The Maestro (Cold Hollow Mysteries Book 3) (9 page)

Maurice picked up Liam and replied, “I most certainly am. You wanted more time with me today, and your wish will come true.”

Tom admired his father’s attachment to Liam. When he thought to his boyhood; he remembered Maurice being the same way with him. He had absolutely no patience with adults, but with children, he was a pushover.

Reginald helped them saddle the horses, and Delilah was the first to grab the reins and mount herself atop one of the horses. Maurice then mounted the other and held his hands out to Liam. Myrna lifted him up and soon, they were turning and heading out the barn doors at a slow pace. Myrna turned to Tom, held his hand, and dragged him back outside with her. Tom was smirking at her, and she nudged him. “I just can’t stand the sight of him, Tom.”

Her police radio went off, and she heard the chief. She rolled her eyes and skittered away from the barn with Tom in tow. She unclipped the radio from her belt, depressed the button, held it to her mouth, and asked, “What is it, Chief?”

“Why aren’t you at the office, and why is your door locked?”

She replied, “Because I’m on vacation. Is there something you need?”

“Yep. I need to talk to you. I’m standing at your office door and just heard your fax machine spitting out page upon page.”

Her face reddened, and she spoke through a pinched mouth. “I’ll be there in a minute to talk to you. Hold tight.”

“Roger.”

She spun to Tom, her face red. “Can you believe it? I cannot even take one day off, let alone two weeks!”

He pulled her into his arms and calmed her. “It’s probably something minute. Go there and take care of things and come right back. It’s all right, honey.”

She sighed and nodded, and they walked to their vehicle. Tom handed her the keys and said, “Don’t be long.”

She started the engine and answered, “I won’t. Believe me, I won’t.” She gunned the gas pedal out of the driveway, turned around, and headed straight for Main Street. When she arrived at the town hall, she flung open the door, her pocketbook nearly flying off her right shoulder, and headed straight for her office. On her way up the stairs, she fished her keys out of the pocketbook and held them in her hand. She found the chief standing outside her office door, leaning against the wall with a toothpick dangling out of his mouth. She rolled her eyes, opened the office door, and stomped over to the fax machine, ripped over a dozen pages from it, folded them, and placed them in her pocketbook. When she sat down, she watched the chief take his usual seat.

She stared at him as he asked, “What was the long fax about?”

“It had to do with wedding arrangements. Tom’s father and sister have added plans to decorate the banquet room.”

He informed her, “Car Hop Harry is done with Reginald’s car. Should we let him have it back?”

“Did you do a more extensive search into his background yet?”

The chief nodded. “It came up empty. In all honesty, Myrna, I can’t do anything further without there being probable cause. The death certificate confirms that it was a fall, broken leg, and the subsequent animal attack in Tilly’s case.”

Myrna felt her temper rising again and kept tapping her forefinger on the desk. When she made a decision, she said, “Let him have his car back. It has the tracker on it, so keep a close eye on his whereabouts at all times. Also, tell Hugo to fill in that godforsaken pit along the trails. I do not want to lose any more townsfolk, especially children.”

“Okay, Myrna. I hope he can find enough fill for it.”

“He will. Now, is that all?”

He twirled the toothpick around his mouth. “Nope. I want to know if you’re going to keep making cannoli at the bakery.” He rolled his eyes and smacked his lips around the toothpick.

She abruptly stood, grabbed her pocketbook, and slung it over her shoulder. She punched his arm as she passed him. “You’re incorrigible.”

He stood and followed her out of the office, nagging her the entire way. “Well, are you? Answer me!”

She grinned when they reached the first floor, and she headed straight for the front door without answering. He kept following and yelled, “Myrna!” He stood at the town hall door, waiting for her to answer.

She stood at her car and yelled, “If you can manage to keep this town in order so I can enjoy my vacation, then I’ll keep making them. If one bad thing happens before my wedding, you get nothing!”

She watched his shoulders slump, and he moaned, “Aw, Myrna, that’s just not fair.” He turned back inside the town hall and glanced at Amanda. “I’m glad she’s only getting married once.” He crunched his face up and shook his head. “She’s turning into a beast.” He glanced at Artie. “Do you think she’ll snap out of it after the wedding?”

Artie nodded. “Yep, just don’t let anything happen before then, Chief, or you’ll think she’s been an absolute pussycat up until now compared to what she’ll turn into.”

The chief pointed at him. “You got it, Artie. I trust you. You know from experience.”

Artie rolled his eyes. “Tell me about it.”

The chief left the town hall and called his men to the station for a quick meeting. He was going to instruct them to keep their eyes wide open and to remain sharp for the next week and a half, or they would be denied bakery items too. He knew it would work.

CHAPTER 10

Myrna made it back to the farm in record time to see that Liam still had not gotten off the horse he was riding with Maurice. Tom had borrowed Delilah’s camera and was taking pictures when she pulled in.

Fran came out of her farmhouse, giggling and slapping at Adam’s hands. He wore a million-dollar smile as he followed her around like a puppy. The big lug was falling for her, hard. Myrna giggled and nudged Tom. “We’ll have another wedding in town before long.”

Tom aimed the camera at the couple and commented as he snapped pictures, “Not until he courts her for the proper amount of time. My father has rules about that.”

Myrna slumped and rolled her eyes. Maurice had an awful lot of rules, even with his employees.

Tom lowered the camera for a moment and asked, “What was so urgent at the town hall?”

Myrna shook her head. “The chief had to ask me some questions and then began pestering me about the cannoli Adam made at the bakery this morning.”

Tom chuckled. “I am going to force that man to have his thyroid checked soon. He’s been dodging me.”

“Good luck with that.” She went to the horse when Liam called her over. He felt bad for the other animals and wanted to spend some time with them, so Myrna helped him down, and Fran and Adam took him over to the sheep.

Delilah dismounted and looked at Myrna. “It’s your turn.” Myrna’s eyes grew wide, as Tom walked to Delilah to hand her camera back.

Tom looked at his father and said, “I’ll take your mount and lead Myrna. She’s never ridden a horse before.”

Delilah giggled. “Oh, this ought to be good!”

Tom stood by the mount and cupped his hands together so Myrna could get up on the horse. She shook her head, and he asked, “Are you chicken?”

Myrna pointed at him. “Tom Gillette. You know I’m not scared of anything anymore.”

He gave her a sly grin and glanced down at his entwined hands. She huffed and went to him. She shoved her booted foot into his hands, and he heaved her up. Delilah held the reins for her as Maurice dismounted and Tom took his place. Once Delilah handed the reins over to Tom, they circled a bit until Myrna gave the go-ahead, and then he took off at a quicker pace into the fields. They could hear Myrna’s squeals, and Delilah fell into Maurice, laughing. “I hope he circles back with her so I can get some photos of her expression.”

Maurice wrapped his arm around her and said, “Daughter, I do believe you’re the devil in disguise.”

She laughed and handed him the camera. “If he circles back, get the shots for me. I have to go do my thing now.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him and headed for the barn to spend some time with Reginald Denning.

***

Friday evening, Maurice sat on the back deck at Myrna and Tom’s place. She had cooked a phenomenal supper, and he was currently reviewing the fax results she had slipped to him. He read each printed word. There were several pages, and his eyes roamed down all of the information it contained. Unsolved murders, where they took place, the sex of the victims, the victim’s next of kin, and evidence found. His eyes stopped cold on one next of kin name: Frances O’Connor. He continued reading to the end of all the pages, folded them, and slipped them into his pocket. His fingers thrummed and danced upon the armrest of the Adirondack chair he sat in.

Adam watched his boss with interest but didn’t ask a single question. The boss was planning. He’d tell Adam when he came up with a solution. He could hear Tom and Myrna cleaning up in the kitchen and brewing coffee. Liam was no doubt playing a game with Delilah in the living room.

Maurice abruptly shoved himself out of his chair, clapped his hands, and addressed Adam. “I do believe our day is not done, Adam. I think a visit to your Frannie is in order.”

Adam pushed himself out of his chair. His eyebrows were raised. “We are?”

“Yes, I noticed you failed to give her the potted rose plant you purchased for her at the nursery the other day. I believe it’s the perfect time to deliver it and have a few words with her.”

Adam’s eyes narrowed at Maurice. “You ain’t telling me everything, boss.”

Maurice chuckled and patted his arm as he turned him toward the inside of the house. “Let us say our good-byes. On our way to Frances O’Connor’s home, we can drop off Delilah at the Bed and Breakfast.”

Adam stopped at the back door, turned to Maurice, and asked, “We’ll talk in the car on our way to Frannie’s?”

“Yes, Adam. I will divulge what I know on our way. It seems we have our best discussions in the vehicle.”

They went inside, said good night to Myrna, Tom, and Liam, and went to their car. Delilah didn’t ask any questions, so it was apparent to Maurice that she was tired. When she began yawning in the car, his assumption was verified.

***

Reginald Denning left the farm on Friday and counted his pay as he sat in his car. From there, he went to the town market and purchased a variety of food and drinks. When he returned home and unpacked the groceries, he heard, “Did you get my Twinkies?”

Reginald snarled and answered, “Yes I got your stupid Twinkies!”

The voice responded, “Why are Twinkies stupid? You do realize that cockroaches and Twinkies will be the only thing to survive a nuclear holocaust.”

As he placed perishables in the refrigerator, Reginald mumbled, “I’ll be sure to remember that when the bomb drops, you idiot.”

“How was work at the farm today?”

Reginald stopped after shutting the refrigerator door. He faced the darkened bedroom and asked, “How do you know I work at a farm?”

“You stink of manure and hay every day when you come home. Where is the farm?”

Reginald frowned and looked at his filthy attire. “It’s located at the beginning of town near the covered bridge. I’ll do the laundry tonight. If you have any dirty clothes, leave them on the floor of the bedroom threshold.”

“You usually do laundry on Saturdays. Why are you doing it tonight?”

Reginald rolled his eyes. “I’m doing it tonight because I have a date tomorrow night.”

“Is she nice?”

“Yes.”

“Then don’t hurt her.”

Reginald sighed. “We’ll see what happens.”

“You say that all the time, and we always end up back in the car to a new place. I wish you would take your medicine.”

Reginald replied, “It’s you who needs medicine, you whack job.” His upper lip curled in anger, and he went to the bathroom hamper and unloaded it into a basket. When he exited the bathroom with the basket in his arms, he noticed a pile of clothes in the threshold of the bedroom doorway. He went to them, heaved them into the basket, and made his way to the basement where the washing machine and dryer were located.

***

Adam knocked on Frances O’Connor’s door and heard slippers shuffling to the door. He watched as she cracked it open, saw Adam and Maurice standing there, and opened it wide for them. She was wearing her nightgown and bathrobe, but her hair was freshly brushed and shining.

Adam smiled. “You even look good in a nightgown and robe, Frannie.”

She giggled and led the men into her kitchen. “I don’t know what brings you two to my door, but if you keep talking to me like that, I may never let you leave.”

Adam pulled the potted plant from behind his back and presented it to her. “Just a little something to repay you for the great day we had here today.”

She made a big fuss, grabbed the potted red rose plant, and glanced around the room, trying to decide where to place it. She had a narrow oblong table under one of the kitchen windows, so she placed it there. She pointed at the table and said, “That’s where it will stay. I’ll be able to see it every morning as I have my first cup of coffee.”

Maurice had already sat down at her kitchen table and observed everything in the room. He noticed a framed photo of an attractive female posing with Fran. He commented, “That is a lovely photograph. Is that your daughter?”

Fran fingered the frame and smiled. “Yes, that’s my sweet Lisbeth. That was taken during her graduation party.”

Adam sat across from Maurice and asked, “Can we meet her?”

Fran’s expression saddened, and she turned to pour them some coffee. “No, she’s not here.”

Adam watched Maurice’s fingers dance atop the table and waited. When Fran served the coffee and sat down, Maurice pulled the fax from his pocket and slid it to her. She unfolded the long fax and read it carefully. Her mouth twisted to the side, and she glanced at Maurice. “Are you an undercover investigator or some part of law enforcement?”

Maurice grinned as he shook his head. “I am what some would refer to as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, dear.” He took a deep breath and stared at the photo of mother and daughter before continuing. “However, there are things some of us must do to keep the other wolves at bay. Wouldn’t you agree, Frances?”

She agreed and waved the fax in his face. “This is nothing. But seeing as you’ve shown me yours, let me show you mine.”

The men watched as she got up, went to the kitchen closet, and opened the door wide. When she turned back to Maurice and Adam, she noticed them leaning forward in their chairs as their mouths opened in shock.