A Dead End (A Saints & Strangers Cozy Mystery Book 1) (16 page)

As she sprayed the borders on the right, she noticed Myra Beacon knocking on Peregrine’s door.

“Her car isn’t there,” Kit called, stating the obvious.

Myra abandoned her post at the front door and met Kit on the lawn.

“Who knew you had a green thumb?” Myra said.

“I don’t know if I’d go that far,” Kit replied. “Let’s leave it at opposable.”

Myra gestured to Peregrine’s house. “Have you seen her lately? She hasn’t returned my calls.”

Kit turned off the hose and dropped it on the ground. She’d been so focused on Thora’s house that she hadn’t paid much attention to Peregrine’s.

“Now that you mention it, I haven’t seen her in a few days.” She tried to remember the last time she’d seen her neighbor. “Not since right after the break-in at Thora’s house.”

Myra’s hand flew to cover her mouth. “There was a break-in on the street?”

Kit realized that yet another crime was being swept under the carpet for the sake of Westdale’s pristine reputation. She’d need to have another word with Crispin.

“Nothing was stolen,” Kit reassured her. “And Thora wasn’t even home at the time.”

“That’s odd, isn’t it?” Myra said. “That nothing was taken.”

“Well, no one’s certain,” she said. “Thora’s not exactly reliable when it comes to remembering things.”

Myra chewed her lip. “Do you think we should go in, make sure everything’s okay?”

Kit stared at the pretty house. “I don’t want to break a window. Peregrine would probably sue me.”

Myra produced a key from her handbag. “No breaking and entering required.”

Kit didn’t love the idea of going into Peregrine’s house without permission, but Myra had her worried. What if something happened to Peregrine the way it happened to Ernie? What if the break-in had been a diversion?

“I’ll come with you,” Kit said.

Together, the two women walked cautiously toward Peregrine’s house. Myra used her key to unlock the front door and stepped over the threshold calling Peregrine’s name.

“What do you think you’re doing?” a voice called.

Kit stopped in her tracks. Adelaide Pye stood on the sidewalk, eyeing them suspiciously. Kit wasn’t sure how to respond. She didn’t know Adelaide well enough to determine whether to trust her.

“Kit, are you coming?” Myra urged.

Kit watched as Adelaide made her way up the driveway, struggling a little with her metal crutches. She felt a rush of sympathy for the woman. It seemed that Adelaide still wasn’t wholly comfortable using them.

“Is she home?” Adelaide asked.

“We’re checking,” Kit said. “She hasn’t replied to Myra’s calls and we want to make sure she’s okay.”

“I’ll come, too,” Adelaide said, leaving no room for argument. She climbed up the steps and pushed her way past Kit. “Damn, she is a neat freak, isn’t she?”

“You haven’t been in here before?” Kit inquired. She imagined her elderly neighbors sitting around in each other’s houses and lamenting the shortcomings of the next generation.

“Peregrine Monroe, are you stuck under something large and heavy?” Adelaide’s loud voice echoed throughout the quiet house. “Knock once for yes.”

Stuck under something large and heavy? Kit’s thoughts flew to Ernie and his crushed chest. She dashed into the living room, her stomach lurching.

“I don’t think she’s here,” Myra called from upstairs.

The living room was also empty.

“What’s going on?” Phyllis appeared behind Kit.

“How’d you get in here so quickly?” Kit asked.

“She rode her scooter across the street,” Adelaide said. Then Kit heard her mutter under her breath, “Lazybones.”

“You’re welcome to get your own scooter,” Phyllis told Adelaide. “Then again, you probably get more sympathetic looks with the crutches.”

“Phyllis!” Kit scolded her.

Myra joined them in the living room. “You can stop looking. I think she’s gone.”

“What do you mean ‘gone’?” Adelaide asked.

Myra wrung her hands nervously. “Some of her drawers are empty. I think she’s flown the coop.”

“I’ll call Romeo,” Kit said, pulling her phone from her pocket and texting him.

“We finally fill one empty house and now we have another,” Adelaide huffed. “This street is cursed. Did you know this land belonged to the Lenape Indians before the settlers arrived?”

Phyllis rolled her eyes. “If you feel that strongly about it, then why don’t you give your house back to them?”

“You’d love that, wouldn’t you?” Adelaide sniped. She pounded one of her crutches into the floor. “I’m not going anywhere until they carry me out in a wooden box.”

“That can be arranged,” Phyllis replied. “Just ask Ernie. On second thought, you can’t.”

“Ladies,” Kit cautioned them. “Can we focus on the fact that our neighbor has gone AWOL?”

“How about we focus on the fact that Phyllis’s sense of decency has gone AWOL?” Adelaide moved to cross her arms indignantly before realizing that she was constrained by the crutches.

“I’m going back to the office,” Myra said. “Let me know when we figure out where she is.”

Kit’s phone pinged and she read Romeo’s reply text. “He’s on his way.”

“Better go fix your hair then,” Adelaide said. “Looks unkempt.”

Kit’s hand flew involuntarily to her head and she smoothed a few wayward strands.

“That’s not remotely better,” Adelaide said.

Kit had the sudden urge to shove one of those crutches in a painful place. She dismissed the thought, though, knowing that a certain good-looking detective was on the way.

Half an hour later, Kit waited outside while Romeo and his friends combed the premises. Thankfully, Adelaide and Phyllis had returned to their respective homes, restoring peace and quiet to the neighborhood.

“Looks like she took her necessities and then some,” Romeo said, dropping down beside her on the front step.

“Do you think she’s on the run?” Kit asked. She still couldn’t imagine that a woman like Peregrine Monroe was involved in a murder.

“I’m not sure. I’m going to call the police in Sedona and see if she’s staying with her sister.”

“Do you think she found out that we know about her and Carl’s involvement? I wouldn’t put it past Chief Riley to feed her information.”

“She definitely left for a reason,” Romeo agreed.

“It was after the break-in at Thora’s,” Kit commented. “Do you think it’s a coincidence? Maybe we are on the right track. Maybe the break-in is related to Ernie’s death.”

Romeo patted her thigh. “Do me a favor and stop thinking, at least for a bit.”

Kit straightened. “That had a whiff of condescension, Detective Moretti.”

Romeo rubbed his forehead. “Kit, I appreciate your help on this, I do. But you’re not a real detective or cop or anything remotely related to law enforcement. Need I remind you that this is a murder case. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“I don’t want to see you get hurt either,” she said, pulling herself to her feet. “So maybe you should stop thinking, too.”

Kit stalked across the lawn and jumped with ease over the bushes between the two houses. She retreated inside, slamming the door behind her. She’d endured enough macho crap during her years in Los Angeles. She wasn’t willing to put up with it now, especially not on her home turf.

Her phone rang and she saw Francie’s face smiling back at her. “Hey there.”

“Hi. Charlotte and I are in Butter Beans doing our psychology homework. Do you want to meet us here?”

“I would love to,” Kit said. “Be there in ten.”

Any excuse to leave the scene of the latest Westdale crime.

Francie waved from a chair by the front window and Kit returned the greeting. It was so nice to feel like she had real friends. Other than Jordan, none of her Hollywood friends made an effort to get in touch now that she was blacklisted. A few people had even stopped following her on Instagram, although she pretended not to notice.

“I’ll grab a drink and be over in a sec,” Kit said and went to the counter. There was no line and Sam was behind the counter, pounding away on the keyboard of his laptop.

“Ellie,” he cried happily, setting his laptop aside. “What can I get for you?”

“It’s Kit, actually.”

“I know,” he said, grinning, “but you’ll always be Ellie Gold to me.”

“Well, I’d prefer to be Kit Wilder when I’m in here, if that’s okay.”

He was nonplussed. “Sure thing. Skinny vanilla latte?”

“Green tea today, Sam.”

He rubbed his hands eagerly. “Changing it up. I like it.” He set to work, humming the theme tune to Jurassic Park.

“So what are you working on?” Kit asked, gesturing to the laptop.

Sam brightened. “I’m glad you asked. It’s a crime thriller about a mute kid and a jaded cop.”

“What happened to cowboys in space?”

He shrugged. “Overdone. There’s a role for you in this one.”

“Oh, really? Am I the jaded cop?”

“No, you’re the heroin-addicted girlfriend he’s trying to rescue.”

“Charming.” She forced a smile.

He handed her a steaming mug of tea. “On the house.”

“No thanks, I’d like to pay.” She pulled money from her wallet and set it on the counter. “See you around, Sam.”

Francie and Charlotte were deep in conversation when Kit approached.

“So what are you two working on?” Kit asked, sitting down beside Charlotte.

“We were working on Professor Wentworth’s assignment, but I just got a text,” Francie said, holding up her phone as proof. “Is it true that Peregrine Monroe had Ernie killed and is on the run?”

Kit’s eyes popped. “Honestly, who needs the Gazette?”

“No one,” Charlotte replied earnestly. “That’s why it’s hemorrhaging money.”

Kit decided to ask Crispin about that the next time she saw him. “Peregrine has left town,” Kit explained, “but that’s all we know. Romeo thinks she probably went to Sedona. He’s checking with the police there.”

“Do you think she’s responsible?” Francie asked, lowering her voice.

Kit exhaled. “I’m so confused. She’s ice cold and has OCD tendencies, but I don’t think that makes her a killer.”

“Yes, but if she hired a killer, though,” Francie said, “wouldn’t that make sense? I mean, women like Peregrine Monroe don’t do their own laundry, let alone more serious dirty work.”

Kit sipped her tea. “You may have a point.”

“Who did she hire?” Charlotte asked.

“A guy named Carl. His brother Paul tipped me off. He’s our stablehand.”

Charlotte’s expression brightened. “Oh, that’s right. You have a horse. You’re so lucky. My father was always afraid to let me ride because of my dyspraxia, but it’s actually supposed to be good exercise for me.”

“You’re more than welcome to ride Peppermint,” Kit offered. “I feel guilty that she’s not stretching her legs often enough.”

“I would love to,” Charlotte enthused. “Do you think I could come to Greyabbey one day?”

Charlotte sounded so hopeful that Kit felt guilty for not inviting her sooner. “Absolutely. I’m sorry, I would’ve asked you sooner, but I’ve been so wrapped up in the murder investigation and school.”

“I understand,” Charlotte said.

“She’s under a lot of stress,” Francie added, nodding to Charlotte. “Between her dad’s cancer and her stepmother…”

“Please don’t call her that,” Charlotte snapped.

“Sorry.” Francie’s pale cheeks colored. “Anyway, I think horse riding would be a good stress reliever for her.”

“You’re welcome to come, too,” Kit said, aware that Francie and Charlotte were generally inseparable.

“Thanks, I’d love to,” Francie said.

“How about tomorrow?” Kit suggested. “Come to my place for lunch and then we’ll go over to Greyabbey.”

“Lunch in the dead man’s house?” Charlotte queried softly.

“It’s not the dead man’s house,” Francie scolded her. “It’s Kit’s house.”

“I know, but still.” Charlotte looked apprehensive.

“I’m sure we could have lunch at Greyabbey,” Kit relented. In fact, she knew her mother would be thrilled, especially because Francie and Charlotte were deemed appropriate companions for Kit. She didn’t want to give her mother the satisfaction of pleasing her, though.

“That would be amazing,” Charlotte said. “I’ve always wanted to see Greyabbey up close. Does your mother really keep lizards in the billiard room?”

“Ugh, I hope not,” Kit replied. She hadn’t been in the billiard room since her return. She dreaded to think what other surprises were in store for her now that she was home.

Kit opted to drive the golf cart to the stable with Francie and Charlotte. With the uneven ground, she didn’t want to risk Charlotte tripping and injuring herself before she even reached the stable.

“I’m so excited to ride Peppermint,” Charlotte said, clapping her hands.

Kit was happy to be able to do something nice for her friend. All these years Charlotte could have been engaged in an activity that she loved, an activity that would have benefited her. Unfortunately, common sense had taken a backseat to fear in the Tilton household.

“As you know our stablehand has been MIA, so I’ll need to get Peppermint saddled up,” Kit said. She didn’t elaborate, not wanting to implicate Paul any further. She was sure that he was an innocent person caught up in his brother’s criminal activities.

“It’s so peaceful here,” Francie said, admiring their quiet surroundings. “You’d never know how close we are to town.”

“Not that Westdale is a buzzing metropolis,” Kit remarked.

“Well, the crime statistics sure have shot up since you arrived,” Francie teased. “Must be that Los Angeles vibe you give off.”

“I do not give off a vibe,” Kit objected, bringing the golf cart to a halt beside the paddock.

Peppermint wasn’t out in the paddock so Kit went to look for her in the stable. To her surprise and relief, Paul was there, cleaning Peppermint’s feet with a hoof pick.

“Paul,” Kit greeted him warmly. “I’m so glad to see you.” She resisted the urge to hug him in case he took it the wrong way.

Paul lowered his head. “I’m sorry I’ve been avoiding….well, everyone.”

“Have you spoken to the police?” she asked, fairly certain that he hadn’t.

“Not yet, but I will. I tried to do some digging on my own first,” he said. “I wanted to get some answers.”