Death of a Pumpkin Carver (8 page)

“I really shouldn't discuss this, Hayley,” Tori Pearson said as she ushered Hayley inside her small studio apartment that was part of a low-income housing unit situated in a wooded area off the West Street extension on the outskirts of town. “My doctor warned me when I talked about Otis I risked raising my blood pressure and that does nothing to help my diabetes and anxiety issues.”

Tori Pearson was Otis's ex-wife, a short, stout woman with prematurely graying hair that was chopped off short to make her look like a women's prison guard.

She was also, like her ex-husband, a slob.

Her packed living quarters was bursting with knickknacks and furniture from Goodwill that was too big for the space.

“How do you like the place?” Tori asked, beaming. “I just got approved to move in a few weeks ago.”

“It looks lovely,” Hayley lied.

Tori led her into the small kitchenette and pointed to some curtains with poodles on them in the tiny window. “Aren't those curtains adorable? I got them for five dollars at a yard sale last weekend!”

“I love them!” Hayley lied again.

Hayley loved dogs but she could never imagine herself accenting her kitchen with such a gaudy print.

There was a musty odor permeating through out the tiny, stifling apartment.

“I'm thinking of selling my car,” Tori said suddenly, frowning.

“Oh. Okay.”

That was the best Hayley could come up with as a response since the topic had seemed to come out of nowhere.

“My health insurance doesn't cover the cost of my medications anymore and I've already maxed out my credit cards so I need to do something. Otherwise I won't be able to afford my meds and then I will get sick and die and then where will I be?”

“Well, at least selling your car will give you some cash flow.”

“Not that the damn clunker is worth much, but it'll get me by for at least a few more months. It hasn't been easy for me, Hayley,” Tori whined. “With all my health issues and my money problems and the government assistance I receive which doesn't go very far and then there's my mother who refuses to help me anymore . . . my own mother . . . I guess you can't count on anyone . . .”

Hayley wanted to suggest to Tori that perhaps she should consider going out and getting a job but she held her tongue.

“And now my back is acting up,” Tori groaned, her body hunched over. “I have this sharp, constant pain. It's excruciating. I can hardly move anymore.”

“Well, I'm sorry to hear about all you're going through and the last thing I want to do is take up too much of your time so I'll get right to the point. I'm here about Otis . . .”

Tori suddenly snapped to attention.

She stood erect, back pain be damned.

There was a frightening flash of anger on her face as all her ailments seemed to miraculously melt away at the mention of her ex-husband.

“Why would I possibly want to talk about that good-for-nothing low-life piece of trash?”

“Well, I'm sure you heard he recently died. I mean, it's all over town.”

“Of course I heard. I even did a little jig right here in the middle of my living room to celebrate.”

“And that someone murdered him . . . ?”

“Yes! Yes, I read all about it in Bruce Linney's column. And let me tell you, I will not rest until I find the person responsible for splattering Otis's brains all over the Ledgelawn Cemetery . . .”

Finally.

A little compassion.

“Because I want to shake that hero's hand. He's done the world an immeasurable service.”

Never mind.

“You have no idea what that man put me through, Hayley,” Tori said, stirring herself up into a frenzy. “He ruined my life. When he walked out on me, he left me high and dry. With no way to pay my bills. No way to take care of myself.”

Again.

There was always the job listings section in the
Island Times
.

Very easy to read.

Hayley organized the page herself.

But that solution seemed a little too daunting for Tori Pearson.

“I was so stricken by him deserting me, I started having unexpected anxiety attacks. All the time. Day and night. I had trouble leaving the house. I was an acrobatic.”

“You mean agoraphobic?”

Sergio may have found his match for all those malapropisms.

“Whatever. You know, I tried working part-time last summer, you know, to at least make a little extra money to pay for my wine I drink every night during Greta Van Susteren. I got a few shifts in a gift shop as a cashier but when I tried to open the register I kept forgetting which button to push. I got so nervous and upset I just walked right out of the shop and never went back.”

“I'm sorry you had to go through that, Tori,” Hayley said, wondering at this point why she was even here indulging this lazy, self-absorbed woman.

“I called Otis,” she said breathlessly. “I was hoping he might take pity on me and send me a few dollars but that bastard didn't even care. He just said he was broke and couldn't help me. That bastard left me to fend for myself! I never recovered. And here I am in this ghastly state of despair.”

In a nice studio apartment.

With cable TV.

And poodle curtains.

She really didn't have too much to complain about.

“You say Otis was broke?”

“Yes. That layabout didn't even try to get a job in order to help me! Don't you hate people who don't take responsibility for their lives and responsibilities?”

The irony of her statement was completely lost on her.

“Well, it turns out Otis did save some money right before he died,” Hayley said.

“I'm sure that was from his illegal moonshine business. He always told me he was going to strike it big with that god-awful booze he cooked up in the backyard.” Tori checked her watch. “Excuse me. It's time to take my pills.”

She crossed to the kitchen and opened a small plastic container and plucked out four pills.

A white one.

A blue one.

A red one.

And a green one.

Then she filled a glass with some cranberry juice from the refrigerator.

“He kept the cash hidden in a mattress,” Hayley said.

“How much did he have?”

“Forty grand.”

“How much?”

Tori popped the pills into her mouth and chased them down with the juice.

“Forty grand.”

Tori spit out the cranberry juice, spraying it all over her poodle-print curtains.

“How . . . ? Forty grand? Are you serious?”

“So I take it you knew nothing about it.”

“Of course I didn't! Forty grand? That lying cheat! I'm not surprised he was squirreling money away and not telling me about it. He was always afraid I'd go after him for alimony, but I gave up expecting any kind of support from him years ago even when we were still married.”

“Tori, do you know of anyone, anyone you can remember, who had it out for Otis and might have wanted to do him some harm?”

“You mean besides
me
?”

“Yes.”

“Well, let me think . . .”

She thought long and hard, her eyes flitting from side to side, her lips pursed.

And then she turned back to Hayley.

“To be honest, I can't think of anyone. He was a frustrating, irresponsible drunk, but at the end of the day he was still a lovable drunk. As much as I hate to admit it, people enjoyed having him around. He was a great storyteller and boy, could he tell a good dirty joke.”

Hayley smiled, remembering some of those family gatherings when she was still married to Danny when Otis would get sloshed and stand up and start rattling off a slew of jokes that were so blue she had to scoot her two kids out of the room.

“Actually the only person who comes to mind is that good-for-nothing nephew of his. I heard he's back in town skulking about, figuring out his next scheme . . . You know the one I'm talking about . . . real scummy kind of guy . . .”

Hayley shifted uncomfortably.

Tori glanced at her and then her face fell.

“Oh dear Lord, how could I be so dumb?”

“Really. It's okay. We're not married anymore.”

“It's just been so long and he's had so many women since you two got divorced and I just sort of plum forgot you two had ever been married. How could I forget such a thing?”

Probably because it would require her to stop thinking about herself.

Hayley didn't say that.

But she really, really wanted to say that.

“Well, I don't mean to throw Danny under the bus,” Tori said, backpedaling. “He's not that bad. I mean, he does have a few decent qualities . . . I'm sure we can come up with at least one if we put our heads together . . .”

“Seriously. You don't have to . . .”

“I got one! He's awfully good-looking, that's a start . . .”

Hayley nodded. “Yes. Yes, he is . . .”

“Come on, I'm sure we can come up with one more . . .”

“Tori, I'm acutely aware of the kind of man my ex-husband is. I lived with him for ten years. But I am also relatively confident he's innocent of Otis's murder.”

“Of course you're right, Hayley. You asked me to think of someone and his name just kind of popped into my head. I'm so, so sorry.”

“I should go. It was nice seeing you again, Tori.”

What's one more little lie?

Hayley was telling the truth about Danny.

She was confident he was innocent.

But on the other hand, it had been years since she had last seen him.

And there was no telling what changes he might have gone through during that period.

Did she really truly know him anymore?

The Halloween pet costume contest at Dr. Aaron Palmer's veterinary office was an all-out nail-biter after the final votes were cast.

The tally of the results revealed a tie between two entries. Splitting the vote right down the middle was Leroy in his devil costume looking adorable and Edna's Boston terrier, Emmett, in a cute Santa's elf getup.

Gemma and Edna stood side by side, the tension between them palpable as they held their respective pets in their arms, giving the small crowd gathered in the reception area one last look.

Nobody planned for what would happen if there was a tie so the final arbiter was Dr. Aaron himself, who stopped and inspected both costumes thoroughly.

Gemma was bouncing up and down with anticipation.

Leroy was a shoo-in.

The detail of his costume was far superior to the crepe paper and Scotch tape Edna had used to throw together Emmett's bush league outfit.

Aaron turned to the crowd. “I've made my decision. The winner of a three-month supply of doggy treats and a fifty-dollar gift certificate to Petco is . . .”

Gemma took a step forward, kissing Leroy's whiskers.

“Emmett the elf dog!”

The crowd applauded warmly.

Gemma froze, in a state of shock, mouth agape, a disbelieving look on her face.

Edna fought back tears as she squeezed her tiny Boston terrier to her bosom, overwhelmed by the moment before hugging Dr. Aaron.

Not wanting to appear a spoilsport, Hayley clapped loudly for Edna's not so well-deserved victory.

Mona wasn't so politically correct. She swooped in next to Hayley and said in a far too loud voice, “Gemma was robbed!”

Hayley nudged Mona in the side with her elbow and tried to shush her.

“It was rigged, I'm telling you. I can feel it in my bones. I mean come on, Blueberry didn't even make the final five.”

Hayley glanced down at the pet carrier she was holding. Inside, Blueberry hissed as if on cue to voice his own displeasure. He had been knocked out early, garnering very few votes no doubt due in part to his nasty, unappealing personality, which his colorful clown costume, a last-minute change from his original witch's outfit when Leroy chewed up the pointy hat, did very little to hide.

Gemma marched over to her mother and muttered under her breath, “I can't believe he picked Emmett over Leroy! See? He has it out for me. He hates me!”

“I thought I taught you to be a gracious loser,” Hayley said, glancing around to make sure Dr. Aaron wasn't within earshot.

“Yes, but you also taught me to stand up to injustice, and this is an outright injustice!” Gemma said, gently scratching Leroy's face as he snuggled in her arms.

“Hear, hear,” Mona concurred.

“Mona, don't encourage her!” Hayley warned.

The door to the reception area flew open and Danny rushed in, stopping only to stomp the mud off his boots on the welcome mat with cat faces on it. He then raced over to Hayley and Gemma.

“Did I miss it? Did you win?”

Gemma shook her head, disappointed.

“What? I don't believe it! Who had a better costume than Leroy?”

Gemma pointed to Emmett who was lapping water out of a bowl and getting his headpiece all wet.

“You can't be serious!” Danny cried.

“Would you all please keep your voices down?” Hayley begged. “Otherwise we're going to win the award for worst family!”

From across the room, Aaron caught Hayley's eye.

They smiled at each other.

But the moment was quickly shattered by Danny, who stepped in front of Hayley and blocked her view. “Anybody hungry? How about some nachos at Geddy's? My treat.”

“Yes! I'm starving!” Mona said, rubbing her belly.

Danny raised an eyebrow.

He clearly hadn't meant to include her.

“By the way, why were you late?” Hayley asked.

“Oh . . . I ran into some buddies I hadn't seen in a while and we had a couple of beers and I guess I just sort of lost track of time . . .”

“What buddies?”

“You don't know them.”

“You may be surprised. I pretty much know everybody in town. Why don't you try me?”

Danny shrugged. “They're from Bangor. Don't tell me you know
everybody
in Bangor.”

He locked eyes with Hayley defiantly.

“Don't worry. I met them right here in town. I never tried leaving the island,” Danny sighed.

He wasn't going to give up any more information.

She knew he was lying.

But now was not the time to confront him.

Instead she reached out and stroked Leroy's tummy as he relaxed in the crook of Gemma's arms. “First runner-up. Not half bad, Leroy.”

Leroy tried to get the devil's horns off his head with his paws.

He was done being a show dog.

“I can tell you're miserable with those horns, Leroy. Let me help you,” Hayley said, turning to Danny. “Can you hold the carrier for me, please?”

“No. That cat hates me.”

“That cat hates everybody. You're not that special. Hold the damn thing, will you, please?” Hayley said, sighing.

Everything was a battle.

Just like when they were married.

Danny shrugged and took the carrier from Hayley, but it bounced a bit in the transition and Blueberry hissed again, baring his teeth through the steel mesh.

Aaron suddenly appeared next to Hayley and touched her arm. “Sorry to interrupt.”

“No. Not at all,” Hayley said, smiling, taking in his familiar cologne that used to drive her wild when he would show up at her house.

“We were just discussing the surprising outcome of the contest,” Danny said, standing up straight, head back, like a rooster.

Aaron nodded and smiled. “I know. I've gotten a few comments.”

“So what kind of pictures does Edna have of you, Doc? I'm guessing they're real nasty,” Danny said, sneering.

“Danny!” Hayley shouted, ready to open the pet carrier and unleash Blueberry on him.

Maybe an armful of scratches might teach him a lesson in good manners.

“I totally get what you're saying. And I agree with you one hundred percent. I purposely chose Emmett over Leroy as the winner,” Aaron said softly.

“What?” Gemma gasped.

“I know it's unfair, but life's been a little rough for Edna lately. She pretty much has been running this place, and then you came along, Gemma. You're so efficient and so talented and so young and suddenly I began relying on you for everything, completely ignoring Edna, who has been with me since I opened my practice. We all know she hardly has any friends, no family, just her dog, Emmett, and this job. She has very little going on in her life. Whereas you have everything in front of you. You're going to be a very successful veterinarian.”

“Of course she is. She gets all her talent from me,” Danny said, chest puffed out.

“Shut up, Danny,” Hayley said, shaking her head.

Dr. Aaron put a hand on Gemma's shoulder. “I just hope you don't set up shop here in Bar Harbor because you'll probably run my business right into the ground.”

“You bet she will!” Danny barked before Hayley pressed the heel of her boot down hard on his toes until he finally got the hint and clammed up.

“I had no idea . . .” Gemma said, touched by his sincerity.

Hayley was touched too.

She had forgotten about Aaron's inherent sweetness and kindness.

Danny couldn't take it anymore. He just had to pipe up again. “I don't see why anybody should get special treatment. Sometimes life just isn't fair.”

“You're right, Danny. I was probably wrong to let Edna's dog win. But in the scheme of things, I figured it was just a silly little contest and I knew it would mean so much to her,” Aaron said.

“I'm glad you chose Emmett. Really, I am,” Gemma said, smiling, flush with excitement over her boss's glowing compliments.

“I knew you could handle it,” Aaron said, patting her on the back.

“Better than her parents, that's for sure,” Hayley said, eyeing Danny before turning and smiling at Dr. Aaron.

Their eyes held a gaze for a moment.

Maybe a moment too long.

Hayley looked deep into his eyes.

Was there a hint of regret in them?

Had they completely moved on from each other?

Were they truly over each other?

Danny, disturbed by what he was watching, tried to break it up with a loud hacking cough. “Excuse me.”

But it didn't work.

Even Gemma noticed and looked away, pretending she wasn't aware of what was happening.

But then, out of nowhere, Crystal Collier, the aggressive, ballsy lawyer who was, according to Liddy's firsthand eyewitness account, dating Dr. Aaron, appeared and slipped her arm through Aaron's and possessively drew him close to her side.

“What did I miss?” Crystal purred, glaring at Hayley with a look that pretty much said
keep your hooks out of my man
.

“Crystal, do you know Hayley Powell?” Aaron asked. “And her husband, Danny?”

“
Ex
-husband,” Hayley said, a bit too quickly.

Danny grimaced at the swiftness of her clarification.

“I know her by reputation,” Crystal said coldly.

“Yikes. Now I'm worried,” Hayley laughed, trying to keep the conversation light and ignore Crystal's obvious disdain for her.

“I've read a few of her columns. I'd try one or two of your recipes if I wasn't so busy. But to be honest, they're all so fattening and I try to focus on healthier options,” Crystal said, her words dripping with judgment.

“What can I say? I love to eat,” Hayley said, rubbing her belly.

“I can see that,” Crystal said in the most disparaging tone she would muster.

There was an awkward silence.

Hayley just wanted the floor to open up and swallow her whole at this point.

Crystal finally broke the tension as she squeezed Aaron's arm. “Darling, we're going to be late for our dinner reservation.”

“Right. We better go. You all have a good night. Gemma, I'll see you tomorrow,” Aaron said.

As she whisked Aaron away, Crystal never relaxed her grip on his arm.

She was clearly warning off anyone who might try to foolishly trespass onto her territory.

Gemma watched them go and then muttered, “What a bitch.”

“Gemma, you know I don't like you calling anyone that,” Hayley said.

“Your mother's right, Gemma,” Danny scolded.

“It's not a nice word and I don't want to hear my daughter using it. So I will. That woman's a grade-A all-out first-prize-winning bitch!”

Gemma laughed.

Even Hayley couldn't help but chuckle.

“And if there was ever any doubt, that woman has
nothing
on you, babe,” Danny said, snaking an arm around her lower back. “You are one hot mama and she's just jealous!”

“Thank you, Danny,” Hayley said, letting her guard down just a bit.

“You're welcome. Now let's go get some nachos. Oh, FYI, your couch is murdering my back. Is there anywhere else you might consider letting me sleep tonight?” Danny asked, trying to be offhanded and casual.

Hayley's guard went right back up.

“You mean like my bed?”

“Well, if that's an invitation . . .”

“I'm inviting you to sleep on the floor,” Hayley said, shaking her head.

“Can't blame a guy for trying.”