Narcissist in the Daffodils Page 5

  Jamie did not look surprised. “I think everyone knew that. Elizabeth wasn’t a shrinking violet. She let you know just what was on her mind. I never cared much for her, but she was fair.”

  “Did you hear anything about who it might be having an affair with George?” Penelope knew it was a long shot and even if a name were given, it may not be admissible or even reliable.

  After a moment, the woman sighed. “I don’t normally pay attention to gossip, especially about a place I don’t live in.”

  “Surely rumors about the art show and those involved would interest you, though. Especially if somehow someone was cheating?” Penelope was throwing a Hail Mary pass, but she could feel herself losing ground with Jamie.

  The mention of the art show seemed to fire the woman up. Jamie shook her head angrily. “The only thing I heard was that Elizabeth was finally cracking down on some of the corruption.”

  “Corruption in the art show?” Penelope asked the question to clarify. “Do you think that had something to do with her death?”

  Jamie nodded. She said thoughtfully, “It had to. I had just heard about the corruption probe she was doing. She hadn’t even gotten to question me, but I feel like it was the locals she was interested in.”

  “Locals like Misty Graham?” Penelope had pulled her list out and scanned it for local names.

  Jamie agreed, “Yeah.” The woman paused and then added, “That Margaret too. Everyone knows her art isn’t good enough to win without a bit of help.”

  Penelope pushed down the anger she felt on behalf of her friend, shrugging it off. Jamie had been sore ever since Margaret knocked her out of first place. She wasn’t there about that. “I’ll check everyone out,” Penelope assured Jamie. The woman seemed satisfied with Penelope’s answer. Penelope tapped her paper. “Thanks for your time,” she said as politely as she could. If the woman noticed Penelope’s irritation with her, she did not let on.

  Outside the building once again, Penelope took a deep breath of the still-cool spring air. “She was pleasant,” Penelope said sarcastically to Bramble. The dog panted at her and rolled his head to the side. “Yeah, I know you liked her. Probably like every other man she’s ever met,” Penelope said sulkily as they walked toward the car. She grumbled, “Man, sound bitter, don’t I?” Bramble wagged his tail at her.

  At the truck, Penelope let Bramble hop in. When she sat down, the Lab gave her a lick on the cheek. Penelope laughed. “Aw, Bramble, you are such a sweet talker.”

  Penelope knocked on the door to Misty Graham’s house. Margaret had given her the directions. Although she was a local, Misty was younger than Penelope, and she barely knew the young woman. Misty answered the door wearing her work uniform. The twentysomething woman worked at the Stop-N-Shop at the edge of town.

  “Hi—Misty?” Penelope asked cautiously.

  The young woman nodded as she twisted her long brown hair up into a bun that she pinned neatly. “Do I know you?”

  “No. I’m actually looking into the death of Elizabeth Rhodes. I’m Penelope Greene. Were you familiar with Elizabeth?” Penelope tried to put forth the most professional and no-nonsense tone she could. It seemed to work, because Misty quickly bobbed her head, indicating that she was indeed familiar with Elizabeth. “Are you aware that she was murdered?”

  Misty whispered, “Yes. I had heard that. I’m terribly sorry it happened. She seemed to really think I had some talent.”

  “How long had you known Elizabeth?” Penelope waited for the woman to answer as she tried out that stare that Leo was always giving people when he questioned them.

  Misty shifted nervously. “I just met her a few months ago when I put in my application for the art show.”

  “I see,” Penelope said thoughtfully. “Elizabeth was supposedly blackmailing George Falston,” Penelope said casually as she watched the young woman’s face. Misty’s brow furrowed in confusion.

  Misty asked, “Who’s George Falston?”

  “He’s the mayor of Fall Creek,” Penelope said slowly.

  Misty’s lips formed an O as she nodded, still a bit confused. “I’m sorry. I don’t keep up with politics.”

  Penelope decided right then and there to check Misty off her list, but she pushed forward. “Did Elizabeth ever talk to you or have you heard about the probe she was doing to find corruption in the art council?”

  “Oh,” Misty said softly. “I don’t think so. I mean, the people in the art show seem pretty intense, but I haven’t heard anything.”

  Penelope eyed the young woman curiously. “Intense? How exactly are they intense?”

  Misty moved her shoulders in an awkward shrug. “They just take themselves very seriously. Margaret and Jamie had a big spat last month at the planning meeting. Something about Margaret getting the spot that Jamie had already paid for. It seemed silly, but they both really wanted that spot. I guess it had the best visibility.” Misty flipped her hand dismissively. “Not much to fuss over. I got a spot closer to the door, and I like it. It’s near one of the overhead lights.”

  Penelope nodded politely at the woman as she made a note in her notepad. “Thanks for your help, Misty. I know you are probably on your way to work so I won’t keep you.”

  “Yeah, my boss will have my hide if I’m late again,” Misty said with a grin. “I hope you find out who hurt Miss Rhodes.”

  With a nod, Penelope agreed. “Me too.”

  Penelope reluctantly went back to the art center after she failed to find the other local she was hunting. Thankfully, the center seemed to be deserted as she and Bramble got out of the truck. She walked into the building and made her way back toward the offices.

  The office door was closed, but she could see Matt on the phone through the window. She gave the man a wave through the glass. Matt smiled and motioned for her to come in. Penelope said with a grin, “I’m not interrupting you, am I?”

  “Never,” Matt said and indicated a chair. “Have a seat. Hey there, Bramble. Man, he was a lot smaller the last time I saw him.”

  Penelope grinned. She gave the lab’s head a pat. “Yeah, he gets bigger by the minute.” She cleared her throat. “I was hoping you could tell me how to find Debra Ziegler. She’s one of the local art show contestants, but I can’t seem to find anyone who knows where she lives.”

  “Ah, Debra,” Matt said as he typed into his computer. “She moved recently, I think.”

  With a nod, Penelope said, “That would explain why people seem a bit confused.”

  “Here she is. Her current address is listed as 203 Pine Road. Is that all you needed?” Matt wrote the address down and handed it to Penelope.

  Penelope took the paper with a smile. “Yes. This is all I needed. You are a lifesaver.”

  “It’s the least I can do. I haven’t heard much out of Leo. Have they found the book yet?” Matthew tapped the desk with his pen as he spoke.

  Penelope shook her head. “Nah, but I’m sure you’ll hear about it when they do.”

  “Hmm?” Matt’s brows furrowed up as if he had heard Penelope wrong.

  Penelope laughed. “Well, they’ll have to have you verify it, won’t they?”

  Matt laughed as well. “I’m sorry. I’ve been run ragged with this art show. Elizabeth was an excellent planner, but without her book, I’m just lost.”

  “I hope they find it soon, then, for all of us,” Penelope said. She gave the man a wave as she and Bramble slipped out the office door.

  As Penelope and Bramble crossed the parking lot toward the truck, Leo pulled up in his patrol car. He was talking before he had even gotten out of the car completely. “So, your idea of staying out of things is going around and questioning people about Elizabeth’s murder?”

  Penelope shifted her feet. “Well, no, but I never said I was staying out of the murder investigation. I just said that I wouldn’t be in your hair.”

  Leo stared at her, then shook his head. He laughed. “Congratulations; you are now in my hair. You are not to question ano
ther person without me present. Do I make myself clear?”

  The tone of his voice made Penelope’s hackles rise. “Excuse me?” Penelope was never one to let people run over her, and she was not about to let Leo. “I have to look out of Sorrel, not to mention my family’s name. We could lose Greene Fields, Leo.”

  “I get that,” Leo said. He was unfazed by the glint in Penelope’s gaze or the flaring of her nostrils. “I know that telling you to stay out of the investigation isn’t going to work, Penny. I tried that. Even if it is for the best that you do so, it just isn’t in your nature to sit back and wait things out.” Leo took a deep breath. “So, to keep us both out of trouble and Greene Fields safe…I think it would be better if you only interviewed people when I am present, as it could damage the case otherwise.”

  Penelope wanted to be mad at the man, but she knew he was probably right. Still, she didn’t have to admit to that right now. “Fine; have it your way. For now, though, I’m going back to Greene Fields. We’ve got a bunch of roses that need to be replanted.” Penelope turned and stormed off toward her truck before Leo could do more than nod. He was still standing there when she drove off. In her rearview mirror she saw the man shake his head, and Penelope smiled despite herself.

  Chapter 8

  Penelope and Sorrel were busily repotting the roses when Tom came in, flustered. “You should have told me you needed help,” he said in a rush of breath.

  Sorrel waved off the man’s concern. “It’s no big deal. We do this all the time. But if you want to be helpful, you can grab me another rose from the far side over there.” Sorrel pointed to the roses waiting to be replanted.

  Tom seemed to be appeased by being allowed to help. He moved swiftly and got Sorrel another pot. Sorrel gave the man a smile, which Tom returned. Penelope chuckled. “It’s going to take two days if we keep moving at this rate.”

  “What’s the hurry? The roses aren’t going anywhere.” Tom sat a rose next to Penelope.

  Penelope had to agree that probably was true, but they might be if she didn’t figure out this case. She kept those thoughts to herself as she ran her spade around the inside edge of the rose’s pot to loosen it up. Bramble came bounding over and began nosing around what Penelope was doing. “Finally give up chasing that rabbit?” Penelope asked Bramble as she nudged him out of her way. She picked up a stick off the ground and threw it back behind where the roses were. “That’ll keep you busy.”

  Bramble took off after the stick. Tom gave a shout, but Penelope paid him no mind. Bramble was working behind the pots, trying to find the stick. “What on Earth is Bramble doing?” Sorrel asked in puzzlement as the dog began pawing at something behind the rose pots. Tom jogged over with Penelope right behind him.

  “He’s just digging,” Tom said as he reached down.

  Penelope walked around the rose pots just as Bramble let out a frustrated bark as he tried to get around Tom. “I think he wants something behind you.”

  “He’s gonna hurt the roses,” Tom said plaintively.

  Penelope came over to where Tom was, and the man reluctantly moved out of her way. She bent down and squinted between the rose pots. “What on Earth is that?” Penelope fished the cold leather book out from between the pots. She stared at it for a moment and then she took a couple of steps away from Tom. “Were you just trying to hide this?” Penelope stared at the man, trying to understand. “Tom, is that why…” She shook her head. “Sorrel, call the police. We found Elizabeth’s planner.”

  When Leo arrived, he took the book from Penelope with resignation. “Where was it found?”

  “In the potted roses that we were trying to transplant into bigger pots,” Penelope said softly. Her eyes flitted over to Tom, who sat looking at his feet gloomily. “I don’t think it was there originally. I think Tom moved it.”

  Leo’s eyes came up as he searched Penelope’s face. “I don’t understand. I thought you believed he was innocent.”

  “I do—of the crime, but I think he may be trying to protect Sorrel. The sad thing is I know Sorrel didn’t do it, but he must be worried about it.” Penelope looked over at the man, who sat still staring at his feet with his hands clasped together. He could have been in prayer, Penelope mused.

  The curly-haired detective nodded and walked toward Tom, Penelope on his heels. Leo cleared his throat, and Tom lifted his head to look at the detective. “Hello there, Tom. Listen, we need you tell us where you found this originally and why you hid it.”

  Tom wrung his hands and looked at them reluctantly. “I just wanted to help. I know that sometimes the system isn’t fair—no offense, detective. I just didn’t want that to happen to Sorrel.”

  “But Sorrel didn’t do it, Tom,” Penelope said firmly.

  Tom nodded. “I know. She could never do something like that, but I found that book in the azaleas, in front of where she parks. I thought that people would think it was her just like they thought it was me when I found Elizabeth’s purse.” The man sighed. “I’m sorry that I tried to hide it; I just panicked.”

  Leo and Penelope exchanged a look. Leo shook his head and told the man, “We’ll need an official statement. You know that’s a charge of obstruction, Tom?”

  “Yeah,” Tom said softly. “I know. After the thing with the purse, I just didn’t think anyone would listen to me. I only found it because I’m the one who cleans up the parking lot.”

  Leo nodded slowly. “You sit tight. Come on, Penny.” Leo walked off toward the parking lot. Penelope had to run a few feet to catch up with Leo as he slipped out the gate into the parking lot. “Where is Sorrel’s normal parking space?”

  “Over there,” Penelope gestured to the right. “See where the saplings are?” The saplings danced in the breeze in front of where Sorrel parked. Like most every day, her little white Jeep was in her spot.

  “You know, it wouldn’t be that hard to use the saplings to climb over the fence right there.” Leo was eyeing them. “Wasn’t there one that was messed up the night after the murder?”

  “A few of them, actually, but there was one that was almost broken in half,” Penelope agreed with a nod.

  Leo bent down and looked at the sidewalk. “Broken in half…like a car hit it?” Leo pointed to a tire track that was not quite between the lines of Sorrel’s parking space. “Looks like someone backed up in a hurry or hit the wrong gear because they were upset.” Leo stood up and looked around. “They’ve damaged the grass in front of the saplings, right beside Sorrel’s parking space. Does anyone park there regularly?”

  Penelope shook her head. “No. Tom likes to park on the opposite side and Margie parks as far away from the gate as she can get.” When Leo gave her a puzzled look, Penelope explained, “She’s trying to get her step count up.”

  Leo nodded slowly. “Okay,” he said with a rush of breath. “This isn’t helping to clear Sorrel. Only…” Leo paused and looked at Sorrel’s Jeep. He walked around it. “I don’t see any damage to her bumpers. There would likely be at least some scraping or a small dent. That sapling isn’t a twig, after all.”

  “I don’t get it,” Penelope said in frustration. “They kill the woman for the book, and then they leave it here.”

  Leo’s brow furrowed in thought. “Maybe they didn’t intend to kill her at all. This isn’t the most meticulous crime scene, and then there’s the 911 call. What if Elizabeth hadn’t been dead? She would be able to ID her attacker.”

  “So, there was an argument,” Penelope said as she followed the flow of logic. “Elizabeth goes down. The attacker panics and grabs Elizabeth’s purse.” They both looked over toward greenhouse #3, where the murder took place. “It’s almost a direct shot from the greenhouse to here. They just ran.”

  Leo nodded and added, “They get to this point, and they find the book. Maybe they don’t need the book. Maybe they just need what Elizabeth said about them. So, they rip something out and then throw the book.”

  “But Elizabeth’s purse was found on the other side of
the parking lot,” Penelope said in frustration. “That doesn’t make sense.”

  Leo shrugged. “We don’t know how long the purse, or the book had been there. It’s possible that they were dumped a day or two after the murder and not that night.”

  “That still puts the target squarely on one of us at Greene Fields.” Penelope put her hands on her hips and looked around at the garden center and parking lot. “The evidence is supposed to prove us innocent, Leo. It just keeps digging a hole for us instead.”

  Leo put his hand on Penelope’s arm hesitantly. “You gotta have faith in the system, Penny. The evidence is pointing us toward what we need to know, but we’re missing something.”

  They were silent for a long moment. “Yeah,” Penelope said finally. “I gotta get back to work. Are you going to take Tom down to the station?”

  Leo’s hand slid off Penelope’s arm as if it had never been there. “I have to. He did attempt to obstruct a police investigation, Penny.” Leo did not seem happy to be doing so—not like Penelope thought he would. After all, hadn’t Leo been convinced that Tom was somehow involved? Leo said, “I know you think I’m set against Tom, but I was really hoping he wouldn’t be involved. You have a good track record of being right about people, even me.” Leo turned and went toward the garden center, leaving Penelope with her thoughts.

  She breathed in the spring air. The wind was still quite cool as winter fought to keep its grip on the land, but spring was slowly winning if the flowers among the grasses were anything to go by. Penelope regretted having told Leo off all those years ago when he chose to leave. It had been his choice, but Penelope had accused him of running away. Now was not the time to think about that or to tell Leo that she regretted saying that to him. No. She had to focus on this murder.

  “I can’t believe he hid that book.” Sorrel was beside herself. Her reddish-brown hair was tousled from twisting her fingers into it, as she was prone to do when she was upset. Sorrel sniffled. “He did that to protect me? That’s so stupid.”