Deadly Vintage: A Molly Doyle Mystery (21 page)

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Authors: Elaine Flinn

BOOK: Deadly Vintage: A Molly Doyle Mystery
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Molly sat back down. “What else do you want to know?”
Reynolds remained standing. He flipped his notebook closed and put it in his pocket. “Well, I’m just a little concerned about your recent altercation with Todd Jessop about an auction that went south. Oh, and then that vandalism to your pickup you reported to the Carmel police last week? I hear you’re claiming Jessop was behind that. See, all these incidents put you in a shadowy light, Ms. Doyle. Perfect scenario for anger, maybe thoughts of a little payback?” Reynolds let that sink in for a moment while he turned away and pretended to look the shop over.
“Anger,” Molly said, “is not necessarily lethal rage. It’s also just being pissed off.”
Reynolds turned back, glanced at Randall, who was leaning against the open front door, then smiled. “Pissed off? I’d say the killer was that, too. See, I have to look at things like that when I’m looking for a motive. Now, you just have to go on my list. Especially when you were next to the victim when he was shot. I have to say, the setting was picture-perfect. You there, by the terrace wall, you throw your arms up in the air, you move a foot or two, the victim takes your exact location, and then bang-bang, the man is dead. If we were watching a movie, I’d say your throwing your arms up was a signal to the shooter, wouldn’t you?” He laughed then. “No, no, don’t answer. Anything you might say, blah, blah, blah.”
Reynolds was still laughing when he tipped his hat to Molly. He turned to Randall and said, “You can stop playing bodyguard. I’m through for now. But, like our great governor, I’ll be back.”
Randall moved aside. “You should start watching more intelligent movies, pal. The one you just described would never make it to the big screen.”
Molly held her breath. The animosity between the two men was reaching flashpoint. She was at a loss to understand why Randall continued to bait the lieutenant. She prayed Reynolds would leave it alone. She saw his body stiffen, and when he went into macho mode and shifted from one foot to the other, she was ready to hide under her desk. But miracles did sometimes happen. He said nothing and walked out. Randall locked the door, reached into the front window, and leaned the sign against one of the Foo Dogs.
“Do you have to be so damn snarky with him all the time? You’re not helping my image with him, you know.”
Randall laughed. “It’s a cop thing. You wouldn’t understand.”
Molly wasn’t in a laughing mood. “A man was shot in front of me on Sunday, some freak is sending me unsigned postcards, Todd’s real wife is bugging me to help her, and oh yeah...some pervert is asking questions about Emma, and now you’re pissing off a cop who thinks I set up a killing shot? Oh, hell, try me. Maybe I need a good laugh!”
Randall pulled up a chair and stretched out his legs. “Okay. It’s like this. The more I stay on Reynolds’s back, the madder he gets, right? Ergo, the harder he has to work. He’s rattled already. I can smell it on him. He’s damn near his forty-eight hours, and if he doesn’t come up with a suspect...a real one...pretty damn soon, he’s up a creek without a paddle.”
Molly crossed her arms. “And isn’t that where you want him? So you and Loomis can find the killer first and show him up?”
Randall’s smile was slow, but Molly saw how sly it was. “Nah, I wouldn’t do that.”
“Baloney. It’s exactly what you’re doing. Just keep me out of it.”
“I’m trying to do just that, Ms. Doyle. Now, tell me about this pervert, and what makes you think he is one.”
Molly told him about the man’s first and second visits to the shop, Bitsy’s worries, his phone message, and seeing him at the beach this morning. “It’s probably nothing, and I was going to mention it to you later, but Reynolds arrived, and...well, I’m telling you now.”
“Not much to pin a pervert tag on the man. If he shows up today and you’re still worried, call me.” Randall ran a hand over his eyes. “Damn, Molly! I can’t believe how much your life fills up my calendar.”
Molly smiled. “Are you complaining?”
Randall gave her a slow look. “Not at all.”
Molly was thankful Randall’s cell phone rang. There was a chance he missed the flush on her face. She watched his eyes narrow as he listened.
“No shit,” Randall said to the caller. He was silent for a good two minutes, and then said, “That’s trouble. Okay, I’ll take it from here.”
He punched in a number before Molly could ask what was wrong. He put up his hand to hold her off from speaking. “Maili? Hey, how you doin’, little mama? Good, good, listen to the doc. I don’t want to have to put you under house arrest. You still feel up to doing some computer sleuthing for me? Great. I’ll stop by in about an hour. Yeah, in fact, I’m with her right now. I’ll tell her.” Randall laughed. “Right, Molly Doyle’s at it again. Sure, she’s just thrilled to be on the front page again. No problem, so don’t get agitated. I want you back on the job in one piece after that little sweetheart pops out, you hear?”
Molly waved. “Tell Maili hello and that I’ll stop by again.”
Randall passed on Molly’s message. As he continued to talk with his detective, who was on maternity leave, Molly pulled out the first two postcards and placed them with the current one on her desk. She liked Maili Montgomery, and was proud of the way she’d handled the emotional aftermath last year when she’d been involved in a shooting. Maili was home now as the last month of her first pregnancy neared. Molly, Daria, and Emma often stopped by to visit, loving the excuse to play surrogate aunts-to-be.
When Randall got off the phone, he said, “That first call was from Loomis. His contact at the sheriffs department passed on some interesting news.”
Molly leaned her elbows on the desk and rested her chin on her hands. “Am I going to need a drink to hear this?”
“Not yet. Maybe later. The postmortem on Jessop was completed this morning. Pretty damn fast, if I say so myself. Reynolds must be pulling out all the stops.”
“He was shot! Everyone saw that. Why the need for an autopsy?”
“Come on, Molly. You know it’s procedure. Anyway, it appears Mr. Jessop ” But before Randall could go on, his cell phone rang again. He answered, then mouthed,
“Lucero,”
to Molly. “Yeah, I heard. I just got off the phone with Loomis. I appreciate it. Hey, goes without saying, I heard it elsewhere. No, I’m at Molly’s. Yeah, I know about that, too. We’ll talk more tonight.”
Randall set his cell phone on Molly’s desk. “It appears Reynolds has more than his hands full. He’s got two killers to look for now.”
Molly’s eyes widened. “Two? Uh, explain that, please?”
“The M.E. found traces of deadly nightshade in his system. You might know it as belladonna.”
Molly’s mouth fell open. “He was being poisoned as well? Omigod!”
“It’s also known as devil’s cherries and devil’s herb. In fact, it has a lot of different names,” Emma said.
Molly saw Emma at the foot of the stairs. “Have you been snooping, miss?” Molly immediately regretted her words when she saw the hurt look on Emma’s face.
“I just came down to borrow a history book from that set you have for sale, and I heard you say belladonna.”
“I’m sorry, that wasn’t fair,” Molly said.
“So how come you know so much about nightshade?” Randall asked.
Emma held onto the banister, still not sure if she should go further. “Dando showed us his plants one time when we were out at the ranch. He wanted to be sure we didn’t fool with them. He makes a medicine for Michelle’s grandfather so he can sleep at night. He said it helps with inflammation, or something. I was curious about it, so I looked it up.” Emma moved to where the book she wanted rested. “Is it okay if I take this upstairs? I’ll be careful. It’s about Macao in the early eighteen-hundreds, and we’re studying the South China Sea region now.”
Molly nodded. “Of course. Take them all up if you want.”
“I only need a few of them,” Emma said.
Molly watched Emma gather the books in her arms and head for the stairs. “Emma. I really am sorry. That was thoughtless of me.”
Emma shrugged. “It’s okay. I know you don’t want me to hear what’s going on. I understand.”
“It’s not that, Emma,” Randall said. “It’s that you’re young, and—”
“And I might slip and say something to Michelle? I wouldn’t do that. I know that sheriff guy thinks Mrs. Jessop had her husband killed.”
“What makes you think that?” Randall asked.
“Michelle told me that’s what her grandfather said to her mother. He’s sending her someplace else. I forget where, but she said she wouldn’t go until he makes up with Nicky. It’s a real family mess.”
“When did you find all this out?” Randall asked.
“Just a little while ago. Michelle and I text a lot. I had to bring her up to date on our history test. No one has picked up her assignments from school for her.” Emma looked at Molly. “If someone comes in and is interested in the books, call me and I’ll bring them right back.”
When Randall heard the door upstairs close, he said, “Damn, that kid knows more about what’s going on than the rest of us. So, the mysterious cook is an herbalist, too, huh? What a coincidence.”
“I thought you hated that word,” Molly said.
“I do. Hate it like the devil.”
“Okay, while you mull this new development over, what else did Loomis have to say?”
“Your picture is on Reynolds’s incident board with a big red circle around it. I think it’s time to call Lucero and get that attorney’s name.”
Chapter 19
 
“REYNOLDS IS out of his mind,” Molly said to Lucero over the phone. “I’m closing up today and driving to Salinas to see his boss and give him a piece of my mind.” Molly pulled the phone away from her ear, then put it back, and said, “I don’t care what you think! I’m not going to have that bozo come in here and accuse me of setting up Jessop’s shooter!”
Randall tried to pry the phone away from Molly. When she wouldn’t let it go, he moved closer and shouted, “Ignore her, Dan! She’s not going anywhere. I’ll tie her down first.”
Molly turned her back on Randall. “Listen good, Dan Lucero! I’ll stay put, but I want to discuss this with you tonight at Daria’s. So you’d better be prepared to answer some questions, understand?” Molly snapped her cell shut with a flourish and stared at Randall. “And you’d best be ready, too!”
Randall sat back in the chair and smiled. “Your cheeks are red. Don’t have a stroke on me, okay?”
“Ha! I wouldn’t think of putting you out. But I’m serious. I’m not going to go though this crap again.”
Randall rose. “It’s too late. You’re on his board. You’re part of his game plan now. Look, we’ll talk to Dan tonight. Let’s see what he thinks.”
Molly’s sigh was almost a bellow. “Shit. I’ll never touch wine again as long as I live.”
Randall laughed. “Famous last words of some pretty famous people.”
“I don’t want to be famous. I just want to sell antiques and be left alone.”
Heading for the door, Randall paused. “We’ll figure something out. By the way, I haven’t told Lucero about the other Mrs. Jessop. I’ll take care of that.”
Molly nodded. “I wonder if she’s been to see Reynolds yet.”
Randall opened the door. “I’ll have Loomis check.”
“Wait! What about the cook? What’s his name...uh, Dando?”
Randall snorted. “That’s imprinted on my eyelids. I’m on that, like now.”
After Randall left, Molly went to the foot of the stairs and called Emma. When she appeared, Molly said, “Pack a bag. You’re going to Bitsy’s for a few days.”
“Huh? Am I in trouble?”
Molly laughed. “Of course not! I just want you out of the way of the media. It looks like they’re going to hound me again, and you need to get back to school.”
Emma sighed. “Okay, I guess you’re right. No sense in both of us having to hide out.”
“I knew you’d see it my way. I’ll call Bitsy now and have Charles pick you up.”
When Bitsy quickly agreed, she also suggested that Emma stay until things settled down. “Have Charles pull into the alley and park as close to the garage door as possible,” Molly said. “I’ll have Emma ready to jump right in.”
After Emma left, Molly seriously thought about closing for the day. She decided to lock the front door instead. She wasn’t in the right frame of mind to greet customers, and the thought of having to keep a smile on all day made her face ache. She picked up the postcards she hadn’t shown Randall, and threw them in the desk drawer, then went into the storage room and sank into the chair. Just thinking about her photo on Reynolds’s incident board was enough to give her the shakes.
She decided to call Max and bring him up to date. When his new assistant answered and said that Max was in Mexico City, Molly breathed a sigh of relief. At least she wouldn’t have to worry him further or be concerned about closing for the day. Max would understand and would most likely have suggested it anyway. But she was a bit miffed that Max hadn’t told her he was leaving. No doubt Bitsy knew. They were as thick as thieves and twice as devious.

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