Midsummer Murder (3 page)

“Ellis, how very nice to see you again.”

Ellis strode forward, arms held out in greeting. Jeremy shifted his drink to his left hand, and stuck out his right. Ellis pulled up short, and with a quirk of his head, held out his hand and firmly shook Jeremy’s.

“It must be fifteen years since I saw you last. You’re looking quite fine.”

“Thank you. I hope you’re well?”

“Yes, yes, I am.” Ellis Easton looked at him with a quizzical dip of the eyebrows. “You seem surprised to see me. Didn’t Marguerite tell you—” He looked at Marguerite. “Why so glum, sister? And where are Robert and Chi-Chi? Shouldn’t you be heading down to the pavilion for the reception?”

“There’s been an accident,” said Marguerite. “I asked Sheriff Grappel to look for you in town. Didn’t you see him?”

“We were out in the countryside most of the day, weren’t we, Stu?”

His companion nodded.

“Anyway, that Grappel is an ass, pardon me, ladies.” He nodded quickly in Biddy and Lindy’s direction. “He could have found us if the man had half a brain. What on earth has happened?”

“Larry Cleveland.”

“That little guttersnipe. What has he done, now? I swear we should send him home, scholarship or no.”

12

Midsummer Murder

“He’s dead.” Marguerite slumped. Jeremy caught her by the arm and helped her to the couch. He sat down beside her and took both of her hands in his.

“My God.” Ellis took a step forward, then sank down into a wing chair next to the couch. His companion came to stand by the chair.

“What happened?”

“Evidently, he sneaked out of the dorm sometime after bed check last night. His bed was empty this morning. The counselors thought he had hitchhiked into town and stayed out all night.

But when he wasn’t in class this morning, I insisted that we call Sheriff Grappel. Larry knew he would be sent home for something like this.”

Ellis nodded his head. “And did he go to town?”

Marguerite pulled a handkerchief from the sleeve of her gown and placed it to her lips. Jeremy put his arm around her. “No. They searched the woods and found him at the bottom of the ravine near the archaeology site. He had fallen down the side. He must have lain there all night. Helpless, with everyone oblivious.” Marguerite choked back a sob. Jeremy’s arm tightened around her.

“Damn the kid. He knew that area was off limits. The ground is unstable. What on earth was he doing out there?”

“From the sound of this kid, just telling him something was off limits would be tempting enough to make him go there.” Ellis’s friend spoke for the first time. His voice was calm and rational like a lawyer explaining the contents of a contract.

Lindy looked at him again and wondered if they had met at a fund-raiser or benefit. He was tall, and quite handsome with thinning silver hair, a broad forehead, and quite athletic-looking except for the cane he leaned on.

“I suppose you’re right, Stu,” said Ellis, “but the rules are explicit.

One infraction like that, and a student will be sent home, no appeal. I can’t imagine that even Larry would have risked going back to a sweltering summer in Brooklyn, when he could be here. He was a brazen, smart-mouthed specimen, but he wasn’t stupid.”

“I tried to call his parents, but there was no answer,” said Marguerite. “I didn’t feel I could leave a message without alarming them. Alarm,” she repeated. “Nothing when compared to what they will soon be feeling. Where are Chi-Chi and Robert?”

13

Shelley Freydont

“I hope you won’t think me callous,” said Stu, “if I ask if you have contacted your lawyers?”

Marguerite looked nonplused. “I . . . no. Of course, I should have thought of that.” Her hand touched her throat. “I’m not thinking clearly.

Nothing like this has ever happened in the history of the retreat. We’ve had accidents, certainly, but never a fatal one. Never. Not in fifty years.”

Ellis stood up. “Not to worry, I’ll take care of it right now.”

“I’ll join you, if I may,” said Stu. Nodding to Lindy and Biddy, the two men left the room.

With their departure, the others dropped into another painful silence, drinks in hand but not being drunk, everyone staring somewhere in front of them, grappling with their own thoughts.

A bustle in the doorway made them all turn around.

“Chi-Chi, Robert.” Marguerite rose and held out both hands.

The woman who had just entered walked briskly across the floor and embraced Marguerite, her arms squeezing tightly around the older woman’s waist, her head resting on her breast. “Robert needed me.”

Marguerite looked over Chi-Chi’s head, then extended one hand which Robert rushed to take in his.

“Jeremy.” Chi-Chi left Marguerite’s arms and threw herself into Jeremy’s. “What a terrible homecoming.”

“Hi, Chi-Chi, Robbie.” Jeremy hugged Robert in turn.

“Chi-Chi and Robert Stokes.” Jeremy introduced Biddy and Lindy.

Robert leaned over to shake their hands, not moving away from Jeremy. Chi-Chi smiled at them with full cherry lips, whose shape, thought Lindy, would look more comfortable in a grin, but were now tight with distress.

The couple stood the same height, about five-feet-eight, Chi-Chi as substantial as Robert was frail. They were surrounded by an aura of energy. Robert appeared nervous; his hands quivered visibly as if he had more energy than his slight body could contain. His frenetic nearly black eyes darted at them like two captured animals.

His wife, as if confirming that opposites attract, was solidly built.

Brilliant blue eyes broadcast from above a patch of freckles that covered her nose and cheeks, eyes that invited confidence and promised sympathy. A mass of auburn hair swirled around her face and came to rest on softly molded shoulders.

14

Midsummer Murder

She took a glass from Sandiman, who had appeared at her side, and handed it to her husband. He and Jeremy were deep in conversation, and she had to call his name to get his attention. She took another for herself and joined Marguerite who had sunk back onto the couch.

“Please,” said Marguerite gesturing to Lindy and Biddy to sit down. “I’m being a terrible hostess. I didn’t even introduce you to Ellis and Stuart, Stuart Hollowell, an old family friend,” she said as if making the introduction at that moment. “When I was a girl, one never lost one’s manners even in the face of tragedy. I’m afraid that with all the wonderful freedoms we enjoy these days, our sense of decorum has fallen into disuse.”

Lindy shook her head and mumbled something noncommittal. She felt terribly out of place. She glanced at Biddy who sat uncomfortably on the edge of her chair. Maybe they should excuse themselves and let these old friends share their grief in private.

Jeremy sat down next to Marguerite. Marguerite patted Chi-Chi’s knee. Robert crossed the room and stared out the floor length window.

“I just don’t understand,” he said into the darkness. “How could something like this happen? He was in the dorm last night. I checked.

He was there.” He turned quickly from the window and stared intently at Marguerite. “There are a few of the boys, you know the ones, that I always look in on once the counselors have finished their bed check.

But he was there, in his bed. I saw him.”

Chi-Chi lifted her chin. Her lips quivered momentarily before she controlled them enough to smile at her husband. Marguerite patted her knee again and Chi-Chi rose to join him at the window.

“You are not responsible, Robert. Is he, Marguerite?”

“Of course not. Robert, don’t be so hard on yourself. Perhaps, we should have sent him home.” She sighed. “There’s just not the discipline there used to be. Oh, there were always a few troublemakers, a few derring-dos. But now, it seems that most of the students are more intent on having a good time than perfecting their craft. Not like it used to be.” She placed her empty glass on the table behind the sofa. “But I sound terribly old-fashioned. We shan’t look back.

We must have dinner and then we must decide what to do about the anniversary celebration.”

The others looked at her expectantly, but she leaned back against the cushions and closed her eyes.

15

Shelley Freydont

It was an onerous responsibility, thought Lindy, and though Marguerite might consider the others’ opinions, the final decision rested entirely in her hands. It would be financially and politically disastrous to cancel a season as anticipated as this one.

But it would also take incredible finesse to proceed without appearing callous. Lindy was glad she didn’t have to make that decision.

A few minutes later, Sandiman announced dinner. Jeremy took Marguerite’s arm and the others followed them into the hall.

Ellis and Stuart were just coming down the stairs, dressed in evening clothes and looking preoccupied. Marguerite didn’t ask what the lawyers had advised, merely introduced them to Lindy and Biddy, then returned her attention to Jeremy. It was obvious that this business, even something as shattering as death, would not be allowed to infringe on the dinner hour. With a small bow, Ellis took Lindy’s elbow and escorted her into the dining room.

16

Two

The dining table could have accommodated twice as many diners as there were. Only eight of them sat around the periphery of polished mahogany, Jeremy and Robert to either side of Marguerite at the head of the table, Biddy and Stuart next to Ellis at the other end. Lindy smiled at Chi-Chi across from her as Sandiman oversaw the serving of the soup.

Marguerite lifted her spoon, cueing the others to begin. They ate in silence, except for sporadic comments on the excellence of the first course.

Lindy didn’t have much of an appetite. She groped around for possible dinner topics while playing at the corners of the damask napkin that lay across her lap.

After a few minutes, Marguerite mentioned the amount of rain they had had over the past few weeks. Stuart agreed that it would help to fill the reservoirs after a dry winter. Biddy commented on the lushness of the trees. Ellis felt sure that they would have excellent weather for the performance that weekend.

The mention of the word “performance” brought another silence.

Although the Ash company would not be performing until the following weekend, the students were making a showcase presentation on Saturday night. It would be necessary to prepare the understudy for Larry’s parts. Everyone was thinking that, though no one mentioned it aloud. They were all geared toward thinking that the show must go on.

Jeremy’s voice broke into the hush that had fallen around the table.

“Do you know that Robbie and I came here for the first time the same summer? Of course Robbie was already the artistic director then. You whipped me into shape, didn’t you?”

17

Shelley Freydont

“You were easy enough material.” Robert suddenly looked years younger. A stalk of fine dark hair had fallen over his forehead; he pushed it back. “That was Chi-Chi’s first year, too.”

Chi-Chi looked up but continued to eat her soup. Lindy tried to imagine her twenty or thirty pounds lighter and years younger, dressed in tights and leotards instead of the somewhat frilly cocktail dress she wore now. “I’m the real success story here.” She took a moment to beam her smile at Lindy and then to her husband.

Lindy waited expectantly for the explanation, but Chi-Chi turned to Stuart. “And what were you gentlemen up to today, anything exciting?”

“Well, let’s see,” said Stuart. “We frightened away several menacing squirrels and woodchucks. Wrestled a particularly defiant tree limb that had fallen across the road. And had lunch at Bob’s Diner out on the highway. I believe the latter was the most adventurous exploit of the day. Wouldn’t you agree, Ellis?”

“What will these ladies think of us, Stu?”

“I hope you didn’t let Ellis eat those horrible home fries with gravy. They’re so unhealthy.” Marguerite gazed down the table at her brother.

Ellis squirmed in his chair.

Stuart laughed heartily. “Only a few. We tough guys have to watch our cholesterol these days. Ah, but life is to be conquered, right Ellis?”

He lifted his eyebrows and waggled them. “That’s how we stay young and vital.”

He patted the cane that was hooked over the back of his chair and turned toward Lindy. “I hope you don’t think I carry this accoutrement just to beat off rabid squirrels. Hip surgery. The wonders of modern medicine.” He gestured around the table to include the others. “I’m considering buying more stock in the plastics industry. I could have hobbled around in pain for the rest of my years, but in a few weeks, I’ll be hiking and golflng with the best of them. Might even take up skiing.”

From the corner of her eye, Lindy saw Ellis dart an uncomfortable look down the table.

Stuart turned his arch grin on Marguerite. “Or perhaps tennis. I haven’t had time to play in years.”

“You’re incorrigible, Stuart Hollowell. Just don’t overdo.”

18

Midsummer Murder

The soup was followed by a flaky cold salmon, served on a bed of crisp green asparagus and accented by a floret of broiled tomato.

Conversation finally reached a comfortable rhythm, half of the diners roused by their performing abilities to enter into the role of country weekend guests, the others so immaculately well-bred that they glided around the subject of the dead boy with coordinated grace.

Only Robert Stokes brooded over his untouched plate of food, and looked relieved when it was whisked away by the servant, only to frown again as it was replaced by the next course.

Lindy pushed aside thoughts of the accident as she became conscious of the number of calories she was packing away. She began estimating how much more she could eat without sending her relentless diet into overdrive.

Biddy was happily tucking into a slice of prime rib. There were not too many things that could disrupt Biddy’s appetite or consummate professionalism. Beneath an exterior of rampant optimism and bubbling enthusiasm was a determination to make things work, no matter what the obstacles. She had succeeded in the dance business by keeping these qualities in balance, drawing sometimes on her enthusiasm to inspire those around her, and sometimes on her internal strength to bully the rest of them to rise to their best.