Murder in Half Moon Bay, Book 1

  Nicole smiled and tossed her head. “It’s just like we thought. Evelyn has everything in her name. It’s probably because she initially inherited everything from her father’s estate, including the Seaside Nursery wholesale business.

  “My friend said that according to their records Thomas gets an allowance every month, and a pretty generous one, at that.”

  “How generous, Nicole?”

  “Thomas receives $5,000, which covers his cars, golf trips, wardrobe and restaurant tabs. Evelyn makes him account for everything.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s really unbelievable the control she has over him.”

  “Thomas goes along with it though, and that’s unbelievable. Then again, he may have no choice.”

  Yes, everything about Thomas’s behavior indicated his unwillingness to challenge her in any fashion. “Nicole, How about their finances…are they in good shape? Is their nursery business profitable?”

  Nicole finished a curried chicken sandwich and took a sip of tea before answering. “Their finances are in impeccable shape.

  “They do have other interests, but they seem legitimate. They have a rental company for farm equipment, a manure processing plant, and a small high-end florist shop in downtown Half Moon Bay called, let’s see, I wrote it down here....” She looked through her purse. “Here it is. It’s called Chelsea Gardens Flower Shop, right on Main Street.”

  I wrote down the names and addresses of the subsidiaries and planned to check each one of them out.

  “Nicole, this is most helpful. I need to check on Teddy, but let’s meet for dinner. Why don’t we go into town for Mexican food tonight? I saw a bunch of cars in front of a taqueria on Highway 1 last night. It must be good if the locals go there.”

  “Mexican food sounds fine to me.” Nicole nodded, looking toward Ann for her approval.

  “Mexican food is not my favorite, but I could manage a couple of tacos or even some fajitas tonight. Six-thirty?”

  “Yes, six-thirty.”

  I was about the business of finding my room key when I noticed that the door stood slightly ajar.

  The housekeeper again?

  “Teddy? I’m home.” I pushed it open and stepped inside. A towel lay rumpled on the floor. Teddy was gone!

  How…?

  Then I saw the note lying on the bed.

  My heart sank to my knees as I read the contents. “Go home, lady. Quit snooping if you want to see your dog alive again. If you don’t, your dog is toast.”

  I picked up Teddy’s towel and ran into the bathroom to find his dish and toys still there. “He probably doesn’t have any food or water. I must find him!”

  I called the chief immediately, shaking as I dialed my cell phone. His number rang three times before he picked up.

  “Chief Viscuglia, here. How may I help you?” His welcome voice came over the line.

  “Chief, it’s Jillian.”

  “Jillian, what’s wrong? You sound really rattled.”

  “Someone’s taken Teddy. They left a note telling me to quit investigating and to go home or they’d harm Teddy.

  “I don’t even know how they got into my room. I’m so mad at whoever did this! They’re a bunch of cowards picking on my dog instead of me.” I choked back the tears.

  “Listen, Jillian. We’ll do our best to find Teddy. I’m coming over to the hotel right now with some forensics people to see what clues they may have left. Don’t touch the note any more than you have to.”

  “I’m one step ahead of you. I read it without picking it up. Chief, we must have stepped on some toes for someone to go to this length.”

  “Exactly, Jillian. We’re on our way. Just stay put.”

  “I will.”

  As I ended the call, I bowed my head and silently prayed for Teddy’s safe return.

  I needed to get out of the room. Some criminally insane person could be mistreating my poor Teddy. My thoughts ran round like a storm — I needed some air.

  The halls were empty, except for a young housekeeper cleaning and restocking the rooms. Her nametag read, “Cecilia.”

  She eyed me intently when I stopped her.

  “Have you seen anyone with a small dog? About this big…they might have just come down this hallway.”

  It took a second, but then she replied with wide-eyed recognition, “Yes, I saw a man just a few minutes ago carrying a small sack down the stairs. I thought I saw it moving.”

  “This is very important.” I touched her arm. “Can you describe what the man looked like? Anything at all?”

  “Well, he looked a little foreign to me. He was kind of heavyset. He had brown hair, quite a lot of it, I noticed, and he was wearing a hotel uniform liked he worked here, but I’ve never seen him before.”

  “That’s good, Cecilia. Thank you. Was there anything else?”

  “Only that he wasn’t wearing the right shoes for work. They were some sort of sandals, ‘native-looking.’ He didn’t fit in with the hotel staff here, if you know what I mean.” She seemed to be growing nervous. Perhaps she realized that she should have reported it.

  “Thank you, Cecilia. I’ll need your last name and a number where I can reach you in case we need you to identify him later. Would you be willing to help me in that way?” I prayed she would.

  “Of course I will.”

  She told me she had just taken this job to work her way through college. She didn’t plan to work in service forever.

  I took her name and number and tucked it in my pocket. I dialed the chief. He seemed pleased when I told him the news of the sighting.

  “Would it be all right if I went to the Club Room, Chief? I have to get out of this room.”

  “We’re coming up now. It should be okay. Don’t go anywhere else without letting me know, though.”

  “Call me if you find anything.”

  I hung up and forced myself toward the Club Room to gather my thoughts. The window I chose faced the ocean. Its breakers rushed to the shore and back to the sea again.

  There was an Asian couple sitting two tables away from me serving their two children a late afternoon snack of cookies and milk. They looked at me and smiled.

  With Teddy gone, I was alone.

  I swallowed. My cheeks grew flushed. I could feel their heat radiating into the tepid air. How could someone try to intimidate me? My blood just boiled.

  No more fear, no more self-pity.

  I had to put my thoughts on hold when I looked up and saw Celeste standing in front of my table. I hadn’t seen her come in.

  “Hello, Jillian. Mind if I join you?” She pulled out a chair and demurely seated herself.

  I had to admire the way she looked. Her hair was now a different shade of blond, somewhat darker than before. Her makeup looked freshly applied. I wondered if she’d just had a shower.

  “What have you been up to, Celeste?” I honestly couldn’t care.

  “Nothing much, I’m sorry to say. I’ve just spent the afternoon at the spa. I had my hair done, got a massage, a manicure, a pedicure and a facial. I feel like a million dollars. How about you? Have you found any clues to the murders yet?”

  “Actually, some information has surfaced. We know that Regina was involved in some subversive activities, and Spencer was probably mixed up in them as well.”

  “Really?” Celeste acted impressed with my sleuthing.

  “The bad news is that someone has kidnapped my dog, and I have no idea how I’m going to get him back.”

  “That’s terrible.” She sounded truly sympathetic. She shook her tousled tresses, which landed perfectly back in place. “I can’t believe someone would stoop so low as to kidnap a pet.”

  Paul wandered into the room and locked eyes with Celeste.

  She waved a small jewel-encrusted hand in a sophisticated flourish and motioned for him to join us.

  Paul looked resigned but sauntered over to our table. In spite of losing Regina, he looked no worse for wear. He wore a black mock turtleneck
underneath a natty brown sports coat and a pair of black wool slacks neatly pleated in front. Shortly cropped sandy brown hair framed his tanned face and deep blue eyes.

  I thought of how I would have been attracted to such a man thirty years ago and glanced at Celeste, who eyed him hungrily.

  “Hello, ladies.” He pulled up a chair and joined our table. “I’m really sorry to hear about your dog, Jillian.”

  “How did you find out?”

  “I heard it from Marianne just a few minutes ago. She saw the cops arrive and inquired. I was waiting for the elevator when she came over and told me.”

  “They’re here? I’d better excuse myself and meet them.”

  “Oh, that’s quite all right.” Celeste smiled. “Good luck finding your dog.”

  I didn’t like the way that she said it, but I thanked her anyway and went back to my room. As I left, I looked back and noticed Paul staring after me. He looked sorry to see me go.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  The two large forensics experts looked uncomfortable crammed into my room, with their large jackets and six cases of equipment. A cinematographer snapped pictures incessantly.

  Click…click….

  Currently he’d chosen to focus on the abandoned towel lying askew on the bed. Deputy Cortez held the housekeeper for questions just outside my door, while the chief gazed out the window lost in thought. He sure looked tired, probably not far from how I looked to people. I moved toward him and gave him a friendly pat on his big shoulder.

  “Oh, Jillian, you’re back.”

  “Have you found anything, Chief?” I hoped against hope they’d found something.

  “So far we’ve found that someone used a duplicate key to get in. Either they had help from a hotel employee or they stole it from the front desk, which would be pretty difficult since there’s someone stationed there at all times.”

  I thought of someone entering Regina’s room the same way.

  “We should look at everyone’s record. Maybe something will surface.”

  “Would you mind looking at the records with me?” The chief sat down as if weighted by the world. “I’ll get the copies and we’ll take a look at them after dinner. I’m meeting with the FBI agents and then I’ll be free.”

  “That sounds good to me.” I remembered the Mexican restaurant plan and hoped I’d have enough time for it. “Have they found anything about Teddy’s abductor?”

  Before he had a chance to answer, one of the forensic experts called. “Chief, we found something…near the bed.” He waved his hand for us to come over.

  Another forensics agent was bending over a portion of the carpet and taking photographs. He smiled up at the chief. “Yep. We have a footprint here. It’s definitely not from Mrs. Bradley or the housekeeper. We’re sending it now for analysis.”

  This perked the chief up considerably. “Good job. Let me know what you get on it.”

  “Will do.”

  I gazed over the mess — black fingerprint powder all over the furniture and half of my belongings.

  The chief must have noticed my displeasure. “I’m going to ask the hotel to give you a new room, Jillian. You can’t stay here.”

  I smiled. “I wouldn’t have asked, but since you’re offering….”

  He laughed.

  “Oh, Chief, did you talk to the guard at the gate that was on duty Saturday evening yet?”

  “I did. The only people that left the hotel at the right time were Hugh Porter and an unknown gentleman who refused to give his name.”

  “Did the guard give you a description?” I zipped up the last bag and placed it by the front door.

  “Actually, he did. He said that the man was unfriendly, in his mid-forties, had on a tan suit with a black shirt, was smoking and wore a black and tan hat and sunglasses.”

  “Pretty descriptive, I’d say. You’d think someone planning a murder would wear less conspicuous clothing.”

  “There’s more.” The chief helped me with my bags out the front door. “He had a large nose and looked like a former boxer.”

  “Sounds like a criminal. Mobster or something?”

  “Sounds about right. We may be in for trouble.”

  Walter Junior appeared at the door to help us.

  “Mrs. Bradley?” He held himself stiffly, obviously wanting to appear in his formal capacity in front of the strangers. “I’m here to take you to your new room.”

  “How is your father doing?”

  He placed my bags and belongings on a large brass cart and we proceeded down the hall to my new room.

  “He told me he was working on a deal with someone and said to tell you it was a surprise.”

  “It sounds intriguing. I’m glad he’s got something to move on with.”

  “I’m sorry about Teddy. How could someone be so mean? That dog was great. Heartless thugs.”

  “Walter, have you had any luck finding out who was driving the champagne Camry? The police know it was stolen, and from a police officer at that, but it’s disappeared again.”

  The chief nodded in the affirmative. “We need you as a material witness. Will you help us?”

  “Sure.” Walter nodded. “I think I could recognize the driver if I saw him again.”

  I threw another question his way. “What about the car, Walter?”

  “Mr. Ibarra said I wasn’t allowed to see the records because it was an invasion of the hotel guests’ privacy. I really didn’t think it would hurt to know who drives what, but he wouldn’t let me check.”

  Hmm…Lewis Ibarra covering for someone?

  I had to find out.

  “Chief, do you have any information yet on Lewis Ibarra’s background?”

  We followed Walter down the hall toward the Club Room.

  “There’s nothing on file with the FBI or with our department, but I’ll check again. Something may turn up.”

  We had reached my new room, now only a few doors away from the Club Room. Walter slipped a key into the door and entered, pulling the cart behind him.

  “Walter, how do you get the room keys?”

  “The hotel manager has a machine that makes new keys whenever a new guest occupies a room. When the guests leave, we destroy the keys and make new ones using the same coding machine.”

  The chief interrupted his explanation. “Walter, who has access to this machine?”

  “I know it’s in the manager’s office, and she’s there most of the time. I’ve seen different management people in there: the dining rooms manager, the special events coordinator…you know, people like that.”

  Walter’s face clouded over as if something had just occurred to him.

  “What is it, Walter? What are you thinking of?”

  “It’s probably nothing, but you know how it is when you see something all the time and take it for granted? Well now, after all the stuff that’s been happening around here, I feel like I’ve seen something that isn’t normal.”

  The chief put his hand on Walter’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “I know it’s been rough on your family, Walter. But if you think you know something you’d better tell us.”

  “You’re right, I know. It’s just that I don’t want to get anyone in trouble if I’m wrong.”

  “Walter, no one is going to get into trouble unless they’ve broken the law. Making keys for any other purpose other than giving them to people who are using the room as a guest is wrong.”

  “Okay, Mrs. Bradley. I’ll tell you, but promise me if they get in trouble, you won’t let them know I told. I can’t lose my job. I just can’t.” He started to get upset.

  Just then, Walter’s pager went off. He answered it and then rolled his eyes. “Sorry, Mrs. Bradley. I can’t talk right now. Sort of an emergency downstairs. There’s a bunch of reporters who just came in, and the management needs me to help check them in. Mr. Ibarra says it’s a zoo down there. I’ll talk to you later, I promise.”

  “Goodbye, Walter.” The chief sounded
reluctant to let him go. “Well, Jillian, my appointment is in just a few minutes. My wife says she wants to meet you and has made a pie for our after dinner meeting. Would you mind coming over to the house?”

  “Would I mind? I could use a normal home setting after all that’s happened. Tell her I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Great. Margaret will be pleased that you said yes.”

  My new room faced the front entrance of the hotel. I judged the lobby was directly below me two floors down. This room had a balcony over the green that on any other occasion someone might think ‘splendid.’ Now, it just reminded me of Regina’s broken body.

  My mind pictured a faceless someone, standing on the balcony over her with a satisfied smile. Perhaps they took a towel to wipe for prints. They cleaned every surface until it gleamed anew, then simply walked out of the room, leaving no evidence whatsoever.

  It bothered me. Someone had to have a hole in his or her alibi somewhere. I just had to find out where. The hotel desk had corroborated Paul’s movie rental, but that didn’t necessarily prove he was in his room. Marianne, Celeste, and Hugh were all supposedly by themselves as well. The Westovers could vouch for each other and probably would under any circumstance whether or not either one of them left their room during that time.

  I kept coming back to the question of why someone would kill Regina. It had to be because she wouldn’t cooperate with the people who were dealing in spores or…or someone just didn’t like her at all. Would Celeste stoop that low? Would she actually hire someone to strangle Regina?

  I knew she could afford it, but it was difficult to picture anyone being that desperate to hold onto someone like Paul Youngblood. It would be easier to picture Evelyn doing the deed herself out of sheer loathing for anyone she despised.

  How would Regina’s death benefit Evelyn, unless Regina was having an affair with Thomas? There didn’t seem to be any overt evidence to support that theory, but I supposed it could have happened that way.

  I looked at my bedside clock radio.

  Time to get ready for dinner. Mexican didn’t really appeal to me anymore.

  I had the tub running and the towels laid out when the phone rang.

  News of Teddy?

  An ugly voice came over the line. “Since you’ve decided to continue your snooping around, lady, your dog will be barking his last bark by noon tomorrow. Have a nice evening.” The voice laughed and then hung up with a loud click.