Short line to death, p.11
Short Line to Death, page 11
“So, who do you think did it?” Harry asked.
“Uh, we don’t know yet.”
“We?” Jeff insinuated.
“Tom and I are, unofficially, trying to figure it out. We have a list of likely suspects but...we haven’t really gotten very far in the investigation,” she said sheepishly. She realized it had to appear to them that she was tagging along after Tom like a pop star’s fan. “He suggested I bring you two over to the bar later to talk about it.”
“Great! We get to see you two together. Body language never lies. Did Tom ask you to help, or did you volunteer?” Jeff asked.
“He asked me.”
“And where do you meet to discuss your ideas?” Harry asked.
“His office at The Opossum.”
“Ha! I told you so. You owe me a Chez Pierre dinner!” Jeff whooped. “I knew there was something going on.”
“Nothing is going on! We are simply working together.”
Madeline refused to tell them the list of suspects, which led to a guessing game in which they concluded that Martha, the bus driver, had done it, since she most resembled a butler in this story.
“Glad you guys came over,” Tom greeted them with a broad smile. He sent them to a table by the fireplace after he took their drink orders.
“Well, isn’t that a fancy green drink Maddie has?” Jeff commented.
“Yes. Maddie suggested there was a need for a special Opossum cocktail. So, I am experimenting with different combinations of alcohol and color.”
“I see,” Jeff said and smiled at Madeline.
“I think it is a good suggestion.” Tom smiled warmly at Madeline as he sat down next to her. Harry and Jeff exchanged knowing glances.
“Harry and Jeff tell me that the town is abuzz with gossip about Roberta’s murder. You know, on the Bus of Death.”
Tom laughed. “Yeah, I know. I hear everybody sitting at the bar talking about it. It actually has been the Bus of Death as far as my back is concerned. It is a bumpy ride.”
“So, Tom,” Harry started, “Maddie says you two have a theory about who the murderer is.”
“Actually, I said we have a list of suspects. But I didn’t give you any specifics,” Madeline interrupted, glancing at Tom.
“No, she didn’t. Maddie says it is creepy riding on the bus with a killer,” Jeff said.
“She is right. But I don’t think she is in danger,” Tom said.
“So, I guess you two are working closely together on this,” Jeff suggested.
“Yes, we are. And it has been a pleasure to spend time with Maddie. She has been a great help also.”
Jeff nudged Harry’s foot under the table. “Well, after you solve it—and I am sure you will—we will have you both over for dinner so you can give us all the juicy details,” Harry said.
“I look forward to it,” Tom said. Madeline finished her drink in one gulp.
***
On the Thursday afternoon bus, Tom asked Madeline if she could come to The Opossum on Saturday. “Moira and her Joey will be there,” he explained.
“How on earth did you manage that?”
“I found an opportunity to mention to Joe that I just got a bottle of his favorite port. It’s expensive and hard to find. He jumped at the chance to stop by. Moira approved.”
“So, you can talk to him, and I can talk to Moira.” Tom nodded. “You know, every time she calls him my Joey, I think of a baby kangaroo.”
Tom laughed. “I never looked at it that way. But Joe is like a kangaroo, he hops to all of Moira’s commands.”
CHAPTER 21
Madeline entered The Opossum a little after six to find Moira and Joey already sitting at the bar talking to Tom. She greeted them and joined the group, sitting on a stool next to Moira.
“Can I get you a Opossumtini?”
Madeline smiled. “Absolutely.”
Tom placed a martini glass in front of her. The drink was the color of Windex and had tiny marshmallows floating in it.
“Okay. It’s different. I like the color. Nice of you to try so hard.” She took a sip and nodded in approval. “Not bad.”
“We were just discussing Roberta’s death,” Tom informed Madeline.
Moira nodded. “Naturally, we were all devastated by her death. But now it is even worse to know somebody we sit in close quarters with for hours a week may have killed her. My Joey has been beside himself. He just worries about me so much. Right, sweetie?” Moira said as she sipped a vodka gimlet. From what Madeline could see, Joey was not feeling any anxiety about it.
“Yes, dear,” he said as if on automatic pilot and went back to his port and chatting with Tom.
“Fern is even more upset now. She must feel lonely and frightened,” Madeline observed.
“Aren’t we all? Anyway, it’s her own fault if she’s alone. Roberta always said that Fern was an oversexed bimbo. Always chasing the wrong man for the wrong reasons,” Moira confided.
“What a terrible thing to say about your best friend.”
“Yes. But she was always looking out for Fern. Trying, without much luck, to keep her on the straight and narrow. When Fern’s second marriage went on the rocks, it was Roberta that helped her find a job and made her think about having a real career and going back to school.”
“That makes Roberta sound like a true friend. She really helped Fern.”
Moira looked thoughtful. “Roberta micromanaged her life, especially her love life. It was sad the way she criticized her about it.”
“Did Fern listen to her?”
“Not really, no. Every one of Fern’s affairs fizzled out. Bad choices. Even married men. Hoping she’d steal them away from their wives. You know the type.”
Madeline sipped her drink and didn’t respond. “I am a little surprised. She seems so sweet. Did she ever go after any of the men in town?”
“Oh, my goodness, she flirts with them all the time. She keeps Brian and Jake strung along, thinking that they have a chance. Roberta used to make fun of them. Dogs with their tongues hanging out I think she said once.”
“That’s bad. But sounds like our Roberta, all right.”
“Yes, indeed. Fern isn’t the smartest girl, and so Roberta took care of her as much as possible. I must admit I was a little surprised by the extent of her wailing. Fern is very much into herself—she’s one of those new-age types. You know what I mean. She’s into her own feelings and trying to heal herself with crystals, auras, herbs and amulets. I mean, I would think that she would be cured by now if that stuff worked.” Moira rechecked her hair. “She is always trying to look innocent and helpless. It might work on the men she meets, but believe me, she’s really anything but.”
Moira lowered her voice, leaned closer and placed her hand gently on Madeline’s arm. “I have a feeling Fern’s got someone to comfort her, if you know what I mean.”
“Really?”
Moira took another sip of her drink. “And Roberta didn’t approve. She counseled her to never expect anything from men except trouble.”
“Sounds like Roberta didn’t like men or marriage much.”
“From what I know, years ago, Roberta had one great love. He was a local man who lived in Lyon, separated from his wife. Roberta fully expected, after their lengthy affair, he’d marry her when his divorce was final. But it never happened. He reconciled with his wife and ended it. After that, she soured on romance and never tried again.”
“That is sad.”
They sat in silence for a few seconds. While she sipped her blue drink, Madeline was trying unsuccessfully to imagine anyone being in love with Roberta.
“Yes. And over the years she just became more bitter. All she had was her sister, her job and Fern.”
“What was Roberta’s job?”
“She worked in the complaint department of Global Insurance. She handled complaints from all over the world.”
“What a perfect occupation for her.”
“I never thought of that. She could certainly dish out the complaints, so I guess she knew how to deal with them from others,” Moira said and laughed and rechecked her hair. “Roberta and I got along, although she did not like many people, and she hated pretentiousness. That’s why she never liked Stephen.” Joey quietly urged Tom to top up Moira’s cocktail. He did so as Moira’s attention was focused on Madeline.
She leaned close to Madeline. “You know, Stephen is a major mover and shaker. He makes bundles of money. Once he gave us an insider stock tip. He said it was risky, but that he had put twenty thousand dollars into it. So, Roberta put five thousand dollars of her savings into the stock. My Joey said that speculating on a stock like that was simply gambling, so we didn’t buy any. The stock went straight up, and Roberta was crowing about all the money she was making and what she was going to do with it. But then the company was found to be lying about something important concerning its products. The stock tanked. Roberta lost all her money and blamed Stephen. She said she would fix him. She reported him to all the proper authorities. He nearly got in serious trouble.”
“Roberta certainly seemed to enjoy tormenting people.”
“Yes. Lord knows she was the mistress of pain on that bus.”
“Speaking of pain, is there any way to lower Jake’s voice?”
Moira shook her head. “He is so uncouth. He’s a manual laborer.” She waved her hands in a dismissive gesture. “No prospects of being anything interesting or successful. He’s Tony’s friend, and that’s the most you can say about him, and that is not saying much. He and Roberta had some kind of running feud going. Something to do with their community-road maintenance. I never paid any attention. I don’t like to gossip. She even started a rumor that he plays for the other team.” Moira looked knowingly at Madeline, who nodded in acknowledgment and sipped her drink.
“What about Tony? Did he have a problem with Roberta?”
Moira looked thoughtful and wagged a red-tipped forefinger at Madeline. “You’re very nosy, aren’t you?”
“Just trying to get to know people. It’s hard when you’re new, you know.”
Moira looked sympathetic as she sipped her drink. “Well, it is common knowledge that Tony has—shall we say—an eye for the ladies. After all, he is extremely handsome. His wife is from an incredibly influential family in Cross Keys. Yes, indeed, he married very well. His family was not a good one, to put it mildly. Tony is just plain lucky he’s so handsome, or he would be working at the Pit or worse. His wife, Olivia, is a lovely girl. Beautiful, as you saw, but also smart, sweet and always beautifully dressed and groomed.”
“Yes. I saw her at the viewing. She didn’t seem very friendly.”
“Olivia is used to associating with only the best kind of people. Naturally, she finds certain people beneath her notice. Her parents were not happy about the marriage, but rumor had it that Olivia was pregnant, so they went along with what she wanted. They had a huge wedding in church, and she wore white.” Moira raised her eyebrows in disapproval. “And they bought them the most beautiful house as a wedding present. But there was never a baby. So, I don’t know if she really was pregnant or had a miscarriage or what the true story was.”
“So, Roberta believed Tony was fooling around on the side. That’s why she made all those comments about him. If it’s true, it would be awkward.”
“Awkward! Oh, you better believe that he is scared to death of any infidelity being discovered. Certainly, the house is not in Tony’s name, and he owes his job to Olivia’s father, so he would probably have to move into the mobile home with his trashy mother and sister.” Moira laughed and jingled her bangles. “Oh, yes, Tony would be kicked off the gravy train big time.”
“Roberta didn’t seem to fight with Brian.”
“Brian is sweet and totally harmless. You know, I don’t think he has a mean bone in his body—or a brain in his head. Lord knows how he makes a living. He just floats along with the breeze collecting every lost dog and cat he finds.”
“He does seem like a free spirit.”
“I even think he is kinda cute! You know, in a sad-puppy-dog sort of way. It’s those blond curls hanging out from under his hat, I guess. I just wish he would take that filthy old cap off. But he was very wary of Roberta. Brian doesn’t like confrontation. But it is obvious that he is sweet on Fern, and I am sure that Roberta didn’t approve.”
“But why not? He’s a nice guy, and he isn’t married.”
“Roberta didn’t want Fern to settle for just anyone, you know.”
“Well, how many real options does Fern have? I mean the woods of Pennsylvania aren’t exactly crawling with eligible bachelors. Are they?”
Moira shrugged. “Well, I wouldn’t know dear, I never go into the woods. It’s full of bugs and snakes.” Moira sipped more of her bottomless gimlet, and Madeline finished off her drink.
“Alice seems a little odd,” Madeline said to change the subject.
“Odd doesn’t quite cover it, dear! She looks meek as a mouse but can be mean as snake. None of us like her. Roberta found her and plopped her down in the seat across from her. Probably to aggravate Brian and to annoy everybody else. And she smells. Probably all those cats she keeps.”
“Really? She seems very meek and mild. I haven’t seen mean.”
“Once Elizabeth made an offhand comment about how she hates cats. Well, let me tell you, Alice went ballistic. The foul words that came out of her mouth would make any normal person blush. And she wouldn’t let it go. She kept harassing Elizabeth and calling her insulting names. Roberta thought it was all very funny.”
“Did she threaten Elizabeth?”
“No. Just spit out venom. She eventually stopped. I guess she finally ran out of insulting terms.”
“How are you ladies doing? Can I refresh your drinks?” Tom asked them with a large smile and a cocktail shaker in his hand.
Without waiting for an answer, he placed a coupette glass in front of Madeline and poured a violet-colored liquid into it and garnished it with a twist of lemon.
Madeline gave him a questioning look. “Another iteration of the Opossumtini? My, my, you have been busy, haven’t you?”
“Yes. I told you I was working on it.”
“My, what a pretty drink!” Moira exclaimed.
“Isn’t it, though? Try one,” Madeline suggested as she took a small sip and nodded in approval.
“No, thank you. I think my Joey has had enough bar time. Let’s go get a table and have dinner, dear.” Joey looked forlornly at the bottle of port sitting in front of him but dutifully helped Moira off the barstool, thanked Tom and headed off. “See you both on Monday,” she trilled as Joey helped her to the table.
Tom turned to Madeline. “You two seemed cozy. Anything interesting?”
“Tons, but not much insight. Let’s say Tony and Jake had reasons to dislike Roberta, but I don’t know about murder.”
Tom nodded. “More grist for the mill. You hungry?”
“I thought you would never ask. Oh, I vote for the lavender Opossumtini.”
CHAPTER 22
Moira and Joe lived right in town in a large two-story house with a generous front porch, featuring an old-fashioned porch swing and love seat glider. Billy mounted the steps and rang the bell. Joe opened the door almost immediately. He was wearing a work apron and holding a caddy full of cleaning supplies.
“Sorry to bother you, Joe, but I need to speak to you without Moira around. I assume she is in the city since this is a work day.”
“Yes. Peace will reign for another five hours at least,” Joe said and laughed. “Come on in. And since Moira isn’t home, I will let you keep your shoes on.”
Billy carefully wiped his feet on the doormat and stepped into the entrance.
“Want some coffee?” Joe asked.
“That would be nice. Thanks.”
“So, what can I do for you?” Joe asked once they were settled at the round wooden kitchen table.
“Well…um…this is a bit awkward. But I need to know. Did you bet with Bart Grickly?”
Joe’s mouth popped open in surprise. “Uh…yes…yes, I did bet with him from time to time. How did you find out?”
“Oh, just solid police work.” Henpecked has to be Joe, he thought to himself. “Did you happen to see him the day he died?”
“No. Last I saw him was at the gym a couple of days before that. I only bet occasionally. You know, when I thought I had a good tip or hunch. Moira doesn’t approve of gambling. Obviously, I didn’t want her to find out, so I always met him in Port Potter.”
“Do you happen to know anybody else who bet with him? Did you ever run into any other clients when you saw him?”
“Billy, he didn’t exactly host mixers for his clients.”
The chief laughed and nodded.
“How did you find Grickly to begin with?”
“I go to The Gym in Port Potter.” Joe smiled at the look on Billy’s face. “I know. It doesn’t look like it does me any good. I admit I don’t work very hard, but it is a good way to get away from Moira for a while on weekends, if she’s nagging me too much. She wouldn’t be caught dead in a gym. Anyway, I got friendly with some of the guys, and one of them turned out to be Bart.”
“Do you think they were his clients too?”
Joe shrugged. “Might be. They certainly are sports fans. It was the main topic of conversation. That and women.”
“If I go to the gym with you, could you point them out to me?”
“Sure.”
“Great. Give me a call when you’re going next, and I will join you.”
“How’s this Saturday around eleven? Moira is usually back from the beauty parlor by then with a list of chores for me to do.”
“Sounds good. Thanks again. And I will let myself out.”
“Oh, Billy—please don’t tell anyone about my gambling. If Moira found out, there’d be hell to pay.”
“Your secret is safe with me. See you Saturday.”
***
As arranged, Billy met Joe at The Gym in Port Potter. Set just off the interstate in a mini mall, it featured weight machines, free weights, treadmills, stationary bikes and ellipticals, plus classes in yoga, Pilates, boxing and spinning in the early mornings and evenings and on weekends. The Gym was owned and operated by Rachel Taylor, a former professional body builder.
