Away in a Murder Read online

  The waiter shrugged his shoulders and handed my card back to me. I thanked him and put my card away.

  Marlowe might not let me pay the bill, but he couldn’t make me stay in the restaurant. I grabbed my purse and followed him out the door. When he saw me he just rolled his eyes. We followed the man for about a block to the spot of an empty lot.

  “Where?” Marlowe asked the man.

  “See that wise man that looks like it fell over?” the man asked.

  “Yes”, Marlowe said.

  “That’s not a wise man. The robe was covering his face. Didn’t even know it was a real man until my son said that wasn’t the wise man his Sunday school class put there when they helped decorate the lot. I mean, he’s wearing my old costume that I donated to the church for the display. But the class just stuffed old clothes to make the bodies.”

  Sure enough there was a man leaning against a fake wooden wall. It was pretty hard to tell it was an actual man and not a stuffed one. Until you looked at the face. Then you could see the lifeless eyes staring at you.

  Wait a minute there was something familiar about that face. Was it someone I knew? Was I about to be very sad? Then it hit me. No I wasn’t going to be sad. But I was probably going to be a suspect. That face belonged to the reporter who tried to ruin my life. The reporter I just sabotaged on the national evening news. News flash: Al Learner was dead.

  Something was sticking out of his chest? I was trying to see it. I think it was a knife. I leaned in closer. Not only was it a knife but it was a knife with an ornately carved handle. Even worse, it was a knife with an ornately carved penguin shaped handle. A knife that I had seen and admired in Nigel’s office quite often. Damn, I really hoped I was wrong, but something told me I wasn’t.

  Marlowe was on his phone calling someone. The station, I figured. I took charge while he did that. I cleared everyone away from the grass and mud but had them stay close so the officers could question them when they got here. The small group and I stood on the sidewalk and waited. Everyone was curious about the body, but not curious enough to get in trouble with the Chief of Police.

  While I waited I silently thanked Pete for picking out a pair of my better quality shoes. Ones that I could stand in for hours without my feet hurting. I was quite comfortable standing here worrying about who killed Al. And who would be accused of doing it.

  When the officers arrived they got to work right way. I finally got to see the new forensics team. It was one guy, his name tag said Altgilbers. I knew it was German but I had no idea how you pronounced it. He was about six feet tall and what they call barrel chested. When he spoke it was with a German accent. I liked him.

  I watched as the officers and Altgilbers combed through the crime scene and bagged the evidence. Marlowe looked up and started as if he’d forgotten that I was there. He spoke to one of his officers and then they both walked over to me.

  “Misty, I’m sorry. This is not how I wanted our first date to go,” Marlowe said.

  “Really, so you didn’t plan this? You didn’t put the body there just to impress me?”

  “Ha ha. Officer Taylor here will take you home. I’ll stop by later if I can. Otherwise I’ll call you tomorrow.” With that he walked away. He didn’t even attempt to kiss me. Not the right time, maybe?

  Well, not the ending I was hoping for on our first date, but at least the date was memorable.

  Chapter 8: Too Smart For That

  When I got home Frankie and Pete were waiting for me in my living room. They were sitting on my couch watching TV.

  “You’re home early,” Frankie said.

  “So, how did it go? Not good judging by the look on your face,” Pete said.

  “The date itself was fine.”

  “Uh-oh.” I heard them both say.

  “I learned that he has an adorable little white cat that is deaf and that he rescued.”

  “But…” Pete said.

  “But then a body was found nearby and Marlowe had to go to work. Officer Taylor gave me a ride home.”

  Frankie just looked at me. Pete walked over to me, took my arm and led me to the couch.

  “Sit down, sweetie; I’ll get you a soda. I’m sure you’re in shock. I’d get you something stronger but Frankie told me you don’t drink,” he said.

  I sat next to Frankie.

  “Mom, who was it?”

  “Al Learner. And he had Nigel’s penguin knife sticking out of him,” I said.

  Pete handed me a Dr. Pepper and sat down on the other side of me.

  “Are you sure?” Frankie asked. “About the knife I mean.”

  “Pretty sure. I admire it every time I’m in Nigel’s office.”

  “Oh, damn,” Frankie said.

  “What?” Pete said.

  “That means Mom’s fingerprints are all over it. If the killer wore gloves my mom could be a suspect.”

  “Oh, that’s bad,” Pete said.

  “You know what that means, Frankie?” I asked.

  We just looked at each other for a moment while Pete just stared and waited.

  “Yes,” Frankie said, “it means that we have another murder to solve.”

  Frankie got up from the couch, went in to my office, and came back out with a notebook and a pen in hand. He sat back down and said, “Ok, who are the other suspects?”

  “Me. Nigel. Dad. You. And I don’t know who else,” I said. “Probably lots of people though.”

  “Me?” Frankie said.

  “You. He accused us of having an inappropriate relationship on national TV. You are well known in the field of finance. Something like that could be very bad publicity for you.”

  “Good point,” Frankie said. “Pete you do this you have better hand writing.”

  Frankie handed the notebook and pen to Pete. Pete titled one page in the notebook with the names of each of the suspects.

  “Ok, I get the reason you, Frank, and Frankie might be suspects. I wrote those down. But why Nigel? Just because his knife was in the victim?” Pete asked.

  “Well, that is some pretty compelling evidence,” I said.

  “Yes, but couldn’t somebody have taken it from his office?” Pete asked. I think he was going in to lawyer mode.

  “Yes,” I said. “That list includes me, Frankie, and Frank.”

  “Ok, but who else has access to his office? Almost everyone, he never locked it. That didn’t help,” Frankie asked

  “Frankie, go research Al’s past. See if he’s crossed paths with anyone else from the company,” I said

  “I’ll help,” Pete said. “I’m not as good with a computer but I don’t suck at it either.”

  “We’ll go upstairs and do that. Anything important comes up we’ll let you know, Mom. Otherwise I’ll see you tomorrow when we walk to work.”

  Pete took the notebook and pen with him and they both left. I went in to my bedroom and changed in to comfortable pajamas. I didn’t know how well I’d sleep, but at least I’d be comfortable.

  ***

  Morning came much too soon. I wasn’t sure how much I’d actually slept, if I had at all. However I got showered and dressed for work as usual. I wasn’t sure that I wanted to go in to work today. After all a knife belonging to my PR guy was sticking out of the dead body of the man who interviewed and embarrassed me and my family on national TV. It wouldn’t be a good day. Interesting, but not good.

  I was blasting my favorite music to help me think. I was just sitting down to my breakfast when my doorbell rang. It was Marlowe. He was still dressed in the clothes he wore last night. I let him in.

  “What the hell are you listening to?” he yelled.

  I went over to my stereo and turned down the volume. I’d forgotten how loud it was. Loud helps me think.

  “It’s a band called Thor and the Imps. This is their 1977 album, Keep the Dogs Away,” I said.

  “Dear God. People actually listened to that stuff?”

  “Yes, they did,” I sneered at him.

  He l
ooked over at my stereo. “And it really is an album?” he said.

  “Oh, yea, this is the original album.”

  “Impressive. But Heavy Metal?”

  “Heavy Metal helps me think. The louder the better. That or absolute silence.”

  “Just one more interesting thing I’ve learned about you,” Marlowe said looking a bit more afraid than interested.

  I sat down at the table and got back to my breakfast. I invited Marlowe to help himself to the box of cereal that was on the table. He filled his bowl high and dug in. Did he not eat since our date last night? It didn’t look like it. And again, did he even taste his food?

  “Chocolate?” he said through a mouth full of cereal.

  “It’s healthy. It’s got fiber. The little chocolate bars just make is palatable.”

  I waited until he was done swallowing but not really tasting his second bowl before I asked him any questions. Then I just said, “So, what’s new?”

  He pushed the bowl aside and looked at me. “Thank you for breakfast.”

  “You’re welcome. What’s new? What’s happening with Al’s murder?”

  He looked at me and sighed. “You’re suspect number one.”

  This was no surprise. “I know. Frankie and I already made a list of suspects. He and I are on it. We both hated the guy and we were both embarrassed on national TV by him. Plus I have touched that knife several times while in Nigel’s office because I think it’s so cool.”

  “That’s the only reason your prints are on that knife? Right?” He looked at me kind of suspiciously.

  “Yes, it is. And by the way, my prints are out in cyber space or wherever prints go because we print everyone at the park and search national data bases for the background checks. I’ve never been arrested.”

  “I know. And I’m sure Frank would have loved it if you were.” He smiled at that. He had such a great smile.

  “So, for what time do I need to provide an alibi?” I asked.

  “We’re still tracking Mr. Learner’s whereabouts. We can’t pinpoint the exact time of death, yet.”

  So now that he was dead he was Mr. Learner. Funny how that happens.

  “Ok, well, I know we saw him the day before yesterday at the interview. I have not seen or heard from him since. And I spent a lot of time at home alone. So that doesn’t help you.”

  Marlowe reached over and gently grabbed my arm. “Where did you get those scratches?”

  “What scratches?” I turned my arm and looked at it. Yep, there were scratches there. I looked at my other arm just to make sure I didn’t have a matched set. But I did.

  “I have no idea,” I said honestly. I looked at the scratches. I tried to think back and remember where they could have come from.

  Marlowe just gave me one of those sideways looks. I wasn’t sure he believed me, but I was sure he wanted to.

  “You don’t know where those scratched came from?” he asked.

  “I don’t. I get scratches and little bruises all the time and have no clue where they come from. I was working in the gift shops yesterday. I probably got them while I was moving stock. However, if you want to test them for Al’s DNA or something feel free.”

  “It’s probably too late, I assume you’ve showered already?” Marlowe asked.

  “I did.”

  “And besides I don’t think you are strong enough to carry Al’s body from the crime scene to the field where he was found. Frankly, if you had killed him, I think you’d be smart enough to dispose of the body properly and not put it on display for all to see. No, you’d have disposed of it.”

  “I will accept that as a complement,” I said. “But how do you know I didn’t panic?”

  “You don’t panic. Well, except for that one day in Nigel’s office. Are you ever going to tell me what that was all about?”

  “Maybe someday. I don’t think we’re close enough to share deep secrets yet.”

  “I can accept that. You’re still on my suspect list. Low on the list because I know you, but you’re still there. Lucky for you the hairs we found on his shirt weren’t yours.”

  “How do you know without my DNA?”

  “Because you’re hair is blonde and those were brown.”

  There was a knock at my door. I got up and let Frankie and Pete in. They both stopped at the sight of Marlowe sitting at my breakfast table. I could see they had the wrong impression.

  “Ooooh,” Pete said smiling.

  “No, Marlowe just stopped by this morning to let me know that Frankie and I are both suspects in Al’s murder. Frankie, show Marlowe your arms. Do you have scratches?”

  Frankie just looked at me and rolled up his sleeves. Marlowe looked at his arms. No scratches.

  “So, Frankie didn’t do it. Or maybe I killed Al in a struggle and Frankie moved the body,” I said. “That’s possible.”

  “Mom, don’t help,” Frankie said. Or whined.

  “I still think you’re too smart for that,” Marlowe said. “I have to get back to work. Thanks for the cereal. By the way, if I can make it, Misty, I’d love to attend the parks premier Christmas party with you. I’ll even dress up.”

  Both Frankie and Pete looked at me. They looked excited.

  “Of course. I wasn’t going to dress up, though,” I said. “It’s a Christmas party.”

  “We’ll get you a costume. You’d make a cute elf or even a Mrs. Clause,” Pete said, his eyes glowing.

  Missed your calling, I thought.

  “Ok, it’s a date,” I said. “If you can make it. I mean a dead body might turn up again.”

  “Even that won’t stop me this time,” Marlowe said closing the door behind him.

  “Better not stop you,” I thought to myself.

  After Marlowe closed the door, Frankie pulled out the notebook they had been working on last night. He sat down at the table.

  “We found out some interesting things about people last night,” Frankie said.

  “Like what?” I asked.

  Pete started to clear the table and then unload and load the dishwasher.

  “Pete, you don’t have to do that,” I said.

  “Yea, I do. You two talk, I’m listening.”

  Of course, why I would argue with anyone cleaning my house for me is beyond me. Maybe I should take my temperature.

  “Gotta love the internet. Found pictures of a scantily dressed Melanie with Al Learner. Apparently they were an item once,” Frankie said.

  “And she has long brown hair,” I said. I explained to Frankie what Marlowe had told me about finding hair on Al’s body.

  “I’ll add that to the notebook. Also, I found out that Nigel’s dad was a PR guy too. He once worked with some pretty big names. Including the elusive Misty Breeze. By the way I looked her up too. Very pretty. Her music wasn’t too bad either. Too bad she died so young.”

  “Back to Nigel,” I said. I was getting sick of hearing about Misty Breeze.

  “Ok, so Al ran a story about Nigel’s dad sleeping with his female clients. Especially the elusive Misty Breeze. Al claimed the guy had sex with her when she was under aged. Al ruined both the guy’s career and his reputation.”

  “No. I knew them both then. It never happened.”

  “Mom, she died of a drug overdose. She was probably an addict and no one knew. Who’s to say she didn’t have sex with the guy?” Frankie said.

  “I am,” I said. I was getting defensive. Misty Breeze was innocent and scared when she was alive. I still felt the need to defend her some times. However, I had to drop the Misty Breeze discussion and get back to the present.

  “So, it’s really not looking good for Nigel,” I said. “Damn.”

  “Hey, anyone is better than us. Too bad he’s so good at his job,” Frankie said.

  “Pete, when are you taking the bar?” I asked.

  He stopped wiping down the counter and faced me. “Tomorrow. Why?”

  “I was hoping you would be able to assist us by getting information as a l
awyer. But, that won’t work yet,” I said.

  “And it will take a while before I’ll hear the results. In the mean time, I don’t want to do anything that could jeopardize my practicing here in Florida.”

  “No, you don’t. Because then I can charge you rent.” I smiled at Pete.

  “Hey, to live in such a beautiful place, I’d pay rent,” he said.

  “I was just kidding,” I said. “The property is paid off. Frankie and I just split the other bills.”

  “Ok, I’ll do that. As soon as I’m working again.”

  “Can we get back to the murder,” Frankie almost yelled at us.

  “Touchy, touchy,” Pete said. He went back to cleaning my kitchen.

  “Sorry, Honey, I guess I’m just easily distracted right now,” I said.

  “I get it. How much do you think Marlowe will tell you? We need to learn more about the other suspects,” Frankie asked me.

  “Well, I think he told me more this morning than he would have otherwise. Maybe I can get him to tell me more.”

  “Sleep with him,” Pete chimed in.

  Frankie and I both looked at him and said, “Hey!”

  “I was joking,” Pete said putting his hands up. “Although it would work.”

  “No,” I said. “We’ll get clues another way.”

  Pete put the cleaning supplies away. “Misty,” he said, “the guy was staying at your hotel. Couldn’t you find a way to look in his room? I mean, there could be clues there.”

  “Probably, but don’t you think the police have already searched it? There’s probably not anything good left,” I said.

  “No, Pete has a point. Sometimes the police overlook what we recognize as a clue. Remember Mrs. Neuspech’s murder?”Frankie said.

  “You may have a point. Maybe I’ll stop by at lunch. The hotel’s usually pretty empty then. It wouldn’t be too hard to get into his room.”

  “Not alone, Mom. Either let me know when you’re going or have William go with you.”

  “I’m not helpless, but I understand.”

  “Ok,” Pete said, “You two go to work. I will study for the bar and do research the way I know how.”

  “Text me if you find anything,” Frankie said.