Murder of a Hermit, page 9
It was Paul’s turn to be surprised. ‘What has he done?’ he echoed incredulously. ‘You haven’t missed anything. You’ve seen it in front of you with your own two eyes. This happened because of that damn dog!’
Rosemarie gasped again, aghast. Hope was also taken aback, but not because she was offended by the language used to describe Percy. With the sudden appearance of Paul and Percy, she had momentarily forgotten about the retention pool. But Paul’s comment returned it to the front of her mind, and reluctantly, she looked down at the pool. The body was still there. It hadn’t been a horrible illusion that had managed to magically disappear. Hope drew an uneven breath. Did Paul mean that it was Percy’s fault? Percy was responsible for the body lying before them?
‘That can’t be,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘How could Percy possibly be responsible for—’
Paul didn’t let her finish. ‘How could he be responsible? Easily! He was in the pool yesterday, chewing on the extension cord. His teeth ripped it to shreds, and the result has been one cascading problem after another. And they’re expensive problems, too! Additional rental costs for the generator, an endless string of electricians, repair fees from the utility company, overtime for the contractor and construction crew, and now Miranda and I have lost power at our brownstone completely. That blasted animal has been the cause of it all!’
Hope felt a sense of relief. Paul was blaming Percy for the electrical troubles. It had nothing to do with the body in the pool. But her relief faded a moment later when she realized that in Paul’s huff and with his abrupt arrival, he may not have noticed the body, which was partially concealed amidst the tangle of rubber hoses.
‘Paul,’ she began awkwardly. ‘There is…’
‘Yes?’ he asked with impatience.
Unsure how to continue, Hope looked at Rosemarie for assistance, but she was too busy worrying and fussing over Percy to focus on anything else. There was, however, no reason for Rosemarie to worry. Hope could see that Percy was in good health and spirits. He had clearly not gone for a swim that day. His coat was clean and dry. It was further proof that Percy didn’t have any connection to the body.
At last, Hope simply motioned toward the pool. Paul glanced in its direction. He looked back at her and started to shrug, not understanding what she was referring to. Then his brain seemed to register what his eyes had seen. His gaze widened, and he turned again to the pool, this time slow and deliberate.
‘Good God in heaven,’ he exhaled. ‘How did—’
His question was lost as Summer joined them on the lawn.
‘We didn’t know where you had gone,’ Summer announced to her sister, ‘so we came to find you.’
Hope’s immediate reaction was consternation. Had the remaining ladies from the tea accompanied Summer outside? It would have been infinitely better if they had either remained in the shop or gone on their way. Now they would see the pool and the body. She could only imagine the shock and gossip that would follow.
‘Nate is here,’ Summer went on sunnily.
Although it should have been welcome news, Hope replied with an exasperated sigh. There was no question that Nate was interested in Summer, and Summer – although moving cautiously due to a bad previous relationship – was attracted to Nate. But the two never seemed to have a chance to be alone in a peaceful, mundane environment and genuinely get to know one another. Every time Nate was at their brownstone, it was on a professional basis. Dylan had called him yesterday because of the outside cellar door being broken into. Megan had called him today because of Austin Berg’s aggressive behavior. And now – even though Nate and Summer didn’t know it yet – there was a dead body on the property.
‘Hello, Hope,’ Nate greeted her in a friendly manner. ‘Austin gave me his side of the story in the boutique, and it would be helpful if you could provide me with your interpretation of the events that led to—’
‘That isn’t at all accurate,’ Austin interjected, marching alongside of Nate. ‘You haven’t heard even half of what I’ve got to say.’
Hope’s exasperated sigh repeated itself. Austin’s presence on the lawn was even worse than the ladies from the tea. ‘This isn’t a good time for rehashing old grievances,’ she said to Nate, trying to keep the subject of Jill’s palm reading from resurfacing.
‘They aren’t old grievances!’ Austin shot back at her. ‘It was today. This very morning. That is as fresh as it gets.’
As Austin’s voice rose in agitation, Summer took several demonstrative steps away from him and Nate, closer to her sister.
The movement was not missed by Nate, who glanced after her regretfully. ‘We all need to calm down,’ he told Austin.
‘Calm down?’ Austin retorted. ‘Are you married or engaged? Do you have a wife or a girlfriend?’
It was too faint to be readily noticed by the others, but Hope saw the tips of Nate’s ears turn pink. He was thinking of Summer, no doubt.
‘I’d like to see you stay calm,’ Austin continued heatedly, ‘when a fortune teller encourages your wife to have an affair!’
‘A fortune teller encouraged your wife to have an affair?’ Dylan said.
Hope’s head snapped toward him in surprise. Dylan had arrived unannounced and was standing on the edge of the lawn, slightly apart from everyone else. Although his tone was impassive, Hope was pretty sure that the corner of Dylan’s mouth was crooked with amusement.
‘That fortune teller’ – Austin pointed an accusatory finger at her – ‘told my wife Jill that her palm said she should have an affair.’
Dylan raised an eyebrow at Hope.
‘Rubbish. Absolute rubbish,’ Summer disputed on her sister’s behalf. ‘I was present during Jill’s palm reading this morning, and Hope said no such thing.’ When Dylan’s eyebrow remained elevated, she scowled at him. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘Megan called me,’ he informed her, ‘and reported that her leg had gone numb, which can be a dangerous sign—’
Hope’s expression grew anxious.
‘But in Megan’s case,’ Dylan continued, ‘it’s a result of standing too long and putting too much weight and pressure on her injury. I’ve advised you repeatedly that she needs to keep her leg elevated and rest,’ he added sternly.
‘I’ve been encouraging her to lie down and take frequent naps,’ Hope told him.
‘We really have tried to get Megan to rest,’ Summer corroborated.
‘Try harder,’ he rebuked them. ‘Resting means sleeping, reading, sitting quietly. It does not include playing merry tea party.’
Summer’s scowl returned, redoubled. ‘We have not been playing merry tea party!’
Dylan gave a cynical snort. ‘I just finished examining Megan’s leg, and throughout the shop, I saw teapots covered with cozies and flowered cups set in matching saucers. Frankly, at this hour, after an exhaustingly long day dealing with a number of very difficult patients, I would have been thrilled to find – and partake in – glasses and bottles containing something considerably stronger than tea.’
‘Trust me,’ Hope muttered, ‘at this point, we could all use something considerably stronger than tea.’
Although she thought that she had spoken under her breath, Dylan must have heard it, because he looked at her curiously.
‘I don’t know who Megan is, and I don’t care about her leg,’ Austin remarked tersely. He addressed Nate. ‘You’re the police. I want to know what you are going to do about her.’ The accusatory finger was aimed once more at Hope.
A shadow of irritation passed across Nate’s face, but to his credit, his voice and bearing remained outwardly neutral. ‘Based on the information that I have been given so far, there is nothing for me to do at present. I will remind you, however, that you are on Hope and Summer’s property; they are not on yours. Before they choose to accuse you of trespassing – particularly since you are no longer in their public business, but on private land – I would urge you to consider leaving.’
It was clearly not the response that Austin had desired, and his lips quivered with anger. ‘I will not leave. I will not turn my back and let her continue to interfere with my marriage. She’s a homewrecker! The bloody witch is a homewrecker!’
Dylan’s gaze turned to him sharply. ‘Watch the language,’ he warned.
‘The bloody witch is a homewrecker!’ Austin shouted again, and in a fit of unrestrained pique, he charged toward Hope.
With equal quickness, Dylan stepped forward and blocked his path. ‘I said to watch the language.’
Austin sputtered and fumed, but Dylan was both taller and visibly fitter, leaving little doubt as to who would win a physical confrontation between the two men.
Nate exerted his professional authority. ‘I suggested politely before; this time, I will simply tell you. If you do not exit the premises of your own free will, I will be obligated to have you removed.’
Under other circumstances, Austin would have surely heeded the command. But in this case, he didn’t appear to have heard it. As he had moved toward Hope, he had simultaneously moved toward the retention pool. Even with the obstructing hoses, he was now too close not to notice what was in the pool, and the finger that had been directed at Hope was redirected at the body.
‘Hell’s bells!’ Austin exclaimed.
The group followed the shout and the finger. There was a collective gaping silence.
Even though he had already seen the body, Paul stared with the others. The only two who didn’t turn toward it were Rosemarie – who was still cooing over Percy – and Hope. Dylan noticed the latter’s lack of reaction, and his look of curiosity from earlier returned. A moment later, Summer looked at her sister, too.
‘Hope’ – Summer’s voice quavered – ‘do you see what he’s wearing? That’s him, isn’t it?’
‘Yes,’ she answered. ‘He’s the Hermit.’
TEN
The man was as both Megan and Miranda Larson had described him. His cloak was a heavy, olive-green waxed canvas, faded and stained as though frequently used outdoors as a sturdy raincoat. The bottom hem was ragged and ripped in several places, by all appearances matching the torn pieces that Hope and Nate had found on the cellar steps and next to the potato-coal chute. Although the man was lying face down, the side of his beard was visible. There was no lantern, but the top of a large flashlight was protruding from the man’s pocket.
‘He’s the Hermit,’ Summer said, echoing her sister with a mixture of distress and confusion.
Hope saw Dylan and Nate exchange a troubled look.
‘The Hermit?’ Austin responded. ‘What are you talking about? That’s not a hermit. That’s Carter Dalton.’
Everyone turned to Austin.
‘Carter Dalton,’ he repeated with assurance. ‘He isn’t a hermit. He lives – or lived,’ Austin corrected himself, ‘in a house up on Bent Mountain.’
For a minute, no one spoke.
‘It’s Carter!’ Austin insisted. ‘It’s obvious from just one glance at him.’ When there was still no response from the others, he became defensive. ‘Don’t you believe me? Well, then, I’ll show you.’
And before anyone realized what Austin intended, he had rushed toward the pool. Dylan and Nate both yelled for him to stop. But it was too late. Austin had already reached his arms into the water and grasped hold of the body. For those who had seen the retention pool yesterday, with Percy splashing while the extension cord had been sparking next to him, there was a horrified intake of breath. They cringed, anticipating the worst. To their surprise – and immense relief – nothing happened. Austin didn’t cry out. There was no sign of pain or shock from a jolt of electricity, only a grunt or two of exertion as he struggled with the weight of the body amidst the tangle of rubber hoses.
‘Damn fool,’ Dylan muttered.
‘You’ve got that right,’ Nate said. He added with irritation, ‘Plus, he’s contaminated the potential crime scene.’
Summer frowned. ‘Potential crime scene?’
Disregarding her, Dylan continued in a low tone to Nate, ‘It makes me wonder whether the contact might have been intentional, specifically to cover up any evidence.’
‘I was thinking the same thing,’ Nate agreed. ‘On the other hand, it might have been nothing more than innocent stupidity. Unlike the rest of us, he may not have realized that the water could be charged. It wouldn’t be automatically obvious or visible.’
‘Unless for some reason, he already knew that there was no danger.’
Nate nodded. ‘Which would make things rather interesting and possibly even give us a suspect. In any case, we need a cause of death.’
Dylan nodded back at him. ‘I’ll do a cursory examination. It won’t be definitive, of course.’
‘Noted. But anything you find would at least point us in a starting direction.’
As he headed to the pool, Dylan passed by Hope, and his hand brushed against hers. Her skin tingled. Had his touch been deliberate? Hope thought that it must have been. Dylan could have easily walked around her as he had the others. His eyes held hers for an instant before he continued onward.
‘Potential crime scene?’ Summer asked again, partly to Nate and partly to her sister. ‘Does that mean…’
The question was left unfinished as Austin – with one final groaning effort – succeeded in turning over the body.
‘You see?’ he declared triumphantly. ‘It’s Carter Dalton.’
Hope was obligated to take his word for it because, prior to that day, she had never heard the name or seen the man who was lying in front of her. Carter was now face up, with his legs still stretched across the ground. As a result of Austin’s labors, the upper half of his body was mostly out of the water, supported by the edge of the pool. Only one arm remained submerged, ensnared in a pair of hoses. Based on Carter’s physical appearance, Austin was correct about him not being a hermit, at least in the conventional sense. His cloak was somewhat tattered, and his shirt was nearly impossible to see beneath it, but the rest of his apparel was relatively fashionable and in good condition, albeit wet. Carter’s loafers showed little wear, and his jeans were nearly new. His beard was trim and tidy, and although his hair was mussed and muddy from the water, it was cut short and had evidently been recently styled. If Carter Dalton had indeed been living in a house up on Bent Mountain as Austin had told them, then in all likelihood, it wasn’t a primitive little shack with no access to modern amenities.
‘You believe me now, right?’ Austin said.
Whatever confirmation or recognition he was seeking, he didn’t get it. Dylan leaned over Carter to begin his examination. Nate moved several steps closer to the pool to get a better look, as well. The rest of the group watched the proceedings without speaking.
Austin’s tone grew belligerent. ‘Why are you pretending that you don’t recognize him?’ he snapped at Hope.
She had no answer to give him. She wasn’t pretending, and she couldn’t understand why he would think that she was.
‘I don’t know what game you’re playing,’ Austin went on angrily, ‘but you can stop it, because I won’t fall for your tricks. You know perfectly well who Carter Dalton is. He’s the one who you told Jill to have an affair with!’
Hope’s mouth opened, but not a syllable emerged. Everyone had been staring at Carter; they were now staring at her. Even Dylan glanced around for a moment. She noticed him and Nate exchange another troubled look, similar to the one when Summer had called Carter the Hermit. As Dylan returned to his examination, Nate addressed Austin.
‘I’m going to need some clarification on what you just said. Your wife, Jill, was having an affair with this man?’ Nate motioned toward Carter.
‘Yes. And she’ – Austin glared at Hope – ‘encouraged them in it.’
At that accusation, Hope found her voice. ‘I certainly did not.’
‘Liar!’ Austin barked.
‘Were you aware of this supposed affair between the two?’ Nate asked her.
‘No.’
‘Double liar!’
Nate shot Austin such a stern and commanding look that he was momentarily silenced, although he continued to glare at Hope.
‘I’ve only met Jill Berg one time,’ Hope told Nate, ‘this morning when she had an appointment with me for a palm reading. I’ve never had any encounters with Carter Dalton. Before I came outside and found him lying here, I hadn’t ever talked to the man or talked to anyone about him, including,’ she added firmly, ‘Jill.’
Austin’s glare intensified.
Happily for Hope, Nate showed little interest in delving further into the details of the palm reading. ‘Why did you come outside?’ he inquired.
‘To find Rosemarie,’ she explained, ‘who had gone to find Percy, who had raced out of the boutique when Summer had opened the front door to let in more light after the power went off.’
‘The power is off in the boutique?’
‘The whole brownstone,’ Hope clarified.
‘The power is out at our brownstone, too,’ Paul said.
Nate was thoughtful. ‘How long was it exactly from the time that your brownstone lost power to the time that you found Carter?’ he asked Hope.
She considered for a moment. ‘Maybe fifteen minutes. It wasn’t more than that, and it might have been a bit less.’ She looked at her sister. ‘Does that sound accurate?’
Summer nodded in confirmation.
Nate turned to Paul. ‘And why did you come outside?’
‘We’ve been having difficulties with the electricity ever since yesterday, when that dog’ – Paul cast a resentful glance at Percy – ‘was in the retention pool and chewed on the extension cord that connected to the generator.’
For his part, Percy didn’t notice the cross look. He was too busy snoozing in Rosemarie’s arms. Hope was a little surprised that Rosemarie had managed to hold the chubby pug for so long without her arms growing fatigued. She probably didn’t want to take the chance of setting him down on the ground. He might decide to either jump into the pool beside Carter or start chewing on more extension cords.
