Chocolate-Covered Crime (20 page)

“Why are you so skittish? And why are you flushed? Are you getting sick?” Aunt Eunice wiped a napkin across her shining brow. “That last dance wore me out. Find any information?”

“No.”

“And you won’t either, hiding over here. You’ve got to mingle, girl. Ethan, pull her way from the cider and get her out there.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He wrapped his arm around my waist and led me toward the buffet table. Movement to our right caught my eye. Hubert and Edna=" for the n sneaked into the shadows of the trees behind the house. She giggled up at him.

“Let’s spy.” I tugged on Ethan’s hand. “Maybe we’ll learn something.”

“I don’t think you want to be caught watching what those two have planned.” He popped an olive into his mouth.

“Oh.” My face heated. “They’re sneaking off like a couple of teenagers. They’ve both got to be approaching sixty.”

“I hope we’re that frisky when we’re sixty.” He planted a quick kiss on my lips and tickled my sides until I shrieked.

“Still looking for clues, I see.” Aunt Eunice glared at us from across the table.

I pulled free of Ethan’s embrace. “Stop sneaking up on me, Aunt Eunice. We can’t be obvious about our snooping. And contrary to what you believe, I’m paying attention.”

I leaned against the table, crossed my arms, and looked over the crowd. “Hubert and Edna disappeared into the woods. Oh look, they’re coming back. That was fast. Larry Bell glares at everyone from the dessert table, and Mason doesn’t appear heartbroken as he flirts with all the pretty girls. Then there’s Lewis Anderson pretending to be attentive to his wife. Have I missed anyone on our list? Besides Sherry, that is?”

Aunt Eunice humphed and stalked away.

I sighed. “We probably should start up conversations with everyone. We’re not learning a thing here.”

“No, but we’re having more fun. Where do you want to start?”

“I don’t even know
how
to start.” I allowed my gaze to roam the crowd again. Larry had disappeared, the love-birds were again nestled out of sight, and Mason strolled toward us.

“I guess we start with Mason.”

Mason downed a glass of cider and reached for another before acknowledging our presence. “Champagne would hit the spot better.”

“Cider doesn’t seem to be hurting you any.” I glared at him. “I thought you were distraught over Renee’s death.”

Ethan elbowed me.

“I am.” Mason tossed his cup in a nearby trash can. “That’s why I asked you to check around for me. I’m not doing anything but mingling.”

“Looking for your next conquest is more like it.”

Mason laughed. “Ethan, your girl is a real trip. But she’s barking up the wrong tree.” He leaned closer to us. “See that man over there? The one in jeans? He just arrived to the party. That’s Bill Olson, Renee=" your ’s fiancé. Seems he arrived home the day
before
my party. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it? You might want to check
him
out. Renee said he was really mad. And that’s my cue to leave.” He winked and stalked away.

I studied the man searching the dance floor. Easily Ethan’s height of six foot two inches, the biceps on Bill’s arms were as big around as my thighs. Granted I was thin, but the man was still impressive, and I had no doubt who he looked for. Ethan put a hand around my arm and guided me to Bill.

“Bill.” Ethan held out a hand. “Good to see you home.”

The man turned red-rimmed, hazel eyes to us. Anger radiated from him in waves so intense, I should have worn sunscreen. “Not quite the homecoming I’d envisioned.” Bill’s muscles quivered. A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Where’s the scumbag you were talking to? I’m going to kill him.”

Ethan placed his hand on Bill’s arm. “Don’t do anything rash. Renee’s death was—”

Bill shoved Ethan away. “Don’t tell me it was an accident! She was murdered. Plain and simple. Lured away by that slime’s silky tongue and sweet words.”

“Bathroom,” I blurted. “Yeah. He asked where the restroom was.”
Great answer, Summer. Brilliant
. Another suspect just entered the mix. I felt like a hamster on a never-ending run around a stationary wheel. One watched closely by an enraged cat.

Ethan frowned, and I transferred my attention from the exasperated man next to me back to the safer task of studying the party guests. As the night wore on, groups huddled around what desserts remained, couples danced a little closer, and my suspects moved in separate directions.

Hubert headed to the house, apparently having lost Edna somewhere along the way. Larry had stopped glaring at the dance floor and marched toward the kitchen door. Aunt Eunice hooted with laughter at something Uncle Roy said. The band played a lively, toe-tapping tune. Behind me, Bill’s voice continued to rise. I strongly suspected the man had been drinking before he arrived.

Aunt Eunice and Uncle Roy danced a lively jig around the dance floor. Hubert popped his head out the kitchen door, glanced around, then withdrew. Anderson had disappeared, while his family huddled around the food table. Larry Bell marched from around the house, crossed his arms, glared, and leaned against the wooden siding.

I grinned, pleased with myself. I’d managed to keep tabs on all my suspects, mostly. I sipped from the cup I still held. They’d all drifted in and out of my line of fire during the evening but were mostly accounted for. I was getting good at this.

A woman screamed.

Ethan grabbed my hand and dashed toward the sound. A crowd had gathered on the opposite side of Uncle Roy’s shed. A woman’s legs hung over the side of a barrel used to collect rainwater. Her head disappeared in the murky depths.

Joe ordered everyone to step aside and did what should have been done minutes ago. He pulled the woman from the water. Edna’s pale face stared at us with bulging, lifeless eyes. A scrap of paper fluttered from the bodice of her gown.

I reached for it and read.
Ladies first.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Joe barked orders for the onlookers to move back then shouted into the cell phone he whipped from his pocket. His long strides carried him from behind the shed to the middle of the lawn. Ethan did his best to keep the crowd contained until help could arrive, Aunt Eunice clutched Uncle Roy’s arm, April plopped to the ground, and I scanned the horrified faces around me. No Mason, Bill, Hubert, or Larry. I wasn’t surprised.

I glanced back at the paper in my hand. The words were cut from a magazine. Just like the threatening note I’d received.
Ladies first?
I gnawed my lip. Mae Belle and Lewis. Renee and Mason. Edna and Hubert. All couples cut down to half. All unmarried. A shiver ran down my spine. What about me and April? We were single, female, and part of a couple. Was the killer now going to concentrate on the men?

“Edna?” Hubert called from the back porch. “Ready or not, here I come!”

A heavy silence came over the crowd as we all turned, in sync, to where Hubert’s form was backlit by the kitchen window. Uncle Roy gently removed my aunt’s hands from his arm and made his way to where Hubert laughed. Seconds later, the man sagged sobbing into my uncle’s arms.

Mason appeared around the corner at a fast trot, Bill on his heels. Both men stopped suddenly and glanced from us to the two men on the porch. “Truce.” Mason’s word drifted to where I stood.

“Everyone stay put.” Joe slipped his phone into the pocket of his jeans. “You’ll all be questioned, and it’s going to take awhile. Break it up, get something to eat, but don’t leave.” He grabbed my arm and dragged me to the side.

“I know you’ve been snooping around tonight. Aunt Eunice told me of your plans. Did you see or hear anything?”

I handed him the note. “I found this on the ground after you pulled Edna from the water. I can’t vouch for the whereabouts of all the guests. I was only trying to keep tabs on my suspect list, all of whom were out of my sight for at least a few minutes during the time of Edna’s drowning. But not for long. It must’ve been fast.”

=" few
“It was. She’s still—”

“I don’t want to hear it.” I shuddered. “Someone seems to be murdering the feminine half of a couple. I’ve got to admit I’m quite freaked out here. I’m part of a couple. So are you and April and my aunt and uncle.” I clutched at him. “There’s something we’re missing, Joe. Something simple. I feel it. It’s right there, at the edge of my mind, but I can’t pull it out.”

“Work on it. I’ll get your aunt and April. I want the three of you to stay together.” He put his face so close to mine I thought our noses would touch. “I mean it. If one of you goes to the bathroom, the other two go. I’ll send Ethan for you once I no longer need him.”

“You’re scaring me. Ethan isn’t a cop. Why can’t I have him now?”

Joe’s eyes narrowed. “You should be scared, and with a crowd this size, I need all the help I can get. I’ve called for backup, but these people will listen to Ethan. They like him.” He dragged me to Aunt Eunice then went to get April.

I craned my neck looking for Ethan. He still worked crowd control. My body relaxed with the first wail of an approaching siren. “We need to get closer. I want to hear when the cops question people. Who found the body?”

“Ruby and Mabel.” Aunt Eunice hugged herself. “They said they were just walking around, gossiping like they do, and found her upside down, white undies shining in the moonlight. What an awful way to go.” She wiped her eyes with the corner of her sleeve. “No dignity.”

“Once the cops get here,” April explained upon joining us, “they’ll each take different people to question. How are you supposed to guarantee you’ll hear the ones you want?”

“Well. . .” Good question. There wasn’t time, or enough of us, to listen to every person being interrogated. I stood on my tiptoes to try and see over the crowd. “I’d like to hear Mason, Bill, Larry, and Hubert.” I sat on a cement block and rested my chin in my hand. “You’re right. I don’t even know where they are.”

“Don’t give up.” Aunt Eunice popped me on the head. “Joe just said we had to stay together. He didn’t say we had to stay in this exact spot. They’ll be taking people into the house. You know how thin these old walls are. I know the perfect place, but we’ve got to hurry. If we’re spotted, especially by your uncle, they’ll stop us.”

April and I glanced at each other then hurried to follow a bustling Aunt Eunice.

“Come on,” she ordered. “Help me pull up this door.”

She’d taken us to the storm cellar. I could’ve slapped myself in the forehead. There was no better spot in the entire house than beneath it.

The door led to a basement complete with a furnace that had made it impossible for me to have the courage to ent=" beneath er here as a child. But more importantly, there were floor vents in every room, giving access to the heat. We’d be able to hear whatever we wanted from every downstairs room. We could listen in on the interrogations from the kitchen, living, and dining rooms.

“God bless old homes. Aunt Eunice, you’re a genius.” I tugged on the heavy wooden square. Aunt Eunice hissed a warning to be quiet when it slammed open.

“If we can hear them, they’ll be able to hear us. For once, I’m glad we haven’t renovated this basement or modernized our heating.” She peered around us and scuttled down the stairs. I climbed down last, closing the door and casting us into darkness except for stenciled squares of light coming from the ornate metal vents.

“We’ll each take a room. Give a heads-up if you hear anything interesting,” Aunt Eunice whispered.

Dust rained down on us as feet marched overhead. “This is ridiculous!” a male voice said.

“That’s Mason!” I pointed over our heads.

Aunt Eunice held a finger to her lips.

“Come on, Joe, you can’t actually believe I did in that old lady!” A chair creaked. “I didn’t even know her.”

“We’re questioning everyone, Mason. Got a guilty conscience?”

“I’ve heard the whispering. I was in attendance at Renee’s death, and now this one. Of course everyone is pointing at me. Want to know what I think? Bill Olson. Man’s mad enough to do just about anything. He actually threatened me. Said he was going to kill me.”

“Guess you’d better watch your back then.”

“Are you judging me? Aren’t you going to do anything? I’m a taxpayer. I deserve protection.”

“I could put you in protective custody.” I could just picture Joe, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair.

“Just get on with the questions, chief.” Joe had obviously touched on a nerve. Mason switched from first names to using professional titles.

“When you left the dance floor, you went where?”

“To the house. I was trying to get away from Bill Olson. I stayed there until I heard the woman scream. Ran out, ran into Bill, and now here I am.”

“Can anyone verify that?”

“Let’s cut to the chase. I know how this works. There’s about twenty minutes where I was alone. I’ve got no concrete alibi.”

I wasn’t going to find out anything from Mason. I shuffled to Aunt Eunice. d to Aueath/diWho’ve you got?”

“Larry Bell. Very boring. He sounds like a broken record. Name, date, and he’s asking for a lawyer. Seems he’s got no one to vouch for him.”