Give Murder A Hand: Lizzie. Book 2 (The Westport Mysteries) (12 page)

“Lizzie, I’ve asked you to call me Ed. Will you, please?”

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay, you don’t have to be sorry. I’ve known you for a while
now and think it would be easier if you called me by my name.”

“I guess so ... Ed,” I added with a small smile.

“Now, do you want to fill me in on what you’ve heard about this
missing person?”

I quickly brought him up to date with what we’d been told. He sat
and listened patiently and only when I’d finished did he take a breath.

“Well, this is a really old case but I did do some digging into it.
The man you’re referring to was Ronald Smithson, and he was indeed a butcher. The
police at the time had him on record for a few misdemeanors but no prison time
was given. He went missing on the night of August twenty-eighth, 1949. His
girlfriend at the time reported him missing. She was worried because he owed
her money and she thought he had run off with another woman.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, thinking of Riley and who he was
with at the moment.

“Anyway, he never turned up. The file was closed as the police
thought she was probably right.”

Ed stopped talking as our drinks were delivered to our table. I
smiled at Tom the barista and thanked him. He gave me a quizzical look, but
continued on with what he was doing.

“Anyway, the coroner has verified through dental records that the
bones in your garden did indeed belong to Ronald Smithson, and he died from a
stab wound to the throat. I won’t go into detail, but his death wouldn’t have
been a pleasant one.”

I shivered at the thought of being stabbed in the throat and
wondered what he’d done to deserve it.

“Was there anything in the records about someone disliking him
intensely?” I asked.

Ed smiled. “No. Nothing concrete anyway. He’d been arrested and spent
the night in lock-up for being involved in a few pub brawls, and the police at
the time suspected him of chopping off people’s appendages.” I shivered.

“So what happens now?”

“It’s out of my hands. The coroner has given his report and the
case has been referred up the chain, but because of the age of it, they won’t
waste too many man hours on it.”

“So someone got away with murder?”

“It happens. Our rate of arrest is much higher today, but that’s
got a lot to do with technology and improved methods. We’re talking sixty-five
years ago and this town was a lot smaller then.”

That was true, this town was a lot smaller then, so maybe someone
from back then would remember Ronald Smithson. I made a note to ask Grandma
Mabel about it.

“What happens with you now, Lizzie?” asked Ed, changing the subject
back to one slightly more personal.

“What do you mean?”

“The house. Are you going to stay living there?”

“No. As soon as it’s finished I’m selling it. Riley’s right ... it’s
already caused too many nightmares.”

“That’s not the house’s fault though. You just got unlucky. By the
way, did you hear that Joe Woods is up for parole?”

At the sound of Joe Woods’ name, my head snapped up. “What?”

“I heard yesterday. He has some friends in high places and they
seemed to have pulled in a few favors. His case goes in front of the parole
board next month.”

My head spun at his words. The thought that my stalker and
attempted murderer could be back out on the streets soon.

“But don’t worry, Lizzie, I’m sure it will be denied.”

“God, I hope so.” I didn’t even want to think about what would
happen if it wasn’t.

“And if it isn’t, we’ll protect you.” Ed placed his hand on my arm
in a protective gesture, but jerked it away suddenly when my phone vibrated on
the table next to me.

I distractedly looked at it and saw a photo of Riley’s gorgeous
face smile back at me. It was a photo I had snapped one day when he was getting
into his truck. He looked happy and relaxed and was one of my favorite photos
of him. I picked it up and swiped to answer it.

“Hi,” I said quietly.

“I’ve finished with Allison and I thought maybe we could go and get
a coffee down at the river. What do you think? You’re not busy are you?”

“No, I’m actually here now. You could meet me here if you like?”

I waited a beat for Riley to answer. “Okay. I’m not far away. I’ll
be there shortly.” With that he hung up.

“Riley’s going to join us. Hope that’s okay?” I said, smiling at
Ed.

“You know, I really need to get going, but you enjoy your drink.”
Ed stood abruptly.

“I’m sorry,” I said, standing next to him.

“There’s nothing to be sorry about, Lizzie. I really do have to
go.”

“Oh, okay. Well thanks for meeting with me and for the
information.”

“No problem, and if there’s anything else you need, anything at
all, ring me.”

“Sure, I will.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Ed extended his hand to me, and as I took it he squeezed and held
on for a second longer than necessary. “Keep me informed with what you find
out,” he said smiling.

“I will.” I smiled up at him as he let go, turned his back and
walked away. I heard the women next to me sigh as I sat back down. A minute
later, Riley walked up.

“You were quick,” I said just before he kissed me. His kiss was
deep and involved tongue which I thought was a bit inappropriate considering we
were in public, but I wasn’t complaining.

Pulling up for air, Riley licked his lips and smiled. “You taste
like a chocolate Frappuccino,” he said.

I smiled up at him. “Guilty as charged.”

“Do you want another one?”

“No thanks, but if you’re getting yourself a drink, could I have a
bottle of water please?”

“I’ll be right back.”

I watched his sexy backside as he walked towards the café, his
jeans molding it to perfection. The woman at the next table turned to me, her
mouth hanging open incredulously.

“Are you kidding me?”
she asked. “Do you have some kind of super power or something?”

I smiled at her comment.

“They are the two hottest men I have
ever
seen, and both of them looked at you liked they wanted to eat
you. Please, tell me your secret.”

I shrugged. “I’m just lucky I guess.”

“Geez, why can’t I be lucky like that?”

Just then Riley walked back towards me. He noticed the woman
staring at him and gave her his mega-watt smile. I saw her swoon and grab the
table for support.

“Don’t worry,” I said to her. “It still has the same effect on me.”

Chapter Eleven

“On the way home I have to stop at Mum’s,” I
said to Riley as we walked back towards our cars. “Did you want to stop in?”

“What do you have to do at your mum’s?”

“She called me earlier and summonsed me. Apparently she’s having a
clear-out for a garage sale and she wants me to come and get whatever I want
before she sells it.”

Riley smiled and moved in close for a kiss. “Sorry. You’re on your
own with this one. I’m going to head back and get a start on pulling that kitchen
wall out so the plumber can do his thing on Monday.”

“Really? Grandma would love to see you.”

“Send her my love,” he said, then kissed me lightly on the lips and
headed to his car. I sighed. Looks like I’ll be dealing with them on my own.

I got into my car and pointed it in the direction of Mum’s. I loved
my mum – I really did – but some days she could be just as intolerable as
Grandma.

As I parked in her driveway, I noticed Molly was already there. Great,
not only would I be able to find out how her date went, I would also have some
extra help in diffusing the ticking bomb aka ... my mother. I had this sinking
feeling that Mum was going to ask me to have Grandma for a while so that she
could have a break. Under normal circumstances, I’d be happy to oblige, but I
had enough stress in my life and I didn’t really need a house guest as well.

“Hello,” I called entering the house through the kitchen door. “Where
is everyone?”

“We’re in here,” called back Molly, the sound of her voice coming
from Mum’s bedroom.

I dropped my bag on the kitchen bench and walked through the house.
I stopped at the bedroom door and my mouth dropped open. There in the middle of
the room was Grandma, dressed up in Mum’s old wedding dress.

“What do you think? she asked, doing a twirl and nearly falling
over.

Honestly, I couldn’t form words let alone tell her what I thought. “Wh
... wh...why?” I stammered.

“Mum pulled it out and gave it to me,” said Molly.

I noticed her shudder as she said the words. I’d seen Mum’s dress
before and it was no more attractive
this
time. It had a high neck, long sleeves and big skirt with not one, but two
hoops underneath it and made of lace. Now, I don’t mean pretty, delicate lace,
I mean stiff tulle covered with the largest, ugliest flowers I’d ever seen. Not
for the first time, I was grateful for being the middle child.

“Oh look, here’s the headdress and veil,” said Grandma excitedly.

She pulled the blue tissue paper from the box and retrieved a veil
that was several meters long, edged with the same ugly flowers on the dress.
“Oh, your mother looked beautiful in this,” said Grandma fondly.

“Has it always been that color?” I asked, noting the distinctive
dark cream color to the dress.

“Yep, well she couldn’t wear white, could she?” responded Grandma. “I
mean, it’s alright nowadays but back then it was kind of frowned upon. God
knows why though, what with all the hippies getting up to God knows what.”

“What do you mean ‘she couldn’t wear white’?” asked Molly.

“Well she was pregnant, wasn’t she?”

“
Pregnant?”
Molly and I
said in unison.

Grandma looked at us both as if we’d grown a second head. “Of
course she was. How do you think you got here, Molly?”

“She always told us I was a honeymoon baby!”

“Your mother honeymooned at the caravan park up the road and she
threw up every single day of it. You were not kind to her, let me tell you
that,” she said frowning at Molly. Just at that moment, Mum chose to enter the
room.

“Molly do you wan ... ,” she stopped mid-sentence, looking at
Grandma. “What on Earth?”

“It might not fit you no more Nell, but it fits me great.” Grandma
smiled and attempted another twirl. I looked at the dress sagging as it hung on
Grandma’s spindly bones. “Can I have it? Molly don’t want it anyway.”

“What do you want it for?” asked Mum incredulously.

“Well, in case I get married again.”

I heard Mum’s sigh and watched her shoulders droop, as she shook
her head.

“Yeah, that’s a great idea,” added Molly. “I’m not getting married
for a very long time anyway.”

“What?” cried Mum.

“How did your date with Matt go?” I asked.

Molly glared at me. Obviously she didn’t want to talk about it in
front of Mum and Grandma.

“You should invite him around for dinner tomorrow night,” added Mum
excitedly.

“That’s a great. I could invite my man too,” said Grandma. We all
turned to look at her. “It’d be like a double date.”

“Your man?” asked Molly, grateful for the distraction.

“George.”

I remembered Grandma had had a date on Thursday night with George
Burnett, the old man from Bradley’s tour.

“I guess your date was successful then?” I said, smiling.

“Yep, I know it’s early days, but I think he might be The Two.”

“The Two?”

“Yeah, well your Grandfather, god rest his soul, was The One, so I
this guy must be The Two.”

Made sense, I guess.

“There’ll never be another man like my father,” said Mum. “He was
one of a kind. He’ll be sitting up there with the Saints, looking down on you
and thinking ‘stupid old woman’.”

“The Saints?” asked Molly.

“Of course he’s with the Saints. Any man who put up with her for all
those years would have to have been made a saint.”

“Hey!” cried Grandma. “That’s just plain rude. Your father, God
rest his soul, was a good man, but I can tell you he was no saint.”

The tension in the air built and I knew now was the time to divert
and deflect. “Anyway, what stuff did you want us to look at?” I asked Mum,
quickly changing the subject before World War Three broke out and Grandma came
to live with me.

Mum glared at Grandma for a second longer, turned on her heel and
left the room, muttering under her breath as she went. I couldn’t hear exactly
what she said, but it kind of sounded like
‘crazy
old woman’
. I quickly followed her back down the hall and out to the
garage.

“Where’s Dad today?” I asked.

“He’s gone to golf,” huffed Mum.

Guess that was another subject I wanted to stay away from. Mum’s
back was stiff as a board, her shoulders rigid. I knew Grandma frustrated her,
but she just needed to relax a bit and stop worrying about everything.

Seriously, if Mum didn’t have something to worry about, she’d make
something up. Not consciously of course, but she’d find something to worry
about. I’m sure Grandma and George would fizzle out, and Grandma would not
actually need Mum’s wedding dress. And if she did, so what? What harm could
come of two elderly people finding comfort in each other’s company? I should
have brought Riley, I thought. One smile from him and all her worries would be
forgotten.

“Your stuff is over there,” said Mum as we entered the garage,
pointing to a pile of five large crates. I looked around at the piles of boxes
and furniture, and wondered where it had all come from.

“Oh, okay, what’s in it?” I asked.

“Have a look!”

“Alright, don’t get your knickers in a knot.”

“Lizzie, that’s no way to speak to your mother. Have more respect,
will you?” chastised Mum.

“Sorry, Mum. I just heard the way you spoke to Grandma so I thought
it must be what we do now.”

“What are you talking about?” she asked, even more frustrated than
before.

“You did just call her a stupid old woman,” I reminded her.

“Well she is! She’s eighty-two years old. She should be knitting
baby jumpers or crocheting doilies, not running around looking for a new man.”

“If she marries George she might move out and leave you alone for a
while.” Mum stopped and looked back at me. That was something she hadn’t
thought of.

“Yes, well ... we’ll see, won’t we. Now come over here and give me
a hand. Between the two of us we should get this all in your car.”

I looked at the size of the boxes she wanted me to take.

“I drive a Mini. There’s no way all that will fit. I’ll have to get
Riley to come over with his truck.”

Mum sighed. “Okay, but what’s still here next Saturday gets sold.

“Where did all this stuff come from?” I asked.

“The attic space. There was another whole house of belongings up
there. Your father’s getting annoyed by it and told me I was to get rid of anything
I hadn’t used in the last two years. I can use the money to buy myself
something nice.” Mum smiled for the first time today. “I have my eye on a nice
ring at Hogan’s Jewelers.”

* * *

On the way home from Mum’s, I decided to make a
quick stop at the library. I wanted to do a quick search on Ronald Smithson to
see what I could find. Westport was a lot smaller back then and I was sure
The Chronicle
would have mentioned his
disappearance within its pages.

The Westport library was housed in a very old, small,
two-storey municipal building that was extremely bland and boring. For such a
small library though, it was surprisingly busy and it was always hard to find a
car park. I took deep breaths, only swore once and eventually parked my Mini. I
walked in and headed to the counter with the big
Information
sign hanging above it. Now, two women usually worked this
counter – one was Miss Nice Lady and one was Miss Cranky Pants. Of course,
today Miss Cranky Pants was on duty, wasn’t she? I should have just gone home
and brought Riley back with me. She never scowled at him.

“Hi,” I said, giving her my biggest smile. “Could you
please tell me where I’d find the copies of the
Westport Chronicle
from 1949?” My smile didn’t seem to make any
difference, as I didn’t have Riley’s magic powers.

“The computers upstairs,” she snapped, pointing to
the staircase that ran the back of the room. “Knock yourself out.”

I don’t think she meant that literally, but I could
be wrong. I thanked her and made my way to the back of the room and up the
stairs. I found the row of computers easily and sat down at the nearest one.

It didn’t take long for me to find what I was looking
for. Some wonderful people of Westport had joined the twenty first century and
had digitized all copies of the newspaper right back to 1903.
And
they had a search button. I typed in
Ronald Smithson’s name and
bingo
! Up
popped every article his name was mentioned in ... and there were quite a few.

Mr. Smithson appeared to have been quite popular in
this area, but not always for the right reasons. Apparently he was a popular
butcher, was an excellent shot at the gun club, had been tossed out of the
local pub on more than one occasion and was once arrested, but not charged with
urinating in a public place. But the story I was looking for didn’t tell me
much more than I already knew.

Ronald Smithson was twenty-nine years old when he
went missing, and was on probation for assault. The police suspected he’d used
his butchering skills to cut off someone’s hand, but they could never find any
evidence and the victim would never confess to the truth. I guess that could
explain why he had an extra hand in his pocket. His girlfriend at the time
reported him missing as he owed her money and she thought he’d run off with
another woman. I did also find out that you could buy thirty-six acres of frost-free
land with a house, two horses, a cow and four hundred chickens all for the
bargain price of fifteen hundred pounds. Wow! That was cheap. Also the local
ladies bowls was doing exceptionally well winning against Ackwood and Betty
Grable was starring in
When My Baby
Smiles At Me
in Technicolor. So I guess, all in all it wasn’t a total waste
of my time. I just didn’t know how this new information would help me.

I printed out the pages I wanted and closed the
search engine I was using. Grabbing the paper off the printer, I pushed it all
into my bag and headed home before Riley sent out a search party looking for
me.

* * *

Later that afternoon, Dad dropped all the boxes to my house. I
stood and looked at the pile in the middle of the lounge room and wondered what
the hell I would do with it all.

“What’s in them?” asked Riley, frowning.

“Who the hell knows?”

“Are you going to open them?”

“No. They’re probably full of things from my childhood and if I
look, I won’t want to throw anything out.”

“Well, where are we going to put them?”

“Your house?” I asked hopefully.

“There’s no room at my house.”

I sighed. “Maybe we can put them in the old shed and deal with them
later.”

I sighed again. I hated the shed. To be honest it scared the shit
out of me. It was all dark and creepy and full of spiders. Plus I worried that
the roof may actually fall on my head.