Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
The next afternoon, Mara and Jasper met me at my SUV in front of my practice. They both carried coolers with food. I couldn’t help but laugh. We wouldn’t be going hungry on this road trip.
“You guys look like you made enough for an army. We’re only going to be gone for a few hours,” I said.
“Exactly,” Jasper countered. “Lunch and dinner, and snack for in between. Mara and I coordinated. Trust us.”
“I always do, and I’m not complaining.”
We loaded everything into the car and headed off, after I put the location of the first estate in my GPS.
I’d tried to do some research on the receipts, but there weren’t names on all of them.
Only the items were listed for each one.
Most of them hand-written. But I was able to score a list of sales from Henry, that they had pieced together from all the evidence.
Luckily, there were three fairly close by Sea Isle.
“You know, estate sales are usually for dead people. What if we show up and no one is there?” Mara asked a wise question.
“Then we’ll have to move on to the next one. Worst case, I can try to call the people who put on the estate sales. Though the police haven’t had much luck in that respect. My hope is there will still be relatives living there. The first one is a farm, so maybe someone inherited it. I have to try.”
“Does your friend the Constable know what you’re up to?” Jasper asked.
“Uh. You know. He’s a very busy man.”
“Who has spent the last two nights at yours,” Mara chimed in.
They laughed.
“On my couch,” I said. “You guys know that. He’s worried about evidence from the bodies going missing.”
“And he likes to make sure you feel safe,” Mara said.
I sighed. “He’s nice.”
“Just give it up. You like each other, and you look out for one another,” she said.
“It’s … he’s … we get along better than we used to. And I think we understand the importance of the work.”
“That sounds so official,” Jasper snorted. “Your husband died a long time ago, so why can’t you have a little fun?”
“Any chance we could change the subject?”
“No,” they said in unison.
“You are always asking about our love lives,” Mara said.
“How is your dentist friend?” I asked.
“Stop. He’s good, by the way. He’s my plus one for the dance. But don’t change the subject. You and Ewan are great together. There’s the fact that since you arrived in town, he hasn’t really been on a date with anyone else. He invites you to everything.”
I shook my head. “I—uh. We’re two busy professionals, it’s just easier to be each other’s plus one.”
“Right.” Jasper said. “But you aren’t dating anyone else either, right?”
“No. You know that. Besides the last time I went on a date who wasn’t Ewan, he ended up being a killer.”
“I still feel bad about that,” Mara said.
“It wasn’t your fault. None of us knew. He seemed like a perfectly nice guy at the time. I wouldn’t say Ewan and I were dating. More like friends helping each other out.”
“And the fact that he hasn’t really been on a date with anyone since you two started going out doesn’t mean anything?” Mara asked.
“Ya know what? We should be focused on the case. Aren’t you guys at least a little bit curious, my supposed Scooby gang?”
They both sighed dramatically.
“Whatever,” Jasper said. “Tell us about your plan.”
“I just need to find out who sold a puzzle box. I’m hoping they have some kind of inventory record.”
“Wouldn’t that be more the people who put on the estate sale?”
“Yes. I reached out to them, but because I’m not the client, they wouldn’t share anything. I mentioned to Henry that they should ask for the inventory lists.”
“Poor Henry. If he had any idea how you use him to get information,” Jasper said.
“It goes both ways. I help him with Abigail, as well.”
“That’s fair,” Mara said. “If it weren’t for us interfering, I’m not sure either of them would have ever made the first move.”
I grinned. They were both so shy, but they’d come a long way.
“Anyhoo, Henry has to get a warrant for that sort of thing, so it was going to take time. I thought this might be an easier way, and it’s only a few hours out of our day.”
“Will they talk to you?”
I pulled up my badge. It was from the police and had my name on it.
“Oh, that is official looking! Is it real?” Jasper asked.
“Of course, it’s real. Ewan gave it to me last month. I’m just asking for information on a case. Low key. I’m within my rights to follow up on any case that comes across my desk.”
“What does the puzzle box have to do with his death?”
“I don’t know that it does.” I explained why I thought the ring might have been in there.
“That seems like …” Jasper didn’t finish his sentence.
“A leap. I know. But I think it’s worth a try. I don’t have anything else. We’re still waiting for DNA tests on some things to come back. But even then, we need answers.”
“We are well aware,” Mara said. “And you just tell us what you need us to do.”
“Moral support. At least for now. Let’s play it by ear. You guys are good at this.”
“We are,” Jasper said.
“You don’t think the actual killers will be there, do you?”
I wasn’t so sure about the answer to Mara’s question. “I don’t think so.”
“That does not make me feel very good.” Mara leaned forward.
“We should eat lunch. We only have a half hour before we get there. And, for the record, I have no plans to put your lives in danger. We’re just asking a few questions.”
A half-hour later, we pulled up in front of a quaint cottage. I don’t know why I’d been thinking it would be a place on par with Ewan’s estates. This was a small family home surrounded by farmland. There were a few cars in front of the house. At least someone might be around.
“OK. You guys can stay in the car if you want. If that makes you feel safer,” I said.
“Oh. No. You’re not going in without us,” Jasper said. “But in the future, we need badges too.”
I grinned. “Something to think about,” I said. “Everyone, look professional.”
They laughed.
I knocked on the door. There were footsteps inside and then the old wooden door creaked open. It was an eerie sound that put my nerves on edge. A young woman who couldn’t have been more than twenty-five appeared confused.
“You don’t look like the dunny diver?”
I glanced back at Mara for a translation. “Plumber,” she said.
I turned back to the young woman. “I’m Dr. McRoy. I’m looking into a sudden death of a man who was at the estate sale here on your farm.”
Her eyes went wide. Her red hair was braided in pigtails, and she wore a pair of overalls that were spattered with paint. “He died here?”
“No. Um, I can’t go into specifics as it is an ongoing case. I wondered if I could ask a few questions.”
“You’re American,” she said as if the world made no sense. I didn’t blame her.
“Yes. I work with the police in Sea Isle.”
“She helps to solve cases,” Jasper said behind me. “Could we come in?”
“I guess so,” she said.
“Are you the new owner?” I asked.
“It was left to me. I’ve been sparking it up a bit so I can sell it. Belonged to my gran, bless her heart. I don’t think it’s been updated in seventy years.”
We followed her into a small snug. The fire was lit and the furniture covered with many throws. The smell of paint was strong. “Would you like a cuppa?” she asked as she motioned to the sofa.
“We’re fine but thank you,” I said. “I don’t want to take too much of your time, so I’ll get to it. We’re looking for records of specific items the man bought from estate sales around here. You had a sale he attended, and I wondered if you might have some kind of record of those items up for sale.”
“Uh. I think so. My da was here helping me, and before you ask, he and gran didn’t get along. That’s why she left things to me, and he was OK with that. He didn’t hurt no one.”
“Oh, no. It’s nothing like that. We know he wasn’t injured here. We’re only looking for some sort of list of the items that were sold.”
“I think the estate sale people gave us a printout. We’re trying to sell it fast. I want to buy a flat in Edinburgh near the university. And before you ask, Da wants that for me as well. He has his own money. Doesn’t need mine.” She gave us a suspicious stare.
It was all I could do not to laugh. “As I said, we only want to look at the items. I can tell you the man died in Sea Isle; there’s no worry about anyone here being under suspicion.”
“Huh. OK. Let me get it.” She left for a few minutes, and there were noises as she rummaged around in the back of the house.
She returned with several sheets of printer paper stapled together. “Here it is. As you can see, she didn’t have much. A couple of barns full of old junk. And the farm equipment brought me some money. It’s the land people want. But the estate broker suggested I refresh the house first.”
“That’s wise,” Mara said. “New paint can make a world of difference.”
They chatted about paint colors while I went through the list.
The puzzle box wasn’t listed, but the medicinal kit with the bottles was.
“Do you know if you had any doctors or scientists in the family?”
She snorted. “Sorry. Not that I know of. Though Gran didn’t talk much about her family. Dad told me once they were a bit rough. Why do you ask?”
“Only that some of the items listed might have been used by a chemist or doctor back in the day. Like this medicine box.” I pointed to it.
She shrugged.
“Do you mind if I take some pictures? Just for future reference? I’d hate to bother you again.”
“Fine. Can I ask who it was? It’s just that I was curious about the things people bought. Like that medicine kit. Funny little man bought it. I was in front of the barn that day. Said his wife would love the old jars in it. He asked for a discount. I told them to take ten off it.”
And that may have led to his death. After I took the pictures, we left.
“She was not what I was expecting,” Jasper said.
“We all tend to assume things, don’t we? She’s just a young woman trying to sell her gran’s place. It’s shame they don’t want to keep it. The land is beautiful.”
“She can’t be more than twenty-five,” Mara said. “Can you imagine wanting to live all the way out here with no one around for miles? I mean, maybe, if you had a family. But it would get lonely.”
“Point well made,” I said.
The second stop wasn’t very useful. It was owned by an elderly woman who was moving into care. Her son wasn’t at all happy about our nosiness, but he did provide a list of items sold.
I took pictures again, and we left quickly.
The third stop was only a few miles away, but the house was an old stone lodge that had likely been part of a larger estate at one time.
We were met at the door by a frazzled woman, who welcomed us into the lodge, which was filled with huge tapestries and fireplaces so tall we could have walked into them.
She showed us to a study off the main room in the center of the house.
I explained who we were and what we were doing.
“I’m Dorrie, welcome. I was about to make tea, I’m gasping. Do you mind? I’d love the company. Come on to the back of the house.”
It seemed rude to say, no.
The kitchen and dining area were more modern. There were windows along the back wall and stainless appliances. The cabinets were painted a robin’s egg blue.
“Have a seat at the bench, I bought some biscuits earlier. Chocolate ones that I can’t wait to try.”
“Please don’t go to any trouble,” I said.
“It’s no bother. Like I said, I’m grateful for the company. My husband had to go into Edinburgh, and I’m not used to being out here on my own.”
“How did the lodge come to you? If you don’t mind my asking?”
She smiled at me. “My husband’s family. They own the big house up the hill, but no one can afford to keep that monstrosity going.
The plan is to fix this place up a bit for a weekend house and keep our flat in town.
He likes the idea of having a place to bring his friends when he’s home from the rigs. ”
The rigs? Jasper and Mara glanced at me with wide eyes.
“Mind you, making this place livable will take a bit.”
I thought the lodge was quite warm and homey, but I wasn’t one to judge. “Your husband works on the oil rigs.”
“He’s a manager. Oversees the roughs out there. He’s gone for weeks at a time, which is why I insisted we keep our flat in town. This isn’t bad for a weekend, but I’d be bored or barmy if I stayed all the time.”
She put out a plate of biscuits and poured us tea. “Now, Doctor, what is it I can help you with?”
I explained again about the estate sale they’d had.
“Right, we sold off some of the old furniture, art, and tapestries. And we divested the big house of everything inside. Amazing what kind of old junk people will buy. With the money we made, we can fix this place up and have plenty left over.”
“And you said your husband inherited it. What’s his name?”
“Robbie. Robbie McClendon.”
I was proud that my friends didn’t gasp. I nearly did. I’d just found a connecting dot between our victims.
“This place is gorgeous,” Mara said. “I know you said it needs fixing up, but I think it’s beautiful.”
“Oh, I do too, in its way. But we need new heating and plumbing. Half the time there is no hot water. I can live without a few niceties, but that isn’t one of them. You mentioned the list of goods sold at the estate sale? Let me get that for you.”
She left.
Mara opened her mouth, but I shook my head. “Wait until we get in the car.”
She nodded.
When she came back, she handed me a binder. There were at least thirty pages of items. “Do you mind if I take pictures?”
“Sure. But I don’t understand why pictures of old stuff is going to help you.”
“Well, I said. It’s an ongoing case, so I can’t say much. But the dead man came across something that may have poisoned him.” We’d already found that item, but she didn’t need to know that. “I’m doing my due diligence, making sure the owners weren’t accidentally poisoned.”
“Oh, dear. I touched so many things. Who knows.” She patted her heart. “Do you think I’m ill?”
I felt terrible. I’d just been thinking on my feet and wasn’t worrying about what I said.
“It was old medical devices,” I said.
“Did you have anything like that?” Jasper asked.
“No.” She still seemed worried. “I can’t remember seeing anything like that.
His aunt, who owned this place, had a collection of so many things.
Art, tapestries, the woman loved a unicorn tapestry.
And a bunch of old boxes. Those seemed to be popular with the antiques dealers.
Or that’s what Sarah, our estate person said.
We didn’t care much about anything but that final amount. ”
She put a hand to her mouth. “That makes me sound terrible. Did I mention it takes a fair sum to run a place like this?”
“We all live in older homes. We get it,” I said.
I found the puzzle box, along with a few others on one of the pages. So, if the ring had been in the puzzle box, it had been bought here.
Now to make the connection between her husband and our dead men. The fact they shared a name had to mean something.