Dewey Decimated, page 22
I clicked back to Facebook and looked up Babette Fisher. She had many photos of her artwork—some of gloomy landscapes and others of angry-looking women. I was surprised. I had imagined her work would be lighter and more frivolous. But there it was. To mix a metaphor or two: I couldn’t judge a book by its cover.
I was also surprised to see that most of her photos were of students in her art classes and exhibits she’d taken a few of them to see. Nothing much to glean about her personal life. Though she often came across as ditzy, Babette was savvy enough to realize her positions as council member and high school art teacher required tact and discretion—much to my disappointment.
I’d just turned to Buzz Coleman’s Facebook page when my cell phone rang.
“Hi, Carrie, it’s Al.” He sounded agitated.
“What’s wrong?”
“Reggie just called. He wants us to hold an emergency meeting tonight. To elect a replacement for Sean. And”—he gulped in air—“he thinks that with Sean’s untimely death so soon after our vote on the Seabrook Preserve, we should cancel our decision and revisit the future of the property as soon as a fifth council member has been voted in.”
“Wow! Can he do that, cancel last night’s vote?”
“I’ve been looking into the council’s history and bylaws. Nowhere does it say a decision should be declared null and void because one of the members who voted on it died soon after.”
“And Sean’s vote carried the decision,” I said.
“It did.”
“So what do you think we should do?”
“I’d like to hold a meeting tonight and discuss Reggie’s proposal.” Al sighed. “I don’t much like it, but I can’t very well ignore it.”
“I can make it.”
“I’ve left a message for Babette. She’s in class now. If she’s free to meet tonight we’ll need a meeting place. Every room in Town Hall is spoken for tonight.”
“The library’s conference room is available.”
“You’re a lifesaver! I’ll get back to you as soon as I hear from Babette.”
“And please ask everyone if we can start at seven. We can order in pizza and eat while we talk.”
“Will do.”
* * *
When Evelyn stopped by a short while later, I filled her in on my phone call with Julie and regarding the latest council business.
“It sounds like Reggie hasn’t given up on the condo plan,” she said.
“That’s what I thought, too,” I said, “but it has no hope of going through unless he’s convinced Babette to vote for it. Remember, she’s dead set on the park idea because of her cousin.”
Evelyn raised her eyebrows. “Could be he promised her something that appeals to her even more. Like promising to vote with her on a future project. Another park project, say.”
My mouth fell open. “But that’s …”
“Politics. Exactly.” Evelyn grinned. “And if Reggie can recommend someone to take on Sean’s seat, there’s a good chance the Seabrook Preserve will be replaced by an upscale condo community.”
I stared at her. “Which he seems to want very badly. It makes me wonder if he’d go so far as to murder Sean as the first step in his crazy plan.”
“Maybe Julie will find something relevant,” Evelyn said.
We discussed the other suspects. But while Evelyn agreed we couldn’t eliminate any of them at this point, she had nothing to add or suggest.
She left me poring through catalogues, something I enjoyed doing that kept me from mulling over more serious matters. Every month I made lists of upcoming DVDs, audiobooks, and music CDs I thought our patrons would enjoy. Sally and Norman Tobin, the reference librarian, drew up lists as well. Then Sally checked our selections. If two of us chose a particular title we ordered it. Knowing patrons’ tastes were wide and varied, we always included a few offbeat items that one of us liked.
When I was satisfied with my choices, I walked over to Sally’s office to hand her my list of selections. I could have emailed it to her, but I’d been sitting for more than an hour and I needed to move. I knocked on her closed door and heard Sally call “Come in.” Marion Marshall was sitting in one of the visitors’ chairs.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just wanted to give you the monthly list.”
I turned to leave when Sally said, “Have a seat. We finished our business and now we’re talking about Sean.”
“How shocked we are that he murdered your fiancé’s uncle,” Marion said.
I stared at her. “When—where did you hear this?”
“Your pal on TV. Julie Theron.”
My pal? Of course. How many times had Julie announced that she wanted to solve the crimes with me?
Marion said almost reverently, “When something like this happens, I check in on Julie Theron Reports every hour.”
Sally shook her head. “Sean’s had a few brushes with the law in the past. But killing that poor man and leaving him there …” She sighed. “And then someone goes and murders Sean. If that isn’t the weirdest.”
“Not long after the body was discovered. I wonder who killed him,” I said.
“His son, Kevin. Who else?” Marion said without missing a beat. “Those two butted heads as far back as I can remember.”
“Kevin claims they were on good terms when he was murdered. At least that’s what he said at his father’s funeral.”
Marion made a scoffing sound. “And you believe him? Kevin has given Sean and Pat nothing but grief since the day he was born.”
“Really?” I said, hoping Marion would elaborate.
And elaborate she did, filling me in on Kevin’s misdeeds from the time he was fifteen until two month ago.
“What do you know about Rafe Torres?” I asked.
“The architect?” Sally said.
I nodded.
“Only that he made a few miscalculations on our new addition, but nothing that couldn’t be fixed.”
“Reggie Williams?”
They both stared at me.
“From what hat did you pull that name?” Sally asked.
“Just wondering. What about Buzz Coleman?”
“Buzz and his wife are very active in Kids With Cancer. Their middle child had cancer. Thank God he’s in remission,” Marion said.
“I had no idea,” I said.
“Buzz is a wonderful person,” Marion went on. “Sure, he can be gruff and argumentative with the guys, but he’s the sweetest man when you get to know him. He plays the guitar, and even though his son’s no longer in the hospital, Buzz still goes to the children’s ward to play when he has the time.”
“A sweetheart of a guy,” I said.
“He is,” Marion said, ignoring my sarcastic tone.
I returned to my office, thinking about what Marion had just told me about Buzz. Kindhearted or not, that didn’t mean he wasn’t capable of murdering his friend and his boss if Sean had changed their deal.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Al called me back to let me know that Babette and Reggie were able to meet at seven. I said I’d have coffee, tea, and bottles of water available and he said he’d bring two pizzas—his treat. I thanked him and found myself smiling as we ended our conversation. The longer I knew Al, the higher he rose in my estimation. He was kind, ethical, and I liked working with him. As for the others …
I called Dylan to let him know I had an unexpected meeting that evening.
He snorted. “Sounds like Reggie hasn’t given up on pushing the condo deal through.”
“Evelyn thinks he’s gotten Babette to go along with it in exchange for some future quid pro quo. I only hope he didn’t kill Sean over this.”
“Whatever you do, promise me you won’t express that thought tonight.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t. But I’m curious to see how it all plays out.”
“Me, too. Call me later and fill me in. I think I’ll invite Gary to have a bite out with me after we finish up at the office.”
“Good idea. Talk to you later.”
I went to find Max to tell him the council members would be meeting in the conference room at seven. Without my having to ask, he offered to prepare a pot of fresh coffee and hot water for tea along with cold bottles of water. “And we have a container of those good cookies in the freezer. Shall I defrost them?”
“I think half the container should be enough,” I said. “Take a few yourself.”
“Oh, I was planning to,” he said with a wink.
There was one more thing I wanted to do before getting back to my library duties. I climbed the stairs to the attic. Alec was happy to see me.
“Any news?” he asked.
“No, sorry, but I’m having a meeting with the other members of the town council at seven. I’d like you to be in the room. There’s a small alcove near the door where you’ll just about fit. If you stand still, no one will know you’re there.”
“Really?” His eyes lit up. “Why? Do you think I’ll recognize someone on the council?”
“There’s a possibility. I’m asking you not to get too close to anyone. And once you’ve taken a good look at everyone in the room, you can leave.”
“Don’t worry, Carrie. I’ll make myself invisible. I can do that when I’m calm.”
Is he ever calm? “All right. Just make sure they don’t see you or know you’re in the room.”
Alec’s laugher followed me all the way down the stairs.
Evelyn appeared suddenly. “Do you know what you’re doing?” she hissed.
I shrugged. “We’ll find out.”
Susan came in and we worked on plans for the Halloween party. This year we were turning the meeting room into a haunted room with ghostly figures hanging from the walls and the ceiling. The entertainment was a group of five young men and women dressed in creepy Halloween costumes singing scary songs they had composed, accompanied by a guitarist. Following that would be the costume parade and contests that had been so popular last year. Trish, Susan, and I would make and serve spooky-looking refreshments that Trish had discovered in her grandmother’s old recipe book. It was a pity that only the patrons lucky enough to have won lottery tickets were able to attend the party. In future years we’d be able to accommodate many more people.
Al and Reggie showed up at five to seven. Babette arrived minutes later, for once on time for a meeting. I waved her over to the four settings I’d arranged at one end of the long conference table. Was it a coincidence that Al and I sat side by side facing Reggie and Babette?
Since we were meeting in the library, I took on the role of hostess and cut up pizza slices and handed them out on paper plates. Pete wheeled in a cart bearing a freshly brewed carafe of coffee, hot water and the necessary accoutrements for tea, bottles of water, and a plate piled high with cookies.
“How kind of you, Carrie,” Reggie said. He nodded to Al. “And thanks for treating us to dinner. Where did you get these pies? They are delicious.”
Al told us, which led to everyone naming his or her favorite pizza parlor. Then silence reigned as we concentrated on eating. Both Al and Reggie asked for a second slice, which I happily provided.
Just when I began to wonder when the meeting would get under way, Al cleared his throat. “We’re here to discuss a few matters that Reggie has brought to my attention.”
A sudden movement caught my attention and I glanced at the far end of the table. Alec sat atop the back of a chair at the other end of the table. He grinned as he waved to me. I had to stop myself from sending him a hand signal to disappear. After all, I’d invited him to come tonight. Besides, no one could see him but me. But Babette must have sensed his presence. She turned to stare in Alec’s direction, a puzzled expression on her face.
“… I’d like you to tell us why you were so determined that we meet tonight.” Al extended his open palm across the table. “Reggie, the floor’s all yours.”
Reggie cleared his throat. I didn’t know if it was in preparation for the spiel he knew wasn’t popular with Al or because the formality of Al’s presentation was in sharp contrast to the casual scene of the four of us sitting around eating pizza.
Was it Al’s intention to mock Reggie’s scheme as something Machiavellian as well as ridiculous? Surely Al wasn’t that calculating?
Or was he?
“I thought it our duty, as members of the Clover Ridge Town Council, to meet as soon as possible after Sean’s terrible demise. A very sad event for all of us who have known and loved Sean for years. But we were elected to serve the best interests of the residents of Clover Ridge. With that in mind, I have two proposals. One, that we find a replacement for Sean ASAP, and two, that when we are five members once again, we take a new vote regarding the future of the Seabrook Preserve.”
I watched Babette, curious to gauge her reaction. Her lips formed a small smile as she nodded in agreement. Alec, at the other end of the table, was punching a fist in the air as if he were cheering Reggie on. Which he wasn’t, of course. Alec was just releasing energy—if ghosts released energy. Unless he was expressing something else. Whatever it was, I glared at him until he calmed down. He had to remain invisible!
“Babette, what’s your take on Reggie’s suggestions?”
“I agree with him.”
“On both issues?”
“I do.”
“Interesting.” Al turned to me. “Carrie, I know the situation under discussion is new to you, but it’s new to the rest of us as well. As a board member, please share your thoughts and concerns regarding the issues that Reggie has brought to our attention.”
Four pairs of eyes focused on me. Though Alec had no horse in this race, so to speak, he was smiling now in an encouraging way, probably because I was his nephew’s fiancée as well as the person who was doing everything she could to help him move on. Emboldened by his support, I decided to be brave and speak my mind.
“I think we should get someone to take Sean’s place very soon. I’m not sure of the protocol, but I imagine the procedure is spelled out in the bylaws.”
“It is,” Reggie said, “but the way it’s written, it could take weeks before a new member joins us on the council.”
And you’re in a rush to push this through, I thought. “As for the Seabrook Preserve property, we voted to keep it a preserve. I don’t see how Sean’s death changes anything.”
“But he died mere hours after the vote,” Reggie said.
“I’m aware of that,” I said a bit sharply. “Is there anything in the bylaws regarding a decision being rescinded because a council member died—in this case, was murdered—shortly after the meeting ended?”
“Nothing,” Al commented, “and believe me, I read and reread them several times. I also reviewed two important votes that were followed soon after—in one case days, in the second case almost a month—by a council member’s death. In neither case was the vote declared null and void.”
“Which doesn’t mean we couldn’t do it,” Babette said.
“Why would we?” I asked. “Three of us voted in favor of the preserve. Babette, you and Reggie each voted for different projects.” I met her gaze, then Reggie’s. “Besides, the only way one of your projects would carry is if one of you changed your vote and if the new member joining voted for that project too. I don’t see that as a viable option.”
Al shot me a glance of concern. I knew I was treading in dangerous waters.
“Sure, it’s possible,” Reggie said.
“Very possible,” Babette agreed.
“I agree that we function best as a body of five,” Al said. “With that in mind, I think we should hold an election on the third Tuesday in November as usual.”
“But that’s two months from now!” Reggie said.
“If you think we need a fifth council member present at our meetings till then, we can ask one of our retired members to fill in.” Al smiled. “I spoke to John Runstock and Gil Forrester. Both offered to attend our October and early November meetings.” He shrugged. “I’m fine with either of them, but we can put it to a vote if you like.”
Reggie grimaced. “I see you’ve taken care of everything.”
Al ignored the sarcasm and said, “As mayor, it’s my responsibility to make sure the council runs smoothly and continuously even when we lose a member. The bylaws recommend that we ask a former council member in good standing to act as a substitute fifth until the election. John and Gil are the only two people that fit this description since the others are either too infirm or have moved away. Which former member shall we ask to fill in?”
“Neither!” Babette snorted. “John rambles on about extraneous topics and Gil’s losing it.”
“John was very coherent when I spoke to him the other day, but there’s no question the man likes to hear himself talk. I have no compunction about reminding him to stay on topic when he wanders off.”
“You want him to vote on the Seabrook Preserve property?” Reggie said.
“No. As far as I’m concerned, that matter was voted on and passed,” Al said.
“Not where I’m concerned,” Reggie said loudly. “Sean voted and died soon after.”
“Voted is the operative word,” Al said. “He was coherent and sane when we voted and that’s what counts.”
“I agree,” I said.
Al looked at them. “Unless you have something to share that Carrie and I are unaware of, I believe this matter is closed.”
Babette and Reggie exchanged glances. She was the first to shrug. “I suppose not,” she finally said.
“Reggie?”
He nodded.
“On to the next subject. John or Gil?” Al said. “I agree with Babette’s assessment and vote that we ask John Runstock to attend the next three meetings. All in favor?”
I raised my hand, as did Al and Babette. Finally, Reggie made it unanimous. Al ended the meeting and Reggie and Babette made a quick exit.
