Murder by Christmas, Page 3

  Bethany stared at Mary as if expecting her to explain, so with a shrug, their red-headed host said, “She works … worked at CATS. That’s how I know Bethany. We met when I started volunteerin’ there.”

  Turning to Edna, Bethany interjected, “I’m a student at the university, so it wasn’t a career job or anything. Minimum wage, but it pays for groceries and my share of the rent. Without it, I can’t afford to live around here and still go to school. If I transfer to Boston and live with my parents, I’ll lose too many credits which’ll mean at least another semester before I graduate. That’ll mean more expenses and more time before I get a job so I can start paying back my loans.” She stamped her foot in frustration. “It’s all a big mess and it’s all Laurel’s fault.”

  Edna thought for a minute, trying to remember why the name sounded familiar.

  Correctly reading her puzzled expression, Mary said, “Laurel Taylor runs the cat shelter. Remember? You met her this morning at Stop and Shop.”

  “Of course.” Sensing that Bethany hadn’t finished complaining about the injustice of it all, Edna asked, “What happened to make her fire you?”

  “She says I was ‘consorting with the enemy’,” Bethany sputtered. “That is so totally not right.” She smirked at Mary as if knowing the red-head would understand and agree.

  Somewhat amused by what seemed an odd sort of incident for a cat shelter, Edna said, “Enemy?”

  “Vincent Valmont,” Bethany replied, as if this were all the answer necessary.

  Edna frowned at Mary, waiting for clarification of the cryptic reply. At the same time, she flicked her eyes to the clock on the wall, hoping Mary would get the message that they had work to do and Edna couldn’t spend all afternoon trying to decipher the problems of the young and emotional.

  Interpreting the look, Mary pushed away from the counter and set down her mug. “Vinnie’s a local kid,” she said. “Been a prankster ever since I can remember. Been picked up by the police lots of times growing up, but he never did anything worth bookin’ him for. Clownin’ around, is all. He’s nice enough now, far’s I’m concerned.” She smiled at her young visitor. “He’s taken a shine to Bethany.”

  “He’s a pest. He won’t leave me alone.” Cheeks reddening slightly in an attractive blush, Bethany turned to Edna. “He shows up. It’s not my fault if he follows me around.”

  “I still don’t understand what that has to do with you being fired?” Edna moved to a nearby counter where she’d left her baking tins earlier that morning, but she remained half turned to indicate she was listening.

  “Last summer, right after she bought the house and decided to turn it into a cat shelter, Laurel hired Vinnie to build some runs in her backyard. He did a great job,” Bethany said, her face lighting up. “He’s really good at building stuff.” She seemed unaware of the sparkle in her eyes when talking about “the pest.” As suddenly as the sun had come out, however, her face clouded over again. “When it was time for Laurel to give him his final payment, she short-changed him. That’s what he says. She says she paid him in full and he’s trying to cheat her.”

  “Why not simply produce her cancelled checks?” Edna asked.

  Bethany shook her head. “It was a cash deal. Neither of them can prove how much Laurel paid him … or didn’t pay him.” The young woman paused and looked down at the floor as if trying to decide what to say next. Several seconds went by before she looked up and spoke to Mary with a questioning frown. “Vinnie says Laurel was always flirting with him. Made him uncomfortable, her being so much older. He thinks she stiffed him because he rejected her. I don’t like to spread rumors like that, but do you think it might be true?”

  Mary thought briefly, then shrugged. “’S possible. Laurel plays up to all the men, but I don’t think she means any harm. She goes to an assertiveness training class at the hospital. Maybe that’s all it is and he misread the signals.”

  Bethany disagreed. “She kicked him out, told him never to come near CATS again. And she cheated him out of what she owed him. I wouldn’t say that was so harmless. He can’t even use her as a reference after all the work he did.”

  “It sounds like a case of his word against hers,” Edna said, bringing Bethany’s attention back to her. Again, Edna asked, “What does it have to do with you getting fired?”

  “First off, I got the job through Vinnie. We’re in a class together at the university. That’s how we met. If our being friends wasn’t reason enough, Laurel saw me with him this morning. Well, actually, I wasn’t really with him.” She sighed, as if explaining the details was becoming burdensome. “I stopped for coffee on my way to work and happened to run into him. He offered me a ride to Laurel’s in his pickup. It was so cold this morning, I agreed. I practically froze walking from my place to the coffee shop and CATS was another mile away.”

  “And Laurel saw you together,” Edna said, trying to speed up the story. Time was passing. She and Mary needed to get on with their baking. She was relieved to see Mary had already gotten out the flour, sugar and butter and was rummaging in the cupboard where she kept her bowls and cookie sheets. Edna walked to the refrigerator and took out a carton of eggs before returning to her place by the counter, as Bethany continued her rant.

  “That’s right. She saw me get out of his truck. And now she’s saying I’m in cahoots with him. She said she can’t trust me anymore, that I might do something to get even for him. She wouldn’t let me explain, just told me to get out. And she shorted me a week’s pay.”

  “Doesn’t sound right, does it?” Mary said as she knelt on the floor in front of the cabinet. As she did so, Hank rose to come join her in examining the bowls. Laughing, Mary ordered him off to “hit the bricks” in the archway into the dining room before she ducked back to withdraw a baking sheet.

  “You’d think she’d at least let you tell your side of things.” Edna spoke to Bethany while she watched the dog’s antics with amusement.

  “She’s too mean and vindictive and I’d like to …”

  “My guess,” Mary rose from the floor, interrupting Bethany, “is that she either doesn’t have the money, or doesn’t want to spend it. She’s been recruitin’ volunteers and I think she figures she doesn’t need to pay someone if she can get the work done for nothing.” At that thought, Mary gave Bethany a guilty look. “I’d stop going over there if it would get you your job back, but she’d just find some other volunteer to take my place.”

  Bethany wailed. “I know it’s not your problem, but what am I going to do? Without that job, I won’t be able to finish school next semester, and I’ve got only three classes left to graduate.” The young woman’s anger began to rise again, flushing her face anew. “I’m so mad, I could spit nails.”

  Mary handed a cookie sheet to Bethany. “Here. Wash your hands and start greasing these. Might as well work while you talk.” As she began to measure flour into a bowl, she restated her opinion. “Do you suppose Laurel is using Vinnie as a convenient excuse to get rid of you, since you’re the only paid worker she has left? I mean, even if you could convince her you’re not scheming something with Vinnie, the real problem seems to be that she doesn’t want to keep paying you.”

  “I bet you’re right.” Bethany shook her head in disgust. “It was the only job I could find to work around my class schedule, too. If I don’t find something else, I’ll have to tell my parents there won’t be any graduation party next May, maybe ever. Nice Christmas present, huh?” She turned away, facing the dining room, but not before Edna saw tears brim in the young woman’s eyes.

  Mary must have noticed, too, because she broke the brief silence, providing a distraction as she explained to Edna, “Bethany’s the first in her family to go to college. Her graduating means a lot to her parents.”

  “Is Laurel really that cruel and inconsiderate?” Edna asked as Bethany turned around, having wiped her tears away with a tissue from her pocket.

  “Better believe it,” Bethany said. “You know Doctor J
ake and his wife?”

  “Of course, he’s Benjamin’s veterinarian and she works with him at the clinic.” Holding a bowl in the circle of one arm, Edna beat eggs with a metal whisk.

  “Well, instead of going to the clinic, Laurel invites Roselyn over for tea whenever she--Laurel, that is--needs something. If Roselyn can take care of a sick cat or trim claws or bring over free medical samples, then cheapskate Laurel doesn’t have to pay a vet bill.”

  “Roselyn doesn’t have to go along with it,” Mary pointed out, unwrapping a stick of butter.

  “No, but she’s so nice. She never refuses.”

  “I’ve heard that Roselyn is a soft touch when it comes to animals,” Edna agreed.

  Mary nodded, raised her eyebrows at Edna and spoke slowly, as if voicing a plan as it materialized in her mind. “Tomorrow’s my volunteer morning at CATS. Since Laurel invited you to tea, why don’t you come with me? Maybe we can appeal to her good side and work something out for Bethany.”

  Edna thought for a moment. She really shouldn’t take the time, considering all she had to do, but then she studied the two other women. Mary’s eyes twinkled, probably thinking what fun it would be to go on a spying caper. Bethany’s face was aglow with hope. At that moment, Edna decided she didn’t like the idea of a struggling student being cheated, particularly at the time of year when peace and good will should reign. Besides that, she knew how disappointed she and Albert would have been if one of their children had dropped out of college so close to graduation. Between Mary and herself, they might be able to persuade Laurel to take Bethany back for a few more months. Edna realized that, when it came to someone in trouble, she was as soft a touch as Roselyn, but Edna couldn’t help herself. With a feeling of relief that she wouldn’t have to explain herself to Albert, since he was going to be safely out of the way, she nodded her acquiescence. Still, she couldn’t stop the thought that followed close behind -- only five days until Christmas and I have so much to do.

  Chapter 4

  Once Edna agreed to go with Mary to CATS the following morning, Bethany didn’t stay much longer. As the young woman prepared to leave, Edna thought about how cold the day had been and remembered the bicycle resting against the side of the house.

  “Did you ride your bike here from town?” she asked and wondered not only about the weather but also about how unsafe it was to cycle on the narrow, winding two-lane road that ran through their rural neighborhood.

  “Only way I could get here,” Bethany said, tugging a white knitted cap snugly over her dark hair and pulling gloves from a side pocket of her red ski jacket. “I can’t afford a car, so I borrow whatever wheels I can. The bike belongs to Vinnie. He’s trying to get his uncle to use it instead of the truck, but his uncle lets me borrow it.” She grinned and Edna saw what might have been a conspiratorial gleam in the young woman’s eyes as Bethany glanced up at the clock on the wall. “I better be going. I promised to have it back before Vinnie gets off work.”

  “Don’t you get cold?” Edna shivered just thinking of bicycling on such a bitter, overcast day.

  Bethany nodded vigorously. “You bet, but not as cold as hitchin’ or walkin’. Turning up her jacket collar, she added, “It’s only a couple of miles. Could be worse.”

  “I don’t like the thought of you hitchhiking,” Mary piped up from where she had been spooning dough onto one of the greased cookie sheets. “This community might be one of the safest in the state, but you never know who might pick you up.”

  “I know, I know,” Bethany said as she pushed the gloves tight between each finger. “And I thank you for your offer of taxi service, but I can’t call you every time I want to go somewhere.” She went over to Mary and gave her a one-arm, sideways hug. “You’re a good friend, and I promise to be careful.” She turned and strode toward the back hall, waving to Edna. “Nice to meetcha,” she said as she left Edna and Mary to get on with their baking.

  “What do you make of the allegations against Laurel Taylor?” Edna asked after she heard the outside door bang shut. “Could Bethany and her friend have misunderstood how much they were to be paid?”

  “Hard to say,” Mary said, rolling pieces of peanut butter dough into small balls before placing them on another of the cookie sheets. “Like you said, it’s their word against hers, and they don’t have any proof of how much they’ve already been paid.”

  “Makes it awkward for us to confront Laurel, especially if she’s so callous that she would fire Bethany this close to Christmas.” Edna sighed and stopped stirring her batter for the moment as she pondered the problem. “We need to be very careful not to upset Laurel if we’re to help Bethany at all.”

  “That we will,” Mary agreed and began to press the peanut butter balls with a fork.

  “You know Laurel better than I do. What would you suggest?” Edna felt her irritation rise at Mary’s seeming detachment. “How do we approach her?”

  “Play it by ear. You’ll think of something.” Mary removed the first batch of cookies from the oven and slid in the next sheet. She had two ovens, which was one reason they were using her kitchen for their marathon baking project.

  Not knowing whether to be irritated or complimented by Mary’s deferring to her, Edna finally gave up trying to discuss their predicament. She returned to the task of making cranberry cake, and as she tucked Bethany’s woes to the back of her mind, Mary brought up a new topic of concern.

  “Heard from Starling?”

  “She phoned yesterday.” Edna poured her batter into a greased bread pan and looked around for a spatula.

  “When’re they flying in?” Mary asked, referring not only to Starling, but to Edna’s third child and his family.

  “I thought they were arriving the day after tomorrow, but she said Grant signed them up for a two-day cross-country trip out of Vail. It was a surprise Christmas present for her. Very thoughtful of him because he knows how much she enjoys her skiing trips to Colorado, but I’m afraid they’ve left Karissa to pack and get the two children ready. It also means they won’t be flying home until Christmas Eve.”

  “They won’t miss my party, will they?”

  “Starling says they have an early flight that gets into Providence mid-afternoon, so they should arrive in plenty of time.”

  “Good. I’m looking forward to meeting your new daughter-in-law and the baby--besides seeing your granddaughter Jilly and Grant again, of course.” Mary moved to the kitchen sink beside Edna to rinse out her bowl. “Shame they had to cancel their plans to visit last summer.”

  “I’m hoping the weather doesn’t make them cancel Christmas plans, too,” Edna said. “I wish they hadn’t waited until the last minute to travel. If flights are delayed …” She didn’t finish the thought, determined not to let her worries ruin the holiday spirit for Mary, if not for herself. “How about finding a radio station with good Christmas music,” she said, vigorously scraping the last of the batter from her bowl into the bread pan.

  Thereafter, Edna made certain conversation remained on neutral, non-troublesome topics, and the two neighbors worked and chatted companionably. They even sang a few carols along with the all-music radio station Mary found. Hank decided to join in when they began “Away in a Manger” and their laughter halted not only their singing, but their work.

  Since it was past five o’clock, Edna left Mary with a final pan of mint brownies in the oven and, taking a few ginger snaps and peanut butter cookies with her, she returned home to get ready for dinner with Diane and her family.

  The chicken-divan casserole was heating in the oven, and Edna had just finished making a Greek dressing for the salad when she heard a terrible choking and sputtering racket coming from the road. She knew she wouldn’t be able to see outside past the glow of the porch light, but the din drew her to the window above the sink anyway. Peering out, she saw Roger’s black Chevy Suburban rounding the driveway. She couldn’t imagine her son-in-law’s vehicle making such a dreadful noise. For one thing, Diane wouldn�
�t stand for it. Sure enough, the horrific sound faded into the distance before Roger pulled to a stop.

  “They’re here,” she called to Albert, hurrying to open the front door. Fifteen-year-old Buddy was the first to enter, giving his grandmother a quick kiss on her cheek before heading down the hall to find his grandfather.

  “Hello, Mother,” Diane also greeted Edna with a kiss. “Who is your neighbor in that junker of a pickup?” she asked, shedding her coat.

  “Needs a muffler,” commented Roger, bending to plant his kiss on Edna’s cheek before following his wife to the coat closet.

  “It needs to go to the old-car graveyard,” Diane retorted, handing her husband a wire hanger.

  Closing the door against the cold, Edna said, “I’ve never heard such a noise. I can assure you, it’s no neighbor of ours.”

  “You don’t have Christmas lights up,” Diane said. She stood in front of the hall mirror and ran a brush through her shoulder-length blonde hair.

  You don’t need to remind me, Edna thought, feeling anew the pressure of preparing for the holiday without Albert’s help.

  “Granddad says it’s time for a drink,” Buddy announced, coming back into the hall. He was obviously unaware that he’d just saved his grandmother from saying something she might have regretted at that moment.

  Perhaps it had been a look in her mother’s eye, but Diane made no more mention of the lack of decorations or of the thunderous pickup as the family gathered in the living room for drinks and chatted amiably before a glowing fire. Soon, Albert and Buddy set up a chess board and began a match while Roger looked on. Diane and Edna went to the kitchen to get dinner on the table. The evening progressed pleasantly enough until Edna began clearing away the supper dishes. Setting plates in the kitchen sink, she looked out the window to see fat snowflakes falling slowly and silently. Roger’s vehicle was already covered with a fine layer of white. She returned to the dining room with cookies and a pot of tea and urged her family to hurry through dessert.