Deadly Traditions, page 37
“So, what do you make of it?”
“I don’t know. I can’t see why Dean Walker would kill Mike without getting the money he was owed. With an informal loan there may not be any paperwork to claim the money back from Mike’s estate. And Helen says she’s over Mike, but her feathers were certainly ruffled on Saturday night. I don’t think we can completely discount her yet, but we also need to pay Dean a visit at the market tomorrow morning.”
Chapter 4
Marge cringed then mentally shook herself as she heard Perry Como singing over the loudspeaker about turkey and mistletoe making the season bright. Of course, she would be surrounded by all things Christmas in the market. It was the season to sell things after all. She scanned the overhead support beams for any sign of dangling greenery as she walked with Lois down the first aisle of the building. She wouldn’t get caught out by mistletoe today.
Lois wore a huge grin. “The traders have their stalls decorated so beautifully. I love it!”
“I’ve no objection as long as they keep their mistletoe to themselves,” Marge said.
Lois nudged her. “Don’t be such a spoilsport. You never know, you might meet someone interesting under the mistletoe.”
Marge narrowed her eyes at her friend. “Banish that thought. Just keep that stuff for you and your sweetheart. I’m giving it a wide berth.” She stopped at a stall and turned to Lois, indicating wooden bins filled with an array of vegetables, including loose potatoes, carrots, Brussels sprouts and wax beans. “Aren’t these amazing vegetables? You have to meet Sue. This is her stall.”
Lois’s eyes widened when she spotted a box of large ripe tomatoes. “Where does she get tomatoes like that at this time of year?”
The stallholder approached them, smiling. “I’ve got a heated greenhouse in my backyard so I grow all kinds of vegetables year round.”
“Sue, have you met my friend Lois? She moved here last summer,” Marge said.
Sue extended her hand to Lois, and the two women exchanged greetings.
Marge chuckled. “I bet Lois will be your best customer now. She loves fresh vegetables almost as much as apple and cinnamon muffins. And after the harvest next fall, she’ll probably be around to stock up on apples for her baking.”
Sue smiled. “Great. It’s always good to have a new customer.”
“While I’m here, can I get half a dozen tomatoes?” Lois asked.
“Sure.” Sue picked out several juicy tomatoes and put them in a paper bag.
“Terrible about Mike, isn’t it?” Marge said as she watched the stallholder.
Nodding, Sue took the money Lois handed her. “Must be awful to have an allergy like that.”
“And even worse when someone used it to kill him,” Marge replied.
“Yeah,” Sue said.
Marge frowned. “Who would do such a thing?”
Sue quirked up the corner of her mouth and shook her head. “No idea. I hope they catch the guy.”
Marge nodded agreement, then nudged Lois. “We better get on with our errands.”
The two women walked on to the next aisle. Lois slowed as they passed a stall selling handknit garments. “Isn’t that sweater gorgeous!”
Marge grinned. “And it just happens to be burgundy – your favourite colour.” Marge inclined her head to indicate a stall on the opposite side of the aisle where a middle-aged man was tapping on the sole of a shoe with a small hammer. “There’s Dean Walker’s stall. We can come back here after we talk to him.”
Marge crossed the aisle and stopped in front of the shoe repairman. “Working hard, Dean?”
Behind the counter, the man finished securing the sole of the shoe then looked up. “Yeah, flat out. With Christmas coming, everyone is rushing to get shoes repaired for parties.”
Marge opened the flap on her large pink purse and pulled out a black velvet shoe bag. She pulled the drawstrings open and slid a pair of bright red sandals with three-inch stiletto heels onto the wooden counter.
“Can I add to your work? I need these reheeled for the museum staff party next week.”
Dean lifted one of the shoes and studied the heel. “Yeah, that’s no problem. I should have them ready in a couple of days.”
“Great. Thanks. Speaking of parties, wasn’t what happened Saturday night awful?”
Dean raised his eyebrows and huffed out a breath. “Yeah, it sure was.”
“Did you talk to Mike during the evening?”
“Just to say hi. I hadn’t been there too long when he collapsed. I was chatting with Dave Stewart at the mini-bar then I filled in for him for a few minutes so he could take a break. Then the party was over.”
“So, you didn’t spend any time with Mike?” Marge asked.
“No.”
“Mike was talking to us then went to get a drink when you were on the bar. You didn’t talk to him then?”
“No, it got busy on the bar so I didn’t have time to talk to anyone. I didn’t even notice him.”
“You guys knew each other pretty well though,” Marge said.
Dean shrugged. “Yeah, I guess. Everyone who has a business in town knows one another.”
Marge frowned. “I thought you guys were buddies. Someone told me you helped him financially to set up his new shop.”
“I did, but that was just helping a fellow businessman.”
“That was good of you. It’s a shame you probably won’t get back what you lent him.”
“Yeah, but there’s no sense crying over spilled milk. I can’t do anything about it.”
“No, I guess not.”
“But it’s not the end of the world. I’m doing okay.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Thanks again for fixing those shoes for me.”
Marge and Lois said goodbye to the shoe repairman and walked down the aisle, stopping to have a quick look at the handknit garments stall.
Lois lifted the burgundy sweater then set it down and picked up a rose one. “Oh, I like them both. How can I decide? I better have a think about it.”
As the two women walked back to the entrance of the building, Marge slowed and looked down the aisle nearest to the front doors then back at Lois. “Your tomatoes looked really good. I think I’ll get a couple. Back in a sec.”
Marge left Lois and headed to the vegetable stall. “Back again, Sue. I couldn’t pass up the tomatoes. Would you give me three?”
Sue stooped to reach under the counter, which was set behind the bins of produce. A soft thud as she pulled out a small paper bag drew Marge’s attention to the wooden floor behind the counter. A small bag of roasted mixed nuts had fallen from the shelf.
Sue lifted the bag of nuts, folded the top closed and set it under the counter again. “Thankfully, it didn’t spill or I’d have nothing to snack on.”
“I’m sure you need something to munch on when you’re here all day,” Marge said.
“Yeah. Otherwise, I’d be off to the bakery stall in the next aisle. Too many cakes won’t help my weight.”
“I’m waiting until after the Christmas festivities before I worry about mine,” Marge said, laughing.
Sue put the tomatoes in a bag and took the coins Marge handed her. “It’s a shame the Fenwater Association party took such an awful turn. Have you got any other parties coming up?”
“The museum’s staff party next week. I just left my shoes with Dean Walker to get them reheeled.”
“The party should be fun. Mmm, I guess Dean will be staying here now.”
“Where was he going?” Marge asked.
“He was supposed to get space in Mike’s new shop but I heard last week that Mike had changed his mind. Told Dean there wasn’t room. He definitely won’t be going anywhere now with Mike gone.”
Marge tried to hide her surprise. “That’s too bad for him.”
Marge took her bag of tomatoes from Sue and went to meet Lois. As the two women stepped out of the market building, she turned to her friend. “I just heard something interesting.”
“What?” Lois asked.
“Let’s go across the road and grab a coffee and I’ll tell you.”
Marge strode toward the traffic lights and Lois half-skipped to catch up with her.
Chapter 5
Marge cast an exasperated look at the sprig of mistletoe hanging inside the door of the Honey Pot diner. She was fed up with seeing them everywhere she turned. If Mike hadn’t caught her under the mistletoe and kindled Ted’s jealousy, she wouldn’t be investigating his death.
She sighed loudly. My bad luck, but I can’t turn the clock back. Looks like I’ll have to see this through.
Marge took another breath and made an effort to smile as she met Lois’s gaze across the table in the window booth. She cupped one hand around her steaming mug of coffee, waving her other hand to indicate the plates of muffins set in front of them. “I’m not thinking about healthy eating until well past Christmas. After gingerbread muffins are off the menu.”
Lois took an appreciative sip of her coffee, murmuring agreement. “Uh huh, ginger and cinnamon together. Wonderful. Now tell me what Sue said that was so interesting.”
“Well, before we went to see Dean, I found it hard to believe that he had any reason to kill Mike. After all, Helen said Mike had borrowed money from him.”
Lois nodded. “I know. He wouldn’t get his money back if he killed Mike.”
“Exactly. So, I’d pretty much ruled Dean out. His business is doing well and it looks like he could survive losing the money. But then Sue mentioned just now that Mike reneged on renting space in his new shop to Dean. I bet that made him mad.”
Lois shrugged. “It must have been annoying but he still has his stall in the market. And, like you said, his business is thriving.”
“Yes, but Mike’s new shop was right on the main street. More people would see Dean’s shoe repair there than where he is in the back aisle of the market. He lost a great opportunity. That might have been enough to make him angry.”
“But angry enough to kill Mike?”
Marge cocked her head, considering the possibility. “Maybe. Or at least angry enough to want to make him ill. Maybe he didn’t realize how severe Mike’s peanut allergy was.”
Lois nodded thoughtfully. “That could be.”
“I know it doesn’t all add up but I think he has to be considered.”
“And what about Helen? You didn’t sound like you completely believed her about being over Mike.”
“I don’t, no matter what she says. Not after her attitude Saturday night.”
“So, there’s Helen and Dean. Anyone else?” Lois asked.
Marge flipped her hair back from her face. “I’ve tried to avoid Mike since I moved back to Fenwater so I don’t know much about his life now. He always had an eye for the ladies. I’ll have to ask around and find out who else he’s dated recently, and whether he’s made any enemies for any reason.”
“Like jealous husbands?”
“Possibly. That’s a good point.”
Marge glanced across the room to where the waitress was stacking clean glasses onto a shelf, her back turned to the room. “Josie!”
The waitress spun around and picked up the coffee pot. Slipping out from behind the counter, she headed over to the window booth. “You ladies need a refill?”
“Great, thanks, Josie.” Marge watched the waitress refill their cups. “I didn’t see you at the Fenwater Association party on Saturday. Thought you would have represented the Honey Pot.”
“We didn’t close until six. By the time I got changed and headed over, with what happened to Mike and all, the party had shut down.”
“Mike’s death was a terrible shock.”
Josie nodded agreement.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him in here,” Marge said.
Josie set the glass coffee pot on the table. “He didn’t sit in often. Usually stopped by for takeout coffees.”
“On his own?”
“Used to be him and his dad on their way to the shop. Then just him after his dad retired.”
“What have you heard about him? Did he have many girlfriends? Or any enemies?”
Josie put her hand on her hip. “Now, you know I don’t go in for gossip, Marge.”
“I know that. I’m only asking ’cause the police were grilling Ted about how he and Mike got along. They might not have liked each other, but Ted had nothing to do with Mike’s death. I want to make sure the police have the whole picture.”
Shaking her head, Josie looked at Marge. “I can’t believe Ted would have done anything to hurt him. I don’t know much about Mike though. He dated Helen Young recently, but I don’t think they were still together when he died.” Josie tapped her lips. “Mmm, who else did he date? Oh yeah, I heard he dated a couple of women from out of town and used to drive down to Guelph to see them.”
“Whoever killed him must have been at the party, so it has to be someone local,” Marge said. “A businessman he got on the wrong side of?”
“I never heard of him having any big feuds with anyone. Nothing anyone would want to kill him over.”
Across the table Marge heard Lois humming softly. She stopped speaking and looked at her friend, becoming aware of the Christmas background music in the diner.
Lois started under the scrutiny and blushed. “Oh sorry, I love that Rudolph song. I didn’t mean to hum out loud.”
Josie laughed, ignoring Marge’s mock scowl. “Everyone’s getting into the holiday mood. Have you heard about the Christmas bake sale? The market is letting our church set up a table to sell cookies to raise money for charity. Would you two like to donate cookies to the sale?”
“Sure, I can bake a couple dozen. Just let me know what kind you want,” Lois said.
Marge winked at Lois. “My talents lie elsewhere but I’ll buy the ingredients if my good friend here will bake my batch.”
Lois nodded. “Sure.”
Marge laughed. “Make mine peanut cookies. I’ve had a hankering for them since the party. I could have sworn I smelled them Saturday night.”
Lois shook her head. “I can’t see how. We weren’t even near the snacks and Dave said they didn’t have peanut cookies.”
Marge shrugged. “I know but I still think I smelled peanuts. So make mine peanut cookies.”
Josie lifted the coffee pot from the table. “Thanks, ladies. We need all the cookies we can get for the charity sale.” She started to move away but turned back again. “You’re going to the Christmas Lights hayride tomorrow night, aren’t you?”
“Hayride? Isn’t that for kids? Our youth group had them when I was a teenager,” Lois said.
Marge shook her head emphatically. “Nope, not around here. Townsfolk of all ages come. The market stays open late and they serve hot apple cider and gingerbread cookies after the hayride.”
Lois laughed. “Let me guess, Dave Stewart organizes that.”
Josie nodded. “Of course. Who else? The evening is lots of fun.”
Marge winked. “And you’ll have an excuse to cuddle up to your honey on the wagon. Come on, we should go.”
Marge laughed when she saw the blush creeping up Lois’s cheeks. Lois and Bruce were so cute together.
“Okay, I’ll phone Bruce tonight and invite him,” Lois said.
“Great. I’ll see you two there tomorrow then.” Josie crossed the room and set the coffee pot back on the burner then spun around. “Oh!”
Marge and Lois turned to look at Josie, waiting expectantly.
“I just remembered. I think Mike went out with Sue Howard four or five years ago. They dated for a few months.”
“I never knew that. Was it a bad breakup?” Marge asked.
Josie quirked up one side of her mouth. “I never heard anything like that. I think it just ended.”
“Thanks, Josie.” Marge turned to Lois. “Interesting. Sue didn’t sound like she knew Mike any better than any of the other businesspeople in town.”
“Is that Sue at the vegetable stall?” Lois asked.
“Yup. We’ll have to catch her when her guard is down and chat with her some more. Hopefully she’ll be at the hayride. I’d like to know more about her relationship with Mike.”
Chapter 6
Lois snuggled against Bruce, her hand nestled under his elbow. “There’s such a great atmosphere here tonight.”
Marge chuckled, watching her friend’s wide-eyed expression. “I told you everyone comes. Wait ’till you see the houses lit up. Our townsfolk go all out.”
Lois’s expression changed to dismay. “Oh, dear. My little electric candle wreaths in the windows probably won’t measure up to the town’s expectations.”
Bruce squeezed her hand. “I can help you put up lights along your porch and roof if you want to.”
Lois smiled. “Thanks. I might take you up on that. Marge sure is lucky with just a couple windows in her condo to decorate.”
Marge laughed. “That’s about all I can manage. And I do it without even the tiniest sprig of mistletoe.”
“Marge, where’s your Christmas spirit?” Bruce chided.
She gave him a mock glare. “I have it. I just focus on the important aspects of the holiday.”
Lois smirked. “Like gingerbread muffins, hot whiskeys, and parties?”
The perfectly coiffed blonde patted her hair. “Nothing wrong with that.”
Marge swivelled so that she stood beside Lois, and scanned the crowd milling around outside the wooden market building. Children darted in and out among the adults, yelling and chasing each other, but stopped to stare when six flatbed wagons pulled by pairs of muscular draft horses stopped on the road in front of the building.
“How will they ever fit everyone on those wagons?” Lois asked.
“Some people like to walk the route. It’s only a few blocks. There’ll be enough seats for everyone who wants to ride,” Bruce replied.
Marge hoped Sue would be here tonight. She needed to ask her a few questions.
Bruce bowed and swept his hand toward the wagons. “Our carriage awaits, ladies.”
