Jolly Dead St. Nicholas (30 page)

“I know. I got a call from Eric right before you got here. He wants a restraining order against Underwood, doesn’t want him sneaking into his mother’s room again before he can get her transferred up to Columbus later this afternoon.”

Adelaide bristled a little. “Douglas didn’t
sneak
in…exactly.”

“No, he lied to get in and Reverend Preston helped him. Eric’s thinking about pressing charges against both of them.”

“For what? Caring about Susan? It’s ridiculous. Maybe Douglas didn’t use the best judgment under the circumstances, but James didn’t do anything wrong. He’s our acting minister. He’s entitled to visit a parishioner.” Adelaide felt her anger spike against Eric.

“Then maybe
he
should have been the one in her room when her son arrived,” Daniel snapped impatiently.

Adelaide looked at her son. He looked as out of sorts as she felt. Who could blame him? “Are you getting enough sleep, Daniel?”

He took a deep breath then smiled. “I sleep fine, Mother.”

She thought the smile looked more like a smirk. She really didn’t want to pursue the subject any further.

“By the way, Julie the squirrelly reporter called me twice this morning for quotes. Seems she knows about the arson investigator being called in,” he told her.

“Who is the mole at this station, Daniel?” Turning around, she looked out into the squad room. Judy Hess was still writing up the sulky teen. Sergeant Ray Butler was just bringing in two middle aged women, both of whom were crying. Another officer, who was new to the force, stood talking with Ed Lucas in the far corner. Frankly, her money was on Ed Lucas.

“I can’t worry about that now. After we put the finishing touches on this murder case and find out who set Susan Hatfield’s house on fire, I’ll have time to launch an investigation into that matter.”

“Don’t forget Carl’s so-called mugging. Someone broke out the light in the alley where he was found as well as the one behind Susan’s house.”

“We know that.”

Daniel was being very close-mouthed all of a sudden. Adelaide decided to press him a little. “Tell me, did your computer guru find anything more of interest on the hard drives you confiscated?”

“Not really.”

“You mentioned a spreadsheet.”

Daniel shrugged his broad shoulders. “We’re still looking into it.” Just then his phone rang and he snatched up the receiver. After listening for a few seconds he put his hand over the mouthpiece and said, “Sorry, this might take a while, Mother. I’ll catch up with you later.”

Feeling annoyed by his abrupt dismissal, she got up and left without saying goodbye. Her next stop was the church. After parking at the curb, she used her key to unlock the main door. She intended to collect the jewelry left from the bazaar then drop it by Brie’s Boutique as promised. To her surprise, Brenda was not in the office. She did find James in the pastor’s study, though. As had usually been his custom unless he was counseling someone, his door was open.

At the sight of her, he got up from behind the desk. “Come in, Adelaide. It’s good to see you again,” he said jovially. The desk was piled high with papers. An open Bible rested next to a legal tablet. “Have a seat. We haven’t really had a chance to chat since that scene earlier at the hospital.”

Adelaide sat down on the loveseat. Of all the ministers she’d seen come and go in her lifetime at the Crescent Falls UMC, James Preston had been her favorite. His outgoing personality drew people like a magnet. Oh, he’d had his fair share of controversy during his pastorate here, but he met each challenge with kindness and compassion.

“I don’t want to interrupt. Are you working on your sermon?” Her gaze went again to the cluttered desktop.

He sat back down. “I was ready for a break. Have you had lunch? I was thinking about going over to Dora’s.” His warm smile accentuated the creases around his mouth. Her mother used to call them character lines. On James they looked natural, enhancing his looks.

“Another time, perhaps.” She wasn’t sure, but she thought she saw a flicker of disappointment cross the minister’s face. “I came by to pick up the jewelry left from the bazaar. Brie Hunter has agreed to put it in her boutique on consignment. Where is Brenda?”

“Oh, she took the afternoon off for a doctor’s appointment.”

“Really? Didn’t she just…” She stopped in mid-sentence.

“Just what?” James was looking at her expectantly.

“Never mind,” she said quickly. “You know, James, I have a theory about recent events.” She laid it out for him carefully, including her idea that Carl’s attack and the Hatfield fire were connected to the killing. “I think our killer is trying to eliminate everyone Jerry may have talked to about whatever it was he suspected was going on in the church.”

“What exactly did he think was happening?”

“From what I can gather, theft.”

Reverend Preston sat back with a long sigh. “If that’s the case, Carl and Susan could still be in danger. Plus anyone else Jerry might have spoken to about his suspicions.”

“Daniel thinks my theory could still mean Douglas is guilty, that he could have been the thief. You see, Carl swears there was money taken from the bazaar proceeds between the time he put it in the safe on Saturday evening and the time he and Ethel counted it on Monday. And since only three people, Carl, Jerry and Douglas, had the combination, well you can see where he is going with that.” She went on to tell him how Susan, Carl and even Harold Purcell had noticed that something was bothering Jerry in the two months prior to his murder. “He mentioned that it could involve the police but he wanted to handle it in-house.”

Reverend Preston shook his head. “I can’t see Douglas as a thief, Adelaide. He did, however tell me about what happened Saturday, that Susan wanted to break it off to keep him from ruining his career.”

Adelaide felt her stomach twist into a knot. “I’m afraid her motives weren’t quite that selfless, James.”

“I suspected as much. My guess is that Susan was more interested in keeping the lifestyle she’d become accustomed to,” James said with a knowing look. “Douglas suspected that. He’s no fool. It looks like Jerry’s death solved that problem quite nicely, didn’t it?”

Adelaide was aghast. “Surely you don’t believe Douglas did this awful thing.”

He hesitated a moment before answering. “No, I don’t. However, the evidence against him is strong. The murder weapon, my very own letter opener, came from this desk. His fingerprints are the only ones on it. He certainly had motive. He has no real alibi, only Susan’s word they were together, which is hardly ironclad under the circumstances. Believe me, Douglas realizes how bad things look for him.”

“I think the police have blinders on where this case is concerned, I’m sorry to say. I’m determined to uncover the truth, James.” Adelaide met his unwavering gaze.

“If anyone can do that, you can. I have no doubt about that. What can I do to help?”

“I’m not sure. Just knowing you’re in Douglas’s corner is a great comfort. Adelaide stood up. “I’m glad you’re back, James. So glad. We need your steady hand.”

He walked her out into the hallway, one of those steady hands on her elbow. “I’m going to hold you to that lunch rain check, Adelaide,” he said with that disarmingly warm smile.

It wasn’t until Adelaide was in the basement, gathering up the boxes of jewelry that it finally dawned on her that James might be showing a personal interest in her. Could it be?

Get a grip, Adelaide. He’s your minister; you’ve known him for a long time. His wife was a good friend of yours. He’s just being kind during a trying time.

Putting aside her flights of fancy, she carried the jewelry out to her car.

Adelaide was in a dither. Vernon’s call just as she walked in the door at three o’clock that afternoon had thrown her for a loop.

“Dinner tonight at the Dovetail Inn? It’s sort of short notice, don’t you think?” she’d said into the phone as she shrugged off her coat and threw it over the newel post at the bottom of the stairs. In the background, Oscar was yowling from the kitchen, a sure sign his food bowl was empty.

“I’m trying to be more spontaneous,” Vernon had replied lightly. “How about it? I’ve got a taste for their almond crusted tilapia.”

“The Friday night special. It all falls into place now,” she’d said with a chuckle.

Dinner at his place last night, dinner out tonight…he wasn’t kidding about courting me, was he? Maybe I should say no. Take things more slowly. I don’t want him to get his hopes up. I don’t like feeling rushed.

“So is that a yes? I’ll pick you up at seven. I’ll make reservations.”

She’d skipped lunch, so the thought of a relaxing dinner she didn’t have to cook was very appealing. She’d accepted. Now she was fretting in front of the full length mirror in her bedroom, trying to decide between a deep burgundy or emerald green pantsuit. Finally she chose the emerald green with a white silk collarless blouse.

She brushed her hair to a high sheen, letting it frame her face casually. For jewelry she selected an emerald teardrop necklace and matching earrings. The exquisite set had been a birthday gift from Albert several years before. She applied minimal makeup, then just a smattering of lipstick in a medium russet shade. A pair of low-heel black leather boots completed the ensemble.

Why am I fussing so much over my appearance? It’s just a friendly dinner with an old friend. No. This is different. Vernon’s statement the other night changes everything. This is a real date. Lord, help me.

Going downstairs, she selected her tan cashmere coat from the closet. As she looped the coat over the banister, her thoughts again returned to this afternoon’s conversation with James. It had been rather disconcerting, to say the least.

I shouldn’t attach too much importance to that lunch invitation. He was probably just being polite, trying to be a good friend.

Her thoughts strayed to Brenda and the fact she’d again been absent from her duties.

I sat in for her in the church office Tuesday because she said she had a doctor’s appointment. Now another one today? Not likely, unless something showed up in the tests she said they were doing Tuesday. Oh, I hope she’s all right. Daniel will be devastated if anything happens to her. He can claim he wants to take things slowly, but I know he’s in love with her.

Another thought struck her, one that was a more likely reason for Brenda’s absences. She was, indeed, looking for another job. Who could blame her, really, after what had just happened? Plus, it was only natural she’d want to move up to something more lucrative if the
opportunity presented itself.

Well, I certainly can’t butt into her private business. At least not blatantly. But, I certainly can steer our conversation around to the subject the next time I see her.

Going to the kitchen, Adelaide poured some dry cat food into Oscar’s bowl then gave him fresh water. Moments later the doorbell rang. She felt a butterfly or two fluttering in her stomach as she went to answer it.

* * * *

The Dovetail Inn was located on a wooded lot off State Route 550 five miles southeast of Crescent Falls. The three-story Victorian-style structure was built in 1885 by wealthy banker, Elias Cookeson. It had gone through many owners, finally ending up in the hands of Jeremy Rausch and his wife Elaine, who turned it into an inn and restaurant in 1987.

Painted a rich cream color with brown shutters at the windows, it had a wide wraparound front porch. The restaurant was on the first floor, guest rooms on the second and third. The foyer served as a reception area for guests as well as diners. A wide walnut staircase stood off to one side. Ramps and an elevator made the inn handicapped accessible.

Adelaide loved the place. She especially liked the warm rich colors inside the two dining areas. Golden tones along with brown and umber were accented by splashes of deep red. A hand-carved archway separated the two spaces, giving it an open yet cozy feel. Christmas decorations adorned every nook and cranny. The Rausches had really outdone themselves this year. Each room had a decorated Christmas tree. Dozens of holiday figurines were strategically placed throughout the restaurant.

Once Adelaide and Vernon deposited their coats in the foyer alcove that had once been a closet but was now a coat-check room, they were shown to a table in one corner of the area that had formerly been the home’s dining room. The tables, covered by gold-tone damask tablecloths, were widely spaced to assure privacy. That was another thing Adelaide especially liked. She hated eating in a place where the tables were so close together you felt like you were actually dining with your neighbors. Sparkling crystal glasses and gleaming silverware reflected the flame from a single taper candle encased in a decorative holiday holder on the table.

“This is nice, Vernon,” Adelaide said as he held out a chair for her.

After pouring ice water into stemmed glassware, the waiter gave each of them a leather-bound menu. Sitting back in her deeply-tufted chair, Adelaide sighed as she took in the atmosphere. The fireplace across the room blazed cheerily, yellow and orange flames flickering toward the flue. Boughs of holly hung over the mantel. The subtle aroma of burning logs competed with the wonderful smells emanating from the kitchen. When her stomach growled, she hoped Vernon didn’t hear it. She glanced across the table. To her relief, he was absorbed in reading the menu.

Then as though sensing her eyes on him, he looked up, meeting her gaze. Laying the menu on the table he smiled. “I don’t know why I’m looking at that thing. I already know what I’m getting. How about you?”

“I’m ready to eat the menu,” she quipped. “I didn’t have lunch.”

He raised a quizzical eyebrow. “Too busy to eat today?”

“More or less. I visited Susan in the hospital. Douglas was there. When Eric arrived there was an awful scene. Eric didn’t have much good to say about me, either. He demanded I leave.”

“He’s had a lot dumped on him in a very short time, Addy. First his father’s murder. Then all the revelations about his mother’s affair with Douglas. Also, don’t forget Douglas is the number one suspect in Jerry’s death and Susan could be charged as an accessory. The kid has had a lot to absorb.”