Better Off Thread, page 20
“I guess stranger things have happened.”
We were having chicken strips with mashed potatoes today, and Angus was getting impatient for a taste. I cut off a bite of my chicken and put it in his dish. It took him longer to turn around than it did to inhale the food.
“I’m glad your neighbors were so quick to react to John Martin’s arrival,” Ted said. “I’m glad Calloway was paying attention.”
“Even if he hadn’t been, I’d have been fine, you know. I’m not some little hothouse flower.”
“You are a hot little flower.”
I pressed my lips together to show him that I was serious. “I can take care of myself a lot better than you guys give me credit for.”
“I give you credit, babe. But John Martin is a bully, and I don’t want him anywhere near you. You shouldn’t have to worry about being threatened in your own shop.”
“You face threats in your job on a daily basis.”
He gave me the face that said give me a break. It made me lean over and kiss his cheek.
“You’re so gorgeous,” I said.
“Don’t change the subject. I want you to call me immediately if you ever see John Martin headed your way again.”
“I will. I didn’t see him headed my way this time, though. I just looked up, and there he stood.”
“What prompted his visit?”
I shrugged. “I’m not sure. Todd and Blake got here before we could really discuss it.”
Ted gave Angus another bite of chicken. “I’m sorry if I seem overprotective at times.”
“I don’t mind. It’s way better than underprotective.”
He chuckled softly. “Yeah, I guess it is.”
* * *
Just after lunch, Charlie Emerson came by the shop. He was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt and carrying a duffel bag
“Hi, Charlie. I almost didn’t recognize you out of uniform.” I was standing at the counter, and Angus was lying on his bed. I didn’t invite Charlie to sit.
“Yeah. I just got off work and came up here to check on Dani before heading to the gym. She told me where your shop was, so I stopped in to apologize if I made you and your friend feel unwelcome at the meeting this morning.”
“You didn’t make us feel unwelcome. How is Dani?”
“She’s doing as well as can be expected. Having Nicole to take care of probably helps. When you’re busy, you can’t sit around and dwell on your loss—at least, that’s what I learned after Mom died. That’s when I got more involved with the support group and other things at the hospital.”
“That’s good.”
“Is everything all right?” he asked. “You look a little down.”
“I just had kind of a disturbing visit this morning from a friend of Carrie’s.”
“This friend . . . was it John Martin?”
I nodded. “He’s not a nice person. Or, at least, my encounters with him haven’t been pleasant.”
“And you wonder what Carrie sees in him.”
“Well, yeah.”
“I hate to say this, but I think Carrie is stringing him along,” said Charlie. “I knew she’d been out with him a time or two, but I didn’t think anything of it until you said she’d introduced him to you as her fiancé.”
“I’m sorry about that. I might’ve completely misunderstood.”
“No, I don’t think you did.”
“But you think Carrie is playing Mr. Martin?” I asked.
“Yeah. See, she wants this hospital-administration job really bad, and John and his company have a lot of influence with the board of directors.”
“Are you sure? Dr. Carstairs mentioned to my boyfriend that Martin Brothers Construction did some work on his deck and he wasn’t happy with it at all. He said he wouldn’t be using them again.”
Charlie’s eyebrows shot up. “Really? Then maybe John Martin doesn’t have the pull that Carrie thinks he does.”
“Maybe not.” Either way, employment advancement was a horrible reason to get involved with someone, but I didn’t mention that to Charlie.
“I guess Mrs. Carstairs is a shoo-in for the job, then, if Martin Brothers Construction has fell out of favor with the board,” he said.
“I don’t know. I heard that Dr. Carstairs didn’t want his wife to get the job when she applied the first time. If that’s true, it isn’t likely he’d change his mind so quickly.”
“I don’t blame him for wanting his wife to stay home with Brendan. Carrie is always telling me what a good kid he is. If both parents don’t have to work, then why shouldn’t Mrs. Carstairs stay at home with their child? She should cherish her time with him.”
“Do you have any children, Charlie?” It was an awkward attempt at changing the subject, but it was the best I could do under the circumstances.
“Not yet. But I hope to have one or two someday.”
On that note, Charlie finally left.
“He’s a nice guy,” I told Angus, “but something about him makes me uncomfortable, especially after this morning. He was awfully anxious about the article, and he didn’t think we needed to sit in on another of his meetings.”
Jill decided to put in her two cents. Yeah, I mean, why wouldn’t you guys be welcome at the meeting? It’s not like you don’t have a legitimate reason to be there. Oh, wait.
“I know, I know. Maybe that’s why I feel ill at ease around Charlie: because Vera and I lied to get access to the transplant people because we thought maybe one of them had killed Sandra Vincent.”
And yet you still don’t know much about Sandra Vincent, do you? You don’t know who liked her, who didn’t like her, her hobbies, her political affiliations. . . .
“No, I don’t know much about Sandra Vincent. Maybe Riley’s private investigator has found something out about her.” I moved over to the sit-and-stitch square and flopped onto the sofa. Jill was right. I had nothing to go on to help Captain Moe out of this predicament. And I’d been trying so hard to help. It was depressing.
Angus came over to sigh and look sad and commiserate with me.
* * *
At around three-thirty, Carrie Monahan walked into the Stitch.
“Hi, Carrie. What’s up?”
Hearing my guarded tone, Angus came to stand beside me.
“Charlie called and told me that John came in here this morning and was bullying you. I just wanted to apologize. I’m afraid my fiancé can be a real hothead.”
First Dr. Carstairs and now John Martin. Was there anyone Carrie knew who didn’t have a reputation for being a hothead?
“I didn’t intend to put my nose where it doesn’t belong or to interfere with you or Mr. Martin in any way. And I haven’t meant to meddle in your affairs.” I paused. “I suppose that I sometimes speak without thinking first, and that gets me into trouble once in a while.”
“I plan to talk with John and see what this is all about.”
“Please don’t,” I said. “He’s angry enough with me already. I don’t want to make any waves, and I just want him to stay away from me. I wish Charlie hadn’t said anything to you about it.”
“Charlie’s sweet.”
“I think he’s got quite a crush on you.”
“He’d probably get a crush on any girl who smiles at him,” she said. “Better be careful, especially if he’s already coming by your shop to see you. He gets a little . . . I don’t know . . . stalkerish. But in a nice way.”
I didn’t want to mention to Carrie the reason for Charlie’s visit. “Maybe so, but I believe his heart still belongs to you.” I laughed.
“Well, hey, I need to be going. If you’d like to come by and see the kids again, we’d love to have you.”
“I’ll take a look at my schedule and get back to you.”
As much as I’d enjoyed reading to the children—and as much as they’d liked having me there—I felt I’d pretty much worn out my welcome at Tallulah County General Hospital. Both John Martin and Bellamy Carstairs had made that as clear as crystal.
After Carrie left, Angus strolled back over to lie by the window.
I pulled up Riley Kendall’s contact information on my phone and called her office. Julie, her administrative assistant, answered the phone.
“Hi, Julie. It’s Marcy. Is Riley busy?”
“Actually, she’s in court right now. Is there anything I can help you with?”
“I don’t know. I was thinking about Captain Moe and his case, and I was hoping Riley’s PI might’ve been able to turn up another viable suspect.”
“Well, the guy is turning up dirt left and right—on Ms. Vincent, on the hospital’s board of directors, on Ms. Vincent’s friends and associates—but it seems that everyone except Captain Moe has an alibi.”
“What sort of dirt is Mr. Gordon finding?” I asked.
“The usual. Most of it’s hearsay, but people have told Mr. Gordon that Ms. Vincent accepted bribes for one thing or another, that she showed favoritism to board members, and that she put her own interests ahead of the hospital’s.”
“Yeah, Vera and I both have heard whispers like that floating around the hospital. But, as you say, it isn’t going to help Captain Moe very much, is it?”
“I’m afraid not. Still, all the evidence against him is circumstantial, so that’s something.”
Before I could respond, Julie said she had another call coming in and asked if I’d hold. I told her I’d let her go and would talk with her later.
This case was so frustrating. There had to be evidence either exonerating Captain Moe or condemning someone else in Sandra Vincent’s murder. I simply wasn’t seeing it. I remembered the way Ted set up the evidence board in his apartment. Maybe I could make my own evidence board. Only I’d put it on my laptop instead of the wall.
While I was en route to the office to retrieve the laptop, a customer came in and bought some canvas and floss. As soon as she left, I grabbed the laptop and returned to the sit-and-stitch square. I sat on the sofa facing the window so no one walking in could see what I was doing before I had time to close the laptop.
I decided to make a chart. I had an app on my computer that made it easy for me. In the center of the chart, I put Murder of Sandra Vincent. From there, I linked Captain Moe and wrote everything I knew about his finding the body.
Captain Moe: Dating the victim. Found the body with a knife in her chest. Was wearing white gloves; no blood was found on his suit or his person. Charlie Emerson came to his aid almost immediately. Charlie called the police.
I made another link from the center of the chart to a box detailing everything I knew about Sandra Vincent: Dating Captain Moe; could have also been dating a member of the board of directors. Rumored to have put her interests ahead of those of the hospital. Accused of moving people on the organ-transplant list to suit her agenda. Catered to members of the board.
I made boxes for Melanie Carstairs and Carrie Monahan, since both had been finalists for Sandra Vincent’s job and it was likely one of them would be given the position now that Ms. Vincent was deceased.
It was almost five o’clock by the time I had finished and saved my evidence chart. I doubted I was any farther along in my search for Sandra Vincent’s killer, but at least I had my evidence chronicled in an orderly fashion and I could add things to the chart as I saw fit. Plus, I’d share it with Ted this evening to see what he thought about it.
Chapter Twenty-eight
I was getting ready to lock up when Dr. Carstairs came in. I stepped back and slid my keys into my pocket.
“Good afternoon, Dr. Carstairs. What can I do for you?”
“My wife informed me that I owe you an apology.”
“You don’t owe me anything,” I said. “But I do accept your apology.”
“Very good. Would you please accept our invitation to come over and visit Brendan this weekend?”
Is he kidding me? I studied his face for a moment. No lips twitching to suppress laughter. No crinkling at the corners of his eyes.
“I’m sorry, but I’m busy this weekend.” And then I couldn’t resist. “Besides, aren’t you worried I’ll meddle in your business while I’m there?”
“I knew you’d bring that up. Look, when I came by here that morning, I was furious with Melanie. Do you have any idea what that little stunt of hers will end up costing us? There’ll be the legal fees, court costs, not to mention having the windshield repaired, and I have no idea how much she paid Luis to throw the brick.”
“I honestly didn’t mean to cause problems for your family. At the time, I had no idea that Melanie was responsible for the vandalism to her car. I was truly afraid for her—and for Brendan—when I arrived.”
“I know that now. I knew it then. I was just so angry at Melanie. I should’ve been honest with her in the first place and told her that I didn’t want her to apply for the hospital-administrator position. I feel that her place is with Brendan.”
“I understand.” I could’ve argued on Melanie’s behalf, but I figured she already had and, besides, it was none of my business.
“Are you really busy this weekend, or were you making an excuse not to come?”
“I am busy. Brendan is a charming boy, and I enjoy spending time with him, but I really can’t this weekend.”
“Very well. Another time, then.”
“Another time.” As much as I hated to do it to Brendan, Angus and I wouldn’t be visiting him again.
Sadie rushed into the Stitch, looking from Dr. Carstairs to me and back again. “Hi, everybody. Almost closing time, huh? I guess I got in right under the wire.”
“I’ll let you tend to your customer,” said Dr. Carstairs. “Have a pleasant weekend, Ms. Singer.”
“You, too.”
As soon as Dr. Carstairs left, Sadie whirled toward me. “Was that him? That wasn’t him, was it?”
“Him who?”
“John Martin! The guy who threatened you earlier. I’d stepped outside to add something to the easel out front and saw this guy come in. I thought about it for a second, and then I got my butt up here just in case. But that wasn’t him, was it?”
“No. That was Bellamy Carstairs.”
She turned down the corners of her mouth. “Bellamy, huh?” She affected a British accent. “Hellew, Ai’m Bellamy Carstairs. How wonderful to make your acquaintance.”
I giggled. “What’s Blake putting in the cappuccino today?”
“Ai’m sure Ai don’t know.”
“Give it up, Sadie. Lady Mary Crawley you’re not.”
“Oh, well. A girl can dream, can’t she? I was ready to go all Muhammad Ali on that chump.” She raised her fists and danced around. “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee . . .”
Her antics excited Angus to no end. He scampered around her legs, barking and jumping.
“Now see what you’ve done! You’ve got Mr. Foreman all keyed up.”
“We’ll take him out, won’t we, Jumpin’ Joe?”
I rolled my eyes. “Jumpin’ Joe? That’s DiMaggio. The baseball player? Even Jill is shaking her head over that one. What’s gotten into you today?”
“I’m just sorry I missed out on all the excitement earlier today. Although I hear that Muriel now wants to be on Todd’s softball team.”
“That’s true. I told her they don’t start practicing until the spring.”
Sadie threw back her head and laughed. “Oh, well. I’d better get back to the shop. Blake will wonder what’s happened to me.”
“Why don’t the two of you come over for dinner tomorrow night?” I asked. “It’ll be fun.”
“Sounds good. I’ll check with Blake and see if he has any plans. And if he says he does . . .” She went back to shadowboxing.
“Go get ’em, champ!” I looked down at Angus. “She’s a wild woman today, our Sadie. She went from jolly old Brit to a former heavyweight boxing champion in thirty seconds flat.”
Angus woofed. I took that to mean, I know, right?
* * *
I took the laptop containing my evidence chart home with me. After feeding Angus and letting him out into the backyard, I went into the living room and pulled up the file. I was eager to compare notes with Ted when he got here.
My phone buzzed, letting me know I had a text message. It was from Ted. He was in a meeting and would be late. Oh, well. I’d see what I could put together before he got here.
In the center of the chart was the victim, Sandra Vincent. Leading from her were all the people that I knew had been involved with her in some way—Captain Moe (I couldn’t leave him out and present a fair portrait), Dr. Carstairs, Melanie Carstairs, John Martin, Carrie Monahan, and Charlie Emerson. I had broken links from Sandra to various groups—the board of directors and the organ-transplant families—but since no one particular suspect had emerged from these groups, I decided to focus on the people with whom I was most familiar.
Captain Moe had been romantically involved with Ms. Vincent, but they’d been known to argue, as well. Were people aware of their romantic entanglement? Had the killer attempted to set up Captain Moe to take the fall for the crime, or had his finding the body simply been a happy accident?
Dr. Carstairs didn’t have a strong motive to murder Sandra Vincent. After all, she did whatever he wanted her to. The only reason I could see that he’d want her removed was if he’d done something that he needed to ensure remained covered up. Maybe he was afraid he couldn’t trust her not to talk. As I’d seen earlier today, money was a big concern with Dr. Carstairs. He was more worried about the money it would take to get his wife out of trouble than he was about their reputation. I’d have thought a man in his position would have paid any price to try to salvage his family’s reputation. As things stood, Melanie came across a little nutso.
Melanie Carstairs had let her crazy show when she’d hired her gardener to vandalize her car. And she wanted Sandra Vincent’s job. How far would she go to get it? Would she have murdered the woman in order to take the job? But if she had, how would she have made her getaway? The killer had to have been someone thoroughly familiar with the hospital. I didn’t know whether Melanie was or not, but I rather doubted it. Plus, if she was psycho enough to kill someone, she’d have simply let the gardener take the fall for the vandalism instead of confessing to it right away. She hadn’t been able to condemn an innocent man in order to save herself, so I didn’t see her murdering Sandra Vincent.
