Murder by Arrangement Page 5

  At her desk, she turned on the computer, but instead of opening her e-mail messages, the way she usually began her morning, she resumed her search for articles having to do with “Haverstrum.” Probably because she’d refreshed her memory of Rosie’s tale by retelling it to Starling the night before, Edna hadn’t been able to get the drama out of her dreams or off her mind. Too many questions tumbled over each other in her head.

  Why had the police narrowed in on Rosie? Because she was the murdered man’s wife and, therefore, the most obvious? Edna knew from her television programs, the victim’s spouse usually had the most to gain and was, therefore, the prime suspect. In the Haverstrum case, the police apparently hadn’t found strong enough proof of Rosie’s guilt or they would have arrested her instead of only bringing her in for questioning.

  Edna thought back to her own situation and wondered if the townsfolk would still be shunning her, had Tom Greene’s killer not been found. What would her life be like with an unsolved murder hanging over her? She could only imagine what Rosie Beck and her daughter were suffering. Before Edna questioned Charlie or Mary about what they knew of the case, she wanted to read everything she could about the personalities involved.

  What about other suspects? Had there been sufficient evidence to suspect someone else? Farren McCree, for instance. Edna entered Rosie’s former best friend’s name into the Google search box and began a new hunt.

  The thirty-nine-year-old McCree worked at the nursery that had hired Rosie. They had been working side-by-side for over a year and had developed a social friendship when Farren began her affair with Gregory. Less trusting than Gregory’s wife, when the affair began to cool, Farren had followed Haverstrum and caught him wining and dining the young woman he had recently employed as his office assistant. To get even, Farren mentioned her suspicions to Rosie about young Bobbi Callahan, a sophomore at the nearby university.

  Before Edna got side-tracked with the young girlfriend, she clicked on one of the items that had come up for Farren McCree. In part, the article was a rundown of her actions on the days leading up to the discovery of Haverstrum’s body. It revealed no more than what Rosie had told Edna. Farren had reportedly visited Gregory Haverstrum’s apartment on the afternoon he died, but hadn’t stayed long.

  Edna was disappointed. Nothing much of significance was divulged, so she closed the article, making a mental note to ask both Mary and Charlie what they knew of the woman. Edna was scanning other McCree items for any detail she might have missed, when she heard voices coming from the kitchen. She switched the screen to her message in-box just before Amanda came rushing into the room, followed seconds later by Starling.

  Edna didn’t feel guilty about investigating the scandal or the people involved, but she didn’t know if Amanda knew about the case or about Lettie’s family’s history. If the subject ever arose, Edna would rather talk face-to-face with her granddaughter than have the child see lists of news headlines with her friend’s name on a computer screen.

  “Can we call Lettie now?” Amanda said, picking up Benjamin from the chair beside the desk. She draped the ginger cat over her shoulder and stroked his back as she sat down. He, apparently, didn’t like this new arrangement because he eased himself onto the chair back and pushed off from Amanda’s shoulder onto the window ledge where he sat in a small spot of sun and began to wash a front paw.

  Edna was surprised to see by her desk clock that it was nearly ten. “I think it’s late enough. Let me find my garden club list of phone numbers.” As she hunted through papers in a basket beside the computer monitor, she asked, “What are you planning to do today?”

  Amanda shrugged. “I dunno. Play with the kittens, I guess.”

  Starling, leaning against the door jamb, hands thrust into the pockets of her blue woolen slacks, said, “How about a drive to Point Judith Lighthouse? The waves will be amazing in this wind. We could go to Iggy’s for lunch. What do you say? They have the best clamcakes,” she added as if to persuade her niece.

  Amanda’s eyes lit up. “Yeah. Cool, Auntie Starling.”

  Without looking up from what she was doing, Edna said, “Pick another lunch place. The Iggy’s at Point Judith closes for the winter.” Ignoring the resulting duet of groans, Edna found the phone list and glanced over at Amanda. “If we ask Lettie, we should invite her grandmother, too.”

  “I guess,” Amanda said with a definite lack of enthusiasm.

  Starling chuckled at her niece’s lackluster reply and said, “Sure. Why not?”

  Lily answered on the third ring. After preliminary greetings, Edna mentioned their plans for the morning, asking if she and Lettie would like to join them.

  “I have some things to do today, but I’m sure Violet would enjoy the outing. All she’s done since breakfast is sit around and play with her phone.”

  Edna had the impression that Lettie was within earshot of her grandmother’s remark. “I’m sorry you’re not able to join us, but we’ll be by in half an hour to get Violet.” Edna was careful to use the name Lily seemed to insist on calling her granddaughter. Hanging up, she studied Amanda’s scoop-necked jersey and light cardigan, “The wind will be stronger and colder near the water. You might want to wear your hoodie.”

  “Okay.” Amanda jumped up, heading into the hall and up the stairs.

  Starling slipped into the chair vacated by her niece. Benjamin stepped gingerly from the window sill to her shoulder and slid into her lap. She scratched along his jawline, but seemed preoccupied.

  “What’s on your mind, dear?” Edna prompted.

  Starling’s focus came back to the room and her brow creased. “Mary’s pretty serious about that ghost of hers.”

  “Yes, I know.”

  “I don’t think she’s had much sleep lately. She asked me if we could all stay with her tonight. Made it sound like a game, but I think she’d really like someone in the house with her. Knowing her, she’s dying to investigate. I’m surprised she doesn’t want to do it alone. I thought she was braver than that.” Starling looked at Edna questioningly as she absently stroked Benjamin’s back.

  “She might be intimidated by the unknown in her old familiar surroundings,” Edna said, returning the phone list to the basket. “I thought you might enjoy her theory of the Colonial rebel in her old nursery. Did you tell her you’d join her tonight?”

  Starling laughed. “I was fascinated with her tale.” She then grew serious and shook her head. “I would help her out, but I’m having dinner with Charlie tonight.”

  “Did she hear the stomping again last night?”

  Starling nodded. “Maybe I can go over tomorrow night.” A sudden twinkle came into her eyes. “I wonder if Charlie would like to help.”

  Edna laughed. “He just might.” She sobered then. “Tomorrow is Amanda’s last night here. I’ll be driving her home Monday morning.” She paused and studied Starling thoughtfully. “Unless you’re heading back to Boston on Monday and could drop her off on your way?” She turned the thought into a question and then added, “I’ll spend the night with Mary, but not while Amanda’s here. I may be selfish, not wanting to share her, but it’s not often that I have her to myself, and it’s an added bonus that you’re also here this weekend. As much as I sympathize with Mary, her ghost can wait.”

  Starling smiled. “I understand.” She paused for a minute as if reflecting before she continued. “Sure. I can drive Manda-Panda home, but I’ll have to leave early. I’m opening the studio on Monday. Gary is meeting with a new client in Marblehead, so I’m watching the shop,” she said, mentioning her partner who occasionally worked on commission to paint a landscape for someone who wanted to memorialize a house, garden or favorite ocean view.

  “I’ll phone Mary when we get back after lunch. I’m sure she’ll be fine during the day, and I’ll make arrangements to stay with her some night next week.” Edna rose from her chair as she heard Amanda bouncing down the stairs. “I feel certain what Mary’s hearing is the old house settling. She
may think she knows all the sounds, but as wood dries and weather takes its toll, things shift and new noises crop up.” She smiled at her daughter and changed the subject. “Right now, will you drive or shall I?”

  When they got to Lily’s house, Lettie was already waiting on the veranda. As she ran down the steps, Lily appeared in the doorway, a shawl around her shoulders. She waved to them. In the passenger’s seat, Edna waved back. After opening the car door for her friend, Amanda scooted over and, once the girls were safely buckled up, Starling put the car in gear and they were on their way.

  The wind was stronger than Edna expected when they arrived at Point Judith. Roiling waves crashed onto the gravel, sending salt spray over the rocks that edged the parking lot. “Maybe this was a mistake. Shall we go someplace where there’s more shelter?”

  She could have saved her breath because the girls were already tumbling out of the back seat and moving toward the wider stretch of beach beyond the lighthouse. Several more cars were in the lot, but their inhabitants were content to stay inside and watch the waves. Nobody seemed to be as adventurous as Amanda and Lettie.

  “I’ll go with them,” Starling said, opening her door. “I’m guessing they won’t stay out in this wind for long.”

  Edna looked out to sea, enjoying the storm-tossed water and waves from the comfort of the car. As time when by and the others didn’t return, she grew restless. Turning in her seat, she could see nobody and decided they must have walked farther down the rocky shore. Resigned to wait and not worry, at least for the moment, she pulled a sketch pad and pen from her tote bag and began to draw. Her memory and artist’s eye enabled her to make a fairly good representation of the Christmas Rose that had recently bloomed in Lily’s garden and of which the woman was inordinately proud.

  So focused was she on what she was doing, Edna was startled when the car doors opened and the girls toppled in.

  “Brrr,” Starling said, starting the engine and turning up the heat. “That wind is cold.”

  On her way across the seat to make room for Lettie, Amanda glanced over Edna’s shoulder. “What are you drawing, Gramma?”

  Her question made Lettie lean over the seat to see, too. “It looks like Lily’s plant,” the youngster remarked.

  “It’s a strawberry blossom,” Amanda said.

  “It does resemble a strawberry blossom, doesn’t it?” Edna agreed, holding up the sketch so the girls could see it before she closed the cover on the pad. “You can’t tell from my drawing, but it’s larger than a strawberry plant and the leaves are different. Lettie guessed it. I’ve drawn the Christmas Rose that grows in her grandmother’s garden. It’s a present for Lily.”

  “Why is it called Christmas Rose?” Amanda asked, folding her arms across Starling’s seat back and resting her cold-reddened cheek on her forearm.

  “According to Mrs. Rabichek’s journal, the legend claims that it sprouted in the snow from the tears of a young girl who had no gift to give the Christ child in Bethlehem,” Edna said.

  While she tucked the pad back into her tote, Lettie and Amanda sat back and fastened their seat belts. As they were buckling up, Lettie said, “Lily dries those in the oven.”

  “Why?” Amanda asked.

  “She crumbles ‘em up and keeps ‘em in jars. Kinda like spices.”

  “What do they taste like?”

  “Dunno.”

  “Why not?”

  “She says it’s medicine.” Lettie sounded as if she were tired of the subject.

  “Like for headaches or something?” Amanda said.

  “Not sure,” Lettie said, ending the conversation with a bored tone.

  Edna frowned but didn’t turn around. She wouldn’t make a big deal of it with the girls, but she knew the plant was highly poisonous. She made a mental note to ask Lily about her “medicine,” the next chance she got. She wondered if the woman realized how dangerous it was to trust anything made from her garden plants. The strength of a single dose can vary so much with the growing season.

  Chapter 7

  After leaving the lighthouse parking lot, Starling chose to drive along Sand Hill Cove Road to Galilee where they stopped at the Champlin’s seafood market. Edna bought cooked lobster meat, smoked bluefish and fresh clams while the girls and Starling strolled along the wharf to look at the boats. The Block Island ferry wouldn’t be leaving until later that afternoon, but there was plenty of activity along the docks as fishermen tended to their boats and tourists took photos of each other with the choppy sea as background.

  When she finished shopping, Edna joined the girls. “Do you want to stay for a while and walk along the beach?”

  Before her niece could answer, Starling said, “I’m for heading home and some hot clam chowder. I’ve had enough of this cold wind.”

  “Me, too,” Amanda agreed. She turned to Lettie who was looking at her cell phone display and didn’t seem to have heard. Amanda rolled her eyes at Starling and Edna, heaved a sigh and took her friend by the arm to lead her toward the car. The youngster complied complacently without looking up from the device in her hand, although Edna noticed a smile twitch at the sides of Lettie’s mouth.

  At home, Edna busied herself in the kitchen while Starling lit a fire in the living room grate. The girls, after changing into lighter weight jerseys and sweaters, set up a card table near the hearth. Deciding on Parcheesi, they sat down to play until lunch was ready.

  “Is that phone ever out of her hand?” Starling asked, reaching around Edna to snatch a lump of lobster meat from the salad bowl.

  Edna knew it was a rhetorical question, so didn’t answer as she toasted hot dog buns for the seafood rolls and stirred milk into the warming chowder. Instead, she said, “By the time you set the table and ask the girls to wash their hands, lunch should be ready.” She didn’t mention her house rule of “no phones at the table” to her daughter, assuming Amanda would let her friend know without having to be reminded by Starling.

  When they entered the kitchen, however, Lettie laid her mobile next to her plate before sitting down.

  “Please put that away,” Edna said, setting the platter of lobster rolls in the middle of the table.

  “Told you,” Amanda admonished her friend.

  Lettie looked up at Edna with eyes wide in a near panic. “But Mommy might text me,” she almost wailed.

  “Come with me,” Edna said with a gentle smile that she hoped would mask the impatience she felt. Apparently, the child’s mother kept her on an electronic leash. Preceding the girl into her office, Edna picked up a pencil and wrote her phone number on a slip of paper. “You can either phone your mother or text her, but please give her my number. Tell her we are sitting down to eat. If she needs to contact you in the next half hour or so, she can phone this house.”

  Lettie looked baffled, but did as she was told, sending her mother a text message. Obeying Edna’s instruction, she left the phone on the desk and followed Edna back to the kitchen. Over hot chowder and toasted lobster rolls, she soon seemed to forget her distress. The morning’s venture had certainly stimulated appetites, including Edna’s. Everyone ate hungrily with only occasional murmurings of appreciation breaking the silence.

  After lunch, as soon as the girls were excused from the table, Lettie ran to the office to check her phone. Starling went upstairs to her room, and Edna decided to sit by the fire to read. At Edna’s request, Amanda and Lettie cleaned up the lunch dishes before returning to the living room to resume their game. They had played for only a few minutes when Amanda spoke to her friend, apparently voicing something that had been on her mind.

  “Why do you call your grandmother ‘Lily’?”

  “She wants me to. Mommy calls her Lily, too.”

  “Why does she call you Violet instead of Lettie?”

  “She says we were named after pretty flowers, and that’s what we should be called, not some silly nicknames.”

  Smiling to herself and holding back a chuckle, Edna returned her attention to h
er book. When she realized she’d been staring at the same paragraph for the last five minutes, she decided to check her e-mail messages and went to her office. Twenty minutes later, Amanda came in and threw herself down in the chair beside the desk. Fortunately, Benjamin was asleep in his bed beside the hearth and so wasn’t ousted by the youngster.

  Edna looked over from the monitor at the scowling face of her granddaughter. “What’s wrong, kiddo?”

  Slouched in the chair, Amanda stared at her legs stretched out before her. “Lettie.”

  “What about Lettie?”

  “She’s not playing. She keeps sending messages to her mom.”

  “Does she do that all the time? I thought her mother was working. How does she find the time to text back?”

  Amanda shrugged and turned eyes filled with frustration on Edna. “When it’s my turn, she grabs her phone and then when it’s her turn, I have to wait for her to finish texting.” Huffily, she crossed her arms over her chest and returned to studying her pants legs. When Edna didn’t say anything, Amanda looked up at her. “Let’s take her back to her grandmother’s.”

  Edna sympathized with her granddaughter’s annoyance, but nearly burst out laughing at the child’s solution to her problem. “Have you asked Lettie to put her phone away while you’re playing?”

  Chin now lowered to her chest, Amanda moved her head in what Edna took for a nod. “It doesn’t do any good. She says her mom worries if she doesn’t hear from her.”

  “Do you think it might be Lettie who needs to stay connected to her mother?”

  Amanda’s eyes were on her feet as she tapped the sides of her shoes together. A few seconds went by before she said, “I suppose.”

  “Did you know Lettie’s father died a couple of years ago?”

  Still watching her sneakers, Amanda nodded.

  “Sometimes when children lose a parent, they get frightened about losing the other parent. Do you think that’s what might be going on, that Lettie’s afraid her mother might go away?”