Jeanne Glidewell - Lexie Starr 04 - With This Ring (11 page)

“That’s interesting,” I said into the phone. “Are you thinking Teddy might have struck out in retribution for being turned down for the loan?”

“Yes, and there’s also the possibility of wanting his share of his father’s estate to buy drugs or pay off whatever debts he might have. The pastor used to have a lot of assets, such as some prime commercial property in Leavenworth, but I don’t know if he still owned it at the time of his death. For all I know he might have sold the property. Also, the church carried a small, but not insignificant, insurance policy on him, listing his six children as equal beneficiaries. Beneficiaries on life insurance policies, even small ones, turn out to be the killer in more instances than you’d probably imagine. Money makes a powerful motive.”

“Yes, I see what you’re saying. After all, it’s been said that money is the root of all evil. It sounds like Teddy had a motive. Will you let me know if anything develops from the interview with him or any of his other children?” I asked.

“I guess so, despite my misgivings on involving you in any way in this investigation,” Wyatt said. “But I also know if I don’t pass it on to you, you’ll just find some creative way of finding the information out yourself and the very idea scares me.”

“Now, don’t be that way, Wyatt. You know I’m only curious and anxious to have the killer apprehended so Stone and I can continue with our wedding plans as scheduled.”

“Okay, I know how much that means to you. But for now, I’d better get off the phone and back to work. I have some important paperwork I need to finish before I get off. This job is about ten percent police business and ninety percent paperwork, or so it seems at times. It’s the one thing I dislike about being a cop.”

“Paperwork would get old fast. Fortunately there is very little of it required here at the inn. Say, would you like to come by for supper?” I asked. “I’ve got a large turkey in the oven and only three guests staying at the inn right now. I plan to make some of that oyster dressing you like so much.”

“What time should I be there?” Wyatt didn’t turn down free food. In fact, I’d never seen him turn down any food, free or not. I knew I could lure him to the house with the mere mention of oyster dressing. And I never knew when he might cut loose with some more information on the case. If nothing else, Wyatt could always be counted on for some pleasant dinner conversation, and a little extra eye candy at the supper table was always nice.

“We’ll eat about six. See you then. And thanks for the scoop, Wyatt.”

The detective just groaned in response.

* * *

“Hey Mom! What’s up with you guys? I tried you a few minutes ago and you didn’t answer,” I heard my daughter say as I picked up the house phone. I’d expected it to be Wendy, because she usually calls me on the landline. She’d probably tried to call while I was speaking to Wyatt and gotten my voice mailbox, I reasoned. I’d heard the phone click, as if someone were trying to ring through, but I hadn’t wanted to interrupt the detective while he was dispersing information about the murder investigation.

“Not much going on here,” I said. It hadn’t been all that long since I’d spoken to her earlier. “What’s new?”

“Andy’s about all moved into the ranch. His remodeling crew started working a month or so back and finished up their work a couple of days ago. The place really looks terrific. There are only a few projects left and Andy intends to do those jobs himself after he gets settled in. Like Stone, he likes to keep busy.”

“Really? I didn’t know he was handy at that sort of thing. But he’s so much like his uncle in other ways that I shouldn’t be surprised.”

“He helped a friend lay tile before, so he’s going to handle the new tile flooring in the kitchen and laundry room by himself. He’s also going to paint several of the rooms and build on a new back porch. I think the only other projects he has in mind are refinishing some of the hardwood floors and updating the appliances. He’s already ordered all new furniture from the Nebraska Furniture Mart over by the Legends shopping area in Kansas City, Kansas.”

“I can’t wait to see the old farmhouse when it’s all completed,” I said, sincerely. We had looked at the place with him last fall and found it to have a lot of character and even more potential. “Did he have a new master bath built on like he said he was going to? I know he wasn’t wild about having only an old claw-footed tub, and no shower.”

“Yes, the new bathroom has a tiled shower, a whirlpool tub, and Jack and Jill lavatories. He left the antique tub in there for nostalgic reasons. They also added a large walk-in closet. He’s particularly proud of the new toilet. He was told you could flush sixteen golf balls down it all at one time,” Wendy said with a laugh. “So if you ever have sixteen golf balls you’re anxious to get rid of, just let Andy know. I’m sure he’d love to put the new toilet to the test.”

I laughed along with Wendy. I was delighted to see her in such a cheery mood. She was always more upbeat when she was with Andy. I knew she’d be heartbroken if her relationship with Andy didn’t result in a more permanent partnership. I would be too. I loved both of them and would like nothing better than to see them marry and produce some grandchildren for me to spoil. For now, though, I listened as my daughter chattered on.

“Anything new on the murder case?” I finally asked when she was through elaborating on Andy’s move to the ranch. I didn’t expect much out of Wendy. Once the C.O.D. was determined, the county coroner’s office was pretty much out of the investigation.

“Not much that I know about. One of Pastor Steiner’s daughters, Paula Bankston, stopped by the office here today to pick up a copy of the autopsy report. She told us it was urgent. She said she needed a couple of copies of the death certificate too, but I informed Paula she’d have to get those through the funeral director. I also got the information on her dad’s services from her.”

“Why would his daughter need a copy of the autopsy report so urgently? I can understand needing copies of the death certificate.”

“I don’t know,” Wendy said. “Probably just wanted it for her own curiosity. It’s not that uncommon for members of a deceased one’s family to ask for a copy, particularly when a homicide is involved. We get that request fairly often. The family often wants to know every single detail involving the death of their loved one. They may even need a copy for legal reasons, because they’re usually extremely keen on seeing the killer brought to justice, or sometimes just to prove to an insurance company that the death wasn’t a suicide.”

“Oh, of course. Well, I can understand why they’d be interested, especially in these circumstances. And there’s sure to be some legal ramifications when all is said and done. So when’s the funeral?”

“The visitation is Monday night, six to eight, and the funeral is to be held Tuesday morning at ten. The services will obviously be held at the Rockdale Baptist Church. Paula told me they’d found a temporary replacement for her father named Robert Zimmerman, but everyone supposedly calls him Reverend Bob,” Wendy said. “He’ll be the interim pastor until a full-time one can be hired.”

“And he’ll preside over the funeral services?”

“Yes, and at church services tomorrow. He’s from Topeka, so it’s quite a drive for him, and he doesn’t want to move here and take the job permanently. He actually took Pastor Steiner’s job when Steiner left his church in Topeka to come minister at the Rockdale Baptist Church. So he knew Steiner personally. That Topeka church has a recently retired back-up pastor, and he’ll fill in for Reverend Bob while Bob presides over the services at your church.”

“So Reverend Bob will step in to fill Steiner’s shoes?”

“Yes, but only for the time being. Like I said, he’ll be there on Sundays until they find a permanent pastor for the church, so eventually he’ll go back to his church to relieve the retired minister. Pastor Bob lives just a couple of blocks from Teddy, Steiner’s oldest son, the one Wyatt told me had a drug problem. Teddy still lives in Topeka, where all Steiner’s kids grew up, but he’s in Rockdale right now being questioned by the police. It’s a small world, huh?”

“Yes, it really is,” I said. “I’m amazed all the time by how everyone seems to be connected in one way or another. I believe if you talk to anyone long enough you’ll discover there’s some person you both know in common. I ran into a fellow in a small café in Albuquerque, New Mexico, when I was there for the annual balloon fiesta a few years ago. We were discussing the specials that day at the café and I happened to mention my favorite taco sauce was Spanish Gardens. Turned out the fellow’s grandfather owned the Spanish Gardens Company here in Kansas City. How’s that for a small world?”

“You discuss your taco sauce preference with total strangers?” Wendy asked, amused with my story.

“Safer than discussing religion or politics, don’t you think?”

Wendy chuckled. “Anything’s safer than those two subjects.”

“Say, honey, why don’t you stop by for dinner about six? Wyatt and our three guests will be at supper too. We’re having turkey and dressing, like I told you earlier.”

“And mashed potatoes and gravy?” She asked.

Mashed potatoes had always been my daughter’s favorite food. She was thin by nature, but still too skinny for my taste. She’d picked up a few pounds in the last year, but not quite enough. Her face had a tendency to look haggard and drawn when she was tired. I tried to force food down her every chance I got. “If you come, I promise I’ll make potatoes and gravy. I’ll even make one of those green bean casseroles you like so much.”

“How can I refuse an offer like that? I’ll see you guys at six.”

* * *

“Please call me Reverend Bob,” the minister said, as he shook my hand at the entrance to the sanctuary Sunday morning after Stone had introduced us. “Reverend Zimmerman just doesn’t suit me as far as I am concerned. You have my condolences on the loss of your former minister. It’s a terrible tragedy and a great loss for both Rockdale, and the entire theological community. Pastor Steiner was highly regarded by all the other clergymen in the area. I held him in great regard myself.”

“Yes, we still can’t believe the murder happened,” Stone said as he shook hands with Reverend Bob. “We can’t imagine anyone wanting to harm Pastor Steiner in any way.”

“I can’t either. He was a gentleman of the highest caliber. Despite the reason I’m here, it’s nice to meet you, Stone and Lexie.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too. Thanks for filling in on such short notice. I’m sure the congregation will all still be in shock at the services this morning. I know I sure am,” Stone said.

“As I am,” I added. “We can’t tell you how thankful we are that you’d fill in for him the way you have. I assume you’ll be taking care of all of his responsibilities and scheduled appointments until the replacement minister is hired.”

Reverend Bob nodded absentmindedly, as he was turning his attention to the next couple in line. I was trying to be as polite and friendly as I could to him, hoping I could talk Reverend Bob into marrying Stone and me in a few days time. Unfortunately, I couldn’t tell by his response if he felt obliged to fulfill all of the duties Pastor Steiner had lined up on his calendar, including that of officiating at weddings, of course.

We stepped forward to keep the line moving and selected one of the middle-of-the-room pews to take a seat in. I ended up next to the outside aisle, which I preferred in case I needed to go use the restroom in the middle of a sermon. I probably would need to go at least once to adjust my over-sized panty hose, which were dealing me fits.

I couldn’t help but admire how handsome Stone looked in his charcoal gray suit. The color complemented his light blue eyes and silver hair perfectly. We’d dressed more formally than usual because of the circumstances. I’d even donned one of only a handful of dresses I owned. I’d probably owned the dress for twenty-five years, but it still fit, and it was such a plain and simple design, it would probably never go out of fashion. My wardrobe didn’t exactly scream “fashion” to begin with. I wasn’t going to get too concerned about the way I dressed until blue jeans and t-shirts went out of style.

The panty hose I was wearing were probably five years old, and I practically needed an owner’s manual, and a refresher course, to figure out how to get them on. I was already uncomfortable and hoping—no praying—for a short sermon.

While Reverend Bob continued to welcome members of the congregation, I glanced around and waved at a number of people I recognized. Just as the line at the entrance was thinning, Wendy showed up. I hadn’t expected her, but I wasn’t altogether surprised she’d decided to attend our church on this special morning, the first service without our beloved Pastor Steiner. She’d been to Rockdale Baptist with us several times in the past year. Like all the others filing into the church, Wendy conversed with Reverend Bob for a short while before joining us.

Wendy sat down on the other side of Stone, and she and I whispered back and forth for a minute or two. She pointed out Thurman’s youngest daughter, Paula Bankston, who sat in the front row on the opposite side of the room. Paula sat with another lady and two men, who I thought were probably all children of the late pastor. They all bore a resemblance to each other, and to the pastor, with their light-reddish hair, slim frames, and fair skin.

Reverend Bob Zimmerman began his sermon by honoring Pastor Steiner with a eulogy and the lighting of several candles. I fidgeted in my seat, tugging on the panty hose that kept creeping down into my out-of-style black heels. I’m sure the heels were in the height of fashion, back in the 1980s, when I still cared what everyone else thought about my appearance. But back then I must have not been too concerned about comfort, because the heels were causing my feet to hurt like crazy. My arches were cramping and my toes were beginning to go numb. I slid the shoes off and pushed them under the pew in front of me.