Murder on the Hoof: A Mystery (Colleen McCabe Series) (16 page)

“Chief McCabe, who was that man?” Wendy asked. As production manager, it was her responsibility to see that all went well on the set. Obviously, it hadn’t.

Colleen didn’t want to get into the details of Marvin’s recent suspicious behavior, but she realized she needed to offer some explanation. She put her fingers to the edges of her mouth and whistled.

“Can I have everyone’s attention, please?” The group fell quiet. “I’m afraid Mr. Jenkins has been under a lot of stress lately. He lost his wife a few days ago and that loss seems to be affecting his judgment.”

“Someone should press charges,” said a man from the crowd.

Several of the vacationers had their cell phones out. Really? she thought with annoyance. “Could you please put the phones away?” she asked, giving the would-be videographers a stern look of disapproval. Each sheepishly slipped a phone into a pocket.

“What’s going to happen to Marvin?” Nellie asked.

“That’s up to Sheriff Dorman.”

“I’m not interested in pressing charges,” Lane said.

“I’m not sure that will be your decision,” she said, surprised by Lane’s generosity.

“That’s what comes from your flirting,” Myrtle muttered.

“Jealous?” Lane shot back.

“These yokels are nuts,” said a crew member to another, and snickered.

Colleen’s pale blue eyes turned to ice. She was about to say something in response, when Myrtle crossed to the man and smacked him on the arm.

“Show some respect,” she barked.

“Hey,” the man said, and rubbed his bicep.

Giggles and chortles rolled over the crowd, not the least of which came from the film company. The only person who didn’t seem to think anything was funny was Hayley, who was standing on the bookstore’s porch, wringing her hands. Fawn’s tarot reading must still be on her mind, Colleen thought. She wondered how difficult it would be for the actress to regroup and get her head back into the scene after Marvin’s disruption.

“All right, everyone,” Wendy yelled as the chuckling subsided. “I know we’ve had a bit of excitement, but let’s get back to work. We don’t have this location all day.”

And just like that, the drama was over and everyone returned to their jobs.

“What
is
going to happen to Marvin?” Nellie asked, genuinely concerned.

“I don’t know.”

“Let’s rock and roll!” the assistant director called. “Could we get the extras to places?”

Myrtle, Lane, and Nellie moved away to get ready for filming. Colleen had wanted to talk to Lane and ask him about Marvin’s accusations, but now was clearly not the time nor the place. She spotted Jason and Wendy and quietly made her way to them.

“Hope all the disruption didn’t put you too far behind,” she said.

“Our director’s efficient. He’ll make up the time,” Wendy said.

Colleen’s eyes narrowed. Despite what Wendy said, there was something in the young woman’s tone that indicated a concern. “Is something wrong?” Colleen asked.

Jason stole a look over his shoulder at Hayley and then signaled Colleen to move closer. “Hayley has a fan,” he whispered, “who is rather enthusiastic. Sends photo collages made of Hayley’s images from magazines, the Internet, wherever.”

“Tell her the creepy part,” Wendy said, and left to attend to her job.

Colleen joined Jason as he moved several yards away. “The pictures,” he began after he was sure they were far enough away not to be overheard, “some of them are from magazines published years ago. This person has been saving them for a long time … until now.”

“A stalker?”

“We don’t know, but the person is clearly obsessed. The photo collages have been coming in the mail for a few weeks now.”

“What did the police say?” she asked while peering over Jason’s shoulder at the observers, now on the lookout for a potential stalker.

“Since there hasn’t been a threat, there’s not much they can do.”

“And you’re worried.”

He nodded. “Hayley doesn’t know, but one of the pictures arrived yesterday at the beach house. That’s why we didn’t get a call about today’s location until this morning. We didn’t want the word getting out, just in case.”

“I wondered why the press wasn’t here.” It would be only a matter of time, however, before the news trucks arrived. She was surprised they hadn’t already.

“Cut!” yelled the director.

“Take fifteen,” Wendy said.

Hayley descended the stairs and headed toward them.

“Here she comes,” Colleen said.

Jason adopted an expression of disinterest and pretended to read a text on his phone. She was surprised how quickly he had changed his demeanor. Maybe that was what came from working in Hollywood: a good poker face.

“What are you two huddled together for?” the celebrity asked as she reached them.

“Can I get you anything?” her assistant asked.

“An answer to my question, please.”

He hesitated. Colleen observed the interaction between star and assistant with interest.

“Since my assistant is lying, perhaps you’ll do me the favor of telling me what was being discussed,” she said to Colleen.

Colleen wondered what she should do. She didn’t want to alarm the actress, but if the woman was in some type of danger, didn’t she deserve to know?

“I understand you’ve received some interesting photo collages.”

Hayley turned to Jason. “Are we talking about that poster I got a few weeks ago?”

“Yes,” he said quietly.

Clearly, he hadn’t told his boss everything.

“From what I understand,” Colleen said, “there have been several such mailings.”

Hayley’s brow furrowed. “Jason, I’d like to speak with Chief McCabe in private.”

He beat a swift retreat.

“Do you mind if we move to the shade?” Hayley asked, and before she got an answer, she crossed to a canopy with canvas folding chairs.

Colleen took her time joining the actress under the tent. Great. Just what I don’t need—private time with Hayley. She hoped the woman wouldn’t bring up Fawn’s tarot reading.

As soon as they were seated in chairs alone in the shade, Hayley’s demeanor changed and she began rubbing her hands. “Did you hear about my tarot reading?” she asked, her voice quivering.

Colleen silently groaned. “I did.”

“Then you’ll understand why I’d like to stay with you for the remainder of my time in town.”

“What?” Colleen choked out.

“I know it’s a great deal to ask, but I think it would be safest.”

Hell no. Her home had already been used as a safe house once this summer; she had no intention of hosting another guest. Damn Fawn and her readings.

“I don’t think—” she began.

“That girl said there would be danger, and look what happened today, not to mention the fan mail I received at the house, which Jason doesn’t think I know about.”

“Marvin’s attack on Lane had nothing to do with you.”

Hayley stopped wringing her hands. “Perhaps not, but the collages do.”

The fan-photo mailings were of concern—she couldn’t deny that—but the thought of having Hayley as a housemate was too fantastic to contemplate. She was proud of herself for slaying the green-eyed monster, but that didn’t mean she was ready to become chummy with the woman.

“I know you don’t like me,” Hayley said softly.

“It’s not that I don’t—”

“Please. Let me finish. I can tell you care about people, what happens to them, and I saw by the way you handled things with that man why your community respects you. It’s clear you put others before yourself.”

Please, oh please, someone make her stop.

“I suppose that’s one of the reasons why Billy is so fond of you.”

Wait. Did she say Bill is fond of me? What else did he tell his ex about me?

“Fawn predicted you’d protect me for a reason.”

Colleen’s mind was spinning. Was it really possible that Bill had told Hayley about his feelings for her? And what were those feelings? And why hadn’t he told her? She realized Hayley had stopped speaking, and she refocused on the houseguest matter.

“Thank you for the compliments, but I think you’re safer where you are. My house is rather remote. You have others with you in the house you’re staying in now.”

“But not you.”

She sighed. It was time to bite the bullet and confess. “I’m not as nice as you think. I’m embarrassed to admit this, but … I took you through the dunes on purpose. I knew, or at least I was fairly confident, that the ride would make you sick.”

The actress reached into a cooler at her feet, removed two waters, and handed one to Colleen. “Apology accepted.”

Colleen received the water in stunned silence.

Hayley took a sip from the bottle and puckered her lips to refresh her lipstick. “Actresses have said and done far worse. It’s part of the business.”

Terrific, she thought. I’m being compared to a catty actress.

“But,” Hayley added, “none has ever said ‘I’m sorry.’”

How could she deny a person who had so graciously accepted her apology? If the roles had been reversed, she wasn’t so sure she would have been as magnanimous.

“I’m not going to let you stay at my house,” Colleen said, trying to be gentle but firm. “I really do think it’s safer for you where you are. But if it will make you feel any better, I could swing by and check on things, even though I’m sure Bill has already got someone assigned to do that.”

Hayley visibly relaxed. She took one of Colleen’s hands in hers and squeezed it tightly. “Thank you.”

Jason approached the tent with caution. “Everything okay in here?”

Hayley let go of Colleen’s hand and flashed a brilliant smile. “Yes, I believe it is. Are they ready for me?”

“Yep,” Jason said, somewhat perplexed. He stole a look at Colleen, then accompanied Hayley to the porch.

Colleen watched them go, not quite sure what had just happened.

“Quiet on the set,” the AD yelled.

She headed toward her SUV, where she had left Sparky. How was she going to explain all of this to Bill?

Chapter 13

“You promised Hayley what?”
Bill asked as he paced his office.

Colleen winced. She’d known he wasn’t going to like the idea, but she hadn’t anticipated this reaction. “You have to admit it’s better than having her stay with me, like she wanted.”

He couldn’t argue with that. The last thing he wanted was for the women to be roommates. He exhaled. “She always did take stuff like horoscopes and palm readings too seriously. Sorry she dragged you into her foolishness.”

“She does have reason to be concerned,” Colleen said, surprised to find herself defending his ex.

“Don’t tell me you believe that tarot card nonsense.”

“
No,
” she said emphatically. “I’m talking about the packages of photos someone is mailing her.”

“There’s been more than one?”

Had Hayley really kept the entire story from him? “There’s been only one at the house here in Corolla, but apparently she’s been receiving them for weeks.”

He shook his head. “That’s what comes from her being too friendly with people.”

“I hardly think it’s her fault that some psycho has fixated on her.” It wasn’t like Bill to be so unsympathetic and judgmental. She wondered where his attitude was coming from.

He noticed her staring at him with disapproval. “I know that sounded bad. It’s just … we have a history.”

She squirmed in the chair and pushed at the folders on the conference table. “Yes, I’m aware of that.”

They fell silent. The air conditioner hummed softly. Sparky looked up from where he had been sleeping at her feet under the table, wondering if the quiet was a sign they were leaving.

“So … have you interviewed Marvin yet?” she asked.

He exhaled and sat on the nearby edge of the table. “He’s refusing to answer questions. Sits there going on and on about how Doris changed after she joined the community theater group, started wearing more lipstick and perfume and, as he put it, ‘setting her hair.’”

Doris’s behavior did sound like that of a woman having an affair, and Lane did have a reputation as a ladies’ man. He had even flirted with Colleen on occasion—not that she’d ever felt it had a serious intent behind it. Perhaps Doris misinterpreted a flirtation for genuine romantic interest. Maybe the affair was really an unrequited fantasy. She could understand why Marvin was suspicious, and yet it didn’t give him the right to attack someone with a Taser. However unlikely it was that Marvin was the murderer, his violent outburst toward Sam and his attack on Lane made him the number one suspect on her list.

“What are you thinking?” Bill asked.

“It might help if I talked to Marvin. His anger seems to be directed mostly at men. Maybe talking to a woman will be different.” She knew Bill wouldn’t like the idea, but at this point, Marvin was the best lead they had. Anything they could do to get him talking might lead to a motive or more clues about other suspects. “While I’m questioning him, you can check out his ears.”

“Was that a joke?” he asked, not the least bit amused.

“No … yes … I guess not a good one,” she said with a shrug.

He reached across the desk and opened one of the folders. Inside were Rich’s ear photos.

“Think about how hard it’s going to be for me, or you, to speak with him and look at his ears without his noticing,” she said.

“I don’t know.”

“He’s been Mirandized, right?” she asked, knowing full well how by-the-book Bill and his staff were.

“Of course, but not booked.”

“So if he’s willing to talk to me, why not let him?”

Bill gazed at the dozens of ear photos before him. She knew he was weighing the potential benefits of having her speak with Marvin versus the desire to keep her out of the investigation.

“I’m not leaving you in the room alone,” he said.

That was all she needed to hear. He was going to let her talk to Marvin.

“I’ll put Rodney in there with you, just in case.”

“Of course.” This was highly irregular of him to allow her to speak with a suspect. She wasn’t going to push anything by making further demands. “And where will you be?” she asked.

“On the other side of the glass. Of course he’ll know I’m looking, but not what I’m looking at.”