A Taste of Death (Maggie Olenski Series) (19 page)

Maggie reflected on how different she felt hearing about Alexander's death from when she had heard about Jack Warwick. Jack's death by poisoning had been a shock, but she had known, and, truthfully, cared, little about him at the time. She had listened to Jack speak, but hadn't spoken to him. New to Cedar Hill, she didn't yet know Jack's wife, or any other townspeople that his death would affect. Elizabeth, who would be greatly affected, had not yet been rediscovered by Maggie as her childhood friend.

Alexander, on the other hand, had become quite familiar. Maggie hadn't grown to like him, but he was little Ethan's father, Paul's brother, and the man whom Karin had loved enough, once upon a time, to marry.

Now he was dead. Shot. But by whom,
Maggie was unable yet to wonder
as she was still working on the simple realization that it had happened.

Dyna, apparently, had the same problem. She wandered aimlessly from room to room, window to window, saying little but looking stunned.

"Maybe you'd like to work on your yoga while we're waiting," Maggie suggested.

Dyna looked over. "Yeah, maybe." But she made no move to do so, instead wandering into the kitchen to fold and re-fold the dish towel.

The phone rang. Maggie, who was nearest, picked it up.

"This is Carol, from Dr. Fortier's office." Maggie knew from the tone of her voice that the veterinarian's receptionist hadn't heard about Alexander. "Ali is doing well and is ready to be picked up. Would you like to come this afternoon?"

"I'll have to get back to you on that, Carol. Today might be difficult."

"We don't mind keeping him, but he's full of energy and raring to go. We're open 'till five. Just let us know and we'll have him ready."

Maggie promised to call, and hung up. "Ali's ready to be picked up," she said to Dyna.

"I forgot all about him! I still have to get a litter box and food and all."

"We can get everything easily. I'm sure John will give us the go-ahead very soon." Having said that, Maggie walked to the glass door and gazed out at the road, willing his sheriff's car to come driving up the hill. Maggie thought of Elizabeth, wondering if she should call her. Better wait until I have more information, she decided.

Another thought came to her on the heels of that, this time a hopeful one. Had Alexander been shot by the same person who murdered Jack Warwick? If so, that would surely clear Elizabeth! It hardly seemed likely that Elizabeth would own a rifle or even know how to fire one. That could and would be easily verified. John would have to look for someone who did.

Maggie was on the point of sharing this encouraging thought with Dyna when movement on the road caught her eye - John's car.

"Here he comes," she called out, and Dyna slipped off the kitchen counter stool and hurried over to the window. Dyna watched as the sheriff's car pulled into the cabin's driveway, then hurried to open the side door.

Maggie hear
d John tramp up the outer steps
and tap the snow off his boots.

"He's really dead?" Maggie heard Dyna ask. John must have nodded, for as he stepped into the small foyer, Dyna leaned against him. He put his arms around her and held her for a moment, then let go and pulled off his cap. Dyna led him into the living room.

"Coffee?" she asked, her face somber. "Something to eat?"

"No, I can't stay but a minute. We're trying to get around, check that everyone's all right."

"What exactly happened?" Maggie asked.

"All we know right now, and what we've already told the papers, is that Alexander was apparently on his way to Boston, to catch a shuttle for New York. He left his house about 5:30 this morning. He hadn't gone very far out of
town and
hadn't reached the main highway. An early morning hiker came upon his car in a ditch off Evergreen Road. He called it in as an accident. The paramedics discovered he had been shot in the head."

"Definitely murder?"

"We're treating it as such, although it could have been a hunter's stray bullet. It's small game season right now."

"If it was murder," Maggie said, "someone was a very good shot to aim accurately at a moving target."

John looked at her, not commenting.

"Would you say Alexander's death is connected to Jack Warwick's?"

"You're beginning to sound like one of those newspaper reporters."

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to badger you, John. I'm only thinking of Elizabeth. If the same person killed Alexander as killed Jack, it must be obvious that person is not Elizabeth."

"We're a long way from any conclusions."

"But Maggie's right, isn't she?" Dyna jumped in. "Surely you must see that Elizabeth was set up with that evidence you found. That she couldn't hurt a fly."

"I thought we agreed last night we wouldn't get into any of that."

"Yes, but John...."

"John's right," Maggie interrupted Dyna. John clearly wasn't about to discuss or admit anything about his on-going investigations. No use making him angry with Dyna.

"I'd like to check your locks if you don't mind," John said. He had become "Sheriff" John once more. "And ask you to be extremely cautious." John went to the sliding glass door, clicking the lock off and on, testing the door. He glanced at a security bar standing upright in the door's track.

"Best keep this in place," he said, flipping it down. "You won't need to go onto your deck in this weather."

He walked around, checking the cabin's windows. "Don't go walking outdoors alone for the time being. If you need to go out, head for populated areas. Don't open your door to strangers."

"I don't think it's a stranger we have to worry about, do you?" Maggie asked.

John glanced up the stairs, walked passed them and put his hat back on. "Keep your doors locked at all times."

"But John, who would want to harm us?" Dyna asked.

John's eyes softened for a moment looking at Dyna. "No one, I hope. I'm just asking you to be careful. Be aware."

"We will," Maggie promised.

<><><>

After John left, Maggie tried shifting Dyna's thoughts to lighter matters, suggesting they get what she needed now for Ali.

"John won't disapprove of us going out together to the busy part of town. I've never had a cat, Dyna. Do they need cat beds, special equipment?"

"Missy liked people beds. I think cats pretty much make their own decisions on that. I don't know what to get. Let's just go to a pet store and look around."

They were gathering up keys and jackets when the phone rang. It was Carol, calling from the Veterinary office again.

"I forgot to tell you that Mrs. Hanson - the lady who works for Mrs. Warwick? - dropped off a few things for Ali. There's a carrier, litter box, bowls, and some other things."

"That's great Carol. Thanks."

When Maggie told Dyna, though, she wrinkled her nose. "Maybe I'll use the carrier, but I don't want the other stuff. I want Ali to make a fresh start. I want him to feel safe."

"You'll let all the things from Leslie go to waste?" Maggie asked. Her innate frugality cringed at replacing what didn't need to be replaced.

"Maybe they can use it at the vet's. I don't want it."

Dyna said it with such firmness that Maggie let it go. If spending a few dollars on new equipment for Ali made her happy, Maggie was all for it.

<><><>

The "few dollars", however, rapidly escalated as Dyna roamed through the pet store. She had already chosen the basics, and began piling cat toys, brushes, and cat treats into her basket. Maggie finally spoke up when Dyna stopped to check out a "cat condo", a four foot high maze of carpet-covered perches, hideaways and scratching posts.

"Remember, you've got to take this home with you eventually. On a plane."

"I know, but you've got your car. I thought...."

Dyna stopped after a quick glance at Maggie. Maggie wasn't thrilled at having the cat move in with them, but could hardly object since, after all, it was Dyna's cabin. Her own car, though, was under her complete control, and lugging a fur-loaded cat contraption back to Baltimore among her luggage and laptop was not going to happen. No way.

"I guess I have enough for now," Dyna said, and turned the basket toward the check-out.

They were loading it all in Dyna's car when Maggie suggested they stop at Elizabeth's before picking up Ali.

"I want to talk to her about what's happened. Just a few minutes."

"Sure. There's plenty of time to get Ali. I'd like to see Liz too."

After the short drive up Main, Dyna parked next to the snow-piled curb in front of the Book Nook. The store's windows were dark.

"I really wish she'd open for business," Dyna said. "It must be too depressing to sit all alone back there. 'Course she's got plenty to read."

They climbed out of the car, and Maggie led Dyna around to the back door. A light tap brought Elizabeth to the window, and
,
seeing them, she quickly unlocked the door and opened it. She seemed in better shape than the last time Maggie had been there. No afghan clutched around her this time, and the television, instead of being blank, was tuned to a talk show whose subject, judging from occasional laughter, was cheerful. She had obviously taken some pains with her hair - always a good sign. It looked freshly shampooed and curled softly on her neck. Her smile, however, did not reach her eyes, which looked unhappy.

"You've heard what happened this morning?" Maggie asked.

"Yes, one of the deputies came by. He checked my doors and windows and warned me to keep them locked, but I think he was also looking around for a stash of rifles and ammunition. He asked if I'd been out early today."

"As if you could ever do such a thing!" Dyna's face was indignant.

"I don't blame them."

"But Liz, Maggie thinks this coul
d actually prove your innocence –
in Jack's murder, I mean."

Elizabeth looked at Maggie, who nodded.

"I think the two deaths could be related. If the same person who poisoned Jack also shot Alexander, you would be eliminated as a suspect for not being able to have shot Alexander. You don't own a gun or know how to shoot, do you?"

"No! That would be the last thing in the world I would ever want to learn. Even for protection."

Elizabeth clicked off the television, then sank down onto the overstuffed chair. She put her hands to her face, elbows on knees. Instead of looking pleased at the possibility of being cleared she seemed more upset. Her face grew flushed.

"Oh, this is awful."

"What's wrong?" Dyna asked.

"Paul hunts." Elizabeth looked at Maggie, letting those two words hang in the air.

Maggie nodded, knowing what was going through Elizabeth's mind. Paul has guns. Paul loves Big Bear. Jack Warwick wanted to take Big Bear from him and died. Alexander wanted to dispose of Big Bear and had been shot.

"But Alexander is his brother. He couldn't...." Dyna stopped, unable to finish.

"I'm sure John will be questioning Paul. He'll have to. But I wouldn't worry about him yet. He might have a very good alibi. Besides, I'm sure he's not the only one in Cedar Hill with hunting rifles." As she said it, Maggie's thoughts flashed to Regina's living room. The living room with a gun case, which stood there, carefully preserved, protected, polished. Had Regina learned to shoot as a young girl, Maggie wondered, at her beloved father's side, before her own strong opinions against hunting had developed?

Mona's tale, at the dress shop, of the death of Regina's brother by gunshot, ran through Maggie's mind. It was followed soon by the image of Regina at last night's dinner, coming up to  Maggie after Alexander's drunken outburst. Regina, quiet and grim, had spoken in a low voice, as though thinking aloud.

"Some people the world would be better off without".

Maggie shivered.

"A
li!"

Maggie rushed to prevent the large orange cat from scattering the carefully sorted papers next to her laptop.

"He's just exploring," Dyna said.

Maggie lifted the cat, which must have weighed a good eighteen
pounds, off the round oak table
and handed him to Dyna.

"Please tell him to explore at floor level."

Dyna fell back onto one of the soft chairs, holding onto Ali who immediately made himself comfortable on her lap. A purr that sounded to Maggie like something between asthmatic wheezing and her father's weed whacker began to emanate from the cat.

Dyna hugged the furry, vibrating creature and scratched under his chin.

"Poor little thing. He has to get used to another strange place. I wonder how many times he's had to do that."

If his other homes were with people who expected a cat to respect their possessions, probably quite a few, Maggie thought. Ali had already been removed from the food-covered kitchen counter twice, and had nearly pulled down the small lamp on Dyna's bedside table by its cord. Maggie would put up with Ali for Dyna's sake. And keep her bedroom door firmly closed at all times.