all. It took over her life. The problem was, since we couldn't find any evidence of any wrongdoing by Tim, it was Pandora that we had to keep arresting for disturbing the peace." He sighed. "It was a sorry state of affairs. Tim wanted charges filed against her, but no one had the heart to do it. Tim eventually got a restraining order against her, and she wasn't allowed to go anywhere near him or his business. He threatened to sue her for slander too."

"What happened then?"

"She stopped the protests. She just seemed to give up. She stopped her holistic practice for a long time and became kind of a recluse. We never had any more trouble from her demonstrations after that."

I mulled that over for a moment. If that was all over years ago, what kind of motive would Tim have for killing her now? Unless… "Do you think Pandora found out something about Jenna? Something that proved Tim really did kill her?"

He hesitated. "I can't really say. But if she did, she didn't come to me with it. Tim was a pharmacist. He had easy access to the drugs that were found in Pandora's system, and he was seen leaving the house shortly after her death. On the surface it seems cut and dried."

I let his words sink in, thinking. It was almost
too
cut and dried. And judging from Bud's expression, he was thinking the same. There were plenty of ways to kill someone. Why make it so obviously point back to you? Why go to Pandora's house to kill her in the middle of the day when there could be witnesses around? Why not sneak in there under cover of night and make it look like a burglary gone wrong? And why use a drug that Tim could so easily get hold of? Then again, maybe Tim Baxtor was an idiot. Although if he'd killed once and got away with it, I very much doubted it.

CHAPTER FIVE

 

The tavern was busy all afternoon, but Pandora's death and Jenna's disappearance weren't far from my mind. Since meeting Harvey, his passion for history and the study of people had rubbed off on me. It was now too late for Pandora to discover the truth about Jenna, or maybe she already had and she'd confronted Tim about some evidence she'd found, and that's why she'd been murdered. I couldn't help thinking that solving Jenna's decades-old disappearance would solve Pandora's death too, and I wanted to find out more about what had happened all those years ago. I didn't think it was likely Bud Ohlsen would give any more away if it was still technically an open case. And I'd rather be trapped in a room with a million mosquitoes than speak to Lester again. Who knew what he'd do if he found out I was poking around in his investigation.

I tried googling information, but since Jenna went missing in 1995 and the internet didn't really kick off until around 1999, all I found was a small follow-up piece from 2005 on the ten-year anniversary of her disappearance, saying there were no new leads.

Next stop, a trip to the Danger Cove Library to check out the archived news reports.

I asked the helpful library assistant, Amy Spannagel, if she could show me where the old newspapers were stored.

"Are you looking for something in particular?" Amy pushed her glasses up her nose with her fingertip.

"Yes, some news reports from July 4, 1995, onwards."

"They're all stored on microfiche. We wouldn't have enough space to house all the papers here, and we haven't got round to digitizing the old records yet. But I know exactly where those films will be. Follow me." She led me through the main library area to a small room at the end, pausing to shush a couple of teenagers who were sitting at a table, poring over a book and giggling.

Several desks had computer stations set up. There were two screens at one end set up for the microfiches.

"Okay." She headed toward a huge filing cabinet, quickly scanning the labels at the front, which were split into five-year periods. She pulled open the draw for 1990–1995 and handed me a few big boxes of films. "Do you know how to use the machine?"

"No."

"It's easy." She sat down, slid a film in, and the newspaper text appeared on screen. "Just turn this dial to move forward or back." She stood up. "If you have any problems, feel free to come and ask me."

"Great, thanks." I sat in the seat she'd vacated and flicked through the films, which had been labeled with the dates in the top right-hand corner in permanent marker.

Inserting the first one, I flicked through to July 5, 1995, the day after Jenna had disappeared.

 

Local Woman Missing

 

Danger Cove local Jenna Williams, aged 23, has been reported as missing following the annual Fourth of July celebrations last night. Police officers were alerted to her disappearance by her mother, Pandora Williams, who said Jenna had been enjoying the firework display on Main Street before she left to meet with her boyfriend, Tim Baxtor, at the Danger Cove Lighthouse.

Tim Baxtor, also a resident of Danger Cove, informed Pandora Williams when Jenna didn't arrive as planned at the meeting spot, and despite the two searching the town, no trace of Jenna was found.

An official missing person's report has now been filed, and police are looking for Jenna. If you have any information regarding Jenna Williams, please contact Detective Bud Ohlsen of the Danger Cove Police Department.

 

I flicked through to the next report, dated July 6.

 

Community Joins the Search for Missing Woman

 

Local volunteers from the Danger Cove community rallied with the police to search for missing woman Jenna Williams, but no trace of her has been found. Jenna's mother, Pandora Williams, spoke to us from her home late last night. Williams said, "The police think it's possible that Jenna ran away, but she would never do that without telling me. Something has happened to her. She told me she was meeting up with her boyfriend, Tim Baxtor, to end their three-year relationship, but Tim claims she never showed up. She didn't take anything with her that night, no clothes or driver's license or anything. Her bedroom is just as she left it." In an emotional plea, Williams said, "If anyone has any information about Jenna's whereabouts, please, please contact the police. I want her to come home safe and well."

When questioned by reporters, Tim Baxtor said he had "no idea" Jenna was intending to break up with him. "We were engaged and very happy," Baxtor said. "We were meeting at the lighthouse to get away from the crowds that night and have a romantic evening at the bluff, looking at the stars and planning our future. At first, when she didn't arrive, I wasn't too worried. Jenna was always late. But after I waited an hour, I knew something was wrong and immediately went back to Main Street, thinking Jenna had lost track of time and was still enjoying the celebrations. Pandora and I went searching for Jenna, but it wasn't until the early hours of the next morning when she didn't arrive back home that I really began to get worried. If anyone knows where she is or what's happened to her, please let us know."

 

I scrolled forward and found another report dated July 9.

 

Tim Baxtor Questioned in Connection with Missing Woman

 

Local pharmacist Tim Baxtor has been brought in for questioning following the disappearance of Jenna Williams. Jenna's mother, Pandora Williams, claims Jenna had been about to end her relationship when she went missing. Williams said, "Tim was becoming jealous and controlling, and Jenna wanted out. He didn't want her to take her dream job as a designer at a prestigious Seattle firm and leave town. Jenna went to meet Tim to break off their engagement, but she never turned up. I know something bad has happened to her. We were very close, and she'd never leave without saying good-bye."

 

And another report on July 10.

 

Tim Baxtor's Parents' House Searched for Signs of Jenna Williams

 

Police were searching the home of Tim Baxtor's parents yesterday for any sign of his missing fiancée, Jenna Williams. Baxtor lives with his parents, Colleen and Dave, who are currently holidaying in Antigua and are not available for comment. Detective Bud Ohlsen was not prepared to release any statement but said that "Tim Baxtor is helping us with our inquiries. We're searching a number of locations in town to see if we can find Jenna. I'm still hoping we'll find her alive and well. And if anyone has any knowledge of her disappearance, or has seen her, please contact me."

When questioned at his parents' house, Tim Baxtor said, "I haven't done anything wrong. I loved Jenna and would never hurt her. The police are just doing a thorough job in leaving no stone unturned. If you're reading this, Jenna, please get in touch. We all love and miss you."

 

The reports carried on over the coming weeks and months, rehashing what was already known, which was very little. No witnesses came forward reporting they'd seen Jenna. And no evidence had ever been found relating to her disappearance or finding her body. The next time Jenna's name cropped up was in relation to Pandora's protests outside Tim Baxtor's pharmacy, which began six months later. There was a photo of Pandora standing outside the building with a placard held high above her head, the words
Baxtor Killed My Daughter!
on it.

 

Pandora Williams Arrested During Protest

 

Pandora Williams, mother of missing Danger Cove woman, Jenna, has been arrested following a number of protests outside Tim Baxtor's pharmacy. There has been no sign of Jenna since she disappeared on the night of July 4, and Pandora believes Jenna's fiancé, Baxtor, is responsible for her death. Pandora claims that "Tim killed my daughter! He murdered her and got rid of her body so we'd never find her. I want the world to know what he's done! It's not fair that he's allowed to live his life when Jenna can't. I just want him to tell me what he's done with her. I need answers!" Pandora was led away by Detective Bud Ohlsen.

Tim Baxtor commented, "I'm innocent. I had nothing to do with Jenna's disappearance. I miss her as much as everyone and wish she'd return. I understand Pandora's grief, but I was cleared of any involvement, and I just want to pick up the pieces and get on with my life and business."

 

There were more protests by Pandora and more arrests over the following months, but Pandora was never charged with anything. The final report I found mentioned Tim Baxtor having had enough and threatening to sue Pandora for slander and libel if she carried on harassing him. His threats appeared to have the desired effect, and the protests stopped. That was probably when Pandora turned her anger inward and sank into a deep depression, neglecting Ian in the process.

 

*   *   *

 

Vernon's phone rang out a loud rock beat as I locked up the tavern at closing time. I was bushed, and a steaming hot bath with some lavender essential oil was calling my name. Harvey was in Seattle, having taken his latest finds there to catalogue and store at the university's research department, and he wouldn't be back until late. It was just me and the kitties tonight.

Ruby kissed me on both cheeks and said she was leaving, but Vernon held up a hand to stop her as he listened intently to whoever was talking on the other end of his phone.

Vernon hung up and turned to face us. "Well, that was interesting. According to my source in Seattle, Tim Baxtor has told Lester Marshall that he was set up. He said Pandora called him about midday out of the blue and asked him to come round at 3:30 p.m. that day. He hadn't heard from her for years and was reluctant to go there at first, but she said she had evidence about what had really happened to Jenna. So he said against his better judgment he went because he wanted to finally clear his name once and for all. When he got there, she let him in, and they sat in the kitchen. Apparently she was already pretty drunk, and she poured them both a glass of rum. He said he didn't touch his, but she was necking it back like it was tap water. Then instead of telling him she'd found out something, she got really angry, demanding that he tell her where Jenna's body was so she could finally say a proper good-bye."

"So he killed her to shut her up?" Ruby muttered.

Vernon shrugged. "He says not. He told Lester that Pandora wouldn't listen to him when he tried to explain he had nothing to do with Jenna's disappearance, so he walked out. He said she was very much alive when he left."

"Except we saw him leave, and when we got inside, she was dead," Ruby said.

"It was only a few minutes before we found her," I said. "Five at the most."

"I think he's lying," Ruby said.

There
were
two glasses of rum on the kitchen table—I thought back to the dreadful scene in the kitchen—along with the glass vial of what must've contained the pentobarbital.

"The toxicology report did say she had a lot of alcohol in her system, so she would've been impaired," Vernon said. "Tim could've overpowered her, grabbed her arm, and intravenously injected her full of the drug. If she was drunk, it would've been easy. He must've been wearing gloves, because the only prints found on the syringe, the plastic wrapper, and the vial were Pandora's, who probably tried to grab them off him when he was trying to kill her. And they didn't find any of his prints inside the house."

"Did they check the phone records to see if she had called Tim like he claimed?" I asked Vernon.

"Yeah, there's no such call listed at that time from Pandora's landline, and as far as they know, she didn't have a cell. But…" He held up a finger for emphasis. "There was a two-minute call made to Tim's cell from an unregistered pay-as-you-go phone at the time he stated."

I let that sink in. Something didn't seem right to me. "But it all sounds too neat, doesn't it?" I chewed on my lip.

"But who else would've killed her?" Ruby asked. "Who else had a motive or opportunity?"

"I agree with Hope. Something's not quite adding up." Vernon paced up and down. "If you're going to kill someone, then you want to make sure it doesn't point back to you. The use of pentobarbital and the fact Tim was in that house in broad daylight seems too obvious to me."

"That's exactly what I thought," I said. "Can't they find out exactly where the call was made from?"

"There's only one cell tower in Danger Cove. The only thing they can be sure of is that the call to Tim was made from this town," Vernon said.

"But no one else could've slipped inside the kitchen and done it," Ruby said. "We saw Tim leaving in a big hurry, and five minutes later, we found her body."

"Unless someone else got in through the back door?" Vernon suggested. "You know the layout of her house. Could anyone gain access through the rear? Could they get in and out unnoticed?"

Ruby tapped her fingernails on the bar, thinking. "The rear patio door that led into the kitchen was open. And her garden backs onto a secluded wooded area. I guess someone else could've climbed the five-foot fence, then came in and out before we got inside, but that's highly unlikely."

BOOK: Killer Colada: a Danger Cove Cocktail Mystery
12.09Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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