A Problem in Paxton Park, page 3
part #5 of Paxton Park Mystery Series
“Jay told me a baseball bat was found under the trees near the body,” Shelly said.
“There’s nothing conclusive yet, but there’s some chatter that the bat is not the murder weapon,” Andrew said. “Some divers went into the lake today to search for a possible weapon that might have been tossed into the water. Nothing was found. We’re coming up empty all around.”
“Too bad.” A forlorn look clouded Shelly’s face.
Andrew shoved his hands into his pockets. “I don’t know how someone can get killed in a heavily-used park without anyone noticing a single thing.”
“Well,” Jack said, “it was nearly dark at the time.”
“It’s very well-lit here,” Andrew pointed out. “And the person attacked Barrett under the lights.”
“What are your thoughts on that?” Shelly asked the detective.
Andrew looked at the young woman. “How do you mean?”
“Do you think the killer deliberately attacked Barrett in the light? Wouldn’t it have been smarter to make his move when Barrett walked into an area of darkness?”
“It would have been a heck of a lot smarter,” Andrew agreed. “But he struck under the light, and so far it hasn’t led to him being caught.”
“Do you think the attacker was deliberately acting in a bold way?” Jack asked. He and Shelly had been discussing why someone would attack a victim under the bright lamplight.
Before answering Jack, Andrew watched one of the officers approach an older couple to ask them questions. “It’s a possibility. It’s also possible that Barrett realized he was under attack and began to run. The killer wanted him silenced as quickly as possible so he just happened to hit Barrett under the light.”
Something about what Andrew said bothered Shelly. “But if Barrett knew the killer was after him, wouldn’t he have pulled out his pepper spray? Or at the very least, fumbled for it? Maybe dropped it as he tried to run away? It wouldn’t still be in his pocket, would it?”
“That depends,” Andrew said. “If Barrett noticed the killer coming at him, his first instinct was probably to flee. He may not have wasted any time fiddling around for his pepper spray.”
“I guess not.”
“I’d better get back to speaking with passersby,” Andrew said. “Juliet told me the four of us are meeting for dinner this weekend. It will be good for me to get out with friends and relax. I’m looking forward to it.”
Shelly and Jack agreed and said goodbye to the detective and then continued their walk around the park.
“They’re really working hard on this case,” Jack said. “It was bad luck that it rained the night Barrett was killed. Evidence was probably lost or ruined.”
The sun had nearly set and the park was falling into darkness.
“Would you mind walking past the crime scene?” Shelly asked. “I’d like to go past the area to see how it looked in the dark.”
“Sure.” Jack looked slightly surprised by the suggestion, but he was more than willing to go along.
“From what Henry told me at the diner, Mr. Barrett walked home from the bank just about every night,” Shelly explained. “The bank is back that way.” She looked to the south. “Barrett’s house is on the north side of town. He must have entered the park the same way we did, then followed this path up the hill to cut over to the other side. It would be shorter than walking around to his house by way of the streets.”
“It’s nicer in the park, too,” Jack added. “After being cooped up inside all day, Barrett probably enjoyed walking in nature, seeing kids playing, hearing the birds, passing by the trees and the wide expanses of grass. It must have been a good way to unwind after the work day.”
After walking a little further, Shelly stopped and pointed to the cordoned off section of the walkway. Two officers stood nearby to make sure no one disturbed the scene.
“That’s where we saw him. We came out of the woods on the trail over there.” Shelly pointed to the opening between the trees. “I wasn’t sure what was on the grass. I think at first, the mind doesn’t want to entertain the idea that what it’s seeing might be a dead body so it runs through every other possibility before returning to the worst outcome.”
“You’re probably right.” Jack nodded. “When I was in combat, it was necessary to force the mind to expect the worst. Otherwise, you might not get another chance to react in a way that protected yourself and your buddies.”
Shelly turned to look into her boyfriend’s eyes. “I sometimes forget how hard it must have been for you when you were in the military. Is it better if we stop talking about death and crime and criminals?”
“It’s okay.” Jack put his arm around Shelly. “There are lots of things I’d like to forget about being in the service, but now that you’re in my life, those memories are softening and they don’t get to me like they used to.”
“I’m glad. Why don’t we head back to get the bikes and go to my place? We can make popcorn and watch a movie.” Shelly smiled. “And besides, I think Justice would like to cuddle up with you.”
Jack laughed. “I could never disappoint a cat, especially not Justice.”
As they started back the way they’d come, Shelly took a quick look back to where Wilson Barrett had fallen on the grass and died. The spot was fully illuminated by the streetlamp and the ground glowed in the golden light.
A strange spot to kill someone.
5
Shelly and Jay walked into the swanky accounting office that belonged to Tina Barrett, the murder victim’s ex-wife. Floor to ceiling windows looked out over the town and at the majestic mountains rising in the distance. It was late afternoon and Shelly had completed her workday baking the pastries for the diner and the bakery-café located in the resort’s promenade of stores and shops.
Tina Barrett’s heels could be heard tapping on the wood floor before she came around the corner to the reception area. Shelly and Jay turned and introduced themselves to the woman. Wearing a black skirt and navy blazer, fifty-eight-year-old Tina was of medium-height, slender, and had chin-length auburn hair.
With a warm, welcoming smile, she shook hands with the visitors, who offered their condolences.
“I can’t believe what happened. Wilson murdered? It’s mind-boggling.” Tina led them to her office at the end of the hallway where she invited them to take seats on the modern gray sofas. The room was stylishly decorated in soft grays and blues.
Bottles of water sat next to glasses on a wooden tray in the center of the coffee table and Tina offered tea and coffee.
Jay began by thanking her for seeing them. “You have a beautiful office.”
“We’ve been here for five years. I felt it was important to have a comfortable space. We have a number of high-end clients who have second or third homes here in town and in the surrounding area who expect a certain atmosphere.” Tina smiled. “We want to keep them as clients.”
“How many accountants do you have working with you?” Jay asked.
“There are five of us as well as the support staff. We don’t want to get any bigger. We’re happy with the way things are.”
“You and Wilson had been married for a number of years before parting ways?” Jay began her questioning.
Tina was business-like in describing their marriage and divorce. “We were married for about thirteen years. We grew apart. Our divorce was amicable. We felt it was the best thing for both of us. There were no kids to consider. We split our assets and that was it.”
“Did you and Wilson stay in touch?” Jay questioned.
“We did. We’d talk on the phone, occasionally meet for coffee, though not that often, would run into each other at charity or business events.” Tina opened a bottle of water and poured it into a cut-glass goblet.
“When was the last time you saw Wilson?”
Tina took a swallow from the glass. “Let’s see. A month ago? I stopped into the bank.”
“How was Wilson when you saw him? Did you notice anything different about his mood?” Jay asked.
Tina paused to think about the question. “No, I don’t recall anything in particular. He seemed busy, but he was pleasant. We didn’t talk at length. He had a meeting.”
“Had Wilson confided anything that was bothering him? Anything he was worried about?”
Tina shook her head slowly. “No. Nothing. I probably wouldn’t be the person Wilson would confide in. We were cordial, but we weren’t really friends.”
Shelly was slightly surprised that the woman had yet to show any sadness or deep concern that her ex-husband had been murdered. She knew they’d been divorced for twenty years, but she expected a little more emotion from a person who had once shared her life with Wilson. “Who would he have confided in?”
Tina blinked at Shelly like she’d almost forgotten she was sitting with them … the young woman had been so quiet to that point.
“Um. Well, he was dating a woman. Her name is Imelda Wallace. They’ve been casually dating for a couple of years. Wilson had two close friends, Bill Handy and Mike Meeks. Maybe they’d know if something was bothering Wilson.”
Jay asked, “What was Wilson like?”
“He was a good person, smart, easy-going. He had a kind way about him. Wilson was serious about his career, but I’d say he wasn’t that ambitious. I thought he could do more, aim a little higher, but he was often content with things as they were. He didn’t push himself to be more successful.” Tina sat straighter. “Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that, but I’m more high-energy, more ambitious and driven. He wanted a more low-key life. Our different natures and what we wanted from life could sometimes conflict.”
“Did Wilson like his job?”
“I believe he did. I don’t think he cared to rise any further at the bank. He seemed happy with where he was. I think he would have liked to retire in a few years.”
“Did he have any hobbies?”
“He played piano. He loved music. He enjoyed traveling.”
“What about family members?” Jay asked despite having heard that Wilson’s father was alive and living two towns over. You never knew if there was some black-sheep family member no one ever talked about.
“Wilson was an only child,” Tina said. “His mother died when he was a teenager. His father is in a nursing home. At least, I think he is. He must be in his nineties. I never heard he passed away.”
“Was Wilson close to his father?” Shelly asked.
“He was, though the man has had dementia for years now. I know Wilson visited him, but I don’t know how regularly.”
Jay asked the next question. “Do you have any inklings about who might have attacked Wilson?”
Tina’s eyes went wide and she leaned back. “Me? I have no idea. I thought it was a random attack. Wasn’t it?”
“We’re trying to determine the circumstances of the incident,” Jay told the woman.
“You think Wilson knew his attacker?” Tina’s voice had risen an octave.
Jay carefully phrased her reply. “It is presently unknown if Wilson knew the person who made the attack on him.”
“Well. I assumed it was a robbery gone bad.” Tina nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Was Wilson robbed?”
“There are some details we’re unable to divulge to the public as it’s an active investigation.”
“Oh. Well. I see.” Tina reached for her water glass and took another long sip before looking from Shelly to Jay. “Was Wilson involved in something dangerous? Something illegal?”
“Why would you ask that?” Jay questioned, keeping her voice even.
Tina shook her head as if she were trying to organize her thoughts. “He was walking through a central park in town. It wasn’t late. People were around. The park is used by lots of people. Wilson walks through that park every day. If it wasn’t a random robbery, which is unbelievable in itself, who would attack him? What would be the reason?” The woman’s eyes darkened. “Did it look like a professional job?”
Jay deflected the question. “What sort of questionable thing could Wilson have been involved in?”
Tina’s cheeks flushed slightly. “I wouldn’t know. How would I know?”
“You saw him on occasion,” Jay said. “He might have spoken to you about something he was uncomfortable talking about with close friends. He may have needed some advice, so he reached out for your input. We aren’t suggesting you were mixed up in anything, only that Wilson may have come to you for guidance.”
“No.” Tina’s face tightened. “No. I have no idea. Wilson didn’t ask me for advice. He didn’t tell me anything about questionable activities.” The woman pressed her hand against her cheek. “Gosh. What could Wilson have gotten himself mixed up in?”
“Most likely, nothing at all,” Jay said calmly. “We have to consider every option in cases like these. It’s a basic part of the investigatory process. Random attacks happen. There are often no good rational reasons as to why they occur.”
“Well, I didn’t speak with Wilson about anything that wasn’t aboveboard. I never heard he was doing anything shady. He may have been, but I wasn’t involved in any way.”
A knock came on the door and Tina’s assistant popped her head in. “Your client is here.”
“Thank you,” Tina told the assistant and then looked at her visitors. “I’m sorry. I have a meeting now.”
Shelly and Jay thanked the accountant for her time and left the office.
Once outside on the sidewalk, Jay asked, “What did you think?”
Shelly said, “I think Tina wanted us to have no reason to believe she was mixed up in anything Wilson might have been doing. She may have been a little too energetic in her denials.”
“Hmm. My thoughts exactly.” As they walked to the small parking lot behind the office building, Jay checked her phone for messages from the other investigators. “The woman may only be shaken up at the thought Wilson got himself killed by getting involved in something illegal and may know nothing at all about what was going on.”
“On the other hand, maybe she did know something and wants to keep that fact hidden from law enforcement,” Shelly suggested. “You’ll keep the possibility in mind?”
“I sure will. How would you like to pay a visit to Imelda Wallace, Wilson’s girlfriend?” Jay asked. “She may have been someone Wilson would have confided in.”
Shelly agreed to go along with Jay when she interviewed the girlfriend. “From what you know so far about Wilson Barrett, would you expect he could have been involved in something illegal?”
Jay unlocked the doors of the vehicle and before getting in, she looked at Shelly over the roof of the car.
“I could be wrong, but Wilson Barrett doesn’t strike me as someone who would voluntarily enter into trouble.”
“That’s the impression I’m getting, too,” Shelly said. “I’m also wondering if someone may have forced him to do something he wouldn’t have done on his own.”
Jay nodded. “It’s something to think about.”
Shelly said, “There are a number of possibilities. It was a random attack. Wilson did nothing wrong, but someone held a grudge against the man that festered into a criminal act. Or Wilson got involved with the wrong people over something and one of those people decided to take his life.”
“That about covers it,” Jay said. “All we can do is follow those strands and see where they take us.”
Shelly got into the car, full of worry about where the strands might lead them.
6
Mr. Barrett’s girlfriend, Imelda Wallace, was fifty-years-old, had shoulder-length, wavy, brown hair and dark brown eyes, and an athletic build. When she opened the door to Jay and Shelly, the rims of the woman’s eyes were red and she was clutching a tissue in one of her hands.
“Please come in.” Imelda led them into her small, pretty, well-tended cottage located in a neighborhood of similar homes tucked into the base of the mountain about two miles from the center of town. The living room was decorated with a Scandinavian flavor, no clutter, soft colors, green plants, a modern sofa, and two comfortable side chairs set in front of a stone fireplace. A small brown dog sat at attention on the multi-colored rug with his eyes glued on its owner.
“This is Buddy. He’s the best dog. He stays with me all the time. Ever since Wilson died, Buddy’s been quiet and less active. I think he’s picking up on my sorrow.”
Shelly bent down and the dog hurried over to her, eager to meet the new person, and after some patting, Shelly took a seat by the fireplace.
“Do you have some news about Wilson?” Imelda looked hopefully at Jay.
“I’m afraid not.” Jay took a small notebook and pen from her jacket pocket. “The visit is simply a follow-up to our previous conversation. For Shelly’s benefit, would you mind giving some information about your background and your relationship with Wilson?”
Imelda did not seem bothered by having to run through another description of her time with Wilson. She took in a deep breath and began her summary. “I’ve lived in Paxton Park since I was a teenager. My family moved here from Maine. I own a boutique on a street that runs off of Main. I’ve had it for about ten years. Before that I was a merchandiser at the resort.”
“And when did you meet Wilson Barrett?” Jay asked.
Imelda made a little sniffing sound, but she held her emotions in check. “I met Wilson about two years ago. He came into my shop for a new necktie. We chatted.” A smile spread over the woman’s face. “We hit it off immediately. We flirted a little. Wilson was going to leave the store after purchasing the tie and I was afraid I wouldn’t run into him again so I asked him out for coffee. I’ve never done such a thing before, but I felt like we had a nice connection. I liked Wilson right away. I felt comfortable with him. He was a very kind man.” Imelda’s words caught in her throat and she had to pause to collect herself. “I’m sorry.”
