Bassets and Blackmail Page 5

  “Now wait a minute,” James complained. You can't keep us stuck here.”

  Harry glared at the man. “This is a police investigation. I advise you to cooperate. You'll get your turn to be questioned.”

  James paled.

  Harry dismissed him from his attention and turned to me. “Clarissa, go into that kitchen and quiet those dogs. They're starving by the sound of it.” The dogs increased their barking.”

  Shelbee stood up, handed Samuel’s leash to me, and walked to the door. “They haven’t been fed this morning.”

  “Feed them,” he told me.

  Patricia reminded me, “Give Henry his insulin when you feed him.”

  I stood, tightened my hold on the dogs’ leashes and walked out. Paw trotted by my side, eager to see his friends.

  I passed two of Hal's men carrying a stretcher. No doubt for the body. As we passed the basement door, Hal emerged from it, stepping into the hall.

  “There's my pretty girl,” he said to me. Hal knew me since I was six years old. He always called me his pretty girl.

  “Hi, Hal. Harry got you out of bed again?”

  Hal laughed. “Yes. He did. Man's the bane of my life.”

  Some would find it callous that a man could laugh when someone had just died. But I knew Hal's emotions ran deep. He, like many of the other officers, was forced to face the most gruesome deaths on a regular basis. They developed a hard shell to do their jobs without going insane.

  “You're best friends though.”

  “That we are.” He shifted to let the men carrying the stretcher into the basement. This afforded me a view down the basement stairs. Steep, wooden steps descended with a wooden handrail on each side of enclosed steps. A bulb affixed to the ceiling cast the steps in bright light. A body lay face down, headfirst, at the bottom of the steps. The head appeared twisted at an awkward angle, facing left, the carved wine bottle on its side at his feet.

  The dogs sniffed the floor around our feet and Paw tugged on his leash, eager to investigate the basement.

  Hal stepped in front of the dogs and me. “You don't want to see that.”

  I stared into his eyes. “Was the fall the cause of his death?”

  Hal never blinked. “You know I can't tell you that.”

  “Hit on the head?” I persisted.

  Hal glanced back at his men descending the stairs. “Maybe.”

  I kissed his cheek and mouthed, “Thank you.”

  He blushed and waved me away with a pat on each dog’s back.

  I continued down the hall toward the private kitchen. The barking increased the closer I got, and Paw pulled at his leash to get to his friends.

  I opened the door to wagging tails and jumping dogs.

  Paw pushed through the crowd and stopped by the food bowls.

  “You are one big stomach,” I told him as I bent to pet Bitsy. Samuel slurped my face before greeting Bitsy while Henry woo-wooed a welcome.

  “All right. Food’s coming.” I wiped my face of doggie kisses with a paper towel I found on the counter next to Rascal and Kathleen, who sat side by side with identical reserved expressions. Their look implied disdain at the dog's antics, but they too wanted breakfast.

  Bags of dog food and cans of cat food were kept in a bottom cabinet. I bent to open the door. Rascal jumped on my back, walked to my head, and purred in my ear. Not so disdainful now.

  I pulled out two cans of cat food and reached in for the huge bag of kibble. Rascal jumped off his rocking perch.

  I dipped kibble into the dog bowls using a plastic cup. The dogs pushed their heads in and began eating before I could finish dipping food. Ever thoughtful, Shelbee had left a bowl out for Paw as he was the first to start eating. I stuffed the bag back into the cabinet.

  The cats paced the counter. I found a can opener in the top drawer above the dog food cabinet and opened the cans of cat food. Using a spoon from the same drawer, I divided cat food into two bowls. Rascal pushed in before I was finished, but Kathleen sat with tail wrapped around her body. She was a lady. I placed her bowl in front of her, and she ate dainty bites. Rascal finished first and stretched a paw toward her bowl. With one quick flash, Kathleen smacked at him, and Rascal withdrew. A lady had her limits after all.

  Henry needed his insulin shot since he was eating. Shelbee had taught me how to give insulin and Patricia had instructions on dosage posted on the fridge. I took out the insulin vial and a syringe. I prepped the syringe but discovered the insulin level in the vial was too low. I searched the fridge for a new one but didn’t find another vial. Perhaps one was in the commercial fridge. I left the animals eating and crossed the hall to search the fridge in the commercial kitchen. Success.

  “I will not.” A voice spoke from behind me making me jump. I spun around to confront the person but discovered no one was there. Was the person hiding?

  A muffled but familiar grumble drifted from behind the connecting door to the dining room. Of course. Harry was interviewing Jessica.

  I padded over to the door. Could I hear their conversation through the door? I placed my ear against the door and heard some clear words interspersed with periods of conversation too low to understand.

  Harry coughed. “Why did...Cafferty...inn?”

  Jessica's response was garbled as well. “...getaway...murder mystery.”

  The conversation continued, but I gleaned nothing more. I tiptoed from the door although I doubted they could hear me in the dining room. I crossed to the private kitchen where I prepped Henry’s insulin. Henry docilely sat for his injection. I disposed of the syringe and empty insulin vial and put the new vial in the fridge.

  I emptied and refilled the water bowls for both the dogs and the cats. By the time I finished with the water, every bit of food had been devoured.

  A voice behind me made me jump. “They'll need a walk.”

  I turned to see Shelbee standing in the kitchen doorway. She held three leashes in her hand.

  “I didn't hear you.”

  She smiled. “You were too busy murmuring and cooing to the them.” She nodded to the animals.

  I put my hands on my hips in mock outrage. “I do not murmur or coo.”

  Shelbee closed the kitchen door and walked over to Samuel.

  I gestured to the cats. “Do they need their kitty pans cleaned?”

  Shelbee clicked on Samuel's leash. “Yes, but it can wait until after we walk the dogs.”

  I took a leash and snapped it on Henry.

  Shelbee snapped the final leash on Bitsy who danced in place.

  I retrieved Paw's leash from the floor, and he led the way to the kitchen door connecting to the back garden.

  Paw trotted outside as soon as I opened the door. Henry stopped to sniff the doormat, and I was stretched between the two dogs. Shelbee solved the problem by giving Henry a gentle nudge.

  The basset wooed and plodded forward. Samuel and Bitsy followed as Shelbee shut the door.

  She let the dogs lead us where they chose. “Learn anything?”

  “Now what makes you think I learned something?”

  Shelbee laughed. “Come on. I know you, remember? You can't resist a mystery. That's why I called and asked you to come over here.”

  I shrugged. “True, but you could have waited until morning.”

  Shelbee shook her head. “Robert was worried because our clue wine bottle was found with the body.”

  My eyes widened. “You saw the body?”

  “Yes. Did you?”

  “I got a quick look when I stopped to talk to Hal. How did you see the body?”

  She sighed. “I think we all saw it. At least, the guests, Robert, Jac, and I plus Patricia and William.”

  She stood a moment staring into space. The dogs sniffed the grass around a bench in the garden. “Odd. I don't think Jessica was there.”

  “Why is that odd?”

  “Two reasons. She and Cafferty shared a room, and Madeline Wells screamed so loud no one could sleep through that n
oise.”

  I was confused. “Maybe you better tell me everything that happened after I left.”

  “Okay.” Shelbee took a moment to organize her thoughts. “After you left I hid the weapons and clues. I checked with Robert and Jac that they were finished then Jac and I went up to our room. Since the inn was full, Patricia arranged for us to share their second bedroom on the third floor. That's where their personal rooms are located. I didn't hear or see anyone including Patricia or William. Jac and I got ready for bed, and I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

  “The dogs roused me a couple of times, whining and restless. I shushed them and went back to sleep. Later I woke to loud screams and the dogs howling. Jac and I stared at each other in confusion then grabbed our robes and rushed out of our room. The dogs pushed out too. Patricia joined us on the landing while Henry trotted ahead to William, who was already at the bottom of the third-floor stairs.

  We ran down the stairs and met Karen Taylor coming out of her room. Donna Dayton flung open her door and joined us. We descended to the first floor where lights were blazing. I assumed William turned them on. We turned toward the basement.”

  I opened my mouth to ask a question, but Shelbee anticipated it. “The woman screamed again. That’s how we knew where to go. Once in the hallway, I saw Madeline Wells rocking back and forth on her feet, standing in the center of the hallway. The basement door was open, and light shone out.

  “Karen pushed by me and ran to Madeline. She embraced her and mumbled words I couldn't hear.

  “The rest of us hurried down the hall and looked through the door. William was hunched over the body, checking for a pulse. I went down the stairs to help William while Jac stayed with Patricia.

  “Donna Dayton said, 'Is he dead?' And William nodded.

  “I observed the body and surroundings and was considering what to do when Madeline started yelling, 'murder.' Karen tried to calm her, but she was hysterical. Patricia and Jac went to help Karen and William asked me to call the police.”

  Paw pushed his head and shoulders under a bush as he trailed a scent. Samuel lay down at Shelbee's feet while Henry rolled on his back. Bitsy stood up against Shelbee's leg, begging to be held.

  Shelbee lifted her for a cuddle as I asked, “Where were Robert and James?”

  Shelbee shrugged. “I don't know about James, but when I left the basement, Robert stood at the top of the steps. You don't suspect Robert, do you?”

  I sighed. “No, but I want to know where everyone was when Cafferty was found.”

  Henry rolled up to standing and stared at something behind us. “Woo. Woo.”

  Jac strolled across the grass to us. “Discussing the case?”

  “Yes,” I said, as Paw wiggled out from under the bush. “I guess you've been questioned.”

  “Officer Banks asked me a few things as a formality.”

  Shelbee adjusted Bitsy in her arms. “Did you see Jessica?”

  “No, but I heard her. She yelled as she left Harry that 'he better find out who killed Thomas.' Then she stomped up the stairs to the guest rooms. Harry came out of the dining room scowling and called James Dayton into the room.”

  “Uncle will solve the case.”

  Shelbee set a wiggling Bitsy on the grass. The dog scampered over and found a convenient bush to do her business. Shelbee watched her a moment then said, “Clarissa asked me about last night, Jac. Why don't you tell her what you remember?”

  “Sure.” Jac recited her version of last night's events which mirrored what Shelbee told me. “Patricia escorted Donna into the living room and asked me to pen the dogs in the kitchen. We sat on the sofa and tried to calm her. James stumbled in and demanded to know what was happening. I asked him where he'd been, and he claimed he was in bed. Donna glared at him.”

  “Sounds to me like James was lying.” I extended my arm to allow Paw to walk around a tree.

  Jac shrugged. “I think Karen Taylor was lying as well.”

  Shelbee cocked her head on the side. “Why do you say that?”

  “Didn't you notice? She was wearing her full make-up. Wouldn't she have cleaned it off before bed?”

  Shelbee shrugged. “Maybe she was too tired.”

  I walked around the tree to unwrap Paw's leash. “Let's walk.”

  All four dogs waved their tails as we strolled through the garden.

  Jac scratched Samuel's ears as she said to me, “Did you talk with Hal?”

  “Yes. He couldn’t confirm anything but admitted it was possible Cafferty could have been hit on the head.”

  “I think he was,” Shelbee said. “I saw blood in his hair.”

  “He could have hit his head as he fell,” Jac pointed out.

  Paw woofed. He'd caught a scent as did Henry who, tail in the air and nose to the ground, tracked the scent.

  I ran to keep up with them as they led me to the back of the garden. They stopped and circled a huge mulch pile.

  “Woo-woo!” Henry barked at Paw who woofed back then began to dig. Mulch flew in all directions. Shelbee, Jac, and I were hit with bits of bark. Bitsy hid behind Shelbee's legs, but Samuel pushed in to help Paw dig.

  I tugged hard on Paw's leash, but he was determined to dig. Jac reached forward and pulled on Paw's collar as Shelbee grabbed Samuel's. Henry sat back and watched.

  Together we pulled the dogs back. Jac, who was closest to the hole, said, “He found something.”

  Chapter 6

  I sighed. “He usually does. What is it this time? A dead mouse.”

  “No. A wine bottle.”

  “What?” Shelbee and I exclaimed.

  Jac nodded at the hole. “See for yourself.”

  Shelbee leaned forward and shook her head. “She's right.”

  I glanced down at Paw who sat staring up at me with a smug smile on his face. His tongue lolled out and he brushed his tail back and forth on the grass behind him.

  I looked in the hole then at Paw. “Sorry, boy. I didn't mean to doubt you. You've done it again. Found another clue.”

  We took the dogs back inside, and I went to find Harry. He was escorting Donna Dayton from the dining room. “Thank you, Mrs. Dayton, for your cooperation.”

  She nodded, crossed the foyer, and climbed the stairs to the upper floors.

  “Uncle, I need to tell you something.”

  Harry motioned for me to follow him into the dining room. “What is it?”

  “The girls and I took the dogs outside for a walk.”

  Harry perused his notes as he half-listened to me.

  “I think Paw found a clue.”

  Harry's gaze shot up to me. “Show me.”

  I led the way back outside to the back of the garden and the mulch pile. I pointed at the hole Paw dug.

  Harry stepped closer to the mulch and peered into the hole. “You touch anything?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Good. Stay here a minute.”

  He strode back to the house and returned within a minute with one of his officers and a tech guy. “Bag it,” he said to the tech. To the officer, he said, “Search the area.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Harry took my arm and led me back to the house. We entered the private kitchen where Shelbee and Jac waited with the dogs.

  “Woof!” Paw rushed to Harry as the other dogs began to bark.

  Shelbee and Jac shushed the others as Harry pet Paw. “Good work, Paw.”

  My dog lapped up the attention.

  Harry sat down at the kitchen table. “Tell me how you found the bottle.”

  I recounted how Paw and Henry trailed a scent to the mulch.

  Harry shook his head. “Wouldn't the odor from the mulch throw the scent off?”

  “I would think so, but somehow Paw and Henry knew it was there.”

  “Or got lucky.” Harry scribbled notes.

  “Either way, that’s the bottle of wine William showed us at dinner last night.”

  Harry grunted. “You sure about that?”
/>
  “That bottle is identical to the one William displayed at dinner last night. Why would anyone leave it in a mulch pile unless they were hiding it?”

  Harry grunted.

  “According to Cafferty and Donna Dayton, that wine is expensive and highly-rated. I doubt a second bottle of wine would be at the inn. Last night, William left the table saying he would return it to the wine cellar. How did it get in the mulch pile?”

  Harry set down his pen. “I'll speak with William next.”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “Go home.” Harry stood up. “You stay out of this case, Clarissa.”

  I opened my mouth to protest, but Harry spoke before I could say anything. “I mean it. Go home.”

  I sighed, knowing he wouldn’t relent no matter how much I argued. “I need to tell Shelbee I'm leaving.”

  Harry nodded and motioned for me to go.

  I left the kitchen and walked across the hall to the commercial kitchen. As I stepped through the door, I heard Patricia say, “This is terrible. I don't know what to do. Are the guests going to stay or leave?”

  Harry, who had followed me into the hall, stepped in behind me. “I have informed your guests that I will have more questions, but I can’t force them to stay in town. It would help my investigation if you can convince them to stay.”

  “We’ll try.” Patricia dusted off her hands. She placed dough into a baking pan and opened the oven door.

  Harry turned and left the room.

  Patricia took off her apron. “How are we going to convince them to stay?”

  Shelbee sliced strawberries. “Continuing the murder mystery game seems in poor taste. Any ideas?”

  Jac and Patricia stood thinking in silence.

  “Will you need me?” I asked as I picked up a strawberry to eat. My stomach growled.

  “Are you hungry again?” Shelbee walked to the fridge and opened the door. She pulled out a carton of eggs. “I'll make you some breakfast.”

  Patricia lifted down a skillet hanging over the central work island. “Good idea. Let's put out a buffet breakfast for the guests and ask them what they would like to do this weekend.”

  I took over Shelbee's job of slicing strawberries while she cooked eggs as Jac and Patricia prepared toast and bacon.