Sweetness and Light (A Sweet Cove Mystery Book 5) (9 page)

Chapter 12

A security guard held up his hand to have Ellie come to a stop in front of a barrier that blocked the entrance to the driveway.  She leaned out of the van window.  “We’re here to attend the memorial.  We’re also catering the desserts for the event.”

A flock of reporters and photographers stood together across the street from the entrance to the home. Several police officers were present to control the media and to help direct traffic.

The security guard peered into the van.  His eyebrows went up when he saw the two cats perched next to Mr. Finch in the vehicle’s second row seats.  “You’re bringing cats to a memorial service?”  He looked skeptically at Ellie.

She cleared her throat.  “In fact, these are therapy animals.”  Ellie narrowed her eyes.  “You
have
heard of therapy animals and the great good they offer to grieving people?”

“Do you have an invitation?”  The guard wasn’t going to be drawn into conversation.

In the front passenger seat, Angie rustled through her purse and withdrew the card they’d received from Bethany Winston.  She passed it to Ellie, who handed it to the guard.  “My sisters are in the station wagon behind us.  They are included in this invitation.”

After staring at the engraved card and turning it over several times, the security guard handed it back to Ellie with a shrug.  “Okay.”  He waved at the two young men who were manning the barrier and they swung the gate-like structure open to admit the van and the station wagon.

Ellie pressed on the gas pedal.  “What an annoying man.”

“He’s just keeping out the uninvited.”  Angie watched the landscape rush by as they made their way down the long driveway passing fields, mature trees, and stone walls.  As their vehicle approached the house, an attendant indicated where they should park and Jenna pulled her car up beside Ellie’s van.  Everyone piled out of the vehicles.  Euclid jumped from the backseat and sauntered a few feet towards the front entrance of the massive contemporary mansion.

“Wait for us.”  Jenna warned the orange cat.       There were so many cars pulling in for the reception and people approaching the house that Jenna worried something might happen to Euclid and she wanted him to stay close.  Euclid sat down next to Circe and they waited for the others.

Before they’d left the Victorian, Euclid had been completely indignant when Angie tried to stuff him into a cat carrier and he put up such a fuss that they abandoned the idea.  “No one is going to believe that you’re a normal cat if you don’t show up in a carrier.”

Euclid glared at Angie and licked his ruffled fur before raising his orange plume of a tail high in the air and strolling out of the house and into the van.

“At least he’s agreed to go to the memorial.”  Mr. Finch had attempted to assure Angie that things would go smoothly once they arrived at the remembrance.  Angie just shook her head.

The four sisters removed trays and boxes of desserts and candy from the rear of Jenna’s station wagon.  Staff from the Winston’s rental house hurried out to carry the treats inside.  When everything had been delivered, the sisters, Mr. Finch, and the two cats walked along the stone sidewalk to the front entrance of the cream-colored architectural beauty.

“I’ve never seen this place.”  Courtney’s eyes were like saucers.  “You can just see a bit of the roof when you stand on Robin’s Point.”

“I knew it was some huge place.”  Ellie glanced around at the perfect landscaping.  “But I never expected it was like this.”

Decks jutted out from the side of the building overlooking the ocean and expansive lawns edged with flower gardens reached towards the rocky coast.  Waves crashed against the shore and the cry of a gull could be heard high overhead.

At the front door, a man in a suit eyed the cats, but didn’t mention them as he greeted the girls and Mr. Finch and gestured for them to enter through the massive foyer where they would join the crowd gathered in the two story living room.  Two walls were floor-to-ceiling glass and afforded a spectacular view out over the sea.  People stood in small groups, chatting quietly, sometimes a sniffle or some weeping mingled in with the talking.  The occasional chuckle was heard, but whoever let it slip out realized the error right away and returned to a somber demeanor.

Bethany Winston, dressed in a black sleeveless sheath dress, stood near the windows with several men and women and when she spotted the Roseland sisters, she excused herself and hurried over.  Mr. Finch and the girls once again offered condolences.

“Welcome to the snake pit.”  The rims of Bethany’s eyes were red.

“Is there someone here you consider a friend?”  Jenna glanced around the room at the crowd wondering if there was someone present that Bethany felt comfortable with.

“Mostly acquaintances.”  Bethany folded her arms over her chest.  “My best friend is in Africa.  I told her not to bother coming all this way.”  She lowered her voice and looked behind her.  “Todd is here, of course, but we can only mingle together with our mutual friends.”

The girls had decided not to mention to Bethany that they’d seen Todd and Kimberley Hutchins chatting heatedly together at the restaurant near the beach.  Courtney followed Todd that night, but he’d only walked back to the inn where he was staying, so there was nothing to report on that front.  The sisters were wary about Kimberley’s intimidating behavior towards Angie and automatically moved her to the top of the suspect list.

“Is Kimberley here?”  Angie’s voice shook a little.

“She sure is.  Although I must say she looks quite understated this afternoon.  I haven’t spoken to her.  I just glare whenever she comes near.  I think she gets the message.”  Bethany breathed out a long sigh.  “I’m ready to drop.  These past few days, all of these people treating me like I’ve lost the love of my life.  It’s exhausting to play the part of the grieving fiancé and pretend that Nelson was such a virtuous, dedicated partner.”

“Is Nelson’s family here?”  Ellie looked about the room.

“He only has his older brother and sister.”  Bethany pointed them out on the far side of the room.  The sister, a short, slender, well-dressed woman in her mid-forties, her pale blonde hair cut into a bob, was dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.  An older woman was consoling the blonde.

In contrast to the grieving sister, the brother appeared to be holding court in front of a small group of people.  Geoffrey looked like an older version of Nelson, tall, fit, well-groomed, nothing out of place, and with a blinding smile.  He had an added air of entitlement about him and a quietly simmering power seemed to emanate from his eyes.

Bethany continued, “In some ways I think they feel as I do.  Nelson was a thorn in their sides, always goofing off, making mistakes, getting into trouble.  They were always bailing him out. I think the brother is particularly pleased that he could be the top dog now with only his sister to challenge him.” Bethany scoffed.  “Though Nelson would never have been able to challenge Geoffrey or Georgia for control of the company.  They are both workaholics and highly intelligent businesspeople.”

The girls eyed each other wondering if the brother might be a suspect.

“The brother doesn’t seem to be grieving.”  Courtney asked.

Bethany turned to Courtney, an expression of alarm on her face.  “You don’t suspect him, do you?”

“Why not?”  Courtney watched the man speaking intently with someone in the group.

Bethany gave a slight shake of her head.  “I … well.  I can’t see him as the murderer, but well, I guess he could have set it up.”  She narrowed her eyes.  “I hadn’t considered him a suspect.  I really don’t think that’s plausible.”

Geoffrey spotted Bethany from across the room and headed over.  Introductions were made.

“Are you okay?”  Geoffrey put his hand on the small of Bethany’s back.  She stiffened and gave a slight nod.

The sisters and Mr. Finch offered expressions of sympathy to the brother.

Geoffrey shook his head.  “Nelson.  Such a free spirit.  If only he had applied himself sooner, and not been so trusting of others.”

“You think his trust in others is what got him into trouble?” Angie wondered what the brother meant.  Something about Geoffrey picked at her skin.  She wanted to move away from him.

“I’m sure you heard that Nelson liked to play.  Sometimes there are unsavory characters who want to party with a wealthy man.  Nelson may have run into a few.”

“Did Nelson associate with people like that?”  Jenna questioned.

“Let’s say that they tried to associate with him.”  Geoffrey put his hand in the pocket of his suit jacket.  “If only Nelson had lived to enact our plan.  We were quite sure he would have finally found an avenue for success.”

Ellie tilted her head.  “Plan?”

“Bethany didn’t tell you?  We were backing Nelson in a run for the Senate representing our home-state.  He was going to announce two weeks after the marriage.  We thought it was an excellent career move for Nelson.”  Geoffrey said to Bethany, “It’s nearly time to go in.”

“I’ll be along in a minute.”  Bethany turned slightly away from him.

Geoffrey gave everyone a dismissive nod and moved to other side of the room.

Angie said, “So Nelson was going to run for the Senate?”

Bethany gave a loud sigh.  “That is the reason for the wedding rush.  Wouldn’t it look wonderful to the voters?  Nelson, from a respected family, a newly married man with a lovely successful wife, who just happens to be the daughter of a former Senator, the popular Norman Winston.”  She rolled her eyes.  “Geoffrey, Georgia, and my father thought that a run for office would be the thing to get Nelson on track.  And,” she paused, “Nelson was a pushover.  They planned to control Nelson to their whims, have him vote in the Senate according to their wishes.  Geoffrey was thrilled with the idea.  Send Nelson to Washington, get him out of the company.”

“Did Nelson want to be a Senator?”  Courtney asked.

Bethany snorted.  “No.  He was happy with his life the way it was.  He played and partied.  Being an elected official would have put a crimp in his lifestyle.”  She gave Courtney a look.  “I know what your next question is going to be.  Then why was Nelson going to run?  Because that is what was expected of him.  Nelson’s and my lives were planned out by others.  No one asked our opinion.  We do what we’re supposed to do.”  Bethany noticed the family gathering by the windows.  “I need to join the others.”

“Before you do, tell us how today is going to go.”  Angie wanted to know how they should proceed at the event.

“There will be a brief remembrance service.  A pastor from Nelson’s church is here.  We’ll all move into the next room where seats are set up.  The pastor will lead some prayers and then Nelson’s friend will speak, followed by a work colleague.  Then we’ll have the reception.  Cremation and burial have taken place already.”

“So you want us to mingle around during the reception?”  Courtney saw that people were already moving towards the next room.

“Talk to people.  If they ask, say you knew me in college.  Listen to conversations.”  Bethany shook her head.  “Look at all these people, most are powerful and wealthy beyond imagining, leaders of the business world.  Any one of them could be a suspect.”  She gave a slight snort.  “If a bomb went off in here, the world economy would collapse.”

When she heard the word ‘bomb,’ Ellie’s eyes widened in horror and her hand flew up to her mouth.

Courtney noticed Ellie’s reaction and, in an attempt to relieve her sister’s worry, she whispered in mock seriousness.  “I didn’t realize that you cared about the economy.”

Ellie glared and Mr. Finch suppressed a smile at Courtney’s comment.

A woman gestured for Bethany to come forward with the family and enter the room where the memorial would take place.  As she stepped forward, Bethany noticed something near the window.  Euclid and Circe sat on a side table watching the guests.  “How did cats get in here?”

“Oh, we brought them.”  The cats shifted their focus to the Roseland sisters and Courtney smiled at them.  “They’re very good at solving crimes.”

Bethany gave Courtney a look mixed with worry and disbelief.

Mr. Finch twirled his cane on the gleaming wood floor.  “Miss Courtney is a jokester.  The cats are therapy animals.”

Bethany moved away, her eyes narrowed into slits.  She muttered to herself.  “How is this my life?”

“Must you always comment about the cats being able to solve crimes?”  Ellie nervously smoothed her skirt and frowned at Courtney.  “People don’t realize you’re joking.”

Courtney shrugged.  “That’s because I’m
not
joking.”  Her eyes twinkled as she winked at the cats.  She led her family to the next room, falling in behind the long line of attendees filing in for the memorial.
 

Chapter 13

Immediately following the service,
the guests were directed through the living room and into a massive dining area where a buffet had been set up with hot and cold food items.  The tables groaned with the choices of salads, casseroles, grilled vegetables, baked chicken breasts, filet mignon, breaded fish, and vegetarian options.  Wait staff moved about the rooms carrying platters of appetizers and trays with flutes of champagne and glasses of wine.  A string quartet played classical music in a corner of the living space.

The earlier somber tone that had kept the guests subdued prior to and during the memorial service had been replaced with a lively energy as people chatted, drank, and ate.  The dining and living rooms’ doors were now flung open and people, with their food and drink, spilled out onto the terraces and decks.

Mr. Finch and the girls noticed that the cats were perched on a table near the open doors and were being cooed over and patted by some of the guests.  Euclid didn’t seem to mind the attention.

“I’m planning on teasing Euclid when we get home.”  Courtney nodded at the cats.  “He put up such a stink about coming here and, now, look at him.  He’s like a king holding court with his subjects.”

“I hope he and Circe run into some of our suspected killers so that we can gauge their reactions to them.”  Jenna scanned the room looking for Bethany, Todd, or Kimberley.