Killer Spring Read online

  “No, I didn’t notice.”

  “That’s really odd. You’d think she’d at least acknowledge people with a nod.” Perhaps, Eve thought, it had something to do with her relationship with the locals. Maybe she’d never been on friendly terms with them. She hadn’t looked that shaken. Although, she had admitted to being upset.

  “What’s on your mind, Eve?” Jack asked.

  “Oh… I’m just wondering how I’d react if I attended a funeral.”

  “Hang on. Whose funeral?”

  “This is just a hypothetical… fleeting thought. Okay, let’s say it’s your funeral.”

  “Couldn’t it be someone else’s? I’m sure Mira wouldn’t mind playing a cameo role in your hypothetical funeral.”

  Eve looked shocked. “I can’t kill Mira! She’s my aunt.”

  “Oh, I see. But you can kill me? When did I become expendable? Or should that be disposable.”

  “You know that’s not what I meant. You’re a man and a policeman at that. You can take it.”

  “Fine. Go ahead and kill me.”

  “Hey, I’m not talking about killing you. You might have suffered an accident or succumbed to a dreadful disease.”

  Jack blinked. “You’re not really sweetening the deal for me, Eve.”

  Eve crossed her arms and tapped her foot.

  “Fine,” Jack grumbled. “I’ll roll with it.”

  Eve gave him a bright smile. “Where was I?”

  Jack scowled. “You were attending my funeral.”

  “Oh, yes… Knowing how the locals feel about me, would I ignore them or would I force myself to be polite?” She held up a finger. “Or, would I be too heartbroken over your death to care?”

  Jack brightened. “Despite me being the sacrificial lamb in your morbid hypothetical, that last one sounds good to me. And, what’s this about the locals? You get along with everyone.”

  Eve recalled being ejected from the Chin Wag Café… “Let’s not go there.” She turned her thoughts back to Bernice Glover. She’d lived on the island for a couple of years. Maybe she hadn’t made any real friends. And, if she had made some friends, she might have realized they were only fair-weather friends. Maybe she had been aware of the island’s history and the locals’ secret biases against newcomers…

  She imagined Bernice Glover attending the funeral, going through the paces and just getting it over and done with.

  Eve tapped her finger on her chin. Why had Bernice bothered to clear the air with her? She had gone out of her way, almost as if she’d needed to unburden herself.

  Eve shrugged. “I find Bernice’s behavior strange but everyone reacts to loss in their own way.” Waving her wrist, she added, “On the bright side, my wrist feels better. More coffee?”

  “Yes, please.”

  As she prepared the coffee, she told him about the photographs she’d taken of Wallace’s trash. “I wouldn’t be surprised if someone planted the peanut shells.”

  “You looked in his compost bin?”

  Eve nodded. “Did Phil Forrester look in Wallace’s compost bin?”

  “I wouldn’t know. Remember, I’m not part of the investigation.”

  “Oh, I just remembered something I wanted to ask you. Did Chad leave a will? I only ask because Wallace didn’t think he had. Now I’m curious to know who’ll end up with the farm because Chad’s aunt hadn’t cared much for her brother… You see, he’s a gambler.”

  “You got all that information from a brief conversation with Wallace?”

  She nodded.

  Jack laughed. “You went from being banned to now accepting everything Wallace says as fact.”

  “I guess I’m more open to the idea of working with rumors, hearsay and innuendo.”

  Jack surged to his feet and excused himself to make another phone call.

  It seemed odd to Eve. Surely, the police would have pursued that line of thinking. After all, the person who stood to inherit always seemed to have the strongest motive for murder.

  She brought out a bowl and began rubbing the cold butter into the flour. When Jack came back in, he helped himself to another mug of coffee.

  “Phil Forrester questioned Chad’s uncle a couple of days ago. I told him it might be a good idea to talk to him again.”

  Because she’d brought it up?

  “What’s his name?” Eve asked.

  “Rob Greer.”

  She repeated the name a couple of times. “It doesn’t sound like the name of a gambler. Anyhow, did Phil Forrester ask about the ongoing feud?”

  “Between Wallace and Chad?”

  “No. I’m referring to the one between Wallace and Chad’s aunt. I thought that might be central to the investigation.” Although, from the start, Phil Forrester had tagged her as a key person of interest. Clearly, he had his own way of carrying out an investigation.

  Eve stopped rubbing in the butter and looked out of the window. Had it been easier for the detective to suspect her? There had been plenty of people willing to come forward with witness statements saying they’d seen her arguing with Chad Burrows.

  The facts had stacked against her.

  Sighing, she cracked an egg, separated the yolk and fixed her focus on her pie.

  Half an hour later, Jill burst into the kitchen, her eyes wide, her arms flapping. “You’re baking? Now?”

  Eve smiled. “Now is as good a time as any.” Since returning home, she’d been on cloud nine. She finally had her pie recipe. Of course, the proof would be in the baking. Or rather, in her next visit to the Farmers’ Market.

  “You’re going to have to set that aside.” Jill waved her phone. “I have the video of the funeral to watch.”

  “You go ahead and set it up. I’ll be done here soon.”

  “What is wrong with you? We’re supposed to be looking for a killer.”

  Laughing, Eve shook her head. “We? The police are taking care of it.” Washing her hands, she wiped them dry and turned her thoughts to what they would have for dinner. “Do you know if Mira and David are coming back? They might be hungry.”

  Jill snorted. “Because burying someone builds your appetite? You know, I actually tried to follow your suggestion and use the time to think… about things.” She shook her head. “Introspection doesn’t work for me.”

  “You prefer to live in the moment.”

  “That’s all we have,” Jill mused. “Okay, gather round. You’re the only one who’ll be watching this with fresh eyes.”

  Eve sat down to view the video.

  Jack had been right about everyone looking over their shoulders.

  The only people focused on the service had been Chad’s uncle and cousin and Bernice Glover.

  “Did anyone see Bernice Glover talking to Chad’s family?” Eve asked.

  “She must have,” Jill said.

  Jill had recorded everyone arriving at the cemetery and taking their seats around the gravesite but she didn’t see anyone engaging Bernice Glover in conversation.

  “It’s odd,” Eve murmured. “You’d think they would have sat together. You noticed that at the church, Jill.”

  Jill hummed under her breath. “What do you think it means?”

  Eve sat back and tested her wrist for soreness. “Maybe Bernice knew about the animosity between Chad’s aunt and her brother. Chad might have mentioned it. So, she probably thought it would be best to keep her distance.”

  Jill shot to her feet and looked about ready to rush out. “If we’re going to corner them, I think we should take Jack along with us.”

  Corner them?

  “Sit down, Jill. If we come up with any new ideas, Jack will pass the information on to Phil Forrester. I’ve had way too many guns pointed at me to risk venturing out there.” She waved her wrist. “This served as fair warning to steer clear of trouble.”

  “Eve Lloyd, you’ve lost your touch.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. I’ve actually come to my senses. And when did you suddenly change your mind? You�
��ve always opposed any involvement in matters that shouldn’t concern us.”

  “Perhaps I’m trying to give my life new meaning.”

  “You can do whatever you like with your life, but leave me out of it.” Eve wrapped her pastry and put it aside to rest. Hearing her phone ringing, she checked the caller ID. “Mira.”

  “We’re on our way back,” Mira said. “What’s for dinner? Should we pick something up in town?”

  Eve gave it some thought. “No, I’ll call Gerard. He can make something for us. I can’t have pizza again. Anyway… Jill’s already here. What’s been holding you up?”

  “We caught up with a few people after the service.” Mira had a muffled conversation with David. “I was going to wait until we got back, but I might as well tell you now. Everyone’s been wondering about the will. Claire Burrows had been dead set against leaving the farm to her brother but he appears to be the only one who stands to inherit. We’re all curious to see what happens. Apparently, Claire Burrows had included a special caveat in her will saying that she left everything to Chad on the condition he didn’t then leave the farm to his uncle.”

  Eve hummed. “We’ve been wondering if he even had a will. Of course, it’s possible he might have left the farm to Bernice Glover.”

  Eve nibbled the tip of her thumb. She wished she had thought to ask Bernice about it when she’d dropped by earlier…

  “Anyhow, I should call Gerard and organize dinner.” She disconnected the call and dialed the inn. After a brief conversation, she ended the call and set the phone to charge again.

  Turning toward Jack, she studied him for a moment. When he noticed her watching him, he raised an eyebrow.

  “I’m just thinking,” she said. “Is there a way for the police to find out what’s included in the will?”

  “And then share the information with you?”

  “That would be the fair thing to do,” Jill murmured as she continued to study the video of the funeral.

  “It was just a thought.” Eve shrugged and told them what Mira had said. “Chad must have had a special relationship with his aunt. She’d trusted him.”

  Jack leaned forward. “And?”

  Eve studied her wrist. “I don’t know. I just had a thought and I went with the flow.” Picking up her car keys, she turned to Jill. “I’m going to the inn. Coming? We’re getting leftovers from the inn for dinner.”

  “Why don’t you send Jack?”

  “I feel I should make an appearance. Remember, I’m the owner.” Also, she wanted to test the waters. Someone had been giving Wallace Greenaway food. She didn’t mind that, not one bit, but she’d like to know the identity of the person responsible. “We won’t be long.”

  Scrolling through his phone, Jack said, “I get the feeling I should object, but I can’t think of anything that would convince you to stay or allow me to do the fetching and carrying.”

  As they stepped out of the house, Jill murmured, “He could have offered to drive you.”

  “It’s the cookies. They’ve made him lethargic. Oh… and the rum he put in his coffee…” She handed Jill her car keys. “You drive.”

  “How’s your wrist?”

  “It’s much better but I want to sit back and… ruminate.”

  “You’re trying to join the dots.”

  “Yes, that too…” Did they even know where Chad’s uncle and cousin were staying?

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “What the detective story is about is not murder but the restoration of order.”

  P.D. James

  “Peach cobbler.” Jill smacked her lips together. “And roast beef and potatoes.”

  Eve gave a nod of approval. “You did great, Gerard. There’s enough to feed a small army.”

  “Yes,” Jill agreed. “But now we have to carry it all to Mira’s house. We should have told her to come here.”

  “That would have been the practical solution.” Eve glanced toward the door leading to the dining room. “But then, we’d risk being overheard by the guests. I’d like to avoid having our conversations misconstrued.” She looked inside the basket Gerard had prepared for them. “Is that all the peach cobbler you have?”

  Gerard didn’t hesitate when he nodded.

  Leah, who stood beside him, looked away.

  “Are you sure?”

  He gave her a brisk smile.

  “This is just the sort of dessert Wallace Greenaway would enjoy.” She watched for any telltale signs, but he gave nothing away.

  Gerard knew Wallace from the market. It wouldn’t surprise Eve if he’d tried to keep him happy by supplying him with desserts.

  “Come on. We should take this back to Mira’s.” Eve grabbed hold of one handle while Jill took the other one.

  When they loaded the basket in the trunk, Jill rushed back inside saying, “I’ll be back in a sec. I just need to get the dogs. I don’t want to be labeled an absent parent.”

  After she returned with the dogs and settled them in the back seat, Jill got them going. “Mind telling me what that was all about?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “To me, it sounded as if you were accusing Gerard of something. I’m sure Leah sensed it too. She looked uncomfortable. We don’t want to upset her. If she leaves, I’m going with her.”

  Eve smiled. “Sounds to me like you have a new friend.”

  “She’s a breath of fresh air and, like Gerard, she can chop onions without even looking.”

  Eve laughed. “You’re so easy to impress. I guess you’re happy about her being your new roommate. How’s that working out?”

  “Great. But you haven’t answered my question.”

  “Oh… Well, I’m not sure. Wallace made it sound as if he’d tasted my pies, but he’s never been to the inn…. Hang on…”

  “What?”

  Eve stared into the distance.

  “Eve! Tell me.”

  “Oh, something just came to me. You know what I’m like when that happens. I need to sort through the muddle.” After a moment, she said, “You’re right, I did test Gerard to see if he’d been supplying Wallace with my pies. Then, you pointed it out to me and something clicked. I’ve been trying to make sense of Bernice Glover’s visit this afternoon.”

  “You think she wanted to test you to see what you knew?”

  “Yes!” Eve smiled. Jill had the knack of being able to follow her line of thinking like no one else could.

  “And if you’d given something away? What do you think she would have done?”

  “I don’t know…” Eve shuddered. What if she’d been carrying a weapon? With practically the entire island attending the funeral, she would not have needed to worry about witnesses. “This has been plaguing me all day, it’s just so odd that she didn’t talk with Chad’s family. It’s almost too obvious. You know, the way Mira thought Wallace was too obvious to be a suspect.”

  “You think she avoided Chad’s family on purpose?”

  Eve gave a small nod. “She might have…”

  “Why?”

  “Because she didn’t… doesn’t want anyone to connect her to Chad’s family.”

  “You think she’s hiding something.”

  Eve nibbled her lip. “This might sound crazy but… bear with me.”

  “I always do.”

  “Rob Greer wanted the farm—”

  “Who’s he?”

  “Chad’s uncle.”

  “Oh.”

  “As I was saying, he wanted the farm. According to Mira, Claire Burrows left it to Chad with a condition that he exclude Rob Greer from his will.”

  “Are you about to say Rob Greer hatched a plan to get his hands on the farm?”

  “I think so, yes. And… this is where it gets really crazy, I think Bernice Glover might be in on it too.”

  Jill yelped. “You think she killed her boyfriend?” Jill could not have sounded more shocked. “Impossible.”

  “I don’t know… You’d have to have some strong
motivation. And I think she might… For instance, today, I played around with an idea and I needed to kill Jack for it to make sense. I must admit, I didn’t really feel bad about it.”

  Jill slanted her gaze and gave her a worried look.

  “Yeah, Jack felt the same way. He really didn’t appreciate being snuffed out just for the sake of my theory. But you see, it makes sense. In order to get the farm, Rob Greer would first need to get rid of his nephew. He’s a patient man. Think about it. Two years is not too long to wait.”

  “How does Bernice fit into all this?” Jill slowed down.

  “Maybe Chad left her the farm. It doesn’t matter if they’re not married. Rob Greer could have planted Bernice on the island and got her to establish herself here and… hook up with Chad. I know, it sounds like a long-shot. It all comes back to Bernice looking too obvious about avoiding any contact with Rob Greer.”

  They both fell silent for a moment.

  “Rob Greer would have to be in serious need of money.” Jill said.

  Eve agreed. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he has accrued gambling debts.”

  “You should tell Jack and the detective.”

  Should she?

  Eve had to admit it all sounded too far-fetched. But what if she’d hit on something.

  “I will, as soon as we get back.” She gestured with her hand. “Keep driving.”

  “You need to tell him now. They could be making their getaway as we speak.”

  “Why would they? They don’t know we’re on to them. If I’m right, they’re playing a long game. Besides, I didn’t bring my phone.”

  Huffing, Jill handed her phone over. “Use mine.”

  Eve shook her head and sighed. “When Jack sees the caller ID, he’s going to think something happened to me. Good heavens, I could be responsible for giving him a heart attack.”

  “I doubt anything you do or say will ever surprise him,” Jill said. “There are other ways you might kill him. That French food you feed him can’t be all that healthy. All that fatty cream is probably clogging up his arteries.”

  “Don’t let him hear you say that. I can’t have him going off my food.” She held up a finger. “Jack. It’s me.”

  He sounded nonplussed. “What’s up?”