Rigged for Murder (Windjammer Mystery Series) (22 page)

G
lenn and Betty pulled up in front of the inn no more than fifteen minutes after the others had left. They walked in the front door and were surprised to be greeted by only Howard and Alyssa.

“Where are all the others?” Glenn asked.

“They’re up on the bluffs,” Howard said. “I’m afraid there’s been another incident.”

“What happened?” Betty asked, alarm ringing in her voice.

“Tim Pelletier, one of the passengers on the cruise, jumped off the cliff over there. Brie believes he murdered Pete and then committed suicide.”

“Oh, my Lord!” Betty reached out for Glenn to steady herself. “We just met that young man this morning. He seemed so quiet and polite.”

“The captain and the others have gone to retrieve his body,” Howard continued. “I’m sorry, we didn’t introduce ourselves. This is Alyssa Lindstrom, and I’m Howard Thackeray.”

Glenn and Betty shook hands with them. “Let’s go in and sit down,” Glenn said, motioning them into the game room, where they sat on the sofa and chairs surrounding the entertainment center.

“Does Brie know why he killed Pete?” Glenn asked.

“Apparently Tim blamed Pete for the death of his girlfriend. Brie said the girl died while on a rock climbing outing Pete was leading.”

“Tim left a suicide note that Brie and Captain DuLac found when they discovered the body,” Alyssa added. “It’s all so horrible.” She looked down at her hands, and her eyes filled with tears. Howard placed a comforting hand on top of hers.

“Poor John,” Betty said. “He must be beside himself.”

Glenn stood up. “I’m going to go clear out the back of the pickup truck. If they recover the body, John will need the truck to get down to the village.”

“Can I help you?” Howard asked, eager for a manlier job.

“Sure,” Glenn said. “I could use the help—it’s full of tools.”

“I’m going to prepare dinner for everyone,” Betty said. “It’s already late, and hopefully some warm food will be comforting.”

“That’s a great idea, dear. I’ll be back in a few minutes and help you.” Glenn and Howard put on their coats and headed out to bring the truck around to the garage.

“Why don’t we go to the kitchen, and I’ll make some tea,” Betty said.

Alyssa brightened a little. “That’d be wonderful.”

Out in the kitchen Betty put the kettle on the fire and got out a tray. She took down a china teapot with a delicate pink and gold design, along with matching cups and saucers. She could see how upset Alyssa was. “Are you on this cruise by yourself, dear?” she asked her.

“Oh, no, my husband Rob is with me. He went up with the others to help.”

“Well, that’s good,” Betty said, relieved. Alyssa seemed fragile to her. Not physically—she appeared young and healthy—but on the inside, as if her well of inner strength might be running dry.

“Would you like to help me prepare the dinner after we have tea?” Betty asked her.

Alyssa jumped at the opportunity. “I’d love to. It will help take my mind off all of this.”

Betty steeped the tea and set out a plate of iced lemon cookies. Alyssa helped her carry the things into the dining room, where they sat down together.

“Have you been married long, dear?” Betty asked.

“For five years. It seems longer, though,” Alyssa said.

Betty sensed a loneliness in her. “Any children?” she asked.

“No, Rob doesn’t want any—at least not yet. I’d like to, though.”

“Well, I’m sure you will when the time is right,” Betty said. “Do you work outside the home?”

“I work with Rob at his business. He owns a chain of camera and photo finishing stores. I help with bookkeeping and office work.” She stared at her tea cup. Betty heard a profound lack of interest in Alyssa’s voice. “I’d like to have a gardening business.” She glanced shyly up from her cup as if looking for Betty’s approval.

“That sounds wonderful. Why don’t you?”

“I wanted to go back to school—become a master gardener. I’d like to have a business of my own designing gardens for people.” She took a cookie and started nibbling.

Betty could see that just talking about the idea provided an emotional transfusion. “Won’t Rob support you in doing that?” she asked.

“He wants me to stay with the business. He wants me close by.” Her voice fell. “He wants me to dress in skirts and high heels. He likes to show me off. And then he gets jealous when other people notice me. I hate it. At times I’ve wanted out so badly, I would have done anything.” She looked at her half-eaten cookie, surprised she’d said these things to a stranger. There was something about Betty that made her feel safe. She wished she had someone like her back in Pittsfield to talk with. Someone motherly. There’d been no one like that in her life since her own mother had died eight years ago.

“I love the outdoors,” she continued. “That’s why I love to sail. Working outdoors—supervising the design and planting of gardens, and even doing some of the planting myself—I’d love that. It would be like a dream come true.”

“Then you must share your dream with your husband. If he really loves you, he’ll support you in it,” Betty said.

“Do you think so?”

“I do. In your mind’s eye you need to see yourself accomplishing your dream. Then each day do something that moves you closer to that dream becoming a reality. Even if it’s only for a half hour—do something toward it every day. That’s how Glenn and I got here. It was our dream to retire to a place like this, and we worked hard at making it come true.”

“Thank you, Betty,” Alyssa said. She took another cookie and bit into it with gusto.

“You’re very welcome, dear.”

“I hope someone’s lucky enough to have you for a mom.”

Tears welled in Betty’s eyes.

“Betty? What’s wrong?”

Betty turned her head and stared out the window. “We did have a daughter,” she said quietly. “She died in a car accident when she was seventeen.” Betty bit down on her lip to stop the tears. “She’d have been about your age now.”

“I’m so sorry.” Alyssa took a small pack of tissues from her pocket and put one in Betty’s hand.

“It’s something you never get over. You just move on. It brought Glenn and me closer, and that’s been a blessing. And buying this place has given us a focus.” Betty dried her eyes and stood up, busying herself with the tea things. “It’s been nice talking to you today, Alyssa.”

“For me too, Betty.”

“We should start on the dinner preparations. I’m thinking chicken and dumpling stew might be a good choice. What do you think?”

“I think the men will love that,” Alyssa said, smiling. “And I bet you won’t hear any complaints from Brie either.”

“Good. Then let’s get started.” Alyssa picked up the tray and they headed into the kitchen.

“I like your cookies, Betty.”

“I’ll give you the recipe.”

J
ohn and his crew moved slowly down the trail with the body. It was a painstaking process. In several places they had to tip the backboard on its side to get it through the trees. The slippery ground slowed their progress even more. At a brisk pace, the bluffs were about a fifteen-minute walk from the inn, but with the body in tow, it took them almost forty-five minutes. The rain had slacked to a heavy drizzle, but darkness was fast approaching, making visibility along the trail poor. Fog was cottoning the ground and as twilight fell, it looked like a forest filled with sleeping ghosts.

Glenn and Howard had emptied the truck. They were busy discussing the layout of Glenn’s garage workshop, as well as their experiences in the Korean War, when they heard voices approaching. They walked out of the garage and saw John and the others just below the woods, approaching with the body. John was relieved to see Glenn there with the truck. They carried the body across the back lawn to the gravel driveway and slid the board into the truck bed. Scott headed for the inn to change into dry clothes.

“I suppose Howard has filled you in on our sad state of affairs,” John said to Glenn.

“He has, and I’m sorry, John. Betty and Alyssa are cooking dinner. It’s late and you must all be…” Glenn stopped abruptly, wondering if he should be talking about dinner over Tim’s body.

“I think you’ll find everyone’s ready for a meal,” John said, as if reading his thoughts. “We’d planned to be out of your way and have dinner back on the ship. But I guess trying to plan anything on this trip is a risky proposition.”

“It’s okay, John. Betty and I will be happy to have everyone eat at the inn tonight. Are you heading down to the village right now?”

John nodded. “We’re going to see if Fred has room for one more body in his cooler. Brie, why don’t you hop in front with George, and as soon as Scott’s dressed we’ll get going.”

John talked to Glenn at the back of the truck while they waited, and in a few minutes Scott swung out the back door and jumped in the bed of the pickup truck for the ride down the hill. Gravel crunched under tires as they pulled down the driveway. John switched on the lights and turned left onto the dark road. The truck, bearing its grim cargo, disappeared around the bend.

T
HEY PARKED THE TRUCK in front of the general store. “All the lights are out,” Brie said. “I think Fred’s gone home.”

“He doesn’t have far to go—he lives upstairs above the store,” John said. “There’s a stairway around back. I’ll go see if I can raise him.”

John walked around the back of the store and up a double flight of open stairs, taking them two at a time. Outside the door there was a small balcony surrounded by a rickety wood railing. He opened the screen and knocked on the inside door. He heard footsteps and in a few moments the door opened, and Fred peered out.

“Captain DuLac,” he said, opening the door a few more inches, his eyes wide with surprise. “Have you come to check on the body?”

John suppressed a smile. “I’m afraid it’s more serious than that,” he said, composing himself. “I’m afraid there’s been another death.”

“You don’t say!” Fred opened the door all the way and looked around as if he half expected the body to be standing there. “Well, this is a serious turn of events.” His last three words got the nod.

It was pretty serious after the first one
, John thought to himself. “Would it be possible to make room for one more body in your cooler, Fred? It will only be till noon tomorrow. The Coast Guard should be here by then.”

“Don’t see why not,” Fred chirped, as if he’d just been invited to a party. “I’ll go get my keys. You wait right there, now, Captain,” he admonished, as if John might change his mind and shop around for a better cooler. Within a few seconds Fred popped out the door and led the way down the stairs.

“Let’s go around front and get the others, Fred. They can help move things in the cooler.”

When he saw them coming around the building, George opened the door. He and Brie got out, along with Scott, who vaulted over the side of the pickup. They walked up on the wooden porch and waited as Fred fumbled with the keys. He led the way through the door, flipping a light switch on the right-hand wall.

“Hello, again, Miss Beaumont,” he said, turning eagerly to Brie. He nodded to Scott and George, but his eyes immediately returned to her. “I hear there’s been another murder,” he said, stretching his long neck toward her as if sharing a confidence.

“Actually, we believe it’s a suicide, Fred.”

“A suicide. You don’t say. You don’t say.” His head moved back and forth as he processed this titillating bit of news. “Right here on the island. Imagine. Was it a gun? Did he shoot himself?”

“Actually, he jumped off the cliffs on the other side of the island and fell to his death.” Brie decided to share the information, hoping it would keep Fred from doing his own investigation in the cooler after they left. She was pretty sure it was in the realm of possibility.

Fred led the way to the storeroom at the back, flipping on another light as they entered. He unlocked the heavy padlock hanging from the cooler and, pulling the door open, stuck his head in and turned on the light. Pete’s body was against the right wall in its makeshift body bag, with food stacked along the other three walls. Fred craned his neck, giving directions as the others began moving crates of fruit and produce, eggs, milk, butter and cheese over to the left side of the cooler to make room for Tim’s body along the back wall. Then they went back to the truck, slid the body out and carried it into the store as Fred held the door. Once the body was situated, they stepped out of the cooler, and after one last look, Fred relocked the door.