Candy Canes & Corpses Page 12

  Mira rounded the kitchen counter and stood between Jill and Eve. “Show me what you have.”

  “Some photos of the scene,” Eve said. “Only one set of footprints. We assume they belong to the victim. One of the Tinsel-Toners. That’s the group with odd numbers.”

  Jill said, “Jack hasn’t shared any information with us. We need someone with inside knowledge.”

  Eve sighed and, looking up, gave Mira a small smile.

  “What do you know about the victim?” Mira asked.

  “We assume Todd Emerson enjoyed singing Silent Night,” Jill said. “The photos on the group’s social media pages shows him as being happy. We haven’t spoken with the Tinsel-Toners. We just assume they got on well together.”

  Mira lifted her chin a notch. “I’m going to cast my net further afield and talk with the Tinsel-Toners. They might reveal something they haven’t told the police.”

  Jill waited until Mira had left the kitchen to say, “She looked almost downcast but she seemed to snap out of it straightaway. Is something wrong with Mira?”

  “I guess I didn’t get around to telling you about David Bergstrom.”

  When Eve delivered the short version of events, Jill grumbled. “Men.”

  “He might be feeling guilty because he called her again.” Eve drummed her fingers on the table. “What would David do?”

  “He’d get in touch with his police buddies and call in a few favors.”

  Eve looked at Jill. “Do we have any of those?”

  “Apart from Jack and Josh?” Jill shrugged. “I can think of a couple of detectives you’ve liaised with.”

  Eve smiled. “That’s a subtle way of saying I’ve been interrogated.” She sat back and stared up at the ceiling as she wondered how amenable those detectives would be to lending a hand. “I remember Detective Mason Lars stepped in when Jack had to excuse himself from the case because of our relationship. He’s always struck me as being a by the book type of cop. But he has a soft spot for my cakes.”

  Jill hummed. “Bribery by sweet tooth. I like it. What about that detective you met recently when you and Mira took a day off?”

  “Detective Ken McLain. I wonder if he’s related to Roger McLain?” Eve shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. Ken has a lovely sense of humor. We can’t exactly say the same for Roger McLain.” Could she contact Ken? No harm in trying, Eve thought. Picking up her cell phone, she scrolled through it until she found Ken’s number.

  “You have his number?” Jill asked.

  Eve nodded. “From memory, David gave it to me.”

  Ken picked up on the third ring. “Eve Lloyd. I hear you’re in the thick of it again. Why am I not surprised?”

  “Detective McLain.”

  “Oh, go ahead and call me Ken.”

  “Ken. I guess you’ve heard about the incident at my inn.”

  “Yes, and we’re doing all we can to assist.”

  “You are?”

  “Only in a limited capacity. We’re stretched as it is, thanks to David.”

  Eve blinked. “David?” She turned and stared at Jill who leaned in and tried to listen to the conversation.

  “One of his cold cases is keeping us busy so you’re out of luck, Eve.”

  “David Bergstrom?”

  “Yes. You’d think the man would be happy in his retirement. Anyway, I really can’t spare any time. I assume you called because you want something.”

  “As a matter of fact, yes… In the past, I’ve assisted Jack with his investigations. We have a give and take arrangement but he’s out and about, so I can’t ask him for information.”

  The detective chuckled under his breath. “What’s on your mind, Eve?”

  “Really? You’ll help?”

  “I didn’t say that. But I can’t ignore the fact your instincts have been useful.”

  Eve knew she had a foot in the door. However, she couldn’t come up with a single idea. Not when her mind was busy entertaining other thoughts. David. Working a cold case. Why hadn’t he told Mira?

  “Is David actually there with you?” Eve thought she heard a muffled groan and guessed Ken had just realized he’d said too much.

  “Is this where you blackmail me?” he asked.

  “Your words, not mine.”

  “I don’t think my badge will be any good against the ton of bricks that will fall on me if David finds out I told you about him working a case.”

  Just then, Samantha strode into the kitchen and handed Jill a piece of paper. Glancing at it, Eve asked, “Did Jack give you any license plate numbers to check? My super-efficient front desk manager took them down.”

  “Jack’s priority has been to secure the island. The rest is on his to-do list.”

  “I have them right here. Do you want me to give them to you?”

  “Go ahead.”

  “Thank you. For the first time in a couple of days I feel really useful.

  Chapter Seven

  Eve had no idea what to do with the information she had. Should she tell Mira? And what exactly would she say to her? David had canceled Christmas because he’d found a lead on his cold case? He should have told Mira himself.

  If Eve mentioned anything, she risked getting Mira’s hopes up. For all she knew, David had used the cold case as an excuse to set some boundaries.

  Eve set a teapot down on a coffee table and arranged the cups around it while Jill brought out a platter of cookies.

  “I honestly don’t know what to do,” Eve whispered. “Help me out, Jill.”

  “It’s a tough one.” Jill shook her head. “What if David wanted to use the opportunity to slow things down?”

  “Excuse me,” one of the Yule-Tiders said. “Could we possibly also have a small jug of milk, please?”

  Nodding, Eve went back into the kitchen and came out with the jug. “I feel I should say something,” she continued. “You should have seen Mira when she first told me about David not coming and showed me his daughter’s Christmas card. I’ve never seen her look so miserable.”

  “Excuse me.” The Yule-Tider straightened his flamboyant green tie. “Do these cookies have peanuts? I’m allergic.”

  “No peanuts. They’re ginger cookies and lemon cookies.” Turning to Jill, Eve lowered her voice and continued, “I really want to give David a piece of my mind before telling Mira about his cold case.”

  “She needs to know,” Jill said. “In her place, I would want to know.”

  Noticing she’d brought out one teacup too many, Eve removed it. “If I could skip ahead to the ending, I’d want to see Mira happy with David. So, I feel I should do everything in my power to make that happen. Although, the sensible side of me says I should stay right out of it and let them work it all out by themselves. I’m not sure I’d appreciate someone meddling in my private life. Not even if they had the best intentions.”

  “Hush,” Jill said, “Mira’s headed our way.”

  Mira approached them and, taking them by their hands, guided them back to the kitchen. “I’ve been chatting with the Tinsel-Toners.”

  “How are they holding up?” Eve asked. Going by their earlier reaction and their eagerness to get on with it, it looked as if they were deep in denial.

  “They’re feeling a little edgy and worried someone might be targeting them.”

  “Someone?”

  “Yes, Eve. They’re pointing the finger of suspicion at the Yule-Tiders who in turn are pointing the finger right back at the Tinsel-Toners.”

  Eve chortled. “Well, that’s a first. I’m usually at the receiving end of that dreaded finger of suspicion. Considering the on-going feud between the two groups, I’m not surprised they feel like targets.”

  “One of the Yule-Tiders mentioned Rob Reeves had been having some trouble with the victim.”

  “Is Rob Reeves a Tinsel-Toner?” Eve asked.

  Mira nodded.

  “Really? I thought the Tinsel-Toners were a big happy family?”

  “On the surface, I�
�m sure they are.” Mira gave a firm nod. “I spoke with Rob and asked him straight out if he’d had any issues with Todd Emerson. He averted his gaze and changed the subject. So, I called Jack and passed on the information. I believe he’s on his way over now to interrogate him.”

  “Well done, Mira.”

  “Now I’m going to do an impromptu author reading.” Mira smiled. “A couple of the Yule-Tiders are fans.”

  When Mira left, Jill whispered, “You still haven’t told her.”

  “I can’t bring myself to do it. What if I say the wrong thing? I’m emotionally invested in her well-being. If I thought I could keep a cool head, I’d contact David, but I don’t trust myself and I feel I can’t say anything to Mira unless I’m one hundred percent certain David stayed away only because of the cold case.”

  Eve prepared another couple of trays. “Help me take these out to the sitting room, please. I’m thinking I’ll have to run into town, but that will have to wait until Jack brings back my car. Our guests will want a change of clothes soon and since Jack still wants them to remain at the inn, I’ll need to go out and buy a few essentials for them.”

  “That should definitely come out of the town’s coffers,” Jill said.

  “I can’t think of that now. Especially not as it will make me think about Roger McLain and that always makes my teeth grind.”

  Hearing a car approaching, she looked out the window. “Jack’s back.” She couldn’t burden him with Mira’s private business, but she wouldn’t mind knowing if he knew about David’s cold case.

  She met him in the kitchen and waited for him to end a call he was on. “I’ll take any news you have.”

  “I had a chat with Ken McLain,” Jack said. “Thank you for providing those license plate numbers.”

  “You can thank Samantha for getting them.” Eve pretended to look busy by wiping down the counter. Lowering her voice, she asked, “Do any of my guests have prior convictions? I feel I’m entitled to know.” She shrugged. “After all, they’re staying under my roof and, heavens, I might end up harboring a killer for Christmas.”

  “They all lead squeaky clean lives,” Jack assured her. “Not even a single traffic violation so far. I doubt any of them would be capable of murder.”

  Eve chortled. “Are you telling me what I want to hear?”

  He smiled. “I guess it didn’t work.”

  “No but only because I saw them going at each other’s throats in town.” She offered him a coffee and got busy making it. “Your fake assurances are probably spot on. Would a killer who lures his victim out of the house ever become involved in a public display of anger?”

  “There’s always a first time for everything.” Jack shrugged. “People change. Evolve. Maybe the public flare-up was the killer’s trigger, prompting him to deal with the matter in his own way.”

  “I guess your search of the island didn’t yield any results.”

  Jack looked over her shoulder and nodded.

  Turning, Eve saw Josh standing at the door.

  Jack cleared his throat. “Would you mind if we use your study for a moment?”

  “Y-yes. May I ask why?”

  “One of the Tinsel-Toners had an ongoing disagreement with Todd Emerson.”

  “Rob Reeves?” The man Mira had mentioned…

  He nodded. “We’d like to ask him a few questions.”

  “Sure. Go ahead.” Eve leaned against the kitchen counter and closed her eyes for a moment and only opened them when she heard Jill coming into the kitchen.

  “What did I miss?”

  “We shouldn’t jump to conclusions, but it looks like it might have been an inside job, after all.” Eve organized a tray with tea, coffee and some cookies for the pregnant couple. “I’ll be back shortly.”

  On her way to the stables, she kept her mind busy by working on a menu for the week. When she knocked on the door, she again wondered if she should tell Mira about David. A cold case meant he wanted to tie up loose ends. She understood that, but why hadn’t he mentioned it to Mira?

  Eve knocked again. Turning, she looked out across the yard and thought the town elder, Roger McLain, should have tried to organize transportation off the island for everyone. A ferry to get them off the island and then buses to get them home. Everyone who could should be able to spend Christmas with their loved ones.

  A movement on the front porch drew her attention. Jack and Josh burst out of the house and rushed to Eve’s SUV, taking off like a bat out of hell.

  A second later, Jill appeared on the front porch. Seeing Eve, she ran over. “Did you see them?”

  “Yes. What happened?” Eve asked.

  “Looks like Rob Reeves did a runner. He must have taken off when Jack arrived. If he’s not guilty of something, then he’s going to have to explain himself.”

  Knowing there was nothing for her to do, she turned and, just as she was about to knock on the door again, her cell phone rang. “Ken?”

  “Eve. I tried to contact Jack but it went to voicemail. What’s going on over there?”

  “Jack has just gone chasing after one of the guests.”

  “This is important,” Ken said. “Are there any other officers there?”

  “I’ll get Jill to go back in the house and look. I’m sure Jack left someone behind.” As she waited, Eve asked, “Is there anything you can share with me?”

  Ken took a moment to answer. “I ran the license plates you gave me and one of them is for a car reported stolen a couple of days ago.”

  Ken gave her a description of the car. She scanned the street but didn’t see it.

  “I don’t see it here. It probably belongs to Rob Reeves,” Eve mused. “He’s the guest Jack wanted to speak with.”

  “Yes,” Ken admitted. “The details of the stolen car match the information linked to Rob Reeves.”

  Jill returned with one of the officers. “This is Officer William Blaine.”

  Eve handed him the cell phone so he could speak with Ken McLain. As she waited, she turned and looked at the door. Edging toward the window, she peered inside. “Jill? Did you happen to notice which car the pregnant couple were driving?”

  “An old BMW.”

  The car Ken had described to her. “Ken says the car’s been reported stolen. I knocked on the door but there was no answer and I don’t see anyone inside. Bradley said her folks had a boat and he’d organized to be picked up at the marina, but he had to postpone his plans to leave when Jack said he still wanted everyone to stay at the inn. I don’t get it. The list Samantha put together had Rob Reeves’ name connected to the license plate number Ken says belongs to a stolen car.”

  “Did you get that?” Jill asked the officer.

  “Maybe they switched the plates.” Officer William Blaine nodded and approached the door. When no one answered, he opened it.

  Eve and Jill stepped back. Eve thought if anyone bolted out of the apartment, she didn’t want to be in their way.

  “There’s no one here,” William said.

  “I guess they must have decided they didn’t want to miss their chance to get off the island.” Eve hoped that was the case.

  “After you told them they couldn’t leave?” Jill frowned. “And they’re driving a stolen car.”

  True.

  They both stepped up to the threshold.

  “I guess we shouldn’t go in. Just in case. There has to be an explanation.”

  Jill chuckled. “They’re car thieves?”

  Eve got on the phone to Ken and told him what had happened. “We’re standing outside the stables where they were staying.” Ken asked her to describe the couple. “Tall. Lanky. Mousy brown hair. He has regular features with no discernable marks. At a guess, I’d say he’s in his early thirties.” She looked at Jill. “Can you describe his wife?”

  “Brunette. Pregnant.” Jill shrugged. “Sorry, I didn’t really look at her. They didn’t spend much time at the inn. As soon as we allocated the rooms, they went there and kept to themselv
es.”

  “Do me a favor, Eve,” Ken said. “Don’t touch anything. Put William back on, please. Try to keep anyone from entering, please.”

  “Don’t worry. Everyone’s been good about staying inside.” Eve crouched down and ran her fingers along the entrance floor. “Sand. It could have come from William.” Or Bradley, she thought. But Jill had said they hadn’t set foot outside since they’d been shown to their room.

  Why would there be sand on the floor?

  When the officer got off the phone, Eve drew his attention to the floor. “Where you on the beach?”

  He showed her his boots. “Yes, but I cleaned my boots before going inside the house.”

  Had Bradley gone out onto the beach?

  Worse. Had he been at the beach the night before?

  “He’s driving the stolen car. What if he switched the license plate? What if… What if Jack went chasing after the wrong person?”

  William contacted Jack. Luckily, he picked up.

  “He’s about to commandeer my car,” Jill grumbled. “I think we should beat him to it.”

  Another officer came rushing toward them. He had a brief conversation with William who said, “This is Patrick. He’ll stay here in case something happens.”

  Jill took that as her cue to rush to her car.

  “What is she doing?” William hollered as he chased after Jill.

  When he reached the car, Jill said, “I’m driving.”

  “Ma’am. This is official police business.”

  “You want to stand here and argue? Fine, you drive.”

  As William jumped in the driver’s seat, both Eve and Jill jumped in the passenger seats.

  “No time to argue,” Jill insisted. “Besides, I know a short cut to the marina.”

  “This is highly irregular,” he complained even as he drove off.

  “That’s our middle name,” Jill declared. “Now, step on it.” Turning to Eve, Jill asked, “What sort of head start do you think they have?”

  Eve tried to work on a timeline. After serving the guests lunch, she’d sat down but then she’d remembered the pregnant couple. She’d prepared their meal so there might have been a half hour delay. She ran through everything else. Talking with Jill. Jack’s arrival... “Well over half an hour.”