Take Stock in Murder (18 page)

“I agree there isn’t anything more this room can tell us.” Charles took out his flashlight and grabbed Carrie’s hand. They returned through the closet, and Charles carefully closed and
secured the bookcase. As they walked through the passageway, Carrie’s foot kicked something, and they heard it bounce against the wall.

“What was that?”

“I kicked something with my foot.”

Charles shone the light into a far corner of the passageway, where something gold was illuminated. Charles picked it up and turned it over in his hand. It was a gold cuff link with the letter
B
etched into the metal.

“Charles, this cuff link is just like the one Todd was wearing. I pulled it off when he had me…”

Charles took Carrie’s hand. “I’m sorry finding the cuff link brought back bad memories, but it’s provided another piece of the puzzle. Apparently, when the murderers were carrying him through the passageway, his cuff link fell off. Now we know how Todd’s body got to the library. The same way we did.”

“It also confirms our theory that he was murdered somewhere else, not in the library,” Carrie added.

Carrie was already at the door to the game room when Charles called to her quietly. “Carrie, look here.”

Carrie returned to look at the spot on the floor where Charles’s flashlight illuminated the hardwood floor. “Is it blood?”

“It sure looks like it. But it’s hard to know for sure without proper testing.”

“Do you think he was murdered in here?”

“No, but I think the body was stored in here until it was moved to the library,” suggested Charles.

“This is exciting. We’ve solved part of the mystery,” she said.

“The only problem is, we still have no clues as to the identity of murderer.”

harles carefully opened the door into the game room.

The room was empty.

“What would you have done had someone been in here? How would you explain our being in the closet?”

“I wouldn’t explain. I would allow them to use their imagination to its fullest extent.” Charles threw Carrie a cue stick as he grabbed one for himself.

Carrie was about to make her shot when she saw something on the side of the table. “Charles, look at this.”

Charles looked where Carrie’s finger was pointing. It was a tiny speck of red.

“Do you think it’s blood?” she asked.

Charles got down on his knees and looked closely. “It sure looks like it, and it would make sense. Todd died in the game room, was hid in the closet, and then moved to the library.”

“What should we do?”

“Move our game to another table. If it is Todd’s blood, let’s leave it for the police to find. Pointing it out doesn’t help us and could hurt us. It’s such a small speck; the police might assume we knew where to look.”

They had no sooner started to play their game at a different table than they heard voices.

“Nice shot, Carrie,” Charles said just as Brad Barrington and his wife, Linda, entered the room.

Brad didn’t have the same boyish good looks as Todd, but instead he had the square, chiseled jaw of most of the Barrington men. He stood head and shoulders above his brother in both physical height and respect from the family. He’d never had time to indulge in pranks like his younger brother. From a very early age, he’d been groomed to be the heir to the family firm. Charles also suspected that with Brad’s father taking a more active role in Country Club business, an announcement might be forthcoming about Brad’s new leadership role at the firm.

“I heard you two were in the Club tonight.” Brad’s tone was less than friendly. His wife said nothing, but her facial expression also expressed displeasure at seeing the couple.

“Hello, Brad. Nice suit. It makes you look like a stockbroker. Good evening, Linda,” Charles said, trying to be cordial. Linda was Todd’s age, though she gave the impression of being older. She was a well-groomed blonde and the perfect social partner for Brad. She knew how to dress, how to throw a party, how to volunteer, and how to agree with her husband.

“I can’t believe you two actually have the nerve to show your faces here.”

“Are you talking to us, Brad?” Charles answered.

“Don’t get smart with me, Faraday!”

“Now, boys, let’s not let things get out of hand.” Carrie knew Charles was goading Brad, but she also knew this wasn’t the time or place for such shenanigans.

“Get out of hand like they did the night you killed my brother?” Brad said.

“That’s enough, Brad. It’s time you and Linda find some other spot in the Club to spend the rest of your evening. Personally, I’m tired of teaching the Barrington family how to improve their manners. And no, that doesn’t mean I had anything to do with your brother’s death,” Charles said.

In a split second, Charles had Brad by the arm. Before Brad could react, Charles was able to pull him to the door, open the door, and move Brad into the hall. As fate would have it, Mr. Heathrow and Mr. Albright were passing by with their wives as the fracas occurred.

“Gentlemen, please. Mr. Faraday, you need to take these frays outside the hallways of this Club,” Mr. Heathrow said.

“I agree with you completely. The Barringtons need to learn some manners, since their behavior disturbs the ladies and the lovely atmosphere we have here,” Charles responded.

“Keep it up, Faraday. You’ll get yours,” Brad said

Linda and Carrie had followed the men into the hallway. “Let him go, Charles. I’ll get him out of here. Come on, Brad. Let’s go to the part of the Club that doesn’t have the riffraff,” Linda stated.

Charles waited a moment to make sure Linda had Brad under control before he released his grip. Then he calmly walked into the game room and shut the door.

Carrie clapped her hands. “You know, each time you protect this family, I’m becoming more impressed with your defense capabilities.”

“Thank you, darling. A little something I managed to pick up during my years in business school.” He smiled a broad grin. “Now where were we?”

“This is becoming a very long game. We’ve been playing this one game for over an hour.”

“Want to forfeit?”

“Forfeit to you? Never!” She grabbed her stick and made a perfect shot, but then her game went downhill. The rest of the game took only fifteen minutes to complete.

“You should have quit when you had the chance, Carrie.”

“It just seems to be your night, darling. I’m happy for you. Come on, let’s go. I’ve some other activities in mind for you tonight.” She gave him a peck on the cheek and headed for the door.

Out in the hallway, the sound of their names being called startled them. They turned to see James Marshall, president of the Club. James was a congenial sort of fellow. He usually spent Saturday nights at the Club, greeting people and just being president. Tonight he looked very natty in his navy-blue blazer, sharply creased tan slacks, and a tan turtleneck sweater.

“Hello, you two. I was hoping to catch you before you left.”

“Hello, James,” Charles responded cordially.

“You look very dapper tonight,” Carrie added.

“Thank you, Carrie. A compliment from a lovely lady is always appreciated. How was dinner? You two made quite a stir in the dining room. What brought you to the Club tonight?”

“James, we eat at the Club every other Saturday night when we’re in town and several other times a month. Why wouldn’t we be at the Club tonight?” A slight annoyance showed in Charles’s tone. “I hope you’re also questioning the dining motives of those folks who haven’t eaten here in the last two years but showed up tonight.”

“Charles, don’t get upset. I just meant that under the circumstances I was surprised to see you both. I hear you two had a rough time with the police.”

Charles was about to speak when Carrie touched his arm. “Actually, the police did stop by to ask a few questions, since we saw Todd at the dance. But I understand the police have been questioning everyone at the Club. It seems like asking lots of questions is the modus operandi of their investigation.”

“Why isn’t anyone questioning why the Barringtons are at the Club, as if nothing has changed in their lives?” Charles cut in. “This tragedy struck their family, while it had nothing to do with Carrie and myself. We just left the game room, where we ran into a very unpleasant Linda and Brad Barrington. I imagine some of the questions people are asking about us are based on the rumors Brad and Linda are spreading. And quite frankly, I don’t appreciate it,” Charles said.

“Unfortunately, it’s not just Brad and Linda. I think many of our members feel this tragedy may have something to do with you. The police are asking lots of questions, and they all seem to focus on what you two were doing on the night of the murder.”

“James, we’re very sorry that Todd was murdered,” Carrie said. “However, to be perfectly frank, it was an unfortunate set
of circumstances that we saw Todd on the night of his murder. Perhaps they should be spending their time questioning who else that drunken young man annoyed.”

“Look, let’s not get too emotional. I think the Club has been under enough strain these last few weeks. What we thought of Todd is beside the point. The fact of the matter is, Edward Barrington is up for president of the Club. He wants…I mean, we all want this matter solved in a quiet and expedient manner,” said James.

“Our having dinner at the Club keeps that from happening? What you’re really saying is, Edward Barrington doesn’t want us at the Club. I think that was obvious by the way his son and daughter-in-law tracked us down.”

“That’s not what I said. It’s just that since you two seem to be the center of the investigation, every time you appear, the murder is back on the lips of the members. I just thought it might be better for everyone to wait until they find who committed the murder before being…well, quite so visible. I’ve also suggested to Linda and Brad that they allow the police to do the investigating and the accusing. It isn’t good for the members to have these little hostilities occurring in our hallways,” James said.

Charles realized that James did care about the Club. Charles took a deep breath. “James, I appreciate your concern, but there are two things to consider. First, if the police are concerned about our activities, then the worst thing we could possibly do is drop from sight. People would naturally assume…Well, they would assume the worst. Secondly, we pay the same dues to belong to this Club as Edward Barrington and everyone else.
We like the food, we like the Club, and we’re particularly fond of the people. I think we’ll keep taking full advantages of all the privileges of our membership. Come, Carrie. It’s time to go.”

With that, Charles took Carrie’s arm and escorted her down the hallway toward the front door. In an alcove near the door, they saw Brad and Linda, Mr. and Mrs. Barrington, the Chaneys, and the Armstrongs sharing drinks.

“Can you believe the nerve of that guy, asking us to curtail our activities at the Club? What’s he worried about? In just a few more weeks, he won’t be Club president anyway.” Carrie made the remarks as she stretched back in the front seat of the car while they headed home.

“Well, I’ve no intention of curtailing our activities. In fact, I’m planning on showing up a little more frequently.”