Organized to Death (14 page)

Princess whined, and Uncle Bob, who had his hand on her back, stroked her. How had he known she made a noise, Tina wondered. Vibrations, she guessed.

“Just tell me what happened that afternoon. Please.”

Tina really, really didn’t want to do that, but she felt sorry for Charles, and the sooner she told him what she knew, the sooner he’d leave.

“Okay. Rachel and I had been working in the master bedroom and had a few full boxes we needed to put somewhere else. I asked her where, thinking second floor, attic or basement, even the garage, but she said they were all full up.”

Charles nodded. “True. I’ve only been in that house a couple of times since Rach began filling it up, but Nicky told me what it’s like. I can’t imagine living like that.” Charles shuddered.

“Did he tell you about the nursery?”

“No. I didn’t know they had one until I read it in the paper.”

“Yes. Well, it’s immaculately clean, and no clutter. Rach suggested we set the boxes in there.”

“Go on.”

“She led the way to the room. The door was closed. I don’t know why. It’s on the other side of the house, and it’s the room that has a side patio. Do you know the one I mean?”

Charles frowned. “I think so. Nowadays, with baby monitors, it doesn’t matter where the room is.”

“Oh, I hadn’t thought of that.” Tina was surprised Charles knew.

“Crystal and I were checking out baby stuff a few weeks ago. We’d decided to start having children.” His voice choked up on the last word, and he put his face in his hands.

Tina decided he was either an excellent actor, or he was totally devastated by his wife’s death. Or could it be remorse for killing her? She glanced at Uncle Bob, who apparently wasn’t having any trouble reading Charles’s lips. His expression gave her no hint of his thoughts.

After a bit, Charles collected himself and looked up at Tina. “Please, go on.”

“Well, Rach opened the door, then stopped, then ran to Crystal. I came in behind her. Rach was hysterical, so I called nine one one, then Nicky. For some reason, I also checked the patio door. It was unlocked.”

Charles’s eyes lit up. “It was? Rach was a fanatic about locking up, Nicky told me. Afraid someone would steal all their stuff.”

“Did Crystal have a key?” Tina asked.

“Yes. At least I think so. But why would she go to Rach’s house, into the nursery? Maybe someone was chasing her? Must have been some crazy person.”

The only crazy person Tina knew was Hank’s mother. But Mitzi surely had no reason to murder Crystal. Did she?

Tina’s stomach clenched. She could feel her whole body stiffening, and she made a real effort to relax, loosening her fisted hands, taking deep breaths.

“I don’t see where this is getting us, Charles,” she said, her voice a bit sharp.

Charles stood up suddenly. Princess took a step toward him, then stopped when Uncle Bob grasped her collar.

“Damn it, Tina, I don’t know either, but I had to start somewhere.” He began to pace. “What else can you tell me?”

Tina glanced at Uncle Bob, who shook his head slightly. Tina knew he meant for her to be careful. Obviously, he didn’t trust Charles, probably because Princess didn’t seem to.

“Well, the police questioned us. Rach said she’s been watching TV before I came over, so I guess any noise would have been drowned out by that, and then she and I were working in the bedroom on the other side of the house until we found… found Crystal.”

“And Nicky was shot. You were around when all that happened.”

Tina bristled. “I was not ‘around,’ as you put it. I was at the doctor’s office when Rachel brought him in. And I drove her to the hospital when the ambulance took Nicky.”

“Well, what did Rachel say happened?”

Tina hedged. She was becoming more and more uneasy with this conversation. What if Charles had murdered his wife and was trying to find out what the police knew so he could cover his tracks?

“Rachel wasn’t sure what happened. She heard a noise, then saw Nicky falling down. She ran to him. She doesn’t know any more than that.” Except there was a white car. She’d keep that little tidbit to herself.

Charles stood still, shaking his head. “I don’t understand it. She wasn’t having an affair, and I can’t think of any reason why anyone would want her dead. It doesn’t make any sense, and it’s driving me crazy.”

“Well, she did tend to make people mad, Charles. I assume you know that.”

He glowered at her. “She meant well. And you had an argument with her just a few days before it happened.”

“About a party. I assure you that our argument was not worth murdering anyone over, especially someone I did consider a friend. A long-time friend.” Tina stood up. “I think you’d better leave now, Charles. You don’t seem to be at your best.”

His shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry, Tina. I’m just so frustrated. I don’t know where to turn.”

“Well, if you want to turn to your friends, I suggest you do so with a bit more tact.” Tina walked toward the front door.

She could hear him behind her and Princess’s claws on the bare wood.

“You’re right,” Charles said. “Are you sure there’s nothing more you can tell me?”

She turned to him. “I can’t think of a thing. I hope they find out who did this, and soon. It’s a strain on everyone.”

Tina opened the front door. No polite hugs were exchanged. Each said a terse goodbye, and Tina closed the door with relief.

She turned to Uncle Bob and Princess. “Let’s have something to drink.”

“Good idea,” Uncle Bob said.

In the kitchen, Tina sat at the table and let Uncle Bob fix them each a chocolate martini. They’d discovered them a year ago and had them as a special treat when celebrating and as a consolation prize when things were not going well.

“What did you think?” Tina asked after Uncle Bob placed the drinks on the table and sat down.

“I’m not sure,” he admitted, taking a sip and making his usual comically distasteful face. “Damn, that’s good.”

Tina took a sip and agreed.

“He sure made Princess uneasy,” Tina said. Princess thumped her tail on the floor. Tina grinned at her and reached over to give her a pat.

“But,” Uncle Bob said, “I’m not sure if that was because he was so wired or if she wouldn’t have liked him anyway.”

“Well, I didn’t tell him the color of the car Rachel saw after Nicky was shot. Not that it would have helped him.”

“I wouldn’t trust him, Tina, until we know more. Or really, until we know who killed his wife.”

Tina agreed. “I’ll be careful,” she promised, which was what she knew Uncle Bob wanted her to say.

Laura came down the back stairs, saw what they were drinking, and asked, “What’s the occasion?”

“You missed all the excitement,” Uncle Bob said and told her what had happened.

“That Charles,” she said when he’d finished. “Nora never totally approved of him for Crystal, even though he’s a well-respected lawyer. Do I get one of those?” She pointed at his martini glass.

Uncle Bob got up to make her one.

“Why didn’t Mrs. Morris like him?” Tina asked.

“He’s rather bland, don’t you think?”

“Usually,” Tina said. “Not this afternoon, though. What would Crystal have done with someone a bit more exciting?”

“Probably killed him,” Laura said. Then she shook her head. “That was inappropriate, considering the circumstances. Who would have ever thought that one of the daughters would be murdered? It never crossed our minds.”

“You mean the Lunch Bunch?” Tina asked.

“What? Oh, yes.”

Uncle Bob set a martini in front of Laura and sat down again.

“Well, what did cross your minds?” Tina asked.

“Who was that?” Uncle Bob asked, since he hadn’t heard them with his back turned.

“The Lunch Bunch. Mom says it never crossed their minds that one of the daughters would be murdered. I’m thinking that the daughters are the main topic of conversation for some reason, but I can’t think why.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Laura stood up and took her martini upstairs.

“What the hell
do
they talk about?” Tina asked her uncle.

“Not their husbands, I imagine, since only two are left.”

“That’s right. I hadn’t thought of that. But I don’t see what that would have to do with anything. When did they start, do you know? All I know is they’ve been getting together once a month ever since I can remember.”

“It was several years after you were born, but I couldn’t say exactly when.”

“I still think it has something to do with us daughters.”

“Could be. Again, I think you’d be better off just forgetting about it.” Uncle Bob took the last sip of his martini, grimaced, and clutched his stomach. He moaned and Tina jumped up, almost tripping over Princess, to go to him.

“What’s wrong?”

“My stomach. Damn, it hurts,” he said. Then he passed out.

“Uncle Bob!” Tina cried. When he didn’t respond, she called 911, her mind flashing to doing the same thing just a few days before for Crystal. She checked the pulse at his neck while talking to the operator. It was weak, but there. Princess was trying to crowd Tina, and she gave the dog a gentle push. Princess stood aside, whining softly.

“What happened just before he collapsed?” the operator asked.

“He clutched his stomach and passed out.”

“How old is he?”

“Nearly seventy. Please hurry.”

“Someone’s on their way. Don’t try to move him. You can probably hear the ambulance already.” The voice was calm, soothing.

“Yes,” Tina said with relief.

“Is there anyone else with you?”

“No. Yes, my mother is upstairs.”

“Can she get the door while you stay with your uncle?”

“She doesn’t know what happened. I don’t think she’d hear me if I shouted.” But Tina shouted anyway. “Mom! Mom! Come quick.”

A pounding on the door made her start, then the bell rang. The light flashed for Uncle Bob, and Princess went crazy. She nudged her master with her nose, over and over again. Watching helplessly, Tina backed out of the room, then ran to the door to let the paramedics in.

Laura hurried down the front staircase. When she saw the EMTs, her face turned white. “What’s wrong?”

“Uncle Bob collapsed. I think it’s his stomach.” Tina was near tears, but she forced them back. She led the paramedics to the kitchen, then had to grab Princess by the collar to keep her away while they worked. “It’s all right. They’re trying to help.” She stroked the dog’s back.

Laura stood in the doorway with the most helpless look on her face Tina had ever seen.

The paramedics tried rousing Uncle Bob, but he was unresponsive.

“He’s deaf,” Laura said. “He can’t hear you. Can’t you see his hearing aids? Oh, God, don’t lose his hearing aids. He’ll be lost. What’s wrong with him?” She collapsed into a chair and began to cry.

Tina wanted to comfort her, but Princess was still intent on going to her master.

The paramedics hooked up an IV, spoke to the hospital, transferred Uncle Bob to a stretcher, and started for the door.

“What’s wrong with him?” Laura asked again.

“We don’t know, ma’am. I’m sorry, but the doctor will have to examine him. Doesn’t seem to be a heart attack, though. Or a stroke. We’ll take him to the hospital. You want to come with us?”

“Yes, oh, yes,” Laura said.

“Just go, Mom.” Tina made a shooing motion with her hand. “I’ll bring your purse later. Get your coat though—it’s cold outside.”

Tina held onto Princess until the door closed after Uncle Bob, Laura and the paramedics. When she let go, Princess ran to the door and howled. Her pitiful wail gave Tina goose bumps.

She rushed upstairs for her and her mother’s purses, then down again. Princess howled the whole time. Tina found her orange vest that indicated she was a hearing dog, her leash, and had to set everything down to put on her own coat.

She drove to the hospital right at the speed limit, breathed a sigh of relief when she located a place to park, and rushed in the emergency room entrance, Princess beside her.

“You can’t bring that dog in here,” someone said.

Tina faced a male nurse. He frowned sternly at her and pointed toward the door.

“Yes, I can. This is a service animal for my deaf uncle who was just brought in by ambulance. Robert O’Neal. Where is he?”

She spotted her mother sitting hunched over in a chair and started to walk toward her.

“Wait,” the nurse called. He was blond with a Van Dyke goatee and wore green scrubs and white Nikes. Not bad looking, but his attitude stank for someone in a helping profession. “You absolutely cannot bring a dog in here.”

“I absolutely can. It’s the law. You’ve heard of the Americans with Disabilities Act? ADA? Service animals can go anywhere with their owners. The dog’s owner is here, so the dog can be, too. She’s trained to help him and to be obedient.”

The nurse came out from behind the counter and started to take Tina’s arm. Princess stiffened, but she didn’t do anything aggressive, Tina was glad to see.

“Don’t touch me,” Tina said.

“Look, I don’t want to have to call security. Dogs aren’t allowed in hospitals.”

“Go ahead, call anyone you want. This dog is obviously better trained for what she does than you are for what you do. Haven’t you taken any classes on the ADA?”

That stopped him for a moment. “Yes, but I don’t remember anything about ‘service animals.’”

“You must have slept through that part. Who’s the supervisor on this shift?”

“I am.”

“Oh God, I should have known. Well, call someone in administration.”

“It’s Sunday. No one here but us chickens. Now, take the dog out of here.” Again, he reached for her, but she stepped aside.

Laura rose from her chair and walked over. “Where’s my purse?”

Tina handed it to her.

“There’s an applicable portion of the ADA in here somewhere—I keep it for just such occasions. For ignorant people. Even had it laminated. Here it is.” She thrust the shiny paper at the nurse. “Read it and weep.” Taking Princess’s leash, she led the dog over to where she’d been sitting.

Tina noticed that several people were watching with interest. She waited while the nurse read, wondering what they were doing to Uncle Bob.