Jolly Dead St. Nicholas (19 page)

She was a short woman with thick brown hair. A pair of tortoise shell eyeglasses dangled from a chain around her neck. Her attire was casual but business like, black slacks, white blouse, pin striped blazer. “I don’t know what I should do now. I guess when…or if…Mrs. Hatfield comes in I’ll ask her. Would that be too tasteless this soon after…well…you know…”

Adelaide thought it was a real possibility Susan would be charged as an accessory, but she didn’t say that. “If you don’t see her today with instructions, I’d just come in to work as usual, except on Wednesday, which is the day of the funeral. Once Susan has made up her mind what she’s going to do with the business, I’m sure she’ll meet with you.” Again she thought about the multi-million dollar insurance policy. In view of that, it was doubtful that Susan would bother with the insurance office when, or if, the claim was paid.

The door opened, letting in a blast of cold air. It was Susan Hatfield. She looked completely unstrung. Her hair was tied tightly back at the nape of her neck. There were dark circles under her eyes. She wore little, if any, makeup. Still, Adelaide surmised, she would turn heads as she walked by.

Marsha jumped up out of her seat. “Oh, Mrs. Hatfield, I wanted to get this all cleaned up before you saw it.”

Susan surveyed the office, a look of utter disdain on her pretty face. “It’s not your fault, Marsha. They did just as much damage at my house. My brother and son are cleaning it up, after they take pictures. My sister just got in and is exhausted. I have to tell you, Adelaide, I intend to file a formal complaint against the officers who rummaged through my home and this office today. They positively laid waste to both places. How could they do such a thing while I’m trying to prepare for my husband’s funeral? They treated me and my belongings with utter disrespect. One of them actually shoved my brother aside when he didn’t step out of the way quickly enough. I’m afraid this will backlash onto your son, but I don’t care!”

Turning away from Adelaide as though dismissing her she said to Marsha, “Take pictures of this damage with your cell phone then e mail them to me. Then, when you get finished cleaning this up, close the office for the rest of the week. Put a note on the door that we’re in mourning, due to the death of the owner.”

Adelaide slipped out of the office, got in her car then headed for the pharmacy as Susan’s threats still buzzed around in her head. After parking in the lot behind the building, she went inside to find at least a dozen customers milling about and five more waiting in line. She was greeted warmly as always by Anne Hinderman, who was doing a good job of getting people checked out in a timely manner.

Vernon was behind the counter in the back, talking with Zelda Jackson. He looked over Zelda’s head when he spied Adelaide, giving her a
help me out here
look.

“I heard they found all they need to send Douglas Underwood to prison,” Zelda was saying. “I never doubted for a minute that he killed Jerry. If you ask me, Susan is probably behind it all. She seems to think now that she’s lost all that weight and had plastic surgery to improve her looks she can just lead every man in town around by the nose. It’s disgusting the way she flaunts herself. No wonder Jerry was going to leave her.”

Adelaide sidled up beside the woman. “I didn’t know Susan had plastic surgery. When was that?” She stared at the woman, who turned quickly her way, a look of surprise on her face. Her wheezing seemed to intensify.

“Everyone knows that,” Zelda snapped. “Is that prescription ready? I have to go over to the historical house to help set things up for the meeting tonight.”

“I’m curious, Zelda, how you know so much about the Hatfields since you aren’t particularly friends with them, especially that part about Jerry leaving Susan.” Adelaide partially blocked Zelda’s way when she grabbed her prescription out of Vernon’s hands then tried to leave.

“I hear things. People talk to me. Plus I’m a good judge of character. I have a sixth sense when it comes to things like that.” Zelda glared up at Adelaide.

“Oh, like ESP?” Adelaide knew that Zelda was always bragging about her psychic abilities.

“I was blessed with a gift. Some people are jealous of that.” She looked meaningfully at Adelaide.

“What gift would that be, Zelda?” She exchanged a quick glance with Vernon, who was trying to suppress a smile.

“I have to go,” Zelda said, pushing past Adelaide.

Vernon chuckled. “She’s wound up now. If I were you I’d skip the Historical Society meeting tonight.”

“I can’t. It’s my turn to bring refreshments.” Adelaide felt tired all of a sudden. “Sorry I couldn’t take your call earlier, Vernon. Things were in a state of utter chaos at the church.”

“I heard the police searched the church, parsonage, Hatfield’s house and business today. Rumor has it they found the murder weapon in the trash at the parsonage.” Vernon said as he began filling another prescription.

“I haven’t heard officially if it is the murder weapon. I saw it, Vernon. It was a letter opener that once belonged to James Preston. He left it behind, so Douglas has been using it.” She kept her voice low, even though there didn’t appear to be anyone within earshot.

“That’s what I heard, too. It doesn’t look good for him, does it?”

“No. Fran was all packed and ready to load up a moving van, but the police wouldn’t let her leave before they went through all the boxes. Another thing, when I visited her yesterday I discovered she had never completely unpacked. The garage was full of sealed up boxes. Also, she originally lied about Douglas being with her at the time of the murder then later went to the police to recant.”

A customer came up to the counter, smiling at Adelaide and Vernon. “Such an invigorating snowfall wasn’t it? Now it’s so Christmassy outside. I heard the display at the falls is drawing a lot of people this year,” the woman said.

“We certainly need the income now,” Vernon said amiably. He handed her prescription across the counter to her.

The woman took her package and left. Looking after her, Adelaide noticed she walked past the cashier’s counter without paying.

“Another one we’re floating this time,” Vernon said confidentially. “That donation from Harold Purcell has made a big difference.”

Adelaide checked her watch. It was almost eleven. “I need to get going. I have to make the refreshments for tonight. See you at the meeting.”

However, Adelaide had one more stop to make before she went home.

* * * *

Carl Henshaw made out the deposit slip, then laid it aside. Ethel put the offering money in the canvas bag, zipping it shut. They’d just finished counting the Sunday offering along with the money from the bazaar.

Getting up, they put on their coats. Carl picked up the canvas bag before walking out into the hallway. Ethel followed, turning out the lights. She closed the parlor door making sure it locked securely behind them.

“You know, Ethel, I could have sworn there were four fifties in the bazaar money when we brought it up here.”

“Maybe you mistook twenties for fifties. Were you wearing your glasses on Saturday?”

Carl had to think a minute. “Well, I can’t recall, now that you mention it.”

When Adelaide entered the police station she expected to see more frenzied activity. Instead, everything seemed quiet, with only a few officers at their desks taking statements from various citizens. Ed Lucas was nowhere in sight. Daniel was in his office. She marched purposefully through the squad room. He didn’t look up until she firmly shut his office door behind her.

He eyed her with blatant curiosity. “What are you doing here, Mother?’

“That’s the second time today you’ve asked me that question, Daniel. I had every right to be at the church. I have every right to be here, as a citizen of Crescent Falls who has a complaint to file against a member of the police force.”

Daniel leaned back, staring up at her. “Stand in line, Mother. Susan Hatfield’s attorney just informed me she’s suing the department.”

“Mark Cardosa? He’s a slick one. I’d settle out of court if I were you,” Adelaide snapped.

Daniel’s face registered his shock. “You don’t even know what her claim is about.”

“Oh, yes I do. I was at the insurance office after your officers left it in such a mess that the secretary was in tears. Susan came in and said her house didn’t fare much better. I can just imagine what a disaster they made at the parsonage, which is church property, by the way. I was also at the church when Ed Lucas and another officer ripped through the pastor’s study like a hurricane.” She inhaled deeply then exhaled, tamping down her anger as much as possible. “Be careful, Daniel, or you just might have a class action suit on your hands.”

Daniel’s eyebrows shot up. “There’s no law that says officers have to be neat when they search a suspect’s property.”

Adelaide huffed. “Is there a law that requires them to be purposefully destructive and rude?”

“Are you angry with me?”

“I’m your mother. I can forgive you a lot more easily than the town council will if they are faced with a lawsuit because of something those officers did on your watch, Daniel.” She sat down in one of the chairs opposite his desk. “I’m telling you this because I don’t want to see you lose your job.”

Daniel kneaded the bridge of his nose with two fingers, as though he had a headache. “Point taken. I’ll talk to all of them at shift change.”

“Good. Now tell me, where is Douglas Underwood?”

“Talking to his lawyer in an interview room upstairs.”

“He’s retained council already? Have you charged him?”

Daniel shook his head. “The DA’s handling this one cautiously, considering the people involved. The lawyer was here practically before we brought him in, though. Mark Cardosa.”

“Susan Hatfield’s attorney?”

“Underwood acted surprised to see him. Makes me wonder who is footing the bill.”

Adelaide didn’t like the sound of this at all. “What about the letter opener?”

“It’s at the crime lab in Marietta. We didn’t find anything else during our searches, by the way.”

“The computers?”

“Alex Shane is working on them as we speak. I’m about to go talk to Underwood. He’s had enough time with his lawyer. We’re holding him until we hear from the lab. I’d like a DNA sample from your preacher, but I’m betting that will be impossible now that he’s got Cardosa fighting his battle.” Daniel got up. He held the door open for Adelaide.

“I take it you’re not buying that Douglas and Susan were together at the time of the murder.”

Daniel scoffed. “Two suspects providing each other with alibis sort of cancels that out, don’t you think?”

Adelaide had to admit, he had a point.

* * * *

Adelaide drove by the Hatfield’s just as Susan was getting out of her car in the driveway. Pulling over to the curb, Adelaide hastily exited her vehicle, following the woman onto her front porch. “Susan, wait!”

Susan looked relieved as she turned around. “I was going to come see you. Come in, we need to talk.”

Following Susan into the house, Adelaide was greeted by a buzz of conversation that seemed to be coming from the kitchen. “Let’s talk in Jerry’s study. I’ve got wall-to-wall company, as you know. Give me a minute. You know the way.” She left Adelaide to make her way to the small, cozy den off the dining room. Once inside, she shut the door.

While she waited, Adelaide looked around the room. If the police had left a mess behind during their search, it was no longer evident. Everything looked neat and orderly. The family had evidently been hard at work. Quietly, Adelaide opened several desk drawers, glancing at the contents. Bills marked paid, some envelopes, a packet of printer paper, some staples and paper clips. She moved on to the bookcase where she found some rather nice leather bound volumes of the classics. A tufted leather easy chair sat in one corner with a reading lamp off to the side. A copy of a current bestselling non-fiction book was lying open face down over the arm. This had been Jerry’s sanctuary, she knew that.
I come in here to shut out the world
, he’d told her during a Christmas open house the Hatfield’s hosted a few years ago.

Susan entered the room, closing the door behind her. “My brothers are furious at the way the police disrespected our home. My sister has a migraine over it.”

“I spoke with Daniel, Susan, if that means anything. He’s going to address the issue with the officers.” Adelaide hoped this helped. Daniel didn’t need a lawsuit hanging over his head.

“That’s not why I wanted to talk to you, Adelaide. I need your help. Douglas did not do this awful thing. You have to know that. He would never hurt anyone. What I told the police was the truth. He was with me. We were together that afternoon. I was trying to do the right thing. I broke it off with him to save his career. Jerry would have followed through with his threat, but Douglas would never have killed him to prevent that. You must help me convince the police of this.”

Susan looked desperate. Adelaide stood there in shock. Here was a new widow who should be mourning the loss of her husband. Instead, she was pleading her lover’s case.

Fighting to control her tone of voice she said, “Susan, the evidence will speak for itself. It’s out of my hands, and yours.”

“I’ve hired Mark Cardosa to represent Douglas.” Susan’s lower lip popped out in a pout. Her eyes flashed a bright violet.

Well, that answers one of Daniel’s questions.

“That doesn’t exactly make things better for him, I must tell you. I mean, think about it, Susan. Even though I can’t imagine for a minute that Douglas killed Jerry, the widow defending the man who is under suspicion—it just looks…wrong.”

“Douglas and I are in love. That sour wife of his finally set him free. Once he’s cleared of these false charges, we’ll be together. This town had better get used to it.”

“Let me ask you something, Susan. When you and Douglas first heard about Jerry’s murder on Saturday evening, what did you intend to tell people about your whereabouts that afternoon? You obviously didn’t intend, at that time, to tell the truth, yet you had to know you’d be questioned.”