"You said you were late," Rollins said. "What time do you usually get here?"
"We’re supposed to be in the building by five-forty five, even though we don’t start getting paid until six AM. That’s one of the complaints we all had about working here. And since Mr. Peters has to unlock the back door to let each of us in, there was no way we could sneak in late without getting caught. But I didn’t kill him."
"Looks like this might be a tough one to solve, Detective," Officer Yates said. "Either one of these three employees could have come in earlier and killed their boss. They could have left afterwards, then come back later for work as usual. Who would have known? Let’s just hope the fingerprints on the frying pan will give us the answer."
"You know what, Officer Yates?" I think you just solved the case. I think we’re ready to make an arrest."
Who does Detective Rollins suspect?" (See answer below)
*****
Solution: Sandy Ellis. She said she found her boss dead when she arrived, but since Julie told the detective that Mr. Peters had to open the back door for the employees to enter, he had to have been alive when Sandy entered. If the others had come earlier and killed him, then left, he wouldn’t have been alive to let Sandy in.
In The Cards
How long has the victim been dead?" Detective Robert Glazer asked the coroner.
"Probably less than an hour," Sam replied.
In the kitchen, Glazer and his partner, Dennis Rankin, questioned the victim’s wife. "Mrs. Martin," Rankin began. "We have to ask you some questions."
Kathy Martin held a handkerchief to her eyes. "Of course, detectives."
"I understand you were out of the house when the murder occurred?"
"Yes," she said. "I always schedule a ladies’ night out on Donald’s poker nights."
"When was the last time you spoke to Donald?"
"When I left the house at six-thirty."
"I see. I’ll need the names of the poker players and the names of the ladies you spent the evening with."
"Our neighbors Mark Loman and Josh Aldrin played. I had dinner with their wives, Sherry Loman and Nancy Aldrin."
"Anyone else?"
"Oh. Danny Climer, Don’s co-worker, was here too."
"And they were all gone when you got home?"
"Yes. I got home at ten, and I found Donald on the floor. The knife was hear him, but I didn’t touch it. I called the police."
"Any reason why anyone would want to kill him?"
Kathy sobbed. "It had to be robbery, detectives! Don won over $500 tonight."
"The detectives went to Mark Loman’s house.
"What’s going on?" Mark asked. "I heard sirens earlier."
"Don Martin was murdered," Rankin answered. "You were one of the last people to see him alive. May we ask you and your wife some questions?"
"Don’s dead?" Sherry Loman exclaimed. "I can’t believe it. Poor Kathy must be devastated."
"Yes ma’am. I understand you had dinner with Mrs. Martin tonight?"
"Yes. We have dinner out when the guys play poker."
"What time did you get home, Mrs. Loman?"
"Around nine-thirty."
"And was your husband home when you arrived?"
"He was," she stated.
"How would you describe the Martins’ marriage?" Rankin asked.
Sherry and her husband exchanged glances. "The Martins have some problems. The police have been called a few times to break up domestic disputes, but they always make up."
"I see." Glazer turned to Mark. "Anything unusual happen during the game?"
"No. Only that Don won a bundle tonight. Danny even suggested he’d cheated. He wanted to go back and settle the score, but Josh and I talked him out of it."
Across the street, Josh and Nancy Aldrin met the detectives at the door. "Sherry just called. "Who did this?"
"We’re trying to find out," Rankin answered.
Josh invited them in. "Before you ask, Nancy and I arrived home at the same time, and Donald was alive when I left."
"Was it robbery?" Nancy asked.
"Why do you ask?" Rankin inquired.
"Don won a ton of money tonight," Josh said. "Maybe the biggest loser went back to collect his loss."
"How much did you lose, Mr. Aldrin?"
"Not as much as Danny Climer. He accused Donald of cheating."
The detectives headed for Danny Climer’s house.
"I understand you played poker at the Martins’ tonight," Detective Glazer said to Danny.
"There’s no law against a poker game, is there?"
"Not until the winner is murdered," Rankin said.
Danny’s mouth dropped. "Don is dead?"
"He is. And according to the other players, you were pretty unhappy with the game’s outcome. Did you go back to even the score?"
"No way!" he snapped. "If you don’t believe me, talk to the bartender at the Brew Pub. I went there after the game and just got home."
"Maybe it was a random robbery," Rankin said when they got into the car.
Glazer smiled. "No. I just wanted to get all the facts. I knew who did it as soon as the murderer answered our questions."
Who does Detective Glazer suspect? (See answer below)
*****
Solution: Kelly Martin. She said she hadn’t spoken to her husband since she left the house to meet her friends. But she knew he had won $500. There was no way she could have known that unless he was alive when she entered the house.
*****
Easy Answer
Detective Steve Rush arrived at the office of Nowlin Investments at 10 a.m. to find the owner, Pete Nowlin dead of a single gunshot wound to the chest.
"I came into the office about nine," Mary Booth, the secretary said, dabbing at her eyes. "I found Pete right there, lying in a pool of blood. Then I noticed his gun on the floor by his desk. I called the police right away."
"Are you sure the gun belonged to Mr. Nowlin?"
"Pete kept a gun in his desk drawer. The drawer was wide open and the gun wasn’t there."
"How many people knew about Mr. Nowlin’s gun?"
"I did, of course. And I’m certain his wife, Kathryn knew."
"You said you arrived around nine. Is that your normal starting time?"
"No, actually. I overslept this morning. I called and left a message, telling Pete that I’d be late."
Detective Rush glanced at the old-fashioned answering machine. The message light was off.
"Pete must have deleted the message once he listened to it, so I guess I don’t have an alibi. But I would never kill Pete. I loved him."
"Do you know anyone at all who might have wanted him dead?"
His wife, Kathryn. I left a message on her cellphone telling her that she needed to get to the office because Pete was dead. But she’s probably working out with her personal trainer."
"I take it you’re not fond of Mrs. Nowlin?"
"Hardly. And Pete was beginning to realize that marrying her was a big mistake. She was only with him for his money."
"Anyone else?"
"John Domann. He lost a bundle on an investment Pete made for him. He said he’d kill him if he got the chance. Plus, he knew about the gun in the desk, because Pete was forced to threaten him with it when he came here last week screaming about his stock losses."
A woman stormed into the office, making a dash toward Mary. "What have you done?" she cried loudly.
Detective Rush intercepted her. "Mrs. Nowlin, I presume? I’m sorry for your loss, but I need to ask you a few questions."
"Of course, Detective. Anything I can do to help you catch the person responsible for this!"
"I understand you and your husband were having marital trouble?"
"She told you that lie, didn’t she?" she said, pointing at Mary. "She and Pete were lovers before I entered the picture and she was furious when he married me. She probably shot him out of spite!"
A while later, Detective Rush fou
nd John Domann at his home in a posh part of town. A "For Sale" sign was stuck in his yard.
"I understand you threatened to kill Pete Nowlin."
"Yeah, I admit I did," he said. "That lousy excuse for an investment banker cost me a fortune. After the money I lost, I have to sell my house."
"Sounds like a motive for murder."
"Are you saying someone beat me to it?" He smiled. "Now that’s what I call justice. Have you figured out which one of those two women did it?"
"What makes you say that?"
"Everyone knows that Mary was enraged when her boss up and married another woman. Those two were like a couple of cats trying to keep their claws in that man. And he deserved it—the rat!"
Sitting back in his car, Detective Rush looked again at his notes and realized he was ready to make an arrest.
Who does the detective suspect? (See answer below)
*****
Solution: Kathryn Nowlin. She said that Mary had probably shot Pete in anger, but no one had mentioned to her how her husband was killed.
*****
Good Riddance
Detectives Daniels and Alsup arrived at the home of Harriet and Alvin Grayson after receiving an emergency call from the residence about Mr. Grayson.
"Miss Thompson," Detective Daniels said to the housekeeper, "aside from the victim, were you alone in the house when the murder occurred?"
"I thought I was, "Maggie answered. "But someone must have slipped in while I was in the shower."
"Is Mrs. Grayson home?"
"No, sir. Mrs. Grayson was attending a fund raiser. Jason went to get her."
"Jason?"
"Her chauffeur."
"I see. Does he live here?"
"He lives in the apartment above the garage. After I called 911, I phoned Jason and told him something had happened to Mr. Grayson and that he should go pick up Mrs. Grayson right away."
Tears welled in Maggie’s eyes. "I didn’t even know he was dead until the paramedics got here."
A ruckus outside indicated that Mrs. Grayson had arrived. "What happened?" she demanded.
Detective Daniels spoke to her. "Mrs. Grayson, I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but your husband has been murdered."
"Murdered!" Mrs. Grayson shook her head. "Well what do you know?"
"I realize this is a bad time," the detective continued, "but I need to ask you a few questions."
"Ask away, Detective. But I didn’t murder him. Although the thought did cross my mind."
Daniels raised his eyebrows.
"It’s the same old story, Detective," she said. "I thought he was the man of my dreams, but I soon found out my new husband had roving eyes."
"So you had a pretty good motive for murder?" the detective asked.
She laughed. "Let’s talk about motives, Detective. Did Maggie tell you about her affair with my husband?" She glanced at the housekeeper. "She had good reason to want Alvin dead after he tossed her aside for a younger model. By the way, how was Alvin killed? Something slow and painful, I hope."
"He was shot."
"And Maggie didn’t hear anything?"
Maggie’s eyes widened. "I was in the shower!" she insisted. "But how do we know you didn’t sneak back and shoot him, then go back to the fundraiser and wait for Jason?"
"You’re forgetting that I don’t drive, Maggie. Once Jason dropped me off, I checked in, made a sizable donation and mingled with the crowd until Jason showed up and told me Alvin was dead."
"So now we have two suspects with motives," Detective Daniels said.
"Make that three," Mrs. Grayson corrected him. "The younger model Alvin tossed Maggie aside for was Jason’s sister. Jason threatened to kill Alvin if he didn’t stop seeing her."
Daniels questioned the chauffeur. "Where did you go after dropping off Mrs. Grayson?"
"To my room to watch television," Jason responded. "I wasn’t due to pick up Mrs. Grayson until 11 p.m."
"Can anyone verify that you were in your room the whole time?"
"Afraid not, Detective. Didn’t know I was gonna need an alibi."
Detective Daniels turned back to Mrs. Grayson. "So now I have three suspects. You obviously think Jason or Maggie killed your husband. Except that they didn’t stand to inherit a fortune," he pointed out.
"What’s with you men? You automatically assume the husband is the one with the money! The fortune was always mine. Only difference now is that I don’t have to share it."
"Which still gives you motive."
"Detective, I never said I wasn’t in the running. I merely pointed out that the murder suspects of Alvin Grayson could start their own club."
Detective Daniels looked at his partner. "Looks like we have our work cut out for us."
"I don’t think so, sir," Alsup replied. "I think we’re ready to make an arrest."
Who does Detective Alsup suspect? (See answer below)
*****
Solution: Jason the chauffeur. Maggie didn’t tell Jason that Mr. Grayson was dead. She didn’t even realize it until the paramedics arrived. But when Jason picked up Mrs. Grayson, he told her she needed to come home right away because her husband was dead. The only way Jason could have known that was if he’d been there.
*****
Once Burned
Detective Jeri Lyons responded to the fire alarm at the Cummings Discount Furniture Store at seven o’clock Wednesday morning.
"What happened?" she asked the owner, Tom Cummings.
"I really don’t know," he responded. "I saw the smoke as I was driving in. Once I realized my building was ablaze, I called the fire department."
Lyons spotted the fire chief. "Any chance of saving it?"
"Just trying to contain it," he said. "It was pretty much gone by the time we arrived."
"Any idea yet how the fire started?"
"My gut feeling? Arson. We’ll know for sure once it’s safe to go inside, but off the record, it looks pretty suspicious."
Lyons went back to the owner. "How’s business been lately?"
"Business has been good!" Tom insisted. "If you’re suggesting I burned my own building, you’re way off base!"
"Got any enemies?"
"Well, no one I’d suspect of doing this, but I fired an employee this week."
"Name?"
"Dennis Rowe." He spouted off the address.
"Could it be anyone else?"
"My wife and I are going through a nasty divorce."
Lyons found the wife at home in a robe and slippers. "Can you tell me exactly where you were between six-thirty and seven this morning?"
"Isn’t it obvious?" she said. "I was home. Why?"
"There’s been a serious accident at your husband’s store."
"Is Tom okay?"
"He’s fine. But I can’t say the same for his building."
She rolled her eyes. "I should have known he’d pull something like this."
"Excuse me?"
"Tom hated to spend money on a lot of insurance. That building was worth more intact than burned to the ground."
"So you think he torched it for spite?" What good would that do him?"
"Nothing, except to get back at me."
Dennis Rowe was next on the list of suspects. "I understand you had a beef with your former employer, Tom Cummings."
"You might say that," he snarled. "I worked there for five years, then two days ago, he tells me I’m no longer needed. No warning, no severance."
"Where were you around seven this morning?"
His eyes narrowed to tiny slits. "What’s this all about? Has something happened to Tom?"
"His business burned to the ground this morning. Know anything about why that happened?"
"Did he say I did it?"
"You didn’t answer my question," Lyons said.
"I was at home going through the want ads."
"Can you prove that?"
"Nope. Don’t suppose I can. I was alone."
"So how was business a
t the store? Any problems you knew of?"
"Now we’re talking," Rowe said. "Think Tom torched his own building, don’t you?"
"I’m just gathering information," Lyons replied.
"Of course you are," he said with a wink. "To be honest, business wasn’t so great, but that’s not surprising in this crummy economy. Tom has hit rough patches before, but he always pulls out of it."
"So business wasn’t bad enough to make him want to torch the place for the insurance money?"
"What insurance money? Tom didn’t believe in carrying a lot of insurance. He carried only enough to pay off his creditors in case something ever happened to him."
"Then you think there’s no reason to suspect him of anything?"
"Unless he wanted to keep Linda from getting her hands on it."
"That would be his soon-to-be ex-wife?"
"That’s right. No love lost there. I’m not your arsonist, detective. But good luck trying to figure out who is."
"No luck needed," she responded. "I already know who did it."
Who does detective Lyons suspect? (See answer below)
*****
Solution: The wife, Linda. She said her husband burned the building to get even with her, but the detective had never mentioned what the accident was. The only way she could have known is if she’d set the fire herself.
*****
Neighborhood Watch
Eli Monroe sat on his front porch, sipping a beer as he watched his neighbor, Ellen Sims, being wheeled out of her house on a covered gurney.
Minutes later, two detectives approached. "We’re Detectives Watson and Fortner. Do you mind answering a few questions?"
"Not at all," Eli replied. "What can I tell you?"
"First, have you been out here the whole day?"
"Not much else to do with my time since I took early retirement. Besides, this neighborhood is better than a soap opera."
"How so?"
"Ellen Sims was very popular with the men on this street, if you know what I mean."
"Are you saying Ms. Sims played around?"
Eli Monroe took a big gulp of beer. "That’s putting it mildly. ‘Course, she played it smart."
"Care to elaborate?"
"Mitch Walker is the neighborhood plumber, so he’s always over there fixing something. Jeff Bundy is pretty handy with appliances. And Martin Young is a carpenter."