A Puzzle in Paxton Park Read online

“Did she seem like herself in the texts?”

  “Yeah, she did. The texts were brief. How was I doing? Was I enjoying the training? She told me what was going with her. Things like that. The usual banter between friends.”

  “Why was she working two jobs?” Shelly asked. She knew the answer, but wanted to hear what Monica had to say on the matter.

  Monica’s expression darkened. “Emma was trying to pay off some bills that had accumulated. Their financial situation was kind of in a mess.”

  “Did they take on a big loan? Was that the cause?”

  Monica made eye contact with Shelly. “Charlie has a gambling problem. He ran up the debts.”

  “I see,” Shelly said. “Was the marriage in danger because of that?”

  Monica rested her chin on her palm. “Some days I thought this is the end of the marriage, then other days, it seemed things would work out okay. I don’t know what would have happened to the marriage if Emma hadn’t passed away. I’m not sure how things would have ended up.”

  “Was that the first time Charlie got into debt?”

  Monica scowled. “No. This was the second time, and the debt was much worse. Emma was a good saver. She was always careful with money. This time, the savings got wiped out and it didn’t cover the whole mess. That’s why Emma took on the second job. She really did not like working there. She was relieved when it was done. She told me the people there were very unfriendly. One woman was jealous of her, tried to blame things on Emma. The supervisor was difficult. She couldn’t wait to get out of there.”

  “Do you know the name of the woman who was giving Emma a hard time?” Shelly questioned.

  Monica’s brow creased in thought. “It was Danni something or other.”

  “Did Charlie do more shifts at the hospital to help pay off the debts?”

  Monica made a huffing sound. “Are you kidding? Charlie is a selfish brat. He couldn’t help with anything. He caused the problems and Emma cleaned them up. I can’t stand him. I can’t stand his behavior.”

  “Does he have other issues besides gambling?”

  Monica raised an eyebrow. “Charlie cheated on Emma.”

  Shelly’s eyes widened. “Did she know what was going on?”

  “She did. She would have left him, but she hesitated because of the kids.”

  “Was it some one-time thing?”

  Monica shook her head. “It was an affair. It went on for almost a year. It happened about a year ago. Emma found out about it and gave Charlie an ultimatum, quit seeing the woman or get out. He stopped seeing her ... so he said.”

  “Did Emma know who Charlie was seeing?”

  “She knew. If he was my husband, I’d never trust Charlie again.”

  “Do you think he was still cheating on Emma? Do you think he was still seeing other women?”

  Monica made eye contact with Shelly and said pointedly, “Like I said, I’d never trust Charlie again. With anything.”

  8

  Shelly worked in the kitchen of the Glad Hill Farm and Orchard making pies for the General Store. She’d been hired to work a few hours a week through the Christmas season so the farm wouldn’t run short of pies to sell during the busiest months of September through December.

  On the outskirts of town, the farm and orchard covered just over five hundred acres and depending on the season there were hayrides or sleigh rides for customers to enjoy. There was also a corn maze, a petting zoo, and a food barn selling products from the farm, and serving lunch, snacks, and ice cream.

  The first time Shelly saw the food barn and general store inside the barn, she was amazed at the interior with the gleaming wooden walls and soaring ceilings with crystal chandeliers hanging from the rafters. There were huge windows on one side of the walls and the barn doors could slide back and open to a beautiful view of the landscape and the mountains beyond.

  About a month ago, the owner of the farm and orchard, Dwayne Thomas, in his seventies, thin and wiry with a headful of white hair was deliberately being over-medicated by his nephew, Paul. Paul’s plan was to make Dwayne appear feeble and forgetful and unable to run the business so that he could take the business over himself.

  Paul attempted to force Dwayne to overdose, but Shelly was in the house with the older man and prevented the situation. Paul attacked Shelly and she came close to being killed. Dwayne spent two weeks in the hospital and came out almost as good as new.

  Shelly put some pies into the commercial ovens and checked her watch for the time they’d need to come out, then she went outside to look for Dwayne.

  Every sunny day in the late afternoon, Dwayne enjoyed sitting on the bench next to the lake where he could look out over the water, the green meadows, and off to the mountain range in the distance.

  “Afternoon,” Shelly greeted the man. “How are you doing?”

  “Well, if it isn’t my hero,” Dwayne told the young woman. “I’m doing better every day.”

  Shelly shook her head with a smile, sat down next to Dwayne, and gave him a hug. “I’ve told you a bunch of times. I’m not a hero. We helped each other.”

  “I didn’t help anyone with anything. You saved my life.”

  “And you telling me your suspicions about Paul’s behavior helped the police determine that Paul had murdered Abby Jackson,” Shelly said. Dwayne’s nephew had kidnapped and killed a young woman from town who he’d fallen for, but who did not return the attraction.

  Ever since she’d visited the man in the hospital, Shelly and Dwayne had been good-naturedly arguing over which one of them had done the most for the case.

  “There’s no point in debating this,” Dwayne said. “You are the hero. I don’t want to hear another word.”

  “Fine.” Shelly chuckled. “It’s nice to have you back to normal and sharp as a tack.”

  “What’s the news on Emma Pinkley?” Dwayne asked. “Hard to believe another crime has been committed in town so soon after Abby’s murder. What’s wrong with the world?”

  “The police don’t have any suspects yet. They’re interviewing people who knew Emma. Did you know her?”

  “I knew her well enough to say hello to and chat with for a little while. She grew up here in town. She was a very nice person.” Under his doctor’s suggestion, Dwayne was using a cane in the afternoons when he became tired. It was only until he’d regained all of his strength, the man told everyone. Dwayne lifted the cane and jabbed the bottom of it into the dirt. “Who would want to hurt poor Emma?”

  “Do you know Emma’s husband?”

  “Charlie,” Dwayne said with disgust. “A piece of work that one is. Charlie’s problem is he has never grown up. He’s immature. What Emma saw in that guy is beyond me. I don’t know how he’ll manage without Emma’s steady presence.”

  “Some people think Emma stayed with Charlie because of the kids.”

  Dwayne grunted.

  “I heard Charlie had cheated,” Shelly said.

  “Not a bit surprised. I’ve seen him in action in some pubs over the years. Charlie thinks all women are in love him. Such arrogance, and such disregard for his wife and family. You’ve heard about his gambling problem?”

  Shelly nodded and then let her eyes wander over the beauty of the towering pines, the impossible blue of the sky, and the crystal clear lake trying to lessen some of the tension she felt when discussing the case. “Have you heard any talk about who could be the killer?”

  “I’ve heard plenty of talk … none of it has any basis in fact.” Dwayne rolled the top of his cane in his hands. “But, I will share a fact with you.”

  Shelly shifted on the bench to better face Dwayne.

  “When I was in the hospital, I saw Charlie there several times. Once, it was late at night. I didn’t really see him, I heard him talking in the hallway outside my room. I couldn’t sleep and was just resting in my bed.”

  “What did you hear?” Shelly asked.

  “Charlie was on his break from the emergency room. He was talking to anothe
r nurse. The other nurse said something like why don’t you just divorce her then? Charlie responded with something to the effect that he’d love to, but then he’d have to pay alimony and that his salary would go down to nothing. They moved away down the hall and I couldn’t hear anything more.”

  “How can you be sure it was Charlie?” Shelly asked.

  “I know his voice. Anyway, the other nurse said his name. It was Charlie, all right. Sounded like he would have loved to divorce Emma, but having less money was holding him back.”

  A flash of anxiety washed over Shelly. Was Charlie cheating again? Did Charlie kill Emma to get rid of her? So he wouldn’t have to pay alimony and would be free to do whatever he wanted ? Shelly’s heart beat sped up. Did Emma have life insurance?

  “What do you think of that conversation I heard in the hospital?” Dwayne asked. “Probably the same thing I’ve been thinking?”

  “That Charlie had something to do with Emma’s death?” Shelly asked.

  “The thought has crossed my mind.” Dwayne tapped his cane against the ground.

  “It’s an interesting thought.” Shelly’s stomach seemed to fill with ice. “It wasn’t that long ago when you heard Charlie say that stuff.”

  “No, it wasn’t, but it was long ago enough that Charlie would have had plenty of time to plan and execute the crime,” Dwayne said.

  Shelly swallowed hard. “You’ve interacted with Charlie. You know him a little. Do you really think he is capable of murdering someone … murdering his wife?”

  Thinking of his nephew, Paul, and how he killed Abby Jackson and attempted to kill Shelly, Dwayne looked the young woman in the eye. “Sometimes, people’s actions can surprise you, can’t they?”

  Shelly biked from the farm back to her rented cottage on the quiet side street off of the main road in town. Juliet’s car wasn’t in her driveway which meant she was most likely still working at the resort. Shelly wanted to talk over what she’d learned from Dwayne and hoped her friend would get back soon.

  Inside the bungalow, Justice met the young woman at the door and wound around Shelly’s legs, purring.

  “What a nice greeting.” Shelly bent to scratch behind Justice’s ears. “It’s been a long day, kitty.”

  After getting a snack and a cup of tea, Shelly looked out the side window to Juliet’s driveway, but her friend had not yet returned home.

  With a sigh, Shelly plopped onto the sofa on her back and rested her head against the soft decorative pillow. The Calico cat jumped up onto her owner’s stomach and touched her tiny pink nose to Shelly’s causing the young woman to giggle. The cat curled up and Shelly ran her hand over the silky fur.

  In a few minutes, Shelly had fallen asleep and soon a dream began to form.

  Shelly and her sister, Lauren, sat at the same table with the same women as in a previous dream. The twin sisters shared food and laughed along with the people at the table. Money rained down from the ceiling again, but no one paid any attention. The dollar bills formed into the cyclone and flew up and away.

  Suddenly, Lauren’s facial expression changed from happy and joyful to sad and sorrowful. Shelly tried to ask her what was wrong, but her sister couldn’t hear what she was saying.

  When Shelly lifted her wine glass to her lips, Lauren reached over and took it away from her. She put the glass to her own mouth and drained the contents, and then she turned the glass upside down and set it on the table.

  A song started over the restaurant’s speakers and it began with a drum solo.

  Bang, bang, bang.

  Shelly sat up, blinking. Justice stood on the back of the sofa looking at the front door. Someone was knocking.

  Hurrying to the door, Shelly peeked out of the living room window as she passed and spotted Juliet on the front porch.

  Opening the door, she said, “Sorry, I was napping. The knocking woke me.”

  Juliet entered the living room and sank into a chair. “I could use a nap, too. I’m beat.” Justice jumped onto the young woman’s lap and curled into a ball, ready to snooze.

  Shelly brought her friend a cup of tea and a muffin.

  Taking a bite of the toasted muffin, Juliet mumbled. “Did you dream when you were napping?”

  Taking a seat on the sofa, Shelly pulled her legs up under her. “I did, but it wasn’t very eventful.” She related the dream to Juliet.

  “Money fell from the ceiling, huh? What restaurant was this? Maybe we should go there tonight.”

  Shelly smiled. “It was only a dream, not a premonition. I don’t think money will actually fall down on us.”

  “What does it mean?” Juliet sipped her tea and rested her legs on the ottoman.

  “Your guess is as good as mine.” Shelly pushed a few strands of hair from her eyes.

  “Who was in the dream?”

  Shelly thought about the people who had been sitting around the table. “I only recognized Emma Pinkley.”

  “Where was I sitting?” Juliet asked.

  Shelly thought for a few moments, mentally recalling the faces around the table. “You weren’t with us.”

  Juliet looked glum. “No? Where was I?”

  “You weren’t in the dream,” Shelly told her.

  “Well, why wasn’t I? You said you were with your friends.” Juliet sounded slightly indignant.

  Juliet’s words pinged in Shelly’s head and a flash of anxiety raced through her, but she didn’t know why. A puzzled look crossed over Shelly’s face. “I … I don’t know.”

  9

  Juliet joined Shelly for dinner to enjoy the vegetable soup that had been simmering in the slow cooker for most of the day. It was warm enough outside to open the sliding glass door in the kitchen and the two friends sat at the table in front of the doors while Justice settled on the floor in a patch of sunlight.

  Lifting a spoonful of soup to her mouth, Juliet paused and said, “I’m going to have to have a talk with your subconscious. If you have dreams where you go out to do something with friends, then I have to be included. You can’t leave me out.”

  Shelly pulled off a small hunk of her crusty bread. “When I think about the dream, the people around the table weren’t really any of my friends. They were people I hardly know, acquaintances from town, from the resort. Some I didn’t even know at all. Why would my mind put me at a restaurant with them?”

  “You’ll have to ask your brain.” Juliet slipped the spoon back into her bowl. “The soup is delicious.”

  “I saw Dwayne at the farm today. He’s doing well, getting stronger every day. We talked about Emma Pinkley and the circumstances of her death.”

  “You mean her murder,” Juliet said.

  “Dwayne had something interesting to share.”

  Juliet looked up from her dinner and rested her spoon on the bread plate. “Tell me.”

  Shelly explained what Dwayne overheard while he was in the hospital.

  “He’s sure it was Charlie Pinkley he heard?”

  “He says he’s sure. He recognized Charlie’s voice.”

  “And this happened within the last month.” Juliet thought about the timing of Dwayne’s hospitalization and Emma’s murder. “It definitely could be Charlie who killed Emma. He was a suspect in our minds before Dwayne even told you what he heard.”

  “Why would Charlie think he could get away with such a thing?” Shelly asked. “He must be a smart guy. He made it through nursing school and training. In a murder investigation, the police often consider the husband or the family members first. How would Charlie think he could emerge from law enforcement’s scrutiny unscathed?”

  “Wishful thinking?” Juliet asked.

  “Could be. The daughter, Aubrey, said her father went to the mall on the evening of the murder and didn’t get home until around 10:30pm,” Shelly said. “Was he really at the mall or was that his story?”

  “He could have gone there for a short time and then left to ambush Emma somewhere,” Juliet speculated. “The police must have gathere
d Emma’s phone records. The records would indicate if Emma got a call or text from Charlie. He could have pretended car trouble and when his wife arrived to help him, he shot her.”

  “Charlie might have hired someone to do his dirty work,” Shelly pointed out. “Maybe he really did stay at the mall until it closed. He’d be on the mall’s security tapes. Those tapes would prove he was there and then he would have a rock-solid alibi for his whereabouts proving he did not kill Emma.”

  “Hmmm.” Juliet said, “He may not have pulled the trigger, but he certainly could have planned it.”

  “Agreed.”

  Juliet said, “We’re supposed to go with Jay tomorrow afternoon to sit in on Charlie Pinkley’s interview. It will give us a chance to watch him while he answers Jay’s questions.”

  “I’m interested in how that will go and if we’ll believe what he says,” Shelly said.

  “We might come away with a very different opinion of him than we have going in. We need to keep our minds open about him.”

  “Very true.” Shelly told Juliet about Emma’s friends. “Her daughter told us the names of several women who were friendly with Emma. I met one of them at the diner. Monica Jones, a park ranger.”

  “I know who she is. She’s worked at the mountain for years. She’s well thought of.”

  Shelly listed off the names of two other women and Juliet perked up when she heard Leena Tate’s name.

  “Leena runs the pastry café in town. She’s there all the time. Let’s go now and see if we can talk to her about Emma.”

  After cleaning up the dinner dishes, Shelly and Juliet walked into town and found a table in the High Rise Café and Bakery. Leena came out of the back room carrying a tray of sweets. The woman, in her mid-thirties, was tall and lean with her black hair pulled up in a ponytail. Leena took the young women’s order and in a few minutes, carried the cups of tea and slices of chocolate cake to their table.

  Juliet introduced themselves. “We heard you were a friend of Emma Pinkley. We were sorry to hear about your friend.”

  Leena looked surprised, but thanked them for their kind words. “I’d only met Emma a few months ago. I ran into her at the gym. We got along great. She was a really nice person.”