Death by Tea (10 page)

I shook my head in wonder. And I thought my week couldn't get any weirder. I went back behind the counter and looked out over the customers drinking their coffees. My stomach grumbled, which wasn't a good thing considering what I'd just seen, but it did give me a good excuse for what I was about to do.

“I'm going to take a break,” I said, balling up my apron. “Call me if you need me. I'll have my cell.”

Mike nodded. “Sure thing.”

I grabbed a cookie, tossed my apron into the office, and headed out the door. I might not have learned much from Mike about what happened the night David Smith was murdered, but thanks to Jules and Lance, I thought I knew where I could go to do just that. I'd never been to a bed-and-breakfast before, and now seemed like the perfect time to see what it was all about.

10

Ted and Bettfast was one of those old mansions turned bed-and-breakfast that had started popping up across the country over the last few years. The building was nestled halfway up one of the hills in which Pine Hills sits. The driveway slithered upward, turning back in on itself repeatedly. Hedge animals sat in the little half ovals created by the meandering drive. It made me feel as if I had transported to another time and place where only the rich and famous lived.
The Great Gatsby
maybe?

The illusion was diminished somewhat when the house came into view. While it was big and had all the makings of a mansion from the '20s, the house had deteriorated over time. Much of the once-white brick was stained an ugly brown. Ivy that might have at one time been decoration and character now spread over most of the place like a rash. One of the windows upstairs was boarded up, though the rest of them were curtained and looked mostly clean. A handful of cars were parked in the parking lot to the side. I pulled in next to an old red Ford pickup that had seen better days.

My best guess was that Ted and Bett Bunford had bought the mansion on the cheap and refurbished it, though it was entirely possible it had been inherited by one of them. There were definite signs of work speckled around the property, especially on the lower floors, where the windows looked new and the brick was scrubbed and painted to near its original white. It was evident the work had slowed recently because the ivy and grime were slowly taking back over. Before long, it would have the run of the place once again.

I entered through the front door, smile in position. A young woman met me just inside. She was smiling too, but it slipped just a little when she saw me. For a moment, she looked indecisive before raising her hand and miming wiping the corner of her mouth.

“Sorry,” I said as I ran my finger over my lips. It came back chocolaty. “I ate a cookie on the way here.”

“Totally understandable.” She cleared her throat. “Welcome to Ted and Bettfast. Are you looking for a room? We have quite a few still available. My name is Jo, and I can help you with anything you need.” The entire spiel sounded rehearsed. I wondered if I sounded that bad when greeting customers at Death by Coffee; perish the thought.

“Actually, no,” I said. “I'm here to talk to a few people.” I strained my memory to come up with some names. “Do you know if Albert, uh . . .” Did he give me his last name? I couldn't remember. I forced a smile in the hopes it would cover my gaff. “Is Albert here?”

“Do you mean Albert Elmore?”

I shrugged apologetically. “Not sure. He came with a book club.”

Jo nodded. “He's here with the others.” She turned sideways and indicated a door to the back. “They are out by the pool.”

I thanked Jo, thinking I'd find my own way, but she took the lead as I started forward. She led me through the foyer, through the dining area, to a large glass back door. She turned away as soon as I was delivered and headed back to wherever she spent her mornings. I wondered if she was related to one of the Bunfords or if she just worked here. At a place like this, I couldn't imagine them having enough business to hire many people. Then again, what did I know? The place could be packed most of the year.

The glass doors opened up on a surprisingly large patio dominated by a belowground pool. Lounge chairs surrounded the pool, which held a small volleyball net on one end and an inflatable raft on the other. Tables stood at regular intervals between the chairs. Near the doors and to my right was a small bar, but no one was manning it. My best guess was that drinks were served only when there was a party or well-paying customers.

The only people outside were the book club members. Albert glanced up as I stepped out onto the patio. He was sitting in one of the lounge chairs, next to a crying Sara Huffington. Vivian and Orville were seated across from one another, a chessboard between them. Orville was leaning in so close to the pieces, it was a wonder he didn't knock a few over with his nose. He started to make a move, reconsidered, and then moved a pawn instead of the knight he'd touched. Vivian cackled madly.

“Now I've got you!” She moved her own knight. “Checkmate!”

Orville sighed and then smiled. “You got me again.” His eyes sparkled as he said it. Somehow, I was pretty sure he was letting her win.

Albert stood as I crossed the patio, bringing Sara's eyes up with him. She quickly wiped away her tears and grabbed a glass sitting beside her. The liquid inside was a light pink. I wasn't sure if it was pink lemonade or something stronger. I wouldn't have begrudged her an early afternoon drink to steady her nerves, especially if she was as close to David as Jules and Lance assumed.

“Ms. Hancock, right?” Albert asked, extending a hand. I took it and he gave a quick shake before retracting his hand and wiping it on the leg of his shorts. “I didn't expect to see you here.”

“Call me Krissy,” I told him. “I was in the area so I thought I'd drop by.” I turned to Sara. “How are you holding up?”

She gulped from her glass, and by the way she broke out into an instant sweat, it was obvious it wasn't lemonade.

“As best as I can, I suppose.”

I took a seat across from her, hoping she wouldn't mind my intrusion. Albert's jaw clenched momentarily before he retook his seat next to Sara. Both Orville and Vivian watched me from their places at the chessboard. Neither looked like they wanted to get involved in the conversation, though eavesdropping wasn't beyond them.

“How well did you know David?” I asked. “He wasn't with the group for long, was he?”

Sara's eyes brimmed with tears. She wiped them away with a hand that shook. “He was the love of my life, dear.” She looked longingly at her glass, raised her hand like she might reach for it, but instead moved it to her neck as if wanting to fondle the pearls that were no longer there.

“Oh, Sara,” Albert said, resting a hand on her wrist. “The man was practically a stranger.”

She turned a sharp glare his way. “He was the greatest man I'd ever met, and I will not stand for anyone speaking against him.”

That seemed kind of heavy for someone she had known for such a short time. Basing my guess on what Rita had said about book club members needing to have lived in the town for at least a year, she couldn't have known him for that long. Then again, what was to say they hadn't been high school sweethearts reunited after years apart? There was really only one way to find out.

“How long have you been together?” I asked as gently as I could.

Sara sighed and looked away from Albert to stare into her lap. “Two weeks yesterday. He blew into my life so suddenly, I swear it was fate. Our love was magnificent!” She glanced up at me. “And I won't let anyone tell you otherwise.”

“It was his voice you were in love with,” Albert said, sounding bitter.

“I'll admit, that was what originally drew me to him.” Sara sat up and pointed an accusing finger at Albert. “But you know it went beyond that. Just because you were jealous of him doesn't mean he was a bad person.” The tears started falling again, and she buried her face into her hands.

Albert gave me a helpless shrug and stood. He jerked his head to the side, away from everyone else, a clear indication he wanted to talk alone. He patted Sara on the shoulder and then led me to the other side of the pool. I followed, hoping he had something important he could tell me, like perhaps he'd killed David Smith in a jealous rage.

If only it was that easy.

“I'm not jealous of that man,” he said as soon as we came to a stop. “I never was. I could see through his act. He was using her. She was just so desperate to find someone willing to put up with her attitude, she couldn't see it.”

“I take it you weren't fond of David.”

“I'm not sure any of us were.” He glanced back to where Orville and Vivian sat, watching us. “Except for Sara, of course.”

“If you didn't like him, then why let him into the book club?”

Albert spread his hands. “Sara wanted it, and what she wants, she gets. That's how it has always been.” He frowned. “What we should have done was kicked
her
out instead of poor old Dan.”

“Was he a member of the group before David?”

Albert nodded and started fidgeting with his shirttails. “He was never all that good at the club stuff, but at least he liked books. I'm not sure David even read. He had eyes for Sara and she for him, and that was the end of the story. Dan warned us this would happen.” He paused. “Well, not the murder itself, but that it would end in disaster.”

Interesting. A premonition, or a plan? “Dan wasn't a big David fan either, I take it?”

“Of course not.” Albert gave a bitter chuckle. “Good old David Smith struts in from England and promptly sweeps all of the women off their feet. Dan took it as an affront, claiming David had waltzed in on his territory, as if Dan himself had girls hanging all over him.” He shook his head at the memory.

If Dan was kicked out of the book club to make room for David, then he had to have been angry. Add to that how David was popular with the ladies, and you had a pretty nasty combination.

“Have you seen Dan around here in Pine Hills lately?” If he'd been spotted, I'd have a viable suspect, and likely the killer.

“I haven't seen him. As far as I know, he's still back in Cherry Valley. I have half a mind to head back there now. If it wasn't for the police asking us to stick around, I think I very well might have left already, competition be damned.” He glanced over his shoulder and sighed. “I best get back to Sara and apologize for upsetting her. She can hold something of a grudge when she wants to.”

“Okay. Thanks for talking to me. You've been a big help.”

Albert gave me a strained smile before he turned and walked off.

I thought I had a pretty good lead already, but I wanted to know more. I walked across the patio to where Orville and Vivian were still sitting. Before I was halfway there, Orville stood and excused himself. He hurried off as quickly as his old legs could carry him, leaving Vivian to face me alone. She must have seen the curious look on my face, because she chuckled.

“He has an overactive bladder, especially when he gets nervous. Too much tea, I tell him, but he never listens.”

“Why would he be nervous?”

“Doesn't like talking to strangers.” She shrugged. “Can't say I blame him.”

“Ah.” It would make talking to him next to impossible unless I trapped him in a bathroom somewhere. It did make me wonder how he could stand in front of an audience to talk about a book, though. I turned my full attention to Vivian. “Do you mind if I ask you a few questions about David Smith?”

Her mouth puckered. “I really don't wish to speak of the dead, ill or otherwise.”

“What about Dan? What can you tell me about him?”

Vivian frowned and refused to meet my eyes. “He couldn't have hurt David, if that is what you are implying. Dan Jacobson is a fine young man.” A blush ran up her neck. I wasn't sure how to interpret that.

“Do you have any idea who might have killed Mr. Smith?”

Vivian looked up, eyes focused at my chin. “Don't you think you should ask Rita and her little flock that? They were jealous of David, I tell you. He could sweet-talk just about anyone out of their knickers, and they knew they were in trouble the moment they heard him speak. He could have recited the pledge and won the teapot for us.” Her voice hardened. “If you are looking for a murderer, you best look in your own backyard.” She turned pointedly toward the chessboard.

I took it as a dismissal and wandered back into the bed-and-breakfast without another word. I couldn't bring myself to believe that Rita or one of the Pine Hills people could have killed David Smith, but then again, how well did I know all of them? Jimmy and his wife, Cindy, were complete strangers to me. And I'd only sat in on meetings with Andi and Georgina. Could Rita have finally flown off the handle and killed David over some stupid teapot? It didn't seem likely.

I didn't see Orville as I worked my way to the front of the old mansion. Jo was waiting for me there, smile painted on. I was about to thank her and go on my way, but I had a thought that brought me up short.

“Do you think it would be okay if I saw David Smith's room?”

Jo gave me a quizzical look. “Now, why on earth would you want to do that?”

I scrambled to come up with an excuse that didn't make it seem like I was being nosy, which, of course, was exactly what I was being. I needed to see if David left a clue in his room, a journal hidden where no one could find it perhaps, detailing his worry that someone was trying to kill him. Maybe he kept notes on the other members of the group and something there would point to his killer.

I knew trying to sweet-talk Jo wouldn't work. And telling her I was just curious would only make her push me out the door.

I scooted up closer to Jo, who promptly took an alarmed step back, as if she thought I might hurt her. “I investigate murders for the police,” I said at a near whisper. “Do you remember the Brendon Lawyer case?”

Her eyes widened. Brendon's murder had been all over the news a few months back. I'd figured out who killed him before the police did, and even had a hand in apprehending the murderer. Even if Jo didn't watch the news, I was positive she would have heard something about it from someone.

“That was you?”

I nodded.

Her hands flew to her mouth. “Do you think you . . . ?” She didn't need to finish the thought. She was watching me with wide-eyed wonder. I had her.